Notices. Notice

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 6450-01-M ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369; FRL-8173-2] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Estuary Program; EPA ICR No. 1500.06; OMB Control No. 2040-0138 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act

(PRA)(44 U.S.C. 3501 *et seq.* ), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request

(ICR)to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2006. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 24, 2006. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369 by one of the following methods: • *http://www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: *OW-Docket@epa.gov.* • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Water Docket—Mail Code 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460. • Hand delivery: Office of Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Public Reading Room, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at * http:// www.regulations.gov, * including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(202)566-1381; fax number

(202)566-1336; e-mail address: *mcshane.john@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments? EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2006-0369, which is available for online viewing at *http://www.regulations.gov,* or in person viewing at the Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is

(202)566-1744 and the telephone number for the Water Docket is

(202)566-2426. Use *http://www.regulations.gov* to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the docket ID number identified in this document. What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in? Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:

(i)Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(ii)Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(iii)Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(iv)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, *e.g.* , permitting electronic submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses (those that employ less than 25 people) on examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this collection. What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA? You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments: 1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific examples. 2. Describe any assumptions that you used. 3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used to support your views. 4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate that you provide. 5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity. 6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified under DATES . 7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and **Federal Register** citation. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to? *Affected entities:* Entities potentially affected by this action are those state or local agencies or nongovernmental organizations in the National Estuary Program

(NEP)who receive grants under section 320 of the Clean Water Act. *Title:* National Estuary Program. *ICR Numbers:* EPA ICR No. 1500.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0138. *ICR Status:* This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November 30, 2006. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the **Federal Register** when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the **Federal Register** or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. Abstract Annual Workplans The NEP involves collecting information from the state or local agency or nongovernmental organizations that receive funds under section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The regulation requiring this information is found at 40 CFR part 35. Prospective grant recipients seek funding to develop or oversee and coordinate implementation of Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans (CCMPs) for estuaries of national significance. In order to receive funds, grantees must submit an annual workplan to EPA. The workplan consists of two parts:

(a)Progress on projects funded previously; and

(b)new projects proposed with dollar amounts and completion dates. The workplan is reviewed by EPA and also serves as the scope of work for the grant agreement. EPA also uses these workplans to track performance of each of the 28 estuary programs currently in the NEP. Implementation Reviews EPA provides funding to NEPs to support long-term implementation of CCMPs if such programs pass an implementation review process. Implementation reviews are used to determine progress each NEP is making in implementing its CCMP and achieving environmental results. In addition to evaluating progress, the results are used to identify areas of weakness each NEP should address for long-term success in protecting and restoring their estuaries. EPA will also compile successful tools and approaches as well as lessons learned from all implementation reviews to transfer to the NEPs and other watershed programs. For this ICR cycle, implementation reviews will be required for seven programs in FY2006, 12 programs in FY2007, and nine programs in 2008. Government Performance Results Act EPA requests that each of the 28 NEPs receiving section 320 funds report information that can be used in the GPRA reporting process. This reporting is done on an annual basis and is used to show environmental results that are being achieved within the overall NEP Program. This information is ultimately submitted to Congress along with GPRA information from other EPA programs. *Burden Statement:* The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 218 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, which is only briefly summarized here: *Estimated total number of potential respondents:* 28. *Frequency of response:* Annual. *Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:* 2. *Estimated total annual burden hours:* 6,113. *Estimated total annual costs:* $409,349. Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval? There are no changes in burden from the last approval. What is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR? EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will issue another **Federal Register** Notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . Dated: May 17, 2006. Diane C. Regas, Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds. [FR Doc. E6-7829 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [AMS-FRL-8173-3] California State Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Pollution Control Standards; Authorization of Large Off-Road Spark-Ignition Engine Standards, Notice of Decision AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of decision for authorization of Large Off-Road Spark-Ignition Engine Standards. SUMMARY: EPA today, pursuant to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act (Act), 42 U.S.C. 7543(b), is authorizing California to enforce its regulations setting emission standards and other requirements for large off-road spark-ignition engines. ADDRESSES: The Agency's Decision Document, containing an explanation of the Assistant Administrator's decision, as well as all documents relied upon in making that decision, including those submitted to EPA by CARB, are available for public inspection in EPA Air Docket OATR-2004-0404 at the following address: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Public Reading Room, Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on government holidays. The Air Docket telephone number is

(202)566-1744, and the facsimile number is

(202)566-1741. You may be charged a reasonable fee for photocopying docket materials, as provided in 40 CFR part 2. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert M. Doyle, Attorney-Advisor, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20460 (U.S. mail), 501 3rd Street NW., Washington, DC 20005 (courier mail). Telephone:

(202)343-9258, Fax:

(202)343-2804, E-Mail: *doyle.robert@epe.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining Electronic Copies of Documents EPA makes available an electronic copy of this Notice on the Office of Transportation and Air Quality

(OTAQ)homepage ( *http://www.epa.gov/OTAQ* ). Users can find this document by accessing the OTAQ homepage and looking at the path entitled “Federal Register Notices.” (This service is free of charge, except any cost you already incur for Internet connectivity. Users can also get the official **Federal Register** version of the Notice on the day of publication on the primary Web site: ( *http://www.epa.gov/docs/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/* ) Please note that due to differences between the software used to develop the documents and the software into which the documents may be downloaded, changes in format, page length, etc., may occur. Additionally, an electronic version of the public docket is available through the Federal government's electronic public docket and comment system. You may access EPA dockets at *http://www.regulations.gov* . After opening the *http://www.regulations.gov* Web site, select “Environmental Protection Agency” from the pull-down Agency list, then scroll to Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0404 to view documents in the record of the large offroad spark ignition engine authorization request. Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not include Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. II. Background

(A)Nonroad Authorizations Section 209(e)(1) of the Act addresses the permanent preemption of any State, or political subdivision thereof, from adopting or attempting to enforce any standard or other requirement relating to the control of emissions for certain new nonroad engines or vehicles. 1 Section 209(e)(2) of the Act allows the Administrator to grant California authorization to enforce state standards for new nonroad engines or vehicles which are not listed under section 209(e)(1), subject to certain restrictions. On July 20, 1994, EPA promulgated a regulation that sets forth, among other things, the criteria, as found in section 209(e)(2), by which EPA must consider any California authorization requests for new nonroad engines or vehicle emission standards (section 209(e) rules). 2 1 Section 209(e)(1) of the Act provides: No State or any political subdivision thereof shall adopt or attempt to enforce any standard or other requirement relating to the control of emissions from either of the following new nonroad engines or nonroad vehicles subject to regulation under this Act—

(A)New engines which are used in construction equipment or vehicles or used in farm equipment or vehicles and which are smaller than 175 horsepower.

(B)New locomotives or new engines used in locomotives. Subsection

(b)shall not apply for purposes of this paragraph. 2 *See* 59 FR 36969 (July 20, 1994), and regulations set forth therein, 40 CFR part 85, subpart Q, §§ 85.1601-85.1606. Section 209(e)(2) requires the Administrator, after notice and opportunity for public hearing, to authorize California to enforce standards and other requirements relating to emissions control of new engines not listed under section 209(e)(1). 3 The section 209(e) rule and its codified regulations 4 formally set forth the criteria, located in section 209(e)(2) of the Act, by which EPA must grant California authorization to enforce its new nonroad emission standards: 3 As discussed above, states are permanently preempted from adopting or enforcing standards relating to the control of emissions from new engines listed in section 209(e)(1). 4 *See* 40 CFR part 85, subpart Q, § 85.1605. 40 CFR part 85, subpart Q, § 85.1605 provides:

(a)The Administrator shall grant the authorization if California determines that its standards will be, in the aggregate, at least as protective of public health and welfare as applicable Federal standards.

(b)The authorization shall not be granted if the Administrator finds that:

(1)The determination of California is arbitrary and capricious;

(2)California does not need such California standards to meet compelling and extraordinary conditions; or

(3)California standards and accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent with section 209. As stated in the preamble to the section 209(e) rule, EPA has interpreted the requirement that EPA cannot find “California standards and accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent with section 209” to mean that California standards and accompanying enforcement procedures must be consistent with section 209(a), section 209(e)(1), and section 209(b)(1)(C), as EPA has interpreted that subsection in the context of motor vehicle waivers. 5 In order to be consistent with section 209(a), California's nonroad standards and enforcement procedures must not apply to new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines. Secondly, California's nonroad standards and enforcement procedures must be consistent with section 209(e)(1), which identifies the categories permanently preempted from state regulation. 6 California's nonroad standards and enforcement procedures would be considered inconsistent with section 209 if they applied to the categories of engines or vehicles identified and preempted from State regulation in section 209(e)(1). 5 *See* 59 FR 36969, 36983 (July 20, 1994). 6 Section 209(e)(1) of the Act has been implemented, *See* 40 CFR part 85, subpart Q, §§ 85.1602, 85.1603. § 85.1603 provides in applicable part:

(a)For equipment that is used in applications in addition to farming or construction activities, if the equipment is primarily used as farm and/or construction equipment or vehicles, as defined in this subpart, it is considered farm or construction equipment or vehicles.

(b)States are preempted from adopting or enforcing standards or other requirements relating to the control of emissions from new engines smaller than 175 horsepower, that are primarily used in farm or construction equipment or vehicles, as defined in this subpart. § 85.1602 provides definitions of terms used in § 85.1603 and states in applicable part: *Construction equipment or vehicle* means any internal combustion engine-powered machine primarily used in construction and located on commercial construction sites. *Farm Equipment or Vehicle* means any internal combustion engine-powered machine primarily used in the commercial production and/or commercial harvesting of food, fiber, wood, or commercial organic products or for the processing of such products for further use on the farm *primarily used* means used 51 percent or more. Finally, because California's nonroad standards and enforcement procedures must be consistent with section 209(b)(1)(C), EPA will review nonroad authorization requests under the same “consistency” criteria that are applied to motor vehicle waiver requests. Under section 209(b)(1)(C), the Administrator shall not grant California a motor vehicle waiver if she finds that California “standards and accompanying enforcement procedures are not consistent with section 202(a)” of the Act. Previous decisions granting waivers of Federal preemption for motor vehicles have stated that State standards are inconsistent with section 202(a) if there is inadequate lead time to permit the development of the necessary technology giving appropriate consideration to the cost of compliance within that time period or if the Federal and State test procedures impose inconsistent certification requirements. 7 7 To be consistent, the California certification procedures need not be identical to the Federal certification procedures. California procedures would be inconsistent, however, if manufacturers would be unable to meet both the state and the Federal requirement with the same test vehicle in the course of the same test. *See, e.g.* , 43 FR 32182 (July 25, 1978). With regard to enforcement procedures accompanying standards, EPA must grant the requested authorization unless it finds that these procedures may cause the California standards, in the aggregate, to be less protective of public health and welfare than the applicable Federal standards promulgated pursuant to section 213(a), or unless the Federal and California certification test procedures are inconsistent. 8 8 *See, e.g., Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, Inc* . v. *EPA* , 627 F.2d 1095, 1111-14 (DC Cir. 1979), *cert. denied* , 446 U.S. 952

(1980)( *MEMA I* ); 43 FR 25729 (June 14, 1978). While inconsistency with section 202(a) includes technological feasibility, lead time, and cost, these aspects are typically relevant only with regard to standards. The aspect of consistency with 202(a) which is of primary applicability to enforcement procedures (especially test procedures) is test procedure consistency. Once California has received an authorization for its standards and enforcement procedures for a certain group or class of nonroad equipment engines or vehicles, it may adopt other conditions precedent to the initial retail sale, titling or registration of these engines or vehicles without the necessity of receiving an additional authorization. 9 9 *See* 43 FR 36679, 36680 (August 18, 1978). If California acts to amend a previously authorized standard or accompanying enforcement procedure, the amendment may be considered within the scope of a previously granted authorization provided that it does not undermine California's determination that its standards in the aggregate are as protective of public health and welfare as applicable Federal standards, does not affect the consistency with section 209 of the Act, and raises no new issues affecting EPA's previous authorization determination. 10 10 Decision Document for California Nonroad Engine Regulations Amendments, Dockets A-2000-05 to 08, entry V-B, p. 28.

