[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7527-7530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4476]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Special Projects of National Significance; Evaluation Technical
Assistance Center
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds
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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
announces that applications will be accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1996
Grants for Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) funded
under the authority of Section 2618 (a) of the Public Health Service
Act, as established by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources
Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, Public Law 101-381, dated August 18,
1990. This announcement solicits applications to design and develop an
HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center. This Evaluation Technical
Assistance Center will provide technical assistance to SPNS grantees in
designing and implementing evaluation studies and dissemination
activities for individual projects and develop and coordinate the
implementation of any multi-site evaluations. Evaluation activities
will
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include a description and evaluation of the various demonstration
projects involved in an effort to determine which models might be
replicated and integrated into HIV/AIDS health care delivery systems
nationally and an analysis of changes in client outcomes. Applicants
must apply for a 5 year project period. The SPNS program, in
collaboration with the HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center
grantee, will provide technical assistance and support for the program
evaluation studies for three groups of SPNS grantees. These grantee
groups are: (1) Models of Integrated Service Delivery for Persons with
HIV Disease, (2) HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative (a collaborative
effort between the Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing
and Urban Development) and (3) Health Care Services Demonstration
Models for HIV Infected Youth.
This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds.
Applicants are advised that this program announcement is a contingency
action being taken to assure that should funds become available for
this purpose, they can be awarded in a timely fashion consistent with
the needs of the program as well as to provide for an even distribution
of funds throughout the fiscal year. At this time, given a continuing
resolution and the absence of FY 1996 appropriations for the Ryan White
CARE Act programs, the amount of available funding for these specific
grant programs cannot be estimated.
The authorizing legislation specifies three SPNS program
objectives: (1) to assess the effectiveness of particular models of
care; (2) to support innovative program design; and (3) to promote
replication of effective models. The SPNS program endeavors to advance
knowledge and skills in HIV services delivery by stimulating the design
of innovative models of care. SPNS accomplishes its purpose through
funding the technical support and evaluation of innovative and
potentially replicable HIV service delivery models.
DATES:
Notification
In order to allow HRSA to plan for the Objective Review Process,
applicants are encouraged to contact the grants office in writing to
notify HRSA of their intent to apply. This notification serves to
inform HRSA of the anticipated number of applications which are being
submitted. If notification is offered, it should be received within 30
days after publication of the Notice of Availability of Funds in the
Federal Register. The address is: Grants Management Branch; Bureau of
Health Resources Development; Health Resources and Services
Administration; Room 7-15; Rockville, MD 20857.
Application
Applications for this announced grant must be received in the
Grants Management Branch by the close of business April 29, 1996 to be
considered for competition. Applications will meet 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
submission to the objective review panel. A legibly dated receipt from
a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service will be accepted as proof
of timely mailing. Applications received after the deadline will be
returned to the applicant.
ADDRESSES: Grant applications, guidance materials, and additional
information regarding business, administrative, and fiscal issues
related to the awarding of grants under this Notice may be requested
from Mr. Neal Meyerson, Grants Management Branch, Bureau of Health
Resources Development, Health Resources and Services Administration,
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-15, Rockville, MD, 20857. The telephone
number is (301) 443-2280 and the FAX number is (301) 594-6096.
Applicants for grants will use Form PHS 5161-1, approved under OMB
Control No. 0937-0189. Completed applications should be sent to the
Grants Management Branch.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional technical information may
be obtained from the SPNS Branch, Office of Science and Epidemiology,
Bureau of Health Resources Development, Health Resources and Services
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7A-07, Rockville, MD 20857. The
telephone number is (301) 443-9976 and the FAX number is (301) 594-
2511. Questions concerning the Health Care Services Demonstration
Models for HIV Infected Youth should be directed to Evelyn M.
Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., Office of the Director, Bureau of Health
Resources Development, Health Resources and Services Administration,
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-13, Rockville, MD 20857. The telephone number
is (301) 443-9530 and the FAX number is (301) 443-9645.
HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 OBJECTIVES: The Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS) urges applicants to address specific objectives of
Healthy People 2000 in their work plans. Potential applicants may
obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report; Stock No. 017-
001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary Report; Stock No. 017-
001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 200402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-
3238).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Grant
This grant will support the establishment of an Evaluation
Technical Assistance Center to provide evaluation and dissemination
technical assistance. Applicants should propose a plan to provide
technical assistance to design and implement outcome evaluation studies
and dissemination activities for SPNS grantees funded under the Models
of Integrated Service Delivery for Persons with HIV Disease
Demonstration Projects, the HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative and the
Health Care Services Demonstration Models for HIV Infected Youth. In
addition, the HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center will be
responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of any
multi-site evaluations within groups of similar projects.
Evaluation and technical assistance will include providing overall
evaluation coordination, including data management and analysis,
training in common procedures, and distribution of necessary materials
to all projects. Specifically, the Evaluation Technical Assistance
Center will work with the grantees in the planning phase to: (1)
Provide advice regarding the evaluation personnel needs at the project
level; (2) develop criteria for compatible computer equipment; (3)
recommend cross-cutting outcome measures; (4) develop model data
collection formats that can be used by grantees at their discretion and
(5) provide assistance in the development, preparation and
dissemination of evaluation results and findings. It is anticipated
that many of these tasks will be coordinated through a series of
grantee meetings to commence early in the first project year.
Description of SPNS Projects
The Models of Integrated Service Delivery Demonstration Projects
will be a group of approximately eight to ten grants. These projects
will focus on defining and evaluating innovative
[[Page 7529]]
models of care that address the formal linkage and integration of
mental health, substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation and/or other
critical services with HIV ambulatory medical care (such as primary
medical care and/or home health care). In developing integrated models,
projects will address the following sub-categories: (1) Coordinated
delivery of HIV health and support services to specified transient,
homeless, migrant, immigrant or mobile populations to ensure the
delivery of a comprehensive continuum of care throughout the course of
HIV infection and disease; (2) Delivery of comprehensive health and
support services to Native Americans (American Indian, Alaskan Natives
and Native Hawaiians) through a linked network of providers experienced
in caring for Native American communities; and, (3) Development of a
formally linked system of HIV ambulatory care services for an
underserved population group experiencing significant barriers to care,
(e.g., ethnic and language minorities, visually or hearing impaired
communities, the severely and persistently mentally ill, rural
communities or others) that improves access to and retention in the
health care delivery system.
The HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative. This initiative, a
collaborative effort between the Departments of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is designed to
develop and evaluate programs for the integration of medical, substance
abuse, mental health services and other support services with housing
assistance for homeless persons with HIV/AIDS and a serious mental
illness and/or alcohol or substance abuse problems. The collaboration
targets ``on the street'' homeless persons who currently do not have a
place to live. Applicants should propose an innovative strategy for
developing an integrated system of outreach, needs assessment,
comprehensive health and other support services and various types of
transitional and permanent housing which has the potential for
replication. Related assistance is being announced under the Special
Projects of National Significance component of HUD's Housing
Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The Evaluation
Technical Assistance Center will be responsible for evaluating the
medical, substance abuse, mental health and other support services
components of these jointly funded projects.
Projects funded under the Health Care Services Demonstration Models
for HIV Infected Youth will develop, expand, implement, and provide
health and related support services for youth with HIV infection. Three
to four grantees will be funded to incorporate innovative health,
nursing, and ancillary care services (such as mental health and
substance abuse treatment) to improve participation by youth in HIV
counseling and testing, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of
manifestations and complications of HIV infection and AIDS, including:
(1) Antiretroviral therapy to children and youth, and (2) prophylactic
therapy for opportunistic infections for children and youth, including
tuberculosis. Models will also determine the spectrum of HIV disease
among treated and untreated children/adolescents (upon entry to care),
the progression of HIV disease among children/adolescents, physical
growth and development, adherence to antiretroviral treatment and PCP
prophylaxis.
Review Criteria
Applications submitted to the SPNS program under this announcement
will be reviewed and rated by an objective review panel. Criteria for
the technical review of applications will include the following
factors:
Evaluation Technical Assistance Center
Factor 1: Professional Qualifications of Personnel (15 points)
Qualifications, i.e., professional degree(s), work experience,
publication(s), training provider, etc., of the project director,
existing staff, proposed staff and/or consultants in (a) the design and
direction of national and multi-site health services models evaluation
and/or research, (b) the dissemination of progress reports and final
results of completed studies, (c) the provision of technical assistance
on both qualitative and quantitative evaluation techniques, and in (d)
the development of various types of dissemination products, i.e.,
professional journal articles, media work, manuals, training programs,
etc.
