[Federal Register: June 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32566-32570]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn04-101]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Scale-Up of Home Based Care Activities for People Living With
HIV/AIDS in the United Republic of Tanzania
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: 04208.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
Key Dates: Application Deadline: July 26, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 307 and
317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 242l and
247b(k)(2)], and Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961,
22 U.S.C. 215lb.
Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a
cooperative agreement program in the United Republic of Tanzania to
provide high quality and appropriate home based care (HBC) to
individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. This will be accomplished
by cooperation between CDC, the Tanzania Ministry of Health National
AIDS Control Program (MOH-NACP) and the funded organization.
The purpose of this project is to support the public health
infrastructure in Tanzania to strengthen the capacity of MOH and
partner institutions to coordinate, plan, monitor and evaluate an
integrated TB/HIV program. This will be accomplished by cooperation and
collaboration in implementing activities between CDC, the Tanzania
(MOH-NACP) and the funded organization. These collaborative activities
will improve national capacity to ensure the availability of a
continuum of care for the chronically ill HIV/AIDS patients in
Tanzania. These services will be used as entry points for
antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs.
The Global AIDS Program (GAP) has established field operations to
support national HIV/AIDS control programs in 25 countries. The CDC's
GAP exists to help prevent HIV infection, improve care and support, and
build capacity to address the global AIDS pandemic. GAP provides
financial and technical assistance through partnerships with
governments, community-based and faith-based organizations, the private
sector, and national and international entities working in the 25
resource-constrained countries. CDC/GAP works with the Health Resources
and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace
Corps, the Departments of State, Labor and Defense, and other agencies
and organizations. These efforts complement multilateral efforts,
including UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Combat HIV, TB and Malaria, World
Bank funding, and other private sector donation programs.
The U.S. Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in
specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas
through the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Through this new initiative, CDC's GAP will continue to work with host
countries to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the areas of:
(1) Primary HIV prevention; (2) HIV care, support, and treatment; and
(3) capacity and infrastructure development, especially for
surveillance and training. Targeted countries represent those with the
most severe epidemics where the potential for impact is greatest and
where U.S. government agencies are already active. The United Republic
of Tanzania is one of these targeted countries.
To carry out its activities in these countries, CDC is working in a
collaborative manner with national governments and other agencies to
develop programs of assistance to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CDC's
program of assistance to Tanzania focuses on several areas of national
priority including scaling up of prevention and care strategies for HIV
prevention, care, and treatment.
The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
goals of the GAP to reduce HIV transmission and improve care of persons
living with HIV. They also will contribute to the goals of PEPFAR,
which are: (1) Within five years, treat more than two million HIV-
infected persons with effective
[[Page 32567]]
combination anti-retroviral therapy; (2) care for ten million HIV-
infected and affected persons including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and
(3) prevent seven million infections in 14 countries throughout the
world.
Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
Obtain the necessary staff, equipment, and supplies to
enhance HBC services in Tanzania.
Recruit and train staff in counseling, testing and HBC
services according to national guidelines.
Collaborate with the MOH-NACP to review and update HBC
guidelines to include palliative care and other intervention for care
and treatment of chronically ill HIV/AIDS patients.
Plan, develop, conduct, and evaluate HBC training programs
for home care providers and community based providers in collaboration
with CDC and the MOH-NACP.
Conduct a mapping exercise to identify the extent to which
HBC is being implemented in Tanzania.
Participate in district HIV Prevention Task Force and
support communities to form/establish educational and support groups
including AIDS committees.
Procure, distribute and replenish drugs and supplies in
the HBC kits.
Develop and disseminate Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) materials and messages for HBC and community
mobilization events.
Conduct Train-the-Trainer sessions on management of HIV
including use of antiretrovirals in HBC settings.
Develop a peer support mechanism for care providers.
Provide VCT services and referrals for testing of low-
income earners.
Collaborate with private health providers to develop and
introduce a model of low cost wards, in private health facilities, for
low-income people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Provide treatment and prophylaxis for opportunistic
infections, under continuum of care and support, to communities in
target districts.
Provide nutritional support and HBC services to TB/AIDS
patients.
Awardee should ensure that all of the above activities integrate
into the national HIV/AIDS strategy.
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
CDC activities for this program are as follows:
Collaborate with the awardee, the Tanzania Ministry of
Health and other in-country and international partners in the
development of plans for program assistance based on the country needs,
the CDC technical assistance portfolio, and HIV laboratory activities
conducted by other partners.
Provide consultation, scientific and technical assistance,
based on the ``CDC GAP Technical Strategies'' document, to promote the
use of best practices known at the time.
Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for the
purpose of ensuring coordination of country-based program technical
assistance activities. CDC will act as liaison and assist in
coordinating activities as required between the applicant and other
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government of Tanzania
organizations, and other CDC, GAP partners.
Technical assistance and training may be provided directly by CDC
staff, or through organizations that have successfully competed for
funding, under a separate CDC contract.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. CDC involvement in this
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $6,000,000 (This amount is for the
entire five-year project period.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $1,200,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes only direct costs.)
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Five years.
Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of
satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best
interest of the Federal Government.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by public and private NGOs based in
Tanzania.
Applicants must:
2. Have extensive experience in design, implementation, and
evaluation of community-based activities for HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.
2. Have an established infrastructure and the ability to mobilize a
network of volunteers and organizations to ensure local ownership of
activities and long-term sustainability.
3. Have an established agreement or memorandum of understanding
with the Tanzania MOH for collaboration in HIV/AIDS and/or health
related intervention programs.
4. Have at least three years previous experience working on various
community based initiatives in Tanzania, including experience working
with public and private sector partners.
