[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6715-6719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2738]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Maternal and Child Health Services; Federal Set-Aside Program; 
Research and Training Grants

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), PHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), HRSA, announces 
that fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds are available for Maternal and Child 
Health (MCH) Special Projects of Regional and National Significance 
(SPRANS) research and training grants. Awards will be made under the 
program authority of section 502(a) of the Social Security Act, the MCH 
Federal Set-Aside Program. MCH research and training grants improve the 
health status of mothers and children through: development and 
dissemination of new knowledge; demonstration of new or improved ways 
of delivering care or otherwise enhancing Title V program capacity to 
provide or assure provision of appropriate services; and preparation of 
personnel in MCH-relevant specialties. Grants for SPRANS genetic 
services and special MCH improvement projects (MCHIP), which contribute 
to the health of mothers, children, and children with special health 
care needs (CSHCN), are being announced in a separate notice. No new 
SPRANS hemophilia program grants will be funded in FY 1995.
    Of the approximately $7.3 million available for SPRANS research and 
$35.6 million for training in FY 1995, about $1.0 million will be 
available to support approximately 8 new and competing continuation MCH 
research projects and about $19.5 million will be available for 47 new 
and competing training projects. About $6.5 million will be used to 
support continuation of existing MCH research and $16.3 million will 
support continuation of existing training. The actual amounts available 
for awards and their allocation may vary depending on unanticipated 
program requirements and the volume and quality of applications. Awards 
are made for grant periods which generally run from 1 up to 5 years in 
duration. Funds for research and training grants under the MCH Federal 
Set-Aside Program are appropriated by Public Law 103-333. A revised 
regulation implementing the Federal Set-Aside Program (42 CFR part 51a) 
was published in the July 19, 1994, issue of the Federal Register at 59 
FR 36703.
    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 MCH 
Block Grant Federal Set-Aside Program addresses issues related to the 
Healthy People 2000 objectives of improving maternal, infant, child and 
adolescent health and developing service systems for children with 
special health care needs. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of 
Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy 
People 2000 (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office Washington, DC 
20402-9325 (telephone: 202 783-3238).
    The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. 
This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the 
physical and mental health of the American people.

ADDRESS: Grant applications for MCH research and training grants must 
be obtained from and submitted to: Chief, Grants Management Branch, 
Office of Program Support, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, Room 18-12, Parklawn Building, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 443-1440. 
Applicants for research projects will use Form PHS 398, approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under control number 0925-0001. 
Applicants for training projects will use Form PHS 6025-1, approved by 
OMB under control number 0915-0060. Requests should specify the 
category or categories of activities for which an application is 
requested so that the appropriate forms, information and materials may 
be provided.

DATES: Potential applicants are invited to request application packages 
for the particular program category in which they are interested, and 
to submit their applications for funding consideration. Deadlines for 
receipt of applications differ for the several categories of grants. 
These deadlines are as follows:

                                                                                                                
[[Page 6716]]                                                                                                   
  MCH Federal Set-Aside Competitive Research and Training Grants Anticipated Deadline, Award, Funding, and Project Period Information, by Category; FY  
                                                                          1995                                                                          
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                                                                                     Estimated                                                          
                       Category                           Application deadline       number of         Estimated amounts            Project period      
                                                                                       awards              available                                    
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Grants in the following areas:                                                                                                                          
1. Research..........................................  Cycle 1: 3/1/95*..........  up to 8......  $1.0 million..............  up to 5 years.            
                                                       Cycle 2: 8/1/95*..........                                                                       
    2. Long Term Training:                                                                                                                              
        2.1. Pediatric Pulmonary Centers.............  4/3/95....................  up to 9......  $1.5 million..............  up to 5 years.            
        2.2. Neuro developmental Disabilities........  4/3/95....................  up to 30.....  $18 million...............  up to 5 years.            
    3. Continuing Education..........................  7/3/95....................  up to 8......  $400,000..................  1-3 years.                
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* Approximately one-half of the available funds are allocated to each cycle. Applications approved but not funded in one cycle are automatically carried
  forward to the next.                                                                                                                                  


    Applications will be considered to have met the deadline if they 
are either: (1) received on or before the deadline date, or (2) 
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. Applicants should request a legibly dated receipt 
from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service, or obtain a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. Private metered postmarks 
will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. Late applications or 
those sent to an address other than specified in the ADDRESS section 
will be returned to the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for technical or programmatic 
information should be directed to the contact persons identified below 
for each category covered by this notice. Requests for information 
concerning business management issues should be directed to: Dorothy M. 
Kelley, Acting Grants Management Officer (GMO), Maternal and Child 
Health Bureau, at the address specified in the ADDRESS section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To facilitate the use of this announcement, 
information in this section has been organized, as outlined in the 
Table of Contents below, into a discussion of: Program Background, 
Special Concerns, Overall Review Criteria, SPRANS Program, and Eligible 
Applicants. In addition, for each research and training funding 
category or subcategory, information is presented under the following 
headings:
     Application Deadline
     Purpose
     Priorities
     Special Eligibility Considerations
     Grants/Amounts
     Contact

