[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40746-40755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16270]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
[Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2013-IHS-OUIHP-0001]
Urban Indian Education and Research Organization Cooperative
Agreement Program; Office of Urban Indian Health Programs; Announcement
Type: New
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.193
Key Dates
Application Deadline Date: August 13, 2013.
Review Date: August 19, 2013.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2013.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Statutory Authority
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting competitive
cooperative agreement applications for the Urban Indian Education and
Research Organization Cooperative Agreement Program project period
September 1, 2013--August 31, 2016. This program is authorized under:
the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), as amended, (25 U.S.C.
1652, 1654, and 1655), and Section 301(a) of the Public Health Service
Act. This program is described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under 93.193.
Background
The Office of Urban Indian Health Programs (OUIHP) oversees the
implementation of the IHCIA provisions for making health services more
accessible to urban Indians. Pursuant to those authorities, the IHS
enters into contracts and grants with urban Indian organizations for
the provision of health care and referral services for urban Indians
residing in the urban centers. Those services may include (1) alcohol
and substance abuse prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and
education; (2) mental health needs and assessments; (3) health
promotion and disease prevention services; and (4) immunization
services. In addition, IHS may enter into contracts with and make
grants to urban Indian organizations to employ American Indian and
Alaska Natives (AI/AN) trained as Community Health Representatives to
provide health care services.
Purpose
The purpose of this IHS cooperative agreement is to fund a national
urban Indian organization to act as an education and research partner
for OUIHP and urban Indian organizations funded under the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act.
II. Award Information
Type of Award
Cooperative Agreement.
Estimated Funds Available
The total amount of funding identified for the current fiscal year,
FY 2013, is approximately $800,000. Individual award amounts are
anticipated to be between $500,000 and $800,000. Competing and
continuation awards issued under this announcement are subject to the
availability of funds. In the absence of funding, the IHS is under no
obligation to make awards that are selected for funding under this
announcement.
Anticipated Number of Awards
One award will be issued under this program announcement.
Project Period
The cooperative agreement project period is September 1, 2013 to
August 31, 2016.
Cooperative Agreement
In the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a cooperative
agreement is administered under the same policies as a grant. The
funding agency (IHS) is required to have substantial programmatic
involvement in the project during the entire award segment. Below is a
detailed description of the level of involvement required for both IHS
and the grantee. IHS will be responsible for activities listed under
section A and the grantee will be responsible for activities listed
under section B as stated:
Substantial Involvement Description for Cooperative Agreement
A. IHS Programmatic Involvement
In addition to the usual monitoring and technical assistance
provided under the cooperative agreement, the IHS/OUIHP
responsibilities shall include:
(1) Assurance of the availability of the services of experienced
staff to participate in the planning and development of all phases of
this cooperative agreement;
(2) Working closely with the IHS Public Affairs Office regarding
dissemination of publications completed under the cooperative
agreement, and cooperating on the referral of inquiries and request for
technical assistance, publications and other information;
(3) Participation in, including the planning of, any meetings
conducted as part of project activities;
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(4) Assistance in establishing federal interagency and state
contacts necessary for the successful completion of tasks and
activities identified in the approved scope of work;
(5) Identification of other awardees and organizations with whom
the awardee will be asked to develop cooperative and collaborative
relationships; and
(6) Assisting the awardee to establish, review and update
priorities for activities conducted under the auspices of the
cooperative agreement.
B. Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities
Requirements and obligations of the cooperative agreement recipient
shall include:
(1) Work collaboratively with the urban Indian organizations funded
under the IHCIA;
(2) Respond in a flexible manner to collaborating on occasional
short-term projects, in addition to long-term and on-going efforts;
(3) Work closely with the Federal Project Officer when hiring new
key project staff and planning/implementing new activities;
(4) Consult with the Federal Project Officer before scheduling any
meetings, including project advisory/steering committee meetings, that
pertain to the scope of work and at which the Project Officer's
attendance would be appropriate;
(5) Provide the Federal Project Officer with the opportunity to
review, provide advisory input, and approve at the program level, any
publications, audiovisuals and other materials produced, as well as
meetings/conferences planned, under the auspices of this cooperative
agreement (such review should start as part of concept development and
include review of drafts and final products);
(6) Provide the Federal Project Officer with an electronic copy of,
or electronic access to, each product developed under the auspices of
this project;
(7) Participate in the implementation of awardee performance
measures, including the collection of information and administrative
data, as designated by the OUIHP;
(8) Ensure that all products developed or produced, either
partially or in full, under the auspices of this cooperative agreement
are fully accessible and available for free to members of the public;
(9) Identify IHS/OUIHP as a funding sponsor on written products and
during meetings and conferences relevant to cooperative agreement
activities; and
(10) Acknowledge IHS/OUIHP has uncontested access to any and all
data generated under this cooperative agreement, and agree to provide
royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license for the government
to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use any products derived from
activities conducted under this cooperative agreement.
(11) Comply with relevant Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Circular provisions regarding lobbying, any applicable lobbying
restrictions provided under other law and any applicable restriction on
the use of appropriated funds for lobbying activities.
