[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32566-32570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13136]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Scale-Up of Home Based Care Activities for People Living With 
HIV/AIDS in the United Republic of Tanzania

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04208.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: July 26, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 307 and 
317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 242l and 
247b(k)(2)], and Section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 
22 U.S.C. 215lb.

    Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program in the United Republic of Tanzania to 
provide high quality and appropriate home based care (HBC) to 
individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. This will be accomplished 
by cooperation between CDC, the Tanzania Ministry of Health National 
AIDS Control Program (MOH-NACP) and the funded organization.
    The purpose of this project is to support the public health 
infrastructure in Tanzania to strengthen the capacity of MOH and 
partner institutions to coordinate, plan, monitor and evaluate an 
integrated TB/HIV program. This will be accomplished by cooperation and 
collaboration in implementing activities between CDC, the Tanzania 
(MOH-NACP) and the funded organization. These collaborative activities 
will improve national capacity to ensure the availability of a 
continuum of care for the chronically ill HIV/AIDS patients in 
Tanzania. These services will be used as entry points for 
antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs.
    The Global AIDS Program (GAP) has established field operations to 
support national HIV/AIDS control programs in 25 countries. The CDC's 
GAP exists to help prevent HIV infection, improve care and support, and 
build capacity to address the global AIDS pandemic. GAP provides 
financial and technical assistance through partnerships with 
governments, community-based and faith-based organizations, the private 
sector, and national and international entities working in the 25 
resource-constrained countries. CDC/GAP works with the Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace 
Corps, the Departments of State, Labor and Defense, and other agencies 
and organizations. These efforts complement multilateral efforts, 
including UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Combat HIV, TB and Malaria, World 
Bank funding, and other private sector donation programs.
    The U.S. Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in 
specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Americas 
through the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). 
Through this new initiative, CDC's GAP will continue to work with host 
countries to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the areas of: 
(1) Primary HIV prevention; (2) HIV care, support, and treatment; and 
(3) capacity and infrastructure development, especially for 
surveillance and training. Targeted countries represent those with the 
most severe epidemics where the potential for impact is greatest and 
where U.S. government agencies are already active. The United Republic 
of Tanzania is one of these targeted countries.
    To carry out its activities in these countries, CDC is working in a 
collaborative manner with national governments and other agencies to 
develop programs of assistance to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CDC's 
program of assistance to Tanzania focuses on several areas of national 
priority including scaling up of prevention and care strategies for HIV 
prevention, care, and treatment.
    The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with 
goals of the GAP to reduce HIV transmission and improve care of persons 
living with HIV. They also will contribute to the goals of PEPFAR, 
which are: (1) Within five years, treat more than two million HIV-
infected persons with effective

[[Page 32567]]

combination anti-retroviral therapy; (2) care for ten million HIV-
infected and affected persons including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and 
(3) prevent seven million infections in 14 countries throughout the 
world.
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
     Obtain the necessary staff, equipment, and supplies to 
enhance HBC services in Tanzania.
     Recruit and train staff in counseling, testing and HBC 
services according to national guidelines.
     Collaborate with the MOH-NACP to review and update HBC 
guidelines to include palliative care and other intervention for care 
and treatment of chronically ill HIV/AIDS patients.
     Plan, develop, conduct, and evaluate HBC training programs 
for home care providers and community based providers in collaboration 
with CDC and the MOH-NACP.
     Conduct a mapping exercise to identify the extent to which 
HBC is being implemented in Tanzania.
     Participate in district HIV Prevention Task Force and 
support communities to form/establish educational and support groups 
including AIDS committees.
     Procure, distribute and replenish drugs and supplies in 
the HBC kits.
     Develop and disseminate Information, Education and 
Communication (IEC) materials and messages for HBC and community 
mobilization events.
     Conduct Train-the-Trainer sessions on management of HIV 
including use of antiretrovirals in HBC settings.
     Develop a peer support mechanism for care providers.
     Provide VCT services and referrals for testing of low-
income earners.
     Collaborate with private health providers to develop and 
introduce a model of low cost wards, in private health facilities, for 
low-income people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
     Provide treatment and prophylaxis for opportunistic 
infections, under continuum of care and support, to communities in 
target districts.
     Provide nutritional support and HBC services to TB/AIDS 
patients.
    Awardee should ensure that all of the above activities integrate 
into the national HIV/AIDS strategy.
    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:
     Collaborate with the awardee, the Tanzania Ministry of 
Health and other in-country and international partners in the 
development of plans for program assistance based on the country needs, 
the CDC technical assistance portfolio, and HIV laboratory activities 
conducted by other partners.
     Provide consultation, scientific and technical assistance, 
based on the ``CDC GAP Technical Strategies'' document, to promote the 
use of best practices known at the time.
     Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for the 
purpose of ensuring coordination of country-based program technical 
assistance activities. CDC will act as liaison and assist in 
coordinating activities as required between the applicant and other 
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government of Tanzania 
organizations, and other CDC, GAP partners.
    Technical assistance and training may be provided directly by CDC 
staff, or through organizations that have successfully competed for 
funding, under a separate CDC contract.

