[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 32627-32648] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-15705] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Office of Refugee Resettlement's Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus Discretionary Social Service Grants Program AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS. ACTION: Request for applications to support projects under the Office of Refugee Resettlement's Fiscal Year 1997 Omnibus Discretionary Social Service Grants Program for services to refugees.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43, eligibility for refugee social services also includes: (1) Cuban and Haitian entrants, under section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. No. 96-422); (2) certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing Resolution (Pub. L. No. 100-202); and (3) certain Amerasians from Vietnam, including U.S. citizens, under title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1989 (Pub. L. No. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. No. 101-167) and 1991 (Pub. L. No. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is used in this notice to encompass all such eligible persons unless the specific context indicates otherwise. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This program announcement governs the availability of and award procedures for approximately $4,400,000 in FY 1997 Social Services discretionary grants. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will accept competing applications for grants in three categories, pursuant to the Director's discretionary authority under section 412(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by section 311 of the Refugee Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-212), 8 U.S.C. 1522(c); section 501(a) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422), 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, insofar as it incorporates by reference with respect to Cuban and Haitian entrants the authorities pertaining to assistance for refugees established by section 412(c) of the INA, as cited above; and the Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-605). Applications may be submitted in Category One for naturalization and citizenship programs. Category Two, Part I consists of microenterprise programs; Part II is for one technical assistance provider to serve ORR microenterprise grantees. Category Three is for technical assistance providers in three program areas: (1) Refugee Employment, (2) Refugee Elderly Services, and (3) Welfare and Immigration Reform Impact. Applicants may request a project period of up to three years, with an initial budget period of one year. Where awards are for multiple year project periods, applications for continuation grants will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to availability of funds, successful progress of the project, and ACF's determination that this would be in the best interest of the government. This announcement contains forms and instructions for submitting an application. CLOSING DATE: The closing dates for submission of applications is August 15, 1997. Applications received after the closing date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, CONTACT: Anna Mary Portz, telephone (202) 401-1196, or e-mail [email protected]. For further information regarding Category One, Citizenship, contact: Nguyen T. Kimchi at (202) 401-4556 or N[email protected]. For further information regarding Category Two, Microenterprise, contact: Marta Brenden at (202) 205-3589 or [email protected]. For Category Three, Program Area One, Employment Technical Assistance, contact: Carolyn V. Plummer at (202) 401-5449 or Kathy Do at (202) 401-4579. For Category Three, Program Area Two, Elderly Technical Assistance, contact: Nguyen T. Kimchi at (202) 401-4556, e-mail N[email protected] or Bill McPherrin at (202) 401-5429, [email protected]. For Category Three, Program Area Three, Welfare and Immigration Reform Technical Assistance, contact: Anna Mary Portz as above. You may address correspondence to the contact persons as follows: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W. 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20447. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Legislative Authority Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the INA authorizes the Director ``to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or private nonprofit agencies for projects specifically designed--(i) to assist refugees in obtaining the skills which are necessary for economic self-sufficiency, including projects for job training, employment services, day care, professional refresher training, and [[Page 32628]] other recertification services; (ii) to provide training in English where necessary (regardless of whether the refugees are employed or receiving cash or other assistance); and (iii) to provide where specific needs have been shown and recognized by the Director, health (including mental health) services, social services, educational and other services.'' Furthermore, Section 412(a)(4)(A)(i) of the INA states: ``* * * the Director [of ORR is]* * *authorized--to make loans'' for the purpose of carrying out this section. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants are States and other public or private, nonprofit organizations and institutions. Background As with all programs funded by appropriations pursuant to the Refugee Act, services may be provided only to refugees (see definition in footnote 1, above) and may not be provided to refugees who have become citizens (except for those Amerasians listed in footnote 1). Coalitions For Category One (naturalization and citizenship program), and Category Two, Part I (microenterprise program), organizations, which have not already done so, are encouraged to build coalitions to apply under this announcement to design and implement these programs. The activities funded by these grants are intended to serve as a catalyst to bring the community together to address the economic and social problems of refugee families and communities. The goal in all cases should be to build and strengthen the community's capacity to serve its members in improving the quality of life and standard of living for refugee families. While activities proposed do not have to be directly related to employment, applicants should be guided by the overarching goal of improving the economic condition of refugee families and of gearing them to adjust socially and economically to their new country and their new communities. This announcement strongly encourages partnerships or consortia of two or more eligible organizations to submit joint applications for grants. For each coalition, the one organization submitting the application will be identified as the primary grant recipient (grantee) with administrative and fiscal responsibilities. Applications from consortia which do not clearly specify which organization will serve as grantee cannot be considered. In all cases the applicant must demonstrate that wherever potential partners for collaboration exist, the applicant, at a minimum, has planned the proposed activities in collaboration with these potential partners, whether they are in the refugee services provider community of organizations and institutions or in mainstream services organizations, e.g., adult basic education providers, senior citizens organizations. Consultation might also include the Mayor's office, school parent-teacher groups, local police departments, and other mainstream community service organizations. The emphasis on coalitions notwithstanding, ORR 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. Service Compatibility Applicants are more likely to be successful in obtaining a grant if they describe the refugee community, family, and service capacity concerns under consideration. It should be clear how the proposed activity fits into the existing network of services; how it responds to the particular needs of families in that community or to a broader need of the community; who is committed to do what, in order to accomplish this goal; and what the expected outcomes of the activity will be. The process of coalition-building is key to strengthening cooperation and coordination among the local service providers, community leaders, Mutual Assistance Associations, voluntary agencies, churches, and other public and private organizations involved in refugee resettlement and/or community service. ORR intends that this process will be part of local efforts to build strategic partnerships among these groups to expand their capacity to serve the social and economic needs of refugees and to give support and direction to ethnic communities facing problems in economic independence and social adjustment. In all cases, and regardless of the type of organization designated to provide services or conduct activities funded under this announcement, organizations should consider and describe how the services/activities will be linguistically and culturally compatible with the refugee families or communities to be served. In addition, the applicant must describe how proposed providers will have access to the families and to the community to be served. Availability of Funds Approximately $4.4 million will be awarded in FY 1997 through this Omnibus Announcement. ORR expects to make available $3,000,000 in FY 1997 discretionary funds for Category One: Naturalization and Citizenship programs, and anticipates that awards will range from $50,000 to $250,000 per budget period. In Category Two: Microenterprise, Part I, ORR expects to make 5-6 individual new grant awards to total approximately $750,000; in Part II, there will be a single award anticipated at $100,000. In Category Three: Technical Assistance, ORR anticipates one award each of $150,000 in Program Areas One and Two, Employment and Elderly Services respectively, and one award of $250,000 in Program Area Three, Impact of Welfare and Immigration Reform on Refugees and Refugee Communities. The Director reserves the right to award less, or more, than the funds described, in the absence of worthy applications, or under such other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of the government. Applicants may be required to reduce the scope of selected projects to accommodate the amount of the approved grant award. Length of Application Applicants are encouraged to limit program narratives (see Part C. under each category below) to 20 pages (typewritten, double spaced on standard, letter-size paper) plus no more than 20 pages of appended material. This limitation of 20 pages per component should be considered as a maximum, and not necessarily a goal to be achieved. Category One: Naturalization and Citizenship A. Purpose and Scope A refugee's resettlement in this country is not completed until he or she becomes a full fledged participant in an American community. Naturalization marks the beginning of the process for refugees to become fully participating members of their new country. Most refugees eventually become citizens after meeting their residency requirement. However, older refugees, and refugees who are not literate in their own language, often have difficulty meeting the English language and civics requirements of the naturalization process. Citizenship preparation classes currently available at local educational institutions often require an English proficiency that many refugees do not possess. [[Page 32629]] The purpose of this grant program is to provide support for citizenship education and application programs for refugees who have met or are within one year of meeting the residency requirement to become citizens. ORR is particularly interested in helping refugees who are hard to reach for existing citizenship services and who have had historically low rates of naturalization because of language, cultural, or other barriers. These include pre-literate refugees, elderly refugees who are non-English speakers and refugees with limited English and/or literacy skills. Refugees with strong English proficiency who need civics instruction may be served under these programs, but are considered a lower priority. Refugees eligible for services in this program must have no more than one year remaining to meet residency requirements for naturalization. For most refugees, this equates to at least four years residency since arrival in the U.S., or two years in the case of refugees who are married to U.S. citizens. ORR encourages refugees to participate in citizenship and naturalization programs that are generally available in metropolitan areas. However, ORR also recognizes that there is a need for specialized programs to meet the needs of underserved refugees. ORR encourages collaboration among service providers to ensure that these at-risk refugees