(B)The Off-Road Large Spark Ignition Engines Regulations Request By letter dated February 15, 2000, CARB requested EPA authorization to enforce California's Off-Road Large Spark Ignition Engine

(LSI)regulations. 11 The CARB regulations set emission standards for these engines commencing with model year 2001 for certification and with model year 2004 for in-use compliance. There are two sets of standards depending on the size of the engine; one set for LSI engines less than or equal to 1.0 liters displacement, and the other for LSI engines greater than 1.0 liters displacement. For the smaller LSI engines, CARB set standards for HC plus Nox and for CO at static levels for model year 2002 and beyond, and 100% of a manufacturer's sales must meet the standards each year. For the larger LSI engines, CARB approved two tiers of emission levels. For Tier 1, manufacturers are able to phase-in compliance at certification with 25% of the sales for 2001, 50% for 2003, and 75% for 2003, and manufacturers have no in-use compliance requirement. For Tier 2, beginning with the 2004 model year, manufacturers have to meet the standards at certification with 100% of sales, and are subject to in-use compliance with a less stringent standards for model years 2004 through 2006 (with an engine durability period of 3500 hours or 5 years) and full in-use standards for model years 2007 and beyond (with a durability period of 5000 hours or 7 years). 11 These engines are often derived from automobile engines, although they have less sophisticated fuel and emission control systems, and are fueled usually by either gasoline or liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Typical applications for these LSI engines are forklifts, portable generators, large turf care equipment, irrigation pumps, welders, air compressors, scrubber/sweepers, and airport service vehicles. CARB Initial Staff Report, Docket Entry OAR-2004-0404-0008, p1. To accompany the new standards, CARB also adopted regulations requiring manufacturer production line testing (along with CARB authority to conduct Selective Enforcement Audits), manufacturer required in-use testing, an in-use emission credit program, permanent emission labels, and emission warranties. CARB also adopted provisions to provide relief to small volume manufacturers (annual production under 2000 engines) basically by delaying the time when they must comply with in-use standards until 2004. EPA offered the opportunity for a public hearing, and requested public comments, on the CARB authorization request, as the Act requires us to do, by publication of a **Federal Register** notice to such effect on January 12, 2005. 12 There was no request for a public hearing, nor were any comments received on the CARB authorization request. Therefore, EPA has made this determination based on the information submitted by CARB in its request. 12 70 FR 2151 (January 12, 2005).

(C)Authorization Decision EPA has decided to grant California authorization to enforce its regulations setting emission standards and other requirements for large off-road spark-ignition engines. In its request letter, CARB stated that these LSI regulations will not cause the California nonroad standards, in the aggregate, to be less protective of public health and welfare than the applicable Federal standards. CARB also stated that California's need for the emission reductions expected from the LSI regulations remains compelling. Finally, regarding consistency with section 209, CARB stated that the LSI regulations

(1)apply only to nonroad engines and vehicles and not to motor vehicles or engines,

(2)apply only to those nonroad engines and vehicles which are not included in the preempted categories, and

(3)do not raise any concerns of inadequate leadtime or technological feasibility or impose any certification requirements inconsistent with Federal requirements. EPA agrees with all CARB findings with regard to the provisions listed. Additionally, no information was presented to EPA by any party which would demonstrate that California did not meet the burden of satisfying the statutory criteria of section 209(e). For these reasons, EPA authorizes California to enforce these LSI regulations. My decision will affect not only persons in California but also the manufacturers outside the State who must comply with California's requirements in order to produce nonroad engines and vehicles for sale in California. For this reason, I hereby determine and find that this is a final action of national applicability. Under section 307(b)(1) of the Act, judicial review of this final action may be sought only in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Petitions for review must be filed by July 24, 2006. Under section 307(b)(2) of the Act, judicial review of this final action may not be obtained in subsequent enforcement proceedings. As with past authorization decisions, this action is not a rule as defined by Executive Order 12866. Therefore, it is exempt from review by the Office of Management and Budget as required for rules and regulations by Executive Order 12866. In addition, this action is not a rule as defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601(2). Therefore, EPA has not prepared a supporting regulatory flexibility analysis addressing the impact of this action on small business entities. The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, does not apply because this action is not a rule, for purposes of 5 U.S.C. 804(3). Finally, the Administrator has delegated the authority to make determinations regarding authorizations under section 209(e) of the Act to the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. Dated: May 15, 2006. William L. Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. E6-7834 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8173-5; Docket I.D. No. EPA-HQ-ORD-0116] Harmonization in Interspecies Extrapolation: Use of BW 3/4 as Default Method in Derivation of the Oral RfD AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Peer-Review Teleconference with opportunity for public comment. SUMMARY: EPA is announcing that Versar, Inc., an EPA contractor for external scientific peer review, plans to convene an independent panel of experts and organize and conduct an external peer review meeting to review the draft document titled, “Harmonization in Interspecies Extrapolation: Use of BW 3/4 as Default Method in Derivation of the Oral RfD” (EPA/630/R-06/001). The peer review meeting is planned to take place by teleconference. On Februrary 15, 2006, EPA announced a 60-day public comment period for the draft document (71 FR 7958). The draft document was prepared by the Agency's Risk Assessment Forum. The public comment period and the external peer review are separate processes that provide opportunities for all interested parties to comment on the document. In addition to considering public comments submitted in accordance with the February 15, 2006, announcement of a public comment period, EPA intends to forward those comments to Versar, Inc. for the external peer review panel prior to the teleconference. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. The public will be given an opportunity to observe and provide oral comments at this teleconference by registering with Versar, Inc. (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT , below). The draft document and the charge questions for EPA's external peer review are available primarily via the Internet on the Risk Assessment Forum's home page under the External Review Drafts menu at *http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/raf/index.cfm* . In preparing a final report, EPA will consider Versar Inc.'s report of the comments and recommendations from the external peer review meeting and any public comments that EPA receives in accordance with the February 15, 2006, notice (71 FR 7958). DATES: The peer review teleconference will be held on June 14, 2006, from 9 a.m. to no later than 5 p.m., with a break for lunch. The teleconference may end earlier than 5 p.m. if less time is needed for the reviewers to complete their discussion. Time will be provided for public observers who wish to make comments on the document. ADDRESSES: The draft “Harmonization in Interspecies Extrapolation: Use of BW 3/4 as Default Method in Derivation of the Oral RfD” is available primarily via the Internet on the Risk Assessment Forum's home page under the External Review Drafts menu at *http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/raf/index.cfm* . A limited number of paper copies are available from the Technical Information Staff, NCEA-W by telephone: 202-564-3261 or by facsimile: 202-565-0050. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, mailing address, and the document title, “Harmonization in Interspecies Extrapolation: Use of BW 3/4 as Default Method in Derivation of the Oral RfD.” Copies are not available from Versar, Inc. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public may call into the teleconference as observers, and there will be a limited time for comments from the public. In order to participate, you should contact Mr. Andrew Oravetz of Versar, Inc. at *aoravetz@versar.com* or by phone at 703-642-6832 to register. You will be asked for your name, affiliation, city and state, and contact information. When registering, please also indicate whether you would like to make a statement during the call. Time for public comments is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. At a time before June 14, 2006, registrants will be given the call-in information for the peer review teleconference. For technical information, please contact Resha M. Putzrath, Risk Assessment Forum; telephone: 202-564-3229; facsimile: 202-565-0062; or e-mail: *putzrath.resha@epa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Document The Agency endorses a hierarchy of approaches to derive human equivalent oral exposures from data from laboratory animals, with the preferred approach being physiologically based toxicokinetic modeling. Intermediate approaches include using some chemical-specific information. In lieu of data to support either of these approaches, body weight scaling to the 3/4 power (BW 3/4 ) would be endorsed as a general default procedure to extrapolate toxicologically equivalent doses of chronic orally administered agents from laboratory animals to humans for the purposes of deriving an oral Reference Dose (RfD). Use of BW 3/4 in derivation of RfD values would be parallel with current Agency use in derivation of cancer oral slope factors. Thus, this paper would harmonize the two main Agency oral dose-response extrapolation procedures. This generalized default procedure is viewed as an informed, species-specific, dosimetric adjustment factor

(DAF)that addresses predominantly toxicokinetic and some toxicodynamic aspects of the interspecies uncertainty factor UF <sup>A</sup> . Use of this procedure would result in derivation of a human equivalent exposure, specifically a human equivalent dose

(HED)that is to be used in derivation of the oral RfD in a manner parallel to the human equivalent concentration

(HEC)in derivation of an inhalation RfC. Dated: May 15, 2006. George Alapas, Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E6-7836 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0187; FRL-8173-1] Human Studies Review Board (HSRB); Notification of a Public Teleconference To Review Its Draft Report From the April 4-6, 2006 HSRB Meeting AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The EPA Human Studies Review Board

(HSRB)announces a public teleconference meeting to discuss its draft HSRB report from the April 4-6, 2006 HSRB meeting. DATES: The date for the teleconference will be held on June 8, 2006, from 1:30-4 p.m. (Eastern Time). *Location:* The meeting will take place via telephone only. *Meeting Access:* For information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, please contact the DFO at least 10 business days prior to the meeting using the information under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT so that appropriate arrangements can be made. *Procedures for Providing Public Input:* Interested members of the public may submit relevant written or oral comments for the HSRB to consider during the advisory process. Additional information concerning submission of relevant written or oral comments is provided in Unit I.D. of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to obtain the call-in number and access code to participate in the telephone conference, request a current draft copy of the Board's report or who wish further information may contact Paul I. Lewis, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA, Office of the Science Advisory, (8105), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; or via telephone/voice mail at

(202)564-8381 or via e-mail at *lewis.paul@epa.gov.* General information concerning the EPA HSRB can be on the EPA Web site at *http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/* . ADDRESSES: Submit your written comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0187, by one of the following methods: *http://www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. E-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov.* Mail: ORD Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-ORD-2006-0187. Deliveries are only accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0187. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(202)566-1744, and the telephone number for the ORD Docket is

