Strengthening HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment Referral Services to Targeting Populations Engaged in High-Risk Behavior 1, 48721-48727 [05-16428]

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48721-48727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16428]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Funding Opportunity CDC-RFA-AA216]


Strengthening HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment Referral 
Services to Targeting Populations Engaged in High-Risk Behavior \1\ in 
Haiti, as Part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home. 
Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also 
implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 
interventions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA216.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 12, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 
307 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. Sections 241 and 
2421)], as amended, and under Public Law 108-25 (United States 
Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) 
[22 U.S.C. 7601].

    Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has 
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn 
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two 
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral 
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected 
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent 
seven million infections by 2010, with focus on 15 priority countries, 
including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The 5-year strategy for the 
Emergency Plan is available at the following Internet address: https://
www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.
    Over the same time period, as part of a collective national 
response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Haiti are to treat at 
least 25,000 HIV-infected individuals; care for 125,000 HIV affected 
individuals, including orphans.
    Purpose: An essential element of preventing new cases of HIV 
infection in Haiti is to ensure as much of the population as possible 
has adequate access to screening, treatment, and care facilities. 
Haiti's HIV prevalence rate in adults is estimated as between 3.1 and 
5.6 percent, according to the Haitian Ministry of Health-
Minist[eacute]re de la Sant[eacute] Publique et de la Population (MSPP) 
and the 2004 Annual Report from the Joint United Nations Programme on 
HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), respectively. Access to prevention and treatment 
is limited among the Haitian population because of an underdeveloped 
public health infrastructure and a lack of clinical capacity.
    Under the leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as part 
of the President's Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) works with host countries and other key partners 
to assess the needs of each country and design a customized program of 
assistance that fits within the host nation's strategic plan.
    HHS focuses on two or three major program areas in each country. 
Goals and priorities include the following:
     Achieving primary prevention of HIV infection through 
activities such as expanding confidential counseling and testing 
programs, building programs to reduce mother-to-child transmission, and 
strengthening programs to reduce transmission via blood transfusion and 
medical injections.
     Improving the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, sexually 
transmitted diseases (STDs) and related opportunistic infections by 
improving STD management; enhancing care and treatment of opportunistic 
infections, including tuberculosis (TB); and initiating programs to 
provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
     Strengthening the capacity of countries to collect and use 
surveillance data and manage national HIV/AIDS programs by expanding 
HIV/STD/TB surveillance programs and strengthening laboratory support 
for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, disease-monitoring and HIV 
screening for blood safety.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and 
one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National 
Center for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis 
Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) within HHS: Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who 
are linked to appropriate prevention, care and

[[Page 48722]]

treatment services and to strengthen the capacity nationwide to monitor 
the epidemic, develop and implement effective HIV prevention 
interventions and evaluate prevention programs.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If 
an applicant proposes research activities, HHS will not review the 
application. For the definition of ``research,'' please see the HHS/CDC 
Web site at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/ads/
opspoll1.htm.

Activities

    The recipient of these funds is responsible for activities in 
multiple program areas designed to target underserved populations in 
Haiti. Either the awardee will implement activities directly or will 
implement them through its subgrantees and/or subcontractors; the 
awardee will retain overall financial and programmatic management under 
the oversight of HHS/CDC and the strategic direction of the Office of 
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The awardee must show a measurable, 
progressive reinforcement of the capacity of indigenous organizations 
and local communities to respond to the national HIV epidemic, as well 
as, progress towards the sustainability of activities.
    Applications should describe activities in detail as part of a 4-
year action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 inclusive) 
that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the 5-year strategy 
for the President's Emergency Plan.
    The grantee will produce an annual operational plan in the context 
of this four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team 
on the ground in Haiti will review as part of an annual Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process 
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The grantee 
may work on some of the activities listed below in the first year and 
in subsequent years, and then progressively add others from the list to 
achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the 
previous section. HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator, will approve funds for activities on an annual basis, 
based on documented performance towards achieving Emergency Plan goals, 
as part of the annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process.
    Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Establish an anonymous care center to address prevention, 
treatment and care issues in the populations engaged in high-risk 
behavior \2\ in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The goal of this 
activity will be to decrease the rate of HIV transmission in this 
population, including men who have sex with men (MSM).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home. 
Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also 
implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 
interventions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Develop a discreet awareness campaign in local languages to 
promote the prevention, care and treatment provided by anonymous care 
centers in activity number one.
    3. Develop a referral network to help HIV-positive MSM access 
advanced care, treatment and support from local partners.
    4. Develop and implement an effective monitoring and evaluation 
(M&E) strategy to ensure the impacts of the center and the referral 
system are recorded and reported in a responsive and timely manner, in 
conformity with strategic-information guidance established by the 
Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    Based on its competitive advantage and proven field experience, the 
winning applicant will undertake a broad range of activities to meet 
the numerical Emergency Plan targets outlined in this announcement.

