[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53688-53695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15018]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Training of Latin American Health Care Workers; Cooperative 
Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health Emergency 
Preparedness, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Funding Opportunity Title: Training of Latin American Health Care 
Workers through the Gorgas Memorial Institute, Republic of 
Panam[aacute].
    Announcement Type: Single-Source, Cooperative Agreement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: Not applicable.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: The Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) number is 93.019.

    Authority: The Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and the 
Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, Pub. L. 109-148, 119 Stat. 2680, 2786 
(2005); section 2811 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), 42 
U.S.C. 300hh-11.

SUMMARY: This project will support the Gorgas Memorial Institute (GMI) 
to: (a) Develop a regional training center in Panam[aacute] and (b) 
train community health workers and clinicians (physicians, nurses, and 
auxiliary medical workers) and select public-health professionals from 
Central and South America, (c) facilitate partnerships (``twinning'') 
between U.S. universities and their Latin American counterparts to 
develop human resources for health in Latin America, and (d) harness 
the energies of U.S. and other non-governmental organizations by 
partnering with them to advance community health training and program 
efforts in Latin America. These efforts will contribute to improved and 
expanded provision of prevention and primary health care, and they will 
help engage significantly more areas of these countries to prepare for 
and respond to public health emergencies such as pandemic influenza.
    The training efforts of this project will place greater emphasis on 
the training of nurses and community health workers, rather than 
physicians, to reap the greatest improvement in expanded coverage and 
improved access to community, preventive and primary health care in 
underserved parts of Latin America (i.e., underserved rural and poor 
urban communities). In addition, as a result, the healthcare work force 
will be better prepared to respond to public health emergencies such as 
pandemic influenza. Key to the selection of recipients for this 
training will be their availability and willingness to commit to 
providing their health and medical care skills in underserved areas 
within the region. In addition to all appropriate medical care and 
health education or communication subjects, training supported by this 
project will emphasize infectious diseases, epidemiology, disease 
surveillance and outbreak response, among other subjects so graduates 
of training programs will be prepared to play contributing roles to any 
pandemic preparation and response.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: While a number of Latin American countries 
have made significant strides in improving the quality of health care 
for their citizens, and extending that care into underserved areas, a 
number of countries and regions still suffer from a shortage of 
appropriately trained health-care workers and clinicians. Though all 
levels of medical care (primary, secondary and tertiary) warrant 
further investment and effort to meet Latin Americans' present and 
growing need for medical care, this need is perhaps

[[Page 53689]]

most acute among rural and disadvantaged communities, where essential 
prevention and primary care are absent or sparse. From a public-health 
perspective, focusing public investment on basic and essential primary 
care maximizes benefits, and provides the greatest contribution for the 
greatest number of people.
    Compounding the pre-existing and wide ranging needs for basic 
community, preventive and primary health care in this region are new 
threats from emerging infectious diseases that are looming on the 
horizon. The H5N1 strain of avian flu has become the most threatening 
influenza virus in the world, and any large-scale outbreak of this 
disease among humans would have grave consequences for global public 
health, including in Latin America. Influenza experts have warned that 
the re-assortment of different H5N1 viruses over the past seven years 
greatly increases the potential for the viruses to be transmitted more 
easily from person to person. Medical practitioners have also 
discovered several other, new avian viruses transmissible to humans. In 
the fight against avian and pandemic influenza, early detection and 
response is the first line of defense, and greater numbers of 
appropriately trained community and clinical health-care workers would 
play a vital role in helping respond to such public-health emergencies.
    No funds provided under this cooperative agreement may support any 
activity that duplicates another activity supported by any component of 
HHS. Funds provided under this cooperative agreement may not supplant 
funding provided by other sources. Grantees must coordinate all funded 
activities with the HHS Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness 
(OPHEP).

DATES: To receive consideration, HHS must receive applications no later 
than 5 p.m., eastern time, on September 26, 2006.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: The Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and the 
Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, Pub. L. 109-148, 119 Stat. 2680, 2786 
(2005); section 2811 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), 42 
U.S.C. 300hh-11.

