Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Family Planning Services Grants, 37982-37988 [06-5956]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 127 (Monday, July 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37982-37988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5956]



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Part II





Department of Health and Human Services





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Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Family Planning 
Services Grants; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 127 / Monday, July 3, 2006 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Anticipated Availability of Funds for Family 
Planning Services Grants

AGENCY: Office of Population Affairs, Office of Public Health and 
Science, Office of the Secretary, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Announcement Type: Initial Competitive Grant.
    CFDA Number: 93.217.
    Authority: Section 1001 of the Public Health Service Act.

DATES: Application due dates vary. To receive consideration, 
applications must be received by the Office of Public Health and 
Science (OPHS) Office of Grants Management no later than the applicable 
due date listed in Table I of this announcement (Section IV. 3, 
Submission Dates and Times) and within the time frames specified in 
this announcement for electronically submitted, mailed, and/or hand-
delivered hardcopy applications.
    Executive Order 12372 comment due date: The State Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC) has 60 days from the applicable due date as listed in 
Table I of this announcement to submit any comments.

SUMMARY: The Office of Population Affairs (OPA), Office of Family 
Planning (OFP), announces the anticipated availability of funds for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 family planning services grants under the 
authority of Title X of the Public Health Service Act. This notice 
solicits applications for competing grant awards to serve the areas 
and/or populations listed in Table I. Only applications which propose 
to serve the populations and/or areas listed in Table I will be 
accepted for review and possible funding.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    This announcement seeks applications from public and nonprofit 
private entities to establish and operate voluntary family planning 
services projects, which shall provide family planning services to all 
persons desiring such services. 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.
    Applicants should use the Title X legislation, applicable 
regulations, Program Guidelines, legislative mandates, Program 
Priorities, and other Key Issues included in this announcement and in 
the application kit, to guide them in developing their applications.
    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 persons from low-income families and others. 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 that ``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). 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.''
    Program Guidelines: Additional operational guidance for projects 
funded under Title X can be found in the ``Program Guidelines for 
Project Grants for Family Planning Services'' (January 2001). These 
Program Guidelines are included in the application kit for this 
announcement.
    Legislative Mandates: The following legislative mandates have been 
part of the Title X appropriations language for each of the last 
several years. Title X family planning services projects should include 
administrative, clinical, counseling, and referral services necessary 
to ensure adherence to these requirements.
     ``None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be made 
available to any entity under title X of the Public Health Service Act 
unless the applicant for the award certifies to the Secretary that it 
encourages family participation in the decision of minors to seek 
family planning services and that it provides counseling to minors on 
how to resist attempts to coerce minors into engaging in sexual 
activities;'' and
     ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no provider 
of services under title X of the Public Health Service Act shall be 
exempt from any State law requiring notification or the reporting of 
child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or incest.''
    Copies of the Title X statute, regulations, legislative mandates, 
and Program Guidelines may be obtained by contacting the Office of 
Public Health and Science (OPHS) Office of Grants Management, or 
downloaded from the Office of Population Affairs Web site at https://
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov. These documents are also included in the 
application kit. All Title X requirements--including those derived from 
the statute, the regulations, legislative mandates, and the Program 
Guidelines--apply to all activities funded under this announcement. For 
example, projects must meet the regulatory requirements set out at 42 
CFR 59.5 regarding charges to clients. The funding criteria set out at 
42 CFR 59.7 apply to all applicants under this announcement.
    Program Priorities: Each year the OFP establishes program 
priorities that represent overarching goals for the Title X program. 
Project plans should be developed that address 2007 Title X program 
priorities, and should provide evidence of the project's capacity to 
address program priorities and key issues as they evolve in future 
years.
    1. Assuring ongoing high quality family planning and related 
preventive health services that will improve the overall health of 
individuals, with priority for services to individuals from low-income 
families;
    2. Assuring access to a broad range of acceptable and effective 
family planning methods and related preventive health services that 
include natural family planning methods, infertility services, and 
services for adolescents; highly effective contraceptive methods; 
breast and cervical cancer screening and prevention services that 
correspond with nationally recognized standards of care; STD and HIV 
prevention education, counseling, testing, and referral; activities 
that promote positive family relationships for the purpose of 
increasing family participation in reproductive health decision-making; 
extramarital abstinence education and counseling; and other preventive 
health services. The broad range of services

