[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27665-27668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12529]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Indians Into Medicine Programs

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability for competitive grant applications 
for the Indians Into Medicine Program.

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SUMMARY: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces that competitive 
grant applications are being accepted for the Indians Into Medicine 
(INMED) Program established by section 114 of the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act of 1976 (25 U.S.C. 1612), as amended by Public Law 102-
573. There will be only one funding cycle during fiscal year (FY) 2001. 
This program is described at 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 applicable OMB Circulars. 
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review does not apply 
to this program.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2010, a PHS-led activity for setting priority areas.
    This program announcement is related to the priority area of 
Educational and Community-based programs. Potential applicants may 
obtain a copy of Healthy People 2010, summary report in print, Stock 
No. 017-001-00579-9, or via CD-ROM, Stock No. 107-001-00549-5, through 
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 
371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7945, (202) 512-1800. You may access this 
information via the Internet at the following website: www.health.gov/healthypeople/publication
    Smoke Free Workplace: The PHS strongly encourages all grant 
recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of 
all tobacco products, and Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities that receive Federal 
funds in which education, library, day care, health care, and early 
childhood development services are provided to children.

DATES: A. Application Receipt Date--An original and two (2) 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 June 1, 2001.
    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 date and received in time to be reviewed along 
with all other timely applications. A legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or 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.
    Additional Dates:
    1. Application Review: July 13, 2001.

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    2. Applicants Notified of Results (approved, approved unfunded, or 
disapproved): August 1, 2001.
    3. Anticipated Start Due: September 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program information, contact Ms. 
Jacqueline Santiago, Chief, Loan Repayment Branch, Division of Health 
Professions Support, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook Building, 12300 
Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 100A, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 443-
3396. For grants application and business management information, 
contact Crystal C. Furgusen, Grants Management Officer, Division of 
Acquisition and Grants Management, Indian Health Service, Twinbrook 
Building, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 100 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 priority, fields of health 
care considered for support, required affiliation, fund availability 
and period of support, and application procedure for FY 2001.

A. General Program Purpose

    The purpose of the INMED program is to augment the number of Indian 
health professional serving Indians by encouraging Indians to enter the 
health professions and removing the multiple barriers to their entrance 
into the IHS and private practice among Indians.

B. Eligibility and Priority

    Public and nonprofit private colleges and universities with medical 
and other allied health programs are eligible. Nursing programs are not 
eligible under this announcement since the IHS currently funds the 
Nursing Recruitment grant program. The existing INMED grant program at 
the University of North Dakota has as its target population Indian 
tribes primarily within the States of North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. A college or university applying under 
this announcement must propose to conduct its program among Indian 
tribes in States not currently served by the University of North Dakota 
INMED program.

C. Program Objectives

    Each proposal must address the following five objectives to be 
considered for funding:
    1. Provides outreach and recruitment for health professions to 
Indian communities including elementary and secondary schools and 
community colleges located on Indian reservations which will be served 
by the program.
    2. Incorporates a program advisory board comprised of 
representatives from the tribes and communities which will be served by 
the program.
    3. Provides summer preparatory programs for Indian students, who 
need enrichment in the subjects of math and science in order to pursue 
training in the health professions.
    4. Provides tutoring, counseling and support to students who are 
enrolled in a health career program of study at the respective college 
or university.
    5. To the maximum extent feasible, employs qualified Indians into 
the program.

D. Fields of Health Care Considered for Support

    The grant program must be developed to locate and recruit students 
with educational potential in a variety of health care fields. Primary 
recruitment efforts must be in the field of medicine with secondary 
efforts in other allied health fields such as pharmacy, dentistry, 
medical technology, x-ray technology, etc. The field of nursing is 
excluded since the IHS does fund the IHS Nursing Recruitment grant 
program.

