[Federal Register: July 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 134)]
[Notices]
[Page 42183-42190]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jy04-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Evaluation of Innovative Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Prevention Interventions for High-Risk Minority Populations
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04249.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: August 13, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: This program is authorized under Section 317(k) of
the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)], as
amended.
Purpose: The purpose of this program is to support evaluations by
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) of existing innovative HIV
behavioral interventions that have been developed and are being
implemented to serve
[[Page 42184]]
minority populations at high risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV
infection. The innovative interventions must have demonstrated some
evidence of promising results in reducing HIV risk behaviors, but must
not have undergone a previous rigorous outcome evaluation. The intent
of this announcement is to support the evaluation of existing
interventions and provide feedback to implementing CBOs for improved
program effectiveness, not to conduct research.
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of
HIV. Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center
for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP): Strengthen the capacity
nationwide to monitor the epidemic; develop and implement effective HIV
prevention interventions and evaluate prevention programs; and to also
decrease the number of persons at high risk for acquiring or
transmitting HIV infection.
Activities: Throughout this program announcement, CBOs will be
asked to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing innovative HIV
behavioral intervention to reduce HIV-related risk behaviors (e.g. sex
or drug behaviors) and/or reduce incident cases of HIV or STDs.
For the purpose of this program announcement, an innovative HIV
behavioral intervention is an intervention to reduce HIV risk
behavior(s) that uses an approach or method that is different from
interventions used by other organizations that serve the target
populations addressed by this announcement. The intervention must also
have been developed from the ``ground up,'' that is, in close
collaboration with the community or communities served by the CBO. The
innovative approach or method can include an expansion or modification
of existing behavioral theories that results in novel intervention
strategies or activities and addresses behavior change at either the
social, structural, or individual levels.
An intervention that has a published outcome evaluation, or that
has demonstrated statistically significant positive intervention
effects on HIV-related behavioral or biologic outcomes using a rigorous
outcome evaluation, and therefore meets the criteria for inclusion in
the Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of
Effectiveness (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium/HIVcompendium.htm
), WOULD NOT fulfill the goals of this announcement.
In addition, an intervention that either replicates or makes limited
changes to an intervention already in the Compendium WOULD NOT fulfill
the goals of this announcement.
An existing innovative HIV behavioral intervention is an
intervention that has well-defined and documented procedures and
protocols that is currently being delivered to high-risk, minority
individuals.
The CBO must provide evidence from its program operations
suggesting that the intervention has the potential for reducing HIV
risk behaviors. This evidence can be based on outcome data (e.g.,
behavioral, psychosocial, or biologic) or process data that can be
directly attributed to the intervention.
Furthermore, the innovative HIV behavioral intervention MUST NOT
have undergone a rigorous outcome evaluation. A rigorous outcome
evaluation is one that measures the short- or long-term effects of the
intervention as delivered to one group in comparison to a group that
has not received the intervention.
Any minority population at risk for HIV can be studied as part of
this announcement. Proposals that seek to evaluate interventions
designed for minority HIV seropositive people or interventions designed
for minority populations not well-represented among those listed in the
Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of
Effectiveness (examples include but are not limited to men who have sex
with men, migrants, commercial sex workers, and transgendered) are
especially welcome.
If CDC funds your CBO, you will be responsible for the following
activities:
1. Secure adequate funding for implementation of the existing
innovative intervention from sources other than this program
announcement during the two-year evaluation period.
2. Provide CDC personnel with your existing intervention protocol,
including all manuals, procedures, and other relevant materials.
3. In collaboration with CDC, establish a plan to evaluate your
innovative intervention. The evaluation plan must include one pre-
intervention baseline assessment, at least one follow-up assessment
delivered at a minimum of 6 months after completion of the
intervention, and the inclusion of a comparison group.
4. Develop measures and related data collection instruments to
evaluate the effects of the innovative intervention. New instruments
need to be field-tested.
5. Develop procedures to ensure confidentiality and informed
consent, when appropriate, and obtain any other approvals as needed.
6. Recruit participants for the intervention and comparison groups.
7. Conduct individual baseline and follow-up assessment(s)
according to the evaluation design.
8. Monitor intervention activities for quality assurance such that
the intervention delivery is consistent with the established protocol.
9. Establish data management systems, analyze and interpret the
data.
