*  This order of items on this Agenda reflects a motion made during the first portion of the meeting held on July 22, 2005, modifying the original Agenda published in the Federal Register on page 40980, July 15, 2005.

Take notice that on August 9, 2005, Columbia Gas Storage, 20333 State Highway 249, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77070, filed a petition for Exemption of Temporary Acts and Operations from Certificate Requirements, pursuant to Rule 207(a)(5) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.207(a)(5)), and section 7(c)(1)(B) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717(c)(1)(B)), seeking approval of an exemption from certificate requirements to perform temporary activities related to drilling a test well and performing other activities to assess the feasibility of developing an underground natural gas storage facility in Benton County, Washington, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. The filing may also be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call (202) 502-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.

Any questions regarding the petition should be directed to Joseph H. Fagan, Heller Ehrman LLP, 1717 Rhode Island Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20036-3001 and Phone: 202-912-2162; Fax 202-912-2020.

There are two ways to become involved in the Commission's review of this project. First, any person wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 14 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding.

Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project, or in support of or in opposition to this project, should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the Commission's environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission's environmental review process. Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. The Commission's rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the applicant. However, the non-party commenters will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission's final order.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests, and interventions via the internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site ( http://www.ferc.gov ) under the “e-Filing” link.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on August 22, 2005.

On July 22, 2003, Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area, licensee for the Bryson Project No. 2601, filed an application for a new or subsequent license pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission's regulations thereunder. Project No. 2601 is located on the Oconaluftee River in Swain County, North Carolina.

The license for Project No. 2601 was issued for a period ending July 31, 2005. Section 15(a)(1) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. 808(a)(1), requires the Commission, at the expiration of a license term, to issue from year to year an annual license to the then licensee under the terms and conditions of the prior license until a new license is issued, or the project is otherwise disposed of as provided in section 15 or any other applicable section of the FPA. If the project's prior license waived the applicability of section 15 of the FPA, then, based on section 9(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c), and as set forth at 18 CFR 16.21(a), if the licensee of such project has filed an application for a subsequent license, the licensee may continue to operate the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license after the minor or minor part license expires, until the Commission acts on its application. If the licensee of such a project has not filed an application for a subsequent license, then it may be required, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.21(b), to continue project operations until the Commission issues someone else a license for the project or otherwise orders disposition of the project.

If the project is subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that an annual license for Project No. 2601 is issued to Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area for a period effective August 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006, or until the issuance of a new license for the project or other disposition under the FPA, whichever comes first. If issuance of a new license (or other disposition) does not take place on or before August 1, 2006, notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.18(c), an annual license under section 15(a)(1) of the FPA is renewed automatically without further order or notice by the Commission, unless the Commission orders otherwise.

If the project is not subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area is authorized to continue operation of the Bryson Project No. 2601 until such time as the Commission acts on its application for subsequent license.

On July 22, 2003, Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area, licensee for the Franklin Project No. 2603, filed an application for a new or subsequent license pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission's regulations. Project No. 2603 is located on the Little Tennessee River in Macon County, North Carolina.

The license for Project No. 2603 was issued for a period ending July 31, 2005. Section 15(a)(1) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. 808(a)(1), requires the Commission, at the expiration of a license term, to issue from year to year an annual license to the then licensee under the terms and conditions of the prior license until a new license is issued, or the project is otherwise disposed of as provided in section 15 or any other applicable section of the FPA. If the project's prior license waived the applicability of section 15 of the FPA, then, based on section 9(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c), and as set forth at 18 CFR 16.21(a), if the licensee of such project has filed an application for a subsequent license, the licensee may continue to operate the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license after the minor or minor part license expires, until the Commission acts on its application. If the licensee of such a project has not filed an application for a subsequent license, then it may be required, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.21(b), to continue project operations until the Commission issues someone else a license for the project or otherwise orders disposition of the project.

If the project is subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that an annual license for Project No. 2603 is issued to Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area for a period effective August 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006, or until the issuance of a new license for the project or other disposition under the FPA, whichever comes first. If issuance of a new license (or other disposition) does not take place on or before August 1, 2006, notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.18(c), an annual license under section 15(a)(1) of the FPA is renewed automatically without further order or notice by the Commission, unless the Commission orders otherwise.

If the project is not subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area is authorized to continue operation of the Franklin Project No. 2603 until such time as the Commission acts on its application for subsequent license.

On July 22, 2003, Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area, licensee for the Mission Project No. 2619, filed an application for a new or subsequent license pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission's regulations. Project No. 2619 is located on the Hiwassee River in Clay County, North Carolina.

The license for Project No. 2619 was issued for a period ending July 31, 2005. Section 15(a)(1) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. 808(a)(1), requires the Commission, at the expiration of a license term, to issue from year to year an annual license to the then licensee under the terms and conditions of the prior license until a new license is issued, or the project is otherwise disposed of as provided in section 15 or any other applicable section of the FPA. If the project's prior license waived the applicability of section 15 of the FPA, then, based on section 9(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c), and as set forth at 18 CFR 16.21(a), if the licensee of such project has filed an application for a subsequent license, the licensee may continue to operate the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license after the minor or minor part license expires, until the Commission acts on its application. If the licensee of such a project has not filed an application for a subsequent license, then it may be required, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.21(b), to continue project operations until the Commission issues someone else a license for the project or otherwise orders disposition of the project.

If the project is subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that an annual license for Project No. 2619 is issued to Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area for a period effective August 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006, or until the issuance of a new license for the project or other disposition under the FPA, whichever comes first. If issuance of a new license (or other disposition) does not take place on or before August 1, 2006, notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.18(c), an annual license under section 15(a)(1) of the FPA is renewed automatically without further order or notice by the Commission, unless the Commission orders otherwise.

If the project is not subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that Duke Power, a division of Duke Energy Corporation, Nantahala Area is authorized to continue operation of the Mission Project No. 2619 until such time as the Commission acts on its application for subsequent license.

Take notice that on July 29, 2005, Grama Ridge Storage and Transportation, LLC (Grama) filed a petition for rate approval of market-based rates for storage and hub services pursuant to section 284.123Co)(2) of the Commission's Regulations. Grama requests that the Commission authorize Grama to continue to charge market-based rates for its storage services, as well as authorize Grama to charge market-based rates for its proposed interruptible hub services, pursuant to section 311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.

Any person desiring to participate in this rate proceeding must file a motion to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington DC 20426, in accordance with Sections 385.214 or 385.211 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations. All such motions or protests must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission on or before the date as indicated below. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceedings. Any person wishing to become a party must file a motion to intervene. This petition for rate approval is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For Assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Comments, protests and interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site under the e-Filing link.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time September 1, 2005.

On July 21, 2003, Idaho Power Company, licensee for the Hells Canyon Project No. 1971, filed an application for a new or subsequent license pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Commission's regulations thereunder. Project No. 1971 is located on the Snake River in Adams and Washington Counties, Idaho and Wallowa, Malheur, and Baker Counties, Oregon.

The license for Project No. 1971 was issued for a period ending July 31, 2005. Section 15(a)(1) of the FPA, 16 U.S.C. 808(a)(1), requires the Commission, at the expiration of a license term, to issue from year to year an annual license to the then licensee under the terms and conditions of the prior license until a new license is issued, or the project is otherwise disposed of as provided in section 15 or any other applicable section of the FPA. If the project's prior license waived the applicability of Section 15 of the FPA, then, based on section 9(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c), and as set forth at 18 CFR 16.21(a), if the licensee of such project has filed an application for a subsequent license, the licensee may continue to operate the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license after the minor or minor part license expires, until the Commission acts on its application. If the licensee of such a project has not filed an application for a subsequent license, then it may be required, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.21(b), to continue project operations until the Commission issues someone else a license for the project or otherwise orders disposition of the project.

If the project is subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that an annual license for Project No. 1971 is issued to Idaho Power Company for a period effective August 1, 2005 through July 31, 2006, or until the issuance of a new license for the project or other disposition under the FPA, whichever comes first. If issuance of a new license (or other disposition) does not take place on or before August 1, 2006, notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 18 CFR 16.18(c), an annual license under section 15(a)(1) of the FPA is renewed automatically without further order or notice by the Commission, unless the Commission orders otherwise.

If the project is not subject to section 15 of the FPA, notice is hereby given that Idaho Power Company is authorized to continue operation of the Hells Canyon Project No. 1971 until such time as the Commission acts on its application for subsequent license.

Phelps Dodge Power Marketing, LLC (Phelps Marketing) filed an application, as amended, for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate tariff. The proposed rate tariff provides for the sales of capacity and energy at market-based rates. Phelps Marketing also requested waiver of various Commission regulations. In particular, Phelps Marketing requested that the Commission grant blanket approval under 18 CFR part 34 of all future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability by Phelps Marketing.

On August 12, 2005, pursuant to delegated authority, the Director, Division of Tariffs and Market Development—South, granted the request for blanket approval under part 34. The Director's order also stated that the Commission would publish a separate notice in the Federal Register establishing a period of time for the filing of protests. Accordingly, any person desiring to be heard or to protest the blanket approval of issuances of securities or assumptions of liability by Phelps Marketing should file a motion to intervene or protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. 18 CFR 385.211, 385.214 (2004).

Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing motions to intervene or protest is September 12, 2005.

Absent a request to be heard in opposition by the deadline above, Phelps Marketing is authorized to issue securities and assume obligations or liabilities as a guarantor, indorser, surety, or otherwise in respect of any security of another person; provided that such issuance or assumption is for some lawful object within the corporate purposes of Phelps Marketing, compatible with the public interest, and is reasonably necessary or appropriate for such purposes.

The Commission reserves the right to require a further showing that neither public nor private interests will be adversely affected by continued approval of Phelps Marketing's issuances of securities or assumptions of liability.

Copies of the full text of the Director's Order are available from the Commission's Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. The Order may also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov , using the eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number filed to access the document. Comments, protests, and interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site under the “e-Filing” link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, PSEG Energy Resources & Trade LLC, PSEG Fossil LLC, and PSEG Nuclear LLC (the PSEG Power Companies) submitted an application pursuant to section 204 of the Federal Power Act seeking authorization to have outstanding short-term, unsecured debt in an amount not to exceed $2 billion outstanding at any one time.

PSEG Power Companies also requests a waiver from the Commission's competitive bidding and negotiated placement requirements at 18 CFR 34.2.

Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices, motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant on or before the comment date. It is not necessary to serve motions to intervene or protests on persons other than the Applicant.

The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the “eFiling” link at http://www.ferc.gov . Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

This filing is accessible on-line at http://www.ferc.gov , using the “eLibrary” link and is available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an “eSubscription” link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call (866) 208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502-8659.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 1, 2005.

The following filings have been made with the Commission. The filings are listed in ascending order within each docket classification.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, La Paloma Acquisition Co, LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated tendered for filing a withdrawal of the joint application filed July 15, 2005 in the above-referenced proceeding.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 2, 2005.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, Baja California Power, Inc. filed with the Commission an application for determination of exempt wholesale generator status pursuant to Part 365 of the Commission's regulations.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on August 25, 2005.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, Louisiana Generating LLC filed with the Commission an application for redetermination of exempt wholesale generator status pursuant to part 365 of the Commission's regulations.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on August 25, 2005.

Take notice that on August 5, 2005, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) tendered for filing a compliance filing made pursuant to the Commission July 5, 2005 Order issued in the above proceeding, 112 FERC ¶ 61,024 (2005). CAISO is proposing a new section 2.3.3.1.1. to the ISO Tariff and section 1.3.4. to the Outage Coordination Protocol.

CAISO states that this filing has been served upon the Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission the California Electricity Oversight Board, and all parties with effective Scheduling Coordinator Agreements under the CAISO Tariff, as well as all parties of the record in the above-captioned proceeding.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 6, 2005.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. tendered for filing a refund report in compliance with the Commission's Order issued March 29, 2005, 110 FERC ¶ 61,378 (2005).

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 2, 2005.

Take notice that on August 3, 2005, National Grid USA, on behalf of itself and its subsidiary New England Power Company (NEP), tendered for filing a compliance report informing the Commission of the manner in which it has recalculated the balance owed to NEP from the Town of Norwood, as ordered by the Commission in the order issued on July 22, 2005, 112 FERC ¶ 61,099 (2005).

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 2, 2005.

Take notice that on August 4, 2005, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) submitted revisions to the PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff and the PJM Amended and Restated Operating Agreement in compliance with the Commission's Order issued July 5, 2005 in PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 112 FERC ¶ 61,031 (2005).

PJM states that copies of this filing have been served on all PJM members, each entity designated on the official service list compiled by the Secretary in this proceeding and each State electric utility regulatory commission in the PJM region.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on September 2, 2005.

Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 385.211 and § 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. eastern time on the specified comment date. It is not necessary to separately intervene again in a subdocket related to a compliance filing if you have previously intervened in the same docket. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. In reference to filings initiating a new proceeding, interventions or protests submitted on or before the comment deadline need not be served on persons other than the Applicant.

The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at http://www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to long on and submit the intervention or protests.

Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the intervention or protests to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The filings in the above proceedings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available to review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call (866) 208-3676 (toll free). For TYY, call (202) 502-8659.

Take notice that the Commission received the following electric rate filings:

Docket Numbers: ER03-770-002.

Applicants: AIG Energy Inc.

Description: AIG Energy, Inc. submits its triennial updated market analysis and revised sheets to its market-based rate tariff.

