[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8297-8300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4931]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Indian Health Service; Health Professions Recruitment Program for
Indians
AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of Competitive Grant Applications for the Health
Professions Recruitment Program for Indians.
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SUMMARY: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces that competitive
grant applications are now being accepted for the Health Professions
Recruitment Program for Indians established by sec. 102 of the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act of 1976 (25 U.S.C. 1612), as amended by
Pub. L. 102-573. There will be only one funding cycle during fiscal
year (FY) 1996. This program is described at sec. 93.970 in the Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance and is governed by regulations at 42 CFR
sec. 36.310 et seq. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB
Circulars A-21, A-87, and A-122 (cost principles for different types of
applicant organizations); and 45 CFR part 74 or 45 CFR part 92 (as
applicable). Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review
is not applicable to this program. This program is not subject to the
Public Health System Reporting requirements.
The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People
2000, a PHS-led activity for setting priority areas. This program
announcement is related to the priority area of Educational and
Community-based programs. 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, DC
20402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-3238).
Smoke Free Workplace
PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-
free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products, and
Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in
certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education,
library, day care, health care, and early childhood development
services are provided to children.
DATES: A. Applicant Receipt Date--An original and two copies of the
completed grant application must be submitted with all required
documentation to the Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition
and Grants Operations, Twinbrook Building, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook
Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852, by close of business June 3, 1996.
Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they
are either: (1) received on or before the deadline with hand carried
applications received by close of business 5 p.m.; or (2) postmarked on
or before the deadline and received in time to be reviewed along with
all other timely applications. A legibly dated receipt from a
commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service will be accepted in lieu
of a postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be accepted as proof
of timely mailing. Late applications not accepted for processing will
be returned to the applicant and will not be considered for funding.
B. Additional Dates:
1. Application Review: July 17, 1996
2. Applicants Notified of Results: on or about August 1, 1996
(approved, recommended for approval but not funded, or disapproved)
3. Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 1996
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For program information, contact Robin L. Bristow, Project Officer,
Scholarship Branch, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway,
Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 443-6197. For grants
application and business management information, contact M. Kay
Carpentier, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch,
Division of Acquisition and Grants Operations, Indian Health Service,
Twinbrook Building, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville,
Maryland 20852 (301) 443-5204. (The telephone numbers are not toll-free
numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement provides information on
the general program purpose, eligibility
[[Page 8298]]
and preference, program objectives, required affiliation, fund
availability and period of support, type of program activities
considered for support, and application procedures for FY 1996.
A. General Program Purpose
The purpose of the Health Professions Recruitment program is to
increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives entering the
health professions and to assure an adequate supply of health
professionals to the IHS, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and
urban Indian organizations involved in the provision of health care to
Indian people.
B. Eligibility and Preference
The following organizations are eligible with preference given in
the order of priority to:
1. Indian tribes,
2. Indian tribal organizations,
3. urban Indian organizations and other Indian health
organizations; and
4. public and other nonprofit private health or educational
entities.
C. Program Objectives
Each proposal must address the following four objectives to be
considered for funding:
1. To identify Indians with a potential for education or training
in Public Health (Masters level) and other health professions
(excluding nursing), and to encourage and assist them to enroll in such
programs. The Nursing profession is excluded because the IHS Nursing
Recruitment Grant Program provides funding to increase the number of
nurses who deliver health care services to Indians.
2. To deliver the necessary student support systems to help to
ensure that students who are recruited successfully complete their
academic training. Support services may include providing career
counseling and academic advice; assisting students to identify academic
deficiencies and to develop plans to correct those deficiencies;
assisting students to locate financial aid; monitoring students to
identify possible problems; assisting with the determination of need
for and location of tutorial services; and other related activities
which will help to retain students in school.
3. To publicize existing sources of financial aid available to
Indian students interested in enrolling in or enrolled in an accredited
Masters of Public Health program or accredited health professions
program (excluding nursing).
4. To work in close cooperation with the IHS, tribes, tribal
organizations and urban Indian organizations, in locating and
identifying non-academic period placement opportunities and practicum
experiences, i.e., the IHS Extern Program authorized under Section 105
of Pub. L. 94-437, as amended; assisting students with individual
development plans in conjunction with identified placement
opportunities; monitoring students to identify and evaluate possible
problems; and monitoring and evaluating all placement and practicum
experiences within the IHS to further develop and modify the program.
D. Required Affiliation
If the applicant is an Indian tribe, tribal organization, urban
organization or other Indian health organization, or a public or
nonprofit private health organization, the applicant must submit a
letter of support from at least one accredited school of public health
or health professions program (excluding nursing), depending on the
type of program for which it proposes to recruit. This letter must
document linkage with that educational organization.
