[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47366-47370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18110]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02180]


Centers of Excellence for Environmental Public Health Tracking; 
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 support Centers of Excellence for Environmental Public 
Health Tracking. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
focus areas of Environmental Health and Public Health Infrastructure.
    The purpose of the program is to provide expertise and support to 
State and local health departments in (1) the development and 
utilization of data from State and national environmental public health 
tracking (surveillance) networks and (2) the investigation of the 
potential links between health effects and the environment.
    Additional information about the National Environmental Public 
Health Tracking (surveillance) Network is provided in Appendix I.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National

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Center for Environmental Health (NCEH): 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 section 301 of the Public Health 
Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 241], as amended. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to United States Schools of Public 
Health accredited by the Council on Education of Public Health that are 
associated with or have access to programs in environmental 
epidemiology, environmental sciences, health education, health 
communication, clinical medicine, and medical informatics. Eligibility 
is limited to these applicants because they provide (1) the technical 
expertise in the wide range of disciplines needed to further develop 
the theoretical and scientific base for environmental public health 
tracking (surveillance) and develop and test for new methodology 
essential to support State and local programs; and (2) a training 
ground for the nation's future environmental public health workforce. 
This wide range of disciplines and expertise is often unavailable or 
difficult to access by State or local public health agencies, yet will 
be required for an environmental public health tracking network to 
fulfill all the critical functions of a public health surveillance 
system.

    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 $2,000,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund 
approximately three awards. It is expected that the average award will 
be $650,000, ranging from $550,000 to $750,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about September 30, 2002, and will be made for 
a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to three years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    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.

Funding Preferences

    These Centers will serve as sources of expertise for recipients of 
funding for the National Environmental Public Health Tracking 
(surveillance) Program (Program Announcement 02179); preference may be 
given to the establishment of Centers of Excellence in different 
geographic areas of the United States. Matching funds are not required 
for this program 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. Develop and implement a work plan to address recipient 
activities 1.b through 1.j.
    b. Attend workgroups with Environmental Public Health Tracking 
(surveillance) Program partners to develop standardized data 
definitions; examine the availability and applicability of existing 
data standards and data exchange messages (Industry standards include, 
but are not limited to the Health Level Seven (HL7) Reference 
Information Model and its vocabularies.); define new data 
specifications based on these standards as needed in collaboration with 
national standards setting organizations; define a logical data model 
and data exchange messages for implementing the Environmental Public 
Health Tracking (surveillance) Network; and set standards for 
completeness, timeliness, and quality for the Statewide and National 
Environmental Public Health Tracking (surveillance) Network.
    c. Evaluate current surveillance methodology and develop 
innovative, cost-effective data collection strategies (including 
consideration of non-traditional data sources) that State and local 
health departments can use to obtain valid, high quality data on 
environmental health effects, exposures, and hazards.
    d. Develop data linkage methods for combined analysis of health and 
environmental data that could be utilized by State and local 
environmental public health programs in building an environmental 
public health tracking (surveillance) network.
    e. Develop statistical algorithms for State and local environmental 
public health programs to analyze trends and detect patterns of health 
effects occurrence, population exposure, or hazard levels in the 
environment that may indicate a problem.
    f. Conduct an epidemiology study examining the relationship between 
a health effect, and an environmental exposure and/or hazard in 
collaboration with environmental public health tracking program 
partners (see information about State and local health departments and 
Program Announcement 02179 in Appendix I) This will require the 
development of a research protocol for Institutional Review Board (IRB) 
review by all cooperating institutions participating in the research 
project. The CDC IRB will initially review and approve the protocol 
with a minimum of an annual review until the research project is 
completed.
    g. Examine the feasibility of using the Environmental Public Health 
Indicators (EPHI) Project (see list of other selected references in 
Appendix I) for surveillance in collaboration with State and local 
health departments participating in the National Environmental Public 
Health Tracking Program (Program Announcement 02179--see Appendix I). 
The applicant should support State/local health departments in 
determining how proposed EPHI fit into identified State and local 
priorities, examining whether the proposed EPHI are realistic in terms 
of available data and integration of these data, assessing whether the 
selected measures could be useful for State or local program and policy 
planning, and determining the accuracy of selected measures for 
community health assessment.
    h. Communicate project accomplishments, barriers, and lessons 
learned with Environmental Public Health Tracking (surveillance) 
Program partners, and other critical stakeholders by attending 
stakeholders meetings and quarterly conference calls, and by posting 
information and query responses to an environmental public health 
tracking (surveillance) Web site.
    i. Provide support to State and local health departments 
participating in the National Environmental Public Health Tracking 
Program (Program Announcement 02179--see Appendix I) by developing, 
disseminating, and evaluating communication strategies for health 
effect, exposure, and hazard information from an environmental public 
health tracking (surveillance) network that take into account risk 
perception differences among various audiences.
    j. In collaboration with State and local health departments 
participating in the National Environmental Public Health Tracking 
Program, develop training tools and provide training to State and local 
partners. Training activities should focus on two of the following 
areas: public health surveillance methods,

