[Federal Register: September 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 53204-53211]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se05-65]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Strengthening and Expanding HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care and Support
for Prostitutes and Their Associated Sexual Partners in the Republic of
Haiti as Part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA158.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 29, 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 241 and 2421] as
amended, and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership Against
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [22 U.S.C. 7601].
Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent
seven million infections by 2010, with a focus on 15 priority
countries, including 2 in the Caribbean. 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; care for 125,000 HIV-affected
individuals, including orphans.
Purpose: An essential element of preventing new cases of HIV in
Haiti is to ensure that groups engaged in high-risk behavior \1\ 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 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 a lack of clinical capacity.
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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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This cooperative agreement seeks to fund HIV/AIDS education,
prevention, and treatment activities targeted at prostitutes and their
associated sexual partners in Haiti, including by discouraging men from
visiting prostitutes. Extremely high-risk groups are a priority for the
national prevention effort in Haiti.
Prostitutes and their associated sexual partners have received
little to no attention in the Haitian national prevention effort to
stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Prostitutes in Haiti engage in an illegal
profession, and are thus very secretive and loosely organized through
informal and often clandestine networks, and establishing a
relationship with them to provide education, prevention, care and
treatment is very difficult. This high-risk population needs to be much
more engaged in the national prevention effort against the spread of
HIV/AIDS 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
[[Page 53205]]
transmission via blood transfusion and medical injections.
Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and related opportunistic infections by
improving STD management; enhancing care and treatment of opportunistic
infections, including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to
provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use
surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding
HIV/STD/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support
for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, disease-monitoring and HIV
screening for blood safety.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and
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 and Prevention (CDC) within HHS: Increase the
proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to appropriate
prevention, care and treatment services; 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, 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
.
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 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 grantee 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 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.
Awardee Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Establish anonymous clinics in Haiti for populations engaged in
high-risk behavior \2\ to address prevention, treatment and care to
decrease the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
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\2\ 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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2. Develop targeted local-language campaigns in Haiti to promote
prevention, care and treatment for prostitutes and their sexual
partners, including to discourage men from visiting prostitutes.
Awardees may not implement condom social marketing aimed at prostitutes
without promoting abstinence and faithfulness messages to current and
potential clients of prostitutes.
3. Develop referral networks with local Haitian organizations
(including faith-based groups) that provide advanced care and treatment
and support for HIV-positive persons.
4. Develop and implement an effective monitoring and evaluation
strategy according to the strategic-information guidelines established
by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, and report the required
indicators to the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator in a
timely manner.
5. Ensure that program objectives and work plan take into account
and are consistent with regional U.S. Government efforts to monitor and
combat trafficking in persons. Awardee must be prepared to work with
other organizations funded by the U.S. Government to conduct anti-
trafficking programs in the Carribean region, especially in the border
area between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Based on its competitive advantage and proven field experience, the
winning applicant will undertake a broad range of activities to meet
the numerical Emergency Plan targets outlined in this announcement.
Administration: The winning applicant 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), and comply with all policy
directives established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
HHS Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief it 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
[[Page 53206]]
in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as necessary.
6. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
7. Meet on an annual basis with grantee to review annual progress
report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work
plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational
Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
8. Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon, and
revise annually during validation of the first and subsequent annual
work plans. This could include expert technical assistance and targeted
training activities in specialized areas, such as strategic
information, project management, confidential counseling and testing,
palliative care, treatment literacy, and adult learning techniques.
9. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.
10. Provide equipment and commodities for new partner clinics
acquired through a transparent and competitive process.
11. Provide funds to renovate three existing clinics that provide
care to prostitutes and their associated sexual partners.
12. Provide drugs to treat sexually transmitted infections (STI)
and opportunistic infections (OI), acquired through a transparent and
competitive process.
13. Support an electronic medical record (EMR) database system;
provide and support a surveillance database system for case
notification.
14. Provide and install hardware necessary for the use of database
systems, and provision of technical assistance on database use and
maintenance needs.
15. Support operational research, and technical assistance for
operational research.
16.Support the annual technical review of service delivery programs
of new clinics.
17. Assist in organizing partner network meetings. (Such support
will not include financing.)
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,\3\ correct and consistent condom use.
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\3\ 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: $2,250,000 (This amount is an estimate,
and is subject to availability of funds).
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $450,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
Floor of Award Range: $400,000.
