Part I Overview Information


United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Participating Organizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (www.cdc.gov)

Components of Participating Organizations
Office of Public Health Research (OPHR/CDC), (http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/PHResearch/)

Title: CDC Health Protection Research Initiative: Evaluation of Workplace Health Promotion Research Projects (R01)

The policies, guidelines, terms, and conditions of the HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated in this announcement may differ from those used by the HHS National Institutes of Health (NIH). If written guidance for completing this application is not available on the CDC website, then applicants will be directed elsewhere for that information.

Authority: Section 317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2), as amended.

Announcement Type:
New

Instructions for Submission of Electronic Research Applications:

NOTICE: Applications submitted in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for Federal assistance must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) using the SF424 Research and Related (R&R) forms and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

This FOA must be read in conjunction with the application package instructions included with this announcement on Grants.gov/Apply for Grants (hereafter referred to as, Grants.gov/Apply.)

A registration process is necessary before submission, and applicants are highly encouraged to start the process at least four weeks prior to the grant submission date. See Section IV.

Two steps are required for on time submission:

1) The application must be successfully received by Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the application submission receipt date (see Key Dates below.)

2) Applicants must complete a verification step in the Electronic Research Administration (eRA Commons) within two business days of notification. Note: Since email can be unreliable, it is the responsibility of the applicant to periodically check on their application status in the eRA Commons.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: RFA-CD-07-004

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number(s):
93.061

Key Dates
Release Date: February 23, 2007
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): March 20, 2007
Application Submission Receipt Date(s): April 20, 2007
Peer Review Date(s): June 2007
Council Review Date(s): July 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): September 28, 2007
Additional Information to Be Available Date: Not applicable
Expiration Date(s): April 21, 2007

Due Date for E.O. 12372
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

Additional Overview Content

Executive Summary

Funding Opportunity Announcement Glossary: FOA Glossary Terminology

Table of Contents


Part I Overview Information

Part II Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Research Objectives

Section II. Award Information
1. Mechanism(s) of Support
2. Funds Available

Section III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
A. Eligible Institutions
B. Eligible Individuals
2.Cost Sharing or Matching
3.Other - Special Eligibility Criteria

Section IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Request Application Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Submission Dates and Times
A. Receipt and Review and Anticipated Start Dates
1. Letter of Intent
B. Submitting an Application to CDC
C. Application Processing
4. Intergovernmental Review
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements

Section V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
A. Additional Review Criteria
B. Additional Review Considerations
C. Sharing Research Data
D. Sharing Research Resources
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Section VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
A. Cooperative Agreement
1. Recipient Rights and Responsibilities
2. HHS/CDC Responsibilities
3. Collaborative Responsibilities
3. Reporting

Section VII. Agency Contact(s)
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s)
2. Peer Review Contact(s)
3. Financial/ Grants Management Contact(s)
4. General Questions Contact(s)

Section VIII. Other Information - Required Federal Citations

Part II - Full Text of Announcement


Section I. Funding Opportunity Description


1. Research Objectives

The Office of Public Health Research (OPHR) of CDC within HHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010" and to measuring program performance as stipulated by the Government Performance and Review Act (GPRA). This RFA addresses "Healthy People 2010" focus area Public Health Infrastructure (focus area 23) and is in alignment with OPHR's performance goal(s) to support prevention research to develop sustainable and transferable community-based behavioral interventions and is in support of CDC's Health Protection Goals. For more information, see www.health.gov/healthypeople, http://www.cdc.gov/about/goals and www.whitehouse.gov/omb/mgmt-gpra/

Purpose

Health promotion programs in the worksite can offer potential benefits to employers such as improved health and morale, increased productivity and enhanced retention. In addition, worksite health promotion programs offer the potential to: reach a high percentage of employees, including many who might otherwise be unlikely to engage in preventive health behaviors; conduct multi-level interventions that also address organizational and environmental variables as well as individual level characteristics and; improve maintenance and sustainability of behavior changes due to the amount of time employees usually spend in the workplace.

Despite a growing number of studies that have shown encouraging results from worksite health promotion interventions, a more consistent evaluation these interventions, their impact, and their potential for translation into public health practice is needed. This RFA will support projects that build upon and expand research on worksite health promotion activities that were funded by RFA CD-04-002 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CD-04-002.html). It is intended that research supported by this RFA will contribute by: evaluating the public health impact of worksite health interventions; developing data that can be used to influence worksite health policies and practices; and identifying evidence-based worksite health promotion interventions that have the potential for translation (i.e. from research to practice).

Background

In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control identified worksite health promotion as a public health priority and funded research that would identify innovative and cost-effective health promotion policies, programs, and activities in the workplace or affecting the workplace. Specifically, the goal of this initiative was to increase the knowledge base needed for implementation of health promotion programs in the workplace and identification of critical success factors that could be used to motivate adaptation and implementation of evidence-based interventions to promote workers health across the business sector.

This first step of implementing health promotion programs in the workplace and identifying success factors provides a critical step toward documenting the potential public health impact of these interventions. However, the ultimate goal is to have generalizable, effective, and sustainable interventions translated (i.e., disseminated, implemented, and adopted) into health promotion practice. Part of the process to move health promotion research into practice involves understanding the potential for translation through careful evaluation. Evaluating health promotion interventions can help improve translation by drawing attention to issues that need to be addressed, modified, eliminated or added. Careful evaluation can improve the information relevant to translation issues (e.g., critical success factors, impediments) and thus provide needed data public health practitioners, employers, local communities, organizations, and individual consumers for making health promotion practice decisions.

