[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10496-10500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4834]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Tribal Self-Governance Program Planning Cooperative Agreement; 
Announcement Type: New Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2010-IHS-TSGP-
0001

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.444.

DATES: Key Dates: Application Deadline Date: April 16, 2010. Review 
Date: May 14, 2010. Anticipated Start Date: June 14, 2010.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The purpose of the Planning Cooperative Agreement is to provide 
resources to Tribes interested in participating in the Tribal Self-
Governance Program (TSGP), as authorized by Public Law 106-260, the 
Tribal Self-Governance Amendments of 2000, and Title V of the Indian 
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as 
amended (Title V) (25 U.S.C. 458aaa-2(e)). The Planning Cooperative 
Agreement enables a Tribe to gather information on the current types of 
programs, services, functions, and activities (PSFAs) and related 
funding available at the Service Unit, Area, and Headquarters levels as 
well as determine the organizational preparation related to the 
administration of health programs.
    There is limited competition under this announcement because the 
authorizing legislation restricts eligibility to Tribes that meet 
specific criteria (Refer to Section III.1.A., Eligible Applicants in 
this announcement). The TSGP is designed to promote Self-Governance by 
enabling Tribes to assume control of Indian Health Service (IHS) PSFAs, 
or portions thereof, through compacts negotiated with the IHS. This 
program is described at 93.444 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA).
    Indian Tribes that have completed comparable health planning 
activities in previous years using Tribal resources are not required to 
receive a Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreement to be eligible 
to participate in the TSGP. The receipt of a Planning Cooperative 
Agreement award is not a prerequisite to enter the TSGP.
    The Tribes eligible to compete for the Planning Cooperative 
Agreements include: Any Federally recognized Indian Tribe that has not 
previously received a Planning Cooperative Agreement; Federally 
recognized Indian Tribes that have previously received Planning 
Cooperative Agreements but chose not to enter the TSGP; and those 
Federally recognized Indian Tribes that received a Planning Cooperative 
Agreement, entered the TSGP, and would like to plan for the assumption 
of new and expanded programs. Tribes are also eligible to apply for and 
receive a Negotiation Cooperative Agreement within the same grant cycle 
contingent upon completion of planning activities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Awards: Cooperative Agreement.
    Estimated Funds Available: The total amount identified for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2010 is $600,000 for approximately eight Tribes. Awards under 
this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. In the 
absence of funding, the agency is under no obligation to make awards 
that are selected for funding under this announcement.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: The estimated number of awards to be 
funded is approximately eight.
    Project Period: 12 months.
    Award Amount: $75,000 per year.
    Programmatic Involvement: Planning Cooperative Agreements entail 
substantial IHS programmatic involvement to establish a basic 
understanding of PSFAs and associated funding at the Service Unit, 
Area, and Headquarters levels.
    The IHS roles and responsibilities include:
     Providing a description of PSFAs and associated funding at 
all levels, including funding formulas and methodologies related to 
determining Tribal shares.
     Identifying IHS staff to consult with applicants on 
methods currently used to manage and deliver health care.
     Providing applicants with statutes, regulations and 
policies that provide authority for administering IHS programs.
    The grantee roles and responsibilities are critical to the success 
of the TSGP and include:
     Researching and analyzing the complex IHS budget to gain a 
thorough understanding of funding distribution at all levels and to 
determine which PSFAs the Tribe may elect to assume.

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     Establishing a process by which Tribes can effectively 
approach the IHS to identify programs and associated funding which 
could be incorporated into their current programs.
     Determining the Tribe's share of each PSFA and evaluating 
the current level of health care services being provided to make an 
informed decision on new program assumption(s).

