2017-10449. Division of Behavioral Health; National Urban Indian Behavioral Health Awareness

Announcement Type: New/Competing Continuation.

Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2017-IHS-UIHP3-0001.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.193.

Key Dates

Application Deadline Date: June 23, 2017.

Review Date: June 27, 2017.

Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 15, 2017.

Signed Tribal Resolutions Due Date: June 23, 2017.

Proof of Non-Profit Status Due Date: June 23, 2017.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Statutory Authority

The Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS), Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement for Urban Indian Behavioral Health. This program is authorized under: Snyder Act, codified at 25 U.S.C. 13; the Transfer Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. 2001; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Public Law 114-113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015). This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) under 93.193.

Background

The DBH serves as the primary source of national advocacy, policy development, management and administration of behavioral health, alcohol and substance abuse, and family violence prevention programs. Working in partnership with Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations, DBH coordinates national efforts to share knowledge and build capacity through the development and implementation of evidence/practice based and cultural-based practices in Indian Country.

Purpose

The purpose of this IHS cooperative agreement is to further the awareness, visibility, advocacy, and education for behavioral health issues on a national scale and in the interest of improving urban Indian health care.

Limited Competition Justification

Competition for the one award included in this announcement is limited to national organizations with at least ten years of experience providing national awareness, visibility, advocacy, education and outreach related to urban Indian health care on a national scale. This limitation ensures that the awardee will have: (1) A national information-sharing infrastructure which will facilitate the timely exchange of information between IHS and urban Indian organizations on a broad scale; (2) a national perspective on the needs of urban Indian communities that will ensure the information developed and disseminated through the projects is appropriate and useful and addresses the most pressing needs of urban Indian communities; and (3) established relationships with urban Indian organizations that will foster open and honest participation by urban Indian communities. Regional or local organizations will not have the mechanisms in place to conduct communication on a national level, nor will they have an accurate picture of the health care needs facing urban Indians nationwide. Organizations with less experience will lack the established relationships with urban Indian organizations throughout the country that will facilitate participation and the open and honest exchange of information between urban Indian organizations and IHS. With the limited funds available for these projects, IHS must ensure that the education and outreach efforts described in this announcement reach the widest audience possible in a timely fashion, are appropriately tailored to the needs of urban Indian communities throughout the country, and come from a source that urban Indians recognize and trust. For these reasons, this is a limited competition announcement.

Pre-Conference Grant Requirements

The awardee is required to comply with the “HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications,” dated December 16, 2013 (“Policy”), as applicable to conferences funded by grants and cooperative agreements. The Policy is available at https://www.hhs.gov/​grants/​contracts/​contract-policies-regulations/​efficient-spending/​index.html?​language=​es.

The awardee is required to:

Provide a separate detailed budget justification and narrative for each conference anticipated. The cost categories to be addressed are as follows: (1) Contract/Planner, (2) Meeting Space/Venue, (3) Registration Web site, (4) Audio Visual, (5) Speakers Fees, (6) Non-Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, (8) Other (explain in detail and cost breakdown). For additional questions please contact Andrea Czajkowski on 301-443-2038 or email her at [e-mail].

II. Award Information

Type of Award

Cooperative Agreement.

Estimated Funds Available

The total amount of funding identified for Year 1 of the cooperative agreement is $75,000. The amount of funding identified for Year 2 and Year 3 of the cooperative agreement is $75,000. The amount of funding available for competing and continuation awards issued under this announcement are subject to the availability of appropriations and budgetary priorities of the Agency. The IHS is under no obligation to make awards that are selected for funding under this announcement.

Anticipated Number of Awards

One award will be issued under this program announcement.

Project Period

The project period is for three years and will run consecutively from July 15, 2017, to July 14, 2020.

Cooperative Agreement

Cooperative agreements awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are administered under the same policies as a grant. However, the funding agency (IHS) is required to have substantial programmatic involvement in the project during the entire award segment. Below is a detailed description of the level of involvement required for both IHS and the grantee. IHS will be responsible for activities listed under section A and the grantee will be responsible for activities listed under section B as stated:

Substantial Involvement Description for Cooperative Agreement

A. IHS Programmatic Involvement

The IHS assigned program official will monitor the overall progress of the awardee's execution of the requirements of the award: IHS award noted below as well as their adherence to the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreements. This includes providing guidance for required reports, developing of tools, and other products, interpreting program findings, and assisting with evaluations and overcoming any difficulties or performance issues encountered. The IHS assigned program official must approve all presentations, electronic content, and other materials, including mass emails, developed by awardee pursuant to these awards and any supplemental awards prior to the presentation or dissemination of such materials to any party.

B. Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities

(1) Facilitate a forum at which concerns can be heard that are representative of all urban Indian organizations in the area of behavioral health care policy, service delivery, and program development.

(2) Provide urban Indian leadership for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's American Indian/Alaska Native Task Force.

(3) Raise awareness and visibility of urban Indian behavioral health issues at an appropriate national conference.

(4) Increase capacity of urban Indian organizations on grant writing to increase the likelihood of awards from various sources.

(5) Develop, maintain, and disseminate comprehensive information on urban Indian organizations providing behavioral health programs, best practices, service delivery, quality improvement, and strategies to all urban Indian organizations.

III. Eligibility Information

I.

1. Eligibility

To be eligible for this “New/Competing Continuation Announcement” under this announcement, an applicant must:

Be a national organization with at least ten years of experience providing representation, advocacy, awareness, and visibility of behavioral health issues related to urban Indian health care on a national scale.

Note:

Please refer to Section IV.2 (Application and Submission Information/Subsection 2, Content and Form of Application Submission) for additional proof of applicant status documents required, such as Tribal resolutions, proof of non-profit status, etc.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants or cooperative agreements.

3. Other Requirements

If application budgets exceed the highest dollar amount outlined under the “Estimated Funds Available” section within this funding announcement, the application will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed for further consideration. If deemed ineligible, IHS will not return the application. The applicant will be notified by email by the Division of Grants Management (DGM) of this decision.

Proof of Non-Profit Status

Organizations claiming non-profit status must submit proof. A copy of the 501(c)(3) Certificate must be received with the application submission by the Application Deadline Date listed under the Key Dates section on page one of this announcement.

An applicant submitting any of the above additional documentation after the initial application submission due date is required to ensure the information was received by the IHS DGM by obtaining documentation confirming delivery (i.e. FedEx tracking, postal return receipt, etc.).

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Obtaining Application Materials

The application package and detailed instructions for this announcement can be found at http://www.Grants.gov or http://www.ihs.gov/​dgm/​funding/​.

Questions regarding the electronic application process may be directed to Mr. Paul Gettys at [phone] or [phone].

2. Content and Form Application Submission

The applicant must include the project narrative as an attachment to the application package. Mandatory documents for all applicants include:

• Table of contents.
• Abstract (one page) summarizing the project.
• Application forms:

○ SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.

○ SF-424A, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs.

○ SF-424B, Assurances—Non-Construction Programs.

• Budget Justification and Narrative (must be single-spaced and not exceed 5 pages).
• Project Narrative (must be single-spaced and not exceed 20 pages).

○ Background information on the organization.

○ Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that provide a description of what will be accomplished, including a one-page Timeframe Chart.

• Letters of Support from organization's Board of Directors.
• 501(c)(3) Certificate (if applicable).
• Biographical sketches for all Key Personnel.
• Contractor/Consultant resumes or qualifications and scope of work.
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).
• Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG-Lobbying Form).
• Copy of current Negotiated Indirect Cost rate (IDC) agreement (required in order to receive IDC).
• Organizational Chart (optional).
• Documentation of current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Financial Audit (if applicable).

Acceptable forms of documentation include:

○ Email confirmation from Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) that audits were submitted; or

○ Face sheets from audit reports. These can be found on the FAC Web site: https://harvester.census.gov/​facdissem/​Main.aspx.

Public Policy Requirements

All Federal-wide public policies apply to IHS grants and cooperative agreements with exception of the Discrimination policy.

Requirements for Project and Budget Narratives

A. Project Narrative: This narrative should be a separate Word document that is no longer than 20 pages and must: Be single-spaced, type written, have consecutively numbered pages, use black type not smaller than 12 points, and be printed on one side only of standard size 81/2″ x 11″ paper.

Be sure to succinctly but completely answer all questions listed under the evaluation criteria (refer to Section V.1, Evaluation criteria in this announcement) and place all responses and required information in the Evaluation criteria section (noted below), or they will not be considered or scored. These narratives will assist the Objective Review Committee (ORC) in becoming familiar with the applicant's activities and accomplishments prior to this possible cooperative agreement award. If the narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first 20 pages will be reviewed. The 20-page limit for the narrative does not include the work plan, standard forms, Tribal resolutions, table of contents, budget, budget justifications, narratives, and/or other appendix items.

