[Federal Register: July 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 138)]
[Notices]
[Page 43421-43425]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jy04-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Expansion of Psychosocial Support and Peer Counseling Services to
HIV-Infected Women and Their Families in Botswana
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04256.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.041
Dates:
Application Deadline: August 20, 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. Sections 2421
and 247b(k)(S)], as amended.
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to provide funding to
technical and organizational capacity building support for the
expansion of psychosocial support services and development of peer
counseling programs for HIV-infected women and their families. The
awardee will provide funding for technical and organizational capacity
building support to no more than five civil society organizations (non-
governmental, community-based and faith-based organizations) working in
HIV prevention, care and support in Botswana. This can be done either
directly by the awardee or by an umbrella agency designated to manage
and monitor the funding to the civil society organizations.
The Botswana National Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
(PMTCT) program, which is supported technically and financially under
the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the PMTCT
initiative, provides limited counseling services to women and their
families during antenatal and postnatal care, and relies on non-
governmental and faith-based organizations for on-going counseling for
HIV-infected clients. This program addresses the urgent need to
increase the role of civil society in HIV prevention, care and support
in Botswana.
Botswana's HIV prevalence is the world's highest. National HIV
surveillance prevalence for 2003, among women in antenatal clinics, is
estimated to be 37.4 percent. There are approximately 40,000 infants
born each year in Botswana, 14,960 of them to HIV-positive women.
Without intervention, roughly 6,000 of these infants will be HIV-
infected (approximately 40 percent transmission). Through the use of
antiretroviral (ARV) drug prophylaxis and infant formula, instead of
breastfeeding, this number could be reduced to approximately 750-1500
(5-10 percent transmission rate).
In 1999, Botswana started a PMTCT program to provide AZT
prophylaxis to mother and infant, and free infant formula. The program
has been available in all public health facilities since November 2001.
An evaluation conducted in 1999, to review the progress of the first
phase of the program, identified counseling as a major area of weakness
in the program. Since then, several steps have been taken to improve
access to and quality of counseling, including placement of dedicated
PMTCT counselors in all health facilities. These counselors, however,
have limited training (four weeks) and are unable to provide the on-
going, supportive counseling that is required to meet the needs of HIV-
infected women. Additionally, counselors only have contact with women
during their pregnancy. Where services exist, counselors are encouraged
to refer women to non-governmental and faith-based organizations for
on-going support. Unfortunately, Botswana has a weak, underdeveloped
civil society, and psychosocial services for HIV-infected people are
limited to very few cities, towns and large villages. In January 2004,
Botswana began implementation of routine HIV testing in all health
facilities. With this new approach, women will be tested for HIV during
antenatal care along with other routine blood tests, unless they
refuse. It is hoped that this will normalize HIV testing, reduce stigma
and increase utilization of the PMTCT, ARV and other programs. With
routine HIV testing, it is expected that the number of people knowing
their positive HIV status will increase tremendously and the need for
psychosocial support services will intensify accordingly.
The PMTCT program currently does not have a personal face in
Botswana. Only one woman, to date, has gone public with her status
after going through the PMTCT program. Support groups for pregnant,
infected women, though encouraged, do not yet exist. In a recent
survey, 85 percent of women expressed interest in talking to other HIV-
infected women and there is general agreement that there is a great
need for support groups and peer counseling 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 President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Through this new initiative, CDC's Global AIDS Program (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,
[[Page 43422]]
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.
Botswana 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 Botswana focuses on several areas of national
priority including scaling up of promising prevention and care
strategies for HIV prevention, care, and treatment.
The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
the following performance goals for the National Center for HIV, STD
and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), GAP: To reduce HIV transmission and improve
care of persons living with HIV. They will also contribute to the goals
of the PEPFAR which are: Within five years, treat more than two million
HIV-infected persons with effective combination anti-retroviral
therapy; care for 10 million HIV-infected persons and those orphaned by
HIV/AIDS; and prevent seven million infections in 14 countries
throughout the world.
Activities:
Awardee activities for this program are as follows: The awardee
will serve as or designate an umbrella organization which will be
responsible for awarding and managing grants and providing technical
assistance and organizational capacity development to no more than five
civil society organizations in Botswana.
Activities to be carried out by selected civil society
organizations under this task order are as follows:
1. Expand psychosocial support services for HIV-positive women and
their families.
Establish counseling and psychosocial care services in
three underserved (currently without non-governmental, community-based
or faith-based support services for people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHAs)) areas to include counseling and support groups for HIV +
women from the PMTCT program and their families. This funding does not
provide for construction, erection or renovation of buildings.
2. Establish a peer counseling program for antenatal women.
Develop and implement a peer counseling program in which
HIV-positive women who have received PMTCT services provide education,
counseling and support for pregnant women in government clinics in
conjunction with existing counseling structures. This program may
involve multiple local providers (up to three) and may only begin in
limited sections of the country in the first year.
