[Federal Register: August 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 160)]
[Notices]
[Page 48734-48740]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19au05-59]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Strengthen and Expand the National Capacity for TB/HIV National
Program through Support to the Central Tuberculosis (TB) Unit of the
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Haiti for Improved TB/HIV
Integration
Announcement Type: New Competitive Cooperative Agreement.
Funding Opportunity Number: AA170.
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].
Purpose: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The
Emergency Plan) has called for immediate action to turn the tide of
HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The Emergency Plan hopes to
prevent at least seven million new cases of HIV infection; provide
treatment to two million HIV-infected people; and provide care to ten
million people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans and
vulnerable children, world wide by 2010. An essential element of
preventing new cases of HIV is to ensure that high-risk groups have
adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities. Haiti's
HIV prevalence rate in adults is reported to be 5.6 percent, according
to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2004 Annual
Report. Access to prevention and treatment is limited to the Haitian
population because of the underdeveloped public health infrastructure
and lack of clinical capacity. To improve this capacity, this
cooperative agreement will provide much needed funding and resources
under the President's Emergency Plan.
Over the same time period, as part of a collective national
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Haiti are to treat at
least 25,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 125,000 HIV-affected
individuals, including orphans.
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) of the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) within HHS: Increase the proportion of HIV-infected
people who are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment;
strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor the epidemic; develop and
implement effective HIV prevention interventions; and evaluate
prevention programs.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS. If applicants propose 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:
Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
1. Provide technical assistance to the National TB Program of the
Haitian Ministry of Health (MOH) to assist in TB/HIV integrated
services and strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of TB among HIV
positive patients.
2. Reinforce the capacity of the Haitian MOH and the Departmental
Directorates to perform supervision and quality assurance/quality
control of TB/HIV care at the departmental and local levels.
3. Conduct a needs assessment of stand-alone TB clinics in Haiti,
and their capacity for detecting and managing dual-infected patients.
4. Increase capacity for training TB providers in confidential HIV
[[Page 48735]]
counseling and testing (CT), through training-of-trainers in local
languages, and procurement of training materials in a transparent
process.
5. Integrate surveillance of HIV into the existing electronic TB
surveillance system, and create linkages with the HIV surveillance
system.
6. Assist the Haitian MOH in the revision of norms and standards
for the management of HIV-infected TB patients, and develop guidelines,
training materials, and algorithms in local languages based on the
revised norms and standards.
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. Provide technical assistance in the areas of TB/HIV
surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and developing guidelines,
norms, and training materials, facilitated by the HHS Atlanta Country
Support Team and the HHS Haiti Technical Officers for Care and
Treatment, Surveillance, and TB/HIV.
2. Support for an electronic medical record (EMR) database system,
and surveillance database system, for TB/HIV case notification, in
compliance with strategic information guidance established by the
Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
3. Support installation of hardware necessary for the use of
database systems and provide technical assistance on database use and
maintenance needs.
4. Support the annual technical review of the national AIDS/TB/STI
program in Haiti.
5. Provide equipment and commodities for new partner clinics,
purchased in a transparent and competitive process.
6. Support the annual technical review of service-delivery programs
of new clinics.
7. Assist in organizing partner network meetings.
Additional HHS activities include the following:
1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief them
on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations,
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
2. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select key
personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator.
3. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
4. 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 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: $1,000,000 (This amount is an estimate
for the entire five-year project period, and is subject to availability
of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $200,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.).
Floor of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-
month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-
month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
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
To meet the eligibility criteria for this program announcement,
applicants must be indigenous to Haiti; must have documented experience
in TB/HIV; must currently be providing extensive technical assistance
to the MOH TB/HIV program; must have extensive experience in collecting
samples and implementing Directly Observed Therapy Strategy (DOTS) in
community settings in local languages; and must already be integrated
into the national TB/HIV program.
This cooperative agreement seeks to fund activities that will
integrate TB and HIV diagnosis and treatment. This program depends upon
the ability of the grantee to work with these two separate national
programs and strive to integrate them. At the end of the first year of
the project period, the grantee must be detecting HIV positive
individuals and referring them for treatment at TB sites, and detecting
individuals with active TB and referring them for treatment by the
national TB program. The integration of these two programs will result
in identifying more HIV and TB patients. Both target groups are at high
risk for transmission, and heretofore the national prevention effort in
Haiti is not addressing them in a consistent manner.
To meet the goals of the Emergency Plan within the time allotted,
any program applicant must be able to demonstrate it already has
developed a working relationship and has experience with both the
Haitian national TB program and the Haitian national program to control
HIV/AIDS. These are two separate departments in the MOH, and will be a
challenge to integrate because of a lack of support
[[Page 48736]]
systems to treat TB/HIV in an integrated manner. Therefore, an
organization must demonstrate it has at least three to five years of
experience in working with both the Haitian national TB and HIV/AIDS
control programs.
Eligible applicants should also demonstrate capacity to coordinate
their activities with HHS and other members of the United States
Government.
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 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.
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 the paper 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, you may contact the HHS/CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) 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.
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Page margin size: One inch
Double-spaced
Number all pages of the application sequentially from page
one (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including
charts, figures, tables, and appendices.
