The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), re-certified the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) petition that was filed by a group of shrimp producers in Arizona and initially certified on April 5, 2004. Shrimp producers who produce and market their shrimp in Arizona will be eligible to apply for fiscal year 2005 benefits during a 90-day period beginning on April 4, 2005. The application period closes on July 5, 2005.

The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), denied a petition for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) for avocados that was filed on March 8, 2005, by a group of Florida avocado producers.

The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), today terminated the certification of a petition for trade adjustment assistance (TAA) that was filed by a group of shrimp producers in Florida certified on April 5, 2004. Florida shrimp producers are no longer eligible for TAA benefits in fiscal year 2005.

The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), re-certified the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) petition that was filed by the Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida, Inc., representing a group of fresh lychee producers in Florida initially certified on April 5, 2004. Lychee producers in Florida who produce and market their lychees in Florida will be eligible to apply for fiscal year 2005 benefits during a 90-day period beginning on April 4, 2005. The application period closes on July 5, 2005.

Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The notificants listed below have applied under the Change in Bank Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and § 225.41 of the Board's Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.41) to acquire a bank or bank holding company. The factors that are considered in acting on the notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).

The notices are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notices also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing to the Reserve Bank indicated for that notice or to the offices of the Board of Governors. Comments must be received not later than May 2, 2005.

A. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Glenda Wilson, Community Affairs Officer) 411 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63166-2034:

1. Bedell, Donald C., Sikeston, Missouri; to acquire voting shares of First Community Bancshares, Inc., and thereby indirectly acquire voting shares of First Community Bank of Batesville, both in Batesville, Arkansas.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, April 12, 2005.

Name: Select Panel on Preconception Care.

Times and Dates: 12 noon-4:30 p.m., June 22, 2005. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., June 23, 2005.

Place: Marriott Century Center, 2000 Century Blvd NE. Atlanta, GA 30345. (404) 325-0000, fax (404) 325-4920.

Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting room accommodates approximately 65 people.

Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to seek the individual input of invited panelist, along with that of their peers, in drafting national recommendations for preconception care. The Select Panel on Preconception Care will consist of nationally recognized experts from a variety of disciplines—all which focus on preconception interventions aimed at promoting women's health and reducing adverse perinatal outcomes. The group will include experts in obstetrics, family practice, pediatrics, public health, nursing, reproductive health, toxic exposures, and chronic and infectious disease.

Matters To Be Discussed: Agenda items include: a review and discussion of relevant issues arising out of the National Summit on Preconception Care; the identification of priority areas for the development of recommendations; discussion of recommended interventions both before the first pregnancy and between pregnancies (i.e., preconception and interconception care), and on population-based and individual-level interventions; and the reconvening of the Panel to finalize recommendations. Additional agenda items include: updates from organizational representatives (i.e., March of Dimes, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) on current initiatives; an update on activities from CDC preconception care workgroup representatives, future topics and scheduling the next meeting.

Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

For Further Information Conctact: Christopher S. Parker, MPH, MPA, Designated Federal Official, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., (E-86), Atlanta, Georgia 30333, telephone 404/498-3098, and fax 404/498-3820.

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities for both the CDC and ATSDR.

Announcement Type: Initial.

Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EE-0019.

CFDA Number: 93.570.

Due Date for Applications: Application is due June 17, 2005.

Executive Summary: The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended, (Section 680 (a)(2) of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998), authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide technical and financial assistance for economic development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families by creating employment and business development opportunities. Pursuant to this Announcement, OCS will award operational project grants to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) that are experienced in implementing economic development projects. The primary purpose of the Operational Projects (OPs) is to assist eligible CDCs, including American Indian and Native Alaskan, and faith based organizations that are CDCs that have in place: (1) Written commitments for all projected non-Community Economic Development (CED) funding, (2) project operations, (3) site control for their economic development projects and (4) referral sources (from which low-income individuals will be referred to the project). Low-income beneficiaries of such projects include those who are living in poverty as determined by the HHS Guidelines on Poverty (at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.shtml). They may be unemployed; public assistance recipients, including recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), individuals transitioning from the prison system into the community, at-risk youth, custodial and non-custodial parents; residents living in public housing; persons with disabilities; and persons who are homeless. Operational Projects are designed to encourage rural and urban community development corporations to create projects intended to provide employment and business development opportunities for low-income people through business or commercial development. The opportunities must aim to improve the quality of the economic and social environment of TANF recipients; low-income residents including displaced workers; individuals transitioning from the prison system into the community; at-risk youth; non-custodial parents, particularly those of children receiving TANF assistance; individuals residing in public housing; individuals who are homeless; and individuals with disabilities. Grant funds under this announcement are intended to provide resources to eligible applicants (CDCs) but also have the broader objectives of arresting tendencies toward dependency, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas. Eligible applicants must submit a business plan that shows the economic feasibility of the venture. Applicants for an OP must have in place written commitments for all projected non-CED funding required for the project. Written proof of commitments from third parties must be submitted with the application. Letters of support, only, are insufficient. The application must also clearly document in detail the extent to which site control has been acquired.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended, (Section 680 (a)(2) of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998), authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to provide technical and financial assistance for economic development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families by creating employment and business development opportunities. Pursuant to this Announcement, OCS will award Operational Project grants to Community Development Corporations (CDCs) that are experienced in implementing economic development projects. CDCs participating in the Weed and Seed Program under the Department of Justice are encouraged to apply for funding for their revitalization effort.

The primary purpose of the Operational Projects (OPs) is to assist eligible CDCs that have in place (1) written commitments for all projected non-CED funding, (2) project operations, (3) site control for their economic development project and (4) referral sources (which low-income individuals will be referred to the project). Eligible applicants must submit a business plan that shows the economic feasibility of the venture. Applicants for an OP must have in place written commitments for all projected non-CED funding required for the project. Written proof of commitments from third parties must be submitted with the application. Letters of support, only, are insufficient. The application must also detail the extent to which site control has been acquired. Low-income beneficiaries of such projects include those who are living in poverty as determined by the HHS Guidelines on Poverty at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.shtml.

They may be unemployed, public assistance recipients, including recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), at-risk youth, custodial and non-custodial parents, public housing residents, persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless.

Operational Projects are designed to encourage rural and urban community development corporations to create projects intended to provide employment and business development opportunities for low-income people through business or commercial development. Generally, the opportunities must aim to improve the quality of the economic and social environment of TANF recipients; low-income residents including displaced workers; persons transitioning from prison back into the community; ex-offenders; at-risk youth; non-custodial parents, particularly those of children receiving TANF assistance; individuals residing in public housing; individuals who are homeless; and individuals with disabilities. Grant funds under this announcement are intended to provide resources to eligible applicants (CDCs) but also have the broader objectives of arresting tendencies toward dependency, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas.

CED projects should further HHS goals of strengthening American families and promoting their self-sufficiency, and OCS goals of promoting healthy families in healthy communities. The CED Program is particularly directed toward public-private partnerships that develop employment and business opportunities for low-income people and revitalize distressed communities.

Projects may include business start-ups, business expansions, development of new products and services, and other newly-undertaken physical and commercial activities. Projects must result in creation of new jobs. Each applicant must describe the project scope including the low-income community to be served, business activities to be undertaken and the types of jobs to be created.

The following definitions apply:

Funding Instrument Type: Grant.

Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $16,000,000.

Anticipated Number of Awards: 50 to 55.

Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards Per Project Period: $700,000.

Floor on Amount of Individual Awards Per Project Period: None.

Average Projected Award Amount: $700,000.

Length of Project Periods: Applications for Operational Projects, either exclusively for construction purposes or non-construction purposes will be incrementally funded. Proposed projects must be for project periods of either three (3) or five (5) years with twelve month budget periods. Applicants can request up to $300,000 for the first year of funding. The application must include separate budgets for each of the project years with a supporting workplan that reflects the same period. For three (3) year projects, the second and third year funding cannot exceed $200,000 per year, not to exceed the balance of the total requested funding amount. For five (5) year projects, funding cannot exceed $100,000 per year, not to exceed the balance of the total requested funding amount. However, all grant funds for the subsequent years are subject to the satisfactory project performance and that the project continues to be in the best interest of the government in addition to the availability of appropriated OCS funds.

Note that the President's 2006 budget does not include or propose funding for the Community Economic Development program.

Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Non-profits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Applicants must be a private, non-profit Community Development Corporation (CDC) experienced in developing and managing economic development projects. For purposes of this grant program, the CDC must be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of residents of the community and business and civic leaders. The CDC must have as a principal purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or community development activities.

Applicants must document their eligibility as a CDC for the purposes of this grant program. The application must include a list of governing board members along with their designation as a community resident, or business or civic leader. In addition, the application must include documentation that the organization has as a primary purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or community development activities. This documentation may include incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the organization. Applications that do not include proof of CDC status in the application will be disqualified. Applications that do not include proof of non-profit status in the application will be disqualified.

Faith-based organizations that meet the statutory requirements are eligible to apply for these grants.

None.

All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet number. On June 27, 2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.

Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at http://www.dnb.com.

Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status.

Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:

• A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.

• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.

• A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.

• A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status.

• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Applications that exceed the ceiling amount will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.

Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.3 will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.

Debbie Brown, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, (202)401-3446, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

Each application must include the following components:

1. Table of Contents

2. Project Summary/Abstract—one or two paragraphs, not to exceed 350 words, that describe the community in which the project will be implemented, beneficiaries to be served, type(s) of business(es) to be developed, type(s) of jobs to be created, projected cost-per-job, any land or building to be purchased or building constructed, resources leveraged and intended impact on the community. Note: Please see Section V.1. Criteria, for instructions on preparing the project summary/abstract and the full project description.

3. Completed Standard Form 424—that has been signed by an official of the organization applying for the grant who has legal authority to obligate the organization. Under Box 11, indicate the Priority Area for which the application is written (This announcement is for Priority Area 1—Operational Projects).

