[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2178-2185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-794]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 00023]


Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Projects for 
Community-Based Organizations; Notice of Availability of Funds for 
Fiscal Year 2000

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000 funds to support community-based 
organizations (CBOs) to develop, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-
art, model community-based HIV prevention programs for populations at 
risk for HIV infection, especially racial/ethnic minority populations 
at risk. This program addresses the ``DRAFT Healthy People 2010'' 
priority areas of Educational and Community-Based Programs, HIV 
Infection, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
    The goals of this program are to:
    1. Reduce the disproportionate impact of the HIV epidemic on 
racial/ethnic minority populations and other at-risk populations.
    2. Improve and expand community-based HIV prevention services by 
supporting community-based HIV prevention programs that address 
priorities described in applicable State and local comprehensive HIV 
prevention plans (that is, the plans developed by the official HIV 
prevention community planning groups for the jurisdiction in which the 
CBO is located) or that adequately justify addressing other priorities.
    3. Enhance CBOs' incorporation of scientific theory and data, and 
validated program experience into the design, implementation, and 
evaluation of HIV prevention services.
    4. Support collaboration and coordination of HIV prevention efforts 
among CBOs, community planning groups, other local organizations, local 
and State health departments, and managed care organizations serving 
populations at risk for HIV infection.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are CBOs that meet the following criteria (also 
see Proof of Eligibility, section E.8.d):
    1. CBOs may apply as either (1) Minority CBOs intending to serve 
predominantly racial/ethnic minority populations at high risk for HIV 
infection, or (2) other CBOs serving high-risk populations without 
regard to their racial/ethnic identity. A CBO may submit an application 
in only one of these categories.
    2. The applicant organization must meet the following criteria:
    a. Have current, valid tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), 
as evidenced by an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter.
    b. Must be located in the community and have an established record 
of at least two years of service to the proposed target population.
    3. To apply as a minority CBO, the applicant organization must also 
meet the following criteria:
    a. Have more than 50 percent of positions on the executive board or 
governing body filled by persons of the racial/ethnic minority group(s) 
to be served.
    b. Have more than 50 percent of key management, supervisory, and 
administrative positions (e.g., executive director, program director, 
fiscal director) and more than 50 percent of key service provision 
positions (e.g., outreach worker, prevention case manager, counselor, 
group facilitator) filled by persons of the racial/ethnic population(s) 
to be served.
    4. In either category, a CBO may apply as a lead organization 
within a coalition (For this announcement, the term coalition means a 
group of organizations in which each member organization is responsible 
for specific, defined, integral activities within the proposed program, 
and all member organizations share responsibility for the overall 
planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program.); that is, a 
collaborative contractual partnership. The lead organization must meet 
the

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criteria specified above (in #2 and #3). A CBO may submit only one 
application under this announcement; that is, it may apply as an 
individual organization or as part of a coalition, but not both.
    5. CBOs currently funded under CDC Program Announcements 99091, 
99092, and 99096 are eligible to apply if they meet the criteria 
specified above. However, the total combined award under any 
combination of these announcements will not exceed $350,000. Funds 
awarded to currently-funded CBOs must be used to develop and implement 
new activities or to enhance or expand existing activities and not to 
supplant funds from other sources.
    6. Governmental or municipal agencies, their affiliate 
organizations or agencies (e.g., health departments, school boards, 
public hospitals), and private or public universities and colleges are 
not eligible for funding as a lead organization under this 
announcement. However, applicants are encouraged to include private or 
public universities and colleges as collaborators or subcontractors 
when appropriate.
    7. Local affiliates, chapters, or programs of national and regional 
organizations are eligible to apply. The local affiliate, chapter, or 
program applying must meet criteria one through six, above.

    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

    Approximately $17,120,000 is expected to be available in FY 2000 to 
fund approximately 76 awards. It is expected that awards will begin on 
or about June 1, 2000, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of up to 4 years. The maximum award under this 
announcement will be $225,000. Applications requesting more than 
$225,000, including indirect costs, will not be considered and will be 
returned as ineligible.
    Approximately $11,470,400 will be awarded to minority CBOs that 
provide prevention services for racial/ethnic minority populations at 
high risk for HIV infection. Approximately $5,649,600 will be awarded 
to other CBOs that provide prevention services to populations at risk 
for HIV infection, without regard to the populations' racial/ethnic 
identity. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of availability of funds and the applicant's satisfactory 
progress toward achieving stated objectives. Satisfactory progress 
toward achieving objectives will be determined by progress reports 
submitted by the recipient and site visits conducted by CDC 
representatives. Proof of continued eligibility is required with 
noncompeting continuation applications.