can access the citizenship preparation services appropriate to their background and level of education. These funds may be used for services designed to reach refugees who have not traditionally availed themselves of mainstream programs because they either do not understand the significance of citizenship or need specialized services. The program is intended:To provide outreach and information to eligible, vulnerable refugee groups, such as older refugees, pre-literate refugees, homebound women, and others with special needs in the naturalization process, and to educate them on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. To provide enhanced English language training and civics instruction for pre-literate refugees and refugees with limited literacy skills to help them qualify for citizenship. To provide citizenship application assistance for qualified refugees and to eliminate barriers to citizenship for vulnerable groups of refugees. To promote naturalization by encouraging cooperative working relationships among local public, private and community-based organizations such as refugee mutual assistance associations (MAAs), States, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Department of Justice (INS). To assist service providers in securing pro bono legal and/or medical services and other volunteer services, as necessary, for successful attainment of citizenship. To the extent that a project charges fees or earns income related to a grant in the citizenship/naturalization program, such program income may be retained by the project grantee so long as these costs further the objectives of the grant in accordance with 45 CFR 74.24(b)(1) or 92.25(g)(2). B. Allowable Services ORR will consider applications for services which are based on an analysis of citizenship service needs and available resources. Allowable services are those not readily available to refugees in the community especially the underserved groups of refugees e.g., the elderly, refugees not literate in their own language, and homebound refugees. Activities and services proposed should be planned in conjunction with existing services and should supplement and complement these services. Special attention should be given in the planning process to the citizenship and naturalization services available to other immigrants in the community, including those designed for immigrants with similar background as refugees. In most large States and metropolitan areas, refugee and immigrant forums have already assessed citizenship service needs. Applicants are advised to consult with these forums or with their State refugee office to examine these assessments and to submit them as supportive documentation for their proposed program. Examples of allowable activities are: Provision for innovative programs to reach underserved refugee groups for citizenship activities. Provision for creatively designed English language training and civics instruction appropriate for pre-literate refugees and refugees with limited literacy skills. Assistance in the submission of the N-400 application for citizenship and in meeting related requirements or referral to appropriate partner organizations. On-site training and/or mobile processing services for refugees who have difficulty accessing citizenship preparation classes in order to prepare for the qualifying examination to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Removal of barriers to citizenship through the formation of peer support groups to coordinate transportation, child care and other support services necessary for increasing participation in citizenship/naturalization activities. Preparation for the naturalization interview, interpreting and translating services for citizenship interviews when necessary and where such services are not available through the INS or other agencies. Coordination with local school districts, legal aid societies, medical professionals, corporate enterprises and foundations to leverage in-kind or cost-sharing contributions to the program. Developing and maintaining working partnerships between local public, private nonprofit and community-based organizations (e.g., MAAs), and States and the INS. C. Program Narrative All applicants should address the following in their applications for financial assistance. 1. Objectives and Need for Assistance State the objectives for the program and indicate how they relate to the provision of services in helping refugees to obtain citizenship through naturalization. Demonstrate that the need for the program is based on an assessment of the community's refugee population and consultation with refugees and refugee service providers. Provide letters of support for the proposed program from community leaders and residents--particularly those involved with refugees and the special populations to be served. If the applicant proposes to initiate a new program in an area where no other organizations serve refugees, and a coalition with other organizations is not possible, this should be explained and documented. Identify the population(s) to be served by the project and explain why this population is most in need of the program. Identify the intended enrollment size (number of elderly refugees, their ethnicity, etc.). Describe any citizenship services and resources which are available in the area to serve the refugee population(s) and how those which are proposed will complement the existing network. 2. Approach and Results or Benefits Expected Describe the method used to involve and consult with potential consumers (i.e., older and homebound refugees, refugee women) that caused the applicant to conclude that there is a need for a special program to serve the [[Page 32630]] proposed target population(s). Applicants must describe what will be done during the start-up period to prepare for implementation. Describe what services the program will provide, either directly or through referral, to promote citizenship and naturalization. Explain the approach to recruiting and enrolling underserved refugees and identify the target recruitment area. Explain how the applicant intends to coordinate the program with other service providers, MAAs, and other community-based organizations providing citizenship services to avoid duplication. Describe how the program will develop relationships with the local INS district office or other organizations that are authorized by INS to provide naturalization services such as, test administration, finger printing, etc. Describe what assistance the program will provide to refugees with special needs such as older and disabled refugees in order to enable them to participate in the citizenship education program. Identify the existing transportation resources available to refugees in reaching services provided at the program site and in off-site locations. Identify the specific results or benefits that could be expected for refugees participating in the program, by qualitative and quantitative data measuring outcomes and progress toward stated results or benefits, (e.g. how many completed the program; how many submitted applications to INS; how many passed the civics test?). Provide assurances that the program will collect data on groups of refugees served (age, sex, etc.), types of services to be furnished (English and citizenship education, citizenship application, information and referral, etc.), service utilization information, types and nature of needs identified and met, and such other information as may be required periodically for purposes of evaluation. Describe how the lessons learned from the program will benefit national policy, practice, theory and/or research. 3. Organizational Capability Provide a description of the applicant's organization and document its non-profit status. Describe the applicant's experience in providing citizenship services to refugees and immigrants as well as the applicant's experience in collaborating with refugee service providers and ethnic organizations. Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who are proposed to work in the program and indicate their educational training and experience working with refugees and citizenship education programs/services. Describe staffing patterns and staff qualifications and language/cultural competencies. Explain how the ethnic composition and language proficiency of particular staff persons are reflective of the community. Provide assurances that the applicant will cooperate with an evaluation contractor and any other contractor ORR may fund to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the program. 4. Budget Provide a line item budget with detailed narrative justification. Applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of the organization's current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges. Provide documented assurance that: Federal funds awarded under this grant program will not be used to reimburse clients for any fees paid to INS. Funds awarded under this grant program will not duplicate naturalization and citizenship activities already funded by another source. These funds will not be used to offset funding otherwise available for citizenship activities. None of the funds awarded under this announcement will be used for the development of new materials where existing materials have already been developed to an acceptable standard. Applicants are reminded to secure permission to use materials developed by national organizations experienced in citizenship activities. D. Review Criteria Each project proposal will be rated and scored by an independent review panel using criteria described below. State applicants which plan to contract for services must submit detailed proposals of their approach and identify the subcontractors or provide a description of the contractual award process and projected timelines. State applicants must assure ORR that sub-grantees will abide by the same requirements as direct ORR grantees in this program. 1. Demonstration of how the program--working collaboratively--will meet the need for citizenship services of the target refugees through direct services and/or through leveraging existing community resources. Reasonableness of the project activities and timeline for meeting the proposed objectives. 25 points 2. Quality of the innovative program to meet the needs of the underserved population in reducing barriers to citizenship to enable them to become citizens within a short time frame. Extent to which the expected results and benefits of the project are appropriate and reasonable. 35 points 3. Demonstration of the applicant's qualified records of good performance in citizenship activities. Quality of proposed staff, appropriateness of the staff selection in relation to the proposed activities and the characteristics of the target population. 20 points 4. The budget is reasonable, clearly presented, sufficiently detailed, and demonstrates a cost-effective use of federal funds. 