Billing Code: 4163-18-P
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Technical Assistance in Support of HIV Prevention, Care, and Treatment Programs and Other Infectious Diseases That Impact HIV Infected Patients in Support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Announcement Type: New
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-PS09-904
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: October 23, 2008
Authority: This program is authorized under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [22 U.S.C. 7601].
Background:
The United States has responded to the challenge of combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest financial commitment ever, by any nation, for a major international health initiative dedicated to a single disease. PEPFAR is the single umbrella program for all existing and new U.S. Government (USG) international HIV/AIDS assistance, including:
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 “2,7,10” initiative aims to treat more than two million HIV-infected people with effective combination anti-retroviral therapy (ART) 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 position of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS
Coordinator (OGAC) has been established to lead the integrated planning and
implementation of PEPFAR. The OGAC, who is the President’s representative on international HIV/AIDS issues, has “primary responsibility for the oversight and coordination of all resources and international activities of the USG to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.” In its first year, the OGAC established a Five-Year Global AIDS Strategy for achieving the President’s goals. Since then, programs, systems, and structures have operationalized the strategy in the focus countries. The Five-Year Strategy for the Emergency Plan is available at the following Internet address: http://www.pepfar.gov/guidance/76828.htm.
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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS/CDC) 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. This is formalized through the creation of a modified Country Operating Plan (COP). The COP is a single inter-Agency USG operational plan which outlines key activities, targets, funding requests and implementation partners for each technical area addressed by the program in each country.
HHS/CDC focuses on two or three major program areas in each country. Goals and priorities include the following:
Purpose:
The purpose of this announcement is to fund organizations that will provide programmatic and technical assistance (TA) to in-country partners. The purpose of this assistance is as follows:
It is anticipated that at the end of the period of support, sufficient mechanisms and procedures will be in place to ensure continuation of the effort by the partner country.
The list of participating countries includes but is not limited to: Angola; Asia Regional (Laos, Papua New Guinea); Brazil; Botswana; Cambodia; Caribbean Regional (Barbados, Dominica; Jamaica, St. Lucia); Central America (Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua); China; Cote d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of Congo; Dominican Republic; Ethiopia; Ghana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Kenya; Lesotho; Malawi; Mali; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Russia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania; Thailand; Uganda; Vietnam; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Ukraine; and Atlanta Headquarters. The Emergency Plan also targets funding to support HIV/AIDS programs in an additional 108 countries and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (“Global Fund”). Additional countries or locations added to the PEPFAR program will be reviewed under the requirements of this announcement.
A broad range of TA may be provided through on-site consultation, training, and meetings, written materials and distance (electronic) technology and work across a range of infectious diseases. TA is defined as providing expert advice, assistance and training for in-country partners while in-country partners complete all activities detailed in the announcement. The recipient of this agreement must submit an exit strategy plan detailing their method of building capacity and sustainability with partners in the country and their strategy for turning all work and activities over to the partner to whom they are providing technical assistance. For example, if a partner is struggling with work plan development, the TA provider may sit side-by-side with the partner giving guidance throughout the process, but not actually creating the work plan for the partner. TA goals are to assist in:
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the following general indicators and performance goal(s) for the Emergency Plan and the Five Year Global AIDS Strategy (http://www.pepfar.gov/guidance/76828.htm). Each awardee will be responsible for monitoring and reporting progress on the following program goals and objectives:
(1) Number of individuals trained or retrained each year to support provision of prevention, care and/or treatment, strategic information, and laboratory activities, and other programmatic objectives by country, program and function;
(2) Amount of funding spent each year on network development and training, by country, program and category; and
(3) Number of service outlets or organizations or individuals supported each year, including information, training and technical assistance, by country, site and assistance type.
This announcement is intended for non-research activities supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within HHS (HHS/CDC). If an applicant proposes research activities, HH/CDCS will not review the application. For the definition of “research,” please see the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/regs/hrpp/researchdefinition.htm.
