[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37139-37142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14830]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 00010]
Asthma Surveillance and Interventions in Hospital Emergency
Departments; Notice of Availability of Funds
A. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for asthma surveillance and interventions in hospital emergency
departments. CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and
disease prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 2010,'' a national
activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of
life. This announcement is related to the focus areas of Environmental
Health and Respiratory Diseases. For the conference copy of ``Healthy
People 2010,'' visit the internet site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople>.
The purpose of this program is to implement and evaluate a sentinel
surveillance system designed to monitor trends in and identify reasons
for receiving asthma care in hospital emergency departments; and to
develop and implement interventions to improve asthma care and to use
the surveillance data to evaluate these interventions.
B. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit
organizations; that is, universities, colleges and medical schools
affiliated with non-profit hospitals. No other applications are
solicited. Universities affiliated with nonprofit hospitals are
targeted because they have research expertise and can coordinate with
several hospitals emergency departments which will identify asthma
patients, enroll them in interventions, and collect and analyze data.
Universities are likely to have existing relationships with departments
of health and can coordinate surveillance and intervention activities.
Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in
section 501(c)(4) of
[[Page 37140]]
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 $500,000 is available in FY 2000 to fund
approximately two awards. It is expected that the average award will be
up to $250,000 per year for a three-year period. It is expected that
the awards will begin on or about September 30, 2000, and will be made
for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to three
years. Funding estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
Use of Funds
The budget should include a request for travel funds for
appropriate key staff to participate in the recipient planning meeting
in Atlanta.
D. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this cooperative
agreement, 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. Collaborate with the State health department and a total of
three to four emergency departments (EDs) in locations serving diverse
populations (e.g., rural, urban and suburban) to plan and implement
surveillance and model interventions for asthma.
b. Participate in a recipient meeting to coordinate surveillance
and intervention activities across sites.
c. Develop and pilot test all data collection instruments.
d. Develop model interventions to reduce severe asthma
exacerbations by improving care for asthma.
e. Analyze the data and report surveillance findings to
collaborating EDs, the State health department and CDC, make
presentations and prepare written manuscripts for publications.
f. Evaluate the surveillance system and the effectiveness of the
interventions to reduce severe asthma exacerbations.
2. CDC Activities
a. Provide technical assistance in all stages of the project.
b. Facilitate communication/coordination among recipients to
improve efficiency of activities, quality of surveillance data, and
effectiveness of interventions.
c. The CDC IRB will review and approve the protocol initially and
on at least an annual basis until the research project is completed.
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 not exceed 30 double-spaced pages, printed
on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font. The
applications must be submitted unstapled and unbound.
Applications for the cooperative agreements should include:
1. Background and Need
a. Description of the number of asthma cases, hospitalizations,
deaths and/or prevalence in the State.
b. Description of how hospital emergency department surveillance
will be used to develop model interventions to improve medical and
environmental management of asthma which can result in decreased asthma
exacerbations.
c. Description of the applicant's collaborations with other
hospitals, hospital emergency departments, health departments and
organizations in conducting research or surveillance or developing
interventions to reduce morbidity or mortality.
d. Description of collaborating hospital emergency departments'
experience in public health initiatives, surveillance projects,
research and multi-center studies, including interventions.
e. Description of the health department's experience working with
hospital emergency departments or hospitals and relevant asthma
prevention surveillance and prevention activities.
2. Goals and Objectives
Description of specific, measurable and time-framed goals and
objectives that are consistent with the proposed theme, purpose and
objectives.
3. Methods
a. Description of proposed activities to meet the stated goals and
objectives. For example, describe how interventions will be developed
to meet the needs of the population served.
b. Description of timeline to measure progress in meeting stated
goals and objectives.
c. Description of the type of hospital (e.g., private, public,
etc.) and the basis for selection of collaborating hospitals (e.g.,
inner city, urban, suburban and rural) for each participating ED.
d. Description of the experience of principal investigators,
collaborating ED contacts, and health department contacts in:
(1) designing, implementing, administering and evaluating
surveillance and interventions,
(2) prior publications, and
(3) specific authority to carry out the proposed surveillance and
interventions.
e. Include letters of support for each collaborating ED and the
health department.
f. Description of the roles of all staff involved in the project
for each participating ED and the health department regardless of their
funding source. Include their title, qualifications, experience,
percentage of time each will devote to the project, as well as that
portion of their salary to be paid by the grant.
g. Description of the logistics and personnel involved in data
collection, reporting, analysis, evaluation, dissemination of results
and publication.
h. Description of how applicant will meet the CDC policy
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic and racial groups
in the surveillance and interventions. This includes:
(1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
(2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
(3) A statement as to whether the design of the surveillance and
interventions is adequate to measure differences when warranted.
(4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and
outreach for participants include the process of establishing
partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
i. Description of how surveillance findings will be shared to
reduce the burden of asthma. EDs may use the findings to develop
hospital policies, and health departments may develop community
interventions.
j. Description of the planned interventions and how their
effectiveness will be evaluated.