1. Use of Funds

    a. Funds provided under this announcement must support activities 
directly related to primary HIV prevention (that is, preventing the 
acquisition or transmission of HIV). However, intervention activities 
that involve preventing other STDs or substance abuse as a means of 
reducing or eliminating the risk of HIV transmission may also be 
supported.
    b. No funds will be provided for direct patient medical care 
(including substance abuse treatment, medical treatment, or 
medications) or research.
    c. These federal funds may not supplant or duplicate existing 
funding.
    d. Applicants may contract with other organizations under these 
cooperative agreements; however, applicants must perform a substantial 
portion of the activities for which funds are requested, including 
program management and operations and delivery of prevention services.
    e. Applications requesting funds to support only administrative and 
managerial functions will not be accepted.
    f. Before using funds awarded through this cooperative agreement to 
develop HIV prevention materials, recipients must check with the CDC 
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) to determine if suitable 
materials are already available. NPIN maintains a collection of HIV, 
STD and TB resources for use by organizations and the public.
    Successful applicants may be contacted by NPIN to obtain 
information on their program resources for use in referrals and 
resource directories. Also, grantees should send three copies of all 
educational materials and resources developed under this grant for 
inclusion in NPIN's databases.
    NPIN also makes available information and technical assistance 
services for use in program planning and evaluation. For further 
information on NPIN services and resources, contact NPIN at 1-800-458-
5231 (TTY users: 1-800-243-7012). NPIN's web site is www.cdcnpin.org; 
the fax number is 1-888-282-7681.

2. Funding Preferences

    In making awards, preference for funding will be given to:
    a. Ensuring a balance of funded CBOs in terms of targeted racial/
ethnic minority groups. The number of funded CBOs serving each racial/
ethnic minority group may be adjusted based on the rate of HIV/AIDS in 
that group.
    b. Ensuring a balance of funded CBOs in terms of targeted risk 
behaviors. The number of funded CBOs that target a specific risk 
behavior (for example, IV drug use) may be adjusted based on the rate 
of HIV/AIDS associated with that behavior.
    c. Ensuring a geographic balance of funded CBOs. Consideration will 
be given to both high and lower prevalence areas. The number of funded 
CBOs may be adjusted based on the rate of HIV/AIDS in the jurisdiction.

D. Program Requirements

    Each applicant must conduct one or more of the following priority 
HIV prevention interventions. However, because of the resources, 
expertise, and organizational capacities needed for success, applicants 
should carefully consider the feasibility of undertaking more than one 
of the priority interventions listed.

1. Client-centered HIV counseling, testing, and referral services
2. Individual level interventions
3. Group level interventions (e.g., small group interventions)
4. Community level interventions
5. Street and community outreach (may include Health Education/Risk 
Reduction activities and face-to-face distribution of condoms, bleach, 
etc.)

    A brief description of these priority interventions is provided in 
Attachment 1. Also, please reference the materials included in the tool 
kit for additional information about these interventions. The tool kit 
will be sent with the application packet.
    Although activities may overlap from one type of intervention to 
another (e.g., individual or group level interventions may be a part of 
a community-level intervention), each applicant must indicate which one 
of the interventions is the primary focus.
    Applicants should develop program activities that are consistent 
with applicable State and local comprehensive HIV prevention plans or 
adequately justify addressing other priorities.
    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under number 1. 
(Required Recipient Activities) and CDC will be responsible

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for activities under number 2. (CDC Activities) below.