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does not include abortion as a method of family planning;
    3. Assuring compliance with State laws requiring notification or 
the reporting of child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or 
incest;
    4. Encouraging participation of families, parents, and/or legal 
guardians in the decision of minors to seek family planning services; 
and providing counseling to minors on how to resist attempts to coerce 
minors into engaging in sexual activities;
    5. Addressing the comprehensive family planning and other health 
needs of individuals, families, and communities through outreach to 
hard-to-reach and/or vulnerable populations, and partnering with other 
community-based health and social service providers that provide needed 
services.
    Other Key Issues: In addition to the Program Priorities, the 
following Key Issues have implications for Title X services projects, 
and should be considered in developing the program plan:
    1. Efficiency and effectiveness in program management and 
operations;
    2. Management and decision-making through performance measures and 
accountability for outcomes;
    3. Linkages and partnerships with community-based and faith-based 
organizations;
    4. Addressing the national ``HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies'' 
initiative through making HIV testing a routine part of medical care, 
and integration of the ``ABC'' approach to HIV prevention counseling 
(that is, ``A'' for extramarital abstinence; ``B'' for be faithful in 
marriage or committed relationships; and, for individuals at increased 
risk for contracting or transmitting HIV, the message should include 
``A,'' ``B,'' and ``C'' for correct and consistent condom use).
    5. The use of electronic technologies, such as electronic grants 
management capabilities, electronic health information infrastructures, 
electronic access to health quality information, and similar electronic 
systems;
    6. Data collection (such as the Family Planning Annual Report 
[FPAR]) for use in monitoring performance and improving family planning 
services;
    7. Service delivery improvement through translation into practice 
of research outcomes that focus on family planning and related 
population issues; and
    8. Utilizing practice guidelines and recommendations, developed by 
recognized national professional organizations and Federal agencies, in 
the provision of evidence-based Title X clinical services.

II. Award Information

    The anticipated FY 2007 appropriation for the Title X family 
planning program is approximately $283 million. Of this amount, OPA 
intends to make available approximately $72 million for competing Title 
X family planning services grant awards in 29 states, populations, and/
or areas. (See Table I, Section IV. 3, Submission Dates and Times, for 
competing areas and approximate amount of available funding.) The 
amounts stated in Table I are inclusive of indirect costs. The 
remaining funds will be used for continued support of grants and 
activities which are not competitive in FY 2007. This program 
announcement is subject to the appropriation of funds, and is a 
contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available 
for this purpose, applications can be processed in an orderly manner, 
and funds can be awarded in a timely fashion. Grants will be funded in 
annual increments (budget periods) and are generally approved for a 
project period of three to five years. Funding for all approved budget 
periods beyond the first year of the grant is contingent upon the 
availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, and 
adequate stewardship of Federal funds.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Any public or nonprofit private entity located in a State (which 
includes one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, 
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands) is eligible to apply for a grant under this announcement. 
Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these Title X 
family planning services grants. Nonprofit private entities must 
provide proof of nonprofit status. See Section IV.2 for information 
regarding proof of nonprofit status.

2. Cost Sharing

    Program regulations at 42 CFR 59.7(c) stipulate that ``No grant may 
be made for an amount equal to 100 percent of the project's estimated 
costs.'' Also, 42 CFR 59.7(b) states that ``No grant may be made for 
less than 90 percent of the project's costs, as so estimated, unless 
the grant is to be made for a project that was supported, under section 
1001, for less than 90 percent of its costs in fiscal year 1975. In 
that case, the grant shall not be for less than the percentage of costs 
covered by the grant in fiscal year 1975.''
    While there is not a fixed cost-sharing percentage or amount, 
projects must include financial support from sources other than Title 
X. The proposed project budget should reflect financial support in 
addition to Title X funds on both the Standard Form (SF) 424A, ``Budget 
Information,'' and in the budget justification. The amount and 
source(s) of these funds must be clearly identified separately from the 
requested Title X support as indicated on the SF 424A, as well as on 
the SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The OPHS Office of 
Grants Management will review applications to ensure that the requested 
amount of Title X funding is in compliance with this business 
requirement.

