[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 144 (Thursday, July 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43693-43694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14927]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement AA173]


A Cooperative Agreement for the Interstitial Cystitis Association 
To Develop and Implement a Program To Enhance Interstitial Cystitis 
Public and Health Provider Awareness Through Partnership, Education and 
Communication; Notice of Intent To Fund Single Eligibility Award

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to promote public awareness and partnership, provide 
interstitial cystitis (IC) education for the general public and for 
health care providers, and develop and enhance communication channels 
to allow for improved interaction and information sharing among those 
with IC, advocates for persons with IC and their families, those who 
provide care and services for persons with IC, researchers, public 
health scientists, and the general public. The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.283.

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to Interstitial Cystitis 
Association, 110 N. Washington Street, Suite 340, Rockville, MD 20850.
    Founded in 1984, The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) is a 
not-for-profit health organization and the national leader dedicated to 
providing patient and physician educational information and programs, 
patient support, public awareness and, most importantly, research 
funding for IC. ICA is the only not-for-profit national IC organization 
that promotes and provides funding for much needed IC research. This 
characteristic of ICA's organization is unmatched by any other public 
or private IC health organization currently conducting similar 
activities in the United States. The primary mission of ICA is to 
research a cure and treatment for IC and provide information and

[[Page 43694]]

assistance to patients, doctors, and the general public.
    The ICA has over 20 years of achievement unmatched by any other 
health organization dealing with IC issues. Some of these achievements 
include:
     Public awareness--the ICA has consistently attracted media 
attention to IC. Numerous articles featuring IC and the ICA have been 
published from the ``New York Times,'' ``SELF Magazine,'' ``Good 
Housekeeping,'' and many other national magazines. Subject-matter 
experts from the ICA have appeared on national TV and radio programs to 
include ABC's ``Good Morning America,'' CNN, and National Public Radio.
     Physician and Patient Education--Subject-matter experts 
from the ICA have published numerous articles on IC for professional 
journals including ``Urology'' and the ``World Journal of Urology.'' 
The ICA has worked closely with the NIDDK Division of Urology for over 
15 years and has co-sponsored with the NIDDK, international scientific 
conferences as well as national IC patient meetings on IC biannually. 
ICA has also sponsored numerous regional educational programs for 
patients throughout the United States each year.
     Patient Support--The ICA provides a toll-free 800 number 
designed to quickly assist both IC patients and healthcare providers. 
ICA also provides nationwide individual support via telephone and e-
mail by ICA National Patient Support Advocates; the International IC 
Question Corner on its Web site, where patients can e-mail the ICA and 
receive one-on-one assistance with their questions; the ICA Physician 
Registry which helps IC patients find IC-knowledgeable physicians; and 
IC connections, which brings together patients based on specific 
interests, concerns and regions, and an informational program on how to 
start new IC support groups.
     Innovative resources--the ICA published, and continues to 
regularly update, a series of brochures and fact sheets as well as ``IC 
Treatment Guidelines''--the first comprehensive summary of IC 
treatments and medications designed for patients and their physicians 
for use as the basis for an individualized treatment plan. The ICA also 
publishes an on-line monthly news digest, ``Caf[eacute] ICA,'' and two 
quarterly newsletters--the ``ICA Update,'' the only printed newsletter 
on IC in the United States, and the ``ICA Physician Perspectives.'' ICA 
also publishes a ``Pocket Guide'' series for continuing patient 
education.
     Comprehensive Web Site--The ICA's Web site http://www.icahelp.org, established in 1995, is the most comprehensive Web 
site on IC available today, receiving over 1.4 million hits per month. 
The site includes: a Clinical trials section, their on-line monthly 
news digest--``Caf[eacute] ICA,'' IC Question Corner which provides 
one-on-one patient support, Treatment Options, a section for health 
care providers, a comprehensive research section, and much more * * *.
     Non-profit leadership--the ICA remains the only United 
States 501 (c)(3) registered non-profit organization to fund IC 
research and provide educational programs on IC for both physicians and 
patients, as well as the public at large.
    This mission and ICA's extensive network of resources and record of 
unmatched achievements over the last 20 years, makes it highly probable 
that ICA will successfully implement and complete all the required 
activities for this program announcement. For these reasons, the ICA is 
the only organization being considered for this program announcement.

C. Funding

    Approximately $ 510,000 is available in FY 2005 to fund this award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or before September 1, 
2005, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to five years. Funding estimates may change.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: 
Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146; telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For technical questions about this program, contact: Richard S. 
Roman, Project Officer, HCAS/DACH/NCCDPHP/CDC, 4770 Buford Hwy., N.E., 
MS K-51, Chamblee, GA 30341; telephone: 770-488-5144; e-mail: 
[email protected].

    Dated: July 22, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-14927 Filed 7-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P