Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of PS14-1403 is to strengthen the capacity of the HIV prevention workforce to optimally plan, implement, and sustain high-impact HIV prevention interventions and strategies in health departments, community-based organizations (CBOs), and healthcare organizations to reduce HIV infections and HIV-related morbidity, mortality, and health disparities across the United States and its territories.

CBA is the delivery of free (not for fee) state-of-the-science: a) information collection, monitoring, synthesis, packaging, and dissemination; b) training for skills development, and c) technical assistance including consultations, services, and facilitation of peer-to-peer mentoring to address a selected funding category and its related program components. CBA services do not include the direct delivery of HIV prevention services.

Addressing the following outcomes among its target populations (i.e., health departments, CBOs, and healthcare organizations):

• Increased accessibility and availability of culturally and linguistically appropriate CBA including state-of-the-science information, training, and technical assistance for high-impact HIV prevention (HIP) and supporting activities;
• Increased utilization by target audience members of culturally and linguistically appropriate CBA including state-of-the science information, training, and technical assistance for HIP and supporting activities; and
• Improved capacity of target audience members to implement HIP and supporting activities, including increases in their knowledge, skills, self-efficacy and intended use of capacity.

Awardees will a) constitute a national CBA Provider Network (CPN); b) implement all general program requirements; and c) nationally deliver free (not for fee), high-quality CBA services to address a selected funding category and its related program components. The following table summarizes the overall scope of work under PS14-1403. See FAQs section “Application” for additional information about program requirements, funding categories, and program components.

In FY 2014, CDC will institute Community High-Impact Prevention (CHIP), a new initiative to shift programmatic efforts of capacity building assistance to further maximize HIV prevention effect and optimize use of resources. Consolidating CBA programs previously funded under FOAs PS09-906 and PS11-1103 HIV Parts I and II,PS14-1403 will support a streamlined program that fully reflects CDC’s new direction for providing high-quality CBA services. CDC considered current HIV-related epidemiological data, the latest and most advanced scientific knowledge and development for high-impact HIV prevention (HIP), and our subsequent HIV prevention imperatives. To further inform development of this new program, CDC conducted a series of partner engagement sessions with representatives from capacity building and community-based organizations (CBOs), Prevention Training Centers (PTCs), health departments, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders to obtain their feedback and recommendations. Incorporating critical elements from all of these sources, PS14-1403 is a responsive evolution in the conceptualization and operationalization of a national CBA program for HIP.

Dynamic scientific, technological, economic, political, and social factors continually re-shape the practice of HIV prevention, thereby necessitating parallel shifts in the nature and capacity building needs of the HIV prevention workforce. CDC’s HIV prevention imperatives include, but are not limited to, the following:

• National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS)
• Community High-Impact Prevention (CHIP) initiative
• High-Impact HIV Prevention (HIP)
• HIV prevention through care and treatment
• The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI)
• Healthy People 2020

• Publication: August 2, 2013
• Recommended Letters of Intent Due: August 22, 2013
• Applications Due: October 2, 2013
• Announcement Date: February 28, 2014
• Award Date: April 1, 2014
• Project Period: April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2019

During the 60-day application phase (August 2, 2013 – October 2, 2013), applicants will have access to the following technical assistance:

• a web-based promotional video
• a webcast providing a PS14-1403 overview*
• conference calls for questions/answers related to specific PS14-1403 funding categories*
• PS14-1403 inquiry email box at HIPTA@CDC.GOV or voicemail box at (404) 639-8192. CDC will respond within 2 business days.
• PS14-1403 program webpage with up-to-date information regarding the FOA, scheduling/logistics for live TA events, recorded TA events, and access to additional resources and tools.

*To obtain webcast slides and/or recordings of the conference calls, please submit your request to HIPTA@CDC.GOV.

Organizations that meet any of the following criteria:

• American Indian/Alaska Native tribal governments (federally recognized or state-recognized)
• American Indian/Alaska native tribally designated organizations
• Alaska Native health corporations
• Colleges
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• For-profit organizations (other than small business)
• Healthcare corporations
• Healthcare organizations
• Hospitals
• Nonprofit with 501C3 IRS status (other than institution of higher education)
• Nonprofit without 501C3 IRS status (other than institution of higher education)
• Political subdivisions of States (in consultation with States)
• Professional associations
• Research institutions (that will perform activities deemed as non-research)
• Small, minority, and women-owned businesses
• State and local governments or their Bona Fide Agents (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).*
• Tribal epidemiology centers
• Universities
  • Urban Indian health organizations

Yes. Awardees will be expected to implement a work plan with a national geographic scope.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of the ability to implement a national program. Articles of incorporation, board resolution, by-laws, and other forms of written evidence are acceptable. Documents must be submitted with the application by uploading this documentation in www.grants.gov under "Other Attachment Forms." Each document should be labeled "Proof of Ability for National Program".

