[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1899-1906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-680]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 00031]


Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Human Immunodeficiency Virus 
Prevention Training Centers; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for the Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Human Immunodeficiency 
Virus (STD/HIV) Prevention Training Centers (PTCs). This program 
addresses the ``DRAFT Healthy People 2010'' priority areas of Sexually 
Transmitted Diseases and HIV Infection. The purpose of this cooperative 
agreement is to provide innovative, high-quality training that enhances 
STD and HIV prevention services across the United States. The PTCs will 
function as a national training network which, in collaboration with 
CDC and public and private partners, will design, deliver, and evaluate 
training that is responsive to national, regional, and local needs for 
STD/HIV training. Such training targets health care providers and 
prevention specialists who serve individuals most in need of STD/HIV 
services, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, youth, 
incarcerated individuals, homeless individuals, and substance users. 
Special efforts must be made to recruit and train providers from 
settings that serve large numbers of individuals at risk for STD/HIV, 
such as STD and HIV clinics, HIV counseling and testing sites, family 
planning clinics, antenatal clinics, adolescent health clinics, 
community and migrant health centers, substance abuse clinics, 
correction and detention centers, health care for the homeless 
programs, and managed care plans.
    The PTCs will provide training in support of the Essential 
Functions and Areas of Special Emphasis (discussed in the Addendum to 
this announcement) through three distinct, but related parts:
     Part I: Up to 10 centers to provide training that enhances 
essential STD medical and laboratory services.
     Part II: Up to four centers to provide training on 
behavioral and social interventions that have shown evidence of 
effectiveness in reducing risky behaviors associated with transmission 
of STD/HIV infection.
     Part III: Up to four centers to provide training on STD/
HIV partner services in accordance with the HIV PCRS Guidance and the 
``STD Program Operations Guidelines (POG)'', and support services 
defined as program management, surveillance and data management, 
outbreak response planning, and evaluation.
    Although the three Parts have different training objectives, they 
are expected to function synergistically to realize the goal of 
maintaining a national training network in support of STD/HIV Essential 
Functions and Areas of Special Emphasis. To facilitate this goal, the 
geographic model depicted in the Addendum section of the announcement 
will be employed. Please review this section.
    Under this announcement, high-quality STD/HIV training for health 
care providers and prevention specialists is that which translates 
cutting edge research findings into training courses with specific 
application to STD/HIV prevention programs. To achieve this high-
quality training, each PTC must be structured and function as a 
partnership between an academic institution and a state or local public 
health department.
    The PTCs are intended to be dynamic and flexible and to work with 
one another and with CDC to be responsive to changes in STD/HIV 
morbidity, advances in STD/HIV prevention, detection and treatment, and 
changes in Areas of Special Emphasis.
    Specific information about each training Part is provided below.

Part I: STD Medical and Laboratory Services Training

    Health care professionals must possess the requisite skills to 
effectively detect, treat, and manage individuals with STDs, and to 
provide effective STD/HIV prevention messages to their patients. Part I 
PTCs will provide state-of-the-art STD medical and laboratory services 
clinical training to practicing health care providers in a geographic 
region that corresponds to a designated HHS region. To help ensure 
regional coverage, each Part I PTC will provide at least 200 hours of 
clinical training each year, 50 percent of which must consist of 
experiential training in at least two model STD clinics located in 
geographically dispersed locations within the HHS region, preferably in 
separate states. Because private practitioners diagnose and treat the 
vast majority of individuals with STDs, they are a primary audience for 
Part I clinical training, as are practitioners who serve individuals at 
high risk for STDs. Practitioners in managed care plans are a specific 
target audience for Part I PTC training. Health professions students 
and medical residents receive STD/HIV training as part of their 
professional training program, and, therefore, are a secondary rather 
than a primary audience for PTC training. Students and residents should 
not account for more than 20 percent of the total number of trainees in 
any given year. To ensure high-quality training, Part I PTCs must 
demonstrate close collaboration with health professions training 
programs in the region (e.g., schools of medicine, nursing, physician 
assistant programs), utilizing expert STD faculty from such programs as 
PTC consultants or trainers.

