[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43605-43608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16226]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02193]


Centers of Excellence in Health Statistics; Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the 
Office of Public Health Practice Program Office ``PHPPO'' and the 
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) announce the availability 
of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a cooperative agreement to support 
Centers of Excellence in Health Statistics (CEHS). This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of Disability and 
Secondary Conditions; Environmental Health; Maternal, Infant, and Child 
Health; Public Health Infrastructure; Cancer; Heart Disease and Stroke; 
Tobacco Use.
    The purpose of this program is to: Support Infrastructure 
(Administrative Core): Enhance the organizational setting to promote 
research on methods for health statistics, drawing upon multiple 
disciplines and involving collaboration with multiple partners.
    Support Research Projects (Research Component): Support methodology 
and analytic research projects aimed at advancing the state of the art 
of collection, analysis, and interpretation of health statistics. 
Integrate the fields of statistics, health services research, survey 
research, public health, epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, 
computer science and technology among others. Through such multi-
disciplinary research, explore new approaches to enhance the capability 
of the statistical system to meet the rapidly changing needs of disease 
surveillance, public health research, and prevention research.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for 
Health Statistics:
    1. Monitor trends in the nation's health through high-quality data 
systems; addressing issues relevant to decision makers.
    2. Improve the nation's vital statistics system.
    3. Improve racial and ethnic data for programmatic and policy 
decision-making.
    4. Disseminate health data in innovative ways.

B. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 306 of the Public Health 
Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 242k] as amended. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 99.283.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is, 
universities, colleges, technical schools, research institutions, 
hospitals, other public and private nonprofit organizations, community-
based organizations, faith-based 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, 
the Republic of Palau, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, 
Indian tribes, or Indian tribal organizations.

    Note: Title II of the United States Code 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.

D. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,200,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund 
approximately three awards. It is expected that the average award will 
be $400,000 in total costs, ranging from $350,000 to $450,000. It is 
anticipated that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 2002, 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period. Funding estimates may 
change. Project period for one year.
    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.

Use of Funds

    Applicants should include sufficient travel funds within their 
budgets to travel to the NCHS, Hyattsville Maryland, facility for an 
annual meeting of all awarded research center principal investigators.

Funding Preferences

    There is programmatic interest in supporting Centers that conduct a 
wide range of research, analytic, and implementation activities 
pertaining to health statistics and information systems for health 
promotion and disease prevention research and application. Examples of 
relevant research topics include, but are not limited to, those listed 
below:
    1. Survey methodology: New sampling approaches, new designs for 
hard-to-reach populations, new approaches for linking and integrating 
health surveys, improved capabilities for conducting longitudinal and 
cross-sectional studies, improved methods for addressing language and 
cognitive issues in conducting surveys.
    2. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Development of 
standards in terms, definitions, and methods; development of health 
status indicators for within-population group comparison; examination 
of protective or wellness factors and health seeking behaviors 
particular to population groups; assessment of limitations of and 
alternatives to randomized designs for community intervention trials.
    3. Data linkages: Improved use of existing administrative data sets 
(e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, National Death 
Index, hospital discharges, and employer health files), expanded use of 
data sources from outside the public health arena, approaches to 
tracking patient health episodes across different providers, and 
methods for linking or matching different data sources to move toward 
population coverage.
    4. Data analysis: Analytic approaches to interpreting poverty and 
socioeconomic status and their effect on

[[Page 43606]]

