[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63101-63103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28022]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Public Health Genetics Fellowship

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04059.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Key Dates:
    Letter of Intent Deadline: November 26, 2003.
    Application Deadline: December 22, 2003.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301, 
317(C), and 317(G) of the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 
Sections 241, 247b-4, and 247b-8, as amended).

    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to establish a cooperative 
agreement for co-sponsoring a Public Health Genetics Fellowship Program 
for genetics professionals to be located at the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, GA or other CDC locations. 
The intent of this program is to introduce genetics professionals to 
opportunities in public health genetics through education, training and 
career-enhancing experiences.
    Fellowship candidates will include genetics professionals who are 
at the doctoral (MD and PhD) and master's levels. Typical fellowships 
for genetics professionals who recently completed their training will 
be for a maximum of two years. For mid-career professionals, typical 
fellowships will be for one year, although appointments of less than 
one year may be made under special circumstances. Varying lengths of 
time for fellowship appointments will be considered on the basis of CDC 
and project needs.
    This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of: 
Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Chronic Back Conditions; Cancer; Chronic 
Kidney Disease; Diabetes; Disability and Secondary Conditions; Heart 
Disease and Stroke; HIV; Immunization and Infectious Diseases; 
Maternal, Infant, and Child Health; Mental Health and Mental Disorders; 
Nutrition and Overweight; Oral Health; Respiratory Diseases; and Vision 
and Hearing.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for CDC: To develop career opportunities for 
genetics professionals in association with the recipient organization 
to work across CDC program areas to improve knowledge concerning 
genetics-related disease and disability; and to identify causes and 
risk factors for these conditions in order to develop prevention 
strategies and evaluate their effectiveness.

Activities

    Recipient activities for this program are as follows:
    [sbull] In collaboration with CDC, assist with planning and 
implementation of a fellowship program for genetic professionals in 
public health. The target number of fellows for this project is up to 
two a year, although this may be increased if additional funds become 
available. This plan should include the recruitment, training and 
mentoring of fellows under the program.
    [sbull] Provide a senior staff member to serve as co-director to 
lead fellowship recruitment and assist in the selection and mentoring 
of fellows.
    [sbull] Identify and recruit fellowship candidates with expertise 
in appropriate topic areas and implement a recruitment plan through 
advertisements, announcements, professional associations, and 
complementary training programs.
    [sbull] Assist CDC in the selection of candidates appropriate for 
the public health genetics fellowship program. Selection of candidates 
will be made by a committee comprised of members of the recipient 
organization in conjunction with CDC.
    [sbull] Provide opportunities for fellows to present their 
fellowship work and participate in national networking, policy 
development conferences, and workshops to expand professional growth 
and skill levels.
    [sbull] Provide salary and benefits commensurate with the 
background and experience for fellows selected in the program. This 
includes recipient support of related costs for the fellowships, 
including travel and training expenses; and for recipient staff 
salaries and related technical and administrative costs.
    [sbull] Collect and report to CDC information on status of fellows 
for up to five years after completion of the fellowship program in 
order to assess the impact of the fellowship program on public health 
genetics.
    In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. CDC 
Activities for this program are as follows:
    [sbull] Assist in the development and implementation of the overall 
fellowship plan and training program. In that regard, CDC will provide 
a senior staff member to serve as fellowship co-director in the 
planning and conduct of the program.
    [sbull] Provide formal and informal training opportunities to the 
recipient organization and the assigned fellows.
    [sbull] Coordinate and facilitate the placement of fellows with 
appropriate advanced training opportunities at CDC.
    [sbull] Provide supervisory and mentoring support to fellows to 
assure optimal developmental experiences under the fellowship 
assignments.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. CDC involvement in this 
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
    Approximate Total Funding: $125,000. This funding level will be 
modified based on the number of fellowship positions available at CDC, 
and the capacity of the recipient to provide highly qualified 
candidates for the fellowship program.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Anticipated Award Date: March 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five years. Throughout the project period, 
CDC's commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on the 
availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the 
recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination 
that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal 
Government.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible applicants: Assistance will be provided only to a national 
non-profit organization. This announcement is limited to national non-
profit organizations since they would have the capacity to recruit and 
place doctoral and master's level professionals in career-enhancing 
programs outside the individual educational institution or place of 
employment. A national

[[Page 63102]]

organization would also have the established ability to recruit 
throughout the nation.
    Other Eligibility Requirements: If your application is incomplete 
or non-responsive to the requirements listed below, it will not be 
entered into the review process. You will be notified that your 
application did not meet the submission requirements.
    CDC plans to make one award to a leading organization/institution 
which: (1) Has documented access to large number of doctoral students, 
genetics residents, and genetics professionals in a broad range of 
areas related to genetics and public health: including but not limited 
to; cytogenetics, molecular genetics, biochemical genetics, clinical 
genetics, genetic counseling, population genetics, and genetic 
epidemiology; and (2) demonstrates a well-established capacity through 
documented collaborations and affiliations with training programs such 
as genetic counseling training programs, genetics residencies, and 
association memberships to enable recruitment of highly qualified 
candidates for the fellowship program.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: Matching funds are not required for this 
program.

