[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26111-26112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10619]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 04193]


Quality Assurance of HIV and HIV/AIDS-Related Testing; Notice of 
Intent To Fund Single Eligibility Award

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for to improve the quality of laboratory testing services in 
support of HIV prevention, surveillance, care and treatment programs in 
Zimbabwe. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this 
program is 93.939.

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the Zimbabwe National Quality 
Assurance Program (ZINQAP). ZINQAP is uniquely qualified to be the 
recipient organization for the following reasons:
    a. ZINQAP is the only laboratory quality assurance body in Zimbabwe 
and has been in existence since 1995 with the mission of assisting 
laboratories to attain and maintain a high standard of performance. 
ZINQAP has sole government authority by Zimbabwe's Health Professions 
Authority (HPA) to certify laboratories.
    b. ZINQAP coordinated the development of Zimbabwe's national 
standards for medical laboratories and test sites. These standards 
require laboratories and test sites to implement and maintain quality 
assurance activities. Laboratories adhering to these standards will be 
approved by ZINQAP. It is anticipated that laboratories and test sites 
meeting these standards will be recognized by the HPA as meeting the 
legal requirements for operating a medical laboratory service.
    c. ZINQAP currently provides a limited proficiency-testing program 
for approximately 90 laboratories and test sites within the country; 
and, as such, has established relationships with district, provincial, 
and regional laboratories within the country. This is the only existing 
in-country quality assurance program and, with minimal time, it can 
expand its capabilities.
    d. ZINQAP has established relationships with U.S.-based scientists, 
international quality assurance experts, and local governmental public 
health officials. ZINQAP routinely interfaces with appropriate 
officials on issues affecting the quality of Zimbabwe's laboratory test 
results.

C. Funding

    Approximately $200,000 is available in FY 2004 to fund this award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or before July 15, 2004, 
and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period 
of up to three years. Funding estimates may change.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: 
Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Shannon Hader, M.D., 
Director, CDC Zimbabwe, 38 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare ZIMBABWE,

[[Page 26112]]

Telephone: 263-4 796040, E-mail: [email protected];
or
    Stacy M. Howard, Health Scientist (Project Officer), Division of 
Laboratory Systems, Public Health Practice Program Office, 4770 Buford 
Hwy., MS A-16, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-8065, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For budget assistance, contact: Shirley Wynn, Grants Management 
Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2696, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: May 5, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-10619 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P