[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7527-7530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4476]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Special Projects of National Significance; Evaluation Technical 
Assistance Center

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that applications will be accepted for fiscal year (FY) 1996 
Grants for Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) funded 
under the authority of Section 2618 (a) of the Public Health Service 
Act, as established by the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources 
Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, Public Law 101-381, dated August 18, 
1990. This announcement solicits applications to design and develop an 
HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center. This Evaluation Technical 
Assistance Center will provide technical assistance to SPNS grantees in 
designing and implementing evaluation studies and dissemination 
activities for individual projects and develop and coordinate the 
implementation of any multi-site evaluations. Evaluation activities 
will 

[[Page 7528]]
include a description and evaluation of the various demonstration 
projects involved in an effort to determine which models might be 
replicated and integrated into HIV/AIDS health care delivery systems 
nationally and an analysis of changes in client outcomes. Applicants 
must apply for a 5 year project period. The SPNS program, in 
collaboration with the HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center 
grantee, will provide technical assistance and support for the program 
evaluation studies for three groups of SPNS grantees. These grantee 
groups are: (1) Models of Integrated Service Delivery for Persons with 
HIV Disease, (2) HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative (a collaborative 
effort between the Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing 
and Urban Development) and (3) Health Care Services Demonstration 
Models for HIV Infected Youth.
    This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds. 
Applicants are advised that this program announcement is a contingency 
action being taken to assure that should funds become available for 
this purpose, they can be awarded in a timely fashion consistent with 
the needs of the program as well as to provide for an even distribution 
of funds throughout the fiscal year. At this time, given a continuing 
resolution and the absence of FY 1996 appropriations for the Ryan White 
CARE Act programs, the amount of available funding for these specific 
grant programs cannot be estimated.
    The authorizing legislation specifies three SPNS program 
objectives: (1) to assess the effectiveness of particular models of 
care; (2) to support innovative program design; and (3) to promote 
replication of effective models. The SPNS program endeavors to advance 
knowledge and skills in HIV services delivery by stimulating the design 
of innovative models of care. SPNS accomplishes its purpose through 
funding the technical support and evaluation of innovative and 
potentially replicable HIV service delivery models.

DATES:

Notification

    In order to allow HRSA to plan for the Objective Review Process, 
applicants are encouraged to contact the grants office in writing to 
notify HRSA of their intent to apply. This notification serves to 
inform HRSA of the anticipated number of applications which are being 
submitted. If notification is offered, it should be received within 30 
days after publication of the Notice of Availability of Funds in the 
Federal Register. The address is: Grants Management Branch; Bureau of 
Health Resources Development; Health Resources and Services 
Administration; Room 7-15; Rockville, MD 20857.

Application

    Applications for this announced grant must be received in the 
Grants Management Branch by the close of business April 29, 1996 to be 
considered for competition. Applications will meet 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 
submission to the objective review panel. A legibly dated receipt from 
a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service will be accepted as proof 
of timely mailing. Applications received after the deadline will be 
returned to the applicant.

ADDRESSES: Grant applications, guidance materials, and additional 
information regarding business, administrative, and fiscal issues 
related to the awarding of grants under this Notice may be requested 
from Mr. Neal Meyerson, Grants Management Branch, Bureau of Health 
Resources Development, Health Resources and Services Administration, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-15, Rockville, MD, 20857. The telephone 
number is (301) 443-2280 and the FAX number is (301) 594-6096. 
Applicants for grants will use Form PHS 5161-1, approved under OMB 
Control No. 0937-0189. Completed applications should be sent to the 
Grants Management Branch.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional technical information may 
be obtained from the SPNS Branch, Office of Science and Epidemiology, 
Bureau of Health Resources Development, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7A-07, Rockville, MD 20857. The 
telephone number is (301) 443-9976 and the FAX number is (301) 594-
2511. Questions concerning the Health Care Services Demonstration 
Models for HIV Infected Youth should be directed to Evelyn M. 
Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., Office of the Director, Bureau of Health 
Resources Development, Health Resources and Services Administration, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-13, Rockville, MD 20857. The telephone number 
is (301) 443-9530 and the FAX number is (301) 443-9645.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000 OBJECTIVES: The Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS) urges applicants to address specific objectives of 
Healthy People 2000 in their work plans. 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, D.C. 200402-9325 (Telephone 202-783-
3238).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Grant

