Announcement of Availability of Funds for Cooperative Agreement to the Texas Outreach Office To Strengthen Public Health Services at the Texas-Mexico Border, 17881-17887 [E6-5047]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17881-17887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5047]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Availability of Funds for Cooperative Agreement 
to the Texas Outreach Office To Strengthen Public Health Services at 
the Texas-Mexico Border

AGENCY: Office of Global Health Affairs, Office of the Secretary, HHS.
    Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement--FY 2006 Initial 
Announcement. Single Source.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 93.018.

    Key Dates: Application Availability: April 7, 2006.
    Applications are due by 5 p.m. eastern time on May 8, 2006.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Global Health Affairs (OGHA)

[[Page 17882]]

announces that up to $497,500 in fiscal year (FY) 2006 funds is 
available for a cooperative agreement to the Texas Department of State 
Health Services, Outreach Office of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health 
Commission to strengthen the binational public health projects and 
programs along the Texas-Mexico border. In collaboration with other 
Texas Department of State Health Services entities, the Texas Outreach 
Office will implement and monitor the progress of the Healthy Border 
2010 program in the Texas-Mexico border region, work with communities 
to implement programs to improve the health of border residents, and 
will publicize the achievements and challenges of border health. The 
project will be approved for up to a one-year period for a total of 
$497,500 (including indirect costs). Funding for the cooperative 
agreement is contingent upon the availability of funds.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Under the authority of section 4 of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health 
Commission Act (the Act), Public Law 103-400, the Office of Global 
Health Affairs (OGHA) announces the intent to allocate fiscal year (FY) 
2006 funds for a cooperative agreement to the Texas Department of State 
Health Services, Outreach Office of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health 
Commission (USMBHC) to strengthen the binational public health projects 
and programs along the Texas-Mexico border. Activities to be addressed 
through the cooperative agreement will relate to two main topic areas: 
(1) Support for the USMBHC and its activities, and (2) Implementation 
of the Healthy Border 2010 program. The Healthy Border 2010 Program 
focuses on the following health topic areas: Access to health care; 
cancer; diabetes; environmental health; HIV/AIDS; immunization and 
infectious diseases; injury prevention; maternal, infant and child 
health; mental health; oral health; respiratory diseases; tobacco use; 
substance abuse; heart disease; gastrointestinal diseases; nutrition 
and obesity; physical activity; and bioterrorism preparedness. Funding 
will be provided by OGHA, through the U.S.-Mexico Border Health 
Commission, to the awardee.
    This assistance is geared to support current, on-going and proposed 
public health initiatives in this border region that support the goals 
and objectives of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission and serve to 
strengthen access to health care, disease prevention, and public health 
along the Texas-Mexico border.
    Background: The USMBHC, in collaboration with the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services, works toward creating awareness about the 
U.S.-Mexico border, its people, and its environment. It educates others 
about the unique challenges at the border through outreach efforts, 
data collection and analysis, and joint collaborative efforts with 
public and private partners in the border health community. The USMBHC 
serves as a rallying point for shared concerns about the U.S.-Mexico 
border and as a catalyst for action to develop plans directed toward 
solving specific health related problems.
    Outreach offices of the USMBHC work with the border states to 
address public health concerns and needs affecting the border region. 
The Texas Outreach Office works with Mexican counterparts to promote 
and strengthen binational health initiatives along the Texas-Mexico 
border.
    Purpose: The project's overarching goal is to implement the Healthy 
Border 2010 program and supporting initiatives in the Texas-Mexico 
Border region. In pursuit of this goal, this project will strive to: 
(1) Increase border-wide capacity to perform essential functions of 
public health, both unilaterally and binationally, at the local, state, 
and federal levels; (2) Continue expansion of the Healthy Border 2010 
Program within this region; and (3) Create and maintain viable 
Binational Health Councils, whose roles provide vital links for local 
binational border health relations.
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one 
(or more) of the following performance goals:
     Increase access to care and improve quality of care;
     Improve disease prevention and health education; and
     Improve public health infrastructure.
    Activities: Awardee activities for this program will be focused in 
the flowing areas and sub-areas:
    (1) Outreach and health promotion activities to establish or 
strengthen linkages between public health and border activities; 
including
     Support for USMBHC initiatives and activities, and
     Promotion, support and involvement in Healthy Border 2010 
activities with the Local Public Health Forums;
    (2) Evaluation and assessments of health services, health research, 
health care technologies, and delivery systems;
    (3) Health data analysis and surveillance;
    (4) Programmatic support to the members and staff for the USMBHC; 
and
    (5) Mobilization, assessment, planning, implementation, and 
tracking of Healthy Border 2010 Programs.

