[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48734-48740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16430]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Strengthen and Expand the National Capacity for TB/HIV National 
Program through Support to the Central Tuberculosis (TB) Unit of the 
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Haiti for Improved TB/HIV 
Integration

    Announcement Type: New Competitive Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: AA170.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under sections 301(a) and 307 
of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 and 242l], as amended, 
and under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, 
Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [U.S.C. 7601].
    Purpose: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (The 
Emergency Plan) has called for immediate action to turn the tide of 
HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. The Emergency Plan hopes to 
prevent at least seven million new cases of HIV infection; provide 
treatment to two million HIV-infected people; and provide care to ten 
million people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans and 
vulnerable children, world wide by 2010. An essential element of 
preventing new cases of HIV is to ensure that high-risk groups have 
adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities. Haiti's 
HIV prevalence rate in adults is reported to be 5.6 percent, according 
to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2004 Annual 
Report. Access to prevention and treatment is limited to the Haitian 
population because of the underdeveloped public health infrastructure 
and lack of clinical capacity. To improve this capacity, this 
cooperative agreement will provide much needed funding and resources 
under the President's Emergency Plan.
    Over the same time period, as part of a collective national 
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Haiti are to treat at 
least 25,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 125,000 HIV-affected 
individuals, including orphans.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center 
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for Disease 
Control (CDC) within HHS: Increase the proportion of HIV-infected 
people who are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment; 
strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor the epidemic; develop and 
implement effective HIV prevention interventions; and evaluate 
prevention programs.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
HHS. If applicants propose research, we will not review the 
application. For the definition of ``research,'' please see the HHS/CDC 
Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/opspoll1.htm.
    Activities:
    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Provide technical assistance to the National TB Program of the 
Haitian Ministry of Health (MOH) to assist in TB/HIV integrated 
services and strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of TB among HIV 
positive patients.
    2. Reinforce the capacity of the Haitian MOH and the Departmental 
Directorates to perform supervision and quality assurance/quality 
control of TB/HIV care at the departmental and local levels.
    3. Conduct a needs assessment of stand-alone TB clinics in Haiti, 
and their capacity for detecting and managing dual-infected patients.
    4. Increase capacity for training TB providers in confidential HIV

[[Page 48735]]

counseling and testing (CT), through training-of-trainers in local 
languages, and procurement of training materials in a transparent 
process.
    5. Integrate surveillance of HIV into the existing electronic TB 
surveillance system, and create linkages with the HIV surveillance 
system.
    6. Assist the Haitian MOH in the revision of norms and standards 
for the management of HIV-infected TB patients, and develop guidelines, 
training materials, and algorithms in local languages based on the 
revised norms and standards.
    In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    HHS Activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Provide technical assistance in the areas of TB/HIV 
surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and developing guidelines, 
norms, and training materials, facilitated by the HHS Atlanta Country 
Support Team and the HHS Haiti Technical Officers for Care and 
Treatment, Surveillance, and TB/HIV.
    2. Support for an electronic medical record (EMR) database system, 
and surveillance database system, for TB/HIV case notification, in 
compliance with strategic information guidance established by the 
Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    3. Support installation of hardware necessary for the use of 
database systems and provide technical assistance on database use and 
maintenance needs.
    4. Support the annual technical review of the national AIDS/TB/STI 
program in Haiti.
    5. Provide equipment and commodities for new partner clinics, 
purchased in a transparent and competitive process.
    6. Support the annual technical review of service-delivery programs 
of new clinics.
    7. Assist in organizing partner network meetings.
    Additional HHS activities include the following:
    1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief them 
on applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations, 
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats 
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from 
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    2. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select key 
personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be 
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of 
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and 
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator.
    3. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed 
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of 
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    4. Review and approve grantee's monitoring and evaluation plan, 
including for compliance with the strategic information guidance 
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    5. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as 
necessary.
    6. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
    7. Meet on an annual basis with grantee to review annual progress 
report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work 
plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational 
Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    8. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet 
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.
    Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have 
successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS contract, 
cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical assistance and 
training.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this 
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $1,000,000 (This amount is an estimate 
for the entire five-year project period, and is subject to availability 
of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.).
    Floor of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-
month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
    Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000 (This amount is for the first 12-
month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
    Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five years.
    Throughout the project period, HHS' 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, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, 
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    To meet the eligibility criteria for this program announcement, 
applicants must be indigenous to Haiti; must have documented experience 
in TB/HIV; must currently be providing extensive technical assistance 
to the MOH TB/HIV program; must have extensive experience in collecting 
samples and implementing Directly Observed Therapy Strategy (DOTS) in 
community settings in local languages; and must already be integrated 
into the national TB/HIV program.
    This cooperative agreement seeks to fund activities that will 
integrate TB and HIV diagnosis and treatment. This program depends upon 
the ability of the grantee to work with these two separate national 
programs and strive to integrate them. At the end of the first year of 
the project period, the grantee must be detecting HIV positive 
individuals and referring them for treatment at TB sites, and detecting 
individuals with active TB and referring them for treatment by the 
national TB program. The integration of these two programs will result 
in identifying more HIV and TB patients. Both target groups are at high 
risk for transmission, and heretofore the national prevention effort in 
Haiti is not addressing them in a consistent manner.
    To meet the goals of the Emergency Plan within the time allotted, 
any program applicant must be able to demonstrate it already has 
developed a working relationship and has experience with both the 
Haitian national TB program and the Haitian national program to control 
HIV/AIDS. These are two separate departments in the MOH, and will be a 
challenge to integrate because of a lack of support

