[Federal Register: August 12, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 155)]
[Notices]
[Page 47209-47214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12au05-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
HIV Prevention, Treatment, and Care Capacity Building for Local
Organizations in the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdoms of
Lesotho and Swaziland
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: AA169.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: September 8, 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. Section 241 and
2421], 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 purpose of this funding announcement is to
progressively build an indigenous, sustainable response to the national
HIV epidemic through the rapid expansion of innovative, culturally
appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention \1\ and care
interventions, and improved linkages to HIV counseling and testing and
HIV treatment services targeting rural and other underserved
populations.
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\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 populations 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.
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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.
The purpose of this announcement is to provide funding and
technical and capacity-building support for the expansion of HIV/AIDS
prevention, treatment and care in the Republic of South Africa and the
Kingdoms of Lesotho, and Swaziland. The awardee will provide funding
and technical and organizational capacity-building support to develop,
implement, and maintain a sustained, culturally appropriate response to
the HIV/AIDS epidemic among regional, national, and local organizations
in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
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.
South Africa has one of the largest HIV/AIDS epidemics in the
world, with an estimated 5.3 million persons living with HIV/AIDS,
approximately 600,000 new infections each year, and a prevalence rate
of 21.5 percent among adults.
Lesotho is experiencing the third-highest HIV prevalence rate in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) estimates that 28.9 percent of adults 15-49 years of age in
Lesotho are infected with HIV.
Swaziland, with a population of 1.08 million people, has an
estimated HIV prevalence rate of 38.8 percent in the adult population,
perhaps the highest in the world.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
numerical performance goals of the President's Emergency Plan and with
one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National
Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis
Prevention 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, 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 people 15 to 24 years of age.
Measurable outcomes of the program will also be in alignment with
the two-seven-ten goals of the President's Emergency Plan:
1. Treat two million HIV-infected people: Capitalizing on recent
advances in ARV treatment, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief will be the first global effort to provide advanced anti-
retroviral treatment on a large scale in the poorest, most afflicted
countries.
2. Prevent seven million new infections (60 percent of the
projected new infections in the target countries): The initiative will
involve large-scale prevention efforts, including confidential
voluntary testing and counseling. The availability of treatment
[[Page 47210]]
will enhance prevention efforts by providing an incentive for
individuals to be tested.
3. Care for ten million HIV-infected individuals, AIDS orphans, and
vulnerable children: The initiative will provide a range of care,
including support for children left vulnerable or orphaned by the
disease.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS/CDC. If applicants propose research, HHS/CDC 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 awardee will provide funding, technical assistance,
and organizational capacity-building support to selected civil society
organizations as follows. The winning applicant must be able to
undertake activities along the border between the Republic of South
Africa and at least one of the following countries: the Kingdoms of
Lesotho and Swaziland. Applicants may propose to undertake activities
along the borders of South Africa and both Lesotho and Swaziland.
1. Assist HHS and other Emergency Plan partner agencies in funding,
management, oversight, and capacity-building for a wide range of local
organizations, including faith-based organizations.
2. Strengthen capacity and expand activities around HIV prevention,
care, and treatment.
3. Award and manage grants and provide technical assistance and
organizational capacity development to these organizations in general
management and administration, personnel management, financial
management, supervision, program implementation, policy development,
monitoring and evaluation, and other identified areas. The awardee will
coordinate all organizational capacity and support with other
organizations that are working in this area in the three countries.
4. Share lessons learned and best practices that emerge from scale-
up and replication of effective programs.
5. Identify and explore emerging themes and technical issues, and
promote exchange between effective HIV/AIDS organizations in South
Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
6. Strengthen the HIV/AIDS response through fostering the
leadership of regional, national, and local institutions, alliances,
and partnerships, especially networks of faith-based organizations.
7. Provide technical assistance for proposal development and
financial support of these regional entities.
8. Quantify results according to the Emergency Plan two-seven-ten
goals.
9. Provide technical expertise and guidance to the selected
organizations in local languages in support of HIV prevention, care and
treatment activities.
10. Provide relevant staff with training in local languages to meet
the needs of the project.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS/CDC staff is substantially involved
in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
HHS/CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Collaborate in designing and implementing the activities listed
above, including, but not limited to, the provision of technical
assistance to develop and implement program activities; quality
assurance; data management; and presentation of program methods and
findings.
2. Collaborate with all relevant partners (sub-grantees and other
civil society organizations) in the development of program activities.
3. Provide direct technical assistance to sub-grantees to increase
the organizational capacity for preparing successful proposals.
4. Provide direct technical assistance to sub-grantees in
developing and implementing the prevention education components of
their respective programs.
5. Monitor project and budget performance.
6. Organize an orientation meeting with the awardee 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.
7. Review and approve the process used by the awardee 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.
8. Review and approve awardee'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.
9. Review and approve awardee's monitoring and evaluation plan,
including for compliance with the strategic information guidance
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
10. Meet on a monthly basis with awardee to assess monthly
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as
necessary.