C. Joint Responsibilities of Awardee and IHS/OUIHP
The IHS/OUIHP and the awardee have a joint responsibility to
determine which issues will be addressed during the project period, the
sequence in which they will be addressed, what approaches and
strategies will be used to address them, and how relevant information
will be transmitted to specified target audiences and used to enhance
project activities and advance the program.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligibility
This is a competitive application for an urban Indian organization
as defined by 25 U.S.C. 1603(29), which has a Board of Directors that
is at least 51 percent urban Indian and can demonstrate the Board of
Directors is governed primarily by the urban Indian organizations from
diverse locations. The applicant must provide proof of non-profit
status, e.g. 501(c)(3), and a listing of Board members including their
status as an urban Indian, professions, education degrees, and board
appointment terms.
Note: Please refer to Section IV.2 (Application and Submission
Information/Subsection 2, Content and Form of Application
Submission) for additional proof of applicant status documents
required such as proof of non-profit status, etc.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants
or cooperative agreements.
3. Other Requirements
If application budgets exceed the highest dollar amount outlined
under the ``Estimated Funds Available'' section within this funding
announcement, the application will be considered ineligible and will
not be reviewed for further consideration. If deemed ineligible, IHS
will not return the application. The applicant will be notified by
email by the Division of Grants Management (DGM) of this decision.
Proof of Non-Profit Status
Organizations claiming non-profit status must submit proof. A copy
of the 501(c)(3) Certificate must be received with the application
submission by the Application Deadline Date listed under the Key Dates
section on page one of this announcement.
An applicant submitting any of the above additional documentation
after the initial application submission due date is required to ensure
the information was received by the IHS by obtaining documentation
confirming delivery (i.e. FedEx tracking, postal return receipt, etc.).
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Obtaining Application Materials
The application package and detailed instructions for this
announcement can be found at http://www.Grants.gov or https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/index.cfm?module=dsp_dgm_funding.
Questions regarding the electronic application process may be
directed to Paul Gettys at (301) 443-5204.
2. Content and Form Application Submission
The applicant must include the project narrative in the appendix to
the application package. Mandatory documents for all applicants
include:
Table of contents.
Abstract (one page) summarizing the project.
Application forms:
[cir] SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.
[cir] SF-424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.
[cir] SF-424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.
Budget Justification and Narrative (must be single spaced
and not exceed five pages).
Project Narrative (must be single spaced and not exceed 70
pages).
[cir] Background information on the organization.
[cir] Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that
provide a description of what will be accomplished, including a Time
Frame Chart.
Letter of Support from Organization's Board of Directors.
501(c)(3) Certificate
Biographical sketches for all Key Personnel.
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Contractor/Consultant resumes or qualifications and scope
of work.
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).
Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG-Lobbying Form).
Copy of current Negotiated Indirect Cost (IDC) rate
agreement (required) in order to receive IDC.
Copy of Current Approved Organizational Chart.
Documentation of current Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) A-133 required Financial Audit.
Acceptable forms of documentation include:
[cir] Email confirmation from Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC)
that audits were submitted; or
[cir] Face sheets from audit reports. These can be found on the
FAC Web site: http://harvester.census.gov/sac/dissem/accessoptions.html?submit=Go+To+Database.
Public Policy Requirements
All Federal-wide public policies apply to IHS grants with exception
of the Discrimination policy.
Requirements for Project and Budget Narratives
A. Project Narrative: This narrative should be a separate Word
document that is no longer than 70 pages and must: be single-spaced, be
type written, have consecutively numbered pages, use black type not
smaller than 12 characters per one inch, and be printed on one side
only of standard size 8\1/2\'' x 11'' paper.
Be sure to succinctly answer all questions listed under the
evaluation criteria (refer to Section V.1, Evaluation criteria in this
announcement) and place all responses and required information in the
correct section (noted below), or they will not be considered or
scored. These narratives will assist the Objective Review Committee
(ORC) in becoming more familiar with the grantee's activities and
accomplishments prior to this grant award. If the narrative exceeds the
page limit, only the first 70 pages will be reviewed. The 70-page limit
for the narrative does not include the work plan, standard forms, table
of contents, budget, budget justifications, narratives, and/or other
appendix items.
There are three parts to the narrative: Part A--Program
Information; Part B--Program Planning and Evaluation; and Part C--
Program Report. See below for additional details about what must be
included in the narrative.
Part A: Program Information
Section 1: Needs--Public Policy, Research and Data, Structured
Training and Technical Assistance for UIOs, Education, Public
Relations, and Marketing of UIOs
This section outlines the needs of urban Indian organizations. The
target population and its unmet health needs must be described and
documented in this section. Include socio-cultural determinants of
health and health disparities impacting the urban Indian population or
communities served and unmet. Demographic data should be used and cited
whenever possible to support the information provided. Please discuss
any relevant barriers that the project hopes to overcome. This section
should help reviewers understand the urban Indian organizations that
will be served by the proposed project.
Instructions
Applicants should summarize the need for services including: (1)
Public policy, (2) research and data, (3) structured training and
technical assistance for urban Indian organizations, and (4) education,
public relations and marketing of urban Indian organizations. Describe
how the applicant determined it has the administrative infrastructure
to provide these services. Explain the previous planning activities the
applicant has completed and if the applicant has identified or will
establish best-practices or evidence-based practices relative to these
services.