Printed only on one side of page.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
bound in any other way.
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.
Need: Description of need for strengthened TB services for
HIV-infected TB patients in Haiti. Include data on TB incidence rates
among HIV positive persons, TB incidence rates in the general
population, and the status of existing TB and TB/HIV control
activities.
Capacity: Current capability/capacity of organization to
perform required elements of this program announcement, and to support
the strengthening and expansion of the national TB diagnostic and
treatment services for HIV positive patients.
Expansion: Describe detailed plans for use of funds to
expand and improve existing TB diagnosis and treatment services for HIV
positive patients.
Personnel: Plans for recruitment of staff and personnel to
carry out the proposed activities.
Training: Plans for training of current staff in TB
screening and treatment among HIV positive patients, and HIV CT for TB
staff.
Laboratory Capacity: Provide basic laboratory services in
support of TB diagnosis and treatment for HIV positive patients.
Commodities: Procure commodities necessary for screening
and treatment of TB disease.
Outreach: Provide educational services to address
awareness, prevention, and treatment of TB in communities affected by
HIV/AIDS.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement monitoring and
evaluation strategies to assess programmatic effectiveness, as well as
provision of the required targets for Emergency Plan reporting,
including:
1. Number of service outlets providing clinical prophylaxis and/or
treatment for TB for HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed).
2. Number of HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed) who
receive clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for TB.
3. Number of individuals trained to provide clinical prophylaxis
and/or treatment for TB to HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or
presumed).
4. Number of people trained in the lab for TB/HIV diagnosis.
5. Number of TB/HIV service outlets.
6. Number of TB patients tested for HIV.
Budget: A budget is required for the first year only, and
the budget justification will not be counted in the stated page limit.
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page
limit. This additional information includes:
Budget and Budget Justification.
Curriculum Vitas or Resumes.
Organizational Charts.
Letters of Support.
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.
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,
[[Page 48737]]
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.pdf. 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 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 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], the 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 having been received by the
deadline.
If a hard copy application is submitted, 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. You will be notified 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
[[Page 48738]]
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
sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the sub-agreement, 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 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 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 the
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, a PDF
file may be submitted. 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
Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail
or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--
AA170, 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. You must submit these measures of
effectiveness with your application, and they will be an element of
evaluation.
We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:
1. Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (25 Points)
Implement a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities
based on monitoring information. Applicants must develop indicators for
each program milestone and incorporate them into the financial and
programmatic reports. All indicators must come from the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Indicator Guide. Applicants must be able
to generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of
funds, and progress towards achieving program objectives.
2. Plan (25 Points)
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 Haiti to achieve the goals of
the Emergency Plan? Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed
objectives? How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire
project period? Does the plan include quantitative process and outcome
measures? Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to deliver the
proposed interventions in a culturally appropriate manner and in local
languages?
3. Need (20 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 and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan? To what extent does
the applicant justify the need for this program within the target
community?
4. Methods (15 Points)
Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they
accomplish the program goals? Does the application include an overall
design strategy,
[[Page 48739]]
including measurable time lines, clear monitoring and evaluation
procedures, and specific activities for meeting the proposed
objectives? 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?
5. Personnel (15 Points)
Do the staff members have appropriate experience? Are the staff
roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to
accomplish the program goals and do they have the ability to perform
activities in local languages?
6. Budget and Justification (Reviewed But Not Scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with
justification, reasonable, and consistent with stated objectives and
planned program activities?
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the USG Web
site, at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
V.2. Review and Selection Process
The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review
applications for completeness, and HHS Global AIDS program will review
them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that
are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through
the review process. Applicants will receive notification that their
application did not meet submission requirements.
An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria''
section above. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to
the U.S. Government Country Program Office. The panel may include both
Federal and non-Federal participants.
In addition, the following factors could affect the funding
decision:
It is possible for one organization to apply as lead grantee with a
plan that includes partnering with other organizations, preferably
local. Although matching funds are not required, preference will go to
organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to
program goals.
In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
Maintaining geographic diversity.
Preference to organizations in certain geographic areas.
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-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-6 Patient Care
AR-8 Public Health Reporting Requirements
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
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 the Grants.gov electronic submission only.
Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf.
Once you have filled out the form, it should be
attached to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.
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 and Objectives.
b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activities and Objectives.
d. Budget and budget narrative with justification.
e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for Haiti.
f. Additional Information.
2. Annual Reports are due within each budget period. The report
should detail progress toward achieving program milestones and
projected next year activities. Indicators must be developed for each
program milestone and incorporated into the annual financial and
programmatic reports. All indicators need to be drawn from The
Emergency Plan.
3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period. The financial report must show obligations,
disbursements and funds remaining by program activity. Indicators must
be developed for each program milestone and incorporated into the
periodic financial and programmatic reports. All indicators need to be
drawn from The Emergency Plan Indicator Guide.
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: Kathy Grooms, Country
Program Officer, HHS/CDC, NCHSTP, Global AIDS Program, 6600 Clifton
Road, MS E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail:
Kgrooms@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants
Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: VEW4@CDC.GOV.
[[Page 48740]]
VIII. Other Information
Applicants can find this and other HHS/CDC 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 12, 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. 05-16430 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P