10. Prepare a final report for CDC, including submission of a
cleaned data set.
11. Develop and implement a plan for using the evaluation results
to improve implementation of the existing intervention by the CBO.
12. Develop and implement a plan to disseminate the findings and
outcomes of the evaluation, including recommendations for the
implementation of the successful innovative HIV behavioral
intervention, presentations at state-wide and national health
professional meetings, and reports of findings and recommendations.
13. If the innovative HIV behavioral intervention is found not to
be successful, conduct a thorough examination of process evaluation
data to explain the lack of success; that is, to identify potential
problems or barriers in achieving HIV risk reduction.
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff will be substantially
involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant
monitoring. CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Provide oversight to the cooperative agreement recipients in
developing evaluation and data collection materials.
2. Provide assistance and consultation to assist the recipient in
planning and implementing the evaluation, including technical guidance
in the development of the evaluation design, data collection
instruments, selection of comparison groups, outcome measures, data
collection protocols, and pretesting of methods and instruments.
3. Ensure that the results of successful innovative HIV behavioral
interventions and lessons learned from the evaluation are shared among
grantees through meetings, workshops, conferences, newsletters, and
other avenues of communication (e.g., internet).
4. Ensure that the results of the evaluation are used to improve
the existing intervention by the CBO.
5. Monitor successes and difficulties in the implementation and
evaluation of the innovative intervention.
6. Monitor the protection of client privacy and compliance with
other local, state and Federal requirements.
[[Page 42185]]
7. Monitor the award recipients' quality assurance activities and
progress toward achieving target levels of performance for each core
activity.
8. Collaborate and provide guidance in data analysis and
dissemination of findings.
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: The estimated total cost is $2,000,000
with approximately $1,000,000 awarded during the first fiscal year.
Approximate Number of Awards: 3 to 4.
Approximate Average Award: $300,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $400,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: 2 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 only be submitted by eligible CBOs, including
faith-based CBOs, that provide HIV prevention services to members of
racial/ethnic minority communities at high risk for HIV infection.
To be eligible, your CBO must meet all of the criteria listed
below. Your CBO must:
A. Have tax-exempt status.
B. Be located in the area(s) where services will be provided or
have provided services in the area for at least three years.
C. Not be a government or municipal agency, private or public
university or college, or private hospital.
D. Not be a 501(c)(4) organization.
E. Your CBO must provide proof of very significant experience in
delivering HIV prevention services to the targeted racial/ethnic
minority populations during each of the last three years, and that the
CBO has provided HIV prevention services to at least 200 clients in
your proposed high-risk population during each of the last three years.
F. Your CBO must provide reasonable proof of adequate funding for
the intervention during the next two years of this evaluation. If the
funding is from the Federal Government, then the reasonable proof can
be a copy of the latest Notice of Grant Award. Reasonable proof from
other funding sources can include a letter from the funding agency
indicating that funding will be available for the two years during
which the intervention will be evaluated. If your agency funds the
intervention, then reasonable proof can be a letter from the Board of
Directors stating that the agency has the financial resources to fund
the intervention and intends to fund the intervention for the next two
years.
Note: All information submitted with your application is subject
to verification during pre-decisional site visits.
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 Application Submission
Executive Summary: Applications must include a one-page, double-
spaced executive summary as a cover page.
Maximum number of pages: 1
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
Written in plain language, avoid jargon
Application: You must submit a project narrative with your
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
Maximum number of pages: 25 (not including budget
justification and appendices). If your narrative exceeds the page
limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be
reviewed.
Double spaced
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Page margin size: One inch
Printed only on one side of page
Written in plain language, avoid jargon
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
stapled or bound in any other way
MS WORD format
Cover Page--the program announcement number and title
Table of contents--with the major sections and page
numbering including each attachment
Consecutive page numbering throughout the document,
including the attachments beginning with the first page of text, number
all pages clearly and sequentially, including each page in the
appendices.
This section of the program announcement defines program
requirements. You must describe your plans to address each requirement.
Please answer each item with complete sentences, provide all requested
documents, and include Appendices as needed. If you fail to provide the
required documents, your application will not be considered for review.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
A. Eligibility
This section will not count toward the page limit of your
application, but it will determine if you are eligible for funding.
