[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38706-38707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18462]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01154]


Expansion of Prevention, Care, and HIV/AIDS Surveillance 
Activities for Injection Drug Users With the Bangkok Metropolitan 
Administration, Bangkok, Thailand; 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 
with the City Government of Bangkok, Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan 
Administration(BMA) for the improvement and expansion of prevention, 
care and surveillance activities targeting HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS-
related conditions among injection drug users (IDUs) in Bangkok, 
Thailand.
    The purpose of this program is to improve and expand in Bangkok: 
(1) HIV transmission prevention capacity among IDUs. Specific 
prevention activities could include: (a) Strengthening HIV prevention 
counseling received by clients attending methadone maintenance centers; 
(b) developing the capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) to 
do outreach, prevention counseling, and referral for IDU populations 
not enrolled in drug treatment programs, including incarcerated 
populations and youth detention centers; (c) conducting operational 
studies to assess the impact of current laws, pharmacy practices, and 
police practices on the availability and access to sterile injection 
equipment for IDUs and translate findings into policy documents and 
prevention strategies; and (d) providing a network for the routine 
programmatic introduction of AIDSVAX B/E if the current vaccine trial 
is found to be efficacious, and monitor HIV infection rates after the 
routine introduction of the vaccine. This network of BMA methadone 
detoxification clinics is also an ideal setting to provide (2) care and 
support services for IDUs living with HIV/AIDS (e.g., psychosocial 
support, enhancing opportunistic infection prevention and treatment, 
and monitoring use of antiretroviral drugs), and to enhance (3) 
surveillance efforts, including laboratory-based surveillance 
activities (e.g., STIs, tuberculosis [TB] and other opportunistic 
infections, and drug-resistant HIV strains), which will be accomplished 
through cooperation between CDC and the BMA. These collaborative 
activities could profoundly impact the scope and intensity of the 
implementation of the National AIDS Policy. Cooperative efforts could 
lead to significant improvements in the collection of critical data to 
support future action, a better understanding of the association 
between specific behaviors and HIV prevalence, improved and more 
responsive systems of care, and strengthened aspects of the public 
health infrastructure for IDUs. Since 1995, the CDC has had a strong 
collaboration with the Thai BMA to conduct research and related 
activities on HIV infection and AIDS among IDUs in order to improve 
understanding of the disease and provide a scientific basis for the 
development of public health actions in this population. The CDC seeks 
to broaden its mission with the BMA to include the LIFE Initiative 
activities outlined in this cooperative agreement request.
    The U.S. Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS and 
related conditions in specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, 
Asia, and the Americas through its Leadership and Investment in 
Fighting an Epidemic (LIFE) initiative. Through this 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 (3) capacity and infrastructure 
development, especially for surveillance. 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. Thailand is one of these targeted countries.
    To carry out its activities in these countries, CDC is working in a 
collaborative manner with national governments and other agencies to 
develop programs of assistance to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CDC's 
program of technical assistance to Thailand focuses on several areas 
including strengthening surveillance and laboratory measures, expanding 
promising prevention and care strategies, supporting behavior change 
communication projects, promoting technology transfer, and other 
capacity building efforts.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to the BMA, Kingdom of Thailand. 
No other applications are solicited.
    The BMA is the only appropriate and qualified organization to 
fulfill the requirements set forth in this announcement for the 
following reasons:
    1. The BMA is directly responsible for the implementation, 
monitoring and evaluation of population-based HIV/AIDS prevention and 
care policies and services in Bangkok.
    2. The BMA is uniquely positioned, in terms of city government 
authority, mandate and ability to oversee and safeguard public health, 
and to collect and analyze information and disseminate surveillance and 
health system performance reports related to the prevalence and 
incidence of HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS-related conditions and other health 
issues in Bangkok.
    3. The BMA has in place in metropolitan Bangkok, the hospitals and 
clinic structures required to immediately engage in the activities 
listed in this announcement.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $100,000 is available in FY 2001, to fund this 
agreement. It is expected that the awards will begin on or about 
September 30, 2001, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of five years. Annual funding estimates may 
change. Continuation awards within the approved project period will be 
made on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required 
reports and the availability of funds.
    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.

Use of Funds

    Funds received from this announcement may 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.
    No funds awarded under this announcement 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

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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.

D. 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.''
    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: (770) 488-2782, E-mail: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Jordan W. Tappero, MD, 
MPH, Director, Thailand-CDC Collaboration, Director, The HIV/AIDS 
Program, DMS 6 Building, Ministry of Public Health, Tivanon Road, 
Nonthaburi 11000, THAILAND, Telephone: (66 2) 591 8358, Fax: (66 2) 591 
5443, Mobile: (66 1) 755 9011, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: July 19, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-18462 Filed 7-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P