[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11935-11938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5907]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Funding Opportunities

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) announces the 
availability of FY 1999 funds for the following activity. This activity 
is discussed in more detail under Section 4 of this notice. This notice 
is not a complete description of the activity; potential applicants 
must obtain a copy of the Guidance for Applicants (GFA) before 
preparing an application.

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                                                                                Estimated
            Activity               Application    Estimated funds available     number of       Project period
                                    deadline                                     awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School action grant............         5/24/99  $5 million................              33  Up to 2 yrs.
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[[Page 11936]]

    Note: SAMHSA also published notices of available funding 
opportunities for FY 1999 in subsequent issues of the Federal 
Register.

    The actual amount available for awards and their allocation may 
vary, depending on unanticipated program requirements and the volume 
and quality of applications. Awards are usually made for grant periods 
from one to three years in duration. FY 1999 funds for the activity 
discussed in this announcement were appropriated by the Congress under 
Public Law No. 105-277. SAMHSA's policies and procedures for peer 
review and Advisory Council review of grant and cooperative agreement 
applications were published in the Federal Register (Vol. 58, No. 126) 
on July 2, 1993.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2000, a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. The 
SAMHSA Centers' substance abuse and mental health services activities 
address issues related to Healthy People 2000 objectives of Mental 
Health and Mental Disorders; Alcohol and Other Drugs; Clinical 
Preventive Services; HIV Infection; and Surveillance and Data Systems. 
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full 
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-
001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government 
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone: 202-512-1800).

General Instructions

    Applicants must use application form PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 5/96; OMB No. 
0937-0189). The application kit contains the GFA (complete programmatic 
guidance and instructions for preparing and submitting applications), 
the PHS 5161-1 which includes Standard Form 424 (Face Page), and other 
documentation and forms. Application kits may be obtained from the 
organization specified for the activity covered by this notice (see 
Section 4).
    When requesting an application kit, the applicant must specify the 
particular activity for which detailed information is desired. This is 
to ensure receipt of all necessary forms and information, including any 
specific program review and award criteria.
    The PHS 5161-1 application form and the full text of the activity 
(i.e., the GFA) described in Section 4 is available electronically via 
SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page (address: http://www.samhsa.gov).
    Application Submission: Unless otherwise stated in the GFA, 
applications must be submitted to: SAMHSA Programs, Center for 
Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Suite 1040, 6701 
Rockledge Drive MSC-7710, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7710.*

(*Applicants who wish to use express mail or courier service should 
change the ZIP code to 20817.)
    Application Deadlines: The deadline for receipt of applications is 
listed in the table above.
    Competing applications must be received by the indicated receipt 
dates to be accepted for review. An application received after the 
deadline may be acceptable if it carries a legible proof-of-mailing 
date assigned by the carrier and that date is not later than one week 
prior to the deadline date. Private metered postmarks are not 
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Applications received after the deadline date and those sent to an 
address other than the address specified above will be returned to the 
applicant without review.

    For Further Information Contact: Requests for activity-specific 
technical information should be directed to the program contact person 
identified for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 4).
    Requests for information concerning business management issues 
should be directed to the grants management contact person identified 
for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 4).

Table of Contents

1. Program Background and Objectives
2. Special Concerns
3. Criteria for Review and Funding
    3.1  General Review Criteria
    3.2  Funding Criteria for Scored Applications
4. Special FY 1999 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Activity
    4.1.  Violence Prevention/Resilience Development School and 
Community Action Grants (Short Title: School Action Grant, GFA No. 
SM 99-009)
    4.2.   SAMHSA Technical Assistance Workshop
5. Public Health System Reporting Requirements
6. PHS Non-use of Tobacco Policy Statement
7. Executive Order 12372