E. Required Affiliations

    The grant applicant must submit official documentation indicating a 
tribe's cooperation with and support of the program within the schools 
on its reservation and its willingness to have a tribal representative 
serving on the program advisory board. Documentation must be in the 
form prescribed by the tribes governing body, i.e., letter of support 
or tribal resolution. Documentation must be submitted from every tribe 
involved in the grant program.

F. Fund Availability and Period of Support

    It is anticipated that approximately $400,000 will be available for 
one award. The anticipated start date of the grant will be September 1, 
2001, in order to begin recruitment for the 2001-2002 academic year. 
Projects will be awarded for a budget term of 12 months, with a maximum 
project period of up to three (3) years. Grant funding levels include 
both direct and indirect costs. Funding of succeeding years will be 
based on the FY 2001 level, continuing need for the program, 
satisfactory performance, and the availability of appropriations in 
those years.

G. Application Process

    An IHS Grant Application Kit, including the required PHS 5161-1 
(Rev. 6/99) (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, 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 15 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 17-18)
--Checklist, PHS 5161-1 (pages 23-24)
--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
--Appendix to include:
--Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support
--Resumes (Curriculum Vitae) of Key Staff
--Position descriptions for Key Staff
--Organizational Chart
--Workplan Format
--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.

[[Page 27667]]

    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 Contents--Provide a one page typewritten table of 
contents.

Narrative

    1. Introduction and Potential Effectiveness of Project (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. 114.
    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 workplan (milestone chart) which 
lists each objective, the tasks 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 workplan 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, 
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 and describe the administrative, 
managerial and organizational arrangements and the facilities and 
resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed project (include in 
appendix).
    b. Provide the name and qualifications of the project director of 
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 application'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 Manpower Deficiencies (20 pts.)
    a. Provide data and supporting documentation to substantiate need 
for recruitment.
    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.
    5. Project Budget (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 $400,000 is inclusive of both 
direct and indirect costs. Because this project is for a training 
grant, the Department of Health and Human Services' policy limiting 
reimbursement of indirect cost to the lesser of the applicant's actual 
indirect costs or 8 percent of total direct costs (exclusive of tuition 
and related fees and expenditures for equipment) is applicable. This 
limitation applies to all institutions of higher education other than 
agencies of State and local government.
    c. The applicant may include as a direct cost tuition and student 
support costs related only to the summer preparatory program. Tuition 
and stipends for regular sessions are not allowable costs of the grant; 
however, students recruited through the INMED program may apply for 
funding from the IHS Scholarship Programs.
    d. Projects requiring a second and third year must include a 
program narrative and categorical budget and justification for each 
additional year of funding requested (this is not considered part of 
the 15-page narrative).
    Appendix--to include:

    a. Tribal Resolution(s) or Letters of Support
    b. Resumes (Curriculum Vitae) of Key Staff
    c. Position descriptions for key Staff
    d. Organizational Chart
    e. Workplan Format
    f. Completed IHS Application Checklist
    g. Application Receipt Card, PHS 3038-1, Rev. 5-90

J. Reporting

    1. Progress Report--Program progress reports may be required 
quarterly or semi-annually. 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--Quarterly or semiannually financial 
status reports will be submitted 30 days after the end of the quarter 
or half year. Final financial status reports are due 90 days after 
expiration of the budget/project period. Standard Form 269 (long form) 
will be sued for financial reporting.

K. Grant Administration Requirements

    Grants are administered in accordance with the following documents:
    1. 45 CFR 92, HHH, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments or 45 CFR 
part 74, Administration of Grants,
    2. PHS Grants Policy Statement, and
    3. OMB Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions.

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 (405 
or less) and other federal or non-federal individuals (60% or more) 
with

[[Page 27668]]

appropriate expertise. The ORC will review each application against 
established criteria. Based upon the evaluation criteria, the reviewer 
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 form the Division 
of Health Professions Support and Grants Management Branch. Applicants 
are notified in writing on or about August 1, 2001. 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 the IHS official to contact if more information is desired.

    Dated: May 14, 2001.
Michel E. Lincoln,
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12529 Filed 5-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M