24380 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2001 / Notices

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized under

Sections 301(a), 311(b) and (c) and

317(k)(2)[42 U.S.C. section 241(a),

243(b) and (c), and 247b(k)(2)], of the

Public Health Service Act, as amended.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance number is 93.938.

J. Where to Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC announcements

can be found on the CDC home page

Internet address—http://www.cdc.gov

Click on ‘‘Funding’’ then ‘‘Grants and

Cooperative Agreements.’’

For more information on effective

programs, visit the Department of

Justice website, http://www.usdoj.gov,

the Department of Education website,

http://www.ed.gov and CDC’s

‘‘Programs That Work’’ website, http://

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/rtc/

index.htm.

Should you have questions after

reviewing the contents of all the

documents, business management

technical assistance may be obtained

from: Cynthia Collins, Grants

Management Specialist, Grants

Management Branch, Procurement and

Grants Office, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, Announcement

01095, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room

3000, Atlanta, GA 30341–4146,

Telephone number: 770–488–2757, Email address: coc9@cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance,

contact: Patricia Dittus, Ph.D., Division

of Adolescent and School Health,

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE,

MS K–33, Atlanta, GA 30341,

Telephone number: 770–488–6196, EMail address: pdittus@cdc.gov.

Dated: May 08, 2001.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).

[FR Doc. 01–11998 Filed 5–11–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 01061]

Longitudinal Studies of Rodent

Reservoirs of Hantaviruses in the

Southwestern United States; Notice of

Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001

funds for a cooperative agreement to

provide assistance for longitudinal

studies of rodent reservoirs of

hantaviruses in the Southwestern

United States. This program addresses

the ‘‘Healthy People 2010’’ focus area of

Immunization and Infectious Diseases.

The purpose of the program is to

continue to improve understanding of

the ecological dynamics of the

transmission cycle of hantaviruses in

their natural host populations and to

provide precise data linking

environmental changes to changes in

rodent population densities and

prevalence of infection. These data will

be used to parameterize mathematical

models that will use satellite-derived

environmental descriptors to predict

changes in risk of hantavirus disease at

precise times and places in North

America.

The preliminary success of the

current studies in identifying

environmental factors that lead to

increased risk of human disease has

illustrated that (1) more precise and

detailed measurements of

environmental variables are required as

input parameters and to calibrate

accurate, predictive, mathematical

models of disease risk; (2) mathematical

models must be calibrated using data

from many years and geographically

dispersed sites; and (3) fine-scale

remotely sensed (satellite) data must be

used in order to make predictive models

generalizable and applicable across

wide geographic areas.

B. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to

the University of New Mexico (UNM),

Colorado State University (CSU), and

Yavapai College (YC).

Hantaviruses have been shown in the

United States to be responsible for

serious human disease, specifically,

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

There have been over 280 identified

cases of HPS, the majority of which

have occurred in the Southwestern

United States. Other North American

species of Hantavirus have now been

described from various sigmodontine

rodent reservoirs, including Sigmodon

hispidus, Peromyscus leucopus,

Oryzomys palustris, Peromyscus boylii,

and Reithrodontomys megalotis. All of

these species, except O. palustris,

coexist in the Southwestern U.S.

A complete understanding of the

cycle of HPS in humans will require

knowledge of the dynamics of viral

infection in the rodent reservoir. Crosssectional studies have identified several

reservoir species, demonstrated the

widespread distribution of infection in

populations of these species and shown

that the prevalence of infection is highly

variable on a spacial scale. Long-term

studies of reservoir populations are

necessary to determine temporal

patterns of infection, incidence rates,

mechanisms of transmission, effects of

climate, habitat quality, and host

populations dynamics on the

transmission cycle, and effects of

infection on host movements, growth,

longevity and population dynamics.

Longitudinal mark-recapture studies

of reservoir populations have been

conducted at established trapping sites

in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico

since 1994 through separate cooperative

agreements with UNM, CSU, and YC.

These academic institutions established

the trapping sites, performed the

research, collected and interpreted the

data, and published the results in peerreviewed scientific literature. Due to the

inherent temporal variability in

environmental, climatological, and

population parameters at the sites,

comparative data must be collected over

a period of many years for the objectives

of long-term studies to be met.

The previous longitudinal studies

have greatly improved understanding of

hantivirus-host ecology and have

elucidated general patterns that

implicate environmental factors that are

associated with increased risk of human

hantaviral disease. Nevertheless, these

data have shown that discerned patterns

vary tremendously both spatially and

temporally. In addition, many

environmental changes are extremely

rare events and conditions that lead to

rodent population irruptions and

human epidemics are infrequent. Thus,

the ultimate usefulness of these studies

depends upon adequate replication in

time and space and their long-term

maintenance.

Note: Title 2 of the United States Code,

Chapter 26, Section 1611 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

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2001 / Notices 24381

award, grant, cooperative agreement,

contract, loan, or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

Approximately $625,000 is available

in FY 2001 to fund approximately three

awards. It is expected that the average

award will be $208,000, ranging from

$100,000 to $250,000. It is expected that

the awards will begin on or about

September 30, 2001, and will be made

for a 12-month budget period within a

project period of up to five 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

availability of funds.

