**Amendments made in red 2/11/09**

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO):
Protecting the Advances in Polio, Rubella and Measles Elimination:
Strengthening Immunization Programs in the Americas

Announcement Type: New -- Type 1

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-PA-IP09-901

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.185

Key Dates: Project years -- 1 May -- 30 April; Award date -- 28 February
2009

Application Deadline: **February 19, 2009**

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: This program is authorized under Sections 301 and 307 of the
Public Health Service Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 241 and 242*l*, and
section 104 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22 U.S.C. 2151b.

Background: The United States, as a member state of the United Nations
(UN) and its specialized and technical agencies including the World
Health Organization (WHO), supports resolutions adopted by the World
Health Assembly (WHA) calling for the global eradication of polio
(1988), a 90 percent reduction in global measles mortality (2005), and
the adoption of the *Global Immunization Vision and Strategy* (GIVS,
2005).  The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), as the WHO Regional
Office for the Americas, has the lead responsibility among the UN
organizations for implementing the WHA resolutions in the Western
Hemisphere. TheU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is one of the
spearheading partners for global polio eradication, the reduction of
mortality from measles, and GIVS initiatives along with a substantial
network of partner agencies.

The U.S. Congress provides funds to HHS/CDC to provide technical,
laboratory, and program support for the global initiatives for polio
eradication and the reduction of mortality from measles. 

Polio eradication is of great importance to the United States, both for
public health and humanitarian reasons. Since the passage of the WHA
resolution in 1988 that called for global polio eradication, the
incidence of the disease has declined around the world by more than 99
percent, from more than 350,000 cases annually to 1,431 cases in 2008
(as of 30 October 2008).  The number of endemic countries has dropped
from 125 in 1988 to four in 2008 (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and
Pakistan), the lowest number ever.  In 2008, the Americas completed
their seventeenth year without a reported case of indigenous polio. 

One of the greatest remaining challenges is to eliminate polio in the
four endemic countries, each of which presents unique challenges and
threats to the global initiative.   A second challenge is to sustain
polio-free status while the risk of importation remains. As long as
polio transmission occurs anywhere in the world the disease remains a
significant threat to American children. The final stages are being
defined as the move into the post-eradication area continues with
laboratory containment and certification of continued polio-free status.

The reduction of morality from measles and the eventual elimination of
the disease are also of immense importance to the United States. 
Measles vaccination is one of the most cost-effective public health
interventions available - it costs less than \$1 to vaccinate a child
against measles -- yet more than 871,000 childhood deaths were
attributed to measles in 1999.  The implementation of a highly
successful immunization strategy in the Americas eliminated measles from
the Western Hemisphere in 2002 and clearly showed that these strategies
can significantly reduce mortality from measles and eliminate
transmission of the virus from large geographic areas.  Nevertheless,
while eliminated from the Americas in 2002, importations of measles and
resultant local transmission continue as evidenced by outbreaks in the
United States in 2008.  To address this situation, the WHA adopted a
resolution in 2003 calling for a 50 percent reduction in measles
mortality globally by 2005 (compared with 2000 levels).  The strong
collaboration of the Measles Initiative and national governments allowed
the world to surpass this goal; by 2005 the Initiative reduced mortality
from measles by 60 percent and 1.2 million lives were saved as a
result. The program subsequently expanded into Asia, where the measles
burden remains high.  Building on prior success, GIVS, endorsed by the
WHA in 2005, called for a 90 percent reduction in mortality from measles
globally by 2010.  The new goal is off to a good start, as WHO announced
in December 2008 that measles deaths worldwide had fallen by 74% between
2000 and 2007, from an estimated 750 000 to 197 000. Additionally, GIVS
outlines strategies to immunize more people against more diseases,
introduce newly available vaccines and technologies, and to provide
other critical health interventions at immunization contacts.

Both the polio and measles initiatives clearly demonstrate the ability
of immunizations to avert disease, disability and death. Immunization
activities for polio, measles and other vaccine preventable diseases
have prevented more than two million deaths worldwide since 2003 alone.
Yet, experience has shown that American children remain at risk for
polio and measles as long as they persist anywhere in the world.  The
U.S. Government is compelled to make investments that protect American
children, and children across the globe, from these dangerous yet easily
preventable diseases. 