1. Required Recipient Activities

a. Program Activities
    (1) Involve the target population in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating activities and services throughout the project period. This 
may be accomplished in collaboration with existing HIV/AIDS prevention 
activities or groups, such as the community planning group in the 
applicant's jurisdiction.
    (2) Conduct at least one of the following interventions:
    (a) Provide HIV counseling, testing, and referral services for 
persons at high risk for HIV infection. For example: Improve access to 
or provide alternative testing sites (e.g., sites that are staffed by 
trained individuals such as IDUs in treatment) that will be more 
accessible to target populations than currently available sites
    1. Provide access to rapid-results testing technologies
    2. Improve utilization of post-test counseling, referrals, and 
follow-up
    (b) Conduct health education and risk-reduction interventions (HE/
RR) for persons at high risk of becoming infected or transmitting HIV 
to others. These may include individual, group, or community-level 
interventions. For example:
    1. Reduce unsafe sex and drug practices among individuals newly 
released from correctional facilities and among injection and other 
drug users who are in the judicial system.
    2. Reduce behaviors that put young people at risk for HIV 
infection, focusing on youth who are not being served by existing HIV 
prevention programs and who are at risk for HIV infection.
    (c) Conduct outreach activities in order to improve access to the 
target population and provide face-to-face interactions in which 
education and educational and other materials (for example, condoms, 
bleach, sexual responsibility kits) may be shared with high risk 
individuals in appropriate venues.
    (3) For all interventions:
    (a) Use social and behavioral science theory and validated 
programmatic experience to design and implement state-of-the-art, model 
HIV prevention programs and use epidemiologic, behavioral, and social 
science data and community experience to structure and guide 
intervention and service delivery.
    (b) Assist HIV-positive persons in gaining access to appropriate 
primary HIV prevention, such as health education and risk-reduction 
services, HIV treatment and other early medical care; substance abuse 
prevention services; STD screening and treatment; reproductive and 
perinatal health services; partner counseling and referral services; 
psychosocial support and mental health services; TB prevention and 
treatment; and other supportive services. High-risk clients who test 
negative should be referred to appropriate health education and risk-
reduction services and other appropriate prevention and treatment 
services. These activities may involve attempts to locate a medical 
home for uninsured clients.
    (c) Incorporate cultural competency, sensitivity to issues of 
sexual and gender identity, and linguistic and developmental 
appropriateness into all program activities and prevention messages.
    (d) Ensure adequate protection of client confidentiality.
b. Collaboration and Coordination
    (1) Establish ongoing collaborations (For this announcement, the 
term collaborate means exchanging information, developing and altering 
activities, sharing resources, and enhancing the capacity of another 
organization for mutual benefit to achieve a common purpose.) with 
health departments, community planning groups, academic and research 
institutions, health care providers, and other local resources in 
designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions. (See Attachment 
2 in the application package for a list of organizations with which 
collaboration may be appropriate.)
    (2) In order to strengthen the breadth and comprehensiveness of 
local HIV/AIDS prevention services and eliminate duplication of 
efforts, coordinate (For this announcement, the term coordinate means 
exchanging information and altering activities for mutual benefit.) 
activities with health departments, such as sharing progress reports 
with state and local health departments; community planning groups; and 
other national, regional, and local organizations and agencies involved 
in HIV prevention activities, especially those serving the target 
population. (See Attachment 2 in the application package for a list of 
organizations with which collaboration may be appropriate.)
    (3) Participate in the HIV prevention community planning process. 
Participation may include involvement in workshops; attending meetings; 
if nominated and selected, serving as a member of the group; reviewing 
and commenting on plans; and becoming familiar with and utilizing 
information from the community planning process, such as the 
epidemiologic profile, needs assessment data, and intervention 
strategies. Grantees should also present an overview of their project 
activities to the community planning group in their jurisdiction.
c. Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    (1) Use approximately three to five percent of the funds awarded 
under this announcement for program evaluation and outcome monitoring 
of intervention activities.
    (2) During the first year of funding, CDC will collaborate with 
CBOs to develop standardized evaluation formats and activities for 
grantees.
    (3) Conduct periodic client satisfaction assessments via 
quantitative (e.g., periodic surveys) and qualitative methods (e.g., 
focus groups).
d. Quality Assurance
    (1) Identify the training needs of your staff and develop and 
implement a plan to address these needs.
    (2) Work with CDC and CDC-funded capacity-building assistance 
programs to identify and address the capacity building needs of your 
program.
    (3) Explore and utilize local resources for organizational and 
program development, such as the health department, other CBOs, 
community development agencies, local colleges and universities, 
locally-based foundations, and the local business or industrial 
community.
e. Communication and Information Dissemination
    (1) Market your prevention program and services to the target 
population and local community.
    (2) Compile lessons learned from the project. Facilitate the 
dissemination of lessons learned and successful prevention 
interventions and program models to other organizations and CDC through 
peer-to-peer interactions, meetings, workshops, conferences, use of the 
Internet, communications with project officers, and other capacity-
building and technology transfer mechanisms.
    (3) Ensure Internet and e-mail communication for your organization 
during the first year of funding.
f. Resource Development
    Develop and implement a plan for obtaining additional resources 
from non-CDC sources to supplement the program conducted through this 
cooperative agreement and to enhance the likelihood of its continuation 
after the end of the project period. Note that

