Funding Opportunity for Indians Into Nursing (NU), 17487-17493 [2024-05103]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Indian Health Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17487-17493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05103]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Funding Opportunity for Indians Into Nursing (NU)

    Announcement Type: New.
    Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2024-IHS-NU-0001.
    Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance or CFDA) 
Number: 93.970.

Key Dates

    Application Deadline Date: May 14, 2024.
    Earliest Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2024.

I. Step 1: Review the Opportunity

Funding Details

    Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Competition type: New and Competing continuation applications.
    Expected total program funding: $1,889,986.
    Expected number of awards: 5.
    Funding range per award for the first budget year: $300,000 to 
$400,000.
    The period of performance is for 5 years.
    Continuation funding depends on the availability of funds and 
agency budget priorities.

Eligibility--Who can apply?

Eligible Applicants
    Only these types or organizations may apply:
    1. Accredited public or private schools of nursing.
    2. Accredited tribally controlled community colleges.
    3. Accredited tribally controlled post-secondary vocational 
institutions.
    4. Nurse midwife programs and nurse practitioner programs that are 
provided by any public or private institution.
    We will notify any applicants we determine to be ineligible.
Eligibility Exceptions
    1. Individuals including sole proprietorships and foreign 
organizations are not eligible.
    2. We do not fund concurrent projects under this program. If you 
get an award under this announcement, we cannot later fund you under 
other Indians into Psychology (InPsy) programs while this award is 
active.
Other Eligibility Criteria
    1. All schools of nursing must be fully accredited without 
restrictions at the time of application by a national nurse educational 
accrediting body or state approval body recognized by the Secretary of 
the U.S. Department of Education for the purposes of nursing education.
    2. The schools offering a degree in nurse midwifery must provide 
verification of accreditation by the American College of Nurse 
Midwives.
    3. Tribally controlled community colleges nursing programs and 
post-secondary vocational institutions must be fully accredited by an 
appropriate recognized nursing accrediting body without restrictions.

[[Page 17488]]

Cost Sharing or Matching

    This program has no cost-sharing requirement.
    If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we will not consider 
it during our review. However, we will hold you accountable for any 
funds you add, including through reporting.

Program Description

Background
    The Indian Health Service (IHS) is responsible for providing 
Federal health services to the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/
AN) people. Our mission is to raise the physical, mental, social, and 
spiritual health of AI/ANs to the highest level. The Indian Healthcare 
Improvement Act (https://www.ihs.gov/IHCIA/) authorizes the IHS to 
administer programs designed to attract and recruit qualified Indians 
into health professions to ensure the availability of health 
professionals to serve the AI/AN population.
Purpose
    Our purpose is to recruit, retain, graduate, and increase the 
number of registered nurses, certified nurse midwives, and nurse 
practitioners who deliver health care services to AI/AN communities. 
Our primary objectives are to:
    1. Recruit and train Indian people in nursing fields.
    2. Increase the skills of, and provide continuing education to 
nurses and advanced practice nurses.

Required Activities

    1. Recruit and train AI/AN people to become baccalaureate-prepared 
nurses and advanced practice nurses; nurse midwives; and nurse 
practitioners.
    2. Provide a scholarship program that encourages registered nurses 
and advanced practice nurses to provide or continue to provide health 
care services to AI/AN communities.
    3. Provide scholarships to AI/AN people to cover tuition, books, 
fees, room and board, stipend for living expenses, or other expenses 
related to baccalaureate-level nursing or advanced practice nursing 
programs.
    4. Develop and maintain nursing education programs and recruit 
people to become registered nurses and advanced practice nurses who 
will provide services to AI/AN people.
    5. See the project narrative and merit review sections for more 
detail on activities.

