[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 68 (Thursday, April 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18613-18617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7909]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 
for the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress of the National 
Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (Short Title: NCTSI--National Center)

    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: SM 04-008.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.243.
    Due Date for Application: June 10, 2004.


    Note: Letters from State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in 
response to E.O. 12372 are due August 9, 2004.

SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), announces the 
availability of FY 2004 funds for the National Center for Child 
Traumatic Stress of the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. A 
synopsis of this funding opportunity, as well as many other Federal 
Government funding opportunities, are also available at the Internet 
site: http://www.grants.gov.
    For complete instructions, potential applicants must obtain a copy 
of SAMHSA's standard Infrastructure Grant Program Announcement (INF-04 
PA [MOD]), and the PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 7/00) application form before 
preparing and submitting an application. The INF-04 PA (MOD) describes 
the general program design and provides instructions for applying for 
all SAMHSA Infrastructure Grants, including the National Center for 
Child Traumatic Stress of the National Child Traumatic Stress 
Initiative. Additional instructions and specific requirements for this 
funding opportunity are described below.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Section 582 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended and subject to the availability of funds.

    The National Center for Child Traumatic Stress of National Child 
Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCTSI--National Center) is one of SAMHSA's 
Infrastructure Grants. SAMHSA's Infrastructure Grants provide funds to 
increase the capacity of mental health and/or substance abuse services 
systems to support effective programs and services. The purpose of the 
NCTSI--National Center grant is to support funding of a national 
coordinating center for the NCTSI network that will provide leadership, 
coordination, and support for collaboration of the NCTSI centers. The 
national coordinating center will develop and implement a framework and 
organizational procedures for communication and collaboration among 
Network centers to promote and sustain a comprehensive approach to 
identifying, improving, developing, and/or evaluating child trauma 
treatment interventions and services approaches. The national 
coordinating center will further develop the national capacity for 
training in implementing effective treatment and service delivery and 
develop and disseminate informational resources and other products on 
child and adolescent traumatic stress to professionals, policy makers, 
and the public.
    In providing leadership for the national Network, the national 
coordinating center will implement the framework and organizational 
procedures for communication and collaboration among Network centers. 
This program will also enable the national coordinating center to 
coordinate and integrate centers funded subsequent to the original 
cohort into the Network. The functions of the national coordinating 
center are to:
     Provide leadership to the Network and strengthen 
the Network's ability to support high-priority, results-oriented 
collaborative projects that are essential for the success of the 
Initiative;

[[Page 18614]]

     Oversee and coordinate the core activities of 
the Network (Data, Learning from Research and Clinical Practice, 
Service Systems, Training and Policy) to collect, organize, screen, 
review, and disseminate existing or new resource materials on child and 
adolescent traumatic stress for professionals, policy makers, and the 
public;
     Coordinate the Steering Committee for the 
Network;
     Promote, facilitate, and support targeted 
collaborative activities among all centers, by building incentives for 
Network centers to achieve productive collaboration on high-priority 
projects, and creating management structures that makes it easier for 
Network members to work with one another;
     Provide technical assistance to Network members, 
policy makers and the public, utilizing intra-Network expertise as well 
as external consultants;
     Work in partnership to help CMHS monitor and 
evaluate all internal and external Network collaborative activities for 
relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact on the main goals of 
the Initiative;
     Develop customized training materials, organize 
training events, and disseminate training curricula developed by 
Network members; and
     Communicate and market Network activities 
through the use of multiple media, including Web-based technology, and 
develop a national media strategy and global marketing plan that 
reaches out to other professional and government constituent 
organizations.
    Background: In recognition of the serious impact that trauma can 
have on children, Congress in FY2001 authorized CMHS to develop a grant 
program focusing on improving treatment and services for psychological 
trauma in children and youth through development of knowledge and 
evidence-based practices for treating trauma-related psychiatric 
disorders. To develop a grant program that would adequately address the 
Congressional intent, CMHS established the National Child Traumatic 
Stress Initiative (NCTSI) consisting of a network of three types of 
centers: (1) A national coordinating center, the National Center for 
Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS) that provides the vision, national 
leadership, and overall organizing and coordinating expertise for the 
NCTSI; (2) Intervention Development and Evaluation Centers (IDECs) that 
develop and assess interventions for different types of trauma and for 
different populations of children and adolescents who have experienced 
trauma; and (3) Community Treatment and Services Centers (CTSCs) that 
provide community-based treatment for trauma. This network of centers 
works collaboratively to address the most important issues in treatment 
and service delivery for traumatized children and adolescents. The 
collaborative activities implemented under this novel structure permit 
improvement in treatment and services to traumatized children on a 
national scale, beyond the individual reach of each of the grantees.

