[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35250-35253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16656]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01161]


Enhance Research, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building for 
American Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities; Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency 
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program. The purpose of the program is to assist the American Indian 
Tribal Colleges and Universities in developing the commitment and 
capacity to promote education, development, research, leadership and 
community partnerships that enhance the participation of American 
Indians in the health professions; and to enhance the health status of 
American Indians in the United States.
    The CDC and ATSDR are committed to achieving the health promotion 
and disease prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 2010'', a 
national activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve the 
quality of life. This announcement is related to the ``Healthy People 
2010'' objectives which specify improving the health of groups of 
people bearing a disproportionate burden of poor health as compared to 
the total population. The framework of ``Heathy People 2010'' consists 
of two broad goals which are to:
    1. increase quality and years of healthy life; and
    2. eliminate health disparities.
    ``Healthy People'' is the national prevention initiative that 
identifies opportunities to improve the health of all Americans. For a 
copy of ``Healthy People 2010'' visit the internet site: http://www.health.gov.healtlhypeople.

B. Eligible Applicants

    To be eligible for funding under this announcement, applicants must 
be a tax-exempt private or public non-profit organization with Internal 
Revenue Service (IRS) Code, Section 501(c)(3) status; tribal colleges 
in the United States; or federally recognized Indian Tribal 
governments, Indian tribes or Indian Tribal organizations.
    If the applicant is applying as a tax exempt non-profit 
organization, proof of non-profit tax-exempt status must be provided 
with the application. CDC will not accept an application without proof 
of tax-exempt status. Non-profit tax-exempt status is determined by the 
IRS Code, Section 501(c)(3). Tax-exempt status may be proved by 
providing a current copy of the 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt of the 
current IRS Determination Letter.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, Chapter 26, Section 
1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of 
the Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not 
eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or 
loan.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $200,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund the Central 
Coordinating Organization for this cooperative agreement. It is 
expected that additional funds may be made available through other 
Centers, Institutes and Program Offices (CIOs), within the CDC/ATSDR to 
fund supplemental awards under this cooperative agreement for projects 
of Tribal Colleges and Universities with whom the applicant 
collaborates. It is expected that the awards will begin on or about 
September 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 the 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. Curriculum, Technology, and Infrastructure Development
    (1) Determine what the Tribal Colleges and Universities are 
currently doing in regards to Public Health and Health prevention, e.g. 
curriculum, program prevention services, and health promotion 
activities.
    (2) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in increasing their 
knowledge of the Federal grants application process, such as budget 
initiation and grant writing.
    (3) Develop distance based learning programs, satellite and video 
conferencing opportunities, and other information systems for Tribal 
Colleges and Universities to enhance the educational opportunities in 
the fields of public health and to enhance the research, statistical, 
and public health educational skills of the students.
    (4) Enhance access to culturally relevant instructional material 
focusing on epidemiology, environmental health, public health, and 
biostatistics for the Tribal Colleges and Universities.
b. Professional Development and Continuing Education
    (1) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in developing curricula 
for educating and training students in introductory courses in the 
fields of public health, occupational health, environmental health, 
allied health, and other health related areas.
    (2) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in establishing faculty 
development opportunities at the CDC/ATSDR.
c. Student Training Opportunities, Fellowship Programs, and Internship 
Programs
    (1) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in establishing CDC/
ATSDR internship and fellowship opportunities that will enable students 
to gain knowledge and experience in public health practices.
    (2) Assist the Tribal Colleges and Universities in developing 
public health classroom instructional materials and practicum 
opportunities for field assignees for their member schools.
    (3) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in identifying other 
new public health field experiences for American Indians.
d. Capacity Building and Resource Development
    (1) Serve as a resource for Tribal Colleges and Universities in 
developing educational programs targeting public health professionals.
    (2) Enhance access to health related resource information, 
instructional material, and teaching techniques for health 
professionals at the Tribal Colleges and Universities.
    (3) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in developing 
culturally competent prevention research and related educational 
programs for communities serving American Indians.