1. Program Background and Objectives

    SAMHSA's mission within the Nation's health system is to improve 
the quality and availability of prevention, early intervention, 
treatment, and rehabilitation services for substance abuse and mental 
illnesses, including co-occurring disorders, in order to improve health 
and reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society.
    Reinventing government, with its emphases on redefining the role of 
Federal agencies and on improving customer service, has provided SAMHSA 
with a welcome opportunity to examine carefully its programs and 
activities. As a result of that process, SAMHSA moved assertively to 
create a renewed and strategic emphasis on using its resources to 
generate knowledge about ways to improve the prevention and treatment 
of substance abuse and mental illness and to work with State and local 
governments as well as providers, families, and consumers to 
effectively use that knowledge in everyday practice.
    SAMHSA's FY 1999 Knowledge Development and Application (KD&A) 
agenda is the outcome of a process whereby providers, services 
researchers, consumers, National Advisory Council members and other 
interested persons participated in special meetings or responded to 
calls for suggestions and reactions. From this input, each SAMHSA 
Center developed a ``menu'' of suggested topics. The topics were 
discussed jointly and an agency agenda of critical topics was agreed 
to. The selection of topics depended heavily on policy importance and 
on the existence of adequate research and practitioner experience on 
which to base studies. While SAMHSA's FY 1999 KD&A programs will 
sometimes involve the evaluation of some delivery of services, they are 
services studies and application activities, not merely evaluation, 
since they are aimed at answering policy-relevant questions and putting 
that knowledge to use.
    SAMHSA differs from other agencies in focusing on needed 
information at the services delivery level, and in its question-focus. 
Dissemination and application are integral, major features of the 
programs. SAMHSA believes that it is important to get the information 
into the hands of the public, providers, and systems administrators as 
effectively as possible. Technical assistance, training, preparation of 
special materials will be used, in addition to normal communications 
means.
    SAMHSA also continues to fund legislatively-mandated services 
programs for which funds are appropriated.

2. Special Concerns

    SAMHSA's legislatively-mandated services programs do provide funds 
for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention 
services. However, SAMHSA's KD&A activities do not provide funds for 
mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention services 
except sometimes for costs required by the particular

[[Page 11937]]

activity's study design. Applicants are required to propose true 
knowledge application or knowledge development and application 
projects. Applications seeking funding for services projects under a 
KD&A activity will be considered nonresponsive.
    Applications that are incomplete or nonresponsive to the GFA will 
be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

3. Criteria for Review and Funding

    Consistent with the statutory mandate for SAMHSA to support 
activities that will improve the provision of treatment, prevention and 
related services, including the development of national mental health 
and substance abuse goals and model programs, competing applications 
requesting funding under the specific project activity in Section 4 
will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established 
PHS/SAMHSA peer review procedures.

3.1  General Review Criteria

    As published in the Federal Register on July 2, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 
126), SAMHSA's ``Peer Review and Advisory Council Review of Grant and 
Cooperative Agreement Applications and Contract Proposals,'' peer 
review groups will take into account, among other factors as may be 
specified in the application guidance materials, the following general 
criteria:
     Potential significance of the proposed project;
     Appropriateness of the applicant's proposed objectives to 
the goals of the specific program;
     Adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed approach and 
activities;
     Adequacy of available resources, such as facilities and 
equipment;
     Qualifications and experience of the applicant 
organization, the project director, and other key personnel; and
     Reasonableness of the proposed budget.

3.2  Funding Criteria for Scored Applications

    Applications will be considered for funding on the basis of their 
overall technical merit as determined through the peer review group and 
the appropriate National Advisory Council (if applicable) review 
process.
    Other funding criteria will include:
     Availability of funds.
    Additional funding criteria specific to the programmatic activity 
may be included in the application guidance materials.

