[Federal Register: December 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 67557-67566]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de03-156]
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Part III
Department of Health and Human Services
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Capacity Building Assistance To Improve the Delivery and Effectiveness
of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services for Racial/
Ethnic Minority Populations and Prevention Projects for Community-Based
Organizations; Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Capacity Building Assistance To Improve the Delivery and
Effectiveness of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Services
for Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations
Announcement Type: New.
Funding Opportunity Number: PA 04019.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.943.
Key Dates
Letter of Intent Deadline: December 22, 2003.
Application Deadline: January 26, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and
317(k)(2) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 241
and 42 U.S.C. Section 247b(k)(2).
Purpose: The purpose of this announcement is to provide financial
assistance to national and regional non-governmental organizations to
provide capacity building assistance (CBA) to community-based
organizations (CBOs) and health departments (HDs) providing HIV
prevention services, and to HIV prevention community planning groups
(CPGs). These entities are referred to as the ``CBA consumers''
throughout the remainder of this document. This funding will enable the
CBA consumers to implement, improve, evaluate, and sustain the delivery
of effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention services for
high-risk racial/ethnic minority populations of unknown or negative
serostatus, including pregnant women, and people of color who are
living with HIV/AIDS and their partners.
The term ``capacity building assistance'' or ``CBA'' means the
provision of information, technical assistance, training, and
technology transfer for individuals and organizations to improve the
delivery and effectiveness of HIV prevention services. CBA does not
include the delivery of direct HIV prevention services and
interventions. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus
area of HIV infection, CDC's Government Performance and Results Act
Performance Plan, the goals of CDC's HIV Prevention Strategic Plan
through 2005 at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/partners/psp.htm and Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic at http://
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5215.pdf.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with one
(or more) of the following performance goal(s) for the National Center
for HIV, STD and TB Prevention:
1. Strengthen the capacity to develop and implement effective HIV
prevention interventions.
2. Increase the proportion of HIV infected individuals who know
they are infected.
3. Increase the proportion of HIV-infected people who are linked to
appropriate prevention, care, and treatment services.
4. Decrease the number of persons at high risk for acquiring or
transmitting HIV infection.
CBA developed under this program will be provided in four focus
areas and applicants may apply for up to two of these as follows:
[sbull] Focus Area 1--Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure
for HIV Prevention
[sbull] Focus Area 2--Strengthening Interventions for HIV
Prevention
[sbull] Focus Area 3--Strengthening Community Access to and
Utilization of HIV Prevention Services
[sbull] Focus Area 4--Strengthening Community Planning for HIV
Prevention
This program announcement will emphasize regionally structured
strategies within the following regions:
[sbull] North Region: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PR, RI, U.S. Virgin
Islands, VT
[sbull] South Region: AL, AZ, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, NC, OK, SC,
TN, TX
[sbull] Mid-East Region: DE, DC, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, OH, PA, VA,
WV, WI
[sbull] Mid-West Region: CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND, SD, UT, WY
[sbull] West Region: AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA, Guam, Pacific
Basin: American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands,
Micronesia, Palau
Applicants for Focus Areas 1, 3, or 4 will be required to work
nationally but implementing regional strategies. Refer to the section
on Awardee Activities for additional requirements. Applicants for Focus
Area 2 will be required to work within one of the five regions. Refer
to the Application section of this announcement for additional
information on how this applies to the four major racial ethnic groups
(as listed under ``Other Eligibility Requirements.'')
Program Goals
The goals for this program are as follows:
1. Focus Area 1--Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure for HIV
Prevention
Improve the capacity of CBOs to strengthen and sustain
organizational infrastructures that support the delivery of effective
HIV prevention services and interventions for high-risk racial/ethnic
minority individuals.
2. Focus Area 2--Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention
Improve the capacity of CBOs and HDs to implement, improve, and
evaluate HIV prevention interventions for high-risk racial/ethnic
minority individuals of unknown serostatus, including pregnant women,
and people of color who are living with HIV/AIDS and their partners.
3. Focus Area 3--Strengthening Community Access to and Utilization of
HIV Prevention Services
Improve the capacity of CBOs and other community stakeholders to
implement strategies that will increase access to and utilization of
HIV prevention and risk-reduction and avoidance services (including
those under the Advancing HIV Prevention initiative) for racial/ethnic
minority individuals.
4. Focus Area 4--Strengthening Community Planning for HIV Prevention
Improve the capacity of CPGs and HDs to include HIV-infected and
affected racial/ethnic minority participants in the community planning
process, and increase parity, inclusion, and representation (PIR) on
CPGs (for more information, see the HIV Prevention Community Planning
Guidance at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hiv-cp.htm).
Performance Indicators
To ensure quality programs and to measure progress, applicants are
required to report on core performance indicators and performance
indicators by focus area.
Core Performance Indicators:
The core performance indicators apply to all focus areas and are as
follows:
1. proportion of all CDC-funded CBOs receiving capacity building
assistance through training;
2. proportion of CDC-funded health departments receiving CBA
related to HIV prevention for racial/ethnic minority populations;
3. proportion of CBOs that report agreement with timeliness in
completion of CBA;
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4. proportion of health departments that report agreement with
timeliness in completion of CBA;
5. of the total number of action plans, the proportion of action
plans completed according to the scheduled timeliness;
6. proportion of CBOs that report agreement that CBA received met
their needs; and
7. proportion of health departments that report agreement that CBA
received met their needs.
