[Federal Register: May 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 102)]
[Notices]
[Page 29950-29953]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26my04-66]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Spina Bifida Information and Resource Development Center
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: 04215.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
Dates:
Letter of Intent Deadline: June 10, 2004.
Application Deadline: June 25, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: This program is authorized under section 317(k)(2) of
the Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)), as amended.
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to prevent the recurrence of
pregnancies affected by Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), expand local
programs for those affected by spina bifida, promote research proposal
development (not implementation), and expand information resources.
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of
Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Disability and Secondary
Conditions.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center
on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities: increasing consumption
of folic acid among women of reproductive age to prevent serious birth
defects, improving care, and improving the lives of people with spina
bifida.
Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
Applicants should provide evidence of the capacity to effectively
address the following activities:
a. Evaluate the effectiveness of education materials previously
developed for supplementation by assessing reported knowledge,
consumption and subsequent pregnancy outcomes of the target audience.
b. Develop training for health care providers (HCP) designed to
increase the number of women receiving counseling about consuming
adequate levels of folic acid.
c. Develop and implement a plan to evaluate the efficacy and
effectiveness of this project.
d. Implement a pilot program to support the development of
competencies among professionals in developing proposals for submission
to Federal and other funding agencies to further spina bifida research
consistent with evidence-based research priorities.
e. Evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot development program
designed to develop competency in professionals related to proposal
development for research in spina bifida.
f. Implement and evaluate a program for self-determination to
improve the quality of life of individuals with spina bifida and their
families.
g. Expand a national resource center for spina bifida information
and dissemination.
h. Develop an evaluation plan for tracking the volume, kinds of
requests, and responses to requests and inquiries made to the Resource
Center for use in enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the
Center.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: Fiscal Year 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $950,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $950,000. This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.
Floor of Award Range: Minimum award $900,000.
Ceiling of Award: $950,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Two years.
Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of
satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best
interest of the Federal government.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Assistance will be provided only to applicants that are well-
established national, nonprofit organizations with state chapters that
have expertise in: (1) Developing health education messages for women
at risk of having a NTD-affected pregnancy; (2) developing State
chapters to improve the health of individuals with spina bifida and
their families; and (3) developing a central resource information and
education center about spina bifida.
To be eligible, applicants must:
1. Demonstrate that the organization's mission is explicitly
committed to the prevention of NTDs specifically spina bifida, and the
health and well being of individuals with spina bifida and their
families as demonstrated by submission of the charter, articles of
incorporation, or other governing documents.
2. Demonstrate that the organization is a nonprofit and recognized
as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and
this may be demonstrated through inclusion of your Internal Revenue
Service determination letter.
3. Demonstrate the organization has capacity and experience in
providing health education to women who are at risk of having a NTD-
affected pregnancy, and this may be demonstrated through letters of
support.
4. Demonstrate that the organization has a national membership and
a national network of State and local chapters; this may be done
through a letter from the organization's leadership which describes the
national network.
5. Demonstrate the presence and functions of a national information
and resource center that is capable of expansion.
This information should be placed directly behind the face page
(first page) of your application. Applications that do not include the
above information will be determined as non-responsive and will be
returned without review.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive, and
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that
your application
[[Page 29951]]
did not meet the submission requirements.
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet
submission requirements.
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.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address To Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161. Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web
site, 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) staff at: (770) 488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to
you.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Letter of Intent (LOI): CDC requests that you send a LOI if you
intend to apply for this program. Your LOI will be used to gauge the
level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC to plan the
application review. Your LOI must be submitted in the following format:
Maximum number of pages: Two.
Font size: 12-point unreduced.
Single-spaced.
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
Page margin size: One inch.
Printed only on one side of page.
Written in plain language, avoid jargon.
Content: Your LOI must contain the following information: Name,
address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator; names of
other key personnel; participating institutions; number and title of
the program announcement.
Application: You must submit a project narrative with your
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
Maximum number of pages: 35. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will
be reviewed.
Font size: 12 point unreduced.
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
Page margin size: One inch.
Printed only on one side of page, double spaced.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
bound in any other way.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items which
correspond to the evaluation criteria: Plan, Methods, Objectives,
Timeline, Staff, Understanding, Need, Performance Measures, Budget
Justification, etc. The budget justification will not be counted
against the stated page limit.
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information may include: curriculum vitae,
resumes, organizational charts, letters of support, graphic
presentations of time-bounded work plans, etc.
Applicants must submit a separate typed abstract of their proposal
consisting of no more than two single-spaced pages. Applicants should
also include a table of contents for the project narrative and related
attachments.
You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge.
To obtain a DUNS number, access the following Web site: http://www.dunandbradstreet.com
or call 1-866-705-5711.
For more information, see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm
.
If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover
letter.
Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
LOI Deadline Date: June 10, 2004.
CDC requests that you send a LOI if you intend to apply for this
program. Although the LOI is not required, not binding, and does not
enter into the review of your subsequent application, the LOI will be
used to gauge the level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC
to plan the application review.
