§ 296e. Generally applicable provisions

(a) Awarding of grants and contracts

The Secretary shall ensure that grants and contracts under this subchapter are awarded on a competitive basis, as appropriate, to carry out innovative demonstration projects or provide for strategic workforce supplementation activities as needed to meet national nursing service goals and in accordance with this subchapter. Contracts may be entered into under this subchapter with public or private entities as determined necessary by the Secretary.

(b) Information requirements

(1) In general

Recipients of grants and contracts under this subchapter shall meet information requirements as specified by the Secretary.

(2) Evaluations

The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure the annual evaluation of programs and projects operated by recipients of grants under this subchapter. Such procedures shall ensure that continued funding for such programs and projects will be conditioned upon a demonstration that satisfactory progress has been made by the program or project in meeting the objectives of the program or project.

Training programs conducted with amounts received under this subchapter shall meet applicable accreditation and quality standards.

(d) Duration of assistance

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), in the case of an award to an entity of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this subchapter, the period during which payments are made to the entity under the award may not exceed 5 years. The provision of payments under the award shall be subject to annual approval by the Secretary of the payments and subject to the availability of appropriations for the fiscal year involved to make the payments. This paragraph may not be construed as limiting the number of awards under the program involved that may be made to the entity.

(2) Limitation

In the case of an award to an entity of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this subchapter, paragraph (1) shall apply only to the extent not inconsistent with any other provision of this subchapter that relates to the period during which payments may be made under the award.

(e) Peer review regarding certain programs

(1) In general

Each application for a grant under this subchapter, except advanced nurse traineeship grants under section 296j (a)(2) of this title, shall be submitted to a peer review group for an evaluation of the merits of the proposals made in the application. The Secretary may not approve such an application unless a peer review group has recommended the application for approval.

(2) Composition

Each peer review group under this subsection shall be composed principally of individuals who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government. In providing for the establishment of peer review groups and procedures, the Secretary shall, except as otherwise provided, ensure sex, racial, ethnic, and geographic representation among the membership of such groups.

(3) Administration

This subsection shall be carried out by the Secretary acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.

(f) Analytic activities

The Secretary shall ensure that—

(1) cross-cutting workforce analytical activities are carried out as part of the workforce information and analysis activities under this subchapter; and

(2) discipline-specific workforce information is developed and analytical activities are carried out as part of—

(A) the advanced education nursing activities under part B of this subchapter;

(B) the workforce diversity activities under part C of this subchapter; and

(g) State and regional priorities

Activities under grants or contracts under this subchapter shall, to the extent practicable, be consistent with related Federal, State, or regional nursing professions program plans and priorities.

(h) Filing of applications

(1) In general

Applications for grants or contracts under this subchapter may be submitted by health professions schools, schools of nursing, academic health centers, State or local governments, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities as determined appropriate by the Secretary in accordance with this subchapter.

(2) For-profit entities

Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a for-profit entity may be eligible for a grant or contract under this subchapter as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

U.S. Code

§ 296e. Generally applicable provisions