D. Program Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the

purpose of this program, the recipient

shall be responsible for the activities

under 1. (Recipient Activities), and CDC

shall be responsible for conducting

activities under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

a. Conduct longitudinal mark

recapture studies of rodents on existing

established webs in the Southwestern

United States to identify and determine

the dynamics of populations of rodents

that are confirmed or potential

reservoirs of hantaviruses.

b. Develop a plan that will use

ecological techniques that will provide

continuity of rodent sampling and

processing so that data can be

appropriately analyzed and integrated

with previously collected ecological

data from the established sites.

Ecological techniques should include

capture-mark-release and may be

supplemented by radio-tracking.

c. Collect and submit blood samples

on all captured animals for further

laboratory analysis and storage.

d. Identify, characterize, and archive

samples of all rodents collected.

Perform morphological measurements,

karyotypes, allozyme studies, molecular

genetic studies, and other appropriate

studies necessary for characterization of

rodents.

e. Design and conduct concurrent/

parallel studies of vertebrate

populations at sites of future HPS

investigations as appropriate, including

identification, characterization, and

archiving of samples.

f. Carefully monitor environmental

variables that are likely to be associated

with changes in rodent population

density and prevalence of hantavirus

infection. Variables should include, but

are not limited to: Local precipitation,

temperature, and humidity; vegetative

cover and greenness; availability of food

items (seeds of grasses and forbs; oak,

pinyon, and juniper mast; arthropod

biomass).

g. Collaborate with all partners to

analyze and publish study results.

2. CDC Activities

a. Provide consultation and scientific

and technical assistance in the design,

conduct, and evaluation of the project.

b. As necessary, perform appropriate

laboratory testing and analysis of blood

samples from captured animals.

c. Collaborate with the recipient to

analyze and publish study results, as

requested.

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 14 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 June 30, 2001, 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 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 experience and

qualifications of professional personnel

in are suitable for conducting the

studies 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 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 lineitem) that is consistent with the purpose

and objectives of this cooperative

agreement.

24382 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 93 / Monday, May 14, 2001 / Notices

5. Animal Subjects (Not Scored)

Does the application adequately

address the requirements of PHS Policy

on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory

Animals by Awardee Institutions?

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with original plus two

copies of

1. Progress reports semiannually;

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 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–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

This program is authorized under

section(s) 301a (42 U.S.C. 241(a)), 311

(42 U.S.C. 243), 317 (k)(3) (42 U.S.C.

247b(k)(3), and 319(a)) of the Public

Health Service Act, as amended. The

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

number is 93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC 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: Gladys Gissentanna, 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 number: 770–

488–2753, Email address: gcg4@cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance,

contact: Dr. James Mills, National Center

for Infectious Diseases, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 1600

Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333,

Telephone number: 404–639–1396,

Email address: jum0@cdc.gov.

Dated: May 8, 2001.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).

[FR Doc. 01–12002 Filed 5–11–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 01082]

School Health Programs; Notice of

Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001

funds for grant programs entitled

‘‘School Health Programs’’. This

program addresses ‘‘Healthy People

2010,’’ focus areas of Access to Quality

Health Care, Educational and

Community-Based Programs, and Health

Communication.

The purpose of the program is to

establish and strengthen school

programs to prevent serious health

problems among youth.

B. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to

the organizations listed below. No other

applications are solicited. The

Conference Report H.R. 4577,

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001,

specified these funds for the

organizations listed below.

1. Loyola University of Chicago in

collaboration with Proviso East High

School, Maywood, Illinois, and the

Cook County Board of Health to

improve the delivery of on-site primary

care, preventive care and health

outreach to low-income parents and

students in the community. ($135,980).

2. Forum Health of Youngstown,

Ohio, for a pediatric/adolescent asthma

school program and an adult Diabetes

preventive care assessment program.

($879,782).

3. Cross Roads Foundation, for a pilot

project to sponsor single mothers selfhelp groups to improve parenting skills.

($8,740).

Note: Title 2 of the United States Code,

Chapter 26, Section 1611 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 $1,024,502 is available

in FY 2001 to fund three awards. It is

expected that the award will begin on or

about July 15, 2001, and will be made

for a 12-month budget period within a

one year project period. Funding

estimates may change.

D. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC 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 business management

technical assistance contact: Cynthia

Collins, Grants Management Specialist,

Grants Management Branch,

Procurement and Grants Office, Program

Announcement 01082, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, MS

E–18, Atlanta, GA 30341–4146,

Telephone: (770) 488–2757, Email

Address: coc9@cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance,

contact: Holly Conner, Division of

Adolescent and School Health, National

Center for Chronic Disease Prevention

and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP),

4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K–31,

Atlanta, Georgia 30341, Telephone:

(770) 488–3195, E-Mail Address:

hcc3@cdc.gov.

Dated: May 8, 2001.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).

[FR Doc. 01–11999 Filed 5–11–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement 01068]

Texas-Mexico Border Infectious

Disease Monitoring Program; Notice of

Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001

funds for a grant program for a TexasMexico Border Infectious Disease

Monitoring Program. This program

addresses the ‘‘Healthy People 2010’’

focus area of Immunization and

Infectious Diseases.

The purpose of the program is to

initiate emerging infectious disease