[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16468-16470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8331]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99062]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Safety and
Health Interventions in the Construction Industry; Notice of
Availability of Funds
A. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for Safety and Health Interventions in the Construction
Industry. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority
area of Occupational Safety and Health. The purpose of this cooperative
agreement is to develop, implement, and evaluate a national research
program in prevention intervention effectiveness research and
preventive service systems research in construction safety and health.
Many of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) priority areas
are relevant to the construction industry and should be considered when
responding to this Request for Assistance. These include, preventing
hearing loss, back disorders, asthma, and dermatitis and reducing or
eliminating traumatic injuries (caused by falls, electrocutions,
struck-bys or contact with materials/objects). In addition, there are
other high priority problems in construction that are not explicitly
included in NORA, such as silicosis and lead poisoning, that should be
addressed. The overall project will respond to problems that are
specific to different regions, different trades and different industry
sectors.
B. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit and
for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies; that
is, universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other
public and private nonprofit and for-profit 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 $4.125 million is available in FY 99 to fund one
award. It is expected that approximately $5.0 million will become
available for years 2-5. It is expected that the award will begin on or
about September 29, 1999, and will be made for a 4 year 9-month project
period with year one being 9 months and years 2-4 being 12 months.
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. Cooperative Activities
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under Recipient
Activities below, and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the activities
under CDC/NIOSH Activities below:
Recipient Activities
1. Innovative Pilots or Feasibility Studies
a. Create implement innovative pilot/feasibility project to reduce
injury/illness in construction.
b. Establish partnerships with small businesses and independent
contractors, unionized contractors to develop, implement and evaluate
pilot work looking at the health and safety needs of the entire
spectrum of the construction workforce.
2. Intervention Evaluation Research
a. Implement and evaluate intervention initiatives to reduce
construction-related injury/illness through partnerships. Incorporate
economic analysis into the evaluation process for intervention study.
b. Identify and utilize data to target at-risk groups. Develop
interventions aimed at improving best practices; develop detailed plans
for modifying best practices based on data. Identify existing or
develop new intervention initiatives designed to improve best practices
for specific industry sectors and operations within individual sectors.
Evaluate intervention initiatives for implementing and evaluating the
effectiveness of the intervention throughout the targeted industry
sector in future years.
c. Develop, implement, and evaluate employee/employer safety and
health approaches.
d. Develop study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of worker
training programs across multiple trades, on multiple issues of
concern, and on using different training modalities. Evaluate the state
of existing training programs and develop standardized safety and
health training for the industry. Evaluate the effectiveness of
training interventions using data collected.
3. Information and Technology Transfer
a. Develop, implement, and evaluate various aspects of the
information transfer process within the construction industry.
b. Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain an infrastructure
to be a central clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating health
and safety related information to the construction industry.
c. Develop studies to identify the various means that construction
firms use to obtain safety and health information.
4. Preventive Systems Research
Develop a research agenda which include (1) studies of policies and
procedures that facilitate or hinder the adoption and implementation of
effective best practices and interventions, and research on the
technology of effective dissemination; (2) studies of the effects of
age, gender, ethnicity, organizational, or sociocultural factors that
affect access to, or use of, available best practice preventive
interventions; and (3) studies of the costs associated with
implementing best practice preventive interventions and methods of
financing such interventions.
5. On-Going Surveillance
a. Identify pertinent databases and update and expand them where
possible.
6. Review Priorities
a. Develop a system to continuously review surveillance and
intervention outcome data to establish priorities for research under
this cooperative agreement.
b. Convene a national conference for the purpose of sharing
information, establishing priorities, and facilitating joint approaches
for developing construction industry interventions and to identify and
critique current ``best practices'' for specific construction trades
and industry sectors.
CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide technical assistance, through site visits and other
communication, in all phases of the development, implementation and
maintenance of the cooperative agreement.
2. Facilitate communication/coordination between recipients and
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other groups, organizations and agencies involved in construction
research and outreach.
E. Application Content
Use the information in the Cooperative Activities, 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. The narrative should be no more than 50 double-spaced pages. The
original and each copy of the application must be submitted unstapled
and unbound. All materials must be typewritten, double-spaced, with
unreduced type (font size 12 point) on 8\1/2\'' by 11'' paper, with at
least 1'' margins, headers, and footers, and printed on one side only.
Do not include any spiral or bound materials or pamphlets. Appendices
should have indexes and include (1) support letters (2) information on
key personnel (3) other supporting documentation.
F. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Your letter of intent should include the following information. The
letter of intent must be submitted on or before May 30, 1999, to:
Sheryl L. Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99062, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000,
Atlanta, Georgia 30341.
Application
Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are in the application kit. On or before June 30, 1999,
submit the application to: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement
99062, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 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
orderly processing. (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
Application which are complete and responsive will be reviewed and
evaluated by an Independent Special Emphasis Panel in accordance with
the following criteria.
