[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38654-38656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19074]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement 98103]
Cooperative Agreement To Study Consumer Demand for Food Safety;
Notice of Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1998
A. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1998 funds for a cooperative agreement
to study consumer demand for food safety. This announcement is related
to the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority area of Food and Drug Safety.
The purpose of the program is to contribute to the education of the
U.S. public with respect to the risk of foodborne illness and to
available public and private efforts to reduce that risk, and evaluate
the methods used in economic evaluation of interventions designed to
improve food safety. There are five objectives to the program. The
recipient will address the first two objectives in combination with any
or all of the other three objectives.
The first objective of the study is to develop a program designed
to educate a nationally representative sample of consumers about the
risks of food borne pathogen consumption at home and retail
establishments, and various collective and private means of reducing
these risks. As part of the educational program, consumers will be
questioned about their own food safety practices and their perceptions
of the effectiveness of those practices. They will be informed of food
industry measures that are intended to maintain the safety of the food
supply and of safety measures they can implement at home in food
storage, preparation, and consumption.
The second objective is to obtain an empirical estimate of the
value consumers place on reducing the risk associated with a specific
food borne illness for which interventions already exist.
The third and fourth objectives are designed to address the
development, refinement, and evaluation of the elicitation methods used
in this type of evaluation. For example, it is not well understood how
sensitive consumers are to small changes in the probability of rare
health-related events and how they process probability information when
forming their values of reduced risk of adverse health outcomes.
Therefore, the third objective is to model the process by which
consumers assess such changes in probability and risk, and how they use
that assessment in forming values. The validity of the model will also
be evaluated.
The fourth objective is to test whether the presentation of
distinct pathogen-specific and symptom-specific scenarios result in
different consumer valuations. In conducting economic evaluations of
health programs, it is important to be certain about what is being
valued: Do consumers value reduction of risk associated with a specific
pathogen or do they value reduction of the risk of experiencing the
symptoms of food borne pathogens in general. Specifically, are
consumers concerned about the cause of the illness, or just whether
they contract the illness?
The fifth objective is to examine how alternative combinations of
private and collective risk reduction strategies affect consumer
valuation of safer food. Consumers already have a certain amount of
control over the risk of food borne illness. There are many strategies
that can be used in preparation either in the home or at a food service
establishment. In addition, there are producer and processor strategies
that can improve the safety of food before it arrives at the final
consumer.
B. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit
organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is,
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public
and private nonprofit and State and local governments or their bona
fide agents.
Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan,
or any other form.
C. Availability of Funds
Approximately $150,000 is available in FY 98 to fund one award. It
is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 1998,
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period
of up to 5 years. Budgets for periods 2-5 should be submitted at a
level of $200,000 per
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year. Funding estimates are subject to change.
Continuation awards during the approved project period are subject
to the availability of funding and performance as evidenced by required
progress reports.
D. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1.
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities
under 2. (CDC Activities).
1. Recipient Activities
a. Develop research plan and implement a procedure to collect data
for a nationally representative sample of consumers regarding food
safety practices and valuation of reduced risk of food borne illness.
b. Provide food safety education to the sample of interviewed
consumers.
c. Develop, estimate, and evaluate an economic model of consumer
valuation of reduced risk of food borne illness using the sample data.
d. Develop, implement, and evaluate a model of how consumers
process risk reduction information when forming values and incorporate
that model in the estimation of consumer valuation of reduced risk of
food borne illness.
e. Develop, implement, and evaluate a means of testing the effect
of illness presentation, whether pathogen- or symptom-specific, on
consumer valuation of reduced risk of food borne illness.
f. Develop, implement, and evaluate a means of testing the effect
of alternative combinations of private and collective risk reduction
strategies on consumer valuation of reduced risk of food borne illness.
g. Evaluate and analyze data.
h. Disseminate findings to peer-reviewed publications and public
information sources.
2. CDC Activities
a. Provide technical and subject-matter assistance in study design,
data collection, modeling, consumer education, and data evaluation and
analysis activities.
b. Assist in dissemination of findings.
c. Provide up-to-date scientific information and activities of
other projects in the area.
E. Application Content
Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program
plan. The narrative should be no more than 30 double-spaced pages,
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font.
1. Executive Summary
Provide a clear, concise written summary of the following: (a)
Statement of need; (b) major goals, objectives, and activities of the
proposed project; (c) operational plan; (d) capability of applicant;
and (e) estimated cost of the project including the requested amount.
2. Table of Contents
3. Statement of Need
Describe the role of the project in providing food safety education
to consumers and valuing food safety improvement, including information
on the chosen intervention and the risk of and health and economic
consequences of the associated pathogen.
4. Goals and Objectives
Establish and submit short term (1 year) and long term (5 year)
objectives for the project phases included in the application.
