HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING FOR THE DOE NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX Release Date: August 12, 1999 RFA: ES-99-010 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Letter of Intent Receipt Date: September 10, 1999 Application Receipt Date: November 19, 1999 PURPOSE The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) invites applications for cooperative agreements to support the development of model programs for the training and education of workers engaged in activities related to hazardous materials and waste generation, removal, containment, transportation and emergency response within the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex. The major objective of this solicitation is to prevent work related harm by assisting in the training and education of workers in the DOE nuclear weapons complex. Safety and health training will transmit skills and knowledge to workers in how best to protect themselves and their communities from exposure to hazardous materials encountered during hazardous waste operations, facility decommissioning and decontamination, hazardous materials transportation, environmental restoration of contaminated facilities or chemical emergency response. Throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons complex, a vast and intensive cleanup effort is now underway. Tens of thousands of DOE employees involved in the cleanup program require safety and health training to help reduce the risk of their being exposed in the course of their work to hazardous materials and hazardous waste products. One effort to enhance training capabilities at these sites has been through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Worker Education and Training Program (WETP). A major goal of this program is to assist organizations with development of institutional competency to provide appropriate model training and education programs to hazardous materials and waste workers in the DOE nuclear weapons complex. Both NIEHS and DOE recognize the importance of effectively managing training resources to maintain and improve federal and contractor workforce competencies. Proper use of resources will result in federal and contractor employees who are highly skilled and capable of carrying out our critical missions in a safe and reliable manner consistent with recognized standards of excellence. Continuing improvements will assist in planning and conduct of training programs to ensure that these programs are closely aligned with mission priorities and administered efficiently. 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 RFA, Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training in the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex, is related to the priority areas of occupational health and environmental health. Further information regarding the updating of "Healthy People 2000" can be obtained from the Web site at: http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/hp2000/default.htm. Potential applicants may also obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202-512-1800). ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applicants must be domestic nonprofit 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 target populations of workers. Any nonprofit organization providing worker health and safety education and training may apply. Minority individuals, disabled persons and women are encouraged to apply as Principal Investigators, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority institutions and organizations. Nonprofit 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 nonprofit status must be provided with the application for assistance. 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. All provisions of the National Institutes of Health Grants Policy Statement will apply to awards made by NIEHS for this program. This information is available at: http://www.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps. MECHANISM OF SUPPORT Awards will be made as cooperative agreements (U-45) for a period of up to five years from FY 2000 through 2004. Funds for these awards will include $8.5 million from the DOE Environmental Management Program, which are transferred annually to NIEHS through an Interagency Agreement. The administrative and funding instrument used for this program is a cooperative agreement (U45), an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism) in which substantial NIH scientific and/or programmatic involvement with the awardee is anticipated during performance of the activity. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and/or stimulate the recipient"s activity by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipient in a partner role, but it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activity. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility for the activity resides with the awardee(s) for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities in carrying out the studies will be shared among the awardees and the NIEHS Program Administrator. Annual renewal will be based on availability of funds, staff review of progress toward achieving training objectives, compliance with the terms and conditions of awards and submission of copies of all training and educational materials used under the award to NIEHS. The awards will include funding for targeted training to specific populations that have been identified in the respective authorizing statute for this program. The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal years 1992 and 1993 (42 USC 7274(d)) authorized the Secretary of Energy in section 3131(a)(1)(A)-(B) to make awards: "to provide training and education to persons who are or may be engaged in hazardous substance response or emergency at Department of Energy nuclear weapons facilities, and to develop response curricula for such training and education." The Secretary was further authorized in Section 3131(a)(2)(A)-(B) to make the training awards to non-profit organizations demonstrating capabilities in: "implementing and conducting effective training and education programs relating to the general health and safety of workers, and identifying, and involving in training, groups of workers whose duties include hazardous substance response or emergency response." Under Section 126(g) of Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), NIEHS developed and administers a Worker Education and Training Program in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During 1992, the DOE evaluated this program developed by NIEHS for suitability of adaptation to its own program and training needs, and determined that the program was suitable. In an effort to rapidly move to the implementation stage and to leverage program resources, DOE entered into an agreement with NIEHS to award and administer the grants and to adapt its existing program to meet the needs of the DOE nuclear weapons complex. FUNDS AVAILABLE Projected funding of $8.5 million at the currently authorized levels for FY 2000 will be awarded to support model programs for targeted training. During FY 2000, NIEHS plans to fund between 5 and 10 cooperative agreements in response to this RFA for a period of five years. The anticipated starting date for the initial annual period will be September 1, 2000. 