Below is a list of other required attachments for applicants to upload as part of their www.grants.gov application as pdf documents. Applicants are not allowed to include other attachments. Applicants may include web links in attachments.

• Table of Contents for Entire Submission
• Project Abstract
• Project Narrative including Work Plan
• Work Plan
• Budget Narrative
• Resumes/CVs of key staff inclusive of consultants (that will perform duties deemed as non-research)
• Documentation of proposed or existing collaborations (e.g., Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Letters of Support, Letters of Commitment, or Service Agreements)
• Organizational Chart(s) that identify location of proposed program
• Non-Profit Organization IRS status forms, if applicable
• Indirect Cost Rate, if applicable
• CDC Assurances and Certifications

If the required documents listed in this section are not submitted with the application in www.grants.gov under "Other Attachment Forms" the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.

If a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range is requested, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process.

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 a grant, loan, or an award.

If an applicant requests a funding amount greater than the ceiling of the award range listed in PS14-1403, the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process. The applicant will be notified that the application did not meet the eligibility requirements.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully review the entirety of PS14-1403 and adhere to all instructions/requirements pertaining to the structure, content, and submission of applications.

No. For Categories A, B, and C, cost-sharing or matching funds are not required for this program.

Yes. For Category D, funds for cost sharing is strongly encouraged by this program to support the non-federal share of the project that produces program income resulting from “registration fees” under a limited number of CDC fiscally supported meetings (e.g., HIV Prevention Leadership Summit). The cost sharing will be calculated by dollar amount. Based on their proposed budget and program, applicants are strongly encouraged to identify and document specific cost or contribution proposed to meet the cost sharing requirement and justify its determination. All costs used to satisfy the cost sharing requirement must be documented by the applicant and will be subject to audit. The funded applicant(s) will be strongly encouraged to provide an annual estimate of income that may result from programmatic activities (e.g., meeting registration fees).

In relation to meeting support, there are three broad areas of activity: 1) annual or biannual large, national meetings (e.g., US Conference on AIDS and the HIV Prevention Leadership Summit), 2) the annual CBA Provider Network (CPN) meeting, and 3) monthly web-based meetings to support professional development, communication, and collaboration for all or parts of the CPN. This program will fiscally contribute to a limited number of national meetings. In general, these 3 or 4-day large meetings attract approximately 1500 to 2000 participants. The meeting format includes introductory, intermediate, and advanced plenary sessions, workshops, roundtables, poster presentations, and affinity sessions. All participants, including CPN members, will be responsible for their own registration, travel, hotel, and per diem costs related the large meeting. For meeting support, Category D applicants should consider costs associated with planning and implementation activities such as staff time and travel, meeting spaces or web-based platforms, audio-visual equipment, and printed materials. For those meetings with registration fees, applicants are strongly encouraged to propose a budgetary process to ensure that cost-sharing will offset any program income.

Yes. Any eligible organization currently receiving an award(s) from CBB or any other operating division within CDC can apply for funding under PS14-1403.

No. PS14-1403 will not support the direct delivery of any HIV prevention services. The programmatic goal is to build the capacity of health departments, CBOs, and healthcare organizations to optimally plan, implement, and sustain their  High-Impact HIV Prevention (HIP) programs and services.

No. Awardees will be required to deliver free (not for fee) CBA services.

