Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Notices 31325

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry

[Program Announcement 00114]

Determining the Prevalence of Multiple

Sclerosis in Communities Living

Around Hazardous Waste Sites,

Applied Research and Development;

Notice of the Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry (ATSDR) announces

the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000

funds for a cooperative agreement

program to conduct research on

Determining the Prevalence of Multiple

Sclerosis (MS) in Communities Living

Around Hazardous Waste Sites. This

addresses the ‘‘Healthy People 2010’’

focus area of Environmental Health.

The purpose of this program is to

determine the prevalence of MS among

individuals in specific communities

near sources of hazardous substances.

B. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided to the

health departments of States or their

bona fide agents or instrumentalities.

This includes the District of Columbia,

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 Indian Tribal governments.

State organizations, including State

universities, State colleges, and State

research institutions, must establish that

they meet their respective State’s

legislature definition of a State entity or

political subdivision to be considered to

be an eligible applicant. Local health

jurisdictions may apply with the

concurrence of the State Health Officer.

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 $140,000 is available

in FY 2000 to fund up to two awards.

It is expected that the average award

will be $70,000, ranging from $50,000 to

$90,000. It is expected 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

two 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

Funds may be expended for

reasonable program purposes, such as

personnel, travel, supplies and services.

Funds for contractual services may be

requested; however, the primary

recipient of ATSDR funds must perform

a substantive role in carrying out project

activities and not merely serve as a

conduit for an award to another party or

provide funds to an ineligible party.

Equipment may be purchased with

these funds, however, the equipment

proposed should be appropriate and

reasonable for the research activity to be

conducted. Equipment may be acquired

only when authorized, and the

application should provide a

justification of need to acquire

equipment, the description, and the cost

of purchase versus lease. At the

completion of the project, the

equipment must be returned to ATSDR.

Funding Preference

Preference will be given to the

proposed projects that are conducted in

more than one community where MS

and hazardous substances have been

identified as health concerns.

D. Program Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the

purpose of this program, the recipient

will be responsible for activities under

1. (Recipient Activities), and ATSDR

will be responsible for the activities

listed under 2. (ATSDR Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

Applicants addressing the same

research issue should be willing to

participate in collaborative studies with

other ATSDR-sponsored researchers,

including developing and using

common data collection instruments

and procedures, and data management

procedures, as determined in postawarding grantee planning conferences.

A study group of all recipient Principal

Investigators will be convened to

develop a common protocol, interview

instruments and data collection

procedures.

a. Develop a research project which

evaluates the prevalence of MS cases in

communities living around hazardous

waste sites. Provide scientific

information concerning hazardous

substances and MS and develop a model

for others to determine the prevalence of

MS in communities living around

hazardous waste sites.

b. Develop the research study

protocols and standardized data

extraction forms across sites. Develop

methods to verify MS diagnosis.

c. Collaborate and share data with

other collaborators to answer specific

research questions.

d. Conduct data analysis with all

collaborators as well as present and

publish research findings.

e. Disseminate research results to

community members through

collaborative relationships with state

health and environmental agencies.

2. ATSDR Activities

a. Provide scientific, epidemiologic,

and environmental assistance.

b. Work collaboratively with

investigators to help facilitate research

activities across sites. Provide assistance

on the development of the protocol and

evaluation of the data extraction

instruments.

c. Preparation and submission of

materials to the CDC Internal Review

Board (IRB). The CDC IRB will review

and approve the protocol initially and

on at least an annual basis until the

research project is completed.

d. Provide assistance to awardee(s) in

the design of a data management

system, in the analysis of research

information, and the presentation and

publication of research findings.

e. Provide technical assistance to

awardees (if more than one award is

made) to ensure a sharing of information

and methodologies, as appropriate.

f. Facilitate an annual meeting

between awardee(s) and ATSDR to

coordinate planned efforts and review

progress.

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 your program plan. The

narrative should be no more than 30

pages, double-spaced, printed on oneside, with 1′′ margins, and unreduced

fonts (font size 12 point) on 81⁄2′′ by 11′′

paper. Do not include any spiral or

bound materials or pamphlets.

1. Title Page

The heading should include the title

of the cooperative agreement

announcement, project title,

organization, name and address, project

director’s name address and telephone

number.

