49642 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 

1Behaviors that increase risk for HIV 

transmission include engaging in casual sexual 

encounters, engaging in sex in exchange for money 

Web site of the HHS Office of Global 

Health Affairs, Internet address: 

www.globalhealth.gov.

Dated: August 17, 2005. 

William P. Nichols, 

Director, Procurement and Grants Office, 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services.

[FR Doc. 05–16822 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

Strengthening Prevention, Control and 

Treatment Activities for HIV/AIDS, 

Tuberculosis and Sexually Transmitted 

Infection in the Amhara Region of 

Northwest Ethiopia, as Part of the 

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief 

Announcement Type: New. 

Funding Opportunity Number:

AA135. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 93.067. 

Key Dates: Application deadline:

September 19, 2005. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: This program is authorized 

under Sections 301(a) and 307 of the Public 

Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 and 242l], 

as amended, and under Public Law 108–25 

(United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, 

Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) 

[U.S.C. 7601].

Background: President Bush’s 

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has 

called for immediate, comprehensive 

and evidence-based action to turn the 

tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative 

aims to treat more than two million 

HIV-infected people with effective 

combination anti-retroviral therapy by 

2008; care for ten million HIV-infected 

and affected persons, including those 

orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and 

prevent seven million infections by 

2010, with a focus on 15 priority 

countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan 

Africa. The five-year strategy for the 

Emergency Plan is available at the 

following Internet address: http://

www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.

Over the same time period, as part of 

a collective national response, the 

Emergency Plan goals specific to 

Ethiopia are to treat at least 210,000 

HIV-infected individuals and care for 

1,050,000 HIV-affected individuals, 

including orphans. 

Purpose: The purpose of this funding 

announcement is to progressively build 

an indigenous, sustainable response to 

the national HIV epidemic in Ethiopia 

through the rapid expansion of 

innovative, culturally appropriate, highquality HIV/AIDS prevention and care 

interventions, and improved linkages to 

HIV counseling and testing and HIV 

treatment by targeting underserved 

populations in Ethiopia. Under the 

leadership of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator, as part of the President’s 

Emergency Plan, the U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS) 

works with host countries and other key 

partners to assess the needs of each 

country and design a customized 

program of assistance that fits within 

the host nation’s strategic plan. 

HHS focuses on two or three major 

program areas in each country. Goals 

and priorities include the following: 

• Achieving primary prevention of 

HIV infection through activities such as 

expanding confidential counseling and 

testing programs, building programs to 

reduce mother-to-child transmission, 

and strengthening programs to reduce 

transmission via blood transfusion and 

medical injections. 

• Improving the care and treatment of 

HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases 

(STDs) and related opportunistic 

infections by improving STD 

management; enhancing care and 

treatment of opportunistic infections, 

including tuberculosis (TB); and 

initiating programs to provide antiretroviral therapy (ART).

• Strengthening the capacity of 

countries to collect and use surveillance 

data and manage national HIV/AIDS 

programs by expanding HIV/STD/TB 

surveillance programs and 

strengthening laboratory support for 

surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, 

disease-monitoring and HIV screening 

for blood safety. 

As one of the key agencies that 

implement the Emergency Plan, HHS 

works in a collaborative manner with 

national governments and other 

agencies to develop programs of 

assistance to address the HIV/AIDS 

epidemic in target countries, including 

Ethiopia. In particular, HHS’ mission in 

Ethiopia is to work with Ethiopian and 

international partners to develop and 

apply effective interventions to prevent 

HIV infection and associated illnesses 

and death from AIDS. 

Ethiopia is among the countries most 

adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS 

epidemic and TB. STIs are highly 

prevalent in Ethiopia and contribute to 

morbidity and mortality from HIV/

AIDS. Ethiopia has one of the largest 

populations of HIV-infected persons in 

the world. By the end of 2003 an 

estimated 1.5 million adults in Ethiopia 

were HIV-positive. The estimated 

percentage of Ethiopians age 15 to 49 

infected with HIV is 4.4 percent, and 

there have been over a million 

cumulative deaths from AIDS. In 

Ethiopia approximately 200,000 

children are currently living with HIV, 

and AIDS has orphaned over 500,000 

children. 

Given the complex nature of the HIV/

AIDS epidemic in Ethiopia, forging a 

strong multi-sectoral and multi-level 

partnership with broad stakeholder 

involvement is imperative. The 

Government of Ethiopia has therefore 

adopted a responsive HIV/AIDS/STI/TB 

program, and its implementation 

mechanisms have been in place since 

1998. Ethiopia is currently taking 

measures to accelerate the 

implementation of interventions that 

deliver comprehensive care to decrease 

illness and death, promote acceptance 

of HIV counseling and confidential 

voluntary testing, and strengthen local 

health care capacity. Health care 

facilities that are already in the 

frontlines of the fight against HIV/AIDS/

STI/TB are scaling up prevention, care, 

support, and treatment across the 

country, with significant assistance from 

the President’s Emergency Plan for 

AIDS Relief. 

