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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Facilities Planning and Construction

Joint Venture FAQ

Q. Can we get a copy (sample) of one of the letters sent out to all the Tribes?

A: Sure! Download Dear Tribal Leader Letter [PDF - 37 KB]

Q. What sorts of facilities can be constructed under this program?

A: At this time, only Primary Care Health Centers and Inpatient Hospitals are eligible for participation in the Joint Venture Construction Program. IHS is not able to provide staffing for other specialty facilities.

Q. Can 638 Title I and Title V corporations apply for the Joint Venture Program?

A: Absolutely. They are usually the ones who can profit the most from the program.

Q. Does that include for profit Tribal Corporations?

A: So long as they can show that they represent the Tribe’s interest, usually through a Tribal Resolution, yes.

Q. Is the JV Pre Application "projected user population" the population projected for year 2030 from the HSP or the projected population for the year the new facility is anticipated to open?

A: Let’s go with the 10 year projection. Some of these projects launch sooner. Some later. The projected date is a level playing field.

Q. I have an inquiry about utilizing the Joint Venture to construct an addition onto an existing facility. Would the JVCP allow such a project?

A: It has been done twice before. In both cases it was a small facility that had a much larger addition built on. Then it did a complete renovation of the existing portion. The end result was a completely new facility.

Q. An interested Tribe currently leases multiple buildings for healthcare delivery. The announcement indicates that "Existing Space" is the total gross space supported by the IHS and listed in the IHS Health Care Facilities Database. IHS does not consider leased space as "supported" for purposes of M&I. Are Tribes to exclude leased space in their existing space calculation?

A: Leased space counts as no existing space. Zero.

Q. If tribes need to include leased space, do they also need to determine the "cost to repair" leased space?

A: Leased space counts as no existing space. So no need to repair or include repair costs.

Q. An interested Tribe is moving from leased space to owned space in October 2014. In this instance, should their application be based upon the current ownership status, or projected status?

A: The projected space exists, and should be counted as such. Owned space counts and lease space does not count.

Q. Will multiple applications from a single Tribe be considered? If so, how many awards are possible?

A: We have done multiple JVs for tribes. So long as the communities served don’t overlap, and it conforms to the Area Master Plan.

Q. Tribes have expressed interest in knowing historical score ranges to have a general idea of their project will be competitive in the pre-application stage. Is there any statistical information on scores from past rounds that is available? Alternatively, how many tribes were invited to submit applications (Phase II of the application process) for Joint Venture and how many of those ended up with awards?

A: The point range has changed since last time around, and it all depends on the competition, so the raw score is probably irrelevant. Historically 3/4 to 1/2 of the pre-applications were selected to go on to Phase II.

Q. So, do you think a score of 215 is good?

A: There is no threshold score. It depends on the competition.

Q. If a tribe has funds available for construction, but the project is not initially selected, are they required to hold those funds in reserve? (This question speaks to the example of a Tribe who was selected back in FY 10, but was not offered an agreement until FY 14. Is there a requirement to hold capital in reserve over this timespan?)

A: There is no requirement to hold funds in reserve, but the facility cannot break ground until a Joint Venture Agreement is in place. Having funds available during final application does however help in gaining priority over projects which do not.

Q. Is it possible to include user population expected to travel to a new facility from unserved areas outside of a PRCDA? (I think the answer to this one Yes, if that is consistent with the existing Master Plan.)

A: Yes. The IHS Area Office is to validate and concur with the Tribal population numbers and assumptions prior to submitting to package on to HQ.

Q. Just had a chance to look at the Pre-App Kit you presented last week. The one item I noticed is that Table ‘F’ and ‘G’ have been removed. Apparently, the Planning and Financial Factors have been removed from the score?

A: True. Those were deemed to be Final Application items, and have nothing to do with need. Also they were points based upon an unenforceable promise from the Tribe to get the funds and planning docs done quickly. These two Items were removed from initial need scoring.

Q. Line item A on the pre-app computation form and related directions indicate that Title I/V’s Tribes are to refer to the user population for the service area identified in their Funding Agreement. In consultation with a few tribal health programs and the with the Area Contracting Office, the Funding Agreements do not specifically identify user pop data. Please advise.

A: In these cases, the population number stipulated in the Agreement is not so important as the communities covered by it.  These communities should be selected in an HSP run, with user pop projected out 10 years (2030).  This should produce the numbers that would go into the pre-application form.