Yes. A LOI is recommended but not required to apply for PS14-1403. It is not considered a part of the application nor used in any way to judge the applicant. A LOI is a non-binding statement that CDC uses solely for internal planning purposes. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a LOI for each separate application. Applicants may apply for no more than two of the four funding categories. The LOI must be submitted via email attachment to HIPTA@CDC.GOV no later than August 22, 2013. The LOI must be printed on the applicant organization’s letterhead, be single- or double-spaced, and include the following information:

• Name of applicant organization
• Project director’s name, address, telephone number, and email address
• Primary application point of contact’s name, address, telephone number, and email address (if different from above)
• Funding opportunity announcement number and title
• Funding category of interest
• For Categories A, B, and C, applicants should identify the three selected program components for their planned program

Category A: Health Departments
Optional Program Components (select three):
a) HIV Testing, b) Prevention with HIV-Positive Persons, c) Prevention with High-Risk HIV-Negative Persons, d) Condom Distribution, e) Organizational Development and Management, or f) Policy

Category B: Community-Based Organizations
Optional Program Components (select three):
a) HIV Testing, b) Prevention with HIV-Positive Persons, c) Prevention with High-Risk HIV-Negative Persons, d) Condom Distribution, or e) Organizational Development and Management

Category C: Healthcare Organizations
Optional Program Components (select three):
a) HIV Testing, b) Prevention with HIV-Positive Persons, c) Prevention with High-Risk HIV-Negative Persons, or d) Condom Distribution

Category D: CBA Provider Network (CPN) Resource Center
Required Program Components:
a) Marketing of CPN, b) Supplemental development of CPN products, and c) CPN coordination and meeting support

Yes. An applicant may apply for up to two of the four available funding categories (i.e., Categories A, B, C, or D). If applying for two categories, an applicant must submit two separate applications.

Yes. An organization may apply for two categories AND serve as a subcontracted consultant for other applicants in other categories. This action does not compromise the two-category limitation.

No. An applicant for Category D must choose all of the required program components listed for the category and to be addressed by their proposed CBA program. The applicant must address all (but is not limited to) listed component-specific activities.

All applicants (Categories A, B, C, and D) should incorporate all of the following requirements into their proposed programs:

• Competent Staff – The applicant should have a plan to ensure competent staff throughout the duration of the 5-year project. Staff, inclusive of consultants, must have a breadth of subject matter expertise and experience to conduct all proposed work.
• CBA Delivery Plan – The applicant should have a systematic approach to the national delivery of CBA services, using all CBA delivery methods.
• CBA Services and Products – The applicant should plan to use existing and develop new training curricula and technical assistance materials and tools.
• Cultural Competence – The applicant should have a strategy to ensure that the development and delivery of all information, training, and technical assistance is culturally, linguistically, and educationally appropriate to meet the capacity building needs of the requesting target population (i.e., health departments, CBOs, healthcare organizations, or the CPN) and secondary target populations including people living with and at greatest risk of HIV infections.
• Marketing – The applicant should have a strategy to nationally market their CBA services to the categorical target populations and work in partnership with the CPN Resource Center.
• CPN Participation – The applicant should plan to participate in post-award orientation events, training sessions, conference calls, meetings, and other activities to enhance communication, coordination and collaboration among all FOA awardees comprising the nation CBA Provider Network (CPN).
• Reporting – The applicant should have a strategy for reporting all necessary program data to CDC, including an Annual Performance Report, an annual Federal Financial Report, and real-time utilization of the CBA Request Information System (CRIS).

Category A: Health Departments – State, tribal, local, and territorial health departments.

Category B: Community-Based Organizations – Private, nonprofit organizations that directly provide HIV prevention services to people living with or at greatest risk of HIV infection including all races/ethnicities of gay, bisexual, and other MSM, African Americans/Blacks, Latinos/Hispanic, IDUs, and transgender individuals. Examples of CBOs include AIDS service organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community-located, non-clinical providers of HIV prevention services.

Category C: Healthcare Organizations – Venues which clinically diagnose and medically treat HIV infection. Healthcare organizations include but are not limited to hospitals, hospital emergency departments, urgent care clinics, community health centers, federally qualified health centers, correctional health clinics, private clinical practices, and clinics based in health departments and CBOs.

Category D: CBA Provider Network (CPN) Resource Center – CPN membership (i.e., all PS14-1403 awardees from Categories A, B, and C), CPN target populations (i.e., health departments, CBOs, and healthcare organizations), and general public.