A shortage of trained care providers 

and lack of adequate technical support, 

and scientific evidence to guide policy 

and program decisions are major 

challenges. The complexity of the 

response to HIV/AIDS/STI/TB 

necessitates strong technical support to 

national and regional programs. Scaling 

up training at in-service and pre-service 

levels, targeted monitoring and 

evaluations, and linkages to national 

and international partners are all 

needed. These program needs in 

Northwest Ethiopia are best met by 

universities, their teaching hospitals 

and catchment health facilities, working 

in partnership with the Regional Health 

Bureau, and the Ethiopian Ministry of 

Health (MOH) and sister institutions incountry and overseas. 

The purpose of this project is to 

strengthen HIV/AIDS/sexually 

transmitted infection (STI)/tuberculosis 

(TB) prevention and control efforts in 

the Amhara region of Northwest 

Ethiopia. The project will (1) improve 

HIV/AIDS/STI/TB prevention by using 

the ‘‘ABC strategy’’ (abstinence, be 

faithful, and, for populations engaged in 

high-risk behaviors,1 correct and 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 49643

or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner 

or one whose status is unknown, using drugs or 

abusing alcohol in the context of sexual 

interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 

even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of 

becoming infected by their spouse, regular male 

partner, or someone using force against them. Other 

high-risk persons or groups include men who have 

sex with men and workers who are employed away 

from home. Awardees may not implement condom 

social marketing without also implementing 

abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 

interventions.

2Prevention interventions directed toward 

behavior change should promote the ABC model. 

Methods and strategies should emphasize 

abstinence for youth and other unmarried persons, 

mutual faithfulness and partner reduction for 

sexually active adults, and correct and consistent 

use of condoms by populations engaged in high-risk 

behaviors. Behaviors that increase risk for HIV 

transmission include engaging in casual sexual 

encounters, engaging in sex in exchange for money 

or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner 

or one whose status is unknown, using drugs or 

abusing alcohol in the context of sexual 

interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 

even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of 

becoming infected by their spouse, regular male 

partner, or someone using force against them. Other 

high-risk persons or groups include men who have 

sex with men and workers who are employed away 

from home. Awardees may not implement condom 

social marketing without also implementing the 

abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 

interventions outlined above.

consistent condom use),2 and control 

and treatment programs in the Amhara 

region of Northwest Ethiopia; (2) 

strengthen training in HIV/AIDS/STI/TB 

at university-affiliated teaching 

hospitals in the Amhara region of 

Northwest Ethiopia and their outreach 

training facilities; (3) establish a 

technical support and training unit to 

assist university-affiliated teaching 

hospitals HIV/AIDS/STI/TB program 

implementation within their catchment 

areas in the Amhara region of Northwest 

Ethiopia; (4) prevent, control, and treat 

HIV/AIDS/STI among students and 

faculty of universities in the Amhara 

region of Northwest Ethiopia; and (5) 

develop the health system and 

infrastructure important for the delivery 

of HIV/AIDS/STI/TB care at universityaffiliated teaching hospitals in the 

Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia; 

(6) implement HIV/AIDS/STI/TBtargeted monitoring and evaluation for 

these programs.

This collaborative initiative will 

change the focus and activities of 

universities and their teaching hospitals 

and affiliated health facilities in the 

Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia. It 

will enable these universities to 

strengthen and improve the quality of 

care offered at their affiliated hospitals, 

and improve HIV/AIDS/STI/TB training 

provided to all cadres of health 

professionals trained at the universities, 

its teaching hospital and catchment 

facilities. It will strengthen the capacity 

of the university to support in-service 

training for the Amhara Region and 

adjoining regions with no institutions of 

higher education; conduct targeted 

monitoring and evaluations; assist in 

development and adaptation into local 

languages of technical materials for 

local use; and provide technical support 

to the regional and national Ethiopian 

HIV/AIDS/STI/TB programs. It will 

serve as a demonstration site for other 

training facilities in the region; and 

prepare the universities for 

collaboration with other institutions of 

higher education in Ethiopia, and for 

twinning with other institutions 

overseas, including in the United States. 

Measurable outcomes of the program 

will be in alignment with the numerical 

goals of the President’s Emergency Plan 

for AIDS Relief and one (or more) of the 

following performance goal(s) for the 

National Center for HIV, Sexually 

Transmitted Diseases and Tuberculosis 

Prevention (NCHSTP) of the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

within HHS: Increase the proportion of 

HIV-infected people who are linked to 

appropriate prevention, care and 

treatment services and to strengthen the 

capacity nationwide to monitor the 

epidemic, develop and implement 

effective HIV prevention interventions 

and evaluate prevention programs. 

This announcement is only for nonresearch activities supported by HHS, 

including CDC. If applicants propose 

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/ads/

opspo111.htm.

