76772 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 245 / Wednesday, December 22, 2004 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Institute of Allergy and 

Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed 

Meetings 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meetings. 

The meetings will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Institute of 

Allergy and Infectious Diseases Special 

Emphasis Panel; Molecular Studies of 

Arthritis. 

Date: January 11, 2005. 

Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 

Rockledge 6700, 6700B Rockledge Drive, 

Bethesda, MD 20817 (Telephone Conference 

Call). 

Contact Person: Tracy A. Shahan, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, Scientific 

Review Program, Division of Extramural 

Activities, National Institutes of Health/

NIAID, 6700B Rockledge Drive, MSC 7616, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–7616, 301–451–2606, 

tshahan@niaid.nih.gov.

Name of Committee: National Institute of 

Allergy and Infectious Diseases Special 

Emphasis Panel; Review of an Unsolicited 

P01. 

Date: January 14, 2005. 

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 

Rockledge 6700, 6700B Rockledge Drive 

3143, Bethesda, MD 20817 (Telephone 

Conference Call). 

Contact Person: Marc L. Lesnick, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, Scientific 

Review Program, Division of Extramural 

Activities, National Institutes of Health/

NIAID, 6700B Rockledge Drive, MSC 7616, 

Bethesda, MD 20892–7616, 301–496–2550, 

ml436d@nih.gov.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.855, Allergy, Immunology, 

and Transplantation Research; 93.856, 

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 

Research, National Institutes of Health, HHS)

Dated: December 15, 2004. 

LaVerne Y. Stringfield, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 04–27960 Filed 12–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Institutes of Arthritis and 

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; 

Notice of Closed Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy.

Name of Committee: National Institute of 

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin 

Diseases Special Emphasis Panel; Research 

Program Projects (PO1). 

Date: January 5, 2005. 

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: Bethesda Marriott Suites, 6711 

Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20817. 

Contact Person: Guo HE Zhang, PhD, MD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, National 

Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and 

Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 

6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 800, 

Bethesda, MD 20817, 301–451–6524, 

zhanggu@mail.nih.gov.

This notice is being published less than 15 

days prior to the meting due to the timing 

limitations imposed by the review and 

funding cycle.

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.846, Arthritis, 

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research, 

National Institutes of Health, HHS)

Dated: December 15, 2004. 

LaVerne Y. Stringfield, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy.

[FR Doc. 04–27961 Filed 12–21–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Federal Emergency Management 

Agency 

[Z–RIN 1660–ZA03] 

Emergency Preparedness 

Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA), 

Emergency Preparedness and Response 

(EP&R) Directorate, Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of the 

availability of the Emergency 

Preparedness Demonstration Program 

(the ‘‘Program’’) for Fiscal Year 2005. 

The Program will provide a single 

award of $1.5 million for a cooperative 

agreement with an eligible organization 

to conduct post-disaster critiques and 

evaluations in disadvantaged 

communities affected by Hurricane 

Isabel, provide an assessment of 

emergency preparedness awareness in 

these communities, and develop 

recommendations for new methods to 

improve outreach to these and similar 

communities. 

These funds will be competitively 

awarded.

Authority: Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 5121–5206).

DATES: Completed applications must be 

received or postmarked by midnight, 

EST, January 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Grants Management 

Division, FEMA Headquarters, 500 C 

Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 

20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ralph Swisher, Program and System 

Development Branch, Preparedness 

Division, FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., 

Washington, DC 20472, 202–646–3561, 

or e-mail ralph.swisher@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All 

information needed for the preparation 

and submission of information in 

response to this Notice is included in 

this Notice. An electronic copy of this 

information is also available on the Web 

at http://www.grants.gov/Find.

(a) Introduction 

The purpose of this notice is to advise 

of the availability of funds to conduct 

post-disaster critiques and assessments 

in disadvantaged communities, promote 

emergency preparedness awareness, and 

develop recommendations for new 

methods to improve preparedness. 

