[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33082-33088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15886]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement Number 708]
Cooperative Agreement for State-Based Surveillance Activities--
Sentinel Event Notification Systems for Occupational Risk (SENSOR);
Notice of Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1997
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Nation's
Prevention Agency, announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 1997
funds for cooperative agreements with State and territorial departments
of health (or other State or territorial governmental agencies in
collaboration with a department of health) to establish and/or expand
surveillance for occupational diseases and injuries.
CDC is 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 the priority area of Occupational Safety and
Health. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the Section
Where to Obtain Additional Information.)
Authority
This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, as
amended, section 301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) and the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of 1970, section 20(a) and 22(29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 671).
The applicable program regulation is 42 CFR part 52.
Smoke-Free Workplace
CDC strongly encourages 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
Eligible applicants are the official State or territorial health
departments or other official State or territorial agencies or their
bona fide agents, with occupational safety and health jurisdiction.
Applicants other than the health department must apply in conjunction
with their State or territorial health department.
Applicants may apply for funding under one or both of the two
surveillance categories (SENSOR Experimentation and/or SENSOR Field-
Testing). Under each category, applicants may apply for funding for
single or multiple target conditions. We intend to support surveillance
for no more than four target conditions per State.
Note: Please review Funding Priorities for CDC/NIOSH's selection
of priority funding.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $2 million is available in FY 1997. It is expected
that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1997, and will be
made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to
three years for SENSOR Experimentation, and five years for SENSOR Field
Testing. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change.
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.
Approximately $200,000 per year in additional funding from the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is available to support follow-up
activities for SENSOR Field-Testing awards for the surveillance of
acute occupational pesticide illness case reports.
Distribution of funds among the two categories of activities as
described in the Background section is anticipated to be as follows:
A. Sensor Experimentation
Between $200,000 and $900,000 will be available for SENSOR
Experimentation. We intend to fund a minimum of two proposals in this
[[Page 33083]]
category. The average award will be $100,000 for each target condition.
Individual awards for each condition may range from $85,000 to
$115,000, depending on the number of conditions under surveillance, the
scope of the surveillance program, the size of the State, and the stage
of development of the current State program. CDC/NIOSH funding priority
is applicable. See ``Funding Priorities.''
B. SENSOR Field-Testing
Between $500,000 and $1,800,000 will be available for SENSOR Field-
Testing #1 and #2. A total of approximately 11 awards will be funded,
the final number of awards reflecting the minimums below and the
overall priority score ranking among all applications received under
both SENSOR Experimentation and Field-testing. These awards will be
made in two categories as follows:
1. Sensor Field-Testing #1--(Pesticide Surveillance) We intend to
fund up to six proposals for pesticide surveillance in this category.
Approximately $600,000 is available for funding. The average award will
be $100,000 for each target condition. Individual awards for each
condition may range from $85,000 to $115,000, depending on the number
of conditions under surveillance, the scope of the surveillance
program, the size of the State, and the stage of development of the
current State program. CDC/NIOSH funding priority is not applicable.
2. Sensor Field-Testing #2--We intend to fund a minimum of five
proposals in this category, including at least one award for work-
related burns, two for occupational asthma, and two for silicosis.
Between $500,000 and $1,200,000 is available to fund proposals. The
average award is expected to be $100,000; individual awards for each
condition may range from $85,000 to $115,000 for this category. CDC/
NIOSH funding priority is applicable. See ``Funding Priorities.''
C. Requests for Supplemental EPA Funds
Approximately $200,000 per year will be available for up to six
States successfully competing for SENSOR Field-Testing #1 (pesticide
surveillance) awards. Supplemental awards will be considered for each
of the six proposals for the surveillance of acute occupational
pesticide illness case reports, focusing on pesticide incidents
involving re-entry to pesticide treated areas, pesticide drift from
treated areas, pesticide drift from treated areas into adjacent or
nearby fields, and incidents associated with mixing, loading, and
application of pesticides. Individual awards may range from $30,000 to
$100,000. CDC/NIOSH funding priority is applicable. See ``Funding
Priorities.''