Table of Contents

1. Program Background and Objectives
2. Special Concerns
3. Project Review and Funding
    3.1. Criteria for Review
    3.2. Funding of Approved Applications
4. Special Projects of Regional and National Significance
    4.1. Research Grants
    4.2. Long Term Training Grants
    4.2.1. Pediatric Pulmonary Centers
    4.2.2. MCH Interdisciplinary Leadership Education/Training in 
Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities
    4.3. Continuing Education
5. Eligible Applicants
6. Public Health System Reporting Requirements
7. Executive Order 12372

1. Program Background and Objectives

    Under Section 502 of the Social Security Act, as amended by the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1989, 12.75 percent of 
amounts appropriated for the MCH Block Grant in excess of $600 million 
are set aside by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for 
special Community Integrated Service Systems projects under Section 
501(a)(3) of the Act. Of the remainder of the total appropriation, 15 
percent of the funds are to be retained by the Secretary to support 
(through grants, contracts, or otherwise) special projects of regional 
and national significance, research, and training with respect to 
maternal and child health and children with special health care needs 
(including early intervention training and services development); for 
genetic disease testing, counseling, and information development and 
dissemination programs; for grants (including funding for comprehensive 
hemophilia diagnostic treatment centers) relating to hemophilia without 
regard to age; and for the screening of newborns for sickle cell 
anemia, and other genetic disorders and follow-up services. The MCH 
SPRANS set-aside was established in 1981. Support for projects covered 
by this announcement will come from the SPRANS set-aside. Availability 
of FY 1995 funds for MCH research and training grants is being 
announced separately from other SPRANS grants this year in order to 
reduce confusion to potential applicants from announcement of grants in 
very large numbers of SPRANS categories and subcategories. The research 
and training grants covered in this notice are intended to improve the 
health status of mothers and children.
    Research programs focus on the development of new knowledge for 
application in health care promotion and prevention efforts directed at 
pregnant women, women of childbearing age, infants, children, 
adolescents, and children with special health care needs and their 
families. Findings are expected to have potential for application in 
health care delivery programs for mothers and children.
    Training programs focus on development of professionals for 
leadership roles, in combination with advanced professional 
preparation. Training is intended to accomplish the dual objectives of 
developing high levels of clinical competence and developing leadership 
attributes which extend beyond clinical acumen and skills. To achieve 
the latter objective, emphasis is placed on those curriculum and 
practicum areas which relate to: populations as well as individuals; 
systems of care as well as specific services; community-based services 
as well as institution-based; program administration in addition to 
clinical expertise; public policy in addition to practice policy; and 
research in addition to putting new knowledge into practice. In 
addition, leadership training emphasizes cultural and linguistic 
competence in serving the end user; trainees, however, are not end 
users. With an understanding of and appreciation for these broader 
issues and aspects of health care, professionals are more adequately 
prepared to deliver care and to provide leadership in advancing the 
field to better serve mothers and children. [[Page 6717]] 
    ``Continuing Education'' (CE) is any short-term, non-degree program 
offered by an institution of higher learning. Continuing Education 
focuses on increasing leadership skills of MCH health professionals; 
facilitating timely transfer and application of new information, 
research findings, and technology related to MCH; and updating and 
improving the knowledge and skills of health and related professionals 
in programs serving mothers and children, including children with 
special health care needs (CSHCN). As a result of the CE, professionals 
are more adequately prepared to deliver comprehensive services and to 
provide leadership in advancing the field to better serve mothers and 
children.

2. Special Concerns

    In its administration of the MCH Services Block Grant, the MCHB 
places special emphasis on improving service delivery to women and 
children from racial and ethnic minority populations who have had 
limited access to accessible care. This means that SPRANS projects are 
expected to serve and appropriately involve in project activities 
individuals from the populations to be served, unless there are 
compelling programmatic or other justifications for not doing so. The 
MCHB's intent is to ensure that project interventions are responsive to 
the cultural and linguistic needs of special populations, that services 
are accessible to consumers, and that the broadest possible 
representation of culturally distinct and historically underrepresented 
groups is supported through programs and projects sponsored by the 
MCHB.

