[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20563-20568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7888]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


National Health Education Enhancement Program

    Announcement Type: Competing Continuation.
    Funding Opportunity Number: RFA 05072.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Letter of Intent Deadline: May 4, 2005.
    Application Deadline: June 20, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The purpose of the program is to strengthen the 
nation's capacity to carry out public health

[[Page 20564]]

activities in the area of asthma education. More specifically, the 
objective is to provide appropriate resources for health education of 
patients and others impacted by asthma.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301 and 317 of 
the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241 and 247b), as amended.
    Background: Although there are many asthma educational materials 
which have been produced and disseminated, there remain gaps in the 
availability and dissemination of materials which are targeted to 
adults, the elderly, rural populations, non-English speaking 
populations, adolescents, and other underserved and disparately 
impacted populations.
    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to strengthen the nation's 
capacity to carry out public health activities in the area of asthma 
education. The objectives are to: (1) Review and disseminate currently 
available asthma educational materials to reach community members on a 
community, local and national level; and (2) modify existing, 
scientifically-proven-effective asthma educational materials to make 
them culturally and linguistically competent for targeted populations, 
and disseminate these materials on a national level to families 
impacted by asthma, particularly working with underserved and 
disparately impacted populations. This program addresses the ``Healthy 
People 2010'' focus area(s) of reducing asthma hospitalizations, 
deaths, and improving quality of life.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center 
for Environmental Health (NCEH): To reduce the number of asthma 
hospitalizations, deaths, and emergency department visits.
    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:
     Review and disseminate currently available asthma 
educational materials to reach applicant organization members and other 
community members on a national, local, and community level. The 
materials must be proven effective, and in accordance with sound asthma 
management practices and appropriate National Asthma Education and 
Prevention Program (NAEPP) Guidelines.
     In cases where appropriate, asthma educational materials 
do not exist for populations which are underserved and a need for such 
materials is identified, applicants should adapt or modify existing 
educational materials which have been scientifically proven effective, 
through appropriate, published research results. Resulting materials 
must be accurate, user-friendly, culturally and linguistically 
appropriate, and be used to educate the applicant organization's 
members and other members of the community, or any targeted group for 
which a gap in currently available educational materials is identified. 
Literacy level and appropriate demographics of your target audience 
must be considered.
     Conduct interactive community outreach education at the 
local level, aimed at your members and community members affected by 
asthma.
    Present a plan by which you will measure the effectiveness of your 
proposed activities.
    Collaborate with partners, including CDC and appropriate asthma 
education organizations, to ensure that best practices are used in the 
adaptation/modification and dissemination of asthma education materials 
for your target audiences.
    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 recipients in the modification and 
adaptation of existing educational materials which have been 
scientifically proven effective through appropriate published research 
results. Ensure coordination of this activity among all recipients and 
facilitate information sharing.
     Review recipients' identification of currently available 
educational materials and gap analysis; and ensure coordination of this 
activity among all recipients, including information sharing and 
elimination of duplication of efforts among recipients.
     Facilitate and coordinate meetings to bring together 
national groups as collaborators, where appropriate.
     Collaborate with recipients on the development of an 
appropriate evaluation plan which measures the effectiveness of 
recipient activities involved in each step indicated, and approve the 
plan.
     Coordinate recipient activities with asthma education 
partners to ensure duplication of activities and efforts does not 
occur.

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: $225,000 to $300,000. (This amount is an 
estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: Three.
    Approximate Average Award: $75,000 to 100,000. (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: $100,000. (This ceiling is for the first 
12-month budget period.)
    Anticipated Award Date: August 31, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 5 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 such as:
     Public nonprofit organizations.
     Private nonprofit organizations.
     Community-based organizations.
     Faith-based organizations.
    Assistance will be provided only to applicants that are well-
established, national, non-profit organizations with experience in the 
development and dissemination of asthma educational materials; and 
whose membership includes families of adults or children with asthma, 
or others affected by the disease.
    The justification for the foregoing limitation is the need for the 
applicant to have immediate access to a national audience, and existing 
expertise in the modification and dissemination of asthma educational 
materials to community members impacted by asthma, to insure they may 
access the greatest number of people in the shortest period of time.
    To be eligible, applicants must:
    1. Demonstrate that your organization's mission is explicitly 
committed to improving the lives of families impacted by asthma, or 
other similar lung diseases, through the

[[Page 20565]]

provision of timely, accurate, and useful information about the disease 
and how it can be controlled. You must have experience providing asthma 
education to a nationwide audience. The foregoing may be demonstrated 
by submission of your charter, articles of incorporation, or other 
governing documents.
    2. Demonstrate that your organization is non-profit and recognized 
as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 
This may be demonstrated through inclusion of your Internal Revenue 
Service determination letter.
    3. Demonstrate that your organization has the capacity for and 
experience in providing educational services to families with asthma on 
a nationwide basis. This may be demonstrated through letters of 
support.
    4. Demonstrate that your organization has the capacity for and 
experience providing educational services to families or a national 
network of local organizations. This may be demonstrated through a 
letter from your organization's leadership, which describes your 
national network/membership (number of members and national coverage of 
the membership).