(202)566-1752. The April 4-6, 2006 HSRB meeting draft report is now available. You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the regulations.gov Web site and the HSRB Internet Home Page at *http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/* . For questions on document availability or if you do not have access to the Internet, consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. C. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA? You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments: 1. Explain your views as clearly as possible. 2. Describe any assumptions that you used. 3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used that support your views. 4. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns. 5. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and **Federal Register** citation. D. How May I Participate in This Meeting? You may participate in this meeting by following the instructions in this section. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket ID number EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0187 in the subject line on the first page of your request. 1. *Oral comments* . Requests to present oral comments will be accepted up to May 31, 2006. To the extent that time permits, interested persons who have not pre-registered may be permitted by the Chair of the HSRB to present oral comments at the meeting. Each individual or group wishing to make brief oral comments to the HSRB is strongly advised to submit their request (preferably via e-mail) to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than noon, eastern time, May 31, 2006, in order to be included on the meeting agenda and to provide sufficient time for the HSRB Chair and HSRB DFO to review the meeting agenda to provide an appropriate public comment period. The request should identify the name of the individual making the presentation and the organization (if any) the individual will represent. Oral comments before the HSRB are limited to 5 minutes per individual or organization. Please note that this includes all individuals appearing either as part of, or on behalf of an organization. While it is our intent to hear a full range of oral comments on the science and ethics issues under discussion, it is not our intent to permit organizations to expand these time limitations by having numerous individuals sign up separately to speak on their behalf. If additional time is available, there may be flexibility in time for public comments. 2. *Written comments.* Although you may submit written comments at any time, for the HSRB to have the best opportunity to review and consider your comments as it deliberates on its report, you should submit your comments at least 5 business days prior to the beginning of this teleconference. If you submit comments after this date, those comments will be provided to the Board members, but you should recognize that the Board members may not have adequate time to consider those comments prior to making a decision. Thus, if you plan to submit written comments, the Agency strongly encourages you to submit such comments no later than noon, Eastern Time, May 31, 2006. You should submit your comments using the instructions in Unit 1.C. of this notice. In addition, the Agency also requests that person(s) submitting comments directly to the docket also provide a copy of their comments to the DFO listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT . There is no limit on the length of written comments for consideration by the HSRB. E. Background The EPA Human Studies Review Board will be reviewing its draft report from the April 4-6, 2006 HSRB meeting. Background on the April 4-6, 2006 HSRB meeting can be found at 71 FR 12194 (March 9, 2006) and at the HSRB Web site *http://www.epa.gov/osa/hsrb/* . Dated: May 16, 2006. George Gray, EPA Science Advisor. [FR Doc. E6-7830 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-8173-6; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0463] External Review Draft, Application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to Soil PAH Contamination AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public comment period. SUMMARY: EPA is announcing a 30-day public comment period for the draft document titled, “Application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to Soil PAH Contamination” (EPA/600/R-06/035A). The document was prepared by the Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center managed by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and Development. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. EPA will consider any public comments submitted in accordance with this notice when revising the document. DATES: The 30-day public comment period begins May 23, 2006, and ends June 22, 2006. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by June 22, 2006. ADDRESSES: The draft document, “Application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to Soil PAH Contamination,” is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment's home page under the Recent Additions and Data and Publications menus at *http://www.epa.gov/ncea.* A limited number of paper copies are available from Ms. Donna Tucker, Technical Information Manager, NCEA-Cincinnati; telephone: 513-569-7257; facsimile: 513-569-7916; e-mail: *tucker.donna@epa.gov.* If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, “Application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to Soil PAH Contamination”. Comments may be submitted electronically via *http://www.regulations.gov* , by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov.* For technical information, contact Michael Kravitz, NCEA; telephone: 513-569-7740; facsimile: 513-487-2540; or e-mail: *kravitz.michael@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Project/Document U.S. EPA's Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC) is a knowledge center that provides technical information and addresses scientific questions on topics relevant to ecological risk assessment at hazardous waste sites for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) and Regional Superfund/Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA)staff. The topics are submitted by users in the program office and regions. The ERASC is managed by the Office of Research and Development's (ORD's) National Center for Environmental Assessment and is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The ERASC recently completed an external review draft of the document titled, “Application of Equilibrium Partitioning Theory to Soil PAH Contamination”. It addresses the issue of whether equilibrium partitioning techniques can be used to predict the toxicity of PAH mixtures in soil. II. How to Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at http://www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD 2006-0463 by one of the following methods: • *http://www.regulations.gov:* Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov.* • Fax: 202-566-1753. • Mail: Office of Environmental Information

(OEI)Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-566-1752. • Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments in writing, please submit one unbound original with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. *Instructions:* Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2006-0463. It is EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to make the comments available online at *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information

(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through *http://www.regulations.gov* or e-mail. The *http://www.regulations.gov* Web site is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through *http://www.regulations.gov* , your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at *http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.* *Docket:* Documents in the docket are listed in the *http://www.regulations.gov* index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, *e.g.* , CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in *http://www.regulations.gov* or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: May 15, 2006. George W. Alapas, Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E6-7835 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 *et seq.* ) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below. The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The application also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether the acquisition of the nonbanking company complies with the standards in section 4 of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise noted, nonbanking activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at *www.ffiec.gov/nic/* . Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than June 16, 2006. **A. Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond** (A. Linwood Gill, III, Vice President) 701 East Byrd Street, Richmond, Virginia 23261-4528: *1. Capital One Financial Corporation* , McLean, Virginia; to merge with North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., Melville, New York, and thereby indirectly acquire voting shares of North Fork Bank, Mattituck, New York, and Superior Savings of New England, National Association, Branford, Connecticut. In connection with this application, Applicant also has applied to acquire up to 19.9 percent of the voting shares of North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., Melville, New York. In addition, North Fork Bancorporation, Inc., Melville, New York; has applied to acquire up to 19.9 percent of the voting shares of Capital One Financial Corporation, McLean, Virginia. **B. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City** (Donna J. Ward, Assistant Vice President) 925 Grand Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64198-0001: *1. Quay Bank Corp.* , Albuquerque, New Mexico; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 100 percent of the voting shares of High Desert State Bank, Albuquerque, New Mexico. **C. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco** (Tracy Basinger, Director, Regional and Community Bank Group) 101 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94105-1579: *1. Concord Place, Inc.* , Nassau, Bahamas; to become a bank holding company by acquiring at least 76.6 percent of the voting shares of Los Angeles National Bank, Buena Park, California. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 18, 2006. Robert deV. Frierson, Deputy Secretary of the Board. [FR Doc. E6-7821 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6210-01-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Request for Applications for the Mentoring Partnership Program—Protégé AGENCY: Office on Women's Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, HHS. *Announcement Type:* Cooperative Agreement—FY 2006 Initial announcement. *Funding Opportunity Number:* Not applicable. *CFDA Number:* 93.294. DATES: To receive consideration, applications must be received by the Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), no later than June 22, 2006. Pre-site visits (if needed): August 21-25, 2006. If the pre-site visits will determine funding they will need to be prior to July 15 (due date of funding memos to Office of Grants Management). *Award date:* September 1, 2006. SUMMARY: The Office on Women's Health

(OWH)within the Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS)is the government's champion and focal point for women's health issues, and works to redress inequities in research, health care services, and education that have historically placed the health of women at risk. The OWH coordinates women's health efforts within DHHS to eliminate disparities in health status and supports culturally sensitive educational programs that encourage women to take personal responsibility for their own health and wellness. To that end, OWH has established public/private partnerships to address critical women's health issues nationwide, namely mentoring partnerships (protégé and mentor) meant to strengthen the capacity of non-profit organizations that provide HIV/AIDS prevention services to women at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS. Women of color represent over 80 percent of the reported AIDS cases. Younger women are increasingly at higher risk for HIV/AIDS. Thus, the Mentoring Partnership Program—Protégé intends to demonstrate how small, non-profit, community-based, faith-based, and women's service organizations will be strengthened, programs/service effectiveness increased, and gender-focused and culturally competent practices instituted so that efforts to reach women most at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS are increased. The non-profit community-based, faith-based, and women's service organizations receive training to increase their competencies in operating a sound organization. Moreover, mentors prepare protégés to compete for additional public and private funding. During the funding period, protégé organizations will demonstrate a gain in knowledge and skills by reaching more women with HIV/AIDS prevention education and support services. In order to improve HIV/AIDS program services to women, protégé grantees are also required to receive additional training by attending two HIV/AIDS prevention conferences (regional and national) and establish collaborative partnerships with the local health and social service departments for referral resources in areas such as primary health care, housing, education, job and/or trade training, to name a few. I. Funding Opportunity Description Authority: This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 300u-2(a). The purpose of the Mentoring Partnership Program—Protégé is to strengthen the organizational infrastructure and program services of small non-profit organizations so they may deliver improved HIV/AIDS prevention and support services to women most at risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS and women with positive HIV serostatus. With a sound infrastructure and culturally competent, gender-focused program services, women will increase their HIV prevention knowledge and reduce the risk of contracting HIV. The goals of the program are: —For protégé or non-profit community-based, faith-based, and women's service organizations to be paired with certified small businesses or mentors (with expertise in women's health, particularly women-specific HIV/AIDS prevention services) and organizational development to design tailor-made capacity building training for:

(1)Organization infrastructure:

(a)fiscal management;

(b)human resources;

(c)governance;

(d)data management; and

(e)technology development; and

(2)program infrastructure:

(a)gender-focused programmatic development;

(b)implementation;

(c)reporting;

(d)monitoring; and

(e)evaluation; and simultaneously. —For protégé and mentor organizations to develop a mentoring partnership approach offering protégé the opportunity to receive training and gain skills to adapt evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention education curricula to improve program services to women disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. The objectives of the OWH Mentoring Partnership Program—Protégé are: —For protégé or non-profit community-based, faith-based, and women's service organizations to gain skills and be prepared to compete for Federal and private funding before the program period ends; and —For protégé or non-profit community-based, faith-based, and women's service organizations to increase the number of women at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS served with culturally competent, gender-focused, evidence-based program services. In order to achieve the objectives of the program, the protégé grantee shall:

(1)By October 16, 2006, OWH will pair each protégé with a mentor organization (mentoring partnerships will be established between a mentor and a maximum of two

(2)protégé organizations). OWH Project Officer will provide protégé (and mentor) organization with contact information. Protégé and mentor must make contact by telephone and e-mail: a. For introductions. b. Share background of agencies. c. Protégé to receive and complete initial assessment of capacity building needs from mentor.

(2)OWH Orientation Meeting. a. The primary staff of the protégé organization will attend the mandatory OWH orientation meeting (held within the first 8 weeks of the program period). Funded organizations must bring a copy of their cooperative agreement, proposal, and planning calendar for the 12-month funding period (will schedule on-site visits and teleconferences between protégé and mentor; schedule Project Officer site evaluation visit; Project Officer monitoring teleconferences, etc.). b. The protégé and mentor organizations will give brief presentations on their funded programs. The mentoring partnership must meet with each other, determine a biweekly teleconference schedule and email correspondence schedule, discuss protégé needs, review protégé initial assessment on organizational and program/service capacity building needs, and further prioritize capacity needs. c. Each mentoring partnership must meet with the Project Officer, discuss areas and activities for capacity building assistance required, specify how the program will be evaluated, discuss a Plan of Action, and receive Project Office approval to proceed. Approval to proceed is based on prioritizing capacity building needs as follows: —For organization Infrastructure, a maximum of two of the following areas may be selected:

(1)Fiscal management;

(2)human resources;

(3)governance;

(4)data management; or

(5)technology development. —For Program Infrastructure, a maximum of two of the following areas may be selected:

(1)Gender-focused programmatic development;

(2)implementation;

(3)reporting;

(4)monitoring; or

(5)evaluation. —For protégés with 5 or less years of service, Project Officer may decrease the number of capacity building areas based on current organizational capacity. d. Project Officer will distribute list of national HIV/AIDS conferences approved for protégés to attend.