The potential for further expansion of the disease surveillance,
laboratory and immunization delivery infrastructures developed through
the polio and measles initiatives is enormous.  This infrastructure can
be a foundation for the reduction of other vaccine-preventable diseases
(VPDs), including the introduction of a growing list of new vaccines,
and the provision of other health interventions.  The surveillance and
laboratory networks and expertise are already being used as a platform
for detection of other diseases, including surveillance for syndromes
caused by *H. influenzae* b and *pneumococcus*, called SIREVA in the
Americas.  HHS/CDC will continue to take a leadership role in the
surveillance and control of VPDs, and integrating these activities with
other global health priorities (e.g. HIV/AIDS, influenza, malaria, safe
water), including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief
(PEPFAR).

Purpose: This cooperative agreement will support the U.S. Government's
participation in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Global Measles
Initiative, and the *Global Immunization Vision and Strategy,
2006-2015*.  In particular, this agreement will support surveillance in
the Americas for polio, measles, rubella and other VPDs; global
laboratory networks for polio, measles, rubella and other diseases
prevented by new vaccines; planning and implementation of supplemental
immunization campaigns; strengthening of routine immunization delivery
systems; and introduction of new vaccines and capacities in developing
countries.  All are critical to achieving globally agreed goals for
disease eradication, elimination and reduction.  Additionally this
agreement may be used to support activities to address other global
health priorities. This program addresses the "Healthy People 2010"
focus area(s) of "Immunization and Infectious Diseases."

Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the
following performance goals for the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (HHS/CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory
Diseases (NCIRD) and the Coordinating Office of Global Health (COGH):

-   Global Health GPRA Goal 4:  Help domestic and international partners
    achieve WHO's goal of global polio eradication; and

-   Global Health GPRA Goal 5:  Work with global partners to reduce the
    cumulative global measles-related mortality by 90 percent compared
    with 2000 estimates (baseline 777,000 deaths) and to maintain the
    elimination of endemic measles transmission in all 47 countries of
    the Americas.

This announcement is only for non-research activities supported by
HHS/CDC. If an applicant proposes research, HHS/CDC 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>

Activities:

> Awardee activities for this program are as follows:
>
> **Promoting technical excellence to strengthen National Immunization
> Programs in the Americas:**

-   Technical advice and assistance to national immunization programs in
    the Western Hemisphere for disease surveillance, routine
    immunization, and supplemental immunization; and

-   Training activities and material provided to immunization personnel
    at the sub-regional and national levels.

**Strengthening surveillance systems in the Western Hemisphere for
polio, measles, rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) and other
VPDs:**

-   Activities to strengthen surveillance of all VPDs, to ensure the
    timely detection, investigation and reporting of all suspected cases
    and the application of appropriate follow-up and control measures;

-   Strengthening the network of national laboratories in the Americas
    for confirmation of VPDs; and

-   Close scrutiny for adverse events that occur during vaccination
    campaigns and/or are reported in routine immunization programs in
    countries of the Western Hemisphere.

> **Optimizing infrastructure and logistic systems for vaccination in
> the Americas:**

-   Assessment of the current processes and logistics of immunization
    programs in the Western Hemisphere to promote the effective and
    efficient supply, distribution and storage of vaccines; and

-   Meetings and site visits to countries in the Americas to assess
    current immunization policies and to promote policy development with
    the aim of ensuring affordability and availability of vaccines for
    users and non-users of PAHO's Revolving Fund for Vaccine
    Procurement.

**Performing routine and supplementary immunization activities in the
Western Hemisphere:**

-   Technical support for investigating importations and outbreaks to
    prevent potential secondary transmission;

-   Technical and financial support for Vaccination Week in the Americas
    (VWA), a regional initiative focused on cross-border coordination
    and social communication to reach target populations considered the
    most vulnerable;

-   Operational support for follow-up immunization campaigns, and for
    the verification and laboratory containment necessary to maintain
    the Americas free of polio and measles;

-   Program support for the implementation and monitoring of
    immunization interventions in high-risk municipalities in Latin
    America and Caribbean countries to improve routine coverage; and

-   Financial support for the regional meeting of the Technical Advisory
    Group on VPDs (TAG) and of the Regional Inter-Agency Immunization
    Coordinating Committee (ICC), with the participation of country
    representatives to review PAHO's technical cooperation activities
    and progress.