There are three parts to the narrative: Part A—Program Information; Part B—Program Planning and Evaluation; and Part C—Program Report. See below for additional details about what must be included in the narrative.

The page limitations below are for each narrative and budget submitted.

Part A: Program Information 5 pages

Section 1: Need for Assistance

Describe the organization's current behavioral health program activities, how long it has been operating, what programs or services are currently being provided, and how the organization has determined it has the administrative infrastructure to support the grantee cooperative agreement award activities on page 6 of this announcement. This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.A. Need for Assistance.

Part B: Program Planning and Evaluation 10 pages

Section 1: Program Plan and Approach

Describe fully and clearly the direction the organization plans to take in including how it plans to demonstrate raise the awareness and visibility of behavioral health issues and deliver each activity outlined under the Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities on page 6 of this announcement. Include proposed timelines for activities. This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.B. Program Plan and Approach.

Section 2: Program Evaluation

Describe fully and clearly the improvements that will be made by the organization to raise the awareness and visibility of behavioral health issues among urban Indians. Include how the grantee will provide an evaluation of their activities, demonstrate impact, and convey accomplishments. This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.C. Program Evaluation.

Part C: Program Report 5 pages

Section 1: Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel, and Qualifications

Describe your organization's significant program activities and accomplishments over the past five years associated with the outlined goals under the Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities on page 6 of this announcement. This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel, and Qualifications.

B. Budget Narrative 5 pages

Section 1: Categorical Budget and Budget Justification

This narrative must include a line item budget with a narrative justification for all expenditures identifying reasonable allowable, allocable costs necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives as outlined in the project narrative. Budget should match the scope of work described in the project narrative. This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on the Application Deadline Date listed in the Key Dates section on page one of this announcement. Any application received after the application deadline will not be accepted for processing, nor will it be given further consideration for funding. Grants.gov will notify the applicant via email if the application is rejected.

If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the electronic application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support via email to [e-mail] or at [phone]. Customer Support is available to address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on Federal holidays). If problems persist, contact Mr. Gettys ([e-mail]), DGM Grant Systems Coordinator, by telephone at [phone] or [phone]. Please be sure to contact Mr. Gettys at least ten days prior to the application deadline. Please do not contact the DGM until you have received a Grants.gov tracking number. In the event you are not able to obtain a tracking number, call the DGM as soon as possible.

4. Intergovernmental Review

Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not applicable to this program.

5. Funding Restrictions

• Pre-award costs are not allowable.
• The available funds are inclusive of direct and appropriate indirect costs.
• Only one grant/cooperative agreement will be awarded per applicant.
• IHS will not acknowledge receipt of applications.

6. Electronic Submission Requirements

All applications must be submitted electronically. Please use the http://www.Grants.gov Web site to submit an application electronically and select the “Find Grant Opportunities” link on the homepage. Follow the instructions for submitting an application under the Package tab. Electronic copies of the application may not be submitted as attachments to email messages addressed to IHS employees or offices.

If the applicant needs to submit a paper application instead of submitting electronically through Grants.gov, a waiver must be requested. Prior approval must be requested and obtained from Mr. Robert Tarwater, Director, DGM, (see Section IV.6 below for additional information). A written waiver request must be sent to [e-mail] with a copy to [e-mail]. The waiver must (1) be documented in writing (emails are acceptable), before submitting a paper application, and (2) include clear justification for the need to deviate from the required electronic grants submission process.

Once the waiver request has been approved, the applicant will receive a confirmation of approval email containing submission instructions and the mailing address to submit the application. A copy of the written approval must be submitted along with the hardcopy of the application that is mailed to DGM. Paper applications that are submitted without a copy of the signed waiver from the Director of the DGM will not be reviewed or considered for funding. The applicant will be notified via email of this decision by the Grants Management Officer of the DGM. Paper applications must be received by the DGM no later than 5:00 p.m., EDT, on the Application Deadline Date listed in the Key Dates section on page one of this announcement. Late applications will not be accepted for processing or considered for funding. Applicants that do not adhere to the timelines for System for Award Management (SAM) and/or http://www.Grants.gov registration or that fail to request timely assistance with technical issues will not be considered for a waiver to submit a paper application.

