Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 19, 2000 / Notices 20985

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 00073]

Research Grants for Investigating the

Cost, Onset, and Development of

Community Measurements of

Secondary Conditions in Persons With

Disabilities; Notice of Availability of

Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000

research grant funds. The purpose of

this program is to support research

projects in three Focus Areas related to:

(1) Cost identification of secondary

conditions; (2) determining patterns

related to the onset and course of

secondary conditions among persons

with disabilities; and (3) the

development of measures and

instruments at the community level to

assess those environmental factors that

contribute to or mitigate the

development of secondary conditions.

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

area of Disability and Secondary

Conditions. For the conference copy of

‘‘Healthy People 2010,’’ visit the

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

healthypeople.

B. Eligible Applicants

Applications may be submitted by

public and private non-profit

organizations, including universities;

university-affiliated systems, including

not-for-profit medical centers; research

institutions and rehabilitation hospitals;

State health departments and other

related State government agencies; 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 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 $3,500,000 will be

available in FY 2000 to fund 10 to 12

research grants. It is expected that the

average award for projects in Focus

Areas 1 and 3 will be $280,000, ranging

from $240,000 to $320,000. It is

expected that awards in Focus Area 2

will not exceed $350,000.

It is anticipated that awards will begin

on or before September 1, 2000, for a

twelve month budget period within a

project period of up to three years.

Funding estimates are subject to change.

Continuation awards within an

approved project period will be based

on satisfactory progress as evidenced by

required reports, monitoring conducted

by the funding agency, and the

availability of funds.

Applicants cannot include activities

related to more than one Focus Area in

the same proposal. In the event that an

applicant elects to address more than

one Focus Area, complete and separate

applications must be submitted.

Use of Funds

Grant funds may be used to support

personnel services, supplies,

equipment, travel, subcontracts, and

other services directly related to project

activities consistent with the approved

scope of work. Project funds cannot be

used to supplant other available

applicant or collaborating agency funds,

for construction, for lease or purchase of

facilities or space, or for patient care.

Project funds cannot be used for

individualized preventive measures

(direct patient support) such as for

wheelchairs, medical appliances, or

assistive technology unless specifically

approved by the funding agency.

CDC will sponsor annual workshops

for all grantees. By virtue of accepting

an award, applicants will have agreed to

use grant funds to travel to and

participate in these workshops.

Applicants should budget travel funds

for two staff members to attend one

workshop in Atlanta during the first

year, and also for two staff members to

participate in the Disability Forum of

the American Public Health Association

conference in Boston in November 2000.

Funding Preferences

The precise number of awards in each

of the three Focus Areas is not yet

known, but CDC anticipates that no

fewer than three awards will be made in

each Focus Area. Scores and rankings of

applications reviewed will be

distinguished by individual Focus Area.

Award decisions will be made

according to Focus Area. The CDC

review and award decision process will

take into account achieving a balance of

projects based on targeted population

groups of persons with disabilities

selected for emphasis, methodological

variation, and geographical distribution

considerations, such as urban/rural

distinctions. CDC has an expressed

interest in considering applications that

address multiple diagnostic categories

of persons with disabilities within the

research design.

D. Programmatic Interests

The programmatic interest is centered

on the following:

Focus Area 1: This Focus Area

includes research on selected secondary

conditions using cost identification

methods (i.e., ‘‘cost analysis’’, ‘‘cost

itemization,’’ ‘‘cost inventory’’), or, at

the discretion of the applicant,

expansion of cost identification research

to incorporate methods of costeffectiveness analysis. As a foundation,

proposed research under this Focus

Area must utilize cost identification

methods. This research can also include

fundamental cost identification

augmented by cost-effectiveness

analysis, or cost-utility analysis which

is a specialized form of costeffectiveness analysis.

This research can include identifying

costs and outlays for: (i) The individual,

care givers, or third party payers; costs

for personal care assistance services; (ii)

costs for adaptive equipment and

technology; (iii) costs of interventions

applied toward preventing or treating

secondary conditions; and (iv) direct

costs related to treatment of the

underlying disability itself, as

distinguished from direct costs

associated with the identified secondary

conditions.

