[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67558-67566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29806]



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Part III





Department of Health and Human Services





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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention



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Capacity Building Assistance To Improve the Delivery and Effectiveness 
of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services for Racial/
Ethnic Minority Populations and Prevention Projects for Community-Based 
Organizations; Notices

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 2003 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Capacity Building Assistance To Improve the Delivery and 
Effectiveness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services 
for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04019.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.943.

Key Dates

    Letter of Intent Deadline: December 22, 2003.
    Application Deadline: January 26, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 
317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 241 
and 42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)(2).
    Purpose: The purpose of this announcement is to provide financial 
assistance to national and regional non-governmental organizations to 
provide capacity building assistance (CBA) to community-based 
organizations (CBOs) and health departments (HDs) providing HIV 
prevention services, and to HIV prevention community planning groups 
(CPGs). These entities are referred to as the ``CBA consumers'' 
throughout the remainder of this document. This funding will enable the 
CBA consumers to implement, improve, evaluate, and sustain the delivery 
of effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention services for 
high-risk racial/ethnic minority populations of unknown or negative 
serostatus, including pregnant women, and people of color who are 
living with HIV/AIDS and their partners.
    The term ``capacity building assistance'' or ``CBA'' means the 
provision of information, technical assistance, training, and 
technology transfer for individuals and organizations to improve the 
delivery and effectiveness of HIV prevention services. CBA does not 
include the delivery of direct HIV prevention services and 
interventions. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
area of HIV infection, CDC's Government Performance and Results Act 
Performance Plan, the goals of CDC's HIV Prevention Strategic Plan 
through 2005 at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/partners/psp.htm and Advancing 
HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5215.pdf.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center 
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention:
    1. Strengthen the capacity to develop and implement effective HIV 
prevention interventions.
    2. Increase the proportion of HIV infected individuals who know 
they are infected.
    3. Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to 
appropriate prevention, care, and treatment services.
    4. Decrease the number of persons at high risk for acquiring or 
transmitting HIV infection.
    CBA developed under this program will be provided in four focus 
areas and applicants may apply for up to two of these as follows:
    [sbull] Focus Area 1--Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure 
for HIV Prevention
    [sbull] Focus Area 2--Strengthening Interventions for HIV 
Prevention
    [sbull] Focus Area 3--Strengthening Community Access to and 
Utilization of HIV Prevention Services
    [sbull] Focus Area 4--Strengthening Community Planning for HIV 
Prevention
    This program announcement will emphasize regionally structured 
strategies within the following regions:
    [sbull] North Region: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PR, RI, U.S. Virgin 
Islands, VT
    [sbull] South Region: AL, AZ, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, NC, OK, SC, 
TN, TX
    [sbull] Mid-East Region: DE, DC, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, OH, PA, VA, 
WV, WI
    [sbull] Mid-West Region: CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND, SD, UT, WY
    [sbull] West Region: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA, Guam, Pacific 
Basin: American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, 
Micronesia, Palau
    Applicants for Focus Areas 1, 3, or 4 will be required to work 
nationally but implementing regional strategies. Refer to the section 
on Awardee Activities for additional requirements. Applicants for Focus 
Area 2 will be required to work within one of the five regions. Refer 
to the Application section of this announcement for additional 
information on how this applies to the four major racial ethnic groups 
(as listed under ``Other Eligibility Requirements.'')

Program Goals

    The goals for this program are as follows:
1. Focus Area 1--Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure for HIV 
Prevention
    Improve the capacity of CBOs to strengthen and sustain 
organizational infrastructures that support the delivery of effective 
HIV prevention services and interventions for high-risk racial/ethnic 
minority individuals.
2. Focus Area 2--Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention
    Improve the capacity of CBOs and HDs to implement, improve, and 
evaluate HIV prevention interventions for high-risk racial/ethnic 
minority individuals of unknown serostatus, including pregnant women, 
and people of color who are living with HIV/AIDS and their partners.
3. Focus Area 3--Strengthening Community Access to and Utilization of 
HIV Prevention Services
    Improve the capacity of CBOs and other community stakeholders to 
implement strategies that will increase access to and utilization of 
HIV prevention and risk-reduction and avoidance services (including 
those under the Advancing HIV Prevention initiative) for racial/ethnic 
minority individuals.
4. Focus Area 4--Strengthening Community Planning for HIV Prevention
    Improve the capacity of CPGs and HDs to include HIV-infected and 
affected racial/ethnic minority participants in the community planning 
process, and increase parity, inclusion, and representation (PIR) on 
CPGs (for more information, see the HIV Prevention Community Planning 
Guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hiv-cp.htm).

