[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35245-35249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16356]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Discretionary Cooperative Agreements To Support Innovative
Programs To Increase Booster Seat and Seat Belt Use Among Children
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability--discretionary cooperative agreements.
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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement program to demonstrate
and evaluate innovative programs designed to increase booster seat use
among children, ages 4 to 8, who have outgrown their child safety seats
but do not fit into adult seat belts, and to increase seat belt use
among older children, ages 8 through 15.
DATES: Applications must be received at the office designated below
before 2:00 p.m. (EST), on August 30, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the DOT/National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement
(NAD-30), ATTN: Debra J. Crites, 400 7th Street S.W., Room 5301,
Washington, D.C., 20590. All applications submitted must include a
reference to NHTSA Cooperative Agreement Program Number DTNH22-99-H-
05138.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may
be directed to Debra J. Crites, Office of Contracts and Procurement at
(202) 366-9547, or by e-mail at dcrites@nhtsa.dot.gov. Programmatic
questions relating to this cooperative agreement program should be
directed to Lori A. Miller, Contracting Officer's Technical
Representative (COTR), Occupant Protection Division (NTS-12), NHTSA,
400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20590, by e-mail at
lmiller@nhtsa.dot.gov, or by phone at (202) 366-9835. Interested
applicants are advised that no separate application package exists
beyond the content of this announcement.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death to American children
of every age from 5 through15 years old. Restraint use and proper
restraint use decreases as children get older. While restraint use for
infants is 85 percent, restraint use for children ages 5 through 15
decreases to 64 percent. NHTSA's 1997 Fatal Analysis Reporting System
shows that 52.6 percent of fatally injured 4 through 7 year-old
passenger vehicle occupants were totally unrestrained and 65.7 percent
of fatally injured 8 through 15 year-olds were unrestrained.
Studies also reveal that of the 4 to 8 year-olds who are
restrained, most are in safety belts, not booster seats. In addition, a
NHTSA observational study showed that, of the children who had outgrown
their child seat, at about age 4 and 40 pounds, only 6 percent were in
booster seats. Because of their size, children do not fit properly into
adult seat belts until they are approximately eight years old and
between 60 and 80 pounds. Booster seats help prevent injuries by
helping to position lap and shoulder belts properly across the pelvis
and shoulder. Booster seats also may help make safety belts more
comfortable for children, decreasing the likelihood that children will
place the shoulder belt under their arm, put it behind their back, or
remove the safety belt altogether.
Despite targeted program and marketing efforts, many parents and
caregivers of 4 through 15 year-olds continue to let children ride
unrestrained or in inappropriate restraints or seating positions.
Research studies, focus group testing, and low usage rates suggest that
many parents, even those who have secured younger children in child
safety seats, do not know what a booster seat is. Therefore, parents
move their children, when they have outgrown their child safety seat,
into safety belts or leave them totally unrestrained. Many 8 to 12
year-olds continue to ride unrestrained and in the front seat, even in
airbag-equipped vehicles.
Low usage rates and lack of booster seat use may in part be
attributed to gaps in child passenger safety laws and seat belt laws
which often leave children ages 4 through 15 unprotected. Under most
states' provisions, a 10 year-old can ride legally in the back seat
unrestrained because laws only apply to front seat occupants. Many
states fail to address the issue of children as passengers in the cargo
area of pickup trucks. Other gaps, such as exemptions for out-of-state
vehicles and overcrowded vehicles (car pooling from school) and
exemptions if the driver is not the child's legal guardian, make it
even more difficult to reduce injuries.
Programs Addressing Older Child Passengers
The Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program, developed
by NHTSA in 1997, a program aimed at increasing booster seat and seat
belt use among children, is currently being delivered nationwide. This
technical training program provides child passenger safety
professionals essential information and skills necessary to educate the
public and to participate in child safety seat clinics. The program
includes hands-on installations and educational information regarding
all child restraints, including booster seats and seat belts. To date,
over 2,500 technicians across the country have been certified. New
classes are available on a regular basis.