Ceiling of Award Range: $450,000 (This ceiling is for the first 12
month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: October 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
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
[[Page 53207]]
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)
In addition, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:
1. Be indigenous to Haiti
2. Have documented experience in strengthening and expanding HIV/
AIDS treatment, care and support for prostitutes and their associated
sexual partners
3. Have established working relationships with prostitutes and have
documented experience in providing care to them
4. Demonstrate current or past capacity to coordinate activities
with HHS and other agencies 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, your application will be considered non-responsive, and
will not enter into the review process. You will be notified 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 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 the applicant to
submit the application electronically by using the forms and
instructions posted for this announcement on http://www.Grants.gov, the
official Federal agency wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who
apply on-line are permitted to forego paper 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) 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. The narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
Maximum number of pages: 30. If your narrative exceeds the
page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will
be reviewed.
Font size: 12 point unreduced
Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
Page margin size: One inch
Double spaced
Numbered pages
Printed only on one side of page.
Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not
bound in any other way.
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:
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. Additionally, provide an
outline of goals and objective to be addressed in years two through
five.
Need--Describe the need for such services in Haiti.
Include any data on STI and HIV prevalence rates.
Capacity--Demonstrate the current capability/capacity of
organization.
Expansion--Identify and secure appropriate (accessible and
discreet) and suitable rental property for new voluntary confidential
counseling and testing (VCT) clinics in the following locations: Cap
Ha[iuml]tien; Jacmel; Gona[iuml]ves; or Saint Marc. The confidential
VCT clinics should be well-equipped to deliver prevention, care,
treatment, and referral in local languages for prostitutes and their
associated sexual partners, including by discouraging men from visiting
prostitutes.
Personnel--Recruit and hire clinic personnel to provide a
comprehensive HIV/AIDS service-delivery facility to address the needs
of the target population. This should include STI screening and
treatment, confidential HIV testing and counseling, and referrals for
care and treatment for HIV-positive persons.
Training--Coordinate local language training of local
health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, lab
technicians, pharmacy technicians, community health workers and peer
educators, in the following:
1. STI screening and treatment training.
2. Confidential counseling and testing (CT).
3. Design and implementation of care.
4. Monitoring and evaluation of programs.
5. Maintenance of laboratory equipment.
6. Laboratory safety and proper disposal of biohazardous materials
protocol.
7. Use of universal precautions and the management of needle-stick
or splash injuries.
8. In-service trainings for lab personnel to review new and best
practice techniques and solicit ``insider insight''--an account of
implementation success, and challenges in an effort to identify gaps in
resources or effectiveness of particular protocols.
Laboratory Capacity--Provide basic laboratory services in
support of HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment:
1. Perform CD4 counts.
2. Perform complete blood counts.
3. Perform HIV rapid testing.
4. Perform confirmatory HIV/AIDS testing.
5. Test for sexually transmitted infections (STI).
6. Provide counseling of test results.
7. Provide referrals to appropriate prevention, treatment care and
support services.
Drugs and Commodities--Procure drugs and commodities
through a transparent and competitive process:
1. STI drugs for HIV-positive persons.
2. Condoms. Awardees may not implement condom social marketing
aimed at prostitutes without also promoting abstinence and faithfulness
messages to current and potential clients of prostitutes.
(The awardees must obtain all appropriate approvals required by HHS
to purchase any medications.)
Outreach--Provide educational services in awareness,
prevention and
[[Page 53208]]
treatment of HIV/AIDS among current and potential clients of
prostitutes:
1. Develop target population-specific advertisement/health
promotion strategies to make this population aware of clinics through
peer education and to discourage them from visiting prostitutes.
2. Establish baseline information regarding knowledge of HIV/AIDS
transmission and sexual practices of the target population.
3. Assess attitudes and behaviors within the target population.
4. Develop and implement long-term behavioral-change communication
(BCC) campaigns, including to make visiting prostitutes outside of
community social norms.
5. Promote condom distribution and correct and consistent use for
populations engaged in high-risk behavior.\4\ Awardees may not
implement condom social marketing aimed at prostitutes without also
promoting abstinence and faithfulness messages to current and potential
clients of prostitutes.
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\4\ 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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Develop and implement behavior change strategies and long-
term campaigns, including information; education and communication
(IEC); targeted accessibility planning; and training programs for
prostitutes who are seeking alternative means to address economic
needs.
