Office of Urban Indian Health Programs; Announcement Type: Title V HIV/AIDS Competing Continuation Grants, 25557-25561 [E9-12318]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Indian Health Service

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25557-25561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12318]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Office of Urban Indian Health Programs; Announcement Type: Title 
V HIV/AIDS Competing Continuation Grants

    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2009-IHS-UIHP-0002.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.193.

Key Dates

    Application Deadline Date: July 1, 2009.
    Review Date: July 15, 2009.
    Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2009.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Urban Indian Health 
Programs (OUIHP) announces an open competition for the 4-in-1 Title V 
grants responding to an Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP), Minority AIDS 
(Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) Initiative (MAI). This program is 
authorized under the authority of the Snyder Act, Public Law 67-85 and 
25 U.S.C. 1652, 1653 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public 
Law 94-437, as amended. This program is described at 93.193 in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
    This open competition seeks to expand OUIHP's existing Title V 
grants to increase the number of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) 
with awareness of his/her HIV status. This will provide routine and/or 
rapid HIV screening, prevention, pre- and post-test counseling (when 
appropriate). Enhancement of urban Indian health program HIV/AIDS 
activities is necessary to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the 
urban Indian health communities by increasing access to HIV related 
services, reducing stigma, and making testing routine.
    These continuation grants will be used to enhance HIV testing, 
including rapid testing and/or standard HIV antibody testing and to 
provide a more focused effort to address HIV/AIDS prevention, targeting 
some of the largest urban Indian populations in the United States. The 
grantees will attempt to provide routine HIV screening for adults as 
per 2006 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, 
pre- and post-test counseling (when appropriate). These grants will be 
used to identify best practices to enhance HIV testing, including rapid 
testing and/or conventional HIV antibody testing, and to provide a more 
focused effort to address HIV/AIDS prevention in AI/AN populations in 
the United States.
    The nature of these projects will require collaboration with the 
OUIHP to: (1) Coordinate activities with the IHS National HIV Program; 
(2) participate in projects in other operating divisions of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) such as the CDC, 
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health 
Resource and Services Administration and the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy; 
and (3) submit and share anonymous, non-identifiable data on HIV/AIDS 
testing, treatment, and education.
    These grants are also intended to encourage development of 
sustainable, routine HIV screening programs in urban facilities that 
are aligned with 2006 CDC HIV Screening guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5514a1.htm). Key features include streamlined 
consent and counseling procedures (verbal consent, opt-out), a clear 
HIV screening policy, identifying and implementing any necessary staff 
training, community awareness, and a clear followup protocol for HIV 
positive results including linkages to care. Grantees may choose to 
bundle HIV tests with STD screening.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Title V Continuation Grants.
    Estimated Funds Available: The total amount identified for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2009 is ten awards totaling $200,000. Individual awards must 
include one project evaluation and provide administrative support of 
the project. All future awards under this announcement are subject to 
the availability of funds. Hence, the agency has no obligation to award 
additional funding beyond the first year.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: Ten grant awards will be made under 
the program.
    Project Period: September 1, 2009-August 31, 2012.
    Award Amount: $200,000.

A. Requirements of Recipient Activities

    In FY 2009, each grantee's attempted goal shall include screening 
as many individuals as possible; however, each funded program's 
attempted goal will be to increase screening to a minimum of 300 AI/AN 
tested per program funded (adjusted due to variations in size of 
facility and user population), for a total of 4,500 AI/AN tested. This 
reflects an MAI requirement to maintain the actual cost per MAI Fund 
HIV testing client below the medical care inflation rate. This does not 
include counts of re-testing individuals in the same year. Each program 
shall also collect evidence, as part of the testing process, to 
document lessons learned, best practices, and barriers to increased 
routine HIV screening within this population.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Urban Indian organizations, as defined by 
25 U.S.C. 1603(h), limited to urban Indian organizations which meet the 
following criteria:
     Received State certification to conduct HIV rapid testing 
(where needed);