Filed Date: 07/27/2005.

Accession Number: 20050728-0192.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday, August 17, 2005.

Docket Numbers: ER05-859-002.

Applicants: ATPower & Energy, LLC.

Description: ATPower & Energy, LLC submits a further amendment to its petition for acceptance of its Initial Rate Schedule FERC No. 1, the granting of certain waivers and the granting of certain blanket approvals filed on 4/25/05, as amended on 6/9/05.

Filed Date: 08/08/2005.

Accession Number: 20050809-0145.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on Thursday, August 19, 2005.

Docket Numbers: ER05-1189-001.

Applicants: Carolina Power & Light Company.

Description: Progress Energy, Inc., on behalf of its subsidiary Carolina Power & Light Company (CP&L) d/b/a Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc., submits the original executed copy of the amendments to the 1981 Power Coordination Agreement contained in Attachment B of its 7/1/05 filing in Docket No. ER05-1189-000.

Filed Date: 07/06/2005.

Accession Number: 20050708-0047.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on Friday, August 19, 2005.

Docket Numbers: ER05-1286-000.

Applicants: Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

Description: Pacific Gas & Electric Company submits revised interconnection agreement between Pacific gas and Electric Company and Modesto Irrigation District.

Filed Date: 08/03/2005.

Accession Number: 20050811-0266.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday, August 24, 2005.

Docket Numbers: ER05-1288-000.

Applicants: Wheelabrator North Andover Inc.

Description: Petition of Wheelabrator North Andover Inc. for order accepting market-based rate tariff for filing, granting waiver of certain Commission regulations; and granting certain blanket approvals.

Filed Date: 08/03/2005.

Accession Number: 20050805-0169.

Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday, August 24, 2005.

Any person desiring to intervene or to protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5 p.m. eastern time on the specified comment date. It is not necessary to separately intervene again in a subdocket related to a compliance filing if you have previously intervened in the same docket. Protests will be considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the proceeding. Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. In reference to filings initiating a new proceeding, interventions or protests submitted on or before the comment deadline need not be served on persons other and the Applicant.

The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at http://www.ferc.gov . To facilitate electronic service, persons with Internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests.

Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 14 copies of the intervention or protest to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The filings in the above proceedings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by clicking on the appropriate link in the above list. They are also available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an eSubscription link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail notification when a document is added to a subscribed dockets(s). For assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov . or call (866) 208-3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502-8659.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations, 18 CFR part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 F.R. 47897), the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application and prepared the enclosed Environmental Assessment (EA) for an original license for William Arkoosh's Little Wood River Ranch II Hydroelectric Project. The proposed project would be located on the Little Wood River, 6 miles west of the town of Shoshone, Lincoln County, Idaho. The proposed project would be located entirely on private lands owned by William Arkoosh. The EA contains the staff's analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and concludes that licensing the project, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

A copy of the EA is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.

The environmental staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the interstate natural gas pipeline transmission facilities proposed by Wyoming Interstate Company, Ltd. (WIC) in the above-referenced docket.

The final EIS was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Its purpose is to inform the Commission, the public, and other permitting agencies about the potential adverse and beneficial environmental impacts associated with the proposed Piceance Basin Expansion Project (Piceance Project) and its alternatives, and to recommend practical, reasonable, and appropriate mitigation measures which would avoid or reduce any significant adverse impacts to the maximum extent practicable and, where feasible, to less than significant levels. The final EIS concludes that the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures as recommended, would have limited adverse environmental impact.

The Piceance Project involves the construction and operation of a new interstate natural gas pipeline system that would extend between the existing Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) Greasewood Compressor Station in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, and the existing CIG Wamsutter Compressor Station in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. 1 The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the following facilities in Colorado and Wyoming:

• About 141.8 miles of 24-inch-diameter new pipeline with 89.9 miles located in Colorado (Rio Blanco and Moffat Counties) and 51.9 miles located in Wyoming (Sweetwater County);

• Additional compression to be installed at the existing CIG Greasewood Compressor Station in Colorado;

• Four meter stations at interconnections with other pipeline systems (two associated with the CIG Greasewood Compressor Station, two at the CIG Wamsutter Compressor Station);

• Three pigging facilities (one associated with each compressor station and a new facility at milepost 54.0 near County Road 4 in Moffat County, Colorado);

• Nine mainline valves (one valve at each of the two existing compressor stations and seven valves along the pipeline ROW); and

• Other associated facilities, such as access roads and communication towers.

The proposed project would be capable of transporting up to 350,000 dekatherms of natural gas per day (Dthd) from the CIG Greasewood Compressor Station to interconnections at Wamsutter, Wyoming with the CIG and WIC interstate transmission pipeline systems that serve markets east and west of Wamsutter.

The final EIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8371.

A limited number of copies are available from the FERC's Public Reference Room identified above. In addition, copies of the final EIS have been mailed to Federal, State, and local agencies; public interest groups; individuals and affected landowners; libraries; newspapers; and parties to this proceeding.

In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, no agency decision on a proposed action may be made until 30 days after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of availability of the final EIS. However, the CEQ regulations provide an exception to this rule when an agency decision is subject to a formal internal appeal process which allows other agencies or the public to make their views known. In such cases, the agency decision may be made at the same time the notice of the final EIS is published, allowing both periods to run concurrently. The Commission decision for this proposed action is subject to a 30-day rehearing period.

Additional information about the proposed project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC or on the FERC Internet Web site ( http://www.ferc.gov ) using the “eLibrary” link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search” and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits (CP05-54) in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) are in the process of evaluating the Broadwater LNG  1 Project planned by Broadwater Energy (Broadwater), a joint venture between TCPL (TransCanada Pipelines Ltd.) USA LNG, Inc. and Shell U.S. Gas & Power LLC. The project would be located in Long Island Sound, within New York State Waters, and would consist of an offshore LNG import terminal and an offshore natural gas pipeline that would connect to an existing offshore natural gas transmission pipeline.

As a part of this evaluation, FERC staff will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will address the environmental impacts of the project and the Coast Guard will assess the safety and security of the project. As described below, the FERC and the Coast Guard will hold joint public meetings to allow the public to provide input to these assessments.

The Commission will use the EIS in its decisionmaking process to determine whether or not to authorize the project. This notice explains the scoping process we  2 will use to gather information on the project from the public and interested agencies and summarizes the process that the Coast Guard will use. Your input will help identify the issues that need to be evaluated in the EIS and in the Coast Guard's safety and security assessment.

The FERC will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of an EIS that will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Several Federal agencies will serve as cooperating agencies during preparation of the EIS: the Coast Guard; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service. In addition, we have invited the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the New York State Department of State to serve as cooperating agencies in preparation of the EIS.

Comments on the project may be submitted in written form or verbally. Further details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. In lieu of sending written comments, we invite you to attend the public scoping meetings that we have scheduled as follows:

The EIS scoping meetings listed above will be combined with the Coast Guard's public meetings regarding the safety and security of the project. At the meetings, the Coast Guard will discuss its ongoing analysis of (1) the suitability of Long Island Sound to accommodate LNG carriers, and (2) the facility's operations manual, emergency response plan, and security plan. The Coast Guard has issued a separate meeting notice for the safety and security aspects of the project.

This Notice of Intent is being sent to Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; commentors and other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. We encourage government representatives to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.

Broadwater plans to construct and operate an LNG terminal and natural gas transmission pipeline in Long Island Sound within New York State waters. The general location of the project is shown on Figure 1. The Broadwater LNG Project would include a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) that would receive LNG from LNG carrier vessels, store the LNG in onboard storage tanks, and vaporize the LNG to natural gas. The natural gas would be sent out to the existing interstate natural gas pipeline system via a new offshore pipeline (described below). The FSRU would be approximately 1,250 feet long and 200 feet wide, have a draft of approximately 40 feet, and would be shaped like a marine vessel. The deck of the FSRU would be approximately 80 feet above the water line, and some structures and equipment would extend above the deck.

The FSRU would be moored to a yoke mooring system that would consist of a fixed, tower-like structure secured to the seafloor by multiple legs attached to piles driven into the sediments. The FSRU would pivot around the mooring tower in response to wind, tide, and current conditions.

The FSRU would be moored at a water depth of approximately 90 feet at a distance of approximately 9 miles from the nearest Long Island shoreline and approximately 10 miles from the nearest Connecticut shoreline. After a review of safety and security issues related to the project, the Coast Guard would establish a safety zone around the FSRU, and all marine traffic not related to operation of the project would be prohibited from entering the safety zone.

Operation of the FSRU would involve the following basic activities:

• Receipt of LNG from two to three LNG carriers per week, each with a capacity of 125,000 to 250,000 cubic meters. Support tugs would assist the LNG carriers in berthing, with only one LNG carrier berthed at the FSRU at any one time.

• Temporary storage of up to 8 billion cubic feet (350,000 cubic meters) of LNG in onboard storage tanks.

• Vaporization of the stored LNG would be accomplished using a closed-loop, shell-and-tube vaporization system that would not require seawater intakes or discharges.

In addition to the LNG storage and vaporization equipment, the FSRU would also house the following major items:

• Power generation turbines fueled by natural gas.

• Equipment for gas and fire detection, fire protection, fire-fighting, life-saving, and other safety concerns.

• LNG unloading arms, cranes, piping, and manifolds.

• Crew quarters.

After vaporization of the LNG, natural gas would be sent out from the FSRU into a new 30-inch-diameter offshore pipeline that would extend approximately 22 miles from the FSRU to an offshore connection with an existing pipeline owned by the Iroquois Gas Transmission System (IGTS). The existing IGTS pipeline extends across Long Island Sound in an approximately northeast to southwest direction. Broadwater plans to bury the new pipeline beneath the seafloor. The project would deliver an average of about one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to the IGTS pipeline, with a peak delivery rate of 1.25 billion cubic feet per day. IGTS would deliver the natural gas from the Broadwater LNG Project to its existing and future customers. Broadwater plans to have the project in operation by 2010.

Both the FSRU and the new pipeline would be located in offshore waters within Suffolk County, New York. Broadwater would be required to obtain a right-of-way lease from the New York State Office of General Services for the FSRU and the pipeline.

NEPA requires the Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or not an LNG import terminal or an interstate natural gas pipeline should be approved. The FERC will use the EIS to consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues project authorizations to Broadwater under Sections 3 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act. NEPA also requires us to discover and address concerns the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as “scoping.” The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the analysis in the EIS on the important environmental issues. With this Notice of Intent, the Commission staff is requesting public comments on the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EIS. All comments received will be considered during preparation of the EIS.

In the EIS we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of the construction, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of the proposed project under these general headings:

• Geology and soils

• Water resources

• Aquatic resources

• Vegetation and wildlife

• Threatened and endangered species

• Land use, recreation, and visual resources

• Cultural resources

• Socioeconomics

• Marine transportation

• Air quality and noise

• Reliability and safety

• Cumulative impacts

In the EIS, we will also evaluate possible alternatives to the proposed project or portions of the project, and make recommendations on how to lessen or avoid impacts on affected resources.

Our independent analysis of the issues will be included in a draft EIS. The draft EIS will be mailed to Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; commentors; other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers; and the FERC's official service list for this proceeding. A 45-day comment period will be allotted for review of the draft EIS. We will consider all comments on the draft EIS and revise the document, as necessary, before issuing a final EIS. We will consider all comments on the final EIS before we make our recommendations to the Commission. To ensure that your comments are considered, please follow the instructions in the Public Participation section of this Notice of Intent.

Although no formal application has been filed, the FERC staff has already initiated its NEPA review under its Pre-filing Process. The purpose of the Pre-filing Process is to encourage early involvement of interested stakeholders and to identify and resolve issues before an application is filed with the FERC. In addition, the Coast Guard, which would be responsible for reviewing the safety and security aspects of the planned project and regulating safety and security if the project is approved, has initiated its review of the project as well.

With this notice, we are asking Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues, in addition to those agencies that have already agreed to serve as cooperating agencies (as noted above), to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the EIS. These agencies may choose to participate once they have evaluated the proposal relative to their responsibilities. Additional agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the Public Participation section of this Notice.

We have already identified issues that we think deserve attention based on comment letters received during our NEPA Pre-filing Process, a preliminary review of the project area, and the planned facility information provided by Broadwater. This preliminary list of issues, which is presented below, may be revised based on your comments and our continuing analyses.

• Conversion of the project area from open water to an energy facility (“industrialization” of Long Island Sound);

• Potential impacts to the marine environment from construction activities, including habitats, water quality, and aquatic life;

• Potential impacts on essential fish habitat and State and/or Federally-listed threatened and endangered species;

• Consistency with New York State and Long Island Sound Coastal Zone Management programs;

• Potential impacts due to air emissions from the FSRU and the LNG carriers;

• Potential visual impacts due to the presence of the FSRU and the LNG carriers;

• Potential impacts of ballast water intake by the FSRU and the LNG carriers;

• Potential impacts to public use resulting from creation of a safety zone around the FSRU;

• Potential impacts of increased boat traffic associated with construction in nearshore marine waters;

• Potential impacts of increased boat traffic associated with LNG carrier traffic and associated support vessels;

• Potential impacts on cultural resources at the site of the mooring tower and along the pipeline route;

• Potential noise impacts due to construction and operation;

• Risks associated with the transport and storage of LNG and the transport of natural gas;

• Alternative locations and alignments for the LNG terminal and offshore pipeline route, respectively; and

• Assessment of the cumulative effects of the project when combined with other past, present, or reasonably foreseeable future actions in the project area.