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 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), an Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the Public Health Service (PHS) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Protecting worker health and safety through the delivery of safety and health training is a priority of the Secretary of Energy and is a primary goal of the Office of Environmental Management (EM). As the Department of Energy"s (DOE) mission has shifted from weapons production to environmental restoration, the site worker will be exposed to new operations and hazards while conducting restoration activities, many of which will be associated with potential exposure to hazardous substances and wastes. To provide protection to workers" health and safety, all workers at DOE sites engaged or potentially engaged in environmental restoration activities, including hazardous substance response or emergency response, are required by CERCLA and respective DOE Orders to meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration"s (OSHA) regulations 20 CFR 1910.120 and the EPA Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) training requirements (40 CFR 300.150). Tens of thousands of workers are engaged in hazardous waste work at DOE facilities. An initial needs assessment at the beginning of the program conducted by NIEHS estimated that between 10,000 and 60,000 workers at DOE facilities would require initial HAZWOPER training. Training needs range from basic hazardous waste operations and emergency response (HAZWOPER) courses to asbestos and lead abatement, confined space, hazard communication, respirator, radiation, and general industry safety courses. Environmental cleanup is a complex undertaking which may often pose significant dangers to remediation workers as well as to residents of the surrounding community. Throughout the Department of Energy (DOE) complex, contamination issues resulting from the historic mission of weapons production, as well as from extensive use of radioactive materials and highly toxic chemicals - have created a unique challenge for those managing environmental cleanups. There is clearly a need for highly trained workers to carry out the actual remediation work. In order to develop a better understanding of the labor market for hazardous waste workers, NIEHS contracted to study the labor market associated with hazardous waste cleanup work. This study is available at: http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/minimum.htm. Based on the actual experience at a number of hazardous waste sites across the nation, it is projected that on-site remedial action alone will require between 1990-2010 three million job years, or 4.5 billion hours, of labor. Site operations and maintenance work will require another one billion labor hours. From this total, A total of 1,108,696 remedial action and O&M job years are projected to be generated for hazardous waste cleanup of the DOE nuclear weapons complex, with the largest portion of these jobs being generated in the period from 2001-2005. Using the report"s projections from EPA and DOE data, remediation job demand is expected to grow by 60 percent, or almost 300,000 jobs, from the 1990-1995 five year period through the five year period 1995-2000 -- from 447,000 to 740,000. Demand for jobs continues to grow by nearly another 300,000 in the 2000-2005 time interval. During this peak period nearly 2 million jobs will require workers. As many as 7.5 million more workers will require training -- either basic or refresher. Demand remains high from 2005-2010 and then begins to taper off -- with a rather optimistic assumption that most cleanup activities will be completed in 25 to 30 years. The Department of Energy Office of Worker and Community Transition (WT) reports in their Annual Report on Contractor Work Force Restructuring Fiscal Year 1998 that the prime contractor employment has steadily decreased from about 145,000 employees in 1992 to about 100,000 in 1998. WT expects a 3,000 to 5,000 employee decrease per year through 2001 and additional 5,000 employees due to additional outsourcing. This report can be can be found on the DOE/WCT homepage at http://www.wct.doe.gov/owct/whatsnew.htm. Model training programs for hazardous waste workers and emergency responders shall satisfy minimum requirements as specified in Federal OSHA rules and other related regulations which 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. Consideration should also be given to the recently published Appendix E of 29 CFR 1910.120 (59 FR 43268, August 22, 1994), which references much of the NIEHS Minimum Criteria Worker Health and Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response. This OSHA guidance is available at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9770. The DOE Order 440.1 provides the basic foundation for a worker protection program and that some DOE elements or contractors may need or decide to go beyond the Order"s minimum requirements in establishing programs to protect workers from hazards associated with their activities. This order should be a part of any training activities at Doe sites and may be referenced at : http://www.explorer.doe.gov:1776/pdfs/doe/doetext/neword/440/g4401-1.html. DOE Order 360 establishes the requirements for the training and qualification of technical employees and managers whose position requires them to provide management direction or oversight that could impact the safe operation of a DOE defense nuclear facility. This order may be referenced at: http://cted.inel.gov/cted/360-1.html. All elements of the DOE Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) will be applied by potential applicants as appropriate, using current methods for the analysis, design, development, delivery and evaluation of Safety and Health training events. This method is recognized in the DOE complex as the most comprehensive and appropriate for innately dynamic, regulatory-driven safety and health training. Further information about the DOE SAT is available at: http://tis.eh.doe.gov/techstds/standard/hdbk1074/hdb1074.html. The DOE HAZWOPER Handbook is an important resource for DOE training program development and provides tools and guidance to establish and implement comprehensive, cost-effective, hazard-based worker health and safety programs that are an integral part of accomplishing work on time and within budget. This Handbook has been developed to assist Department of Energy (DOE) and contractor. It is available at: http://tis-hq.eh.doe.gov:80/docs/haz_waste_activity_handbook/hwa_handbook.html. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program, in partnership with the DOE Environmental Management Program, has supported qualified domestic nonprofit organizations to develop and administer model health and safety education programs for hazardous materials or waste workers within the nuclear weapons complex. Target populations for training in the DOE nuclear weapons complex include those covered by requirements of Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (CFR, Title 29, Part 1910, which is found at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9765 ) 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 workers regulated by the US Department of Transportation (Further guidance on DOT Hazmat Employees is available at: http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/rules.htm). Congress recognized this need and authorized the Secretary of Energy, through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993, Section 3131, to award grants for training and education for persons engaged in hazardous substance response or emergency response at DOE nuclear weapons facilities. For purposes of Section 3131, the term "hazardous substance" in addition to its definition under CERCLA includes radioactive waste, mixed radioactive and hazardous waste. In an effort to rapidly move to the implementation stage and to leverage program resources, DOE studied the suitability of NIEHS as awards administrator for the DOE program. Based on a review of the NIEHS program, DOE entered into an agreement with NIEHS to award and administer the grants and to adapt the HAZWOPER program to meet the needs of DOE. Initial awards under the DOE program were made in 1993 for a three-year period. Additional funding was secured for a second round of training awards which began in 1995. A briefing for DOE staff involved in the initiative was held in August 1995 to gather input on DOE priorities for the final funding plan. Adjustments were made to reflect the suggestions of DOE staff. A review by the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council (NAEHSC) was completed on September 14-15, 1995 and awards were made, effective later that year. The goal of the DOE/NIEHS Worker Training Program has been to provide site- specific, quality training to workers in a timely and cost-effective manner, through a partnership involving government, contractors, and labor organizations. A cornerstone of the program is the use of "worker-trainers," employees well- versed in performing a given task in a hazardous environment who are trained to instruct