Performance Indicators

    To ensure quality programs and to measure progress, applicants are 
required to report on core performance indicators and performance 
indicators by focus area.
    Core Performance Indicators:
    The core performance indicators apply to all focus areas and are as 
follows:
    1. proportion of all CDC-funded CBOs receiving capacity building 
assistance through training;
    2. proportion of CDC-funded health departments receiving CBA 
related to HIV prevention for racial/ethnic minority populations;
    3. proportion of CBOs that report agreement with timeliness in 
completion of CBA;

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    4. proportion of health departments that report agreement with 
timeliness in completion of CBA;
    5. of the total number of action plans, the proportion of action 
plans completed according to the scheduled timeliness;
    6. proportion of CBOs that report agreement that CBA received met 
their needs; and
    7. proportion of health departments that report agreement that CBA 
received met their needs.
    Performance Indicators by Focus Area:
    Performance indicators by focus are as follows:
    Focus Area 1--Proportion of CDC-funded CBOs, by racial/ethnic 
minority population served, receiving assessment of organizational 
needs;
    [sbull] Focus Area 2--Proportion of CDC-funded CBOs, by racial/
ethnic minority population served, receiving assessments of 
intervention needs;
    [sbull] Focus Area 3--Proportion of CBA programmatic events 
promoting HIV antibody testing; and
    [sbull] Focus Area 4--Proportion of Community Planning Groups 
(CPGs) receiving CBA on Parity, Inclusion, and Representation.
    [sbull] Additional performance indicators may be added or refined 
over the course of the project period. (For additional information on 
performance indicators, see Application and Submission Information.)
    Applicants will be responsible for the following in response to the 
performance indicators:
    a. Set baseline, one-year, and five-year target goals (target goals 
will be negotiated with CDC post-award).
    b. Use performance indicators for the design of a monitoring 
evaluation plan.
    c. Collect process and outcome monitoring data and report to the 
CDC.
    Applicants are accountable for achieving performance target goals. 
If an applicant fails to achieve their target, CDC will work with the 
applicant to determine what steps can be taken to improve performance. 
CDC involvement may include technical assistance, conditional or 
restrictive funding. If your performance fails to improve, CDC may 
reduce the award or defund your program.

Activities

    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
General Awardee Activities for all Applicants
    All applicants are required to implement general awardee activities 
by developing process objectives and activities for the following:
    1. Use logic modeling for internal program planning and conducting 
CBA. A program logic model links outcomes (both short- and long-term) 
with program activities/processes and the theoretical assumptions/
principles of the program.
    2. Include input from target consumers and other potential 
consumers of the proposed services, including people living with HIV/
AIDS.
    3. Incorporate cultural competency and linguistic and educational 
appropriateness into all CBA activities.
    4. Collaborate with CDC, CDC-funded CBA and Technical Assistance 
(TA) providers, and contractors to plan and deliver CBA that is (1) 
consistent with CDC expectations (as provided in trainings for 
grantees); and (2) to avoid duplication of services.
    5. Undertake a coordinated systems approach in the delivery of 
regionally structured CBA services that includes (a) notifying, 
cooperating and coordinating with state and local health departments in 
the delivery of CBA services within their health jurisdictions; (b) 
collaborating with other sources of CBA (including CBA providers in 
other focus areas) in the regions to plan and implement comprehensive 
CBA; (c) conducting assessments of needs, community resources, and 
social capital; (d) identifying and addressing gaps in CBA services; 
and (e) leveraging other federal, state or local resources.
    6. Implement a plan for developing and maintaining ongoing 
relationships with target consumers and CPGs for which the awardee has 
responsibility. The plan should include strategies for conducting 
ongoing assets assessments and needs assessments and developing 
tailored CBA packages to be delivered throughout the duration of the 
project period.
    7. Develop protocols that respond to new CBA requests following 
procedures to be provided by CDC.
    8. Refer all CBA requests, which fall outside of your focus area(s) 
to the CDC capacity building assistance coordinator for appropriate 
assignment.
    9. Participate in a CDC-coordinated CBA network to enhance 
communication, coordination, cooperation, and training.
    10. Identify the CBA training needs of your own program and staff. 
Develop and implement a plan to address these needs.
    11. Implement a quality assurance strategy that ensures the 
delivery of high quality services.
    12. Implement an evaluation monitoring plan that addresses the 
performance indicators. The plan should outline the process and outcome 
data to be collected, identify sources of information, methods by which 
information will be collected, process for analyzing and interpreting 
information, and using findings for program improvement.
    13. Develop and implement an effective strategy for marketing your 
CBA services.
    14. Report planned group CBA events to the Capacity Building Branch 
(CBB) Training Calendar for dissemination to HIV prevention partners 
and constituents to be provided by CDC.
    15. Facilitate the dissemination of information about successful 
CBA strategies and ``lessons learned'' through replication packages, 
peer-to-peer interactions, meetings, workshops, conferences, case 
studies, and communications with CDC project officers.

    Note: Successful or funded applicants will be expected to attend 
several post-award training events during April, May, and June 2004.

