Development of Influenza Surveillance Networks, 22045-22050 [05-8506]

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 81 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22045-22050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8506]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Development of Influenza Surveillance Networks

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: AA011.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.283.
    Key Dates:
    Letter of Intent Deadline: May 31, 2005.
    Application Deadline: June 27, 2005.
    Executive Summary: An influenza pandemic has greater potential than 
any other naturally occurring infectious disease event to cause large 
and rapid global and domestic increases in deaths and serious 
illnesses. Preparedness is the key to substantially reducing the 
health, social, and economic impacts of an influenza pandemic and other 
public health emergencies. One component of preparedness involves 
understanding the impact that annual epidemics of influenza have on the 
population. These data regarding impact are critical to the development 
of prevention and control measures such as vaccination policies. 
Vaccination efforts are the cornerstone of influenza prevention and 
will be the primary means of mitigating the impact of an influenza 
pandemic.
    The systematic collection of influenza surveillance data over time 
is necessary to monitor and track influenza virus and disease activity 
and is essential to understanding the impact influenza has on a 
country's population. Improving surveillance systems by developing 
influenza surveillance networks is critical for the rapid detection of 
new variants, including those with pandemic potential, to contribute to 
the global surveillance system. Global collaboration, under the 
coordination of the World Health Organization (WHO), is a key feature 
of influenza surveillance. WHO established an international laboratory-
based surveillance network for influenza in 1948. The network currently 
consists of 112 National Influenza Center (NIC) laboratories in 83 
countries, and four WHO Collaborating Centers for Reference and 
Research of Influenza (including one located at the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention). The primary purposes of the WHO network are to 
detect the emergence and spread of new antigenic variants of influenza, 
to use this information to update the formulation of influenza vaccine, 
and to provide as much warning as possible about the next pandemic. 
This system provides the foundation of worldwide influenza prevention 
and control.
    Monitoring of influenza viruses and providing contributions to the 
global surveillance system will assure that data used in annual WHO 
vaccine recommendations are relevant to each country that participates. 
Increased participation in the global surveillance system for influenza 
viruses will enhance each country's ability to monitor severe 
respiratory illness, to develop vaccine policy, and to help build 
global and regional strategies for the prevention and control of 
influenza. Monitoring influenza disease activity is important to 
facilitate resource planning, communication, intervention, and 
investigation.
    This announcement seeks to support foreign governments through 
their Ministries of Health or other responsible Ministries for human 
health in the development or improvement of epidemiologic and virologic 
influenza surveillance networks. These networks will focus on the 
systematic collection of virological and epidemiological information 
for influenza. This support is meant to enhance, and not to supplant, 
current influenza surveillance activities. Proposals should build upon 
infrastructure already in place. Preference will be given to countries 
where resources are currently limited and influenza surveillance is not 
well established due to lack of resources.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under sections 301(a) and 307 
of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. sections 241(a), and 
242l], as amended.
    Purpose: The purpose of the program is to provide support and 
assistance to foreign governments for the development or improvement of 
influenza surveillance networks. These networks will focus on the 
systematic collection of virological and epidemiological information 
for influenza. Countries applying for support must have an active WHO 
NIC recognized by WHO. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 
2010'' focus area(s) of Immunization and Infectious diseases.
    The objectives of this program are to (1) establish or enhance an 
active influenza surveillance network that uses standardized data 
collection instruments, operational definitions, and laboratory 
diagnostic tests to enhance surveillance for influenza at three or more 
sites within the country; (2) use the experience gained to expand the 
surveillance system to include additional sites; (3) improve local 
laboratory diagnostic capabilities by supporting and enhancing those 
local laboratories that participate in influenza surveillance; (4) 
develop educational and training opportunities for local public health 
practitioners as part of broader efforts to improve public health 
infrastructure in the region; and (5) improve communications and data 
exchange between laboratories and epidemiologists in the global 
influenza surveillance network by expanding the