other workers. Benefits of the partnership include fostering cooperation between management and workers, improving efficiency and quality of training, improving the ability to address worker concerns, and empowering all stakeholders to address site-specific safety and health needs. NIEHS, through its awardees, has provided high quality hazardous substance response or emergency response training to ensure that: (1) DOE site workers are aware of the hazards that exist at DOE sites, (2) workers are prepared to work safely in such hazardous environments to prevent accidents from occurring, and (3) workers have sufficient knowledge of their work environment and hazardous conditions to identify hazardous situations and to take appropriate actions to protect themselves, fellow workers, and the environment. Across the DOE complex, approximately 1.2 million contact hours of hazardous materials training were delivered by the DOE/NIEHS awardees between 1994 and 1998. During this period, dozens of different courses were offered by nine awardees to workers at sites throughout the DOE complex. During the four years covered, the largest category of training was Site Worker Refresher, which accounted for 48 percent of course attendees between 1994 and 1998. The second largest category was Site Worker, which accounted for nearly 11,000 course participants and almost half of all contact hours of training provided between 1994 and 1998. The next largest category was RCRA/Industrial, followed by Asbestos Abatement, Radiation, Emergency Response, and Lead Abatement. While the NIEHS awardees have provided training at more than thirty DOE sites, half of the trainees worked at two of the largest sites, Hanford and Oak Ridge, where more than 36,000 course participants received over half a million contact hours of training. At the Hanford and Oak Ridge sites, nearly 20,000 course participants (53 percent of those trained between 1994 and 1998) received nearly 160,000 contact hours of Site Worker Refresher Training, and close to 10,000 participated in RCRA/Industrial training. GENERAL TRAINING OBJECTIVES AND COMPONENTS Major program objectives for the future of the DOE/NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program include to: o Establish DOE and contractor safety and health training programs with best practices by drawing on the skills and knowledge of experienced workers on the job. o Facilitate and promote a culture of continuous learning, integrated safety management and improving task readiness within the DOE complex. o Act as a prime source for new training methodologies, innovative techniques, and lessons learned for all DOE operations through partnering with site contractors, regulatory personnel and other stakeholders. o Reduce safety and health training costs through standardization, centralized partner development, and minimizing necessary travel and expenses. o Reduce redundancy within the DOE complex by utilizing existing quality, safety and health training programs located in partner organizations and integrating best-in-class technical training program capabilities. o Maximize the use of advanced training technology supported learning tools where available and appropriate for effective delivery and evaluation while integrating web-based, virtual and computer-based methods with traditional hands-on and classroom centered learning. 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. Applicants are also encouraged to develop plans for independently continuing the program. Applicants should 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 training scope be broad. Section 126 states that the training be required for personnel engaged in hazardous substance removal or other activities, such as those involved in transportation, which 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. The training scope covers worker health protection from hazardous waste work and exposure to hazardous substances in the broadest sense. The applicant shall identify workers or groups of workers who need to be trained in hazardous substance response or emergency response to ensure their health and safety. These target populations may include the existing DOE workforce, those likely to perform DOE environmental clean-up and waste management work within 120 days following the completion of training, those involved in waste transportation on, to, and from DOE sites, appropriate supervisors and managers of contractor and subcontractor activities, emergency response personnel with site mutual aid agreements, and appropriate Federal, State, and local government officials who are involved in compliance efforts. Cooperative agreement awardees are expected to make a reasonable effort to develop cooperative relationships with DOE training managers to: (1) identify what training courses are needed to ensure that applicable health and safety training requirements are met, (2) accurately determine the number of employees who need training, and (3) ensure that training meets site-specific needs and is consistent with established quality standards. Such arrangements should be described in greater detail in the training plan. 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 insure effectiveness. Specific expertise, facilities or services to be provided by each participating member must be identified. Awardees submitting competing continuation applications should describe, along with other progress, how they have met special cooperative agreement terms and conditions of their awards, including their interaction with other investigators and NIEHS program staff. A list of curricula developed by current NIEHS awardees (On the Web at: http://204.177.120.20/forms/curricula/ in Adobe Acrobat format) and copies of the Minimum Criteria for Worker Health and Safety Training for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (On the Web at: http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/mincrter.html) may be obtained from: National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training for Hazardous Materials, Waste Operations and Emergency Response 5107 Benton Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Tele: 301-571-4226 Fax: 301-897-5848 Email: rra@dgs.dgsys.com or chouse@dgsys.com Web Page: http://204.177.120.20/index.htm Copies of individual curricula developed by current awardees are available in the Clearinghouse reading room and may also be obtained from the Clearinghouse at the above address for the cost of reproduction and handling. 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 which requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (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 Further information about OSHA resources and interpretations of HAZWOPER training requirements can be found at: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/hazardouswaste/index.html. 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 at the time of assignment. 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. The immediate goal of worker health and safety training is educational in nature, designed to provide students with relevant information, program- solving skills, and the confidence needed to use these tools. Long-term goals of the model training programs should be to assure that workers become and remain active participants in determining and improving the health and safety conditions under which they work and that avenues for collaborative employer- employee relationships in creating safe workplaces are established. Worker safety and health training is adult-based, action-oriented, and result- centered. The goals and objectives of worker training focus on outcomes rather than on learning for its own sake. Workers come to training with a great volume of experience, and are, in many ways, the richest resources of a training class. Experience shows that successful adult education often emphasizes peer-sharing activities, such as problem-solving and simulation exercises, that tap the experience of the learner. Successful worker training often mirrors the way people learn at work -- from each other. After training, workers should be able to bring what they have learned in the classroom or work-site training back to their jobs. NIEHS Focus on Health Disparities