4. Standard Form 424A—Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs.

5. Standard Form 424B—Budget Information—Construction Programs.

6. Narrative Budget Justification—for each object class category required under Section B, Standard Form 424A. Applicants are encouraged to use job titles and not specific names in developing the application budget. However, the specific salary rates or amounts for staff positions identified must be included in the application budget.

7. Project Narrative—A narrative that addresses issues described in the “Application Review Information” and the “Review and Selection Criteria” sections of this announcement.

8. Private, Non-profit Community Development Corporation—Applicants must provide proof of status as a community development corporation as required by statute and as described under “Additional Information on Eligibility.”

9. Sufficiency of Financial Management System—Because CED funds are Federal, all grantees must be capable of meeting the requirements of 45 CFR part 74 concerning their financial management system.

10. Business Plan—Applicants for the OP grant announcement must submit a business plan covering the following elements: For incubator or microenterprise development projects, the business plan covers the project, not the individual business plans of beneficiaries.

The business plan is a major component of the application which is used by OCS and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) to determine the feasibility of a business venture or other economic development project. It addresses all the relevant elements as follows:

Applications for Operational Projects—must submit a business plan. For microenterprise development projects, the business plan covers the project, not the individual business plans of beneficiaries. The business plan is a major component of the application used by the Office of Community Services and the Office of Grants Management to determine the feasibility of a business venture or other economic development project. OCS applicants to must address all the relevant elements as follows:

(1) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (limit to 2 pages)

(2) Description of the type of business.

(3) Description of the industry, current status and prospects.

(4) Products and services, including detailed descriptions of: (a) Products or services to be sold; (b) Proprietary position of any product, e.g., patents, copyright, trade secrets; (c) Features of the product or service that may give it an advantage over the competition;

(5) Market Research: This section describes the research conducted to assure that the business has a substantial market to develop and achieve sales in the face of competition. This includes researching: (a) Customer base: describe the actual and potential purchases for the product or service by market segment; (b) Market size and trends: describe the site of the current total market for the product or service offered; (c) Competition: Provide an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the competition in the current market; (d) Estimated market share and sales: Describe the characteristics of the product or service that will make it competitive in the current market;

(6) Marketing Plan: The marketing plan details the product, pricing, distribution, and promotion strategies that will be used to achieve the estimated market share and sales projections. The marketing plan must describe what is to be done, how it will be done and who will do it. The plan addresses overall marketing, strategy, packaging, service and warrant, pricing, distribution and promotion.

(7) Design and Development Plans: If the product, process or service of the proposed venture requires any design and development before it is ready to be placed on the market, describe the nature, extent and cost of this work. The section covers items such as development status and tasks, difficulties and risks, product improvement and new products and costs.

(8) Operations Plan: An operations plan describes the kind of facilities, site location, space, capital equipment and labor force (part-time and/or full-time and wage structure) that are required to provide the company's product or service.

(9) Management Team: This section describes the technical managerial and business skills and experience to be brought to the project. This is a description of key management personnel and their primary duties; compensation and/or ownership; the organizational structure and placement of this proposed project within the organization; the board of directors; management assistance and training needs; and supporting professional services.

(10) Overall Schedule: This section is the implementation plan which shows the timing and interrelationships of the major events or benchmarks necessary to launch the venture and realize its objectives. This includes a month-by-month schedule of activities such as product development, market planning, sales programs, production and operations and an annual schedule of the requested budget. If the proposed project is for construction, this section lays out timeframes for conduct of predevelopment, architectural, engineering and environmental and other studies, and acquisition of permits for building, use and occupancy that are required by the project.

(11) Job Creation: This section describes the job creation activities and projections expected as a result of this project. This includes a description of the strategy that will be used to identify and hire individuals who are low-income, including those on TANF. This section includes the following: (a) The number of permanent jobs that will be created during the project period, with particular emphasis on jobs for low-income individuals. (b) For low-income individuals, the number of jobs that will be filled by low-income individuals (this must be at least 60 percent of all jobs created); the number of jobs that have career development opportunities and a description of those jobs; the number of jobs that will be filled by individuals receiving TANF; the annual salary expected for each person employed. (c) For low-income individuals who become self-employed, the number of self-employed and other ownership opportunities created; specific steps to be taken including ongoing management support and technical assistance provided by the grantee or a third party to develop and sustain self-employment after the businesses are in place; and expected net profit after deductions of business expenses. Note: OCS will not recognize job equivalents nor job counts based on economic multiplier functions; jobs must be specifically identified.

(12) Financial Plan: The financial plan demonstrates the economic supports underpinning the project. It shows the project's potential and the timetable for financial self-sufficiency. The following exhibits must be submitted for the first three years of the business' operation: (a) Profit and Loss Forecasts—quarterly for each year; (b) Cash Flow Projections—quarterly for each year; (c) Pro forma balance sheets—quarterly for each year; (d) Sources and Use of Funds Statement for all funds available to the project and projected to be available; (e) Brief summary discussing any further capital requirements and methods or projected methods for obtaining needed resources.

(13) Critical Risks and Assumptions: This section covers the risks faced by the project and assumptions surrounding them. This includes a description of the risks and critical assumptions relating to the industry, the venture, its personnel, the product or service market appeal, and the timing and financing of the venture.

(14) Community Benefits: This section describes other economic and non-economic benefits to the community such as development of a community's physical assets; provision of needed, but currently unsupplied, services or products to the community; or improvement in the living environment.

All third party agreements must include written commitments as follows: From third party (as appropriate):

(1) Low-income individuals will fill a minimum of 60 percent of the jobs to be created from project activities as a result of the injection of grant funds.

(2) The grantee will have the right to screen applicants for jobs to be filled by low-income individuals and to verify their eligibility.

(3) If the grantee's equity investment equals 25 percent or more of the business' assets, the grantee will have representation on the board of directors.

(4) Reports will be made to the grantee regarding the use of grant funds on a quarterly basis or more frequently, if necessary.

(5) Procedures will be developed to assure that there are no duplicate counts of jobs created.

(6) That the third party will maintain documentation related to the grant objectives as specified in the agreement and will provide the grantee and HHS access to that documentation. From the grantee: (1) Detailed information on how the grantee will provide support and technical assistance to the third party in areas of recruitment and retention of low-income individuals. (2) How the grantee will provide oversight of the grant-supported activities of the third party for the life of the agreement. Detailed information must be provided on how the grant funds will be used by the third party by submitting a Sources and Uses of Funds Statement.

A third party agreement covering an equity investment must contain, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Purpose(s) for which the equity investment is being made.

(2) The type of equity transaction (e.g. stock purchase).

(3) Cost per share and basis on which the cost per share is derived.

(4) Number of shares being purchased.

(5) Percentage of CDC ownership in the business.

(6) Term or duration of the agreement.

(7) Number of seats on the board, if applicable.

(8) Signatures of the authorized officials of the grantee and third party organization.

A third party agreement covering a loan transaction must contain, at a minimum, the following information:

(1) Purpose(s) for which the loan is being made.

(2) Interest rates and other fees.

(3) Terms of the loan.

(4) Repayment schedules.

(5) Collateral security.

(6) Default and collection procedures.

(7) Signatures of the authorized officials of the lender and borrower.

All third party agreements must be accompanied by a signed statement from a Certified or Licensed Public Accountant as to the sufficiency of the third party's financial management system in accordance with 45 CFR 74 and financial statements for the third party organization for the prior three years. If such statements are not available because the organization is a newly formed entity, the application must include a statement to this effect. The grantee is responsible for ensuring that grant funds expended by it and the third party are expended in compliance with Federal regulations of 45 CFR Part 74 and OMB Circular A-122.

You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper format. To submit an application electronically, please use the www.Grants.gov/Apply site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. ACF will not accept grant applications via email or facsimile transmission.

Please note the following if you plan to submit your application electronically via Grants.gov:

• Electronic submission is voluntary, but strongly encouraged.

• When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.

• To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit an application in paper format.

• You may submit all documents electronically, including all information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.

• Your application must comply with any page limitation requirements described in this program announcement.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.

• We may request that you provide original signatures on forms at a later date.

• You may access the electronic application for this program on www.Grants.gov

• You must search for the downloadable application package by the CFDA number.

Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit an original and two copies of the complete application. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized representative, have original signatures, and be submitted unbound.

Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

The project description should include all the information requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in the program announcement under Section V Application Review Information. In addition to the project description, the applicant needs to complete all the standard forms required for making applications for awards under this announcement.

Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF-424A, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs; SF-424B, Assurances—Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the standard forms with their application.

Applicants must furnish prior to award an executed copy of the Standard Form LLL, Certification Regarding Lobbying, when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications (approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0348-0046). Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application.

Applicants must also understand they will be held accountable for the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-227, Title XII Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the PRO-KIDS Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking prohibition is included with forms. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification with the application.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification form. Complete the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications may be found at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Please see Section V.1. Criteria, for instructions on preparing the full project description.

Due Date for Applications: June 17, 2005.

Explanation of Due Dates: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the closing date will be classified as late.

Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time and date referenced in Section IV.6. Applicants are responsible for ensuring applications are mailed or submitted electronically well in advance of the application due date.

Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile. Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.

Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will not be provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services or by hand delivery. However, applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via Grants.gov.

Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition.

Any application received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date will not be considered for competition.

Applicants using express/overnight mail services should allow two working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of applications. Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.

Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.

Additional Forms: Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” and 45 CFR Part 100, “Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities.” Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.

As of October 1, 2004, the following jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order process: Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, North Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. As these jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2).

A SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations which may trigger the “accommodate or explain” rule.

When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 4th floor, Washington, DC 20447.

When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate in the process, entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. Therefore, applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372.

The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.

Cost-Per-Job: OCS will not fund projects with a cost-per-job in CED funds that exceed $10,000. An exception will be made if the project includes purchase of land or a building, or major renovation or construction of a building. In this instance, the applicant must explain the factors that raise the cost beyond $10,000. In no instance, will OCS allow for more than $15,000 cost-per-job in CED funds. Cost-per-job is calculated by dividing the number of jobs to be created into the amount of the CED grant request.

