[Federal Register: July 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 145)]
[Notices]
[Page 43872-43879]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy05-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Full-Access Home-Based Confidential Counseling and Testing Using
Outreach Teams in One District in the Republic of Uganda
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: AA009.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
Key Dates: Application Deadline: August 22, 2005.
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. 242l(a) 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].
Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent
seven million infections by 2010, with a focus on 15 priority
countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year strategy
for the Emergency Plan is available at the following Internet address:
http://www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.
Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement
program for Full-Access Home-Based Confidential Counseling and Testing
(HB--CT) by using outreach teams in one district in the Republic of
Uganda.
The purpose of this funding announcement is to progressively build
an indigenous, sustainable response to the national HIV epidemic in
Uganda through the rapid expansion of innovative, culturally
appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care interventions.
Specifically, the winner of this announcement will develop a
replicable model of rapid HB-CT to provide access for the entire
population of a district to confidential HIV counseling and testing
(CT) services within their residences. These services would include
referral of those testing positive to sources of ongoing psycho-social
support and basic preventative and palliative care. The provision of
anti-retroviral therapy(ART) is not part of this program, although
patients who qualify for ART under medical criteria may receive
referrals to treatment sites as they become available.
The United States Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS
in specific countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas by
working with governments and other key partners to assess the needs of
each country and design a customized program of assistance that fits
within the host nation's strategic plan. The President's Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief encompasses HIV/AIDS activities in more than 100
countries, and focuses on 15 countries, including Uganda, to develop
comprehensive and integrated prevention, care and treatment programs.
Under the leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as part
of the
[[Page 43873]]
Emergency Plan, the HHS Global AIDS Program (GAP) strengthens capacity
and expands local activities in the areas of: (1) Culturally
appropriate HIV primary prevention: (2) HIV care, support and
treatment; and (3) capacity and infrastructure development, including
surveillance. Goals and priorities include the following:
Achieving primary prevention of HIV infection through
activities such as expanding confidential counseling and testing
programs, building programs to reduce mother-to-child transmission, and
strengthening programs to reduce transmission via blood transfusion and
medical injections.
Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and related opportunistic infections by
improving STD management; enhancing care and treatment of opportunistic
infections, including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to
provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use
surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding
HIV/STD/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support
for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, disease-monitoring and HIV
screening for blood safety.
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 United States
Government agencies are already active; Uganda is one of those
countries.
The mission of the Emergency Plan 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. In Uganda,
Emergency Plan goals include treating at least 60,000 HIV-infected
individuals; and providing care for 300,000 HIV-affected individuals,
including orphans over the five years of Emergency Plan implementation.
According to the 2002 Uganda Health Facilities Survey, confidential
counseling and testing services are only available at five percent of
public and private health facilities. In addition, the most recent
Demographic and Health Survey in Uganda indicates that 70 percent of
people would like to receive HIV testing, but only ten percent report
they have been tested. Also, evidence from studies in several districts
suggests that when offered confidential CT in their homes, between 50
and 90 percent accept the service. Cost-effective procedures of
offering full-access HB-CT to the whole population over a relatively
short period would provide an important strategy for averting
infections and providing timely care to persons-living-with-HIV/AIDS
(PLWHAs), especially in rural areas.
This announcement seeks to provide confidential HIV-CT services,
and appropriate referrals to care and treatment, to all adults (and
potentially all children) who reside in one district over a period of
24 months, to evaluate the experience, and to develop guidelines for
cost-effective indigenous replication. This first phase of the program,
including preparation and evaluation, will last 18 months. The grantee
may complete follow-up activities and documentation of lessons learned
in the form of guidelines during the last six months of this program.
This program will include referrals to local care providers that offer
basic preventative care, opportunistic disease management, palliative
care, and, if available, ART, to persons with HIV/AIDS in the district,
without taking on the long term responsibility or financial support for
care provision.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
performance goals of the President's Emergency Plan and with one (or
more) of the following performance goal(s) for the CDC National Center
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention(NCHSTP) within HHS: By 2010, work with
other countries, international organizations, the U.S. Department of
State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other
partners to achieve the United Nations General Assembly Special Session
on HIV/AIDS goal of reducing prevalence among young persons 15 to 24
years of age and to reduce HIV transmission and improve care of persons
living with HIV. Specific measurable outcomes of this program include,
but are not be limited to, the number, age and sex of clients
(individual and couples) provided with confidential HIV HB-CT, the
percentage coverage of the population by confidential HIV HB-CT,
unrecognized HIV infections discovered, the cost per client service and
per unrecognized infection, and the number of persons with HIV
successfully referred to an effective care or treatment provider.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If
an applicant proposes research activities, HHS will not review the
application. For the definition of research, please see the HHS/CDC Web
site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm
.
