[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67177-67181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29891]



[[Page 67177]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Rapid Strengthening of Blood Transfusion Services in Selected 
Countries in Africa and the Caribbean for the Ministries of Health and 
National Transfusion Services Under the President's Emergency Plan for 
AIDS Relief

    Announcement Type: New, Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04077.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.943.
    Key Dates:
    [sbull] Application Deadline: March 1, 2004.
    Executive Summary: An important aspect of the President Bush's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is to provide assistance to ensure a 
safe and adequate blood supply. The focus of this initiative is 14 
countries in Africa and the Caribbean heavily affected by HIV/AIDS: 
Botswana, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guyana, Kenya, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, 
and Zambia. The purpose of this announcement is to rapidly provide 
support to the Ministries of Health or the Government's National 
Transfusion Services in the 14 targeted countries, with the goal of 
developing and implementing a national safe blood program with 
demonstrable results within the first year of the Emergency Plan. 
Specific activities include implementation of blood safety programs, 
including management, operations, and monitoring.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under section 301(a) and 
307 of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 241 (a) and 242l] 
as amended and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership 
Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [22 U.S.C. 
7601].

    Purpose: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has called 
for immediate action to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa and the 
Caribbean, preventing at least seven million HIV infections within five 
years. An important aspect of the President's plan is to provide 
assistance to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. The focus of 
this initiative is 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean heavily 
affected by HIV/AIDS: Botswana, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, 
Guyana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, 
Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The World Health Organization (WHO) 
estimates that five to ten percent of all HIV transmissions are 
attributable to unsafe blood transfusions. Transmission of HIV and 
other blood-borne pathogens via blood transfusion is preventable by 
establishing an adequate supply of safe blood through a systematized 
blood transfusion service and minimizing unnecessary transfusions. 
However, according to the WHO, among blood donations in Africa in 2002, 
only 90 percent were screened for HIV, 55 percent for Hepatitis B 
virus, and only 40 percent for Hepatitis C virus.
    The rapid implementation of safe blood programs and precautions 
against medical transmission of HIV is a priority area for the 
President's plan. The purpose of this announcement is to rapidly 
provide support to Ministries of Health and National Transfusion 
Services in the 14 targeted countries, with the goal of developing and 
implementing a national safe blood program in each country with 
demonstrable results even within the first year of the Emergency Plan.
    Measurable outcomes of this program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief: Prevent 7 million new HIV infections. The initiative will 
involve large-scale prevention efforts, including the rapid 
establishment and strengthening of safe blood transfusion services.
    This initiative is a coordinated effort led by the Office of the 
Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State and involves various 
U.S. Federal Government agencies, including, the Department of State, 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of 
Defense, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program area are as 
follows: A. Infrastructure--Assess current infrastructure needs for a 
national, regionalized blood transfusion system, including regional 
blood collection and processing facilities, laboratory testing 
equipment and supplies. Strengthen regional blood collection facilities 
and capacity in major urban areas, preferably near major health care 
facilities. Provide standard blood collection and laboratory equipment 
and reagents to regional blood collection facilities to collect blood 
and test it for transfusion-transmitted infections, and to perform 
blood grouping and cross matching.
    B. Blood collection--Develop generic and site-specific protocols 
for obtaining, handling and storing, transporting, and distributing 
blood for use in blood collection facilities. Develop and maintain a 
network of blood donor recruiters and blood donor counselors to operate 
from each regional center. Develop and maintain a system to identify a 
network of low risk and repeat blood donors. Manage blood collection 
facilities that have the capacity to obtain, handle and store blood 
safely with good recordkeeping. Implement effective quality assurance 
procedures for collecting and storing blood.
    C. Testing--Develop generic national and site-specific protocols 
for testing blood for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis. Manage blood testing 
facilities, ensuring good recordkeeping. Implement effective quality 
assurance procedures for testing blood.
    D. Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Develop and implement 
national guidelines for the appropriate use of blood and blood 
products, nationally and regionally. Develop blood utilization review 
and quality assurance systems for blood usage.
    E. Training--Develop and provide training programs and continuing 
education programs for health care professionals involved with blood 
transfusion services, such as physicians, nurses, physician assistants, 
community health aides, counselors, and laboratory technicians in the 
fields of blood donor recruitment and blood collection. Develop and 
provide training programs and continuing education programs for 
physicians and laboratory technicians in basic principles and practice 
of blood banking and transfusion medicine. Develop educational programs 
for health care providers, nurses and the general public on safe 
transfusion practices, including reducing the demand for unnecessary 
transfusions and recognizing community norms in practices regarding 
blood transfusions.
    F. Monitoring and evaluation--Implement a system for reviewing and 
adjusting program activities based on monitoring information. Measure 
clinical outcomes to assess the impact of the program.
    Funding will be provided to initiate new programs or expand 
existing programs (e.g., expanding from one region to other regions of 
the same country) that include the above components. Technical 
assistance in support of the activities listed in this program 
announcement will be provided to the Ministries of Health or the 
National Transfusion Services by CDC, as well as by the organizations 
that successfully compete for funding under a separate CDC cooperative 
agreement program announcement focused on the