Part II: Behavioral and Social Interventions Training

    Prevention of STDs, including HIV, typically requires individuals 
to change behaviors that place them at risk for STD/HIV infection. In 
recent years, behavioral and social intervention research has 
documented effective individual, group, and community-level 
interventions that help promote and maintain such behavior change. 
Behavioral interventions aim to change

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individuals' behaviors and tend to emphasize individual and small group 
approaches, such as counseling and small group discussion with skills 
demonstration. Social interventions aim to change social norms that 
influence individuals' behaviors and may use small group or community-
level approaches, such as engaging key opinion leaders as educators and 
community mobilization. Part II PTC training must be focused on 
interventions that have been developed and tested through empirical 
research. Collaboration with the individuals associated with the 
original research is encouraged, whenever possible. At a minimum, Part 
II PTCs must demonstrate that individuals with recognized expertise in 
the field of behavioral or social interventions will serve the PTC in a 
consulting or training capacity. Because a number of effective 
behavioral and social intervention curricula currently exist, 
curriculum development should not be a major activity of the Part II 
PTCs. However, if existing curricula focus solely on HIV, they will 
need modification so as to include emphasis on other STDs for training 
under this announcement.
    Each Part II PTC is expected to provide at least 120 hours of 
training each year, with at least \1/3\ of each training course being 
an experiential learning opportunity for trainees in model clinic- or 
community-based behavioral or social intervention programs or classroom 
settings, as appropriate. CDC, through the Behavioral and Social 
Science Volunteer (BSSV) Project, enlists volunteer social scientists 
to provide technical assistance to state and local HIV prevention 
projects; Part II PTCs must collaborate with BSSV and other HIV 
technical assistance personnel to ensure follow-up support for their 
behavioral and social science intervention training (see definition of 
BSSV Project in appendix 2 in the application package). The recipients 
of part II training are public health care professionals, health 
educators, counselors, prevention program managers, and others 
responsible for designing or implementing STD and HIV prevention 
interventions, especially with high-risk populations. The primary 
coverage area is the quadrant within which the Part II PTC is located 
(see appendix 3 for a description of HHS regions, quadrants, map and 
accompanying text); however, Part II PTCs are expected to collaborate 
with each other and with CDC to develop a national plan that may 
require Part II PTCs to train outside of their quadrants.

Part III: Partner Services and Support Services Training

    Identifying and appropriately intervening with partners of 
individuals with STD/HIV infection is a critical activity for breaking 
the cycle of infection and is an essential component of a national, 
comprehensive STD/HIV prevention system. Partner services training will 
focus on STD/HIV partner elicitation, notification, and referral, and 
on STD counseling, and case management for federal, state, and local 
STD/HIV personnel and others who work with STD/HIV infected individuals 
and their partners.
    Additionally, Part III PTCs will provide training that strengthens 
STD/HIV prevention programs in state and local health departments. This 
training will be composed of support services training that is defined 
in this program announcement as program management, surveillance and 
data management, outbreak response planning, and evaluation. This is a 
new area of emphasis for Part III PTCs; examples of these courses 
include, but are not limited to:
    1. STD Program Management: courses on creating tailored materials 
to support the development of effective prevention interventions (e.g., 
social marketing; health communication; media advocacy).
    2. Surveillance and Data Management: courses that support the 
timely and accurate collection of STD information; data analysis for 
purposes of program planning.
    3. Outbreak Response: courses on developing and implementing a plan 
to efficiently respond to increases in STD incidence.
    4. Program Evaluation: courses that develop skills to design and 
implement effective evaluation strategies as integral components of STD 
prevention programs.
    Part III PTCs must provide at least 500 hours of training each 
year, with at least \1/4\ of the hours devoted to experiential skills-
building sessions. Because much of the Part III training is intended to 
support CDC-funded STD and HIV prevention programs, and the need for 
training will vary by program, the PTCs will work closely with CDC to 
ensure that cost-effective, appropriate training is delivered in areas 
of greatest need. For example, the southern quadrant of the United 
States, with high syphilis morbidity, will need increased partner 
services and support services training to advance the national syphilis 
elimination initiative. The western quadrant, with low syphilis 
morbidity, will not have this same degree of need and will be able to 
design their partner services and support services training programs to 
address other identified needs. The required training hours will be 
divided between partner services training and support services training 
in collaboration with CDC to meet training needs in the quadrants and 
nationally. The primary coverage area is the quadrant within which the 
Part III PTC is located; however, Part III PTCs are expected to 
collaborate with each other and with CDC to develop a national plan 
that may require Part III PTCs to train outside of their quadrants.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance for Part I, Part II, and Part III awards will be 
provided only to public or private colleges or universities, or health 
departments of states or their bona fide agents, that are located in 
the continental United States, including the District of Columbia. 
Applications from a college or university must document substantial 
collaboration with a state or local health department; applications 
from state or local health departments must document substantive 
collaboration with a college or university.
    Competition is limited to the partnership described above because 
college or university faculty members can bring cutting edge research 
findings to PTC training courses, and health department staff members 
can translate those findings in ways that enhance STD/HIV prevention 
programs. Competition is geographically limited as described above to 
accomplish cost-efficient training. Because PTCs are required to 
provide training in large geographic areas, PTCs located long distances 
from their coverage area and with limited air transportation would 
incur excessive program or trainee travel costs.
    A single applicant may apply for all of these training awards in a 
single application with a separate section and budget for each Part.

