[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32582-32586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13140]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry


Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) Program

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04024.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.161.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: July 26, 2004.
    Executive Summary: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry (ATSDR) Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) 
Program was developed as a national resource for pediatricians, other 
health care providers, Federal staff, and the public. The mission is 
to: (1) Reduce environmental health threats to children; (2) improve 
access to expertise in pediatric environmental medicine; and (3) 
strengthen public health prevention capacity.
    The three primary focus areas of the Program are education and 
health promotion, consultation, and referral of children who may have 
been exposed to environmental hazards.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under sections 104(i) of the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
(CERCLA) of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 [42 U.S.C. 9604(i)].
    Purpose: The grantee under this PEHSU Program will operate as a 
national resource for pediatricians, other health care providers, 
Federal staff, and the public. The purpose of the Program is to: (1) 
Reduce environmental health threats to children; (2) improve access to 
expertise in pediatric environmental medicine; (3) strengthen public 
health prevention capacity; and (4) assist pediatric patients, their 
families, health care providers, and Federal/regional staff. The 
grantee will also assist sites or local communities where the ATSDR and 
the PEHSU Program are intended to provide services to pediatric 
patients and their families, health care providers, and Federal/
regional staff. The PEHSU will have a special focus to assist sites or 
local communities where ATSDR and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
are involved. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
area of Educational and Community-Based Programs, Environmental Health, 
and Age-Related Objectives for Children.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the ATSDR: (1) 
Prevent ongoing and future exposures and resultant health effects from 
hazardous waste sites and releases; (2) Mitigate the risks of human 
health effects at toxic waste sites with documented exposures; and (3) 
Build and enhance effective partnerships.

Activities

    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
    Manage and Oversee the PEHSU Services
     Establish and administer a PEHSU Program in each of the 
ten EPA regions. (Please see Attachment One for a list of these 
regions. Attachments are posted with this announcement on the CDC Web 
site at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm).
     Provide oversight and technical assistance in the regional 
PEHSU organizational development and operations management.
     Work closely with ATSDR and EPA staff located in federal 
regional offices, as well as EPA staff in Washington, DC and ATSDR 
staff in Atlanta, Georgia.
     Monitor and report quantitatively and qualitatively on 
PEHSU program accomplishments. Reports should be compatible with the 
ATSDR management information system Site Tracking and Reporting System 
(STARS).
     Develop, coordinate and host an annual PEHSU conference to 
promote professional and organizational

[[Page 32583]]

development in pediatric environmental health and medicine.
     Identify and select appropriate staff, based on experience 
and capability, to successfully implement the program activities.
Education and Health Promotion
     Develop and present pediatric environmental health 
education events and support materials targeting health care providers, 
environmental health professionals, families, teachers, communities 
designated as superfund sites, and the general public.
     Assure that PEHSU educational presentations provide 
culturally relevant information to all groups, emphasizing prevention, 
the special vulnerability of children to environmental threats, and 
practical steps to protect children.
     Provide expert speakers on various topics in pediatric 
health.
    Work with other organizations to define core competencies in 
pediatric environmental health.
     Provide a setting for Pediatric Environmental Medicine 
Fellowships and other training programs.
     Assist community self-empowerment in children's 
environmental health issues, and work with local authorities in 
developing prevention and intervention programs.
     Identify and promote environmental health policies that 
protect children.
     Assist with local public health infrastructure development 
and capacity building in all areas of pediatric environmental health, 
including biochemical terrorism and disaster preparedness.
Consultation
     Provide pediatric environmental health consultation to 
health care professionals and public health officials through an 
established toll-free telephone line with a mechanism for emergency 
consultation (24 hour per day/7 days per week).
     Provide consultation to parents and caregivers regarding 
environmental exposures and possible health effects through a toll-free 
telephone line.
     Provide a forum for pediatricians and environmental health 
specialists to combine knowledge to better serve children with 
environmental exposures and diseases of suspected environmental origin.
     Foster communication between existing medical resources as 
a means of improving pediatric health care.
     Provide communication and coordination with regional 
poison control centers.
Referral
     Provide medical referrals to pediatric patients and their 
families when the child is impacted by environmental exposures to 
potentially toxic agents.
     Maintain an accurate list of operating pediatric 
environmental health specialist clinics within each regional PEHSU.