Focus Area-Specific Awardee Activities

Focus Area 1: Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure for HIV 
Prevention
    a. Develop tools and protocols for assessing organizational 
infrastructure system needs, resources, readiness, and gaps.
    b. Provide or ensure the provision of CBA in organizational 
infrastructure. Examples include, but are not limited to: 
organizational assessments to determine the needs, resources, 
readiness, and gaps of organizational infrastructure systems (e.g., 
governance, management, administration, personnel, and fiscal); 
proposal development and grant writing; personnel policy development; 
program policy development, including confidentiality standards, and 
reporting rules and regulations; development of Memorandums of 
Agreement; resource development, including development of reimbursement 
mechanisms, identification of other funding sources and development of 
public/private partnership strategies; board development and training; 
biohazard management and disposable protocols; licensing and 
certification issues for HIV rapid testing; management information 
systems (MIS) data management; strategic planning; leadership 
development; team building; public relations; development of 501(c)3 of 
the Internal Revenue Code; human resources management, including staff 
and volunteer recruitment, management, retention, and training;

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organizational quality assurance and monitoring; program marketing and 
public relations; personnel policy development; and cross-cultural 
communications.
    c. Create, coordinate, and utilize regional resource consultant 
pools that include subject matter experts to provide CBA. To achieve 
cost effectiveness, the preference is for brokering CBA requests to 
locally based and culturally competent consultants and experts. 
Regional resource consultant pools should be created in each region for 
which the awardee has responsibility.
    d. Coordinate and support the developmental needs of the regional 
resource consultant pools by developing training materials, diffusing 
best program practices and interventions for HIV negative and positive 
persons, and conducting orientation and training for consultants to 
help them deliver effective and efficient services.
Focus Area 2: Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention
    a. Provide ongoing CBA for CBOs in the adaptation, implementation, 
quality assurance, and evaluation of effective HIV prevention 
interventions for high-risk seronegatives and HIV-positive racial/
ethnic minority individuals. Examples of prevention interventions are: 
health education and risk reduction and avoidance; outreach capacity 
and preparation for testing; testing; referrals; prevention and partner 
counseling; prevention case management; interventions to prevent 
perinatal transmission; and rapid testing in non-traditional settings 
such as jails, and high-risk community venues. CBA provided must be 
consistent with CDC's Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative, the 
Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions (including Replicating 
Effective Programs and the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral 
Interventions), and other CDC approved procedures and protocols. (For 
information on the Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions 
visit: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium/HIVcompendium.htm. 
Provide CBA to HDs on culturally appropriate HIV prevention 
interventions and strategies for racial/ethnic minority populations. 
Assistance may include needs assessments and adapting or adopting 
interventions. This may take the form of health departments requesting 
assistance on behalf of their CBOs.
    b. Provide CBA on the diffusion of effective behavioral 
interventions, including training, cultural adaptation of curricula, 
and promotion of ``boxed'' interventions from CDC.
    c. Create, coordinate, and utilize regional resource consultant 
pools that include subject matter experts (including social and 
behavioral scientists) to provide CBA. To achieve cost effectiveness, 
the preference is for brokering CBA to locally based and culturally-
competent consultants and experts.
    d. Coordinate and support the developmental needs of the regional 
resource consultant pools by developing training materials, diffusing 
best program practices and interventions for HIV negative and positive 
persons, and conducting orientation and training for consultants to 
help them deliver effective and efficient services.

    Note: Prevention interventions, while mainly addressing risk 
reduction and avoidance for HIV infection, should also include risk 
reduction and avoidance for co-infections with other sexually 
transmitted diseases, blood borne diseases (for Hepatitis C) and 
tuberculosis.

    Capacity building assistance on HIV prevention methods (or 
strategies) can include abstinence, monogamy, i.e., being faithful to a 
single sexual partner, or using condoms consistently and correctly. 
These approaches can avoid risk (abstinence) or effectively reduce risk 
for HIV (monogamy, consistent and correct condom use).
Focus Area 3: Strengthening Community Access and Utilization of HIV 
Prevention Services
    a. Develop a strategy based on a model to improve access and 
utilization of HIV prevention services for a racial/ethnic minority 
population at risk for HIV infection or living with HIV. The strategy 
should be based on models for structural or population-based behavioral 
changes. Examples of what the strategy may address include, but are not 
limited to: (1) Coalition development for increased prevention and care 
service integration, national education and mobilization projects, 
increased institutional policies in support of HIV prevention, and 
community building among HIV-positive persons and other high-risk 
persons to expand HIV prevention and risk-reduction and avoidance 
services; (2) nationally designed and coordinated projects to be 
adapted locally that promote innovative community testing and service 
referral initiatives or that mobilize local communities in support of 
HIV prevention efforts; (3) or social marketing projects to reduce 
stigma or to increase the acceptability of HIV prevention services 
(including testing) and interventions (including risk reduction and 
avoidance for people living with HIV/AIDS, and perinatal HIV 
prevention).

    Note: Structural factors associated with HIV risk and prevention 
may be broadly defined to include physical, social, cultural, 
organizational, community, economic, legal or policy aspects of the 
environment that impede or facilitate persons' efforts to avoid HIV 
infection. Structural interventions address one or more of these 
factors.

    b. Develop and implement a plan to provide CBA to CBOs and 
community stakeholders on your selected model and strategy. The plan 
should identify the CBA consumers, capacity building outcomes, 
activities, and skill sets to be imparted.