    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    1. Approximately $4 million is available in FY 2000 to fund 
approximately ten Part I awards. It is expected that the average base-
level award will be $400,000, ranging from $300,000 to $450,000.
    2. Approximately $1 million is available in FY 2000 to fund

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approximately four Part II awards. It is expected that the average 
base-level award will be $250,000, ranging from $200,000 to $275,000.
    3. Approximately $1.45 million is available in FY 2000 to fund 
approximately four Part III awards. It is expected that the average 
base-level award will be $362,500, ranging from $300,000 to $425,000.
    Awards for each Part will be made independently. It is expected 
that the awards will begin on or about April 1, 2000, and will be made 
for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up to 5 years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    Over the project period, it is anticipated that supplemental funds 
for highly focused, time-limited projects within the scope of this 
announcement may become available to develop, implement, and evaluate 
training related to national STD/HIV priorities.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as demonstrated by required 
reports and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Cooperative agreement funds may be used to support personnel, 
equipment, and supplies necessary for professional training, including 
distance learning activities. Funds may not be used to lease space; 
maintain central registries; provide diagnostic and treatment 
facilities or services; provide behavior intervention programs or 
services; develop literature for the general public; provide disease 
intervention services or HIV counseling and testing; or to pay other 
expenses normally supported by the applicant. Unless specifically 
approved, funds may not be used for renovation of facilities. Federal 
funds may supplement but not supplant existing training support.
    Any materials developed in whole or in part with CDC funds shall be 
subject to a nonexclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to the 
government to reproduce, translate, publish, or otherwise use and 
authorize others to use for government purposes.
    Include funding for two persons per part to attend (1) a three-day, 
post-award meeting in Atlanta, and (2) a three-day meeting in a city to 
be determined later.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Program income in the form of participant registration fees may be 
collected to offset the costs of conducting training as specified in 
this announcement. Registration fees are not intended to produce income 
for the PTC, but they may help defray the cost of training materials, 
training facility expenses, audiovisual equipment rental, or speakers' 
fees. Registration fees should be established at the most reasonable 
rate to encourage the greatest participation. Program income may 
support the costs of designing and delivering additional training 
courses directly related to PTC objectives and as determined by the 
assessment of training needs.

