Division of Behavioral Health; National Urban Indian Behavioral Health Awareness, 23268-23275 [2017-10449]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Indian Health Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23268-23275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10449]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Division of Behavioral Health; National Urban Indian Behavioral 
Health Awareness

    Announcement Type: New/Competing Continuation.
    Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2017-IHS-UIHP3-0001.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.193.

Key Dates

    Application Deadline Date: June 23, 2017.
    Review Date: June 27, 2017.
    Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 15, 2017.
    Signed Tribal Resolutions Due Date: June 23, 2017.
    Proof of Non-Profit Status Due Date: June 23, 2017.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Statutory Authority

    The Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Clinical and Preventive 
Services (OCPS), Division of Behavioral

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Health (DBH), is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement for 
Urban Indian Behavioral Health. This program is authorized under: 
Snyder Act, codified at 25 U.S.C. 13; the Transfer Act, codified at 42 
U.S.C. 2001; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Public Law 114-
113, 129 Stat. 2242 (2015). This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) under 93.193.

Background

    The DBH serves as the primary source of national advocacy, policy 
development, management and administration of behavioral health, 
alcohol and substance abuse, and family violence prevention programs. 
Working in partnership with Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Urban 
Indian organizations, DBH coordinates national efforts to share 
knowledge and build capacity through the development and implementation 
of evidence/practice based and cultural-based practices in Indian 
Country.

Purpose

    The purpose of this IHS cooperative agreement is to further the 
awareness, visibility, advocacy, and education for behavioral health 
issues on a national scale and in the interest of improving urban 
Indian health care.

Limited Competition Justification

    Competition for the one award included in this announcement is 
limited to national organizations with at least ten years of experience 
providing national awareness, visibility, advocacy, education and 
outreach related to urban Indian health care on a national scale. This 
limitation ensures that the awardee will have: (1) A national 
information-sharing infrastructure which will facilitate the timely 
exchange of information between IHS and urban Indian organizations on a 
broad scale; (2) a national perspective on the needs of urban Indian 
communities that will ensure the information developed and disseminated 
through the projects is appropriate and useful and addresses the most 
pressing needs of urban Indian communities; and (3) established 
relationships with urban Indian organizations that will foster open and 
honest participation by urban Indian communities. Regional or local 
organizations will not have the mechanisms in place to conduct 
communication on a national level, nor will they have an accurate 
picture of the health care needs facing urban Indians nationwide. 
Organizations with less experience will lack the established 
relationships with urban Indian organizations throughout the country 
that will facilitate participation and the open and honest exchange of 
information between urban Indian organizations and IHS. With the 
limited funds available for these projects, IHS must ensure that the 
education and outreach efforts described in this announcement reach the 
widest audience possible in a timely fashion, are appropriately 
tailored to the needs of urban Indian communities throughout the 
country, and come from a source that urban Indians recognize and trust. 
For these reasons, this is a limited competition announcement.

Pre-Conference Grant Requirements

    The awardee is required to comply with the ``HHS Policy on 
Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences 
and Meeting Space, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and 
Publications,'' dated December 16, 2013 (``Policy''), as applicable to 
conferences funded by grants and cooperative agreements. The Policy is 
available at https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/efficient-spending/?language=es.
    The awardee is required to:
    Provide a separate detailed budget justification and narrative for 
each conference anticipated. The cost categories to be addressed are as 
follows: (1) Contract/Planner, (2) Meeting Space/Venue, (3) 
Registration Web site, (4) Audio Visual, (5) Speakers Fees, (6) Non-
Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, (8) Other (explain in 
detail and cost breakdown). For additional questions please contact 
Andrea Czajkowski on 301-443-2038 or email her at 
andrea.czajkowski@ihs.gov.

II. Award Information

Type of Award

    Cooperative Agreement.

Estimated Funds Available

    The total amount of funding identified for Year 1 of the 
cooperative agreement is $75,000. The amount of funding identified for 
Year 2 and Year 3 of the cooperative agreement is $75,000. The amount 
of funding available for competing and continuation awards issued under 
this announcement are subject to the availability of appropriations 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

    One award will be issued under this program announcement.

Project Period

    The project period is for three years and will run consecutively 
from July 15, 2017, to July 14, 2020.