You can make a difference by providing us with your specific comments or concerns about the planned project. By becoming a commentor, your concerns will be addressed in the EIS and considered by the Commission. Your comments should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives (including alternative facility sites and pipeline routes), and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please follow these instructions:

• Send an original and two copies of your letter to: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

• Label one copy of your comments for the attention of Gas Branch 3, DG2E.

• Reference Docket No. PF05-4-000 on the original and both copies.

• Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before October 7, 2005.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments in response to this Notice of Intent. For information on electronically filing comments, please see the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under the “e-Filing” link and the link to the User's Guide as well as information in 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii). Before you can file comments you will need to create a free account, which can be accomplished on-line.

The public scoping meetings (dates, times, and locations are listed above) are designed to provide another opportunity to offer comments on the proposed project. Interested groups and individuals are encouraged to attend the meetings and to present comments on the environmental issues that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. A transcript of each meeting will be generated so that your comments will be accurately recorded.

Once Broadwater formally files its application with the Commission, you may want to become an “intervenor,” which is an official party to the proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling. An intervenor formally participates in a Commission proceeding by filing a request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are included in the User's Guide under the “e-filing” link on the Commission's Web site. Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission.

If you wish to remain on the environmental mailing list, please return the attached Mailing List Form. If you do not return this form, we will remove your name from our mailing list.

Additional information about the project is available from the Commission's Office of External Affairs, at 1-866-208-FERC (3372) or on the FERC Internet Web site ( http://www.ferc.gov ) using the “eLibrary link.” Click on the eLibrary link, select “General Search” and enter the project docket number excluding the last three digits ( i.e. , PF05-4) in the “Docket Number” field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance with eLibrary, the eLibrary helpline can be reached at 1-866-208-3676, TTY (202) 502-8659, or by e-mail at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov . The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings.

In addition, the FERC now offers a free service called eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. To register for this service, go to http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm .

Public meetings or site visits will be posted on the Commission's calendar located at http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

Finally, Broadwater has established an Internet Web site for this project at http://www.broadwaterenergy.com . The Web site includes a description of the project, additional maps of the project area, and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also request additional information or provide comments directly to Broadwater at (800) 798-6379.

The Commission, in its order issued July 26, 2005, 1 directed that a technical conference be held to investigate Kern River's allocation of compressor fuel between 2003 expansion shippers and vintage shippers in the General Terms and Conditions of its tariff and to address the concerns raised in the protest of the parties.

Take notice that a technical conference will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2005, at 9 a.m., in a room to be designated at the office of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington DC 20426.

FERC conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations please send an e-mail to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-3372 (voice) or 202-208-1659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202-208-2106 with the required accommodations.

All interested persons and staff are permitted to attend.

Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information (202) 564-7167 or http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/ .

Programmatic —Monongahela National Forest Plan Revision, Proposes to Revise Land and Resource Management Plan, Barbour, Grant, Greebrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontab, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster Counties, WV, Comment Period Ends: 11/14/2005, Contact: Clyde Thompson 304-636-1800.

Availability of EPA comments prepared pursuant to the Environmental Review Process (ERP), under section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for copies of EPA comments can be directed to the Office of Federal Activities at 202-564-7167.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published in Federal Register dated April 1, 2005 (70 FR 16815).

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to water quality and forest habitat as well as on the loss of dedicated old growth and net loss of Late and Old Structure habitat. EPA supports the identified prioritization of road restoration efforts proposed for acquired lands, but is concerned about uncertain funding to implement restoration efforts.

Rating EC2.

Summary: No formal comment letter was to the preparing agency.

Summary: Many of EPA's earlier objections to the project have been satisfactory addressed; however, EPA continues to have concerns about the proposed project because of the need for additional refinement on compensatory mitigation for wetlands impacts.

Summary: EPA has no objections to the preferred alternative.

Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services, Part A, as last amended at 69 FR 51679-51680, dated August 20, 2004, and Chapter AA, Office of the Secretary, as last amended at 69 FR 51679-51680, dated August 20, 2004, are being amended to establish a new Chapter AR, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the Office of the Secretary. The changes are as follows:

I. Under Part A, Chapter AA, Section AA.10 Organization, insert the following: “Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (AR)”

II. Under Part A, establish a new Chapter AR, “Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)” to read as follows:

Section AR.00 Mission: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology provides leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure to improve the quality and efficiency of health care and the ability of consumers to manage their care and safety. The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology serves as the Secretary's principal advisor on the development, application, and use of health information technology; coordinates the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) health information technology programs; ensures that HHS health information technology policy and programs are coordinated with those of other relevant executive branch agencies; and to the extent permitted by law, develops, maintains, and directs the implementation of a strategic plan to guide the nationwide implementation of interoperable health information technology in both the public and private health care sectors that will reduce medical errors, improve quality, and produce greater value for health care expenditures, and coordinates outreach and consultation by the relevant executive branch agencies with the public and private sectors. The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology provides comments and advice at the request of OMB regarding specific Federal health information technology programs.

Section AR.10 Organization: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is under the direction of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology who reports directly to the Secretary. The office consists of the following components.

Section AR.20 Functions:

A. Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (ARA): The Immediate Office of the National Coordinator (IO/ONC) is headed by the National Coordinator, who provides executive direction to the office. The National Coordinator is responsible for carrying out ONC's mission and implementing the functions of the ONC. The IO/ONC: (1) Ensures that key health information technology initiatives are coordinated across HHS programs; (2) ensures that health information technology policy and programs of HHS are coordinated with those of relevant executive branch agencies (including Federal commissions and advisory committees) with a goal of avoiding duplication of efforts and of helping to ensure that each agency undertakes activities primarily within the areas of its greatest expertise and technical capability; (3) review Federal health information technology investments to ensure Federal health information technology programs are meeting the objectives of the strategic plan, required under Executive Order 13335, to create a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; (4) at the request of OMB, provides comments and advice regarding specific Federal health information technology programs; (5) develops, maintains, and reports on measurable outcome goals for health information technology to assess progress within HHS and other executive branch agencies; and in the private sector, in developing and implementing a nationwide interoperable health infrastructure; and (6) fulfills the administrative, reporting, infrastructure, and budget-preparation support needs of the office.

B. Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (ARB): The Office of Health Information Technology Adoption (OHITA) is headed by a Director. OHITA works and coordinates with all other ONC offices to identify health information technology strategies, and works with other relevant HHS offices to implement these strategies and monitor outcomes in fulfillment of the President's goals. Specifically, in coordination with other HHS offices, OHITA: (1) Develops and coordinates strategies to incentivize adoption of health information technology, to reduce the risk of health information technology investment, and to promote health information technology diffusion; (2) coordinates the development of strategies and guidance to create electronic personal health management tools and to enhance informed consumer choice for health care; (3) coordinates with relevant executive branch agencies in promoting and transferring health information technology to public sector; (4) identifies and documents evidence on the benefits and costs of interoperable health information technology and to whom the benefits and costs accrue; (5) assesses the current state of health information technology adoption, specifies measurable goals and methods for evaluating strategies and determines approaches that can accelerate health information technology adoption in a cost-effective manner; and (6) coordinates with other offices within ONC to develop recommendations regarding health information technology compliance certification processes, evaluates compliance certification processes for health information technology and assesses its effect on health information technology implementation.

C. Office of Interoperability and Standards (ARC): The Office of Interoperability and Standards (OIS) is headed by a Director. OIS works with and coordinates with other offices in ONC and HHS to provide leadership in the development and implementation of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure and advance the development, adoption, and implementation of interoperable health information technology standards. Specifically, in coordination with relevant HHS offices, OIS: (1) Fosters mechanisms that support the secure and seamless exchange of health information, including the use of standards, certified technology, and requirements for a nationwide architecture; (2) manages the federal health architecture program efforts and works with Federal agencies to ensure that Federal health information systems are coordinated and interoperable with any nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure; (3) advances the development, adoption, and implementation of health information technology standards nationally through collaboration among public and private interests that are consistent with current efforts of the Federal Government; (4) works with relevant HHS offices to evaluate mechanisms for harmonizing security and privacy practices in an interoperable health information technology architecture; and (5) promotes the development of performance measures related to the adoption of interoperable health information technology standards.

D. Office of Programs and Coordination (ARE): The Office of Programs and Coordination (OPC) is headed by a Director. OPC ensures complete integration of all efforts across ONC and supports the dissemination and adoption of the Administration's policy on health information technology. Specifically, in coordination with relevant HHS offices, OPC: (1) Provides infrastructure and management support for Secretary initiatives related to health information technology including FACA and other advisory committees; (2) provides the infrastructure support for health information technology programs to coordinate interrelating activities including workgroups and subcommittees; (3) monitors and measures all outcomes in support of health information technology initiatives; and (4) develops and coordinates with relevant HHS offices, including the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, outreach campaigns to educate the public about health information technology and its use of Web site materials, and other documents regarding ONC activities.

E. Office of Policy and Research (ARF): The Office of Policy and Research (OPR) is headed by a Director. The OPR coordinates with other ONC offices and conducts studies in support of ongoing health information technology and supports and coordinates efforts that inform policy decisions related to health IT. Specifically, in coordination with relevant HHS offices, OPR: (1) Ensures the smooth and efficient implementation of policies under the direction of the National Coordinator; (2) supports efforts to determine to what extent health information technology affects public and private business practices; (3) identifies privacy and security issues related to a nationwide health information technology infrastructure and strategies to ensure that patients' individually identifiable health information is secure and protected; (4) leads health information technology research efforts for ONC to help inform policy decisions and conducts key technical, scientific, economic, statistical and other studies related to health information technology; (5) develops procedures and pilot efforts for how medical knowledge can be collected, validated and available at the point of care; (6) facilitates discussions within HHS on the policy implications of key health information technology activities, and supports the National Coordinator in considering the policy implications of key health information technology activities; and (7) provides specialized technology and statistical expertise in support of policy proposal analysis.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement program to provide a funding mechanism for joint activities between CDC and the Haitian Ministry of Health-Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP) in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. Joint activities during the project period will focus on strengthening the MSPP's capacity to lead, coordinate and oversee the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of HIV/AIDS-related health activities, including diagnostic laboratories and programs such as VCT, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and other care and treatment interventions. These goals will be accomplished through collaboration between the MSPP, CDC Haiti and its partners including, but not limited to, the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), American Public Health Laboratories (APHL), University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP), International Training and Education Center for HIV/AIDS (ITECH) and local partners. Collaborative activities between CDC and the MSPP are intended to produce measurable improvements in the delivery of public-sector HIV/AIDS services in Haiti.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.067.

This is a single eligibility request for application (RFA) from the Haitian MSPP. No other applicants are solicited.

The national public health system in Haiti remains the primary source of care for the majority of the Haitian Population. This system is directly managed by the Haitian Ministry of Health as it is an inherently governmental role to provide a basic level of health care to ensure that a minimum standard of public health is achieved. The MSPP is responsible for the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS in Haiti. This responsibility includes updating the national protocols for care and treatment and as well as national coordination of HIV/AIDS service delivery and training.

It would be inefficient and unsustainable to develop a parallel system outside of the public health system to provide prevention, treatment, and other service delivery solely for HIV/AIDS.

Approximately $11,620,000 is available over a five year project period. $2,324,000 will be available in FY 2005 for a 12-month budget period. The approximate date for the award is September 15, 2005. Funding estimates may change.

For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.

For program technical assistance, contact: Kathy Grooms, CDC Global AIDS Program, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.gov.

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: vew4@cdc.gov.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement program to increase and build the capacity of health care workers in Tanzania that are in the early diagnosis and treatment stage of TB and/or HIV in co-infected patients.

The purpose of the announcement is to support the efforts to increase and build the capacity of health care workers in Tanzania and Zanzibar in the early diagnosis and treatment of TB and/or HIV in co-infected patients by building upon the existing framework of health policy and programming the NTLP has itself initiated. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has mandated the NTLP to coordinate and implement activities necessary for the control of TB and leprosy, including HIV/AIDS among TB patients. The NTLP also has the technical ability to oversee the project, by ensuring the activities implemented are integrated into the national strategy for TB and leprosy in Tanzania.

Assistance will only be provided to the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) for this project.

The NTLP is currently the only appropriate and qualified organization in Tanzania to conduct a specific set of activities to enhance palliative care TB/HIV collaboration in the United Republic of Tanzania. The NTLP has implemented the DOTS strategy since the early 1980's. The DOTS program currently provides national coverage and is a well functioning TB control program with high government and international commitment to TB control in the country, which allows the NTLP to immediately become engaged in the activities listed in this announcement.

The NTLP is uniquely positioned, in terms of legal authority and support from the Government of the Republic of Tanzania, and has the ability and credibility among Tanzanian citizens to coordinate the implementation of initiatives for TB, HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment services in Tanzania.

Approximately $1.2 million is available in FY 2005 to fund this award on September 15, 2005, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to five years. Funding estimates may change.

For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.

For technical questions about this program, contact: Cecil Threat, Project Officer, Global AIDS Program, c/o American Embassy, 2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140, Telephone: 255 22 212 1407, Cell: 255 744 222986, Fax: 255 22 212 1462, E-mail: Cthreat@cdc.gov.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA216.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

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 focus on 15 priority countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The 5-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 infection in Haiti is to ensure as much of the population as possible has adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities. Haiti's HIV prevalence rate in adults is estimated as between 3.1 and 5.6 percent, according to the Haitian Ministry of Health-Ministére de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP) and the 2004 Annual Report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), respectively. Access to prevention and treatment is limited among the Haitian population because of an underdeveloped public health infrastructure and a lack of clinical capacity.