Activities: The recipient of these 

funds is responsible for activities in 

multiple program areas designed to 

target underserved populations in 

Ethiopia. Either the awardee will 

implement activities directly or will 

implement them through its subgrantees 

and/or subcontractors; the awardee will 

retain overall financial and 

programmatic management under the 

oversight of HHS/CDC and the strategic 

direction of the Office of the U.S. Global 

AIDS Coordinator. The awardee must 

show a measurable, progressive 

reinforcement of the capacity of 

indigenous organizations and local 

communities to respond to the national 

HIV epidemic, as well as, progress 

towards the sustainability of activities. 

Applications should describe 

activities in detail as part of a four-year 

action plan (U.S. Government Fiscal 

Years 2005–2008 inclusive) that reflects 

the policies and goals outlined in the 

five-year strategy for the President’s 

Emergency Plan. 

The grantee will produce an annual 

operational plan in the context of this 

four-year plan, which the U.S. 

Government Emergency Plan team on 

the ground in Haiti will review as part 

of an annual Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief Country Operational Plan review 

and approval process managed by the 

Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator. The grantee may work on 

some of the activities listed below in the 

first year and in subsequent years, and 

then progressively add others from the 

list to achieve all of the Emergency Plan 

performance goals, as cited in the 

previous section.

HHS/CDC, under the guidance of the 

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, will 

approve funds for activities on an 

annual basis, based on documented 

performance towards achieving 

Emergency Plan goals, as part of the 

annual Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 

Country Operational Plan review and 

approval process. 

Awardee activities for this program 

are as follows: 

1. Conduct needs assessment among 

the students and faculty at universities 

and teaching hospitals in the Amhara 

region of Northwest Ethiopia to 

determine risk factors, target behaviors, 

barriers, facilitators, reinforcement 

mechanisms, communication channels, 

availability of care, etc. to inform the 

development of prevention, care and 

treatment programs. 

2. Organize and procure necessary 

equipment and supplies in a transparent 

and competitive process; and coordinate 

interventions, trainings and targeted 

monitoring and evaluations. 

3. Develop/adapt or organize tools, 

such as operations manuals, training 

manuals, and guidelines in local 

languages, in the areas of HIV/AIDS; 

prevention of mother-to-child 

transmission (PMTCT); confidential 

voluntary counseling and testing (VCT); 

STI; TB; laboratory; and other technical 

areas, as deemed appropriate, for 

provision of in-patient and out-patient 

care; in-service training; and targeted 

monitoring and evaluations. 

4. Institute the needed administrative 

and functional arrangements to 

coordinate the day-to-day activities of 

the project to guarantee effectiveness, 

efficiency, transparency and 

accountability. 

5. Conduct in-service training 

activities in local languages related to 

HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, confidential VCT, 

STI, TB, laboratory, and other technical 

areas, as needed at universities and 

teaching hospitals in the Amhara region 

of Northwest Ethiopia. 

6. Review, update, and institute 

course outlines and contents for preVerDate jul<14>2003 15:23 Aug 23, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1
49644 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 

3Prevention interventions directed toward 

behavior change should promote the ABC model. 

Methods and strategies should emphasize 

abstinence for youth and other unmarried persons, 

mutual faithfulness and partner reduction for 

sexually active adults, and correct and consistent 

use of condoms by populations engaged in high-risk 

behaviors. Behaviors that increase risk for HIV 

transmission include engaging in casual sexual 

encounters, engaging in sex in exchange for money 

or favors, having sex with an HIV-positive partner 

or one whose status is unknown, using drugs or 

abusing alcohol in the context of sexual 

interactions, and using intravenous drugs. Women, 

even if faithful themselves, can still be at risk of 

becoming infected by their spouse, regular male 

partner, or someone using force against them. Other 

high-risk persons or groups include men who have 

sex with men and workers who are employed away 

from home. Awardees may not implement condom 

social marketing without also implementing the 

abstinence and faithfulness behavior-change 

interventions outlined above.

service (undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, nursing 

students and other paramedical 

students) training programs in local 

languages to strengthen the training in 

HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, confidential VCT, 

STI, TB, laboratory, and other related 

technical areas at universities and 

teaching hospitals in the Amhara region 

of Northwest Ethiopia. 

7. Conduct pre-service training in 

HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, VCT, STI, TB, 

laboratory, and other related technical 

areas in all health professional training 

programs at universities and teaching 

hospitals in the Amhara region of 

Northwest Ethiopia. 

8. Conduct targeted monitoring and 

evaluations of the project in identified 

priority areas that require evidence for 

implementation and in-service and preservice training in collaboration with 

international partners. 

9. Conduct reviews and analysis of 

data and prepare, and disseminate 

reports and information. 

10. Conduct cultural appropriate 

workshops, seminars and 

popularization events in local languages 

related to HIV/AIDS prevention, control, 

and treatment in the region; and 

undertake monitoring and evaluation 

and planning of the project at 

universities and teaching hospitals in 

the Amhara region of Northwest 

Ethiopia. Grantee many not implement 

condom social marketing without also 

implementing abstinence and behavior 

change interventions.

