[Federal Register: August 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 154)]
[Notices]
[Page 46846-46853]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11au05-80]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Enhancement of a Continuum of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and
Treatment Through the Network Model in the United Republic of Tanzania
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: AA085.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
Key Date:
Application Deadline: September 6, 2005.
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. 241 and 242l], as
amended, and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership
Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [U.S.C.
7601] and Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 [22
U.S.C. 2151b].
Background: The 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.
[[Page 46847]]
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 purpose of this funding announcement is to
progressively build an indigenous, sustainable response to the national
HIV epidemic in Tanzania through the rapid expansion of innovative,
culturally appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care
interventions.
Under the leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as part
of the President's Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) works with host countries 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.
HHS focuses on two or three major program areas in each country.
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.
This cooperative agreement will: (1) Enhance the continuum of HIV/
AIDS prevention, treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLWHA) through the network model; (2) improve Reproductive and Child
Health Services (RCHS) for prevention of mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT) of HIV; (3) improve health laboratory services at point-of-
service settings to support HIV prevention, treatment and care; and (4)
rapidly scale up anti-retroviral therapy (ART) availability in the
United Republic of Tanzania.
In Tanzania, Emergency Plan goals include: treating at least
[150,000,000] HIV-infected individuals; caring for [750,000,000] HIV-
affected individuals, including orphans.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
numerical performance goals of the President's Emergency Plan and with
the following performance goal for the National Center of HIV, STD, and
TB Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) within HHS: By 2010, work with other countries,
international organizations, the U.S. Department of State, the 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,
to reduce HIV transmission, and to improve care of PLWHAs.
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: The recipient of these funds is responsible for
activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved
populations in Tanzania. 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 four-
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 awardee will produce an annual operational plan in the context
of this four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team
on the ground in Tanzania 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
awardee 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. Enhance the continuum of HIV/AIDS prevention,\1\ treatment and
care for PLWHA through the network model:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Prevention interventions directed toward behavior change
should promote the ABC model. Methods and strategies should
emphasize abstinence for youth and other unmarried persons, mutual
faithfulness and partner reduction for sexually active adults, and
correct and consistent use of condoms by those populations who are
engaged in high-risk behaviors. Behaviors that increase risk for HIV
transmission include: engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging
in sex in exchange for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-
positive partner or one whose 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. Awardees may not implement condom social
marketing without also implementing the abstinence and faithfulness
behavior-change interventions outlined above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Establish centers of excellence for provision of optimal HIV/
AIDS prevention, care and treatment in zonal referral hospitals.
b. Procure the necessary staff, equipment, and supplies to
establish and coordinate services of the centers of excellence.
c. Provide capacity to zonal referral hospitals to teach other
facilities to provide similar services.
d. Provide capacity to zonal referral hospitals to support and help
monitor HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment.
e. Introduce new models for confidential counseling and testing
(CT), including routine or diagnostic confidential CT in tuberculosis
(TB) clinics, sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics, specialist
clinics, general outpatient department and inpatient care, for
identifying and referring treatment to HIV-positive individuals.
[[Page 46848]]
f. Develop annual plans for integrating HIV/AIDS prevention, care
and treatment in district health plans.
g. In collaboration with HHS, plan, develop, conduct and evaluate
HIV/AIDS training programs for physicians, nurses, and traditional
birth attendants. Training must be based on national HIV/AIDS
guidelines and training curriculum.
2. Improve RCHS care for PMTCT of HIV:
a. Procure the necessary staff, equipment and supplies to establish
and coordinate PMTCT care at health facilities in each center catchment
area.
b. Improve capacity of health facilities in the catchment area of
the zonal referral hospital to deliver quality PMTCT care to pregnant
women and their newborns.
c. Support integration of PMTCT care into routine reproductive and
child health care.
d. Expand implementation of the PMTCT monitoring and evaluation
system.
e. Provide training and human resources development for PMTCT care.
f. In collaboration with HHS and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health
(MOH), plan, develop, conduct and evaluate PMTCT training programs for
physicians, nurses, and traditional birth attendants. Training should
be based on integration of PMTCT care into routine anti-natal clinic
(ANC) care.
3. Improve health laboratory services at point-of-service settings
to support HIV prevention, treatment and care:
a. Procure the necessary staff, equipment and supplies to establish
and coordinate HIV/AIDS laboratory services.
b. Strengthen laboratory capacity for diagnosis of HIV infection in
adults at all health facilities in the catchment area.
c. Provide access to facilities for diagnosis of HIV in infants;
staging of disease to determine eligibility for initiation of anti-
retroviral (ARV) therapy for PLWHA; monitoring treatment progress of
patients on ARVs; and monitoring of adverse reactions to ARVs.
d. Develop and implement a plan for surveillance of drug resistance
among patients on ARVs.
e. Develop a laboratory information system linked to the Tanzanian
National Health Management Information System.
f. Undertake infrastructure improvements for provision of quality
laboratory services.
g. Introduce a laboratory quality system approach at all regional
hospitals in the catchment area.
h. Provide training and human resources development for health
laboratory services.