Cooperative Agreement

    Cooperative agreements awarded by the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) are administered under the same policies as a 
grant. However, the funding agency (IHS) is required to have 
substantial programmatic involvement in the project during the entire 
award segment. Below is a detailed description of the level of 
involvement required for both IHS and the grantee. IHS will be 
responsible for activities listed under section A and the grantee will 
be responsible for activities listed under section B as stated:

Substantial Involvement Description for Cooperative Agreement

A. IHS Programmatic Involvement
    The IHS assigned program official will monitor the overall progress 
of the awardee's execution of the requirements of the award: IHS award 
noted below as well as their adherence to the terms and conditions of 
the cooperative agreements. This includes providing guidance for 
required reports, developing of tools, and other products, interpreting 
program findings, and assisting with evaluations and overcoming any 
difficulties or performance issues encountered. The IHS assigned 
program official must approve all presentations, electronic content, 
and other materials, including mass emails, developed by awardee 
pursuant to these awards and any supplemental awards prior to the 
presentation or dissemination of such materials to any party.
B. Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities
    (1) Facilitate a forum at which concerns can be heard that are 
representative of all urban Indian organizations in the area of 
behavioral health care policy, service delivery, and program 
development.
    (2) Provide urban Indian leadership for the National Action 
Alliance for Suicide Prevention's American Indian/Alaska Native Task 
Force.
    (3) Raise awareness and visibility of urban Indian behavioral 
health issues at an appropriate national conference.
    (4) Increase capacity of urban Indian organizations on grant 
writing to increase the likelihood of awards from various sources.
    (5) Develop, maintain, and disseminate comprehensive information on 
urban Indian organizations providing

[[Page 23270]]

behavioral health programs, best practices, service delivery, quality 
improvement, and strategies to all urban Indian organizations.

III. Eligibility Information

I.

1. Eligibility

    To be eligible for this ``New/Competing Continuation Announcement'' 
under this announcement, an applicant must:
    Be a national organization with at least ten years of experience 
providing representation, advocacy, awareness, and visibility of 
behavioral health issues related to urban Indian health care on a 
national scale.

    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, such as Tribal resolutions, proof of non-profit status, 
etc.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants 
or cooperative agreements.

3. Other Requirements

    If application budgets exceed the highest dollar amount outlined 
under the ``Estimated Funds Available'' section within this funding 
announcement, the application will be considered ineligible and will 
not be reviewed for further consideration. If deemed ineligible, IHS 
will not return the application. The applicant will be notified by 
email by the Division of Grants Management (DGM) of this decision.
Proof of Non-Profit Status
    Organizations claiming non-profit status must submit proof. A copy 
of the 501(c)(3) Certificate must be received with the application 
submission by the Application Deadline Date listed under the Key Dates 
section on page one of this announcement.
    An applicant submitting any of the above additional documentation 
after the initial application submission due date is required to ensure 
the information was received by the IHS DGM by obtaining documentation 
confirming delivery (i.e. FedEx tracking, postal return receipt, etc.).

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Obtaining Application Materials

    The application package and detailed instructions for this 
announcement can be found at https://www.Grants.gov or https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/funding/.
    Questions regarding the electronic application process may be 
directed 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:
     Table of contents.
     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.
     Budget Justification and Narrative (must be single-spaced 
and not exceed 5 pages).
     Project Narrative (must be single-spaced and not exceed 20 
pages).
    [cir] Background information on the organization.
    [cir] Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that 
provide a description of what will be accomplished, including a one-
page Timeframe Chart.
     Letters of Support from organization's Board of Directors.
     501(c)(3) Certificate (if applicable).
     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 
Web site: https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx.
Public Policy Requirements
    All Federal-wide public policies apply to IHS grants and 
cooperative agreements with exception of the Discrimination policy.
Requirements for Project and Budget Narratives
    A. Project Narrative: This narrative should be a separate Word 
document that is no longer than 20 pages and must: Be single-spaced, 
type written, have consecutively numbered pages, use black type not 
smaller than 12 points, and be printed on one side only of standard 
size 8\1/2\'' x 11'' paper.
    Be sure to succinctly but completely answer all questions listed 
under the evaluation criteria (refer to Section V.1, Evaluation 
criteria in this announcement) and place all responses and required 
information in the Evaluation criteria section (noted below), or they 
will not be considered or scored. These narratives will assist the 
Objective Review Committee (ORC) in becoming familiar with the 
applicant's activities and accomplishments prior to this possible 
cooperative agreement award. If the narrative exceeds the page limit, 
only the first 20 pages will be reviewed. The 20-page limit for the 
narrative does not include the work plan, standard forms, Tribal 
resolutions, table of contents, budget, budget justifications, 
narratives, and/or other appendix items.
    There are three parts to the narrative: Part A--Program 
Information; Part B--Program Planning and Evaluation; and Part C--
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 A: Program Information 5 pages
    Section 1: Need for Assistance
    Describe the organization's current behavioral health program 
activities, how long it has been operating, what programs or services 
are currently being provided, and how the organization has determined 
it has the administrative infrastructure to support the grantee 
cooperative agreement award activities on page 6 of this announcement. 
This section must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed 
under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.A. Need for 
Assistance.

