[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37971-37973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18156]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01171]


Expansion of HIV/AIDS Prevention Activities in the Republic of 
Kenya by Promoting the Establishment of ``Free-Standing'' or ``Stand-
Alone'' Sites Which Deliver Volunteer Counseling and Testing Services; 
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 expansion of HIV/AIDS Prevention Activities in the 
Republic of Kenya.
    The purpose of the program is to Promote the establishment of 
``free-standing'' or ``stand-alone'' sites which deliver voluntary 
counseling and testing (VCT) services to the Kenyan public in support 
of the Kenyan CDC Country Plan for HIV/AIDS prevention.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit 
organizations and by governments and their agencies and international 
organizations with a minimum of 2 years of experience in managing funds 
and delivering volunteer counseling and testing(VCT)service in 
developing countries in Africa.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, Chapter 26, Section 
1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of 
the Internal Revenue Code 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 $1.0 million is available in FY 2001, to fund one 
award. A similar amount will be available each year during the period 
of the project. It is expected that the award will begin on or about 
September 30, 2001 and will be made for a 12-month budget period with a 
project period of up to five 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

    All services provided under this announcement will be free to the 
individuals obtaining the service. The grantee will not collect any 
fee(s) in association with the services provided.

Antiretroviral Drugs

    Funds received from this announcement will not be used for the 
purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV 
infection (with the exception nevirapine in PMTCT cases and with prior 
written approval), 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.
    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:
    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.
    All requests for funds, including the budget contained in the 
application, shall be stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, 
the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will not compensate 
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the 
issuance of supplemental awards.

Needle Exchange

    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. Funds received from this announcement 
may not be used for the following: The purchase of machines and 
reagents to conduct laboratory monitoring for patient care

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under ``Recipient 
Activities'', and CDC will be responsible for the activities listed 
under ``CDC Activities''

Recipient Activities

    1. Developing and establishing stand-alone VCT sites in key urban 
areas of Kenya.
    a. Identify key urban locations and sites in Kenya appropriate for 
stand-alone VCT sites, and develop a phased plan for establishment of 
up to twenty (20) sites by the end of three years.
    b. Identify and select local partners (such as but not limited to 
Non-Government Organizations, NGOs) with the capacity to manage and 
deliver VCT services at stand-alone sites. (For Example: This may 
involve selecting one national organization or several regional or 
local organizations. If necessary, it may involve assisting in the 
formation of a Kenyan NGO with the specific mandate to provide VCT 
services, similar to the Ugandan NGO, the AIDS Information Center, 
which was set up by a consortium of Ugandan and international 
organizations.)
    c. Develop and implement a specific model for service delivery to 
be uniformly implemented at all sites. This should include hours of 
operation during evening and weekend hours. Provision of integrated 
reproductive and HIV related health services at these sites, such as 
family planning services, the detection and treatment of other sexually 
transmitted diseases, and TB education and screening is desirable. In 
addition, on-going services for VCT clients, such as ``Post-Test 
Clubs'' and referral networks for care, should be included in the 
proposal.

[[Page 37972]]

    d. Free services should be considered for proposal, however, a 
minimal fee may be charged with fees generated being utilized to 
further market VCT services.
    e. Develop and implement a plan for the recruitment, employment, 
training, and supervision of staff to provide VCT services at free-
standing sites, including both counseling and testing services to be 
performed on-site.
    f. Ensure that all sites are appropriately advertised
    2. Assist other NGOs wishing to provide VCT as part of their AIDS 
activities.
    a. Solicit proposals from NGOs who wish to provide VCT services as 
part of their AIDS prevention and/or care efforts, including such 
groups as KICOSHEP, KAPC, church and faith-based organizations, and 
others.
    b. Provide funding through ``contracts'' to these organizations. 
All contracts over $15,000 will require approval by in-country CDC 
staff.
    c. Provide on-going technical assistance to such groups.
    d. Foster a network of VCT sites for continuing education, sharing 
of resident technical expertise and lessons learned.
    3. Provide HIV test kits and other supplies needed to conduct on-
site, confirmed, rapid HIV testing for VCT purposes.
    a. Procure HIV test kits and other supplies as needed. Selection of 
test kits will be made on the basis of CDC recommendations and will 
require test kits approved for use in Kenya.
    b. Develop a system for the distribution and re-stocking of HIV 
test kits and consumables.
    c. Develop a system for additional testing of samples with 
discordant results, and for quality assurance testing.
    4. Develop mobile VCT services for sites not appropriate for a 
permanent VCT center.
    a. Propose a strategy and specific plan for mobile VCT services in 
rural areas and other locations which do not justify a full-time VCT 
center.
    b. Implement mobile VCT services in year two. This activity may 
require the procurement of vans or mobile-home type vehicles which 
would have room for a small laboratory and at least two counseling 
rooms.
    5. Provide on-going support, monitoring, supervision, and 
evaluation of these sites
    a. Ensure that all VCT sites are operating in accordance with the 
Kenya National VCT guidelines and with all applicable local and 
international standards.
    b. Ensure that all funds disbursed for VCT activities are properly 
used and accounted for, and train staff at VCT sites in proper 
accounting procedures.
    c. Develop systems for routine monitoring and supervision of VCT 
services, including a system for computerized record keeping at all 
sites, and central level analysis and reporting.
    d. Propose, develop and implement a methodology for the evaluation 
of stand-alone VCT sites in Kenya.