20 points Total: 100 points. Category Two, Part I: Microenterprise Development A. Purpose and Scope The purpose of these funds is to use microenterprise development to enable refugees to increase household income and thereby decrease their likelihood of relying on public assistance. For purposes of participation in a program, there is no limitation on the number of years a refugee may have been in the U.S. as long as he/she has not become a naturalized citizen at the time of enrollment in the project. Projects should be designed in a manner that is linguistically and culturally appropriate for the target population; additionally, projects may not exclude an individual or group of refugees on the basis of ethnicity. B. Allowable Activities Funds may be used to provide business technical assistance, business training, credit in the form of microloans, and/or for the administrative costs of managing the project and a microloan fund to assist refugees in starting or expanding microbusinesses. Training may be conducted in classes, in small groups or with individuals. Ongoing technical assistance should be available to participants for up to the first year following the business start-up. Microloans: Consist of small amounts of credit, generally in sums less than $10,000, extended to low-income entrepreneurs for start-up of microenterprises. Microloans may also be available for micro-business expansions. Refugee borrowers who [[Page 32631]] may benefit from agency-based revolving loan funds typically have few personal assets or savings and do not qualify for commercial loans. Microloans may be made available to clients through a partnership with commercial banks or other traditional lending institutions. Federal funds may also be used as guarantees or leverage for commercial loans. In any case, ORR encourages the use of current market rates of interest which may be charged up to four percentage points above the New York Prime lending rate at the time of the loan approval. Microloans will have a maximum maturity of three years. Applicants who propose to administer a microloan fund, in which some or all of the available capital comes from ORR grant funds, must use a revolving loan fund to disperse these loans. ORR grant funds for a revolving loan fund will be capped for all new grantees at $50,000 for the first budget period. Program income in the form of interest (on individual loans or from loan loss reserves) may be retained by the agency project so long as these costs further the objectives of the grant and the Federal statute under which the grant was made. Program income of this type may be used to expand the number of microloans to be made available to the participants in accordance with 45 CFR 74.24 (b)(1), (b)(2), and (e) or 92.25 (b), (g)(2), and (h). The microenterprise grantee may not charge fees, points, or other amounts to the individual borrower applying for a microloan other than actual costs associated with obtaining, approving and closing the approved microloan. Additionally, individual borrowers may not be solicited for contributions toward the cost of training or technical assistance received under this program. Technical Assistance for Projects: To ensure the exchange of technical and training information among ORR microenterprise program grantees, all grantees are strongly encouraged to attend two training conferences during each year of their participation in the program. Grant funds may be used to offset the cost of attendance. Also, ORR is currently announcing the availability of funds for a technical assistance provider for refugee microenterprise projects which will be available for ORR grantees (see Part II of this Category). C. Program Narrative Applications to the ORR microenterprise program announcement should describe the following: 1. Statement of Need The capital needs and capital market gaps for refugee microentrepreneurs in their community, and how they will gain access to credit through this project. A profile of prospective refugee participants, including: an annotated list describing ethnicities for the target population, their status with respect to welfare usage and employment; refugees' qualifying income and length of time in the U.S.; and prospective clients' interest in microenterprise. Any eligibility requirements related to English language proficiency that will be required of refugee participants. 2. Program Strategy Describe the structure and approach of the project including, the form and duration of business training and/or technical assistance to refugee entrepreneurs; where appropriate, provisions for individual or group-based lending; whether the business targets are start-ups, expansions, or both; affiliated agencies; credit enhancements, such as loan loss reserves, and fees. ORR encourages partnerships with other appropriate organizations for training and loans. Refugee ethnic communities frequently have non- eligible members (naturalized U.S. citizens and immigrants) who will also be likely candidates for microenterprise services, but will not be eligible clients for services funded by ORR. For that reason, ORR suggests that applicants seek to establish partnerships with commercial banks and other traditional lending institutions; seek funds from other federal and state government microenterprise programs, and private sources to fund training and microloans for clients not otherwise eligible for ORR funded services. If the program strategy includes a microloan program, the application must describe the sources and amounts of lending capital, the anticipated size of the loan fund, its terms, and the activities for which loans may be used; the lending criteria for borrowers, and mechanism of approval/disapproval; and a monthly revolving loan cash flow chart for the three year period beginning October 1, 1997. 3.a. Organizational Capability The application must include a description of the applicant's organizational structure, copies of the financial statements for the last two years, balance sheets and income statements, the plan for fiscal and project management, a time table for activities, a project organization chart, a description of staffing, and resumes or qualifications of staff. Those applicants to this announcement who have previously operated refugee microenterprise projects with training and microloans should describe in some detail their accomplishments under prior projects. The description should provide a project description, annotated list of refugee ethnic groups, recruitment strategies, training classes or other training methods, and performance outcomes in terms of number of clients, number of loans and an analysis of size and payment history, and performance measures such as number of business starts and expansions for each of the project's budget periods. If a revolving loan fund is part of this application, describe in detail the management activities with respect to the loans: loan application forms and criteria for approval, microenterprise activities for which loans may be used, management and servicing of the loan funds, a discussion of the applicants' lending history, loan repayment terms, projected default rates, and projected schedule for local collection. 3.b. Project Management Applicant must provide details on the management and operation of the project and of the loan funds; a description of project staff credentials including cultural and linguistic appropriateness; and, staff supervision plan; and the design of program progress reports. 4. Performance Outcome Measures Performance measures that will demonstrate the impact of the project on the participants, and whether the purpose of the microenterprise project is met. 5. Budget A line-item budget that coincides with the SF 424 object class categories and provides sufficient detail. In an accompanying section, submit a narrative justification that explains each budget category. Applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of the organization's current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges. D. Review Criteria Grant applications for microenterprise development will be reviewed and ranked against the following criteria: 1. A description of the purposes for which funding is proposed; the [[Page 32632]] appropriateness of the project (design, policies and procedures) to the entrepreneurial experience, capital needs, and English language proficiency of the targeted refugee community. 20 points 2. The appropriateness of the project structure and approach, including design for training and/or technical assistance, lending, credit enhancements, and affiliates. 20 points 3. Demonstrated organizational and management capacity and history of experience with microenterprise development for refugees or other economically disadvantaged populations. 20 points 4. Extent to which the expected outcomes are appropriate, consistent with reported nationwide performance in microenterprise projects, and reasonable for the size of the targeted population. 20 points 5. Appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed budget, including the relative distribution of funds for administrative costs, training or technical assistance, loan capital, and unit costs. Applicant should include project timelines and a narrative justification supporting each budget line. 20 points Category Two, Part II: Assistance to Intermediary Microenterprise Grantee Agencies ORR intends that microenterprise programs will have access to technical assistance and existing materials in the design and implementation of these projects. To that end, ORR will award one grant in an amount not to exceed $100,000 to a private, non-profit agency for the purpose of assisting grantees in the administration of projects and microloan funds, in the development of appropriate financial systems for administering these projects, and for securing additional financing for microloans through non-federal sources. Grantees will be given access to standardized documents, policies, and procedures that have been developed or gathered under this initiative. Interested organizations should submit an application package, in accordance with instructions stated below in ``Application Preparation and Submission,'' including the following: --A description of the applicant's organizational structure, staff qualifications, experience in microenterprise development, and expertise in business management principles, the operation of revolving loan funds, and/or experience in leveraging commercial funds. --A narrative description of technical assistance activities for approximately 12 grantee agencies, with a timetable and schedule for site-visits and related reports. --A line-item budget and budget narrative (applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of the organization's current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges). Applications for the technical assistance grant will be reviewed competitively and scored by a review panel of experts in accordance with the criteria stated below: --Organizational expertise and history of experience in microenterprise development and in providing technical assistance and training to intermediary agencies. 40 points --Clarity and appropriateness of the project design for technical assistance. 30 points --Reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget. 30 points Category Three: Technical Assistance Program Area One: Technical Assistance to Refugee Employment Service Providers A. Purpose and Availability of Funds The primary goal of refugee resettlement is to assist refugees to become economically self-sufficient. Efficient and effective employment services are critical to achieving this goal. To that end, ORR currently provides both formula and discretionary grants to fund employment services which assist refugees in obtaining employment and decreasing their need for public assistance. In recent years, ORR has held a series of conferences to foster sharing of information among employment services staff. The new welfare reform legislation further intensifies the need to share best practices and successful techniques in job development, job placement, and post placement services. To continue the ORR initiative for improved employment services, and to increase the capacity of employment service providers to help refugees attain employment, ORR proposes to award one cooperative agreement for technical assistance and training to refugee employment service providers. Funds provided under this award may be used nationwide for the following purposes: 1. To identify model and best practices for providing employment services to refugees. 2. To assist discretionary programs in using the existing Government Performance Results Act (GPRA), and, where appropriate, in developing and measuring, short and long term program performance outcomes for employment services to special populations. 3. In areas with large numbers of new arrivals and multiple employment services providers, to conduct on-site analysis of employment services and to provide the technical assistance needed to improve outcomes for: staff training, effective inter-agency cooperation, increasing employer and/or refugee involvement in the design or delivery of services, or management and other issues which may improve performance. 4. To facilitate multi-site, consultative and information-sharing training sessions where similar agencies and/or agencies serving similar groups of refugees or working in similar employment environments can share experiences, conduct self-assessment and group assessment, and complete a blueprint for self-and agency improvement. A training session might include an on-site peer group review of a project which requests technical assistance. 