4. Special FY 1999 SAMHSA Activities

4.1.  Violence Prevention/Resilience Development School and Community 
Action Grants (Short Title: School Action Grant, GFA No. SM 99-009)

     Application Deadline: May 24, 1999
     Purpose: Grants will be awarded to approximately 33 sites. 
The goals of the School Action Grant Program are: (1) to obtain 
community level buy-in for the changes necessary to provide children 
with safe environments in which they can grow into competent and 
resilient adults; (2) to help young people develop the skills and 
emotional resilience necessary to maintain healthy functioning, engage 
in pro-social behavior, decrease suicide, prevent violent behavior, and 
decrease the use of alcohol and illicit drugs; (3) to increase the 
number of communities using evidence-based exemplary practices to 
address youth violence prevention and resilience development among 
children and adolescents; and (4) to expand efforts at youth violence 
prevention and resilience development beyond the traditional fields of 
education, law enforcement, and mental health.
    Projects under this grant program will be successful if a grantee 
can develop consensus among key stakeholders on the adaptations of the 
chosen exemplary practice needed for that community and implement a 
plan for adopting that practice in the community.
     Priorities: None
     Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by 
units of State or local governments and by domestic private nonprofit 
and for-profit organizations such as advocacy organization; community-
based organizations including ethnic specific organizations, parents 
and teachers associations, consumer and family groups; providers, 
courts, local police departments, mental health organizations, and 
schools.
     Grants/Amounts: It is estimated that approximately $5 
million will be available to support approximately 33 awards in FY 
1999. These grants are for a period of up to 2 years. Award amounts 
will range from approximately $50,000 to not more than $150,000 in 
total costs (direct and indirect) each year. Actual funding levels will 
depend upon the availability of appropriated funds.
     Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.230
     Program Contact: For programmatic or technical assistance 
contact: Tiffany Ho, M.D., Division of Program Development, Center for 
Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 16-C-05, Rockville, MD 20857, 
301-443-2892, E-Mail: [email protected]
    Questions regarding Grants Management issues may be directed to: 
Stephen J. Hudak, Division of Grants Management, OPS, Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15C-
05, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-4456, E-Mail: [email protected]
     For application kits, contact: Knowledge Exchange Network 
(KEN), P.O. Box 42490, Washington, DC 20015

Voice: (800) 789-2647
TTY: (301) 443-9006
FAX: (301) 984-8796

4.2  SAMHSA Technical Assistance Workshop

    SAMHSA is sponsoring three technical assistance workshops for 
potential applicants. The workshops will be held at the following 
locations: March 11, 1999--Washington, DC; March 17, 1999--Chicago, IL; 
and March 19--Los Angeles, CA. For more information, please call Ms. 
Lisa Wilder, Workshop Coordinator, at 301-984-1471, extension 333.

5. Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    The Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS) is intended to 
keep State and local health officials apprised of proposed health 
services grant and cooperative agreement applications submitted by 
community-based nongovernmental organizations within their 
jurisdictions.
    Community-based nongovernmental service providers who are not 
transmitting their applications through the State must submit a PHSIS 
to the head(s) of the appropriate State and local health agencies in 
the area(s) to be affected not later than the pertinent receipt date 
for applications. This PHSIS consists of the following information:
    a. A copy of the face page of the application (Standard form 424).
    b. A summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which 
provides:
    (1) A description of the population to be served.
    (2) A summary of the services to be provided.
    (3) A description of the coordination planned with the appropriate 
State or local health agencies.
    State and local governments and Indian Tribal Authority applicants 
are not subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements.

[[Page 11938]]

6. PHS Non-Use of Tobacco Policy Statement

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant 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 a 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 PHS mission to 
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American 
people.

7. Executive Order 12372

    Applications submitted in response to all FY 1999 activities listed 
above are subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372, as implemented through DHHS regulations at 45 
CFR Part 100. E.O. 12372 sets up a system for State and local 
government review of applications for Federal financial assistance. 
Applicants (other than Federally recognized Indian tribal governments) 
should contact the State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) as early as 
possible to alert them to the prospective application(s) and to receive 
any necessary instructions on the State's review process. For proposed 
projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to 
contact the SPOC of each affected State. A current listing of SPOCs is 
included in the application guidance materials. The SPOC should send 
any State review process recommendations directly to: Office of 
Extramural Activities Review, Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 17-89, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
    The due date for State review process recommendations is no later 
than 60 days after the specified deadline date for the receipt of 
applications. SAMHSA does not guarantee to accommodate or explain SPOC 
comments that are received after the 60-day cut-off.

    Dated: March 5, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 99-5907 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P