Use of Funds
Restrictions on Lobbying
Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use of HHS funds
for lobbying of Federal or State legislative bodies. Under the
provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352 (which has been in effect since December
23, 1989), recipients (and their subtier contractors) are prohibited
from using appropriated Federal funds (other than profits from a
Federal contract) for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in
connection with the award of a particular contract, grant, cooperative
agreement, or loan. This includes grants/cooperative agreements that,
in whole or in part, involve conferences for which Federal funds cannot
be used directly or indirectly to encourage participants to lobby or to
instruct participants on how to lobby.
In addition, the FY 1997 HHS Appropriations Act, which became
effective October 1, 1996, expressly prohibits the use of 1997
appropriated funds for indirect or ``grass roots'' lobbying efforts
that are designed to support or defeat legislation pending before State
legislatures. This new law, section 503 of Public Law 104-208, provides
as follows:
Sec. 503(a) No part of any appropriation contained in this Act
shall be used, other than for normal and recognized executive-
legislative relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, for
the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet,
publication, radio, television, or video presentation designed to
support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress, * * *
except in presentation to the Congress or any State legislative body
itself.
(b) No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be
used to pay the salary or expenses of any grant or contract
recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any
activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending
before the Congress or any State legislature.
Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997, as enacted by the Omnibus
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, Division A, Title I, section
101(e), Public Law 104-208 (September 30, 1996).
Background and Definitions
In 1987, NIOSH announced the availability of funds for a 5-year
program entitled SENSOR in State and territorial health departments.
The purpose of the 5-year program was to pilot case-based surveillance
and follow-back activities for selected occupational health conditions,
with the ultimate goal of preventing occupational disease and injury.
The original SENSOR model involved case ascertainment through
reporting by sentinel physicians. Cases were reported to a State health
department, which obtained additional information for each case,
analyzed the aggregate reports, and disseminated the analyzed data. The
health department, often in collaboration with other State agencies
(such as State departments of labor or State OSHA programs), conducted
prevention-oriented follow-up activities involving follow-back to the
reported case, co-workers of the reported case, and the workplace of
the reported case. Thus the prevention-oriented intervention primarily
involved a specific workplace. In addition, information on the
aggregate case reports and educational material concerning the target
condition were disseminated to the medical community.
During the period 1987-1992, 10 States received SENSOR funding for
experimental case-based occupational health and safety surveillance
activities. The target conditions have included elevated blood lead,
carpal tunnel syndrome, pesticide poisoning, occupational lung diseases
(silicosis, occupational asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis,
pneumoconiosis), and work-related burns.
In the course of SENSOR's past ten years, the original model has
evolved. Case ascertainment methods, other than or in addition to
physician reporting--such as reporting by hospitals and laboratories,
hospital discharge data, and death certificates--have been demonstrated
to be useful and feasible. Outreach and intervention strategies other
than, or in addition to intervention at a particular worksite--such as
hazard alerts, large-scale education efforts, and the use of hazard
surveillance to target groups of workplaces analogous to those
identified through cases--have been demonstrated to be feasible and
effective. It has become clear that no single follow-up or intervention
model for workplace prevention is appropriate for all target conditions
or for all State health departments.
The objective of the SENSOR cooperative agreements program is to
build upon the States' experience of the past 10 years by continued
support for two types of surveillance activities:
[[Page 33084]]
A. SENSOR Experimentation: The purpose of this experimentation
effort is to support the initial design of State-based surveillance
systems. Experimental programs may include target conditions and/or
surveillance methodologies not currently funded by SENSOR, as well as
current SENSOR experiments not deemed ready for inclusion in the field-
testing category. NIOSH currently supports nine developmental programs
for carbon monoxide poisoning, carpal tunnel syndrome, childhood
injuries, noise-induced hearing loss, amputations, cadmium
overexposure, pesticide health effects, occupational tuberculosis, and
dermatitis. Experimental programs should utilize case ascertainment
methods appropriate to the target condition, and as applicable should
link surveillance activities to an appropriate follow-up or
intervention activity. The ability of the experimental surveillance
program to yield representative or generalizable data useful for
estimating incidence or prevalence rates for the target condition is
but one factor that should be considered in the experimental design.
All follow-up or intervention activities should have the broad
objective of preventing occupational disease and injury. The
appropriate follow-up or intervention for any given experimental
program will depend on the target condition, the available personnel
and resources, and the unique characteristics of the State.
