[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44958-44960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19443]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[Announcement Number: HRSA-04-003]


Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program--CFDA 
Number 93.912

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 
Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP), announces that approximately 
$1,000,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2004 funds is available to fund between 
10 and 15 Rural Health Network Development Planning Grants. Eligibility 
is open to rural public or rural non-profit private entities as the 
lead applicant on behalf of a formative network or consortium of rural 
health providers. The proposed rural health network or consortium 
supported by the grant must include three or more health care 
providers, which may be nonprofit or for-profit entities. These grants 
will be awarded for a 1-year period.

DATES: Applications (PHS-5161-1 and supplemental material) will be 
available in July 2003 from the HRSA Grants Application Center (GAC) 
and must be received in the HRSA GAC at the address below by the close 
of business, September 10, 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. Applicants should note that HRSA anticipates having the 
capability to accept grant applications online in the last quarter of 
the Fiscal Year (July through September). Please refer to the HRSA 
grants schedule at http://www.hrsa.gov/grants.htm for more information.

ADDRESSES: To receive a complete application kit, applicants may 
telephone the HRSA Grants Application Center at 1-877-477-2123 and 
present the announcement number HRSA-04-003. All applications should be 
mailed or delivered to: Grants Management Officer, HRSA Grants 
Application Center, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, MD 
20879, telephone: 1-877-477-2123, e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Pray-Gibson, 301-443-0835 (for 
questions specific to project activities of the program and program 
objectives); and Stephannie Young, 301-594-1246 (for grants policy, 
budgetary, and business questions.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Program Purpose/Objectives

    This Rural Health Network Development (RHND) Planning Grant Program 
supports one year of planning to develop integrated health care 
networks in rural areas. The program is designed to support 
organizations that wish to develop formal collaborative relationships 
among health care providers to integrate systems of care 
administratively, clinically, financially, and technologically. The 
goal of the RHND Program is to achieve efficiencies; expand access to, 
coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; 
and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. The RHND 
Planning Grant Program supports this overall program goal by providing 
support to entities in the formative stages of planning and organizing 
a rural health network.
    The RHND Planning Grant Program provides support to rural entities 
that seek to develop a formal health care network and that do not have 
a significant history of collaboration. Formative networks are not 
sufficiently evolved to apply for a 3-year RHND implementation grant 
and do not have a formalized structure. Existing networks that seek to 
expand services or expand their service area are not eligible to apply.
    Applicants must propose to use the grant to develop rural health 
networks that bring together at least three separately owned health 
care providers. The applicant must demonstrate the need for the network 
and have identified one or more problems or issues that the network 
will address. The applying entity must have identified potential 
network partners and include a letter of support from each of the 
potential partners of the formative network.
    The ultimate goal of the grant program is to strengthen the rural 
health care delivery system by improving the viability of the 
individual providers in the network. Networks funded through this 
program may also include entities that support the delivery of health 
care services like social service agencies, faith-based organizations, 
charitable organizations, educational institutions, employers, local 
governmental agencies or other entities. At least three of the partners 
that plan to participate in the network, however, must be health 
service providers. Grant funds may not be used for the direct delivery 
of services.
    The grant support provided under the RHND Planning Grant program 
may be sufficient to jumpstart a network into becoming operational and 
developing strategies for becoming sustainable. Grantees of this 
program will be eligible to apply for up to three years of funding

[[Page 44959]]

from the Rural Health Network Development Grant Program at a future 
time but are not required to do so. Applicants are not required to 
provide matching funds for the grant but are encouraged to engage the 
proposed network partners to participate in cost-sharing as 
demonstration of mutual commitment to the network.

Authorization

    Awards will be made under the program authority of section 330A of 
the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 254c.

Eligibility

    To be eligible to receive a grant under this program, an applicant 
must be a rural public or rural non-profit private entity. To ascertain 
rural eligibility, please refer to http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/eligibility.htm htm. The applicant must include letters of support 
from at least three or more health care providers that may be nonprofit 
or for-profit entities, that together intend to develop a rural health 
network. Under the President's initiative, faith-based and community-
based organizations that are otherwise eligible and believe they can 
contribute to HRSA's program objectives are urged to apply to this 
program.

