[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17715-17718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8094]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01029]


Notice of Availability of Funds for the Public Health Foundation 
To Improve the Nation's Public Health Infrastructure Through Applied 
Research, Training, and Technical Assistance

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program entitled ``Improving the Nation's Public Health 
Infrastructure.'' This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
priority focus area of Public Health Infrastructure. For a copy of 
``Healthy People 2010,'' visit the web site--http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to improve the 
Nation's public health infrastructure and improve the performance of 
public health agencies by:
    1. Developing and/or implementing strategies to encourage the 
development and use of standards for public health organizations, the 
public health workforce, and public health information systems;
    2. Developing and/or implementing strategies to inform the public 
health community about effective approaches to improving public health 
organizations, the public health workforce, and public health 
information systems; and
    3. Conducting activities to encourage the public health community 
to implement the most effective approaches to improving public health 
organizations, the public health workforce, and public health 
information systems.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to the Public Health Foundation 
(PHF) . No other applications are solicited. PHF is uniquely qualified 
to be the recipient organization for the following reason:

    PHF previously completed the Community Health Status Indicators 
Project, in which it is the only organization that has access to the 
10 years of disaggregated data used to develop the project. Using 
this disaggregated data from the Community Health Status Indicators 
reports and other relevant sources, only PHF will be able to conduct 
and/or publish continued applied research to strengthen the science 
base of public health practice with this critical project. This is 
the most important requirement of this cooperative agreement.

    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 $200,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund this award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or about June 1, 2001, and 
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up 
to five years. Funding estimates 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. During the first year, funds are 
expected to be available to support the projects/activities listed in 
Part D.1. below as follows:

1. Core Activities $ 50,000
2. Special Projects 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 $150,000

Use of Funds

    Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, including 
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased, 
with appropriate justification, including cost comparison of purchase 
with lease. Although contracts with other organizations are allowable, 
the recipient must perform a substantial portion of activities for 
which funds are requested. Cooperative agreement funds may not supplant 
existing funds from any other public or private source. Funds may not 
be expended for construction, renovation of existing facilities, or 
relocation of headquarters, affiliates, or personnel.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed under 1. 
(Recipient Activities) , and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities) .
1. Recipient Activities
    Recipients may undertake the following types of activities:
A. Core Activities
    (1) Develop and maintain an effective governance structure within 
the organization that provides for effective leadership and day-to-day 
fiscal and operational management by competent full-time management 
staff.
    (2) Conduct regular and ongoing assessments of the organization and 
its progress toward meeting its strategic