B. SENSOR Field-Testing: The purpose of this effort is to field-
test feasible and effective surveillance approaches subsequent to
development under SENSOR experimental programs. Surveillance strategies
currently ready for field-testing are:
1. Hospital reporting of work-related burns;
2. Surveillance of acute occupational pesticide illness;
3. Silicosis surveillance utilizing each of three sources of case
ascertainment: Physician reporting, hospital discharge data, and death
certificates. Workers' compensation records should also be utilized if
available; and
4. Physician reporting of occupational asthma.
Purpose
The underlying goal of SENSOR is the prevention of occupational
disease and injury. As one of the major CDC/NIOSH surveillance
programs, SENSOR promotes the more general goals for surveillance that
include:
A. Identifying new, or previously unrecognized occupational
diseases, injuries, and hazards;
B. Identifying ``sentinel'' diseases, injuries, or hazards, the
occurrence of which represent a failure of prevention;
C. Determining the magnitude and distribution of occupational
diseases, injuries, and hazards;
D. Tracking trends in the magnitude and distribution of
occupational diseases, injuries, and hazards;
E. Effectively targeting occupations, industries, and workplaces
for consultative services or inspections; and
F. Disseminating information to aid the public and government in
decision-making.
The specific objectives of these cooperative agreements are:
A. To support the development, implementation, and evaluation of
experimental State-based surveillance strategies utilizing current
SENSOR target conditions (see Experimental and Field Testing conditions
noted above) and/or new or as-yet-unevaluated methodologies (SENSOR
Experimentation);
B. To support the field-testing of State-based surveillance
strategies;
C. To support the implementation of occupational health
surveillance activities in as many States and territories as possible;
D. To encourage ongoing evaluation of NIOSH-supported State-based
surveillance activities;
E. To support the development and evaluation of information
dissemination and intervention strategies that result in the prevention
of occupational disease and injury;
F. To explore the utility of case-based surveillance systems in
providing estimates of incidence and/or prevalence rates of selected
occupational disorders;
G. To enhance the role of State and territorial health departments
in surveillance and prevention of occupationally-related morbidity and
mortality; and
H. To foster cooperation with NIOSH surveillance programs and
between and among State and territorial health departments and other
State governmental agencies with interest and expertise relevant to
occupational health surveillance, intervention, and prevention
activities; and
I. Support the EPA's evaluation of the Worker Protection Standard
through collaborative CDC/NIOSH and State efforts in developing
information from acute occupational pesticide illness investigations
and case reports.
Program Requirements
For both types of SENSOR surveillance activities, cooperative
agreement recipients will be responsible for the 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 in collaboration with NIOSH a surveillance plan for the
target occupationally-related condition(s) which includes:
a. Delineating a case definition for each target surveillance
condition;
b. Developing case ascertainment systems appropriate for the target
surveillance condition(s) and available resources. These may include:
(1) Direct physician, laboratory, or hospital reports of disease
and injury;
(2) Hospital discharge data;
(3) Death certificates;
(4) Workers' compensation data;
(5) State or Federal disability data;
(6) Poison control center reports;
(7) Other.
c. Gathering additional data as necessary to adequately
characterize the reported cases. Sources of this additional data may
include:
(1) Reporting physician, hospital, or laboratory;
(2) Reported individual or family member;
(3) Workplace of reported individual;
(4) Co-workers of reported individual;
(5) Other.
d. Establishing a case and data management system;
e. Developing case follow-up and intervention methods aimed toward
immediate and/or long-term prevention of the condition(s) under
surveillance, such as:
(1) Hazard alerts, or other publications with wide distribution to
relevant unions, trade organizations, media, public health agencies,
and other groups with responsibilities for or interest in occupational
safety and health;
(2) Educational efforts aimed toward physicians, other health care
professionals, individual or groups of workers, individual workplaces,
employer and trade organizations;
(3) Workplace walk-through visits, with recommendations regarding
hazard abatement;
(4) Screening of co-workers of affected individuals;
(5) Referral to regulatory agencies;
(6) Coordinating with NIOSH in conducting in-depth investigations
or development of control technology.
Research investigations, such as detailed case-control, cohort, or
cross-sectional medical studies, while important for prevention
efforts, should be funded through mechanisms other than the SENSOR
cooperative agreements.
