[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 180 (Monday, September 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48715-48717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23553]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Public Health and Science


Announcement of Availability of Funds for Family Planning 
Services Grants

AGENCY: Office of Public Health and Science, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Population Affairs announces the availability of 
funds for FY 1997 family planning services grant projects under the 
authority of Title X of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et 
seq.) 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 
acccepted for review and possible funding.
OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.217
DATES: Application due dates vary. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

ADDRESSES: Additional information may be obtained from and completed 
applications should be sent to the appropriate Regional Health 
Administrator at the address below:

Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Vermont): DHHS/PHS Region I, John F. Kennedy Federal Building, 
Government Center, Room 1400, Boston, MA 02203
Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands): DHHS/PHS 
Region II, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3337, New York, NY 10278

Region III (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, W. Virginia): DHHS/PHS Region III, 3535 Market Street, 
Philadelphia, PA 19101
Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, N. 
Carolina, S. Carolina, Tennessee): DHHS/PHS Region IV, 101 Marietta 
Tower, Suite 1106, Atlanta, GA 30323
Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin): 
DHHS/PHS Region V, 105 West Adams Street, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603
Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas): DHHS/PHS 
Region VI, 1200 Main Tower Building, Room 1800, Dallas, TX 75202
Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska): DHHS/PHS Region VII, 601 
East 12th Street, 5th Fl. W., Kansas City, MO 64106
Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Utah, Wyoming): 
DHHS/PHS Region VIII, 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294
Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, 
Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands): 
DHHS/PHS Region IX, 50 United Nations Plaza, Room 327, San Francisco, 
CA 94102
Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington): DHHS/PHS Region X, 
Blanchard Plaza, 2201 Sixth Avenue, M/S RX-20, Seattle, WA 98121

FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT: Regional Grants Management Officers: 
Region I, Mary O'Brien--617/565-1482; Region II, Manley Khaleel--212/
264-4493; Region III, Marty Bree--215/596-6653; Region IV, Wayne 
Cutchins--404/331-2597; Region V, Elaine Smith--312/353-8700; Region 
VI, Joyce Bailey--214/767-3879; Region VII, Michael Rowland--816/426-
5841; Region VIII, Susan A. Jaworowski--303/844-4461; Region IX, Ken 
Souza--415/437-8125; Region X, Jim Tipton--206/615-2473.
    Regional Program Consultants for Family Planning: Region I, James 
Sliker--617/565-1452; Region II, Barry Gordon--212/264-2535; Region 
III, Louis Belmonte--215/596-6686; Region IV, Christino Rodriguez--404/
331-5254; Region V, Janice Ely--312/353-1700; Region VI, Paul Smith--
214/767-3072; Region VII, William S. Royster, Jr.--816/426-2924; Region 
VIII, John J. McCarthy, Jr.--303/844-5955; Region IX, James Hauser--
415/437-8116; Region X, Sharon Schnare--206/615-2501.

supplementary information: 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 to public or private nonprofit entities 
to assist in the establishment and operation of voluntary family 
planning projects to provide a broad range of acceptable and effective 
family planning methods and services (including natural family planning 
methods, infertility services, and services for adolescents). The 
statute requires that, to the extent practicable, entities shall 
encourage family participation. Also, Title X funds

[[Page 48716]]