National Historic Preservation Act: If an applicant is proposing a project which will affect a property listed in, or eligible for, inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and explain how it has complied with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1996, as amended. If there is any question as to whether the property is listed in, or eligible for, inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the applicant must consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer and describe in the narrative the content of such consultation.

Sub-Contracting or Delegating Projects: OCS will not fund projects where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than the applicant. The applicant must have a substantive role in the implementation of the project for which funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting for specific services or activities necessary to conduct the project.

Number of Projects in Application: Except for the retail development initiative under the Operational Projects announcement, each application may include only one proposed project.

Prohibited Activities: OCS will not consider applications that propose to establish Small Business Investment Corporations or Minority Enterprise Small Business Investment Corporations.

OCS will not fund projects that are primarily education and training projects. In projects where participants must be trained, any funds proposed for training must be limited to specific job-related training to those individuals who have been selected for employment in the grant supported project. Projects involving training and placement for existing vacant positions will be disqualified from competition.

OCS will not fund projects that would result in the relocation of a business from one geographic area to another resulting in job displacement.

An application that exceeds the upper value of the dollar range specified will be considered non-responsive.

Submission by Mail: An applicant must provide an original application with all attachments, signed by an authorized representative and two copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date. Applications should be mailed to: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Service Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Barbara Ziegler-Johnson.

Hand Delivery: An applicant must provide an original application with all attachments signed by an authorized representative and two copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date. Applications that are hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.

Applications should be delivered to: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Barbara Ziegler-Johnson.

Electronic Submission: www.Grants.gov. Please see Section IV. 2 for guidelines and requirements when submitting applications electronically.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing the collection information.

The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139 which expires 4/30/2007.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Applicants are required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the measures that will be used to evaluate applications.

Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with reference to the funding request.

Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement.

Identify the results and benefits to be derived.

Describe the population to be served by the program and the number of new jobs that will be targeted to the population served. Explain how the project will reach the targeted population, how it will benefit participants including how it will support individuals to become more economically self-sufficient.

Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.

Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished.

When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates.

If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to any “collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF.”

List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reasons for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technical innovations, reductions in cost or time or extraordinary social and community involvement. Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in, for example such terms as the “number of people served.” When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to any “collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF.” List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution. Evaluation Provide a narrative addressing how the results of the project and the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's effectiveness.

Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. If the applicant is a non-profit organization, submit proof of non-profit status in its application.

The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: (a) A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code; (b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate; (c) a statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; (d) a certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status; (e) any of the items immediately above for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Provide a budget with line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. Also include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs.

Evaluation Criteria: The following evaluation criteria appear in weighted descending order. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; however, applicants need not develop their applications precisely according to the order presented. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information (e.g. from a broad overview of the project to more detailed information about how it will be conducted).

In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria:

(1) The business plan is the most important document. It must be sound and feasible. The project must be able to be implemented soon after a grant award is made. The business plan meets the requirements of this program announcement and development of business and job creation will occur during project period. (0-10 points)

(2) The application includes documentation of site control. (0-10)

(3) Executed third party agreements meet the requirements set forth above. (0-10)

(4) The required financial documents are contained in the application and clearly describe proposed use of CED funds and demonstrate the project is viable. (0-5)

(1) Organizational profile. The application demonstrates the management capacity, organizational structure and successful record of accomplishment relevant to business development, commercial development, physical development, and/or financial services and that it has the ability to mobilize other financial and in-kind resources. (0-10 points)

(2) Staff skills, resources and responsibilities. The application describes in brief resume form the experience and skills of the project director who is not only well qualified, but whose professional capabilities are relevant to the successful implementation of the project. If the key staff person has not yet been identified, the application contains a comprehensive position description that indicates that the responsibilities to be assigned to the project director are relevant to the successful implementation of the project. (0-5 points)

Public-Private Partnerships. (1) Mobilization of resources: The application documents it has mobilized from public and/or private sources the proposed balance of non-CED funding required to fully implement the project. Lesser contributions will be given consideration based upon the value documented. (0-10 points)

(2) Integration/coordination of services:The application demonstrates a commitment to, or agreements with, local agencies responsible for administering child support enforcement, employment education, and training programs to ensure that welfare recipients, at-risk youth, displaced workers, public housing tenants, homeless and low-income individuals, and low-income custodial and non-custodial parents will be trained and placed in the newly created jobs. The application includes written agreements from the local TANF or other employment education and training offices, and child support enforcement agency indicating what actions will be taken to integrate/coordinate services that relate directly to the project for which funds are being requested. (0-5 points)

The agreements include: (1) The goals and objectives that the applicant and the TANF or other employment education and training offices and/or child support enforcement agency expect to achieve through their collaboration; (2) the specific activities/actions that will be taken to integrate/coordinate services on an on-going basis; (3) the target population that this collaboration will serve; (4) the mechanism(s) to be used in integrating/coordinating activities; (5) how those activities will be significant in relation to the goals and objectives to be achieved through the collaboration; and (6) how those activities will be significant in relation to their impact on the success of the OCS-funded project. (0-3 points) The application provides documentation that illustrates the organizational experience is related to the employment, education and training program. (0-2 point)

(1) Results or Benefits Expected. Application proposes to produce permanent and measurable results including, but not limited to, employment and business development opportunities that reduce poverty, reduce the need for TANF assistance in the community and thus enable families to be economically self-sufficient. (0-3 points)

(2) Community empowerment and coordination. Application documents that applicant is an active partner in either a new or ongoing comprehensive community revitalization project such as: a federally-designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community or Renewal Community project that has clear goals of strengthening economic and human development in target neighborhoods; a State or local-government supported comprehensive neighborhood revitalization project; or a private sector supported community revitalization project. (0-3 points)

(3) Cost-per-job. During the project period, the proposed project will create new, permanent jobs or maintain existing permanent jobs for low-income residents at a cost-per-job not to exceed $10,000 in OCS funds unless the project involves construction or significant renovation. (0-5 points)

(4) Career development opportunities. The application documents that the jobs to be created for low-income people have career development opportunities that will promote self-sufficiency. (0-3 points)

The application documents that the project addresses a vital need in a distressed community. “Distressed community” is defined as a geographic urban neighborhood or rural community with high unemployment and pervasive poverty. The application documents that both the unemployment rate and poverty level for the targeted neighborhood or community must be equal to or greater than the state or national level. (0-5 points)

The application cites the most recent available statistics from published sources, e.g., the recent U.S. Census or updates, the State, county, city, election district and other information are provided in support of its contention. (0-2 points)

The application shows how the project will respond to stated need. (0-3 points)

Sound evaluations are essential to the Community Economic Development Program. OCS requires applicants to include in their applications a well thought through outline of an evaluation plan for their project. The outline should explain how the applicant proposes to answer the key questions about how effectively the project is being/was implemented; whether the project activities, or interventions, achieved the expected immediate outcomes, and why or why not (the process evaluation); and whether and to what extent the project achieved its stated goals, and why or why not (the outcome evaluation). Together, the process and outcome evaluations should answer the question: “What did this program accomplish and why did it work/not work?”

Applicants are not being asked to submit a complete and final evaluation plan as part of their application; but they must include:

(1) A well thought through outline of an evaluation plan that identifies the principal cause-and-effect relationships to be tested, and that demonstrates the applicant's understanding of the role and purpose of both process and outcome evaluations. (0-2 points)

(2) A reporting format based on the grantee's demonstration of its activities (interventions) and their effectiveness, to be included in the grantee's semi-annual program progress report, which will provide OCS with insights and lessons learned, as they become evident, concerning the various aspects of the work plan, such as recruitment, training, support, public-private partnerships, and coordination with other community resources, as they may be relevant to the proposed project. (0-2 points)

(3) The identity and qualifications of the proposed third-party evaluator, of if not selected, the qualifications that will be sought in choosing an evaluator, which must include successful experience in evaluating community development programs, and the planning and/or evaluation of programs designed to foster self-sufficiency in low-income populations. (0-2 points)

The competitive procurement regulations (45 CFR, part 74, Sec. 74.40-74.48, especially Sec. 74.43) apply to service contracts such as those for evaluators.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than three pages for this Element, plus the resume or position description for the evaluator, which should be included in an appendix.

No grant will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application.

Initial OCS Screening: Each application submitted to OCS will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time.

Applications received by the closing date and time will be screened for completeness and conformity with the requirements listed in this announcement. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be reviewed.

OCS Evaluation of Applications: Applications that pass the initial OCS screening will be reviewed and rated by a panel based on the program elements and review criteria presented in relevant sections of this program announcement.

The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. The review panel awards points only to applications that are responsive to the program elements and relevant review criteria within the context of this program announcement.

The OCS Director and the program staff use the reviewer scores when considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh heavily in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.

Applications generally will be considered in order of the average scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example: the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last five years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount and duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's consistency and harmony with OCS goals and policy; geographic distribution of applications; previous program performance of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants, including the actual dedication of the applicant to acquiring additional funding and other committed resources as set forth in project applications; audit reports; investigative reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowance on previous OCS or other Federal agency grants.

Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, for a period not to exceed one year.

The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Financial Assistance ward document which sets forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The Financial Assistance Award will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail.

Organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified in writing.

Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental).

Direct Federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this Program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

Program Progress Reports: Semi-Annually.

Financial Reports: Semi-Annually.

Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial reports (SF 269) throughout the project period. Program progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. In addition, final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period.

Debbie Brown, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, (202) 401-3446, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

Barbara Ziegler-Johnson, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, (202) 401-4646, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

Notice: Beginning with FY 2006, The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will no longer publish grant announcements in the Federal Register. Beginning October 1, 2005 applicants will be able to find a synopsis of all ACF grant opportunities and apply electronically for opportunities via: www.Grants.gov. Applicants will also be able to find the complete text of all ACF grant announcements on the ACF Web site located at: http://acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.

Direct Federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this Program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at: http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

The FY 2006 President's Budget does not include or propose funding for the Economic Development Discretionary Grant Program. Future funding is based on the availability of funds.