Place all documents requested in this section in an Appendix and
label
[[Page 42186]]
``Appendix A: Proof of Eligibility''. For the following questions,
proof of location, history, and service must include at least one copy
of a progress report describing services to the population served, a
letter from your funding organizations, process monitoring data,
service utilization data (which includes client characteristics).
1. Tax-exempt status organizations are eligible. To demonstrate
your eligibility, attach a copy of the letter from the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) showing that your CBO is a valid IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
non-profit organization, or attach a copy of your state proof of
incorporation as a non-profit organization.
2. Government, municipal agency, university/college, or private
hospitals are not eligible. To demonstrate your eligibility, provide a
statement that your CBO is not a governmental or municipal agency, a
government-affiliated organization or agency (e.g., health department,
school board, public hospital), or a private or public university or
college.
3. IRS 501(c)(4) organizations are not eligible. To demonstrate
your eligibility, provide a statement that your CBO is not included in
the category described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 that engages in lobbying activities.
4. Location in area or provision of services in area is required.
To demonstrate your eligibility, describe your location relative to the
served area and describe the duration and type of services provided.
Or, describe how your CBO has provided services in the proposed service
area for at least three years.
5. CBOs serving ethnic minority populations are eligible. Provide
proof that your CBO has very significant experience in delivering HIV
prevention services to the targeted racial/ethnic minority populations
during each of the last three years.
6. CBOs serving at least 200 minority clients per year are
eligible. Provide proof that your CBO has provided HIV prevention
services in each of the last three years to at least 200 clients in the
proposed high-risk minority population.
7. Adequate funding for existing innovative intervention is
required. Provide reasonable proof that your CBO has adequate funding
to support the intervention for the two-year duration of this
evaluation. If the funding is from the Federal Government, then
reasonable proof can be a copy of your latest Notice of Grant Award.
Reasonable proof from other funding sources can include a letter from
the funding agency indicating that funding will be available for the
two years during which the intervention will be evaluated. If your
agency funds the intervention, then reasonable proof can be a letter
from the Board of Directors stating that the agency has the financial
resources to fund the intervention and intends to fund the intervention
for the next two years.
B. Specific Aims
Describe the objectives of the proposed program.
C. Justification and Significance of the Innovative Intervention
1. Describe the components of the innovative intervention. Explain
why this HIV behavioral intervention is innovative, and provide an
explicit and detailed description of all intervention activities.
Emphasize novel intervention strategies or approaches, including the
uniqueness and relevance of the approach to HIV risk reduction.
2. Describe how the innovative HIV behavioral intervention was
developed from the ``ground up;'' that is, in collaboration with the
community or communities that are served by the intervention. Describe
the rationale for developing the intervention, which could include a
community-based needs assessment or theoretical basis. Specify the
involvement of the target population in planning and implementing the
intervention.
3. Provide evidence that the innovative intervention has worked in
the past. This evidence can include data from pre- and post-
intervention monitoring of outcomes such as behavioral, psychosocial,
or biologic data, or process data that can be directly attributable to
the innovative intervention.
4. Explain why you think your CBO's innovative intervention works.
This explanation can refer to (a) how specific activities, processes or
steps led to the observed results, and/or (b) how the intervention was
based or expanded upon current behavior change theories.
D. Justification of HIV Prevention Needs of Minority Target Population
Note: Contact your health department to obtain HIV/AIDS
statistics and HIV needs assessment data developed for the community
planning process. This information will help you answer the
questions in this section.
1. Describe the ethnic/racial minority target population being
served by the innovative intervention. Applicants must include a table
in their application as Appendix B that describes the target
population. The table must include the following six categories, and
provide the numbers (n) and percentages (%) for each subgroup you have
served over the past year:
(1) Total sample population;
(2) Transmission risk including MSM, IDU, MSM/IDU, Heterosexual,
Other risk group(s);
(3) Gender including Men, Women, Transgender (total), Transgender
(male to female), Transgender (female to male);
(4) Age group including < 20, 20 to 29, 30 to 49, 50+;
(5) HIV sero-status including HIV positive, HIV negative, HIV
unknown;
(6) Race/Ethnicity including American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/
Pacific Islander, Black not Hispanic, White not Hispanic, Hispanic, and
Unknown or multiple race.
