[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47555-47558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18237]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02130]


Cooperative Agreement With National Organizations for Promoting 
Health and Preventing Disease and Disability With Employer-Purchasers 
of Health Care; 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 with National Organizations for Promoting Health and Preventing 
Disease and Disability, and improving healthy behaviors. This program 
addresses all ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas.
    The purpose of the program is to support cross-cutting activities 
with national business organizations and their affiliated employer-
purchasers of health care to improve health, prevent disease and 
disability, and promote healthy behaviors with regard to a variety of 
disease areas and health conditions. It's purpose is to also promote 
the objectives outlined in The Guide for Community Preventive Services 
(http://www.thecommunityguide.org) and other clinical and preventive 
services guidelines, through the translation and communication of 
public health principles and prevention practices into readily 
interpretable and applicable information for employer-purchasers of 
health care.

Program Emphasis

    There are two broad areas of program emphasis:
    1. Prevention of chronic disease and integrated chronic disease 
care, with a special focus on preventing, identifying and managing co-
morbidities of chronic illness and the special needs of chronically ill 
populations.
    2. Prevention of acute and chronic health conditions, diseases, 
concerns and issues that affect women.
    In addition, applicants should ensure that their proposals address 
reducing health status disparities within employed populations. More 
specifically, address the persistent problem that, even with health 
insurance, certain racial and ethnic subpopulations bear a 
significantly greater burden of suffering, particularly from chronic 
disease.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the CDC Epidemiology Program Office: 
Maximize the distribution and use of scientific information and 
prevention strategies through collaborative efforts with national 
business organizations and their affiliated members.

B. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 301 and 317(k)(2) of the 
Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 and 247b(k)(2)], as amended. 
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications will be accepted from national, nonprofit 
organizations that provide documented proof of meeting the following 
criteria in the ``Eligibility'' section of the application:
    1. Be an established tax-exempt organization (i.e., a non-
governmental, tax-exempt corporation or association whose net earnings 
in no way accrue to the benefit of private shareholders or 
individuals). Tax-exempt status may be confirmed by providing a copy of 
the relevant pages from the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most 
recent list of 501(c) (3) or (6) tax exempt organizations or a copy of 
the current IRS Determination Letter. Proof of tax-exempt status must 
be provided with the application.
    2. Have a membership composed primarily of small, medium, or large, 
private employers with multi-state and/or national operations.

    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 of 1986 that engages in lobbying activities is not 
eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or 
loan.


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    Recipients may enter into contractual agreements, as necessary, to 
accomplish the goals and objectives of this program.

D. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $400,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund two to three 
awards. It is expected that the average award will be $165,000, ranging 
from $130,000 to $200,000. It is expected that awards will begin on or 
about September 30, 2002, 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.
    Matching funds are not required for this program.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purposes of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for activities under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities listed under 
2. CDC Activities. The recipient will be required to perform a minimum 
of four out of the five core activities described under items a, b, c, 
d and e. Item f (dissemination) is a required core activity and must be 
addressed in addition to the other four selected core activities. In 
addition to the core activities, complementary program activities 
described in items g and h may be supported based on the availability 
of supplemental funds from participating CDC Programs.

1. Recipient Activities:

Core Activities

    a. Develop case examples of employer-purchaser/health plan 
collaborative initiatives that utilize assessment tools (e.g., 
avoidable claims analysis) to identify and stratify explicitly 
preventable health care costs and promote deployment of disease-
management or similar strategies to reduce preventable disease burden 
and the associated health care costs.
    b. Convene business forums and round tables with leading employer-
purchasers (to include Chief Financial Officers, Senior Benefits staff 
and Medical Directors) and their corresponding vendors (e.g., health 
plans, provider networks, third party brokers and consultants) that 
operate prevention-oriented employee health improvement programs in the 
areas of chronic disease prevention and care, and/or women's health. 
The aim of these sessions should be to analyze and document the 
purchaser decision-making process regarding the allocation of resources 
for prevention-oriented employee health care services. An additional 
goal of these sessions should be to encourage participants to utilize 
current evidence-based strategies in their initiatives to purchase 
disease management and other preventive health services.
    These sessions should also identify a means within the premium 
negotiation process between employer-purchasers and health plans to 
address explicitly the allocation of resources necessary to support the 
information technology system infrastructure of health plans and 
providers (e.g., disease registries and reminder systems).
    c. Identify case examples of employer-purchasers which have adopted 
value-based purchasing strategies that link accreditation, quality 
improvement and performance measurement; and assess the impact of this 
linkage on the receipt of preventive services by insured populations.
    d. Identify and evaluate decision-support tools which include 
Return on Investment (ROI) and Employee Health-Productivity models 
tailored to assist an employer-purchaser in making decisions about 
selecting and packaging clinical preventive services for its health 
benefits coverage. These tools should be applicable for decisions to 
select disease or condition-specific, stand-alone or carve-out 
services, as well as a more integrated disease management strategy for 
the employer. These tools should also have the capacity to support 
decisions across the spectrum of health plan and provider structures 
(e.g., health maintenance organizations (HMOs); preferred provider 
organizations (PPOs); and other managed care organizations) and other 
vendor product lines.
    e. Identify effective health promotion models in the areas of 
chronic disease management and women's health, and develop publications 
in collaboration with CDC of best practices targeting business, the 
national business press, and popular mass media to promote replication.