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local organizations and agencies, such as community development 
agencies, colleges, and universities are often repositories of 
information about funding and other types of organizational assistance.
g. Other Activities
    Adhere to CDC policies for securing approval for CDC sponsorship of 
conferences.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Coordinate a national capacity-building and technology transfer 
network that will be available to directly assist CBOs in 
organizational and programmatic development.
    b. Provide consultation and technical assistance in administrative 
activities (for example, fiscal management and reporting) and 
programmatic areas (for example, planning, implementing, and evaluating 
prevention activities). CDC may provide consultation and technical 
assistance both directly and indirectly through prevention partners 
such as health departments, national and regional minority 
organizations (NRMOs), contractors, and other national and local 
organizations.
    c. Provide up-to-date scientific information on risk factors for 
HIV infection, prevention measures, and program strategies for 
prevention of HIV infection.
    d. Assist in the design and implementation of program evaluation 
activities, including formats for reporting and program assessment and 
improvement.
    e. Assist recipients in collaborating with State and local health 
departments, community planning groups, and other federally-supported 
HIV/AIDS prevention funding recipients. CDC activities will focus on 
monitoring the collaboration among the health department, community 
planning group, and CBOs and work from all sides to promote 
collaboration.
    f. Facilitate the transfer of successful prevention interventions, 
program models, and lessons learned by convening meetings of grantees, 
workshops, conferences, newsletters, use of the Internet, and 
communications between project officers and grantees.
    g. Facilitate the exchange of program information and technical 
assistance among community organizations, health departments, and 
national and regional organizations.
    h. Monitor the recipient's performance of program and fiscal 
activities, protection of client confidentiality, and compliance with 
other requirements.
    i. Conduct an overall evaluation of this cooperative agreement 
program.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Application 
Content, and Evaluation Criteria sections of this announcement to 
develop your application.
    Applications that do not follow the instructions and format below 
will be returned without being reviewed:
    1. The narrative should be no more than 35 pages, which includes 
items 10 F-M. The narrative excludes the proof of eligibility section, 
items A-E, budget, and attachments. Applications exceeding 35 pages 
will not be reviewed.
    2. Number each page sequentially, in the application and the 
appendices, and provide a complete Table of Contents to the application 
and its attachments.
    3. Begin each separate section of the application on a new page.
    4. The original and each copy of the application set must be 
submitted unstapled and unbound.
    5. All material must be typewritten; single spaced, with a font of 
10 pitch or 12 point, on 8\1/2\'' by 11'' paper, with at least 1'' 
margins, headings, and footers; and printed on one side only.
    6. Note that information which should be part of the basic plan 
(for example, activity timetables, staff responsibilities in program 
activities, or evaluation plans) will not be accepted if placed in the 
attachments rather than in the application.
    7. In developing the application, you must use the following format 
and instructions. Your application will be evaluated according to the 
quality of the responses to the following questions, so it is important 
to follow the format provided below in writing out your program 
proposal.
    8. Label each section below using the letter (and number) indicated 
for each question. A section includes a letter with all of its 
following numbers, as in section d, Proof of Eligibility, numbers 1-9.
    9. If a question is not applicable, use the designation N/A by that 
letter and number.
    10. Make certain that your application addresses all required 
activities (See Required Recipient Activities section).

a. Application Category

    Indicate whether your organization is applying as a minority or 
other CBO.

b. Target Population

    What population, as defined by locality, lifestyle, risk behaviors, 
social or economic circumstances, patterned social interaction, 
collective identity, or other identification, will be the focus of the 
proposed project (for example, female sex workers in Harlem; African 
American men who have sex with men; Hispanic men and women who use 
crack cocaine and engage in unprotected sex; youth ages 12-18 in the 
community who sell sex for shelter, food, and/or drugs)?

c. Program Goals

    What are the broad HIV prevention goals that your proposed 
intervention(s) aims to achieve by the end of the 4-year project 
period? These goals should address risk behaviors that your program 
will influence; for example, reduce the rate of unprotected sex by 
female sex workers in Harlem.

d. Proof of Eligibility

    Applicants must answer the following questions and provide any 
documents requested. Failure to provide the required documentation will 
result in disqualification.
    Please place the requested attachments at the end of this section, 
not in the Attachments at the end of your application.
    (1) Does your organization have currently valid Internal Revenue 
Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status?

    Note: Attach to the end of this section a copy of the IRS 
determination letter of your organization's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt 
status.

    (2) Does your organization have a documented 2-year record of 
providing service to the target population (as described in 8.b, Target 
Population, above)?

    Note: Attach to the end of this section a list of all types of 
services your organization has provided to the proposed target 
population and when provision of each type of service was begun 
(e.g., HIV prevention case management, July 1996).

    (3) If applying as a minority CBO, does your organization have an 
executive board or governing body with more than 50 percent of its 
members belonging to the racial/ethnic minority population(s) to be 
served?

    Note: Attach to the end of this section a list of the members of 
your board or governing body, along with their positions on the 
board, their areas of expertise, their race/ethnicity, and their 
sex.