    Note: Models for increasing access and utilization to HIV 
prevention services should also emphasize access to and utilization 
of other services related to sexually transmitted diseases, blood 
borne diseases (for Hepatitis C) and tuberculosis.

Focus Area 4: Strengthening Community Planning for HIV Prevention
    a. Through participation in the CDC National Technical Assistance 
(TA) Providers' Network for HIV Prevention Community Planning, provide 
CBA to CPGs and health departments to assist them in implementing HIV 
prevention community planning and improving the parity, inclusion, and 
representation of racial/ethnic minority populations in the community 
planning process.
    b. Provide CBA to CPGs, HDs, CBOs, and other community stakeholders 
to increase their knowledge of, and skill and involvement in, community 
planning. Examples include, but are not limited to, leadership 
development, understanding the HIV Prevention Community Planning 
Guidance and the planning process, use of data for decision-making, 
priority setting, public speaking and persuasion, parliamentary 
procedures and meeting processes, group and meeting facilitation, and 
understanding public health delivery systems.
    c. Participate in ongoing planning and coordination meetings with 
the CDC National TA Providers' Network for HIV Prevention Community 
Planning.
    In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
    a. Supporting all funded awardees by coordinating a national 
network of capacity building providers.
    b. Providing consultation and technical assistance in designing, 
planning, developing, operating, and evaluating activities (such as 
progress

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reporting, submitting information for the training calendar) based on 
CDC's standards and expectations. CDC may provide consultation and 
technical assistance both directly from CDC and indirectly through 
prevention partners, such as health departments, national and regional 
minority partners, CBA partners, trainers, contractors, and other 
national organizations.
    c. Monitoring the performance of program and fiscal activities 
through progress reports, data reporting, site visits, conference 
calls, and compliance with federally mandated requirements, such as 
protection of client privacy.
    d. Providing up-to-date scientific information and training on the 
risk factors for transmitting HIV infection among persons living with 
HIV/AIDS; HIV prevention services for counseling, testing, and referral 
to care and treatment; partner counseling and proven effective 
behavioral interventions for people at risk for becoming infected.
    e. Assisting in the development of collaborative efforts with state 
and local health departments, HIV prevention community planning groups, 
CBOs that receive direct funding from CDC, and other federally 
supported organizations providing HIV/AIDS services.
    f. Facilitating the exchange of information about successful 
interventions, program models, and ``lessons learned'' through grantee 
meetings, workshops, conferences, newsletters, the Internet, and 
communications with CDC Project Officers. CDC will also facilitate the 
exchange of program information and technical assistance among 
community-based organizations, health departments, and national and 
regional organizations.
    g. Conducting an overall evaluation of the program.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
    Approximate Total Funding: $21 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 33 total.

Focus Area 1: Four (4) Awards
Focus Area 2: Twelve (12) to Fourteen (14) Awards
Focus Area 3: Twelve (12) Awards
Focus Area 4: Four (4) Awards
    Approximate Average Award:

Focus Area 1: $1.15M per year
Focus Area 2: $690K per year
Focus Area 3: $365K per year
Focus Area 4: $250K per year
    Floor and Ceiling of Award Range:

Focus Area 1: Floor $500K--Ceiling $1.8M
Focus Area 2: Floor $640K--Ceiling $750K
Focus Area 3: Floor $200K--Ceiling $530K
Focus Area 4: Floor $200K--Ceiling $300K
    Anticipated Award Date: April 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five 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 awardee (as documented in required 
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best 
interest of the Federal Government.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and 
private nonprofit organizations, such as:
    [sbull] National or regional organizations
    [sbull] Universities
    [sbull] Colleges
    [sbull] Faith-based organizations
    [sbull] Federally recognized Indian tribal governments
    [sbull] Indian tribal organizations
    Eligibility is limited to organizations that have experience and 
expertise providing capacity building assistance services to CBA 
consumers serving racial/ethnic minority populations. In order to be 
effective, these organizations must have access to, and credibility 
with, racial/ethnic minority populations in a manner that is culturally 
competent and facilitates learning.