Research Objectives

Typical evaluation strategies for assessing the impact of public health and health promotion interventions have focused on measuring health-related outcomes such as mortality, morbidity, disability and quality of life. This approach assesses the effects of programs or interventions with internal validity as the primary consideration. However, effective allocation of limited resources depends on understanding if interventions work in the real world and not just under controlled research conditions. Consequently, there has been an increasing interest in the development of evaluation criteria that assess an intervention’s potential for translation. This has led to a new focus on evaluating the generalizability of interventions (external validity) in addition to measuring health outcomes. New tools such as the RE-AIM framework and the PRIME model (PRocess modeling in ImpleMEntation research) are now available and have shown utility in assessing an intervention’s potential for translation.

Eligible applicant organizations are those previously funded under RFA CD-04-002 that implemented and/or identified a successful worksite health promotion intervention(s). For the purposes of this RFA, an intervention is defined as an intentional action (singular or constellation) designed for an individual, a community, or a region that alters a behavior, reduces risk or improves outcome. Interventions can be a medical or behavioral therapy, modification to the natural or built environment, including engineering controls, public heath policy, public health program, health communication, or public health law. A successful intervention is defined as one that: 1) uses sound experimental design (such as a randomized study or a quasi-experimental design); 2) is controlled for potential sources of bias; and 3) produces outcome measures that are of statistical and public health significance. Preference will be given to interventions with the highest potential for adoptability and implementation within diverse populations, in a variety of worksite settings, and/or settings where health disparities persist.

The objective of this RFA is to evaluate existing worksite health promotion interventions with particular emphasis on questions of reach, uptake/adoption, feasibility, and implementation fidelity and acceptability; sustainability and cost; as well as participants functional/health outcomes through measurement of appropriate variable(s). Proposed research projects should build upon previous work and describe how data collected from the original pilot-tested worksite intervention will be utilized to further strengthen and expand the evidence-base. Research questions to be addressed include:

a) Reach How many persons from the target audience were reached? Who were not reached or didn t participate?

b) Uptake (adoption) Did organizations and individuals who learned of the program consider using it, actually use it, and use it fully? What barriers and facilitators to program use were identified? Who has the most potential and authority for implementing effective innovations to promote worksite health in a given company or industry sector?

c) Feasibility How much time, money, staff, space and other resources and logistics were needed vs. what was available? What were the barriers and facilitators?

d) Fidelity Were the key components that made the intervention effective maintained once when the program was implemented? What modifications were made and what impacts did these have?

e) Acceptability How acceptable was the intervention to those who provided it and those it impacted; e.g., were cultural norms and literacy taken into account? Was the program acceptable at organizational and individual levels? What were the barriers and facilitators to acceptability?

f) Adaptability Can the intervention vary, as needed, depending on the audience? What components are adaptable and how does this impact acceptability, feasibility, fidelity, and uptake?

g) Participants outcomes Using pre-post assessments based upon the original research. What additional outcomes from a systems perspective can be assessed? What kind of economic measures were or can be evaluated to determine cost-effectiveness (i.e., return on investment)?

Evaluation Plan to Enhance Translation

Applicants may use an existing evaluation framework or propose their own as long as the above mentioned items are covered. The evaluation plan should also identify impediments and facilitators to the effectiveness of the worksite health promotion intervention. At the conclusion of the evaluation, applicants will be expected to propose a plan for how the intervention should/can be modified to increase its potential for translation. It is anticipated that the plan will identify mechanisms and best approaches to packaging and marketing the evidenced-based intervention to relevant stakeholders. Additional issues to be addressed in the plan should include:

a) Capacity - What is the existing individual, organizational, or community capacity to implement effective health promotion interventions? When lacking, how can capacity be enhanced? How should capacity be measured? How do organizational, political, and social processes affect the implementation of the intervention?

b) Information What information sources do intended users seek out for effective interventions or programmatic decision making? What format should research translation take? What formats, outlets or modalities are most accessible and most useful to the target population?

c) Resources and Training - What types of resources (e.g., infrastructure and systems-based) training, technical assistance, and coaching are needed to effectively support implementation in specific workplace settings?

d) Sustainability - What factors (e.g., organizational, individual, cultural) influence the long-term maintenance or sustainability of effective interventions?

e) Stakeholders and Collaborations How are relevant relationships with stakeholders established? What kind of relationships with stakeholders need to be developed that increase the potential for translation?

See Section VIII, Other Information - Required Federal Citations, for policies related to this announcement.

Section II. Award Information


1. Mechanism(s) of Support

This funding opportunity will use the R01 activity code.

2. Funds Available

The Office of Public Health Research intends to commit approximately $2,000,000 dollars in FY2007 to fund approximately 10 applications. The average award amount will be $150,000 to $250,000 in total costs (indirect and direct) per budget period. An applicant may request a project period of up to 2 years. An applicant may request up to $300,000 in total costs per 12-month budget period. The approximate total project period funded amount is $400,000 in total costs. The anticipated start date for new awards is September 28, 2007.

All estimated funding amounts are subject to availability of funds.

If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, HHS/CDC will consider the application non-responsive, and it will not enter into the review process. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant that the application did not meet the submission requirements.