Application Deadline Date: June 25, 2004.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date
and time. If CDC receives your application 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, you will be given the opportunity to
submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having
been received by the deadline.
This announcement is the definitive guide on application submission
address and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the
application instructions. If your application does not meet the
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be
discarded. You will be notified that your application did not meet the
submission requirements.
CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff
at: (770) 488-2700. Before calling, please wait three days after the
application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be
processed and logged.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Your application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, as governed by Executive Order (EO) 12372. This order sets up
a system for State and local governmental review of proposed Federal
assistance applications. You should contact your State single point of
contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert the SPOC to prospective
applications, and to receive instructions on your State's process.
Click on the following link to get the current SPOC list: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your
budget, are as follows: Grant funds may be used to
[[Page 29952]]
support personnel services, supplies, equipment, travel, subcontracts,
and other services directly related to project activities consistent
with the approved scope of work. Grant funds cannot be used to supplant
other available applicant or collaborating agency funds, for
construction, for purchase of facilities or space, or for patient care.
Grant funds cannot be used for individualized services (direct patient
support) such as for wheelchairs, medical appliances, or assistive
technology unless specifically approved by the funding agency. Grant
funds cannot be used for the conduct of research.
If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. If your indirect
cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement should be less than 12
months of age.
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express mail, delivery
service, fax, or e-mail to: Lisa T. Garbarino, Public Health Analyst,
National Center on Birth Defects, and Developmental Disabilities, 1600
Clifton Road, Mailstop: E-87, Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone (404) 498-
3979, fax (404) 498-3060, e-mail: lgt1@cdc.gov.
Application Submission Address: Submit the original and two hard
copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to:
Technical Information Management--PA04215, CDC Procurement and
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
You are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will
demonstrate the accomplishment of the identified objectives of the
grant. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the performance goals
stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this announcement. Measures must
be objective and quantitative, and must measure the intended outcome.
These measures of effectiveness must be submitted with the application
and will be an element of evaluation.
Each application will be evaluated individually against the
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Scope of Proposal (30 Points)
This addresses the applicant's capacity to fully and effectively
carry out project activities on a national scale as noted in the
Announcement. This includes how well the activities proposed will
achieve project goals and how the applicant anticipates and utilizes
innovative and valued approaches in meeting all requirements of the
Announcement. This also includes how well the applicant accounts for
working with collaborating entities and partners toward meeting the
purpose of the project.
2. Description of Objectives (25 Points)
This assesses whether the proposed goals and objectives are clearly
stated, realistic, time-phased, adequately detailed, capable of
tracking, and related to the purpose of the project. It includes how
well the goals and objectives encompass all relevant components of the
work required under the Announcement with attention to individual,
interdependent, and synergistic relationships among all elements of the
Program Requirements.
3. Project Personnel (20 Points)
This includes an evaluation as to whether all personnel proposed to
be involved in this project are fully qualified, with evidence of
experience and evidence in past activities and achievements appropriate
to a project of this magnitude and scope. It also includes whether the
stated responsibilities for requested personnel and the proposed
staffing functions will assure adequate progress toward meeting all
goals and objectives.
4. Understanding of the Problem (15 Points)
This includes how well the applicant demonstrates full
understanding of the range of work requirements, potential problems,
and complexities of the project. It also covers how well the applicant
provides background information for the tasks envisioned such that
framework and foundation described directly demonstrates that the plan
proposed to conduct the project will be effective and successful.
5. Evaluation (10 Points)
This includes the review of the applicant's evaluation plan for the
design and management of the individual and multiple initiatives
proposed in the conduct of the project. This includes the funding
agency's review of the applicant's planning protocol for new activities
as well as the applicant's capacity to assess and monitor the
performance and success of ongoing activities implemented over the life
of the project.
6. Budget (Not Scored)
How well does the applicant provide justification for budget
expenditures as well as appropriateness to activities proposed in the
application? The budget will be evaluated for the extent that it is
reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of
the grant funds.
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by the National
Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Incomplete
applications and applications that are non-responsive to the
eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process.
Applicants will be notified that their application did not meet
submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above.
V.3. Anticipated Award Date
September 1, 2004.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA)
from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NGA shall be the only
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NGA
will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer, and mailed
to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
the application review by mail.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
The following additional requirements apply to this project:
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements.
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and
Ethnic Minorities in Research.
AR-7 Executive Order 12372.
[[Page 29953]]
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
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.
AR-22 Research Integrity.
AR-24 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Requirements.
AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data.
Additional information on these requirements can be found on the
CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
VI.3. Reporting
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the
following reports:
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. Budget.
e. Additional Requested Information.
f. Measures of Effectiveness.
2. Financial status report and annual progress 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.
These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this
announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Lisa T. Garbarino,
Public Health Analyst, National Center on Birth Defects and
Developmental Disabilities, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-87,
Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: (404) 498-3979, e-mail: lgt1@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Sylvia Dawson, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants
Office, CDC, 2920 Brandywine Road, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Telephone: (770) 488-2771, e-mail: snd8@cdc.gov.
Dated: May 20, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-11871 Filed 5-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4183-18-P