[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37690-37694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18070]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Office of Public Health and Science; Office of Minority Health; 
Availability of Funds for a Cooperative Agreement for the HIV/AIDS 
Regional Resource Network Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, 
Office of Minority Health.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and request for applications 
for a cooperative agreement for the HIV/AIDS regional resource network 
program.

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    Program Title: HIV/AIDS Regional Resource Network Program.
    OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The OMB Catalog of 
Federal

[[Page 37691]]

Domestic Assistance number for the HIV/AIDS Regional Resource Network 
Cooperative Agreement Program is 93.004.

    Authority: This program is authorized under section 1707(e)(1) 
of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

    Purpose: The purpose of the HIV/AIDS Regional Resource Network 
Program is to increase the capacity of community-based organizations 
(CBOs), including small, minority CBOs, serving communities of color to 
provide prevention and early intervention services for poor, minority 
communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and STDs. The 
program's goals are to:
     Facilitate the involvement of CBOs, including minority 
CBOs, serving communities of color in federal regional HIV/AIDS 
initiatives, planning, and networking; and
     Provide training and technical assistance to CBOs, 
including minority CBOs, serving communities of color to build their 
capacity to serve racial and ethnic minority communities with a high 
incidence of HIV.
    The program is intended to demonstrate that by involving CBOs, 
including minority CBOs, serving communities of color in federal 
regional planning and networking efforts, the coordination, 
comprehensiveness, and quality of HIV/AIDS services to minority 
communities will be improved.
    Eligible Applicants: Private, nonprofit organizations are eligible 
to apply for this cooperative agreement.

    Note: Public organizations, universities and institutions of 
higher education are not eligible to apply for this cooperative 
agreement.

    Organizations are not eligible to receive awards from more than one 
Office of Minority Health (OMH) program concurrently as the grant 
recipient. An organization may submit only one proposal under this 
announcement.
    Availability of Funds: Approximately $1.2 million is expected to be 
available for one competitive award in FY 2001 for a 12-month period. 
Support may be requested for a total project period not to exceed 3 
years.
    The applicant chosen through the competitive review process:
     Will begin the HIV/AIDS Regional Resource Network Program 
on September 30, 2001.
     Will be able to apply for a noncompeting continuation 
award of up to $1.2 million for each of two additional years. After 
Year 1, funding is based on:
    a. The amount of money available; and
    b. Success or progress in meeting project objectives.

    Note: For the noncompeting continuation awards, the grantee must 
submit continuation applications, written reports, and continue to 
meet the established program guidelines.

    Use of Cooperative Agreement Funds: Budgets of up to $1.2 million 
total costs (direct and indirect) per year may be requested to cover 
costs of:
     Personnel.
     Consultants.
     Supplies.
     Equipment.
     Grant related travel.
     Other grant related costs.
    Funds may not be used for:
     Medical treatment.
     Construction.
     Building alterations or renovations.

    Note: All budget requests must be fully justified in terms of 
the proposed objectives and activities and include a computational 
explanation of how costs were determined.

Background

     The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve 
the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the 
development of health policies and programs that will help to address 
health disparities and gaps. The role of OMH is to serve as the focal 
point within HHS for service demonstrations, coalition and partnership 
building, and related efforts to address the health needs of racial and 
ethnic minorities. In keeping with this mission, the HIV/AIDS Regional 
Resource Network Program is to assist in addressing the HIV/AIDS issues 
facing minority communities disproportionately impacted by the 
epidemic.
    In FY 1999, the Office of Public Health and Science, Office of 
Population Affairs, launched the HIV/AIDS Regional Resource Network 
Program as a two year program to conduct training and technical 
assistance activities for the purpose of increasing the capacity of 
small CBOs to provide prevention and early intervention services in 
poor, minority communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS, 
sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies. A 
demonstration project was developed to focus on improving the 
coordination, comprehensiveness, and quality of HIV/AIDS service 
provision by bringing CBOs serving communities of color into federal 
regional planning and networking efforts. Training and technical 
assistance was provided to high-risk communities to facilitate local 
and regional planning and prevention efforts, and create mechanisms for 
closer working relationships with federal regional offices. Regional 
Resource Consultants were placed in 5 of the HHS Regional Offices (New 
York, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, and San Francisco) to identify and 
network with HIV/AIDS organizations and agencies within their regions, 
to develop a regional directory of HIV/AIDS service organizations, and 
to oversee the distribution of capacity-building awards. In this FY 
2001 cooperative agreement announcement, OMH is building on the efforts 
of the last two years and expanding the project to include all 10 HHS 
Regions.

