[Federal Register: August 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 160)]
[Notices]
[Page 48745-48751]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19au05-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Strengthening and Expanding Anti-Retroviral (ARV) Treatment
Through the Provision of Social Support Services to HIV/AIDS-Infected
and Affected Populations in the Central Plateau and Saint Marc
Communities of the Republic of Haiti, as Part of the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA214.
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 Sections 242l and
247b(k)(2)], as amended and under Public Law 108-25 (United States
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [22
U.S.C. 7601].
Purpose: 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 Haiti are to treat at
least 25,000 HIV-infected individuals; and care for 125,000 HIV-
affected individuals, including orphans.
Haiti's HIV prevalence rate in adults is reported at 5.6 percent,
according to the 2004 Annual Report of the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Access to prevention and treatment is
limited among the Haitian population because of an underdeveloped
public health infrastructure and lack of clinical capacity.
Purpose: The purpose of this funding announcement is to build
progressively an indigenous, sustainable response to the national HIV
epidemic through the rapid expansion of innovative, culturally
appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention and care interventions,
and improved linkages to HIV counseling and testing and HIV treatment
by targeting rural and other underserved populations in Haiti.
Under the leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as part
of the President's Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) works with host countries and other key partners
to assess the needs of each country and design a customized program of
assistance that fits within the host nation's strategic plan.
HHS focuses on two or three major program areas in each country.
Goals and priorities include the following:
Achieving primary prevention of HIV infection through
activities such as expanding confidential counseling and testing
programs, building programs to reduce mother-to-child transmission, and
strengthening programs to reduce transmission via blood transfusion and
medical injections.
Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and related opportunistic infections by
improving STD management; enhancing care and treatment of opportunistic
infections, including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to
provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use
surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding
HIV/STD/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support
for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment,
[[Page 48746]]
disease-monitoring and HIV screening for blood safety.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If
an applicant proposes research activities, HHS will not review the
application. For the definition of ``research,'' please see the HHS/CDC
Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm
.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and
one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National
Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis
Prevention (NCHSTP), within HHS/CDC: Increase the proportion of HIV-
infected people who are linked to appropriate prevention, care and
treatment services, and strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor
the epidemic, develop and implement effective HIV prevention
interventions and evaluate prevention programs.
Activities: The recipient of these funds is responsible for
activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved
populations in Haiti. Either the awardee will implement activities
directly or will implement them through its subgrantees and/or
subcontractors; the awardee will retain overall financial and
programmatic management under the oversight of HHS/CDC and the
strategic direction of the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
The awardee must show a measurable progressive reinforcement of the
capacity of indigenous organizations and local communities to respond
to the national HIV epidemic, as well as progress towards the
sustainability of activities.
Applicants should describe activities in detail as part of a 4-year
action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 inclusive) that
reflects the policies and goals outlined in the 5-year strategy for the
President's Emergency Plan.
The grantee will produce an annual operational plan in the context
of this 4-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team on
the ground in Haiti will review as part of the annual Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The grantee
may work on some of the activities listed below in the first year and
in subsequent years, and then progressively add others from the list to
achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the
previous section. HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator, will approve funds for activities on an annual basis,
based on documented performance toward achieving Emergency Plan goals,
as part of the annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process.
Specific awardee activities for this program are as follows:
1. Build the capacity of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and care
facilities in Haiti's rural Central Plateau and Saint Marc communities.
2. Train local health care personnel in local languages in
administering treatment, care and testing services to populations
infected with HIV or at risk of infection with HIV/AIDS in the Central
Plateau and Saint Marc communities.
3. Identify potential patient participants for ARV treatment, care
and disease maintenance.
4. Expand health care delivery areas and increase the number of
eligible recipients of clinical care in underserved communities in the
Central Plateau and Saint Marc.
5. Monitor clinical contact with HIV-positive patients.
6. Implement evaluation strategies for program interventions.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
HHS Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief them
on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations,
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
2. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select key
personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator.
3. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
4. 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. Collaborate with the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP) and
partners to strengthen confidential voluntary counseling and testing/
prevention of mother-to-child transmission (VCT/PMTCT) sites and
regional ARV treatment sites.