Factor 2: Organizational Capacity (20 points) Proficiency of
applicant's administrative, fiscal and professional management in the
use of grant funds and personnel resources as evidenced in (a) the
appropriateness of the proposed budget for the entire project period,
(b) proposed staffing patterns during various phases, e.g., planning,
start up, implementation, analysis and reporting of the project's
operations, (c) proposed apportionment of existing facilities and
information management resources, and (d) the justification(s) for
additional space and equipment if requested.
Factor 3: Implementation Plan (25 points) Comprehensiveness of
applicant's plan for implementing national and multi-site evaluation
studies as evidenced by (a) the relevancy of the goals and objectives
for measuring progress and achievement of completion of the evaluation
studies, (b) the feasibility of the projected time line, (c) capability
of meeting the needs of the Federal government through production of
timely reports and providing assistance in managing the meetings of the
three groups of grantees, and (d) meeting the needs of the grantees
through the provision of ongoing technical assistance, designing
efficient measurement tools, and the initiation and receipt of
continuous support in their data collection process.
Factor 4: Management Information Systems (MIS) and Procedures (20
points) Capacity of the applicant's MIS hardware and software to manage
the scope of the proposed project; the professional expertise of the
MIS staff in programming, maintaining data set(s), implementing the
applicant organization's quality control policies and in providing
technical assistance to the grantees; the adequacy of the applicant's
plan for providing technical assistance to grantees and coordinating
grantee project evaluations; and the feasibility of the policies and
procedures utilized to ensure reliable and confidential management of
the data set(s).
Factor 5: Dissemination Activities (20 points) Thoroughness of
means for addressing and assessing the knowledge and skills needed
within the field of HIV/AIDS health services delivery; creativity and
timeliness of approaches for the dissemination of ``lessons learned''
and ``best practices''; the release of various types of dissemination
products that describe unique and cross-cutting operational issues,
i.e., small studies using interim data, qualitative reports on
implementation barriers experienced by the grantees, ``special
reports'', etc.; and capability to assist grantees in preparation of
reports, releases to local media, training curricula, manual
development and consultant services for replication of grantee service
delivery models.
Other Grant Information
Allowable Costs
The basis for determining allocable and allowable costs to be
charged to PHS grants is set forth in 45 CFR part 74, subpart Q and 45
CFR part 92 for State, local or tribal governments. The four separate
sets of cost principles prescribed for public and private non-profit
recipients are OMB Circular A-87 for State, local or tribal
governments;
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OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; 45 CFR part 74,
appendix E for hospitals; and OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit
organizations.
Reporting and Other Requirements
A successful applicant under this notice will submit semi-annual
activity summary reports in accordance with provisions of the general
regulations which apply under 45 CFR part 74, subpart 74.51,
``Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance,'' with the exception of
State and local governments to which 45 CFR part 92, Subpart C
reporting requirements apply. Also, grantees must be prepared to
collaborate with other grantees on the design and implementation of
project evaluations which may include multi-site evaluation studies.
Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting
Requirements which have been approved by the Office of Management and
Budget under No. 0937-0195. Under these requirements, any community-
based, non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public
Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS is intended to keep
State and local health officials apprised of proposed health services
grant applications submitted from 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 administrator of the
State and local AIDS programs in the area(s) to be impacted by the
proposal: (a) a copy of the face page of the application (SF424); and,
(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
this program.
Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant and
contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote
the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 103-227,
the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities
(or in some cases, any portion of a facility) in which regular or
routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood
development services are provided to children.
Executive Order 12372
The Special Projects of National Significance Grant Program has
been determined to be a program subject to the provisions of Executive
Order 12372, 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.
The application packages to be made available under this notice
will contain a listing of States which have chosen to set up a review
system and will provide a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in the State
for the 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 of each affected
state. The due date for State process recommendations is 60 days after
the appropriate deadline dates. The Health Resources and Services
Administration does not guarantee that it will accommodate or explain
its responses to State process recommendations received after the due
date. (See ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' Executive
Order 12372, and 45 CFR part 100, for a description of the review
process and requirements.)
OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number for the Special Projects of National Significance is 93.928.
Dated: February 14, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-4476 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