Health disparities exist between citizens of lower socioeconomic status (including minorities and other medically under-served citizens) and those more economically advantaged. The President has committed the Nation to eliminating such disparities while continuing the progress that has been made in improving the overall health of the American people. As the primary federal agency responsible for supporting research, prevention, and training efforts to reduce the adverse health impact of environmentally related diseases, the NIEHS seeks to expand its leadership role in addressing such conditions in socio-economically disadvantaged populations and in developing tools and strategies that will prove effective in eliminating health disparities. The NIEHS is committed to supporting research and training activities aimed at lessening the environmental health consequences associated with lower socioeconomic status. Activities conducted under this RFA should be consistent with Federal Executive Order No. 12898 entitled, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." To the extent practicable and permitted by law, applicants shall make achieving environmental justice part of their project"s mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health effects of environmental contaminants on minority, low-income, and medically under-served communities, including African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans. The complete text of the Federal Executive Order No. 12898 can be found at http://www.epa.gov/docs/oejpubs/execordr.txt.html. Additional information on the Environmental Justice Initiative in EPA"s Waste Programs can be found at http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/ej. Applications should include plans for reaching under-served workers in the proposed target populations especially those disadvantaged in education, language skills or limited in literacy. The inclusion of institutions and organizations that have historical involvement and expertise in responding to environmental justice issues is also strongly encouraged. Participation of minority institutions and community-based organizations from people of color communities may include the: o Adaptation of curricula to address health disparities and environmental justice concerns, o Development of training programs that outreach to environmentally disadvantaged groups and non-English speaking populations, and o Delivery of high quality training that can augment efforts to promote toxic use reduction, emergency preparedness in the community, chemical process safety and pollution prevention. New Program Initiatives Due to the complexity and the number of new emerging training innovations and technologies occurring in the worker health and safety arena, NIEHS has identified several training opportunities that are specifically related to the advancement of the Worker Education and Training Program. It is important that these new emerging training technologies and approaches be woven and integrated into the framework of the program. NIEHS has learned that successful examples of training partnerships involve the creation of clear mechanisms for assuring avenues for input and collaboration by labor, management, local government officials and other stakeholders, as well as a vision for integrating training into other workplace programs and initiatives. In addition, it is clear that the context and technical approaches to safety and health training have undergone a rapid transition over the past decade, as computer and telecommunications technology have unleashed a wealth of technical information resources and established innovative modes of training development, delivery and evaluation. Below are lists of these innovations, many of which have grown out of NIEHS- sponsored technical workshops, with background information pertaining to these new concerns and how they relate to the overall Worker Education and Training Program. This list is provided to stimulate the thinking of potential awardees by illustrating various types of training innovations and showing its application, and potential linkages. This list is not intended to be complete, and investigators may study these and many other topics that meet the objectives of the RFA. o Targeted model training programs - Hazardous waste and emergency response workers represent a diverse training population ranging from technical/ professional and supervisory personnel to trade and industrial workers. Because of this diversity, NIEHS and its awardees have needed to be innovative in designing their training programs. Over the last eleven years, several distinct models have emerged. They include: o Models for Training a Technical/Professional Audience - These models are designed for a more educated learning audience, perhaps more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. Curriculum materials are comprehensive, including the development of instructor and student materials, slide and video presentations, site simulations, and hands on training. In addition, borrowing from the more participatory models described below, the technical training has been augmented with more interactive learning approaches to aid in effective problem analysis and problem solving. o Models for Low Literacy, Limited English Language Fluency - These models utilized special learning materials and instructional techniques to effectively reach their training audience. These populations are often poorly served in the traditional training environment. Learning materials have been translated into appropriate languages and geared to the appropriate literacy level of the particular training population. In addition, these models utilize an interactive and participatory approach to learning rather than the more traditional lecture format. o Trade or Occupation Specific Models - These models are tailored to specific occupations or trades involved in hazardous waste handling and emergency response (e.g., laborers, ironworkers, chemical workers). They include simulations or site specific problems encountered specifically by these specific trades or occupations. While trainees are exposed to all the core curriculum areas fundamental to hazardous wastes training, the curriculum also includes trade specific information. Some of these models utilize aspects of the train-the-trainer approach described below in order to maximize training resources and expand the programmatic reach of hazardous waste training. o Train-the-Trainer Models - These models are designed so that lay or worker/supervisor trainers can guide trainees (co-workers) through classroom activities and simulations, acting as facilitators. Curriculum materials include facilitator resource guides and student activities, including small group research, problem solving exercises, interactive video and hands-on activities (for example, proper use of respirators, spill response and simulated site cleanups). In addition, worker trainers may play critical roles in program evaluation and measuring the effectiveness of training impacts. o Integrated Safety Management Systems (ISMS) - DOE and NIEHS are committed to embracing Integrated Safety Management (ISM) principles. The objective of ISM is to systematically integrate safety into management and work practices at all levels so that missions are accomplished while protecting the public, the worker, and the environment. This is to be accomplished through effective integration of safety management into training activities and all facets of work planning and execution. Efforts should be undertaken to build ISM curricula modules into existing 1910.120 Hazwoper training courses through basic and refresher classes. Cooperative agreement awardees are expected to embrace the ISM guiding principles and to work with facility training managers and safety and health managers to ensure that their training supports the facilities" efforts to implement ISM. Further detailed information and resources for ISM training development is accessible through the DOE Integrated Safety Management System Web Site at: http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ism. o Training evaluation and measuring effectiveness - Evaluation of worker safety and health training programs is critical to