Selected Recipients for this Program

Not Applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds are to be used to support projects or activities consistent with the mission of the Office of Minority Health of the U. S. Public Health Service, and that facilitate improvement in the HIV/AIDS health outcomes of ex-offenders re-entering the mainstream population.

Funds are not to be used for the provision of health care treatment, for construction, or to supplant ongoing project activities.

Grant funds may only be used to support activities outlined in the approved project plan.

The allowability, allocability, reasonableness, and necessity of direct and indirect costs may be charged to HHS/OASH grants in accordance with Department regulations and policy effective at the time of the award.

Current requirements are outlined at 45 CFR Part 75 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards, 79 Federal Register 75871 (December 19, 2014).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

To qualify for funding, an applicant organization must: be located within one of the five targeted states with the highest incidence of inmates known to be infected with HIV or of inmates to have confirmed AIDS in state and federal prisons at year end 2008: Florida, New York, Texas, California, or Georgia.

Furthermore, the organization must have a minimum of five years? experience in: a) providing services to the re-entry population; and b) implementing HIV/AIDS-related health and support services.

Additionally, the eligible organization must be a: ? Private nonprofit community-based, minority-serving organization which addresses health, human or correctional services; or ? Public entity (local government) which addresses health, human or correctional services; or ? Tribal governmental entity which addresses health, human or correctional services; or ? Faith-based organization which provides comprehensive pre-release, transitional or reentry services.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The HIRE Program places primary focus on the reentry populations in five targeted states, with special emphasis on the following reentry subpopulations: substance abusers, men who have sex with men, and individuals impacted by mental health disorders.

Credentials/Documentation

Proof of nonprofit status, if applicable, is required as part of the application submission. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication 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 Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. To apply, access the announcement thru www.grants.gov. Enter the CFDA# and follow the website instructions. Applications submitted after the deadlines will not be accepted for review. The submission deadline will not be extended. Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the grant announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned to the applicant. Applications may only be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov. Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted for review.

Award Procedures

Applications will be screened upon receipt. Those that are deemed to be ineligible will be returned to the applicant. Accepted applications will be evaluated by a technical review panel composed of independent experts. The final funding decision will be determined by the Agency Director, who will take into consideration the recommendations of the review panel; programmatic needs, stated preferences; geographic location; and recommendations of DHHS Regional Health Coordinators. All applicants will be notified in writing of actions taken on their applications. Applications that are approved and funded will be issued A Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

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

Authorization

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

180 Days. The grant will have a 4-year project period with 12-month budget periods.

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

Grants can have a project period not to exceed 4 years, with 12-month budget periods. Following the initial budget period, continued funding is subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory program performance. Payments will be made either on a monthly cash request basis or under a letter of credit. Necessary instructions regarding payment procedure will be provided at the time the Notice of Grant Award is issued. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program progress reports are required quarterly.

Grantees must submit quarterly SF425 Federal Financial Reports to Payment Management Services due on one of the standard due dates on which cash reporting is required or at the end of a calendar quarter.

The FFR is due 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

End-of-year progress reports are required and are due 90 days after the end of each budget period.

Grantees must submit quarterly SF425 Federal Financial Reports to the Office of Grants Management 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter and an annual FFR 90 days after the end of the budget period/project period end date.

Reports are to be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions.

A Final Performance Report is due 90 days following the end of the project period.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal government officials.

Records

HHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of their designated authorized officials shall have the right of access to any books, documents, papers, or other records of a grantee, sub-grantee, contractor, or subcontractor, which are pertinent to the HHS grant, in order to make audits, examinations, excerpts and transcripts. Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the end of a project 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.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0120-0-1-551.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 16 Not Available(Exp: Program project ended 8/31/16); FY 17 Estimate Not Available; and FY 18 Estimate Not Available - HIV/AIDS Health Improvement for the Re-entry Population Demonstration Program HIRE program project period ended 8/31/2016.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$200,000 to $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Specific program requirements are contained in the application instructions found on www.grants.gov, and the HHS Grants Policy Statement.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (240) 453-8444.

Headquarters Office

Brenda C. Donaldson Tower Building Suite 550, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852 Email: Brenda.Donaldson@hhs.gov Phone: (240) 453-8822.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Complete review criteria are published in the Program Announcement or can be obtained from the Program contact. Listed below are some criteria used to review applications: (1) consistency of project?s objectives relevant to the Program purpose and the federal 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 and experience of proposed personnel; and (5) strength of analysis of potential impact or innovation the project proposes to generate.