National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Be the Generation Bridge (BTG Bridge) Partnership REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

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1 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Be the Generation Bridge (BTG Bridge) Partnership REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Proposal Due: November 9, 2011 Purpose Three decades of HIV prevention has had a demonstrable impact on raising awareness regarding the epidemic among U.S. populations and communities most impacted by the epidemic. These communities are comprised of the following populations: Blacks Hispanics/Latinos Transwomen of all races and ethnicities Gay and bisexual men of all races and ethnicities Youth in the above categories Throughout the RFA, these populations will be referred to as highly HIV-affected U.S. populations and preceded by an asterisk (*). While HIV prevention research has experienced several milestone advances in recent years, the most highly impacted populations are not equitably represented in biomedical research trials in the United States (U.S.). As the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has recognized, research continues to indicate that myths and misinformation about HIV and research persists among populations affected by HIV and AIDS in the U.S., particularly among Blacks and Latinos. A household survey conducted in 2003 (Allen, et al., 2005), found that 47 percent of Black participants as well as 27 percent of Latinos agreed or were not sure that a preventative HIV vaccine already exists. In 2009, focus groups conducted by HIV 360 with Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, MSM, and transgender individuals in four U.S. cities revealed that almost all individuals had no prior knowledge of HIV vaccine research. Increasing community awareness among these populations of the need for research to find an HIV vaccine and develop other biomedical prevention interventions is essential to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic. The Be the Generation Bridge (BTG Bridge) Partnership Project was created as a short term program to sustain the momentum generated by the NIAID HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative (NHVREI) while expanding the scope to include other biomedical HIV prevention research education (e.g., microbicides, pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention) in anticipation of the increasingly changing landscape in HIV prevention research. The BTG Bridge is funded by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) within NIAID, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and is a collaboration between FHI 360/HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and the Legacy Project at the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC). The NHVREI was launched in 2006, as a follow-on to NIAID s HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign (HVCC). The purpose of the NHVREI was to engage national and other organizations to increase knowledge about and support for HIV vaccine research among Black, Hispanic/Latino, and MSM populations. The Initiative aimed to: (1) increase awareness of the need for an HIV vaccine in communities most affected by HIV/AIDS; (2) improve the public s knowledge of and attitudes toward HIV vaccine research; (3) enhance the partnership between 1

2 community and HIV clinical trial researchers; and (4) create support for current and future HIV vaccine trials and foster an environment that supports clinical trial volunteers. While considerable progress has been made in the 30 years of the HIV epidemic, incidence rates in the U.S. remain alarming high among Black and Hispanic/Latino populations. Gay and bisexual men and transwomen of all races and ethnicities carry an especially high rate of infection. The BTG Bridge Partnership Project will continue to foster collaborative partnerships with organizations that have demonstrated, well-established relationships within *highly HIVaffected U.S. populations, to foster understanding and support for research to develop more effective biomedical HIV prevention interventions. The goals of the BTG Bridge Partnership Program are to: Enhance relationships between BTG Bridge partners, their constituents/collaborators, and specific NIAID-funded HIV clinical trial networks (HIV Vaccine Trials Network, HIV Prevention Trials Network and the Microbicide Trials Network) to promote dialogue on issues related to biomedical HIV prevention research; Increase organization-wide knowledge and awareness of biomedical prevention research, and increase the capacity of BTG Bridge partners to use media to disseminate accurate biomedical HIV prevention research information; and Obtain community input into the development of new messages, materials, media products, and assessment measures to evaluate ongoing relationships and information dissemination efforts related to biomedical HIV prevention research. Due to the success of the NHVREI Partnership Program, the BTG Bridge team recognizes the importance of having formal mechanisms by which information can be disseminated to communities and key audiences. These partnerships create a seamless pathway for reciprocally sharing information with BTG Bridge Partnership Project s key stakeholders, *highly HIVaffected U.S. populations, and collaborators through a diffusion of innovation and community engagement model. I. FUNDING AVAILABILITY Awards ranging from $5,000 to $75,000 (direct and indirect cost) for non-profit organizations and AIDS service organizations (ASOs) will be made available through a subcontract from FHI 360. The project anticipates funding up to 28 organizations over two funding periods (December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2012, and June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013). Total period of performance is December 15, 2011 to May 31, Funding for the second period of performance is contingent upon performance and the availability of funds. Funding will not exceed $75,000 per organization during the combined funding periods. BTG BRIDGE AWARD AND PERFORMANCE PROCESS The grant award is from December 15, 2011 through May 31, Funds will be obligated from December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2012 and the remaining balance of award, for the period of June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, will be issued subject to performance during the initial period and the availability of funds. 2

