[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 132 (Thursday, July 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 39397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16109]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Replacement Funding for Title X Family Planning 
Service Grant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

AGENCY: Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Population Affairs (OPA) announces that $714,000 
in fiscal year 2014 funds are being awarded for a replacement family 
planning service grant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 
for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. This grant 
will establish and operate voluntary family planning service projects, 
which shall provide family planning services to all persons desiring 
such services, with priority for services to persons from low-income 
families.

DATES: The replacement grant will be for the current period: July 1, 
2014-March 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be directed to: Office of Population Affairs, 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For programmatic questions, please 
contact Susan Moskosky, MS, WHNP-BC, Acting Director, Office of 
Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, 1101 
Wootton Parkway, Suite 700, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: (240) 453-2888.
    For administrative requirements, please contact Alice Bettencourt, 
Director, Office of Grants Management, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Health, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 
20852. Phone: (240) 453-8822.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title X of the Public Health Service Act authorizes the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for projects to 
provide family planning services to any person desiring such services, 
with priority given to individuals from low-income families. Section 
1001 of the Act, as amended, authorizes grants ``to assist in the 
establishment and operation of voluntary family planning projects which 
shall offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning 
methods and services (including natural family planning methods, 
infertility services, and services for adolescents).'' Title X 
regulations further specify ``these projects shall consist of the 
educational, comprehensive medical, and social services necessary to 
aid individuals to determine freely the number and spacing of their 
children'' (42 CFR 59.1). Family planning services include clinical 
family planning and related preventive health services; information, 
education, and counseling related to family planning; and, referral 
services as indicated. In addition, section 1001 of the statute 
requires that, to the extent practicable, Title X service providers 
shall encourage family participation in family planning services 
projects. Section 1008 of the Act, as amended, stipulates that ``None 
of the funds appropriated under this title shall be used in programs 
where abortion is a method of family planning.''

II. Title X Statute and Regulations

    Requirements regarding the provision of family planning services 
under Title X can be found in the statute (Title X of the Public Health 
Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.) and in the implementing regulations 
which govern project grants for family planning services (42 CFR part 
59, subpart A). In addition, sterilization of clients as part of the 
Title X program must be consistent with 42 CFR part 50, subpart B 
(``Sterilization of Persons in Federally Assisted Family Planning 
Projects''). Title X of the Public Health Service Act authorizes the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for 
projects to provide family planning services to any person desiring 
such services, with priority given to individuals from low-income 
families. Authority: Section 1001 of the Public Health Service (PHS) 
Act. The administrative and funding instrument to be used for this 
program will be a grant. The replacement grant will be funded with a 
nine-month project period. Only one award in the amount of $714,000 
will be made with the anticipated start date of July 1, 2014.

III. Justification for the Exception to Competition

    The replacement grant award is for the maintenance and continuity 
of Title X services for residents of Hampden, Berkshire, Franklin, and 
Hampshire counties in Western Massachusetts. Due to the termination and 
subsequent relinquishment of the grant to Tapestry Health, resulting in 
the absence of Title X services in a particularly vulnerable part of 
the state, there was a critical need to ensure these services would 
continue to be offered. The State of Massachusetts Department of Public 
Health's (MDPH) experience in administering a federal grant, 
familiarity with the requirements of the Title X program and the 
ability to provide services quickly and with minimal interruption 
identified it as the optimal candidate to provide these services under 
the current constraints.

    Dated: July 2, 2014.
Susan B. Moskosky,
Acting Director, Office of Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-16109 Filed 7-9-14; 8:45 am]
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