[[Page 48736]]

systems to treat TB/HIV in an integrated manner. Therefore, an 
organization must demonstrate it has at least three to five years of 
experience in working with both the Haitian national TB and HIV/AIDS 
control programs.
    Eligible applicants should also demonstrate capacity to coordinate 
their activities with HHS and other members of the United States 
Government.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Funds

    Matching funds are not required for this program. Although matching 
funds are not required, preference will go to organizations that can 
leverage additional funds to contribute to program goals.

III.3. Other

    If you request a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the 
award range, HHS will consider your application non-responsive, and it 
will not enter into the review process. We will notify you that your 
application did not meet the submission requirements.
    Special Requirements: If your application is incomplete or non-
responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will 
not enter into the review process. We will notify that your application 
did not meet submission requirements.
     HHS/CDC will consider late applications non-responsive. 
See section ``IV.3. Submission Dates and Times'' for more information 
on deadlines.


    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 
5161-1.
    Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit your 
application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted 
for this announcement on www.grants.gov, the official Federal agency 
wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line are permitted 
to forego the paper copy submission of all application forms.
    Paper Submission: Application forms and instructions are available 
on the HHS/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 HHS/CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) at: 770-488-2700. We can mail application forms to you.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 30. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.
     Font size: 12 point unreduced
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches
     Page margin size: One inch
     Double-spaced
     Number all pages of the application sequentially from page 
one (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including 
charts, figures, tables, and appendices.
     Printed only on one side of page.
     Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
     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:
     Executive Summary
    Provide a clear and concise summary of the proposed goals, major 
objectives and activities required for achievement of program goals and 
amount of funding requested for budget year one of this cooperative 
agreement.
     Need: Description of need for strengthened TB services for 
HIV-infected TB patients in Haiti. Include data on TB incidence rates 
among HIV positive persons, TB incidence rates in the general 
population, and the status of existing TB and TB/HIV control 
activities.
     Capacity: Current capability/capacity of organization to 
perform required elements of this program announcement, and to support 
the strengthening and expansion of the national TB diagnostic and 
treatment services for HIV positive patients.
     Expansion: Describe detailed plans for use of funds to 
expand and improve existing TB diagnosis and treatment services for HIV 
positive patients.
     Personnel: Plans for recruitment of staff and personnel to 
carry out the proposed activities.
     Training: Plans for training of current staff in TB 
screening and treatment among HIV positive patients, and HIV CT for TB 
staff.
     Laboratory Capacity: Provide basic laboratory services in 
support of TB diagnosis and treatment for HIV positive patients.
     Commodities: Procure commodities necessary for screening 
and treatment of TB disease.
     Outreach: Provide educational services to address 
awareness, prevention, and treatment of TB in communities affected by 
HIV/AIDS.
     Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement monitoring and 
evaluation strategies to assess programmatic effectiveness, as well as 
provision of the required targets for Emergency Plan reporting, 
including:
    1. Number of service outlets providing clinical prophylaxis and/or 
treatment for TB for HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed).
    2. Number of HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or presumed) who 
receive clinical prophylaxis and/or treatment for TB.
    3. Number of individuals trained to provide clinical prophylaxis 
and/or treatment for TB to HIV-infected individuals (diagnosed or 
presumed).
    4. Number of people trained in the lab for TB/HIV diagnosis.
    5. Number of TB/HIV service outlets.
    6. Number of TB patients tested for HIV.
     Budget: A budget is required for the first year only, and 
the budget justification will not be counted in the stated page limit.
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page 
limit. This additional information includes:
     Budget and Budget Justification.
     Curriculum Vitas or Resumes.
     Organizational Charts.
     Letters of Support.
     Job descriptions of proposed key positions to be created 
for the activity.
     Quality-Assurance, Monitoring-and-Evaluation, and 
Strategic-Information Forms.
     Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement.
     Evidence of Legal Organizational Structure.
    You must 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 HHS/CDC web site at: http://