11. Conduct HIV/AIDS/STIs 

prevention following the ABC model 3, 

as well as control, and treatment 

activities among students and faculty at 

universities and teaching hospitals in 

the Amhara region of Northwest 

Ethiopia.

12. Institute comprehensive 

prevention, care and treatment services 

supported by information systems and 

laboratories at teaching hospitals in the 

Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia. 

Administration: The winning 

applicant must comply with all HHS 

management requirements for meeting 

participation and progress and financial 

reporting for this cooperative agreement 

(See HHS Activities and Reporting 

sections below for details), and comply 

with all policy directives established by 

the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator. 

In a cooperative agreement, HHS staff 

is substantially involved in the program 

activities, above and beyond routine 

grant monitoring. 

HHS/CDC activities for this program 

are as follows: 

1. Provide scientific and technical 

assistance in developing the awardee’s 

operational plan. 

2. Provide ongoing technical 

assistance in program implementation. 

3. Assist the awardee in assessments 

of the program’s operations to determine 

the overall effectiveness of the program, 

including developing a monitoring and 

evaluation tool for the activities in the 

program. 

4. Participate in training of health 

staff. 

5. Provide technical assistance from 

HHS-headquarters and the in-country 

HHS office in Ethiopia to assure other 

related U.S. Government activities are 

well-coordinated with the national 

program. 

6. Organize an orientation meeting 

with the grantee to brief it on applicable 

U.S. Government, HHS, and Emergency 

Plan expectations, regulations and key 

management requirements, as well as 

report formats and contents. The 

orientation could include meetings with 

staff from HHS agencies and the Office 

of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. 

7. Review and approve the process 

used by the grantee to select key 

personnel and/or post-award 

subcontractors and/or subgrantees to be 

involved in the activities performed 

under this agreement, as part of the 

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Country 

Operational Plan review and approval 

process, managed by the Office of the 

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. 

8. Review and approve grantee’s 

annual work plan and detailed budget, 

as part of the Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief Country Operational Plan review 

and approval process, managed by the 

Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator. 

9. Review and approve grantee’s 

monitoring and evaluation plan, 

including for compliance with the 

strategic information guidance 

established by the Office of the U.S. 

Global AIDS Coordinator. 

10. Meet on a monthly basis with 

grantee to assess monthly expenditures 

in relation to approved work plan and 

modify plans as necessary. 

11. Meet on a quarterly basis with 

grantee to assess quarterly technical and 

financial progress reports and modify 

plans as necessary.

12. Meet on an annual basis with 

grantee to review annual progress report 

for each U.S. Government Fiscal Year, 

and to review annual work plans and 

budgets for subsequent year, as part of 

the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 

review and approval process for 

Country Operational Plans, managed by 

the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator. 

13. 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 

strategic information, project 

management, confidential counseling 

and testing, palliative care, treatment 

literacy, and adult learning techniques. 

14. Provide in-country administrative 

support to help grantee meet U.S. 

Government financial and reporting 

requirements. 

15. Make available manuals, 

guidelines or other related materials 

already developed by HHS-Ethiopia for 

other similar projects. 

Technical assistance and training may 

be provided directly by HHS/CDC staff 

or through organizations that have 

successfully competed for funding 

under a separate HHS/CDC contract. 

II. Award Information 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

Agreement. 

HHS involvement in this program is 

listed in the Activities section above. 

Fiscal Year Funds: 2005. 

Approximate Total Funding:

$500,000. 

Approximate Number of Awards:

One. 

Approximate Average Award:

$100,000. (This amount is for the first 

12-month budget period, and includes 

direct costs.) 

Floor of Award Range: None. 

Ceiling of Award Range: $100,000. 

Anticipated Award Date: September 

23, 2005. 

Budget Period Length: 12 months. 

Project Period Length: Five years. 

Throughout the project period, HHS’ 

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 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 49645

the determination that continued 

funding is in the best interest of the 

Federal Government, through the 

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS 

Relief review and approval process for 

Country Operational Plans, managed by 

the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS 

Coordinator. 

III. Eligibility Information 

III.1. Eligible Applicants 

Assistance will be provided only to 

universities and teaching hospitals in 

Northwest Ethiopia. Applicants must 

demonstrate a strong commitment to 

community based, multi-disciplinary 

team training program that also 

integrates training, service and research. 

Applicants must have a documented 

track record of working closely with 

Amhara Regional Health Bureau and the 

adjoining regions as well as with a 

number of regional and international 

institutions of higher education, 

professional associations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and 

faith based organizations (FBOs). 

Applicants must have demonstrated 

capacity to provide training for all 

cadres of health care professionals 

deployed to this region of Ethiopia. 

III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching Funds

Matching funds are not required for 

this program. Although matching funds 

are not required, preference will go to 

organizations that can leverage 

additional funds to contribute to 

program goals. 

