[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28514-28516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12985]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01042]


The Development and Implementation of the Directly-Observed 
Treatment, Short-Course Strategy by the Private Sector in the 
Philippines;Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for the development and implementation of the directly observed 
treatment, short-course (DOTS) strategy by the private sector in the 
Philippines. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
area of Immunization and Infectious Diseases. For a copy of ``Healthy 
People 2010'',

[[Page 28515]]

visit the internet site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
    The purpose of this program is two-fold: (1) To develop several 
directly-observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) models designed for 
the private health-care system in years one and two; and (2) to 
implement and evaluate these pilot approaches in years two and three in 
a major urban area in the Philippines.
    Since there are no existing private-sector models for DOTS, this 
program will support the development, implementation and evaluation 
pilot DOTS models designed for the private health-care system in a 
major urban area in the Philippines.
    The elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States (U.S.) is 
directly linked to the control of TB in immigrants' countries of 
origin. In 1999, 43 percent of all TB cases were identified in persons 
who were born in a foreign country; the Republic of the Philippines was 
the second ranking country of origin.
    In a recent report, TB rates in the Philippines were determined to 
be some of the highest in the world. Given current U.S. immigration 
patterns, direct technical assistance to the Philippines for improving 
TB control is justified and considered essential by the Division of 
Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) to meet medium and long-term domestic mission targets. 
This support and assistance directly involves the Philippines 
Department of Health (PDOH). The PDOH is rapidly instituting the World 
Health Organization's national case management strategy to improve TB 
control. Directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS), strategy 
calls for (i) national political commitment, (ii) passive case 
detection by smear microscopy, (iii) a standardized free-of-charge, 
short-course (six months) chemotherapy administered by direct 
observation (DOTS), (iv) a regular supply of antituberculosis drugs, 
and (v) an integrated reporting and evaluation system.
    DOTS has been demonstrated to be effective when a significant 
proportion of the population has access. Currently, most people in the 
Philippines seek TB care from the private sector health-care system and 
continue to receive care in this system. The incidence of TB is greater 
in urban areas than it is in rural areas. Recent informal surveys 
suggest that little of the private sector health care delivery system 
utilizes the critical components of DOTS. This leads to inadequate 
treatment, increased death and morbidity, increased transmission, and 
increasingly the generation of drug resistant strains of TB. In 
addition, despite success in the public sector health-care system, it 
is highly unrealistic in the Philippines to expect that the majority of 
persons seeking care in the private sector health-care system will seek 
care in the public sector health-care system or be referred to the 
public sector health-care system by their private physicians if TB is 
suspected. Although not a part of the World Health Organization (WHO) 
DOTS strategy, the PDOH recognizes that the private-sector must be 
included in TB control for DOTS to improve TB control in the 
Philippines.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations, universities, colleges, research institutions and 
hospitals currently located in the Philippines. These entities should 
be distinct legal organizations that are registered with the 
Philippines Security and Exchange Commission.

C. Availability of funds

    Approximately $68,000 is available for FY 2001 to fund this award. 
The award is anticipated to begin on or about June 30, 2001 for a 12-
month budget period within a three-year project period. It is 
anticipated that $100,000 will be available in FY 2002. (This second 
year funding will be available after October 1, 2001.) However, this 
and funding for subsequent years will be dependent on satisfactory 
progress, independent evaluation by DTBE and the United States Agency 
for International Development, and the availability of funds. (Funding 
amounts for subsequent years have not been finalized.) Funding 
estimates may change.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under 1. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Develop several private-sector DOTS models and the related 
administrative infrastructure for TB control in a large metropolitan 
area of the Philippines.
    b. Collaborate with the PDOH, WHO, USAID and other public and 
private-sector entities in the Philippines.
    c. At the end of one year of funding, identify and propose project 
activities to implement and evaluate private-sector DOTS models to the 
CDC.
    d. Implement and evaluate private-sector DOTS models in subsequent 
years.
    Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the 
basis of the following criteria:
    (1) Satisfactory progress in meeting project objectives;
    (2) Objectives for the new budget period are realistic, specific, 
and measurable;
    (3) Proposed changes in described methods of operation, need for 
financial support, and/or evaluation procedures will lead to 
achievement of project objectives; and
    (4) The budget request is clearly justified and consistent with the 
intended use of cooperative agreement funds.