Additional information about this program and its purpose can be located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

Please reference Section IV.3 for details about acknowledgement of received applications.

Announcement Type: Initial.

Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EN-0024.

CFDA Number: 93.571.

Due Date for Applications: Application is due June 17, 2005.

Executive Summary: The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make funds available under several programs to support program activities that will result in direct benefits targeted to low-income people. This program announcement covers the grant authority found at Section 681 of the Community Services Block Grant Act, (The Act) (Pub. L. 97-35) as amended by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285), Community Food and Nutrition Program. The Act authorizes the Secretary to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for community-based, local, statewide and national programs including programs benefiting Indians (as defined in section 677(e) of the CSBG Act) and migrant farm workers.

Grant funds are provided to: (1) Coordinate private and public food assistance resources, wherever the grant recipient involved determines such coordination to be inadequate, to better serve low-income populations; (2) assist low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and to initiate such programs in underserved or unserved areas; and (3) develop innovative approaches at the State and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals. Office of Community Services views this program as a capacity building program, rather than a food delivery program.

OCS encourages eligible applicants with programs addressing obesity to submit applications. Eligible applicants with programs benefiting Native Americans and migrant or seasonal farm workers are also encouraged to submit applications.

Public and non-profit agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations reaching underserved populations are encouraged to apply.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make funds available under several programs to support program activities that will result in direct benefits targeted to low-income people. This program announcement covers the grant authority found at Section 681 of the Community Services Block Grant Act, (The Act) (Pub. L. 97-35) as amended by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285), Community Food and Nutrition Program (CFNP). The Act authorizes the Secretary to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for community-based, local, statewide and national programs including programs benefiting Indians (as defined in section 677(e) of the CSBG Act) and migrant farm workers.

The main objective of the CFNP is to link low-income people to food and nutrition programs. Grant funds are provided to: (1) Coordinate private and public food assistance resources, wherever the grant recipient involved determines such coordination to be inadequate, to better serve low-income populations; (2) assist low-income communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and to initiate such programs in underserved or unserved areas; and (3) develop innovative approaches at the State and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals. OCS views this program as a capacity building program, rather than a food delivery program.

The following definitions apply:

Budget Period— The interval of time into which a grant period of assistance (project period) is divided for budgetary and funding purposes.

Capacity-Building— Refers to activities that assist eligible entities to improve or enhance their overall or specific capability to plan, deliver, manage and evaluate programs efficiently and effectively to produce intended results for low-income individuals. This may include upgrading internal financial management or computer systems, establishing new external linkages with other organizations, adding or refining a program component or replicating techniques or a program piloted in another local community, or making other cost-effective improvements.

Displaced Worker—An individual who is in the labor market but has been unemployed for six months or longer.

Eligible Entity—Public and private non-profit agencies, including organizations benefiting Indians and migrant and seasonal farm workers. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these Community Food and Nutrition Program grants. Community-based organizations are eligible to apply for these Community Food and Nutrition Program grants.

Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Communities—Those communities designated as such by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Indian Tribe—A tribe, band, or other organized group of Native American Indians recognized in the State or States in which it resides, or considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian tribe or an Indian organization.

Innovative Project—One that departs from, or significantly modifies, past program practices and tests a new approach.

Migrant Farm Worker—An individual who works in agricultural employment of a seasonal or other temporary nature who is required to be absent from his/her place of permanent residence in order to secure such employment.

Non-profit Organization—Refers to an organization, including faith-based and community-based organizations, which meets the requirement for proof of non-profit status in the “Eligibility 3. Other” section of this announcement and has demonstrated experience in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of low-income families and communities.

Poverty Income Guidelines—Guidelines published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS establishes the level of poverty defined as low-income for individuals and their families. The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following address: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty.

Program Income—Gross income earned by the grant recipient that is generated by an activity supported with grant funds.

Project Period—The total time for which a project is approved for support, including any approved extensions.

Seasonal Farm Worker—Any individual employed in agricultural work of a seasonal or other temporary nature who is able to remain at his/her place of permanent residence while employed

Self-Sufficiency—A condition where an individual or family does not need, and is not eligible to receive, TANF assistance under Title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act.)

Underserved Area—(as it pertains to child nutrition programs) A locality in which less than one-half of the low-income children eligible for assistance participate in any child nutrition program.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to improving the overall health and nutritional well-being of all individuals, including low-income persons, through improved preventive health care and promotion of personal responsibility.

HHS also recognizes that improving the health and nutrition status of low-income persons can be improved by access to healthy, nutritious foods and by other means. HHS encourages community efforts to improve the coordination and integration of health and social services for all low-income families, and to identify opportunities for collaborating with other programs and services for this population. Such collaboration can increase a community's capacity to leverage resources and promote an integrated approach to health and nutrition through existing programs and services.

Projects funded under this program must focus on one or more legislatively-mandated program activities: (a) Coordination of private and public food assistance resources, wherever the grant recipient involved determines such coordination to be inadequate, to better serve low-income populations; (b) assistance to low-income communities in identifying potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and initiating such programs in unserved or underserved areas; and (c) development of innovative approaches at the state and local level to meet the nutrition needs of low-income individuals.

Additionally, in carrying out such activities, projects funded under this program should (1) be designed and intended to provide nutrition benefits, including those which incorporate the benefits of disease prevention, to a targeted low-income group of people; (2) provide outreach and public education to inform eligible low-income individuals and families of other nutritional services available to them under the various Federally-assisted programs; (3) carry out targeted communications and social marketing to improve dietary behavior and increase program participation among eligible low-income populations: populations to be targeted can include displaced workers, elderly people, children, and the working poor, and (4) consult with and/or inform local officials that administer other food programs such as W.I.C. and Food Stamps, where applicable, to ensure effective coordination which can jointly target services to increase their effectiveness. Such consultation may include involving these offices in planning grant applications.

OCS views this program as a capacity-building program, rather than a food delivery program. Applications proposing to use OCS funds solely to purchase food for low-income individuals may be considered non-responsive and be returned to the applicant without further review.

There is no match requirement for the Community Food and Nutrition Program. However, OCS would like to mobilize as many resources as possible to enhance projects funded under the CFNP. OCS supports and encourages applications submitted by applicants whose programs will leverage other resources, either cash or third party in-kind.

There is no predetermined administrative cost ceiling for projects funded under this program. Indirect costs consistent with approved indirect cost rate agreements are allowable. Applicants should enclose a copy of the current approved rate agreement. However, it should be understood that indirect costs are part of, and not in addition to, the amount of funds awarded in the subject grant.

There is no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by an eligible applicant as long as each application is for a different project. However, no applicant will receive more than one grant.

Applicants receiving OCS funds for CFNP projects completed within the last five (5) years must submit with the application an abstract for each such project. The abstract should include the applicant's name, address, CFNP grant number and amount, the title of the project, and a summary of accomplishments. An application that does not include an abstract for each project previously funded may be considered non-responsive and be returned to the applicant without further review.

There is one Program Priority Area for Fiscal Year 2005: Priority Area 1.—General Projects, under which OCS will accept applications as described below.

The application should describe the target area and population to be served and discuss the nature and extent of the problem to be solved. The application must contain a detailed and specific work program that is sound and feasible. Projects funded under this announcement must produce lasting and measurable results. The OCS grant funds, in combination with private and/or other public resources, must be targeted to low-income individuals and communities.

Applicants will certify in their submission that projects will only serve the low-income population as stipulated in the HHS Poverty Income Guidelines. The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following address: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty. Failure to comply with the HHS Poverty Income Guidelines may result in the application not being considered for funding.

If an applicant proposes a project that will affect a property listed in, or eligible for, inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and explain how it has complied with the provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. If there is any question as to whether the property is listed in, or is eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places, applicant should consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer. The applicant should contact OCS early in the development of its application for instructions regarding compliance with the Act and data required to be submitted to HHS.

When projects propose to mobilize or improve the coordination of existing public and private food assistance resources, the guidelines governing those resources apply. However, when projects propose to provide direct assistance to beneficiaries through grants funded under this program, those beneficiaries must fall within the official HHS Poverty Income Guidelines.

Applications proposing the use of grant funds to develop printed or visual materials must contain convincing evidence that these materials are not available from other sources. OCS will not provide funding for such items if justification is not sufficient. Approval of any films or visual presentations proposed by applicants approved for funding will be made part of the grant award. When material outlays for equipment (audio and visual) are requested, specific evidence must be presented that there is a definite programmatic connection between the equipment (audio and visual) usage and the outreach requirements described in the Program Purpose, Scope and Focus section of this announcement.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant.

Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $2,300,000.

Anticipated Number of Awards: 46-50.

Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards Per Budget Period: $50,000.

Floor on Amount of Individual Awards Per Project Period: None.

Average Projected Award Amount Per Budget Period: $50,000.

Length of Project Periods: 12 month project and budget period.

Public and non-profit agencies having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Public and non-profit agencies that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

State, county and local governmental agencies.

Please see Section IV for required documentation supporting eligibility or funding restrictions if any are applicable.

None.

Eligible applicants are public and private non-profit agencies including organizations benefiting Indians and migrant and seasonal farm workers with a demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement programs and activities similar to those enumerated in the announcement. Faith-based organizations and community-based organizations are eligible to apply for these Community Food and Nutrition Program grants.

All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet number. On June 27, 2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal (http://www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number online at http://www.dnb.com.

Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status.

Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:

• A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.

• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.

• A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.

• A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status.

• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Applications that exceed the ceiling amount will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement.

Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.3 will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. An application that does not include an abstract for each project previously funded may be considered non-responsive and be returned to the applicant without further review. OCS views this program as a capacity-building program, rather than a food delivery program. Applications proposing to use OCS funds solely to purchase food for low-income individuals may be considered non-responsive and be returned to the applicant without further review.

1. Address to request application package: Catherine Beck, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Phone: 1-800-281-9519, fax: 703-528-0716, e-mail: ocs@lcgnet.com.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Application Content. An original and two copies of each application are required. Each application must include the following components:

• Table of Contents. The Table of Contents must include page numbers.