    Purpose: This program proposes that GMI:
    (a) Co-sponsor and develop a regional training center in 
Panam[aacute] for health workers, medical clinicians (auxiliary health-
care workers, community health aides, nurses, physician assistants, 
nurse practitioners, and physicians) and select public-health 
professionals from Central and South America. Development of such a 
center is understood to include the recruitment and retention of 
faculty and administrative staff, the development of curricula, and all 
appropriate inter-face with Panamanian, regional and international 
educational systems and peer groups.
    (b) Train significant and increasing numbers of community health 
workers and clinicians (physicians, nurses, and auxiliary medical 
workers) and select public-health professionals from Central and South 
American countries.
    (c) Through this partnership with HHS, explore and lead, where 
possible, the creation of partnerships between U.S. universities and 
Latin American Counterpart institutions to further develop and train 
community-level health-care human resources, and identify policy and 
program options that can contribute to the greater expansion and 
sustainability of community-level health-care workers in currently 
underserved areas. Additional funds from HHS could be available in the 
future to further expand the number of these partnerships.
    (d) With HHS, investigate and develop approaches for collaborating 
with Latin American, U.S. and/or international non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) to help advance the training of the community and 
field health and medical personnel of these NGOs.
    (e) With HHS, investigate and develop approaches for collaborating 
with Latin American and U.S. NGOs to link, bridge and supplement these 
NGOs' community health initiatives, where possible, through GMI's 
provision of logistical support and a base of operations for the NGOs', 
working in agreement with GMI.
    (f) Identify organizations of U.S.-based emigrants and their Latin 
American places of origin throughout the countries of Central and South 
America, and pursue efforts to build or expand community health 
complements to any community assistance initiatives these organizations 
may be providing.
    (g) With HHS, international health organizations and NGOs, pursue 
coordinated efforts on health campaigns of public-health priority for 
which a campaign strategy approach offers merit (e.g., immunization 
promotion including seasonal influenza immunization, polio eradication, 
oral rehydration therapy, etc.). Any campaigns should utilize the best 
available approaches to researching, development, implementation and 
evaluation.
    GMI will design and implement new teaching methods directed to the 
community, to adopt healthy lifestyles towards prevention.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be the following:
    (a) Development or establishment of teaching curricula, engagement 
in appropriate Panamanian and international teaching/educational 
networks to ensure high educational standards; the hiring of 
appropriately trained teaching and administrative staff; and the 
establishment of all appropriate management, fiscal, and business 
operations to support and sustain such a training institute.
    (b) Periodic reports of the number of people who have completed 
training; such reports should include details on the numbers of those 
who have dropped out midway, and those who have completed the training; 
pre- and post-test scores on key competency subject areas; numbers 
trained by type of health-care or clinical worker; town and country of 
origin of incoming students, as well as where those same students work 
and reside at six- and twelve-month intervals following the completion 
of their training; and the results of follow-up questionnaires sent to 
graduates that solicit feedback on their training and its 
appropriateness, and suggestions for how the school might improve its 
training. Any information Gorgas provides to HHS on training 
participants should remove individuals' personal data from the reports 
so that participants' privacy will be maintained.
    (c) The number of partnerships with U.S. institutions explored, as 
well as the number for which formal partnerships have been created, 
where substantive exchange of training expertise, faculty, and/or 
students is documented and described.
    (d) The number of studies and recommendations of program and policy 
options available to Latin American countries that would contribute to 
expanded, sustained community-level health-care personnel.
    (e) The number of partnerships with Latin American, U.S. and/or 
international NGOs that are explored, and the number of such 
partnerships developed and formally established.
    (f) Detailed descriptions of the base-of-operations and logistics 
resources that GMI had developed and is maintaining, along with details 
of how it has gone about communicating the availability of these 
resources to NGOs.
    (g) The number of Latin American, U.S. and/or international NGOs 
that

[[Page 53690]]

have used GMI provision of base-of-operations and logistics support in 
a given time period, and details on the nature and extent of such 
utilization.
    (h) The number of health campaigns in which GMI participates, with 
detailed description(s) of the role(s) played by GMI along with the 
level of effort it contributed to each of these efforts.
    (i) Quantify and detail the number of organizations of U.S.-based 
emigrants with which GMI has identified and partnered with, to enhance 
their community-health activities, and provide details of those 
community-health activities.
    (j) The number of scholarships awarded to low income students, who 
will be participating in these trainings. Any information Gorgas 
provides to HHS on training participants should remove individuals' 
personal data from the reports so that participants' privacy will be 
maintained.

