[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45050-45056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12819]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Announcement of Availability of Funds for Cooperative Agreement
With the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) for a Project
Entitled, ``From BMI to Student Body Mass Improvement: Healthy
Achievement Through Awareness and Action--a Detailed Evaluation of the
Arkansas School BMI Project.''
AGENCY: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of
Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, DHHS.
Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement--FY 2006 Initial
Announcement. Single Source.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 93.018.
DATES: Application availability: August 8, 2006. Applications are due
by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on September 7, 2006.
SUMMARY: The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)/
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), announces that up to
$250,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2006 funds is available for a cooperative
agreement with the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) for a
project entitled, ``From BMI to Student Body Mass Improvement: Healthy
Achievement Through Awareness and Action--a Detailed Evaluation of the
Arkansas School BMI Project.'' Working in collaboration with the ACHI,
administratively housed unit in the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (501C3 organization) and serves as the primary health policy
development source for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human
Services, the initiative seeks to gain information about programs that
have established school based-body mass index assessments of school age
children. The goals of this evaluation project are to identify key
elements for the translation of BMI information as a public health
intervention for positive behavioral change among families, children
and adolescents to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
The project will design and pilot test a detailed evaluation protocol
to assess the specific benefits and effectiveness of the Arkansas
School BMI Assessment Project, building on the findings from the ACHI
Report--The 2005 Arkansas Assessment of Childhood and Adolescent
Obesity; and The Year Two Evaluation of Arkansas Act 1220 conducted by
the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College of Public
Health with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The
[[Page 45051]]
evaluation protocol will specially address:
The effectiveness and acceptability of the BMI assessment
by teachers, students, families, and physicians;
The essential information and care systems to support
follow-up and follow-through for prevention and interventions;
The students, families, and schools knowledge, attitudes,
and adoption of healthier nutrition and physical activity choices; and,
The changes in the individual BMI and the childhood
population overweight and obesity rates.
The purpose of this project is to assess the principles and
outcomes of a statewide community-based intervention program
incorporating various scientific methods and behavioral approaches. At
a time when overweight and obesity are dramatically increasing,
initiatives like the Arkansas School Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment
Project will evaluate the diverse populations that are at higher than
average risk of developing excessive weight, especially children in
urban/rural areas with a high prevalence of minority individuals. This
program promotes several focus areas of the Healthy People 2010
including: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health; Nutrition and
Overweight; Physical Activity and Educational and Community-Based
Programs Health Communication. The project will be approved for up to a
one-year period for a total of $250,000 (including indirect costs).
Funding for the cooperative agreement is contingent upon the
availability of funds.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Under the authority of Section 301, Title III of the U.S. Public
Health Service Act--General Powers and Duties of the Public Health
Service, 42 U.S.C. Section 301, ODPHP/OPHS, of the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), announces that up to $250,000 in fiscal year
(FY) 2006 funds is available for a cooperative agreement with the
Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) for a project entitled,
``From BMI to Student Body Mass Improvement: Healthy Achievement
Through Awareness and Action--a Detailed Evaluation of the Arkansas
School BMI Project.'' Activities to be addressed through the
cooperative agreement will relate to the following topic areas: Access
to Care; Diabetes; Maternal, Infant and Child Health; and, Nutrition
and Obesity. Funding will be provided by ODPHP from evaluation
resources to the awardee.
The goals of this evaluation project are to identify key elements
for the translation of BMI information as a public health intervention
for positive behavioral change among families, children and adolescents
to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
Background: The obesity epidemic has reached alarming proportions
in children. The number of overweight (defined as sex- and age-specific
BMI above the 95th percentile) children has doubled in the last 2
decades. This increase in incidence and prevalence spans across
cultures, genders, ethnicities, and educational backgrounds.
Although the development of overweight and obesity is multi-
factorial, excess calories and inadequate physical activity are two
main factors that increase the risk of becoming overweight and/or
obese. Overweight children are at risk for developing non-insulin
dependent diabetes, cardiovascular disease, poor bone development, and
hypertension; which are three major leading causes of disability and
death in the U.S. Multiple studies confirm demographic and ethnic
differences in physical activity levels and overweight prevalence. For
example, African American and Latino children are at greater risk for
becoming overweight than Caucasian children. Some studies also suggest
higher rates of overweight and obesity among urban children.
