OCCUPATIONAL RADIATION AND ENERGY-RELATED HEALTH RESEARCH GRANTS

RELEASE DATE:  February 28, 2002

RFA: OH-02-002

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)  
 (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html)

LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: April 19, 2002

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: May 13, 2002

THIS RFA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o Purpose of the RFA
o Research Objectives
o Mechanism(s)of Support
o Funds Available
o Eligible Institutions
o Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigations
o Special Requirements
o Where to Send Inquiries
o Letter of Intent
o Submitting an Application
o Peer Review Process
o Review Criteria
o Receipt and Review Schedule
o Award Criteria
o Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), announces the availability of fiscal 
year (FY) 2002 funds for the acceptance of grant applications for research 
projects relating to occupational safety and health concerns associated with 
occupational exposures to radiation and other hazardous agents at nuclear 
facilities and in other energy-related industries.  Studies in the nuclear 
power industry and deliberate exposure of human subjects in radiation 
experiments are outside the scope of this announcement.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

The Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the 
Secretary, Department of Energy (DOE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) transferring the authority and resources to manage and conduct energy-
related analytic epidemiologic research from DOE to DHHS.  This includes the 
authority, resources, and responsibility for the design, implementation, 
analysis, and scientific interpretation of analytic epidemiologic studies of 
the following populations: workers at DOE facilities; other workers 
potentially exposed to radiation; and workers exposed to potential hazards 
resulting from non-nuclear energy production and use.  

The Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) was established by DOE 
to serve as a repository for data from epidemiologic studies they had 
sponsored prior to transferring this responsibility to CDC.  These data 
(without personal identifiers) are available to investigators who wish to 
conduct additional analyses on these completed studies in response to this 
announcement.  The CEDR is maintained by DOE and, to access the data, an 
investigator should make an application to the DOE's Office of Health 
Studies.

Much of the epidemiologic research on nuclear workers conducted at nuclear 
facilities and other sites has emphasized retrospective studies.  More recent 
activities involve environmental restoration, waste management and other work 
that is not related to the design and production of nuclear weapons.  Workers 
may be exposed to radiation and other hazardous agents under conditions and 
in processes not previously encountered.  Exposure assessment, epidemiology 
and related studies are needed to evaluate these new conditions and processes 
and the impact on worker health.

NIOSH will support applied field research projects to identify and 
investigate the relationships between health outcomes and occupational 
exposure to radiation and other hazardous agents; epidemiologic methods 
research relevant to energy-related occupational health research; and 
research related to assessing energy-related occupational exposures.

Objectives

Types of research applications that are appropriate for this topic include 
but are not limited to the following areas, emphasizing field research: 
epidemiologic analysis of the health effects of radiation, statistical 
modeling, retrospective exposure assessment, meta-analysis and combined 
analysis methodologies, uncertainty analysis, and effects of measurement 
error on risk estimates.

o Epidemiologic Analysis of the Health Effects of Radiation

Risks for cancer and non-cancer health effects associated with ionizing and 
non-ionizing radiation exposures have been estimated through epidemiology 
studies and related research.  Most analytical epidemiologic research of 
energy-related occupational and environmental exposures has focused 
historically on the association between cancer mortality and exposure to 
ionizing radiation.  Relationships among radiation exposures and cancer 
mortality continue to be an important area for investigation.  Other 
potential adverse health effects, as well as other possible energy-related 
exposures, should be thoroughly evaluated.  Among these would be the possible 
effects of radiation and chemical exposures on the respiratory, reproductive, 
neurologic and immune systems, among others. 

o Statistical Modeling

Analytical methods to detect and adjust for effect modification and 
confounding in radiation epidemiology studies may be advanced through 
application of Gaussian, Bayesian and Berksonian statistical models, among 
others.  Simultaneous occupational exposures to photons, neutrons, and 
internal emitters along with chemical exposures and lifestyle factors lead to 
possibly complex interactions which may be appropriately analyzed with 
advanced methods.  Time-related factors such as age-at-exposure and 
intermittent or fractionated exposure conditions may also be factors subject 
to adjustments in appropriate statistical models.