II. Award Information

    The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this 
program will be the cooperative agreement in which substantial OGHA/HHS 
scientific and/or programmatic involvement is anticipated during the 
performance of the project. Monitoring of efforts covered in the 
workplan will be done by OGHA to ensure awardee is meeting program 
objectives and will work with the Commission to ensure goals and 
accomplishments are met and reported. Under the cooperative agreement, 
OGHA/HHS will support and/or stimulate awardee activities by working 
with them in a non-directive partnership.
    Awardee will also be expected to work directly with and in support 
of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission and its stated goals and 
initiatives as outlined in the submitted workplan.
    Approximately $497,500 in FY 2006 funds is available to support the 
agreement. The anticipated start date is May 1, 2006. There will only 
be one single award made from this announcement. The program and budget 
period for this agreement is for 12 months.
    Although this program is provided for in the financial plans of the 
OGHA, the award pursuant to this RFA is contingent upon the 
availability of funds for this purpose.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    This is a single eligibility cooperative agreement offered to the 
Texas Department of State Health Services, Outreach Office (ORO) of the 
USMBHC. The ORO has extensive past experience working with the USMHBC 
and supporting its binational goals, objectives and initiatives. The 
Texas ORO also has an existing working relationship and on-going 
initiatives with Mexico through the Mexican Outreach Offices. 
Continuity and consistency in this binational effort within this region 
is essential to the productivity and success of public health efforts 
in this region.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching:

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

[[Page 17883]]

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

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

2. Content and Form of Application Submission:

    All applications must be accompanied by a Project Abstract 
submitted on 3.5 inch floppy disk. The abstract must be typed, single-
spaced, and not exceed 2 pages. Reviewers and staff will refer 
frequently to the information contained in the abstract, and therefore 
it should contain substantive information about the proposed projects 
in summary form. A list of suggested keywords and a format sheet for 
your use in preparing the abstract will be included in the application 
packet.
    All grant applications must be accompanied by a Project Narrative. 
In addition to the instructions provided in OPHS-1 (Rev 8/2004) for 
project narrative, the specific guidelines for the project narrative 
are provided in the program guidelines. Format requirements are the 
same as for the Project Abstract Section; margins should be 1 inch at 
the top and 1 inch at the bottom and both sides; and typeset must be no 
smaller than 12 cpi and not reduced. Biographical sketches should be 
either typed on the appropriate form or plain paper and should not 
exceed two pages, with publications listed being limited only to those 
that are directly relevant to this project.
Application Format Requirements
    If applying on paper, the entire application may not exceed 80 
pages in length, including the abstract, project and budget narratives, 
face page, attachments, any appendices and letters of commitment and 
support. Pages must be numbered consecutively.
    Applications submitted electronically that exceed 80 pages when 
printed will be deemed non-compliant. All non-compliant applications 
will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
    a. Number of Copies.
    Please submit one (1) original and two (2) unbound copies of the 
application.
    Please do not bind or staple the application. Application must be 
single sided.
    b. Font.
    Please use an easily readable serif typeface, such as Times Roman, 
Courier, or CG Times. The text and table portions of the application 
must be submitted in not less than 12 point and 1.0 line spacing. 
Applications not adhering to 12 point font requirements may be 
returned.
    c. Paper Size and Margins.
    For scanning purposes, please submit the application on 8\1/
2\ x 11 white paper. Margins must be at least one 
(1) inch at the top, bottom, left and right of the paper. Please left-
align text.
    d. Numbering.
    Please number the pages of the application sequentially from page 1 
(face page) to the end of the application, including charts, figures, 
tables, and appendices.
    e. Names.
    Please include the name of the applicant on each page.
    f. Section Headings.
    Please put all section headings flush left in bold type.
Application Format
    Applications for funding must consist of the following documents in 
the following order:
i. Application Face Page
    Public Health Service (PHS) Application Form OPHS-1, provided with 
the application package. Prepare this page according to instructions 
provided in the form itself.
DUNS Number
    All applicant organizations are required to have a Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to apply for a grant from the 
Federal Government. The DUNS number is a unique nine-character 
identification number provided by the commercial company, Dun and 
Bradstreet. There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number. Information 
about obtaining a DUNS number can be found at https://www.dnb.com/
product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or call 1-866-705-5711. Please 
include the DUNS number next to the OMB Approval Number on the 
application face page.
    Additionally, the applicant organization will be required to 
register with the Federal Government's Central Contractor Registry 
(CCR) in order to do electronic business with the Federal Government. 
Information about registering with the CCR can be found at https://
www.hrsa.gov/grants/ccr.htm.
    Finally, applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov are 
required to register with the Credential Provider for Grants.gov. 
Information about this requirement is available at https://
www.grants.gov/CredentialProvider.
    Applicants applying electronically through the OPHS E-Grants System 
are required to register with the provider. Information about this 
requirement is available at https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov.
ii. Program Narrative
    This section provides a comprehensive framework and description of 
all aspects of the proposed program. It should be succinct, self-
explanatory and well organized so that reviewers can understand the 
proposed project.
    Use the following section headers for the Narrative:
     Executive Summary.
    This section should briefly describe the proposed project and 
supporting initiatives as well as summarize goals that the program 
intends to achieve through the project initiatives.
     Work Plan.
    Describe the current and proposed activities or steps that will be 
used to achieve the stated goals and objectives. Describe expected 
outcomes resulting from activities as well as any evaluation mechanisms 
that will be used to measure the success of the initiatives.
     Mechanism for Administration.
    Describe how resources and funds will be administered with regards 
to the proposed projects.
     In-Kind Support/Resources.
    Describe any in-kind support from other sources, if any, that will 
be used to support the proposed initiatives and activities.
iii. Appendices
    Please provide the additional relevant information (including 
tables, charts, and other relevant documents) to complete the content 
of the application. Please note that these are supplementary in nature, 
and are not intended to be a continuation of the project narrative. Be 
sure each appendix is clearly labeled.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) provides multiple 
mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the 
following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of 
applications submitted using any of these

