[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 95 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22146-22153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10096]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Indian Health Service
American Indians Into Medicine
Announcement Type: Competing Continuation.
Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2019-IHS-INMED-0001.
Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) Number:
93.970.
Key Dates
Application Deadline Date: June 20, 2019.
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 20, 2019.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Statutory Authority
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for the
Indians into Medicine Program (INMED). This program is authorized under
25 U.S.C. 1616g, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437,
as amended (IHCIA). This program is described in the Assistance
Listings located at https://beta.sam.gov (formerly known as Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance) under 93.970.
Background
The IHS, an agency within the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), is responsible for providing Federal health services to
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). The mission of the IHS is
to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of AI/AN.
The IHCIA authorizes the IHS to administer programs that are designed
to attract and recruit qualified Indians into health professions and to
ensure the availability of health professionals to serve AI/AN
populations.
Purpose
The purpose of the Indians into Medicine Program (INMED) is to
augment the number of Indian health professionals serving Indians by
encouraging Indians to enter the health professions and removing the
multiple barriers to serving Indians.
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument
Grant.
Estimated Funds Available
The total funding identified for fiscal year (FY) 2019 is
approximately $397,360. Individual award amounts are anticipated to be
between $170,000 and $195,000. The funding available for
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competing and subsequent continuation awards issued under this
announcement is subject to the availability of funds and budgetary
priorities of the Agency. The IHS is under no obligation to make awards
that are selected for funding under this announcement.
Anticipated Number of Awards
Approximately two awards will be issued under this program
announcement.
Period of Performance
The period of performance is for five years.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligibility
Public and nonprofit private colleges and universities with medical
and other allied health programs accredited by an accrediting agency
recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education are eligible to apply for
the grants. Public and nonprofit private colleges that operate nursing
programs are not eligible under this announcement since the IHS
currently funds the nursing recruitment grant program.
The existing INMED grant program at the University of North Dakota
has as its target population Indian Tribes primarily within the States
of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. A
college or university applying under this announcement must propose to
conduct its program among Indian Tribes in states not currently served
by the University of North Dakota INMED program.
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.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants
or cooperative agreements.
3. Other Requirements
Applications with budget requests that exceed the highest dollar
amount outlined under the Award Information, Estimated Funds Available
section, or exceed the Period of Performance outlined under the Award
Information, Period of Performance section will be considered not
responsive and will not be reviewed. The Division of Grants Management
(DGM) will notify the applicant.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Obtaining Application Materials
The application package and detailed instructions for this
announcement is hosted on http://www.Grants.gov.
Please direct questions regarding the application process to Mr.
Paul Gettys at (301) 443-2114 or (301) 443-5204.
2. Content and Form Application Submission
The applicant must include the project narrative as an attachment
to the application package. Mandatory documents for all applicants
include:
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.
Project Narrative (not to exceed 25 pages). See IV.2.A Project
Narrative for instructions.
[cir] Background information on the organization.
[cir] Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that
provide a description of what will be accomplished.
Budget Justification and Narrative (not to exceed 5 pages).
See IV.2.B Budget Narrative for instructions.
One-page Timeframe Chart.
Proof of accreditation.
Biographical sketches for all Key Personnel.
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 rate (IDC) agreement
(required in order to receive IDC).
Organizational Chart (optional).
Documentation of current Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Financial Audit (if applicable).
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
website: https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx.
Public Policy Requirements
All Federal public policies apply to IHS grants and cooperative
agreements, with the exception of the Discrimination Policy.
Requirements for Project and Budget Narratives
A. Project Narrative: This narrative should be a separate document
that is no more than 25 pages and must: (1) Have consecutively numbered
pages; (2) use black font not smaller than 12 points; (3) and be
formatted to fit standard letter paper (8\1/2\ x 11 inches).
Be sure to succinctly answer all questions listed under the
evaluation criteria (refer to Section V.1, Evaluation Criteria) and
place all responses and required information in the correct section
noted below or they will not be considered or scored. If the narrative
exceeds the page limit, the application will be considered not
responsive and not be reviewed. The 25-page limit for the narrative
does not include the work plan, standard forms, Tribal resolutions,
budget, budget justifications, narratives, and/or other appendix items.