Furthermore, overweight children not only suffer from physical effects
of their weight status but also suffer from low self-esteem,
depression, and social discrimination. Therefore, preventing overweight
and obesity is essential, especially at a time when overweight and
obesity is dramatically increasing in the U.S. population.
On April 11, 2003, Arkansas Act 1220 became the first law in the
Nation to provide comprehensive, multifaceted approaches that bring
families, schools, and communities together to combat the epidemic of
obesity. One mandate of the act is to conduct body mass index
assessments of the State's public school children.
ACHI devised a method to measure students' BMI confidentially and
uniformly and to create an annual BMI assessment for parents. ACHI
developed a measurement protocol and worked with community health
nurses, school nurses, and local clinical resources to obtain height/
weight assessments for school-age children across the state. BMI
calculations were conducted, and a child health report generated for
parents and guardians of each child assessed. The reports explain what
the BMI is and how it is used, show the child's BMI and how it relates
to other Arkansas children, and include suggestions for helping the
child to lower his or her BMI if appropriate. In addition to parent
reports, ACHI delivered a state report that provided comprehensive data
by grade, gender, age, ethnicity, and geographic region to school
district superintendents and state legislators.
During the first year of the program (2003 to 2004), 93 percent of
the state's schools reported height/weight assessments. By year two, 98
percent of the schools participated, reaching 444,612 children. Data
from both years revealed that roughly 39 percent of school-age children
were overweight or at risk for becoming overweight, 8 percentage points
higher than the national estimates.
As a result of this program, the state of Arkansas can accurately
detail the obesity epidemic and track long-range changes in child and
adolescent obesity. By identifying the depth and breadth of the obesity
epidemic among the state's children, an infrastructure is in place to
combat this problem through health promotion and disease prevention and
risk reduction efforts. A baseline has been established to enable the
state to evaluate progress in combating the child obesity epidemic and
establish an evidence-based national model.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to evaluate and assess the
effectiveness and benefits of translating science into practice and
behavioral change among children and adolescents. This project will
assess the principles and test the merit, feasibility and outcome of
targeted health-messages and intervention programs that are statewide,
using a multiplicity of methods and approaches. The evaluation of the
effectiveness of such a program on nutrition and physical activity
knowledge, attitudes, and behavior will help build the research base
for health promotion and health policy that can be utilized in
decision-making now and in the future.
The project will design and pilot test a detailed evaluation
protocol to assess the specific benefits and effectiveness of the
Arkansas School BMI Assessment Project, building on the findings from
the ACHI Report,--The 2005 Arkansas Assessment of Childhood and
Adolescent Obesity; and The Year Two Evaluation of Arkansas Act 1220
conducted by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College
of Public Health with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The evaluation protocol will specially address measurable outcomes of
the program in alignment with one (or
[[Page 45052]]
more) of the following performance goals:
Improve health and reduce disparities;
Improve disease prevention and health education;
Improve public health infrastructure; and
Improve outreach to the community.
Activities: Awardee activities for this program include:
State supported efforts targeted toward prevention and
reduction of pediatric overweight and obesity.
Community collaboration and input regarding the approaches
to preventing and reducing pediatric overweight and obesity.
Key community stakeholders including schools, parents,
teachers, providers, students/children, and youth organizations.
Detailed BMI assessment of school-age and/or adolescent
children within schools, including Medicaid recipients or eligible
children, and minorities.
Data collection, linkage, analysis, and evaluation
integral to the program objectives.
Detailed subgroup analysis including, small area
variations, economic gradients, and subgroup analyses by race and
ethnicity.
Parental education regarding the use of BMI, nutrition,
and physical activity.
Effective interventions and follow-up for children who are
found to have a high BMI.
II. Award Information
The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this
program will be the cooperative agreement in which substantial ODPHP/
HHS scientific and/or programmatic involvement is anticipated during
the performance of the project. Under the cooperative agreement, ODPHP/
HHS will support and/or stimulate awardee activities by working with
them in a non-directive partnership role. This will include: review of
existing information; formulation of workplan; participating in
community stakeholders meetings; data analysis; evaluation design;
protocol development; and communications with the community.