III.3. Other 

If you request a funding amount 

greater than the ceiling of the award 

range, we will consider your application 

non-responsive, and it will not enter 

into the review process. We will notify 

you that your application did not meet 

the submission requirements. 

Special Requirements: If your 

application is incomplete or nonresponsive to the special requirements 

listed in this section, it will not enter 

into the review process. We will notify 

you that your application did not meet 

submission requirements. 

• HHS/CDC will consider late 

applications 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 

constituting an award, grant, or loan. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

To apply for this funding opportunity 

use application form PHS 5161–1. 

Electronic Submission: HHS strongly 

encourages you to submit your 

application electronically by using the 

forms and instructions posted for this 

announcement at www.grants.gov.

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/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 HHS/CDC Procurement and 

Grants Office Technical Information 

Management Section (PGO–TIM) staff 

at: 770–488–2700. We can mail 

application forms to you. 

IV.2. Content and Form of Submission 

Application: You must submit a 

project narrative with your application 

forms. You must submit the narrative in 

the following format: 

• Maximum number of pages: 20. If 

your narrative exceeds the page limit, 

we will only review the first pages 

within the page limit. 

• Font size: 12-point unreduced 

• Double spaced 

• Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches 

• Page margin size: One inch 

• Printed only on one side of page. 

• Held together only by rubber bands 

or metal clips; not bound in any other 

way. 

• All pages should be numbered. 

• A complete index to the application 

and any appendices must be included. 

• Your application MUST be 

submitted in English. 

Your narrative should address 

activities to be conducted over the 

entire project period, and must include 

the following items in the order listed: 

• Background—What are the 

underlying issues related to undertaking 

this project?

• Objectives—What objectives will be 

achieved by undertaking this project? 

• Methods—What methods will be 

used to achieve stated objectives? 

• Timeline—What is the timeframe 

for completing the stated objectives? 

• Staff—What staff will be employed 

to carry out the project? 

• Understanding—Demonstrate 

knowledge of the elements involved in 

implementing this project. 

• Performance Measures—What 

measures will be used to determine if 

the objectives of the project are being 

met? 

• Budget Justification—How are the 

costs related to implementing the 

project justified? 

• Budget—What are the costs 

associated with implementing the 

project? 

We need the budget and budget 

justification only for year one of the 

project period. The budget and budget 

justification will not count toward the 

page limit stated above. 

Additional information may be 

included in the application appendices. 

The appendices will not be counted 

toward the narrative page limit. 

Additional information could include, 

but is not limited to: 

• Resumes and/or curriculum vitae 

• Letters of Support 

• Job descriptions of proposed key 

positions to be created for the activity 

• Quality-Assurance, Monitoringand-Evaluation, and StrategicInformation Forms 

• Applicant’s Corporate Capability 

Statement 

• Evidence of Legal Organizational 

Structure 

You 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, access http://

www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1–

866–705–5711. 

For more information, see the HHS/

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. 

Additional requirements that could 

require you to submit additional 

documentation with your application 

are listed in section 

‘‘VI.2.Administrative and National 

Policy Requirements.’’ 

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times 

Application Deadline Date:

September 19, 2005. 

Explanation of Deadlines:

Applications must be received in the 

HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants 

Office by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the 

deadline date. 

You may submit your application 

electronically at www.grants.gov. We 

consider applications completed online 

through Grants.gov as formally 

submitted when the applicant 

organization’s Authorizing Official 

electronically submits the application to 

www.grants.gov. We will consider 

49646 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 

electronic applications as having met 

the deadline if the applicant 

organization’s Authorizing Official has 

submitted the application electronically 

to Grants.gov on or before the deadline 

date and time.

If you submit your application 

electronically with Grants.gov, your 

application will be electronically time/

date stamped, which will serve as 

receipt of submission. You will receive 

an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/

CDC receives the application. 

If you submit your application by the 

United States Postal Service or 

commercial delivery service, you must 

ensure that the carrier will be able to 

guarantee delivery by the closing date 

and time. If HHS/CDC receives your 

submission after closing because: (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 have the opportunity 

to submit documentation of the carrier’s 

guarantee. If the documentation verifies 

a carrier problem, HHS/CDC will 

consider the submission as received by 

the deadline. 

If you submit a hard copy application, 

HHS/CDC will not notify you upon 

receipt of your submission. If you have 

a question about the receipt of your 

application, first contact your courier. If 

you still have a question, contact the 

PGO–TIM staff at: 770–488–2700. Before 

calling, please wait two to three days 

after the submission deadline. This will 

allow time for us to process and log 

submissions. 

This announcement is the definitive 

guide on application content, 

submission address, and deadline. It 

supersedes information provided in the 

application instructions. If your 

submission does not meet the deadline 

above, it will not be eligible for review, 

and we will discard it. We will notify 

you that you 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 you must take 

into account while writing your budget, 

are as follows: 

• Funds may not be used for research. 