3 Organizational Eligibility To be eligible for an award, an organization must meet the following criteria: Non-profit organization as evidenced by a current 501(c)(3) status (a copy of your letter from the Internal Revenue Service must be included with your proposal); If the applicant is a community-based organization (CBO), it must be located in a U.S. city where there is at least one clinical trial site from one of the following NIAID-funded HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks: o HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) o HIV Vaccine Trials Network () o Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) (See Appendix A for a list of cities with trial sites from these networks); Demonstrated working history in reaching one or more of the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations; Evidence of existing partnerships with networks, coalitions, or collaborations with local or national CBOs, ASOs, and other leaders or entities trusted by the population to be served by the program; Evidence of stable organizational infrastructure and a copy of the 2010 audit report; and Technological capabilities including in-house access to and the Internet. Not Eligible The following types of organizations are not eligible for funding in whole or in-part under this RFA: For-profit organizations/institutions; Governmental agencies; Universities/Colleges; and Organizations that are not headquartered in the United States or Puerto Rico. APPLICATIONS DUE DATE Full applications must be postmarked by November 9, Applications postmarked after November 9, 2011 will not be considered. Applications may NOT be faxed or ed. Faxed or ed applications will not be reviewed and will not be returned. Please submit seven (7) copies (single-sided) of the application (including one that is clipped together (not bound) that can be easily duplicated. Send applications to: George B. Gates, Program Officer FHI 360 / Center on AIDS & Community Health 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW, 9 th Floor Washington, DC

4 Request for Applications This Request for Applications (RFA) provides all the information needed to apply for funding: background information, timelines, application contents, evaluation criteria, etc. Funding Period The funding periods for the BTG Bridge Partnership Project are December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2012, and June 1, 2012 to May 31, Funding in the second period is subject to performance and the availability of funds. Total period of performance is December 15, 2011 to May 31, II. BACKGROUND While prevention research has had several important advances in recent years, the populations most impacted are still not equitably represented in critical biomedical research trials in the U.S. This disparity raises the following primary scientific questions: Will new HIV prevention technologies (PrEP, vaccines, and Microbicides) work for populations most impacted by HIV? If not, what will work? How will these technologies be used most effectively by those populations most impacted by HIV? Will these populations support and/or participate in biomedical HIV prevention research? Addressing these questions requires developing approaches and conducting activities to educate, engage and mobilize communities. In 2004, the Community Education and Outreach Partnership Program (CEOPP) was established to support the NIAID-funded HVCC goal of creating a supportive environment for HIV vaccine research by increasing the capacity of non-profit HIV/AIDS service organizations to conduct HIV vaccine awareness and education activities in the communities in which they serve. Twenty-eight (28) nonprofit organizations received competitive awards to support CEOPP activities. CEOPP partners conducted informational sessions, distributed educational materials at community events and health fairs, conducted general media outreach, participated in TV and radio interviews, and published program specific newsletter articles. In 2006, NHVREI was a five-year initiative created as a successor to the HVCC to continue garnering support for HIV vaccine research. The CEOPP was recognized as a successful element of the HVCC and the lessons learned from the CEOPP were incorporated into the design of the partnership element of the NHVREI. The NHVREI Partnership Program included a total of 24 Local and National Partners funded to create a supportive environment for HIV vaccine research by mobilizing community partnerships and networks to educate key communities about research in localities where HIV vaccine clinical trials were established. The proposed partnership component of BTG Bridge builds on the momentum and lessons learned from the NHVREI to advance the broad range of biomedical HIV prevention research. III. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES The BTG Bridge Partnership Project will work with national organizations in the U.S. as well as U.S. community-based and regional organizations in areas where there are HPTN,, and MTN clinical trial sites (see list of network sites in the U.S. under Organizational Eligibility on page 2) by developing partnerships with organizations that have the greatest credibility with and access to *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations. Funded organizations can have local, regional, and/or national influence with regard to HIV and related issues of concern to the *highly HIVaffected U.S. populations. Funded partners will also provide input and/or participate in the development of messages, materials, trainings, consultations and media activities. 4

