[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5634-5638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3013]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Maternal and Child Health Services; Federal Set-Aside Program; 
Research and Training Grants

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The HRSA announces that approximately $47.9 million in fiscal 
year (FY) 1997 funds will be available for Maternal and Child Health 
(MCH) Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS) 
research and training grants. All awards are made under the program 
authority of section 502(a) of the Social Security Act, the MCH Federal 
Set-Aside Program. MCH research and training grants improve the health 
status of mothers and children through: development and dissemination 
of new knowledge; demonstration of new or improved ways of delivering 
care or otherwise enhancing Title V program capacity to provide or 
assure provision of appropriate services; and preparation of personnel 
in MCH-relevant specialties. Grants for SPRANS genetic services and 
special MCH improvement projects (MCHIP), which contribute to the 
health of mothers, children, and children with special health care 
needs (CSHCN), are being announced in a separate notice. No new SPRANS 
hemophilia program grants will be funded in FY 1997.
    Of the approximately $47.9 million available for SPRANS research 
and training activities in FY 1997, about $8.1 million will be 
available to support approximately 56 new and competing renewal MCH 
research and training projects. About $39.8 million will be used to 
support continuation of existing MCH research and training activities. 
The actual amounts available for awards and their allocation may vary 
depending on unanticipated program requirements and the volume and 
quality of applications. Awards are made for grant periods which 
generally run from 1 up to 5 years in duration. Funds for research and 
training grants under the MCH Federal Set-Aside Program are 
appropriated by Public Law 104-208.
    The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the 
health promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People 
2000, a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas. The MCH 
Block Grant Federal Set-Aside Program addresses issues related to the 
Healthy People 2000 objectives of improving maternal, infant, child and 
adolescent health and developing service systems for children with 
special health care needs. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of 
Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy 
People 2000 (Summary Report: Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office Washington, DC 
20402-9325 (telephone: 202-512-1800).
    The PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a 
smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco products. 
In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, 
prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any portion 
of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, day 
care, health care or early childhood development services are provided 
to children.

ADDRESSES: Federal Register notices and application guidance for MCHB 
programs are available on the World Wide Web via the Internet at 
address: http://www.os.dhhs.gov/hrsa/mchb. Click on the file name you 
want to download to your computer. It will be saved as a self-
extracting (Macintosh or) WordPerfect 5.1 file. To decompress the file 
once it is downloaded, type in the file name followed by a <return>. 
The file will expand to a WordPerfect 5.1 file.
    For applicants for SPRANS research and training grants who are 
unable to access application materials electronically, a hard copy may 
be obtained from the HRSA Grants Application Center. Applicants for 
research projects will use Form PHS 398, approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under control number 0925-0001. Applicants 
for training projects will use Form PHS 6025-1, approved by OMB under 
control number 0915-0060. Requests should specify the category or 
categories of activities for which an application is requested so that 
the appropriate forms, information and materials may be provided. The 
Center may be contacted by: Telephone Number: 1-888-300-HRSA, FAX 
Number: 301-309-0579, E-mail Address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="de968c8d9ff0999f9d9eb7a6f0b0bbaabdb1b3f0bdb1b3f0">[email protected]</a> Completed 
applications should be returned to: Grants Management Officer, HRSA 
Grants Application Center, 40 West Gude Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, 
Maryland 20850. Please indicate the CFDA # [93.110(TA)-(RS)] 
representing the category or subcategory for which the application is 
being submitted (See TABLE below).

DATES: Deadlines for receipt of applications differ for the several 
categories of grants. These deadlines are as follows:

MCH Federal Set-Aside Competitive Research and Training Grants Anticipated Deadline, Award, Funding, and Project Period Information, by Category FY 1997
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                                Funding source/                                            Est. number of        Est. amounts                           
         CFDA No.                  category                 Application deadline               awards             available            Project period   
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                             Category 1: MCH Long                                                                                                       
                                 Term Training                                                                                                          
93.110(TA)................  Adolescent Health.....  Mar. 21, 1997......................  Up to 6..........  $2.2 million.........  Up to 5 years.       
93.110(TB)................  Behavioral Pediatrics.  Mar. 21, 1997......................  Up to 8..........  1 million............  Up to 5 years.       
93.110(TC)................  Communication           Mar. 14, 1997......................  Up to 3..........  400,000..............  Up to 5 years.       
                             Disorders.                                                                                                                 
93.110(TG)................  Pediatric Dentistry...  Mar. 14, 1997......................  Up to 3..........  400,000..............  Up to 5 years.       
93.110(TH)................  Pediatric Occupational  Mar. 14, 1997......................  Up to 3..........  400,000..............  Up to 5 years.       
                             Therapy.                                                                                                                   
93.110(TI)................  Pediatric Physical      Mar. 14, 1997......................  Up to 3..........  400,000..............  Up to 5 years.       
                             Therapy.                                                                                                                   
93.110(TL)................  Public Health Social    Mar. 14, 1997......................  Up to 3..........  400,000..............  Up to 5 years.       
                             Work.                                                                                                                      
                             Category 2: MCH Short                                                                                                      
                                 Term Training                                                                                                          
93.110(TO)................  Continuing Education    July 1, 1997.......................  Up to 15.........  1 million............  Up to 3 years.       
                             and Development.                                                                                                           
                                Category 3: MCH                                                                                                         
                                    Research                                                                                                            