(3)The mentor will request program/service tracking assessment tools used by the protégés local health departments with grantees of similar programs. The assessment tools must cover demographic and service information. Using these assessment(s), the mentor is to adapt these forms so they may be used by their protégés to track and report women served in protégé's adapted HIV/AIDS prevention program (must include gender-focused components).

(4)A Memorandum of Agreement

(MOA)will be developed and signed by the protégé and mentor. The MOA must contain the following: —Detailed description of mentoring partnership approach to be used with each protégé organization with considerations for style of leadership, vision, learning approaches, philosophy, and other significant attributes and factors expressed by the protégé; description must demonstrate a genuinely supportive mentoring approach with protégé organizations that facilitates the transfer and exchange of new information and skills-building training such that they may be applied within the program period; —Protégé on-site visit schedules to be conducted by mentor (details of date, time, place, area and activities for capacity building, mentor training staff, protégé staff to attend); —Bi-weekly teleconference schedule between protégé and mentor (details of date, time, place, areas and activities for capacity building, mentor training staff, protégé staff to be on the calls); —Schedule for e-mail correspondence between protégé and mentor; —Dates for mentors to review and give feedback on protégé's progress reports (initial, mid-year, and final) to OWH; —Statement of agreement for both mentoring partners regarding the gender-focused approaches to be used and intended outcomes, e.g., between mentoring partners; protégé agency clients and staff; Board of Director; Advisory Board; volunteers; etc., and, —Detailed description of evaluation method to be used by both the mentor and protégé.

(5)The protégé will receive four

(4)on-site capacity building sessions with the mentor. Each on-site visit will occur for 3 days per protégé organization at 8 hours each day. Each on-site visit should occur on a quarterly basis. However, the last on-site visit is not to be scheduled during the last month of the funding year. Based on the mentoring partnership, the protégé may receive capacity building assistance through mentor tutorial activities including, but not limited to the following: a. Core Capacity Building Areas: Organization Infrastructure Subset Areas —Fiscal management (e.g., accounting and bookkeeping systems; Federal and State tax laws and regulations; systems operations; developing policies and procedures; equipment, computers, software; source of funding tracking systems). —Human resources (e.g., personnel hiring policies and procedures; position descriptions; benefit packages). —Organizational governance (e.g., board development; strategic plan; board membership recruitment, selection, retention; board roles and responsibilities). —Data management (e.g., assessments, reporting requirements; designing and display; quantitative and qualitative data). —Technology development (e.g., software). b. Core Capacity Building Area: Program Infrastructure Subset Areas —Gender-focused, culturally competent, evidence-based programmatic development. —Implementation. —Reporting. —Monitoring. —Evaluation. c. Protégé will complete assessments to help mentor gauge knowledge and skills gained in selected capacity building activity since previous assessments; d. Protégé will take mentor on a tour of local service area(s) to see (when possible, meet members of) the women to be reached in the adopted HIV/AIDS prevention education program; e. Protégé will be taught by mentor how to customize program/service materials (i.e., procedural guides, training handbooks, train-the-trainer guide, etc.); f. Protégé and mentor will select samples of evidence-based HIV/AIDS (culturally competent, gender-focused, age- and linguistically-appropriate) prevention education curricula and teach protégé how they may be adapted for use with women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. g. Protégé will be receiving training from mentor in skills building sessions to learn how to build the capacity in areas selected in 7a and 7b while simultaneously adapting HIV prevention education program, then offering new HIV prevention program reaching women at risk and/or living with HIV/AIDS. h. Protégé will be tutored by mentor on new software (graphic design, fiscal, data collection/management, etc.); and, i. Protégé, with mentor's guidance, will convene meetings with community stakeholders to develop and/or strengthen community collaborative partnerships. j. Protégé will be taught by mentor how to develop a comprehensive work plan and time line for the entire funding year.

(6)The protégé will receive the following from the mentor:

(a)Program/service tracking assessment tools used by the protégé's local health department;

(b)training on how to adapt these assessment tools to reflect gender-focused components for reporting and evaluation of their OWH-funded programs (assessment tools must contain demographic and service information);

(c)sample evaluation assessment tools and training on how to use and adapt them for purposes of self-evaluating competencies and skills gained in each capacity building area (and will be reported in mentor's mid-year and final progress reports to OWH);

(d)Skills Building Assessment after mentor conducts on-site visits, and capacity building sessions via teleconference and e-mail;

(e)assignments from mentor relative to protégé's selected capacity building areas; and

(f)Mentor Customer Service Assessment to be completed by protégé after each on-site visit with mentor AND capacity building sessions convened via teleconference and e-mail with mentor.

(7)In order to gain additional training, the protégé shall travel to and attend: a. One national HIV/AIDS conference that includes women-specific HIV/AIDS issues; and b. one regional HIV/AIDS conference that includes women-specific HIV/AIDS issues. c. Project Officer approval must be given before registering for regional HIV/AIDS conferences. d. Protégé must attend both national and regional HIV/AIDS conference before July 1, 2007.

(8)Protégé will develop indicators to determine success of meeting program outcomes, including but not limited to: a. List goals, dates to be achieved, and status. b. List process objectives for each program activity, dates to be achieved, and status. c. List outcome objectives (e.g., number of women reached in piloting adapted HIV/AIDS prevention training, etc.) for: —mentoring partnership capacity building sessions (on-site visits, teleconferences, e-mail) —training attended by protégé (e.g., based on evidence-based, gender-specific HIV/AIDS curricula, etc.)

(9)Protégé will work with OWH's independent evaluator to assess the measure of success for the OWH Mentoring Partnership Program. The independent evaluator will convene teleconference meetings, administer OMB assessments, and conduct one on-site visit.

(10)OWH Project Officer will: a. Convene a maximum of three project monitoring teleconferences with protégé (both individually and with other funded protégés) to receive program updates and address any inadequacies; and b. conduct one site evaluation visit at the protégé's operating site. II. Award Information Under this announcement the OWH anticipates making four cooperative agreement awards. Approximately $200,000 is available to make four awards of up to $50,000 each. It is expected that the award will cover costs for the 12-month period from September 1, 2006 through August 31, 2007. Funding estimates may change. Please read Section II. Award Information and Section IV. Application and Submission Information for specific information on OWH's involvement with the grantee. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Eligible entities may include: non-profit community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, national organizations, colleges and universities, clinics and hospitals, research institutions, State and local government agencies, tribal government agencies and tribal/urban Indian organizations. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing and matching funds is not a requirement of this grant. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address To Request Application Package Application kits may be requested by calling

(240)453-8822 or writing to: Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 1101 Wootten Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852. Applicants may fax a written request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a hard copy of the application kit at

(240)453-8823. By mail, address to “Request Application Package.” Application kits may be requested from, and submitted to the Office of Grants Management, OPHS, DHHS, 1101 Wootten Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852,

(240)453-8822. Application kits are also available online at *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal. Applicants may fax a written request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a hard copy of the application kit at

(240)453-8823. 2. Content and Format of Application and Submission At a minimum, each application for a cooperative agreement funded under this OWH announcement must: a. Describe the organization's current capacity and record of success (minimum 3 years) to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and support to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. b. Provide an assessment of women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS relative to their prevention needs and service gaps in the local geographic area covering the applicant's county and State (must cite all data using credible sources only). c. Describe the HIV/AIDS prevention needs of women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and service gaps the applicant proposes to address with capacity building assistance (must cite all data using credible sources only). d. State goals and objectives for strengthening (objectives must be quantifiable citing the number of new women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS to be served by the end of the program period): —The organizational infrastructure of the applicant. —The HIV/AIDS prevention program of the applicant. e. Give details on the specific capacity building assistance needed. If previous technical assistance and/or capacity building services received, include records documenting pre/interim/final assessments for organizational and/or program capacity building. f. Explain how strengthening the agency's organizational and programmatic infrastructures will result in increased HIV/AIDS prevention service delivery to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. g. Provide a time line for implementing proposed improvements in both the organizational and program infrastructures. h. Describe the most meaningful components of a mentoring partnership that will help the organization maximize the process of learning new skills and knowledge. Give details on aspects such as gender-focus, sensitivity, compassion, expertise, flexibility, dignity, honor, experience or willingness to “walk in my shoes,” to name a few. i. Provide a draft Plan of Action that links the applicant's time line and areas for capacity building with achievement dates. j. Describe the types of capacity building training taken within the past three years (name of training, description, length of training, need for training, results of training; pre/interim/final assessments for organizational and/or program capacity building). k. Describe the evaluation plan for: —The applicant's HIV/AIDS program services to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. —Measuring effectiveness of mentoring services and corrective actions. The Project Summary and Project Narrative must not exceed a total of 25 double-spaced pages, excluding the appendices. The original and each copy must be stapled and/or otherwise securely bound. The application should be organized in accordance with the format presented in the Program Guidelines. An outline for the minimum information to be included in the “Project Narrative” section is presented below. The content requirements for the Project Narrative portion of the application are divided into five sections and are described below within each Factor. Applicants must pay particular attention to structuring the narrative to respond clearly and fully to each review Factor and associated criteria. Background (Understanding the Problem) A. Provide an assessment of the prevention needs and service gaps for women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS in the applicant's local geographic area covering applicant's county and State (must cite all data using credible sources only). B. Describe the HIV/AIDS prevention needs of women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and service gaps the applicant proposes to address with capacity building assistance (must cite all data using credible sources only). C. Describe the applicant's current capacity to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and support services to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS (including any documentation for 3+ years of service). D. Give details on the specific capacity building assistance needed. Explain how strengthening the applicant's infrastructure AND program(s) will result in increased HIV/AIDS prevention service delivery to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS. Implementation Plan (Approach) A. State goals for strengthening: 1. the organizational infrastructure of the applicant; 2. the HIV/AIDS prevention program services. B. State quantifiable objectives for strengthening: 1. The organizational infrastructure of the applicant; 2. the HIV/AIDS prevention program services (must give the number of new women at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS to be served by the end of the program period). C. Describe the most meaningful components of a mentoring partnership that will help the applicant maximize the process of learning new skills and information. Give details on aspects such as gender-focus, sensitivity, compassion, expertise, flexibility, dignity, honor, experience or willingness to “walk in my shoes,” to name a few. Management Plan A. Key project staff, their resumes, and staffing chart for budgeted staff. B. To-be-hired staff and their qualifications. C. Staff responsibilities. D. Management oversight of staff roles and job performance. E. Address maintenance of confidentiality, ethics in performance, and any mandatory in-service staff training. Indicators of Success Plan A. How will applicant determine success in meeting goals? B. How will applicant determine success in meeting process objectives? C. How will applicant determine success in meeting outcome objectives? Appendices A. Required Forms (Assurance of Compliance Form, etc.). B. Key Staff Resumes. C. Charts/Tables (target population demographics, gaps in services, etc.). D. Other attachments. *Format and Limitations of Application:* Applicants are required to submit an original ink-signed and dated application and 2 photocopies. All pages must be numbered clearly and sequentially beginning with the Project Summary. The application must be typed double-spaced on one side of plain 8 1/2 ″ x 11″ white paper, using 12 point font, and containing 1″ margins all around. *Use of Funds:* A majority of the funds from the award must be used to support staff and efforts aimed at implementing the program. Funds may be used for supplies (including screening, education, and outreach supplies); local travel to perform duties of the funded HIV/AIDS prevention program; and out-of-town travel (required training at one national and one regional HIV/AIDS conference). Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, equipment, medical treatment, or renovations. All budget requests must be justified fully in terms of the proposed goals and objectives and include an itemized computational explanation/brakeout of how costs were determined. *Meetings:* The OWH will sponsor a mandatory orientation meeting for grantees. The meeting will be held in the Washington metropolitan area. The budget should include a request for funds to pay for the travel, lodging, and meals. The meeting is usually scheduled within the first 8 weeks after awards are made. The Federal Government (Project Officer) will:

(1)Conduct an orientation meeting for the grantees within the first 8 weeks of the funding period.