2. Abstract

A one-page, singled-spaced, typed

abstract must be submitted with the

31326 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Notices

application. The heading should

include the title of cooperative

agreement announcement, project title,

organization, name and address, project

director and telephone number. This

abstract should include a work plan

identifying activities to be developed,

activities to be completed, and a timeline for completion of these activities.

3. Application Narrative

The narrative of each application

must address the evaluation component,

in addition to the following:

a. Briefly state the applicant’s

understanding of the need or problem to

be addressed, the purpose, and goals

over the 2 year period of the cooperative

agreement.

b. Describe in detail the objectives

and the methods to be used to achieve

the objectives of the project. The

objectives should be specific, timephased, measurable, and achievable

during each budget period. The

objectives should directly relate to the

program goals. Identify the steps to be

taken in planning and implementing the

objectives and the responsibilities of the

applicant for carrying out the steps.

c. Provide the name, qualifications,

and proposed time allocation of the

Principal Investigator who will be

responsible for administering the

project. Describe staff, experience,

facilities, equipment available for

performance of this project, and other

resources that define the applicant’s

capacity or potential to accomplish the

requirements stated above. List the

names (if known), qualifications, and

time allocations of the existing

professional staff to be assigned to (or

recruited for) this project, the support

staff available for performance of this

project, and the available facilities

including space.

d. Document the applicant’s expertise,

and extent of experience in the areas of

multiple sclerosis, environmental

health, and population-based

epidemiologic studies.

e. Provide letters of support or other

documentation demonstrating

coordination with all other agencies or

organizations described as participating

in the project.

f. Describe how the affected

communities will be involved in the

proposed project.

g. Human Subjects: State whether or

not Humans are subjects in this

proposal. (See Human Subjects in the

Evaluation Criteria and Other

Requirements sections.)

h. Inclusion of women, ethnic, and

racial groups: Describe how the CDC/

ATSDR policy requirements will be met

regarding the inclusion of women,

ethnic, and racial groups in the

proposed research. (See Women, Racial

and Ethnic Minorities in the Evaluation

Criteria and Other Requirements

sections.)

4. Budget

Provide a detailed budget which

indicates anticipated costs for

personnel, equipment, travel,

communications, supplies, postage, and

the sources of funds to meet these

needs. The applicant should be precise

about the program purpose of each

budget item. For contracts described

within the application budget,

applicants should name the contractor,

if known; describe the services to be

performed; and provide an itemized

breakdown and justification for the

estimated costs of the contract; the

kinds of organizations or parties to be

selected; the period of performance; and

the method of selection. The budget

narrative pages showing, in detail, how

funds in each object class will be spent,

should be placed directly behind form

424A and not in the body of the

application.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

In order to enable ATSDR to

determine the level of interest in the

program announcement, a non-binding

letter-of-intent to apply is requested

from potential applicants. The letter of

intent should be submitted on or before

June 15, 2000, to the Grants

Management Specialist identified in the

‘‘Where to Obtain Additional

Information’’ section of this

announcement.

Application

Submit the original and two copies of

PHS 5161–1 (OMB Number 0937–0189).

Forms are available on the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention Internet

address, or in the application kit.

On or before July 14, 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 objective review group

appointed by ATSDR.

1. Understanding of the Problem (10

percent)

a. The applicant’s understanding of

the problems related to community

exposures to hazardous substances and

concerns regarding MS, and

b. relevance of the proposed program

to these and related problems.

2. Program Personnel (10 percent)

a. Applicant’s technical experience

and understanding (e.g. in the areas of

MS, environmental health, and

population-based epidemiologic

studies).

b. List the names (if known),

qualifications, and time allocation of the

professional staff to be assigned to (or

recruited for) this project and the

support staff available for performance

of this project.

c. Extent to which the management

staff and their working partners are

clearly described.

3. Goals and Objectives (10 percent)

The extent to which the proposed

goals and objectives are clearly stated

and measurable.

