[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8666-8667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3739]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Federal Financial Assistance for Rural Regional Trauma and
Emergency Medical Services System Demonstration Project in South
Central Florida
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, PHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA), Public Health Service, Department of
Health and Human Services, announces the availability of funds in
Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 for a grant to support the development of a rural
regional Trauma and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System in South
Central Florida for a one year project period. The successful applicant
will develop a plan to integrate existing rural emergency services
(EMS), local community hospitals, a metropolitan tertiary care center/
level I trauma center and its medical helicopter to develop a
regionalized system of care. This project is intended to serve as a
model for other rural, underserved areas of the United States.
Authority
The award will be made from funds appropriated under Pub. L. 103-
333 (HHS Appropriation Act for FY 1995). The Senate Committee on
Appropriations Report 103-318, included a set-aside to support the
Rural Regional Trauma and EMS System Demonstration Project under the FY
1995 appropriations to support Outreach grants. Grants for these
projects are authorized under Section 301 of the Public Health Service
Act.
Eligible Applicants
Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition
In the Senate Committee on Appropriations Report 103-318, the
Senate directed this demonstration project grant award to be made only
to an entity located in South Central Florida. Specifically, the
eligible applicant must be located either in an urban-based, level I
trauma hospital in Florida, or in one of the Florida counties
comprising the demonstration grant service area (Okeechobee, Highlands,
Hendry, DeSoto, Glades, or Hardee County). The applicant can be a
public or private, not-for profit entity. The Department agrees that
this set-aside will further program objectives.
Funds Available
An estimated total award of up to $600,000 will be available to
support a single grant project for a one-year grant period.
Cost Participation
Cost participation serves as an indicator of community and
institutional support for the project and the likelihood that the
project will continue after Federal grant support has ended. The
successful applicant must share in the project costs by providing
equipment, personnel, building space, indirect costs, other in-kind
contributions, or cash.
DATES: Applications for the program must be received by the close of
business on April 25, 1995. Completed applications must be sent to the
Bureau of Primary Health Care at the address shown below. Applications
shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are either (1)
received on or before the deadline date; or (2) postmarked on or before
the deadline date and received in time for orderly processing.
Applicants must obtain a legible dated receipt from a commercial
carrier or the U.S. Postal Service in lieu of a postmark. Private
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
Late applications will be returned to the sender.
ADDRESSES: Requests for grant application kits should be directed to
Lt. Colleen Hennessy, Program Management, Office of Rural Health
Policy, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-05, Rockville, Maryland, 20857,
telephone: 301/443-0835. Completed applications and requests for
additional information regarding business or fiscal issues should be
directed to Ms. Opal McCarthy, Grants Management, at the Bureau of
Primary Health Care, East West Building, 11th Floor, 4350 East West
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20857, telephone: (301) 594-4260. The
standard application form and general instructions for completing
applications (Form PHS 5161-1, OMB 0937-0189) have been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests of a programmatic nature
should be directed to Lt. Colleen Hennessy, at the Office of Rural
Health Policy, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-05, Rockville, Maryland,
20857, telephone: 301/443-0835.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program Objectives
The purpose of the Rural Regional Trauma and EMS System
Demonstration Project is to support the development of a regional
trauma and EMS system to serve rural communities. The successful
applicant will integrate existing rural prehospital providers (EMS),
local community hospitals, and rural community providers, with a
metropolitan tertiary care center/level I trauma center and its
aeromedical transport services, into a services network that is capable
of improving emergency services to rural populations. Specifically,
these rural populations are located in the Florida counties of
Okeechobee, Highlands, Hendry, DeSoto, Glades, and Hardee; and are
comprised of medically underserved populations, such as migrant
laborers and Native Americans. Currently these populations do not
receive timely, comprehensive trauma care.
Consistent with the requirements of the Rural Health Outreach
Program, under which this demonstration project is funded, all
qualified applicants must develop consortia of three or more
participatory entities, each of which must play an active contributory
role in [[Page 8667]] the project. All of these entities, with the
exception of the level I trauma center, must be located in rural areas
within the proposed grant service area. The rural-urban partnership
MUST have a reciprocal relationship, a thorough understanding of the
needs of rural populations, and a sustained dedication to serving these
needs. Consortia should also include representation from the special
populations, such as tribal organizations or migrant laborers, which
will also be expected to contribute an active role in implementing the
demonstration project. The successful application must also include a
plan to enhance the capability and resources of rural communities to
provide emergency medical services. Suggested approaches might include
the provision of on-site, emergency medical services training and
certification, first responder and community education to rural
community members, rural providers and emergency services volunteers.
