[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27078-27082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12398]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03077]


Community-Based Interventions To Reduce Motor Vehicle-Related 
Injuries; Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: July 3, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 317, and 301 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b and 241). The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
study to tailor, implement, and evaluate community-based interventions 
with demonstrated effectiveness to reduce motor vehicle-related 
injuries.
    This study addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of 
Injury and Violence Prevention.
    ``Healthy People 2010: Health Objectives for the Nation'' has set 
an objective of reducing motor vehicle-related fatalities to no more 
than 9.2 per 100,000 persons from a baseline of 15.6 per 100,000 
persons in 1998. To meet this objective, the nation must improve the 
safety of motor vehicle travel, community-by-community, state-by-state. 
Deterrence of alcohol-impaired driving and increasing the proper use of 
occupant restraints are among the most important measures to further 
reduce motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths.
    The purpose of the study is to tailor, implement, and evaluate 
community-based interventions with demonstrated effectiveness for 
preventing motor vehicle-related injuries within the following areas: 
(1) Reduce alcohol-impaired driving among high risk groups; (2) 
increase safety belt use among low-use groups; and (3) increase the use 
of child safety seats, with an emphasis on booster seats.
    In addition, the study should gather information on the process of 
tailoring and implementing evidence-based community interventions such 
as defining how the interventions were tailored, barriers to 
implementation, and how the various evaluation activities were 
undertaken.
    This study will require the formation of coalitions of public 
health departments, transportation and traffic safety agencies, 
Governors' highway safety representatives, law enforcement, and 
academic evaluation experts. These coalitions will work with community 
leaders, groups, and organizations (e.g., policy makers, safety 
advocates, schools, youth organizations, local media, health care 
providers, and social service agencies) to tailor, implement, and 
evaluate at least two selected community-based interventions.
    Measurable outcomes of the study will be in alignment with the 
following research priorities in transportation safety from the 
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) Research 
Agenda: (1) Evaluate strategies to implement and disseminate known, 
effective interventions to reduce alcohol-impaired driving and test the 
effectiveness of new, innovative strategies; (2) develop and evaluate 
interventions that address the proper and consistent use of measures to 
protect child occupants in motor vehicles; (3) develop methodologies 
for and evaluate the effectiveness of various means to translate 
transportation safety research findings into public policy. The study 
is expected to widely disseminate the outcomes through traditional 
mechanisms, such as professional and peer-reviewed journal 
publications.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by state or local health departments 
or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia, 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of 
Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau.
    Other required eligibility criteria include the following:
    1. The applicant should provide evidence that there is an unmet 
need in their community for these interventions. The intent of the 
study is not to support existing activities. This can be done by 
describing the target groups for the selected interventions and 
documenting the size of the problem in these groups.
    2. The applicant should provide evidence of effective and well-
defined collaborative relationships within the performing organization 
and among the coalition members that will ensure implementation of the 
proposed activities. At a minimum, the coalition must include the 
recipient state or local health department, a state or local highway 
safety department representative, the state Governor's highway safety 
representative or designee, local law enforcement, and a university-
based evaluation expert. Documentation, such as letters of 
collaboration, describing the specific commitments and responsibilities 
that will be undertaken by the coalition members and community 
organizations must be included.
    3. The applicant and its collaborative team should provide evidence 
of prior experience in tailoring, implementing, and evaluating 
community-based interventions. This experience must be documented by 
including publications such as those from peer-reviewed journal 
articles or technical reports in the appendix of the application.
    4. The recipient should provide evidence of access to target 
populations and experience with accessing community leaders and 
community-level groups.

    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 $450,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund 
approximately 2 awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$225,000, ranging from $200,000 to $250,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about September 15, 2003, and will be made for 
a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to four 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.

Funding Preferences

    Applicants will be expected to implement and evaluate at least two 
community-based interventions with demonstrated effectiveness during 
the four-year project period. Preference will be given to applicants 
who propose implementing at least one community-based intervention from 
the following list of interventions that have strong evidence of 
effectiveness according to the ``The Guide to Community Preventive 
Services''. (See www.thecommunityguide.org or

[[Page 27079]]