Proposals that seek to evaluate interventions designed for minority
HIV seropositive people or interventions designed for minority
populations not well-represented among interventions listed in the
Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of
Effectiveness (examples include but are not limited to men who have sex
with men, migrants, commercial sex workers, and transgendered) are
especially welcome.
2. Describe how the proposed minority target population reflects
HIV community planning priorities. Describe how the local, regional or
state HIV prevention community plan, especially the epidemiologic
profile and behavioral data, were used in the selection of the target
population.
3. Provide proof that your CBO has very significant experience in
delivering HIV prevention services to the targeted racial/ethnic
minority population. Include a history of your CBO's service to the
population: Explain how long you have provided services to the
population, the kinds of services that have been provided, the outcomes
of services provided, and your relationship with the community.
E. Evaluation Plan
Describe the proposed evaluation plan (including the evaluation
question(s), design, methods for recruitment and retention, outcome
measures, data analysis plan, dissemination activities, and timeline)
to demonstrate the soundness and capability of producing intended
results.
1. State the evaluation question(s).
2. Describe the design to be used to evaluate the effects of the
intervention. The evaluation design must meet the following criteria:
a. A design including a minimum of one pre-intervention and one
post-
[[Page 42187]]
intervention assessment is required. The post-intervention assessment
(follow-up) should occur at a minimum of 6 months after completion of
the intervention activities. Proposals that provide for additional
follow-ups beyond 6 months are especially welcome.
b. A design that employs a rigorous evaluation of the effects of
the intervention is required. A rigorous evaluation can be accomplished
by including a comparison group that does not receive the innovative
intervention. Comparison groups can be either concurrent or historical.
Examples of concurrent comparisons include (1) your CBO administering
the innovative intervention to one segment of the minority target
population and not to another during the same period of time, and (2)
comparison of data from your CBO's use of the innovative intervention
to that of another CBO not using the innovative intervention for the
same minority target population. An example of a historical comparison
includes comparing outcome data from your CBO's current use of the
innovative intervention with data collected at multiple times from the
same target population before the implementation of the innovative
intervention.
3. Describe how you will recruit participants. A minimum of 200
people from the target population must complete the pre-intervention
interview and enroll in the intervention evaluation within one year.
That is to say, a minimum of 100 people must be included in the group
that receives the intervention, and a minimum of 100 people must be
included in the group that does not receive the intervention. Provide
proof that your CBO has provided HIV prevention services in each of the
last three years to at least 200 clients in the proposed high-risk
minority population.
4. Describe how your CBO will retain at least 75 percent of the
evaluation cohort for the 6-month follow-up.
5. Specify the HIV risk reduction outcome measures that will be
assessed to determine the intervention's effects. Outcomes shall
include HIV-related risk behaviors (e.g., sex or drug behaviors) and/or
biologic endpoints (e.g., incident cases of STDs or HIV). Also,
describe methods that will be used to collect and monitor outcome data.
6. Provide a plan for data management systems, particularly how
your CBO will maintain data quality control, and perform statistical
analyses of the outcome data.
7. Describe how your CBO intends to use the results of this
evaluation to improve program capacity and enhance delivery of
prevention services in the future. In other words, describe in detail
how your CBO will use the findings from this evaluation to improve
specific HIV program service components offered by your CBO.
8. Describe how you will disseminate the findings and outcomes of
evaluation, including recommendations for the implementation of the
successful innovative HIV behavioral intervention, through
presentations at state-wide and national health professional meetings,
and reports of findings and recommendations.
9. Provide a detailed 2-year timeline for the proposed evaluation.
10. Describe, if applicable, how you plan to address
confidentiality and any other ethical issues related to the
implementation of the evaluation.
F. Capacity
1. Describe how your CBO has the technical and programmatic
capacity and proven track record to implement and evaluate the
intervention in the community. In Appendix C, provide the curriculum
vitae or resumes of all key CBO personnel and organizational charts of
your CBO.
2. Provide evidence that your CBO has been successful in retaining
intervention participants in the past, and can recruit and enroll at
least 200 people for the evaluation within one year.
3. If your CBO requires assistance with the design and
implementation of the evaluation and the maintenance of quality control
during the course of the evaluation, provide a statement of
partnerships with locally-based evaluation specialists, evaluation
organizations, universities, or health departments. Also provide, if
applicable, in Appendix D the curriculum vitae of key personnel of
partner organizations and Letters of Support regarding the willingness
of partners to collaborate with the CBO and CDC.
