Strengthening and Expanding Anti-retroviral Treatment in the Republic of Haiti to HIV/AIDS Infected Populations Through Training, Support and Quality Assurance/Quality Control at Anti-retroviral Sites as Part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 49635-49642 [05-16822]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49635-49642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16822]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Strengthening and Expanding Anti-retroviral Treatment in the 
Republic of Haiti to HIV/AIDS Infected Populations Through Training, 
Support and Quality Assurance/Quality Control at Anti-retroviral Sites 
as Part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-AA177.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067.
    Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 19, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 
307) of the Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 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].


[[Page 49636]]


    Background: President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has 
called for immediate, comprehensive and evidence-based action to turn 
the tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative aims to treat more than two 
million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral 
therapy by 2008; care for ten million HIV-infected and affected 
persons, including those orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and prevent 
seven million infections by 2010, with a focus on 15 priority 
countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan Africa. The five-year strategy 
for the Emergency Plan is 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 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 reported to be 5.6 percent, according to 
the 2004 Annual Report of the Joint United Programme on HIV/AIDS 
(UNAIDS). Access to prevention and treatment is limited among the 
Haitian population because of an underdeveloped public health 
infrastructure and a lack of clinical capacity.
    Currently, around 3,000 Haitians infected with HIV receive ARV 
therapy. However, with funding from the President's Emergency Plan for 
AIDS Relief, the U.S. Government aims to increase that number 
dramatically to 7,200 by the end of 2005. To meet the Emergency Plan's 
goals within the time allotted, applicants must be able to demonstrate 
they already have experience in training clinicians and laboratory 
personnel involved in VCT activities, distributing ARVs and in 
providing palliative care to patients with HIV/AIDS in Haiti.
    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 
with one (or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the 
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention (NCHSTP), of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within HHS: Increase the 
proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to appropriate 
prevention, care and treatment services, and strengthen the capacity 
nationwide to monitor the epidemic, develop and implement effective HIV 
prevention interventions and evaluate prevention programs.
    This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by 
HHS, including CDC. If 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.
    Applicants should describe activities in detail as part of a four-
year action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal Years 2005-2008 inclusive) 
that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the five-year strategy 
for the President's Emergency Plan.
    The grantee will produce an annual operational plan in the context 
of this four-year plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team 
on the ground in Haiti will review as part of the annual Emergency Plan 
for AIDS Relief Country Operational Plan review and approval process 
managed by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. The grantee 
may work on some of the activities listed below in the first year and 
in subsequent years, and then progressively add others from the list to 
achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the 
previous section. HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the U.S. Global AIDS 
Coordinator, will approve funds for activities on an annual basis, 
based on documented performance toward achieving Emergency Plan goals, 
as part of the annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 
Operational Plan review and approval process.
    Awardee activities for covering all program areas are as follows:
    1. Perform routine quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) on 
rapid testing specimens from all sites supported by the Emergency Plan 
until the Haitian national reference lab is operational.
    2. Perform confirmational CD4 testing and analysis to determine 
clinical eligibility for expansion sites without capacity to conduct 
such testing.
    3. Perform conformational sexually transmitted infection (STI) 
testing for diagnosis.
    4. Provide training in local languages to local health care 
professionals including physicians, nurses, lab technicians and 
pharmacy technicians, community health workers, volunteers and 
appropriate program staff on the following:
    a. How to design, implement and evaluate confidential voluntary 
counseling and testing (VCT) program sites to enable them to provide 
confidential counseling and rapid testing for HIV/AIDS;
    b. The provision of psycho-social support by social workers to 
people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and their families, including 
bereavement counseling, crisis management, support for orphan and 
vulnerable children;
    c. Clinical care and treatment of HIV/AIDS/TB, opportunistic 
infection(OI) and highly active anti-retroviral therapy

[[Page 49637]]

