[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1154-1162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00171]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Urban Indian Education and Research Program

    Announcement Type: New and Competing Continuation.
    Funding Announcement Number: HHS-2022-IHS-UIHP3-0001.
    Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance or CFDA) 
Number: 93.193.

Key Dates

    Application Deadline Date: April 11, 2022.
    Earliest Anticipated Start Date: May 25, 2022.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Statutory Authority

    The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for 
cooperative agreements for the Urban Indian Education and Research 
Organization Program. This program is authorized under the Snyder Act, 
25 U.S.C. 13; the Transfer Act, 42 U.S.C. 2001(a); and Section 301(a) 
of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 241(a). This program is 
described in the Assistance Listings located at https://sam.gov/content/home (formerly known as the CFDA) under 93.193.

Background

    The Office of Urban Indian Health Programs (OUIHP) oversees the 
implementation of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) 
provisions for making health care services more accessible to Urban 
Indians. Pursuant to those authorities, the IHS enters into contracts 
and grants with Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) for the provision of 
health care and referral services for Urban Indians residing in urban 
centers. This program provides services and education for UIOs that 
include the following Five Core Projects: (1) Public policy; (2) 
research and data; (3) training and technical assistance; (4) 
education, public relations, and marketing; and (5) payment system 
reform/monitoring regulations, including addressing the Unmet Needs of 
the 4-in-1 grantees under any or all of the Five Core Projects.

Purpose

    The purpose of this IHS program is to fund a national Organization 
to act as an education and research partner for OUIHP and for 41 UIOs 
in 22 states funded by IHS under the IHCIA.
    Applicant is to create and maintain a multi-platform, culturally 
appropriate and customized system that demonstrates improvements and 
expansion in education and research services and opportunities. 
Applicant is to:
    1. Identify and assess current, emerging, and new needs and gaps in 
policy related to UIOs' operations, missions, and goals.
    2. Initiate and solidify partnerships with UIOs, epidemiology 
centers, and other research partners to improve and increase data 
research on Urban Indian health needs.
    3. Support UIO staff and leadership in all areas of training and 
technical assistance, particularly with the constant changes 
surrounding health care needs.
    4. Market the UIOs through the development of national, regional, 
and local marketing strategies and campaigns.
    5. Understand the critical need to document and analyze current and 
new Federal regulations impacting UIOs for reimbursement and related 
types of regulatory activities.

[[Page 1155]]

Pre-Conference Grant Requirements

    The awardee is required to comply with the ``HHS Policy on 
Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences 
and Meeting Space, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and 
Publications,'' dated January 23, 2015 (Policy), as applicable to 
conferences funded by grants and cooperative agreements. The Policy is 
available at https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/efficient-spending/index.html?language=es.
    The awardee is required to:
    Provide a separate detailed budget justification and narrative for 
each conference anticipated. The cost categories to be addressed are as 
follows: (1) Contract/Planner, (2) Meeting Space/Venue, (3) 
Registration website, (4) Audio Visual, (5) Speakers Fees, (6) Non-
Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, and (8) Other (explain 
in detail and cost breakdown). For additional questions please contact 
Debi Nalwood at 240-701-0882 or email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e6a283848f878a8a8f958988c8a8878a91898982a68f8e95c8818990"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd8f9fef5fdf0f0f5eff3f2b2d2fdf0ebf3f3f8dcf5f4efb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>.

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument--Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Funds Available
    The total funding identified for fiscal year (FY) 2022 is 
approximately $1,050,000. Award amount for the first budget year is 
anticipated to be $1,050,000. The funding available for competing and 
subsequent continuation awards issued under this announcement is 
subject to the availability of appropriations and budgetary priorities 
of the Agency. The IHS is under no obligation to make awards that are 
selected for funding under this announcement.
Anticipated Number of Awards
    One award will be issued under this program announcement.
Period of Performance
    The period of performance is for 5 years.
Cooperative Agreement
    Cooperative agreements awarded by the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) are administered under the same policies as 
grants. However, the funding agency, IHS, is anticipated to have 
substantial programmatic involvement in the project during the entire 
period of performance. Below is a detailed description of the level of 
involvement required of the IHS.
Substantial Agency Involvement Description for Cooperative Agreement
    In addition to the usual monitoring and technical assistance 
provided under the cooperative agreement, the IHS OUIHP 
responsibilities shall include:
    (1) Assuring the availability of services from experienced OUIHP 
staff to participate in the planning and development of all phases of 
this cooperative agreement.
    (2) Participating in, including the planning of, any meetings 
conducted as part of the Five Core Projects.
    (3) Assisting in establishing Federal interagency contacts 
necessary for the successful completion of tasks and activities 
identified in the approved scope of work.
    (4) Identifying organizations with whom the awardee will be asked 
to develop cooperative and collaborative relationships.
    (5) Assisting the awardee to establish, review, and update 
priorities for the Five Core Projects conducted under this cooperative 
agreement.
    (6) Assisting the awardee in determining issues identified post-
award to be addressed during the project period, sequence in which they 
will be addressed, what approaches and strategies will be used to 
address them, and how relevant information will be transmitted to 
specified target audiences and used to enhance core project activities 
and advance the program.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligibility

    To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicant must be a 
national organization with extensive experience providing national 
awareness, visibility, advocacy, education, and outreach related to 
Urban Indian health care on a national scale.
    The program office will notify any applicants deemed ineligible.
    Note: Please refer to Section IV.2 (Application and Submission 
Information/Subsection 2, Content and Form of Application Submission) 
for additional proof of applicant status documents required, such as 
Letters of Support from the organization's Board of Directors, proof of 
nonprofit status, etc.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    The IHS does not require matching funds or cost sharing for grants 
or cooperative agreements.