Administration

    The winning applicant must comply with all HHS management 
requirements for meeting participation and progress and financial 
reporting for this cooperative agreement (See HHS Activities and 
Reporting sections below for details), and comply with all policy 
directives established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator.
    In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff is substantially involved in 
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
    HHS/CDC activities for this program are as follows:
    1. Provide scientific and technical assistance in developing the 
awardee's operational plan.
    2. Provide ongoing technical assistance in program implementation.
    3. Assist the awardee in assessments of the program's operations to 
determine the overall effectiveness of the program.
    4. Provide equipment and commodities to new partner clinics.
    5. Provide drugs to treat opportunistic infections (OI) and 
sexually transmitted infections (STI) necessary for service delivery 
programs. HHS/CDC will procure these drugs through a transparent and 
competitive process and distributed them through Rational 
Pharmaceutical Management Plus (RPM+)/USAID.
    6. Support the development of an electronic medical record (EMR) 
database system and a surveillance database system, in conformity with 
strategic-information guidance established by the Office of the U.S. 
Global AIDS Coordinator.
    7. Provide through a transparent and competitive process and 
install the hardware necessary for use in the database systems 
described above (6).
    8. Support the annual technical review of service-delivery programs 
based in the new clinics.
    9. Provide assistance in organizing partner network meetings.
    10. Provide technical assistance from HHS-headquarters and the in-
country HHS office in Haiti to assure other related U.S. Government 
activities are well-coordinated with the national program.
    11. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee to brief it on 
applicable U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency Plan expectations, 
regulations and key management requirements, as well as report formats 
and contents. The orientation could include meetings with staff from 
HHS agencies and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    12. Review and approve the process used by the grantee to select 
key personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be 
involved in the activities performed under this agreement, as part of 
the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and 
approval process, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator.
    13. Review and approve grantee's annual work plan and detailed 
budget, as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process, managed by the Office of 
the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    14. Review and approve grantee's monitoring and evaluation plan, 
including for compliance with the strategic information guidance 
established by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

[[Page 48723]]

    15. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as 
necessary.
    16. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
    17. Meet on an annual basis with grantee to review annual progress 
report for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, and to review annual work 
plans and budgets for subsequent year, as part of the Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief review and approval process for Country Operational 
Plans, managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.
    18. Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon, and 
revise annually during validation of the first and subsequent annual 
work plans. This could include expert technical assistance and targeted 
training activities in specialized areas, such as strategic 
information, project management, confidential counseling and testing, 
palliative care, treatment literacy, and adult learning techniques.
    19. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet 
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.
    Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have 
successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS contract, 
cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical assistance and 
training.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS involvement in this 
program is listed in the Activities Section above.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY05.
    Approximate Total Funding: $650,000. (This amount is an estimate 
for the entire five year project period, and is subject to availability 
of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $130,000. (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
    Floor of Award Range: $130,000.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $130,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2005.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: Five years.
    Throughout the project period, HHS' commitment to continuation of 
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of 
satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required 
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best 
interest of the Federal Government, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS 
Relief review and approval process for Country Operational Plans, 
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Public and private non-profit and for-profit organizations may 
submit applications, such as:
     Public, non-profit organizations.
     Private, non-profit organizations.
     For-profit organizations.
     Small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses.
     Colleges.
     Universities.
     Hospitals.
     Community-based organizations.
     Faith-based organizations.
    In addition, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:
    1. Be indigenous to Haiti;
    2. Have a minimum of three years of experience in HIV/AIDS and 
tuberculosis care; and
    3. Have documented experience of providing fully integrated HIV/
AIDS and health care to populations engaged in high-risk behavior.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home. 
Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also 
implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 
interventions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds

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

III.3. Other

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

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that 
an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 
5161-1.
    Electronic Submission: HHS strongly encourages you to submit the 
application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted 
for this announcement on https://www.Grants.gov.
    Paper Submission: Application forms and instructions are available 
on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: https://
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
    If you do not have access to the Internet, or if you have 
difficulty accessing the forms on-line, you may contact the HHS/CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section 
(PGO-TIM) staff at: 770-488-2700. We can mail application forms to you.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