5. Have regional branches in all regions of Tanzania.
6. Have the ability to utilize support from international
affiliations.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive, and
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that
your application did not meet the submission requirements.
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet
submission requirements.
Note:
Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that an
organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive
Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address To Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161. Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web
site, 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 accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to
you.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Application: You must include a project narrative with your
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
[[Page 32568]]
Maximum number of pages: 25. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, only the first pages, which are within the page limit, will
be reviewed.
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Double spaced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Page margin size: One inch
Printed only on one side of page
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
bound in any other way.
All pages should be numbered, and a complete index to the
application and any appendices must be included.
Applications must be submitted in English.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Background
Documented needs
Eligibility and Capacity
Proposed Program Plan
Goals & Objectives
Methods
Plan of Operation
Collaboration
Timeline
Performance Measures
Staffing Breakdown
Summary budget by line item with justification (budget and
justification not be counted in the page limit stated above.)
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the United
States government Web site at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
Additional information is optional and may be included in the
application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the
narrative page limit. Additional information could include but is not
limited to: Organizational charts, curriculum vitas, letters of
support, etc.
You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities.
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
For more information, see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm
.
If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover
letter.
Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: July 26, 2004.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date
and time. If CDC receives your application 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, you will be given the opportunity to
submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having
been received by the deadline.
This announcement is the definitive guide on application format,
content, and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in the
application instructions. If your application does not meet the
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be
discarded. You will be notified that your application did not meet the
submission requirements.
CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff
at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after
the application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be
processed and logged.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Application
Executive Order 12732 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of antiretrovirals,
reagents, and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment
projects require pre-approval from the GAP headquarters.
Needle Exchange--No funds appropriated under this Act
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles
or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes,
including personnel, training, 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 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.
Prostitution and Related Activities The U.S. Government is
opposed to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently
harmful and dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of
trafficking in persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
[[Page 32569]]
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides. A
recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in connection
with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS shall not be
required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to combating
HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a prevention method
or treatment program to which the recipient has a religious or moral
objection. Any information provided by recipients about the use of
condoms as part of projects or activities that are funded in connection
with this document shall be medically accurate and shall include the
public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
In addition, any foreign recipient must have a policy explicitly
opposing, in its activities outside the United States, prostitution and
sex trafficking, except that this requirement shall not apply to the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health
Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or to any
United Nations agency, if such entity is a recipient of U.S. government
funds in connection with this document.
The following definitions apply for purposes of this clause:
Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring,
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
A foreign recipient includes an entity that is not
organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Restoration of
the Mexico City Policy, 66 FR 17303, 17303 (March 28, 2001).
All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the subagreement, acknowledge that each certification
to compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related
Activities,'' are a prerequisite to receipt of U.S. government funds in
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the
agreement prior to the end of its term. In addition, all recipients
must ensure, through contract, certification, audit, and/or any other
necessary means, all the applicable requirements in this section,
``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' are met by any other entities
receiving U.S. government funds from the recipient in connection with
this document, including without limitation, the recipients' sub-
grantees, sub-contractors, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates.
Recipients must agree that HHS may, at any reasonable time, inspect the
documents and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the
usual course of its operations that relate to the organization's
compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
All primary grantees receiving U.S. Government funds in connection
with this document must certify compliance prior to actual receipt of
such funds in a written statement referencing this document (e.g.,
``[Recipient's name] certifies compliance with the section,
``Prostitution and Related Activities.'''') addressed to the agency's
grants officer. Such certifications are prerequisites to the payment of
any U.S. Government funds in connection with this document.
Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving
U.S. government funds in connection with this document, and any
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount
furnished in connection with this document in the event it is
determined by HHS that the recipient has not complied with this
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
Application Submission Address: Submit the original and two hard
copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to:
Technical Information Management-PA 04208, CDC Procurement
and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
You 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.
Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Technical Approach (25 Points)
Does the applicant's proposal include an overall design strategy,
including measurable time lines? Does the proposal address regular
monitoring and evaluation, and the potential effectiveness of the
proposed activities in meeting objectives?
2. Understanding of the Problem (20 Points)
Does the applicant demonstrate a clear and concise understanding of
the nature of the problem described in the Purpose section of this
announcement? Does the proposal specifically include a description of
the public health importance of the planned activities to be undertaken
and realistic presentation of proposed objectives and projects?
3. Ability To Carry Out the Project (20 Points)
Does the applicant document demonstrated capability to achieve the
purpose of the project?
4. Personnel (20 Points)
Are the professional personnel involved in this project qualified,
including evidence of experience in working with HIV/AIDS,
opportunistic infections, and HIV/STD surveillance?
5. Plans for Administration and Management of Projects (15 Points)
Are there adequate plans for administering the project?
6. Budget (Not Scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with
justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and
planned program activities?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by National
Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). Incomplete applications
and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria
will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be
notified that their application did not meet submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``Criteria''
section above.
[[Page 32570]]
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA)
from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NGA shall be the only
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NGA
will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer, and mailed
to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of
their applications review by mail.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
The following additional requirements apply to this project:
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
Additional information on these requirements can be found on the
CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the
following reports in English:
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. Budget.
e. Additional Requested Information.
f. Measures of Effectiveness.
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.
These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this
announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Cecil Threat, Project
Officer, Global AIDS Program, c/o American Embassy, 2140 Dar es Salaam
Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140, Telephone: 255 22 212 1407, Fax: 255
22 212 1462, E-mail: Cthreat@cdc.gov.
For budget assistance, contact: Diane Flournoy, Contract
Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2072, E-mail: dmf6@cdc.gov.
Dated: June 4, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13136 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P