Focus Area 2: This Focus Area is

designed to measure patterns of onset

and course of selected secondary

conditions that undermine and

adversely affect the quality of life and

independence of persons with

disabilities. Methods for measuring

patterns of onset can rely on direct

observation of a currently ongoing or

newly established cohort of

participants, or statistical modeling

using observational data derived from a

currently ongoing or newly established

cohort of participants.

As an option within Focus Areas 1

and 2, applicants can target persons

with disabilities as a population at large

or can also select one or more

demographic sub-populations (or

combinations of sub-populations) such

as women, men, members of ethnic

minority groups, children, adolescents,

older adults specified by age range,

persons with limb loss, etc., as discrete

populations for inclusion in the

research design.

Focus Area 3: This Focus Area

includes research to develop

measurements of the community

environment as outlined in the ICIDH–

20986 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 19, 2000 / Notices

2 framework. The ‘‘ICIDH–2’’ refers to

the revision of the ‘‘International

Classification of Impairments,

Disabilities, and Handicaps,’’ now

entitled the ‘‘International Classification

of Functioning and Disability.’’ This

document states that ‘‘environmental

factors make up the physical, social and

attitudinal environment in which

people live and conduct their lives. The

factors are external to individuals and

can have a positive or negative

influence on a person’s participation as

a member of society, on performance of

activities of a person, or on a person’s

body function or structure.’’

The primary goals for research

proposed and conducted within Focus

Area 3 should be to develop and

subsequently disseminate reliable,

valid, and realizable measurement

instruments that assess or quantify the

various kinds of environmental factors

affecting persons with disabilities in

their communities.

E. Program Requirements

The Focus Areas described in the

Programmatic Interests section convey

the investigative characteristics of

proposed research that meet the

intention of this announcement. The

following are program requirements: (1)

Develop a work plan; (2) describe the

potential collaborators and

organizational structures; (3) outline the

research methods and management

approach; and (4) disseminate the

results of the research among persons

with disabilities, disability service

organizations, advocacy groups,

governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and

researchers.

F. Application Content

The PHS 398 grant application form

requires the applicant to enter the

project title on page 1 (Form AA, ‘‘face

page’’) and the project description

(abstract) on page 2 (Form BB).

Applicants are requested to identify

their selected Focus Area at the

beginning of the text within the space

provided for the project description

(abstract) on Form BB.

The main body of the application

narrative should not exceed 40 doublespaced pages. For purposes of this

announcement, note that this maximum

number of pages allowed exceeds the

maximum number of pages (25 pages)

indicated in the PHS 398 grant

application form (Form CC, ‘‘Research

Grant Table of Contents’’). The budget

justification and biographical sketch

sections do not count toward the

maximum page limit. Pages must be

numbered and printed on only one side

of the page. All material must be

typewritten, with 10 characters per inch

type (12 point) on 81⁄2′′ by 11′′ white

paper with at least 1′′ margins, headers

and footers (except for applicantproduced forms such as organizational

charts, graphs and tables, etc.).

Applications must be held together only

by rubber bands or metal clips, and not

bound together in any other way.

Attachments to the application should

be held to a minimum in keeping to

those items required or referenced by

this announcement.

Use the information in the Program

Requirements, Other Requirements, and

Evaluation Criteria sections to develop

the application content. Your

application will be evaluated according

to the criteria listed in those sections of

this announcement, so it is important to

follow them in laying out your program

plan.

G. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

A Letter of Intent may be submitted

by prospective applicants. It must

identify this announcement number,

name the proposed project director, and

cite the applicant’s selected Focus Area

of emphasis. The letter will not be used

to eliminate potential applicants, but it

will enable CDC to determine the level

of interest in the announcement and

plan the review more efficiently.

Facsimile or e-mail messages will not be

accepted as a Letter of Intent response.

On or before May 18, 2000, submit the

Letter of Intent to the Grants

Management Specialist identified in the

‘‘Where to Obtain Additional

Information’’ section of this

announcement.