Under PS14-1403, CDC will support the delivery of information, training, and technical assistance for the following high-impact evidence-based interventions including (but not limited to):

People Living With HIV (PLWH):

• CLEAR
• Healthy Relationships
• Partnership for Health
• WILLOW
• CONNECT for HIV discordant couples
• START for newly released HIV positive prisoners

Injection Drug Users (IDUs):

• PROMISE

Women:

• PROMISE
• Sister to Sister

Men who have Sex with Men (MSM):

• d-up!
• Mpowerment
• Many Men, Many Voices (3MV)
• Popular Opinion Leader (POL)
• Personal Cognitive Counseling (PCC)
• PROMISE
• VOICES/VOCES

General:

• Safe in the City
• RESPECT

High-risk youth:

• PROMISE

Transgender populations:

• Any of the EBIs in the CDC’s Compendium of Effective Behavioral Interventions may be adapted for transgender persons

CDC will no longer support the following EBIs:

• Adult Identity Mentoring (AIM)
• Cuidate
• Modelo Intervencion Psichomedica
• NIA
• Real AIDS Prevention Project (RAPP)
• Safety Counts
• SHIELD
• SIHLE
• SISTA
• Street Smart

Applicants are required to formally document current or proposed collaborative partnerships. Memorandums of Agreement (MOA), Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), letters of commitment or support, and service agreements may document the scope of work, intensity, and duration of collaborations with external partners. Each document should thoroughly describe the proposed collaboration and specific activities, which parties are responsible for what, and the intended outcomes and benefits for the overall CBA program.

These documents should be electronically submitted with your application. Do not mail or fax these documents. Upload these documents as a PDF file named "Letters of Support, Memoranda of Agreement or Service" to www.grants.gov. Please minimize the number of submitted pages by only providing documents that directly address the matter of program strategy to execute the proposed programmatic approach.

Applicants are required to submit both a five-year overview of the project work plan and a year one detailed work plan. The combined submission of these work plans should not exceed 25 pages.

The project narrative portion of your application includes a background, your proposed approach including work plan, your organizational capacity to implement your proposed approach, and evaluation and performance measurement plan. Excepting the work plan, an applicant has 18 pages to address these issues. The work plan, as a separate document within the project narrative, has an additional 25 pages. Within these 25 pages, you should provide 1) a high-level narrative and graphic (logic model) description of the five year project AND 2) a detailed Year One work plan with outcomes, strategies, objectives, activities, and timelines. Per the funding opportunity announcement, the two documents should be appropriately labeled and submitted separately to www.grants.gov.

Yes. An application checklist is available.

These documents should be electronically submitted with your application. Do not mail or fax these documents. Upload these documents as a PDF file named "Letters of Support, Memoranda of Agreement or Service" to www.grants.gov. Please minimize the number of submitted pages by only providing documents that directly address the matter of program strategy to execute the proposed programmatic approach.

Below is a list of acceptable documents for applicants to upload as PDF files with their application submission to www.grants.gov . Applicants may not attach any other documents. If applicants do so, they will not be reviewed. Refer to PS14-1403 for specific requirements regarding naming conventions.

• Table of Contents for Entire Submission
• Project Abstract
• Project Narrative
• Work Plan
• Budget Narrative
• Resumes/CVs of key staff inclusive of consultants (that will perform duties deemed as non-research)
• Documentation of proposed or existing collaborations (e.g., Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Letters of Support, Letters of Commitment, or Service Agreements)
• Organizational Chart(s) that identify location of proposed program
• Non-Profit Organization IRS status forms, if applicable
• Indirect Cost Rate, if applicable
• CDC Assurances and Certifications

CDC will award approximately $130 million in total project period funding. However, this amount is subject to the decreased or increased availability of funds.

CDC will award approximately $26 million in total fiscal year funding. However, this amount is subject to the decreased or increased availability of funds.

• Category A: $1.25 million;
• Category B: $1.25 million;
• Category C: $1.25 million;
• Category D: $1.5 million

• Category A: $500,000 – $2 million
• Category B: $500,000 – $2 million
• Category C: $500,000 – $2 million
• Category D: $1 – $3 million

February 28, 2014.

The 5-year project period is April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2019.

The applicant will have to consider the parameters of its selected funding category and related program components, proposed programmatic approach and work plan, organizational capacity to execute the proposed program, and available range of funding amounts of awards to forecast a budget that will best support a feasible operational framework. CDC will negotiate the final work plans and budgets with all awardees.

Yes. A budget should support each application for two different funding categories.

The applicant must submit a budget that reflects the proposed work plan for Year One. Although not required, an applicant may also submit a proposed budget for the entire 5-year project.

