[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26530-26537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4211]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Request for Applications for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Women 
Living in the Rural South Program

AGENCY: Office on Women's Health, Office of Public Health and Science, 
Office of the Secretary, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Announcement Type: Competitive Cooperative Agreement--FY 2006 
Initial announcement.
    OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The OMB Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.015.

DATES: Application availability May 5, 2006. Applications are due by 5 
p.m. Eastern Time on June 5, 2006.
SUMMARY: This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 300u-2(a).
    The Office on Women's Health (OWH) is the focal point for women's 
health within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Under 
the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health, OWH 
provides leadership to promote health equity for women and girls 
through gender-specific approaches. To that end, OWH has established 
public/private partnerships to address critical women's health issues 
nationwide. These include supporting collaborative efforts to provide 
accurate prevention education to rural women living in the rural \1\ 
South \2\. The emphasis of these efforts is on educational and 
prevention counseling covering the full spectrum of primary and 
secondary prevention adapted to a female centered perspective. This 
initiative is intended to demonstrate a collaborative partnership 
approach between the grantee and local health or social service

[[Page 26531]]

providers, e.g., community health centers, rural health centers, family 
planning clinics, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants and Children (WIC), community based organizations, faith based 
organizations, public assistance programs and local health departments.
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    \1\ Access: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/rural-urban.htm for 
definitions.
    \2\ Access: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/rural-urban.htm for 
visual of U.S. south.
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    The partnership is expected to be a viable strategy for identifying 
and educating rural women in culturally appropriate manner that reduces 
denial, demystifies stigma, clarifies inaccuarate information, and 
increases knowledge for self-protection and access to counseling and 
testing resources. It is expected that the prevention education model 
will provide accurate, culturally, and linguistically appropriate 
information to women at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS in the rural 
south.
    The OWH HIV/AIDS program began in 1999 with funding from the 
Minority AIDS Fund (formerly Minority AIDS Initiative) to address the 
gaps in services provided to women who are at risk or living with HIV. 
Since the inception of the HIV/AIDS programs, the program focus has 
expanded from two to seven. These programs include: (1) HIV Prevention 
for Women Living in the Rural South, (2) Prevention and Support for 
Incarcerated/ Newly Released Women, (3) Model Mentorship for 
Strengthening Organizational Capacity, (4) HIV Prevention for Young 
Women Attending Minority Institutions (e.g. Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges 
and Universities), (5) HIV Prevention for Women Living in the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, (6) Prevention and Support for HIV Positive Women 
Living in Puerto Rico, and (7) Inter-generational Approaches to HIV/
AIDS Prevention Education with Women Across the Lifespan.
    Funding will be directed at activities designed to improve the 
delivery of services to women disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The primary purpose of this OWH HIV/AIDS program is to increase HIV 
prevention knowledge and reduce the risk of contracting HIV among 
minority women living in the rural south. The goals for this program 
are:
     Develop and sustain HIV prevention services to increase 
awareness of and receptivity to HIV prevention, including the ABC \3\--
Abstinence, Being Faithful, Condoms model, among women living in rural 
communities in the south experiencing high rates of HIV infection 
within female populations.
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    \3\ USAID. The ``ABCs'' of HIV prevention: Report of a USAID 
technical meeting on behavior change approaches to primary 
prevention of HIV/AIDS. Washington, DC: Population, Health and 
Nutrition Information Project, 2003. http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/TechAreas/prevention/abc.pdf.