• Abstract of the Proposed Project. Very brief, not to exceed 250 words. The abstract should be suitable for use in an announcement that the application has been selected for a grant award and which identifies the type of project, the target population and the major elements of the work plan.

• Completed Standard Form 424. Must be signed by an Official of the organization applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the organization legally.

• Standard Form 424A. Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.

• Narrative Budget Justification. Justify each object class category required under Section B, Standard Form 424A. Applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original) of specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget.

• Project Narrative. A narrative that addresses issues described in the “Application Review Information” section of this announcement.

Submit application materials on white 81/2 x 11 inch paper only. Do not use colored, oversized or folded materials. Please do not include organizational brochures or other promotional materials, slides, films, clips, etc. The font size may be no smaller than 12 pitch and the margins must be at least one inch on all sides. Number all application pages sequentially throughout the package, beginning with the abstract of the proposed project as page number one. Please present application materials either in loose-leaf notebooks or in folders with pages two-hole punched at the top center and fastened separately with a slide paper fastener.

The application package including sections for the Table of Contents, Project Abstract, Project and Budget Narratives must not exceed 30 pages. The page limitation does not include the following attachments and appendices: Standard Forms for Assurances, Certifications, Disclosures and appendices. The page limitation also does not apply to any supplemental documents as required in this announcement.

You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper format.

To submit an application electronically, please use the www.Grants.gov/Apply site. If you use Grants.Gov, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.Gov site. ACF will not accept grant applications via email or facsimile transmission.

Please note the following if you plan to submit your application electronically via Grants.gov:

• Electronic submission is voluntary, but strongly encouraged.

• When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.

• To use Grants.Gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.

• You will not receive additional point value because you submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit an application in paper format.

• You may submit all documents electronically, including all information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.

• Your application must comply with any page limitation requirements described in this program announcement.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.Gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.

• We may request that you provide original signatures on forms at a later date.

• You may access the electronic application for this program on www.Grants.gov.

• You must search for the downloadable application package by the CFDA number.

Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit an original and two copies of the complete application. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized representative, have original signatures, and be submitted unbound.

Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” titled “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

The project description should include all the information requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in the program announcement under Section V Application Review Information. In addition to the project description, the applicant needs to complete all the standard forms required for making applications for awards under this announcement.

Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF-424A, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs; SF-424B, Assurances—Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the standard forms with their application.

Applicants must furnish prior to award an executed copy of the Standard Form LLL, Certification Regarding Lobbying, when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications (approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0348-0046). Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application.

Applicants must also understand they will be held accountable for the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-227, Title XII Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the PRO-KIDS Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking prohibition is included with forms. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification with the application.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification form. Complete the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications may be found at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget.

Please see Section V.1 for instructions on preparing the full project description.

Due Date for Applications: June 17, 2005.

Explanation of Due Dates: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Mailed or hand carried applications received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the closing date will be classified as late.

Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time and date referenced in Section IV.6. Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance, when using all mail services, to ensure that the applications are received on or before the deadline time and date.

Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax. Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.

Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will not be provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services, or by hand delivery. Applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via Grants.gov.

Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition.

Any application received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date will not be considered for competition. Applicants using express/overnight mail services should allow two working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of applications. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed).

Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.

Additional Forms: Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” and 45 CFR Part 100, “Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities.” Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.

As of October 1, 2004, the following jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order process: Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, North Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. As these jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2).

A SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations which may trigger the “accommodate or explain” rule.

When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 4th floor, Washington, DC 20447.

Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate in the process, entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. Therefore, applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372.

The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

OCS views this program as a capacity-building program, rather than a food delivery program.

Projects proposed for funding under this announcement must result in direct benefits targeted toward low-income people as defined in the most recent annual update of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by HHS. The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following address: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty. Annual revisions of these guidelines are normally published in the Federal Register in February or early March of each year and are applicable to projects being implemented at the time of publication. Grantees will be required to apply the most recent guidelines throughout the project period. The Federal Register may be obtained from public libraries, Congressional offices, or by writing the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. The Federal Register is also available on the Internet through GPO Access at the following web address: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.No other government agency or privately defined poverty guidelines are applicable to determining low-income eligibility for this OCS program.

OCS will not fund any project where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than the applicant. The applicant must have a substantive role in the implementation of the project for which funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting for specific services or activities to conduct the project.

Each application may include only one proposed project.

Applicants receiving OCS funds for CFNP projects completed within the last five (5) years must submit with the application an abstract for each such project. The abstract should include the applicant's name, address, CFNP grant number and amount, the title of the project, and a summary of accomplishments.

Submission by Mail: An application must provide an original application with all attachments, signed by an authorized representative and two copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date. Applications should be mailed to: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Catherine Beck.

Hand Delivery: An applicant must provide an original application with all attachments signed by an authorized representative and two copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date.

Applications that are hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applications may be delivered to: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Catherine Beck.

Electronic Submission: www.Grants.gov. Please see Section IV. 2 for guidelines and requirements when submitting applications electronically.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing the collection information.

The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139 which expires 4/30/2007.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the “project summary/abstract” and “full project description” sections of the application. Under the evaluation criteria section, note that each criterion is preceded by the generic evaluation requirement under the ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD).

The project description provides a major means by which an application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing your project description, information responsive to each of the requested evaluation criteria must be provided. Awarding offices use this and other information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, therefore, that this information be included in the application in a manner that is clear and complete.

ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded activity should be placed in an appendix. Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included for easy reference.

Applicants are required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the measures that will be used to evaluate applications.

Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with reference to the funding request.

Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement.

Identify the results and benefits to be derived.

For example, describe the population to be served by the project and how the project will reach that population. Explain how the project will benefit low-income individuals and families including how it will support them to become more self-sufficient.

Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement. Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished.

When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to any “collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF.” List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids may be attached.

Following are requests for additional information that need to be included in the application:

Provide a biographical sketch and job description for each key person appointed. Job descriptions for each vacant key position should be included as well. As new key staff is appointed, biographical sketches will also be required.

Provide a plan for securing resources and continuing project activities after Federal assistance has ended.

Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. If the applicant is a non-profit organization, submit proof of non-profit status in its application. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: a) a reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code; b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate; c) a statement from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; d) a certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status; e) any of the items immediately above for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Provide a budget with line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. Also include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs.

Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification. “Federal resources” refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. “Non-Federal resources” are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.

Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages. Justification: Identify the project director or principal investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the applicant.

Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate. Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel). Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Description: “Equipment” means an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization for the financial statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular written accounting practices.) Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the equipment definition.

Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that included under the Equipment category. Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports the amount requested.

Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except for those that belong under other categories such as equipment, supplies, construction, etc. Include third party evaluation contracts (if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the applicant. Justification: Demonstrate that all procurement transactions will be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. Recipients and subrecipients, other than States that are required to use Part 92 procedures, must justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).

Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc. Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency title, along with the required supporting information referred to in these instructions.

Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, and administrative costs. Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a justification for each cost under this category.

Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency. Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or renegotiating a rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it should immediately develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in accordance with the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. When an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be generated from this project. Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application which contain this information.

Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be documented and submitted with the application so the applicant is given credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for each funding source.

Evaluation Criteria: In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria:

I(a) Realistic Quarterly Time Lines (0-10 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it provides realistic quarterly projections of the activities to be carried out including the projected number of beneficiaries to be served each quarter.

I(b) Detailed Work Plan (0-15 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it ensures that activities are adequately described and appear reasonably likely to achieve results which will have a desired impact on the identified problems and/or needs. In addressing this criterion, the application should address the basic criteria and other mandated activities found in Part I and should include:

(1) Project priorities, and rationale for selecting them, which relate to the specific nutritional problem(s) and/or need(s) of the target population identified under Criterion V;

(2) Goals and objectives that speak to the problem(s) and/or need(s); and

(3) Project activities that, if successfully carried out, can reasonably be expected to result in achieving these goals and objectives.

I(c) Coordinated Community-Based Planning (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it demonstrates evidence of coordinated community-based planning in its development, including strategies in the work program to collaborate with other locally-funded Federal programs (such as DHHS health and social services and USDA Food and Consumer Service programs) in ways that will eliminate duplication and will, for example: (a) Unite funding streams at the local level to increase program outreach and effectiveness; (b) facilitate access to other needed social services by coordinating and simplifying intake and eligibility certification processes for clients; or (c) bring project participants into direct interaction with holistic family development resources in the community where needed.

I(d) Community Empowerment Consideration (0-5 Points). Special consideration will be given to applications located in areas characterized by poverty and other indicators of socio-economic distress such as a poverty rate of at least 20 percent, designation as an Enterprise Zone or Enterprise Community, high levels of unemployment, and high levels of incidences of violence, gang activity, crime, or drug use. The application will be evaluated to the extent to which it documents involvement in the preparation and planned implementation of a comprehensive community-based strategic plan to achieve both economic and human development in an integrated manner. If the applicant is receiving funds from the State for community food and nutrition activities, the application should address how the funds are being utilized, and how they will be coordinated with the proposed project to maximize the effectiveness of both. If State funds are being used in the project for which OCS funds are being requested, the application should specifically describe their usage.

II(a) Improvement in Nutrition Services to Low-Income People (0-15 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it proposes to significantly improve or increase nutrition services to low-income people and indicate how such improvements or increases are quantified.

II(b) Promotional Health and Social Service Activities Included in Nutrition Services (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it incorporates into the project awareness of health and social services activities for low-income people along with nutritional services. The applicant specifies how this will be measured and accrued benefits reported.

II(c) Commitment of Resources (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it indicates that the project will significantly leverage or mobilize other community resources. These resources are detailed and quantified.

II(d) One Time Funding (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it demonstrates either that the project addresses problem(s) that can be resolved by one-time OCS funding, or demonstrates that non-Federal funding is available to continue the project without Federal support.

