[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 89 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25585-25589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10451]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Funding Opportunity Title: Conference Support Grant Program for 
Family Planning Public Education and Information Activities

    Announcement Type: Competitive Grant--Initial.
    CFDA Number: 93.217.

DATES: To receive consideration, applications must be received by the 
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) Office of Grants Management 
no later than July 6, 2004.

SUMMARY: The Office of Family Planning (OFP), Office of Population 
Affairs (OPA), announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 
funds for a grant program for family planning public education and 
information conference support. Three to five grants will be awarded to 
provide partial support for non-Federal conference activities in topic 
areas relevant to the delivery of family planning services. Successful 
applicants will conduct public education and information activities (as 
part of a larger conference) that will enhance and support the mission 
of the Title X family planning program.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    This announcement seeks proposals from public and private non-
profit entities for the purpose of providing partial support for 
specific non-Federal one-time conference program activities in the area 
of family planning and related preventive health. A conference is a 
symposium, seminar, workshop, or any other organized and formal meeting 
lasting one day or more, where persons assemble to exchange information 
and views, explore, or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of 
knowledge, whether or not a published report results from such meeting. 
The OFP will not consider applications which seek funding for a series 
of conferences. The funding conference program activity or activities 
should support OFP principles in furtherance of the family planning 
program mission.
    Title X of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300, et seq., 
authorizes grants for projects to provide family planning services to 
persons from low-income families and others. Section 1001 of the Act, 
as amended, authorizes grants ``to assist in the establishment and 
operation of voluntary family planning projects which shall offer a 
broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and 
services (including natural family planning methods, infertility 
services, and services for adolescents).'' Section 1005 of the Act, as 
amended, authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public or nonprofit 
private entities ``to assist in developing and making available family 
planning and population growth information (including educational 
materials) to all persons desiring such information (or materials).''
    Conference support by the OFP creates the appearance of OFP co-
sponsorship. Therefore, there will be active participation by OFP in 
the development and approval of the conference agenda. OFP funds will 
be expended only for approved portions of the funded conference program 
activity.
    OFP provides grant support to public and private non-profit 
agencies to support the delivery of family planning and related 
preventive health services to those in need of such services. In 
addition, OFP supports public information and education activities, as 
well as applied research in order to support effective, evidence-based 
public health strategies and practices by its service grantees. Through 
the support of conferences and meetings, including symposia, seminars 
and workshops (not as part of series) in the area of family planning 
research, education, program development and prevention application, 
OFP is meeting its overall training goals. OFP believes that 
conferences and similar meetings permit individuals who are engaged in 
family planning service delivery, related research, and policy to 
interact. This is critical for the development and implementation of 
effective family planning programs.

Conference Support Topics of Interest

    Applications for conference support activities must address topic 
areas that are consistent with the goals and mission of the Title X 
family planning program and should reflect HHS' Departmental 
Priorities. Examples of possible topics include (but are not limited 
to) the following:
     Program coordination with adolescent abstinence education 
programs and/or approaches for effective integration of adolescent 
abstinence education and counseling services in the family planning 
clinic setting;
     Models for implementation of the ``ABC'' approach to HIV/
AIDS prevention, education and counseling in family planning settings. 
That is, for adolescents and unmarried individuals, the message is 
``A'' for abstinence; for married or individuals in committed 
relationships, the message is ``B'' for being faithful; and, for 
individuals who

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engage in behavior that puts them at risk for HIV, the message is ``C'' 
for condom use;
     Couples-based service delivery and counseling, including 
services to improve communication for effective and consistent family 
planning method use;
     Linkages with other public health delivery systems--
integration of family planning with primary care in community health 
centers, alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, 
family and intimate family violence prevention, community-based 
abstinence education services, HIV and STD prevention and treatment 
services, or training on infant adoption counseling;
     Parental involvement in the delivery of services to 
adolescents, including approaches to counseling that involve families 
in assisting adolescent decision-making and in avoiding coercive sexual 
relationships;
     Use of electronic technologies to improve or support 
family planning program activities and management;
     Use of evidence-based information, including findings from 
recent research, to improve or support the delivery of family planning 
services;
     Best practice approaches to specific issues relevant to 
the delivery of family planning clinical services and related 
preventive health care, e.g., cervical cancer screening and patient 
management, or the delivery of reproductive health services to HIV 
positive individuals;
     The development and implementation of quality assurance 
and performance measurement systems in family planning programs;
     Training, counseling or other program approaches to ensure 
compliance with state reporting laws regarding child abuse, child 
molestation, sexual abuse, rape or incest; and
     Population specific issues in the delivery of family 
planning services--women's reproductive health, men's reproductive 
health, contraceptive updates, hard-to-serve populations, sexually 
active adolescents, or populations with Limited English Proficiency.