5. To provide training in basic employment services skills to newly hired or inexperienced staff, to agencies experiencing staff turnover, or to agencies which lack expertise in employment services or employment services for refugees. Through the cooperative agreement, ORR intends to be involved in the program in the following areas: review and approval of the technical assistance plan, including the sites proposed; assistance in giving employment providers access to the grantee's services; review and approval of training curricula; review and approval of assessment tools used to evaluate technical assistance needs; and general review and approval of materials prepared for delivery of technical assistance. Approximately $150,000 has been allocated for this project. One grant may be awarded for one national project. State applicants who may wish to apply and issue a contract to provide the technical assistance should identify the sub-contractor organization and/or provide a description of the contractual award process. Applicants are advised that provision of technical assistance to a grantee may only be made on a requested or voluntary basis. B. Allowable Activities Applicants may propose all or a combination of the following activities: Identification and promotion of projects which constitute best or model practices. [[Page 32633]] Selection justification of proposed sites for technical assistance activities; Analysis of employment services in two or more sites for the purpose of improving performance; Training for basic employment services skills, including new Federal and State supported job initiatives, to newly hired or inexperienced staff; Training and/or facilitation in developing strategies and techniques, such as: --Service delivery to special groups, such as women, older refugees, or youth; --Effective inter-agency coordination; --Obtaining employer feedback in quality or design of services; --Changing the employment service delivery mechanism (e.g., to a one- stop center operated by a consortium of providers); --Assessing clients' transferable job skills; Training and/or facilitation through on-site peer reviews, through multi-site information sharing and problem solving sessions, and/or through individual consultation. C. Program Narrative --A description of the applicant's organizational structure, staff qualifications, especially experience in refugee employment services and/or job development. --A narrative description of proposed technical assistance activities for a designated number of grantee agencies, with a timetable and schedule for site-visits or other proposed activities and related reports. --A line-item budget and budget narrative (applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of their current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges). D. Review Criteria Each project proposal will be rated individually by an independent review panel using the criteria described below: 1. Staff qualifications are clearly presented and are appropriate to achieving the project's goals. Staff qualifications include demonstrated expertise in assisting refugees or low income ethnic minorities in obtaining employment, previous experience with the provision of technical assistance in the field of employment service, experience in cross-cultural communication, and knowledge of Federal and State employment initiatives. Organizational expertise is described. 40 points 2. The narrative description and plan for providing technical assistance is clearly described; activities and time-frames are reasonable, feasible and will achieve ORR's goals. The technical plan describes proposed activities, how they will be accomplished, how the applicant will assess the needs for technical assistance in given communities, and why it proposes those communities. 40 points 3. The budget is reasonable, clearly presented, sufficiently detailed, and cost effective. 20 points Program Area Two: Technical Assistance to Elderly Refugee Services Grantees A. Purpose and Availability of Funds Older refugees may be especially vulnerable because of certain age- related issues: chronic health and emotional problems stemming from the conditions of refugee flight; family loss and separation; an inability to advocate for themselves because of cultural, language, or educational barriers; limited access to appropriate health and social service agencies; limited incomes due to work histories; and barriers to meeting the requirements for naturalization. To address those issues, the Office of Refugee Resettlement is making available approximately $9.5 million in discretionary grant funds in a separate grant announcement to assist States with counties heavily impacted by older refugees. When those grantees are funded, ORR proposes to award a grant up to $150,000 to one non-profit service agency capable of providing technical assistance, troubleshooting, and developing and implementing on-site solutions to barriers which these potential grantees may experience in coordinating programs for elderly refugees. ORR is seeking a private, non-profit service agency which has experience in working with elderly refugees at the federal, State and local levels. B. Allowable Activities Applicants may propose all or some combination of the following or may propose innovative strategies to address older refugee needs: Providing technical assistance to ORR grant recipients under the announcement for services to elderly refugees for the purpose of insuring coordination between aging and refugee services and programs. Making on-site visits to evaluate the success of older refugees' receiving needed services in a timely manner. Where grantees are experiencing problems with carrying out their proposals, working closely with staff to resolve issues. Evaluating individual success by talking with consumers of services (elderly refugees); determining whether clients are indeed participating in the planning process. Determining which grantees need technical assistance with refugees in crisis situations, e.g., the short-term provision of emergency assistance, such as food, shelter and medical services and helping grantees to develop workable solutions. Identifying and documenting unmet needs of older refugees and helping grantees prepare and implement action plans to overcome these barriers. C. Program Narrative --A description of the applicant's organizational structure and staff qualifications, especially working with refugee and aging organizations; --A narrative description of technical assistance activities, including: timelines and start-up times, the method for assessing the technical assistance needs of given communities, procedures to evaluate grantee successes, and action plans to assist grantees meet their stated objectives; --A plan to assist grantees with the development of collaboration and linkages between aging and refugee organizations at the local level; and, --A line-item budget and budget narrative, including a cost analysis of the applicant's management of each proposed activity and narrative justification to support each line (applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of the organization's current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges). D. Review Criteria Each proposal will be rated and scored individually by an independent review panel using the criteria described below: 1. Organization's expertise and history of experience in working with aging and refugee organizations at the national, state and local levels. 30 points 2. Clarity and appropriateness of plan and proposed activities for providing [[Page 32634]] technical assistance, assessing the technical assistance needs of given communities, procedures to be used to help grantees evaluate their performance. 35 points 3. Quality of plan for development of grantee collaboration and linkages between aging and refugee organizations. 20 points 4. Appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed budget. 15 points Program Area Three: Technical Assistance regarding the Impact of Welfare and Immigration Reform on Refugees and Refugee Communities A. Purpose and Availability of Funds The primary goal of refugee resettlement is to assist refugees to become economically self-sufficient. While ORR currently provides Targeted Assistance and Social Services funds to States and nonprofit agencies for employment services to assist refugees in obtaining employment, many refugees need some form of cash or medical assistance during their resettlement experience. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (also known as ``Welfare Reform''), Public Law 104-193, eliminated the AFDC program, the JOBS program, and Emergency Assistance, and created block grants for States to provide time-limited cash assistance for needy families, with work requirements for most recipients. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant funding may be used by States in any manner reasonably calculated to accomplish several purposes: To provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own home; to reduce dependency by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (also known as ``Immigration Reform''), P.L. 104-208, further restricted access to certain programs by legal immigrants. The new rules regarding non-citizens are complex and easily subject to misinterpretation. For refugees this may have unintended negative consequences. Refugees may be unfairly denied access to work because of fear of employer sanctions or denied benefits due to confusion over status. ORR proposes to award one cooperative agreement for technical assistance and training for refugee service providers concerning the impact of welfare and immigration reform on refugees and refugee communities. Funds provided under this award may be used nationwide for the following purposes: 1. To provide technical assistance and coordinate information- sharing and analysis--State by State, as well as nation-wide--for refugee service providers with the goal of increasing, as needed, awareness and understanding of the impact of welfare and immigration reform on refugee families. 2. To assist refugee service programs through the development and distribution of materials providing information and education on the implementation of welfare and immigration reform. 3. To coordinate communication among local refugees and service providers as well as between local agencies and national organizations working on these issues i.e. through sharing translated materials or telephone conferences. 4. To facilitate multi-site consultative and information-sharing training sessions where similar agencies, and/or agencies serving similar groups of refugees or working in similar environments, can share experiences and information. Through the cooperative agreement, ORR intends to be involved in the program in the following areas: review and approval of the technical assistance plan; assistance in giving ORR grantees access to the technical assistance provider's services; and general review of materials prepared for delivery of information and technical assistance. Approximately $250,000 has been allocated for this project. One grant will be awarded for one national project. State applicants who may wish to apply and issue a contract to provide the technical assistance should identify the sub-contractor organization and/or provide a description of the contractual award process. Applicants are advised that provision of technical assistance to a grantee may only be made on a requested or voluntary basis. B. Allowable Activities Applicants may propose all or some combination of the following: Providing technical assistance to ORR grant recipients and other refugee service providers to promote an understanding of the impact of welfare and immigration reform on refugee families and communities. Obtaining and assessing refugee feedback regarding the information on welfare and immigration reform. Training and facilitation in developing strategies and techniques, such as: --Effective inter-agency coordination; --Assessing the State by State and/or national impact of the new laws on refugees and refugee communities. Peer training through multi-site information sharing sessions, individual agency/community consultations, and on-site visits. C. Program Narrative --A description of the applicant's organizational structure, staff qualifications, especially demonstrated knowledge of relevant provisions in welfare and immigration reform, legalization and asylum, and experience in communicating federal and State policies and regulations to local, preferably refugee, communities and service- providers. --A narrative description of technical assistance activities for a representative national or regional network of refugee communities and grantee agencies, with a timetable and schedule for site-visits or other proposed activities and related reports. --A line-item budget and budget narrative (applicants who request indirect charges must attach a copy of the organization's current negotiated indirect cost agreement. If the applicant does not have a negotiated indirect cost agreement with any agency of the federal government, all costs must appear in the budget as direct charges). D. Review Criteria Each project proposal will be rated individually by an independent review panel using the criteria described below: 1. Organizational expertise is described. Staff qualifications are clearly presented and are appropriate to achieving the project's goals. Staff qualifications include demonstrated expertise in assisting refugees or low income ethnic minorities in accessing information on federal programs and regulations, previous experience with the provision of related technical assistance to refugee service-providers, experience in cross- cultural communication, and knowledge of Federal and State TANF initiatives and the broader welfare and immigration reform implications for refugees and refugee communities. 