(1) Public Policy
A. Applicants should summarize the public policy opportunities and
challenges of health care reform on urban Indian organizations: Public
Law 111-148, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of
March 21, 2010; House of Representatives 4872, the Health Care and
Education Reconciliation Act of March 23, 2010; and the Indian Health
Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009 (IHCIA).
B. Applicants should identify and align the urban Indian
organizations' priorities with the Agency priorities in the context of
health care reform. Applicants should describe how the Healthy People
2020 goals and objectives will be incorporated to guide their national
health promotion and disease prevention efforts to improve the health
of urban Indians. These priorities should align with the urban Indian
organizations' budget formulation process that establishes their
specific health priorities.
C. Applicants should summarize the need to work with, but not be
limited to, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS),
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), and Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ), and states to be able to proactively plan, implement,
and evaluate the impact of their activities on urban Indian
organizations' priorities for health care reform. The work with AHRQ
needs to include specialized focus on the Patient Centered Medical Home
(PCMH), which is a model for transforming the organization and delivery
of primary care, and its potential to improve the quality, safety,
efficiency, and effectiveness of urban Indian health care. The AHRQ
PCMH Resource Center is a valuable tool to achieve intended outcomes.
D. Applicants should summarize the need to make certain that public
policy program activities are complementary, coordinated and non-
duplicative.
E. Applicants should summarize the need to enhance communication,
interaction and coordination on health care reform activities by
initiating and maintaining partnerships and collaborative relationships
with other urban Indian organizations, national Indian Tribal
organizations, key state and local health entities, and education and
safety networks.
(2) Research and Data
A. Applicants should describe the need to collect and analyze
health disparities data, morbidity and mortality data, urban Indian
health services costs data and conduct data analyses in order to reduce
urban Indian health disparities and identify, improve, evaluate, and
document urban Indian organization practice-based and evidence-based
best practices.
B. Applicants should summarize the need to have access to cost and
cost-benefit information to create accurate reasonable annual urban
Indian health budgets.
C. Applicants should describe coordination with IHS funded Tribal
and Urban Epidemiological Centers, the CDC, and the IHS to reduce and/
or eliminate barriers that prevent access to data.
(3) Structured Training and Technical Assistance for Urban Indian
Organizations
A. Applicants should describe the need for education, technical
support and training to urban Indian organizations as they implement
health care reform and work with the Health Insurance Marketplace to
implement,
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sustain and improve access to quality health care services for urban
Indians.
B. Applicants should describe the need for training and technical
assistance to support urban Indian organization administration: (1)
Board of directors: roles and responsibilities, criteria to guide
medical staff credentialing and privileging, and ensure quality and
patient safety; (2) develop business plans; (3) enhance revenue and
third-party billing; (4) achieve and maintain program accreditation;
(5) acquire state licensure, PCMH certification or other state
credentialing; and (6) enrollment in Medicaid, Medicare, State
Children's Health Insurance Programs, and qualified health plans
through an Exchange, whether State-based, Federally-facilitated, or a
Partnership arrangement.
(4) Education, Public Relations and Marketing of Urban Indian
Organizations
A. Applicants should summarize the need to market the urban Indian
organizations through development of national, regional and local
marketing strategies and campaigns.
B. Applicants should describe the need for enhanced communication
among local private and non-profit health care entities and county and
state health departments.
C. Applicants should describe their communications strategy and
collaborative activities.
Part B: Program Planning and Evaluation
Section 1: Program Plans--Methodology, Project Goals and
Objectives, Project Logic Model, Work Plan, Resolution of Challenges,
and Impact
Methodology
Propose methods that will be used to meet each of the previously-
described program requirements and expectations in this funding
opportunity announcement. As appropriate, include development of
effective tools and strategies for ongoing staff training, outreach,
collaborations, clear communication, and information sharing/
dissemination with efforts to involve urban Indian organization staff
and patients, Federal entities, and state health personnel.
Goals and Objectives
Applicants should state the goals for the proposed project. Project
goals, which should be national in scope, describe the desired long-
term outcomes. Project goals need to align with and incorporate the
Healthy People 2020 benchmarks and be monitored to encourage
collaborations, empower individuals toward making informed health
decisions, and measure the impact of prevention activities to improve
the health of urban Indians.
These goals are broad statements that establish the overall
direction for, and focus of, a project. They serve as the foundation
for developing project objectives.
Applicants should provide at least one specific, achievable,
measurable, time-framed outcome objective for each proposed project
goal. Outcome objectives are specific statements of positive change to
be effected in order to achieve the goals of the project. That is,
outcome objectives are measurable steps, or stepping stones, for
reaching goals. They form the basis for monitoring progress toward
achieving project goals and setting targets for accountability. Each
objective should be specific; stated in measurable terms; be achievable
within a given time frame and available resources; be relevant to and
congruent within the larger project goal; and include a specific time
frame for achievement. Collectively, the proposed outcome objectives
should frame the set of national outcomes that the applicant wants to
achieve in meeting project goals.
Instructions
1. Applicants should describe proposed approaches and activities
for achieving project goals and objectives. Methods or activities
should be presented for addressing each focus of intent for the four
service areas for which application is made, as outlined in Part A.
Program Information Needs. In particular, applicants should demonstrate
that the proposed methodological approaches are national in scope and
contribute to increased capacity within the urban Indian health system.
