Billing Code: 4163-18-P
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Expansion of National Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment and the Training of Service Providers in the Republic of Uganda under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
Announcement Type: New
Funding Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-PS07-741
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.067
Key Dates:
Application Deadline: September 12, 2007
Authority: This program is authorized under Public Law 108-25 (United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003) [22 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 (ART) 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/plan/c11652.htm.
Over the same time period, as part of a collective national response, the Emergency Plan goals specific to Uganda are to treat at least 60,000 HIV-infected individuals; and to care for 300,000 HIV-affected individuals, including orphans, and to prevent 165,000 new infections.
Purpose:
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:
The purpose of this announcement is to support the expansion of comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment to HIV-infected children and their families in Uganda, and to provide local-language training opportunities in HIV for Ugandan clinical and ancillary health professionals. Comprehensive HIV care must include anti-retroviral therapy (ART); adherence counseling; TB screening and treatment; the diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections (OI); strengthened laboratory capacity to support HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment; the provision of a Basic Preventive Care Package (BCP); confidential HIV counseling and testing, including provider-initiated and home-based testing; family-support interventions, including “prevention for positives” and discordant-couple counseling for parents; family psycho-social support; and related interventions for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Following Ugandan national pediatric-treatment guidelines and strategies, program initiatives will continue the care and treatment of 5,000 pediatric and family member patients, and expand quality pediatric care to additional clients by using a family-centered approach to ensure the pediatric patients and their families receive the necessary support. Activities should integrate prevention messages into all care and treatment activities. The recipient of the cooperative agreement should develop and integrate specific interventions and prevention messages to support adolescent care, treatment, adherence, into all its work. To ensure greater access to high-quality pediatric HIV care, the grantee must develop and support satellite sites in peri-urban and rural health-care facilities.
In support of these expanded satellite sites, and to rollout full access to high-quality pediatric care and treatment throughout Uganda, the program will establish initiatives to train and mentor doctors, nurses, counselors, and allied health-care providers in the public and private sector, to support Basic Preventive Palliative care and anti-retroviral treatment to children who are living with HIV/AIDS, with the ultimate goal of expanding access to pediatric HIV care in all regions of Uganda.
Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the following performance goal(s) for the Emergency Plan;
Strengthen the Ugandan national capacity to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS pediatric care and treatment and training for pediatric health-care providers, including the following:
This announcement is intended for non-research activities supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within HHS. If an applicant proposes research activities, HHS 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:
The recipient of these funds is responsible for activities in multiple program areas designed to target underserved populations in Uganda. 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.
Applicants should describe activities in detail that reflect the policies and goals outlined in the Five-Year Strategy for the President’s Emergency Plan.
The grantee will produce an annual operational plan, which the U.S. Government Emergency Plan team on the ground in Uganda will review as part of the 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 toward 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. Hire project staff and procure furnishings, equipment, computers, and fixed assets in an open, competitive and transparent process.
2. Establish administrative and financial structures and project offices.
3. Plan and implement, in collaboration with other training institutions, pre-service and training-of-trainer (TOT) programs for health-care students and in-service doctors, nurses, and allied providers. These trainings will include pediatric HIV care and treatment, the management of opportunistic infections (OI), anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for children, and support of orphans and vulnerable children.
4. Promote and expand specialized pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS care and support.
5. Ensure cross-linkage referrals for TB and HIV patients, by screening every HIV-positive person for TB and testing every person with active TB for HIV.
6. Identify and support initiatives to mitigate the spread of HIV among adolescents.
7. Establish systems for secure supply-chain management for HIV-related commodities, diagnostics, drugs, and supplies.
8. Develop or update national policies, training curricula, guidelines for pediatric HIV care and referral networks for HIV-infected/exposed children.
