Federal Register: July 28, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 144)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Announcement Number 98102]
Asthma Surveillance With an Emphasis on Children; Notice of
Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1998
A. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) announce the availability of fiscal year
(FY) 1998 funds for cooperative agreements for asthma surveillance
activities.
The purpose of this project is to build a model framework for
asthma surveillance with a particular focus on asthma in children. The
specific objectives are:
1. To further develop, refine, and document asthma surveillance
activities focused on (but not exclusive to) children;
2. To document and evaluate surveillance activities as to the
source of data, effort needed to access the data, accuracy, cost, use
of the data, and value of the data to contribute to development of a
model asthma surveillance plan; and
3. To prepare reports, visuals, and examples of use of previously
collected data to be used within the State and as models for other
health agencies.
This announcement is related to the priority area of Environmental
Health.
B. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are State health agencies or major local health
agencies with a population base greater than 1,000,000 persons with
asthma surveillance and multiple data sources analyzed that address the
population of the entire State or jurisdiction. This eligibility
includes health agencies or other official organizational authority
(agency or instrumentality) of the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the
United States.
Eligible applicants may enter into contracts and consortia
agreements and understandings as necessary to meet the requirements of
the program and strengthen the overall application. The intent to use
the above mechanisms must be stated in the application and the nature
and scope of work of these mechanisms requires the approval of CDC and
NHLBI.
C. Availability of Funds
Approximately $400,000 will be available in FY 1998 to support this
program with an average award of $65,000. It is expected that up to 6
awards will begin on or about September 30, 1998, and will be made for
a 12-month budget and project period. Funding estimates may change.
D. Cooperative Activities
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. Recipient
Activities, and CDC and NHLBI will be responsible for the activities
under 2. CDC and NHLBI Activities.
1. Recipient Activities:
a. Using existing data from previously analyzed data sources,
prepare presentations of the asthma-related data (e.g. as reports,
visuals, press releases) focusing primarily on children with asthma for
use within the State and as examples for all States;
b. Demonstrate the usefulness of data collected for the purpose of
planning and evaluating intervention program activities and for
educating persons affected by asthma, the media, and the general
public;
c. Document the source, effort, cost, use, sensitivity and other
measures of data accuracy, representativeness, timeliness of the data;
and the contribution of the data source to the State's total asthma
surveillance effort;
d. Document lessons learned in the conduct of asthma surveillance
activities; and
e. Participate through workshops, conference calls, and
correspondence with other grantees in the development of (1) a model
asthma surveillance strategy for States and (2) an asthma prevalence
questionnaire.
2. CDC and NHLBI Activities:
a. Collaborate with the recipient in all stages of the project and
coordinate joint activities among all grantees;
b. Provide programmatic technical assistance as appropriate;
c. Convene meetings of all grantees and facilitate documentation of
an asthma surveillance model and an asthma prevalence questionnaire;
and
d. Work with participants to prepare reports summarizing the
project.
E. Application Content
Use the information in the Cooperative Activities, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Applications will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out the program
plan. The narrative should be no more than 20 double-spaced pages,
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced 12 point or
12 pitch font.
All graphics, maps overlays, etc., should be in black and white and
meet the above criteria. Include each of the following sections:
1. Description of Problem
Describe what is known of the asthma problem in the State or
jurisdiction, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on children; the
challenges experienced to date, specific to asthma surveillance in your
State, experiences with similar problems related to surveillance of
other diseases/conditions, and a brief description of success in
addressing them.
2. Program Purpose
For each of the elements cited in the program purpose, provide
specific objectives that are realistic, time-phased, measurable.
3. Program Plan
Submit a plan that describes how the project objectives will be
achieved. The plan must address the following topics:
a. Briefly describe what state-wide data are currently available;
what have already been analyzed, and how those
data have been presented and used to date (note: Examples might be
included as appendices.);
b. Describe plans for new presentation of the data;
c. Describe your ability to evaluate a surveillance system as
presented in ``Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance Systems'',
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) supplement S-5, Vol. 37,
May 6, 1998; and
d. Document assurance of ability to travel to Atlanta and to
participate in surveillance model building activities.
4. Management and Staffing Plan
Identify the principal investigator, e.g., an epidemiologist, who
will oversee project activities and participate in model-building
activities and a health educator/program specialist for data use
activities.
5. Evaluation
Describe how progress made toward meeting objectives will be
evaluated and documented.
6. Budget
Grant funds should be used to supplement asthma surveillance
resources in the State and can include items such as personnel,
equipment, printing, etc.
F. Application Submission and Deadline
1. Applications
The original and 2 copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1
(revised 5/96) must be submitted to David Elswick, Grants Management
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry
Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before
August 31, 1998.
2. Deadlines: Applications shall be considered as meeting the
deadline above if they are either: (1) Received on or before the
deadline date; or (2) sent on or before the deadline date and received
in time for submission to the independent review group. (Applicants
should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a
legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal
Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of
timely mailing.)
G. Evaluation Criteria
The application will be reviewed and evaluated according to the
following criteria:
1. Quantity and quality of existing asthma surveillance efforts
(maximum 40 points).
The extent to which existing asthma surveillance data and data
sources covering the entire State or jurisdiction have been documented;
the quantity and quality of data sources; the understanding of the
data, and experience in the use of the data.
2. Measurable Objectives and Plan (maximum 20 points).
The consistency of the measurable objectives, which should include
a particular focus on asthma in children, with the stated purpose of
the cooperative agreement; the anticipated ability to meet the
objectives according to the specified time table, and the adequacy of
the applicants plan to carry out the proposed activities.
3. Management and Staffing Plan (maximum 20 points).
The extent to which the proposal has described the qualifications
and commitment of the applicant, and the qualifications and level of
effort of the key project staff.
4. Understanding the Problem (maximum 10 points).
Evidence of the applicant's understanding of the problem (asthma
and asthma surveillance) and the purpose of the cooperative agreement.
5. Proposed Evaluation Plan (maximum 10 points).
The adequacy of the applicant's plan to monitor progress toward
meeting the objectives of the project.
6. Budget (not scored).
The extent to which the budget is reasonable, adequately justified,
and consistent with the intended use of the cooperative agreement
funds.
H. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with the original and two copies of:
1. Semi-annual progress reports including the following for each
goal or activity involved in the study: (a) A comparison of actual
accomplishments to the objectives established for the period; (b) the
reasons for slippage if objectives were not met; (c) other pertinent
information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of
unexpectedly high costs for performance; and
2. Final financial status report and a final progress report are
due no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to: David Elswick, Grants Management Specialist,
Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, Mailstop E-13, 255 East
Paces Ferry Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30305.
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Addendum 1 in the
application kit.
AR98-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR98-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR98-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR98-11 Healthy People 2000
AR98-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR98-7 Executive Order 12372
J. Where to Obtain Additional Information
To receive additional written information call 1-888-GRANTS4. You
will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will
need to refer to Announcement 98102. You will receive a complete
program description, information on application procedures, and
application forms. CDC will not send application kits by facsimile or
express mail. Please refer to announcement number 98102 when requesting
information and submitting an application.
If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained by
contacting: David Elswick, Grants Management Specialist, Grants
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 98102,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East
Paces Ferry Road, NE., MS E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305-2209, telephone
(404)842-6803.
See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov
A copy of the ``Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance Systems''
may be obtained from the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/
preview/mmwrhtml/ 00001769.htm. Programmatic technical assistance can
be obtained from Leslie Boss, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National
Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Mailstop F-39, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Atlanta, Georgia,
30341-3724, telephone (770) 488-7329.