2. Applicants should describe the specific activities necessary to
carry out each methodological approach. Applicants should take into
consideration the logic, technical soundness, feasibility, creativity
and innovativeness, potential utility, and national applicability of
the activities it proposes.
3. The description of the project methodology should extend across
the three years of the project effort.
4. Applicants should develop a project logic model, a systematic
diagram, that links anticipated outcomes with the project's activities/
processes and theoretical assumptions. It should include the following
basic components: Resources/inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and
impacts. (A useful resource is the logic model Development Guide, W.K.
Kellogg Foundation, 2004, available at http://www.wkkf.org). The
project logic model should be included as part of the application
appendix.
5. Evidence should be provided that the approaches and activities
can reasonably be expected to be effective. Literature relevant to the
methodology may be cited as appropriate.
Work Plan
Describe the activities or steps that will be used to achieve each
of the activities proposed during the entire project period in the
Methodology section. Use a time line that includes each activity and
identifies responsible staff. As appropriate, identify meaningful
support and collaboration with key stakeholders in planning, designing
and implementing all activities, including development of the
application and, further, the extent to which these contributors
reflect the cultural and geographic diversity of the urban Indian and
urban Indian organization locations.
Instructions
1. Applicants should include a Work Plan that describes the
sequence of specific activities and steps that will be used to carry
out each proposed methodological approach. Applicants should explicitly
describe who will conduct each activity, as well as when, where, and
how each activity will be carried out.
2. A detailed time line of proposed project activities should be
developed by the applicant, and attached as an appendix. The time line
should link activities to project objectives and should cover the three
years of the project period.
3. Applicants should describe an efficient and effective plan for
managing the project, including its personnel and resources.
4. Applicants should describe an effective plan for monitoring and
tracking project activities.
Resolution of Challenges
Discuss challenges that are likely to be encountered in designing
and implementing the activities described in the work plan sections, as
well as approaches that will be used to address such challenges.
Instructions
Applicants should discuss challenges, including both opportunities
and barriers, that are likely to be
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encountered in designing and implementing the activities described in
the Description of Methodology and Work Plan sections, as well as
approaches that will be used to address such challenges.
Impact
This section of the Project Narrative discusses the proposed
project's national audiences that the applicant plans to engage, and
how project activities will yield materials, resources and other
benefits for them.
Instructions
1. Applicants should explain how the proposed project's products
and results will have a national scope and applicability.
2. Applicants should provide an inclusive description of its
national target audiences as well as its proposed strategies for
reaching these audiences. The plan should include, but not be limited
to, electronic and Internet capacity.
3. Applicants should describe how and to what extent the proposed
project activities will directly improve leadership within the urban
Indian health services and systems being targeted, and contribute to
improve health status among urban Indians. The applicant should include
a description of how it intends to mobilize its audiences to learn from
and actually use the materials, products and resources it has developed
to address the four program requirements identified in Part A. Program
Information Needs.
Section 2: Program Evaluation
Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity
Describe current experience, skills, and knowledge, including
individuals on staff, materials published, and previous work of a
similar nature. As appropriate, describe the data collection strategy
to collect, analyze and track data to measure process and impact/
outcomes, with urban Indian organizations, Tribes, national Indian
organizations and states and explain how the data will be used to
inform program development and service delivery.
Evaluation and self-assessment have vital importance for quality
improvement and assessing the value-added contribution of urban Indian
education and research investments. Consequently, cooperative agreement
projects are expected to incorporate a carefully designed and well-
planned evaluation protocol capable of demonstrating and documenting
measurable progress toward reaching the project's stated goals through
achievement of the project's measurable objectives. The evaluation
protocol should be based on a clear rationale relating the identified
needs of the target population with project goals, award activities,
and the evaluation measures. Whenever possible, the measurements of
progress toward goals should focus on outcomes and results over which
the project has some degree of influence, rather than on intermediate
measures such as process or outputs. However, it is understood that
efforts similar to the categories of the Urban Indian Education and
Research Organization Cooperative Agreement program frequently focus on
intermediate measures as part of their evaluation. Applicants are
encouraged to incorporate the expertise of a professional evaluation
specialist (either on-staff or as a consultant) at the design stage of
the project methodology.
Instructions
1. Applicants should provide a well-conceived and logical plan for
assessing the achievement of the project's process and outcome
objectives and for evaluating changes in the specific problems and
contributing factors. The evaluation plan should focus primarily on
outcomes over which the project has influence and that have the
capacity to produce meaningful data on an annual basis.
2. Applicants should develop at least two (2) performance measures
by which it will track its progress over time. A performance measure is
a quantifiable indicator of progress and achievement that includes
outcome, output, input, efficiency, and explanatory indicators. It can
measure such domains as productivity, effectiveness, quality and
timeliness (Government Accounting Standards Board, http://www.seagov.org/aboutpmg/performance_measurement.shtml).
Part C: Program Report
Section 1: Describe major accomplishments over the last 24 months.
Please identify and describe significant program achievements
associated with the delivery of quality health services. Provide a
comparison of the actual accomplishments to the goals established for
the project period, or if applicable, provide justification for the
lack of progress.
Section 2: Describe major activities over the last 12 months.
Please identify and summarize recent major health related project
activities of the work done during the project period.
B. Budget Narrative: This narrative must describe the budget
requested and match the scope of work described the project narrative.