Grantee Activities

    It is anticipated the grantee will undertake a variety of 
activities to realize the aforementioned purposes and outcomes. A list 
of what some of these activities might include follows.
    1. Establishing/developing teaching curricula;
    2. Engaging in appropriate Panamanian and international teaching or 
educational networks to ensure high educational standards;
    3. Hiring appropriately trained teaching and administrative staff;
    4. Establishing all appropriate management, fiscal, and business 
operations to support and sustain an efficient and effective training 
institute;
    5. Establishing an efficient performance monitoring and reporting 
system and submitting periodic reports to HHS;
    6. Pursuing and developing partnerships with U.S. educational 
institutions in expanding GMI's knowledge, contacts and resources for 
improving and expanding community training and sustainability of health 
workers;
    7. Pursuing and developing partnerships with Latin American, U.S. 
and/or international NGOs to provide these NGOs' healthcare staff with 
appropriate training;
    8. Ensuring an appropriate level of facilities that can function as 
a base of operation for NGOs, with appropriate contingency plans for 
expanding this level of facilities as interest and demand for it could 
grow;
    9. In partnership with HHS, Panamanian Ministry of Health and NGOs, 
acquire didactic teaching resources and equipment that will allow 
appropriate training.
    10. Identify, provide and assemble logistics resources for NGOs to 
enhance their community-health and outreach activities;
    11. In partnership with HHS, and NGOs, identify appropriate topics 
for health campaigns and participate in the implementation and 
assessment of those campaigns;
    12. Identify and approach fraternal organizations of U.S.-based 
emigrants that provide assistance to communities in Latin America, and 
partner with these groups to enhance their community-health activities.
    13. In partnership with HHS, Panamanian Ministry of Health and 
NGOs, identify scholarships or fellowships to participating healthcare 
personnel attending these courses.
    This cooperative agreement will provide total funding of $2,500,000 
for all aspects of the described project.
    HHS will be substantially involved with the design and 
implementation of the grantee's described activities. As noted earlier, 
this grant is being issued and will be managed by the Office of Public 
Health Emergency Preparedness (OPHEP) and administered by OPHS, with 
substantive guidance from the Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA). 
In HHS international public health efforts, OGHA collaborates with 
OPHEP on programs, issues and initiatives (e.g., Avian Influenza, 
disease surveillance, etc.). When international emergency preparedness 
and risk mitigation issues are being addressed, OGHA and OPHEP 
collaborate to ensure that these issues are sufficiently addressed.
    HHS staff activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Provide assistance in the design and implementation with any of 
the aforementioned objectives and activities, including the 
identification of U.S. Universities, and NGOs.
    2. Provide liaison through HHS employees at U.S. Embassy(ies) in 
any participating or collaborating countries, as appropriate, and as 
relevant to the achievement of the purposes of this cooperative 
agreement.
    3. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to discuss 
applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and National Strategic Plan 
expectations (as stated in the RFA), 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 Senior Coordinator for Avian and Pandemic Influenza at the U.S. 
Department of State.
    4. 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.
    5. Review and approve the grantee's work plan and detailed budget;
    6. Review and approve the grantee's monitoring-and-evaluation plan, 
including for compliance with the strategic-information guidance 
established by OMB and HHS;
    7. Meet on a monthly basis with the grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans, as 
necessary.
    8. Meet on a quarterly basis with the grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans, as 
necessary.
    9. Meet with the grantee to review the final progress report.
    10. Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon. This 
could include expert technical assistance and targeted training 
activities in specialized areas, such as strategic information and 
project management.
    11. Provide in-country administrative support to help the grantee 
meet U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements approved by 
OMB under 0920-0428 (Public Health Service Form 5161).
    12. Assist in assessing program operations and in implementing 
approaches to accurately monitor the progress and evaluate the overall 
effectiveness of the program.