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    To be eligible for a Planning Cooperative Agreement under this 
announcement, an applicant must:
    A. Be a Federally recognized Tribe as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b(e). 
However, Alaska Native Villages or Alaska Native Village Corporations 
are not eligible if they are located within the area served by an 
Alaska Native regional health entity already participating in the 
Alaska Tribal Health Compact in 1998. By Congressional statute, the 
Native Village of Eyak, Eastern Aleutian Tribes, and the Council for 
Athabascan Tribal Governments have also been deemed Alaska Native 
regional health entities. Those Alaska Tribes not represented by a 
Self-Governance Tribal consortium Funding Agreement (FA) within their 
area may still be considered to participate in the TSGP.
    B. Submit a Tribal resolution or other official action from the 
appropriate governing body of each Indian Tribe to be served 
authorizing the submission of the Planning Cooperative Agreement 
application. Tribal Consortia applying for a Tribal Self-Governance 
Planning Cooperative Agreement shall submit Tribal Council Resolutions 
from each Tribe in the consortium. Draft resolutions are acceptable in 
lieu of an official signed resolution to submit with the application; 
however, an official signed Tribal resolution must be received by the 
Division of Grants Operations (DGO), Attn: Kimberly M. Pendleton, 801 
Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852, by May 12, 2010, 
prior to the Objective Review Committee (ORC) evaluation on May 14, 
2010. If the IHS DGO does not receive an official signed resolution by 
May 12, 2010, then the application will be considered incomplete and 
will be returned without consideration.
    *It is highly recommended that the Tribal resolution be sent by a 
delivery method that includes proof of receipt.
    C. Demonstrate, for three fiscal years, financial stability and 
financial management capability, which is defined as no uncorrected 
significant and material audit exceptions in the required annual audit 
of the Indian Tribe's Self-Determination contracts or Self-Governance 
Funding Agreements with any Federal agency. Applicants are required to 
submit complete annual audit reports for the three fiscal years prior 
to the year in which the applicant is applying for the Planning 
Cooperative Agreement. The applicants may scan an electronic copy of 
the documents and attach them to the online application. If the 
applicant determines that the audit reports are too lengthy, then the 
applicants may submit them separately via regular mail by the due date, 
April 16, 2010. Applicants sending in audits via regular mail must 
submit two copies of the complete audits for the three previous fiscal 
years under separate cover directly to the DGO, Attn: Kimberly M. 
Pendleton, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852, 
referencing the Funding Opportunity Number, HHS-2010-IHS-TSGP-0001, as 
prescribed by Public Law 98-502, the Single Audit Act, as amended (see 
OMB Circular A-133, revised June 24, 1997, Audits of States, Local 
Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations). If the IHS DGO does not 
receive this documentation by April 16, 2010, then the application will 
be considered incomplete and will be returned to the applicant without 
further consideration. Applicants must include the grant tracking 
number assigned to their electronic submission from Grants.gov and the 
date submitted via Grants.gov in their cover letter transmitting the 
required complete audits for the previous three fiscal years.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    The Tribal Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreement 
announcement does not require matching funds or cost sharing to 
participate in the competitive grant process.

3. Other Requirements

    A. This program is described at 93.444 in the CFDA.
    B. If application budget documents exceed the stated dollar amount 
that is outlined within this announcement, the application will be 
returned to the applicant without further consideration.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application package and detailed instructions for this 
announcement may be found through Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) or 
at: http://www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/gogp/index.cfm?module=gogp_funding.
    Information regarding this announcement may also be found on the 
Office of Tribal Self-Governance Web site at: http://www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/SelfGovernance/index.cfm?module=planning_negotiation.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    A. The application must contain the following:
    (1) Table of Contents.
    (2) Abstract (one page) summarizing the project.
    (3) Project Narrative (no more than seven pages) providing:
    (a) Background information on the Tribe.
    (b) Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that provide 
a description of what will be accomplished including a one-page Time 
Frame Chart.
    (4) Application forms: SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B.
    (5) Budget narrative and justification.
    (6) Tribal Resolution (or official action).
    (7) Appendices:
    (a) Resumes or position descriptions of key staff.
    (b) Contractor/Consultant resumes or qualifications and scope of 
work.
    (c) Current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
    (d) Organizational Chart (optional).
    (e) Audits.
    B. The project and budget narratives must:
    (1) Be single spaced.
    (2) Be typewritten.
    (3) Have consecutively numbered pages.
    (4) Use black type not smaller than 12 characters per one inch.
    (5) Be printed on one side only of standard size 8\1/2\'' x 11'' 
paper.
    C. The seven page limit for the narrative does not include the work 
plan, standard forms, Tribal resolutions or letters of support, table 
of contents, budget, budget justifications, narratives, and/or other 
appendix items.
    Public Policy Requirements:
    All Federal-wide public policies apply to IHS grants with exception 
of the Discrimination policy.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 
12 midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on April 16, 2010. Any 
application received after the application deadline will not be 
accepted for processing, and it will be returned to the applicant(s) 
without further consideration for funding.
    If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the 
electronic application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support via 
e-mail to [email protected] or at (800) 518-4726. Customer Support is 
available to

