[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53197-53204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17666]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Increasing Access to HIV Confidential Voluntary Counseling and 
Testing (VCT) and Enhancing HIV/AIDS Communications, Prevention, and 
Care in the Republics of Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA239.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
    Key Dates:
    Application Deadline: September 29, 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. Sections 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 a focus on 15 priority countries, 
including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year strategy for the 
Emergency Plan is

[[Page 53198]]

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 South Africa are to 
treat at least 500,000 HIV-infected individuals and care for 2,500,000 
HIV-affected individuals, including orphans.

Purpose

    The United States Government seeks to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS 
in specific countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Americas by 
working with governments and other key partners to assess the needs of 
each country and design a customized program of assistance that fits 
within the host nation's strategic plan. 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 assistance that fits within 
the host nation's strategic plan.
    The purpose of this funding announcement is to progressively build 
an indigenous, sustainable response to the national HIV epidemics in 
Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland through the rapid expansion of 
innovative, culturally appropriate, high-quality HIV/AIDS prevention 
and care interventions.
    Specifically, the successful awardees of this announcement will 
expand and enhance the use of high quality confidential HIV VCT 
services (including social marketing for promoting awareness and 
importance of testing) in Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, 
including rural areas. These services include referral of those testing 
positive to sources of ongoing psycho-social support and basic 
preventive and palliative care. Use of counseling and testing (CT) 
services is intended to lead to safer sexual behaviors, including 
abstinence, fidelity, and, for populations engaged in high-risk 
behaviors,\1\ correct and consistent condom use, and increased use of 
care and support through a strong referral network to complementary 
care. A secondary purpose of this program is to enhance culturally and 
age-appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention communications activities. Awardees 
may not implement condom social marketing campaigns without also 
implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change interventions. 
The provision of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is not part of this 
program, although patients who qualify for ART under medical criteria 
may receive referrals to treatment sites as they become available.
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    \1\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home.
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    Monitoring and evaluation of all programs and services will be 
essential in measuring success of these activities. All of the program 
activities conducted in this cooperative agreement are part of the 
Emergency Plan.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
performance goals of the President's Emergency Plan and with the 
following performance goal for the CDC National Center for HIV, STD and 
TB Prevention within HHS: By 2010, work with other countries, 
international organizations, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency 
for International Development (USAID), and other partners to achieve 
the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS goal of 
reducing prevalence among young people 15 to 24 years of age. Specific 
measurable outcomes of this program include, but are not be limited to, 
the number, age and sex of clients (individual and couples) provided 
with confidential HIV CT, unrecognized HIV infections discovered, the 
cost per client service and per unrecognized infection, and the number 
of persons with HIV successfully referred to an effective care or 
treatment provider.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If 
an applicant proposes research activities, HHS 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

    Based on its competitive advantage and proven field experience, the 
successful applicant will undertake a broad range of activities to meet 
the numerical Emergency Plan targets outlined in this Program 
Announcement. For each of these activities, the grantee will give 
priority to evidence-based, yet culturally adapted, innovative 
approaches.
    The grantee will either implement activities directly or through 
its subgrantees and/or subcontractors; the grantee will retain overall 
financial and programmatic management under the oversight of HHS/CDC 
and the strategic direction of the Office of the Global AIDS 
Coordinator. The grantee 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.
    Applicants 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 five-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan teams 
on the ground in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho will review, 
respectively, as part of the 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 toward 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. Establishing and running programs to make confidential HIV CT a 
routine part of medical care, linked together within countries as a 
network sharing standardized CT protocols and procedures, standardized 
management systems, standardized monitoring and evaluation procedures 
and instruments, and standardized marketing and education materials and 
activities.
    2. Operating mobile HIV confidential CT activities to reach rural 
populations and/or employees at their workplaces.
    3. Developing and implementing comprehensive, culturally 
appropriate social marketing campaigns in local languages to create 
informed demand for confidential HIV CT services and reduce stigma 
surrounding seeking CT.
    4. Developing and implementing comprehensive, culturally and age-

[[Page 53199]]