[[Page 17884]]

mechanisms. Applications submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management after the deadlines described below will not be accepted for 
review. Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the 
grant announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned 
to the applicant.
    Applications may only be submitted electronically via the 
electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications 
submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including 
facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While 
applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic 
application submission capabilities provided by the OPHS eGrants system 
or the Grants.gov Website Portal is encouraged.
    Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later 
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission 
mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures 
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. eastern time on the next business day 
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement.
    Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic 
application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items 
are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the 
deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere 
to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed 
ineligible.
    Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early 
in the application development process, and to submit early on the due 
date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with 
submissions prior to the application deadline.

Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov 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, https://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 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

[[Page 17885]]

Management where all required hard copy materials must be submitted.
    As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the 
electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of 
mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status 
of their application in the OPHS eGrants system to ensure that all 
signatures and mail-in items are received.

Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications

    Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-
delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the 
application. The original application must be signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to 
assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award.
    Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant 
Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date 
specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application 
deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the 
instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline 
will be returned to the applicant unread.

4. Intergovernmental Review

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

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, 
equipment purchase, medical treatment, renovations, or to purchase 
food. 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 (Nonprofit Organizations) and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix E 
(Hospitals). Copies of these circulars can be found on the Internet at: 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Applications will be screened by OGHA staff for completeness and 
for responsiveness to the program guidance. Applicants should pay 
strict attention addressing these criteria, as they are the basis upon 
which applications will be judged. Those applications judged to be non-
responsive or incomplete will be returned to the applicant without 
review.
    Applications that are complete and responsive to the guidance will 
be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate peer 
review group specifically convened for this solicitation and in 
accordance with HHS policies and procedures. As part of the initial 
merit review, all applications will receive a written critique. All 
applications recommended for approval will be discussed fully by the ad 
hoc peer review group and assigned a priority score for funding. 
Eligible applications will be assessed according the following 
criteria:
    (1) Technical Approach 45 points:
     The applicant's presentation of a sound and practical 
technical approach for executing the requirements with adequate 
explanation, substantiation and justification for methods for handling 
the projected needs of the USMBHC.
     The successful applicant must demonstrate a clear 
understanding of the scope and objectives of the cooperative agreement, 
recognition of potential difficulties that may arise in performing the 
work required, presentation of adequate solutions, and understanding of 
the close coordination necessary between appropriate state offices and 
resources, and the USMBHC Texas and Mexican Delegation Offices.
    (2) Experience and Capabilities of the Organization 45 points:
     Applicants should submit documented relevant experience of 
the organization in managing projects of similar complexity and scope 
of the activities.
     Clarity and appropriateness of lines of communication and 
authority for coordination and management of the project. Adequacy and 
feasibility of plans to ensure successful coordination of a multiple-
partner collaboration.
    (3) Facilities and Resources 10 points:
     Documented availability and adequacy of facilities, 
equipment and resources necessary to carry out the activities.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications will be reviewed in competition with other submitted 
applications, by a panel of peer reviewers. Each of the above criteria 
will be addressed and considered by the reviewers in assigning the 
overall score. Final award will be made on the basis of score, program 
relevance and, availability of funds.