9. Design and carry out monitoring-and-evaluation plans and data-management systems.
10. Conduct regular supervisory/mentorship visits to public and private health-care facilities.
11. Publish reports, guidelines and training manuals for pediatric HIV care and treatment.
12. Ensure activities are consistent with the Ugandan National HIV Strategic Plan and National ART/Care Guidelines.
The awardee of this funding competition must comply with all HHS/CDC management requirements for meeting participation and progress and financial reporting for this cooperative agreement (See HHS/CDC 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/CDC staff is substantially involved in the program activities, above and beyond routine grant-monitoring.
HHS Activities for this program are as follows:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Review and approve the 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.
4. Review and approve the 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.
5. Meet on a monthly basis with the grantee to assess monthly expenditures in relation to approved work plan and modify plans, as necessary.
6. Meet on a quarterly basis with the grantee to assess quarterly technical and financial progress reports and modify plans as necessary.
7. 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, 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.
8. 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.
9. Provide in-country administrative support to help grantee meet U.S. Government financial and reporting requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 0920-0428 (Public Health Service Form 5161).
10. 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.
11. Provide consultation and scientific and technical assistance based on appropriate, HHS/CDC and Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator documents to promote the use of best practices known at the time.
12. Assist the recipient in developing and implementing quality-assurance criteria and procedures.
13. Facilitate in-country planning and review meetings for technical-assistance activities
14. Assist with the development, conduct and analysis of specific program reviews and evaluations of project activities, and the dissemination of demonstrated best practices, in both local languages and in English.
15. Coordinate technical study visits across in-country programs, as well as regional and international program exchanges, to share best practices.
Please note: Either HHS staff or staff from organizations that have successfully competed for funding under a separate HHS contract, cooperative agreement or grant will provide technical assistance and training.
Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement
HHS involvement in this program appears in the Activities Section above.
Award Mechanism: U2G – Global HIV/AIDS Non-Research Cooperative Agreements
In cooperation with other countries, international organizations, and other partners to conduct HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment non-research activities in international countries most heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Fiscal Year Funds: 2007
Approximate Current Fiscal Year Funding: $6,345,603
Approximate Total Project Period Funding: $25,000,000 (This amount is an estimate, and is subject to availability of funds.)
Approximate Number of Awards: One.
Approximate Average Award: $6,345,603 (This amount is for the first 12-month budget period, and includes direct costs.)
Floor of Individual Award Range: $6,345,603
Ceiling of Individual Award Range: $6,345,603 (This ceiling is for the first 12-month budget period.)
Anticipated Award Date: September 28, 2007
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, through 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.
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants that can apply for this funding opportunity appear below:
The only eligible applicants are organizations that are local, indigenous organizations in Uganda that have the following characteristics:
Justification for limited eligibility:
The goals of PEPFAR’s New Partners Initiative, announced in December 2006, is to “develop indigenous capacity to address HIV/AIDS to promote the sustainability of host nations’ efforts.” Institutional capacity building of Ugandan organizations is a key strategy for achieving the prevention, care and treatment goals of the Emergency Plan and to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Emergency Plan Programs. Engaging local partners is a critical step towards achieving this strategy.
Additionally, local indigenous organizations possess more familiarity with the target population, language, and culture in Uganda, and thus will be more acceptable to the target population and will offer services more culturally and linguistically appropriate.
Applicants who possess extensive experience in the provision of specialized pediatric clinical care and treatment and clinical capacity-building in pediatric training and providing training to pediatric-care providers will be able to provide services in a more cost effective manner, while applicants which possess the established clinical systems to continue the provision of comprehensive pediatric care and treatment to an existing pool of 5000 clients will ensure that there is no interruption in treatment and related services , such that activities are immediately effective and the measurable outcome goals are met.
III.2. Cost-Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required for this program. If applicants receive funding from other sources to underwrite the same or similar activities, or anticipate receiving such funding in the next 12 months, they must detail how the disparate streams of financing complement each other.
III.3. Other
If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range, HHS/CDC will consider the application non-responsive, and it will not enter into the review process. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant that the application did not meet the submission requirements.
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 the application did not meet submission requirements.