Activities
Based on its competitive advantage and proven field experience, the
winning applicant will undertake a broad range of activities to meet
the numerical Emergency Plan targets outlined above. For each of these
activities, the grantee will give priority to evidence-based, yet
culturally adapted, innovative approaches.
The recipient of these funds is responsible for activities in
multiple program areas designed to target underserved populations in
Uganda. Either the awardee will implement activities directly or will
implement them through its subgrantees and/or subcontractors; the
awardee will retain overall financial and programmatic management under
the oversight of HHS/CDC and the strategic direction of the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The awardee must show a measurable
progressive reinforcement of the capacity of indigenous organizations
and local communities to respond to the national HIV epidemic, as well
as progress towards the sustainability of activities.
Applicants should describe activities in detail as part of a two-
year action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 inclusive)
that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the five-year strategy
for the President's Emergency Plan.
The grantee will produce an annual operational plan in the context
of this two-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team on
the ground in Uganda will review as part of the annual Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The grantee
may work on some of the activities listed below in the first year and
in subsequent years, and then progressively add others from the list to
achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the
previous section. HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator, will approve funds for activities on an annual basis,
based on documented performance toward achieving Emergency Plan goals,
as part of the annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process.
Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
1. Identify project staffing needs; hire and train staff.
[[Page 43874]]
2. Identify the procurement needs of the project and implementing
partners for vehicles, furnishings, fittings, equipment, computers and
other fixed assets procurement, and acquire from normal sources through
competitive processes.
3. Establish suitable administrative and financial management
structures, including a project office, if required.
4. Work within the chosen district to implement confidential HIV
HB-CT in such a manner that the coverage of the district's population
is progressive, predictable and comprehensive by reaching communities
systematically to ensure maximum and efficient coverage for the
district.
5. Work with district public and private sector stakeholders to
develop an effective referral system to care and treatment providers
for those testing positive.
6. Ensure that all persons testing positive receive information
about a basic preventive care package and referral to an effective care
provider, or treatment provider, if available.
7. Support the development of a simple data-collection system,
integrated within the general Ugandan government Health Management
Information System (HMIS) that reflects useful information specifically
related to confidential CT activities and Emergency Plan reporting
requirements, consistent with the strategic information guidance
provided by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
8. Ensure the installation and operation of a commodities supply
and management system for test kits and other necessary items.
9. Implement a simple quality-assurance system for confidential HIV
CT in a home-based setting.
10. Evaluate the activity and disseminate conclusions.
11. Participate in working groups to produce guidelines and
training manuals in collaboration with the Ugandan Ministry of Health
(MOH) and other public and private stakeholders relating to full-access
confidential HB-CT.
12. Undertake the above activities in a manner consistent with the
Ugandan national HIV/AIDS strategy and the five-year strategy and
performance goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
13. Provide information on HIV prevention methods (or strategies)
including abstinence, faithfulness and, for populations engaged in
high-risk behaviors, correct and consistent condom use.
Awardee activities for covering all program areas are as follows:
1. Work to link activities described here with related HIV care and
other social services in the area, and promote coordination at all
levels, including through bodies such as village, district, regional
and national HIV coordination committees and networks of faith-based
organizations.
2. Participate in relevant national technical coordination
committees and in national process(es) to define, implement and monitor
simplified small grants program(s) for faith- and community-based
organizations, to ensure local stakeholders receive adequate
information and assistance to engage and access effectively funding
opportunities supported by the President's Emergency Plan and other
donors.
3. Progressively reinforce the capacity of faith- and community-
based organizations and village and district AIDS committees to promote
quality, local ownership, accountability and sustainability of
activities.
4. Develop and implement a project-specific participatory
monitoring and evaluation plan by drawing on national and U.S.
Government requirements and tools, including the strategic information
guidance provided by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
Administration
Comply with all HHS management requirements for meeting
participation and progress and financial reporting for this cooperative
agreement. (See HHS Activities and Reporting sections below for
details.) Comply with all policy directives established by the Office
of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
HHS Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief them
on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations,
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
2. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select key
personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator.
3. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
4. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as
necessary.
5. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
6. Meet on an annual basis with grantee to review annual progress
report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work
plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational
Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
7. Provide technical assistance in the development of training
curricula, materials, and diagnostic therapeutic guidelines.
