[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18042-18045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9050]



[[Page 18041]]

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Part IV





Department of Health and Human Services





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Announcement of Availability of Funds for Family Planning Male 
Reproductive Health Research Grants; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 71 / Monday, April 14, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18042]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Availability of Funds for Family Planning Male 
Reproductive Health Research Grants

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Population 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Authority: Section 1004 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

SUMMARY: The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) requests applications 
for grants for research in certain behavioral and program 
implementation fields related to family planning. These grants are for 
community-based research projects to investigate best--practice 
approaches to providing family planning and related health information, 
education and clinical services targeting males.

DATES: To receive consideration, applications must be received by the 
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) Grants Management Office no 
later than June 13, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Application kits may be requested from, and applications 
submitted to: OPHS Grants Management Office, 1101 Wooton Parkway, 5th 
Floor, Rockville, MD 20852. Application kits are also available online 
at the Office of Population Affairs Web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov or may be requested by fax at (301) 594-0019 or 
(301) 594-5980.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title X of the Public Health Service Act, 42 
U.S.C. 300, et seq., authorizes programs related to family planning. 
Section 1004 of the Act, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to award grants to entities to conduct research in 
the behavioral and program implementation fields related to family 
planning. Implementing regulations can be found at 42 CFR part 52. 
Section 1008 of the Act, as amended, stipulates that none of the funds 
appropriated under this title shall be used in programs where abortion 
is a method of family planning.
    CFDA: A description of the Title X Family Planning Research Program 
can be found at OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.974. A 
description of Title X Family Planning Services Program can be found at 
OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.217.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    This announcement seeks proposals from public and private non-
profit entities to undertake research in the fields of family planning 
and reproductive health services and education for males. Funds 
available under this announcement are for community-based research 
projects to investigate best-practice approaches to providing family 
planning and related health information, education, and clinical 
services targeting males.
    These projects are intended to evaluate different programmatic 
approaches and venues to reach males in need of such information and 
services, based on the use of recognized theory and logic-based models 
for program planning, implementation and evaluation.

Background

    The family planning program authorized by Section 1001 of Title X 
is required by law to provide family planning services, including 
information, education and counseling, to all persons desiring such 
services. One subgroup of the population that continues to be under-
represented is males. Over the past 30 years, males annually have 
comprised only two to four percent of clients served by the Title X 
family planning clinical service delivery system. This emphasizes the 
fact that simply offering clinical services will not result in males 
using those services.
    Adult men of all ages do have reproductive health concerns; 
however, these concerns may not readily translate into contact with the 
health care system. During adolescence and young adulthood, sexual and 
reproductive health issues and behaviors have a great influence on 
males' lives. Accurate information, skills and support should be 
available to encourage delay of sexual debut until after adolescence 
and preferably until marriage. For sexually active young males, this 
time of life may bring with it such health concerns as STDs, HIV/AIDS, 
unintended pregnancy and the emotional stress of interpersonal and 
intimate relationships.
    Among middle-aged and older males, health concerns around sexual 
and reproductive behavior continue, though the nature of these concerns 
may differ from that of younger males. Even when men visit a health 
care provider, they are more reluctant than women to bring problems of 
a reproductive or sexual nature to their clinician's attention. Given 
the different attitudes and expectations that men and women have toward 
health care, it would seem that involving men in their own care 
requires a different approach from that which has been successful with 
women.
    Studies have shown that men are most receptive to health messages 
in locations and environments with which they are familiar, and as part 
of programs that they voluntarily pursue. Programs that deliver family 
planning and related health messages as part of other community-based 
services or activities have the potential to be successful and need 
greater emphasis and exploration. Experience with male projects has 
shown that health promotion and prevention services provided through 
community settings, complement available clinical health services.
    The recent interest in encouraging male involvement in family 
planning and reproductive health is driven by the current epidemic of 
STDs, including HIV/AIDS, and high rates of unintended pregnancies, as 
well as by shifts in public health policies. Fighting the fatherless 
epidemic, promoting responsible fatherhood, and supporting healthy 
marriages are major concerns for the nations' lawmakers. Similarly, the 
recognition of health, educational, and psychosocial consequences of 
early sexual activity has led to an increased focus on extra-marital 
abstinence. Involving males in family planning and reproductive health 
issues is one way to encourage and support ``future orientation'' in 
terms of establishing core values, long term goals, and relationships, 
including marriage and family.
    In the mid-1990s, the Office of Family Planning (OFP), Office of 
Population Affairs (OPA) funded community-based organizations to 
investigate and develop effective approaches to providing family 
planning/reproductive health information and services to males. In 
addition, these projects explored strategies to involve males in 
building community support for pregnancy prevention and contraception. 
These research projects showed that males do want and need reproductive 
health information and services, and will seek services from community-
based entities that they know and trust. In addition, these projects 
showed that community-based organizations (CBOs), and faith-based 
organizations (FBOs), as a subset of community-based organizations, can 
effectively augment the clinical service delivery system. Project 
experience indicated that CBOs and the clinical delivery system 
function best as partners in the delivery of reproductive health 
services to males by focusing on health promotion and disease

