[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37989-37994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18181]



[[Page 37989]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Rural Health Outreach and Rural Health Network Development 
Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) announces that fiscal 
year 2002 funds may be available for grants under the Rural Health 
Outreach and Network Development Program.
    Two kinds of projects will be funded under this announcement: (1) 
Rural Health Outreach Grants for the development of networks to expand 
service delivery systems in rural areas where support is provided for 
the actual delivery of new services or enhancement of existing 
services.
    (2) Rural Health Network Development Grants for the planning and 
development of vertically integrated networks in rural areas where the 
emphasis is placed not on the actual delivery of services, but on 
efforts to restructure the delivery system in rural communities. Funds 
are appropriated for these grants under Public Law 104-208. The grants 
are authorized by section 330A of the Public Health Service Act as 
amended by the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996, Public Law 
104-299.
    Applicants and Network members may not apply for both the Rural 
Health Outreach Grant Program and the Rural Health Network Development 
Grant Program. Except for current and former one-year Network grantees, 
current and former grantees cannot reapply for either grant program for 
FY 2002 funding.
    National Health Objectives for the Year 2010: The Health Resources 
& Services Administration (HRSA) is committed to achieving the health 
promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010, a 
Public Health Service (PHS) national activity for setting priority 
areas. The Rural Health Outreach program is related to the priority 
areas for health promotion, health protection and preventive services. 
Potential applicants may receive a copy of Healthy People 2010 (Stock 
No. 017-001-00547-9) through the Superintendent of Documents, 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone (202) 
783-3238). The cost for the full document in hard copy is $70.
    The document can also be read online in several different formats 
such as: HTML, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader Portal Document 
File or Rich Text Format. The document file can be found on the 
Internet at: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/Document/tableofcontents.htm.
    Amount and Duration of Grant Awards: Grant awards under this notice 
will be limited to a total amount of $200,000 (direct and indirect 
costs) per grantee, per year.
    Applications for smaller amounts are encouraged. Applicants may 
propose project periods for up to three years, but the duration of 
projects is contingent upon the availability of funds. It is expected 
that the average grant award will be approximately $180,000 for the 
first year. Award date for grants will be May 1, 2002. However, 
applicants are advised that continued funding of grants beyond the one-
year period covered by this announcement is contingent upon the 
appropriation of funds for the program and assessment of grantee 
performance. No project will be supported for more than three years.
    Application Deadlines: Applications for the programs must be 
received by the close of business on September 28, 2001 for the Rural 
Health Outreach Program and October 5, 2001 for the Rural Health 
Network Development Program. Completed applications must be sent to The 
HRSA Grants Application Center (GAC), 1815 North Fort Myers Drive, 
Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209.
    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either (1) received on or before the deadline date; or (2) 
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. Applicants must obtain a legibly dated receipt from 
a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service in lieu of a postmark. 
Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely 
mailing. Late applications will not be reviewed.
    The standard application form and general instructions for 
completing applications (Form PHS-5161-1, Revised 7/00) have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget. To receive an 
application kit, contact The HRSA GAC, toll-free at, 1-877/477-2123 or 
write them at 1815 North Fort Myers Drive, and Suite 300, Arlington, VA 
22209. To order an application kit for either program, you must 
identify the program citing the following program names and CFDA 
numbers: Rural Health Outreach Program, 93.912A; Rural Health Network 
Development Program, 93.912B. If you are unable to connect to one of 
these toll-free numbers please call Lilly Smetana, 301/443-6884, in the 
Office of Rural Health Policy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information or technical assistance 
regarding business, budget, or financial issues should be directed to 
the Office of Grants Management, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, 4350 East West Highway, 11th 
Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, 301/594-4260 as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Staff                        Phone                               States
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheryl Armstead.........................     301-594-4261  AK, ID, NH, OR, WA.
Inge Cooper.............................     301-594-4236  CT, KS, WV.
Kathy Cummings..........................     301-594-0823  DE, PA.
Mary Douglas............................     301-594-4232  FL, KY, NV, NE, Virgin Islands.
Donna Marx..............................     301-594-4245  IA, MN, MO, WI.
Joyce Monk..............................     301-594-4252  NY, Puerto Rico, VT.
Cathy Neher.............................     301-594-4268  MA, ME, NJ.
Carol Odum..............................     301-594-4254  CA.
Tonya Randall...........................     301-594-4259  AZ, DC, OH, TN, RI.
Joyce Sagami............................     301-594-4253  AR, LA, OK, TX.
Angela Stokes...........................     301-594-4257  MD, NM, VA.
Martha Teague...........................     301-594-4258  AL, NC, SC.
Carolyn Testerman.......................     301-594-4244  IL, MI, IN, Pacific Islands.
Kim Whitfield...........................     301-594-4255  CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY.
Anifa Williams..........................     301-594-5242  HI, MS.
Stephanie Young.........................     301-594-1246  GA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 37990]]