(HAART); including basic and palliative care;
    d. Care for PLWHAs, including counseling PLWHAs engaged in 
treatment and drug administration, especially for nurses and community 
health workers;
    e. Drug-supply management, forecasting, and packaging (especially 
for pharmacists);
    f. The use of automated laboratory equipment for hematology, 
biochemistry and biology (especially for lab technicians),
    g. How to maintain laboratory equipment;
    h. Laboratory safety and proper disposal of biohazardous materials;
    i. The use of universal precautions and the management of needle-
stick or splash injuries;
    j. Post-training follow-up to identify gaps in resources or 
effectiveness of particular protocols; and
    k. Regular routine, in-service trainings in local languages for 
health service and lab personnel to review new and best practice 
techniques and solicit ``insider insight''--an account of 
implementation success and challenges.
    5. Implement monitoring and evaluation strategies at each program 
site, by assessing:
    a. Number of trainings held;
    b. Number and type of participants;
    c. Pre- and post-training evaluation of skills; and
    d. Number of equipment maintenance calls.
    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 Activities for this program are as follows:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Meet on a monthly basis with grantee to assess monthly 
expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans as 
necessary.
    6. Meet on a quarterly basis with grantee to assess quarterly 
technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet 
U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements.
    10. Collaborate with the Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP) and 
partners to strengthen confidential VCT/prevention of mother-to-child 
transmission (PMTCT) sites, specialized care and treatment sites and 
public anti-retroviral (ARV) demonstration sites.
    11. Provide equipment and commodities acquired through a 
transparent and competitive process (excluding ARV drugs) to all VCT/
PMTCT sites and public demonstration sites. HHS/CDC will provide ARV 
drugs to public demonstration sites only.
    12. Hire and support of staff.
    13. Support for an electronic medical record (EMR) database system, 
and a surveillance database system for case identification and 
management.
    14. Support for the annual technical review of the National AIDS/
TB/STI program in Haiti.
    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: 2005.
    Approximate Total Funding: $4,615,000 (This amount is an estimate, 
and is subject to availability of funds.)
    Approximate Number of Awards: One.
    Approximate Average Award: $923,000 (This amount is for the first 
12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $923,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 23, 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

[[Page 49638]]

     Community-based organizations
     Faith-based organizations
    In addition, applicants must meet the criteria listed below:
    1. Documented experience providing care and treatment in resource 
constrained, politically unstable countries;
    2. Experience in performing extensive HIV/AIDS laboratory 
diagnostic testing and training;
    3. Have documented experience in HIV/AIDS particularly in the 
provision of basic social services for HIV-infected/affected persons, 
must have experience with non-facility-based counseling, and must 
already be integrated into the national HIV/AIDS program; and
    4. Documented experience working with populations engaged in high-
risk behaviors.\1\
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    \1\ Behaviors that increase risk for HIV transmission include 
engaging in casual sexual encounters, engaging in sex in exchange 
for money or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner or one 
whose status is unknown, using drugs or abusing alcohol in the 
context of sexual interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 
even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of becoming 
infected by their spouse, regular male partner, or someone using 
force against them. Other high-risk persons or groups include men 
who have sex with men and workers who are employed away from home. 
Awardees may not implement condom social marketing without also 
implementing abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 
interventions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Eligible applicants should also demonstrate a current or past 
capacity to coordinate their activities with HHS/CDC and other members 
of the United States Government.

