[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8020-8027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3922]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03003]


HIV Community-Based Prevention Projects for the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands; Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 317 of the 
Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247(b) as amended. The 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.939, HIV Prevention 
Activities --Non-Governmental Organization Based.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for community-based organizations (CBOs) in the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico (the Commonwealth) (Category A) and the United States 
Virgin Islands (USVI) (Category B) to develop and implement HIV 
Prevention Programs. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
focus area(s) of Educational and Community-Based Programs, HIV, and 
Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
    The purpose of the program is to (1) Develop and implement 
effective community-based HIV prevention programs that reflect the 
Commonwealth's or the USVI HIV prevention priorities outlined in their 
comprehensive HIV prevention plan and epi profile; and
    (2) Promote collaboration and coordination of HIV prevention 
efforts among CBOs, Health Departments, and private agencies in order 
to increase the number of high-risk persons who are tested for HIV 
infection and learn their test results.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for 
HIV, STD and TB Prevention: (1) Reduce the number of new HIV 
infections; and (2) Decrease the number of persons at high risk for 
acquiring or transmitting HIV infection.
    All attachments referenced in this announcement are posted with the 
announcement on the CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to non-governmental organizations 
and faith-based organizations (tax exempt corporation or association), 
whose net earnings do not benefit private shareholders or individuals 
and who meet the following criteria:
    1. Have a current tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Service 
Code Section 501(c)(3) or written Statement of Good Standing and a 
Certificate of Incorporation from the Commonwealth State Department 
(Category A) or the USVI State Department (Category B).
    2. Be located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the United 
States Virgin Islands.
    3. Be able to show that you have provided HIV prevention or care 
services to your target population over the last two years.
    4. Provide evidence that you have shared with the health department 
the details of your proposed program.

[[Page 8021]]

    5. Request no more than $175,000 in funding, including indirect 
costs, if applying under Category A; and no more than $200,000, 
including indirect costs, if applying under Category B.
    6. Not be a government or municipal agency (including a health 
department, school board, or public hospital), a private or public 
university or college, or a private hospital.
    For both categories, you can apply on your own or with one or more 
CBOs as a coalition. The term coalition, for this announcement, means a 
group of organizations working together, where each organization has a 
clearly defined activity assigned to them from the overall program 
plan. All groups share program responsibilities, but the organization 
applying for funds must be the legal applicant and perform a 
substantial portion of the program activities. The lead organization 
must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed above.
    CDC encourages applications from applicants who are representative 
of the minority communities served in the make up of their board of 
directors, key staff and management. They should also be situated in 
close geographic proximity to the targeted population, have a history 
of providing services to these communities and have documented linkages 
to the targeted populations.

    Note: You may only submit one application. If you apply alone 
and also as part of a group, your application will not be reviewed 
and will be returned to you. Your organization may apply for this 
funding even if you are currently receiving other funding from CDC; 
however, you must still meet all of the eligibility requirements 
above.


    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in section 501c (4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.

D. Funding

    For fiscal year 2003, about $1.3 million is available for awards 
under Category A to fund approximately eight awards and $800,000 for 
Category B to fund approximately four awards. CBOs who are selected 
will receive funding in July 2003. The funds are to be used during a 
budget time frame of 12 months.
    Your organization's project may be continued for a total of 5 years 
(i.e., 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) under this agreement. Funding at 
the same level after the first year is based on the amount of funds 
available to CDC and your success and/or progress in meeting your goals 
and objectives. You must keep track of your successes by writing 
reports and sending them to CDC. Also, CDC staff may visit your 
organization to learn about your activities. When asking for the 
subsequent funding, you must again show CDC that you still meet the 
requirements stated above in the ``Eligible Applicants'' section.
    CDC is committed to working with CBOs in these activities and to 
ensuring that these funds are distributed in a way that matches the 
geographic locations and risk behaviors where the epidemic is 
widespread.