In addressing the above criterion, the application must include quantitative data for items (a), (b), and (c), and discuss how the beneficial impact relates to the relevant legislatively-mandated program activities identified in the Program Purpose, Scope and Focus section of this announcement, and the problems and/or needs described under Criterion V.

III(a) Organizational Experience in Program Area (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it documents the organization's capability and relevant experience in developing and operating programs that deal with poverty problems similar to those to be addressed by the proposed project. Documentation provided should indicate that projects previously undertaken have been relevant and effective and have provided permanent benefits to the low-income population. Organizations proposing training and technical assistance should have detailed competence in the program area and expertise in training and technical assistance. If applicable, information provided in these applications should also address related achievements and competence of each cooperating or sponsoring organization.

III(b) Management History (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it demonstrates the applicant's ability to implement sound and effective management practices. If the applicant has been a recipient of other Federal or other governmental grants, it must also document their compliance with financial and program progress reporting and audit requirements. Such documentation may be in the form of references to any available audit or progress reports and should be accompanied by a statement from a Certified or Licensed Public Accountant as to the sufficiency of the applicant's financial management system to protect adequately any Federal funds awarded under the application submitted.

III(c) Staff Skills, Resources and Responsibilities (0-5 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it adequately describes the experience and skills of the proposed Project Director, showing that the individual is not only well qualified, but that his/her professional capabilities are relevant to successfully implement the project. If the key staff person has not yet been identified, the application should contain a comprehensive position description indicating that the responsibilities to be assigned to the Project Director are relevant to successfully implement the project. The application must indicate that it has adequate facilities and resources (i.e. space and equipment) to carry out the work plan successfully.

In addressing the above criterion, the application must clearly show that sufficient time of the Project Director and other senior staff will be budgeted to assure timely project implementation and oversight and that the assigned responsibilities of the staff are appropriate to the tasks identified.

Every application must include a Budget Justification, placed after the budget forms SF-424 and 424A, explaining the sources and uses of project funds. The budget is adequate and administrative costs are appropriate to the services proposed.

V(a) Description of Target Population (0-4 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it describes the target area and population to be served, including specific details on any minority population(s) to be served.

V(b) Analysis of Needs/Priorities (0-6 Points). The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it discusses the nature and extent of the problem(s) and/or need(s), including specific information on minority population(s).

No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application.

Each application submitted to OCS will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time.

Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the process, applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information.

Applications received by the closing date and time will be screened for completeness and conformity with this program announcement.

All applications must comply with the following requirements except as noted:

• The application must contain a signed Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance “SF-424”, a Standard Form 424-A Budget Information “SF-424A” and signed Standard Form 424B Assurance—Non-Construction Programs “SF-424B” completed according to instructions provided in this Program Announcement. The forms SF-424 and the SF-424B must be signed by an official of the organization applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the organization legally. The applicant's legal name as required on the SF-424 (Item 5) must match that listed as corresponding to the Employer Identification Number (Item 6).

• The application must include a project narrative that meets requirements set forth in this announcement.

• The application must contain documentation of the applicant's tax-exempt status as indicated in the “Additional Information on Eligibility” section of this announcement.

• The application package including sections for the Table of Contents, Project Abstract, Project and Budget Narratives must not exceed 30 pages. The page limitation does not include the following attachments and appendices: Standard Forms for Assurances, Certifications, Disclosures and appendices. The page limitation also does not apply to any supplemental documents as required in this announcement.

• An application that exceeds the ceiling on the amount of an individual award, will be considered “non-responsive” and be returned to the applicant without further review.

• Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey located under “Grant Related Documents and Forms,” “Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,” titled, “Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,” at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Applications that pass the initial OCS screening will be reviewed and rated by a panel based on the program elements and review criteria presented in relevant sections of this program announcement.

The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.

The review panel awards points only to applications that are responsive to the program elements and relevant review criteria within the context of this program announcement.

The OCS Director and program staff will use the reviewer scores when considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh heavily in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.

Applications generally will be considered in order of the average scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example: the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last five (5) years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount and duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's consistency and harmony with OCS goals and policy; geographic distribution of applications; previous program performance of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants, including the actual dedication to program of mobilized resources as set forth in project applications; audit reports; investigative reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowance on previous OCS or other Federal agency grants.

Award and announcements will be issued no later than September 30, 2005.

The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Financial Assistance Award document which sets forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The Financial Assistance Award will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail.

Organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified in writing.

Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental).

Direct Federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this Program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

Program Progress Reports: semi-annual.

Financial Reports: semi-annual.

Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial reports (SF 269) throughout the project period. Program progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. In addition, final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period.

Program Office Contact: Catherine Beck, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Phone: 1-800-281-9519, Fax: 703-528-0716, E-mail: OCS@lcgnet.com.

Grants Management Office Contact: Barbara Ziegler-Johnson, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, Washington, DC 20447-0002, Phone: 1-800-281-9519, Fax: 703-528-0716, E-mail: OCS@lcgnet.com.

Notice: Beginning with FY 2006, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will no longer publish grant announcements in the Federal Register. Beginning October 1, 2005 applicants will be able to find a synopsis of all ACF grant opportunities and apply electronically for opportunities via: www.Grants.gov. Applicants will also be able to find the complete text of all ACF grant announcements on the ACF Web site located at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.

The FY 2006 President's budget does not include or propose funding for the Community Food and Nutrition Program. Future funding is based on the availability of Federal funds.

Direct federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this community Food and Nutrition Program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at http://www.os.HHS.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

Additional Information about this program and its purpose can be located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

Please reference Section IV.3 for details about acknowledgement of received applications.

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) proposes to revise the application guide used by organizations applying for certification or recertificaion as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike for purposes of cost-based reimbursement under the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The guide will be revised to reflect legislative, policy, and technical changes since August 2003, the issuance date of the last guidance. The estimated burden is as follows:

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 10-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

This notice amends Part A (Office of the Secretary) of the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reflect a realignment of functions and responsibilities within the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The statement of organization, functions, and delegations of authority conforms to and carries out the statutory requirements for operating OIG. Chapter AF was last published in its entirety on July 2, 2004.

The realignment of functions and responsibilities within OIG has been done to allow greater staff flexibility and to better reflect the current work environment and priorities within the organization. In addition, this notice sets forth a number of technical changes in Chapter AF that serve to update references to office titles and statutory authorities.

As amended, Chapter AF now reads as follows:

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by law as an independent and objective oversight unit of the Department to carry out the mission of promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness through the elimination of waste, abuse and fraud. In furtherance of this mission, the organization:

A. Conducts and supervises audits, investigations, inspections and evaluations relating to HHS programs and operations.

B. Identifies systemic weaknesses giving rise to opportunities for fraud and abuse in HHS programs and operations and makes recommendations to prevent their recurrence.

C. Leads and coordinates activities to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in HHS programs and operations.

D. Detects wrongdoers and abusers of HHS programs and beneficiaries so appropriate remedies may be brought to bear.

E. Keeps the Secretary and the Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies in the administration of HHS programs and operations and about the need for and progress of corrective action, including imposing sanctions against providers of health care under Medicare and Medicaid who commit certain prohibited acts.

In support of its mission, OIG carries out and maintains an internal quality assurance system and a peer review system with other Offices of Inspectors General, including periodic quality assessment studies and quality control reviews, to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and other requirements are followed, are effective, and are functioning as intended in OIG operations.

There is at the head of OIG a statutory Inspector General, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This office consists of six organizational units:

The component sections that follow describe the specific functions of the organization.

The Immediate Office of the Inspector General (IOIG) is directly responsible for meeting the statutory mission of OIG as a whole and for promoting effective OIG internal quality assurance systems, including quality assessment studies and quality control reviews of OIG processes and products. The office also plans, conducts and participates in a variety of interagency cooperative projects and undertakings relating to fraud and abuse with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other governmental agencies, and is responsible for the reporting and legislative and regulatory review functions required by the Inspector General Act.

IOIG is comprised of the Inspector General, the Principal Deputy Inspector General and an immediate office staff, including the Office of External Affairs.

As the senior official of the organization, the Inspector General supervises the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General and the Deputy Inspectors General, who head the major OIG components. The Inspector General is appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and reports to and is under the general supervision of the Secretary or, to the extent such authority is delegated, the Deputy Secretary, but does not report to and is not subject to supervision by any other officer in the Department. In keeping with the independence conferred by the Inspector General Act, the Inspector General assumes and exercises, through line management, all functional authorities related to the administration and management of OIG and all mission-related authorities stated or implied in the law or delegated directly from the Secretary.

The Inspector General provides executive leadership to the organization and exercises general supervision over the personnel and functions of its major components. The Inspector General determines the budget needs of OIG, sets OIG policies and priorities, oversees OIG operations and provides reports to the Secretary and the Congress. By statute, the Inspector General exercises general personnel authority, e.g., selection, promotion, and assignment of employees, including members of the senior executive service. The Inspector General delegates related authorities as appropriate.

The Principal Deputy Inspector General assists the Inspector General in the management of OIG, and during the absence of the Inspector General, acts as the Inspector General.

The Office of External Affairs is comprised of three components—Public Affairs, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, and the Executive Secretariat. The office conducts and coordinates reviews of existing and proposed legislation and regulations related to HHS programs and operations to identify their impact on economy and efficiency and their potential for fraud and abuse. It serves as the contact for the press and electronic media and serves as OIG congressional liaison. The office prepares or coordinates congressional testimony and confers with officials in the Office of the Secretary staff divisions on congressional relations, legislation and public affairs. The office coordinates the distribution of all legislatively-mandated reports to the Congress. It develops and publishes OIG newsletters and other issuances to announce and promote OIG activities and accomplishments. The office has primary responsibility for developing and promulgating all OIG regulations for codification into the Code of Federal Regulations, and for preparing all OIG related notices and other documents for Federal Register publication. The office also serves as OIG liaison to the Office of the Secretary for Freedom of Information and Privacy Act requests.

The Office of Management and Policy (OMP) provides mission support services to the Inspector General and other components. The office formulates and executes the budget, develops functional policies for the general management of OIG, and manages information technology resources.