3. Other Requirements

    Applications with budget requests that exceed the highest dollar 
amount outlined under Section II Award Information, Estimated Funds 
Available, or exceed the period of performance outlined under Section 
II Award Information, Period of Performance, are considered not 
responsive and will not be reviewed. The Division of Grants Management 
(DGM) will notify the applicant.
Additional Required Documentation
Proof of Nonprofit Status
    Organizations claiming nonprofit status must submit a current copy 
of the 501(c)(3) Certificate with the application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Obtaining Application Materials

    The application package and detailed instructions for this 
announcement are available at https://www.Grants.gov.
    Please direct questions regarding the application process to Mr. 
Paul Gettys at (301) 443-2114 or (301) 443-5204.

2. Content and Form Application Submission

    Mandatory documents for all applicants include:
    <bullet> Abstract (one page) summarizing the project.
    <bullet> Application forms:
    1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.
    2. SF-424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.
    3. SF-424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.
    <bullet> Project Narrative (not to exceed 20 pages). See Section 
IV.2.A, Project Narrative for instructions.
    1. Background information on the organization.
    2. Proposed scope of work, objectives, and activities that provide 
a description of what the applicant plans to accomplish.
    <bullet> Budget Justification and Narrative (not to exceed five 
pages). See Section IV.2.B, Budget Narrative for instructions.
    <bullet> Letter of Support from organization's Board of Directors.
    <bullet> 501(c)(3) Certificate, if applicable.
    <bullet> Biographical sketches for all Key Personnel (not to exceed 
one page each).
    <bullet> Contractor/Consultant proposed scope of work and letter of 
commitment (not to exceed one page each, if applicable).
    <bullet> Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL), if applicant 
conducts reportable lobbying.
    <bullet> Certification Regarding Lobbying (GG-Lobbying Form).

[[Page 1156]]

    <bullet> Copy of current Negotiated Indirect Cost rate (IDC) 
agreement (required in order to receive IDC).
    <bullet> Organizational Chart.
    <bullet> Documentation of current Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Financial Audit (if applicable).
    Acceptable forms of documentation include:
    1. Email confirmation from Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) that 
audits were submitted; or
    2. Face sheets from audit reports. Applicants can find these on the 
FAC website at https://harvester.census.gov/facdissem/Main.aspx.
Public Policy Requirements
    All Federal public policies apply to IHS grants and cooperative 
agreements. Pursuant to 45 CFR 80.3(d), an individual shall not be 
deemed subjected to discrimination by reason of their exclusion from 
benefits limited by Federal law to individuals eligible for benefits 
and services from the IHS. See https://www.hhs.gov/grants/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html.
Requirements for Project and Budget Narratives
    A. Project Narrative: This narrative should be a separate document 
that is no more than 20 pages and must: (1) Have consecutively numbered 
pages; (2) use black font 12 points or larger (you may use 10 point 
font for tables); (3) be single-spaced; and (4) be formatted to fit 
standard letter paper (8\1/2\ x 11 inches).
    Be sure to succinctly answer all questions listed under the 
evaluation criteria (refer to Section V.1, Evaluation Criteria) and 
place all responses and required information in the correct section 
noted below or they will not be considered or scored. If the narrative 
exceeds the page limit, the application will be considered not 
responsive and will not be reviewed. The 20-page limit for the 
narrative does not include the standard forms, line item budgets, 
budget justifications, narratives, and/or other items.
    There are four parts to the narrative: Part 1--Statement of Need; 
Part 2--Program Information/Proposed Approach; Part 3--Organizational 
Capacity and Staffing/Administration; and Part 4--Performance 
Measurement Plan and Evaluation. See below for additional details about 
what must be included in the narrative.
Part 1: Statement of Need--Corresponds to Criteria, Section V.1.A
    This section should help reviewers understand the UIOs that will be 
served by the proposed project. Summarize the overall need for 
assistance: (1) The target population and its unmet health needs; and 
(2) sociocultural determinants of health and health disparities 
impacting the Urban Indian population or communities served and unmet. 
Demographic data should be used and cited to support the information 
provided.
Part 2: Program Information/Proposed Approach--Corresponds to Criteria, 
Section V.1.B
    Describe the purpose of the proposed project, including a clear 
statement of goals and objectives. Clearly state how proposed 
activities address the needs detailed in Part 1, Statement of Need. You 
are required to address all Five Core Projects in your project 
narrative, including addressing the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees 
under any or all of the Five Core Projects. Address each project, 
including Unmet Needs with a corresponding time frame.
Part 3: Organizational Capacity and Staffing/Administration--
Corresponds to Criteria, Section V.1.C
    Describe your organizational capacity for all Five Core Projects 
and experience working with UIOs. Outline current staff and future 
positions for the five program components.
Part 4: Performance Measurement Plan and Evaluation--Corresponds to 
Criteria, Section V.1.D
    Describe efforts to collect and report project data that will 
support and demonstrate grant activities for all Five Core Projects, 
including the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees under any or all of 
the Five Core Projects. Awardee will be required to collect and report 
data pertaining to activities, processes, and outcomes. Also describe 
the plan to evaluate program activities. Describe in the evaluation 
plan the expected results and any identified metrics to support program 
effectiveness. Incorporate questions related to outcomes and processes, 
including documentation of lessons learned.
    B. Budget Narrative (limit--5 pages): Provide a budget narrative 
that explains the amounts requested for each line item of the budget 
from the SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs). 
The budget narrative can include a more detailed spreadsheet than is 
provided by the SF-424A. The budget narrative should specifically 
describe how each item will support the achievement of proposed 
objectives. Be very careful about showing how each item in the 
``Other'' category is justified. For subsequent budget years (see 
Multi-Year Project Requirements in Section V.1, Application Review 
Information, Evaluation Criteria), the narrative should highlight the 
changes from the first year or clearly indicate that there are no 
substantive budget changes during the period of performance. Do NOT use 
the budget narrative to expand the project narrative.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. 
Eastern Time on the Application Deadline Date. Any application received 
after the application deadline will not be accepted for review. 
Grants.gov will notify the applicant via email if the application is 
rejected.
    If technical challenges arise and assistance is required with the 
application process, contact Grants.gov Customer Support (see contact 
information at https://www.Grants.gov). If problems persist, contact 
Mr. Paul Gettys (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4f4c5d1c88ae3c1d0d0ddd7e4cdccd78ac3cbd2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="237342564f0d644657575a50634a4b500d444c55">[email protected]</span></a>), Acting Director, DGM, by 
telephone at (301) 443-2114 or (301) 443-5204. Please be sure to 
contact Mr. Gettys at least ten days prior to the application deadline. 
Please do not contact the DGM until you have received a Grants.gov 
tracking number. In the event you are not able to obtain a tracking 
number, call the DGM as soon as possible.
    The IHS will not acknowledge receipt of applications.

