FEDERAL AGENCY:

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Section 110, Public Law 94-437, as amended, Public Law 100-713 and Public Law 102- 573.

To make financial assistance awards to Indian tribes and tribal and Indian health organizations to enable them to recruit, place, and retain health professionals to fill critical vacancies and to meet the staffing needs of Indian health programs and facilities including those administered by the Indian Health Service (IHS).

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Establishing and operating programs designed to recruit and retain health professionals into Indian health programs and facilities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Any federally-recognized Indian tribe or tribal or Indian health organization is eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Preference is given to those applicants who propose to recruit for health programs and facilities that IHS has designated as high priority for the IHS Loan Repayment Program for physicians, nurses, and other health professions.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Costs for other institutions will be determined by HHS Regulations 45 CFR 74, Subpart Q.

Pre-application Coordination:   Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   An IHS Grant Application Kit may be obtained from the Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, Twinbrook Metro Plaza, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5204. This kit includes Standard Form PHS 5161-1 (Rev. July 1992); Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B (Rev. April 1988); Application Receipt Card - PHS 3038 (Rev. May 1990); Tier I Listings, Criteria for Tier I Equivalents, instructions for preparing the program narrative; and IHS Application Check List.

Award Procedure:   Grants are made directly by the Indian Health Service to applicant agency, based on results of competitive review process.

Deadlines:   Contact Headquarters Office listed below for application deadline.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Within 90 days of IHS deadline.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   Continuation applications must be submitted annually. Continuation funding is subject to availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and continuing need of the IHS for the program.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

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

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Payments of grant funds are made through the DHHS Payment Management System or DHHS Electronic Transfer System. Information will be forwarded to new grantees regarding the process of obtaining funds.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Projects must have data systems to support administration and evaluation of the project. The funding agency will provide forms for the uniform reporting of data on case management, fiscal management and project activities, in accordance with 45 CFR, Part 92 or OMB Circular No. A-110, depending on the type of grantee organization.

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 HHS grant, in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts. Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the end of a budget period. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving 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 and Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $580,300; FY 02 est $580,300; and FY 03 est $580,300.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
From $60,000 to $100,000. Average: $82,900.

In fiscal year 2001, seven continuing awards were issued. It is estimated that seven continuing awards will be funded in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, amended by Public Law 100-713, enacted November 23, 1988; 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:   For program information, contact Mr. Darrell Pratt, Leader, Health Professions Support Team, Office of Management Support, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-4242. For grants management information, contact Ms. Crystal C. Ferguson, Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Division of Acquisition and Grants Management, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5204. Use the same numbers for FTS.

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Need - Is the need for the project justified? If a project targets urban Indian health programs, is there justification and documentation for conducting activities at that site? Do proposed efforts complement and expand past recruitment efforts? Approach - Are the objectives well stated? Is the applicant's work plan for conducting the project sound and effective? Is the approach innovative? Are the activities proposed cost effective and will they lead to effective recruitment, placement, and retention? Adequacy of Management Controls - Is the applicant capable of successfully conducting the project both from a technical and business standpoint? Is the proposed interaction with IHS staff adequate for an application for recruitment of Federal staff? Is the budget sound in relation to the work plan and does it assure effective utilization of grant funds? Are the facilities and equipment adequate? Key Personnel - Regarding the position descriptions, are the qualifications of key personnel appropriate and adequate to carry out the project? If a resume is provided, are the individual's qualifications and experiences consistent with the position description and conduct of the project?