[[Page 67178]]

provision of technical assistance for blood safety activities in the 
targeted countries.
    In a cooperative agreement, HHS/CDC staff is substantially involved 
in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. 
HHS will work under the guidance and supervision of the Office of the 
Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State.
    HHS/CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
    A. Provide scientific and technical assistance in refining the 
operational plan.
    B. Provide ongoing technical assistance in addressing problems 
encountered in implementing your plan. This may be provided directly by 
HHS/CDC staff or through organizations that successfully compete for 
funding under a separate HHS/CDC cooperative agreement program 
announcement focused on the provision of technical assistance for blood 
safety activities with the 14 targeted countries.
    C. Assist in assessing program operations and in evaluating overall 
effectiveness of your program.
    D. Staff in both headquarters (HHS/CDC Atlanta and HHS/CDC in 
country) and in the designated countries will assure that other related 
U.S. Government activities are well coordinated with National Programs 
in each country.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS/CDC involvement in this 
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2004.
    Approximate Total Funding: $42 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 14.
    Approximate Average Award: $3 million.
    Floor of Award Range: $500,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $5 million.
    Anticipated Award Date: March 25, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 5 years.
    Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of 
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of 
satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required and 
certified technically acceptable semi-annual program and financial 
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best 
interest of the U.S. Government.

III. Eligibility Information

    III.1. Eligible applicants: Applications may be submitted by 
Ministries of Health, National Blood Transfusion Services or their bona 
fide agents in the 14 targeted countries: Botswana, C[ocirc]te 
d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guyana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, 
Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
    A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the 
Ministry of Health as eligible to submit an application under the 
Ministry eligibility in lieu of a Ministry application. If you are 
applying as a bona fide agent of a Ministry, you must provide a letter 
from the state as documentation of your status. Place this 
documentation behind the first page of your application form.
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Matching funds are not required 
for this program.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: If you request a funding 
amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, your application 
will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the 
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet 
the submission requirements.

    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.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    IV.1. Address to Request Application Package: To apply for this 
funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161. Forms are available 
on the United States Government (USG) web site, 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 USG 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to 
you.
    IV.2. Content and Form of Submission: You must submit a signed 
original and two copies of your application forms.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the USG. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification 
number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS 
number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access 
http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. For more 
information, see the USG web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm.
    If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please 
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your 
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover 
letter.
    You must include a project narrative with your application forms. 
Your narrative must be submitted in the following format:
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: 30--If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will 
be reviewed.
    [sbull] Font size: 12 point unreduced.
    [sbull] Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
    [sbull] Page margin size: 1''--top, bottom, right, and left.
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page.
    [sbull] Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
    [sbull] Written in English, avoid jargon.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:

A. Need and Experience (4 Pages Maximum)

    Describe the need for services in the country or regions in which 
you intend to provide blood transfusion safety services. Provide 
evidence that your organization has experience in and is currently 
developing or maintaining blood safety programs in one or more of the 
following countries: Botswana, C``te d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guyana, 
Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, 
Uganda, and Zambia. Address the following:
    1. Estimated number of transfusions; age-specific prevalence for 
HIV, hepatitis and syphilis; estimated number of transfusion-related 
infections from HIV, hepatitis and syphilis-contaminated blood.
    2. Estimated number of blood units needed for an adequate blood 
supply, the number of additional blood units that must be collected to 
meet the supply need, and number of test kits needed annually to test 
the entire blood supply for HIV, hepatitis and syphilis.
    3. Number of needed regional blood collection and testing centers, 
and the population covered by each center.
    4. Need for blood safety education and training activities.
    5. Need for blood donor selection and recruitment strategies.

