[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16804-16806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8336]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[CFDA Number 93.110B]


Maternal and Child Health Federal Set-Aside Program; Special 
Projects of Regional and National Significance; Comprehensive 
Hemophilia Diagnostic and Treatment Centers; Regional Project Grant

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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

SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that $360,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds is available to 
fund one grant to establish a regional network of hemophilia treatment 
centers (HTCs) in the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Hemophilia 
Program, Region IV North (Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
Tennessee) to provide comprehensive care for people with hemophilia and 
other congenital bleeding disorders and their families in the diagnosis 
and treatment of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. This grant 
will be awarded for a 2-year period, subject to satisfactory progress 
and the availability of funds.

DATES: Applications must be received in the HRSA Grant Application 
Center (GAC) at the address below by the close of business, May 8, 
2003. Applications will meet 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 submission to the objective 
review panel. A legible, dated receipt from a commercial carrier or 
U.S. Postal Service will be accepted instead of a postmark. Private 
metered postmarks will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing.

ADDRESSES: To receive a complete application kit, applicants may 
telephone the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-877-477-2123 (1-877-
HRSA-123) and present the announcement number HRSA 03-084 and 
announcement code HTC or register on-line at: http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/grants/. All applications should be mailed or delivered to: Grants 
Management Officer (MCHB), HRSA Grants Application Center, 901 Russell 
Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, telephone: 1-877-
HRSA-123 (1-877-477-2123), e-mail: [email protected].

[[Page 16805]]

Submission Requirements

    Applicants are required to submit one ink-signed hard copy original 
of the complete application and two hard copies. Additionally, 
applicants are required to submit a diskette of the abstract.
    The HRSA Grants Application Center will send out confirmation of 
the receipt of the application. If the acknowledgment is not received 
within 15 days of submitting the application, applicants should contact 
the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-877-477-2123 or by e-mail at 
[email protected] to determine the status of the application.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Arner, 301-443-1080 (for 
questions specific to project activities of the program and program 
objectives); and Theda Duvall, 301-443-1440 (for grants policy, 
budgetary, and business questions).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Background and Objectives

    Hemophilia is a group of hereditary bleeding disorders of specific 
blood clotting factors classified as hemophilia A and B. Classic 
hemophilia A is the result of a deficiency of clotting factor VIII; 
Hemophilia B is a deficiency of clotting factor IX. Approximately 
17,000 persons in the United States, primarily males, are affected by 
hemophilia A or B, the most well known and prevalent of the clotting 
factor deficiencies. The program also serves individuals with other 
congenital bleeding disorders including von Willebrand Disease (VWD). 
It is estimated that up to 4 million individuals in the United States 
have VWD. VWD, a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a problem with 
a protein needed for blood to clot, equally affects men and women.
    The National Hemophilia Program was initiated in 1975 and has been 
since that time funded through Special Projects of Regional and 
National Significance (SPRANS) under the authority contained in 42 
U.S.C. 701(a)(2). Comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic and treatment 
services are offered through 12 regional grantees, with a network of 
135 HTCs located throughout the country. In addition to comprehensive 
medical services for hemophilia, the HTCs offer a comprehensive array 
of educational genetic counseling, peer support, and HIV prevention and 
risk reduction services. Regional services are based upon a regional 
needs assessment. They include capacity building, communication and 
information dissemination, regional strategic planning, data collection 
and analyses, and the coordination of training and technical assistance 
to affiliated treatment centers, as needed. Services currently being 
provided through the MCHB Hemophila grant in Region IV--North will end 
on May 31, 2003 and will require a new grant starting on June 1, 2003.

Authorization

    Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, the MCH Federal Set-
Aside Program (42 U.S.C. 701(a)(2)).

Purpose

    This grant program supports the provision of comprehensive care 
(diagnosis and treatment) for people with hemophilia and other 
congenital bleeding disorders and their families through an integrated 
regional network of centers for such disorders. This grant will be used 
to promote in the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Hemophilia Program 
Region IV North: (1) Comprehensive care to meet the needs including 
medical, psycho-social, peer support, and genetic testing and 
counseling of individuals with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding 
disorders and their families throughout their life time; (2) outreach 
to unserved and underserved people with congenital bleeding disorders; 
and (3) collaboration with HTCs within the defined area and promotion 
of family-centered care within the client population.
    The grant also supports the provision of regional coordination and 
administration including regional services for planning, service 
coordination and allocation of funds for comprehensive care to ensure 
those persons with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders 
and their families have access to high quality care. Regional services 
should be based upon a regional needs assessment and should include 
capacity building, communication and information dissemination, 
regional strategic planning, data collection and analyses, and the 
coordination of training and technical assistance to affiliated 
treatment centers, as needed.

