96-10783. Public Health Conference Support Grant Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 19296-19299]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-10783]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic 
    Substances and Disease Registry
    [Announcement 703]
    
    
    Public Health Conference Support Grant Program
    
    Introduction
    
        The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency 
    for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) announce the 
    availability of funds in fiscal year (FY) 1997 for the Public Health 
    Conference Support Grant Program. CDC and ATSDR are committed to 
    achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of 
    ``Healthy People 2000,'' a national activity to reduce morbidity and 
    mortality and improve the quality of life. This announcement is related 
    to all of the Healthy People 2000 priority areas, except HIV Infection. 
    (An announcement for HIV entitled, ``Public Health Conference Support 
    Cooperative Agreement Program for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 
    Prevention'' will be published.) (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy 
    People 2000,'' see the Section ``Where To Obtain Additional 
    Information.'')
    
    Authority
    
        The CDC program is authorized under Section 301 [42 U.S.C. 241] and 
    Section 310 [42 U.S.C. 242n] of the Public Health Service Act. The 
    ATSDR program is authorized under Sections 104(i)(14) and (15) of the 
    Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
    (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, [42 U.S.C. 9604 (i)(14) and (15)].
    
    Smoke-Free Workplace
    
        CDC and ATSDR strongly encourage all grant recipients to provide a 
    smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products, 
    and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking 
    in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education, 
    library, day care, health care, and early childhood development 
    services are provided to children.
    
    Eligible Applicants
    
        CDC eligible applicants include public and private (e.g., 
    community-based, national and regional) organizations, nonprofit and 
    for-profit organizations and governments and their agencies. Thus, 
    universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public 
    and private organizations, State and local governments or their bona 
    fide agents, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian 
    tribes or Indian tribal organizations, and small, minority and/or 
    women-owned businesses are eligible for these grants.
        ATSDR eligible applicants are the official public health agencies 
    of the States, or their bona fide agents. This includes the District of 
    Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
    Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana 
    Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Island, the Republic of Palau, 
    and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. State 
    organizations, including State universities, State colleges, and State 
    research institutions, must establish that they meet their respective 
    State's legislature definition of a State entity or political 
    subdivision to be considered an eligible applicant.
    
    Availability of Funds
    
        Approximately $500,000 from CDC is expected to be available in FY 
    1997 to fund approximately 25-30 awards. The awards range from $1,000 
    to $30,000 with the average award being approximately $15,000. The 
    awards will be made for a 12-month budget and project period. The 
    funding estimates may vary and are subject to change, based on the 
    availability of funds. ATSDR expects to have approximately $50,000 
    available in FY 1997 to fund approximately 6 awards. It is expected 
    that the average award will be $8,000, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. 
    Applications requesting more than $10,000 will be given a lesser 
    priority and will be subject to the availability of funds. The awards 
    will be made for a 12-month budget and project period. Funding 
    estimates may vary and are subject to change.
    
    Use of Funds
    
         CDC and ATSDR funds may be used for direct cost 
    expenditures: salaries, speaker fees, rental of necessary equipment, 
    registration fees, and transportation costs (not to exceed economy 
    class fare) for non-Federal employees.
         CDC and ATSDR funds may NOT be used for the purchase of 
    equipment, payments of honoraria, alterations or renovations, 
    organizational dues, entertainment or personal expenses, cost of travel 
    and payment of a Federal employee, nor per diem or expenses other than 
    local mileage for local participants.
         CDC and ATSDR funds may NOT be used for reimbursement of 
    indirect costs.
         Although the practice of handing out novelty items at 
    meetings is often employed in the private sector to provide 
    participants with souvenirs, Federal funds CANNOT be used for this 
    purpose.
         CDC and ATSDR funds may be used for only those parts of 
    the conference specifically supported by CDC as documented in the grant 
    award.
         CDC and ATSDR will NOT fund 100% of any conference 
    proposed under this announcement.
    
