[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33026-33029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13266]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Building Healthcare Capacity in the United States and 
Internationally

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04104.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Dates:
    Letter of Intent Deadline: June 29, 2004.
    Application Deadline: July 14, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: Sections 301(a) and 317(k)(2) of the Public Health 
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247b(k)(2)), as amended.
    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to assess existing 
healthcare capacity in the United States and internationally and to 
build capacity of healthcare settings/professionals to respond to 
emerging infections and other biological threats. This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of Immunization and 
Infectious Diseases.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for Infectious 
Diseases (NCID): Protect Americans from Infectious Diseases.
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
     Develop and implement a plan to rapidly assess healthcare 
preparedness in a network of healthcare settings.
     Address prevention and control of emerging infections and 
other biological threats.
     Gather and publish information that may assist local, 
State and Federal partners to build preparedness and response of 
healthcare delivery system to emerging threats.
     Develop, implement and evaluate train-the-trainer 
activities, including educational materials, to train and inform 
healthcare professionals in the United States and other countries about 
prevention of emerging infections and other biological threats in 
healthcare settings.
    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:
     Collaborate with the recipient to assist in the 
development and implementation of a plan to rapidly assess healthcare 
preparedness in a network of healthcare settings.
     Provide content and format expertise in the development of 
training/educational materials.
     Provide expertise in identifying, selecting, and preparing 
professionals to deliver train-the-trainer activities.
     Provide information necessary to facilitate rapid 
assessments of preparedness of healthcare facilities.
     Collaborate with the recipient in all stages of the 
program, and provide programmatic, scientific and technical assistance.
     Collaborate with the recipient in the dissemination of 
findings and information stemming from the project.
     Collaborate with the recipient with improving program 
performance through consultation with recipient.
     Collaborate with the recipient to facilitate communication 
of data and results among stakeholders.

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: $250,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $250,000. (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: $250,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: July 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Two 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 governments and their agencies, such as:
     Public nonprofit organizations.
     Private nonprofit organizations.
     Universities.
     Colleges.
     Research institutions.
     Hospitals.
     Community-based organizations.
     Faith-based organizations.
     Federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
     Indian tribes.
     Indian tribal organizations.
     State and local governments or their bona fide agents 
(this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the 
Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).
     Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with 
States).
    A bona fide agent is an agency/organization identified by the state 
as eligible to submit an application under the State eligibility in 
lieu of a State application. If you are applying as a bona fide agent 
of a State or local government, you must provide a letter from the 
State or local government as documentation of your status. Place this 
documentation behind the first page of your application form.

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.

[[Page 33027]]

    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.
    This program is not designed or intended to support research, 
therefore no research will be supported under this cooperative 
agreement. Any applications proposing research will be considered non-
responsive.


    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 in an 
interactive format 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: Two.
     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.
     Written in plain language, avoid jargon.
    Your LOI must contain the following information:
     Descriptive title of the proposed project.
     Name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the 
Principal Investigator.
     Names of other key personnel.
     Participating institutions.
     Number and title of this Program Announcement (PA).
    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:

     Maximum number of pages: 20. (If your narrative exceeds 
the page limit, only the first pages, which are within the page limit, 
will be reviewed.)
     Font size: 12 point unreduced.
     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:

     Background and need.
     Capacity.
     Operational Plan.
     Evaluation Plan
     Measures of effectiveness.
     Budget.
    The 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:
     Curriculum Vitaes.
     Resumes.
     Organizational Charts.
     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. Your DUNS number must be entered 
on line 11 of the face page of the PHS 398 application form. 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.
    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: June 29, 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: July 14, 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

    Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.

[[Page 33028]]

    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: Machel Forney, Division of Healthcare 
Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Building 57, Executive Park Drive 
South, Room 5015, Atlanta, GA 30329. Phone: (404) 498-1174, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    Application Submission Address: Submit the original and two hard 
copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to: 
Technical Information Management-PA 04104, 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:
A. Background/Need (40 points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate a strong understanding of the need 
to build capacity to respond to threats of events in healthcare 
settings? Does the applicant illustrate the need for this project? Does 
the applicant present a clear goal for this project?
B. Capacity (20 points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate that it has the expertise, 
facilities, and other resources necessary to accomplish the program 
requirements?
C. Operational Plan (20 points)
    Does the applicant present clear, time-phased objectives that are 
consistent with the stated program goal and a detailed operational plan 
outlining specific activities that are likely to achieve the objective? 
Does the plan clearly outline the responsibilities of each of the key 
personnel?
D. Evaluation Plan (10 points)
    Does the applicant present a plan for monitoring progress toward 
the stated goals and objectives?
E. Measures of Effectiveness (10 points)
    Does the applicant provide Measures of Effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the cooperative agreement? Are the measures objective/quantitative and 
do they adequately measure the intended outcome?
F. Budget (not scored)
    Does the applicant present a detailed budget with a line-item 
justification and any other information to demonstrate that the request 
for assistance is consistent with the purpose and objectives of this 
grant program?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by NCID. 
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 factors may affect the funding decision:
    Though eligible participants are encouraged to submit an 
application, a funding preference will be given to potential applicants 
that:
     Represent a national organization or consortium with 
international members and/or partners.
     Have access to infection control professionals in a 
percentage of U.S. hospitals large enough to be national in scope, with 
representation of large and small hospitals in urban and rural areas.
     Have expertise in infection control and training.
     Have Information Technology (IT) resources for rapid 
assessment of preparedness and response of healthcare delivery system 
to emerging infections and other biological threats.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Anticipated award is July 2004.

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-7 Executive Order 12372.
     AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
     AR-11 Healthy People 2010.
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
     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, (use form PHS 2590, OMB Number 0925-
0001, rev. 5/2001 as posted on the CDC Web site) 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. Budget.
    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

[[Page 33029]]

end of the project period. These reports must be mailed 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: Denise Cardo, M.D., 
Project Officer, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National 
Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Building 57, Executive Park Drive South, Room 5015, 
Atlanta, GA 30329. Phone: (404) 498-1240, e-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Jeff Napier, Grants Management Officer, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-
2861, e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 7, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13266 Filed 6-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P