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     Health professionals and staff have been trained in the 
HIV/AIDS screening tools, education, prevention, counseling, and other 
interventions for AI/ANs;
     Developed programs to address community and group support 
to sustain risk-reduction skills;
     Implemented HIV/AIDS quality assurance and improvement 
programs; and
     Must provide proof of non-profit status with the 
application.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching--This program does not require matching 
funds or cost sharing.
    3. If the application budget exceeds the award amount, it will not 
be considered for review.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Applicant package may be found in Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) or at: https://www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/gogp/gogp_funding.asp.
    Questions regarding the electronic application process may be 
directed to Michelle G. Bulls at (301) 443-6290.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
     Be single spaced.
     Be typewritten.
     Have consecutively numbered pages.
     Use black type not smaller than 12 characters per one 
inch.
     Contain a narrative that does not exceed ten typed pages 
that includes the other submission requirements below. The ten page 
narrative does not include the work plan, standard forms, table of 
contents, budget, budget justifications, narratives, and/or other 
appendix items.
    Public Policy Requirements: All Federal-wide public policies apply 
to IHS grants with the exception of the Lobbying and Discrimination 
public policy.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: The application from each urban 
Indian organization must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov 
by 12 midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on July 1, 2009.
    If technical challenges arise and the urban Indian organizations 
are unable to successfully complete the electronic application process, 
each organization must contact Michelle G. Bulls, Grants Policy Staff 
(GPS) fifteen days prior to the application deadline and advise of the 
difficulties that they are experiencing. Each organization must obtain 
prior approval, in writing (e-mails are acceptable), from Ms. Bulls 
allowing the paper submission. If submission of a paper application is 
requested and approved, the original and two copies may be sent to the 
appropriate grants contact that is listed in Section IV.1 above. 
Applications not submitted through Grants.gov, without an approved 
waiver, may be returned to the organizations without review or 
consideration.
    A late application will be returned to the organization without 
review or consideration.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: Executive Order 12372 requiring 
intergovernmental review is not applicable to this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions:
    A. Pre-award costs are allowable pending prior approval from the 
awarding agency. However, in accordance with 45 CFR part 74, all pre-
award costs are incurred at the recipient's risk. The awarding office 
is under no obligation to reimburse such costs if for any reason any of 
the urban Indian organizations do not receive an award or if the award 
to the recipient is less than anticipated.
    B. The available funds are inclusive of direct and appropriate 
indirect costs.
    C. Only one competing continuation award will be issued to each 
organization.
    D. IHS will acknowledge receipt of the application.
    6. Other Submission Requirements:
    Electronic Submission--Each urban Indian organization must submit 
through Grants.gov. However, should any technical challenges arise 
regarding the submission, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 
1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The Contact Center hours of 
operation are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. If you require 
additional assistance, please call (301) 443-6290 and identify the need 
for assistance regarding your Grants.gov application. Your call will be 
transferred to the appropriate grants staff member. Each organization 
must seek assistance at least fifteen days prior to the application 
deadline. If each organization doesn't adhere to the timelines for 
Central Contractor Registry (CCR), Grants.gov registration and request 
timely assistance with technical issues, paper application submission 
may not be granted.
    To submit an application electronically, please use the Grants.gov 
Web site. Download a copy of the application package on the Grants.gov 
Web site, complete it offline and then upload and submit the 
application via the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail an electronic 
copy of a grant application to IHS.
    Please be reminded of the following:
     Under the new IHS application submission requirements, 
paper applications are not the preferred method. However, if any urban 
Indian organization has technical problems submitting the application 
on-line, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at: https://www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport.
     Upon contacting Grants.gov, obtain a Grants.gov tracking 
number as proof of contact. The tracking number is helpful if there are 
technical issues that cannot be resolved and a waiver request from 
Grants Policy must be obtained. If any of the organizations are still 
unable to successfully submit the application online, please contact 
Michelle G. Bulls, GPS, at (301) 443-6290 at least fifteen days prior 
to the application deadline to advise of the difficulties you have 
experienced.
     If it is determined that a formal waiver is necessary, 
each organization must submit a request, in writing (e-mails are 
acceptable), to Michelle.Bulls@ihs.gov providing a justification for 
the need to deviate from the standard electronic submission process. 
Upon receipt of approval, a hard-copy application package must be 
downloaded from Grants.gov and sent directly to the Division of Grants 
Operations (DGO), 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 360, Rockville, MD 20852 by 
July 1, 2009.
     Upon entering the Grants.gov Web site, there is 
information available that outlines the requirements to each urban 
Indian organization regarding electronic submission of application and 
hours of operation. We strongly encourage each organization to not wait 
until the deadline date to begin the application process as the 
registration process for CCR and Grants.gov could take up to fifteen 
working days.
     To use Grants.gov, each urban Indian organization must 
have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number and register in 
the CCR. Each organization should allow a minimum of ten working days 
to complete CCR registration. See below on how to apply.
     Each organization must submit all documents 
electronically, including all information typically included on the SF-
424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.
     Please use the optional attachment feature in Grants.gov 
to attach additional documentation that may be requested by IHS.
     Each organization must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in the program announcement.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an