4. Rapidly scale up ART availability:
a. Collaborate with HHS and the Tanzanian National AIDS Control
Program (NACP) to assess the health facility network capacity in the
catchment area for expansion of ARV therapy.
b. Assist selected health facilities to introduce and expand ARV
therapy by building on established clinical programs.
c. Assist target health facilities with training, and mobilize
health care personnel to provide treatment.
d. Support efforts to enhance the capacity of health facilities for
supply chain management through the Tanzanian national Integrated
Logistics System (ILS) to respond to rapid ARV therapy scale up.
e. Establish links with faith-based and community-based
organizations for community mobilization to support ARV therapy and
improve compliance among PLWHA on ARVs.
f. 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.
g. 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.
h. 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.
i. 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.
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.
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. Collaborate with the Tanzania Ministry of Health and other in-
country and international partners in the development of plans for
program assistance based on the country needs, the Emergency Plan
technical assistance portfolio, and HIV laboratory activities conducted
by other partners.
2. Provide consultation, scientific and technical assistance based
on the ``CDC Global AIDS Program (GAP) Technical Strategies'' document
to promote the use of best practices.
3. Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for the
purpose of ensuring coordination of country-based program technical
assistance activities. HHS will act as liaison and assist in
coordinating activities as required between the applicant and other
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Government of Tanzania, and
other HHS partners.
4. Play an active role in development of curricula and training
courses, including provision of technical assistance.
5. Provide technical assistance in clinical, counseling and
laboratory issues, training, data management, and program monitoring
and evaluation.
6. Provide technical assistance with prevention counseling and
testing and data management issues. Such technical assistance may
involve identification of problems and challenges and collaborative
efforts to find practical solutions.
7. Work with other stakeholders to continuously evaluate curriculum
and training needs; and adapt training, as necessary, to meet the
program needs and cultural context in Tanzania.
8. HHS will participate in providing support and supervision to
implementing partners.
9. Monitor project and budget performance to ensure satisfactory
progress towards the goals of the project and the numerical goals of
the President's Emergency Plan.
10. 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.
[[Page 46849]]
11. 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.
12. Review and approve grantee's monitoring and evaluation plan,
including for compliance with the strategic information guidance
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
13. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as
necessary.
14. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
15. 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.
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.
Administration: Comply with all HHS management requirements for
meeting participation and progress and financial reporting for this
cooperative agreement. Comply with all policy directives established by
the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
HHS's involvement in this program is listed in the Activities
Section above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
Approximate Total Funding: $18 Million (This amount is an estimate,
and is subject to availability of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: Five.
Approximate Average Award: $900,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
Floor of Award Range: $500,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,500,000 (This ceiling is for the first
12-month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Four years.
Throughout the project period, HHS'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, 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
This is a limited competition funding opportunity announcement.
Applications will only be considered from public and faith-based
hospitals or zonal referral hospitals as defined by the MOH in Tanzania
mainland, or the MOH and social welfare in Zanzibar.
Eligible applicants: Must conduct a specific set of activities
supportive of the HHS goals for enhancement of a continuum of HIV/AIDS
prevention, care and treatment through the network model for PMTCT,
introducing new models for CT, improving capacity of laboratory
services and establishing centers of excellence at zonal referral
hospitals in the United Republic of Tanzania; must have the legal
authority, ability, and credibility among Tanzanian citizens to
coordinate the implementation of zonal initiatives for HIV/AIDS
prevention, treatment and care; must be able to become engaged
immediately in the activities listed in this announcement; and must
build upon the existing framework of health policy and programming that
the MOH itself has initiated.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
CDC will not accept and review applications with budgets greater
than the ceiling of the award range.
Special Requirements: If your application is incomplete or non-
responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will
not enter into the review process. We will notify you that your
application did not meet submission requirements.
HHS/CDC will consider late applications 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.
Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit your
application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted
for this announcement at http://www.grants.gov, the official Federal
agency wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line are
permitted to forego paper copy submission of all application forms.
Paper Submission: 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 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: 35. 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.
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.
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:
Executive Summary.
Provide a clear and concise summary of the proposed goals; major
objectives and activities required for achievement of program goals;
and amount of funding requested for budget year one of this cooperative
agreement.
Needs Assessment and Capacity.
