[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 43 (Thursday, March 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10233-10237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4808]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Technical Assistance and Training for Immunization Coalitions and 
Immunization Information Dissemination

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04085.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.185.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: May 3, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Section 317(k)(1) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(1)).

    Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program for Technical Assistance and Training for 
Immunization Coalitions and Immunization Information Dissemination. The 
purpose of the program is to provide support for immunization 
coalitions and for the dissemination of immunization information to 
enhance the effectiveness of disease prevention programs that reduce 
the annual burden of vaccine preventable diseases. This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Health 
Communications and Immunization and Infectious Diseases.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Immunization Program (NIP): 
Reduce the number of indigenous cases of vaccine-preventable diseases; 
and ensure that two year-olds are appropriately vaccinated.
    Activities: Awardee activities will enhance the ability of public 
and private sector organizations along with local, state, and national 
agencies to deliver programs that reduce the annual toll inflicted by 
vaccine preventable diseases. It is anticipated that up to two projects 
that support technical assistance and training for immunization 
coalitions and up to two projects that disseminate immunization 
information will be funded. Both types of projects need to have a 
national scope and focus. These projects will use proven and 
potentially promising or emerging coalition building and information 
dissemination methodologies and strategies to promote vaccination 
across the lifespan (i.e., childhood, adolescent and adult immunization 
recommendations and best practices). Both program components shall 
foster cooperation, collaboration, and communication between public and 
private organizations, Federal government agencies, state and local 
health departments, NIP partners and grantees, and others in their 
efforts to increase immunization coverage and reduce vaccine-
preventable diseases.
    This announcement has two program categories--applicants may 
respond to a single category or to both categories. However, only one 
category can be

[[Page 10234]]

addressed in an application. Entities submitting proposals for both 
program components must submit two separate and complete applications--
one application for the technical assistance and training component and 
a separate application for the information dissemination component.

Category I: Technical Assistance and Training for Immunization 
Coalitions

    Awardee activities for this category are as follows:
    [sbull] Support the development, operation, and/or evaluation of 
immunization coalitions including partnerships and community groups to 
enhance childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccination efforts at the 
local, regional, and national level through the development of 
immunization networks, partnership formation, and coalition building.
    [sbull] Provide training and technical assistance in the areas of 
communication and health education strategies (e.g., social marketing, 
health and risk communications, and media relations) in the support of 
immunization coalitions.
    [sbull] Network with private providers and public health entities/
organizations to identify and promote successful programs and effective 
immunization strategies and tactics, including case examples, 
educational materials, media strategies, minority and hard-to-reach 
outreach efforts, and public relations strategies and disseminate them 
to coalition members and others at the local, state, and national 
level.
    [sbull] Support existing immunization coalitions by providing 
consultation on the implementation of successful strategies, policies, 
and programs designed to improve the disease prevention capacity and 
immunization program efforts of these groups.
    [sbull] Provide immunization coalitions and others with technical 
assistance through the use of information transfer, skills building, 
technical consultation, technical services, and technology transfer to 
enhance the abilities of these coalitions to reduce vaccine-preventable 
diseases.
    [sbull] Develop communication processes to ensure rapid, effective 
dialog across and among coalition constituencies.

Category II: Information Dissemination

    Awardee activities for this category are as follows:
    [sbull] Develop and distribute immunization information using 
print, electronic, video, and digital formats on technical immunization 
guidelines, recommendations, and information, that are effective and 
culturally and linguistically appropriate for target audience(s).
    [sbull] Distribute appropriate, readable, and useful technical 
immunization guidelines, educational materials, and information about 
successful immunization programs to national, state, and local health 
care providers, advocacy groups, private providers, and public health 
organizations, including state and local health departments and other 
NIP partners.
    [sbull] Develop systems to increase communication among 
immunization providers at all levels to insure the rapid and successful 
dialogue between immunization providers.
    [sbull] Provide education on advances in the field of immunization 
to inform diverse health care professionals of advances in the science 
of vaccine preventable diseases in order to ensure a technically 
competent immunization workforce.
    [sbull] Develop process and impact evaluation measures to assure 
the delivery of credible, science-based information in understandable 
and effective formats consistent with the needs of the target 
audiences.
    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] As appropriate, link funded applicants to a coordinated 
network of other NIP funded national organizations.
    [sbull] Provide consultation and technical assistance in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating the activities of grantees. CDC may 
provide consultation both directly and indirectly through other 
partners, including health departments and contractors.
    [sbull] Provide up-to-date scientific information on disease 
surveillance, immunization coverage, and vaccine technology, as well as 
risk communication, and findings from formative communications 
research.
    [sbull] Assist in the design and implementation of program 
evaluation activities.
    [sbull] Assist recipients in collaborating and exchanging 
information with State and local health departments, and other Federal 
agencies.
    [sbull] Facilitate the transfer of successful program models and 
``lessons learned'' through convening meetings of grantees and 
communication between project officers.
    [sbull] Monitor the recipient's performance of program activities, 
and compliance with requirements.