**Evidence-based decisions in immunization in the Americas:**

-   Financial and technical support to strengthen Scientific Advisory
    Boards in the Western Hemisphere and to establish national public
    health priorities regarding immunization in the form of living
    documents to map out a plan for conducting necessary research and
    the collection of data;

-   Technical assistance and tools to national governments in the
    Western Hemisphere for the generation of data on the burden of VPDs
    and economic studies as part of a complete framework of evidence to
    assist policy makers in the Region;

-   Dissemination of the evidence gathered to provide policy makers in
    the Americas with the information they need to take decisions; and

-   Research, such as vaccine effectiveness studies, to ensure the
    implementation of vaccination strategies in the Americas with
    maximal benefit.

**Enhancing strategies to sustain immunization programs in the
Americas:**

-   Training activities and technical support for the financial
    assessment of immunization programs in the Western Hemisphere;

-   Sub-regional meetings to assist countries in the Americas to develop
    Immunization Plans of Action (POA) integrated with their
    comprehensive Multi-Year Plan (cMYP) as recommended by WHO.

In a cooperative agreement, HHS/CDC staff is 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 and HHS/CDC regulations and key
    management requirements, as well as report formats and contents. 
    The orientation could include meetings with staff from HHS agencies.

2.  Review and approve the grantee's annual work plan and detailed
    budget.

3.  Meet on a bi-annual basis with the grantee to assess progress and
    modify plans as necessary.

4.  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.

5.  Provide technical assistance, as mutually agreed upon, and revise
    annually during validation of the first and subsequent annual work
    plans.  This could include expert technical assistance and targeted
    training activities in specialized areas such as the following:

    a.  Collaborate with PAHO staff to provide programmatic support to
        national governments in the Americas for planning, implementing,
        and evaluating polio eradication, the reduction of mortality due
        to measles, and other globally agreed activities to control
        VPDs;

    b.  Assist in providing technical training, support, and
        consultation to expert staff hired by PAHO to assist in the
        polio eradication, measles mortality reduction and GIVS
        strategies in the Western Hemisphere;

    c.  Provide expertise for the maintenance and development of disease
        surveillance structures in the Americas, including assessment,
        strategy design and evaluation;

    d.  Provide laboratory expertise to the PAHO Secretariat for the
        strengthening and expansion of laboratory-based disease
        surveillance systems in the Western Hemisphere; 

6.  Collaborate with and provide technical assistance to the PAHO
    Secretariat within PAHO's regional initiatives to integrate
    immunization activities with other health activities, including the
    President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and efforts to control
    malaria.

7.  Collaborate with the awardee on designing and implementing the
    activities listed above, including, but not limited to the provision
    of technical assistance 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.

# II. Award Information

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement. HHS/CDC's involvement in this
program appears in the Activities Section above.

Award Mechanism: U66 -- Immunization projects -- Cooperative Agreements

Fiscal Year Funds: Fiscal Year (FY) 09 -- FY14

Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: \$4,600,000

Approximate Total Project Period Funding: \$ 23,000,000 including direct
and indirect costs (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to the
availability of funds.)

Approximate Number of Awards: One

Approximate Average Award: \$4,600,000 (This amount is for the first
12-month budget period, and includes direct and indirect costs.)

Floor of Individual Award Range: None.

Ceiling of Individual Award Range: None. (This ceiling is for the first
12-month budget period.)

Anticipated Award Date: 28 February 2008

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 Federal Government.

# III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to the PAHO Secretariat for this
project and HHS/CDC solicits no other applications. PAHO is the most
appropriate and qualified agency to conduct the activities under this
cooperative agreement for the following reasons:

A.  PAHO has the lead responsibility among the UN organizations for
    implementing activities to achieve the resolution adopted by the Pan
    American Sanitary Conference (PASC) in 1994 that called for the
    elimination of measles in the Western Hemisphere; the PASC
    resolution of 2003 that called for the elimination of rubella and
    CRS in the Americas by the year 2010; and resolutions adopted by the
    WHA on polio eradication in 1988 and the elimination of measles in
    2005.

