[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45322-45326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17213]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


HIV/AIDS Surveillance in VCT/PMTCT Centers in Haiti Including 
Support of Annual Sero-Survey of Pregnant Women

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: 04274.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.941.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: August 30, 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. Sections 242l 
and 247b(k)(2)], as amended.

    Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a 
cooperative agreement to: (1) Reinforce the capacity of Ministry of 
Health (MOH) staff to participate in and conduct population-based 
surveys; and (2) to establish a definitive United States Government 
(USG) program health information system (HIS) to monitor existing 
Voluntary Counseling and Testing/Prevention of Mother to Child 
Transmission (VCT/PMTCT) programs and clinical care, and continue 
generating monthly facility-based reports.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to provide a funding 
mechanism to provide support to a public or private non-profit 
organization, based in Haiti, that has proven capacity to provide the 
technical assistance needed to lead these two surveillance-based 
initiatives.
    The USG seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in specific 
countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean through a 15 billion 
dollar U.S. presidential initiative known as the President's Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Global AIDS Program (GAP) of the 
U.S., CDC, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a lead 
partner in this initiative.
    The PEPFAR encompasses HIV/AIDS activities in more than 75 
countries and focuses on 14 countries in Africa and the Caribbean to 
develop comprehensive and integrated prevention, care and treatment 
programs. Within five years, the 14 countries will: Treat more than two 
million HIV-infected persons with effective combination anti-retroviral 
therapy; will care for ten million HIV-infected persons and those 
orphaned by HIV/AIDS; and prevent seven million new infections.
    Targeted countries are among those with the most severe epidemics 
and the highest number of new infections. They also represent countries 
where the potential for impact is greatest and where USG agencies are 
already active. Haiti is one of these targeted countries.
    Measurable outcomes of this program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the PEPFAR to prevent seven million new 
HIV infections. The initiative will support critical prevention efforts 
by supporting VCT and PMTCT sites, enabling them to continue to 
perform.
    This initiative is a coordinated effort led by the Office of the 
Global AIDS Coordinator at the Department of State, and involves 
various U.S. Federal Government agencies, including, the Department of 
State, HHS, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID).
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Reinforce capacity of MOH staff to participate in and conduct 
population-based surveys.
    a. Train 50 MOH personnel in the technical aspects of conducting an 
Antinatal Clinic (ANC) sero-survey through planning and execution of 
the fifth annual sero-survey, to include, but not limited to: 
identification of sites; training of data collection teams and site 
managers; provision of commodities and equipment; elaboration of 
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sample collection; 
subcontracting for sample processing; transportation of samples to a 
central lab; setting up data entry screens; and analysis of survey 
data.
    b. Provide operational support to the ANC sero-survey sites that 
are not a part of the official VCT/PMTCT site network to enable them to 
continue to perform.
    c. Initiate procurement actions for the fifth ANC sero-survey 
(projected start date: May 2005).
    2. Establish a definitive USG program HIS to monitor existing VCT/
PMTCT programs and clinical care, and continue generating monthly 
facility-based reports.
    a. Integrate PEPFAR indicators into existing surveillance; and 
modify procedures manuals, data collection tools and reports.
    b. Provide additional computer equipment for 15 institutions 
(excluding Centers of Excellence covered by University of Technical 
Assistant Project [UTAP]).

[[Page 45323]]

    c. Support FY 2004 salaries for ten HIS staff hired earlier this 
year, and support salaries through March 2005.
    d. Train field and MOH personnel, supervise data collection and 
prepare reports in collaboration with MOH staff.
    e. Establish a national HIV/AIDS case notification system.
    f. Provide technical and secretarial support to the National 
Technical Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
    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:
    1. CDC will provide technical assistance in designing and building 
local area networks, setup of databases and other information 
technology projects. CDC will also provide installation and setup of 
computer equipment to assist in achieving project goals, subject to 
agreement by CDC and the recipient.
    2. CDC will assist in developing and implementing data and 
information dissemination plans for HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and 
sexually transmitted infections (STI) data and results.
    3. CDC Haiti will provide technical support to recipient for 
planning and implementing surveillance activities through their M&E 
specialist, database manager and information specialist, and through 
Atlanta-based staff, as indicated.
    4. CDC will provide training and commodities, as indicated, for the 
annual sero-survey of pregnant women.

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: $550,000.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $110,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.).
    Floor of Award Range: $550,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $550,000.
    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 non-profit and 
faith-based organizations based in Haiti. Applicants should have a 
history of activity in ANC sero-surveillance in Haiti, and in HIS 
development.
    Other Eligibility Requirements: Applicants should have an 
established relationship with the MOH in Haiti.