• Reimbursement of pre-award costs 

is not allowed. 

• Antiretroviral Drugs—The purchase 

of antiretrovirals, reagents, and 

laboratory equipment for antiretroviral 

treatment projects require pre-approval 

from the GAP headquarters. 

• Needle Exchange—No funds 

appropriated under this Act shall be 

used to carry out any program of 

distributing sterile needles or syringes 

for the hypodermic injection of any 

illegal drug. 

• Funds may be spent for reasonable 

program purposes, including personnel, 

training, travel, supplies and services. 

Equipment may be purchased and 

renovations completed if deemed 

necessary to accomplish program 

objectives; however, prior approval by 

HHS/CDC officials must be requested in 

writing. 

• 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 costs that are generally 

allowable in grants to domestic 

organizations, are allowable to foreign 

institutions and international 

organizations, with the following 

exception: With the exception of the 

American University, Beirut, and the 

World Health Organization, Indirect 

Costs will not be paid (either directly or 

through sub-award) to organizations 

located outside the territorial limits of 

the United States or to international 

organizations, regardless of their 

location. 

• The applicant may contract with 

other organizations under this program; 

however, the applicant must perform a 

substantial portion of the activities, 

(including program management and 

operations, and delivery of prevention 

and care services for which funds are 

required). 

• You must obtain an annual audit of 

these HHS/CDC funds (program-specific 

audit) by a U.S.-based audit firm with 

international branches and current 

licensure/authority in-country, and in 

accordance with International 

Accounting Standards or equivalent 

standard(s) approved in writing by 

HHS/CDC. 

• A fiscal Recipient Capability 

Assessment may be required, prior to or 

post award in order to review the 

applicant’s business management and 

fiscal capabilities regarding the 

handling of U.S. Federal funds. 

Prostitution and Related Activities:

The U.S. Government is opposed to 

prostitution and related activities, 

which are inherently harmful and 

dehumanizing, and contribute to the 

phenomenon of trafficking in persons.

Any entity that receives, directly or 

indirectly, U.S. Government funds in 

connection with this document 

(‘‘recipient’’) cannot use such U.S. 

Government funds to promote or 

advocate the legalization or practice of 

prostitution or sex trafficking. Nothing 

in the preceding sentence shall be 

construed to preclude the provision to 

individuals of palliative care, treatment, 

or post-exposure pharmaceutical 

prophylaxis, and necessary 

pharmaceuticals and commodities, 

including test kits, condoms, and, when 

proven effective, microbicides. 

A recipient that is otherwise eligible 

to receive funds in connection with this 

document to prevent, treat, or monitor 

HIV/AIDS shall not be required to 

endorse or utilize a multisectoral 

approach to combating HIV/AIDS, or to 

endorse, utilize, or participate in a 

prevention method or treatment 

program to which the recipient has a 

religious or moral objection. Any 

information provided by recipients 

about the use of condoms as part of 

projects or activities that are funded in 

connection with this document shall be 

medically accurate and shall include the 

public health benefits and failure rates 

of such use. 

In addition, any recipient must have 

a policy explicitly opposing prostitution 

and sex trafficking. The preceding 

sentence shall not apply to any ‘‘exempt 

organizations’’ (defined as the Global 

Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and 

Malaria, the World Health Organization 

and its six Regional Offices, the 

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative or 

to any United Nations agency). 

The following definition applies for 

purposes of this clause: 

• Sex trafficking means the 

recruitment, harboring, transportation, 

provision, or obtaining of a person for 

the purpose of a commercial sex act. 22 

U.S.C. 7102(9). 

All recipients must insert provisions 

implementing the applicable parts of 

this section, ‘‘Prostitution and Related 

Activities,’’ in all subagreements under 

this award. These provisions must be 

express terms and conditions of the 

subagreement, must acknowledge that 

compliance with this section, 

‘‘Prostitution and Related Activities,’’ is 

a prerequisite to receipt and 

expenditure of U.S. government funds 

in connection with this document, and 

must acknowledge that any violation of 

the provisions shall be grounds for 

unilateral termination of the agreement 

prior to the end of its term. Recipients 

must agree that HHS may, at any 

reasonable time, inspect the documents 

and materials maintained or prepared 

by the recipient in the usual course of 

its operations that relate to the 

organization’s compliance with this 

section, ‘‘Prostitution and Related 

Activities.’’ 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 49647

All prime recipients that receive U.S. 

Government funds (‘‘prime recipients’’) 

in connection with this document must 

certify compliance prior to actual 

receipt of such funds in a written 

statement that makes reference to this 

document (e.g., ‘‘[Prime recipient’s 

name] certifies compliance with the 

section, ‘‘Prostitution and Related 

Activities.’ ’’) addressed to the agency’s 

grants officer. Such certifications by 

prime recipients are prerequisites to the 

payment of any U.S. Government funds 

in connection with this document. 

