1996 Demonstration Sites for State Pregnancy and Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Systems

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Announcement 651]

1996 Demonstration Sites for State Pregnancy and Pediatric

Nutrition Surveillance Systems

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for a cooperative agreement

for Demonstration Sites for Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Systems

(PedNSS) and State Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance Systems (PNSS) to

improve data quality and to add additional questions to these systems.

The CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease

prevention objectives of ``Healthy People 2000,'' a national activity

to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life. This

announcement is related to the priority areas of Nutrition, Maternal

and Infant Health, and Surveillance and Data Systems. (For ordering a

copy of ``Healthy People 2000'', see the section ``Where To Obtain

Additional Information.'')

Authority

This program is authorized under sections 301(a)and 317(k)(2)of the

Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247b(k)(2)], as

amended.

Smoke-Free Workplace

CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-

free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco products, and

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, and early childhood development

services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are the official public health agencies of

States or their bona fide agents. This includes the District of

Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin

Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana

Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau,

and federally recognized Indian tribal governments.

Eligible applicants must:

1. Provide evidence that the State is currently participating in,

and submitting data for, items indicated below in the PedNSS and/or

PNSS:

a. If applying to work with the PedNSS system, a minimum of 4 of

the 5 data items listed in Appendix A should have no more than 40%

missing data. (A copy of Appendix A will be included in the application

kit.)

b. If applying to work with the PNSS system, a minimum of 14 of the

18 data items listed in Appendix B should have no more than 40% missing

data. (A copy of Appendix B will be included in the application kit.)

2. Provide written documentation that each demonstration site

includes:

a. A minimum of 1,000 children enrolled in Women, Infants, and

Children (WIC) are seen in each of at least 10 potential demonstration

sites per year (PedNSS system only).

b. A minimum of 300 women enrolled in WIC are seen in each of at

least 10 potential demonstration sites per year (PNSS system only).

Availability Of Funds

Approximately $350,000 is available in FY 1996 to fund

approximately 4 awards, no more than two of which will be made to

applicants who participate in PedNSS only. It is expected that the

average award will range from $80,000 to $100,000. It is expected that

the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1996, and will be made

for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 3 years.

Funding estimates may vary and are subject to change. Continuation

awards within the project period will be made on the basis of

satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

These awards are to establish demonstration test clinic sites to

improve the quality of the PedNSS and/or PNSS surveillance; collect

high quality data; process, analyze, and disseminate data; add new data

items; and enhance the ability of these systems to monitor nutrition-

related problems of women and children.

Program Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,

the recipient shall be responsible for conducting activities under A,

and CDC shall be responsible for conducting activities under B.

A. Recipient Activities

1. Establish demonstration sites to: (a) improve the quality of

data collected by the PedNSS and/or PNSS; (b) expand the PedNSS and/or

PNSS to include additional data items that are routinely collected in

public health clinics; and (c) develop standardized questions to add to

the PedNSS and/or PNSS on two of the following topics: food security,

dietary information, and physical activity.

2. Choose potential demonstration sites (clinics, county, or

agency) based on clinic size, current data quality, geographic

representation, and ethnic diversity.

3. Document equipment used, current practices of measuring health

parameters, and data collection procedures using standard qualitative

research methods such as focus groups, key informant interviews, etc.

4. Develop and carry out a plan to assure standardized equipment

and measurement techniques, training procedures, and data collection

forms in accordance with guidelines to be provided by CDC.

5. Include in the surveillance system, information on type of

formula fed to infants, whether the infant's mother participates in WIC

(PedNSS only), and risk factors contributing to WIC eligibility. Add

new standardized

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questions to the data collection form on two of the following three

topics: food security, dietary information, and physical activity. The

recipient should be willing to consider including other data items as

the need arises.

6. Develop and implement a plan to monitor data collection

activities.

7. Develop a plan to assess data quality on an ongoing basis and

revise practices and techniques as needed.

8. Evaluate the project in terms of: (a) improvement of data

quality, (b) feasibility of collecting new data items, and (c)

usefulness of new data items.

9. Prepare and disseminate procedures used and findings through

presentation and publication in appropriate forums.

B. CDC Activities

1. Provide technical support to evaluate current practices of data

collection and develop a plan to improve data quality.

2. Collaborate in the design of standardized data items,

definitions, procedures, and methods to collect the desired

surveillance information.

3. Provide technical support for monitoring data collection and

data quality, data processing and analysis, and the distribution of

tasks between State and clinic offices.

Evaluation Criteria (100 Points)

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the

following criteria:

A. Statement of Need (5 Points)

The need for State-specific, high-quality data on data items

currently collected and new data items.