II. Award Information

    1. Estimated Funding Available/Number of Awards: It is expected 
that up to $5 million will be available to fund one award in FY 2004. 
This will be a Category I-Comprehensive Infrastructure Grant award, as 
described in the INF-04 PA (MOD). This Category I award will be up to 
$5 million in total costs (direct and indirect) for one year, rather 
than the funding amount and funding period specified in the INF-04 PA 
(MOD). The proposed budget cannot exceed the allowable amount. The 
actual amount available for the award may vary, depending on 
unanticipated program requirements.
    2. Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

Role of Federal Staff:

     Consult with the National Center Directors on 
all phases of the project to ensure accomplishment of the goals of the 
Initiative;
     Review critical project activities for 
conformity to the mission of the NCTSI;
     Assume overall responsibility for monitoring the 
conduct and progress of the NCTSI programs;
     Make recommendations regarding continued 
funding;
     Provide guidance on project design and 
components;
     Participate in policy and steering groups or 
related work groups;
     Review quarterly reports and conduct site 
visits, if warranted;
     Oversee development and implementation of multi-
site evaluation in partnership with evaluation contractors, NCCTS staff 
and other NCTSI grantees;
     Approve data collection plans and institute 
policies regarding data collection;
     Submit required clearance packages to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) using information and materials provided 
by the grantee;
     Recommend outside consultants for training, 
site-specific evaluation, and data collection, if needed;
     Author or co-author publications on program 
findings; and
     Provide technical assistance on ways to help 
disseminate and apply study results.

Role of Awardee:

     Comply with the terms of the award and 
satisfactorily perform activities to achieve the NCTSI goals;
     Consult with and accept guidance from CMHS staff 
on performance of activities to achieve NCTSI goals;
     Consult with SAMHSA staff and outside 
consultants on evaluation plans. Assist in evaluation of network 
activities and program outcome evaluation;
     Provide SAMHSA with justifications and materials 
for clearance of data collection and analysis activities by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB);
     Support and participate in network meetings;
     Respond to requests for information from CMHS;
     Agree to provide SAMHSA with data required for 
the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA);
     As appropriate, support and disseminate 
intervention products, training materials, and other publications 
developed by the NCTSN for use by the field; and
     Produce required SAMHSA reports.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicant: The current National Center for Child 
Traumatic Stress is the only entity eligible to apply for funding under 
this announcement. This eligibility criterion supersedes the criteria 
specified in Section III-1 of the INF-04 PA (MOD). SAMHSA/CMHS plans to 
award an additional year to the current National Center for Child 
Traumatic Stress (which received its last year of grant funding at the 
end of FY 2003) so that the necessary coordination of the current 
grantees' work can continue, while changes to the overall National 
Child Traumatic Stress Initiative are planned. In FY 2005, SAMHSA/CMHS 
plans to announce a new, competitive funding opportunity for a National 
Center for Child Traumatic Stress.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching is not required.
    3. Other: The applicant must also meet certain application 
formatting and submission requirements or the application will be 
screened out and will not be reviewed. These requirements are described 
in Section IV-2 below as well as in the INF-04 PA (MOD).

[[Page 18615]]

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Complete application 
kits may be obtained from: the National Mental Health Information 
Center at 1-800-789-2647. When requesting an application kit for this 
program, the applicant must specify the funding opportunity title 
(NCTSI--National Center) and the funding opportunity number (SM 04-
008). All information necessary to apply, including where to submit 
applications and application deadline instructions, is included in the 
application kit. The PHS 5161-1 application form is also available 
electronically via SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.samhsa.gov (click on `Grant Opportunities') and the INF-04 PA (MOD) 
is available electronically at http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2004/standard/Infrastructure/index.asp asp.
    When submitting an application, be sure to type ``SM 04-008, 
NCTSI--National Center'' in Item Number 10 on the face page of the 
application form. Also, SAMHSA applicants are required to provide a 
DUNS Number on the face page of the application. To obtain a DUNS 
Number, access the Dun and Bradstreet Web site at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Additional 
information including required documents, required application 
components, and application formatting requirements is available in the 
INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-2.

Checklist for Formatting Requirements and Screen Out Criteria for 
SAMHSA Grant Applications