    This grant will support the establishment of an Evaluation 
Technical Assistance Center to provide evaluation and dissemination 
technical assistance. Applicants should propose a plan to provide 
technical assistance to design and implement outcome evaluation studies 
and dissemination activities for SPNS grantees funded under the Models 
of Integrated Service Delivery for Persons with HIV Disease 
Demonstration Projects, the HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative and the 
Health Care Services Demonstration Models for HIV Infected Youth. In 
addition, the HIV Evaluation Technical Assistance Center will be 
responsible for developing and coordinating the implementation of any 
multi-site evaluations within groups of similar projects.
    Evaluation and technical assistance will include providing overall 
evaluation coordination, including data management and analysis, 
training in common procedures, and distribution of necessary materials 
to all projects. Specifically, the Evaluation Technical Assistance 
Center will work with the grantees in the planning phase to: (1) 
Provide advice regarding the evaluation personnel needs at the project 
level; (2) develop criteria for compatible computer equipment; (3) 
recommend cross-cutting outcome measures; (4) develop model data 
collection formats that can be used by grantees at their discretion and 
(5) provide assistance in the development, preparation and 
dissemination of evaluation results and findings. It is anticipated 
that many of these tasks will be coordinated through a series of 
grantee meetings to commence early in the first project year.

Description of SPNS Projects

    The Models of Integrated Service Delivery Demonstration Projects 
will be a group of approximately eight to ten grants. These projects 
will focus on defining and evaluating innovative 

[[Page 7529]]
models of care that address the formal linkage and integration of 
mental health, substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation and/or other 
critical services with HIV ambulatory medical care (such as primary 
medical care and/or home health care). In developing integrated models, 
projects will address the following sub-categories: (1) Coordinated 
delivery of HIV health and support services to specified transient, 
homeless, migrant, immigrant or mobile populations to ensure the 
delivery of a comprehensive continuum of care throughout the course of 
HIV infection and disease; (2) Delivery of comprehensive health and 
support services to Native Americans (American Indian, Alaskan Natives 
and Native Hawaiians) through a linked network of providers experienced 
in caring for Native American communities; and, (3) Development of a 
formally linked system of HIV ambulatory care services for an 
underserved population group experiencing significant barriers to care, 
(e.g., ethnic and language minorities, visually or hearing impaired 
communities, the severely and persistently mentally ill, rural 
communities or others) that improves access to and retention in the 
health care delivery system.
    The HIV Multiple Diagnoses Initiative. This initiative, a 
collaborative effort between the Departments of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is designed to 
develop and evaluate programs for the integration of medical, substance 
abuse, mental health services and other support services with housing 
assistance for homeless persons with HIV/AIDS and a serious mental 
illness and/or alcohol or substance abuse problems. The collaboration 
targets ``on the street'' homeless persons who currently do not have a 
place to live. Applicants should propose an innovative strategy for 
developing an integrated system of outreach, needs assessment, 
comprehensive health and other support services and various types of 
transitional and permanent housing which has the potential for 
replication. Related assistance is being announced under the Special 
Projects of National Significance component of HUD's Housing 
Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. The Evaluation 
Technical Assistance Center will be responsible for evaluating the 
medical, substance abuse, mental health and other support services 
components of these jointly funded projects.
    Projects funded under the Health Care Services Demonstration Models 
for HIV Infected Youth will develop, expand, implement, and provide 
health and related support services for youth with HIV infection. Three 
to four grantees will be funded to incorporate innovative health, 
nursing, and ancillary care services (such as mental health and 
substance abuse treatment) to improve participation by youth in HIV 
counseling and testing, diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of 
manifestations and complications of HIV infection and AIDS, including: 
(1) Antiretroviral therapy to children and youth, and (2) prophylactic 
therapy for opportunistic infections for children and youth, including 
tuberculosis. Models will also determine the spectrum of HIV disease 
among treated and untreated children/adolescents (upon entry to care), 
the progression of HIV disease among children/adolescents, physical 
growth and development, adherence to antiretroviral treatment and PCP 
prophylaxis.

Review Criteria

    Applications submitted to the SPNS program under this announcement 
will be reviewed and rated by an objective review panel. Criteria for 
the technical review of applications will include the following 
factors:

