[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33704-33706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14124]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 04002]


Cooperative Agreement for Assessing Folic Acid Knowledge and 
Behaviors; Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: August 4, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301 and 317C of the Public 
Health Service Act, (2 U.S.C. 241 and 247b-4 of the PHS Act, 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) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for the assessment of knowledge of the relationship between 
folic acid consumption and the prevention of spina bifida and 
anencephaly and the broad dissemination of findings for educational 
purposes. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area 
of Maternal, Infant, and Child Health.
    The purpose of this program is to provide for the evaluation of the 
effectiveness of public health programs to prevent birth defects 
through (1) an assessment of the current state of knowledge among 
reproductive-age women and their health care providers relative to 
folic acid consumption and the prevention of spina bifida and 
anencephaly; and, (2) the broad dissemination of findings to audiences 
who can use the findings for educational purposes.
    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): Increase the consumption of folic 
acid among women of reproductive age to prevent serious birth defects.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to applicants that are well-
established national, non-profit organizations with experience in: (1) 
Conducting birth defects prevention research; (2) conducting science-
based educational outreach activities; and, (3) communicating research 
findings effectively to national, regional, state, and local level 
media outlets in coordination with partners.
    To be eligible, applicants must:
    1. Demonstrate that the organization's mission is explicitly 
committed to the prevention of birth defects. This may be demonstrated 
by submission of the charter, articles of incorporation, or other 
governing documents.
    2. Demonstrate that the organization is a nonprofit and recognized 
as tax exempt under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 
This may be demonstrated through inclusion of your Internal Revenue 
Service determination letter.
    3. Demonstrate the organization has the capacity and experience 
providing health education to women who are at risk of having a Neural 
Tube Defects (NTD)-affected pregnancy. This may be demonstrated through 
letters of support.
    4. Demonstrate that the organization has a national membership and 
a national network of local organizations. This may be done through a 
letter from the organization's leadership which describes the national 
network.
    This information should be placed directly behind the face page 
(first page) of your application. Applications that do not include the 
above information will be determined as non responsive and will be 
returned without review.

    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 $180,000 is available in FY 04 to fund approximately 
one award. It is expected that the award will begin on or about 
December 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.

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 in 1. 
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed in 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
    a. Conduct studies of women of reproductive age (18 to 45) to 
measure their awareness, knowledge, and behaviors related to folic 
acid, pregnancy, and birth defects' prevention.
    b. Conduct studies to measure the awareness, knowledge, and 
practices of health care professionals and others who interact with 
women of reproductive age in health care/health education settings 
related to their knowledge of folic acid and birth defects prevention.
    c. Develop surveys/studies of women of reproductive age.
    d. Evaluate the results of surveys to determine if changes are 
occurring.
    e. Publish the results of each survey and comparison analyses of 
the surveys in peer reviewed publications such as Teratology, Morbidity 
and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), etc.
    f. Coordinate and collaborate with partners, including the National 
Center

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on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), to ensure 
effective dissemination of survey results to key audiences.
    g. Use survey findings to encourage the development of new and/or 
enhanced birth defects prevention programs.
2. CDC Activities
    a. Provide technical and scientific consultation and assistance for 
the implementation aspects of this project.
    b. Provide technical and scientific consultation as needed in 
evaluating the indicators of changes in knowledge, attitude and 
behaviors of the general public, women who are at risk, and health care 
professionals.
    c. Provide assistance in coordinating the release of survey 
findings with key partners so that wide dissemination occurs among key 
audiences.
    d. Provide technical and scientific assistance for the evaluation 
and dissemination of the findings.
    e. Provide technical and scientific assistance for the development 
of surveys/studies of women of reproductive age.

F. Content

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A letter of intent (LOI) is requested for this program. The LOI 
should identify the program announcement number and the proposed 
project director. The LOI should be no more than three pages, doubled 
spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced font. 
It should describe the intent of the proposed intervention, the target 
population, and describe 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 
assist CDC in the planning for the conduct of the application review 
process.

Application

    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 program plan should address activities to be conducted over 
the entire five year project period. The narrative should be no more 
than 30 pages, double spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch 
margins, and unreduced font. The narrative should consist of, at a 
minimum, the following elements:
    1. Understanding of the Project.
    2. Technical Approach.
    3. Organizational Capacity.
    4. Budget.
    5. Human Subjects.

G. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)
    On or before July 7, 2003, submit the LOI to the Public Health 
Analyst identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.

Application Forms

    Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB 
Number 0920-0428). Forms can be found 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.

Application Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time August 4, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--PA 
04002, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 
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 4:00 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 tasks of the 
cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the 
performance goal as 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. Organizational Capacity--(50 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant has described:
    a. The qualifications and commitment of the organization to birth 
defects prevention.
    b. The qualifications and commitment of the professional staff.
    c. The allocation of time and effort of key project staff to agreed 
upon project activities.
    d. Previous experience (of both the organization and the proposed 
staff) conducting survey research and disseminating research findings 
to multiple audiences to develop and/or improve educational efforts.
2. Understanding of the Project--(30 Points)
    The applicant's understanding of the requirements, intent, and 
objectives for a successful project including:
    a. The extent to which the applicant outlines a methodologically 
sound approach to conducting survey research activities.
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes a plan for widely 
disseminating research findings to the public that is coordinated with 
NCBDDD and other key partners.
    c. The extent to which the applicant describes a plan for using 
survey research findings to improve birth defects prevention 
educational efforts.
    d. The extent to which the applicant describes processes that 
facilitate

[[Page 33706]]

cooperation among partners and other funded agencies to standardize 
research and communication activities.
3. Technical Approach--(20 Points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant describes its plan for 
carrying out the overall project, including study management, data 
collection, data analysis, and dissemination activities.
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes ways they will 
monitor/evaluate implementation of their overall project plan 
(including research and dissemination activities).
    c. The extent to which the applicant addresses 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 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.
4. Budget (Not Scored)
    The budget will be evaluated for the extent to which it is 
reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of 
the grant funds.
5. Human Subjects
    Does the applicant adequately address 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.

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 noncompeting 
continuation application and must include 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.
    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 Internet address.

AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirement
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 home page 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 Rd, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
    For business management assistance, contact: Sheryl L. Heard, 
Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone number: (770) 488-2723, E-mail 
address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Stephanie Henry, Public 
Health Analyst, Division of Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford 
Highway, NE., Mailstop F-45, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Telephone: (770) 
488-7167, E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: May 30, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-14124 Filed 6-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P