An award recipient funded under this announcement will be responsible for activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved populations in those countries where activities are conducted. 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 OGAC. 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 performed in each of the five years of the project period, and mechanisms and procedures that will be in place to ensure continuation of the effort by the partner country at the end of the performance period.
Activities to assist local, regional and national organizations and governments
in country:
1. Gap Analysis: Provide a gap analysis that targets future needs and also indicates which areas require technical support and assistance for each country for which a proposal is submitted.
2. Operational Plan: Create a detailed operational plan that reflects the policies and goals outlined in the Five-Year Strategy for the President’s Emergency Plan and addresses remedies for the gaps identified above, utilizing the activities listed in items 3-10 below. The operational plan should designate which activities are planned to be performed in each of the five years of the project period. Additional goals may be added from the list following the first year to achieve all of the Emergency Plan performance goals, as cited in the previous section.
3. HIV/AIDS surveillance to evaluate interventions and target resources more effectively:
● Identify, create or modify existing systems to assist in-country staff with data collection to monitor the incidence of HIV related morbidity, mortality, and identification of trends in emerging modes of HIV transmission and affected populations.
● Provide TA as needed for different surveillance activities including HIV case reporting; sentinel, incidence and behavioral surveillance; development, maintenance, and updating and adapting surveillance training modules; and facilitation of surveillance trainings.
4. Prevention to reduce the likelihood of HIV transmission through identification and behavior change:
● Provide TA with developing comprehensive prevention strategies and plans in collaboration with other grantees, cooperative agreement partners, international health programs, and Global AIDS Program (GAP) staff.
● Provide TA in developing and monitoring of prevention programs through various health education and risk reduction activities, which include, but are but are not limited to, screening, testing, counseling and other public health education training. It may also include the distribution of treated mosquito nets and condoms.
5. Care and treatment to improve the delivery of services:
6. Needs assessment to identify requirements to better target current and future resources:
GAP staff.
7. Education and training to enhance the capacity of health care staff at the local, regional, and national level providing services to the public:
8. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to identify strengths and weaknesses in current programs:
9. Guideline development to provide documented methods for improving HIV/AIDS services:
10. Strategic Information (SI) to assist each country in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data to monitor and assess the epidemic, better understand incidence, prevalence and new transmission rates, and to evaluate interventions and better target resources to measure impact of PEPFAR:
In addition, recipients of this agreement funding must submit an Exit Strategy Plan detailing their method of building capacity and sustainability with partners in the country and their strategy for turning all work and activities over to the partner to whom they are providing technical assistance.
HHS/CDC 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. The awardee of this funding must comply with all HHS/CDC management requirements for meeting participation and progress and financial reporting for this cooperative agreement (See HHS/CDC Activities and Reporting sections below for details), and comply with all policy directives established by the OGAC.
In a cooperative agreement, HHS/CDC staff are substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring. HHS/CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
1. Organize an orientation meeting with the grantee for a briefing on applicable U.S. Government, HHS/CDC, 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 OGAC.
2. Review, assess and make recommendations to the process used by the grantee to select key personnel and/or post-award subcontractors and/or sub-grantees 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 OGAC.
3. Review and approve the 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 OGAC.
4. Review and approve the grantee’s monitoring and evaluation plan, including for compliance with the SI guidance established by the OGAC.
5. Meet on a monthly basis with the grantee to assess monthly expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans, as necessary.
6. Meet on a quarterly basis with the grantee to assess quarterly technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
7. Meet on an annual basis with the 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 COPs, managed by the OGAC.
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 TA and targeted training activities in specialized areas, such as SI, 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 approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 0920-0428 (Public Health Service Form 5161).
10. Collaborate with the awardee on designing and implementing the activities listed above, including, but not limited to the provision of TA to develop program activities, data management and analysis, quality assurance, the presentation and possibly publication of program results and findings, and the management and tracking of finances.
