Health Resources and Services Administration April 22, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Awarding Agency Grants Management Manual (AAGAM) Chapter 1.03.103, the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) requests a class deviation to award low-cost extensions of up to 6 months or, when necessary, administrative supplements to minimize disruption of services for specific health center program service areas. Per the requirements for low-cost extensions outlined in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.1.a.(5)(b), these extensions may not exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding requested) or $100,000. Likewise, per the requirements for administrative supplements outlined in the AAGAM Chapter 2.04.104B-4A.4.b, these supplements may not exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding) or $250,000, whichever is less. In each case, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is required to publish a notice in the Federal Register in advance of, or concurrent with, the awarding of the funds. BPHC is requesting a class deviation to the requirements for low- cost extensions to allow HRSA to award extensions that exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding requested) and/or $100,000 in cases where the grantee would not receive future continued support under the Health Center Program. Likewise, BPHC is requesting a class deviation to the requirements for administrative supplements to allow HRSA to award supplements that exceed 25 percent of the approved federal direct cost budget authorized for the budget period (exclusive of the additional funding) and/or $250,000 in cases where the award is to a currently funded grantee located in or adjacent to the service area of a grantee that will not receive continued support under the Health Center Program. BPHC is also requesting that the deviation allow for the publication of a consolidated notice in the Federal Register annually that summarizes the actions taken in the prior fiscal year. The sole purpose of these low-cost extensions or administrative supplements is to avoid a gap in the provision of critical health care services for a funded service area by providing a ``bridge'' until HRSA is able to make an award to an eligible applicant under a Service Area Competition (SAC) and/or to assure an orderly phase-out of Health Center Program activities by the current grantee. BPHC is not requesting that this class deviation cover single source replacement awards and will continue to request single case deviations for such non-competitive actions if necessary.