may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family 
planning. Implementing regulations appear at 42 CFR part 59, subpart A.
    On February 5, 1993, HHS published at 58 FR 7462 an interim rule 
that suspends the 1988 Title X rules, pending the promulgation of new 
regulations. The principal effect of this action was to suspend the 
definitions of ``family planning,'' ``grantees,'' ``prenatal care,'' 
``Title X,'' ``Title X Program,'' and ``Title X Project'' presently 
found at 42 CFR 59.2 and 42 CFR 59.7-59.10. Proposed rules were also 
published at 58 FR 7464 on the same date. During the pendency of 
rulemaking, the compliance standards that were in effect prior to the 
issuance of the 1988 rule, including those set out in the 1981 Family 
Planning Guidelines, are being used to administer the program. Copies 
of the pre-1988 compliance standards are available from the Regional 
Program Consultants listed above.
    Priorities that represent overarching goals for the Title X program 
include:
    (1) Increasing outreach to individuals not likely to seek services, 
including males, homeless persons, disabled persons, substance abusers 
and adolescents;
    (2) Expanding the comprehensiveness of reproductive health 
services, including STD and cancer screening and prevention, increased 
involvement of male partners, HIV prevention, education and counseling, 
and substance abuse screening and referral;
    (3) Serving adolescents, including more community education, 
emphasis on postponement of sexual activity, and more accessible 
provision of contraceptive counseling and contraception;
    (4) Eliminating disincentives to providing long-acting, highly 
effective contraceptives, serving high risk (and high-unit cost) 
clients, and providing nonrevenue-generating services such as community 
education and prevention services; and
    (5) Emphasizing training and retention of women's health nurse 
practitioners, particularly minority nurse practitioners and nurse 
practitioners serving disadvantaged and medically underserved 
communities.
    These program priorities are being pursued to the extent that 
funding or increases in program efficiency allow. Some funding may be 
available to Title X grantees to improve and expand services.
    The Administration's FY 1997 budget request for the Title X Family 
Planning Program is $198 million. This amount represents a two percent 
increase over the FY 1996 budget of $193.3 million. Of this amount, 
$184 million will be made available to Title X service grantees. 
Approximately 38 percent of the funds appropriated for FY 1997 and made 
available to Title X service grantees will be used for competing 
grants. The remaining funds will be used for non-competing continuation 
grants. This program announcement is subject to the appropriation of 
funds and is a contingency action being taken to ensure 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 the distribution of funds throughout the fiscal year. Since 
the precise funding levels for FY 1997 are uncertain at this point, the 
funding levels set out below are based on the FY 1995 appropriation 
level. However, it is expected that funding levels will be increased, 
if the appropriation for FY 1977 increases from FY 1996 levels.
    For FY 1997, the proposed $184 million will be allocated among the 
10 DHHS regions for both competing and non-competing grants, and will 
in turn be awarded to public and private non-profit agencies located 
within the regions. Each regional office is responsible for evaluating 
applications, establishing priorities, and setting funding levels 
according to criteria in 42 CFR 59.11.
    This notice announces the availability of funds to provide family 
planning services in 22 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
Competing grant applications are invited for the following areas:

                                                     Table I                                                    
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                                                                Number of                                       
                                                                competing                               Grant   
               Populations or areas to be served                grants to    FY 1995    Application    funding  
                                                                    be       funding      due date       date   
                                                                 awarded                                        
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region I: No grants available for competition in FY 1997                                                        
Region II: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico........................          1   $1,683,802      2/28/97      6/30/97
Region III:                                                                                                     
    West Virginia.............................................          1    1,587,483     11/30/96      3/31/97
    Southeastern PA...........................................          1    3,259,606      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Western PA................................................          1    2,566,846      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Central PA................................................          1    1,954,220      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Northeastern PA...........................................          1    1,185,168      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Virginia..................................................          1    3,492,148      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Delaware..................................................          1      647,118     11/30/96      3/31/97
    Maryland..................................................          1    3,005,096      2/28/97      6/30/97
Region IV:                                                                                                      
    Alabama...................................................          1    3,831,548      2/28/97     /6/30/97
    Florida...................................................          1    6,771,384      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Georgia...................................................          1    5,801,774      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Kentucky..................................................          1    3,859,661      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Mississippi...............................................          1    3,682,582      2/28/97      6/30/97
    North Carolina............................................          1    4,866,987      2/28/97      6/30/97
    South Carolina............................................          1    4,172,010      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Tennessee.................................................          1    5,266,054      2/28/97      6/30/97
Region V:                                                                                                       
    Illinois..................................................          1    5,860,119      8/31/96     12/31/96
    Ohio......................................................          1    5,888,625     10/31/96      2/28/97
    Central Ohio..............................................          1      585,238     10/31/96      2/28/97
    Summit, Medina, Portage, OH...............................          1      659,935      2/28/97      6/30/97

