[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18915-18918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9531]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Availability of Additional HRSA Competitive Grants

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces the availability of funds for several HRSA programs. This 
Notice lists several programs that are announcing competitions for 
fiscal year (FY) 1999 funds but were not published in the fall 1998 
HRSA Preview.
    This Notice includes funding for HRSA discretionary authorities and 
programs as follows: (1) Special Projects of National Significance, 
HIV/AIDS Bureau; (2) Extramural Support Program for Projects to 
Increase Organ and Tissue Donation, HIV/AIDS Bureau; (3) Cooperative 
Agreement for Emergency Medical Services for Children and Quality 
Improvement Center, Maternal and Child Health Bureau; and (4) Basic 
Nurse Education and Practice: Baccalaureate Nursing Education Using 
Distance Learning Methodologies for Rural RNs, Bureau of Health 
Professions. These programs were not

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published in the fall 1998 HRSA Preview and will only appear in the 
Federal Register and on the HRSA Home Page at: http://
www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/. The next edition of the HRSA Preview is scheduled 
to be published by early summer 1999. The purpose of the HRSA Preview 
is to provide the general public with a single source of program and 
application information related to the Agency's competitive grant 
reviews. The HRSA Preview is designed to replace multiple Federal 
Register notices which traditionally advertised the availability of 
HRSA's discretionary funds for its various programs.

    Dated: April 9, 1999.
Claude Earl Fox,
Administrator.

How To Obtain Further Information

    You can download this Notice in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf) from 
HRSA's web site at: http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/.

To Obtain an Application Kit

    It is recommended that you read the introductory materials, 
terminology section, and individual program category descriptions to 
fully assess your eligibility for grants before requesting kits. As a 
general rule, no more than one kit per category will be mailed to 
applicants. Upon review of the program descriptions, please determine 
which category or categories of application kit(s) you wish to receive 
and contact the 1-888-333-HRSA (4772) number to register on the 
specific mailing list. Application kits are generally available 60 days 
prior to application deadline. If kits are already available, they will 
be mailed immediately.
    Also, you can register on-line to be sent specific grant 
application materials by following the instructions on the web page or 
accessing http://www.hrsa.gov/g__order3.htm directly. Your mailing 
information will be added to our database and material will be sent to 
you as it becomes available.

Grant Terminology

Application Deadlines

    Applications will be considered ``on time'' if they are either 
received on or before the established deadline date or postmarked on or 
before the deadline date given in the program announcement or in the 
application kit materials.

Authorizations

    The citations of provisions of the laws authorizing the various 
programs are provided immediately preceding groupings of program 
categories.

CFDA Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) is a Government-
wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities 
which provide assistance. Programs listed therein are given a CFDA 
Number.

Cooperative Agreement

    A financial assistance mechanism used when substantial Federal 
programmatic involvement, with the recipient during performance, is 
anticipated by the Agency.

Eligibility

    Authorizing legislation and programmatic regulations specify 
eligibility for individual grant programs. In general, assistance is 
provided to nonprofit organizations and institutions, State and local 
governments and their agencies, and occasionally to individuals. For-
profit organizations are eligible to receive awards under financial 
assistance programs unless specifically excluded by legislation.

Estimated Amount of Competition

    The funding level listed is provided for planning purposes and is 
subject to the availability of funds.

Funding Priorities and/or Preferences

    Special priorities or preferences are those which the individual 
programs have identified for the funding cycle. Some programs give 
preference to organizations which have specific capabilities such as 
telemedicine networking or established relationships with managed care 
organizations. Preference also may be given to achieve an equitable 
geographic distribution and other reasons to increase the effectiveness 
of the programs.

Key Offices

    The Grants Management Office serves as the focal point for business 
matters. The appropriate program office contact is provided for 
questions specific to the programs or of a technical nature.

Matching Requirements

    Several HRSA programs require a matching amount, or percentage of 
the total project support, to come from sources other than Federal 
funds. Matching requirements are generally mandated in the authorizing 
legislation for specific categories. Also, matching requirements may be 
administratively required by the awarding office. Such requirements are 
set forth in the application kit.

Project Period

    The total time for which support of a discretionary project has 
been programmatically approved. Continuation of any project beyond the 
budget period is subject to satisfactory performance, availability of 
funds and program priorities.

Review Criteria

    The following are generic review criteria applicable to HRSA 
programs:
     That the estimated cost to the Government of the project 
is reasonable considering the anticipated results.
     That project personnel or prospective fellows are well 
qualified by training and/or experience for the support sought, and the 
applicant organization or the organization to provide training to a 
fellow has adequate facilities and manpower.
     That, insofar as practical, the proposed activities 
(scientific or other), if well executed, are capable of attaining 
project objectives.
     That the project objectives are capable of achieving the 
specific program objectives defined in the program announcement and the 
proposed results are measurable.
     That the method for evaluating proposed results includes 
criteria for determining the extent to which the program has achieved 
its stated objectives and the extent to which the accomplishment of 
objectives can be attributed to the program.
     That, in so far as practical, the proposed activities, 
when accomplished, are replicable, national in scope and include plans 
for broad dissemination.
    The specific review criteria used to review and rank applications 
are included in the individual guidance material provided with the 
application kits. Applicants should pay strict attention to addressing 
these criteria as they are the basis upon which their applications will 
be judged.