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: $682,200.
    Approximate Number of Awards: A maximum of two projects in Category 
I and two projects in Category II.
    Approximate Average Award: ranging from $100,000 to $400,000.
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $500,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: June 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Four 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

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governmental agents such as:
    [sbull] Public nonprofit organizations
    [sbull] Private nonprofit organizations
    [sbull] Universities
    [sbull] Colleges
    [sbull] Research institutions
    [sbull] Hospitals
    [sbull] Community-based organizations
    [sbull] Faith-based organizations
    [sbull] Federally recognized Indian tribal governments
    [sbull] Indian tribes
    [sbull] Indian tribal organizations

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

III.3. Other

    CDC will accept and review applications with budgets greater than 
the ceiling of the award range.
    If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the 
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet 
submission requirements.
    In addition, to be eligible to apply, an organization must:
    a. Have at least a three year record of providing similar technical 
assistance, services, or information dissemination about topics related 
to immunization in the United States, as demonstrated by

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letters of support, agency annual reports, previous Memoranda of 
Agreement, or a listing of previous grants with a similar focus.
    b. Be able to operate nationally, as demonstrated by language in 
its bi-laws or letters of incorporation, or a letter from the Board of 
Directors stating that the organization operates nationally.
    c. Have at least a three year record of operating nationally, as 
demonstrated by the date on the bi-laws or letters of incorporation, 
agency annual reports, previous Memoranda of Agreement, or a listing of 
previous grants with a national focus.

    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

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 
5161. Application forms 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.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: 35. 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] Spacing: Double spaced
    [sbull] Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
    [sbull] Page margin size: One inch
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page
    [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 following items in the 
order listed here:
    [sbull] Background and need
    [sbull] Organizational history and capacity
    [sbull] Program plan (including time phased, measurable objectives; 
methods or strategies; timelines; and staffing plan)
    [sbull] Performance measures and evaluation plan
    [sbull] Budget justification (will be counted in the stated page 
limit)
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes:
    [sbull] Proof of eligibility
    [sbull] Curriculum Vitaes or Resumes
    [sbull] Organizational Charts
    [sbull] Letters of Support
    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.
    Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: May 3, 2004.
    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 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 announcement is the definitive guide on application submission 
address and deadline. 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 your application did not meet the 
submission requirements.
    CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you 
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact 
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff 
at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after 
the application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be 
processed and logged.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Your application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs, as governed by Executive Order (EO) 12372. This order sets up 
a system for state and local governmental review of proposed federal 
assistance applications. You should contact your state single point of 
contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert the SPOC to prospective 
applications, and to receive instructions on your state's process. 
Click on the following link to get the current SPOC list: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
    [sbull] These federal funds may not supplant or duplicate existing 
finding.
    [sbull] The applicant must perform a substantial portion of the 
program activities and cannot serve merely as a fiduciary agent. 
Applications requesting funds to support only managerial and 
administrative functions will not be accepted.
    [sbull] These federal funds may not be used to support the cost of 
developing applications for other funding.

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 should be less than 12 months of 
age. Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
    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.