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e. Program Coordination and Coalition Building
    (1) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in collaborating with 
State and local health departments, as well as community-based 
organizations, in providing special needs projects that provide an 
opportunity for ``hands on'' experience for instructors and students.
    (2) Sponsor and facilitate conferences/forums that promote 
collaboration and coalition building among Tribal Colleges and 
Universities, Federal, and private partners.
f. Needs Assessment
    (1) Conduct a needs assessment with Tribal Colleges and 
Universities' faculty and students to identify educational needs and 
current public health practices.
    (2) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in establishing 
research priorities for funding purposes, and to assist Tribal Colleges 
and Universities in identifying health disparities.
g. Public Health Research in Prevention, Policy, and Dissemination
    (1) Assist Tribal College and Universities in evaluating multi-
component, community-based intervention strategies that address health 
disparities among American Indians.
    (2) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in developing research 
activities that have an impact on eliminating health disparities among 
American Indians.
    (3) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in assessing the impact 
of public health infrastructure, and policy changes on disease, injury, 
and disability.
    (4) Assist Tribal Colleges and Universities in providing faculty 
and student training and other career development opportunities in 
prevention research that are critical to the mission and goals of CDC 
and ATSDR.

2. CDC/ATSDR Activities:

    CDC/ATSDR will provide technical assistance and guidance as 
requested for the activities provided under recipient requirements.

E. Applications

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Your application will be evaluated based on the 
criteria listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your 
program plan. The narrative should be no more than 30 double-spaced 
pages, printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font.
    (The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget.)

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and five copies of PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-
001) (adhere to the instructions on the Errata Instruction Sheet for 
PHS 398)]. Forms are available in the application kit and www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    On or before August 13, 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 postmark 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

    The funding provided in this announcement is being made only for 
the Central Coordinating Organization. When applications for special 
projects (those submitted by Tribal Colleges and Universities) are 
later submitted, they will be funded separately. Each application will 
be evaluated individually by an independent review group appointed by 
CDC/ATSDR. Special projects will be evaluated based on criteria for 
special projects. Applications from Central Coordinating Organizations 
will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Organizational Summary: (25 points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant describes the history, nature, 
and extent of its relevant experience within the last two years with 
supporting documentation.
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes existing facilities 
and staff (including resumes and job descriptions) to accomplish the 
desired outcomes.

2. History and Experience in working with public health programs with 
Ethnic/Racial Groups: (20 points)

    a. Extent to which the applicant documents at least two years of 
experience and success in operating and administering a public health 
or related program serving the target population.
    b. Extent to which applicant documents experience in working on 
public health programs with ethnic/racial groups.
    c. The adequacy of the organization's proposed staffing and 
collaborations with partners, to meet the design and evaluation needs 
of the project. Include the nature of the partnership, members of the 
partnership, and relevant experience.

3. Capacity of the organization to work with Tribal Colleges and 
Universities: (25 points)

    a. Organization must show proof of previous experience in working 
with Tribal Colleges and Universities; or with the target population 
group within the last four years.
    b. Organization must provide letters of support from several Tribal 
Colleges and Universities showing that a collaborative partnership has 
been formed.

4. Action Plan: (15 points)

    a. Extent to which the applicant demonstrates a thorough and 
reasonable plan in developing the program, including assurance of 
community participation and participation of Tribal Colleges and 
Universities in the planning process.
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides a reasonable and 
complete schedule for implementing all activities.
    c. The extent to which concurrence with the applicant's plans are 
concurred by Tribal Colleges and Universities.

5. Evaluation Plan: (15 points)

    a. The extent to which the proposed evaluation plan is detailed and 
will document program process, effectiveness, impact and outcome.
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates potential data 
sources for evaluation purposes, and documents staff availability, 
expertise, and capacity to perform the evaluation.
    c. The extent to which a feasible plan for reporting evaluation 
results and using evaluation information for programmatic decisions is 
included.