5 Required Activities Funding will be awarded to applicants based on each agency s proposed level of programmatic activity related to the goals of the BTG Bridge Partnership Project, ability to create dialogue and avenues for communication, the application s overall score, and reviewer (internal and external) recommendations. When selecting applicants, consideration will also be given to the overall distribution of the set of organizations with respect to geographic location and population engaged. Funding of approximately $5,000 will be awarded to applicants applying solely for Tier A funding. Tier A applicants are limited to community-based organizations in the following cities: Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; and Orlando, FL). Applicants applying for Tier B funding will complete all activities in Tier B to receive funding ranging from $15,000 to $35,000. Applicants applying for Tier C funding will complete all activities in Tier B and those outlined in Tier C to receive funding ranging from $35,000 to $60,000. Lastly, applicants applying for Tier D funding will propose a work plan to complete all activities outline din Tier B and Tier D to receive funding ranging from $60,000 to $75,000. Tier B and C applicants will be local and/or regional organizations. Tier D funding is for national organizations only. Organizations are highly encouraged to collaborate with other appropriate organizations on responses to this RFA. Funding Tier A (Approximately $5,000) (Only community-based organizations in the following cities are eligible to apply for Tier A: Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; and Orlando, FL) Complete an online baseline readiness assessment of biomedical prevention research capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses upon notification of award Create and implement a realistic work plan and budget to conduct a community forum on biomedical prevention research in collaboration with the BTG Bridge team during their funding period Add a link to the BTG website on the on organization website Integrate biomedical prevention research information into existing programs and services Participate (one staff person) in a 2.5-day training with the BTG Bridge team January 11 13, 2012 in Washington, DC Participate in at least one HPTN,, or MTN full-group meeting in 2012: dates and locations to be announced Participate on monthly Technical Assistance (TA) and monitoring calls with the BTG Bridge team Submit Partner activities to FHI 360 via the BTG online activity reporting database and tender a final report Participate in BTG Bridge Partnership Project formative evaluation and media activities (e.g., focus groups, surveys, interviews, and video vignettes) before May 31, 2012 Funding Tier B ($15,000 to $35,000) (Local and/or Regional Organizations) Complete an online baseline readiness assessment of biomedical prevention research capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses upon notification of award Create and implement a realistic work plan and budget to collaborate with a local HPTN,, or MTN clinical trial site (if CBO) or other natural partner (if regional or national organization) Add a link to the BTG website on the on organization website Integrate biomedical prevention research information into existing programs and services 5

6 Participate (one staff person) in a 2.5-day training with the BTG Bridge team January 11 13, 2012 in Washington, DC Participate in at least one HPTN,, or MTN full-group meeting in 2012; dates and locations to be announced Participate on monthly Technical Assistance (TA) and monitoring calls with the BTG Bridge team Submit Partner activities to FHI 360 via the Be the Generation online activity reporting database and a final report Conduct at least one activity focused on biomedical prevention research during their funding period Participate in BTG Bridge Partnership Project formative evaluation and media activities (e.g., focus groups, surveys, interviews, video vignettes) before May 31, 2012 Conduct at least one biomedical prevention research training/update for agency staff or board members during period of performance Funding Tier C ($35,000 to $60,000) (Local and/or Regional Organizations) All activities outlined in funding Tier B AND 1. Partner with sites from two or more of the Networks in the organization s jurisdiction and develop and implement a realistic plan to collaborate with the site(s) representing those Networks. AND 2. Conduct at least one additional biomedical prevention research educational activity (e.g. issue a newsletter focused on biomedical prevention research, community education session, or activity for a national HIV/AIDS Awareness day). Funding Tier D ($60,000 to $75,000) (National Organizations) All activities outlined in funding Tier B AND 1. Develop and implement a realistic plan to collaborate with all three Networks and participate in all three network annual meetings (2 in Washington, DC; 1 in Seattle, WA). AND 2. Conduct at least three additional biomedical prevention research educational activities (e.g., issue a newsletter focused on biomedical prevention research, conduct training or other community education session with the organization s national network, and conduct an activity in conjunction with a national HIV/AIDS awareness day). Note: In locations with three networks, more than one organization may be awarded. Reporting Requirements To receive funding under this RFA, each organization is required to participate in the following activities: 6