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prevention services, and by contributing their outreach capabilities to 
raise awareness and encourage males to address their own health care 
needs. Key factors in the success of this complementary arrangement 
between CBOs and the clinical service delivery system are that CBOs 
integrate health-related services as part of their mission and 
activities, and that clinical providers reinforce the validity of CBOs 
as partners in the delivery of health promotion and disease prevention 
services.
    Preliminary evaluation results from the research grants awarded in 
the mid-1990s suggests that participants in the OFP-funded male 
programs exhibited increased knowledge about family planning, 
reproductive health, and male responsibility related to their own 
health and the health of their partners and families compared with 
their knowledge prior to participation. Some areas where these programs 
were implemented have shown a marked reduction in teen pregnancy among 
the target population. In addition, preliminary assessment suggests 
that CBOs have the capability and commitment to improve program 
effectiveness and cost efficiency.
    For over five years, national policy leaders and constituents have 
encouraged OFP to explore ways to involve CBOs in the provision of 
family planning and reproductive health services for males. The 
community-based family planning/reproductive health research programs 
for males have received strong community support. They have filled a 
gap in the service delivery system. Continued research efforts to 
refine models of service delivery, to test replicability of such 
models, and to address cost efficiency issues related to delivering 
male family planning and related health services will contribute to 
successful programs in CBOs, including FBOs.

Purposes of the Grant

    The purpose of this grant is to expand the research base on program 
utility, replicability and cost-effectiveness of family planning and 
related health programs serving males. Continued scientific evaluation 
of the extent to which these programs and approaches produce their 
intended effect is crucial. Grants to be made under this announcement 
will build upon what was learned as a result of the last cycle of OFP-
funded male research projects, and will focus on utility, 
replicability, and cost-effectiveness. In addition to conducting an 
evaluation of their individual projects, successful applicants must be 
prepared to participate in a cross-site evaluation, to be conducted by 
an independent entity, to assess program efficiency and effectiveness 
across all projects funded under this announcement.
    In order to expand the research base on program utility, 
replicability and cost-effectiveness of family planning and related 
health programs serving males, OPA is soliciting applications for 
projects that focus on one or more of the following areas as they 
relate to males:
    1. Testing of existing curricula or models for providing 
information and education to males regarding male development and 
reproductive health, relationships, responsibility, extra-marital 
abstinence, marriage and family formation, fatherhood, contraceptive 
services and STD prevention;
    2. Modifying and testing existing curricula or models for providing 
male family planning/reproductive health information, education and/or 
clinical services to different, identified categories (e.g., different 
age groups, geography, race/ethnicity, etc.);
    3. Testing of innovative approaches for providing family planning/
reproductive health counseling and services to males.
    Please note that no grant funds may be used for curriculum 
development. Existing curricula, or adaptations of existing curricula, 
which have been evaluated and found to be successful, should be used.
    Applicants should familiarize themselves with Healthy People 2010--
Chapter 11, ``Health Communication'' and the document ``Community-Based 
Sexual and Reproductive Health Promotion and Education Programs for 
Males: Components that Work.'' Copies of both of these documents are 
included in the application kit.

Cost per Participant

    In investigating best practice approaches to providing family 
planning and reproductive health information, education and clinical 
services to males, the cost per participant depends upon the type of 
service provided. For example, the cost per participant for information 
and education programs is almost always less than the participant cost 
for clinical services. However, the lower cost per participant of 
providing information and education programs may be offset by a larger 
number of persons reached. In general, the cost of providing 
information and education programs is related to whether or not there 
is direct contact with participants, the number of participants in a 
session, the time spent during the session, the number of sessions, and 
the qualifications of the person(s) providing services. General 
guidelines for what education components should cost can be derived 
from the intensity level of provider-client interactions. Intensity 
level is a function of both the quality and quantity of contact time 
with individual clients, ranging from dissemination of information and 
educational materials with little or no contact with individuals; to 
less intense group meetings, used mainly for information exchange; to 
more intense interactions, such as those used to bring about behavior 
change.
    Depending upon the services proposed, cost per participant served 
should range from approximately $50 to $300. Programs emphasizing 
materials (e.g., brochure distribution, intermittent presentations, 
local media campaigns, etc.) will be funded at the lower range, and 
will be based largely on the cost of materials dissemination or media 
campaign development and implementation. Costs should emphasize 
staffing and materials as they relate to the purpose of this 
announcement and proposed program.
    Services involving direct person to person contact, such as 
delivery of health information and education in a structured series of 
small group sessions will generally be funded at the middle of the 
funding range. Cost emphasis should be on staffing, facility, 
materials, etc. as they relate to the purpose of this announcement and 
the proposed program.
    Applicants proposing to provide individual treatment and/or 
functional support may incur higher costs. Budget requests should 
emphasize staff, facilities, materials, equipment, etc. to provide 
individual counseling or treatment, in addition to family planning/
reproductive health information and education. These projects will be 
funded in the upper range. A minimal number of these higher cost 
projects will be funded.
    The overall cost of the project will be determined by the type(s) 
of services provided. It is expected that the majority of projects will 
be of moderate intensity and funded in the mid-range.

