To
support the development of Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units in
communities throughout the United States to: (1) increase capacity
at the community level to respond during emergencies which have
medical consequences, and (2) improve public health in communities
through volunteerism on an ongoing basis.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds
are to be used for establishment of community-based, citizen volunteer
Medical Reserve Corps. Funds may be used for organizing, volunteer
recruitment, assessment of risks and vulnerabilities, strategy development,
planning, training, drills/practice, supplies and equipment.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Applicants may be an entity of
the local government or a local nonprofit, nongovernmental community-based
organization. If a local Citizen Corps Council has a nonprofit status,
the Citizen Corps Council can be the applicant.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: General public.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proof of nonprofit status is required as part of the application
submission. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR
74 and 92.
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 or 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 Impact System reporting requirements.
Application
Procedure: Requests for the standard PHS application
form (SF PHS 5161-1, 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 review 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 Headquarter 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: Grant projects
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
procedures will be provided at the time of the award.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Progress reports are required annually for each budget period, and
a final progress report is due 90 days following the end of the
project period. Financial Status Reports are due at the end of each
budget period, and a final Financial Status Report is due 90 days
following the end of the project period.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 "Audit
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 as noted in
Circular No. A- 133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements
are subject to inspection and audits by HHS and other Federal
government officials.
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 finding(s).
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0120-0-1-551.
Obligations:
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $0; FY 02 est $2,000,000; and FY
03 est $8,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$10,000 to $50,000; Average: $20,000.
The Medical Reserve Corps Small Grant Program is being initiated
in FY 2002. Therefore, there are no accomplishments to date. The
program will result in the establishment of community-based, citizen
volunteer Medical Reserve Corps Units across the United States.
These units will be linked to established response programs in these
communities as well as to Citizens Councils of the USA Freedom Corps.
It is estimated that 100 awards will be made in fiscal year 2002
and 400 awards in fiscal year 2003.
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. A guide for local groups/organizations
to help them in establishing a Medical Reserve Corps will be disseminated
by the Office of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters
Office: Program Contact: Ms Linda Vogel, Office
of the Surgeon General, USPHS, Room 18-66, 5600 Fishers Lane,
Rockville, Maryland 20817. Telephone (301) 443-2910 and e-mail:
lvogel@osophs.dhhs.gov. 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
Building, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville, Maryland
20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0758.
Web
Site Address: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
None.
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) Implementation plan which
describing linkages to existing community resources, the role the
Medical Reserve Corps will most likely have, and the timeframe for
planning and implementation; 2) Management plan describing the organization's
capabilities; 3) Evaluation plan describing program goals and how
those goals will be assessed; 4) Supporting documentation detailing
how the Medical Reserve Corps is connected to a Citizen Corps Council;
and 5) Background on the adequacy of demonstrated knowledge of emergency
medical response/care systems and utilization of volunteers.