    Requests for technical or programmatic information on this 
announcement should be directed to Lilly Smetana of the Office of Rural 
Health Policy, Room 9A-55, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-0835.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The two categories of grants offered under 
this program are the Rural Health Outreach Grants and Rural Health 
Network Development Grants. These programs have the common purposes ``* 
* *to coordinate, restrain the cost of, and improve the quality of 
essential health care services, including preventive and emergency 
services, through the development of integrated health care delivery 
systems or networks in rural areas and regions.'' The two types of 
grants available through this announcement are different approaches to 
achieve the same goals.

Rural Health Outreach Grants

    These grants will support the development of health service 
delivery systems in rural areas that lack basic services. Grants will 
be awarded to support the actual delivery of new services through 
networks comprised of at least three separately owned organizations. 
They may also be awarded to support activities that will expand access 
to or increase utilization of existing services. Programs in health 
prevention, health education, quality improvement, emergency care and 
other services may be supported through the program. Applicants may 
propose projects to address the needs of a wide range of rural 
population groups including the poor, the elderly, adolescents, rural 
minority populations, pregnant women and children, populations with 
special health care needs, etc. Projects should be responsive to the 
special cultural and linguistic needs of specific populations. The 
grants may not be used to support planning activities.
    A central goal of the Rural Outreach Grants is to better coordinate 
services through the development of new service delivery systems. In 
furtherance of this goal, participation in the program requires the 
formation of a service delivery network of three or more health care 
organizations, or a combination of three or more health care and social 
service organizations. At least one of the entities must be a health 
care service delivery organization. Individual members of the Rural 
Outreach Grant network might include such entities as physicians, 
hospitals, public health agencies, emergency care providers, mental 
health centers, Faith-based services, Rural Health Clinics, social 
service agencies, health professions schools, other educational 
institutions, community and migrant health centers, civic 
organizations, dental providers, etc. There must be a memorandum of 
agreement or other arrangements to ensure effective collaboration among 
members of the service delivery network. Although applicants for the 
program must be nonprofit or public entities, other network members may 
be for-profit organizations.
    The roles and responsibilities of each member of a Rural Outreach 
Grant network must be clearly defined and each must contribute 
significantly to the goals of the project. The local community must be 
involved in the project and committed to the goals of the network.
    Applicants are encouraged to develop projects to address specific 
areas of need in their communities. Need should be established through 
a formal needs assessments, comparison of local data against State and 
national information and/or by population specific demographic data.
    The following are examples of project areas that can be supported 
through this program:
    (1) Projects that bring ambulatory and mental health care to 
unserved or underserved rural areas or populations. The HRSA has a 
special priority to establish primary care programs along the U.S./
Mexican border.
    (2) Projects that provide, or make possible the provision, of 
emergency medical services within rural areas that lack these services.
    (3) The creation of new integrated networks of providers to deliver 
ambulatory care when such networks appear likely to improve access to 
health care or its quality.
    (4) Projects that provide services that enable rural populations to 
better utilize existing health services, including those involving the 
use of community outreach workers.
    (5) Projects that provide training for health care professionals 
and workers, including community outreach workers, when such training 
may be demonstrated to be likely to lead to higher quality services or 
more accessible services in rural areas.
    (6) Projects that enhance the health and safety of farmers, farm 
families, and migrant and seasonal farm workers through direct 
services.
    (7) Projects that address the needs of rural minority populations.
    (8) Projects that train rural people in disease prevention and 
health promotion, when such training addresses critical needs of the 
area.
    (9) Projects on adolescent health and on school-based programs.
    (10) Projects from Faith based organizations that provide health 
services to members of the community.
    The focus areas listed above are examples only. All projects must 
address the demonstrated needs of the community.