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B. Current Blood Bank and Transfusion Service Activities (8 Pages 
Maximum)

    Describe the blood transfusion system activities for the regions in 
which you plan to provide blood transfusion safety services. Address 
the following:
    1. Infrastructure--Describe the current blood transfusion system 
infrastructure, including regional blood collection facilities, 
laboratory testing equipment, and supplies. Describe their location and 
access to major urban population centers.
    2. Blood collection--Describe the current protocols and systems for 
collecting, handling and distributing units of blood. Describe the 
organization of blood donor recruitment and counseling activities. 
Describe the management of blood collection facilities, record-keeping 
and quality assurance activities. Describe your activities to promote 
blood donor community mobilization in the proposed areas, including 
relationships with other organizations that provide services.
    3. Testing--Describe the current system of testing blood for HIV, 
hepatitis and syphilis. Include a description of the following: (a) the 
type and number of laboratory facilities for testing of HIV and other 
transfusion transmitted infections; (b) staff qualifications; (c) the 
number and types of tests performed by each facility in the past 12 
months; and (d) the percent of the blood supply currently tested; (e) 
the capability of performing these tests at each facility including 
type of equipment used; and (f) current quality assurance procedures.
    4. Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Describe current use of 
national/regional guidelines for blood transfusion therapy and efforts 
or systems for blood utilization review and the reduction of 
unnecessary blood transfusions.
    5. #Training activities--Describe current training programs for 
blood transfusion safety for physicians, laboratory technologists, 
donor recruiters and nurses. Include information the types and numbers 
of persons trained, training curricula, training facilities, and the 
trainers.
    6. Monitoring and evaluation--Describe the current system to record 
important program indicators such as the monthly number of units of 
safe blood made available, the number of persons receiving safe blood 
each month, the blood supply deficit, and the number of persons with 
serious adverse consequences to transfusions.

C. Goals (4 Pages Maximum)

    Address the following:
    1. Provide goals, objectives, and timeline for implementation of 
the program plan.
    2. Provide measures of effectiveness by which you can assess the 
success of the program.
    3. Provide letters of support from organizations with which you 
intend to work. These letters should indicate support for the goals and 
objectives of your proposed project and indicate what support they will 
provide, e.g., referrals to your program.

D. Rapid Expansion of Blood Transfusion Safety Services (8 Pages 
Maximum)

    Describe your plans for increasing the quality and extent of safe 
blood transfusion services. Describe your plans for increasing the 
number of units of safe blood available for transfusion and plans for 
reducing unnecessary transfusions. If an applicant plans to sub-
contract out to other organizations, this strategy must be clearly 
identified and explained in the application. Address the following 
areas:
    1. Infrastructure--Describe your plans to assess and expand the 
current blood transfusion system infrastructure, including regional 
blood collection facilities, laboratory testing and processing 
equipment, and supplies.
    2. Blood collection--Describe your plans for expanding the current 
systems for collecting, handling, and distributing units of blood. 
Describe your plans for the expansion of blood donor recruitment and 
counseling activities. Describe your plans for the development of blood 
collection facilities management, record-keeping and quality assurance 
activities. Describe your planned activities to promote blood donor 
community mobilization in the proposed areas, including relationships 
with other organizations that provide the services.
    3. Testing--Describe your plans to expand the current system of 
testing blood for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Describe plans to 
implement or expand current quality assurance procedures.
    4. Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Describe plans to implement 
the use of national or regional guidelines for blood transfusion 
therapy and efforts or systems for blood utilization review and the 
reduction of unnecessary blood transfusions.
    5. Training activities--Describe proposed training programs for 
blood transfusion safety for physicians, laboratory technologists, 
blood donor recruiters, and nurses. Include information about proposed 
course titles, types and numbers of persons to be trained, length of 
each course, development of training facilities, and trainers.
    6. Monitoring and evaluation--Describe the proposed system to use 
important program indicators such as the monthly number of units of 
safe blood made available, the number of persons receiving safe blood 
each month, the blood supply deficit, and the number of persons with 
serious adverse consequences to transfusions.
    7. Sustainability--Applicants should develop a one-page description 
of capacity building activities for each year's work plan. Proposed 
activities must include capacity building as defined as activities 
promoting host country infrastructure development and strengthening of 
management, service delivery, and evaluation systems and clinical/
cultural competency.
    In order to accomplish sustainable systems development the 
following activities are suggested:
    [sbull] Identify key stakeholders and engage potential in-country 
partners;
    [sbull] Develop or expand a formal (preferably host country) 
advisory group to plan for on-going services;
    [sbull] Define the components of care with other health or social 
service providers;
    [sbull] Research funding sources; and
    [sbull] Develop an exit plan.
    The overall strategy and program must fit into National host 
country strategies including continuation of the program funding and 
staffing.