[[Page 22046]]

network and improving the reporting of data from surveillance sites, 
laboratories, and NICs.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal(s) for the National Center for Infectious 
Diseases (NCID): Protect Americans from infectious diseases.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
CDC/ATSDR. If research is proposed, the application will not be 
reviewed. For the definition of research, please see the CDC Web site 
at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/
opspoll1.htm.
    Activities:
    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
     Develop a nationwide system to collect virologic and 
epidemiologic data for influenza by establishing five or more sites 
with good geographic distribution throughout the country. Each site 
will consist of a local laboratory and one or more clinics or hospitals 
for data collection. Each site should:
    [ctrcir] Conduct virologic and epidemiologic surveillance for 
influenza by collecting information year round in countries or regions 
of countries with tropical and subtropical climates; and/or by 
collecting surveillance information during the period of respiratory 
illness circulation in countries or regions of countries with temperate 
climates.
    [ctrcir] Have laboratory capacity for performing influenza virus 
isolation and typing.
    [ctrcir] Collect information on influenza like illnesses and/or 
severe respiratory disease at each site by building on information that 
is already available. Possible sources of information include (1) 
recording influenza-like-illness visits to physicians or primary care 
clinics or hospitals based on a standard case definition, or (2) 
monitoring hospital admissions for severe respiratory illness and 
pneumonia based on a case definition. Patient information such as age, 
patient history and other relevant information should be collected.
    [ctrcir] Collect a subset of at least 10 (and preferably up to 25) 
specimens from the patient populations under surveillance with febrile, 
acute upper respiratory illness. These specimens should be collected 
weekly during the period of surveillance (based on climate) using a 
standard case definition (preferably WHO) and should be submitted to 
the local laboratory for the site.
    [ctrcir] During unusual outbreaks of influenza, such as outbreaks 
with unusual epidemiologic characteristics, or those related to 
infections by avian or other animal influenza viruses, collect 
epidemiologic information to characterize the outbreak and collect 
additional samples for viral isolation and submittal to the site 
laboratory. Report the outbreak to the NIC.
    [ctrcir] Prepare and provide regular weekly reports on the 
epidemiologic information that has been collected (influenza-like-
illness and/or severe respiratory illness) to the local laboratory and 
to the NIC.
    [ctrcir] The laboratory will perform viral isolation for influenza 
viruses either in tissue culture or in eggs. Type positive isolates for 
influenza A and B, and if possible, subtype influenza viruses.
    [ctrcir] Store original clinical materials at -70 degrees until the 
beginning of the next influenza season.
    [ctrcir] Submit viral isolates to the NIC within the country on at 
least a monthly basis for more complete analysis.
     The WHO NIC within a country can be one of the 
surveillance sites and as such conduct all the activities listed above. 
If there are two or more NICs within a country each NIC could 
participate as a site, however NICs within a single country should work 
together and place emphasis on the addition of new surveillance sites. 
In addition, the NIC(s) should act as the focal point and authority 
within their country on influenza surveillance and be the main point of 
communication with WHO and WHO Collaborating Centers for the submittal 
of virus isolates and information into the global surveillance system. 
Each NIC also will be responsible for the following activities:
    [ctrcir] Performing preliminary antigenic and, if possible genetic, 
characterization on the virus isolates submitted from the laboratories 
in the surveillance sites (including those isolates grown at the NIC).
    [ctrcir] Send representative virus isolates to one of the four WHO 
Collaborating Centers for Influenza, including any low reacting 
viruses, as tested using the WHO reagent kit, each month during the 
period of surveillance and more frequently, if possible.
    [ctrcir] If any viruses are unsubtypable as tested using the WHO 
kit, alert WHO and send the virus isolate to one of the four WHO 
Collaborating Centers for Influenza immediately.
    [ctrcir] During the period of surveillance, provide weekly 
influenza surveillance information to WHO through FluNet.
    [ctrcir] Provide an annual national summary on influenza activity, 
virological information and other relevant information on influenza to 
WHO and the WHO Collaborating Center in Atlanta, GA.
    [ctrcir] Provide technical expertise and training to support the 
surveillance sites and laboratories in the national network.
     Foreign Governments applying for funding through this 
cooperative agreement should play a substantial role in the development 
and support of the influenza surveillance network.
    [ctrcir] Facilitate the sharing of influenza surveillance 
information with the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance network by 
facilitating the regular exchange of information and viruses with one 
of the four WHO Collaborating Centers.
    [ctrcir] Provide continued support for influenza activities within 
the country and develop a plan for increased participation in the 
global influenza surveillance network over a five-year period.
    [ctrcir] Consider developing a task force or working group for 
influenza to determine ways to improve national influenza surveillance, 
develop prevention and control measures such as vaccine policy and work 
on pandemic preparedness.
    [ctrcir] Facilitate communication between the veterinary and the 
human side of influenza surveillance. Develop systems for the sharing 
of information.
    In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
     Provide technical assistance on techniques and reagents 
for the identification of influenza viruses. Annually provide the WHO 
reagent kit, which is produced and distributed by the WHO Collaborating 
Center for Influenza in Atlanta, GA.
     Provide epidemiological and laboratory training.
     Provide technical consultation on the development of 
country networks.
     Provide confirmation of antigenic analysis and more 
detailed characterization information on the influenza virus isolates 
submitted to CDC with written reports back to the NIC.
     Provide technical advice on the conduct of epidemiologic 
outbreak investigations.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000 (This amount is an estimate,