Section III. Eligibility Information


1. Eligible Applicants

1.A. Eligible Institutions

In 2004, the Office of Public Health Research (OPHR) awarded 31 research project grants (R01s) under RFA-CD-04-002. Support was provided for research activities that identified innovative cost-effective health promotion policies, programs, and activities in the workplace or affecting the workplace. This RFA is a limited competition that builds on these activities and only current recipients of the initial research project grants are eligible to apply. The purpose of these awards is to allow these grantees to evaluate the public health impact of the worksite health promotion projects that were funded under RFA CD-04-002; develop data that can be used to influence worksite health policies and practices; and identify evidence-based worksite health promotion interventions that have the potential for translation (i.e. from research to practice).

OPHR’s existing R01 recipients have identified and studied the most promising worksite health promotion interventions. However, we know from the literature that simply identifying an effective intervention does not guarantee that it will evolve into a successful public health program. To understand the factors that facilitate or inhibit translation of research to practice (i.e., implementation, adoption of public health programs in workplace settings), investigators need to evaluate the existing worksite health promotion interventions with particular emphasis on questions of reach, uptake/adoption, feasibility, and implementation fidelity and acceptability; sustainability and cost; as well as participants functional/health outcomes. This limited competition will allow those research project grant awardees that have been able to identify cost-effective worksite health promotion interventions to compete in fiscal year 2007 for funds to assist them to evaluate the critical success factors and impediments to translation. Limiting this competition to existing awardees under RFA CD-04-002 allows CDC to capitalize on its significant investment and the work already completed by the existing grantees. Results will help CDC and employers understand how best to allocate limited resources to achieve the broadest uptake of these interventions to produce the maximal public health impact.

Eligible applicant organizations are limited to: Cornell University Ithaca, University of New Mexico, Utah State University, Harvard University (Medical School), Washington University, University of Michigan At Ann Arbor, University of Illinois At Chicago, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, University of Pennsylvania, New England Medical Center Hospitals, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Oregon Health & Science University, Park Nicollet Institute, Dartmouth College, Emory University, University of Vermont, Columbia University Health Sciences, University of Georgia (Uga), University of Cincinnati, University of California Los Angeles, Boston Medical Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, Children's Hospital Boston, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Eligible institutions may propose a change in Principal Investigator/Program Director. Justification for such changes must be provided.

1. B. Eligible Investigators

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

This program does not require cost sharing or matching.

The most current HHS Grants Policy Statement is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/HHS_GPS_Oct_2006.doc

3. Other-Special Eligibility Criteria

If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not enter into the review process.

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.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information


To download a SF424 (R&R) Application Package and SF424 (R&R) Application Instructions for completing the SF424 (R&R) forms for this FOA, link to http://www.grants.gov/Apply/ and follow the directions provided on that Web site.

A one-time registration is required for institutions/organizations at the following:

PD/PIs should work with their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the eRA Commons.

Several additional actions are required before an applicant institution/organization can submit an electronic application, as follows:

1) Organizational/Institutional Registration in Grants.gov/Get Started

2) Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA Commons

3) Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in the eRA Commons: Refer to the NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users Guide.

Note that if a PD/PI is also an HHS peer-reviewer with an Individual DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different than any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.

Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks or more. Therefore, applicants should immediately check with their business official to determine whether their organization/institution is already registered in both Grants.gov and the eRA Commons. The HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to use the Grants.gov electronic applications process and have organizations and PD/PIs complete all necessary registrations.

1. Request Application Information

Applicants must download the SF424 (R&R) application forms and SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for this FOA through Grants.gov/Apply.

Note: Only the forms package directly attached to a specific FOA can be used. You will not be able to use any other SF424 (R&R) forms (e.g., sample forms, forms from another FOA); although some of the "Attachment" files may be useable for more than one FOA.

For further assistance, contact PGO TIMS: Telephone 770-488-2700, Email: PGOTIM@cdc.gov

HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 770-488-2783.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Prepare all applications using the SF424 (R&R) application forms and in accordance with the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide (PDF).

The SF424 (R&R) Application Guide is critical to submitting a complete and accurate application to HHS/CDC. There are fields within the SF424 (R&R) application components that, although not marked as mandatory, are required by HHS/CDC (e.g., the Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component must contain the PD/PI assigned eRA Commons User ID). Agency-specific instructions for such fields are clearly identified in the Application Guide. For additional information, see Tips and Tools for Navigating Electronic Submission on the front page of Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

The SF424 (R&R) application is comprised of data arranged in separate components. Some components are required, others are optional. The forms package associated with this FOA in Grants.gov/APPLY will include all applicable components, mandatory and optional. A completed application in response to this FOA will include the following components:

Required Components:
SF424 (R&R) (Cover component)
Research & Related Project/Performance Site Locations
Research & Related Other Project Information
Research & Related Senior/Key Person
Research & Related Budget
PHS398 Cover Page Supplement
PHS398 Research Plan
PHS398 Checklist

Optional Components:
PHS398 Cover Letter File
Research & Related Sub award Budget Attachment(s) Form

3. Submission Dates and Times

See Section IV.3.A for details

3. A. Submission, Review and Anticipated Start Dates
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): March 20, 2007
Application Submission Receipt Date(s): April 20, 2007
Peer Review Date(s): June/July 2007
Council Review Date(s): July/August 2007
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): September 28, 2007

3.A.1. Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows CDC Program staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent by the date listed in Section IV.3.A

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Juliana K. Cyril, PhD, MPH
RFA-CD-07-004
Office of Public Health Research
CDC Office of the Chief Science Officer
1600 Clifton Rd.
MS D-72
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: (404) 639-4621
Fax: 404-639-4903
Email: ophrinfo@cdc.gov

3. B. Submitting an Application to CDC

If the instructions in this announcement differ in any way from the 424 R&R instructions, follow the instructions in this announcement.