4. Intergovernmental Review

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

5. Funding Restrictions

    <bullet> Pre-award costs are not allowable.
    <bullet> The available funds are inclusive of direct and indirect 
costs.
    <bullet> Only one cooperative agreement may be awarded per 
applicant.

6. Electronic Submission Requirements

    All applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Please use the 
https://www.Grants.gov website to submit an application. Find the 
application by selecting the ``Search Grants'' link on the homepage. 
Follow the instructions for submitting an application under the Package 
tab. No other method of application submission is acceptable.
    If the applicant cannot submit an application through Grants.gov, a 
waiver must be requested. Prior approval must be requested and obtained 
from Mr. Paul Gettys, Acting Director, DGM. A written waiver request 
must be sent to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99deebf8f7edeac9f6f5f0fae0d9f0f1eab7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c2b1e0d02181f3c0300050f152c05041f420b031a">[email protected]</span></a> with a copy to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0b081958ccea78594949993a0898893ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="104071657c3e577564646963507978633e777f66">[email protected]</span></a>. The waiver request must: (1) Be documented in 
writing (emails are acceptable) before

[[Page 1157]]

submitting an application by some other method; and (2) include clear 
justification for the need to deviate from the required application 
submission process.
    Once the waiver request has been approved, the applicant will 
receive a confirmation of approval email containing submission 
instructions. A copy of the written approval must be included with the 
application that is submitted to the DGM. Applications that are 
submitted without a copy of the signed waiver from the Acting Director 
of the DGM will not be reviewed. The Grants Management Officer of the 
DGM will notify the applicant via email of this decision. Applications 
submitted under waiver must be received by the DGM no later than 5:00 
p.m. Eastern Time on the Application Deadline Date. Late applications 
will not be accepted for processing. Applicants that do not register 
for both the System for Award Management (SAM) and Grants.gov and/or 
fail to request timely assistance with technical issues will not be 
considered for a waiver to submit an application via alternative 
method.
    Please be aware of the following:
    <bullet> Please search for the application package in https://www.Grants.gov by entering the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number or the 
Funding Opportunity Number. Both numbers are located in the header of 
this announcement.
    <bullet> If you experience technical challenges while submitting 
your application, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support (see 
contact information at https://www.Grants.gov).
    <bullet> Upon contacting Grants.gov, obtain a tracking number as 
proof of contact. The tracking number is helpful if there are technical 
issues that cannot be resolved and a waiver from the agency must be 
obtained.
    <bullet> Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the 
deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov as 
the registration process for SAM and Grants.gov could take up to 20 
working days.
    <bullet> Please follow the instructions on Grants.gov to include 
additional documentation that may be requested by this funding 
announcement.
    <bullet> Applicants must comply with any page limits described in 
this funding announcement.
    <bullet> After submitting the application, the applicant will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The IHS will not notify the applicant that 
the application has been received.
Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
    Applicants and grantee organizations are required to obtain a DUNS 
number and maintain an active registration in the SAM database. The 
DUNS number is a unique 9-digit identification number provided by D&B 
that uniquely identifies each entity. The DUNS number is site specific; 
therefore, each distinct performance site may be assigned a DUNS 
number. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy, and there is no charge. To 
obtain a DUNS number, please access the request service through https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform, or call (866) 705-5711.
    The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, as 
amended (``Transparency Act''), requires all HHS recipients to report 
information on sub-awards. Accordingly, all IHS grantees must notify 
potential first-tier sub-recipients that no entity may receive a first-
tier sub-award unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to the 
prime grantee organization. This requirement ensures the use of a 
universal identifier to enhance the quality of information available to 
the public pursuant to the Transparency Act.
System for Award Management (SAM)
    Organizations that are not registered with SAM must have a DUNS 
number first, then access the SAM online registration through the SAM 
home page at https://sam.gov (United States (U.S.) organizations will 
also need to provide an Employer Identification Number from the 
Internal Revenue Service that may take an additional 2-5 weeks to 
become active). Please see SAM.gov for details on the registration 
process and timeline. Registration with the SAM is free of charge, but 
can take several weeks to process. Applicants may register online at 
https://sam.gov.
    Additional information on implementing the Transparency Act, 
including the specific requirements for DUNS and SAM, are available on 
the DGM Grants Management, Policy Topics web page at https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.