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automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov 
tracking number. The DGO will retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov. The DGO will notify each organization that the application 
has been received.
     You may access the electronic application for this program 
on Grants.gov.
     You may search for the downloadable application package 
using either the CFDA number or the Funding Opportunity Number. Both 
numbers are identified in the heading of this announcement.
     To receive an application package, each urban Indian 
organization must provide the Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2009-IHS-
UIHP-0002.
    E-mail applications will not be accepted under this announcement.

DUNS Number

    Applicants are required to have a DUNS number to apply for a grant 
or cooperative agreement from the Federal Government. The DUNS number 
is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies 
business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no 
charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access https://www.dunandbradstreet.com 
or call 1-866-705-5711. Interested parties may wish to obtain their 
DUNS number by phone to expedite the process.
    Applications submitted electronically must also be registered with 
the CCR. A DUNS number is required before CCR registration can be 
completed. Many organizations may already have a DUNS number. Please 
use the number listed above to investigate whether or not your 
organization has a DUNS number. Registration with the CCR is free of 
charge.
    Applicants may register by calling 1-888-227-2423. Please review 
and complete the CCR ``Registration Worksheet'' located on https://www.ccr.gov.
    More detailed information regarding these registration processes 
can be found at Grants.gov.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    The instructions for preparing the application narrative also 
constitute the evaluation criteria for reviewing and scoring the 
application. Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses. 
The narrative should include all prior years of activity; information 
for multi-year projects should be included as an appendix (see E. 
``Categorical Budget and Budget Justification'' at the end of this 
section for more information). The narrative should be written in a 
manner that is clear to outside reviewers unfamiliar with prior related 
activities of the urban Indian organization. It should be well 
organized, succinct, and contain all information necessary for 
reviewers to understand the project fully.
A. Understanding of the Need and Necessary Capacity (15 Points)
    1. Understanding of the Problem
    a. Define the project target population, identify their unique 
characteristics, and describe the impact of HIV on the population.
    b. Describe the gaps/barriers in HIV testing for the population.
    c. Describe the unique cultural or sociological barriers of the 
target population to adequate access for the described services.
    2. Facility Capability
    a. Briefly describe your clinic programs and services and how this 
initiative will assist to commence, compliment and/or expand existing 
efforts.
    b. Describe your clinic's ability to conduct this initiative 
through:
     Your clinic's present resources.
     Collaboration with other providers.
     Partnerships established to accept referrals for 
counseling, testing, and referral and confirmatory blood tests and/or 
social services for individuals who test HIV positive.
     Linkages to treatment and care: partnerships established 
to refer out of your clinic for specialized treatment, care, 
confirmatory testing (if applicable) and counseling services.
B. Work Plan (40 Points)
1. Project Goal and Objectives
    Address all of the following program goals and objectives of the 
project. The objectives must be specific as well as quantitatively and 
qualitatively measurable to ensure achievement of goal(s).
     Implementation Plan
    a. Identify the proposed program activities and explain how these 
activities will increase and sustain HIV screening.
    b. Describe Policy and Procedure changes anticipated for 
implementation that include:
    (1) Support of the 2006 CDC Revised HIV Testing Recommendations.
    (2) Community awareness.
    (3) Age ranges of persons to be screened.
    (4) Bundling of HIV testing with STD tests.
    (5) Type of HIV Screen/Test (Rapid, Conventional, Western Blot) and 
who will perform test (in-house, send-out).
    c. Provide a clear timeline with quarterly milestones for project 
implementation.
    d. Certify that the program identified and agreed to follow the 
State regulations for HIV testing in their State and how the clinic 
will follow their State reporting guidelines for seropositive results.
    e. Describe how individuals will be selected for testing to 
identify selection criteria and which group(s)--if any--will you be 
able, via State regulations, to offer testing in an opt-out format.
    f. Describe how the program will ensure that clients receive their 
test results, particularly clients who test positive.
    g. Describe how the program will ensure that individuals with 
initial HIV-positive test results will receive confirmatory tests. If 
you do not provide confirmatory HIV testing, you must provide a letter 
of intent or Memorandum of Understanding with an external laboratory 
documenting the process through which initial HIV-positive test results 
will be confirmed.
    h. Describe the program strategies to linking potential 
seropositive patients to care.
    i. Describe the program quality assurance strategies.
    j. Describe how the program will train, support and retain staff 
providing counseling and testing.
    k. Describe how the program will ensure client confidentiality.
    l. Describe how the program will ensure that its services are 
culturally fluent and relevant.
    m. Describe how the program will attempt to streamline procedures 
so as to reduce the overall cost per test administered.
C. Project Evaluation (20 Points)
1. Evaluation Plan
    The grantee shall provide a plan for monitoring and evaluating the 
HIV rapid test and/or standard HIV antibody test.
2. Reporting Requirements
    The following quantitative and qualitative measures shall be 
addressed:
     Required Quantitative Indicators (Quantitative)
    a. Number of tests performed and number of test refusals.
    b. Number of clients learning of their serostatus for the first 
time via this testing initiative (unique patients, non-repeated tests).
    c. Number of reactive tests and confirmed seropositive (actual and 
proportion).

