Subject: NIH GUIDE - RFA ES-92-01 - V20(41) 11/01/91
From: Dot Baker <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 04 Nov 91 15:34 EST

Hi Paul,
   Please post to the NIH Listserver as:
      RFAES-92-01.911101
                        Dottie
 ---------------------------- Text of forwarded message -----------------------
 
$$XID RFA ES9201 ES-92-01 P1O1 *****************************************
 
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
 
RFA:  ES-92-01
 
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND WASTE WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
 
P.T. 34; K.W. 0502017, 1007009, 0725020
 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  December 20, 1991
Application Receipt Date:  January 24, 1992
 
I. PURPOSE
 
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
invites applications for cooperative agreements for training and
education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous
materials and waste generation, removal, containment, transportation,
and emergency response.
 
The major objective of this solicitation is to prevent work- related
harm by assisting in the training of workers in the best protection
of themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous
materials encountered during hazardous waste operations and emergency
responses.  A variety of sites, such as those involved with chemical
waste clean-up and remedial action and transportation-related
chemical emergency response, may pose severe health and safety
concerns.  These sites are often characterized by the multiplicity of
substances present, the presence of unknown substances, and the
general uncontrolled condition of the site.  A major goal of this
program is to assist organizations with the development of
institutional competency to provide appropriate training and
education to workers in the fields of hazardous materials and waste.
 
Recipients of these cooperative agreements are to be nonprofit
organizations with demonstrated ability to identify, describe, and
access target worker populations and with demonstrated experience in
implementing and operating worker health and safety education and
training programs.
 
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000
 
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000,"
a priority- setting process for Federal public health activities.
This Request for Applications (RFA), Hazardous Materials and Waste
Worker Health and Safety Training, is related to the priority areas
of occupational health and environmental health in the health
protection initiative. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of
"Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or
"Healthy People 2000" (Summary Report :  Stock No. 017-001-00473-1)
through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-3238).
 
II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA),
Section 126(g), authorizes an assistance program for training and
education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous waste
generation, removal, containment, or emergency response and hazardous
materials transportation and emergency response.  The Congress
assigned responsibility for administering this program to the NIEHS,
an Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the
PHS of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
 
Hazardous material and waste workers include workers engaged in:
active and inactive waste treatment, storage, and disposal; hazardous
waste generation; clean-up and remedial action; emergency response;
and workers engaged in hazardous materials transportation including
the safe loading, unloading, handling, and storage.  The Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor,
estimates as many as 1.8 million workers may be at risk from exposure
to hazardous materials associated with waste operations or an
emergency response to a toxic chemical spill.
 
Among the many potential hazards and potential exposures at these
sites are:
 
1.   Chemical and radiation hazards;
2.   Biological hazards;
3.   Fire and explosion hazards;
4.   Safety hazards, including transportation-related, electrical,
manual lifting, and heavy machinery operation       hazards;
5.   Heat- and cold-related hazards; and
6.   Confined space hazards, including oxygen deficiency.
 
Congress authorized funds for the SARA program for a five-year period
beginning in October 1986.  The original awardees have developed
curricula and training materials, tested these in pilot courses, and
established management and evaluation systems.  The original awardees
have trained more than 150,000 participants in the first three years
of the program.
 
An essential component of health and safety programs for those who
work with hazardous materials is appropriate education and training.
The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 addresses
this in Section 126 that requires the OSHA to promulgate standards
for the health and safety protection of employees in this area.  OSHA
final rule 29 CFR 1910.120, Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response
Operations, was promulgated on March 6, 1989, with an effective date
of March 6, 1990.  The statute requires that these standards address
the following worker protection provisions:
 
1.   Site Analysis
2.   Training
3.   Medical Surveillance
4.   Protective Equipment
5.   Engineering Controls
6.   Maximum Exposure Limits
7.   Information Programs
8.   Handling
9.   Programs for Introduction of New Technology
10.  Decontamination Procedures
11.  Emergency Response
 
A minimum level of training for hazardous materials and waste workers
and supervisors is specified in SARA Section 126(d). General site
workers are required to receive a minimum of 40 hours of initial
instruction off-site and a minimum of three days of actual field
experience under the direction of a trained, experienced supervisor.
Supervisors are required to receive the same training as general
workers and a minimum of eight hours of specialized training in
managing hazardous waste operations.
 