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and operational goals and regularly communicate regarding progress 
toward meeting those goals and objectives.
    (3) Establish and maintain an effective information and 
communication system within its headquarters, which:
    (a) Is accessible to its constituents and staff through a 
continuous, high-speed Internet connection;
    (b) Facilitates electronic exchange of computer-generated documents 
among organization staff, its constituents, and local, tribal, state, 
and federal public health officials;
    (c) Facilitates confidential twenty-four/seven email exchange among 
local, tribal, state, and federal public health officials; and
    (d) Provides twenty-four/seven public access to a website that 
contains current and relevant public health information, tools, and 
access to training programs.
    (4) Ensure the implementation and periodic assessment of an 
organization-wide communication plan which supports the ongoing efforts 
of the organization to communicate with its constituents.
    (5) Ensure the highest organizational standards of professional 
competency, advocacy, recognition and visibility, knowledge source, and 
inclusive membership are maintained.
B. Special Projects
    (1) Collaborate with CDC and other public health partners to 
refine, field-test, and encourage the use of public health system 
Performance Standards, and develop and/or improve their capacity to 
utilize information from that system to influence public health policy 
decisions at the local, tribal, state, and federal level, including 
(but not limited to) developing, field-testing, and finalizing a 
verification process and protocols for improving the validity, 
reliability, and comparability of the data reported by the 
demonstration sites participating in the National Public Health 
Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP) .
    (2) Ensure implementation of public health system Performance 
Standards to support the Essential Public Health Services #4-inform, 
educate, and empower people about health issues-by encouraging 
collaboration and communication among public health systems throughout 
the Nation, including (but not limited to) publicizing the NPHPSP and 
state performance management systems and their relationship to the 
national program to public health policy-makers, practitioners, and 
other stakeholders.
    (3) Collaborate with CDC and other public health and non-
traditional partners to improve the competency of the public health 
workforce, including (but not limited to) elements outlined in a global 
and national implementation plan for public health workforce 
development. These elements include: monitoring workforce composition, 
identifying competencies and developing related curricula, designing an 
integrated learning delivery system, identifying incentives to assure 
competency, and conducting evaluation and research in workforce issues.
    (4) Collaborate with CDC and other public health partners to 
improve public health information and communication systems, including 
(but not limited to) the development and/or implementation of standards 
for public health data and information systems, the development and 
dissemination of information supporting the need and the mechanisms for 
engaging in the standards development process, and/or improvement of 
the capacity of public health agencies to quickly receive and transmit 
information regarding chemical or biological terrorism events or other 
urgent public health threats.
    (5) Convene key public health system officials to review/modify 
priorities for improving the performance of public health 
organizations, the public health workforce, and/or public health 
information and communication systems.
    (6) Collaborate with CDC and other public health partners to 
improve the Nation's community public health assessment and planning 
systems, including (but not limited to) encouraging, providing 
assistance to, and collaborating in the development, refinement, and 
use of available community public health improvement tools, and 
translating public health data for use by public health policy-makers 
and practitioners with their communities in collaboration with the 
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Community Health 
Status Indicators project.
    (7) Collaborate with CDC and other public health partners to 
provide technical assistance to public health agencies and communities 
for assessing public health needs, identifying public health assets, 
developing benchmarks, establishing health improvement plans, and 
improving the health of communities, building upon the 10 years of 
disaggregated data used in developing the Community Health Status 
Indicators reports.
    (8) Using the 10 years of disaggregated data from the Community 
Health Status Indicators reports and other relevant sources, 
collaborate with CDC and other public health partners to conduct and/or 
publish research to strengthen the science base of public health 
practice, including (but not limited to) the following:
    (a) Identifying the most effective organizational components of 
public health systems;
    (b) Determining the extent to which public health practitioners 
have access to current information about Performance Standards programs 
and determine the most effective means of improving access to that 
information;
    (c) Ensuring the reliability and validity of the Performance 
Standards monitoring tool;
    (d) Analyzing the results of Performance Standards monitoring; and
    (e) Evaluating the impact of project activities on the performance 
of public health organizations, the public health workforce, and/or 
public health information and communication systems.
    (9) Collaborate with CDC to improve the development of 
environmental and occupational public health policy, improve the 
competency of environmental and occupational public health workers, and 
broaden and improve the practice of environmental and occupational 
public health.
    (10) Collaborate with CDC to improve the capacity of public health 
systems to effectively respond to chemical and/or biological terrorism, 
including collaborating with other response agencies to protect the 
public and exposed workers.
    (11) Collaborate with CDC to improve the understanding and use of 
law by public health systems as a tool for effective public health 
practice, including (but not limited to) the following:
    (a) Developing and/or conducting public health law training;
    (b) Conducting applied research in public health law and;
    (c) Developing and/or disseminating information about public health 
laws relevant to local public health agencies and systems.
2. CDC Activities
A. Core Activities
    (1) Collaborate with funded organization(s), as appropriate, in 
assessing progress toward meeting strategic and operational goals and 
objectives.
    (2) Collaborate with funded organization(s), as appropriate, in the 
development and maintenance of information and communication systems.
B. Special Projects
    (1) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to further refine, 
field-

[[Page 17717]]

test, and encourage the use of public health system Performance 
Standards, and develop and/or improve the capacity to utilize 
information from that system to influence public health policy 
decisions at the local, tribal, state, and federal level.
    (2) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to ensure 
implementation of public health system Performance Standards to support 
the Essential Public Health Services #4.
    (3) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve the 
competency of the public health workforce.
    (4) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve public 
health information and communication systems.
    (5) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to identify key public 
health officials to review/modify priorities for improving the 
performance of public health organizations, the public health 
workforce, and/or public health information and communication systems.
    (6) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve the Nation's 
community public health assessment and planning systems.
    (7) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to provide technical 
assistance to public health agencies and communities.
    (8) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to conduct and/or 
publish research to strengthen the science base of public health 
practice.
    (9) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve the 
development of environmental and occupational public health policy, 
improve the competency of environmental and occupational public health 
workers, and broaden and improve the practice of environmental and 
occupational public health.
    (10) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve the 
capacity of public health systems to effectively respond to chemical 
and/or biological terrorism, including collaborating with other 
response agencies to protect the public and exposed workers.
    (11) Collaborate with funded organization(s) to improve the 
understanding and use of law by public health systems as a tool for 
effective public health practice.

