[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69110-69113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29087]
[[Page 69109]]
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Part IV
Department of Commerce
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Joint Program Announcement on Climate Variability and Human Health for
FY 2003; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 220 / Thursday, November 14, 2002 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 021108269]
RIN 0648-ZB33
Joint Program Announcement on Climate Variability and Human
Health for FY 2003; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), in Collaboration With; National Science Foundation (NSF),
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and EPRI (Formerly the Electric
Power Research Institute)
AGENCY: Office of Global Programs, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
SUMMARY: With the intent of stimulating integrated multidisciplinary
studies and enhancing institutional collaboration, National Oceanic
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Electric Power
Research Institute (EPRI), announce our interest in receiving research
proposals to improve our understanding of the human health consequences
related to climate variability and enhance the integration of useful
climate information into public health policy and decision-making. This
joint announcement is intended to support the formation of
multidisciplinary teams working in close collaboration on integrated
projects to illuminate the human, biological, and physical pathways by
which climate may affect human health, and which explore the potential
for applying climate and environmental information toward the goal of
improved public health. We are also interested in understanding how the
human health impacts and responses related to climate variability
affect our knowledge of potential consequences of, and adaptation and
vulnerability to, longer term changes in the climate system.
Relevance of This Joint Announcement
Published in 2001, the U.S. National Research Council (NRC) report
``Under the Weather: Climate, Ecosystems and Infectious Disease''
highlights the need for strengthening research on the linkages between
climate and infectious disease and recommends highly interdisciplinary
collaboration involving modelers, meteorologists, climatologists,
ecologists, social scientists, and a wide array of medical and public
health professionals. The report recognizes that the effectiveness of
disease early warning systems will depend upon the context in which
they are used, and recommends that the development of such systems
should involve the active participation of the system's end users.
Also, the U.S. National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of
Climate Variability and Change, Health Sector Report, published in
2000, calls for a greater scientific understanding of the causal
relationships between climate and human health, and the need to take an
interdisciplinary approach that actively involves decisionmakers and
practitioners.
Several multi-agency sponsored workshops such as the American
Academy of Microbiology Colloquium on Climate Variability and Human
Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, and the workshop on Climate
Change and Vector-borne and other Infectious Disease: A Research
Agenda, called for cross-agency collaboration in supporting integrated
research in this emerging discipline. The 1999 NRC report, Global
Environmental Change: Research Pathways for the Next Decade, recognizes
that climate may have important impacts on human health but that
further study is necessary, and that such studies must also address
issues of social vulnerability and adaptability.
It is well recognized that although early research has demonstrated
a connection between climate and health in some cases, more rigorous
and interdisciplinary research is required. This, coupled with an
evolving capacity to understand and predict natural changes in the
climate system, and a desire to develop and provide climate and
environmental information for social benefit, particularly in the
public health sector, has driven demand for improved understanding of
the relationship between climate variability and human health.
Both the scientific research results and recommendations stemming
from various reports and meetings highlight the complexity of the
research questions and the need for a coordinated multi-agency and
interdisciplinary approach. The very nature of the research required
cuts across disciplinary boundaries, and spans a range of agency
missions and mandates and private sector interests. The NOAA Office of
Global Programs is interested in the effective use of climate
information in climate-sensitive sectors. The NSF focuses on broadly
based fundamental research to improve understanding of the Earth
system. EPA is concerned with the impacts of climate change and
variability on human health, and EPRI addresses key research gaps in
climate change and human health. This announcement is offered as an
experimental mechanism to fill critical gaps in climate variability and
human health research and to coordinate funding of overlapping agency
and institutional interests in such research. Other private sector
organizations interested in jointly funding research through this
announcement process should contact the NOAA Program Manager, Juli
Trtanj (301) 427-2089, ext. 134, or Internet: [email protected].
Research projects will be funded for a one, two or three year period.
Program Objectives
The overarching goal of this announcement is to develop and
demonstrate the feasibility of new approaches or field studies that
investigate or validate well-formed hypotheses or models of climate
variability and health interactions.
This announcement is offered as part of an interagency effort to
build an integrated climate and health community. Proposed research
submitted under this announcement is encouraged to build on existing
research activities, programs, research sites and facilities, or data
sets.
Proposal Requirements and General Guidance
Research teams should include, at a minimum, one investigator each
from the public health or medical response, ecology, and climate
communities working in close collaboration on an integrated project.