III.  DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
 
The NIEHS hazardous materials and waste worker protection program
seeks cooperative agreement applications from qualified nonprofit
organizations to develop and administer health and safety education
programs for hazardous materials or waste workers. Target populations
for this training include those covered by requirements of OSHA (CFR
Title 29, Part 1910) and Environmental Protection Agency (CFR, Title
40, Part 311) standards for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response, regulations governing the NIEHS Hazardous Waste Worker
Training Program (CFR, Title 42, Part 65), as well as hazardous
materials transportation regulated by the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) and other agencies.
 
Training programs for hazardous waste workers and emergency
responders shall satisfy minimum requirements as specified in Federal
OSHA rules and other related regulations that have been or may be
promulgated.  Training programs shall also meet the minimum
requirements specified in the Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and
Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response, published April 1990, as a result of an NIEHS-sponsored
technical workshop on training quality.  Previous successful
experience in conducting worker training programs for these purposes
will be an important review criterion.
 
Awards will be made for direct student and worker-trainer training,
technical support of training, and training program evaluation.  It
is believed that adequate curricula and training materials exist for
worker training that can be adapted with minimal effort.  Means of
multiplying training are also encouraged to meet the need; thus,
programs such as effective train-the-trainer programs are encouraged.
Programs targeted to multi-state and nationwide coverage to reach
wider worker populations will be given preference in review and
funding. Applications will not be considered that cover
municipalities or other jurisdictions covering less than two states.
 
Programs are encouraged to develop plans to become self sufficient.
Applications must also include plans for reaching underserved workers
in the proposed target populations especially those disadvantaged in
education, language skills, or limited in literacy.
 
Applicants must refer to SARA Section 126 requirements for training.
Coverage of all hazardous waste and emergency response workers is
based on potential exposure and health risk.  The language of section
126 (d)(1) and (g) is clear that the training scope must be broad.
Section 126 states that the training is required for personnel
engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities, such as
transportation, that expose or potentially expose such workers to
hazardous substances.  The same section later requires that special
training be provided to workers who may be exposed to unique or
special hazards.  Section (g)(1) authorizes this training assistance
program for the training of workers who are or may be engaged in
activities related to hazardous waste removal or containment or
emergency response.  There is no limiting language regarding training
coverage.  Thus, the scope covers worker health protection from
hazardous waste work and exposure to hazardous substances in the
broadest sense.
 
Two or more nonprofit organizations may join in a single application
and share resources in order to maximize worker group coverage,
enhance the effectiveness of training, and bring together appropriate
academic disciplines and talents.  Such arrangements are strongly
encouraged.  Joint applications must have specific plans and
mechanisms to implement the cooperative arrangements necessary for
program integration and to ensure effectiveness.  Specific expertise,
facilities, or services to be provided by each participating member
must be identified.
 
A list of curricula developed by current NIEHS awardees and copies of
the Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and Safety Training for
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response may be obtained
from:
 
National Clearinghouse for Occupational and Environmental Health
815 Sixteenth Street, NW (Room 301)
Washington, DC  20006
Telephone:  (202) 842-7833
 
Copies of individual curricula developed by current awardees may also
be obtained from the Clearinghouse at the above address for the cost
of reproduction and handling.
 
IV. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT
 
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements (U01) for a period of
up to three years.  No commitment of funds will be made beyond fiscal
year 1994.  Annual funding levels will be determined through the
Federal budget process.  In fiscal year 1990, the Congress authorized
an extension of the NIEHS worker training assistance program under
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) in
fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994 for $20 million each year making a
total of $60 million over the period.  During FY 1992, NIEHS plans to
fund between 15 and 20 cooperative agreements in response to this
RFA.  Awards authorized under SARA Section 126(g) will be made for up
to three years with annual renewal based on availability of funds,
staff review of progress toward achieving training objectives, and
submission to the NIEHS of copies of all training and educational
materials used under the award.  The anticipated starting date for
the initial annual period will be September 1, 1992.
 
The cooperative agreement is an assistance instrument similar to a
grant.  It differs in that in addition to the standard stewardship
role, the NIEHS program administrator is expected to have a
continuing substantive role in one or more of the technical aspects
of the program.  The type and degree of this substantial programmatic
involvement is specified in the terms and conditions outlined in
Section V - TERMS OF COOPERATION.  The awardee will have lead
responsibilities in all aspects of the program, including any
technical modifications to the curriculum, conduct of the training,
and quality control.
 