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     Develop gender specific education and prevention training 
modules on critical HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention/education 
information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended 
effective interventions may be used as well as adapted interventions 
which demonstrate core elements of interventions with evidence of 
effectiveness.\4\
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    \4\ Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of 
Effectiveness, CDC's HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project, 
Novemeber 1999.
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     Implement education and prevention training modules that 
are culturally and linguistically appropriate for women living in rural 
communities in the south.
    The OWH hopes to fulfill this purpose by providing funding to 
targeted community-based organizations to enhance their prevention and 
support activities to women living in the rural south experiencing high 
rates of HIV infection. The proposed program must address false HIV 
information, stigma, denial, knowledge, self-protection behaviors and 
the importance of knowing one's seropositive status. A gender specific 
approach shall be an integral element of the selected intervention. 
Information and services provided must be culturally and linguistically 
appropriate for the individuals for whom the information and services 
are intended. Women's health issues are defined in the context of 
women's lives, including their multiple social roles and the importance 
of relationships with other people to their lives. This definition of 
women's health encompasses mental, dental, and physical health and 
spans the life course.
    The objectives of the OWH program are to:
    1. Increase knowledge of accurate HIV prevention information among 
women living in rural communities in the south.
    2. Improve and increase access to quality HIV prevention services 
to women living with or at high risk for HIV infection in rural 
communities in the south.
    3. Improve receptivity to and awareness of HIV prevention education 
necessary to reduce the stigma among women in rural south communities.
    4. Increase the number of women living in the rural south 
voluntarily receiving HIV testing.
    In order to achieve the objectives of the program the grantee 
shall: (1) Establish partnership(s) with local entities after reviewing 
city/county/State data on HIV incidence among women populations, 
exploring challenges and trends which enable risks and vulnerabilities 
of women living in rural south communities. (2) Develop and implement a 
gender specific model ``education and prevention counseling'' program 
to provide accurate prevention education to women living in the rural 
south. Culture, language, and sub-cultures of rural south populations 
are considerations for appropriate program components. (3) Develop or 
select use of existing prevention education training modules on 
critical HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention and education 
information. (4) Establish Memoranda of Understanding with local health 
care entities, social services, local small businesses, community and 
faith based organizations as partners to implement referral 
coordination for counseling, HIV testing, well woman screenings, and 
other social service needs. (5) Participate in the OWH Evaluation of 
Women and HIV/AIDS Programs. (6) Visit local community assistance 
offices/small businesses, faith based organizations and other health/
social service programs as outreach to communities and women living 
with HIV/AIDS and who are at risk of infection of HIV/AIDS/STDs. In 
addition, the grantee shall submit reports outlining program activities 
(e.g., recruitment, participant retention), which reflect how its 
implementation process reflected an understanding of the realities of 
women's lives and addressed the issues of the participants to motivate 
continued participation. Finally, the grantee shall develop a plan to 
continue the program activities and community linkages beyond OWH 
funding and shall illustrate how program performance addressed 
community needs and the needs of women living in rural south 
communities experiencing high rates of HIV infection. The grantee is 
encouraged to attend at least one national or regional HIV/AIDS 
Conference (e.g., U.S. Conference on AIDS, the CDC National HIV 
Prevention Conference, etc.), and to seek updates in HIV prevention 
strategies, therapies, and priority activities as advised by the CDC, 
the Health Resources and Services Administration, and other public 
health experts.