6. Budget and Justification: (not scored)

    The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed budget and 
narrative justification consistent with stated

[[Page 35252]]

objectives and planned program activities.
    Applications for special projects (those submitted by member 
schools and the Cental Coordination Organization) will be evaluated 
individually in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Background, Purpose, and Priority Area(s): (20 points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant described the health status of 
the target population group(s) geographic community, and priority 
area(s) to be addressed.
    b. The extent to which the applicant uses data (if available) and 
other supporting evidence to document the health status of the racial/
ethnic population groups and health disparities within the group, the 
appropriateness of the target population sizes for the priority area(s) 
selected.
    c. The degree of the disparity between the target population and 
the general population based on local, State, and national data which 
directly supports the basis for the health disparity in the priority 
area(s) selected.

2. Program Objectives: (15 points)

    a. The extent to which the proposed objectives are specific, 
measurable, time-phased, and consistent with the program purpose and 
the proposed activities, and consistent with the applicant 
organization's overall mission.
    b. The extent to which the applicant has included objectives which 
are feasible to be accomplished during the budget period, and which 
address all activities necessary to accomplish the purpose of the 
proposal.

3. Action Plan: (20 points)

    a. Extent to which the applicant demonstrates a thorough and 
reasonable plan in developing the program, including assurance of 
community participation and participation in the planning process.
    b. The extent to which the applicant provides a reasonable and 
complete schedule for implementing all activities.
    c. The extent to which concurrence with the applicant's plans are 
concurred by all collaborating parties.

4. Evaluation Plan: (15 points)

    a. The extent to which the proposed evaluation plan is detailed and 
will document program process, effectiveness, impact and outcome.
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates potential data 
sources for evaluation purposes, and documents staff availability, 
expertise, and capacity to perform the evaluation.
    c. The extent to which a feasible plan for reporting evaluation 
results and using evaluation information for programmatic decisions is 
included.

5. Research Plan: (20 points)

    The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC Policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial 
groups in the proposed research. This includes:
    a. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and 
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    b. The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    c. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to 
measure differences when warranted.
    d. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach 
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships 
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.

6. Personnel and Staffing: (10 points)

    Qualifications and experience of professionals to carry out the 
project activities.

7. Budget and Justifications: (not scored)

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

8. Human Subjects: (not scored)

    Does the application adequately address the requirements of Title 
45 CFR Part 46 for the protection of human subjects? (Not scored; 
however, an application can be disapproved if the research risks are 
sufficiently serious and protection against risks is so inadequate as 
to make the entire application unacceptable.)

9. Review of Non-Competing Continuation Applications within the project 
period will be made on the basis of the following criteria:

    a. Availability of funds;
    b. Satisfactory progress made in meeting project objectives;
    c. Objectives for the new budget period that are realistic, 
specific, and measurable;
    d. Any proposed changes that benefit the objectives, methods of 
operation, and continuing need for cooperative agreement support;
    e. Evaluation procedures which will lead to achievement of project 
objectives; and
    f. The budget request which is clearly justified 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. quarterly progress reports;
    2. financial status report, due 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-1  Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-3  Animal Subjects Requirements
AR-5  HIV Program Review Panel 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
AR-22  Research Integrity

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Section 301 (a) and 317(k)(2) [42 
U.S.C. 214(a) and 247b(k)(2)] of the Public Health Service Act, 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 1-888-472-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be 
asked to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify 
the Program Announcement number of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents,

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business management technical assistance may be obtained from: Peaches 
Brown, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000 MS-15, Atlanta, Georgia 
30341-4146, Telephone number: 770-488-2738, Email address: [email protected]
    For program technical assistance, contact: Karen H. Bouye, Senior 
Advisor for Research, Office of the Associate Director for Minority 
Health, Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Northeast, Mailstop D-39, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333, Telephone: (404) 639-4313, Email address: [email protected]

    Dated: June 27, 2000.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-16656 Filed 7-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P