[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15262-15263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6550]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01031]


Notice of Availability of Funds; Resident Postdoctoral Research 
Associates Program in Microbiology

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for the Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in 
Microbiology. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
area of Immunization and Infectious Diseases. For additional 
information on ``Healthy People 2010'' visit the internet site http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
    The purpose of the program is to assist in a Resident Postdoctoral 
Research Associates Program in Microbiology. The program will continue 
to emphasize microbiology related to infectious disease prevention and 
control, with a particular emphasis given to studies at the molecular 
level.
    Areas of investigation may include viral and rickettsial 
infections, nosocomial infections, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 
vector-borne infectious diseases, respiratory and food-borne bacterial 
diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, parasitic diseases, and other 
diseases or conditions relevant to the disciplines of bacteriology, 
virology, parasitology, medical entomology, mycology, immunology, and 
pathology. The recipient shall provide support for postdoctoral 
scientists of unusual ability and promise or proven achievement by 
giving them an opportunity to conduct applied and operational research 
on significant public health problems identified with these research 
interests. Associateships should be for two-year periods.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to public or private nonprofit 
scientific organizations. Eligible applicants must be national in 
scope, devoted to scientific pursuits in all areas of microbiology that 
relate to infectious diseases, including general, clinical, medical, 
environmental, animal, virology, molecular microbiology, immunology and 
medical technology. Applicants should have experience in administering 
postdoctoral training programs in medical microbiology and public 
health microbiology which are designed to assist associates conducting 
microbiologic research to solve medical and public health problems.


    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization, described 
in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that 
engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal 
funds constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, 
loan, or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $950,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund one award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 
2001, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to five years. The funding estimate may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop and conduct a Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates 
Program in Microbiology to support development of new approaches, 
methodologies, and knowledge in infectious disease prevention and 
control.
    b. Identify specific research opportunities from descriptions 
provided by CDC.
    c. Establish program policies/procedures for application and 
selection (e.g., establish applicant eligibility criteria).
    d. Develop announcements/advertisements and an application package 
describing the program, listing research opportunities, and providing 
application instructions. Widely distribute the announcements and 
application package with the objective of soliciting applications from 
qualified individuals throughout the United States. Contribute to the 
racial and gender diversity of the program by assuring a wide 
distribution of the materials among eligible women and minority 
microbiologists.
    e. Develop a competitive associate application review and approval 
process. Based on the review process, select applicants to be awarded a 
two-year associateships.
    f. Provide administrative support to associates during their 
tenure, including the payment of a stipend (consistent with PHS levels 
identified by CDC Policy), enrollment in a health insurance plan, and 
reimbursement of expenses for professional travel. Administer the 
program such that associates will not be employees of either recipient 
organization or CDC.
    g. Establish associate publication/presentation policies which 
encourage the dissemination of associate research results.
    h. Develop a plan for monitoring and evaluating the progress of 
associates and progress toward achieving goals of the program.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide assistance in developing and conducting the Resident 
Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in Microbiology.
    b. Provide descriptions of microbiological research and areas of 
investigation that are appropriate for potential associates.
    c. Provide a list of potential CDC scientific advisers for 
associates.
    d. Assist in review of potential research proposals and provide 
comments and/or suggested changes in the scope or method of the 
research.
    e. Review publications and presentations resulting from research 
investigations conducted under the program.
    f. Assist in the development of a plan for monitoring progress of 
the program and achieving program goals.

C. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop

[[Page 15263]]

the application content. Your application will be evaluated on the 
criteria listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your 
program plan. The narrative should be no more than 15 double-spaced 
pages, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/...Forms, or in the application kit. On or before June 1, 
2001, submit the application to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of 
this announcement.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing).
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
    1. Background (10 points):
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a clear 
understanding of the background and objectives of this cooperative 
agreement program.
    2. Capacity (55 points total):
    a. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the 
organization has a significant history of promoting the science of 
microbiology as it relates to infectious diseases. The extent to which 
the applicant demonstrates it has the science of microbiology by 
conducting regular national meetings and workshops devoted to current 
topics. (10 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates experience in 
microbiology education and training. The extent to which the applicant 
demonstrates experience in conducting postdoctoral programs similar to 
that proposed in this cooperative agreement announcement. (30 points)
    c. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates it has adequate 
resources and facilities (e.g., administrative and financial management 
operations, office functions, etc). to conduct the proposed program. (5 
points)
    d. The extent to which applicant documents (e.g., by curriculum 
vitae), that all key personnel have adequate relevant experience to 
successfully develop and conduct the proposed program. (10 points)
    3. Operational Plan (35 points total):
    a. Extent to which applicant presents a detailed and time-phased 
operational plan for developing and conducting the program. The extent 
to which the plan clearly and appropriately addresses all Recipient 
Activities. The extent to which the applicant clearly identifies 
specific assigned responsibilities of all key professional personnel. 
The extent to which the applicant's plan appears feasible and likely to 
achieve program objectives. (15 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant clearly describes 
collaboration with CDC that utilizes CDC's unique expertise in public 
health infectious disease microbiology. (15 points)
    c. The extent to which the applicant describes in detail a plan for 
evaluating progress of individual associates and for evaluating 
progress toward achieving overall program objectives. (5 points)
    4. Budget: (No Score)
    The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clearly 
justifiable, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative 
agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
    1. progress reports (annual);
    2. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.

AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-15  Proof of Non-Profit Status
AR-16  Security Clearance Requirement

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301 and 317(k) of the 
Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241 and 247b(k)), as amended. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

J. Where to Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements can be found on the CDC home page 
Internet address--http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then 
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888 472-6874). You will be asked 
to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify the 
Announcement number of interest. If you have questions after reviewing 
the contents of all the documents, business management technical 
assistance may be obtained from: Merlin Williams, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone number (770) 488-2765, Email 
address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Janet Nicholson, Ph.D., 
National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone 
number: (404) 639-3945, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: March 12, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-6550 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P