[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25613-25615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11868]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03128]


Development of Medical-Specialty Specific Antimicrobial 
Resistance Educational Materials--Internet-Based Educational Module; 
Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: June 27, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301(a) and 317(k)(2) of 
the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247b(k)(2)), as 
amended. 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 the Development of Medical-Specialty Specific Antimicrobial 
Resistance Educational Materials--Internet-Based Educational Module. 
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area 
Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
    The purpose of the program is to develop and evaluate a 
comprehensive educational program for the medical specialty of 
Hospitalists that will employ multiple delivery methods, including an 
electronic educational module, sessions at national meetings, and 
publications in a specialty-related journal.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for Infectious 
Diseases (NCID): Reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies, that is:
    [sbull] Public nonprofit organizations.
    [sbull] Private nonprofit organizations.
    [sbull] Small, minority, women-owned businesses.
    [sbull] Universities.
    [sbull] Colleges.
    [sbull] Research institutions.
    [sbull] Hospitals.
    [sbull] Community-based organizations.
    [sbull] Faith-based organizations.
    [sbull] Federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
    [sbull] Indian tribes.
    [sbull] Indian tribal organizations.
    [sbull] State and local governments or their bona fide agents (this 
includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, 
American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic 
of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).
    [sbull] Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with 
States).

    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 $70,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award. It 
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 15, 2003 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of one year. The funding estimate may change.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

Funding Preferences

    Due to the scope of the project, which seeks to apply effective 
interventions on a large scale, develop educational materials 
specifically for Hospitalists, and distribute materials to Hospitalists 
in an effective manner, funding preference will be given to national 
organizations that have the medical specialty of Hospitalists as their 
primary audience.

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. Recruit and assemble an advisory board.
    b. Conduct a needs assessment to determine information gaps among 
Hospitalists related to antimicrobial resistance.
    c. Review existing educational materials and tools on antimicrobial 
resistance, and modify or create new tools for Hospitalists (with 
learning objectives) based on needs assessment results.
    d. Develop a quality improvement ``toolbox'' of interventions shown 
to be successful.
    e. Distribute educational materials and the quality improvement 
``toolbox'' through a variety of avenues, including web-based, annual 
meetings, and journals.
    f. Monitor and evaluate the impact of the educational materials and 
interventions from the ``toolbox''. Collect follow up data on the 
problems of implementing the educational program and ``toolbox'' 
interventions, the lessons learned, acceptability to Hospitalists, and 
antimicrobial resistance incidence at intervention institutions.
    g. Assist with data analysis, and preparation of a report or 
manuscript related to the overall project.
    2. CDC Activities
    a. Provide the funding recipient with existing CDC antimicrobial 
resistance educational materials for inclusion in development of 
educational materials for Hospitalists.
    b. Actively participate in the advisory board that oversees the 
creation and approval of content for the ``toolbox'' and educational 
materials.
    c. Actively participate in the development of survey and other data 
collection tools for both the educational materials and the ``toolbox'' 
interventions.
    d. Assist with data analysis and preparation of a report or 
manuscript related to the overall project.
    e. Assist in 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 review and 
approve the protocol initially and on at least an annual basis until 
the research project is completed.

F. Content

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 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, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget. Additionally, include a one page, 
single spaced, typed abstract. The heading should include the title of 
the cooperative agreement, project title, organization, name and 
address, project director, and telephone number. This abstract should 
include a work plan identifying activities to be developed, activities 
to be completed, and a time line for completion of these activities.

G. Submission and Deadline

Application Forms

    Submit the signed 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.
    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 June 27, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--
PA03128, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Applications 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

    The 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 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 the 
application against the following criteria:
    1. Operational Plan (40 total points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant presents clear, time-phased 
objectives that are consistent with the stated program goal and a 
detailed operational plan outlining specific activities that are likely 
to achieve the objective. The extent to which the plan clearly outlines 
the responsibilities of each of the key personnel. (35 points)
    b. Does the applicant adequately address the CDC Policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial 
groups in the proposed research. 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 proposed studies is adequate to measure 
differences when warranted; and (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. (5 points)
    2. Background and Need (30 points)
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a strong 
understanding of developing, distributing, and evaluating educational 
and interventional tools specifically for the medical specialty of 
Hospitalists. The extent to which the applicant illustrates the need 
for this cooperative agreement program. The extent to which the 
applicant presents a clear goal for this cooperative agreement that is 
consistent with the described need.
    3. Capacity (15 points)
    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it has the 
expertise, facilities, and other resources necessary to accomplish the 
program requirements, including curricula vitae of key personnel and 
letters of support from any participating organizations/institutions.
    4. Evaluation Plan (10 points)
    The extent to which the applicant presents a plan for monitoring 
progress toward the stated goals and objectives.
    5. Measures of Effectiveness (5 points)
    Does the applicant provide Measures of Effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the cooperative agreement? Are the measures objective/quantitative and 
do they adequately measure the intended outcome.
    6. Protection of Human Subjects (Not scored)
    The extent to which the application adequately addresses 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.)
    7. Budget (Not scored)
    The extent to which the applicant presents a detailed budget with a 
line-item justification and any other information to demonstrate that 
the request for assistance is consistent with the purpose and 
objectives of this cooperative agreement program.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Interim progress report, 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 contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activity Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
    e. Additional Requested Information.

[[Page 25615]]

    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.

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-1 Human Subjects Requirements.
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research.
AR-7 Executive Order 12372.
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
AR-10 Smoke Free Work Place Requirements.
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 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: Deborah 
Workman, Contract Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2085, E-mail Address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Rachel Lawton, Division 
of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious 
Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 57 Executive Park 
Drive South, Room 4048, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-498-1261, 
Fax: 404-498-1244, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: May 6, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-11868 Filed 5-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P