Other Eligibility Requirements

    CBA developed under this program announcement will be delivered to 
CBA consumers serving one or more of the four major racial/ethnic 
populations as follows:
    [sbull] Black/African-American
    [sbull] Hispanic/Latino
    [sbull] Asian/Pacific Islander
    [sbull] American Indian/Alaska Native
    Your organization is eligible to apply if it meets all of the 
following criteria:
    1. Has a currently valid 501(c)3 tax-exempt status as demonstrated 
by a valid Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter.
    2. Has a specific charge from its Articles of Incorporation, 
Bylaws, or a resolution from its executive board or governing body to 
operate nationally (i.e., multi-regional) or regionally (i.e., multi-
state/territory) within the United States or its Territories.
    3. Has a three-year track record of providing CBA, in the focus 
area for which you intend to apply as demonstrated by agency 
documentation (including evaluation and annual reports, participant 
feedback, agency records, etc.).
    4. Has a three-year track record of providing CBA to consumers that 
serve a major racial/ethnic minority population(s) or of providing 
direct HIV prevention services to a major racial/ethnic minority 
population as documented by annual agency reports, a board resolution, 
or other documentation.
    5. Is not a governmental or municipal agency, or an affiliate of a 
governmental or municipal agency (e.g., health department, school 
board, public hospital).
    Notes for Applicants:
    1. If applying to provide CBA in Focus Area 2 for CBA consumers 
that serve Black/African-American or Hispanic/Latino populations, you 
may only work in one region, and your organization must have a presence 
(three-year track record of providing CBA or office) in that region.
    2. If applying to provide CBA in Focus Area 2 to CBA consumers that 
serve Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaska Native 
populations, you may work across all regions.
    3. Funding estimates and project period may change based on the 
availability of funds, scope, and quality of the applications received, 
appropriateness and reasonableness of the budget justifications, and 
proposed use of project funds.
    4. Continuation awards for a new 12-month budget period, within an 
approved five-year project period, will be made on the basis of 
availability of funds and the applicant's satisfactory progress toward 
achieving the stated objectives, and in that the project remains in the 
best interest of the government. Satisfactory progress toward achieving 
objectives will be determined by required progress and data reports 
submitted by the awardee and site visits conducted by CDC 
representatives.

Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

    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.


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IV. Application and Submission Information

    How to Obtain Application Forms: To apply for this funding 
opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1. Forms are available on the 
CDC 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 CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to 
you.
    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.
    To request a CD-ROM or hard copy of the application kit (which 
includes the request for application, required forms, Supplemental 
Information, CBA Guidelines, and other information), contact CDC's 
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) at 1-800-282-7681; visit 
its Web site at http://www.cdcnpin.org, or send requests by fax to 1-
888-282-7681 (TTY users: 1-1800-243-7012). This announcement and 
associated forms can also be found on the CDC home page, http://www.cdc.gov. Click on Funding Opportunities then Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (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 CDC 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.

Pre-Application Technical Consultation

    Technical consultation audio-conference calls for all focus areas 
will be held on December 16, 2003 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. A repeat 
audio-conference call will be held on and December 18, 2003 at 2 p.m. 
Eastern Time. Participants may call toll-free 888-655-9181. Please have 
the conference passcode ready: 54485.

Content and Form of Submission

    Letter of Intent (LOI): CDC requires that you send a LOI if you 
intend to apply for this program. Your LOI will be used to gauge the 
level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC to plan the 
application review. Eligibility information is not required with the 
LOI. Your application should not accompany the LOI. Your LOI must be 
written in the following format:
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: One
    [sbull] Font size: 12-point unreduced
    [sbull] Paper size: 8.5 x 11 inches
    [sbull] Page margin size: One-inch
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page
    [sbull] Double-spaced.
    [sbull] Your LOI must contain the following information:
    [sbull] Program announcement title and number.
    [sbull] Applicant's name and address.
    [sbull] Focus area for which you intend to apply.
    [sbull] If applying for Focus Area 2, in which region(s) you intend 
to provide services.
    [sbull] CBA Consumers you intend to serve.

Application

    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:

Format

    Your application must be submitted in the following format:
    [sbull] All material must be typewritten; single-spaced.
    [sbull] Maximum number of pages: 40 pages (excluding budget, 
appendices and attachments). 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 x 11 inches.
    [sbull] Page margin size: One-inch.
    [sbull] Printed only on one side of page.
    [sbull] Program announcement title and number must appear in the 
application.
    [sbull] The original and each copy of the application sent must be 
submitted unstapled and unbound. Held together only by rubber bands or 
metal clips; not bound in any other way.
    [sbull] Number each page, including appendices and attachments, 
sequentially and provide a complete table of contents to the 
application and its appendices and attachments.
    Please begin each separate section of the application on a new 
page.
    [sbull] Headers and footers printed on one side only.
    [sbull] Applicants may not apply for more than two focus areas.
    [sbull] Applicants must submit a separate application for each 
focus area.
    [sbull] Applicants must submit a signed original and two copies of 
your application forms.

Proof of Eligibility

    Applicants must complete this section on Proof of Eligibility, 
including providing the following documents as appropriate. Failure to 
provide the required documentation will result in your application 
being disqualified and returned to you without further review.
    a. Provide documentation that your organization has the specific 
charge from its executive board or governing body to operate nationally 
or regionally (i.e., a multi-state/territory) within the United States 
and its Territories. Documentation should include a copy of the section 
of your organization's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or Board 
Resolution.
    b. Provide a copy of the current, valid Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS) determination letter of your organization's 501(c) 3 tax-exempt 
status.
    c. Provide evidence that your organization has a three-year track 
record providing CBA in the focus area for which you intend to apply.
    d. Provide evidence that your organization has a three-year track 
record providing CBA to consumers that serve the major racial/ethnic 
minority population(s) identified in your proposal; or providing direct 
HIV prevention services to a major racial/ethnic minority population 
identified in your proposal.