    Purpose
    
        The purpose of the CDC and ATSDR conference support grants is to 
    provide PARTIAL support for specific non-Federal conferences in the 
    areas of health promotion and disease prevention information/education 
    programs, (EXCEPT HIV INFECTION.)
        CDC applications are being solicited for conferences on: (1) 
    Chronic disease prevention; (2) Infectious disease prevention; (3) 
    Control of injury or disease associated with environmental, home, and 
    work-place hazards; (4) Environmental health; (5) Occupational safety 
    and health; (6) Control of risk factors such as poor nutrition, 
    smoking, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and stress; (7) Health 
    education and promotion; (8) Laboratory practices; and (9) Efforts that 
    would strengthen the public health system.
        ATSDR applications are being solicited for conferences on: (1) 
    Health effects of hazardous substances in the environment; (2) Disease 
    and toxic substance exposure registries; (3) Hazardous substance 
    removal and
    
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    remediation; (4) Emergency response to toxic and environmental 
    disasters; (5) Risk communication; (6) Environmental disease 
    surveillance; and (7) Investigation and research on hazardous 
    substances in the environment.
        Because conference support by CDC and ATSDR creates the appearance 
    of CDC and ATSDR co-sponsorship, there will be active participation by 
    CDC and ATSDR in the development and approval of those portions of the 
    agenda supported by CDC and ATSDR funds. In addition, CDC and ATSDR 
    will reserve the right to approve or reject the content of the full 
    agenda, speaker selection, and site selection. CDC and ATSDR funds will 
    not be expended for non-approved portions of meetings. Contingency 
    awards will be made allowing usage of only 10% of the total amount to 
    be awarded until a final full agenda is approved by CDC and ATSDR. This 
    will provide funds for costs associated with preparation of the agenda. 
    The remainder of funds will be released only upon approval of the final 
    full agenda. CDC and ATSDR reserves the right to terminate co-
    sponsorship if it does not concur with the final agenda.
        Because CDC's and ATSDR's mission and programs relate to the 
    promotion of health and the prevention of disease, disability, and 
    premature death, only conferences focusing on such programmatic areas 
    will be considered. Those topics concerned with health-care and health-
    service issues and areas other than prevention should be directed to 
    other public health agencies.
    
    Recipient Requirements
    
        CDC and ATSDR grantees must meet the following requirements:
        A. Manage all activities related to program content (e.g., 
    objectives, topics, attendees, session design, workshops, special 
    exhibits, speakers, fees, agenda composition, and printing). Many of 
    these items may be developed in concert with assigned CDC and ATSDR 
    project personnel.
        B. Provide draft copies of the agenda and proposed ancillary 
    activities to CDC and ATSDR for approval. Submit copy of final agenda 
    and proposed ancillary activities to CDC and ATSDR for approval.
        C. Determine and manage all promotional activities (e.g., title, 
    logo, announcements, mailers, press, etc.). CDC and ATSDR must review 
    and approve any materials with reference to CDC and ATSDR involvement 
    or support.
        D. Manage all registration processes with participants, invitees, 
    and registrants (e.g., travel, reservations, correspondence, conference 
    materials and hand-outs, badges, registration procedures, etc.).
        E. Plan, negotiate, and manage conference site arrangements, 
    including all audio-visual needs.
        F. Participate in the analysis of data from conference activities 
    that pertain to the impact on prevention.
        G. ATSDR grantees must develop and conduct education and training 
    programs on prevention of health effects of hazardous substances.
        H. ATSDR grantees must collaborate with ATSDR staff in reporting 
    and disseminating results and relevant prevention education and 
    training information to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, 
    and the general public.
    