Applicants are expected to furnish their own estimates of the time
required to achieve specific training and education objectives of the
proposed training program and conduct appropriate program
evaluations.  Any substantial modifications in the program scope and
objectives must be mutually agreed upon by the awardee institution
and NIEHS.  Because of the varied target audiences for the proposed
training and education programs, it is anticipated that a variety of
approaches will be responsive to this announcement and that there
will be a range of costs among individual awards.
 
V.  TERMS OF COOPERATION
 
A.  NATURE OF ASSISTANCE FROM NIEHS STAFF
 
The NIEHS will provide the appropriate assistance, advice, and
guidance as described below.  The role of the NIEHS will be to
facilitate, not to direct, the development of a high quality national
worker training resource.  Specifically, the substantial programmatic
involvement by NIEHS staff will include the following activities:
 
1.  The NIEHS Program Administrator will coordinate activities of
mutual interest and benefit to awardees and the NIEHS.  The primary
objective of the Worker Education and Training Program will be to
stimulate collaborative work between the NIEHS and the awardees in
the creation of model worker safety and health training programs.
Substantial programmatic involvement by NIEHS program staff will
assure that there is not duplication of efforts or overlap in worker
safety and health training delivery and program development by the
awardees.
 
2.  In order to provide consistent use and delivery of existing
curricula for high quality worker safety and health training, the
NIEHS Program Administrator will ensure that there will be close
coordination between awardees, other State and Federal governmental
agencies, and other training providers.  Such program coordination
between NIEHS and the awardees will make maximum use of worker safety
and health training materials and curricula that have already been
developed, evaluated, and used. Training materials developed by the
awardees will be submitted for review by NIEHS for consistency,
appropriateness, and technical accuracy before the initiation of
worker safety and health training activities.
 
3.  To facilitate exchange and coordination between awardees and the
Institute, the NIEHS will convene and sponsor a two-day working
meeting for the program director who represents each awardee.  In
addition, it is anticipated that awardees under this program will
meet at least twice annually to review progress, share information,
discuss technical issues, and coordinate training activities.
 
4.  The NIEHS will provide ongoing technical assistance to the
awardees through arrangement of technical workshops related to the
substantive technical issues that affect the program.  Technical
workshops will bring together program directors from each awardee
with the relevant technical experts from a number of scientific
fields involved in hazardous waste, occupational health,
environmental health sciences, and adult education. Examination of
training technologies and technical issues that are specific to the
program will be developed and coordinated through technical
workshops, that will be held at least twice per fiscal year.
 
5.  To assure that training programs that are developed with
assistance from NIEHS will comply with all applicable Federal safety
and health regulations, the Institute will assist the awardees
through continual involvement with other Federal regulatory agencies.
Operational monitoring by NIEHS program staff will ensure that
awardees are in compliance with general Federal statutory
requirements regulating worker safety and health training activities.
For example, the current OSHA- proposed regulation for accreditation
of hazardous waste training programs (29 CFR 1910.121) could
significantly effect NIEHS- supported worker training program when
the OSHA regulations become effective.
 
6.  NIEHS program staff will coordinate overall program evaluations
to show the impact of the training on improving work practices,
reducing work-related injury and illness and to document the
increased understanding of relevant environmental health sciences by
workers involved in environmental cleanups, hazardous waste
management and emergency response to chemical releases.  While each
awardee must have its own evaluation program, NIEHS staff will strive
to assess the overall effectiveness of the training programs
supported under the cooperative agreements in terms of the Nation's
needs.
 
7.  The NIEHS maintains a National Clearinghouse on Occupational and
Environmental Health to assist awardees by providing information and
technical support services to the program directors of NIEHS- funded
hazardous materials, waste operations, and emergency response worker
training programs.  The Clearinghouse will function as a national
resource for the dissemination to the general public of
program-related information and curricula materials that have been
developed by the awardees.
 
