Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program

Applicant Information Bulletin

Printer-friendly Applicant Information Bulletin (PDF - 401 KB)

Authority:  Section 846(a) of the Public Health Service Act as amended, (42 USC 297n(a))

Special Items of Importance

Electronic Submission of the Application and the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service Information System (BCRSIS) Banking Information

Individuals applying for this funding opportunity are required to submit the application and banking information for direct deposit of loan repayments electronically no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on March 16, 2009. Please note that all required supplemental forms and supporting documentation described in Section L of this Applicant Information Bulletin must be submitted by March 16, 2009 (postmark date) to:

Division of Applications and Awards
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Branch
c/o FocalPoint Consulting Group
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

Only the Health Resources and Services Administration’s staff can enter any relevant changes to the electronic banking information once it has been submitted through BCRSIS and a “BCRSIS Receipt of Submission” has been printed. However, if changes are required, applicants must complete the Banking Update Form (PDF - 112 KB) and mail the completed form to

Division of Applications and Awards
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Branch
5600 Fishers Lane,
Room 8-37,
Rockville, MD 20857

NELRP Awards are Only Made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the “Secretary”) or his/her Designee
Only the Secretary or his/her designee can make a NELRP award. A NELRP award cannot be guaranteed by a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) or any other entity or person. Employment at a CSF does not guarantee a NELRP contract.

NELRP Payments are Taxable
The loan repayments made to participants under this program are regarded as income by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are subject to Federal taxes. The NELRP will withhold Federal income tax and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax (Social Security and Medicare) from a participant’s NELRP award and pay those taxes directly to the IRS on the participant’s behalf. All NELRP payments made and Federal taxes withheld will be reported to the participant and the IRS on a Form W-2 after the end of the tax year. These loan repayments may also be subject to State and local income taxes. Participants should check with their State or local tax authority concerning their tax liability for these payments.

Participants will receive a Form W-2 by U.S. Mail. The Post Office will not forward a W-2 to a new or incorrect address. It is imperative that participants keep the NELRP abreast of any address changes to ensure timely delivery of W-2s.

Use of NELRP Payments
All loan repayments received by the participant after Federal tax withholding MUST be used by the participant to repay qualifying loan balances for qualifying nursing education. NELRP funds received by a participant may not be used to pay taxes or other debts.

In order to be considered for an amendment contract, the participant will be asked to provide a payment history demonstrating that the NELRP funds received were applied to the qualifying nursing educational loan balances.

Employment Changes During the Application Process
In fairness to all applicants, for funding preference purposes, the following policies have been established:

• The applicant must contact the NELRP immediately if there are any changes in the workplace facility.
• Changes in the workplace facility made before the application deadline are acceptable and will be considered provided the applicant submits an Employment Verification Form for the new facility and documentation of the facility’s status as set forth in Sections L.3 and L.4 of this Bulletin before the application deadline.
• Changes in the workplace facility not documented before the application deadline or made after the application deadline will not be accepted or considered. Applicants in this category should withdraw their application (see below).

Withdrawal of an Application Prior to Receiving a Contract Award
The NELRP contract is effective on the day it is signed by the Secretary or his/her designee. Once the Secretary or his/her designee signs the NELRP contract, the applicant becomes obligated to provide 2 years of full-time service beginning on the effective date of the contract at the CSF identified in the application. The NELRP projects that the Secretary or designee will sign contracts during the period from July 2009 through September 2009.

If an applicant will not be able to commence full-time service at the CSF identified in the application on the effective date of the contract (which the NELRP anticipates will be between July 2009 and September 2009), the applicant must by by June 15, 2009, notify the NELRP to withdraw his/her application from consideration by submitting a request in writing to callcenter@hrsa.gov or

NELRP
Division of Applications and Awards,
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 8-37
Rockville, Maryland 20857

If the applicant withdraws his/her application by June 15, 2009, or before the applicant’s contract is signed by the Secretary or his/her designee, the applicant will be eligible to apply to the NELRP in the future. If the applicant’s contract is signed by the Secretary or his/her designee prior to NELRP’s receipt of the applicant’s request for withdrawal, the application can no longer be withdrawn. If such applicant fails to commence service on the effective date of the contract at the CSF identified in the application, the applicant will be in breach of the contract and will be permanently disqualified from receiving future awards under the NELRP and some other Federal programs. 

Loan Consolidation Changes During the Application Process
Loan consolidations/refinances before the application deadline are acceptable, provided that the applicant submits a Loan Information and Verification Form (Loan Form) for the consolidated/refinanced loans by the application deadline. If the Loan Form is not received by the application deadline, the consolidated/refinanced loans will not be considered for loan repayment under the NELRP. If the applicant has consolidated otherwise qualifying educational loans with any other debt or consolidated his/her loans with loans of another individual, the entire consolidated loan is ineligible.