Use of Funds

    The money must be used to:
    1. Target priority populations identified in the Comprehensive HIV
    Prevention Plan developed by the Community Planning Group.
    2. Develop and implement activities and interventions described in 
the Comprehensive HIV Prevention Plan developed by the Community 
Planning Group.
    The money must not be used to:
    1. Give direct patient medical care, including substance abuse or 
medical treatment, or medications.
    2. Replace or duplicate existing funding.
    3. Support only administrative and managerial functions.

Funding Preferences

    Preference will be given to applicants that:
    1. Are located in or near to the targeted community they are 
intending to serve (Indigenous to the targeted population.)
    2. Have a documented history of service to the targeted 
community(ies) to be served with evidence of having established systems 
for involving clients, and community members in identifying community 
needs, assets, and barriers, and in creating appropriate program 
response.
    3. Have documented linkages to the targeted population.
    4. Have documented evidence of implementing culturally and 
linguistically competent interventions for the targeted population.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible activities listed under 1. Recipient 
Activities, and CDC will be responsible for activities listed under 2. 
CDC Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Involve the target population in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating activities and services throughout the project period.
    b. Develop or adapt existing program models that are supported by 
scientifically valid evidence of lowering risk behavior, encouraging 
abstinence, or increasing help-seeking behavior.
    Examples of evidence-based models can be found: (1) In the 
``Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions'', (Inventory 
D235) available in CD-Rom format from the CDC National 
Prevention Information Network (NPIN) by calling 1-800-458-5231 or at 
the following Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium.pdf 
and (2) in the report entitled, ``Positive Youth Development in the 
United States,'' commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and 
available at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/positiveyouthdev99/index.htm
    c. Comply with the requirements described in the Review of Contents 
of ``HIV/AIDS-Related Written Materials, Pictorials, Audiovisuals, 
Questioners, Survey Instruments, and Education Sessions'', published in 
the Federal Register on June 15, 1992.
    d. Comply with Health Department rules, regulation, protocols and 
procedures while implementing your counseling and testing intervention.
    Your program activities should address barriers to HIV prevention. 
The activities could address social, health service, faith 
organizations and family units that can keep persons at risk from 
getting the services they need.
    e. Conduct at least one of the interventions listed below. All of 
your efforts must include cultural competency, sensitivity to issues of 
sexual and gender identity, and developmental and linguistic 
appropriateness.
    (1) HIV counseling, testing, and referral (CTR) Provide HIV CTR to 
individuals at high risk for HIV infection. If you provide these 
services, you must meet certain requirements and follow set guidelines. 
See Attachment 4 for more information.
    Your program might: (a) Improve access to testing sites that will 
be more acceptable and accessible to the target population or, (b) 
Improve use of post-test counseling, referral, and follow-up.
    (2) Health Education and Risk Reduction Conduct health education 
and risk-reduction interventions (HE/RR). These may include individual, 
group, or community-level interventions.

[[Page 8022]]