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign, in partnership with NHTSA,
developed and implemented a grassroots program known as Give Kids a
Boost. This program offers educational information regarding booster
seats, and in some cases, issues booster seats to parents with age-
appropriate children. The delivery system was coordinated through
health clinics. When families visit the clinics to receive
immunizations and booster shots for their children, parents are
provided with the information or the booster seats necessary to protect
the children as passengers in a motor vehicle.
Programs addressing the older child passenger have been developed
by
[[Page 35246]]
national and local organizations across the country. For example, the
National Peer Helpers Association (NPHA) and the National Federation of
State High School Associations (NFHS), with assistance from NHTSA,
successfully piloted a cross-age mentoring program in four states.
Research has shown that peer education is a particularly effective tool
for communicating traffic safety messages to youth. In this
nontraditional program, high school student leaders send prevention
messages to junior high school and middle high school students, as well
as their own peers. The prevention messages include: avoiding alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs; not riding with a driver who has been drinking
alcohol, or using other drugs; and always wearing safety belts.
Many other new and innovative approaches exist to increase booster
seat use and seat belt use among children. To make an impact on the
occupant protection problem, it is necessary to identify both
innovative and effective strategies and make this information available
to those interested in increasing the use of and the proper use of
child restraints and/or seat belts.
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to support the
development, implementation, and evaluation of up to six (6) projects
designed to reduce injuries and fatalities among children ages 4 though
15, due to failure to use booster seats or seat belts. Projects may
include increasing booster seat use among children, ages 4 to 8, who
have outgrown their child safety seat but do not yet fit into an adult
seat belt, and/or innovative approaches to increase seat belt use among
older children, ages 8 through 15.
Specific objectives for this cooperative agreement program are as
follows:
1. Identify communities that demonstrate the potential for
successful implementation and evaluation of innovative approaches to
increase booster seat use among children, ages 4 to 8, who have
outgrown their child safety seat but do not yet fit into an adult seat
belt, and/or innovative approaches to increase seat belt use among
older children, ages 8 through 15.
2. Use community data to define the problem, as appropriate. These
data are to extend beyond police crash reports, to the extent possible.
3. Actively engage the community to define the problem and
potential solutions to the problem. The community may include, but
should not be limited to, parents, caregivers, children, law
enforcement officials, legislators, traffic safety officials, and
health care and injury prevention professionals. The grantee shall
develop strategies for ensuring community involvement in the process.
4. Implement a program to increase the use of booster seats among
children ages 4 to 8 and/or seat belts among children ages 8 through
15. The intervention should be creative, based on data and citizen
input, and comprehensive in nature. The intervention should be designed
to allow for easy implementation and replication.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The evaluation
plan should include process and outcome measures. The evaluation may
include, but should not be limited to, the following: what works, what
does not work, how to engage partners, methods of overcoming barriers
or challenges, and ways to turn challenges into opportunities.
NHTSA Involvement
NHTSA will be involved in all activities undertaken as part of the
cooperative agreement program and will:
1. Provide a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR)
to participate in the planning and management of the cooperative
agreement and to coordinate activities between the Grantee and NHTSA.
2. Provide information and technical assistance from government
sources within available resources and as determined appropriate by the
COTR.
3. Serve as a liaison between NHTSA Headquarters, Regional Offices,
and others (Federal, state and local) interested in increasing
restraint use and the activities of the grantee.
4. Review and provide comments on program content, materials, and
evaluation activities.
5. Stimulate the transfer of information among grant recipients and
others engaged in child and youth occupant protection activities.
Period of Support
Up to six (6) cooperative agreements will be awarded for an initial
project period of twelve (12) months. Contingent on the availability of
funds and satisfactory performance, each cooperative agreement may be
extended for an additional twelve (12) months. A total of approximately
$500,000 is available for all awarded cooperative agreements for up to
a two (2) year period. It is anticipated that individual award amounts,
based on demonstrated need, may range between $50,000 and $100,000.
