[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27517-27519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12418]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01096]


Development of Prototypes for The Paul Coverdell National Acute 
Stroke Registry; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
for the development of prototypes for The Paul Coverdell National Acute 
Stroke Registry. This project addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
focus area(s) related to Heart Disease and Stroke and Access to Quality 
Health Services.
    The purpose of this program is to design and pilot test real-time 
data and analysis prototypes in statewide samples that will measure the 
delivery of care to patients with acute stroke.
    The focus is on acute care which includes the process from onset of 
signs and symptoms through the emergency medical system or other 
transport to a

[[Page 27518]]

hospital emergency department; diagnostic evaluation; use of 
thrombolytic therapy when indicated by diagnosis and timeliness; other 
aspects of acute care; and referral to rehabilitation services for 
surviving cases.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is, 
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public 
and private nonprofit organizations, State and local governments or 
their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated 
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the 
Republic of Palau, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, 
Indian tribes, or Indian tribal organizations.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, Chapter 26, Section 
1611states 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 $3,600,000 is available in FY 2001, to fund 
approximately 4 to 5 awards. It is expected that the average award will 
be $800,000, ranging from $500,000 to $1,000,000. It is expected that 
the awards will begin on or about August 31, 2001, and will be made for 
a 12-month budget period within a project period of one year. Funding 
estimates may change.

Funding Priority

    1. Preference may be given to applications targeting states with 
the highest death rates for stroke.
    2. Preference may be given to applications such that different 
geographic areas are represented.

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. Plan, implement, and support the operation of hospital-based, 
statewide stroke registries in order to collect data concerning: each 
patient presenting to the hospital Emergency Departments with an 
admitting diagnosis of stroke.
    b. Establish or enhance, and regularly convene an advisory 
committee to assist in building a consensus, cooperation, and planning 
for the statewide stroke registry. Representatives may include State 
Health Departments, key organizations and individuals such as hospital 
emergency department personnel, neurologists, nurses, clinicians, and 
others deemed appropriate.
    c. Develop a sampling plan for the selection of hospitals to 
participate in the statewide stroke registry prototype such that the 
sample is representative of the state's facilities that provide care to 
patients with acute stroke.
    d. Establish selected hospitals to participate in the stroke 
registry prototype.
    e. With other grantees, participate in the final selection of a 
standard list of data items to be used by all recipients.
    f. Develop a data collection mechanism and train hospital personnel 
in the data collection process.
    g. Develop and maintain a data system, including quality assurance 
mechanisms for data collection and management, to provide timely, 
complete and quality data.
    h. Plan and implement a methodology for assessments of hospital 
reporting compliance, validity of diagnosis, reliability and 
completeness of all reporting parameters, and hospital costs required 
for data collection.
    i. Develop and maintain the capability to securely export data.
    j. Ensure secure electronic storage, to the extent possible, of all 
collected data including text and codes.
    k. Collaborate with an independent outside audit of data 
completeness and quality.
    l. Develop plan and use stroke registry data to improve the 
delivery of care to patients with acute stroke.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance in the development and final 
selection of standard data items to be used by all recipients.
    b. Provide ongoing consultation and technical assistance for 
effective program planning and management.
    c. Collaborate in establishing or endorsing program requirements 
for completeness, timeliness and accuracy of data.
    d. Support the independent quality control audits of registry data 
completeness and accuracy.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop 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 75 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent

    The letter of intent will be used to determine the number of 
potential respondents and to assist CDC in coordinating the objective 
review process. Your letter of intent should include the following 
information:

1. Name
2. Organization
3. State that will be targeted for data collection

    The letter of intent should be submitted on or before May 25, 2001, 
to the Grants Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain 
Additional Information'' section of this announcement.

Application

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are available in the application kit or at the following 
Internet address: http://forms.psc.gov/
    On or before June 29, 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 U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

Late

    Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1. or 2. above 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.

[[Page 27519]]

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria: (Maximum 100 Points).

1. Background and Experience: (15 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes: (a) The epidemiology 
of stroke in the state and rationale for consideration as a high 
preference state; (b) past and current registry related activities, 
including strengths and limitations, of health services data collection 
and outcomes evaluation.

2. Collaboration: (10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant: (a) Describes a current or 
proposed Stroke Advisory Committee; (b) describes past, current, and 
proposed stroke prevention activities and collaborations with relevant 
organizations and agencies within the state and with other states or 
national organizations interested in stroke prevention and stroke 
management; (c) provides letters of support from the State Health 
Department and relevant organizations.

3. Existing Resources and Sampling Plan: (20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides: (a) A description of 
all existing and in-state hospital sources that provide care to acute 
stroke patients; (b) a description of existing stroke registries in the 
state; (c) a sampling plan for the selection of hospitals such that the 
sample is adequate in number and representative of the state's 
hospitals that provide care to patients with acute stroke; (d) letters 
supporting willingness to participate from the selected hospitals.

4. Implementation Plan and Schedule: (30 Points)

    The extent to which the major steps required for project design and 
implementation adequately address all recipient activities in the 
program requirements, are realistically described, and the project 
timetable displays appropriate dates for the accomplishment of specific 
project activities.

5. Data Utilization: (10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides a relevant and realistic 
plan to use stroke registry data to improve the delivery of care to 
patients with acute stroke.

6. Project Management and Staffing Plan: (15 Points)

    The extent to which proposed staffing, organizational structure, 
staff experience and background, identified training needs or plan, and 
job descriptions and curricula vitae for both proposed and current 
staff indicate ability to carry out the purposes of the program.

7. Budget: (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed budget and 
justification consistent with the stated objectives and program 
activities.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements
    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Semiannual progress reports;
    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-7--Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8--Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11--Healthy People 2010
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14--Accounting System Requirements
AR-15--Proof of Non-Profit Status

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. section 241], __ 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.''
    Should you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Van King, 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) 488-2751, Email address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Wendy A. Wattigney, 
Cardiovascular Health Branch, Division of Adult and Community Health, 
NCCDPHP, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K47, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-
3717, Telephone number: (770) 488-8149, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: May 11, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-12418 Filed 5-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P