02-16784. Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Family Planning Services Grants  

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    AGENCY:

    Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Population Affairs.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    AUTHORITY:

    Section 1001 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act.

    SUMMARY:

    The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003 family planning services grants under the authority of Title X of the Public Health Service Act and solicits applications for competing grant awards to serve the areas and/or populations set out below. Only applications which propose to serve the populations and/or areas listed in Table I will be accepted for review and possible funding.

    DATES:

    Application and funding dates vary. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

    ADDRESSES:

    Applications for grants in DHHS Regions I-X should be sent to: Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services, 1301 Young Street, Suite 766, Dallas, TX 75202.

    Application kits are also available online at the Office of Population Affairs web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov or may be requested by fax at (214) 767-3425.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Administrative and Budgetary Requirements

    Regions I-X: Maudeen Pickett, Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services, 214-767-3401.

    Program Requirements

    Regional Program Consultants for Family Planning: Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)—Suzanne Theroux, 617-565-1063; Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)—Robin Lane, 212-264-3935; Region III (Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)—Louis Belmonte, 215-861-4641; Region IV (Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina)—Cristino Rodriguez, 404-562-7900; Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)—Janice Ely, 312-886-3864; Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)—Evelyn Glass, 214-767-3088; Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)—Elizabeth Curtis, 816-426-2924; Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming)— Jill Leslie, 303-844-7856 or Laura Grogan, 303-844-7849; Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, Federal States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands)—Nadine Simons, 415-437-7984; Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)—Janet Wildeboor, 206-615-2776.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Definitions

    For the purposes of this announcement, the following definitions apply:

    Application—a request for financial support of a project submitted to OPA on specified forms and in accordance with instructions provided.

    Eligible Applicants—any public or nonprofit private entity located in a State (which includes one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) is eligible to apply for a Title X family planning grant. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these Title X family planning grants.

    Evidence-based—relevant scientific evidence that has undergone comprehensive review and rigorous analysis.

    Grant—financial assistance in the form of money, awarded by the Federal Government to an eligible recipient (a grantee or recipient is the entity that receives a Federal grant and assumes the legal and financial responsibility and accountability for the awarded funds and performance of activities approved for funding).

    Project—those activities described in the grant application and supported under the approved budget.

    Title X of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for projects to provide family planning services to persons from low-income families and others. Section 1001 of the Act, as amended, authorizes grants “to assist in the establishment and operation of voluntary family planning projects which shall offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services (including natural family planning methods, infertility services, and services for adolescents).” The broad range of services should include abstinence education. Section 1001 of the statute also requires that, to the extent practicable, Title X service providers shall encourage family participation in family planning services projects. Section 1008 of the Act, as amended, stipulates that “none of the funds appropriated under this title shall be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning.”

    Requirements regarding the provision of family planning services under Title X can be found in the Title X statute, the implementing regulations which govern project grants for family planning services (42 CFR part 59, subpart A), and the “Program Guidelines for Project Grants for Family Planning Services,” published in January 2001. Copies of the Title X statute, regulations, and Program Guidelines may be obtained by contacting the Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services (at the address above), or downloaded from the Office of Population Affairs web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov/​grants. All Title X requirements—including those derived from the statute, the regulations, and the Program Guidelines—apply to all activities funded under this announcement. (For example, projects must meet the regulatory requirements set out at 42 CFR 59.5 regarding charges to clients, and the funding criteria set out at 42 CFR 59.7 apply to all applicants under this announcement. As stated in Sec. 59.7(b) “* * * No grant may be made for less than 90 percent of the project's costs, as so estimated, unless the grant is to be made for a project that was supported, under section 1001, for less than 90 percent of its costs in fiscal year 1975. In that case, the grant shall not be for less than the percentage of costs covered by the grant in fiscal year 1975.” Furthermore, Sec. 59.7(c) stipulates that “no grant may be made for an amount equal to 100 percent for the project's estimated costs.”) A description of the Title X Family Planning Program can be found at OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.217.