To submit an application in response to this FOA, applicants should access this FOA via http://www.grants.gov/Apply and follow steps 1-4. If submittal of the application is done electronically through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically time/date stamped by Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an e-mail notice of receipt from eRA Commons and Grants.gov when HHS/CDC receives the application.

This announcement is the definitive guide on Letter Of Intent (LOI) and application content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If your application does not meet the deadline described in Section IV.3.A, it will not be eligible for review, and HHS/CDC will discard it. You will receive notification that you did not meet the submission requirements.

3. C. Application Processing

HHS/CDC must receive applications on or before 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the application submission date(s) described above (Section IV.3.A.). If HHS/CDC receives an application after that submission date and time, the application may be delayed in the review process or not reviewed. PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Once an application package has been successfully submitted through Grants.gov, any errors have been addressed, and the assembled application has been created in the eRA Commons, the PD/PI and the Authorized Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) have two business days to view the application image.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and responsiveness by the Office of Public Health Research and HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO). HHS/CDC will not review incomplete and non-responsive applications.

There will be an acknowledgement of receipt of applications from Grants.gov and the eRA Commons.

4. Intergovernmental Review

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

5. Funding Restrictions

All HHS/CDC awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/HHS_GPS_Oct_2006.doc.

Restrictions, which applicants must take into account while writing their budgets, are as follows:

6. Other Submission Requirements

Applicants research plan(s) should address activities they will conduct over the entire project period.

The HHS/CDC requires the PD/PI to fill in his/her eRA Commons User ID in the PROFILE Project Director/Principal Investigator section, Credential log-in field of the Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile component. The applicant organization must include its DUNS number in its Organization Profile in the eRA Commons. This DUNS number must match the DUNS number provided at CCR registration with Grants.gov. For additional information, see Registration FAQs Important Tips -- Electronic Submission of Grant Applications.

Research Plan Component Sections

While each section of the Research Plan component needs to be uploaded separately as a PDF attachment, applicants are encouraged to construct the Research Plan component as a single document, separating sections into distinct PDF attachments just before uploading the files. This approach will enable applicants to better monitor formatting requirements such as page limits. All attachments must be provided to HHS/CDC in PDF format, filenames must be included with no spaces or special characters, and a. PDF extension must be used. Do not include any information in a header or footer of the attachments. A header will be system-generated that references the PD/PI. Page numbers for the footer will be system-generated in the complete application, with all pages sequentially numbered; therefore, do not number the pages of your attachments. Your research plan must not exceed 25 pages. If your research plan exceeds the page limitation, your application may be considered unresponsive and ineligible for review.

The following materials may be included in the Appendix:

Up to 3 publications, manuscripts (accepted for publication), abstracts, patents, or other printed materials directly relevant to the proposed project. Do not include manuscripts submitted for publication. Applicants should refer to instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and specific Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to determine the appropriate limit on the number of publications that may be submitted for a particular program. Note that not all grant activity codes allow the inclusion of publications.

Do not use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitations of the Research Plan component. An application that does not observe the relevant policies and procedures may not be considered in the review process. Applicants are reminded to review specific FOAs for any additional program-specific guidance on Appendix material and other application requirements.

Plan for Sharing Research Data
.
The precise content of the data-sharing plan will vary, depending on the data being collected and how the investigator is planning to share the data. Applicants should describe briefly the expected schedule for data sharing, the format of the final dataset, the documentation they will provide, whether or not any analytic tools also will be provided, whether or not a data-sharing agreement will be required and, if so, a brief description of such an agreement (including the criteria for deciding who can receive the data and whether or not the awardee will place any conditions on their use), and the mode of data sharing (e.g., under their own auspices by mailing a disk or posting data on their institutional or personal website, through a data archive or enclave). References to data sharing may also be appropriate in other sections of the application.

All applicants must include a plan for sharing research data in their application. The HHS/CDC data sharing policy is available at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm under Additional Requirements 25 Release and Sharing of Data. All investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data sharing is not possible.

The reasonableness of the data sharing plan or the rationale for not sharing research data will be assessed by the reviewers. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score.

Sharing Research Resources

HHS/PHS policy requires that grant award recipients make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication (see the HHS Grants Policy Statement http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/HHS_GPS_Oct_2006.doc.) Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan for sharing research resources addressing how unique research resources will be shared or explain why sharing is not possible.

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan and any related data sharing plans will be considered by the HHS/CDC Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590,http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm). See Section VI.3. Reporting.

Section V. Application Review Information


1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications that are complete and responsive to the FOA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by the Office of Public Health Research in accordance with the review criteria stated below.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

Applications submitted in response to this FOA will compete for available funds with all other eligible applications. The criteria listed in Section V.1. will be considered in making funding decisions.

The goals of HHS/CDC-supported research are to advance the understanding of health promotion and the prevention of disease, injury, and disability, and enhance preparedness. In the written comments, evaluate the application to judge the likelihood the proposed research will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals. Each of these criteria will be addressed by the reviewers and considered in assigning the overall score, weighting them and weighted, as appropriate for each application:

Note that an application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact and thus deserve a high priority score. For example, an investigator may propose to carry out important work that by its nature is not innovative but is essential to move a field forward.