8.  Whenever a mutually acceptable agreement regarding program
activities cannot be reached between the awardee and the NIEHS
Program Administrator, an arbitration panel composed of one member of
the awardee recipient group, one NIEHS nominee, and a third member
with appropriate expertise chosen by the other two members will be
convened.  The ad hoc panel will receive written explanations of the
disagreement from both parties, review relevant documents, interview
representatives of the parties, and render an opinion regarding
resolution of the dispute.  These special arbitration procedures in
no way effect the awardee's right to appeal an adverse action in
accordance with PHS regulations at 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D, and HHS
regulations at 45 CFR Part 16.
 
B.  RESPONSIBILITIES OF AWARDEES
 
It is the responsibility of each awardee to develop the details of
the training plan, that will be required to describe the technical
approaches, target population access and recruitment, curricula
modification, training methodology, and program evaluation
procedures.  Awardees must also express agreement in the application
to abide by the TERMS OF COOPERATION as stated below.
 
1.  Awardees under this program will be required to meet at least
twice annually to review progress, share information, and coordinate
training activities.  Since awards may be made to institutions that
are unfamiliar with NIH grant assistance procedures, business
officials will be expected to meet at least annually to review NIH
grant management policies.
 
2.  Awardees will budget funds for appropriate staff, including
business officials, to attend the initial two-day meeting, and for
each year of assistance, one meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC,
one meeting at a site determined by the program administrator for
program review.  Applicants must also budget funds for the
appropriate business official to attend an annual grant management
policy update meeting at a site to be determined by the NIEHS Program
Administrator.
 
3.   Awardees under this program shall submit draft copies of
training manuals, instructor guides, course curricula, and other
materials developed for use in training activities supported by the
NIEHS to the Program Administrator, in order to receive technical
comments and suggestions regarding the adequacy, technical accuracy,
and suitability of materials to be used for worker safety and health
training.  Final copies of all materials developed with support from
the NIEHS will be transmitted by the awardees to the National
Clearinghouse for Occupational and Environmental Health and made
available to the general public, subject to any specific legal
caveats on use and copyright protection.
 
4.  Each awardee will submit an annual progress report to the NIEHS
Program Administrator that describes the number, location, and nature
of all training activities and trainees reached during a particular
fiscal year.
 
5.  Results and findings from training program evaluations will be
summarized by each awardee and submitted to the NIEHS Program
Administrator on an annual basis.  Program evaluation reports shall
quantitatively describe the current status of instructor
effectiveness, trainee retention of knowledge and skills, and
positive impacts of training activities on work practices, workplace
safety and health conditions, and overall worker protection from
on-the-job hazards.
 
6.  Each awardee shall budget funds to participate annually in two
technical workshops, that will be sponsored and planned by the NIEHS
Program Administrator.  The technical workshops will present relevant
and topical information to assure the continued high quality of
worker safety and health training activities carried out by the
awardees and encourage the exchange of significant information
regarding effective training techniques and approaches.
 
7.   Each awardee will be required to convene a Board of Advisors
representing user populations, labor, industry, governmental
agencies, academic institutions, or professional associations with
interest and expertise in worker health and safety training related
to hazardous materials and waste operations and emergency response.
The Board of Advisors must meet annually to evaluate training
activities and provide advice to the Program Director.
 
8.  Each awardee will retain custody of and primary rights to the
data and the curricula materials developed under these awards,
subject to appropriate Government rights of access consistent with
current HHS, PHS, and NIH policies.
 
VI.  ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
 
Applicants must be non-profit organizations that demonstrate
expertise and experience in implementing and operating training and
education programs for workers.  Such organizations must demonstrate
the ability to reach and involve in training programs the target
populations of workers.  Any non-profit organization providing worker
health and safety education and training may apply.
 
Non-profit organizations are corporations or associations whose net
earnings may in no part lawfully accrue to the benefit of any private
shareholder or individual.  Proof of non-profit status must be
provided with the application for assistance.  Any of the following
is acceptable proof of non-profit status:
 
1.   A reference to the applicant organizations's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
 
2.   A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exempt certificate.
 
3.   A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or
other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant
organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net
earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
 
4.   A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit
status.
 
5.   Any of the above proof for a State or national parent
organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that
the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.
 
Applicants are required to show proof of an ability to maintain
satisfactory management and accounting systems to control funds and
expenditures.
 
Awardees may use services, as appropriate, of other organizations,
public or private, necessary to develop, administer, or evaluate
proposed worker training programs. Provisions of the Public Health
Service Grants Policy Statement will apply to awards made under this
program.
 
