[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37913-37917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18527]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Human Services Transportation Technical Assistance Project

AGENCY: The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the 
Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) of the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Requests for applications for technical assistance in the area 
of human services transportation from national organizations with a 
record of assisting rural and special transportation needs.

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SUMMARY: This announcement solicits applications and describes the 
application process for the award of the cooperative agreement. It is 
the intent of HHS to fund one project which addresses the various task 
areas in this announcement. The project period will be for three years. 
However, an award will be funded only for the first year with funding 
for years two and three subject to the government's determination to 
continue the project.

DATES: The closing date for submittal of applications under this 
announcement is August 29, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send application to Grants Officer, Department of Health and 
Human Services, ASPE/IO, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 405-A, 
Washington, DC 20201. Attn: Adrienne D.B. Little.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Technical Questions, Dianne L. McSwain, HHS/IGA, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 630-F, Washington, DC 20201, Telephone: (202) 401-
5926. Questions may be faxed to (202) 690-5672 (applications may not be 
faxed for submission). Application Instructions and Forms, Copies of 
applications should be requested from and submitted to: Grants Officer, 
Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE/IO, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 405-A, Washington, DC 20201, phone (202) 690-8794. No 
faxes will be accepted. Questions concerning the preceding information 
should be submitted to the Grants Officer at the same address.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are national organizations or large 
institutions with a record of assisting rural and special 
transportation needs. Congress has indicated that the funded 
organization should have experience in administering a national toll-
free hotline and electronic informational bulletin boards. It should 
regularly publish a national technical assistance periodical, maintain 
a national network of local and State affiliates, and have demonstrated 
experience in providing information and technical assistance on human 
services transportation to local agencies and programs.

Part I. Supplementary Information

Legislative Authority

    The Transportation Coordination Technical Assistance Project 
cooperative agreement(s) are authorized by section 1110 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1310) and awards will be made from funds 
appropriated under Public Law 104-208.

Project History and Purpose

    In FY 1990, Congress authorized $250,000 for the provision of 
technical assistance to human service transportation providers. This 
effort included the compilation of data on specific target populations, 
the development of mechanisms for dissemination of information, and the 
preparation of a report to the Secretary on the provision of 
transportation services to human service clients. For FYs 1991 through 
1996, the Congress authorized $500,000 for this effort, adding funding 
for specific technical assistance in the implementation of the 
requirements of the Americans with

[[Page 37914]]

Disabilities Act (ADA). For FY 1997, the Congress has again authorized 
$500,000 for continued technical assistance in human services 
transportation.
    The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications for the 
provision of technical assistance to those organizations, agencies and 
individuals involved in the planning and provision of human services 
transportation to the clients of HHS-funded programs. This announcement 
represents a follow-on activity to the efforts funded in FYs 1991-1996.
    It is the policy of HHS to coordinate related programs at the 
Federal level wherever possible and to promote maximum feasible 
coordination at the State and local level. Coordination and 
collaborative effort maximize the resources available to address 
specific needs. Reflecting this policy, HHS and the DOT have 
established the Joint DHHS/DOT Coordinating Council on Human Services 
Transportation (Coordinating Council) as a focal point for the effort 
to coordinate HHS and DOT resources for transportation of HHS program 
client populations. The goals of the Coordinating Council are as 
follows: (1) To achieve the most cost-effective use of Federal, State 
and local resources for specialized and human services transportation; 
(2) to encourage State and local governments to take a more active role 
in the management and coordination of programs supporting specialized 
and human services transportation; (3) to adopt administrative and 
management practices in the implementation of Federal programs which 
encourage coordination among service providers and increase access to 
specialized and human services transportation; (4) to share technical 
resources and information with recipients of Federal assistance and 
transportation providers; and (5) to encourage the most efficient 
system of providing services, including consideration of private sector 
providers and use of competitive bidding.
    In support of these goals, HHS has identified the following 
objectives for the Human Services Transportation Technical Assistance 
Project: (1) To promote more efficient use of equipment, facilities, 
and staff resources at the State local level; (2) to provide 
information, technical data, and assistance to State and local agencies 
to improve management of transportation services and the acquisition of 
appropriate equipment and facilities and, more specifically, to assist 
states and localities in identifying needs, planning and implementing 
transportation alternatives for those individuals moving from welfare 
to work. Applicants should reflect an understanding of these goals and 
objectives in their applications.

Available Funds

    HHS intends to award one cooperative agreement resulting from this 
announcement. HHS anticipates awarding approximately $400,000 through a 
cooperative agreement.