Significance: Does this study address an important problem? If the applicant achieves the aims of the application, how will it advance scientific knowledge or clinical practice? What will be the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, well reasoned, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Does the applicant acknowledge potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?

Innovation: Is the project original and innovative? For example: Does the project challenge existing paradigms or clinical practice; address an innovative hypothesis or critical barrier to progress in the field? Does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area?

Investigators: Are the investigators appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the work proposed appropriate to the experience level of the principal investigator and other researchers? Does the investigative team bring complementary and integrated expertise to the project (if applicable)?

Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the applicant will do the work contribute to the probability of success? Do the proposed studies benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support?

2.A. Additional Review Criteria

In addition to the above criteria, the following items will be considered in the determination of scientific merit and the priority score:

Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk: When human subjects are involved, HHS/CDC will assess the available protections from research risk that relate to their participation in the proposed research. [See the Research Plan, Section 2, item 8 on Human Subjects in the SF424 (R&R) located at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm.] Additional HHS/CDC Requirements under AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements are available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

Inclusion of Women and Minorities in Research:

Does the application adequately address the HHS/CDC Policy requirements regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the proposed research? This includes: (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation; (2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or absent; (3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to measure differences when warranted; and (4) 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 (see Section 2, item 9 Inclusion or Women and Minorities of the Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R). .

Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals in Research: If applicants plan to use vertebrate animals in the project, HHS/CDC will assess the five items described under Section 2, item 12 Vertebrate Animals of the Research Plan component of the SF424 (R&R). Additional HHS/CDC Requirements under AR-3 Animal Subjects Requirements are available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

Biohazards: If applicants propose the applicant has proposed materials or procedures that are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, HHS/CDC will determine if the proposed protection is adequate.

2.B. Additional Review Considerations

Budget and Period of Support: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the appropriateness of the requested period of support in relation to the proposed research may be assessed by the reviewers. Is the number of person months listed for the effort of the PD/PI appropriate for the work proposed? Is each budget category realistic and justified in terms of the aims and methods? The evaluation of the budget should not effect the priority score.

2.C. Sharing Research Data

Data Sharing Plan: HHS/CDC will assess the reasonableness of the data sharing plan. However, reviewers will not factor the proposed data sharing plan into the determination of scientific merit or the priority score. The presence of a data sharing plan will be part of the terms and conditions of the award. The funding organization will be responsible for monitoring the data sharing policy.

2.D. Sharing Research Resources

HHS policy requires that recipients of grant awards make unique research resources readily available for research purposes to qualified individuals within the scientific community after publication. Please see http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/HHS_GPS_Oct_2006.doc. Investigators responding to this funding opportunity should include a plan on sharing research resources.

Program staff will be responsible for the administrative review of the plan for sharing research resources.

The adequacy of the resources sharing plan will be considered by Program staff of the funding organization when making recommendations about funding applications. The effectiveness of the resource sharing will be evaluated as part of the administrative review of each non-competing Grant Progress Report (HHS/PHS 2590 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm). See Section VI.3. Reporting .

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

Not Applicable

Section VI. Award Administration Information


1. Award Notices

After the peer review of the application is completed, the applicant organization will receive a written critique called a Summary Statement. The applicant organization and the PD/PI will be able to access the Summary Statement via the eRA Commons.

HHS/CDC will contact those applicants under consideration for funding for additional information.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization. The NoA signed by the Grants Management Officer (GMO) is the authorizing document. HHS/CDC will mail and/or e-mail this document to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.

Selection of the application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any cost incurred before receipt of the NoA is at the recipient’s risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs. See also Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The Code of Federal Regulations 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92 have details about requirements. 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. Additional requirements are available in Section VIII. Other Information of this document or on the HHS/CDC website at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm. These will be incorporated into the NoA by reference.

The following terms and conditions will be incorporated into the NoA and will be provided to the appropriate institutional official and a courtesy copy to the PD/PI at the time of award.

3. Reporting

Recipient Organization must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the following reports:

1. Non-Competing Grant Progress Report, (use form PHS 2590, posted on the HHSCDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/forms.htm and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/2590/2590.htm,) no less than 90 days prior to the end of the current budget period. The progress report will serve as the non-competing continuation application.

2. Financial status 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.

Recipient Organization must forward these reports by the U.S. Postal Service or express delivered to the Grants Management Specialist listed in the Agency Contacts section of this NoA.

Although the financial plans of the HHS/CDC CIO(s) provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon 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.

Section VII. Agency Contacts


HHS/CDC encourages your inquiries concerning this FOA and welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Inquiries can fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management issues:

1. Scientific/Research Contacts:

Juliana K. Cyril, PhD, MPH
Associate Director for Policy and Peer Review
Office of Public Health Research
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1600 Clifton Road, MS D-72
Atlanta, GA 30333
Ph: 404-639-4639
FAX: 404-639-4903
Email: jcyril@cdc.gov

2. Peer Review Contacts:

Christine Morrison, PhD
Scientific Review Administrator
Office of Public Health Research
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1600 Clifton Road, MS D-72
Atlanta, GA 30333
Telephone: (404) 639-3089
FAX: 404-639-4903
Email: cmj3@cdc.gov

3. Financial or Grants Management Contacts:

Mattie Jackson
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: (770)-488-2696
FAX: 770-488-2670
Email: MIJ3@cdc.gov