Approximately $250,000 in FY 2006 funds is available to support the
agreement. The anticipated start date is October 1, 2006. There will
only be one single award made from this announcement. The program and
budget period for this agreement is for 12 months, with extensions
possible up to approximately three years.
Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the
ODPHP, the award pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the
availability of funds for this purpose.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicant
This is a single eligibility cooperative agreement offered to ACHI
as the recognized health policy development unit for the State of
Arkansas. ACHI has established a unique opportunity to study, evaluate,
and make recommendations to prevent and remediate the childhood
overweight and obesity epidemic.
Founded in 1997, ACHI is an administratively housed unit in the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (a 501c3 organization) that
serves as the primary source for executive and legislative branch
support of health policy development. In addition to UAMS, ACHI is
supported by the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.
ACHI has established a unique ability to contribute to the State
and national policy dialogue on childhood obesity because of two
critical pieces of Arkansas statute:
Arkansas Health Data Initiative: passed by the 84th Arkansas
General Assembly in 2003 as Act 1035--authorizes ACHI to have access to
any data the State owns or contracts for to advance health policy
initiatives within the State.
Arkansas Childhood Obesity Initiative: passed by the 84th Arkansas
General Assembly in 2003 as Act 1220--establishes a comprehensive
statewide strategy to combat childhood obesity including annual
assessment of body mass indices.
From these two legislative initiatives, ACHI has established a
population-based longitudinal dataset (currently 3 years) of all
Arkansas public school children. Using the authority under the Health
Data Initiative, ACHI has linked data from the Arkansas Department of
Education, over 300 independent school districts, and the Arkansas
Medicaid program to establish a longitudinal dataset tracking over
450,000 school children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade. The
dataset includes demographic information, family income, clinical
information, as well as height, weight, and body mass information. The
longitudinal nature of the dataset will enable evaluation of existing
growth curves, sub-analyses for racial and ethnic subgroups unavailable
from existing datasets, quantification of the educational and clinical
impact of obesity on children and adolescents, and evaluation of policy
and healthcare financing strategies in combating the epidemic of child
and adolescent obesity. Currently with 3 years of data incorporated,
incorporation of future year's data will rapidly enhance the power of
this dataset to inform and guide policy development for the nation.
Establishment of a cooperative agreement between ACHI (UAMS) and
HHS is warranted because of the unique empirical information available
through the Health Data Initiative of the State of Arkansas.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing, matching funds, and cost participation is not a
requirement of this agreement.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
Application kits may be requested by calling (240) 453-8822 or
writing to: Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health
Science (OPHS), 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852.
Applications must be prepared using Form OPHS-1. The applicant may fax
a written request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a
hard copy of the application kit at (240) 453-8823.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
All applications must be accompanied by a Project Abstract
submitted on 3.5 inch floppy disk. The abstract must be typed, single-
spaced, and not exceed 2 pages. Reviewers and staff will refer
frequently to the information contained in the abstract, and therefore
it should contain substantive information about the proposed projects
in summary form. A list of suggested keywords and a format sheet for
your use in preparing the abstract will be included in the application
packet.
All grant applications must be accompanied by a Project Narrative.
In addition to the instructions provided in OPHS-1 (Rev 8/2004) for
project narrative, the specific guidelines for the project narrative
are provided in the program guidelines. Format requirements are the
same as for the Project Abstract Section; margins should be 1 inch at
the top and 1 inch at the bottom and both sides; and typeset must be no
smaller than 12 cpi and not reduced. Biographical sketches should be
either typed on the appropriate form or plain paper and should not
exceed two pages, with publications listed being limited only to those
that are directly relevant to this project.