Please be aware of the following:

• Please search for the application package in http://www.Grants.gov by entering the CFDA number or the Funding Opportunity Number. Both numbers are located in the header of this announcement.
• If you experience technical challenges while submitting your application electronically, please contact Grants.gov Support directly at: [e-mail] or [phone]. Customer Support is available to address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on Federal holidays).
• Upon contacting Grants.gov, obtain a tracking number as proof of contact. The tracking number is helpful if there are technical issues that cannot be resolved and a waiver from the agency must be obtained.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov as the registration process for SAM and Grants.gov could take up to fifteen working days.
• Please use the optional attachment feature in Grants.gov to attach additional documentation that may be requested by the DGM.
• All applicants must comply with any page limitation requirements described in this funding announcement.
• After electronically submitting the application, the applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The DGM will download the application from Grants.gov and provide necessary copies to the appropriate agency officials. Neither the DGM nor the Office of Clinical and Preventive Services Division of Behavioral Health will notify the applicant that the application has been received.
• Email applications will not be accepted under this announcement.

Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)

All IHS applicants and grantee organizations are required to obtain a DUNS number and maintain an active registration in the SAM database. The DUNS number is a unique 9-digit identification number provided by D&B which uniquely identifies each entity. The DUNS number is site specific; therefore, each distinct performance site may be assigned a DUNS number. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, you may access it through http://fedgov.dnb.com/​webform,, or to expedite the process, call [phone].

All HHS recipients are required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as amended (“Transparency Act”), to report information on sub-awards. Accordingly, all IHS grantees must notify potential first-tier sub-recipients that no entity may receive a first-tier sub-award unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to the prime grantee organization. This requirement ensures the use of a universal identifier to enhance the quality of information available to the public pursuant to the Transparency Act.

System for Award Management (SAM)

Organizations that were not registered with Central Contractor Registration and have not registered with SAM will need to obtain a DUNS number first and then access the SAM online registration through the SAM home page at https://www.sam.gov (U.S. organizations will also need to provide an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service that may take an additional 2-5 weeks to become active). Completing and submitting the registration takes approximately one hour to complete and SAM registration will take 3-5 business days to process. Registration with the SAM is free of charge. Applicants may register online at https://www.sam.gov.

Additional information on implementing the Transparency Act, including the specific requirements for DUNS and SAM, can be found on the IHS Grants Management, Grants Policy Web site:http://www.ihs.gov/​dgm/​policytopics/​.

V. Application Review Information

The instructions for preparing the application narrative also constitute the evaluation criteria for reviewing and scoring the application. Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses. The 20 page narrative should include only the first year of activities; information for multi-year projects should be included as an appendix. See “Multi-year Project Requirements” at the end of this section for more information. The narrative section should be written in a manner that is clear to outside reviewers unfamiliar with prior related activities of the applicant. It should be well-organized, succinct, and contain all information necessary for reviewers to understand the project fully. Points will be assigned to each evaluation criteria adding up to a total of 100 points. A minimum score of 65 points is required for funding. Points are assigned as follows:

1. Criteria

A. Need for Assistance (15 points)

• Which needs or problems is the organization currently addressing?
• Why is the project needed nationally?
• What are the current unmet needs/gaps in services? What are the inadequacies of not having a current national program with this scope?
• What would happen (or not happen) if your organization does not get this cooperative agreement?
• Why does your organization need this funding? How will it benefit your organization?
• Provide examples of current or previous related experience (grant funded or not) that supports the project and justifies the approach.
• Explain any unique opportunity.

B. Program Plan and Approach (40 points)

• What are the major activities/tasks?
• Who will do them?
• What is the timeframe for accomplishing them?
• Who needs to be involved (cooperate) for project success?
• How much/what will be delivered or produced?
• Why is this the best approach?
• What is the plan for sustaining the project after the project period?

C. Program Evaluation (5 points)

• What are the success indicators? How will you measure the degree to which the project has achieved its objectives?
• Describe both process and outcome indicators, where possible.

○ For example, process indicators may include items, such as:

“Six training workshops will be delivered in the urban Indian centers of the country.”

“A technical manual for implementing a grant writing workshop course will be produced.”

