[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36194-36196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12931]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02163]


Support for Civil Society Organizations Responding to HIV/AIDS in 
Zimbabwe; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a Cooperative Agreement 
program to Support Civil Society Organizations Responding to HIV/AIDS 
in Zimbabwe.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to provide support to 
civil society organizations responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 
Zimbabwe. Civil society in Zimbabwe can and does play a critical role 
in strengthening the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AIDS 
Service Organizations (ASOs), communities of faith, educational and 
theatre groups and other non-governmental organizations have the 
ability to efficiently reach target audiences and to effectively 
provide education, training, prevention, clinical care and psychosocial 
support services.
    Specifically, CDC intends to focus its support on: (1) AIDS Service 
Organizations (ASO) with national or regional missions and activities 
or cross-cutting activities that are not compatible with the District 
AIDS Action Committee (DAAC) Initiative; (2) ASO infrastructure or 
administrative support that is needed to complement a unique, 
supporting role that the ASO is playing as a member of a DAAC, or to 
complement a situation in which the ASO has received funding for 
program services but not for administrative support needed to properly 
manage those resources; and (3) faith organizations implementing 
activities that involve progressive involvement in major HIV/AIDS 
programs already underway in Zimbabwe.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by nonprofit voluntary organizations, 
including faith-based organizations, responding to or working with HIV/
AIDS in Zimbabwe and are registered under the laws of Zimbabwe.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $300,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund multiple 
awards averaging from $30,000 to $50,000 per award. It is expected that 
the awards will begin on or about September 30, 2002, and will be made 
for a 12-month budget period within 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

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 of nevirapine in the prevention of mother 
to child transmission (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.
    Federal law requires that 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.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient(s) 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. Strengthen the Operational Capacity of Civil Society 
Organizations Responding to HIV/AIDS in Specific Districts and/or 
Regions in Zimbabwe.

[[Page 36195]]

For AIDS Service Organizations
    Expand and improve the capacity of ASOs and other organizations 
vis-a-vis operational systems (e.g., physical plant, personnel, 
budgeting, proposal writing, disbursement, financial oversight, 
reporting, evaluation) to increase the agency responsiveness to 
clients, donors and other constituents. For ASOs, this requested 
operations support should be proposed in one of four contexts:
    (1) The ASO has received substantial funding to provide services, 
but has not been allowed funding for administrative and operational 
support.
    (2) The ASO has been asked to play an important role in a District 
AIDS Action Committee (DAAC), but has not been provided with additional 
or sufficient resources to support those duties.
    (3) The ASO has been taking on or has identified for itself a key 
role in mentoring or training other ASOs, DAACs, or other agents of the 
local response to HIV/AIDS.
    (4) The ASO is playing a key role in the national response to HIV/
AIDS at either a provincial or national level and, as such, is not 
currently meeting funding priorities of NAC or other donor agencies.
For Faith-Based Organizations
    Expand and improve the capacity of pastors, ministers, priests, 
laity, or other members of the Denomination to effectively provide 
scientifically correct information that goes beyond awareness on HIV/
AIDS to the populations they serve. Proposals will promote behavior 
change and reduction in stigma for HIV/AIDS, and reconciling accurate 
information with religious values while using the modes of 
communication that are best-accepted and most effective for the 
population in question. Such proposals should be linked to a source of 
correct information and technical assistance on HIV/AIDS, such the 
Zimbabwe Council of Churches' AIDS Program, CDC Zimbabwe Office, 
Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV/AIDS (MARCH), or other sources 
that should be referenced in the application.
    b. Expand Prevention, Care and Support Services Provided Through 
Civil Society Organizations.
    Strengthen key organizations at district and/or regional level to 
provide expanded prevention, care and support services to persons with 
HIV/AIDS.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Collaborate with the Recipient on designing and implementing the 
activities listed above, including but not limited to the provision of 
technical assistance to develop and implement program activities, 
analyses, and capacity building assistance.
    b. When necessary, procure specific services, equipment and 
supplies, as well as other materials required to support implementation 
of activities covered under this agreement.
    c. Monitor project and budget performance.