There are three parts to the narrative: Part 1--Program
Information; Part 2--Program Planning and Evaluation; and Part 3--
Program Report. See below for additional details about what must be
included in the narrative.
The page limitations below are for each narrative and budget
submitted.
Part 1: Program Information (Limit--5 Pages)
Section 1: Needs
a. State specific objectives of the project, and the extent to
which they are measurable and quantifiable, significant to the needs of
American Indian/Alaska Native people, logical, complete, and consistent
with the purpose of 25 U.S.C. 1616g.
b. Describe briefly what the project intends to accomplish.
Identify the expected results, benefits, and outcomes or products to be
derived from each objective of the project.
c. Provide a project specific work plan (milestone chart) which
lists each objective, the tasks to be conducted in order to reach the
objective, and the timeframe needed to accomplish each task. Timeframes
should be projected in a realistic manner to assure that the scope of
work can be completed within each 12-month budget period.
d. In the case of proposed projects for identification of Indians
with a potential for education or training in the health professions,
include a method for assessing the potential of interested Indians for
undertaking necessary education or training in such health professions.
e. State clearly the criteria by which the project's progress will
be evaluated
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and by which the success of the project will be determined.
f. Explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the
needs, goals, and objectives identified and discussed in the
application are being met and if the results and benefits identified
are being achieved.
g. Identify who will perform the evaluation and when.
Part 2: Program Planning and Evaluation (Limit--10 Pages)
Section 1: Program Plans
a. Provide an organizational chart and describe the administrative,
managerial and organizational arrangements and the facilities and
resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed project (include in
appendix).
b. Provide the name and qualifications of the project director or
other individuals responsible for the conduct of the project; the
qualifications of the principal staff carrying out the project; and a
description of the manner in which the applicant's staff is or will be
organized and supervised to carry out the proposed project. Include
biographical sketches of key personnel (or job descriptions if the
position is vacant) (include in appendix).
c. Describe any prior experience in administering similar projects.
d. Discuss the commitment of the organization, i.e., although not
required, the level of non-Federal support. List the intended financial
participation, if any, of the applicant in the proposed project
specifying the type of contributions such as cash or services, loans of
full or part-time staff, equipment, space, materials or facilities or
other contributions.
e. The IHCIA requires that applicants agree to provide a program
which:
(A) provides outreach and recruitment for health professions to
Indian communities including elementary, secondary and community
colleges located on Indian reservations which will be served by the
program;
(B) incorporates a program advisory board comprised of
representatives from the tribes and communities which will be served by
the program;
(C) provides summer preparatory programs for Indian students who
need enrichment in the subjects of math and science in order to pursue
training in the health professions;
(D) provides tutoring, counseling and support to students who are
enrolled in a health career program of study at the respective college
or university;
(E) and to the maximum extent feasible, employs qualified Indians
in the program.
f. Describe the college's or university's ability to meet this
requirement.
g. As addressing the opioid crisis is a priority of the Department
of Health and Human Services, the program plan may provide information
on how the awardee will educate and train students in opioid addiction
prevention, treatment and recovery.
Section 2: Program Evaluation
a. Describe the current and proposed participation of Indians (if
any) in your organization.
b. Identify the target Indian population to be served by your
proposed project and the relationship of your organization to that
population.
c. Describe the methodology to be used to access the target
population.
d. Identify affiliation agreements with Tribal community colleges,
the IHS, university affiliated programs, and other appropriate entities
to enhance the education of Indian students.
e. Identify existing university tutoring, counseling and student
support services.
Part 3: Program Report (limit--10 pages)
Section 1: Describe Your Organization's Significant Program Activities
and Accomplishments Over the Past Five Years Associated With the Goals
of This Announcement
a. Provide data and supporting documentation to substantiate need
for recruitment.
b. Indicate the number of potential Indian students to be contacted
and recruited as well as potential cost per student recruited. Those
projects that have the potential to serve a greater number of Indians
will be given first consideration.
c. Describe methodology to locate and recruit students with
educational potential in a variety of health care fields. Primary
recruitment efforts must be in the field of medicine with secondary
efforts in other allied health fields such as pharmacy, dentistry,
medical technology, x-ray technology, etc. The field of nursing is
excluded since the IHS does fund the IHS Nursing Recruitment grant
program.