    (4) If an organization applies as a minority CBO, but does not 
submit proof, their application will be considered as ineligible. They 
will not be considered in the other category. If applying as a minority 
CBO, are more than 50 percent of key management, supervisory, and 
administrative positions (e.g., executive director,

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program director, fiscal director) and more than 50 percent of key 
service provision positions (e.g., outreach worker, prevention case 
manager, counselor, group facilitator) filled by persons belonging to 
the racial/ethnic population(s) to be served?

    Note: Attach to the end of this section a list of all existing 
personnel in key positions in your organization, along with their 
position in the organization, their areas of expertise, their roles 
in the proposed project, their race/ethnicity, and their sex. Also 
attach a similar list of proposed personnel.

    (5) Is your organization applying as a single CBO or as a lead 
organization in a coalition (i.e., a collaborative contractual 
partnership)?
    (6) Is your organization applying as part of a coalition with 
another organization as the lead under this announcement?
    (7) Is your organization currently funded under CDC Program 
Announcement 99091, 99092, or 99096? If so, what is the amount of your 
award under each?
    (8) Is your organization a governmental or municipal agency, its 
affiliate organization or agency (e.g., health department, school 
board, public hospital), or a private or public university or college?
    (9) Is your organization included in the category described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages in 
lobbying activities?

e. Abstract

    (Should not exceed one pages) (Not scored)
    Please provide a brief summary of your proposed program activities, 
including:
    (1) A description of the target population on which the proposed 
project will focus and a justification (using HIV/AIDS or other STD 
epidemiologic, risk behavior, needs assessment, or other local 
indicator data) for having selected this group as the target 
population.
    (2) A description of the goals and anticipated outcomes of the 
proposed intervention activity in terms of the risk behaviors targeted 
in this application.
    (3) A description of the proposed intervention(s) and services to 
be provided and an estimated time frame.
    (4) A description of your organization's staff responsibilities in 
the proposed project and of the roles of collaborators and volunteers 
on the project.
    (5) How you will develop collaborations with local and State health 
departments, community planning groups, and other organizations, 
including other CBOs, in the development of your project.

f. Justification of Need

    (Should not exceed five pages)(100 points; Scoring criteria: 
Effective use of epidemiologic, behavioral, socioeconomic, and other 
data to define the community, its risk for HIV, and its need for your 
proposed HIV/AIDS prevention intervention)
    (1) How and to what extent has the proposed target population been 
affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic (e.g., HIV incidence or prevalence, 
AIDS incidence or prevalence, AIDS mortality, socioeconomic effects)?
    (2) What behavioral and other characteristics of the target 
population contribute to the risk of HIV transmission or present 
barriers to HIV prevention (for example, unsafe sexual behaviors as 
indicated by rates of STDs, teen pregnancy, or behavioral risk 
assessments; substance use rates; environmental, social, cultural, or 
linguistic characteristics)?
    (3) Why does the target population need the proposed HIV prevention 
activities, and how were these needs identified (for example, community 
needs assessments, resource inventories, the community comprehensive 
HIV prevention plan)?

    Note: Include a description of existing HIV prevention and risk-
reduction efforts provided by other organizations to address the 
needs of the target population and an analysis of the gap between 
the identified need and the resources currently available to address 
the need.

    (4) If the comprehensive HIV prevention plan does not prioritize 
the target population or intervention(s) that you have proposed, how do 
you justify departing from the plan?

    Note: For example, your organization may target a population in 
which, although the current AIDS prevalence is low, there is wide-
spread, high level of behavior associated with risk for HIV 
transmission. Your intervention, therefore, would provide prevention 
activities in order to prevent the development of higher rates of 
HIV/AIDS in this population.

    (5) What are the barriers within your community or the target 
population that may reduce the effectiveness of your proposed 
interventions, and how will you overcome these barriers?

g. Program Activities

    (Should not exceed 12 pages)
    (400 points; Scoring criteria: likelihood of achieving project 
goals; soundness of proposed activities; basis in science, or validated 
program experience; feasibility; innovativeness; specificity, 
feasibility, time phasing, and measurability of stated objectives)
    (1) Including persons from the target population in program 
planning:
    (a) How will you involve the target population in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating your project's interventions and services 
during the project period?

    Note: If you believe that your existing board structure or staff 
composition accomplishes this intent, please describe and explain in 
detail.

    (b) In conducting activities to involve the target population, what 
are your process objectives for the first year of operation?

    Note: Objectives should be specific, realistic, time-phased, and 
measurable. Process objectives should focus on the projected amount, 
frequency, and duration, within a specific time frame, of the 
activities and the number and characteristics of the target 
population to be served or the participants.