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address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on Federal 
holidays). If problems persist, contact Tammy Bagley, Division of 
Grants Policy (DGP) ([email protected]) at (301) 443-5204. Please be 
sure to contact Ms. Bagley at least ten days prior to the application 
deadline. Please do not contact the DGP until you have received a 
Grants.gov tracking number. In the event you are not able to obtain a 
tracking number, call the DGP as soon as possible.
    If an applicant needs to submit a paper application instead of 
submitting electronically via Grants.gov, prior approval must be 
requested and obtained. The waiver must be documented in writing (e-
mails are acceptable), before submitting a paper application. A copy of 
the written approval must be submitted along with the hardcopy that is 
mailed to the DGO (Refer to Section VII to obtain the mailing address). 
Paper applications that are submitted without a waiver will be returned 
to the applicant without review or further consideration. Late 
applications will not be accepted for processing, will be returned to 
the applicant, and will not be considered for funding.
    4. Intergovernmental Review:
    Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not 
applicable to this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions:
    A. Each planning cooperative agreement shall not exceed $75,000, 
including direct and appropriate indirect costs.
    B. Only one planning cooperative agreement will be awarded per 
applicant per grant cycle.
    C. Pre-award costs are not allowable without prior approval from 
the awarding agency. All pre-award costs are incurred at the 
recipient's risk.
    6. Electronic Submission Requirements:
    The preferred method for receipt of applications is electronic 
submission through Grants.gov. In order to submit an application 
electronically, please go to http://www.Grants.gov and select the 
``Apply for Grants'' link on the home page. Download a copy of the 
application package on the Grants.gov Web site, complete it offline and 
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may 
not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to IHS.
    Applicants that receive a waiver to submit paper application 
documents must follow the rules and timelines that are noted below. The 
applicant must seek assistance at least 10 days prior to the 
application deadline (exact date: April 6, 2010).
    Please be reminded of the following:
     Please search for the application package in Grants.gov 
(http://www.Grants.gov) by entering the CFDA number or the Funding 
Opportunity Number. Both numbers are located in the header of this 
announcement.
     Paper applications are not the preferred method for 
submitting applications. However, if you experience technical 
challenges while submitting your application electronically, please 
contact Grants.gov Customer Support directly at: http://www.Grants.gov/CustomerSupport or (800) 518-4726. Customer Support is available to 
address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on Federal 
holidays).
     Upon contacting Grants.gov, obtain a tracking number as 
proof of contact. The tracking number is helpful if there are technical 
issues that cannot be resolved and a waiver request from the DGO must 
be obtained.
     If it is determined that a waiver is needed, you must 
submit a request in writing (e-mails are acceptable) to 
[email protected] with a copy to [email protected]. Please 
include a clear justification for the need to deviate from our standard 
electronic submission process.
     If the waiver is approved, the application should be sent 
directly to the DGO grants official (Refer to Section VII) by the 
deadline date, April 16, 2010.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information typically included on the SF-424 and all necessary 
assurances and certifications. Audits being sent separately must be 
received by the due date, April 16, 2010. Although draft Tribal 
resolutions may be submitted with the application, an official signed 
Tribal resolution must be received by May 12, 2010, prior to the ORC 
review on May 14, 2010.
     Please use the optional attachment feature in Grants.gov 
to attach additional documentation that may be requested by the IHS.
     Your application must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this program announcement.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The DGO will retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov. The DGO will not notify applicants that the application has 
been received.
     If submission of a paper application is requested and 
approved, the original and two copies must be sent to the appropriate 
grants contact listed in Section VII.
     E-mail applications will not be accepted under this 
announcement.
Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
    Applicants are required to have a DUNS number to apply for a grant 
or cooperative agreement from the Federal Government. The DUNS number 
is a unique nine-digit identification number provided by D&B, which 
uniquely identifies your entity. The DUNS number is site specific; 
therefore each distinct performance site may be assigned a DUNS number. 
Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a 
DUNS number, you may access it through the following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or to expedite the process call (866) 705-5711.
    Another important fact is that applicants must also be registered 
with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and a DUNS number is 
required before an applicant can complete their CCR registration. 
Registration with the CCR is free of charge. Applicants may register 
online at http://www.ccr.gov or by calling (866) 606-8220. Additional 
information regarding the DUNS, CCR, and Grants.gov processes can be 
found at: http://www.Grants.gov.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    A. Goals and Objectives of the Project (30 points).
    Are the goals and objectives measurable and consistent with the 
purpose of the program and the needs of the people to be served, and 
are they achievable within the proposed time frame?
    B. Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications (25 points).
    Describe the organizational structure of the Tribe and its ability 
to manage the proposed project. Include resumes or position 
descriptions of key staff showing requisite experience and expertise 
and, where applicable, include resumes and scope of work for 
consultants that demonstrate experience and expertise relevant to the 
project.
    C. Methodology (20 points).
    Describe fully and clearly the methodology and activities that will 
be used to accomplish the goals and objectives of the project.
    D. Budget and Budget Justification (15 points).
    Submit a line-item budget with a narrative justification for all