II. Award Information

    This project will be supported through the cooperative agreement 
mechanism. HHS/OPHEP anticipates making only one award for this 
proposed work. The anticipated start date is September 15, 2006 to run 
through to September 14, 2007. HHS/OPHEP anticipates providing 
$2,500,000 for the 12-month budget period. The total amount that the 
Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies may request is $2,500,000. 
The funds in this cooperative agreement may not support indirect costs.
    Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $2,500,000.
    Approximate Total Project Period Funding: This cooperative 
agreement will provide total funding of $2,500,000 for a 12-month 
budget period. Funds under this cooperative agreement shall not apply 
to indirect costs.
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Ceiling of Individual Award Range: Maximum dollar amount for the 
12-month budget period is $2,500,000, and

[[Page 53691]]

will not include payment of any indirect costs.
    Throughout the project period, the commitment of HHS to the 
continuation of funding will depend on the availability of funds, 
evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in 
required reports), demonstrated commitment of the recipient to the 
principles of the terms and spirit of this agreement.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    The only eligible applicant that can apply for this funding 
opportunity is the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies of 
Panam[aacute]. The Republic of Panam[aacute] has legacy of biomedical 
triumphs that began with the building of the Panama Canal. Recognizing 
the outstanding achievements of William Crawford Gorgas in eliminating 
Yellow Fever and controlling other tropical infections that made 
possible the construction of the Panama Canal, Panamanian President 
Belisario Porras proposed in 1920, the creation of the Gorgas Memorial 
Institute and Laboratories (GMI). GMI opened its doors in 1928, and 
since then has produced ground-breaking and internationally recognized 
work in the field of tropical medicine, emerging and re-emerging 
diseases.
    As a public health, training, and research institution, GMI offers 
strengths in several areas that are essential to the effective 
realization of this proposal's objectives and activities.
     Staffing: GMI has 178 workers that include trainers, 
physicians, scientists, technical staff and administrative staff. GMI 
scientific and technical expertise resides in its excellent group of 
professionals, six of whom are PhDs and eleven of whom are M.D.s. One 
of the physicians is a former Minister of Health. GMI has two 
veterinary physicians and many technicians with master degrees in 
science. GMI has a specialist in geo-reference and a group trained in 
field isolation of dangerous organisms from animal tissues (developed 
during the Hanta virus epidemics). There is also an excellent 
administrative, medical library and informatics staff.
     Scientific and technical expertise: GMI is the national 
reference for influenza, dengue and other pathogenic viruses. It is the 
reference laboratory for Central America and Panama for HIV/AIDS, 
measles, Hanta virus and viral encephalitis. Its parasitologists have 
worked and continue to work in malaria, leishmania and Chagas' disease. 
GMI has a long and solid reputation in virology, easily confirmed by 
many distinguished virologists in the United States. The Gorgas 
Department of Virology has been extremely productive through its 
collaborations with the Yale University Arbovirus Research Unit, the 
University of Texas at Galveston and the CDC. GMI began working with 
influenza in 1976 and has contributed influenza isolates to the WHO, 
one of which is used in the current influenza vaccines. All these are 
health concerns of pressing significance for rural and underserved 
areas.
     Laboratory: It has well-established laboratories of 
virology, parasitology, immunology, genomics, entomology and food and 
water chemistry. GMI is the national reference laboratory for malaria, 
tuberculosis and all viral and bacterial diseases. GMI also has 
departments of epidemiology and biostatistics, chronic disease studies, 
health policy, and health and human reproduction studies. In addition 
to all these areas of expertise, GMI is also the locus of the national 
human subjects committee (National Institutional Review Board). A BLS-3 
laboratory currently under construction is part of a modernization plan 
that will significantly enhance the capability of GMI laboratories to 
provide training in the role that laboratory services play in community 
health care delivery.
     Location: The unique geographic characteristics of Panama 
and its transportation (air, sea and land) infrastructure make it an 
extremely central and accessible location for people from Central and 
South America who would attend for training.
     Strategic Partnerships: GMI has a history of developing 
effective relations and partnerships with leading organizations 
including the Smithsonian Museum, the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), and HHS/CDC-MERTU in Guatemala, among others.
     Historical Medical Collaboration Between the United States 
and Panama via GMI: American and Panamanian physicians and scientist 
have produced significant contributions since 1928, and those 
relationships continue up to present.