(2)Conduct one site evaluation visit.

(3)Regularly monitor progress via teleconference with all funded programs and on an as needed basis with individual funded programs.

(4)Contribute information throughout the program year on funding opportunities, trends in HIV/AIDS impacting women at risk and living with HIV/AIDS, and women-specific HIV/AIDS issues addressed in prevention, care, support, treatment, and research.

(5)Review all quarterly progress reports, annual report, and expense reports. Approves/disapproves invoices for payment. If disapproved, the applicant will receive information for specific areas to be addressed.

(6)Review time line and implementation plan to compare consistency with memorandum of agreement between the protégé and mentor (mentoring partnership).

(7)Work on an as-needed basis with the OWH independent evaluator and grantees. 3. Submission Dates and Times All completed applications must be submitted to the Office of Grants Management, OPHS, DHHS at the above mailing address. In preparing the application, it is important to follow ALL instructions provided in the application kit. Applications must be submitted on the forms supplied (OPHS-1, Revised 6/2001) and in the manner prescribed in the application kits provided by the OPHS. Applicants are required to submit an application signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The program narrative should not be longer than 25 double-spaced pages, not including appendices and required forms, using an easily readable, 12 point font. All pages, figures and tables should be numbered. Submission Mechanisms The OPHS provides multiple mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of applications submitted using any of these mechanisms. Applications submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadlines described below will not be accepted for review. Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant. Applications may only be submitted electronically via the electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic application submission capabilities provided by using the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal is encouraged. Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission mechanisms specified below. All required hard copy original signatures and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement. Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic application components, hard copy original signatures, and mail-in items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed ineligible. Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early in the application development process, and to submit early on the due date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with submissions prior to the application deadline. Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Web site Portal The *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal provides organizations with the ability to submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. Organizations must successfully complete the necessary registration processes in order to submit an application. Information about this system is available on the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site. In addition to electronically submitted materials, applicants may be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain program related forms, or original materials as required by the announcement. It is imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement, as well as the application guidance provided within the *http://www.Grants.gov* application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. Electronic applications submitted via the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal must contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. All required mail-in items must be received by the due date requirements specified above. Mail-in items may only include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation. Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission via the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal, the applicant will be provided with a confirmation page from *http://www.Grants.gov* indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the *http://www.Grants.gov* Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the entire application package. All applications submitted via the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal will be validated by *http://www.Grants.gov.* Any applications deemed “Invalid” by the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal will not be transferred to the OPHS eGrants system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not validated and transferred to OPHS from the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal. Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by the *http://www.Grant.gov* Web site portal, applicants should immediately mail all required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to be received by the deadlines specified above. It is critical that the applicant clearly identify the organization name and *http://www.Grants.gov* Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials. Once the application is validated by *http://www.Grants.gov,* it will be electronically transferred to the OPHS eGrants system for processing. Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal, and the required hard copy mail-in items, applicants will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of the application submitted using the *http://www.Grants.gov* Web site portal. Applicants should contact *http://www.Grants.gov* regarding any questions or concerns pertaining to the electronic application process. Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the application. The original application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application deadline date requirements specified in this announcement supersedes the instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline will be returned to the applicant unread. Applications will be screened upon receipt. Those that are judged to be incomplete or arrive after the deadline will be returned without review or comment. Applications that exceed the requested amount of $50,000 for a 12-month budget period may also be returned without review or comment. Applicants that are judged to be in compliance will be notified by the OPHS Office of Grants Management. Accepted applications will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with DHHS policies. 4. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to the Public Health Systems Reporting Requirements. Under these requirements, a community-based non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). Applicants shall submit a copy of the application face page (SF-424) and a one-page summary of the project, called the Public Health System Impact Statement. The PHSIS is intended to provide information to State and local health officials to keep them apprised on proposed health services grant applications submitted by community-based, non-governmental organizations within their jurisdictions. Community-based, non-governmental applicants are required to submit, no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the application, the following information to the head of the appropriate State and local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted:

(a)A copy of the face page of the application (SF 242),

(b)a summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which provides:

(1)A description of the population to be served,

(2)a summary of the services to be provided, and

(3)a description of the coordination planned with the appropriate State or local health agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the PHSIS to these authorities must be contained in the application materials submitted to the OWH. This program is also subject to the requirements of Executive order 12372 that allows States the option of setting up a system for reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under certain Federal programs. The application kit to be made available under this notice will contain a listing of States that have chosen to set up a review system and will include a State Single Point of Contact

(DUNS)number as preparation for doing business electronically with the Federal government. The DUNS number must be obtained prior to applying for OWH funds. The DUNS number is a nine-character identification code provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet, and serves as a unique identifier of business entities. There is no charge for requesting a DUNS number, and you may register and obtain a DUNS number by either of the following methods: Telephone: 1-866-705-5711. Web site: *https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html.* Be sure to click on the link that reads, “DUNS Number Only” at the right hand, bottom corner of the screen to access the free registration page. Please note that registration via the Web site may take up to 30 business days to complete. V. Application Review Information 1. *Criteria:* The technical review of applications will consider the following factors: Factor 1: Background/Understanding of the Problem (25%) This section must discuss: 1. The applicant's background and record of success in addressing the needs of women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS in urban and/or rural areas; and 2. The HIV/AIDS prevention needs for women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS and service gaps in the agency's local service area. Factor 2: Implementation/Approach (25%) This section must discuss: 1. The applicant's current capacity to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and support services to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS in urban or rural areas; 2. The applicant's specific organizational AND program capacity building assistance needed based on the following: a. Core Capacity Building Areas: Organization Infrastructure Subset Areas: —Fiscal management ( *e.g.* , accounting and bookkeeping systems; Federal and State tax laws and regulations; systems operations; developing policies and procedures; equipment, computers, software; source of funding tracking systems). —Human resources ( *e.g.* , personnel hiring policies and procedures; position descriptions; benefit packages). —Organizational governance ( *e.g.* , board development; strategic plan; board membership recruitment, selection, retention; board roles and responsibilities). —Data management ( *e.g.* , assessments, reporting requirements; designing and display; quantitative and qualitative data). —Technology development ( *e.g.* , software). b. Core Capacity Building Area: Program Infrastructure Subset Areas: —Gender-focused programmatic development. —Implementation. —Reporting. —Monitoring. —Evaluation. 3. The application's description of how strengthening the organizational AND program infrastructure will result in increased HIV/AIDS prevention service delivery to women at high risk for or living with HIV/AIDS; 4. The applicant's description of key components of a mentoring partnership necessary for maximum learning and skills-building experience. Factor 3: Management Plan (25%) The applicant's proposal should contain: 1. Proposed staff and/or requirements for new staff adequately described in résumés (appears in Appendix); 2. Proposed staff level of effort; and 3. Detailed position descriptions (appears in Appendix). Factor 4: Indicators of Success (25%) The applicants proposal contains: 1. Clear statement of program goal(s). 2. Comprehensive process objectives. 3. Comprehensive outcome objectives. 2. *Review and Selection Process:* Funding decision will be made by the OWH, and will take into consideration the recommendations and ratings of the review panel, program needs, geographic location, stated preferences, and the recommendations of DHHS Regional Women's Health Coordinators (RWHC). Applications will be evaluated by a technical review panel composed of experts in the fields of minority women's health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS prevention; community-based, faith-based, and women's service organization's delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and support services; and Federal and State government public health systems. Applicants are requested to pay close attention to the specific program guidelines and general instructions in the application kit that may be obtained from the Grants Management Office, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 1101 Wootten Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852, and to the definitions provided in this notice. VI. Award Administration Information 1. *Award Notices:* Cooperative agreement award applicants will receive a Notice of Grant Award signed by the Grants Management Office. This is the authorizing document and it will be sent electronically and followed up with a mailed copy. 2. *Administrative and National Policy Requirements:* The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS)rules and requirements that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to State and local governments. Applicants funded under this announcement must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The CFR volume that includes parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from *http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx 03/45cfrv1_03.html.* The DHHS Appropriations Act requires that, when issuing statements, press releases, request for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money, all grantees shall clearly state the percentage and dollar amount of the total cost of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources. 3. *Reporting:* In addition to those listed above, the applicant will submit two progress reports and an annual report detailing the entire funding year of mentoring partnership program activities. OWH will provide the Progress Report Form and Annual Report Form during the orientation meeting. The purpose of the progress reports is to provide accurate and timely program information to program managers and to respond to Congressional, Departmental, and public requests for information about the program. The applicant will also submit a financial status report (in accordance with provisions of the general regulation which apply under “Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance,” 45 CFR parts 74 and 92). An original and two copies of the progress report(s) must be submitted by January 12, 2007, May 11, 2007, and August 31, 2007. The last quarterly report will serve as the annual progress report and must describe all project activities for the entire year. A Financial Status Report

(FSR)SF-269 is due 90 days after the close of each 12-month budget period. VII. Agency Contacts 1. For budget and business aspects of the application, please contact: Grants Management Officer, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 1101 Wootten Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone:

(240)453-8822. 2. Questions regarding programmatic information and/or requests for technical assistance in the preparation of the grant application should be directed in writing to: Ms. Joanna Short, M.Div., Public Health Advisor, Office on Women's Health, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 733E, Washington, DC 20201. Telephone:

(202)260-8420. E-mail: *Jshort@osophe.dhhs.gov.* VIII. Other Information A. Protection of Human Subjects Regulations The applicant must comply with the DHHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations (which require obtaining Institutional Review Board approval), set out as 45 CFR Part 46, if applicable. General information about Human Subjects regulations can be obtained through the Office for Human Research Protections

(OHRP)at *http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp,* or *ohrp@osophs.dhhs.gov,* or toll free at