    SAMHSA's goal is to review all applications submitted for grant 
funding. However, this goal must be balanced against SAMHSA's 
obligation to ensure equitable treatment of applications. For this 
reason, SAMHSA has established certain formatting requirements for its 
applications. If you do not adhere to these requirements, your 
application will be screened out and returned to you without review.
    [shabox3] Use the PHS 5161-1 application.
    [shabox3] Applications must be received by the application 
deadline. Applications received after this date must have a proof of 
mailing date from the carrier dated at least 1 week prior to the due 
date. Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely 
mailing. Applications not received by the application deadline or not 
postmarked at least 1 week prior to the application deadline will not 
be reviewed.
    [shabox3] Information provided must be sufficient for review.
    [shabox3] Text must be legible.
     Type size in the Project Narrative cannot exceed 
an average of 15 characters per inch, as measured on the physical page. 
(Type size in charts, tables, graphs, and footnotes will not be 
considered in determining compliance.)
     Text in the Project Narrative cannot exceed 6 
lines per vertical inch.
     Paper must be white paper and 8.5 inches by 11.0 
inches in size.
     To ensure equity among applications, the amount 
of space allowed for the Project Narrative cannot be exceeded.
     Applications would meet this requirement by 
using all margins (left, right, top, bottom) of at least one inch each, 
and adhering to the page limit for the Project Narrative stated in the 
specific funding announcement.
     Should an application not conform to these 
margin or page limits, SAMHSA will use the following method to 
determine compliance: The total area of the Project Narrative 
(excluding margins, but including charts, tables, graphs and footnotes) 
cannot exceed 58.5 square inches multiplied by the page limit. This 
number represents the full page less margins, multiplied by the total 
number of allowed pages.
     Space will be measured on the physical page. 
Space left blank within the Project Narrative (excluding margins) is 
considered part of the Project Narrative, in determining compliance.
    [squ] The page limit for Appendices stated in the specific funding 
announcement cannot be exceeded.
    To facilitate review of your application, follow these additional 
guidelines. Failure to adhere to the following guidelines will not, in 
itself, result in your application being screened out and returned 
without review. However, the information provided in your application 
must be sufficient for review. Following these guidelines will help 
ensure your application is complete, and will help reviewers to 
consider your application.
    [squ] The 10 application components required for SAMHSA 
applications should be included.
    These are:
     Face Page (Standard Form 424, which is in PHS 
5161-1)
     Abstract
     Table of Contents
     Budget Form (Standard Form 424A, which is in PHS 
5161-1)
     Project Narrative and Supporting Documentation
     Appendices
     Assurances (Standard Form 424B, which is in PHS 
5161-1)
     Certifications (a form in PHS 5161-1)
     Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form 
LLL, which is in PHS 5161-1)
     Checklist (a form in PHS 5161-1)
    [squ] Applications should comply with the following requirements:
     Provisions relating to confidentiality, 
participant protection and the protection of human subjects, as 
indicated in the specific funding announcement.
     Budgetary limitations as indicated in Sections 
I, II, and IV-5 of the specific funding announcement.
     Documentation of nonprofit status as required in 
the PHS 5161-1.
    [squ] Pages should be typed single-spaced with one column per page.
    [squ] Pages should not have printing on both sides.
    [squ] Please use black ink, and number pages consecutively from 
beginning to end so that information can be located easily during 
review of the application. The cover page should be page 1, the 
abstract page should be page 2, and the table of contents page should 
be page 3. Appendices should be labeled and separated from the Project 
Narrative and budget section, and the pages should be numbered to 
continue the sequence.
    [squ] Send the original application and two copies to the mailing 
address in the funding announcement. Please do not use staples, paper 
clips, and fasteners. Nothing should be attached, stapled, folded, or 
pasted. Do not use heavy or lightweight paper, or any material that 
cannot be copied using automatic copying machines. Odd-sized and 
oversized attachments such as posters will not be copied or sent to 
reviewers. Do not include videotapes, audiotapes, or CD-ROMs.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications must be received by 
June 10, 2004. You will be notified by postal mail that your 
application has been received. Additional submission information is 
available in the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-3.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: The applicant for this funding 
opportunity must comply with Executive Order 12372 (E.O.12372). 
E.O.12372, as implemented through Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) regulation at 45 CFR Part 100, sets up a system for 
State and local review of applications for Federal financial 
assistance. Instructions for complying with E.O. 12372 are provided in 
the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-4. A current listing of State Single 
Points of Contact (SPOCs) is included in the application kit and is 
available at http:

[[Page 18616]]

//www. whitehouse. gov/omb/grants/spoc. html.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Information concerning funding 
restrictions is available in the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-5.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions for submitting 
applications, including where and how to send applications, are 
provided in the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-6.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Evaluation Criteria: The application will be reviewed against 
the Evaluation Criteria and requirements for the Project Narrative 
specified in the INF-04 PA (MOD). The following information describes 
exceptions or limitations to the INF-04 PA (MOD) and provides special 
requirements that pertain only to the NCTSI-National Center cooperative 
agreement. The applicant for the NCTSI-National Center cooperative 
agreement is required to discuss the following requirements in its 
application, in addition to the requirements specified in the INF-04 PA 
(MOD):