o Retrospective Exposure Assessment

Epidemiologic studies of occupational cohorts frequently involve, and can 
generally benefit from, retrospective exposure assessment to provide 
estimates of exposure or categorize groups of workers by common exposure.  
Exposure assessment in energy-related occupational epidemiology requires 
evaluating exposures to various hazards including ionizing and non-ionizing 
radiation, metals, acids, and solvents.  Grant opportunities encompass the 
fields of industrial hygiene, health physics and retrospective exposure 
assessment.  Research areas of general interest include: methods to use 
limited data to the best advantage; adjustment of exposure levels based on 
sampling strategy design to yield representative estimates; decision logic to 
select and use the most appropriate exposure metric for epidemiologic and 
risk assessment analysis; and, development of approaches to identify 
similarly exposed groups and the advantages and limitations for epidemiologic 
use.  Research opportunities of specific interest include: reconstruction of 
radiation exposure for neutrons and internal emitters based on personal and 
area measurement data; examination of use and utility of internal dosimetry, 
external dosimetry, occupationally-required medical exposures and the 
combination thereof for use in epidemiologic analyses; exposure assessment 
for acid mists, solvents, metals and other chemicals; and evaluation of 
biomarkers of exposure. 

o Meta-Analysis and Combined Analysis Methodologies

Many of the cohorts at nuclear facilities are not individually large enough 
to detect statistically significant increases in mortality or incidence for 
rare cancer types.  Methods and/or analyses for combining data across 
studies, whether in summary form or individual data, are valuable to energy-
related health research.

o Uncertainty Analysis

Measures of occupational exposure are inherently uncertain.  Even when 
measures of external radiation exposure are generally available, the models 
used to estimate organ dose, shallow versus deep dose, and neutron dose are 
subject to error.  Measures of dose derived from biological monitoring of 
urine, feces, and blood are even less precise.  Methods for assessing the 
degree of error in various estimates of exposure to both ionizing radiation 
as well as chemical agents are desirable.

o Effects of Measurement Error on Risk Estimates

Estimation of both bias and imprecision introduced into risk analyses through 
exposure measurement error have recently received considerable attention.  
Many of the suggested approaches are computer intensive.  Practical solutions 
to this problem with regard to the spectrum of epidemiologic designs (cohort, 
case-control, cross-sectional, etc.) are needed, with particular attention to 
the nature of exposure measurement in radiation epidemiology.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This RFA will use NIOSH individual research project grant (R01)award 
mechanism.  As an applicant you will be solely responsible for planning, 
directing, and executing the proposed project. This RFA is a one-time 
solicitation.  The total requested project period for an application 
submitted in response to this RFA may not exceed three (3) years. 

This RFA uses the detailed budget format, rather than the modular grant 
budget format.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

NIOSH intends to commit approximately $500,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2002 to 
fund approximately 2 to 4 research project grants (R01). The amount of 
funding available is subject to change.  Awards are expected to range from 
$100,000 to $250,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) per year.  These 
awards are expected to begin on or about September 1, 2002 and will be made 
for a 12-month budget period within a project period not to exceed 3 years.  
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the basis of 
satisfactory progress and availability of funds.

Use of Funds

Applicants should include in their budgets funds for one trip per year for an 
annual meeting of energy-related researchers to be held in Washington, D.C.    
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for the exchange and 
dissemination of scientific information.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

You may submit (an) application (s) if your institution has any of the 
following characteristics:

o For-profit or non-profit organizations
o Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, 
and laboratories.
o Units of State and local governments
o Eligible agencies of the Federal government
o Domestic or foreign

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry 
out the proposed research is invited to work with their institution to 
develop an application for support.  Individuals from underreprested racial 
and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always 
encouraged to apply for NIOSH programs.

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.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Participation in the Comprehensive Epidemiology Data Resource (CEDR) 

The scientific community and the general public have a longstanding interest 
in health effects that may result as a consequence of radiation exposure.  
The Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource (CEDR) was established by the 
Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure public access to data collected for 
occupational epidemiologic studies they have sponsored, primarily of workers 
involved in nuclear weapons production.  Investigators without DOE funding 
are invited to submit radiation study data to CEDR as well. 

CEDR contains the epidemiologic data but not personal identifiers (because of 
restrictions in the Privacy Act).  Access to these data allows outside 
researchers, primarily at universities and public interest groups, to 
independently investigate potential health effects due to radiation exposure.  
The government has no direct benefit from the collection of these data.  CEDR 
only provides a resource to the public to ascertain the validity of published 
government-funded research reports or to test their own hypotheses. 