(866)447-4777. B. Objectives of Health People 2010 Emphasis will be placed on aligning OWH activities and programs with Healthy People 2010: Goal 2 to eliminate health disparities. More information on the Healthy People 2010 objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 Web site: *http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.* C. Definitions *Community-based organization:* Public and private, non-profit organizations that are representative of communities or significant segments of communities. *Culturally competent:* Information and services provided at the educational level and in the language and cultural context that are most appropriate for the individuals for whom the information and services are intended. Additional information on cultural competency is available at the following Web site: *http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/May 2001/factsheets/Cultural-Competency.html.* *Cultural perspective:* Recognizes that culture, language, and country of origin have an important and significant impact on the health perceptions and health behaviors that produce a variety of health outcomes ( *e.g.* , influx of immigrant populations in the rural south, such as Africans, Hispanics, and Native/American Indians). *Evidence-Based:* DHHS recognizes HIV/AIDS prevention education approaches for reaching minority populations, namely education/training, outreach (street, media), and care services. Additional information on evidence-based HIV/AIDS prevention programs is available at the following Web site: *http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivcompendium/organize.htm.* *Gender-focused:* An approach which considers the social and environmental context in which women live and therefore structures information, activities, program priorities and service delivery systems to compliment those factors. *Healthy People 2010:* A set of national health objectives that outlines the prevention agenda for the Nation. Healthy People 2010 identify the most significant preventable threats to health and establishes national goals for the next ten years. Individuals, groups, and organizations are encouraged to integrate Healthy People 2010 into current programs, special events, publications, and meetings. Businesses can use the framework, for example to guide worksite health promotion activities as well as community-based initiatives. Schools, colleges, and civic and faith-based organizations can undertake activities to further the health of all members of their community. Health care providers can encourage their patients to pursue healthier lifestyles and to participate in community-based programs. By selecting from among the national objectives, individuals and organizations can build an agenda for community health improvement and can monitor results over time. More information on the Healthy People 2010 objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 Web site: *http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.* *Prevention education:* Accurate information to increase knowledge of methods and behaviors to keep individuals from becoming infected with HIV. Dated: May 16, 2006. Wanda K. Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women's Health), Office of Public Health and Science. [FR Doc. E6-7848 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-33-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Request for Applications for the Prevention and Support Services for Women Incarcerated or Newly Released Living With or at Risk for HIV/AIDS/STDs AGENCY: Office on Women's Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, DHHS. ACTION: Notice. Announcement Type: Competitive Cooperative Agreement FY 2006 Initial announcement. OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.015. DATES: Application availability: May 23, 2006. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 22, 2006. SUMMARY: This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 300u-2(a). The Office on Women's Health

(OWH)is the focal point for women's health within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Under the direction of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health, OWH provides leadership to promote health equity for women and girls through gender-specific approaches. To that end, OWH has established activities to address critical women's health issues nationwide. These include: developing and implementing model public/private partnerships that address the health issues of incarcerated and newly released women, largely women of color, living with HIV/AIDS/STDs or at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections. These may include piloting a comprehensive system of health related support services, such as ensuring access to health care and most current therapies, pre-release discharge planning, case managing transition processes, and establishing linkages to various community based support and prevention services. The OWH HIV/AIDS program began in 1999 with funding from the Minority AIDS Fund (formerly Minority AIDS Initiative) to address the gaps in services provided to women who are at risk or living with HIV. Since the inception of the HIV/AIDS programs, the program focus has expanded from two to seven. These programs include:

(1)HIV Prevention for Women Living in the Rural South,

(2)Prevention and Support for Incarcerated/ Newly Released Women,

(3)Model Mentorship for Strengthening Organizational Capacity,

(4)HIV Prevention for Young Women Attending Minority Institutions ( *e.g.* Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities),

(5)HIV Prevention for Women Living in the U.S. Virgin Islands,

(6)Prevention and Support for HIV Positive Women Living in Puerto Rico, and

(7)Inter-generational Approaches to HIV/AIDS Prevention Education with Women across the Lifespan. Funding will be directed at activities designed to improve the delivery of services to women disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS. I. Funding Opportunity Description The primary purpose of this OWH HIV/AIDS program is to increase health related support services available for HIV infected incarcerated and newly released women. The goals for the Incarcerated/Newly Released Program are to: Develop and sustain comprehensive HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and support services to incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS in collaboration with health entities, care providers, social services, correctional facilities, and criminal justice offices; Establish community linkages and networks for ensuring quality continuum of care, transitional support, discharge planning and preparation, and HIV/STD prevention services for incarcerated and newly released women living with or at high risk for HIV/AIDS; and Improve the physical and mental health circumstances as well as the quality of life of incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for HIV infection. The OWH hopes to fulfill this purpose by providing funding to targeted community-based organizations to enhance their prevention and support activities to incarcerated and newly released women living with or at high risk for HIV infection. The proposed program must address HIV prevention and support services for incarcerated and newly released women through a gender-specific approach. Information and services provided must be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the individuals for whom the information and services are intended. Women's health issues are defined in the context of women's lives, including their multiple social roles and the importance of relationships with other people to their lives. This definition of women's health encompasses mental, dental, and physical health and spans the life course. *The objectives of the OWH program are to:* 1. Increase the number of incarcerated women receiving pre-release discharge planning, particularly those who are living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for HIV infection. 2. Increase the number of HIV infected incarcerated women who are connected to drug assistance programs, medical care, and case management services prior to release or at time of release. 3. Increase the number of community linkages and networks for ensuring continuum of care for incarcerated and newly released women living with or at high risk for HIV/AIDS in locations with high rates of HIV infections and incarcerated populations. 4. Increase the number of newly released women receiving support services and HIV care six months post release. The grantee must:

(1)Develop and implement a model program to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and support services to incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS in order to establish a continuum of care ( *e.g.* , treatment, therapies, case management, reproductive health, HIV/STD testing, etc.) and secondary prevention activities to improve disease management and health outcomes; risk reduction counseling and prevention education components must be developed and integrated in both pre-lease and post-release program plans;

(2)propose a pilot program to address gaps in services to incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS that will be implemented locally in partnership with local entities after reviewing city/county/State data on incarcerated populations, exploring challenges and trends confronting incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS, assessing existing local HIV/AIDS network of prevention and care service providers that target incarcerated and newly released women, and identifying available criminal justice programs that service women;

(3)establish Memoranda of Understanding with local health care entities, social services, HIV/AIDS prevention/service providers, and criminal justice offices in support of program implementation, collaboration around services, and re-entry support of the women participants;

(4)participate in the OWH Evaluation of Women and HIV/AIDS Programs;

(5)visit area criminal justice offices/facilities and affiliated programs as well as conduct outreach to communities and women living with HIV/AIDS and are at risk of infection of HIV/AIDS/STDs to identify and enroll participation of target population and to establish program partnerships. In addition, the grantee shall submit reports outlining program activities ( *e.g.* , recruitment, participant retention), which reflect how its implementation process reflected an understanding of the realities of women's lives and addressed the issues of the participants to motivate continued participation. Finally, the grantee shall develop a plan to continue the program activities and community linkages beyond OWH funding and shall illustrate how program performance addressed community needs and the needs of incarcerated/newly released women. The grantee is encouraged to attend at least one national or regional HIV/AIDS Conference ( *e.g.* , U.S. Conference on AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC)National HIV Prevention Conference, etc.), and to seek updates in HIV prevention strategies, therapies and priority activities as advised by the CDC, Health Resources and Services Administration, and other public health experts. II. Award Information The OWH program will be supported through the cooperative agreement mechanism. Using this mechanism, the OWH anticipates making three awards in FY 2006. The anticipated start date for new awards is September 01, 2006, and the anticipated period of performance is September 01, 2006, through August 31, 2007. Approximately $300,000 is available to make awards of up to $100,000 total cost (direct and indirect) for a 12-month period. However, the actual number of awards made will depend upon the quality of the applications received and the amount of funds available for the program. The program is a collaborative effort between the OWH and the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, OPHS. These offices will provide the technical assistance and oversight necessary for the implementation, conduct, and assessment of program activities. *The applicant shall:* 1. Develop and implement the model described in the application. 2. Assess local services and gaps. 3. Establish community partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding/Agreement. 4. Participate in the OWH Evaluation, submit requested program information as needed, and participate in a site visit conducted by Evaluation Contractor. 5. Perform outreach to criminal justice offices/facilities and to communities and women living with HIV/AIDS. 6. Participate in special meetings and projects/funding opportunities identified by the OWH. 7. Adhere to all program requirements specified in this announcement and the Notice of Grant Award. 8. Submit required progress, annual, and financial reports by the due dates stated in this announcement and the Notice of Grant Award. 9. Comply with the DHHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations (which require obtaining Institutional Review Board approval), set out at 45 CFR part 46, if applicable. General information about Human Subjects regulations can be obtained through the Office for Human Research Protections

(OHRP)at *http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp, ohrp@osophs.dhhs.gov,* or toll free at

(866)447-4777. *The Federal Government will:* 1. Conduct an orientation meeting for the grantees within the first month of funding. 2. Conduct at least one site visit which includes some observation of program progress. 3. Review all quarterly, annual, and final progress reports. 4. Review and concur with requested project modifications. 5. Review implementation plan for approval. 6. Participating in telephone conferences and other activities supporting the evaluation performance. 7. Conduct a national evaluation of program effectiveness, outcomes, and impact. The DHHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention diabetes, and HIV/AIDS and with the *Healthy People 2010:* Goal 2—eliminating health disparities due to age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income, disability, or living in rural localities. Applicants are encouraged to indicate the Healthy People 2010 objective this activity will address. More information on the Healthy People 2010 objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 Web site: *http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.* Also, *Steps to a HealthierUS* is a bold new initiative from the Department that advances the goal of helping Americans live longer, better, and healthier lives. To help implement the *HealthierUS* initiative, the Department launched the *Steps to a HealthierUS* program. It lays out DHHS priorities and programs for *Steps to a HealthierUS,* focusing attention on the importance of prevention and promising approaches for promoting healthy environments. More information on these initiatives can be found at *http://www.healthierus.gov.* III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants must meet all of the following criteria: 1 . Current entities funded by the OWH to target incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for HIV infection and who met performance requirements in the OWH 3-year evaluation of the Incarceration/Newly Released program; 2 . Organizations located in locations with high HIV prevalence among women; 3 . Locations near incarcerated populations of women; and 4. Organizations indicating history of serving African American women, Hispanic women, substance abusing women, formerly incarcerated women, and women living with HIV/AIDS or whose lifestyles place them at high risk for HIV/STD infection. Current entities funded by the OWH to increase health related support services available for HIV infected incarcerated and newly released women whose funding ends in September 2006 are the only organizations qualified to receive funding through this program. Since the primary purpose of the funding is to retain entities for the ongoing 3-year evaluation of the Incarcerated and Newly Released programs, only those organizations that are funded, and are evaluation participants are suitable and eligible for funding. 2. Cost Share or Matching Cost sharing, matching funds, and cost participation is not a requirement of this grant. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address To Request Application Package Application kits may be requested from, and submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-453-8822. Application kits are also available online at the electronic grants management Web site (e-Grants) at *https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov/.* Applicants may fax a written request to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a hard copy of the application kit at 240-453-8823. 2. Content and Format of Application and Submission All completed applications must be submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management at the above mailing address. In preparing the application, it is important to follow ALL instructions provided in the application kit. Applications must be submitted on the forms supplied (OPHS-1, Revised 6/2001) and in the manner prescribed in the application kits provided by the OPHS. Applicants are required to submit an application signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The program narrative should not be longer than 25 double-spaced pages, not including appendices and required forms, using an easily readable, 12-point font. All pages, figures and tables should be numbered. A Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System