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environmental assessment, biomonitoring, evaluation, or risk 
communication.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Foster relationships among Centers of Excellence and State and 
local health departments by assisting in the sharing of information 
through an environmental public health tracking (surveillance) web 
site, an annual stakeholders meeting, and direct interactions.
    b. Convene workgroups to: develop standardized data definitions; 
examine the availability and applicability of existing data standards 
and data exchange messages (Industry standards include, but are not 
limited to the HL7 Reference Information Model and its vocabularies); 
define new data specifications based on these standards as needed in 
collaboration with national standards setting organizations; define a 
logical data model and data exchange messages for implementing the 
Environmental Public Health Tracking (surveillance) Network; and set 
standards for completeness, timeliness, and quality for the Statewide 
and National Environmental Public Health Tracking (surveillance) 
Network.
    c. Participate in designing, developing, and evaluating 
surveillance methods.
    d. Participate in the development of statistical algorithms to 
analyze trends and detect patterns of health effects occurrence, 
population exposure, or hazard levels in the environment that may 
indicate a problem.
    e. Participate in the protocol development, study implementation, 
data analysis, interpretation of results, and dissemination of 
epidemiology study findings including report writing and oral 
presentation.
    f. Assist in the development of a research protocol for IRB review 
by all cooperating institutions participating in the research project. 
The CDC IRB will initially review and approve the protocol with a 
minimum of annual review until the research project is completed.
    g. Provide assistance in development of training materials on 
surveillance methods, evaluation, risk communication, and other topics 
for State and local agencies and other Environmental Public Health 
Tracking (surveillance) Program partners.
    h. Assist with dissemination of information about strategies for 
communicating health effect, exposure, and hazard information from an 
environmental public health tracking (surveillance) network.

F. Content

    Pre-application conference call: Two pre-application conference 
calls will be scheduled for interested applicants. These will occur 
August 1, 2002 from 3-5 p.m. (eastern standard time [EST]) and August 
2, 2002 from 1-3 p.m. (EST). The purpose of these calls is to review 
program requirements and to respond to any questions regarding the 
program announcement. Two calls are scheduled in order to provide all 
applicants the opportunity to gather information and ask questions. It 
is not necessary to participate in both calls, though applicants are 
welcome to do so if they desire. To register to participate, applicants 
should send an e-mail or write Regina Seider at [email protected] 
[email protected] or CDC/NCEH/EHHE, 1600 Clifton Rd. 
NE, MS-E19, Atlanta GA 30333.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is required for this program. The program announcement title 
and number must appear in the LOI. The narrative should be no more than 
two pages, double-spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, 
and unreduced fonts. Your letter of intent will be used to enable CDC 
to determine level of interest in the announcement and estimate 
potential review workload, and should include the following 
information:
    1. Program announcement number and title
    2. Name, organization, address, telephone number, fax number, and 
e-mail address of the Principal Investigator(s)
    3. List of key collaborators and affiliations.