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, 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.
    HHS strongly encourages you to submit your application 
electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this 
announcement at www.grants.gov.
    Application forms and instructions are available on the HHS/CDC web 
site, at the following Internet address: 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
     Printed only on one side of 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 
entire project period, and must include the following items in the 
order listed:
     Project Contribution to the numerical Goals and Objectives 
of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
     Timeline (e.g., GANNT Chart)
     Management of Project Funds and Reporting
     Executive Summary: Provide a clear and concise summary of 
the proposed goals, major objectives and activities required for 
achievement of program goals and amount of funding requested for budget 
year one of this cooperative agreement.
     Laboratory Services
    1. Perform routine QA/QC on rapid-testing specimens from all sites 
supported by the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief until the national 
reference lab is operational.
    2. Perform confirmational CD4 testing and analysis to determine 
clinical eligibility of patients for ART at expansion sites that lack 
the capacity to conduct such testing.
    3. Perform confirmational STI testing for diagnosis.
     Training
    1. Provide training in local languages to local health care 
professionals including physicians, nurses, lab technicians and 
pharmacy technicians, community health workers volunteers and 
appropriate program staff.
    a. Train how to design, implement and evaluate confidential VCT 
program sites to enable them to provide counseling and rapid testing 
for HIV/AIDS.
    b. Train social workers in providing psycho-social support to PLWHA 
and their families, including bereavement counseling, crisis 
management, and support for orphan and vulnerable children.
    c. Train health care professionals, in clinical care and treatment 
of HIV/AIDS/TB, OI and HAART including basic and palliative care.
    d. Train nurses and community health workers in care for PLWHAs, 
including counseling PLWHAs engaged in treatment and drug 
administration.
    e. Train pharmacists in drug-supply commodity management, 
forecasting, and packaging.
    f. Train lab technicians in use of automated laboratory equipment 
for hematology, biochemistry, biology.
    g. Train how to maintain laboratory equipment.
    h. Train in laboratory safety and proper disposal of bio-hazardous 
materials protocol.
    i. Train in the use of universal precautions and the management of 
needle-stick or splash injuries.
    j. Provide post-training follow-up to identify gaps in resources or 
effectiveness of particular protocols.
    k. Provide regular routine in-service trainings in local languages 
for health service and lab personnel to review new and best practice 
techniques and solicit ``insider insight''--an account of 
implementation success and challenges.
    2. Implement monitoring and evaluation strategies at each program 
site, assessing:
    a. Number of trainings held
    b. Number and type of participants

[[Page 49639]]

    c. Pre- and post-training skill levels
    d. Number of equipment maintenance calls.
    You may include additional information in the application 
appendices. The appendices will not count toward the narrative page 
limit. This additional information includes the following:
     Curricula Vitae or Resumes of current staff who will work 
on the activity
     Organizational Charts
     Letters of Support
     Project Budget and Justification for year one only
    The budget justification will not count in the narrative page 
limit.
    Although the narrative addresses activities for the entire project, 
the applicant should provide a detailed budget only for the first year 
of activities, while addressing budgetary plans for subsequent years.
    You must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the 
Federal Government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification 
number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS 
number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access 
www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.
    For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at: https://
www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm.
    If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please 
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your 
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover 
letter.
    Additional requirements that could require you to submit additional 
documentation with your application are listed in section ``VI.2. 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements.''

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: September 19, 2005.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in the HHS/
CDC Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the 
deadline date.
    You may submit your application electronically at www.grants.gov. 
We consider applications completed online through Grants.gov as 
formally submitted when the applicant organization's Authorizing 
Official electronically submits the application to www.grants.gov. We 
will consider electronic applications as having met the deadline if the 
applicant organization's Authorizing Official has submitted the 
application electronically to Grants.gov on or before the deadline date 
and time.
    If you submit your application electronically with Grants.gov, your 
application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve 
as receipt of submission. You will receive an e-mail notice of receipt 
when HHS/CDC receives the application.
    If you submit your application by the United States Postal Service 
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure the carrier will be 
able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. If HHS/CDC 
receives your submission after closing because: (1) Carrier error, when 
the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by the 
closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, you will have the opportunity to submit documentation of the 
carriers guarantee. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, 
HHS/CDC will consider the submission as received by the deadline.
    If you submit a hard copy application, HHS/CDC will not notify you 
upon receipt of your submission. If you have a question about the 
receipt of your application, first contact your courier. If you still 
have a question, contact the PGO-TIM staff at: 770-488-2700. Before 
calling, please wait two to three days after the submission deadline. 
This will allow time for us to process and log submissions.
    This announcement is the definitive guide on application content, 
submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in 
the application instructions. If your submission does not meet the 
deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and we will discard 
it. We will notify you that you did not meet the submission 
requirements.

IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

    Restrictions, which you must take into account while writing your 
budget, are as follows:
     Funds may not be used for research.
     Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.
     Funds may be spent for reasonable program purposes, 
including personnel, travel, supplies, and services. Equipment may be 
purchased if deemed necessary to accomplish program objectives, 
however, prior approval by HHS/CDC officials must be requested in 
writing.
     All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be 
stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, HHS/CDC will not 
compensate foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through 
the issuance of supplemental awards.
     The costs that are generally allowable in grants to 
domestic organizations are allowable to foreign institutions and 
international organizations, with the following exception: With the 
exception of the American University, Beirut and the World Health 
Organization, Indirect Costs will not be paid (either directly or 
through sub-award) to organizations located outside the territorial 
limits of the 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).
     You must obtain 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, 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 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.
     Needle Exchange--No funds appropriated under this Act 
shall be used to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles 
or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
Prostitution and Related Activities
    The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related 
activities, which are inherently harmful and

[[Page 49640]]

dehumanizing, and contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in 
persons.
    Any entity that receives, directly or indirectly, U.S. Government 
funds in connection with this document (``recipient'') cannot use such 
U.S. Government funds to promote or advocate the legalization or 
practice of prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing in the preceding 
sentence shall be construed to preclude the provision to individuals of 
palliative care, treatment, or post-exposure pharmaceutical 
prophylaxis, and necessary pharmaceuticals and commodities, including 
test kits, condoms, and, when proven effective, microbicides.
    A recipient that is otherwise eligible to receive funds in 
connection with this document to prevent, treat, or monitor HIV/AIDS 
shall not be required to endorse or utilize a multisectoral approach to 
combating HIV/AIDS, or to endorse, utilize, or participate in a 
prevention method or treatment program to which the recipient has a 
religious or moral objection. Any information provided by recipients 
about the use of condoms as part of projects or activities that are 
funded in connection with this document shall be medically accurate and 
shall include the public health benefits and failure rates of such use.
    In addition, any recipient must have a policy explicitly opposing 
prostitution and sex trafficking. The preceding sentence shall not 
apply to any ``exempt organizations'' (defined as the Global Fund to 
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Health Organization and 
its six Regional Offices, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or 
to any United Nations agency).
    The following definition applies for purposes of this clause:
     Sex trafficking means the recruitment, harboring, 
transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of 
a commercial sex act. 22 U.S.C. 7102(9).
    All recipients must insert provisions implementing the applicable 
parts of this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' in all 
subagreements under this award. These provisions must be express terms 
and conditions of the subagreement, must acknowledge that compliance 
with this section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities,'' is a 
prerequisite to receipt and expenditure of U.S. government funds in 
connection with this document, and must acknowledge that any violation 
of the provisions shall be grounds for unilateral termination of the 
agreement prior to the end of its term. Recipients must agree that HHS 
may, at any reasonable time, inspect the documents and materials 
maintained or prepared by the recipient in the usual course of its 
operations that relate to the organization's compliance with this 
section, ``Prostitution and Related Activities.''
    All prime recipients that receive U.S. Government funds (``prime 
recipients'') in connection with this document must certify compliance 
prior to actual receipt of such funds in a written statement that makes 
reference to this document (e.g., ``[Prime recipient's name] certifies 
compliance with the section, `Prostitution and Related Activities.' '') 
addressed to the agency's grants officer. Such certifications by prime 
recipients are prerequisites to the payment of any U.S. Government 
funds in connection with this document.
    Recipients' compliance with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities,'' is an express term and condition of receiving 
U.S. Government funds in connection with this document, and any 
violation of it shall be grounds for unilateral termination by HHS of 
the agreement with HHS in connection with this document prior to the 
end of its term. The recipient shall refund to HHS the entire amount 
furnished in connection with this document in the event HHS determines 
the recipient has not complied with this section, ``Prostitution and 
Related Activities.''
    You may find guidance for completing your budget on the HHS/CDC Web 
site, at the following Internet address: http//www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/
funding/budgetguide.htm.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