40 points 2. The narrative description and plan for providing technical assistance is clearly described; activities and time-frames are reasonable, feasible and will [[Page 32635]] achieve ORR's goals. The technical plan describes proposed activities, how they will be accomplished, how the applicant will meet the needs for technical assistance to given agencies and communities, and why these agencies and communities are proposed. 40 points 3. The budget is reasonable, clearly presented, sufficiently detailed, and cost effective. 20 points General Procedure for Competitive Review of Applications All applications which meet the stipulated deadline and other requirements will be reviewed competitively and scored by an independent review panel of experts in accordance with ACF grants policy and the criteria stated below. The results of the independent review panel scores and explanatory comments will assist the Director of ORR in considering competing applications. Reviewers' 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 reviewers. Highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding since other factors are taken into consideration, including: comments of reviewers and of ACF/ORR officials; previous program performance of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous DHHS grants; audit reports; and investigative reports. Final funding decisions will be made by the Director of ORR. A. Application Preparation and Submission Availability of Forms: Attachments contain all of the standard forms necessary for the application for awards under this announcement. Further, copies of the Federal Register containing this announcement are available at most local libraries and Congressional District Offices for reproduction. If copies are not available at these sources, they may be obtained by writing or telephoning the following office: Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade S.W., Washington, D.C. 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-9251. B. Forms, Certifications, Assurances, and Disclosure 1. Applicants for 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 instructions and forms required for submission of applications are included. The forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. An application with an original signature and two copies is required. 2. Applicants must provide the following certifications. Copies of the forms and assurances are located at the end of this announcement. a. Certification regarding lobbying if your anticipated award exceeds $100,000. b. Certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke. By signing and submitting the applications, applicant provides certification that they will comply with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Pub.L. 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke) and need not mail back the certification with the application. c. Certification regarding debarment, suspension, and other Ineligibility. By signing and submitting the applications, applicant provides certification that they are not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for this award and therefore need not mail back the certification with the application. d. Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. C. Deadline 1. Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date by ORR at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Division of Community Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20447, Attention: Omnibus Competition. Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, 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., at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024, 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 or through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt. 2. 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. 3. Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend the deadline for all applicants because of acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., widespread disruption of the mails, or when it is anticipated that many of the applications will come from rural or remote areas. However, if the granting agency does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or extend the deadline for any applicants. 4. Once an application has been submitted, it is considered as final and no additional materials will be accepted by ACF. D. Nonprofit Status Applicants other than public agencies must provide evidence of their nonprofit status with their applications. Any of the following is acceptable evidence: (1) A copy of the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code; or (2) A copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate. E. Intergovernmental Review 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.'' As of January, 1997, the following jurisdictions have elected not to participate in the Executive Order process. Applicants from these jurisdictions need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, American Samoa, and Palau. All remaining jurisdictions participate in the E.O. process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory is included as Appendix A of this announcement. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them to the prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as [[Page 32636]] soon as possible so that ORR can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. The applicant 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: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Division of Community Resettlement, 6th Floor 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. F. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. Law 104-13, the Department is required to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval any reporting and record keeping requirements in regulations, including program announcements. All information required by this is covered under OMB Clearance No. 0970- 0139. G. Applicable Regulations Applicable HHS regulations can be found in 45 CFR Part 74 or 92. H. Reporting Requirements Grantees are required to file Financial Status (SF-269) semi- annually and Program Progress Reports on a quarterly basis. Funds issued under these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately from all other grant activities. Although ORR does not expect the proposed components/projects to include evaluation activities, it does expect grantees to maintain adequate records to track and report on project outcomes and expenditures by budget line item. The official receipt point for all reports and correspondence is the ORR Division of Community Resettlement. An original and one copy of each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each reporting period directly to the Project Officer named in the award letter. The mailing address is: 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Sixth Floor, Washington, DC 20447. A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the budget expiration date or termination of grant support. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned to this announcement is 93.576. Dated: June 9, 1997. Lavinia Limon, Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement. Appendix A--OMB State Single Point of Contact Listing Arizona Joni Saad, Arizona State Clearinghouse, 3800 N. Central Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, Telephone (602) 280-1315, FAX: (602) 280-1305 Arkansas Mr. Tracy L. Copeland, Manager, State Clearinghouse, Office of Intergovernmental Services, Department of Finance and Administration, 1515 W. 7th St., Room 412, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203, Telephone (501) 682-1074, FAX: (501) 682-5206 California Grants Coordinator, Office of Planning and Research, 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121, Sacramento, California 95814, Telephone (916) 323- 7480, FAX (916) 323-3018 Delaware Francine Booth, State Single Point of Contact Executive Department, Thomas Collins Building, P.O. Box 1401, Dover, Delaware 19903, Telephone (302) 739-3326, FAX (302) 739-5661 District of Columbia Charles Nichols, State Single Point of Contact, Office of Grants Mgmt. and Dev., 717 14th Street, N.W.--Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20005, Telephone: (202) 727-6554, FAX: (202) 727-1617 Florida Florida State Clearinghouse, Department of Community Affairs, 2740 Centerview Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, Telephone: (904) 922-5438, FAX: (904) 487-2899 Georgia Tom L. Reid, III, Administrator, Georgia State Clearinghouse, 254 Washington Street, S.W.--Room 401J, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, Telephone: (404) 656-3855 or (404) 656-3829, FAX: (404) 656-7938 Illinois Virginia Bova, State Single Point of Contact, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Telephone: (312) 814-6028, FAX: (312) 814-1800 Indiana Frances Williams, State Budget Agency, 212 State House, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2796, Telephone: (317) 232-5619, FAX: (317) 233-3323 Iowa Steven R. McCann, Division for Community Assistance, Iowa Department of Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, Telephone: (515) 242-4719, FAX: (515) 242-4859 Kentucky Ronald W. Cook, Office of the Governor, Department of Local Government, 1024 Capitol Center Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601- 8204, Telephone: (502) 573-2382, FAX: (502) 573-2512 Maine Joyce Benson, State Planning Office, State House Station #38, Augusta, Maine 04333, Telephone: (207) 287-3261, FAX: (207) 287-6489 Maryland William G. Carroll, Manager, State Clearinghouse for Intergovernmental Assistance, Maryland Office of Planning, 301 W. Preston Street--Room 1104, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2365, Staff Contact: Linda Janey, Telephone: (410) 225-4490, FAX: (410) 225-4480 Michigan Richard Pfaff, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, 1900 Edison Plaza, 660 Plaza Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48226, Telephone: (313) 961-4266 Mississippi Cathy Malette, Clearinghouse Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, 455 North Lamar Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39202- 3087, Telephone: (601) 359-6762, FAX: (601) 359-6764 Missouri Lois Pohl, Federal Assistance Clearinghouse, Office of Administration, P.O. Box 809, Room 760, Truman Building, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, Telephone: (314) 751-4834, FAX: (314) 751-7819 Nevada Department of Administration, State Clearinghouse, Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nevada 89710, Telephone: (702) 687-4065, FAX: (702) 687-3983 New Hampshire Jeffrey H. Taylor, Director, New Hampshire Office of State Planning, Attn: Intergovernmental Review Process, Mike Blake, 2\1/2\ Beacon Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, Telephone: (603) 271-2155, FAX: (603) 271-1728 New Mexico Robert Peters, State Budget Division, Room 190 Bataan Memorial Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503, Telephone: (505) 827-3640 New York New York State Clearinghouse, Division of the Budget, State Capitol, Albany, New York 12224, Telephone: (518) 474-1605, FAX: (518) 486- 5617 North Carolina Chrys Baggett, Director, N.C. State Clearinghouse, Office of the Secretary of Admin., 116 West Jones Street, Raleigh, [[Page 32637]] North Carolina 27603-8003, Telephone: (919) 733-7232, FAX: (919) 733-9571 North Dakota North Dakota Single Point of Contact, Office of Intergovernmental Assistance, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505- 0170, Telephone: (701) 224-2094, FAX: (701) 224-2308 Ohio Larry Weaver, State Single Point of Contact, State Clearinghouse, Office of Budget and Management, 30 East Broad Street, 34th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43266-0411 Please direct correspondence and questions about intergovernmental review to: Linda Wise, Telephone: (614) 466-0698, FAX: (614) 466-5400 Rhode Island Kevin Nelson, Review Coordinator, Department of Administration/ Division of Planning, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5870, Telephone: (401) 277-2656, FAX: (401) 277-2083 Please direct correspondence and questions to: Review Coordinator, Office of Strategic Planning South Carolina Rodney Grizzle, State Single Point of Contact, Grant Services, Office of the Governor, 1205 Pendleton Street--Room 331, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Telephone: (803) 734-0494, FAX: (803) 734-0356 Texas Tom Adams, Governor's Office, Director, Intergovernmental Coordination, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711, Telephone: (512) 463-1771, FAX: (512) 463-1888 Utah Carolyn Wright, Utah State Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and Budget, Room 116 State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114, Telephone: (801) 538-1535, FAX: (801) 