[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 48 (Thursday, March 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11631-11634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5438]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Regional Academic Environmental Public Health Centers

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04114.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Key Dates: Letter of Intent Deadline: April 12, 2004.
    Application Deadline: May 10, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Section 301 and 317 of the Public Health Service Act, 
[42 U.S.C. 241 and 247(b)], as amended.

    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to facilitate the 
development of an integrated national system for academic institutions 
to assist and support state and local public health departments, and 
tribal health agencies in the delivery of environmental health 
services. This announcement will fund five academic institutions to 
serve as regional centers (one in each of the following regions: 
Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest and Southwest). The Centers 
will support environmental public health activities utilizing a 
framework that is based on the Ten Essential Public Health Services, 
the Ten Essential Environmental Services, Core Competencies of 
Effective Practice of Environmental Health (See Addendum), and the 
Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) A National Strategy to Revitalize 
Environmental Public Health Services, published September, 2003. (See: 
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Docs/NationalStrategy2003.pdf) This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus areas of Environmental 
Health, Public Health Infrastructure, and Education and Community-Based 
Programs.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for Environmental 
Health (NCEH): Increase the capacity of state and local health 
departments to deliver environmental health services to their 
communities.
    Activities: The Awardees will assist state and local health 
departments in increasing or enhancing environmental health capacity by 
providing technical assistance in the areas of: (1) Outreach; (2) 
health hazard evaluations/investigations; and (3) program evaluation 
and training. These activities will result in the implementation of 
comprehensive state-of-the-art environmental health services, e.g., 
programs and/or interventions that positively impact air quality, 
water, waste management, integrated pest management, and/or food 
safety.
    Awardees should engage in such activities as described below:
     Provide technical assistance to state and local 
environmental public health departments or their chosen entities in the 
realm of health hazard evaluations and investigations.
     Collaborate with state and local programs to 
assist them in evaluating their programs, including cost benefit 
analysis, prevention effectiveness analysis, and monitoring and 
responding to the environmental antecedents of disease occurrence.
     Train and educate state and local environmental 
public health department staff, where necessary or requested by 
environmental public health department staff, using already developed 
curriculum, to deliver environmental public health services utilizing 
the framework of the Ten Essential Public Health Services, the Ten 
Essential Environmental Services, Core Competencies of Effective 
Practice of Environmental Health, and CDC's A National Strategy to 
Revitalize Environmental Public Health Services.
     Disseminate findings.
    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:
     Provide technical assistance and consultation to 
the award recipient to refine the project plan, data and information 
collection, and analysis instruments.
     Assist awardees with background information and 
in forming collaborative interactions.
     Assist awardees with preparation, review and 
clearance of manuscripts.
     Facilitate interaction among awardees and 
integration of activities into state and local environmental public 
health programs.
     Evaluate effectiveness and quality of 
environmental health services related to awardees activities.

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: $800,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: Five total awards will be made based 
on one per region. The regions are designated as follows:

 Northeast (ME, VT, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, 
MD, VA, District of Columbia)
 Southeast (NC, SC, KY, TN, GA, FL, AL, MS, AR, LA, 
U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico)
 Midwest (WV, MI, OH, IN, WI, IL, MN, IA, MO, KS)
 Northwest (ND, SD, NE, MT, WY, ID, WA, OR, AK)
 Southwest (OK, TX, CO, NM, UT, AZ, NV, CA, HI, 
Pacific Islands)

    Approximate Average Award: $160,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs).
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Three 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:
     Academic institutions, including universities 
and colleges with accredited undergraduate or graduate environmental 
health programs.
     Accredited Schools of Public Health.

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III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

III.3. Other

    If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the 
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive and 
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that 
your application did not meet the submission requirements.
    This announcement is for submission of proposals that are not 
research. If your application contains research, it will be considered 
non-responsive to the announcement.
    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.
    Eligibility is limited to academic institutions because of their 
expertise and resources in environmental public health that is 
available to support state and local environmental public health 
programs. Additionally, academic institutions have provided state and 
local health departments, environmental public health agencies, and 
other environmental health organizations with the trained workforce 
needed to deliver environmental health services.

    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

Letter of Intent (LOI)
    Your LOI must be written in the following format:
     Maximum number of pages: One page.
     Font size: 12-point unreduced.
     Single spaced.
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
     Page margin size: One inch.
     Printed only on one side of page.
     Written in plain language, avoid jargon.
    Your LOI must contain the following information:
     Name, address, and telephone number for key 
contact.
     Brief description of the proposed project.
Application
    You must include a project narrative with your application forms. 
Your narrative must be submitted in the following format:
     Maximum number of pages: 25.
    If your narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages 
which are within the page limit will be reviewed.
     Font size: 12 point unreduced.
     Double spaced.
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
     Page margin size: One inch.
     Printed only on one side of page.
     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:
     Describe your organizational resources and 
structure.
     Describe how the project will be administered, 
including job descriptions for all project positions.
     Describe the project's operational plan to 
function as a regional center. The operational plan should include the 
following components: (1) Description of the identified environmental 
health conditions within your region; (2) description of the resources 
available to support state and local health departments in addressing 
environmental public health issues; (3) description of the proposed 
activities to support state or local environmental public health 
programs; (4) knowledge and ability to educate and/or implement the ten 
essential environmental health and/or public health services, core 
function, and CDC strategy as they relate to proposed activities; (5) 
description of current and/or future partnerships with environmental 
public health programs and their need for assistance and support 
related to the delivery of environmental health services; (6) long and 
short term objectives, timelines and schedules for completion, and 
expected long and short term measurable outcomes; and (7) methodology 
for sustainability of activities or interventions beyond the funded 
period of the cooperative agreement.
     Describe the project's evaluation plan to 
measure the process and outcomes.
     Budget justifications.
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes:
     Up to 30 pages of appendices may be included in 
the application. This may include: Curriculum Vitaes, Resumes, 
Organizational Charts, Letters of Support, etc.
    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

