[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 118 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36812-36818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15453]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03074]


Environmental and Health Effect Tracking; Notice of Availability 
of Funds

    Application Deadline: July 29, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301 of the Public Health 
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241), as amended. The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announce the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to support development of the National Environmental Public 
Health Tracking (Surveillance) Network. This program addresses the 
``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Environmental Health, Cancer, 
Maternal, Infant, and Child Health, and Public Health Infrastructure.
    The purpose of this program is to demonstrate and evaluate methods 
for linking data from ongoing, existing health effects surveillance 
systems with data from existing surveillance/monitoring systems for 
human exposure and environmental hazards. Data systems used can be for 
a defined geographic region within the state, state-

[[Page 36813]]

wide, regional or national. The activities in this program announcement 
are intended to improve existing surveillance and monitoring systems by 
enhancing epidemiologic, analytic and technological capacity at the 
local, state, and regional level. Methods, tools, and best practices 
developed through this program will be used in advancing the 
development of a standards-based, coordinated, and integrated 
environmental public health tracking (surveillance) network at the 
state, regional, and national level. See Appendix I for background 
information about environmental public health tracking (surveillance). 
Appendix II contains definitions of the terminology used in this 
program announcement to ensure applicants fully understand the purpose 
and intent of this announcement. All appendices referenced in this 
announcement are posted with the announcement on the CDC Web site, 
Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding,'' then 
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    Environmental Public Health Tracking deals specifically with 
chronic diseases, birth defects, developmental disabilities, and other 
non-infectious health effects that may be related to exposure to 
chemicals, physical agents, biomechanical stressors, or biologic toxins 
in the environment. Appendix I further describes the health effects and 
environmental factors eligible for inclusion in the overall tracking 
program. This program announcement focuses on specific health effects 
which include birth defects, developmental disabilities, cancer, asthma 
and other respiratory disease, autoimmune diseases, neurological/
immunologic diseases, heavy metal poisoning, and pesticide poisoning. 
The need for an environmental public health tracking (surveillance) 
network in which health effect, exposure, and hazard data can be linked 
on an ongoing basis was well documented by the Pew Environmental Health 
Commission in its report ``America's Environmental Health Gap: Why the 
Country Needs a Nationwide Health Tracking Network.'' The Internet 
address of this report is available in Appendix III.
    Both the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have 
large ongoing efforts to develop, standardize, and promote electronic 
reporting of data and to improve collaboration across categorical 
programs. Work being done to create the Environmental Public Health 
Tracking Network falls under a larger effort at CDC and ATSDR to 
integrate data that is referred to as the Public Health Information 
Network (PHIN). PHIN covers all ongoing CDC and ATSDR surveillance 
activities including the National Electronic Disease Surveillance 
System (NEDSS) and bioterrorism surveillance and provides architectural 
and technical standards and specifications as a starting point for all 
system design activities. For reference, Appendix III contains the 
Internet addresses for NEDSS and PHIN, which include information about 
the Public Health Information Technology Functions and Specifications. 
The EPA's National Environmental Information Exchange Network is also 
contained in this appendix.
    This program announcement focuses on the use and enhancement (for 
example, by adding geo-coded data items) of existing surveillance/
monitoring systems at the local, state or regional level rather than 
development of new systems. Existing Birth Defects surveillance systems 
should include at least 35,000 live births per year. Cancer registry 
surveillance systems should be limited to those registries that have 
obtained certification from the North American Association of Central 
Cancer Registries (NAACCR). Additionally, these existing systems should 
contain data of sufficient completeness, timeliness, and quality to 
allow reporting of valid estimates of health effect prevalence, 
incidence, or mortality for a population; and they should be readily 
available to health department staff for analysis and dissemination of 
information to guide public health action.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goals: National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH)--Increase the capacity of state and local health departments to 
deliver environmental health services in their communities; National 
Center for Chronic Disease Promotion and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP--
Improve the quality of state-based cancer registries; National Center 
for Birth Defects and Developmental Disability (NCBDDD)--Prevent birth 
defects and developmental disabilities; National Center for Health 
Statistics (NCHS)--Monitor trends in the nation's health through high-
quality data systems addressing issues relevant to decision makers.
    Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)--Ascertain 
the relationship between exposure to toxic substances and disease.
    Linkage projects initiated under this program announcement should 
support ongoing, integrated and systematic surveillance/monitoring 
efforts. Projects should focus on existing surveillance/monitoring 
systems that are either statewide or regional and should develop 
sustainable models for linking environmental exposure and/or hazard 
data with one or more of the following health effects:
    (1) Major structural birth defects
    (2) Developmental disabilities such as Autism, mental retardation, 
and other developmental disabilities.
    (3) Cancers, especially those for which there are shorter latency 
periods, such as hematopoietic, central nervous system and childhood 
cancers
    (4) Asthma and other chronic obstructive respiratory diseases
    (5) Neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and 
Parkinson's
    (6) Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid 
arthritis, scleroderma, and systemic lupus erythematosus
    (7) Pesticide Poisoning
    (8) Heavy Metal Poisoning (e.g. lead, mercury)