population subgroups, analytic approaches to assessing the impact of 
managed care on health as well as impact of other changes in health 
care systems, and enhancement of epidemiological studies of disease and 
illness including the impact of behavior and environmental exposures, 
improved strategies for combining qualitative data to enhance insight 
into statistical research, examination of demographic aspects of health 
morbidity, disability, and mortality, including issues related to the 
influence of early life on later life, algorithms for measuring health 
outcomes and quality of care, and validation of aggregated variables.
    5. Information technology: Expanded research and development of 
automation technologies, including the development of new electronic 
methods for data collection, improved analytic tools, and new 
approaches to electronic data dissemination.
    6. Special populations: Improved data on populations particularly 
vulnerable to change in the health care system and those with unique 
health problems (racial/ethnic minorities, poor, disabled, elderly, 
highly mobile populations); of particular interest is the reliability 
of race and ethnic information on vital and medical records (self-
report versus proxy) with a focus on mortality statistics and 
misreporting.
    7. Medical informatics: Approaches to defining, accessing, and 
using computerized patient records, the development of uniform data 
elements and definitions, developing methods for greater linkage 
between medical informatics and population-based health information, 
developing standardized instruments for recording utilization 
(especially preventive services) for illness episodes that can be used 
by primary care service providers in a variety of settings.
    8. Measurement: Improved techniques for describing and measuring 
health status, functional status, health outcomes, and the impact of 
care and the environment, behavior, family, and community on health 
status.
    9. Non-sampling error: Examination of biases associated with the 
sampling frame, mode of survey, non-response, and measurement bias.
    10. Confidentiality and data sharing: Development of innovative 
methods and techniques to ensure the confidentiality of information 
provided by respondents, while at the same time maximizing the sharing 
of micro-data for analysis, e.g., employing random transformations and 
imputed synthetic variables and evaluating the resulting analytic 
losses; development and evaluation of alternative approaches to obtain 
informed consent.

E. 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. Support Infrastructure (Administrative Core)
    (1) Maintain an appropriate organizational setting and 
institutional infrastructure (administrative core) that sustains a set 
of research projects. This setting must facilitate collaboration 
between multiple disciplines and involve multiple partners.
    (2) Establish relationship(s) with organizations relevant to the 
success of the Center's research agenda, demonstrated by letters of 
agreement.
b. Research Component
    (1) Develop and organize a prevention/promotion research theme (or 
set of themes) and a research agenda. For example, themes and research 
agendas can address Programmatic Interest research topics outlined in 
that section of the announcement or can be focused on problems unique 
to the community in which the CEHS would be located.
    (2) Design and conduct one or more research projects within the 
research agenda developed by the particular CEHS that involves 
specialists or experts in sophisticated methodology and individuals or 
organizations from the community, if appropriate, to identify 
priorities and link research activities to important public health, 
prevention, and health statistics research issues.
    (3) Develop and implement a plan to disseminate research findings 
as widely as is practicable.
2. CDC Activities
    a. Provide technical assistance on projects as necessary.
    b. Assist in the development of a controlled access environment 
that allows micro-data applications.
    c. Assist in the development of a research protocol for 
Institutional Review Board (IRB) review by all cooperating institutions 
participating in the research. The CDC (IRB) will review and approve 
the protocol initially and on at least an annual basis until the 
research project is completed.

F. Content

Applications

    The program announcement title and number must appear in the 
application. 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 25 pages, single-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins and unreduced fonts.
    The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget

G. Submission and Deadline

Applications

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001). Forms are available at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm. Forms may also be obtained by 
contacting the Grants Management Specialist identified in the ``Where 
to obtain Additional Information'' section of this announcement.
    Application forms must be submitted in the following order:

Cover Letter
Table of Contents
Application
Budget Information Form
Budget Justification
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Form
HIV Assurance Form (if applicable)
Human Subjects Certification (if applicable)
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
Narrative

    Applications must be received before 5 p.m. Eastern Time August 5, 
2002, submit the application to the: Technical Information Management 
Section, 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are received before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 
Applicants sending applications by the United States Postal Service or 
commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier will be able 
to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date and time. 
If an application is received after closing due to (1) carrier error, 
when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by 
the

[[Page 43607]]

closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the 
application as having been received by the deadline.
    Applications that do not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition and will be discarded. Applicants will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Application