appropriate social marketing campaigns to promote abstinence and 
faithfulness that reflect and respect local cultural and religious 
mores.
    5. Developing and implementing programs in local languages to 
promote healthy behavior change among populations engaged in high-risk 
behaviors and at high-risk sites (e.g., bars, bottle shops).
    6. Promoting culturally appropriate messages in local languages 
that raise awareness about the harmful ties between alcohol/substance 
abuse and HIV infection and poor adherence to antiretrovirals (ARVs).
    7. Creating referral networks for confidential HIV CT clients to 
improve access to care and support.
    8. Collecting strategic information to ensure the effectiveness of 
HIV/AIDS prevention activities.
    9. Providing support, as appropriate, to the national Departments 
of Health (DOH), Ministries of Health (MOH) and other agencies of the 
national government, which could include, without limitation: 
improvement of monitoring and evaluation activities to assure high-
quality service delivery in all confidential HIV CT sites; development 
of culturally and age-appropriate communications materials in local 
languages; development and/or implementation of training curricula; and 
improvement of laboratory infrastructure.
    10. Training faith-based leaders to encourage testing and 
partnering with CT providers to enable testing at places of worship.
    11. Ensuring that all of the above activities are undertaken in a 
manner consistent with and in support of the five-year U.S. Government 
HIV/AIDS strategy for the Emergency Plan and the National Ministry of 
Health strategies. Work to link activities described here with related 
HIV care and other social services in the area, and promote 
coordination at all levels, including through bodies such as village, 
district, regional and national HIV coordination committees and 
networks of community-based, non-governmental and faith-based 
organizations.
    12. Participate in relevant national technical coordination 
committees and in national process(es) to define, implement and monitor 
simplified small grants program(s) for faith- and community-based 
organizations, to ensure local stakeholders receive adequate 
information and assistance to engage and access effectively funding 
opportunities supported by the President's Emergency Plan and other 
donors.
    13. Progressively reinforce the capacity of faith- and community-
based organizations and village and district AIDS committees to promote 
quality, local ownership, accountability and sustainability of 
activities.
    14. Develop and implement a project-specific participatory 
monitoring and evaluation plan by drawing on National Ministry of 
Health and U.S. Government requirements and tools, including the 
strategic information guidance provided by the Office of the U.S. 
Global AIDS Coordinator.

Administration

    Comply with all HHS management requirements for meeting 
participation and progress and financial reporting for this cooperative 
agreement. (See HHS Activities and Reporting sections below for 
details.) 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 
Activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Support training of VCT counselors, development of tools for 
monitoring and evaluation of confidential counseling and testing 
programs, quality assurance, and competitive and transparent 
procurement of HIV rapid tests.
    2. Expand age-appropriate supportive counseling, psychosocial 
support, and preventive counseling for children, adolescents and people 
with special needs. Interventions should emphasize abstinence for youth 
and other unmarried persons, mutual faithfulness and partner reduction 
for sexually active adults, and correct and consistent use of condoms 
by those whose behavior places them at risk for transmitting or 
becoming infected with HIV.\2\
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    \2\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home.
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    3. Facilitate the exchange of materials and expertise with regard 
to confidential counseling and testing services for populations engaged 
in high-risk behaviors.
    4. Strengthen confidential counseling and testing programs.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as 
necessary.
    9. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
    10. 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.
    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.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goals for the President's Emergency Plan:

A. Prevention

    Number of individuals trained to provide HIV prevention 
interventions, including abstinence, faithfulness, and, for populations 
engaged in high-risk behaviors \3\, correct and consistent condom use.
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    \3\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home.

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[[Page 53200]]

    1. Abstinence (A) and Be Faithful (B).
     Number of community outreach and/or mass media (radio) 
programs that are A/B focused.
     Number of individuals reached through community outreach 
and/or mass media (radio) programs that are A/B focused.

B. Care and Support

    1. Confidential counseling and testing.
     Number of patients who accept confidential counseling and 
testing in a health-care setting.
     Number of clients served, direct.
     Number of people trained in confidential counseling and 
testing, direct, including health-care workers.
    2. Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC).
    Number of service outlets/programs, direct and/or indirect.
     Number of clients (OVC) served, direct and/or indirect.
     Number of persons trained to serve OVC, direct.
    3. Palliative Care: Basic Health Care and Support.
     Number of service outlets/programs that provide palliative 
care, direct and/or indirect.
     Number of service outlets/programs that link HIV care with 
malaria and tuberculosis care and/or referral, direct and/or indirect.
     Number of clients served with palliative care, direct and/
or indirect.
     Number of persons trained in providing palliative care, 
direct.

C. HIV Treatment With ART

     Number of clients enrolled in ART, direct and indirect.
     Number of persons trained in providing ART, direct.

D. Strategic Information

     Number of persons trained in strategic information, 
direct.

E. Expanded Indigenous Sustainable Response

     Project-specific quantifiable milestones to measure:
    a. Indigenous capacity-building.
    b. Progress toward sustainability.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section 
above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $2-6.0 million per year, over five 
years; or $30 million. (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to 
availability of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $1-2 million for South Africa and $1-2 
million for Swaziland and Lesotho. (This amount is for the first 12-
month budget period, and includes both direct and indirect costs.)
    Floor of Award Range: $1 million.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $6.5 million. (This ceiling is for the 
first 12-month budget period.)
    Anticipated Award Date: October 15, 2005.
    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 input from recipient government agencies), 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

    Applications may be submitted by:
     Public nonprofit organizations.
     Private nonprofit organizations.
     Universities.
     Colleges.
     For profit organizations.
     Small, minority-owned, or women-owned businesses.
     Community-based organizations.
     Research institutions.
     Hospitals.
     Faith-based organizations.
     Federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
     Indian tribes.
     Indian tribal organizations.
     State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents 
(this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the 
Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).
     Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with 
States).
    Applicants must meet the criteria listed below:
     Have at least three years of documented HIV/AIDS related 
program implementation experience in any of the following countries: 
Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.
     Have demonstrated expertise in the areas of direct HIV CT 
service delivery, AIDS prevention communications, and social marketing 
in any of the following countries: Lesotho, South Africa, and 
Swaziland.
     Be locally incorporated in any of the following countries: 
Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland.
     U.S. Embassy collaboration in Swaziland and Lesotho will 
also be necessary.

