[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31121-31122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12243]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Partners Invited To Participate in the National HIV Testing Day 
Initiative

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks to 
partner with other public and private sector organizations to support a 
Federal initiative to promote greater testing for HIV. This initiative 
will support and promote National HIV Testing Day, which will be held 
on June 27, 2004. HHS, in coordination with the National Association of 
People With AIDS, is planning events in various cities across the 
United States to support National HIV Testing Day. The goal of these 
events is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in at-risk communities, 
promote early detection and assist HIV-positive individuals to obtain 
treatment. The National HIV Testing Day Partnership initiative is not a 
grant or contract award program, and each partner will be responsible 
for supporting its own activities. Working together, it is intended 
that these partnerships will provide innovative opportunities to 
promote greater testing for HIV and to help HIV-positive individuals to 
obtain treatment.

DATES: Comments expressing or affirming an interest in activities of 
the National HIV Testing Day Partnership will be most useful if 
received as soon as possible or by June 10.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest, comments and questions may be sent 
to the following e-mail address, [email protected] or by FAX to: 
Miguel Gomez, Office of Public Health and Science, the Office of the 
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at 202-690-
7560.
    Representatives of interested organizations also may call the 
following information line: 202-690-5560. Callers will be directed to 
appropriate agency officials for further discussions.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HHS is the United States government's 
principal agency for promoting and protecting the health of all 
Americans. HHS manages many programs, covering a broad spectrum of 
health promotion and disease prevention services and activities. 
Leaders in the business community, State and local government 
officials, tribes and tribal entities and charitable, faith-based, and 
community organizations have expressed interest in partnering with the 
Department to promote healthy choices and behaviors. HHS welcomes this 
interest. With this notice, HHS outlines opportunities for these and 
other entities to partner with HHS in order to assist in developing 
activities that will promote and support the June 27 National HIV 
Testing Day. These activities will be carried out consistent with HHS's 
broad statutory authorities found in Title XVII of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act and other HHS program statutes. In general, section 
1704 of the PHS Act, among other authorized activities, provides 
authority for the Secretary to conduct activities to make information 
respecting health or health promotion, preventative health services, 
and health education available to the public, and to encourage others 
to support such activities.
    Presently, 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 
with approximately 950,000 cases in the U.S. The Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) is concerned that the estimated one-
quarter (180,00-280,000) of the persons living with HIV who are unaware 
of their status are not receiving life-saving treatment and may 
unknowingly transmit HIV to others. CDC estimates approximately 40,000 
new individuals become infected with HIV cases annually. Data suggest 
that 40 percent of new infections are transmitted by those who do not 
yet know they are infected. Approximately 20 million HIV tests are 
performed annually at all testing sites, including more than two 
million tests administered at publicly-funded HIV counseling and 
testing sites.
    In April of 2003, the CDC announced a new initiative, Advancing HIV 
Prevention (AHP): New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic, focusing on 
reducing barriers to diagnosis of HIV infection and access, to and use 
of, quality medical care, treatment, and ongoing prevention services 
for persons with HIV. AHP maintains target services to high-risk 
groups.
    The National HIV Testing Day Partnership initiative will encourage 
all U.S. communities to participate in Testing Day events and is likely 
to include events in a number of cities. Cities under consideration are 
Atlanta, GA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Kansas City, MO; New York, NY; 
Orlando, FL; San Antonio, TX; and Los Angeles, CA. HHS officials are 
considering participating in a wide range of local events that will 
support HIV testing in these six cities. HHS will encourage its 
grantees and others to support Testing Day events around the U.S.
    In addition, HHS would like to support and promote this important 
Testing Day with a more widespread and comprehensive public education 
campaign. This initiative can only be successful through a public/
private partnership to support such a large-scale nationwide event to 
support and promote the National HIV National Testing Day. 
Consequently, the involvement of both public and private organizations 
is necessary. For efforts of this magnitude, the Department 
periodically invites outside organizations to join in carrying out 
activities of mutual interest to achieve shared objectives. These 
partnerships are voluntary. The parties work together to carry out 
their respective, consistent missions for the common good.
    In order to implement activities that will support and promote the 
National HIV Testing Day, HHS is interested in establishing 
partnerships with private corporations and other entities, including 
charitable, faith-based, and community organizations, as well as with 
State and local governments, that can help extend the initiative's 
reach. In accordance with each entity's particular strengths and 
abilities, partnerships will be established. Note that each partner 
must participate substantively in the initiative and be responsible for 
providing the resources necessary to carry out its specified activities 
of mutual interest.
    As partners with HHS, both public and private sector organizations 
can bring to this initiative their respective ideas and expertise, 
administrative capabilities, and production and material resources, 
that are consistent with the goals of the National HIV Testing Day 
Partnership initiative. For example:
    (a) Share in the distribution of educational health information to 
the public regarding the promotion of HIV prevention activities; and 
the availability of HIV counseling and testing; and
    (b) Participate in the development of a public education campaign 
to

[[Page 31122]]

highlight June 27 as the National HIV Testing Day and to promote the 
importance of HIV testing by using local or national media 
participation.
    Partnership agreements will make clear that there will be no 
Federal endorsement of the products or services of particular companies 
and organizations. HHS will have a right to review the use of 
Department logos and statements related to partnership activities on 
such materials and products to ensure that they are suitable for the 
initiative and that government neutrality with respect to such products 
and services is maintained. National HIV Testing Day is a registered 
trademark of the National Association of People with AIDS.

Evaluation Criteria

    After engaging in exploratory discussions of potential partnerships 
and partnership activities with respondents, HHS will use the following 
considerations, as appropriate and relevant, to determine whether HHS 
will engage in partnership activities with particular entities and the 
scope of those activities.
    1. Are the activities proposed by the offering entity likely to 
provide a substantial public health benefit, consistent with HHS goals 
and its initiative to promote greater testing for HIV, spotlighting the 
June 27 National HIV Testing Day?
    2. Does the proposed partnership's potential for public health 
benefit outweigh any potential negative impact on the agency and its 
ability to accomplish its missions? What adjustments if any, would make 
the proposal acceptable?
    3. Is there an identifiable and appropriate role for HHS and the 
potential partner?
    4. Does the outside entity have the expertise and capacity to carry 
out its proposed activities?
    5. Has the outside entity demonstrated a willingness to work 
collaboratively with other public and private sector organizations to 
achieve national awareness of the importance of HIV testing?
    Given the National HIV Testing Day Partnership initiative's 
objectives, entities which have similar goals and consistent interests, 
appropriate expertise and resources, and would like to pursue 
activities that will support and promote the National HIV Testing Day 
within their own organizations, or on a broader scale, in collaboration 
with the Department, are encouraged to reply to this notice. Working 
together, it is intended that these partnerships will provide 
innovative opportunities to promote greater HIV testing.

    Dated: May 25, 2004.
Christopher A. Bates,
Acting Director, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy.
[FR Doc. 04-12243 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P