    Applicants are required to provide Measures of Effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the grant or cooperative agreement. Measures of 
Effectiveness must relate to the performance goal (or goals) as stated 
in section ``A. Purpose'' of this announcement. Measures must be 
objective and quantitative and must measure the intended outcome. The 
Measures of Effectiveness shall be submitted with the application and 
shall be an element of evaluation.
    A Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) appointed by CDC will evaluate each 
application individually against the following criteria's:
1. Infrastructure (Administrative Core)
    a. Organizational Infrastructure: Does the structure lead to the 
development of a body of knowledge that can yield results beyond that 
accomplished with individual projects alone? Does the CEHS include 
established investigators and develop genuine collaborations among 
investigators with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise?
    b. Environment: Does the scientific, technical, and administrative 
environment of the center contribute to excellence and the probability 
of success? Does the center take advantage of unique features of the 
scientific and public health environments or employ useful 
collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of a high level of 
institutional commitment and support? Does the Center Director 
(Principal Investigator) have specific authority and responsibility to 
carry out the project? Is the Center Director located organizationally 
at a level to garner the support needed for the center (i.e., report to 
an appropriate institutional official, e.g., dean of a school, vice 
president of a university, or commissioner of health)? Is the time and 
effort indicated for the Center Director adequate (minimum of 25 
percent effort devoted solely to this project with an anticipated range 
of 25 to 50 percent)?
    c. Organization: The quality and appropriateness of the 
organizational structure, the quality and experience of the 
administrative staff, and the quality of the plans for the allocating 
and monitoring of resources.
    d. Budget: Reasonableness of proposed budget and time frame for the 
project in relation to the work proposed.
    e. Measures of Effectiveness: What measures will be used to compare 
outputs to the performance goal (or goals) as stated in section ``A. 
Purpose'' of this announcement? Measures must be objective and 
quantitative and must measure the intended outcome.
2. Research Component
    a. Research Theme: Is the concept of a center fulfilled, i.e., is 
there an organizing prevention/promotion research theme (or set of 
themes) and a research agenda that defines the mission of the 
particular CEHS?
    b. Public Health Significance: Does the center address an important 
public health problem? If the aims of the application are achieved, how 
will the field or health statistics and prevention research benefit? 
What will be the effect of the center and its affiliated studies on 
fundamental advances in the development, testing, and dissemination of 
health statistics and prevention research and on informing public 
health policy?
    c. Leadership: Are the center director and other senior 
investigators at the forefront of their respective fields? Do they have 
the experience and authority to organize, administer and direct the 
center?
    d. Research projects: Are the specific research projects of 
exceptional scientific merit?
    e. Innovation: Does the Center propose to develop novel concepts, 
approaches, measures or methods in basic research that will inform and 
guide health promotion and disease prevention? Are the aims original 
and innovative? Do the projects extend existing approaches or develop 
new methodologies or technologies?
    f. Study Populations: 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:
    (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial 
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    (2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    (3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate 
to measure differences when warranted.
    (4) 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.
    g. Human Subjects: When applicable, the adequacy of the proposed 
means for protecting human subjects. Does the application adequately 
address the requirements of Title 45 CFR 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.)
    h. Budget: Reasonableness of proposed budget.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
    1. Annual progress reports (The progress reports will include a 
data requirement that demonstrates measures of effectiveness.)
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    4. Applicants are required to provide Measures of Effectiveness 
that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the grant or cooperative agreement.
    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 of the 
application kit.

AR-1  Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial Ethnic Minorities 
in Research
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC home page Internet address--
http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.''
    For business management technical assistance, contact:Merlin 
Williams,

[[Page 43608]]

Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office,Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention,2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000,tlanta, 
GA 30341-4146,Telephone number: 770-488-2765,Email address: 
[email protected].
    For programmatic technical assistance, contact:Jennifer Madans, 
Ph.D., National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 
1140,Hyattsville, MD 20782,Telephone Number: 301-458-4500,Email 
address: [email protected].
    Dewey LaRochelle, MPA, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 
Belcrest Road, Room 1140,Hyattsville, MD 20782,Telephone Number: 301-
458-4607,Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: June 21, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
CGFM, Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-16226 Filed 6-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P