Abstract

    Please provide a brief two-page summary of your proposed program 
activities, including the following information:
    a. A description of your CBA consumers.
    b. A description of the major racial/ethnic minority population 
that will be the focus for your CBA consumers.
    c. The focus area for which you intend to apply.
    d. A brief description of your strategy that includes: (1) A 
description of your CBA; (2) the conditions you are seeking to change; 
and (3) the outcomes you are seeking to achieve.
    e. If applying for Focus Area 2, indicate which region the program 
will serve and how it will be regionally structured.

[[Page 67563]]

Narrative

    You must include a project narrative with your application and must 
include the following items in the order listed below. Your application 
will be evaluated on the information in these sections. It is important 
to follow the format provided in laying out your program proposal.

Program Plan

    The program plan will include a description of your CBA program and 
strategy, objectives, activities, and timeline as follows:

CBA Program and Strategy

    a. If applying for Focus Area 1, provide a description of your 
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a 
description of the administrative, financial, accounting, and human 
resource models used to build organizational infrastructure capacity of 
HIV prevention CBOs (e.g., grant writing, fiscal management, board 
development, staff and volunteer development, and strategic planning).
    b. If applying for Focus Area 2, provide a description of your 
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a 
description of the HIV prevention interventions you have helped to 
implement (adapted or adopted) or evaluated. Your strategy must include 
information on how you intend to build capacity for interventions such 
as: Health education and risk reduction and avoidance; outreach 
capacity and preparation for testing; testing; referrals; prevention 
and partner counseling; prevention case management; and interventions 
to prevent perinatal transmission.
    c. If applying for Focus Area 3, provide a description of your 
model. Also include information on: (1) Data demonstrating evidence 
that your model will be successful; (2) how this model is appropriate 
for the selected community; (3) conditions you expect to influence; (4) 
outcomes you expect to achieve; (5) a strategy for implementation; and 
(6) description of training materials including curricula.
    d. If applying for Focus Area 4, provide a description of your 
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a 
description of how CPG needs will be addressed including, but not 
limited to, orientation to the community planning process; process 
management; parity, inclusion and representation; using data to support 
decision making; needs assessments; priority setting; intervention 
effectiveness; and evaluation of the planning process.

Objectives

    What are your objectives to address the general and focus area-
specific awardee activities in the focus area for which you intend to 
apply?

    Note: Some of these objectives should address the development of 
protocols for these activities--i.e., a protocol for undertaking a 
coordinated systems approach to delivering regionally structured CBA 
services.

Activities

    Describe your proposed activities. These activities must relate to 
each of the objectives listed above.

Timeline

    Provide a timeline and list staff responsible for implementing 
activities in the first year.

Program Experience

    a. Describe your organization's program experience as it relates to 
the focus area for which you intend to apply.
    b. Address the methods that you have used to provide CBA services 
and to whom.
    c. Address your organization's program experience collaborating 
with other CBA providers and state and local health departments.
    d. Address your organization's program experience in providing CBA 
that responds effectively to the cultural, gender, environmental, 
social, and linguistic characteristics of your CBA consumers. In 
answering this question, describe the types of services provided and 
list any culturally-, linguistically-, and developmentally appropriate 
curricula and materials that your organization has adapted or 
developed.

Organizational Capacity

    a. Submit your organizational chart and indicate where the proposed 
program will be located.
    b. Describe your fiscal management systems and how it functions.
    c. Describe your human resource management system and how it 
functions.
    d. Describe your Management Information System (MIS), its 
functional role and software assets.
    e. Provide the number, and describe the organizational expertise, 
of your full-time employees (FTEs).
    f. Summarize how the systems and assets described above will be 
used to support and manage the proposed program.

Evaluation Monitoring Plan

    a. Provide baseline, one-year interim and five-year overall target 
performance goals based on the core performance indicators and 
performance indicators by focus area.
    b. Describe the process and outcome data you will collect.

    Note: Data collected must relate to your objectives and the 
performance indicators.

    c. Describe your methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting 
and reporting process and outcome data.
    d. Describe your plans for using process and outcome data to 
improve your program.

Budget and Staffing Breakdown and Justification:

    a. Provide a detailed budget for each proposed activity. Justify 
all operating expenses in relation to the planned activities and stated 
objectives. CDC may not approve or fund all proposed activities. Be 
precise about the program purpose of each budget item and itemize 
calculations wherever appropriate.
    b. For each contract and consultant contained within the 
application budget, describe the type(s) of organizations or parties to 
be selected and the method of selection; identify the specific 
contractor(s), if known; describe the services to be performed, and 
justify the use of a third party to perform these services; provide a 
breakdown of and justification for the estimated costs of the contracts 
and consultants; specify the period of performance; and describe the 
methods to be used for contract monitoring.
    c. Provide a job description for each position, specifying job 
title, function, general duties, and activities. Also provide salary 
range or rate of pay and the level of effort and percentage of time to 
be spent on activities that would be funded through this cooperative 
agreement. If the identity of any key personnel who will fill a 
position is known, his/her name and resume should be attached. 
Experience and training related to the proposed project should be 
noted. If the identity of staff is not known, describe your recruitment 
plan. If volunteers are involved in the project, provide job 
descriptions.

