Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 98 /Thursday, May 21, 1998 / Notices 27981

work (e.g. data-linking, survey design or

administration, qualitative analysis),

and the contractors have not been

retained, reviewers will consider the

process by which they will be selected.

Ratings may consider references on

prior research projects. Principal

investigator and staff time commitments

also will be a factor in the evaluation.

Reviewers will rate the applicant’s

pledge and ability to work in

collaboration with other scholars or

organizations in search of similar goals.

Reviewers also will evaluate the

applicant’s demonstrated capacity to

work with a range of government

agencies.

4. Ability of the Work Plan and

Budget to Successfully Achieve the

Project’s Objectives. (20 points).

Reviewers will examine if the work plan

and budget are reasonable and sufficient

to ensure timely implementation and

completion of the study and whether

the application demonstrates an

adequate level of understanding by the

applicant of the practical problems of

conducting such a project. Adherence to

the work plan is particularly important

because it is necessary in order to

produce results in the time frame

desired; demonstration of an applicant’s

ability to meet the schedule will be an

important part of this criterion.

Reviewers will also examine the use of

any additional funding and the role that

funds provided under this

announcement will play in the overall

project. The proposed strategy for

dissemination of analysis results and

data will also be considered. It should

also discuss in detail how resulting data

will be made available to qualified

researchers and to ASPE. As noted

above, ASPE prefers that the data be

edited as appropriate for confidentiality

and issued as a public-use data file. If

the applicant believes that provision of

a public-use file would be impossible,

the application should explain why and

should fully articulate how the

applicant will make the data available to

qualified researchers and to ASPE.

5. Ability to Sustain Project After

Funding (5 points). Reviewers will

consider whether the proposal

adequately addresses the following

questions: How will the tracking of

outcomes for these populations become

an institutionalized function within the

agency once the grant funding expires?

Where will the newly created data set

reside? What agency(ies) will have

responsibility for and jurisdiction over

the resulting data? What are the sources

of financial and staff support for

maintaining the database? How will the

data be used for future policy planning,

research and evaluation?

Disposition of Applications

1. Approval, disapproval, or deferral.

On the basis of the review of the

application, the Assistant Secretary will

either (a) approve the application as a

whole or in part; (b) disapprove the

application; or (c) defer action on the

application for such reasons as lack of

funds or a need for further review.

2. Notification of disposition. The

Assistant Secretary for Planning and

Evaluation will notify the applicants of

the disposition of their applications. If

approved, a signed notification of the

award will be sent to the business office

named in the ASPE checklist.

3. The Assistant Secretary’s

Discretion. Nothing in this

announcement should be construed as

to obligate the Assistant Secretary for

Planning and Evaluation to make any

awards whatsoever. Awards and the

distribution of awards among the

priority areas are contingent on the

needs of the Department at any point in

time and the quality of the applications

which are received.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance number is 93–239.

Components of a Complete Application

A complete application consists of the

following items in this order:

1. Application for Federal Assistance

(Standard Form 424);

2. Budget Information—Nonconstruction Programs (Standard Form

424A);

3. Assurances—Non-construction

Programs (Standard From 424B);

4. Table of Contents;

5. Budget Justification for Section B

Budget Categories;

6. Proof of Non-profit Status, if

appropriate;

7. Copy of the applicant’s Approved

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, if

necessary;

8. Project Narrative Statement,

organized in five sections addressing the

following topics:

(a) Abstract,

(b) Goals, Objectives and Usefulness

of the Project,

(c) Methodology and design,

(d) Background of the Personnel and

Organizational Capabilities and

(e) Work plan (timetable);

9. Any appendices or attachments;

10. Certification Regarding Drug-Free

Workplace;

11. Certification Regarding

Debarment, Suspension, or other

Responsibility Matters;

12. Certification and, if necessary,

Disclosure Regarding Lobbying;

13. Supplement to Section II—Key

Personnel;

14. Application for Federal Assistance

Checklist.

Dated: May 13, 1998.

Margaret A. Hamburg,

Assistant Secretary for Planning and

Evaluation.

[FR Doc. 98–13473 Filed 5–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4151–04–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 98090]

Evaluation of Health-Care Worker

Glove Protection During Surgery and

Effects of Storage, Chemicals,

Disinfectants on Glove Integrity;

Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 1998

funds for a cooperative agreement

program for the evaluation of healthcare worker glove protection during

surgery and the effects of storage,

chemicals, and disinfectants on glove

integrity. This program addresses the

‘‘Healthy People 2000’’ priority area(s)

area of Occupational Safety and Health.