IV.1. Address to Request Application Package
To apply for this funding opportunity use application form PHS 5161-1.
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Number System
Each 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, please go to the following Internet address: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do;jsessionid=D12B99D19654F9B26C193B1EFDE3430B. From the home page, 1) click on "Begin DUNS Search/Request Process", 2) select country and submit your organization information. A DUNS number should be created within one day. Please direct any questions to govt@dnb.com.
For more information, see the HHS/CDC Web site at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm.
If the application form does not have a DUNS number field, please write the DUNS number at the top of the first page of the application, and/or include the DUNS number in the cover letter that accompanies the application.
Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC strongly encourages the applicant to submit the application electronically by using the forms and instructions posted for this announcement on www.Grants.gov, the official Federal agency-wide E-grant Web site. Only applicants who apply on-line may forego submitting paper copies of all application forms.
Registering an organization through www.Grants.gov is the first step in submitting applications online. Registration information is located in the “Get Registered” screen of www.Grants.gov. For Foreign Organizations, the next step would be to obtain an NATO Commercial and Governmental Entity (NCAGE) Code http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grantmain.htm. While application submission through www.Grants.gov is optional, applicants are strongly encouraged to use this online tool.
Key tips for Registration on Grants.gov:
If technical difficulties are encountered in Grants.gov, customer service may be obtained by e-mail at support@grants.gov, or by phone 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
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/forms.shtm.
If access to the Internet is not available, or if difficulty is encountered in accessing the forms on-line, contact the HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIM) staff at 770-488-2700, who can mail the application forms.
IV.2. Content and Form of Submission
Application:
A Project Abstract must be submitted with the application forms. The abstract must be submitted in the following format:
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 to be employed. It should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields insofar as possible understandable to a technically literate lay reader. This Abstract must not include any proprietary/confidential information.
Applicants must submit a project narrative with the application forms, in the following format:
· Maximum number of pages: 25 (If your narrative exceeds the page limit, HHS/CDC will only review the first pages that are within the page limit.);
The narrative should address activities the applicant will conduct over the entire project period, and must include the following items, in the order listed:
Applicants may include additional information in appendices. The appendices and budget information will not count toward the narrative page limit. This additional information includes the following:
With staffing breakdown and justification, provide a line-item budget and a narrative with justification for all requested costs. Be sure to include, if any, in-kind support or other contributions provided by the national Government and its donors as part of the total project, but for which funding is not being requested.
Budgets must be consistent with the purpose, objectives of the Emergency Plan and the program activities listed in this announcement and must include the following:
o Line-item breakdown and justification for all personnel, i.e., name, position title, annual salary, percentage of time and effort, and amount requested.
For each contract, list the following: (1) name of proposed contractor; (2) breakdown and justification for estimated costs; (3) description and scope of activities the contractor will perform; (4) period of performance; (5) method of contractor selection (e.g., competitive solicitation); and (6) methods of accountability. Applicants should, to the greatest extent possible, employ transparent and open competitive processes to choose contractors;
Additional requirements that could require submission of additional documentation with the application appear in Section “VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.”
Application Deadline Date: September 12, 2007
Explanation of Deadlines: The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office must receive applications by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Electronic Submission:
HHS/CDC will consider applications completed on-line through Grants.gov as formally submitted when the applicant organization’s Authorizing Official electronically submits the application to www.grants.gov. The application will be electronically time/date stamped, which will serve as receipt of submission. Applicants will receive an e-mail notice of receipt when HHS/CDC receives the application.
HHS/CDC will consider 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.
Paper Submission:
If an applicant submits an application 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. If HHS/CDC receives the submission after the closing date because of (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, the applicant 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 having been received by the deadline.
If an applicant submits a hard-copy application, 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 staff at (770) 488-2700. The applicant should wait two to three days after the submission deadline before calling. This will allow time for HHS/CDC 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 the application submission does not meet the deadline above, it will not be eligible for review, and HHS/CDC will discard it. HHS/CDC will notify the applicant 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 applicants must take into account while writing the budget, are as follows:
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 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.”