    Application: You must submit a project narrative with your 
application forms. You must submit the narrative in the following 
format:
     Maximum number of pages: 30. If your narrative exceeds the 
page limit, we will only review the first pages within the page limit.
     Font size: 12 point unreduced.
     Double-spaced.
     Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
     Page margin size: One inch.
     Number all pages of the application sequentially from page 
1 (application Face Page) to the end of the application, including 
charts, figures, tables, and appendices.
     Printed only on one side of the page.
     Held together only by rubber bands or metal clips; not 
bound in any other way.
     Submitted in English.
    Your narrative should address activities to be conducted over the

[[Page 48724]]

entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:
    1. Executive Summary: Provide a clear and concise summary of the 
proposed goals, major objectives and activities required to achieve the 
program goals and justify the amount of funding requested for the first 
budget year of this cooperative agreement.
    2. Need.
    Describe Haiti's need for the services described in the activities 
section. Include any data on STI and HIV prevalence rates in Haiti.
    3. Capacity.
    Describe the current capability and capacity of the organization to 
perform the activities described in this RFA.
    4. Expansion.
    (a) Identify and secure appropriate (accessible and discreet) and 
suitable rental property for new confidential voluntary counseling and 
testing (VCT) clinics that are well equipped to deliver prevention, 
care and treatment services for MSM population.
    (b) Recruit and hire confidential VCT clinical personnel to provide 
a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service delivery facility addressing the needs 
of the target population.
    5. Training.
    (a) Coordinate training to local health care Professionals, 
including physicians, nurses, laboratory and pharmacy technicians, and 
peer educators. This training will include:
    (1) Train how to design, implement and evaluate confidential VCT 
program sites.
    (2) Train how to maintain laboratory equipment.
    (3) Train in laboratory safety and proper disposal of bio-hazardous 
materials protocol.
    (4) Train in the use of universal precautions and the management of 
needle stick or splash injuries.
    (b) Provide regular routine in-service trainings for lab personnel 
to review new and best practice techniques, and to request ``insider 
insight,'' an account of implementation success and challenges, in the 
effort to identify gaps in resources or effectiveness of particular 
protocols.
    6. Laboratory Capacity.
    6.1. Provide basic laboratory services to support HIV/AIDS 
diagnosis and treatment.
    (a) Perform CD4 counts.
    (b) Perform complete blood counts.
    (c) Perform HIV rapid testing.
    (d) Perform confirmatory HIV/AIDS testing.
    (e) Test for sexually transmitted infections.
    (f) Provide pre- and post-test counseling for recipients of HIV 
test results.
    (g) Provide referrals to appropriate prevention, treatment, care 
and support services to HIV-infected patients.
    7. Commodities.
    Procure drug and complementary commodities for service delivery 
programs.
    8. Outreach.
    (a) Provide educational services in awareness, prevention and 
treatment of HIV/AIDS to high-risk populations of MSM.
    (1) Develop target population-specific messages and health 
promotion strategies to raise awareness about the new confidential VCT 
clinics. Peer educators may be used to accomplish this activity.
    (2) Develop specific interventions for sub-populations in the MSM 
community, including partner notification and support.
    (b) Gather data to establish baseline information regarding the 
target for first usage Haitian National Police (PNH) population's 
knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission, as well as this population's 
sexual practices.
    (1) Assess attitudes and behaviors within the target PNH 
population.
    (2) Develop and implement long-term behavioral change communication 
campaigns.
    (3) Promote condom distribution and use.
    (4) Develop and implement behavior change strategies and long-term 
campaigns, including:
    a. Information, education and communication (IEC).
    b. Condom distribution.
    c. Targeted accessibility planning.
    9. Management and Supervision.
    (a) Manage and supervise clinic operations and staff.
    (b) Implement report-writing requirements.
    (c) Develop and implement financial management systems.
    (d) Engage in strategic plan development.
    (e) Network with local partners within the private and public 
sector to ensure an effective patient referral system between 
confidential VCT services and antiretroviral treatment (ART) service 
delivery networks.
    10. Monitoring and Evaluation.
    Implement M&E strategies. These strategies should assess the 
following performance indicators:
    (a) The number of people tested.
    (b) The number of people provided with treatment and services.
    (c) The segment of the target population served.
    (d) The number and type of testing performed.
    (e) The number of referrals made to appropriate prevention, 
treatment, care and support services.
    (f) The number of training courses held.
    (g) The number and type of participants in these training courses.
    (h) The number of trainee evaluations filed, and the findings of 
these evaluations.
    Additional information may be included in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative 
page limit. This additional information includes:
     Budget Justification.
     Curriculum Vitas or resumes.
     Organizational Charts.
     Letters of Support.
    The budget justification will not count in the narrative page 
limit.
    You must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the 
Federal Government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification 
number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS 
number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access 
https://www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
    For more information, please see the HHS/CDC Web site at: https://
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.pdf.
    If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please 
write the DUNS number at the top of the first page of the application, 
and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover letter.
    Additional requirements that could require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: September 12, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the HHS/
CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern time on the 
deadline date.
    You may submit your applications electronically at https://
www.grants.gov. We consider applications completed on-line through 
Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization's 
Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to https://
www.grants.gov. We will consider electronic applications as having met 
the deadline if the applicant organization's Authorizing Official has