However, since these funds are from DOE, successful applicants will be 
required to participate in the CEDR, and should submit their study data set, 
with appropriate documentation, to NIOSH no later than six months after 
completion of the study or upon expiration of the grant.  This data set 
should include analysis files and separate analytic files for all relevant 
study data, including demographic variables, radiation dosimetry, industrial 
hygiene, work history, and/or medical records data, as appropriate.  A 
written report describing each data set and a code book for each data set 
should also be submitted to NIOSH.  NIOSH will prepare and process the 
submission of the appropriate data files to CEDR. Further information can be 
obtained at http://www.hanford.gov/safety/healthstudies/mou.html and 
http://tis.eh.doe.gov/health/hstudies.html  

Useful References

NIOSH Occupational Energy Research Program agenda booklet and/or The DOE 
Access Handbook: Conducting Health Studies at Department of Energy Sites 
available at the web site : http://tis.eh.doe.gov/health/epi/docs/access.pdf

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage inquiries concerning this RFA and welcome the opportunity to 
answer questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries may fall into three 
areas: scientific/research, peer review, and financial or grants management 
issues.  This RFA and other CDC Announcements can be found on the CDC 
HomePage (www.cdc.gov) under the "Funding" 
section (see "Grants and Cooperative Agreements" scroll down to "Occupational 
Safety and Health").  This RFA can also be found on the NIOSH HomePage 
(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html)
under "Extramural Programs", "Current Funding Opportunities".

Direct your questions regarding programmatic issues to:

Adele M. Childress, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.
Office of Extramural Programs
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, N.E.
Executive Park Building 24, Room 1427, MS E-74
Atlanta, GA  30333
Telephone: 404/498-2509
FAX: 404/498-2571
Email: ahc0@cdc.gov

Direct your questions about financial or grants management business matters 
to:

Joe Gilchrist
Contracts Management Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Announcement Number CDC 02013
626 Cochrans Mill Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0070
Telephone: 412/386-6428
Email: jgilchrist@cdc.gov

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent by April 19, 
2002, that includes the following information:

o Descriptive title of the proposed research
o Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o Names of other key personnel
o Participating institutions
o Number and title of this RFA

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not 
enter into the review of an application, the information that it contains is 
used to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent should be sent to: 

Pervis C. Major, Ph.D.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1095 Willowdale Rd
Morgantown, WV 26505
Telephone 304-285-5979
Fax 304-285-6147              
Email: pmajor@cdc.gov 

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION   

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application 
instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive 
format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone 301/710-0267, 
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.  Information
to prepare a detailed budget is provided in the instructions.  If the proposed 
project involves organizations or persons other than those affiliated with the 
applicant organization, letters of support and/or cooperation must be included.

USING THE RFA LABEL: The RFA label available in the PHS 398 (rev. 5/2001) 
application form must be affixed to the bottom of the face page of the 
application.  Type the RFA number on the label.  Failure to use this label 
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it may not 
reach the review committee in time for review.  In addition, the RFA title 
and number must be typed on line 2 of the face page of the application form 
and the YES box must be marked. The RFA label is also available at: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/labels.pdf   

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten original of 
the application, including the Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in 
one package to:  

Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD  20892-7710
Bethesda, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application must also
be sent to:

Pervis C. Major, Ph.D.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
1095 Willowdale Rd
Morgantown, WV 26505
Telephone 304-285-5979
Fax 304-285-6147
Email: pmajor@cdc.gov 

APPLICATION PROCESSING: Applications must be received by April 19, 2002.  If 
an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the 
applicant without review.  

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and NIOSH will not accept any 
application in response to this RFA that is essentially the same as one 
currently pending initial review, unless the applicant withdraws the pending 
application.  CSR and NIOSH will not accept any application that is 
essentially the same as one already reviewed.  This does not preclude the 
submission of a substantial revision of an application already reviewed, but 
such an application must include an Introduction addressing the previous 
critique.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Upon receipt, applications will be reviewed for completeness by CSR and 
responsiveness by NIOSH.  Incomplete applications will be returned to the 
applicant without further consideration.  And, if the application is not 
responsive to the RFA, CSR staff may contact the applicant to determine 
whether to return the application to the applicant or submit it for review in 
competition with unsolicited application at the next appropriate NIH review 
cycle.

Applications that are complete and responsive to the RFA will be evaluated 
for scientific and technical merit by a scientific review group convened by 
NIOSH in accordance with the review criteria stated below.  As part of the 
initial merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a process in which only those applicants deemed to have the highest 
scientific or technical merit, generally the top half of the applications 
under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority score
o Receive a second level of review by the NIOSH Secondary Review Committee.