[[Page 17886]]

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    OGHA/HHS does not release information about individual applications 
during the review process until final funding decisions have been made. 
When these decisions have been made, applicants will be notified by 
letter regarding the outcome of their applications. The official 
document notifying an applicant that an application has been approved 
and funded is the Notice of Award, which specifies to the awardee the 
amount of money awarded, the purpose of the agreement, the terms and 
conditions of the agreement, and the amount of funding, if any, to be 
contributed by the awardee to the project costs.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rules and requirements 
that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all 
recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to 
state and local governments. Applicants funded under this announcement 
must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The CFR volume that 
includes parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from: https://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/45cfrv1_03.html.
    The HHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitation, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total cost of the program or project which will be 
financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of the 
total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
governmental sources.

3. Reporting

    All projects are required to have an evaluation plan, consistent 
with the scope of the proposed project and funding level that conforms 
to the project's stated goals and objectives. The evaluation plan 
should include both a process evaluation to track the implementation of 
project activities and an outcome evaluation to measure changes in 
knowledge and skills that can be attributed to the project. Project 
funds may be used to support evaluation activities.
    In addition to conducting their own evaluation of projects, 
successful applicants must be prepared to participate in an external 
evaluation, to be supported by OGHA/HHS and conducted by an independent 
entity, to assess efficiency and effectiveness for the project funded 
under this announcement.
    Within 30 days following the end of each of quarter, submit a 
performance report no more than ten pages in length must be submitted 
to OGHA/HHS. A sample monthly performance report will be provided at 
the time of notification of award. At a minimum, monthly performance 
reports should include:
     Concise summary of the most significant achievements and 
problems encountered during the reporting period, e.g. number of 
training courses held and number of trainees.
     A comparison of work progress with objectives established 
for the quarter using the grantee's implementation schedule, and where 
such objectives were not met, a statement of why they were not met.
     Specific action(s) that the grantee would like the OGHA/
HHS to undertake to alleviate a problem.
     Other pertinent information that will permit monitoring 
and overview of project operations.
     A quarterly financial report describing the current 
financial status of the funds used under this award. The awardee and 
OGHA will agree at the time of award for the format of this portion of 
the report.
    Within 90 days following the end of the project period a final 
report containing information and data of interest to the Department of 
Health and Human Services, Congress, and other countries must be 
submitted to OGHA/HHS. The specifics as to the format and content of 
the final report and the summary will be sent to successful applicants. 
At minimum, the report should contain:
     A summary of the major activities supported under the 
agreement and the major accomplishments resulting from activities to 
improve mortality in partner country.
     An analysis of the project based on the problem(s) 
described in the application and needs assessments, performed prior to 
or during the project period, including a description of the specific 
objectives stated in the grant application and the accomplishments and 
failures resulting from activities during the grant period.
    Quarterly performance reports and the final report may be submitted 
to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Suite 
18-105, Rockville, Maryland 20857. A Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-
269 is due 90 days after the close of each 12-month budget period and 
submitted to OPHS-Office of Grants Management.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For programmatic requirements, please contact: Jeff Waggoner, 
Office of Global Health Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Suite 18-105, 
Rockville, MD 20857.
    For administrative requirements, please contact: DHHS, Office of 
Public Health and Science, Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, Maryland 20857, Telephone: (240) 453-
8822.

VIII. Tips for Writing a Strong Application

    Include DUNS Number. You must include a DUNS Number to have your 
application reviewed. To obtain a DUNS number, access https://
www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Please include the 
DUNS number next to the OMB Approval Number on the application face 
page.
    Keep your audience in mind. Reviewers will use only the information 
contained in the application to assess the application. Be sure the 
application and responses to the program requirements and expectations 
are complete and clearly written. Do not assume that reviewers are 
familiar with the applicant organization. Keep the review criteria in 
mind when writing the application.
    Start preparing the application early. Allow plenty of time to 
gather required information from various sources.
    Follow the instructions in this guidance carefully. Place all 
information in the order requested in the guidance. If the information 
is not placed in the requested order, you may receive a lower score.
    Be brief, concise, and clear. Make your points understandable. 
Provide accurate and honest information, including candid accounts of 
problems and realistic plans to address them. If any required 
information or data is omitted, explain why. Make sure the information 
provided in each table, chart, attachment, etc., is consistent with the 
proposal narrative and information in other tables.
    Be organized and logical. Many applications fail to receive a high 
score because the reviewers cannot follow the thought process of the 
applicant or because parts of the application do not fit together.
    Be careful in the use of appendices. Do not use the appendices for

[[Page 17887]]

information that is required in the body of the application. Be sure to 
cross-reference all tables and attachments located in the appendices to 
the appropriate text in the application.
    Carefully proofread the application. Misspellings and grammatical 
errors will impede reviewers in understanding the application. Be sure 
pages are numbered (including appendices) and that page limits are 
followed. Limit the use of abbreviations and acronyms, and define each 
one at its first use and periodically throughout application.

    Dated: March 31, 2006.
Mary Lou Valdez,
Deputy Director for Policy, Office of Global Health Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E6-5047 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-38-P