[[Page 33085]]
f. Timely data analysis to ascertain trends and patterns of public
health importance and provide guidance for intervention efforts; and;
g. Developing means of dissemination of surveillance information
that will contribute to occupational disease and injury prevention.
This includes (but is not limited to) sharing material developed under
this cooperative agreement with other States through NIOSH and/or other
NIOSH surveillance partners, and preparation for publication of one
report per year for each target condition.
2. Ensure that surveillance protocols provide confidentiality and
job protection for reported individuals;
3. Provide information necessary for evaluating the usefulness and
efficacy of the surveillance and intervention efforts;
4. Develop a timetable for development and implementation of the
proposed surveillance activity; and
5. Periodically disseminate important or unusual case reports, and
generally promote the periodic summarization and analysis of SENSOR
reports;
6. In collaboration with NIOSH, work to standardize protocols, data
management systems, questionnaires, and other surveillance-related
material with other States conducting surveillance for the same target
condition.
7. Within States with large numbers of farm workers, particularly
those working on farms with row crops, fruits and vegetables, improve
the nation's understanding of the incidence of pesticide related
illness. Emphasis will be placed on those follow-up activities to case
reports, focusing on incidents involving re-entry to pesticide treated
areas, pesticide drift from treated areas into adjacent or nearby
fields, and incidents associated with the mixing, loading, and
application of pesticides.
B. CDC/NIOSH Activities
1. Provide guidance and technical assistance in all phases of
development, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of case
ascertainment, follow-up, and intervention activities;
2. Provide technical assistance in identifying the most appropriate
target surveillance conditions and the most effective surveillance
strategies;
3. Provide technical assistance for in-depth investigations and
development of control technology;
4. Provide periodic summaries and analyses of aggregate
surveillance data from SENSOR States;
5. Support or otherwise maintain a central clearinghouse of
surveillance-related materials for use by the States, and otherwise
partner with States to assure the effective use and dissemination of
State surveillance work products;
6. Facilitate communication and coordination among the States with
regard to data collection and analysis, information development and
dissemination, intervention strategies, and evaluation of surveillance
activities;
7. Convene an annual national meeting of SENSOR States, as well as
periodic meetings of States with similar target surveillance
conditions;
8. Provide editorial assistance in preparation of important or
unusual case reports for publication in the MMWR or other appropriate
publications.
Technical Reporting Requirements
Annual and periodic progress reports are required. Schedules for
the periodic reports, not more frequently than semi-annual, will be
established at the time of the award. An original and two copies of a
progress report and financial status report are required no later than
90 days after the end of each budget period. Final financial and
performance reports are required no later than 90 days after the end of
the project period. All reports are to be submitted to the Grants
Management Branch, CDC.
Semi-annual progress report should include:
A. A brief program description.
B. A listing of program goals and objectives accompanied by a
comparison of the actual accomplishments related to the goals and
objectives established for the period.
C. If established goals and objectives to be accomplished were
delayed, describe both the reason for the deviation and anticipated
corrective action or deletion of the activity from the project.
D. Other pertinent information, including the status of
completeness, timeliness and quality of data.
Application Content
Separate applications must be submitted for each of the two SENSOR
categories described above. Within each application, those applying for
more than one target condition should address each target condition
separately.
The entire application, including appendices, should not exceed 100
pages and the Proposal Narrative section contained therein should not
exceed 25 pages. Pages should be clearly numbered and a complete index
to the application and any appendices included. 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.
Completed budget forms should be placed at the beginning of the
application with the rest of the form 5161-1. The applicant should
provide a detailed budget, with accompanying justification of all
operating expenses, that is consistent with the stated objectives and
planned activities of the project. CDC may not approve or fund all
proposed activities. Applicants should be precise about the program
purpose of each budget item. For contracts described within the
application budget, applicants should name the contractor, if known,
describe the services to be performed; and provide an itemized
breakdown and justification for the estimated costs of the contract;
the kinds of organizations or parties to be selected; the period of
performance; and the method of selection. Place budget narrative pages
showing, in detail, how funds in each object class will be spent,
directly behind form 424A. Do not put these pages in the body of the
application.
