Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2001 / Notices 12935

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention

[Program Announcement Number 01030]

Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance;

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

program for Central Nervous System

Injury Surveillance activities, consisting

of the following parts: Core Traumatic

Brain Injury (TBI) Surveillance (Part A);

and Enhanced TBI Surveillance (Part B).

This Program addresses the ‘‘Healthy

People 2010’’ focus areas for Injury and

Violence Prevention. The purpose of the

program is to develop and sustain injury

surveillance programs with a focus on

central nervous system injuries,

particularly TBI. The goal of this

program is to produce data of

demonstrated quality that will (a) be

useful to State injury prevention and

control programs and (b) enable national

estimates of TBI incidence and public

health consequences.

B. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to

the official public health departments of

States or their bona fide agents,

including the District of Columbia, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of

the Northern Mariana Islands, American

Samoa, Guam, federally recognized

Indian tribal governments, the

Federated States of Micronesia, the

Republic of the Marshall Islands, and

the Republic of Palau.

Applicants must submit one

application for either Part A alone or for

Parts A and B combined. Applicants

cannot apply for Part B only. To be

eligible, all applicants must provide

evidence of: (a) An existing statewide

population-based surveillance system

for TBI-related hospitalizations and

deaths, (b) the availability of at least one

year of data from the TBI surveillance

system (describing cases occurring in

calendar year 1998 or 1999), and (c)

existing legislation and/or regulations

that support current collection of

necessary TBI data. Applications that

fail to submit evidence of (a), (b), and (c)

will be considered non-responsive and

will be returned without review.

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 $1,350,000 is available

in FY 2001 to fund approximately 12

awards:

Part A: Core TBI Surveillance—

Approximately $960,000 is available to

fund approximately 12 awards. It is

expected that the average award will be

$80,000. It is expected that the awards

will begin on or about August 1, 2001,

and will be made for a 12-month budget

period within a project period of up to

3 years. Funding estimates may change.

Part B: Enhanced TBI Surveillance—

Approximately $390,000 is available to

fund approximately 6 of the 12 above

(Part A). It is expected that the average

additional award will be $65,000. It is

expected that the awards will begin on

or about August 1, 2001, and will be

made for a 12-month budget period

within a project period of up to 3 years.

Funding estimates may change.

Applicants must be approved for part

A in order to be eligible to receive part

B funding.

Continuation awards within an

approved project period will be made

on the basis of satisfactory progress, as

evidenced by required reports, and on

the availability of funds.

Note: Funds awarded may not be used to

supplant funds available from other sources

to the recipient to conduct similar activities.

Funding may not be used to provide patient

care or management. Funds are not to be

used for construction purposes or for rental

of office space or for the purchase or rental

of furniture or vehicles.

Funding Preferences

During the selection process, CDC

may attempt to ensure a balanced

geographic distribution of funded TBI

surveillance projects.

D. Program Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the

purpose of this program, the recipient

will be responsible for the activities

under 1. and 2. (Recipient Activities),

and CDC will be responsible for the

activities listed under 3. (CDC

Activities).

1. Recipient Activities for Part A (all

recipients):

a. Conduct statewide surveillance of

TBI, consistent with standard

definitions and methods for core

surveillance, described in the current

CDC Guidelines for Central Nervous

System Injury Surveillance. This

includes linking and unduplicating data

obtained from State vital records (death

certificates and/or multiple-cause-ofdeath data) and statewide hospital

discharge data (or equivalent data),

including data elements that describe

diagnosis, demographics, external

cause, and survival status.

b. Conduct yearly evaluations of the

surveillance system to assess the

predictive value positive and sensitivity

of case ascertainment as well as the

completeness and validity of the data

collected.

c. Analyze and interpret collected

data.

d. Link surveillance activities and

findings to State injury prevention and

control activities, including CDC Core

State Injury Surveillance and Program

Development, where applicable.

e. Provide representative(s) to CDCsponsored meetings for Cooperative

Agreement recipients.

2. Additional Recipient Activities for

Part B:

a. Review medical records to obtain

data for additional variables (e.g.,

‘‘optional’’ variables described in the

CDC Guidelines), that address severity

of injury, circumstances and etiology of

injury, and early outcome of injury, in

a large representative sample (e.g., n

≈1000) of reported cases of TBI-related

hospitalization.

b. Analyze and interpret collected

data.

3. CDC Activities:

a. Provide technical assistance, if

necessary, for effective project planning

and management.

b. Provide technical assistance to

evaluate the surveillance system for

completeness and validity.

c. Facilitate communication/

coordination among States to improve

efficiency of activities and quality of

data.

d. Coordinate meetings for

Cooperative Agreement recipients, to be

held annually.