Part B: Program Planning and Evaluation 10 pages
    Section 1: Program Plan and Approach
    Describe fully and clearly the direction the organization plans to 
take in including how it plans to demonstrate raise the awareness and 
visibility of behavioral health issues and deliver each activity 
outlined under the Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities on 
page 6 of this announcement. Include proposed timelines for activities. 
This section

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must succinctly but completely answer the questions listed under the 
evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.B. Program Plan and Approach.
    Section 2: Program Evaluation
    Describe fully and clearly the improvements that will be made by 
the organization to raise the awareness and visibility of behavioral 
health issues among urban Indians. Include how the grantee will provide 
an evaluation of their activities, demonstrate impact, and convey 
accomplishments. This section must succinctly but completely answer the 
questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1.C. 
Program Evaluation.

Part C: Program Report 5 pages
    Section 1: Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel, and 
Qualifications
    Describe your organization's significant program activities and 
accomplishments over the past five years associated with the outlined 
goals under the Grantee Cooperative Agreement Award Activities on page 
6 of this announcement. This section must succinctly but completely 
answer the questions listed under the evaluation criteria listed in 
Section V.1.D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel, and 
Qualifications.

B. Budget Narrative 5 pages
    Section 1: Categorical Budget and Budget Justification
    This narrative must include a line item budget with a narrative 
justification for all expenditures identifying reasonable allowable, 
allocable costs necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives as 
outlined in the project narrative. Budget should match the scope of 
work described in the project narrative. This section must succinctly 
but completely answer the questions listed under the evaluation 
criteria listed in Section V.1.E. Categorical Budget and Budget 
Justification.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on the Application Deadline Date 
listed in the Key Dates section on page one of this announcement. Any 
application received after the application deadline will not be 
accepted for processing, nor will it be given further consideration for 
funding. Grants.gov will notify the applicant via email if the 
application is rejected.
    If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the 
electronic application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support via 
email to support@grants.gov or at (800) 518-4726. Customer Support is 
available to address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on 
Federal holidays). If problems persist, contact Mr. Gettys 
(Paul.Gettys@ihs.gov), 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.

4. Intergovernmental Review

    Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not 
applicable to this program.

5. Funding Restrictions

     Pre-award costs are not allowable.
     The available funds are inclusive of direct and 
appropriate indirect costs.
     Only one grant/cooperative agreement will be awarded per 
applicant.
     IHS will not acknowledge receipt of applications.

6. Electronic Submission Requirements

    All applications must be submitted electronically. Please use the 
https://www.Grants.gov Web site to submit an application electronically 
and select the ``Find Grant Opportunities'' link on the homepage. 
Follow the instructions for submitting an application under the Package 
tab. Electronic copies of the application may not be submitted as 
attachments to email messages addressed to IHS employees or offices.
    If the applicant needs to submit a paper application instead of 
submitting electronically 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 waiver request must be sent to 
GrantsPolicy@ihs.gov with a copy to Robert.Tarwater@ihs.gov. The waiver 
must (1) be documented in writing (emails are acceptable), before 
submitting a paper application, and (2) include clear justification for 
the need to deviate from the required electronic grants submission 
process.
    Once the waiver request has been approved, the applicant will 
receive a confirmation of approval email containing submission 
instructions and the mailing address to submit the application. A copy 
of the written approval must be submitted along with the hardcopy of 
the application that is mailed to DGM. Paper applications that are 
submitted without a copy of the signed waiver from the Director of the 
DGM will not be reviewed or considered for funding. The applicant will 
be notified via email of this decision by the Grants Management Officer 
of the DGM. Paper applications must be received by the DGM no later 
than 5:00 p.m., EDT, on the Application Deadline Date listed in the Key 
Dates section on page one of this announcement. Late applications will 
not be accepted for processing or considered for funding. Applicants 
that do not adhere to the timelines for System for Award Management 
(SAM) and/or https://www.Grants.gov registration or that fail to request 
timely assistance with technical issues will not be considered for a 
waiver to submit a paper application.
    Please be aware of the following:
     Please search for the application package in https://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 electronically, please contact Grants.gov Support 
directly at: support@grants.gov or (800) 518-4726. Customer Support is 
available to address questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except on 
Federal holidays).
     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 
fifteen working days.
     Please use the optional attachment feature in Grants.gov 
to attach additional documentation that may be requested by the DGM.
     All applicants must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this funding announcement.
     After electronically submitting the application, the 
applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The DGM will download the 
application from Grants.gov and provide necessary copies to the 
appropriate agency officials. Neither the DGM nor the Office of 
Clinical and Preventive Services Division of Behavioral Health will 
notify the applicant that the application has been received.
     Email applications will not be accepted under this 
announcement.