REVIEW CRITERIA

The criteria that NIOSH will use to review applications for scientific merit 
and for meeting program objectives are provided below.  In the written 
comments, reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of your 
application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed research will 
have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals:

o Significance
o Approach
o Innovation
o Investigator
o Environment

The scientific review group will address and consider each of these criteria 
in assigning your application's overall score, weighting them as appropriate 
for each application.  Your 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 you may propose to carry out 
important work that by its nature is not innovative but essential to move a 
field forward.

o SIGNIFICANCE: Does this study address an important problem related to the 
topical research issues outlined in this announcement?  If the aims of the 
application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced?  What 
will be the effect of these studies on the concepts or methods that drive 
this field?

o APPROACH: Are the conceptual framework, design (including composition of 
study population), methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-
integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Do you acknowledge 
potential problem areas and consider alternative tactics?

o INNOVATION: Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or 
methods?  Are the aims original and innovative?  Does the project challenge 
existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?

o INVESTIGATOR: Are you appropriately trained and well-suited to carry out 
this work?  Is the work proposed appropriate to your experience level as the 
principal investigator and to that of other researchers, if any?

o ENVIRONMENT: Does the scientific environment in which your work will be 
done contribute to the probability of success?  Do the proposed experiments 
take advantage of unique features of the scientific environment or employ 
useful collaborative arrangements?  Is there documentation of cooperation 
from industry, unions, communities, or other participants in the project, 
where applicable?  Is there evidence of institutional support and 
availability of resources necessary to perform the project?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, your 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

o PROTECTIONS: The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, animals, 
or the environment, to the extent that they may be adversely affected by the 
project proposed in the application.  

o INCLUSIONS: Adequacy of plans to include subject from both genders, all 
racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as appropriate for the 
scientific goals of the research.  Plans for the recruitment and retention of 
subjects will also be evaluated. (Refer to inclusion criteria located in the 
section on Federal Citations, below). 

o BUDGET: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the requested period 
of support in relation to the proposed research.  

o OTHER REVIEW CRITERIA: Availability of special opportunities for furthering 
research programs through the use of unusual talent resources, populations, 
or environmental conditions in other countries which are not readily 
available in the United States or which provide augmentation of existing U.S. 
resources.  

Programmatic Review Criteria

o Magnitude of the problem in terms of numbers of workers affected.
o Severity of the disease or injury in the worker population.
o Likelihood of developing applied technical knowledge for the prevention of 
occupational safety and health hazards on a national or regional basis.

RECEIPT AND REVIEW SCHEDULE

Letter of Intent Receipt Date: April 19, 2002
Application Receipt Date: May 13, 2002
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2002

AWARD CRITERIA

Award criteria that will be used to make award decisions include:

o Scientific merit
o Availability of funds 
o Programmatic priorities

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS:  It 
is the policy of the CDC to ensure that individuals of both sexes and the 
various racial and ethnic groups will be included in CDC-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.

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical 
Research-Amended, October 9, 2001," published in the NIH Guide for Grants and 
Contracts on October 9, 2001, 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/women_min.htm.; a complete 
copy of the updated Guidelines are available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/women_min/guidelines_amended_10_2001.htm

INCLUSION OF CHILDREN AS PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS: 
It is the policy of NIH that children (i.e., individuals under the age of 21) 
must be included in all human subjects research, conducted or supported by 
the NIH, unless there are scientific and ethical reasons not to include them. 
This policy applies to all initial (Type 1) applications submitted for 
receipt dates after October 1, 1998.  This policy will be followed by NIOSH 
for this announcement. 

All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should read the 
"NIH Policy and Guidelines", on the inclusion of children as participants in 
research involving human subjects that is available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/children/children.htm 
Investigators also may obtain copies of these policies from the program staff 
listed under INQUIRIES. Program staff may also provide additional relevant 
information concerning the policy.

REQUIRED EDUCATION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECT PARTICIPANTS:  If the 
proposed project involves research on human subjects, the applicant must 
comply with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Regulations 
(Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 46) regarding the protection of 
human research subjects.  All awardees of CDC grants and cooperative 
agreements and their performances sites engaged in human subjects research 
must file an assurance of compliance with the regulations and have continuing 
reviews of the research protocol by appropriate institutional review boards.
In order to obtain a federal-wide Assurance (FWA) of Protection for Human 
Subjects, the applicant must complete an on-line application at the Office 
for Human Research Protections (OHRP) website or write to the OHRP for an 
application.  OHRP will verify that the signatory official and the Human 
Subjects Protections Administrator have completed the OHRP Assurance 
Training/Education Module before approving the FWA.  Existing Multiple 
Project Assurances (MPAs), Cooperative Project Assurances (CPAs), and Single 
Project Assurances (SPAs) remain in full effect until they expire or until 
December 31, 2003, whichever comes first.

