[Federal Register: July 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 130)]
[Notices]
[Page 40673-40676]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy03-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 03044]
Enhancement of an Integrated HIV Program for Voluntary Counseling
and Testing, Clinical and Home-Based Care in Malawi; Notice of
Availability of Funds
Application Deadline: August 7, 2003.
A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 307 of the Public Health
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 242l), as amended. The Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance number is 93.941.
B. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announce the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for the enhancement of an integrated HIV voluntary counseling
and testing (VCT), clinical and home-based care program in Malawi.
The purpose of this program is to provide assistance to a Malawi-
based public or private non-profit organization in the provision of an
integrated HIV program that includes VCT, clinical care, and home-based
care in the country of Malawi. This program will also assist in the
development of plans and strategies for replicating a successful
service model to extend these service capabilities to other private and
public sector sites and providers.
The HIV epidemic in Malawi has matured to the point that both
illness and mortality are at very high levels. Malawi has recently
succeeded in garnering initial approval for a large Global Fund award
to address the HIV epidemic. Three critical elements included in the
Global Fund award are: (1) VCT; (2) clinical care and treatment for HIV
and opportunistic infections; and (3) home-based care for HIV-infected
individuals. Thoughtful, integrated, and innovative programs to address
this triad of services are urgently needed to effectively address
implementation of Global Fund activities. Extension of successful
integrated programs through training and replication of successful
models is a critical step in increasing availability and accessibility
to these HIV services for those in need.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for
HIV, STD and TB Prevention: Working with other countries, USAID,
international, and U.S. Government agencies, reduce the number of new
HIV infections among 15 to 24 year olds in sub-Saharan Africa from an
estimated two million by 2005.
C. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit
organizations and by governments and their agencies with a current
capacity for providing three integrated services: (1) VCT; (2)
ambulatory facility-based HIV clinical care and anti-retroviral (ARV)
treatment; and (3) home-based care in the country of Malawi.
Organizations based outside Malawi, including organizations whose
headquarters are based outside Malawi, are not eligible to apply.
D. Funding
Availability of Funds
Approximately $175,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund one award.
It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 15, 2003
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period
of up to three years. Funding estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
Use of Funds
Funds may be utilized only for activities associated with HIV/AIDS.
CDC funds may be used for direct costs such as salaries; necessary
travel; operating costs, including supplies, fuel, utilities, etc.; and
staff training costs, including registration fees and purchase and
rental of training related equipment.
Antiretroviral Drugs
The purchase of antiretroviral drugs, reagents, and laboratory
equipment for antiretroviral treatment projects requires pre-approval
from the Global AIDS Program headquarters.
Needle Exchange
No funds appropriated under this Act shall be used to carry out any
program of distributing sterile needles or
[[Page 40674]]
syringes for the hypodermic use of any illegal drug.
Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, including
personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased
if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives, however, prior
approval by CDC officials must be requested in writing.
All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be stated in
U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate foreign
grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the issuance of
supplemental awards.
The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic
organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and international
organizations, with the following exception: With the exception of the
American University, Beirut, and the World Health Organization,
Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or through sub-award)
to organizations located outside the territorial limits of the United
States or to international organizations regardless of their location.
The applicant may contract with other organizations under this
program; however the applicant must perform a substantial portion of
the activities (including program management and operations, and
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required).
You must obtain an annual audit of these CDC funds (program-
specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international branches
and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance with
International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) approved
in writing by CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, prior to
or post award, in order to review the applicant's business management
and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.
Recipient Financial Participation
Matching funds are not required for this program.
Funding Preferences
Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate, (1) the
capacity to work with in-patient facilities within an established
patient referral relationship, and (2) a well-organized program for
training its own staff, with a capability of extending this training to
other sites by assisting and mentoring these sites to develop and
extend the integrated services model.
E. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed in 1.
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities
listed in 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
a. In collaboration with CDC, the applicant will develop plans for
strengthening existing institutional capacity to enable the expansion
of the organization's services, and the provision of technical
assistance including training to extend services nationwide through
replication of a successful model.
b. The applicant will provide necessary staff and training time for
replicating the integrated HIV services model and extending it to
additional sites.
c. In collaboration with CDC, develop and conduct training programs
for staff and other health care providers for extending the integrated
HIV testing and care model to other sites and providers.
d. Develop and implement a computerized client record system with
the goal of maximizing compatibility with established client record
systems in collaborating facilities, and improve coordination of
patient care.
e. Provide safe water system education and support and
clotrimoxazole prophylaxis to HIV-positive clients in clinical and
home-based care settings, as indicated, to reduce the occurrence of
opportunistic infections.
f. In collaboration with CDC, the applicant will hire or assign
information management staff with the necessary technical skills and
experience to implement and manage the computerization of client record
data.