Recipients’ compliance with this 

section, ‘‘Prostitution and Related 

Activities,’’ is an express term and 

condition of receiving U.S. Government 

funds in connection with this 

document, and any violation of it shall 

be grounds for unilateral termination by 

HHS of the agreement with HHS in 

connection with this document prior to 

the end of its term. The recipient shall 

refund to HHS the entire amount 

furnished in connection with this 

document in the event HHS determines 

the recipient has not complied with this 

section, ‘‘Prostitution and Related 

Activities.’’ 

You may find guidance for 

completing your budget 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 

Application Submission Address: 

Electronic Submission: HHS/CDC 

strongly encourages you to submit 

electronically at: www.grants.gov. You 

will be able to download a copy of the 

application package from 

www.grants.gov, complete it offline, and 

then upload and submit the application 

via the Grants.gov site. We will not 

accept e-mail submissions. If you are 

having technical difficulties in 

Grants.gov, you may reach them by email at support@grants.gov, or by phone 

at 1–800–518–4726 (1–800–518–

GRANTS). The Customer Support 

Center is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. 

HHS/CDC recommends that you 

submit your application to Grants.gov 

early enough to resolve any 

unanticipated difficulties prior to the 

deadline. You may also submit a backup paper submission of your 

application. We must receive any such 

paper submission in accordance with 

the requirements for timely submission 

detailed in Section IV.3. of the grant 

announcement. You must clearly mark 

the paper submission: ‘‘BACK-UP FOR 

ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION.’’ 

The paper submission must conform 

to all requirements for non-electronic 

submissions. If we receive both 

electronic and back-up paper 

submissions by the deadline, we will 

consider the electronic version the 

official submission.

We strongly recommended that you 

submit your grant application by using 

Microsoft Office products (e.g., 

Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.). If 

you do not have access to Microsoft 

Office products, you may submit a PDF 

file. You may find directions for 

creating PDF files on the Grants.gov web 

site. Use of file formats other than 

Microsoft Office or PDF could make 

your file unreadable for our staff.

OR

Paper Submission: Submit the 

original and two hard copies of your 

application by mail or express delivery 

service to: Technical Information 

Management Section—AA135, CDC 

Procurement and Grants Office, U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, 2920 Brandywine Road, 

Atlanta, GA 30341. 

V. Application Review Information 

V.1. Criteria 

Applicants must 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. 

Applicants must submit these measures 

of effectiveness with the application and 

will be an element of evaluation. 

An objective review panel appointed 

by HHS will evaluate each application 

against the following criteria: 

1. Plans for Administration and 

Management of the Project (25 Points) 

Do the plan, objectives, and methods 

described meet the objectives of the 

President’s Emergency Plan? Does the 

adequacy of described evaluation 

methodology meet the plans of the 

project? Does the application include an 

overall design strategy, including 

measurable time lines, clear monitoring 

and evaluation procedures, and specific 

activities for meeting the proposed 

objectives? Does the applicant describe 

a plan to progressively build the 

capacity of local organizations and of 

target beneficiaries and communities to 

respond to the epidemic? 

2. Technical and Programmatic 

Approach (20 Points) 

Does the applicant’s proposal 

demonstrate an understanding of how to 

develop, promote, implement, monitor 

and evaluate activities listed above? 

3. Ability to Carry Out the Project (20 

Points) 

Does the applicant provide a clear 

plan for the administration and 

management of the proposed activities, 

to manage the resources of the program, 

prepare reports, monitor and evaluate 

activities and audit expenditures? 

4. Personnel (20 Points) 

Are the professional personnel 

involved in this project qualified? Do 

they have experience working with HIV/

AIDS/STI/TB? Are they able to 

communicate effectively in the local 

languages? 

5. Understanding the Problem (15 

Points) 

Does the applicant demonstrate an 

understanding of the national cultural 

and political context and the technical 

and programmatic areas covered by the 

project? Does the applicant display 

knowledge of the five-year strategy and 

goals of the President’s Emergency Plan, 

such that it can build on these to 

develop a comprehensive, collaborative 

project to reach underserved 

populations in Ethiopia and meet the 

goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the 

applicant’s proposal demonstrate a clear 

and concise understanding of the 

general AIDS epidemic situation, the 

policy environment and current training 

and research needs in Ethiopia? 

6. Budget (Not Scored, But Evaluated) 

Is the itemized budget for conducting 

the project reasonable and well 

justified? 

V.2. Review and Selection Process 

The HHS/CDC Procurement and 

Grants Office (PGO) staff will review 

applications for completeness, and HHS 

Global AIDS program will review them 

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 that their application did 

not meet submission requirements. 

An objective review panel will 

evaluate complete and responsive 

applications according to the criteria 

listed in the ‘‘V.1. Criteria’’ section 

above. All persons who serve on the 

panel will be external to the U.S. 

Government Country Program Office. 

The panel may include both Federal and 

non-Federal participants.

