[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 108 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30350-30352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14228]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Center for Mental Health Services; Center for Substance Abuse 
Treatment; Fiscal Year 1999 Funding Opportunity

AGENCIES: Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health 
Services (CMHS), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds for Cooperative Agreements for 
CMHS/CSAT Collaborative Program on Homeless Families: Women with 
Psychiatric, Substance Use, or Co-occurring Disorders and Their 
Dependent Children.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for 
Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 
(CSAT), announce the availability of FY 1999 funds for cooperative 
agreements for the following activity. This activity is discussed in 
more detail under section 4 of this notice. This notice is not a 
complete description of the activity; potential applicants must obtain 
a copy of the Guidance for Applicants (GFA) before preparing an 
application. Note: SAMHSA also published notices of available funding 
opportunities for FY 1999 in previous issues of the Federal Register.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Estimated
             Activity               Application   Estimated funds available   number of       Project period
                                      deadline                                  awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homeless Families Program (Study       08/11/99  $3.8 Million..............           16  Up to 2 yrs.
 Sites).
Homeless Families Program              08/11/99  $1 Million................            1  Up to 5 yrs.
 (Coordinating Center).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The actual amount available for awards and their allocation may 
vary, depending on unanticipated program requirements and the number 
and quality of applications received. FY 1999 funds for the activity 
discussed in this announcement were appropriated by the Congress under 
Pub. L. 105-277. SAMHSA's policies and procedures for peer review and 
Advisory Council review of grant and cooperative agreement applications 
were published in the Federal Register (Vol. 58, No. 126) on July 2, 
1993.
    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 
SAMHSA Centers' substance abuse and mental health services activities 
address issues related to Healthy People 2000 objectives of Mental 
Health and Mental Disorders; Alcohol and Other Drugs; Clinical 
Preventive Services; HIV Infection; and Surveillance and Data Systems. 
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full 
Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Summary Report: Stock No. 017-
001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government 
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone: 202-512-1800).
    General Instructions: Applicants must use application form PHS 
5161-1 (Rev. 5/96; OMB No. 0937-0189). The application kit contains the 
GFA (complete programmatic guidance and instructions for preparing and 
submitting applications), the PHS 5161-1 which includes Standard Form 
424 (Face Page), and other documentation and forms. Application kits 
may be obtained from the organization specified for the activity 
covered by this notice (see Section 4).
    When requesting an application kit, the applicant must specify the 
particular activity for which detailed information is desired. This is 
to ensure receipt of all necessary forms and information, including any 
specific program review and award criteria.
    The PHS 5161-1 application form and the full text of the activity 
(i.e., the GFA) described in section 4 are available electronically via 
SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page (address: http://www.samhsa.gov).
    Application Submission: Applications must be submitted to: SAMHSA 
Programs, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 
Suite 1040, 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC-7710, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-
7710.* (*Applicants who wish to use express mail or courier service 
should change the zip code to 20817.)
    Application Deadlines: The deadline for receipt of applications is 
listed in the table above.
    Competing applications must be received by the indicated receipt 
date to be accepted for review. An application received after the 
deadline may only be accepted if it carries a legible proof-of-mailing 
date assigned by the carrier and that date is not later than one week 
prior to the deadline date. Private metered postmarks are not 
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Applications received after the deadline date and those sent to an 
address other than the address specified above will be returned to the 
applicant without review.
    For Further Information Contact: Requests for activity-specific 
technical information should be directed to the program contact person 
identified for the activity covered by this notice (see section 4).
    Requests for information concerning business management issues 
should be directed to the grants management contact person identified 
for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 4).