Technical Assistance

    A contact person is listed for each program and his/her e-mail 
address and telephone number provided. Some programs have scheduled 
workshops and conference calls. If you have questions concerning 
individual programs or the availability of technical assistance, please 
contact the person listed. Also check your application materials and 
the HRSA web site 
http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/ for the latest technical assistance 
information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

    1. HRSA lists many telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Who do I 
phone or e-mail and when?
    Phone 1-888-333-HRSA (4772) to register for application kits. It 
will be helpful to the information specialist if you have the CFDA 
Number and title of the program handy for reference.
    If, before you register, you want to know more about the program, 
an e-mail/phone contact is listed. This contact can provide information 
concerning the specific program's purpose, scope and goals, and 
eligibility criteria. Usually, you will be encouraged to request the 
application kit so that you will have clear, comprehensive and accurate 
information available to you. The application kit lists telephone 
numbers for a program expert and a grants management specialist who 
will provide technical assistance concerning your specific program, if 
you are unable to find the information within the materials provided.
    2. The dates listed in the Federal Register Notice and the dates in 
the application kit do not agree. How do I know which is correct?
    First, register at 1-888-333-HRSA (4772) for each program that you 
are interested in as shown in the Notice.
    Notice dates for application kit availability and application 
receipt deadline are based upon the best known information at the time 
of publication. Occasionally, the grant cycle does not begin as 
projected and dates must be adjusted. The deadline date stated in your 
application kit is correct. If the application kit has been made 
available and subsequently the date changes, notification of the change 
will be mailed to known recipients of the application kit. Therefore, 
if you are registered at 1-888-333-HRSA (4772), you will receive the 
most current information.
    3. Are programs announced in the Federal Register Notice ever 
canceled?
    Infrequently, programs announced may be withdrawn from competition. 
If this occurs, a cancellation notice will be provided at the HRSA 
Homepage
http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/.
    If you still have unanswered questions, please contact Paulette 
Fagan of the Grants Policy Branch at 301-443-5082 ([email protected]).
HIV/AIDS Bureau
    Grants Management Office: 1-301-443-2280.
    Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS).
Authorization
    Section 2691 of the Public Health Service Act 42 U.S.C. 300ff-10
Purpose
    The purpose of this program is to contribute to the advancement of 
knowledge and skills in the delivery of health and support services to 
underserved populations diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus 
(HIV) infection. Specifically, there are 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. SPNS grants are limited to the demonstration and 
assessment of innovative and potentially replicable HIV service 
delivery models. For purposes of this announcement, models seeking SPNS 
support must address one of the following four categories: (1) assuring 
appropriate end-of-life care for individuals dying from HIV/AIDS who 
experience difficulty accessing health care; (2) assessment of the 
effectiveness of existing programs to promote adherence to anti-
retroviral therapies; (3) evaluation and/or program support centers 
for: (a) services to people with HIV in correctional settings; (b) 
establishing or assessing HIV care networks; (c) assessing innovation 
in serving substance abusers; or (d) evaluating and supporting end-of-
life care and adherence initiatives; or (4) demonstration projects to 
increase enrollment in, continuity and quality of HIV primary care for 
migrant and various border populations.
Eligibility
    Public and nonprofit private entities are eligible to apply for 
these grants. Applicants are encouraged to submit a brief letter of 
intent, by May 1, 1999, to: Special Projects of National Significance, 
ATTN: 1999 New Competitive Initiative, Room 7A-08 Parklawn Building, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Funding Priorities and/or Preferences
    Funds should be used to create and/or evaluate models of care that 
would likely not exist nor be evaluated without SPNS support, or that 
would extend the care model to previously underserved or unserved 
populations defined either geographically or demographically.
Review Criteria
    Final criteria are included in the application kit.
Estimated Amount of This Competition $9,000,000
Estimated Number of Awards
Category 1: 3-5
Category 2: Up to 10
Category 3: 6
    3.1  Services to people with HIV in correctional settings--1
    3.2  Establishing or assessing HIV care networks--2
    --assist community-based providers--(1)
    --conduct managed care research--(1)
    3.3  Assessing innovation in serving substance abusers--1
    3.4  Evaluating and supporting end-of-life care and adherence 
initiatives--2
    --end of life care project--(1)
    --adherence assessment--(1)
Category 4: 4
Estimated Project Period
Category 1: 3 years
Category 2: 3 years
Category 3: 2-3 years
Category 4: 3-5 years
Application Availability: 04/05/1999
To Obtain This Application Kit
CFDA Number 93.928
Contact: 1-888-333-HRSA (4772)
Application Deadline: 06/01/1999
Projected Award Date: 10/01/1999
Contact person: Steve Young, [email protected], 1-301-443-6560
Extramural Support Program for Projects to Increase Organ and Tissue 
Donation
Authorization
    Section 371(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 273.
    Please note that a separate Federal Register Notice, dated April 5, 
1999 provided a 30 day comment period regarding the project phases 
eligible for program support (pilot tests and replications), 
performance measures, funding priorities, and review criteria. Comments 
will be considered for the purpose of writing the detailed guidance to 
applicants. Therefore, the guidance may indicate changes in some of the 
following information.
Purpose
    This is a proposed solicitation for cooperative agreements to 
increase organ and tissue donation. The goals of this peer reviewed, 
competitive extramural support program are to implement, evaluate, and 
disseminate model interventions with the greatest potential for 
yielding a verifiable and demonstrable impact on organ donation and 
which are replicable, transferable, and feasible in practice. Projects 
funded under this program are expected to have performance measures 
addressing one or more of the following outcomes: organ procurement 
rates; consent rates and organ donation; and number and prevalence of 
family organ donation

