Notice of Availability of Funds; Cooperative Agreement for a National Information Center on Physical Activity for Persons With Disabilities

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63059-63062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30060]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99010]


Notice of Availability of Funds; Cooperative Agreement for a 
National Information Center on Physical Activity for Persons With 
Disabilities

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1999

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funds to establish a National Information Center on Physical Activity 
for Persons with Disabilities. The purpose of this Center is to provide 
information, technical assistance, and consultation on physical 
activity, exercise, and health promotion practices targeting persons 
with disabilities across all segments of the population. It includes 
addressing the prevention of secondary conditions in persons who have a 
disability by promoting and assessing the benefits of physical activity 
and exercise toward reducing the risk for associated adverse health and 
participation outcomes among persons who have a disabling condition. 
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2000'' priority areas of 
Preventive Services and Physical Activity and Fitness.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is, 
universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public 
and private nonprofit organizations, State and local governments or 
their bona fide agents, and federally recognized Indian tribal 
governments, Indian tribes, or Indian tribal organizations. 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

    It is anticipated that a maximum of $750,000 will be available in 
FY 1999 to fund one award, including direct and indirect costs. It is 
expected that the project will begin on April 1, 1999, and the award 
will be made for a 12 month budget period within a project period of up 
to four years. Funding estimates may change. Continuation awards within 
an approved project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory 
progress as evidenced by required reports, CDC site visits, and the 
availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Project funds may be used to support personnel services, supplies, 
equipment, travel, subcontracts, and other services consistent with the 
approved scope of work. Project funds may not be used to supplant other 
available applicant or collaborating agency funds, for construction, 
for purchase of facilities or space, or for patient care. Project funds 
may not be used for individualized or group program support such as 
wheelchairs, sport/recreational and fitness equipment, assistive 
technology, and medical appliances unless specifically approved by the 
funding agency. Travel funds should be requested for three project 
staff to participate in a CDC Office on Disability and Health workshop 
in Atlanta, GA during the first budget year, and two project staff 
members to attend the American College of Sports Medicine Annual 
Meeting in Seattle, WA in June 1999.

D. Program Requirements

    Applicants should: (1) propose a full-time manager/coordinator with 
the authority and responsibility to conduct and manage all components 
of the project; (2) demonstrate the capacity to motivate persons with 
disabilities to engage in physical activity and exercise; (3) 
demonstrate the capacity to provide consultation to organizations that 
provide direct services, guidance, and instruction to persons with 
disabilities toward increasing participation and beneficial outcomes in 
physical activity and exercise programs; (4) demonstrate the capacity 
to serve in a national leadership role to establish and operate the 
National Information Center, given the applicant's reputation, 
experience, and expertise in the field; and (5) provide direction and 
leadership in developing recommendations and programs promoting fully 
accessible physical facilities and equipment designed to increase 
opportunities for physical activities and exercise for persons with 
disabilities.

Cooperative Activities

    In conducting activities to achieve the purposes of this program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for activities listed under 
Recipient Activities, item A; and CDC shall be responsible for 
activities listed under CDC activities, item B.

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Collect, compile, and provide information regarding physical 
activity and exercise for persons with disabilities on a national, 
regional, and state/local basis to a broad range of requestors 
including individuals, researchers, disability service organizations, 
community groups, service providers, legislative and governing bodies, 
and the public.
    2. Identify, enumerate, and characterize the nature of such 
requests, inquiries and needs from persons with disabilities, 
providers, and organizations seeking information on physical activity 
and exercise.
    3. Provide guidance for initiating and maintaining physical 
activity among persons with disabilities, including imparting 
information regarding the benefits of physical activity to individuals 
and to those populations served by requesting organizations.
    4. Provide technical assistance and consultation in the design, 
conduct, and evaluation of health promotion and community-directed 
physical activity and exercise programs in targeted populations of 
persons with disabilities.
    5. Develop and provide information regarding innovative and 
acceptable physical activity facilities (e.g. buildings, parks, trails, 
equipment, new technology) that are fully accessible and available to 
persons with disabilities with attention to geographical proximity and 
cost issues.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide technical consultation on current available and emerging 
research, literature, epidemiological, and physical activity 
information in the United States.
    2. Serve as a conduit for accessing other data sets and for 
referrals to information resources that would be of value to the 
information gathering/dissemination and technical assistance activities 
of the recipient.
    3. Assist the project in the planning and organizing of conferences 
and workshops related to project activities regarding physical activity 
and exercise for persons with disabilities.
    4. Assist the project in the transfer of information and methods 
developed in the project to other disability-related entities and 
programs.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Cooperative 
Activities, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the application 
content. The application will be evaluated on the criteria listed, so 
it is important to follow them in laying out the program plan. The 
narrative addressing the scored criteria should be no more than 40 
single-spaced pages, printed on one side, with one inch margins, and 
unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A non-binding letter of intent to apply is requested from potential 
applicants. The LOI should identify the announcement number, name the 
proposed project director, and describe the scope of the proposed 
project in not more than three pages. This letter will not influence 
review or funding