11. Provide consultation and scientific and technical assistance based on appropriate, HHS/CDC and OGAC documents to promote the use of best practices known at the time.
12. Assist the recipient in developing and implementing quality assurance criteria and procedures.
13. Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for TA.
Please note: Either HHS/CDC staff or staff from organizations that have successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS/CDC contract, cooperative agreement or grant will provide TA and training.
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
HHS/CDC involvement in this program appears in the Activities Section above.
Award Mechanism: U2G - Global HIV/AIDS Non-Research Cooperative Agreements
Fiscal Year Funds: 2009
Approximate Fiscal Year Funding by Country:
Angola $150,000
Botswana $4.7M
Cote d’Ivoire $11M
Democratic Republic of Congo $2.5M
Dominican Republic $300,000
Ethiopia $19M
Ghana $1M
Haiti $800,000
Kenya $1M
Mozambique $10M
Swaziland $100,000
Tanzania $1,080M
Zambia $14.6M
Atlanta Headquarters $6M
Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $353,550,000 (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: 17
Approximate Average Award: Amounts stated by country as shown above and as determined through the OGAC process. [This amount is for the first 12 month budget period, and includes direct costs (and indirect costs in the case of domestic grantees.) ]
Floor of Individual Award Range: $10,000
Ceiling of Individual Award Range: Varies by each country; see Approximate Fiscal Year Funding by Country directly above. (This ceiling is for the first 12 month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: April 1, 2009
Budget Period Length: 12 Months
Project Period Length: Five Years
Throughout the project period, HHS/CDC’s 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 U.S. Government, through the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief review and approval process for COPs, managed by OGAC.
Additionally, pending availability of funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 10 through FY 13, in other countries where PEPFAR activities are conducted and are not funded in FY 09, each year of the project period for this overall program announcement will incorporate an open season for competitive applications. These applications will be due on or around December 31st of each year and each application will receive a competitive review through the objective review process. (Specific guidance for application submission with exact dates and competitive submission will be provided through announcement in future years.) In future budget years and awards, the project period will be shortened so that no awarded project period shall exceed the 5 years as stated in this announcement.
III.1. Eligible applicants
Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity appear below:
A Bona Fide Agent is an agency/organization identified by the state as eligible to submit an application under the state eligibility in lieu of a state application. If applying as a bona fide agent of a state or local government, a letter from the state or local government as documentation of the status is required. Attach with “Other Attachment Forms” when submitting via www.grants.gov.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
III.3. Other
If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, HHS/CDC will review the budgets greater than the ceiling of the award range.
Special Requirements:
If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to the special requirements listed in this section, it will not enter into the review process. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant the application did not meet submission requirements.
IV.1. Address to Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use the application forms package posted in Grants.gov.
Electronic Submission:
HHS strongly encourages the applicant to submit the application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on www.Grants.gov, the official U.S. Government agency wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply online may forego submitting paper copies of all application forms.
Registering the applicant’s organization through www.Grants.gov is the first step in submitting applications online. Registration information is located in the “Get Registered” screen of www.Grants.gov.
Foreign organizations must include a NATO Commercial and Governmental Entity (NCAGE) Code to complete their Grants.gov registration. Instructions for obtaining an NCAGE Code may be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/NATO_Commercial_and_Governmental_Entity_12-18-06.doc.
While application submission through www.Grants.gov is optional, HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to use this online tool.
Key tips for Registration on Grants.gov:
If applicants have technical difficulties in Grants.gov, applicants may reach customer service by email at support@grants.gov, or by phone 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
Paper Submission:
Application forms and instructions are available on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm.
If access to the Internet is not available, or if there is difficulty accessing the forms on-line, contact the CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGOTIMS) staff at 770-488-2700.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
A letter of intent is not applicable to this funding opportunity announcement.
