II. Award Information
TYPE OF AWARD: Grant.

ESTIMATED FUNDS AVAILABLE: Subject to the availability of funds, the estimated amount available is $2,388,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2007. There will be only one funding cycle in FY 2007. Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds.

ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: An estimated 20-25 awards will be made under this program.

PROJECT PERIODS: Varies from 12 months to 36 months.
Please refer to

ESTIMATED AWARD AMOUNT: $50,000/year-$100,000/year.
Please refer to

ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES, MAXIMUM FUNDING AND PROJECT PERIODS: Applications may only be submitted for one project type. The TMG Program consists of four project types: (1) feasibility study; (2) planning; (3) evaluation study; and (4) health management structure. Applications that address more than one project type will be considered ineligible and will be returned to the applicant. The maximum funding levels noted include both direct and indirect costs. Application budgets may not exceed the maximum funding level or project period identified for a project type. Applications whose budget or project period exceed the maximum funding level or project period will be considered ineligible and will not be reviewed. Please refer to Section IV.5.

1. FEASIBILITY STUDY (Maximum funding/project period: $70,000/12 months)
A study of a specific IHS program or segment of a program to determine if Tribal management of the program is possible. The study shall present the planned approach, training and resources required to assume Tribal management of the program. The study must include the following four components:

2. PLANNING (Maximum funding/project period: $50,000/12 months)
A collection of data to establish goals and performance measures for the operation of current health programs or anticipated PSFAs under a Title I contract. Planning will specify the design of health programs and the management systems (including appropriate policies and procedures) to accomplish the health priorities of the Tribe/Tribal organization. For example, planning could include the development of a Tribal Specific Health Plan or a Strategic Health Plan, etc. Please note: The Public Health Service urges applicants submitting strategic health plans to address specific objectives of Healthy People 2010. Interested applicants may purchase a copy of Healthy People 2010 (Summary Report in print; Stock No. 017-001-00547-9) or CD-ROM (Stock No. 107-001-00549-5) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15250-7945, or (202) 512-1800. This information is available in electronic form at the following website: www.health.gov/healthypeople/publications/.

3. EVALUATION STUDY (Maximum funding/project period: $50,000/12 months)
A systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of data for the purpose of determining the value of a program. The extent of the evaluation study could relate to the goals and objectives, policies and procedures or programs regarding targeted groups. The evaluation study could also be used to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of a Tribal program operation (i.e. direct services, financial management, personnel, data collection and analysis, third-party billing, etc.) as well as determine the appropriateness of new components to a Tribal program operation that will assist Tribal efforts to improve the health care delivery systems.

4. HEALTH MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE (Average funding/project period: $100,000/12 months; maximum funding/project period: $300,000/36 months)
Implementation of systems to manage or organize PSFAs. Management structures include health department organizations, health boards, and financial management systems including systems for accounting, personnel, third-party billing, medical records, management information systems, etc. This includes the design, improvements and correction of management systems that address weaknesses identified through quality control measures, internal control reviews and audit report findings under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133 - Revised June 27, 2003,

III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Indian Tribe or Tribal organization as defined by Pub. L. 93-638, Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended.
Eligible applicants include Tribal organizations that operate mature contracts that are designated by a Tribe to provide technical assistance and/or training. Only one application per Tribe or Tribal organization is allowed.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The TMG Program does not require matching funds or cost sharing. However, in accordance with Pub. L. 93-638 section 103(c), the TMG funds may be used as matching shares for any other Federal grant programs that develop Tribal capabilities to contract for the administration and operation of health programs.

3. Other Requirements
The following documentation is required:

Documentation of Consortium Participation - If an Indian Tribe submitting an application is a member of a consortium, the Tribe must:

IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application package may be found at www.Grants.gov. Information regarding the electronic application process may be obtained from either of the following persons:

Ms. Patricia Spotted Horse Ms. Denise Clark
Office of Tribal Programs Division of Grants Operations
Indian Health Service Indian Health Service
801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 220 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 360
Rockville, Maryland 20852 Rockville, Maryland 20852
(301) 443-1104 (301) 443-5204

Ms. Michelle G. Bulls
Grants Policy Staff
Indian Health Service
801 Thompson Avenue, TMP 625
Rockville, Maryland 20852
(301) 443-6528

The entire application package is available at
www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/tmg

2. Content and Form of Application Submission
All applications must:

Public Policy Requirements: All Federal-wide public policies apply to IHS grants with exception of Lobbying and Discrimination.

3. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by close of business Friday, August 4, 2006. If technical issues arise and the applicant is unable to successfully complete the electronic application process, the applicant must contact Grants Policy Staff fifteen days prior to the application deadline. As appropriate, paper applications are due by the date referenced above. Paper applications (original and two (2) copies) shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date.

Late applications not accepted for processing will be returned to the applicant and will not be considered for funding.

4. Intergovernmental Review
Executive Order 12372 requiring intergovernmental review is not applicable to this program.

5. Funding Restrictions
A. Pre-award costs are not allowable.
B. The available funds are inclusive of direct and indirect costs.
C. Only one grant will be awarded per applicant.
D. Ineligible Project Activities
The TMG may not be used to support recurring operational programs or to replace existing public and private resources. Note: The inclusion of the following projects or activities in an application will render the application ineligible and the application will be returned to the applicant:

6. Other Submission Requirements
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION - 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 am to 9:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time). If you require additional assistance please contact IHS Grants Policy Staff at (301) 443-6528 at least fifteen days prior to the application deadline. To submit an application electronically, please use the 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.

Please be reminded:

E-mail applications will not be accepted under this announcement.

DUNS NUMBER
Applicants are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal Government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711. Interested parties may wish to obtain their DUNS number by phone to expedite the process.

Applicants submitting applications electronically must also be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). A DUNS number is required before CCR registration can be completed. Many organizations may already have a DUNS number. Please use the number listed above to investigate whether or not your organization has a DUNS number. Registration with the CCR is free of charge.

Applicants may register by calling 1-888-227-2423. Please review and complete the CCR “Registration Worksheet” located on www.Grants.gov/CCRRegister.

More detailed information regarding these registration processes can be found at www.Grants.gov.

V. Application Review Information
The instructions for preparing the application narrative also constitute the evaluation criteria for reviewing and scoring the application. Weights assigned to each section are noted in parentheses. The 14-page narrative should include only the first year of activities; information for multi-year projects should be included as an appendix. See “MULTI-YEAR PROJECT REQUIREMENTS” at the end of this section for more information.

1. Criteria
INTRODUCTION AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE
(20 points)
A. 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.
B. Describe the population to be served by the proposed project. Include a description of the number of IHS eligible beneficiaries who currently use services.
C. Describe the geographic location of the proposed project including any geographic barriers to the health care users in the area to be served.
D. 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 project. (Copies of reports will not be accepted.)
E. Identify the eligible project type and priority group of the applicant.
F. 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 that ensure the proposed project will not create other gaps in services or infrastructure (i.e., IHS interface capability, Government Performance and Results Act reporting requirements, contract reporting requirements, Information Technology (IT) compatibility, etc.).
G. 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.
H. Address how the proposed project relates to the purpose of the TMG Program by addressing the appropriate description that follows:

PROJECT EVALUATION
(15 points)
Each proposed project objective should have an evaluation component and the evaluation activities should appear on the work plan.
A. Please address the following for each of proposed objective:

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
(15 points)
A. Describe the organizational structure of the Tribe/Tribal organization beyond health care activities.
B. Provide information regarding plans to obtain management systems if the Tribe/Tribal organization does not have an established management system currently in place that complies with 25 CFR 900, Subpart F,

APPENDIX ITEMS
A. Work plan for proposed objectives.
B. Position descriptions for key staff.
C. Resumes of key staff that reflect current duties.
D. Consultant proposed scope of work (if applicable).
E. Indirect Cost Agreement.
F. Organizational chart (optional).
G. Multi-Year Project Requirements (if applicable).