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www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.pdf. 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 could 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: September 12, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the HHS/
CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the 
deadline date.
    You may submit your application electronically at www.grants.gov. 
We consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov as 
formally submitted when the applicant organization's Authorizing 
Official electronically submits the application to www.grants.gov. 
Electronic applications will be considered as having met the deadline 
if the applicant organization's Authorizing Official has submitted the 
application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date 
and time.
    If you submit your application electronically through Grants.gov 
[http://www.grants.gov], the application will be electronically time/
date stamped, which will serve as receipt of submission. You will 
receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the 
application.
    If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure the carrier will be 
able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC 
receives your submission after closing because: (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 have the opportunity to submit documentation of the 
carrier's guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, 
HHS/CDC will consider the submission as having been received by the 
deadline.
    If a hard copy application is submitted, HHS/CDC will not notify 
you upon receipt of your submission. 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 submission deadline. 
This will allow time for us to process and log submissions.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, 
submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in 
the application instructions. If your submission does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and we will discard 
it. You will be notified that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Funds may not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be 
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives; 
however, prior approval by HHS/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, HHS/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 annual audit of these HHS/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 HHS/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.
     Funds received from this announcement will not be used for 
the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV 
infection (with the exception of nevirapine in Prevention of Mother-to-
Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written approval), 
occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and will not be 
used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct the necessary 
laboratory monitoring for patient care.
     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.
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 recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing 
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not 
apply to any ``exempt

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organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis 
and Malaria, the World Health Organization and its six Regional 
Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or to any United 
Nations agency).
    The following definition applies 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).
    All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable 
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all 
sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms 
and conditions of the sub-agreement, must acknowledge that compliance 
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a 
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure 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. 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 prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime 
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance 
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes 
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies 
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.''' 
'') addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by 
prime recipients 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 HHS determines 
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities.''
    You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/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
    Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to 
submit electronically at www.Grants.gov. You will be able to download a 
copy of the application package from www.Grants.gov, complete it off-
line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web 
site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are having 
technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at 
[email protected] or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). 
The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, 
Monday through Friday.
    HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov 
early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the 
deadline. You may also submit a back-up paper submission of the 
application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance 
with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. 
of the grant announcement. You must clearly mark the paper submission: 
``BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.''
    The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-
electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper 
submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version 
the official submission.
    We strongly recommend that you submit your grant application by 
using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, 
etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, a PDF 
file may be submitted. You may find directions for creating PDF files 
on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft 
Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or
    Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail 
or express delivery service to: Technical Information Management--
AA170, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