Given the amount of funds available for this effort, applicants are
strongly encouraged to seek other funding opportunities to supplement
the Federal funds. Preference may be given to applicants with cost
sharing proposals. At the discretion of the government, funds may be
obligated fully at the time of award of the cooperative agreement or
incrementally over the period of the cooperative agreement.
Eligibility Requirements
Applications may be submitted by public and private, nonprofit and
not-for-profit organizations, and governments and their agencies or a
consortium of the above. Thus, universities, colleges, research
institutions, hospitals, other public and private (non- or not-for-
profit) organizations, and State and local governments are eligible to
apply. Interested applicants are advised that no fee or profit will be
allowed under this cooperative agreement program. Preference may be
given to applicants that have proposed cost-sharing strategies and/or
other proposed funding sources in addition to those in this
announcement.
Application Procedure
Each applicant must submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of
the application package to: NHTSA, Office of Contracts and Procurement
(NAD-30), ATTN: Debra J. Crites, 400 7th Street S.W., Room 5301,
Washington, D.C. 20590. Applications must include a completed
Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424--Revised 4/88).
An additional three (3) copies will facilitate the review process, but
are not required.
Only complete packages postmarked on or before 2:00 p.m. (EST) on
August 30, 1999, will be considered. No facsimile transmissions will be
accepted. Applications must be typed on one side of the page only and a
reference to NHTSA Cooperative Agreement Number DTNH22-99-H-05138 must
be included. Unnecessarily elaborate applications beyond what is
sufficient to present a complete and effective response to this
invitation are not desired. Please direct questions regarding the
application process to Debra J. Crites, at (202) 366-9547, or by e-mail
dcrites@nhtsa.dot.gov. Programmatic questions should be directed to
Lori A. Miller, by e-mail at lmiller@nhtsa.dot.gov or by phone at (202)
366-9835.
[[Page 35247]]
Application Contents
1. The application package must be submitted with OMB Standard Form
424, (REV. 4-88, including 424A and 424B), Application for Federal
Assistance, with the required information filled in and the assurances
signed (SF 424B). The OMB Standard Forms (SF) 424, SF 424 A, and SF 424
B may be downloaded directly from the OMB Internet web site
www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OMB/grants/. While the Form 424-A deals with
budget information, and Section B identifies Budget Categories, the
available space does not permit a level of detail which is sufficient
to provide for a meaningful evaluation of the proposed total costs. A
supplemental sheet shall be provided which presents a detailed
breakdown of the proposed costs (detail labor, including labor
categories, level of effort, and rate; direct materials, including
itemized equipment; travel and transportation, including projected
trips and number of people traveling; subcontractors/subgrants, with
similar detail, if known; and overhead), as well as any costs the
applicant proposes to contribute or obtain from other sources in
support of the projects in the innovative project plan. The estimated
budget should be separated and proposed on the basis of a twelve (12)
month effort with submission of a second twelve (12) month effort to
cover the possible continuation for an additional year.
2. Funding sources other than the funds being provided through this
cooperative agreement are encouraged. Since activities may be performed
with a variety of financial resources, applicants need to fully
identify all project costs and their funding sources in the proposed
budget. The proposed budget must identify all funding sources in
sufficient detail to demonstrate that the overall objectives of the
project will be met.
3. Program Narrative Statement: In no more than 20 pages, the
program narrative statement must fully describe the scope of the
project, detailing the activities and costs for which funding is being
requested. Also, applications for this program must include the
following information in the program narrative statement:
a. A table of contents including page number references.
b. A description of the community in which the grantee proposes to
implement a program to increase booster seat use among children ages 4
to 8 and/or to increase seat belt use for children in the age group 8
through 15. For the purpose of this program, a community includes a
city, town or county, small metropolitan area or a group of cities,
towns or counties in a particular region. It should be large enough so
that the program can have a demonstrable effect on booster seat and/or
seat belt usage among the applicable age group. The description of the
community should include, at a minimum, community demographics
including population of children and youth, the community's child and/
or youth restraint use problem, data sources available, existing
traffic safety programs, occupant protection programs and community
resources.