10. Provide equipment and commodities (excluding ARV drugs) through
a transparent and competitive process to all VCT/PMTCT sites and ARV
sites.
11. Support the development of an electronic medical record (EMR)
database system, and a surveillance database system for HIV/AIDS case
notification in conformation with the strategic-information guidance
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
12. Support the installation of hardware necessary for the
operation of these database systems, acquired through a transparent and
competitive process.
13. Support operational research and technical assistance for
operational research.
14. Support the annual technical review of the National AIDS, TB
and STI Program in Haiti.
15. Assist in organizing national and regional meetings (support
will not include financing).
Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have
successfully competed for funding
[[Page 48747]]
under a separate HHS contract, cooperative agreement or grant will
provide technical assistance and training.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goals for the Emergency Plan:
A. Prevention
Number of individuals trained to provide HIV prevention
interventions, including abstinence, faithfulness, and, for populations
engaged in high-risk behaviors,\1\ correct and consistent condom use.
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\1\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission including
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one
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.
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1. Abstinence (A) and Be Faithful (B)
Number of community outreach and/or mass media (radio)
programs that are A/B focused
Number of individuals reached through community outreach
and/or mass media (radio) programs that are A/B focused.
B. Care and Support
1. Confidential Counseling and Testing
Number of patients who accept confidential counseling and
testing in a health-care setting.
Number of clients served, direct.
Number of people trained in confidential counseling and
testing, direct, including health-care workers.
2. Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Number of service outlets/programs, direct and/or indirect.
Number of clients (OVC) served, direct and/or indirect.
Number of persons trained to serve OVC, direct.
3. Palliative Care: Basic Health Care and Support
Number of service outlets/programs that provide palliative
care, direct and/or indirect.
Number of service outlets/programs that link HIV care with
malaria and tuberculosis care and/or referral, direct and/or indirect.
Number of clients served with palliative care, direct and/
or indirect.
Number of persons trained in providing palliative care,
direct.
C. HIV Treatment With ART
Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.
Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.
D. Strategic Information
Number of persons trained in strategic information,
direct.
E. Expanded Indigenous Sustainable Response
Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure the
following:
a. Indigenous capacity-building.
b. Progress toward sustainability.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
Approximate Total Funding: $7,500,000 (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: $1,500,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs).
Floor of Award Range: $1,500,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $1,500,000 (This ceiling is for the first
12-month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: 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
Public and private non-profit and for-profit organizations may
submit applications, such as:
Public, non-profit organizations
Private, non-profit organizations
For-profit organizations
Small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses
Colleges
Universities
Hospitals
Community-based organizations
Faith-based organizations
In addition, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:
1. Be indigenous to Haiti
2. Have a minimum of three years of experience in HIV/AIDS and TB
care
3. Have documented experience in providing fully integrated HIV/
AIDS and health care to residents of the Central Plateau region of
Haiti.
4. Demonstrate the capacity to expand existing fully integrated
HIV/AIDS care in the Central Plateau and Saint Marc regions of Haiti.
5. Must already be integrated into the national HIV/AIDS program.
III. 2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds
Matching funds are not required for this program. Although matching
funds are not required, funding 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, we 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.
Applicants must provide documentation that substantiates
eligibility criteria. Such proof could include, but is not limited to,
official documents that describe legal organizational status, annual,
financial, and audit reports, etc.
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.
[[Page 48748]]
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: 25. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Double-spaced
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.
All pages should be numbered
Your application MUST be submitted in English
Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the
entire project period, and must include the following items in the
order listed:
Project Context and Background (Understanding and Need)
Project Strategy--Description and Methodologies
Project Goals
Project Outputs
Project Contribution to the Goals and Objectives of the
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Work Plan and Description of Project Components and
Activities
Performance Measures
Timeline (e. g. , GANNT Chart)
Management of Project Funds and Reporting.