assure they are achieving the results intended. Worker training programs, because they are geared toward success at work as well as in the classroom, are especially in need of evaluation. Evaluation should determine not only how well a program is implemented and how much knowledge is gained by students, but also actual outcomes of evaluation, i.e., what changes occur at work after training is complete. These changes may be increased awareness of health and safety risks, changes in attitude and behavior at work, or changes in actual work processes or deployment of equipment and technology. Knowing the role that worker training plays in bringing about these changes is an important part of an evaluation program. Worker training is not a panacea for solving workplace problems, but research increasingly shows its critical role in stimulating improvement in working conditions and workplace productivity. A recent NIOSH report reviews data found in the literature reflecting the significance of training in meeting effectiveness outcomes. The NIOSH report finds that here is much positive evidence but the results seem very selective and highly qualified. Further information on the NIOSH Evaluation Report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/98-145-b.html. Further information on NIEHS training evaluation efforts is available from the "Resource Guide For Evaluating Worker Training: A Focus on Safety & Health". This document is available on the web in Portable Document Format (pdf) at: http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/downloads/resourceguide.pdf. o Training and integration with workplace Safety & Health programs Health and safety training is valuable as a key component of a comprehensive health and safety program and can be an important catalyst for assuring employee and employer involvement in illness and injury prevention. In most work places, workers" ability to make changes or control health and safety hazards and risks is limited. Therefore, unless the training program is supported by a strong health and safety program, it can help workers do little more than understand how they and the organization might be able to improve conditions. The most effective health and safety training is integrated with comprehensive systems of safety. It helps workers to understand their roles within those systems and encourages their active participation in maintaining and strengthening those systems. On November 12-13, 1998, a National Technical Workshop was held in Silver Spring, Maryland at the George Meany Center to develop a consensus document "Guidelines for Training in Support of Workplace Safety and Health Programs." The purpose of this guidelines document is to provide a comprehensive source of guidance and information to aid employers, trainers, training providers, and training program developers in the development, delivery, evaluation and continual improvement of training to support and enhance workplace safety and health. Opportunities for including all stakeholders in an integrated workplace safety and health program will enhance the training component and enhance overall worker protection. Further information on this workshop report is available at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/minimum.htm. o Innovative technology deployment and training - In defining ways to inject health and safety considerations into the process of developing and deploying innovative technologies in the workplace, a key strategy is to create worker training opportunities when health and safety risks finally become the focus of attention. Far too often, even when the focus is brought to bear on health and safety, the risks addressed are those faced by the public, such as contaminated drinking water from a hazardous waste site. Little information has been developed regarding the safety and health hazards associated with environmental remediation technologies. Consequently, those tasked with technology selection often do not consider the safety and health implications of their decisions and the costs associated with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), operator training, and the planning required to ensure the safe operation of potentially hazardous cleanup technologies. This is an important area for training development. Further information on NIEHS efforts in examining innovative technology and training is available from the report "Innovative Technology Guidance Document: Remembering the Worker". This document is also available on the web at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/minimum.htm. o Advanced Training Technology (ATT) and distance learning in safety and health - The development and application of Advanced Training Technologies (ATT), which includes computer-based training (CBT), internet-based training (WBT), distance learning, teleconferencing, multimedia, and courseware applications, is advancing at an explosive rate as computer and communication technology advances continue. Through a recent workshop and technical report, NIEHS Worker Training Program has attempted to develop a framework for evaluating the deployment and application of ATT methods to Hazwoper and Hazmat safety and health training programs. This framework has considered specific media selection models, as well as the institutional capacity, cost, and effectiveness of adopting ATT methods. Important challenges for the future of ATT will include the identification of issues involved in using virtual training instead of, or alongside, hands-on training and the efficacy of new technologies in responding to the need to evaluate skills development and competency, developing effective programs to help instructors master new technologies and evaluate the effectiveness of ATT methods. Further information regarding the Technical Workshop Report on ATT and Hazwoper Training is available at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/minimum.htm. o Trainer the trainer programs in worker health and safety - Key to the success of the WETP has been the continuing development of trainers at the local level throughout the United States. A goal of this effort has been to establish a national consensus for how to maintain the delivery of high quality HAZWOPER training through the ongoing support and development of both professional and worker trainers. A technical workshop to examine these issues was held in November 1997. The workshop helped to explore the characteristics of effective Train-the-Trainer programs in safety and health. The workshop report provides a brief overview of the role of worker-trainers in NIEHS-supported training programs and discusses some of the most important issues they face - including the role of professionals in such programs and how worker-trainer programs ensure the technical accuracy and educational excellence of their training classes. The workshop report is available at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/workertrainerprogramspaper/worker-trainer-guidelines-web.htm. o Training partnerships and building effective consortia - The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) workshop on "Successful Training Partnerships: Lessons Learned" brought representatives of industry, small business entrepreneurs, labor, academia, and government together to share the diverse nature of their partnerships and the details of how to make them work. Creative arrangements and traditional partnerships were both revealed, and there were lessons to be learned from all partnerships discussed. Defining the elements which are integral to forming successful training partnerships is a critical component of building an effective training program. As with many governmental and business collaborations, enlightened organizational self-interest is a critical feature for all partners. Only with a clear understanding of organizational goals and strengths in a partnership and clear mechanisms for defining the nature of collaboration can there be a win-win result for all parties, including the trainees. One common theme throughout the workshop was that partnerships are often difficult to start, are hard to nurture and grow, and are likely to have some rough stretches, even in the best of circumstances. Trust, honesty, and a commitment