3. Other

    Awards will be made only to those organizations or agencies that 
have met all applicable requirements, and that demonstrate the 
capability of providing the required services.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Application kits may be 
requested from, and applications submitted to: Office of Public Health 
and Science (OPHS)/Office of Grants Management (OGM), 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-453-8822. Application kits 
are also available online through the OPHS electronic grants management 
Web site at https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov, or the government-wide 
grants system, Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov. Application 
requests may be submitted by FAX at 240-453-8823. Instructions for use 
of the eGrants system can be found on the OPA Web site at https://
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov or requested from the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Applications must be 
submitted on the Form OPHS-1 and in the manner prescribed in the 
application kit. The application narrative should be limited to 60 
double-spaced pages using an easily readable serif typeface such as 
Times Roman, Courier, or GC Times, 12 point font. The page limit does 
not include budget; budget justification; required forms, assurances, 
and certifications as part of the OPHS-1, ``Grant Application''; or 
appendices. All pages, charts, figures and tables should be numbered, 
and a table of contents

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provided. The application narrative should be numbered separately and 
should clearly show the 60 page limit. If the application narrative 
exceeds 60 pages, only the first 60 pages of the application narrative 
will be reviewed. Appendices may provide curriculum vitae, 
organizational structure, examples of organizational capabilities, or 
other supplemental information which supports the application. However, 
appendices are for supportive information only. Brochures and bound 
materials should not be submitted. All information that is critical to 
the proposed project should be included in the body of the application. 
Appendices should be clearly labeled.
    For all non-governmental applicants, documentation of non-profit 
status must be submitted as part of the application. Any of the 
following constitutes acceptable proof of such status:
    a. A reference to the Applicant organization's listing the Internal 
Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations 
described in the IRS code;
    b. A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate;
    c. A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or 
other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant 
organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings 
accrue to any private shareholders or individuals;
    d. A certified copy of the organization's certificate of 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status;
    For local, nonprofit affiliates of State or national organizations, 
a statement signed by the parent organization indicating that the 
applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate must be provided 
in addition to any one of the above acceptable proof of nonprofit 
status.
    A Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is 
required for all applications for Federal assistance. Organizations 
should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps needed to 
obtain one. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number are included in 
the application package, or may be downloaded from the OPA Web site.
    Applications must include an abstract of the proposed project. 
Please refer to the OPHS-1 for the abstract form. The abstract will be 
used to provide reviewers with an overview of the application, and will 
form the basis for the application summary in grants management 
documents.
Application Content
    Successful applicants will clearly describe the administrative, 
management, and clinical capability of the applicant organization. All 
required services should be included as part of the program plan. The 
budget request and justification should directly reflect project 
activities.
Characteristics of a Successful Proposal
    Proposed projects must adhere to all requirements of the Title X 
statute; applicable regulations, including regulations regarding 
sterilization of persons in Federally assisted family planning 
projects; legislative mandates; and Program Guidelines. Successful 
proposals will fully describe how the project will address Title X 
requirements, and should include the following:
    1. A clear description of the need for the services proposed;
    2. A description of the geographic area and population to be 
served;
    3. Evidence that the proposed project will address the family 
planning needs identified;
    4. Evidence that the applicant organization has experience in 
providing clinical health services and the capacity to undertake the 
comprehensive clinical family planning and related preventive health 
services required, including offering a broad range of acceptable and 
effective family planning methods and services, and complying with the 
requirements of the legislative mandates;
    5. Evidence of familiarity with, and ability to provide services 
that include the following:
    a. Family planning and related preventive health issues as 
indicated in the Program Priorities;
    b. Services that are consistent with current, recognized national 
standards of care related to family planning, reproductive health, and 
general preventive health measures;
    c. Identification, notification or reporting of, and appropriate 
referral for, domestic and intimate partner violence, child abuse, 
child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or incest as required by State 
laws;
    d. Counseling techniques that encourage family participation in 
healthcare and reproductive decision-making of adolescents; teach 
resistance skills for adolescents to avoid exploitation and/or sexual 
coercion; and, support stable, safe, and faithful marriages and 
committed relationships with the goal of promoting effective use of 
family planning methods and services. This includes referral to other 
service providers that have expertise in these areas as appropriate; 
and,
    6. Evidence that the proposed services are consistent with the 
requirements of the Title X statute; program regulations (including 
regulations regarding sterilization of persons in Federally assisted 
family planning services projects); legislative mandates; and Program 
Guidelines.
    7. Evidence that Title X funds will not be used in programs where 
abortion is a method of family planning;
    8. A project plan which describes the services to be provided, the 
location(s) and hours of clinic operations, and projected number of 
clients to be served;
    9. A plan for providing community information and education 
programs which promote understanding of the objectives of the project 
and inform the community of the availability of services. The plan 
should include a strategy for maintaining records of information and 
education activities provided as part of the project. All clinical and 
educational programs provided as part of the project should ensure 
voluntary participation;
    10. A plan for an information and education advisory committee that 
is consistent with the Title X requirements, and that will ensure that 
all information and education materials used as part of the project are 
current, factual, and medically accurate, as well as suitable for the 
population or community to which they will be made available.
    11. Evidence that the Title X Program Priorities and Key Issues are 
addressed in the program plan;
    12. A staffing plan which is reasonable and adheres to the Title X 
regulatory requirement that family planning medical services be 
performed under the direction of a physician with special training or 
experience in family planning. Staff providing clinical services should 
be licensed and function within the applicable professional practice 
acts for the State in which they practice;
    13. Goal statement(s) and related outcome objectives that are 
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-framed 
(S.M.A.R.T.);
    14. Evidence that the applicant has a plan to facilitate access to 
the following:
    a. Required clinical services, if not provided by the applicant; 
comprehensive primary care services; and/or,
    b. Other needed health and social services for clients served in 
the Title X-funded family planning project. This includes evidence of 
formal agreements for referral services, and collaborative