Performance Indicators by Focus Area:
Performance indicators by focus are as follows:
Focus Area 1--Proportion of CDC-funded CBOs, by racial/ethnic
minority population served, receiving assessment of organizational
needs;
[sbull] Focus Area 2--Proportion of CDC-funded CBOs, by racial/
ethnic minority population served, receiving assessments of
intervention needs;
[sbull] Focus Area 3--Proportion of CBA programmatic events
promoting HIV antibody testing; and
[sbull] Focus Area 4--Proportion of Community Planning Groups
(CPGs) receiving CBA on Parity, Inclusion, and Representation.
[sbull] Additional performance indicators may be added or refined
over the course of the project period. (For additional information on
performance indicators, see Application and Submission Information.)
Applicants will be responsible for the following in response to the
performance indicators:
a. Set baseline, one-year, and five-year target goals (target goals
will be negotiated with CDC post-award).
b. Use performance indicators for the design of a monitoring
evaluation plan.
c. Collect process and outcome monitoring data and report to the
CDC.
Applicants are accountable for achieving performance target goals.
If an applicant fails to achieve their target, CDC will work with the
applicant to determine what steps can be taken to improve performance.
CDC involvement may include technical assistance, conditional or
restrictive funding. If your performance fails to improve, CDC may
reduce the award or defund your program.
Activities
Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
General Awardee Activities for all Applicants
All applicants are required to implement general awardee activities
by developing process objectives and activities for the following:
1. Use logic modeling for internal program planning and conducting
CBA. A program logic model links outcomes (both short- and long-term)
with program activities/processes and the theoretical assumptions/
principles of the program.
2. Include input from target consumers and other potential
consumers of the proposed services, including people living with HIV/
AIDS.
3. Incorporate cultural competency and linguistic and educational
appropriateness into all CBA activities.
4. Collaborate with CDC, CDC-funded CBA and Technical Assistance
(TA) providers, and contractors to plan and deliver CBA that is (1)
consistent with CDC expectations (as provided in trainings for
grantees); and (2) to avoid duplication of services.
5. Undertake a coordinated systems approach in the delivery of
regionally structured CBA services that includes (a) notifying,
cooperating and coordinating with state and local health departments in
the delivery of CBA services within their health jurisdictions; (b)
collaborating with other sources of CBA (including CBA providers in
other focus areas) in the regions to plan and implement comprehensive
CBA; (c) conducting assessments of needs, community resources, and
social capital; (d) identifying and addressing gaps in CBA services;
and (e) leveraging other federal, state or local resources.
6. Implement a plan for developing and maintaining ongoing
relationships with target consumers and CPGs for which the awardee has
responsibility. The plan should include strategies for conducting
ongoing assets assessments and needs assessments and developing
tailored CBA packages to be delivered throughout the duration of the
project period.
7. Develop protocols that respond to new CBA requests following
procedures to be provided by CDC.
8. Refer all CBA requests, which fall outside of your focus area(s)
to the CDC capacity building assistance coordinator for appropriate
assignment.
9. Participate in a CDC-coordinated CBA network to enhance
communication, coordination, cooperation, and training.
10. Identify the CBA training needs of your own program and staff.
Develop and implement a plan to address these needs.
11. Implement a quality assurance strategy that ensures the
delivery of high quality services.
12. Implement an evaluation monitoring plan that addresses the
performance indicators. The plan should outline the process and outcome
data to be collected, identify sources of information, methods by which
information will be collected, process for analyzing and interpreting
information, and using findings for program improvement.
13. Develop and implement an effective strategy for marketing your
CBA services.
14. Report planned group CBA events to the Capacity Building Branch
(CBB) Training Calendar for dissemination to HIV prevention partners
and constituents to be provided by CDC.
15. Facilitate the dissemination of information about successful
CBA strategies and ``lessons learned'' through replication packages,
peer-to-peer interactions, meetings, workshops, conferences, case
studies, and communications with CDC project officers.
Note: Successful or funded applicants will be expected to attend
several post-award training events during April, May, and June 2004.
Focus Area-Specific Awardee Activities
Focus Area 1: Strengthening Organizational Infrastructure for HIV
Prevention
a. Develop tools and protocols for assessing organizational
infrastructure system needs, resources, readiness, and gaps.
b. Provide or ensure the provision of CBA in organizational
infrastructure. Examples include, but are not limited to:
organizational assessments to determine the needs, resources,
readiness, and gaps of organizational infrastructure systems (e.g.,
governance, management, administration, personnel, and fiscal);
proposal development and grant writing; personnel policy development;
program policy development, including confidentiality standards, and
reporting rules and regulations; development of Memorandums of
Agreement; resource development, including development of reimbursement
mechanisms, identification of other funding sources and development of
public/private partnership strategies; board development and training;
biohazard management and disposable protocols; licensing and
certification issues for HIV rapid testing; management information
systems (MIS) data management; strategic planning; leadership
development; team building; public relations; development of 501(c)3 of
the Internal Revenue Code; human resources management, including staff
and volunteer recruitment, management, retention, and training;
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organizational quality assurance and monitoring; program marketing and
public relations; personnel policy development; and cross-cultural
communications.
c. Create, coordinate, and utilize regional resource consultant
pools that include subject matter experts to provide CBA. To achieve
cost effectiveness, the preference is for brokering CBA requests to
locally based and culturally competent consultants and experts.