c. A description of the program's goals and how the grantee plans
to establish a booster seat and/or youth occupant protection program in
the proposed site. How will the grantee solicit the assistance of and
seek partnerships with local organizations, such as law enforcement
agencies and other safety and health groups? How will children, parents
and/or youth become part of the process of problem identification and
proposed solutions?
d. An implementation plan including a description of the
interventions or specific activities proposed to achieve the objectives
of the program. What actions will be undertaken to increase booster
seat use and/or seat belt use? How will parents, children, youth,
teachers, etc., be involved with these activities? What groups are
needed to ensure program success? To what degree has the buy-in of
these groups been secured? How will the interventions be delivered? How
will delivery be monitored? What are the expected results of the
intervention?
e. A description of the process and outcome evaluation plan
including the types of data that will be collected and all data
collection procedures. A description of the data analysis procedures
that will be conducted should be included.
f. A staffing plan that describes how the project will be managed,
both at the grantee-level and at the community level. The application
shall identify the proposed project manager and other personnel
considered critical to the successful accomplishment of this project,
including a brief description of their qualifications and respective
organizational responsibilities. The roles and responsibilities of the
grantee, the community and any others included in the application
package shall be specified. The proposed level of effort in performing
the various activities shall also be identified.
g. A detailed explanation of time schedules, milestones, and
product deliverables, including quarterly reports and draft and final
reports. (See Terms and Conditions of Award section of this
announcement.)
4. Commitment and Support: A complete set of letters (form letters
are not acceptable) from major partners, organizations, and groups
proposed for involvement with this project shall detail what each
partner is willing to do over the course of the project period. A
written endorsement/support for the project from the State Highway
Safety Agency shall also be included.
Evaluation Criteria and Review Process
1. Each application package will be reviewed initially to confirm
that the applicant is an eligible recipient, and has complied with the
Application Procedures section of this announcement. Each complete
application from an eligible recipient will then be evaluated by an
Evaluation Committee. The applications will be evaluated using the
following criteria:
a. Program Concept and Innovation (30 percent).
The extent to which the applicant is knowledgeable about child
passenger safety and/or youth occupant protection programs. The extent
to which the applicant clearly identifies and explains creative
approaches to address booster seat use and/or youth occupant
protection. If building on an existing approach or program, what are
the innovative, new, or creative features that make this project
different from what has been tried in the past?
Has the applicant identified potential barriers associated with
developing and implementing the new, creative approach? Has the
applicant offered solutions for addressing the barriers? Has the
applicant involved child and/or youth organizations, traditional
traffic safety partners, and new non-traditional highway safety
partners in the project? Has the applicant involved media outreach
efforts? Has the applicant demonstrated how the project is adaptable to
other jurisdictions at a reasonable cost? Has the applicant obtained
written endorsement/support from the State Highway Safety Agency to
insure coordination with the State's overall Highway Safety Plan?
b. Goals, Objectives, and Work Plan (30 percent).
The extent to which the applicant's goals are clearly articulated
and the objectives are time-phased, specific, action-oriented,
measurable, and achievable. The extent to which the work plan will
achieve an outcome-oriented result that will increase booster seat use
among 4 to 8 year-olds and/or seat belt use among the 8 through 15 year
old age group. The work plan must
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address what the applicant proposes to develop and implement; how this
will be accomplished; and must include the major tasks/milestones
necessary to complete the project. This involves identification of, and
solutions to, potential technical problems and critical issues related
to successful completion of the project. This also involves the extent
to which the applicant has demonstrated an understanding of the
proposed community, including the community's demographics, traffic
safety problem, and resources (including data). Data sources must
include local data sets and should (to the degree possible) extend
beyond police crash reports to include booster seat and seat belt use,
non-use, and injury data. The work plan will be evaluated with respect
to its feasibility, realism, and ability to achieve desired outcomes.
c. Project Management and Staffing (20 percent).