Review Considerations

    Applications for the Rural Health Outreach Grant Program will be 
evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Criterion and Maximum Points

(1) Need for the Project and the Network (25 Points)
A. Description of Need (15 points)
    1. Unmet Health Needs of the Target Population
    2. Access Barriers to Needed Services
    3. Description and Map of the Service Area
    4. Relevant Services Available in or Near the Service Area
B. Description of Network Capability (10 Points)
    1. Applicant Management Information
    2. Management Review Form
    3. Identification and Credentials of Network Members
    4. History of Network Development and Collaborative Activities
    5. Letters of Commitment from Network Members
(2) Description of the Program to Meet the Needs (25 Points)
A. Description of the Planning Process (10 Points)
    1. Role of the Network in Planning
    2. Role of the Community in Planning
    3. Models that Work
B. Project Plan (15 Points)
    1. Goals, Strategies, Activities, Responsible Agents and Completion 
Milestones
(3) Project Management and Network and Community Involvement (25 
Points)
A. Responsibilities of the Applicant and Network Members(10 Points)
    1. Plans for Network Governance
    2. Plans for Network Communication and Coordination
    3. Description and Chart of Organization and Lines of Authority
B. Community Support and Involvement in Project (10 Points)
    1. Financial (including documentation)
    2. In-Kind (including documentation)
    3. Letters from Community Leaders
(4) Budget (10 Points)
A. Budget Information (5 Points)

[[Page 37991]]

    1. Instructions for filling out Standard Form 424A
B. Budget Justification Narrative (5 Points)
(5) Personnel
A. Biographical Sketches (2 Points)
B. Position Descriptions (3 Points)
(6) Evaluation Plan and Dissemination Strategies
A. Strategy for Measuring Progress and Results (8 Points)
    1. Measuring and Utilizing Progress and Results.
B. Strategies for Disseminating Information About the Project (2 
Points)
    1. Identify strategies to publicize your project to the community.
    2. Identify strategies to educate appropriate State and national 
organizations about your project.
    3. Potential of Project to be Replicated in Other Communities
(7) Sustainability Plan
Strategies for Continuing the Program after Grant Support Ends

    Note to current and former Rural Health Outreach Grantees: 
Current and former Rural Health Outreach Grantees may not apply for 
FY 2002 funds regardless of the type of proposed project or services 
to be delivered.

Rural Health Network Development Grants

    These grants will support the development of integrated health care 
networks in rural areas or regions of the country as mechanisms for 
strengthening rural health care delivery systems. The grants will 
support network activities that demonstrate intent to move from shared 
and collaborative activities to integration of functions across network 
members. Networks may be vertically integrated, meaning they consist of 
different types of providers (e.g., hospital, health department, rural 
health clinic, community health center) or horizontally integrated 
networks meaning they are composed of only one type of provider (e.g., 
hospitals only). These integrated networks entail more formal 
relationships among the members than the networks envisioned for the 
Rural Outreach Grants. Also, the activities supported by these grants 
do not involve the actual delivery of services. Instead, it is expected 
that these activities will be aimed at moving the networks from sharing 
and collaborating to integrating functions across members. This 
integration of functions decreases fragmentation of service delivery 
across members and achieves certain efficiencies and economies of scale 
among them. Together, these outcomes help strengthen the network 
members and the rural health care system as a whole.
    Like the outreach networks, rural health networks supported under 
these grants must be composed of three or more health care providers or 
other entities that provide or support the delivery of health care 
services. At least three of the network members must be separately 
owned. While social service providers may be part of a network, the 
grants will not support networks for the exclusive provision of social 
services. The members of a network must have a strong existing 
commitment to the network's goals and objectives and some history of 
prior collaboration and accomplishment before applying for the grant. 
Unlike the Rural Outreach Grants, the program will not support projects 
where the members have never collaborated in the past.
    Although applicants for the program must be nonprofit or public 
entities, profit-making organizations may be members of a network. The 
network must address how its work benefits the local community served 
by the network members.