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 30 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced fonts.
    Applicants should also submit appendices including curriculum 
vitae, letters of support, and other similar supporting information. 
The total appendices should not exceed 25 pages, printed on one side.
    All pages in the application should be clearly numbered and a 
complete index to the application and any appendices included. All 
materials should be provided in an unbound, one-sided, print format, 
suitable for photocopying.
    The applicant should provide a detailed description of first-year 
objectives and activities and briefly describe future-year objectives 
and activities. The application must contain the following:
1. Executive Summary (Two Pages, Double-spaced)
    Provide a clear concise summary of the application, which includes 
a description of the activities to be undertaken.
2. The Narrative
    Should specifically address the ``Program Requirements'' and should 
contain the following sections:
    a. Understanding of the problem
    b. Collaborative relationships
    c. Goals and objectives
    d. Methods
    e. Project management and staffing
3. Budget and Justification
    a. Provide a detailed budget and line-item justification of all 
proposed operating expenses consistent with the program activities 
described in this announcement.
    b. The annual budget should include funding for three staff members 
to make three trips to Atlanta, for three days for stakeholders 
meetings or workshops and one two-day trip to Atlanta for a reverse 
site visit.
    c. If applicable, applicants requesting monies for contracts should 
include the name of the person or firm to be contracted, a description 
of services to be performed, an itemized and detailed budget including 
justification, the period of performance and the method of selection.
    d. Funding levels for years two to three should be estimated.

G. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    On or before August 5, 2002, submit the LOI 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 0920-
0428). 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

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announcement.Forms may not be submitted electronically.
    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)
    Executive Summary
    Narrative
    Appendices

    The application must be received by 5 p.m. EST, August 22, 2002. 
Submit the application to: Technical Information Management Section, PA 
02180, Procurement and Grants Office,Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention,2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Deadline: Letters of intent and applications shall be considered as 
meeting the deadline if they are received before 5 p.m. EST 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.
    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

    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. 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. Methods (35 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has clearly described the 
proposed methods to carrying out the various activities listed under 
section E. This includes a description of the rationale for selection 
of specific approaches and sound scientific methods for conducting 
surveillance, evaluations, and other activities. The extent to which 
the applicant describes methods to evaluate training, communications 
strategies, the impact of new surveillance and linkage methods and 
statistical algorithms on State/local health departments' ability to 
implement environmental public health tracking (surveillance).
    In order to address CDC policy requirements, the following should 
also be addressed: Does the application adequately address 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 includes the process of establishing 
partnerships with community or communities and recognition of mutual 
benefits.

2. Project Management and Staffing (20 points)

    The extent to which roles and responsibilities are clearly 
delineated and management of coordination across various groups 
described. The extent to which the proposed staffing and staff 
experience and backgrounds as they relate to their roles and 
responsibilities indicate that the applicant is capable of carrying out 
this program. The resumes\curricula vita of key personnel should be 
included in the application.

3. Understanding of the Problem (15 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has a clear, concise 
understanding of the requirements, objectives, and purpose of the 
cooperative agreement. The extent to which the application reflects an 
understanding of issues relating to health effect surveillance, the 
measuring or estimating of exposures, and environmental hazard 
information systems. The extent to which the applicant recognizes the 
utility, complexity, and challenges relating to the development of a 
state-wide and national environmental public health tracking 
(surveillance) network with direct electronic reporting and linkage 
capabilities, analysis requirements, impact on public health 
infrastructure and capacity, and the importance of information 
dissemination.

4. Collaborative Relationships (15 points)

    The extent to which the applicant identifies key partners to carry 
out proposed activities and provides evidence that these organizations/
agencies support and will be actively involved in carrying out the 
project. Letters of support from appropriate personnel, such as 
department chairs, must be provided if applicant is utilizing affiliate 
institutions to provide expertise in environmental epidemiology, 
environmental sciences, health education, health communication, 
clinical medicine, or medical informatics. The extent to which the 
applicant describes past and current collaborations with State and 
local health and environmental agencies, professional organizations, 
community-based organizations, and other relevant organizations will be 
considered.

5. Goals and Objectives: (15 points)

    The extent to which the applicant clearly describes (a) short- and 
long-term goals; (b) project objectives that are specific, measurable 
and realistic; (c) an implementation schedule that is reasonable and 
appropriately reflects major steps in recipient activities.

6. Budget and Justification (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the proposal demonstrates appropriateness and 
justification of the requested budget relative to the activities 
proposed.

7. Human Subjects Protection (Not Scored)

    The extent to which 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).

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I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Semi-annual progress reports (The progress report will include a 
data requirement that demonstrates measures of effectiveness). The 
progress report shall include the following items:
    a. A brief project description
    b. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals and 
objectives established for the period
    c. In the case that established goals and objectives may not be 
accomplished or are delayed, documentation of both the reason for the 
deviation and the anticipated corrective action or a request for 
deletion of the activity for the project
    d. A financial summary of obligated dollars to date as a percentage 
of total available dollars
    e. Other pertinent information (i.e. curriculum vitae for new key 
personnel).
    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.
    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 II of the 
application kit.

