[Federal Register: July 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 130)]
[Notices]
[Page 40670-40673]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jy03-73]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 03060]
Support for Government Monitoring and Evaluation Infrastructure
for HIV/AIDS/STD/TB Control Activities in the Republic of Zambia;
Notice of Availability of Funds
Application Deadline: August 7, 2003.
A. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
This program is authorized under section 307 of the Public Health
Service Act, (42 U.S.C. section 2421), as amended. The Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.941.
B. Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), announces the
[[Page 40671]]
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds for a cooperative agreement
with Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) for programs that
support HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and Tuberculosis (TB)
prevention and control activities in Zambia.
The purpose of this program is to build monitoring and evaluation
(M&E) capacity to effectively monitor and analyze program activities in
the areas of HIV/AIDS and STDs, as well as TB, the most common
opportunistic infection associated with HIV in Zambia. Funds in this
agreement will be used to support collection and analysis of
information on these diseases and enhancements in information
technology and capacity to analyze and disseminate findings.
Collaborative activities between CDC and reference laboratories are
intended to profoundly improve the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS, STD and
TB program activities in Zambia.
The United States Government (USG) seeks to reduce the impact of
HIV/AIDS in specific countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the
Americas through its Leadership and Investment in Fighting an Epidemic
(LIFE) initiative. To carry out this initiative, the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) has organized its Global AIDS Program
(GAP) to strengthen capacity and expand activities in the areas of (1)
HIV prevention; (2) HIV care, support and treatment; and (3) capacity
and infrastructure development, especially for HIV/AIDS surveillance
activities.
Targeted countries represent those with the most severe epidemics
and the highest number of new infections. They also represent countries
where the potential for impact is greatest and where U.S. Government
agencies are already active. Zambia is one of these targeted countries.
Through CDC, HHS is working in a collaborative manner with national
governments and other agencies to develop programs of assistance to
address the HIV/AIDS epidemics in LIFE Initiative countries. In
particular, CDC's mission in Zambia is to improve surveillance for HIV,
TB and STIs and to strengthen and make more effective programs for
preventing and treating these diseases.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one or
more of the following performance goals for the National Center for
HIV/AIDS/STD/TB Prevention: Strengthen the capacity nationwide to
monitor the epidemic, develop and implement effective HIV prevention
interventions and evaluate prevention programs, and improve HIV/AIDS
information management and decision making by developing well
coordinated databases by 2005.
C. Eligible Applicants
Applications may be submitted by agencies of the GRZ that implement
or coordinate programs designed to control HIV, STDs and TB. Programs
should have national impact. Applicants must have a mandate from the
Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) to provide these services.
D. Funding
Availability of Funds
Approximately $200,000 is available in 2003 to fund approximately
two awards. It is expected that the average award will be $100,000,
ranging from $90,000 to $110,000. It is expected that the awards will
begin on or about September 1, 2003 and will be made for a 12-month
budget period within a project period of up to five years. Funding
estimates may change.
Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports
and the availability of funds.
Use of Funds
Funds May Not Be Used For:
1. 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 AZT and nevirapine in Prevention of
Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) cases and with prior written
approval), occupational exposures, and non-occupational exposures.
2. Funds will not be used for the purchase of machines and reagents
to conduct the necessary laboratory monitoring for patient care.
3. 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.
Funds May Be Used For:
1. 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 CDC officials must be requested in writing.
2. 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.
3. The applicant may contract with other organizations under this
program; however the applicant must perform a substantial portion of
the activities (including program management and operations, and
delivery of prevention services for which funds are required.)
All requests for funds contained in the budget shall be stated in
U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, CDC will not compensate foreign
grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the issuance of
supplemental awards.
You must obtain annual audit of these 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 CDC.
A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required, prior to
or post award, in order to review the applicant's business management
and fiscal capabilities regarding the handling of U.S. Federal funds.
Recipient Financial Participation
Matching funds are not required for this program.
E. Program Requirements
In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,
the recipient will be responsible for the activities listed in 1.
Recipient Activities, and CDC will be responsible for activities listed
in 2. CDC Activities.
1. Recipient Activities
a. The applicant will plan and implement activities to build
information technology capacity that supports M&E work. This may
include a local area network and Internet access that will be used to
disseminate information and communicate with public health officials
within and outside of Zambia. This may also include training in the
analysis and handling of data.
b. The applicant will plan and implement activities to monitor the
impact or assist in controlling HIV, STDs or TB in Zambia. This may
include collecting and evaluating data on HIV, STIs and TB, and
infrastructure building and training in the area of M&E.
[[Page 40672]]
2. CDC Activities
a. CDC will provide technical assistance in designing and building
local area networks, setup of databases and other information
technology projects. CDC will also provide guidance in selecting
computer equipment to assist in achieving project goals, subject to
agreement by CDC and the recipient.
b. CDC will assist in developing and implementing data and
information dissemination plans for HIV, AIDS, TB, and STD data and
results.
c. CDC will provide technical assistance including support from
Atlanta-based staff for planning and implementing M&E activities.