Attachment 1. All Attachments referenced in this announcement are 
posted with the announcement on the CDC Web site.):
    a. Sobriety checkpoints to reduce alcohol-impaired driving. Key 
components of the intervention: officer training in appropriate 
practices; implement or increase the frequency of sobriety checkpoints 
(or roving patrols if checkpoints are not feasible); develop a strategy 
for publicizing checkpoints through earned media (e.g., news stories) 
and/or paid media.
    b. Enhanced enforcement campaigns to increase safety belt and child 
safety seat use. Key components of the intervention: Implement or 
increase the frequency of citations for violations of the law, safety 
belt and/or child safety seat checkpoints (or roving patrols if 
checkpoints are not feasible); develop a strategy for publicizing the 
enhanced enforcement efforts through earned media (e.g., news stories) 
and/or paid media.
    c. Efforts to increase possession and use of child safety seats and 
booster seats. Key components of the intervention: Distribution of 
child safety seats and/or booster seats among low use groups; education 
on appropriate use.
    Key components of the chosen interventions must be included in 
implementation.
    Applicants may choose to implement one or more interventions with 
demonstrated effectiveness to reduce motor vehicle-related injuries 
that are not on the above list. Applicants who select interventions 
that are not included in the list above, but have been systematically 
reviewed in the peer-reviewed literature, must cite the review and 
summarize its findings in the application.

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. Establish the coalition that will help tailor, implement, and 
evaluate the selected interventions. At a minimum, the coalition must 
include the recipient state or local health department, a state or 
local highway safety department representative, the state Governor's 
highway safety representative or designee, local law enforcement, and 
an evaluation expert or academic researcher who has published in the 
peer-review literature.
    b. Collect or obtain and analyze baseline measures that will guide 
the planning process and serve as the pre-intervention measures of 
effectiveness (e.g., alcohol-related crashes, safety belt use, booster 
seat use).
    c. If the recipient proposes to implement enhanced enforcement 
campaigns to increase safety belt use or to strengthen child safety 
seat laws or booster seat laws, the recipient must first determine 
baseline use rates for safety belts, child safety seats, and booster 
seats using, at a minimum, a comparison of observed use rates 
determined from observational surveys in the intervention and control 
communities before and after implementation of the intervention 
activities.
    d. If the recipient proposes to implement sobriety checkpoints to 
reduce alcohol-impaired driving, the recipient must first determine 
rates of alcohol-impaired driving using appropriate survey methods 
before and after implementation of the intervention. Direct assessment 
of driver blood alcohol content levels in roadside surveys is the 
preferred method. However, an acceptable method for baseline 
measurement would be the number of pre- and post-intervention nighttime 
single vehicle crashes.
    e. Develop a detailed plan for the tailoring of the intervention 
for their community, for implementation, and for evaluation of the 
selected evidence-based interventions to reduce motor vehicle-related 
injuries. Obtain approval for the plan from each coalition member and 
the CDC.
    f. Implement and evaluate the selected interventions. Sufficient 
resources should be allocated for a rigorous evaluation.
    g. Attend and participate in technical assistance, planning, and 
project briefing meetings coordinated by the CDC. (Travel to CDC for 
one meeting per year.)
    h. Submit required reports on time.
    Activities should be specifically tailored to stimulate community 
ownership and investment in sustaining the intervention, if effective, 
beyond the funding period. Collaboration with ongoing activities such 
as ``Safe Communities'' and existing coalitions such as ``SAFE KIDS'' 
is encouraged.
    The first year of the study will include several activities: 
Establishing the coalition; evaluating the perceptions of stakeholders 
regarding barriers to implementation and perceived benefits of the 
intervention; collecting and analyzing baseline information (e.g., 
alcohol-related crashes, DUI arrests, safety belt use), and developing 
a detailed plan for implementing and evaluating two or more 
interventions.
    At the end of Year I, noncompetitive continuation funding will be 
available for Year II, contingent upon successful progress in Year I 
and a detailed budget for implementing and evaluating the selected 
interventions. Years two through four will be dedicated to 
implementing, sustaining, and evaluating the selected interventions. 
The evaluation should include systematic and detailed process data 
regarding any unanticipated barriers that were encountered in 
implementing the interventions.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance and guidance in the tailoring, 
implementation, and evaluation of the selected interventions.
    b. Review plans for the tailoring, implementation, and evaluation 
of the selected interventions.
    c. Assist in ensuring human subjects assurances are in place as 
needed.
    d. Assist in analysis and dissemination of results including the 
preparation of manuscripts.
    e. Facilitate technical assistance and planning meetings and 
briefings to CDC.

F. Content

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is required for this program. The narrative should be no more 
than two single-spaced pages, printed on one side, with one-inch 
margins, and unreduced 12-point font. The letter should identify the 
announcement number, the name of the principal investigator, and 
briefly describe the scope and intent of the proposed study. The letter 
of intent does not influence review or funding decisions, but the 
number of letters received will enable CDC to plan the review more 
effectively and efficiently.

