[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9329-9335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3639]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Cooperative Agreement Program to Increase the Knowledge and 
Skills of Disadvantaged Minority Students Under-Represented in the 
Areas of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Occupational Safety and 
Health

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: RFA 05053.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: March 28, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 317(k)(2) 
of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)(2), as 
amended. In addition, the program is authorized under Presidential 
Executive Orders related to advancing opportunities for higher 
education and strengthening capacity of Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, (TCUs), 
and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to increase the knowledge, 
skills, and research training of disadvantaged minority students 
including racial and ethnic minorities who are under-represented in the 
areas of biostatistics and epidemiology, and occupational safety and 
health. Specifically, the program is intended to assist a minority 
institution of higher education (MIHE) to:
    (1) Develop an undergraduate research training and internship 
program for disadvantaged minority students.
    (2) Increase the knowledge and skills of disadvantaged minority 
undergraduate students in two categories of specialization: category 
I--epidemiology and biostatistics, and category II--occupational safety 
and health.
    (3) Expand the educational and applied public health research 
training and skills development opportunities and experiences in the 
two fields of specialization (epidemiology and biostatistics, and 
occupational safety and health) for disadvantaged minority students who 
are interested in pursuing public health careers.
    (4) Develop and implement a public health science curriculum at an 
MIHE.
    (5) Foster linkages and collaboration among students and faculty in 
developing epidemiological and analytical knowledge base for the health 
status of disadvantaged minority students in America.
    (6) Increase the number of disadvantaged minority students with 
advanced degrees in epidemiology, biostatistics,and occupational safety 
and health.
    This program addresses the following ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
area(s): Access to Quality Health Services, Educational and Community-
Based Programs, and Public Health Infrastructure. This program also 
addresses the performance of executive agency actions under Executive 
Orders 13256, 13230, and 13270 in order to advance the development of 
the Nation's full human potential and to advance equal opportunity in 
higher education, to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs, 
respectively, to provide the highest quality education, and to increase 
opportunities for these institutions to participate in and benefit from 
Federal programs. The program also addresses the Occupational Health 
and Safety Act of 1970, which assures safe and healthful working 
conditions for working men and women and provides research, 
information, education, and training in the field of occupational 
safety and health. In addition, the program addresses the Department's 
priority activity to eliminate disparities in health, including 
striving for racial and ethnic parity in the health professions.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the Office of 
Minority Health:
    Goal 1: Prepare disadvantaged minority medical, veterinary, 
pharmacy, and graduate students for careers in public health.
    Goal 2: Support HBCUs, HSIs, and TCUs by increasing the number of 
funding mechanisms and the number of minority-serving institutions 
receiving support.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
CDC/ATSDR. 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: a. 
Internship Programs: The recipient should plan and manage an 
undergraduate summer internship program for disadvantaged minority 
students that emphasizes the two categories of specialization: Category 
I--training in biostatistics and epidemiology where plans will be 
developed to train students at CDC Centers, Institute, and Offices 
(CIOs) and other locations as appropriate, and Category II--
occupational safety and health where plans will be developed to train 
students in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 
(NIOSH) laboratories. Examples of activities that may be undertaken, 
include, but are not limited to the following:
    1. Establish criteria for competitive selection of prospective 
students for both categories of specialization for the summer 
internship program that is consistent with the goals and objectives of 
the cooperative agreement. For example, a criteria for competitive 
selection might include the requirement for completion of one or more 
courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, or occupational safety and 
health; grade of B or above in overall course work; likelihood of the 
student to pursue a career in public health, research experience, other 
academic performance; and performance on personal interviews.
    2. Identify and recruit undergraduate minority students who have 
successfully completed at least the sophomore year in college and who 
have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the health sciences, 
occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, environmental 
sciences, engineering, physics, social and behavioral sciences, or 
mathematics.
    3. Provide mechanisms for supporting the participation of students 
in the summer internship program with the requirement that students 
should be available to participate fully in the program activities.
    4. Provide adequate technical assistance and consultants, (e.g., 
computer analysis, biostatistics, epidemiology, occupational safety and 
health), to assist the students in successfully completing the 
requirements of the internship program.
    5. Establish and maintain a database with demographic information 
on previous years' interns for the purpose of evaluation.

