[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59402-59403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23722]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Supplemental Funding for Cooperative Agreements 
to the New Mexico Department of Health, Office of Border Health; 
Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Border Health; 
California Department of Public Health, Office of Binational Border 
Health; Texas Department of State Health Services, Office of Border 
Health to Improve the Health of Persons and Communities Along the U.S.-
Mexico Border

AGENCY: Office of Global Affairs, Office of the Secretary, DHHS.
    Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement--FY 2012 Supplemental 
Funding Announcement. Non-competitive.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 93.018.
    Projects Period: September 30, 2012--August 31, 2013.
SUMMARY: The Office of Global Affairs (OGA) announces that up to 
$150,000.00 ($37,500.00 to each State) in fiscal year (FY) 2012 funds 
are being awarded for supplemental funding to existing cooperative 
agreements to the Department of Health Services of the states of New 
Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California, whom will work through the U.S.-
Mexico Border Health Commission, to improve the health of persons and 
communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. This initiative addresses 
Border Binational Health Week; Prevention and Health Promotion among 
Vulnerable Populations on the U.S.-Mexico Border; U.S.-Mexico Border 
Tuberculosis Consortium and Legal Issues Forum; Border Binational 
Obesity Prevention Summit; Border Health Research Forum, Work Group and 
Expert Panel Meeting; Healthy Border 2010/2020 Strategic Plan; the 
Outreach Office Planning Meeting, and programmatic and administrative 
support to the members and staff of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health 
Commissions. The budget period will be one year with a project period 
of five years for a total of $150,000.00 (including indirect costs).

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Under the authority of 22 U.S.C. 290n, OGA announces the allocation 
of fiscal year (FY) 2012 funds as supplemental funding to already 
existing cooperative agreements to the New Mexico Department of Health, 
Office of Border Health; Arizona Department of Health Services, Office 
of Border Health; California Department of Public Health, Office of 
Binational Border Health; Texas Department of State Health Services, 
Office of Border Health to strengthen the binational public health 
projects and programs along the U.S.-Mexico border. Activities to be 
addressed through the cooperative agreement will relate to the 
following topic areas: (1) Border Binational Health Week; (2) 
Prevention and Health Promotion among Vulnerable Populations on the 
U.S.-Mexico Border; (3) U.S.-Mexico Border Tuberculosis Consortium and 
Legal Issues Forum; (4) Border Binational Obesity Prevention Summit; 
(5) Border Health Research Forum, Work Group and Expert Panel Meeting; 
(6) Healthy Border 2010/2020 Strategic Plan; and (7) the Outreach 
Office Planning Meeting.
    This assistance will support current, on-going and proposed public 
health initiatives in this border region, under ongoing, cooperative 
agreements already awarded to the border health offices in the States 
of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. that support the goals 
and objectives of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, serve to 
strengthen access to health care, disease prevention, and public health 
along the U.S.-Mexico border.
    Background: The U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission (USMBHC), in 
collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
works toward creating awareness about the U.S.-Mexico border, its 
people, and its environment. It educates others about the unique 
challenges at the border through outreach efforts, data collection and 
analysis, and joint collaborative efforts with public and private 
partners in the border health community. The USMBHC serves as a 
rallying point for shared concerns about the U.S.-Mexico border and as 
a catalyst for action to develop plans directed toward solving specific 
health related problems. Outreach offices of the USMBHC work with the 
border states to address public health concerns and needs affecting the 
border region. The Department of Health Services of the states of New 
Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California will work with their Mexican 
counterparts to promote and strengthen binational health initiatives 
along the U.S.-Mexico border.
    Purpose: The overall objective of the five-year cooperative 
agreements with the Offices of Border Health in California, Arizona, 
New Mexico and Texas, initiated in 2011, is to support and coordinate 
the USMBHC's objectives and the development of the outreach health 
activities along the U.S. and Mexico border. The cooperative agreements 
focus on time-limited, product-oriented, and measurable outputs that 
may contribute to and help to inform the binational dialogue at local, 
state, and federal levels, regarding mutual challenges in border 
health, including tuberculosis; obesity/diabetes; infectious disease 
and public health emergencies; strategic planning; access to care; and 
research, data collection, and academic alliances.
    Activities: Each state will use these supplemental funds in support 
of the goals of the Commission, to expand and enhance ongoing 
activities. Specifically:
     Arizona will expand participation in the Leaders Across 
Borders Program, which addresses major public health problems along the 
border through developing leadership skills and facilitating 
collaborative partnerships among U.S. and Mexico health officials.

[[Page 59403]]

     California will increase the number of participants 
attending the Border Health Research Forum and will host a stakeholders 
meeting in support of the Prevention and Health Promotion among 
Vulnerable Populations on the U.S.-Mexico Border Initiative.
     Texas will increase the number of participants attending 
the Border Binational Obesity Prevention Summit, to share knowledge and 
best practices regarding a critical problem affecting border 
populations.
     New Mexico will plan, coordinate, and execute Phase IV of 
the Healthy Border 2010/2020 Strategic Plan, and will increase the 
number of regional activities of the Prevention and Health Promotion 
among Vulnerable Populations on the U.S.-Mexico Border Initiative, to 
improve health outcomes of vulnerable populations living on the U.S.-
Mexico Border.

II. Award Information

    The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this 
program will be cooperative agreements in which substantial OGA/HHS 
scientific and/or programmatic involvement is anticipated during the 
performance of these projects. Under the cooperative agreements, OGA/
HHS will support and/or stimulate awardees activities by working with 
them in a non-directive partnership role. Awardees will also be 
expected to work directly with and in support of the U.S.-Mexico Border 
Health Commission and its stated goals and initiatives as outlined in 
the submitted work plan.
    Approximately $150,000.00 ($37,500.00 to each State) in fiscal year 
(FY) 2012 funds are available as supplemental funding to the already 
existing agreements. The anticipated start date is September 30, 2012 
through August 31, 2013. There will only be four awards made from this 
announcement.

III. Justification for the Exception to Competition

    The supplemental funding is for ongoing, cooperative agreements 
already awarded to the border health offices in the States of 
California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The purpose of the 
activities of the cooperative agreements is to accomplish the goals and 
objectives of the US-Mexico Border Health Commission. State border 
health offices have both extensive experience working with the Border 
Health Commission, and have existing relationships and ongoing 
initiatives with Mexican border states. This experience and 
relationships make the offices unique in helping the Commission carry 
out its binational health initiatives and activities along the border.
    The supplemental funds are to provide additional support for 
several key activities of the cooperative agreements. Because the 
activities are ongoing, and being planned and carried out by the State 
border health offices, awarding the funds to the border health offices 
is the only practicable way to accomplish the objectives of enhancing 
and extending the activities.

IV. Agency Contacts

    For programmatic requirements, please contact: Craig Shapiro MD, 
Office of Global Affairs, DHHS, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20201, Phone: (202) 260-0399.
    For administrative requirements please contact: Alice Bettencourt, 
Director, Office of Grants Management, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Health, 1101 Wotton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 
20852, Telephone: (240) 453-8822.

    Dated: September 20, 2012.
Jimmy Kolker,
Principal Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-23722 Filed 9-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-38-P