Cooperative Agreement Terms

    Cooperative agreements use the same policies as grants. The 
difference is that IHS will have substantial involvement in the project 
during the entire period of performance. Below is a detailed 
description of our level of involvement.
    An IHS program official will:
     Work with your project director to ensure timely receipt 
of progress and audit reports and to ensure program compliance.
     Provide you with programmatic technical assistance, as 
needed.
     Coordinate and conduct site visits as needed.
     Conduct semi-annual conference calls with recipients and 
students.
     Work with the Division of Grants Management (DGM) to 
ensure that you meet all goals and objectives of your program.
     Provide programs and scholarship recipients with 
information on IHS scholarship service obligation requirements.
     Initiate default proceedings within 90 days after 
receiving your notification that a student:
    1. has been dismissed from the program;
    2. has withdrawn from school;
    3. failed to graduate with nursing degree;
    4. failed to begin a required period of supervised clinical hours 
required for state licensure;
    5. failed to get licensed and begin obligated service time within 
90 days of graduation; or
    6. failed to complete service.

Funding Policies and Limitations

Limitations
     We allow pre-award costs up to 90 days before the start 
date of the award if the costs are otherwise allowable if awarded. You 
incur pre-award costs at your organization's risk.
Policies
     Total award funds include both direct and indirect costs.
     Each applicant can receive only one award under this 
announcement.

Indirect Costs

    Indirect costs are those incurred for a common or joint purpose 
across more than one project and that cannot be easily separated by 
project. Learn more at 45 CFR 75.414 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFR1eff2936a9211f7/section-75.414), Indirect Costs. Indirect costs for 
training awards cannot exceed 8 percent of modified total direct costs. 
To understand what is included in modified total direct costs, see 45 
CFR 75.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75#p-75.2(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost)).

Statutory Authority

    The Snyder Act, 25 U.S.C. 13; the Transfer Act, 42 U.S.C. 2001(a); 
and section 112 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 
94-437, as amended (IHCIA), codified at 25 U.S.C. 1616e (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2022-title25/html/USCODE-2022-title25-chap18-subchapI-sec1616e.htm).

II. Step 2: Get Ready To Apply

Get Registered

System for Award Management
    You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having 
a Unique Entity Identifier. SAM.gov registration can take several 
weeks. Begin that process today. To register, go to SAM.gov Entity 
Registration (https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration) and click 
Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity 
Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.
Grants.gov
    You must also have an active account with Grants.gov (https://grants.gov/home). You can see step-by step instructions at the 
Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants (https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants).
Find the Application Package
    The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You 
can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov (https://grants.gov/home) and search for opportunity number HHS-2024-IHS-NU-
0001.

III. Step 3: Write Your Application

Application Contents and Format

    Applications include five main components. This section includes 
guidance on each. Make sure you include each of these:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Component                         Submission form
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Abstract......................  Use the Project Abstract Summary
                                         form.
Project Narrative.....................  Use the Project Narrative
                                         Attachment form.
Budget Narrative......................  Use the Budget Narrative
                                         Attachment form.
Attachments...........................  Insert each in a single Other
                                         Attachments form.
Required Forms........................  Upload using each required form.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project Abstract

    Page limit: 1 page.

[[Page 17489]]

    Provide a self-contained summary of your proposed project, 
including the purpose and expected outcomes. Do not include any 
proprietary or confidential information. We use this information when 
we receive public information requests about funded projects.
    Required Format for Project and Budget Narrative:
    Font size: 12-point font. Footnotes, tables, and text in graphics 
may be 10-point.
    Font color: black.
    Spacing: Single-spaced.
    Margins: 1-inch.
    Size: 8.5 by 11 inches.
    Include consecutive page numbers.
    Formats: While the forms for project and budget narratives are PDF, 
you may upload Word, Excel, or PDF files to those forms.