Regional resource consultant pools should be created in each region for
which the awardee has responsibility.
d. Coordinate and support the developmental needs of the regional
resource consultant pools by developing training materials, diffusing
best program practices and interventions for HIV negative and positive
persons, and conducting orientation and training for consultants to
help them deliver effective and efficient services.
Focus Area 2: Strengthening Interventions for HIV Prevention
a. Provide ongoing CBA for CBOs in the adaptation, implementation,
quality assurance, and evaluation of effective HIV prevention
interventions for high-risk seronegatives and HIV-positive racial/
ethnic minority individuals. Examples of prevention interventions are:
health education and risk reduction and avoidance; outreach capacity
and preparation for testing; testing; referrals; prevention and partner
counseling; prevention case management; interventions to prevent
perinatal transmission; and rapid testing in non-traditional settings
such as jails, and high-risk community venues. CBA provided must be
consistent with CDC's Advancing HIV Prevention Initiative, the
Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions (including Replicating
Effective Programs and the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral
Interventions), and other CDC approved procedures and protocols. (For
information on the Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions
visit: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium/HIVcompendium.htm.
Provide CBA to HDs on culturally appropriate HIV prevention
interventions and strategies for racial/ethnic minority populations.
Assistance may include needs assessments and adapting or adopting
interventions. This may take the form of health departments requesting
assistance on behalf of their CBOs.
b. Provide CBA on the diffusion of effective behavioral
interventions, including training, cultural adaptation of curricula,
and promotion of ``boxed'' interventions from CDC.
c. Create, coordinate, and utilize regional resource consultant
pools that include subject matter experts (including social and
behavioral scientists) to provide CBA. To achieve cost effectiveness,
the preference is for brokering CBA to locally based and culturally-
competent consultants and experts.
d. Coordinate and support the developmental needs of the regional
resource consultant pools by developing training materials, diffusing
best program practices and interventions for HIV negative and positive
persons, and conducting orientation and training for consultants to
help them deliver effective and efficient services.
Note: Prevention interventions, while mainly addressing risk
reduction and avoidance for HIV infection, should also include risk
reduction and avoidance for co-infections with other sexually
transmitted diseases, blood borne diseases (for Hepatitis C) and
tuberculosis.
Capacity building assistance on HIV prevention methods (or
strategies) can include abstinence, monogamy, i.e., being faithful to a
single sexual partner, or using condoms consistently and correctly.
These approaches can avoid risk (abstinence) or effectively reduce risk
for HIV (monogamy, consistent and correct condom use).
Focus Area 3: Strengthening Community Access and Utilization of HIV
Prevention Services
a. Develop a strategy based on a model to improve access and
utilization of HIV prevention services for a racial/ethnic minority
population at risk for HIV infection or living with HIV. The strategy
should be based on models for structural or population-based behavioral
changes. Examples of what the strategy may address include, but are not
limited to: (1) Coalition development for increased prevention and care
service integration, national education and mobilization projects,
increased institutional policies in support of HIV prevention, and
community building among HIV-positive persons and other high-risk
persons to expand HIV prevention and risk-reduction and avoidance
services; (2) nationally designed and coordinated projects to be
adapted locally that promote innovative community testing and service
referral initiatives or that mobilize local communities in support of
HIV prevention efforts; (3) or social marketing projects to reduce
stigma or to increase the acceptability of HIV prevention services
(including testing) and interventions (including risk reduction and
avoidance for people living with HIV/AIDS, and perinatal HIV
prevention).
Note: Structural factors associated with HIV risk and prevention
may be broadly defined to include physical, social, cultural,
organizational, community, economic, legal or policy aspects of the
environment that impede or facilitate persons' efforts to avoid HIV
infection. Structural interventions address one or more of these
factors.
b. Develop and implement a plan to provide CBA to CBOs and
community stakeholders on your selected model and strategy. The plan
should identify the CBA consumers, capacity building outcomes,
activities, and skill sets to be imparted.
Note: Models for increasing access and utilization to HIV
prevention services should also emphasize access to and utilization
of other services related to sexually transmitted diseases, blood
borne diseases (for Hepatitis C) and tuberculosis.
Focus Area 4: Strengthening Community Planning for HIV Prevention
a. Through participation in the CDC National Technical Assistance
(TA) Providers' Network for HIV Prevention Community Planning, provide
CBA to CPGs and health departments to assist them in implementing HIV
prevention community planning and improving the parity, inclusion, and
representation of racial/ethnic minority populations in the community
planning process.
b. Provide CBA to CPGs, HDs, CBOs, and other community stakeholders
to increase their knowledge of, and skill and involvement in, community
planning. Examples include, but are not limited to, leadership
development, understanding the HIV Prevention Community Planning
Guidance and the planning process, use of data for decision-making,
priority setting, public speaking and persuasion, parliamentary
procedures and meeting processes, group and meeting facilitation, and
understanding public health delivery systems.
c. Participate in ongoing planning and coordination meetings with
the CDC National TA Providers' Network for HIV Prevention Community
Planning.