Application

Submit the original and five copies of

PHS–398 NIH Form (OMB Number

0925–0001) and adhere to the

instructions on the Errata Instruction

Sheet for PHS–398. Forms are available

for download at http://www.cdc.gov or

in the application kit.

On or before June 22, 2000, submit the

application to the Grants Management

Specialist identified in the ‘‘Where to

Obtain Additional Information’’ section

of this announcement.

Deadline: Applications will 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 objective review group. (Applicants

must 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 will not be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

Late Applications: Applications that

do not meet the criteria in (a) or (b)

above will be considered late. Late

applications will not be considered in

the current competition and will be

returned to the applicant.

H. Evaluation Criteria (Total 100

Points)

Applications will be reviewed and

evaluated individually against the

following criteria by an independent

review group appointed by CDC. A

separate independent review group will

be assigned to review applications in

each of the three Focus Areas.

1. Evidence of Understanding and

Protocol Planning: (10 Points)

Evaluation will be based on:

a. The applicant’s description of the

public health significance of secondary

conditions and adherence to the

purposes of this announcement,

including current activities in place

related to the study of secondary

conditions, their prevention, and/or the

disabling process.

b. The rationale for determining and

addressing the selected Focus Area from

among those outlined in the

Programmatic Interests section.

c. As applicable, the applicant’s

approach to developing an inventory of

necessary cost, economic, and other

relevant disability data sources; the

process by which study populations or

community settings would be identified;

and the feasibility of initiating all

protocol/research development

components on schedule at the outset of

the project.

2. Research Resources and

Organizational Capacity: (20 Points)

Evaluation will be based on:

a. The capability of the applicant to

conduct the project, taking into account

its institutional experience and current

activities in the field proposed for this

research.

b. The ability of the applicant to

ensure timely and complete access to

needed economic and demographic

data, selected population(s), or

community data related to the selected

Focus Area over the entire course of the

project.

c. The capacity to provide evidence of

effective organizational collaborations,

research linkages and formal agreements

(including contractual), enabling the

applicant to meet all project

implementation and operational

requirements.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 19, 2000 / Notices 20987

d. Depending on the selected Focus

Area, the applicant’s competencies in:

(1) Concepts of cost identification;

(2) Methods for assessing the onset

and course of secondary conditions;

(3) Understanding and use of the

ICIDH–2; and

(4) working with the disability

community and other partners to

improve access and independence for

persons with disabilities in the

environmental aspects of the

community settings chosen for

investigation.

3. Research Approach: (40 Points)

Evaluation will be based on:

a. The appropriateness with which

the proposed methods, sources of data,

and project linkages convincingly and

comprehensively meet the intention of

this announcement.

b. The overall strength of the research

design including:

(1) The rationale, feasibility, and

appropriateness of the study protocol

and methods to be employed in relation

to the purpose and programmatic

interests outlined in this announcement;

(2) Inclusion and discussion of case

definitions, methods of enrolling and

managing cohorts, and/or enlisting

community input;

(3) The quality and scope of the data

collection and data analysis plan,

including a description of the strengths

and weaknesses of each data set relative

to the proposed project;

(4) Ready access to key background

and foundational data sets and

literature;

(5) The adequacy of the calculated

statistical power and the potential

capacity of the research design to

generate observations of hypothesized

or meaningful effects during the study

period;

(6) The quality and scope of the plan

to ensure that the confidentiality of all

study participants would be preserved;

(7) The process by which the research

will be tracked and evaluated; and

(8) the potential for effectively

addressing start-up activities and

specific and measurable research

objectives during the first year of the

proposed project.

c. The feasibility of the project related

to:

(1) Prompt assembling of an effective

research team with the experience and

time commitments to promote full

attention to implementing the study

design;

(2) The potential degree of reliability

and replicability of the study; and

(3) The overall plan for completing

the analyses, and disseminating the

findings and recommendations of the

research in subsequent presentations

and publications for benefit to other

populations, including applications for

national use.