[[Page 9330]]

    6. Establish a mechanism to award three semester (or equivalent) 
credit hours to research interns upon successful completion of research 
projects that is consistent with recipient academic policies and 
procedures.
    7. Maintain a liaison with the category II specialization, 
occupational safety and health.
    b. Educational Support and Curriculum Development: The recipient 
should develop and implement an educational support curriculum that 
includes, at a minimum, a Public Health Sciences Curriculum that 
emphasizes epidemiology, biostatistics, occupational safety and health, 
and related academic courses, including practicum. The public health 
sciences curriculum should be consistent with the institutional 
policies and procedures of the recipient, and include at least one 
semester (or equivalent) of biostatistics and epidemiology. In 
implementing the public health sciences curriculum developed under this 
agreement, the recipient should:
    1. Collaborate among, and across the recipient institution's 
educational departments to demonstrate the cross disciplinary 
advantages of public health practice, and the importance of integrative 
and multi-disciplinary approaches to improving the health status and 
quality of life of disadvantaged minority persons.
    2. Demonstrate how the public health sciences curriculum and 
educational support will enhance opportunities for disadvantaged 
minority students to obtain advanced degrees in epidemiology, 
biostatistics, and occupational safety and health from graduate 
programs housed within schools of public health or medicine.
    3. Develop, plan and provide other educational support for 
encouraging the pro-active recruitment of undergraduate students 
majoring in disciplines other than biology, chemistry, community 
health, or pre -medicine to increase their knowledge of public health 
practice.
    4. Establish a mechanism to award three (3) semester (or 
equivalent) credit hours to students who enroll and complete each of 
the public health sciences curriculum courses.
    c. Research Training and Skills Development: The recipient should 
develop plans and approaches to make applied public health research 
training projects (e.g., community assessments, programs and materials 
evaluation) an integral part of the public health sciences curriculum. 
The recipient should describe its existing and/or anticipated 
resources, (e.g., computer resources, and faculty members with 
applicable research experiences) which will ensure hands-on analytic 
research training and participation for the undergraduate students.
    d. Public Health Sciences Advisory Group: The recipient should 
establish a Public Health Sciences Advisory Group to advise the 
recipient on the implementation of the cooperative agreement program. 
Examples of activities that the Public Health Advisory Group might 
perform include the following:
    1. Serve as liaison between the recipient institution and the 
public health education, training and research program.
    2. Review applications and/or interview prospective interns.
    3. Review proposals or research project descriptions submitted by 
the CDC to be analyzed by the students during the summer internship, 
and
    4. Evaluate the public health sciences program on operating 
aspects, such as education, training and research components, and make 
suggestions for overall program improvement.
    e. Staffing and Management: The recipient should provide adequate 
staffing and management resources for the successful implementation of 
the cooperative agreement. For example, the following positions might 
be identified as key staff: Principal Investigator (PI), Executive 
Director (ED), Educational Program Coordinator, Occupational Safety and 
Health Coordinator, and Research Training Coordinator. The recipient 
should ensure that qualifications of key personnel are consistent with 
personnel policies and practices of the institution.
    f. Evaluation Plan: The recipient is required to evaluate the 
management and performance of the students, including specific measures 
of a successful program and the frequency/time-frame for the 
evaluations (i.e., process and outcome evaluations). The recipient 
shall develop a computerized tracking system used as an evaluation tool 
for following-up the future professional activities of the students who 
have participated in this cooperative education program.
    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:
    a. As needed, collaborate with the recipient, and provide 
consultation, assistance and support in planning, implementing and 
evaluating all aspects of the cooperative agreement.
    b. As needed, collaborate with the recipient to establish criteria 
for evaluating both short- and long-term success of the public health 
sciences education, training, and research programs.
    c. As needed, provide consultation and advice to the key program 
staff regarding administrative planning and program evaluation for 
program development in future years.
    d. As needed, provide computer equipment (hardware and requisite 
software) to the computer, statistical, biostatistics, and the 
occupational safety and health consultants, interns and Public Health 
Science Institute faculty.
    e. As needed, provide access to data sets, CDC mainframe computer, 
personal computers, word processors, research activities and other 
facilities that would be beneficial to program participants.
    f. As needed, provide on-site office space and mentors to instruct 
the summer interns in the analysis of data sets.
    g. As needed, provide meeting and office space at CDC for the 
summer participants, the coordinators, and the consultants for 
activities to be carried out during the summer internship program.
    h. As needed, provide staff to give seminars to students who are 
selected for the internship program.
    i. As needed or requested, provide technical support to assist the 
recipient in curriculum development and implementation of public 
health-related courses.
    j. Collaborate in program planning and consultation with 
participants in the summer research program.
    k. As needed or requested, provide applied public health research 
opportunities to allow students hands-on research experience and skills 
development training.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $200,000. (This amount is an estimate 
for the category I specialization biostatistics and epidemiology, and 
is subject to availability of funds. In addition, depending on 
availability of funds, approximately $150,000 will be available to fund 
the category II specialization occupational safety and health.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $200,000. (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes

[[Page 9331]]

both direct and indirect costs for the Category I specialization only.)
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000 (This ceiling is for the first 12-
month budget period for the Category I specialization only.)
    Anticipated Award Date: May 30, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five 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 any institutions of higher 
education that are designated as HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, or those 
institutions of higher education whose total minority student 
enrollment exceeds 51 percent. Only MIHEs that offer undergraduate 
courses in community/allied health, computer sciences, mathematics, 
and/or biostatistics and epidemiology in their curriculum are eligible 
to apply. Competition is limited to MIHEs under this program 
announcement because there is a critical shortage of both disadvantaged 
minority students and minority professionals to plan, monitor, and 
evaluate the public health policies and programs that target the 
heterogeneous minority population groups in the U.S.

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.
    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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 
5161-1. Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    Electronic Submission: CDC strongly encourages you to submit your 
application electronically by utilizing the forms and instructions 
posted for this announcement on www.Grants.gov, the official Federal 
agencywide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply online are 
permitted to forego paper copy submission of all application forms.
    Paper Submission: 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: Electronic Submission: You may submit your application 
electronically at: http://www.grants.gov. Applications completed online 
through Grants.gov are considered formally submitted when the applicant 
organization's Authorizing Official electronically submits the 
application to http://www.grants.gov. Electronic applications will be 
considered as having met the deadline if the application has been 
submitted electronically by the applicant organization's Authorizing 
Official to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date and time.
    It is strongly recommended that you submit your grant application 
using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, 
etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, you may 
submit a PDF file. Directions for creating PDF files can be found on 
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft 
Office or PDF may result in your file being unreadable by our staff.
    CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov early 
enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. 
You may also submit a back-up paper submission of your application. Any 
such paper submission must be received in accordance with the 
requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the 
grant announcement. The paper submission must be clearly marked: 
``BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.'' The paper submission must 
conform with all requirements for non-electronic submissions. If both 
electronic and back-up paper submissions are received by the deadline, 
the electronic version will be considered the official submission.
    Paper Submission: If you plan to submit your application by hard 
copy, submit the original and two hard copies of your application by 
mail or express delivery service. Refer to section IV.6. Other 
Submission Requirements for submission address.
    You must submit a project narrative with your application forms. 
The narrative must be submitted in the following format:
     Maximum number of pages: 40
    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:
1. Executive Summary
    The applicant should provide a concise, one to three page executive 
summary that clearly describes:
    A. Eligibility, including: (a) Status as an eligible MIHE whose 
total minority student enrollment exceeds 51 percent.
    (b) Letter certifying percent of minority student enrollment.
    (c) Description of undergraduate courses in community/allied 
health, computer sciences, mathematics, and/or biostatistics and 
epidemiology, and (d) Experience and capacity as an MIHE to provide 
knowledge, skills research training in the two categories of 
specialization, (i.e., category I--epidemiology and biostatistics, and 
category II-occupational safety and health.)
    B. The need for implementing a program to increase the knowledge, 
skills, and research training in category I--epidemiology and 
biostatistics, and category II-occupational safety and health among 
disadvantaged minority students.
    C. The major proposed goals, objectives and activities for