The applicant should provide a detailed description of first-year
activities and briefly describe future-years objectives and activities.
A. Title Page
The heading should include the title of grant program, project
title, organization, name and address, project director's name, address
and telephone number.
B. Abstract
A one page, singled-spaced, typed abstract must be submitted with
the application. The heading should include the title of grant program,
project title, organization, name and address, project director and
telephone number. This abstract should include a work plan identifying
activities to be developed, activities to be completed, and a time-line
for completion of these activities.
C. Proposal Narrative
The narrative of each application must:
1. Briefly state the applicant's understanding of the need or
problem to be addressed and the goal of this cooperative agreement;
2. Document the applicant's ability to provide staff, knowledge,
and other
[[Page 33086]]
resources required to perform the responsibilities in this project, and
describe the approach to be used in carrying out those
responsibilities;
3. Describe clearly the objectives of the project, the steps to be
taken in planning and implementing this project, and the respective
responsibilities of the applicant and any other entities for carrying
out those steps;
4. Discuss how this project will contribute to the prevention of
occupational disease and injury;
5. Provide a proposed schedule and timeline for accomplishing each
of the activities to be carried out in this project, and a method for
evaluating the accomplishments;
6. Describe the names, qualifications, and time commitments of the
professional staff to be assigned to this project; the support staff
available for performance of this project; and the facilities, space,
and equipment available for performance of this project. This should
include a description of the organizational structure and a mission
statement;
7. Specify a proposed plan for administering this project, and
provide the name, qualifications, and time commitments of the Program
Director who will be responsible for its technical development and
overall management;
8. Provide a detailed budget which indicates: (1) Anticipated costs
for personnel, travel, communications, postage, equipment, supplies,
etc., and (2) all sources of funds to meet those needs. Funding for the
program director to attend one annual SENSOR meeting and one annual
meeting for each target condition at a NIOSH facility (in Cincinnati,
Ohio, or Morgantown, W. Virginia) should be included in the proposed
budget;
9. Copies of all pertinent regulations and/or legislation,
including physician, laboratory, or hospital reporting requirements;
10. For applicants seeking support for surveillance of acute
occupational pesticide illnesses, a separate part of the application
should be devoted to a proposal for supplemental funds to conduct
follow-up investigations or case studies on case reports, focusing on
incidents involving re-entry to pesticide treated areas, pesticide
drift from treated areas into adjacent or nearby fields, and incidents
associated with the mixing, loading, and application of pesticides.
Proposals will be rated according to the criteria noted under
Evaluation Criteria, Sensor Field-Testing, paragraph F, Scoring
Requests for Supplemental EPA Funds. A separate supplemental budget
should accompany the application. It should be understood that the
rating and ranking for support for surveillance of acute occupational
pesticide illness is independent of an application's competitiveness
for supplemental support;
11. Human Subjects: State whether or not humans are subjects in
this proposal. (See Human Subjects in the Evaluation Criteria and Other
Requirements sections.)
Evaluation Criteria
Each target condition within each application will be evaluated,
scored and ranked separately according to the following criteria:
SENSOR Experimentation (100 Total Points)
A. Technical Merit (65 Total Points)
1. Relevance of the proposal to the objectives outlined in the
Program Announcement (10 points);
2. Importance of the proposed surveillance activity in reducing the
risk of a specific occupational health or safety condition. Importance
should be discussed relative to the applicant's State and the nation.
Remarks should include reference to measures of the estimated magnitude
of the disease, injury, or condition subject to surveillance, as well
as a description of the potential population-at-risk (15 points);
3. Appropriate selection and/or design for the surveillance of the
target condition(s), case definitions, case identification methods,
data analysis and information dissemination, case follow-up, and
intervention activities (20 points);
4. Provision for maintaining confidentiality of individual case
reports and sensitivity to protecting the employment status of reported
cases (5 points);
5. Capacity to provide case reports, data, and other information
that promotes the goals of surveillance generally, and the evaluation
of this surveillance activity for inclusion under SENSOR Field Testing
(10 points);
6. Adequacy of the proposed schedule and personnel for
accomplishing the proposed activities (5 points).