These targeted disadvantaged 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 245 / Wednesday, December 22, 2004 / Notices 76773

communities may include communities 

with a significant number of individuals 

who are socially disadvantaged, 

economically disadvantaged, have 

special needs, or are underserved. A 

single award of $1,500,000 will be 

available for this purpose in the form of 

a cooperative agreement between FEMA 

and the selected Grantee. 

The purpose of this project is to 

conduct research and workshops and 

assist FEMA to develop an Emergency 

Preparedness Demonstration Program 

targeting disadvantaged communities. 

The Program will involve research into 

the status of disaster awareness and 

emergency preparedness in 

disadvantaged households and 

communities in Delaware, Maryland, 

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, 

West Virginia and the District of 

Columbia (the ‘‘designated States’’), 

which were impacted by Hurricane 

Isabel; to research the capacity of such 

communities to provide awareness 

education for the public, and provide 

data and information on the project. The 

Program will model ways of 

accomplishing program objectives in 

demonstration sites: improved 

awareness of the risk of disasters, 

awareness of the need for preparedness, 

and achievement of concrete 

improvements in disaster preparedness, 

response and recovery. 

(b) Program Description 

(1) Background 

Research and field experience reveal 

the disproportionate impact of major 

disasters on disadvantaged households 

and communities. Hurricane Isabel is a 

recent, catastrophic disaster, which 

severely impacted disadvantaged 

communities, and this provides a 

unique opportunity to study the 

preparedness of these specific groups 

through the Emergency Preparedness 

Demonstration Program. 

The research that will be carried out 

under the cooperative agreement will 

focus on communication about disaster 

hazards and risks and the potential 

efficacy of general and specific 

preparedness, prevention, response, and 

recovery actions by subject persons, 

families, and communities. In 

particular, the research will seek to 

uncover any perceptions, 

predispositions and motivations held by 

the community that limit the level of 

preparedness and the effectiveness of 

preparedness activities. Such factors 

may be identified in any or all group 

and institutional patterns: family, 

workplace, school, recreation, health 

care, business and industry, religious 

and charitable organizations, political 

organizations, quasi-governmental 

institutions and local governments. The 

research is open to any variation on the 

general concepts of perceived validity, 

credibility, confidence, and 

acceptability of actions by individuals 

and organizations throughout the 

institutional network of the community 

that can help explain who should do 

what, and how the community can 

become more adequately prepared for 

disaster. 

Numerous factors influence risk 

communication and the response, both 

to preparedness messages during normal 

periods and to emergency instructions 

when disasters occur. Research for the 

program focuses on weak links where 

disadvantaged groups and communities 

are not responding to emergency 

preparedness messages and/or 

emergency instructions, why that is the 

case, and what can improve the 

situation. If the initial 24-month period 

of performance is successful, the period 

of performance may be extended, 

depending on the availability of funds. 

FEMA’s vision for the Program is that 

informed leaders and citizens of 

disadvantaged communities will be 

prepared to protect their families, 

homes, workplaces, and livelihoods 

from the impact of all hazards. Through 

collaboration and coordination with 

public and private organizations, FEMA 

will support the development and 

demonstration of model emergency 

preparedness information, training and 

community approaches. Pilot programs 

must first demonstrate that the materials 

and approaches are effective in specific 

disadvantaged communities, 

establishing and enhancing emergency 

preparedness and response systems, 

information materials, warnings and 

emergency instructions, and actual 

community response. The successful 

model(s) will become demonstration 

projects for broader replication. 

The FEMA Project Office (PO) will be 

proactively involved in research 

planning and analysis and must approve 

the research plan before it is 

implemented. The PO will be engaged 

in integrating application of research 

results into demonstration project 

design, guidance documents and 

technical assistance to demonstration 

projects. The PO or designated FEMA 

staff will coordinate State involvement 

in identifying disadvantaged 

communities as the subjects of research, 

and the PO, in coordination with 

designated States, must approve 

selection of demonstration sites. The 

FEMA PO will also coordinate 

identification and assessment of 

national organizations with local 

affiliates eligible for participation in 

local demonstration project networks. 