The extent to which the proposed staff are clearly described,
appropriately assigned, and have adequate skills and experience. The
extent to which the applicant has the capacity and facilities to
design, implement, and evaluate the proposed project. The extent to
which the applicant has provided details regarding the level of effort
and allocation of time for each staff position. The applicant must
furnish an organizational chart and resume of each proposed staff
member. Is the applicant's staffing plan reasonable for accomplishing
the objectives of the project within the time frame set forth in the
announcement? Has the applicant's financial budget provided sufficient
detail to allow NHTSA to determine that the estimated costs are
reasonable and necessary to perform the proposed effort? Has financial
or in-kind commitment of resources by the applicant's organization or
other supporting organizations to support the project been clearly
identified?
d. Evaluation Plan (20 percent).
The extent to which the evaluation plan clearly articulates the
project's potential to make a significant impact on increasing booster
seat use among 4 to 8 year-olds and/or seat belt use among older
children, and on decreasing motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. The
extent to which the evaluation plan will measure the effectiveness of
the innovative, creative project. The extent to which the evaluation
plan will synthesize, summarize, and report results which are useable
and decision-oriented. Has the applicant described the proposed
evaluation design and the methods for measuring the outcomes of the
proposed interventions (countermeasures)? Are there sufficient data
sources and is access ensured from appropriate owners or collectors of
data to collect and appropriately analyze quantitative and qualitative
data to measure the effectiveness of the innovative project?
2. Depending upon the results of the evaluation process, NHTSA may
suggest revisions to applications as a condition of further
consideration to ensure the most efficient and effective performance
consistent with the objectives of increased booster seat use, and
increased seat belt use among older children.
Special Award Selection Factors
While not a requirement of this announcement, applicants are
strongly urged to seek funds from other Federal, state, local, and
private sources to augment those available under this announcement. For
those applications that are evaluated as meritorious for consideration
for award, preference may be given to those that have proposed cost-
sharing strategies and/or other proposed funding sources in addition to
those in this announcement.
Terms and Conditions of Award
1. Prior to award, each grantee must comply with the certification
requirements of 49 CFR part 20, Department of Transportation New
Restrictions on Lobbying, and 49 CFR part 29, Department of
Transportation government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement) and Government-wide Requirement for Drug Free Work Place
(Grants).
2. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables:
a. Quarterly Progress Reports must include a summary of the
previous quarter's activities and accomplishments, as well as the
proposed activities for the upcoming quarter. Any decisions and actions
required in the upcoming quarter shall be included in the report. Any
problems and issues that may arise and need the attention of the
Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) or Contracting
Officer (CO) shall be clearly identified in the quarterly report in a
specific, identified section. The grantee shall supply the progress
report to the COTR every ninety (90) days, following date of award.
b. Initial and Subsequent Meetings with COTR: The grantee shall
meet with the COTR and appropriate NHTSA staff in Washington, D.C. at
NHTSA's offices or as part of a COTR site visit to discuss and refine
the development, implementation, and evaluation of the project. The
grantee will prepare a 20 to 30 minute presentation describing the
project and must be prepared to answer questions from the COTR and
others present at the briefing. After this initial meeting with the
COTR, the grantee shall meet at least once a year with the COTR in
Washington, D.C. at NHTSA's offices to discuss the project's progress
and results. These meetings will be a minimum of 4 hours in length.
c. Revised Implementation and Evaluation Plan: The grantee will
submit a revised program implementation and evaluation plan
incorporating verbal and written comments from the COTR. This revised
plan is due no more than one (1) month from date of the initial meeting
with the COTR.
d. Draft Final Report: The grantee will prepare a Draft Final
Report that includes a description of the innovative project,
intervention strategies, program implementation, evaluation
methodology, and findings from the program evaluation. With regard to
technology transfer, it is important to know what worked and what did
not work, under what circumstances, and what can be done to enhance
replication in similar communities and what can be done to avoid
potential problems for future replication of the project. The grantee
will submit Draft Final Report to the COTR 60 days prior to the end of
the performance period. The COTR will review the draft report and
provide comments to the grantee within 30 days of receipt of the
document.