B. Background, Experience, and Capability (25 Total Points)
1. Applicant's previous accomplishments in the design,
implementation, and evaluation of occupational health surveillance
activities, including SENSOR (10 points);
2. Training, experience, and competence of the proposed Project
Director and staff in the design, implementation, and evaluation of
occupational health surveillance activities (10 points);
3. Availability of sufficient support staff to carry out this
project (5 points).
C. State Commitment (10 Total Points)
The ability of the applicant to commit:
1. Additional funds (5 points); and/or
2. Staff time to the proposed program (5 points).
D. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
Whether or not exempt from the DHHS regulations, are procedures
adequate for the protection of human subjects? Recommendations on the
adequacy of protections include: (1) Protections appear adequate, and
there are no comments to make or concerns to raise, (2) protections
appear adequate, but there are comments regarding the protocol, (3)
protections appear inadequate and the Objective Review Group has
concerns related to human subjects; or (4) disapproval of the
application is recommended because the research risks are sufficiently
serious and protection against the risks are inadequate as to make the
entire application unacceptable.
E. 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 cooperative agreement funds. The application will
also be reviewed as to the adequacy of existing and proposed facilities
and resources for conducting project activities.
SENSOR Field-Testing (100 Total Points)
Applications for field-testing of surveillance strategies for work-
related burns, silicosis, acute occupational pesticide illness, and
occupational asthma will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
A. Technical Merit (65 Total Points)
1. Relevance of the proposal to the objectives outlined in the
Program Announcement (10 points);
2. Importance of field-testing the proposed surveillance activity
in the applicant's State. Importance should be discussed relative to
the applicant's State and the nation. Remarks should include reference
to measures of the estimated magnitude of the disease, injury, or
condition subject to surveillance, as well as a description of the
potential population-at-risk (10 points);
[[Page 33087]]
3. Appropriate use and/or adaptation of the SENSOR surveillance
guidelines for the selected target condition(s) (15 points). (To obtain
guidelines, see below under Where to Obtain Additional Information);
4. Provision for maintaining confidentiality of individual case
reports and sensitivity to protecting the employment status of reported
cases (5 points);
5. Capacity to provide case reports, data, and other information
that promotes the goals of surveillance generally, and the evaluation
of this surveillance activity for inclusion under SENSOR Field Testing
(10 points);
6. Feasibility of providing information needed for the evaluation
of this project (5 points);
7. Adequacy of the proposed schedule and personnel for
accomplishing the proposed activities (10 points).
B. Background, Experience, and Capability (25 Total Points)
1. Applicant's previous involvement in the design, implementation,
and evaluation of public health surveillance and epidemiology
activities (10 points);
2. Training, experience, and competence of the proposed project
director and staff in the design, implementation, and evaluation of
public health surveillance and epidemiology activities (10 points);
3. Availability of sufficient support staff to carry out this
project (5 points).
C. State Commitment (10 Total Points)
1. State agency commitment to development of occupational health
surveillance activities (5 points);
2. The willingness of the applicant to commit additional funds and/
or staff time (5 points).
D. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
Whether or not exempt from the DHHS regulations, are procedures
adequate for the protection of human subjects? Recommendations on the
adequacy of protections include: (1) Protections appear adequate, and
there are no comments to make or concerns to raise, (2) protections
appear adequate, but there are comments regarding the protocol, (3)
protections appear inadequate and the Objective Review Group has
concerns related to human subjects; or (4) disapproval of the
application is recommended because the research risks are sufficiently
serious and protection against the risks are inadequate as to make the
entire application unacceptable.
E. 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 cooperative agreement funds. The application will
also be reviewed as to the adequacy of existing and proposed facilities
and resources for conducting project activities.
F. Scoring Requests for Supplemental EPA Funds (100 Total Points)
Additional funding from the EPA is available to support follow-up
activities to case reports, focusing on pesticide incidents involving
re-entry to pesticide treated areas, pesticide drift from treated areas
into adjacent or nearby fields, and incidents associated with the
mixing, loading, and application of pesticides. Proposals seeking these
EPA supplemental funds will be scored as follows:
1. Description of the size of the farm worker population and the
seasonal nature of farm worker employment in the State (20 points).
2. Documentation on the outreach services used to interview these
workers (20 points).
3. Documented experience in reporting pesticide illness in farm
worker populations (20 points).
