FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Health Service Act, as amended, Title XVII, Section 1707 (e) (1), 42 U.S.C. 300u et seq.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide support for activities which have the potential to improve the health status and/or quality of life of racial/ethnic minorities, with the objective of reducing the excessive burden and death borne by minority and disadvantaged populations in the United States.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are to be used for support of projects or activities consistent with the mission of the Office of Minority Health. Funds are not to be used for the provision of health care services, construction, augmentation of on- going Office of Minority Health (OMH) supported demonstrations, or supplantation of on-going project activities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Public and private nonprofit entities may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Members of the minority and disadvantaged groups: Blacks; Hispanics; American Indians; Alaska Natives; Asian/American Pacific Islanders; or subgroups of these.

Credentials/Documentation:   Proof of nonprofit status is required as part of the application submission.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program does not require preapplication coordination. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Requests for the standard PHS application form (SF PHS 1561-1, Revised July 2000) and instructions for submission should be directed to Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II Building, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0758. A signed original and two copies of the application are to be sent to the above address. Applications are screened upon receipt for completeness, responsiveness and conformance to the program announcement. Those applications judged to be unacceptable based on this initial screening will be returned.

Award Procedure:   Accepted applications will be reviewed by a review panel that will make recommendations on the technical merit based on the published criteria. After considering the recommendations of the panel, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, will make a final decision on funding projects and a notice of grant award will be issued.

Deadlines:   Contact Headquarters Office listed below for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The cooperative agreements will have a project period not to exceed 5 years, with 12-month budget periods. Following the initial budget period, continued funding is subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory program performance. Necessary instructions regarding payment procedure will be provided at the time the award is issued.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual or quarterly progress reports may be required with a final performance report due 90 days after the end of the project period. A Financial Status Report is due 90 days after the end of each budget period with a final Financial Status Report is due 90 days after the end of the project period.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records:   Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a minimum of 3 years, or longer pending completion and resolution of any audit findings.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0120-0-1-551.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $5,224,412; FY 02 est $5,224,412; and FY 03 est $5,224,412.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$150,000 to 3,500,000.

In fiscal year 2001, 28 cooperative agreements received continuation awards. It is estimated that 28 continuation awards will be made in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 74 and 92. Specific program requirements are contained in the Federal Register Notice, the application instructions, and the PHS Grants Policy Statement.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  
None. Program Management Contact: Office of Minority Health, Division of Program Operations Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone at (240) 453-8444

Grants Management Contact: Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852, Telephone (240) 453-8822.

Headquarters Office:  
Eric C. West, Tower Building Suite 550, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852 Email: eric.west@hhs.gov Phone: (240) 453-8822.

Web Site Address:  
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

The following are examples of activities funded under the cooperative agreements: 1) provide through the establishment of an American Indian Alaska Native Research Network a means by which American Indian and Alaskan Native researchers can network, collaborate and seek support; 2) to educate and increase provider sensitivity about cultural practices and their influence on patient compliance with medication and therapeutic treatment interventions; and 3) reduce the prenatal HIV transmission among African American women of child bearing age and their care providers through health promotion and education.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Complete review criteria are published in the Federal Register Notice or can be obtained from the Program contact. Listed below are some criteria used to review applications: 1) consistency of project's goals and objectives with the Office of Minority Health's mission; 2) coherence and feasibility of methodology and activities selected to address the problem as evidence in the proposed implementation plan; 3) strength of proposed grant organization's management capability; 4) adequacy of qualifications, experience and cultural competence of proposed personnel; and 5) strength of analysis of potential impact or innovation the project proposes to generate.