[[Page 26532]]

II. Award Information

    The OWH program will be supported through the cooperative agreement 
mechanism. Using this mechanism, the OWH anticipates making three 
awards in FY 2006. The anticipated start date for new awards is 
September 1, 2006, and the anticipated period of performance is 
September 1, 2006, through August 31, 2007. Approximately $210,000 is 
available to make awards of up to $70,000 total cost (direct and 
indirect) for a 12-month period. However, the actual number of awards 
made will depend upon past performance and the quality of the 
applications received and the amount of funds available for the 
program.
    The program is a collaborative effort between the OWH and the 
Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, OPHS. These offices will provide the 
technical assistance and oversight necessary for the implementation, 
conduct, and assessment of program activities.
    The applicant shall:
    1. Develop and implement the model described in the application.
    2. Provide complete curricula, i.e., topics, content, participant 
workbook, participant evaluation forms, pre/post instruments, and 
goals/objectives.
    3. Describe training, teaching methods and strategies, e.g., 
interactive exercises, facilitated discussion, lectures, video/films, 
community peers, etc., proposed to deliver modules. Describe the 
intervention format: One time session, series of sessions occurring 
beyond one day, one day session, etc.
    4. Conduct outreach to local entities and community 
representatives. Identify locations for prevention education sites and 
identify community liaisons for assistance in identifying prospective 
women participants.
    5. Establish community partnerships through Memoranda of 
Understanding.
    6. Participate in the OWH Evaluation of HIV/AIDS program, 
submitting requested data as needed as well as participating in a site 
visit conducted by Evaluation Contractor.
    7. Participate in special meetings and projects/funding 
opportunities identified by the OWH.
    8. Adhere to all program requirements specified in this 
announcement and the Notice of Grant Award.
    9. Submit required quarterly progress, annual, and financial 
reports by the due dates stated in this announcement and the Notice of 
Grant Award.
    10. Comply with the DHHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations 
(which require obtaining Institutional Review Board approval), set out 
at 45 CFR part 46, if applicable. General information about Human 
Subjects regulations can be obtained through the Office for Human 
Research Protections (OHRP) at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp, 
[email protected], or toll free at (866) 447-4777.
    The Federal Government will:
    1. Conduct an orientation meeting for the grantees within the first 
month of funding.
    2. Conduct at least one site visit which includes some observation 
of program progress.
    3. Review and approve the prevention education curricula.
    4. Review all quarterly, annual, and final progress reports.
    5. Conduct a national evaluation of program effectiveness, 
outcomes, and impact.
    6. Review timeline and implementation plan.
    7. Cooperate with the OWH Evaluation Contractor, submitting 
requested data as needed, participating in telephone conferences and 
other activities supporting the evaluation performance.
    The DHHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease 
prevention Objectives of Healthy People 2010 and the Healthy U.S. 
Initiative. Emphasis will be placed on aligning OWH activities and 
programs with the DHHS Secretary's four priority areas--heart disease, 
cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS--and with the Healthy People 2010: Goal 
2--eliminating health disparities due to age, gender, race/ethnicity, 
education, income, disability, or living in rural localities. More 
information on the Healthy People 2010 objectives may be found on the 
Healthy People 2010 Web site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. One 
free copy may be obtained from the National Center for Health 
Statistics (NCHS), 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 1064, Hyattsville, MD 20782 
or telephone (301) 458-4636 [DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 99-1256]. This 
document may also be downloaded from the NCHS Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs. Also, Steps to a HealthierUS is a bold new initiative 
from the Department that advances the goal of helping Americans live 
longer, better, and healthier lives. To help implement the Healthier 
U.S. initiative, the Department launched the Steps to a HealthierUS 
program. It lays out DHHS priorities and programs for Steps to a 
HealthierUS, focusing attention on the importance of prevention and 
promising approaches for promoting healthy environments. More 
information on these initiatives is available at http://www.HealthierUS.gov.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
    1. Current entities funded by the OWH to target rural women living 
in the rural south and who met performance requirements in the OWH 3-
year evaluation of the rural south program;
    2. Organizations located in rural south communities experiencing 
high HIV prevalence among women;
    3. Organizations in or adjacent to rural communities located in the 
South; and
    4. Organizations which indicated history of serving African 
American women, Hispanic women, rural women, poor women, women living 
with HIV/AIDS, or whose lifestyles place them at high risk for HIV/STD 
infection.
    Current entities funded by the OWH to target rural women living in 
the rural south whose funding ends in September 2006 are the only 
organizations qualified to receive funding through this program. Since 
the primary purpose of the funding is to retain entities for the 
ongoing 3-year evaluation of the Rural South programs, only those 
organizations that are funded, and are evaluation participants are 
suitable and eligible for funding.

2. Cost Share or Matching

    Cost sharing, matching funds, and cost participation is not a 
requirement of this grant.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Application kits may be requested by calling (240) 453.8822 or 
writing to: Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and 
Science (OPHS), 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852. 
Applications must be prepared using OPHS-1. Applicants may fax a 
written request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a 
hard copy of the application kit at 240-453-8823.

2. Content and Format of Application and Submission

    All completed applications must be submitted to the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management at the above mailing address. In preparing the 
application, it is important to follow ALL instructions provided in the 
application kit.
    Applications must be submitted on the forms supplied (OPHS-1, 
Revised 6/2001) and in the manner prescribed in the application kits 
provided by the OPHS. Applicants are required to