In a cooperative agreement, CDC staff is substantially involved in
the program activities, above and beyond routine grant monitoring.
CDC Activities for this program are as follows:
a. Supporting all funded awardees by coordinating a national
network of capacity building providers.
b. Providing consultation and technical assistance in designing,
planning, developing, operating, and evaluating activities (such as
progress
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reporting, submitting information for the training calendar) based on
CDC's standards and expectations. CDC may provide consultation and
technical assistance both directly from CDC and indirectly through
prevention partners, such as health departments, national and regional
minority partners, CBA partners, trainers, contractors, and other
national organizations.
c. Monitoring the performance of program and fiscal activities
through progress reports, data reporting, site visits, conference
calls, and compliance with federally mandated requirements, such as
protection of client privacy.
d. Providing up-to-date scientific information and training on the
risk factors for transmitting HIV infection among persons living with
HIV/AIDS; HIV prevention services for counseling, testing, and referral
to care and treatment; partner counseling and proven effective
behavioral interventions for people at risk for becoming infected.
e. Assisting in the development of collaborative efforts with state
and local health departments, HIV prevention community planning groups,
CBOs that receive direct funding from CDC, and other federally
supported organizations providing HIV/AIDS services.
f. Facilitating the exchange of information about successful
interventions, program models, and ``lessons learned'' through grantee
meetings, workshops, conferences, newsletters, the Internet, and
communications with CDC Project Officers. CDC will also facilitate the
exchange of program information and technical assistance among
community-based organizations, health departments, and national and
regional organizations.
g. Conducting an overall evaluation of the program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
CDC involvement in this program is listed in the Activities Section
above.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2004.
Approximate Total Funding: $21 million.
Approximate Number of Awards: 33 total.
Focus Area 1: Four (4) Awards
Focus Area 2: Twelve (12) to Fourteen (14) Awards
Focus Area 3: Twelve (12) Awards
Focus Area 4: Four (4) Awards
Approximate Average Award:
Focus Area 1: $1.15M per year
Focus Area 2: $690K per year
Focus Area 3: $365K per year
Focus Area 4: $250K per year
Floor and Ceiling of Award Range:
Focus Area 1: Floor $500K--Ceiling $1.8M
Focus Area 2: Floor $640K--Ceiling $750K
Focus Area 3: Floor $200K--Ceiling $530K
Focus Area 4: Floor $200K--Ceiling $300K
Anticipated Award Date: April 1, 2004.
Budget Period Length: 12 months.
Project Period Length: Five years.
Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of
awards will be conditioned on the availability of funds, evidence of
satisfactory progress by the awardee (as documented in required
reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best
interest of the Federal Government.
III. Eligibility Information
Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by public and
private nonprofit organizations, such as:
[sbull] National or regional organizations
[sbull] Universities
[sbull] Colleges
[sbull] Faith-based organizations
[sbull] Federally recognized Indian tribal governments
[sbull] Indian tribal organizations
Eligibility is limited to organizations that have experience and
expertise providing capacity building assistance services to CBA
consumers serving racial/ethnic minority populations. In order to be
effective, these organizations must have access to, and credibility
with, racial/ethnic minority populations in a manner that is culturally
competent and facilitates learning.
Other Eligibility Requirements
CBA developed under this program announcement will be delivered to
CBA consumers serving one or more of the four major racial/ethnic
populations as follows:
[sbull] Black/African-American
[sbull] Hispanic/Latino
[sbull] Asian/Pacific Islander
[sbull] American Indian/Alaska Native
Your organization is eligible to apply if it meets all of the
following criteria:
1. Has a currently valid 501(c)3 tax-exempt status as demonstrated
by a valid Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter.
2. Has a specific charge from its Articles of Incorporation,
Bylaws, or a resolution from its executive board or governing body to
operate nationally (i.e., multi-regional) or regionally (i.e., multi-
state/territory) within the United States or its Territories.
3. Has a three-year track record of providing CBA, in the focus
area for which you intend to apply as demonstrated by agency
documentation (including evaluation and annual reports, participant
feedback, agency records, etc.).
4. Has a three-year track record of providing CBA to consumers that
serve a major racial/ethnic minority population(s) or of providing
direct HIV prevention services to a major racial/ethnic minority
population as documented by annual agency reports, a board resolution,
or other documentation.
5. Is not a governmental or municipal agency, or an affiliate of a
governmental or municipal agency (e.g., health department, school
board, public hospital).
Notes for Applicants:
1. If applying to provide CBA in Focus Area 2 for CBA consumers
that serve Black/African-American or Hispanic/Latino populations, you
may only work in one region, and your organization must have a presence
(three-year track record of providing CBA or office) in that region.
2. If applying to provide CBA in Focus Area 2 to CBA consumers that
serve Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaska Native
populations, you may work across all regions.
3. Funding estimates and project period may change based on the
availability of funds, scope, and quality of the applications received,
appropriateness and reasonableness of the budget justifications, and
proposed use of project funds.