Eligibility

    Under SPRANS project grant regulations at 42 CFR 51a.3, any public 
or private entity, including an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as 
defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b), is eligible to apply for funding covered by 
this announcement. Faith-based and community-based organizations are 
eligible to apply for these funds. Preference for funding will be given 
to applicants having a geographical location within MCHB Hemophilia 
Region IV-North. Applicants having a geographical location outside of 
MCHB Hemophilia Region IV-North will receive consideration only if 
there is no acceptable application received from within MCHB Hemophilia 
Region IV-North.

Funding Level/Project Period

    $360,000 in FY 2003 is available to support the award of one grant 
with a project period of up to two years. Funding beyond FY 2003 is 
contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funds.
    The applicant will not be required to match or share in project 
costs if an award is made.

Review Criteria

    Applications that are complete and responsive to the guidance will 
be evaluated by an objective review panel specifically convened for 
this solicitation and in accordance with applicable policies and 
procedures. In general, applications for this grant program will be 
reviewed using the following criteria listed in descending order of 
priority:
    The extent to which the project will contribute to improvement of 
the health of persons with hemophilia and other congenital bleeding 
disorders, including the extent to which the project will accomplish a 
number of specific priorities (described in the project guidance) which 
are consistent with regulatory review criteria generally applicable to 
all Title V programs (at 42 CFR 51a.5) and are relevant to the specific 
project (65 points). This should incorporate the following components:
    [sbull] Access to comprehensive care for individuals diagnosed with 
hemophilia and hemophilia/HIV and other congenital bleeding disorders 
as described in the Current Standards and Criteria for the Care of 
Persons with Congenital Bleeding Disorders as published by the National 
Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) which will be made available in the program 
guidance (25 points);
    [sbull] Outreach to those not being served by Federally-funded 
hemophilia treatment centers (15 points);
    [sbull] Emphasis on prevention to reduce complications and 
morbidity associated with hemophilia (5 points);
    [sbull] Linkage of hemophilia treatment centers with primary care 
providers for children and adults served by the hemophilia treatment 
centers (5 points);
    [sbull] Collaboration and coordination of services with State Title 
V Maternal and Child Health Programs; Ryan White

[[Page 16806]]

Titles I, II, and III, HIV community-based organizations; State and 
local health agencies; Ryan White Title IV HIV comprehensive family-
centered care projects, prevention, education and peer support 
activities; national and local consumer organizations, including the 
National Hemophilia Foundation and its Chapters (5 points);
    [sbull] Evidence of formal patient choice and grievance policies 
and procedures (5 points);
    [sbull] Participation in other significant activities, and a 
description of any involvement with factor replacement product programs 
(5 points).
    [sbull] The extent to which (A) the project personnel are well 
qualified by training and/or experience for their roles in the project 
and the applicant organization has adequate facilities and personnel; 
and (B) there is a plan for management of the regional network of 
hemophilia diagnostic and treatment centers (15 points). In addressing 
this criterion please describe the following items:
    [sbull] Regional program management;
    [sbull] Fostering communication among and providing technical 
assistance and training to HTCs;
    [sbull] Other significant regional activities;
    [sbull] The extent to which the estimated cost to the government of 
the project is reasonable, considering the anticipated results (10 
points).
    [sbull] The strength of the project's plan for evaluation (10 
points).
    Additional criteria may be used to review and rank applications for 
this competition. Any such criteria will be identified in the program 
guidance included in the application kit. Applicants should pay strict 
attention to addressing these criteria, in addition to those referenced 
above. Also, to the extent that regulatory review criteria generally 
applicable to all Title V programs (at 42 CFR part 51a.5) are relevant 
to this specific project, such factors will be taken into account.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    OMB approval for any data collection in connection with this grant 
will be sought, as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements (approved under OMB No. 0937-0195). 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 non-governmental 
organizations within their jurisdictions. The project abstract may be 
used in lieu of the one-page PHSIS.
    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) A summary of the project (PHSIS), 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 and local health agencies.

Executive Order 12372

    The MCH Federal Set-Aside program has been determined to be a 
program which is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs.

    Dated: March 31, 2003.
Dennis P. Williams,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-8336 Filed 4-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P