E. Application Content

    The application must be developed in accordance with PHS 5161-1 
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) and must contain a narrative 
description of each proposed project, which must include:
    1. A statement of the problem(s) to be addressed and how each of 
the proposed projects will impact on the problem(s) , including how 
they will help ``Improve the Nation's Public Health Infrastructure and 
Improve the Performance of Public Health Agencies.''
    2. A clear and concise description of project objectives and the 
approach(es) to be used in achieving project objectives, to be provided 
in one application but separately for each core and special project, 
along with evidence of the applicant's ability to provide the staff, 
knowledge, and other resources to achieve those objectives, including 
descriptions of the names and qualifications of professional staff to 
be assigned to each project and the facilities, space, and equipment 
available for each project.
    3. A separate description of the activities to be undertaken in 
carrying out each project, a proposed schedule for accomplishing those 
activities, a description of the responsibilities of proposed staff in 
accomplishing those activities (including an estimate of time 
allocations for project staff) , and a detailed budget which specifies 
anticipated costs for conducting each of the project activities.
    4. Budget information should be submitted for each separate 
project. The SF 424A used for this budget information should include 
separate columns for each project. Multiple SF 424A forms are 
encouraged.
    The narrative should be no more than 30 single-spaced pages (not 
including appendices for items such as curricula vitae, letters of 
support, and other similar supporting information). The narrative 
should be printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and a font size 
of no less than 12 point, on white 8.5 x 11 paper. All pages should be 
clearly numbered, and a complete Table of Contents for the application 
and its appendices must be included. The required original application 
and two full copies must be submitted unstapled and unbound (including 
materials in the appendices), in order to allow the entire application 
to run through an automatic document feed copier.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Applicants must submit an original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 
(OMB Number 0937-0189). Forms are available at the following Internet 
address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/funding.htm, or in the 
application kit.
    On or before May 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:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. 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 the 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 
1. or 2. above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    The application will be reviewed and evaluated by a CDC-convened 
objective review panel, based on the adequacy of the proposal relative 
to the following criteria:

Purpose of Project (30 Points)

    Applicant's understanding of each project's purpose/problem to be 
addressed and relationship to purpose of cooperative agreement.

Project Objectives, Activities, and Implementation Plan (40 points)

    Specificity, measurability, and feasibility of objectives and 
proposed activities, including a schedule for implementing proposed 
activities, a description of the responsibilities and time allocations 
of proposed staff in accomplishing those activities, and a plan for 
collaborating with CDC and other relevant public health and/or 
healthcare organizations in conducting each project.

Evaluation (10 Points)

    Appropriateness of the methods to be used to monitor the 
implementation of proposed activities, measure the achievement of 
project objectives, and evaluate the impact of each project.

Organizational Qualifications and Experience (20 Points)

    Evidence of applicant's ability to provide staff, facilities, 
space, equipment, and financial/other resources required to accomplish 
the goals and objectives of each project, including descriptions of the 
names and qualifications of professional staff to be assigned to each 
project and the facilities, space, and equipment available for each 
project.

[[Page 17718]]

Budget Justification (not scored)

    Extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, and 
consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Applicant must provide CDC with an original plus two copies of:
    1. Semi-annual progress reports, at the end of the second and 
fourth quarters of each budget period, no later than 30 days after the 
end of each of those quarters (a cumulative progress report for the 
first three quarters of each budget period will be prepared as part of 
the annual application for continuation funding during the project 
period).
    2. Annual Financial Status Reports, no later than 90 days after the 
end of each budget period.
    3. Final financial status and progress reports, no later than 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment 1 in the 
application kit.

AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Section 317(k) (2) of the Public 
Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 247b(k) (2) 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 web site 
at http://www.cdc.gov. On CDC's homepage below the ``Spotlights'', 
click on ``Funding Opportunities'', then on ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements''.
    To obtain additional business management information, contact: 
Juanita D. Crowder, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, 
Telephone number: 770-488-2734, E-Mail Address: [email protected].
    To obtain additional programmatic information, contact: Susan J. 
Shaw, Division of Public Health Systems Development and Research, 
Public Health Practice Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E. (MailStop K-37), Atlanta, GA 
30341-3717, Telephone: 770-488-2482, E-Mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 01-8094 Filed 4-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P