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, 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 one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis 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 and to 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.

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.

Applications 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 four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team on the ground in Haiti will review as part of an 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 towards 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 an anonymous care center to address prevention, treatment and care issues in the populations engaged in high-risk behavior  2 in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The goal of this activity will be to decrease the rate of HIV transmission in this population, including men who have sex with men (MSM).

2. Develop a discreet awareness campaign in local languages to promote the prevention, care and treatment provided by anonymous care centers in activity number one.

3. Develop a referral network to help HIV-positive MSM access advanced care, treatment and support from local partners.

4. Develop and implement an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy to ensure the impacts of the center and the referral system are recorded and reported in a responsive and timely manner, in conformity with strategic-information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

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.

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/CDC activities for this program are as follows:

1. Provide scientific and technical assistance in developing the awardee's operational plan.

2. Provide ongoing technical assistance in program implementation.

3. Assist the awardee in assessments of the program's operations to determine the overall effectiveness of the program.

4. Provide equipment and commodities to new partner clinics.

5. Provide drugs to treat opportunistic infections (OI) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) necessary for service delivery programs. HHS/CDC will procure these drugs through a transparent and competitive process and distributed them through Rational Pharmaceutical Management Plus (RPM+)/USAID.

6. Support the development of an electronic medical record (EMR) database system and a surveillance database system, in conformity with strategic-information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

7. Provide through a transparent and competitive process and install the hardware necessary for use in the database systems described above (#6).

8. Support the annual technical review of service-delivery programs based in the new clinics.

9. Provide assistance in organizing partner network meetings.

10. Provide technical assistance from HHS-headquarters and the in-country HHS office in Haiti to assure other related U.S. Government activities are well-coordinated with the national program.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as necessary.

16. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.

Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS contract, cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical assistance and training.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: FY05.

Approximate Total Funding: $650,000. (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: $130,000. (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)

Floor of Award Range: $130,000.

Ceiling of Award Range: $130,000.

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.

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 tuberculosis care; and

3. Have documented experience of providing fully integrated HIV/AIDS and health care to populations engaged in high-risk behavior. 3

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.

If applicants request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range is requested, HHS/CDC will consider the 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.

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.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit the application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on http://www.Grants.gov .

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.

Application: You must submit a project narrative with your application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following format:

• Maximum number of pages: 30. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.

• Font size: 12 point unreduced.

• Double-spaced.

• Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.

• Page margin size: One inch.

• Number all pages of the application sequentially from page 1 (application Face Page) to the end of the application, including charts, figures, tables, and appendices.

• Printed only on one side of the page.

• Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound in any other way.

• Submitted in English.

Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period, and must include the following items in the order listed:

1. Executive Summary: Provide a clear and concise summary of the proposed goals, major objectives and activities required to achieve the program goals and justify the amount of funding requested for the first budget year of this cooperative agreement.

2. Need.

Describe Haiti's need for the services described in the activities section. Include any data on STI and HIV prevalence rates in Haiti.

3. Capacity.

Describe the current capability and capacity of the organization to perform the activities described in this RFA.

4. Expansion.

(a) Identify and secure appropriate (accessible and discreet) and suitable rental property for new confidential voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics that are well equipped to deliver prevention, care and treatment services for MSM population.

(b) Recruit and hire confidential VCT clinical personnel to provide a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service delivery facility addressing the needs of the target population.

5. Training.

(a) Coordinate training to local health care Professionals, including physicians, nurses, laboratory and pharmacy technicians, and peer educators. This training will include:

(1) Train how to design, implement and evaluate confidential VCT program sites.

(2) Train how to maintain laboratory equipment.

(3) Train in laboratory safety and proper disposal of bio-hazardous materials protocol.

(4) Train in the use of universal precautions and the management of needle stick or splash injuries.

(b) Provide regular routine in-service trainings for lab personnel to review new and best practice techniques, and to request “insider insight,” an account of implementation success and challenges, in the effort to identify gaps in resources or effectiveness of particular protocols.

6. Laboratory Capacity.

6.1. Provide basic laboratory services to support HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment.

(a) Perform CD4 counts.

(b) Perform complete blood counts.

(c) Perform HIV rapid testing.

(d) Perform confirmatory HIV/AIDS testing.

(e) Test for sexually transmitted infections.

(f) Provide pre- and post-test counseling for recipients of HIV test results.

(g) Provide referrals to appropriate prevention, treatment, care and support services to HIV-infected patients.

7. Commodities.

Procure drug and complementary commodities for service delivery programs.

8. Outreach.

(a) Provide educational services in awareness, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS to high-risk populations of MSM.

(1) Develop target population-specific messages and health promotion strategies to raise awareness about the new confidential VCT clinics. Peer educators may be used to accomplish this activity.

(2) Develop specific interventions for sub-populations in the MSM community, including partner notification and support.

(b) Gather data to establish baseline information regarding the target for first usage Haitian National Police (PNH) population's knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission, as well as this population's sexual practices.

(1) Assess attitudes and behaviors within the target PNH population.

(2) Develop and implement long-term behavioral change communication campaigns.

(3) Promote condom distribution and use.

(4) Develop and implement behavior change strategies and long-term campaigns, including:

a. Information, education and communication (IEC).

b. Condom distribution.

c. Targeted accessibility planning.

9. Management and Supervision.

(a) Manage and supervise clinic operations and staff.

(b) Implement report-writing requirements.

(c) Develop and implement financial management systems.

(d) Engage in strategic plan development.

(e) Network with local partners within the private and public sector to ensure an effective patient referral system between confidential VCT services and antiretroviral treatment (ART) service delivery networks.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation.

Implement M&E strategies. These strategies should assess the following performance indicators:

(a) The number of people tested.

(b) The number of people provided with treatment and services.

(c) The segment of the target population served.

(d) The number and type of testing performed.

(e) The number of referrals made to appropriate prevention, treatment, care and support services.

(f) The number of training courses held.

(g) The number and type of participants in these training courses.

(h) The number of trainee evaluations filed, and the findings of these evaluations.

Additional information may be included in the application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative page limit. This additional information includes:

• Budget Justification.

• 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, please see the HHS/CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.pdf.

If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please write the DUNS number at the top of the first page of the 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.”

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 applications electronically at http://www.grants.gov. We consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization's Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to http://www.grants.gov. 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 that the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC receives the submission after the 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 the 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 the 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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your budget, are as follows:

• Funds may not be used for research.

• Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.

• Funds may not be used for construction.

• 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.

• 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).

• 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.

• 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, in order to review the applicant's business management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.

• Funds received from this announcement will not be used for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV infection (with the exception of nevirapine in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written approval), occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and will not be used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct the necessary laboratory monitoring for patient care.

• No funds appropriated under this act shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.

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 sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms and conditions of the sub-agreement, must acknowledge that compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities,” is a prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. government funds in connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual course of its operations that relate to the organization's compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities.”

All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (“prime recipients”) in connection with this document must certify compliance prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes reference to this document ( e.g. , “[Prime recipient's name] certifies compliance with the section, ‘Prostitution and Related Activities.’ ”) addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government funds in connection with this document.

Recipients' compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities,” is an express term and condition of receiving U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines the recipient has not complied with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities.”

You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

Electronic Submission: 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 Web site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are having technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov early 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 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 file formats other than Microsoft Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or

Paper Submission: Applicants should submit the original and two hard copies of the application by mail or express delivery service to the following address: Technical Information Management Section—AA216, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

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:

• Need (10 Points). To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

• 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 achieving 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 tied to the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief?

• 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 indicators drawn from the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Is the system able to generate financial and program reports showing disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving the objectives of the President's Emergency Plan?

• Methods (15 Points). Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?

• 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?

• Program Experience (20 Points). Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of the services it intends to provide? Does the applicant have experience working with high risk populations?

• Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored). Is the proposed budget for conducting program activities itemized and well justified? Is it consistent with planned program activities?

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.

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.

September 15, 2005.

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.

45 CFR part 74.

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.

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. Applicants should refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-11Certificates.pdf. Once you have filled out the form, please attach it to your Grants.gov submission as Other Attachments Form.

You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the following reports:

1. Interim progress report, due no less than 90 days before the end of the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:

a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.

b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.

c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.

d. Budget.

e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 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 President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for Haiti.

3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.

4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than ninety 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.

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, HHS/CDC Global AIDS Program, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.gov.

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: VEW4@CDC.GOV.

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.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA187.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

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 Nigeria are to treat at least 350,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 1,750,000 HIV-affected individuals, including orphans.

The purpose of the program is to provide HIV prevention, care and support, and confidential counseling and testing to persons at increased risk of HIV infection in Lagos State and Rivers State, Nigeria.

The Global AIDS Program (GAP) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established field operations to support national HIV/AIDS control programs in 25 countries. HHS/GAP exists to help prevent HIV infection, improve care and support, and build capacity to address the global AIDS pandemic. HHS/GAP provides financial and technical assistance through partnerships with governments, community- and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and national and international entities working in the 25 resource-constrained countries. HHS/GAP works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within HHS; the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the Peace Corps; the U.S. Departments of State, Labor and Defense, and other agencies and organizations. These efforts complement multilateral efforts, including the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria; World Bank funding; and private-sector donation programs.

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, disease-monitoring and HIV screening for blood safety.

The U.S. Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The Emergency Plan). Through this new initiative, HHS/GAP will continue to work with host countries to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the areas of (1) primary HIV prevention; (2) HIV care, support, and treatment; and (3) capacity and infrastructure development, especially for surveillance and training. Targeted countries represent those with the most severe epidemics where the potential for impact is greatest and where U.S. Government agencies are already active. Nigeria is one of these targeted countries.

To carry out its activities in these countries, HHS is working in a collaborative manner with national governments and other agencies to develop programs of assistance to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. HHS” program of assistance to Nigeria focuses on several areas of national priority, including scaling up activities and funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment; improving the national blood safety program; HIV sentinel surveillance; and supporting the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Control Program.

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 CDC National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), within HHS: By 2010, work with other countries, international organizations, the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and other partners to achieve the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS goal of reducing prevalence among young persons 15 to 24 years of age; reducing HIV transmission; and improving care of persons living with HIV. They also will contribute to the global goals of the Emergency Plan which are as follows: within five years treat two million HIV-infected persons with effective combination anti-retroviral therapy (ART); prevent seven million new HIV infections; and care for ten million HIV-infected and affected persons, including those orphaned and left vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Some of the specific measurable outputs from this program will be the number of young people who receive HIV behavior-change interventions through the program; the number of persons trained to provide HIV behavior change services for youth; the number of community leaders, religious leaders, and parents involved with the program; the number of young people who receive confidential counseling and testing and care and support through the program; and the documentation of the impact of the program on reducing the risk of infection in youth (up to 30 years of age) in Nigeria.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by HHS, including 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.

The recipient of these funds is responsible for activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved populations in Nigeria. 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 Nigeria 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. Provide HIV prevention interventions in local languages to out-of-school youth (up to 30 years of age) who are engaged or could become engaged in high-risk behaviors  1 in Lagos and Rivers State, particularly at motor parks. Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also promoting abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change interventions.

2. Implement basic care and support in Lagos State, particularly at motor parks.

3. Strengthen and expand existing linkages with private and public health facilities for confidential screening/testing of HIV and related diseases.

4. Provide confidential counseling and testing in Lagos State, particularly at motor parks. Strengthen and expand existing linkages with private and public health facilities for confidential screening/testing of HIV and related diseases.

5. Collect and analyze data on all of these services.

Awardee should ensure that all of the above activities integrate into the national HIV/AIDS strategy.

Interventions should promote the “ABC model.” Methods and strategies should emphasize abstinence for youth and other unmarried persons, mutual faithfulness and partner reduction for sexually active adults, and correct and consistent use of condoms by those populations who are engaged in high-risk behaviors. Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 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. Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also implementing the abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change interventions outlined in the preceding paragraph.

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.

Awardees 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/CDC 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 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 guidance on selection of focus populations to ensure most at-risk populations are reached. In partnership with the grantee, HHS will participate in field activities to identify appropriate populations, which are most at-risk, and conduct needs assessments. The grantee will establish baseline information through appropriate formative processes, in collaboration with HHS.

11. Provide technical assistance on the selection of behavior or prevention interventions, approaches to the provision of care and support, and approaches to confidential counseling and testing. HHS/CDC, in collaboration with the grantee, will conduct focus group discussions and in-depth interviews of potential beneficiary communities to determine ideal points of service, information, education and communication messages and channels.

12. Assist in the coordination of core interventions with other providers. Based on information and data gathered from the Nigerian federal and state governments and interagency coordination meetings, HHS/CDC will assist grantee to link its project activities to relevant projects implemented by other stakeholders as a way to leverage funding and inputs, which can include lessons learned and best practices.

13. Assist in the evaluation and assessment of interventions funded by this program. The grantee will negotiate project goals and objectives, outputs and outcomes, and appropriate time-lines for project activities, mid-term and end of project reviews and evaluation with HHS/CDC.