    The anticipated FY 2003 appropriation for the Title X Family Planning program is approximately $265 million. Of this amount, approximately $100 million will be made available for competing grant awards. This notice announces the anticipated availability of funds for competitive family planning service grants in 22 states. (See Table I for competing areas and approximate amount of awards). The remaining Start Printed Page 45015funds will be used for continued support of grants and activities which are not competitive in FY 2003. This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, applications can be processed in an orderly manner, and funds can be awarded in a timely fashion. Competing grant applications are invited for the following areas (please note, in order to maximize access to family planning services, one or more grants may be awarded for each area listed):

    Table I

    Populations/areas to be servedApproximate
    Funding availableApplication due dateApprox. grant funding date
    Region I
    Massachusetts-Central/Southeast$1,471,81309-01-0201-01-03
    Region II
    New Jersey7,974,48409-01-0201-01-03
    Region III
    Delaware1,009,64312-01-0204-01-03
    Maryland3,729,88312-01-0204-01-03
    Pennsylvania11,951,60603-01-0307-01-03
    Virginia4,299,20312-01-0204-01-03
    West Virginia2,008,20112-01-0204-01-03
    Region IV
    Alabama4,315,10103-01-0307-01-03
    Florida7,652,63603-01-0307-01-03
    Georgia7,080,25903-01-0307-01-03
    Kentucky4,759,35903-01-0307-01-03
    Mississippi4,508,78903-01-0307-01-03
    North Carolina6,076,41003-01-0307-01-03
    Region V
    Minnesota2,242,93409-01-0201-01-03
    Minneapolis, Minnesota187,94505-29-0309-29-03
    Ohio5,202,41412-01-0203-01-03
    Portage, Summit & Medina Counties, Ohio749,74503-01-0307-01-03
    Region VI
    Louisiana3,743,20103-01-0307-01-03
    Region VII
    Iowa2,206,34003-01-0307-01-03
    951,12805-30-0309-30-03
    Region VIII
    None competing in FY 2003
    Region IX
    Arizona3,811,52209-01-0201-01-03
    California20,123,81809-01-0201-01-03
    Washoe County, Nevada613,41503-01-0307-01-03
    Region X
    Idaho949,66003-01-0307-01-03
    Seattle, WA163,43805-30-0309-30-03

    Title X Program Priorities

    The following priorities represent overarching goals for the Title X program. The application should describe how the proposed project will address each priority:

    (1) Assurance of continued high quality clinical family planning and reproductive health services that will improve the overall health of individuals;

    (2) Increasing access to family planning and reproductive health services by partnering with public health providers and other community-based organizations that have related interests and that work with similar populations;

    (3) Emphasis on clinical services for hard-to-reach populations, e.g., uninsured or under-insured women, males in need of clinical services, adolescents, substance abusers, migrant workers, and the homeless; and

    (4) Assuring access to a broad range of family planning and reproductive health clinical services, including provision of highly effective contraceptive methods; breast and cervical cancer screening and prevention; STD and HIV prevention education, counseling, and testing; and abstinence education and counseling. The broad range of services does not include abortion as a method of family planning.

    Key Issues

    The following key issues impact the current and future delivery of family planning services, and should be considered when developing the proposal:

    (1) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' priorities and Healthy People 2010 objectives (http://www.health.gov/​healthypeople);

    (2) Medicaid waivers, managed care, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Title XX of the Social Services Block Grant, state Start Printed Page 45016support, and private insurance coverage related to family planning and reproductive health services, teen pregnancy and abstinence education (e.g., Title XX of the PHS Act—Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Program, Title V of the Social Security Act—SPRANS and State Block Grants for Abstinence Education), and ACF Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program;

    (3) Increased need for current and reliable data to use in program planning and monitoring program performance;

    (4) Use of electronic technologies in program activities and management;

    (5) Use of evidence-based information to support program activities; and

    (6) Legislative mandates such as counseling teens on involving families and avoiding coercive sexual relationships, and program compliance with state reporting laws regarding child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape or incest.