Project Narrative

    Page limit: 25 pages.
    Filename: Project narrative.
    To create your project narrative:
     Follow the headings in the table below in order.
     Use the merit review criteria to determine what you need 
to include.
     Describe your proposed project and activities for the full 
period of performance.
     Stay within the page limit, or we will remove pages beyond 
that. We recommend some page limits for subsections below, but they are 
guidance only.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Recommended
                          Heading                            page length
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction and need for assistance......................             5
Project objectives, work plan, and approach...............             5
Program evaluation........................................             5
Organization capabilities, key personnel, and                         10
 qualifications...........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Budget Narrative

    Page limit: 5.
    Filename: Budget narrative.
    The budget narrative supports the information you provide in 
Standard Form 424-A. See standard forms.
    For more guidance on what to include in your budget narrative, see 
merit review criteria.
    It includes added detail and justifies the costs you ask for. As 
you develop your budget, consider:
     If the costs are reasonable and consistent with your 
project's purpose and activities.
     The restrictions on spending funds. See funding 
limitations.
    To create your budget narrative:
     Review the requirements in the merit review section for 
more detail.
     Show each line item in your SF-424A, organized by budget 
category.
     Provide the information for the entire period of 
performance, broken down by year.
     For each line item, describe:
    1. How the costs support achieving the project's proposed 
objectives.
    2. How you calculated or arrived at the cost.
    Take care to explain each item in the ``other'' category and why 
you need it. Do not use the budget narrative to expand your project 
narrative.
    If you like, you can also include a spreadsheet that provides more 
detail than in the SF-424A. If you do, we will not count it against the 
page limit.

Attachments

    You will upload attachments in Grants.gov using a single Other 
Attachments Form. Unless stated below, these attachments do not have 
page limits.

Proof of Accreditation

    Submit proof of program accreditation from an accreditation agency 
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, such as Commission of 
Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and Accreditation Commission for 
Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Work Plan Chart

    Attach a one-page work plan chart or timetable that summarizes the 
work plan in your project description, outlining your activities and 
outcomes. See merit review criteria for detailed instructions.

Proof of Nonprofit Status

    If your organization is a nonprofit, you need to attach proof. We 
will accept any of the following:
     A copy of a current tax exemption certificate from the 
IRS.
     A letter from your state's tax department, attorney 
general, or another state official saying that your group is a 
nonprofit and that none of your net earnings go to private shareholders 
or others.
     A certified copy of your certificate of incorporation. 
This document must show that your group is a nonprofit.
     Any of the above for a parent organization. Also include a 
statement signed by an official of the parent group that your 
organization is a nonprofit affiliate.

Resumes and Position Descriptions

    For key personnel, attach biographical sketches for filled 
positions. If a position is not filled, attach a short description of 
the position and qualifications. See additional instructions in merit 
review criteria.

Contractor and Consultant Resumes

    For contractors or consultants, attach resumes or qualifications 
and their scope of work.

Audit Documentation

    You must provide documentation of required audits. You can submit:
     Email confirmation from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse 
(FAC) showing that you submitted the audits.
     Face sheets from audit reports. You can find these on the 
FAC website (https://www.fac.gov/).
    See audit requirements at 45 CFR part 75 subpart F (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-F).

Standard Forms

    You will need to complete some standard forms. Upload the standard 
forms listed below at Grants.gov. You can find them in the NOFO 
application package or review them and their instructions at Grants.gov 
Forms.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Forms                       Submission requirement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application for Federal Assistance (SF-     With application.
 424).
Budget Information for Non-Construction     With application.
 Programs (SF-424A).
Grants.gov Lobbying Form..................  With application.
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)  If applicable, with the
                                             application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Step 4: Learn About Review and Award

Application Review

Initial Review
    We review each application to make sure it meets basic 
requirements. We will not consider an application that:
     Is from an organization that does not meet all eligibility 
criteria.
     Is incomplete.
     Requests funding above the award ceiling shown in the 
funding range.
     Requests a period of performance longer than this NOFO 
allows.
     Is submitted after the deadline.
    Also, we will not review any pages over the page limit.
Merit Review
    The Review Committee reviews all applications that pass the initial 
review. The members use the criteria below.
    We will send your authorized official an Executive Summary 
Statement within 30 days after we complete reviews. This statement will 
outline the strengths and weaknesses of your application.