14. Monitor progress in achieving the purpose of this program, as well as project objectives. In collaboration with grantee, HHS/CDC will conduct field trips to supervise and monitor project progress and ensure judicious use of U.S. Government resources.

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.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.

HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.

Approximate Total Funding: $1,400,000. (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)

Approximate Number of Awards: One.

Approximate Average Award: $350,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.

Floor of Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Award Range: $350,000. (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period.)

Anticipated Award Date: September 23, 2005.

Budget Period Length: 12 months.

Project Period Length: Four years.

Throughout the project period, HHS’ commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

Public and private non-profit organizations and governments and their agencies may submit applications, such as:

• Public, non-profit organizations.

• Private, non-profit organizations.

• Small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses.

• Universities.

• Colleges.

• Hospitals.

• Community-based organizations.

• Faith-based organizations.

We are limiting competition for this grant to the types of organizations listed above because of the uniqueness of the specific activities for this project and the location where the majority of the work will be performed, in multiple and diverse geographic locations throughout Nigeria. The types of organizations listed above have direct experience with performing this type of activity. We will limit competition to organizations that possess the following:

• A proven track record in successfully managing effective and sustainable health programs in Nigeria.

• Experience and ability in efficiently implementing programs to identify and monitor the work of sub-grantees and technical consultants in Nigeria.

• Extensive knowledge of the Nigerian health structure from the national to the district levels.

• Knowledge and working-level contacts and relationships with networks of Governmental Ministries at the federal and state levels.

• Credentials that allow the organization to work legally in Nigeria, and an existing office in one or more critical locations in Nigeria.

• Staff with appropriate local language skills.

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.

If applicants request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, HHS/CDC will consider the 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.

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.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

HHS strongly encourages you to submit the application electronically using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on 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.

Application: You must submit a project narrative with your application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following format:

• Maximum number of pages: 20 pages. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, we will review only the 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 sequentially from page one (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including charts, figures, tables, and appendices.

• 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:

• Need for Services.

Describe the proposed populations for each of the services to be provided (prevention, care and support, and confidential counseling and testing). This should include demographics; estimated HIV/AIDS or STD prevalence (if data is available, provide data source); and services currently being provided and by which organizations.

• Experience in Providing HIV Services (prevention, care and support, and confidential counseling and testing).

Describe how your organization has provided these services in Lagos State (for Rivers State, describe experience with prevention services). Also describe how your organization has worked with other organizations providing HIV services in Lagos and Rivers State.

• Plan to Provide Prevention, Care and Support, and Confidential Counseling and Testing Services.

For each service, specify numbers to be served, recruitment strategies, services to be provided, and coordination with existing services. List goals and objectives in this section. Goals are broad statements of programmatic intent. Objectives should be specific (who and how many) and measurable, and describe what is expected ( e.g. , who will be tested). Provide letters of support from the State or Federal Ministry of Health, the National Action Committee on AIDS, or from other organizations providing HIV services in Lagos State indicating previous collaborative relationships and/or support for this program.

• Management and Personnel.

Describe the qualifications and experience for management and technical staff who will work on this project. Include a description of responsibilities for each person. Indicate whether proposed persons are available to work on this project and if not, describe plans to recruit needed staff.

• Program Requirements.

Program requirements may include relevant national guidelines, training curricula and modules, etc.

• Plan to Evaluate Programmatic Efforts and Administrative and Accounting Plan.

Include a description of how you will measure services provided and the manner in which they were provided ( i.e. , quality assurance). Describe your plan to manage the resources of this program and monitor and audit expenditures.

• Budget (not included in page limit).

Your budget should highlight any supplies mentioned in the Program Requirements and any proposed capital expenditure. Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the United States Government Web site at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

You may include additional information in the application appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page limit. The additional information includes but is not limited to the following:

• Organizational Charts.

• Curriculum Vitas or Resumes.

• Letters of Support.

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://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.”

Application Deadline Date: September 12, 2005.

Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date.

You may submit your application electronically at http://www.grants.gov. We consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization's Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to http://www.grants.gov. 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, 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 of the application by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC receives your application 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 application as received by the deadline.

If you submit a hard copy application, HHS/CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. 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 application 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 application does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and we will discard it. We will notify you that your application did not meet the submission requirements.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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—The purchase of antiretrovirals, reagents, and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment projects require pre-approval from HHS/CDC GAP Nigeria.

• 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, 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 organization 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 and care 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.

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.”

• Hiring of staff needed to operate the program and the various activities sponsored by the program.

• Coordination of the program.

• Purchase of supplies, equipment, vehicles, and commodities needed to provide the interventions, acquired in a transparent and competitive process.

• Renovations to clinics and community facilities as needed; the awardee shall make the selection of any contractors to perform such renovations in a transparent and competitive process.

• Support for interventions to reduce socio-economic vulnerability of young people, especially young girls, orphans, and other at-risk youth.

• Conduct assessments to document the impact of various interventions.

You may find guidance for completing the budget on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

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 off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are having technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.

HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. You may also submit back-up paper submission of the application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. You must clearly mark the paper submission: “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.”

The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version the official submission.

We strongly recommend that the applicant submit the grant application using Microsoft Office products ( e.g. , Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, you may submit a PDF file. You may find directions for creating PDF files on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or

Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to the following address: Technical Information Management—AA187, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

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. Approach to Providing Services (30 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 Nigeria to achieving the goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the applicant provide goals and objectives? Are the objectives specific and measurable? Do they address key indicators ( e.g. , number of health care workers trained, number of persons provided prevention and care)? Does the applicant describe how it will recruit members of the target population for prevention and care? Is the quality of the plan for each of the interventions adequate? To what extent does the applicant propose to work with other organizations? Does the applicant provide letters of support?

2. Experience in Providing HIV Interventions (25 points).

To what extent does the applicant provide the required HIV interventions (prevention, care and support, confidential counseling and testing) in Lagos State? Does the applicant play a primary or only supporting role in providing these interventions? To what extent has the applicant worked with other organizations that provide HIV services in Lagos State? Does the applicant demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and political realities in Nigeria?

3. Personnel (20 points).

How well-qualified are the key staff (both management and technical) to carry out their proposed responsibilities, including by possessing local-language skills. Does the applicant describe a recruiting plan for positions not currently filled?

4. Understanding of the Need for Interventions (15 points).

Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the proposed target population ( i.e. , demographics, HIV/AIDS or STD prevalence, risk factors)? How well does the applicant describe existing HIV interventions?

5. Administrative and Accounting/Evaluation Plan (10 points).

Is the plan to measure impact of interventions, and the manner in which they will be provided, adequate? Is the plan to manage the resources of this program and monitor and audit expenditures adequate?

6. Budget (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 Nigeria?

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. The panel may include both Federal and non-Federal participants.

In addition, the following factors could affect the funding decision:

While U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply, we will give preference to existing national/Nigerian organizations. It is possible for one organization to apply as lead grantee with a plan that includes partnering with other organizations, preferably local. Although matching funds are not required, preference will 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. No award will be made without the concurrence of the U.S. Embassy Abuja and the CDC representative in Nigeria.

September 23, 2005.

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.

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 .

• 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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.

• AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.

• AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status.

• AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business.

• AR-23 States and Faith-Based Organizations.

Applicants can find additional information on these requirements on the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm .

You need to include an additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application in the Grants.gov electronic submission only. Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf . Once you have filled out the form, please attach it to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.

You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies, of the following reports:

1. Interim progress report, 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. Additional Requested Information.

f. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for Nigeria.

2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.

3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.

4. 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 Nigeria.

Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or Contract Specialist listed in the “Agency Contacts” section of this announcement.

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: Joseph Nnorom, MD, MPH, GAP, Nigeria Country Team, NCHSTP, HHS/CDC, Address: HHS/CDC, U.S. Embassy, No. 9 Mambila Street (off Aso Drive), Maitama District, Abuja, Nigeria, Telephone: (234) 9-234 0783; (234) 9-670 0798, E-mail: JNnorom@cdc.gov .

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 .

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 .

Announcement Type: New Competitive Cooperative Agreement.

Funding Opportunity Number: AA170.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

Authority: This program is authorized under sections 301(a) and 307 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 and 242l], as amended, and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [U.S.C. 7601].

Purpose: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The Emergency Plan) has called for immediate action to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The Emergency Plan hopes to prevent at least seven million new cases of HIV infection; provide treatment to two million HIV-infected people; and provide care to ten million people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans and vulnerable children, world wide by 2010. An essential element of preventing new cases of HIV is to ensure that high-risk groups have adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities. Haiti's HIV prevalence rate in adults is reported to be 5.6 percent, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2004 Annual Report. Access to prevention and treatment is limited to the Haitian population because of the underdeveloped public health infrastructure and lack of clinical capacity. To improve this capacity, this cooperative agreement will provide much needed funding and resources under the President's Emergency Plan.

Over the same time period, as part of a collective national response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Haiti are to treat at least 25,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 125,000 HIV-affected individuals, including orphans.

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) within HHS: Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment; strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor the epidemic; develop and implement effective HIV prevention interventions; and evaluate prevention programs.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by HHS. If applicants propose research, we will not review the application. For the definition of “research,” please see the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm.

Activities:

Awardee activities for this program are as follows:

1. Provide technical assistance to the National TB Program of the Haitian Ministry of Health (MOH) to assist in TB/HIV integrated services and strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of TB among HIV positive patients.

2. Reinforce the capacity of the Haitian MOH and the Departmental Directorates to perform supervision and quality assurance/quality control of TB/HIV care at the departmental and local levels.

3. Conduct a needs assessment of stand-alone TB clinics in Haiti, and their capacity for detecting and managing dual-infected patients.

4. Increase capacity for training TB providers in confidential HIV counseling and testing (CT), through training-of-trainers in local languages, and procurement of training materials in a transparent process.

5. Integrate surveillance of HIV into the existing electronic TB surveillance system, and create linkages with the HIV surveillance system.

6. Assist the Haitian MOH in the revision of norms and standards for the management of HIV-infected TB patients, and develop guidelines, training materials, and algorithms in local languages based on the revised norms and standards.

In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.

HHS Activities for this program are as follows:

1. Provide technical assistance in the areas of TB/HIV surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and developing guidelines, norms, and training materials, facilitated by the HHS Atlanta Country Support Team and the HHS Haiti Technical Officers for Care and Treatment, Surveillance, and TB/HIV.

2. Support for an electronic medical record (EMR) database system, and surveillance database system, for TB/HIV case notification, in compliance with strategic information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

3. Support installation of hardware necessary for the use of database systems and provide technical assistance on database use and maintenance needs.

4. Support the annual technical review of the national AIDS/TB/STI program in Haiti.

5. Provide equipment and commodities for new partner clinics, purchased in a transparent and competitive process.

6. Support the annual technical review of service-delivery programs of new clinics.

7. Assist in organizing partner network meetings.

Additional HHS activities include the following:

1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief them on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations, regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

2. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select key personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

3. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

4. Review and approve grantee's monitoring and evaluation plan, including for compliance with the strategic information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

5. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as necessary.

6. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.

7. Meet on an annual basis with grantee to review annual progress report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

8. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.

Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS contract, cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical assistance and training.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.

Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000 (This amount is an estimate for the entire five-year project period, and is subject to availability of funds.)

Approximate Number of Awards: One.

Approximate Average Award: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.).

Floor of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)

Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)

Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.

Budget Period Length: 12 months.

Project Period Length: Five years.

Throughout the project period, HHS’ commitment to continuation of awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

To meet the eligibility criteria for this program announcement, applicants must be indigenous to Haiti; must have documented experience in TB/HIV; must currently be providing extensive technical assistance to the MOH TB/HIV program; must have extensive experience in collecting samples and implementing Directly Observed Therapy Strategy (DOTS) in community settings in local languages; and must already be integrated into the national TB/HIV program.

This cooperative agreement seeks to fund activities that will integrate TB and HIV diagnosis and treatment. This program depends upon the ability of the grantee to work with these two separate national programs and strive to integrate them. At the end of the first year of the project period, the grantee must be detecting HIV positive individuals and referring them for treatment at TB sites, and detecting individuals with active TB and referring them for treatment by the national TB program. The integration of these two programs will result in identifying more HIV and TB patients. Both target groups are at high risk for transmission, and heretofore the national prevention effort in Haiti is not addressing them in a consistent manner.

To meet the goals of the Emergency Plan within the time allotted, any program applicant must be able to demonstrate it already has developed a working relationship and has experience with both the Haitian national TB program and the Haitian national program to control HIV/AIDS. These are two separate departments in the MOH, and will be a challenge to integrate because of a lack of support systems to treat TB/HIV in an integrated manner. Therefore, an organization must demonstrate it has at least three to five years of experience in working with both the Haitian national TB and HIV/AIDS control programs.

Eligible applicants should also demonstrate capacity to coordinate their activities with HHS and other members of the United States Government.

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.

If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, HHS will consider your application non-responsive, and it will not enter into the review process. We will notify you that your application did not meet the submission requirements.

Special Requirements: If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not enter into the review process. We will notify that your application did not meet submission requirements.

• HHS/CDC will consider late applications non-responsive. See section “IV.3. Submission Dates and Times” for more information on deadlines.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit your application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on www.grants.gov, the official Federal agency wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line are permitted to forego the paper copy submission of all application forms.

Paper Submission: Application forms and instructions are available on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.

If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIM) at: 770-488-2700. We can mail application forms to you.