1. Program Background and Objectives

    SAMHSA's mission within the Nation's health system is to improve 
the quality and availability of prevention, early intervention, 
treatment, and rehabilitation services for substance abuse and mental 
illnesses, including co-occurring disorders, in order to improve health 
and reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society.
    Reinventing government, with its emphases on redefining the role of 
Federal agencies and on improving customer service, has provided SAMHSA 
with a welcome opportunity to examine carefully its programs and 
activities. As a result of that process, SAMHSA moved assertively to 
create a renewed and strategic emphasis on using its resources to 
generate

[[Page 30351]]

knowledge about ways to improve the prevention and treatment of 
substance abuse and mental illness and to work with State and local 
governments as well as providers, families, and consumers to 
effectively use that knowledge in everyday practice.
    SAMHSA's FY 1999 Knowledge Development and Application (KD&A) 
agenda is the outcome of a process whereby providers, services 
researchers, consumers, National Advisory Council members and other 
interested persons participated in special meetings or responded to 
calls for suggestions and reactions. From this input, each SAMHSA 
Center developed a ``menu'' of suggested topics. The topics were 
discussed jointly and an agency agenda of critical topics was agreed 
to. The selection of topics depended heavily on policy importance and 
on the existence of adequate research and practitioner experience on 
which to base studies. While SAMHSA's FY 1999 KD&A programs will 
sometimes involve the evaluation of some delivery of services, they are 
services studies and application activities, not merely evaluation, 
since they are aimed at answering policy-relevant questions and putting 
that knowledge to use.
    SAMHSA differs from other agencies in focusing on needed 
information at the services delivery level, and in its question-focus. 
Dissemination and application are integral, major features of the 
programs. SAMHSA believes that it is important to get the information 
into the hands of the public, providers, and systems administrators as 
effectively as possible. Technical assistance, training, preparation of 
special materials will be used, in addition to normal communications 
means.
    SAMHSA also continues to fund legislatively-mandated services 
programs for which funds are appropriated.

2. Special Concerns

    SAMHSA's legislatively-mandated services programs do provide funds 
for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention 
services. However, SAMHSA's KD&A activities do not provide funds for 
mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention services 
except sometimes for costs required by the particular activity's study 
design. Applicants are required to propose true knowledge application 
or knowledge development and application projects. Applications seeking 
funding for services projects under a KD&A activity will be considered 
nonresponsive.
    Applications that are incomplete or nonresponsive to the GFA will 
be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

3. Criteria for Review and Funding

    Consistent with the statutory mandate for SAMHSA to support 
activities that will improve the provision of treatment, prevention and 
related services, including the development of national mental health 
and substance abuse goals and model programs, competing applications 
requesting funding under the specific project activity in Section 4 
will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established 
PHS/SAMHSA peer review procedures.

3.1 General Review Criteria

    As published in the Federal Register on July 2, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 
126), SAMHSA's ``Peer Review and Advisory Council Review of Grant and 
Cooperative Agreement Applications and Contract Proposals,'' peer 
review groups will take into account, among other factors as may be 
specified in the application guidance materials, the following general 
criteria:
     Potential significance of the proposed project;
     Appropriateness of the applicant's proposed objectives to 
the goals of the specific program;
     Adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed approach and 
activities;
     Adequacy of available resources, such as facilities and 
equipment;
     Qualifications and experience of the applicant 
organization, the project director, and other key personnel; and
     Reasonableness of the proposed budget.

3.2  Funding Criteria for Scored Applications

    Applications will be considered for funding on the basis of their 
overall technical merit as determined through the peer review group and 
the appropriate National Advisory Council review process.
    Other funding criteria may include:
     Availability of funds.