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submit an application signed by an individual authorized to act for the 
applicant agency or organization and to assume for the organization the 
obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The 
program narrative should not be longer than 25 double spaced pages, not 
including appendices and required forms, using an easily readable, 12 
point font. All pages, figures and tables should be numbered.
    A Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is 
required for all applications for Federal assistance. Organizations 
should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps necessary 
to obtain one. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number are included in 
the application package, and may be downloaded from the Web site 
https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html.
    At a minimum, each application for a cooperative agreement grant 
funded under this OWH announcement must:
     Present a plan outlining steps to develop and implement a 
gender specific model program using an evidenced based effective 
intervention with trainers capable of providing accurate prevention 
information in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner to 
rural women in the south.
     Provide signed Memoranda of Agreement(s) with partners to 
establish linkages to identify women participants, location of 
prevention education sites, and for referral to available services for 
the targeted population based upon prevention, care, counseling, 
testing and social service needs.
     Detail/specify the roles and resources/services that each 
partner organization brings to the program, the duration and terms of 
agreement as confirmed by a signed MOU/MOA between the applicant 
organization and each partner. The partnership agreement(s) (MOU/MOA) 
must name the individual who will work with the program, describe their 
function, and state their qualifications. The documents, specific to 
each organization (form letters are not acceptable), must be signed by 
individuals with the authority to represent and bind the organization 
(e.g., president, chief executive officer, executive director) and 
submitted as part of the grant application.
     Demonstrate the ways the organization and the prevention 
education services that are coordinated through its partners are gender 
and age appropriate, women-focused, women-friendly, women-relevant as 
well as culturally and linguistically appropriate to the target 
population.
     Be a sustainable organization with an established network 
of partners capable of providing and coordinating a gender specific 
prevention education model program in the targeted community. The 
partners and their roles and responsibilities to the program must be 
clearly identified in the application.
     Demonstrate that any prevention intervention (including 
prevention for positives) contains the core elements of interventions 
with evidence of effectiveness. (See Compendium of HIV Prevention 
Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness, from CDC's HIV/AIDS 
Prevention Research Synthesis Project, Nov. 1999; see CDC's HIV 
Prevention Strategic Plan 2005.)
     Provide a time line and work plan for Program 
Implementation for the funding year, presented in correlation to goals, 
objectives, and expected outcomes or targets.
     Describe in detail plans for the local evaluation of the 
program and when and how the evaluation will be used to enhance the 
program. The applicant must also indicate their willingness to 
participate in a national evaluation of the program to be conducted 
under the leadership of the OWH contractor.
    Format and Limitations of Application: Applicants are required to 
submit an original ink signed and dated application and 2 photocopies. 
All pages must be numbered clearly and sequential beginning with the 
Project Summary. The application must be typed double-spaced on one 
side of plain 8\1/2\'' x 11'' white paper, using at least a 12 point 
font, and contain 1'' margins all around.
    The Project Summary and Project Narrative must not exceed a total 
of 25 double-spaced pages, excluding the appendices. The original and 
each copy must be stapled; the application should be organized in 
accordance with the format presented in the RFA. An outline for the 
minimum information to be included in the ``Project Narrative'' section 
is presented below. The content requirements for the Project Narrative 
portion of the application are divided into five sections and described 
below within each Factor. Applicants must pay particular attention to 
structuring the narrative to respond clearly and fully to each review 
Factor and associated criteria. Applications not adhering to these 
guidelines may not be reviewed.

I. Background (Understanding of the Problem)
    A. Organization's goals and purpose(s).
    B. Demographic profile and HIV prevalence of target rural 
community and counties with discussion of local norms, tradition, 
culture of targeted population.
    C. Local needs assessment and gaps in services, e.g., 
prevention, care, and social services for targeted population.
    D. Local program objectives
    1. Tied to program goal(s);
    2. Measurable with time frame.
    E. Organizational charts that include partners and a discussion 
of the proposed resources to be contributed by the partners, 
personnel, and their expertise and how their involvement will help 
achieve the program goals.
II. Implementation Plan (Approach)
    A. Discuss gender specific program elements.
    B. Describe curriculum and its appropriateness for target 
population.
    C. Describe local evaluation tools, indicators of increased 
knowledge, reduction in attitudes/stigma, and an increase number 
voluntarily undergoing HIV testing.
    D. Partnerships and referral system/follow up.
III. Management Plan
    A. Key project staff, their resumes, and a staffing chart for 
budgeted staff.
    B. To-be-hired staff and their qualifications.
    C. Staff responsibilities.
    D. Management experience of the lead agency and partners as 
related to their role in the Program.
    E. Management oversight of staff roles and job performance.
    F. Address maintenance of confidentiality, ethics in 
performance, and on-going staff training.
    G. Explain decision making hierarchy.
IV. Local Evaluation Plan
    A. Purpose.
    B. Describe tools and procedures for measuring strengths and 
weaknesses.
    C. Use of results to enhance programs.
    D. Indicators that reflect goals/objectives are being met.
    E. Agreement to participate in the OWH Evaluation of Women and 
HIV/AIDS Programs.
V. Organizational Agency Qualifications
    A. Agency history of performance in prevention education, e.g., 
developing/adapting prevention education curricula, training skills 
and expertise, certification in specific training modules, measuring 
participant learning and satisfaction.
    B. Agency relationships, past and current, with women focused 
programs, local health and social services providers, and community 
based organizations and representatives.
    C. Community acceptance: staff recognition, media, requests for 
agency involvement.
    D. Technical Assistance plans/strategies.
Appendices
    A. Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding/Partnership Letters.
    B. Required Forms (Assurance of Compliance Form, etc.).
    C. Key Staff Resumes.
    D. Charts/Tables (Partners, services, population demographics, 
program components, etc.).