3. Project Review and Funding

    Within the limit of funds determined by the Secretary to be 
available for the activities described in this announcement, the 
Secretary will review applications for funds under the specific project 
categories in section 4 below as competing applications and may award 
Federal funding for projects which will, in her judgment, best promote 
the purpose of title V of the Social Security Act, with special 
emphasis on improving service delivery to women and children from 
culturally distinct populations; best address achievement of Healthy 
Children 2000 objectives related to maternal, infant, child and 
adolescent health and service systems for children at risk of chronic 
and disabling conditions; and otherwise best promote improvements in 
maternal and child health.

3.1  Criteria for Review

    The criteria which follow are used, as pertinent, to review and 
evaluate applications for awards under all SPRANS grants and 
cooperative agreement project categories announced in this notice. 
Further guidance in this regard is supplied in application guidance 
materials, which may specify variations in these criteria.

--The quality of the project plan or methodology.
--The need for the research or training.
--The extent to which the project will contribute to the advancement of 
maternal and child health and/or improvement of the health of children 
with special health care needs;
--The extent to which the project is responsive to policy concerns 
applicable to MCH grants and to program objectives, requirements, 
priorities and/or review criteria for specific project categories, as 
published in program announcements or guidance materials.
--The extent to which the estimated cost to the Government of the 
project is reasonable, considering the anticipated results.
--The extent to which the project personnel are well qualified by 
training and/or experience for their roles in the project and the 
applicant organization has adequate facilities and personnel.
--The extent to which, insofar as practicable, the proposed activities, 
if well executed, are capable of attaining project objectives.
--The strength of the project's--plans for evaluation.
--The extent to which the project will be integrated with the 
administration of the MCH Block Grant, State primary care plans, public 
health, and prevention programs, and other related programs in the 
respective State(s).
--The extent to which the application is responsive to the special 
concerns and program priorities specified in this notice.

3.2  Funding of Approved Applications

    Final funding decisions for SPRANS research and training grants are 
the responsibility of the Director, MCHB. In considering scores for the 
ranking of approved applications for funding, preferences may be 
exercised for groups of applications; for example, new projects may be 
funded ahead of competing continuations, or vice versa. Within any 
category of approved projects, the score of an individual project may 
be favorably adjusted if the project addresses specific priorities 
identified in this notice. In addition, special consideration in 
assigning scores may be given by reviewers to individual applications 
that address areas identified in this notice as special concerns.

4. Special Projects of Regional and National Significance

    Three categories of SPRANS grants are discussed below: Research, 
Long Term Training, and Continuing Education:

4.1. Research Grants

     Application Deadlines: March 1 and August 1, 1995.
     Purpose: To encourage research in maternal and child 
health which has the potential for ready transfer of findings to health 
care delivery programs. Research grants may be made only to public or 
nonprofit institutions of higher learning and public or nonprofit 
private agencies and organizations engaged in research or in maternal 
and child health or programs for CSHCN.
    Special consideration will be given to projects which address the 
factors and processes that lead to disparities in health status and use 
of services among minority and other disadvantaged groups as well as 
health promoting behaviors, quality outcome measures, and systems 
integration/reform.
     Grants/Amounts: Approximately $1.0 million will be 
available to support up to 8 new or competing renewal research projects 
at an average of $125,000 per award for one year. Project periods are 
generally 3 years but may be up to 5 years.
     Contact: For programmatic or technical information, 
contact Gontran Lamberty, Dr.P.H., telephone: 301 443-2190.

4.2. Long Term Training Grants

     Application Deadline: April 3, 1995.
     Purpose: Awards to institutions of higher learning to 
support and strengthen MCH programs through long term training of 
health professionals at the graduate and postgraduate levels, with a 
special focus on family-centered, community-based care. The programs 
are designed to develop leadership personnel to provide for 
comprehensive health, including health promotion and disease 
prevention, and related services to mothers and children; and to 
address special issues, such as HIV; injury; minority health concerns; 
and substance abuse. Training is provided to a wide range of health 
professionals who serve mothers and children.
    Contact: For programmatic and technical information, contact 
Elizabeth [[Page 6718]] Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 301 443-2190.
    The following subcategories have been identified for competition in 
FY 1995 under the MCH long term training program:

4.2.1. Pediatric Pulmonary Centers

     Application Deadline: April 3, 1995.
     Purpose: To support the development, enhancement, or 
improvement of community-based care for children with chronic 
respiratory diseases and their families in a wide geographic area by 
providing interdisciplinary training of a range of professional 
personnel and by working with State and local health agencies and 
providers--public, private, or voluntary. The centers are expected to 
be models of excellence in training, service and research related to 
chronic respiratory diseases in infants and children.
     Special Qualifications: Applicant qualifications include 
meeting the special requirements for Training Programs in Pediatric 
Pulmonology of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education 
(ACGME) Residency Review Committee.
     Grants/Amounts: About $1.5 million will be available to 
support up to 6 new or competing renewal projects in this subcategory. 
Grant awards average $250,000 for one year. Project periods are up to 
five years.
     Contact: For programmatic and technical information, 
contact Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone 301 443-2190.