538-1547 West Virginia Fred Cutlip, Director, Community Development Division, W. Virginia Development Office, Building #6, Room 553, Charleston, West Virginia 25305, Telephone: (304) 558-4010, FAX: (304) 558-3248 Wisconsin Jeff Smith, Section Chief, State/Federal Relations, Wisconsin Department of Administration, 101 East Wilson Street--6th Floor, P.O. Box 7868, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, Telephone: (608) 266-0267, FAX: (608) 267-6931 Wyoming Matthew Jones, State Single Point of Contact, Office of the Governor, 200 West 24th Street, State Capitol, Room 124, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, Telephone: (307) 777-7446 FAX: (307) 632-3909 Territories Guam Mr. Giovanni T. Sgambelluri, Director, Bureau of Budget and Management Research, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910, Telephone: 011-671-472-2285, FAX: 011-671-472-2825 Puerto Rico Norma Burgos/Jose E. Caro, Chairwoman/Director, Puerto Rico Planning Board, Federal Proposals Review Office, Minillas Government Center, P.O. Box 41119, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1119, Telephone: (809) 727-4444, (809) 723-6190, FAX: (809) 724-3270; (809) 724-3103 North Mariana Islands Mr. Alvaro A. Santos, Executive Officer, State Single Point of Contact, Ofice of Management and Budget, Office of the Governor, Saipan, MP, Northern Mariana Islands 96950, Telephone (670) 664- 2256, FAX: (670) 664-2272 Contact Person: Ms. Jacoba T. Seman, Federal Programs Coordinator, Telephone (670) 644-2289, FAX: (670) 644-2272 Virgin Islands Nelson Bowry, Director, Office of Management and Budget, #41 Norregade Emancipation Garden Station, Second Floor, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802 Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental review to: Linda Clarke, Telephone: (809) 774-0750, FAX: (809) 776-0069 In accordance with Executive Order #12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' this listing represents the designated State Single Points of Contact. The jurisdications not listed no longer participate in the process BUT GRANT APPLICANTS ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT EVEN IF YOUR STATE, TERRITOTY, COMMONWEALTH, ETC DOES NOT HAVE A ``STATE SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.'' STATES WITHOUT ``STATE SINGLE POINTS OF CONTACT'' INCLUDE: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Palau, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. This list is based on the most current information provided by the States. Information on any changes or apparent errors should be provided to the Office of Management and Budget and the State in question. Changes to the list will only be made upon formal question. Changes to the list will only be made upon formal notification by the State. Also, this listing is published biannually in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance. BILLING CODE 4184-01-P [[Page 32638]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16JN97.039 BILLING CODE 4184-01-C [[Page 32639]] Instructions for the SF 424 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget. Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043), Washington, DC 20503. Please do not return your completed form to the Office of Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the sponsoring agency. This is a standard form used by applicants as a required facesheet for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal assistance. It will be used by Federal agencies to obtain applicant certification that States which have established a review and comment procedure in response to Executive Order 12372 and have selected the program to be included in their process, have been given an opportunity to review the applicant's submission. Item and Entry 1. Self-explanatory. 2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State, if applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable.). 3. State use only (if applicable). 4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing award, enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new project, leave blank. 5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of the applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to contact on matters related to this application. 6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the Internal Revenue Service. 7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided. 8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the space(s) provided: --``New'' means a new assistance award. --``Continuation'' means an extension for an additional funding/ budget period for a project with a projected completion date. --``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing obligation. 9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being requested with this application. 10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title of the program under which assistance is requested. 11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a separate sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property projects), attach a map showing project location. For preapplications, use a separate sheet to provide a summary description of this project. 12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g., State, counties, cities.) 13. Self-explanatory. 14. List the applicant's Congressional district and any district(s) affected by the program or project. 15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines as applicable. If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award, indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the amounts in parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are included, show breakdown on an attached sheet. For multiple program funding, use totals and show breakdown using same categories as items 15. 16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the application is subject to the State intergovernmental review process. 17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt include delinquent audit allowances, loans and taxes. 18. To be signed by the authorized representative of the applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to sign this application as official representative must be on file in the applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that this authorization be submitted as part of the application BILLING CODE 4184-01-P [[Page 32640]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16JN97.040 [[Page 32641]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16JN97.041 BILLING CODE 4184-01-C [[Page 32642]] Instructions for the SF 424A Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 180 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043), Washington, DC 20503. Please do not return your completed form to the Office of Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the sponsoring agency. General Instructions This form is designed so that application can be made for funds from one or more grant programs. In preparing the budget, adhere to any existing Federal grantor agency guidelines which prescribe how and whether budgeted amounts should be separately shown for different functions or activities within the program. For some programs, grantor agencies may require budgets to be separately shown by function or activity. For other programs, grantor agencies may require a breakdown by function or activity. Sections A, B, C, and D should include budget estimates for the whole project except when applying for assistance which requires Federal authorization in annual or other funding period increments. In the latter case, Sections A, B, C, and D should provide the budget for the first budget period (usually a year) and Section E should present the need for Federal assistance in the subsequent budget periods. All applications should contain a breakdown by the object class categories shown in Lines a-k of Section B. Section A. Budget Summary Lines 1-4, Columns (a) and (b) For applications pertaining to a single Federal grant program (Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog number) and not requiring a functional or activity breakdown, enter on Line 1 under Column (a) the catalog program title and the catalog number in Column (b). For applications pertaining to a single program requiring budget amounts by multiple function or activities, enter the name of each activity or function on each line in Column (a), and enter the catalog number in Column (b). For applications pertaining to multiple programs where none of the programs require a breakdown by function or activity, enter the catalog program title on each line in Column (a) and the respective catalog number of each line in Column (b). For applications pertaining to multiple programs where one or more programs require a breakdown by function or activity, prepare a separate sheet for each program requiring the breakdown. Additional sheets should be used when one form does not provide adequate space for all breakdown of data required. However, when more than one sheet is used, the first page should provide the summary totals by programs. Lines 1-4, Columns (c) Through (g) For new applications, leave Columns (c) and (d) blank. For each line entry in Columns (a) and (b), enter in Columns (e), (f), and (g) the appropriate amounts of funds needed to support the project for the first funding period (usually a year). For continuing grant program applications, submit these forms before the end of each funding period as required by the grantor agency. Enter in Columns (c) and (d) the estimated amounts of funds which will remain unobligated at the end of the grant funding period only if the Federal grantor agency instructions provide for this. Otherwise, leave these columns blank. Enter in Columns (e) and (f) the amounts of funds needed for the upcoming period. The amount(s) in Column (g) should be the sum of amounts in Columns (e) and (f). For supplemental grants and changes to existing grants, do not use Columns (c) and (d). Enter in Column (e) the amount of the increase or decrease of Federal funds and enter in Column (f) the amount of the increase or decrease of non-Federal funds. In Column (g) enter the new total budgeted amount (Federal and non-Federal) which includes the total previous authorized budgeted amounts plus or minus, as appropriate, the amounts shown in Columns (e) and (f). The amount(s) in Column (g) should not equal the sum of amounts in Columns (e) and (f). Line 5--Show the total for all columns used. Section B. Budget Categories In the column headings (1) through (4), enter the titles of the same programs, functions, and activities shown on Lines 1-4, Column (a), Section A. When additional sheets are prepared for Section A, provide similar column headings on each sheet. For each program, function or activity, fill in the total requirements for funds (both Federal and non-Federal) by object class categories. Lines 6a-i--Show the totals of Lines 6a to 6h in each column. Line 6j--Show the amount of indirect cost. Line 6k--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j. For all applications for new grants and continuation grants the total amount in column (5), Line 6k, should be the same as the total amount shown in Section A, Column (g), Line 5. For supplemental grants and changes to grants, the total amount of the increase or decrease as shown in Columns (1)-(4), Line 6k, should be the same as the sum of the amounts in Section A, Columns (e) and (f) on Line 5. Line 7--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this amount from the total project amount. Show under the program Section C. Non-Federal Resources Lines 8-11 Enter amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used on the grant. If in-kind contributions are included, provide a brief explanation of a separation sheet. Column (a)--Enter the program titles identical to Column (a), Section A. A breakdown by function or activity is not necessary. Column (b)--Enter the contribution to be made by the applicant. Column (c)--Enter the amount of the State's cash and in-kind contribution if the applicant is not a State or State agency. Applicants which are a State or State agencies should leave this column blank. Column (d)--Enter the amount of cash and in-kind contributions to be made from all other sources. Column (e)--Enter totals in Columns (b), (c), and (d). Line 12--Enter the total for each of Columns (b)-(e). The amount in Column (e) should be equal to the amount of Line 5, Column (f), Section A. Section D. Forecasted Cash Needs Line 13--Enter the amount of cash needed by quarter from the grantor agency during the first year. Line 14--Enter the amount of cash from all other sources needed by quarter during the first year. Line 15--Enter the totals of amounts on Lines 13 and 14. Section E. Budget Estimates of Federal Funds Needed for Balance of the Project Lines 16-19--Enter in Column (a) the same grant program titles shown in Column (a), Section A. A breakdown by function or activity is not necessary. For new applications and continuation grant applications, enter in the proper columns amounts of Federal funds which will be needed to complete the program or project over the succeeding funding periods (usually in years). This section need not be completed for revisions (amendments, changes, or supplements) to funds for the current year of existing grants. If more than four lines are needed to list the program titles, submit additional schedules as necessary. Line 20--Enter the total for each of the Columns (b)-(e). When additional schedules are prepared for this Section, annotate accordingly and show the overall totals on this line. Section F. Other Budget Information Line 21--Use this space to explain amounts for individual direct object-class cost categories that may appear to be out of the ordinary or to explain the details as required by the Federal grantor agency. Line 22--Enter the type of indirect rate (provisional, predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect during the funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which the rate is applied, and the total indirect expense. Line 23--Provide any other explanations or comments deemed necessary. