Document headings vary by document type but may contain
                    the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
the number of the CFR title and the number of each part
                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly
                      related to
the agency docket number / agency internal file number
the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in
                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory
                      Actions See the
                    Document Drafting Handbook
                    for more details.
 Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration
 AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HHS.
 ACTION: Notice of Class Deviation from Project/Budget Period Funding Policies.
 SUMMARY: HRSA will provide 2 additional years of support in the absence of competition for one cohort of grants under the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) MCH Training Program. HRSA will extend the project period to June 30, 2011, for the cohort of the LEND program expected to compete in fiscal year (FY) 2009, which would correspond to the sunset of the Combating Autism Act. Currently, there are 34 LEND grants split into two cohorts (17 each) with different end dates; one group is scheduled to compete in FY 2009 (Cohort A), and the other in FY 2011 (Cohort B). HRSA will non-competitively extend with funds the 5-year project periods for those LEND grantees ending on June 30, 2009, for 2 additional budget periods at the same level of support for the same scope of activities which they received in FY 2008.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Intended Recipients of the Award Seventeen programs in the LEND cohort are expected to compete in FY 2009. These programs presently have active LEND grants: University of Iowa, Johns Hopkins University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of South Dakota, University of Vermont, Virginia Commonwealth University, West Virginia University, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, Children's Research Institute, Indiana University, University of Oklahoma. Amount of Individual Supplemental Awards: 
                    **Note:**
                     These funding levels are expected to continue in FYs 2009 and 2010. Grantee
FY 2008
                             awardUniversity of Iowa
$491,265Johns Hopkins University
884,277University of Missouri
393,012University of Nebraska
412,663Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
451,964Albert Einstein College of Medicine
491,265Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
393,012University of South Dakota
432,313University of Vermont
451,964Virginia Commonwealth University
451,964West Virginia University
439,825University of Massachusetts Medical School
604,256Ohio State University
393,011Vanderbilt University
393,012Children's Research Institute
393,012Indiana University
481,440University of Oklahoma
442,139
 *Current Project Periods:*
                     7/1/04 through 6/30/09. *Period of Supplemental Funding:*
                    7/1/09 through 6/30/11. Authority:
                    Combating Autism Act of 2006, Public Law No. 109-416, § 399BB(e)(1)(A), 120 Stat 2821, 2826 (2006). *CFDA Number:*
                     93.110. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Kavanagh; Branch Chief, MCH Training Program, Division of Research, Training and Education; Maternal and Child Health Bureau; (301) 443-2254. 
                        ( print page 4041) *Justification for the Exception to Competition:*
                        HRSA is ending the two cohort system for the following reason: The Combating Autism Act of 2006 is scheduled to sunset in September of 2011. With this legislation, it is critical to have sufficient and accurate data to evaluate the progress of screening and diagnosing a greater number of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities and assuring that they receive evidenced based services. A national evaluation will be conducted to contribute to the HHS Secretary's Report to Congress on progress related to ASD and other developmental disabilities as required by the Combating Autism Act. From a programmatic perspective, it is imperative to collect data from the same group of grantees over the project period to assess program goals as requested in the National Evaluation. By extending the project period for two additional years for the LEND cohort with the current project period ending date of June 30, 2009, MCHB will be able to collect common data elements from both LEND cohorts through the end of Combating Autism Act which sunsets in 2011. Doing so will help ensure that there will be a more cohesive and uniform collection of data being gathered and analyzed across both cohorts which will increase sample size and ultimately, data validity and study power. If it becomes necessary to hold a competition for the LEND cohort in FY 2009 and new applicants were to apply and be successful, there would be the potential for less uniformity in the data collection. It is crucial that there is as much meaningful data gathered in the remaining time available from both cohorts to ensure that the National Evaluation is an accurate reflection of the program activities. Under this deviation, MCHB will provide the LEND grantees in LEND Cohort A, currently expected to compete in FY 2009, with the same amount of funds for the same scope of activities that they received in FY 2008 for both the FY2009 and 2010 budget periods. Dated: January 13, 2009. Elizabeth M. Duke, Administrator.


[FR Doc. E9-1236 Filed 1-21-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-15-P