4. Continuation awards for a new 12-month budget period, within an
approved five-year project period, will be made on the basis of
availability of funds and the applicant's satisfactory progress toward
achieving the stated objectives, and in that the project remains in the
best interest of the government. Satisfactory progress toward achieving
objectives will be determined by required progress and data reports
submitted by the awardee and site visits conducted by CDC
representatives.
Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program.
Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.
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IV. Application and Submission Information
How to Obtain Application Forms: To apply for this funding
opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1. Forms are available on the
CDC Web site, 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) staff at: 770-488-2700. Application forms can be mailed to
you.
This program announcement is the definitive guide on application
format, content, and deadlines. It supersedes information provided in
the application instructions. If there are discrepancies between the
application form instructions and the program announcement, adhere to
the guidance in the program announcement.
To request a CD-ROM or hard copy of the application kit (which
includes the request for application, required forms, Supplemental
Information, CBA Guidelines, and other information), contact CDC's
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) at 1-800-282-7681; visit
its Web site at http://www.cdcnpin.org, or send requests by fax to 1-
888-282-7681 (TTY users: 1-1800-243-7012). This announcement and
associated forms can also be found on the CDC home page, http://www.cdc.gov.
Click on Funding Opportunities then Grants and Cooperative
Agreements.
You are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (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 http://www.dunandbradstreet.com
or call 1-866-705-5711. For more information,
see the CDC Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/pubcommt.htm
.
If your application form does not have a DUNS number field, please
write your DUNS number at the top of the first page of your
application, and/or include your DUNS number in your application cover
letter.
Pre-Application Technical Consultation
Technical consultation audio-conference calls for all focus areas
will be held on December 16, 2003 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. A repeat
audio-conference call will be held on and December 18, 2003 at 2 p.m.
Eastern Time. Participants may call toll-free 888-655-9181. Please have
the conference passcode ready: 54485.
Content and Form of Submission
Letter of Intent (LOI): CDC requires that you send a LOI if you
intend to apply for this program. Your LOI will be used to gauge the
level of interest in this program, and to allow CDC to plan the
application review. Eligibility information is not required with the
LOI. Your application should not accompany the LOI. Your LOI must be
written in the following format:
[sbull] Maximum number of pages: One
[sbull] Font size: 12-point unreduced
[sbull] Paper size: 8.5 x 11 inches
[sbull] Page margin size: One-inch
[sbull] Printed only on one side of page
[sbull] Double-spaced.
[sbull] Your LOI must contain the following information:
[sbull] Program announcement title and number.
[sbull] Applicant's name and address.
[sbull] Focus area for which you intend to apply.
[sbull] If applying for Focus Area 2, in which region(s) you intend
to provide services.
[sbull] CBA Consumers you intend to serve.
Application
You must submit a signed original and two copies of your
application forms. You must include a project narrative with your
application forms. Your narrative must be submitted in the following
format:
Format
Your application must be submitted in the following format:
[sbull] All material must be typewritten; single-spaced.
[sbull] Maximum number of pages: 40 pages (excluding budget,
appendices and attachments). If your narrative exceeds the page limit,
only the first pages, which are within the page limit, will be
reviewed.
[sbull] Font size: 12 point unreduced.
[sbull] Paper size: 8.5 x 11 inches.
[sbull] Page margin size: One-inch.
[sbull] Printed only on one side of page.
[sbull] Program announcement title and number must appear in the
application.
[sbull] The original and each copy of the application sent must be
submitted unstapled and unbound. Held together only by rubber bands or
metal clips; not bound in any other way.
[sbull] Number each page, including appendices and attachments,
sequentially and provide a complete table of contents to the
application and its appendices and attachments.
Please begin each separate section of the application on a new
page.
[sbull] Headers and footers printed on one side only.
[sbull] Applicants may not apply for more than two focus areas.
[sbull] Applicants must submit a separate application for each
focus area.
[sbull] Applicants must submit a signed original and two copies of
your application forms.
Proof of Eligibility
Applicants must complete this section on Proof of Eligibility,
including providing the following documents as appropriate. Failure to
provide the required documentation will result in your application
being disqualified and returned to you without further review.
a. Provide documentation that your organization has the specific
charge from its executive board or governing body to operate nationally
or regionally (i.e., a multi-state/territory) within the United States
and its Territories. Documentation should include a copy of the section
of your organization's Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or Board
Resolution.
b. Provide a copy of the current, valid Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) determination letter of your organization's 501(c) 3 tax-exempt
status.
c. Provide evidence that your organization has a three-year track
record providing CBA in the focus area for which you intend to apply.
d. Provide evidence that your organization has a three-year track
record providing CBA to consumers that serve the major racial/ethnic
minority population(s) identified in your proposal; or providing direct
HIV prevention services to a major racial/ethnic minority population
identified in your proposal.
Abstract
Please provide a brief two-page summary of your proposed program
activities, including the following information:
a. A description of your CBA consumers.
b. A description of the major racial/ethnic minority population
that will be the focus for your CBA consumers.
c. The focus area for which you intend to apply.
d. A brief description of your strategy that includes: (1) A
description of your CBA; (2) the conditions you are seeking to change;
and (3) the outcomes you are seeking to achieve.
e. If applying for Focus Area 2, indicate which region the program
will serve and how it will be regionally structured.