4.2.2. MCH Interdisciplinary Leadership Education/Training in 
Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities

     Application Deadline: April 3, 1995.
     Purpose: To support and strengthen MCH programs through 
long term training of a wide range of health professionals at the 
graduate and post-graduate levels, with a special focus on family-
centered, community-based care. The programs are designed to develop 
leadership personnel to provide for comprehensive health, including 
health promotion and disease prevention, and related services to 
children (infants through adolescents) with, or at risk for, 
neurodevelopmental delays, developmental disabilities, mental 
retardation, or multiple systems disabilities, through 
interdisciplinary clinical training, and through provision of 
continuing education, technical assistance and consultation.
     Special Qualifications: Universities with an accredited 
medical school which has defined working relationships/agreements with 
academic (i.e., degree granting) schools or departments providing 
graduate training in all requisite core disciplines identified in the 
program elements and requirements for this category. Such agreements 
may be either with components of the applicant institution or with one 
or more other institutions of higher learning through formal 
affiliation agreements. Although multiple institutions and programs 
may, and are encouraged to participate, the application must be 
submitted by the university at which the major medical and other health 
profession schools/departments are located. All training components 
must have their primary locus in, or proximal to, the applicant 
institution.
     Grants/Amounts: Approximately $18 million will be 
available to support up to 30 new or competing renewal projects in this 
subcategory. Grant award amounts will vary depending upon budget 
requirements. Project periods are up to 5 years.
     Contact: For programmatic and technical information, 
contact Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone 301 443-2190.

4.3. Continuing Education

     Application Deadline: July 3, 1995.
     Purpose: To support and strengthen MCH programs and 
improve MCH systems of care through short term, non-degree related 
training of health professionals and others providing health and 
related services for mothers and children; workshops; seminars; 
institutes; and other related activities intended to develop or improve 
standards, practices, curriculum or delivery of health care for the MCH 
population. Continuing Education grants may be made only to public or 
nonprofit private institutions of higher learning.
     Priorities: Priority for funding in this category will be 
given to continuing education projects in the following areas:

--Emergency Medical Services for Children.
--Violence Prevention in Schools.
--Core Public Health.
     Grants/Amounts: Approximately $400,000 will be available 
to support up to 8 new or competing renewal continuing education 
training projects. Project periods range from 1 to 3 years.
     Contact: For programmatic or technical information, 
contact Stephanie Bryn, M.P.H., telephone: 301 443-2190.
    The categories, priorities, special considerations and preferences 
described above are not being proposed for public comment this year. In 
July 1993, following publication of the Department's Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking to revise the MCH special project grant regulations at 42 
CFR 51a, the public was invited for a 60-day period to submit comments 
regarding all aspects of the SPRANS application and review process. 
Public comments regarding SPRANS priorities received during the comment 
period were considered in developing this announcement. In responding 
to those comments, the Department noted the practical limits on 
Secretarial discretion in establishing SPRANS categories and priorities 
owing to the extensive prescription in both the statute and annual 
Congressional directives.
    Comments on this SPRANS notice which members of the public wish to 
make are welcome at any time and may be submitted to: Director, 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, at the address listed in the ADDRESS 
section. Suggestions will be considered when priorities are developed 
for the next solicitation.

5. Eligible Applicants

    In general, MCH training grants may be made only to public or 
nonprofit private institutions of higher learning. Research grants may 
be made only to public or nonprofit private institutions of higher 
learning and public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations 
engaged in research in maternal and child health or programs for CSHCN. 
As noted above, applicants for certain grant categories or 
subcategories are expected to have additional qualifications.

6. Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements (approved under OMB No. 0937-0195). Under these 
requirements, the community-based nongovernmental applicant must 
prepare and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The 
PHSIS is intended to provide information to State and local health 
officials to keep them apprised of proposed health services grant 
applications submitted by community-based nongovernmental organizations 
within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based nongovernmental applicants are required to submit 
the following information to the head of the appropriate State and 
local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted no later than the 
Federal application receipt due date: [[Page 6719]] 
    (a) A copy of the face page of the application (SF 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 and local health agencies.

7.Executive Order 12372

    The MCH Federal set-aside program has been determined to be a 
program which is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs.

    The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.110.

    Dated: January 31, 1995.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-2738 Filed 2-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P