    Letter of Intent
    
        Potential applicants must submit an original and two copies of a 
    one-page typewritten Letter of Intent (LOI) that briefly describes the 
    title, location, purpose, and date of the proposed conference and the 
    intended audience (number and profession). The LOI must also include 
    the estimated total cost of the conference and the percentage of the 
    total cost (which must be less than 100%) being requested from CDC and 
    ATSDR.
        Requests for 100% funding will be considered non-responsive to this 
    program announcement and returned to applicant without review. Current 
    recipients of CDC and ATSDR funding must provide the award number and 
    title of the funded programs. No attachments, booklets, or other 
    documents accompanying the LOI will be considered. The one page 
    limitation must be observed or the letter of intent will be returned 
    without review.
        Letters of Intent will be reviewed by program staff for consistency 
    with CDC's and ATSDR's health promotion and disease prevention goals 
    and priorities and the purpose of this program.
        Following submission of a LOI, successful potential applicants will 
    receive written notification to submit an application for funding. 
    Applications may be accepted by CDC and ATSDR only after the LOI has 
    been received by CDC and ATSDR and written invitation from CDC and 
    ATSDR has been received by prospective applicant. An invitation to 
    submit a final application will be made on the basis of the proposed 
    conference's relationship to the CDC and ATSDR funding priorities and 
    on the availability of funds.
    
    Evaluation Criteria
    
        CDC applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
    following criteria (Total 100 Points):
    
    A. Proposed Program and Technical Approach (25 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on:
        1. The applicant's description of the proposed conference as it 
    relates to specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health 
    promotion and disease prevention information/education programs (except 
    HIV infection), including the public health need of the proposed 
    conference and the degree to which the conference can be expected to 
    influence public health practices. Evaluation will be based also on the 
    extent of the applicant's collaboration with other agencies serving the 
    intended audience, including local health and education agencies 
    concerned with health promotion and disease prevention.
        2. The applicant's description of conference objectives in terms of 
    quality and specificity and the feasibility of the conference based on 
    the operational plan.
        3. The quality of the proposed agenda in addressing the chosen non-
    HIV health and disease prevention/education topic.
    
    B. Applicant Capability (10 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the adequacy of applicant's resources 
    (additional sources of funding, organization's strengths, staff time, 
    proposed facilities, etc.) available for conducting conference 
    activities.
    
    C. The Qualification of Program Personnel (20 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the extent to which the application has 
    described:
        1. The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
    staff person, and his/her ability to devote adequate time and effort to 
    provide effective leadership.
        2. The competence of associate staff persons, discussion leaders, 
    speakers, and presenters to accomplish conference objectives.
        3. The degree to which the application demonstrates the knowledge 
    of nation-wide and education efforts currently underway which may 
    affect, and be affected by, the proposed conference.
    
    D. Conference Objectives (25 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on:
        1. The overall quality, reasonableness, feasibility, and logic of 
    the designed conference objectives, including the
    
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    overall work plan and timetable for accomplishment.
        2. The likelihood of accomplishing conference objectives as they 
    relate to disease prevention and health promotion goals, and the 
    feasibility of the project in terms of the operational plan.
    
    E. Evaluation Methods (20 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the extent to which evaluation 
    mechanisms for the conference will be able to adequately assess 
    increased knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the target attendees.
    
    F. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities (Not Scored)
    
        The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
    reasonableness, concise and clear justification, and consistency with 
    the intended use of grant funds. The application will also be reviewed 
    as to the adequacy of existing and proposed facilities and resources 
    for conducting conference activities.
        ATSDR applications for support of the types of conferences listed 
    in the Purpose section above will be reviewed and evaluated according 
    to the following criteria: (Total 100 Points):
    
    A. Proposed Program and Technical Approach (50 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the description of:
        1. The public health significance of the proposed conference 
    including the degree to which the conference can be expected to 
    influence the prevention of exposure and adverse human health effects 
    and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous 
    substances from waste sites, unplanned releases and other sources of 
    pollution present in the environment.
        2. The feasibility of the conference in terms of an operational 
    plan.
        3. Clearly stated conference objectives and the potential for 
    accomplishing those objectives.
        4. The method of evaluating the conference.
    
    B. The Qualification of Program Personnel (30 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the extent to which the proposal has 
    described:
        1. The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
    staff person, and his/her ability to devote adequate time and effort to 
    provide effective leadership.
        2. The competence of associate staff persons, discussion leaders, 
    speakers, and presenters to accomplish the proposed conference.
    