B. Budget Narrative (limit--5 pages)
Provide a budget narrative that explains the amounts requested for
each line of the budget. The budget narrative should specifically
describe how each item will support the achievement of proposed
objectives. Be very careful about showing how each item in the
``other'' category is justified. For subsequent budget years, the
narrative should highlight the changes from year 1 or clearly indicate
that there are no substantive budget changes during the period of
performance. Do NOT use the budget narrative to expand the project
narrative.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on the Application Deadline Date listed in
the Key Dates section. Any application received after the application
deadline will not be accepted for review. Grants.gov will notify the
applicant via email if the application is rejected.
If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the
application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support (see contact
information at https://www.grants.gov). If problems persist, contact
Mr. Paul Gettys ([email protected]), DGM Grant Systems Coordinator,
by telephone at (301) 443-2114 or (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.
IHS will not acknowledge receipt of applications.
4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not
applicable to this program.
5. Funding Restrictions
Preaward costs are allowable up to 90 days before the
start date of the award provided the costs are otherwise allowable if
awarded. Preaward costs are incurred at the risk of the applicant.
The available funds are inclusive of direct and
appropriate indirect costs.
Only one cooperative agreement will be awarded per
applicant.
6. Electronic Submission Requirements
All applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Please use the
http://www.Grants.gov website to submit an application. Find the
application by selecting the ``Search Grants'' link on the homepage.
Follow the instructions for submitting an application under the Package
tab. No other method of application submission is acceptable.
If the applicant cannot submit an application through Grants.gov, a
waiver must be requested. Prior approval must be requested and obtained
from Mr. Robert Tarwater, Director, DGM, (see Section IV.6 below for
additional information). A written
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waiver request must be sent to [email protected] with a copy to
[email protected]. The waiver must: (1) Be documented in writing
(emails are acceptable), before submitting an application by some other
method, and (2) include clear justification for the need to deviate
from the required application submission process.
Once the waiver request has been approved, the applicant will
receive a confirmation of approval email containing submission
instructions. A copy of the written approval must be included with the
application that is submitted to DGM. Applications that are submitted
without a copy of the signed waiver from the Director of the DGM will
not be reviewed. The Grants Management Officer of the DGM will notify
the applicant via email of this decision. Applications submitted under
waiver must be received by the DGM no later than 5:00 p.m., EDT, on the
Application Deadline Date. Late applications will not be accepted for
processing. Applicants that do not register for both the System for
Award Management (SAM) and Grants.gov and/or fail to request timely
assistance with technical issues will not be considered for a waiver to
submit an application via alternative method.
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, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support (see
contact information at https://www.grants.gov).
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.
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 twenty
working days.
Please follow the instructions on Grants.gov to include
additional documentation that may be requested by this funding
announcement.
All applicants must comply with any page limits described
in this funding announcement.
After submitting the application, the applicant will
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. IHS will not notify the applicant that the
application has been received.
Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
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 the request service through
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform, or call (866) 705-5711.
The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as
amended (``Transparency Act''), requires all HHS recipients to report
information on sub-awards. Accordingly, all IHS grantees must notify
potential first-tier sub-recipients that no entity may receive a first-
tier sub-award 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 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). Please see SAM.gov for details on the registration process and
timeline. Registration with the SAM is free of charge, but can take
several weeks to process. 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 website: http://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.
V. Application Review Information
Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses. The 25-
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 possible points. Points are assigned as
follows:
1. Criteria
A. Introduction and Need for Assistance (10 Points)
1. State specific objectives of the project, and the extent to
which they are measurable and quantifiable, significant to the needs of
Indian people, logical, complete, and consistent with the purpose of 25
U.S.C. 1616g.
2. Describe briefly what the project intends to accomplish.
Identify the expected results, benefits, and outcomes or products to be
derived from each objective of the project.
3. Provide a project specific work plan (milestone chart) which
lists each objective, the tasks to be conducted in order to reach the
objective, and the time frame needed to accomplish each task. Time
frames should be projected in a realistic manner to assure that the
scope of work can be completed within each 12-month budget period.