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    E. Other attachments.

    Use of Funds: A majority of the funds from the award must be used 
to support staff and efforts aimed at implementing the program. The 
Program Coordinator, or the person responsible for the day-to-day 
management of the program, must devote at least a 75 percent level of 
effort to the program. Funds may also be used to transfer the lessons 
learned/successful strategies/gender specific approaches from the 
program (technical assistance) through activities such as showcasing 
the program at conferences, meetings, and workshops; providing direct 
technical assistance to other communities; and providing technical 
assistance to other rural south based community organizations, or 
through their professional organizations, interested in working with 
women living in the rural south who are living with HIV/AIDS or who are 
at high risk for HIV/STD infection. These may include either process-
based lessons (i.e., How to bring multiple sectors of community 
partners together) or outcomes-based lessons (i.e., How to increase the 
number of rural women living in the south who voluntarily undergo HIV 
testing).
    Funds may be used for personnel, consultants, supplies (including 
screening, education, and outreach supplies), and grant related travel. 
Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, 
equipment, medical treatment, or renovations. All budget requests must 
be justified fully in terms of the proposed goals and objectives and 
include an itemized computational explanation/breakout of how costs 
were determined.
    Meetings: The OWH will convene grantees once a year for 
orientation. The meeting will be held in the Washington metropolitan 
area or in one of the ten (10) DHHS regional office cities. The budget 
should include a request for funds to pay for the travel, lodging, and 
meals. The meeting is usually held within the first six weeks post 
award.

3. Submission Date and Time

Submission Mechanisms
    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) provides multiple 
mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the 
following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of 
applications submitted using any of these mechanisms. Applications 
submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadlines 
described below will not be accepted for review. Applications which do 
not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be 
accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant.
    Applications may only be submitted electronically via the 
electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications 
submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including 
facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While 
applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic 
application submission capabilities provided by the OPHS eGrants system 
or the Grants.gov Web site Portal is encouraged.
    Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later 
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission 
mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures 
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day 
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement.
    Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic 
application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items 
are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the 
deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere 
to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed 
ineligible.
    Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early 
in the application development process, and to submit early on the due 
date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with 
submissions prior to the application deadline.
Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Website Portal
    The Grants.gov Web site Portal provides organizations with the 
ability to submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. 
Organizations must successfully complete the necessary registration 
processes in order to submit an application. Information about this 
system is available on the Grants.gov Web site, http://www.grants.gov.
    In addition to electronically submitted materials, applicants may 
be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain Program related 
forms, or original materials as required by the announcement. It is 
imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement, as 
well as the application guidance provided within the Grants.gov 
application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard 
copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be 
submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 
and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed 
by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
    Electronic applications submitted via the Grants.gov Website Portal 
must contain all completed online forms required by the application 
kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or 
exhibits. All required mail-in items must received by the due date 
requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only include 
publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission 
via the Grants.gov Web site Portal, the applicant will be provided with 
a confirmation page from Grants.gov indicating the date and time 
(eastern time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the 
Grants.gov Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and 
retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the 
entire application package.
    All applications submitted via the Grants.gov Web site Portal will 
be validated by Grants.gov. Any applications deemed ``Invalid'' by the 
Grants.gov Web site Portal will not be transferred to the OPHS eGrants 
system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not 
validated and transferred to OPHS from the Grants.gov Web site Portal. 
Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application 
validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by 
the Grants.gov Web site Portal, applicants should immediately mail all 
required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to 
be received by the deadlines specified above. It is critical that the 
applicant clearly identify the Organization name and Grants.gov 
Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials.
    Once the application is validated by Grants.gov, it will be 
electronically transferred to the OPHS eGrants system for processing. 
Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the Grants.gov Web 
site Portal, and the required hardcopy mail-in items, applicants will 
receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants Management 
confirming the receipt of