Funding Level/Project Period:

    Contingent upon funding, approximately $1,000,000 in FY 2004 will 
be available to support the award of 10 to 15 grants for a one-year 
project period. Award amounts will range from $25,000 to $100,000 each.

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. Applications for this grant program will be reviewed using 
the following criteria:

I. Statement of Need (30 Points)

    A. The applicant demonstrates the need for Federal funding to 
support network development activities by describing the environment in 
which the network will develop and the appropriateness of applying for 
Federal funding at this point. The applicant provides evidence of the 
health care needs/problems in the community that the network proposes 
to address. The applicant utilizes appropriate data sources (e.g., 
local, state, federal) in their analysis of the environment in which 
the network is functioning.
    If the purpose of the network is to strengthen health providers' 
ability to serve their community(ies), please include data that 
demonstrates the providers' needs for greater support in remaining 
healthy and sustainable.
    B. The applicant clearly describes the primary goals and problems/
issues to be addressed by the network. The applicant describes how the 
local community or region to be served will benefit from and be 
involved in the activities carried out by the network. If the network's 
primary goal is to strengthen health providers in the community, the 
applicant describes how providers will benefit from and be involved in 
the activities carried out by the network.
    C. The applicant describes how the local community or region to be 
served will experience increased or more stable/consistent access to 
quality health care services across the continuum of care as a result 
of the integration and coordination of activities carried out by the 
network.

II. Identification of Potential Network Partners (30 Points)

    A. The applicant provides a list or table listing each potential 
network partner. The table should include each partner's organization 
name, address, primary contact person, current role in the community/
region, and current annual operating expenditure.
    B. The applicant explains why these are the appropriate 
collaborators and why other organizations are not included as part of 
the formative network at this time. It is recognized that the purpose 
of the grant is to support development of the network; therefore, 
discussion could include identification of organizations not yet 
engaged but that might be candidates for collaboration should the grant 
be awarded.
    C. The applicant describes any history of informal collaboration 
between the potential partners of the network and provides information 
regarding the impetus for the network's creation.
    D. The applicant provides a map that shows the locations of 
potential network partners, and/or describes 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.
    E. The applying entity must include a letter of support from each 
of the potential partners of the formative network. These letters 
should confirm each organization's interest in becoming part of a rural 
health network and indicate in their own words the organization's 
understanding of the benefits that the network would bring to itself 
and the community encompassed by the network. The letter should also 
include a statement indicating that the potential partner understands 
that the grant funds would be used for the development of a health care 
network and are not to be used for the exclusive benefit of any one 
network partner.
    F. The applicant identifies the key person who will be accountable 
for ensuring grant-funded activities will be carried out. This person 
will serve to facilitate/convene potential network partners, set 
meeting agendas, assign and track tasks, etc.
    G. The applicant includes a resume for the key person identified in 
II.E.
    H. The applicant identifies the name and affiliation of the 
person(s) who wrote and prepared the grant application.

III. Statement of Project Workplan (25 Points)

    A. The applicant includes a detailed workplan that describes how 
the grant funds will be used:
    Part One: The applicant provides a matrix that carefully integrates 
goals, strategies, activities, and measurable outcomes and process 
measures. The matrix outlines the individual responsible for carrying 
out each activity and includes a timeline for the duration of the 
project. A sample matrix template will be provided in the application 
instructions.
    Part Two: The applicant explains how the goals and activities 
outlined in the matrix will be accomplished in narrative format.
    B. The applicant's workplan should either include a task that 
addresses each of the following four areas (or describes how each area 
is being addressed):
    (1) Identifies potential collaborating network partners in addition 
to those already named in the grant application that provided letters 
of support.
    (2) Convenes potential collaborating network partners.
    (3) Conducts planning activities:
    a. Conducts a needs assessment to ensure a complete understanding 
of the health care and provider-related challenges faced by the 
community/region to be served, and by the potential network partners.
    b. Identifies the needs of potential network partners.
    c. Identifies factors that will lead to the network's 
sustainability. This could include:
    [sbull] Examining the benefits that may accrue to network members 
and the community they serve as a result of

