[Federal Register: June 26, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 123)]
[Notices]               
[Page 38049-38052]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jn03-91]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03107]

 
Linkages of Acute Care and Emergency Medical Services to State 
and Local Injury Prevention Programs for Terrorism Preparedness and 
Response; Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: July 28, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program announcement is authorized under sections 317(k)(2) of 
the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 247b(k)(2). The 
catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for Linkages of Acute Care and Emergency Medical Services to 
State and Local Public Health programs. This program addresses the 
``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of Injury and Violence Prevention.
    The purpose of this program is to support collaboration between 
national organizations of professionals in acute medical care, trauma, 
emergency medical services (EMS) with state and local public health 
programs and CDC in efficiently and effectively responding to mass 
trauma events resulting from terrorism (Part 1). The recipient of Part 
2 of this cooperative agreement assumes

[[Page 38050]]

a coordination role among award recipients, to assure successful 
collaborative activities.
    This cooperative agreement will facilitate the development of 
relationships that are critical to acute care, trauma, EMS services, 
and public health in responding effectively to mass trauma events 
resulting from terrorism.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for 
Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC):
    [sbull] Increase the capacity of injury prevention and control 
programs to address the prevention of injuries and violence.
    [sbull] Monitor and detect fatal and non-fatal injuries.
    [sbull] Conduct a targeted program of research to reduce injury-
related death and disability.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided to national non-profit and for profit 
professional organizations, with at least 25 members, that address 
either acute care, trauma, or EMS.
    Since the ultimate purpose of this program is to develop the 
capacity of local public health programs to respond effectively to 
terrorism and mass trauma events, assistance is being provided to those 
organizations (acute care, trauma or EMS) best equipped to develop that 
capacity.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.

D. Funding

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $650,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund 
approximately three to six awards. It is expected that the average 
award will be $75,000, ranging from $60,000 to $125,000 under Part 1. 
Applications with budgets exceeding the maximum range of $125,000 will 
not be considered. Applicants under Part 2 of this announcement are 
eligible for an additional award, approximately $50-$75,000, to conduct 
coordination activities as described in ``Recipient Activities--Part 
2'' below. Note: Applicants for Part 2 funding must apply for and be 
approved for funding under Part 1 of this announcement.
    It is expected that the awards will begin on or about September 15, 
2003, and will be available for continuation after a 12-month budget 
period, for a maximum three-year project period. Funding estimates may 
change.

Use of Funds

    Grant funds will not be made available to support the provision of 
direct care. Eligible applicants may enter into contracts, including 
consortia agreements, as necessary to meet the requirements of the 
program and strengthen the overall application.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities listed under 
2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities:
Part 1
    a. Develop and implement a plan that will build relationships with 
state and local public health programs. Possible activities include:
    (1) Organizing meetings of stakeholders to define and promote ways 
acute care providers can improve collaboration and/or communication 
with state and local public health programs in preparing for or 
responding to terrorism. This could be done at a national, state or 
local level and should result in information, in the form of white 
papers, publications, conference or meeting proceedings or summaries, 
and other communication products that can be disseminated and used by 
others in the acute care and public health communities to improve 
collaboration and communication for terrorism preparedness and 
response.
    (2) Constructing a mechanism to assess the needs, barriers or gaps 
to linking with other member organizations as well as with state and 
local public health, and disseminating this information to members and 
potential public health partners.
    (3) Developing linkages that result in increased information 
sharing by identifying (a) existing database, information; and 
communication systems that should be linked; (b) partners to create 
those linkages; (c) current barriers to implementing those linkages; 
and (d) possible solutions to overcome those barriers. Document and 
disseminate the outcome of this effort.
    (4) Compiling and disseminating examples of successful 
collaborations between acute care organizations and public health for 
terrorism preparedness and response, particularly at the state and 
community levels. Examples should provide detailed information on the 
collaboration and on the methods used to achieve them and should 
illustrate approaches that might have broad applicability.
    (5) Organizing national, state, or regional forums that bring 
together leadership of the acute care community and public health to 
bring visibility to the need for collaboration and to encourage 
discussion of possible collaborative approaches. Disseminate the 
outcomes of these meetings.
    (6) Organize sessions at national meetings to highlight the 
importance of linkages between acute care providers and state and local 
public health practitioners. Disseminate the outcome of these sessions 
to members.
    (7) Describe and disseminate descriptions of ``best practices'' or 
other successes that involve linkages between acute care and other 
organizations to address gaps in preparedness. These gaps must be 
significant impediments to a successful public health response to 
terrorism. An example of such a gap is the need for surge capacity in 
acute care facilities.
    b. Identify organizational representatives to collaborate with CDC 
to gather and disseminate policies, guidelines and general information 
about terrorism and emergency response to local health officials and 
other partners, such as the National Association of City and County 
Health Officials (NACCHO)and the Association of State and Territorial 
Health Officials (ASTHO) in a timely manner.
    c. Collaborate with CDC to (1) provide perspectives on policy 
formulation; and (2) communicate rapidly with, and obtain and share 
feedback from, members of the grantee's national professional 
organization.
    d. Work with the coordinating center funded under Part 2 below, 
including participating in conference calls, meetings, and other joint 
activities.
Part 2
    In addition to the activities above, Part 2 recipients will also be 
responsible for the following activities:
    e. Develop a plan of outreach and coordination to facilitate 
linkages between acute care, trauma, and EMS organizations and state 
and local public health programs. This may include meetings at the 
national, state, or local levels.
    f. Conduct periodic formal or informal information gathering 
activities with these organizations and state and local public health 
programs regarding the status of their linkages with state and local 
public health programs, obstacles to building of relationships, and 
opportunities for collaboration.