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decisions, but it will enable CDC to plan the review more efficiently, 
and ensure that each applicant receives timely and relevant information 
prior to the application review.
    The LOI should be submitted on or before December 22, 1998 to 
Victoria Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE, Mailstop E-
13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2209.

Application

    Applicants must submit a separate typed abstract/summary of their 
proposal as a cover to their applications, consisting of no more than 
two single-spaced pages. Applicants should also include a table of 
contents for the project narrative and related attachments. It is 
suggested that applications be organized to be compatible with the 
evaluation scoring criteria, as that is the process by which the review 
committee will assess the quality of the applications.
    Submit the original and five copies of PHS-398 (OMB Number 0925-
0001). Adhere to instructions on the Errata Instruction Sheet for PHS 
398. Budget and other required forms are in the application kit. 
Applications are due on or before Wednesday January 20, 1999.
    Submit the application to Victoria Sepe, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East 
Paces Ferry Road, NE, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2209. 
Please list Announcement Number 99010 on the covering address label. If 
your application does not arrive in time for submission to the review 
group, it will not be considered in the current competition unless you 
can provide proof that you mailed it on or before the deadline (i.e., 
receipt from U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier; private 
metered postmarks are not acceptable).

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
    A. Problem Statement and Evidence of Need--15 Points. This 
includes: 1. The extent to which the applicant understands the purpose 
and requirements of the program.
    2. The accounts of the value of promoting physical activity among 
persons with disabilities as an important public health issue with 
cited references in the literature.
    3. The presentation of the full range of information and 
communications activities that will be required with an inventory of 
resources and databases to be accessed as referral sources.
    4. The description of unmet needs and gaps (barriers and 
constraints) as they relate to advancing a coordinated and 
comprehensive information system on physical activity and exercise 
among persons with disabilities; and how this project would move toward 
elimination of those barriers.
    B. Research Resources and Organizational Capacity--20 Points. This 
includes: 1. The capability of the applicant to conduct the project, 
taking into account its institutional experience, evidence of 
leadership, and current activities in the field for those activities 
required.
    2. The ability of the applicant to ensure timely access to 
necessary data and educational materials related to physical activity, 
denoting the sources for such data and materials.
    3. The capacity of the applicant to provide evidence of effective 
collaborations and linkages with both the disability and physical 
activity fields, professional groups, service providers, fitness 
facilities, governmental agencies, and community organizations to meet 
the requirements of the project; including documented letters of 
support and commitments from those collaborating entities.
    4. The capacity of the applicant to gather necessary demographic 
and functional outcome information regarding sub-group patterns for 
engaging in physical activity and the benefits to be derived; including 
the kinds and sources of information to be accessed, analyzed, and 
publicized, the staff/organizations charged with its control, and how 
that data would be used.
    C. Operational Approach--40 Points. This includes: 1. The methods 
to be employed to establish an effective information resources system 
and communications network.
    2. The approach to: (a) Gather information on the determinants 
(facilitators and barriers) to physical activity and exercise; (b) 
assess the perceptions and experiences of persons with disabilities and 
their families regarding physical activity; (c) formulate a strategy to 
enable and motivate persons with disabilities to engage in physical 
activity, exercise, and recreational programs; and (d) promote 
guidelines and recommendations for sustaining such activities over the 
long-term.
    3. The methods by which the applicant will develop and disseminate 
educational materials on facts, benefits, programs, and motivational 
tools based on their value for promoting physical activity in persons 
with disabilities across all age ranges and literacy levels during 
medical treatment, rehabilitation, and in the home and community 
settings.
    4. The approach proposed to construct a centralized listing of 
programs, events, and service providers to be disseminated to 
requestors for personal, organizational, and constituency use.
    5. The accounts of the proposed resource development and 
communications capacity for employing information technology to reach 
key targeted groups including impairment-specific populations; 
children; older citizens; women; minorities; lower socio-economic 
strata; professionals/clinicians/fitness/allied health providers and 
educators/trainers; persons with varying fitness levels; and changing 
(persons with improving/regressing physical conditioning) in order to 
best translate information into physical activity and exercise programs 
and protocols for persons with disabilities.
    6. The description of how the applicant will develop and implement 
appropriate readability levels, cultural sensitivity, and fully 
accessible formats in all communication and program activities.
    7. The methods by which the applicant will provide technical 
assistance, information, and consultation to participants and 
supporting organizations regarding the design, conduct, and evaluation 
of programs to introduce and sustain physical activity and exercise in 
persons with disabilities.
    8. The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial 
groups in proposed research (as appropriate). This includes:
    a. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and 
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    b. The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    c. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to 
measure differences when warranted.
    d. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach 
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships 
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.