4. In the case of proposed projects for identification of Indians
with a potential for education or training in the health professions,
include a method for assessing the potential of interested Indians for
undertaking necessary education or training in such health professions.
5. State clearly the criteria by which the project's progress will
be evaluated and by which the success of the project will be
determined.
6. Explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the
needs, goals, and objectives identified and discussed in the
application are being met and if the results and benefits identified
are being achieved.
7. Identify who will perform the evaluation and when.
B. Project Objective(s), Work Plan and Approach (40 Points)
1. Provide an organizational chart and describe the administrative,
managerial and organizational arrangements and the facilities and
resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed project (include in
appendix).
2. Provide the name and qualifications of the project director or
other individuals responsible for the conduct of the project; the
qualifications of the principal staff carrying out the
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project; and a description of the manner in which the applicant's staff
is or will be organized and supervised to carry out the proposed
project. Include biographical sketches of key personnel (or job
descriptions if the position is vacant) (include in appendix).
3. Describe any prior experience in administering similar projects.
4. Discuss the commitment of the organization, i.e., although not
required, the level of non-Federal support. List the intended financial
participation, if any, of the applicant in the proposed project
specifying the type of contributions such as cash or services, loans of
full or part-time staff, equipment, space, materials or facilities or
other contributions.
5. Describe the ability to provide outreach and recruitment for
health professions to Indian communities including, but not limited to,
elementary and secondary schools and community colleges located on
Indian reservations which will be served by the program.
6. Describe the organization's plan to incorporate a program
advisory board comprised of representatives from the Tribes and
communities which will be served by the program.
7. To the maximum extent feasible, employ qualified Indians in the
program.
8. Describe how the awardee will report on the impact of the
program on recruitment and retention of AI/AN participants in medical
school, other health professional programs, and in employment in Indian
health programs.
9. Describe how the awardee will educate and train students in
opioid addiction prevention, treatment and recovery.
C. Program Evaluation (30 Points)
1. Describe the current and proposed participation of Indians (if
any) in your organization.
2. Identify the target Indian population to be served by your
proposed project and the relationship of your organization to that
population.
3. Describe the methodology to be used to access the target
population.
4. Identify existing university tutoring, counseling and student
support services.
5. Provide data and supporting documentation to substantiate need
for recruitment.
6. Provide information on how recruitment and retention data will
be obtained, analyzed and stored; specifically provide information on
how data on participants, including any sensitive Personally
Identifiable Information (PII), will be securely housed.
7. Indicate the number of potential Indian students to be contacted
and recruited as well as potential cost per student recruited. Those
projects that have the potential to serve a greater number of Indians
will be given first consideration.
8. Describe methodology to locate and recruit students with
educational potential in a variety of health care fields. Primary
recruitment efforts must be in the field of medicine with secondary
efforts in other allied health fields such as pharmacy, dentistry,
medical technology, x-ray technology, etc. The field of nursing is
excluded since the IHS does fund the IHS nursing recruitment grant
program.
D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel and Qualifications (15
Points)
1. Provide an organizational chart and describe the administrative,
managerial and organization arrangements and the facilities and
resources to be utilized to conduct the proposed project.
2. List the key personnel who will work with the program. In the
appendix, include position descriptions and resumes of program director
and key staff with duties and experience. Describe who will be writing
progress report.
3. Describe any prior experience in administering similar projects.
E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification (5 Points)
1. Clearly define the budget. Provide a justification and detailed
breakdown of the funding by category for the first year of the project.
Information on the project director and project staff should include
salaries and percentage of time assigned to the grant. List equipment
purchases necessary to conduct the project.
2. The available funding level of between $170,000 and $195,000 is
inclusive of both direct and indirect costs or 8 percent of total
direct costs. Because this project is for a training grant, the HHS
policy limiting reimbursement of indirect cost to the lesser of the
applicant's actual indirect costs or 8 percent of total direct costs
(exclusive of tuition and related fees and expenditures for equipment)
is applicable. This limitation applies to all institutions of higher
education.
