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93.954 TRIBAL RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAMS

(Tribal Recruitment)

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.

OBJECTIVES
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.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
Establishing and operating programs designed to recruit and retain health professionals into Indian health programs and facilities.

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.

Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure
The preferred method for receipt of applications is electronic submission through Grants.gov. However, should any technical problems arise regarding the submission, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The Contact Center hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). If you require additional assistance please contact Michelle G. Bulls, Grants Policy Officer at (301) 443-6528 at least fifteen days prior to the application deadline. To submit an application electronically, please use the http://www.Grants.gov apply site. Download a copy of the application package, on the Grants.gov website, complete it offline and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

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 via grants.gov annually. Continuation funding is subject to availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and continuing need of the IHS for the program.

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.

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 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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
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.

Account Identification
75-0390-0-1-551.

Obligations
(Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $ est. not available; FY 08 $ estimate not available; and FY 09 $ est. not available.

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

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In fiscal year 2005, six continuing awards were issued. It is estimated that six continuing awards will be funded in fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

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.

Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.

Headquarters Office
For program information, contact Mr. Darrell Pratt, Leader, Health Professions Manager, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5710. For grants management information, contact Ms. Kimberly Pendleton, Senior Grants Management Officer, Division of Grants Operations, Indian Health Service, 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP, Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 443-5204. Use the same numbers for FTS.

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

RELATED PROGRAMS
None.

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?


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)