Application: You must submit a project narrative with your application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following format:

• Maximum number of pages: 30. If your narrative exceeds the page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.

• Font size: 12 point unreduced

• Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

• Page margin size: One inch

• Double-spaced

• Number all pages of the application sequentially from page one (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including charts, figures, tables, and appendices.

• Printed only on one side of page.

• Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound in any other way.

• Submitted in English

Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period, and must include the following items in the order listed:

• Executive Summary

Provide a clear and concise summary of the proposed goals, major objectives and activities required for achievement of program goals and amount of funding requested for budget year one of this cooperative agreement.

• Need: Description of need for strengthened TB services for HIV-infected TB patients in Haiti. Include data on TB incidence rates among HIV positive persons, TB incidence rates in the general population, and the status of existing TB and TB/HIV control activities.

• Capacity: Current capability/capacity of organization to perform required elements of this program announcement, and to support the strengthening and expansion of the national TB diagnostic and treatment services for HIV positive patients.

• Expansion: Describe detailed plans for use of funds to expand and improve existing TB diagnosis and treatment services for HIV positive patients.

• Personnel: Plans for recruitment of staff and personnel to carry out the proposed activities.

• Training: Plans for training of current staff in TB screening and treatment among HIV positive patients, and HIV CT for TB staff.

• Laboratory Capacity: Provide basic laboratory services in support of TB diagnosis and treatment for HIV positive patients.

• Commodities: Procure commodities necessary for screening and treatment of TB disease.

• Outreach: Provide educational services to address awareness, prevention, and treatment of TB in communities affected by HIV/AIDS.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement monitoring and evaluation strategies to assess programmatic effectiveness, as well as provision of the required targets for Emergency Plan reporting, including:

1. Number of service outlets providing clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for TB for HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed).

2. Number of HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed) who receive clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for TB.

3. Number of individuals trained to provide clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for TB to HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed).

4. Number of people trained in the lab for TB/HIV diagnosis.

5. Number of TB/HIV service outlets.

6. Number of TB patients tested for HIV.

• Budget: A budget is required for the first year only, and the budget justification will not be counted in the stated page limit.

Additional information may be included in the application appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page limit. This additional information includes:

• Budget and Budget Justification.

• Curriculum Vitas or Resumes.

• Organizational Charts.

• Letters of Support.

• Job descriptions of proposed key positions to be created for the activity.

• Quality-Assurance, Monitoring-and-Evaluation, and Strategic-Information Forms.

• Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement.

• Evidence of Legal Organizational Structure.

You must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. For more information, see the HHS/CDC web site at: http:// www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.pdf. If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover letter.

Additional requirements that could require you to submit additional documentation with your application are listed in section “VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”

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 www.grants.gov. We consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization's Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to www.grants.gov. Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline if the applicant organization's Authorizing Official has submitted the application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date and time.

If you submit your application electronically through Grants.gov [ http://www.grants.gov ], the application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.

If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service or commercial delivery service, you must ensure the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC receives your submission after closing because: (1) Carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the closing date and time; or (2) significant weather delays or natural disasters, you will have the opportunity to submit documentation of the carrier's guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, HHS/CDC will consider the submission as having been received by the deadline.

If a hard copy application is submitted, HHS/CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your submission. If you have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after the submission deadline. This will allow time for us to process and log submissions.

This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If your submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and we will discard it. You will be notified that you did not meet the submission requirements.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your budget, are as follows:

• Funds may not be used for research.

• Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.

• Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives; however, prior approval by HHS/CDC officials must be requested in writing.

• All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, HHS/CDC will not compensate foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the issuance of supplemental awards.

• The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and international organizations, with the following exception: With the exception of the American University, Beirut and the World Health Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial limits of the United States or to international organizations, regardless of their location.

• The applicant may contract with other organizations under this program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion of the activities (including program management and operations, and delivery of prevention services for which funds are required).

• You must obtain annual audit of these HHS/CDC funds (program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) approved in writing by HHS/CDC.

• A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.

• Funds received from this announcement will not be used for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV infection (with the exception of nevirapine in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written approval), occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and will not be used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct the necessary laboratory monitoring for patient care.

• No funds appropriated under this act shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.

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 sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms and conditions of the sub-agreement, must acknowledge that compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities,” is a prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. government funds in connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual course of its operations that relate to the organization's compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities.”

All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (“prime recipients”) in connection with this document must certify compliance prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes reference to this document ( e.g. , “[Prime recipient's name] certifies compliance with the section, ‘Prostitution and Related Activities.”’ ”) addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government funds in connection with this document.

Recipients' compliance with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities,” is an express term and condition of receiving U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines the recipient has not complied with this section, “Prostitution and Related Activities.”

You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit electronically at www.Grants.gov. You will be able to download a copy of the application package from www.Grants.gov , complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are having technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. You may also submit a back-up paper submission of the application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. You must clearly mark the paper submission: “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.”

The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version the official submission.

We strongly recommend that you submit your grant application by using Microsoft Office products ( e.g. , Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, a PDF file may be submitted. You may find directions for creating PDF files on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or

Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management—AA170, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Applicants must provide measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the performance goals stated in the “Purpose” section of this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must measure the intended outcome. You must submit these measures of effectiveness with your application, and they will be an element of evaluation.

We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:

Implement a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities based on monitoring information. Applicants must develop indicators for each program milestone and incorporate them into the financial and programmatic reports. All indicators must come from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Indicator Guide. Applicants must be able to generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving program objectives.

Does the applicant describe strategies that are pertinent and match those identified in the five-year strategy of the President's Emergency Plan and activities that are evidence-based, realistic, achievable, measurable and culturally appropriate in Haiti to achieve the goals of the Emergency Plan? Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed objectives? How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire project period? Does the plan include quantitative process and outcome measures? Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to deliver the proposed interventions in a culturally appropriate manner and in local languages?

Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the national cultural and political context and the technical and programmatic areas covered by the project? Does the applicant display knowledge of the five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan, such that it can build on these to develop a comprehensive, collaborative project and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan? To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they accomplish the program goals? 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?

Do the staff members have appropriate experience? Are the staff roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to accomplish the program goals and do they have the ability to perform activities in local languages?

Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with justification, reasonable, and consistent with stated objectives and planned program activities?

Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the USG Web site, at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review applications for completeness, and HHS Global AIDS program will review them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will receive notification that their application did not meet submission requirements.

An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in the “V.1. Criteria” section above. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to the U.S. Government Country Program Office. The panel may include both Federal and non-Federal participants.

In addition, the following factors could affect the funding decision:

It is possible for one organization to apply as lead grantee with a plan that includes partnering with other organizations, preferably local. Although matching funds are not required, preference will go to organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to program goals.

In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:

• Maintaining geographic diversity.

• Preference to organizations in certain geographic areas.

HHS/CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.

September 15, 2005.

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.

For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.

The following additional requirements apply to this project:

• AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions

• AR-6 Patient Care

• AR-8 Public Health Reporting Requirements

• AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions

• AR-14 Accounting System Requirements

• AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data

Applicants can find additional information on these requirements on the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

You need to include an additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application in the Grants.gov electronic submission only. Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf. Once you have filled out the form, it should be attached to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.

You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the following reports:

1. Interim progress report, due no less than 90 days before the end of the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:

a. Current Budget Period Activities and Objectives.

b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.

c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activities and Objectives.

d. Budget and budget narrative with justification.

e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for Haiti.

f. Additional Information.

2. Annual Reports are due within each budget period. The report should detail progress toward achieving program milestones and projected next year activities. Indicators must be developed for each program milestone and incorporated into the annual financial and programmatic reports. All indicators need to be drawn from The Emergency Plan.

3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period. The financial report must show obligations, disbursements and funds remaining by program activity. Indicators must be developed for each program milestone and incorporated into the periodic financial and programmatic reports. All indicators need to be drawn from The Emergency Plan Indicator Guide.

4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.

Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or Contract Specialist listed in the “Agency Contacts” section of this announcement.

We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement.

For general questions, contact: Technical Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.

For program technical assistance, contact: Kathy Grooms, Country Program Officer, HHS/CDC, NCHSTP, Global AIDS Program, 6600 Clifton Road, MS E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.gov.

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: VEW4@CDC.GOV.

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.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: AA168.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

Authority: This program is authorized under sections 307 and 317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C 2421 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].

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 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 as 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 Haitian population because of an underdeveloped public health infrastructure and a 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, 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 HHS/CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP): Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment, 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 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.

Specific awardee activities for this program are as follows:

1. Provide technical assistance and training to new and/or existing associations of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and other associations of infected/affected persons, in at least five departments.

2. Facilitate training of HIV positive association members.

3. Promote a national network of PLWHA associations.

4. Support and help increase the management capacity of PLWHA and other associations of infected/affected persons.

5. Facilitate associations of PLWHA to conduct HIV prevention and care activities among their infected/affected membership base.

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 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.

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.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.

Approximate Total Funding: $500,000 (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds).

Approximate Number of Awards: One or more.

Approximate Average Award: $100,000 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs).

Floor of Award Range: $100,000.

Ceiling of Award Range: $100,000.

Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.

Budget Period Length: 12 months.

Project Period Length: Five years.

Throughout the project period, HHS's 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 annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

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:

• Documented experience providing services in Haiti.

• Have a minimum of three years of experience in HIV/AIDS particularly in the provision of basic social services for HIV-infected/affected persons, must have experience with non-facility-based counseling, and must already be integrated into the national HIV/AIDS program.

• Documented experience working with populations engaged in high-risk behaviors. 1

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.

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.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

HHS strongly encourages you to submit your application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement at 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.

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 vitas 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 www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.

For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm. If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover letter.

Additional requirements that could require you to submit additional documentation with your application are listed in section “VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”

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 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 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 carriers 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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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, 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.

Application Submission Address: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit electronically at: www.grants.gov. You will be able to download a copy of the application package from 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 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 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—AA168, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

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:

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?

To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief?

Does the applicant propose a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities based on monitoring information? Does the applicant include indicators for each program milestone and incorporated into the financial and programmatic reports? Are all indicators drawn from the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Can the system generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving the objectives of the Emergency Plan in Haiti.

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?

Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of the interventions it intends to provide?

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?

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, preference will be 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.

September 15, 2005

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.

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.

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:

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.

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, E-mail: 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 .

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 .

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, 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 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:

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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

• Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.

• Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.

• Number of persons trained in strategic information, direct.

• Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure the following:

a. Indigenous capacity-building.

b. Progress toward sustainability.

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.

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.

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.

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.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

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.

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://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.”

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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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, 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.

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.

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 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.

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:

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?

To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of the interventions it intends to provide?

Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?

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?

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?

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?

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.

September 15, 2005.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA215.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

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 as much of the population as possible groups has 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.

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, disease-monitoring and HIV screening for blood safety.

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the numerical goal 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 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.

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. Provide ongoing field support to PMTCT sites located in underserved areas of greater Port-au-Prince, including Petionville, Carrefour and Port-au-Prince, and to capacitate them to:

a. Provide routine, confidential voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) to pregnant women.

b. Provide partner-referral counseling and testing.

c. Use a modified Directly Observed Treatment—Short Course (DOTS) approach to put HIV-positive pregnant women and their babies under prophylactic anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment.

d. Enroll babies born to HIV-infected mothers in PMTCT care to ensure they are tested according to schedule, and that they are fed properly.

e. Establish mechanisms at VCT and PMTCT sites to provide psychosocial support to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

f. Develop network links with sites that provide ARV services, such as: Groupe Haitien d'Étude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections Opportunistes (GHESKIO), also known as The Haitian Study Group on Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections; Grace Children's Hospital; l'Hopital de l'Université d'Etat d'Haiti (HUEH); and/or Fame Period.

2. Coordinate health education and promotion activities for the Haitian National Police—Police Nationale d'Haiti (PNH) in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention. This will include the following activities:

a. The introduction of educational modules on abstinence, being faithful, and, when appropriate for individuals engaged in high-risk behavior, 1 correct and consistent condom use (ABC) and related, culturally appropriate Behavior Change Communication (BCC) messages into the PNH training curricula.

b. The training of trainers in culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention techniques and messages that reflect and respect local cultural and religious morés.

c. The training of peer educators in culturally appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention techniques and messages that reflect and respect local cultural and religious morés.

d. Support for the development of cascade training in the PNH.

3. Support for the expansion of confidential VCT within the PNH health care system. This will include the following:

a. The management of opportunistic infections (OI).

b. Palliative care and support for PLWHA.

c. Making HIV testing a routine part of medical care.

4. Develop and support a referral system establish PNH confidential VCT and anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and care centers.

5. Develop and support a monthly local-language newsletter in collaboration with the Haitian Ministère de la Santè Publique et de la Population—Ministry of Health (MSPP). These newsletters will track the progress of all VCT, PMTCT and ART sites that report service statistics to the MSPP's National AIDS Control Program. They will also serve to provide external feedback to national partner institutions and the Haitian public and internal feedback to the reporting sites.

Information on HIV prevention methods (or strategies) must include abstinence, monogamy ( i.e. , being faithful to a single sexual partner) or, for populations engaged in high-risk behaviors, 2 using condoms consistently and correctly. These approaches can avoid risk (abstinence) or effectively reduce risk for HIV (monogamy, consistent and correct condom use). Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change interventions.

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.

Awardee 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 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 test kits for confidential VCT at PMTCT sites and PNH sites.

