[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67181-67186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29892]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Providing Technical Assistance Support for the Rapid 
Strengthening of Blood Transfusion Services in Selected Countries in 
Africa and the Caribbean Under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief

    Announcement Type: New, Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04078.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.943.
    Key Dates
    [sbull] Application Deadline: March 1, 2004.
    Executive Summary: An important aspect of President Bush's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief plan is to provide

[[Page 67182]]

assistance to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. The focus of 
this initiative is 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean that are 
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 provide expert guidance and technical assistance to the 
Ministries of Health or the National Transfusion Services in the 14 
targeted countries as they rapidly develop and implement a national 
safe blood program with demonstrable results within the first year of 
the Emergency Plan. An additional intent is to develop sustained 
indigenous capacity to continue these programs after the project ends.

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, to prevent 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 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 overall goal is to develop and implement a 
national safe blood program with demonstrable results within the first 
year of the Emergency Plan. The purpose of this announcement is to 
provide support to organizations able to offer expert guidance and 
technical assistance to Ministries of Health and the National 
Transfusion Services in the 14 targeted countries on the development 
and implementation of a national safe blood program.
    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 are as follows: The provision 
of expert guidance and technical assistance to Ministries of Health or 
the Government's National Transfusion Services in the 14 targeted 
countries: Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guyana, Kenya, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, 
and Zambia. Awardees must carry out activities with Ministries of 
Health or the National Transfusion Services in multiple countries. 
Ministries of Health or the National Transfusion Services will be 
responsible for the actual implementation of the blood safety programs, 
including management, operations, and monitoring.
    Specifically, the awardee(s) will provide expert guidance and 
technical assistance in the following areas:
    [sbull] Infrastructure--Assist in assessing current infrastructure 
needs for a national, regionalized blood transfusion system, including 
regional blood collection and processing facilities, laboratory testing 
equipment and supplies. Advise in the strengthening of regional blood 
collection facilities in major urban areas, preferably near major 
health care facilities. Advise in the provision of standard laboratory 
equipment and reagents to regional blood collection facilities to test 
blood for transfusion-transmitted infections and to perform blood 
grouping and cross matching.
    [sbull] Blood collection--Develop generic and site-specific 
protocols for obtaining, handling and storing, transporting, and 
distributing blood for use in blood collection facilities. Assist in 
developing and maintaining a network of blood donor recruiters and 
blood donor counselors to operate from each regional center. Assist in 
developing and maintainaing a system to identify a network of low risk 
and repeat blood donors. Guide in the management of 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.
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] 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.
    [sbull] 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 compounds.
    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

[[Page 67183]]

AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State.
    HHS/CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
    [sbull] Provide scientific and technical assistance in refining the 
operational plan.
    [sbull] Provide ongoing technical assistance in addressing problems 
encountered in implementing your plan.
    [sbull] Assist in assessing program operations and in evaluating 
overall effectiveness of your program.
    [sbull] 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 (USG) 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: $10 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 3.
    Approximate Average Award: $5 million.
    Floor of Award Range: $500 thousand.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $10 million.
    Anticipated Award Date: March 25, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 5 years.
    Throughout the project period, HHS/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 
foreign and domestic public and private organizations, such as:
    [sbull] Public nonprofit organizations.
    [sbull] Private nonprofit organizations.
    [sbull] Universities.
    [sbull] Faith-based organizations.
    III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Matching funds are not required 
for this program.
    III.3. Other Eligibility Requirements: If your application is 
incomplete or non-responsive to the requirements listed below, it will 
not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that your 
application did not meet the submission requirements
    Provide written evidence, including letters of recommendation from 
entities you have worked with in the past, that your organization has 
experience providing services in all of the following areas for at 
least five years:
    [sbull] Managing, operating or organizing national or regional 
blood centers, blood banks, blood bank testing laboratories, or blood 
banking professional organizations.
    [sbull] Developing or operating national, regional or university 
educational and training programs in blood banking and blood 
transfusion practice for blood bank professionals.
    [sbull] Developing or implementing guidelines or standards, 
including quality assurance, for blood collection centers, blood bank 
testing laboratories or transfusion services.
    [sbull] Developing or operating blood donor recruitment networks 
and training blood donor recruitment staff, or developing standards or 
guidelines for these activities.
    If you request a funding amount greater than the upper threshold, 
your application will not be eligible for review. You will be notified 
that you 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 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 Application Submission: This program 
announcement is the definitive guide on application format, content, 
and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in the application 
instructions. If there are discrepancies between the application form 
instructions and the program announcement, adhere to the guidance in 
the program announcement.
    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 Federal government. 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 submit a signed original and two copies of your 
application forms.
    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 (Note: eligibility and budget 
narrative are not included in the page total). 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 (3 Pages Maximum)

    Describe the need for services in the country or regions in which 
you intend to provide blood transfusion safety services. Address the 
following:
    1. Need for technical assistance and guidance in the designated 
countries for all activities.
    2. Need for blood safety education and training activities for 
physicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, managers, and donor 
recruiters.