(DUNS)number is required for all applications for Federal assistance. Organizations should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps necessary to obtain one. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number are included in the application package, and may be downloaded from the Web site *https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html.* At a minimum, each application for a cooperative agreement grant funded under this OWH announcement must: Present a plan to develop and implement a model program in partnership with an array of local service providers, including health care providers, support services, case management, etc. Provide signed Memoranda of Agreement(s)

(MOA)with prospective partners to build a consortium of providers for the targeted population based upon prevention, care and re-entry transitioning needs. Detail/specify the roles and resources/services that each partner organization brings to the program, the duration and terms of agreement as confirmed by a signed memorandum of agreement between the applicant organization and each partner. The partnership agreement(s) must name the individual who will work with the program, describe their function, and State their qualifications. The documents, specific to each organization (form letters are not acceptable), must be signed by individuals with the authority to represent and bind the organization ( *e.g.* , president, chief executive officer, executive director) and submitted as part of the grant application. Be a sustainable organization with an established network of partners capable of providing coordinated and integrated women's health services in the targeted community. The partners and their roles and responsibilities to the program must be clearly identified in the application. Demonstrate that any prevention intervention (including prevention for positives) contains the core elements of interventions with evidence of effectiveness. (See Compendium of HIV Prevention Interventions with Evidence of Effectiveness, from CDC's HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project, Nov. 1999; see CDC's HIV Prevention Strategic Plan Through 2005. Provide a time line and plans for Program Implementation for the funding year, presented in correlation to goals, objectives, and expected outcomes or targets. Demonstrate the ways in which the organization and the services that are coordinated through its partners are gender and age appropriate, women-focused, women-friendly, women-relevant as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate to the target population. Describe in detail plans for the local evaluation of the program and when and how the evaluation will be used to enhance the program. The applicant must also indicate their willingness to participate in a national evaluation of the program to be conducted under the leadership of the OWH contractor. *Format and Limitations of Application:* Applicants are required to submit an original ink-signed and dated application and 2 photocopies. All pages must be numbered clearly and sequentially beginning with the Project Summary. The application must be typed *double-spaced* on one side of plain 8 1/2 ″ x 11″ white paper, using at least a 12-point font, and contain 1″ margins all around. The Project Summary and Project Narrative must not exceed a total of *25 double-spaced* pages, excluding the appendices. The original and each copy must be stapled; the application should be organized in accordance with the format presented in the RFA. An outline for the minimum information to be included in the Project Narrative section is presented below. The content requirements for the Project Narrative portion of the application are divided into five sections and described below within each Factor. Applicants must pay particular attention to structuring the narrative to respond clearly and fully to each review Factor and associated criteria. Applications not adhering to these guidelines may not be reviewed. I. Background (Understanding of the Problem) A. Organization's goals and purpose(s). B. Local needs assessment and gaps in services for targeted population. C. Strategy for linking public health, corrections, and community services. D. Local program objectives: 1. Tied to program goal(s); 2. Measurable with time frame. E. Organizational charts that include partners and a discussion of the proposed resource to be contributed by the partners, personnel and their expertise, and how their involvement will help achieve the program goals. II. Implementation Plan (Approach) A. Describe linkages with multiple systems which impact incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV infection transitioning back into society. B. Describe pre-release and post-release activities relative to secondary prevention and risk reduction counseling. C. Discuss gender specific program elements D. Provide systems chart outlining the connection of program components. E. Show time line of program activities and performance of targets/goals. F. Partnerships and referral system/follow up. III. Management Plan A. Key project staff, their resumes, and a staffing chart for budgeted staff. B. To-be-hired staff and their qualifications. C. Staff responsibilities. D. Management experience of the lead agency and partners as related to their role in the program. E. Management oversight of staff roles and job performance. F. Address maintenance of confidentiality, ethics in performance, and on-going staff training. G. Explain decision making hierarchy. IV. Local Evaluation Plan A. Purpose. B. Describe tools and procedures for measuring strengths and weaknesses. C. Use of results to enhance programs. D. Indicators that reflect goals/objectives are being met. V. Organizational Agency Qualifications A. Agency history of services for HIV infected individuals, HIV infected women, and women formerly incarcerated. B. Agency relationships, past and current, with criminal justice systems and local service providers. C. Community acceptance: staff recognition, media, requests for agency involvement. Appendices A. Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding/Partnership Letters B. Required Forms (Assurance of Compliance Form, etc.) C. Key Staff Resumes D. Charts/Tables (partners, services, population demographics, program components, etc.) E. Other attachments *Use of Funds:* A majority of the funds from the award must be used to support staff and efforts aimed at implementing the program. The Program Coordinator, or the person responsible for the day-to-day management of the program, must devote at least a 75 percent level of effort to the program. Funds may also be used to transfer the lessons learned/successful strategies/gender specific approaches from the program (technical assistance) through activities such as showcasing the program at conferences, meetings and workshops; providing direct technical assistance to other communities; and providing technical assistance to allied health and health professionals, directly or through their professional organizations, interested in working with incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS or who are at high risk for HIV/STD infection. These may include either process-based lessons ( *i.e.* , How to bring multiple sectors of community partners together) or outcomes-based lessons ( *i.e.* , How to increase the number of incarcerated and newly released women who remain in care and treatment over a period of time). Funds may be used for personnel, consultants, supplies (including screening, education, and outreach supplies), and grant related travel. Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, equipment, medical treatment, or renovations. All budget requests must be justified fully in terms of the proposed goals and objectives and include an itemized computational explanation/breakout of how costs were determined. *Meetings:* The OWH will convene grantees once a year for orientation. The meeting will be held in the Washington metropolitan area or in one of the ten

(10)DHHS regional office cities. The budget should include a request for funds to pay for the travel, lodging, and meals. The meeting is usually held within the first six weeks post award. 3. Submission Date and Time Submission Mechanisms The Office of Public Health and Science

(OPHS)provides multiple mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of applications submitted using any of these mechanisms. Applications submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadlines described below will not be accepted for review. Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant. Applications may only be submitted electronically via the electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic application submission capabilities provided by the OPHS eGrants system or the Grants.gov Web site Portal is encouraged. Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement. Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed ineligible. Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early in the application development process, and to submit early on the due date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with submissions prior to the application deadline. Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Web Site Portal The Grants.gov Web site Portal provides organizations with the ability to submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. Organizations must successfully complete the necessary registration processes in order to submit an application. Information about this system is available on the Grants.gov Web site, *http://www.grants.gov.* In addition to electronically submitted materials, applicants may be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain Program related forms, or original materials as required by the announcement. It is imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement, as well as the application guidance provided within the Grants.gov application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. Electronic applications submitted via the Grants.gov Web site Portal must contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. All required mail-in items must received by the due date requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation. Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission via the Grants.gov Web site Portal, the applicant will be provided with a confirmation page from Grants.gov indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the Grants.gov Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the entire application package. All applications submitted via the Grants.gov Web site Portal will be validated by Grants.gov. Any applications deemed “Invalid” by the Grants.gov Web site Portal will not be transferred to the OPHS eGrants system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not validated and transferred to OPHS from the Grants.gov Web site Portal. Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by the Grants.gov Web site Portal, applicants should immediately mail all required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to be received by the deadlines specified above. It is critical that the applicant clearly identify the Organization name and Grants.gov Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials. Once the application is validated by Grants.gov, it will be electronically transferred to the OPHS eGrants system for processing. Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the Grants.gov Web site Portal, and the required hardcopy mail-in items, applicants will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of the application submitted using the Grants.gov Web site Portal. Applicants should contact Grants.gov regarding any questions or concerns regarding the electronic application process conducted through the Grants.gov Web site Portal. Electronic Submissions via the OPHS eGrants System The OPHS electronic grants management system, eGrants, provides for applications to be submitted electronically. Information about this system is available on the OPHS eGrants Web site, *https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov,* or may be requested from the OPHS Office of Grants Management at

(240)453-8822. When submitting applications via the OPHS eGrants system, applicants are required to submit a hard copy of the application face page (Standard Form 424) with the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and assume the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. If required, applicants will also need to submit a hard copy of the Standard Form LLL and/or certain Program related forms ( *e.g.* , Program Certifications) with the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency. Electronic applications submitted via the OPHS eGrants system must contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. The applicant may identify specific mail-in items to be sent to the Office of Grants Management separate from the electronic submission; however these mail-in items must be entered on the eGrants Application Checklist at the time of electronic submission, and must be received by the due date requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation. Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, the OPHS eGrants system will provide the applicant with a confirmation page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission. This confirmation page will also provide a listing of all items that constitute the final application submission including all electronic application components, required hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items, as well as the mailing address of the OPHS Office of Grants Management where all required hard copy materials must be submitted. As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status of their application in the OPHS eGrants system to ensure that all signatures and mail-in items are received. Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the application. The original application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline will be returned to the applicant unread. 4. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to the Public Health Systems Reporting Requirements. Under these requirements, a community-based non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). Applicants shall submit a copy of the application face page (SF-424) and a one page summary of the project, called the Public Health System Impact Statement. The PHSIS is intended to provide information to State and local health officials to keep them apprised on proposed health services grant applications submitted by community-based, non-governmental organizations within their jurisdictions. Community-based, non-governmental applicants are required to submit, no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the application, the following information to the head of the appropriate State and local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted:

(a)a copy of the face page of the application (SF 424),

(b)a summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which provides:

(1)A description of the population to be served,

(2)a summary of the services to be provided, and

(3)a description of the coordination planned with the appropriate State or local health agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the PHSIS to these authorities must be contained in the application materials submitted to the OWH. This program is also subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372 that allows States the option of setting up a system for reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under certain Federal programs. The application kit to be made available under this notice will contain a listing of States that have chosen to set up a review system and will include a State Single Point of Contact