VII.  REVIEW PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA
 
A.  INITIAL STAFF REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS
 
Applications will be administratively reviewed by NIEHS staff for
completeness and responsiveness to this announcement. Applications
found to be incomplete or nonresponsive to the announcement will be
returned to the applicant without further consideration.
 
B.  APPLICATION REVIEW
 
Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis for technical
merit by an ad hoc peer review committee convened by the NIEHS.  The
committee will be composed primarily of non- Government members with
expertise in occupational health and safety training related to
hazardous materials, waste operations, and emergency response.  The
second level of review will be conducted by the National Advisory
Environmental Health Sciences Council.
 
C.  REVIEW CRITERIA
 
The following factors shall be considered for applications:
 
1.  Methods and techniques to be used for identifying, describing,
and accessing target-specific worker populations for worker health
and safety training and anticipated impact of the proposed program.
Applicants must identify, describe, and fully document access to
specific target worker populations, whether organized or not, that
are engaged in hazardous materials and waste operations and
transportation and related emergency response.  This includes:
hazardous waste generation, clean-up, containment, treatment,
storage, disposal, and site evaluation; and hazardous materials
transportation, emergency response, and related activities.  This
information must include size of the target population, worker
profiles, trades and job categories to be trained, geographic
locations of workers, and degree of worker health and safety training
already received.  Applicants must provide assurances of access to
these workers for training.
 
2.  Evidence of the organization's performance and effectiveness in
planning, implementing, and operating appropriate worker health and
safety training and education programs.  Evidence must include
demonstrated past success in development and implementation of worker
health and safety training and education programs and application of
appropriate adult education techniques.  Evidence must include
documentation of the program's achievement of compliance with the
requirements of the NIEHS Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and
Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response.
 
3.  Adequacy of the detailed program plan for worker health and
safety training in adapting existing curricula, training of
instructors, distributing course materials, directing worker
training, and conducting program evaluations.  The plan must include
information on the number of students to be trained, number of
training classes to be held, duration of training, appropriate adult
education techniques to be employed, and course content.  Plans for
hands-on demonstration and instruction must be provided as well as
plans for monitoring student progress and performance.  The plan
shall include involvement of appropriate health and safety
disciplines.  The plan must identify and describe the curriculum to
be used.
 
4.  Evidence of appropriate combinations of classroom instruction and
hands-on demonstration and instruction that simulates site activities
and conditions.  It is intended that off-site instruction funded by
the NIEHS assistance program will be supplemented with on-site
training under the direct supervision of trained, experienced
personnel at the time of initial job assignment.  Appropriate adult
education techniques must be applied.  Both initial and appropriate
refresher training will be covered.
 
5.  Ability to immediately initiate direct worker health and safety
training, program evaluation, and related support activities.
 
6.  Evidence of an experienced Program Director with demonstrated
capacity for providing leadership and assuring productivity of
appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs.
The Program Director shall have overall responsibility for general
operation of the training program including quality assurance and
program evaluation.
 
7.  Evidence of the technical and professional expertise of present
or proposed staff appropriate for worker health and safety training
and education.  Such expertise will be evaluated by resumes, minimum
position qualifications, and position descriptions.  Sufficient
program staff with demonstrated training experience using appropriate
adult education techniques to assure effective direct training and
quality assurance.  Availability and continuing access to appropriate
technical expertise including, but not limited to, adult education
techniques for workers, toxicology, and industrial hygiene must be
available.
 
8.  Evidence of management and procedures to effectively achieve
elements of the worker health and safety training program.
 
9.  Availability of appropriate facilities and equipment to support
the described worker health and safety training and education
activities including hands-on instruction.
 
10.  Evidence of methods proposed for evaluating appropriateness,
quality and effectiveness of worker health and safety training
including student feedback, course critiques, and Board of Advisors
evaluations and other appropriate evaluations and quality assurance
procedures.
 
11.  Feasibility of plans for independently continuing the program.
 
12.  Plans for reaching underserved worker populations especially
those disadvantaged in education, culture, language, literacy, and
access to training.
 
13.  Evidence of a Board of Advisors or consultants representing user
populations, labor, industry, governmental agencies, academic
institutions, or professional associations with interest and
expertise in worker health and safety training related to hazardous
materials and waste operations and emergency response. Plans must
show that the Board will meet regularly to evaluate training
activities and will provide advice to the Program Director.
 