Project Requirements:

    The applicant must propose a model program to be carried out within 
each of the 10 HHS Regions that addresses the following goals:
     Facilitate the involvement of CBOs, including minority 
CBOs, serving communities of color in federal regional HIV/AIDS 
initiatives, planning, and networking; and
     Provide training and technical assistance to CBOs, 
including minority CBOs, serving communities of color to build their 
capacity to serve racial and ethnic minority communities with high 
incidence of HIV.

    Note: A listing of the 10 HHS Regions and the Regional Health 
Administrator contacts is provided in the application kit.

    Program Activities: In conducting activities to achieve the purpose 
of this cooperative agreement program, the grantee will be responsible 
for carrying out the activities listed under
    1. Grantee Activities. The ten HHS Regional Offices and the OMH 
will be responsible for the activities listed under 2. HHS Regional 
Office Activities and 3. OMH Activities.
    1. Grantee Activities:
    a. Collaborate onsite with the 10 HHS Regional Offices to carry out 
the goals and activities of the cooperative agreement program. Such 
collaboration is to include assignment and supervision of a Regional 
Resource Consultant (RRC) in each regional office. The grantee is 
encouraged to involve the HHS Regional Offices in the selection of the 
RRCs;
    b. Identify CBOs, including minority CBOs, serving communities of 
color which provide support and ancillary services to individuals and 
families affected and infected by HIV/AIDS;
    c. Identify the training and technical assistance needs of these 
organizations and link them with appropriate HHS resources;

[[Page 37692]]

    d. Establish networking relationships between the HHS Regional 
Offices and the CBOs and foster closer collaboration between these CBOs 
and federal, state and local governments;
    e. Provide limited capacity building funds to eligible CBOs (NOTE: 
40% of total cooperative agreement funds must be allocated for CBO 
capacity building awards);
    f. Maintain regional resource directories of CBOs, including 
minority CBOs, serving communities of color that work with racial and 
ethnic communities in the area of HIV/AIDS programs or services; and
    g. Develop a technical assistance/skills-building manual for use by 
targeted and other organizations serving communities of color to 
enhance their skills to serve racial and ethnic minority communities 
with high incidence of HIV.
    2. HHS Regional Offices Activities:
    a. Assist in the identification and selection of RRCs and provide 
in-kind support to the RRCs including office space, telephone usage, 
and Internet access;
    b. Designate a federal employee in the regional office where the 
RRC is placed to oversee the consultant's activities (NOTE: Supervision 
of the RRCs is the responsibility of the grantee);
    c. Participate in the review of regional capacity-building awards 
to eligible CBOs; and
    d. Assist the RRCs in expanding their networking and planning 
relationships to include identifying tribal resources, coordinating 
efforts with HHS crisis response teams, and working with local and 
state prison systems to implement HIV screening, prevention, and 
treatment programs.
    3. OMH Activities:
    a. Provide assistance in the development of project methodologies 
and analysis as needed;
    b. Provide assistance with linkages to federal agencies for 
technical assistance, training and other resources; and
    c. Establish an Advisory Committee composed of members from HHS 
including the Regional Offices to make recommendations and provide 
advice and guidance in the implementation of program objectives.

Application Kit

     For this cooperative agreement, Form PHS 5161-1 (Revised 
July 2000 and approved by OMB under Control Number 0937-0189) must be 
used.
     An applicant is advised to pay close attention to the 
specific program guidelines and general instructions provided in the 
application kit.
     To get an application kit, write to: Ms. Karen Campbell, 
Grants Management Officer, Division of Management Operations, Office of 
Minority Health, Rockwall II Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security Lane, 
Rockville, MD 20852.
    Or call Karen Campbell at (301) 443-8441.

Where To Send Applications

    Send the original and 2 copies of the complete grant application 
to: Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, Division of 
Management, Operations, Office of Minority Health, Rockwall II 
Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD 20852.

Application Deadline

    To receive consideration, grant applications must be received by 
the OMH Grants Management Office by August 20, 2001. Applications will 
be considered as meeting the deadline if they are: (1) Received on or 
before the deadline date, or (2) postmarked on or before the deadline 
date and received in time for orderly processing. A legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service will be 
accepted in lieu of a postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be 
accepted as proof of timely mailing. Applications submitted by 
facsimile transmission (FAX) or any other electronic format will not be 
accepted. Applications which do not meet the deadline will be 
considered late and will be returned to the applicant unread.

How to Get Help

    In addition to contacting Karen Campbell for application kits, she 
may also be contacted for technical assistance on budget and business 
aspects of the application. For further explanations and answers to 
questions on programmatic aspects, contact: Ms. Cynthia H. Amis, 
Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, 
Rockwall II Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD 
20852.
    Or call: Cynthia Amis at (301) 594-0769.
    For additional assistance contact the OMH Regional Minority Health 
Consultants listed in the grant application kit.
    For health information contact the OMH Resource Center at 1-800-
444-6472.