3. Establish a peer counseling program at ARV sites.
Train and support PLWHAs, including HIV+ women from the
PMTCT program, as ARV counselors at 15 implementing ARV sites.
The awardee will provide funding, technical assistance, and
organizational capacity building support to the selected civil society
organizations directly or through an umbrella organization as follows:
Funding
The awardee or umbrella organization will award grants of up to
five local civil society organizations to carry out the above
activities. The awardee will oversee the financial management of funds
awarded and submit reports to Botswana/USA Project (BOTUSA/CDC) as
required.
Technical Assistance
The awardee will provide technical expertise and guidance to the
selected umbrella organization and/or civil society organizations in
support of the tasks outlined above. The awardee will provide relevant
staff with training to meet the needs of the project.
Organizational Capacity Building
The awardee or umbrella organization will provide on-going support
to the selected civil society organizations in general management and
administration, financial management, supervision, monitoring and
evaluation and other areas identified. All organizational capacity
building support should be coordinated with other organizations working
in this area, e.g. Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organizations
(BOCONGO), Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS), and African
Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP).
The awardee and/or umbrella organization will provide relevant
staff with training to meet the needs of the project.
The awardee will coordinate activities and receive necessary
approvals from BOTUSA, with input from the Ministry of Health and a
sub-committee of the PMTCT Technical Advisory Committee, specifically
tasked with providing input to the awardee (hereafter known as the
Reference Group). The Reference Group will be selected by the PMTCT
Technical Advisory Committee. The Reference Group is responsible for
providing overall guidance and technical support to the awardee. The
Reference Group will also participate in the selection of the civil
society organizations.
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:
1. Collaborate in designing and implementing the activities listed
above including but not limited to the provision of technical
assistance to develop and implement program activities, quality
assurance, data management and presentation of program methods and
findings.
2. Collaborate with all relevant partners (awardee, umbrella
organization and civil society organizations) in the development of
program activities.
3. Monitor project and budget performance.
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: $3,000,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: one.
Approximate Average Award: $600,000. (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: $600,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: Twelve 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 non-profit voluntary
organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations,
with experience working with HIV/AIDS in Botswana.
Eligible applications will have the following qualifications:
At least two years experience or longer in the development
and
[[Page 43423]]
implementation of psychosocial services for PLWHAs, including
supportive counseling, peer counseling and support groups.
Program staff should have expertise in psychology, social
work, management, monitoring and evaluation, supervision and training,
organizational capacity development.
PLWHAs should be included on the team.
Experience working in Africa.
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.
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
sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the sub-agreement, 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.''
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 submit a project narrative with your
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
Maximum number of pages: 15. 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.
[[Page 43424]]
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Goals and Objectives.
Activities and timeline.
Staffing Plan with Level of Effort.
Methods of Evaluation.
Summary Budget by line item along with a budget
justification (this will not be counted against the stated page limit).
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information includes:
Curriculum Vitae or Resumes for Proposed Staff.
Organizational Charts.
Letters of Support.
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: August 19, 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:
Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of antiretrovirals,
reagents, and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment
projects requires 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 organization 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 and care services for which funds are requested.
You must obtain an annual audit of these CDC funds
(program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international
branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s)
approved in writing by CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required,
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S.
Federal funds.
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
04256, 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:
Technical Approach and Methodology (40 points)
Provide a detailed description of the proposed methodology for
development and implementation of the activities as
[[Page 43425]]
outlined above. Include a 12-month timeline and budget.
Personnel and Management Plan (35 points)
Provide a description and history of the organization, including
personnel. Include their experience, education, skills and
qualifications. If sub-contractors are proposed, provide information to
support their qualifications and experience as well.
Document recent successful experience in managing similar or
related work that is comparable, especially work performed in Botswana
that demonstrates capacity for achieving the above objective.
Understanding of the Problem and Statement of Work (25 points)
Provide a detailed and comprehensive statement of the problem,
scope and purpose of the project to demonstrate complete understanding
of the intent and requirements of the agreement and potential problems,
which may be encountered.
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness 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 complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above.
V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Date
September 1, 2004.
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-1--Human Subjects Requirements
AR-6--Patient Care
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions
AR-15--Proof of Non-Profit Status
AR-21--Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
AR-22--Research Integrity
AR-23--States and Faith-Based Organizations
AR-25--Release and Sharing of Data
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 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.
Additionally, the awardee shall submit quarterly progress reports
to BOTUSA/MOH covering both technical and financial aspects of the task
order. Following receipt of the report, a meeting shall be held between
the contractor and BOTUSA (MOH will be in attendance) to discuss
progress.
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: Thierry Roels, Project
Officer, c/o American Embassy, Plot 5348 Dithakore Way, Extension 12,
Gaborone, Botswana, telephone: 011 267 390 1696, e-mail: tbr6@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Shirley Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone: 770/488-
1515, e-mail: Zbx6@cdc.gov.
Dated: July 14, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-16412 Filed 7-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P