e. Final Report: The grantee will revise the Draft Final Report to
reflect the COTR's comments. The revised final report will be delivered
to the COTR along with the following:
The print materials shall be provided to NHTSA in both camera ready
and appropriate media formats (disk, CD-rom) with graphics and printing
specifications to guide NHTSA's printing office and any outside
organization implementing the program. Printing Specifications follow:
Digital artwork for printing shall be provided to NHTSA on
diskette (100MG Zip disk or 1GB Jaz disk). Files should be in current
desktop design and publication programs, for example, Adobe
Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Macromedia Freehand,
QuarkXPress. The grantee shall provide all supporting files and fonts
(both screen and printers) needed for successful output, black and
white laser separations of all pages, disk directory(s) with printing
specifications provided to the Government Printing Office (GPO) on GPO
Form 952 to guide NHTSA's printing office, GPO, and any outside
organizations assisting with
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program production. The grantee shall confer with the COTR to verify
all media format and language.
Additionally, the program materials shall be submitted in
the following format for placement on NHTSA's website on the world wide
web;
--Cooperative agreement number
--Original application format, for example, *pm5; *.doc; *.ppt; etc
--HTML level 3.2 or later
--A PDF file for viewing with Adobe Acrobat
All HTML deliverables must be delivered on either a standard 3.5''
floppy disk or on a Windows 95 compatible formatted Iomega zip disk and
labeled with the following information:
--Cooperative Agreement Number
--Grantee's name and phone number
--Names of relevant files
--Application program and version used to create the file(s).
If the files exceed the capacity of a high density floppy, a
Windows 95 compatible formatted Iomega zip disk is acceptable.
Graphics must be saved in Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) or Joint
Photographic Expert Group (JPEG). Graphics should be prepared in the
smallest size possible, without reducing the usefulness or the
readability of the figure on the screen. Use GIF for solid color or
black and white images, such as bar charts, maps, or diagrams. Use JPEG
(highest resolution and lowest compression) for photographic images
having a wider range of color or grey-scale tones. When in doubt, try
both formats and use the one that gives the best image quality for the
smallest file size. Graphic files can be embedded in the body of the
text or linked form the body text in their own files: the latter is
preferable when a figure needs to be viewed full screen (640 X 480
pixels) to be readable.
Tabular data must be displayed in HTML table format.
List data must be displayed in HTML list format.
Pre-formatted text is not acceptable.
Currently, frames are not acceptable.
JAVA, if used, must not affect the readability or usefulness of the
document, only enhance it.
Table background colors may be used, but must not be relied upon
(for example, a white document background with a table with colored
background may look nice with white text, but the colored background
doesn't show up on the user's browser the text shall be white against
white and unreadable.)
All HTML documents must be saved in PC format and tested on a PC
before delivery.
f. Final project briefing to NHTSA and a presentation to a national
meeting: The grantee will deliver a briefing in Washington, D.C. at
NHTSA's offices to the COTR and appropriate NHTSA staff to review the
project implementation, evaluation, and results. This presentation
shall last no less than 30 minutes and the grantee shall be prepared to
answer questions from the briefing's attendees.
In consultation with the COTR, the grantee will select a national
meeting to deliver a presentation of the project and it effectiveness.
g. An electronic Microsoft PowerPoint (97) presentation that NHTSA
staff shall be able to use to brief senior staff or traffic safety
partners at various meetings and conference.
3. During the effective performance period of the cooperative
agreements awarded as a result of this announcement, the agreement as
applicable to the grantee, shall be subject to the NHTSA's General
Provisions for Assistance Agreement, dated July 1995.
Issued on: June 22, 1999.
R.E. Engle,
Acting Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-16356 Filed 6-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
