[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 174 (Friday, September 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53672-53673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17941]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


National Native American Emergency Medical Services Association

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, IHS.

ACTION: Notice of Single Source Cooperative Agreement with the National 
Native American Emergency Medical Services Association.

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SUMMARY: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces the award of a 
cooperative agreement that will be funded on a competitive continuing 
basis to the National Native American Emergency Medical Services 
Association (NNAEMSA) for a demonstration project to improve emergency 
medical services for Native American people by improving communications 
between the IHS and the Native American Emergency Medical Services 
(EMS) providers; by improving communications and information among 
other federal agencies, professional organizations and Native American 
EMS providers; and by supporting an Annual Educational Conference.
    Project Period: The cooperative agreement is for a five-year 
project period effective on or about September 15, 2005 to September 
14, 2010.
    Amount of Award(s): Total funding for the project is $450,000. 
Funding in the amount of $90,000.00 is available in

[[Page 53673]]

FY 2005. Continuation awards within an approved project period will be 
made on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required 
reports and the availability of funds.

    Authority: The award is issued under the authority of the Public 
Health Service Act, Section 301(a), and is included under the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.933.

    The specific objectives of the project are:
    1. The Association will publish, at least three times yearly, a 
newsletter for members. The newsletter will be available in both hard 
copy and electronically.
    2. The Association will present an Annual Educational Conference 
which supports training and continuing education for Native American 
EMS providers such as EMT-Basics, EMT-Intermediates, EMT-Paramedics, 
physicians, nurses, EMS Medical Directors, ambulance drivers, and First 
Responders who will receive Continuing Education Units/Continuing 
Medical Education credits.
    3. The Association will act (1) to disseminate appropriate and 
accurate information and education regarding EMS and EMS providers in 
Indian Country to State EMS and State Administering Agencies, national 
professional organizations and federal agencies and to relay 
information and developments back to its membership and (2) to 
establish links with other national Indian organizations, professional 
EMS-related groups and federal agencies.
    4. The Association will actively participate with Department of 
Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services and Mountain 
Plains Health Consortium to inform and educate Native American EMS 
provider regarding Presidential directives concerning adoption and 
implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and 
Incident Command System (ICS) and other Emergency Preparedness 
requirements for First Responders.

Reporting Requirements

    1. 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.
    2. Financial Status Report--Semi-annual financial status reports 
must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the half year. Final 
financial status reports are due within 90 days of expiration of the 
budget/project period. Standard Form 269 (long form) will be used for 
financial reporting.

Justification for Single Source

    Previously, this project was awarded on a non-competitive 
continuing basis. With its national focus and years of experience and 
knowledge which collectively it represents, NNAEMSA fill a niche that 
no other organization or local Native American EMS association can 
provide. NNAEMSA is the only nationwide organization that specifically 
represents approximately 80 individual Native American EMS programs. 
These EMS programs provide care to over half-million Native American 
people who live on or near Indian reservations or who live in non-
reservation areas with significant Native American populations. The 
population served by these programs is the same as IHS's user 
population. NNAEMSA is uniquely qualified to provide the services 
listed herein, having the requisite knowledge and experience to do so. 
NNAEMSA has an established record of achievements over the past five 
years in providing continuing medical education programs of high 
quality to pre-hospital providers and valuable tribal EMS expertise to 
IHS in consultation.

Use of Cooperative Agreement

    A cooperative agreement shall be awarded because of anticipated 
substantial programmatic involvements by IHS staff in the project. The 
substantial programmatic involvement is as follows:
    1. IHS staff will approve articles to be included in the 
newsletters and may, as requested by the Association, provide articles.
    2. Working with the Association, IHS staff will be involved in the 
development of the Annual Educational Conference to include topics of 
concern to the Agency and will be included in presentations as 
requested by IHS Program Staff or NNAEMSA.
    3. IHS Program staff will have approval over the hiring of key 
personnel as defined by regulation or provision in the cooperative 
agreement.
    4. IHS Program staff will provide technical assistance to the 
NNAEMSA Board and will attend in person at least one NNAEMSA Board 
meeting.
    5. IHS Program staff will provide technical assistance for the 
NNAEMSA Board member training and will attend in person any NNAEMSA 
Board member training sessions scheduled and as travel budget allows.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program information, contact Cathy 
Stueckemann, Public Health Advisor, Division of Nursing, Office of 
Clinical and Preventive Services, IHS Reyes Building, 801 Thompson 
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, telephone (301) 443-2500.
    For grants management information, contact Denise Clark, Grants 
Management Specialist, Division of Grants Operations, Reyes Building, 
801 Thompson Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, telephone (301) 443-
5204.

    Dated: September 1, 2005.
Robert G. McSwain,
Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17941 Filed 9-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-M