Special Projects of National Significance (93.928)

Program

93.928 Special Projects of National Significance

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Title XXVI, Part F, as amended, Public Law 109-415; Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006.

Program Number

93.928

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To quickly respond to emergency needs of individuals receiving assistance under the Ryan White program; and to fund special programs to develop a standard electronic client information data system to improve the ability of grantees under the Ryan White program to report client-level data the Secretary.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The SPNS Program supports the development of innovative models of HIV care to respond to the emerging needs of individuals receiving assistance under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006. SPNS evaluates the effectiveness of these models, and promotes the replication of successful models. Areas of evaluation include design, implementation, utilization, costs, and health related outcomes of effective models. The SPNS Program also supports special programs to develop standard electronic client information data systems to enable Ryan White Program grantees to report client level data. Proposals are expected to adequately define and justify the needs, innovative nature, and evaluation methodology of the proposed model of services. Funds shall be used to create and/or evaluate innovative models of HIV care that would likely not exist nor be evaluated without SPNS Program support, or that would extend the care model to previously underserved or unserved populations. Funds under the SPNS Program cannot be used for: charges that are billable to third party payers (e.g., private health insurance, prepaid health plans, Medicaid, Medicare); construction of new facilities or capital improvements to existing facilities; to purchase or improve land; cash payments to intended service recipients, as opposed to various incentives to encourage participation in evaluation activities.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible entities: only those eligible for funding under Parts A-D of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Adults, women, children and families with HIV disease.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Award Procedure

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 4 to 6 months.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants will generally be awarded with 60-month project periods and five 12-month budget periods; some grants may have more limited 12, 24 or 36 month project periods. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grantees drawdown funds, as necessary, from the Payment Management System (PMS). PMS is the centralized web based payment system for HHS awards.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. A final progress report is due 90 days after the end of the project period. In addition, a Financial Status Report is due within 90 days after the close of each budget period and after the end of the project period. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the date they submit the FSR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the award 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

Fiscal Year 2008: FY08 there were 55 continuation grants and 17 new grant awards. Fiscal Year 2009: FY09 there will be 35 continuation grants and approximately 70 new grant awards. Fiscal Year 2010: FY10 there will be 47 continuation grants and approximately 40 new grant awards.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $25,000,000; FY 09 est $25,000,000; FY 10 est $25,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$25,000 to $550,000; $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable.

Related Programs

93.917 HIV Care Formula Grants; 93.918 Grants to Provide Outpatient Early Intervention Services with Respect to HIV Disease

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Adan Cajina, Chief, Demonstration and Evaluation Branch, Division of Science and Policy, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources and Service Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-07, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone Number: (301) 443-3180.

Headquarters Office

Demonstration and Evaluation Branch 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-C07, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 443-3180

Web Site Address

www.hrsa.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Prevention with HIV Infected Persons seen in Primary Care Settings:
This initiative was designed to address the need for interventions targeting HIV-positive individuals in clinical care, to prevent transmission to uninfected individuals and to prevent re-infection among people who are already infected with the virus. The Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) program awarded grants to one evaluation center and 15 demonstration sites. The evaluation center provided leadership in the design and evaluation of interventions that will have maximum impact on the theory, practice and policy of HIV prevention in primary health care settings. The 15 clinical demonstration sites were funded to implement and evaluate prevention interventions with HIV-infected individuals seen in primary care settings.
An Evaluation of Innovative Methods for Integrating Buprenorphine Opioid Abuse Treatment in HIV Primary Care:
This initiative began in September 2004 and is comprised of 10 demonstration sites coordinated by a technical assistance/evaluation center. The initiative is directed towards persons with HIV in the primary care setting who also have substance abuse issues. As a demonstration project, this initiative seeks to determine the feasibility and/or effectiveness of integrating buprenorphine opioid abuse treatment into HIV primary care settings. The ultimate goal is to improve the health of HIV substance abusers.
Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative:
The SPNS Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative started in September 2006 and funds 15 demonstration sites for up to five years to support organizations using innovative models of care to provide oral health care to HIV-positive, underserved populations in both urban and non-urban settings. Despite the importance of access to quality oral health care, large numbers of people with HIV reportedly have unmet needs for oral health care. Demonstration sites provide comprehensive oral health care services to HIV-positive clients and develop individualized treatment plans for each patient receiving service. Sites also participate in a multisite evaluation conducted by the Evaluation and Support Center at Boston University.
Information Technology Capacity Building Grants

This initiative promotes the development of standard electronic client information data systems to improve the ability of grantees to report client level data to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Seventeen Part A and Part B organization received funding in FY08 for the implementation of hardware and software components, including stand alone, network, and other management health information systems that will facilitate the reporting of client level data. In FY09 approximately sixty Part C organizations will receive funds as part of SPNS endeavor in assisting grantees in need of developing adequate information technology infrastructure for purposes of client level data reporting. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Evaluation criteria vary and are based on the grant initiative. However, evaluation criteria generally include some or all of the following: Factor 1: Adequacy of demonstrated knowledge of the local HIV service delivery system and the adequacy of the justification of need for the proposed model within the community and target population to be served by the project. Factor 2: Extent of the feasibility and clarity of the description, appropriateness, innovative quality, and potential for evaluation, replication, and dissemination of the proposed model. Factor 3: Comprehensiveness of the program plan as described in clearly stated goals, time-limited and measurable objectives for each goal, activities directly related to each objective, and a timeline that shows the schedule of activities and production of materials that corresponds to milestones stated in the objectives and program evaluation. Factor 4: Thoroughness, feasibility and appropriateness of the project's evaluation design from a methodological and statistical perspective. Factor 5: Extent to which the applicant demonstrates past involvement with disseminating information about HIV service delivery by describing dissemination activities to date (e.g., presenting and publishing findings through reports and papers, training, or technical assistance). Factor 6: Competency of the applicant organization in terms of fiscal, program management, and evaluation.