[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20155-20158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10110]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03045]


Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention Program 
Communication Network; Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: June 23, 2003.

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A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 318 of the Public Health 
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. section 247c) as amended. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.978.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 grant funds for a competitive 
grant program for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention. This 
program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of STD.
    The purpose of this program is to facilitate, coordinate, 
integrate, and expand state and local efforts to improve overall 
delivery of national STD prevention services. Specifically, this 
program will provide a dynamic mechanism for: (1) Creating a flexible 
communications network among state and local STD Prevention Programs; 
(2) establishing a STD prevention services provider platform for 
integrated problem solving; (3) National STD prevention policy analysis 
by states; (4) decision making among state and local STD Prevention 
Program leaders; (5) expanding STD prevention partnerships and 
enhancing STD prevention knowledge, skills, and practice methods across 
STD project areas and local communities; and (6) providing a National 
representation and integrated focus of STD prevention concerns, issues, 
and ideas from state and local levels.
    Measurable program performance will be in alignment with one or 
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for 
HIV/STD/TB Prevention: Reduce the incidence of primary and secondary 
syphilis; reduce the incidence of congenital syphilis; and reduce STD 
rates by providing Chlamydia and gonorrhea screening, treatment, and 
partner treatment to 50 percent of women in publicly funded family 
planning and STD clinics nationally.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by: Public or private national 
nonprofit organizations with a comprehensive State and local area 
representation of key officials who are actively engaged in directing 
STD Prevention Program efforts.

    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

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $300,000 to $600,000 is available in FY 2003 to fund 
approximately one award. It is expected that the award will begin on or 
about September 1, 2003, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of up to three 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

    1. Funds may be used to:
    a. Support personnel.
    b. Purchase equipment, supplies and services directly related to 
project activities.
    2. Funds may not be used to:
    a. Supplant funds received by other Federal organizations.
    b. Provide direct services.

Recipient Financial Participation

    Matching funds are not a requirement for this program.

E. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the following activities:
    1. Communications Network: Provide a National communication network 
to effect positive change in STD Prevention public health practices and 
services by organizing, establishing, and maintaining liaison 
activities and rapid communications with and among state and local STD 
Prevention Programs and their partner organizations across the nation.
    2. Sharing of Information, Research, and Best Practices: Provide a 
mechanism to facilitate the sharing and communication across STD 
project areas and local communities of: (a) The latest information and 
technology including information on STD prevention methods (or 
strategies) that can include abstinence; monogamy, i.e., being faithful 
to a single sexual partner; or using condoms consistently and 
correctly. These approaches can avoid risk (abstinence) or effectively 
reduce risk for STDs (monogamy, condom use); (b) recent translation of 
research into public health practice; (c) possible training and 
education opportunities; and (d) best practices within STD Prevention. 
Also provide monthly information updates (e.g., newsletters, bulletin, 
etc.) to state and local STD Prevention Programs to facilitate the 
incorporation of STD prevention and control concepts into health 
promotion and health care planning and delivery systems.
    3. External Partnerships: Provide a mechanism by which to 
coordinate and integrate STD prevention ideas, issues, and concerns 
from across STD project areas and local communities, and to create, 
present, and advocate a collective, focused, National perspective of 
these to CDC and other National level concerns.
    4. STD Prevention Skills Assessment and Development: Provide a 
mechanism by which to assess the STD prevention skills development 
needs of the public and private health care providers across state and 
local communities, and identify/facilitate the development of 
appropriate skills development responses.
    5. Annual Meeting: Sponsor and provide leadership for a nationally 
recognized forum (i.e., an annual meeting) for State and local STD 
directors across the nation in which to exchange and disseminate 
epidemiologic and other public health information, respond to emerging 
issues, develop and foster consistent state and local policy positions, 
and advise key officials, including CDC, on the prevention of STD.
    6. Public Health Practice Enhancement: Identify and propose project 
activities in response to the findings from items one, two, three, and 
four; and perform activities either, independently or through third 
party partnerships, which will enhance communications, staff expertise, 
and public health program practices within the national STD Prevention 
Program network.
    7. Facilitation of Participation in National Level STD Prevention 
Activities: Conduct activities (to include marketing and travel funding 
activities) to facilitate participation of state and local 
representatives in National STD Prevention forums.

F. Content

Application

    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. The narrative should be no more than 25 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point 
font.