    Note: If indirect costs are requested, you must provide a copy 
of your organization's current negotiated Federal indirect cost rate 
agreement.

Funding Restrictions

    Funding restrictions, which must be taken into account while 
writing your budget, are as follows:
    a. Funds available under this announcement must support CBA that 
improves the capacity of the CBA consumers to implement, improve, and 
sustain programs that support the

[[Page 67564]]

delivery of effective HIV prevention services for high-risk racial/
ethnic minority populations.
    b. Funds available under this announcement (for Focus Areas 1 and 
2) must support CBA that gives priority to CBOs directly-funded by CDC, 
followed by CBOs funded by state and local health departments.
    c. These federal funds may not supplant or duplicate existing 
funding.
    d. No funds will be provided for direct provision of health 
education and risk reduction and avoidance (HERR) services or patient 
care, including substance abuse treatment, medical treatment, or 
medications.
    e. These Federal funds may not be used to support the cost of 
developing applications for other federal funds.
    f. Before using funds awarded through this cooperative agreement to 
develop HIV prevention materials, awardees must check with the CDC 
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) to determine if suitable 
materials are already available. Also, materials developed by awardees 
must be made available for dissemination through the CDC NPIN. For 
further information on NPIN services and resources, contact NPIN at 1-
800-458-5231; visit its Web site at http://www.cdcnpin.org; or send 
requests by fax to 1-888-282-7681 (TTY users: 1-800-243-7012).
    If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must 
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. If your indirect 
cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement must be less than 12 
months of age.
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit.

Appendices

    In addition to the documents required in the Proof of Eligibility 
section of your application, the following appendices should be 
included in your application, if relevant:
    a. list of all organizations with which you will cooperate to avoid 
duplication of effort and ensure that gaps in CBA services are 
addressed. Include Memoranda of Agreement from each such organization 
as evidence of cooperative relationships. Memoranda of Agreement should 
specifically describe the proposed cooperative activities. These 
documents must be submitted annually with each interim progress report.
    b. A list of culturally-, linguistically-, and developmentally-
appropriate materials that are available and currently being delivered.
    c. A description of funding received from CDC or other sources 
(federal, state, local, private, etc.) to conduct similar activities 
that includes:
    (1) A summary of current funds and income received to conduct CBA 
programs. This summary must include the name of the sponsoring 
organization/source of income, level of funding, a description of how 
the funds have been used, and the budget period. In addition, identify 
proposed personnel who will conduct the activities of this project and 
who are supported by other funding sources (include their roles and 
responsibilities).
    (2) A summary of the objectives and activities of the funded 
programs that are described above.
    (3) An explanation of how funds requested in this application will 
be used differently or in ways that will expand upon programs that are 
supported with existing or future funds.
    (4) An assurance that the requested funds will not duplicate or 
supplant funds that have been received from any other Federal or non-
Federal source. CDC-awarded funds may be used to expand or enhance 
services supported by other Federal or non-Federal funding sources.
    d. Independent audit statements from a certified public accountant 
for the previous two years.
    e. A copy of the organization's current negotiated Federal indirect 
cost rate agreement, if applicable.

    Note: Materials, which should be part of the basic plan, will 
not be accepted if placed in the appendices.

Submission Date, Time, and Address

    LOI Deadline Date: December 22, 2003.
    LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express, delivery 
service, or e-mail to: Samuel Taveras, Team Leader, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB 
Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, 
Mailstop E-40, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone: 404-639-5241, E-mail 
address: [email protected].
    Application Deadline Date: January 26, 2004.
    Application Submission Address: Submit your application by mail or 
express delivery service to: Technical Information management-PA 04019, 
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 
30341. Applications will not be accepted by fax or email.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in 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 carrier's guarantee. If the documentation 
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having 
been received by the deadline.
    If you have a question about the receipt of your application, first 
contact your courier. If you still have a question, contact the 
Procurement and Grants Office--Technical Information Management (TIMS) 
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.
    CDC will not notify applicants concerning receipt of applications.

Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Your application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs, as governed by Executive Order (EO) 12372. This order sets up 
a system for state and local governmental review of proposed federal 
assistance applications. You should contact your state single point of 
contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert the SPOC to prospective 
applications, and to receive instructions on your state's process. 
Click on the following link to get the current SPOC list: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

V. Application Review Information

    Review 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. Therefore, you must set baseline, annual, and 
five

[[Page 67565]]

year overall target levels of performance for each core performance 
indicators and performance indicator by focus area identified in this 
program announcement. These target levels of performance must be 
reflected in your objectives, submitted with the application, and will 
be an element of evaluation.
    Each application will be evaluated individually by an independent 
review group appointed by CDC. Applications will be rated according to 
the quality of responses to the questions listed in the Content and 
Form of Submission section of this announcement and the quality of the 
stated process objectives. The criteria against which the questions 
will be rated and the number of points allocated to each component of 
the application are listed below. Your application will be evaluated 
against the following evaluation criteria:

1. Program Plan

    a. Is the program and strategy based on sound reasoning or 
evidence? (10 points)
    b. Are the proposed program objectives specific, measurable, 
achievable, realistic, and time-phased? (10 points)
    c. What is the likelihood that proposed program activities will 
accomplish the proposed program objectives? (10 points)
    d. Is the timeline feasible? (10 points) (40 points)

2. Program Experience

    Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of 
CBA in the focus area for which they intend to apply? (20 Points)

3. Organizational Capacity

    Does the applicant demonstrate current organizational capacity to 
implement the focus area for which they are applying? (20 Points)

4. Evaluation Monitoring Plan

    Is the evaluation-monitoring plan feasible and does it address the 
required target goals, process and outcome data collection, analysis, 
and reporting activities? (20 Points)
    Review and Selection Process: An objective review panel will 
evaluate your application according to the criteria listed above. In 
addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
    1. CDC's commitment to ensure overall funding for CBA services that 
serves each of the four major racial/ethnic minority populations for 
all five regions.
    2. CDC's commitment to ensure overall funding for CBA services that 
is distributed in proportion to the HIV/AIDS disease burden among high-
risk racial/ethnic minority populations.
    3. CDC's commitment to ensure that overall funding for CBA services 
is distributed proportionally in all regions and according to the 
number of CBA consumers located in each region.
    4. Under Focus Area 3, CDC's commitment to ensure that funding for 
CBA serves different high-risk sub-groups including, but not limited 
to, Men who have sex with men (MSM), Injection Drug Users (IDU), women, 
migrant workers at risk for HIV infection and high-risk youth.
    5. Under Focus Area 3, CDC's commitment to ensure that funding for 
CBA includes strategies involving faith-based organizations.

VI. Award Administration Information

    Award Notices: If your application is funded, you will receive a 
Notice of Grant Award (NGA) from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. 
The NGA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the 
recipient and CDC. 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 parts 74 
and 92.
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
    [sbull] AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
    [sbull] AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and 
Ethnic Minorities in Research
    [sbull] AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
    [sbull] AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
    [sbull] AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
    [sbull] AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
    [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-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
    [sbull] AR-16 Security Clearance Requirement
    [sbull] AR-20 Conference Support
    [sbull] AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
    [sbull] AR-22 Research Integrity
    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 an original, plus two copies of the 
following reports:
    1. First semi-annual progress report, it can serve as your interim 
progress report, no less than 120 days before the end of the budget 
period. The report must contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities and 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 including: (1) Data related to 
performance target goals; (2) data on progress toward achieving 
objectives; (3) an inventory of total Individual Capacity Building 
Assistance and proactive training for the reporting period; and (4) 
data related to the quality assurance system.
    2. Second semi-annual progress report shall be due 30 days after 
each budget period ends. Specific guidance on what to include in this 
report will be provided three months before the due date. This report 
should include the following:
    a. Base line and actual level of performance on core performance 
indicators and performance indicators by focus area.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. Additional requested information.
    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.
    5. Submit any newly developed public information resources and 
materials to the CDC National Prevention Information Network (formerly 
the AIDS Information Clearinghouse) so that they can be incorporated 
into the current database for access by other organizations and 
agencies.
    6. HIV Content Review Guidelines.
    a. Submit completed Assurance of Compliance with the Requirements 
for Contents of AIDS-Related Written Materials Form (CDC form--0.1113). 
This form lists the members of your program review panel. The form is 
enclosed with your application kit. The current Guidelines and the form 
can also be downloaded from the CDC Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm. Please include this completed form with your 
application.

[[Page 67566]]

This form must be signed by the project director and authorized 
business official.
    b. You must also include documentation of approval by the relevant 
review panel of any HIV educational materials used by your project. Use 
the enclosed form Report of Approval. If you have nothing to submit, 
you must complete the enclosed form No Report Necessary. Either the 
Report of Approval or No Report Necessary must be included with all 
progress reports and continuation requests.
    7. Address your organization's adherence to CDC policies for 
securing approval for CDC sponsorship of conferences. If you plan to 
hold a conference, you must send a copy of the agenda to CDC's Grants 
Management Office.
    8. If you plan to use materials using CDC's name, send a copy of 
the proposed material to CDC's Grants Management Office for approval.

    Note: Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in the Section VII. Agency Contacts section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Technical Information Management 
Section (TIMS), Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Samuel Taveras, Team 
Leader, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for 
HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 1600 
Clifton Road, Mailstop E-40, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-
5241, E-mail address: [email protected].
    For budget assistance, contact: Carlos Smiley, Grants Officer, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants 
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-4146, 
Telephone: 770-488-2722, e-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: November 21, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-29806 Filed 11-26-03; 11:20 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P