[[Page 67563]]
Narrative
You must include a project narrative with your application and must
include the following items in the order listed below. Your application
will be evaluated on the information in these sections. It is important
to follow the format provided in laying out your program proposal.
Program Plan
The program plan will include a description of your CBA program and
strategy, objectives, activities, and timeline as follows:
CBA Program and Strategy
a. If applying for Focus Area 1, provide a description of your
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a
description of the administrative, financial, accounting, and human
resource models used to build organizational infrastructure capacity of
HIV prevention CBOs (e.g., grant writing, fiscal management, board
development, staff and volunteer development, and strategic planning).
b. If applying for Focus Area 2, provide a description of your
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a
description of the HIV prevention interventions you have helped to
implement (adapted or adopted) or evaluated. Your strategy must include
information on how you intend to build capacity for interventions such
as: Health education and risk reduction and avoidance; outreach
capacity and preparation for testing; testing; referrals; prevention
and partner counseling; prevention case management; and interventions
to prevent perinatal transmission.
c. If applying for Focus Area 3, provide a description of your
model. Also include information on: (1) Data demonstrating evidence
that your model will be successful; (2) how this model is appropriate
for the selected community; (3) conditions you expect to influence; (4)
outcomes you expect to achieve; (5) a strategy for implementation; and
(6) description of training materials including curricula.
d. If applying for Focus Area 4, provide a description of your
proposed program and the strategy for implementation. Include a
description of how CPG needs will be addressed including, but not
limited to, orientation to the community planning process; process
management; parity, inclusion and representation; using data to support
decision making; needs assessments; priority setting; intervention
effectiveness; and evaluation of the planning process.
Objectives
What are your objectives to address the general and focus area-
specific awardee activities in the focus area for which you intend to
apply?
Note: Some of these objectives should address the development of
protocols for these activities--i.e., a protocol for undertaking a
coordinated systems approach to delivering regionally structured CBA
services.
Activities
Describe your proposed activities. These activities must relate to
each of the objectives listed above.
Timeline
Provide a timeline and list staff responsible for implementing
activities in the first year.
Program Experience
a. Describe your organization's program experience as it relates to
the focus area for which you intend to apply.
b. Address the methods that you have used to provide CBA services
and to whom.
c. Address your organization's program experience collaborating
with other CBA providers and state and local health departments.
d. Address your organization's program experience in providing CBA
that responds effectively to the cultural, gender, environmental,
social, and linguistic characteristics of your CBA consumers. In
answering this question, describe the types of services provided and
list any culturally-, linguistically-, and developmentally appropriate
curricula and materials that your organization has adapted or
developed.
Organizational Capacity
a. Submit your organizational chart and indicate where the proposed
program will be located.
b. Describe your fiscal management systems and how it functions.
c. Describe your human resource management system and how it
functions.
d. Describe your Management Information System (MIS), its
functional role and software assets.
e. Provide the number, and describe the organizational expertise,
of your full-time employees (FTEs).
f. Summarize how the systems and assets described above will be
used to support and manage the proposed program.
Evaluation Monitoring Plan
a. Provide baseline, one-year interim and five-year overall target
performance goals based on the core performance indicators and
performance indicators by focus area.
b. Describe the process and outcome data you will collect.
Note: Data collected must relate to your objectives and the
performance indicators.
c. Describe your methods for collecting, analyzing, interpreting
and reporting process and outcome data.
d. Describe your plans for using process and outcome data to
improve your program.
Budget and Staffing Breakdown and Justification:
a. Provide a detailed budget for each proposed activity. Justify
all operating expenses in relation to the planned activities and stated
objectives. CDC may not approve or fund all proposed activities. Be
precise about the program purpose of each budget item and itemize
calculations wherever appropriate.
b. For each contract and consultant contained within the
application budget, describe the type(s) of organizations or parties to
be selected and the method of selection; identify the specific
contractor(s), if known; describe the services to be performed, and
justify the use of a third party to perform these services; provide a
breakdown of and justification for the estimated costs of the contracts
and consultants; specify the period of performance; and describe the
methods to be used for contract monitoring.
c. Provide a job description for each position, specifying job
title, function, general duties, and activities. Also provide salary
range or rate of pay and the level of effort and percentage of time to
be spent on activities that would be funded through this cooperative
agreement. If the identity of any key personnel who will fill a
position is known, his/her name and resume should be attached.
Experience and training related to the proposed project should be
noted. If the identity of staff is not known, describe your recruitment
plan. If volunteers are involved in the project, provide job
descriptions.
Note: If indirect costs are requested, you must provide a copy
of your organization's current negotiated Federal indirect cost rate
agreement.