2. CDC Activities
a. Collaborate with the grantee on designing and implementing the
activities listed above, including, but not limited to the provision of
technical assistance to develop program activities, laboratory
services, data management and analysis, quality assurance, presentation
of program results and findings, and management and tracking of
finances. CDC will accomplish these activities using its own Malawi-
based technical staff or by bringing in consultants from CDC or other
organizations to accomplish the technical assistance activities.
b. Assist in training and capacity building to ensure successful
implementation of program and activities. CDC will assist the recipient
in enhancing its laboratory services and in conducting quality
assurance of its HIV testing according to national standards being set
by the Malawi National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
c. CDC will assist the recipient organization in conducting
assessments of the quality of the services provided and maintaining
high quality services in VCT, clinical care, and home-based care. These
might include laboratory, monitoring and evaluation, counseling, and
site management issues including the maintenance of client
confidentiality.
d. Assist the recipient in developing and implementing improved
computerized client record data collection and improved data management
systems. CDC/GAP/Malawi's information technology specialist and
epidemiologist will assist in identifying an appropriate staff member
for the organization and in providing technical assistance to
computerize and manage clinical and VCT data collected by the
organization. CDC will assist the organization in using the data to
inform program improvements.
e. Assist the successful recipient in hiring a data management
staff person to work with CDC in developing and implementing the system
and to manage it long-term.
E. Content
Applications
The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the
application. Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program
plan. The narrative should be no more than 40 pages, double-spaced,
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point
font.
The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives,
Methods, Evaluation and Budget. The project plan should include
activities to be conducted throughout the three-year project period.
G. Submission and Deadline
Application Forms
Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number
0920-0428). Forms are available at the following Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have
difficulty
[[Page 40675]]
accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC Procurement and
Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIM) at
(770)488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.
Submission Date, Time and Address
The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time August 7,
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management-PA
03044, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
Applications may not be submitted electronically.
CDC Acknowledgement of Application Receipt
A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has
received your application.
Deadline
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are received before 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Any
applicant who sends their application by the United States Postal
Service or commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier
will be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing
date and time. If an application is received after closing due to (1)
carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee
for delivery by the closing date and time, or (2) significant weather
delays or natural disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper
documentation, consider the application as having been received by the
deadline.
Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.
H. Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified
objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must
relate to the performance goals, stated in the purpose section of this
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each
application against the following criteria:
1. Ability to Carry Out the Project (40 points). The extent to
which the applicant understands and describes activities which are
realistic, achievable, time-framed and appropriate to effectively plan,
coordinate, and complete these activities. Applicant must show how and
at what intervals the effectiveness and productivity of this program
activity will be monitored and evaluated. Applicant should include a
description of applicant organizational structure and use it to explain
how the work will be carried out.
2. Technical and Programmatic Approach (20 points). The extent to
which the applicant's proposal demonstrates understanding of the
technical and organizational aspects of conducting all included HIV
testing and care activities and computerization of client record data.
3. Personnel (20 points). The adequacy of personnel, including
training, availability, and experience, in order to carry out the
technical and organizational aspects of all proposed activities.
4. Administrative and Accounting Management Plan (20 points). (a)
The adequacy of the plans to account for, prepare reports, monitor, and
audit expenditures under this agreement; (b) The extent to which the
application demonstrates ability to administer and manage the budget;
(c) The extent to which the budget is itemized and well justified; (d)
Demonstration of plans to engage an outside accounting firm to design
and manage the financial system to meet CDC and the recipient's
accounting requirements.
5. Budget (Not rated, but evaluated). The extent to which the
budget is detailed, clear, justified, provides direct support, and is
consistent with the proposed program activities.
6. Protection of Human Subjects (Not rated, but evaluated). Does
the application adequately address the requirements of Title 45 CFR
part 46 for the protection of human subjects? (Not scored; however, an
application can be disapproved if the research risks are sufficiently
serious and protection against risks is so inadequate as to make the
entire application unacceptable.)
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of
the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing
continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
e. Additional Requested Information.
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period.
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this
announcement.
Additional Requirements:
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the
program announcement, as posted on the CDC Web site.
AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions.
AR-6 Patient Care.
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and
associated forms can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative
Agreements.''
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For business management and budget assistance, contact: Cynthia
Montgomery, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2757
For program technical assistance, contact: Margarett Davis, MD,
MPH, Kang'ombe Building 8 West, Lilongwe, Malawi, Telephone Number:
265-1-775-188, Fax Number: 265-1-775-848, E-mail address:
DavisM@malcdc.co.mw. Mailing Address: c/o U.S. Embassy, PO Box 30016,
Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
[[Page 40676]]
Dated: July 1, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-17173 Filed 7-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P