4. Special FY 1999 SAMHSA Activity

    4.1. Cooperative Agreements for CMHS/CSAT Collaborative Program on 
Homeless Families: Women with Psychiatric, Substance Use, or Co-
Occurring Disorders and Their Dependent Children (Short Title: Homeless 
Families Program, GFA No. SM 99-011)
     Application Deadline: August 11, 1999.
     Purpose: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and 
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announce the availability 
of cooperative agreements for projects that will document time-limited, 
multi-faceted intervention models (where the intensive intervention is 
generally provided within a 9-month period) targeted to homeless 
mothers with psychiatric, substance use, or co-occurring disorders who 
are caring for their dependent children. This program is designed to 
document and evaluate interventions that will result in movement out of 
homelessness, stability in housing placement, family preservation or 
reunification, decreased alcohol and drug use, and improvement in 
mental health and social functioning.
    The Homeless Families Program will be divided into two phases:
     Phase 1 (2 years): program documentation, individual- and 
cross-site evaluation design, and OMB clearance.
     Phase 2 (3 years): individual and cross-site evaluations.
    This Guidance for Applicants (GFA) solicits applications for two 
types of cooperative agreements: Project (study site) Grants and a 
Coordinating Center.
     Priorities: None.
     Eligible Applicants:
    Study Sites. Applications may be submitted by public organizations, 
such as units of State, county or local government, and by private non-
profit and for-profit organizations, such as community-based 
organizations, universities, colleges, hospitals, and family and/or 
consumer operated organizations.
    In order to assure the evaluation of a stable and ongoing 
intervention, documentation must be included in the application that 
the applicant has provided homeless family services, targeted to women 
with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders who are caring for 
their children, for a minimum of 2 years prior to the date of 
application.
    Eligibility to apply for Phase 2 awards will be limited to Phase 1 
grantees. Eligibility is limited to assure selection of the most 
promising homelessness families interventions and continuation of 
established collaborations between the Centers and projects. 
Continuation of the grants from Phase 1 to Phase 2 will be competitive, 
and not all Phase 1 grantees will necessarily move to Phase 2.
    Coordinating Center. Applications may be submitted by organizations 
such as units of State or local governments and by domestic private 
non-profit and for-profit organizations such as

[[Page 30352]]

community-based organizations, universities, colleges, and hospitals.
     Grants/Amounts:
    Study Sites. It is estimated that approximately $3.8 million will 
be available to support approximately 16 awards under this GFA in FY 
1999. The average award is expected to range from $200,000 to $250,00 
in total costs (direct+indirect). Actual funding levels will depend 
upon the availability of appropriated funds.
    Coordinating Center. It is estimated that approximately $1 million 
will be available to support one award under this GFA in FY 1999. 
Actual funding level will depend upon the scope of application and the 
availability of appropriated funds.
     Period of Support:
    Study Site: Support for Phase 1 should be requested for a period of 
up to 2 years. Annual awards will be made subject to continued 
availability of funds and progress achieved.
    Coordinating Center: Support should be requested for a period of up 
to 5 years. Annual awards will be made subject to continued 
availability of funds and progress achieved.
     Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance: 93.230
     For Programmatic or Technical Assistance (Not for 
application kits), contact:

Lawrence D. Rickards, Ph.D. or Frances Randolph, Dr.P.H., Homeless 
Programs Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 11C-05, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-3706.
Cheryl Gallagher, M.A. or Tom Edwards, Organization of Services Branch, 
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA, Rockwall II, 7th Floor, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-6534.

     For Grants Management Assistance, contact: Stephen J. 
Hudak, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Grants Management, 
OPS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 15C-05, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 443-4456.
     For Application Kits, contact: Homeless Programs Branch, 
Center for Mental Health Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11C-05, 
Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-3706.
    All the required components of the application kit, including the 
PHS 5161-1 and the Standard Form 424, are also available for electronic 
downloading through the ``Funding Opportunities'' option on SAMHSA's 
World Wide Web Home Page at <http://www.samhsa.gov>.

5. Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

6. PHS Non-Use of Tobacco Policy Statement

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to 
provide a smoke-free workplace and 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. This is consistent with the PHS mission to 
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American 
people.

7. Executive Order 12372

    Applications submitted in response to the FY 1999 activity listed 
above are subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372, as implemented through DHHS regulations at 45 
CFR part 100. E.O. 12372 sets up a system for State and local 
government review of applications for Federal financial assistance. 
Applicants (other than Federally recognized Indian tribal governments) 
should contact the State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) as early as 
possible to alert them to the prospective application(s) and to receive 
any necessary instructions on the State's review process. For proposed 
projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to 
contact the SPOC of each affected State. A current listing of SPOCs is 
included in the application guidance materials. The SPOC should send 
any State review process recommendations directly to: Office of 
Extramural Activities, Policy and Review, Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 17-89, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
    The due date for State review process recommendations is no later 
than 60 days after the specified deadline date for the receipt of 
applications. SAMHSA does not guarantee to accommodate or explain SPOC 
comments that are received after the 60-day cut-off.

    Dated: May 31, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-14228 Filed 6-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P