2. Review and Selection Process
In addition to the above criteria/requirements, applications are considered according to the following:
A. Application Submission (Application Deadline: August 4, 2006)
Applications received in advance of or by the deadline and verified by the tracking number will undergo a preliminary review to determine that:

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
The IHS anticipates the earliest award start date will be January 1, 2007.

VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
ORC Results Notification: November 13, 2006
The Director, Office of Tribal Programs, or program official, will notify the contact person identified on each proposal of the results in writing via postal mail. Applicants whose applications are declared ineligible will receive written notification of the ineligibility determination and their grant application via postal mail. The ineligible notification will include information regarding the rationale for the ineligible decision citing specific information from the original grant application. Applicants who are approved but unfunded and disapproved will receive a copy of the Executive Summary which identifies the weaknesses and strengths of the application submitted. Applicants which are approved and funded will be notified through the official Federal Financial Assistance (FAA) document. The FAA will be signed by the Grants Management Officer and is the authorizing document for notifying grant recipients of funding. The FAA serves as the official notification of a grant award and will state the amount of Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the project period and the budget period. Any other correspondence announcing to the Applicant’s Project Director that an application was recommended for approval is not an authorization to begin performance. Pre-award costs are not allowable charges under this program grant.

2. Administrative Requirements
Grants are administered in accordance with the following documents:

3. Reporting
A. Progress Report - Program progress reports are required semi-annually. These reports will include a brief comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the period, reasons for slippage (if applicable), and other pertinent information as required. A final report must be submitted within 90 days of expiration of the budget/project period.
B. Financial Status Report - Semi-annual financial status reports must be submitted within 30days of the end of the half year. Final financial status reports are due within 90 days of expiration of the budget/project period. The Standard Form 269 (SF-269) (long form) can be downloaded from www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/sf269.pdg for financial reporting.
C. Reports - Grantees are responsible and accountable for accurate reporting of the Progress Reports and Financial Status Reports which are generally due semi-annually. Financial Status Reports (SF-269) are due 90 days after each budget period and the final SF-269 must be verified from the grantee records on how the value was derived. Grantees must submit reports in a reasonable period of time.

Failure to submit required reports within the time allowed may result in suspension or termination of an active grant, withholding of payments or converting to the reimbursement method of payment. Continued failure to submit required reports may result in one or both of the following: (1) the imposition of special award provisions; and (2) the non-funding or non-award of other eligible projects or activities. This applies whether the delinquency is attributable to the failure of the grantee organization or the individual responsible for preparation of the reports.
VII. Agency Contact(s)
Interested parties may obtain TMG programmatic information from the TMG Program Coordinator through the information listed under Section IV of this program announcement. Grant-related and business management information may be obtained from the Grants Management Specialist through the information listed under Section IV of this program announcement. Please note that the telephone numbers provided are not toll-free.

VIII. Other Information
The IHS will have three training sessions to assist applicants in preparing their
FY 2007 TMG application. There will be one 5-day training session and two 2-day training sessions. The 5-day training session will provide participants with basic grant writing skills, information regarding where to search for funding opportunities, and the opportunity to begin writing a TMG grant proposal. The 2-day training sessions will focus specifically on the TMG requirements providing participants with information contained in this announcement, clarifying any issues/questions applicants may have and critiquing project ideas. In an effort to make the 2-day training sessions productive, participants are expected to bring draft proposals to these meetings.

Priority will be given to groups eligible to apply for the TMG Program. Participation is limited to two personnel from each Tribe or Tribal organization. All sessions are first come - first serve with the above limitations noted. All participants are responsible for making and paying for their own travel arrangements. Interested parties should register with the TMG staff prior to making travel arrangements to ensure space is available in selected session. There is no registration fee to attend the training session(s). The registration form may be obtained from the TMG website at: www.ihs.gov/NonMedicalPrograms/tmg. The registration form may be faxed to (301) 443-4666. The training dates are listed below in chronological order and the training sessions will take place in the hotel identified:

The Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. In addition, Pub. L. 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion of the facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day care, health care or early childhood development services are provided to children. This is consistent with the HHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Date: ___________________ _____________________________
Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., M.H.S.A.
Assistant Surgeon General
Indian Health Service

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