2. CDC Activities

    a. CDC will provide assistance in the development and 
implementation of the private-sector DOTS models. These might include:
    (1) participation in meetings and review of proposals to develop 
DOTS models.
    (2) site visits before, during, and after pilot implementation to 
provide training and assistance with the analysis and dissemination of 
lessons learned.
    (3) collaborative assistance in all aspects of the evaluation 
phase.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program 
plan. The narrative should be written in English, follow the outline 
below and be no longer than twelve double-spaced pages(excluding 
appendices and attachments) printed on one side, with 2.5 cm margins 
and 12 CPI font.
    1. General Objective: one sentence that describes the project.
    2. Background and Rationale: A brief section of several paragraphs 
that describe activities for the first two years. Describe the 
organization carrying out the proposal. Listing a plan for year three 
is not necessary.
    3. Proposed Models/Methods: Describe each of several models and the 
plans to develop these models (one paragraph each). Describe the 
necessary relationship with other key organizations or industries 
required for the implementation of each model. Include a time line in 
table format with a separate brief timetable description for the first 
12 months.

[[Page 28516]]

    4. Evaluation Plan: Briefly, discuss the plan for monitoring 
progress toward each of the objectives.
    5. Project Leaders: List project leaders and their affiliations. 
Outside of the page limit, include letters of support.
    6. Budget: Submit a brief line item budget breakdown and narrative 
justification that is consistent with program purpose and proposed 
activities for year one. Include an estimate of second year 
requirements.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of the application PHS form 
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 July 1, 2001, 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 objective review committee. (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:
    1. Extent to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding of 
the requirements, problems, objectives, complexities, and interactions 
required of this project. (20 Points)
    2. Degree to which the proposed objectives are clearly stated, 
realistic, time phased, and related to the purpose of this project. (20 
points)
    3. Appropriateness and thoroughness of the workplan and time-line 
for administering this project. (30 points)
    This cooperative agreement enables the development and pilot 
implementation of TB control programs in the private-sector in the 
Philippines. The report and dissemination of information and lessons 
learned are considered program evaluation (and not a research activity) 
as determined by NCHSTP/CDC. It is not anticipated that a research 
activity will be funded from the support from this cooperative 
agreement.
    4. Appropriate qualifications, experience, leadership ability, and 
percentage of time project director will commit to the project. (15 
points)
    5. Appropriate qualifications, experience and description of how 
staff will be utilized in relation to the activities to be performed to 
accomplish the work and their percentage of time to be spent on the 
project; curriculum vitaes should be provided. (15 points)
    6. Budget: The extent to which the budget relates directly to 
project activities, is clearly justified, and is consistent with 
intended use of funds. The budget should include funds for (to be 
included). (Not Scored)

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide the CDC with original and two copies of:
    1. Annual progress reports. Progress reports must include the 
following for each program, function, or activity involved:
    a. a comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established 
for the period;
    b. the reasons for slippage if the established goals are not met; 
and
    c. other pertinent information including, when appropriate, 
analysis and explanation of unexpected high costs of performance.
    2. Financial Status Report no more than 90 days after the end of 
first year budget period; and
    3. Final financial and performance reports no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period. Send all reports to the Grants and 
Management Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional 
Information'' section of this announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
announcement.

AR-4  HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5  HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying

I. Authority and catalog of federal Domestic Assistance

    This program is authorized under sections 301 and 307 of the Public 
Health Service Act. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 
is 93.947, TB Demonstration, Research, Public and Professional 
Education Projects.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements can be found on the CDC home page 
Internet address--http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then 
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    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: Mattie B. Jackson, Grants Management Specialist, Grants 
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 
30341-4146, Telephone number: (770) 488-2696, Email address: 
[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Michael F. Iademarco, 
MD, MPH or Michael L. Qualls, MPH, Division of Tuberculosis 
Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton 
Road, Mailstop E-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone number:(404)639-8120, 
Email addresses: [email protected] [email protected].

    Dated: May 17, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-12985 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P