The purpose of the program is to

evaluate gloves (non-latex polymer e.g.,

nitrile, vs natural latex rubber (NLR)) in

surgery; (veterinary surgery is suggested

as a surrogate for human surgery) and to

evaluate the effects of storage

conditions, disinfectants, detergents,

other chemicals, and blood and body fat

on vinyl, NLR, and non-latex polymer

examination gloves and latex and nonlatex polymer surgical gloves.

B. Eligible Applicants

Applications may be submitted by

public and private nonprofit and forprofit organizations and by governments

and their agencies; that is, universities,

colleges, research institutions, hospitals,

other public and private nonprofit and

for-profit organizations, State and local

governments or their bona fide agents.

Note: Pub. L. 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 $600,000 is available

in FY 1998 to fund approximately three

awards, preferably at least one in each

category (A and B). It is expected that
27982 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 98 /Thursday, May 21, 1998 / Notices

the average award will be $200,000,

ranging from $150,000 to $300,000. It is

expected that the awards will begin on

or about September 1, 1998, 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: The applicant should

allocate funds for at least one annual

CDC/NIOSH directed meeting.

Programmatic Interest

The applicant may address either or

both of the components identified

below:

A. Evaluate the degradation

characteristics of examination and

surgical gloves.

B. Evaluation of the similarities and

differences of NLR and non-latex gloves

during surgery including protection of

wearer from needlestick and other sharp

injuries (puncture and tear resistance)

and worker acceptance.

D. Cooperative Agreement

Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the

purpose of this program, the recipient

will be responsible for activities under

A. (Recipient Activities), and CDC/

NIOSH will be responsible for the

activities listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH

Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

1. Develop, implement, and evaluate

a study protocol.

2. Provide statistical analysis of the

data.

3. Disseminate study results to the

scientific community.

4. Collaborate with CDC/NIOSH on

these activities and the activities listed

below.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

1. Providing scientific and technical

collaboration including study design

and protocol development, and data

analysis.

2. Monitor and evaluate scientific and

operational accomplishments of the

project through site visits, telephone

calls, and review of technical reports

and interim data analysis.

3. Collaborate with awardee(s) on data

analysis, and interpretation of findings.

4. Review the results of the study and

collabroate, where appropriate, in the

preparation and publication of results in

peer-reviewed journals.

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 25 double-spaced pages, printed on

one side, with one inch margins, and

unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Submit the original and five copies of

PHS–398 (OMB Number 0925–

0001)(adhere to the instructions on the

Errata Instruction Sheet for PHS 398).

Forms are in the application kit. On or

before July 23, 1998, submit the

application to: Victoria Sepe, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Announcement 98090,

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East

Paces Ferry Road, NE., M/S E–13,

Atlanta, Georgia 30305–2209.

If your application does not arrive in

time for submission to the independent

review group, it will not be considered

in the current competition unless you

can provide proof that you mailed it on

or before the deadline (i.e., receipt from

U.S. Postal Service or a commercial

carrier; private metered postmarks are

not acceptable).

G. Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated

individually against the following

criteria by an independent review group

appointed by CDC.

1. Understanding of the Problem (15%)

Responsiveness to the objective of the

cooperative agreement including: (a)

Applicant’s understanding of the

general objectives of the proposed

cooperative agreement, and (b) evidence

of ability to design an effective

evaluation study.

2. Experience (15%)

The extent to which the applicant’s

prior work and experience in

developing and performing laboratory

assay (Part A) and/or surgical assays

(Part B).

3. Goals, Objectives and Methods (35%)

The extent to which the proposed

goals and objectives are clearly stated,

time-phased, and measurable. The

extent to which the methods are

sufficiently detailed to allow assessment

of whether the objectives can be

achieved for the budget period. Clearly

state the evaluation method for

evaluating the accomplishments. The

extent to which a qualified plan is

proposed that will help achieve the

goals stated in the proposal.

4. Facilities and Resources (10%)

The adequacy of the applicant’s

facilities, equipment, and other

resources available for performance of

this project. The proposal should

include a commitment from the

participating institution, as evidenced

by a written agreement. For applicants

applying to conduct the evaluation of

glove performance in surgery, the

proposal should include a commitment,

as evidenced by a written agreement,

from the chief of surgery, head of

operating room nursing, and other

directors with jurisdiction over the

surgical suite, when such exist at the

applicant’s institution.