Describe the documented need for the proposed activities; current
activities that provide relevant experience and expertise to perform
the proposed activities; and collaborative relationships with other
agencies and organizations that will be involved in the proposed
activities.
[[Page 46850]]
Four-Year Plan.
Describe realistic four-year goals and measurable, time-
phased objectives for each proposed project; the project's contribution
to the Goals and Objectives of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; the
major activities to achieve each objective; plans for collaboration
with partners, including HHS; and the evaluation process that will be
used to determine effectiveness and initiate modifications, as needed.
Year One Operational and Evaluation Plan.
Provide specific, measurable, and time-phased year one objectives
for each proposed project; the specific activities proposed to achieve
the year one objectives; and a projected timetable for completion that
displays dates for the accomplishment of tasks and identifies
responsible parties. For each year one objective, specify how
achievement will be measured and documented.
Management and Staffing Plan.
Describe how the program will be effectively managed. Include the
following:
a. Management structure, including the lines of authority and plans
for fiscal control.
b. The staff positions responsible for implementation of the
program.
c. Qualifications and experience of the designated staff.
Budget and Justification.
Provide a detailed one-year budget request and line item
justification that is consistent with the purpose of the program and
the proposed objectives and activities. The budget and justification
will not be included within the 35-page limit stated above.
You may include additional information in the application
appendices. We will not count the appendices toward the narrative page
limit. This additional information includes the following:
Curricula Vitas.
Resumes.
Organizational Charts.
Letters of Support.
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://
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.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 VI.2.
``Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: September 6, 2005.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the HHS/
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 online through
Grants.gov formally submitted when the applicant organization's
Authorizing Official electronically submits the applications to http://www.grants.gov.
We will consider electronic applications as having met
the deadline if the applicant 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 with 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
carrier's guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem,
HHS/CDC will consider the submission as received by the deadline.
If you submit a hard copy application, CDC will not notify you upon
receipt of your submission. If you have a question about the receipt of
your LOI or 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
Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Funds may not be used for research.
Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
Funds may not be used for any new construction.
Antiretroviral drugs--the purchase of ARVs, reagents, and
laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment projects require pre-
approval from 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, 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
[[Page 46851]]
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 Standard(s) approved in writing by CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required,
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S.
Federal funds.
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.
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.''
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: Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC
strongly encourages applicants 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 can reach customer support by e-mail at http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport
, 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 recommend 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 can find directions for creating PDF files on
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft
Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or
Paper Submission: Submit the original and two hard copies of your
application by mail or express delivery service to the following
address: Technical Information Management--AA085, 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
[[Page 46852]]
of effectiveness with the application and they will be an element of
evaluation.
We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:
1. Technical Approach (25 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 the objectives? Is the plan appropriate
to the social, political and cultural context in Tanzania?
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 a realistic presentation of proposed objectives and
projects? 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 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 plan of the
Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and describe activities
that are evidence-based, realistic, achievable, measurable and
culturally appropriate in Tanzania?
3. Ability To Carry Out the Project (20 points).
Does the applicant document a demonstrated capability to achieve
the purpose of the project?
4. Personnel (20 points).
Are the professional personnel involved in this project qualified,
including evidence of experience in working with HIV/AIDS,
opportunistic infections, and HIV/STD surveillance?
5. Plans for Administration and Management of Projects (15 points).
Is there a plan to manage the resources of the program, prepare
reports, monitor and evaluate activities and audit expenditures? 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 the five-year strategy
and goals of the President's Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan
activities in Tanzania and the national Tanzanian HIV/AIDS strategy?
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.
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 Award Date
September 15, 2005.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the
HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and HHS/CDC. An
authorized Grants Management Officer will sign the NoA, and mail it 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-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
Applicants can find 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.
You need to include an additional Certifications form from the PHS
5161-1 application needs to be included in your Grants.gov electronic
submission only. Refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf.
Once the form is filled out, attach it to your
Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the
following reports:
1. 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
Tanzania.
f. Additional Requested Information.
2. Annual progress report and financial status report, due 60 days
after the end of the budget period. Reports should include progress
against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief for Tanzania.
3. Financial status report, due 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
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: Cecil Threat, Project
Officer, Global AIDS Program, c/o American Embassy, 2140 Dar es Salaam
Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140. Telephone: 255 22 212 1407. Cell: 255
744 222986. Fax: 255 22 212 1462. e-mail: Cthreat@cdc.gov.
[[Page 46853]]
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Diane Flournoy, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and
Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: 770-488-2072. E-mail:
dflournoy@cdc.gov.
VIII. Other Information
Applicants can find this and other CDC funding opportunity
announcements on the 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: August 4, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-15890 Filed 8-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P