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by:
    [sbull] State health departments or their bona fide agents (this 
includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 
the Republic of Palau)
    [sbull] The local health departments of Chicago IL, Philadelphia 
PA, Los Angeles County, Houston TX, and New York City NY (in 
consultation with states).
    Due to limited resources, competition is limited to only the listed 
applicants. This accommodates legislative appropriations language which 
began the Tracking initiative in FY 2002 and which specified capacity 
development of environmental health at state and local health 
departments. The cities listed are the five largest incorporated 
metropolitan areas in the United States.
    An important component of this announcement is to build 
partnerships between and within environmental and health agencies/
departments/staff; therefore, applicants must demonstrate that their 
program will be a collaborative effort by including the following with 
their application:
    1. A letter of collaboration signed by both the state (or local) 
Secretary/Director of Health or equivalent and the state (or local) 
Secretary/Director of Environmental Quality/Protection/Natural 
Resources or the equivalent agency/department confirming that 
partnerships exist or will be developed:
    a. Across Health and Environmental Agencies/Departments. (Evidence 
of a

[[Page 36814]]

partnership may be a confirmation of an existing memorandum of 
understanding (MOU) between Health and Environment that covers 
activities related to this program announcement).
    b. Between appropriate organizational units within each Agency/
Department (Within the Health Department this may include birth defect 
programs, cancer registries, environmental epidemiology, the state 
laboratory, chronic disease directors, and others).
    c. If Health and Environment are organized under one state/local 
agency/department, a letter of intent from the Secretary/Director or 
equivalent of that agency/department confirming that partnerships exist 
or will be developed across appropriate organizational units within the 
Agency/Department is required.
    2. Designation of public health liaison within the environmental 
agency/department and an environmental liaison within the health 
agency/department.
    3. Eligible local health departments must provide assurances that 
activities related to this program will be coordinated with the State 
Health Department.
    4. If the applicant is a bona fide agent of the state/local health 
department, a letter from the state/local health department designating 
the applicant as such must be provided.
    These documents should be placed directly behind the face page 
(first page) of your application. Applications that fail to submit 
documentation requested above will be considered non-responsive and 
returned to the applicant 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 $6,000,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund 
approximately 12 awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$350,000 ranging from $200,000 to $500,000. 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 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.

Use of Funds

    Applicants may use funds for those activities that increase 
technical, analytic, and epidemiologic capacity and must ensure that 
resources will be shared between collaborating agencies and between 
collaborating programs within each agency. Applicants should hire an 
environmental epidemiologist if that expertise is currently 
unavailable.

Funding Preference

    Special consideration will be given applications that encourage and 
embody partnerships across various agencies and programs regardless of 
funding sources.