Review Considerations

    Applications for the Rural Network Development Grant Program will 
be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

Criterion and Maximum Points

(1) Statement of Need and Appropriateness of Funding (15 Points)
    A. The applicant demonstrates the need for Federal funding to 
support network activities by describing the environment in which the 
network has developed and the appropriateness of applying for Federal 
funding at this point. The applicant utilizes appropriate data sources 
in their analysis of the environment in which the network is 
functioning.
    B. The applicant identifies the network members and explains why 
these are the appropriate collaborators and why other key groups are 
not included.
    C. The applicant describes the value of the network to its members 
and how the network will provide value to the community.
(2) Evidence of Prior Collaborative History and Readiness for 
Integration Funding (25 Points)
    A. The applicant describes prior collaborative history and 
accomplishments among a majority of network members.
    B. The applicant provides a Memorandum of Agreement, bylaws, letter 
of incorporation etc. that demonstrates commitment on the part of all 
network members.
    C. The applicant describes the level of commitment of network 
members including allocation of time, personnel, cash, and other in-
kind contributions.
    D. The applicant provides a map that shows the location of network 
members, the geographic area that will be served by the network and any 
other information that will help reviewers visualize and understand the 
scope of the proposed project. The applicant includes an organizational 
chart for the network showing each member of the network and the 
relationships between members. The applicant fills out and includes the 
Management Review Form provided in the application packet.
    E. The applicant has an interim network leader in place and 
describes any known candidates for the permanent network leader 
position. The applicant provides a position description for the network 
leader job that outlines desirable skills and qualities. Position 
descriptions are provided for other key staff positions to be filled. 
Short biographical sketches that suggest the qualifications necessary 
to perform assigned work are provided for already hired key network 
staff.
    F. The applicant describes a governance structure for the network 
that has effective, independent governing bodies and leadership. 
Providers of care and lay consumers of care are represented on the 
Board.
(3) Statement of Project and Budget (35 Points)
    A. The applicant describes specific goals, objectives, activities, 
and expected outputs and outcomes that align with the intent of the 
Network Development Grant Program.
    B. The applicant provides a matrix that carefully integrates goals, 
objectives, activities, output and outcome measures, and anticipated 
outputs and outcomes. The matrix outlines the individual responsible 
for carrying out each activity and includes a timeline for all three 
years of the project.
    C. The applicant provides an accompanying narrative that describes 
the overall project, the marketing strategy, the management strategy, 
the financial management strategy, and addresses sustainability.
    D. The applicant discusses how this application relates to other 
community and State-level grant applications and awards like the 
Community Access Program, the Robert Wood Johnson

[[Page 37992]]

Foundation's Networking for Rural Health Program, and the Medicare 
Rural Hospital Flexibility Program.
    E. The applicant provides required budget forms, a budget 
worksheet, and budget narrative that are appropriate and adequate to 
accomplish the goals, objectives, activities, and expected outputs and 
outcomes as described in the matrix and project narrative. The budget 
is reasonable and allocates Federal funds for allowable purposes. All 
network members contribute to each year of the budget and their joint 
contributions total at least 20 percent of the budget for each grant 
year.
(4) Evaluation (10 points)
    A. The applicant proposes appropriate output and outcome measures 
for the goals, objectives, and activities described in the project 
matrix and narrative.
    B. The applicant explains any assumptions made in developing the 
project matrix and outlines anticipated outputs and outcomes.
    C. The applicant describes the process by which data for these 
measures will be collected and analyzed.
    D. The applicant describes a continuous self-evaluation plan that 
will measure, monitor, and improve the network's execution to ensure 
progress toward identified goals and objectives.
    E. The applicant describes an approach for evaluating the network's 
progress against its proposed outputs and outcomes following the three-
year grant period.
(5) Sustainability (15 Points)
    A. The authorizing language for this program requires that grants 
awarded shall be used ``for the * * * development of integrated, self-
sustaining health care networks.'' In response, the applicant includes 
a plan for sustainability in the business plan provided under the 
``Statement of Project and Budget'' Section.
    B. The applicant's sustainability plan includes a discussion of 
methods for future income generation like member dues, maximizing 
reimbursement opportunities, recruiting new members, producing and 
marketing new products to members and others, and pursuing further 
grant opportunities.


    Note to current and former Rural Health Network Development 
Grantees: Other than current or former one-year Network Development 
Grantees, current and former grantees may not reapply for grant 
funds. Current and former one-year grantees may apply for up to two 
additional years of funding.