Review of Applications

     Applications will be screened upon receipt. Those that are 
judged to be incomplete, non-responsive, or nonconforming to the 
announcement will be returned without comment.
     An organization may submit no more than one proposal under 
this announcement.
     Organizations submitting more than one proposal will be 
deemed ineligible. The proposals will be returned without comment.
     Accepted applications will be reviewed for technical merit 
in accordance with PHS policies.
     Applications will be evaluated by an Objective Review 
Committee. Committee members are chosen for their expertise in minority 
health, their experience in technical assistance and capacity 
development, and their understanding of the unique health problems and 
related issues confronted by racial and ethnic minorities in the United 
States.

Application Review Criteria

    The technical review of applications will consider the following 5 
generic factors (including Background, Objectives, Methodology, 
Evaluation, and Management Plan), listed below in descending order of 
priority.

Factor 1: Methodology (35%)

     Appropriateness of proposed approach for regional 
collaboration including any established organizational linkages for 
providing training and technical assistance related to HIV/AIDS.
     Appropriateness of specific activities for providing 
training and technical assistance related to HIV/AIDS and capacity 
development.
     Logic and sequencing of the planned approaches in relation 
to the provision of HIV/AIDS training and technical assistance.

Factor 2: Evaluation (20%)

     Thoroughness, feasibility, and appropriateness of the 
evaluation design, data collection, and analysis procedures.
     Clear intent and plans to document the activities and 
their outcomes.
     Clear indication that the project will result in a model 
that can be replicated.

Factor 3: Background (15%)

     Established level of cultural competence and sensitivity 
to the issues of minority populations disproportionately impacted by 
HIV/AIDS.
     Expertise and understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and 
treatment service delivery systems especially as related to HIV/AIDS 
care among minority populations.
     Demonstrated access to targeted organizations and 
experience in

[[Page 37693]]

working with CBOs, including minority CBOs, serving communities of 
color.
     Demonstrated experience in networking, planning, and 
implementing activities at a regional level.
     Demonstrated outcomes of past similar efforts/activities 
with the target population.

Factor 4: Objectives (15%)

     Merit of the objectives.
     Relevance to the program purpose and stated problem.
     Attainability in the stated time frames.

Factor 5: Management Plan (15%)

     Demonstrated knowledge/skills in organizational 
management, diversification of fiscal base, and organizational 
development; and ability to mobilize a strong training and technical 
assistance capacity onsite.
     Ability to plan and coordinate efforts at a regional 
level.
     Capability to manage and evaluate the project as 
determined by:
    a. The qualifications of proposed staff or requirements for ``to be 
hired'' staff.
    b. Staff level of effort.
    c. Management experience of the applicant.
    d. Clarity of the applicant's organizational chart.

Award Criteria

    Funding decisions will be determined by the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Minority Health of the Office of Minority Health, and 
will take under consideration the recommendations and ratings of the 
Objective Review Committee.

Reporting and Other Requirements

General Reporting Requirements

    A successful applicant under this notice will submit: (1) progress 
reports; (2) an annual Financial Status Report; and (3) a final 
progress report and Financial Status Report in the format established 
by the OMH, in accordance with provisions of the general regulations 
which apply under 45 CFR Part 74.51-74.52.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to Public Health Systems Reporting 
Requirements. Under these requirements, a community-based 
nongovernmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health 
System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS is intended to provide 
information to State and local health officials to keep them apprised 
of proposed health services grant applications submitted by community-
based organizations within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based nongovernmental applicants are required to submit, 
no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the application, the 
following information to the head of the appropriate State and local 
health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted: (a) A copy of the face 
page of the application (SF 424); and (b) a summary of the project 
(PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which provides: (1) A description of 
the population to be served; (2) a summary of the services to be 
provided; and (3) a description of the coordination planned with the 
appropriate State or local health agencies. Copies of the letters 
forwarding the PHSIS to these authorities must be contained in the 
application materials submitted to the OMH.

State Reviews

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 which allows States the option of setting up a system for 
reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under 
certain Federal programs. The application kit available under this 
notice will contain a list of States which have chosen to set up a 
review system and will include a State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 
in the State for review. Applicants (other than federally recognized 
Indian tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early as possible to alert 
them to the prospective applications and receive any necessary 
instructions on the State process. For proposed projects serving more 
than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each 
affected State. The due date for State process recommendations is 60 
days after the application deadline established by the OMH Grants 
Management Officer.
    The OMH does not guarantee that it will accommodate or explain its 
responses to State process recommendations received after that date. 
(See ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs'' Executive Order 
12372 and 45 CFR part 100 for a description of the review process and 
requirements).

