Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Notices 31329

behaviors, identifying the causative

agent and identifying the transmission

of the condition and the impact of

interventions.

It is difficult to predict the number of

epidemic investigations which might

occur in any given year. The annual

burden hours are estimated to be 3,000.

Respondents Number of

respondents

Number of

responses/

respondent

Average burden

per response

(in hrs.)

Total burden

(in hrs.)

Total Respondents ................................................................................... 12,000 1 15/60 3,000

Dated: May 11, 2000.

Nancy Cheal,

Acting Associate Director for Policy,

Planning, and Evaluation, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 00–12345 Filed 5–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement Number 00057]

Longitudinal Studies of Rodent

Reservoirs of Hantaviruses in the

Northwestern United States; 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 with the Montana Tech

University (MTU) for longitudinal

studies of rodent reservoirs of

hantaviruses in the northwestern United

States (U.S.). 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 Immunization and

Infectious Diseases. For the conference

copy of ‘‘Healthy People 2010’’ visit the

internet site http://www.health.gov/

healthypeople.

The purpose of this cooperative

agreement is to continue studies of

hantavirus reservoir populations at

previously established sites in Cutbank,

Polson, Cascade, Gold Creek, Wisdom,

and CM Russell Reserve, Montana. The

goal of the research is to conduct

longitudinal mark-recapture studies to

identify and determine the distribution

and dynamics of populations of rodents

that are confirmed or potential

reservoirs of hantaviruses. Preliminary

studies have documented the effects of

weather fluctuation and other ecological

variables on the rodent populations at

the designated study sites. The major

objective of this cooperative agreement

is to support research that appropriately

builds upon the ecological information

developed at the established sites.

B. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to

MTU. No other applications are

solicited.

MTU was the only applicant that

applied under the original Program

Announcement 96044 and was

subsequently awarded. In previous

studies, MTU developed an extensive

database on population dynamics and

hantavirus infection in rodents and

associated environmental conditions at

six trapping sites from 1994 to 2000.

This unique dataset is the baseline data

for the proposed longitudinal studies

which will compare newly collected

information with the 1994–2000 data. In

order to provide for the continuity of

long-term data, it is crucial that the

proposed study be conducted at the

identical sites using the same

methodology as the previous studies.

C. Availability of Funds

Approximately $135,000 is available

in FY 2000 to fund one award. It is

expected that the award 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 5 years.

The funding estimate may change.

Continuation awards within an

approved project period will be made

on the basis of satisfactory progress and

availability of funds.

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 conducting

activities under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

a. Design and conduct longitudinal

mark recapture studies of rodents on

existing established grids in the

northwestern U.S., to identify and

determine the distribution and

dynamics of populations of rodents that

are confirmed or potential reservoirs of

hantaviruses.

b. Use ecological techniques that

provide continuity of rodent sampling

and processing so that data can be

appropriately analyzed and correlated

with previously collected ecological

data from the established sites.

Ecological techniques should include

capture-mark-release and bleeding of

captured animals.

c. Collect and submit blood samples

on all captured animals to appropriate

laboratories for further analysis and

storage.

d. Identify captured rodents and

perform morphological measurements

and other observations necessary for

characterization of rodents.

e. Analyze and publish study results

from the individual study sites.

2. CDC Activities

a. Provide consultation and scientific

and technical assistance in the design,

conduct, and evaluation of the project.

b. Perform appropriate laboratory

testing and analysis of blood samples

from captured animals, upon request.

c. Analyze study results in

collaboration with the recipient.

E. Application Content

Application

Use the information in the Program

Requirements, Other Requirements, and

Evaluation Criteria sections to develop

the application content. The application

will be evaluated on the criteria listed,

so it is important to follow them in

laying out the program plan. The

narrative should be no more than 10

double-spaced pages, printed on one

side, with one-inch margins, and

unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

Submit the original and two copies of

PHS 5161–1 (OMB Number 0348–0043).

Forms are available at the following

Internet Address: www.cdc.gov/

...Forms, or in the application kit. On or

before July 1, 2000, submit the

application to the Grants Management

Specialist identified in the ‘‘Where to

31330 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 17, 2000 / Notices

Obtain Additional Information’’ section

of this announcement.