Eligibility Requirements

    The primary grant recipient, which is an organization that is or 
represents a network of three or more separately owned organizations, 
must be a public or nonprofit private entity that meets one of the 
three requirements stated below.
    (1) The applicant organization must be located in a rural area or 
in a rural zip code of an urban county (list included in the 
application materials) and all services must be provided in a rural 
county. If the applicant is owned by or affiliated with an urban entity 
or health system the rural component may still apply as long as the 
rural entity can directly receive and administer the grant funds in the 
rural area. The rural entity must be in complete control of the 
planning, program management and financial management of the project. 
The urban parent organization must assure the Federal Office of Rural 
Health Policy in writing that, for this project, they will exert no 
control over or demand collaboration with the rural entity. The urban 
parent may, at the request of the rural entity, assist with direct 
service delivery or provide health care personnel who would not 
otherwise be available. Other network members may be urban entities.
    (2) The applicant organization exists exclusively to provide 
services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in rural areas and is 
supported under Section 330(g) of the Public Health Service Act. These 
organizations are eligible regardless of the urban or rural location of 
the administrative headquarters.
    (3) The applicant is a Native American Tribal or quasi-Tribal 
entity for services delivered on reservation or Federally recognized 
Tribal lands.

    Note To Former Applicants: The list of rural areas by State and 
county has been updated and is included in the application packet.

    In addition to the above criteria, applicants must be capable of 
receiving the grant funds directly and must have the capability to 
manage the project. Project Management means that applicants must be 
able to exercise administrative and program direction over the grant 
project; must be responsible for hiring and managing the project staff; 
must have the administrative and accounting capabilities to manage the 
grant funds; and must have some permanent staff at the time the 
application is submitted. Further, applicants must have an Employer 
Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service and other proof 
of organizational viability that may be requested by the Grants 
Management Office.
    Applicants from the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Territories of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
the Compact of Free Association Jurisdiction of the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of 
Micronesia are eligible to apply.
    Applications that do not meet the requirements stated above will 
not be Reviewed.

Preference Points

    Approved applications for both programs that are awarded a funding 
preference will be placed in a more competitive position in ranking all 
applications that fall within the funding range. The funding range is 
the threshold score that determines the cutoff point for funding in a 
given fiscal year determined by available funds. Applications that do 
not address funding preferences will be given full and equitable 
consideration during the review process but will not be funded until 
all the applications that do receive the preference and fall within the 
funding line are funded.
    To receive a preference, applicants must request a preference and 
identify the type of preference they are eligible for in the 
application. Approved applications that fall within the funding range 
and that are awarded a funding preference will be considered for 
funding before applications with no funding preference requested or 
identified.
    As provided in the law, a preference will be awarded to any 
qualified applicant that demonstrates substantial inclusion of any one 
of the following in the proposed project:
    (1) A majority of the healthcare providers serving in the area or 
region to be served by the network. The applicant must document the 
number of health care providers in the service area or region and the 
percentage of those providers that will be involved in the project. 
Data or documents to authenticate the claim must be included in the 
application;
    (2) Any federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, 
and local public health departments serving in the area or region. (The 
applicant must demonstrate the involvement of one or more of these 
health care facilities operating in the area or region to be served by 
the project. The involvement must be more than a referral relationship. 
The entity must be a full

[[Page 37993]]

and active member of the network, and the letter of commitment must 
demonstrate the organizations' roles, responsibilities, and 
contribution of resources to the project.);
    (3) Outpatient mental health providers serving in the area or 
region. (This guideline mirrors the previous guideline and the 
applicant must demonstrate the same level of participation for the 
mental health providers serving in the area or region.); or
    (4) Appropriate social service providers, such as agencies on 
aging, school systems, and providers under the women, infants, and 
children program, to improve access to and coordination of health care 
services. This guideline also mirrors the previous guideline. As above, 
the applicant must demonstrate the same level of participation for the 
social service providers and related health agencies. These 
organizations must be intimately connected to the purpose of the grant 
program. The applicant must demonstrate how the inclusion of any of 
these entities will improve access to and coordination of health care 
services.)

Geographic Considerations

    The HRSA hopes to achieve a geographic balance in making new awards 
under this announcement. Therefore, HRSA will consider geographic 
coverage when deciding which approved applications to fund.