Objectives must be specific, measurable, time-phased, and feasible.
5. Operational Plan
a. Submit a plan to develop the project from presenting educational
food safety information to assessing attributes to be included in
studies and the valuation methods and design of the data collection
process.
b. Submit a time schedule for all activities to be carried out in
the first year including the responsible staff for each phase of the
project. Describe further activities if additional funding becomes
available in future years.
c. Describe procedures to disseminate the research findings through
presentation and publication in appropriate form and provide necessary
reports as required by the notice of award.
6. Capability
a. Identify and describe the project staff, their qualifications
and experience in the areas of economic valuation of nonmarketed goods/
services and food safety and their degree of availability under a
resultant agreement, and association with the applicant. Include the
curriculum vitae for the key project staff in the supporting materials
of the appendix.
b. Identify and describe the capacity to collect nationally
representative consumer data and to provide educational food safety
information as a major component of the data collection process.
Provide written commitments from appropriate public/private
organizations expected to support activities of the project.
7. Project Evaluation
Submit a plan to evaluate the project that assesses the extent to
which:
a. The research was designed for addressing the delivery of
consumer food safety information and the specific food safety problem.
b. Survey and results were validated and pretested.
c. Data were disseminated through periodic reports, presentations,
and publication.
8. Budget
9. Supporting Materials
F. Submission and Deadline
The original and 2 copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(revised 5/96) must be submitted to David Elswick, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before
August 21, 1998.
Deadlines: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline
above if they are either: (1) Received on or before the deadline date;
or (2) sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants should request
a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated
receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
G. Evaluation Criteria
The application will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
1. Problem Identification (5 Percent)
a. Evidence of the importance of the problem.
b. Evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed food safety
intervention to be evaluated.
2. Research Design (25 Percent)
Evidence that the research design is appropriate for the project.
3. Capability (30 Percent)
a. Evidence that key project staff and/or organization possesses
recent experience in economic evaluation. More specifically, the extent
to which the principal investigator has the appropriate educational
background for
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implementation of this project. For example, a doctoral degree in
economics or behavioral science with experience in the design and
implementation of large-scale data collection processes and valuation
of nonmarketed goods and services.
b. Evidence of organizational capacity for large-scale data
collection.
c. Evidence of ability to cooperate in interorganizational and
interdisciplinary settings.
4. Strategic Plan (25 Percent)
a. The objectives of the project are appropriate, feasible, and
time-appropriate for the project.
b. The extent to which the multiple objectives of the project can
be accomplished within the first year and how further objectives can be
met in subsequent years.
5. Program Evaluation (10 Percent)
a. The extent to which the applicant proposes a strategy of ongoing
evaluation and feedback for this project.
b. The adequacy of the applicant's plan to evaluate the overall
effectiveness and success of the project.
6. Women and Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Research (5 Percent)
The extent to which the applicant addresses that they have met the
CDC Policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and
racial groups in the proposed research. This includes: (a) The proposed
plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority
populations for appropriate representation; (b) The proposed
justification when representation is limited or absent; (c) A statement
as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure
differences when warranted; (d) A statement as to whether the plans for
recruitment and outreach for study participants include the process of
establishing partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual
benefits.
7. Budget (not Scored)
The extent to which the applicant describes the total amount of
funds requested in each of the object class categories and clearly
links the budget items to objectives and activities proposed for the
budget period.
8. Human Subjects (not Scored)
The extent to which the applicant has addressed necessary human
subjects protections.
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements: Provide CDC with the original
plus two copies of
1. Semi-annual progress reports including the following for each
goal or activity involved in the study: (a) Comparison of actual
accomplishments to the objectives established for the period; (b) the
reasons for slippage if objectives were not met; (c) other pertinent
information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of
unexpectedly high costs for performance.
2. Financial Status Report is required within 90 days of each
budget period.
3. Final financial status report and performance report are
required within 90 days after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: David Elswick, Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., Mailstop E-13 Atlanta, GA 30305-2209.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment 1, included
in the application kit.
AR98-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR98-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR98-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR98-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR98-11 Healthy People 2000
AR98-12 Lobbying Restrictions
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act,
section 317(k)(2) 42USC247247(b)(k)(2). The Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance number assigned to this project is 93.283.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
To receive additional written information call 1-888-GRANTS4. You
will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will
need to refer to Announcement 98103. 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 ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER 98103 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 by
contacting:
David Elswick, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 98103
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East
Paces Ferry Road, NE., M/S E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305-2209, telephone
(404) 842-6521
See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.
Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Mark L.
Messonnier, Economist, Prevention Effectiveness Branch, Division of
Prevention Research and Analytic Methods, Epidemiology Program Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE.,
Mailstop D-01, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-4474.
Dated: July 13, 1998.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 98-19074 Filed 7-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