[[Page 26535]]

the application submitted using the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
    Applicants should contact Grants.gov regarding any questions or 
concerns regarding the electronic application process conducted through 
the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
Electronic Submissions via the OPHS eGrants System
    The OPHS electronic grants management system, eGrants, provides for 
applications to be submitted electronically. Information about this 
system is available on the OPHS eGrants Web site, https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov, or may be requested from the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management at (240) 453-8822.
    When submitting applications via the OPHS eGrants system, 
applicants are required to submit a hard copy of the application face 
page (Standard Form 424) with the original signature of an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and assume the obligations 
imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. If required, 
applicants will also need to submit a hard copy of the Standard Form 
LLL and/or certain Program related forms (e.g., Program Certifications) 
with the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the 
applicant agency.
    Electronic applications submitted via the OPHS eGrants system must 
contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the 
Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. The 
applicant may identify specific mail-in items to be sent to the Office 
of Grants Management separate from the electronic submission; however 
these mail-in items must be entered on the eGrants Application 
Checklist at the time of electronic submission, and must be received by 
the due date requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only 
include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, 
the OPHS eGrants system will provide the applicant with a confirmation 
page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic 
application submission. This confirmation page will also provide a 
listing of all items that constitute the final application submission 
including all electronic application components, required hardcopy 
original signatures, and mail-in items, as well as the mailing address 
of the OPHS Office of Grants Management where all required hard copy 
materials must be submitted.
    As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the 
electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of 
mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status 
of their application in the OPHS eGrants system to ensure that all 
signatures and mail-in items are received.
Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications
    Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-
delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the 
application. The original application must be signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to 
assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award.
    Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant 
Management on or before 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date 
specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application 
deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the 
instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline 
will be returned to the applicant unread.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    This program is subject to the Public Health Systems Reporting 
Requirements. Under these requirements, a community-based non-
governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health System 
Impact Statement (PHSIS). Applicants shall submit a copy of the 
application face page (SF-424) and a one page summary of the project, 
called the Public Health System Impact Statement. The PHSIS is intended 
to provide information to State and local health officials to keep them 
apprised on proposed health services grant applications submitted by 
community-based, non-governmental organizations within their 
jurisdictions. Community-based, non-governmental applicants are 
required to submit, no later than the Federal due date for receipt of 
the application, the following information to the head of the 
appropriate State and local health agencies in the area(s) to be 
impacted: (a) A copy of the face page of the application (SF 424), (b) 
a summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which 
provides: (1) A description of the population to be served, (2) a 
summary of the services to be provided, and (3) a description of the 
coordination planned with the appropriate state or local health 
agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the PHSIS to these 
authorities must be contained in the application materials submitted to 
the OWH.
    This program is also subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 that allows States the option of setting up a system for 
reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under 
certain Federal programs. The application kit to be made available 
under this notice will contain a listing of States that have chosen to 
set up a review system and will include a State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) in the State for review. Applicants (other than federally 
recognized Indian tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early as 
possible to alert them to the prospective applications and receive any 
necessary instructions on the State process. For proposed projects 
serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the 
SPOC in each affected State. A complete list of SPOCs may be found at 
the following Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. 
The due date for State process recommendations is 60 days after the 
application deadline. The OWH does not guarantee that it will 
accommodate or explain its responses to State process recommendations 
received after that date. (See Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs, Executive Order 12372, and 45 CFR part 100 for a description 
of the review process and requirements.)

