[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 3537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1569]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Supporting Networks of HIV Care; National Training and Technical 
Assistance Cooperative Agreements Announcement of Sole Source Awards

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Announcement of Sole Source Awards.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces the funding of two sole source cooperative agreements of 
fiscal year (FY) 2002 Health and Human Services Minority AIDS 
Initiative (MAI) funds. The two organizations funded will implement the 
Supporting Networks of HIV Care, National Training and Technical 
Assistance Cooperative Agreements. These cooperative agreements are an 
essential part of the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau's (HRSA/HAB) response to the 
severe and ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis within racial and ethnic minority 
communities.
    Recipients of these two awards are Communities Advocating for 
Emergency Assistance and Relief (CAEAR) Coalition Foundation in the 
amount of $2,200,000 and the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) in 
the amount of $600,000. Funds are awarded for a 1-year project period 
starting September 30, 2002, and ending September 29, 2003.
    In partnership with HRSA/HAB, these two cooperative agreements will 
provide training, education, technical assistance, and related 
informational resources to non-profit, minority community- and faith-
based organizations (C/FBOs) serving people of color living with and 
affected by HIV/AIDS. Select minority C/FBOs will receive assistance in 
response to their specific needs. The assistance will be designed to 
improve staff capabilities and organizational capacity for the 
provision of high quality, comprehensive HIV primary health care, and 
support services. C/FBOs that receive Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS 
Response Emergency (CARE) Act funds directly from HRSA/HAB for service 
delivery are not eligible for assistance. The long-term goal of these 
cooperative agreements is to increase and improve HIV primary care 
infrastructure in communities of color. A related goal is to equip 
organizations serving communities of color to become new members of the 
CARE Act community.
    Assistance will be provided in the following areas: staff and board 
development and management, needs assessment, strategic planning, 
linkages and referrals, clinical and support service delivery and 
management, financial management, resource development, management 
information systems, quality management, program evaluation, and the 
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. Services 
will be available through these cooperative agreements by early January 
2003. The HRSA/HAB will have direct involvement in all planning, 
implementation, and evaluation related activities to ensure timely 
execution of work plans and quality in the delivery of services and the 
development of materials.
    Background: The CAEAR Coalition Foundation and NMAC were found 
uniquely qualified to administer this cooperative agreement given their 
organizational characteristics, strengths and experience working 
directly with HRSA/HAB. Both organizations have significant experience 
developing successful activities and programs to support HIV/AIDS 
service providers nationally.
    The CAEAR Coalition Foundation was formed by communities affected 
by the HIV/AIDS epidemic during the initial authorization of the Ryan 
White CARE Act. For a little over a decade, CAEAR Coalition Foundation 
has been a leading voice in HIV/AIDS service delivery and planning. The 
CAEAR Coalition Foundation represents over 250 governmental and CBOs, 
including Titles I and III grantees, and the communities they serve. 
Their membership is significant given its inclusion of organizations 
serving large metropolitan areas (500,000+ residents) most severely 
impacted by HIV/AIDS. It also includes CBOs in rural, underserved, and 
racial/ethnic minority communities facing existing and emerging HIV 
epidemics. The CAEAR Coalition Foundation's close relationship with 
relevant CARE Act grantees and other organizations nationally will 
allow for extensive outreach and identification of organizations in 
most need of this type of assistance. The CAEAR Coalition Foundation 
conducts a variety of research projects and educational activities to 
increase provider and patient knowledge about care, treatment, and 
support services and strategies to fight the HIV epidemic. The CAEAR 
Coalition Foundation works to stay abreast of the current needs of 
providers and address those needs. There is no other national AIDS 
organization with CAEAR Coalition Foundation membership and CARE Act 
expertise. CAEAR Coalition Foundation has experience managing HRSA 
funds and related initiatives.
    Since 1987, NMAC has worked to develop leadership and capacity 
within communities of color to address HIV infection. NMAC is the only 
national organization founded specifically to support minority CBOs to 
foster new leadership and address the unique challenges HIV/AIDS 
presents for racial/ethnic minorities. Over 3,000 minority CBOs have 
joined. NMAC is the only national minority AIDS organization providing 
on-line training, technical assistance, and ``chat room'' opportunities 
for minority CBOs. NMAC's Web site receives approximately 36,000 hits 
per day. NMAC's LifeLine provides e-mail announcements to over 8,000 
governmental and non-governmental organizations and individuals 
regarding the availability of grants for HIV service delivery, 
opportunities for training and TA, national conferences, and other 
important updates. NMAC has experience managing MAI funds and 
implementing related activities in the areas of HIV/AIDS treatment, 
fiscal management, board development, effective utilization of 
technology, and community planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information may be obtained 
from Ms. Rene Sterling, HIV/AIDS Bureau, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-47, 
Rockville, MD 20857; telephone (301) 443-7778, fax (301) 594-2835, e-
mail [email protected].

Paperwork Reduction Act

    If there is a data collection associated with this application OMB 
approval will be sought.

    Dated: January 15, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-1569 Filed 1-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P