B.  PAHO is the only organization in the Americas with a regional
    mandate for the control and prevention of vaccine-preventable
    diseases (VPDs).

C.  The proposed program is strongly supportive of and directly related
    to the achievement of PAHO and HHS/CDC/National Center for
    Immunization and Respiratory Disease objectives for the control and
    prevention of VPDs with emphasis on HHS/CDC's objectives related to,
    but not limited to:

    a.  Reduce or eliminate indigenous cases of vaccine-preventable
        diseases (Healthy People 2010, 14.1).

    b.  Reduce vaccine-associated adverse events (Healthy People 2010,
        14.30).

    c.  Help domestic and international partners achieve World Health
        Organization's goal of global polio eradication (Global Health
        GPRA Goal 4)

    d.  Work with global partners to reduce the cumulative global
        measles-related mortality by 90% compared with 2000 estimates
        (baseline 777,000 deaths) and to maintain elimination of endemic
        measles transmission in all 47 countries of the Americas (Global
        Health GPRA Goal 5)

    e.  Assist domestic and international partners to help achieve WHO's
        goal of global polio eradication.

    f.  Work with global partners to reduce the cumulative global
        measles related mortality rate.

    g.  Improve vaccine safety surveillance.

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C.  PAHO, in collaboration with the Governments of Brazil, Canada, the
    Netherlands, and Spain, and the United States Agency for
    International Development (USAID), the March of Dimes, the Sabin
    Institute, the American Red Cross and HHS/CDC, are partners in an
    international effort to increase the support for and visibility of
    initiatives to eliminate measles and rubella in the Americas.

D.  HHS/CDC has had a cooperative agreement with PAHO for 10 years.
    During this time, PAHO has made outstanding progress towards
    strengthening field and surveillance systems for polio, measles and
    rubella, has developed a strong platform for strengthening
    surveillance of other VPDs, has maintained its polio-free status for
    over 16 years, and has made substantial progress towards eliminating
    measles and rubella and

E.  The proposed program supports and is directly related to the
    achievements of objectives established by WHO, PAHO, HHS/CDC and
    other partners for the control and prevention of VPDs.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for this program.

III.3. Other

HHS/CDC will accept and review applications with 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 that the application did not
meet submission requirements.

-   HHS/CDC will consider late applications as non-responsive. See
    section "IV.3. Submission Dates and Times" for more information on
    deadlines.

-   Note: Title 2 of the United States Code Section 1611 states that an
    organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
    Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive
    Federal funds that constitute a grant, loan, or an award.

# IV. Application and Submission Information

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/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit electronically by using
the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on
[www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/), the official Federal-wide
E-grant web site. Only applicants who apply on-line may forego the
submission of paper copies of all application forms.

Registering your organization through
[www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/) is the first step in submitting
applications online. Registration information appears in the "Get
Registered" screen of [www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/). While
application submission through [www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/)
is optional, HHS/CDC strongly encourages the use of this online tool.

Please visit [www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/) at least 30 days
prior to filing your application to familiarize yourself with the
registration and submission processes. Under "Get Registered," the
one-time registration process will take three to five days to complete;
however, as part of the Grants.gov registration process, registering
your organization with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) annually,
could take an additional one to two days to complete. HHS/CDC suggests
submitting electronic applications prior to the closing date so if you
encounter difficulties, you can submit a hard copy of the application
prior to the deadline.

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>.

Paper Submission:

Application forms and instructions are available on the HHS/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 you have difficulty
accessing the forms on-line, contact the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants
Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIMS) staff at
770-488-2700 and the application forms can be mailed.

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission

Letter of Intent (LOI):

A letter of intent is not applicable to this funding opportunity
announcement.

Application:

Applicants must submit a Project Abstract with the application forms.
All electronic project abstracts must be uploaded in a PDF file format
when submitting via Grants.gov. If submitting a paper application, the
abstract must be submitted in the following format:

-   Maximum of 2-3 paragraphs;

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-   Font size: 12 point unreduced, Times New Roman;

-   Single spaced;

-   Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches; and

-   Page margin size: One inch.