4. General Questions Contacts:

Technical Information Management Section
CDC Procurement and Grants Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2700
Email: PGOTIM@cdc.gov

Section VIII. Other Information


Required Federal Citations

Human Subjects Protection
Federal regulations (45 CFR Part 46) require that applications and proposals involving human subjects must be evaluated with reference to the risks to the subjects, the adequacy of protection against these risks, the potential benefits of the research to the subjects and others, and the importance of the knowledge gained or to be gained (http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm). Additional HHS/CDC Requirements under AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements can be found on the Internet at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

Use of Animals in Research
Recipients of PHS support for activities involving live, vertebrate animals must comply with the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf) as mandated by the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/hrea1985.htm), and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm) as applicable. Additional HHS/CDC Requirements under AR-3 Animal Subjects Requirements can be found on at http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Research
It is the policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to ensure that individuals of both sexes and the various racial and ethnic groups will be included in CDC/ATSDR-supported research projects involving human subjects, whenever feasible and appropriate. Racial and ethnic groups are those defined in OMB Directive No. 15 and include American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Applicants shall ensure that women, racial and ethnic minority populations are appropriately represented in applications for research involving human subjects. Where clear and compelling rationale exist that inclusion is inappropriate or not feasible, this situation must be explained as part of the application. This policy does not apply to research studies when the investigator cannot control the race, ethnicity, and/or sex of subjects. Further guidance to this policy is contained in the Federal Register, Vol. 60, No. 179, pages 47947-47951, and dated Friday, September 15, 1995.

Inclusion of Persons Under The Age of 21 In Research
The policy of CDC is that persons under the age of 21 must be included in all human subjects research that is conducted or supported by CDC, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. This policy applies to all CDC-conducted or CDC-supported research involving human subjects, including research that is otherwise exempt in accordance with Sections 101(b) and 401(b) of 45 C.F.R. Part 46, HHS Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects. Therefore, proposals for research involving human subjects must include a description of plans for including persons under the age of 21. If persons under the age of 21 will be excluded from the research, the application or proposal must present an acceptable justification for the exclusion.

In an extramural research plan, the investigator should create a section titled "Participation of persons under the age of 21." This section should provide either a description of the plans to include persons under the age of 21 and a rationale for selecting or excluding a specific age range, or an explanation of the reason(s) for excluding persons under the age of 21 as participants in the research. When persons under the age of 21 are included, the plan must also include a description of the expertise of the investigative team for dealing with individuals at the ages included, the appropriateness of the available facilities to accommodate the included age groups, and the inclusion of a sufficient number of persons under the age of 21 to contribute to a meaningful analysis relative to the purpose of the study. Scientific review groups at CDC will assess each application as being acceptable or unacceptable in regard to the age-appropriate inclusion or exclusion of persons under the age of 21 in the research project, in addition to evaluating the plans for conducting the research in accordance with these provisions.

The inclusion of children (as defined by the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the research will be conducted) as subjects in research must be in compliance with all applicable subparts of 45 C.F.R. Part 46, as well as with other pertinent federal laws and regulations.

The policy of inclusion of persons under the age of 21 in CDC-conducted or CDC-supported research activities in foreign countries (including collaborative activities) is the same as that for research conducted in the United States.

HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
Recipients must have confidentiality and security provisions to protect data collected through HIV/AIDS surveillance, including copies of local data release policies; employee training in confidentiality provisions; State laws, rules, or regulations pertaining to the protection or release of surveillance information; and physical security of hard copies and electronic files containing confidential surveillance information.

Describe laws, rules, regulations, or health department policies that require or permit the release of patient-identifying information collected under the HIV/AIDS surveillance system to entities outside the public health department; describe also the measures the health department has taken to ensure that persons reported to the surveillance system are protected from further or unlawful disclosure.

Some projects may require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or a certificate of confidentiality.

HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
Compliance with Content of AIDS-Related Written Materials, Pictorials, Audiovisuals, Questionnaires, Survey Instruments, and Educational Sessions (June 1992) is required.

To meet the requirements for a program review panel, you are encouraged to use an existing program review panel, such as the one created by the State health department's HIV/AIDS prevention program. If you form your own program review panel, at least one member must be an employee (or a designated representative) of a State or local health department. List the names of the review panel members on the Assurance of Compliance form, CDC 0.1113. Submit the program review panel's report that all materials have been approved.

If the proposed project involves hosting a conference, submit the program review panel's report stating that all materials, including the proposed conference agenda, have been approved. Submit a copy of the proposed agenda with the application.

Before funds are used to develop educational materials, determine whether suitable materials already exist in the CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN). The website can be found at; http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/index.asp.

Patient Care
Ensure that all STD or HIV infected patients enrolled in the proposed project will be linked to an appropriate local care system that can address their specific needs, such as medical care, counseling, social services, and therapy.

Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more individuals and funded by a grant or a cooperative agreement will be subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
HHS/CDC strongly encourages all recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products. Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children.

Healthy People 2010
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. This FOA is related to one or more of the priority areas. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.

Lobbying Restrictions
Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use of HHS funds for lobbying of Federal or State legislative bodies. Under the provisions of 31 U.S.C. Section 1352, recipients (and their sub-tier contractors) are prohibited from using appropriated Federal funds (other than profits from a Federal contract) for lobbying congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award of a particular contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. This includes grants/cooperative agreements that, in whole or in part, involve conferences for which Federal funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to encourage participants to lobby or to instruct participants on how to lobby.