Activities may include identifying appropriate indicators to track
progress in HIV. TB, and STD prevention and care, and in developing
appropriate ways to collect and analyze the data needed to produce
these indicators.
F. Content
Applications
The Program Announcement title and number must appear in the
application. Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program
plan. The narrative should be no more than 20 pages, double-spaced,
printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced 12-point
font.
The narrative should consist of background information about the
institution and its place in the national public health structure;
objectives for the agreement and a description of how they will be
accomplished; background on the staff members who will work with CDC to
implement the project; and a description of prior and proposed
collaboration with the Zambia CDC office. The narrative should also
contain a program plan that addresses activities to be conducted over
the entire five-year project period. A detailed budget justification is
required.
G. Submission and Deadline
Application Forms
Submit the signed original and two copies of your proposal and PHS
5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-0428). Forms are available in the application
kit, available from the CDC Zambia Office, American Embassy, Lusaka,
tel. +260-1-250955, and at the following Internet address: http://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 CDC
Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section
(PGO-TIM) at 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to you.
Submission Date, Time, and Address
The application must be received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time August 7,
2003. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management-PA
03060, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, USA.
Applications may be e-mailed to pgotim@cdc.gov. If you e-mail your application, you must also mail a hard copy of
the application to the address listed above, for documentation
purposes.
PGO-TIM will acknowledge receipt of applications by sending a
postcard to all applicants.
Deadline
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are received by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Any applicant
who sends their application by the United States Postal Service or
commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier will be able
to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date and time.
If an application is received after closing 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, CDC will upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the
application as having been received by the deadline.
Any application that does not meet the above criteria will not be
eligible for competition, and will be discarded. The applicant will be
notified of their failure to meet the submission requirements.
H. Evaluation Criteria
Application
Applicants are required to 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 be
submitted with the application and will be an element of evaluation.
An independent review group appointed by CDC will evaluate each
application against the following criteria:
1. Importance of the Institution in Zambia's Public Health System (40
Points)
The extent to which the applicant's proposal demonstrates the key
role of the institution for HIV, STD or TB control programs in Zambia.
2. Ability to Jointly work with CDC on the Project (20 Points)
The extent to which the applicant documents ability to work with
CDC to jointly develop M&E capacity in the areas of HIV, STIs or TB.
3. Personnel (20 Points)
The extent to which professional personnel involved in this project
are qualified to develop and implement M&E projects in the areas of
HIV, STIs or TB.
4. Administration (20 Points)
The adequacy of the plans to account for, prepare reports, monitor,
and audit expenditures under this agreement.
5. Budget (Not Rated, but Evaluated)
The extent to which the itemized budget for conducting the project
is itemized and justified.
6. Does the application adequately address the requirements of Title 45
CFR part 46 for the protection of human subjects?
Not scored; however, an application can be disapproved if the
research risks are sufficiently serious and protection against risks is
so inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.
Does the application adequately address the CDC policy requirements
regarding the inclusion of women, ethnic, and racial groups in the
proposed research? This includes:
1. The proposed plan for the inclusion of both sexes and racial and
ethnic minority populations for appropriate representation.
2. The proposed justification when representation is limited or
absent.
3. A statement as to whether the design of the study is adequate to
measure differences when warranted.
4. A statement as to whether the plans for recruitment and outreach
for study participants include the process of establishing partnerships
with community(ies) and recognition of mutual benefits.
I. Other Requirements
Technical Reporting Requirements
Provide CDC with original plus two copies of:
1. Interim progress report, no less than 90 days before the end of
the
[[Page 40673]]
budget period. The progress report will serve as your non-competing
continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
a. Current Budget Period Activities Objectives.
b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
c. New Budget Period Program Proposed Activity Objectives.
d. Detailed Line-Item Budget and Justification.
e. Additional Requested Information.
2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period.
3. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this
announcement.
Additional Requirements
The following additional requirements are applicable to this
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the
program announcement, as posted on the CDC Web site.
AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements.
AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions.
AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions.
AR-14 Accounting System Requirements.
Executive Order 12372 does not apply to this program.
J. Where To Obtain Additional Information
This and other CDC announcements can be found on the CDC Web site,
Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov. Click on ``Funding'' then
``Grants and Cooperative Agreements''.
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Technical
Information Management, CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920
Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2700.
For business management and budget assistance, contact: Diane
Flournoy, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770) 488-2072, E-mail:
dmf6@cdc.gov. For program technical assistance, contact: David B. Nelson, Chief
of Party, Global AIDS Program, Zambia, American Embassy, Corner of
Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka, Zambia, Telephone:
+260-1-250955, E-mail: nelsond@zamcdc.org.zm.
Dated: July 1, 2003.
Sandra R. Manning,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-17170 Filed 7-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P