    In a cooperative agreement, ATSDR staff is substantially involved 
in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    ATSDR Activities for this program are as follows:
     Provide technical assistance in identifying needs for 
pediatric environmental health education targeting health care 
providers, environmental health professionals, families, teachers, and 
the general public.
     Provide information, instructional resources, technical 
assistance and collaboration needed to effectively work.
     Assist health care providers, environmental health 
professionals, families, teachers, and the general public in 
communities to understand health effects of known contaminants, and how 
to take appropriate action to protect the health of those impacted.
     Assist in the development of evaluation plans that address 
the effectiveness and impact of the overall project.
     Provide assistance in establishing communication and 
resource networks including such partners as other Federal agencies, 
State and local health departments, tribal governments, environmental 
and health professionals, non-governmental organizations, and academic, 
medical, and clinical associations.
     Provide technical assistance and collaboration in the 
dissemination of resource materials, such as providing guidance in the 
use of distance learning methods, outreach consultation, and 
educational design.
     Assist in providing training related to exposure 
assessment, health concerns response, and community involvement in 
contaminated sites.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. ATSDR involvement in this 
program is listed in the Activities section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,400,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,400,000 (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: $1,400,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five years.
    Throughout the project period, ATSDR'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 national professional 
organizations, comprised of health care practitioners in environmental 
and pediatric-related medicine, providing environmental health 
education, environmental medical guidance, and environmental public 
health promotion activities. To be a successful applicant, an 
organization must have:
     A national network of medical specialists with pediatric 
and environmental medicine experience and expertise.
     Expertise and experience in conducting both health care 
provider and community health education and promotion activities 
related to environmental exposure to toxic substances.
     Expertise and experience in providing pediatric medical 
consultation and clinical referral to children and other individuals 
who may have experienced environmental exposure to toxic substances.
     Documentation that supports the expertise, experience and 
maintenance of a national network of pediatric and environmental 
medical specialists and clinics.

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.
    If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
requirements

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listed in this section, it will not be entered in to the review 
process. You will be notified that your application did not meet 
submission requirements.


    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 include a project narrative with your 
application forms. Your narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 25 pages. 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.
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
     Double spaced.
     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.
    You must submit a signed original and two copies of your 
application forms.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:

 Project Plan:
    [cir] Background: A brief discussion demonstrating an understanding 
of chemical and toxic contamination issues of communities in the U.S., 
including disproportionate risk to children and other vulnerable 
populations.
    [ctrcir] Target Populations and Their Health Education and 
Promotion Needs: An explanation of populations (e.g., organizational 
members, partners, and community residents) that can be reached by the 
regional PEHSU Network and the perceived needs these populations have 
for health education and promotion services and environmental health 
resources.
    [cir] Project Goals and Objectives: These sections should provide 
clearly stated project objectives that are realistic, measurable, and 
related to program requirements.
    [cir] Activities and Timeline: The activities of the project should 
be clearly presented to demonstrate a sufficient time allocation, and 
chronology or sequence of events to be conducted. The activities should 
provide specificity and demonstrate feasibility of the proposed 
activities in the form of a plan of work and timeline for accomplishing 
the project activities.
    [cir] Plan for Collaboration: The project plan should present the 
scope of activities that the applicant intends to undertake within the 
National PEHSU Network.
 Capacity for Health Education and Promotion: In this section, 
include a discussion of past and present activities that demonstrate a 
capability to:
    [cir] Plan, conduct, and evaluate environmental health education 
and promotion initiatives.
    [cir] Provide consultative services in environmental health 
education and promotion activities.
    [cir] Develop and deliver resources that support environmental 
health education and promotion efforts.
    [cir] Demonstrate a history of collaborative environmental health 
work.
 Personnel: This section should address the qualification, 
experience, and responsibilities of each individual working on the 
project. Adequate time and effort necessary to provide effective 
leadership should be demonstrated by the project lead. Any new staffing 
requirements should be addressed with inclusion of a recruitment plan 
and position descriptions. Vitas or resumes should be provided for all 
existing staff. (Curriculum vitas and resumes will not be counted 
toward the narrative page limit.)
 Evaluation Plan: The project evaluation plan should address 
the evaluation strategies and methods necessary to measure impacts and 
outcomes of the project interventions. It should present measures for 
the overall project and its impact and outcome, such as achievement of 
stated public health objectives and effect of the project on the stated 
population. Other project measures may be changes in the knowledge, 
attitudes, and behaviors or practices of the target population/
audience, or community-wide changes intended to occur in programs, 
policies, or the physical environment that influences the health of the 
target populations. To the extent possible, the evaluation measures 
must be objective and quantitative and relate to the performance goals 
stated in section ``B. Purpose'' of this announcement.
 Budget Justification: A clearly justified budget narrative 
that is consistent with the purpose, relates directly to project 
activities, is clearly justified, and is consistent with intended use 
of funds is required. The budget justification will not be counted 
towards the narrative 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:
     Organizational chart
     Curriculum vitas or resume
     Letters of support
     Samples of health education/promotion materials, or 
Internet address for accessing these materials on the Web
    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 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 Date, and Time