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 that the applicant will employ. It should be informative to
other persons who are 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 also submit a project narrative with the application
forms. All electronic narratives must be uploaded in a PDF file format
when submitting via Grants.gov. If submitting a paper application, the
narrative must be submitted in the following format:

-   Maximum number of pages: 30; if your narrative exceeds the page
    limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be
    reviewed;

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-   Font size: 12 point unreduced, Times New Roman;

-   Double spaced;

-   Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches;

-   Page margin size: One inch;

-   Printed only on one side of the page; and

-   Number all narrative pages; not to exceed the maximum number of
    pages;

-   Hold paper application together only by rubber bands or metal clips;
    do not bind in any other way.

The narrative should address activities the applicant proposed to
conduct over the entire project period (five years) and short-term (one
year) objectives and must include the following items in the order
listed:  Plan, Objectives, Method, Staff, Evaluation and Performance
Measures, and Budget Justification.  The budget justification will not
count against the stated page limit.  If the applicant requests funds
for indirect costs, the applicant must include a current, approved
Federal indirect cost rate agreement with the application.

Applicants may include additional information in the application
appendices which will not be counted toward the narrative page limit.
This additional information could include the following:

-   Organizational Charts and Terms of Reference;

Additional information submitted via Grants.gov should be uploaded in a
PDF file format, and should be named as follows:

-   CDC-RFA-IP09-901-PAHO-Attachment # \_\_

Do not upload more than 10 electronic attachments per application.

The applicant agency or organization must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or
cooperative agreement from the Federal Government. The DUNS number is a
nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business
entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To
obtain a DUNS number, go to the [Dun and Bradstreet
website](http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do;jsessionid=D12B99D19654F9B26C193B1EFDE3430B)
or call 1-866-705-5711.

Additional requirements that could call for the submission of additional
documentation with the application appear in section "VI.2.
Administrative and National Policy Requirements."

# IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline Date: Not applicable

Application Deadline Date: February 12, 2009

Explanation of Deadlines: HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office must
receive all applications by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the
deadline date.

Applicants may submit electronically at
[www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/). HHS/CDC considers applications
completed on-line through Grants.gov as formally submitted when the
applicant organization's Authorizing Organization Representative (AOR)
electronically submits the application to
[www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/). HHS/CDC will consider
electronic applications as having met the deadline if the applicant
organization's AOR to Grants.gov has submitted the package on or before
the deadline date and time.

When applicants submit electronically through Grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov), the application will be electronically
time/date stamped and a tracking number will be assigned, which will
serve as receipt of submission. The AOR will receive an e-mail notice of
receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.

If applicants submit by the United States Postal Service or commercial
delivery service, the applicant must ensure the carrier will be able to
guarantee delivery by the closing date and time. The applicant will have
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 applicants submit a hard-copy proposal, 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, it should contact the
HHS/CDC PGOTIMS staff at (770) 488-2700. The applicant should wait two
to three days after the submission deadline before calling, to allow
time for HHS/CDC staff to process and log submissions.

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 applicant must be take into account while writing
the budget, are as follows:

-   Recipients may not use funds for research;

-   Recipients may not use funds for clinical care;

-   Recipients may only expend funds for reasonable program purposes,
    including personnel, travel, supplies, and services;

-   Awardees may not generally use HHS/CDC funding for the purchase of
    furniture or equipment; applicants must identify any such proposed
    spending in their budget;

-   The direct and primary recipient in an HHS/CDC cooperative agreement
    program must perform a substantial role in carrying out project
    objectives and not merely serve as a conduit for an award to another
    party or provider that is ineligible; and

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-   Reimbursement of pre-award costs is not allowed.

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-   All requests for funds contained in the budget, shall be stated in
    U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, HHS/CDC will not compensate
    foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the
    issuance of supplemental awards.

The recommended guidance for completing a detailed justified budget in
available on the HHS/CDC Web site, at the following Internet address:

<http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/budgetguide.htm>.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

A letter of intent is not applicable to this funding opportunity
announcement.

Application Submission Address:

Electronic Submission:

HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to submit applications
electronically at [www.Grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/). Applicants
can download the application package from
[www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/). Applicants are able to
complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the
Grants.gov Web site. HHS/CDC will not accept E-mail submissions. If the
applicant has technical difficulties in Grants.gov, it can reach
customer service by e-mail at the following address:
[support@grants.gov](http://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport); or by phone
at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is
open from 7:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.