Conference Requirements

    Grantees must meet the following requirements:
    1. The conference organizer(s) may use OFP's name only in factual 
publicity for the conference. The materials developed as part of the 
conference program activities supported under this grant announcement 
need to include a statement clarifying that OFP funding of the 
conference activity does not constitute OFP's endorsement of the 
organizer's general policies, activities, products, or the content of 
speakers' presentations.
    2. Any conference co-sponsored under this announcement shall be 
held in facilities that are fully accessible to the public as required 
by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines 
(ADAAG).
    3. Manage all activities related to program content (e.g., 
objectives, topics, attendees, session design, workshops, special 
exhibits, speaker's fees, agenda composition, and printing). Many of 
these items may be developed in concert with assigned OFP project 
personnel.
    4. Provide draft copies of the conference agenda, and proposed 
program content as described in item 3 to OFP for approval 45 
days prior to the conference event. All but 10 percent of the total 
funds awarded for the proposed conference will be initially restricted 
pending OFP approval of a full, final agenda. The remaining 90 percent 
of funds will be released by letter to the grantee upon approval of the 
final agenda. OFP reserves the right to terminate co-sponsorship at any 
time.
    5. Determine and manage all promotional activities (e.g., title, 
logo, announcements, mailers, press, etc.). OFP must review and approve 
any materials with reference to OFP involvement or support.
    6. Manage all registration processes with participants, invitees, 
and registrants (e.g., travel, reservations, correspondence, conference 
materials and handouts, badges, registration procedures, etc.).
    7. Plan, negotiate, and manage conference site arrangements, 
including all audio-visual needs.
    8. Analyze data from conference activities that pertain to OFP 
funded activities, and submit a written report to the OFP project 
officer within 60 after the completion of the conference.

Use of Funds

    1. Funds may be used for direct cost expenditures: Salaries; 
speaker fees (for services rendered); rental of necessary conference--
related equipment; registration fees; and transportation costs (not to 
exceed economy class fare) for non-Federal individuals.
    2. Funds may be used for only those parts of the conference 
specifically supported by OPA/OFP as documented in the grant award.
    3. Funds may not be used for the purchase of equipment; payments of 
honoraria (for conferring distinction); alterations or renovations; 
organizational dues; support entertainment or personal expenses; cost 
of travel and payment of a Federal employee; per diem or expenses for 
local participants (other than local mileage). Travel for Federal 
employees will be supported by the employees' Federal agency.
    4. Funds may not be used for reimbursement of indirect costs.
    5. OPA/OFP will not fund a conference after it has taken place.
    6. Federal funds may not be used to fund novelty items or 
souvenirs.

Application Content

    Applications must include the following information:
    1. Summary of conference format--projected agenda (including list 
of principal areas or topics to be addressed), including speakers or 
facilitator. Information should also be provided about all other 
national, regional, and local conferences held on the same or similar 
subject during the last three years. The summary should include a one-
page cover sheet with the following information:
    a. Name of organization (Primary contact person's name, mailing 
address, telephone number, and fax number and e-mail address, if 
available).
    b. Name of conference.
    c. Location of conference.
    d. Date(s) of conference.
    e. Intended audience and number of conference attendees.
    f. Dollar amount requested.
    g. Total conference budget amount.
    2. A clear statement of the need for and purpose of the conference, 
and the principal area(s) or topic(s) to be addressed in the 
conference, as well as the specific conference program activity for 
which support is being sought. Justification for the conference should 
describe the issues it intends to clarify and the developments it may 
stimulate, and a full description of your organization's purpose, 
mission and experience related to the proposed conference topic.
    3. A proposed or final conference agenda must be included. Include 
information about the location of city, state, and physical facilities 
required for the conduct of the meeting, as well as the title of the 
proposed conference (conference, symposium, workshop, or similar 
designation) and the scope of the conference (national, regional, 
local).
    4. An elaboration on the overall conference objectives, the 
objectives for the conference program activities for which OFP support 
is being sought, the target audience, and expected products (e.g., 
conference proceedings or final report) should be included. This 
statement should describe any issues or