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.”
Guidance for completing the budget appears 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 applicants to submit applications electronically at www.Grants.gov. The application package is available at 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 support@grants.gov, or by phone at 1-800-518-4726 (1-800-518-GRANTS). The Customer Support Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
HHS/CDC recommends applicants submit their applications to Grants.gov early enough to resolve any unanticipated difficulties prior to the deadline. Applicants may also
submit a back-up paper submission 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 announcement. The applicant must clearly mark the paper submission: “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, the electronic version will be considered as the official submission.
The applicant must submit all application attachments 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 make 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:
2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
V.1. Criteria
Applicants are required to provide specific 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 the measures of effectiveness with the application, and they will be an element of evaluation.
HHS/CDC will evaluate the application against the following criteria:
Ability to Carry Out the Proposal (20 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate the local experience in Uganda and institutional capacity (both management and technical) to achieve the goals of the project with documented good-governance practices? Does the applicant have the ability to coordinate and collaborate with existing Emergency Plan partners and other donors, including the Global Fund and other U.S. Government Departments and agencies involved in implementing the Emergency Plan, including the U.S. Agency for International Development? Is there evidence of leadership support and evidence of current or past efforts to enhance HIV prevention and care? Does the applicant have the capacity to reach rural and other underserved populations in Uganda? Does the organization have the ability to target audiences that frequently fall outside the reach of the traditional media, and in local languages? To what extent does the applicant provide letters of support?
Technical and Programmatic Approach (20 points)
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 display knowledge of the strategy, principles and goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and are the proposed activities consistent with and pertinent to that strategy and those principles and goals? Does the applicant describe activities that are evidence-based, realistic, achievable, measurable and culturally appropriate to achieve the goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the application propose to build on and complement the current national response in Uganda with evidence-based strategies designed to reach underserved populations and meet the goals of the Emergency Plan? Does the application include reasonable estimates of outcome targets? (For example, the numbers of sites to be supported, number of clients the program will reach.) To what extent does the applicant propose to work with other organizations? The reviewers will assess the feasibility of the applicant's plan to meet the target goals, whether the proposed use of funds is efficient, and the extent to which the specific methods described are sensitive to the local culture.
Capacity-Building (15 points)
Does the applicant have a proven track-record of building the capacity of indigenous organizations and individuals? Does the applicant have relevant experience in using participatory methods and approaches, in project planning and implementation? Does the applicant describe an adequate and measurable plan to progressively build the capacity of local organizations and of target beneficiaries to respond to the epidemic? If not a local indigenous organization, does the applicant articulate a clear exit strategy, which will maximize the legacy of this project in the intervention communities? Does the capacity-building plan clearly describe how it will contribute to a) improved quality and geographic coverage of service delivery to achieve the "2,7,10" targets of the Emergency Plan, and b) (if not a local indigenous organization) an evolving role of the prime beneficiary with transfer of critical technical and management competence to local organizations/sites in support of a decentralized response?
Monitoring and Evaluation (15 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate the local experience and capability to implement rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the project? Does the applicant describe a system for reviewing and adjusting program activities based on monitoring information obtained by using innovative, participatory methods and standard approaches? Does the plan include indicators developed for each program milestone, and incorporated into the financial and programmatic reports? Are the indicators consistent with the Emergency Plan Indicator Guide? Is the system able to generate financial and program reports to show disbursement of funds, and progress towards achieving the numerical objectives of the President's Emergency Plan? Is the plan to measure outcomes of the intervention, and the manner in which they will be provided, adequate? Is the monitoring-and-evaluation plan consistent with the principles of the "Three Ones?" Applicants must define specific output and outcome indicators must be defined in the proposal, and must have realistic targets in line with the targets addressed in the Activities section of this announcement.