If loans are consolidated/refinanced between the application deadline and prior to the date an award is made, those loans will not be considered for loan repayment. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to consolidate/refinance their loans either before the application deadline or after receipt of an award.

All loan balances submitted for loan repayment consideration will be verified to determine whether they are eligible for repayment under the NELRP by contacting lenders or holders and checking the applicant’s credit report.

Special Instructions for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) Employed by a Professional Group that Practices at a CSF
The professional group should complete the Employment Verification Form. The professional group must also provide a written statement on original letterhead stating that the applicant will be working exclusively at one designated CSF for at least 32 hours per week (for a minimum of 45 weeks per service year) for the 2-year duration of the applicant’s NELRP contract, if the applicant receives an award. Documentation of the facility’s status must also be submitted as set forth in Section L.4 of this Bulletin.

Applicants are Responsible for Submitting a Complete Application Package

Applications will undergo an initial review to determine the completeness of the application package submitted in response to the March 16, 2009 deadline. Application packages deemed incomplete (e.g., missing, illegible, or incomplete application materials) will not be reviewed or considered for funding. The NELRP will not accept submission or resubmission of incomplete, rejected or otherwise delayed application materials after the deadline. In addition, the NELRP staff will not fill in any missing information or contact applicants regarding missing information. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete application package.

Notice

This Applicant Information Bulletin (hereinafter referred to as the “Bulletin”) describes the NELRP for registered nurses authorized by Section 846(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, and implemented by Federal regulations (42 CFR Section 57.312).  Future changes in the governing statute, the implementing regulations and the administrative policies and guidelines may also be applicable to participants in this program.  The NELRP is listed as number 93.908 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

Please Print and Keep a Copy of this Bulletin for Future Reference.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: A complete electronic Application must be submitted by 5 pm ET on March 16, 2009. Your banking information must also be submitted through BCRSIS by 5 pm ET on March 16, 2009. All Required Supplemental Forms and Supporting Documentation must be received or postmarked by March 16, 2009.

It is anticipated that awards will be made between July and September 2009. Awards are subject to the availability of funds. Applicants who submit a complete application package should receive notice of whether they received an award no later than September 30, 2009. Applicants not selected for an award will be notified no later than October 30, 2009.

This Bulletin explains in detail the contractual obligations of the Secretary and the participants in the NELRP.  Before signing a NELRP contract, applicants should review the entire Bulletin and the NELRP contract to ensure a complete understanding of the obligation to serve full-time for 2 years at a CSF and the financial consequences of failing to perform that obligation.  Before signing a NELRP contract, applicants may want to seek legal counsel to review this Bulletin and the contract.

SEND YOUR REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL FORMS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO:

Division of Applications and Awards
Nursing Education Loan Repayment Branch
c/o FocalPoint Consulting Group
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

All documents must be submitted on white 8 ½” x 11” Paper.  Only original supplemental forms, site letters, and professional group letters will be accepted.   Copied or faxed documents are not acceptable.

Application materials submitted to the NELRP will not be returned.  Applicants should keep a copy of the application package for their records.

DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and its Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implementing regulation, 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 80, provide that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and its HHS implementing regulations, 45 CFR Parts 84 and 85, provide that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance or any program or activity conducted by HHS.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, and its HHS implementing regulation, 45 CFR Part 86, provide that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Title III of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and its HHS implementing regulations, 45 CFR Parts 90 and 91, provide that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

PRIVACY ACT NOTIFICATION STATEMENT

General
This information is provided pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579), as amended, to individuals supplying information for inclusion in a system of records.

Authority
Section 846(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.

Purpose and Uses
The purpose of the NELRP is to assist in the recruitment and retention of professional Registered Nurses (RNs) dedicated to providing health care in facilities with a critical shortage of nurses and to provide an opportunity for RNs to consider a career in such facilities.  The information applicants provide will be used to evaluate their eligibility for participating in the NELRP.  In addition, information from other sources will be considered (e.g., credit bureau reports).

A participant’s contract, application, required supplemental forms, supporting documentation, correspondence, and related data are maintained in a system of records to be used within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to monitor NELRP-related activities.  The information may also be disclosed outside the Department, as permitted by the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act, to the Congress, the National Archives, the General Accounting Office, and pursuant to court order and various routine uses (see System of Record Notice 09-15-0037). 

Effects of Nondisclosure
Disclosure of the information sought is voluntary; however, if not submitted, except for the replies to ethnicity and race in Part II of the on-line application for the NELRP (OMB control number 0915-0140), an application will be considered incomplete.

Paperwork Reduction Act Public Burden Statement
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a current OMB control number.  The current OMB control number for information collected through this application process is 0915-0140.  Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 6 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, researching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to

HRSA Reports Clearance Office
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 10-33
Rockville, Maryland 20857.