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: $6,000,000 (This amount is for the 
entire five-year project period.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $1,200,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes only direct costs.)
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $1,200,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 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 recipient (as documented in required 
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best 
interest of the Federal Government.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Applications may be submitted by public and private NGOs based in 
Tanzania.
    Applicants must:
    2. Have extensive experience in design, implementation, and 
evaluation of community-based activities for HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.
    2. Have an established infrastructure and the ability to mobilize a 
network of volunteers and organizations to ensure local ownership of 
activities and long-term sustainability.
    3. Have an established agreement or memorandum of understanding 
with the Tanzania MOH for collaboration in HIV/AIDS and/or health 
related intervention programs.
    4. Have at least three years previous experience working on various 
community based initiatives in Tanzania, including experience working 
with public and private sector partners.
    5. Have regional branches in all regions of Tanzania.
    6. Have the ability to utilize support from international 
affiliations.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Matching funds are not required for this program.

III.3. Other

    If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the 
award range, your application will be considered non-responsive, and 
will not be entered into the review process. You will be notified that 
your application did not meet the submission requirements.
    If your application is incomplete or non-responsive to the 
requirements listed in this section, it will not be entered into the 
review process. You will be notified that your application did not meet 
submission requirements.

    Note:
    Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that an 
organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive 
Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 
5161. Application forms and instructions 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.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: You must include a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:

[[Page 32568]]

     Maximum number of pages: 25. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, only the first pages, which are within the page limit, will 
be reviewed.
     Font size: 12 point unreduced
     Double spaced
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
     Page margin size: One inch
     Printed only on one side of page
     Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
     All pages should be numbered, and a complete index to the 
application and any appendices must be included.
     Applications must be submitted in English.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:
     Background
     Documented needs
     Eligibility and Capacity
     Proposed Program Plan
     Goals & Objectives
     Methods
     Plan of Operation
     Collaboration
     Timeline
     Performance Measures
     Staffing Breakdown
     Summary budget by line item with justification (budget and 
justification not be counted in the page limit stated above.)
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the United 
States government Web site at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.
    Additional information is optional and may be included in the 
application appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the 
narrative page limit. Additional information could include but is not 
limited to: Organizational charts, curriculum vitas, letters of 
support, etc.
    You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative 
agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 
identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, access http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-
5711.
    For more information, see the 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.
    Additional requirements that may require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: July 26, 2004.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. eastern time on the deadline 
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will 
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date 
and time. If CDC receives your application after closing due to: (1) 
Carrier error, when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee 
for delivery by the closing date and time, or (2) significant weather 
delays or natural disasters, you will be given the opportunity to 
submit documentation of the carriers guarantee. If the documentation 
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having 
been received by the deadline.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on application format, 
content, and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in the 
application instructions. If your application does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and will be 
discarded. You will be notified that your application did not meet the 
submission requirements.
    CDC will not notify you upon receipt of your application. If you 
have a question about the receipt of your application, first contact 
your courier. If you still have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff 
at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days after 
the application deadline. This will allow time for applications to be 
processed and logged.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Application

    Executive Order 12732 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of antiretrovirals, 
reagents, and laboratory equipment for antiretroviral treatment 
projects require pre-approval from the GAP headquarters.
     Needle Exchange--No funds appropriated under this Act 
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles 
or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, training, travel, supplies and services. Equipment 
may be purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives; 
however, prior approval by CDC officials must be requested in writing.
     All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate 
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the 
issuance of supplemental awards.
     The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of the American University, Beirut, and the World Health 
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
     The applicant may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion 
of the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required).
     You must obtain an annual audit of these CDC funds 
(program-specific audit) by a U.S. `` based audit firm with 
international branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and 
in accordance with standard(s) approved in writing by CDC.
     A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, 
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
     Prostitution and Related Activities The U.S. Government is 
opposed to prostitution and related activities, which are inherently 
harmful and dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of 
trafficking in persons.
    Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government 
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such 
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or 
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding 
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of 
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical

[[Page 32569]]

prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including 
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides. A 
recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in connection 
with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS shall not be 
required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to combating 
HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a prevention method 
or treatment program to which the recipient has a religious or moral 
objection. Any information provided by recipients about the use of 
condoms as part of projects or activities that are funded in connection 
with this document shall be medically accurate and shall include the 
public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
    In addition, any foreign recipient must have a policy explicitly 
opposing, in its activities outside the United States, prostitution and 
sex trafficking, except that this requirement shall not apply to the 
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health 
Organization, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or to any 
United Nations agency, if such entity is a recipient of U.S. government 
funds in connection with this document.
    The following definitions apply for purposes of this clause:
     Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring, 
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of 
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
     A foreign recipient includes an entity that is not 
organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the 
District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Restoration of 
the Mexico City Policy, 66 FR 17303, 17303 (March 28, 2001).
    All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable 
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all 
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms 
and conditions of the subagreement, acknowledge that each certification 
to compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related 
Activities,'' are a prerequisite to receipt of U.S. government funds in 
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation 
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the 
agreement prior to the end of its term. In addition, all recipients 
must ensure, through contract, certification, audit, and/or any other 
necessary means, all the applicable requirements in this section, 
``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' are met by any other entities 
receiving U.S. government funds from the recipient in connection with 
this document, including without limitation, the recipients' sub-
grantees, sub-contractors, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates. 
Recipients must agree that HHS may, at any reasonable time, inspect the 
documents and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the 
usual course of its operations that relate to the organization's 
compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
    All primary grantees receiving U.S. Government funds in connection 
with this document must certify compliance prior to actual receipt of 
such funds in a written statement referencing this document (e.g., 
``[Recipient's name] certifies compliance with the section, 
``Prostitution and Related Activities.'''') addressed to the agency's 
grants officer. Such certifications are prerequisites to the payment of 
any U.S. Government funds in connection with this document.
    Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving 
U.S. government funds in connection with this document, and any 
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of 
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the 
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount 
furnished in connection with this document in the event it is 
determined by HHS that the recipient has not complied with this 
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
    Awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

    Application Submission Address: Submit the original and two hard 
copies of your application by mail or express delivery service to:
    Technical Information Management-PA 04208, CDC Procurement 
and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
    Applications may not be submitted electronically at this time.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

    You are required to provide measures of effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the 
performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must 
measure the intended outcome. These measures of effectiveness must be 
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. Technical Approach (25 Points)
    Does the applicant's proposal include an overall design strategy, 
including measurable time lines? Does the proposal address regular 
monitoring and evaluation, and the potential effectiveness of the 
proposed activities in meeting objectives?
2. Understanding of the Problem (20 Points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate a clear and concise understanding of 
the nature of the problem described in the Purpose section of this 
announcement? Does the proposal specifically include a description of 
the public health importance of the planned activities to be undertaken 
and realistic presentation of proposed objectives and projects?
3. Ability To Carry Out the Project (20 Points)
    Does the applicant document demonstrated capability to achieve the 
purpose of the project?
4. Personnel (20 Points)
    Are the professional personnel involved in this project qualified, 
including evidence of experience in working with HIV/AIDS, 
opportunistic infections, and HIV/STD surveillance?
5. Plans for Administration and Management of Projects (15 Points)
    Are there adequate plans for administering the project?
6. Budget (Not Scored)
    Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with 
justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and 
planned program activities?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement 
and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness by National 
Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP). Incomplete applications 
and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria 
will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be 
notified that their application did not meet submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``Criteria'' 
section above.

[[Page 32570]]

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants 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.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
their applications review by mail.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
     AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements.
    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.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of the 
following reports in English:
    1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of 
the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing 
continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Budget.
    e. Additional Requested Information.
    f. Measures of Effectiveness.
    2. Financial status report no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    These reports must be mailed to the Grants Management or Contract 
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical 
Information Management Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Cecil Threat, Project 
Officer, Global AIDS Program, c/o American Embassy, 2140 Dar es Salaam 
Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140, Telephone: 255 22 212 1407, Fax: 255 
22 212 1462, E-mail: [email protected].
    For budget assistance, contact: Diane Flournoy, Contract 
Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2072, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 4, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13136 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P