[Federal Register: August 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 160)]
[Notices]
[Page 48764-48770]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19au05-64]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Expansion of HIV/AIDS Care Training Activities in the Republic of
Kenya Under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: AA174.
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 Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22
U.S.C. 2151b, and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership
against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2004) [22 U.S.C.
7601].
Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent
seven million infections by 2010, with a focus on 15 priority
countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year strategy
for the Emergency Plan is available at the following Internet address:
http://www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.
Over the same time period, as part of a collective national
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Kenya are to treat at
least 250,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 1,250,000 HIV-
affected individuals, including orphans.
Purpose: The purpose of the program is to support implementation of
HIV treatment training programs in Kenya as part of President Bush's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Access to anti-retroviral treatment for
HIV in Kenya is expanding rapidly, and the needs for human capacity
development are very substantial. The National AIDS and STD Control
Program of the Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH) has developed training
curricula; there is a need for partners to conduct these trainings and
develop and provide programs for follow up.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
numerical goals of the President's Plan for AIDS Relief and 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
and Prevention (CDC) within HHS: Initiate, expand or strengthen HIV/
AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support activities globally. They
will also continue to contribute to the goals of the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The Emergency Plan) to prevent seven
million new infections, provide ten million people with care and
support (including those orphaned/vulnerable by HIV/AIDS) and place two
million people on anti-retroviral treatment.
This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS/CDC. If applicants propose research, HHS/CDC will not review the
application. For the definition of ``research,'' please see the HHS/CDC
Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm
.
Activities: The recipient of these funds is responsible for
activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved
populations in Kenya. Either the awardee will implement activities
directly or will implement them through its subgrantees and/or
subcontractors; the awardee will retain overall financial and
programmatic management under the oversight of HHS/CDC and the
strategic direction of the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
The awardee must show a measurable progressive reinforcement of the
capacity of indigenous organizations and local communities to respond
to the national HIV epidemic, as well as progress towards the
sustainability of activities.
Applicants should describe activities in detail as part of a four-
year action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 inclusive)
that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the five-year strategy
for the President's Emergency Plan.
The awardee will produce an annual operational plan in the context
of this four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team
on the ground in Kenya 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
[[Page 48765]]
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.Adapt training materials related to a continuum of HIV treatment
from facility-based care (including the provision of anti-retroviral
therapy {ART{time} ) to care at the community level (home-based care),
in collaboration with Kenyan and U.S. Government agencies and non-
governmental organizations in Kenya.
2. Conduct classroom and practical training related to HIV
treatment.
3. Provide follow-up trainings, continuing medical education, and
supportive supervisory visits for trainees to ensure optimal quality of
program implementation following classroom training.
4. Participate in the provision of HIV care at supported sites to
maintain familiarity with clinical practice and the challenges faced by
those who provide HIV care in these settings, and to assist with
current staffing shortages at the supported clinics.
5. Assist with integration of HIV care with other interventions,
such as home-based care, tuberculosis (TB) treatment, malaria
treatment, and other HIV-related care through training and supportive
supervision.
6. Develop plans for sustainable training programs (i.e., through
linkages with local training facilities).
7. Provide regular and timely reports of activities to both the
Kenya USG interagency team and to appropriate Ministry of Health
Officials on indicators as required by the Emergency Plan and the Kenya
National AIDS Strategic Plan.
Administration: Winning applicants must 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.) Winning applicants must
comply with all policy directives established by the Office of the U.S.
Global AIDS Coordinator.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS/CDC 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 awardee to brief them
on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations,
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
2. Review and approve the process used by the awardee to select key
personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator. Participate in the training of health staff for the
program activities.
3. Review and approve awardee's annual work plan and detailed
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
4. Review and approve awardee's monitoring and evaluation plan,
including for compliance with the strategic information guidance
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
5. Meet on a monthly basis with awardee to assess monthly
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as
necessary.
6. Meet on a quarterly basis with awardee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
7. Meet on an annual basis with awardee to review annual progress
report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work
plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational
Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
8. Participate in technical review meetings during the
implementation of the program.
9. Review training materials and plans to ensure quality of these
materials.
10. Assist in the identification of trainees; support
implementation of programs by the trainees; and participate in the
evaluation of programs implemented by the trainees.
11. Play an active role in development of curricula and training
courses, including provision of technical assistance.
12. Work with other stakeholders, including faith- and community-
based organizations, to continuously evaluate curriculum and training
needs, and adapt training as necessary to meet the program needs in
Kenya.
13. Working with the awardee, HHS will develop a monitoring
evaluation system to monitor the impact of the programs, consistent
with the strategic information guidance established by the Office of
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
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.
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.
[[Page 48766]]
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:
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: $2,000,000 (This amount is an estimate,
and is subject to availability of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One or Two.
Approximate Average Award: $250,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct and indirect costs).
Floor of Award Range: None.