[[Page 45053]]
Application Format Requirements
If applying on paper, the entire application may not exceed 80
pages in length, including the abstract, project and budget narratives,
face page, attachments, any appendices and letters of commitment and
support. Pages must be numbered consecutively. Applications submitted
electronically that exceed 80 pages when printed will be deemed non-
compliant. All non-compliant applications will be returned to the
applicant without further consideration.
a. Number of Copies: Please submit one (1) original and two (2)
unbound copies of the application. Please do not bind or staple the
application. Application must be single sided.
b. Font: Please use an easily readable serif typeface, such as
Times Roman, Courier, or CG Times. The text and table portions of the
application must be submitted in not less than 12 point and 1.0 line
spacing. Applications not adhering to 12 point font requirements may be
returned.
c. Paper Size and Margins: For scanning purposes, please submit the
application on 8\1/2\'' x 11'' white paper. Margins must be at least
one (1) inch at the top, bottom, left and right of the paper. Please
left-align text.
d. Numbering: Please number the pages of the application
sequentially from page 1 (face page) to the end of the application,
including charts, figures, tables, and appendices.
e. Names: Please include the name of the applicant on each page.
f. Section Headings: Please put all section headings flush left in
bold type.
Application Format
Applications for funding must consist of the following documents in
the following order:
i. Application Face Page: Public Health Service (PHS) Application
Form OPHS-1, provided with the application package. Prepare this page
according to instructions provided in the form itself.
DUNS Number
All applicant organizations are required to have a Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to apply for a grant from the
Federal Government. The DUNS number is a unique nine-character
identification number provided by the commercial company, Dun and
Bradstreet. There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number. Information
about obtaining a DUNS number can be found at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestoptions.html or call 1-866-705-5711. Please
include the DUNS number next to the OMB Approval Number on the
application face page.
Additionally, the applicant organization will be required to
register with the Federal Government's Central Contractor Registry
(CCR) in order to do electronic business with the Federal Government.
Information about registering with the CCR can be found at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/dunsccr.html.
Finally, if the applicant applies electronically through Grants.gov
the applicant is required to register with the Credential Provider for
Grants.gov. Information about this requirement is available at http://www.grants.gov/CredentialProvider.
Similarly, if the applicant applies electronically through the OPHS
E-Grants System the applicant is required to register with the
provider. Information about this requirement is available at https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov.
ii. Program Narrative: This section provides a comprehensive
framework and description of all aspects of the proposed program. It
should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that
reviewers can understand the proposed project.
Use the following section headers for the Narrative:
Executive Summary.
This section should briefly describe the proposed project and
supporting initiatives as well as summarize goals that the program
intends to achieve through the project initiatives.
Work Plan.
Describe the current and proposed activities or steps that will be
used to achieve the stated goals and objectives. Describe expected
outcomes resulting from activities as well as any evaluation mechanisms
that will be used to measure the success of the initiatives.
Mechanism for Administration.
Describe how resources and funds will be administered with regards
to the proposed projects.
In-Kind Support/Resources.
Describe any in-kind support from other sources, if any, that will
be used to support the proposed initiatives and activities.
iii. Appendices: Please provide the additional relevant information
(including tables, charts, and other relevant documents) to complete
the content of the application. Please note that these are
supplementary in nature, and are not intended to be a continuation of
the project narrative. Be sure each appendix is clearly labeled.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Submission Mechanisms: OPHS provides multiple mechanisms for the
submission of applications, as described in the following sections. The
applicant will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of
Grants Management confirming the receipt of applications submitted
using any of these mechanisms. Applications submitted to the OPHS
Office of Grants Management after the deadlines described below will
not be accepted for review. Applications which do not conform to the
requirements of the grant announcement will not be accepted for review
and will be returned to the applicant.
Applications may only be submitted electronically via the
electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications
submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including
facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While
applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic
application submission capabilities provided by the OPHS eGrants system
or the Grants.gov Web site Portal is encouraged.
Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES
section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission
mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants
Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the
announcement.
Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic
application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items
are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the
deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere
to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed
ineligible.
The applicant is encouraged to initiate electronic applications
early in the application development process, and to submit early on
the due date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with
submissions prior to the application deadline.
Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Web site Portal: The
Grants.gov Web site Portal provides organizations with the ability to
submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. Organizations must
[[Page 45054]]
successfully complete the necessary registration processes in order to
submit an application. Information about this system is available on
the Grants.gov Web site, http://www.grants.gov.