In support of its mission, the office carries out and maintains an internal quality assurance system. The system includes quality control reviews of OMP processes and products to ensure that policies and procedures are followed effectively and function as intended.

The office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for Management and Policy and the Assistant Inspector General for Information Technology. The office is comprised of the following components:

The office formulates and oversees the execution of the budget and confers with the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress on budget issues. It issues quarterly grants to States for Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

The office is responsible for information resources management (IRM), as defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB Circular A-130, the Federal Information Resources Management regulations, the Computer Security Act of 1987, the Clinger-Cohen Act, the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, HHS IRM Circulars, and by related guidance. The office also provides nationwide information technology support to OIG through management of its local area networks, provision of computer end-user and direct mission information technology (IT) support, maintenance of OIG information systems, and safeguarding sensitive information and IT resources. The Assistant Inspector General for Information Technology, who reports to the Inspector General through the Deputy Inspector General for Management and Policy, serves as Chief Information Officer.

This office coordinates the development of the work planning process, including strategic long-range planning, tactical planning and the annual work plan coordination and production. It compiles the Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress. It is responsible for overseeing emergency operations and national security classification policy, and for coordinating updates of the Red Book, which addresses unimplemented OIG recommendations to reduce fraud, waste and abuse. The office also conducts management studies and analyzes and establishes and coordinates general management policies for OIG and publishes those policies in the OIG Administrative Manual. It serves as OIG liaison to the Office of the Secretary for personnel issues and other administrative policies and practices, and on equal employment opportunity and other civil rights matters. It coordinates internal control reviews for OIG.

The Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI) is responsible for conducting a comprehensive set of in-depth evaluations of HHS programs, operations and processes to identify vulnerabilities, to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse, and to promote efficiency and effectiveness in HHS programs and operations.

This office is comprised of the following components:

This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for OEI who, with the assistance of an Assistant Inspector General, is responsible for carrying out OIG's evaluations mission and supervises the Directors for Policy and Oversight, Program Evaluations, Regional Operations, and Technical Support. This office is also responsible for the oversight of the State Medicaid Fraud Control Units and for certifying and recertifying these units and for auditing their Federal funding.

This office develops OEI's evaluation and inspection policies, procedures and standards. It manages OEI's human and financial resources; develops and monitors OEI's management information systems; and conducts management reviews within the HHS/OIG and for other OIGs upon request. The office carries out and maintains an internal quality assurance system. The system includes quality assessment studies and quality control reviews of OEI processes and products to ensure that policies and procedures are effective, followed, and functioning as intended.

This office manages OEI's work planning process, and develops and reviews legislative, regulatory and program proposals to reduce vulnerabilities to fraud, waste and mismanagement. It develops evaluation techniques and coordinates projects with other OIG and Departmental components. It provides programmatic expertise and information on new programs, procedures, regulations and statutes to OEI regional offices. It maintains liaison with other components in the Department, follows up on implementation of corrective action recommendations, evaluates the actions taken to resolve problems and vulnerabilities identified, and provides additional data or corrective action options, where appropriate.

This office is responsible for OEI's mission in the field. The regional offices conduct extensive evaluations of HHS programs and produce the results in inspection reports. They conduct data and trend analyses of major HHS initiatives to determine the effects of current policies and practices on program efficiency and effectiveness. They recommend changes in program policies, regulations and laws to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and to prevent fraud, abuse, waste and mismanagement. They analyze existing policies to evaluate options for future policy, regulatory and legislative improvement.

This office provides statistical and database advice and services for inspections conducted by the regional offices. It carries out analyses of large databases to identify potential areas of fraud and abuse and provides technical assistance to the regional offices for these purposes.

The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) is responsible for providing all legal services and advice to the Inspector General, Principal Deputy Inspector General and all the subordinate components of the Office of Inspector General, in connection with OIG operations and administration, OIG fraud and abuse enforcement and compliance activities, and OIG activities designed to promote efficiency and economy in the Department's programs and operations. OCIG is also responsible for proposing and litigating civil money penalty (CMP) and program exclusion cases within the jurisdiction of OIG, for coordinating False Claims Act and criminal, civil and administrative fraud and abuse law enforcement matters, and for resolving voluntary disclosure cases. OCIG develops guidance to assist providers in establishing compliance programs; monitors ongoing compliance of providers subject to integrity agreements; and promotes industry awareness through the issuance of advisory opinions, fraud alerts, and special advisory bulletins.

The office is directed by the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General and the Assistant Inspector General for Legal Affairs. The office is comprised of the following components:

A. Advice

B. Administrative and Civil Remedies

C. Industry Guidance

This office provides legal advice to the various components of OIG on issues that arise in the exercise of OIG's responsibilities under the Inspector General Act of 1978. Such issues include the scope and exercise of the Inspector General's authorities and responsibilities; investigative techniques and procedures (including criminal procedure); the sufficiency and impact of legislative proposals affecting OIG; and the conduct and resolution of investigations, audits and inspections. The office evaluates the legal sufficiency of OIG recommendations and develops formal legal opinions to support these recommendations. When appropriate, the office coordinates formal legal opinions with the HHS Office of the General Counsel. The office provides legal advice on OIG internal administration and operations, including appropriations, delegations of authority, OIG regulations, personnel matters, the disclosure of information under the Freedom of Information Act, and the safeguarding of information under the Privacy Act. The office provides advice and guidance on Government ethics and assists the Chief Counsel in his/her role as OIG's Deputy Ethics Officer. The office is responsible for conducting and coordinating litigation activities on personnel and Equal Employment Opportunity matters and Federal tort actions involving OIG employees. The office is responsible for the clearance and enforcement of subpoenas issued by OIG, and defends OIG in litigation matters as necessary.

1. This office is responsible for determining whether to propose or implement administrative sanctions, including CMPs within the jurisdiction of OIG, assessments, and program exclusions. The office, in conjunction with the Office of Investigations (OI), effectuates all mandatory and permissive exclusions from participation in Federal health care programs under the Social Security Act; decides on all requests for reinstatement from, or waiver of, exclusions; and participates in developing standards governing the imposition of these exclusion authorities. The office litigates appeals of program exclusions before the Departmental Appeals Board and assists DOJ in handling any subsequent appeals of such cases to the Federal courts.

2. The office reviews all cases referred by CMS under the patient anti-dumping authority of the Social Security Act and, where appropriate, proposes and litigates CMPs with respect to hospitals, and CMPs and program exclusions with respect to physicians, for violations of the patient anti-dumping statute.

3. The office proposes and litigates CMPs, assessments and program exclusions under the CMP law and other CMP authorities delegated to OIG.

4. In coordination with DOJ, the office handles all False Claims Act cases, including qui tam cases, and is responsible for final sign-off on False Claims Act settlements for the Department, including the resolution of the CMP and program exclusion authorities that have been delegated to OIG. It participates in settlement negotiations and provides litigation support. The office, in conjunction with OI, coordinates resolution of all voluntary disclosure cases, both under the OIG Self-Disclosure Protocol and otherwise, through: liaison activities with DOJ and U.S. Attorneys offices; the disclosure verification efforts of the Office of Audit Services (OAS) and OI; and final disposition and sign-off of the matter. The office is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive and coordinated database on all settled and pending False Claims Act, CMP, and exclusion cases under its authority.

5. The office also develops and monitors corporate and provider integrity programs adopted as part of settlement agreements, conducts on-site reviews, and develops audit and investigative review standards for monitoring such plans in cooperation with other OIG components. The office resolves breaches of integrity agreements through the development of corrective action plans and through the imposition of sanctions.

This office is responsible for drafting and issuing advisory opinions to the health care industry and members of the public on whether an activity (or proposed activity) would constitute grounds for the imposition of a sanction under the anti-kickback statute, the CMP law or the program exclusion authorities, and on other issues pertaining to the anti-kickback statute. The office develops and updates procedures for the submission of requests for advisory opinions and for determining the fees that will be imposed. The office solicits and responds to proposals for new regulatory safe harbors to the anti-kickback statute, modifications to existing safe harbors, and new fraud alerts. The office consults with DOJ on all proposed advisory opinions and safe harbors before issuance or publication. The office provides legal advice to the various components of OIG, other offices of the Department, and DOJ concerning matters involving the interpretation of the anti-kickback statute and other legal authorities, and assists those components or offices in analyzing the applicability of the anti-kickback statute to various practices or activities under review.

The Office of Audit Services (OAS) provides policy direction for and conducts and oversees comprehensive audits of HHS programs, operations, grantees and contractors, following generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), the Single Audit Act of 1984, applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars and other legal, regulatory and administrative requirements. This includes investigative audit work performed in conjunction with other OIG components. The office maintains an internal quality assurance system, including periodic quality assessment studies and quality control reviews, to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are followed in all audit activities performed for, or on behalf of, the Department. In furtherance of this mission, the organization engages in a number of activities:

A. The office coordinates and confers with officials of the central Federal management agencies (OMB, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of the Treasury) on audit matters involving HHS programs and operations. It provides technical assistance to Federal, State and local investigative offices on matters involving HHS programs and operations. It participates in interagency efforts implementing OMB Circular 133, which calls for use of the single audit concept for most external audits, as well as reviews the quality of those audits as they pertain to HHS oversight responsibilities. It performs audits of activities administered by other Federal departments, following the system of audit cognizance administered by OMB. It participates in the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) initiatives and other governmentwide projects; works with other OIG components on special assignments and projects; and responds to congressional oversight interests related to audit matters in the Department.

B. The office provides comprehensive audit services to HHS operating divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary staff divisions (STAFFDIVs) in their development of program policies and management of grants and procurement and in their establishment of indirect cost rates. The office also performs pre-award audits of grant or contract proposals to determine the financial capability of the grantees or contractors and conducts post-award audits.