Funding Preference

    Geographic preference for funding will be given to applications in 
each Part to achieve the goal of establishing a comprehensive, national 
STD/HIV training network based on the concept of broad geographic 
quadrants as described in the addendum.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed under 1. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities). Unless otherwise stated, recipient 
activities and CDC activities pertain to each of the three parts.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Administration:
    (1) Applicants that receive funding for more than one Part should 
designate one coordinator to serve as a single point of contact and to 
be responsible for the administrative duties related to all training 
activities funded under this announcement;
    (2) Organize and maintain a PTC Advisory Committee to provide 
feedback about training needs of target populations, the 
appropriateness of educational content, and to ensure that PTC staff 
members are qualified and work together without duplicating 
administrative expense. If funded for more than one part, the PTC may 
maintain one Advisory Committee, with a membership whose collective 
expertise qualifies them to advise on all parts.
    (3) Develop and implement a protocol for collaboration with the 
other PTCs within the geographic quadrant for the purpose of on-going 
needs assessments, sharing resources, co-sponsorship of training 
courses, and other activities that ensure that STD/HIV prevention 
training provided by each part is available and well-coordinated in 
each HHS region within a quadrant.
    (4) Collaborate with CDC in developing and maintaining a National 
Network of Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC) Steering Committee 
composed of one representative and one alternate each from Part I, Part 
II, and Part III.
    (5) Participate in NNPTC, quadrant-specific, and Part-specific 
(e.g., Part I, Part II, Part III) conferences, meetings, and conference 
calls.
    b. STD/HIV Program-related Issues:
    (1) Maintain liaisons with national, regional, state, or local STD/
HIV prevention programs (e.g., state and local health departments, HIV 
Community Planning Groups, national STD/HIV organizations or 
associations) to help determine emerging training needs and to help 
design and deliver training programs that avoid overlap and provide 
training that is most relevant to the greatest needs of STD/HIV 
prevention programs.
    (2) Based on need in the coverage area, provide training that 
addresses the Areas of Special Emphasis as stated in the addendum.
    (3) Serve as a resource for STD information to health care 
providers or prevention specialists in public and private settings, 
especially those in managed care organizations, health departments, and 
community-based organizations (CBOs) and non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs). Collaborate with existing HIV information and technical 
assistance resources such as the National Prevention Information 
Network (NPIN)and other CDC-funded programs that support HIV 
prevention.
    c. Collaborations:
    (1) Collaborate with experts in the community and in graduate 
schools, as necessary, to design or write training needs assessments, 
educational objectives, curriculum content, instructional design, 
state-of-the-art delivery methods, and course evaluations.
    (2) Establish innovative arrangements with universities for student 
academic involvement in PTC activities (e.g., graduate assistantships 
or internships).
    (3) Collaborate with other STD/HIV training programs (e.g., AETCs, 
RTCs)to share training curricula and resources for needs assessments, 
program planning, and joint training presentations.
    d. Model Clinic-and Community-based Services:
    (1) Training provided by all Parts must include experiential 
components designed to build trainees' skills in specific areas. 
Depending on the objectives and design of a specific training course, 
the experiential training may take place in model STD clinics or 
community-based prevention or intervention programs, or the classroom. 
Additionally, it is expected that the PTCs will collaborate with CDC 
and

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other NNPTC members to provide regional or national training programs 
utilizing distance education methods.
    (2) For Part I and Part III experiential training requirements, 
utilize model STD clinics, which are those that follow CDC guidelines 
for integrated STD and HIV client management, clinic operation, client-
centered counseling, and partner counseling, including elicitation, 
notification, and referral.
    (3) For Part II experiential training requirements, utilize model 
STD clinics (as described above) or community-based STD/HIV behavioral 
or social intervention programs that have evidence of reducing sex-and 
drug-risk behavior and STD/HIV infections.
    e. Distance Learning: As needed, utilize distance learning 
strategies or products that are regional or national in scope and 
usable by other PTCs and training agencies. Distance learning can 
include off-site programs, satellite broadcasts, remote video 
instruction, self-study modules, train-the-trainer, computer-based 
training, CD ROM, and web-based instruction.
    f. Continuing Education and Course Management:
    (1) Acquire and award continuing medical education (CME) credit and 
continuing education units (CEU) that meet the needs of most course 
participants.
    (2) Maintain a course registration database, including required CME 
and CEU documentation.
    g. Evaluation:
    (1) Conduct on-going evaluation of all courses, both independently 
and in conjunction with the CDC, NNPTC, or both.
    (2) Determine and measure appropriate process indicators (e.g., 
trainee demographics, quality of presentations), immediate training 
impact (e.g., changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills), and long-
range outcomes (e.g., changes in provider practice behavior, changes in 
client health status, changes in STD/HIV service delivery), especially 
for high-risk populations.
    (3) Establish, maintain, and support Internet connection and other 
information or communications systems and hardware and software that 
will allow for gathering, entering, and transmitting data to the CDC 
for inclusion in a NNPTC national database.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Technical Assistance: Provide STD/HIV subject matter, education, 
and technology experts to advise and assist in curriculum development; 
to advise on course objectives, instructional design, and delivery; to 
ensure that evaluation is consistent with desired training outcomes; to 
be a source of up-to-date information on STD and HIV epidemiology and 
national STD/HIV prevention programs and priorities; and to advise on 
budget issues.
    b. Distance Learning Assistance: Provide information on the Public 
Health Training Network (PHTN) in support of distance learning training 
activities.
    c. Program Reviews: Conduct site visits to:
    (1) Review training capabilities to ensure adequate facilities, 
procedures, and staff
    (2) Advise on instructional design and curriculum content
    (3) Provide technical assistance in defining and resolving problems
    (4) Monitor program implementation, project management, and 
evaluation activities
    (5) Advise on the availability of guidelines, curricula, training 
aids, and software developed by CDC, the PTCs, or other agencies that 
can help PTCs meet their training objectives.
    d. Within three months of funding (notice of grant award), CDC will 
convene a meeting of all funded Part I, II, and III PTCs to outline a 
collaborative training plan within and between quadrants, as 
appropriate, and to begin developing the NNPTC.
    e. Facilitate collaboration between the PTCs in a geographic 
quadrant to ensure that each HHS region within the quadrant receives 
well-coordinated training offered by each of the three Parts.
    f. Support the NNPTC: Through NNPTC meetings, facilitate networking 
between NNPTC members and support the development and maintenance of 
committees to maximize the expertise of NNPTC members for all Parts. 
There will be two NNPTC meetings per year in each of the first two 
years of funding, and at least one per year in each of the remaining 
three years.
    g. Collaborate with Part II and Part III PTCs to guide the 
development of training programs and training schedules that meet 
national needs for behavioral and social intervention training and 
partner services and support services training.
    h. Communication: Through publications, correspondence, narrative 
reports, and electronic communication, keep PTC staff members informed 
of national issues that affect training and program management.
    i. Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate program 
activities by coordinating and supporting a national course 
registration database, providing technical assistance for staff 
database training, and analyzing and publishing cumulative data on 
NNPTC training effectiveness using training program and trainee 
evaluation information submitted quarterly by awardees to CDC using a 
standardized format.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Applications will be evaluated on the requirements 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program 
plan. If you cannot currently meet one or more of the requirements, 
describe your plan to do so, including a time line. Provide brief, 
specific examples (1-2 pages) of each requirement rather than a lengthy 
narrative. The narrative section of each Part should be no more than 45 
pages (8\1/2\'' x 11''), excluding budget. Each section must use no 
less than 1.5 spacing and be printed on one side, with one inch 
margins, and 12-point font. Letters of support, organizational charts, 
biosketches, position descriptions, lists of training equipment, 
inventories of computer hardware and software, and examples of existing 
program materials should be included in an appendix.
    You must submit a single application that has a separate section 
and budget for each Part for which you are applying. Pages should be 
numbered sequentially throughout the entire application, regardless of 
the number of Parts for which funding is sought. If applying for more 
than one Part, you may refer to information in a previous section, as 
appropriate.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent

    In order to assist CDC in planning for and executing the evaluation 
of applications submitted under this program announcement, all parties 
intending to submit an application are requested to submit a letter of 
intent regarding their intention to do so by January 30, 2000. 
Notification should include name and address of the institution and 
name, address, and telephone number of the contact person, as well as 
the Part(s) for which funding will be sought; no detailed description 
of the proposed training program is sought. The letter of intent should 
be submitted on or before January 30, 2000 to the Grants Management 
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.

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Application

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/* * * Forms, or in the application kit.
    On or before March 7, 2000, submit the application to the Grants 
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' section of this announcement.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly-dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly-dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
(a) or (b) above are considered late applications, will not be 
considered, and will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC. 
Only information in the application will be considered. Applications 
for each Part will be evaluated separately according to the following 
criteria (maximum 200 points).

1. Abstract (Not Scored)

    A summary (1 page) of the program, indicating the Part, the 
coverage area, the name of the person with authority over the PTC, the 
academic and public health collaborators, other key collaborators, the 
training objectives, the training audiences, and the training 
evaluation plan.

2. Introduction/Program Description (Total 35 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides:
    a. A brief history of your training experience related to the Part 
for which funding is sought; (5 points)
    b. An organization chart showing linkages between universities/
colleges and state or local health departments and related PTC 
positions, indicating lines of authority; (5 points)
    c. Position descriptions for proposed PTC staff, including 
credentials and appropriate experience (e.g., training experience, 
management experience, STD or HIV prevention program experience); (5 
points)
    d. A description of the PTC Advisory Committee, including function, 
meeting schedule, and individual members and their affiliation; (5 
points)
    e. A proposed protocol for collaborating with other PTCs in the 
geographic quadrant (i.e., time schedule for conference calls or 
meetings; proposed joint activities); (5 points)
    f. A plan or descriptive outline of proposed cost-efficient 
arrangements with health professional training programs and graduate 
schools for obtaining faculty, fellows, and graduate students to 
participate in PTC activities (e.g., educational research, needs 
assessment, formative evaluation, preparing training materials);(5 
points)
    g. A letter from each university/college or health department 
partner of intent to participate in the PTC, specifying the training-
related activities that will be provided (e.g., program coordination, 
serving as a clinical training site, providing faculty to develop or 
teach courses, evaluation activities). (5 points)