Required Core Activity

    f. Develop and disseminate accurate and timely electronic and print 
materials that focus on findings of cooperative agreement activities, 
and are specifically tailored to business. As part of the dissemination 
of this information, recipients may develop and use diverse channels of 
communication such as E-mail, websites, executive summaries and other 
publications targeted for national dissemination, as well as CDC 
meetings, other meetings and conferences, executive seminars, and 
symposia.

Complementary Program Activities

    g. Develop, implement and evaluate the outcomes of demonstration 
projects with one to five employers/corporations related to core 
cooperative agreement activities and goals regarding decision-making 
tools; disease management and prevention; adoption of preventive health 
services; and worksite health promotion.
    h. Describe and implement activities to bridge corporate purchasers 
and public health related to planning and reacting to bioterrorism, 
population health threats, or other emerging health issues.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance and monitor the progress of all 
aspects of this cooperative agreement.
    b. Provide up-to-date scientific information and consultation.
    c. Provide opportunities for presentations to CDC staff and 
management on needs and perspectives of business relative to health. 
Other activities may include reciprocal site visits between CDC and 
Business Organizations to collaborate on projects and exchange ideas 
and strategies.
    d. Provide CDC experts for presentations at national business 
conferences and executive sessions to inform and educate on public 
health goals and objectives.
    e. Collaborate with recipients on cooperative agreement activities, 
including publications, as appropriate.

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 the program 
plan. The narrative should be no more than 25 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins and 12-point font.

1. Organizational Profile (maximum 10 pages)

    a. Provide a narrative on the applicant organization, including: 
background information; evidence of relevant experience and past 
experience working with other organizations, including government 
agencies; and a clear understanding of this announcement's purpose. 
Provide evidence of an organizational structure and mission

[[Page 47557]]

that can meet the requirements of this program.
    b. Provide a membership listing and an estimate of members' 
combined total workforce.
    c. Include details of past experiences working with members on 
health and health-related issues.
    d. Profile qualified personnel who are available to work under this 
agreement. Include a global organizational chart which also 
demonstrates the geographic location(s) and organizational positions of 
all anticipated personnel.

2. Program Plan (maximum 18 pages)

    a. Provide clear and concise descriptions of proposed recipient 
activities (four or more from those specified in this announcement), 
demonstrating your understanding of public health principles, the 
intent of this announcement, and your members' needs. Include some 
preliminary ideas on members' needs (in the areas of health promotion, 
disease and disability prevention, chronic disease management, wellness 
and health screening programs, health care quality assessment and 
improvement, health benefits purchasing, and community outreach) and 
how they relate to this announcement.
    b. Include goals and measurable objectives that are specific, time-
framed and relevant to the intent of this announcement. Detail the 
potential benefits of the proposed objectives.
    c. Provide an action plan, including a timeline of activities and 
personnel responsible for implementing each segment of the plan.
    d. Include an evaluation plan which encompasses both qualitative 
and quantitative measures for the achievement of program objectives, as 
well as a mechanism for mid-course correction when those objectives are 
not being met.
    e. Provide a plan for sharing findings/results indicating when, to 
whom, and in what format.
    f. Provide a plan for obtaining additional resources from non-
federal sources to supplement program activities and ensure their 
continuation after the end of the project period.

3. Budget Information

    Provide a detailed budget with justification. The budget proposal 
should be consistent with the purpose, program requirements, and 
program plan presented.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS-5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms can be obtained at the following internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm or by contacting the Grants Management 
Specialist listed in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.
    The application must be received by 5 p.m., August 19, 2002. Submit 
the application to: Technical Information Management--PA02130, 
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.
    Applications which 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 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 by an independent 
review group appointed by CDC against the following criteria:

1. Program Plan (40 points)

    The extent to which the applicant's program plan meets the required 
activities specified under ``Recipient Activities'' in this 
announcement and are measurable, specific, time-framed and realistic.

2. Capability (25 points)

    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates the possibility of 
successfully implementing the proposed activities as measured by 
relevant past history; a sound management structure and staff 
qualifications, including the appropriateness of proposed roles, 
responsibilities and job descriptions; and a description of the 
applicant's capability to collaborate and partner with other 
organizations and agencies to disseminate and share results.

3. Evaluation (20 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has developed mechanisms for 
evaluating and reevaluating progress toward stated goals and objectives 
which include feedback from its membership. The extent to which the 
applicant builds in the capacity for mid-course correction(s) based on 
those evaluations.

4. Organizational Profile (15 points)

    The extent to which the applicant's existing organizational 
structure, mission, goals, objectives, activities, functions and 
membership composition are consistent with the purpose of this program 
announcement.

5. Budget (Not scored)

    The extent to which the budget is reasonable in the amount(s) 
requested, justified by the application content, and consistent with 
the intentions of this announcement.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Semiannual 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 status 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 the program 
announcement Attachment I as posted on the CDC internet home page.

AR-7  Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements

[[Page 47558]]

AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-15  Proof of Non-Profit Status

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 assistance, contact: Mattie Jackson, Grants 
Management Specialist--PA02130, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers 
for Disease Control & Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Mailstop K-75, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Voice: (770) 488-2696; Fax: 
(770) 488-2670/2671, E-mail: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Paul V. Stange, Office 
of HealthCare Partnerships, Division of Prevention Research and 
Analytic Methods, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, K-73, Atlanta, GA 30341-
3724, Voice: (770) 488-8199; Fax: (770) 488-8461, E-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: July 12, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
CGFM, Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-18237 Filed 7-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P