(2) Use of Results 

The Program will apply the results to 

help reinforce the nation’s overall 

emergency preparedness and response 

capabilities by assisting communitybased organizations in strengthening the 

defenses and preparedness efforts of 

disadvantaged, vulnerable communities. 

All public education materials and 

approaches concerning disaster 

awareness, perceptions, preparedness, 

prevention, response and recovery 

developed for and provided to FEMA, 

under this project will be in the public 

domain. 

(3) Description of Work to Be Performed 

In consultation with FEMA the 

Grantee shall conduct field research, 

develop materials, conduct workshops, 

and assist FEMA to develop an 

Emergency Preparedness Demonstration 

Program in the States of Delaware, 

Maryland, North Carolina, 

Pennsylvania, Virginia and West 

Virginia and Washington, DC. The 

Grantee will—

• Conduct research into the status of 

emergency preparedness and disaster 

response awareness in socially and 

economically disadvantaged households 

located in urban, suburban and rural 

communities in the designated States, 

with an emphasis on those impacted by 

Hurricanes Isabel (2003). Comparisons 

with Hurricane Floyd (September 1999) 

and Hurricanes Charley, Frances and 

Ivan (2004) and others may be used to 

confirm, elaborate or refine research 

results.

• Develop culturally competent 

educational and awareness materials, 

and modes of communication and 

program approaches that can be used to 

disseminate information to community 

organizations and institutions, and 

promote awareness of emergency 

preparedness education programs and 

materials. 

• Provide technical assistance to State 

and local leaders and organizations. 

• Provide a final report on 

Demonstration program results, and 

lessons learned in demonstration 

projects. Revised program materials will 

be appended. 

• Provide a briefing and participate in 

discussion of results, their implications 

and applications. 

(c) Eligibility 

An organization shall be eligible to be 

awarded a cooperative agreement with 

respect to this program if the 

organization is a non-profit organization 

that is described in section 501(c)(3) of 

76774 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 245 / Wednesday, December 22, 2004 / Notices 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 

U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and exempt from tax 

under section 501(a) of such Code, 

whose primary mission is to provide 

services to disadvantaged communities, 

and that can demonstrate partnerships 

with a business enterprise or non-profit 

organization focused on the special 

needs of these communities, including 

enterprises located in a HUBZone. The 

Grantee will have the ability to award 

nominal subgrants (average $50,000) to 

support collection and reporting of 

demonstration program data and 

information over approximately 18 

months. Eligible sub-applicants would 

include community organizations, local 

government organizations, and other 

non-profit organizations in the 

designated States. 

Each applicant must certify status as 

a Sec. 501(c)3 private non-profit 

organization, with knowledge of, 

experience in and capabilities for 

managing the project. 

(d) Application Process 

FEMA will fund Emergency 

Preparedness Demonstration Program 

activities based on proposals that 

address the Program’s priorities and 

maximize the benefits to be derived 

from the funds. 

Applications must be submitted in a 

paper format, and must include 

Standard Form SF–424 Application for 

Federal Assistance (for background/

contact information), a FEMA Form 20–

20 (for budget information), FEMA 

Forms 20–16A and 20–16C (for 

assurances and certifications), standard 

Form LLL Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities, and a Program Narrative (all 

grants administration forms have been 

approved by the Office of Management 

and Budget under OMB control number 

1660–0025, which expires July 31, 

2007.). Each applicant is required to 

provide a narrative of specifics 

regarding the proposed activities that 

they plan to carry out with the grant 

funds, including an explanation of the 

activities planned and the benefits to be 

derived from completion of the 

activities. 

