42 U.S.C. § 296e — Generally applicable provisions

(a) Awarding of grants and contracts. The Secretary must make sure grants and contracts under this subchapter go out on a competitive basis, when appropriate, to run innovative demonstration projects or fill strategic workforce gaps needed to meet national nursing needs, including: (1) addressing challenges related to the distribution of the nursing workforce, and existing or projected nursing shortages, in geographic areas identified as having or likely to have a nursing shortage — including by supporting training and education of nursing students; (2) improving access to and the quality of health care, including by supporting training for registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and advanced education nurses in community-based and other health delivery settings; or (3) addressing the Secretary's strategic goals and priorities that fit this subchapter. The Secretary can contract with public or private entities as needed. (b) Information requirements. (1) In general. Recipients must meet whatever information requirements the Secretary sets. (2) Evaluations. The Secretary must set procedures for annually evaluating funded programs and projects. Continued funding depends on the recipient reporting data showing real progress toward the performance outcome standards described in a named section. (c) Training programs. Training programs funded under this subchapter must meet the usual accreditation and quality standards. (d) Duration of assistance. (1) In general. Subject to (2), payments to an entity under a single grant, cooperative agreement, or contract can't run longer than 5 years. Payments still need annual Secretary approval and available funding. This doesn't limit how many separate awards an entity can get. (2) Limitation. This 5-year cap only applies to the extent it doesn't conflict with some other, more specific rule elsewhere in this subchapter about how long payments can run. (e) Peer review regarding certain programs. (1) In general. Except for advanced nurse traineeship grants under a named section, every grant application under this subchapter must go to a peer review group to evaluate its merits. The Secretary cannot approve an application unless the peer review group recommended it. (2) Composition. Peer review groups must mainly be made up of people who aren't federal officers or employees, and who have relevant expertise and experience. Except as otherwise provided, the Secretary must aim for sex, racial, ethnic, and geographic representation on these groups. (3) Administration. The Secretary carries this out through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. (f) Analytic activities. The Secretary must make sure: (1) cross-cutting workforce analysis happens as part of this subchapter's workforce information activities; and (2) profession-specific workforce information and analysis happens as part of (A) advanced education nursing activities under Part B, (B) workforce diversity activities under Part C, and (C) basic nursing education and practice activities under Part D. (g) State and regional priorities. As much as practical, activities funded under this subchapter must fit relevant federal, state, or regional nursing program plans and priorities. (h) Filing of applications. (1) In general. Health professions schools, schools of nursing, academic health centers, state or local governments, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit entities the Secretary approves can apply for grants or contracts under this subchapter. (2) For-profit entities. A for-profit entity can also qualify for a grant or contract under this subchapter if the Secretary decides that's appropriate. (i) Biennial report on nursing workforce program improvements. Starting no later than September 30, 2020, and every two years after that, the Secretary must send the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee a report assessing the Department of Health and Human Services' nursing workforce programs and activities — including how well they meet their identified goals and performance measures, and how well the Department coordinates with other federal departments on improving the nursing workforce.