[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70740-70744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29953]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03016]


Notice of Availability of Funds; Cooperative Agreement for a 
National Information Center on Physical Activity for Persons With 
Disabilities

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Section 301(a) and 317(C) of the 
Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. Section 241 and 247b-4, as 
amended]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.184.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for operation of a National Information and Resource Center on 
Physical Activity for Persons with Disabilities. This program addresses 
the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Disability and Secondary 
Conditions and Physical Activity and Fitness.
    The purpose of this program is to provide information, technical 
assistance, and consultation on physical activity, exercise, and health 
promotion practices targeting persons with

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disabilities across all segments of the population. It includes 
addressing the prevention of secondary conditions in persons who have a 
disability by promoting and assessing the benefits of physical activity 
and exercise, reducing the risk for associated adverse health, 
promoting environmental access to physical activity and recreational 
facilities and services, and participation outcomes among persons who 
have a disabling condition.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center on Birth Defects and 
Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD): monitor, characterize, and improve 
the health status of Americans with disabilities.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies; this includes, but 
is not limited to, universities, colleges, technical schools, research 
institutions, hospitals, community-based organizations, faith-based 
organizations, and 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 Palau, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, 
Indian tribes, or Indian tribal 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. Funding

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $750,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or about April 1, 2003, and 
will be made for a 12 month budget period within a project period of up 
to five 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.

Use of Funds

    Grant funds may be used to support personnel services, supplies, 
equipment, travel, subcontracts, and other services consistent with the 
approved scope of work.
    Project funds may not be used to supplant other available applicant 
or collaborating agency funds, for construction, for purchase of 
facilities or space, or for patient care. Project funds may not be used 
for group, program, or individualized support such as wheelchairs, 
sport/ recreational and fitness equipment, assistive technology, and 
medical appliances unless specifically approved by the funding agency.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed under 1. 
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
    a. Collect and compile information regarding physical activity and 
exercise for persons with disabilities on a national, regional, and 
state/local basis. Provide this information to a broad range of 
requesters, including: Individuals, media, researchers, disability 
service organizations, community groups, service providers, legislative 
and governing bodies, and the public.
    b. Serve as a leading national organization that sustains a 
capacity and competency to serve a nationwide constituency on physical 
activity, exercise, and fitness for persons with a wide range of 
disabilities and their support networks, including caregivers.
    c. Identify, enumerate, and characterize the nature of requests and 
inquiries from persons with disabilities, caregivers, providers, and 
organizations seeking information on physical activity and exercise.
    d. Provide guidance for initiating and maintaining physical 
activity among persons with disabilities. Impart information regarding 
the benefits and recommended amounts of physical activity to 
individuals and to those populations served by requesting 
organizations.
    e. Provide technical assistance and consultation in the design, 
conduct, and evaluation of health promotion and community-directed 
physical activity and exercise programs in targeted populations of 
persons with disabilities.
    f. Organize and conduct symposia and conferences to publicize and 
promote the benefits of physical activity and fitness for national 
organizations and constituent groups.
    g. Provide information regarding innovative and acceptable physical 
activity facilities (e.g. buildings, parks, trails, equipment, new 
technology), best practices, and model programs that are fully 
accessible and available to persons with disabilities with attention to 
geographical proximity and cost issues.
    h. Provide information regarding innovative and acceptable policies 
that promote physical activity among people with disabilities through 
accessible and suitable dissemination formats and instruments.
2. CDC Activities
    a. Provide technical consultation on current available and emerging 
research, literature, epidemiological, and physical activity 
information in the United States.
    b. Serve as a conduit for accessing other data sets and for 
referrals to information resources that would be of value to the 
information gathering/dissemination and technical assistance activities 
of the recipient.
    c. Assist in the planning and organizing of conferences and 
workshops related to project activities regarding physical activity, 
exercise, and fitness for persons with disabilities.
    d. Assist in the development and dissemination of physical activity 
materials and information to other CDC grantees to maximize use among 
those populations served.
    e. Assist in the transfer of information and methods already 
developed in the project to other disability-related entities and 
programs, including environmental measures that can serve to facilitate 
access to physical activity programs in the community setting.
    f. Assist with the identification of physical activity policies, 
best practices, and model programs for people with disabilities.

F. Content

Letter of Intent

    A letter of intent (LOI) is requested for this program. The LOI 
should identify the program announcement number and the proposed 
project director. It should describe the scope of the proposed project 
and denote those activities and collaborations already in place to 
fully meet the requirements of the announcement. The LOI will be used 
to determine the level of interest in the announcement, and to assist 
CDC in planning the application review process.

