[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20115-20118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10041]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7175-7]


Community Based In-Home Asthma Environmental Education and 
Management

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Request for grant proposals.

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SUMMARY: Request for Proposals for Community Based In-Home Asthma 
Environmental Education and Management. This action announces the 
availability of FY 2002 and 2003 grant funds from the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) Indoor Environments Division/Office of 
Radiation and Indoor Air. Under Statutory Authority 42 U.S.C. 7401-
7626; Public Law 159, 69 Stat. 322, EPA plans to award two to four one-
time grants of up to $150,000.00 each. The number of awards and award 
amounts may vary depending on proposal quality and resource 
availability.
    These funds will support performance-based pilot studies of asthma 
education and management, including indoor asthma trigger 
identification and mitigation, in existing community-based in-home 
environmental management or education programs. The purpose of this 
grant program is to assess the effectiveness of in-home asthma 
education and management approaches to educating children with asthma, 
their parents and/or primary care givers, and other people with asthma 
on how to identify and mitigate the indoor triggers to which the 
asthmatic(s) in the household may be sensitive.

DATES: 1. Submit letter of intent to apply for the grant on or before 
May 29, 2002.
    2. Pre-application Assistance Conference Call date is: June 5, 
2002, 1 until 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
    3. The EPA must receive Applications on or before June 28, 2002.
    4. Selected projects will be announced on or around October 15, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: E-mail Letters of Intent to [email protected]. Send 
Applications by private shipping company only (e.g., Federal Express, 
UPS, DHL, or courier) to the attention of Brenda Doroski, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division (6th 
Floor), 501 3rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Doroski at (202) 564-9764 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We encourage first time recipients of 
Federal funds to familiarize themselves with the regulations applicable 
to assistance agreements found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Title 40, part 30 for non-profit organizations and institutions of 
higher education group, and part 31 for State and local government 
entities. These rules can be found at www.epa.gov/epacfr40/chapt-l.info/chi.toc.htm. At that location, look under SUBCHAPTER B--GRANTS 
AND OTHER FEDERAL ASSISTANCE (parts 30-49).'' You may also obtain a 
copy of the CFR Title 40, part 30 and part 31 at your local U.S. 
Government Bookstore, the U.S. Government Printing Office or on the 
internet at www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Once at this site, 
select ``Administrative Regulations and Policies/Subchapter B--Grants 
and Other Federal Assistance'.

I. Overview

    Section 103(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act authorizes the Administrator 
to conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of research, 
investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys and studies 
relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), 
extent, prevention, and control of air pollution by [(b)(3)] making 
grants to air pollution control agencies, to other public or nonprofit 
private agencies, institutions, and organizations, and to individuals, 
for purposes stated in 103(a)(1).
    The goal is to develop nationally-applicable, performance-based 
pilot studies that will: (a) Reduce the impact of environmental asthma 
triggers on children with asthma; (b) strengthen the capacity of 
families to control environmental asthma triggers in their homes; and 
(c) assess the effectiveness and sustainability of strategies for in-
home environmental asthma trigger management and education within 
communities.
    The target population of focus is low-income, urban and/or 
disproportionately impacted (with respect to asthma severity or 
incidence) children with asthma and their parents and/or care-givers. 
Adults with asthma may be included in the in-home asthma education 
program; however, children with asthma should be given preference. 
Community-based asthma environmental education and management 
program(s) may occur inside or outside the home through clinical visits 
or community forums.

II. What Criteria Must I Meet To Be Eligible for This Grant?

    To be eligible for funding, you must submit a Letter of Intent by 
May 29, 2002. In addition, you must:
    (1) Meet the standards for eligibility as identified in Section 103 
(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act (page 1, paragraph 1); e.g., be a non-
profit organization or institute of higher education, or a State or 
local government entity;
    (2) Request no more than $150,000.00 to accomplish pilot project 
goals and objectives;
    (3) Properly complete and submit Standard Form 424 Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF-424) and a proposal by the established receipt 
date; and
    (4) Commit to complete the proposed pilot project activities within 
18--24 months of grant award.

III. How Do I Submit an Application?

    The application process consists of a letter of intent to apply for 
the grant, a voluntary pre-application assistance conference call, and 
a completed application package. The application package consists of 
the SF-424 and a proposal. EPA must receive an original, plus two 
copies of your application package on or before June 28, 2002.

