[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18033-18034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9152]
[[Page 18033]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99107]
Health Communication Research; Notice of Availability of Funds
A. Purpose
In Cooperation with the Office of Prevention Research (Prevention
Research Initiative), the Division of Health Communication within the
Office of Communication in the Office of the Director at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of
fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds for a health communication research grant
program. This program addresses all of the ``Healthy People 2000''
priority areas. The purpose of this program is to further the
understanding of, and ability to apply, effective health communication
strategies and tactics.
B. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by private nonprofit organizations
and by governments and their agencies; that is, universities, colleges,
research institutions, hospitals, other public and private nonprofit
organizations, State and local governments or their bona fide agents,
and federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes, or
Indian tribal organizations.
Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan
or any other form.
C. Availability of Funds
Approximately $500,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund
approximately 2 to 4 awards. It is expected that the average award will
be $150,000, ranging from $100,000 to $250,000. It is expected that the
awards will begin on or about September 30, 1999, and will be made for
a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 3 years.
Funding estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
D. Program Priorities
Applications must address one of the following research priorities
identified in CDC's Health Communication Research Agenda:
1. Discover effective strategies to communicate the public health
implications of human genetic research.
2. Identify risk communication strategies for effectively
communicating public health recommendations and products related to
vaccines, human genetics, and environmental health.
3. Determine the conditions under which new communication
approaches like entertainment education, internet and web TV, and media
literacy are most effective for different audiences.
4. Test communication strategies designed to foster societal
support for public health initiatives and systems.
5. Determine the communication strategies and tactics are most
effective in promoting the adoption of health enhancing behaviors among
members of diverse populations.
CDC's latest draft of the full Health Communication Research Agenda
is included as Attachment II in the application packet.
E. Application Content
Use the information in the Other Requirements, and Evaluation
Criteria sections to develop the application content. Your application
will be evaluated on the criteria listed, so it is important to follow
them in laying out your program plan.
Specifically, the applications for health communication research
grants should include:
1. The project's focus that justifies the research needs and
describes the scientific basis for the research, the expected outcome,
and the relevance of the findings to improving the practices of health
communication within a larger public health context.
2. Specific, measurable, and time-framed objectives.
3. A detailed plan describing the methods by which the objectives
will be achieved, including their sequence.
4. A description of the grant's principal investigator's role and
responsibilities.
5. A description of all the project staff regardless of their
funding source. It should include their title, qualifications,
experience, percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well
as that portion of their salary to be paid by the grant.
6. A description of those activities related to, but not supported
by the grant.
7. A description of the involvement of other entities that will
relate to the proposed project, if applicable. It should include
commitments of support and a clear statement of their roles.
8. A detailed first year's budget for the grant with future annual
projections,
9. A plan for publishing/distributing results.
An applicant organization has the option of having specific salary
and fringe benefit amounts for individuals omitted from the copies of
the application which are made available to outside reviewing groups.
To exercise this option: on the original and five copies of the
application, the applicant must use asterisks to indicate those
individuals for whom salaries and fringe benefits are not shown; the
subtotals must still be shown. In addition, the applicant must submit
an additional copy of page four of Form PHS-398, completed in full,
with the salary and fringe amounts shown. This budget page will be
reserved for internal staff use only.
F. Submission and Deadline
Submit the original and five copies of PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001) adhere to the instructions on the Errata Instruction Sheet for
PHS 398). Forms are in the application kit.
On or before June 30, 1999, submit the application to: Sheryl L.
Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99107, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta,
Georgia 30341.
Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline
if they are either:
(a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
(b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for
Objective Review. (Applicants must request a legibly dated U.S. Postal
Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial
carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.
G. Evaluation Criteria
Applications that are complete and responsive may be subjected to a
preliminary evaluation by a peer review group to determine if the
application is of sufficient technical and scientific merit to warrant
further review (triage); the CDC will withdraw from further
consideration applications judged to be noncompetitive and promptly
notify the principal investigator/program director and the official
signing for the applicant organization. Those applications judged
[[Page 18034]]
to be competitive will be further evaluated by a dual review process.
Each competitive application will be evaluated individually against
the following criteria by a Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) appointed by
CDC. The SEP will score each proposal based on scientific and technical
merit. Factors to be considered by the SEP include:
1. A principal investigator who has conducted research, published
the findings in peer-reviewed journals, and has specific authority and
responsibility to carry out the proposed project.
2. Demonstrated experience (on the applicant's project team) in
conducting, evaluating, and publishing in peer-reviewed journals that
publish the health communication research theories and research
findings.
3. Effective and well-defined working relationships within the
performing organization and with outside entities that will ensure
implementation of the proposed activities.
4. The specific aims of the research project, i.e., the broad long-
term objectives, the intended accomplishment of the specific research
proposal, and the hypothesis to be tested.
5. The background of the proposal, i.e., the basis for the present
proposal, regarding how the proposed research will further
understanding of, and the ability to apply, effective health
communication strategies and tactics.
6. The significance and originality from a scientific or technical
standpoint of the specific aims of the proposed research, including the
adequacy of the theoretical and conceptual framework for the research.
7. The adequacy of the proposed research design, approaches, and
methodology to carry out the research, including quality assurance
procedures, plan for data management, and statistical analysis plan.
8. The extent to which the research findings will increase
understanding of, and ability to apply, effective health communication
strategies and tactics.
9. The degree to which the research is consistent with health
communication research priorities as identified under the
``Programmatic Priorities'' section (section D) of this announcement.
10. The degree to which the evaluation plan will allow the
measurement of progress toward the achievement of the stated
objectives.
11. The degree to which the qualifications, adequacy, and
appropriateness of personnel to accomplish the proposed activities.
12. The degree to which commitment and cooperation of other
interested parties (as evidenced by letters detailing the nature and
extent of the involvement).
13. The degree to which adequacy of existing and proposed
facilities and resources.
14. The degree to which the reasonableness of the proposed budget
to the proposed research.
15. If Human Subjects are involved, does the applicant adequately
address the requirements of 45 CFR 46 for the protection of human
subject?
16. If Human Subjects are involved, has the applicant met the CDC
Policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and
racial groups in the proposed research. This includes:
a. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
b. The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
c. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to
measure differences when warranted.
d. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
A second review will be conducted by a panel of Senior Federal
Officials. The Senior Federal Officials will review the ranked
proposals to assure maximal impact and balance ofthe proposed research.
The factors to be considered will include:
a. The results of the peer review.
b. The extent to which the proposed research addresses health
communication research needs and priorities.
c. National needs.
d. Budgetary considerations.
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
1. Annual progress reports.
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period.
3. Final financial status report and performance report, no more
than 90 days after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: Sheryl L. Heard, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement
99107, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341.
For descriptions of the following Other Requirements, see
Attachment I in the application package:
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2000
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 1704 of the Public Health
Service Act, 42 U.S.C. section 300u-3, as amended. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.
J. Where to Obtain Additional Information
Please refer to announcement number 99107 when requesting
information and submitting applications. To receive additional written
information and to request an application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-
888-472-6874). You will be asked to leave your name and address and
will be instructed to identify the Announcement number of interest.
The application kit for 99107 can also be downloaded via the CDC
home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained
from: Sheryl L. Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management
Branch Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99107, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000,
Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone (770) 488-2723, Email address:
slh3@cdc.gov.
For program technical assistance, contact: Galen E. Cole, Ph.D.,
M.P.H., Division of Health Communication, Office of Communication,
Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Mail Stop D42, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, Phone: 404-639-
7275, Email: gxc9@cdc.gov.
Dated: April 7, 1999.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office Centers of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-9152 Filed 4-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