V. Application Review Information

    Possible points assigned to each section are noted in parentheses. 
The project narrative and budget narrative should include only the 
first year of activities; information for multi-year projects should be 
included as a separate document. See ``Multi-year Project 
Requirements'' at the end of this section for more information. The 
project narrative should be written in a manner that is clear to 
outside reviewers unfamiliar with prior related activities of the 
applicant. It should be well organized, succinct, and contain all 
information necessary for reviewers to fully understand the project. 
Attachments requested in the criteria do not count toward the page 
limit for the narratives. Points will be assigned to each evaluation 
criteria adding up to a total of 100 possible points. Points are 
assigned as follows:

1. Evaluation Criteria

A. Statement of Need (20 Points)
    (1) Describe and document the target population and its unmet 
needs.
    (2) Based on the information and/or data currently available, 
document the need to implement, sustain, and improve health care 
services offered to Urban Indians.
    (3) Based on available data, describe the service gaps and other 
problems related to the unmet needs of Urban Indians. Clearly identify 
the source of the data. Documentation of need may come from a variety 
of qualitative and quantitative sources. Examples of data sources for 
the quantitative data that could be used are epidemiologic data such as 
Tribal Epidemiology Centers or IHS Area Offices, state data from state 
needs assessments, and/or national data from the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and 
Health or from the National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for 
Disease Control, and U.S. decennial and American Community Survey 
Census data. This list is not exhaustive. Applicants may submit other 
valid data, as appropriate for the applicant's programs.
B. Program Information/Proposed Approach (25 Points)
    Describe the purpose of the proposed projects, including a clear 
statement of goals and objectives. Provide a work plan for the first 
year of the project period that details expected key activities, 
accomplishments, and includes responsible staff for each of the Five 
Core Projects, including addressing the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 
grantees. The project narrative is required to address all Five Core 
Projects of the program and the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees, as 
outlined below:
    (1) Public Policy: Summarize the public policy opportunities and 
challenges of UIOs in the implementation of the various laws. Describe 
efforts to increase awareness and actively seek support for the health 
care needs of Urban Indians. Describe

[[Page 1158]]