Period of Performance

    The start-up date of the project will be September 15, 1997 for a 
project period of 36 months. However, an award will be funded only for 
the first year with funding for years two and three subject to the 
government's determination to continue the project.

Part II. Human Services Transportation Technical Assistance Project--
Responsibilities of the Awardees and the Federal Government

Awardee Responsibilities

    The Human Services Technical Assistance project requires the 
development and maintenance of mechanisms to provide information, 
technical assistance, and training to HHS human services transportation 
planners and providers on the efficient use of transit resources, 
equipment and facilities. Applicants should be aware of and be 
sensitive to the need to coordinate the activities herein with the 
activities of the Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) funded 
through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the Department of 
Transportation (DOT) and ongoing relevant transportation efforts by 
other federal departments. A listing of federal human services 
transportation funding sources can be found in the publication, 
``Building Mobility Partnerships'' available through the National 
Transit Resource Center at 1-800-527-8279. Knowledge of the universe of 
federal efforts pertaining to the transportation of human services 
clients will be considered partially indicative of ability to perform 
the required tasks.
    The following tasks are to be specifically addressed in the project 
narrative of the application. Applicants are encouraged to be 
innovative and to suggest additional or alternative approaches through 
subtasks that may improve the potential for successful completion of 
the task. However, applicants are cautioned to provide suggestions for 
additional subtasks judiciously with concern for the overall cost of 
the project. There will be no additional funds beyond those 
appropriated by Congress for this project.

Task I: Project Planning and Coordination

    Task I entails the preparation of a detailed work plan of the 
activities proposed to meet the stated objectives of the project, 
including monthly meetings with the federal project staff, quarterly 
written progress reports and a final report due at the end of the 
project period. The work plan provides detailed descriptions of task 
activities, details on the intended staffing pattern and specific 
responsibilities within the project, specific time frames for the 
accomplishment of the activities in measurable terms and reflects 
consultation with the Federal Project Officer (FPO). In the second and 
third year, additional planning with the FPO should be reflected to 
allow for the annual minor project adjustments needed to keep the tasks 
relevant to consumer need.
    In addition, it is anticipated that an evaluation of the 
effectiveness of the technical assistance efforts of the Community 
Transportation Assistance Project (CTAP) may be undertaken through the 
Human Service Transportation Research and Analysis project. The awardee 
might include possible activities to support and assist in this 
evaluation.

Task II: Development and Maintenance of Human Services Transportation 
Resource Center

    Task II addresses the development and maintenance of a central 
repository of information and technical assistance materials for 
developing or improving coordinated transportation systems (hereafter 
known as the Resource Center). Access to the Resource Center should be 
available to State and local human service agencies, planning entities, 
government decision-makers and transportation service providers. The 
Resource Center will be the focal point for the ongoing collection and 
dissemination of information on issues of specific concern to human 
services transportation planners and providers as the issues evolve. A 
priority of the Resource Center will be the support of regional, State 
or local groups seeking to improve coordination of human services 
transportation as well as those groups emphasizing employment and child 
care transportation for low-income and welfare recipients.
    The Resource Center collection of materials will represent the 
universe of reports, studies, and additional written and video 
materials that represent the current knowledge base in human services 
transportation. The Resource Center will include, at a minimum,

[[Page 37915]]

federal- and State-produced reports, technical assistance and training 
materials, federal human service transit-related legislation and 
regulations, training and technical assistance materials that will be 
developed through this effort, relevant research reports, and other 
relevant materials as identified by HHS, the Coordinating Council, or 
the awardee. All materials distributed through this project should 
carry the appropriate attribution in commonly accepted format. A 
thorough listing of proposed initial holdings for the Resource Center 
will be considered partially indicative of the ability to undertake 
this task. Although the awardee is encouraged to minimize costs by 
referral to other resources for acquisition of documents, a minimum of 
one copy of each identified referral piece will be maintained in the 
Resource Center for research purposes. In order to encourage students 
and practitioners to further the knowledge base, the Resource Center 
will be made available, within reasonable constraints, to individuals 
or organizations wishing to do research in the area of human services 
transportation.
    Activities that might be undertaken to accomplish this task 
include: (1) Providing ready access to the technical assistance and 
information of the Center such as through the use of physical access, 
``hotlines'' and the Internet; (2) developing a mechanism for periodic 
systematic searches of appropriate online information services to 
identify new materials; (3) maintaining ongoing relationships with the 
recognized individuals undertaking research in relevant fields in order 
to identify new work and to provide feedback on new issues to be 
explored; (4) identifying and maintaining contact with relevant 
transportation-related programs in colleges and universities; (5) 
developing and maintaining a calendar of the meetings, conferences and 
events of major organizations that would be of interest to the human 
services transportation field; and (6) developing procedures to ensure 
that organizations or individuals obtain requested materials or 
information in a timely manner. (Applicants are encouraged to 
disseminate information through links with other agencies rather than 
attempting to store and disseminate documents large quantities of 
documents);

