40292 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 / Notices

Respondents (form name) Number of

respondents

Number of

responses/

respondent

Average

burden/response (in

hours)

Total burden (in

hours)

Positive Tuberculin Skin Tests (TST’s) Form .................................................................. 15 1 0.333 3

Negative TST’s Form ....................................................................................................... 46 1 0.333 46

Dated: July 22, 1998

Charles Gollmar,

Acting, Associate Director for Policy,

Planning, and Evaluation, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 98–20082 Filed 7–27–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Announcement Number 98102]

Asthma Surveillance With an

Emphasis on Children; Notice of

Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year

1998

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) and the National

Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

(NHLBI) of the National Institutes of

Health (NIH) announce the availability

of fiscal year (FY) 1998 funds for

cooperative agreements for asthma

surveillance activities.

The purpose of this project is to build

a model framework for asthma

surveillance with a particular focus on

asthma in children. The specific

objectives are:

1. To further develop, refine, and

document asthma surveillance activities

focused on (but not exclusive to)

children;

2. To document and evaluate

surveillance activities as to the source of

data, effort needed to access the data,

accuracy, cost, use of the data, and

value of the data to contribute to

development of a model asthma

surveillance plan; and

3. To prepare reports, visuals, and

examples of use of previously collected

data to be used within the State and as

models for other health agencies.

This announcement is related to the

priority area of Environmental Health.

B. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are State health

agencies or major local health agencies

with a population base greater than

1,000,000 persons with asthma

surveillance and multiple data sources

analyzed that address the population of

the entire State or jurisdiction. This

eligibility includes health agencies or

other official organizational authority

(agency or instrumentality) of the

District of Columbia, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any

territory or possession of the United

States.

Eligible applicants may enter into

contracts and consortia agreements and

understandings as necessary to meet the

requirements of the program and

strengthen the overall application. The

intent to use the above mechanisms

must be stated in the application and

the nature and scope of work of these

mechanisms requires the approval of

CDC and NHLBI.

C. Availability of Funds

Approximately $400,000 will be

available in FY 1998 to support this

program with an average award of

$65,000. It is expected that up to 6

awards will begin on or about

September 30, 1998, and will be made

for a 12-month budget and project

period. Funding estimates may change.

D. Cooperative Activities

In conducting activities to achieve the

purpose of this program, the recipient

will be responsible for the activities

under 1. Recipient Activities, and CDC

and NHLBI will be responsible for the

activities under 2. CDC and NHLBI

Activities.

1. Recipient Activities:

a. Using existing data from previously

analyzed data sources, prepare

presentations of the asthma-related data

(e.g. as reports, visuals, press releases)

focusing primarily on children with

asthma for use within the State and as

examples for all States;

b. Demonstrate the usefulness of data

collected for the purpose of planning

and evaluating intervention program

activities and for educating persons

affected by asthma, the media, and the

general public;

c. Document the source, effort, cost,

use, sensitivity and other measures of

data accuracy, representativeness,

timeliness of the data; and the

contribution of the data source to the

State’s total asthma surveillance effort;

d. Document lessons learned in the

conduct of asthma surveillance

activities; and

e. Participate through workshops,

conference calls, and correspondence

with other grantees in the development

of (1) a model asthma surveillance

strategy for States and (2) an asthma

prevalence questionnaire.

2. CDC and NHLBI Activities:

a. Collaborate with the recipient in all

stages of the project and coordinate joint

activities among all grantees;

b. Provide programmatic technical

assistance as appropriate;

c. Convene meetings of all grantees

and facilitate documentation of an

asthma surveillance model and an

asthma prevalence questionnaire; and

d. Work with participants to prepare

reports summarizing the project.

E. Application Content

Use the information in the

Cooperative Activities, Other

Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria

sections to develop the application

content. Applications 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 20 double-spaced pages, printed on

one side, with one inch margins, and

unreduced 12 point or 12 pitch font.

All graphics, maps overlays, etc.,

should be in black and white and meet

the above criteria. Include each of the

following sections:

1. Description of Problem

Describe what is known of the asthma

problem in the State or jurisdiction,

focusing primarily, but not exclusively,

on children; the challenges experienced

to date, specific to asthma surveillance

in your State, experiences with similar

problems related to surveillance of other

diseases/conditions, and a brief

description of success in addressing

them.

2. Program Purpose

For each of the elements cited in the

program purpose, provide specific

objectives that are realistic, timephased, measurable.