Other Information

    Applicants for both types of grants must demonstrate that at least 
50 percent of the funds awarded will be spent in rural areas or for the 
benefit of rural communities. Grant funds may not be used for purchase, 
construction or renovation of real property. The grants will not 
support projects that are solely for the purchase of equipment or 
vehicles.
    Applicants should demonstrate participation in the cost of grant 
supported projects. Cost participation may be in cash or in-kind. In-
kind contributions might include donated staff time, donated space or 
equipment, donated vehicles, or other non-cash resources.
    Applicants are advised that the entire application may not exceed 
70 pages in length including the project and budget narratives, face 
page, all forms, appendices, attachments and letters of support. Each 
page of the application must be numbered consecutively. All 
applications must be computer generated or typewritten in print 
measuring at least 12 characters (in scalable or regular font) per inch 
and legible. Margins must be no less than 1 inch on the top and 1/2 
inch on the bottom and left and right sides.
    In order to allow the Office of Rural Health Policy to plan for the 
objective review process, applicants are encouraged to notify the 
Office in writing of their intent to apply and the program they are 
applying for. This notification serves to inform the Office of 
anticipated numbers of applications, which may be submitted. The 
address is Lilly Smetana, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 9A-55, 
Rockville, Md., 20857, or Fax# 301/443-2803. If notification is 
offered, it should be received no later that September 21, 2001.

Technical Assistance Workshops

    Four (4) Technical Assistance sessions for prospective applicants 
for the Rural Health Outreach and Rural Health Network Development 
programs will be held in late July and early August.
    The sessions will be held as follows:

July 23, 2001--Minneapolis, MN
July 25, 2001--Las Vegas, NV
July 31, 2001--Jackson, MS
August 2, 2001--Pittsburgh, PA

    Two technical assistance conference calls will also be held in 
August. Verification for the dates and places of the Technical 
Assistance workshops and calls will appear in the application documents 
and on our web site--www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov.

Smoke-Free Workplaces

    The PHS strongly encourages all grant 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.

Public Health System Impact Statement

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements. The Office of Management and Budget--# 0937-0195, has 
approved reporting requirements. Under these requirements, the 
community-based non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a 
Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS is intended to 
provide information to State and local health officials to keep them 
apprised of proposed health services grant applications submitted by 
community-based organizations within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based non-governmental applicants are required to submit 
the following information to the head of the appropriate State and 
local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted no later than the 
Federal application receipt due date:

a. A copy of the face page of the application (SF 424)
b. An abstract of the project not to exceed one page, which provides:
    (1) A description of the population to be served
    (2) A summary of the services to be provided
    (3) A description of the coordination planned with the appropriate 
State or local health agencies.

Executive Order 12372

    This grant program has been determined to be a program which is 
subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 concerning 
intergovernmental review of Federal programs by appropriate State and 
local officials as implemented by 45 CFR part 100. Executive Order 
12372 allows States the option of setting up a system for reviewing 
applications from within their States for assistance under certain 
Federal programs. Applicants (other than federally-recognized Indian 
tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC), a list of which will be included in the application kit, as 
early as possible to alert them to the prospective applications and 
receive any necessary instructions on the State process. For proposed 
projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to 
contact the SPOC of each affected State. All SPOC recommendations 
should be submitted to Lawrence R. Poole, Director, Office of Grants 
Management, Bureau of Primary Health Care, 4350 East West Highway, 11th 
Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, (301) 594-4235. The due date for State 
process recommendations is 60 days after the application deadline of 
September 28, 2001 for competing applications for the Outreach Program 
and October 5, 2001 for the Network Program. The granting agency does 
not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' State process 
recommendations it receives after that date. (See Part 148 of the PHS 
Grants Administration Manual, Intergovernmental Review of PHS Programs 
under Executive Order 12372, and 45 CFR Part 100 for a description of 
the review process and requirements.

[[Page 37994]]

Paperwork Reduction Act

    If the methods proposed for the project evaluation should fall 
under the purview of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, OMB approval 
will be sought for proposed data collection activities.

State Offices of Rural Health

    Applicants are required to notify their State Office of Rural 
Health (or other appropriate State entity) of their intent to apply for 
this grant program and to consult with such agency regarding the 
content of the application. The State Office can provide information 
and technical assistance. A list of State Offices of Rural Health is 
included with the application kit.

    OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is: 93.912 A 
for the Rural Health Outreach Program; 93.912 B for the Rural Health 
Network Development Program.

    Dated: July 17, 2001.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-18181 Filed 7-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-U