When the target population of a proposed project includes a
particular Indian tribe or tribes, an official document, i.e., a letter
of support or tribal resolution, must be submitted indicating that the
tribe or tribes will cooperate with the applicant.
E. Fund Availability and Period of Support
It is anticipated that approximately $250,000 will be available for
approximately 3 new grants. The average funding level for projects in
FY 1995 was $98,000. The anticipated start date for selected projects
will be September 1, 1996. Pursuant to 42 Code of Federal Regulations
Sec. 36.313(c), the project period ``will usually be for one to two
years.'' However, under this notice, projects will be awarded for a
budget term of 12 months, with a maximum project period of up to three
(3) years. A maximum project period of three (3) years is required so
that key staff, such as project directors, may be recruited, without
the financial and career uncertainty of a one or two year budget period
and to enable the projects to carry out their recruitment activities
without the added activity of applying for a grant every one or two
years. Grant funding levels include both direct and indirect costs.
Funding of succeeding years will be based on the FY 1996 level,
continuing need for the program, satisfactory performance, and the
availability of appropriations in those years.
F. Type of Program Activities Considered for Support
Funds are available to develop grant programs to located and
recruit students with potential for (1) Masters of Public Health or (2)
other health professions degree programs (excluding nursing), and to
provide support services to Indian students who are recruited.
G. Application Process
An IHS Recruitment Grant Application Kit, including the required
PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 7/92) (OMB Approval No. 0937-0189) and the U.S.
Government Standard forms (SF-424, SF-424A and SF-424B), may be
obtained from the Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and
Grants Operations, Indian Health Service, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway,
Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852, telephone (301) 443-5204. (This
is not a toll free number.)
H. Grant Application Requirements
All applications must be single-spaced, typewritten, and
consecutively numbered pages using black type not smaller than 12
characters per one inch, with conventional one inch border margins, on
only one side of standard size 8\1/2\ x 11 paper that can be
photocopied. The application narrative (not including abstract, tribal
resolutions or letters of support, standard forms, table of contents or
the appendix) must not exceed 20 typed pages as described above. All
applications must include the following in the order presented:
--Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance
--Standard Form 424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs,
(pages 1 and 2)
--Standard Form 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (front and
back)
--Certifications, PHS 5161-1, (pages 17-18)
--Checklist, PHS 5161-1, (pages 23-24), NOTE: Each standard form and
the checklist is contained in the PHS Grant Application, Form PHS 5161-
1 (Revised 7/92)
--Project Abstract (one page)
--Table of Contents
--Program Narrative to include:
--Introduction and Potential Effectiveness of Project
--Project Administration
--Accessibility to Target Population
--Relationship of Objectives to Manpower Deficiencies
--Project Budget, including multi-year narratives, and Budget
Justifications
--Appendix to include:
[[Page 8299]]
--Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support
--Biographical sketches for key personnel or position descriptions if
position is vacant
--Organizational chart
--Workplan
--Completed IHS Application Checklist
--Application Receipt Card, PHS 3038-1 Rev. 5-90.
I. Application Instructions
The following instructions for preparing the application narrative
also constitute the standards (criteria or basis for evaluation) for
reviewing and scoring the application. Weights assigned each section
are noted in parenthesis.
Abstract--An abstract may not exceed one typewritten page. The
abstract should clearly present the application in summary form, from a
``who-what-when-where-how-cost'' point of view so that reviewers see
how the multiple parts of the application fit together to form a
coherent whole.
Table of Contents--Provide a one page typewritten table of
contents.
Narrative
1. Introduction and Potential Effectiveness (30 pts.)
a. Describe your legal status and organization.
b. State specific objectives of the project, which are measurable
in terms of being quantified, significant to the needs of Indian
people, logical, complete and consistent with the purpose of sec. 102.
c. Describe briefly what the project intends to accomplish.
Identify the expected results, benefits, and outcomes or products to be
derived from each objective of the project.
d. Provide a project specific work plan (milestone chart) which
lists each objectives, the tasks to be conducted in order to reach the
objective, and the timeframe needed to accomplish each task. Timeframes
should be projected in a realistic manner to assure that the scope of
work can be completed within each budget period. (A work plan format is
provided.)
e. In the case of proposed projects for identification of Indians
with a potential for education or training in the health professions
(excluding nursing), include a method for assessing the potential of
interested Indians for undertaking necessary education or training in
such health professions.
f. State clearly the criteria by which the project's progress will
be evaluated and by which the success of the project will be
determined.
g. Explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the
needs, goals, and objectives identified and discussed in the
application are being met and if the results and benefits identified
are being achieved.
h. Identify who will perform the evaluation and when.