Award Procedure 

A single cooperative agreement will 

be awarded on a competitive basis to be 

used as specified in the approved 

application and agreed to between 

FEMA and the recipient in the 

cooperative agreement. All proposals 

will be evaluated by a FEMA panel 

composed of subject-matter, program 

and grant experts. The successful 

application will have the proposal that 

in FEMA’s judgment best addresses the 

program’s priorities and goals. The 

panel will conduct an assessment of the 

proposal’s merits, with respect to the 

detail provided in the proposal. The 

panel will make the award 

recommendation to the Grants 

Management Branch of the Financial 

and Acquisition Management Division. 

The Grants Management Branch will 

contact the applicant with the best 

proposal to discuss and execute the 

cooperative agreement. 

Completed applications must be 

received or postmarked by January 21, 

2005. Applications are required to 

include a narrative and the required 

FEMA forms. These forms are available 

online at http://www.fema.gov/ofm/

grants2.shtm. Failure to submit all of 

the required forms will result in a 

disqualification of the paper 

application. Applications should be 

mailed to FEMA, Attn: Emergency 

Preparedness Demonstration Program, 

500 C Street, SW., Room 316, 

Washington, DC 20472. 

(e) Eligible Activities 

The Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA) will provide funds to 

an eligible organization to: (1) Acquire 

expert professional services necessary to 

conduct research on the status of 

emergency preparedness and disaster 

response awareness in disadvantaged 

communities; (2) develop and prepare 

informational materials to promote 

awareness among disadvantaged 

communities about emergency 

preparedness and how to protect homes, 

businesses and communities in advance 

of disasters; (3) establish consortia with 

national organizations, institutions of 

higher education, and community-or 

faith-based (501(c)(3) nonprofit) 

institutions with a demonstrated focus 

on the targeted communities to 

disseminate information about 

emergency preparedness to these 

communities; and (4) implement a joint 

project with an institution serving 

disadvantaged individuals and 

communities, which may include a part 

B institution (as defined in section 

322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 

1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)), an institution 

described in subparagraph (A), (B), or 

(C) of section 326(e)(1)of that Act (20 

U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1)(A), (B), or (C)), or a 

Hispanic-serving institution (as defined 

in section 502(a)(5) of that Act (20 

U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))). 

Funds are for demonstration projects 

in the designated areas affected by 

Hurricane Isabel in September 2003 

(Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, 

Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia 

and the District of Columbia). 

(f) Evaluation Criteria 

A panel of subject matter expert will 

review the applications to determine the 

one that best addresses the program’s 

objectives. The panel will use the 

following guidelines to determine the 

proposal with the highest rating, which 

will be the recommended Grantee. 

1. Technical and Management Factors 

(35 points). 

a. Understanding of the problem. 

b. Approach to address the problem. 

c. Demonstrated competence of 

Project Manager. 

d. Demonstrated competence of key 

professionals. 

e. Demonstrated competence among 

management and key professionals in 

building networks and coalitions with 

national and community voluntary, 

social, civic, fraternal and/or faith-based 

organizations. 

2. Project Organization and 

Management (20 points). Experience 

and performance in administrative 

management: The division of work into 

various tasks to be performed, and the 

coordination of those tasks to 

accomplish project activities and 

objectives. 

a. Definition of responsibility and 

accountability for key specific tasks and 

functions of specifically named key 

individuals within the organizations 

and units. 

b. Time commitment of key 

individuals to carry out the proposed 

tasks and responsibilities necessary to 

complete the project. 

c. Designation of tasks, subtasks, 

products, and time schedule for 

performance of those tasks and delivery 

of reports and products. 

d. Procedures for supervising, 

coordinating and evaluating task 

performance 

e. Procedures for monitoring time 

schedule and monetary control. 

3. Organizational Qualifications (45 

points). 

a. Current and previous corporate 

experience in managing and conducting 

projects of similar scope and complexity 

and potential for controversy. 

b. Corporate experience in networks 

and coalitions with national and 

community voluntary, social, civic, 

fraternal and/or faith-based 

organizations.

Dated: December 15, 2004. 

Michael D. Brown, 

Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness 

and Response, Department of Homeland 

Security.

[FR Doc. 04–27928 Filed 12–21–04; 8:45 am] 

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