8. Collaborate with the recipient in the development of an
appropriate information technology system for medical record-keeping
and an effective monitoring and evaluation and data-collection system
for semi-annual and annual Emergency Plan reporting requirements,
consistent with the strategic information guidance established by the
Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
9. Review and approve awardee's monitoring and evaluation plan and
the development of further appropriate initiatives, including for
compliance with the strategic information guidance established by the
Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
10. Assist in appropriate analysis and interpretation of data
collected during training sessions.
11. Provide input into the overall program strategy.
12. Collaborate 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.
13. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.
Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that
have successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS
contract, cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical
assistance and training.
[[Page 43875]]
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goals for the Emergency Plan:
A. Prevention
Number of individuals trained to provide HIV prevention
interventions, including abstinence, faithfulness and, for populations
engaged in high-risk behaviors,\1\ correct and consistent condom use.
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\1\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission including
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one
who status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the context
of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, even if
faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming infected by
their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using force against
them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men who have sex
with men and workers who are employed away from home.
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1. Abstinence (A) and Be Faithful (B)
Number of community outreach and/or mass media (radio)
programs that are A/B focused
Number of individuals reached through community outreach
and/or mass media (radio) programs that are A/B focused.
B. Care and Support
1. Confidential counseling and testing
Number of patients who accept confidential counseling and
testing in a health-care setting.
Number of clients served, direct.
Number of people trained in confidential counseling and
testing, direct, including health-care workers.
2. Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Number of service outlets/programs, direct and/or indirect.
Number of clients (OVC) served, direct and/or indirect.
Number of persons trained to serve OVC, direct.
3. Palliative Care: Basic Health Care and Support
Number of service outlets/programs that provide palliative
care, direct and/or indirect.
Number of service outlets/programs that link HIV care with
malaria and tuberculosis care and/or referral, direct and/or indirect.
Number of clients served with palliative care, direct and/
or indirect.
Number of persons trained in providing palliative care,
direct.
C. HIV Treatment With ART
Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.
Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.
D. Strategic Information
Number of persons trained in strategic information,
direct.
E. Expanded Indigenous Sustainable Response
Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure:
a. Indigenous capacity-building.
b. Progress toward sustainability.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section
above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
Approximate Total Funding: $1,290,000 (This amount is an estimate,
and is subject to availability of funds.).
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $645,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $645,000.
Anticipated Award Date: August 31, 2005.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Two years.
Throughout the project period, HHS' 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, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans,
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
The applicants for this program are limited to the following:
1. Ugandan MOH District Directorates of Health Services (DDHS) that
are able to demonstrate existing partnerships with faith-based and
community-based organizations.
2. Ugandan MOH District hospitals or Regional hospitals that
partner with DDHS and have existing community-level networks/programs.
3. Private, not-for-profit hospitals in Uganda (including those
managed or operated by faith-based institutions) with delegated
responsibility of district hospital that partner with DDHS and CBOS.
Justification for limited competition:
DDHS in Uganda are responsible for planning, management,
and coordination of all health activities in each district. They also
have a role in supporting supervision in health sub-districts and,
through them, to lower-level health units. In this role, they are fully
capable of planning the implementation of a full-access confidential
HIV HB-CT program by working through the district health system and
faith-based and community-based groups.
All public health units are engaged in the delivery of the
Uganda National Minimum Health Care Package \2\ and collaborate with
the community through integrated outreach services and community
volunteers for health known as ``Community-Owned Resource Persons
(CORPS).'' This is an excellent structure under which to pilot a full-
access confidential HB-CT Program.
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\2\ This refers to Essential Health Care Package of
interventions and services which is recommended for different levels
of health units in Uganda including control of communicable diseases
like STD/HIV/AIDS, Malaria, TB, IMCI, Reproductive health,
Immunization, Environmental Health, Health education, School Health,
Epidemics & Disaster preparedness, Nutrition, Mental Health and
essential Clinical care.
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Linking confidential HIV HB-CT to hospitals and other
health facilities will provide clients who test positive for HIV with
direct referrals to basic care and palliative care services, as well as
to ART, where available.
The involvement of DDHS will strengthen collaboration,
advocacy and networking for all district HIV/AIDS programs.
The Ugandan MOH is responsible for the development of
policies and provision of technical assistance in the implementation of
confidential HIV-HB-CT. The involvement of the MOH will facilitate the
development of appropriate policies and guidelines for the replication
of such programs in other districts, with advice and technical
assistance from U.S. Government agencies that implement the President's
Emergency Plan.