Additional Background Information

Disproportionate Effect of HIV/AIDS on Minorities

    Statistics indicate that although advances have been made in the 
treatment of HIV/AIDS, this epidemic continues as a significant threat 
to the public health of the United States. Despite showing a decline in 
the past few years, HIV/AIDS remains a disproportionate threat to 
minorities. According to the CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report December 
1999 Year-end Edition (Vol. 11--Number 2), during the 1990s the 
epidemic shifted steadily toward a growing proportion of AIDS cases in 
African-Americans and Hispanics. In absolute numbers, African-Americans 
have outnumbered whites in new AIDS diagnoses and deaths since 1996 and 
the number of persons living with AIDS since 1998. While African-
Americans and Hispanics respectively represent approximately 13% and 
10% of the U.S. population, approximately 37% of the more than 733,000 
reported total AIDS cases in 1999 were African-American and 18% are 
Hispanic.
    In 1999, more African-Americans were reported with AIDS than any 
other racial/ethnic group. Of the total HIV infection cases reported 
through December 1999, 52% (64,299) were reported among African-
Americans, 38% (46,277) were reported among whites, and 8% (9,296) were 
reported among Hispanics. Among women and children with AIDS, African-
Americans have been especially affected, representing 63% of all women 
reported with AIDS in 1999 and 65% of reported pediatric AIDS cases in 
1999. During 1999, the rate of new AIDS cases per 100,000 population in 
the U.S. was 84.2 among African-Americans, 34.6 among Hispanics, 9.0 
among whites, 11.3 among American Indians/Alaska Natives, and 1.4 among 
Asians/Pacific Islanders.
    The recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (June 1, 2001/
Volume 50, Number 21) describes the changes in the characteristics of 
persons with AIDS since 1981 with the greatest impact of the epidemic 
among men who have sex with men (MSM) and among racial/ethnic 
minorities. The report presents data on the number and percentage of 
persons with AIDS by race/ethnicity since the first AIDS cases were 
reported in the U.S. in June 1981. These data show overall increases in 
AIDS cases among minority populations from 1981 to 2000: African-
Americans (25.5% to 44.9%); Hispanics (14% to 19.7%); Asian/Pacific 
Islanders (0.6% to 0.8%), and American Indians/Alaska Natives (0.1% to 
0.4%). In contrast, the data show a decrease in AIDS cases among whites 
(59.7% to 34%) for the same period. The report also points to a 
resurgent HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM), 
particularly among young minority males. The prevalence of HIV 
infection was higher among African-Americans

[[Page 37694]]

(14.1%), Hispanics (6.9%), and American Indians/Alaska Natives (6.7%) 
than among whites (3.3%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (3%).
    Healthy People 2010: The PHS is committed to achieving the health 
promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010, a 
PHS-led national activity announced in January 2000 to eliminate health 
disparities and improve years and quality of life. HIV/AIDS is one 
focus area of Healthy People 2010. More information may be found on the 
Healthy People 2010 web site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople, and 
copies of the document may be downloaded. Copies of the Healthy People 
2010: Volumes I and II can be purchased by calling (202) 512-1800 (cost 
$70.00 for printed version; $19.00 for CD-ROM). Another reference is 
the Healthy People 2010 Review-1998-99. For 1 free copy of the Healthy 
People 2010 Review-1998-99, contact: The National Center for Health 
Statistics, Division of Data Services, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1064, 
Hyattsville, MD 20782, or telephone at (301) 458-4636.
    Ask for HHS Publication No. (PHS) 99-1256. This document may also 
be downloaded from the NCHS web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs.

Definitions

    For purposes of this cooperative agreement announcement, the 
following definitions are provided:
    Community-Based Organization-- Private, nonprofit organizations and 
public organizations that are representative of communities or 
significant segments of communities where the control and decision-
making powers are located at the community level.
    Minority Community-Based Organization--Private nonprofit community-
based organizations or local affiliates of national organizations that 
have a governing board composed of 51 percent or more racial/ethnic 
minority members and a significant number of minorities employed in key 
program positions.
    Minority Populations--
     American Indian or Alaska Native.
     Asian.
     Black or African American.
     Hispanic or Latino.
     Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.


(Revision to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on 
Race and Ethnicity, Federal Register, Vol. 62, No. 210, pg. 58782, 
October 30, 1997.)


    Dated: July 13, 2001.
Nathan Stinson, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 01-18070 Filed 7-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-29-P