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collaborative action and potential effects of inaction.
    [sbull] Examining the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities of 
potential network members and the communities they serve. d.Develops a 
business, operational, or strategic plan. e.Develops a plan for the 
network's sustainability. f.Carries out organizational development 
activities e.g., creating a formal Memorandum of Agreement/
Understanding (MOA/MOU); establishing a network board; establishing 
bylaws; applying for 501(c)3 status, etc.
    (4) Begins carrying out network activities, including activities to 
promote the network's sustainability.
    Models That Work: If the application proposal is based upon another 
program that has worked in another community, please describe that 
program, why you think it will succeed in your community, what elements 
will be different in your community and how it was funded. There is 
particular interest in programs that may have received funding from the 
Department of Health and Human Services.
    (5) Project Monitoring: The applicant describes measures to be 
implemented for assuring effective performance of the proposed project. 
The applicant describes on-going quality assurance/quality improvement 
strategies that will assist in the early identification and 
modification of ineffective project activities. For example, if one of 
the network's key strategies for reaching a network goal turns out to 
be ineffective, the applicant describes the measures in place to 
identify and address this situation.

IV. Budget (15 Points)

    Applicants must provide details and justification for all items in 
the budget and explain the relevance of each cost to the overall goals 
and activities of the project. This includes a budget spreadsheet and a 
descriptive narrative justification that provides details for each 
budget item including contractual costs. The applicant illustrates that 
proposed grant funds will not be used to supplant funds already in 
place. The applicant is encouraged to include a description of funds 
already expended in support of networking activities.

V. Network Characteristics (5 Points)

    Applicants that can demonstrate that their projects address any of 
the following criteria will receive a maximum of five additional 
points:
    A. Projects that use telehealth and/or new and emerging 
technologies to help achieve their project goals. The advent of 
advanced communication tools such as distance learning, remote patient 
monitoring, personal data assistants (PDAs), interactive video, 
satellite broadcasting and store-and-forward technology are just some 
of the many health care focused technological applications that can 
help improve access to care either directly or indirectly by improving 
the efficiency of local health care providers; or
    B. Projects that significantly address oral health care needs of 
the community to be served; or
    C. Projects that significantly address mental health service needs 
of the community to be served; or
    D. Projects in which the proposed network includes at least one 
Critical Access Hospital; or
    E. Projects in which the proposed network does not include a 
facility that currently receives a DHHS-sponsored grant.

Funding Preference

    The authorizing legislation for Network Development Planning Grants 
provides a funding preference for some applicants. Applicants receiving 
a preference will be placed in a more competitive position among the 
applications that can be funded. A funding preference will be given to 
any qualified applicant that can demonstrate either of the following 
two criteria:
    A. Those applicants for which at least 50 percent of the proposed 
rural health network's service area is located in officially designated 
health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) or medically underserved 
communities (MUCs) or serve medically underserved populations (MUPs).
    To ascertain HPSA and MUP designation status, please refer to the 
following Web site: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/shortage/index.htm.
    To qualify as a Medically Underserved Community (MUC), at least 50 
percent of the network's participation must include facilities that are 
federally designated as any of the following:
    (a) Community Health Centers,
    (b) Migrant Health Centers,
    (c) Health Care for the Homeless Grantees,
    (d) Public Housing Primary Care Grantees,
    (e) Rural Health Clinics,
    (f) National Health Service Corps sites,
    (g) Indian Health Service Sites,
    (h) Federally Qualified Health Centers,
    (i) Primary Medical Care Health Professional Shortage Areas,
    (j) Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas,
    (k) Nurse Shortage Areas,
    (l) State or Local Health Departments,
    (m) Ambulatory practice sites designated by State Governors as 
serving medically underserved communities; or
    B. Those applicants whose projects focus on primary care, and 
wellness and prevention strategies.
    To receive a funding preference, applicants must clearly identify 
and demonstrate which preference they are requesting as instructed in 
the program guidance and application instructions.

Executive Order 12372

    This grant program is subject to Executive Order 12372, which 
requires applicants to seek comments on the application from their 
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) unless the applicant is a 
Federally recognized Indian tribal government or the State does not 
participate in this process. A list of State SPOCs and the non-
participating States is included with the application kit and is also 
available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. In 
general, SPOCs are State agents that review grant applications to 
determine if they are in accordance with State policy. Applicants in 
States with a SPOC must contact the SPOC about the application and 
receive any instructions on the State process. Further, applicants in 
participating States must submit a copy of the application to the SPOC 
no later than the Federal application receipt deadline.

    Dated: July 3, 2003.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-19443 Filed 7-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P