PPHF Capacity Building Assistance to Strengthen Public Health Immunization Infrastructure and Performance financed in part by Prevention and Public Health Funds

Program activities under this funding will support efforts to transition immunization programs supported by Section 317 funding to the healthcare environment being transformed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 317 grantees manage the public health force that implements and supports immunization practices in the public and private sectors. Additionally, the importance of monitoring the effectiveness and impact of vaccines is critical for maintaining an immunization program that is scientifically and programmatically sound. The specific objectives may include but are not limited to: 1. Enhance interoperability between electronic health records and immunization information systems and reception of Health Level 7 (HL7) standard messages into IIS. 2. Develop a vaccine ordering module in an immunization information system that interfaces with CDC's VTrckS vaccine ordering and management system. 3. Develop and/or implement strategic plans for billing for immunization services in health department clinics to enable programs to increase program revenue, reach additional populations, provide recommended vaccines that are not currently offered, and address under-vaccinated populations. 4. Plan and implement adult immunization programs to improve adult immunization rates by establishing collaborations with employers and pharmacies and other healthcare entities to expand adult vaccination activities. 5. Enhance the sustainability of school-located vaccination (SLV) to make SLV programs successful, efficient, and sustainable through new technologies and innovative systems and third-party payer billing to recover program costs. 6. Increase Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage rates among adolescents.

Eligibility is limited to existing grantees under the Immunization Program (CFDA 93.268) which includes all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, local health departments (Chicago, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Antonio) and U.S. territories (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau). Private individuals, private nonprofit agencies, and Indian tribes are not eligible.

Any U.S. state, political subdivision and U.S. territories (as described above), and other public entities will benefit.

Applicants should document the need for assistance, state the objectives of the project, outline the method of operation, describe the evaluation procedures, and provide a budget with justification of funds. Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 225 (OMB Circular No. A-87) for state and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Project funds may be used for costs associated with planning, organizing, conducting, and supporting immunization programs directed toward vaccine-preventable diseases, and for the implementation of other program elements as described in Section 050 above and through CDC allowable and unallowable expenses.

Financial assistance is available for a 12-month budget period and 24-month project period.

Pre-application coordination is not 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Allowable costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for non-profit, non-governmental organizations. Applicants must download supplemental application forms from www.Grants.gov. Supplemental applications must be submitted electronically at www.Grants.gov. If an applicant does not have access to the Internet, or if they have difficulty accessing the forms online, contact the CDC Procurement and Grants Office, Technical Information Management Section (PGO-TIMS) staff. For this, or further assistance, contact PGO-TIMS: Telephone: 770-488-2700, email: PGOTIM@cdc.gov. HHS/CDC Telecommunications for the hearing impaired: TTY 770-488-2783.

Applications will be reviewed for completeness by the Procurement and Grants Office (PGO) staff and for responsiveness jointly by the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and PGO. Incomplete applications and applications that are non-responsive to the eligibility criteria will not advance through the review process. Applicants will be notified if the application did not meet submission requirements. CDC will conduct a review to evaluate complete and responsive applications according to the criteria listed in Section V. Application Review Information within the individual funding announcement. Applicants will be notified if their application did not meet program requirements.

All applications that are complete and responsive to competitive supplemental grant and cooperative agreement announcements will undergo an objective review process, receive a written critique and be scored according to published review criteria. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) from the CDC Procurement and Grants Office. The NoA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NoA will be signed by an authorized CDC Grants Management Officer.

Renewals will be based upon the conditions in the funding announcement and are subject to the availability of funds under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.