[[Page 22047]]

and is subject to availability of funds.) Approximate Number of Awards: 
5-10.
    Approximate Average Award: $50,000 to 250,000.
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $250,000 (This ceiling is for the first 12-
month budget period.)
    Anticipated Award Date: August 1, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 5 years.
    Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of 
awards will be conditioned on 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.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by foreign governments through their 
Ministries of Health or other national government offices responsible 
for disease surveillance in humans. Only one application per country 
will be accepted.
    Applicants in countries that were funded last year under CDC 
Program Announcement 04106 are not eligible to apply under 
this new Program Announcement.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program. However, the 
support provided through this cooperative agreement is meant to 
enhance, and not supplant, current influenza surveillance activities.

III.3. Other

    If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the 
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive, and 
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that 
your application did not meet the submission requirements.

Special Requirements

    If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special 
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the 
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet 
submission requirements.
     Late applications will be considered non-responsive. See 
section ``IV.3. Submission Dates and Times'' for more information on 
deadlines.
     This program is not designed or intended to support 
research, therefore no research will be supported under this 
cooperative agreement. Any applications proposing research will be 
considered non-responsive.
     In order to apply and be eligible for this funding, your 
country must have at least one NIC of record at WHO. CDC will confirm 
with WHO the status/existence of NIC for each application received. 
Participation of NICs is a requirement because to meet the goal of this 
announcement, a significant number of the recipient activities require 
information and work to be conducted, reported and submitted through 
the WHO surveillance network.

     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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 
5161-1.
    CDC strongly encourages you to submit your application 
electronically by utilizing the forms and instructions posted for this 
announcement on https://www.Grants.gov.
    Application forms and instructions are also available on the CDC 
Web site, at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/
forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to 
you.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Letter of Intent (LOI): Your LOI must be written in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 4
     Font size: 12-point unreduced
     Single spaced
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
     Page margin size: One inch
     Printed only on one side of page
     Written in English using plain language, avoid jargon
    Your LOI must contain the following information:
     List this Program Announcement Number (AA011)
     Name of the government entity that is applying
     Name and contact information for the person who will be 
responsible for preparing and submitting the application
     Name of NIC(s) that will be involved
    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 25. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will 
be reviewed.
     Font size: 12 point unreduced
     Single spaced
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
     Page margin size: One inch
     Printed only on one side of page
     Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:
     Background and Need: Describe the background and justify 
the need for the proposed project to enhance or expand influenza 
surveillance networks in the country. Describe the current 
infrastructure/influenza surveillance system and how it is used, 
describe the geographical area and demographics, and describe 
identified gaps or shortcomings of the current surveillance system.
     Capacity: Describe adequate resources and facilities (both 
technical and administrative) for enhancing or expanding influenza 
surveillance. This includes the capacity to conduct quality laboratory 
measurements and produce and distribute reports. Describe the 
qualifications and past experience and achievements of professional 
personnel in research and programs related to this project.
     Objectives and Technical Approach:
    [ctrcir] Goals--Describe the overall goals of enhancing or 
expanding your influenza surveillance network.
    [ctrcir] Objectives--Describe specific objectives of the proposed 
influenza surveillance network that are measurable and time-phased and 
are consistent with the objectives for this Cooperative Agreement 
program as provided in the Purpose section at the beginning of this 
Program Announcement.
    [ctrcir] Operational Plan--Present a detailed operational plan for 
initiating and conducting the influenza surveillance program. Be sure 
to address each of the specific Activities listed in the Activities 
section of this Program Announcement. Clearly identify specific 
assigned responsibilities for all key professional personnel. Identify 
appropriate surveillance sites with adequate geographic distribution 
for