In addition to electronically submitted materials, the applicant
may be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain Program
related forms, or original materials as required by the announcement.
It is imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement,
as well as the application guidance provided within the Grants.gov
application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard
copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be
submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management
and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual
authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed
by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
Electronic applications submitted via the Grants.gov Web site
Portal must contain all completed online forms required by the
application kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any
appendices or exhibits. All required mail-in items must be received by
the due date requirements specified above. Mail-in items may only
include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission
via the Grants.gov Web site Portal, the applicant will be provided with
a confirmation page from Grants.gov indicating the date and time
(Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the
Grants.gov Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and
retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the
entire application package.
All applications submitted via the Grants.gov Web site Portal will
be validated by Grants.gov. Any applications deemed ``Invalid'' by the
Grants.gov Web site Portal will not be transferred to the OPHS eGrants
system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not
validated and transferred to OPHS from the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application
validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by
the Grants.gov Web site Portal, the applicant should immediately mail
all required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants
Management to be received by the deadlines specified above. It is
critical that the applicant clearly identify the Organization name and
Grants.gov Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials.
Once the application is validated by Grants.gov, it will be
electronically transferred to the OPHS eGrants system for processing.
Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the Grants.gov Web
site Portal, and the required hardcopy mail-in items, the applicant
will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants
Management confirming the receipt of the application submitted using
the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
The applicant should contact Grants.gov with any questions or
concerns regarding the electronic application process conducted through
the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
Electronic Submissions via the OPHS eGrants System: The OPHS
electronic grants management system, eGrants, provides for applications
to be submitted electronically. Information about this system is
available on the OPHS eGrants Web site, https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov, or may be requested from the OPHS Office of
Grants Management at (240) 453-8822.
When submitting applications via the OPHS eGrants system, the
applicant is required to submit a hard copy of the application face
page (Standard Form 424) with the original signature of an individual
authorized to act for the applicant agency and assume the obligations
imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. If required,
the applicant will also need to submit a hard copy of the Standard Form
LLL and/or certain Program related forms (e.g., Program Certifications)
with the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the
applicant agency.
Electronic applications submitted via the OPHS eGrants system must
contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the
Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. The
applicant may identify specific mail-in items to be sent to the Office
of Grants Management separate from the electronic submission; however
these mail-in items must be entered on the eGrants Application
Checklist at the time of electronic submission, and must be received by
the due date requirements specified above. Mail-in items may only
include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission,
the OPHS eGrants system will provide the applicant with a confirmation
page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic
application submission. This confirmation page will also provide a
listing of all items that constitute the final application submission
including all electronic application components, required hardcopy
original signatures, and mail-in items, as well as the mailing address
of the OPHS Office of Grants Management where all required hard copy
materials must be submitted.
As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the
electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of
mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status
of their application in the OPHS eGrants system to ensure that all
signatures and mail-in items are received.
Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications: The applicant who
submits an application in hard copy (via mail or hand-delivered) are
required to submit an original and two copies of the application. The
original application must be signed by an individual authorized to act
for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the
organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the
grant award.
Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting
the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant
Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date
specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application
deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the
instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline
will be returned to the applicant unread.
4. Intergovernmental Review
This program is subject to the Public Health Systems Reporting
Requirements. Under these requirements, a community-based non-
governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health System
Impact Statement (PHSIS). The Applicant shall submit a copy of the
application face page (SF-424) and a one page summary of the project,
called the Public Health System Impact Statement. The PHSIS is intended
to provide information to State and local health officials to keep them
apprised on proposed health services grant applications submitted by
community-based, non-governmental organizations within their
jurisdictions.
Community-based, non-governmental applicants are required to
submit, no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the
application, the following information to the head of the appropriate
State and local health
[[Page 45055]]
agencies in the area(s) to be impacted: (a) a copy of the face page of
the application (SF 424), (b) a summary of the project (PHSIS), not to
exceed one page, which provides: (1) A description of the population to
be served, (2) a summary of the services to be provided, and (3) a
description of the coordination planned with the appropriate State or
local health agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the PHSIS to
these authorities must be contained in the application materials
submitted to the ODPHP/HHS.
