[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34942-34944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16535]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01142]


Clinical and Laboratory Training in HIV/AIDS Care in the Republic 
of Uganda; 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 clinical and laboratory training in HIV/AIDS Care in the 
Republic of Uganda.
    The purpose of this program is to improve quality of life for 
people living with AIDS in Uganda by training health care providers in 
HIV/AIDS-related care.
    The U.S. Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in 
specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas 
through its Leadership and Investment in Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) 
initiative. Through this LIFE program, CDC has initiated its Global 
AIDS Program (GAP) to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the 
areas of (1) HIV primary prevention; (2) HIV care, support, and 
treatment, and capacity and infrastructure development. Targeted 
countries represent those with the most severe epidemics and the 
highest number of new infections. They also represent countries where 
the potential for impact is greatest and where U.S. Government agencies 
are already active. Uganda is one of these targeted countries.
    Uganda has an estimated population of over 21 million, of which 8.3 
percent (one out of twelve people) are thought to be HIV-positive. 
Training in appropriate in-patient, out-patient, and home-based care of 
people with HIV/AIDS are critical components of holistic health 
services. However, public and private health units have a notable 
shortage of clinical staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to 
provide comprehensive care to adults and children living with HIV/AIDS, 
particularly in rural areas. There is also a demonstrated need to 
increase access to effective home-based care, since access to in-
patient care facilities is limited and expensive.
    A program to offer and expand training is therefore essential in 
order for care-givers throughout the country to acquire the knowledge 
necessary to give quality HIV/AIDS care. The aim of improving the 
quality of life of adults

[[Page 34943]]

and children living with AIDS in Uganda can be achieved by making 
training in HIV/AIDS care accessible to health care providers 
throughout the country and by building local capacity in order to deal 
effectively with the health care needs of people living with AIDS.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private non-profit 
organizations that meet the following criteria:
    1. Have at least three years of documented HIV/AIDS-related 
clinical training experience in Uganda; and
    2. Have existing laboratory and clinical facilities and training 
programs in Uganda.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $1,500,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund one award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or about September 30, 
2001, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to three years. Funding estimates may change.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

Use of Funds

    Funds may be used for:
    1. Expenses required to provide training (both at the central 
facility and at field locations), including salaries, travel for 
training staff to rural areas, reference materials (periodicals, 
journals, books, etc.), and renovation or expansion of clinical/
training facilities;
    2. Acquisition or improvement of services and equipment for the 
designated purpose of enhancing training of health care providers; this 
may include laboratory, radiology, and information technology equipment 
as needed for the central training facility;
    3. Development and reproduction of training guidelines, care 
handbooks, and other materials;
    4. Follow-up and evaluation activities.
    Funds may not be used for the direct provision of clinical care, to 
purchase pharmaceuticals, or for activities or facilities unrelated to 
training in HIV/AIDS care and support.
    Funds received from this announcement will not be used for the 
purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV 
infection, occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and 
will not be used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct 
the necessary laboratory monitoring for patient care.
    No funds appropriated under this Act shall be used to carry out any 
program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic 
injection of any illegal drug.
    Applicants may contract with other organizations under these 
cooperative agreements, however, applicants must perform a substantial 
portion of the activities including program management and operations 
and delivery of prevention services for which funds are requested.
    The costs that are generally allowable in grants to domestic 
organizations are likewise allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exceptions:
    1. Customs and Import Duties: Unallowable. This includes consular 
fees, customs surtax, value added taxes, and other related charges.
    2. Indirect Costs: With the exception of the American University, 
Beirut, the Gorgas Memorial Institute, and the World Health 
Organization, indirect costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through a sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
    3. Patient Care: Patient care costs under foreign grants will be 
provided only in exceptional circumstances and then only with the prior 
approval of the PHS awarding office.

