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| 93.178 NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY |
| (Disadvantaged Assistance) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Public Health Service Act, Title VIII, Section 821, 42 U.S.C. 296m, as amended; Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, Public Law 105-392. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To increase nursing education opportunities for individuals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds (including racial and ethnic minorities under-represented among registered nurses) by providing student stipends and scholarships, pre-entry preparation and retention activities. To support projects focused on creating registered nurses. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Funds may be used for salaries of personnel specifically employed for the project; consultant fees; supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the project; essential travel expenses and student stipends or scholarships; and other expenses related to the project. Restricted Uses: Indirect costs are allowed for administrative costs incurred as a result of the project, limited to 8 percent of direct costs exclusive of equipment and tuition and fees. Stipends are $250 per month to eligible full-time project students. The maximum annual (12-month) amount for stipends is $3000 per student. Scholarships are limited to a maximum of $7,000 per student per year for upper division nursing students. The maximum amount that can be requested for scholarships in a grant is $40,000 per year. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Eligible applicants are schools of nursing, health care facilities, or a partnership of such a school and a health care facility, nursing centers, academic health centers, State or local governments, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, other public or private non-profit entities including faith-based and community organizations, and for-profit entities capable of carrying out the legislative purpose. Schools of nursing must be accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or one of the State Agencies deem appropriate by the U.S. Department of Education to be eligible applicants. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Accredited public and nonprofit private schools of nursing and other public or nonprofit private entities. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for the Bureau of Health Professions. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards. |
| Award Procedure |
| Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award. |
| Deadlines |
| www.hrsa.gov. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Approximately 6 months after receipt of applications. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| Competing continuation applications may be submitted for continuance of a grant beyond the initial project period. A competing continuation application shall be submitted during the beginning of the third year of the initial project period. The submission date is the same for new applications and competing continuation applications. These applications are reviewed in the same manner and at the same time as new competing applications. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Competing and competing continuation grant applications are submitted for three (3) years of support. |
| Reports |
| A Uniform Progress Report (UPR) and Comprehensive Performance Management System (CPMS) Report must be submitted annually. A Financial Status Report (FSR) must be submitted within 90 days after the end of each budget period. Final progress and financial reports must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the project period. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| All records must be maintained until expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain following the 3-uear period, such as those raised as a result of an audit or an on-going enforcement action, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. |
| Account Identification |
| 75-0350-0-1-550. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $15,194,382; FY 08 $15,210,512; and FY 09 est. $14,689,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $95,999 to $416,335; $281,251. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Projects have assisted nursing schools and other organizations to meet the costs of recruitment and retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and facilitated their completion of nursing education programs. In FY07, 28 non-competing continuations and 23 new awards were issued. It is estimated that 41 non-competing continuations and 9 new awards will be issues in FY08. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Lt. Aisha K. Mix, MSN, RN, CCM, Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 9-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-6193. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16. Health Services Branch: 301-443-2385; Research and Training Branch: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch: (301) 443-3288. |
| Web Site Address |
| www.hrsa.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| The Nursing Workforce Diversity program supports projects focused on creating registered nurses. The program has three major purposes that applicants must address in their project: 1) retention activities (nursing students), 2) pre-entry preparation, and 3) student scholarships and/or stipends. Expected outcomes of these projects include increasing nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve the diversity of the nursing workforce, meet the increasing need for culturally sensitive and quality health care. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| The purpose of the project must be consistent with and promote the activities identified in the law. Need must be documented, and the capability for achieving project goals must be described. In making awards of grants under this section, preference will be given to any qualified applicant with a project that will substantially benefit rural or underserved populations, or help meet public health nursing needs in State in local health departments. This preference will only be applied to applications that rank above the 20th percentile of applications recommended for approval. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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