14.  Reasonableness of the requested operating budget in relation to
proposed program activities for worker health and safety training.
 
15.  Methods proposed for administrative management. Applications
will be evaluated on the basis of strengths of administrative
management with regard to the applicant's ability to maintain
satisfactory management and accounting systems to control funds and
expenditures.
 
VIII.  METHOD OF APPLYING
 
A.  LETTER OF INTENT
 
Prospective applicants are asked to submit a brief letter of intent
that includes:  1) a descriptive title including the identity of the
targeted populations to be trained, 2) names of participating
institutions and their principals regarding the assistance, 3) names
of the anticipated Program Director and other key personnel, and 4)
the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application
is being submitted.  This letter must be received no later than
December 20, 1991, and is to be addressed to:
 
Denny Dobbin
Program Administrator
Worker Education and Training Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-2233
 
The NIEHS requests such letters to provide an indication of the
number and the identity of the institutions to be involved.
 
B.  APPLICATION PROCEDURE
 
A signed original and three copies and any appendix material must be
delivered to:
 
Division of Extramural Research and Training
Grants Processing
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233, 104 Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-2233
 
In addition mail or deliver three copies (no appendix material) to:
 
Grant Applications Receipt Office
Division of Research Grants
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 240
Bethesda, MD  20892-4500**
 
APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE NIEHS BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS
JANUARY 24, 1992, TO ENSURE REVIEW.  Copies sent to the NIH Division
of Research Grants should clearly indicate that three copies have
been sent directly to NIEHS.  This is a modification of current
instructions for submission of form PHS 398.
 
C.  FORMAT FOR APPLICATIONS
 
Applications for Hazardous Materials and Waste Worker Health and
Safety Training Grants must be submitted on the grant application
form PHS 398 (rev. 10/88, reprinted 09/89).  This form is usually
available in the sponsored programs office at academic institutions.
However, since this form is used primarily for traditional NIH
research and training assistance, several sections must be modified
and expanded to provide additional information needed for worker
training assistance applications.  Applicants may request a copy of
form PHS 398 from the Office of Grants Inquiries, Division of
Research Grants, NIH, Room 449, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, MD
20892-4500, telephone 301/496-7441.  Special instructions for worker
training applications are available from the Program Administrator,
Worker Training Grants Program, NIEHS, at the address listed above.
 
Applicants are required to indicate in the application how they
intend to implement the TERMS OF COOPERATION stated in Section V. of
this RFA that are a condition of Award.
 
To identify the application as being in response to this RFA,
complete item #2 of the application face page by typing in "HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS AND WASTE WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING, RFA ES-92-01"
and check the YES box .
 
The RFA label (found in the form PHS 398) must be affixed to the
bottom of the face page of the original copy of the application.
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.
 
IX. TIMETABLE FOR AWARDS
 
Letter of Intent (optional):                  December 20, 1991
Application Receipt Date:                     January 24, 1992
Review by Staff:                              March 1992
Review by ad hoc Technical Review Committee:  April 1992
Review by Advisory Committee:                 July 1992
Anticipated Award Date:                       September 1, 1992
 
X.  INQUIRIES
 
The NIEHS welcomes the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions
from potential applicants concerning this RFA.  Technical inquiries
regarding the objectives and scope of this RFA may be directed to:
 
Denny Dobbin
Program Administrator
Worker Training Grants Program
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-2233
Telephone:  (919) 541-0752
 
Financial management inquiries may be directed to:
 
Carol Matheny
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-2233
Telephone:  (919) 541-2930
 
XI.  AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS
 
This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance, No. 93.142, Superfund Worker Training Grants.  Awards
will be made under the authority of the Public Health Service Act,
Title III, Section 301 (Public Law 78-410, as amended; 42 USC 241)
and Section 126(g) of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act of 1986 and administered under PHS grants policies and Federal
Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74.  This program is not
subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive
Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.  The program is
administered according to 42 CFR 45 -- Part 74 and Part 92, DHHS
Administration of Grants; 42 CFR Part 65, Special Regulations for
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Hazardous Waste
Worker Training; the PHS Grants Administration Manual, and PHS Grants
Policy Statement.