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 and provide training, based on needs analysis for health 
care providers in the form of both (1) courses and (2) the provision of 
supervised clinical care situations (e.g., hospital or HIV/AIDS-focused 
clinic) for theoretical, experiential, and participatory learning 
purposes; training should be held at both the central facility and at 
rural sites.
    b. Develop and offer a wide range of relevant courses based on 
needs analysis; for example, training in the prevention of 
opportunistic infections; training in diagnosis and treatment of the 
most common opportunistic infections and those that cause the most 
morbidity and mortality in Uganda; training in laboratory equipment, 
consumables, and skills necessary for making basic diagnoses of HIV and 
opportunistic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, tuberculosis, 
and STDs; an advanced course in the appropriate use of antiretrovirals 
(ARVs), including laboratory monitoring; and training in the provision 
of social and psychological support for persons with HIV and their 
families.
    c. Collaborate with CDC and the Ministry of Health in developing 
and maintaining medical record information forms suitable for 
facilities working in HIV/AIDS care.
    d. Collaborate with the Ugandan Ministries of Health and Education 
and the Uganda AIDS Commission to develop appropriate and approved 
training packages.
    e. Collaborate with The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) in 
designing and implementing training for its staff.
    f. Develop curricula and training materials and guidelines related 
to HIV/AIDS care for multiple levels of health care providers (e.g., 
doctors, nurses, community health workers, and/or other care-givers); 
these materials should meet high standards of technical content and 
training methodology and should include handbooks, trainer manuals, and 
training-of-trainer manuals.
    g. Train health care providers from district and rural health 
facilities to become trainers in order to implement standardized, 
cascading training programs in AIDS care in rural settings throughout 
Uganda.
    h. Conduct follow-up assessment and further training of training 
alumni at their rural work sites, providing additional focused support 
as necessary to facilitate implementation of a clinical care program 
tailored to individual sites.
    i. Evaluate the impact of the training on care and develop further 
appropriate training initiatives.
    j. Ensure that the above activities are undertaken in a manner that 
is integrated with the national HIV/AIDS strategy.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance, as needed, in the development of 
training curricula, materials, and diagnostic therapeutic guidelines.
    b. Collaborate with recipient, as needed, in the development of an 
information technology system for medical record-keeping and 
information access and in the analysis of data derived from such 
records.
    c. Assist, as needed, in evaluation of training and in development 
of further appropriate training initiatives.
    d. Assist, as needed, in appropriate analysis and interpretation of 
data

[[Page 34944]]

collected during training sessions as needed.
    e. Provide input, as needed, into the criteria for selection of 
candidates, clinics, and districts involved in training.
    f. Provide input, as needed, into the overall program strategy.
    g. Collaborate, as needed, with the recipient in the selection of 
key personnel to be involved in the activities performed under this 
agreement.

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 no more than 25 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced font. Pages 
should be numbered, and a complete index to the application and any 
appendices must be included.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-
0428). Forms are available in the application kit and at the following 
Internet address: www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    On or before July 25, 2001, submit an electronic or hard copy of 
the application to the Grants Management Specialist identified in the 
``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement. If you choose to submit your application electronically, 
you should submit hard copies of your application on or before August 
9, 2001.
    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.
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 1 or 
2 above 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. Understanding of the Problem (10 points)

    The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a clear, concise 
understanding of the nature of the problem to be addressed; this 
specifically includes a description of the gaps in current programs and 
related activities in Uganda, as well as a realistic presentation of 
proposed objectives

2. Training Opportunities (30 points)

    (a) The number, depth, variety, and value of training and learning 
opportunities that the applicant proposes to offer, as well as the 
variety of trainees the applicant is prepared to target; (b) the extent 
to which the training proposed by the applicant includes participatory, 
experiential learning for the trainees; and (c) the extent to which the 
applicant specifies the content and structure of the training materials 
and programs.

3. Strategy (20 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has developed a strategic 
approach to the development of a training program that balances urgency 
with the time required to develop quality services and materials.

4. Ability To Carry Out the Project (10 points)

    The extent to which the applicant documents having the 
organizational infrastructure and documented experience necessary to 
achieve the purpose of this project.

5. Program Objective and Plan (15 points)

    The extent to which program objectives are specific, measurable, 
time phased and realistic; and the extent to which the plans for 
implementing project activity mirror program objectives and will 
facilitate their achievement.

6. Personnel (15 points)

    The extent to which professional personnel involved in this project 
are qualified, including evidence of experience similar to this 
project.

7. Budget (not scored)

    The extent to which itemized budget for conducting the project, 
along with justification, is reasonable and consistent with stated 
objectives and planned program activities.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. quarterly progress reports;
    2. financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period; and
    3. final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    4. awardee is required to obtain annual audit of these CDC funds 
(program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international 
branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standards(s) 
approved in writing by CDC.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the 
announcement.
AR-6  Patient Care
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
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 307 of the Public Health 
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. section 242I), as amended. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.941.

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 obtain business management technical assistance, contact: 
Dorimar Rosado, 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: (770) 488-2782, Email: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Jonathan Mermin, MD, 
MPH, Global AIDS Program (GAP), Uganda Country Team, National Center 
for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda, Telephone: 41-320-776, 
Email: [email protected].

    Dated: June 26, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-16535 Filed 6-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P