4. Management Plan and Project Goals

and Objectives: (30 Points)

Evaluation will be based on:

a. The presentation of the detailed

management work plan and approach,

the accounts of the project’s location

and functional capacity within the host

organizational structure, and the process

by which the applicant will meet all

goals and objectives of the proposed

project.

b. The degree to which approaches to

meeting proposed goals and specific

objectives are convincing, and the

likelihood of achieving those objectives

within the prescribed time frames. This

includes the presentation of overarching

goals for the entire three year project

period with a detailed work plan

denoting monthly or quarterly

objectives covering the first two budget

years.

c. The presentation of the specified

tasks and responsibilities to be assigned

for all positions proposed for financial

assistance, and for other personnel

contributing to the project.

d. The process for overall evaluation

of the entire project including the

assignment of responsibility for ongoing

review of specified components.

e. The degree to which the applicant

has met the CDC policy requirements

regarding the inclusion of women,

ethnic minorities, and racial groups in

the proposed research. This includes:

the proposed plan for the inclusion of

racial ethnic minority populations and

both sexes for appropriate

representation; the proposed

justification when representation is

limited or absent; a statement as to

whether the design of the study is

adequate to measure differences when

warranted; and 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.

f. The applicant’s approach to

providing opportunities for persons

with disabilities to participate in project

operations, activities, and

administrative or research staffing.

5. Project Budget: (Not Scored)

This includes the adequacy of the

applicant’s proposed budget in relation

to program operations, collaborations,

and services; the degree of cost-sharing;

and the extent to which the budget is

reasonable, clearly justified, accurate,

and consistent with the purpose of this

announcement.

6. Human Subjects: (Not Scored)

This includes the degree to which the

applicant proposes to comply with

Department of Health and Human

Services regulations (45 CFR Part 46)

regarding the protection of human

subjects.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with an original, plus

two copies of:

1. Semi-annual progress reports, due

30 days after the close of each six-month

period based on the starting date of the

project;

2. Financial Status Reports, due no

later than 90 days after the end of each

budget period; and

3. Final Financial Status Reports and

performance reports, due 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 the ATTACHMENT in the

application kit.

AR–1 Human Subjects Requirements

AR–2 Requirements for Inclusion of

Women and Racial and Ethnic

Minorities in Research

AR–10 Smoke-Free Workplace

Requirements

AR–11 Healthy People 2010

AR–12 Lobbying Restrictions

AR–14 Accounting System

Requirements

AR–15 Proof of Non-Profit Status

J. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized by section

301(a) (42 U.S.C. 241(a)) and section 317

(42 U.S.C. 247b) of the Public Health

Service Act, as amended. The Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance number is

93.184.

K. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC Program

Announcements can be found on the

CDC web site. The CDC home page

address on the Internet is: http://

www.cdc.gov.

To receive additional written

information and to request an

application kit, call 1–888-GRANTS4

(1–888–472–6874). You will be asked to

20988 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 19, 2000 / Notices

leave your name, address, and

telephone number and instructed to

identify the announcement number of

interest.

If you have questions after reviewing

the contents of all the documents,

business management technical

assistance can be obtained from:

William Paradies, Grants Management

Specialist, Grants Management Branch,

Procurement and Grants Office, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room

3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341–

4146,Telephone (770) 488–2721,

Internet address: wep2@cdc.gov

General program assistance can be

obtained from: Joseph B. Smith,

Disability and Health Branch, National

Center for Environmental Health, CDC,

4770 Buford Highway, Building 101,

Mailstop F–29, Atlanta, Georgia 30341,

Telephone (770) 488–7082, Internet

address: jos4@cdc.gov

Research-related technical assistance

for Focus Areas 1 and 2 is available

from: John F. Hough, Dr.P.H., National

Center for Environmental Health, CDC,

4770 Buford Highway, Building 101,

Mailstop F–29, Atlanta, Georgia 30341,

Telephone (770) 488–7830, Internet

Address: jph7@cdc.gov

Research-related technical assistance

for Focus Area 3 is available from:

Donald J. Lollar, Ed.D., National Center

for Environmental Health, CDC, 4770

Buford Highway, Building 101, Mailstop

F–29, Atlanta, Georgia 30341,

Telephone (770) 488–7094, Internet

address: dcl5@cdc.gov

Dated: April 11, 2000.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office.