[[Page 48717]]

                                                                                                                
Region VI: No grants available for competition in FY 1997                                                       
Region VII: No grants available for competition in FY 1997                                                      
Region VIII:                                                                                                    
    South Dakota..............................................          1      559,532      2/28/97      6/30/97
    Wyoming...................................................          1      481,247      9/01/96      1/01/97
Region IX: No grants available for competition in FY 1997                                                       
Region X: No grants available for competition in FY 1997                                                        
                                                                          -------------                         
      Total...................................................  .........   69,488,183  ...........  ...........
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    Applications must be postmarked or, if not sent by U.S. mail, 
received at the appropriate Grants Management Office no later than 
close of business on application due dates listed above. Private 
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. 
Applications which are postmarked or, if not sent by U.S. mail, 
delivered to the appropriate Grants Management Office later than the 
application due date will be judged late and will not be accepted for 
review. (Applicants should request a legibly dated postmark from the 
U.S. Postal Service.) Applications which do not conform to the 
requirements of this program announcement or do not meet the applicable 
regulatory requirements at 42 CFR part 59, subpart A will not be 
accepted for review. Applicants will be so notified, and the 
applications will be returned.
    Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
    (1) The number of patients and, in particular, the number of low-
income patients to be served;
    (2) The extent to which family planning services are needed 
locally;
    (3) The relative need of the applicant;
    (4) The capacity of the applicant to make rapid and effective use 
of the Federal assistance;
    (5) The adequacy of the applicant's facilities and staff;
    (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; and
    (7) The degree to which the project plan adequately provides for 
the requirements set forth in the Title X regulations.

Application Requirements

    Application kits (including the application form, PHS 5161) and 
technical assistance for preparing proposals are available from the 
regional offices. An application must contain: (1) A narrative 
description of the project and the manner in which the applicant 
intends to conduct it in order to carry out the requirements of the law 
and regulations; (2) a budget that includes an estimate of project 
income and costs, with justification for the amount of grant funds 
requested; (3) a description of the standards and qualifications that 
will be required for all personnel and facilities to be used by the 
project; and (4) such other pertinent information as may be required by 
the Secretary as specified in the application kit. In preparing an 
application, applicants should respond to all applicable regulatory 
requirements. (The information collections contained in this notice 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget and assigned 
control number 0937-0189.)
    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 Review and Evaluation

    Each regional office is responsible for establishing its own review 
process. Applications must be submitted to the appropriate regional 
office at the address listed above. Staff are available to answer 
questions and provide limited technical assistance in the preparation 
of grant applications.

Grant Awards

    Grant projects are generally approved for 3 to 5 years with an 
annual non-competitive review of a continuation application to obtain 
continued support. Non-competing continuation awards are subject to 
factors such as the project making satisfactory progress and the 
availability of 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, Intergovernmental Review of 
Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities, as 
implemented by 45 CFR part 100. 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 
represented on the listing, further inquiries should be made by the 
applicant regarding the submission to the Grants Management Office of 
the appropriate region. State Single Point of Contact comments must be 
received by the regional office 30 days prior to the funding date to be 
considered.
    When final funding decisions have been made, each applicant will be 
notified by letter of the outcome of its application. The official 
document notifying an applicant that a project application has been 
approved for funding is the Notice of Grant Award, which specifies to 
the grantee the amount of money awarded, the purposes of the grant, and 
terms and conditions of the grant award.

    Dated: September 5, 1996.
Thomas C. Kring,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-23553 Filed 9-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-M