[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69155-69156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22532]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Potential Partners to Participate in Programs of 
the Office of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 
During 2006 50th Anniversary Celebration

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the 
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and 
Sports (PCPFS) is soliciting proposals for the establishment of 
partnerships with non-Federal public and private sector organizations, 
with the goal of developing, implementing, promoting, and evaluating 
physical activity, fitness, and sports participation activities and 
initiatives. These partnerships are particularly targeted at calendar 
year 2006, which marks the 50th anniversary of the PCPFS. This 
Partnership Initiative is not a grant or contract award program. It is 
intended to provide opportunities for the Office of the PCPFS and non-
Federal public and private sector organizations to work together both 
to enhance and integrate existing partnerships and also to create new 
physical activity, fitness, and sports initiatives at the national, 
state, and local levels to promote better health and fitness for all 
Americans in a synergistic and collaborative environment. These 
partnerships will be voluntary, and each partner will be responsible 
for supporting its own activities. Potential co-sponsors must have a 
demonstrated interest in physical activity, fitness, and/or sports 
activities and be willing to participate substantively in the co-
sponsored activity.

DATES: This announcement is open until June 1, 2006, and may be renewed 
as needed through subsequent notices. Comments expressing or confirming 
an interest in potential partnerships will be most useful if received 
within two months of the publication of this notice, but will continue 
to be accepted for consideration throughout the open period.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest, comments, or questions may be sent 
via e-mail, fax, or regular mail to: Melissa Johnson at 
[email protected], Fax: 202-690-5211, President's Council on 
Physical Fitness and Sports--Partnerships, Department of Health and 
Human Services, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Room 738H, Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Johnson at Ph: 202-690-5187, 
e-mail: [email protected] or Christine Spain at Ph: 202-690-
5148, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Council on Physical Fitness 
and Sports (PCPFS) was established by the President of the United 
States in 1956 and today operates under Executive Order 13265, 
continued by Executive Order 13385, in accordance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act. The purposes of the PCPFS are (1) to provide 
advice and recommendations to the President through the HHS Secretary 
concerning actions and initiatives to develop, implement, and 
coordinate national programs for physical activity, fitness, and 
sports; (2) to inform the general public about the importance of 
regular physical activity and the link between physical activity and 
good health.
    The PCPFS serves as a catalyst to promote physical activity, 
fitness, and sports for Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and 
abilities. Since its founding in 1956, the Office of the PCPFS has 
sustained a productive history of relationships with both public and 
private sector sponsors to create and maintain opportunities for 
Americans to participate in physical activity, fitness, and sports 
initiatives on the national, state, and local levels. Co-sponsorships 
established for observance of the 50th anniversary of the PCPFS should 
raise awareness of following: (1) The physical benefits of a fit and 
active lifestyle; (2) model programs promoting and providing physical 
activity in a variety of venues, suitable for replication; (3) 
opportunities to work collaboratively at the grassroots level to 
promote physical activity, fitness, and sports; (4) gaps and barriers 
preventing active and functional living and aging.
    The Secretary has delegated to the Office of the PCPFS certain 
authorities under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) including, 
but not limited to, sections 1704(1) and (2) of the PHS Act. Sections 
1704(1) and (2) of the PHS Act provides the Office of the PCPFS with 
authority to enter into co-sponsorships with non-Federal entities for 
certain health promotion activities. The 50th Anniversary observance 
offers partners the opportunity to make recommendations for improving 
the health of Americans in the future and for reducing health-care 
costs for individuals, public agencies, and private businesses and 
organizations. Finally, co-sponsorship with the Office of the PCPFS 
during the observance of its 50th anniversary throughout the year 2006 
offers partners the opportunity to highlight their past, present, and 
future initiatives to promote physical activity, fitness, and/or sports 
and to associate their programs with the goals and objectives of the 
Office of the PCPFS.

Purpose and Scope

    The Office of the PCPFS is extending this invitation to both 
existing and potential new partners to broaden the reach of PCPFS 
programs and to promote physical activity, fitness, and sports to all 
Americans in their communities and work places. The Office of the PCPFS 
has limited resources for implementing actions that address large-scale 
national, state, and local initiatives and for sponsoring campaigns to 
promote improvements in the status of physical activity, fitness, and 
the overall health of individuals and communities. The Office of the 
PCPFS relies upon the combined efforts of both public agencies and 
private organizations through co-sponsored initiatives and activities 
to bring about the societal and cultural adjustments necessary to 
influence the attitudes of individuals and communities concerning the 
importance of physical activity, fitness, and sports and to bring about 
change. The observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Office of the 
PCPFS offers an ideal opportunity for organizations not only to 
highlight longstanding successful collaborations with the Office of the 
PCPFS but also to establish new collaborations with the Office of the 
PCPFS to raise public awareness of the importance of physical activity 
and to develop new programs and initiatives.
    In forming collaborative partnerships, the Office of the PCPFS is 
seeking organizations that can bring knowledge, skills, and expertise 
to work synergistically on physical activity, fitness, and/or sports 
activities during the year 2006 and beyond; the 50th anniversary 
celebration of the Office of the PCPFS offers an ideal opportunity to 
launch such collaborations. For example, the Office of the PCPFS is 
interested in partnerships with public and private organizations that 
might involve (but are not limited to) the following sponsoring or co-
sponsoring examples:
    (a) Develop and disseminate educational public information 
materials on physical activity, fitness, health and/or sports to stress 
the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle; such materials might be 
targeted to specific populations by age, gender, ability level, 
cultural background, or

