[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47393-47395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22588]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 602]


Public Health Conference Support Cooperative Agreement Program 
for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1996 funds for the Public Health 
Conference Support Cooperative Agreement Program for Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention. The Public Health Service 
(PHS) is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease 
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2000, a PHS-led national 
activity to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of 
life. This announcement is related to the priority area of HIV 
Infection. (To order a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' or CDC's 
``Strategic Plan for Preventing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 
Infection'' (July 8, 1992), see the Section ``Where to Obtain 
Additional Information.'')

Authority

    This program is authorized under sections 301 (42 U.S.C. 241) and 
310 (42 'U.S.C. 242n) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. 
Applicable program regulations are found in 42 CFR part 52--Grants for 
Research Projects.

 Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all 
tobacco products, and Pub. L. 103-227, the Pro- Children Act of 1994, 
prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive Federal funds in 
which education, library, day care, health care, and early childhood 
development services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are non-governmental, nonprofit and for-profit 
organizations. Thus, universities, colleges, research institutions, 
hospitals, other public and private (e.g., national, regional) 
organizations, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian 
tribes or Indian tribal organizations, and small, minority- or women-
owned businesses are eligible for these cooperative agreements. Current 
recipients of CDC HIV funding must provide the award number and title 
of the program (see the Section ``Program Requirements, C. Letter of 
Intent'').

Availability of Funds

    Up to $250,000 may be available in FY 1996 to fund approximately 10 
to 15 awards. The awards will average $20,000 and will be funded for a 
12-month budget and project period. The funding estimate may vary and 
is subject to change, based on availability of funds. Awards will 
initially be made on a contingency basis as described in the Purpose 
section.
    The following are examples of the most frequently encountered costs 
that may or may not be charged to the cooperative agreement:
    1. As approved, CDC funds may be used for direct cost expenditures: 
salaries, speaker fees, rental of conference related equipment, 
registration fees, and transportation cost (not to exceed economy class 
fares) for non-Federal employees.
    2. CDC funds may not be used for the purchase of equipment, 
payments of honoraria, organizational dues, entertainment or personal 
expenses, cost of travel and payment of a full-time Federal employee, 
or per diem or expenses, other than mileage, for local participants.
    3. CDC funds may not be used for reimbursement of indirect costs.
    4. Although the practice of handing out novelty items at meetings 
is often employed in the private sector to provide participants with 
souvenirs, Federal funds may not be used for this purpose.
    5. CDC funds may be used for only those parts of the conference 
specifically supported by CDC as documented in the Notice of 
Cooperative Agreement (award document).

Recipient Financial Participation

    Part of the cost of the proposed conference must be funded by other 
than CDC funds.
Purpose

    The purpose of the HIV prevention conference support cooperative 
agreement is to provide partial support for non-Federal conferences or 
specified portions of non-Federal conferences to stimulate efforts to 
prevent the transmission of HIV. CDC will collaborate on conferences 
that specifically focus on preventing HIV transmission. Because 
conference support by CDC creates the appearance of CDC co-sponsorship, 
CDC will actively participate in the development and approval of those 
portions of the agenda supported by CDC funds. Contingency awards will 
be made allowing usage of only 25% of the total amount to be awarded 
until a final full agenda is approved by CDC. This will provide funds 
for costs associated with preparation of the agenda. The remainder of 
funds will be released only upon acceptance of the final full agenda. 
CDC reserves the right to terminate co-sponsorship if it does not 
approve the final agenda.

Program Requirements

    CDC will provide support for conferences that are:
    1. Regional (more than one State), national, or international in 
scope;
    2. Targeted to professionals contributing to HIV prevention 
efforts; and
    3. Focused on the transfer of HIV prevention research and 
evaluation findings to intervention efforts or the application of these 
prevention efforts to service providers and health professionals who 
provide service to individuals whose behaviors place them at increased 
risk for HIV infection.
    Topics concerned with issues and areas other than HIV prevention 
should be directed to other public health agencies or in accordance 
with current Federal Register Notices (see Federal Register Notice 600, 
April 20, 1995, 60 FR 19750).
    The activities related to the development of HIV prevention 
conferences require substantial CDC collaboration and involvement. In 
conducting activities to achieve the purpose of the program, the 
recipient shall be responsible for conducting activities listed in 
section A., and CDC will be responsible for conducting activities 
listed in section B.:

A. Recipient Activities

    1. Manage all activities related to program content (e.g., 
objectives, topics, participants, session design, workshops, special 
exhibits, speakers, fees, agenda composition, and printing). Many of 