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agreements with other service providers in the community, where 
appropriate;
    15. Evidence of the capability of collecting and reporting the 
required program data for the Title X annual data collection system 
(FPAR);
    16. Evidence of a system for ensuring quality family planning 
services, including
    a. A process for ensuring compliance with program requirements, and
    b. A methodology for ensuring that health care practitioners have 
the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective, quality family 
planning and related preventive health services that are consistent 
with current, evidence-based national standards of care. This should 
include training of select health care practitioners by the clinical 
preceptor training program established by the OFP Clinical Training 
Center, and utilizing clinical training opportunities available through 
the Regional Training Center in the applicable region;
    17. A budget and budget justification narrative for year one of the 
project that is detailed, reasonable, adequate, cost efficient, and 
that is derived from proposed activities. Budget projections for each 
of the continuing years should be included.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Competing grant applications are invited for the following areas 
(please note, in order to maximize access to family planning services, 
one or more grants may be awarded for each area listed within the total 
amount indicated for the area):

                                                     Table I
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                                                                    Approximate
              States/populations/areas to be served                   funding       Application    Approx. grant
                                                                     available       due date      funding date
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Region I:
    New Hampshire...............................................      $1,265,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Vermont.....................................................         752,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Maine.......................................................       1,765,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Rhode Island................................................         817,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Connecticut.................................................       2,295,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Massachusetts...............................................       2,583,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
Region II: No service areas competitive in FY 2007
Region III:
    Washington, DC..............................................       1,073,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Central Pennsylvania........................................       2,785,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Virginia....................................................       4,528,000        12/01/06        04/01/07
Region IV:
    Georgia.....................................................       7,933,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Florida, Greater Orlando area...............................         549,000        06/01/07        09/30/07
Region V:
    Ohio, Greater Cleveland.....................................       2,023,000        12/01/06        04/01/07
    Illinois....................................................       7,931,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Illinois, Chicago Area......................................         205,000        06/01/07        09/30/07
    Michigan....................................................       7,549,000        12/01/06        04/01/07
    Wisconsin...................................................       3,405,000        11/01/07        03/01/07
    Minnesota, Ramsey County....................................         320,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
Region VI:
    Texas.......................................................      11,824,000        12/01/06        04/01/07
Region VII: No service areas competitive in FY 2007.
Region VIII:
    South Dakota................................................       1,014,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Wyoming.....................................................         821,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
Region IX:
    Navajo Nation...............................................         640,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands................         170,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Federated States of Micronesia..............................         411,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Nevada, Washoe County.......................................         708,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
Region X:
    Alaska......................................................         420,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Oregon......................................................       2,452,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Idaho.......................................................       1,568,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
    Washington..................................................       3,240,000        09/01/06        01/01/07
    Washington, Seattle area....................................         159,000        03/01/07        07/01/07
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Submission Mechanisms
    The Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) provides multiple 
mechanisms for the submission of applications, as described in the 
following sections. Applicants will receive notification via mail from 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management confirming the receipt of 
applications submitted using any of these mechanisms. Applications 
submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management after the deadlines 
described below will not be accepted for review. Applications which do 
not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be 
accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant.
    Applications may only be submitted electronically via the 
electronic submission mechanisms specified below. Any applications 
submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including 
facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review. While 
applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic 
application submission capabilities provided by the OPHS eGrants system