[[Page 17490]]

Criteria
    The panel will assess the quality of your responses and soundness 
of your approaches to the following project narrative sections.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Total
                                                               number of
                          Criterion                            points =
                                                                  100
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Introduction and need for assistance.....................          10
2. Project objectives, work plan, and approach..............          40
3. Program evaluation.......................................          30
4. Organizational capabilities, key personnel, and                    15
 qualifications.............................................
5. Support Requested........................................           5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Introduction and Need for Assistance
Maximum Points: 10
    a. Present the comprehensive framework of your proposed program.
    b. Include the purpose and background of your program.
    c. Justify the overall need for your proposed program. Include the 
unmet AI/AN nursing workforce needs in AI/AN communities.
    d. Explain how the proposed program will serve the IHS and Tribal 
health care programs as well as support to IHS scholarship recipients.
    e. Describe the target population to receive IHS scholarships. We 
give funding preference to schools of nursing that recruit, retain, and 
graduate AI/AN veterans and veterans who have medical military 
experience.
    f. Describe your overall approach to increase the number of 
registered nurses, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners who deliver 
health care services to AI/AN. Include how you will increase the number 
of AI/AN nursing students recruited, retained, and graduated.
    g. Describe the social determinants and health disparities that 
impact AI/AN communities. Discuss how these social determinants have 
historically affected access to AI/AN health care and have impacted AI/
AN students' access to education specifically nursing education.
    h. Describe relevance of the program relating the objectives to the 
purposes of this NOFO.
    i. For current recipients, describe the differences between the 
current and proposed activities.
2. Project Objectives, Work Plan, and Approach
Maximum Points: 40
    a. Project objectives
    1. Clearly state specific, time-framed, measurable objectives for 
the goals related to the proposed program.
    b. Work plan
    1. In your attachments, include a work plan chart, with timelines, 
that describes fully and clearly how you will complete your proposed 
activities.
    c. Approach
    1. Recruiting students--You must describe:
    a. Your strategy to attract pre-nursing students.
    b. How your program will recruit AI/AN students who are veterans, 
including those with experience as emergency medical technicians, 
hospital corpsmen, paramedics, military medics, and licensed vocational 
or practical nurses.
    2. Training and supporting student success. You must describe how 
you will:
    a. Award IHS scholarships to nursing students.
    b. Assist IHS program officials in their roles to support student 
job placement and to track each IHS scholarship recipient's service 
obligation.
    c. Educate and train students in opioid addiction prevention, 
treatment, and recovery. Addressing the opioid crisis is an HHS 
priority.
    3. Oversight and collaboration. You must describe:
    a. Provide support services to psychology students to facilitate 
their success in the clinical psychology program as well as track their 
progress.
    a. Collect students' BIA-4437 forms to verify whether students 
receiving tuition support in their program are members of eligible, 
federally recognized Tribes.
    b. Assist the clinical psychologist with job placement at eligible 
Indian health sites and track their payback status to ensure they 
fulfill their service obligation.
    c. Provide your students with clinical rotation in AI/AN health 
programs.
    d. Provide stipends to undergraduate and graduate students to 
pursue a career in psychology.
    e. Use existing university tutoring, counseling, and student 
support services, to the maximum extent feasible.
    f. Provide career counseling, academic advice, plans to correct 
academic deficiencies, and other activities to assist student 
retention.
    g. Educate and train students in opioid addiction prevention, 
treatment, and recovery. Addressing the opioid crisis is a Health and 
Human Services (HHS) priority.
    h. Increase the skills of and provide continuing education to 
clinical psychologists at the graduate and undergraduate level who 
deliver health services to the AI/AN population.
    i. Provide mechanisms and resources to increase psychology student 
enrollment, retention, and graduation.
    4. Oversight and collaboration--You must describe how you will:
    a. The challenges that you are likely to encounter or have been a 
challenge in designing and implementing the activities in your work 
plan, and the approaches that you will use to resolve them.
    b. Your plan to sustain the project after the period of performance 
ends. Include the expected barriers to achieving self-sufficiency.
    c. How you will establish or collaborate with existing IHS and 
Tribal programs and colleges to establish:
    1. an agreement for clinical rotations;
    2. a faculty exchange program to enhance cultural competency and 
faculty strength;
    3. formal bridge programs agreements between Tribal colleges and 
universities to provide a program that increases the skills of, and 
provide continuing education to nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse 
midwives.
3. Program Evaluation
Maximum Points: 30
    a. Describe your evaluation plan. Include strategies for assessing 
the progress and outcomes of your project.
    b. Link your evaluation plan to the objectives and purpose of this 
NOFO. Include how you will evaluate your successes and failures as well 
as identify and implement continuing improvements.
    c. Describe the evaluation measures you will use to demonstrate how 
the program is meeting identified goals and objectives.
    d. Describe you will collect, track, and report performance 
measures on a semi-annual basis and for periodic audit reports.
    e. Explain how you will collect and manage student scholarship 
data.
    f. Describe any potential obstacles for implementing the program 
performance evaluation, and how you will address those obstacles.
4. Organizational Capabilities, Key Personnel, and Qualifications
Maximum Points: 15
    a. Provide information on your organization, philosophy, and 
practice methods. Describe how they will contribute to your ability to 
conduct program requirements and meet this program's purpose, 
objectives, and expectations.
    b. List the key personnel who will work with the program. In your 
attachments, submit position