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Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
    All IHS 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, you may access it through https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform, or to expedite the process, call (866) 705-
5711.
    All HHS recipients are required by the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as amended (``Transparency 
Act''), 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 Central Contractor 
Registration and have 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). Completing and submitting the registration takes approximately 
one hour to complete and SAM registration will take 3-5 business days 
to process. Registration with the SAM is free of charge. 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 Web site:https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.

V. Application Review Information

    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 20 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 points. A minimum score of 65 points is 
required for funding. Points are assigned as follows:

1. Criteria

A. Need for Assistance (15 points)
     Which needs or problems is the organization currently 
addressing?
     Why is the project needed nationally?
     What are the current unmet needs/gaps in services? What 
are the inadequacies of not having a current national program with this 
scope?
     What would happen (or not happen) if your organization 
does not get this cooperative agreement?
     Why does your organization need this funding? How will it 
benefit your organization?
     Provide examples of current or previous related experience 
(grant funded or not) that supports the project and justifies the 
approach.
     Explain any unique opportunity.
B. Program Plan and Approach (40 points)
     What are the major activities/tasks?
     Who will do them?
     What is the timeframe for accomplishing them?
     Who needs to be involved (cooperate) for project success?
     How much/what will be delivered or produced?
     Why is this the best approach?
     What is the plan for sustaining the project after the 
project period?
C. Program Evaluation (5 points)
     What are the success indicators? How will you measure the 
degree to which the project has achieved its objectives?
     Describe both process and outcome indicators, where 
possible.
    [cir] For example, process indicators may include items, such as:
    [ssquf] ``Six training workshops will be delivered in the urban 
Indian centers of the country.''
    [ssquf] ``A technical manual for implementing a grant writing 
workshop course will be produced.''
    [cir] For example, outcome indicators may include items, such as:
    [ssquf] ``Change in awareness of behavioral health issues impacting 
urban Indians.''
    [ssquf] ``Change in urban Indian participation in suicide 
prevention activities (increased Hope for Life participation).''
     Identify the data to be collected and the method for 
collecting it (surveys, questionnaires, observations, focus groups).
     Identify which position(s) will be responsible for 
collecting data, measuring progress, and reporting.
     How will you apply evaluation findings to program 
modification/improvement?
     Include the cost of evaluation when developing the budget.
D. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel and Qualifications (25 
points)
     Describe the management capability and experience of the 
applicant organization and other participating organizations in 
administering similar grants and projects.
     Discuss the organization's experience and capacity to 
provide culturally appropriate/competent services to the community and 
specific populations of focus.
     Describe the resources available for the proposed project 
(e.g., facilities, equipment, IT systems, and financial management 
systems).
     Describe how program continuity will be maintained if/when 
there is a change in the operational environment (e.g., staff turnover, 
change in project leadership, change in elected officials) to ensure 
stability over the life of the grant.
     Provide a complete list of staff positions for the 
project, including the Project Director (suggested at .75-1.0 FTE level 
of effort) and other key personnel, showing the role of each and their 
level of effort and qualifications.
E. Categorical Budget and Budget Justification (15 points)
     What resources are needed to successfully carry out and 
manage the program?
     What other resources are available from the organization 
to support the program?
     Will new staff be recruited?
     Will outside consultants be required?
     Show total cost as well as the amount being requested from 
funder.
     Provide itemized breakdown associated with major 
activities, not just salary.
     Attach estimates or quotes, where applicable. Check math 
in all calculations.