A. Letter of Intent

    If you intend to complete the application process, you must e-mail 
a letter of intent to [email protected] on or before May 29, 2002. 
Your letter of intent must include:

(1) Name of your organization
(2) Contact person's name
(3) Mailing address
(4) E-mail address
(5) Phone number and fax number
(6) If you would like to participate in the pre-application assistance 
conference call on June 5, 2002.

B. Pre-Application Assistance Conference Call

    A pre-application assistance conference call has been scheduled for

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June 5, 2002 from 1 until 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to answer any 
questions prospective applicants may have. If you indicate a desire to 
participate in the pre-award assistance conference call in your letter 
of intent, you will be e-mailed instructions for participating in the 
conference call.

C. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

    The SF-424 is available at www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma. The SF-424 will 
only be used to process the grant if your organization is selected as 
one of the grantees. The review panel will not receive a copy of your 
SF-424. For more information on completing SF-424A Budget Forms and 
understanding cost principles for a Federal grant, visit www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply/htm.

D. Proposal

    In addition to the SF-424, you must submit a proposal (no greater 
than nine pages in length) which includes a detailed work plan, 
itemized budget, and any supplementary biographical information you 
wish to provide. Text may be single or double spaced, no smaller than 
12 point font. Margins are not specified. Proposals must be legible. No 
additional materials (e.g, brochures, videos, etc.), beyond the nine 
page limit, will be given to the review panel for consideration.
    Your proposal should address the ranking criteria outlined below in 
section IV. To address the ranking criteria, your proposal should 
include:
    (1) Project Title.
    (2) Work Experience--describe your organization, experience in 
community-based environmental or public health education (especially 
with children with asthma), results of existing in-home education 
efforts and/or existing indoor air quality/asthma activities, and your 
organization's capacity to conduct in-home asthma assessments and/or 
education programs.
    (3) Project Goals--include a summary of specific objectives, 
expected outcomes, and deliverables.
    (4) Target Population--describe the target population, community, 
and any special asthma-related demographics of areas targeted for this 
work.
    (5) Overview of Project--describe the basic structure of the 
proposed in-home asthma education and assessment pilot project, how 
many families will be reached, curricula and assessment tools to be 
used, and resource lists including references. Describe why the 
curricula and protocols were selected or created; what other materials 
you may have considered (including reasons for not selecting them); 
and, if possible, a discussion of how the asthma education approaches 
you wish to demonstrate compare or contrast to other known approaches.
    (6) Meeting Community Needs--describe any types of additional 
materials or assistance that you may give to the households such as 
community resource lists, household repair and maintenance training, 
lessons on how to obtain services in the community, etc.
    (7) Participant Follow-Up--describe mechanisms for following-up 
with asthmatics and their families and/or primary care givers following 
in-home visit(s) to answer questions and provide assistance. Reasons 
for selecting or creating these mechanisms and, if possible, a 
discussion of how the selected mechanisms compare to other available 
mechanisms.
    (8) Monitoring and Evaluation--define outputs and outcomes and how 
project success will be measured. Describe mechanisms for tracking 
program outputs (e.g., how many households were educated, how many 
homes were assessed, in how many homes actions were taken), and 
evaluating program outcomes (e.g., the effectiveness of the education 
and mitigation methods, the level of increased awareness).
    (9) Staff--describe staffing needed to implement the proposed work 
plan, including number of staff and qualifications. In particular, 
attention should be paid to the qualifications and experience of key 
personnel.
    (10) Budget--itemize funds for salaries, materials, equipment, 
contracted activities, travel, overhead, and other pertinent 
information. Discuss how the budget relates to the objectives, 
outcomes, and deliverables in the work plan.
    (11) Project Management Experience--describe your experience 
implementing evaluation and tracking procedures and managing grants 
(e.g., submitting reports, budgets, etc.).
    (12) Timeline--indicate project length, tasks, quarterly report 
submission and final report submission dates.
    (13) Sustainability--explain how you will sustain the project 
beyond the life of the EPA grant.
    (14) Replicability--identify other localities, regions, or states 
that might benefit from the lessons you expect to learn as a result of 
your pilot project, and how you might promote replication of this 
project.