In addition no part of HHS/CDC appropriated funds, shall be used, other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, for publicity or propaganda purposes, for the preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, radio, television, or video presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress or any State or local legislature, except in presentation to the Congress or any State or local legislature itself. No part of the appropriated funds shall be used to pay the salary or expenses of any grant or contract recipient, or agent acting for such recipient, related to any activity designed to influence legislation or appropriations pending before the Congress or any State or local legislature.

Any activity designed to influence action in regard to a particular piece of pending legislation would be considered "lobbying." That is lobbying for or against pending legislation, as well as indirect or "grass roots" lobbying efforts by award recipients that are directed at inducing members of the public to contact their elected representatives at the Federal or State levels to urge support of, or opposition to, pending legislative proposals is prohibited. As a matter of policy, HHS/CDC extends the prohibitions to lobbying with respect to local legislation and local legislative bodies.

The provisions are not intended to prohibit all interaction with the legislative branch, or to prohibit educational efforts pertaining to public health. Clearly there are circumstances when it is advisable and permissible to provide information to the legislative branch in order to foster implementation of prevention strategies to promote public health. However, it would not be permissible to influence, directly or indirectly, a specific piece of pending legislation

It remains permissible to use HHS/CDC funds to engage in activity to enhance prevention; collect and analyze data; publish and disseminate results of research and surveillance data; implement prevention strategies; conduct community outreach services; provide leadership and training, and foster safe and healthful environments.

Recipients of HHS/CDC grants and cooperative agreements need to be careful to prevent CDC funds from being used to influence or promote pending legislation. With respect to conferences, public events, publications, and "grassroots" activities that relate to specific legislation, recipients of HHS/CDC funds should give close attention to isolating and separating the appropriate use of HHS/CDC funds from non-CDC funds. HHS/CDC also cautions recipients of HHS/CDC funds to be careful not to give the appearance that HHS/CDC funds are being used to carry out activities in a manner that is prohibited under Federal law.

Prohibition on Use of HHS/CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control Activities

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act specifies that: "None of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may be used to advocate or promote gun control."

Anti-Lobbying Act requirements prohibit lobbying Congress with appropriated Federal monies. Specifically, this Act prohibits the use of Federal funds for direct or indirect communications intended or designed to influence a member of Congress with regard to specific Federal legislation. This prohibition includes the funding and assistance of public grassroots campaigns intended or designed to influence members of Congress with regard to specific legislation or appropriation by Congress.

In addition to the restrictions in the Anti-Lobbying Act, HHS/CDC interprets the language in the HHS/CDC's Appropriations Act to mean that HHS/CDC's funds may not be spent on political action or other activities designed to affect the passage of specific Federal, State, or local legislation intended to restrict or control the purchase or use of firearms.

Accounting System Requirements
The services of a certified public accountant licensed by the State Board of Accountancy or the equivalent must be retained throughout the project as a part of the recipient's staff or as a consultant to the recipient's accounting personnel. These services may include the design, implementation, and maintenance of an accounting system that will record receipts and expenditures of Federal funds in accordance with accounting principles, Federal regulations, and terms of the cooperative agreement or grant.

Capability Assessment
It may be necessary to conduct an on-site evaluation of some applicant organization's financial management capabilities prior to or immediately following the award of the grant or cooperative agreement. Independent audit statements from a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for the preceding two fiscal years may also be required.

Proof of Non-profit Status
Proof of nonprofit status must be submitted by private nonprofit organizations with the application. Any of the following is acceptable evidence of nonprofit status: (a) a reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code; (b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate; (c) a statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney General, or other appropriate State Official certifying that the applicant organization has a nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; (d) a certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status; (e) any of the above proof for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.

Security Clearance Requirement
All individuals who will be performing work under a grant or cooperative agreement in a HHS/CDC-owned or leased facility (on-site facility) must receive a favorable security clearance, and meet all security requirements. This means that all awardees employees, fellows, visiting researchers, interns, etc., no matter the duration of their stay at HHS/CDC must undergo a security clearance process.

Small, Minority, And Women-Owned Business
It is a national policy to place a fair share of purchases with small, minority and women-owned business firms. The Department of Health and Human Services is strongly committed to the objective of this policy and encourages all recipients of its grants and cooperative agreements to take affirmative steps to ensure such fairness. In particular, recipients should:

  1. Place small, minority, and women-owned business firms on bidders mailing lists.
  2. Solicit these firms whenever they are potential sources of supplies, equipment, construction, or services.
  3. Where feasible, divide total requirements into smaller needs, and set delivery schedules that will encourage participation by these firms.
  4. Use the assistance of the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, DHHS, and similar state and local offices.

Research Integrity
The signature of the institution official on the face page of the application submitted under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is certifying compliance with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations in Title 42 Part 93, Subparts A-E, entitled PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE POLICIES ON RESEARCH MISCONDUCT.

The regulation places requirements on institutions receiving or applying for funds under the PHS Act that are monitored by the DHHS Office of Research Integrity (ORI) (http://ori.hhs.gov./policies/statutes.shtml).

For example:

Section 93.301 Institutional assurances. (a) General policy. An institution with PHS supported biomedical or behavioral research, research training or activities related to that research or research training must provide PHS with an assurance of compliance with this part, satisfactory to the Secretary. PHS funding components may authorize [[Page 28389]] funds for biomedical and behavioral research, research training, or activities related to that research or research training only to institutions that have approved assurances and required renewals on file with ORI. (b) Institutional Assurance. The responsible institutional official must assure on behalf of the institution that the institution-- (1) Has written policies and procedures in compliance with this part for inquiring into and investigating allegations of research misconduct; and (2) Complies with its own policies and procedures and the requirements of this part.

