[Federal Register: August 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 48553-48560]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au05-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Technical Assistance to Rwandan Healthy Schools Initiative
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA105.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 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].
Background: Data from the 2000 Behavioral Surveillance Survey in
Rwanda suggests that in-school youth are more likely to engage in early
sexual activity than out-of-school youth, which makes secondary schools
a natural and important focus for age-appropriate prevention and
confidential, voluntary counseling and testing (CT) activities. In
addition, behavior change messages or CT services have not yet
systematically reached secondary-school students in Rwanda; while
science lessons at the secondary level in Rwanda generally cover HIV/
AIDS-related subject matter, content and presentation vary from school
to school.
At present, confidential CT services in Rwanda are restricted
primarily to health facilities, with limited availability in non-
clinical settings. Schools have great potential to function as
community resource centers for HIV/AIDS, particularly in those cases
where, for multiple reasons, individuals are not presenting themselves
for HIV testing at hospitals or health centers. When it has been used,
mobile, confidential CT has proven to be a very effective approach in
Rwanda; single-day testing campaigns have yielded as many as 12,000
persons tested.
With assistance from the World Bank, the United Kingdom, Department
for International Development (DFID), the United Nations Children's
Fund (UNICEF) and other donors, the Rwandan Ministry of Education
(MINEDUC) has recently completed the development of primary- and
secondary-school curricula that integrate HIV/AIDS and life-skills
lessons at each level of instruction. The Rwandan National Curriculum
Development Center has approved the curricula and incorporated them
into the training modules at Rwanda's teacher training colleges (TTC).
The new textbooks will be distributed to schools in the near future.
This is a valuable first step in ensuring that all students in Rwanda
have an adequate knowledge base appropriate to their stage of physical,
intellectual, and emotional development, with respect to HIV/AIDS
prevention.
Purpose: As part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief,
HHS announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 funds for
technical assistance to Rwanda's MINEDUC in launching a pilot
initiative to develop secondary schools into community resources for
confidential CT and the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The initiative,
tentatively named the Healthy Schools Initiative, will take in two main
interventions: (1) School-based, community, confidential CT offered via
mobile testing units to secondary-school students, their parents and
teachers, and surrounding communities; and (2) an innovative, age-
appropriate prevention/behavior change campaign to focus on abstinence
and parent-child communication. The grantee, to be selected on a
competitive basis, will be responsible for collaborating closely with
MINEDUC, HHS, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),
and other local agencies to ensure the successful planning,
coordination, implementation and monitoring of the initiative.
Intervention 1: Counseling and Testing
Under the Healthy Schools Initiative, HHS will introduce free,
confidential mobile HIV testing to secondary schools through a
culturally appropriate public campaign to target teachers, upper level
secondary-school students, their families and community members.
Building on the enthusiasm expressed by the Rwandan Minister of
Education about a sector-wide confidential CT campaign, the mobile
testing intervention will roll out in a top-down fashion, by starting
with public HIV tests for the Minister and other MINEDUC officials and
then branching out to secondary schools through Free CT days. Free CT
days will involve dispatching a mobile CT unit to secondary schools to
provide free, confidential testing for teachers, students, their
families and community members. Prior to offering confidential CT at
secondary schools, community preparation campaigns in school catchment
areas will foster acceptance of community- and youth-centered
confidential CT, and for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
Both a ``prevention for negatives'' component and linkages to the
national care and treatment program for HIV infected persons will
facilitate appropriate follow-up for all individuals tested through the
initiative. Age-appropriate information, Education, and Communication
(IEC) materials that emphasize behavior change will go out to all
individuals who test negative in an effort to encourage abstinence and
faithfulness as the best means of prevention. The program will forge
linkages with the Rwandan national care and treatment program to ensure
access to care and treatment for individuals who test positive.
Specifically, local referrals to clinics providing care and treatment
to HIV infected individuals, and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to those
who are eligible, will be provided to any individual who tests positive
for HIV at any testing site. In addition, educational materials on HIV,
ARTs, and strategies for reducing transmission of HIV will be provided
to individuals testing positive.
Given that Rwandan law and government policy currently require
parental consent for the testing of youth under the age of 18, it is
crucial that the program develop appropriate linkages between the
initiative's prevention and confidential CT interventions to engender
parental support for youth CT. Such linkages might include the
integration of a module on confidential CT into the parent-child
communication curriculum, extracurricular sensitization activities with
parents about the importance of knowing one's serostatus at any age, or
national advocacy activities coordinated with MINEDUC's HIV/AIDS unit.