11. Provide technical assistance for training, OI case management and integration of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV care.

12. Provide technical assistance for surveillance, monitoring and evaluating (M&E) HIV/AIDS trends in these populations.

13. Provide laboratory training and technical assistance in lab organization and patient flow.

14. Provide oversight for QA/QC of the laboratory.

15. Provide informatics support for satellite connection to enable the PNH to meet reporting requirements.

16. Provide technical assistance to the medical staff in developing a palliative care program.

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:

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.

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.

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.

• Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.

• Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.

• Number of persons trained in strategic information, direct.

• Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure the following:

a. Indigenous capacity-building.

b. Progress toward sustainability.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.

HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.

Approximate Total Funding: $1,220,000 (This amount is an estimate for the five-year project period, and is subject to availability of funds).

Approximate Number of Awards: One.

Approximate Average Award: $244,000. (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)

Floor of Award Range: $244,000.

Ceiling of Award Range: $325,000. (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.

Public and private non-profit and for-profit organizations may submit applications, such as:

• Public, non-profit organizations.

• Private, non-profit organizations.

• Universities.

• Colleges.

• For-profit organizations.

• Small, minority, women-owned businesses.

• Community-based organizations.

• Research institutions.

• Hospitals.

• Faith-based organizations.

• Federally recognized Indian tribal governments.

• Indian tribes.

• Indian tribal organizations.

• State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau)

• Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States).

In addition, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:

• Have at least three years of documented HIV/AIDS related program implementation experience in Haiti, particularly in the provision of comprehensive PMTCT in the deprived areas of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince.

• Have demonstrated expertise in the areas of direct delivery of HIV confidential CT delivery and culturally appropriate AIDS prevention communications in Haiti.

• Be locally incorporated in Haiti.

• Have established relationships with the Government of Haiti and written letters of support from the Haitian National MSPP.

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.

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.

To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.

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.

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://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.”

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 carriers 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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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, 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.

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 .

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 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—AA215, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

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:

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?

To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of the services it intends to provide? Does applicant demonstrate knowledge of the cultural and political realities in Haiti?

Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they accomplish the Numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?

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 quarterly financial and programmatic reports? Are the indicators drawn from the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Will the system generate financial and program reports to show the disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving the objectives of the President's Emergency Plan?

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?

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?

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.

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.

September 15, 2005.

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.

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.

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:

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 later than 90 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, due no later 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.

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, E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.grooms.

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.

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.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA240.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

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 Côte d'Ivoire are to treat at least 77,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 385,000 HIV-affected individuals, including orphans.

Purpose: The United States Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in specific countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas by working with governments 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.

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.

The purpose of the program is to increase the uptake of high-quality HIV prevention and confidential HIV testing among the uniformed services, ex-combatants and their partners in Côte d'Ivoire. Increased access to, and uptake of, combined prevention, sexually transmitted infections (STI) diagnosis and treatment, and counseling and confidential HIV testing (CT) interventions in these populations is intended to lead to safer sexual behaviors, including abstinence, fidelity, and, for populations engaged in high-risk behaviors, 1 correct and consistent condom use; and increased use of HIV care, treatment and support through a strong referral network to complementary services. A secondary purpose of this program is to enhance related HIV/AIDS communications activities to promote the uptake of CT and other care as well as behavior change.

Specifically, the winner of this announcement will expand quality HIV prevention and confidential HIV CT and STI care by targeting the uniformed services, ex-combatants and their partners in Côte d'Ivoire. These interventions include referral of those testing HIV-positive to sources of ongoing psycho-social support, comprehensive ART and palliative care.

Monitoring and evaluation of all programs and interventions will be essential in measuring success of these activities. All of the program activities conducted in this cooperative agreement are part of The President's Emergency Plan.

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan and with the following performance goal for the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) National Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis Prevention within HHS: By 2010, work with other countries, international organizations, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other partners to achieve the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS goal of reducing prevalence among young people 15 to 24 years of age. Specific measurable outcomes of this program include, but are not limited to, the number, age, sex and test outcomes of clients (individual and couples) provided with confidential HIV CT and STI care, the cost per client, and the number of persons with HIV successfully referred to an effective care or treatment provider.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by HHS, including the 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: 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 Program Announcement. For each of these activities, the grantee will give priority to evidence-based, yet culturally adapted, innovative approaches.

The awardee will either implement activities directly or 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 Côte d'Ivoire 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. 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 target the specific subpopulations of uniformed services, ex-combatants and their partners.

Specific awardee activities are as follows:

1. Reinforcing the network of existing static sites and establishing mobile units to provide outreach HIV/STI prevention education and HIV CT and STI diagnosis and treatment (not including HIV ARV treatment) with referral to care and treatment sites for HIV-positive individuals and couples. This will include the use of standardized CT, STI management and other protocols and procedures; standardized management systems; standardized monitoring and evaluation procedures and instruments; and standardized education and behavior change materials and activities.

2. Developing and implementing targeted social marketing behavior change campaigns to promote abstinence, faithfulness, and, for populations engaged in high-risk behaviors, 2 consistent and correct condom use; and uptake of confidential CT for individuals and couples, and reduction of HIV-associated stigma. Awardees may not implement social marketing of condoms without also implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior change interventions.

3. Developing and implementing programs to promote risk-avoidance behavior change at high-risk sites (e.g., bars, demobilization cantons, active-duty deployment away from base etc).

4. Promoting messages that raise awareness about the harmful ties between alcohol/substance abuse and HIV infection, as well as between alcohol/substance abuse and poor adherence to antiretrovirals (ARVs).

5. Creating referral networks for HIV-positive clients to improve access to peer-support groups and other care, treatment and support.

6. Collecting strategic information to ensure the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention activities, consistent with strategic-information guidance established by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator.

7. Collaborating with, and providing support to, the National Security and Defense Forces, Ministry of Health (MOH) and other Côte d'Ivoire Government agencies, as appropriate, which can include, without limitation: improvement of monitoring and evaluation activities to assure high-quality in all peer education and CT/STI service delivery sites; development and implementation of training and communications materials; and improvement of infrastructure directly associated with HIV and STI testing and counseling.

8. Ensuring that all of the above activities are undertaken in a manner consistent with and in support of U.S. Government HIV/AIDS strategies. Work to link activities described here with related HIV prevention, care, treatment and basic social services in the area, and promote coordination at all levels, including through bodies such as village, district, regional and national HIV coordination committees and networks of community-based, non-governmental and faith-based organizations.

9. Participate in relevant national technical coordination committees and in national process(es) to ensure local stakeholders receive adequate information and assistance to engage and access effectively funding opportunities supported by the President's Emergency Plan and other donors.

10. Develop and implement a project-specific participatory monitoring and evaluation plan by drawing on national and U.S. Government requirements and tools, including the strategic information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

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 must 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. Provide technical assistance in the development of training, communication and monitoring and evaluation materials and tools in local languages in support of project activities. Interventions will emphasize abstinence for youth and other unmarried persons, mutual faithfulness and partner reduction for sexually active adults, and correct and consistent use of condoms as well as uptake of HIV testing and STI screening by those engaged in high-risk behaviors. 3

2. Provide technical assistance to establish quality HIV testing, including quality assurance, and competitive and transparent procurement of HIV rapid tests and other laboratory supplies.

3. Facilitate the national, regional and international exchange of materials and expertise with regard to comprehensive prevention, STI treatment and counseling and confidential HIV testing services for uniformed services, ex-combatants and their partners in Côte d'Ivoire.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.

8. 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.

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.

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the following performance goals for the Emergency Plan:

Number of individuals trained to provide HIV prevention interventions, including abstinence, faithfulness, and, for populations engaged in high-risk behaviors  4 , correct and consistent condom use.

1. Prevention (ABC).

• Number of individuals reached with community outreach HIV/AIDS prevention programs that promote abstinence and/or being faithful.

1. Confidential counseling and testing.

• Number of clients 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. Palliative Care: Basic Health Care and Support.

• Number of service outlets that provide STI screening and treatment, direct.

• Number of clients served with STI screening and treatment, direct.

• Number of persons trained in providing STI screening and treatment, direct.

• Number of service outlets that provide palliative care, direct and/or indirect.

• Number of clients served with palliative care, direct and/or indirect.

• Number of persons trained in providing palliative care, direct.

• Number of persons trained in strategic information, direct.

• Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure the following:

a. Indigenous capacity-building.

b. Progress toward sustainability.

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section above.

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2005.

Approximate Total Funding: $1-1.8 million per year, over four years; or approximately $5.5 million. (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)

Approximate Number of Awards: One.

Approximate Average Award: $1.8 million. (This amount is for the first 12 month budget period and includes both direct and indirect costs.)

Floor of Award Range: $1 million.

Ceiling of Award Range: $1.8 million.

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 input from the Government of Côte d'Ivoire), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the United States Federal Government, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

Applications may be submitted by:

• Public, non-profit organizations.

• Private, non-profit organizations.

• Universities.

• Colleges.

• For-profit organizations.

• Small, minority, women-owned businesses.

• Community-based organizations.

• Research institutions.

• Hospitals.

• Faith-based organizations.

• Federally recognized Indian tribal governments.

• Indian tribes.

• Indian tribal organizations.

• State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).

• Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States).

Additionally, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:

• Have at least three years of documented experience in implementing HIV/AIDS-related programs in Côte d'Ivoire.

• Have demonstrated expertise working with the target populations and in the areas of direct HIV confidential CT service delivery, and HIV/AIDS communications in local languages in Côte d'Ivoire.

• Have established relationships with the National Government in Côte d'Ivoire and written letters of support from the health authorities responsible for the Ivorian National Forces of Defense and Security.

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.

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. You will be notified that your application did not meet submission requirements.

• HHS/CDC will consider late applications to be non-responsive. See section “IV.3. Submission Dates and Times” for more information on deadlines.

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 CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. We can e-mail application forms to you.

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.

• Pages should be numbered.

• Printed only on one side of page.

• Appendices may be included.

• Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not bound in any other way.

• Submitted in English.

Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the entire project period, and must include the following items in the order listed:

• 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.

• Project Budget Notes.

• Job Descriptions.

• STI and HIV Testing Protocols.

• Overview of peer outreach, STI and HIV Counseling and Testing Quality Assurance Procedures, both Internal and External.

• Peer outreach, HIV Counseling and Testing Quality Assurance, Monitoring and Evaluation and Strategic Information Forms.

• HIV Counseling and Testing Referral Procedures and Forms.

• Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing Processes and Procedures.

• HIV Counseling and Testing Staff Training Curricula.

• Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement.

• Letter(s) of Support.

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://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.”

Application Deadline Date: September 12, 2005.

Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.

You may submit 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 carriers 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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

Restrictions, which you must taken into account while writing your budget, are as follows:

• Funds may not be used for research.

• Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.

• Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives; however, prior approval by 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, 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 U.S. 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 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 standards(s) approved in writing by CDC.

• A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.

• Needle Exchange—No funds appropriated under this Act shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.

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 can 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.

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 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 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—AA240, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

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 will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1. Ability to Carry Out the Proposal (30 points).

Does the applicant demonstrate the local experience and capability to achieve the goals of the project? Do the staff members have appropriate experience? Are the staff roles clearly defined? Does the applicant currently have the capacity to reach target populations of uniformed services, ex-combatants and their partners in Côte d'Ivoire despite the complex politico-military situation?

2. Understanding the issues, principles and systems requirements involved in carrying out the project and fitting into the five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan (30 points).

Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the national cultural and political context and the technical and programmatic areas covered by the project? Does the applicant display knowledge of the five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan, such that it can build on these to develop a comprehensive, collaborative project to reach the target populations in Côte d'Ivoire and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan?

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 Côte d'Ivoire to achieve the goals of the Emergency Plan?

4. Administrative and Accounting Plan (20 points).

Is there a plan to prepare reports, monitor and evaluate activities, audit expenditures and manage the resources of the program?

5. 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 Côte d'Ivoire?

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 Côte d'Ivoire. 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, preference will be go to organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to program goals.

Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined by the review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.

September 15, 2005.

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.

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.

You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies, of the following reports (in English and French).

1. Interim progress report, due no less than 90 days before the end of the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:

a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.

b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.

c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.

d. Budget.

e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for Côte d'Ivoire.

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 Côte d'Ivoire.

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.

Please note: the grantee is responsible for accurate translation of all reports, and should submit French-language versions to the local HHS/CDC office in Abidjan and English-language versions to the HHS/CDC Grants office in the United States, by the established deadlines. See the HHS/CDC project management officer in Abidjan for more details.

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: Monica Nolan, Director, HHS/CDC/Projet RETRO-CI, 2010 Abidjan Place, Dulles, Virginia 20189-2010, Telephone: (225) 21-25-41-89, E-mail: mnolan@cdc.gov.

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: Shirley Wynn, Contract Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-1515, E-mail: zbx6@cdc.gov.

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.

Announcement Type: New.

Funding Opportunity Number: AA174.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.

Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

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 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}) 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:

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.

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.

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.

• Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.

• Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.

• Number of persons trained in strategic information, direct.

• Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure:

a. Indigenous capacity-building.

b. Progress toward sustainability.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.”

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 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 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.

Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

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 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.

Application Submission Address: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit electronically at: www.grants.gov. You will be able to download a copy of the application package from 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.

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:

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?

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?

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?

To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?

Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with the justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and planned program activities?

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.

