[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80365-80366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32355]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Health Center Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of Class Deviation from Competition Requirements for the 
Health Center Program; Notice of Class Deviations from the Requirements 
for Extensions, Administrative Supplements, and for Announcing these 
Deviations in the Federal Register for the Health Center Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Awarding Agency Grants Administration 
Manual (AAGAM) Chapter 1.03.103, the Bureau of Primary Health Care 
(BPHC) has been granted class deviations from the requirements for 
extensions contained in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.I.a(5)(b) and 
the requirements for administrative supplements contained in AAGAM 
Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.4.b to provide additional grant funds during 
extended budget periods in excess of the allowed maximum. The 
deviations prevent interruptions in the provision of critical health 
care services for a funded service area until a new award can be made 
to an eligible Service Area Competition (SAC) applicant and to conduct 
an orderly phase-out of Health Center Program activities by the current 
award recipient. BPHC has also been granted a deviation that allows it 
to annually announce via the Federal Register the Health Center Program 
award recipients that received a low cost extension and/or 
administrative supplement under the above described deviations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Intended Recipient of the Award: Health 
Center Program award recipients for service areas that are threatened 
with a lapse in services due to transitioning award recipients.
    Amount of Non-Competitive Awards: Varies annually.
    Period of Supplemental Funding: Awards made beginning in fiscal 
year 2016 and ongoing.

    CFDA Number: 93.224

    Authority: Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 254b, as amended).


[[Page 80366]]


    Justification: Targeting the nation's neediest populations and 
geographic areas, the Health Center Program currently funds more than 
1,300 health centers that operate approximately 9,000 service delivery 
sites in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, and the Pacific Basin. More than 23 million patients, 
including medically underserved and uninsured patients, received 
comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care 
services through the Health Center Program award recipients.
    Approximately one-third of current award recipients' service areas 
are scheduled to be competed each year via SACs. SACs are also held 
prior to a current grant's project period end date when (1) a grant is 
voluntarily relinquished or (2) a program noncompliance enforcement 
action taken by HRSA terminates the grant. If a SAC draws no fundable 
applications, BPHC may extend the current award recipient's budget 
period to conduct an orderly phase-out of Health Center Program 
activities and prepare for a new competition for the service area.
    The amount of additional grant funds is calculated by pro-rating 
HRSA's existing annual funding commitment to the service area. The 
average Health Center Program grant amount is over $2 million. 
Approximately 6 months is required to announce and conduct a SAC. 
BPHC's extensions and administrative supplements are generally for a 
minimum of 90 days, which is at least 25 percent of the annual grant 
amount, thereby typically exceeding the allowed maximum. Through the 
deviations, award recipients receive consistent levels of funding to 
support uninterrupted primary health care services to the nation's most 
vulnerable populations and communities during service area award 
recipient transition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Olivia Shockey, Expansion Division 
Director, Office of Policy and Program Development, Bureau of Primary 
Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration at 301-443-
9282 or [email protected].

    Dated: December 17, 2015.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-32355 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P