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problems the conference will address or seek to solve, and the action 
items or resolutions it may stimulate. Include information on the 
expected registration, the intended audience, approximate number, and 
profession of persons expected to attend.
    5. A clear description of the evaluation for the specific 
conference program activities being supported under the grant award, 
and how it will assess the accomplishments of the conference program 
objectives should be included. A sample of the evaluation instrument 
that will be used must be included and a step-by-step schedule and 
detailed operation plan of major conference planning activities 
necessary to attain specified objectives.
    6. Biographical sketches are required for the individuals 
responsible for planning and implementing the conference. Experience 
and training related to conference planning and implementation as it 
relates to the proposed topic should be noted.
    7. Letters of endorsement or support--Letters of endorsement or 
support for the sponsoring organization and its capability to perform 
the proposed conference activity should be included.
    8. Budget plan and justification--A clearly justified budget 
narrative that is consistent with the purpose, objectives, and 
operation plan of the conference must be included. The narrative will 
consist of a budget that includes the share requested from this grant 
as well as those funds from other sources, including organizations, 
institutions, conference income, and/or registration fees. The 
application must include the estimated total cost of the conference 
program activity and the percentage of the total cost (which must be 
less than 100 percent) being requested from OFP. Requests for 100 
percent funding will be considered non-responsive to this program 
announcement and will be returned to the applicant without review.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated Total Funding: $300,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 3-5.
    Expected Amounts of Individual Awards: Range of $30,000 to 80,000.
    Project Periods for Awards: 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Any public or nonprofit private entity located in a State (which 
includes one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, 
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands) is eligible to apply for a grant under this announcement. 
Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for family planning 
public education and information conference support. Awards will be 
made only to those organizations or agencies which have met all 
applicable requirements and which demonstrate the capability of 
providing the proposed services.

2. Cost Sharing

    OPA/OFP will not fund 100 percent of any conference proposed under 
this announcement. Part of the cost of the proposed conference must be 
supported with other private or Federal funds.

3. Other

    Applicants 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. Organizations should verify that 
they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to obtain one. 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. Instructions for 
obtaining a DUNS number are also included in the application package, 
and may be downloaded from the OPA Web site. For more information, see 
the OPA Web site at: http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov/duns.html.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Application kits may be requested from, and applications submitted 
to: OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, 
Rockville, MD 20852: 301-594-0758. Application kits are also available 
online at the OPA Web site at http://opa.osophs.dhh.gov, may be 
requested by fax at 301-594-9399, or may be obtained through the 
electronic grants management system, e-Grants. (Instructions for the 
use of the e-Grants system can be found on the OPA Web site or 
requested from the OPHS Office of Grants Management.)

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    Applications must be submitted on the Form OPHS-1 (Revised 6/01) 
and in the manner prescribed in the application kit. Applications are 
limited to 50 double-spaced pages, not including appendices and 
required forms, using an easily readable, 12-point font. All pages, 
charts, figures and tables should be numbered. Appendices may provide 
curriculum vitae, organizational structure, examples of organizational 
capabilities, or other supplemental information that supports the 
application. All information that is critical to the proposed project 
should be included in the body of the application. Appendices are for 
supportive information only and should be clearly labeled.
    Applications must include a one-page abstract of the proposed 
project. The abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an 
overview of the application, and will form the basis for the 
application summary in grants management documents.
    A copy of the legislation and regulations governing the family 
planning program will be included as part of the application kit 
package. Applicants should use the legislation, regulations, and other 
information included in this announcement to guide them in developing 
their applications. Copies of the Title X statute, regulations, and 
Program Guidelines may be downloaded from the Office of Population 
Affairs Web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov. In responding to this 
announcement, applicants should also familiarize themselves with:
    1. Title X Family Planning Priorities, Legislative Mandates, and 
Key Issues;
    2. Department of Health and Human Services Departmental Priorities; 
and
    3. Healthy People 2010--Chapter 9, ``Family Planning;'' Chapter 11, 
``Health Communication;'' Chapter 13, ``Sexually Transmitted 
Diseases;'' and Chapter 25, ``HIV.''
    Copies of these documents are included in the application kit for 
this announcement.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The OFP/OPA provides multiple mechanisms for submission of 
applications.
Electronic Submission
    The electronic grants management system, e-Grants, provides for 
applications to be submitted electronically. While applications are 
accepted in hard copy, the use of the e-Grants system is encouraged. 
Instructions for use of this system are available on the OPA Web site, 
http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov, or may be requested from the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management at 301-594-0758.