Applications

    The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the 
application.

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Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other Requirements, 
and Evaluation Criteria 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 40 pages, double spaced, printed on one side, 
with one inch margins and unreduced 12-point font. Attachments are 
permitted, but should be consistent and compatible with the scope of 
the tasks described and descriptive of those operational systems that 
are to be the foundation for the project.
    The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Evaluation, and Budget.
    Applicants must submit a separate typed abstract of their proposal 
consisting of no more than two single-spaced pages. Applicants should 
also include a table of contents for the project narrative and related 
attachments.

G. Submission and Deadline

LOI

    On or before December 23, 2002, submit the LOI to the Senior 
Project Officer identified in Section ``J. Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' of this announcement.

Application Forms

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS-5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-
0428). Forms can be found at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) at 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.

Application Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time, January 
16, 2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management 
Section--PA 03016, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Room 3000, MS-E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-4146.
    Forms may not be submitted electronically.

CDC Acknowledgment of Application Receipt

    A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has 
received your application.

Deadline

    Letters of intent and applications will be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received before 4 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 returned. 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 ``B. 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. It 
is suggested that applications be organized to be compatible with the 
evaluation scoring criteria, as that is the process by which the review 
committee will assess the quality of the applications.
    1. Operational Approach (30 Points). This includes:
    a. The methods to be employed to sustain an effective information 
resources system and communications network.
    b. The approach to: continue to gather information on the 
determinants (facilitators and barriers) to physical activity and 
exercise; assess the perceptions and experiences of persons with 
disabilities and their families regarding physical activity; formulate 
a strategy to enable and motivate persons with disabilities to engage 
in physical activity, exercise, and recreational programs; and continue 
to promote and publish guidelines and recommendations for sustaining 
such activities over the long-term.
    c. The methods by which the applicant has and will further develop 
and disseminate educational materials on facts, benefits, programs, 
policies, and motivational tools based on their value for promoting 
physical activity in persons with disabilities across the nation in all 
age ranges and literacy levels during medical treatment, 
rehabilitation, and in the home and community settings.
    d. The approach in place and proposed to expand the construction of 
a centralized listing of programs, events, and service providers to be 
disseminated to requesters for personal, organizational, and 
constituency use.
    e. The accounts of the expansion of resource development and 
communications capacity for employing information technology to reach 
key targeted groups including impairment-specific populations; 
children; adolescents; older citizens; women; minorities; lower socio-
economic strata; professionals/clinicians, fitness/allied health 
providers and educators/trainers; persons with varying fitness levels; 
and changing levels (persons with improving or regressing physical 
conditioning) in order to best translate information into physical 
activity and exercise programs and protocols for persons with 
disabilities.
    f. The description of how the applicant has and will continue to 
develop and implement appropriate readability levels, cultural 
sensitivity, and fully accessible formats in all communication and 
program activities.
    g. The methods by which the applicant has and will provide 
technical assistance, information, and consultation to participants and 
supporting organizations across the nation regarding the design, 
conduct, and evaluation of programs to introduce and sustain physical 
activity and exercise in persons with disabilities.
    h. The degree to which the applicant presents evidence of work to 
date in addressing issues related to the barriers and facilitators 
(i.e., architectural, attitudinal, policies) to physical activity 
programs and facilities (e.g., trails, parks, fitness facilities, 
buildings, recreational camps), and with key entities (e.g. parks and 
recreation officials, health care providers, fitness professionals, 
municipal/city planners, construction managers, school, and citizens 
groups).
    i. The extent to which the applicant adequately addresses the CDC 
policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and 
racial groups in