[[Page 47394]]
these items may be developed in concert with assigned CDC project 
personnel.
    2. Provide draft copies of the agenda and proposed ancillary 
activities to the CDC program office for review and comment. Submit a 
copy of the final agenda and proposed ancillary activities to the CDC 
Grants Management Office for acceptance.
    3. Determine and manage all promotional activities (e.g., title, 
logo, announcements, mailers, press). CDC must review and approve the 
use of any materials with reference to CDC involvement or support.
    4. Manage all registration processes with participants, invitees, 
and registrants (e.g., travel, reservations, correspondence, conference 
materials and hand-outs, badges, registration procedures).
    5. Plan, negotiate, and manage conference site arrangements, 
including all audiovisual needs.
    6. Develop and conduct education and training programs on HIV 
prevention.
    7. Collaborate with CDC staff in reporting and disseminating 
results and relevant HIV prevention education and training information 
to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, health-care 
providers, HIV/AIDS prevention and service organizations, and the 
general public.

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide technical assistance through telephone calls, 
correspondence, and site visits in the areas of program agenda 
development, implementation, and priority setting related to the 
cooperative agreement.
    2. Provide scientific collaboration for appropriate aspects of the 
program, including selection of speakers, pertinent scientific 
information on risk factors for HIV infection, preventive measures, and 
program strategies for the prevention of HIV infection.
    3. Review draft agendas and approve the final agenda and proposed 
activities prior to release of restricted funds.
    4. Assist in the reporting and dissemination of research results 
and relevant HIV prevention education and training information to 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, health-care providers, 
the scientific community, and HIV/AIDS prevention and service 
organizations, and the general public.

C. Letter of Intent

    Respondents must submit a one-page, typewritten letter of intent 
(LOI) that briefly describes the title, location, and purpose of the 
meeting, its relationship to the following described CDC Topics of 
Special Interest, the date of the proposed conference, and the intended 
audience (number and description). No attachments, booklets, or other 
documents accompanying the LOI will be considered. The letter should 
also include the estimated total cost of the conference and the 
percentage of the total cost (which must be less than 100%) being 
requested from CDC. Current recipients of CDC HIV funding must provide 
the award number and title of the funded programs. LOIs will be 
reviewed by CDC program staff, and an invitation to submit an 
application will be made based on the proposed conference's 
relationship to the CDC topics of special interest and the availability 
of funds. An invitation to submit an application does not constitute a 
commitment by CDC to fund the applicant.
D. Topics of Special Interest

    Funding preferences are established to ensure a balance of CDC HIV 
prevention funding and to address at-risk populations that are 
underserved. CDC is especially interested in supporting meetings and 
conferences for HIV prevention service providers on the following 
topics:
    1. Prevention of HIV infection among:
    a. Underserved populations (e.g., women of reproductive age, racial 
and ethnic minorities);
    b. High-risk populations, including both in-school and out-of-
school youth; or
    c. Populations in special settings (e.g., racial and ethnic 
minorities; out-of-school, high-risk youth; incarcerated persons; men 
who have sex with men; high-risk drug users; and migrant workers). 
Particular attention will be given to organizations that serve multiple 
high-risk populations.
    2. Development of HIV prevention strategies with a broad range of 
community partners including those who have not traditionally been 
involved with public health programs (e.g., business, religious 
leaders).
    3. Development of prevention marketing strategies, including 
various behavior modification messages related to sex practices (e.g., 
abstinence, condom use).

    Note: To provide for adequate time to collaborate on the meeting 
agenda and content, applicants should allow a minimum of 3 months 
from the scheduled application due date to the planned date of the 
conference. (See the Section Letter of Intent and Application 
Submission and Deadlines.) Meetings scheduled to begin earlier than 
March 15, 1996, will not be routinely considered for funding.

Evaluation Criteria

    LOIs will be reviewed by CDC program staff for consistency with 
CDC's HIV prevention goals and priorities and the purposes of this 
program. An invitation to submit an application will be made on the 
basis of the proposed conference's relationship to the CDC determined 
topics of special interest, the timing of the meeting or conference 
that would allow for CDC input, and the availability of funds. 
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the following 
criteria.

(Total points available is 100).