    (3) Outreach Activities Conduct outreach activities to improve 
access to the target population. Provide face-to-face HIV prevention 
interactions and hand out prevention-related materials, encourage 
abstinence.
    f. Assist high-risk clients with referrals to appropriate primary 
HIV prevention services, and continued prevention and care services if 
they are infected.
    g. Assist HIV infected individuals with access to appropriate 
prevention interventions, care and treatment.
    h. Monitor and evaluate your proposed program to assure its 
quality. Use approximately three to five percent of the funds awarded 
under this announcement for monitoring intervention activities. CDC 
will provide technical assistance in tracking program activities and 
quality.
    i. If conducting counseling and testing, prepare and submit to CDC, 
within the first six months of funding, a quality assurance plan for 
your program.
    j. Conduct periodic client satisfaction assessments, e.g., 
questionnaires or focus groups.
    k. Put into place training and capacity building measures and a 
plan to identify the training needs of your staff.
    l. Work with CDC and CDC-funded capacity-building assistance 
programs to identify and address the capacity-building needs of your 
program.
    m. Find and use local resources for organizational and program 
development, e.g., the health department, community development 
agencies, other CBOs, local colleges and universities, locally based 
foundations, Service Corps of Retired Executives (a Small Business 
Administration program), and the local business or industrial 
community.
    n. Put into place a communication and information dissemination 
plan, which includes: (1) Marketing your prevention program and 
services to the target population and local community; (2) Sharing 
lessons learned and successful program models; and (3) Ensuring 
Internet and e-mail communication for your organization and key program 
staff during the first year of funding.
    o. You must attend at least one CDC-sponsored meeting of funded 
agencies. If you sponsor any conferences using CDC funds, you must 
follow CDC policies for getting approval.
    p. Begin gathering information to help develop and implement a plan 
for obtaining additional resources from non-CDC sources to further 
support the program implemented through this cooperative agreement and 
to improve the chance that it will continue after the end of the 
project period. We encourage you to contact local organizations and 
agencies, such as community development agencies, colleges, and 
universities who may often have information about funding and other 
types of assistance.
    q. Work with other organizations in the community by:
    (1) Establishing ongoing collaborations with health departments, 
community planning groups, academic and local or national research 
institutions, health care providers, or other local or national 
resources in designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions; and
    (2) Participating in the HIV prevention community planning process. 
Participation may include going to meetings; if selected, serving as a 
member of the group; reviewing and commenting on plans; and becoming 
familiar with and using information from the community planning 
process, such as the epidemiology (epi) profile, needs assessment data, 
and intervention strategies. If selected for funding, an overview of 
project activities should be presented to your jurisdiction's community 
planning group.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide assistance and consultation on program and 
administrative issues through its partnerships with health departments, 
national and regional minority organizations, contractors, and other 
national and local organizations.
    b. Meet with you to find out what your training needs are and work 
with you to ensure those needs are met.
    c. Work with the health department to provide training either 
directly or through its network of HIV/STD prevention training centers. 
This service is available to persons who supervise, manage, and perform 
counseling and referral and other outreach activities and for staff who 
provide direct patient care.
    d. Sharing the most up-to-date scientific information on risk 
factors for HIV infection and prevention measures, and successful 
program strategies to help prevent HIV infection.
    e. Provide assistance and information on rapid test technologies 
once they become available.
    f. Help you establish partnerships with state and local health 
departments, community planning groups, and other groups who receive 
federal funding to support HIV/AIDS activities.
    g. Make sure that successful prevention interventions, program 
models, and lessons learned are shared between grantees through 
meetings, workshops, conferences, newsletters, Internet, and other 
avenues of communication.
    h. Oversee your success in program and fiscal activities, 
protection of client privacy, and compliance with other requirements 
that apply to your organization.
    i. During the first year of funding, CDC will work with CBOs and 
the Health Department to develop standardized evaluation formats and 
activities for grantees.

F. Content

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    A LOI is optional for this program. If you are eligible and you 
want to apply for funding under this announcement, CDC asks that you 
let us know your intention to apply by filling out the ``Intent to 
Apply,'' form found in Attachment 7. Your letter of intent will enable 
CDC to determine the amount of interest in this program and make sure 
we have enough of the most qualified reviewers for the application 
review process.

Applications

    The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the 
application. 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.
    1. Include page numbers throughout your application. Begin with the 
first page and number each page through to the last page of the last 
attachment.
    2. Include a Table of Contents which indicates each section and 
page numbers for the whole package you send in.
    3. Begin each separate section of your application on a new page.
    4. Do not staple or bind the original document submission or the 
two copies.
    5. Print all materials in a 12 point type size, single-spaced.
    6. Use 8\1/2\ x 11 paper.
    7. Set the margins at a minimum of one inch.
    8. Print on one side of the paper only.

Content Guidelines

    The sections that follow give you the questions you have to answer 
to correctly prepare your application. There are three sections:
    [sbull] How Do I Write My Proposal Narrative?
    [sbull] How Much Will My Proposed Program Cost and How Many Staff 
Do I Need?