11. Meet on a quarterly basis with awardee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
12. Meet on an annual basis with awardee 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.
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: $500,000 (This amount is an estimate,
and is subject to availability of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $100,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $100,000. (This ceiling is for the first
12-month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Five 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
Any public or private non-profit organization, currently registered
in South Africa, Lesotho, or Swaziland,
[[Page 47211]]
with demonstrated experience in providing financial and technical
assistance in the area of HIV/AIDS to community based organizations
(CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and/or other institutions
in South Africa, Swaziland, or Lesotho, may apply. Applicants must
agree to undertake activities along the border between South Africa and
at least one of the two other countries mentioned above, but may
propose to undertake activities along South Africa's frontiers with
both nations. Eligible organizations include the following:
Public, non-profit organizations.
Private, non-profit organizations.
Community-based organizations.
Faith-based organizations.
Small, minority, women-owned businesses.
Universities.
Colleges.
Research institutions.
Hospitals.
III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds
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 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.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611
states that an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not
eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or
loan.
Eligible applicants should have the following qualifications:
Demonstrated experience in providing financial, technical,
and capacity-building assistance to NGOs in the development and
implementation of HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs.
Demonstrated experience with USG financial and technical
reporting requirements.
Demonstrated capacity to develop and implement projects of
similar complexity, and to deliver results.
Demonstrated understanding of HIV/AIDS issues affecting
NGOs operating within South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
Program staff should have expertise in HIV AIDS
prevention, care and treatment, management, monitoring and evaluation,
supervision and training, and organizational capacity development.
Experience working in South Africa, Lesotho, or Swaziland.
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.
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: 15. 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 or national equivalent.
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 narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Goals and Objectives, including Project Contribution to
the Goals and Objectives of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Work Plan and Description of Project Components and
Activities.
Timeline.
Staffing Plan, with Level of Effort.
Performance Measures and Methods of Evaluation.
Summary Budget, by line item, along with a budget
justification (this will not be counted against the stated page limit).
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:
Curriculum Vitas/Resumes for Proposed Staff.
Organizational Charts.
Job descriptions of proposed key positions to be created
for the activity.
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/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 ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: September 8, 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 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
[[Page 47212]]
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 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, 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
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 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 HHS/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, 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 required).
You must obtain 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 Standards or equivalent standard(s)
approved in writing by HHS/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.
Funds received from this announcement will not be used for
the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV
infection (with the exception of nevirapine in Prevention of Mother-to-
Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written approval),
occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and will not be
used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct the necessary
laboratory monitoring for patient care.
No funds appropriated under this act shall be used to
carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for
the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
Prostitution and Related Activities
The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, or to 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
[[Page 47213]]
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.''
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
applicants to submit electronically at: http://www.grants.gov You will be able to download a copy of the application package from http://.
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 support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-
800-518-4726 (1-800-518-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 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-AA169, 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 Problem and Statement of Work (25 points).
Provide a detailed and comprehensive statement of the problem,
scope and purpose of the project and how it fits into the five-year
strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan. Demonstrate an
understanding of the intent and requirements of the agreement and
potential problems which may be encountered. Does the applicant
demonstrate an understanding of the national cultural and political
context and the technical and programmatic areas covered by the
project? 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?
2. Personnel and Management Plan (30 points).
Provide a description and history of the organization, including
personnel. Include their experience, education, skills, and
qualifications. If sub-contractors are proposed, provide information to
support their qualifications and experience as well. Document recent
successful experience in managing similar or related work that is
comparable, especially work performed in South Africa, Lesotho, or
Swaziland that demonstrates capacity for achieving the above
objectives. Do the staff members have appropriate experience? Are the
staff roles clearly defined? Does the applicant describe a plan to
progressively build the capacity of local organizations and of target
beneficiaries and communities to respond to the epidemic?
3. Technical Approach and Methodology (30 points).
Provide a detailed description of the proposed methodology for
development and implementation of the activities as outlined above,
along with a 12-month timeline. Does the applicant describe strategies
that are pertinent and match those identified in the five-year strategy
of the President's Emergency Plan and activities that are evidence-
based, realistic, achievable, measurable and culturally appropriate in
South Africa and Lesotho or Swaziland to achieve the goals of the
Emergency Plan?
4. Management Plan (15 points).
Is there a plan to manage the resources of the program, prepare
reports, monitor and evaluate activities and audit expenditures?
5. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored).
Is the budget itemized, well-justified and consistent with the
five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan,
including Emergency Plan activities in South Africa?
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
[[Page 47214]]
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:
While U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply, we will give
preference to existing national/South African organizations. 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
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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status.
AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business.
AR-23 States and Faith-Based Organizations.
AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data.
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 in your 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, please attach it
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. 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
South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
f. Additional Requested Information.
2. Annual progress report, due no more than 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
South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
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: Mary W. Wettrich,
Project Officer, Deputy Director, HHS/CDC/South Africa, Afgri Building,
Corner of Queen Wilhelmina and Middle Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria,
Republic of South Africa, Telephone: 011-27-12-346-0170, ext. 23, E-
mail: wettrichm@sacdc.co.za.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Shirley Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants
Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-1515, E-mail:
Swynn@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: August 8, 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. 05-16007 Filed 8-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P