[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38545-38554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19009]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families
[Program Announcement No. ACYF-PA-CC-97-03]


Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization Child 
Care Grants

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of competitive financial 
assistance for Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian 
Organization Child Care Grants.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this program announcement is to announce the 
availability of fiscal year 1998

[[Page 38546]]

Discretionary Funds, authorized under the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (the Act), as amended, for child care grants 
to:
    (1) A Native Hawaiian organization; and
    (2) A private nonprofit organization established for the purpose of 
serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.

DATES: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 
p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on September 16, 1997. Applications postmarked 
after the closing will be classified as late.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginny Gorman, Administration for 
Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, Room 320F, Hubert Humphrey 
Building 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Phone: 
(202) 401-7260, Fax: (202) 690-5600, E-mail: [email protected]

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUBMIT APPLICATION: If you intend to submit an 
application, please contact ACYF's Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293 
with the following information: the number and title of this 
announcement; your organization's name and address; and your contact 
person's name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.
    The information will be used to determine the number of expert 
reviewers needed to evaluate applications and to update the mailing 
list for program announcements.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant 
Application Form covering all ACF announcements, contained in the 
Application Kit, and this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section contain all 
the forms and instructions needed to apply for a grant under this 
announcement. No additional application materials are needed.
    The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section consists of six parts. Part I 
provides general information about funding requirements, and 
application procedures for child care grants under this program 
announcement. Part II provides background information on ACYF, the 
Child Care Bureau, and funding to Indian Tribes and tribal 
organizations under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Part 
III describes child care goals and priorities related to this 
announcement. Part IV describes the Project Narrative Statement and 
outlines additional requirements for applicants in designing their 
projects. Part V describes the evaluation criteria and selection 
process. Part VI provides additional instructions for the development 
and submission of applications and summarizes the application review 
process.

Part I. General Information

A. Purpose

    The purpose of this program announcement is to provide funding for 
two child care programs: One serving Native Hawaiian youths; and one 
serving Indian and/or Native Hawaiian youths.

B. Citations

1. Sponsorship
    Grants being awarded under this announcement are sponsored by the 
Child Care Bureau (the Bureau) of the Administration on Children, Youth 
and Families (ACYF) in the Administration for Children and Families 
(ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The 
projects will be managed by the Bureau.
2. Funding Authority
    Funding is being provided by ACF under Section 658B of the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9858).
3. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.575.

C. Number of Awards

    Two projects will be funded in fiscal year 1998 (beginning October 
1, 1997), subject to the availability of funds and results of the 
evaluation process.

D. Project Duration

    The total project period will be 36 months.

E. Funding Levels and Budget Periods

    Initial awards will be for a one-year budget period. Individual 
projects will receive between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for the first 
budget period of 12 months, with a possibility of between $500,000 and 
$1,000,000 per year in continuation funding to be awarded in each of 
fiscal years 1999 and 2000. The estimated total Federal funding for a 
three-year project is between $1,500,000 and $3,000,000.
    Applications for continuation of grants funded under this 
announcement will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-
competitive basis. The award of continuation funding beyond each one-
year budget period (but within the three-year project period) will be 
subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the 
grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the 
best interest of the government.

F. Non-Federal Share of Project Costs

    While grantees are not required to provide a match to receive 
funding under this program announcement, applicants are strongly 
encouraged to leverage funds from other sources for this project.

G. Eligibility

    The following organizations are eligible to apply for funding under 
this program announcement:
     A private non-profit organization that serves the 
interests of Native Hawaiians and is recognized by the Governor of 
Hawaii for the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering 
programs (or parts of programs) for the benefit of Native Hawaiians; 
and
     A private non-profit organization established for the 
purpose of serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.
    Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit 
proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of 
submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a 
copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) 
most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in Section 
501(c)(3) of the IRS code or by providing a copy of the currently valid 
IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles 
of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation 
or association is domiciled.
    At least 90 percent of the individuals serving on a non-profit 
applicant's board must fall into one or more of the following 
categories: (1) Must be a current or past member of the community to be 
served; (2) be a prospective participant in or beneficiary of the 
project to be funded; or (3) have a cultural relationship with the 
community to be served.
    ``Community'' is defined as a group with common interests and a 
common identity, such as an Indian Tribe, Alaska Native Village, or a 
group of Native Hawaiians living in a given geographic area, and all 
those residing or participating in a predominantly Native Hawaiian 
community.
    If an Indian organization is already receiving Child Care and 
Development Fund (CCDF) funding, it is not eligible to apply for 
Discretionary Funds under this program announcement. Only one 
application will be accepted from each eligible applicant.

[[Page 38547]]