This program is also subject to the requirements of Executive Order
12372 that allows States the option of setting up a system for
reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under
certain Federal programs. The application kit to be made available
under this notice will contain a listing of States that have chosen to
set up a review system and will include a State Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) in the State for review. Applicants (other than federally
recognized Indian tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early as
possible to alert them to the prospective applications and receive any
necessary instructions on the State process. For proposed projects
serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the
SPOC in each affected State. A complete list of SPOCs may be found at
the following Web site: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. The
due date for State process recommendations is 60 days after the
application deadline. The ODPHP/HHS does not guarantee that it will
accommodate or explain its responses to State process recommendations
received after that date. (See ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,'' Executive Order 12372, and 45 CFR Part 100 for a
description of the review process and requirements.)
5. Funding Restrictions
Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations,
equipment purchase, medical treatment, renovations, or to purchase
food. Allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and necessity of
direct and indirect costs that may be charged are outlined in the
following documents: OMB-21 (Institutes of Higher Education); OMB
Circular A-122 (Nonprofit Organizations) and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix E
(Hospitals). Copies of these circulars can be found on the Internet at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Applications will be screened by ODPHP staff for completeness and
for responsiveness to the program guidance. The Applicant should pay
strict attention addressing these criteria, as they are the basis upon
which applications will be judged. Those applications judged to be non-
responsive or incomplete will be returned to the applicant without
review.
Applications that are complete and responsive to the guidance will
be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer
review group specifically convened for this solicitation and in
accordance with HHS policies and procedures. As part of the initial
merit review, all applications will receive a written critique. All
applications recommended for approval will be discussed fully by the ad
hoc peer review group and assigned a priority score for funding.
Eligible applications will be assessed according to the following
criteria:
(1) Technical Approach (45 Points)
The applicant's presentation of a sound and practical
technical approach for executing the requirements with adequate
explanation, substantiation and justification for methods for handling
the project.
The successful applicant must demonstrate a clear
understanding of the scope and objectives of the cooperative agreement,
recognition of potential difficulties that may arise in performing the
work required, presentation of adequate solutions, and understanding of
the close coordination necessary between the essential parties in
Arkansas, including the health department, payors, schools,
practitioners, families, and students.
(2) Experience and Capabilities of the Organization (45 Points)
The Applicant should submit documented relevant experience
of the organization in managing projects of similar complexity and
scope of the activities.
Clarity and appropriateness of lines of communication and
authority for coordination and management of the project. Adequacy and
feasibility of plans to ensure successful coordination of a multiple-
partner collaboration.
(3) Facilities and Resources (10 Points)
Documented availability and adequacy of facilities,
equipment and resources necessary to carry out the activities.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed in competition with other submitted
applications, by a panel of peer reviewers. Each of the above criteria
will be addressed and considered by the reviewers in assigning the
overall score. Final award will be made by September 15, 2006, on the
basis of score, program relevance and, availability of funds.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
ODPHP/HHS does not release information about individual
applications during the review process until final funding decisions
have been made. When these decisions have been made, the applicant will
be notified by letter regarding the outcome of their applications. The
official document notifying an applicant that an application has been
approved and funded is the Notice of Grant Award signed by the Grants
Management Officer, which specifies to the awardee the amount of money
awarded, the purpose of the agreement, the terms and conditions of the
agreement, and the amount of funding, if any, to be contributed by the
awardee to the project costs.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rules and requirements
that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all
recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to
State and local governments. The applicant funded under this
announcement must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The
CFR volume that includes parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/45cfrv1_05.html.
The HHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements,
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitation, and other
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and
dollar amount of the total cost of the program or project which will be
financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of the
total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
governmental sources.
