[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32062-32063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13319]



[[Page 32062]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[CFDA 93.918B, HRSA 03-093]


Title III Early Intervention Services Program (EISP)

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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

SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2003 funds to be awarded 
under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act 
Title III Early Intervention Services (EIS) Program for new proposals 
to support outpatient HIV early intervention and primary care services 
for low-income, medically underserved people in existing primary care 
systems. Grants will be awarded for a 3-year period.
    Program Purpose: The purpose of this funding is to provide, on an 
ongoing outpatient basis, high quality, culturally competent, early 
intervention services/primary care to individuals with HIV infection. 
This is accomplished by increasing the present capacity and capability 
of eligible ambulatory health services entities. These expanded 
services become a part of a continuum of HIV prevention and care for 
individuals who are at risk for HIV infection or are HIV infected.
    Program Requirements: As described in section 2651(b) of the Public 
Health Service Act, funded programs must provide the following services 
on an outpatient basis:
    (A) Counseling individuals with respect to HIV disease;
    (B) Testing individuals with respect to HIV disease, including 
tests to confirm the presence of the disease, tests to diagnose the 
extent of the deficiency in the immune system, and tests to provide 
information on appropriate therapeutic measures for preventing and 
treating the deterioration of the immune system and for preventing and 
treating conditions arising from the disease;
    (C) Referrals of individuals with HIV disease to appropriate 
providers of health and support services;
    (D) Other clinical and diagnostic services regarding HIV disease 
and periodic medical evaluations of individuals with the disease; and
    (E) Providing therapeutic measures as described in (B).
    Funded programs must provide the proposed services directly and/or 
through formal agreements with public or nonprofit private entities. 
They may also provide services through agreements with private for-
profit entities if such entities are the only available providers of 
quality HIV care in the area. A minimum of 50 percent of funds awarded 
MUST be spent on primary care services as described in items B-E above. 
No more than 10 percent of funds awarded may be spent on 
administration, including planning and evaluation.
    Eligible Applicants: Applicants are limited to public entities or 
private nonprofit entities which meet the qualifications as described 
in section 2652(a) of the PHS Act, including (1) migrant health centers 
under section 329 or community health centers under section 330; (2) 
grantees under section 340 (regarding health services for the homeless; 
(3) grantees under section 1001 (regarding family planning) other than 
States; (4) comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic and treatment centers; 
(5) federally-qualified health centers under section 1905(1)(2)(B) of 
the Social Security Act; or (6) nonprofit private entities that provide 
comprehensive, primary care services to populations at risk of HIV 
disease. Faith-based and community-based organizations which meet these 
qualifications are eligible to apply.
    Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: HRSA shall give preference 
to applicants in an area experiencing an increase in the burden of 
providing services regarding HIV disease, as described in section 2653 
of the PHS Act. Measures of burden include the number and rate of 
increase of AIDS cases, other sexually transmitted diseases, 
tuberculosis and drug abuse; lack of availability of early intervention 
services; lack of availability of primary health services from 
providers other than the applicant; and the distance between such area 
and the nearest community that has an adequate level of availability of 
appropriate HIV-related services and the length of time required to 
travel such distance. Under section 2653(d), of the applicants who 
qualify for preference under this section, (1) HRSA shall give 
preference to applicants that will expend the grant under section 2651 
to provide early intervention under such section in rural areas; and 
(2) HRSA shall give special consideration to areas that are underserved 
with respect to such services. These may include organizations serving 
communities of color that are highly affected by HIV/AIDS. Rural areas 
are located outside of urbanized areas and urban clusters as defined by 
the U.S. Census Bureau. Preferences, as described in the applications, 
will be considered after applications are scored.
    Authorizing Legislation: The EIS program is authorized by section 
2651(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 300ff-
51).
    Availability of Funds: Approximately $4 million is available for 
this initiative. HRSA expects to fund approximately 12-15 grants. The 
project and budget periods for approved projects will begin on or about 
September 1, 2003. Continuation awards within the project period will 
be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of 
funds.
    Application Deadline: Applications for this grant must be received 
in the HRSA Grants Application Center by close of business July 14, 
2003. 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 
submission to the objective review panel. A legible dated receipt from 
a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service will be accepted 
instead of a postmark. Private metered postmarks will not be accepted 
as proof of timely mailing. Grant applications postmarked after the 
deadline may be returned.
    Where to Request and Send an Application: To obtain the official 
grant application kit (Form PHS-5161-1) and program guidance materials 
for this announcement call the HRSA Grant Application Center at 877-
477-2123 and request the OMB Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 
number 93.918B, HRSA 03-093, EISP. In fiscal year 2003 HRSA will begin 
accepting grant applications online. Please refer to the HRSA Grants 
Schedule at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/ for more information.

ADDRESSES: All applications should be mailed or delivered to HRSA Grant 
Application Center, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland 20879. Grant applications sent to any other address will be 
returned. The Internet address for HAB is http://www.hab.hrsa.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
program may be requested from the Division of Community Based Programs, 
HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane Room 7A-30, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857. The telephone number is (301) 443-0493; and the fax 
number is (301) 443-1884.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applications will be reviewed by an 
objective review committee. The review criteria will include: (1) 
Justification of

[[Page 32063]]

need, (2) organizational capabilities and experience, (3) coordination 
and linkage with other HIV programs, (4) adequacy of scope of work for 
providing early intervention services, (5) work plan, (6) program 
evaluation, (7) appropriateness and justification of budget, and (8) 
adherence to program guidance.
    There is no matching requirement for this program.
    Public Health System Reporting Requirements: Under these 
requirements (approved under OMB No. 0937-0195), a community-based, 
non-governmental applicant must prepare and submit a Public Health 
System Impact Statement 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. This statement must include (1) a copy of 
the face page of the application (SF424) and (2) A summary of the 
project, not to exceed one page, which provides a description of the 
population to be served; a summary of the services to be provided; and 
a description of the coordination planned with the appropriate State 
and local health agencies.
    Executive Order 12372: This program has been determined to be a 
program which is subject to the provision of Executive Order 12372 
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs by appropriate 
health planning agencies, 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. The application packages to be made available 
under this notice will contain a listing of States that have chosen to 
set up such a review system and will provide a single point of contact 
(SPOC) in the States for review. Applicants (other than federally-
recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact their State SPOC 
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 
contract the SPOC of each affected State. The due date for the State 
process recommendations is 60 days after the application deadline for 
new and competing awards. The granting agency does not guarantee to 
``accommodate or explain'' for State process recommendations it 
receives after that date. (See part 148, Intergovernmental Review of 
Public Health Service Programs under Executive Order 12372 and 45 CFR 
part 100 for a description of the review process and requirements).

    Dated: May 8, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-13319 Filed 5-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P