    Application Deadline Date: July 26, 2004.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC 
PGO by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the

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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 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

    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:
     Funds may be expended for reasonable program purposes, 
such as personnel, travel, supplies, and services, including 
contractual.
     ATSDR funding is generally not to be used for the purchase 
of furniture or equipment.
     Funds may not be used for clinical services.
    The direct and primary recipient in a cooperative agreement program 
must perform a substantial role in carrying out project objectives and 
not merely serve as a conduit for an award to another party or provider 
who is an ineligible party.
    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.

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 04024, 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 of evaluation.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
    1. Proposed Project--40 percent
    a. Clearly stated understanding of environmental public health 
problem(s); and a clear understanding of the types of exposures and 
health issues to be addressed; and the health education and promotion, 
consultation, and referral services to be provided, including any 
special risks to children as a susceptible population.
    b. Clear and reasonable public health goals and clearly stated 
project objectives that are realistic, measurable, and related to 
program requirements.
    c. Identification of specific target audiences and their 
environmental health education and promotion needs.
    d. Specificity and feasibility of the proposed timeline for 
implementing project activities.
    e. Appropriateness and thoroughness of the proposed activities for 
the proposed target groups.
    f. Plans for collaborative efforts.
    g. Appropriate letters of support.
    2. Capability--20 percent
    a. Capability to develop and distribute nationally environmental 
public health education and promotion initiatives and the supporting 
resource materials.
    b. Demonstrated ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate 
environmental health education and promotion activities, including 
professional training and community education.
    c. Capability to document and prove a multi-disciplinary, patient-
centered public health prevention and consultative services approach 
nationally through the National Network of PEHSU.
    d. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with a variety 
of public health partners.
    3. Proposed Personnel--20 percent
    a. The ability of the applicant to provide consulting clinical 
staff in departments of pediatrics and occupational/environmental 
medicine. Clinics participating in site work should have staffs that 
are: Either board certified or have nationally recognized expertise in 
environmental medicine or occupational medicine; either board certified 
toxicologist or have nationally recognized expertise in toxicology; and 
board certified pediatricians.
    b. The proposed staff should have experience and expertise in 
developing, distributing, implementing, and evaluating medical 
consultation, and health education and promotion initiatives along with 
supportive intervention materials.
    4. Evaluation Plan--20 percent
    a. Strategies and methods to measure impacts and outcomes of 
project interventions, such as changes in target population/audience 
knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, or practices and community or 
organizational-wide environmental changes.
    b. Specific evaluation plan to measure overall project impact and 
outcome, such as achievement of stated public health objectives and 
effect of the project on the stated population.
    5. Proposed Budget--(not scored)
    Is the budget reasonable, clearly justified with a budget 
narrative, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative 
agreement funds?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and

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Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness by ATSDR. 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 your application according 
to the criteria listed section ``V.1. Criteria'' section above.
    In addition, the following factor may affect the funding decision: 
Ability to provide site-specific educational consultation on 
environmental medicine and pediatric health concerns in locations such 
as superfund sites where ATSDR or the EPA is assisting communities to 
cope with hazardous contamination.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

    August 1, 2004

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA) 
from the CDC PGO. 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 Parts 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-14 Accounting System Requirements
     AR-18 Cost Recovery-ATSDR
     AR-19 Third Party Agreements-ATSDR
    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 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:
    Robert H. Johnson, MD, Medical Officer, Division of Health 
Education and Promotion, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Mailstop E-33, 
Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: (404) 498-0498, e-mail: [email protected].
    For budget assistance, contact: Edna Green, Grants Management 
Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (770) 488-2743, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 4, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13140 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-70-P