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    The narrative should address the following:
    1. Experience: Demonstrate your experience representing program 
officials who are actively engaged in directing STD Prevention Program 
efforts, in providing a National network of communications to State and 
local STD Prevention Programs, and in establishing or expanding 
National level partnerships which support the development of STD 
prevention staff and the enhancement of STD Prevention Program efforts.
    2. Collaboration and Representation: Document your organizations' 
affiliation and relationship with State and local STD Prevention 
Programs.
    3. Understanding of the Project: Describe the problems to be 
addressed with the requested assistance and briefly propose a 
programmatic plan for each.
    4. Objectives: Establish long (5 year) and short-term (1 year) 
objectives for programmatic plans. Objectives must be specific, 
measurable, time-phased, and realistic.
    5. Operational Plan and Timetable: Describe the operational plan 
for achieving each objective established. Concisely describe each 
component or major activity and how it will be carried out. Include a 
time line for completing each component or major activity.
    6. Staff Capacity: Provide position descriptions, qualifications, 
and past achievements for the positions/personnel proposed to be 
involved in the administration of this project. Also provide the 
qualifications and past achievements of the personnel proposed to 
provide technical program direction.
    7. Evaluation Plan: Discuss the plan for monitoring progress toward 
each of the objectives.
    8. Budget: Submit a detailed budget and line-item justification 
that is consistent with the program purpose and proposed activities.

G. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the signed original and two copies of the application PHS 
Form 5161-1 (OMB Control Number 0920-0428) along with your application 
narrative. Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
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 
(PGO-TIM) at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time June 23, 
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management-
PA 03045, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine 
Rd, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically.

CDC Acknowledgment of Application Receipt

    A postcard will be mailed by PGO-TIM, notifying you that CDC has 
received your application.

Deadline

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received before 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date. Any 
applicant who sends their application 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 natural disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper 
documentation, consider the application as having been received by the 
deadline.
    Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be 
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.

H. Evaluation Criteria

Application

    Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the grant. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the 
performance goals, which are 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.
    An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each 
application against the following criteria:
1. Experience (15 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant documents more than five years of 
experience in representing program officials who are actively engaged 
in directing STD Prevention Program efforts, in providing a National 
network of communications and support to state and local STD Prevention 
Programs, and in expanding National level partnerships to support the 
development of STD prevention staff and the enhancement of STD 
Prevention Program efforts.
2. Collaboration and Representation (15 Points)
    The extent to which applicant organizations have representatives 
with established day-to-day programmatic relationships with state/local 
STD Prevention programs in every U.S. state and U.S. Territory. The 
extent to which organization includes representatives of STD Prevention 
Programs who are actively engaged in directing STD Prevention Program 
efforts, and who represent State and local STD Prevention program 
efforts from all parts of the nation.
3. Understanding of the Project (15 points)
    Extent to which the applicant understands the requirements, 
problems, objectives, complexities, and interactions required of this 
project.
4. Objectives (15 points)
    Degree to which the proposed objectives are clearly stated, 
realistic, time phased, and related to the purpose of this project.
5. Operational Plan and Timetable (15 points)
    The extent to which the applicant's plan to carry out the 
activities proposed is feasible and consistent with the stated 
objectives in this proposal. The extent to which the timetable 
incorporates major activities and milestones that is specific, 
measurable and realistic. Dates, tasks, and persons responsible for 
accomplishing tasks should be included.
6. Staff Capacity (15 points)
    Extent to which the professional personnel proposed to be involved 
in administering this project and the professional personnel proposed 
to provide program leadership has the capacity to perform the work 
proposed. This would include individual qualifications with evidence of 
past achievements for staff identified.
7. Evaluation Plan (10 points)
    The extent to which the evaluation plan appears feasible for 
monitoring progress toward meeting project objectives. In addition to 
evaluating outcome-related project objectives, the plan should clearly 
describe how the

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grantee will use performance measures to track internal processes.
8. Budget (not scored)
    The budget should be reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent 
with the intended use of funds.

I. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two 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 more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.

Additional Requirements

    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of this 
program announcement as posted on the CDC Web site.
    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

AR-9--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11--Healthy People 1020
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14--Accounting System Requirements
AR-15--Proof of Non-profit Status

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC Web site, Internet address: 
http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements''.
    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For business management and budget assistance contact: Gladys 
Gissentanna, Contract Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Rd., Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2753. 
E-mail address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Michael Mitchell, 
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of STD 
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-02, Atlanta, Georgia. 404-
639-8534. [email protected].

    Dated: April 17, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-10110 Filed 4-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P