[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62051-62054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23726]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Cooperative Agreement for the Surveillance, and Prevention of 
Birth Defects

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: RFA 05006.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Application Deadline: December 21, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under sections 317(k)(2) of 
the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)].
    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to promote international 
surveillance and prevention of birth defects. This program addresses 
the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of Maternal, Infant and Child 
Health.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one of 
the following performance goal(s) for the National Center on Birth 
Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD): (1) Prevent birth 
defects and developmental disabilities (2) improve the health and 
quality of life of Americans with disabilities.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not be reviewed. For 
the definition of research, please see the CDC web site at the 
following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
     Develop and/or maintain an international birth defects 
database that includes data from developed and developing countries 
from different areas of the world.
     Promote and operate an international collaboration and 
data clearinghouse among international partners and birth defect 
registries that enables international collaborative birth defect 
surveillance, epidemiologic assessment, and capacity building.
     Using such international partners and the international 
birth defects database, evaluate, compare and confirm patterns and 
trends of birth defects occurrences.
     Obtain, compile, and publish birth defect surveillance 
data from areas in the developed and developing world to assess the 
impact of birth defects.
     In collaboration with international partners, conduct 
secondary data analyses in order to evaluate potential birth defect 
risk factors and identify areas in need of epidemiologic assessments.
     Disseminate the birth defect surveillance data to member 
programs, partners such as national and international organizations, 
the World Health Organization, other health agencies, and other 
interested parties.
     Evaluate the changes in the occurrence of selected adverse 
reproductive outcomes likely to be prevented by folic acid (e.g., 
neural tube defects, oral clefts, and certain heart defects) in 
relation to folic acid policies that have been instituted in different 
areas of the world, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, 
Asia, and Africa.
     Promote or develop tools and guidelines to assist the 
development of birth defects surveillance activities in both developed 
and developing countries.
    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:
     Assist, if requested, in designing, developing, and 
evaluating methodologies and approaches used for population-based birth 
defects surveillance.
     Assist, if requested, in analyzing surveillance data 
related to birth defects.
     Assist, if requested, in providing scientific consultation 
and assistance in the study of birth defects and in the approaches to 
study design, methodology, and implementation in the conduct of 
secondary data analyses.
     Assist, if requested, in the definition and format of the 
birth defect surveillance reports.
     Assist, if requested in developing tools and guidelines 
for birth defect surveillance.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. CDC involvement in this

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program is listed in the Activities Section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $150,000 (This amount is an estimate, 
and is subject to availability of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $150,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period.).
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: None.
    Anticipated Award Date: April 1, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12-months.
    Project Period Length: Up to 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 private nonprofit 
organizations.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

III.3. Other

    CDC will accept and review applications with budgets greater than 
the ceiling of the award range.
    Special Requirements: If your application is incomplete or non-
responsive to the special 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.
     Late applications will be considered non-responsive. See 
section ``IV.3. Submission Dates and Times'' for more information on 
deadlines.
     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: www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to 
you.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
     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:
     Objectives.
     Methods.
     Evaluation.
     Organizational and Program Personnel Capability.
     Program Plan.
     Budget and Justification (Not included in page 
limitation).
    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.
    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. 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 Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: December 21, 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 submit your application by the United States Postal 
Service or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the 
carrier will be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and 
time. If CDC receives your submission 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 submission as having 
been received by the deadline.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on LOI and application 
content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information 
provided in the application instructions. If your submission does not 
meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will 
be discarded. You will be notified that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.
    CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your submission. If you 
have a question about the receipt of your LOI or 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 submission deadline. This will allow time for submissions to 
be processed and logged.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding restrictions

    Restrictions as found in 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92 and OMB Circular 1-
122, which must be taken into account while writing your budget, are as 
follows:
     Funds may not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services.

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Equipment may be purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program 
objectives, however, prior approval by CDC officials must be requested 
in writing.
     The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of the American University, Beirut and the World Health 
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
     The applicant may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however the applicant must perform a substantial portion 
of the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required.)
     All requests for funds contained in the budget, shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate 
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the 
issuance of supplemental awards.
     You must obtain annual audit of these CDC funds (program-
specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international branches 
and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance with 
International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) approved 
in writing by CDC.
     A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, 
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
    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--RFA05006, 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

    Applicants 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. Objectives (30 Points)
    Are the proposed objectives specific, measurable, and time-phased?
2. Methods (30 Points)
    Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent are the proposed 
methods likely to lead to the accomplishment of the proposed 
objectives?
3. Evaluation (15 Points)
    Does the evaluation plan enable the applicant to determine the 
success of its activities and the benefits provided?
4. Personnel (15 Points)
    Do the staff members have the experience, skills, and ability to 
develop and improve birth defects surveillance data to develop 
prevention programs and improve access to health services or early 
intervention programs? Are the staff roles clearly defined?
5. Project Plan (10 Points)
    Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed objectives? Does the 
applicant have a clear, concise understanding of the program 
requirements, objectives and purpose of the cooperative agreement?
    Also, does the applicant meet the CDC Policy requirements regarding 
the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed 
research?
    This includes:
    a. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and 
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    b. The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    c. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to 
measure differences when warranted.
    d. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach 
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships 
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
6. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, But Not Scored)

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by NCBDDD. 
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.
    Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined 
by the review panel.
    CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank 
order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    April 1, 2005.

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 Parts 74 and 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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
     AR-11 Healthy People 2010.
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
     AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status.
     AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data.
    Additional information on these requirements can be found on the 
CDC web site at the following Internet

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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, due 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. Measures of Effectiveness.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    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 mailed to the Grants Management or Contract 
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement. For general 
questions, 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: J. David Erickson, 
Project Officer, CDC, NCBDDD, 1600 Clifton Road, NE (E86), Atlanta, GA 
30333, Telephone: (404) 498-3825, E-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Steward Nichols, Contract Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (770) 488-
2788, E-mail: [email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    This and other CDC funding opportunity announcements can be found 
on the CDC web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov. Click on 
``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    Information on the National Center on Birth Defects and 
Developmental Disabilities may be found on http://www.cdc.gov. Click on 
``Birth Defects.''

    Dated: October 18, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-23726 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P