[[Page 10499]]

expenditures identifying reasonable and allowable costs necessary to 
accomplish the goals and objectives as outlined in the project 
narrative.
    E. Management of Health Program(s) (10 points).
    Does the applicant propose an improved approach to managing the 
health program(s) and indicate how the delivery of quality health 
services will be maintained under self-governance?

2. Review and Selection Process

    In addition to the evaluation criteria in Section V.1., 
applications are considered according to the following:
    A. Application Submission:
    (1) The applicant and proposed project type is eligible in 
accordance with this cooperative agreement announcement.
    (2) Abstract, narrative, budget, required forms, appendices and 
other material submitted meet the requirements of the announcement, 
allowing the review panel to undertake an in-depth evaluation.
    B. Competitive Review of Eligible Applications:
    Applications will undergo an initial prescreening by the DGO. The 
prescreening will assess whether applications that meet the eligibility 
requirements are complete, responsive, and conform to criteria outlined 
in this program announcement. The applications that meet the minimum 
criteria will be reviewed for merit by the ORC based on the evaluation 
criteria. The ORC is composed of both Tribal and Federal reviewers, 
appointed by the IHS, to review and make recommendations on these 
applications. The review will be conducted in accordance with the IHS 
Objective Review Guidelines. The technical review process ensures 
selection of quality projects in a national competition for limited 
funding. Applications will be evaluated and rated by each reviewer on 
the basis of the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1. The 
reviewers use the criteria outlined in this announcement to evaluate 
the quality of a proposed project, determine the likelihood of success, 
and assign a numerical score to each application. The scoring of 
approved applications will assist the IHS in determining which 
proposals will be funded if the amount of TSGP funding is not 
sufficient to support all approved applications. Applications scored by 
the ORC at 60 points and above will be recommended for approval and 
forwarded to the DGO for cost analysis and further recommendation. The 
program official will forward the approval list to the IHS Director for 
final review and approval. Applications scoring below 60 points will be 
disapproved.
    Note: In making final selections, the IHS Director will consider 
the ranking factors and the status of the applicant's three previous 
years' single audit reports. The comments from the individual reviewers 
that participate in the ORC will be recommendations only. The IHS 
Director will make the final decision on awards.