AR-1  Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-22  Research Integrity

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: Sonia 
Rowell, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Announcement, PA 02180, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone 
number: (770) 488-2724, Email address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Amanda Niskar, National 
Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention,1600 Clifton Rd, NE., MS-E19, Atlanta, GA 30338, Telephone 
number: (404) 498-1371, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: July 11, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.

Appendix I

National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network

    Public health surveillance is the ongoing, systematic 
collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data on 
health effects in a population for the purpose of preventing and 
controlling morbidity and mortality. An environmental public health 
tracking (surveillance) network allows linkage and reporting of data 
available from health effects surveillance data, exposure data 
(measures of contaminants in the human body), and environmental 
hazard data (measures of contaminants in the environment). A 
coordinated and integrated environmental public health tracking 
(surveillance) network will (1) provide information on levels of 
contaminants in the environment from available monitoring data, 
levels of actual exposure in the population, health effect rates, 
and spatial and temporal trends; (2) facilitate research on possible 
associations between health effects and exposures/hazards; and (3) 
measure the impact of interventions such as regulatory and 
prevention strategies. With this information, federal, state and 
local agencies will be better prepared to develop and evaluate 
effective public health action to prevent or control diseases across 
our nation. Thacker et al., 1996, have provided additional 
information about environmental public health tracking 
(surveillance).
    In fiscal year 2002, Congress appropriated funds to the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for ``development and 
implementation of a nationwide environmental public health tracking 
network and capacity development in environmental health in state 
and local health departments''. Toward this end, CDC is currently 
soliciting proposals from State and local health departments. 
Applicants for funding as Centers for Excellence in Environmental 
Public Health Tracking should refer to Program Announcement 02179 
for additional information about the program activities to be 
conducted by State and local health departments. (Internet address 
provided in reference list)
    It is important to note that the national Environmental Public 
Health Tracking Program deals specifically with non-infectious 
diseases and other health effects with known or possible 
associations with environmental exposures. Health effects may 
include: birth defects, developmental disabilities, asthma, chronic 
respiratory disease, cancer, and neurological diseases. This list is 
not comprehensive. Additional environmentally related health effects 
targeted by ``Healthy People 2010'' and of interest to this program 
include health effects such as lead poisoning, pesticide poisoning, 
methemoglobinemia, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
    The applicant should also refer to ``Healthy People 2010'' for a 
list of targeted environmental factors included in the Environmental 
Health focus area. These include objectives for reducing human 
exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, persistent chemicals (such as 
dioxin), organochlorine compounds, air contaminants (outdoor and 
indoor), and other environmental contaminants.

References

     Thacker SB, Stroup DF, Parrish RG, Anderson HA. 
Surveillance in Environmental Public Health: Issues, Systems, and 
Sources. American Journal of Public Health, 86(5):633-8; 1996.
     ``Healthy People 2010'': http//www.health.gov/healthypeople.
     National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, 
Program Announcement 02179: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm.
     PEW Environmental Health Commission Reports: 
``America's Environmental Health Gap: Why the Country Needs a 
Nationwide Health Tracking Network'': http://healthyamericans.org/resources/reports/healthgap.pdf.

Other Selected References

     CDC Environmental Public Health Indicators Project: 
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking/indicators.htm.
     CDC National Electronic Disease Surveillance System 
(NEDSS): http://www.cdc.gov/nedss.
     CDC Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health 
Surveillance Systems: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5013.pdf.
     Environmental Protection Agency's National 
Environmental Information Exchange Network: The Information 
Integration Initiative: http://www.epa.gov/oei/iiilive.htm.

--National Environmental Information Exchange Grant Program: http://www.epa.gov/neengprg.
--State/EPA Information Management Workgroup: http://www.epa.gov/ 
oei/imwg/.
--Environmental Data Standards Council: http://www.epa.gov/edsc.

     Public Health Data Conceptual Model: http://www.cdc.gov/nedss/DataModels/index.html.
     Public Health Information Technology Functions and 
Specifications (for Emergency Preparedness and Bioterrorism): http://www.cdc.gov/cic/functions-specs.

[FR Doc. 02-18110 Filed 7-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P