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or the Grants.gov Website Portal is encouraged.
    Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later 
than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement using one of the electronic submission 
mechanisms specified below. All required hardcopy original signatures 
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the next business day 
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement.
    Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic 
application components, hardcopy original signatures, and mail-in items 
are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to the 
deadlines specified above. Application submissions that do not adhere 
to the due date requirements will be considered late and will be deemed 
ineligible.
    Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early 
in the application development process, and to submit early on the due 
date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with 
submissions prior to the application deadline.
Electronic Submissions via the Grants.gov Web Site Portal
    The Grants.gov Website Portal provides organizations with the 
ability to submit applications for OPHS grant opportunities. 
Organizations must successfully complete the necessary registration 
processes in order to submit an application. Information about this 
system is available on the Grants.gov Web site, https://www.grants.gov.
    In addition to electronically submitted materials, applicants may 
be required to submit hard copy signatures for certain Program related 
forms, or original materials as required by the announcement. It is 
imperative that the applicant review both the grant announcement, as 
well as the application guidance provided within the Grants.gov 
application package, to determine such requirements. Any required hard 
copy materials, or documents that require a signature, must be 
submitted separately via mail to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 
and, if required, must contain the original signature of an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and the obligations imposed 
by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
    Electronic applications submitted via the Grants.gov Website Portal 
must contain all completed online forms required by the application 
kit, the Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or 
exhibits. All required mail-in items must received by the due date 
requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only include 
publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission 
via the Grants.gov Web site Portal, the applicant will be provided with 
a confirmation page from Grants.gov indicating the date and time 
(Eastern Time) of the electronic application submission, as well as the 
Grants.gov Receipt Number. It is critical that the applicant print and 
retain this confirmation for their records, as well as a copy of the 
entire application package.
    All applications submitted via the Grants.gov Website Portal will 
be validated by Grants.gov. Any applications deemed ``Invalid'' by the 
Grants.gov Website Portal will not be transferred to the OPHS eGrants 
system, and OPHS has no responsibility for any application that is not 
validated and transferred to OPHS from the Grants.gov Website Portal. 
Grants.gov will notify the applicant regarding the application 
validation status. Once the application is successfully validated by 
the Grants.gov Website Portal, applicants should immediately mail all 
required hard copy materials to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to 
be received by the deadlines specified above. It is critical that the 
applicant clearly identify the Organization name and Grants.gov 
Application Receipt Number on all hard copy materials.
    Once the application is validated by Grants.gov, it will be 
electronically transferred to the OPHS eGrants system for processing. 
Upon receipt of both the electronic application from the Grants.gov 
Website Portal, and the required hardcopy mail-in items, applicants 
will receive notification via mail from the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management confirming the receipt of the application submitted using 
the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
    Applicants should contact Grants.gov regarding any questions or 
concerns regarding the electronic application process conducted through 
the Grants.gov Web site Portal.
Electronic Submissions via the OPHS eGrants System
    The OPHS electronic grants management system, eGrants, provides for 
applications to be submitted electronically. Information about this 
system is available on the OPHS eGrants Web site, https://
egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov, or may be requested from the OPHS Office of 
Grants Management at (240) 453-8822.
    When submitting applications via the OPHS eGrants system, 
applicants are required to submit a hard copy of the application face 
page (Standard Form 424) with the original signature of an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and assume the obligations 
imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. If required, 
applicants will also need to submit a hard copy of the Standard Form 
LLL and/or certain Program related forms (e.g., Program Certifications) 
with the original signature of an individual authorized to act for the 
applicant agency.
    Electronic applications submitted via the OPHS eGrants system must 
contain all completed online forms required by the application kit, the 
Program Narrative, Budget Narrative and any appendices or exhibits. The 
applicant may identify specific mail-in items to be sent to the Office 
of Grants Management separate from the electronic submission; however 
these mail-in items must be entered on the eGrants Application 
Checklist at the time of electronic submission, and must be received by 
the due date requirements specified above. Mail-In items may only 
include publications, resumes, or organizational documentation.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, 
the OPHS eGrants system will provide the applicant with a confirmation 
page indicating the date and time (Eastern Time) of the electronic 
application submission. This confirmation page will also provide a 
listing of all items that constitute the final application submission 
including all electronic application components, required hardcopy 
original signatures, and mail-in items, as well as the mailing address 
of the OPHS Office of Grants Management where all required hard copy 
materials must be submitted.
    As items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, the 
electronic application status will be updated to reflect the receipt of 
mail-in items. It is recommended that the applicant monitor the status 
of their application in the OPHS eGrants system to ensure that all 
signatures and mail-in items are received.