[[Page 9332]]

implementing the program as well as total requested amount of Federal 
funding for each category of specialization.
    D. Applicant's capability to implement the program.
2. Capacity (not more than 12 pages)
    a. Describe ability to address the identified need.
    b. Describe efforts and relevant experience that support the 
activities proposed to accomplish the objective for which the applicant 
is applying, including:
    (1) current and previous experience related to the proposed program 
activities,
    (2) activities related to operating internship programs for at 
least the last 10 years;
    (3) activities related to curriculum development,
    (4) current and previous experience related to fostering linkages 
and collaboration among students and faculty, fostering integrative and 
multi-disciplinary approaches to improving health status, and
    (5) current and previous experience with increasing the 
participation of disadvantaged minority students in public health 
careers.
    c. Submit a copy of the project's management hierarchy, and 
describe how that structure supports the proposed program activities.
3. Operational Plan (Not more than 20 pages)
    a. Goals--List goals that specifically relate to program 
requirements that indicate where the program will be at the end of the 
projected five-year period.
    b. Objectives-List objectives that are specific, measurable, and 
feasible to be accomplished during the projected 12-month period. The 
objectives should directly relate to the project goals and recipient 
activities.
    c. Describe in narrative form and display on a timetable, specific 
activities that are related to each objective. Indicate when each 
activity will occur as well as when preparations for activities will 
occur. Also, indicate who will be responsible for each activity and 
identify staff who will work on each activity. The applicant's proposal 
should include multiple subparts detailing its approach to fulfill the 
following program requirements:
    (1) Internship Program
    The applicant must describe a methodology for planning and managing 
summer internship activities (for example: recruitment strategies, 
program operations, and program and course scheduling in each category 
of specialization, i.e., category I--biostatistics and epidemiology, 
and category II--occupational safety and health, and establishing a 
data base of previous years' interns); the applicant must document a 
10-year track record of implementing public health internship and 
fellowship programs for minority students; the applicant must describe 
its history of collaborating with CDC on public health training 
programs for minority students; the applicant must submit documentation 
of dedicated servers and a computer laboratory suitable for research 
training and data analysis.
    (2) Educational Support and Curriculum Development-The applicant's 
application must describe a plan to develop and implement a public 
health sciences curriculum that emphasizes the category I 
specialization--epidemiology and biostatistics, and category II 
specialization-occupational safety and health, as well as related 
academic courses. The applicant must describe its prior experience in 
providing training programs for minority students in epidemiology, 
biostatistics and occupational safety and health. Consistent with the 
educational and administrative policies of the recipient, the 
application should also describe how the recipient will accomplish the 
following: (a) Encourage undergraduate students majoring in disciplines 
other than biology, chemistry, community health, and pre-medicine to 
increase their knowledge of public health practice; (b) demonstrate how 
the curriculum and educational support will enhance opportunities for 
minority students to obtain advanced degrees in epidemiology, 
biostatistics, and occupational safety and health; (c) encourage 
interdepartmental activities that provide integrative and multi-
disciplinary approaches, knowledge and skills to improve health status; 
(d) describe how the recipient will incorporate a practicum to give 
students hands-on research experience in each category of 
specialization, i.e., category I--biostatistics and epidemiology, and 
category II--occupational safety and health; (e) describe parameters 
for establishing a mechanism to award three semester (or equivalent) 
credit hours to students who enroll and complete each of the public 
health science curriculum courses and internship programs.
    (3) Research Training and Skills Development
    The applicant must describe their plans and approaches to make 
applied public health research projects an integral part of the public 
health sciences curriculum. Each applicant must describe its existing 
and/or anticipated resources (e.g., computer resources and faculty 
members with applicable research experiences) which will ensure hands-
on-analytic research training for the undergraduate students.
    (4) Public Health Advisory Group
    The applicant must include a description of plans to establish a 
Public Health Advisory Group to advise on the implementation of the 
cooperative agreement program.
    (5) Staffing and Management
    The applicant must describe the proposed staffing for the project 
and provide job descriptions for existing and proposed positions. See 
proposed definition of key personnel in the section on program 
requirements.
    (a) Submit curriculum vitae (limited to 2 pages per person) for 
each professional staff member named in the application and document 
expertise and other sources of support for implementing public health 
internship/fellowship programs for minority students.
    (b) Submit job descriptions illustrating the level of 
organizational responsibility for professional staff who will be 
assigned to the project.
    (c) Submit an outline of the hierarchy of a management plan which 
shall assure fiscal and programmatic accountability in accordance with 
the terms of this cooperative agreement. The management plan should 
clearly identify the officials who will manage this program and their 
specific responsibilities.
    (d) Submit evidence of the MIHE's location in the south and in 
proximity to the CDC.
    (6) Evaluation Plan (Not more than 5 pages).
    The applicant must describe a plan that evaluates the program's 
effectiveness in meeting its objectives. For each of the types of 
evaluation listed below, specify the evaluation question to be 
answered, data to be obtained, the type of analysis, to whom it will be 
reported, and how data will be used to improve the program. Indicate in 
the plan the projected staff and time lines to be used.
    (a) Process evaluation--Evaluate the program's progress in meeting 
objectives and conducting activities during the budget period.
    (b) Outcome evaluation. Assess the effectiveness of proposed 
activities, including training sessions and documents developed in 
attaining goal(s) at the completion of the one year budget period and 
the five year project period.