7 Quarterly Programmatic Report (due May 15, 2012, December 15, 2012 and May 15, 2013). This report will be a summation of all and any activities supporting work plan activities. It will be uploaded to the BTG online activity reporting database. Final Programmatic Report (due 15 days after the end of the contract period). This report shall include a summation of the results of the entire work period covered by the subcontract, including accomplishments, problems encountered and resolutions. Note: The BTG Bridge team may determine that site visits or other oversight activities are required to assess partners programmatic efforts. IV. APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Each organization requesting funding under this RFA must submit an application responding to the following components: A. Organizational and Staff Capability B. Measurable Goals and Time-phased Objectives C. Detailed Work Plan and Timeframe D. Evaluation Plan E. Detailed Budget Request F. Required Documentation G. Support Documentation Requirements for each of these components are described below. Applications must be limited to no more than 10 pages (not including required and supporting documentation), single spaced, 12-point font, and 1-inch margins. Applications exceeding this page limitation will not be considered for funding. A. Organizational and Staff Capability (2 pages maximum) In your application describe your organization and its ability to respond to the requirements of the RFA. You must: a. State your organization s mission and discuss how it relates to the goals of the BTG Bridge Partnership. b. Describe your organization, including its structure, and the size of your membership/affiliates/client population, and how the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations will participate in the development of activities carried out under this RFA. c. Discuss your organization s experience working with, and linkages to, the *highly HIVaffected U.S. populations. d. Demonstrate your organization s ability to collaborate by describing and providing examples of existing collaborative relationships your organization has with other organizations, including local and/or national CBOs and ASOs. e. Demonstrate your organization s current or planned collaborative partnership with the HPTN,, or MTN, or one or more of these networks clinical trial sites through the provision of copies of existing Letters of Collaboration (LOC) or other formal partnership agreements. f. Discuss your organization s experience managing contract dollars and describe systems it has in place for tracking expenditures (provide examples). 7

8 g. Identify key staff for the proposed project (or job description/qualifications if an individual is to be hired) and where the project fits in the organizational structure; attach resumes or CVs as appropriate. h. Describe how these individuals will oversee and implement the project activities; including ensuring that tasks are accomplished and that educational efforts are sciencebased. Describe the project manager's experience working with, and understanding of, the population(s) to be targeted. i. Organizations considering collaboration or a joint application with another organization, should describe the level of your collaboration and the capabilities of your collaborating partner as it relates to BTG Bridge Partnership goals. B. Measurable Goals and Objectives (2 pages maximum) Each organization must develop a list of goals and objectives that meet the purpose of the RFA and specify the *highly HIV-affected U.S. population(s) to be addressed. In your application: a. State the overall long-term goal(s) of the project. These goals should relate directly to the intent of the RFA. b. Provide a list of specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-phased (SMART) objectives. The objectives should address the specific focus of the RFA, including specific populations to be addressed. c. Identify the tier for which the applicant is applying. C. Detailed Work Plan and Timeframe (4 pages maximum) Please provide a detailed narrative description of the proposed activities and explain how these activities will achieve the stated objectives. Only one work plan should be submitted that covers the entire funding period (December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2013). In the description, include: a. Key target dates/timelines and activities that you will undertake. b. Key staff involved. c. Key partners/collaborators. d. Expected results. e. Other information that will demonstrate a clear understanding of the activities necessary to achieve objectives. f. Descriptions of how objectives will be implemented, timelines for activities, and which aspects of biomedical prevention research awareness will be addressed. g. Discussion of how you will ensure that all activities are culturally and linguistically appropriate. The project work plan should include delivery of quarterly progress reports to designated BTG Bridge staff, summary of activities to-date, and accomplishments, barriers, and next steps. Note: Though only one work plan will be submitted for the entire funding period, applicants are still required to submit separate detailed budgets for each of the two funding periods (December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2012 and June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013). 8