II. Award Information

    OPA intends to make available approximately $2.5 million to support 
an estimated 10-15 community-based research grants. Awards will range 
from $100,000 to $250,000 per year. Grants will be funded in annual 
increments (budget periods) and may be approved for a project period of 
up to five years. A match of non-Federal funds will not be required. 
Funding for all budget periods beyond the first year of the grant

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is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on 
the project, and adequate stewardship of federal funds.

III. Eligibility Information

    Any public or private nonprofit entity located in a State (which 
includes one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, 
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands) is eligible to apply for a grant under this announcement. 
Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these family 
planning male reproductive health research grants.
    Organizations that are experienced in providing a variety of 
services to males, such as social, educational, faith-based, 
vocational, and legal services (e.g., tutoring, mentoring, job skills 
training), and have the capability of expanding program activities to 
include development, provision and evaluation of family planning/
reproductive health related information, education and clinical 
services, are encouraged to apply for a grant under this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Applications must be submitted on the Form OPHS-1 (Revised 6/01) 
and in the manner prescribed in the application kit. Application kits 
are available from the OPHS Grants Management Office at the address 
previously listed, on the OPA Web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov, 
or may be requested by fax at 301-594-0019 or 301-594-5980. Applicants 
are required to submit an original application signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to 
assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award. Applicants are required to submit an 
original application and two copies. Applications should be limited to 
50 double-spaced pages, not including appendices. Appendices may 
include curriculum vitae and other evidence of organizational 
capabilities.
    Applications must include a one-page abstract of the proposed 
project. The abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an 
overview of the application, and will form the basis for the 
application summary in grants management documents. It is the practice 
of the Office of Population Affairs to maintain a summary of funded 
grants, and to post this information on the OPA Web site. The abstract 
will be used as the basis for this posting and for other requests for 
summary information regarding funded grants.
    To receive consideration, applications must be received by the OPHS 
Grants Management Office by the deadline listed in the ``Dates'' 
section of this announcement. Applications will be considered as 
meeting the deadline if they are postmarked on or before the deadline 
date and are received in time for orderly processing. A legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service will be 
accepted in lieu of a postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be 
accepted as proof of timely mailing. Hand-delivered applications must 
be received in the OPHS Grants Management Office not later than 4:30 
p.m. on the application due date. Applications that do not meet the 
deadline will not be accepted for review, and will be returned. 
Applications sent via facsimile or by electronic mail will not be 
accepted for review.
    A copy of the legislation governing this program and additional 
information which may be helpful will be included as part of the 
application kit. Applicants should use the legislation and other 
information included in this announcement to guide them in developing 
their applications.

Review Under Executive Order 12372

    Applicants under this announcement are not subject to the 
requirements of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''

Program Requirements/Application Content

    This notice seeks applications for the implementation and 
evaluation of community-based projects to investigate best-practice 
approaches to providing family planning and related health information, 
education and clinical services targeting males. Successful 
applications will focus on program utility, replicability and cost-
effectiveness, and will include the following:
    (1) An epidemiologic description of the target community.
    (2) Evidence that the applicant organization has experience and 
success in providing a variety of services to males in the target 
community.
    (3) A clear description of the target audience. Description should 
include whether the target audience includes individuals, groups, or 
the community as a whole.
    (4) Evidence that the applicant organization has the capacity to 
deliver male reproductive health information, education (including 
abstinence education), and/or clinical services, that are appropriate 
to culture, age, and language of the target audience.
    (5) Evidence that the proposed plan was developed using an 
integrated system, such as a logic model, for planning, monitoring and 
evaluation of program activities.
    (6) Evidence that the proposed program activities are consistent 
with the requirements of Title X. Use of Title X funds is prohibited in 
programs where abortion is a method of family planning.
    (7) A description of the type, length, and location of all program 
activities and specific program services.
    (8) A theoretical rationale for the chosen program approach, as 
well as evidence of its effectiveness.
    (9) Submission of goal statement(s) and related outcome objectives 
that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-framed 
(S.M.A.R.T.).
    (10) A plan to evaluate individual program activities, the program 
as a whole, and its impact on the target audience.
    (11) An assurance of willingness and ability to participate in a 
cross-site evaluation, to be conducted by an independent entity.
    (12) A detailed budget and budget justification for year one of the 
project which is reasonable, adequate, and cost efficient, and which 
includes staffing requirements that are derived from proposed 
activities. Budget projections for each of the continuing years should 
be included.
    (13) Evidence of formal agreements for referral services (e.g., age 
appropriate clinical services, if not provided by the applicant), and 
collaborative agreements with other service providers in the community, 
where appropriate.