    C. Applicant Capability (20 Points)
    
        Evaluation will be based on the description of:
        1. The adequacy and commitment of institutional resources to 
    administer the program.
        2. The adequacy of the facilities to be used for the conference.
    
    D. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities (Not Scored)
    
        The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
    reasonableness, concise and clear justification, and consistency with 
    the intended use of grant funds. Applications requesting funds in 
    excess of $10,000 may not be fully funded, depending upon availability 
    of funds. The application will also be reviewed as to the adequacy of 
    existing and proposed facilities and resources for conducting 
    conference activities.
    
    Executive Order 12372 Review
    
        Applications are not subject to review as governed by Executive 
    Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
    
    Public Health System Reporting Requirements
    
        This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
    Requirements.
    
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
    
        The CDC Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283. 
    ATSDR's Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.161.
    
    Submission Requirements and Deadlines
    
    A. Letter of Intent (LOI)
    
        1. One original and two copies of the LOI must be postmarked by the 
    following deadline dates in order to be considered in the application 
    cycles. (Facsimiles are not acceptable.)
        2. Letter of Intent Due Dates:
         October 4, 1996.
         April 4, 1997.
    
    B. Application
    
        1. One original and two copies of the invited application must be 
    submitted on PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-0189) and must be 
    postmarked by the following deadline dates in order to be considered in 
    the application cycles.
        2. Application Due Dates:
         January 8, 1997.
         June 9, 1997.
        Following submission of a LOI, successful potential applicants will 
    receive a written notification to submit an application for funding. 
    Applications may be accepted by CDC and ATSDR only after the LOI has 
    been reviewed by CDC and ATSDR and written invitation from CDC and 
    ATSDR has been received by prospective applicant. An invitation to 
    submit an application does not constitute a commitment to fund the 
    applicant. Availability of funds may limit the number of Letters of 
    Intent, regardless of merit, that receive an invitation to submit an 
    application.
    
    C. Addresses for Submission of Letter of Intent and Invited Application
    
        One original and two copies of the Letters of Intent and invited 
    applications must be postmarked on or before the deadline date and 
    mailed to: Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Attention: 
    Karen Reeves, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry 
    Road, NE., Mailstop E-09, Atlanta, GA 30305.
    
    D. Deadline
    
        Letters of Intent and Applications shall be considered as meeting 
    the deadline if they are either:
        1. Received on or before the deadline date, or
        2. Postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time 
    for submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must 
    request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a 
    legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal 
    Service. Private metered postmarks will NOT be acceptable as proof of 
    timely mailing.)
    
    E. Late Applications
    
        Applications that do not meet the criteria in D.1. or D.2. above 
    are considered late applications and will be returned to the applicant 
    without review.
    
    Where To Obtain Additional Information
    
        To receive additional written information, call (404) 332-4561. You 
    will be asked to leave your name, address, telephone number and refer 
    to Announcement Number 703. You will receive a complete program 
    description and information on application procedures. The announcement 
    is also available through homepage on the Internet. The address for the 
    CDC homepage is http://www.cdc.gov. If after reviewing the contents of 
    all the documents, you require additional information, you may contact:
        For Business Management Assistance (Application Information): Karen
    
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    Reeves, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
    Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
    Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-
    09, Atlanta, GA 30305, Telephone (404) 842-6596.
        For Programmatic/Technical Assistance: Bruce Granoff, Resource 
    Analysis Specialist, Public Health Practice Program Office, Centers for 
    Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop 
    E-42, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone (404) 639-0425.
        Please refer to Announcement Number 703 when requesting information 
    and when submitting your Letter of Intent and application in response 
    to the announcement.
        Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' 
    (Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000'' 
    (Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in the 
    ``Introduction'' through the Superintendent of Documents, Government 
    Printing Office, Washington DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.
    
        Dated: April 25, 1996.
    Claire V. Broome,
    Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 
    Deputy Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
    (ATSDR).
    [FR Doc. 96-10783 Filed 4-30-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/01/1996
Department:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-10783
Pages:
19296-19299 (4 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Announcement 703
PDF File:
96-10783.pdf