The budget narrative should not exceed five pages.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by
12:00 a.m., midnight Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on the Application
Deadline Date listed in the Key Dates section on page one of this
announcement. Any application received after the application deadline
will not be accepted for processing, nor will it be given further
consideration for funding. The applicant will be notified by the DGM
via email of this decision.
If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the
electronic application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support via
email to [email protected] or at (800) 518-4726. Customer Support is
available to address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on
Federal holidays). If problems persist, contact Paul Gettys, DGM
([email protected]) at (301) 443-5204. Please be sure to contact Mr.
Gettys at least ten days prior to the application deadline. Please do
not contact the DGM until you have received a Grants.gov tracking
number. In the event you are not able to obtain a tracking number, call
the DGM as soon as possible.
If the applicant needs to submit a paper application instead of
submitting electronically via Grants.gov, prior approval must be
requested and obtained (see Section IV.6 below for additional
information). The waiver must be documented in writing (emails 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 DGM. Once a waiver request has been approved, the
applicant will receive a confirmation of approval and the mailing
address to submit the application. Paper applications that are
submitted without a waiver from the Acting Director of DGM will not be
reviewed or considered further for funding. The applicant will be
notified via email of this decision by the Grants Management Officer of
DGM. Paper applications must be received by the DGM no later than 5:00
p.m., EDT, on the Application Deadline Date listed in the Key Dates
section on page one of this announcement. Late applications will not be
accepted for processing or considered for funding.
[[Page 40751]]
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
Pre-award costs are not allowable.
The available funds are inclusive of direct and
appropriate indirect costs.
Only one grant/cooperative agreement will be awarded per
applicant.
IHS will not acknowledge receipt of applications.
6. Electronic Submission Requirements
All applications must be submitted electronically. Please use the
http://www.Grants.gov Web site to submit an application electronically
and select the ``Find Grant Opportunities'' link on the homepage.
Download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and
then upload and submit the completed application via the http://www.Grants.gov Web site. Electronic copies of the application may not
be submitted as attachments to email messages addressed to IHS
employees or offices.
If an applicant receives a waiver to submit paper application
documents, please follow the rules and time lines that are noted below.
The applicant must seek assistance at least ten days prior to the
Application Deadline Date listed in the Key Dates section on page one
of this announcement.
Applicants that do not adhere to the time lines for System for
Award Management (SAM) and/or http://www.Grants.gov registration or
that fail to request timely assistance with technical issues will not
be considered for a waiver to submit a paper application.
Please be aware of the following:
Please search for the application package in http://www.Grants.gov by entering the CFDA number or the Funding Opportunity
Number. Both numbers are located in the header of this announcement.
If you experience technical challenges while submitting
your application electronically, please contact Grants.gov Support
directly at: [email protected] 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 from the agency must be
obtained.
If it is determined that a waiver is needed, the applicant
must submit a request in writing (emails are acceptable) to
[email protected] with a copy to [email protected]. Please
include a clear justification for the need to deviate from the standard
electronic submission process.
If the waiver is approved, the application should be sent
directly to the DGM by the Application Deadline Date listed in the Key
Dates section on page one of this announcement.
Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the
deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov as
the registration process for SAM and Grants.gov could take up to
fifteen working days.
Please use the optional attachment feature in Grants.gov
to attach additional documentation that may be requested by the DGM.
All applicants must comply with any page limitation
requirements described in this Funding Announcement.
After electronically submitting the application, the
applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The DGM will download the
application from Grants.gov and provide necessary copies to the
appropriate agency officials. Neither the DGM nor the OUIHP will notify
the applicant that the application has been received.
Email applications will not be accepted under this
announcement.
Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
All IHS applicants and grantee organizations are required to obtain
a DUNS number and maintain an active registration in the SAM database.
The DUNS number is a unique 9-digit identification number provided by
D&B which uniquely identifies each 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, please access it through http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform, or to expedite the process, call (866) 705-
5711.
All HHS recipients are required by the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as amended (``Transparency
Act''), to report information on subawards. Accordingly, all IHS
grantees must notify potential first-tier subrecipients that no entity
may receive a first-tier subaward unless the entity has provided its
DUNS number to the prime grantee organization. This requirement ensures
the use of a universal identifier to enhance the quality of information
available to the public pursuant to the Transparency Act.
System for Award Management (SAM)
Organizations that were not registered with Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) and have not registered with SAM will need to obtain
a DUNS number first and then access the SAM online registration through
the SAM home page at https://www.sam.gov (U.S. organizations will also
need to provide an Employer Identification Number from the Internal
Revenue Service that may take an additional 2-5 weeks to become
active). Completing and submitting the registration takes approximately
one hour to complete and SAM registration will take 3-5 business days
to process. Registration with the SAM is free of charge. Applicants may
register online at https://www.sam.gov.
Additional information on implementing the Transparency Act,
including the specific requirements for DUNS and SAM, can be found on
the IHS Grants Management, Grants Policy Web site: https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/index.cfm?module=dsp_dgm_policy_topics.
V. Application Review Information
The instructions for preparing the application narrative also
constitute the evaluation criteria for reviewing and scoring the
application. Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses.
The 70-page narrative should include only the first year of activities;
information for multi-year projects should be included as an appendix.