E. Management Plan, Staffing, and Infrastructure (6 Pages Maximum)

    1. Management plan--Provide an organizational chart and describe 
the responsibilities for each of the key staff.
    2. Staffing--Describe the number and types of staff needed to 
assist with technical guidance and training activities.
    3. Infrastructure--Describe the physical facilities in which the 
proposed activities will be carried out and the equipment needed.
    4. Human Resources, Management and Administration--Describe plans 
to provide or obtain all material and human resources necessary for the 
development, implementation, management, operation, procurement, 
monitoring, and quality assurance of all program activities.
    5. Coordination with National Programs--Describe the organization's 
strategy to coordinate proposed activities within the context of 
national programs.

F. Budget Narrative (No Page Limit)

    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the USG web 
site, at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

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    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes: Curriculum Vitae, 
Resumes, Organizational Charts, Letters of Support, and other pertinent 
documents.
    IV. 3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Application Deadline Date: March 1, 2004.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline 
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will 
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date 
and time. If CDC receives your application 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, you will be given the opportunity to 
submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation 
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having 
been received by the deadline.
    This program announcement is the definitive guide on application 
format, content, and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in 
the application instructions. If your application does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be 
discarded. You will be notified that your application did not meet the 
submission requirements.
    CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you 
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact 
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff 
at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after 
the application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be 
processed and logged.
    IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications: Executive Order 
12372 does not apply to this program.
    IV.5. Funding Restrictions: Funding restrictions, which must be 
taken into account while writing your budget are as follows:
    [sbull] Funds may be used only for activities associated with 
strengthening blood transfusion services. USG funds may be used for 
direct costs such as salaries; necessary travel; operating costs, 
including supplies, fuel, utilities, etc.; staff training costs, 
including registration fees and purchase and rental of training related 
equipment; and purchase of HIV testing reagents, test kits, and 
laboratory equipment for HIV testing.
    [sbull] No funds made available under this solicitation may be used 
to provide assistance to any group or organization that does not have a 
policy explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking. This 
written statement of certification must be signed by authorized 
person(s) within the applicant group or organization, including the 
individuals submitting the application. No funds made available under 
this solicitation may be used to promote or advocated the legalization 
or practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the 
preceding two sentences shall be construed to preclude the provision to 
individuals of palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure 
pharmaceutical prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and other 
commodities, including test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, 
microbicides.
    [sbull] No funds appropriated under this solicitation shall be used 
to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes 
for the hypodermic use of any illegal drug.
    [sbull] Applicants may contract with other organizations under this 
program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion of 
the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of services for which funds are requested).
    [sbull] The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of American University, Beirut and the World Health 
Organization, indirect costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through a sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
    [sbull] All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, the U.S. Government will 
not compensate foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations 
through the issuance of supplemental awards.
    [sbull] A fiscal Recipient Capability assessment may be required, 
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
    [sbull] You must obtain an annual audit of these U.S. Government 
funds (program-specific audit) by a U.S.--based audit firm with 
international branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and 
in accordance with International Accounting Standards or equivalent 
standard(s) approved in writing by the U.S. Government.
    IV.6. Other Submission Requirements: Submit your application by 
mail or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--
PA04077, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.

