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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 122 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 33704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15820]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01167]

Quality Assurance of HIV and HIV/AIDS-Related Testing; Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to improve the quality of HIV testing services in Zimbabwe. 
This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus area of HIV 
and Public Health Infrastructure.
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support activities 
to strengthen the capability of laboratories performing HIV and HIV/
AIDS-related testing in support of HIV prevention and care programs.

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance will be provided only to the Zimbabwe National Quality 
Assurance Program (ZINQAP). No other applications are solicited. ZINQAP 
is a non-profit organization supported solely by the government of 
Zimbabwe. No fees are provided ZINQAP for their quality assurance 
activities. ZINQAP is uniquely qualified to be the recipient 
organization for the following reasons:
    1. ZINQAP has recently been granted the sole governmental authority 
by Zimbabwe's Health Professions Authority to certify laboratories. As 
such, laboratories certified by ZINQAP will be required to implement 
and maintain quality assurance activities that will enable them to 
adhere to Zimbabwe's national standards.
    2. ZINQAP is the only laboratory quality assurance body in Zimbabwe 
and has been in existence since 1995 with the mission of assisting 
laboratories to attain and maintain a high standard of performance.
    3. ZINQAP currently provides a limited proficiency testing program 
for approximately 90 laboratories within the country, and as such, has 
established relationships with district provincial, and regional 
laboratories within the country. Having a program already in place will 
require minimal time to expand their capabilities. In contrast, another 
entity will require additional time to setup operations and must build 
rapport amongst the country's laboratories as the leader in providing 
quality assurance programs. ZINQAP has established relationships with 
U.S. based scientists, with international quality assurance experts, 
and with local governmental public health officials.
    4. ZINQAP routinely interfaces with appropriate officials on issues 
affecting the quality of Zimbabwe's laboratory test results.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, chapter 26, section 
1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages in lobbying 
activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an 
award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan or any other 
form.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $200,000 in U.S. dollars is available for FY 2001 to 
fund this award. It is expected that the award will begin on or about 
September 30, 2001, and will be made for a 12-month budget period 
within a project period of up to three years.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.
    All requests for funds, including the budget contained in the 
application, shall be stated in U.S. dollars. Once an award is made, 
the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will not compensate 
foreign grantees for currency exchange fluctuations through the 
issuance of supplemental awards.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To obtain additional business management information, contact: 
Mattie Jackson, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management Branch, 
Procurement and Grants Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, 
Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: (770)
488-2696, E-mail: [email protected].
    To obtain additional programmatic information, contact: Stacy M. 
Howard, Health Scientist, Division of Laboratory Systems, Public Health 
Practice Program Office, 4770 Buford Hwy., MS A-16, Atlanta, GA 30341, 
Telephone: (770) 488-8065, Email: [email protected]., or Michael St. Louis, 
M.D., Director, Zimbabwe-CDC AIDS Project 38 Samora Machel Avenue, 
Harare ZIMBABWE, Office: 263-11-808734, Mobile:
263-11-613193.

    Dated: June 19, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-15820 Filed 6-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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