[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22721-22722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10478]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


HRSA-03-095 Fiscal Year 2003 Competitive Application Cycle for 
the Enhancing Patient Care Delivery System Program Grants (PCDS)--CFDA 
93.359

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that applications will be accepted for the Nurse Education, 
Practice and Retention Grant Program; Grants for Enhancing Patient Care 
Delivery System Program for Fiscal Year 2003.
    Authorizing Legislation: These applications are solicited under the 
authority of title VIII, section 831 of the Public Health Service (PHS) 
Act, as amended.
    Purpose: Grants will be awarded to eligible entities for programs 
to improve the retention of nurses and enhance patient care that is 
directly related to nursing activities by enhancing collaboration and 
communication among nurses and other health care professionals, and by 
promoting nurse involvement in the organizational and clinical decision 
making processes of a health care facility.
    Statutory Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: None.
    Eligible Applicants: The following are eligible entities: schools 
of nursing, nursing centers, academic health centers, a health care 
facility, or a partnership of such a school and facility, State or 
local governments and other public or private nonprofit entities.
    Funding Preference: As provided in section 805 of the Public Health 
Service Act, a funding preference will be applied to approved 
applications with projects that will substantially benefit rural or 
underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in 
State or local health departments. This preference will be applied to 
applications that rank above the 20th percentile of applications 
recommended for approval.
    Review Criteria: Applications will be reviewed by a panel of peer 
reviewers using the following criteria:
    (a) A clearly stated project purpose;
    (b) A documented need for the proposed project;
    (c) The potential effectiveness of the proposed project;

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    (d) A clearly articulated project plan including evaluation of 
project objectives;
    (e) A plan for addressing diversity and cultural competence;
    (f) A comprehensive plan for project management;
    (g) The reasonableness of the budget and fiscal plan;
    (h) The presence of established and/or planned linkages with 
relevant entities.
    Final review criteria are included in the application kit.
    Estimated Amount of Available Funds: It is estimated that $3 
million will be available in fiscal year 2003.
    Estimated Number of Awards: This is a new program; the estimated 
number of awards may range from 12 to 40 in fiscal year 2003.
    Estimated or Average Size of Each Award: This is a new grant 
program; the estimated costs are expected to vary considerably with a 
range from $25,000 to $200,000.
    Estimated Funding Period: The award will be divided in two phases 
for 4 years, 10 months. Years 1-3 would provide for implementation of 
the project plan. The first budget period is September 1, 2003--June 
30, 2004; the second and third budget periods are July 1, 2004--June 
30, 2005 and July 1, 2005 --June 30, 2006 respectively. Years 4-5 would 
provide for continuation of reporting project evaluation data with 
budget periods of July 1, 2006--June 30, 2007 and July 1, 2007--June 
30, 2008.
    Application Requests, Availability, Dates and Addresses: Applicants 
for this program are encouraged to notify HRSA, Division of Nursing of 
their intent to apply. Notification can be made in one of three ways: 
call, e-mail or mail CDR James Sabatinos of your intent. Telephone 
(301) 443-1272; e-mail [email protected]; mail Division of Nursing, 
Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA, Parklawn Building, Room 9-36, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville MD 20857. Application materials will be 
available for downloading via the web at http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants.htm on April 29, 2003. Applicants may also request a hardcopy of 
the application material by contacting the HRSA Grants Application 
Center, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20879, 
by calling at 1-877-477-2123, or by fax at 1-877-477-2345. Applications 
may not be submitted electronically at this time. In order to be 
considered for competition, hard copy applications must be postmarked 
by the due date of June 6, 2003. Applicants should request a legibly 
dated U.S. Postal postmark or obtain a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks 
shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. An application 
receipt will be provided. Applications submitted after the deadline 
date will be returned to the applicant and not processed.
    Projected Award Date: September 1, 2003

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR James Sabatinos, FNP-C, RN, MSN, 
Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, HRSA, Room 9-36, 
Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. 
Central telephone is (301) 443-1272.
    E-mail: [email protected].
    Paperwork Reduction Act: The Application for the Nurse Education, 
Practice and Retention Grant Program has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The OMB 
clearance number is 00915-0060. The program is not subject to the 
provision of Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs (as implemented through 45 CFR part 100).

    Dated: April 16, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-10478 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
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