Application:
A separate application must be submitted for each country for which applicants are requesting funding. Applications submitted with proposed multiple countries in one application will not be reviewed or considered. The content and submission requirements specified below apply to each individual country application.
A Project Abstract must be submitted with each individual country application form. All electronic project abstracts must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. The abstract must be submitted in the following format, if submitting a paper application:
The Project Abstract must contain a summary of the proposed activity suitable for dissemination to the public. It should be a self-contained description of the project and should contain a statement of objectives and methods to be employed. It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and insofar as possible understandable to a technically literate lay reader. This Abstract must not include any proprietary/confidential information.
Applicants must submit a project narrative with each individual country application form. All electronic narratives must be uploaded in a PDF file format when submitting via Grants.gov. The narrative must be submitted in the following format:
● Maximum number of pages: 25 (If the individual country application narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed.);
The narrative should address activities the applicant will conduct over the entire project period, and must include the following items, in the order listed:
Applicants may include additional information in appendices. The appendices and budget information will not count toward the narrative page limit. This additional information includes the following:
Staffing breakdown and justification provide a line item budget and a narrative with justification for each specific country and for all requested costs. Be sure to include, if any, in-kind support or other contributions provided by the national Government and its donors as part of the total project, but for which applicants are not requesting funding.
Budgets must be consistent with the purpose, objectives of the Emergency Plan and the program activities listed in this announcement and must include the following:
o Line item breakdown and justification for all personnel, i.e., name, position title, annual salary, percentage of time and effort, and amount requested.
For each contract, list the following: (1) name of proposed contractor; (2) breakdown and justification for estimated costs; (3) description and scope of activities the contractor will perform; (4) period of performance; (5) method of contractor selection (e.g., competitive solicitation); and (6) methods of accountability. Applicants should, to the greatest extent possible, employ transparent and open competitive processes to choose contractors;
Recommended guidance for completing a detailed justified budget appears on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm.
The agency or organization is required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access the Dun and Bradstreet website or call
1-866-705-5711.
For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm.
If the 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 the DUNS number in the cover letter that accompanies the application.
Additional requirements that may request submission of additional documentation with the application appear in Section “VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”
Application Deadline Date: October 23, 2008
Explanation of Deadlines: The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office must receive applications by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC will 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. The application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve as receipt of submission. Applicants will receive an email notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.
HHS/CDC 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.
Paper Submission:
If submittal of the application is by the United States Postal Service or commercial delivery service, the applicant must ensure that the carrier will be able to guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. The applicant will be given the opportunity to submit documentation of the carrier’s guarantee, if HHS/CDC receives the submission after the closing date due to: (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. If the documentation verifies a carrier problem, HHS/CDC will consider the submission as having been received by the deadline.
If a hard copy application is submitted, HHS/CDC will not notify the applicant upon receipt of the submission. If questions arise on the receipt of the application, the applicant should first contact the carrier. If the applicant still has questions, contact the PGOTIMS staff at (770) 488-2700. The applicant should wait two to three days after the submission deadline before calling. This will allow time for submissions to be processed and logged.
This announcement is the definitive guide on LOI and application content, submission address, and deadline. It supersedes information provided in the application instructions. If the application submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review. The application face page will be returned by HHS/CDC with a written explanation of the reason for non-acceptance. The applicant will be notified the application 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 applicants must take into account while writing the budget, are as follows:
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 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 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.”
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
Application Submission Address:
Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications electronically at www.Grants.gov. The application package is available at www.Grants.gov. Applicants are able to complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov Web site. HHS/CDC will not accept email submissions. If the applicant has technical difficulties in Grants.gov, it can reach customer service by email at support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
HHS/CDC recommends applicants submit their applications to Grants.gov early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. Applicants may also
submit a back-up paper submission of the application. HHS/CDC must receive any such paper submission in accordance with the requirements for timely submission detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant announcement. The applicant must clearly mark the paper submission: “BACK-UP FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.” The paper submission must conform to all requirements for non-electronic submissions. If HHS/CDC receives both electronic and back-up paper submissions by the deadline, HHS\CDC will consider the electronic version as the official submission.