B. Goals and Objectives (5 Points)

The appropriateness of goals, objectives, and activities stated in

the overall plan, and whether objectives are specific, measurable,

time-phased, and feasible.

C. Operational Plan (45 Points)

The extent and adequacy of the plan to use qualitative methods,

assure use of standardized equipment and operational procedures,

monitor data collection activities, assess data quality, revise

practices and techniques, and add new standardized questions to the

data collection.

D. Capability (35 Points)

1. The extent and appropriateness of the existing surveillance

system for PedNSS and/or PNSS.

2. The extent to which project staff appear to have the skills to

provide training on data collection, data quality assessment and data

processing.

3. Evidence that adding new data items and software to analyze data

quality to the existing computerized surveillance systems will be

feasible.

E. Project Evaluation (10 Points)

The appropriateness of the evaluation to assess improvements to

data quality and feasibility of collecting new data items.

F. Budget (Not Weighted)

The extent to which the budget clearly relates to proposed

objectives and activities.

G. Human Subjects: (Not Scored)

Whether or not exempt from the DHHS regulations, procedures are to

be adequate for the protection of human subjects. Recommendations on

the adequacy of protections include: (1) protections appear adequate

and there are no comments to make or concerns to raise, (2) protections

appear adequate, but there are comments regarding the protocol, (3)

protections appear inadequate and the ORG has concerns related to human

subjects, or (4) disapproval of the application is recommended because

the research risks are sufficiently serious and protection against the

risks are inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.

Executive Order 12372 Review

Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets

up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal

assistance applications. Applicants (other than federally recognized

Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of

Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the prospective

applications and receive any necessary instructions on the State

process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the

applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each affected State. A

current list of SPOCs is included in the application kit. If SPOCs have

any State process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC,

they should send them to Sharron P. Orum, Grants Management Officer,

Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE.,

Room 314, Mail Stop E-18, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, no later than 30 days

after the receipt date of the application.

The appropriation for this financial assistance program was

received late in the fiscal year and would not allow for an application

date which would accommodate the 60-day State recommendation process

period. The Program Announcement Number and Program Title should be

referenced on the document. The granting agency does not guarantee to

``accommodate or explain'' State process recommendations it receives

after that date.

Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal government

review of the proposed application. If tribal governments have any

tribal process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they

should forward them to Sharron P. Orum, Grants Management Office,

Grants Management Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 314, Mail Stop E-18,

Atlanta, Georgia 30305. This should be done no later than 30 days after

the receipt date of the application. The granting agency does not

guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for tribal process

recommendations it receives after that date.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting

Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93-283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more

individuals and funded by the cooperative agreement will be subject to

review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork

Reduction Act.

Human Subjects

If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the

applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services

Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human

subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate that the project

will be subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate

institutional review committee. In addition to other applicable

committees, Indian Health Service (IHS) institutional review committees

also must review the project if any component of IHS will be involved

or will support the research. If any American Indian community is

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involved, its tribal government must also approve that portion of the

project applicable to it. The applicant will be responsible for

providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and

form provided in the application kit.

Should human subjects review be required, the proposed workplan

should incorporate timelines for such development and review

activities.

Application Submission and Deadline

The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1

(Revised 7/92, OMB Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Sharron P.

Orum, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement

and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 314, Mail Stop E-18, Atlanta,

Georgia 30305, on or before August 2, 1996.

1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the

deadline if they are either:

(a) Received on or before the deadline date; or

(b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for

submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a

legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated

receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private

metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

2. Late Application: Applications that do not meet the criteria in

1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late

applications will not be considered in the current competition and will

be returned to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

A complete program description, information on application

procedures, application package, and business management technical

assistance may be obtained from Albertha Carey, Grants Management

Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry

Road, NE., Room 314, Mail Stop E-18, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone

(404) 842-6508, fax (404) 842-6513, or Internet or CDC WONDER

electronic mail at [email protected]>.

Technical assistance may be obtained from Diane Clark, Public

Health Nutritionist, Division of Nutrition, National Center for Chronic

Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC), Mail Stop K-25, 4770 Buford Highway, NE.,

Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, telephone (770) 488-4913, fax (770) 488-

4728, or Internet or CDC WONDER electronic mail at

[email protected]>.

Please refer to Announcement 651 when requesting information and

submitting an application.

Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000''

(Full Report; Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000''

(Summary Report; Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in the

``Introduction'' through the Superintendent of Documents, Government

Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

Dated: June 28, 1996.

Joseph R. Carter,

Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 96-17098 Filed 7-03-96; 8:45 am]

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