(SPOC)in the State for review. Applicants (other than federally recognized Indian tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early as possible to alert them to the prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions on the State process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the SPOC in each affected State. A complete list of SPOCs may be found at the following Web site: *http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html* . The due date for State process recommendations is 60 days after the application deadline. The OWH does not guarantee that it will accommodate or explain its responses to State process recommendations received after that date. ( *See* Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, Executive Order 12372, and 45 CFR part 100 for a description of the review process and requirements.) 5. Funding Restrictions Funds may not be used for construction, building alterations, equipment purchase, medical treatment, renovations, or to purchase food. Pre-award costs are not an allowable cost for this award. 6. Other Submission Requirements None. V. Application Review Information *Criteria:* The objective technical review of applications will consider the following factors: Factor 1: Implementation /Approach 30% This section must discuss: 1. Appropriateness of the existing community resources and linkages established to deliver coordinated, comprehensive women's services to meet the requirements of the program. Describe other community providers that will be affiliated with the program and their role in service delivery. 2. Pre-release and post release program phases; explain the integration of program components to include prevention and risk reduction interventions. 3. Appropriateness of proposed approach, linkages of multiple systems, and specific activities described to address program objectives. 4. Soundness of evaluation objectives for measuring program effectiveness, impact of continuity of care, and improvement in disease management by individual clients. 5. Willingness to participate in the national OWH evaluation. 6. Appropriate MOAs and/or Letters of Intent to support assertions made in this section. Factor 2: Management Plan—20% This section must discuss: 1. Applicant organization's capability to manage the project as determined by the qualifications of the proposed staff or requirements for to be hired staff; 2. Proposed staff level of effort; management experience of the lead agency; 3. The experience, resources, and role of each partner organization as it relates to the needs and programs/activities of the program; 4. Staff experience as it relates to meeting the needs of the community and populations served; 5. Detailed position descriptions, resumes of key staff, and a staffing chart should be included in the appendix. Factor 3: Organizational Agency Qualifications—20% This section should include demonstrated knowledge of local need and existing systems, agency relationships with corrections and incarcerated populations, and agency history of services to HIV infected individuals, HIV infected women, and women formerly incarcerated. Factor 4: Background/Understanding of the Problem—15% This section must discuss: 1. The current State of affairs locally for incarcerated and newly released women living with HIV/AIDS or at high risk for HIV/STD infection. 2. Relevance of organizational goals and purpose(s) to community and local needs. 3. Challenges to linking public health, corrections and community services to provide services to an underserved population disproportionately impacted by criminal justice problems and HIV infection. 4. Coordination of independent systems to meet the needs of the target population. 5. Prevention interventions for those living with HIV/AIDS and risk reduction counseling for positive persons and those at risk for HIV/AIDS/STDs. Factor 5: Evaluation Plan—15% Provide a clear Statement of program goal(s), feasibility and appropriateness of the local evaluation plan, analysis of results, and procedures to determine if the program goals are met. Provide a clear Statement of willingness to participate actively in the national OWH evaluation. *Review and Selection Process:* Funding decisions will be made by the OWH, and will take into consideration the recommendations and ratings of the review panel, program needs, geographic location, Stated preferences, and the recommendations of DHHS Regional Women's Health Coordinators (RWHC). VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices Successful applicants will receive a notification letter from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women's Health) and a Notice of Grant Award (NGA), signed by the OPHS Grants Management Officer. The NGA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and the OWH. Notification will be mailed to the Program Director identified in the application. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a notification letter with the results of the review of their application from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health (Women's Health). 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS)rules and requirements that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to State and local governments. Applicants funded under this announcement must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The CFR volume that includes parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from *http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/45cfrv1_03.html.* The DHHS Appropriations Act requires that, when issuing Statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money, all grantees shall clearly State the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources. 3. Reporting In addition to those listed above, a successful applicant will submit quarterly reports that includes a summary of the local evaluation and a discussion of steps taken to implement each component of the program and the impact of the program on the targeted community/population, an annual Financial Status Report, a final Progress Report, a final Financial Status Report in the format established by the OWH, in accordance with provisions of the general regulations which apply under “Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance,” (45 CFR parts 74 and 92). The purpose of the progress reports is to provide accurate and timely program information to program managers and to respond to Congressional, Departmental, and public requests for information about the program. An original and two copies of the progress report(s) must be submitted by January 10, April 10, July 10 and August 15. If these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the report will be due on Monday. The final progress report must be submitted by August 25 of each year and will serve as the non-competing continuation application. This report must include the budget request for the next grant year, with appropriate justification, and be submitted using Form OPHS-1. A Financial Status Report

(FSR)SF-269 is due 90 days after the close of each 12-month budget period. VII. Agency Contact(s) For application kits and information on budget and business aspects of the application, please contact: Mr. Eric West, Associate Grants Management Officer, Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: 240-453-8822. Fax:

(240)453-8823. Questions regarding programmatic information and/or requests for technical assistance in the preparation of the grant application should be directed in writing to: Ms. Mary L. Bowers, Public Health Advisor, Office on Women's Health, Office of Public Health and Science, DHHS, Humphrey Building, Room 712E, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: 202.260.0020. E-mail: *mbowers@osophs.dDHHS.gov.* VIII. Other Information Three

(3)OWH Incarcerated/Newly Released Women Living with HIV/AIDS or at High Risk for HIV/STD Infection programs are currently funded by the OWH. Information about these programs may be found at the following Web site: *http://www.womenshealth.gov/owh/fund/index.htm.* Definitions For the purposes of this cooperative agreement program, the following definitions are provided: *AIDS:* Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. *Case Management:* A collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet an individual's health needs through communication and available resources to promote quality cost-effective outcomes. *Community-based:* The locus of control and decision-making powers is located at the community level, representing the service area of the community or a significant segment of the community. *Community-based organization:* Public and private, nonprofit organizations that are representative of communities or significant segments of communities. *Community health center:* A community-based organization that provides comprehensive primary care and preventive services to medically underserved populations. This includes but is not limited to programs reimbursed through the Federally Qualified Health Centers mechanism, Migrant Health Centers, Primary Care Public Housing Health Centers, Healthcare for the Homeless Centers, and other community-based health centers. *Comprehensive women's health services:* Services including, but going beyond traditional reproductive health services to address the health needs of underserved women in the context of their lives, including a recognition of the importance of relationships in women's lives, and the fact that women play the role of health providers and decision-makers for the family. Services include basic primary care services; acute, chronic, and preventive services including gender and age-appropriate preventive services; mental and dental health services; patient education and counseling; promotion of healthy behaviors (like nutrition, smoking cessation, substance abuse services, and physical activity); and enabling services. Ancillary services are also provided such as laboratory tests, X-ray, environmental, social referral, and pharmacy services. *Correctional Settings:* Secure detention facilities that house individuals convicted of crimes carrying sentences of one year or greater length. These can also be secure detention facilities holding pre-trial and post conviction inmates serving less than one year sentences or awaiting transfer to other settings. *Culturally competent:* Information and services provided at the educational level and in the language and cultural context that are most appropriate for the individuals for whom the information and services are intended. Additional information on cultural competency is available at the following Web site: *http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/May2001/factsheets/Cultural-Competency.html.* *Cultural perspective:* Recognizes that culture, language, and country of origin have an important and significant impact on the health perceptions and health behaviors that produce a variety of health outcomes. *Discharge Planning:* The process of developing a re-entry support program for an incarcerated individual scheduled for upcoming release to reduce obstacles to care, medication, eligibility for public benefits, housing, employment, substance abuse treatment, mental health, and other support services needed. *Enabling services:* Services that help women access health care, such as transportation, parking vouchers, translation, child care, and case management. *Gender-Specific:* An approach which considers the social and environmental context in which women live and therefore structures information, activities, program priorities and service delivery systems to compliment those factors. *Healthy People 2010:* A set of national health objectives that outlines the prevention agenda for the Nation. *Healthy People 2010* identify the most significant preventable threats to health and establishes national goals for the next ten years. Individuals, groups, and organizations are encouraged to integrate *Healthy People 2010* into current programs, special events, publications, and meetings. Businesses can use the framework, for example, to guide worksite health promotion activities as well as community-based initiatives. Schools, colleges, and civic and faith-based organizations can undertake activities to further the health of all members of their community. Health care providers can encourage their patients to pursue healthier lifestyles and to participate in community-based programs. By selecting from among the national objectives, individuals and organizations can build an agenda for community health improvement and can monitor results over time. More information on the Healthy People 2010 objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 Web site: *http://www.health.gov/healthypeople.* *HIV:* The human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. *Holistic:* Looking at women's health from the perspective of the whole person and not as a group of different body parts. It includes dental, mental, as well as physical health. *Incarcerated Person:* Refers to an individual involuntarily confined in the secure custody of law enforcement, judicial, or penal authorities. *Integrated:* The bringing together of the numerous spheres of activity that touch women's health, including clinical services, research, health training, public health outreach and education, leadership development for women, and technical assistance. The goal of this approach is to unite the strengths of each of these areas, and create a more informed, less fragmented, and efficient system of care for underserved women that can be replicated in other populations and communities. *Lifespan:* Recognizes that women have different health and psychosocial needs as they encounter transitions across their lives and that the positive and negative effects of health and health behaviors are cumulative across a woman's life. *Multi-disciplinary:* An approach that is based on the recognition that women's health crosses many disciplines, and that women's health issues need to be addressed across multiple disciplines, such as adolescent health, geriatrics, cardiology, mental health, reproductive health, nutrition, dermatology, endocrinology, immunology, rheumatology, dental health, etc. *Newly Released:* The status of an individual returning to society and the community after incarceration. *Re-entry:* The process of returning to society and the community after incarceration. *Rural Community:* All territory, population, and housing units located outside of urban areas and urban cluster. *Social Role:* Recognizes that women routinely perform multiple, overlapping social roles that require continuous multi-tasking. *Sustainability:* An organization's or program's staying power: the capacity to maintain both the financial resources and the partnerships/linkages needed to provide adequate and effective services in the target area and to the target population. It also involves the ability to survive change, incorporate needed changes, and seize opportunities provided by a changing environment. *Underserved Women:* Women who encounter barriers to health care that result from any combination of the following characteristics: poverty, ethnicity and culture, mental or physical State, housing status, geographic location, language, age, and lack of health insurance/under-insured. *Women-centered/women-focused:* Addressing the needs and concerns of women (women-relevant) in an environment that is welcoming to women, fosters a commitment to women, treats women with dignity, and empowers women through respect and education. The emphasis is on working *with* women, not *for* women. Women clients are considered active partners in their own health and wellness. Dated: May 16, 2006. Wanda K. Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, (Women's Health), Office of Public Health and Science. [FR Doc. E6-7853 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4150-33-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary Notice of Meting: Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given of the tenth meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, health and Society (SACGHS), U.S. Public Health Service. The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. on Monday, June 26, 2006 and 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at the National Institutes of Health, Building 31, C Wing, Conference Room 6, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892. The meeting will be open to the public with attendance limited to space available. The meeting also will be webcast. The first day of the meeting will include a review of the Committe's draft report and recommendations on pharmacogenomics, and a briefing on FDA's Critical Path Initiative. The Committee will also hear from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the status of a proposal to add a genetics specialty to the regulations implementing the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act Amendments. In addition, the Committee will discuss the status of its solicitation of public comments on the Committee's draft report “Policy Issues Associated with Undertaking a Large U.S. Population Cohort Project on Genes, Environment, and Disease” (posted at *http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/sacghs/public_comments.htm* ). Issues to be discussed on the second day will include several presentations intended to provide the Committee with a better understanding of the impact of gene patents and licensing practices on access to genetic test and services as well as deliberations about the Committee's next steps on this issue. The Committee will also be updated about the status of Federal genetic non-discrimination legislation and the work of the two interagency work groups monitoring claims made by companies advertising genetic tests on the Internet and evaluating the public health impact of DTC marketing of genetic tests. Time will be provided each day for public comments. The Committee would welcome hearing from anyone wishing to provide public comment on any issue related to genetics, health and society. Individuals who would like to provide public comments should notify the SACGHS Executive Secretary, Ms. Sarah Carr, by telephone at 301-496-9838 or E-mail at *sc112c@nih.gov.* The SACGHS office is located at 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20892. Anyone planning to attend the meeting who is in need of special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, is also asked to contact the Executive Secretary. Under authority of 42 U.S.C. 217a, section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services established SACGHS to serve as a public forum for deliberations on the broad range of human health and societal issues raised by the development and use of genetic technologies and, as warranted, to provide advice on these issues. The draft meeting agenda and other information about SACGHS, including information about access to the webcast, will be available at the following Web site: *http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/sacghs.htm.* Dated: May 15, 2006. Anna Snouffer, Acting Director, NIH Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy. [FR Doc. 06-4773 Filed 5-22-06; 8:45am]

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