[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 112 (Thursday, June 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32578-32582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13142]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Laboratory Service Strengthening at Health Center IV and Above in 
the Republic of Uganda

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: Program Announcement 04223.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: July 12, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under sections 301 and 307 
of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 241 and 242l], and 
section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22 U.S.C. 215lb, 
as amended.

    Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a 
cooperative agreement program for Laboratory Service Strengthening at 
Health Center IV and above in the Republic of Uganda. This program 
addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of HIV.
    The overall aim of this program is to improve the capacity of the 
laboratories within the Uganda health system to offer HIV testing and 
counseling, and other key tests related to opportunistic infections 
diagnosis and the basic care package for people living with HIV, such 
as TB screening. Strengthening laboratories to support provision of 
antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not a deliberate part of this program 
though the improvements made in facilities and personnel may provide 
benefits to planned and future programs of ARV therapy.
    The United States Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS 
in specific countries within sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas. 
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) encompasses 
HIV/AIDS activities in more than 75 countries and focuses on 14 
countries, including Uganda, to develop comprehensive and integrated 
prevention, care and treatment programs. CDC has initiated its Global 
AIDS Program (GAP) to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the 
areas of: (1) HIV primary prevention; (2) HIV care, support and 
treatment; and (3) capacity and infrastructure development, including 
surveillance. Targeted countries represent those with the most severe 
epidemics and the highest number of new infections. They also represent 
countries where the potential impact is greatest and where the United 
States government agencies are already active. Uganda is one of those 
countries.
    CDC's mission in Uganda is to work with Ugandan and international 
partners to develop, evaluate, and support effective implementation of 
interventions to prevent HIV and related illnesses and improve care and 
support of persons with HIV/AIDS.
    Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services are available at a 
large number of private and government clinics across the country, but 
there are still many communities far from VCT providers. The most 
recent Demographic and Health Survey in Uganda indicated that 70 
percent of people would like to receive HIV testing but only 10 percent 
reported that they had been tested. The absence of VCT, routine 
counseling and testing (RCT), and TB screening at many existing health 
facilities presents a major challenge in covering the whole population 
of Uganda with these key services. If all Health Centers IV and above 
can provide good quality laboratory services, this will represent a 
major contribution to both the Uganda HIV/AIDS prevention and care 
strategies.
    The purpose of this program is to ensure that over five years all 
laboratories at Health Center IV facilities and above are 
rehabilitated, their staff provided with training and support 
supervision, and quality assurance systems are established such that 
these facilities are able to offer HIV testing to support VCT, TB 
screening, and diagnosis of other common opportunistic infections (OI) 
that is of reliable quality and is available without interruption. The 
program may also support scholarships for the training of staff, 
including HIV counselor training, for facilities lack of staff is a key 
impediment to service delivery. It is expected that the program would 
last five years and evolve gradually from a focus on rehabilitation and 
refresher training to concentrate on supervision and quality assurance. 
This program does not include any responsibility for financial support 
of care provision.
    The measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with 
GAP goals to reduce HIV transmission and improve care of persons living 
with HIV. They also will contribute to the PEPFAR goals, which are: (1) 
Within five years treat more than two million HIV-infected persons with 
effective combination anti-retroviral therapy; (2) care for seven 
million HIV-infected and affected persons including those orphaned by 
HIV/AIDS; and (3) prevent 10 million new infections. Specific 
measurable outcomes of this program will be the percentage of units 
that have functioning integrated VCT services, the number of clients 
served with VCT and the number of persons trained in lab-related 
activities.
    Activities:
    1. Awardee Activities.
    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:

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    a. Identify project staffing needs; hire and train staff.
    b. Identify vehicles, furnishings, fittings, equipment, computers 
and other fixed assets procurement needs of the program and acquire 
from normal sources.
    c. Establish suitable administrative and financial management 
structures and a project office, if required.
    d. Conduct a comprehensive national assessment of laboratory 
facilities and personnel from Health Center IV and above, taking into 
account data already collected by the AIDS/HIV Integrated Model 
District Program (AIM) and other stakeholders. Use this assessment for 
the targeting and prioritizing of program activities.
    e. Develop and implement a program of laboratory rehabilitation and 
equipment based on an agreed basic standard.
    f. Plan, develop and implement, in coordination with stakeholders, 
an in-service training program for laboratory technicians focusing on 
rapid HIV testing, screening for TB and other common OIs, skills and 
practices required for good management of laboratory facilities and 
other relevant topics identified by needs assessment.
    g. Provide scholarships for the training of counselors and 
laboratory staff for health units where under-staffing is found to be a 
critical issue.
    h. Work with stakeholders and relevant authorities to support the 
development of improved supervision and quality assurance systems 
within the public and private laboratory system.
    i. Support the collection and analysis of data to assess the scale 
of HIV counseling and testing and TB screening provision. Support 
improved laboratory management, supervision, and quality assurance. The 
data collection system should be integrated within the general Health 
Management Information System (HMIS).
    j. Ensure that the commodities supplies management system is 
operational at the facilities level.
    k. Ensure that the above activities are undertaken in a manner 
consistent with the national HIV/AIDS strategic framework.
    2. CDC Activities
    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. Provide technical assistance, as needed, in the development of 
standards for laboratory facilities, training materials and programs, 
and quality assurance systems.
    b. Collaborate with the awardee, as needed, in the development of 
an information technology system for tracking key laboratory activities 
and in the analysis of data derived from those records.
    c. Assist, as needed, in the evaluation of the program and in the 
development of further appropriate initiatives.
    d. Provide input, as needed, into the criteria for selection of 
staff and non-staff implementing the program and of those receiving 
either laboratory or counselor training.
    e. Provide input into the overall program strategy.
    f. Collaborate, as needed, with the awardee in the selection of key 
personnel to be involved in the activities to be performed under this 
agreement including approval of the overall manager of the program.
    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: $3,500,000. (This amount is for the 
entire five year project period.).
    Approximate Number of Awards: 1.
    Approximate Average Award: $700,000. (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes only direct costs.).
    Floor of Award Range: none.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $700,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2004.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 5 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 nonprofit organizations, 
private nonprofit organizations, universities, colleges, research 
institutions, hospitals, and faith-based organizations that meet the 
following criteria:
    1. Have at least three years of documented HIV/AIDS related 
laboratory programming experience in Uganda.
    2. Have demonstrated expertise in health system development and 
management and knowledge of the health system in Uganda.
    3. Have extensive knowledge in laboratory protocols relevant to the 
program.
    4. The organization must be based in Uganda.

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 below, it will not be entered into the review 
process. You will be notified that your application did not meet the 
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: 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.
Content and Form of Submission
    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. Your narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
     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.

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     Font size: 12 point unreduced.
     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.
     Must be submitted in English.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and should consist of, as a minimum, a plan, 
objectives, activities, methods, and an evaluation framework.
    A budget and budget justification highlighting any supplies 
mentioned in the Program Requirements and any proposed capital 
expenditure must also be included. The budget justification will not be 
counted in the page limit stated above. Guidance for completing your 
budget can be found on the United States government Website 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 vitae, 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 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 
``Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Time

    Application Deadline Date: July 12, 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 Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Use of Funds

    Funds may be used for:
    1. Assessment and rehabilitation of laboratory facilities including 
provision of basic requisite utilities and equipment.
    2. Assessment and training of laboratory staff on a national basis; 
Provision of scholarships for the training of counselors and other 
laboratory staff.
    3. Evaluation and management of the activities.
    Funds may not be used for any new construction. The purchase of 
antiretrovirals (ARVs), reagents and laboratory equipment for ARV 
treatment is not a permitted use of these funds. Recurrent supplies and 
test kits will be available to laboratories through the normal medical 
supplies system.
Funding Restrictions
    Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Antiretroviral Drugs--The purchase of ARVs, reagents, and 
laboratory equipment for ARV treatment projects require pre-approval 
from HHS/CDC officials.
     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 and renovations completed, however, prior written 
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, the Gorgas Memorial 
Institute, 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 
organization 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 and care services for which funds are requested.
     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 
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

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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 Section--PA04223, 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. Understanding of the issues, principles and systems requirements 
involved in improving laboratory performance in Health Center IV 
facilities and above and in carrying out basic laboratory 
rehabilitation in the context of Uganda. (25 points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the technical, 
managerial and other practical issues involved in delivering a cost 
effective and relevant program of laboratory rehabilitation, in-service 
training, and development of supervision and quality assurance systems 
focusing on VCT and screening for TB and other common OIs throughout 
Uganda?
    2. Ability to carry out the proposal (25 points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate the capability to achieve the 
purpose of this proposal?
    3. Personnel (20 points)
    Are the personnel (including their qualifications, training, 
availability, and experience) adequate to carry out the proposed 
activities?
    4. Work Plan (15 points)
    Does the applicant describe activities which are realistic, 
achievable, time-framed and appropriate to complete this program?
    5. Administrative and Accounting Plan (15 points)
    Is there a plan to account for, prepare reports, monitoring and 
audit expenditures under this agreement, manage the resources of the 
program and produce, collect and analyze performance data?
    6. Budget (not scored)
    Is the budget for conducting the activity itemized and well-
justified and consistent with stated activities 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 NCHSTP/GAP. 
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.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Award Date: September 1, 2004.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award (NGA) 
from the

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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 
the application 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. Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
    1. Semi annual progress reports, 30 days after the end of the 
budget period.
    2. 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. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
    e. 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.
    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: Jonathan Mermin, MD, 
MPH, Global Aids Program [GAP], Uganda Country Team, National Center 
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention [CDC], PO Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda. Telephone: +256-41320776, 
e-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
    Shirley Wynn, Contract Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-1515, e-mail address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: June 4, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-13142 Filed 6-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P