efforts to engage UIO Leaders' participation in policy workgroups, 
national advisory committees, Urban Confers, budget formulation, and 
listening sessions.
    (2) Research and Data: Describe the need to collect and analyze 
health disparities data, morbidity and mortality data, and urban IHS 
cost data in order to reduce Urban Indian health disparities and 
identify, improve, evaluate, and document UIOs' efforts through 
practice-based and evidence-based best practices. Describe efforts to 
solidify partnerships with UIOs, Tribal and urban epidemiology centers, 
and other data and research partners to improve and increase research 
and data on Urban Indian issues.
    (3) Training and Technical Assistance: Describe the need for UIOs' 
training and technical assistance to support new and continuing 
executive directors and chief executive officers, board of directors, 
and program staff (clinical staff, administration, business office, 
health information technology, integrated behavioral health, etc.).
    (a) Further describe the need for training and technical assistance 
to support UIO administration in orienting new UIO Leaders and Board of 
Directors, grant writing, and credentialing and privileging. Describe 
the need for technical assistance and training for UIOs to effectively 
engage in the IHS Urban Confer process. Describe the need for UIOs to 
attract and retain skilled, culturally competent health service 
providers.
    (4) Education, Public Relations, and Marketing: Summarize the need 
to market the UIOs through development of national, regional, and local 
marketing strategies and campaigns.
    Describe efforts to increase awareness of health care needs of 
Urban Indians. Describe efforts to engage UIOs to participate in 
national health campaigns. Describe the need for enhanced communication 
among local private and nonprofit health care entities. Summarize the 
need to enhance communication, interaction, and coordination on policy 
and health care reform activities by initiating and maintaining 
partnerships and collaborative relationships with other UIOs, national 
Indian organizations, key state and local health entities, and 
education and public safety networks. Describe efforts to strengthen 
the capacity of UIOs to work as a community to improve knowledge 
sharing.
    (5) Payment System Reform/Monitoring Regulations: Describe services 
to be provided, e.g., billing, health information technology, 
regulations, etc. Describe efforts to support UIOs' efforts to 
diversify funding and increase third party reimbursement to ensure 
UIOs' sustainability. Describe technical assistance, training, and 
tools to be provided on billing and coding best practices, and 
negotiating with private health insurers and health plans. Describe 
efforts to establish and enhance third party billing for UIOs that have 
limited or no third party billing capabilities. Describe the need to 
understand, document and analyze current and new federal regulations 
impacting UIOs for reimbursement. Describe services to be provided to 
UIOs on regulations. Describe types of regulatory activities needed to 
support efforts to lessen the impact on UIOs financial and operational 
systems.
C. Organizational Capacity and Staffing/Administration (30 Points)
    (1) Describe the management capability of the national Urban Indian 
Organization and other participating organizations demonstrating 
extensive experience providing national awareness, visibility, 
advocacy, education, and outreach related to Urban Indian health care 
on a national scale in administering similar projects. Describe the 
national Urban Indian Organization's experience providing a national 
perspective on the needs of Urban Indian communities that will ensure 
the information developed and disseminated through the projects is 
appropriate and useful and addresses the most pressing needs of Urban 
Indian communities.
    (2) Identify staff to maintain open and consistent communication 
with the IHS program official on any financial or programmatic barriers 
to meeting the requirements of the award.
    (3) Identify the department(s) and/or division(s) that will 
administer all Five Core Projects and the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 
grantees. Include a description of these department(s) and/or 
division(s), their functions, and their placement within the national 
Urban Indian Organization and their direct link to management. Describe 
the department(s) and/or division(s) responsible for education and 
outreach efforts described in this announcement and how they will reach 
the widest audience possible in a timely fashion. Describe the 
mechanisms in place to conduct communication on a national level and 
experience with increasing visibility of the health care needs facing 
Urban Indians nationwide.
    (4) Discuss the national Urban Indian Organization's experience and 
capacity to provide culturally appropriate and competent services to 
UIOs and specific populations of focus to ensure services provided are 
appropriately tailored to the needs of Urban Indian communities 
throughout the country. Describe formal or informal relationships that 
have been established with UIOs that will foster open and honest 
exchange of information, facilitate participation by Urban Indian 
communities, and demonstrate that the national Urban Indian 
Organization is a source that Urban Indians recognize and trust.
    (5) Describe the resources available for the proposed project 
(e.g., facilities, equipment, information technology systems, and 
financial management systems). Describe a national information sharing 
infrastructure which will facilitate the timely exchange of information 
between IHS and UIOs on a broad scale.
    (6) Identify other organization(s) that will participate in the 
proposed project. Describe their roles and responsibilities and 
demonstrate their commitment to all Five Core Projects.
    (7) Describe how project continuity will be maintained if there is 
a change in the operational environment (e.g., staff turnover, change 
in project leadership, etc.) to ensure project stability over the life 
of the grant.
    (8) Provide a list of staff positions for the project and other key 
personnel, showing the role of each and their level of effort and 
qualifications for all Five Core Projects and the Unmet Needs of the 4-
in-1 grantees. Key personnel include the Chief Executive Officer or 
Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Director, and 
Information Officer.
    (9) Demonstrate successful project implementation for the level of 
effort budgeted for the project staff and other key staff.
    (10) Include position descriptions as attachments to the 
application for all key personnel. Position descriptions should not 
exceed one page each.
    (11) For individuals who are currently on staff, include a 
biographical sketch with their name for each individual that will be 
listed as the project staff and other key positions. Describe the 
experience of identified staff in all Five Core Projects and the Unmet 
Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees. Include each biographical sketch as 
attachments to the project proposal/application. Biographical sketches 
should not exceed one page per staff member. Do not include any of the 
following:
    (a) Social security number and date and place of birth;
    (b) Resumes; or
    (c) Curriculum Vitae.

[[Page 1159]]