IV. How Will EPA Rank Applications?

    Applications will be ranked on the basis of the criteria listed 
below. Ranking for each criterion is based on a scale of 0 (does not 
meet the requirement) to 5 (exceeds the requirement).
    (1) Applicant is currently performing community-based environmental 
health or public health education programs which are achieving public 
health outcomes. (0-5 points)
    (2) Applicant demonstrates the ability to implement an asthma 
education program [face-to-face instruction which can occur inside or 
outside the home, e.g., in a clinic or other community setting] which 
integrates indoor environmental trigger identification and mitigation 
approaches in the home into a comprehensive asthma management education 
program (i.e., medical management and the socio-economics of the target 
population are also addressed). (0-5 points)
    (3) Applicant proposal has goals and objectives which are clearly 
stated and are likely to reduce the incidence and severity of asthma 
episodes in the target population, and create behavioral changes in the 
home as a result of its educational outreach activities. The grant 
budget is appropriate to accomplish the scope of the work (i.e., number 
of children with asthma, their parents and/or care-givers that will be 
reached). (0-5 points)
    (4) Applicant proposed work targets low-income, urban and/or 
disproportionately impacted (with respect to asthma severity or 
incidence) children. (0-5 points)
    (5) Applicant demonstrates it will use education strategies that 
are effective for varied populations and geographic locations in the 
United States, and will contribute to an improved understanding of how 
to conduct asthma education programs that address asthma triggers in 
homes. Education materials and assessment tools selected for the pilot 
project reflect current standards for conducting environmental health 
or public health education and outreach activities, particularly with 
respect to motivating behavioral changes in low-literacy, low-income, 
and disproportionately impacted populations. (0-5 points)
    (6) Applicant outlines educational materials and mitigation methods 
for secondhand tobacco smoke, house dust mites, cockroaches, molds, and 
animal dander which are compatible with the guidance contained in EPA's 
asthma brochure, ``Clear Your Home Of Asthma Triggers: Your Children 
Will Breathe Easier'' (www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/

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asthma.html) and the findings and recommendations contained in the 
January, 2000 National Academy of Sciences report on asthma, ``Clearing 
the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures'' (http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9610.html). (0-5 points)
    (7) Applicant staff have the knowledge and experience to 
successfully perform the proposed work. (0-5 points)
    (8) Applicant describes methods that will be used to ensure 
sustained participant involvement throughout the duration of the grant. 
Applicant adequately describes mechanisms for obtaining feedback about 
program effectiveness from participants after the in-home education 
assessment visits. (0-5 points)
    (9) Applicant clearly describes a monitoring and evaluation 
component (e.g., home visits and/or patient/family reporting) which is 
practical, reasonable and sound. The applicant must, at a minimum, 
report the number of homes visited, the number of children and adults 
with asthma educated, the number of homes in which indoor environmental 
triggers have been identified, and the number of households in which 
mitigation actions have been taken. In addition, the applicant 
describes any health outcomes data that will be obtained through this 
project, such as, the number of emergency room visits, inpatient 
hospital admissions, sick visits to primary care physicians for asthma, 
school days missed, symptom days, rescue medication used, and quality 
of life indicators. Applicant agrees to provide quarterly performance 
reports to EPA which shall include, at a minimum, information about the 
above. (0-5 points)
    (10) Applicant addresses how they will sustain their project beyond 
the life of the EPA grant, and the steps they will take to promote 
replication of this project in other areas and with other populations. 
(0-5 points)