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 (working collaboratively with ATSDR) will 
be responsible for the activities listed in 2. CDC and ATSDR 
Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop and implement a work plan including a detailed timeline 
to address each recipient activity.
    b. Develop mechanisms for establishing ongoing collaboration, 
communication, and coordination of activities between and within 
members of relevant health and environmental agencies. One example of 
such a mechanism could be a coordinating committee that includes 
representatives of existing state health effects surveillance programs 
such as Birth Defects, Developmental Disabilities, and Cancer 
Registries and Asthma and Lead Poisoning surveillance programs; 
representatives of the state environmental epidemiology program or 
environmental public health tracking programs (currently funded through 
CDC or ATSDR); representatives of existing capacity-building programs 
in chronic disease surveillance (e.g. SLE, MS, ALS); representatives of 
air, water, pesticide or other environmental monitoring programs, 
representatives of state health and environmental laboratories; and 
state health and environmental informatics officers/staff. (See Web 
sites in Appendix III to identify those states currently receiving CDC 
funding for Environmental Public Health Tracking, Birth Defects, 
Developmental Disabilities, Asthma, the National Program of Cancer 
Registries, laboratory biomonitoring capacity, and capacity-building 
programs in SLE, MS, and ALS surveillance.
    c. Establish an advisory group consisting of technical experts, 
local health and environmental agency staff, community members, 
academic researchers, and other key stakeholders who can provide 
substantive recommendations on planning, implementing, and 
communicating information from this project. This group should meet at 
least quarterly.
    d. Implement a project(s) that links existing health effect 
surveillance data with exposure and/or hazard data as part of an 
ongoing surveillance activities and a sustainable effort to build 
capacity. This project should include at a minimum: one or more of the 
health effects with a possible relationship to the environment that 
were listed in Section B, one or more measures of human exposure, and/
or one or more types of environmental hazard (as defined in Section A 
and Appendices I and II). Selection of health effects/exposures/hazards 
from those specified in this program announcement should be in line 
with state/local priorities.
    e. Demonstrate the utility of this linked data in guiding public 
health policy and practice (including triaging, assessing and 
responding to public concerns about clusters). The project should 
include the analysis and dissemination of data in a timely manner for 
use in public health practice or environmental protection programs and 
should include a feedback mechanism that identifies linkage challenges 
and plans to resolve those challenges. When applicable, the project 
should address linkage or comparability to national level data.
    f. Develop strategies for communicating information generated by 
this project to diverse audiences including health care providers and 
the public. This should include strategies for responding to public 
inquiries and informing audiences (including community members) about 
the incidence, prevalence, or mortality of selected health effects and 
risk factors.
    g. Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of this project. Refer to the 
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report titled ``Framework for Program 
Evaluation in Public Health'' (See Appendix II for Web site.)
    h. Based on the evaluation, develop a written report outlining 
lessons learned from this project that includes but is not limited to 
the following:
    i. Specific methodology and tools used to link data.
    ii. Potential uses of the linked data and its limitations, 
including its utility

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in responding to public concerns about disease clusters.
    iii. Barriers to implementing the linkage project such as 
limitations in data available including issues related to data quality 
(that includes a special focus on geo-coded data), timeliness and data 
collection practices; availability and use of data standards; 
compatibility of data and information technology standards and 
specifications across health and environmental systems; limitations of 
analytic methods, limits in legislative/regulatory authorities for 
state health/environmental agencies.
    iv. Feasibility, utility and sustainability of incorporating 
linkage methods and tools into ongoing surveillance activities and into 
an integrated environmental public health tracking network.
    v. Assessment of compatibility of data systems utilized with those 
being developed or enhanced under the CDC Public Health Information 
Network (includes Environmental Public Health Tracking, NEDSS, 
Bioterrorism-related surveillance activities at CDC, and the national 
vital statistics system) and EPA's National Environmental Information 
Exchange Network. (See Appendix III for the Internet addresses.)
    vi. Effectiveness of communications strategies and messages, 
including an assessment of the program's ability to respond to public 
inquiries and to provide information to health department officials, 
health care providers, and the public regarding reported clusters.
    vii. Recommendations for improvements in data collection, 
reporting, geo-coded linkages, and quality; development of new 
methodology; improvement in interoperability of databases; legislative/
regulatory changes; improvements in data dissemination/communication 
strategies; and training needs of state and local staff on carry out 
data linkage and to effectively utilize data.
    i. Participate in quarterly conference calls with other programs 
funded under this program announcement and with other Environmental 
Public Health Tracking Program partners including CDC state and local 
Tracking programs; CDC Centers of Excellence in Environmental Public 
Health Tracking (see Appendix IV); participating Centers, Institutes, 
and Offices at CDC such as the National Center for Birth Defects and 
Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD); the National Center for Chronic 
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; the National Center for 
Environmental Health; and the National Center for Health Statistics; 
and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
    j. Attend workgroups and meetings with other Environmental Public 
Health Tracking (surveillance) Program partners to share lessons 
learned and participate in activities related to improving data system 
interoperability such as CDC's annual PHIN meeting.