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IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

    Application Submission Address: Submit the original and two hard 
copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to: 
Technical Information Management-PA 04085, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

    You 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 scored by the 
review panel.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria 
by an independent review group appointed by CDC:
    a. Program Plan (30 points):
    Category I Applications--Is the applicant's action plan to access 
and engage major agencies, private and public sector public health 
organizations, professional health associations, volunteer groups, and 
other organizations across the country feasible and appropriate? Does 
the applicant demonstrate their capability to successfully interact 
with these organizations to provide training and technical assistance 
and facilitate the sharing of information and ideas across a network of 
immunization coalitions?
    Category II Applications--Does the applicant describe a feasible 
and appropriate action plan to identify immunization issues and new 
developments (e.g., new recommendations), communicate with, and reach, 
targeted populations, translate technical immunization information into 
appropriate new formats, develop and disseminate effective immunization 
material and information, and establish and implement a national 
immunization information/dissemination network?
    Category I and Category II Applications--Are stated objectives 
specific, realistic, and time-phased? Are the proposed methods (i.e. 
strategies and activities) feasible? Will the proposed methods 
accomplish the program goals? Are program priorities and timelines for 
implementation of program efforts appropriate?
    b. Organizational History and Capability (25 points): Is the 
applicant's ability to accomplish stated goals and objectives 
demonstrated based on relevant past experience, a sound management 
structure, and staff qualifications? Are staff roles and 
responsibilities defined and appropriate? Has the applicant played a 
role as an international, national, or regional immunization entity? 
Are the applicant's past and current training and technical assistance 
experiences, knowledge, and expertise documented and relevant? Does the 
applicant demonstrate that they have the capacity to achieve stated 
goals and objectives--including developing culturally appropriate 
public health interventions? Applicants that have made previous 
noteworthy contributions to address life long immunization needs will 
be considered more significant.
    Category I Applicants--Must have two years of demonstrated history 
in coalition development and training and technical assistance at the 
local, regional, or national level for the purpose of promoting public 
health initiatives; this experience must be documented in the proposal 
(use appendix if necessary).
    Category II Applicants--Must have two years of demonstrated history 
of producing and disseminating written and electronic health or disease 
prevention information such as websites, newsletters, media kits, 
posters, brochures, or information sharing kits and document this 
experience in the proposal (use appendix if necessary).
    Category I and Category II Applicants--Must have two years of 
documented history working with and accessing major agencies, private 
and public sector public health organizations, professional health 
associations, volunteer groups, and other organizations across the 
country, and demonstrate their capability to successfully interact with 
other organizations to promote immunization across the lifespan.
    Must have at least two years experience working in all of the 
following areas: Childhood immunization, adolescent immunization, and 
adult immunization.
    c. Coordination and collaboration (20 points): Does the applicant 
describe strategies to develop and maintain a national network of 
immunization coalitions or a national information sharing network? Does 
the applicant plan to coordinate these activities with state and local 
immunization programs, existing immunization coalitions, provider 
organizations, and other appropriate agencies? Does the applicant 
describe how it will avoid duplication of services and communicate with 
other NIP funded organizations? Does the applicant describe any formal 
or informal partners or contractors? Does the applicant provide letters 
of support or letters of intent to document this effort?
    d. Background and Need (15 points): Does the applicant demonstrate 
an understanding of immunization-related topics and issues, including 
infant, childhood, and adult immunization recommendations, immunization 
barriers and strategies for addressing them, evidence-based 
communication and education strategies for communicating vaccine 
benefits and risks, and problems associated with under-immunization? 
Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of the 
cooperative agreement?
    e. Evaluation Plan (10 points): Does the applicant describe methods 
to evaluate the proposed plan, including process and impact evaluation? 
Have quantitative and qualitative measures been identified for 
assessing the achievement of program objectives, determining the health 
effect on the population, and monitoring the implementation of proposed 
activities?
    f. Budget and Justification (not scored): Is the proposed budget 
adequately justified, reasonable, and consistent with proposed project 
activities and this program announcement?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by NIP. 
Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the 
eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. 
Applicants will be notified by mail that their application did not meet 
submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria'' 
section above.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants 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

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signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer, and mailed to the 
recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review by mail.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

45 CFR Part 74 and Part 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-7 Executive Order 12372.
    [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.

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.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard 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. Description of progress made during the current budget period on 
program activities and objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Proposed Program Activities and measurable 
Objectives.
    d. Budget.
    e. Additional Requested Information.
    f. Measures of Effectiveness.
    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.

These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract 
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Kari Sapsis, Project 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS E-05, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-
639-8837, E-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Peaches Brown, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office,2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-
2738,E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: February 27, 2004.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-4808 Filed 3-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P