Currently, VCT sites and services in Uganda are located in
higher-level facilities only, the majority of which are located more
than five kilometers away from where over 60 percent of the Ugandan
population lives. Therefore, allowing districts to take a lead in the
implementation of a confidential HIV CT program will bring confidential
HIV CT nearer to the people in rural settings. Additionally, community-
based and faith-based organizations are already providing most of the
health care and basic social services at the community level, which
makes them ideal partners to the DDHS and hospitals for successful
implementation of this program.
[[Page 43876]]
Using this approach in a district will complement the
first full-access confidential HB-CT project currently implemented
through a local non-governmental organization (PA 04228, cooperative
agreement U62/CCU024535). The project undertaken under this
announcement will not duplicate or replace the project just mentioned.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program. Although matching
funds are not required, preference will go to organizations that can
leverage additional funds to contribute to program goals.
III.3. Other
If applicants request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of
the award range, HHS/CDC will consider the application non-responsive,
and it will not enter into the review process. We will notify you that
your application did not meet the submission requirements.
Special Requirements
If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the
review process. We will notify you that your application did not meet
submission requirements.
HHS/CDC will consider late applications to be considered
non-responsive. See section ``IV.3. Submission Dates and Times'' for
more information on deadlines.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address to Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161-1.
HHS strongly encourages the applicant to submit your application
electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this
announcement at http://www.grants.gov.
Application forms and instructions are available on the HHS/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 HHS/CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. We can mail application forms to you.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Application: You must submit a project narrative with your
application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following
format:
Maximum number of pages: 25. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Double spaced
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.
Pages should be numbered and a complete index to the
application and any appendices must be included.
Your application 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:
Project Context and Background (Understanding and Need)
Project Strategy--Description and Methodologies
Project Goals
Project Outputs
Project Contribution to the Goals and Objectives of the
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Work Plan and Description of Project Components and
Activities
Performance Measures
Timeline (e.g., GANNT Chart)
Management of Project Funds and Reporting.
You may include additional information in the application
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page
limit. This additional information includes the following:
Project Budget and Justification
Curriculum vitae of current staff who will work on the
activity
Job descriptions of proposed key positions to be created
for the activity
Quality-Assurance, Monitoring-and-Evaluation, and
Strategic-Information Forms
Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement
Letters of Support
Evidence of Legal Organizational Structure
The budget justification will not count in the narrative page
limit.
Although the narrative addresses activities for the entire project,
the applicant should provide a detailed budget only for the first year
of activities, while addressing budgetary plans for subsequent years.
You must 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 HHS/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 could require you to submit additional
documentation with your application are listed in section
``Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: August 22, 2005.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline
date.
You may submit your application electronically at http://www.grants.gov.
We consider applications completed on-line through
Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization's
Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to http://www.grants.gov.
We will consider electronic applications as having met
the deadline if the application organization's Authorizing Official has
submitted the application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the
deadline date and time.
If you submit your application electronically through Grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov), your application will be electronically time/
date stamped, which will serve as receipt of submission. You will
receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the
application.
If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure the carrier will be
able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC
receives your submission after closing because: (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 have the opportunity to submit documentation of the
carriers guarantee. If the documentation verifies
[[Page 43877]]
a carrier problem, HHS/CDC will consider the submission as received by
the deadline.
If you submit a hard copy application, HHS/CDC will not notify you
upon receipt of your submission. 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 submission deadline.
This will allow time for us to process and log submissions. This
announcement is the definitive guide on application content, submission
address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the
application instructions.
If your submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be
eligible for review, and we will discard it. We will notify you that
you did not meet the submission requirements.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Awardee may use funds for the following:
Confidential HIV CT within the program District, including
required training, purchase of test kits, simple laboratory
refurbishment, vehicles and logistical support to testing teams,
staffing and other related commodities and expenses. Awardee must
perform all procurement in a competitive and transparent manner.
Evaluation and management of the project activities.
Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Funds may not be used for research.
Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
You may not use funds for any new construction.
Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs)--purchase of ARVs, reagents,
and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment projects require
pre-approval from HHS/CDC officials.
Needle exchange--No funds appropriated under this
solicitation 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, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives;
however, you must request prior approval by HHS/CDC officials in
writing, and you must perform all procurement in a competitive and
transparent manner.
All requests for funds contained in the budget in U.S.
dollars. Once an award is made, HHS/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 requested).
You must obtain an annual audit of these HHS/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 Standard(s) or equivalent standard(s)
approved in writing by HHS/CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required,
prior to or post award, to review the applicant's business management
and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.