○ For example, outcome indicators may include items, such as:

“Change in awareness of behavioral health issues impacting urban Indians.”

“Change in urban Indian participation in suicide prevention activities (increased Hope for Life participation).”

• Identify the data to be collected and the method for collecting it (surveys, questionnaires, observations, focus groups).
• Identify which position(s) will be responsible for collecting data, measuring progress, and reporting.
• How will you apply evaluation findings to program modification/improvement?
• Include the cost of evaluation when developing the budget.

D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel and Qualifications (25 points)

• Describe the management capability and experience of the applicant organization and other participating organizations in administering similar grants and projects.
• Discuss the organization's experience and capacity to provide culturally appropriate/competent services to the community and specific populations of focus.
• Describe the resources available for the proposed project (e.g., facilities, equipment, IT systems, and financial management systems).
• Describe how program continuity will be maintained if/when there is a change in the operational environment (e.g., staff turnover, change in project leadership, change in elected officials) to ensure stability over the life of the grant.
• Provide a complete list of staff positions for the project, including the Project Director (suggested at .75-1.0 FTE level of effort) and other key personnel, showing the role of each and their level of effort and qualifications.

E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification (15 points)

• What resources are needed to successfully carry out and manage the program?
• What other resources are available from the organization to support the program?
• Will new staff be recruited?
• Will outside consultants be required?
• Show total cost as well as the amount being requested from funder.
• Provide itemized breakdown associated with major activities, not just salary.
• Attach estimates or quotes, where applicable. Check math in all calculations.
• Identify any discounts or cost savings:

○ In-kind services

○ Volunteer labor

• Make sure there's a close match-up between the scope of work and budget request.

Multi-Year Project Requirements

Projects requiring a second and third year must include a brief project narrative and budget (one additional page per year) addressing the developmental plans for each additional year of the project.

Additional Documents Can Be Uploaded as Appendix Items in Grants.gov

• Work plan, logic model and/or time line for proposed objectives.
• Position descriptions for key staff.
• Resumes of key staff that reflect current duties.
• Consultant or contractor proposed scope of work and letter of commitment (if applicable).
• Current Indirect Cost Agreement.
• Organizational chart.
• Map of area identifying project location(s).
• Additional documents to support narrative (i.e. data tables, key news articles, etc.).

2. Review and Selection

Each application will be prescreened by the DGM staff for eligibility and completeness as outlined in the funding announcement. Applications that meet the eligibility criteria shall be reviewed for merit by the ORC based on evaluation criteria in this funding announcement. The ORC could be composed of both Tribal and Federal reviewers appointed by the IHS Program to review and make recommendations on these applications. The technical review process ensures selection of quality projects in a national competition for limited funding. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not be referred to the ORC. The applicant will be notified via email of this decision by the Grants Management Officer of the DGM. Applicants will be notified by DGM, via email, to outline minor missing components (i.e., budget narratives, audit documentation, key contact form) needed for an otherwise complete application. All missing documents must be sent to DGM on or before the due date listed in the email of notification of missing documents required.

To obtain a minimum score for funding by the ORC, applicants must address all program requirements and provide all required documentation.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

The Notice of Award (NoA) is a legally binding document signed by the Grants Management Officer and serves as the official notification of the grant award. The NoA will be initiated by the DGM in our grant system, GrantSolutions (https://www.grantsolutions.gov). Each entity that is approved for funding under this announcement will need to request or have a user account in GrantSolutions in order to retrieve their NoA. The NoA is the authorizing document for which funds are dispersed to the approved entities and reflects the amount of Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and conditions of the award, the effective date of the award, and the budget/project period.

Disapproved Applicants

Applicants who received a score less than the recommended funding level for approval, 65 and were deemed to be disapproved by the ORC, will receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS program office within 30 days of the conclusion of the ORC outlining the strengths and weaknesses of their application. The summary statement will be sent to the Authorized Organizational Representative that is identified on the face page (SF-424) of the application. The IHS program office will also provide additional contact information as needed to address questions and concerns as well as provide technical assistance if desired.

Approved But Unfunded Applicants

Approved but unfunded applicants that met the minimum scoring range and were deemed by the ORC to be “Approved”, but were not funded due to lack of funding, will have their applications held by DGM for a period of one year. If additional funding becomes available during the course of FY 2017 the approved but unfunded application may be re-considered by the awarding program office for possible funding. The applicant will also receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS program office within 30 days of the conclusion of the ORC.

