[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 58451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21891]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


``Closing the Health Gap''--Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and 
Infant Mortality Initiative

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Award for Single Source Award with the 
Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board Northern Plains Healthy 
Start Project.

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    Recipient: Aberdeen Tribal Chairman's Health Board Northern Plains 
Healthy Start Project.
    Purpose of the Award: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces an 
award for single source award as established under the authority of 
Section 301(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The single 
source award is to support the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service 
tribal organization, not the IHS. The Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's 
Health Board and its program the Northern Plains Healthy Start Project 
(NPHSP) meet the eligibility criteria for CFDA 93.933 as a 
demonstration project for the expressed purpose of promoting and 
improving health and health care services in tribal communities. The 
award is part of a larger Office of Minority Health initiative entitled 
``Closing the Health Gap'' with the expressed purpose of addressing 
elevated infant mortality, a known health disparity for American 
Indians and Alaska Natives. NPHSP has been in existence for twelve 
years. Increased emphasis will be placed on case management and 
community measures to address maternal and infant health promotion and 
reduction of risk factors associated with sudden Infant Death Syndrome 
and infant mortality (SIDS/IM).
    Amount of Award: $450,000 in funds will be awarded.
    Project Period: There will be only one funding cycle during Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2004. The project will be funded in annual budget periods for 
up to three years depending on the defined scope of work. Continuation 
of the project will be based on the availability of appropriations in 
future years, the continuing need the IHS has for the projects, and 
satisfactory project performance. The Project period will run from 
October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2007.
    Justification for the Exception to the Competition: The IHS Area 
with the highest IMR and SIDS rates is the Aberdeen Area. This Area 
includes Tribes situated in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota 
and South Dakota. The Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairman's Health Board 
maintains a 501(c)3 status and is comprised of representatives of 
eighteen Tribes, sixteen of which participate in the NPHSP. NPHSP is a 
program within the Aberdeen Tribal Chairman's Health Board and operates 
in the four states. The project consists of home based interventions in 
the form of case management to high risk prenatal American Indian 
women. NPHSP has served targeted perinatal populations and their 
families and communities for twelve years. No other tribal program 
representing such a broad consortia exists. General long-term program 
goals of the Northern Plains Health Start Project are in alignment with 
those of the Office of Minority Health ``Closing the Health Gap--SIDS/
IMR Initiative.''
    Agency Contacts: For program information, contact: Judith Thierry, 
D.O., Maternal and Child Health Coordinator, Office of Public Health, 
IHS, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 300, Rockville, Maryland 20852; (301) 
443-5070; [email protected]; or (301) 594-6213 (fax). For grant and 
business information, contact Ms. Martha Redhouse, Grants Management 
Specialist, Division of Grants Policy, IHS, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 
120, Rockville, MD 20852; (301) 443-5204. (The telephone numbers for 
Dr. Thierry and Ms. Redhouse are not toll-free).

    Dated: September 24, 2004.
Robert G. McSwain,
Acting Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-21891 Filed 9-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-16-M