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 proposal narrative (excluding

budget narrative and any appendices)

should be no more than 25 doublespaced pages for Part A, or an additional

10–15 pages if also applying for Part B,

printed on one side with one inch

margins, and no smaller than 12-point

font. If applying for Parts A and B,

include a separate budget and narratives

that are clearly identified as ‘‘Part A’’

and ‘‘Part B.’’ Number each page

consecutively and provide a complete

12936 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2001 / Notices

table of contents. The entire application

with appendices should be no longer

than 70 pages total.

Applications should include:

1. Executive Summary (one page, may

be single spaced): This section (used to

determine eligibility) should briefly

summarize:

a. amount of federal assistance

requested in dollar amounts for Part A

and, if applicable, Part B.

b. existing capacity, i.e., (a) the

existence of a statewide populationbased surveillance system for TBIrelated hospitalizations and deaths, (b)

the most recent year for which data from

the TBI surveillance system have been

analyzed, and (c) existing legislation

and/or regulations that support current

collection of necessary TBI data.

c. major objectives and activities

proposed.

2. Application Narrative:

a. Introduction, review of the

literature, and statement of need.

b. Existing TBI surveillance program

and capacity.

c. Proposed goals and objectives.

d. Proposed methods and activities.

e. Project management and project

staff.

f. Proposed methods to evaluate the

attainment of objectives.

g. Description of capacity, methods,

activities, and staff specific to Part B, if

applicable.

h. Budget narrative, including

justification for all proposed

expenditures. If applying for part B,

submit a separate budget.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

Prospective applicants are asked to

submit a letter of intent that includes

the number and title of the

announcement, a descriptive title of the

proposed program, the name, address,

and telephone number of the Principal

Investigator and whether applying for

Part A only or Parts A and B. Although

a letter of intent is not required, is not

binding, and is not used in the review

of an application, the information that it

contains is used to estimate the

potential review workload and avoid

any potential conflict of interest in the

review. The letter of intent should be

submitted on or before April 2, 2001 to

the Grants Management Specialist

identified in the ‘‘Where to Obtain

Additional Information’’ section of this

announcement.

Application: Submit the original and

2 copies of PHS 5161–1 (OMB Number

0937–0189). Forms are in the

application kit. On or before May 2,

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 objective review panel. (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

and scored individually by an objective

review panel. All applications will be

evaluated and scored first for Part A and

subsequently, where applicable, for Part

B.

Evaluations and scoring for Part A

will be conducted according to the

following criteria:

1. Review of Literature and Statement of

Need: (5 Points)

Consistent with this Program

Announcement, the extent to which the

applicant reviews key literature relevant

to the proposed project, and the extent

to which the applicant describes needs

within the jurisdiction to which the

applications are responsive.

2. Existing TBI Surveillance Program

and Capacity: (20 Points)

The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates authority to collect and

maintain necessary TBI surveillance

data. The extent to which the applicant

describes an effective existing TBI

surveillance system whose methods,

including case definitions, are

consistent with CDC Guidelines, with

demonstrated timeliness of case

ascertainment, completeness of case

ascertainment, and ability to analyze

data. The extent to which the applicant

provides evidence of successful TBI

surveillance activities, including:

a. a summary of current (i.e., 1998 or

1999) TBI morbidity and mortality data

analyzed by age, sex, and cause;

b. an evaluation of TBI surveillance

data quality (e.g., predictive value

positive, completeness, timeliness).

3. Goals and Objectives: (10 Points)

The extent to which objectives are

specific, achievable, practical,

measurable, time-linked, and consistent

with the overall purposes described in

this announcement.

4. Methods and Activities: (35 Points)

The extent to which the proposed

methods and activities can achieve the

proposed objectives, consistent with the

purposes of this announcement. The

extent to which clear explanations of

appropriate methods addressing case

ascertainment and data collection, TBI

case definition(s), data elements,

sources and availability of data,

protection of confidentiality, and data

processing and analysis.

5. Management and Staffing: (20 Points)

The extent to which the staffing plan

indicates the applicant’s ability to carry

out the objectives of the program.

Considerations include: organizational

structure, staff qualifications,

experience, degree of stability

maintaining current staff in critical

positions, identified training needs or

plan, and job descriptions and curricula

vitae for both proposed and current

staff. Also, the extent to which the

applicant plans to coordinate activities

with any other injury surveillance,

prevention, and control programs or

activities in the applicant’s

organizations.

6. Evaluation: (10 Points)

The degree to which the applicant

includes plans to evaluate the

attainment of proposed objectives,

including plans to evaluate the

sensitivity and predictive value positive

of case ascertainment and the

completeness and quality of data.