Program Evaluation

    All projects are required to have an evaluation plan, consistent 
with the scope of the proposed project and funding level, that conforms 
to the program's stated goals and objectives. The plan should include 
both a process evaluation to track the implementation of program 
activities and an outcome evaluation to measure changes in knowledge, 
skills, and behavior that can be attributed to the program. (Applicants 
are encouraged to utilize an integrated planning, monitoring and 
evaluation system, such as a logic model, for program development and 
implementation. Additional information on logic models is included in 
the application kit.) There should be

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substantial evidence that the project will add to the body of knowledge 
with regard to provision of quality male family planning and 
reproductive health information, education and services for males. 
Program funds may be used to support evaluation activities.
    In addition to conducting an evaluation of their individual 
projects, successful applicants must be prepared to participate in a 
cross-site evaluation, to be supported by the OPA and conducted by an 
independent entity, to assess program efficiency and effectiveness 
across all projects funded under this announcement.

V. Application Review Information

    Eligible grant applications will be reviewed by a multi-
disciplinary panel of independent reviewers and assessed according to 
the following criteria:
    (1) The applicant's presentation of a detailed evaluation plan, 
indicating an understanding of program evaluation methods and 
reflecting a practical and technically sound approach to assessing the 
project's achievement of program objectives, as well as the intent and 
ability to participate in a cross-cutting evaluation of all projects 
funded under this announcement (25 points);
    (2) The capability of the applicant to provide family planning and 
reproductive health information, education and/or clinical services to 
males, as evidenced by the applicant's past and present history of 
providing a variety of services to males, such as social, health, 
recreational, educational, and/or vocational services (20 points);
    (3) The applicant's presentation of the proposed project, including 
a clear description of need for the project; a theoretical rationale 
for the approach to be used, as well as its demonstrated effectiveness; 
measurable goals and objectives; methods for achieving objectives; and 
statement of expected results (20 points);
    (4) The feasibility of the proposed project and likelihood that the 
results will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the delivery 
of acceptable, culturally competent, cost effective family planning and 
reproductive health information, education, and clinical services to 
males (15 points);
    (5) The administrative and management capability of the applicant, 
including competency of the proposed staff in relation to the type of 
research proposed, the project period, and the adequacy of the 
applicant's resources for the project (10 points); and
    (6) The capacity of the applicant to make rapid and effective use 
of grant assistance, including evidence of ability to modify program 
activities if indicated (10 points).
    Final grant award decisions will be made by the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Population Affairs. In making these decisions, the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs will take into account the 
extent to which grants approved for funding will provide an appropriate 
geographic distribution of resources, and will take into consideration:
    (1) The scientific merit and significance of the proposed project, 
including the model to be used;
    (2) The population(s) to be served;
    (3) The usefulness for policymakers and service providers of the 
proposed project and the likelihood of its producing meaningful results 
and information that will contribute to the body of knowledge regarding 
male family planning and reproductive health information, education and 
services for males; and
    (4) The reasonableness of the estimated cost to the government 
considering the anticipated results.
    Awards will be made only to those organizations or agencies which 
have demonstrated the capability of providing the proposed services, 
and which have met all applicable requirements. However, efforts will 
be made to distribute awards across the ten PHS Regions.

VI. Award Administration Information

    OPA does not release information about individual applications 
during the review process until final funding decisions have been made. 
When these decisions have been made, applicants will be notified by 
letter regarding the outcome of their applications. The official 
document notifying an applicant that an application has been approved 
and granted funding is the Notice of Grant Award, which specifies to 
the grantee the amount of money awarded, the purpose of the grant, the 
terms and conditions of the grant award, and the amount of funding, if 
any, to be contributed by the grantee to project costs.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For assistance on administrative and budgetary requirements, Karen 
Campbell, OPHS Grants Management Office, (301) 594-0758;

    For assistance with questions regarding program requirements, 
Susan B. Moskosky, Office of Family Planning/Office of Population 
Affairs, (301) 594-4008.

    Dated: April 7, 2003.
Alma L. Golden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-9050 Filed 4-11-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-34-P