[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45321-45322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17215]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 04253]


Strengthening the Capacity of the Government of Rwanda's 
Treatment and Research for AIDS Center (TRAC) for HIV Surveillance and 
the Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS 
Clinical Prevention, Treatment and Care Programs; Notice of Intent to 
Fund Single Eligibility Award

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
intent to fund fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program with the Government of Rwanda's Treatment and Research AIDS 
Center (TRAC) to improve national surveillance capacity and the 
planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention, care 
and treatment programs, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 
eligible persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number for this program is 93.941.

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the Rwandan government entity 
Treatment and Research AIDS Center (TRAC).
    TRAC is the only appropriate and qualified organization to fulfill 
the requirements set forth in this announcement because of its unique 
mandate and demonstrated capacity to successfully coordinate national 
HIV/AIDS programs. The Minister of State for AIDS and other major 
epidemics works with TRAC to coordinate the Ministry of Health (MOH) 
response to HIV/AIDS. Rwanda's TRAC was established in 2001 with a 
mandate to coordinate all national HIV/AIDS clinical prevention, care 
and treatment programs; priority was placed on improving the care and 
treatment of PLWHA, expanding VCT services, PMTCT of HIV, care and 
treatment for STDs, and epidemiologic surveillance of HIV/AIDS. TRAC is 
the only Rwandan

[[Page 45322]]

government institution with this mandate.
    TRAC also has the ability to financially and technically oversee 
the project. TRAC's current structure consists of a PMTCT/VCT unit, a 
surveillance unit, a STI/HIV care and treatment unit, and an 
informatics unit. The performance of these units directly impacts 
national-level decisions for the coordination of services related to 
HIV/AIDS and other major epidemics.
    CDC has successfully worked in partnership with TRAC in the past. 
In fiscal year 2003, CDC/GAP's substantial financial, technical and 
logistical support resulted in the development of surveillance capacity 
at TRAC, culminating in the national dissemination of the first HIV 
sentinel surveillance results since 1998.
    TRAC's unique mandate within the Government of Rwanda, its ability 
to technically and financially oversee this program, and its history of 
working successfully with CDC are the basis for TRAC being the only 
entity eligible for this program announcement.

C. Funding

    Approximately $500,000 is available in FY 2004 to fund this award. 
It is expected that the award will begin on or before September 1, 
2004, and will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project 
period of up to 1 year. Funding estimates may change.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    For general comments or questions about this announcement, contact: 
Technical Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 
2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
    For technical questions about this program, contact: Valerie 
Koscelnik, Project Officer, U.S. Embassy, 377 Boulevard de la 
Revolution, B.P. 28, Kigali, Rwanda, Telephone: 250-57-54-73, 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. 04-17215 Filed 7-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P