3. Program Plan

Submit a plan that describes how the

project objectives will be achieved. The

plan must address the following topics:

a. Briefly describe what state-wide

data are currently available; what have

already been analyzed, and how those
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 / Notices 40293

data have been presented and used to

date (note: Examples might be included

as appendices.);

b. Describe plans for new presentation

of the data;

c. Describe your ability to evaluate a

surveillance system as presented in

‘‘Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance

Systems’’, Morbidity and Mortality

Weekly Report (MMWR) supplement S–

5, Vol. 37, May 6, 1998; and

d. Document assurance of ability to

travel to Atlanta and to participate in

surveillance model building activities.

4. Management and Staffing Plan

Identify the principal investigator,

e.g., an epidemiologist, who will

oversee project activities and participate

in model-building activities and a

health educator/program specialist for

data use activities.

5. Evaluation

Describe how progress made toward

meeting objectives will be evaluated and

documented.

6. Budget

Grant funds should be used to

supplement asthma surveillance

resources in the State and can include

items such as personnel, equipment,

printing, etc.

F. Application Submission and

Deadline

1. Applications

The original and 2 copies of the

application PHS Form 5161–1 (revised

5/96) must be submitted to David

Elswick, Grants Management Specialist,

Grants Management Branch,

Procurement and Grants Office, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE.,

Room 300, Mailstop E–13, Atlanta, GA

30305, on or before August 31, 1998.

2. Deadlines: Applications shall be

considered as meeting the deadline

above if they are either: (1) Received on

or before the deadline date; or (2) sent

on or before the deadline date and

received in time for submission to the

independent review group. (Applicants

should request a legibly dated U.S.

Postal Service postmark or obtain a

legibly dated receipt from a commercial

carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private

metered postmarks shall not be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

G. Evaluation Criteria

The application will be reviewed and

evaluated according to the following

criteria:

1. Quantity and quality of existing

asthma surveillance efforts (maximum

40 points).

The extent to which existing asthma

surveillance data and data sources

covering the entire State or jurisdiction

have been documented; the quantity

and quality of data sources; the

understanding of the data, and

experience in the use of the data.

2. Measurable Objectives and Plan

(maximum 20 points).

The consistency of the measurable

objectives, which should include a

particular focus on asthma in children,

with the stated purpose of the

cooperative agreement; the anticipated

ability to meet the objectives according

to the specified time table, and the

adequacy of the applicants plan to carry

out the proposed activities.

3. Management and Staffing Plan

(maximum 20 points).

The extent to which the proposal has

described the qualifications and

commitment of the applicant, and the

qualifications and level of effort of the

key project staff.

4. Understanding the Problem

(maximum 10 points).

Evidence of the applicant’s

understanding of the problem (asthma

and asthma surveillance) and the

purpose of the cooperative agreement.

5. Proposed Evaluation Plan

(maximum 10 points).

The adequacy of the applicant’s plan

to monitor progress toward meeting the

objectives of the project.

6. Budget (not scored).

The extent to which the budget is

reasonable, adequately justified, and

consistent with the intended use of the

cooperative agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with the original and

two copies of:

1. Semi-annual progress reports

including the following for each goal or

activity involved in the study: (a) A

comparison of actual accomplishments

to the objectives established for the

period; (b) the reasons for slippage if

objectives were not met; (c) other

pertinent information including, when

appropriate, analysis and explanation of

unexpectedly high costs for

performance; and

2. Final financial status report and a

final progress report are due no more

than 90 days after the end of the project

period.

Send all reports to: David Elswick,

Grants Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC), Room

300, Mailstop E–13, 255 East Paces

Ferry Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30305.

The following additional

requirements are applicable to this

program. For a complete description of

each, see Addendum 1 in the

application kit.

AR98–9 Paperwork Reduction Act

Requirements

AR98–8 Public Health System

Reporting Requirements

AR98–10 Smoke-Free Workplace

Requirements

AR98–11 Healthy People 2000

AR98–12 Lobbying Restrictions

AR98–7 Executive Order 12372

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized under the

Public Health Service Act, sections 301

and 317 (42 U.S.C. 241 and 246). The

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

number assigned to this project is

93.283.

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 Announcement 98102.

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

announcement number 98102 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: David Elswick, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Announcement 98102,

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East

Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS E–13,

Atlanta, GA 30305–2209, telephone

(404)842–6803.

See also the CDC home page on the

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov

A copy of the ‘‘Guidelines for

Evaluating Surveillance Systems’’ may

be obtained from the Internet at http://

www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/

mmwrhtml/ 00001769.htm.

