[Federal Register: June 24, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 121)]
[Notices]
[Page 35373-35377]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn04-80]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Strengthening HIV Counselor Training in the Republic of Uganda;
Notice of Availability of Funds
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: Program Announcement 04224.
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 301 and 307 of
the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. Section 241 and 242l, and
section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22 U.S.C. 215lb], as
amended.
Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for Strengthening HIV Counselor Training in the Republic of
Uganda. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus
area(s) HIV.
The overall aim of this program is to: (1) Improve the capacity of
HIV counselor training providers in Uganda to meet expanding need for
counselors; (2) to develop new messages adapted to complex HIV issues
and strategies; and (3) to ensure the quality of training.
The United States Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS
in specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas.
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) encompasses
HIV/AIDS activities in more than 75 countries and focuses on 14
countries, including Uganda, to develop comprehensive and integrated
prevention, care and treatment programs. CDC has initiated its Global
AIDS Program (GAP) to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the
areas of: (1) HIV primary prevention; (2) HIV care, support and
treatment; and (3) capacity and infrastructure development including
surveillance. Targeted countries represent those with the most severe
epidemics and the highest number of new infections. They also represent
countries where the potential impact is greatest and where the United
States government agencies are already active. Uganda is one of those
countries.
CDC's mission in Uganda is to work with Ugandan and international
partners to develop, evaluate, and support effective implementation of
interventions to prevent HIV and related illnesses and improve care and
support of persons with HIV/AIDS.
HIV counselor training in Uganda started about 15 years ago.
Counselor training has grown, but it has grown haphazardly with many
providers but little coordination of curriculum or quality control.
Counseling skills are not yet a routine element of pre-service training
for medical professionals. New curriculum development is needed to
cover rapidly evolving issues such as antiretroviral therapy (ART),
prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), home based
counseling and testing, basic preventative care, routine counseling and
testing (RCT) in clinical settings, and prevention with positives (PWP)
counseling. In addition, the curriculum will include approaches that
counselors can use to implement the ABC approach (that promotes
abstinence until marriage, being faithful after HIV testing, and proper
use of condoms.) Curriculum content, skills levels, and training
duration need to be graded in accordance with the level and intensity
of counseling to be provided by the trainee in the context of their
work. Certification of qualifications within a common framework and
accreditation of training providers are all key steps required to
improve quality. Major NGO training providers need institutional
development support in increasing their training output capacity to
meet the demands of growing programs under the HIV/AIDS National
Strategy. Without rapid impact in the area of counselor training, the
lack of quality counseling as well as the limited number of counselors
could become a major constraint in delivering increases in voluntary
counseling and testing (VCT), RCT, PMTCT, basic care and ART.
The purpose of this program is to ensure that Uganda is able to
meet its expanding need for quality HIV/AIDS counseling at different
levels. The program will work with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and
other stakeholders to review training needs, curricula, supply and
demand, and delivery strategies. Training strategies and revised and
new curricula will be developed to address gaps. Competencies will be
determined for different levels of counseling and modular curricula
will be developed for different target groups. Capacity building in the
form of skills and organizational development will be provided to key
training organizations to implement the new curricula and strategies
and increase their trainee output. Support will be provided to the
[[Page 35374]]
formation and development of an appropriate coordinating mechanism such
as a professional body for counselors to work closely with the MOH and
other stakeholders on issues such as quality assurance of training,
curriculum coordination, certification, and standards and professional
ethics.
The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
goals of the Global AIDS Program to reduce HIV transmission and improve
care of persons living with HIV (PLWH). They also will contribute to
the PEPFAR goals for Uganda, which are: (1) Within five years treat
more than two million HIV-infected persons with effective combination
anti-retroviral therapy; (2) care for seven million HIV-infected and
affected persons including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and (3) prevent
10 million new infections. A specific measurable outcome of this
program is expected to be an increase in annual certified HIV counselor
output in Uganda.
Activities
Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
a. Identify project staffing needs; hire and train staff.
b. Identify vehicles, furnishings, fittings, equipment, computers
and other fixed assets procurement needs of the program and acquire
from normal sources.
c. Establish suitable administrative and financial management
structures and a project office if required.
d. Conduct a comprehensive national assessment of HIV counselor
training, looking at: curricula; demand; supply; and the size and
nature of priority target groups for training and other related issues.
Develop, with stakeholders, a strategy to address gaps.
e. Determine competencies for different levels of counseling.
f. Develop and field test modular curricula, including visual aides
and job aides, for different target groups, ensure inclusion of new
issues such as ARV, PMTCT, Home-based VCT, PWP, etc. and pre-test
curricula.
g. Support HIV counselor training organizations to implement the
new curricula and build the capacity of their training units to supply
the demand for quality counselors.
h. Coordinate with stakeholders to implement an increase in HIV
counselor training capacity in a manner which is responsive to demand
and addresses critical gaps.
i. Work with stakeholders to incorporate counseling skills in pre-
service training for relevant professions.
j. Support the establishment and development of an umbrella
professional body for counselors.
k. Work with stakeholders and the professional counseling body to
establish systems for counselor training, quality assurance,
accreditation and certification.