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, 
equipment purchase, medical treatment, renovations, or to purchase 
food.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    None.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    The objective technical review of applications will consider the 
following factors:
Factor 1: Implementation/Approach--30%
    This section must discuss:
    1. Appropriateness of the existing community resources and linkages 
established to deliver accurate prevention education to meet the 
requirements of the program. Describe other community providers that 
will be affiliated with the program and their role in service delivery.
    2. Appropriateness of proposed approach, e.g. evidence based

[[Page 26536]]

intervention and specific activities described to address program 
objectives.
    3. Gender specific elements of proposed process.
    4. Soundness of evaluation objectives for measuring program 
effectiveness, impact of prevention education on knowledge and 
behavior, and understanding the importance of knowing one's status.
    5. Willingness to participate in the national OWH evaluation.
    6. Appropriate MOUs or Letters of Intent should support assertions 
made in this section.
Factor 2: Management Plan--20%
    This section must discuss:
    1. Applicant organization's capability to manage the project as 
determined by the qualifications of the proposed staff or requirements 
for ``to be hired'' staff;
    2. Proposed staff level of effort; management experience of the 
lead agency; and the experience, resources and role of each partner 
organization as it relates to the needs and programs/activities of the 
program;
    3. Staff experience as it relates to meeting the needs of the 
community and populations served.
    4. Detailed position descriptions, resumes of key staff, and a 
staffing chart should be included in the appendix.
Factor 3: Organizational/Agency Qualifications--20%
    This section should include demonstrated knowledge of prevention 
education intervention models, relationships with rural women living in 
rural communities in the south, and agency history of services to poor 
women, minority women, HIV infected individuals, and HIV infected 
women.
Factor 4: Background/Understanding of the Problem--15%
    This section must discuss:
    1. Description of the current state of affairs for women living in 
rural communities in the south regarding HIV prevalence, socio-economic 
status, access to HIV testing, stigma and availability of HIV 
prevention education in addition to the review of issues for women 
living in the program target rural community.
    2. Relevance of organizational goals and purpose(s) to community 
and local needs.
    3. Challenges women face in seeking HIV culturally and 
linguistically appropriate education and counseling and testing in the 
target rural community and surrounding areas.
    4. Outreach, logistics, and stigma issues impacting the target 
rural community.
Factor 5: Evaluation Plan--15%
    Provide a clear statement of program goal(s), feasibility and 
appropriateness of the local evaluation plan, analysis of results, and 
procedures to determine if the program goals are met. Provide a clear 
statement of willingness to participate actively in the national OWH 
evaluation.
    Review and Selection Process: Funding decisions will be made by the 
OWH, and will take into consideration the recommendations and ratings 
of the review panel, program needs, geographic location, stated 
preferences, and the recommendations of DHHS Regional Women's Health 
Coordinators (RWHC).

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a notification letter from the 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women's Health) and a Notice of 
Grant Award (NGA), signed by the OPHS Grants Management Officer. The 
NGA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the 
recipient and the OWH. Notification will be mailed to the Program 
Director identified in the application. Unsuccessful applicants will 
receive a notification letter with the results of the review of their 
application from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women's 
Health).

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the 
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) rules and requirements 
that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all 
recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to 
State and local governments. Applicants funded under this announcement 
must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The CFR volume that 
include parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/45cfrvl_03.html.
    The DHHS Appropriations Act requires that, when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, all grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project which will 
be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of 
the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
government sources.

3. Reporting Requirements

    In addition to those listed above, a successful applicant will 
submit a progress report and a final report. This report shall provide 
a detailed summary of major achievements, problems encountered, and 
actions taken to overcome them. Progress reports require data 
collection into the matrix provided by the national evaluator. The 
final report shall summarize the goals achieved and lessons learned in 
the course of the contract, and how the program will be sustained. The 
report shall be format established by the OWH, in accordance with 
provisions of the general regulations which apply under Monitoring and 
Reporting Program Performance,'' 45 CFR parts 74 and 92. The purpose of 
the quarterly and annual progress reports is to provide accurate and 
timely program information to program managers and to respond to 
Congressional, Departmental, and public requests for information about 
the program. An original and one copy of the quarterly progress report 
must be submitted by December 1, April 1, July 1, and September 1. If 
these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the report will be due on the 
following Monday. The last quarterly report will serve as the annual 
progress report and must describe all project activities for the entire 
year. The annual progress report must be submitted by September 1 of 
each year and will serve as the non-competing continuation application. 
This report must include the budget request for next grant year, with 
appropriate justification, and be submitted using Form OPHS-1.
    A financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 is due 90 days after the 
close of each 12-month budget period.