1.1 In ``Section A: Statement of Need''

    (a) The applicant's statement of need should specify the current 
target population of the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. 
Rather than specify a catchment area, the applicant must describe 
nationwide needs for children experiencing traumatic stress. In 
addition, the applicant must specify needs within the ``target 
population'' of the network. As a leadership and coordinating entity 
for a national network of grantees, the ``target populations'' or 
``target issues'' for the NCCTS are (1) the currently funded CTSCs and 
IDECs in the NCTSN; (2) the current types and mechanisms of 
collaborative activities taking place within the network; and (3) 
currently developed interventions for child/adolescent trauma as well 
as potential new interventions for different types of child trauma and 
in different service settings.
    (b) The applicant must demonstrate familiarity with the needs 
throughout the network and describe interests and activities in child 
trauma at existing centers, organizational structure of the network and 
ongoing collaborative activities, and types of interventions that need 
to be developed by the NCTSN. The applicant should describe strengths 
of the current structure of the National Child Traumatic Stress 
Network, and should also outline areas for potential improvement and 
suggestions for potential modifications in the upcoming year.

1.2 In ``Section B: Proposed Approach''

    (a) The applicant must describe how it will provide leadership and 
support for collaborative activities, including establishing, 
supporting, and monitoring, collaborative network activities throughout 
the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
    (b) The applicant must describe how it will conduct national 
leadership activities, including promoting national attention to child 
trauma, promoting policy initiatives, and collaborating with national 
consumer and professional organizations.
    (c) The applicant must describe processes to: (1) improve 
collaborative activity among NCTSN centers; (2) address strategic 
issues in core network activity areas; and (3) develop, document and 
promote intervention approaches through a process of standardization, 
evaluation, and dissemination.
    (d) The applicant must describe the activities of the steering 
committee for the National Child Traumatic Stress network, including 
membership, roles, functions, and frequency of meetings. If changes 
from current practice are proposed, these changes must be described.
    (e) The applicant must describe strategies for disseminating 
effective approaches to child trauma through training of professionals, 
developing training materials and training curricula.
    (f) The applicant must describe methods for developing a national 
media strategy and marketing plan for the National Child Traumatic 
Stress network that reaches professional and government organizations.

1.3 In ``Section C: Staff, Management, and Relevant Experience''

    The applicant must describe their experience and expertise in 
developing the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. If changes in 
management or staffing are proposed for the upcoming year, these 
changes must be specifically addressed in the application.

1.4 In ``Section D: Evaluation and Data''

    (a) The applicant must describe current activities in the areas of 
data collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting of findings to 
SAMHSA and to other grantees within the National Child Traumatic Stress 
Network. The applicant must indicate a plan for internal ``process 
evaluation'' and correction of coordination issues noted in process 
evaluation.
    (b) The applicant must discuss plans to collaborate with SAMSHA 
staff in the development and implementation of future cross-site 
evaluation plans. These plans must include attention to SAMHSA GPRA 
goals, Infrastructure goals, and program-specific goals.
    (c) The applicant must discuss plans to collaborate with SAMSHA 
staff in providing existing data collection materials and developing 
new data collection materials for approval by the U.S. Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), as necessary.
    (d) Standardized instruments that have been included in the core 
data set for clinical data collection do not need to be included in 
Appendix 2. However, any process evaluation materials or instruments 
that will be used to assess network development or operation should be 
included in Appendix 2.

1.5 Performance Measurement

    All SAMHSA grantees are required to collect and report certain 
data, so that SAMHSA can meet its obligations under the Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA). The grantee of the NCTSI-National 
Center program will be required to report performance in: (1) 
Increasing the number of children and adolescents reached by improved 
services; and (2) improving children's outcomes. The applicant must 
document its ability to collect and report the required data in 
``Section D: Evaluation and Data'' of its application. An instrument 
will be developed by CMHS staff to report on these indicators.
    2. Review and Selection Process: Information about the review and 
selection process is available in the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section V-2. 
Because this is a sole source award, equitable distribution of awards 
in terms of geographic criteria does not apply.

VI. Award Administration Information

    Award administration information, including award notices, 
administrative and national policy requirements, and reporting 
requirements are available in the INF-04 PA (MOD) in Section VI. In 
addition to the reporting requirements stated in the INF-04 PA (MOD), 
the applicant must provide quarterly progress reports. SAMHSA's 
standard terms and conditions are available at http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2004/useful_info.asp.

VII. Agency Contact for Additional Information

    For questions about program issues contact: Cecilia Rivera-Casale, 
Ph.D., Senior Project Officer, Emergency Mental Health and Traumatic 
Stress Services Branch, Division of Prevention,

[[Page 18617]]

Traumatic Stress, and Special Programs, SAMHSA/CMHS, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Room 15-99, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-443-4735; E-mail: 
[email protected]. For questions on grants management issues contact: 
Ms. Gwendolyn Simpson, SAMHSA/Division of Grants Management, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 13-103, Rockville, MD 20857; 301-443-4456; E-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: April 2, 2004.
Daryl Kade,
Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Budget, Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-7909 Filed 4-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P