V. Application Review Information

    V.1. Criteria: You 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 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. These should be included in your project 
narrative under ``Goals.''
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1. Current capability: 55 Points

    (a) Infrastructure/Experience--Does the applicant have the 
resources as well as demonstrated experience necessary to develop blood 
center infrastructure, including buildings, equipment, and supplies?
    (b) Blood collection--Does the applicant have the resources to 
develop blood collection facilities and blood donor recruitment 
networks?
    (c) Testing--Does the applicant have the resources to develop blood 
transfusion testing laboratories, including standard operating 
procedures protocols?
    (d) Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Does the applicant have the 
resources to develop blood transfusion practice guidelines and a blood 
utilization review program?
    (e) Training--Does the applicant have the resources to develop a 
comprehensive training program in the basic principles and practices of 
blood banking and transfusion medicine?
    (f) Monitoring and evaluation--Is there a monitoring and evaluation 
plan in place? Does the plan measure important indicators?
    (g) Management and Administration--Does the applicant have the 
resources to

[[Page 67181]]

manage and administer a national blood transfusion system?

2. Feasibility of Plan: 35 Points

    (a) Infrastructure--Is the plan to develop blood center 
infrastructure sound and reasonable?
    (b) Blood collection--Is the plan to develop blood collection 
facilities, including the development of blood donor recruitment 
networks, reasonable?
    (c) Testing--Is the plan to develop blood transfusion testing 
laboratories, including standard operating procedures and protocols, 
reasonable?
    (d) Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Does the applicant's plan to 
develop blood transfusion practice guidelines and a blood utilization 
review program seem reasonable?
    (e) Training--Does the applicant have the resources and a 
reasonable plan to develop a comprehensive training program in the 
basic principles and practices of blood banking and transfusion 
medicine?
    (f) Monitoring and evaluation--Is the monitoring and evaluation 
plan feasible? Does the plan measure important indicators?
    (g) Sustainability--Is the plan for sustainability reasonable and 
feasible?

3. Measures of Effectiveness: 10 Total

    Do the measures of effectiveness address the number of blood units 
tested safe for transfusion-transmitted diseases and the number of 
persons receiving safe transfusions?
    V.2. Review and Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed 
for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and 
for responsiveness by the National Center for HIV, STD, and TB 
Prevention. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-
responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the 
review process. Applicants will be notified that their application did 
not meet submission requirements.
    An interagency objective review panel will evaluate complete and 
responsive applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. 
Criteria'' section above.
    In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
    [sbull] Geographic distribution
    [sbull] Percentage of staff who are citizens of the country in 
which services will be provided.
    V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates:
    Award Date: March 25,2004.

VI. Award Administration Information

    VI.1. Award Notices: Successful applicants will receive a Notice of 
Grant Award (NGA) from the USG Procurement and Grants Office. The NGA 
shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient 
and USG. The NGA will be signed by an authorized Grants Management 
Officer, and mailed to the recipient fiscal officer identified in the 
application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review by mail.
    VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: 45 CFR part 
74 and part 92.
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    [sbull] AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions.
    [sbull] AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-6 Patient Care.
    [sbull] AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-11 Healthy People 2010.
    [sbull] AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
    [sbull] AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-16 Security Clearance Requirement.
    [sbull] AR-23 States and Faith-Based Organizations.
    [sbull] AR-24 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
Requirements.
    [sbull] AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data.
    Additional information on these requirements can be found on the 
CDC web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
    Reporting Requirements: You must provide CDC with a hard copy 
original, plus two copies of the following reports:
    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. Semi-annual progress report, due 7 months after the beginning of 
each budget period. This report should contain the following elements:
    (a) Progress on achieving objectives
    (b) Modification or new activities
    3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    These reports must be sent to the Grants Management Specialist 
listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: (770) 488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Kenneth Clark, M.D., 
MPH, Project Officer, National Center for HIV, STD, and TN Prevention, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, MS 
E04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: (404) 639-8057, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For budget assistance, contact: Shirley Wynn, Contract Specialist, 
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341, Telephone: (770) 488-1515, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: November 25, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-29891 Filed 11-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P