[[Page 25588]]

    The body of the application and required forms can be submitted 
using the e-Grants system. In addition to electronically submitted 
materials, applicants are required to provide a hard copy of the 
application face page (Standard Form 424 [Revised 7-97]) with the 
original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant 
agency or organization and to assume for the organization the 
obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The 
application is not considered complete until both the electronic 
application and the hard copy face page with original signature are 
received. Both must be received on or before the due date listed in the 
DATES section of this announcement.
Mailed Hard Copy Applications
    Applications submitted in hard copy are required to submit an 
original and two copies of the application. The original application 
must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant 
agency or organization and to assume for the organization the 
obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. 
Mailed applications will be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are received by the OPHS Office of Grant Management on or before the 
deadline listed in the DATES section of this announcement. The 
application due date requirement specified in this announcement 
supercedes the instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not 
meet the deadline will be returned to the applicant unread.
Hand-Delivered Applications
    Hand-delivered applications must be received by the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, Maryland 
20852, not later than 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time on the 
application due date. Hand-delivered applications must include an 
original and two copies of the application. The original application 
must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant 
agency or organization and to assume for the organization the 
obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
    Applications delivered to the OPHS Office of Grants Management 
after the deadlines described above will not be accepted for review. 
Applications which do not conform to the requirements of this program 
announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned to 
the applicant.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    Applicants under this announcement are subject to the requirements 
of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' as implemented by 45 CFR part 100, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and 
Activities.'' As soon as possible, the applicant should discuss the 
project with the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the state in 
which the applicant is located. The application kit contains the 
currently available listing of the SPOCs that have elected to be 
informed of the submission of applications. For those states not 
represented on the listing, further inquiries should be made by the 
applicant regarding the submission to the relevant SPOC. The SPOC's 
should forward any comments to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The SPOC 
has 60 days from the closing date of this announcement to submit any 
comments. For further information, contact the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management at 301-594-0758.

5. Funding Restrictions

    The allowability, allocability, reasonableness and necessity of 
direct and indirect costs that may be charged to OPHS grants are 
outlined in the following documents: OMB Circular A-21 (Institutions of 
Higher Education); OMB Circular A-87 (State and Local Governments); OMB 
Circular A-122 (Nonprofit Organizations); and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix 
E (Hospitals). Copies of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circulars are available on the Internet at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_circulars.html.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Eligible competing grant applications will be assessed according to 
the following criteria:
1. Proposed Program and Technical Approach (25 Points)
    a. The public health significance of the proposed conference 
program activities for which OFP funding is being sought.
    b. The applicant's description of the proposed conference as it 
relates to specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of family 
planning and related preventive health, including the public health 
need of the proposed conference and the degree to which the conference 
can be expected to influence public health practices. Evaluation will 
also be based on the extent of the applicant's collaboration with other 
organizations serving the intended audience. The applicant's 
description of conference objectives in terms of quality, specificity, 
and the feasibility of the conference based on the operational plan 
will also be evaluated.
2. Applicant's Capability and Qualifications of Program Personnel (25 
Points)
    The applicant's capability includes the adequacy of the applicant's 
resources (additional sources of funding, organization's strengths, 
staff time, proposed physical facilities, etc.) available for 
conducting conference activities.
    a. The qualifications, experience, and commitment of the principal 
staff person, and their ability to devote adequate time and effort to 
provide effective leadership.
    b. The competence of associate staff persons, discussion leaders, 
speakers, and presenters to accomplish conference objectives.
    c. The degree to which the applicant demonstrates the knowledge of 
nationwide and educational efforts currently underway which may affect, 
and be affected by, the proposed conference.
3. Conference Program Objectives (25 Points)
    a. The overall quality, reasonableness, feasibility, and logic of 
the designed conference program objectives, including the overall work 
plan and timetable for accomplishment.
    b. The likelihood of accomplishing conference program objectives as 
they relate to family planning program priorities and missions and the 
feasibility of the project in terms of the operational plan.
4. Evaluation Methods (10 Points)
    Evaluation instrument(s) for the conference should adequately 
assess increased knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the target 
audience.
5. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities (15 Points)
    The proposed budget will be evaluated on the basis of its 
reasonableness, concise and clear justification, and consistency with 
the intended use of grant funds. The application will also be reviewed 
as to the adequacy of existing or proposed facilities and resources for 
conducting conference activities.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Each application submitted will be screened to determine whether it 
was

