PROJECT NARRATIVE CRITERIA

The project narrative should be organized as described in the Format Guidelines and must address the following criteria. These criteria also constitute the evaluation criteria for the reviewing and scoring of applications. Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses.

PART I - Introduction and Need for Assistance (20 points)

1. Describe the Tribe's/Tribal organization's current health operation. Include what programs and services are currently provided (i.e., Federally funded, State funded, etc.), information regarding technologies currently used (i.e., hardware, software, services, etc.), and identify the source(s) of technical support for those technologies (i.e., Tribal staff, Area Office, vendor, etc.). Include information regarding whether the Tribe/Tribal organization has a health department and/or health board and how long it has been operating.
2. Describe the population to be served by the proposed project. Include a description of the number of IHS eligible beneficiaries who currently use services.
3. Describe the geographical location of the proposed project including any geographic barriers to health care users in the area to be served.
4. Identify all TMGs received since FY 2002, dates of funding, and summary of project accomplishments. State how previous TMG funds facilitated the progression of health development relative to the current proposed TMG project. (Copies of reports will not be accepted.)
5. Identify the eligible project type and priority group of the applicant.
6. Explain the reason for your proposed project by identifying specific gaps or weaknesses in services or infrastructure that will be addressed by the proposed project. Explain how these gaps/weaknesses were discovered. If proposed project includes information technology (i.e., hardware, software, etc.), provide further information regarding measures taken, or to be taken to ensure the proposed project will not create other gaps in service or infrastructure (i.e. IHS interface capability, Government Performance and Result Act requirements, contract reporting requirements, Information Technology (IT) compatibility, etc.).
7. Describe the effect of the proposed project on current programs (i.e., Federally funded, state funded, etc.) and, if applicable, on current equipment (i.e., hardware, software, services, etc.). Include the effect of the proposed project on planned/anticipated programs and/or equipment.
8. Address how the proposed project relates to the purpose of the TMG Program by addressing the appropriate description below:
• Identify if the Tribe/Tribal organization is an IHS Title I contractor. Address if the self-determination contract is a master contract of several programs or if individual contracts are used for each program. Include information regarding whether or not the Tribe participates in a consortium contract (i.e., more than one Tribe participating in the contract). Address what programs are currently provided through those contracts and how the proposed project will enhance the organization's capacity to manage the contracts currently in place.
• Identify if the Tribe/Tribal organizations is an IHS Title V compactor. Address when the Tribe or Tribal organization entered into the compact and how the proposed project will further enhance the organization's management capabilities.
• Identify if the Tribe/Tribal organization is not a Title I or Title V organization. Address how the proposed project will enhance the organization's management capabilities, what programs and services the organization is currently seeking to contract, and an anticipated date for contract.

PART II - Project Objective(s), Approach, and Results/Benefits (40 points)

1. Identify the proposed project objective(s) addressing the following:
• measurable and (if applicable) quantifiable.
• result oriented.
• time-limited.

Example: The Tribe will increase the number of bills processed by 15% by installing new software by the end of 12 months.
2. Address how the proposed project will result in change or improvement in program operations or processes for each proposed project objective. Also address what tangible products are expected from the project (i.e., policies and procedures manual, health plan, etc.)
3. Address the extent to which the proposed project will build the local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the needs of the target population.
4. Submit a workplan in the appendix which includes the following information:
• Provide the action steps on a timeline for accomplishing the proposed project objective(s).
• Identify who will perform the action steps.
• Identify who will supervise the action steps taken.
• Identify who will accept and/or approve work products at the end of the proposed project.
• Include any training that will take place during the proposed project and who will be attending the training.
• Include evaluation activities planned.
5. If consultants or contractors will be used during the proposed project, please include the following information in their scope of work (or note if consultants/contractors will not be used):
• Educational requirements.
• Desired qualifications and work experience.
• Expected work products to be delivered on a timeline.
• If a potential consultant/contractor has already been identified, please include a resume in the appendix.
6. Describe what updates (i.e., revision of policies/procedures, upgrades, technical support, etc.) will be required for the continued success of the proposed project. Include when these updates are anticipated and where funds will come from to conduct the update and/or maintenance.

PART III - Project Evaluation (15 points)

Describe the proposed plan to evaluate both outcomes and process. Outcome evaluation relates to the results identified in the objectives, and process evaluation relates to the workplan and activities of the project.

1. For outcome evaluation, describe:
• What the criteria will be for determining success of each objective.
• What data will be collected to determine whether the objective was met.
• At what intervals will data be collected.
• Who will collect the data and their qualifications.
• How the data will be analyzed.
• How the results will be used.
2. For process evaluation, describe:
• How the project will be monitored and assessed for potential problems and needed quality improvements.
• Who will be responsible for monitoring and managing project improvements based on results of ongoing process improvements and their qualifications.
• How ongoin monitoring will be used to improve the project.
• Any products, such as manuals or policies, that might be developed and how they might lead themselves to replication by others.
• How the project will document what is learned throughout the project period.
3. Describe any evaluation efforts that are planned to occur after the grant period ends.
4. Describe the ultimate benefit to the Tribe that is expected to result from this project. An example of this might be the ability of the Tribe to expand preventive health services because of increased billing and third party payments.