[FR Doc. 00–9456 Filed 4–18–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

[Program Announcement No. 93631–00–02]

Developmental Disabilities: Request

for Public Comments on Proposed

Developmental Disabilities Funding

Priorities for Projects of National

Significance for Fiscal Year 2000

AGENCY: Administration on

Developmental Disabilities (ADD), ACF,

DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for public

comments on developmental disabilities

tentative funding priorities for Projects

of National Significance for Fiscal Year

2000.

SUMMARY: The Administration on

Developmental Disabilities (ADD)

announced that public comments are

being requested on tentative funding

priorities for Fiscal Year 2000 Projects

of National Significance prior to being

announced in its final form.

We welcome comments and

suggestions on this proposed

announcement and funding priorities

that will assist in bringing about the

increased independence, productivity,

integration, and inclusion into the

community of individuals with

developmental disabilities.]

DATES: The closing date for submission

of comments is June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent

to: Sue Swenson, Commissioner,

Administration on Developmental

Disabilities, Administration for Children

and Families, Department of Health and

Human Services, 370 L’Enfant

Promenade, SW, Room 300F,

Washington, DC 20447.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Administration for Children and

Families (ACF), Pat Laird, 370 L’Enfant

Promenade, SW, Room 300F,

Washington, DC, 20447, 202/690–7447.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

announcement consists of two parts:

Part I

Background

A. Goals of the Administration on

Developmental Disabilities

The Administration on

Developmental Disabilities is located

within the Administration for Children

and Families, Department of Health and

Human Services (DHHS). Although

different from the other ACF program

administrators in the specific

constituency it serves, ADD shares a

common set of goals that promote the

economic and social well being of

families, children, individuals and

communities. Through national

leadership, we see:

• Families and individuals

empowered to increase their own

economic independence and

productivity;

• Strong, health, supportive

communities having a positive impact

on the quality of life and the

development of children;

• Partnerships with individuals,

front-line service providers,

communities, States and Congress that

enable solutions which transcend

traditional agency boundaries;

• Services planned and integrated to

improve client access; and

• A strong commitment to work with

Native Americans, individuals with

developmental disabilities, refugees and

migrants to address their needs,

strengths and abilities.

Emphasis on these goals and progress

toward them will help more

individuals, including those with

developmental disabilities, to live

productive and independent lives

integrated into their communities. The

Projects of National Significance

Program is one means through which

ADD promotes the achievement to these

goals.

Two issues are of particular concern

with these projects. First, there is a

pressing need for networking and

cooperation among specialized and

categorical programs, particularly at the

service delivery level, to ensure

continuation of coordinated services to

people with development disabilities.

Second, project findings and successful

innovative models of projects need to be

made available nationally to policy

makers as well as to direct service

providers.

B. Purpose of the Administration on

Developmental Disabilities

The Administration on

Developmental Disabilities is the lead

agency within ACF and DHHS

responsible for planning and

administering programs that promote

the self-sufficiency and protect the

rights of individuals with

developmental disabilities.

The 1996 Amendment (Public Law

104–183) to the Developmental

Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights

Act (42 U.S.C. 6000 et seq.) (the Act)

supports and provides assistance to

States and public and private nonprofit

agencies and organizations to assure

that individuals with developmental

disabilities and their families participate

in the design of and have access to

culturally competent services, supports,

and other assistance and opportunities

that promote independence,

productivity and integration and

inclusion into the community.

The Act points out that:

• Disability is a natural part of the

human experience that does not

diminish the right of individuals with

developmental disabilities to enjoy the

opportunity for independence,

productivity and inclusion into the

community;

• Individuals whose disabilities occur

during their development period

frequently have severe disabilities that

are likely to continue indefinitely;

• Individual with developmental

disabilities often require lifelong

specialized services and assistance,

provided in a coordinated and

culturally competent manner by many