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.
     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 
5161-1.
    CDC strongly encourages you to submit your application 
electronically by utilizing the forms and instructions posted for this 
announcement at http://www.grants.gov.
    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

    Letter of Intent (LOI): Your LOI must be written in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: One.
     Font size: 12-point unreduced.
     Single 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:
     Name and address of organization.
     Name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail 
address of the organization's primary contact for writing and 
submitting the application.
     A brief summary of the proposed project.
    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 pages (not including 
attachments for purposes of establishing eligibility). 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.
     Pages shall be numbered sequentially, including your 
narrative and any appendices.
     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:
     History and Experience.
     Proposed Program.
     Evaluation Plan.
     Facilities, Staff and Resources.
     Budget and Justification.
     Documentation of eligibility, as follows:
    a. Submit your charter, articles of incorporation, or other 
governing documents to demonstrate your organization's mission is 
explicitly committed to improving the lives of families impacted by 
asthma, or other similar lung diseases, through the provision of 
timely, accurate, and useful information about the disease and how it 
can be controlled.
    b. Submit your Internal Revenue Service determination letter which 
will demonstrate your organization is non-profit and recognized as tax-
exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    c. Submit letters of support, which will demonstrate that your 
organization has the capacity for and experience in providing 
educational services to families with asthma on a nationwide basis.
    d. Submit a letter from your organization's leadership, which 
describes your national network/membership (number of members and 
national coverage of the membership).
    The budget justification and documentation to establish eligibility 
will NOT 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 Vitae (of key staff positions).
     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 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

[[Page 20566]]

documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    LOI Deadline Date: May 4, 2005.
    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: June 20, 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.
    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.
    If you submit your application electronically with Grants.gov, your 
application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve 
as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt 
when CDC receives the application.
    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.
    If you submit a hard copy application, 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.
    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.

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.
    If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must 
include a copy of your federally approved 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: Sheri Disler, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, 1600 Clifton 
Road, MS E-17, Atlanta, GA 30303; telephone: 404-498-1018, Facsimile: 
404-498-1088, e-mail address: [email protected].
    Application Submission Address: 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. 
The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time, 
Monday through Friday.
    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 to 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.
    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.

 Or
    Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail 
or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--RFA 
05072, 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:

[[Page 20567]]

1. History and Experience (30 Points)
    The extent to which the proposal clearly demonstrates the 
applicant's solid reputation and history of serving families affected 
by asthma. The proposal should demonstrate that the applicant has a 
broad range of knowledge and expertise in the field of asthma, as well 
as significant years of experience in the dissemination and application 
of this knowledge and expertise. The proposal should also demonstrate 
that the applicant's membership is comprised of families affected by 
asthma, and that this membership is national in scope.
2. Proposed Program (30 Points)
    The extent to which the proposal clearly demonstrates the 
applicant's understanding of the issues surrounding asthma and asthma 
education activities, and addresses gaps in the current state of asthma 
educational materials and activities. The proposal should demonstrate 
that the applicant has a clear understanding of the gaps and needs, and 
has a clear plan of activities, which will address these gaps. The 
applicant must demonstrate that their educational materials are in 
adherence to the NAEPP guidelines and, when these guidelines are 
updated, that materials are appropriately updated.
3. Evaluation Plan (30 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant describes a realistic plan to 
accurately measure the effectiveness of their activities, and a plan to 
implement the quality improvements indicated by this method over the 
life of the project. This may include a discussion of efforts 
undertaken to measure the effectiveness of the applicant's existing 
outreach and educational activities.
4. Facilities, Staff and Resources (10 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant can provide adequate facilities, 
staff, collaborators, and resources to accomplish the proposed goal(s) 
and objectives during the project period. The extent to which the 
applicant demonstrates staff and collaborator availability, expertise, 
previous experience, and capacity to perform the undertaking 
successfully.
5. Budget (Not Scored)
    The extent to which the proposal demonstrates appropriateness and 
justification of the requested budget relative to the activities 
proposed.

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by the NCEH. 
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 objective review panel participants will be CDC 
employees, all of whom work outside the NCEH.
    Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined 
by the review panel.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Anticipated award date is August 31, 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 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-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
     AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
     AR-11 Healthy People 2010.
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
     AR-23 States and Faith-Based Organizations.
     AR-24 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
Requirements.
    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.
    An additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application 
needs to be included in your Grants.gov electronic submission only. 
Refer to http://www.grants.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1Certificates.pdf. Once the form is filled out, attach it to your 
Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.

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. Annual progress report, due 30 days after the end of the budget 
period. The annual progress report must contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Lessons Learned.
    3. Financial status report and annual progress report, no more than 
90 days after the end of the budget period.
    4. 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: Sheri Disler, Project 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, MS E-17, Atlanta, GA 30303; telephone: 
404-498-1018, e-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or 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].

[[Page 20568]]

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.''

    Dated: April 14, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-7888 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P