[[Page 22048]]

network. Clearly describe the applicant's technical approach/methods 
for developing and conducting the proposed influenza surveillance 
network. Describe the existence of or plans to establish partnerships 
necessary to develop and conduct the proposed network, including 
particularly with each NIC in the country.
    [ctrcir] Collaborations--Describe adequate and appropriate 
collaborations with other health agencies during the various phases 
required to enhance or expand your influenza surveillance network.
     Measures of Effectiveness and Evaluation Plan:
    [ctrcir] Measures: Provide specific measures of effectiveness that 
can be used to demonstrate accomplishment of the objectives of this 
cooperative agreement program. Be sure to address each of the five 
program objectives listed in the Purpose section of this Program 
Announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative so that they 
can provide meaningful outcome evaluation.
    [ctrcir] Evaluation Plan: Provide a detailed, adequate and feasible 
plan for evaluating the results of the influenza surveillance network. 
This includes plans for evaluating the improvement of the influenza 
surveillance network as well as plans for evaluating other aspects of 
the collaboration (e.g., training, sharing of data/information).
     Budget and justification (not included in page limit)
    With staffing breakdown and justification, provide a line item 
budget and a narrative with justification for all requested costs. Be 
sure to include, if any, in-kind support or other contributions that 
will be provided by your country as part of the total project, but for 
which you are not requesting funding. Budgets should be consistent with 
the purpose, objectives and program activities and include:
    [ctrcir] Line-item breakdown and justification for all personnel, 
i.e., name, position title, annual salary, percentage of time and 
effort, and amount requested.
    [ctrcir] For each contract: (1) Name of proposed contractor; (2) 
breakdown and justification for estimated costs; (3) description and 
scope of activities to be performed by contractor; (4) period of 
performance; (5) method of contractor selection (e.g., sole-source or 
competitive solicitation); and (6) methods of accountability.
    Additional information should be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes:
     Curriculum Vitae and/or Resumes
     Organizational Charts
     Letters of Support from participating organizations and 
institutions.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
    For more information, see the CDC Web site at: https://www.cdc.gov/
od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm.
    Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: May 31, 2005.
    CDC requests that you send a LOI if you intend to apply for this 
program. Although the LOI is not required, not binding, and does not 
enter into the review of your subsequent application, the LOI will be 
used to gauge the level of interest in this program and to allow CDC to 
plan the application review.
    Application Deadline Date: June 27, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline 
date.
    If you submit your application electronically with Grants.gov, your 
application will be electronically time/date stamped which will serve 
as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt 
when CDC receives the application.
    If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will 
be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If CDC 
receives your submission after closing due to: (1) Carrier error, when 
the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the 
closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, you will be given the opportunity to submit documentation of 
the carriers guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier 
problem, CDC will consider the submission as having been received by 
the deadline.
    Otherwise, CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your submission. 
If you have a question about the receipt of your LOI or application, 
first contact your courier. If you still have a question, contact the 
PGO-TIM staff at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to 
three days after the submission deadline. This will allow time for 
submissions to be processed and logged.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on LOI and application 
content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information 
provided in the application instructions. If your submission does not 
meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will 
be discarded. You will be notified that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Funds may not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be 
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives, 
however, prior approval by CDC officials must be requested in writing.
     The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of the American University, Beirut and the World Health 
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
     The applicant may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however the applicant must perform a substantial portion 
of the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required.)
     All requests for funds contained in the budget, shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate 
foreign grantees for

[[Page 22049]]

currency exchange fluctuations through the issuance of supplemental 
awards.
     You must obtain annual audit of these CDC funds (program-
specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international branches 
and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance with 
International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) approved 
in writing by CDC.
     A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, 
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/
funding/budgetguide.htm.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

    LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI electronically to https://
www.Grants.gov. Fill out the required Grants.gov information and attach 
a word document with the necessary information from IV.2. ``Content and 
Form of Submission''.

OR,

    Submit your LOI by express mail, delivery service, fax, or E-mail 
to: Ann Moen, CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Mailstop G-
16, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-4652, 
FAX: 404-639-2334, E-mail: AMoen@cdc.gov.
    Application Submission Address: Submit your application 
electronically at: https://www.Grants.gov. You will be able to download 
a copy of the application package from https://www.Grants.gov, complete 
it offline, and then upload and submit the application via the 
Grants.gov site. E-mail submissions will not be accepted. If you are 
having technical difficulties in Grants.gov they can be reached by E-
mail at http:www.support@grants.gov">//www.support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-
800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 
p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday. CDC recommends that you 
submit your application to Grants.gov early enough to resolve any 
unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. You may also submit a 
back-up paper submission of your application. Any such paper submission 
must be received in accordance with the requirements for timely 
submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. The 
paper submission must be clearly marked: ``BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC 
SUBMISSION.'' The paper submission must conform with all requirements 
for non-electronic submissions. If both electronic and back-up paper 
submissions are received by the deadline, the electronic version will 
be considered the official submission. It is strongly recommended that 
you submit your grant application using Microsoft Office products 
(e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.). If you do not have 
access to Microsoft Office products, you may submit a PDF file. 
Directions for creating PDF files can be found on the Grants.gov Web 
site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft Office or PDF may result 
in your file being unreadable by our staff.