    (2) Intervention activities:
    Please describe each proposed intervention separately and provide 
the following information for each intervention. Applicants should not 
apply for more interventions than they can conduct effectively.
    (a) What intervention or service will be provided (for example, 
Conduct individual level counseling)?
    (b) What program goal does the intervention address (for example, 
Reduce the rate of unprotected sex by female sex workers in Harlem).
    (c) What are the outcome objectives for the first year of the 
proposed intervention activities (for example, Increase condom use 
among program participants by 60 percent)?

    Note: Objectives should be specific, realistic, time-phased, and 
measurable. Outcome objectives should focus on the specific 
behaviors that your intervention activities are designed to 
influence.

    (d) What are your process objectives related to the intervention or 
service during your first year of operation (for example, Conduct 
individual level counseling with 100 clients within the first three 
months)?
    (e) What are the specific activities to be conducted or services to 
be provided to accomplish the process objectives indicated above, and 
where and when will these activities or services take place (for 
example, Deploy outreach workers to the corner of K and North Streets 
on Thursday through Saturday nights from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.)?
    (f) How will you recruit or access clients for this intervention or 
service?
    (g) What is the theoretical basis (in social or behavioral science 
or validated

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program experience) that supports the potential effectiveness of this 
proposed intervention or service in addressing the project's goals and 
objectives, and how has this been incorporated into the intervention or 
service design?

    Note: Applicant may refer to appropriate social and behavioral 
science theory and data, or to validated, effective HIV/AIDS 
intervention programs, in support of applicant's HIV prevention work 
within the target population.

    (h) How will you use epidemiologic and social and behavioral 
science data and other information to structure and guide your proposed 
intervention or service?

    Note: For example, social science data may indicate that sex 
workers are more effectively reached by other current or former sex 
workers; therefore, the program staff may recruit and train sex 
workers to assist in outreach activities.

    (i) How will you assist HIV-positive persons and high-risk HIV-
negative persons to access appropriate treatment and other needed 
services, as described in Required Recipient Activities?
    (j) How will you ensure that this intervention or service will be 
culturally competent, sensitive to issues of sexual and gender 
identity, and linguistically and developmentally appropriate?
    (k) What methods will you use to ensure that client confidentiality 
will be protected?
    (3) Management and staffing of the program:
    (a) How will the proposed project be managed and staffed, and what 
will be the roles and responsibilities of the applicant's program 
staff?
    (b) What are the skills and experience of the applicant's program 
staff?
    (c) If you are applying as the lead organization in an HIV 
prevention coalition, describe the role(s) of the other 
organization(s), the other organizations' staff responsibilities, and 
the skills and experience of the other organizations' program staff?
    (d) What is the potential for volunteer involvement in your 
program? If volunteers will be involved, describe plans to recruit, 
train, place, and retain volunteers.
    (e) In staffing your proposed project, what are your specific 
process objectives for the first year of operation?
    (4) Time line:
    Provide a time line that identifies major implementation steps in 
your proposed project and assigns approximate dates for inception and 
completion of each step.

h. Developing Local Collaborations and Coordinated Activities

    (Should not exceed two pages)
    (125 points; Scoring Criteria: completeness; specificity, 
feasibility, time phasing, and measurability of stated objectives)
    (1) What steps will you take to develop working collaborations with 
health departments, community planning groups, academic and research 
institutions, health care providers, and other local resources? (See 
Attachment 2 in the application package for a list of organizations 
with which collaboration may be appropriate.)
    (2) Which activities in your proposed project will be conducted by 
collaborating organizations that are not part of the HIV prevention 
coalition or by subcontractors?
    (3) In developing collaborative relationships with other 
organizations or subcontractors, what are your specific process 
objectives for your first year of operation?
    (4) What steps will you take to coordinate HIV prevention 
activities among your proposed program and other HIV prevention or 
service providers?
    (5) In developing these relationships, what are your specific 
process objectives for the first year of your program?
    (6) What specific steps will you take to participate in the HIV 
prevention community planning process?
    (7) In participating in the community planning process, what are 
your specific process objectives for the first year?