Funding Restrictions
Funding restrictions, which must be taken into account while
writing your budget, are as follows:
a. Funds available under this announcement must support CBA that
improves the capacity of the CBA consumers to implement, improve, and
sustain programs that support the
[[Page 67564]]
delivery of effective HIV prevention services for high-risk racial/
ethnic minority populations.
b. Funds available under this announcement (for Focus Areas 1 and
2) must support CBA that gives priority to CBOs directly-funded by CDC,
followed by CBOs funded by state and local health departments.
c. These federal funds may not supplant or duplicate existing
funding.
d. No funds will be provided for direct provision of health
education and risk reduction and avoidance (HERR) services or patient
care, including substance abuse treatment, medical treatment, or
medications.
e. These Federal funds may not be used to support the cost of
developing applications for other federal funds.
f. Before using funds awarded through this cooperative agreement to
develop HIV prevention materials, awardees must check with the CDC
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) to determine if suitable
materials are already available. Also, materials developed by awardees
must be made available for dissemination through the CDC NPIN. For
further information on NPIN services and resources, contact NPIN at 1-
800-458-5231; visit its Web site at http://www.cdcnpin.org; or send
requests by fax to 1-888-282-7681 (TTY users: 1-800-243-7012).
If you are requesting indirect costs in your budget, you must
include a copy of your indirect cost rate agreement. If your indirect
cost rate is a provisional rate, the agreement must be less than 12
months of age.
Guidance for completing your budget can be found on the CDC Web
site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm
.
Additional information may be included in the application
appendices. The appendices will not be counted toward the narrative
page limit.
Appendices
In addition to the documents required in the Proof of Eligibility
section of your application, the following appendices should be
included in your application, if relevant:
a. list of all organizations with which you will cooperate to avoid
duplication of effort and ensure that gaps in CBA services are
addressed. Include Memoranda of Agreement from each such organization
as evidence of cooperative relationships. Memoranda of Agreement should
specifically describe the proposed cooperative activities. These
documents must be submitted annually with each interim progress report.
b. A list of culturally-, linguistically-, and developmentally-
appropriate materials that are available and currently being delivered.
c. A description of funding received from CDC or other sources
(federal, state, local, private, etc.) to conduct similar activities
that includes:
(1) A summary of current funds and income received to conduct CBA
programs. This summary must include the name of the sponsoring
organization/source of income, level of funding, a description of how
the funds have been used, and the budget period. In addition, identify
proposed personnel who will conduct the activities of this project and
who are supported by other funding sources (include their roles and
responsibilities).
(2) A summary of the objectives and activities of the funded
programs that are described above.
(3) An explanation of how funds requested in this application will
be used differently or in ways that will expand upon programs that are
supported with existing or future funds.
(4) An assurance that the requested funds will not duplicate or
supplant funds that have been received from any other Federal or non-
Federal source. CDC-awarded funds may be used to expand or enhance
services supported by other Federal or non-Federal funding sources.
d. Independent audit statements from a certified public accountant
for the previous two years.
e. A copy of the organization's current negotiated Federal indirect
cost rate agreement, if applicable.
Note: Materials, which should be part of the basic plan, will
not be accepted if placed in the appendices.
Submission Date, Time, and Address
LOI Deadline Date: December 22, 2003.
LOI Submission Address: Submit your LOI by express, delivery
service, or e-mail to: Samuel Taveras, Team Leader, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB
Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road,
Mailstop E-40, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone: 404-639-5241, E-mail address: syt2@cdc.gov.
Application Deadline Date: January 26, 2004.
Application Submission Address: Submit your application by mail or
express delivery service to: Technical Information management-PA 04019,
CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA
30341. Applications will not be accepted by fax or email.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be received in CDC
Procurement and Grants Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline
date. If you send your application by the United States Postal Service
or commercial delivery service, you must ensure that the carrier will
be able to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date
and time. If CDC receives your application 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, you will be given the opportunity to
submit documentation of the carrier's guarantee. If the documentation
verifies a carrier problem, CDC will consider the application as having
been received by the deadline.
If you have a question about the receipt of your application, first
contact your courier. If you still have a question, contact the
Procurement and Grants Office--Technical Information Management (TIMS)
staff at: 770-488-2700. Before calling, please wait two to three days
after the application deadline. This will allow time for applications
to be processed and logged.
CDC will not notify applicants concerning receipt of applications.
Intergovernmental Review of Applications
Your application is subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, as governed by Executive Order (EO) 12372. This order sets up
a system for state and local governmental review of proposed federal
assistance applications. You should contact your state single point of
contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert the SPOC to prospective
applications, and to receive instructions on your state's process.
Click on the following link to get the current SPOC list: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
.
V. Application Review Information
Review Criteria: You 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 measure the intended outcome. These measures
of effectiveness must be submitted with the application and will be an
element of evaluation. Therefore, you must set baseline, annual, and
five
[[Page 67565]]
year overall target levels of performance for each core performance
indicators and performance indicator by focus area identified in this
program announcement. These target levels of performance must be
reflected in your objectives, submitted with the application, and will
be an element of evaluation.
Each application will be evaluated individually by an independent
review group appointed by CDC. Applications will be rated according to
the quality of responses to the questions listed in the Content and
Form of Submission section of this announcement and the quality of the
stated process objectives. The criteria against which the questions
will be rated and the number of points allocated to each component of
the application are listed below. Your application will be evaluated
against the following evaluation criteria:
1. Program Plan
a. Is the program and strategy based on sound reasoning or
evidence? (10 points)
b. Are the proposed program objectives specific, measurable,
achievable, realistic, and time-phased? (10 points)
c. What is the likelihood that proposed program activities will
accomplish the proposed program objectives? (10 points)
d. Is the timeline feasible? (10 points) (40 points)
2. Program Experience
Is the applicant's program experience relevant to the provision of
CBA in the focus area for which they intend to apply? (20 Points)
3. Organizational Capacity
Does the applicant demonstrate current organizational capacity to
implement the focus area for which they are applying? (20 Points)
4. Evaluation Monitoring Plan
Is the evaluation-monitoring plan feasible and does it address the
required target goals, process and outcome data collection, analysis,
and reporting activities? (20 Points)
Review and Selection Process: An objective review panel will
evaluate your application according to the criteria listed above. In
addition, the following factors may affect the funding decision:
1. CDC's commitment to ensure overall funding for CBA services that
serves each of the four major racial/ethnic minority populations for
all five regions.