HHS/CDC recommends that submittal of the application to Grants.gov
should be prior to the closing date to allow time to resolve any
unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. Applicants may also
submit a back-up paper copy 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.
Applicants must clearly mark the paper submission as follows: "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, we will
consider the electronic version as the official submission.

The applicant must submit all application attachments by using a PDF
file format when submitting via Grants.gov. Directions for creating PDF
files are available on the Grants.gov Web site. Use of file formats
other than PDF could render 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 the following
address:

Technical Information Management -- CDC-PA-IP09-901

Procurement and Grants Office

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services

2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

Atlanta, GA 30341

# V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

Applicants must provide measures of effectiveness to demonstrate the
accomplishment of the various identified objectives of this funding
opportunity announcement. Measures of effectiveness must relate to the
performance goals stated in the "Purpose" section of this announcement.
Measures must be objective and quantitative and must measure the
intended outcome. Applicants must submit the measures of effectiveness
with their proposal and these measures will be an element of evaluation.

HHS/CDC will review and evaluate application against the following
criteria:

1.            The extent to which the implementation plan is adequate,
and to which short-term and long-term objectives are realistic,
measurable, time-phased, and related to recipient activities.  (25
percent)

2.            The ability of the applicant organization to conduct
disease surveillance (epidemiological and laboratory) activities to
assess, define, and prioritize the assistance needs of endemic and
high-risk countries in the Americas in the areas of polio, measles,
Congenital Rubella Syndrome and other vaccine-preventable diseases.  (30
percent)

3.            The ability of the applicant organization to support and
coordinate with Ministries of Health in the Western Hemisphere to
implement quality immunization and other response activities.  (30
percent)

4.            Extent to which the application addresses strategies for
expanded disease surveillance and capacity building within the context
of GIVS.  (15 percent)

5.            The extent to which the budget request is clearly
justified and consistent with the intended use of funds. (Reviewed, but
not scored)

V.2. Review and Selection Process

The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) will review application
for completeness and the HHS/CDC National Center for Immunization and
Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)/ Global Immunization Division (GID) and
HHS/CDC PGO will review applications for responsiveness. Incomplete
applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility
criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will
receive notification if their application did not meet submission
requirements.

An objective review panel will evaluate complete and responsive
applications according to the criteria listed in section V.1.
"Criteria," above. A minimum of three HHS/CDC employees from outside of
the funding center will serve as independent reviewers. Reviewers will
be sufficiently independent of the entities that are applying for
assistance to ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation. HHS/CDC will
screen independent reviewers to ensure there is no conflict of interest
prior to the review of applications.  In the event that HHS/CDC
identifies a conflict of interest, the reviewer will not participate or
be present in the review.

Independent reviewers will numerically score each application by using
only the criteria published in this program announcement. HHS/CDC will
rank all applications based on scores prepared by the independent
reviewers, review the application scores, and determine which
applications to approve for funding.  Grants management officers at
HHS/CDC are responsible for signing or countersigning the ranking of
applications and for working with both applicants and program officials
to ensure approved applications adhere to HHS administrative,
programmatic, and technical requirements.

V.3. Anticipated Announcement Award Dates

28 February 2009

# VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the
HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only
binding, authorizing document between the recipient and HHS/CDC. An
authorized HHS/CDC Grants Management Officer will sign the NoA, email it
to the program director and mail a hard copy 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-10 Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements

-   AR-11 Healthy People 2010

-   AR-12 Lobbying Restrictions

-   AR-14 Accounting System Requirements

-   AR-15 Proof of Non-Profit Status

Additional information on the requirements is available on the HHS/CDC
Web site at the following Internet address:
<http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/Addtl_Reqmnts.htm>.