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for [[Page 32643]] reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043), Washington, DC 20503. Please do not return your completed form to the Office of Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the sponsoring agency. Note: Certain of these assurances may not applicable to your project or program. If you have questions, please contact the awarding agency. Further, certain Federal awarding agencies may require applicants to certify to additional assurances. If such is the case, you will be notified. As the duly authorized representative of the applicant I certify that the applicant: 1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance and the institutional, managerial and financial capability (including funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management and completion of the project described in this application. 2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of United States, and if appropriate, the State, through any authorized representative, access to and the right to examine all records, books, papers, or documents related to the award; and will establish a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or agency directives. 3. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest, or personal gain. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency. 5. Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. Secs. 4728-4763) relating to prescribed standards for merit systems for programs funded under one of the nineteen statutes or regulations specified in Appendix A of OPM's Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration (5 CFR 900, Subpart F). 6. Will comply with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: (a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin; (b) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. Secs. 1681-1683, and 1685-1686), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicaps; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6101-6107), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; (e) the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-255), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse; (f) the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) Secs. 523 and 527 of the Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. 290 dd-3 and 290 ee-3), as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records; (h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to non- discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing; (i) any other nondiscrimination provisions in the specific statute(s) under which application for Federal assistance is being made; and (j) the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may apply to the application. 7. Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) which provide for fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced or whose property is acquired as a result of Federal or federally assisted programs. These requirements apply to all interests in real property acquired for project purposes regardless of Federal participation in purchases. 8. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. Secs. 1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the political activities of employees whose principal employment activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds. 9. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Davis- Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 276a to 276a-7), the Copeland Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 276c and 18 U.S.C. Secs. 874), and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 327-333), regarding labor standards for federally assisted construction subagreements. 10. Will comply, if applicable, with flood insurance purchase requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-234) which requires recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more. 11. Will comply with environmental standards which may be prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) institution of environmental quality control measures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and Executive Order (E.O.) 11514; (b) notification of violating facilities pursuant to E.O. 11738; (c) protection of wetlands pursuant to E.O. 11990; (d) evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with E.O. 11988; (e) assurance of project consistency with the approved State management program developed under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1451 et seq.); (f) conformity of Federal actions to State (Clear Air) Implementation Plans under Section 176(c) of the Clear Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C. Secs. 7401 et seq.); (g) protection of underground sources of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, (P.L. 93-523); and (h) protection of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, (P.L. 93-205). 12. Will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1271 et seq.) related to protecting components or potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system. 13. Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470) E.O. 11593 (identification and protection of historic properties), and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 469a-1 et seq.). 14. Will comply with P.L. 93-348 regarding the protection of human subjects involved in research, development, and related activities supported by this award of assistance. 15. Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-544, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) pertaining to the care, handling, and treatment of warm blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other activities supported by this award of assistance. 16. Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 4801 et seq.) which prohibits the use of lead based paint in construction or rehabilitation of residence structures. 17. Will cause to be performed the required financial and compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act of 1984 or OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and other Non-profit Institutions. 18. Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other Federal laws, executive orders, regulations and policies governing this program. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Signature of authorized certifying official ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Title ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Applicant organization ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date submitted Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions Instructions for Certification 1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective primary participant is providing the certification set out below. 2. The inability of a person to provide the certification required below will not necessarily result in denial of participation in this covered transaction. The prospective participant shall submit an explanation of why it cannot provide the certification set out below. The certification or explanation will be considered in connection with the department or agency's determination whether to enter into this transaction. However, failure of the prospective primary participant to furnish to certification or an explanation shall disqualify such person from participation in this transaction. 3. The certification in this clause is a material representation of fact upon which reliance placed when the department or agency determined to enter into this transaction. If it is later determined that the prospective primary participant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this transaction for cause or default. [[Page 32644]] 4. The prospective primary participant shall provide immediate written notice to the department or agency to which this proposal is submitted if at any time the prospective primary participant learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances. 5. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended, ineligible, lower tier covered transaction, participant, person, primary covered transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in this clause, have the meanings set out in the Definitions and Coverage sections of the rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may contact the department or agency to which this proposal is being submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations. 6. The prospective primary participant agrees by submitting this proposal that, should the proposed covered transaction be entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this covered transaction, unless authorized by the department or agency entering into this transaction. 7. The prospective primary participant further agrees by submitting this proposal that it will include the clause titled ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' provided by the department or agency entering into this covered transaction, without modification, in all lower tier covered transaction and in all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions. 8. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon a certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered transaction that it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from the covered transaction, unless it knows that the certification is erroneous. A participant may decide the method and frequency by which it determines the eligibility of its principals. Each participant may, but is not required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs. 9. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith the certification required by this clause. The knowledge and information of a participation is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings. 10. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 6 of these instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is a proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended, debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this transaction for cause or default. * * * * * Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions (1) The prospective primary participants certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals: (a) Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded by any Federal department or agency; (b) Have not within a three-year period preceding this proposal been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property; (c) Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State or local) with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b) of this certification; and (d) Have not within a three-year period preceding this application/proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State or local) terminated for cause or default. (2) Where the prospective primary participant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions Instruction for Certification 1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective lower tier participant is providing the certification set out below. 2. The certification in this clause is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was entered into. If it is later determined that the prospective lower tier participant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government the department or agency with which this transaction originated may pursue available remedies, including suspension and/or debarment. 