[Federal Register: August 6, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 47932-47936]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au04-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Delivery of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV
(PMTCT) Products in River State, Nigeria
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04260.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
DATES: Application Deadline: September 7, 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 242l
and 247b(k)(2)] as amended and under Public Law 108-25 (United
States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of
2003) [22 U.S.C. 7601].
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to improve the quality of
life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and their families.
Nigeria has a population of 120 million and a current HIV sero-
prevalence rate of 5.8 percent, thus making it the country with the
largest number of HIV infected persons in Sub Saharan Africa (3.4
million HIV infected persons). As part of its response to the epidemic,
the Government of Nigeria, in 2001, requested that the national
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) task force team and
the newly convened Antiretroviral (ARV) committee develop guidelines
and protocols for implementing pilot PMTCT programs and ARV treatment
and care programs respectively. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
funds for a cooperative agreement program to increase United States
support to countries in which the CDC's Global AIDS Program (GAP) is
operating. In coordination with host (or ``in-country'') GAP program
staff, the applicant will assist in addressing the devastating impact
of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families, and communities in Nigeria. The
funded organization will provide technical assistance (TA) to
implement, monitor, and evaluate the delivery of PMTCT products in
River State, Nigeria, to reduce HIV transmission from mother to child
and to prolong the lives of parents infected with HIV/AIDS.
The GAP has established field operations to support national HIV/
AIDS control programs in 25 countries. The CDC's GAP exists to help
prevent HIV infection, improve care and support, and build capacity to
address the global AIDS pandemic. GAP provides financial and TA through
partnerships with governments, community- and faith-based
organizations, the private sector, and national and international
entities working in the 25 resource-constrained countries. CDC/GAP
works with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the Departments of State, Labor
and Defense, and other agencies and organizations. These efforts
complement multilateral efforts, including The Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund to Combat HIV, TB and
Malaria, World Bank funding, and other private sector donation
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 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, 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. Nigeria 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 Nigeria focuses on several areas of national
priority including scaling up of prevention and care strategies for HIV
prevention, care, and treatment.
The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
goals of the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) to
reduce HIV transmission and improve care of PLWHAs. They also will
contribute to the goals of the PEPFAR which are: (1) Within five years
treat more than two million HIV-infected persons with effective
combination anti-retroviral therapy (ART); (2) care for ten million
HIV-infected and affected persons including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS;
and (3) prevent seven million infections in 14 countries throughout the
world.
Activities: The project sites for this cooperative agreement are:
1. College of Health Technology Clinic (PMTCT Implementation
Center) and three affiliated satellite centers:
Civil Servants Hospital, Port Harcourt.
Comprehensive Health Center, Rumuigbo.
General Hospital, Okrika.
2. General Hospital Buguma (PMTCT Implementation Center) and three
affiliate satellite centers:
General Hospital, Degema.
General Hospital, Abonnema.
General Hospital, Emohua.
[[Page 47933]]
Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
Provide PMTCT Training of Trainers (TOTS) to at least 30
individuals, including health care workers, at the following locations:
[cir] PMTCT Implementation Centers (2): 10 trainees
[cir] Other Hospitals: 12 trainees
[cir] Contractor's Staff: 5 trainees
[cir] Non-Governmental Organizations/Community Based Organizations/
Reproductive Health Services Outlets (NGO/CBO/RHSO) Faith-based
organizations: 3 trainees
[cir] Total TOT Trainees: 30 trainees
The beneficiaries of the Training of Trainers will provide
training to other health care workers, from their respective
institutions:
[cir] PMTCT Implementation Centers (2) x 10: 20
[cir] Contractor's Staff Capacity Building Training Workshop (training
of NGOs/CBOs/RHSOs): 30
[cir] Total Health Care Workers Trained: 50
Increase awareness of HIV/AIDS and PMTCT through posters,
radio jingles, counseling services and other media. The grantee is
expected to make 30,000 persons aware of HIV/AIDS and PMTCT.
Provide PMTCT counseling services (both group and one-on-
one counseling services) to 20,000 pregnant women within 12 months from
all participating PMTCT health centers and satellites under this
initiative in Rivers State.
Provide PMTCT counseling and Management of HIV/AIDS to
1,000 pregnant women who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS within 12
months from all participating PMTCT health centers and satellites under
this initiative in Rivers State.
Provide Voluntary HIV testing to 50 percent or 10,000 of
counseled PMTCT pregnant women within the 12-month period. The
distribution should be 6,000 tested in Port Harcourt and 4,000 tested
in Buguma.
Provide PMTCT services to 1,000 pregnant women testing
positive for HIV/AIDS.
Provide ARV treatment and management of 100 pregnant HIV
infected women with symptoms/diagnosis of AIDS.
Provide Nevirapine treatment (200 mg) to 1,000 pregnant
HIV infected women at the onset of labor and continue treatment for the
duration of ten months.
Provide Nevirapine treatment (syrup 2 mg/kg) to 1,000
infants within 24-72 hours of birth.
Provide Breast Milk Supplement (BMS) to 100 HIV infected
mothers opting not to breast feed their babies within the first six
months of delivery.
Test 1,000 infants for HIV at age 15 months.