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discussions. Applications may propose either a Phase 1 study which 
pilot tests the efficacy of promising interventions to increase organ 
donation, or Phase 2 study which focuses on implementing and testing in 
multiple sites interventions which already have proved effective in 
pilot studies. Phase 2 projects also can include dissemination. All 
projects must have rigorous evaluation components.
Eligibility
    Organ procurement organizations and other private not-for-profit 
organizations. An applicant must be part of a consortium of at least 
two organizations relevant to the project. Applications from single 
entities will not be considered.
Funding Priorities and/or Preferences
    Two funding priorities are proposed, one for applications that are 
most likely to have a demonstrable impact on consent rates, and another 
for projects that address variations in consent by race and ethnicity, 
which may include an examination of differences in donation/
transplantation knowledge, attitudes, and experiences among one or more 
minority groups.
Review Criteria
    Final criteria are included in the application kit.
    Estimated Amount of This Competition: $5,000,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 15-20.
    Estimated Project Period: Up to 3 years.
    Application Availability: 05/10/1999.
    To Obtain This Application Kit: CFDA Number 93.134.
    Contact: 1-888-333-HRSA (4772).
    Application Deadline: 07/12/1999.
    Projected Award Date: 09/30/1999.
    Contact Person: Dr. D.W. Chen, [email protected], 1-301-443-7577.
Maternal and Child Health Bureau
    Grants Management Office: 301-443-1440.
Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Medical Services for Children 
(EMSC) Data and Quality Improvement Center
Authorization
    Section 1910 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, Public 
Law 102-410, 42 U.S.C. 300w-9.
Purpose
    The purpose of the EMSC Data and Quality Improvement Center is to 
enhance management information and quality improvement (QI) 
capabilities of State EMS offices, with a special focus on pediatric 
issues. Proposals are sought which will assist in the application of 
data to QI and in collaborative efforts to collect and analyze State 
level data. Federal involvement will include planning, guidance, 
coordination and participation in workshops.
Eligibility
    States and Accredited Schools of Medicine are eligible to apply for 
this program.

Funding Priorities and/or Preferences

    None.
Review Criteria
    Final criteria are included in the application kit.
    Estimated Amount of This Competition: $400,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
    Estimated Project Period: 3 years.
    Application Availability: 04/01/1999.
    To Obtain This Application Kit: 
    CFDA Number: 93.127E.
    Contact: 1-888-333-HRSA (4772).
    Application Deadline: 06/01/1999.
    Projected Award Date: 08/01/1999.
    Contact Person: Maria T. Baldi, [email protected], 1-301-443-6192.
Bureau of Health Professions
    Grants Management Officer: 1-301-443-6880.
    Basic Nurse Education and Practice: Baccalaureate Nursing Education 
Using Distance Learning Methodologies for Rural RNs.
Authorization
    Section 831 of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 297-1.
Purpose
    The purpose of this special request for applications is to expedite 
and facilitate the baccalaureate education of registered nurses from 
rural areas using distance learning methodologies. The legislative 
priority for which funds may be awarded under a cooperative agreement 
is for ``expanding the enrollment in baccalaureate nursing programs.'' 
The intent is to demonstrate that quality curricula developed for 
delivery by distance learning methodologies, which are primarily 
computer-based, will facilitate RN to BSN education for nurses living 
in rural areas with underserved populations.
Eligibility
    Nursing schools with an accredited baccalaureate program.
Funding Priorities and/or Preferences
    The purpose of this request for applications is to strengthen 
capacity for basic nurse education and practice in rural areas by 
expanding the enrollment of rural registered nurses in baccalaureate 
nursing programs using distance learning technologies. As such, it 
addresses the statutory funding preference for substantially benefiting 
rural populations.
Review Criteria
    Final criteria are included in the application kit.
    Estimated Amount of this Competition: $800,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
    Estimated Project Period: 5 years.
    Application Availability: 04/09/1999.
    To Obtain This Application Kit: 
    CFDA Number: 93.359.
    Contact: 1-888-333-HRSA (4772).
    Application Deadline: 05/28/99.
    Projected Award Date: 08/31/1999.
    Contact Person: Carole A. Gassert, [email protected], 1-301-443-
5786.

[FR Doc. 99-9531 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P