[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49648-49654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16838]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Implementation of Multi-Disciplinary HIV Care for Sexually Abused 
Children in Zambia, as Part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA172.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 19, 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].
    Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has 
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn 
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two 
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral 
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected 
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent 
seven million infections by 2010, with focus on 15 priority countries, 
including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year strategy for the 
Emergency Plan is available at the following Internet address: http://www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.
    Over the same time period, as part of a collective national 
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Zambia are to treat at 
least 120,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 600,000 HIV-
affected individuals, including orphans.
    Under the leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as part 
of the President's Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) works with host countries and other key partners 
to assess the needs of each country and design a customized program of

[[Page 49649]]

assistance that fits within the host nation's strategic plan.
    HHS focuses on two or three major program areas in each country. 
Goals and priorities include the following:
     Achieving primary prevention of HIV infection through 
activities such as expanding confidential counseling and testing 
programs, building programs to reduce mother-to-child transmission, and 
strengthening programs to reduce transmission via blood transfusion and 
medical injections.
     Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually 
transmitted diseases (STDs) and related opportunistic infections by 
improving STD management; enhancing care and treatment of opportunistic 
infections, including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to 
provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
     Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use 
surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding 
HIV/STD/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support 
for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, disease-monitoring and HIV 
screening for blood safety.
    To carry out its activities in these countries, HHS works in a 
collaborative manner with national governments and other agencies to 
develop programs of assistance to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 
particular, HHS' mission in Zambia is to work with the Ministry of 
Health, and its partners, to develop and apply effective interventions 
to prevent and treat HIV infection and associated illness and death 
from AIDS.
    Purpose: The Demographic and Health Survey (2001-2002) from Zambia 
indicates that in the age group 15 to 19 the HIV prevalence among women 
is 6.6 percent, compared to a prevalence of 1.9 percent in men of the 
same age. Reports from South Africa indicate that death rates among 
girls between 15 to 19 years have increased by over 50 percent in the 
last ten years. In the last few years, there has been a disturbing rise 
in the number of cases of child rape and sexual abuse reported in the 
media. In some sub-Saharan African countries, including Zambia, there 
are myths surrounding HIV, such as that sex with a virgin can cure a 
man of HIV. In addition, older men seek sex with very young partners in 
the belief the young are free from HIV. These practices expose young 
children to HIV infection, and have consequences on the child's 
physical, psychological and social development. The actual extent of 
this problem is often unclear, because the perpetrators are sometimes 
close family members.
    The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is the main referral 
hospital for pediatric care in Zambia. Cases of sexual abuse reported 
to the hospital are seen first at the Police Post based there. In 2003, 
a total of 659 cases of child sexual abuse were reported at the Police 
Post. Currently, 15 to 20 sexually abused children are seen in the 
clinic each week. However, many other cases might be missed because of 
a lack of awareness of attending clinicians of evidence of sexual 
abuse, or reluctance to discuss such issues with parents and guardians. 
This leads to lost opportunities to provide post-exposure prophylaxis 
and psychological support to the child, and increases the possibility 
of HIV infection.
    The Zambian UTH Department of Pediatrics, the National AIDS Council 
Technical Group on Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Zambian 
Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ZSPCAN), in 
collaboration with international partners, has instituted various 
activities on child sexual abuse, and the purpose of the program is to 
strengthen the human capacity in Zambia to provide a child-friendly and 
parent sensitive environment in which to provide counseling and 
support; clinical care; and ongoing care including post-exposure 
prophylaxis and anti-retroviral treatment (ART), as required, to 
children who have suffered sexual abuse.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and 
one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National 
Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis 
Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) within HHS: Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who 
are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment services and 
to 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, including CDC. If research is proposed, the application will not 
be reviewed. 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: The recipient of these funds is responsible for 
activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved 
populations in Zambia. Either the awardee will implement activities 
directly or will implement them through its subgrantees and/or 
subcontractors; the awardee will retain overall financial and 
programmatic management under the oversight of HHS/CDC and the 
strategic direction of the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. 
The awardee must show a measurable, progressive reinforcement of the 
capacity of indigenous organizations and local communities to respond 
to the national HIV epidemic, as well as, progress towards the 
sustainability of activities.
    Applications should describe activities in detail as part of a 
four-year action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 
inclusive) that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the five-
year strategy for the President's Emergency Plan.
    The grantee will produce an annual operational plan in the context 
of this four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team 
on the ground in Zambia will review as part of an annual Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process 
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The grantee 
may work on some of the activities listed below in the first year and 
in subsequent years, and then progressively add others from the list to 
achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the 
previous section. HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator, will approve funds for activities on an annual basis, 
based on documented performance towards achieving Emergency Plan goals, 
as part of the annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process.
    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Train health workers in the Zambia UTH Departments of Pediatrics 
and Obstetrics and Gynecology to recognize and care for child sexual 
abuse.
    2. Train health care workers to provide post-exposure prophylaxis 
and ART, in general, for pediatric HIV care.
    3. Provide culturally and age-appropriate psycho-social support in 
local languages to sexually abused children and their families.
    4. Develop a system to record accurately cases of child sexual 
abuse, and to follow up such cases in the community.
    5. Strengthen links with the Zambian Society for Child Abuse and 
Neglect, and design activities to increase community awareness.
    6. Develop a multi-disciplinary team to provide pediatric HIV care.
    Administration: The winning applicant must comply with all HHS

