[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31131-31133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15557]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement Number 639]
Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in Microbiology
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds to provide assistance for
developing and conducting a Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates
Program in Microbiology.
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 Immunization and
Infectious Diseases. (For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see
the section Where To Obtain Additional Information.)
Authority
This program is authorized under sections 301 [42 U.S.C. 241] and
317(k) [42 U.S.C. 247b(k)] of the Public Health Service Act, as
amended.
Smoke-Free Workplace
CDC encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free
workplace and to promote the non-use of all tobacco products. 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
Assistance will be provided only to public or nonprofit, private
scientific organizations. Eligible applicants must be national in
scope, devoted to scientific pursuits in all areas of microbiology that
relate to infectious diseases, including general, clinical, medical,
environmental, animal virology, molecular microbiology, immunology and
medical technology, and have experience in administering postdoctoral
training programs in medical microbiology and public health
microbiology which are designed to assist associates conducting
microbiologic research to solve medical and public health problems.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $800,000 is available in FY1996 to fund one award. It
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 1996,
and is made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up
to 5 years. Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made on
the basis of satisfactory progress and availability of funds.
Purpose
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to assist the
recipient in developing and conducting a Resident Postdoctoral Research
Associates Program in Microbiology. The program emphasizes microbiology
related to infectious disease prevention and control. Particular
emphasis is given to studies at the molecular level. Areas of
investigation may include: viral and rickettsial infections, nosocomial
infections, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, vector-borne infectious
diseases, respiratory and food-borne bacterial diseases, sexually
transmitted diseases, parasitic diseases, and other diseases or
conditions relevant to the disciplines of bacteriology, virology,
parasitology, medical entomology, mycology, immunology, and pathology.
The recipient must be able to provide support for postdoctoral
scientists of unusual ability and promise or proven achievement by
giving them an opportunity to conduct applied and operational research
on significant public health problems identified with these research
interests. Associateships should be for a two year period.
Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under A., below,
and CDC shall be responsible for conducting activities under B., below:
A. Recipient Activities
1. Develop and conduct a Resident Postdoctoral Research Associates
Program in Microbiology to support development of new approaches,
methodologies, and knowledge in infectious disease prevention and
control.
2. Identify specific research opportunities from descriptions
provided by CDC.
3. Establish program policies/procedures for application and
selection (e.g., establish applicant eligibility criteria).
4. Develop announcements/advertisements and an application package
describing the program, listing research opportunities, and providing
application instructions. Widely distribute the announcements and
application package with the objective of soliciting applications from
qualified individuals throughout the United
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States. Contribute to the racial and gender diversity of the program by
assuring a wide distribution of the materials among eligible women and
minority microbiologists.
5. Develop a competitive associate application review and approval
process. Based on the review process, select applicants to be awarded
two year associateships.
6. Provide administrative support to associates during their
tenure, including the payment of a stipend (consistent with PHS levels
identified in the application kit), enrollment in a health insurance
plan, and reimbursement of expenses for professional travel. Administer
the program such that associates will not be employees of either
recipient organization or CDC.
7. Establish associate publication/presentation policies which
encourage the dissemination of associate research results.
8. Develop a plan for monitoring and evaluating the progress of
associates and progress toward achieving goals of the program.
B. CDC Activities
1. Provide assistance in developing and conducting the Resident
Postdoctoral Research Associates Program in Microbiology.
2. Provide descriptions of microbiological research and areas of
investigation that are appropriate for potential associates.
3. Provide a list of potential scientific advisers for associates.
4. Assist in review of potential research proposals and provide
comments and/or suggested changes in the scope or method of the
research.
5. Review publications and presentations resulting from research
investigations conducted under the program.
6. Assist in the development of a plan for monitoring progress of
the program and achieving program goals.
Evaluation Criteria
The applications will be reviewed and evaluated based on the
following weighted criteria:
1. Background (10 Points)
The extent to which applicant demonstrates a clear understanding of
the background and objectives of this cooperative agreement program.
2. Capacity (55 Points Total)
a. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the
organization has a significant history of promoting the science of
microbiology as it relates to infectious diseases. The extent to which
the applicant demonstrates it has promoted the science of microbiology
by conducting regular national meetings and workshops devoted to
current topics. (10 points)
b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates experience in
microbiology education and training. The extent to which the applicant
demonstrates experience in conducting postdoctoral programs similar to
that proposed in this cooperative agreement announcement. (30 points)
c. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates it has adequate
resources and facilities (e.g., administrative and financial management
operations, office functions, etc.) to conduct the proposed program. (5
points)
d. The extent to which applicant documents (e.g., by curriculum
vitae) that all key personnel have adequate relevant experience to
successfully develop and conduct the proposed program. (10 points)
3. Operational Plan (35 Points Total)
a. Extent to which applicant presents a detailed and time-phased
operational plan for developing and conducting the program. The extent
to which the plan clearly and appropriately addresses all Recipient
Activities. Extent to which applicant clearly identifies specific
assigned responsibilities of all key professional personnel. The extent
to which applicant's plan appears feasible and likely to achieve
program objectives. (15 points)
b. The extent to which applicant clearly describes collaboration
with CDC that utilizes CDC's unique expertise in public health
infectious disease microbiology. (15 points)
c. The extent to which applicant describes in detail a plan for
evaluating progress of individual associates and for evaluating
progress toward achieving overall program objectives. (5 points)
4. Budget
The extent to which the proposed budget is reasonable, clearly
justifiable, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative
agreement funds. (not scored)
5. Human Subject
Whether or not exempt from the Department of Health and Human
Services (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, or (2) protections appear adequate, but
there are comments regarding the protocol, or (3) protections appear
inadequate and the Objective Review Group (ORG) has concerns related to
human subjects; (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. (not scored)
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 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283.
Application Submission and Deadline
The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB
Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron Orum, Grants Management
Officer, 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, Georgia 30305, on or
before August 5, 1996.
1. 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
submission to the objective review group. (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.)
2. Late Applications: Applications which 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 applicant.
Where To Obtain Additional Information
A complete program description, information on application
procedures, an application package business management technical
assistance may be obtained from Nealean K. Austin, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants
[[Page 31133]]
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, Georgia 30305; by telephone on (404) 842-6512;
by fax on (404) 842-6513; or by Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail
at nea1@opspgo1.em.cdc.gov>.
Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Joseph E.
McDade, Ph.D., Associate Director for Laboratory Science, National
Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30333; by telephone on (404) 639-
3967; by fax (404) 639-3039; by Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail
at jem3@cidod1.em.cdc.gov>.
Please refer to Announcement Number 639 when requesting information
regarding this program.
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.
There may be delays in mail delivery and difficulty in reaching the
CDC Atlanta offices during the 1996 Summer Olympics. Therefore, CDC
suggests using Internet, following all instructions in this
announcement and leaving messages on the contact person's voice mail
for more timely responses to any questions.
Dated: June 11, 1996.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-15557 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