Ceiling of Award Range: $400,000 (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, as determined by the annual review
and approval of Country Operational Plans, managed by the U.S. Global
AIDS Coordinator.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Public and private non-profit organizations and by the Kenyan
national government, local governments in Kenya, and their agencies may
submit applications, such as:
Public, non-profit organizations
Private, non-profit organizations
Small, minority and women-owned businesses
Universities
Colleges
Research institutions
Hospitals
Community-based organizations
Faith-based organizations
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Have at least three years of documented experience in
implementing HIV training programs in Kenya with a focus on developing
follow-up support to ensure optimal program implementation following
training.
2. Have an existing program in Kenya and/or existing partnerships
with national and local MOH staff and training institutions in Kenya
such that the applicant can begin training activities with little
start-up time.
3. Have demonstrated skills related to working through, and
building the local capacity of MOH staff at the national, provincial,
district and facility levels to plan and implement training programs.
4. Have experience in developing training programs across a
continuum of care in HIV, from health facility to community.
5. Have experience in promoting the multi-disciplinary approach to
HIV care outlined in the policy of the National AIDS and STD Control
Program in Kenya and the 5-year strategy of the President's Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief.
Competition for this cooperative agreement is limited to the types
of organizations listed above because of the uniqueness of the specific
activities for this project and the location of where the majority of
the work will be performed. The types of organizations listed above are
those that have direct experience with performing this type of
activity.
The organizations listed below are those that are excluded from
competition:
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)
The organizations listed directly above are excluded from
competition because inherently they neither have a mandate to, nor have
the resources, skills or experience to, provide the types of services
requested as part of this cooperative agreement.
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 be entered into the review process. We will notify you that your
application did not meet submission requirements.
HHS/CDC will consider late applications will be considered
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. 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.
[[Page 48767]]
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.
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:
Plan--What is the plan for this project?
Methods--What methods will be used to conduct activities?
Objectives--What objectives will be achieved by
undertaking this project?
Timeline--When will activities be undertaken and
objectives reached?
Staff--What staff will be employed to implement the
activities?
Understanding--What is the understanding of this project
and the impact it will have on HIV/AIDS treatment in Kenya?
Need--What is the need for this project in Kenya?
Performance Measures--What evaluation procedures will be
used to determine if the objectives of the project are being met?
Budget and justification of planned expenditures. Budget
is only requested for the first year of program activities. The budget
justification will not be counted in the page limit stated above.
You may include additional information in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit. This additional information includes:
Curriculum Vitaes
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/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
applications 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 that 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 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.
Funds may not be used for reimbursement of pre-award
costs.
Funds may not be used for any new construction.
Antiretroviral drugs--the purchase of ARVs, reagents, and
laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment projects require pre-
approval from HHS/CDC officials.
Needle exchange--No funds appropriated under this
solicitation shall be used to carry out any program of distributing
sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal
drug.
Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes,
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives,
however, prior approval by 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
[[Page 48768]]
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).
An annual audit of these funds is required 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. The audit
should specify the use of funds and the appropriateness and
reasonableness of expenditures.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required,
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S.
Federal funds.
Prostitution and Related Activities: The U.S. Government is opposed
to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently harmful
and dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in
persons.
Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a
prevention method or treatment program to which the recipient has a
religious or moral objection. Any information provided by recipients
about the use of condoms as part of projects or activities that are
funded in connection with this document shall be medically accurate and
shall include the public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
In addition, any recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not
apply to any ``exempt organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization and
its six Regional Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or
to any United Nations agency).
The following definition applies for purposes of this clause:
Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring,
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the 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: 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 (1-800-518-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 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 direction 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 the following address:
Technical Information Management Section--AA174, CDC Procurement
and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
[[Page 48769]]
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 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 meet the goals of the Emergency Plan in Kenya? 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 Kenya to achieve the goals of
the Emergency Plan? Does the plan include quantitative process and
outcome measures?
2. Methods (30 Points)
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? 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. Personnel (20 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?
4. Need (20 Points)
To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program
within the target community?
5. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, But Not Scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with the
justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and
planned program activities?
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 be go
to organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to
program goals.
In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
No award will be made without the concurrence of the U.S.
Embassy and the HHS/CDC representative for Sudan.
HHS/CDC will provide justification for any decision to
fund out of rank order if there are other factors beyond the
concurrence of the U.S Embassy.
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 System Reporting Requirements
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
AR-25 Release and Sharing 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
.
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 Kenya.
f. Additional Requested Information.
2. Annual progress report, due 90 days after the end of the budget
period.
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
[[Page 48770]]
Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone:
770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Elizabeth Marum, Project
Officer, HHS/CDC, Mbagathi Way, Off Mbagathi Road, Nairobi, Kenya,
Telephone: 254 20 271 3008, E-mail: Emarum@cdcnairobi.mimcom.net.
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Diane Flournoy, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and
Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2072, E-mail:
Dflournoy@cdc.gov.
VIII. Other Information
Applicants can find this and other 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. 05-16448 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P