3. Training Capability (Total 40 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides:
    a. A description of training faculty, noting credentials and 
previous training experience including a one-page biosketch for each 
faculty member; (5 points)
    b. A plan, with anticipated costs, for acquiring CME and CEU 
appropriate for most trainees; (5 points)
    c. A description of proposed training site(s), including location, 
number of students that can be accommodated, and any costs to 
participants for attending training at the proposed site(s) (e.g., 
lodging, per diem, travel); (5 points)
    d. A list of available training equipment, such as overhead 
projector, carousel projector, flip chart, melamine or chalk board, 
projection screen, podium, video recorder/player, and additional 
equipment used in training (e.g., light and dark-field microscopes; 
equipment available to support any proposed distance learning 
activities); (5 points)
    e. Inventory of available office computers capable of supporting 
computer-based training and data processing, including software, 
printers, modem; (5 points)
    f. A plan for keeping training faculty and staff current on content 
area and educational methodology (e.g., through graduate school 
contacts, libraries, and Internet); (5 points)
    g. A plan to reproduce volumes of print-based course materials 
quickly and economically; (5 points)
    h. A design for providing resources to trainees (e.g., books, 
newsletters, journals, videotapes, literature files, and guidelines). 
(5 points)

4. Training Needs Assessment (Total 30 Points)

    Given the Part's training focus and coverage area the extent to 
which the applicant provides:
    a. A description of activities conducted to determine the training 
needs of health care providers and prevention specialists in the 
coverage area. The extent to which the applicant provides the source of 
the data and the time period to which the data correspond (e.g., CDC or 
state or local STD/HIV surveillance data; data from training surveys 
conducted by applicant or others; HIV Community Planning Group plans; 
state, regional, or national documents that identify STD/HIV training 
needs). It should describe the training needs in the coverage area 
related to the Areas of Special Emphasis (see addendum). It should also 
note STD/HIV prevention training in the coverage area that is provided 
by other programs and how that affects the training plan; (10 points)
    b. A summary, in narrative or chart format, of target audiences, 
training locations, educational content, training methods, and 
collaborations with other STD/HIV training programs. These should 
reflect priorities determined by the needs assessment described in 4.a 
above; (10 points)
    c. A process to keep the PTC updated on the training needs of 
target audiences in their coverage area. (10 Points)

5. Training Objectives (Total 20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides specific, measurable, 
time-phased, realistic educational objectives that reflect the didactic 
and experiential STD/HIV prevention training needs in their coverage 
area.

6. Plan of Operation (Total 50 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides information on the 
program components and activities listed below that are specific to the 
training Part for which they are applying. If applying for more than 
one Part, describe any linkages between Parts.

Part I: STD Medical and Laboratory Services Training

a. Clinical Capability (Total 20 Points)

    For each of the two model STD clinics that will serve as clinical 
training sites,

[[Page 1904]]

the extent to which the applicant provides:
    (1) Current STD morbidity statistical tables (one year) by disease, 
sex, age, and race or ethnicity, that demonstrate a client volume and 
profile that reflects regional disease trends and allows for diverse 
clinical training opportunities; (4 points)
    (2) A current list of the type and number of the state laboratory 
tests performed over the past year and those sent to reference 
laboratories; (2 points)
    (3) A list of diseases for which testing, diagnosis, and treatment 
procedures in the clinic follow CDC guidelines; (2 points)
    (4) A clinic and fee schedule that demonstrates accessibility for 
communities at risk (e.g., daily, evening, and weekend hours, continual 
services, and free or low-cost services); (2 points)
    (5) An STD clinic floor plan indicating (by arrows) the route that 
clients take and the stops they must make to receive integrated 
services, and showing a traffic pattern that minimizes movement for 
clients and preserves confidentiality; (2 points)
    (6) An outline of clinic management protocols, such as elements of 
the registration procedure and appointment, triage, and priority 
systems; (2 points)
    (7) The numbers and types of clinic staff members and the time 
devoted to their main client responsibilities; (2 points)
    (8) A copy of the clinic record; (2 points)
    (9) A description of the quality assurance plan and committee, and 
of the clinic's management structure. (2 points).

b. Training Activities (Total 20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant:
    (1) Outlines a model one-year training plan, based on the training 
capabilities and the needs assessment, that consists of at least 200 
course hours, with at least 50% of the course hours devoted to 
experiential training activities that allow participants the 
opportunity to interact with clients under the direction of qualified 
preceptors. For each proposed course in the training plan, the extent 
to which the applicant notes the name of the course, length of the 
course, training dates, locations (facility, city, and state), training 
audiences, training faculty, course objectives, brief content outline, 
and evaluation plan; (10 points)
    (2) Describes how the training plan addresses the Areas of Special 
Emphasis as described in the addendum; (5 points)
    (3) Describes plans to conduct one or more courses through distance 
learning technologies in the coverage area within one year (including 
production, marketing, and delivery). (5 points)

c. Training Marketing Plan (Total 10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes a plan to market 
training courses to target audiences in the coverage area.

