[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51285-51286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19908]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Peer Educator Training Sites and Resource and Evaluation Center 
Cooperative Agreements; Open Competition Announcement

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) HIV/
AIDS Bureau (HAB) announces that applications will be accepted for 
fiscal year (FY) 2002 awards for up to four Peer Educator Training 
Sites (PETS ) and one Resource and Evaluation Center (REC) 
Demonstration Cooperative Agreements. HRSA will support up to four 
national, regional, or local organizations with a demonstrable record 
of providing PETS, or similar programs, and other technical assistance 
(TA) designed to strengthen HIV/AIDS peer education programs within 
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act funded 
sites. Through the training of peer educators, the PETS program will 
expand and improve the delivery of HIV/AIDS primary health care 
services in underserved communities of color significantly affected by 
existing and emerging HIV/AIDS epidemics. Peer educators assist people 
who are infected or affected by HIV to access and remain in care, 
through outreach, education, and advocacy services to affected 
individuals and health care professionals. These peer educators are 
typically not clinically trained health care professionals and may 
include peer counselors; community health center workers; promoters; 
outreach workers; treatment educators; HIV peer educators, consumer 
trainers, and peer advocates. Also, PETS will provide TA to the 
community-based organizations (CBOs) that employ the peer educators 
trained by the PETS. The purpose of the TA is two fold. First, the PETS 
will work with CBO peer educator programs to identify training needs 
and potential for capacity building to enhance peer educator programs. 
Second, the PETS will provide TA to CBOs to maximize the impact of peer 
educator activities within care service programs.
    One cooperative agreement will support a REC to provide TA to PETS 
to develop effective programs for monitoring and evaluating peer 
educator training activities. The REC will also coordinate the 
collection,

[[Page 51286]]

evaluation, and dissemination of training and professional tools to 
support the development, adaptation, and translation of new or existing 
tools and materials and to reduce duplication among PETS grantees.
    Available Funding: It is anticipated that awards for up to four 
PETS and one REC Demonstration Cooperative Agreements will be made in 
FY 2002 for a total of $2,000,000 of available funds. HRSA expects that 
the average PETS award will be approximately $300,000 to $400,000 and 
the average REC award will be approximately $400,000. It is anticipated 
that project funding will be for 3 years. After the first year, 
continuation funding will depend on reasonable progress and the 
availability of funds. There are no matching requirements for this 
program.
    Eligible Applicants: Funding will be directed to activities 
designed to deliver services specifically targeting racial and ethnic 
minority populations affected by HIV/AIDS. Eligible entities may 
include: not-for-profit community-based organizations, national 
organizations, colleges and universities, clinics and hospitals, 
research institutions, State and local government agencies and tribal 
government and tribal/urban Indian entities and organizations. Faith-
based and community-based organizations are eligible to apply.
    Authorizing Legislation: The authority for these cooperative 
agreements is in Section 2692(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended, 42 U.S.C. 300ff-111(a). This program is excluded from coverage 
under Executive Order 12372.
    Where to Request and Send Applications: To obtain an application 
kit: Call the HRSA Grants Application Center at the toll free number, 
877-477-2123 and request the OMB Catalogue of Federal Domestic 
Assistance number (CFDA) 93.145, and cite ``Peer Educator Training 
Sites and Resource and Evaluation Center Cooperative Agreements''.
    To submit the completed kit: Send the original and 2 copies of your 
grant application to: HRSA Grants Application Center, Attention: HAB 
Grants Management Officer, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20879. Applications sent to any other address are subject to being 
returned. Federal Register notices are available on the following web 
site: http://www.hab.hrsa.gov.
    Application Dates: A letter of intent to submit an application is 
requested by August 21, 2002. Applications for this announced grant 
must be received in the HRSA Grant Application Center by close of 
business September 6, 2002. Applications shall be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are (1) received on or before the deadline date or 
(2) are postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time 
for orderly processing and submission to the review committee. 
Applicants should request a legibly dated receipt from a commercial 
carrier or U.S. Postal Service postmark. Private metered postmarks will 
not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. Applications postmarked 
after the due date will be returned to the applicant.

ADDRESSES: Brief letters of intent are requested for HAB to determine 
how many will apply. Letters of intent to apply for funding should be 
faxed, 301-594-2835 or mailed to Elijah Martin, Jr., HIV/AIDS Bureau, 
Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 
7-47, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional technical information may 
be obtained from Elijah Martin, Jr., HAB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane 7-47 
Rockville, MD 20857. His telephone number is (301) 443-0802; fax number 
(301) 594-2835; and e-mail [email protected]. You may also contact Ledia 
I. Martinez, M.D., Acting Chief, HIV Education Branch, Division of 
Training and Technical Assistance, HAB, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 
7-46, Rockville, MD 20857. Her telephone number is (301) 443-5431 and 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applications will be reviewed by an 
objective review committee. The review criteria will include: adequacy 
of needs assessment; adequacy of proposed plan; coordination and 
collaboration; management plan, staffing, project organization and 
resources; program documentation, program evaluation, and quality 
improvement; appropriateness and justification of budget; and adherence 
to program guidance.
    The Secretary shall give preference to qualified projects which 
will--
    (A) Train, or result in the training of, health professionals who 
will provide treatment for minority individuals with HIV disease and 
other individuals who are high risk of contracting such disease; and
    (B) Train, or result in the training of, minority health 
professionals and minority allied health professionals to provide 
treatment for individuals with such disease.
    As an active partner in this cooperative agreement, HRSA will have 
significant programmatic involvement with the applicant regarding 
program plans, policies and other issues which may have major 
implications for any activities undertaken by the applicant under the 
cooperative agreement. HRSA will provide consultation and technical 
assistance in planning, operating, and evaluating major program 
activities. HRSA's specific involvement will be to:
     Assist to facilitate collaborations with Ryan White 
grantees and other HIV community organizations to reach the target 
population;
     Participate, as appropriate, in planning and producing any 
conferences, meetings, or site visits conducted during the period of 
the project; and
     Attend and participate in advisory, consultant meeting, 
and other project planning meetings and conference calls.
    Paper Reduction Act: Should any of the data collection activities 
associated with this cooperative agreement fall under the purview of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, OMB clearance will be sought.

    Dated: July 22, 2002.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-19908 Filed 8-6-02; 8:45 am]
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