    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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    CDC requests that you send a LOI if you intend to apply for this 
program. The LOI will be used only to gauge the level of interest in 
this program, and to allow CDC to plan the application review. Failure 
to submit a LOI does NOT preclude you from submitting an application. 
The LOI must be written in the following format:
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: Two.
    [sbull] Font size: 12-point unreduced.
    [sbull] Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
    [sbull] Page margin size: One-inch margins.
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page
    [sbull] Single spaced
    [sbull] Written in English, avoid jargon
    The LOI must contain the following information: Name, address, and 
telephone number of the proposed Principal Investigator, number and 
title of this program announcement, names of other key personnel, 
designations of collaborating institutions and entities, and an outline 
of the proposed work, recruitment approach, and expected outcomes.
    LOI Deadline Date: November 26, 2003.
    LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express delivery 
service, or e-mail to: Sonja Rasmussen, M.D., M.S., Associate Director 
for Science, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-86, Atlanta, GA 30333, 
E-Mail Address: [email protected], Telephone: 404-498-3908.
    How to Obtain Application Forms: To apply for this funding 
opportunity use application form PHS 5161. Forms, applications, and 
instructions are available on the CDC Web site, 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) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to 
you.
    Content and Form of Submission: This program announcement is the 
definitive guide on application format, content, and deadlines. It 
supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If 
there are discrepancies between the application form instructions and 
the program announcement, adhere to the guidance in the program 
announcement.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
    For more information, see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm If your application form does not have a 
DUNS number field, please write your DUNS number at the top of the 
first page of your application, and/or include your DUNS number in your 
application cover letter.
    You must submit a signed original and two copies of your 
application forms. The application should include a separate typed 
abstract of the proposal consisting of no more than one single-spaced 
page. The application should include a table of contents for the 
project narrative and all related attachments.
    The application must include a project narrative with your 
application forms. Your narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: 20. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will 
be reviewed.
    [sbull] Font size: 12 point unreduced
    [sbull] Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
    [sbull] Page margin size: one-inch margins
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page
    [sbull] Single-spaced
    [sbull] Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the items cited under 
Evaluation Criteria.
    Funding restrictions, which must be taken into account while 
writing your budget are that project funds cannot be used to supplant 
other available applicant or collaborating agency funds, for 
construction, or for lease or purchase of facilities or space.
    If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must 
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. If your indirect 
cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement must be less than 12 
months from the application due date.
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information may include curriculum and 
resumes for key project staff, organizational charts, letters of 
support, etc.; and should be limited to those items relevant to the 
requirements of this announcement.
    Submission Date, Time, and Address:
    Application Deadline Date: December 22, 2003.
    Application Submission Address: Submit your application by mail or 
express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--PA 
04059, Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341. Applications may not be submitted by fax or e-mail at this time.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline 
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will 
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date 
and time. If CDC receives your application after closing

[[Page 63103]]

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, you will be given the opportunity 
to submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation 
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having 
been received by the deadline.
    This program announcement is the definitive guide on application 
format, content, and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in 
the application instructions. If your application does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be 
discarded. You will be notified that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.
    If you have a question about the receipt of your application, first 
contact your courier. CDC will not notify you by mail upon receipt of 
your application, but if you still have any-questions, contact the PGO-
TIM staff at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait three days 
after the application deadline. This will allow time for applications 
to be processed and logged.
    Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 12372 
does not apply to this program.

V. Application Review Information

    Review Criteria: You are required to provide measures of outcome 
and 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.
    Under the evaluation criteria noted below, applicants must describe 
precisely how they will conduct the project toward identifying and 
recruiting fellows in conjunction with placement opportunities at CDC, 
what collaborators and national affiliations are now in place to 
facilitate such recruitment, and how the proposed work plan will assure 
effective conduct of all components of the work in a timely and 
successful manner.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
    [sbull] Organizational experience that indicates the extent of 
current work in the training and development of genetics professionals, 
and the documented capacity to identify potential fellows for inclusion 
in this program. (35 Points)
    [sbull] Convincing evidence of, and the extent to which national 
collaborations, affiliations, association memberships, and internal and 
external outreach systems are in place for immediate and effective 
fellowship recruitment and placement. (25 Points)
    [sbull] Approach and methods to be utilized to conduct all aspects 
of the project as required under this announcement. (20 Points)
    [sbull] Project timelines, work plan, and the performance measures 
to be employed and measured. (10 Points)
    [sbull] Evaluation plan to assess individual components and the 
overall goals and objectives of the cooperative agreement. (10 Points)
    [sbull] Budget (Not Scored). This criteria includes the degree to 
which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, accurate, and 
consistent with the purposes of this announcement. The budget 
justification will not be counted in the stated page limit.
    Review and Selection Process: An objective review panel will 
evaluate your application according to the criteria listed above.

VI. Award Administration Information

    Award Notices: If your application is to be funded, you will 
receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA) from the CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office. The NGA shall be the only binding, authorizing document 
between the recipient and CDC. The NGA will be signed by an authorized 
Grants Management Officer, and mailed to the recipient fiscal officer 
identified in the application.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

45 CFR Part 74 and 92
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    [sbull] AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-11 Healthy People 2010.
    [sbull] AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
    [sbull] AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status.
    [sbull] AR-16 Security Clearance Requirement.
    Additional information on these requirements can be found on the 
CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

Reporting Requirements

    You must provide CDC with an original, plus two copies of the 
following reports:
    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.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management Section (PGO-TIM), Procurement and Grants 
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Sonja Rasmussen, M.D., 
M.S., Associate Director for Science, National Center on Birth Defects 
and Developmental Disabilities, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-86, 
Atlanta, GA 30333, E-Mail Address: [email protected], Telephone: 404-498-
3908.
    For budget assistance, contact: Susan Kiddo, Grants Management 
Officer, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2605, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: November 3, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-28022 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P