3. The applicant may include as a direct cost student support costs
related to tutoring, counseling, and support for students enrolled in a
health career program of study at the respective college or university.
Tuition and stipends for regular sessions are not allowable costs of
the grant; however, students recruited through the INMED program may
apply for funding from the IHS Scholarship Programs.
4. Provide budgetary information for summer preparatory programs
for Indian students, who need enrichment in the subjects of math and
science in order to pursue training in the health professions.
Multi-Year Project Requirements
Applications must include a brief project narrative and budget (one
additional page per year) addressing the developmental plans for each
additional year of the project. This attachment will not count as part
of the project narrative or the budget narrative.
Additional Documents Can Be Uploaded as Appendix Items in Grants.gov
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 Agreement.
Organizational chart.
Map of area identifying project location(s).
Additional documents to support narrative (i.e. data
tables, key news articles, etc.).
2. Review and Selection
Each application will be prescreened for eligibility and
completeness as outlined in the funding announcement. Applications that
meet the eligibility criteria shall be reviewed for merit by the ORC
based on evaluation criteria. Incomplete applications and applications
that are not responsive to the administrative thresholds will not be
referred to the ORC and will not be funded. The applicant will be
notified of this determination.
Applicants must address all program requirements and provide all
required documentation.
3. Notifications of Disposition
All applicants will receive an Executive Summary Statement from the
IHS Office of Human Resources within 30 days of the conclusion of the
ORC outlining the strengths and weaknesses of their application. The
summary statement will be sent to the Authorizing Official identified
on the face page (SF-424) of the application.
[[Page 22151]]
A. Award Notices for Funded Applications
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.
Each entity approved for funding must have a user account in
GrantSolutions in order to retrieve the NoA. Please see the Agency
Contacts list in Section VII for the systems contact information.
B. Approved but Unfunded Applications
Approved applications not funded due to lack of available funds
will be held for one year. If funding becomes available during the
course of the year, the application may be reconsidered.
Note: Any correspondence other than the official NoA executed 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 the IHS.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Administrative Requirements
Cooperative agreements are administered in accordance with the
following regulations and policies:
A. The criteria as outlined in this program announcement.
B. Administrative Regulations for Grants:
Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards,
located at 45 CFR part 75.
C. Grants Policy:
HHS Grants Policy Statement, Revised 01/07.
D. Cost Principles:
Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, ``Cost
Principles,'' located at 45 CFR part 75, subpart E.
E. Audit Requirements:
Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards,
``Audit Requirements,'' located at 45 CFR part 75, subpart F.
2. 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) https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-Cost-Services/indian-tribes. For
questions regarding the indirect cost policy, please call the Grants
Management Specialist listed under ``Agency Contacts'' or the main DGM
office at (301) 443-5204.
3. 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. Per DGM policy, all reports are required to be submitted
electronically by attaching them as a ``Grant Note'' in 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 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, a summary of progress to date 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 period of performance.
B. Financial Reports
Federal Financial Report (FFR or SF-425), Cash Transaction Reports
are due 30 days after the close of every calendar quarter to the
Payment Management Services, HHS at https://pms.psc.gov. The applicant
is also requested to upload a copy of the FFR (SF-425) into our grants
management system, GrantSolutions. Failure to submit timely reports may
cause a disruption in timely payments to the organization.
Grantees are responsible and accountable for accurate information
being reported on all required reports: The Progress Reports and
Federal Financial Report.
C. Federal Sub-Award Reporting System (FSRS)
This award may be subject to the Transparency Act sub-award 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 sub-awards and executive
compensation under Federal assistance awards.
The 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 sub-award obligation dollar threshold met for any
specific reporting period. Additionally, all new (discretionary) IHS
awards (where the period of performance is made up of more than one
budget period) and where: (1) The period of performance start date was
October 1, 2010 or after, and (2) the primary awardee will have a
$25,000 sub-award obligation dollar threshold during any specific
reporting 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 DGM Grants Policy
website at http://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.
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D. Compliance With Executive Order 13166 Implementation of Services
Accessibility Provisions for All Grant Application Packages and Funding
Opportunity Announcements
Recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must
administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights law.