[[Page 48725]]

submitted the application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the 
deadline date and time.
    If you submit your application electronically with Grants.gov, your 
application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve 
as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt 
when HHS/CDC receives the application.
    If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will 
be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC 
receives the submission after the closing because: (1) Carrier error, 
when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by 
the closing date and time; or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, you will have the opportunity to submit documentation of the 
carrier's guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, 
HHS/CDC will consider the submission as received by the deadline.
    If you submit a hard copy application, HHS/CDC will not notify you 
upon receipt of the submission. If you have a question about the 
receipt of your application, first contact your courier. If you still 
have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff at: (770) 488-2700. Before 
calling, please wait two to three days after the submission deadline. 
This will allow time for us to process and log submissions.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, 
submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in 
the application instructions. If the submission does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and we will discard 
it. We will notify you that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding restrictions

    Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Funds may not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may not be used for construction.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be 
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives; 
however, prior approval by HHS/CDC officials must be requested in 
writing.
     The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of the American University, Beirut and the World Health 
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the United States or to international organizations 
regardless of their location.
     The applicant may contract with other organizations under 
this program; however, the applicant must perform a substantial portion 
of the activities (including program management and operations, and 
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required).
     All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, HHS/CDC will not 
compensate foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through 
the issuance of supplemental awards.
     You must obtain an annual audit of these HHS/CDC funds 
(program-specific audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with international 
branches and current licensure/authority in-country, and in accordance 
with International Accounting Standards or equivalent standard(s) 
approved in writing by HHS/CDC.
     A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required 
prior to or post award, in order to review the applicant's business 
management and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. 
Federal funds.
     Funds received from this announcement will not be used for 
the purchase of antiretroviral drugs for treatment of established HIV 
infection (with the exception of nevirapine in Prevention of Mother-to-
Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written approval), 
occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures and will not be 
used for the purchase of machines and reagents to conduct the necessary 
laboratory monitoring for patient care.
     No funds appropriated under this act shall be used to 
carry out any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for 
the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
Prostitution and Related Activities
    The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related 
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and 
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons.
    Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government 
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such 
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or 
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding 
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of 
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical 
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including 
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
    A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in 
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS 
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to 
combating HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a 
prevention method or treatment program to which the recipient has a 
religious or moral objection. Any information provided by recipients 
about the use of condoms as part of projects or activities that are 
funded in connection with this document shall be medically accurate and 
shall include the public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
    In addition, any recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing 
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not 
apply to any ``exempt organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to 
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization and 
its six Regional Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or 
to any United Nations agency).
    The following definition applies for purposes of this clause:
     Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring, 
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of 
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
    All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable 
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all 
sub-agreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms 
and conditions of the sub-agreement, must acknowledge that compliance 
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a 
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. government funds in 
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation 
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the 
agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS 
may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents

[[Page 48726]]

and materials maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual 
course of its operations that relate to the organization's compliance 
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
    All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime 
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance 
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes 
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies 
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.' '') 
addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime 
recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government 
funds in connection with this document.
    Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving 
U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any 
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of 
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the 
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount 
furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines 
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities.''
    You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: https://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/
funding/budgetguide.htm.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