[[Page 8023]]

    [sbull] What Other Materials Do I Need to Attach?
    When answering the questions below, you must:
    1. Label each section, as indicated below, using the section title 
(e.g., How Do I Write My Proposal Narrative?) and, when appropriate, 
the name of the subsection (e.g., Justification of Need, Program 
Activities.)
    2. Use the abbreviation N/A (not applicable), if a section does not 
apply to your application.
    3. Include all information that is part of the basic plan (e.g., 
activity timetables, staff program responsibilities, evaluation plans) 
in the main section of the application.

    Note: Your application will be reviewed based on the answers you 
give to these questions. To be sure you get the best review of your 
application, use the format provided below when writing your 
application. Please answer all questions with complete sentences 
that provide detailed information about your eligibility and 
proposed activities.

How Do I Write My Proposal Narrative?

    Your narrative should be no more than 35 pages. The 35 pages does 
not include your budget and budget narrative. We have included the 
number of points attached to each section and a suggested number of 
pages. Sections can vary in length as long as the total number of pages 
of the narrative is no more than 35. The narrative should address the 
following areas:
1. Justification of Need
    How this section is scored: You will be scored on what information 
you use and how you use it to demonstrate the need of the target 
population for your proposed program. Check with the health department 
for information on the HIV/AIDS statistics and HIV/AIDS needs 
assessment developed for the community planning process. Use this 
information when writing your answer for this section.
    Suggested length: 6 pages.
    Points for this section: 200 points.
    Answer all of the following questions for this section:
    (a) How has your proposed target population been affected by the 
HIV/AIDS epidemic, e.g., how many persons are infected with HIV or 
diagnosed with AIDS; how many deaths have there been from AIDS; how do 
socioeconomics affect the population? (50 points)
    (b) What are the behaviors and other characteristics of your target 
population that put them at a high risk of becoming infected with HIV 
or giving HIV to a needle-sharing or sex partner, e.g., unsafe sexual 
behaviors as indicated by rates of STDs, teen pregnancy rates, or 
assessments of risk behaviors; substance use rates; environmental, 
social, cultural, or language characteristics? (50 points)
    (c) What are the barriers to accessing HIV prevention in your 
target population? How will you address these barriers? (50 points)
    (d) Which organizations in your area are providing similar 
services? Please describe their activities and how your proposed 
activities will further meet the needs of the target population or 
improve services provided. (20 points)
    (e) Is your proposed target population a priority population as 
indicated in the comprehensive HIV prevention plan developed through 
the community planning process? If not, please tell us why your 
proposed activities are needed? (30 points)
2. Program Activities
    How this section is scored: We will look at whether or not your 
objectives are likely to be achieved; if your activities are sound, 
doable, creative, specific (how detailed you are in what you want to 
do), time-phased (have you set a time frame), and measurable (can you 
show that your activities made a difference).
    Suggested length: 15 pages.
    Points for this section: 400 points.
    Remember that you will work with the health department and other 
organizations serving your proposed target population to carry out your 
program activities. As the applicant, you must describe how all planned 
services are to be provided either by you or together with another 
organization.
    You will be asked to provide goals and objectives in this section. 
Goals provide a broad statement of what you intend to accomplish. 
Objectives should be realistic, specific (who will do what) and 
measurable.