4. Documented experience in conducting investigations among farm
worker populations (20 points).
5. Documented State and local programs that enhance the likelihood
of a successful follow-up activity by this program (20 points).
Funding Priorities
SENSOR Experimentation
CDC/NIOSH intends to fund a minimum of two proposals in this
category. Of the two awards, at least one award will be made for the
surveillance of occupational dermatitis and one award for carpal tunnel
syndrome.
SENSOR Field-Testing #2
CDC/NIOSH intends to fund a minimum of five proposals in this
category. Of the five awards, at least one award will be made for work-
related burns, two for occupational asthma, and two for silicosis.
Supplemental EPA Funds for Sensor Field-Testing #1 (Pesticide
Surveillance)
CDC/NIOSH intends to fund up to six proposals for pesticide
surveillance. Funds have been earmarked for pesticide surveillance, and
the actual number of awards will reflect the funds available for this
effort between CDC/NIOSH and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Public comments are not being solicited regarding the funding
priority because time does not permit solicitation and review prior to
the funding date.
Executive Order 12372
Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372.
E.O. 12372 sets up a system for State and local government review
of proposed Federal assistance applications. Applicants (other than
federally recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact their
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 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 for each affected
State. A current list of SPOCs is included in the application kit. If
SPOCs have any State process recommendations on applications submitted
to CDC, they should forward them to Victoria Sepe, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30305, no later than 45 days after the
application deadline date. The Program Announcement Number 708 and
Program Title should be referenced on the document. The granting agency
does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' State process
recommendations it receives after that date.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.262.
Other Requirements
Paperwork Reduction Act
Projects that involve the collection of information from ten or
more individuals and funded by this cooperative agreement will be
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
[[Page 33088]]
Human Subjects
If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services
Regulations, 45 CFR part 46, regarding the protection of human
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate that the project
will be subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and
form provided in the application kit.
In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service
(IHS) institutional review committees also must review the project if
any component of IHS will be involved or will support the research. If
any American Indian community is involved, its tribal government must
also approve that portion of the project applicable to it.
Application Submission and Deadline
A. Preapplication Letter of Intent
Although not a prerequisite of application, a non-binding letter of
intent-to-apply is requested from potential applicants. The letter
should be submitted to the Grants Management Branch, CDC at the address
listed in this section. It should be postmarked no later than July 9,
1997. The letter should identify Program Announcement number 708, and
the name of principal investigator and specify the priority area to be
addressed by the proposed project. The letter of intent does not
influence review or funding decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan
the review more efficiently and will ensure that each applicant
receives timely and relevant information prior to application
submission.
B. Application
The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Victoria
Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 321, Atlanta, GA
30305, on or before August 5, 1997.
1. Deadline: Applications will 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
submission to the objective review group. (The applicants must request
a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a receipt from a
commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered
postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
2. Late Applicants: Applications that do not meet the criteria in
1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late
applications will not be considered in the current competition and will
be returned to the applicants.
Where To Obtain Additional Information
To receive additional written information call (404) 332-4561. You
will be asked to leave your name, address, and telephone number and
will need to refer to NIOSH Announcement 708. You will receive a
complete program description, information on application procedures,
and application forms. CDC will not send application kits by facsimile
or express mail. Please refer to NIOSH announcement number 708 when
requesting information and submitting an application.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained
from Victoria Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Mailstop E-13, Room 321, 255 East Paces Ferry Road,
NE., Atlanta, GA 30305, telephone (404) 842-6804, Internet:
vxw1@cdc.gov.
Programmatic technical assistance, including guidelines for SENSOR
field-testing target conditions, may be obtained from John P. Sestito,
J.D., M.S., Chief, Surveillance Branch, Division of Surveillance,
Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Mailstop R-41,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, telephone (513) 841-4303, Internet:
jps4@cdc.gov.
This and other CDC announcements are available through the CDC
homepage on the Internet. The address for the CDC homepage is http://
www.cdc.gov.
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.
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of the SENSOR surveillance
guidelines referenced in Sensor Field-Testing of the Evaluation
Criteria section from John P. Sestito, NIOSH, at telephone number (513)
841-4303.
Dated: June 11, 1997.
Diane D. Porter,
Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 97-15886 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-19-P