l. Work with stakeholders and the professional counseling body to
develop standards, quality assurance, and a system of professional
ethics for counseling.
m. Provide technical assistance to strengthen the network of HIV/
AIDS training organizations through the professional counseling body.
n. Provide high level technical training advisor who will work
closely with MOH and key PEPFAR partners, including The AIDS Support
Organization (TASO), the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) Mildmay, the
Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), AIDS/HIV Integrated Model
District Program (AIM), and others.
o. Establish appropriate counselor training scholarship mechanisms
and provide scholarships to meet critical gaps for counselors
generally, and especially for PEPFAR partners.
p. Support the collection and analysis of data as relevant for
development of a management information system (MIS) for HIV counselor
training and to ensure collection of PEPFAR indicator data.
q. Ensure that the above activities are undertaken in a manner
consistent with the national HIV/AIDS strategy. All activities should
be coordinated with the MOH.
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:
a. Provide technical assistance, as needed, in the development of
standards for HIV counseling and counselor training and for quality
assurance systems.
b. Collaborate with the recipient, as needed, in the development of
an information technology system for tracking key counselor training
activities and in the analysis of data derived from those records.
c. Assist, as needed, in evaluation of the program and in
development of further appropriate initiatives.
d. Provide input, as needed, into the criteria for selection of
staff and non-staff implementing the program and into the target
criteria and structure of counselor training scholarship programs.
e. Provide input into the overall program strategy.
f. Review and approve of all final draft curricula before
dissemination.
g. Collaborate, as needed, with the recipient in the selection of
key personnel to be involved in the activities to be performed under
this agreement including approval of the overall manager of the
program.
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: New Cooperative Agreement. CDC involvement in this
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $3,275,000 (This amount is for the
entire five year project period).
Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
Approximate Average Award: $655,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, only direct costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $655,000.
Anticipated Award Date: July 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: 5 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 nonprofit organizations,
private nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, research
institutions, hospitals, and faith-based organizations that meet the
following criteria:
1. Have at least three years of documented HIV/AIDS counselor
training experience.
2. Have at least three years of documented experience in training
needs assessment and training strategy development related to health
training programs in Africa.
3. Have at least three years experience in the development or
management of a professional association for counselors.
4. Have experience producing high quality HIV/AIDS training
curricula that are technically accurate and that follow solid adult
training principles.
5. The organization must be based in Uganda.
[[Page 35375]]
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
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:
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.
Submitted in English.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and should consist of, as a minimum, a plan,
objectives, activities, methods, an evaluation framework, a budget and
budget justification highlighting any supplies mentioned in the Program
Requirements and any proposed capital expenditure.
The budget justification will 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 vitae, 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
``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 submission
address and deadline. 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 Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Funds may be used for:
1. Studies, needs assessment, curriculum development, training
materials development, institutional development including equipment
purchase, and establishment of a professional body for counseling.
2. Evaluation and management of the activities.
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 and renovations completed, however, prior written
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,
[[Page 35376]]
however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion of the
activities, including program management and operations, and delivery
of prevention and care services for which funds are required.
An annual audit of these funds is required 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. The audit should
specify the use of funds and the appropriateness and reasonableness of
expenditures.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required
with the potential awardee, pre or post award, in order to review their
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
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 Section-PA 04224, 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. Understanding of the Issues, Principles and Systems Requirements
Involved in Improving HIV Counselor Training and in Developing a
Professional Counseling Body in the Context of Uganda (25 Points)
Does the applicant demonstrates an understanding of the technical,
managerial and other practical issues involved in the national
assessment of HIV counselor training needs, in improving the quality of
HIV counselor training and increasing the training providers' capacity
to deliver quality training to priority target groups as well as the
development of a professional counseling body and accreditation,
certification and quality assurance systems for training and for
counseling throughout Uganda?
[[Page 35377]]
2. Work Plan (20 Points)
Does the applicant describe activities which are realistic,
achievable, time-framed and appropriate to complete this program?
3. Ability to carry out the proposal (20 Points)
Does the applicant demonstrate the capability to achieve the
purpose of this proposal?
4. Personnel (20 Points)
Are the personnel (including their qualifications, training,
availability, and experience) adequate to carry out the proposed
activities?
5. Administrative and Accounting Plan (15 Points)
Is there a plan to account for, prepare reports, monitor and audit
expenditures under this agreement, manage the resources of the program,
and produce, collect and analyze performance data?
6. Budget (Not Scored)
Is the budget for conducting the activity itemized and well-
justified, and consistent with stated activities 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 the 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.
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
the application 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
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
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
.
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Semi-annual progress reports not more than 30 days after the end
of the budget period.
2. 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.
f. Measures of effectiveness.
3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period.
4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to the Grants Management or Contract Specialist
identified 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: Jonathan Mermin, MD,
MPH, Global Aids Program [GAP], Uganda Country Team, National Center
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention [CDC], PO Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda. Telephone: +256-41320776
E-mail: jhm@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Shirley Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-1515, E-mail address:
zbx6@cdc.gov.
Dated: June 18, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-14313 Filed 6-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P