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management requirements for meeting participation and progress and 
financial reporting for this cooperative agreement (See HHS Activities 
and Reporting sections below for details), and comply with all policy 
directives established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator.
    In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    HHS/CDC activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Provide scientific and technical assistance in developing the 
awardee's operational plan.
    2. Provide ongoing technical assistance in program implementation.
    3. Assist the awardee in assessments of the program's operations to 
determine the overall effectiveness of the program, including 
developing a monitoring and evaluation tool for the activities in the 
program.
    4. Design the program activities in conjunction with the UTH 
Department of Pediatrics and other partners.
    5. Participate in training of health staff.
    6. Provide technical assistance from HHS-headquarters and the in-
country HHS office in Zambia to assure other related U.S. Government 
activities are well-coordinated with the national program.
    7. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief it 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as 
necessary.
    12. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
    13. 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.
    14. Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon, and 
revise annually during validation of the first and subsequent annual 
work plans. This could include expert technical assistance and targeted 
training activities in specialized areas, such as strategic 
information, project management, confidential counseling and testing, 
palliative care, treatment literacy, and adult learning techniques.
    15. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet 
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.

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: $225,000. (This amount is an estimate, 
and is subject to availability of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $75,000. (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $95,000. (This ceiling is for the first 12-
month budget period.)
    Anticipated Award Date: September 23, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Three 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 annual Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of 
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    We will provide assistance only to university teaching hospitals 
that are referral hospitals and provide a full range of care, including 
pediatric care, and have a mandate and specialty in caring for sexually 
abused children. Eligible applicants must already have established 
activities to monitor cases of child sexual abuse by working with the 
local police post, to which all such cases, are initially referred.

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, we 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 you that your 
application did not meet the 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.
    HHS strongly encourages you to submit your application 
electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this 
announcement on http://www.grants.gov.
    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

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accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the HHS/CDC Procurement 
and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIM) 
staff 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: 25. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.
     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.
     Application must be written 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:
     Justification for program.
     Eligibility and organizational capacity.
     Proposed program plan, including goals, objectives and 
plan of operation.
     Program Management, staffing, collaborations, and 
infrastructure.
     Evaluation plan.
     Budget and justification (will not be counted in the 
stated page limit).
    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.
     Organizational Charts.
     Letters of support.
     Applicants must document eligibility by submitting 
verification of their Zambian registration status.
     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 
http://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
    For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.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 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 19, 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 http://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 http://www.grants.gov. We will consider electronic applications 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, 
your 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 the closing date 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 received by 
the deadline.
    If you submit a hard copy application, 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 carrier. 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. We will notify you 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.
     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, 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 U.S. or to international organizations, regardless of 
their location.
     The applicant may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however the applicant must perform a

[[Page 49652]]

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 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 standards(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.
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 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 
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 
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms 
and conditions of the subagreement, 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: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to 
submit electronically at: http://www.grants.gov. You will be able to 
download a copy of the application package from http://www.grants.gov, 
complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application via the 
Grants.gov 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 your 
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 recommended 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, you may 
submit a PDF file. You may find directions for creating PDF files on 
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of files 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 the following address:
    Technical Information Management--AA172, 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

[[Page 49653]]

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. Applicants must submit these 
measures of effectiveness with the application and will be an element 
of evaluation.
    Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:
    1. Plan (30 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 to reach underserved populations 
in Zambia and meet 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 a quantitative process to measure outcomes?
    2. Personnel (20 Points). Do the staff members have appropriate 
experience? Are the staff roles clearly defined? As described, will the 
staff be sufficient to meet the goals of the Emergency Plan?
    3. Need (20 Points). To what extent does the applicant justify the 
need for this program within the target community?
    4. Methods (15 Points). Does the application include an overall 
design strategy, including measurable time lines, clear monitoring and 
evaluation procedures, and specific activities for meeting the proposed 
objectives? Does the applicant describe a plan to build progressively 
the capacity of local organizations and of target beneficiaries and 
communities to respond to the epidemic?
    5. Ability to carry out the project (15 Points). Does the applicant 
provide a clear plan for the administration and management of the 
proposed activities, to manage the resources of the program, prepare 
reports, monitor and evaluate activities and audit expenditures?
    6. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored).

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:
    Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined 
by the review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any 
decision to fund out of rank order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    September 23, 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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
    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.
    An additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application 
needs to be included 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, please attach it 
to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachments Form.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide 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 Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Budget.
    e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 
Zambia.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Financial status report no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, due no later than 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    4. Annual progress report, due no later than 90 days after the end 
of the budget period. Reports should include progress against the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 
Zambia.
    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:
    Marc Bulterys, Project Officer, 1600 Clifton Road MS E-04, Atlanta, 
GA 30333, Telephone: 011 260 1 250 955 ext 246, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
    Shirley Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and 
Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770/488-1515, E-mail: 
[email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    Applicants can find this and other HHS funding opportunity

[[Page 49654]]

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 17, 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. 05-16838 Filed 8-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P