[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45121-45123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16938]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02109]


War-Related Mental Health and Trauma Assessment Program; Notice 
of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to increase the understanding of war-related mental health and 
trauma morbidity in countries which have experienced complex 
emergencies.
    The purpose of this program is to conduct innovative assessments of 
mental health and trauma related morbidity in complex emergency 
affected countries. This program will help to establish an improved 
understanding of the burden of war-related trauma and mental health 
morbidity in refugee populations, and how these effects may be 
mitigated.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for Environmetal 
Health: Increase the understanding of the relationship between 
environmental exposures and health effects.

B. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 301, 307, and 317 of the 
Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 241 and 247b], as amended. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided to university-based organizations or 
organizations with significant research capacity, including faith-based 
organizations. Eligible organizations will have:
    1. Three years expertise in refugee health, landmine/war-related 
injuries, mental health and psycho-social trauma related to conflict, 
in at least four international settings.
    2. Three years experience in conducting mental health and trauma 
related studies in populations affected by war and displacements in at 
least two less developed countries.
    3. A history of publication in peer-reviewed literature in the 
fields of psycho-social trauma and mental health related to war in less 
developed countries.

    Note: Title 2 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 $250,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund up to two 
awards. The average award will be $75,000 to $150,000. It is expected 
that awards will begin on or about October 1, 2002 and will be made for 
a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 3 years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    Matching funds are not required for this program.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made

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on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    1. All requests for funds, including the budget contained in the 
application, shall be stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, 
the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will not compensate 
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the 
issuance of supplemental awards.
    2. Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, including 
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased 
if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives, however, the 
International Emergency Refugee Health Branch (IERHB) must be notified 
in advance of such purchases.
    3. The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic 
organizations are likewise allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations.
    4. The majority of funds are expected to directly support costs 
associated programs conducted under this announcement.

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. Conduct an innovative assessment of:
    (1) Psycho-social trauma related to war in a less developed 
country; and/or,
    (2) Mental health morbidity related to war in a less developed 
country.
    b. Present and disseminate findings from program activities so as 
to add to the body of knowledge and methods related to mental health 
and trauma related to war in less developed countries by publishing in 
peer-reviewed literature.
    c. Make recommendations for future research needed to adequately 
describe the burden of psycho-social trauma related to war in less 
developed countries.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide consultation and assistance, as needed, in planning and 
implementing psycho-social trauma and mental health related 
assessments.
    b. Collaborate on the epidemiologic analysis and the preparation 
and presentation of findings from assessments.

F. Content

    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, double spaced, 
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.
    In completing the application, the applicant should:
    1. Concisely state the understanding of the objectives and program 
intent, problems, complexities, and interactions required of this 
cooperative agreement.
    2. Present a plan and approach for carrying out the assessment of 
psycho-social trauma and/or mental health assessments in war-affected 
less developed countries.
    3. Describe their experience in conducting similar work.
    4. Identify the professional personnel to be assigned to this 
project and their commitment to this effort, and describe the support 
staff services to be provided.
    5. Provide first year budget estimates for addressing each of the 
activities described.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-
0428). Forms are available in the application kit and at the following 
Internet address: http:www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    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)
Narrative
    The application must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time August 9, 
2002. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Rd, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    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 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.
    Applicants will be notified of their failure to meet the submission 
requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

    Applicants are required to provide Measures of Effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the identified objectives of the 
cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the 
performance goal stated in section ``A. Purpose'' of this announcement. 
Measures must be objective and quantitative and must measure the 
intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness shall be submitted 
with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC:
1. Understanding of the problem (25 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a clear, concise 
understanding of the nature of the problem to be addressed. This 
includes a description of the public health importance of the planned 
activities to be undertaken, and realistic presentation of proposed 
objectives.
2. Technical approach (25 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant's proposed activities form a 
logical strategy, including a reasonable activity time line, and 
measurable management and effectiveness and data analysis steps.
3. Ability to carry out the project (25 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of its 
technical ability to carry out the proposed project.
4. Personnel (25 percent)
    The extent to which professional personnel involved in this project 
are

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qualified, including evidence of experience similar to this project.
5. Budget (not scored)
    The extent to which itemized budget for conducting the project, 
along with justification, is reasonable and consistent with stated 
objectives and planned program activities.
6. Human Subjects (not scored)
    The applicant must state if there is a need of human subjects 
review and describe a plan for the review of their proposed project by 
an accredited review board. The CDC Institutional Review Board (IRB) 
will review and approve the protocol initially and on at least an 
annual basis until the research project is completed.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
    1. Semi-annual progress reports. The progress report 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.
    Awardee is required to obtain an annual audit of these CDC funds 
(program specific audit) by a U.S. based audit firm with international 
branches and current license/authority in-country, and in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent.
    A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, pre-award 
or post-award, with the potential awardee in order to review their 
business management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of 
U.S. Federal funds. Send all reports to the Grants Management 
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement in the application kit.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program.
AR-1  Human Subjects
AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8  Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14  Accounting

J. Where to Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, and the necessary application 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.''
    To obtain business management technical assistance, contact: 
Vincent Falzone, 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: 770-488-2763, Email address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Barbara Lopes Cardozo, 
International Emergency Refugee Health Branch, Division of Emergency 
and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental 
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford 
Highway, NE (F-48), Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone number: (770) 488-
4138, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: June 29, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
CGFM, Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-16938 Filed 7-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P