[[Page 5635]]

                                                                                                                                                        
93.110(RS)................  MCH Research Cycle....  Mar. 1, and Aug. 1, 1997...........  Up to 12.........  1.9 million..........  Up to 5 years.       
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    Applications will be considered to have met the deadline if they 
are either: (1) received on or before the deadline date; or (2) 
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
orderly processing. Applicants should request a legibly dated receipt 
from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service, or obtain a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. Private metered postmarks 
will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. Late applications will 
be returned to the applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for technical or programmatic 
information should be directed to the contact persons identified below 
for each category covered by this notice. Requests for information 
concerning business management issues should be directed to: Sandra 
Perry, Grants Management Officer (GMO), Maternal and Child Health 
Bureau, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-12, Rockville, Maryland 20857, 
telephone: 301-443-1440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Background and Objectives

    Section 502 of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1989, requires that 12.75 percent 
of amounts appropriated for the Maternal and Child Health Services 
Block Grant in excess of $600 million are set aside by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) for special Community Integrated 
Service Systems (CISS) projects authorized under Section 501(a)(3) of 
the Act. Of the remainder of the total appropriation, Section 502(a) of 
the Act requires that 15 percent of the funds be retained by the 
Secretary to support (through grants, contracts, or otherwise) special 
projects of regional and national significance, research, and training 
with respect to maternal and child health and children with special 
health care needs (including early intervention training and services 
development); for genetic disease testing, counseling, and information 
development and dissemination programs; for grants (including funding 
for comprehensive hemophilia diagnostic treatment centers) relating to 
hemophilia without regard to age; and for the screening of newborns for 
sickle cell anemia, and other genetic disorders and follow-up services. 
The MCH SPRANS set-aside was established in 1981. Support for projects 
covered by this announcement will come from the SPRANS set-aside.
    Availability of FY 1997 funds for MCH research and training grants 
is being announced separately from other SPRANS grants this year in 
order to help potential applicants distinguish among large numbers of 
SPRANS categories and subcategories.
    The research and training grants covered in this notice are 
intended to improve the health status of mothers and children. Research 
programs focus on the development of new knowledge for application in 
health care promotion and prevention efforts directed at pregnant 
women, women of childbearing age, infants, children, adolescents, and 
children with special health care needs and their families. Findings 
are expected to have potential for application in health care delivery 
programs for mothers and children.
    Training programs focus on development of professionals for 
leadership roles, in combination with advanced professional 
preparation. Training is intended to accomplish the dual objectives of 
developing high levels of clinical competence and developing leadership 
attributes which extend beyond clinical acumen and skills. To achieve 
the latter objective, emphasis is placed on those curriculum and 
practicum areas which relate to: populations rather than individuals; 
systems of care rather than specific services; community-based services 
rather than institution-based; program administration in addition to 
clinical expertise; public policy in addition to practice policy; and 
research in addition to putting new knowledge into practice. With an 
understanding of and appreciation for these broader issues and aspects 
of health care, professionals are more adequately prepared to deliver 
care and to provide leadership in advancing the field to better serve 
mothers and children.
    ``Continuing Education and Development'', or ``CED'', includes: (1) 
Conduct of short-term, non-degree related courses, workshops, 
conferences, symposia, institutes, and distance learning strategies; 
and/or (2) development of curricula, guidelines, standards of practice 
and educational tools/strategies intended to assure quality health care 
for the MCH population. Continuing Education and Development focuses on 
increasing leadership skills of MCH health professionals; facilitating 
timely transfer and application of new information, research findings, 
and technology related to MCH; and updating and improving the knowledge 
and skills of health and related professionals in programs serving 
mothers and children, including children with special health care needs 
(CSHCN). As a result of CED, professionals in MCH and related services 
have enhanced leadership capabilities and practices to provide for 
comprehensive services and to improve the systems that deliver services 
for mothers and children.