[[Page 9333]]

    (c) Computerized Tracking System. Applicants are required to 
develop a computerized tracking system to evaluate the effectiveness of 
the program in achieving its goals and objectives.
    (7) Budgets and Accompanying Justifications.
    The applicant must provide a detailed budget and line-item 
justification of all operating expenses for each category of academic 
specialization: Category I--epidemiology and biostatistics, and 
Category II--occupational safety and health. The budgets should be 
consistent with the stated objectives and planned activities of the 
project.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
    For more information, see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm.
    If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please 
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your 
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover 
letter.
    Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: March 28, 2005.
    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 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.
    Electronic Submission: If you submit your application 
electronically with Grants.gov, your application will be electronically 
time/date stamped which will serve as receipt of submission. In turn, 
you will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when CDC receives the 
application. All electronic applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. 
Eastern Time on the application due date.
    Paper Submission: CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your 
paper 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

    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 not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may not be used for construction costs.
    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

    Application Submission Address: Electronic Submission: CDC strongly 
encourages applicants to submit electronically at: http://
www.Grants.gov. You will be able to download a copy of the application 
package from http://www.Grants.gov, complete it offline, and then 
upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. E-mail 
submissions will not be accepted. If you are having technical 
difficulties in Grants.gov they can be reached by E-mail at http://[email protected] or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-
GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
    Paper Submission: If you chose to submit a paper application, 
submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail or 
express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--RFA 
05053, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341.

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:
    --Internship Programs (25 points): Did the applicant explain the 
extent to which it will develop and implement a competitive 
undergraduate summer internship program that emphasizes biostatistics, 
epidemiology, and occupational safety and health? Did the applicant 
document at least a ten-year track record in implementing public health 
internship and fellowship programs for minority students? Were 
recruitment strategies identified for undergraduate students who have 
successfully completed at least the sophomore year in college and 
expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the health sciences, 
occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, environmental 
sciences, engineering, physics or