Note:

Any correspondence other than the official NoA signed by an IHS grants management official announcing to the project director that an award has been made to their organization is not an authorization to implement their program on behalf of IHS.

2. Administrative Requirements

Cooperative agreements are administered in accordance with the following regulations and policies:

A. The criteria as outlined in this program announcement.

B. Administrative Regulations for Grants:

• Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, located at 45 CFR part 75.

C. Grants Policy:

• HHS Grants Policy Statement, Revised 01/07.

D. Cost Principles:

• Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, “Cost Principles,” located at 45 CFR part 75, subpart E.

E. Audit Requirements:

• Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, “Audit Requirements,” located at 45 CFR part 75, subpart F.

3. Indirect Costs

This section applies to all grant recipients that request reimbursement of indirect costs (IDC) in their grant application. In accordance with HHS Grants Policy Statement, Part II-27, IHS requires applicants to obtain a current IDC rate agreement prior to award. The rate agreement must be prepared in accordance with the applicable cost principles and guidance as provided by the cognizant agency or office. A current rate covers the applicable grant activities under the current award's budget period. If the current rate is not on file with the DGM at the time of award, the IDC portion of the budget will be restricted. The restrictions remain in place until the current rate is provided to the DGM.

Generally, IDC rates for IHS grantees are negotiated with the Division of Cost Allocation (DCA) https://rates.psc.gov/​ and the Department of Interior (Interior Business Center) https://www.doi.gov/​ibc/​services/​finance/​indirect-Cost-Services/​indian-tribes. For questions regarding the indirect cost policy, please call the Grants Management Specialist listed under “Agency Contacts” or the main DGM office at [phone].

4. Reporting Requirements

The grantee must submit required reports consistent with the applicable deadlines. Failure to submit required reports within the time allowed may result in suspension or termination of an active grant, withholding of additional awards for the project, or other enforcement actions such as withholding of payments or converting to the reimbursement method of payment. Continued failure to submit required reports may result in one or both of the following: (1) The imposition of special award provisions; and (2) the non-funding or non-award of other eligible projects or activities. This requirement applies whether the delinquency is attributable to the failure of the grantee organization or the individual responsible for preparation of the reports. Per DGM policy, all reports are required to be submitted electronically by attaching them as a “Grant Note” in GrantSolutions. Personnel responsible for submitting reports will be required to obtain a login and password for GrantSolutions. Please see the Agency Contacts list in section VII for the systems contact information.

The reporting requirements for this program are noted below.

A. Progress Reports

Program progress reports are required annually, within 30 days after the budget period ends. These reports must include a brief comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the period, a summary of progress to date or, if applicable, provide sound justification for the lack of progress, and other pertinent information as required. A final report must be submitted within 90 days of expiration of the budget/project period.

B. Financial Reports

Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425), Cash Transaction Reports are due 30 days after the close of every calendar quarter to the Payment Management Services, HHS at https://pms.psc.gov. It is recommended that the applicant also send a copy of the FFR (SF-425) report to the Grants Management Specialist. Failure to submit timely reports may cause a disruption in timely payments to the organization.

Grantees are responsible and accountable for accurate information being reported on all required reports: The Progress Reports and Federal Financial Report.

C. Post-Conference Grant Reporting

The following requirements were enacted in Section 3003 of the Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, and Section 119 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014; Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-12-12: All HHS/IHS awards containing grants funds allocated for conferences will be required to complete a mandatory post-award report for all conferences. Specifically: The total amount of funds provided in this award/cooperative agreement that were spent for “Conference X”, must be reported in final detailed actual costs within 15 days of the completion of the conference. Cost categories to address should be: (1) Contract/Planner, (2) Meeting Space/Venue, (3) Registration Web site, (4) Audio Visual, (5) Speakers Fees, (6) Non-Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, and (8) Other.

D. Federal Sub-Award Reporting System (FSRS)

This award may be subject to the Transparency Act sub-award and executive compensation reporting requirements of 2 CFR part 170.

The Transparency Act requires the OMB to establish a single searchable database, accessible to the public, with information on financial assistance awards made by Federal agencies. The Transparency Act also includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to report information about first-tier sub-awards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards.