HHS/CDC Assurances and Certifications can be found on the HHS/CDC Web
site at the following Internet address:
<http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/foamain.shtm>

For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet
address: <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html>

VI.3. Reporting Requirements

The applicant must provide HHS/CDC with an annual interim progress
report via www.grants.gov:

1.  The interim progress report is 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.  Standard Form ("SF") 424S Form.

    b.  SF-424A Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.

    c.  Budget Narrative.

    d.  Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

    e.  Project Narrative with progress towards objectives

Additionally, the applicant must provide HHS/CDC with an original, plus
two hard copies of the following reports:

2.  Financial status report and annual progress report, due no more than
    90 days after the end of the budget period.

3.  Final performance and financial status reports, due no more than 90
    days after the end of the project period.

The awardee must mail these reports to the attention of the HHS/CDC
Grants Management Specialist listed in the "VII. Agency Contacts"
section of this announcement.

# VII. Agency Contacts

HHS/CDC encourages inquiries concerning this announcement.

For general questions, contact the following:

Technical Information Management Section

Procurement and Grants Office

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> Department of Health and Human Services

2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14

Atlanta, GA 30341

Telephone: 770-488-2700

For program technical assistance, contact the following:

Karen Wilkins, Project Officer

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease

Global Immunization Division

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services

1600 Clifton Road N.E., MailStop E-05

Atlanta, Ga. 30333

Telephone: 404 639 5298

E-mail: kxw2@cdc.gov

For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:

> Stewart Nichols, Grants Management Specialist

Procurement and Grants Office

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services

2920 Brandywine Road, Mail Stop K-75

Atlanta, Ga. 30341

Telephone: 770-488-2788

E-mail: shn8@cdc.gov

HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired or disabled are
available at the following number: TTY 770-488-2783.

VIII\. Other Information

Other HHS/CDC funding opportunity announcements are available on the
HHS/CDC Web site at the following internet address:
<http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm> and on
[www.globalhealth.gov](http://www.globalhealth.gov/).

 

HHS/CDC Home Page: [http://www.cdc.gov](http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo")

HHS/CDC Funding Web Page:
<http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/funding.htm>

HHS/CDC Forms Web Page: <http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm>

Applicants may access the application process and other awarding
documents using the Electronic Research Administration System (eRA
Commons). A one-time registration is required for interested
institutions/organizations at
<http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/preparing.htm>

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) should work with
their institutions/organizations to make sure they are registered in the
eRA Commons.

1.  [Organizational/Institutional Registration in the eRA
    Commons](https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/registration/registrationInstructions.jsp)

-   To find out if an organization is already eRA Commons-registered,
    see the \"[List of Grantee Organizations Registered in eRA
    Commons."](http://era.nih.gov/userreports/ipf_com_org_list.cfm)

-   Direct questions regarding the eRA Commons registration to:\
    eRA Commons Help Desk\
    Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)\
    TTY: 301-451-5939\
    Business hours M-F 7:00 a.m. -- 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time\
    Email <commons@od.nih.gov>

> 2\. Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Registration in
> the eRA Commons: Refer to the [NIH eRA Commons System (COM) Users
> Guide](http://era.nih.gov/Docs/COM_UGV2630.pdf).

-   The individual designated as the PD/PI on the application must also
    be registered in the eRA Commons. It is not necessary for PDs/PIs to
    register with Grants.gov.

-   The PD/PI must hold a PD/PI account in the eRA Commons and must be
    affiliated with the applicant organization. This account cannot have
    any other role attached to it other than the PD/PI.

-   This registration/affiliation must be done by the Authorized
    Organization Representative/Signing Official (AOR/SO) or their
    designee who is already registered in the eRA Commons.

-   Both the PD/PI and AOR/SO need separate accounts in the eRA Commons
    since both hold different roles for authorization and to view the
    application process.

Note that if a PD/PI is also an HHS peer-reviewer with an Individual
DUNS and CCR registration, that particular DUNS number and CCR
registration are for the individual reviewer only. These are different
than any DUNS number and CCR registration used by an applicant
organization. Individual DUNS and CCR registration should be used only
for the purposes of personal reimbursement and should not be used on any
grant applications submitted to the Federal Government.

Several of the steps of the registration process could take four weeks
or more. Therefore, applicants should check with their business official
to determine whether their organization/institution is already
registered in the eRA [Commons](https://commons.era.nih.gov/commons/).
HHS/CDC strongly encourages applicants to register to utilize these
helpful on-line tools when applying for funding opportunities.