CDC Activities

    1. CDC will collaborate with the recipient on designing and 
implementing the activities listed above, including but not limited to 
providing technical assistance to develop and implement program 
activities, quality assurances, data management, statistical analysis 
and presentations of program methods and findings.
    2. Monitor project and budget performance.
    3. Approve the selection of key personnel to be involved in the 
activities preformed under this cooperative agreement.
    4. Rapid HIV Test kits may be provided in limited amounts for the 
purpose of this activity.

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 12 point font. All 
pages should be numbered and indexed. The narrative should consist of, 
at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, Methods, Evaluation and Budget.

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 August 17, 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:
    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. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable 
as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1. or 2. above 
will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

Application

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.
1. Understanding of the Problem (15 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant's proposal demonstrates a clear 
and concise understanding of the AIDS epidemic in Kenya and the role of 
VCT as a prevention intervention and as an entry point to care.
2. Technical and Programmatic Approach (30 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant's proposal demonstrates an 
understanding of how to develop, promote, implement, monitor, and 
evaluate VCT services offered outside of traditional medical settings.
3. Ability to Carry Out the Project (20 percent)
    The extent to which the applicant documents demonstrated capability 
to achieve the purpose of the project.
4. Personnel (20 percent)
    The extent to which professional personnel involved in this project 
are qualified, including evidence of experience in working with HIV/
AIDS and specifically with VCT in stand-alone settings.
5. Plans for Administration and Management of the Project (15 percent)
    The extent to which the plan, objectives, and methods described 
meet the program objectives and the adequacy of described evaluation 
methodology meets the plans of the project.
6. Budget (Not scored, but evaluated)
    The extent to which the itemized budget for conducting the project 
is reasonable and well justified. The percentage of the budget going 
for direct VCT services will be assessed and considered. The applicant 
should include an analysis in the budget of the cost per client served.

[[Page 37973]]

7. Human Subjects (Not Scored)
    The extent to which the application adequately addresses the 
requirements of 45 CFR 46 for the protection of human subjects. (Not 
scored; however, an application can be disapproved if the research 
risks are sufficiently serious and protection against risks is so 
inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.)

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of
    1. Semi-annual progress reports;
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
each year's budget period; and
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the total five year project period.
    4. Awardee is required to obtain annual program specific audit of 
these CDC funds by a US-based audit firm with international branches 
and current licensure/authority in country, and in accordance with 
International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) approved 
in writing by CDC.
    A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required with the 
potential awardee, pre or post award, in order to review their business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding their handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the 
announcement.

    AR-1  Human Subjects Requirements
    AR-4  HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
    AR-6  Patient Care
    AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
    AR-14  Accounting System Requirements

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. 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 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 Program Announcement number of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: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 number: (770) 488-2782, Email address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Elizabeth Marum, Ph.D., 
Technical Advisor in HIV/AIDS, Center for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya, Telephone: 254-2-713-008 
(office),254-072-727-933 (mobile), 254-2-714-745 (fax), Email: 
[email protected], Local mailing address: P.O. Box 30137, 
Nairobi, Kenya, U.S. Mailing address: Unit 64112,APO AE 09831-4112.

    Dated: July 16, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-18156 Filed 7-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P