OR,

    Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail 
or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--RFA 
AA011, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

    Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of 
this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and 
must measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must 
be submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
     Objectives and Technical Approach (50 points total)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant describe specific objectives of the 
proposed program that are consistent with the purpose and goals of this 
announcement and which are measurable and time-phased? (10 points)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant identify appropriate sites with 
adequate geographic distribution for the network? (10 points)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant present a detailed operational plan for 
initiating and conducting the program, which clearly and appropriately 
addresses all recipient activities? Does the applicant clearly identify 
specific assigned responsibilities for all key professional personnel? 
Does the plan clearly describe the applicant's technical approach/
methods for developing and conducting the proposed program and 
evaluation and does it appear feasible and adequate to accomplish the 
objectives? Does the applicant describe the existence of or plans to 
establish partnerships? (10 points)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant describe adequate and appropriate 
collaborations with other health agencies during various phases of the 
project? (10 points)
    [ctrcir] Has the applicant provided a detailed, adequate and 
feasible plan for evaluating program results? This includes plans for 
evaluating the improvement of the influenza surveillance network as 
well as plans for evaluating other aspects of the collaboration (e.g., 
training). (10 points)
     Capacity (35 points total)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant describe adequate resources and 
facilities (both technical and administrative) for conducting the 
project? This includes the capacity to conduct quality laboratory 
measurements and produce and distribute reports? (20 points)
    [ctrcir] Does the applicant provide documentation that professional 
personnel involved in the project are qualified and have past 
experience and achievements in research and programs related to the 
program (as evidenced by curriculum vitae, publications, etc.)? (15 
points)
     Background and Need (10 points)
    Does the applicant adequately discuss the background for the 
proposed project and demonstrate a clear understanding of the purpose 
and objectives of this cooperative agreement program? Does the 
applicant illustrate and justify the need for the proposed project that 
is consistent with the purpose and objectives of this program?
     Measures of Effectiveness (5 points)
    Does the applicant provide Measures of Effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the cooperative agreement? Are the measures objective/quantitative and 
does it appear they will adequately measure the intended outcome?
     Budget and Justification (not scored):
    Does the applicant propose a budget that is reasonable, clearly 
justifiable, and consistent with the intended use of cooperative 
agreement funds?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by NCID. 
Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the 
eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process.

[[Page 22050]]

    Applicants will be notified that their application did not meet 
submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria'' 
section above. The panel will consist of CDC or other Federal employees 
from outside of NCID.
    In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
    Funding preference will be given to countries where resources are 
currently limited and influenza surveillance is not well established 
due to lack of resources. This would include countries in the following 
geographic regions: Asia, Africa, Mexico, Central America and South 
America. Additional preference will be given to those countries 
directly affected by avian influenza.
    CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank 
order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    August 1, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NOA) from CDC 
PGO. The NOA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between 
the recipient and CDC. The NOA will be signed by an authorized Grants 
Management Officer, and mailed to the recipient fiscal officer 
identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review by mail.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
    An additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application 
needs to be included in your Grants.gov electronic submission only. 
Refer to https://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1Certificates.pdf. 
Once the form is filled out attach it to your Grants.gov submission as 
Other Attachments Form.
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
     AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
     AR-11 Healthy People 2010
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
     AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
    Additional information on these requirements can be found on the 
CDC web site at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/
pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the 
following reports:
    1. Interim progress report, due no less than 90 days before the end 
of the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-
competing continuation application, and must contain the following 
elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Budget.
    e. Measures of Effectiveness.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Financial status report and annual progress 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.
    These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract 
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement. For general 
questions, contact: Technical Information Management Section, CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, 
Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Ann Moen, Project 
Officer, CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Mailstop G-16, 
1600 Clifton Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-4652, e-
mail: AMoen@cdc.gov.
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Steward Nichols, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 
(770) 488-2788, e-mail: shn8@cdc.gov.

VIII. Other Information

    This and other CDC funding opportunity announcements can be found 
on the CDC web site, Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov. Click on 
``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''

    Dated: April 22, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-8506 Filed 4-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P