9 D. Evaluation Plan (2 pages maximum) Provide a detailed plan for how the project will be monitored and evaluated to determine whether project objectives have been met. The plan should also describe the information and data that will be collected and who will be responsible for their collection. Process evaluation data collection is required. Sample process evaluation strategies may include: a. Counting number of events/activities held over the course of the award; b. Counting attendance at events; c. Determining the number of the organization s documents, correspondences, newsletters, educational materials and brochures, that include biomedical prevention research messages that have been disseminated to priority population(s)/communities; d. Determining any increase/decrease in requests for informational materials relating to biomedical prevention research; e. Determining the number of activities executed in the media plan by organization; and f. Tracking and monitoring local media coverage generated by events and/or the organization. E. Detailed Budget Request (3 pages maximum) Please provide a detailed budget for each funding period (December 15, 2011 to May 31, 2012 and June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013), with narrative, on how you plan to use the funding (by funding period). The narrative should be no more than 3 pages maximum. The detailed budget should be included in required documentation. (These 3 pages do not count towards the overall page limit.) Note: These amounts (based on Tier selected) are total cost, direct and indirect. Your budget request cannot exceed the corresponding Tier amount, and your application will be eliminated from consideration if it does. In-kind or cost-share contributions do NOT count against this amount. If in-kind or cost-share contributions are to be provided, please discuss their source and include a letter of commitment. *Excluded Costs: Capital expenditures (e.g., computers, laptops, cell phones, furniture, renovations, etc.) are not allowed under this RFA. Budgets should provide information on the following items: 1. Personnel a. Staff: Name, title, and percent of time on the BTG Bridge Partnership Project. If staff is/staffs are assigned to other projects please describe their other responsibilities and the percentage of time they are supported by other activities and funding sources. b. Fringe Benefits 2. Direct Cost a. Local Travel b. Meeting Expenses c. Photocopying/duplication d. Supplies e. Postage f. Telephone/fax g. Space h. Other direct costs 9

10 3. Indirect Costs Indirect costs should be included in project budgets. Provide approved indirect cost rate, the base or basis for this rate, and include supporting documentation. Detail what is included in this rate. Remember, the total amount requested, including any indirect costs, cannot exceed the amount designated for the tier for which the organization is applying. 4. In-Kind or Cost-Share Contributions In-kind or cost-share contributions are not required. If any are to be included in the project budget, please provide an amount and description. Note: Required travel does not come from program budgets. These trips will be arranged for you unless you plan to send more than one individual. You may then budget for up to one additional person for travel. As applicable, organizations must describe other sources of funding for biomedical HIV prevention research education, including amounts, sources, and funded activities. Describe how the organization will ensure there is no overlap between activities funded by multiple funding sources specific to biomedical HIV prevention research education. F. Required Documentation (no more than 10 pages) Each organization applying for funding must include: a. A copy of its current 501(c)(3) status certifying that it is a non-profit organization. b. A copy of the organization s latest audit report (summary pages). c. Letters of Collaboration (LOC) or other formal partnership agreements. d. Detailed and separate budgets for each funding period. Note: All required documents should be included in the appendix section of your application. G. Support Documentation (no more than 10 pages) Applicants may provide up to 10 pages of supporting documentation to substantiate their organization's capability and experience reaching the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations. We encourage applicants to include letters of support with local and or national CBOs and ASOs and HPTN,, or MTN clinical trial sites in their jurisdiction that describe their collaborative relationship and how organizations plan to work together during the period of performance. This documentation should be specific to the goals of the RFA. Note: All support documents should be included in the appendix section of your application. V. APPLICATION INFORMATION A. Application Preparation instructions All applications should be single-spaced using Times New Roman font no smaller than 12 point. All applications must have a table of contents (not counted as part of the 10 total pages). All pages in the application must be numbered. Provide a cover page that includes the title of the RFA, your organization s name, address, Tax Identification or Federal Identification Number, the name/telephone/fax 10

11 numbers, address for the contact person (not counted as part of the 10 total pages), and the tier for which your organization is applying. An original and seven (7) copies must be submitted. The original should not be stapled or bound other than with a binder clip. B. Application Delivery Please send seven (7) copies of the full application (including one that is clipped together, so that it is easily duplicable) to be postmarked by November 9, 2011 to: George B. Gates, Program Officer, FHI 360/Center on AIDS & Community Health, 1825 Connecticut Ave, NW, 9 th Floor, Washington, DC C. Application Assistance If you have questions about completing your application, please contact Stacey Little, Director of Community Partnerships and Project Senior Technical Officer, FHI 360, at (202) or by at: slittle@fhi360.org, or George B. Gates, Program Officer, FHI 360, at (202) or by at: ggates@fhi360.org. A TA applicant conference call is scheduled for Monday, October 24, 2011 at 4pm ET/1pm PT to answer questions of potential applicants. Use the following dial-in information to participate in this call: number: ; passcode: D. Application Checklist Please use this checklist to ensure you have complied with all aspects of the RFA: Cover Page Table of Contents Organizational and Staff Capabilities Goals and time-phased measurable objectives Work plan that address all required and strongly recommended components Evaluation plan Budget and budget narrative (not to exceed $50,000per year) Supporting documentation (up to 10 pages) Statement agreeing to implement required activities with appropriate narrative in work plan, evaluation plan, and budget. Copy of current 501(c)(3) status Copy of most recent audit report summary (summary statement) E. Application Review Process A panel will be convened to review all applications and make recommendations for funding. Individuals on this panel will represent biomedical HIV prevention research educators, community-based and national organizations with strong ties to racial and ethnic minority communities, organizations serving *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations, and individuals affected by HIV. Federal employees may be on this panel. Applicants within the competitive range will undergo a secondary review of their partnership plan and where relevant, their ability to collaborate with the local clinical trial sites. When selecting applicants, consideration will also be given to the overall distribution of the set of organizations with respect to geographic location and target population. 11