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proposed research (as appropriate). 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.
    2. Capacity to Expand and Operate the Center (25 Points). This 
includes:
    a. Documentation that the organizational mission includes providing 
resources and best practices in physical activity and health promotion 
to prevent secondary conditions to persons with disabilities, advocacy 
and disability service organizations, and entities providing physical 
activity programs in the community. This should be demonstrated by 
evidence of established and effective partnerships and information 
bases that complement this mission through constituencies across 
demographic groups of people with a wide range of disabling conditions.
    b. Documentation that the applicant entity has in place 
recreational and physical activity or exercise modules that allow 
individuals with disabilities and practitioners to customize programs 
according to the individual's own disabling condition and unique needs. 
This should be demonstrated through presentation of evidence of the 
existence of such modules.
    3. Project Goals and Objectives (20 Points). This includes:
    a. The extent to which the management work plan for conducting the 
project is effective including the process (approach and methods) by 
which the applicant will meet established goals and objectives.
    b. The quality of the presentation of specific goals, objectives 
and timelines, and how they will be accomplished (with detailed 
performance expectations for the first year by calendar month or 
quarter, and a work plan outline for the second and third years of the 
proposed five year project period).
    c. The extent to which the applicant provides a clear vision and 
description of the achievements and technical innovations it will 
implement over time that will mark its resource capacity, national 
outreach, and impact by the close of the project period.
    d. The description of the major tasks and responsibilities for key 
positions including the applicant organization and identified 
contractual/consultant personnel (include an organization chart and 
denote the relationship of this project within the applicant 
organization).
    e. The methods by which the applicant has and will seek out, 
utilize, and benefit from input by persons with disabilities and their 
families, and from organizations representing the disability and 
physical activity communities in planning for project.
    f. The description of remaining unmet needs and gaps (barriers and 
constraints) as they relate to advancing a coordinated and 
comprehensive information system on physical activity and exercise 
among persons with disabilities, and how this project would move toward 
elimination of those barriers through the proposed work plan.
    4. Organizational Capacity (15 Points). This includes:
    a. The capability of the applicant to conduct the project, taking 
into account its institutional experience, evidence of leadership, and 
current activities in the field for those activities required.
    b. The ability of the applicant to ensure sustained timely access 
to necessary data and educational materials related to physical 
activity, denoting the sources for such data and materials.
    c. The capacity of the applicant to document evidence of effective 
ongoing collaborations and linkages with the disability and physical 
activity fields, professional groups, service providers, fitness 
facilities, governmental agencies, and community organizations to meet 
all requirements of the project, including documented letters of 
support and commitment from those collaborating entities. These 
organizations include, but are not limited to: major disability 
advocacy and voluntary entities; organizations promoting use of parks, 
trails, and outdoor recreation; rehabilitation, fitness, and sports 
facilities and organizations; and other national information and 
resource centers such as the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis 
Resource Center, the National Limb Loss Information Center, the 
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Center, and the American 
Association on Health and Disability.
    d. The capacity of the applicant to gather and assess necessary 
demographic and functional outcome information regarding sub-group 
patterns for engaging in physical activity and the benefits to be 
derived, including the kinds and sources of information to be accessed, 
analyzed, and publicized, the staff/organizations charged with its 
control, and how that data would be used.
    5. Evaluation (10 points). The extent to which the applicant fully 
and adequately describes how it will demonstrate its effectiveness in 
meeting all objectives in the evaluation of its work plan; including 
staff performance, organizational outreach and collaborations; and all 
informational, referral, communications, and technical assistance 
activities.
    6. Budget Justification--Not Scored. This criteria includes the 
adequacy of the budget justification and its relationship to program 
operations, collaborations, and services. Each line item of the budget 
must be justified in a narrative with special attention given to 
contractual requests including the responsibilities of consultants, 
percentage time equivalents, hourly or daily rates, etc. This section 
will also be evaluated on the adequacy of facilities to conduct the 
project. The budget narrative does not count against the maximum page 
limit for the full application.
    7. Human Subjects--Not Scored.
    This includes the extent to which the application adequately 
addresses the requirements of Title 45 CFR Part 46 for the protection 
of human subjects. If the proposed project involves research on human 
participants, assurance and evidence must be provided that the project 
will be subject to initial and continuous reviews by an appropriate 
institutional review board. Does the applicant adequately address the 
requirements of 45 CFR 46 for the protection of human subjects?

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Interim progress reports, no less than 90 days before the end of 
the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing 
continuation application and must include the following elements:
    a. Current budget period activities and objectives
    b. Current budget period financial progress
    c. New budget period proposed activities and objectives
    d. Detailed line-item budget and justification
    e. Report on estimated unobligated funds
    f. Additional requested information

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    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 
Section ``J. Where to Obtain Additional Information'' of this 
announcement.

Additional Requirements

    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see attachment I of the 
announcement as posted on the CDC Web site.

AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and 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

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address: 
http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.''
    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
    For business management and budget assistance, contact: Sheryl 
Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146, Telephone (770) 488-272, E-
mail address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Joseph B. Smith, Senior 
Project Officer, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental, 
Disabilities, Disability and Health Team, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway (Mailstop F-35), Atlanta, 
Georgia 30341, Telephone (770)488-7082, E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: November 20, 2002.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-29953 Filed 11-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P