[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20004-20006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9976]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03025]


Building Inter-Country Collaboration and Cooperation for 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Training in Central America, the 
Dominican Republic, and Haiti; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. 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 242l), as amended, and section 
104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151b). The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

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 Building Inter-Country Collaboration and Cooperation for 
Epidemiology and Surveillance Training in Central America, the 
Dominican Republic, and Haiti. This program addresses the ``Healthy 
People 2010'' focus area Public Health Infrastructure.
    The purpose of this program is to strengthen inter-country 
activities and cooperation in the development of surveillance and field 
epidemiology in Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for the Epidemiology Program 
Office (EPO): Maximize the distribution and use of scientific 
information and prevention messages through modern communication 
technology; efficiently respond to the needs of its public health 
partners through the provision of epidemiologic assistance; and 
implement accessible training programs to provide an effective work 
force for staffing state and local health departments, laboratories, 
and ministries of health in developing countries.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public nonprofit organizations and 
private nonprofit 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 $130,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or about June 30, 2003, 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.

Direct Assistance

    No direct assistance will be provided.

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.
    By making this statement all requests, not only the initial budget, 
but any subsequent request such as re-directions, requests for 
supplemental funds, carry-overs, etc. are included. This is Health and 
Human Services (HHS) policy.
    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, prior 
approval by CDC officials must be requested in writing.
    3. The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic 
organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and international 
organizations, with the following exception: With the exception of the 
American University, Beirut, the Gorgas Memorial Institute, and the 
World Health Organization, 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.
    4. 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).
    5. 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 are not allowable.
    6. 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) or 
equivalent standard(s) approved in writing by CDC.
    7. A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, pre or 
post award, with the potential awardee in order to review their 
business

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management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

Funding Priority

    Public comments on the proposed Funding Priority are not being 
solicited due to insufficient time prior to the funding date.

Funding Preferences

    Funding preferences 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.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed in 1. 
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed in 2. CDC Activities.
    1. Recipient Activities.
    a. Coordination, facilitation, and logistic support of periodic 
meetings of the Regional Technical Committee (RTC) of the Servicio de 
Investigion Epidemiologica y Vigilancia de Centro America la Republica 
Dominicana y Haiti (SIEVCADH).
    b. Implementation, facilitation, and logistic support of an annual 
regional scientific conference on public health surveillance and 
epidemiology as a forum for SIEVCADH trainees and graduates to conduct 
oral and poster presentations on their studies in epidemiology and 
public health surveillance. This conference should also include 
participation from other public health staff involved in epidemiology 
and surveillance including the public health laboratories, which were 
supported under the Hurricane Mitch and George Reconstruction Project.
    c. Implementation of an external and independent evaluation of the 
training and service activities of SIEVCADH. This evaluation should be 
modeled after evaluations done for Field Epidemiology Training Programs 
and should address the special local circumstances in the SIEVCADH 
project countries.
    d. Coordination and oversight of an emergency epidemiologic 
response fund for SIEVCADH project countries.
    e. Coordination, facilitation, and logistic support of a program of 
periodic seminars for the presentation and scientific discussion of 
epidemiologic investigation and surveillance studies in SIEVCADH 
project countries.
    f. Development and oversight of a system of grants to support 
research in the development and improvement of public health 
surveillance in SIEVCADH project countries.
    2. CDC Activities.
    a. Collaboration with the RTC participants in carrying out 
innovations and modifications of SIEVCADH activities in accordance with 
agreements reached at the periodic meetings of the RTC.
    b. Provision of assistance in the development of criteria for the 
review and selection of abstracts for the annual regional scientific 
conference on public health surveillance and epidemiology.
    Guidance for potential conference participants in the development 
of projects in public health surveillance and epidemiologic 
investigation and in the preparation of abstracts and presentations.
    c. Provision of example evaluations and assistance in developing 
the evaluation framework for training and service activities of 
SIEVCADH.
    d. Technical assistance for investigations funded by the emergency 
epidemiologic response fund.
    e. Assistance in the identification and selection of speakers and 
appropriate topics for the periodic seminars. Guidance and training of 
SIEVCADH participants in the preparation of seminars.
    f. Provision of assistance in the development of criteria and 
selection of grants to support research in the development and 
improvement of public health surveillance in SIEVCADH project 
countries.

F. Content

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 25 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point 
font.
    The narrative should consist of: Background and Need, Plan and 
Objectives, Plan of Operations, Evaluation, and Budget. The program 
Plan should briefly address activities to be conducted over the entire 
three-year project period.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 
0920-0428). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
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.

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time on June 9, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--PA 
03025, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Application 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

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received before 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date. Any 
applicant who sends their application 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.
    Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Application

    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 goals stated in the purpose section of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and

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must measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must 
be submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
    An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each 
application against the following criteria:
    1. Plan and Objectives (25 Points).
    a. The extent to which the goals relate to the overall vision of 
capacity building and are specific, time-phased, measurable and 
feasible.
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes objectives that are 
specific, measurable, and feasible, including a schedule for 
implementation.
    2. Plan of Operation (25 Points).
    The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed description 
of proposed activities which are likely to achieve each objective and 
overall program goals and which includes designation of responsibility 
for each action undertaken. The extent to which the applicant provides 
a reasonable and complete schedule for implementing all activities. The 
extent to which position descriptions, curriculum vitae's and lines of 
command are appropriate to accomplishment of program goals and 
objectives and to which concurrence with the applicant by all other 
parties involved is specific and documented. The extent to which the 
proposed activities are capable of achieving the stated program goals 
and intent of this program announcement.
    3. Evaluation (25 Points).
    The Quality of the plan for evaluating the proposed program 
activities. Appropriateness of the methods to be used to monitor the 
implementation of proposed activities, measure the achievement of 
project objectives, and evaluate the impact of each project.
    4. Experience (15 Points).
    The extent to which the applicant has the proven scientific and 
technical experience to carry out international programs in public 
health, especially epidemiology and surveillance.
    5. Background and Need (10 points).
    The extent to which the applicant presents data justifying the need 
for the program in terms of the magnitude of need for developing inter-
country collaboration and cooperation in the development of field 
epidemiology and surveillance.
    6. Budget (reviewed, but not scored).
    The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, 
and consistent with the intended use of cooperative agreement funds.
    7. Performance Goals (reviewed, but not scored).
    The extent to which the measurable outcomes of the program will be 
in alignment with one or more of the performance goals for the EPO.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with an original plus two copies of
    1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of 
the budget period.
    2. Financial status report (FSR) no later than 90 days after the 
end of the budget period.
    3. Final FSR and performance reports, no later 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.

Additional Requirements

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

AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status

    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, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For business management and budget assistance, contact: Tracey 
Coleman, Contract Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2074. E-mail address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact:

Dr. Robert E. Fontaine, Epidemiologist, Epidemiology Program Office, 
Division of International Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-72, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: 
770-488-8329. E-mail address: [email protected];
     or
Mr. Hoang Dang, Public Health Advisor, Epidemiology Program Office, 
Division of International Health, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS K-72, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: 
770-488-8466. E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: April 17, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-9976 Filed 4-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P