2. Project Administration (20 pts.)
a. Provide an organizational chart (include in appendix). Describe
the administrative, managerial and organizational arrangements, and the
facilities and resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed
project.
b. Provide the name and qualifications of the project director or
other individuals responsible for the conduct of the project; the
qualifications of the principal staff carrying out the project; and a
description of the manner in which the application's staff is or will
be organized and supervised to carry out the proposed project. Include
biographical sketches of key personnel (or job descriptions if the
position is vacant) (include in appendix).
c. Describe any prior experience in administering similar projects.
d. Discuss the commitment of the organization, i.e., although not
required, the level of non-Federal support. List the intended financial
participation, if any, of the applicant in the proposed project
specifying the type of contributions such as cash or services, loans of
full or part-time staff, equipment, space, materials or facilities or
other contributions.
3. Accessibility to Target Population (20 pts.)
a. Describe the current and proposed participation of Indians (if
any) in your organization.
b. Identify the target Indian population to be served by your
proposed project and the relationship of your organization to that
population.
c. Describe the methodology to be used to access the target
population.
4. Relationship of Objectives to Manpower Deficiencies (20 pts.)
a. Provide data and supporting documentation to address the
relationship of objectives to manpower deficiencies.
b. Indicate the number of potential Indian students to be contacted
and recruited as well as potential cost per student recruited. Those
projects that have the potential to serve a greater number of Indians
will be given first consideration.
5. Soundness of Fiscal Plan (10 pts.)
a. Clearly define the budget. Provide a justification and detailed
breakdown of the funding by category for the project. Information on
the project director and project staff should include salaries and
percentage of time assigned to the grant. List equipment purchases
necessary for the conduct of the project.
b. The available funding level of $250,000 is inclusive of both
direct and indirect costs. Pursuant to Public Health Service Grants
policy (DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000 (Rev.) April 1, 1994), a
`training grant' includes a grant for ``training or other educational
purposes'', and the Department of Health and Human Services considers
this grant activity as having an educational purpose. Because this
project has an educational purpose, and, therefore, is for a training
grant, the Department of Health and Human Services' policy limiting
reimbursement of indirect cost to the lesser of the applicant's actual
indirect costs or 8 percent of total direct costs (exclusive of tuition
and related fees and expenditures for equipment) is applicable. This
limitation applies to all institutions of higher education other than
agencies of State and local government.
c. Projects requiring additional years must include a program
narrative and categorical budget and justification for each additional
year of funding requested (this is not considered part of the 20-page
narrative).
Appendix--to include:
a. Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support
b. Biographical sketches of key personnel or position descriptions if
position is vacant
c. Organizational chart
d. Workplan
e. Completed IHS Application Checklist
f. Application Receipt Card, PHS 3038-1 Rev. 5-90
J. Reporting
1. Progress Report--Program progress reports shall be required
semiannually. These reports will include a brief description of a
comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the
period, reasons for slippage and other pertinent information as
required. A final report is due 90 days after expiration of the budget/
project period.
2. Financial Status Report--Semi-annually financial status reports
will be submitted 30 days after the end of the half year. A final
financial status report is due 90 days after expiration of the budget/
project period. Standard Form 269 (long form) will be used for
financial reporting.
K. Grant Administration Requirements
Grants are administered in accordance with the following documents:
1. 45 CFR part 92, HHS, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Grants
[[Page 8300]]
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, or 45 CFR
part 74, Administration of Grants to Non-Profit Recipients.
2. PHS Grants Policy Statement, and
3. Appropriate Cost Principles: OMB Circular A-21, Educational
Institutions, OMB Circular A-87, State and Local Governments, and OMB
Circular A-122, Non-profit Organizations.
L. Objective Review Process
Applications meeting eligibility requirements that are complete,
responsive, and conform to this program announcement will be reviewed
by an Objective Review Committee (ORC) in accordance with IHS objective
review procedures. The objective review process ensures a nationwide
competition for limited funding. The ORC will be comprised of IHS (40%
or less) and other federal or non-federal individuals (60% or more)
with appropriate expertise. The ORC will review each application
against established criteria. Based upon the evaluation criteria, the
reviewers will assign a numerical score to each application, which will
be used in making the final funding decision. Approved applications
scoring less than 60 points will not be considered for funding.
M. Results of the Review
The results of the objective review are forwarded to the Acting
Associate Director, Office of Human Resources (OHR), for final review
and approval. The Acting Associate Director, OHR, will also consider
the recommendations from the Director, Division of Health Professions,
Recruitment and Training, and the Grants Management Branch. Applicants
are notified in writing on or about August 1, 1996. A Notice of Grant
Award will be issued to successful applicants. Unsuccessful applicants
are notified in writing of disapproval. A brief explanation of the
reasons the application was not approved is provided along with the
name of an IHS official to contact if more information is desired.
Dated: February 21, 1996.
Michael H. Trujillo,
Assistant Surgeon General Director.
[FR Doc. 96-4931 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M