C. The office reviews legislative, regulatory and policy proposals for audit implications. It recommends improvements in the accountability and integrity features of legislation, regulations and policy. It prepares reports of audits and special studies for the Secretary, heads of HHS OPDIVs, regional directors and others. It gathers data on unresolved audit findings for the statutorily required semiannual reports to the Congress and reconciles resolution data with the Department OPDIVs as required by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended by Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988 (Public Law 100-504). It conducts follow-up examinations and special analyses of actions taken on previously reported audit findings and recommendations to ensure completeness and propriety. The office provides input to the Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress and produces summaries for both (1) the Orange Book—a summary of unimplemented program and management improvements recommended—and (2) the Red Book—a summary of significant monetary recommendations not yet implemented.

D. The office serves as the focal point for all financial management audit activity within the Department and acts as the primary liaison between the OIG and Departmental management. It also provides overall leadership and direction in carrying out the responsibilities mandated under the Chief Financial Officers Act relating to financial statement audits.

The office is comprised of the following components:

This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for Audit Services who carries out the functions designated in the law (section 3(d)(1) of the Inspector General Act) for the position, Assistant Inspector General for Auditing. The Deputy Inspector General for Audit Services is responsible to the Inspector General for carrying out OIG's audit mission and supervises the Assistant Inspectors General heading OAS offices described below.

This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for Financial Management and Regional Operations. In addition to directing this office, the Assistant Inspector General supervises the eight Regional Inspectors General for Audit Services. The office's principal functions include the direct-line responsibility for audits of financial statements and financial statement-related audits, including internal audits of functional areas within the Department, and directing field audit operations.

1. The office serves as the focal point for all financial statement and financial statement-related audit activity within the Department and serves as the primary liaison between OIG and departmental management with respect to those audits.

2. The office provides oversight for audits of governments, universities and nonprofit organizations conducted by nonfederal auditors (external audit resources) and those under contract with OIG.

3. The office maintains an internal quality assurance system that provides reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are followed in all financial management audit activities performed by the office, or on behalf of the Department.

This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Audits. The office conducts audits of CMS program operations and oversees nationwide the audits of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, their contractors, and providers of services and products. It maintains an internal quality assurance system to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are followed in all CMS audit activities performed by, or on behalf of, the Department.

This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for Grants and Internal Activities Audits. The office conducts and oversees audits of the operations and programs of the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Public Health programs, as well as Statewide cost allocation plans. It maintains an internal quality assurance system, including periodic quality control reviews, to provide reasonable assurance that applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and other requirements are followed in its audit activities.

This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for Audit Management and Policy. The office manages the human and financial resources of OAS, including developing staffing allocation plans and issuing policy for, coordinating and monitoring all budget, staffing, recruiting, and training activities of the office. It maintains a professional development program for office staff, which meets the requirements of Government auditing standards. The office evaluates audit work, including performing quality control reviews of audit reports, and coordinates the development of and monitors audit work plans. It operates and maintains an OAS-wide quality assurance program that includes the conduct of periodic quality control reviews. It develops audit policy, procedures, standards, criteria and instructions to be followed by OAS staff in conducting audits of departmental programs, grants, contracts or operations. Such policy is developed in accordance with GAGAS and other legal, regulatory and administrative requirements. The office tracks, monitors and reports on audit resolution and follow-up in accordance with OMB Circular A-50, “Audit Follow-up,” and the 1988 Inspector General Act Amendments. The office coordinates with other OIG divisions in developing input to the Office of Inspector General Annual Work Plan, to the Office of Inspector General's Orange and Red Books, and to the Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress. The office reviews the design, development and maintenance of Department computer-based systems through the conduct of comprehensive audits of general and application controls in accordance with GAO's Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual and develops and applies advanced computer-based audit techniques for use in detecting fraud, waste and abuse in HHS programs.

The Office of Investigations (OI) is responsible for conducting and coordinating investigative activities related to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in HHS programs and operations, including wrongdoing by applicants, grantees, and contractors, or by HHS employees in the performance of their official duties. It serves as OIG liaison to DOJ on all matters relating to investigations of HHS programs and personnel, and reports to the Attorney General when OIG has reasonable grounds to believe Federal criminal law has been violated. The office serves as a liaison to CMS, State licensing boards, and other outside organizations and entities with regard to exclusion, compliance and enforcement activities. It works with other investigative agencies and organizations on special projects and assignments. In support of its mission, the office carries out and maintains an internal quality assurance system. The system includes quality assessment studies and quality control reviews of OI processes and products to ensure that policies and procedures are followed effectively, and are functioning as intended.

This office is comprised of the following components:

This office is directed by the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations (DIGI), who is responsible for the functions designated in the law for the position Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. The DIGI supervises the Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Operations and the Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Oversight and Support, who head the offices described below.

The DIGI is responsible to the Inspector General for carrying out the investigative mission of OIG and for leading and providing general supervision to the OIG investigative component. The Immediate Office provides broad guidance and instruction to staff and serves as the focal point for interaction within OIG. The Immediate Office handles all investigative and management advisory services for the DIGI, ensuring that the DIGI is briefed on all complex, sensitive and precedent-setting program and administrative issues that may significantly impact on OI management and the investigative program nationwide. The Immediate Office coordinates special investigations, studies and analyses with respect to OIG responsibilities and serves as liaison with other Federal, State and local agencies.

The Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Operations, who supervises a headquarters staff and the Special Agents in Charge, directs this office.

1. The headquarters staff assists the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations in establishing investigative priorities, evaluating the progress of investigations, and reporting to the Inspector General on the effectiveness of investigative efforts. It develops and implements investigative techniques, programs, guidelines, and policies. It provides programmatic expertise and issues information on new programs, regulations and statutes. It directs and coordinates the investigative regional offices.

2. The headquarters staff identifies systemic and programmatic vulnerabilities in the Department's operations and makes recommendations for change to the appropriate managers.

3. The office develops all derivative mandatory and permissive program exclusions, and ensures enforcement of exclusions imposed through liaison with CMS, DOJ and other governmental and private sector entities. It is responsible for developing, improving and maintaining a comprehensive and coordinated OIG database on all OIG exclusion actions, and promptly and accurately reports all exclusion actions within its authority to the database. It informs appropriate regulatory agencies, health care providers and the general public of all OIG exclusion actions, and is responsible for improving public access to information on these exclusion actions to ensure that excluded individuals and entities are effectively barred from program participation.

4. The regional offices conduct investigations of allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement and violations of standards of conduct within the jurisdiction of OIG in their assigned geographic areas. They coordinate investigations and confer with HHS operating divisions, staff divisions, OIG counterparts and other investigative and law enforcement agencies. They prepare investigative and management improvement reports.

5. The office directs and manages extremely sensitive and complex investigations into alleged misconduct by OIG and Department employees, as well as criminal investigations into electronic and/or computer-related violations.

This office is directed by the Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Oversight and Support, who performs the general management functions of the Office of Investigations.

1. This office manages the human and financial resources of OI, including developing staffing allocation plans and issuing policy for coordination and monitoring all budget, staffing and recruiting.

2. This office plans, develops, implements and evaluates all levels of employee training for investigators, managers, support staff and other personnel. It oversees a law enforcement techniques and equipment program.

3. This office coordinates the general management processes, and implements policies and procedures published in the OIG Administrative Manual and elsewhere. It also coordinates a national inspection program to ensure compliance with the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act, the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, and Attorney General guidelines.

4. The office coordinates with the other OIG components in developing the Work Plan and provides input to the Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to the Congress.

5. The staff provides for the personal protection of the Secretary.

6. The office maintains an automated data and management information system used by all OI managers and investigators. It provides technical expertise on computer applications for investigations and coordinates and approves investigative computer matches with other agencies.

7. The office operates a toll-free hotline for OIG to permit individuals to call in suspected fraud, waste, or abuse; refers the calls for appropriate action by HHS agencies or other OIG components; and analyzes the body of calls to identify trends and patterns of fraud and abuse needing attention.

8. The office promotes and coordinates the adoption of advanced information technology forensics in the prevention and detection of fraud and provides general and specific coordination of programs to retrieve and analyze computer-based forensic evidence.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services has funded a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network, consisting of a single toll-free telephone number that routes calls from anywhere in the United States to a network of local crisis centers. In turn, the local centers link callers to local emergency, mental health, and social service resources.

With input from multiple experts in the field of suicide prevention, the project created a telephone interview survey to collect data on follow-up assessments of consenting individuals calling the Lifeline network. The “Evaluation of Networking Suicide Prevention Hotlines Follow-Up Assessment” will provide an empirical evaluation of crisis hotline services, necessary to optimize public health efforts to prevent suicidal behavior.

Three hundred and sixty callers will be recruited from seven of the approximately 100 crisis hotline centers that participate in the Lifeline network. Trained crisis workers will conduct the follow-up telephone assessment (“Crisis Hotline Telephone Followup Assessment”) within one month of the initial call. Assessments will be conducted only one time for each client. Strict measures to ensure confidentiality will be followed.

The resulting data will measure (1) suicide risk status at the time of and since the call, (2) depressive symptoms at follow-up, (3) service utilization since the call, (4) barriers to service access, and (5) the client's perception of the efficacy of the hotline intervention. The estimated annual response burden to collect this information is as follows:

Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 7-1044, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20850. Written comments should be received by June 17, 2005.

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), formerly the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA), is a survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States 12 years old and older. The data are used to determine the prevalence of use of tobacco products, alcohol, illicit substances, and illicit use of prescription drugs. The results are used by SAMHSA, ONDCP, Federal government agencies, and other organizations and researchers to establish policy, direct program activities, and better allocate resources.

For the 2006 NSDUH, additional questions are being planned regarding self-help drug treatment, use of additional hallucinogens, prescription drugs and over the counter medications, respondent's place of residence, and alcohol consumption practices. To maintain the respondent burden at 60 minutes per interview, a few questions will be deleted. The remaining modular components of the questionnaire will remain essentially unchanged except for minor modifications to wording.

As with all NSDUH/NHSDA surveys conducted since 1999, the sample size of the survey for 2006 will be sufficient to permit prevalence estimates for each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The total annual burden estimate is shown below:

Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 71-1044, One Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.