[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36382-36384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17528]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 661]
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Programs
Introduction
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for a cooperative agreement
program to provide assistance to official public health agencies to
expand and strengthen existing maternal and child health (MCH) programs
in epidemiology and surveillance capacity building. All States have
epidemiologic skills or activities; however, many lack MCH specific
analytical capability.
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 Maternal and Infant
Health. (For ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000,'' see the
section ``Where to Obtain Additional Information.'')
Authority
This program is authorized under section 317(a) [42 U.S.C. 247b(a)]
of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are the official public health agencies of
States and their bona fide agents. This includes the District of
Columbia, New York City, 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 Islands, the
Republic of Palau, and federally recognized American Indian tribal
governments.
Availability of Funds
Approximately $900,000 is available in FY 1996 to fund
approximately 10 awards. It is expected that the average award will be
$75,000, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000. It is expected that the
awards will begin on or about September 27, 1996, 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 the project period will be made on the
basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.
If requested, Federal personnel may be assigned to a project in
lieu of a portion of the financial assistance.
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for State
and local health departments to: (1) use epidemiologic and surveillance
data to address health problems affecting women, infants, and children;
and (2) build their maternal and child health epidemiology skills to
conduct surveillance, research, analysis, interpretation, and
translation using their own resources.
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Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A.
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities
listed under B. (CDC Activities).
A. Recipient Activities:
1. Using the ``Healthy People 2000'' objectives as a guide, develop
measurable pregnancy and infant health objectives appropriate for the
State.
2. Identify existing MCH activities in the State carried out by
Federal, State, academic, and private organizations; develop procedures
for collaborating with these organizations.
3. Identify populations at risks for poor pregnancy outcomes.
4. Conduct analysis of MCH data and use information to direct
program activities and evaluate the effectiveness of new and existing
interventions in achieving established objectives. If needed data is
not available, conduct research/surveillance to collect needed data.
5. Attend CDC-sponsored annual MCH Epidemiology Workshop.
B. CDC Activities:
1. Collaborate with the recipient agency in the operational
development of various programs.
2. Assist recipients in defining training needs and methods, and
identifying the resources necessary for training personnel.
3. Assist recipient agency in training their staff in epidemiologic
analytic techniques.
4. Participate with recipient agencies in workshops to exchange
findings among States.
5. Participate with States in identifying and designing data
collection methods for information that is vital to programmatic
decision making and evaluation.
6. Provide information and advice regarding strategies,
interventions, and approaches and coordinate collaboration between
recipients and CDC staff.
7. Participate in the design and implementation of surveillance
systems and other epidemiologic research. This includes collaboration
in the development of protocols for special studies.
8. Participate in analysis and interpretation of existing data.
9. Provide technical support in vital record linkage.
10. Participate with each recipient in evaluating the achievement
of stated MCH outcome objectives.
11. Assist recipients in the evaluation of their maternal and child
health epidemiology program (MCHEP) activities.
Evaluation Criteria (Total 100 Points)
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
A. Background and Need (30 Points).
1. Background: Extent to which the scope and severity of the
problem in relation to the ``Healthy People 2000'' objectives are
described; and evidence that potential benefits of improving MCH
epidemiologic expertise are understood.
2. Need: The extent to which the applicant needs support in
reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
B. Surveillance and Risk Factor Identification (20 Points).
1. The quality of proposed surveillance and data collection
activities, and the process for the application data collection
findings for program planning and evaluation.
2. Evidence of commitment of State resources to support proposed
MCHEP activity as demonstrated by the appropriateness of committed
resources and the extent to which existing resources are directed
toward data collection, analysis, program planning, and evaluation
activities.
C. Plan of Operation (40 Points).
1. The quality and feasibility of plans to develop and implement
the proposed recipient activities.
2. The feasibility of plans to meet staffing needs by hiring,
training, or reassigning existing staff, the appropriateness of
proposed organizational structure, and the appropriateness of the
background and experience of the individuals responsible for carrying
out proposed program activities.
3. The extent, nature, and appropriateness of collaborative
relationships.
4. Appropriateness, quality, and feasibility of the plan and
timetable for MCH capacity building.
D. Timetable (10 Points).
Extent to which timetable incorporates major MCHEP activities and
milestones and is specific, measurable, and realistic.
E. Budget (Not Scored).
Extent to which budget appears reasonable to accomplish objectives
as proposed.
F. 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 there are 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.
Funding Priorities
Priority consideration may be given to applicants with communities
that have the highest infant mortality and lowest birthweight rates.
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 Review
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 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 send them to Sharron P. Orum, Grants Management Officer,
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 30 days after the application deadline
date (the appropriation for this financial assistance program was
received late in the fiscal year and would not allow for an application
receipt date which would accommodate the 60-day State recommendation
process period). The Program Announcement Number 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.
[[Page 36384]]
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.
Other Requirements
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.
Paperwork Reduction Act
Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more
individuals and funded by the cooperative agreement will be subject to
review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork
Reduction Act.
Women, Racial, and Ethnic Minorities
It is the policy of the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR) to ensure that individuals of both sexes and
the various racial and ethnic groups will be included in CDC/ATSDR-
supported research projects involving human subjects, whenever feasible
and appropriate. Racial and ethnic groups are those defined in OMB
Directive No. 15 and include American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian,
Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic. Applicants shall ensure that
women, racial and ethnic minority populations are appropriately
represented in applications for research involving human subjects.
Where clear and compelling rationale exist that inclusion is
inappropriate or not feasible, this situation must be explained as part
of the application. In conducting review for scientific merit, review
groups will evaluate proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and
both sexes as part of the scientific assessment of scoring.
This policy does not apply to research studies when the
investigator cannot control the race, ethnicity and/or sex of subjects.
Further guidance to this policy is contained in the Federal Register,
Vol. 60, No. 179, pages 47947-47951, Friday, September 15, 1995.
Application Submission and Deadline
The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron P.
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 314, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, GA
30305, on or before August 9, 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 and information on application
procedures are contained in the application package. Business
management technical assistance may be obtained from Glynnis D. Taylor,
Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and
Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255
East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 314, Mailstop E-18, Atlanta, GA 30305,
telephone (404) 842-6593, fax (404) 842-6513, or Internet or CDC WONDER
electronic mail at gld1@opspgo1.em.cdc.gov>. Programmatic technical
assistance may be obtained from Hani Atrash, Division of Reproductive
Health, Pregnancy and Infant Health Branch, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Mailstop K-23, Atlanta,
GA 30341, telephone (770) 488-5187, fax (770) 488-5628, or Internet or
CDC WONDER electronic mail at hka1@ccddrh1.em.cdc.gov>.
Please refer to Announcement 661 when requesting information and
submitting an application.
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 applicants use Internet, follow all instructions in this
announcement and leave messages on the contact person's voice mail for
more timely responses to any questions.
Dated: July 3, 1996.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 96-17528 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