Research proposals submitted under this announcement are strongly
encouraged to include components addressing either the adaptation or
vulnerability of human and public health systems to climate
variability, or an economic analysis of using climate information, or
both. (See Criteria for Evaluation b). The funding partners will look
favorably on research activities that involve end-users from the public
health arena (i.e., local public health officials, regional or
international health organizations, other public health or disaster
management agencies and institutions) and which address the means by
which public health policy and decision-makers can use their research
results. (See Criteria d). Investigators are encouraged to demonstrate
that they will disseminate research results through formal presentation
during at least one professional meeting and publication in a peer-
reviewed journal. (See Criteria b).
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Investigators should also plan to participate in an annual meeting
of researchers funded under this announcement. This meeting will be
organized by the funding partners and is intended to facilitate
midpoint discussions of research and methodology as well as
presentations of final research results. The participation of other
team members, particularly new researchers at the graduate and
postdoctoral level, is highly encouraged.
DATES: Unless otherwise noted, strict deadlines by which NOAA OGP must
receive proposals for submission to the FY 2003 process are: Pre-
proposals must be received by OGP no later than August 30, 2002, and
full proposals must be received no later than November 29, 2002;
Applications who have not received a response to their pre-proposal
within four weeks should contact the program manager: Juli Trtanj (301)
427-2089, ext. 134 or internet: [email protected]. The time from
target date to grant award varies. We anticipate that review of full
proposals will occur in February 2003, for most approved projects.
June 1, 2003, may be used as the earliest proposed start date on
the proposal, unless otherwise directed by the Program Manager.
Applicants should be notified of their status within six months of full
proposal submission. All proposals must be submitted in accordance with
the requirements listed below. Failure to heed the requirements may
result in proposals being returned without review.
ADDRESSES: All submissions should be directed to: Office of Global
Programs (OGP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1100
Wayne Avenue, Suite 1225, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma duPree at the above address or
phone (301) 427-2089, exit. 107, fax: (301) 427-2222, Internet:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Funding Availability
NOAA, NSF, EPA, and EPRI believed that research on the relationship
between climate variability and human health will benefit significantly
from a strong partnership with outside investigators. An estimated 1.5
million will be available for FY03. Current plans assume that over 50%
of the total resources provided through this announcement will support
extramural efforts, particularly those involving the broad academic
community. Additional funding may be provided by NOAA, NSF, EPA, or
EPRI.
This Program Announcement is for projects to be conducted by
investigators both inside and outside of NOAA, NSF, EPA, and EPRI. The
funding instrument for extramural awards will be a grant unless it is
anticipated that any of the funding entities will be substantially
involved in the implementation of the project, in which case the
funding instrument should be a cooperative agreement. Examples of
substantial involvement may include but are not limited to proposals
for collaboration between a funding entity or funding entity scientist,
and a recipient scientist or technician and/or contemplation by NOAA,
NSF, or EPA of detailing Federal personnel to work on proposed
projects. NOAA, NSF, and EPA will make decisions regarding the use of a
cooperative agreement on a case-by-case basis. This program does not
require matching share.
2. Eligibility
Participation in this competition is open to all institutions
eligible to receive support for NOAA, NSF, EPA, and EPRI. For awards to
be issued by NOAA, eligible applicants are institutions of higher
education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations,
foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments, international organizations, state, local and Indian
tribal governments and Federal agencies. Applications from non-Federal
and Federal applicants will be competed against each other. Proposals
selected for funding from non-Federal applicants will be funded through
a project grant or cooperative agreement under the terms of this
notice. Proposals selected for funding from NOAA employees shall be
effected by an interagency funds transfer. Proposals selected for
funding from a non-NOAA Federal Agency will be funded through an
interagency transfer. Before non-NOAA Federal applicants may be funded,
they must demonstrate that they have legal authority to receive funds
from another federal agency in excess of their appropriation. Because
this announcement is not proposing to procure goods or services from
applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is not an appropriate
legal basis.
3. Program Authority
NOAA Authority: U.S.C. 2931 et seq.; (CFDA No. 11.431)--Climate
and Atmospheric Research.
NSF Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1861-75; (CFDA No. 47.050)--
Geosciences.
EPA Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7403(a); 42 U.S.C. 7403(b); 42 U.S.C.
7403(g); 15 U.S.C. 2907(a); (CFDA No. 66.500)--Office of Research
and Development.
Guidelines for Submission
1. Pre-Proposals
(a) Pre-proposals should be no longer than eight pages in length
(no attachments will be accepted) and include the names and
institutions of all investigators, a statement of the problem,
description of data and methodology including names of data sets and
types of models or analysis, a general budget for the project, a
description of intended use of results for public health policy and
decision making, and brief biographical sketches for each investigator.
