[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53354-53357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20704]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02083]


Cooperative Agreement for the Development of International 
Surveillance Systems, Enhancement of Epidemiologic Practice, and the 
Development of Epidemiologic Training Programs, Workshops, and 
Conferences for Ministries of Health (MOH) and Other International 
Health Organizations; 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 for the development of international surveillance systems, 
enhancement of epidemiologic practice, and the development of 
epidemiologic training programs, workshops, and conferences for 
Ministries of Health (MOH) and international health organizations.
    The purpose of this program is to provide leadership and technical 
assistance activities to assure that international health organizations 
have the infrastructure to support effective epidemiologic activities 
that are essential in providing public health services.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals encourage Ministries of Healths 
to develop efficient and comprehensive public health information and 
surveillance systems by promoting the use of the internet and by 
focusing on development of standards for communications and data 
elements and Efficiently respond to the needs of our Ministries of 
Health partners through the provision of epidemiologic assistance.

B. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 301 and 307 of the Public 
Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. sections 241 and 242l, as amended]. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be limited to organizations that have at least one 
year proven scientific and technical experience to carry out 
international

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programs in public health, especially epidemiology and surveillance.
    First priority will be given to organizations that can show 
established relationships with governmental institutions such as 
Ministries of Health, national disease prevention and control programs, 
academic institutions and international organizations.

    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 $200,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund one award. 
Funds will be allocated to individually described and budgeted projects 
or activities which will comprise the overall cooperative agreement. 
Individual projects are expected to range from $1,000 to $200,000. It 
is expected that the award 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 five years. Funding estimates may change.
    Matching funds is not a requirement for this program announcement.
    Continuation award 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

    1. All requests for funds contained in the budget, shall be stated 
in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate foreign 
grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through issuance of 
supplemental awards.
    2. By making this statement all requests, not only the initial 
budget but any subsequent request such as redirection, requests for 
supplemental funds, carry-overs, etc. are included. This is Health and 
Human Services (HHS) policy.
    3. 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, prior 
approval by CDC officials must be requested in writing.
    4. The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic 
organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and international 
organizations, with the following exception: Indirect costs will not be 
paid (either directly or through sub-award) to organizations located 
outside the territorial limits of the United States or to international 
organizations regardless of their location.
    5. The applicant may contract with other organizations under this 
program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion of 
the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required).
    6. Limitations and/or prohibitions on the use of funds are as 
follows:
    a. Alterations and renovations are not allowable.
    b. Customs and import duties, including consular fees, customs 
surtax, value-added taxes and other related charges.

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 new and enhance existing collaborations with field 
research.
    b. Provide scientists to work abroad and to train other health 
workers abroad.
    c. Conduct assessments to identify minimum standards of various 
public health epidemiology practices, capacities and staffing.
    d. Identify, develop and monitor the types of information, 
technical assistance, technical capacity and training needed to 
implement an Integrated Disease Surveillance System.
    e. Ensure mechanisms for the evaluation and/or quality assurance of 
existing and pre-accreditation of new training programs.
    f. Assure participation in CDC outbreak investigation teams to 
strengthen global epidemic preparedness and response capacity.
    g. Build partnerships to enhance global and regional public health 
capacity.
    h. Support travel to meetings, collaborative investigations, 
training, etc.
    i. Conduct assessments of epidemiologic training, resources and 
technology needs of local health organizations.
    j. Provide and support training workshops, seminars, and 
conferences (attendance).
    k. Provide aid with program planning and program surveillance.
    l. Collect and analyze data to evaluate epidemiology's contribution 
to public health and increase the infrastructure for surveillance and 
epidemiologic capacity.
    m. Develop and maintain an officially recognized forum for the 
regional, national and international exchange of epidemiologic and 
other public health information (e.g., conduct annual meeting to 
discuss policy issues and recommendations).
    n. Provide leadership and technical assistance activities to ensure 
that local, regional, national, and international health departments/
ministries of health have the infrastructure to provide essential 
public health services effectively.
    o. Identify and propose projects or activities in response to 
findings above.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide consultation and assistance in planning and implementing 
program activities when needed.
    b. Assist in establishing partnerships that will build global 
public health capacity and increase laboratory support.
    c. Assist in the preparation and implementation of trainings and 
conferences.
    d. Provide technical assistance from several Centers, Institutes, 
and Offices (CIOs) within the CDC.
    e. Assist in the development of field-based (competency based) 
training programs.
    f. Engage the collective strength of all field-based training 
programs to chart the directions, scope and priorities for public 
health initiatives.
    g. Provide science-based collaboration and technical assistance in 
developing and implementing evaluation strategies for the program.
    h. Assist in supporting an annual forum for local, regional, 
national, and international exchange of epidemiologic and other public 
health information.