7. Budget and Justification: (Not Scored)

The extent to which the budget is

reasonable, clearly justified, and

consistent with stated objectives and

proposed activities.

Part B will be evaluated and scored

according to the following criteria:

1. Existing Capacity for Enhanced TBI

Surveillance: (30 Points)

The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates appropriate existing

capacity to collect and analyze optional

data (e.g., describing TBI severity,

circumstances, and early outcome) from

a representative sample of cases

reported to the TBI surveillance system.

2. Methods for Enhanced TBI

Surveillance: (70 Points)

The extent to which the applicant

proposes appropriate methods and

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2001 / Notices 12937

activities to collect and analyze optional

data consistent with the Program

Requirements for Part B, including

sampling methods and proposed

staffing.

3. Budget and Justification: (Not Scored)

The extent to which the budget is

reasonable, clearly justified, and

consistent with stated objectives and

proposed activities.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

Provide CDC with original plus 2

copies of:

1. Semi-annual progress reports.

2. Financial status report, no more

than 90 days after the end of the budget

period.

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.

For descriptions of the following

Other Requirements, see Attachment I

in the application package:

AR–7—Executive Order 12372 Review

AR–9—Paperwork Reduction Act

Requirements

AR–10—Smoke-Free Workplace

Requirements

AR–11—Healthy People 2010

AR–12—Lobbying Restrictions

AR–13—Prohibition on Use of CDC

Funds for Certain Gun Control

Activities

AR–21—Small, Minority, and WomenOwned Businesses

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

This program is authorized under

sections 301(a), 317(k)(2), 391, 392,

393A, 394, and 394A [42 U.S.C. 241(a),

247b(k)(2), 280b, 280b–1, 280b–2, 280b–

3] of the Public Health Service Act, as

amended. The Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

J. Where To Obtain Additional

Information

This and other CDC announcements

are available through the CDC home

page on the Internet at: 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

leave your name and address, and will

be instructed to identify the

announcement number of interest.

If you have questions after reviewing

the contents of all the documents,

business management assistance may be

obtained from: Angie Nation, Grants

Management Specialist, Announcement

#01030, Grants Management Branch,

Procurement and Grants Office, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention,

2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 3000,

Atlanta, GA 30341–4146, Telephone

number (770) 488–2719, Email address:

aen4@cdc.gov.

For program technical assistance,

contact: Renee Johnson, MSPH, CDC

National Center for Injury Prevention

and Control, 4770 Buford Highway, NE,

Mailstop F41, Atlanta, GA 30341–3724,

Telephone (770) 488–4031, Email

address: nba7@cdc.gov.

For a copy of the CDC Guidelines for

Central Nervous System Injury

Surveillance, contact: Patricia Allen,

CDC National Center for Injury

Prevention and Control, 4770 Buford

Highway, NE, Mailstop F41, Atlanta, GA

30341–3724, Telephone (770) 488–4031,

Email address: pca9@cdc.gov.

CDC does not guarantee to accept or

justify its nonacceptance of

recommendations that are received

more than 60 days after the application

deadline.

Dated: February 23, 2001.

John L. Williams,

Director, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC).

[FR Doc. 01–4937 Filed 2–28–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

Proposed Information Collection

Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

Title: Study of the TANF Application

Process.

OMB No. New Collection.

Description: The Study of the TANF

Application Process is designed to

provide systematic information about

how application policies and processes

have changed under TANF, and how

States define and count applications

and application results. The Study will

also explore how application polices are

implemented in a sample of local TANF

offices and will collect data on

individuals’ application decisions,

experiences, and outcomes. In addition,

the Study will also collect information

on the availability and quality of Statecollected data on the TANF application

process. The primary purpose of this

Study is to provide useful information

to be considered in the upcoming TANF

reauthorization process.

Respondents: The respondents for the

Mail Questionnaire are the 50 States, the

District of Columbia, and the U.S.

Territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and

the Virgin Islands. Eighteen States will

be respondents to the State Telephone

Survey, 54 individuals for the Openended Interviews for Case Studies, six

States for Case Abstractions, and 1200

individuals for the follow-up Telephone

Interviews with Applicants and Nonapplicants.

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES

Instrument Number of

Respondents

Number of

Responses

per

Respondent

Average

Burden

Hours per

Response

Total

Burden

Hours

18-State Telephone Survey ............................................................................. 18 1 3 54

54-State Mail Questionaire .............................................................................. 54 1 6 324

Open-ended interview for Case Studies .......................................................... 54 1 1.5 81

Follow-up Telephone Interview with Applicants and Non-applicants .............. 1200 1 .33 396

Case abstractions—pulling case files for contractor review and abstraction .. 6 1 20 120

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: .................................................... 975