The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY)1999 funds for a cooperative agreement program for research, prevention education, and clinical services in occupational safety and health. This program addresses the "Healthy People 2000" priority area(s) for Occupational Safety and Health.

The purpose of the program is to enhance the public health capabilities, and to provide infrastructure support for the development of an academic clinical occupational health network to encourage clinical epidemiology, health services research, and enhanced educational intervention effectiveness research, as well as to develop clinical information relevant to improving medical screening and surveillance for specific occupational hazards and to conduct outreach education.

B. Eligible Applicants

This program is directed only to national organizations of health professionals that provide occupational safety and health services for their defined membership and constituencies.

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 $200,000 is available in FY 1999 to fund one award. It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 29, 1999, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to five years. The funding estimate is subject to change.

Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports and the availability of funds.

D. Cooperative Activities

In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, the recipient will be responsible for activities under A. (Recipient Activities), and CDC/NIOSH will be responsible for the activities listed under B. (CDC/NIOSH Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

1. Develop and maintain a national clinical database, consisting of exposure and outcome information, for both surveillance purposes and for case identification.

2. Conduct periodic review of the database.

3. Provide Occupational health educational outreach in the health professions and primary care practitioners, with emphasis on those providing care to medically underserved populations.

4. Develop, maintain, and distribute to members a referral listing of full-service occupational clinics at which individual patients or small employers may seek high quality, multi-disciplinary, patient- centered occupational health services practiced by clinicians who are additionally committed to a public health model for prevention.

5. Work to expand into geographically and medically under-served areas. Identify potential sources of occupational health care in these areas and establish mentoring relationships with the nearest "full- service" clinic, to include educational and referral ties, and capacity-building.

6. Develop and enhance an internet listserv that facilitates sharing clinical information without breaching medical confidentiality.

7. Develop and disseminate information regarding clinical practices on occupational safety and health.

8. Develop information (such as documents) that provides needed information for clinicians engaged in the practice of occupational medicine.

B. CDC/NIOSH Activities

1. Provide technical assistance on all aspects of recipient activities.

2. Provide expertise in epidemiology, industrial hygiene, ergonomics and safety engineering for educational and capacity building endeavors.

3. Provide technical advise on identifying topics and targets for the outreach activity or other recipient activities.

E. Application Content

F. Submission and Deadline

(a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
(b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for orderly processing. (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.)

G. Evaluation Criteria

1. Background and Need (20 points):
   The extent to which the applicant and its membership demonstrates experiences and capability in conducting this program. The extent to which a description of current and previous related experiences in terms of a national occupational clinical network, evaluation capability and coordination activities and demonstrated capacity to conduct the program.

2. Goals and Objectives (20 points):
   The extent to which the applicant has included goals which are relevant to the purpose of the project and feasible to be accomplished during the project period, and the extent to which these goals are specific, and measurable. The extent to which the applicant has included objectives which are feasible to be accomplished during the budget period, and which address all activities necessary to accomplish the purpose of the proposal. The extent to which the objectives are specific, time-phased, and measurable.

3. Staffing (25 points):
   The extent to which proposed staffing, organizational structure, staffing qualifications and experience, identified training needs or plan, and job descriptions and curricula vitae for both proposed and current staff indicate the applicant's ability to carry out the objectives of the program and show demonstrated experience in managing a national clinical database.

4. Methods (20 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 the applicant provides a detailed description of proposed activities which are likely to achieve each objective and overall program goals and which includes designation of responsibility for each action undertaken. The extent to which the applicant provides a reasonable and complete schedule for implementing all activities.

5. Evaluation (15 points):
   The extent to which the applicant includes plans to evaluate the attainment of the proposed objectives. The extent to which a feasible plan for reporting evaluation results and using evaluation information for programmatic decisions is included.

6. Budget (not scored):
   The extent to which the budget is reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of funds.

7. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
   If human subjects will be involved, the extent to which the applicant describes how will they be protected, i.e., describe the review process which will govern their participation.

H. Other Requirements

1. Annual progress reports;

2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period; and

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.

   The following additional requirements are applicable to this program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I (included in the application package).

   AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
   AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
   AR-11 Healthy People 2000
   AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
   AR-20 Conference Grants

   I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

   This program is authorized under sections 20(a) and 22(e) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [29 U.S.C. 669(a) and 671(e) (7)]. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

   J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

   The application kit for 99147 can also be downloaded via the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov.
   Please refer to Program Announcement 99147 when you request information. To receive additional written information and to request an application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-6874). You will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will need to refer to NIOSH Announcement 99147. 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.
   If you have any questions after reviewing the contents of all the documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained by contacting: Sheryl Heard, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99147, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone (770) 488-2723, e-mail address: slh3@cdc.gov.
   For program technical assistance, contact Gregory Wagner, M.D., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, P-B121, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-2888, Telephone (304) 285-5749, e-mail: grw3@cdc.gov.
   Dated: May 27, 1999
   Diane D. Porter
   Acting Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

   CERTIFIED TO BE A TRUE COPY OF THE ORIGINAL

   Certifying Officer
   [FR Doc. 99-14002 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]

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   This page was last updated on June 4, 1999