See ``Multi-year Project Requirements'' at the end of this section for
more information. The narrative section should be written in a manner
that is clear to outside reviewers unfamiliar with prior related
activities of the applicant. It should be well organized, succinct, and
contain all information necessary for reviewers to understand the
project fully. Points will be assigned to each evaluation criteria
adding up to a total of 100 points. A minimum score of 70 points is
required for funding. Points are assigned as follows:
1. Criteria
A. Program Information and Need for Assistance (20 points)
In the context of Healthy People 2020: (1) The target population
and its unmet health needs are described and documented; (2) Socio-
cultural determinants of health and health disparities impacting the
urban Indian population or communities served are identified and
described; (3)
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Demographic data is used and cited to support the information provided;
(4) Relevant barriers that the project hopes to overcome are discussed;
(5) Information provided helps reviewers understand the urban Indian
organizations that will be served by the proposed project; (6) Describe
how the applicant determined it has the administrative infrastructure
to provide the four program requirements: public policy, research and
data, structured training and technical assistance and for urban Indian
organizations, and education, public relations and marketing of urban
Indian organizations; and (7) Explain previous planning activities the
applicant has completed and if the applicant has identified or will
establish best-practices or evidence-based practices relative to each
of the four program requirements.
(1) Public Policy
A. Summarize the public policy opportunities and challenges of
health care reform on urban Indian organizations.
B. Identify and align the urban Indian organizations' priorities
with the Agency priorities in the context of health care reform.
Describe how the Healthy People 2020 goals and objectives are
incorporated to guide national health promotion and disease prevention
efforts. The priorities should align with the urban Indian
organizations' budget formulation process that establishes their
specific health priorities.
C. Summarize the need to work with the HHS Operating Divisions
including CMS, HRSA, SAMHSA, CDC, AHRQ, and states to proactively plan,
implement, and evaluate the impact of activities on urban Indian
organizations' priorities for health care reform.
D. Summarize the need to make certain that public policy program
activities are complementary, coordinated and non-duplicative.
E. Summarize enhanced communication, interaction, and coordination
of health care reform activities, such as the PCMH model, by initiating
and maintaining partnerships and collaborative relationships with
national Indian Tribal organizations, key state and local health
entities, and education and safety networks.
(2) Research and Data
F. Describe the need to collect and analyze health disparities
data, morbidity and mortality data, urban Indian health services costs
data and conduct data analyses in order to reduce urban Indian health
disparities and identify, improve, evaluate, and document urban Indian
organizations' practice-based and evidence-based best practices.
G. Summarize the need to have access to cost and cost-benefit
information to create accurate reasonable annual urban Indian health
budgets.
H. Describe coordination with IHS funded Tribal and Urban
Epidemiological Centers, the CDC, and the IHS to reduce and/or
eliminate barriers that prevent access to data.
(3) Structured Training and Technical Assistance for Urban Indian
Organizations
I. Describe the need for education, technical support and training
to urban Indian organizations as they implement health care reform and
work with the Health Insurance Marketplace to implement, sustain and
improve access to quality health care services for urban Indians.
J. Describe the need for training and technical assistance to
support urban Indian organization administration: (1) Board of
directors: roles and responsibilities, criteria to guide medical staff
credentialing and privileging, and ensure quality and patient safety,
(2) develop business plans, (3) enhance revenue and third-party
billing, (4) achieve and maintain program accreditation, (5) acquire
state licensure, PCMH certification or other state credentialing, and
(6) enrollment in Medicaid, Medicare and SHCIP programs.
(4) Education, Public Relations and Marketing of Urban Indian
Organizations
K. Summarize the need to market the urban Indian organizations
through development of national, regional and local marketing
strategies and campaigns.
L. Describe the need for enhanced communication among local private
and non-profit health care entities and county and state health
departments.
M. Describe communications strategy and collaborative activities.
B. Project Objective(s) and Approach (40 points)
Program Plans--Goals and Objectives, Methodology, Project Logic Model,
Work Plan, Resolution of Challenges, and Impact
Describe methods that will be used to meet each of the four program
requirements and expectations in this funding opportunity announcement.
Address development of effective tools and strategies for ongoing staff
training, outreach, collaborations, clear communication, and
information sharing/dissemination with efforts to involve urban Indian
organization staff and patients, Federal entities, and state health
personnel.
Goals and Objectives
State the goals for each program requirement. Project goals are
national in scope, describe the desired long-term outcomes for each
program requirement, and align with and incorporate the Healthy People
2020 benchmarks.
Provide at least one specific, achievable, measurable, time-framed
outcome objective for each proposed project goal. Each objective
identified is specific, stated in measurable terms, achievable within a
specified time frame and the available resources, is relevant to and
congruent within the larger project goal; and includes a specific time
frame for achievement. The proposed outcome objectives frame the set of
national outcomes the applicant wants to achieve in meeting project
goals.
Methodology
1. Applicant described proposed approaches and activities for
achieving project goals and objectives. Methods or activities are
presented for addressing each focus of intent for each of the four
program requirements outlined in Part A. Program Information Needs.
Applicant demonstrates that the proposed methodological approaches are
national in scope and contribute to increased capacity within the urban
Indian health system.
2. Applicant described the specific activities necessary to carry
out each methodological approach. Applicant demonstrated consideration
of logic, technical soundness, feasibility, creativity and
innovativeness, potential utility, and national applicability of the
activities it proposed.