IV. Award Administration Information

Award Notices:

    The Notice of Award (NoA) is a legally binding document, signed by 
the Grants Management Officer, and serves as the official notification 
of the grant award. The NoA is the authorizing document for which funds 
are dispersed to the approved entities and reflects the amount of 
Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and 
conditions of the award, the effective date of the award, and the 
budget/project period. The NoA will be mailed via postal mail to each 
entity that is approved for funding under this announcement. Applicants 
who are approved but unfunded or disapproved based on their Objective 
Review score will receive a copy of the Final Executive Summary which 
identifies the weaknesses and strengths of the application submitted. 
Any correspondence other than the NoA announcing to the Project 
Director that an application was selected is not an authorization to 
begin performance.
    2. Administrative Requirements:
    Cooperative Agreements are administrated in accordance with the 
following documents:
    A. The criteria as outlined in this Program Announcement.
    B. Administrative Regulations:
     45 CFR part 92, Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State, Local and Tribal 
Governments.
    C. Grants Policy:
     HHS Grants Policy Statement, January 2007.
    D. Cost Principles:
     Title 2: Grant and Agreements, Part 225--Cost Principles 
for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments (OMB Circular A-87).
    E. Audit Requirements:
     Audit of States, Local Governments, and Non-profit 
Organizations (OMB Circular A-133).
    3. Indirect Costs:
    This section applies to all grant recipients that request 
reimbursement of indirect costs in their grant application. In 
accordance with the HHS Grants Policy Statement, Part II-27, IHS 
requires applicants to have a current indirect cost rate agreement in 
place prior to award. The rate agreement must be prepared in accordance 
with the applicable cost principles and guidance as provided by the 
cognizant agency or office. A current rate means the rate covering the 
applicable activities and the award budget period. If the current rate 
is not on file with the DGO at the time of award, the indirect cost 
portion of the budget will be restricted and not available to the 
recipient until the current rate is provided to the DGO.
    Generally, indirect costs rates for IHS grantees are negotiated 
with the Division of Cost Allocation (http://rates.psc.gov/) and the 
Department of the Interior National Business Center (1849 C St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20240) (http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/services/ICS.aspx). If 
your organization has questions regarding the indirect cost policy, 
please contact the DGO at (301) 443-5204 to request assistance.
    4. Reporting Requirements:
    Grantees must submit the reports consistent with the applicable 
deadlines. Failure to submit required reports within the time allowed 
may result in suspension or termination of an active grant, withholding 
of additional awards for the project, or other enforcement actions such 
as withholding of payments or converting to the reimbursement method of 
payment. Continued failure to submit required reports may result in one 
or both of the following: (1) The imposition of special award 
provisions; and (2) the non-funding or non-award of other eligible 
projects or activities. This applies whether the delinquency is 
attributable to the failure of the grantee organization or the 
individual responsible for preparation of the reports.
    A. Progress Report. Program progress reports are required to be 
submitted semi-annually, within 30 days after the budget period ends, 
and will include a brief comparison of actual accomplishments to the 
goals established for the period, or, if applicable, provide sound 
justification for the lack of progress, and other pertinent information 
as required. A final report must be submitted within 90 days of 
expiration of the budget/project period.
    B. Financial Status Report. Semi-annual financial status reports 
must be submitted within 30 days after the budget period ends. Final 
financial status reports are due within 90 days of expiration of the 
budget/project period. Standard Form (SF) 269 (long form) will be used 
for financial reporting and the

[[Page 10500]]

final SF-269 must be verified from the grantee's records on how the 
value was derived.
    C. Federal Cash Transaction Reports are due every calendar quarter 
to the Division of Payment Management (DPM), Payment Management Branch. 
Please refer to the DPM Web site (http://www.dpm.psc.gov/) for 
additional guidance. Failure to submit timely reports may cause a 
disruption in timely payments to your organization.
    Telecommunication for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY 
(301) 443-6394.

VII. IHS Agency Contact(s)

    1. Questions on the programmatic issues may be directed to: Anna 
Old Elk, Program Analyst, Office of Tribal Self-Governance, Telephone 
No.: (301) 443-7821, Fax No.: (301) 443-1050, E-mail: 
[email protected].
    2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be 
directed to: Kimberly M. Pendleton, Grants Management Officer, Division 
of Grants Operations,Telephone No.: (301) 443-5204, Fax No.: (301) 443-
9602, E-mail: [email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all cooperative 
agreement and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and 
promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Public Law 
103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain 
facilities (or in some cases, any portion of the facility) in which 
regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early 
childhood development services are provided to children. This is 
consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and 
mental health of the American people.

    Dated: March 3, 2010.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-4834 Filed 3-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P