Understanding of the Problem (10 points)
Does the applicant demonstrate a clear and concise understanding of the current national HIV/AIDS response and the cultural and political context relevant to the programmatic areas targeted? Does the applicant display an understanding of the Five-Year Strategy and goals of the President's Emergency Plan? To what extent does the applicant justify the need for this program within the target community?
Personnel (10 points)
Does the organization employ staff fluent in local languages who will work on this project? Are the staff roles clearly defined? As described, will the staff be sufficient to meet the goals of the proposed project? If not an indigenous organization, does the staff plan adequately involve local individuals and organizations? Are staff involved in this project qualified to perform the tasks described? Curricula vitae provided should include information that they are qualified in the following: management of HIV/AIDS prevention activities, especially confidential, voluntary counseling and testing; and the development of capacity-building among and collaboration between Governmental and non-governmental partners.
Administration and Management (10 points)
Does the applicant provide a clear plan for the administration and management of the proposed activities, and to manage the resources of the program, prepare reports, monitor and evaluate activities, audit expenditures and produce collect and analyze performance data? Is the management structure for the project sufficient to ensure speedy implementation of the project? If appropriate, does the applicant have a proven track record in managing large laboratory budgets; running transparent and competitive procurement processes; supervising consultants and contractors; using subgrants or other systems of sharing resources with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations or smaller non-governmental organizations; and providing technical assistance in laboratory or pharmacy management? The grantee must demonstrate an ability to submit quarterly reports in a timely manner to the HHS/CDC office.
Budget (Reviewed, but not scored)
Is the itemized budget for conducting the project, along with justification, reasonable and consistent with stated objectives and planned program activities? Is the budget itemized, well-justified and consistent with the Five-Year Strategy (2003-2008) and goals of the President's Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan activities? If applicable, are there reasonable costs per client reached for both year one and later years of the project?
V.2. Review and Selection Process
The HHS/CDC Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff will review applications for completeness, and the 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 in Uganda. The panel may include both Federal and non-Federal participants.
In addition, the following factors could affect the funding decision:
Applicants funded in previous project period.
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
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:
and
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.
CDC Assurances and Certifications can be found on the CDC Web site, at the following Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/foamain.htm.
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 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 the non-competing continuation application, and must contain the following elements:
a. Activities and Objectives for the Current Budget Period;
b. Financial Progress for the Current Budget Period;
c. Proposed Activity and Objectives for the New Budget Period Program;
d. Budget;
e. Measures of Effectiveness, including progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for Uganda; and
f. Additional Requested Information;
2. Quarterly progress reports, due 3 weeks after the end of each quarter to both the Procurement and Grants office and the CDC Uganda office Project Officer. Reports should include progress against the numerical goals of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for Uganda;
3. Financial status report, due no more than 90 days after the end of the budget period;
4. Final financial performance reports, due no more than 90 days after the end of the project period; and
Recipients must mail the reports to the Grants Management Specialist listed in the "VII. Agency Contacts" section of this announcement.
HHS/CDC encourages inquiries concerning this announcement.
For general questions, contact:
Procurement and Grants Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road, MS E-14
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2700
For program technical assistance, contact:
Dr. Alice Namale, Project Officer
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
CDC Uganda
Uganda Virus Research Institute
P.O. Box 49
Entebbe, Uganda
Telephone: 256-41-320776
E-mail: akn0@ug.cdc.gov
For financial, grants management, or budget assistance, contact:
Anella Higgins, Grants Management Specialist
Procurement and Grants Office
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2920 Brandywine Road, Mail stop: K-75
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: 770-488-2710
E-mail: aoh2@cdc.gov
CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired or disabled is available at: TTY 770-488-2783.
VIII. Other Information
Other HHS/CDC funding opportunity announcements are available on the HHS/CDC Web site, Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm.
and on the web site of the HHS Office of Global Health Affairs, Internet address: www.globalhealth.gov.
CDC Home Page: http://www.cdc.gov
CDC Funding Web Page: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/FOAs.htm
CDC Forms Web Page:
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/grants/app_and_forms.shtm