Programmatic technical assistance can

be obtained from Leslie Boss, Air

Pollution and Respiratory Health

Branch, Division of Environmental

Hazards and Health Effects, National

Center for Environmental Health,

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Mailstop F–39, 4770 Buford

Highway, NE., Atlanta, Georgia, 30341–

3724, telephone (770) 488–7329.
40294 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 144 /Tuesday, July 28, 1998 / Notices

Dated: July 22, 1998.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).

[FR Doc. 98–20097 Filed 7–27–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 98092]

The Epidemiology of Opportunistic

Infections in Bone Marrow Transplant

Recipients; Notice of 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 Epidemiology of

Opportunistic Infections in Bone

Marrow Transplant Recipients. This

program addresses the ‘‘Healthy People

2000’’ priority area of Immunization and

Infectious Diseases. The purpose of the

program is to provide assistance for a

study to assess the epidemiology of

opportunistic infections (OIs) in bone

marrow transplant (BMT) recipients in

the mid-1990s. For this study, a BMT is

defined as any hematopoietic cell

transplant of any type (autologous,

syngeneic, or allogeneic), with

transplanted cells collected from either

the donor’s bone marrow or peripheral

blood. An OI is defined as any infection

which occurs with increased frequency

or severity in BMT recipients. The goals

of this study are: (a) to identify the

important OIs in inpatients and

outpatients, both pediatric and adult,

and autologous and allogeneic BMT

recipients who have received stem cells

harvested from donor bone marrow or

blood, and (b) to describe recent trends

in BMT OI epidemiology to help set

priorities for BMT OI prevention

strategies.

B. Eligible Applicants

Maximum Competition

Applications may be submitted by

public and private nonprofit

organizations whose functions include

collecting and disseminating national

BMT data and coordinating information

about OIs in BMT recipients. Eligible

applicants must perform or collect OI

data on ≤ 100 new BMTs per year in

order to maximize the number of BMT

recipients under surveillance, and

therefore increase the power of the

study.

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 1998 to fund approximately 1–2

awards. It is expected that the average

award will be $70,000 ranging from

$50,000–140,000. It is expected that the

awards will begin on or about

September 30, 1998 and will be made

for a 12-month budget period within a

project period of one (1) year. Funding

estimates may change.

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 the activities

listed under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

a. Develop a plan to identify the

important OIs, including new and

emerging ones, which have occurred

during the mid-1990s in a retrospective

cohort of BMT recipients. Previously,

important BMT OIs have included

cytomegalovirus, influenza A and B,

respiratory syncytial virus, S.

pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae

type b, Toxoplasma gondii,

Pneumocystis carinii, and invasive

Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.

Important OIs in the mid-1990s may

include some or all of these agents.

b. Develop case definitions for

specific BMT OIs.

c. Design a study to determine the

epidemiology of OIs in BMT recipients

in the mid-1990s. This should include

methods to determine risk factors and

incidence rates of important Ois.

d. Develop a plan for quality

assurance to ensure completeness and

accuracy of data.

e. Interpret, publish, and disseminate

findings.

2. CDC Activities

a. Collaborate on planning and

designing the study. Assist with the

development of OI case definitions.

b. Provide assistance as requested by

recipient(s).

c. Collaborate in data management,

and in quality assurance.

d. Perform Statistical analysis as

requested.

e. In collaboration with recipient(s),

assist with interpretation of data.

f. Facilitate dissemination of findings.

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 15 double-spaced pages, printed on

one side, with one inch margins, and

unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

Submit the original and five copies of

PHS 398 (OMB Number 0925–

0001)(adhere to the instructions on the

Errata Instruction Sheet for PHS398).

Forms are in the application kit. On or

before August 30, 1998, submit the

application to: Van Malone, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Announcement 98092,

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, Room 300, 255 East Paces

Ferry Road, NE., M/S E18, 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.

Plan (10 points)

Extent to which applicant presents a

detailed operational plan for initiating

and conducting the project, which

clearly and appropriately addresses all

Recipient Activities.

Objectives (15 points)

Extent to which applicant describes

specific objectives of the proposed

project which are consistent with the

purpose and goals of this cooperative

agreement program and which are

measurable and time-phased.

Methods (30 points)

Extent to which applicant describes

specific study protocols or plans for the

development of study protocols that are

appropriate for achieving project

objectives. The extent the proposed plan

includes the inclusion of women,