Part II: Behavioral and Social Interventions Training

a. Clinic- and Community-based Training Capability (Total 20 points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides:
    (1) A description of proposed clinic-or community-based training 
sites that provide behavioral or social intervention programs targeting 
people whose behaviors place them at risk for acquiring or transmitting 
STDs, including HIV (e.g., in STD and HIV clinics, storefronts, 
recreation centers, public sex environments, street settings). The 
behavioral or social interventions should focus on increasing early, 
effective health care seeking behaviors, as well as reducing STD/HIV 
risk behaviors. For each of the proposed training sites, the applicant 
should provide:
    (a) A brief description of the behavioral or social intervention; 
(5 points)
    (b) A Profile of persons reached in the previous year (numbers, 
demographics, networks, risk behaviors); (5 points)
    (c) Numbers and titles of behavioral or social intervention staff 
and their primary responsibilities; (5 points)
    (d) A quality assurance plan for the behavioral or social 
intervention program(s). (5 points)

b. Training Activities (Total 20 Points)

    (1) The extent to which the applicant outlines a one-year training 
plan, based on training capabilities and the needs assessment, that 
consists of at least 120 hours of behavioral or social intervention 
courses, including two comprehensive training courses per year and at 
least one specific-topic training course per quarter (described below). 
At least one third of each course must include an experiential training 
component (e.g., practice with peers, colleagues, or instructors; 
prevention counseling; group facilitation; community outreach; 
prevention material development) aimed at developing participants' 
skills in prevention activities. For each proposed course in the 
training plan, note the name of the course, length of the course, 
training dates, locations (program/facility, city, and state), training 
audiences, training faculty, course objectives, brief content outline, 
and evaluation plan. For each comprehensive course, describe the 
effective, science-based behavior change theories or models upon which 
it is based (e.g., Diffusion of Innovations, Protection Motivation 
Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, Social Learning Theory, Theory of 
Reasoned Action, Health Belief Model, Problem Solving Therapy Model, 
Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change).(10 points)
    (a) Comprehensive courses are typically three to five days long and 
may include such topics as introduction to behavioral and social 
science theories and models, and application of theories and models to 
effective individual, group, and community-level STD/HIV prevention 
interventions.
    (b) Specific-topic Courses: Specific-topic courses are typically 
one to two days in length. They include such courses as communicating 
how STDs and HIV are transmitted and how health risks are reduced 
(e.g., client-centered counseling, peer networks, therapeutic trainers, 
group counselor-educators, street outreach), creating tailored 
materials to support effective prevention interventions, and recruiting 
and maintaining prevention partners with affected communities. The 
number, type, and delivery of topic-specific courses will be determined 
in collaboration with CDC and other Part II PTCs.
    (2) The extent to which the applicant describes how the training 
plan addresses the Areas of Special Emphasis (as described in the 
addendum). (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the applicant describes how training 
addresses cultural norms, values, and traditions; is sensitive to 
issues of sexual identity; is developmentally appropriate; and is 
linguistically specific and educationally appropriate. (5 points)

c. Training Marketing Plan (Total 10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes a plan to market 
training courses to target audiences in the coverage area.

Part III: Partner Services Training

a. Partner Services Capability (Total 20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant provides:
    (1) A current activity table (1 year) of types and numbers of 
clients and partner services intervention outcomes. Intervention 
outcomes include numbers