Eligible Applicants

    MCH training grants may be made only to public or nonprofit private 
institutions of higher learning. Research grants may be made only to 
public or nonprofit private institutions of higher learning and public 
or nonprofit private agencies and organizations engaged in research in 
maternal and child health or programs for CSHCN. As noted in the 
FUNDING CATEGORIES section below, based on the subject matter of 
particular categories or subcategories, applications may be encouraged 
from applicants with a specified area of expertise.

Funding Categories

    Three categories of SPRANS research and training grants are open 
for competition in FY 1997: MCH Long Term Training, MCH Short Term 
Training (Continuing Education and Development), and MCH Research.

Category 1: MCH Long Term Training

    <bullet> Subcategory 1.1: Adolescent Health (CFDA #93.110TA)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide interdisciplinary leadership training 
for several professional disciplines at the graduate and postgraduate 
levels to prepare them for leadership roles in training for, research 
on, and development of organized systems for delivery of services in 
programs providing adolescent health care.

[[Page 5636]]

    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $2.2 million.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 6.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: Applications are 
encouraged from Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine of 
accredited U.S. Medical Schools, or certain pediatric teaching 
hospitals having formal affiliations with schools of medicine.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 21, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.2: Behavioral Pediatrics (CFDA #93.110TB)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to enhance behavioral, psychosocial and 
developmental aspects of general pediatric care through support for 
fellows in behavioral pediatrics preparing for leadership roles as 
teachers, investigators, and clinicians advancing the field of 
behavioral pediatrics and through providing pediatric practitioners, 
residents, and medical students with essential biopsychosocial 
knowledge and clinical expertise.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $ 1 million.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 8.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: Applications are 
encouraged from departments of pediatrics with an identifiable 
behavioral pediatrics unit/program within accredited medical schools in 
the United States.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 21, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.3: Communication Disorders (CFDA #93.110TC)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide leadership in communication disorders 
education through support of: (1) Graduate training of speech/language 
pathologists and/or audiologists to assume leadership roles in programs 
providing health and related services for populations of children, 
particularly those with special health care needs; (2) development and 
dissemination of curriculum resources to enhance pediatric content in 
communication disorders training programs; and (3) consultation, 
technical assistance and continuing education in communication 
disorders geared to the needs of the MCH community.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $400,000.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 3.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: Applications are 
encouraged from departments or programs of audiology, communication 
disorders or speech and language pathology in institutions of higher 
learning that offer a graduate degree and are accredited for graduate 
education by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) 
Council on Academic Accreditation.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW.
    Application guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 14, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.4: Pediatric Dentistry (CFDA #93.110TG)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide leadership in pediatric dentistry 
education through support of: (1) postdoctoral training of dentists in 
the primary care specialty of pediatric dentistry to assume leadership 
roles related to oral health programs for populations of children, 
particularly those with special health care needs; (2) development and 
dissemination of curriculum resources to enhance pediatric content in 
dentistry training programs; and (3) consultation, technical assistance 
and continuing education in pediatric dentistry geared to the needs of 
the MCH community.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $400,000.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 3.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences:
    Applications are encouraged from advanced education programs in 
pediatric dentistry accredited by the Commission on Dental 
Accreditation (CODA) at institutions which offer graduate degrees at 
the Master's level and above.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 14, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.5: Pediatric Occupational Therapy (CFDA 
#93.110TH)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide leadership in pediatric occupational 
therapy training through support of: (1) post-professional graduate 
training of occupational therapists for leadership roles in programs 
providing health and related services for populations of mothers and 
children, particularly those with special health care needs; (2) 
development and dissemination of curriculum resources to enhance 
pediatric content in occupational therapy training programs; and (3) 
consultation, technical assistance and continuing education in 
occupational therapy geared to the needs of the MCH community.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $400,000.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 3.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences:
    Applications are encouraged from schools or departments of 
occupational therapy accredited by the Accreditation Council for 
Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Preference will be given to 
schools/departments with an established doctoral program with a 
pediatric focus or which are developing such a doctoral program.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 14, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.6: Pediatric Physical Therapy (CFDA 
<greek-i>93.110TI)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide leadership in pediatric physical therapy 
education through support of: (1) post-professional graduate training 
of physical therapists for leadership roles in programs providing 
health and related services for populations of mothers and children, 
particularly those with special health care needs; (2) development and 
dissemination of curriculum resources to enhance pediatric content in 
physical therapy training programs; and (3) consultation, technical 
assistance and continuing education in pediatric physical therapy 
geared to the needs of the MCH community.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $400,000.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 3.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: Applications are 
encouraged from post-professional-level graduate degree programs for 
physical therapists. Preference will be given to