E. Content

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is required for this program. The narrative should be no more 
than two (2) double-spaced pages, printed on one side, with one-inch 
margins, and 12 point font. Your letter of intent will be used to help 
plan the review process, and should include the following information: 
(a) Principal organization, (b) Partners, Districts, Regions Involved, 
(c) 500 word (or less) abstract outlining ``Central Concepts'' to be 
developed more fully in the complete application, (d) 300 word (or 
less) statement of qualifications and capacity to estimate the amount 
of funds to be requested.

Applications

    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 not be more than 20 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and 12 point font.
    The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget.

F. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    On or before June 15, 2002, submit the LOI to the Grants Management 
Specialist identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' 
section of this announcement.

Application

    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 15, 2002, submit the application to: Technical 
Information Management, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Rd, Room 3000, Atlanta, 
GA 30341-4146.
    Deadline: Letters of Intent and final Applications shall be 
considered as meeting the deadline if they are received on or before 
the deadline date.
    Late: Letters of Intent and Applications which do not meet the 
above criteria will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Applicants are required to provide Measures of Effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of Effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goals as stated in section ``A. Purpose'' of 
this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These Measures of Effectiveness shall be 
submitted with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    The criteria used to evaluate the application will include all of 
the criteria outlined in the recipient requirements inclusive of a 
plan, objectives, methods, evaluation, and budget. Each application 
will be evaluated individually against the following criteria by an 
independent review group appointed by CDC:

Capacity (40 points)

    Strengthening operational capacity of civil service organizations. 
(20 points)
    Expanding prevention, care and support services provided by civil 
society organizations. (20 points)

Understanding the Purpose of the Overall Plan of the Application (15 
points)

    A cogent, brief summary of critical issues; succinct, coherent 
understanding of the purpose of the program announcement; and cross-
cutting, cost-effective approaches to responding to the announcement.

Objectives (15 points)

    Compile a translation of the general purposes of the program 
announcement into no more than four specific objectives, products, or 
outputs of the cooperative agreement.

Methods (15 points)

    Enunciation of a methodology appropriate for accomplishing the 
objectives outlined above.

Evaluation (15 points)

    A brief explanation of how internal monitoring and evaluation of 
this program will contribute to strengthening and institutionalization 
of this program during the period of the cooperative agreement.

[[Page 36196]]

Budget and Cost-Effectiveness (Not Scored)

    Creative and convincing approaches to resource utilization 
(financial, personnel, computing, etc.) to lead to a major impact of 
available resources.

Human Subjects (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the application adequately addresses the 
requirements listed in the 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human 
subjects.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    1. Provide CDC with original plus two copies of the quarterly 
progress reports.
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial report and performance report, no more than 90 
days after the end of the project period
    4. Measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the 
accomplishment of the various identified objectives of the grant/
cooperative agreement. Measures must be objective/quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These Measures of Effectiveness shall be 
submitted with your application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    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 standard(s) approved in writing by 
CDC.
    A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required with the 
potential awardee, prior or post award, in order to review their 
business management and fiscal capabilities regarding the 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.

--1AR-1  Human Subjects Requirements
--1AR-2  Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
--1AR-4  HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
--1AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
--1AR-14  Accounting System Requirements
--1AR-15  Proof of Non-Profit Status
--1AR-22  Research Integrity

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. 2421), as amended. The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number is 93.118.

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.
    To obtain business management technical assistance, contact: 
Dorimar Rosado, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement & Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Room 3000, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. 
Telephone: (770) 488-2782. E-mail: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Mark D. Fussell, Global 
AIDS Program (GAP), Zimbabwe Country Team, National Center for HIV, 
STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), Zim-CDC AIDS Project Team, 38 Samora Machel Avenue, 2nd Floor, 
Harare, Zimbabwe. Telephone: 263 4 796040, 796048. Fax: 263 4 796032. 
E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: May 17, 2002.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-12931 Filed 5-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P