Total awards made for FY 07, 1,548. The estimate for FY 08 is 1,564 with approximately 810 expected to be awards to new participants.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Awards provide payments of up to $35,000 a year towards participants' qualified government and commercial health professions undergraduate and graduate education loans during the first 2 years of practice at a selected National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Service Site under a written agreement with this program.

For a 3rd and 4th subsequent year, payments of up to $35,000 a year may be made available under a written agreement, for a 5th subsequent year payments of up to $25,000 a year may be made available under a written agreement, for a 6th subsequent year payments of up to $20,000 a year may be available under a written agreement, and for a 7th subsequent year and beyond, payments of up to $15,000 may be available under a written agreement.

Health professions given priority for selection are those identified by communities.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Individuals are eligible to apply if they have (1) U.S.

citizenship; (2) a health professions degree or are in professional practice (they must hold an unrestricted health professions license from the State in which they will be working, and be eligible for selection for a Federal civil service appointment, or hold an appointment as a commissioned officer in the Regular or Reserve Corps of the U.S.

Public Health Service); (3) not defaulted on any Federal debt or do not have a court judgment against them; and (4) no existing service obligation.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Primary care, oral health, and mental and behavioral health professions are eligible for the Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Specific specialties within these professions are selected for LRP awards based on community demand for health services.

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.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded for coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov website at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for Clinicians Recruitement and Service. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards.

Award Procedures

NHSC loan repayment awards are made based on the highest need as determined by descending health professional shortage area scores. Priority will be given to individuals whose training is in a health discipline or specialty determined by the Secretary for Health and Human Services to be needed by the NHSC and who the Secretary determines are committed to service in health professional shortage areas.

Deadlines

Contact HRSA at www.hrsa.gov for deadline date(s).

Authorization

Public Health Service Act, Section 338B, 42 U.S.C. 254l -1, as amended; Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002, Title II, Public Law 107-251.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 120 Days.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Contract amendments will be considered according to the availability of appropriated funds and eligibility criteria applied to the individual and the site at which that individual is employed.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Loan repayments for 1 year of obligated service will be made no later than the end of the fiscal year in which the individual completes such year of service.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

None.

Audits

Not applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obigations

FY 07 $60,019,317; FY 08 $59,182,064; and FY 09 est $56,800,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$5,000 to $50,000; $45,000.

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.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Chief, National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Branch, Division of Applications and Awards, Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8-37, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 594-4400. Public Information Phone: (1-800) 221-9393.

Headquarters Office

Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16, Rockville, MD 20857 . Health Services Branch: (301) 443-2385; Research and Training Branch: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch: (301) 443-3288.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Priority will be given to applicants who are individuals whose training is in a health or specialty profession determined by the Secretary to be needed by NHSC.