Sample Goal and Objectives

    Proposed Intervention (goal): Our program is intended to increase 
condom use among men who have sex with men who meet in bars.
    Reaching clients (objective): Our program will enroll  
high-risk persons MSM in our intervention.
    Referral and Linkages (objective): Our program will ensure that 
 HIV-positive persons are successfully referred to a substance 
abuse program.
    Answer all of the following questions for this section:
    (a) Proposed Interventions (100 points)
    (1) What program model are you planning to use?
    (2) Which social-behavioral science theory are you basing your 
proposed program model on?
    (3) What risk behavior(s) or help-seeking behavior(s) will your 
program model address?
    (4) What are the goals for your proposed intervention, i.e., what 
will happen as a result of your intervention?
    (b) Reaching Your Clients (130 points)
    (1) What are your objectives and activities planned to reach your 
proposed target population, during the first year of your proposed 
project?
    (2) What steps will you take to build trust and credibility with 
this population?
    (3) How will you get them to use your services?
    (4) How will you use the available social networks to help you 
provide services?
    (5) How will you involve them in planning, evaluating, and 
modifying your program activities?
    (c) Referral and Linkages (80 points)
    (1) What are your objectives and activities to help ensure that 
individuals who are infected with HIV or at a high risk get treatment 
and other services they need, for example, medical, mental health, drug 
use treatment, and social services such as housing and transportation?
    (2) If you are working with other organizations, which of your 
proposed activities will be carried out by those organizations, whether 
they are part of an HIV prevention coalition, subcontractors, or non-
paid partners? You must provide in your application a letter of intent 
from all partnering organizations, as applicable.
    (d) Confidentiality (50 points)
    (1) What steps will you take to ensure the confidentiality of all 
records, information, and activities related to your clients?
    (2) What steps will you take to ensure the confidentiality of your 
clients during program activities?
    (e) Management and Staffing of the Program (20 points)
    (1) How will you manage your program?
    (2) What will be the responsibilities and roles of the staff?
    (3) What skills and experience does your staff have working with 
the target population?
    (4) What are the responsibilities and roles of those organizations 
who you want to work with you, e.g., staff responsibilities, skills, 
experience?
    (f) Time line (20 points)
    What are the details of your time line? Include information on the 
most important steps in your project and the approximate dates for when 
a step is begun and expected to be completed.

[[Page 8024]]

3. Training, Quality Assurance, and Program Monitoring and Evaluation
    How this section is scored: We will look at the quality of: your 
plan to train your staff; how you will monitor their performance; your 
plans for seeking technical assistance; how you will measure progress 
in achieving your objectives; and how you will measure whether you are 
meeting the needs of your clients.
    Applicants must provide measures of effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the grant or cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of 
this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be 
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
    Suggested length: 8 pages.
    Points for this section: 200 points.
    Answer all of the following questions for this section:
    (a) What will you do to make sure your staff gets the training they 
need? Give an estimate of the number of staff to be trained, which 
staff will be trained, and who will provide the training? (40 points)
    (b) How will you routinely monitor your staff's activities to find 
out if they are following established guidelines and protocols and what 
training they need? (40 points)
    (c) How will you determine and meet your organization's needs in 
the areas of capacity-building or technical assistance? (20 points)
    (d) How will you find out if you are meeting your objectives during 
the first year of operation? (40 points)
    (e) How will you measure whether your services are meeting the 
needs of the target population and if those you refer for services are 
using the referral? How will you monitor your activities and those of 
the organizations working with you as subcontractors or as 
collaborators? (40 points)
    (f) How will you measure the accomplishment for the objectives of 
this cooperative agreement (stated in section ``A. Purpose'' of this 
announcement)? These measures of effectiveness must be objective and 
quantitative and must measure the intended outcome of the program. (20 
points)
4. Organizational History and Experience
    How this section is scored: We will look at the overall experience 
of your organization in working with your proposed target population. 
This will include how much experience you have related to your proposed 
project.
    Suggested length: 8 pages.
    Points for this section: 250 points.
    Answer all of the following questions for this section:
    (a) Show evidence of the appropriateness of the proposed staff to 
the language, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, literacy, 
and ethnic/racial/cultural factors of your proposed target population. 
(50 points)
    (b) Provide evidence that your organization reflects the proposed 
target communities served in the makeup of your board of directors, key 
staff and management, and that your organization is situated in close 
geographic proximity to the proposed targeted population, have a 
history of providing services to the target community and have 
documented linkages to the targeted populations. (50 points)
    (c) What are the specific kinds of health-related services, other 
than HIV prevention services, that you have provided your target 
population and for how long? (20 points)
    (d) What are the HIV prevention services that you have provided 
your target population and for how long? (20 points)
    (e) How have you ensured that any materials or interventions that 
you use in your program are culturally sensitive and appropriate for 
the target population? (30 points)
    (f) What other experience does your organization have in providing 
services to the proposed target population, and for how long? (20 
points)
    (g) What is your organization's experience in linking with other 
organizations to provide HIV care or prevention services and ongoing 
care, as needed, for your clients? (20 points)
    (h) What experience does your organization have in record keeping 
of when and how services are provided, evaluating services, and 
marketing services to the target population? (25 points)
    (i) What experience does your organization have in improving the 
way services are delivered by finding and accessing other resources 
(for example, other organizations, materials, proven strategies)? (15 
points)
5. Communication and Information Dissemination
    How this section is scored: We will look at the overall experience 
of your organization sharing information with other partners, health 
departments and national organizations.
    Suggested length: 3 pages.
    Points for this section: 75 points.
    Answer all of the following questions for this section:
    (a) How are you planning to market your prevention program and 
services to the target population and local community? (25 points)
    (b) How are you planning to compile lessons learned from the 
project? (30 points)
    (c) How would you ensure access to Internet and e-mail 
communication for your organization during the first year of funding? 
(20 points)