You may include additional information in the application
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page
limit. This additional information includes the following:
Project Budget and Justification
Curriculum vitae of current staff who will work on the
activity
Job descriptions of proposed key positions to be created
for the activity
Quality-Assurance, Monitoring-and-Evaluation, and
Strategic-Information Forms
Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement
Letters of Support
Evidence of Legal Organizational Structure
Applicants must provide documentation that substantiates
their well-developed management and financial controls and ability to
implement HIV activities with reach to rural areas of Haiti. Such proof
could include, but is not limited to, annual, financial, and audit
reports, etc.
The budget justification will not count in the narrative page
limit.
Although the narrative addresses activities for the entire project,
the applicant should provide a detailed budget only for the first year
of activities, while addressing budgetary plans for subsequent years.
You must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the
Federal Government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification
number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS
number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access
http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at: http://
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 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 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
the deadline if the applicant organization's Authorizing Official has
submitted the application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the
deadline date and time.
If you submit your application electronically with Grants.gov, your
application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve
as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt
when HHS/CDC receives the application.
If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure the carrier will be
able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC
receives your submission after closing because: (1) Carrier error, when
the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the
closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural
disasters, you will have the opportunity to submit documentation of the
carrier's guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem,
HHS/CDC will consider the submission as received by the deadline.
If you submit a hard copy application, 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.
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.
Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes,
including personnel,
[[Page 48749]]
training, travel, supplies and services. Equipment may be purchased and
renovations completed 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) relating
to the management of sub-grants to local organizations and improving
their capacity.
You must obtain an annual audit of these HHS/CDC funds
(program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international
branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s)
approved in writing by HHS/CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, prior to
or post award, to review the applicant's business management and fiscal
capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.
Prostitution and Related Activities
The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a
prevention method or treatment program to which the recipient has a
religious or moral objection. Any information provided by recipients
about the use of condoms as part of projects or activities that are
funded in connection with this document shall be medically accurate and
shall include the public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
In addition, any recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not
apply to any ``exempt organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization and
its six Regional Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or
to any United Nations agency).
The following definition applies for purposes of this clause:
Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring,
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the subagreement, must acknowledge that compliance
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. Government funds in
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the
agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS
may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents and materials
maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual course of its
operations that relate to the organization's compliance with this
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.' '')
addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime
recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document.
Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving
U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount
furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities.''
You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
Application Submission Address: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to
submit electronically at: http://www.grants.gov You will be able to download a copy of the application package from http://www.grants.gov.,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application via the
Grants.gov site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are
having technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-
mail at support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-
GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
eastern time, Monday through Friday.
HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov
early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the
deadline. You may also submit a back-up paper submission of your
application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance
with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3.
of the grant announcement.
You must clearly mark the paper submission: ``BACK-UP FOR
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.''
The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-
electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper
submissions by the deadline, we will
[[Page 48750]]
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--AA214, 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. Work Plan (20 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? Does the work plan include quantitative, process and
outcome measures?
2. Need (10 Points)
To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program
within the target community?
3. Program Experience (20 points)
Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of
the interventions it intends to provide?
4. Methods (20 Points)
Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they
accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?
5. Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (20 Points)
Does the applicant describe a system for reviewing and adjusting
program activities based on monitoring information? Does the plan
include indicators for each program milestone and incorporated into the
financial and programmatic reports? Are all indicators drawn from the
Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Is the system able to generate
financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and
progress towards achieving the objectives of the President's Emergency
Plan?
6. Personnel (10 Points)
Do the staff members have appropriate experience, including local-
language skills? Are the staff roles clearly defined? As described,
will the staff be sufficient to accomplish the program goals?
7. Budget (Not Scored)
Is the budget itemized, well-justified and consistent with the
five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan and
Emergency Plan activities in Haiti?
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 in Haiti. The panel can
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, funding
preference will 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-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-7 Executive Order 12372
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
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 PHS
5161-1 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 your 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 (in English).
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:
[[Page 48751]]
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
Haiti.
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
Haiti.
3. Financial status report, due no more than 90 days after the end
of the budget period.
4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management 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, CDC, NCHSTP, Global AIDS Program, 1600 Clifton Road,
MS E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, Email:
Kgrooms@cdc.gov.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Vivian Walker, Contracts 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.
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 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. 05-16434 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P