    Application Requirements

    Application kits (including the application form, Form OPHS-1, Revised 6/01), may be obtained by contacting the Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services (at the address listed above), or downloaded from the Office of Population Affairs web site at http://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov/​grants. Applications should be limited to 60 double-spaced pages, not including appendices. Appendices may provide examples of organizational capabilities or other supplemental information. Completed applications must be submitted to the Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services.

    A copy of the legislation and regulations governing this program will be included as part of the application kit package. Applications must address all applicable regulatory requirements. Applicants should use the legislation, regulations, and information included in this announcement to guide them in developing their applications. The information collections (reporting requirements) contained in this notice have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget and assigned control number 0937-0189.

    Applications will be considered as meeting the deadline if they are postmarked on or before the application due date (listed for all areas in Table I). A legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service will be accepted in lieu of a postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. All hand delivered applications must be received between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on or before the application due date. Applications which do not meet the deadline will be considered late and will not be accepted for review. Also, applications which do not meet the requirements of this program announcement and/or the applicable regulatory requirements at 42 CFR part 59, subpart A, will not be accepted for review. Any application which is not accepted will be returned to the applicant. Applications will not be accepted by fax or e-mail. The submission deadlines will not be extended.

    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) requires all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote the non-use of all tobacco products. This is consistent with the OPHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

    Application Consideration and Assessment

    Each regional office is responsible for evaluating applications and setting funding levels according to criteria in 42 CFR 59.7. Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria (42 CFR 59.7(a)):

    (1) The degree to which the project plan adequately provides for the requirements set forth in the Title X regulations at 42 CFR part 59, subpart A (20 points);

    (2) The extent to which family planning services are needed locally (20 points);

    (3) The number of patients, and, in particular, the number of low-income patients to be served (15 points);

    (4) The adequacy of the applicant's facilities and staff (15 points);

    (5) The capacity of the applicant to make rapid and effective use of the Federal assistance (10 points);

    (6) The relative availability of non-Federal resources within the community to be served and the degree to which those resources are committed to the project (10 points); and

    (7) The relative need of the applicant (10 points).

    In making grant award decisions, the Regional Health Administrator will fund those projects which will, in his judgement, best promote the purposes of section 1001 of the Act, within the limits of funds available for such projects.

    Grants are generally approved for project periods of three to five years. Grants are funded in annual increments (budget periods). An annual non-competitive continuation application is required to obtain continued support. Application kits for non-competing grants will automatically be sent to the project director indicated on the Notice of Grant Award. Funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first year of the grant is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, and efficient and effective use of grant funds. In all cases, continuation awards require a determination by HHS that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

    Review Under Executive Order 12372

    Applicants under this announcement are subject to the review requirements of Executive Order 12372, as implemented by 45 CFR part 100, “Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities.” As soon as possible, the applicant should discuss the project with the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for each State to be served. The application kit contains the currently available listing of the SPOCs which have elected to be informed of the submission of applications. For those States not listed, further inquiries regarding the review process designed by their State should be made to the Governor's office of the pertinent State. The SPOC should forward any comment(s) to the Office of Grants Management for Family Planning Services, 1301 Young Street, Ste. 766, Dallas, TX 75202. The SPOC has 60 days from the applicable closing date as listed in Table I of this announcement to submit any comments.

    Notification of Grant Award

    When final funding decisions have been made, each applicant will be notified by letter of the outcome. The official document notifying an applicant that a project application has been approved for funding is the Notice of Grant Award. This document specifies to the grantee the amount of money awarded, the purposes of the grant, the length of the project period, and terms and conditions of the grant award.

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    Dated: June 7, 2002.

    Mireille B. Kanda,

    Acting Director, Office of Population Affairs.

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    [FR Doc. 02-16784 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4150-34-P

Document Information

Published:
07/05/2002
Department:
Health and Human Services Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
02-16784
Dates:
Application and funding dates vary. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
Pages:
45013-45016 (4 pages)
PDF File:
02-16784.pdf