Compliance with Executive Order 13279
Faith-based organization are eligible to receive federal financial assistance, and their applications are evaluated in the same manner and using the same criteria as those for non-faith-based organizations in accordance with Executive Order 13279, Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations. All applicants should, however, be aware of restrictions on the use of direct financial assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for inherently religious activities. Under the provisions of Title 45, Parts 74, 87, 92 and 96, organizations that receive direct financial assistance from DHHS under any DHHS program may not engage in inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization as a part of the programs or services funded with direct financial assistance from DHHS. If an organization engages in such activities, it must offer them separately, in time or location, from the programs or services funded with direct DHHS assistance, and participation must be voluntary for the beneficiaries of the programs or services funded with such assistance. A religious organization that participates in the DHHS funded programs or services will retain its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs, provided that it does not use direct financial assistance from DHHS to support inherently religious activities such as those activities described above. A faith-based organization may, however, use space in its facilities to provide programs or services funded with financial assistance from DHHS without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a religious organization that receives financial assistance from DHHS retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization’s name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization’s mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of DHHS funded activities. For further guidance on the use of DHHS direct financial assistance see Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 87, Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, and visit the internet site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Requirements
Recipients of this grant award should note that pursuant to the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (45 CFR Parts 160 and 164) covered entities may disclose protected health information to public health authorities authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, including, but not limited to, the reporting of disease, injury, vital events such as birth or death, and the conduct of public health surveillance, public health investigations, and public health interventions. The definition of a public health authority includes a person or entity acting under a grant of authority from or contract with such public agency. HHS/CDC considers this project a public health activity consistent with the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information and HHS/CDC will provide successful recipients a specific grant of public health authority for the purposes of this project.

Release and Sharing of Data
The Data Release Plan is the Grantee's assurance that the dissemination of any and all data collected under the HHS/CDC data sharing agreement will be released as follows:

  1. In a timely manner.
  2. Completely, and as accurately as possible.
  3. To facilitate the broader community.
  4. Developed in accordance with CDC policy on Releasing and Sharing Data.

April 16, 2003, http://www.cdc.gov/od/foia/policies/sharing.htm, and in full compliance with the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), (where applicable), The Office of Management and Budget Circular A110, (2000) revised 2003, www.whitehouse.gov/omb/query.html?col=omb&qt=Releasing+and+Sharing+of+Data and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) www.4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/5/552/html.

Applications must include a copy of the applicant's Data Release Plan. Applicants should provide HHS/CDC with appropriate documentation on the reliability of the data. Applications submitted without the required Plan may be ineligible for award. Award will be made when reviewing officials have approved an acceptable Plan. The successful applicant and the Program Manager will determine the documentation format. HHS/CDC recommends data is released in the form closest to micro data and one that will preserve confidentiality.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915)
The grantee’s signature on the grant application attests to their: (1) knowledge of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665, 80 Stat. 915); and (2) intent to ensure all grant related activities are in compliance with referenced public law, as stated:

a. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) states:

The head of any Federal agency, having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or Federally assisted undertaking in any State and the head of any Federal department or independent state agency having authority to license any undertaking, shall, prior to the approval of the expenditure of any Federal funds on the undertaking or prior to the issuance of any license, as the case may be, take into account the effect of the undertaking on any district, site, building, structure, or object that is included in or is eligible for inclusion in the National Register. The head of any such Federal agency shall afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation established under Title II of this ACT a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to such undertaking.

b. Additionally, the NHPA also contains the following excerpt that forbids anticipatory demolition:

Each Federal agency shall ensure that the agency will not grant a loan, loan guarantee, permit, license, or other assistance to an applicant who, with intent to avoid the requirements of Section 106 of this Act, has intentionally, significantly, adversely affected a historic property to which the grant would relate or, having legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to occur, unless the agency, after consultation with the Council, determines that circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted by the applicant.

Conference Disclaimer and Use of Logos
Disclaimer: Where a conference is funded by a grant or cooperative agreement, a sub grant or a contract the recipient must include the following statement on conference materials, including promotional materials, agenda, and internet sites:

Funding for this conference was made possible [in part] by [insert grant or cooperative agreement award number] from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) . The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Logos: Neither the HHS nor the CDC ( CDC includes ATSDR) logo may be displayed if such display would cause confusion as to the source of the conference or give the false appearance of Government endorsement. A non-federal entity’s unauthorized use of the HHS name or logo is governed by U.S.C. 1320b-10, which prohibits the misuse of the HHS name and emblem in written communication. The appropriate use of the HHS logo is subject to the review and approval of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (OASPA). Moreover, the Office of the Inspector General has authority to impose civil monetary penalties for violations (42 C.F.R. Part 1003). Neither the HHS nor the CDC logo can be used on conference materials under a grant, cooperative agreement, contract or co-sponsorship agreement without the expressed, written consent of either the Project Officer or the Grants Management Officer. It is the responsibility of the grantee (or recipient of funds under a cooperative agreement) to request consent for the use of the logo in sufficient detail to assure a complete depiction and disclosure of all uses of the Government logos, and to assure that in all cases of the use of Government logos, the written consent of either the Project Officer or the Grants Management Officer has been received.


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