2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds

    Cost participation is encouraged. HHS will pay $2,500,000, while 
GMI is encouraged to provide an amount that will be specified in their 
proposal. GMI's contribution may include indirect expenses and in-kind 
contributions. The types of resources GMI could contribute may include 
but are not limited to: Personnel time and costs, provision of existing 
and physical space and structures, and the remodeling (and associated 
costs) of those physical facilities that are to be converted to 
teaching facilities, and the development of a staging area for NGOs. If 
applicants receive funding from other sources to underwrite the same or 
similar activities, or anticipate receiving such funding in the next 12 
months, they must detail how the disparate streams of financing 
complement each other.

3. Other

    If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling 
of the award range, HHS will consider the application non-responsive, 
and the application will not enter into the review process. HHS will 
notify the applicant that the application did not meet the submission 
requirements.
Special Requirements
    If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special 
requirements listed in this section, the application will not enter 
into the review process. HHS will notify the applicant that the 
application did not meet submission requirements. HHS will consider 
late applications non-responsive. Please see section on ``Submission 
Dates and Times.''
    Section 503, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and 
Education, and Related Agencies, Appropriations Act, 2006, Pub. L. 109-
149, 119 Stat. 2833 provides that an organization that engages in 
lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting a grant, loan, or an award.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Application kits may be requested by calling (240) 453-8822 or 
writing to the Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and 
Science, Department of Health and Human Services, 1101 Wootten Parkway, 
Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852. Applicants may also fax a written 
request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management at (240) 453-8823 to 
obtain a hard copy of the application kit. Applications must be 
prepared using Form OPHS-1.

2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: Applicants must submit a project narrative in English, 
along with the application forms, in the following format:
     If possible, the length of the proposal should not exceed 
50 pages;
     Font size: 12-point, unreduced;
     Single-spaced;

[[Page 53692]]