4. Provide a plan for CBO and, if applicable, partner staffing and
training, as needed, to ensure that the intervention can be properly
implemented and evaluated. Provide the qualifications of proposed staff
needed to conduct activities, and the percentage of time each staff
member will be assigned to the project. If CBO staff will be used to
perform the outcome evaluation, then specify how the roles of
intervention staff and evaluation staff will be kept distinct and
separate to ensure objectivity.
G. Budget
Provide a detailed, line-item budget for year one of the project
and a justification for each line-item. This section will not count
toward the page limit of your application.
H. Additional Information
Additional information may be included in the application
Appendices. The Appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit, and must include the following additional information:
Appendix A: Proof of Eligibility
Appendix B: Attachment 1 table with target population
characteristics
Appendix C: Curriculum vitae or resumes of key CBO staff
and organizational charts
Appendix D: Letters of Support and curriculum vitae from
partner organizations, if applicable Letters of Support (LOS): If the
CBO chooses to partner with another organization or institution that
will play a role in conducting intervention activities, then
applications must include Letters of Support (LOS) in Appendix D. Each
LOS should include a description of the past relationship with the
applicant and the role(s) the local partner will play in conducting
intervention activities (e.g., accessing the target population,
implementing the selected intervention, staff involved). Your LOS must
be written in the following format:
Maximum number of pages: 1
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
Written in plain language, avoid jargon
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
[[Page 42188]]
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: August 13, 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 carrier's 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
Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Funds may be used to hire contractors or support partners
to assist with the evaluation. CDC encourages you to develop
partnerships with other prevention providers, locally-based
researchers, research groups, universities or health departments to
evaluate your innovative intervention. However, your CBO, not the
contract organization(s) or the partner(s), must conduct the largest
portion of the evaluation activities funded by this award.
Eighty percent (80%) of the funds awarded under
subcontracts must be applied directly to the evaluation activities.
Funds cannot be used to provide medical or substance abuse
treatment.
If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement in an Appendix. If
your indirect cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement should be
less than 12 months of age.
Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
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 04249, 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:
Evaluation Plan Requirements (Application Section E) (35 Points)
1. Rate the evaluation question(s) based on their soundness and
relevance to HIV behavioral prevention. (3 points)
2. Does the evaluation design include at a minimum one pre-
intervention and one post-intervention assessment? Does the post-
intervention assessment (i.e., the follow-up) occur at least 6 months
after completion of the intervention activities? Does the proposed
evaluation design include a concurrent or historical comparison group?
(7 points)
3. Has the applicant proposed an adequate plan to recruit and
enroll at least 200 participants within one year of the project? Did
the applicant provide adequate proof that their CBO has provided HIV
prevention services in each of the last three years to at least 200
clients in the proposed high-risk minority population? (5 points)
4. Has the applicant proposed an adequate plan to retain at least
75 percent of the evaluation cohort for the 6-month follow-up? (5
points)
5. Rate the relevance of the proposed outcome measures that will be
used to determine the intervention's effects with respect to HIV risk
reduction. Outcomes should assess HIV-related risk behaviors (e.g., sex
or drug behaviors) and/or biologic endpoints (e.g., incident cases of
STDs or HIV). Rate the methods described to monitor and collect outcome
data. (5 points)
6. Are plans for data management systems, data quality control, and
statistical analysis of outcome data sufficient and appropriate for
assessing the effects of the intervention on HIV risk reduction? (2.5
points)
7. Has the applicant described how the results of this evaluation
will be used to improve program capacity and to enhance the delivery of
prevention services? In other words, does the applicant describe how
the CBO will feed the information gathered from this evaluation back
into the program? (2.5 points)
8. Has the CBO provided an adequate plan for the dissemination of
results and recommendations from the evaluation? (2.5 points)
9. Is the proposed timeline detailed and is it sufficient to
achieve project goals within 2 years? (2.5 points)
10. Has the CBO provided an adequate plan, if applicable, for
addressing confidentiality and any other ethical issues related to the
implementation of the evaluation? (not scored)
Justification and Significance of the Innovative Intervention
(Application Section C) (30 Points)
1. Does the applicant provide a thorough description of the
components of the intervention and explain why the intervention is
innovative (that is, based on a different intervention approach or
method)? Rate the innovativeness of the HIV behavioral intervention.
