[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10311-10313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5133]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Fiscal 
Year (FY) 1999 Funding Opportunities

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), announces the 
availability of FY 1999 funds for grants for the following activity. 
This activity is discussed in more detail under Section 4 of this 
notice. This notice is not a complete description of the activity; 
potential applicants must obtain a copy of the Guidance for Applicants 
(GFA) before preparing an application.

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                                                                           Estimated
             Activity                Application     Estimated funds       number of         Project period
                                      deadline          available           awards
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Community-Initiated Interventions         5/18/99  $8 million.........           20-26  Up to 3 yrs.
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    Note: SAMHSA will publish additional notices of available 
funding opportunities for FY 1999 in subsequent issues of the 
Federal Register.

    The actual amount available for awards and their allocation may 
vary, depending on unanticipated program requirements and the number 
and quality of applications received. FY 1999 funds for the activity 
discussed in this announcement were appropriated by the Congress under 
Public Law No. 105-277. SAMHSA's policies and procedures for peer 
review and Advisory Council review of grant and cooperative agreement 
applications were published in the Federal Register (Vol. 58, No. 126) 
on July 2, 1993.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2000, a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. The 
SAMHSA Centers' substance abuse and mental health services activities 
address issues related to Healthy People 2000 objectives of Mental 
Health and Mental Disorders; Alcohol and Other Drugs; Clinical 
Preventive Services; HIV Infection; and Surveillance and Data Systems. 
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full 
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-
001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government 
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone: 202-512-1800).

General instructions: Applicants must use application form PHS 5161-1 
(Rev. 5/96; OMB No. 0937-0189). The application kit contains the GFA 
(complete programmatic guidance and instructions for preparing and 
submitting applications), the PHS 5161-1 which includes Standard Form 
424 (Face Page), and other documentation and forms. Application kits 
may be obtained from the organization specified for the activity 
covered by this notice (see Section 4).
    When requesting an application kit, the applicant must specify the 
particular activity for which detailed information is desired. This is 
to ensure receipt of all necessary forms and information, including any 
specific program review and award criteria.
    The PHS 5161-1 application form and the full text of the activity 
(i.e., the GFA) described in Section 4 are available electronically via 
SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page (address: http://www.samhsa.gov).

APPLICATION SUBMISSION: Applications must be submitted to: SAMHSA 
Programs, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 
Suite 1040, 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC-7710, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-
7710*.

(*Applicants who wish to use express mail or courier service should 
change the zip code to 20817.)

APPLICATION DEADLINES: The deadline for receipt of applications is 
listed in the table above.
    Competing applications must be received by the indicated receipt 
date to be accepted for review. An application received after the 
deadline may only be accepted if it carries a legible proof-of-mailing 
date assigned by the carrier and that date is not later than one week 
prior

[[Page 10312]]

to the deadline date. Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as 
proof of timely mailing.
    Applications received after the deadline date and those sent to an 
address other than the address specified above will be returned to the 
applicant without review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for activity-specific 
technical information should be directed to the program contact person 
identified for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 4).
    Requests for information concerning business management issues 
should be directed to the grants management contact person identified 
for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 4).

Table of Contents

1. Program Background and Objectives
2. Special Concerns
3. Criteria for Review and Funding
    3.1  General Review Criteria
    3.2  Funding Criteria for Scored Applications
4. Special FY 1999 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Activities
    4.1  Grants
    4.1.1  Community-Initiated Prevention Interventions (Community-
Initiated Interventions)
5. Public Health System Reporting Requirements
6. PHS Non-use of Tobacco Policy Statement
7. Executive Order 12372

1. Program Background and Objectives

    SAMHSA's mission within the Nation's health system is to improve 
the quality and availability of prevention, early intervention, 
treatment, and rehabilitation services for substance abuse and mental 
illnesses, including co-occurring disorders, in order to improve health 
and reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society.
    Reinventing government, with its emphases on redefining the role of 
Federal agencies and on improving customer service, has provided SAMHSA 
with a welcome opportunity to examine carefully its programs and 
activities. As a result of that process, SAMHSA moved assertively to 
create a renewed and strategic emphasis on using its resources to 
generate knowledge about ways to improve the prevention and treatment 
of substance abuse and mental illness and to work with State and local 
governments as well as providers, families, and consumers to 
effectively use that knowledge in everyday practice.
    SAMHSA's FY 1999 Knowledge Development and Application (KD&A) 
agenda is the outcome of a process whereby providers, services 
researchers, consumers, National Advisory Council members and other 
interested persons participated in special meetings or responded to 
calls for suggestions and reactions. From this input, each SAMHSA 
Center developed a ``menu'' of suggested topics. The topics were 
discussed jointly and an agency agenda of critical topics was agreed 
to. The selection of topics depended heavily on policy importance and 
on the existence of adequate research and practitioner experience on 
which to base studies. While SAMHSA's FY 1999 KD&A programs will 
sometimes involve the evaluation of some delivery of services, they are 
services studies and application activities, not merely evaluation, 
since they are aimed at answering policy-relevant questions and putting 
that knowledge to use.
    SAMHSA differs from other agencies in focusing on needed 
information at the services delivery level, and in its question-focus. 
Dissemination and application are integral, major features of the 
programs. SAMHSA believes that it is important to get the information 
into the hands of the public, providers, and systems administrators as 
effectively as possible. Technical assistance, training, preparation of 
special materials will be used, in addition to normal communications 
means.
    SAMHSA also continues to fund legislatively-mandated services 
programs for which funds are appropriated.