[[Page 38051]]

    g. Conduct an assessment to determine what needs exist following 
implementation of efforts, and how to best fill those needs.
2. CDC Activities (Applicable to Both Parts 1 and 2)
    a. Provide technical advice in the development of systems to 
identify potential issues of interest. This includes assisting 
recipient to ascertain the extent to which EMS systems are involved in 
initiatives to improve preparedness and response capacities. CDC will 
also assist recipient with identifying and sharing any innovations that 
may have potential application to this project.
    b. Provide consultation and scientific and technical assistance in 
the planning of the project.
    c. Work with the organization funded under Part 2 to identify 
opportunities for collaboration as well as assisting the recipient to 
identify the level of integration between state and territorial EMS 
offices and prevention and preparedness initiatives at the federal, 
state and local levels.
    d. Provide program and policy information for dissemination to 
award recipients.

F. Content

Applications

    The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the 
application. 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 ten double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced font. 
Applicants interested in conducting optional (Part 2) coordination 
activities may submit a narrative not to exceed fifteen pages.
    The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget addressing Recipient Activities above. 
The program Plan should briefly address activities to be conducted over 
the entire three-year project period.

G. Submission and Deadline

Application Forms

    Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 
0920-0428). Forms are available in the application kit and at the 
following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.
    Application forms must be submitted in the following order:

Cover Letter
Table of Contents
Application
Budget Information Page
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Form
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
Narrative

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time July 28, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--PA 
03107, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically.

CDC Acknowledgment of Application Receipt

    A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has 
received your application.

Deadline

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received before 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Any 
applicant who sends their application by the United States Postal 
Service or commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier 
will be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing 
date and time. If an application is received after closing due to (1) 
Carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee 
for delivery by the closing date and time, or (2) significant weather 
delays or natural disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper 
documentation, consider the application as having been received by the 
deadline.
    Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Application--Part 1

    Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goal as stated in the purpose section of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness shall be 
submitted with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC:
    1. Staffing, Facilities, and Management (35 points). The degree to 
which the applicant provides evidence of an ability to carry out the 
proposed project, the extent to which the applicant institution 
documents the capability to achieve objectives of this project, and the 
extent to which professional personnel involved in this project are 
qualified, including evidence of past achievements appropriate to this 
project.
    2. Program Plan (25 points). The adequacy of the applicant's plan 
for administering the proposed project.
    3. Objectives (20 points). The degree to which proposed objectives 
are clearly stated, realistic, measurable, time-phased, related to the 
purpose of this project, and regularly monitored and evaluated.
    4. Background (15 points). The extent to which the applicant 
understands the requirements, problems, objectives, complexities, and 
interactions required of this cooperative agreement.
    5. Measures of Effectiveness (5 points). The extent to which the 
applicant's measures of effectiveness are clearly designed to measure 
the intended outcome.
    6. Budget (not scored). Extent to which the estimated cost to the 
Government of the project is reasonable and clearly justified.

Application--Part 2

    In addition to addressing the criteria for Part 1 above, applicants 
for Part 2 funding must separately address the following criteria in 
their narrative:
    1. Outreach Plan (40 points). The adequacy of the plan of outreach 
and coordination to facilitate linkages between acute care, trauma, and 
EMS organizations and state and local injury programs.
    2. Information gathering (30 points). The adequacy of the 
applicant's plan to conduct a periodic survey of these organizations 
regarding the status of linkages with state and local injury control 
programs.

[[Page 38052]]

    3. Needs Assessment (30 points). The adequacy of the applicant's 
plan to conduct an assessment to determine what needs exist following 
implementation of efforts, and make recommendations as to how best to 
fill those needs.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of 
the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing 
continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
    e. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial status 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.

Additional Requirements

    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the 
program announcement, as posted on the CDC Web site.

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-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address: 
http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.''
    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For business management assistance, contact: Van A. King, Grants 
Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2751, E-
mail address: vbk5@cdc.gov.    For program technical assistance, contact: Phyllis C. McGuire, 
Project Officer, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE 
Mailstop F-41, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone number: 770-488-1275, E-
mail address: pcm1@cdc.gov.
    Dated: June 20, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-16147 Filed 6-25-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P