VII. Agency Contact(s)

     For application kits and information on budget and 
business aspects of the application, please contact:
    Eric West, Associate Grants Management Officer, Office of Grants 
Management, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: 240-453-8822. Fax: 
(240) 453-8823.
     Questions regarding programmatic information and/or 
requests for technical assistance in the preparation of the grant 
application should be directed in writing to:
    Ms. Mary L. Bowers, Public Health Advisor, DHHS, Office on Women's 
Health, Humphrey Building, Room 712E, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20201. Telephone:

[[Page 26537]]

202.260.0020. E-mail: [email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    Three (3) OWH ``Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Women Living in the Rural 
South'' projects are currently funded by the OWH. Information about 
these programs may be found at the following Web site: http://www.womenshealth.gov/owh/fund/index.htm.

Definitions

    For the purposes of this cooperative agreement program, the 
following definitions are provided:
    AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease in which the 
body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain 
infections and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune 
system.
    Community-based: The locus of control and decision-making powers is 
located at the community level, representing the service area of the 
community or a significant segment of the community.
    Community-based organization: Public and private, nonprofit 
organizations that are representative of communities or significant 
segments of communities.
    Community health center: A community-based organization that 
provides comprehensive primary care and preventive services to 
medically underserved populations. This includes but is not limited to 
programs reimbursed through the Federally Qualified Health Centers 
mechanism, Migrant Health Centers, Primary Care Public Housing Health 
Centers, Healthcare for the Homeless Centers, and other community-based 
health centers.
    Comprehensive women's health services: Services including, but 
going beyond traditional reproductive health services to address the 
health needs of underserved women in the context of their lives, 
including recognition of the importance of relationships in women's 
lives, and the fact that women play the role of health providers and 
decision-makers for the family. Services include basic primary care 
services; acute, chronic, and preventive services including gender and 
age-appropriate preventive services; mental and dental health services; 
patient education and counseling; promotion of healthy behaviors (like 
nutrition, smoking cessation, substance abuse services, and physical 
activity); and enabling services. Ancillary services are also provided 
such as laboratory tests, X-ray, environmental, social referral, and 
pharmacy services.
    Culturally competent: Information and services provided at the 
educational level and in the language and cultural context that are 
most appropriate for the individuals for whom the information and 
services are intended. Additional information on cultural competency is 
available at the following Web site: http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/May2001/factsheets/Cultural-Competency.html.
    Cultural perspective: Recognizes that culture, language, and 
country of origin have an important and significant impact on the 
health perceptions and health behaviors that produce a variety of 
health outcomes.
    Enabling services: Services that help women access health care, 
such as transportation, parking vouchers, translation, child care, and 
case management.
    Gender-Specific: An approach which considers the social and 
environmental context in which women live and therefore structures 
information, activities, program priorities and service delivery 
systems to compliment those factors.
    Healthy People 2010: A set of national health objectives that 
outlines the prevention agenda for the Nation. Healthy People 2010 
identify the most significant preventable threats to health and 
establishes national goals for the next ten years. Individuals, groups, 
and organizations are encouraged to integrate Healthy People 2010 into 
current programs, special events, publications, and meetings. 
Businesses can use the framework, for example, to guide worksite health 
promotion activities as well as community-based initiatives. Schools, 
colleges, and civic and faith-based organizations can undertake 
activities to further the health of all members of their community. 
Health care providers can encourage their patients to pursue healthier 
lifestyles and to participate in community-based programs. By selecting 
from among the national objectives, individuals and organizations can 
build an agenda for community health improvement and can monitor 
results over time. More information on the Healthy People 2010 
objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 Web site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
    HIV: The human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.
    Holistic: Looking at women's health from the perspective of the 
whole person and not as a group of different body parts. It includes 
dental, mental, as well as physical health.
    Lifespan: Recognizes that women have different health and 
psychosocial needs as they encounter transitions across their lives and 
that the positive and negative effects of health and health behaviors 
are cumulative across a woman's life.
    Prevention education: Accurate information to increase knowledge of 
methods and behaviors to keep individuals from becoming infected with 
HIV.

    Dated: April 14, 2006.
Wanda K. Jones,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, (Women's Health).
[FR Doc. 06-4211 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-33-P