i. Program Monitoring and Evaluation, and Quality Assurance

    (Should not exceed five pages)
    (175 points; Scoring Criteria: completeness; technical soundness; 
feasibility, specificity, time phasing, and measurability of stated 
objectives)
    (1) Your evaluation plan should include a discussion of specific 
mechanisms and methods to collect the information below.
    (a) Which risk behaviors are being targeted?
    (b) What are the outcome objectives of the program with regard to 
changing risk behavior?
    (c) What interventions are being conducted?
    (d) With which clients? What populations are being served?
    (e) With how many clients?
    (f) What progress has been made toward reaching the outcome 
objectives indicated above?
    (g) What staff resources are being utilized to conduct these 
interventions?
    Your plan should also include a discussion of the following:
    (1) Staff responsible for collecting the information indicated 
above;
    (2) Timeline for collecting this information;
    (3) How these activities will be integrated into the project as a 
whole;
    (4) In implementing this program evaluation plan, state your 
specific process objectives for the first year of operation.
    Please provide a very specific discussion regarding your quality 
assurance activities which include responses to the questions below:
    (1) How will you identify and meet the training needs of your staff 
(including staff in your organization and in other member organizations 
in the coalition) with regard to knowledge of HIV and STD risks and 
effective HIV prevention interventions?
    (2) How will you identify and address the capacity-building or 
technical assistance needs of your organization?
    (3) In implementing these quality assurance plans, what are your 
specific process objectives for the first year of operation?

j. Communication and Information Dissemination

    (Should not exceed one page) (50 points; Scoring criteria: 
completeness; appropriateness; feasibility; specificity, time phasing, 
and measurability of stated objectives)
    (1) How will you market your project in your community?
    (2) How will you disseminate information about successful 
intervention strategies or project activities and lessons learned?
    (3) In implementing this communication and information 
dissemination plan, what are your specific process objectives for the 
first year of operation?
    (4) How will you make Internet and email communication available to 
your organization and, if part of a coalition, to the other member 
organizations in the coalition?

k. Resource Development

    (Should not exceed one page)
    (50 points; Scoring criteria: completeness; appropriateness; 
feasibility; specificity, time phasing, and measurability of stated 
objectives)
    (1) How will you obtain additional resources from non-CDC sources 
to supplement the program conducted through this cooperative agreement, 
expand services provided through the proposed project, and enhance the 
likelihood of its continuation after the end of the project period?
    (2) In implementing this resource development plan, what are your 
specific process objectives for the first year of operation?

[[Page 2184]]

l. Organizational History and Experience

    (Should not exceed three pages.)
    (100 points; Scoring criteria: extent and relevance of applicant 
organization's experience)
    (1) What types of health-related service to your community or 
target population have your organization provided (e.g., HIV/AIDS 
prevention, drug treatment, teen pregnancy counseling) and for how 
long?
    (2) What experience does your organization have in HIV/AIDS, STD, 
or other prevention interventions (e.g., health education/risk 
reduction; prevention case management; counseling and testing)?
    (3) What other experience does your organization have in providing 
services to the target population, and for how long?
    (4) What experience does your organization have in establishing and 
participating in coalitions for the delivery of services to the target 
population?
    (5) What experience does your organization have in developing and 
maintaining long-term relationships with CBOs, health departments, or 
other organizations that provide health or prevention services?
    (6) What experience does your organization have in providing 
services that respond effectively to the cultural, gender, 
environmental, social, and linguistic characteristics of the target 
populations in this proposal?

    Note: In answering this question, describe the types of services 
provided and list any culturally, linguistically, and 
developmentally appropriate activities and materials that your 
organization has developed.
    (7) What experience does your organization have in documenting and 
tracking delivery of services or prevention activities?
    (8) What experience does your organization have in evaluating its 
program activities?
    (9) What experience does your organization have in marketing its 
activities or services?
    (10) What experience does your organization have in resource 
development?

m. Budget and Staffing Breakdown and Justification

    (Not scored)
    (1) Applicants should submit a budget in accordance with Form 424 
and also, provide a detailed budget for each proposed intervention 
(please reference the sample budget format in the tool kit). Justify 
all operating expenses in relation to the planned activities and stated 
objectives. CDC may not approve or fund all proposed activities. Be 
precise about the program purpose of each budget item and itemize 
calculations wherever appropriate.
    (2) For each contract contained within the application budget, 
describe the type(s) of organizations or parties to be selected and the 
method of selection; identify the specific contractor(s), if known, or 
describe the criteria for contractors who might apply for the contract; 
describe the services to be performed and justify the use of another 
party to perform these services; provide a breakdown of and 
justification for the estimated costs of the contracts; specify the 
period of performance; and describe the methods to be used for 
monitoring the contract.
    (3) Provide a job description for each key position, specifying job 
title; function, general duties, and activities; salary range or rate 
of pay; and the level of effort and percentage of time spent on 
activities that would be funded through this cooperative agreement. If 
the identity of any key personnel who will fill a position is known, 
his/her name and resume should be attached. Experience and training 
related to the proposed project should be noted. If the identity of 
staff is not known, describe your recruitment plan. If volunteers are 
involved in the project, provide job descriptions.