D. Performance Measurement Plan and Evaluation (15 Points)
    Describe plans to monitor activities under all Five Core Projects 
and the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees, demonstrate progress 
towards program outcomes, and inform future program decisions over the 
5-year project period. Describe how issues will be addressed during the 
project period, the sequence in which they will be addressed, what 
approaches and strategies will be used to address them, and how 
relevant information will be transmitted to specified target audiences 
and used to enhance project activities and advance the program.
    (1) Describe proposed data collection efforts (performance measures 
and associated data) and how you will use the data to answer evaluation 
questions. This should include (data collection method, data source, 
data measurement tool, identified staff for data management, and data 
collection timeline).
    (2) Identify key program partners and describe how they will 
participate in the implementation of the evaluation plan (e.g., Tribal 
Epidemiology Centers, universities, etc.).
    (3) Describe how evaluation findings will be used at the applicant 
level. Discuss how data collected (e.g., performance measurement data) 
will be used and shared by the key program partners.
    (4) Discuss any barriers or challenges expected for implementing 
the plan, collecting data (e.g., responding to performance measures), 
and reporting on evaluation results. Describe how these potential 
barriers would be overcome. In addition, applicants may also describe 
other measures to be developed or additional data sources and data 
collection methods that applicant will use.
E. Budget and Budget Narrative (10 Points)
    (1) Include a line item budget for all Five Core Projects and the 
Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees, including expenditures identifying 
reasonable and allowable costs necessary to accomplish the goals and 
objectives as outlined in the project narrative for the first budget 
year only.
    (2) Provide a categorized budget for all Five Core Projects and the 
Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees. If it is anticipated that there 
will be travel costs to cover the cost of staff and UIO Leaders' 
attendance at national advisory committees and workgroups, the 
applicant should ensure the associated travel costs are included in the 
categorized budget for public policy.
    (3) Ensure that the budget and budget narrative are aligned with 
the project narrative. Questions to address include: What resources are 
needed to successfully carry out and manage the Five Core Projects and 
Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 grantees? What other resources are available 
from the organization? Will new staff be recruited? Will outside 
contractors/consultants be required?
    (4) Include the total cost for any outside contractors/consultants 
broken down by activity within each core project.
    (5) If indirect costs are claimed, indicate and apply the current 
negotiated rate to the budget. Include a copy of the current negotiated 
IDC rate agreement in the Other Attachments.
Multi-Year Project Requirements
    Applications must include a brief project narrative and budget (one 
additional page per year) addressing the developmental plans for each 
additional year of the project. This attachment will not count as part 
of the project narrative or the budget narrative.
    Additional documents can be uploaded as Other Attachments in 
Grants.gov.
    <bullet> Work plan, logic model and/or timeline for proposed 
objectives.
    <bullet> Position descriptions for key staff (not to exceed one 
page each).
    <bullet> Biographical sketches for key staff (not to exceed one 
page each).
    <bullet> Consultant or contractor proposed scope of work and letter 
of commitment (if applicable).
    <bullet> Current Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
    <bullet> Organizational chart.
    <bullet> Additional documents to support narrative (i.e., data 
tables, key news articles, etc.).

2. Review and Selection

    Each application will be prescreened for eligibility and 
completeness as outlined in the funding announcement. Applications that 
meet the eligibility criteria shall be reviewed for merit by the 
Objective Review Committee (ORC) based on evaluation criteria. 
Incomplete applications and applications that are not responsive to the 
administrative thresholds (budget limit, project period limit) will not 
be referred to the ORC and will not be funded. The applicant will be 
notified of this determination.
    Applicants must address all program requirements and provide all 
required documentation.

3. Notifications of Disposition

    All applicants will receive an Executive Summary Statement from the 
IHS Office of Urban Indian Health Programs within 30 days of the 
conclusion of the ORC outlining the strengths and weaknesses of their 
application. The summary statement will be sent to the Authorizing 
Official identified on the face page (SF-424) of the application.
A. Award Notices for Funded Applications
    The Notice of Award (NoA) is the authorizing document for which 
funds are dispersed to the approved entities and reflects the amount of 
Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the award, the terms and 
conditions of the award, the effective date of the award, and the 
budget/project period. Each entity approved for funding must have a 
user account in GrantSolutions in order to retrieve the NoA. Please see 
the Agency Contacts list in Section VII for the systems contact 
information.
B. Approved but Unfunded Applications
    Approved applications not funded due to lack of available funds 
will be held for 1 year. If funding becomes available during the course 
of the year, the application may be reconsidered.
    Note: Any correspondence other than the official NoA executed by an 
IHS grants management official announcing to the project director that 
an award has been made to their organization is not an authorization to 
implement their program on behalf of the IHS.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Administrative Requirements

    Awards issued under this announcement are subject to, and are 
administered in accordance with, the following regulations and 
policies:
    A. The criteria as outlined in this program announcement.

[[Page 1160]]

    B. Administrative Regulations for Grants:
    <bullet> Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and 
Audit Requirements for HHS Awards currently in effect or implemented 
during the period of award, other Department regulations and policies 
in effect at the time of award, and applicable statutory provisions. At 
the time of publication, this includes 45 CFR part 75, at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2020-title45-vol1/pdf/CFR-2020-title45-vol1-part75.pdf.
    <bullet> Please review all HHS regulatory provisions for 
Termination at 45 CFR 75.372, at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp&;SID=2970eec67399fab1413ede53d7895d99&mc=true&
;n=pt45.1.75&r=PART&ty=HTML&se45.1.75_1372#se45.1.75_1372.
    C. Grants Policy:
    <bullet> HHS Grants Policy Statement, Revised January 2007, at 
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf.
    D. Cost Principles:
    <bullet> Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, ``Cost 
Principles,'' located at 45 CFR part 75 subpart E.
    E. Audit Requirements:
    <bullet> Uniform Administrative Requirements for HHS Awards, 
``Audit Requirements,'' located at 45 CFR part 75 subpart F.
    F. As of August 13, 2020, 2 CFR 200 was updated to include a 
prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance 
services or equipment. This prohibition is described in 2 CFR 200.216. 
This will also be described in the terms and conditions of every IHS 
grant and cooperative agreement awarded on or after August 13, 2020.