[[Page 17491]]

descriptions and resumes of program director and key staff with duties 
and experience.
    c. Include nursing accreditation documentation. All schools of 
nursing that are associated with the project and have conferring 
degrees must be accredited.
    d. Describe your organization's significant program activities and 
accomplishments over the past 5 years associated with the goals of this 
announcement. Describe major activities over the last 24 months.
    e. Identify and summarize major project activities recently done 
during the project period. Include recruitment, retention, and support 
activities to student, graduate, and evaluation demonstrating 
performance measures.
    f. Identify your experience with other similar projects, including 
the results of those projects. Include your prior experience with nurse 
recruitment programs.
5. Budget and Budget Justification
Maximum Points: 5
    a. Clearly define the budget in your Budget Information for Non-
Construction Programs (SF-424A).
    b. In the Budget Narrative Form, provide a justification and 
detailed breakdown of the funding by category for the first year of the 
project. Information on the project director and project staff should 
include salaries and percentage of time assigned to the grant. List 
equipment assigned to the grant. List equipment purchases necessary to 
conduct the project. See budget narrative. Be sure to include:
    1. Personnel costs: You must identify a single program director. 
The program director must be a licensed registered nurse.
    2. Key support personnel: Provide names, title, position 
description, salary, and fringe benefits. Administrative cost is 
limited to 8 percent of the award.
    3. Consultants: Provide names, affiliations, and qualifications of 
each consultant, including expected rate of compensation, travel, per 
diem, and other related costs.
    4. Travel: Name conferences or other recruitment events, airline 
tickets, lodging, per diem, booth, public transportation, or other 
related costs.
    5. Equipment: Must be related to the objectives of the project, 
retained by recipient, used in accordance with the terms of the 
cooperative agreement award, and must comply with procurement 
requirements for Federal grant and cooperative agreements.
    6. Scholarships: Must cover tuition, fees, books, stipend, and 
other related educational expenses. The proposed project must use IHS 
scholarship funds in a manner that will meet the needs of eligible AI/
AN students. The budget narrative must indicate the number of students 
to receive scholarship for each year of the cooperative agreement and 
the amount of each scholarship per student.

Risk Review

    Before making an award, we review the risk that you will not 
prudently manage Federal funds. We need to make sure you've handled any 
past Federal awards well and demonstrated sound business practices. We 
use SAM.gov Responsibility/Qualification (https://sam.gov/content/entity-information) to check this history for all awards likely to be 
over $250K. You can comment on your organization's information in 
SAM.gov. We will consider your comments before making a decision about 
your level of risk.
    If we find a significant risk, we may choose not to fund your 
application or to place specific conditions on the award.
    For more details, see 45 CFR 75.205 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-C/section-75.205).