    Applicants must 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. You must submit these measures of 
effectiveness with your application, and they will be an element of 
evaluation.
    We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:
1. Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (25 Points)
    Implement a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities 
based on monitoring information. Applicants must develop indicators for 
each program milestone and incorporate them into the financial and 
programmatic reports. All indicators must come from the President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Indicator Guide. Applicants must be able 
to generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of 
funds, and progress towards achieving program objectives.
2. Plan (25 Points)
    Does the applicant describe strategies that are pertinent and match 
those identified in the five-year strategy of the President's Emergency 
Plan and activities that are evidence-based, realistic, achievable, 
measurable and culturally appropriate in Haiti to achieve the goals of 
the Emergency Plan? Is the plan adequate to carry out the proposed 
objectives? How complete and comprehensive is the plan for the entire 
project period? Does the plan include quantitative process and outcome 
measures? Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to deliver the 
proposed interventions in a culturally appropriate manner and in local 
languages?
3. Need (20 Points)
    Does the applicant demonstrate an understanding of the national 
cultural and political context and the technical and programmatic areas 
covered by the project? Does the applicant display knowledge of the 
five-year strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan, such 
that it can build on these to develop a comprehensive, collaborative 
project and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan? To what extent does 
the applicant justify the need for this program within the target 
community?
4. Methods (15 Points)
    Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they 
accomplish the program goals? Does the application include an overall 
design strategy,

[[Page 48739]]

including measurable time lines, clear monitoring and evaluation 
procedures, and specific activities for meeting the proposed 
objectives? Does the applicant describe a plan to progressively build 
the capacity of local organizations and of target beneficiaries and 
communities to respond to the epidemic?
5. Personnel (15 Points)
    Do the staff members have appropriate experience? Are the staff 
roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to 
accomplish the program goals and do they have the ability to perform 
activities in local languages?
6. Budget and Justification (Reviewed But Not Scored)
    Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with 
justification, reasonable, and consistent with stated objectives and 
planned program activities?
    Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the USG Web 
site, at the following address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review 
applications for completeness, and HHS Global AIDS program will review 
them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that 
are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through 
the review process. Applicants will receive notification 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. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to 
the U.S. Government Country Program Office. The panel may include both 
Federal and non-Federal participants.
    In addition, the following factors could affect the funding 
decision:
    It is possible for one organization to apply as lead grantee with a 
plan that includes partnering with other organizations, preferably 
local. Although matching funds are not required, preference will go to 
organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to 
program goals.
    In addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
     Maintaining geographic diversity.
     Preference to organizations in certain geographic areas.
    HHS/CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of 
rank order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    September 15, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the 
HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only 
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and HHS/CDC. An 
authorized Grants Management Officer will sign the NoA, and mail it 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-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
     AR-6 Patient Care
     AR-8 Public Health Reporting Requirements
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
     AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data
    Applicants can find additional information on these requirements on 
the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
    You need to include an additional Certifications form from the 
PHS5161-1 application in the Grants.gov electronic submission only. 
Please refer to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf. Once you have filled out the form, it should be 
attached to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachment Forms.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of 
the following reports:
    1. Interim progress report, due 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 and Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activities and Objectives.
    d. Budget and budget narrative with justification.
    e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for Haiti.
    f. Additional Information.
    2. Annual Reports are due within each budget period. The report 
should detail progress toward achieving program milestones and 
projected next year activities. Indicators must be developed for each 
program milestone and incorporated into the annual financial and 
programmatic reports. All indicators need to be drawn from The 
Emergency Plan.
    3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period. The financial report must show obligations, 
disbursements and funds remaining by program activity. Indicators must 
be developed for each program milestone and incorporated into the 
periodic financial and programmatic reports. All indicators need to be 
drawn from The Emergency Plan Indicator Guide.
    4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or 
Contract Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement.
    For general questions, contact: Technical Information Management 
Section, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 
770-488-2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Kathy Grooms, Country 
Program Officer, HHS/CDC, NCHSTP, Global AIDS Program, 6600 Clifton 
Road, MS E-04, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 48740]]

VIII. Other Information

    Applicants can find this and other HHS/CDC funding opportunity 
announcements on the HHS/CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov (click on ``Funding,'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements'') and on the Web site of the HHS Office of Global Health 
Affairs, Internet address: http://www.globalhealth.gov.

    Dated: August 12, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16430 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P