2. Indirect Costs

    This section applies to all recipients that request reimbursement 
of IDC in their application budget. In accordance with HHS Grants 
Policy Statement, Part II-27, the IHS requires applicants to obtain a 
current IDC rate agreement and submit it to the DGM prior to the DGM 
issuing an award. The rate agreement must be prepared in accordance 
with the applicable cost principles and guidance as provided by the 
cognizant agency or office. A current rate covers the applicable grant 
activities under the current award's budget period. If the current rate 
agreement is not on file with the DGM at the time of award, the IDC 
portion of the budget will be restricted. The restrictions remain in 
place until the current rate agreement is provided to the DGM.
    Per 45 CFR 75.414(f) Indirect (F&A) costs, ``any non-Federal entity 
(NFE) [i.e., applicant] that has never received a negotiated indirect 
cost rate, . . . may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of 
modified total direct costs which may be used indefinitely. As 
described in Section 75.403, costs must be consistently charged as 
either indirect or direct costs, but may not be double charged or 
inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once 
elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such 
time as the NFE chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the NFE may 
apply to do at any time.''
    Electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent only applies to 
applicants that have never received an approved negotiated indirect 
cost rate from HHS or another cognizant federal agency. Applicants 
awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposal may request the 10 
percent de minimis rate. When the applicant chooses this method, costs 
included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs 
to the grant.
    Available funds are inclusive of direct and appropriate indirect 
costs. Approved indirect funds are awarded as part of the award amount, 
and no additional funds will be provided.
    Generally, IDC rates for IHS grantees are negotiated with the 
Division of Cost Allocation at https://rates.psc.gov/ or the Department 
of the Interior (Interior Business Center) at https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/tribal. For questions regarding the indirect cost policy, please call 
the Grants Management Specialist listed under ``Agency Contacts'' or 
the main DGM office at (301) 443-5204.

3. Reporting Requirements

    The grantee must submit required reports consistent with the 
applicable deadlines. Failure to submit required reports within the 
time allowed may result in suspension or termination of an active 
grant, withholding of additional awards for the project, or other 
enforcement actions such as withholding of payments or converting to 
the reimbursement method of payment. Continued failure to submit 
required reports may result in the imposition of special award 
provisions, and/or the non-funding or non-award of other eligible 
projects or activities. This requirement applies whether the 
delinquency is attributable to the failure of the awardee organization 
or the individual responsible for preparation of the reports. Per DGM 
policy, all reports must be submitted electronically by attaching them 
as a ``Grant Note'' in GrantSolutions. Personnel responsible for 
submitting reports will be required to obtain a login and password for 
GrantSolutions. Please see the Agency Contacts list in Section VII for 
the systems contact information.
    The reporting requirements for this program are noted below.
A. Progress Reports
    Program progress reports are required quarterly. The progress 
reports are due within 30 days after the reporting period ends 
(specific dates will be listed in the NoA Terms and Conditions). For 
each of the Five Core projects and the Unmet Needs of the 4-in-1 
grantees, provide thorough narratives of performance measures, 
outcomes, impacts, and achievements in the Progress Report, including 
measureable progress towards meeting goals and objectives for the 
cooperative agreement, and other pertinent information as required. A 
final report must be submitted within 90 days of expiration of the 
period of performance.
B. Financial Reports
    Federal Cash Transaction Reports are due 30 days after the close of 
every calendar quarter to the Payment Management Services at https://pms.psc.gov. Failure to submit timely reports may result in adverse 
award actions blocking access to funds.
    Federal Financial Reports are due 30 days after the end of each 
budget period, and a final report is due 90 days after the end of the 
Period of Performance. Grantees are responsible and accountable for 
reporting accurate information on all required reports: The Progress 
Reports, the Federal Cash Transaction Report, and the Federal Financial 
Report.
C. Post Conference Grant Reporting
    The following requirements were enacted in Section 3003 of the 
Consolidated Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, Public Law 113-6, 127 
Stat. 198, 435 (2013), and; Office of Management and Budget Memorandum 
M-17-08, Amending OMB Memorandum M-12-12: All HHS/IHS awards containing 
grants funds allocated for conferences will be required to complete a 
mandatory post award report for all conferences. Specifically: The 
total amount of funds provided in this award/cooperative agreement that 
were spent for ``Conference X,'' must be reported in final detailed 
actual costs within 15 calendar days of the completion of the 
conference. Cost categories to address should be: (1) Contract/Planner, 
(2)

[[Page 1161]]