How Much Will My Proposed Program Cost and How Many Staff Do I Need? 
(Budget)

    In this section, you will need to provide a detailed description of 
your budget needs and the type and number of staff you will need to put 
into place to conduct your proposed activities.
    Use Form 5161, 424A for the correct format when writing your 
budget. These forms are available in a PDF format at the following Web 
site: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    You must provide details of your budget for each activity you want 
to do. You must show how the operating costs will support the 
activities and objectives you propose.
    Your organization must have the capability to access the Internet 
and to download documents about HIV from CDC and other sites, as well 
as have electronic mail (e-mail) available for program staff. If you do 
not have this capability, you must provide a budget for purchasing this 
equipment.
    The following information and questions will help you in writing 
this part of the application.
    (a) What are your budget and staffing needs? This answer should 
provide the specifics of how you plan to spend funds. For example, how 
much funding is needed to provide services to the target population, 
how much is needed to operate your organization (staff, supplies), with 
whom are you planning to contract, and how much is needed for 
contracting with other organizations.
    CDC may not approve or fund all proposed activities. Give as much 
detail as possible to support each budget item. List each cost 
separately when possible.
    (b) If you are contracting with other organizations or are applying 
as a coalition, you must include in the budget the type and name (if 
known) of the organization(s); how you chose the organization(s); what 
activities they will do and why they are the best ones to do these 
activities; a detailed list of the funds you think you will need to pay 
the organization(s); why and how long you will use their services; and 
how you

[[Page 8025]]

will keep track of what they are doing for you.
    (c) Provide a description for each job, including job title, 
function, general duties, and activities; the rate of pay and whether 
it is hourly or salary; and the level of effort and how much time will 
be spent on the activities (give this in a percentage, e.g., 50 percent 
of time spent on evaluation). Also, if you already know names and 
titles of persons you will be working with, include this information 
and a resume, if available. If you don't have names yet, tell us how 
you plan to recruit these persons. For positions that are voluntary, 
give a description of the work the volunteers will be doing. Also 
include the experience and training that is available in relation to 
the proposed project.
    (d) If you ask for indirect costs, you must include a copy of your 
organization's current agreement concerning your negotiated Federal 
indirect cost rate.

What Other Materials Do I Need To Attach?

    Following is a list of additional materials to include with your 
application:
    1. A description of funds you receive from any other source to 
support your HIV/AIDS programs and other similar programs that target 
the same population included in your proposed plan.
    You must include: the name of the organization/source of income, 
the amount of funding they give you, a very brief description of how 
you use the funds, and the budget and project time period; and 
information that tells us that the funds you are requesting through 
this program announcement will not be used to replace funds received 
from any other Federal or non-Federal source.