Prostitution and Related Activities
The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a
prevention method or treatment program to which the recipient has a
religious or moral objection. Any information provided by recipients
about the use of condoms as part of projects or activities that are
funded in connection with this document shall be medically accurate and
shall include the public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
In addition, any recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not
apply to any ``exempt organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization and
its six Regional Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or
to any United Nations agency).
The following definition applies 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).
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, must acknowledge that compliance
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure 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. 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 prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.' '')
addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime
recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document.
[[Page 43878]]
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 HHS determines
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities.''
You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/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:
HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit electronically at: http://www.grants.gov.
You will be able to download a copy of the application
package from http://www.grants.gov, complete it offline, and then
upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. We will not
accept e-mail submissions. If you are having technical difficulties in
Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at http:http://www.support@grants.gov">
//www.support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-GRANTS).
The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time,
Monday through Friday.
HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov
early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the
deadline. You may also submit a back-up paper submission of your
application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance
with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3.
of the grant announcement.
You must clearly mark the paper submission: ``BACK-UP FOR
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.''
The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-
electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper
submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version
the official submission.
We strongly recommended that you submit your grant application by
using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel,
etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, you may
submit a PDF file. You may find directions for creating PDF files on
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of files other than Microsoft Office or
PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff.
OR
Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail
or express delivery service to the following address: Technical
Information Management-AA009, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta,
GA 30341.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
Applicants must 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. Applicants must submit these measures of
effectiveness with the application, and they will be an element of
evaluation.
We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:
1. Understanding the issues, principles and systems requirements
involved in delivering community and home-based confidential CT which
provides access to the whole population of a district in the context of
Uganda (25 points)
Does the applicant display knowledge of the five-year strategy and
goals of the President's Emergency Plan, such that it can build on
these to develop a comprehensive, collaborative project to reach
underserved populations? Does the applicant demonstrate an
understanding of the ethical, clinical, social, managerial and other
practical issues involved in delivering comprehensive, confidential CT
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)
Is the plan appropriate to the social, political and cultural
context in Uganda? Does the applicant describe activities which are
realistic, achievable, time-framed and culturally appropriate to
complete this program in Uganda? Does the applicant describe strategies
that are pertinent and match those identified in the five-year strategy
of the President's Emergency Plan and the national HIV/AIDS strategy of
the Government of the Republic of Uganda?
4. Personnel (15 points)
Are the personnel, including qualifications, training,
availability, and experience adequate to carry out the proposed
activities?
5. Management and Accounting Plan (10 points)
Is there a plan to manage the resources of the program, prepare
reports, monitor and evaluate activities and audit expenditures? Is the
plan to account for, prepare reports, monitoring and audit expenditures
under this agreement adequate to manage the resources of the program
and to produce, collect and analyze performance data?
6. Budget (not scored)
Is the budget for conducting the activity itemized, well-justified
and consistent with the five-year strategy and goals of the President's
Emergency Plan activities in Uganda, and the national HIV/AIDS strategy
of the Government of the Republic of Uganda?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review
applications for completeness, and HHS Global AIDS program will review
them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that
are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through
the review process. Applicants will receive notification 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. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to
the U.S. Government Country Program Office. The panel may include both
Federal and non-Federal participants.
In addition, the following factors could affect the funding
decision:
It is possible for one organization to apply as lead grantee with a
plan that includes partnering with other organizations, preferably
local. Although matching funds are not required, preference will be go
to organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to
program goals.
Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined
by the review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any
decision to fund out of rank order.
V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
The anticipated award date is August 31. 2005.
[[Page 43879]]
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the
CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only binding,
authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NoA 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-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
Applicants can find additional information on these requirements on
the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
You need to include an additional Certifications form from the
PHS5161-1 application needs to be included in the Grants.gov electronic
submission only. Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf.
Once you have filled out the form, it
should be attached to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachments
Form.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of
the following reports:
1. Semi-annual progress reports not more than 30 days after the end
of the reporting period.
2. Interim progress report, due 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. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for
Uganda.
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.
Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or
Contract Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this
announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement.
For general questions, contact: Technical Information Management
Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone:
770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Jonathan Mermin, MD,
MPH, Global AIDS Program [GAP], Uganda Country Team, National Center
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention [CDC], HHS, PO Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda, Telephone: +256-
41320776, E-mail: jhm@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Shirley Wynn, Contract Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-1515, E-mail: zbx6@cdc.gov.
VIII. Other Information
Applicants can find this and other HHS funding opportunity
announcements on the HHS/CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov
(Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative
Agreements''), and on the Web site of the HHS Office of Global Health
Affairs, Internet address: http://www.globalhealth.gov.
Dated: July 25, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 05-15003 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P