B. Current Blood Bank and Transfusion Service Activities (9 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 your organization's ability to work 
with and advise the Ministries of Health and/or National Blood 
Transfusion Services in the designated countries with guidance

[[Page 67184]]

on the design and organization of regional blood collection centers, 
laboratory testing equipment, and standard operating procedures.
    2. Blood Collection--Describe your ability to guide the development 
of protocols and standards for collecting, handling and distributing 
units of blood. Describe your organization's scope of work in blood 
donor recruitment and counseling activities. Describe your 
organization's work in the management of blood collection facilities, 
record-keeping, and quality assurance activities. Describe your 
organization's activities in blood donor recruitment, selection and 
counseling.
    3. Testing--Describe your organization's role in blood transfusion 
safety laboratory testing and in promoting standard operating 
procedures and quality assurance systems for blood transfusion services 
and testing laboratories.
    4. Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Describe your organization's 
role in the development of or use of guidelines or standards 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 about course titles, 
types and numbers of persons trained, length of each course, training 
facilities, and the trainers.
    6. Monitoring and Evaluation--Describe your organization's use of 
program indicators and monitoring and evaluation tools in measuring 
quality of blood transfusion services 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. Describe your organization's experience with providing technical 
assistance related to the areas listed above. Comment on any experience 
providing technical assistance in other countries.

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. Address the following areas:
    1. Infrastructure--Indicate for which countries you intend to 
provide assistance. Describe your plans to assist the designated 
countries in assessing and expanding the current blood transfusion 
system infrastructure, including regional blood collection facilities, 
laboratory testing equipment, and supplies.
    2. Blood Collection--Describe your plans for assisting countries in 
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 assisting the designated countries with the development of blood 
collection facilities management, record-keeping, and quality assurance 
activities. Describe your planned activities to assist with the 
promotion of blood donor community mobilization in the proposed areas.
    3. Testing--Describe your plans to advise and guide the designated 
countries in expanding their current systems of testing blood for HIV, 
hepatitis, and syphilis. Describe plans to help implement or expand 
current standard operating procedures and quality assurance procedures.
    4. Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Describe plans to help the 
designated countries 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, 
donor recruiters and nurses. Include information about proposed 
fellowships, training courses, types and numbers of persons to be 
trained, and length of each course. Describe the number of potential 
faculty and trainers and their qualifications and experience.
    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)

    Address the following:
    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, monitoring, and 
quality assurance of all technical assistance 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.

[[Page 67185]]

    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 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 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] 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] 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, USG 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 USG 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 USG.
    IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Application Submission 
Address: Submit your application by mail or express delivery service 
to: Technical Information Management--PA04078, 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: 45 Points

    (a) Infrastructure--Does the applicant have the resources to guide 
or assist in the development of blood center infrastructure, including 
buildings, equipment, and supplies?
    (b) Blood collection--Does the applicant have the resources to 
guide or assist in the development of blood collection facilities, 
including the development of blood donor recruitment networks?
    (c) Testing--Does the applicant have the resources to guide or 
assist in the development of blood transfusion testing laboratories, 
including standard operating procedures and protocols?
    (d) Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Does the applicant have the 
resources to develop or assist in the development of blood transfusion 
practice guidelines and a blood utilization review programs?
    (e) Training--Does the applicant have the resources to develop or 
guide in the development of a comprehensive training program in the 
basic principles and practices of blood banking and transfusion 
medicine?
    (f) Monitoring and evaluation--Does the applicant have a monitoring 
and evaluation plan? Does the plan measure important indicators?

[[Page 67186]]

2. Feasibility of Plan: 35 Points

    (a) Infrastructure--Is the plan to guide or assist in the 
development of blood center infrastructure sound and reasonable?
    (b) Blood collection--Is the plan to guide or assist in the 
development of blood collection facilities, including the development 
of blood donor recruitment networks, reasonable?
    (c) Testing--Is the plan to guide or assist in the development of 
blood transfusion testing laboratories, including standard operating 
procedures and protocols, reasonable?
    (d) Transfusion and Blood Utilization--Does the applicant's plan to 
develop or assist in the development of blood transfusion practice 
guidelines and a blood utilization review programs seem reasonable?
    (e) Training--Does the applicant have the resources and a 
reasonable plan to develop, or guide the development of, 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 Points

    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?

4. Plans for Collaboration: 10 Points

    Is there a plan or strategy for effectively collaborating with the 
Ministries of Health or National Transfusion Services funded under CDC 
Program Announcement 04077?
    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 your 
application according to the criteria listed in section ``V.1. 
Criteria'' 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

    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.
    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 hardcopy 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 mailed 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. 03-29892 Filed 11-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P