To obtain a FWA contact the OHRP at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/assurances/assurances_index.html 
or write to:

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)
Department of Health and Human Services
6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3B01, MSC 7501
Rockville, Maryland 20892-7507

(Note: For Express or Hand Delivered Mail, Use Zip Code 20852)
Note: In addition to other applicable committees, Indian Health Service (IHS) 
institutional review committees must also review the project if any component 
of IHS will be involved with or will support the research.  If any American 
Indian community is involved, its tribal government must also approve the 
applicable portion of that project.  

ANIMAL SUBJECTS REQUIREMENTS: If the proposed project involves research on 
animal subjects, compliance with the "PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of 
Laboratory Animals by Awardee Institutions" is required.  An applicant (as 
well as each subcontractor or cooperating institution that has immediate 
responsibility for animal subjects) proposing to use vertebrate animals in 
CDC-supported activities must file (or have on file) the Animal Welfare 
Assurance with the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) at the National 
Institutes of Health. The applicant must provide in the application the 
assurance of compliance number and evidence of review and approval (including 
the date of the most recent approval) by the Institutional Care and Use 
Committee (IACUC). Information is available at 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm 

PUBLIC ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT:  The 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 has been revised to 
provide public access to research data through the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA-(45 CFR 74.36) under some circumstances.  Data that are (1) first 
produced in a project that is supported in whole or in part with Federal 
funds and (2) cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of 
an action that has the force and effect of law (i.e., a regulation) may be 
accessed through FOIA.  It is important for applicants to understand the 
basic scope of this amendment.  Guidance is provided at: 
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/a110/a110_guidance_dec1999.htm  
Applicants may wish to place data collected under this RFA in a public 
archive, which can provide protections for the data and manage the 
distribution for an indefinite period of time.  If so, the application should 
include a description of the archiving plan in the study design and include 
information about this in the budget justification section of the 
application. In addition, applicants should think about how to structure 
informed consent statements and other human subjects procedures given the 
potential for wider use of data collected under this award.  

URLS IN NIOSH and NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications must 
be self-contained within specified page limitations.  Unless otherwise 
specified, internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide 
information necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation 
to view the internet sites.  Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their 
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an internet site. 

LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS:  Applicants should be aware of restrictions on the use 
of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funds for lobbying of Federal or State 
legislative bodies.  Under the provisions of 31 U.S.C. Section 1352, 
recipients (and their subtier 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 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (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, 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 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 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, publication, and 
"grassroots: activities that relate to specific legislation, recipients of 
CDC funds should give attention to isolating and separating the appropriate 
use of CDC funds from non-CDC funds.  CDC also cautions recipients of CDC 
funds to be careful not to give the appearance that CDC funds are being used 
to carry out activities in a manner that is prohibited under Federal law.
SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE:  CDC strongly encourages all grant recipients to 
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use 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.

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, 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 Program Announcement is 
certifying compliance with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 
regulations in Title 42 Part 50, Subpart A, entitled "Responsibility of PHS 
Awardee and Applicant Institutions for Dealing with and Reporting Possible 
Misconduct in Science."

The regulation places several requirements on institutions receiving or 
applying for funds under the PHS Act that are monitored by the DHHS Office of 
Research Integrity's (ORI) Assurance Program. 

For examples:
Section 50.103(a) of the regulation states: "Each institution that applies 
for or receives assistance under the Act for any project or program which 
involves the conduct of biomedical or behavioral research must have an 
assurance satisfactory to the Secretary (DHHS) that the applicant: (1) Has 
established an administrative process, that meets the requirements of this 
subpart, for reviewing, investigating, and reporting allegations of 
misconduct in science in connection with PHS-sponsored biomedical and 
behavioral research conducted at the applicant institution or sponsored by 
the applicant; and (2) Will comply with its own administrative process and 
the requirements of this Subpart."

Section 50.103(b) of the regulation states that: "an applicant or recipient 
institution shall make an annual submission to the [ORI] as follows: (1) The 
institution's assurance shall be submitted to the [ORI], on a form prescribed 
by the Secretary,...and updated annually thereafter...(2) An institution 
shall submit, along with its annual assurance, such aggregate information on 
allegations, inquiries, and investigations as the Secretary may prescribe." 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010:  CDC is committed to achieving the health promotion and 
disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2010," a national activity 
to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life.  For the 
conference copy of "Healthy People 2010," visit the internet site:  
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/default.htm

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS:  This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.262 for the National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).  This program is authorized under the 
Public Health Service Act, as amended, Section 301(a) [42 U.S.C. 241(a)], and 
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Section 20(a) [29 U.S.C. 
669(a)].  The applicable program regulation is 42 CFR Part 52.  This program 
is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive 
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency Review.

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	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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