1. Background and Need (20 points total)
a. The extent to which the applicant understands the purpose and
provides a comprehensive statement of the specific problems to be
addressed. (2 points)
b. The extent to which the applicant presents data justifying the
need for the overall program and it's components, and that
interventions are theoretically justified and supported with
epidemiologic, methodological, or behavioral research. (9 points)
c. The extent to which the interventions/pilot projects are
feasible and can be expected to produce the anticipated results. The
feasibility of adoption and sustainability of the intervention
acknowledging potential strengths and barriers to adoption and
sustainability in the industry, e.g. the impact of trends in
construction, support by partners and stakeholders, costs of
implementation, effects on production, and industry culture.
Identification of participant relationships (potential or actual) that
have and might have an interest in supporting and extending the
intervention beyond the current agreement. (9 points)
2. Goals and Objectives (20 points total)
a. The extent to which specific research questions and/or
hypotheses are described. The extent to which the applicant has
included goals which are relevant to reducing injuries, illnesses, and/
or hazard exposure among construction workers. (6 points)
b. The extent to which the applicant has included goals and
objectives that are specific, measurable, time-phased, and feasible to
accomplish, goals and objectives. (7 points)
c. The extent to which objectives include involving construction
workers, employers, unions, and other stakeholders in the planning,
implementation and evaluation of the projects proposed. (7 points)
3. Methods (25 points total)
a. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed
description of overall study design and research methods to be used for
the proposed research project, including the designation of
responsibility for activities undertaken. (10 points)
b. The extent to which the target population and setting in which
the interventions/pilot projects are to be implemented are clearly
described and shown to be adequate for achieving the desired
objectives. (9 points)
c. The extent to which it is demonstrated that the participation of
the target group will be sufficient to evaluate the interventions/pilot
projects in an unbiased fashion. (3 points)
d. The extent to which the applicant has met the CDC policy
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial
groups in the proposed research. This includes: (1) The proposed plan
for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority
populations for appropriate representation; (2) The proposed
justification when representation is limited or absent; (3) A statement
as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure
differences when warranted; (4) 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 will be documented. (3 points)
4. Staffing, Facilities and Resources (15 points total)
a. The extent to which organizational structure, job descriptions,
proposed staffing, staff qualifications and experience, identified
training needs or plan, and curricula vitea for both the proposed and
current staff indicate the applicant's ability to carry out the
objectives of the program. The extent to which the management staff and
their working partners are clearly described, appropriately assigned
and have pertinent skills and experiences, e.g. previous
accomplishments in agricultural safety and health interventions. Time
allocation of the professional staff to be assigned to this project. (8
points)
b. The extent to which concurrence with the applicant's plans by
all other involved parties is specific and documented, e.g. support for
proposed activities as well as commitment to participate from proposed
partners (e.g. letters of support and/or memoranda of understanding).
The extent to which the participants are clearly described and their
qualifications for their component of the proposed work are explicitly
stated. The extent to which the applicant provides proof of the
involvement of partners/stakeholders
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(e.g., academic researchers, non-profit organizations, unions and
employers) in the development of this proposal. (7 points)
5. Evaluation (20 points)
The extent to which the proposed evaluation system is detailed and
will document program process, effectiveness, impact, and outcome. The
extent to which an evaluation plan has been developed to determine both
the success of the pilot projects or interventions and to determine
their utility as a public health prevention strategy with broader
application. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates potential
data sources for evaluation purposes, and documents staff availability,
expertise, and capacity to perform the evaluation. The extent to which
a feasible plan for reporting evaluation results and using evaluation
information for programmatic decisions is included. The extent to which
the applicant describes strategies for broad-based dissemination of
information to the construction industry.
6. Budget and Justification (not scored)
The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed budget and
narrative justification consistent with stated objectives and planned
program activities.
7. Human Subjects Review (not scored)
If human subjects will be involved, the applicant must clearly
state how they will be protected (i.e., describe the review process
which will govern participation).
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
1. annual progress reports;
2. all final reports and project outputs, including published
reports will be prepared in WordPerfect 6.1 or higher in a form that
can be converted to HTML format for mounting on the Internet;
3. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period; and
4. final financial status and performance reports, no more than 90
days after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000,
Atlanta, GA 30341.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, 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
AR-20 Conference Support
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, [29 U.S.C. 669(a) and
671(e)(7)]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is
93.283.
J. Where to Obtain Additional Information
Please refer to Program Announcement 99062 when you request
information. 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.
See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, please contact: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement
99062, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone (770) 488-
2723, Email address SLH3@cdc.gov.
For program technical assistance, contact: Dr. Linda Goldenhar,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Surveillance,
Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, 4676 Columbia Parkway, R-21,
Cincinnati, OH 45226, Telephone (513) 841-4493, Fax (513) 841-4486, e-
mail: lyg9@cdc.gov.
Dated: March 30, 1999.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-8331 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P
