[Federal Register: July 29, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 45330-45334]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy04-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Full Access Home-Based VCT Using Outreach Teams in Two Districts
in the Republic of Uganda
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: 04228.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: August 30, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and
307 of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. sections 241(a) 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 Full Access Home-Based Voluntary
Counseling and Testing (VCT) using Outreach Teams in Two Districts in
the Republic of Uganda.
The overall aim of this program is to implement a model of rapid
home-based VCT, which provides access for the entire population of a
district to VCT within their community of residence. The service would
include referral of those testing positive to sources of basic
preventative care and palliative care.
[[Page 45331]]
The provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not part of this
program.
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.
VCT services are only available at a five percent of health
facilities (Uganda Health Facilities Survey 2002). The most recent
Demographic and Health Survey in Uganda indicated that 70 percent of
people would like to receive HIV testing, but only 10 percent reported
that they had been tested. Evidence from studies in several districts
suggests that when offered VCT in their homes between 50 and 90 percent
utilize the service. If cost effective procedures of offering access to
VCT to the whole population over a relatively short period could be
developed, then this would provide an important strategy for averting
infections and providing timely care to people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHAs).
The purpose of this program is to provide HIV counseling and
testing services to all adults and potentially all children less than
five years of age residing in two districts. This program will operate
over a period of 12 months in order to evaluate the experience and
produce guidelines for cost effective expansion of the program to other
districts in Uganda. It is expected that this first phase of the
program, including preparation and evaluation, would last 18 months.
The program would include referrals to local care providers offering
basic preventative care, palliative care, and, if available
antiretroviral treatment, to persons with HIV/AIDS in the target
districts, but without taking on long term responsibility for financial
support of care provision.
The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
goals of the Global AIDS Program (GAP) to reduce HIV transmission and
improve care of persons living with HIV. They also will 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 seven million HIV-infected and affected
persons including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and prevent ten million
new infections. Specific measurable outcomes of this program should
include, but not be limited to, the number, age and sex of clients
(individual and couples) provided with HIV counseling and testing (HIV
CT), the percentage coverage of the population by HIV CT, unrecognized
infections discovered, the cost per client service and per unrecognized
infection, and the number of persons with HIV successfully referred to
an effective care provider.
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 project and
implementing partners, and acquire from normal sources.
c. Establish suitable administrative and financial management
structures including a project office if required.
d. Work with the districts to implement home-based HIV counseling
and testing in such a manner that the coverage of the district's
population is progressive, predictable and comprehensive, reaching all
communities before 12 months have elapsed from the start of VCT
delivered under this program.
e. Work with district stakeholders to develop an effective referral
system to care providers for those testing positive.
f. Ensure that all persons testing positive receive information
about a basic preventive care package and referral to an effective care
provider.
g. Support the development of a simple data collection system,
integrated within the general Health Management Information System
(HMIS) that reflects useful information specifically related to VCT
activities and PEPFAR reporting requirements. For program evaluation
purposes, some information related to demographic and behavioral risk
factors for HIV should be collected.
h. Ensure that a commodities supply and management system is
operational in respect to test kits and other necessary items.
i. Develop a simple quality assurance system for HIV counseling and
testing in a home-based setting.
j. Evaluate the activity and disseminate conclusions.
k. Develop and produce guidelines and training manuals in
collaboration with Ministry of Health and other stakeholders relating
to full access HIV CT.
l. Ensure that the above activities are undertaken in a manner
consistent with the national HIV/AIDS strategy.
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
a. Provide technical assistance, as needed, in the development of
training curricula, materials, and diagnostic therapeutic guidelines.
b. Collaborate with the recipient, as needed, in the development of
an information technology system for medical record keeping and
information access and in the analysis of data derived from those
records.
c. Assist, as needed, in the monitoring and evaluation of the
program and in development of further appropriate initiatives.
d. Assist, as needed, in appropriate analysis and interpretation of
program evaluation data collected during training sessions.
e. Provide input, as needed, into the criteria for selection of
staff and non-staff implementing personnel for the VCT program.
f. Provide input into the overall program strategy.
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: Cooperative Agreement.
CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section
above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
[[Page 45332]]
Approximate Total Funding: $2,580,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
Approximate Average Award: $645,000 per award (This amount is for
the first 12-month budget period, and includes only direct costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,290,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Two 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 criterion:
1. Have at least three years of documented HIV counseling and
testing program experience 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 501c(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive
Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants''
at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/final_fy04_424_survey.doc.
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 in an
interactive format 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: 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 must include, at a minimum, the following
items in the order listed: a plan, objectives, activities, methods, an
evaluation framework, a budget highlighting any supplies mentioned in
the Program Requirements and any proposed capital expenditure.
Additional information is optional and may be included in the
application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the
narrative page limit. Additional information could include but is not
limited to: organizational charts, curriculum vitas, letters of
support, etc.
The budget justification will not be counted in the page limit
stated above.
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 30, 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.
[[Page 45333]]
IV.4 Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Funding Restrictions
Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Funds may not be used for any new construction.
Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of antiretrovirals,
reagents, and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment
projects require pre-approval from the HHS/CDC Officials.
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 if deemed necessary to
accomplish program objectives; however, prior approval by CDC officials
must be requested in writing.
All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the
issuance of supplemental awards.
The costs that are generally allowable in grants to
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and
international organizations, with the following exception: With the
exception of the American University, Beirut, and the World Health
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial
limits of the United States or to international organizations
regardless of their location.
The applicant may contract with other organizations under
this program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion
of the activities, including program management and operations, and
delivery of prevention and care services for which funds are required).
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.
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, (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.''
Funds may be used for:
1. HIV counseling and testing within the program district(s)
including required training, test kit purchase, simple laboratory
refurbishment, vehicles and logistical support to testing teams,
additional staffing and other related commodities and expenses.
2. Evaluation and management of the activities.
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 your application by mail or
express delivery service to: Technical Information Management-PA 04228,
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA
[[Page 45334]]
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 the issues, principles and systems requirements
involved in delivering community and home-based VCT which provides
access to the whole population of a district in the context of Uganda
(25 points): Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the
ethical, clinical, social, managerial and other practical issues
involved in delivering comprehensive VCT in a cost effective and
sensitive manner in the setting of a Ugandan district?
2. Ability to carry out the proposal (25 points): Does the
applicant demonstrate the capability to achieve the purpose of this
proposal?
3. Work Plan (25 points): Does the applicant describe activities,
which are realistic, achievable, time-framed and appropriate to
complete this program?
4. Personnel (15 points): Are the personnel, including
qualifications, training, availability, and experience adequate to
carry out the proposed activities?
5. Administrative and Accounting Plan (10 points): Is there a plan
to prepare reports, monitoring 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?
7. Human Subjects (not scored, but evaluated): Does the application
adequately address the requirements of Title 45 CFR Part 46 for the
protection of human subjects?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness by National Center
for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). Incomplete applications and
applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will
not advance through the review process. Applicants will be notified
that their application did not meet submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above.
V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
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
their 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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
Additional information on these requirements can be found on the
CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements:
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the
following reports:
1. Semi-annual progress reports, no less than 30 days after the end
of the reporting 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 and 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.
These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this
announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Jonathan Mermin, MD,
MPH, Global AIDS Program [GAP], Uganda Country Team, National Center
for HIV, STD, 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:
Zbx6@cdc.gov.
Dated: July 23, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-17280 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P