Selection Process

    When making funding decisions, we consider:
     Applicant program characteristics. We give preference to 
programs that provide a preference to AI/AN students, train nurse 
midwives or nurse practitioners, and are interdisciplinary, including 
with medicine, pharmacy, dental, and behavioral health students.
     Geographic IHS area. If more than one university and 
college application is received from an IHS area, only one award will 
be made to that particular IHS area providing a DNP, MSN, or BSN 
program.
     Private, public, and Tribal status. At least two awards to 
public or private college or university, school of nursing which 
provides DNP, MSN, BSN, ADN (registered nurse, nurse practitioner, 
nurse midwife) degrees. At least three awards to a tribally controlled 
community college, school of nursing which provides BSN and ADN 
(registered nurse) degrees.
     Merit review results. These are key in making decisions 
but are not the only factor.
     Statutory requirement. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 1616e(e), one 
grant will be provided to the University of North Dakota.
     Coverage. The larger portfolio of agency-funded projects, 
including the diversity of project types and geographic distribution.
     Applicant past performance. We may choose not to fund 
applicants with management or financial problems.
    We may:
     Fund applications in whole or in part.
     Fund applications at a lower amount than requested.
     Decide not to allow a prime recipient to subaward if they 
may not be able to monitor and manage subrecipients properly.
     Choose to fund no applications under this NOFO.

Award Notices

    After we review and select applications for award, we will let you 
know the outcome.

Unsuccessful Applications

    We will email you or write you a letter if your application is 
disqualified or unsuccessful.

Approved but Unfunded Applications

    It is possible that we could approve your application, but do not 
have enough funds to reach it. If so, we will hold your application for 
one year. If funding becomes available during the year, we may 
reconsider funding.

Approved Applications

    If you are successful, we will create a Notice of Award (NoA). You 
will need a GrantSolutions user account (https://www.grantsolutions.gov/home/getting-started-request-a-user-account/) to 
retrieve your NoA.
    The NoA is the only official award document. The NoA tells you 
about the amount of the award, important dates, and the terms and 
conditions you need to follow. Until you receive the NoA, you do not 
have permission to start work.

V. Step 5: Submit Your Application

Application Submission and Deadlines

    See find the application package to make sure you have everything 
you need.
    Make sure you are current with SAM.gov and UEI requirements. See 
get registered (https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration). You will 
have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

Application Deadline

    You must submit your application by May 14, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
    Grants.gov creates a date and time record when it receives the 
application. If you submit the same application more than once, we will 
accept the last on-time submission.

[[Page 17492]]

    The grants management officer may extend an application due date 
based on emergency situations such as documented natural disasters or a 
verifiable widespread disruption of electric or mail service.

Application Submission

    You must submit your application through Grants.gov. See get 
registered (https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration).
    For instructions on how to submit in Grants.gov, see the Quick 
Start Guide for Applicants (https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants). Make sure that your application passes the Grants.gov 
validation checks or we may not get it. Do not encrypt, zip, or 
password protect any files. The link above will also help you learn how 
to create PDFs.
    See Contacts & Support if you need help.

Exemptions

    If you cannot submit through Grants.gov, you must request a waiver 
before the application due date. Send your waiver request to 
ihs.gov">DGM@ihs.gov. Include clear justification for the need to deviate from 
the required application submission process. Failure to register in 
SAM.gov or Grants.gov in a timely way is not cause for a waiver. We 
will not accept applications outside of Grants.gov without an approved 
waiver.
    We will email you if we approve your waiver. This notification will 
include submission instructions. If approved, we must receive your 
application by 5:00 p.m. ET on the application deadline.

Other Submissions

Intergovernmental Review
    This NOFO is not subject to executive order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. No action is needed.

Mandatory Disclosure

    You must submit any information related to violations of Federal 
criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations 
potentially affecting the Federal award. See Mandatory Disclosures, 45 
CFR 75.113 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-B/section-75.113).
    Send written disclosures to IHS at ihs.gov">DGM@ihs.gov and to the Office of 
Inspector General at [email protected]. Include ``Mandatory 
Grant Disclosures'' in subject line.