Intervention 2: Prevention
As part of the President's Emergency Plan, HHS seeks to build on
MINEDUC's achievements in developing primary and secondary HIV
curricula by introducing a culturally and age-appropriate competence-
based behavior-change curriculum to emphasize abstinence and parent-
child communication about HIV/AIDS. The curriculum will be founded on
the conviction that the key to behavior change lies in: (1) The
delivery of innovative, age- and culturally appropriate messages about
HIV/AIDS behavior change; (2) the continual
[[Page 48554]]
reinforcement of these messages by teachers, peers and parents to
develop a new set of social norms; and (3) the development and regular
application of core competencies, in-school and out-of-school, through
activities to emphasize accountability to self, peers, parents and
teachers. The program will supplement a behavior change curriculum,
focusing on parent-child communication, with extra-curricular
activities that aim to build a culture of solidarity among students
with respect to HIV prevention and behavior change. The program will
design, plan and execute extra-curricular activities in collaboration
with anti-AIDS clubs,\1\ and will maximize student involvement through
peer education, school-wide competitions and other activities with
broad appeal.
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\1\ Since 1998, anti-AIDS clubs have been established in all
secondary schools and institutions of higher learning in Rwanda, but
many remain inactive because of lack of materials and proper
guidance (official MINEDUC Web site: http://www.mineduc.gov.rw).
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Key actors: The MINEDUC HIV/AIDS Unit is responsible for
coordinating all HIV/AIDS-related interventions in the education sector
in Rwanda, whether executed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
international organizations or other partners, in accordance with
national HIV/AIDS policy. The Unit is also responsible for supervising
and monitoring these interventions. The grantee will work with the HIV/
AIDS Unit to plan, coordinate, and monitor the Initiative.
HHS will be directly implementing the confidential CT component of
the Healthy Schools Initiative: purchasing a mobile CT unit, test kits
and client resource materials; providing fuel and per diem for mobile,
confidential CT; and hiring and housing local confidential CT project
staff within the HHS-Rwanda office. The grantee's involvement with the
CT component will focus primarily on integrating awareness of
confidential CT into the behavior-change curriculum through the
development of a confidential CT module to target students and parents.
The grantee will also work with HHS and USAID to harmonize deployment
of the prevention and confidential CT components.
The Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC) is the agency
responsible for ensuring the quality of HIV CT services throughout
Rwanda. The grantee will work with HHS and TRAC's voluntary counseling
and testing (VCT) unit to organize and execute the mobile CT
intervention in a manner that complies fully with Rwandan national
norms and standards. HHS and the MINEDUC will consult with TRAC's care
and treatment unit on the creation of linkages between the CT component
and the Rwandan national care and treatment program, as well as on the
development of reference materials for individuals who test positive.
Secondary-school teacher-trainers and peer educators will be key
actors in the execution and delivery of the prevention and CT
interventions. They will be chiefly responsible for communicating and
reinforcing the culturally and age-appropriate behavior change
messages; assisting students and parents in building core competencies
(independent decision-making, abstinence negotiation, effective
communication); and soliciting involvement of students and parents in
extra-curricular activities relating to prevention and CT. The
technical assistance provider will orient and train teacher-trainers in
local languages in the delivery of the behavior change curriculum and
train peer educators from anti-AIDS clubs to develop their skills as
school and community advocates for behavior change and CT.
Geographic coverage: In Year 1, the initiative will target
secondary schools in two provinces, Kigali City and Gitarama. In
collaboration with TRAC, HHS and the MINEDUC HIV/AIDS unit, the grantee
will determine how many and which schools/districts need to be targeted
in each province to meet needs and achieve targets. If Year 1
activities are successful during the annual review of country
operational plans for the President's Emergency Plan managed by the
Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, based on the achievement of
milestones developed jointly by HHS, MINEDUC and the grantee, the
initiative will extend to additional provinces over the course of four
years, with the ultimate goal of reaching all provinces by the end of
FY2009.
Targets: The CT intervention, expected to require more start-up
time than the prevention intervention, will rollout at no fewer than
ten secondary schools in Year 1. The program has the following targets
for CT:
Number of individuals trained in providing CT: Five
Number of individuals who receive CT: 2,750
Number of service outlets (schools) that provide CT: Ten
The prevention intervention will rollout at no fewer than 30
secondary schools in Year 1. The following targets have been set for
prevention:
Number of individuals reached through culturally and age-
appropriate (school/community) outreach HIV/AIDS prevention programs
that promote abstinence: 20,250.
Number of individuals (teacher-trainers, teachers or peer
educators) trained to deliver culturally and age-appropriate HIV/AIDS
prevention programs that promote abstinence: 1,150.
