[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18429-18432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9310]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

Indian Health Service


Health Professions Recruitment Program for Indians

AGENCY: Indian Health Service.

ACTION: Notice of competitive grant applications for the health 
professions recruitment program for Indians.

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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) 1999. 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.'' ``Healthy People 2000,'' the full report, is currently out of 
print. You may obtain the objectives from the latest ``Healthy People 
2000 Review.'' A copy may be obtained by calling the National Center 
for Health Statistics, telephone (301) 436-8500.
    Smoke Free Workplace: 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

[[Page 18430]]

PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of 
the American people.

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 Management, Twinbrook Building, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook 
Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852, by close of business May 28, 1999.
    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 on 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 15-17, 1999
2. Applicants Notified of Results: on or about July 1, 1999 (approved, 
recommended for approval but not funded, or disapproved)
3. Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 1999

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program information, contact Ms. 
Patricia Lee-McCoy, Chief, Scholarship Branch, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, 
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 
443-6197. For grants application and business management information, 
contact Mrs. M. Kay Carpentier, Grants Management Officer, Grants 
Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, 
Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Building, Suite 100, 12300 Twinbrook 
Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852 (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 1999.

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. Identifying Indians with a potential for education or training 
in the health professions (excluding nursing--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.) and encouraging and assisting them:
    (A) to enroll in courses of study in such health professions; or
    (B) if they are not qualified to enroll in any such courses of 
study, to undertake such postsecondary education or training as may be 
required to qualify them for enrollment;
    2. Publicizing existing sources of financial aid available to 
Indians enrolled in any courses of study referred to in paragraph (1) 
of this subsection or who are undertaking training necessary to qualify 
them to enroll in any such school.
    3. Establishing other programs which the Secretary determines will 
enhance and facilitate the enrollment of Indians in, and the subsequent 
pursuit and completion by them of courses of study referred to in 
paragraph (1) of this section. To delivery the necessary student 
support systems to help to ensure that students who are recruited 
successfully complete their academic training. Support services may 
include:
    A. Providing career counseling and academic advice;
    B. Assisting students to identify academic deficiencies;
    C. Assisting students to locate financial aid;
    D. Monitoring students to identify possible problems;
    E. Assisting with the determination of, need for, and location of 
tutorial services; and
    F. Other related activities which will help to retain students in 
school.
    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 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 school accredited for the health 
professions program, (excluding nursing). 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 1998 was $72,500. The anticipated start date for selected projects 
will be August 1, 1999. Pursuant to 42 Code of Federal Regulations 
Sec. 36.313(c), the project period ``will usually be for one to two 
years.'' However, under this notice, projects will be awarded for a 
budget term of 12 months, with a maximum project period of up to three 
(3) years. A maximum project period of three (3) years is required so 
that key staff, such as project directors, may be recruited, without 
the financial and career uncertainty of a one or two year budget period 
and to enable the projects to carry out their recruitment activities 
without the added activity of applying for a grant every one or two 
years. Grant funding levels include both direct and indirect costs. 
Funding of succeeding years will be based on the FY 1999

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level, continuing need for the program, satisfactory performance, and 
the availability of appropriations in those years.

F. Type of Program Activities Considered for Support

    Funds are available to develop grant programs to locate and recruit 
students with potential for 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.. 5/96) (OMB Approval No. 0920-0428) 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 Management, 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 20 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 17-19)
--Checklist, PHS 5161-1, (pages 25-26), NOTE: Each standard form and 
the checklist is contained in the PHS Grant Application, Form PHS 5161-
1 (Revised 5/96)
--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, including multi-year narratives, and Budget 
Justifications
--Appendix to include:
--Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support
--Biographical sketches for key personnel or position descriptions if 
position is vacant
--Organizational chart
--Workplan
--Completed IHS Application Checklist
--Application Receipt Card, 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 Conents--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 task 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 assure that the scope of 
work can be completed within each 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 (include in appendix). Describe 
the administrative, managerial and organizational arrangements and the 
facilities and resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed 
project.
    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 applicant'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.
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 Health Professional Deficiencies (20 
Pts.)
    a. Provide data and supporting documentation to address the 
relationship of objectives to health professional 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.

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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 first year of 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.
    b. The available funding level of $250,000 is inclusive of both 
direct and indirect costs. Pursuant to Public Health Service Grants 
Policy (DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000 (Rev.) April 1, 1994), a 
`training grant' includes a grant for ``training or other educational 
purposes'', and the Department of Health and Human Services considers 
this grant activity as having an educational purpose. Because this 
project has an educational purpose, and therefore, is for a training 
grant, the Department of Health and Human Services' policy limiting 
reimbursement of indirect costs or 8 percent of total direct costs 
(exclusive of tuition and related fees and expenditures for equipment) 
is applicable. This limitation applied to all institutions of higher 
education other than agencies of State and local government.
    c. Projects requiring additional years must include a program 
narrative and categorical budget and justification for each additional 
year of funding requested (this is not considered part of the 20-page 
narrative).
    Appendix--to include:
    a. Tribal Resolution(s) or Letter of Support
    b. Biographical sketches of key personnel or position descriptions 
if position is vacant
    c. Organizational chart
    d. Workplan
    e. Completed IHS Application Checklist
    f. Application Receipt Card, PHS 3038-1 Rev. 5-90.

J. Reporting

    1. Progress Report--Program progress reports shall be required 
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--Semiannually financial status reports 
will be submitted 30 days after the end of the 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 91, HHS, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, or 45 
CFR part 74, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Awards and 
Subawards to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other 
Nonprofit Organizations, and Commercial Organization; and Certain 
Grants and Agreements with States, Local Governments and Indian Tribal 
Governments.
    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, 
Office of Management Support (OMS), for final review and approval. The 
Director, OMS, will also consider the recommendations from the Acting 
Director, Division of Health Professions Support, and the Grants 
Management Branch. Applicants are notified in writing on or about July 
1, 1999. 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: April 4, 1999.
Michael H. Trujillo,
Assistant Surgeon General Director.
[FR Doc. 99-9310 Filed 4-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M