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    d. Number of clients linked to care/treatment or referrals for 
prevention counseling.
    e. Number of individuals receiving their confirmatory test results.
     Required Qualitative Information.
    a. Measures in place to protect confidentiality.
    b. Identify barriers of implementation as well as lessons learned 
for best practices to share with other IHS/Urban or tribal entities.
    c. Sustainability plan and measures of ongoing testing in future 
years, after grant money has been spent.
     Other quantitative indicators may be collected to improve 
clinic processes and add to information reported; however, they are not 
required.
    a. Number of clients who refused due to prior knowledge of status.
    b. Number of rapid versus standard antibody test.
    c. Number of false negatives and/or positives after confirmatory 
testing.
     Develop a plan for obtaining knowledge, attitudes, and 
behavior data pending official approval of patient survey.
D. Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications (10 Points)
    This section outlines the broader capacity of the organization to 
complete the project outlined in the work plan. It includes the 
identification of personnel responsible for completing tasks and the 
chain of responsibility for successful completion of the project 
outlined in the work plan.
    1. Describe the organizational structure.
    2. Describe the ability of the organization to manage the proposed 
project. Include information regarding similarly sized projects in 
scope and financial assistance as well as other grants and projects 
successfully completed.
    3. Describe what equipment (i.e., phone, Web sites, etc.) and 
facility space (i.e., office space) will be available for use during 
the proposed project. Include information about any equipment not 
currently available that will be purchased throughout the agreement.
    4. List key personnel who will work on the project.
     Identify existing personnel and new program staff to be 
hired.
     In the appendix, include position descriptions and resumes 
for all key personnel. Position descriptions should clearly describe 
each position and duties indicating desired qualifications, experience, 
and requirements related to the proposed project and how they will be 
supervised. Resumes must indicate that the proposed staff member is 
qualified to carry out the proposed project activities and who will 
determine if the work of a contractor is acceptable.
     Note who will be writing the progress reports.
     If a position is to be filled, indicate that information 
on the proposed position description
     If the project requires additional personnel beyond those 
covered by the supplemental grant, (i.e., Information Technology 
support, volunteers, interviewers, etc.), note these and address how 
these positions will be filled and, if funds are required, and the 
source of these funds.
     If personnel are to be only partially funded by this 
supplemental grant, indicate the percentage of time to be allocated to 
this project and identify the resources used to fund the remainder of 
the individual's salary.
E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification (15 Points)
    This section should provide a clear estimate of the project program 
costs and justification for expenses for the entire grant period. The 
budget and budget justification should be consistent with the tasks 
identified in the work plan. The budget focus should be on routinizing 
and sustaining HIV testing services as well as reducing the cost per 
person tested.
    1. Categorical budget (Form SF 424A, Budget Information Non-
Construction Programs) completing each of the budget periods requested.
    2. Narrative justification for all costs, explaining why each line 
item is necessary or relevant to the proposed project. Include 
sufficient details to facilitate the determination of cost 
allowability.
    3. Budget justification should include a brief program narrative 
for the second and third years.
    4. If indirect costs are claimed, indicate and apply the current 
negotiated rate to the budget. Include a copy of the rate agreement in 
the appendix.