IHS has implemented a Term of Award into all IHS Standard Terms and Conditions, NoAs and funding announcements regarding the FSRS reporting requirement. This IHS Term of Award is applicable to all IHS grant and cooperative agreements issued on or after October 1, 2010, with a $25,000 sub-award obligation dollar threshold met for any specific reporting period. Additionally, all new (discretionary) IHS awards (where the project period is made up of more than one budget period) and where: (1) The project period start date was October 1, 2010 or after and (2) the primary awardee will have a $25,000 sub-award obligation dollar threshold during any specific reporting period will be required to address the FSRS reporting.

For the full IHS award term implementing this requirement and additional award applicability information, visit the DGM Grants Policy Web site at: http://www.ihs.gov/​dgm/​policytopics/​.

E. Compliance With Executive Order 13166 Implementation of Services

Accessibility Provisions for All Grant Application Packages and Funding Opportunity Announcements

Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights law. This means that recipients of HHS funds must ensure equal access to their programs without regard to a person's race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, sex and religion. This includes ensuring your programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. HHS provides guidance to recipients of FFA on meeting their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to their programs by persons with limited English proficiency. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/​civil-rights/​for-individuals/​special-topics/​limited-english-proficiency/​guidance-federal-financial-assistance-recipients-title-VI/​.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/​civil-rights/​for-individuals/​section-1557/​index.html; and http://www.hhs.gov/​civil-rights/​index.html. Recipients of FFA also have specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/​civil-rights/​for-individuals/​disability/​index.html. Please contact the HHS OCR for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/​ocr/​about-us/​index.html or call 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697. Also note it is an HHS Departmental goal to ensure access to quality, culturally competent care, including long-term services and supports, for vulnerable populations. For further guidance on providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services, recipients should review the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care at: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/​omh/​browse.aspx?​lvl=​2&​lvlid=​53.

Pursuant to 45 CFR 80.3(d), an individual shall not be deemed subjected to discrimination by reason of his/her exclusion from benefits limited by federal law to individuals eligible for benefits and services from the IHS.

Recipients will be required to sign the HHS-690 Assurance of Compliance form which can be obtained from the following Web site: http://www.hhs.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​forms/​hhs-690.pdf,, and send it directly to the: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights, 200 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20201.

F. Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)

The IHS is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) before making any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000) over the period of performance. An applicant may review and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered. IHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR 75.205.

As required by 45 CFR part 75 Appendix XII of the Uniform Guidance, non-federal entities (NFEs) are required to disclose in FAPIIS any information about criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings, and/or affirm that there is no new information to provide. This applies to NFEs that receive federal awards (currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts) greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of an award/project.

Mandatory Disclosure Requirements

As required by 2 CFR part 200 of the Uniform Guidance, and the HHS implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 75, effective January 1, 2016, the IHS must require a non-federal entity or an applicant for a federal award to disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the IHS or pass-through entity all violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award.

Submission is required for all applicants and recipients, in writing, to the IHS and to the HHS Office of Inspector General all information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. 45 CFR 75.113.

Disclosures must be sent in writing to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Division of Grants Management, ATTN: Robert Tarwater, Director, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, Maryland 20857 (Include “Mandatory Grant Disclosures” in subject line), Office: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail]

AND

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, ATTN: Mandatory Grant Disclosures, Intake Coordinator, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Cohen Building, Room 5527, Washington, DC 20201, URL: http://oig.hhs.gov/​fraud/​report-fraud/​index.asp (Include “Mandatory Grant Disclosures” in subject line), Fax: [phone] (Include “Mandatory Grant Disclosures” in subject line) or Email: [e-mail].

Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 45 CFR 75.371 Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (See 2 CFR parts 180 & 376 and 31 U.S.C. 3321).

VII. Agency Contacts

1. Questions on the programmatic issues may be directed to: Andrea Czajkowski, Division of Behavioral Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, MAIL STOP: 08N34-A, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], [e-mail].

2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be directed to: Donald Gooding, Grants Management Specialist, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email: [e-mail].

3. Questions on systems matters may be directed to: Paul Gettys, Grant Systems Coordinator, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: [phone]; or the DGM main line: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-Mail: [e-mail].

VIII. Other Information

The Public Health Service strongly encourages all cooperative agreement and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and 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 the facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care, or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the HHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Dated: May 12, 2017.

Chris Buchanan,

Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS, Acting Director, Indian Health Service.