The purpose of an indirect cost rate agreement is to publish the reimbursement rate(s) negotiated between the federal government and an awardee which reflects the indirect costs (e.g. facilities and administrative costs) and fringe benefit expenses incurred by the organization in the conduct of federal programs. Indirect cost rate agreements streamline the process of awarding, monitoring, and closing out federal grants. The indirect cost rate allows the grant officer to calculate the appropriate allocation of indirect costs associated with any one project by applying the negotiated indirect cost rate to the respective base used to develop the rate. However, if the grant officer determines that the awardee does not have a currently effective indirect cost rate, the award may not include an amount for indirect costs.

As the provision of training is a significant activity of PS14-1403, the entire funding opportunity announcement (all categories) will have indirect costs budgeted and reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement, and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment. Direct cost amounts for equipment (capital expenditures), tuition and fees, and subgrants and subcontracts in excess of $25,000 are excluded from the actual direct cost base for purposes of this calculation. This indirect cost rate is applicable to organizations other than state, tribal, or local governments. Indirect costs under grants to local government agencies (other than those designated as “major” pursuant to OMB Circular A-87) shall be budgeted and reimbursed on the basis of the rates computed and proposed by the local government in its grant application unless the awarding office requests Division of Cost Allocation, HHS (DCA) involvement.

Yes. If the applicant has a negotiated indirect cost rate, it should still be submitted with the application.

Phase I Review: All eligible applications will be initially reviewed for completeness by the CDC’s Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff. In addition, eligible applications will be jointly reviewed for responsiveness by the CDC, DHAP/CBB, and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance to Phase II review. Applicants will be notified electronically if the application did not meet eligibility and/or published submission requirements thirty (30) days after the completion of Phase II review.

Phase II Review: A special emphasis panel will evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the “Application Review Information” section of the FOA. The applications will be objectively reviewed and scored by funding category, thus the requirement for the submission of two separate applications if applying for two funding categories. To move to Phase III Review, an applicant must score at least 65 of the 100 possible points during the special emphasis panel review. In addition to score, CDC may also consider the following factors:

• Preference to ensure full programmatic coverage across all categories and/or program components.
• Preference to avoid unnecessary duplication of coverage for a category and/or program component(s).
• Preference for applicants that propose to address categories and/or program components not addressed by higher ranking applicants.
• Preference for the balance of funded applicants based on (1) burden of HIV infection within jurisdictions and (2) disproportionately affected geographic areas, as measured by CDC; and
• Preference for applicants that propose cost-effective programs that fully maximize the impact of CDC’s fiscal resources.

Phase III Review: Based on results from earlier phases of review, CDC will select applicants for pre-decisional site visits (PDSVs). During PDSVs, CDC staff will meet with appropriate project management and staff including representatives of governing bodies, executive director, program manager, trainers, curriculum developers, technical assistance specialists, evaluators, behavioral scientists, consultants, contractors, etc. The PDSV 1) facilitates a technical review of the application and discussion of the proposed program, 2) further assesses an applicant's capacity to implement the proposed program, and (3) identifies unique programmatic conditions that may require further training, technical assistance, or other resources from CDC.

Final funding determinations will be based on results from the entire review process. CDC will provide justification for any decision to fund outside of ranked order of scores.

Applications will be independently reviewed and scored by funding category, thus the requirement for submission of stand-alone applications. For Categories A, B, and C, the selected combinations of program components within an application is not scored during the Special Emphasis Panel or Pre-Decisional Site Visit nor does CDC have an explicit funding preference for specific combinations of program components.

Awardees, at a minimum, will be expected to participate in several CDC-sponsored orientations and training events scheduled during the first budget period. Additionally, successful applicants are expected to attend an annual meeting of the CBA Providers Network, the bi-annual HIV Prevention Leadership Summit, and the bi-annual National HIV Prevention Conference. Applicants’ budgets should reflect the participation of a minimum of 2 or 3 staff in each of these required activities.

Awardees will be responsible for providing CBA services beginning in the first year of the project period. An appropriate period for planning and development may be negotiated with the CBB Program Consultant.

Awardees may elect to copyright products developed using PS14-1403 funding. However, the federal government retains the right to unlimited usage of all products and may authorize others to reproduce and distribute these products. All products must be submitted to the CBB Program Consultant and to the CBA Provider Network Resource Center.

Yes. An overall program evaluation will be conducted. This evaluation will be designed to comply with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expectations regarding independence, scope, and quality. Awardees will be required to cooperate with CDC and its partners in the conduct of this evaluation.