     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches;
     Page-margin size: one inch;
     Number all pages of the application sequentially from page 
one (Application Face Page) to the end of the application, including 
charts, figures, tables, and appendices;
     Print only on one side of page; and
     Hold application together only by rubber bands or metal 
clips, and do not bind it in any way.
    The narrative should address activities to be conducted over the 
entire project period and must include the following items in the order 
listed:
     Understanding of the requirements. The application shall 
include a discussion of your organization's understanding of the need, 
purpose and requirements of this cooperative agreement. The discussion 
shall be sufficiently specific, detailed and complete to clearly and 
fully demonstrate that the applicant has a thorough understanding of 
all the technical requirements of this announcement.
     A Project Plan. The project plan must demonstrate that the 
organization has the technical expertise to carry out the work or task 
requirements of this announcement. The plan must contain sufficient 
detail to clearly describe the proposed means for conducting the 
``Grantee Activities'' described in Section I, and shall include a 
complete explanation of the methods and procedures the applicant will 
use. The project plan shall include discussions of the following 
elements:
    [cir] Objectives;
    [cir] Methods to accomplish the purposes of the cooperative 
agreement and the ``Grantee Activities'';
    [cir] Detailed time line for accomplishment of each activity;
    [cir] Ability to respond to emergencies;
    [cir] Ability to respond to situations on weekends and after hours; 
and
    [cir] Coordination with HHS, U.S. educational institutions, and 
NGOs.
     Staffing and Management Plan. The applicant must provide a 
project staffing and management plan, which must include time lines and 
sufficient detail to ensure that it can meet the Federal Government's 
requirements in a timely and efficient manner.
    [cir] The applicant must provide resumes that identify the 
educational and experience level of any individual(s) who will perform 
in a key position and other qualifications to show the key individuals' 
ability to comply with the minimum requirements of this announcement;
    [cir] The applicant must provide a summary of the qualifications of 
non-key personnel. Resumes must be limited to three pages per person; 
and
    [cir] The proposed staffing plan must demonstrate the applicant's 
ability to recruit, retain, or replace personnel who have the 
knowledge, experience, local-language skills, training and technical 
expertise commensurate with the requirements of this announcement. The 
plan must demonstrate the applicant's ability to provide bi-lingual 
personnel to train and mentor host-country participants.
     Performance Measures. The applicant must provide measures 
of effectiveness that will demonstrate accomplishment of the objectives 
of this 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 outcomes. The applicant must submit a section on 
measures of effectiveness with its application, and they will be an 
element for evaluation.
     Budget Justification. The budget justification must comply 
with the criteria for applications. The applicant must submit, at a 
minimum, a cost proposal fully supported by information adequate to 
establish the reasonableness of the proposed amount.
    The applicant may include additional information in the application 
appendices, which will not count toward the narrative page limit. This 
additional information includes the following:
     Curricula Vitae, Resumes, Organizational Charts, Letters 
of Support, etc. An agency or organization is required to 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.
    Additional requirements that could require submission of additional 
documentation with the application appear in section VI.2.--
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) will assist with the 
administration of the grant and provides multiple mechanisms for the 
submission of applications, as described in the following sections. To 
be considered for review, applications must be received by the Office 
of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Department 
of Health and Human Services by 5 p.m. eastern time on the date 
specified in the dates section of the announcement. Applications will 
be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received on or before 
the deadline date. The application due date in this announcement 
supersedes the instructions in the OPHS-1.
Submission Mechanisms
    The applicant will receive notification via mail from the OPHS 
Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of the application 
submitted using any of these mechanisms. Any application submitted to 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadline 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

[[Page 53693]]

problems with submissions prior to the application deadline.
Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Web Site 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 Web site 
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 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 
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 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 of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and necessity of direct 
and indirect costs that may be charged are outlined in the following 
documents: OMB-21 (Institutes of Higher Education); OMB Circular A-122

[[Page 53694]]

(Nonprofit Organizations) and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix E (Hospitals). 
Copies of these circulars can be found on the Internet at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb. No pre-award costs are allowed. Restrictions, 
which applicants must take into account while preparing the budget, are 
as follows:
     Alterations and renovations (A&R) are prohibited under 
grants/cooperative agreements to foreign recipients. ``Alterations and 
renovations'' are defined as work that changes the interior 
arrangements or other physical characteristics of an existing facility 
or of installed equipment so that it can be used more effectively for 
its currently designated purpose or adapted to an alternative use to 
meet a programmatic requirement. Recipients may not use funds for A&R 
(including modernization, remodeling, or improvement) of an existing 
building.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Recipients may spend funds for reasonable program 
purposes, including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. 
Recipients may purchase equipment if deemed necessary to accomplish 
program objectives; however, they must request prior approval in 
writing from HHS/OPHEP officials for any equipment whose purchase price 
exceeds $10,000 USD.
     The costs generally allowable in grants/cooperative 
agreements to domestic organizations are allowable to foreign 
institutions and international organizations, with the following 
exception: With the exception of the American University, Beirut and 
the WHO Secretariat, HHS will not pay indirect costs (either directly 
or through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States, or to international organizations, 
regardless of their location.
     Recipients may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion 
of the project activities (including program management and operations) 
for which it is requesting funds. Contracts will require prior approval 
in writing from HHS/OPHEP.
     Recipients may not use funds awarded under this 
cooperative agreement to support any activity that duplicates another 
activity supported by any component of HHS.
     Applicants shall state all requests for funds in the 
budget in U.S. dollars. Once HHS makes an award, HHS will not 
compensate foreign recipients for currency-exchange fluctuations 
through the issuance of supplemental awards.
     The funding recipient must obtain an audit of these funds 
(program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international 
branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) 
approved in writing by HHS.
     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.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    None.