3. The description of the project methodology extends across the
three years of the project effort.
4. The applicant developed a project logic model, a systematic
diagram, that links anticipated outcomes with the project's activities/
processes and theoretical assumptions. It includes the following basic
components: Resources/inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and
impacts. The project logic model is included as part of the application
appendix.
5. Applicant provided evidence that its approaches and activities
can reasonably be expected to be effective. Literature relevant to the
methodology is cited as appropriate.
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Work Plan
A work plan is included that describes the sequence of specific
activities and steps that will be used to carry out each proposed
methodological approach. The applicant explicitly described who will
conduct each activity, as well as when, where, and how each activity
will be carried out. A detailed time line of proposed project
activities was developed and included in the appendix. The time line
links activities to project objectives and covers the three years of
the project period. The applicant described an efficient and effective
plan for managing the project, including its personnel and resources.
The applicant described an effective plan for monitoring and tracking
project activities.
Resolution of Challenges
The applicant identified and discussed challenges, including both
opportunities and barriers, that are likely to be encountered in
designing and implementing the activities described in the Description
of Methodology and Work Plan sections, as well as approaches that will
be used to address such challenges.
Impact
The applicant explained how the proposed project's products and
results will have a national scope and applicability. The applicant
provided an inclusive description of its national target audiences as
well as its proposed strategies for reaching these audiences. The plan
includes, but is not limited to, electronic and Internet capacity. The
applicant described how and to what extent the proposed project
activities will directly improve leadership with the urban Indian
health services and systems being targeted, and contribution to improve
health status among urban Indians. The applicant included a description
of how it intends to mobilize its audiences to learn from and actually
use the materials, products and resources it has developed to address
the four services areas identified in A. Program Information needs.
C. Program Evaluation and Technical Support Capacity (15 points)
The applicant provided a well-conceived and logical plan for
assessing the achievement of the project's process and outcome
objectives and for evaluating changes in the specific problems and
contributing factors. The evaluation plan focuses primarily on outcomes
over which the project has influence and that have the capacity to
produce meaningful data on an annual basis.
The applicant developed at least two (2) performance measures by
which it will track its progress over time. The performance measures
are quantifiable indicators of progress and achievement that include
outcome, output, input, efficiency, and explanatory indicators. The
performance measures can be measured by domains including productivity,
effectiveness, quality and timeliness.
D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel and Qualifications (15
points)
Organizational Capabilities
The applicant identified its credibility including how long and why
the organization exists, accomplishments and impact, size and
characteristics of its constituency, its funding sources and their
positive comments on the organization's work, and results of internal
and external evaluations of the programs. Include a listing of the
current Board of Directors (the listing of Board members includes their
status as an urban Indian, professions, education degrees, and board
appointment terms) and discuss the organization's administrative
capacity including OMB Circular administrative requirements for non-
profit organizations, fiscal and human resources policies and
procedures and audit reporting.
Key Personnel and Qualifications
Identify current staff and new staff education, experience, skills,
and knowledge; materials published; and previous work of a similar
nature. Describe data collection strategy to collect, analyze and track
data to measure process and impact/outcomes with urban Indian
organizations, Tribes, national Indian organizations and states and
explain how the data will be used to inform program development and
service delivery.
E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification (10 points)
The applicant was specific and provided an itemized categorical
budget and a clear succinct budget narrative justification to support
the scope of work described in the project narrative.
Multi-Year Project Requirements (if applicable)
Projects requiring second and third years must include a brief
project narrative and budget (one additional page per year) addressing
the developmental plans for each additional year of the project.
Required information on multi-years should be included as an appendix.
Appendix Items
Work plan, logic model and/or time line for proposed
objectives.
Position descriptions for key staff.
Resumes of key staff that reflect current duties.
Consultant or contractor proposed scope of work and letter
of commitment (if applicable).
Current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
Organizational chart(s) highlighting proposed project
staff and their supervisors as well as other key contacts within the
organization and key community contacts.
Additional documents to support narrative (i.e. data
tables, key news articles, etc.).
2. Review and Selection
Each application will be prescreened by the DGM staff for
eligibility and completeness as outlined in the funding announcement.
Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the
eligibility criteria will not be referred to the ORC. Applicants will
be notified by DGM, via email, to outline minor missing components
(i.e., signature on the SF-424, audit documentation, key contact form)
needed for an otherwise complete application. All missing documents
must be sent to DGM on or before the due date listed in the email of
notification of missing documents required.
To obtain a minimum score for funding by the ORC, applicants must
address all program requirements and provide all required
documentation. If an applicant receives less than a minimum score, it
will be considered to be ``Disapproved'' and will be informed via email
by the IHS program office of their application's deficiencies. A
summary statement outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the
application will be provided to each disapproved applicant. The summary
statement will be sent to the Authorized Organizational Representative
(AOR) that is identified on the face page (SF-424), of the application
within 30 days of the completion of the Objective Review.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. 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 will be initiated by the DGM in our grant
system, GrantSolutions (https://www.grantsolutions.gov). Each entity
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that is approved for funding under this announcement will need to
request or have a user account in GrantSolutions in order to retrieve
their NoA. 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.