to cooperation seem to be the glue that holds partnerships together. Another useful ingredient for a successful, long-term partnership is continuing support from the "people at the top" or upper management. Further information on NIEHS training evaluation efforts is available from the workshop report: "Successful Training Partnerships: Lessons Learned" This document is available on the web at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/partnerships/partnerships_report.htm o Integration of worker health and safety training and job skills training Under the leadership of the Minority Worker Training Program, NIEHS has explored avenues for more effective linking of health and safety training with job skills training. A recent technical workshop, the Environmental Job Training Summit, has explored the opportunities for promoting these linkages. This Summit followed up the Environmental Job Training for Inner City Youth Technical Workshop held on January 5-6, 1995, at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio explored opportunities, successes, and barriers that have occurred during the past ten years of the Superfund Worker Training Program, as well as the unique challenges that have been faced during the past two years of the Minority Worker Training Program (MWTP). The model of creating smoother connections in the environmental cleanup industry between training and jobs is a focal point of the success of the MWTP. Some of the strategies of this model are: creating and sustaining collaborative dialogue among various training organizations, exchanging ideas about training of special populations, establishing frameworks for strengthening other job training program by adding environmental training, and providing additional opportunities for growth for all worker training programs by partnering with community-based organizations. This document is available on the web at http://204.177.120.20/wetp/clear/resource/minimum.htm. o Community involvement and outreach initiative This component is a new outreach initiative to provide entry of a community contribution about worker training activities concerning contaminated sites and hazardous work environments. The primary objective of this component is to establish methods for linking members of a community, who are directly affected by adverse environmental conditions, with training organizations. The development of community-based strategies that will lead to pilots to address worker-training needs of the community is a fundamental part of this initiative. The program is designed to assist the development of new modes of communication through training that will ultimately lead to identifying community and worker concerns that can develop into collaborative partnerships. Some of these concerns may deal with general awareness level training, community right to know, and emergency response training. Additionally, there should be a concentrated effort to identify possible exposures to community workers and residents, promote community strategies for prevention and intervention activities related to work injuries, and assist to facilitate other important sustainable approaches to job training that ensure worker health and safety is a top priority. The above examples of training initiatives are only illustrative of the types of innovative training efforts that may be appropriate to the WETP and are not meant to be all-inclusive or restrictive. Nonetheless, it is important that investigators submitting an application under this RFA propose multidisciplinary approaches that are integrated and designed to produce results in the hazardous waste worker training area. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Terms and Conditions of Award NIEHS will provide appropriate assistance, advice and guidance described below. The role of the NIEHS Program Administrator will be to facilitate, not to direct, the development of a high quality national worker training resource. These special Terms of Award are in addition to and not in lieu of otherwise applicable OMB administrative guidelines, HHS Grant Administration Regulations at 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92, and other HHS, PHS, and NIH Grant Administration policy statements The administrative and funding instrument used for this program is a cooperative agreement U45, an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism) in which substantial NIH scientific and/or programmatic involvement with the awardee is anticipated during performance of the activity. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and/or stimulate the recipient"s activity by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipient in a partner role, but it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activity. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility for the activity resides with the awardee(s) for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities in carrying out the studies will be shared among the awardees and the NIEHS Program Administrator. 1. Awardee Rights and Responsibilities Awardees have primary authorities and responsibilities to define objectives and approaches, and to plan, conduct, analyze, and publish results, interpretations, and conclusions of their studies and training activities. It is the responsibility of each awardee to develop the details of the training plan, which will be required to describe the technical approaches, target population access and recruitment, curricula modification, training methodology, and program evaluation procedures. o Awardees under this program will be required to meet at least twice annually to review progress, share information, and to 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. o Awardees under this program shall develop protocols and procedures for the involvement and participation of technical staff in the Headquarters Environmental Management (DOE/EM) Program and site contractors in the nuclear weapons complex in the design, delivery and evaluation of worker training activities. o Awardees under this program shall submit training materials developed by the awardees for review by the NIEHS Program Administrator for consistency, appropriateness and technical accuracy before the initiation of worker safety and health training activities. Final copies of all materials developed with support from NIEHS will be transmitted by the awardees to the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training for Hazardous Materials, Waste Operations and Emergency Response and made available to the general public, subject to any specific legal caveats on use or copyright protection. o Each awardee will submit an annual progress report to the NIEHS Program Administrator which describes the number, location and nature of all training activities and the characteristics of the trainees reached during a particular fiscal year. o 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. o Each awardee shall participate annually in two technical workshops, which 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 raining techniques and approaches. o 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. o Each awardee is required to have one individual assigned the responsibility for information technology transfer and dissemination as the point of contact for the NIEHS Program Administrator. This person would ensure the effective communication and transfer of important training and administrative information to NIEHS and other appropriate audiences, including trainee tracking activities, computation and submittal of training data, coordination of special meetings/conferences, and other training activities conducted by the program. o 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. 