September 15, 2005.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2005 funds for a cooperative agreement program to fund the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The Emergency Plan). The plan has called for immediate action to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The initiative hopes to prevent at least seven million new HIV infections, place two million people on treatment, and provide care for ten million people, including orphans and vulnerable children. An essential element of preventing new cases of HIV infection is to ensure that high-risk groups have adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities.

Haiti's HIV prevalence rate in adults is estimated to be between 3.1 and 5.6 percent according to the Haitian Ministry of Health-Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP) and the 2004 Annual Report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), respectively. Access to prevention and treatment is limited to the Haitian population due to the underdeveloped public health infrastructure and lack of clinical capacity. In order to improve this capacity, this Cooperative Agreement has been developed to provide much needed funding and resources.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.067.

This is a single eligibility request for application (RFA) from MSPP. No other applicants are solicited.

The MSPP is the government. They have the authority and responsibility for both regulation and QA/QC of all Laboratories within the country. They are responsible for establishing norms and standards for laboratories.

The MSPP, as the government, is the only entity that has the authority to establish and operate the entire public health system which includes departmental hospitals and clinics where ARV services are being provided. The Ministry has developed public/private partnerships to help manage some of these sites but even at those sites that are managed by the private sector they are ultimately accountable to the MSPP for services provided and quality care. The MSPP still maintains a supervisor role for these sites.

The role of regulation and standard setting at a national level is inherently governmental. In order to fulfill its role in this area the Haitian Ministry of Health needs to have the capacity to independently verify compliance through a central HIV/AIDS quality assurance/quality control laboratory. If a private or non-governmental laboratory were allowed to take on this role it would call into question the independence of the results in order to favor laboratories associated with that organization.

Approximately $2,765,000 is available over a five year project period. $553,000 is available for a 12-month budget period in FY 2005, to be awarded September 15, 2005. Funding estimates may change.

For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2700.

For program technical assistance, contact: Kathy Grooms, CDC Global AIDS Program, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: 404-639-8394. E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.gov.

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: 770-488-2724. E-mail: VEW4@CDC.GOV.

Title: National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (CAN) and National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) Customer Satisfaction Evaluation Plan.

Description: The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (CAN) and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC), services of the Children's Bureau within ACF, were established in 1974 and 1986, respectively. Both are dedicated to the mission of connecting professionals and concerned citizens to information on programs, research, legislation, and statistics regarding the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.

The Clearinghouses' main functions are identifying information needs, locating and acquiring information, creating information, organizing and storing information, disseminating information, and facilitating information exchange among professionals and concerned citizens. A number of vehicles are employed to accomplish these activities, including, but not limited to, Web site hosting, discussions with customers, and dissemination of publications (both print and electronic).

The Clearinghouses' Customer Satisfaction Evaluation Plan was initiated in response to Executive Order 12862 issued on September 11, 1993. The order calls for putting customers first and striving for a customer-driven government that matches or exceeds the best service available in the private sector. To that end, the Clearinghouses' Evaluation Plan was designed to better understand customers' needs and measure success in meeting those needs by obtaining input and feedback directly from customers. This feedback will be used to improve the quality of Clearinghouse products and services, in turn allowing limited resources to be targeted to improve those components that have the most impact on customer satisfaction. Information will be collected using close-ended electronic, telephone, paper and pencil, and in-person administration methods.

In addition to the above quantitative component of the evaluation plan, focus groups will be conducted with CAN and NAIC customers on a yearly basis to supplement the customer satisfaction surveys with a qualitative component.

Respondents: General customers are those who interact with the Clearinghouses via Web, e-mail, and telephone. Targeted customers are those to which selected services are delivered, such as subscribers to Children's Bureau Express (an online digest), recipients of selected publications, and focus group participants.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail address: grjohnson@acf. hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

On the basis of the record  1 developed in the subject investigation, the United States International Trade Commission (Commission) determines, 2 pursuant to section 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)) (the Act), that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports from Japan of metal calendar slides, provided for in subheading 7326.90.10 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV).

Pursuant to section 207.18 of the Commission's rules, the Commission also gives notice of the commencement of the final phase of its investigation. The Commission will issue a final phase notice of scheduling, which will be published in the Federal Register as provided in section 207.21 of the Commission's rules, upon notice from the Department of Commerce (Commerce) of an affirmative preliminary determination in the investigation under section 733(b) of the Act, or, if the preliminary determination is negative, upon notice of an affirmative final determination in that investigation under section 735(a) of the Act. Parties that filed entries of appearance in the preliminary phase of the investigation need not enter a separate appearance for the final phase of the investigation. Industrial users, and, if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the investigation.

On June 29, 2005, a petition was filed with the Commission and Commerce by Stuebing Automatic Machine Co., Cincinnati, OH, alleging that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of LTFV imports of metal calendar slides from Japan. Accordingly, effective June 29, 2005, the Commission instituted antidumping duty investigation No. 731-TA-1094 (Preliminary).

Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigation and of a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of July 11, 2005 (70 FR 39788). The conference was held in Washington, DC, on July 20, 2005, and all persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to appear in person or by counsel.

The Commission will transmit its determination in this investigation to the Secretary of Commerce on August 15, 2004. The views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 3792 (August 2005), entitled Metal Calendar Slides from Japan: Investigation No. 731-TA-1094 (Preliminary).

Pursuant to section 1301.33(a) of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this is notice that on March 16, 2005, Abbott Laboratories, DBA Knoll Pharmaceutical Company, 30 North Jefferson Road, Whippany, New Jersey 07981, made application by renewal to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be registered as a bulk manufacturer of the basic classes of controlled substances listed in Schedules I and II:

The company plans to manufacture bulk product and dosage units for distribution to its customers.

Any other such applicant and any person who is presently registered with DEA to manufacture such a substance may file comments or objections to the issuance of the proposed registration pursuant to 21 CFR 1301.33(a).

Any such written comments or objections being sent via regular mail may be addressed, in quintuplicate, to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative, Liaison and Policy Section (ODL); or any being sent via express mail should be sent to DEA Headquarters, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/ODL, 2401 Jefferson-Davis Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22301; and must be filed no later than October 18, 2005.

Pursuant to section 1301.33(a) of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this is notice that on March 7, 2005, Lonza Riverside, 900 River Road, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428, made application by renewal to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be registered as a bulk manufacturer of the basic classes of controlled substances listed in Schedules I and II:

The company plans to manufacture bulk products for finished dosage units and distribution to its customers.

Any other such applicant and any person who is presently registered with DEA to manufacture such a substance may file comments or objections to the issuance of the proposed registration pursuant to 21 CFR 1301.33(a).

Any such written comments or objections being sent via regular mail may be addressed, in quintuplicate, to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative, Liaison and Policy Section (ODL); or any being sent via express mail should be sent to DEA Headquarters, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/ODL, 2401 Jefferson-Davis Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22301; and must be filed no later than October 18, 2005.

By Notice dated March 29, 2005, and published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2005, (70 FR 17473), Polaroid Corporation, 1265 Main Street, Building W6, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, made application by renewal to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be registered as a bulk manufacturer of 2,5-Dimethoxyamphetamine (7396), a basic class of controlled substance listed in Schedule I.

The company plans to manufacture the listed controlled substance in bulk for conversion into non-controlled substances.

No comments or objections have been received. DEA has considered the factors in 21 U.S.C. 823(a) and determined that the registration of Polaroid Corporation to manufacture the listed basic class of controlled substance is consistent with the public interest at this time. DEA has investigated Polaroid Corporation to ensure that the company's registration is consistent with the public interest. The investigation has included inspection and testing of the company's physical security systems, verification of the company's compliance with State and local laws, and a review of the company's background and history. Therefore, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 823, and in accordance with 21 CFR 1301.33, the above named company is granted registration as a bulk manufacturer of the basic class of controlled substance listed.

Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 958(i), the Attorney General shall, prior to issuing a registration under this section to a bulk manufacturer of a controlled substance in Schedule I or II and prior to issuing a regulation under 21 U.S.C. 952(a)(2)(B) authorizing the importation of such a substance, provide manufacturers holding registrations for the bulk manufacture of the substance an opportunity for a hearing.

Therefore, in accordance with 21 CFR 1301.34(a), this is notice that on April 8, 2005, Research Triangle Institute, Kenneth H. Davis Jr., Hermann Building East Institute Drive, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, made application by renewal to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be registered as an importer of the basic class of controlled substance listed in Schedule II:

The company plans to import small quantities of the listed controlled substance for the National Institute of Drug Abuse and other clients.

Any manufacturer who is presently, or is applying to be, registered with DEA to manufacture such basic classes of controlled substances may file comments or objections to the issuance of the proposed registration and may, at the same time, file a written request for a hearing on such application pursuant to 21 CFR 1301.43 and in such form as prescribed by 21 CFR 1316.47.

Any such written comments or objections being sent via regular mail may be addressed, in quintuplicate, to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative, Liaison and Policy Section (ODL); or any being sent via express mail should be sent to DEA Headquarters, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/ODL, 2401 Jefferson-Davis Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22301; and must be filed no later than September 19, 2005.

This procedure is to be conducted simultaneously with and independent of the procedures described in 21 CFR 1301.34(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f). As noted in a previous notice published in the Federal Register on September 23, 1975, (40 FR 43745-46), all applicants for registration to import a basic class of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II are, and will continue to be required to demonstrate to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, that the requirements for such registration pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 958(a), 21 U.S.C. 823(a), and 21 CFR 1301.34(b), (c),(d),(e) and (f) are satisfied.

Pursuant to Section 1301.33(a) of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this is notice that on January 26, 2005, Sigma Aldrich Research, Biochemicals, Inc., 1-3 Strathmore Road, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, made application by letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for registration as a bulk manufacturer of N-Benzylpiperazine (7493), a basic class of controlled substance listed in Schedule I.

The company plans to manufacture the listed controlled substance in bulk for distribution to its customers.

Any other such applicant and any person who is presently registered with DEA to manufacture such a substance may file comments or objections to the issuance of the proposed registration pursuant to 21 CFR 1301.33(a).

Any such written comments or objections being sent via regular mail may be addressed, in quintuplicate, to the Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative, Liaison and Policy Section (ODL); or any being sent via express mail should be sent to DEA Headquarters, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/ODL, 2401 Jefferson-Davis Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22301; and must be filed no later than October 18, 2005.

General wage determination decisions of the Secretary of Labor are issued in accordance with applicable law and are based on the information obtained by the Department of Labor from its study of local wage conditions and data made available from other sources. They specify the basic hourly wage rates and fringe benefits which are determined to be prevailing for the described classes of laborers and mechanics employed on construction projects of a similar character and in the localities specified therein.

The determinations in these decisions of prevailing rates and fringe benefits have been made in accordance with 29 CFR part 1, by authority of the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act of March 3, 1931, as amended (46 Stat. 1494, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 276a) and of other Federal statutes referred to in 29 CFR part 1, Appendix, as well as such additional statutes as may from time to time be enacted containing provisions for the payment of wages determined to be prevailing by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act. The prevailing rates and fringe benefits determined in these decisions shall, in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing statutes, constitute the minimum wages payable on Federal and federally assisted construction projects to laborers and mechanics of the specified classes engaged on contract work of the character and in the localities described therein.

Good cause is hereby found for not utilizing notice and public comment procedure thereon prior to the issuance of these determinations as prescribed in 5 U.S.C. 553 and not providing for delay in the effective date as prescribed in that section, because the necessity to issue current construction industry wage determinations frequently and in large volume causes procedures to be impractical and contrary to the public interest.

General wage determination decisions, and modifications and supersedes decisions thereto, contain no expiration dates and are effective from the date of notice in the Federal Register , or on the date written notice is received by the agency, whichever is earlier. These decisions are to be used in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR parts 1 and 5. Accordingly, the applicable decision, together with any modifications issued, must be made a part of every contract for performance of the described work within the geographic area indicated as required by an applicable Federal prevailing wage law and 29 CFR part 5. The wage rates and fringe benefits, notice of which is published herein, and which are contained in the Government Printing Office (GPO) document entitled “General Wage Determinations Issued Under The Davis-Bacon And Related Acts,” shall be the minimum paid by contractors and subcontractors to laborers and mechanics.

Any person, organization, or governmental agency having an interest in the rates determined as prevailing is encouraged to submit wage rate and fringe benefit information for consideration to the Department. Further information and self-explanatory forms for the purpose of submitting this data may be obtained by writing to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division, Division of Wage Determinations, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-3014, Washington, DC 20210.

The number of decisions added to the Government Printing Office document entitled “General Wage Determinations Issued Under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts” are listed by Volume and State:

The number of decisions listed to the Government Printing Office document entitled “General Wage Determinations Issued Under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts” being modified as listed by Volume and State. Dates of publication in the Federal Register are in parentheses following the decision being modified.

General wage determinations issued under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts, including those noted above, may be found in the Government Printing Office (GPO) document entitled “General Wage Determinations Issued Under The Davis-Bacon And Related Acts”. This publication is available at each of the 50 Regional Government Depository Libraries and many of the 1,400 Government Depository Libraries across the country.

General wage determinations issued under the Davis-Bacon and related Acts are available electronically at no cost on the Government Printing Office site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/davisbacon. They are also available electronically by subscription to the Davis-Bacon Online Service ( http://davisbacon.fedworld.gov ) of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce at 1-800-363-2068. The subscription offers value-added features such as electronic delivery of modified wage decisions directly to the user's desktop, the ability to access prior wage decisions issued during the year, extensive Help desk Support, etc.