[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 68 (Friday, April 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17392-17394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8821]
[[Page 17392]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99064]
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Research
on Young Worker Safety and Health Risks in Construction; 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 researching safety and health risks to young workers
associated with specific jobs or tasks in the construction industry.
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority area(s) of
Occupational Safety and Health. The purpose of the program is to
provide empirical data that can guide efforts to prevent deaths and
injuries of youth less than 18 years of age working in construction in
the United States, with a focus on data needed to determine if changes
are needed in existing regulations that prohibit youth less than 18
years of age from working in particularly hazardous activities (29 CFR
Part 570, Subpart E--Hazardous Orders).
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: Pub. L. 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 $550,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund
approximately three to five awards. It is expected that the average
award will be $145,000, ranging from $90,000 to $180,000. It is
expected that the awards will begin on or about September 1, 1999, and
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up
to three 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.
Funding Preferences
Funding preferences may be given to applications covering differing
types of construction work to obtain information on a wide spectrum of
construction activities and minimize duplicative efforts.
D. Cooperative Activities
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for activities under A. (Recipient
Activities), and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the activities
listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).
A. Recipient Activities
1. Develop and implement a study protocol.
2. Analyze data and interpret findings.
3. Disseminate study results to the occupational safety and health
community.
4. Publish study findings.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide scientific and technical collaboration in the
development of the study design, protocol, and data analysis.
2. Assist in the development of a research protocol for
Institutional Review Board (IRB) review by all cooperating institutions
participating in the research project. The CDC IRB will review and
approve the protocol initially and on at least an annual basis until
the research project is completed.
3. Assist awardees on data analysis, and interpretation of
findings.
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 30 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 28, 1999, to:
Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99064, 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
99064, 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
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Background and Need (20 points total)
The extent to which the applicant understands the general
objectives of the proposed agreement:
(a) describing available data on youth employment and occupational
injuries and hazardous exposures in construction work (5 points);
(b) identifying gaps in information on safety and health risks for
youth working in construction (5 points); and,
[[Page 17393]]
(c) illustrating how the research results could be used to guide
decisions about revisions to existing Hazardous Orders (work activities
prohibited for youth less than 18 years of age because they are
considered especially hazardous) and/or identifying new areas for
consideration as potential Hazardous Orders. 10 points
2. Study Design (20 points)
The extent to which specific research questions and/or hypotheses
are described. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed
description of overall design and methods selected for the study. The
extent to which the applicant describes the theory and rationale for
the study, and if relevant, how factors such as limited employment of
youth less than 18 years in specific occupations or tasks (e.g. because
of existing Hazardous Orders or Human Subject concerns) are factored
into the study design. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates
that the study population and/or setting can be generalized to other
work settings doing similar work.
3. Study Population and Methods (15 points total)
The extent to which the proposed study will meet study objectives.
Extent to which the applicant describes the study population, including
information on the ages and work experience of the study population.
The extent to which the study population and/or setting in which the
study or analyses are undertaken are adequate for achieving the desired
objectives. The extent to which the applicants demonstrate the ability
to address modifying factors that may vary across work sites, such as
characteristics of equipment, training and supervision, and job
experience of workers. (10 points)
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: (a) The proposed plan
for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority
populations for appropriate representation; including anticipated
levels of representation of these groups in the sampling plan; (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. (5 points)
4. Goals and Objectives (15 points)
The extent to which the applicant has included goals and objectives
that are specific, measurable, time-phased, feasible to be accomplished
during the project period, and which address all activities necessary
to accomplish the purpose of the application. The extent to which the
applicant clearly states the evaluation method for evaluating the
accomplishments. The extent to which a qualified plan is proposed that
will help achieve the goals stated in the application.
5. Staffing, Facilities and Resources (15 points)
The extent to which job descriptions, proposed staffing, staff
qualifications and experience, and curricula vitae for both the
proposed and current staff indicate the applicant's ability to carry
out the objectives of the program. Adequacy of the applicant's
facilities, equipment, and other resources available for performance of
the project.
6. Collaboration (15 points)
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 (e.g. letters
of support and/or memorandum of understanding). The extent to which the
partners are clearly described and their qualifications for their
component of the proposed work are explicitly stated. The extent to
which the applicants demonstrate access to work sites or datasets that
are critical to study completion.
7. Budget Justification (Not Scored)
The budget will be evaluated to the extent that it is reasonable,
clearly justified, and consistent with limited use of funds.
8. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
If human subjects will be involved, the extent to which the
applicant describes how will they be protected, i.e., describe the
review process which will govern their participation.
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Semiannual progress reports;
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period; and
3. 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,
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 (included
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 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
93.262.
J. Where to Obtain Additional 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.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained
from: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and
Grants Office, Announcement 99064, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30305-
2209, telephone (770) 488-2723, Email address SLH3@cdc.gov.
For program technical assistance, contact: Dawn N. Castillo,
M.P.H., Telephone: (304) 285-6012, Email: dnc0@cdc.gov, National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Safety Research, 1095
Willowdale Road, Mailstop P-180, Morgantown, WV 26505.
See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.
Special Hazard Review: Child Labor Research Needs: Recommendations
from the NIOSH Child Labor Working Team. Cincinnati, OH: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No.
[[Page 17394]]
97-143, 1997. 59 FR 26164. Department of Labor: Child Labor
Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation; Proposed Rules,
May 13, 1994.
Dated: April 2, 1999.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-8821 Filed 4-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P
