To
develop epidemiology centers and public health infrastructure through
the augmentation of existing programs with expertise in epidemiology
and a history of regional support. Activities should include, but
not be limited to, development of surveillance for disease conditions,
epidemiological analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance
data, investigation of disease outbreaks, development and implementation
of epidemiological studies, development and implementation of disease
control and prevention programs, and coordination of activities
with other public health authorities in the region. Proposed activities
which cover large population and/or geographical areas that do not
necessarily correspond with current Indian Health Service (IHS)
administrative areas are encouraged.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grant
funds may be used to develop and conduct activities to achieve epidemiology
programs. The recipient activities will coordinate and participate
in projects, investigations, or studies of national scope; and share
surveillance and other data collected. IHS activities will convene
workshops/meetings; provide technical assistance and consultation;
provide training; conduct site visits; and coordinate all epidemiological
activities on a national basis.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Any federally recognized Indian
tribe or tribal organization, as defined in Section 4(d) and 4(e)
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, as
amended. An intertribal consortia or Indian organization, if it
is incorporated for the primary purpose of improving Indian health,
and it is representative of the tribes or urban Indian communities
in which it is located. An urban Indian organization is defined
as a nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center eligible
for services under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement
Act, Public Law 94-437, as amended.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: American Indians and Alaska Natives
will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation:
The applicant must provide documentation of: (1) Nonprofit status;
(2) tribal resolution(s); and (3) letters of support and collaboration
with regional IHS, State, or university organizations. Costs will
be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 (State,
local, and Indian tribal governments). OMB Circular No. A-122
(nonprofit organizations), and applicable grant administration
regulations 45 CFR 74 and 45 CFR 92.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: The standard application forms,
as furnished by Public Health Service (PHS) and required by 45
CFR 92 (State and local governments), and OMB Circular No. A-110
(nonprofit organizations) must be used for cooperative agreements
under this program. An IHS Grant Application Kit may be obtained
from the Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisitions and
Grants Management, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville,
MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5204. This kit includes Standard
Form PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 7/00); Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B
(Rev. 7/97); Application Receipt Card - IHS 815-1A (Rev 7/97);
instructions for preparing the program narrative; and IHS Application
Check List.
Award
Procedure: Cooperative agreements are made
based on results of a competitive review process.
Deadlines:
For specific information on the application deadline, contact
the Grants Management Branch on (301) 443-5204.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
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: Cooperative
agreements will be awarded for project periods of up 3 years.
Within the project period, a continuation application must be
submitted annually on a non- competitive basis for each year of
support.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Reporting requirements are consistent with 45 CFR 92 for Indian
tribes and with 45 CFR 74 for nonprofit organizations. Semi- annual
and final program progress reports will be required.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit
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 Circular No. A-133.
Records:
DHHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of
their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access
to any books, documents, papers, or other records of a grantee,
subgrantee, contractor, or subcontractor, which are pertinent
to the grant in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts,
and transcripts. Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting
records for 3 years after the end of a budget period. If any litigation,
claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the records
has been started before the expiration of the 3 year period, the
records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution
of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular
3 year period, whichever is later.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0390-0-1-551.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $1,161,100; FY 02 est $1,250,000; and FY 03 est
$2,650,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
Awards range from $170,000 to $201,100; Average: $193,516.
In fiscal year 2001 six continuing projects were funded. It estimated
that six continuing projects will be funded in fiscal years 2002
and 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Public Law 94-437, Section 214(a)(1), as amended by Public Law 102-573;
45 CFR 92 and 45 CFR 74; authorizes the cooperative agreement grant
awards. PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH)
94-50,000 (Rev. April 1, 1994).
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters
Office: Program Contact: Dr. James Cheek;
Epidemiology Branch, Indian Health Service, Headquarters West,
5300 Homestead Road, NE; Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110; Telephone:
(505) 248-4226. For Grants Management Contact: Ms. Crystal C.
Ferguson; Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and
Grants Management, Indian Health Service; 801 Thompson Avenue,
Suite 120; Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone: (301) 443-5204.
(Telephone numbers are not toll-free).
Web
Site Address: http://www.ihs.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
(1) The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board is establishing
a Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center in Portland, Oregon to serve
the 39 federally-recognized tribes who are its members plus the
two urban Indian organizations in the Portland Area of the Indian
Health Center; and (2) The Alaska Native Health Board is establishing
a new Alaska Native Epidemiology Center in Anchorage, Alaska, which
will enhance the ability of Alaska Native health provider agencies
to assess long-term changes in the health status of Alaska's 100,000
native people.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Selection criteria are introduction, current capacity and project
objectives, approach and results and benefits, project evaluation,
organization capabilities and qualifications, and budget. Consideration
will be given to applicants: (1) Proposing to provide services to
large regions consisting of more than a single IHS administrative
area; and (2) demonstrating evidence of past and current epidemiological
activities.