2. NIEHS Staff responsibilities Specifically, the substantial programmatic involvement by the NIEHS Program Administrator will include the following activities: o The NIEHS Program Administrator will coordinate activities of mutual interest and benefit to awardees and the Institute. The primary objective of the Worker Education and Training Program will be to stimulate collaborative work between NIEHS and its awardees, and DOE and its site contractors, in the creation of model worker safety and health training programs. Substantial programmatic involvement by the NIEHS Program Administrator will assure that there is not duplication of efforts or overlap in worker safety and health training delivery and program development by the awardees. o 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, DOE staff and site contractors, 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 o To facilitate exchange and coordination between awardees and the Institute, the NIEHS Program Administrator 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 to coordinate training activities. o 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 which are specific to the program will be developed and coordinated through technical workshops, which will be held at least twice per fiscal year. o To assure that training programs which are developed with assistance from NIEHS will comply with all applicable federal safety and health regulations, the NIEHS Program Administrator will assist the awardees through continual involvement with other federal regulatory agencies. Operational monitoring by the NIEHS Program Administrator will ensure that awardees are in compliance with general federal statutory requirements regulating worker safety and health training activities. o The NIEHS Program Administrator 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, the NIEHS Program Administrator will strive to assess the overall effectiveness of the training programs supported under the cooperative agreements in terms of the nation"s needs and in relation to the target populations identified by Congress in SARA Section 126 and Section 3131 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 1992-93. o NIEHS maintains a National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training for Hazardous Materials, Waste Operations and Emergency Response 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 also function as a national resource for the dissemination to the general public of program related information and curricula materials which have been developed by the awardees. 3. Arbitration o When mutually acceptable agreement regarding program activities cannot be reached between the awardee and the NIEHS Program Administrator, an arbitration panel composed of one member nominated by 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 all 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. INFORMATIONAL MEETING A briefing for applicants will be held at NIEHS in RTP, NC on Friday, September 17,1999 from 1-5 PM in Building 101, Conference Room B. A summary of responses from the briefing, all relevant information for potential applicants and Special Instructions will be available upon request from NIEHS (wetp@niehs.nih.gov) and will be posted on the NIEHS Worker Education and Training Program (WETP) home page at: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/wetp. LETTER OF INTENT Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by September 10, 1999, a brief letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed research project, the name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator, the identities of other key personnel and participating institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to which the application may be submitted. Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of subsequent application, the information that it contains allows NIEHS staff to estimate the potential review work load and to avoid conflict of interest in the review. The letter of intent is to be sent to: David Brown, M.P.H. Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 111 Alexander Drive, MD EC-24 P.O. Box 12233 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-4964 FAX: (919) 541-2503 Email: brown4@niehs.nih.gov APPLICATION PROCEDURES Applications are to be submitted on the grant application for PHS 398 (rev. 4/98). Application kits are available at most institutional offices of sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone 301/710-0267, email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov. The RFA Label and line 2 of the application should both indicate the RFA number. The RFA label must be affixed to the bottom of the face page. 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. The RFA label is available at: http://www.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/label-bk.pdf has been modified to allow for this change. Please note this is in pdf format. Submit a signed typewritten original of the application including the checklist, and two signed photocopies in one package to: CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040, MSC 7710 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7710 BETHESDA, MD 20817 (for express/courier service) No appendices should be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review. At the time of the submission, three additional signed copies and five copies of the appendices must be sent to: David P. Brown, M.P.H. Scientific Review Branch Division of Extramural Research and Training National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P.O. Box 12233 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, 4401 Bldg. Mail Drop EC-24 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Telephone: (919) 541-4964 FAX: (919) 541-2503 Applications must be received at CSR by November 19, 1999 to ensure review. If an application is received after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review. Copies sent to the NIH Center for Scientific Review 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. REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS Upon receipt, applications and supporting material will be examined for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. In addition, the Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT), NIEHS will do an administrative review for completeness and responsiveness to the RFA, incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration. The specific points of consideration are: (1) the appropriateness of the training plan proposed in regard to the mission of the NIEHS and the WETP, and (2) the general completeness of the application including responsiveness to programmatic requirements and the organizational adequacy for review (this includes scientific, technical, and budgetary considerations.) Applications that are complete and responsive to this RFA will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer review group convened by NIEHS in accordance with the review criteria stated below. 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. Since these applications are complex, it is essential that applications be thoroughly prepared and that they be well organized in accordance with the guidelines. As part of the initial merit review, all applications will receive a written critique and undergo a review in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific merit will be discussed, assigned a priority score based on the technical merit of the overall application, and receive a second level review by the National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences (NAEHS) Council. It is important to note peer review group members will examine proposed budgets closely. The peer review group may recommend adjustments, as judged appropriate, in the requested budgets and periods of support for the components of WETP applications that are deemed to have significant and substantial merit. Review Criteria The following factors shall be considered for review of all applications: 1) Evaluation of the proposed 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. o Applicants must identify, describe, and fully document access to specific DOE-related target worker populations, whether organized or not, that are engaged in hazardous materials and waste operations and transportation and related emergency response. o 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. o Applicants must demonstrate the ability to establish training relationships with site contractors employing workers who are or may be engaged in hazardous substance response or emergency response at DOE nuclear weapons facilities. 