    Note: CDC-awarded funds can be used to expand or enhance 
services supported with other Federal or non-Federal funds.

    2. Independent audit statements from a certified public accountant 
for the past 2 years. If you do not have audit statements, provide 
completed IRS Form 990s for the last 2 years.
    3. If you are part of a national organization, please include an 
original, signed letter from the chief executive officer of the 
national organization that states that they understand this program 
announcement and the responsibilities you will have if you are chosen 
for funding.
    4. If you are working with other organizations (e.g., coalition 
members or referral agencies), you must include a memorandum of 
understanding or agreement or a letter to show that the relationship is 
accepted by both organizations. This memorandum or letter should give 
details about the activities you propose to do with the organization. 
This must be submitted each year to show that you are still working 
with the organization.

G. Submission and Deadline

Letter of Intent (LOI)

    On or before March 21, 2003, send the completed Intent to Apply 
Form, found in Attachment 8, to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of 
this announcement.

Application

    Submit the signed original and two copies of Application Form PHS 
5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-0428) and your narrative. Forms are available 
at the following internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.
    Your application and narrative must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern 
Time April 21, 2003. Send your application and narrative to:

Technical Information Management--PA 03003, CDC Procurement 
and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 
30341-4146.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically.

CDC Acknowledgement of Application Receipt

    A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has 
received your application.
    Deadline: Letters of intent and applications will be considered as 
meeting the deadline if they are received before 4 p.m. Eastern Time on 
the deadline date. Applicants sending applications by the United States 
Postal Service or commercial delivery services must ensure that the 
carrier will be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the 
closing date and time. If an application is received after closing due 
to (1) carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a 
guarantee for delivery by the closing date and time, or (2) significant 
weather delays or national disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper 
documentation, consider the application as having been received by the 
deadline.
    Applications which do not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition and will be discarded. Applicants will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

    Your application will not be compared to other applications. It 
will only be reviewed based on the information contained in section the 
``Content'' section of this announcement. This will be done by an 
independent review group that is chosen by CDC.
    With the recommendations from the independent review group, CDC 
will conduct pre-decisional site visits to those applications that 
score high enough to be considered for funding. This will be the second 
tier of the selection process. The Pre-decisional site visits will 
account for a total of 1,000 points. The following areas will be 
evaluated during this process:

1. Recipient Capability Assessment (300 points)

    CDC's Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) will conduct a recipient 
capability assessment (RCA) to evaluate the capacity of the agency to 
manage the funds that will be provided by CDC. This will be conducted 
by either PGO staff or another selected agent.

2. Proposed Program (250 Points)

    [sbull] The purpose of this section is to assess the feasibility of 
the proposed program and the capability of the organization to 
effectively implement HIV prevention interventions.
    [sbull] Proposed intervention(s) based on scientific theory or an 
evidence-based logic model.
    [sbull] Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time phased 
goals and objectives (SMART).
    [sbull] Target population reflect the priorities identified in the 
HIV
    Prevention Comprehensive Plan or are based on epidemiological data 
or needs assessment.
    [sbull] Interventions reflect the priorities identified in the HIV 
Prevention Comprehensive Plan.
    [sbull] Evaluation plan for proposed program.

3. Programmatic Infrastructure (200 points)

    The purpose of this section is to assess the extent and relevance 
of organization's experience, capacity, and ability to identify and 
address the needs of the proposed target population and to effectively 
and efficiently implement the proposed activities, including:

[[Page 8026]]

    [sbull] Organizational structure and planned collaborations.
    [sbull] Past and current experience in developing and implementing 
effective and efficient HIV prevention strategies and activities.
    [sbull] Experience and ability in collaborating with governmental 
and non-governmental organizations, including other national agencies 
or organizations, State and local health departments, community 
planning groups, and State and local non-governmental organizations 
that provide HIV prevention services.
    [sbull] Capacity to obtain meaningful input and representation from 
members of the target population(s).
    [sbull] Capacity to provide culturally competent and appropriate 
services which respond effectively to the cultural, gender, sexual 
orientation, race/ethnicity, age groups, environmental, social, and 
linguistic characteristics of the target population(s) (when 
appropriate).
    [sbull] Capacity to identify and provide training to program staff.
    [sbull] Ability to track data on services provided and use it to 
plan future interventions and to improve available services.