HHS Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with
one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National
Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP): Reduce the percentage
of HIV/AIDS-related risk behaviors among school-aged youth through
dissemination of HIV prevention education programs and, by 2010, work
with other countries, international organizations, the U.S. Department
of State, United States 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 persons
15 to 24 years of age.
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.
Over the same time period, as part of a collective national
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Rwanda are to treat at
least 50,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 250,000 HIV-affected
individuals, including orphans.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS. If applicant proposes research, we 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 Rwanda. 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
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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 Rwanda 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. Work closely with key partners and stakeholders in Rwanda,
including the MINEDUC HIV/AIDS unit, TRAC, and HHS, to develop an
implementation plan for the pilot phase of the initiative. This will
require:
a. Identifying which schools/districts will participate in the CT
and prevention interventions.
b. Determining the scope of work of each of the actors (school
inspectors, teacher-trainers, teachers, peer educators) involved in the
prevention intervention.
c. Determining the scope of work of each of the actors, TRAC,
health educators, anti-AIDS clubs, involved in the promotion and
execution of the CT intervention.
d. Developing a detailed work plan complete with interventions,
milestones and a timeline for achieving prevention and CT targets.
2. Hire a local unit to manage the initiative. This unit will be
responsible for the day-to-day implementation and management of CT and
prevention activities at secondary schools and will report to the
MINEDUC HIV/AIDS unit on a monthly basis.
Counseling and Testing:
1. Develop materials for distribution by health educators during
Free CT days:
a. IEC materials promoting behavior change (individuals who test
negative).
b. Reference materials on care and treatment options in Rwanda
(individuals who test positive).
2. Collaborate with HHS, MINEDUC HIV/AIDS unit and TRAC to develop
a mobile CT plan:
a. Develop a community preparation plan for schools and catchment
areas.
b. Schedule and plan Free CT days at MINEDUC and ten target
schools.
c. Estimate test kits, fuel and staff needed.
d. Identify and train staff needed for community preparation
campaign and provide CT.
3. Initiate school- and community-based CT preparation campaign via
anti-AIDS clubs and health educators in catchment areas.
Prevention:
1. Design/adapt a competence-based culturally and age-appropriate
behavior change curriculum in local languages for secondary-school
students that focuses on abstinence and parent-child communication
about HIV, including CT.
2. Identify a cohort of teachers to serve as teacher-trainers,
responsible for training all teachers at participating schools in the
behavior change curriculum.
3. Train teacher-trainers in the delivery of the behavior change
curriculum; ensure periodic supervision of:
a. Training for teachers and peer educators.
b. Delivery of curriculum to students and parents.
4. Assist MINEDUC in awarding small grants to anti-AIDS clubs for
extra-curricular activities linked to abstinence and behavior change.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
HHS-Rwanda will be directly managing and implementing the mobile CT
component of the Healthy Schools Initiative. Principal activities to be
carried out by HHS-Rwanda include the following:
1. Design and printing of resource materials for CT clients (i.e.,
IEC pamphlets, care and treatment referral guides, prevention for
positives guidance).
2. Hiring and placement of a local mobile CT management unit within
the HHS-Rwanda office (this unit will consist of two youth counselor/
trainers and one community mobilizer/trainer).
3. Design and execution of two-day community preparation campaigns
in local languages in ten communities within Kigali City and Gitarama
province (to target school administrators and teachers, local
government officials and community leaders).
4. Recruitment and training of six volunteer community mobilizers
and ten volunteer youth counselors.
5. Procurement of a mobile CT vehicle, test kits, and CT equipment
and supplies.
6. Implementation of a pilot mobile CT campaign to target teachers,
upper secondary-school students and community members in ten
communities within Kigali City and Gitarama province (provision of
counseling and testing services to at least 5,000 individuals).
The grantee's involvement with the CT component will focus
primarily on integrating awareness of CT into the culturally and age-
appropriate behavior change curriculum through the development of a CT
module targeting students and parents. The grantee will also work with
HHS to harmonize deployment of the prevention and CT components.
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.
[[Page 48556]]
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. 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.
5. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as
necessary.
6. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
7. 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.
8. Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon, and
revise annually during validation of the first and subsequent annual
work plans. This could include expert technical assistance and targeted
training activities in specialized areas, such as strategic
information, project management, confidential counseling and testing,
palliative care, treatment literacy, and adult learning techniques.
9. 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.
