[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34391-34394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14386]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 03095]


Evaluation of Web-Based HIV Risk Behavior Surveillance Among Men 
Who Have Sex With Men; Notice of Availability of Funds

    Application Deadline: July 9, 2003.

A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301(a) and 317K(2) of the 
Public Health Service Act, (42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 274b (k)(2)), as 
amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.943.

B. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for evaluating web-based risk behavior surveillance among men 
who have sex with men (MSM). This program addresses the ``Healthy 
People 2010'' focus area of HIV.
    The purpose of the program is to: (1) Field test Internet-based 
behavioral surveillance as an alternate venue for the national 
behavioral surveillance system; (2) identify the proportion of men who 
have sex with men (MSM) who are internet users and who do not attend 
venues where MSM are more commonly known to attend (MSM-identified 
venues); and (3) examine the comparability of behavioral risks between 
MSM recruited through Internet-based versus more traditional venue-
based sampling methods.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for HIV/STB/TB 
Prevention (NCHSTP): Strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor the 
epidemic, develop and implement effective HIV prevention interventions 
and evaluate prevention programs.

Background

    A national behavioral surveillance system for MSM is expected to 
begin in 20 United States cities in 2003 using a venue-based, time-
space sampling method. While several studies suggest that venue-based 
sampling is representative of most MSM, an increasing proportion of MSM 
may be using the Internet to meet sex partners and may not be available 
for sampling through a more traditional venue-based approach. Previous 
reports have identified high Internet usage (50 to 75 percent) and 
seeking of sex partners through the Internet (35 to 67 percent) among 
MSM. An outbreak of syphilis was also identified among an Internet-
originated network of MSM denoting that men who meet partners through 
the Internet are at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. 
(For additional information please see Klausner JD, et al. ``Tracing a 
syphilis outbreak through cyberspace'' JAMA 2000; 284(4): 447-9.) Other 
studies have shown that an

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Internet-based approach to collecting behavioral risk data are 
comparable to more conventional methods such as mail, telephone and in-
person surveys, and may be superior in sampling MSM that are hard to 
reach at traditional MSM venues. Methodologies have also been developed 
to address confidentiality and duplication of data.

C. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by sites that are currently funded by 
CDC to conduct behavioral surveillance under Program Announcement 
00005, entitled, ``HIV/AIDS Surveillance Cooperative Agreements,'' and 
other specified sites that are eligible to apply for funding in 2003.
    These other sites are the state or local health departments whose 
jurisdictions include the top 15 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA's) 
by number of people living with AIDS at the end of 1999 as reported in 
``HIV/AIDS Surveillance Supplemental Report,'' (2000; 7(No.1: 10-11).
    These sites are the directly funded city health departments of:
    New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Chicago, IL; 
Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA.
    These sites are the state health departments containing the 
following MSA's:
    Washington, DC; Miami, FL and Ft Lauderdale, FL; Atlanta, GA; 
Boston, MA; Baltimore, MD; San Juan, PR; Newark, NJ; Dallas, TX.
    An additional five areas are also eligible to apply in 2003: these 
are State health departments containing the following MSAs:
    Detroit, MI; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; 
Seattle, WA.
    One of the purposes of this program is to compare the web-based 
behavioral surveillance project with the new national behavioral 
surveillance initiative. This requires that project activities be 
conducted in the same project areas previously funded for comparability 
of data.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in section 501(c)(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 $500,000 is available in FY 2003, to fund 
approximately four awards. It is expected that the average award will 
be $125,000, ranging from $125,000 to $250,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about August 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

    Funds are awarded for a specifically defined purpose and may not be 
used for any other purpose or program. Funds may be used to support 
personnel and to purchase equipment, supplies, and services directly 
related to project activities. Funds may not be used to supplant state 
or local health department funds available for HIV Prevention and 
Surveillance. Funds may not be used to provide direct medical care or 
prevention case management.

Funding Preference

    Funding preferences may be given to achieve geographic 
distribution.

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 for the activities listed under 1. 
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. CDC Activities.