[[Page 63062]]

    D. Management Plan and Project Goals and Objectives--25 Points. 
This includes: 1. The management work plan for conducting the project 
including the process (approach and methods) by which the applicant 
will meet established goals and objectives.
    2. The presentation of those specific goals, objectives and 
timelines (with performance expectations for the first year by calendar 
month or quarter, and a work plan outline for the second, third, and 
fourth years of the project).
    3. The description of the major tasks and responsibilities for key 
positions including the applicant organization and identified 
contractual/consultant personnel (include an organization chart and 
denote the relationship of this project within the applicant 
organization).
    4. The methods by which the applicant will seek out, utilize, and 
benefit from input by persons with disabilities and their families, and 
from organizations representing the disability and physical activity 
communities in planning for project priorities and activities.
    5. The description of how the applicant will evaluate its work plan 
and all informational, referral, communications, and technical 
assistance activities.
    E. Budget Justification--Not Scored. This criteria includes the 
adequacy of the budget justification and its relationship to program 
operations, collaborations, and services. Each line item of the budget 
must be well justified in a brief narrative with special attention 
given to contractual requests including the responsibilities of 
consultants, percentage time equivalents, hourly or daily rates, etc. 
This section will also be evaluated on the adequacy of facilities to 
conduct the project. The relevance of this section to the other 
evaluation criteria will be measured on the extent to which the budget 
narrative is reasonable, clearly documented, accurate, and consistent 
with the purpose of this announcement.
    F. Human Subjects--Not Scored. This includes the extent to which 
the application adequately addresses the requirements of Title 45 CFR 
Part 46 for the protection of human subjects. If the proposed project 
involves research on human participants, assurance and evidence must be 
provided that the project will be subject to initial and continuous 
reviews by an appropriate institutional review board. Does the 
applicant adequately address the requirements of 45 CFR 46 for the 
protection of human subjects?

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of: 1. Semi-annual 
progress reports; due dates to be denoted in the notice of grant award;
    2. Financial status report, due no more than 90 days after the end 
of each budget period; and
    3. Final financial status and performance reports, due no more than 
90 days after the end of the project period.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Addendum I.

AR98-1  Human Subjects Requirements
AR98-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR98-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR98-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR98-11  Healthy People 2000
AR98-12  Lobbying Restrictions

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under the Public Health Service Act, 
Section 301(a) [42 U.S.C. section 241(a), as amended. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.184.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be asked 
to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify the 
Announcement Number of interest. Also, the CDC Home Page on the 
Internet: www.cdc.gov is available for copies of this 
Announcement, application forms and funding information.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Victoria Sepe, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Announcement 99010, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 300, 255 East Paces Ferry 
Road, NE, Mailstop E-13, Atlanta, GA 30305-2209, telephone (404) 842-
6804. E-mail address: vxw1@cdc.gov.
    For program technical assistance, contact Joseph B. Smith, Office 
on Disability and Health, National Center for Environmental Health 
(NCEH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford 
Highway, Mailstop F-29, Atlanta, GA, telephone (770) 488-7082. E-mail 
address: jos4@cdc.gov

    Dated: November 4, 1998.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 98-30060 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P