2) Evaluation of the organization"s performance and effectiveness in planning, implementing and operating appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs. o Evidence should include demonstrated past success in development and implementation of worker health and safety training and education programs and application of appropriate adult education techniques. o Evidence should 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) Evaluation of the adequacy of the detailed program plan for worker health and safety training in adapting existing curricula, training of instructors, distributing course materials, direct worker training, and conducting program evaluations. o 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. o The plan shall include protocols and procedures for the involvement and participation of DOE technical staff and site contractors in the nuclear weapons complex in the development design, implementation of worker training activities. o Plans for hands on demonstration and instruction must be provided as well as plans for monitoring student"s progress and performance. o The plan shall include involvement of appropriate health and safety disciplines and avenues for consultation with DOE and site contractor health and safety staff and training managers. o The plan must describe a system for tracking trainee employment in DOE hazmat-related jobs. o The plan must identify and describe the curriculum to be used. 4) Evaluation of the evidence of appropriate combinations of classroom instruction and hands on demonstration and instruction that simulates site activities and conditions. o It is intended that offsite instruction funded by the NIEHS assistance program will be supplemented with onsite training under the direct supervision of trained, experienced personnel at the time of initial job assignment. o Appropriate adult education techniques must be applied and the use of advanced training technologies as a program delivery component is encouraged. o 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 experienced and technically qualified key personnel. o The Principal Investigator must demonstrate the capacity for providing leadership and assuring productivity of appropriate worker health and safety training and education programs and for overall management of the training programs including quality assurance and program evaluation. o Evidence of the technical, managerial and professional expertise of present or proposed key personnel. Such expertise will be evaluated by resumes, minimum position qualifications and position descriptions. o Evidence that the administrative official has experience or knowledge in the management of federal programs and will participate in program decisions should be contained in the application. o Sufficient program staff with demonstrated training experience using appropriate adult education techniques to assure effective direct training, and quality assurance. o 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. 7) Demonstration of an applicant"s organizational structure that provides adequate knowledge and oversight of resources and administrative management of the program. These should include: o Details on how the proposed program fits into existing organizational structure of the non-profit, if applicable. o Organization chart of the proposed program. o Details of an external board of advisors that represents 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. o Plans, membership (proposed or invited) and minutes (if applicable) that show that the external board will meet regularly to evaluate training activities and will develop formal procedures to provide advice to the Program Director. o Demonstration of the ability to maintain satisfactory management and accounting systems to control funds and expenditures o Flow chart or description of financial management and fiscal accountability policies and procedures. 8) Availability of appropriate facilities and equipment to support the described worker health and safety training and education activities including hands on instruction, classroom delivery, and distance learning capabilities. o Operation of training facilities must assure the protection of prospective trainees during program delivery. o Appropriate policies and procedures for assuring fitness for training and medical clearance, assuring the provision of first aid and emergency medical services and the implementation of high quality site safety and health plans must be included. 9) Evidence of methods proposed for evaluating appropriateness, quality, impact and effectiveness of worker health and safety training. o This should include student feedback mechanisms, trainer involvement in evaluation, a protocol for tracking trainees, a method to quantify training outcomes and results, and a review of course critiques and Board of Advisors evaluations and other appropriate evaluations and quality assurance procedures. 10) Evaluation of the feasibility of plans for independently continuing the program. o Plans for generation of program income, if applicable, or plans to leverage other relevant resources. o Plans for institutionalization of the program. o Other applicable procedures for assuring the long-term viability of the program. 11) Evaluation of plans for reaching underserved worker populations especially those disadvantaged in education, culture, or language or limited in literacy and access to training. o Evidence of mechanisms to assure the inclusion of institutions and organizations which have historical involvement and expertise in responding to environmental justice issues. o A community outreach and involvement component which can augment the delivery of high quality training in order to promote toxic use reduction, emergency preparedness in the community, and community awareness of chemical process safety and pollution prevention. 12) Assessing the reasonableness of the requested operating budget in relation to proposed program activities for worker health and safety training. 13) Adequacy of prior awardee"s progress in competitive renewals. o Demonstration of meeting established terms and conditions of prior awards. o Demonstration of attainment of program goals and objectives of prior awards. o Demonstration of adequate procedures to assure the timely disbursement of awarded funds. 14) Evidence of inclusion of worker training initiatives and innovations. o The plan must integrate an appropriate mix of new program initiatives as listed in solicitation that meets the needs of each applicant"s target populations. Schedule Letter of Intent Receipt Date: September 10, 1999 Briefing for Applicants September 17, 1999 Application Receipt Date: November 19, 1999 Secondary review by NAEHSC: May 16, 2000 Initiation of New Awards: September 1, 2000 AWARD CRITERIA Because the funding level of this program may vary from that appropriated, actual award levels for approved and funded applications will be based on program balance, coverage of target populations and the availability of funds, in addition to the technical merit considerations of the review process. INQUIRIES NIEHS welcomes the opportunity to clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants concerning this RFA. Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to: Joseph Hughes, Director Worker Education & Training Program National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 79 TW Alexander Drive, MD EC-25 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233 Telephone: (919)-541-0217 Fax: (919) 541-0462 Email: hughes3@niehs.nih.gov Sharon Beard, Industrial Hygienist Worker Education & Training Program National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 79 TW Alexander Drive, MD EC-25 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233 Telephone: (919)-541-1863 Fax: (919) 541-0462 Email: beard1@niehs.nih.gov Direct inquiries regarding fiscal matters to: Dorothy Duke Grants Management Branch National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, MD EC-01 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2233 Telephone: (919) 541-2749 Fax: (919) 541-2860 Email: duke3@niehs.nih.gov 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 grant 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. 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.

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