Application Submission Address
    Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit 
electronically at: https://www.Grants.gov. You will be able to download 
a copy of the application package from https://www.Grants.gov, complete 
it offline, and then upload and submit the application via the 
Grants.gov Web site. We will not accept e-mail submissions. If you are 
having technical difficulties in Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-
mail at support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-
GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
    HHS/CDC recommends that you submit your application to Grants.gov 
early to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. 
You may also submit a back-up paper submission of your application. We 
must receive any such paper submission in accordance with the 
requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the 
grant announcement. You must clearly mark the paper submission: ``BACK-
UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.''
    The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-
electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper 
submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version 
the official submission.
    We strongly recommend that you submit your grant application by 
using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, 
etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, you may 
submit a PDF file. You may find directions for creating PDF files on 
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft 
Office or PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff; or
    Paper Submission: Applicants should submit the original and two 
hard copies of the application by mail or express delivery service to 
the following address: Technical Information Management Section--AA216, 
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

    Applicants must provide measures of effectiveness that will 
demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified objectives of 
the cooperative agreement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the 
performance goals stated in the ``Purpose'' section of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must 
measure the intended outcome. Applicants must submit these measures of 
effectiveness with the application and they will be an element of 
evaluation.
    We will evaluate your application against the following criteria:
     Need (10 Points). To what extent does the applicant 
justify the need for this program within the target community?
     Work Plan (20 Points). Does the applicant describe 
strategies that are pertinent and match those identified in the five-
year strategy of the President's Emergency Plan and activities that are 
evidence-based, realistic, achievable, measurable and culturally 
appropriate in Haiti to achieving the goals of the Emergency Plan? Is 
the plan adequate to carry out the proposed objectives? How complete 
and comprehensive is the plan for the entire project period? Does the 
plan include quantitative process and outcome measures tied to the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief?
     Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (20 points). Does the 
applicant describe a system for reviewing and adjusting program 
activities based on monitoring information? Does the plan include 
indicators developed for each program milestone, and incorporated into 
the financial and programmatic reports? Are all indicators drawn from 
the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Is the system able to generate 
financial and program reports showing disbursement of funds, and 
progress towards achieving the objectives of the President's Emergency 
Plan?
     Methods (15 Points). Are the proposed methods feasible? To 
what extent will they accomplish the numerical goals of the President's 
Emergency Plan?
     Personnel (15 Points). Do the staff members have 
appropriate experience, including local-language skills? Are the staff 
roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to 
accomplish the program goals?
     Program Experience (20 Points). Is the applicant's program 
experience relevant to the provision of the services it intends to 
provide? Does the applicant have experience working with high risk 
populations?
     Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored). Is 
the proposed budget for conducting program activities itemized and well 
justified? Is it consistent with planned program activities?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review 
applications for completeness and HHS Global AIDS program will review 
them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that 
are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through 
the review process. Applicants will receive notification that their 
application did not meet submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria'' 
section above. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to 
the U.S. Government Country Program Office in Haiti. The panel can 
include both Federal and non-Federal participants.
    Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined 
by the review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any 
decision to fund out of rank order.

[[Page 48727]]

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    September 15, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the 
HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only 
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and HHS/CDC. An 
authorized Grants Management Officer will sign the NoA, and mail it to 
the recipient fiscal officer identified in the application.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of the results of 
the application review by mail.

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    45 CFR part 74.
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
Address: https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
    The following additional requirements apply to this project:
     AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions..
     AR-6 Patient Care.
     AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
    Applicants can find additional information on these requirements on 
the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: https://
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.
    You need to include an additional Certifications form from the PHS 
5161-1 application in your Grants.gov electronic submission only. 
Applicants should refer to https://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-
11Certificates.pdf. Once you have filled out the form, please attach it 
to your Grants.gov submission as Other Attachments Form.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of 
the following reports:
    1. Interim progress report, due no less than 90 days before the end 
of the budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-
competing continuation application, and must contain the following 
elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
    d. Budget.
    e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 
Haiti.
    f. Additional Requested Information.
    2. Annual progress report, due no more than 60 days after the end 
of the budget period. Reports should include progress against the 
numerical goals of President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 
Haiti.
    3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than ninety 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or 
Contract Specialist listed in the ``Agency Contacts'' section of this 
announcement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    We encourage inquiries concerning this announcement. For general 
questions, contact: Technical Information Management Section, CDC 
Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-
2700.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Kathy Grooms, HHS/CDC 
Global AIDS Program, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E-04, Atlanta, GA 
30333, Telephone: 404-639-8394, E-mail: Kgrooms@cdc.gov.
    For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact: 
Vivian Walker, Grants Management Specialist, CDC Procurement and Grants 
Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2724, E-mail: VEW4@CDC.GOV.

VIII. Other Information

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

    Dated: August 12, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16428 Filed 8-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P