2. CDC and ATSDR Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance in work plan development, and the 
design and implementation of program activities, including analysis and 
dissemination of data. This will include individual consultation to 
funded programs via site visits, e-mail, and telephone and the 
provision of written guidance materials and references. Experts from 
the appropriate CDC Center will provide health effects technical 
assistance.
    b. Provide coordination between and among recipient organizations 
by assisting in the sharing of information through the CDC Web sites ( 
e.g. the National Birth Defects Prevention Network), the National 
Environmental Public Health Tracking Program web board, related 
stakeholders meetings, and direct interactions.
    c. Coordinate activities at the national level among Centers, 
Institutes and Offices at CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry and with other Federal Agencies such as the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
    d. Ensure involvement of other key governmental and non-
governmental partners as needed. These may include the Council of State 
and Territorial Epidemiologists, the Environmental Council of States, 
the Association of Public Health Laboratories, the Association of State 
and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of City and 
County Health Officers, the National Association of Health Data 
Organizations, the American Lung Association, the American Medical 
Association, the American Water Works Association, Chronic Disease 
Directors, the March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, the 
North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the American 
Cancer Society, the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, and 
others.
    e. Convene workgroups to discuss data system interoperability and 
develop enhancements to the PHIN architecture, standards, and 
conceptual and logical data models.

F. Content

Pre-application Conference Call

    Two pre-application conference calls are scheduled for interested 
applicants. These will occur July 1, 2003, from 1 to 3 p.m. (eastern 
standard time (EST)) and July 2, 2003, from 3 to 5 p.m. (EST). The 
purpose of these calls is to discuss program requirements and to 
respond to any questions regarding the program announcement. Two calls 
are scheduled in order to provide all applicants the opportunity to 
gather information and ask questions. It is not necessary to 
participate in both calls, though applicants are welcome to do so if 
they desire. To confirm your intent to participate and receive a 
meeting agenda and call-in instructions, applicants should send an e-
mail or write Toni Fleming at [email protected] or 1600 Clifton Rd., NE., MS 
E19, Atlanta, GA 30333.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is requested for this program. The Program Announcement title 
and number must appear in the LOI. The narrative should be no more than 
two pages, double-spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, 
and unreduced 12-point fonts. Your letter of intent will be used to 
enable CDC to determine level of interest in the announcement and 
estimate potential review workload, and should include the following 
information:
    a. Number and title of the announcement.
    b. Name, organization, address, telephone number, fax number, and 
e-mail address of the Principal Investigator(s).
    c. A brief description of the data linkage project(s) being 
proposed, including which surveillance/monitoring systems are to be 
linked.
    Failure to submit a LOI will not preclude an applicant from 
submitting an application.

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 35 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point 
fonts.
    Applicants should also submit appendices including abbreviated 
curriculum vitas, letters of support,

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organizational charts, and other similar supporting information. The 
total appendices should not exceed 25 pages, printed on one side.
    All pages in the application should be clearly numbered and a 
complete index to the application and any appendices included. All 
materials should be provided unbound, one-sided, with one-inch margins, 
suitable for photocopying.
    The applicant should provide a detailed description of first-year 
objectives and activities and should also describe future-year 
objectives and activities. A project timeline should be included. The 
application should contain the following:
1. Executive Summary (2 pages, double-spaced)
    Provide a clear concise summary of the application.
2. The Narrative
    The narrative should consist of:
    a. Understanding of the purpose of data linkage as a tool for 
capacity building
    b. Existing resources
    c. Collaborative relationships
    d. Operational plan and methods
    e. Organizational and program personnel capability
    The narrative should specifically address the ``Program 
Requirements''.
3. Budget and Justification
    a. Provide a detailed budget and line item justification of all 
proposed operating expenses consistent with the program activities 
described in this announcement, including how resources will be shared 
between collaborating agencies/programs.
    b. The annual budget should include funding for two staff members 
to make two three-day trips to Atlanta for stakeholders/workgroup 
meetings, one two-day trip to Atlanta for a reverse site visit, and 
funding for one person to travel to Atlanta to attend the 6th National 
Environmental Health Conference December 3-5, 2003 and the annual PHIN 
meeting in May, 2004. (Review the CDC/NCEH web site for additional 
information about the 6th National Environmental Health Conference: 
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/default.htm)
    c. If applicable, applicant's proposed contracts should include the 
name of the person or firm to be contracted, a description of services 
to be performed, an itemized and detailed budget including 
justification, the period of performance and the method of selection.
    d. Funding levels for years two and three should be estimated.

G. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission

    On or before July 3, 2003, submit the LOI to the Project Officer 
identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of 
this announcement.