F. Application Content

    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. Provide a detailed budget and justification for each individual 
project or major activity. In the applications to CDC for funding, 
include projects or activities which: (a) Provide benefit to multiple 
regions/countries or (b) promote epidemiologic practice and public 
health surveillance of regional/national/international significance to 
assure that infrastructures are in place to provide essential public 
health services.
    The narrative should be no more than twenty double-spaced pages, 
printed on

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one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced fonts. Narrative should 
include: Understanding the Need or Problem, Technical Approach, Ability 
to Carry Out the Project, Personnel, Management Plan, and Budget.

G. Submission and Deadline

Application
    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). 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 in the ``where to Obtain 
Additional Information'' section of this announcement. Forms may not be 
submitted electronically.
    Forms must be submitted in the following order:

Cover Letter

Table of Contents

Application
Budget Information Form
Budget Justification
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Form
Human Subject Certification
Narrative

    On or before September 16, 2002, submit the application to the: 
Technical Information Management Section, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 
3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
    Deadline: Applications must shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are: Received on or before the deadline date.
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
above will be returned to the applicant.

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. These 
Measures of Effectiveness shall be submitted with the application and 
shall be an element of evaluation.
    The application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Technical Approach (30 points)
    The extent to which the application addresses:
    a. An overall design strategy, including measurable time lines.
    b. The relationship between activities and objectives.
    c. Description of the management and analysis of data collected for 
meeting objectives.
2. Ability to carry out the project (30 points)
    The extent to which the applicant provides evidence of its ability 
to carry out the proposed activity or project and the extent to which 
the applicant documents the demonstrated capability to achieve the 
purpose of this project.
3. Understanding of the need or problem (20 points)
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a clear, concise 
understanding of the nature of the need or problem to be addressed.
    a. Extent to which the applicant specifically includes a 
description of the public health importance of the planned activities 
to be undertaken.
    b. Extent to which the applicant provides a realistic presentation 
of the proposed project.
4. Personnel (10 points)
    The extent to which professional personnel involved in this 
activity or project are qualified, including evidence of prior 
experience similar to this activity or project. (Complete Curricula 
vitae should be provided for professional and senior administrative 
staff; relevant training and experience should be highlighted). If a 
position is vacant, a position description and complete description of 
required qualifications for that position are to be included in the 
application along with a specific plan (including time line) for 
hiring.
5. Management plan (10 points)
    The extent to which the applicant provides a description of the 
systems and procedures which will be used to manage the progress, 
budget and operations of the activity or project.
6. Budget (Not Scored)
    Extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, and 
consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    An original and two copies of an annual progress report is required 
to be submitted each year with the continuation application. A 
financial status report (FSR) is due 90 days after the end of each 
budget period. An original and two copies of a final performance report 
and FSR are due no later than 90 days after the end of the project 
period.
Progress Reporting Requirements
    1. A comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established 
for the period.
    2. The reasons for which established goals were not met.
    3. Other pertinent information including, when appropriate, 
analysis and explanation of any unexpectedly high costs for 
performance.
    4. Provide measures of effectiveness to evaluate the accomplishment 
of the various identified objectives of the cooperative agreement. 
These measures must be objective and must measure the intended outcome. 
The submission of these measures shall be a data element to be 
submitted with, or incorporated, into the semiannual progress reports.
Fiscal Reporting Requirements
    1. Awardee is required to obtain annual audit of these CDC funds 
(program-specific audit) by a U.S. based audit firm with International 
branches and current licensure/authority in country, and in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards, or equivalent standard(s) 
approved in writing by CDC.
    2. A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, for 
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.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the 
announcement.
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14  Accounting System Requirements
AR-15  Proof of Non-Profit Status

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements can be found on the CDC home page

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Internet address--http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then 
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Terrie Brown, Grants Management Specialist, International & 
Territories Acquisition & Assistance Branch Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone number (770) 488-
2638. E-mail address [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact:

Dr. Ed Maes, Associate Director for Science Division of International 
Health, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS--K72, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone 
Number (770) 488-8163. E-mail address [email protected];

      or

Dianne Wylie, Public Health Advisor, Division of International Health, 
Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS--K72, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone 
Number (770) 488-8325 or 8322. E-mail address [email protected].

    Dated: August 9, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
CGFM, Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-20704 Filed 8-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P