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, 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.
    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 
submission requirements.
     HHS/CDC will consider late applications to be 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.
    HHS strongly encourages you to submit your application 
electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this 
announcement at http://www.grants.gov.
    Application forms and instructions are available on the HHS/CDC Web 
site,

[[Page 53201]]

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 CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. We can e-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.
     Pages should be numbered.
     Printed only on one side of page.
     Appendices may be included.
     Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
     Submitted in English.
    Your narrative should address activities to conduct over the entire 
project period, and must include the following items in the order 
listed:
     Project Context and Background (Understanding and Need).
     Project Strategy--Description and Methodologies.
     Project Goals.
     Project Outputs.
     Project Contribution to the Goals and Objectives of the 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
     Work Plan and Description of Project Components and 
Activities.
     Performance Measures.
     Timeline (e.g., GANNT Chart).
     Management of Project Funds and Reporting.
    You may include additional information in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page 
limit. This additional information includes the following:
     Project Budget and Justification.
     Project Budget Notes.
     Job Descriptions.
     Testing Protocols.
     Overview of HIV Counseling and Testing Quality Assurance 
Procedures, both Internal and External.
     HIV Counseling and Testing Quality Assurance, Monitoring 
and Evaluation and Strategic Information Forms.
     HIV Counseling and Testing Referral Procedures and Forms.
     Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing Processes and 
Procedures.
     HIV Counseling and Testing Staff Training Curricula.
     Applicant's Corporate Capability Statement.
     Letter of Support.
    The budget justification will not count in the narrative page 
limit.
    Although the narrative addresses activities for the entire project, 
the applicant should provide a detailed budget only for the first year 
of activities, while addressing budgetary plans for subsequent years.
    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/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 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 29, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the 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 online 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 with 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 closing because of: (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 
carriers 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 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. 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.
     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 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

[[Page 53202]]

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 substantial portion 
of the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required) relating 
to the management of sub-grants to local organizations and improving 
their capacity.
     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, to review the applicant's business management 
and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.
     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.
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 
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 
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 can 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 customer support 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

[[Page 53203]]

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--AA239, 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. Applicants must submit these measures of 
effectiveness must be submitted with the application and they will be 
an element of evaluation.
    We will evaluate your application will be evaluated against the 
following criteria:
    1. Ability to Carry Out the Proposal (25 points).
    Does the applicant demonstrate the local experience and capability 
to achieve the goals of the project? Do the staff members have 
appropriate experience? Are the staff roles clearly defined? Does the 
applicant currently have the capacity to reach rural populations in 
Lestho, South Africa and Swaziland despite the complex political 
situation?
    2.2. Understanding the issues, principles and systems requirements 
involved in carrying out the project and fitting into the five-year 
strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan (25 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 Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland 
and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan?
    3. Work Plan (20 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 
Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland to achieve the goals of the 
Emergency Plan?
    4. Capacity-Building (15 points): Does the applicant describe a 
plan to progressively build the indigenous capacity of local 
organizations and of target beneficiaries and communities to respond to 
the epidemic, such that, if the applicant is not an national 
organization, at the end of the project period the applicant can turn 
over management of the project to a local partner or partners?
    5. Administrative and Accounting Plan (15 points): Is there a plan 
to prepare reports, monitor and evaluate activities, audit expenditures 
and manage the resources of the program?
    6. Budget (not scored): Is the budget itemized, well-justified and 
consistent with the five-year strategy and goals of the President's 
Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan activities in Lesotho, South Africa 
and Swaziland?

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 be go 
to organizations that can leverage additional funds to contribute to 
program goals.
    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

    October 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-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements.
     AR-7 Executive Order 12372.
     AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
     AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status.
    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 PHS 
5161-1 application in your 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 your 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 (in English).
    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.

[[Page 53204]]

    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 
South Africa.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Annual progress report, due no more than 60 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 
South Africa.
    3. Financial status report, due 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.
    Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or 
Contract Specialist and Program Technical Assistance Project Officer 
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: Melanie Duckworth, 
Project Officer, HHS/CDC Global AIDS Program, 9300 Pretoria Place, 
Washington, DC 20521-9300, Telephone: 27 12 346 0170, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Shirley Wynn, Contract 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 
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 31, 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. 05-17666 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P