    Note: If indirect costs are requested, you must provide a copy 
of your organization's current negotiated Federal indirect cost rate 
agreement.

F. Required Attachments

    1. Affiliates of national organizations must include with the 
application an original, signed letter from the chief executive officer 
of the national organization assuring their understanding of the intent 
of this program announcement and the responsibilities of recipients.
    2. Memoranda of understanding or agreement as evidence of 
established or agreed-upon collaborative relationships. Memoranda of 
agreement should specifically describe the proposed collaborative 
activities. Evidence of continuing collaboration must be submitted each 
year to ensure that the relationships are still in place. Memoranda of 
agreement from health departments should include a statement that they 
have reviewed your application for these funds. (Please reference 
sample Memoranda of agreement in the tool kit)
    3. A list of the community resources and health care providers to 
which referrals and other types of coordinated activities will be made. 
Provide letters of agreement that arrangements have been made for the 
coordinated activities indicated in your application.
    4. Protocols to guide and document training, activities, services, 
and referrals (e.g., applicants seeking funds for Street and Community 
Outreach Interventions must provide a description of the policies and 
procedures that will be followed to assure the safety of outreach 
staff).
    5. A description of funds received from any source to conduct HIV/
AIDS programs and other similar programs targeting the population 
proposed in the program plan. This summary must include: (1) The name 
of the sponsoring organization/source of income, amount of funding, a 
description of how the funds have been used, and the budget period; (2) 
a summary of the objectives and activities of the funded program(s); 
and (3) an assurance that the funds being requested will not duplicate 
or supplant funds received from any other Federal or non-Federal 
source. CDC-awarded funds can be used to expand or enhance services 
supported with other Federal or non-Federal funds. In addition, 
identify proposed personnel devoted to this project who are supported 
by other funding sources and the activities they are supporting.
    6. Independent audit statements from a certified public accountant 
for the previous 2 years.
    7. A copy of your organization's current negotiated Federal 
indirect cost rate agreement, if applicable.

    Note: Materials submitted as attachments should be printed on 
one side of 8\1/2\''  x  11'' paper. Please do not attach bound 
materials such as booklets or pamphlets. Rather, submit copies of 
the materials printed on one side of 8\1/2\''  x  11'' paper. Bound 
materials may not be reviewed.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161 (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 
6, 2000, submit the application to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in the Where to Obtain Additional Information section of 
this announcement.
    Applicants should simultaneously submit a copy of the application 
to their State HIV/AIDS Directors.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group.

[[Page 2185]]

(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.

H. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
criteria described in the Application Content section by an independent 
review group appointed by CDC.
    Before final award decisions are made, CDC may conduct 
predecisional site visits and/or business management and fiscal 
recipient capability assessments with CBOs whose applications are 
highly ranked. CDC may also review programmatic conditions and 
technical assistance requirements with the local or State health 
department and applicant's board of directors.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. progress reports quarterly, no more than 30 days after the end 
of each 3 month period.
    2. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
each budget period; and
    3. final financial report 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 3 in this 
announcement.

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

J. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 317 of the 
Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247b as amended. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.939, HIV Prevention 
Activities--Non-governmental Organization Based.

K. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application and tool kit, call NPIN at 1-800-458-5231 (TTY users: 1-
800-243-7012); visit their web site: www.cdcnpin.org/program; send 
requests by fax to 1-888-282-7681 or send requests by e-mail: 
[email protected]. This information is also posted on the 
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/
nchstp/hiv__aids/funding/toolkit/.
    CDC maintains a Listserv (HIV-PREV) related to this program 
announcement. By subscribing to the HIV-PREV Listserv, members can 
submit questions and will receive information via e-mail with the 
latest news regarding the program announcement. Frequently asked 
questions on the Listserv will be posted to the Web site. You can 
subscribe to the Listserv on-line or via e-mail by sending a message 
to: [email protected] and writing the following in the body of 
the message: subscribe hiv-prev first name last name.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Maggie Warren, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office Program Announcement 00023, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Room 3000, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Mailstop E-15, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146; Telephone (770) 
488-2736. E-mail [email protected]
    See also the CDC home page on the Internet: http://www.cdc.gov
    For program technical assistance, contact: Tomas Rodriguez, 
Community Assistance, Planning, and National Partnerships Branch, 
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, M/S E-58, Atlanta, GA 
30333; Telephone number (404) 639-5240. E-mail address: [email protected] (0 
is the number, not the letter o).
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office.
[FR Doc. 00-794 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P