    LOI Deadline Date: April 12, 2004.
    CDC requests that you send a LOI if you intend to apply for this 
program. Although the LOI is not required, not binding, and does not 
enter into the review of your subsequent application, the LOI will be 
used to gauge the level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC 
to plan the application review.
    Application Deadline Date: May 10, 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

[[Page 11633]]

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 
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

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Funding restrictions, which must be taken into account while 
writing your budget, are as follows: None.
    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.
    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

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

    LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express mail, delivery 
service, fax, or E-mail to: Daneen Farrow-Collier, CDC/NCEH, 4770 
Buford Highway, F-28, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-4945, Fax: 
770-488-7310, E-mail: [email protected].
    Application Submission Address: Submit your application by mail or 
express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--PA04114, 
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341.

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 of evaluation.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Coordination and Collaboration (25 points)
    The extent to which the applicant documents its collaboration with 
the community to implement the objectives of the project. This includes 
describing its relationship with environmental public health 
departments and other environmental agencies, academia, and community-
based organizations as evidenced by documenting specific environmental 
public health issues or needs, letters of support, memoranda of 
agreement, and other documented evidence. The applicants may include up 
to ten letters of commitment (dated within the last three months) from 
key partners, participants, and community leaders that detail their 
participation in and support of the proposed activities.
2. Understanding of the Problem (20 points)
    The extent to which the applicant understands the public health, 
social and economic consequences of inadequate environmental public 
health service delivery in their region based upon health and 
demographic indicators. This includes factors based on disease burden 
by age, gender and racial/ethnic groups, mortality rates, incidence, 
program experience, existing capacity, and infrastructure.
3. Objectives and Methods (20 points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant has developed sound, feasible 
objectives that are consistent with the activities described in this 
announcement and are specific, measurable and time-framed.
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes the specific 
activities and methods to achieve each objective.
    c. The extent to which the proposed timeline and schedules are 
feasible. The timeline should include a tentative work plan for the 
duration of the project.
    d. The extent to which the proposed activities or the project can 
be sustained beyond the funded period.
    e. The extent to which the intent and desired outcomes for the 
proposed activities can be succinctly stated.
4. Program Evaluation (15 Points)
    a. The evaluation plan should describe useful and appropriate 
strategies and approaches to monitor and improve the quality, 
effectiveness, and efficiency of the project.
    b. The extent to which the applicant proposes to measure the 
progress and the overall impact of the project in terms of its 
contribution to improving the delivery of environmental health 
services. Examples are: (1) The reduction of environmentally related 
risk factors known to contribute to disease; (2) decreases in morbidity 
and mortality; and/or (3) the impact on incidence and prevalence of 
environmentally induced illness and disease.
5. Implementation of CDC's Strategy To Revitalize Environmental Public 
Health Services (10 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant's operation plan has incorporated 
components of CDC's Strategy to Revitalize Environmental Public Health 
Services into developing an intervention or enhancing capacity. 
Specifically, the centers should demonstrate the ability to assist 
communities in implementing all ten of the essential environmental 
health and/or public health services, and core competencies.
6. Project Management and Staffing (10 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant documents skills, ability, and 
experience of key staff who will be responsible for developing, 
implementing, and carrying out the requirements of the project. 
Specifically, the applicant should: describe staff roles in the 
development and implementation of the project, their specific 
responsibilities, and their level of effort and time commitment. If 
necessary, assurances should be provided to demonstrate the applicant's 
ability to fill key positions though its personnel hiring system within 
a reasonable amount of time after receiving funds.
7. Budget Justification (not scored)
    The extent to which the budget is clearly explained, adequately 
justified, and is reasonable and consistent with the stated objectives 
and planned activities.

[[Page 11634]]

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness by NCEH. 
Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the 
eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. 
Applicants will be notified 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.
    In addition, the following factor may affect the funding decision: 
The geographic location of applicant

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 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:

 AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
 AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial 
and Ethnic Minorities in Research
 AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
 AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
 AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
 AR-11 Healthy People 2010
 AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
 AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data

    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. 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.
    f. Measures of Effectiveness.
    2. Financial status report and annual progress 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 sent to the Grants Management 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: Daneen Farrow-Collier, 
Project Officer, CDC/NCEH, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341, 
Telephone: 770-488-4945, Fax: 770-488-7310, Email: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Mildred Garner, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-
488-2745, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: March 4, 2004.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-5438 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P