Application Checklist

    Make sure you have everything you need to apply:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Component              How to upload          Page limit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ballot] Project Abstract.....  Use the Project    1 page.
                                 Abstract Summary
                                 form.
[ballot] Project Narrative....  Use the project    25 pages.
                                 Narrative
                                 Attachment form.
[ballot] Budget Narrative.....  Use the Budget     5 pages.
                                 Narrative
                                 Attachment form.
Attachments...................  Insert each in a   .....................
                                 single Other
                                 Attachments form.
[ballot] Tribal resolution....  .................  None.
[ballot] Work plan chart......  .................  1 page.
[ballot] Proof of nonprofit     .................  None.
 status.
[ballot] Indirect cost          .................  None.
 agreement.
[ballot] Resumes and position   .................  None.
 descriptions.
[ballot] Letter of support....  .................  None.
[ballot] Audit documentation..  .................  None.
Other Required Forms (3 total)  Upload using each  .....................
                                 required form.
[ballot] Application for        .................  None.
 Federal Assistance (SF-424).
[ballot] Budget Information     .................  None.
 for Non-Construction Programs
 (SF-424A).
[ballot] Grants.gov Lobbying    .................  None.
 Form.
[ballot] Disclosure of          .................  None.
 Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award

Post-Award Requirements and Administration

Administrative and National Policy Requirements
    There are important rules you need to know if you get an award. You 
must follow:
     All terms and conditions in the Notice of Award.
     The regulations listed in 45 CFR part 75, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for HHS Awards (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75).
     The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf). This document has terms and conditions tied to your 
award. If there are any exceptions to the GPS, they will be listed in 
your Notice of Award.
     All Federal statutes and regulations relevant to Federal 
financial assistance, including those highlighted in the HHS 
Administrative and National Policy Requirements (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-administrative-national-policy-requirements.pdf).
Reporting
    If you are successful, you will have to submit financial and 
performance reports and possibly reports on specific types of 
activities. Your NoA will outline the specific requirements and 
deadlines. To learn more about reporting, see:

 Performance Progress Reports
 Progress Report Requirements
 Financial Reporting

    If your award includes funds for a conference, you must submit a 
report for all conferences.
    If you do not submit your reports on time, we could:

 Suspend or terminate your award
 Withhold payments
 Move you to a reimbursement payment method
 Withhold future awards
 Take other enforcement actions
 Impose special award conditions if the situation continues

Non-Discrimination and Assurance

    If you receive an award, you must follow all applicable 
nondiscrimination laws. You agree to this when you register in SAM.gov. 
You must also submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690) (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/form-hhs690.pdf). To learn more, see 
the Laws and Regulations Enforced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights 
(https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/laws-regulations-guidance/laws/).

[[Page 17493]]

VI. Contacts and Support

Agency Contacts

    1. Program and Eligibility, Eric Pinto, Senior Program Specialist, 
Email: ihs.gov">Eric.Pinto@ihs.gov, Phone: 301-443-2544.
    2. Grants Management and Financial, ihs.gov">DGM@ihs.gov.

Grants.gov

    Grants.gov provides 24/7 support. You can call 1-800-518-4726 or 
email [email protected]. Hold on to your ticket number.
    If problems persist, contact the Office of Grants Management at 
ihs.gov">DGM@ihs.gov. Please do so at least 10 days before the application due 
date.

SAM.gov

    If you need help, you can call 866-606-8220 or live chat with the 
Federal Service Desk (https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp).

GrantSolutions

    For help, please contact the GrantSolutions help desk at 866-577-
0771, or by email at [email protected].

Reference websites

 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (https://www.hhs.gov/)
 Division of Grants Management [verbar] Indian Health Service 
(IHS) (https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/index.cfm?module=dsp_dgm_funding)
 Grants Training Tools [verbar] Division of Grants Management 
(ihs.gov) (https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/training1/).
 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (https://www.ecfr.gov/)
 United States Code (U.S.C.) (https://uscode.house.gov/)

Roselyn Tso,
Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05103 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4166-14-P