4. Evaluation
a. Description of a detailed plan to document progress,
effectiveness, impact and outcome.
b. Description of the ability of staff to perform the evaluation.
[[Page 37141]]
c. Description of how evaluation findings will be used to improve
the surveillance and interventions.
5. Budget Justification
Description of first year budget with future annual projections.
6. Human Subjects
Description of how human subjects will be involved and how they
will be protected.
F. Submission and Deadline
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Your letter of intent should include a brief description of
surveillance and interventions planned, the populations served by the
participating hospital emergency departments, and State health
department asthma prevention and surveillance activities.
The letter of intent must be submitted on or before July 10, 2000
to the Grants Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain
Additional Information'' section of this announcement.
Application
Submit the original and five copies of PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001). Forms are in the application kit. On or before August 10, 2000,
submit the application to the Grants Management Specialist identified
in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this
announcement.
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 independent 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.)
Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.
G. Evaluation Criteria
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Background and Need (20 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant presents data justifying the
need for asthma surveillance and interventions in terms of magnitude of
the asthma problem in their area.
b. The extent to which applicant describes how hospital emergency-
based surveillance for asthma will be used to develop and evaluate
interventions in EDs serving different populations (e.g., inner city,
urban, suburban, rural).
c. The extent to which the applicant describes current and previous
experiences conducting surveillance, research and/or interventions in
hospital emergency departments.
d. The extent to which applicant describes collaborating EDs' past
experiences working with the State health department and past
surveillance, research and/or intervention activities.
e. The extent to which applicant describes the State health
department's experience collaborating with hospitals and hospital
emergency departments as well as asthma surveillance and prevention
activities.
2. Goals and Objectives (15 Points)
The extent to which the applicant has included goals which are
relevant to the purpose of the application and feasible to be
accomplished during the project period, and the extent to which these
are specific and measurable.
3. Methods (50 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant provides a detailed
description of proposed activities which are likely to achieve each
objective and overall program goals including designation of
responsibility for each action undertaken.
b. The extent to which applicant provides a reasonable and complete
schedule for implementing all activities.
c. The extent to which applicant describes the different
populations served by collaborating hospital EDs and demonstrates
support from a contact person within each collaborating ED who will
serve as coordinator for the project.
d. The extent to which position descriptions, resumes and lines of
command are appropriate for accomplishment of program goals and
objectives.
e. The extent to which concurrence with the applicant's plans by
all other involved parties is specific and documented, especially with
regard to data collection, analysis, dissemination, development;
implementation of interventions; and evaluation of surveillance and
interventions.
f. The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC Policy
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial
groups in the proposed activities. This includes:
(1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial
and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
(2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
(3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate
to measure differences when warranted.
(4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and
outreach for study participants include the process of establishing
partnerships with communities and recognition of mutual benefits.
g. The extent to which applicant describes how surveillance
findings will be shared and used to develop interventions and policies
to reduce the burden of acute asthma exacerbations.
h. The extent to which applicant describes the types of
interventions, including provisions for continuity of medical care,
tailoring interventions to different populations, and the evaluation.
i. The extent to which applicant demonstrates a willingness to
collaborate with other recipients.
4. Evaluation (15 points)
a. The extent to which the proposed evaluation system is detailed
and will document program progress, effectiveness, impact and outcome.
b. The extent to which applicant documents staff availability,
expertise and capacity to perform the evaluation.
c. The extent to which a feasible plan for reporting evaluation
results and using evaluation information for programmatic decisions is
included.
5. Budget and Justification (not scored)
The extent to which the budget is reasonable, adequately justified
and consistent with the intended use of grant funds.
6. Human Subjects (not scored)
Does the application adequately address the requirements of Title
45 CFR Part 46 for the protection of human subjects?
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Semi-annual progress reports;
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period; and
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period. Send all reports to the Grants
Management
[[Page 37142]]
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information''
section of this announcement.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment 1 in the
application kit.
AR-1--Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2--Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic
Minorities in Research
AR-9--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11--Healthy People 2010
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions
I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 301 of the Public Health
Service Act, [42 U.S.C. section 241], as amended. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
This and other CDC announcements are available through the CDC
homepage on the Internet at: http://www.cdc.gov. To receive additional
written information and to request an application kit, call 1-888-
GRANTS4 (1-888 472-6874). You will be asked to leave your name and
address and will be instructed to identify the program announcement
number (00010).
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management assistance may be obtained from: Sonia
Rowell, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch,
Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 00010, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA
30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2724, email address: [email protected]
For program technical assistance, contact: Pamela Meyer,
Epidemiologist, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National
Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-17, Atlanta GA 30333,
telephone: (404) 639-2545, email address: [email protected]
Dated: June 7, 2000.
Henry S. Cassell III,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-14830 Filed 6-12-00; 8:45 am]
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