A. Proposed Program and Technical Approach: (50 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    1. The applicant's description of the proposed conference as it 
relates to HIV prevention and education, including the public health 
need of the proposed conference and the degree to which the conference 
can be expected to influence public health practices, and the extent of 
the applicant's collaboration with other agencies serving the intended 
audience, including local health and education agencies concerned with 
HIV prevention.
    2. The applicant's description of conference objectives in terms of 
quality, specificity and the feasibility of the conference based on the 
operational plan, and the extent to which evaluation mechanisms for the 
conference adequately assess increased knowledge, attitudes, and 
behaviors of the target participants.
    3. The relevance and effectiveness of the proposed agenda in 
addressing the chosen HIV prevention/education topic.
    4. The degree to which conference activities proposed for CDC 
funding strictly adhere to the prevention of HIV transmission.

B. Applicant Capability (25 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on:
    1. The adequacy and commitment of institutional resources to 
administer the program.
    2. The adequacy of existing and proposed facilities and resources 
for conducting conference activities.
    3. The degree to which the applicant has established and used 
critical linkages with health and education agencies with the mandate 
for HIV prevention. Letters of support from such agencies should be 
obtained to demonstrate the linkages specific to the conference.
C. Qualifications of Program Personnel: (25 Points)

    Evaluation will be based on: 

[[Page 47395]]

    1. The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
staff person, and his/her ability to devote adequate time and effort to 
provide effective leadership.
    2. The competence of associate staff persons, discussion leaders, 
and speakers to accomplish conference objectives.
    3. The degree to which the application demonstrates that key 
personnel have knowledge about the transmission of HIV, and current 
nationwide information and education efforts that may affect, and be 
affected by, the proposed conference.

D. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities: (Not Scored)

    The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
reasonableness, concise and clear justification, consistency with the 
intended use of cooperative agreement funds, and the extent to which 
the applicant documents financial support from other sources.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    This program is not subject to the Executive Order 12372 review.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.118, 
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) activities.

Other Requirements

    Recipients must comply with the document entitled Content of HIV/
AIDS-Related Written Materials, Pictorials, Audiovisuals, 
Questionnaires, Survey Instruments, and Educational Sessions in Centers 
for Disease Control Assistance Programs (June 1992) (a copy is in the 
application kit). To meet the requirements for a Program Review Panel, 
recipients are encouraged to use an existing Program Review Panel such 
as the one created by the State health department's HIV/AIDS prevention 
program. If the recipient forms its own Program Review Panel, at least 
one member must also be an employee (or a designated representative) of 
an appropriate health or educational agency, consistent with the 
revised Content Guidelines. The names of review panel members must be 
listed on the Assurance of Compliance form (CDC Form 0.1113) which is 
also included in the application kit.

Letter of Intent and Application Submission and Deadlines

    The original and two copies of the LOI must be postmarked by the 
October 13, 1995, deadline date to be considered. Within four weeks, 
successful respondents will receive a written request to submit an 
application for funding; unsuccessful respondents will be also be 
notified in writing. A request to submit an application does not 
constitute a commitment to fund the applicant.
    The original and two copies of the application must be submitted on 
PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-0189) by December 22, 1995. The 
earliest possible award date is February 16, 1996, and the earliest 
possible conference date is March 15, 1996. Applications must be 
postmarked on or before the deadline date and sent to Clara M. Jenkins, 
Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and 
Grants Office (Ann. #602), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), MS E-15, 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 320, Atlanta, GA 
30305.

Deadlines

    The Letter of Intent and requested applications shall be considered 
as meeting the applicable deadline if they are either:
    A. Received on or before the deadline date, or
    B. Postmarked on or before the deadline date (respondents should 
request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a 
legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal 
Service. Private metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of 
timely mailing.)

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information, call (404) 332-4561. You 
will be asked to leave your name, address, and phone number, and will 
need to refer to Announcement Number 602. You will receive a copy of 
the program announcement, a list of the relevant Healthy People 2000 
HIV objectives, and the addresses and phone numbers for CDC contact 
personnel. The announcement is also available through the CDC homepage 
on the Internet. The address for the CDC homepage is http://
www.cdc.gov. CDC will not send application kits by facsimile or express 
mail unless the cost for the latter is paid by the addressee.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Mr. Kevin Moore, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 320, Atlanta, GA 
30305, telephone (404) 842-6550. Programmatic technical assistance may 
be obtained from Ms. Linda LaChanse, Program Analyst, Training and 
Technical Services Support Branch, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 
National Center for HIV/STD/TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-40, Atlanta, 
GA 30333, telephone (404) 639-2918. Please refer to Announcement Number 
602 when requesting information and when submitting your application in 
response to the announcement.
    Respondents may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report, 
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary Report, 
Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 
512-1800. Single copies of CDC's Strategic Plan for Preventing Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection (July 8, 1992) can be obtained 
by calling the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse at (800) 458-5231.

    Dated: September 5, 1995.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 95-22588 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P