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: $600,000 (This amount is an estimate for
the first 12-month budget period, and is subject to availability of
funds; it is anticipated to be increased progressively throughout the
life of the project.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $600,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
Floor of Award Range: $600,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $600,000 (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' 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
Domestic or foreign public, private nonprofit, and for profit
organizations may submit applications, such as:
Public, non-profit organizations
Private, non-profit organizations
For-profit organizations
Small, minority, women-owned businesses
Universities
Colleges
Research institutions
Hospitals
Community-based organizations
Faith-based organizations
Federally recognized Indian tribal governments
Indian tribes
Indian tribal organizations
State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents
(this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau)
Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with
States)
A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state
as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in
lieu of a state application. If applying as a bona fide agent of a
state or local government, a letter from the state or local government
as documentation of the status is required. Place this documentation
behind the first page of the application form.
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 you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the
award range, HHS will consider your 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.
Applications must demonstrate an overall match between the
applicant's vision and experience and the program priorities as
described.
Applications must demonstrate that the applicant is
capable of building effective and well-defined working relationships
with local governmental and non-governmental entities, which will help
ensure successful implementation of the proposed activities.
Eligibility should be documented through an institutional
capacity statement and letters of commitment from key project staff (to
be included in an appendix to the application).
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611
states that an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the
Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not
eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or
loan.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address to Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS
5161-1.
Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit your
application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted
for this announcement on http://www.Grants.gov, the official Federal agency
wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line are permitted
to forego paper
[[Page 48557]]
copy submission of all application forms.
Paper Submission: 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, 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: 30. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.
The budget and justification will not count toward the 30-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 narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
1. Goal and Objectives
a. Provide a goal statement relating to the project.
b. Enumerate measurable objectives by which to assess the success
of your program.
2. Plan of Action/Methods
a. Detail how your organization will achieve the stated goals and
objectives.
3. Timeline
a. Provide a timeline for the implementation of program activities.
4. Staff
a. Provide a list of staff that will be responsible for the
implementation of this project.
5. Performance Measures and Methods of Evaluation
6. Summary Budget composed 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 be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information includes the following:
Curriculum Vitas (CVs)/Resumes
Organizational Charts
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
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/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 12, 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 you 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. Electronic
applications will be considered 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 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 that the carrier will
be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC
receives the submission after the closing date 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 having been
received by the deadline.
If you submit a hard copy application, HHS/CDC will not notify you
upon receipt of the submission. If you have a question about the
receipt of the application, first contact the carrier. 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 Rwanda 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
[[Page 48558]]
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.
Needle Exchange--No funds appropriated under this Act
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles
or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
Prostitution and Related Activities: The U.S. Government is opposed
to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently harmful
and dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in
persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, or to 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.''
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:
Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit
applications 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 off-line, and then upload and submit the application via
the Grants.gov Web 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 recommended that you submit the 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 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:
[[Page 48559]]
Technical Information Management-CDC-RFA-AA105, 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.
Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Plan (30 Points)
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 in Rwanda and meet the goals
of the Emergency Plan? Is the plan well-articulated and adequate to
carry out the proposed objectives? How realistic and appropriate is the
plan, given local conditions and challenges? Does the plan include
process and outcome indicators? Does the application include an overall
design strategy, including measurable time lines, clear monitoring and
evaluation procedures, and specific activities for meeting the proposed
objectives?
2. Methods (25 Points)
Are the proposed methods feasible? Do they reflect a spirit of
cooperation with other key agencies and organizations in Rwanda? 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. Experience (25 Points)
Do the staff members have relevant programmatic experience working
in resource-limited settings and the ability to work in local
languages? Are staff roles clearly articulated? As described, will the
staff be sufficient to accomplish the program goals?
4. Administration and Management (20 points)
Does the applicant provide a clear plan for the administration and
management of the proposed activities, to manage the resources of the
program, prepare reports, monitor and evaluate activities and audit
expenditures?
5. Budget (Reviewed, But Not Scored)
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:
While U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply, we will give
preference to existing national/Rwandan 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
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-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-6 Patient Care
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
AR-23 States and Faith-Based Organizations
Applicants can find additional information on the 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 the Grants.gov electronic submission only.
Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf.
Once you have has 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
Rwanda.
f. Additional Requested Information.
[[Page 48560]]
2. Annual progress report, due 60 days after the end of the budget
period. The progress report will follow the format developed jointly by
the U.S. Government and the Government of Rwanda, consisting of
interventions, milestones, timelines, status explanations and budget
expenditures to date.
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: Valerie Koscelnik,
Project Officer, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention,
Address: HHS/CDC/US Embassy, Kigali, Rwanda, Telephone: +250 08303986,
E-mail: vak7@cdc.gov.
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 HHS Office of Global Health Affairs, Internet
address: http://www.globalhealth.gov.
Dated: August 11, 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. 05-16358 Filed 8-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P