HHS/CDC strongly recommends applicants submit the grant application by using Microsoft Office products (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.). If the applicant does not have access to Microsoft Office products, it may submit a PDF file. Directions for creating PDF files are available on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats other than Microsoft Office or PDF could make the 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:
2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
V.1. Criteria
Applicants are required to provide specific 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 and Activities” sections of this announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative, and must measure the intended outcome. Applicants must submit the measures of effectiveness with the application, and they will be an element of evaluation.
HHS/CDC will independently objectively review each of the individual country applications against other applications for funding in that country (i.e., applications for Botswana will be reviewed, rated and ranked with other applications for Botswana).
Each application will be independently objectively reviewed against the following criteria:
Ability to Carry Out the Proposal (20 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate the local experience for the country applicable to this funding announcement and institutional capacity (both management and technical) to achieve the goals of the project with documented good governance practices? Does the applicant have the ability to coordinate and collaborate with existing Emergency Plan partners and other donors, including the Global Fund and other U.S. Government Departments and agencies involved in implementing the Emergency Plan, including the U.S. Agency for International Development? Is there evidence of leadership support and evidence of current or past efforts to enhance HIV prevention? Does the applicant have the capacity to reach rural and other underserved populations in the country where funding is requested? Does the organization have the ability to target audiences that frequently fall outside the reach of the traditional media, and in local languages? To what extent does the applicant provide letters of support?
TA Technical and Programmatic Approach (20 points)
Does the application include an overall design strategy, including measurable timelines, clear monitoring and evaluation procedures, and specific activities for meeting the proposed objectives? Does the applicant display knowledge of the strategy, principles and goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and are the proposed activities consistent with and pertinent to that strategy and those principles and goals? Does the applicant describe objectives/activities that are evidence based, realistic, achievable, measurable, and culturally appropriate to achieve the goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the applicant propose to build on and complement the current national response with evidence based strategies designed to reach underserved populations and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the application include reasonable estimates of outcome targets? (For example, the number of sites to be supported, number of clients the program will reach.)
Capacity Building (20 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate the ability to build the capacity of indigenous organizations and individuals? Does the applicant have relevant experience in using participatory methods and approaches in project planning and implementation? Does the applicant describe an adequate and measurable plan to progressively build the capacity of local organizations and of target beneficiaries to respond to the epidemic? If not a local indigenous organization, does the applicant articulate a clear exit strategy, which will maximize the legacy of the project in the intervention communities and ensure sufficient mechanisms and procedures will be place to ensure continuation of the effort by the partner country? Does the capacity and sustainability building plan clearly describe how it will contribute to (a) improved quality and geographic coverage of service delivery to achieve the "2,7,10" targets of the Emergency Plan, and (b) (if not a local indigenous organization) an evolving role of the prime beneficiary with transfer of critical technical and management competence to local organizations/sites?
Understanding of the Problem (10 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate a clear and concise understanding of the current national HIV/AIDS response and the cultural and political context relevant to the programmatic areas targeted? Does the applicant display an understanding of the Five-Year Strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan?
Monitoring and Evaluation (10 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate experience and capability to provide TA to each country on how to monitor and evaluate their activities? Does the applicant describe a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities based on monitoring information obtained by using innovative, participatory methods and standard approaches? Does the plan include indicators developed for each program milestone, and incorporated into the financial and programmatic reports? Are the indicators consistent with the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Is the system able to generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving the objectives of the President's Emergency Plan? Is the plan to measure outcomes of the intervention, and the manner in which they will be provided, adequate? Is the monitoring and evaluation plan consistent with the principles of the "Three Ones?" Applicants must describe their plan to define specific output and outcome indicators.