[[Page 23273]]

     Identify any discounts or cost savings:
    [cir] In-kind services
    [cir] Volunteer labor
     Make sure there's a close match-up between the scope of 
work and budget request.
Multi-Year Project Requirements
    Projects requiring a second and third year must include a brief 
project narrative and budget (one additional page per year) addressing 
the developmental plans for each additional year of the project.
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 by the DGM staff 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 in this funding 
announcement. The ORC could be composed of both Tribal and Federal 
reviewers appointed by the IHS Program to review and make 
recommendations on these applications. The technical review process 
ensures selection of quality projects in a national competition for 
limited funding. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-
responsive to the eligibility criteria will not be referred to the ORC. 
The applicant will be notified via email of this decision by the Grants 
Management Officer of the DGM. Applicants will be notified by DGM, via 
email, to outline minor missing components (i.e., budget narratives, 
audit documentation, key contact form) needed for an otherwise complete 
application. All missing documents must be sent to DGM on or before the 
due date listed in the email of notification of missing documents 
required.
    To obtain a minimum score for funding by the ORC, applicants must 
address all program requirements and provide all required 
documentation.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    The Notice of Award (NoA) is a legally binding document signed by 
the Grants Management Officer and serves as the official notification 
of the grant award. The NoA will be initiated by the DGM in our grant 
system, GrantSolutions (https://www.grantsolutions.gov). Each entity 
that is approved for funding under this announcement will need to 
request or have a user account in GrantSolutions in order to retrieve 
their NoA. 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.
Disapproved Applicants
    Applicants who received a score less than the recommended funding 
level for approval, 65 and were deemed to be disapproved by the ORC, 
will receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS program office 
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 Authorized Organizational Representative that is identified on the 
face page (SF-424) of the application. The IHS program office will also 
provide additional contact information as needed to address questions 
and concerns as well as provide technical assistance if desired.
Approved But Unfunded Applicants
    Approved but unfunded applicants that met the minimum scoring range 
and were deemed by the ORC to be ``Approved'', but were not funded due 
to lack of funding, will have their applications held by DGM for a 
period of one year. If additional funding becomes available during the 
course of FY 2017 the approved but unfunded application may be re-
considered by the awarding program office for possible funding. The 
applicant will also receive an Executive Summary Statement from the IHS 
program office within 30 days of the conclusion of the ORC.

    Note: Any correspondence other than the official NoA signed 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 IHS.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

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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 budget/project period.
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. It is 
recommended that the applicant also send a copy of the FFR (SF-425) 
report to the Grants Management Specialist. 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. Post-Conference Grant Reporting
    The following requirements were enacted in Section 3003 of the 
Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, and Section 119 of 
the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014; Office of Management and 
Budget Memorandum M-12-12: All HHS/IHS awards containing grants funds 
allocated for conferences will be required to complete a mandatory 
post-award report for all conferences. Specifically: The total amount 
of funds provided in this award/cooperative agreement that were spent 
for ``Conference X'', must be reported in final detailed actual costs 
within 15 days of the completion of the conference. Cost categories to 
address should be: (1) Contract/Planner, (2) Meeting Space/Venue, (3) 
Registration Web site, (4) Audio Visual, (5) Speakers Fees, (6) Non-
Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, and (8) Other.
D. 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.
    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 project period is made up of more than one budget period) 
and where: (1) The project period 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 
Web site at: https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.
E. 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. 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 https://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 https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/; and 
https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/. Recipients of FFA also have 
specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with 
disabilities. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/. 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/ or call 1-
800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697. 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 Web site: 
https://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.
F. 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) before making any award in excess of the 
simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000) over the period 
of

[[Page 23275]]

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, Maryland 20857 (Include 
``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line), Office: (301) 443-
5204, Fax: (301) 594-0899, Email: Robert.Tarwater@ihs.gov

    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: https://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: 
MandatoryGranteeDisclosures@oig.hhs.gov.

    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: Andrea 
Czajkowski, Division of Behavioral Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, MAIL 
STOP: 08N34-A, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301) 443-2038, Fax: (301) 
594-6213, andrea.czajkowski@ihs.gov.
    2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be 
directed to: Donald Gooding, Grants Management Specialist, 5600 Fishers 
Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301) 443-2298, 
Fax: (301) 594-0899, Email: Gooding.Donald@ihs.gov.
    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, E-Mail: Paul.Gettys@ihs.gov.

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 HHS mission to protect and advance the physical and 
mental health of the American people.

    Dated: May 12, 2017.
Chris Buchanan,
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS, Acting Director, Indian Health 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-10449 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P