Epidemiology Cooperative Agreements (93.231)

Program

93.231 Epidemiology Cooperative Agreements

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Indian Health Service

Authorization

Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, 25 U.S.C 1621m.

Program Number

93.231

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To develop epidemiology centers and public health infrastructure through the augmentation of existing programs with expertise in epidemiology and a history of regional support. Activities should include, but not be limited to, development of surveillance for disease conditions, epidemiological analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data, investigation of disease outbreaks, development and implementation of epidemiological studies, development and implementation of disease control and prevention programs, and coordination of activities with other public health authorities in the region. Proposed activities which cover large population and/or geographical areas that do not necessarily correspond with current Indian Health Service (IHS) administrative areas are encouraged.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grant funds may be used to develop and conduct activities to achieve at least one epidemiology programs in each of the 12 Areas of Indian country. The recipient activities will coordinate and participate in projects, investigations, or studies of national scope; and share surveillance and other data collected. IHS activities will convene workshops/meetings; provide technical assistance and consultation; provide training; conduct site visits; and coordinate all epidemiological activities on a national basis. Funds will be used to support activities that are directly related to the grant project. All indirect costs will be issued based on the indirect cost rate agreement that is negotiated by the recipient, as appropriate. 100% are discretionary funds.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in Section 4(d) and 4(e) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, as amended. An intertribal consortia or Indian organization, if it is incorporated for the primary purpose of improving Indian health, and it is representative of the tribes or urban Indian communities in which it is located. An urban Indian organization is defined as a nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center eligible for services under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437, as amended.

Beneficiary Eligibility

American Indians and Alaska Natives will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

The applicant must provide documentation of: (1) Nonprofit status; (2) tribal resolution(s); and (3) letters of support and collaboration with regional IHS, State, or university organizations. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 (State, local, and Indian tribal governments). OMB Circular No. A-122 (nonprofit organizations), and applicable grant administration regulations 45 CFR 74 and 45 CFR 92. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The preferred method for receipt of applications is electronic submission through Grants.gov. However, should any technical problems arise regarding the submission, please contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The Contact Center hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Waivers from the electronic process must be made at least fifteen days prior to the application deadline. To submit an application electronically, please use the http://www.Grants.gov apply site. Download a copy of the application package, on the Grants.gov website, complete it offline and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to IHS.

Award Procedure

These awards are issued under a competitive grant process.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Cooperative agreements will be awarded for project periods of up 3 years. Within the project period, a continuation application must be submitted via grants.gov annually on a non- competitive basis for each year of support. Additional support is subject to availability of funds. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Grantee will be required to submit, quarterly PMS 272 Federal Cash Transaction Reports to the Division Of Payment Management Branch. Depending on services provided, progress and financial reports will be required either quarterly or semi-annually with final performance and financial status reports due 90 after the end of the project period. A SF269 Financial Status Report will be due to the Division of Grants Operations 90 after the end of each budget period. IHS grants are monitored by the Division of Grants Management Operations for financial compliance and by the IHS Program Staff for programmatic compliance.

Audits

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

DHHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access to any books, documents, papers, or other records of a grantee, subgrantee, contractor, or subcontractor, which are pertinent to the grant in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts, and transcripts. Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the end of a budget period. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3 year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3 year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0390-0-1-551.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 not reported.; FY 09 est not reported.; FY 10 est not reported. - (Grants) FY 08 $5,816,700; FY 09 $6,000,000; and FY 10 est $6,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$399,500 to $540,000; $469,750.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Public Law 94-437, Section 214(a)(1), as amended by Public Law 102-573; 45 CFR 92 and 45 CFR 74; authorizes the cooperative agreement grant awards. HHS Grants Policy Statement, Januray 2007.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None. Program Contact: Dr. James Cheek; Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention, Indian Health Service, Headquarters West, 5300 Homestead Road, NE; Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110; Telephone: (505) 248-4132. For Grants Management Contact: Ms. Kimberly Pendleton; Senior Grants Management Officer, Division of Grants Operations, Indian Health Service; 801 Thompson Avenue, TMP, Suite 360; Rockville, Maryland 20852; Telephone: (301) 443-5204. (Telephone numbers are not toll-free).

Headquarters Office

Grants Policy Staff/OMS 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 625, Rockville, Maryland 20852 Phone: 301-443-6290

Web Site Address

http://www.ihs.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: (1) The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board has established a Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center in Portland, Oregon to serve the 39 federally-recognized tribes who are its members plus the two urban Indian organizations in the Portland Area of the Indian Health Center; and (2) The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is establishing a new Alaska Native Epidemiology Center in Anchorage, Alaska, which will enhance the ability of Alaska Native health provider agencies to assess long-term changes in the health status of Alaska's 100,000 native people. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Selection criteria are introduction, current capacity and project objectives, approach and results and benefits, project evaluation, organization capabilities and qualifications, and budget. Consideration will be given to applicants: (1) Proposing to provide services to large regions consisting of more than a single IHS administrative area; and (2) demonstrating evidence of past and current epidemiological activities.