Application

    The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the 
application. Use the information in the Program 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 
portion of the application must not exceed 25 pages.
    Applications should follow the PHS-5161 application and should 
include the following information:
    1. The project's focus justifying the intervention needs and 
describing the scientific basis for the program, the

[[Page 27080]]

expected outcome, and the relevance of the findings to reduce injury 
morbidity, mortality, disability, and economic losses.
    2. Specific, measurable, and time-framed objectives.
    3. A detailed plan describing the methods that will achieve the 
objectives, including their sequence.
    4. A description of the roles and responsibilities of the principal 
investigator.
    5. A description of all project staff regardless of their funding 
source. It should include their title, qualifications, experience, 
percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well as that 
portion of their salary to be paid by the cooperative agreement.
    6. A description of those activities related to, but not supported 
by the cooperative agreement.
    6. A description of those activities related to, but not supported 
by the cooperative agreement.
    7. A description of the involvement of other entities that will 
relate to the proposed project, if applicable. It should include 
letters of organizational commitments of support and a clear statement 
of their roles.
    8. A detailed budget for the cooperative agreement.
    9. An explanation of how the research findings will contribute to 
the national effort to reduce the morbidity, mortality and disability 
caused by injuries.

A. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission

    The LOI must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time on or before June 
9, 2003. Submit the LOI to: Stephen Lester, Grants Management 
Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. 
Telephone: 770-488-1998.

Application Forms

    Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS-5161 application. 
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.

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time July 3, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--
PA03077, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically.

CDC Acknowledgement 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 must 
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be 
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
    Eligible applications will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent peer review special emphasis panel 
(SEP) appointed by CDC that will review the scientific merit of the 
applications. This will be the primary review of applications. These 
SEP reviewers will review all applications for scientific merit using 
current National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria (a scoring system 
of 100-500 points) to evaluate the methods and scientific quality of 
the application. All categories are of equal importance, however, the 
application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged 
likely to have a major scientific impact.
    Factors to be considered will include:
1. Significance
    Applicant has described how this study will advance scientific 
knowledge of how to tailor, implement, and evaluate community-based 
interventions for preventing motor vehicle-related injuries.
2. Approach (for Tailoring, Implementing, and Evaluating the Selected 
Interventions)
    The extent to which the applicant's work plan and timetable 
includes:
    a. The identification of representatives to be named as members of 
the coalition, including a description of the areas of expertise 
covered by each; the specific roles and responsibilities of each in 
implementing this cooperative agreement; methods for making decisions; 
etc.
    b. Memorandum of agreement and understanding or letters of support 
from these collaborating organizations as an appendix, and the extent 
to which these letters indicate that the applicant and the other 
collaborating organizations have established a ``working partnership'' 
which specifies the active roles each will have in the study.
    c. Plans for collecting or obtaining and analyzing baseline (pre-
intervention) and follow-up data for the measures of effectiveness.
    d. A description of the process used in selecting the interventions 
to be implemented.
    e. A description of the process to be used in preparing the 
detailed plan for tailoring, implementing and evaluating the selected 
interventions.
    f. Initial plans to rigorously evaluate the interventions including 
appropriate measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the 
accomplishment of the identified objectives of the cooperative 
agreement. Measures should be objective and quantifiable and measure 
the intended outcome.
    g. Plans to train and support staff regarding the responsibilities 
of this cooperative agreement, and the availability of staff and 
facilities to carry out this cooperative agreement.
    h. Acknowledgement of potential problem areas and plans to consider 
alternative tactics.
3. Investigator
    The extent to which the applicant has documented that the principal 
investigator is appropriately trained and well-suited to carry out the 
study.

[[Page 27081]]