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of clients eligible for interview; percentage interviewed; numbers of 
sex and needle-sharing partners per client interviewed; percentage of 
partners located; and percentage tested or treated for syphilis, HIV 
infection, and other STDs addressed with partner services. (5 points)
    (2) A list of the numbers and types of STD/HIV prevention program 
staff members and their main client responsibilities, noting the number 
of staff members available to serve as preceptors for Part III 
training. (5 points)
    (3) A quality assurance plan for partner services. (5 points)
    (4) Copies of interview forms. (5 points)

b. Training Activities (Total 20 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant:
    (1) Outlines a training plan for the first year that is based on 
training capabilities and the needs assessment and includes at least 
500 course hours, with at least 25 percent of the course hours devoted 
to experiential training for federal, state, and local STD/HIV program 
personnel and others who engage in STD/HIV prevention activities in the 
coverage area. For each proposed course in the training plan, note the 
name of the course, length of the course, training dates, locations 
(facility, city, and state), training audiences, training faculty, 
course objectives, brief content outline, and evaluation plan. The 
training plan should include the following courses: (15 points)
    (a) Partner Services Courses: These are standardized courses, each 
with required hours. Fundamentals of Disease Intervention (40 hours), 
Introduction to STD Intervention (80 hours), and HIV Partner Counseling 
and Referral Services (24 hours).
    (b) Proposed support service courses as described in Section A.
    (2) Describes how the training plan addresses the Areas of Special 
Emphasis in the addendum. (5 points)

c. Training Marketing Plan (Total 10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes a plan to market 
training courses to target audiences in the coverage area.

7. Evaluation (Total 25 Points)

    Each Part must participate in and conduct ad hoc and on-going 
evaluation of all courses, both independently and in conjunction with 
the CDC, NNPTC, or both. Each Part must address the evaluation 
requirements below.
    The extent to which the applicant provides:
    a. A one-page biosketch (or position description) of the individual 
designated to oversee the PTC evaluation activities. (3 points)
    b. A one-page biosketch (or position description) of the individual 
designated to serve as data administrator to manage and coordinate data 
gathering, entry, submission, and analysis. (2 points)
    c. A plan for utilizing program evaluation data to provide 
continuous quality improvement of the PTC (e.g., quality of program and 
presentations, reaching target audiences, geographic distribution of 
courses and trainees, usefulness of educational content). (10 points)
    d. A plan for conducting evaluation activities that determine: (10 
points)
    (1) Impact of training (e.g., changes in knowledge, attitudes, and 
skills); and
    (2) Outcome of training (e.g., changes in provider practice 
behavior; changes in client health status; changes in HIV/STD service 
delivery).

8. Budget (Not Scored)

    CDC will establish a separate funding base for each training award 
(Part I, Part II, Part III).
    a. Provide separate budgets for each Part with appropriate 
justifications. The total funding request is the sum of the separate 
budgets. List each Part in a separate column on the 424A form, section 
B.
    b. List and justify the cost of any additional training or computer 
equipment necessary to carry out the training plan.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Quarterly narrative progress reports which include training 
program and trainee evaluation information in a standardized format 
provided by CDC. In years 02-05 of the project period, the narrative 
progress report should be submitted semi-annually. Progress reports 
must highlight major program accomplishments, document program progress 
and problems encountered in meeting program objectives, and report on 
tangential activities that influence PTC operations. The progress 
report informs CDC of progress by cooperative agreement recipients and 
is also a tool for documenting and disseminating information on 
successful training strategies that can be used by other PTCs.
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial status and performance report, no more than 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I in the 
application kit.

AR-4: HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5: HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-7: Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8: Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9: Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10: Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11: DRAFT Healthy People 2010
AR-12: Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14: Accounting System Requirements
AR-15: Proof of Non-Profit Status

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 318 (42 U.S.C. 247c), 
section 301 (42 U.S.C. 241), section 311 (42 U.S.C. 243), and section 
317 (42 U.S.C. 247b), of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. 
Regulations governing Grants for STD Research Demonstrations and Public 
and Professional Education are codified in Part 51b, Subparts A and F 
of Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance Number is 93.978, Sexually Transmitted Disease 
Research, Demonstrations, and Public Information and Education Grants, 
and 93.941, HIV Demonstration, Research, Public and Professional 
Education Projects.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application kit, call 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You will be asked 
to leave your name and address and will be instructed to identify the 
Announcement number of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Brenda Hayes, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, 
Telephone number (770) 488-2725, Email address [email protected]

[[Page 1906]]

    See also the CDC home page on the Internet for other funding, 
application forms, etc: http://www.cdc.gov
    For program technical assistance, contact: Donna Anderson, Chief, 
Training and Health Communications Branch, Division of STD Prevention, 
NCHSTP, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., MS E-02, Atlanta, GA 30333, 
Telephone number: (404) 639-8360, E-mail: [email protected]
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``DRAFT Healthy People 
2010'' (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``DRAFT Healthy 
People 2010'' (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) referenced in 
the ``INTRODUCTION'' through the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 
783-3238.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants office.
[FR Doc. 00-680 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P