The rating should be based on a description of the novel intervention
strategies or approaches, including the uniqueness and relevance to HIV
risk reduction. (10 points)
2. Does the applicant provide sufficient evidence that the
intervention
[[Page 42189]]
was developed from the ``ground up;'' that is, in collaboration with
the community or communities that are served by the intervention? The
description could include the relevance of a community-based needs
assessment or theoretical basis, and should specify the involvement of
the target population in intervention planning and implementation. (5
points)
3. Does the applicant provide sufficient evidence suggesting that
the innovative HIV behavioral intervention has worked in the past? Do
they provide data from pre- and post-intervention monitoring of
outcomes such as behavioral, psychosocial, biologic, or process outcome
data supporting positive HIV risk reduction that can be directly
attributed to the intervention? (10 points)
4. Does the applicant explain why they think the innovative
intervention works? Do they refer to specific activities, processes or
steps that led to their observed results, or do they base their
explanation on current behavioral change theories (which could include
a logic model)? (5 points)
Capacity (Application Section F) (20 Points)
1. Does the applicant have sufficient technical and programmatic
capacity and a proven track record to implement and evaluate the
intervention in the community? (5 points)
2. Does the applicant have the capacity to recruit and enroll at
least 200 people within one year of the evaluation? Have they provided
evidence of prior success in retaining intervention participants? (5
points)
3. If partnerships with locally-based evaluation specialists,
evaluation organizations, universities, or health departments are cited
in the application, do the partners demonstrate sufficient expertise to
help achieve the project goals? (5 points)
4. Are the staffing and training plans for the CBO and partner
organization (if applicable) adequate to properly implement and
evaluate the intervention? If CBO staff will be used to perform the
outcome evaluation activities, have they demonstrated that the roles of
intervention staff and evaluation staff will be kept distinct and
separate to ensure objectivity? (5 points)
Justification of HIV Prevention Needs of Minority Target Population
(Application Section D) (10 Points)
1. Does the applicant reasonably justify the HIV prevention needs
of the targeted minority population? To help answer this question,
review the information provided in Appendix B (Target Population
Characteristics) to determine whether the applicant has sufficiently
described the racial and ethnic composition of the targeted population
and the behaviors or circumstances that place the targeted population
at high risk for HIV infection or for transmitting the HIV virus.
Proposals that seek to evaluate interventions designed for minority HIV
seropositive people or interventions designed for minority populations
not well-represented among interventions listed in the Compendium of
HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness (examples
include but are not limited to men who have sex with men, migrants,
commercial sex workers, and transgendered) should be given high
priority. (4 points)
2. How well does the target population reflect HIV community
planning priorities? (3 points)
3. Rate the strength of proof provided by the applicant that it has
very significant experience in proving HIV prevention services to the
targeted racial/ethnic minority population. This proof should include a
history of the CBO's service to the population that includes an
explanation of how long the CBO has provided services to the
population, the kinds of services provided, the outcomes of services
provided, and the CBO's relationship with the community (3 points)
Specific Aims (Application Section B) (5 Points)
Are the specific aims of the proposed evaluation adequately
described and consistent with the objectives of this cooperative
agreement?
Eligibility (Application Section A) (Not Scored)
This section of your application will be reviewed to determine if
you are eligible for funding. All supporting documents were placed in
Appendix A: Proof of Eligibility.
Budget (Application Section G) (Not Scored)
The budget will be reviewed to determine the extent to which it is
reasonable, clearly justified, itemized, consistent with the intended
use of funds, and allowable.
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness and eligibility
(Appendix A: Proof of Eligibility) by 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 all complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above.
V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
September 1, 2004.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
If your CBO is funded, you 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-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
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:
1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of
the budget period. The progress report will
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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 and annual progress 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, PA 04249, CDC Procurement and Grants
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Tomas Rodriguez, CDC,
NCHSTP, Mailstop E-37, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, ph:
(404) 639-5240, fax: (404) 639-1950, email: trr0@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Betty Vannoy, Contract Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office,
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2897, E-
mail: bbv9@cdc.gov.
Dated: July 7, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-15916 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P