In addition, the following factors 

could affect the funding decision: 

49648 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices 

While U.S.-based organizations are 

eligible to apply, we will give 

preference to existing national/

Ethiopian organizations. It is possible 

for one organization to apply as lead 

grantee with a plan that includes 

partnering with other organizations, 

preferably local. Although matching 

funds are not required, preference will 

be go to organizations that can leverage 

additional funds to contribute to 

program goals. 

Applications will be funded in order 

by score and rank determined by the 

review panel. HHS/CDC will provide 

justification for any decision to fund out 

of rank order. 

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and 

Award Dates 

September 23, 2005. 

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 

Grants Management Officer will sign the 

NoA, and mail it 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 

45 CFR Part 74 and Part 92 

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-tablesearch.html.

The following additional 

requirements apply to this project: 

• AR–4 HIV/AIDS Confidentiality 

Provisions 

• AR–8 Public Health System 

Reporting Requirements 

• AR–10 Smoke-Free Workplace 

Requirements 

• AR–12 Lobbying Restrictions 

• AR–14 Accounting System 

Requirements 

Applicants can find additional 

information on these requirements on 

the HHS/CDC Web site at the following 

Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/

od/pgo/funding/ARs.htm.

You need to include an additional 

Certifications form from the PHS5161–

1 application in the Grants.gov 

electronic submission only. Please refer 

to http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/

PHS5161-1-Certificates.pdf. Once you 

have filled out the form, attach it to the 

Grants.gov submission as Other 

Attachments Form. 

VI.3. Reporting Requirements 

You must provide HHS/CDC with an 

original, plus two hard copies of the 

following reports: 

1. Interim progress report, due no less 

than 90 days before the end of the 

budget period. The progress report will 

serve as your non-competing 

continuation application, and must 

contain the following elements: 

a. Current Budget Period Activities 

Objectives. 

b. Current Budget Period Financial 

Progress. 

c. New Budget Period Program 

Proposed Activity Objectives. 

d. Budget. 

e. Measures of Effectiveness.

f. Additional Requested Information. 

2. Annual progress report, due 90 

days after the end of the budget period. 

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. 

These reports must be mailed to the 

Grants Management Specialist listed in 

the ‘‘Agency Contacts’’ section of this 

announcement. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

We encourage inquiries concerning 

this announcement. 

For general questions, contact: 

Technical Information Management 

Section, CDC Procurement and Grants 

Office, 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, 

GA 30341, Telephone: 770–488–2700. 

For program technical assistance, 

contact: Tadesse Wuhib, MD, MPH, 

Country Director, CDC-Ethiopia, PO Box 

1014, Entoto Road, Addis Ababa, 

Telephone: (Office) 251–1–66–95–33; 

(Cell) 251–9–228543, E-mail address: 

wuhibt@etcdc.com.

For financial, grants management, or 

budget assistance, contact: Shirley 

Wynn, Grants Management Specialist, 

CDC Procurement and Grants Office, 

2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 

30341, Telephone: 770–488–1515, Email: SWynn@cdc.gov.

VIII. Other Information 

This and other CDC funding 

opportunity announcements can be 

found on the CDC Web site, Internet 

address: www.cdc.gov. Click on 

‘‘Funding’’, then ‘‘Grants and 

Cooperative Agreements.’’

Dated: August 17, 2005. 

William P. Nichols, 

Director, Procurement and Grants Office, 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[FR Doc. 05–16832 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention 

Implementation of Multi-Disciplinary 

HIV Care for Sexually Abused Children 

in Zambia, as Part of the President’s 

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 

Announcement Type: New. 

Funding Opportunity Number: CDC–

RFA–AA172. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 93.067. 

Key Dates: Application Deadline:

September 19, 2005. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Authority: This program is authorized 

under Sections 301(a) and 307 of the 

Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 

and 242l], as amended, and under 

Public Law 108–25 (United States 

Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, 

Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) 

[U.S.C. 7601]. 

Background: President Bush’s 

Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has 

called for immediate, comprehensive 

and evidence-based action to turn the 

tide of global HIV/AIDS. The initiative 

aims to treat more than two million 

HIV-infected people with effective 

combination anti-retroviral therapy by 

2008; care for ten million HIV-infected 

and affected persons, including those 

orphaned by HIV/AIDS, by 2008; and 

prevent seven million infections by 

2010, with focus on 15 priority 

countries, including 12 in sub-Saharan 

Africa. The five-year strategy for the 

Emergency Plan is available at the 

following Internet address: http://

www.state.gov/s/gac/rl/or/c11652.htm.

Over the same time period, as part of 

a collective national response, the 

Emergency Plan goals specific to 

Zambia are to treat at least 120,000 HIVinfected individuals and care for 

600,000 HIV-affected individuals, 

including orphans. 

Under the leadership of the U.S. 

Global AIDS Coordinator, as part of the 

President’s Emergency Plan, the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS) works with host 

countries and other key partners to 

assess the needs of each country and 

design a customized program of