[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 8407-8409] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-3667] [[Page 8407]] DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 1995. This program is described at Sec. 93.970 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance and is governed by regulations at 42 CFR 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 applicant 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: The PHS strongly encourage our grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products, and Pub. L. 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. Application 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 May 15, 1995. 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: June 29, 1995. 2. Applicants Notified of Results: On or about August 1, 1995 (approved, recommended for approval but not funded, or disapproved. 3. Anticipated Start Date: September 30, 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program information, contact Ronald L. Hernandez, Division of Health Professions Recruitment and Training, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Building, Suite 100A, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, 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 (301) 443-5204. (The telephone numbers are not toll-free numbers). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement provides information on the general program purpose, eligibility and preference, program objectives, required affiliation, fund availability and period of support, type of program activities considered for support, and application procedures for FY 1995. 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 ensure 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 [[Page 8408]] 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 1994 was $98,000. The anticipated start date for selected projects will be September 30, 1995. Projects will be awarded for a budget term of 12 months. Grant funding levels include both direct and indirect costs. F. Type of Program Activities Considered for Support Funds are available to develop grant programs to locate 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 15 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) --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 --Appendix to include: --Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support --Resumes (Curriculum Vitae) of key staff --Position descriptions for key staff --Organizational chart --Workplan Format --Completed IHS Application Checklist --Application Receipt Care, 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 objective, 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 ensure that the scope of work can be completed within the 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 and describe the administrative, managerial and organizational arrangements and the facilities and resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed project (include in appendix). 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. [[Page 8409]] 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. Appendix--to include: a. Resumes and job descriptions for key staff. b. Current approved organizational chart. c. Workplan. d. Application receipt card, PHS 3038-1 Rev. 5-90. J. Reporting 1. Progress Report--Program progress reports may be required quarterly or 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--Quarterly or semi-annually financial status reports will be submitted 30 days after the end of the quarter or 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 and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, or 45 CFR part 74, Administration of Grants. 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 Director, Division of Health Professions Recruitment and Training (DHPRT), for final review and approval. The Director, DHPRT, will also consider the recommendations from the Grants Management Branch. Applicants are notified in writing on or about August 1, 1995. 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 7, 1995. Michael H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon General, Director. [FR Doc. 95-3667 Filed 2-13-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-16-M