Answers to Questions You May Have

    Question 1: What is an indirect cost, and what if we don't have an 
indirect cost rate established?
    Answer: Indirect costs are explained in the grant application 
forms, SF-424, found at www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma. If your organization 
has an indirect cost (IDC) rate established, include it where 
appropriate in your budget. If your organization intends to claim 
indirect costs, and you do not already have a negotiated Federal IDC 
rate, you may submit your proposal with an estimated IDC rate. If your 
organization is selected to receive a grant, you will be required to 
establish an IDC rate within 30 days of notification of the award. 
Organizations may also opt to charge less than their established IDC 
rate.
    Question 2: Is there a limit on indirect costs; and are they to be 
included within the $150,000?
    Answer: There is no limit on indirect costs. All indirect costs 
should be included within the $150,000 and included on the Budget 
Information Form (SF-424A).
    Question 3: Is there a cost-share (match) requirement? Will 
proposals that include cost-sharing be reviewed more favorably?
    Answer: No, cost-sharing is not required, and will not be 
considered in the ranking process. However, you can include matching 
funds in the proposal, not on form SF-424.
    Question 4: On SF-424, block 10, there is a space for ``Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number.'' What number should we use?
    Answer: The CFA number is 66-606.
    Question 5: On SF-424, in block 16, it asks ``Is application 
subject to review by State Executive Order 12372 process?'
    Answer: To determine whether your state requires review prior to 
receiving a Federal grant award, and a point of contact if it does, 
check the Office of Management and Budget website, www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/spoc.html.
    Question 6: What start date should we use on the SF-424 form?
    Answer: Use November 30, 2002, as the start date, although the 
actual award date may vary. No pre-award costs will be approved for 
this pilot project, so please do not incur any costs unless and until 
you receive an assistance agreement from EPA.
    Question 7: Are we required to include a quality assurance 
narrative statement?
    Answer: If you are making environmental measurements or collecting 
data, your proposal should include a statement about the quality 
assurance practices you will put in place to ensure the accuracy of 
your data. If there is a need for additional information, our Grants 
Administration Division will contact you prior to award.
    Question 8: Is the due date of June 28, 2002 flexible?
    Answer: No. Applications must be received on or before June 28, 
2002 no later than close of business (5pm EDT) as directed in the 
Request for Proposals. Due to mail delivery problems with the U.S. 
Postal Service, applications must be sent via private shipping company 
(e.g., Federal Express, UPS, DHL) or be hand-delivered by messenger to 
our street address listed in the RFP.
    Question 9: Can grant funds be used to mitigate homes?
    Answer: The Clean Air Act authority under which this project is 
being conducted provides for studies and demonstrations. Mitigation is 
acceptable under this grant only to the extent that it is done as a way 
to teach occupants how to clean-up and/or prevent indoor environmental 
triggers of asthma in their home. It is up to the applicant to propose 
mitigation methods, and their rationale, that they believe will be most 
effective given the scope of their proposal. Applicants should refer to 
EPA brochure ``Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers'' and the National 
Academy of Sciences report on asthma, ``Clearing the Air: Asthma and 
Indoor Air Exposures'' for more information on recommended mitigation 
methods for indoor environmental asthma triggers. Budget may limit the 
degree of interventions. At a minimum, the education must be direct 
one-on-one, and should be clearly outlined in the proposal. Mitigations 
might include, but are not limited to, things like mold clean up or 
mattress covers. Interventions should be directly linked to your 
proposed project objectives and outcomes.
    Question 10: Will our grant proposals be considered confidential?
    Answer: While grant proposals are generally handled in a 
confidential manner, they may be disclosed under the Freedom of 
Information Act. If there is any information you wish to ensure remains 
confidential, please be sure to stamp ``confidential'' or 
``restricted'' on each page on which such information occurs. If we 
receive a third-party request for information labeled confidential, we 
will follow procedures outlined in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B.
    Question 11: Are we permitted to enter into contracts as part of 
the project we are proposing?
    Answer: Yes, as long as the costs are allowable as defined under 
the Code of Federal Regulations 40 Part 30 and Part 31, which can be 
found at www.epa.gov/ogd/grants.htm.
    Question 12: May we include collaborators, or submit our proposal 
with another organization?
    Answer: Application packages must be submitted by the organization 
who submitted the letter of intent, but applications may include 
collaborators, and may be submitted as joint proposals. The funding 
will go to the lead organization.
    Question 13: Does the proposal require that we demonstrate the 
efficacy of a specific approach using scientific

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method such as a randomized, controlled study or experimental research, 
or a demonstration trial?
    Answer: No, the proposal does not require that you use scientific 
method to demonstrate the efficacy of a specific approach. You should 
provide rationale for using a specific approach, including any past 
results you may have from using the approach. You should include the 
health outcomes you expect in the target community as a result of the 
proposed approach.
    Question 14: If we have additional support for this program through 
other sources, can they be used? (Related to Ranking Criteria 9 and 10)
    Answer: Yes, it is fine if you include additional resources you may 
have for the project.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7626; Pub. L. 159, 69 Stat. 322.

    Dated: April 17, 2002.
Elizabeth Craig,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 02-10041 Filed 4-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P