Personnel (10 points)
Does the organization have the cultural competency to provide TA in each country requested in the application? Are the staff roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to meet the goals of the proposed project? If not an indigenous organization, does the staff plan adequately involve local individuals and organizations to enhance the capacity building effort? Are staff involved in this project qualified to perform the tasks described? Curricula vitae provided should include information that they are qualified in managing HIV/AIDS prevention activities, including confidential voluntary counseling and testing; and developing capacity building among and in collaboration between Governmental and non-governmental partners.
Administration and Management (10 points)
Does the applicant provide a clear plan for the administration and management of the proposed training and technical assistance, including a plan to systematically evaluate the activities? Does the applicant provide a clear plan for managing the resources of their activities, preparing reports, monitoring and evaluating activities, auditing expenditures, and producing and analyzing performance data? Is the management structure for the project sufficient to ensure ability to deliver training and technical assistance efficiently? The grantee must demonstrate an ability to submit quarterly reports in a timely manner to the HHS/CDC office.
Budget (Reviewed, but not scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project in each country, along with justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and planned activities? Is the budget itemized, well justified and consistent with the Five-Year Strategy (2003-2008) and goals of the President's Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan activities? Are there specific budgets for each proposed activity so that cost and overhead can be determined? Personnel supporting more than one project or country should be clearly defined and the percentage of cost and time shown for each activity and country.
V.2. Review and Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff, and for responsiveness jointly by HHS/CDC Global AIDS Program staff and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be notified the 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. The panel may include both U.S. Government and non-U.S. Government participants.
In addition, the following factors could affect the funding decision:
HHS/CDC will fund applications by the score and rank determined by the objective review panel. HHS/CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund out of rank order.
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NoA will be signed by an authorized Grants Management Officer and emailed to the program director, and a hard copy mailed 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
Successful applicants must comply with the administrative requirements outlined in 45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92 as Appropriate. The following additional requirements apply to this project:
·
AR - 24 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Requirements.Additional information on the requirements can be found on the CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/Addtl_Reqmnts.htm.
For more information on the Code of U.S. Government Regulations, see the National Archives and Records Administration, at the following Internet address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html
Applicants must include an additional Certifications form from the PHS5161-1 application in the Grants.gov electronic submission only. Applicants should refer to the following Internet address:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf. Once the applicant has filled out the form, it should attach it to the Grants.gov submission as Other Attachments Form.
VI.3. Reporting Requirements
The applicant 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 the non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
a. Activities and Objectives for the Current Budget Period;
b. Financial Progress for the Current Budget Period;
c. Proposed Activity and Objectives for the New Budget Period Program;
d. Budget;
e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for each country; and
f. Additional Requested Information.
2. Annual progress report, due 90 days after the end of the budget period. Reports should include progress against the numerical goals of PEPFAR for the country where work is conducted.
3. Financial status report, due no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period.
4. Final financial performance reports, due no more than 90 days after the end of the project period.
Recipients must submit the reports to the Grants Management Specialist listed in the "Agency Contacts" section of this announcement.
HHS/CDC encourages inquiries concerning this announcement.
For general questions, contact:
Procurement and Grants Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2700
For program technical assistance, contact:
Irene Cason, Project Officer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Global AIDS Program
Corporate Square, Bldg. 8, Mail Stop E-41
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 404-639-3295
Email: Ixc1@cdc.gov
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Wilhelmina Robertson, Grants Management Specialist
Procurement and Grants Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop: K-75
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-1647
E-mail: fzj2@cdc.gov
VIII. Other Information
Other HHS/CDC funding opportunity announcements are available on the HHS/CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm, and on the web site of the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs, Internet address: www.globalhealth.gov.
CDC Home Page: http://www.cdc.gov
CDC Funding Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm
CDC Forms Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm
CDC Home Page: http://www.cdc.gov
CDC Funding Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm
CDC Forms Web Page:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm