[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46647-46648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19996]


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DEPARMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[CFDA 93.145, HRSA 04-008]


AIDS Education and Training Centers, National Evaluation Center 
Cooperative Agreement (NECCA); Open Competition Announcement

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Open Competition Cooperative Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) HIV/
AIDS Bureau (HAB) announces that applications will be accepted for 
fiscal year (FY) 2004 awards for a cooperative agreement to support the 
AIDS Education and Training Centers' (AETCs) National Evaluation Center 
(NEC). The NEC will provide evaluation services and support to the 
network of Regional and National AETCs. The purpose of the NEC is to 
develop, test, and disseminate methods and models for evaluating the 
impact of clinical education and training on provider behavior and 
clinical practice, with respect to changes in knowledge and skills, 
clinical practice behavior, and clinical outcomes.
    The purpose of the Regional and National Minority AETCs is to 
improve the quality of HIV/AIDS clinical care through the training of 
health care professionals. The Regional and National Minority AETCs 
enhance the availability of high quality HIV care through training and 
support of clinical providers, and prioritize the clinical support and 
training needs of direct medical care providers, including physicians, 
nurses, physician's assistants, advance practice nurses, pharmacists, 
and oral health providers. The Regional and National Minority AETCs 
conduct assessments of regional HIV/AIDS care delivery systems and 
develop innovative programs to build, through training and support, 
HIV/AIDS care capacity to fill identified gaps. The Regional and 
National Minority AETCs target clinical providers caring for 
communities of color and populations disproportionately affected by the 
HIV/AIDS virus, particularly providers and those associated with Ryan 
White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act supported 
facilities.
    As an active partner in this cooperative agreement, HRSA will have 
significant involvement with the applicant regarding program plans, 
policies, and other issues which may have major implications for any 
activity undertaken by the applicant under the cooperative agreement. 
HRSA will partner in the development of methods and tools, and 
selection of pilot sites. HRSA will also review and approve each phase 
of evaluation studies, and review and process Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Clearance package(s). Additionally, HRSA will assist and 
guide in program management and evaluation technical assistance. HRSA 
will participate, as

[[Page 46648]]

warranted, in the planning and coordination of meetings workgroups and 
workshops conducted during the term of this Agreement by reviewing 
activities and providing feedback and recommendations as necessary. 
Lastly, HRSA will approve all documents, evaluation tools, methodology, 
articles, and reports before they are disseminated.
    Availability of Funds: It is anticipated that a single recipient 
will be selected for the AETCs NEC Cooperative Agreement, and a total 
of approximately $450,000 will be available for the first year. It is 
anticipated that the project funding will be for 3 years. After the 
first year, continuation funding will be awarded on the basis of 
satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. Applicants are not 
required to match or share in project costs if an award is made. 
However, applicants must propose cost-effective and efficient plans to 
implement project activities with funds awarded.
    Eligible Applicants: Funding will be directed to activities 
designed for documentation and data collection, outcome evaluation, 
technical assistance, writing and dissemination.
    Authorizing Legislation: The Authority for this grant program is 
Section 2692 (a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C 
300ff-111(a).

DATES: A letter of intent to submit an application is requested by 
August 27, 2003. Applications for this cooperative agreement must be 
received in the HRSA Grant Application Center by close of business 
October 6, 2003. Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are (1) Received on or before the deadline date or (2) 
are postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing and submission to the review committee. Applicants 
should request a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or 
U.S. Postal Service postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be 
accepted as proof of timely mailing. Applications postmarked after the 
due date will be returned to the applicant.
    Where To Request and Send an Application: To obtain an application 
kit (PHS-5161) and program guidance materials for this announcement 
call the HRSA Grants Application Center at 877-477-2123 and request the 
OMB Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.145, HRSA 04-
008, Program Code NECCA. HRSA anticipates accepting grant applications 
online in the last quarter of the fiscal year (July through September). 
Please refer to the HRSA Grants Schedule at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/ 
for more information. One original application plus two copies should 
be mailed or delivered to HRSA Grant Application Center, 901 Russell 
Avenue Suite 450, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Grant applications sent to 
any other address are subject to being returned. Applicants will 
receive a Grant Application Receipt form from the HRSA Grants 
Application Center to confirm receipt of their application. Applicants 
may also contact the center directly to confirm receipt.

ADDRESSES: The letter of intent to apply for funding should be mailed 
to Marisol M. Rodriguez, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-46, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional technical information may 
be obtained from Faye Malitz, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and 
Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane 7-90, Rockville, MD 20857; 
telephone number (301) 443-3259, fax number (301) 594-2511, and e-mail 
[email protected]. You may also contact Marisol M. Rodriguez, HIV 
Education Branch, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-46, Rockville, MD 
20857; telephone number (301) 443-4082, fax number (301) 443-9887, or 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applications will be reviewed by an 
objective review committee using the following criteria: Understanding 
of the Problem, Professional Qualifications and Expertise of Applicant, 
Organizational Capacity, Methods and Program Plan, and Appropriateness 
and Justification of the Budget.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The application for the AETCs Program has 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. The AETCs Program is not subject to Executive 
Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs as 
implemented through 45 CFR, part 100. Executive Order 12372 allows 
States to review applications submitted to the Federal Government by 
organizations located in their State through a Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC). For a list of States and territories that participate in the 
SPOC review process, please go to the following Web site address: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    Dated: July 13, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-19996 Filed 8-5-03; 8:45 am]
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