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:
Collaborate with the award recipient, the Nigerian
Ministry of Health (MOH) and other in-country and international
partners in the development of plans for program assistance based on
the country needs, the CDC TA portfolio, and HIV prevention activities
conducted by other partners.
Provide consultation, scientific and technical assistance
based on the ``CDC GAP Technical Strategies'' document to promote the
use of best practices known at the time.
Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for the
purpose of ensuring coordination of country-based program TA
activities. CDC will act as liaison and assist in coordinating
activities as required between the applicant and other NGOs, government
of Nigeria agencies, and other CDC, GAP partners.
TA 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: FY 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $200,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $200,000. (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: $200,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Three 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 and private nonprofit
organizations and by governments and their agencies, such as:
Private nonprofit organizations.
Community-based organizations.
Faith-based organizations.
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. Applicants must:
1. Have experience in community HIV/AIDS programs in the Niger
Delta Region of Nigeria.
2. Have at least three years experience working in the Niger Delta
Region of Nigeria relative to development assistance.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that
an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address To Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161. Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm
.
If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to
you.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Application: You must submit a project narrative with your
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
[[Page 47934]]
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.
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.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
bound in any other way.
Must be submitted in English.
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Plan.
Objectives.
Activities.
Methods of Monitoring the Project.
Methods of Project Evaluation.
Summary budget by line item along with a budget
justification.
The budget justification will not be counted in the page limit
stated above.
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information includes:
Organizational Chart.
Curriculum Vitae/Resumes of Current Staff.
Proposed staffing pattern (include qualifications)
required to carry out program activities.
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: September 7, 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 spent for reasonable program purposes,
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be
purchased 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 services for which funds are required).
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 standards(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.
Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of ARVs, reagents, and
laboratory equipment for ARV treatment projects require pre-approval
from the GAP headquarters.
Needle Exchange--No funds appropriated under this Act
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles
or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
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
[[Page 47935]]
endorse, utilize, or participate in a prevention method or treatment
program to which the recipient has a religious or moral objection. Any
information provided by recipients about the use of condoms as part of
projects or activities that are funded in connection with this document
shall be medically accurate and shall include the public health
benefits and failure rates of such use.
In addition, any foreign recipient must have a policy explicitly
opposing, in its activities outside the United States, prostitution and
sex trafficking, except that this requirement shall not apply to the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health
Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or to any
United Nations agency, if such entity is a recipient of U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document.
The following definitions apply for purposes of this clause:
Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring,
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
A foreign recipient includes an entity that is not
organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Restoration of
the Mexico City Policy, 66 FR 17303, 17303 (March 28, 2001).
All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the subagreement, acknowledge that each certification
to compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related
Activities,'' are a prerequisite to receipt of U.S. Government funds in
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the
agreement prior to the end of its term. In addition, all recipients
must ensure, through contract, certification, audit, and/or any other
necessary means, all the applicable requirements in this section,
``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' are met by any other entities
receiving U.S. Government funds from the recipient in connection with
this document, including without limitation, the recipients' sub-
grantees, sub-contractors, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates.
Recipients must agree that HHS may, at any reasonable time, inspect the
documents and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the
usual course of its operations that relate to the organization's
compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
All primary grantees receiving U.S. Government funds in connection
with this document must certify compliance prior to actual receipt of
such funds in a written statement referencing this document (e.g.,
``[Recipient's name] certifies compliance with the section,
`Prostitution and Related Activities.' '') addressed to the agency's
grants officer. Such certifications are prerequisites to the payment of
any U.S. Government funds in connection with this document.
Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution
and Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving
U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount
furnished in connection with this document in the event it is
determined by HHS that the recipient has not complied with this
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. 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 04260, CDC Procurement
and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
You are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of
the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the
performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Ability to Carry Out the Project (25 Points)
Does the applicant document demonstrated capability to achieve the
purpose of the project?
2. Understanding of the Problem (20 Points)
Does the applicant demonstrate a clear and concise understanding of
the nature of the problem described in the Purpose section of this
announcement? Does the proposal specifically include a description of
the public health importance of the planned activities to be undertaken
and realistic presentation of proposed objectives and projects?
3. Technical Approach (20 Points)
Does the applicant's proposal include an overall design strategy,
including measurable time lines? Does the proposal address regular
monitoring and evaluation, and the potential effectiveness of the
proposed activities in meeting objectives?
4. Personnel (20 Points)
Are the professional personnel involved in this project qualified,
including evidence of experience in working with PMTCT, voluntary
counseling and testing (VCT), and HIV/AIDS?
5. Plans for Administration and Management of Projects (15 Points)
Are there adequate plans for administering the project?
6. Budget (Not Scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with
justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and
planned program activities?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by NCHSTP/GAP.
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.
[[Page 47936]]
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
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-6 Patient Care.
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
AR-14 Accounting System 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 in English:
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 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, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone: 770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Wayne Duncan, Country
Director, CDC Global AIDS Program--Nigeria, Metro Plaza, Zakariya
Maimalari Street, Plot 992, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria,
telephone: 234-09-670-0798. e-mail: wcd2@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Diane Flournoy, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, telephone: 770-
488-2072. e-mail: dmf6@cdc.gov.
VIII. Other Information
None.
Alan A. Kotch,
Acting Deputy Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-18099 Filed 8-4-04; 10:33 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P