12 F. Application Review Criteria Each section of the application will be scored using the following point system. The panel will meet to discuss each application, and will then provide scores based on the assigned points and discussion. Funding decisions may take into consideration target populations and geographic location of applicants to ensure appropriate target population coverage and maximum impact. Scoring will be based on the following application components: 1. Organizational and Staff Capability 25% 2. Goals/Objectives 20% 3. Work Plan 25% 4. Evaluation 15% 5. Budget 10% 6. Required Documentation 5% 7. Support Documentation (reviewed, not scored) G. Review and Evaluation Criteria Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 1. Organizational and Staff Capability (25 points) Does the applicant describe the organization, including its structure and the size of its membership or constituency? Does the applicant have strong experience working with, and linkages to, the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations? Does the applicant clearly demonstrate the ability to collaborate with other organizations, including local and/or national CBOs or ASOs that serve the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations? Does the applicant adequately discuss how the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations will participate in the development of outreach activities carried out under this RFA? Does the applicant demonstrate the organization s experience managing contract dollars and have systems in place for tracking expenditures? Does the applicant identify appropriate key staff for this project (or job description/qualifications if person is to be hired) and where the project fits in the organizational structure? Does the applicant describe how the organization will continue to support this type of work in the future once the project s funding ends? 2. Goals/Objectives (20 points) Does the applicant state the overall goal(s) of the project? Are the goals related directly to the goals of the Initiative? Does the applicant provide a list of SMART objectives? Do the objectives address the specific focus of the RFA, including specific *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations to be addressed? 3. Work Plan (25 points) Does the applicant include a work plan that describes project staffing plans, including management structure and/or in-house reporting requirements? Does the applicant include a brief discussion of how programmatic activities will complement/enhance existing programs within the organization? Does the applicant include a work plan describing key activities necessary to achieve each project objective? Is the work plan appropriate, relevant, and realistic? Does the applicant reference progress reports to the project? 12

13 4. Evaluation (15 points) Does the applicant provide a comprehensive evaluation plan that clearly describes how project progress will be measured? Does the applicant describe what steps will be taken to measure success in meeting the proposed goals and objectives? Does the applicant provide descriptions of process evaluation measures? 5. Budget (10 points) Does the applicant provide reasonable and appropriate justification for budget items? Is the requested budget consistent with the intent of the program award, and is it clearly in line with the goals and objectives and activities proposed for the budget period? Are sufficient funds allocated to support key elements of the proposed program? Does the applicant discuss other sources of funding for biomedical HIV prevention research education and how these activities, if any, will be coordinated? (If no other sources of funding exist, the application should simply state this.) 6. Required Documentation (5 points) Does the applicant provide a copy of its current 501(c)(3) status certifying that it is a non-profit organization? 7. Support Documentation (not scored) Does the applicant provide supporting documentation to substantiate their organizations capability and experience reaching the *highly HIV-affected U.S. populations? Does the applicant provide copies of letters of support indicating existing collaborative partnerships with local CBOs and ASOs serving the priority population(s)? Total Points:

14 APPENDIX A: HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks (by city) Atlanta/Decatur, GA: Baltimore, MD: Birmingham, AL: HPTN and HPTN and HPTN,, and MTN Boston, MA: HPTN,, and MTN Chicago, IL: Cleveland, OH: and MTN Dallas, TX: Denver, CO: Houston, TX: Los Angeles, CA: and HPTN DC/MD/VA Metro Area: and HPTN Nashville, TN: New York, NY: HPTN,, and MTN Newark, NJ: HPTN Orlando, FL: Philadelphia, PA: and MTN Pittsburgh, PA: MTN Rochester, NY: San Francisco, CA: HPTN and San Juan, PR: Seattle, WA: Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill): HPTN For additional information and a listing of the clinical trials sites in the respective cities, visit the following URLs: HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) HIV Vaccine Trials Network () Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) 14