Pre-proposals can be submitted electronically to Irma duPree at
[email protected], unless other arrangements have been made with the
Program Manager. Pre-proposals must be prepared using a 10 point font
or larger, with one-inch margins. Pre-proposals longer than eight pages
or with attachments will not be accepted.
(b) The Program Officers will evaluate the pre-proposals.
(c) Submission of pre-proposals is not a requirement, but it is in
the best interest of the applicants and their institutions.
(d) Facsimile and e-mail submissions are acceptable for pre-
proposals only.
(e) Projects deemed unsuitable during pre-proposal review will not
be encouraged to submit full proposals.
(f) Investigators who are not encouraged to submit full proposals
will not be precluded from submitting full proposals.
2. Criteria for Evaluation
Below are the criteria for evaluation that will be used for making
award decisions. Pre-proposals will be evaluated on ability to meet
these criteria.
(a) Scientific Merit--60% (to include: Methodology, proof of data
quality and availability, experience of team and team members, and
relevant peer-reviewed publications).
(b) Responsiveness to announcement--20%.
(c) Explicit multidisciplinary participation and collaboration--
10%.
(d) Potential for use by climate, ecology and health community or
public/environmental health community--10%.
3. Selection Procedures and Review Process
The Program Officers will not be voting members of an independent
peer
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panel. Each Program Officer will individually rank the proposals
considering the recommendations and evaluations of the independent peer
panel and the program policy factors listed below. The Federal Agency
Program Officers will then make the funding selections taking into
account these rankings, the panel review and evaluations, and program
policy factors listed below. Proposals are usually awarded in the
numerical order they are ranked based on the independent peer mail
review or the independent peer panel review. However, the Program
Officers may consider the following program policy factors:
(a) Whether proposals do not substantially duplicate other projects
that are currently funded by NOAA, other Federal agencies or funding
sources; (b) whether proposals do not substantially duplicate other
proposals submitted in response to this announcement; (c) whether
proposals funded maximize use of available funds; and (d) whether
proposal cost falls within remaining funds available. As a result of
this review, the Program Officers may decide to select an award out of
order. The Program Officers will also determine the total duration and
amount of funding for each selected proposal. Both agency and non-
agency experts in the field may be used in this process.
Unsatisfactory performance by a recipient under prior Federal
awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.
Federal agency employees are subject to statutes pertaining to non-
disclosure and confidentiality requirements protecting proprietary
information that may be contained in applications submitted for
potential funding. Non-Federal evaluators have agreed in writing to
similar non-disclosure and confidentiality provisions. Please note,
however, that should EPRI or another participating private organization
which jointly funds research under this notice select an application
for funding, none of the participating Federal agencies is responsible
for any unauthorized disclosure of information that may occur on any
dispute that may arise.
4. Proposal Submission
The following forms are required in each application, with original
signatures on each federal form. Failure to comply with these
provisions will result in proposals being returned without review.
(a) Full Proposals: (1) Proposals submitted to the NOAA Climate and
Global Change Program must include the original and two unbound copies
of the proposal. (2) Investigators are required to submit 3 copies of
the proposal; however, the normal review process requires 20 copies.
Investigators are encouraged to submit sufficient proposal copies for
the full review process if they wish all reviewers to receive color,
unusually sized (not 8.5 x 11''), or otherwise unusual materials
submitted as part of the proposal. Only three copies of the federally
required forms are needed. (3) Proposals must be limited to 40 pages
(numbered), including abstract, results of prior research, statement of
work, budget justification, budget, investigators' vitae, and all
appendices. Append information may not be used to circumvent the page
length limit. Federally mandated forms are not included within the page
count. (4) Proposals should be sent to the NOAA Office of Global
Programs at the above address. (5) Facsimile transmissions and
electronic mail submission of full proposals will not be accepted.
(b) Required Elements: All proposals must include the following
elements:
(1) Signed title page: The title page must be signed by the
Principal Investigator (PI) and the institutional representative. If
more than one investigator is listed on the title page, please identify
the lead investigator. The PI and institutional representative should
be identified by full name, title, organization, telephone number and
address. The amount of Federal funds being requested should be listed
for each budget period and for the total project.
(2) Abstract: An abstract must be included and should contain an
introduction of the problem, rationale and a brief summary of work to
be completed. The abstract should appear on a separate page, headed
with the proposal title, institution(s), investigator(s), total
proposed cost and budget period.
(3) Results from prior research: The results of related research
activities should be described, including their relation to the
currently proposed work. Reference to each prior research award should
include the title, agency or institution, award number, PIs, period of
award and total award. The section should be a brief summary and should
not exceed two pages total.