[[Page 5637]]

established doctoral programs with a pediatric focus or to advanced 
masters programs with a pediatric focus which are developing such a 
doctoral program.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 14, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.
    <bullet> Subcategory 1.7: Public Health Social Work (CFDA 
<greek-i>93.110TL)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to provide leadership in public health social work 
education through support of:
    (1) graduate training of social workers for leadership roles in 
programs providing health and related services for populations of 
mothers and children, including those with special health care needs; 
(2) development and dissemination of curriculum resources to enhance 
MCH content in social work training programs; and (3) consultation, 
technical assistance and continuing education in public health social 
work geared to the needs of the MCH community. Category A programs 
provide a master's degree in social work, while category B programs 
provide a Master's degree in public health following the MSW or 
combined with a doctoral degree in social work.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $400,000.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: up to 2 in Category A; 1 in 
Category B.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: For Category A 
grants, applications are encouraged from graduate programs of social 
work with a Master's Degree program which is fully accredited by the 
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and which have a concentration 
in health. For Category B grants, applications are encouraged from 
graduate schools of pubic health accredited by the Council on Education 
in Public Health (CEPH), or schools of social work (accredited by CSWE) 
offering a university-approved post-MSW program in public health social 
work leading to the MPH or combined MPH and PhD/DSW. The two programs 
must have a formal affiliation.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: March 14, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.

Category 2: MCH Short Term Training

    <bullet> Continuing Education and Development (CFDA 
<greek-i>93.110.TO)
    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: The purpose of 
this competition is to facilitate timely transfer and application of 
new information, research findings, and technology related to MCH 
through: (1) conduct of short-term, non-degree related courses, 
workshops, conferences, symposia, institutes, and distance learning 
strategies and/or; (2) development of curricula, guidelines, standards 
of practice or educational tools/strategies intended to assure quality 
health care for the MCH population. The goal is to improve the health 
status of the MCH population through enhancing the leadership 
capabilities and practices of professionals in MCH and related services 
and through modifying the systems that deliver services.
    <bullet> Eligible Organizations: Applicants may be public or 
nonprofit private institutions of higher learning.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $1 million.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: Up to 15.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadline: July 1, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Elizabeth Brannon, M.S., R.D., telephone: 
301-443-2190.

Category 3: MCH Research

    <bullet> Narrative Description of this Competition: This category 
encourages research in maternal and child health which has the 
potential for ready transfer of findings to health care delivery 
programs. Of special interest are projects that address factors and 
processes that lead to disparities in health status and the use of 
services among minority and other disadvantaged groups as well as 
health promoting behaviors, quality outcome measures, and system/
integration reform. Effective for the August 1, 1997, competition, a 
comprehensive research agenda or plan is available to guide prospective 
research applicants. The agenda is composed of a list of research 
issues or questions identified by a national advisory group in 1994 to 
be of critical importance for the mission of the MCHB as it enters the 
year 2000 and beyond. A copy of the agenda is included with the 
application kit for research projects.
    <bullet> Estimated Amount of this Competition: $1.9 million.
    <bullet> Number of Expected Awards: Up to 12.
    <bullet> Funding Priorities and/or Preferences: Within the issues/
questions comprising the research agenda, preference for funding will 
be given to projects which: (1) Seek to develop measures of racism and/
or study its consequences for the health of mothers and children; (2) 
investigate the role that fathers play in caring for and nurturing the 
health, growth, and development of children; and (3) address the 
factors and processes that enhance the quality, safety, access, and 
effectiveness of health care services provided to mothers and newborns, 
especially in light of the impact of managed care.
    <bullet> Evaluation Criteria: See CRITERIA FOR REVIEW. Application 
guidance materials specify final criteria.
    <bullet> Application Deadlines: March 1 and August 1, 1997.
    <bullet> Contact Person: Gontran Lamberty, Dr. P.H., telephone: 
301-553-2190.