3. Reporting
All projects are required to have an evaluation plan, consistent
with the
[[Page 45056]]
scope of the proposed project and funding level that conforms to the
project's stated goals and objectives. The evaluation plan should
include both a process evaluation to track the implementation of
project activities and an outcome evaluation to measure changes in
knowledge and skills that can be attributed to the project. Project
funds may be used to support evaluation activities. In addition to
conducting their own evaluation of projects, the successful applicant
must be prepared to participate in an external evaluation, to be
supported by ODPHP/HHS and conducted by an independent entity, to
assess efficiency and effectiveness for the project funded under this
announcement.
Within 30 days following the end of each of quarter, a performance
report no more than ten pages in length must be submitted to ODPHP/HHS.
A sample monthly performance report will be provided at the time of
notification of award. At a minimum, monthly performance reports should
include:
Concise summary of the most significant achievements and
problems encountered during the reporting period, e.g. number of
training courses held and number of trainees.
A comparison of work progress with objectives established
for the quarter using the grantee's implementation schedule, and where
such objectives were not met, a statement of why they were not met.
Specific action(s) that the grantee would like the ODPHP/
HHS to undertake to alleviate a problem.
Other pertinent information that will permit monitoring
and overview of project operations.
A quarterly financial report describing the current
financial status of the funds used under this award. The awardee and
ODPHP will agree at the time of award for the format of this portion of
the report.
Within 90 days following the end of the project period a final
report containing information and data of interest to HHS must be
submitted to ODPHP/HHS. The specifics as to the format and content of
the final report and the summary will be sent to the successful
applicant. At minimum, the report should contain:
A summary of the major activities supported under the
agreement and the major accomplishments resulting from activities with
the potential for improving the health of children in Arkansas and its
potential for generalizability to other States and communities.
An analysis of the project based on the problem(s)
described in the application and needs assessments, performed prior to
or during the project period, including a description of the specific
objectives stated in the grant application and the accomplishments and
failures resulting from activities during the grant period.
Quarterly performance reports and the final report may be submitted
to: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of Public
Health and Science, Office of the Secretary Department of Health and
Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100, Rockville, Maryland
20852.
A Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 is due 90 days after the
close of each 12-month budget period and submitted to the OPHS-Office
of Grants Management.
VII. Agency Contacts
For programmatic requirements, please contact: Woodie Kessel, MD,
MPH; Cecilia Penn, MD, MPH; Kathryn McMurry, MS, Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion, Department of Health and Human
Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite LL100, Rockville, Maryland 20852,
telephone: (240) 453-8256.
For administrative requirements, please contact: Office of Grants
Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health
and Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville,
Maryland 20852, telephone: (240) 453-8822.
VIII. Tips for Writing a Strong Application
Include DUNS Number. You must include a DUNS Number to have your
application reviewed. To obtain a DUNS number, access
www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Please include the
DUNS number next to the OMB Approval Number on the application face
page.
Keep your audience in mind. Reviewers will use only the information
contained in the application to assess the application. Be sure the
application and responses to the program requirements and expectations
are complete and clearly written. Do not assume that reviewers are
familiar with the applicant organization. Keep the review criteria in
mind when writing the application.
Start preparing the application early. Allow plenty of time to
gather required information from various sources.
Follow the instructions in this guidance carefully. Place all
information in the order requested in the guidance. If the information
is not placed in the requested order, you may receive a lower score.
Be brief, concise, and clear. Make your points understandable.
Provide accurate and honest information, including candid accounts of
problems and realistic plans to address them. If any required
information or data is omitted, explain why. Make sure the information
provided in each table, chart, attachment, etc., is consistent with the
proposal narrative and information in other tables.
Be organized and logical. Many applications fail to receive a high
score because the reviewers cannot follow the thought process of the
applicant or because parts of the application do not fit together.
Be careful in the use of appendices. Do not use the appendices for
information that is required in the body of the application. Be sure to
cross-reference all tables and attachments located in the appendices to
the appropriate text in the application.
Carefully proofread the application. Misspellings and grammatical
errors will impede reviewers in understanding the application. Be sure
pages are numbered (including appendices) and that page limits are
followed. Limit the use of abbreviations and acronyms, and define each
one at its first use and periodically throughout application.
Dated: July 31, 2006.
Woodie Kessel,
Deputy Director for Medicine and Health Science, Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion.
[FR Doc. E6-12819 Filed 8-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-32-P