Mailed or Hand-Delivered Hard Copy Applications

    Applicants who submit applications in hard copy (via mail or hand-
delivered) are required to submit an original and two copies of the

[[Page 37987]]

application. See Section IV. 1 for the address to submit hard copy 
applications. The original application must be signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to 
assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award.
    Mailed or hand-delivered applications will be considered as meeting 
the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grant 
Management on or before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date 
specified in the DATES section of the announcement. The application 
deadline date requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the 
instructions in the OPHS-1. Applications that do not meet the deadline 
will be returned to the applicant unread.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    Applicants under this announcement are subject to the requirements 
of Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' as implemented by 45 CFR part 100, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and 
Activities.'' As soon as possible, the applicant should discuss the 
project with the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the state in 
which the applicant is located. The application kit contains the 
currently available listing of the SPOCs that have elected to be 
informed of the submission of applications. For those states not 
represented on the listing, further inquiries should be made by the 
applicant regarding the submission to the relevant SPOC. The SPOC 
should forward any comments to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 
1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The SPOC 
has 60 days from the due date as listed in the DATES section of this 
announcement to submit any comments. For further information, contact 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management at 240-453-8822.

5. Funding Restrictions

    The allowability, allocability, reasonableness and necessity of 
direct and indirect costs that may be charged to OPHS grants are 
outlined in the following documents: OMB Circular A-21 (Institutions of 
Higher Education); OMB Circular A-87 (State and Local Governments); OMB 
Circular A-122 (Nonprofit Organizations); and 45 CFR part 74, Appendix 
E (Hospitals). Copies of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
Circulars are available on the Internet at https://www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/grants/grants_circulars.html.
    In order to claim indirect costs as part of a budget request, an 
applicant organization must have an indirect cost rate which has been 
negotiated with the Federal government. The Health and Human Services 
Division of Cost Allocation (DCA) Regional Office that is applicable to 
your State can provide information on how to receive such a rate. A 
list of DCA Regional Offices is included in the application kit for 
this announcement.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    None.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Eligible applications will be assessed according to the following 
criteria:
    Within the limits of funds available for these purposes, grants may 
be awarded for the establishment and operation of those projects which 
will best promote the purposes of section 1001 of Title X of the Public 
Health Service Act, taking into account:
    (1) The degree to which the project plan adequately provides for 
the requirements set forth in the Title X regulations at 42 CFR part 
59, subpart A (20 points);
    (2) The extent to which family planning services are needed locally 
(20 points);
    (3) The adequacy of the applicant's facilities and staff (20 
points);
    (4) The number of patients, and, in particular, the number of low-
income patients to be served (15 points);
    (5) The capacity of the applicant to make rapid and effective use 
of the Federal assistance (10 points);
    (6) The relative availability of non-Federal resources within the 
community to be served and the degree to which those resources are 
committed to the project (10 points); and
    (7) The relative need of the applicant (5 points).

2. Review and Selection Process

    Each regional office is responsible for facilitating the process of 
evaluating applications and setting funding levels according to the 
criteria set out in 42 CFR 59.7(a). No award, or total awards, will be 
made for an amount greater than the amount indicated in Table I for the 
area to be served. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a panel of 
independent reviewers and will be evaluated based on the criteria 
listed above. In addition to the independent review panel, there will 
be Federal staff reviews of each application for programmatic and 
grants management compliance.
    Final grant award decisions will be made by the Regional Health 
Administrator (RHA) for the applicable PHS Region. In making grant 
award decisions, the RHA will fund those projects which will, in his/
her judgement, best promote the purposes of section 1001 of the Act, 
within the limits of funds available for such projects.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    The OPA does not release information about individual applications 
during the review process. When final funding decisions have been made, 
each applicant will be notified by letter of the outcome. The official 
document notifying an applicant that a project application has been 
approved for funding is the Notice of Grant Award (NGA), signed by the 
Director of the OPHS Office of Grants Management. This document 
specifies to the grantee the amount of money awarded, the purposes of 
the grant, the length of the project period, terms and conditions of 
the grant award, and the amount of funding to be contributed by the 
grantee to project costs. Grantees should pay specific attention to the 
terms and conditions of the award as indicated on the NGA, as some may 
require a time-limited response. The NGA will also identify the Grants 
Specialist and Program Project Officer assigned to the grant.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    In accepting the award, the grantee stipulates that the award and 
any activities thereunder are subject to all provisions of 45 CFR parts 
74 and 92, currently in effect or implemented during the period of the 
grant.
    The successful applicant will be responsible for the overall 
management of activities within the scope of the approved project plan. 
The OPHS requires all grant recipients to provide a smoke-free 
workplace and to promote the non-use of all tobacco products. This is 
consistent with the OPHS mission to protect and advance the physical 
and mental health of the American people.
    The HHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project that will be 
financed with Federal money