The project must have the support of the Florida State Office of EMS
and have been coordinated with the state's comprehensive trauma plan.
The goals of this program are as follows: (1) Increase access to
aeromedical transport services by the rural EMS providers; (2) improve
response times to the scenes of injuries in remote areas of these
counties; (3) increase access to critical trauma services to the
medically underserved, regardless of ability to pay; and (4) improve
transport times of critically ill or injured citizens to tertiary care.
Review Consideration
All eligible applications will be evaluated on the basis of the
following criteria:
(1) The extent to which the project facilitates the development of
a comprehensive, integrated, regional trauma and EMS system to all
rural populations within the specified grant service area. The plan
should conform to guidelines presented in the Model Trauma Care Systems
Plan ordered by Congress under Title XII of the Public Health Service
Act (Pub. L. 101-590), a copy of which will be provided to all
potential applicants in the application package.
(2) The strength of the relationships among members of the
consortium, demonstrated by the degree of reciprocity and commitment
reflected in contractual arrangements and letters of support, and in
the breadth and selection of a consortium that fairly represents the
rural populations and existing services located in the specified grant
service area.
(3) The level of local commitment and involvement with the project,
as demonstrated by the extent to which cost participation by the
applicant and/or other organizations is employed.
(4) A demonstrated capability, experience, dedication, and
knowledge of the applicant, as well as others, who will be responsible
for the project.
(5) The extent to which the applicant has developed measurable
goals and objectives for meeting the need(s).
(6) The reasonableness of the budget proposed for the project, and
the feasibility for plans to sustain project services after Federal
grant support has ended.
(7) The extent to which the proposed project will be capable of
replication in rural areas with similar needs and characteristics,
particularly with regard to its affordability by other communities.
Other Information
The successful applicant will be permitted to spend no more than 15
percent of the total amount awarded for administrative costs. More than
50 percent of the funds awarded must be spent in rural areas. Services
provided by the grant may not be restricted to only those patients with
the ability to pay. Grant funds may not be used to purchase or
construct real property. Equipment and renovation costs of up to 40
percent of the Federal share of the project are allowable, if the costs
are supported with written justification and are in accordance with the
program objectives of the demonstration grant. The allowability of
other costs will be governed by applicable regulations.
Applicants are advised that the narrative description of their
program and the budget justification may not exceed 30 pages in length.
All applications must be typewritten and clearly legible.
Public Health System Impact Statement
This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements. Reporting requirements have been approved by the Office
of Management and Budget--# 0937-0195. Under these requirements, the
community-based nongovernmental applicant must prepare and submit a
Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS is intended to
provide information to State and local health officials to keep them
apprised of proposed health services grant applications submitted by
community-based nongovernmental organizations within their
jurisdictions.
Community-based non-governmental applicants are required to submit
the following information to the head of the appropriate State and
local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted no later than the
Federal application receipt due date:
a. A copy of the face page of the application (SF 424).
b. A summary of the project 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.
(3) A description of the coordination planned with the appropriate
State or local health agencies.
Executive Order 12372
The Rural Health Outreach Grant Program has been determined to be a
program which is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs by appropriate
health planning agencies as implemented by 45 CFR part 100. Executive
Order 12372 allows States the option of setting up a system for
reviewing applications from within their States for assistance under
certain Federal programs. Applicants (other than federally-recognized
Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of
Contact (SPOCs), a list of which will be included in application kit,
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 then one State, the applicant is advised to
contact the SPOC of each affected State. All SPOC recommendations
should be submitted to Opal McCarthy, Office of Grants Management,
Bureau of Primary Health Care, East West Building, 11th Floor, 4350
East West Highway, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 594-4260. The due
date for State process recommendations is 60 days after the application
deadline for new and competing awards. The granting agency does not
guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for State process
recommendations it receives after that date. (See Part 148,
Intergovernmental Review of PHS Programs under Executive Order 12372
and 45 CFR part 100 for a description of the review process and
requirements).
This is intended to be a one-time program. Therefore, a Catalogue
of Federal Domestic Assistance number has not been requested.
Dated: February 9, 1995.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-3739 Filed 2-14-95; 8:45 am]
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