4. Environment
    The extent to which the applicant and proposed collaborators have 
documented:
    a. Their history and current capacity to provide a leadership 
function in convening and facilitating the work of the coalition.
    b. Their history and current capacity to provide a leadership 
function in the tailoring, implementation, and evaluation of the 
selected community-based interventions to reduce motor vehicle-related 
injuries.
    c. Their history and current capacity to present findings at 
national conferences and prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts.
    d. A willingness to attend and participate in technical assistance 
and planning meetings and related travel to Atlanta coordinated by the 
CDC for all cooperative agreement recipients.
    e. Their organizational capacity to realize the objectives of the 
cooperative agreement.
    f. Their management operation, structure and/or organization. An 
organizational chart of the applicant's organization should be included 
as an appendix. Additionally, the applicant should include within their 
management plan the specific role and mechanisms to be established to 
ensure effective coordination, communication and shared decision making 
among the involved agencies/organizations.
    g. A staffing plan for the project, noting existing staff as well 
as additional staffing needs. The responsibilities of individual staff 
members including the level of effort and allocation of time for each 
project activity by staff position should be included. The specific 
staff positions within the other involved state level agencies, both 
in-kind and funded, should be described.
    h. Resumes, biosketches, and/or position descriptions (i.e. for 
current staff, in-kind, and proposed positions to be funded under this 
cooperative agreement) should be included as an appendix. This should 
include the use of consultants, as appropriate.
    i. A continuation plan in the event that key staff leave the 
project, how new staff will be smoothly integrated into the project, 
and assurances that resources will be available when needed for this 
project.
    j. Previous experience of project staff to submit required reports 
on time.
5. Ethical Issues
    What provisions have been made for the protection of human subjects 
and the safety of the research environments? How does the applicant 
plan to handle issues of confidentiality and compliance with mandated 
reporting requirements, (e.g., suspected child abuse)? Does the 
application adequately address the requirements of 45 CFR part 46 for 
the protection of human subjects? (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.) 
The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC Policy requirements 
regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the 
proposed research. This includes:
    a. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and 
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    b. The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    c. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to 
measure differences when warranted.
    d. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach 
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships 
with communities and recognition of mutual benefits. Is there evidence 
of effective working relationships between the applicant and community 
organizations? Does the applicant describe experience in developing 
community partnerships and the community's current and anticipated 
capacity to carry out the proposed activities?
6. Study Samples
    Are the samples rigorously defined to permit complete independent 
replication at another site? Have the referral sources been described, 
including the definitions and criteria? What plans have been made to 
include women and minorities and their subgroups as appropriate for the 
scientific goals of the research? How will the applicant deal with 
recruitment and retention of subjects?
7. Dissemination
    a. Plans to present findings to local, state, regional, and 
national audiences.
    b. Plans to prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts based on the study.
8. Measures of Effectiveness
    Are the measures set forth in the application in accordance with 
CDC's performance plans? How adequately has the applicant addressed 
these measures?
    The SEP will also examine the appropriateness of the proposed study 
budget and duration in relation to the proposed research and the 
availability of data required for the study.
    The secondary review will be conducted by the Science and Program 
Review Subcommittee (SPRS) of the Advisory Committee for Injury 
Prevention and Control (ACIPC). ACIPC Federal agency experts will be 
invited to attend the secondary review and will receive modified 
briefing books (i.e., abstracts, strengths and weaknesses from summary 
statements, and project officer's briefing materials). ACIPC Federal 
agency experts will be encouraged to participate in deliberations when 
applications address overlapping areas of research interest so that 
unwarranted duplication in federally funded research can be avoided and 
special subject area expertise can be shared. The NCIPC Division 
Associate Directors for Science (ADS) or their designees will attend 
the secondary review in a similar capacity as the ACIPC Federal agency 
experts to assure that research priorities of the announcement are 
understood and to provide background regarding current research 
activities. Only SPRS members will vote on funding recommendations, and 
their recommendations will be carried to the entire ACIPC for voting by 
the ACIPC members in closed session. If any further review is needed by 
the ACIPC, regarding the recommendations of the SPRS, the factors 
considered will be the same as those considered by the SPRS.
    The subcommittee's responsibility is to develop funding 
recommendations for the NCIPC Director based on the results of the 
primary review, the relevance and balance of proposed research relative 
to the NCIPC programs and priorities, and to assure that unwarranted 
duplication of federally funded research does not occur. The secondary 
review committee has the latitude to recommend to the NCIPC Director, 
to reach over better ranked proposals in order to assure maximal impact 
and balance of proposed research. The factors to be considered will 
include:
    1. The results of the primary review including the application's 
priority score as the primary factor in the selection process.
    2. The relevance and balance of proposed research relative to the 
NCIPC programs and priorities.
    3. The significance of the proposed activities in relation to the 
priorities and objectives stated in Healthy People 2010, the Institute 
of Medicine report, Reducing the Burden of Injury, and the NCIPC Injury 
Research Agenda.
    4. Budgetary considerations including the extent to which the 
budget is

[[Page 27082]]

reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of 
funds.

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 Activities 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.
    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 II 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 Review
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-13 Prohibition on Use of CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control 
Activities
AR-20 Conference Support

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: Stephen 
Lester, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-1998. E-mail address: 
[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Tim Groza, MPA, Project 
Officer, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-63, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. Telephone: 770-4676. E-mail address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: May 13, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-12398 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P