2. The prospective lower tier participant shall provide immediate written notice to the person to which this proposal is submitted if at any time the prospective lower tier participant learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or had become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances. 4. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended, ineligible, lower tier covered transaction, participant, person, primary covered transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in this clause, have the meaning set out in the Definitions and Coverage sections of rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may contact the person to which this proposal is submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations. 5. The prospective lower tier participant agrees by submitting this proposal that, [Page 33043] should the proposed covered transaction be entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this covered transaction, unless authorized by the department or agency with which this transaction originated. 6. The prospective lower tier participant further agrees by submitting this proposal that it will include this clause titled ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' without modification, in all lower tier covered transactions and in all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions. 7. A participation in a covered transaction may rely upon a certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered transaction that it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transaction, unless it knows that the certification is erroneous. A participant may decide the method and frequency by which it determines the eligibility of its principals. Each participant may, but is not required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs. 8. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith the certification required by this clause. The knowledge and information of a participant is not required to exceed that which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of business dealings. 9. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 5 of these instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended, debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participant in this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government, the department or agency with which this transaction originated may pursue available remedies, including suspension and/or debarment. * * * * * Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility an Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transaction (1) The prospective lower tier participant certifies, by submission of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily [[Page 32645]] excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal department or agency. (2) Where the prospective lower tier participant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal. This certification is required by the regulations implementing the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988: 45 CFR Part 76, Subpart, F. Sections 76.630 (c) and (d)(2) and 76.645 (a)(1) and (b) provide that a Federal agency may designate a central receipt point for STATE-WIDE AND STATE AGENCY-WIDE certifications, and for notification of criminal drug convictions. For the Department of Health and Human Services, the central pint is: Division of Grants Management and Oversight, Office of Management and Acquisition, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 517-D, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Instructions for Certification) 1. By signing and/or submitting this application or grant agreement, the grantee is providing the certification set out below. 2. The certification set out below is a material representation of fact upon which reliance is placed when the agency awards the grant. If it is later determined that the grantee knowingly rendered a false certification, or otherwise violates the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act, the agency, in addition to any other remedies available to the Federal Government, may take action authorized under the Drug-Free Workplace Act. 3. For grantees other than individuals, Alternate I applies. 4. For grantees who are individuals, Alternate II applies. 5. Workplaces under grants, for grantees other than individuals, need not be identified on the certification. If known, they may be identified in the grant application. If the grantee does not identify the workplaces at the time of application, or upon award, if there is no application, the grantee must keep the identity of the workplace(s) on file in its office and make the information available for Federal inspection. Failure to identify all known workplaces constitutes a violation of the grantee's drug-free workplace requirements. 6. Workplace identifications must include the actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites where work under the grant takes place. Categorical descriptions may be used (e.g., all vehicles of a mass transit authority or State highway department while in operation, State employees in each local unemployment office, performers in concert halls or radio studios). 7. If the workplace identified to the agency changes during the performance of the grant, the grantee shall inform the agency of the change(s), if it previously identified the workplaces in question (see paragraph five). 8. Definitions of terms in the Nonprocurement Suspension and Debarment common rule and Drug-Free Workplace common rule apply to this certification. Grantees' attention is called, in particular, to the following definitions from these rules: Controlled substance means a controlled substance in Schedules I through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as further defined by regulation (21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15); Conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal or State criminal drug statutes; Criminal drug statute means a Federal or non-Federal criminal statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use, or possession of any controlled substance; Employee means the employee of a grantee directly engaged in the performance of work under a grant, including: (i) All direct charge employees; (ii) All indirect charge employees unless their impact or involvement is insignificant to the performance of the grant; and (iii) Temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged in the performance of work under the grant and who are on the grantee's payroll. This definition does not include workers not on the payroll of the grantee (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet a matching requirement); consultants or independent contractors not on the grantee's payroll; or employees of subrecipients or subcontractors in covered workplaces). Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements Alternate I. (Grantees Other Than Individuals) The grantee certifies that it will or will continue to provide a drug-free workplace by: (a) Publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the grantee's workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violation of such prohibition; (b) Establishing an ongoing drug-free awareness program to inform employees about-- (1) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace; (2) The grantee's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace; (3) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs; and (4) The penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations occurring in the workplace; (c) Making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in the performance of the grant be given a copy of the statement required by paragraph (a); (d) Notifying the employee in the statement required by paragraph (a) that, as a condition of employment under the grant, the employee will-- (1) Abide by the terms of the statement; and (2) Notify the employer in writing of his or her conviction for a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace no later than five calendar days after such conviction; (e) Notifying the agency in writing, within ten calendar days after receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2) from an employee or otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction. Employers of convicted employees must provide notice, including position title, to every grant officer or other designee on whose grant activity the convicted employee was working, unless the Federal agency has designated a central point for the receipt of such notices. Notice shall include the identification numbers (s) of each affected grant; (f) Taking one of the following actions, within 30 calendar days of receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2), with respect to any employee who is so convicted-- (1) Taking appropriate personnel action against such an employee, up to and including termination, consistent with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or (2) Requiring such employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other appropriate agency; (g) Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug- free workplace through implementation of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f). (B) The grantee may insert in the space provided below the site(s) for the performance of work done in connection with the specific grant. Place of Performance (Street address, city, county, state, zip code) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Check {time} if there are workplaces on file that are not identified here. Alternate II. (Grantees Who Are Individuals) (a) The grantee certifies that, as a condition of the grant, he or she will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance in conducting any activity with the grant; (b) If convicted of a criminal drug offense resulting from a violation occurring during the conduct of any grant activity, he or she will report the conviction, in writing, within 10 calendar days of the conviction, to every grant officer or other designee, unless the Federal agency designates a central point for the receipt of such notices. When notice is made to such a central point, it shall include the identification number(s) of each affected grant. [55 FR 21690, 21702, May 25, 1990] Certification Regarding Lobbying Certification for Contracts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative Agreements The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that: (1) No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member [[Page 32646]] of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement. (2) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form--LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in accordance with its instructions. (3) The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly. This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure. Statement for Loan Guarantees and Loan Insurance The undersigned states, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that: If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a loan, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form--LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in accordance with its instructions. Submission of this statement is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required statement shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Signature ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Title ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Organization ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date BILLING CODE 4184-01-P [[Page 32647]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN16JN97.042 BILLING CODE 4184-01-C [[Page 32648]] Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke Public Law 103-277, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Act), requires that smoking not be permitted in any portion of any indoor routinely owned or leased or contracted for by an entity and used routinely or regularly for provision of health, day care, education, or library services to children under the age of 18, if the services are funded by Federal programs either directly or through State or local governments, by Federal grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee. The law does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, and portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1000 per day and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. By signing and submitting this application the applicant/grantee certifies that it will comply with the requirements of the Act. The applicant/grantee further agrees that it will require the language of this certification to be included in any subawards which contain provisions for the children's services and that all subgrantees shall certify accordingly. [FR Doc. 97-15705 Filed 6-13-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-M