Task III: Development and Coordination of a Resource Network of 
Knowledgeable Practitioners of Human Services Transportation

    Task II represents the establishment and coordination of a network 
of identified, certified practitioners in the field of human services 
transportation whose expertise can be made available to transportation 
planners or providers. Such expertise might be called upon for 
presentations at conferences or meetings, through telephone or written 
exchange, or on-site visits.
    The following activities at a minimum, might be undertaken to 
complete this task; (1) Develop a set of criteria against which 
practitioners may be certified, (2) develop and implement a plan to 
identify practitioners for certification, (3) develop an automated 
database to manage the certified practitioner data, including name, 
contact information, specific expertise, title and description of 
current transportation position, and record of activity within the peer 
network; (4) develop a mechanism for screening requests for technical 
assistance which will identify the need for practitioner assistance and 
that assistance can be provided by telephone, in writing, or if an on-
site visit is warranted, and (5) develop a process for documenting the 
practitioner contacts for inclusion in the Resource Center and to be 
summarized in the quarterly reports. Emphasis might be placed on the 
use of certified peers in ways to meet the most need.

Task IV: Disseminate Information on the Provision of Human Services 
Transportation

    Task IV addresses the dissemination of the information compiled 
through the Resource Center activities, information accumulated under 
Task III, and information that the federal government deems necessary 
for distribution to the human services transportation network. The 
dissemination of information and materials relating to the implementing 
of the ADA transportation requirements, the effective coordination of 
transportation resources and successful approaches to employment and 
child care transportation for low-income individuals and welfare 
recipients are of priority under this task.
    Project dissemination activities under Task IV will be coordinated 
with those of regional, State and other federal human services 
transportation coordination efforts to avoid duplication of efforts and 
to construct complementary and mutually beneficial activities. Under no 
circumstances should the awardee undertake the development of technical 
assistance or training information or materials that knowingly 
duplicate existing information or materials without prior written 
permission of the FPO. Whenever possible, partnering in the development 
of technical assistance materials is desirable with the understanding 
that the use of project funds for such an effort must be clearly 
identifiable.
    At a minimum the awardee would be expected to undertake the 
following activities in support of Task IV: (1) Identifying 
opportunities to disseminate information through the existing 
publications of relevant human services organizations on human services 
transportation issues (a minimum of 6 articles during the project 
period); (2) identifying and coordinating through the practitioner 
network requests for conveners and facilitator for regional, State and 
local-level human services organizations and forums (a minimum of 6 
opportunities); (3) identifying, tracking and coordinating activities 
of other major national or regional human services organizations 
interested in human services transportation with activities planned 
under this project including identifying opportunities to participate 
in national or regional conferences (present at minimum of 5 human 
services meetings); (4) assist with the planning and facilitation of 
such regional conferences as may be held by HHS and FTA; (5) ensuring 
the availability of current information on the project resources and 
the Resource Center including the dissemination of a basic information 
package on the Resource Center through the major human services 
networks, at a minimum of once a year; (6) continue to disseminate the 
information on the transportation requirements of the ADA, as well as 
additional transportation requirements such as drug and alcohol testing 
and blood born pathogens handling, prepared summaries on these 
requirements as prepared during previous Human Services Transportation 
Training and Technical Assistance projects; (7) compile information on 
the transportation needs and experiences related to moving individuals 
from welfare to work, as well as the necessary link to child care, (8) 
compiling information on the usage of the Resource Center and 
dissemination activities, including but not limited to the data on the 
rate of use, kinds of inquiries, and types of requesting organizations, 
to be included in the monthly project meetings; and (9) indicate a 
process for screening requests for information and technical assistance 
which will identify the appropriate level and type of technical 
assistance, such as immediate telephone response, research and 
compilation of a written response, practitioner network assistance by 
telephone, in writing, or through an on-site visit.

[[Page 37916]]

Federal Government Cooperative Agreement Responsibilities

    HHS or its representatives will provide: (1) Consultation and 
technical assistance in planning, operating, and evaluating the 
technical assistance activities of the project; (2) up-to-date 
information on federal government regulations identified as affecting 
the provision of transportation services to human service clients; (3) 
assistance in the evaluation of project effectiveness; (4) assistance 
in collaborating with appropriate State and local governmental entities 
in the performance of the project activities; (5) assistance in the 
identification of HHS information and technical assistance resources 
pertinent to the success of this project; and (6) assistance in the 
transfer of ``successful practices'' in the human services 
transportation to other Federal, State and local entities.

Part III. Application Preparation and Evaluation Criteria

    This part contains information on the preparation of an application 
for submission under this announcement, the forms necessary for 
submission and the evaluation criteria under which the applications 
will be reviewed. Potential applicants should read this part carefully 
in conjunction with the information provided in Part II.
    To ensure that organizations with the greatest capacity for 
providing quality services participate in this effort, applicants for 
funding under the announcement should reflect, in the program narrative 
section of the application, how they will be able to fulfill the 
responsibilities and requirements described in this section of the 
announcement. Applicants must address all the identified tasks. It is 
the intent of HHS to make an award sufficient to accomplish the entire 
scope of effort described in this announcement, if submissions of 
sufficient scope and quality are received to permit it.
    The applicant should include: (1) A management plan, which sets 
forth how the project will be managed and who will be the key personnel 
involved, including a Gantt chart and other graphics which specifically 
display the management information provided in text; and (2) a budget 
plan, which specifically delineates the costs associated with the 
project. When the applicant chooses to suggest additional efforts to 
support a task, the cost of those additional efforts (not required by 
this announcement) should be separately identified. However, at no time 
will a proposed budget in excess of $400,000 for all the Tasks listed 
in the Announcement be considered for funding, unless the amount in 
excess of $400,000 represents grantee cost-sharing.

Review Process and Funding Information

    Applications that are submitted by the deadline date and which meet 
the screening criteria will be reviewed and scored competitively. The 
applications will be reviewed using the evaluation criteria listed 
below to score the applications. These review results will be a primary 
factor in funding decisions.
    HHS reserves the option to discuss applications with other Federal 
agencies, Central or Regional Office staff, specialists, experts, 
States and the general public. Comments from these sources, along with 
those of the reviewers, will be considered in making funding decisions.

State Single Point of Contact (E.O. No. 12372)

    The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that 
this program is not subject to Executive Order No. 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, because it is a program 
that is national in scope and the only impact on State and local 
governments would be through subgrants. Applicants are not required to 
seek intergovernmental review of their applications within the 
constraints of E.O. No. 12372.

Deadline for Submittal of Applications

    The closing date for submittal of applications under this 
announcement is August 29, 1997. Applications must be postmarked or 
hand-delivered to the application receipt point no later than 5 p.m. on 
August 29, 1997.
    Hand-delivered applications will be accepted Monday through Friday 
prior to and on August 29, 1997, during the working hours of 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. in the lobby of the Hubert H. Humphrey building located at 200 
Independence Avenue, SW, in Washington, DC. When hand-delivering an 
application, call 690-8794 from the lobby for pick up. A staff person 
will be available to receive applications.
    An application will be considered as meeting the deadline if it is 
either: (1) Received at, or hand-delivered to, the mailing address on 
or before August 29, 1997, or (2) Postmarked before midnight of the 
deadline date, August 29, 1997, and received in time to be considered 
during the competitive review process (within two weeks of the deadline 
date).
    When mailing application packages, applicants are strongly advised 
to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier (such as 
UPS, Federal Express, etc.) or from the U.S. Postal Service as proof of 
mailing by the deadline date. If there is a question as to when an 
application was mailed, applicants will be asked to provide proof of 
mailing by the deadline date. When proof is not provided, an 
application will not be considered for funding. Private metered 
postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Applications which do not meet the August 29, 1997, deadline are 
considered late applications and will not be considered or reviewed in 
the current competition. HHS will send a letter to this effect to each 
late applicant.
    HHS reserves the right to extend the deadline for all applications 
due to acts of God, such as floods, hurricanes or earthquakes; due to 
acts of war; if there is widespread disruption of the mail; or if HHS 
determines a deadline extension to be in the best interest of the 
Government. However, HHS will not waive or extend the deadline for any 
applicant unless the deadline is waived or extended for all applicants.

Application Requirements

    Applicants are advised to read and follow this section very 
carefully. Applications which do not meet these initial requirements 
may not be considered or reviewed in the competition, and the applicant 
will be so informed. A complete and conforming application must meet 
the following requirements:
    Eligible applicants are national organizations or large 
institutions with a record of assisting rural and special 
transportation needs. Congress has indicated that the funded 
organization should have experience in administering a national toll-
free hotline and electronic informational bulletin boards. It should 
regularly publish a national technical assistance periodical, maintain 
a national network of local and State affiliates, and have demonstrated 
experience in providing information and technical assistance on human 
service transportation to local agencies and programs.