This means that recipients of HHS funds must ensure equal access to
their programs without regard to a person's race, color, national
origin, disability, age and, in some circumstances, sex and religion.
This includes ensuring your programs are accessible to persons with
limited English proficiency. The HHS provides guidance to recipients of
FFA on meeting their legal obligation to take reasonable steps to
provide meaningful access to their programs by persons with limited
English proficiency. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/guidance-federal-financial-assistance-recipients-title-VI/.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also provides guidance on
complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/index.html; and
http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/index.html. Recipients of FFA also have
specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with
disabilities. Please see http://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/index.html. Please contact the HHS OCR for more
information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil
rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/about-us/contact-us/index.html
or call (800) 368-1019 or TDD (800) 537-7697. Also note it is an HHS
Departmental goal to ensure access to quality, culturally competent
care, including long-term services and supports, for vulnerable
populations. For further guidance on providing culturally and
linguistically appropriate services, recipients should review the
National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate
Services in Health and Health Care at https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53.
Pursuant to 45 CFR 80.3(d), an individual shall not be deemed
subjected to discrimination by reason of his/her exclusion from
benefits limited by federal law to individuals eligible for benefits
and services from the IHS.
Recipients will be required to sign the HHS-690 Assurance of
Compliance form which can be obtained from the following website:
http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/forms/hhs-690.pdf, and send it
directly to the: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office
of Civil Rights, 200 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20201.
E. Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)
The IHS is required to review and consider any information about
the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS), at http://www.fapiis.gov, before making
any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$150,000) over the period of performance. An applicant may review and
comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency
previously entered. IHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in
addition to other information in FAPIIS in making a judgment about the
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under
federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants
as described in 45 CFR 75.205.
As required by 45 CFR part 75 Appendix XII of the Uniform Guidance,
non-federal entities (NFEs) are required to disclose in FAPIIS any
information about criminal, civil, and administrative proceedings, and/
or affirm that there is no new information to provide. This applies to
NFEs that receive federal awards (currently active grants, cooperative
agreements, and procurement contracts) greater than $10,000,000 for any
period of time during the period of performance of an award/project.
Mandatory Disclosure Requirements
As required by 2 CFR part 200 of the Uniform Guidance, and the HHS
implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 75, effective January 1, 2016,
the IHS must require a non-federal entity or an applicant for a federal
award to disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the IHS or pass-
through entity all violations of federal criminal law involving fraud,
bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal
award.
Submission is required for all applicants and recipients, in
writing, to the IHS and to the HHS Office of Inspector General all
information related to violations of federal criminal law involving
fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the
federal award. 45 CFR 75.113.
Disclosures must be sent in writing to:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service,
Division of Grants Management, ATTN: Robert Tarwater, Director, 5600
Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857.
(Include ``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line) Office:
(301) 443-5204, Fax: (301) 594-0899, Email: [email protected].
AND
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector
General, ATTN: Mandatory Grant Disclosures, Intake Coordinator, 330
Independence Avenue SW, Cohen Building, Room 5527, Washington, DC
20201, URL: http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/index.asp.
(Include ``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line) Fax:
(202) 205-0604 (Include ``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject
line) or, Email: [email protected].
Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the
remedies described in 45 CFR 75.371 Remedies for noncompliance,
including suspension or debarment (See 2 CFR parts 180 & 376 and 31
U.S.C. 3321).
VII. Agency Contacts
1. Questions on the programmatic issues may be directed to: Jackie
Santiago, Division of Health Professions Support, Office of Human
Resources, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mailstop: 11E22, Telephone: (301) 443-
2486, Fax: (301) 443-4815, Email: [email protected].
2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be
directed to: Vanietta Armstrong, Senior Grants Management Specialist,
5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301)
443-4792, Fax: (301) 594-0899, Email: [email protected].
3. Questions on systems matters may be directed to: Paul Gettys,
Grant Systems Coordinator, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70,
Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301) 443-2114; or the DGM main line (301)
443-5204, Fax: (301) 594-0899, 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
[[Page 22153]]
HHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of
the American people.
Chris Buchanan,
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service Deputy Director,
Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10096 Filed 5-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P