2. CDC's commitment to ensure overall funding for CBA services that
is distributed in proportion to the HIV/AIDS disease burden among high-
risk racial/ethnic minority populations.
3. CDC's commitment to ensure that overall funding for CBA services
is distributed proportionally in all regions and according to the
number of CBA consumers located in each region.
4. Under Focus Area 3, CDC's commitment to ensure that funding for
CBA serves different high-risk sub-groups including, but not limited
to, Men who have sex with men (MSM), Injection Drug Users (IDU), women,
migrant workers at risk for HIV infection and high-risk youth.
5. Under Focus Area 3, CDC's commitment to ensure that funding for
CBA includes strategies involving faith-based organizations.
VI. Award Administration Information
Award Notices: If your application is funded, you will receive a
Notice of Grant Award (NGA) from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office.
The NGA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the
recipient and CDC. The NGA will be signed by an authorized Grants
Management Officer, and mailed to the recipient fiscal officer
identified in the application.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements: 45 CFR parts 74
and 92.
The following additional requirements apply to this project:
[sbull] AR-1 Human Subjects Requirements
[sbull] AR-2 Requirements for Inclusion of Women and Racial and
Ethnic Minorities in Research
[sbull] AR-4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
[sbull] AR-5 HIV Program Review Panel Requirements
[sbull] AR-7 Executive Order 12372 Review
[sbull] AR-8 Public Health System Reporting Requirements
[sbull] AR-9 Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
[sbull] AR-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
[sbull] AR-11 Healthy People 2010
[sbull] AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions
[sbull] AR-14 Accounting System Requirements
[sbull] AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status
[sbull] AR-16 Security Clearance Requirement
[sbull] AR-20 Conference Support
[sbull] AR-21 Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Business
[sbull] AR-22 Research Integrity
Additional information on these requirements can be found on the
CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm
.
Reporting Requirements
You must provide CDC with an original, plus two copies of the
following reports:
1. First semi-annual progress report, it can serve as your interim
progress report, no less than 120 days before the end of the budget
period. The report must contain the following elements:
a. Current Budget Period Activities and 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 including: (1) Data related to
performance target goals; (2) data on progress toward achieving
objectives; (3) an inventory of total Individual Capacity Building
Assistance and proactive training for the reporting period; and (4)
data related to the quality assurance system.
2. Second semi-annual progress report shall be due 30 days after
each budget period ends. Specific guidance on what to include in this
report will be provided three months before the due date. This report
should include the following:
a. Base line and actual level of performance on core performance
indicators and performance indicators by focus area.
b. Current Budget Period Financial Progress.
c. Additional requested information.
3. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of
the budget period.
4. Final financial and performance reports, no more than 90 days
after the end of the project period.
5. Submit any newly developed public information resources and
materials to the CDC National Prevention Information Network (formerly
the AIDS Information Clearinghouse) so that they can be incorporated
into the current database for access by other organizations and
agencies.
6. HIV Content Review Guidelines.
a. Submit completed Assurance of Compliance with the Requirements
for Contents of AIDS-Related Written Materials Form (CDC form--0.1113).
This form lists the members of your program review panel. The form is
enclosed with your application kit. The current Guidelines and the form
can also be downloaded from the CDC Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm.
Please include this completed form with your
application.
[[Page 67566]]
This form must be signed by the project director and authorized
business official.
b. You must also include documentation of approval by the relevant
review panel of any HIV educational materials used by your project. Use
the enclosed form Report of Approval. If you have nothing to submit,
you must complete the enclosed form No Report Necessary. Either the
Report of Approval or No Report Necessary must be included with all
progress reports and continuation requests.
7. Address your organization's adherence to CDC policies for
securing approval for CDC sponsorship of conferences. If you plan to
hold a conference, you must send a copy of the agenda to CDC's Grants
Management Office.
8. If you plan to use materials using CDC's name, send a copy of
the proposed material to CDC's Grants Management Office for approval.
Note: Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist
identified in the Section VII. Agency Contacts section of this
announcement.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, contact: Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Technical Information Management
Section (TIMS), Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road,
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone: 770-488-2700.
For program technical assistance, contact: Samuel Taveras, Team
Leader, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 1600
Clifton Road, Mailstop E-40, Atlanta, GA 30333, Telephone: 404-639-5241, E-mail address: dhapcbapt@cdc.gov.
For budget assistance, contact: Carlos Smiley, Grants Officer,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants
Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2722, e-mail address: anx3@cdc.gov.
Dated: November 21, 2003.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-29806 Filed 11-26-03; 11:20 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P