[Federal Register: June 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32560-32561]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn04-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 04231]
Enhancement of HIV/AIDS Laboratory Training and Quality Assurance
Center in the United Republic of Tanzania; Notice of Intent To Fund
Single Eligibility Award
A. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement
program to facilitate the development of a national HIV Laboratory
Quality Assurance Center and support the strengthening of strategic
information systems to enable the Ministry of Health of the United
Republic of Tanzania to analyze and disseminate data on the various
levels of HIV/AIDS interventions in a timely fashion. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.941.
[[Page 32561]]
B. Eligible Applicant
Assistance will be provided only to the National Institute for
Medical Research, Tanzania. NIMR is mandated by Act No. 29 of 1979,
passed by the Tanzanian Parliament, to undertake public health
interventions and research in Tanzania. NIMR has experience and
capacity to undertake national programs under the MOH. NIMR has
demonstrated its capability in assisting all 120 local authorities in
Tanzania to conduct needs assessment and develop plans to implement
health sector reforms. NIMR is currently implementing the National
Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program. Because of its experience and
expertise, NIMR is currently the only appropriate and qualified
organization to conduct a specific set of activities supportive of the
CDC/GAP goals for enhancing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment
services in Tanzania because: Tanzania does not currently have a
National Public Health Laboratory that would form the apex of and
support to the HIV Laboratory network supporting HIV/AIDS
interventions. Such activities would support the PEPFAR goals of
diagnosing HIV infection, staging HIV/AIDS disease and monitoring
antiretroviral therapy (ART). The MOH has assigned NIMR the
responsibility of supporting the set up of a national HIV Laboratory
Quality Assurance Center. NIMR will collaborate with a number of in-
country partners to implement these activities.
The MOH has various initiatives and continuing interventions in
HIV/AIDS in the country including prevention of mother to child
transmission (PMTCT), Blood safety, voluntary counseling and testing
(VCT) and sexually transmitted infection (STI) management in health
facilities, and HIV and syphilis surveillance in antenatal (ANC)
settings. In order to monitor and evaluate these programs, there is a
need to strengthen information systems at the central level and at the
sites where these services are implemented. The MOH, with support from
CDC, has strengthened and improved the quality of sentinel surveillance
data from ANC, STI and blood donors; behavioral surveillance was
introduced in 2002. Currently, NIMR is supporting the MOH to implement
the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Program supported by
CDC. The MOH has requested NIMR to support the strengthening of
strategic information systems to enable the Ministry to analyze and
disseminate data on the various levels of HIV/AIDS interventions in a
timely fashion to policy makers, health providers and the public at
large and to link HIV/AIDS surveillance system with the integrated
disease surveillance and response strategy.
NIMR has the ability to technically oversee the project, ensuring
the activities implemented are integrated into the national strategy
for combating HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.
C. Funding
Approximately $2,500,000 is available in FY 2004 to fund this
award. It is expected that the award will begin on or before July 1,
2004, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project
period of up to 5 years. Funding estimates may change.
D. Where To Obtain Additional Information
For general comments or 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 technical questions about this program, 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.
Dated: June 4, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13137 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
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