1. Recipient Activities

    a. Collaborate with CDC and other funded sites to develop a 
protocol for an Internet-based behavioral surveillance project.
    b. Participate in required planning meetings with other funded 
sites and CDC.
    c. Conduct formative research to determine sites (chat rooms, Web 
sites, etc.) in which recruitment of study participants will occur.
    d. Collaborate with CDC and other funded sites to develop and test 
an Internet-based behavioral risk factor survey.
    e. Collaborate with CDC and other funded sites to identify or 
develop a local project Web site where the survey instrument will 
reside.
    f. In accordance with a study protocol, administer the survey to a 
minimum of 500 MSM sampled through time-space or probability sampling 
methods, including significant representation of persons of color.
    g. Collaborate with CDC and other funded sites to develop and 
implement a local public information campaign.
    h. Maintain a secure environment to protect the security and 
confidentiality of data obtained in this activity.
    i. Report project data to CDC in a timely manner according to 
established protocols for data collection, quality assurance, storage 
and transfer.
    j. Disseminate findings for use in state/local prevention and 
treatment services planning and evaluation.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Develop and test an Internet-based survey instrument.
    b. Create and maintain a project database and data management 
system, including systems to address data security and duplication of 
participants.
    c. Provide technical assistance and expertise for Web site 
selection and development.
    d. Provide technical support on all web-based technologies, 
software and data base issues.
    e. Facilitate the development of site-specific operational plans.
    f. Provide technical assistance to support implementation of agreed 
upon methods to accomplish project objectives.
    g. Participate in the analysis and dissemination of data. Conduct 
and/or coordinate analyses of the multi-site data and distribute 
information to support national HIV prevention and surveillance 
efforts.

F. Content

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. The narrative should be no more than 20 pages, double-spaced, 
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point 
font. Include evidence of your ability to target racial/ethnic minority 
populations and enroll samples of racial/ethnic minority MSM through 
the Internet.
    The narrative should consist of, at a minimum, a Plan, Objectives, 
Methods, Evaluation and Budget. The program plan should address 
activities to be conducted over the entire three-year project period. 
The budget must cover the first one-year budget period.
    In addition, CDC is particularly interested in promoting improved

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understanding of behavioral risk factors in communities of color. 
Therefore, all applicants are encouraged to include a plan that 
directly addresses how racial/ethnic minorities will be reached through 
this project.

G. Submission and Deadline

Application Forms

    Submit the signed original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 
0920-0428). 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.

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    The application must be received by 4 p.m. eastern time July 9, 
2003. Submit the application to:
    Technical Information Management-PA 03095, CDC Procurement 
and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 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

    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 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 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. Applicants 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 cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goal stated in section ``B. Purpose'' of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness shall be 
submitted with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each 
application against the following criteria:
    1. The quality of the applicant's plan to develop, implement and 
administer the project operations and the degree to which the 
objectives and time schedules are reasonable, time-phased, address 
activities to be conducted over the entire three-year project period, 
and are appropriate for accomplishing project goals. The extent to 
which the applicant provides evidence of their ability to implement the 
proposed methodology. The quality of the applicants plan to address 
Recipient Activities outlined in the ``Program Requirements'' section 
of this announcement.
    The degree to which the applicant has met the CDC policy 
requirements regarding the inclusion of ethnic and racial groups in the 
proposed research. This includes:

    (1) The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes, racial and 
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
    (2) The proposed justification when representation is limited or 
absent.
    (3) A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate 
to measure differences when warranted.
    (4) A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and 
outreach for study participants include the process of establishing 
partnerships with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits. 
(45 points.)

    2. The degree to which the qualifications, duties, 
responsibilities, and time allocation of proposed staff (including 
potential contractors), are justified and appropriate to accomplish 
study objectives. The degree to which the proposed staff will be able 
to provide appropriate scientific oversight, as well as programmatic 
and administrative support for the proposed activities. The extent to 
which collaborating entities (e.g., community groups, community 
gatekeepers, CBOs, behavioral scientists) are appropriate (i.e., meet 
specific needs), sufficient, promote project objectives, and document 
their ability in letters of support. (30 points.)
    3. The degree to which the applicant provides evidence of their 
understanding of the project and objectives. (25 points.)
    4. The extent to which the budget, which should cover the first 
one-year budget period, is reasonable, clearly justified, and 
consistent with the intended use of funds. (Not scored.)
    5. Does the application adequately address the requirements of 
title 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human subjects? Not scored; 
however, an application can be disapproved if the research risks are 
sufficiently serious and protection against risks is so inadequate as 
to make the entire application unacceptable.

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 contain 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 the 
program announcement as posted on the CDC Web site.

AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and Ethnic 
Minorities in Research
AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions

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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
AR-22 Research Integrity

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: Brenda 
Hayes, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone: 770-488-2741. 
E-mail address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Ken Bell, Public Health 
Advisor, Behavioral and Clinical Surveillance Branch, National Center 
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road Mailstop E46, Atlanta, GA 30333. 
Telephone: 404-639-2970. E-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: June 3, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-14386 Filed 6-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P