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minority status (e.g. co-sponsorship of a publication; co-sponsorship 
of a Web site or Web-based materials for existing Web sites);
    (b) Develop and disseminate a nationwide educational campaign, 
including advertisements and/or public service announcements (print, 
TV, and/or radio) to alert individuals and diverse media markets about 
the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and to promote co-sponsored 
programs that might be developed in the course of this initiative. This 
might include but is not limited to the President's Challenge, a free, 
motivational tool and recognition program of the PCPFS;
    (c) Create, develop, and evaluate effective programs and activities 
for physical activity, fitness and sports; such programs would provide 
evidence-based results and best practices;
    (d) Co-sponsor the development and management of a CEO/Business 
round-table to raise awareness of the need for a fit and healthy 
workforce and to stress the potential role of business in fostering and 
promoting healthy lifestyles among employees and their families in an 
effort to reduce chronic disease and health care costs;
    (e) Conduct educational and/or practical physical activity, 
fitness, and/or sports clinics in diverse venues (e.g. after school 
programs; senior activity centers; parks and recreation centers; 
others);
    (f) Create a ``Road Show'' celebrating 50 years of fitness by 
providing demonstrations and coaching lessons for all ages that can be 
continued at the local level;
    (g) Sponsor 50th Anniversary memorabilia for distribution at such 
venues as health fairs, athletic events, special events, and similar 
occasions;
    (h) Sponsor 50th Anniversary special events;
    (i) Any combination or enhancement of the above activities;
    (j) Other innovative ideas.

Partnership/Co-Sponsorship Agreements

    This Partnership Initiative is not a grant or contract award 
program. Any partnership formed between the Office of the PCPFS and an 
outside organization will be a voluntary collaboration. Each partner 
will be responsible for providing the resources necessary to carry out 
the specified activities of mutual interest contained in the 
organization's proposal. The Office of the PCPFS will execute, in 
advance, a concise, written agreement with collaborating partner(s). 
The partnership/co-sponsorship agreement will identify key elements of 
the project including: Goals and intended benefits; roles and 
responsibilities of each partner; resources each plans to commit to the 
project; any reporting plans; and the time period in which the 
partnership remains in effect.
    Partnership/co-sponsorship agreements will make clear that there 
will be no Federal endorsement of commercial products or of particular 
companies. The Office of the PCPFS will have a right to review the use 
of any Departmental logo and statement related to the Office of the 
PCPFS programs or materials and products to ensure that they are 
suitable for the initiative and that government neutrality with respect 
to commercial products is maintained. When any Departmental logo is 
approved for use on commercial materials or products that promote the 
goals and mission of the Office of the PCPFS and its program 
activities, a disclaimer will be required. The disclaimer must be 
printed on, or affixed to, commercial partner materials and products 
and indicate that the use of the logo does not imply any Federal 
endorsement or warranty of a particular commercial product or of other 
products of a particular company.

Evaluation Criteria

    After engaging in exploratory discussions of potential partnerships 
and partnership activities, the Office of the PCPFS will make a 
determination whether the Office of the PCPFS will engage in 
partnership activities with particular entities and the scope of those 
activities. The final decision to establish a partnership agreement 
with an outside organization will be made by the Office of the PCPFS 
Executive Director. The Office of the PCPFS Executive Director reserves 
the right to decline partnership opportunities that are not consistent 
with the Office of the PCPFS goals, mission, or priorities, or for 
reasons of limited federal resources available to appropriately manage 
and oversee a proposed partnership. Depending on circumstances, a 
variety of objective and subjective criteria may be applied. The 
following factors will be considered when selecting partners and 
determining the scope of partnership activities:
    1. Is the proposed project consistent with the mission and 
priorities of the Office of the PCPFS and the outside organization?
    2. Are the activities proposed by the offering entity likely to 
provide a substantial public benefit relative to the resources 
required?
    3. Do the potential benefits of the proposed partnership outweigh 
any potential negative impact on the Department and its ability to 
accomplish its mission? For example, the Department will avoid any 
appearance that an offering entity's co-sponsorship of an event would 
improperly influence the Department or any HHS employee in other 
official matters in which the offering entity may have an interest. It 
may be possible to structure a proposal to minimize potential issues.
    4. Does the outside entity have the expertise and capacity to carry 
out its proposed activities?
    5. Has the outside entity demonstrated a willingness to work 
collaboratively with other public and private sector organizations to 
achieve the stated goals or to advance related efforts, activities, or 
initiatives?
    Organizations that have goals and interests consistent with the 
mandate of the Office of the PCPFS are encouraged to reply to this 
notice. Such organizations should have appropriate expertise and 
resources and be willing to pursue and enhance physical activity, 
fitness, and/or sports activities within their own organizations. 
Organizations that meet the criteria are encouraged to reply to this 
notice.
    Working collaboratively with its partners, the Office of the PCPFS 
and its partners will provide innovative opportunities in diverse 
venues to improve the adoption and maintenance of regular physical 
activity for the enhanced health and well-being of all Americans during 
the 50th anniversary year and beyond.

    Dated: November 7, 2005.
Melissa Johnson,
Executive Director, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 05-22532 Filed 11-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-35-P