Meeting Space/Venue, (3) Registration website, (4) Audio Visual, (5) 
Speakers Fees, (6) Non-Federal Attendee Travel, (7) Registration Fees, 
and (8) Other.
D. Federal Sub-Award Reporting System (FSRS)
    This award may be subject to the Transparency Act sub-award and 
executive compensation reporting requirements of 2 CFR part 170.
    The Transparency Act requires the OMB to establish a single 
searchable database, accessible to the public, with information on 
financial assistance awards made by Federal agencies. The Transparency 
Act also includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to 
report information about first-tier sub-awards and executive 
compensation under Federal assistance awards. The IHS has implemented a 
Term of Award into all IHS Standard Terms and Conditions, NoAs, and 
funding announcements regarding the FSRS reporting requirement. This 
IHS Term of Award is applicable to all IHS grant and cooperative 
agreements issued on or after October 1, 2010, with a $25,000 sub-award 
obligation threshold met for any specific reporting period.
    For the full IHS award term implementing this requirement and 
additional award applicability information, visit the DGM Grants 
Management website at https://www.ihs.gov/dgm/policytopics/.
E. Compliance With Executive Order 13166 Implementation of Services 
Accessibility Provisions for All Grant Application Packages and Funding 
Opportunity Announcements
    Should you successfully compete for an award, recipients of Federal 
financial assistance (FFA) from HHS must administer their programs in 
compliance with Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination 
on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age and, in 
some circumstances, religion, conscience, and sex (including gender 
identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy). This includes ensuring 
programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency and 
persons with disabilities. The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides 
guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please 
see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/provider-obligations/index.html and https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/nondiscrimination/index.html.
    <bullet> Recipients of FFA must ensure that their programs are 
accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. For guidance on 
meeting your legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure 
meaningful access to your programs or activities by limited English 
proficiency individuals, see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/fact-sheet-guidance/index.html and https://www.lep.gov.
    <bullet> For information on your specific legal obligations for 
serving qualified individuals with disabilities, including reasonable 
modifications and making services accessible to them, see https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/disability/index.html.
    <bullet> HHS funded health and education programs must be 
administered in an environment free of sexual harassment. See https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/sex-discrimination/index.html.
    <bullet> For guidance on administering your program in compliance 
with applicable Federal religious nondiscrimination laws and applicable 
Federal conscience protection and associated anti-discrimination laws, 
see https://www.hhs.gov/conscience/conscience-protections/index.html 
and https://www.hhs.gov/conscience/religious-freedom/index.html.
F. Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)
    The IHS is required to review and consider any information about 
the applicant that is in the FAPIIS at https://www.fapiis.gov, before 
making any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold 
(currently $250,000) over the period of performance. An applicant may 
review and comment on any information about itself that a Federal 
awarding agency previously entered. The IHS will consider any comments 
by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making 
a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record 
of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk 
posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR 75.205.
    As required by 45 CFR part 75 Appendix XII of the Uniform Guidance, 
NFEs are required to disclose in FAPIIS any information about criminal, 
civil, and administrative proceedings, and/or affirm that there is no 
new information to provide. This applies to NFEs that receive Federal 
awards (currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and 
procurement contracts) greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time 
during the period of performance of an award/project.
Mandatory Disclosure Requirements
    As required by 2 CFR part 200 of the Uniform Guidance, and the HHS 
implementing regulations at 45 CFR part 75, the IHS must require an NFE 
or an applicant for a Federal award to disclose, in a timely manner, in 
writing to the IHS or pass-through entity all violations of Federal 
criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations 
potentially affecting the Federal award.
    All applicants and recipients must disclose in writing, in a timely 
manner, to the IHS and to the HHS Office of Inspector General all 
information related to violations of Federal criminal law involving 
fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the 
Federal award. 45 CFR 75.113.
    Disclosures must be sent in writing to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, 
Division of Grants Management, ATTN: Paul Gettys, Acting Director, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, (Include 
``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line), Office: (301) 443-
5204, Fax: (301) 594-0899, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e1e2f3b2260092b3a3a373d0e27263d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0e0d1c5dc9ef7d5c4c4c9c3f0d9d8c39ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>
And
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector 
General, ATTN: Mandatory Grant Disclosures, Intake Coordinator, 330 
Independence Avenue SW, Cohen Building, Room 5527, Washington, DC 
20201, URL: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/, (Include 
``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line), Fax: (202) 205-0604 
(Include ``Mandatory Grant Disclosures'' in subject line), or Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ed3fff0faffeaf1ece7d9ecfff0eafbfbdaf7edfdf2f1edebecfbeddef1f7f9b0f6f6edb0f9f1e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fd2fef1fbfeebf0ede6d8edfef1ebfafadbf6ecfcf3f0eceaedfaecdff0f6f8b1f7f7ecb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>

    Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the 
remedies described in 45 CFR 75.371 Remedies for noncompliance, 
including suspension or debarment (see 2 CFR part 180 and 2 CFR part 
376).

VII. Agency Contacts

    1. Questions on the programmatic issues may be directed to: Debi 
Nalwood, Health System Specialist, Indian Health Service, Office of 
Urban Indian Health Programs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 08E65D, 
Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (240) 701-0882, Fax: (301) 443-8446, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c48696e656d6060657f636222426d607b6363684c65647f226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f4b6a6d666e6363667c606121416e637860606b4f66677c21686079">[email protected]</span></a>.
    2. Questions on grants management and fiscal matters may be 
directed to: Donald Gooding, Grants Management Specialist, Indian 
Health Service, Division of Grants Management, 5600

[[Page 1162]]

Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301) 443-
2298, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b0f24252a272f650c24242f22252c0b222338652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="682c070609040c462f07070c01060f2801001b460f071e">[email protected]</span></a>.
    3. Questions on systems matters may be directed to: Paul Gettys, 
Acting Director, Indian Health Service, Division of Grants Management, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Mail Stop: 09E70, Rockville, MD 20857, Phone: (301) 
443-2114; or the DGM main line (301) 443-5204, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#461627332a68012332323f35062f2e3568212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="114170647d3f567465656862517879623f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.

VIII. Other Information

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant, 
cooperative agreement, and contract 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 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.

Elizabeth A. Fowler,
Acting Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00171 Filed 1-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-P


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