Application Forms

    See section entitled ``Components of a Complete Application.'' All 
of these documents must accompany the application package.

Maximum Length

    No specific limit will be set for the length of the application. 
However, applications that are overly long and/or

[[Page 37917]]

contain superfluous material will be viewed as indicating an 
inefficient approach.

Evaluation Criteria

    The evaluation criteria correspond to the outline for the 
development of the Program Narrative Statement of the application. 
Although not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that applications be 
prepared with the format indicated by this outline.
    Applications which meet the initial requirements will be reviewed 
by a panel of at least three reviewers. Reviewers will determine the 
strengths and weaknesses of each application in terms of the evaluation 
criteria listed below, provide comments and assign numerical scores. 
The point value following each criterion heading indicates the maximum 
numerical weight that each section will be given in the review process.
    1. Understanding of the Effort. The application discusses in detail 
the applicant's understanding of the need for the project, the 
background and evolution of the effort to coordinate human services 
transportation, the significant participants in the coordination 
effort, the universe of current federal activities, and the specific 
relevance of the proposed tasks to the identified need. The application 
relates the project to the goals and objectives described in the first 
section of this announcement. 20 points
    2. Project Approach. The application outlines a sound and workable 
approach to the effort and details how the proposed tasks will be 
accomplished; cites factors which might accelerate or decelerate the 
work, giving acceptable reasons for taking this approach as opposed to 
others; describes and supports any unusual features of the project, 
such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or 
time, or extraordinary collaborative involvements; and provides for 
projections of the accomplishments to be achieved. It lists the 
activities to be carried out in chronological order, showing a 
reasonable schedule of accomplishments and target dates.
    To the extent applicable, the application identifies the kinds of 
data to be collected and/or maintained, and discusses the criteria to 
be used to evaluate the results and successes of the project. It 
describes the evaluation methodology that will be used to determine if 
the needs identified and discussed are being met and if the results and 
benefits identified are being achieved. The application also lists each 
organization, agency, consultant, or other key individuals or groups 
who will work on the project, along with a description of the 
activities and nature of their effort or contribution. 35 points
    3. Staffing Utilization, Staff Background and Experience. The 
application identifies the background of the principal project staff 
members. The name, address, training, educational background, and other 
qualifying experience are provided for the project director and the key 
project staff. Any staff to be added as a result of the award of this 
Cooperative agreement should be clearly delineated. The applicant 
provides assurance that the proposed staff will be available to work on 
the project effort upon award of the cooperative agreement. The 
principal author of the application is identified and that person's 
role in the project is identified. An assurance of timely notification 
of staff changes and/or revised staff responsibilities is requested. 20 
points
    4. Organizational Experience. The application identifies the 
qualifying experience of the organization to demonstrate the 
applicant's ability to effectively and efficiently administer this 
project. Congress has directed HHS to identify the applicant as a 
national organization or large institution with a record of assisting 
rural and special transportation needs. The organization should have 
experience in administering a national toll free assistance hotline and 
electronic informational bulletin boards. It should regularly publish a 
national technical assistance periodical, maintain a national network 
of local and state affiliates, and have demonstrated experience in 
providing information and technical assistance on human services 
transportation to local agencies and programs. Previous specific 
experience with work similar to the tasks proposed in clearly and 
specifically described.
    The relationship between this project and other work planned, 
anticipated, or underway by the applicant is described, including a 
chart which lists all related Federal assistance received within the 
last five years. In the event a consortium of applicants is proposed, 
the project history of prior joint work should be provided. The 
previous Federal assistance is identified by project number, Federal 
agency, and grants or contracting officer. 25 points

Components of a Complete Application

    A complete application consists of the following items in this 
order:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424, REV 4-88);
2. Budget Information--Non-construction Programs (Standard Form 424A, 
REV 4-88);
3. Assurances--Non-construction Programs (Standard Form 424B, REV 4-
88);
4. Table of Contents;
5. Budget justification for Section B-Budget Categories;
6. Proof of non-profit status, if appropriate;
7. Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate agreement, if 
necessary;
8. Project Narrative Statement, organized in four sections addressing 
the following areas:
    (a) Understanding of the Effort,
    (b) Project Approach,
    (c) Staffing Utilization, Staff Background, and Experience,
    (d) Organizational Experience;
9. Any appendices/attachments;
10. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace;
11. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters;
12. Certification and, if necessary, Disclosure Regarding Lobbying;
13. Supplement to Section II--Key Personnel;
14. Application for Federal Assistance Checklist.

    Dated: July 9, 1997.
David Garrison,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 97-18527 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151-04-M