(4) Statement of work: The proposed project must be completely
described, including identification of the problem, scientific
objectives, proposed methodology, and relevance to the announcement.
Benefits of the proposed project to the general public and the
scientific community should also be discussed. A summary of proposed
work must be included clearly indicating that the proposed work is
achievable. The statement of work, including references but excluding
figures and other visual materials must not exceed 15 pages of text.
(5) Budget Justification: A brief description of the expenses
listed on the budget and how they address the proposed work. Itemized
justification must include salaries, equipment, publications, supplies,
tuition, travel, etc.
(6) Budget; the proposal must include total and annual budget
corresponding with the descriptions provided in the statement of work.
A sample budget sheet can be found in the standard NOAA application
kit-Federal Applicants must submit a Standard Form 424 94-92)
``Application for Federal Assistance'', including a detailed budget
using the Standard Form 424a (4-92), ``Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs''. The form is included in the standard NOAA
application kit. Additional text to justify expenses should be included
as necessary. Federal researchers should contact Irma duPree at (301)
427-2089 ext. 107, for guidance regarding the types of forms required
for submission. Additionally, Federal researchers should provide, with
their application, the appropriate statutory authority that allows
their agency to receive funds from another Federal agency to complete
the work outlined in their proposal.
(7) Vitae: Abbreviated curriculum vitae are sought with each
proposal. Reference lists should be limited to 10-15 of the most recent
and relevant publications with up to five other relevant papers.
(8) Current and pending support: For each investigator, submit a
list that includes project title, supporting agency with grant number,
investigator months, dollar value and duration. Requested values should
be listed for pending support.
(9) List of suggested reviewers: The cover letter may include a
list of individuals qualified and suggested to review the proposal. It
also may include a list of individuals that applicants would prefer to
not review the proposals. Such lists may be considered at the
discretion of the Program Offices.
(c) Other requirements: Applicants may obtain a Standard NOAA
application kit from the Program homepage at http://www.ogp.noaa.gov/,
or from Irma duPree at the Program Office (301) 427-2089 X107. Primary
applicant certification--All primary applicants must submit a completed
Form CD-511, ``Certification Regarding
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Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements and Lobbying'' Applicants are also hereby
notified of the following:
1. Nonprocurment Debarment and Suspension-Prospective participants
(as defined at 26 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to 15 CFR part
26, ``Nonprocurment Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies.
2. Drug Free workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, Government-wide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions'', and the lobbying section of
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever
is greater; and (4) Anti-Lobbying disclosures--Any applicant that has
paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds must submit an SF-LLL.
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part
28, appendix B.
(d) Lower Tier Certifications:
(1) Recipients must require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
contracts, subcontracts, or lower tier covered transactions at any tier
under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-512,
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and
Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and
disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' Form CD-
512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted
to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should
be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in
the award document.
(2) Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable
Federal laws and Federal and Department of Commerce policies,
regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal Financial assistance
awards.
(3) Pre-award Activities--If applicants incur any costs prior to an
award being made, they do so solely at their own risk of not being
reimbursed by the Government. Notwithstanding any verbal assurance that
may have been received, there is no obligation to the applicant on the
part of Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
(4) This program is subject to the requirements of OMB Circular No.
A-110, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other
Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other
Non-Profit Organizations'', and 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to
State and Local Governments'', as applicable. Applications under this
program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs.''
(5) All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of, or
are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicant's
management, honesty, or financial integrity.
(6) A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
(7) No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has
an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
(i) The delinquent account is paid in full, (ii) A negotiated
repayment schedule is established and at least one payment is received,
or (iii) Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce
are made.
(8) Buy American-Made Equipment or Products--Applicants are
encouraged that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased
with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the
maximum extent feasible.
(9) The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the
proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total
proposed direct cost dollar amount in the application, whichever is
less.
(e) If an application is selected for funding, the Department of
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with the award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the
Department of Commerce.
(f) In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations, no person
on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability
shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or be
subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving
financial assistance from the NOAA Climate and Global Change program.
The NOAA Climate and Global Change Program does not have direct TDD
(Telephonic Device for the Deaf) capabilities, but can be reached
through the State of Maryland supplied TDD contact number, 800-735-
2258, between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Classification: This notice contains collection-of-information
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of
Standard Forms 424, 424A, and SF-LLL have been approved by OMB under
the respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, and 0348-0046.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paper Reduction
Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB control
number. This notice has been determined to be not significant for
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Louisa Koch,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-29087 Filed 11-13-02; 8:45 am]
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