2. Review and Selection Process

    In addition to the above criteria/requirements, the application 
will be considered according to the following:
A. The Submission Deadline: July 1, 2009
    The application submitted in advance of or by the deadline and 
verified by the postmark will undergo a preliminary review to determine 
that:
     The applicant is eligible in accordance with this grant 
announcement.
     The application is not a duplication of a previously 
funded project.
     The application narrative, forms, and materials submitted 
meet the requirements of the announcement allowing the review panel to 
undertake an in-depth evaluation; otherwise, it may be returned.
B. The Continuation Review Date is July 15, 2009
    Continuation applications that are complete, responsive, and 
conform to this program announcement will be reviewed for merit. Prior 
to review, the application will be screened to determine that programs 
proposed are those which the IHS has the authority to provide, either 
directly or through funding agreement, and that those programs are 
designed for the benefit of IHS beneficiaries. If an urban Indian 
organization does not meet these requirements, the application will not 
be reviewed. The application will be evaluated and rated on the basis 
of the evaluation criteria listed in Section V. 1. The criteria are 
used to evaluate the quality of a proposed project and determine the 
likelihood of success.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Anticipated announcement date is August 1, 2009 with an Award Date 
of September 1, 2009.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    The Notice of Award (NoA) will be initiated by the DGO and will be 
mailed via postal mail to the urban Indian organization. The NoA will 
be signed by the Grants Management Officer and this is the authorizing 
document under which funds are dispersed. The NoA, the legally binding 
document, will serve as the official notification of the grant award 
and will reflect the amount of Federal funds awarded for the purpose of 
the grant, the terms and conditions of the award, the effective date of 
the award, and the budget/project period.

2. Administrative Requirements

    Grants are administered in accordance with the following documents:
     This Program Announcement.
     45 CFR Part 74, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for 
Awards to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit 
Organizations, and Commercial Organizations.''
     Grants Policy Guidance: HHS Grants Policy Statement, 
January 2007.
     ``Non-Profit Organizations'' (Title 2 Part 230).

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     Audit Requirements: OMB Circular A-133, ``Audits of 
States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.''

3. Indirect Costs

    This section applies to indirect costs in accordance with HHS 
Grants Policy Statement, Part II-27. The IHS requires applicants to 
have a current indirect cost rate agreement in place 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 means the rate covering the applicable 
activities and the award budget period. If the current rate is not on 
file with the awarding office, the award shall include funds for 
reimbursement of indirect costs. However, the indirect costs portion 
will remain restricted until the current rate is provided to the DGO.
    If an urban Indian organization has questions regarding the 
indirect costs policy, please contact the DGO at (301) 443-5204.

4. Reporting

    A. Progress Report. Program progress reports on number of tests 
performed and milestones are required quarterly by the OUIHP in order 
to satisfy quarterly reports due to funding source at MAI. These 
reports will include a brief comparison of actual accomplishments to 
the goals established for the period, reasons for unmet milestones (if 
applicable), and other pertinent information as required.
    B. A Final Assessment and Evaluation report must be submitted 
within 90 days of expiration of the budget/project period.
    C. Financial Status Report. Semi-annual financial status reports 
must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the half year. Final 
financial status reports are due within 90 days of expiration of the 
budget period. Standard Form 269 (long form) will be used for financial 
reporting.
    D. Participation in a minimum of two teleconferences. 
Teleconferences will be required semi-annually (unless further followup 
is needed) for Technical Assistance and information to be provided and 
progress to be shared among grantees with the OUIHP and National HIV 
Program Consultant.
    Failure to submit required reports within the time allowed may 
result in suspension or termination of an active agreement, 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 applies whether the delinquency is 
attributable to the failure of the organization or the individual 
responsible for preparation of the reports. Telecommunication for the 
hearing impaired is available at: TTY (301) 443-6394.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For program-related and general information regarding this 
announcement: Danielle Steward, Health Systems Specialist, Office of 
Urban Indian Health Programs, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 200, 
Rockville, MD 20852. (301) 443-4680 or danielle.steward@ihs.gov.
    For specific grant-related and business management information: 
Denise Clark, Senior Grants Management Specialist, 801 Thompson Avenue, 
TMP Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852. (301) 443-5204 or 
denise.clark@ihs.gov.

    Dated: May 20, 2009.
Randy Grinnell,
Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12318 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P