Special Concerns

    In keeping with the goals of advancing the development of human 
potential, strengthening the Nation's capacity to provide high quality 
education by broadening participation in MCHB programs of institutions 
that may have perspectives uniquely reflecting the Nation's cultural 
and linguistic diversity, and increasing opportunities for all 
Americans to participate in and benefit from Federal public health 
programs, HRSA will place a funding priority on projects from 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) or Hispanic Serving 
Institutions (HSI) in all categories in this notice for which 
applications from academic institutions are encouraged. This is in 
conformity with the Federal Government's policies in support of White 
House Initiatives on Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
(Executive Order 12876) and Educational Excellence for Hispanic 
Americans (Executive Order 12900). An approved proposal from a HBCU or 
HSI will receive a 0.5 point favorable adjustment of the priority score 
in a 4 point range before funding decisions are made.

Evaluation Protocol

    Maternal and child health discretionary grant projects, including 
all projects awarded as part of the MCH Research and Training program, 
are expected to incorporate a carefully designed and well planned 
evaluation protocol capable of demonstrating and documenting measurable 
progress toward achieving the project's stated goals. The protocol 
should be based on a clear rationale relating the grant activities, the 
project goals, and the evaluation measures. Wherever possible, the 
measurements of progress toward goals should focus on health

[[Page 5638]]

outcome indicators, rather than on intermediate measures such as 
process or outputs. A project lacking a complete and well-conceived 
evaluation protocol as part of the planned activities may not be 
funded.

Project Review and Funding

    Within the limit of funds determined by the Secretary to be 
available for the activities described in this announcement, the 
Secretary will review applications for funds under the specific project 
categories in the FUNDING CATEGORIES section above as competing 
applications and may award Federal funding for projects which will, in 
her judgment, best promote the purpose of title V of the Social 
Security Act; best address achievement of Healthy Children 2000 
objectives related to maternal, infant, child and adolescent health and 
service systems for children at risk of chronic and disabling 
conditions; and otherwise best promote improvements in maternal and 
child health.

Criteria for Review

    The criteria which follow are used, as pertinent, to review and 
evaluate applications for awards under all SPRANS grants and 
cooperative agreement project categories announced in this notice. 
Further guidance regarding review criteria is supplied in application 
materials, which specify final criteria.

--The quality of the project plan or methodology.
--The need for the research or training.
--The extent to which the project will contribute to the advancement of 
maternal and child health and/or improvement of the health of children 
with special health care needs;
--The extent to which the project is responsive to policy concerns 
applicable to MCH grants and to program objectives, requirements, 
priorities and/or review criteria for specific project categories, as 
published in program announcements or guidance materials.
--The extent to which the estimated cost to the Government of the 
project is reasonable, considering the anticipated results.
--The extent to which the project personnel are well qualified by 
training and/or experience for their roles in the project and the 
applicant organization has adequate facilities and personnel.
--The extent to which, insofar as practicable, the proposed activities, 
if well executed, are capable of attaining project objectives.
--The adherence of the project's evaluation plans to the requirements 
in the EVALUATION PROTOCOL.
--The extent to which the project will be integrated with the 
administration of the Maternal and Child Health Services block grants, 
State primary care plans, public health, and prevention programs, and 
other related programs in the respective State(s).
--The extent to which the application is responsive to the special 
concerns and program priorities specified in this notice.

Funding of Approved Applications

    Final funding decisions for SPRANS research and training grants are 
the responsibility of the Director, MCHB. In considering scores for the 
ranking of approved applications for funding, preferences may be 
exercised for groups of applications, e.g., competing continuations may 
be funded ahead of new projects. Within any category of approved 
projects, the score of an individual project may be favorably adjusted 
if the project addresses specific priorities identified in this notice. 
In addition, special consideration in assigning scores may be given by 
reviewers to individual applications that address areas identified in 
this notice as special concerns.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements (approved under OMB No. 0937-0195). Under these 
requirements, the community-based nongovernmental applicant must 
prepare and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The 
PHSIS is intended to provide information to State and local health 
officials to keep them apprised of proposed health services grant 
applications submitted by community-based nongovernmental organizations 
within their jurisdictions. Community-based nongovernmental applicants 
are required to submit the following information to the head of the 
appropriate State and local health agencies in the area(s) to be 
impacted no later than the Federal application receipt due date:
    (a) A copy of the face page of the application (SF 525).
    (b) A summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which 
provides:
    (1) A description of the population to be served.
    (2) A summary of the services to be provided.
    (3) A description of the coordination planned with the appropriate 
State and local health agencies.

Executive Order 12372

    The MCH Federal set-aside program has been determined to be a 
program which is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs.
    The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.110.

    Dated: January 31, 1997.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-3013 Filed 2-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P


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