Evaluation Technical Assistance Center

    Factor 1: Professional Qualifications of Personnel (15 points) 
Qualifications, i.e., professional degree(s), work experience, 
publication(s), training provider, etc., of the project director, 
existing staff, proposed staff and/or consultants in (a) the design and 
direction of national and multi-site health services models evaluation 
and/or research, (b) the dissemination of progress reports and final 
results of completed studies, (c) the provision of technical assistance 
on both qualitative and quantitative evaluation techniques, and in (d) 
the development of various types of dissemination products, i.e., 
professional journal articles, media work, manuals, training programs, 
etc.
    Factor 2: Organizational Capacity (20 points) Proficiency of 
applicant's administrative, fiscal and professional management in the 
use of grant funds and personnel resources as evidenced in (a) the 
appropriateness of the proposed budget for the entire project period, 
(b) proposed staffing patterns during various phases, e.g., planning, 
start up, implementation, analysis and reporting of the project's 
operations, (c) proposed apportionment of existing facilities and 
information management resources, and (d) the justification(s) for 
additional space and equipment if requested.
    Factor 3: Implementation Plan (25 points) Comprehensiveness of 
applicant's plan for implementing national and multi-site evaluation 
studies as evidenced by (a) the relevancy of the goals and objectives 
for measuring progress and achievement of completion of the evaluation 
studies, (b) the feasibility of the projected time line, (c) capability 
of meeting the needs of the Federal government through production of 
timely reports and providing assistance in managing the meetings of the 
three groups of grantees, and (d) meeting the needs of the grantees 
through the provision of ongoing technical assistance, designing 
efficient measurement tools, and the initiation and receipt of 
continuous support in their data collection process.
    Factor 4: Management Information Systems (MIS) and Procedures (20 
points) Capacity of the applicant's MIS hardware and software to manage 
the scope of the proposed project; the professional expertise of the 
MIS staff in programming, maintaining data set(s), implementing the 
applicant organization's quality control policies and in providing 
technical assistance to the grantees; the adequacy of the applicant's 
plan for providing technical assistance to grantees and coordinating 
grantee project evaluations; and the feasibility of the policies and 
procedures utilized to ensure reliable and confidential management of 
the data set(s).
    Factor 5: Dissemination Activities (20 points) Thoroughness of 
means for addressing and assessing the knowledge and skills needed 
within the field of HIV/AIDS health services delivery; creativity and 
timeliness of approaches for the dissemination of ``lessons learned'' 
and ``best practices''; the release of various types of dissemination 
products that describe unique and cross-cutting operational issues, 
i.e., small studies using interim data, qualitative reports on 
implementation barriers experienced by the grantees, ``special 
reports'', etc.; and capability to assist grantees in preparation of 
reports, releases to local media, training curricula, manual 
development and consultant services for replication of grantee service 
delivery models.

Other Grant Information

Allowable Costs

    The basis for determining allocable and allowable costs to be 
charged to PHS grants is set forth in 45 CFR part 74, subpart Q and 45 
CFR part 92 for State, local or tribal governments. The four separate 
sets of cost principles prescribed for public and private non-profit 
recipients are OMB Circular A-87 for State, local or tribal 
governments; 

[[Page 7530]]
OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; 45 CFR part 74, 
appendix E for hospitals; and OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit 
organizations.

Reporting and Other Requirements

    A successful applicant under this notice will submit semi-annual 
activity summary reports in accordance with provisions of the general 
regulations which apply under 45 CFR part 74, subpart 74.51, 
``Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance,'' with the exception of 
State and local governments to which 45 CFR part 92, Subpart C 
reporting requirements apply. Also, grantees must be prepared to 
collaborate with other grantees on the design and implementation of 
project evaluations which may include multi-site evaluation studies.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements which have been approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget under No. 0937-0195. Under these requirements, any community-
based, non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public 
Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS is intended to keep 
State and local health officials apprised of proposed health services 
grant applications submitted from within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based, non-governmental applicants are required to 
submit, no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the 
application, the following information to the administrator of the 
State and local AIDS programs in the area(s) to be impacted by the 
proposal: (a) a copy of the face page of the application (SF424); and, 
(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; and, (3) a description of the 
coordination planned with the appropriate State or local health 
agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the PHSIS to these 
authorities must be contained in the application materials submitted to 
this program.

Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant and 
contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and to 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.

Executive Order 12372

    The Special Projects of National Significance Grant Program has 
been determined to be a program subject to the provisions of Executive 
Order 12372, as implemented by 45 CFR part 100. Executive Order 12372 
allows States the option of setting up a system for reviewing 
applications from within their States for assistance under certain 
Federal programs.
    The application packages to be made available under this notice 
will contain a listing of States which have chosen to set up a review 
system and will provide a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in the State 
for the review. Applicants (other than federally recognized Indian 
tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early as possible to alert them 
to the prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions 
on the State process. For proposed projects serving more than one 
State, the applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each affected 
state. The due date for State process recommendations is 60 days after 
the appropriate deadline dates. The Health Resources and Services 
Administration does not guarantee that it will accommodate or explain 
its responses to State process recommendations received after the due 
date. (See ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' Executive 
Order 12372, and 45 CFR part 100, for a description of the review 
process and requirements.)

OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    Number for the Special Projects of National Significance is 93.928.

    Dated: February 14, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-4476 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P