Application Submission Address

    HHS/CDC strongly encourages you to submit electronically at: 
www.grants.gov. You will be able to download a copy of the application 
package from www.grants.gov, complete it offline, and then upload and 
submit the application via the Grants.gov site. We will not accept e-
mail submissions. If you are having technical difficulties in 
Grants.gov, you may reach them by e-mail at 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 enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the 
deadline. You may also submit a back-up paper submission of your 
application. We must receive any such paper submission in accordance 
with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. 
of the grant announcement. You must clearly mark the paper submission: 
``BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.''
    The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-
electronic submissions. If we receive both electronic and back-up paper 
submissions by the deadline, we will consider the electronic version 
the official submission.
    We strongly recommended that you submit your grant application by 
using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, 
etc.). If you do not have access to Microsoft Office products, you may 
submit a PDF file. You may find directions for creating PDF files on 
the Grants.gov Web site. Use of files other than Microsoft Office or 
PDF could make your file unreadable for our staff.

OR

    Submit the original and two hard copies of your application by mail 
or express delivery service to the following address: Technical 
Information Management-AA177, 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:
    1. Need (20 Points)
    To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program 
within the target community?
    2. Work Plan (25 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 achieve 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

[[Page 49641]]

include quantitative process and outcome measures?
    3. 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 for each program milestone and incorporated into the 
quarterly financial and programmatic reports? Are the indicators drawn 
from the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Will the system generate 
quarterly financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, 
and progress towards achieving the program objectives of the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief?
    4. Methods (15 Points)
    Are the proposed methods feasible? To what extent will they 
accomplish the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan?
    5. Personnel (20 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?
    6. Budget and Justification (Reviewed, but not scored)
    Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with 
justification, reasonable, and consistent with the five-year strategy 
and goals of the President's Emergency Plan activities in Haiti?

V.2. Review and Selection Process

    The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review 
applications for completeness, and HHS Global AIDS program will review 
them for responsiveness. Incomplete applications and applications that 
are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through 
the review process. Applicants will receive notification that their 
application did not meet submission requirements.
    An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive 
applications according to the criteria listed in the ``V.1. Criteria'' 
section above. All persons who serve on the panel will be external to 
the U.S. Government Country Program Office. The panel may include both 
Federal and non-Federal participants.
    In addition, the following factors could affect the funding 
decision:
    While U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply, we will give 
preference to existing national/Haitian organizations and organizations 
that have demonstrated working in cultural and political contexts 
similar to that in Haiti. It is possible for one organization to apply 
as lead grantee with a plan that includes partnering with other 
organizations, preferably local. Although matching funds are not 
required, preference will go to organizations that can leverage 
additional funds to contribute to program goals.
    Applications will be funded in order by score and rank determined 
by the review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any 
decision to fund out of rank order.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    September 23, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

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

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: 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-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
     AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
     AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
     AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
     AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
 AR-25 Release and Sharing of Data
    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.

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

    You must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus two hard copies of 
the following reports:
    1.a. Semi-annual Progress Report, due not later than six (6) months 
after the beginning of the budget period. This progress report must 
contain the following elements:
    a. Current Budget Period Activities and Objectives
    b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
    c. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the 
numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for 
Haiti.
    d. Additional Requested Information.
    e. Financial
    2. Financial status and annual reports are due within 30 days of 
the end of the budget period of this agreement. The reports should 
detail progress toward achieving program milestones and projected next 
year activities. The financial status report must show obligations, 
disbursements and funds remaining by program activity for the year. 
Indicators must be developed for each program milestone and 
incorporated into the annual financial and programmatic reports. All 
indicators need to be drawn from the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days 
after the end of the project period.
    Recipients must mail these reports to the Grants Management or 
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: Matthew Brown, Project 
Officer, 3400 Port au Prince Pl., Dulles, VA 20189-3400, Telephone: 1-
404-806-9619 or 011-509-222-0200, E-mail: zjc5@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: www.cdc.gov 
Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative Agreements''), and 
on the

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Web site of the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs, Internet address: 
www.globalhealth.gov.

    Dated: August 17, 2005.
William P. Nichols,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 05-16822 Filed 8-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P