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.
    Application forms must be submitted in the following order:

Cover Letter
Table of Contents
Application
Budget Information Form
Budget Justification
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Form
HIV Assurance Form (if applicable)
Human Subjects Certification (if applicable)
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
Executive Summary
Narrative
Appendices

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    Applications must be received by 4 p.m. EST, July 29, 2003. Submit 
the application to: Technical Information Management Section, 
PA03074, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 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

    Letters of intent and applications shall be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received before 4 p.m. EST 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

    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 each 
application individually against the following criteria:

1. Operational plan and methods (30 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has clearly described a proposed 
approach to carrying out the activities listed under Section E. 
``Program Requirements.'' This includes: (1) Descriptions of project 
objectives that are specific, measurable and realistic; (2) inclusion 
of an implementation schedule/timeline that is reasonable and 
appropriately reflects major steps in recipient activities; (3) a 
protocol for conducting the data linkage project that is 
methodologically sound, includes key stakeholders, and provides 
adequate justification for selection of the specific hazard/exposure/
health effect data to be linked; (4) a plan for providing and enhancing 
geo-coded data items in existing surveillance/monitoring systems; (5) 
steps for developing a communications/use of data strategy; (6) a plan 
for evaluating the linkage project and data dissemination/communication 
efforts; and (7) a demonstration of the project's potential for 
improving the capacity of both health effects and environmental 
exposure/hazard monitoring data systems and promoting sustained ability 
to link health, exposure, and environmental hazard data on an ongoing 
basis.
    Research projects involving human subjects also need to address the

[[Page 36817]]

following: Does the application adequately address 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 community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.

2. Existing Resources (25 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant has described (1) existing 
surveillance and monitoring systems that will be used to conduct the 
linkage project including an estimate of the population/live births 
covered by the health effects surveillance system, timeliness of the 
data and other data system evaluation information, previous data 
analyses and publications, and examples of how the data from these 
existing systems previously has been used to take public health or 
environmental regulatory action; (2) the level of coordination with 
programs responsible for these surveillance/monitoring systems and the 
commitment of technical expertise from these programs for carrying out 
this project; (3) the adequacy of computer hardware and software 
available to carry out the project; (4) the actions that will be taken 
to ensure data security and privacy of individuals in both conducting 
linkages and disseminating results.

3. Collaborative Relationships (20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes past, current and 
proposed collaborations and experiences (for example in conducting 
surveillance, data linkage, and/or health investigations or other 
research studies) with relevant organizations and agencies within the 
state/local government (if applicable) and provides evidence that these 
organizations/agencies are willing and capable to support and be 
actively involved in carrying out the project. The extent to which the 
applicant describes past, current and proposed collaborations with 
other relevant external organizations such as state medical 
associations, national organizations, and the Federal Government that 
may be required to conduct program activities. Significant 
collaboration with those programs directly involved with the 
surveillance/monitoring systems being utilized (such as the state 
cancer or birth defects registry, the air monitoring program, the state 
health and environmental laboratories, and others) and with any 
existing CDC-funded Environmental Public Health Tracking Program within 
the state/locale. Evidence of collaboration includes letters from 
program directors outlining their support and involvement in the data 
linkage project and a budget plan that describes resource sharing among 
collaborating agencies/programs.

4. Understanding of the Purpose of the Data Linkage as a Tool for 
Capacity Building (15 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant has a clear, concise 
understanding of the requirements, objectives, and purpose of the 
cooperative agreement. The extent to which the application reflects an 
understanding of purpose and use of surveillance data and realistic 
expectations of data linkage activities. The extent to which the 
application reflects the potential integration of data linkage 
activities into ongoing environmental public health tracking/
surveillance/monitoring rather than it's use for special studies.

5. Organizational and Program Personnel Capability (10 Points)

    The extent to which the proposed staffing, organizational 
structure, staff experience and background, and job descriptions 
indicate that the applicant is capable of carrying out this program, 
including past experiences relevant to the proposed project. The 
resumes/curricula vita of key personnel should be included in the 
application. The applicant should document commitment of staff and 
resources from both environment and health to the project. The resource 
documentation may be in the form of percent time dedicated to the 
project, in kind resources, travel, etc.

6. Budget and Justification (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the proposal demonstrates appropriateness and 
justification of the requested budget relative to the activities 
proposed, including resource sharing among collaborating agencies/
programs.

7. Performance Goals (Reviewed, But Not Scored)

8. Human Subjects Review (Not Scored)

    Does the application 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.

Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements
    Provide CDC with the 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 Appendix V 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-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-22 Research Integrity

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, 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

[[Page 36818]]

Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-
4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For business management and budget assistance, contact: Sharon 
Orum, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2716, Email address: 
[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Phillip Finley, Project 
Officer, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, MS-E19, Atlanta, GA 30338, 
Telephone: 404-498-1449, Email address: [email protected].

    Dated: June 13, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-15453 Filed 6-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P