[[Page 37988]]

and the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project 
or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources.

3. Reporting

    Each grantee is required to submit a Family Planning Annual Report 
(FPAR) each year.
    The information collections (reporting requirements) and format for 
this report have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
and assigned OMB No. 0990-0221. The FPAR contains a brief 
organizational profile and 14 tables to report data on users, service 
use, and revenue for the reporting year. The FPAR instrument and 
instructions can be found on the OPA Web site at https://
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov.
    In addition to the FPAR, grantees are required to submit an annual 
Financial Status Report within 90 days of the end of each budget 
period. Grantees who receive $500,000 or greater of Federal funds must 
also undergo an independent audit in accordance with OMB Circular A-
133.
    Each year of the approved project period, grantees are required to 
submit a non-competing continuation application, which includes a 
progress report for the current budget year, and work plan, budget, and 
budget narrative for the upcoming year.
    Required reports may be submitted either electronically or in hard 
copy.

VII. Agency Contacts

Administrative and Budgetary Requirements

    For information related to administrative and budgetary 
requirements, contact the OPHS Office of Grants Management Grants 
Specialist for the applicable region as listed below. For Region I 
(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 
Vermont), Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin 
Islands), Region III (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin 
Islands), and Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 
Texas) contact Renee Scales, 240-453-8822, renee.scales@hhs.gov.
    For Region IV (Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, 
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina), Region V (Illinois, 
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin), and Region VII (Iowa, 
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) contact Eleanor Walker, 240-453-8822, 
eleanor.walker@hhs.gov.
    For Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, 
Utah, Wyoming), Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, 
Republic of Palau, Federal States of Micronesia, Republic of the 
Marshall Islands), and Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) 
contact Robin Fuller, 240-453-8822, robin.fuller@hhs.gov.
Program Requirements
    For information related to family planning program requirements, 
contact the Family Planning contact in the applicable Regional Office 
listed below:

    Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, Vermont)-- Betsy Rosenfeld, 617-565-4265, 
betsy.rosenfeld@hhs.gov or Kathy Stratford, 617-565-1070, 
kathleen.stratford@hhs.gov;
    Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)--
Robin Lane, 212-264-3935, robin.lane@hhs.gov;
    Region III (Delaware, Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, West Virginia)-- Dickie Lynn Gronseth, 215-861-4656, 
dickielynn.gronseth@hhs.gov;
    Region IV (Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, 
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina)--Edecia Richards, 404-562-
7900, edecia.richards@hhs.gov;
    Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, 
Wisconsin)--Janice Ely, 312-886-3864;
    Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)--
Evelyn Glass, 214-767-3088, evelyn.glass@hhs.gov;
    Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)--Elizabeth Curtis, 
816-426-2924, elizabeth.curtis@hhs.gov;
    Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, 
Wyoming)-- Jill Leslie, 303-844-7856, jill.leslie@hhs.gov;
    Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, 
Federal States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands)-- Nancy 
Mautone-Smith, 415-437-7984, nancy.mautone-smith@hhs.gov; and
    Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington)--Janet Wildeboor, 206-
615-2776, janet.wildeboor@hhs.gov.

VIII. Other Information

    Technical Assistance Conference Call: The OFP will conduct several 
technical assistance conference calls to provide potential applicants 
with general information regarding this funding opportunity. These 
calls will be held shortly after publication of this Notice in the 
Federal Register. For more information regarding the call schedule, 
including date, registration information, and how to participate, 
please consult the OPA Web site at https://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov.

    Dated: June 27, 2006.
Alma L. Golden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 06-5956 Filed 6-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-34-P