FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Health Service Act, as amended, Title XVII, Section 1707 (e)(1), 42 U.S.C. 300u et seq.; Public Law 93-641.

To demonstrate that the involvement of State and Territorial Offices of Minority Health in coordinating a statewide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in minority communities can have a greater impact on the communities' understanding of the disease, and the coordination of prevention and treatment services for minority populations, than agencies and/or organizations working independently; and to stimulate and foster the development of effective and durable service delivery capacity for HIV prevention and treatment among organizations closely linked with the minority populations.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are to be used to support minority-targeted health education and prevention strategies which will help to eliminate or reduce the risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV/AIDS and increase access to services and treatment; and to provide technical assistance and capacity development to community based minority-serving organizations to enhance their delivery capacity for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Funds are not to be used for the provision of health care services, construction, augmentation of ongoing Office of Minority Health (OMH) supported demonstrations, or to supplant ongoing project activities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Application Eligibility: State/Territorial Offices of Minority Health or, for those states and territories that do not have established Office of Minority Health, a state or territorial minority health entity located within a State or Territorial Department of Health which functions in the capacity of an Office of Minority Health; and community based, minority-serving organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Members of the minority groups: American Indians or Alaska Natives; Asians; Blacks or African Americans; Hispanics or Latinos; Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders; or subgroups of these populations.

Credentials/Documentation:   Proof of nonprofit status is required as part of the application submission, where applicable. Documentation to verify official status as a State or Territorial Office of Minority Health signed by a State/territorial level authorizing official (e.g., Governor or designated official, Commissioner of Health or designee) or documentation to verify official status as a State or territorial minority health entity signed by the Commissioner of Health or designee in the Department of Health, as applicable.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program does not require preapplication coordination. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office of official designated as the single point of contact in the State for more information on the process the State requires to be filed with applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. This program is also covered by the Public Health System reporting requirements.

Application Procedure:   Requests for the standard PHS application form (SF PHS 1561-1, Revised July 2000) and instructions for submission should be directed to Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II Building, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0758. A signed original and two copies of the application are to be sent to the above address. Applications are screened upon receipt for completeness, responsiveness and conformance to the program announcement. Those applications judged to be unacceptable based on this initial screening will be returned.

Award Procedure:   Accepted applications will be reviewed by a panel that will make recommendations on the technical merit based on the published criteria. After considering the recommendations of the panel, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, will make a final decision on funding projects and a notice of grant award will be issued.

Deadlines:   Contact Headquarters Office listed below for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The grants will have a project period not to exceed 3 years, with 12 month budget periods. Following the initial budget period, continued funding is subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory program performance. Necessary instructions regarding payment procedure will be provided at the time the award is issued.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress reports are required for each budget period and a final performance report due 90 days after the end of the project period. A Financial Status Report is due 90 days after the end of each budget period with a final Financial Status Report due 90 days after the end of the project period.

Audits:   In Accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a minimum of 3 years, or longer pending completion and resolution of any audit findings.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0120-0-1-551.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $9,043,634; FY 02 est $7,050,000; and FY 03 est $5,050,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
From $144,127 to $1,200,000; Average: $430,649.

In fiscal year 2001, 21 continuation awards were made. In fiscal year 2002, it is estimated that 2 continuation and 27 to 42 new awards will be made, pending availability of funds. In fiscal year 2003 OMH anticipates continuation of the new awards made in fiscal year 2002.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 74 and 92. Specific program requirements are contained in the Federal Register Notice, the application instructions, and the PHS Grants Policy Statement.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Program Contact: Ms. Cynthia H. Amis, Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II Building, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville Maryland 20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0769. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0758.

Web Site Address:   http://www.omhrc.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

The following are examples of activities funded under this program: 1) identification of the needs of minority populations, facilitation of linkages between minority community based organizations to develop greater resource capacity, and coordinating federal resources through a needs assessment, mobilization of ethno-specific community coalitions, and minority linkage conferences; 2) using Geographic Information System mapping to explore the correlation between HIV/AIDS distribution and identified socioeconomic indicators, and employing epidemiological data to determine areas of highest need, profiling local and state minority community based organizations and making the information available on the Internet, and disseminating data and other HIV/AIDS related information via the Internet; and 3) conducting needs assessment, training workshops and seminar for minority community based organization staff and board members in diverse planning and management skills, and developing a pool of consultants with technical assistance and cultural/linguistic competence.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Complete review criteria are published in the Federal Register Notice or can be obtained from the Program contact. Listed below are some criteria used to review applications: 1) consistency of project's goals and objectives with the Office of Minority Health's mission; 2) coherence and feasibility of methodology and activities selected to address the problem as evidence in the proposed implementation plan; 3) strength of proposed grant organization's management capability; 4) adequacy of qualifications, experience and cultural competence of proposed personnel; and 5) strength of analysis of potential impact or innovation the project proposes to generate.