G. Evaluation Criteria

The application will be evaluated

individually against the following

criteria by an independent review group

appointed by CDC.

1. Background and Need (33 Points):

Extent to which applicant demonstrates

a clear understanding of the purpose

and objectives of this proposed

cooperative agreement and

demonstrates a clear understanding of

the requirements, responsibilities,

interactions, problems, constraints,

complexities, etc., that may be

encountered in conducting the project

and performing the studies.

2. Capacity and Personnel (33 Points):

Extent to which applicant demonstrates

past experience of professional

personnel in conducting studies similar

to those proposed in this cooperative

agreement. Extent to which applicant

demonstrates it has adequate

administrative personnel and support.

Extent to which applicant demonstrates

it has adequate scientific resources and

facilities (including certified BSL–3

laboratory) to successfully conduct the

activities.

3. Objectives and Technical Approach

(34 Points): Extent to which applicant

describes objectives of the proposed

project which are consistent with the

purpose and goals of this grant/

cooperative agreement program and

which are measurable and time-phased.

Extent to which applicant presents a

detailed operational plan for initiating

and conducting the project, which

clearly and appropriately addresses all

‘‘Recipient Activities.’’ Extent to which

applicant clearly identifies specific

assigned responsibilities of all key

professional personnel. Extent to which

the plan clearly describes applicant’s

technical approach/methods for

conducting the proposed studies and

extent to which the plan is adequate to

accomplish the objectives. Extent to

which applicant describes specific

study protocols or plans for the

development of study protocols that are

appropriate for achieving project

objectives. Extent to which applicant

describes adequate and appropriate

collaboration with CDC and/or others

during various phases of the project.

Extent to which applicant provides a

detailed and adequate plan for

evaluating study results and for

evaluating progress toward achieving

project objectives.

4. Budget (Not Scored): Extent to

which applicant presents a detailed,

line-item budget with a detailed

narrative justification (by line-item) that

is consistent with the purpose and

objectives of this cooperative agreement.

5. Animal Subjects (Not Scored): Does

the application adequately address the

requirements of PHS Policy on Humane

Care and Use of Laboratory Animals?

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with the original plus

two copies of:

1. Progress reports (semiannual);

2. Financial Status Report (FSR), no

more than 90 days after the end of the

budget period; and

3. Final FSR and performance report,

no more than 90 days after the end of

the project period.

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 I in the

application kit.

AR–3 Animal Subjects Requirements

AR–7 Executive Order 12372 Review

AR–10 Smoke-Free Workplace

Requirements

AR–11 Healthy People 2010

AR–12 Lobbying Restrictions

AR–15 Proof of Non-Profit Status

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized under

sections 301(a) and 317(k)(2) of the

Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C.

sections 241(a) and 247b(k)(2)], as

amended. The Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC [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 obtain additional information,

contact: Merlin Williams, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, Room 3000,

2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA

30341–4146, Telephone: (770)488–2765,

E-mail address: mqw6@cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance,

contact: Dr. James N. Mills, Special

Pathogens Branch, Division of Viral and

Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for

Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton

Road, N.E., M/S G–14, Atlanta, Georgia

30333, Telephone: (404)639–1396.

Dated: May 11, 2000.

Henry S. Cassell, III,

Acting, Director, Procurement and Grants

Office, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 00–12341 Filed 5–16–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement Number 00111]

Development and Testing of New

Medications for Treatment of Emerging

Infectious Diseases; 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 the development and

testing of new medications for emerging

infectious diseases. 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 Immunization and

Infectious Diseases. For the conference

copy of ‘‘Healthy People 2010’’, visit the

internet site http://www.health.gov/

healthypeople.

The purpose of this program is for the

development and testing of new antiinfectious agents developed from

natural products primarily for use in

humans. Of particular, but not exclusive

interest are anti-infective agents for

parasitic diseases. Projects may include,

but are not limited to a range of

activities such as identifying promising

agents, purifying or creating them,

optimizing them for clinical use, and

testing them.

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

organizations, State and local

governments or their bona fide agents,

and federally recognized Indian tribal

governments, Indian tribes or Indian

tribal organizations.

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