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received by the closing date and time. Applications, which meet the 
initial screening requirements will be reviewed by a panel of 
independent reviewers and will be assessed according to the criteria 
published in this announcement.
    Final award decisions will be made by the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). In making these decisions, 
the DASPA will take into consideration: Recommendations of the review 
panel; reviews for programmatic and grants management compliance; the 
reasonableness of the estimated cost to the government considering the 
available funding and anticipated results; and the likelihood that the 
proposed project will result in the benefits expected. Awards will be 
made only to those organizations or agencies which have demonstrated 
the capability of providing the proposed services, and which have met 
all applicable requirements.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    OPA does not release information about individual applications 
until final funding decisions have been made. When final decisions have 
been made, applicants will be notified by letter regarding the outcome 
of their applications. The official document notifying an applicant 
that a project application has been approved for funding is the Notice 
of Grant Award, signed by the Director of the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management, which specifies to the grantee the amount of money awarded, 
the purposes of the grant, the length of the project period, and the 
terms and conditions of the grant award.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    In accepting this award, the grantee stipulates that the award and 
any activities thereunder are subject to all provisions in 45 CFR parts 
74 (non-governmental) and 92 (governmental) currently in effect or 
implemented during the period of the grant.
    The Buy American Act of 1933, as amended (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d), 
requires that Government agencies give priority to domestic products 
when making purchasing decisions. Therefore, to the greatest extent 
practicable, all equipment and products purchased with grant funds 
should be American-made.
    A notice providing information and guidance regarding the 
``Government-wide Implementation of the President's Welfare-to-Work 
Initiative for Federal Grant Programs'' was published in the Federal 
Register on May 16, 1997. This initiative was designated to facilitate 
and encourage grantees and their subrecipients to hire welfare 
recipients and to provide additional needed training and/or mentoring 
as needed. The text of the notice is available electronically on the 
OMB home page at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb.
    The HHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project which will 
be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of 
the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
governmental sources.

3. Reporting

    A successful applicant under this notice will submit: (a) Progress 
reports; (b) annual Financial Status Reports; and (c) a final progress 
report and Financial Status Report. Reporting formats are established 
in accordance with provisions of the general regulations, which apply 
under 45 CAR parts 74 and 92. Applicants must submit all required 
reports in a timely manner, in recommended formats (to be provided) and 
submit a final report on the project, including any information on 
evaluation results, at the completion of the project period. Agencies 
receiving $500,000 or more in total Federal funds are required to 
undergo an annual audit as described in OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of 
States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.''

VI. Agency Contacts

    OPHS Office of Grants Management Contact: Karen Campbell, Office of 
Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of 
Health and Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, 
Maryland, 20852. E-mail: [email protected]; telephone: 301-594-
0758.
    Program Office Contact: Susan Moskosky, Director, Office of Family 
Planning, Office of Population Affairs, Office of Public Health and 
Science, Department of Health and Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, 
Suite 750, Rockville, Maryland, 20852. E-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone: 301-594-4008.

    Dated: April 21, 2004.
Alma L. Golden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs, Office of Population 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-10451 Filed 5-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-34-P