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: 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 submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. The narrative must be submitted in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 40. 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.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:
    1. Organizational Experience
    Provide evidence that your organization has experience in, and is 
currently maintaining, HIV/AIDS surveillance activity in Haiti.
    2. Goals and Objectives
    a. Provide goals, objectives, and a timeline for implementation of 
the program plan.
    b. Provide measures of effectiveness by which you can assess the 
success of the program.
    3. Plan of Action
    Describe how your organization will meet stated requirements.
    4. Management Plan, Staffing, and Infrastructure
    a. Management Plan--Provide an organizational chart and describe 
the responsibilities for each of the key staff.
    b. Staffing--Describe the number and types of staff needed to 
assist with technical guidance and training activities.
    c. Infrastructure--Describe the physical facilities in which the 
proposed activities will be carried out and the equipment needed.
    d. Human Resources, Management and Administration--Describe plans 
to provide or obtain all material and human resources necessary for the 
development, implementation, management, operation, procurement, 
monitoring, and quality assurance of all program activities.
    e. Coordination with National Programs--Describe the organization's 
strategy to coordinate proposed activities within the context of 
national programs.
    f. Exit Strategy and Capacity Building within the MOH--Elaborate an 
exit strategy that encompasses transfer of all necessary knowledge and 
skills to the MOH of Haiti.
    5. Budget--(not included in the narrative page limit)
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web 
site, at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

[[Page 45324]]

    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes:
     Curriculum Vitae
     Resumes
     Organizational Charts
    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 ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''
    Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms ``titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' 
at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/final_fy04_424_survey.doc.

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: August 30, 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 submission 
address and deadline. 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. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which must be taken into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Funds may be used only for activities associated with HIV/
AIDS. USG funds may be used for direct costs such as salaries; 
necessary travel; operating costs, including supplies, fuel for 
transportation, utilities, etc.; staff training costs, including 
registration fees and purchase and rental of training-related 
equipment; renovation of clinical or lab facilities; and purchase of 
HIV testing reagents, test kits and laboratory equipment for HIV 
testing. 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 International Accounting Standards or equivalent 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 
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

[[Page 45325]]

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.''
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

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 04274, 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. Ability to carry out the project (40 points)
    Does the applicant have demonstrated capability to carry out the 
project activities as specified? Are the applicants proposed activities 
realistic, achievable, time-framed and appropriate? How does the 
applicant propose to monitor these activities? Applicants should 
include a description of their organizational structure, and use it to 
explain how the work will be carried out.
    2. Technical and Programmatic Approach (20 points)
    Does the applicant's proposal demonstrate understanding of the 
technical and organizational aspects of conducting HIV surveillance? Do 
the proposed surveillance activities have the potential to effectively 
meet objectives? Is the timeline a fair estimate of the time it will 
take to implement surveillance activities?
    3. Personnel (20 points)
    Is there an adequate number of personnel available to carry out the 
technical and organizational aspects of all proposed activities? Do the 
proposed personnel have the training, availability and experience 
necessary to carry out activities?
    4. Administrative and Accounting Plan (20 points)
    Does the plan adequately account for the preparation of reports and 
the monitoring and auditing of expenditures under this cooperative 
agreement? Does the application demonstrate the ability to administer 
and manage the budget? Is the budget itemized and well-justified? Has 
the applicant demonstrated plans to engage an outside accounting firm 
to design and manage the financial system to meet CDC and the 
recipient's accounting requirements?
    5. Budget (Reviewed, but not scored)
    Is the budget within the funding allotted? Is the budget both 
reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and planned program 
activities? Are all major expense categories covered?

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. 
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 ``V.1. Criteria'' 
section above.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    September 1, 2004

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 
the application review by mail.

[[Page 45326]]

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-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
     AR-6 Patient Care
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
     AR-14 Accounting System 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:
    1. Detailed implementation plan within 30 days of notice of award.
    2. Interim progress report, no less than 15 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 Activities Accomplished.
    c. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    d. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activities and Objectives.
    e. Budget.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    g. Measures of Effectiveness.
    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: Matt Brown, MPS, Country 
Director; Global AIDS Program (GAP), Haiti, 17 Boulevard Harry Truman, 
Port-au-Prince Haiti, Telephone: 509-229-3003, E-mail: [email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Diane Flournoy, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-
488-2072, E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: July 22, 2004.
William P. Nichols,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-17213 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P