4. Organizational Infrastructure (150 points)

    The purpose of this section is to assess the capacity of the 
organization to effectively and efficiently sustain the proposed 
program.
    [sbull] Organizational By Laws, Mission and Vision.
    [sbull] Composition, role, experience and involvement of the board 
of directors in administering the agency.
    [sbull] Current fiscal systems to track available funding.
    [sbull] Personnel process and procedures.
    [sbull] Organizational protocols and procedures (i.e. security, 
confidentiality, grievances, etc)
    [sbull] Organizational Capacity for fund raising

5. Health Department Review (100 points)

    The purpose of this section is to obtain input for the department 
of health regarding the proposed program plan.
    [sbull] Review the program plan (i.e., proposed target population, 
intervention, number of persons to be served, and service location) to 
assess consistency of the proposed target population and 
intervention(s) with the HIV Prevention Comprehensive Plan;
    [sbull] Rate the past performance with state/city funded programs.
    [sbull] Provide a letter of support or non-support for funding to 
CDC.
    The points from all five sections will be added and a final score 
will be assigned. In order to be considered for funding you must score 
at least 700 points during the pre-decisional site visits. Failure to 
do so will disable your agency from receiving funds from CDC.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    If you are selected for funding, you must let CDC know how you are 
doing by sending to us an original plus two (2) copies of:
    1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of 
the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing 
continuation application and must include the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
    e. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Financial status report, no later than 90 days after the end of 
each budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no later than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    4. Quarterly reports on the numbers of HIV antibody counseling, 
testing, and referral activities you have done.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where To Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following are additional requirements that must be met if 
awarded a cooperative agreement under this announcement. For a complete 
description of each, see Attachment 1 of the program announcement as 
posted on the CDC Web site.

AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11 Healthy People 2010
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    CDC suggests that you do not use the program announcement in the 
Federal Register. Instead, use the version posted on the CDC Web site 
to write your application. This copy includes the forms you need and 
has additional information to help you through the process. The 
internet address is: http://www.cdc.gov.
    Click on ``Funding'' the ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements.''
    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
    For business management and budget assistance, contact: Vincent 
Falzone, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 
3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2763, email address: 
[email protected].
    For Program technical assistance, contact: Angel Ortiz, J.D., 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, 
STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Prevention 
Program Branch, 1600 Clifton Road, MS E-58, Atlanta, GA 30333, 
Telephone (404) 639-5197, E-mail: [email protected].
    See also the DHAP home page on the Internet: www.cdc.gov/hiv. To 
receive additional written information, call The National Prevention 
Information Network (NPIN) at 1-800-458-5231 (TTY users: 1-800-243-
7012) or visit their Web site: http://www.cdcnpin.org/program or
    You can send requests by fax to: 1-888-282-7681 or e-mail to: 
[email protected].
    This information, including 5161 forms in PDF and word processing 
formats, is also posted on the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) 
Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv or by contacting NPIN either 
through their toll-free number: 1-800-458-5231 or their Web site: 
http://www.cdcnpin.org/program.
    CDC also maintains a Listserv (HIV-PREV) related to this program 
announcement. If you decide to subscribe to the HIV-PREV Listserv, you 
will be able to send questions and will receive an answer and 
information through e-mail. This would include the latest news 
regarding the program announcement. Frequently asked questions on the 
Listserv will be posted to the DHAP Website. You can subscribe

[[Page 8027]]

to the Listserv on-line or via e-mail by sending a message to: 
[email protected] and writing the following in the body of the 
message: subscribe HIV-prev first name last name (e.g., subscribe HIV-
prev john smith).

    Dated: February 10, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-3922 Filed 2-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P