V. Application Review Information

Criteria

    HHS will evaluate applications against the following factors:
Factor 1: Project Plan (35 Points)
    HHS will evaluate the extent to which the proposal demonstrates 
that the organization has the technical and institutional expertise to 
carry out the work/task requirements described in this announcement. 
HHS will evaluate the applicant's project plan to determine the extent 
to which it provides a clear, logical and feasible technical approach 
to meeting the goals of this announcement in terms of workflow, 
resources, communications and reporting requirements for accomplishing 
work in each of the operational task areas.
Factor 2: Staffing and Management Plan (35 Points)
    (a) Personnel. HHS will evaluate the relevant educational, work 
experience and local-language qualifications of key personnel, senior 
project staff, and subject-matter specialists to determine the extent 
to which they meet the requirements listed in this announcement.
    (b) Staffing Plan. HHS will evaluate the staffing plan to determine 
the extent to which the applicant's proposed organizational chart 
reflects proper staffing to accomplish the work described in this 
announcement, and the extent of the applicant's ability to recruit, 
retain, or replace personnel who have the knowledge, experience, local-
language skills, training and technical expertise to meet requirements 
of the positions.
Factor 3: Performance Measures (15 Points)
    HHS will evaluate the applicant's description of performance 
measures, including measures of effectiveness, to determine the extent 
to which the applicant proposes objective and quantitative measures 
that relate to the performance goals stated in the Purpose section of 
this announcement, and whether the proposed measures will accurately 
measure the intended outcomes.
Factor 4: Understanding of the Requirements (15 Points)
    HHS will evaluate the extent of the applicant's understanding of 
the operational tasks identified in this announcement to ensure 
successful performance of the work in this project. Because the focus 
of the work will include interaction with other countries in Central 
and South America, the applicant must demonstrate an understanding of 
the cultural, ethnic, political and economic factors that could affect 
successful implementation of this cooperative agreement.
    The applicant's proposal must also demonstrate understanding of the 
functions, capabilities and operating procedures of U.S. educational 
institutions, as well as U.S., Latin American and International NGOs, 
and describe the applicant's ability to work with and within those 
organizations.

2. Review and Selection Process

    HHS/OPHEP will review applications for completeness. An incomplete 
application or an application that is non-responsive to the eligibility 
criteria will not advance through the review process. HHS will notify 
applicants if their applications did not meet submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the AV.1. ``Criteria'' 
section above.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    The successful applicant will receive a Notice of Award (NoA). The 
NoA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the 
recipient and HHS. 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.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    A successful applicant must comply with the administrative 
requirements outlined in 45 CFR part 74 and part 92 as appropriate. The 
Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Act requires that when issuing 
statements, press releases,

[[Page 53695]]

requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents 
describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal 
money, the issuance shall clearly state the percentage and dollar 
amount of the total costs of the program or project to be financed with 
Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs 
of the project or program to be financed by non-governmental sources.

3. Reporting Requirements

    The applicant must provide HHS with an original, plus two hard 
copies, as well as an electronic copy of the following reports in 
English:
    1. A quarterly progress report, due no less than 30 days after the 
end of each quarter of the budget period. The quarterly progress report 
must contain the following elements:
    a. Activities and Objectives for the Current Budget Period;
    b. Financial Progress for the Current Budget Period;
    c. Proposed Activity Objectives for the New Budget Period;
    d. Budget;
    e. Measures of Effectiveness; and
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    2. A progress report, due 90 days after the end of the budget 
period, which must contain a detailed summary of the elements required 
in the quarterly progress report;
    3. A final performance report, due no more than 90 days after the 
end of the project period; and
    4. A Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 is due 90 days after the 
close of the 12-month budget period.
    Recipients must mail the reports to the Grants Management 
Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For program technical assistance, contact: Craig Carlson, MPH, 
Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Department of Health 
and Human Services, Telephone: 202-205-5228, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
DeWayne Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, Office of Grants 
Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health 
and Human Services, 1101 Wootten Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 
20857, Telephone: (240) 453-8822, E-Mail Address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: September 6, 2006.
W. Craig Vanderwagen,
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
 [FR Doc. E6-15018 Filed 9-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-37-P