Management and Supervision--Manage and supervise clinic
operations and staff who perform CD4 counts:
1. Implement report-writing requirements.
2. Develop and implement a financial management system.
3. Engage in strategic planning.
4. Network with local partners within the private and public sector
to ensure an effective patient referral system between confidential VCT
and ART networks for patients who test HIV-positive.
Cross-Border Collaboration: Recipient will establish partnerships
with agencies in the bordering country of the Dominican Republic (DR)
to provide outreach to migrant prostitutes along the Haiti/DR border.
Monitoring and Evaluation--Implement monitoring and evaluation
strategies to assess programmatic effectiveness, including:
1. Number of the target population accessing clinical care.
2. Number of referrals made to appropriate prevention, treatment,
and care and support care networks.
3. Number of prevention promotion activities held, including events
to discourage men from visiting prostitutes.
4. Number and findings of participant evaluations.
You may include additional information in the application
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page
limit. This additional information includes:
Budget Justification (for first year only)
Curriculum Vitas or Resumes
Organizational Charts
Letters of Support
The budget justification will not count in the narrative page
limit.
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/grantmain.htm.
If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover
letter.
Additional requirements that could require you to submit additional
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: September 29, 2005.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline
date.
You may submit your application electronically at http://www.grants.gov.
We consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov 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 through 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 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 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 be
discard it. We will notify you that you did not meet the submission
requirements.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your
budget, are as follows:
Funds may not be used for research.
Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
Antiretroviral Drugs--Funds received from this
announcement will not be used for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs
for treatment of established HIV infection (with the
[[Page 53209]]
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.
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, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives;
however, prior approval by 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 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. Sec. 7102(9).
All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms
and conditions of the subagreement, must acknowledge that compliance
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. Government funds in
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the
agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS
may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents and materials
maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual course of its
operations that relate to the organization's compliance with this
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.' '')
addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime
recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government
funds in connection with this document.
Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving
U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount
furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and
Related Activities.''
You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements
Application Submission Address: Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications
electronically at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants can download the
application package from http://www.grants.gov. Applicants are able to
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 the
applicant has technical difficulties in Grants.gov, the applicant can
reach customer service 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 submittal of the application to Grants.gov
should be early to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the
deadline. Applicants may also submit a back-up paper submission of the
application. We must receive any such paper submission
[[Page 53210]]
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 the applicant submit the grant
application by using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word,
Microsoft Excel, etc.). If the applicant does not have access to
Microsoft Office products, the applicant may submit a PDF file. The
applicant may find directions for creating PDF 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-AA158, 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. Need (20 Points)
To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program
within the target community?
2. 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 developed for each program milestone and
incorporated into the financial and programmatic reports? Are all the
indicators drawn from the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Indicator
Guide, found at http://www.pepfarhaiti.com? Will the system generate
financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and
progress towards achieving the program objectives of the President's
Plan for AIDS Relief?
3. 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? How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire
project period? Does the plan include quantitative process and outcome
measures?
4. Methods (15 Points)
Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they
accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?
5. Personnel (15 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?
6. Eligibility (10 points)
Organizations indigenous to Haiti must have between three to five
years of experience in provision of STI and HIV/AIDS care to
prostitutes and their associated sexual partners, and must currently
have high coverage in zones with rampant prostitution, including along
the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Organizations must
be willing and able to undertake campaigns to discourage men from
visiting prostitutes.
7. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored)
Is the budget itemized, well justified and consistent with the
five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan 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 the 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.
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
October 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
Successful applicants must comply with the administrative
requirements outlined in 45 CFR Part 74, as appropriate.
The following additional requirements apply to this project:
AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-6 Patient Care
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data
Applicants may 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
.
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.
Applicants need to include an additional Certifications form from
the
[[Page 53211]]
PHS5161-1 application in the Grants.gov electronic submission only.
Applicants should refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf.
Once the applicant has filled out the form, please
attach it 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 AIDS Relief for
Haiti.
f. Additional Requested Information.
2. Annual Progress Reports are due within 30 days of the end of
each budget period. The report should detail progress toward achieving
program milestones and projected next year activities. You must be
develop indicators for each program milestone and incorporate them into
the annual financial and programmatic reports. The report should
include progress against the numerical goals of the President's
Emergency Plan AIDS Relief for Haiti.
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. The applicant
must develop indicators for each program milestone and incorporate them
into the periodic financial and programmatic reports. The applicant
must draw indicators from The Emergency Plan Indicator Guide.
4. Final 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, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 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, 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.
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 31, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-17673 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P