4. Demonstrated Capacity (40 percent)

a. The degree to which the applicant

demonstrates prior work conducted in

communities living near hazardous

waste sites concerned with MS in their

area.

b. Adequacy of plan to include at least

one community where MS has already

been identified as health concerns.

c. The extent to which the applicant’s

plans include accomplishing the

activities listed under Recipient

Activities in this announcement.

d. The extent to which the applicant’s

plans and schedule proposed for

accomplishing the activities to be

carried out in this project are clearly

stated, are realistic given the length of

the funding period, and can be achieved

within the proposed budget.

e. The extent to which the applicant

has met the CDC Policy requirements

regarding the inclusion of women,

ethnic, and racial groups in the

proposed research. This includes:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Notices 31327

(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.

5. Community Involvement and

Dissemination of Results (20 percent)

a. A clear identification and

description of the community(ies) to be

involved in this project.

b. Adequacy of plan for recruitment

and outreach for study participants

including the process of establishing

partnerships with community(ies) and

recognition of the mutual benefits.

c. 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.

d. Adequacy of plans to address

community concerns and create lines of

communication, including letters of

support.

e. Adequacy of methods to

disseminate the study results to

community residents, state and local

public health officials, tribal

governments, Indian Health Service,

and to other concerned individuals and

organizations.

6. Facilities and Resources (10 percent)

The adequacy of the applicant’s

facilities, equipment, and other

resources available for performance of

this project.

7. Human Subjects (Not scored)

Does the application adequately

address the requirements of 45 CFR 46

for the protection of human subjects?

8. Budget Justification (Not scored)

The budget will be evaluated to the

extent that it is reasonable, clearly

justified, and consistent with the

intended use of funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with the original and

two copies of:

1. Semi-annual progress report.

2. Financial Status Report (FSR) no

more than 90 days after the end of the

budget period.

3. Final financial status report and

performance report, no more than 90

days after the end of the project.

Send all reports to the Grants

Management 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 of Inclusion of

Women and Racial and Ethnic

Minorities in Research

AR–7 Executive Order 12372 Review

AR–10 Smoke-Free Workplace

Requirements AR–11 Healthy People 2010

AR–12 Lobbying Restrictions

AR–17 Peer Review and Technical

Reviews of Final Reports of Health

Studies—ATSDR

AR–18 Cost Recovery—ATSDR

AR–19 Third Party Agreements—

ATSDR

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized in

Sections 104(i)(1)(E) and (15) of the

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act (CERCLA) as amended by the

Superfund Amendments and

Reauthorization Act (SARA) [42 U.S.C.

9604 (i)(l)(E) and (15)]. The Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance number is

93.161.

J. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

Please refer to Program

Announcement 00114 when you request

information.

This and other ATSDR

announcements can be found on the

CDC home page Internet address:

http://www.cdc.gov. Click on

‘‘Funding’’ then ‘‘Grants and

Cooperative Agreements.’’ 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

Announcement number of interest.

If you have questions after reviewing

the contents of all the documents,

business management technical

assistance may be obtained from: Nelda

Y. Godfrey, Grants Management

Specialist, Grants Management Branch,

Procurement and Grants Office, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite

3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341–4146,

Telephone (770) 488–2722, E-mail

address: nag9@cdc.gov. For program assistance, contact:

Curtis Noonan, Epidemiologist, Health

Investigations Branch, Division of

Health Studies, Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry, 1600

Clifton Road, NE., Mail Stop E–31,

Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone:

(404) 639–5150, E-mail address:

cen9@cdc.gov.

Dated: May 11, 2000.

Georgi Jones,

Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs,

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry.

[FR Doc. 00–12347 Filed 5–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[60Day–00–37]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted

for Public Comment and

Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement

of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention is providing opportunity for

public comment on proposed data

collection projects. To request more

information on the proposed projects or

to obtain a copy of the data collection

plans and instruments, call the CDC

Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639–

7090.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether

the proposed collection of information

is necessary for the proper performance

of the functions of the agency, including

whether the information shall have

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on respondents, including through the

use of automated collection techniques

for other forms of information

technology. Send comments to Anne E.

O’Connor, CDC Assistant Reports

Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road,

MS–D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written

comments should be received within 60

days of this notice.

Proposed Projects

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to

Community Health—National Center for

Chronic Disease Prevention and Health

Promotion (NCCDPHP). The REACH

2010 Demonstration Program is a part of

the Department of Health and Human

Services’ response to the President’s

Race Initiative and to the Healthy

People 2010 goal to eliminate disparities

in the health status of racial and ethnic

minorities. The purpose of REACH 2010