Disapproved Applicants
Applicants who received a score less than the recommended funding
level for approval, 70, and were deemed to be disapproved by the ORC,
will receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS program office
within 30 days of the conclusion of the ORC outlining the weaknesses
and strengths of their application submitted. The IHS program office
will also provide additional contact information as needed to address
questions and concerns as well as provide technical assistance if
desired.
Approved But Unfunded Applicants
Approved but unfunded applicants that met the minimum scoring range
and were deemed by the ORC to be ``Approved'', but were not funded due
to lack of funding, will have their applications held by DGM for a
period of one year. If additional funding becomes available during the
course of FY 2013, the approved application maybe reconsidered by the
awarding program office for possible funding. The applicant will also
receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS program office
within 30 days of the conclusion of the ORC.
Note: Any correspondence other than the official NoA signed by
an IHS Grants Management Official announcing to the Project Director
that an award has been made to their organization is not an
authorization to implement their program on behalf of IHS.
2. Administrative Requirements
Cooperative agreements are administered in accordance with the
following regulations, policies, and OMB cost principles:
A. The criteria as outlined in this Program Announcement.
B. Administrative Regulations for Grants:
45 CFR Part 74, Uniform Administrative Requirements for
Awards and Subawards to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals,
and other Non-profit Organizations.
C. Grants Policy:
HHS Grants Policy Statement, Revised 01/07.
D. Cost Principles:
2 CFR Part 230--Cost Principles for Non-Profit
Organizations (OMB Circular A-122).
E. Audit Requirements:
OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments,
and Non-profit Organizations.
3. Indirect Costs
This section applies to all grant recipients that request
reimbursement of indirect costs (IDC) in their grant application. In
accordance with HHS Grants Policy Statement, Part II-27, IHS requires
applicants to obtain a current IDC rate agreement 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 covers the applicable grant activities under the current
award's budget period. If the current rate is not on file with the DGM
at the time of award, the IDC portion of the budget will be restricted.
The restrictions remain in place until the current rate is provided to
the DGM.
Generally, IDC rates for IHS grantees are negotiated with the
Division of Cost Allocation (DCA) https://rates.psc.gov/ and the
Department of Interior (Interior Business Center) http://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/Indirect_Cost_Services/index.cfm. For questions
regarding the indirect cost policy, please call (301) 443-5204 to
request assistance.
4. Reporting Requirements
The grantee must submit required 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 requirement
applies whether the delinquency is attributable to the failure of the
grantee organization or the individual responsible for preparation of
the reports. Reports must be submitted electronically via
GrantSolutions. Personnel responsible for submitting reports will be
required to obtain a login and password for GrantSolutions. Please see
the Agency Contacts list in section VII for the systems contact
information.
The reporting requirements for this program are noted below.
A. Progress Reports
Program progress reports are required semi-annually, within 30 days
after the budget period ends. These reports must 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 Reports
Federal Financial Report FFR (SF-425), Cash Transaction Reports are
due 30 days after the close of every calendar quarter to the Division
of Payment Management, HHS at: http://www.dpm.psc.gov. It is
recommended that you also send a copy of your FFR (SF-425) report to
your Grants Management Specialist. Failure to submit timely reports may
cause a disruption in timely payments to your organization.
Grantees are responsible and accountable for accurate information
being reported on all required reports: the Progress Reports and
Federal Financial Report.
C. Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS)
This award may be subject to the Transparency Act subaward and
executive compensation reporting requirements of 2 CFR Part 170.
The Transparency Act requires the OMB to establish a single
searchable database, accessible to the public, with information on
financial assistance awards made by Federal agencies. The Transparency
Act also includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to
report information about first-tier subawards and executive
compensation under Federal assistance awards.
IHS has implemented a Term of Award into all IHS Standard Terms and
Conditions, NoAs and funding announcements regarding the FSRS reporting
requirement. This IHS Term of Award is applicable to all IHS grant and
cooperative agreements issued on or after October 1, 2010, with a
$25,000 subaward obligation dollar threshold met for any specific
reporting period. Additionally, all new (discretionary) IHS awards
(where the project period is made up of more than one budget period)
and where: (1) the project period start date was October 1, 2010 or
after and (2) the primary awardee will have a $25,000 subaward
obligation dollar threshold during any specific reporting
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period will be required to address the FSRS reporting. For the full IHS
award term implementing this requirement and additional award
applicability information, visit the Grants Management Grants Policy
Web site at: https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/index.cfm?module=dsp_dgm_policy_topics.
Telecommunication for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY
(301) 443-6394.
VII. Agency Contacts
1. Questions on the programmatic issues may be directed to: Phyllis
Wolfe, Director, Office of Urban Indian Health Programs, 801 Thompson
Avenue, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852, Phone: (301) 443-1631, Email:
[email protected].
2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be
directed to: Patience Musikikongo, Grants Management Specialist,
Division of Grants Operations, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 360,
Rockville, MD 20852, Phone: (301) 443-5204, Email:
[email protected].
3. Questions on systems matters may be directed to: Paul Gettys,
Grant Systems Coordinator, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP Suite 360,
Rockville, MD 20852, Phone: (301) 443-5204, Fax: (301) 443-9602, Email:
[email protected].
VIII. Other Information
The Public Health Service 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 HHS mission to protect and advance the physical and
mental health of the American people.
Dated: June 28, 2013.
Yvette Roubideaux,
Acting Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16270 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P