[[Page 9334]]

mathematics? Did the applicant provide mechanisms for supporting 
students during the summer internship program? Does the candidate 
document that adequate technical assistance (e.g., computer analysis, 
biostatistics, epidemiology, occupational safety and health) will be 
provided? Has the applicant established a mechanism to award the 
students three (3) semester (or equivalent) credit hours for successful 
completion of research projects? Does the applicant document a history 
of collaborating with CDC on public health training programs for 
minority students? Does the applicant document the presence of 
dedicated servers and a computer laboratory suitable to support 
research training and data analysis?
    --Educational Support and Curriculum Development (20 points): Did 
the applicant submit a plan which explains how an educational support 
curriculum will be developed that includes at a minimum a public health 
sciences curriculum emphasizing two categories of specialization, i.e., 
category I--epidemiology and biostatistics, and category II--
occupational safety and health, as well as related public health 
academic courses, including practicum? Did the applicant document prior 
experience with training programs for minority students in 
epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational safety and health? Does 
the plan explain how the recipient will collaborate among and across 
educational departments to demonstrate the cross-disciplinary 
advantages of public health practice, and the importance of integrative 
and multi-disciplinary approaches to improving the health status and 
quality of life of disadvantaged minorities? Does the plan explain how 
the recipient will develop, plan and provide other educational support 
for encouraging the proactive recruitment of undergraduate students 
majoring in disciplines other than biology, chemistry, community 
health, or pre-medicine to increase their knowledge of public health 
practice? Has the applicant explained how it will award students three 
(3) semester (or equivalent) credit hours for completing public health 
course work?
    --Staff and Management (20 points): Do staff members have adequate 
expertise and other sources for the successful implementation of the 
cooperative agreement training programs? Did the applicant document its 
location in the South and in proximity to CDC?
    --Research Training and Skills Development (15 points): Did the 
applicant describe an approach to developing applied health research 
training projects (e.g., community assessments, programs, and materials 
evaluation, etc.) as an integral part of the public health sciences 
curriculum, including existing and/or anticipated resource needs?
    --Public Health Sciences Advisory Group (10 points): Did the 
applicant explain the process for establishing a Public Health Sciences 
Advisory Group to help guide the implementation of the public health 
curriculum, the internship program, and activities related to research 
training and skills development?
    --Evaluation Plan (10 points): Is a process established for 
evaluating the management and performance of the students who 
participate in the summer internship programs? Does this process 
include a reasonable plan for obtaining data and reporting results? Is 
there a description included of how a computerized tracking system will 
be developed and used as an evaluation tool for tracking and using 
programmatic results to enhance professional development of 
disadvantaged minority students in public health?
    --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 program responsiveness by the 
Office of Minority Health (OMH). 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. The application review will be performed by CDC 
employees within the agency's CIOs. In addition, the following factors 
may affect the funding decision:
    (a) Funding preference will be given to MIHEs who have a recent 
history of collaborating with the CDC on public health student training 
programs.
    (b) Preference will be given to institutions with at least a 10-
year track record of implementing public health internship and 
fellowship programs for minority students.
    (c) Preference will be given to MIHEs with training programs for 
undergraduate minority students in epidemiology, biostatistics and 
occupational safety and health.
    (d) Preference will be given to MIHEs located in the south and 
within proximity to the CDC.
    (e) Preference will be given to MIHEs with dedicated servers and a 
computer laboratory suitable to support research training and data 
analysis.
    (f) Funding preference will be given to institutions that have 
appropriate staff expertise and other sources of support for 
implementing public health internship and/or fellowship programs.
    CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank 
order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Anticipated Award Date: May 30, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) from the 
CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NOA shall be the only binding, 
authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NOA 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. An 
additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application needs to 
be included in your Grants.gov electronic submission only. Refer to 
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf. Once the 
form is filled out attach it to your Grants.gov submission as Other 
Attachments Form.
    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
     AR-16 Security Clearance Requirement
     AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
    Additional information on these requirements can be found on the 
CDC Web site at the following Internet

[[Page 9335]]

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 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: Yvonne Lewis, Project 
Officer, CDC Office of Minority Health, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-67, 
Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-498-2336, E-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Mattie Jackson, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, MS K-69, Atlanta, GA 30341, 
Telephone: 770-488-2696, 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.''
    OMH Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/omh/.

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-3639 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P