2. Special Concerns

    SAMHSA's legislatively-mandated services programs do provide funds 
for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention 
services. However, SAMHSA's KD&A activities do not provide funds for 
mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention services 
except sometimes for costs required by the particular activity's study 
design. Applicants are required to propose true knowledge application 
or knowledge development and application projects. Applications seeking 
funding for services projects under a KD&A activity will be considered 
nonresponsive.
    Applications that are incomplete or nonresponsive to the GFA will 
be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

3. Criteria for Review and Funding

    Consistent with the statutory mandate for SAMHSA to support 
activities that will improve the provision of treatment, prevention and 
related services, including the development of national mental health 
and substance abuse goals and model programs, competing applications 
requesting funding under the specific project activity in section 4 
will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established 
PHS/SAMHSA peer review procedures.

3.1  General Review Criteria

    As published in the Federal Register on July 2, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 
126), SAMHSA's ``Peer Review and Advisory Council Review of Grant and 
Cooperative Agreement Applications and Contract Proposals,'' peer 
review groups will take into account, among other factors as may be 
specified in the application guidance materials, the following general 
criteria:
     Potential significance of the proposed project;
     Appropriateness of the applicant's proposed objectives to 
the goals of the specific program;
     Adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed approach and 
activities;
     Adequacy of available resources, such as facilities and 
equipment;
     Qualifications and experience of the applicant 
organization, the project director, and other key personnel; and
     Reasonableness of the proposed budget.

3.2  Funding Criteria for Scored Applications

    Applications will be considered for funding on the basis of their 
overall technical merit as determined through the peer review group and 
the appropriate National Advisory Council review process.
    Other funding criteria will include:
     Availability of funds.
    Additional funding criteria specific to the programmatic activity 
may be included in the application guidance materials.

4. Special FY 1999 SAMHSA Activities

4.1  Grants

4.1.1  Community-Initiated Prevention Interventions (Community-
Initiated Interventions)
     Application Deadline: May 18, 1999.
     Purpose: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) 
announces the availability of community-initiated intervention grants 
to support Knowledge Development with At-Risk Populations.
    This program, ``Community-Initiated Prevention Interventions,'' 
solicits applications for studies that field test effective substance 
abuse prevention interventions that have been shown to prevent or 
reduce alcohol, tobacco, or

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other illegal drug use as well as associated social, emotional, 
behavioral, cognitive and physical problems among at-risk populations 
in their local community(ies). Through this initiative, grants will be 
made for projects that test these interventions in local community 
settings and/or with diverse populations, or replicate those proven to 
be effective in other populations and/or communities, or assess how 
well they can be sustained as subjects progress through normal 
developmental stages.
     Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by 
units of State or local governments and by domestic private non-profit 
and for-profit organizations such as community-based organizations, as 
well as universities, colleges, faith-based organizations, and 
hospitals.
     Amount: Approximately $8 million will be available to 
support 20-26 awards under this GFA in FY 1999. Awards are expected to 
range from $300,000 to $400,000 in total costs including direct and 
indirect costs. These funds can pay for the local adaptive intervention 
services, data collection and analysis, preparation of the program 
reports, submission of final reports and curricula, and intervention 
implementation manuals for others to use for replications. Grant funds 
can be used to pay for the intervention services if other funds are not 
available.

    Special Note: As specified in Congressional report language, at 
least one application from Iowa that is found to be technically 
acceptable through the peer review and CSAP National Advisory 
Council review processes will be funded to implement a demonstration 
program targeting prevention of methamphetamine abuse, if such an 
application is submitted.

     Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.230.
     Program Contact. For programmatic or technical assistance, 
contact: Soledad Sambrano, Ph.D., Division of Knowledge Development and 
Evaluation, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, Rockwall II, Room 1075, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-9110.
    For grants management issues, contact: Peggy Jones, Division of 
Grants Management, OPS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, Rockwall II, Room 630, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857, (301) 443-3958.
    For application kits, contact: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol 
and Drug Information (NCADI), P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345, 
Voice: (800) 729-6686, TDD: (800) 487-4889.
     SAMHSA is sponsoring three technical assistance workshops 
for potential applicants. The workshops will be held at the following 
locations: March 11, 1999--Washington, DC; March 17, 1999--Chicago, IL; 
and March 19--Los Angeles, CA. For more information, please call Ms. 
Lisa Wilder, Workshop Coordinator, at 301-984-1471, extension 333.

5. Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

6. PHS Non-use of Tobacco Policy Statement

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to 
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco 
products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any 
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, 
day care, health care, or early childhood development services are 
provided to children. This is consistent with the PHS mission to 
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American 
people.

7. Executive Order 12372

    Applications submitted in response to the FY 1999 activity listed 
above are subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372, as implemented through DHHS regulations at 45 
CFR Part 100. E.O. 12372 sets up a system for State and local 
government review of applications for Federal financial assistance. 
Applicants (other than Federally recognized Indian tribal governments) 
should contact the State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) as early as 
possible to alert them to the prospective application(s) and to receive 
any necessary instructions on the State's review process. For proposed 
projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to 
contact the SPOC of each affected State. A current listing of SPOCs is 
included in the application guidance materials. The SPOC should send 
any State review process recommendations directly to: Office of 
Extramural Activities, Policy and Review, Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 17-89, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
    The due date for State review process recommendations is no later 
than 60 days after the specified deadline date for the receipt of 
applications. SAMHSA does not guarantee to accommodate or explain SPOC 
comments that are received after the 60-day cut-off.

    Dated: February 19, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 99-5133 Filed 3-2-99; 8:45 am]
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