5. Project Management and Staffing Plan

(15%)

The extent to which the management

staff and their working partners are

clearly described, appropriately

assigned, and have pertinent skills and

experiences. The extent to which the

applicant proposes to involve

appropriate personnel who have the

needed qualifications to implement the

proposed plan. The extent to which the

applicant has the capacity to design,

implement, and evaluate the proposed

intervention program.

6. Collaboration (10%)

The extent to which all partners are

clearly described and their

qualifications and the extent to which

their intentions to participate are

explicitly stated. The extent to which

the applicant provides proof of support

(e.g., letters of support and/or

memoranda of understanding) for

proposed activities. Evidence or a

statement should be provided that these

funds do not duplicate already funded

components of ongoing projects.

7. 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.

8. Human Subjects (Not Scored)

If human subjects will be involved,

how will they be protected, i.e., describe

the review process which will govern

their participation. The applicant must

demonstrate 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
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 98 /Thursday, May 21, 1998 / Notices 27983

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.

9. Animal Subjects (Not Scored)

If the proposed project involves

research on animal subjects, the

applicant must comply with the ‘‘PHS

Policy on Humane Care and Use of

Laboratory Animals by Awardee

Institutions.’’ An applicant organization

proposing to use vertebrate animals in

PHS-supported activities must file an

Animal Welfare Assurance with the

Office of Protection from Research Risks

at the National Institutes of Health.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with original plus two

copies of:

1. Semi-annual progress reports

including a brief program description

and a listing of program goals and

objectives accompanied by a

comparison of the actual

accomplishments related to the goals

and objectives established for the

period;

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: Victoria Sepe,

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., M/

S E–13, Atlanta, GA 30305–2209.

The following additional

requirements are applicable to this

program. For a complete description of

each, see Addendum I (included in the

application package).

AR98–1 Human Subjects

Requirements

AR98–2 Requirements for Inclusion of

Women and Racial and Ethnic

Minorities in Research

AR98–3 Animal Subjects

Requirements

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

Sections 20(a) and 22(e)(7) of the

Occupational Safety and Health Act of

1970 (29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 671(e)(7)).

The Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance number is 93.262 for the

National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health.

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 NIOSH Announcement

98090. 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 NIOSH

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER 98090

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: Victoria Sepe, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Announcement 98090,

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) 842–6804, Email address:

vxw1@cdc.gov.

See also the CDC home page on the

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance

contact:

Scott Deitchman, M.D., telephone (404)

639–1534, Email sed2@cdc.gov

or

Robert Mullan, M.D., telephone (404)

639–1533, Email rjm1@cdc.gov,

National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV

Activity, 1600 Clifton Rd., NE.,

Mailstop D–40, Atlanta, GA 30333.

National Occupational Research

Agenda (NORA): CDC, NIOSH is

committed to the program priorities

developed by NORA. Copies of the

publication, ‘‘The National

Occupational Research Agenda’’ may be

obtained from The National Institute of

Occupational Safety and Health,

Publications Office, 4676 Columbia

Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226–1998 or

phone 1–800–356–4674, and is available

through the NIOSH Home Page, ‘‘http:/

/www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora.html’’ .

Dated: May 14, 1998.

Diane D. Porter,

Acting Director, National Institute

For Occupational Safety and Health, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 98–13516 Filed 5–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–19–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Announcement Number 98067]

Cooperative Agreement for a Suicide

Prevention Research Center;

Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year 1998

cooperative agreement funds to

establish a Suicide Prevention Research

Center. This program addresses the

Healthy People 2000 priority area of

Violent and Abusive Behavior.

The purposes are:

1. To support Suicide Prevention

Research Center (SPRC) which represent

CDC’s largest national extramural

investment in suicide prevention

research and training, intervention

development, and evaluation;

2. To integrate collectively, in the

context of a national program, the

disciplines of epidemiology, medicine,

biostatistics, public health, and

behavioral and social sciences in order

to prevent injuries from suicidal

behavior more effectively;

3. To identify and evaluate current

and new interventions for the

prevention and control of suiciderelated injuries;

4. To bring the knowledge and

expertise of SPRC to bear on the

development and improvement of

effective public and private sector

programs for suicide prevention and

control; and

5. To facilitate suicide prevention

efforts supported by various

governmental and non-governmental

agencies within a geographic region.

For additional information please see

Addendum 2, Background and

Definitions (included in the application

package).

B. Eligible Applicants

Applications may be submitted by

public and private nonprofit