Part II. Background and Context

A. The Child Care Bureau

    The Child Care Bureau is that agency within the Federal Government 
with the most far-reaching mandate for child care. Established in 1995 
to provide new leadership and consolidate Federal responsibilities for 
subsidized child care programs within the Department of Health and 
Human Services, the Bureau administers some $2.9 billion in Federal 
child care dollars annually.
    The Bureau works closely with States, Territories, Tribes and local 
communities to develop cost-effective services and delivery systems, 
promotes joint ventures with the private sector, and provides 
information and other assistance to parents. In addition, the Bureau 
collaborates extensively with other offices throughout the Federal 
government to promote integrated, family-focused services and 
coordinated child care delivery systems.
    In all of these activities, the Bureau seeks to enhance the 
quality, availability and affordability of child care services, to 
support children's healthy growth and development in safe child care 
environments, to enhance parental choice and involvement in their 
children's care, and to facilitate the linkage of child care with other 
community services.
    The Bureau's central responsibility is administration of a new 
integrated child care program created by title VI of the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 
104-193) which became effective October 1, 1996. This law created new 
child care funding under Sec. 418 of the Social Security Act and 
consolidated it under the amended Child Care and Development Block 
Grant Act, allowing States and Tribes to design comprehensive, 
integrated service delivery systems to meet the needs of low-income 
working families. For ease of reference, the newly consolidated funding 
sources are known as the ``Child Care and Development Fund'' (CCDF). In 
fiscal year 1997, States will receive more than $2 billion and Tribes 
and tribal organizations will receive $59 million in CCDF funds.
    The CCDF is available to States, Territories, Indian Tribes, and 
tribal organizations to: Provide low-income families with the financial 
resources to find and afford quality child care for their children; 
increase the affordability of child care for low-income families; 
enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all 
families, including those that receive no direct assistance under CCDF; 
provide parents with a broad range of options in addressing their child 
care needs; strengthen the role of the family; and coordination among 
child care programs and early childhood development programs.
    In administering the CCDF, the Bureau develops policies, monitors 
service delivery systems, and provides technical assistance in close 
cooperation with ten DHHS Regional Offices that in turn work directly 
with States, Territories and Indian Tribes and tribal consortia.

B. Grants to Indian Tribes and Tribal Consortia

    The CCDF is comprised of two funding sources for Tribes and tribal 
consortia:
     Discretionary Funds--funding that is provided under the 
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended; and
     Tribal Mandatory Funds--funding that is provided to 
eligible tribal organizations under Section 418 of the Social Security 
Act.
    Currently, approximately 237 Indian Tribes and tribal consortia 
receive CCDF funds. Through consortia arrangements, these grantees 
serve over 500 federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native 
Villages.
    A Tribe is eligible to receive CCDF funds if it is federally 
recognized and the tribal population includes at least 50 children 
under 13 years of age (or such similar age, as determined by the 
Secretary from the best available data). A Tribe with fewer than 50 
children under age 13 may participate in a consortium of eligible 
tribes.
    In order to receive CCDF funds, eligible Tribes and tribal 
consortia develop a plan for child care services. The plan is an 
agreement between the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) 
and the Tribal agency responsible for administering the CCDF funds. The 
plans provide assurances that the funds will be administered in 
conformance with the Act, pertinent Federal regulations, and other 
applicable instructions or guidelines issued by ACF.

C. Grants to ``Other Organizations''

    The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
of 1996 (PRWORA) amended the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
(CCDBG), to add the following definition to the term ``tribal 
organization'' that are potentially eligible for Discretionary Funding:

    ``Other organizations--Such term includes a Native Hawaiian 
Organization, as defined in section 4009(4) of the Augustus F. 
Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School 
Improvement Amendments of 1988 and a private nonprofit organization 
established for the purpose of serving youth who are Indians or 
Native Hawaiians.''

    Section 4009(4) of the Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford 
Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988 defines 
a Native Hawaiian Organization as:

    ``A private nonprofit organization that serves the interests of 
Native Hawaiians, and is recognized by the Governor of Hawaii for 
the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering programs (or 
parts of programs) for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.''

    Applicants are eligible to apply only for Discretionary Funds under 
this announcement. Native Hawaiian organizations and private nonprofit 
organizations established for the purpose of serving youth, who are 
Indians or Native Hawaiians are not eligible to apply for Tribal 
Mandatory Funds.

Part III. Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization 
Child Care Grants--Goals and Priorities

    Following the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193), the Child 
Care Bureau held a series of conference calls with its tribal grantees, 
hosted a meeting of its Tribal Work Group, and held workshops on the 
implementation of CCDF sections of the law at an ACF-sponsored 
conference for Tribes on Tribal Welfare Reform in October 1996.
    As a result of these discussions, it is clear that tribal grantees 
are interested in designing services adapted to individual tribal 
circumstances and coordinating resources that will assist in moving 
families on the path toward social and economic self-sufficiency.
    For this reason, applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate 
activities with agencies serving the same population of the applicant 
agency for: health (including the agency responsible for 
immunizations), education, employment services or workforce 
development, and the agency responsible for providing Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
    Grants are awarded under this announcement to increase the 
availability, affordability and quality of child care services by 
establishing child care programs in areas that have been previously 
underserved and/or have unmet needs.

[[Page 38548]]

A. Regulatory and Statutory Requirements

    The majority of the information requested under Section IV, Program 
Narrative, of this program announcement is required by the current 
regulations at 45 CFR part 98 and the CCDBG Act, as amended. Unless 
otherwise indicated, the regulations at 45 CFR part 98 will apply to 
grants awarded under this program announcement. As discussed in Part 
II., B. Background and Context, this information is requested in the 
CCDF plan for Tribes and tribal consortia. However, since the CCDF plan 
is not appropriate for grants under this announcement, the regulatory 
and statutory information required by the CCDF is included in Part IV, 
Program Narrative. An applicant must also include a statement that it 
will comply with the applicable list of assurances found in 45 CFR 
98.15 of the CCDBG final rule.

B. Eligibility for Services

    In order to best meet the purposes of the Act, we believe it is 
appropriate for grantees under this announcement to meet most of the 
same requirements as grantees receiving tribal formula grants under the 
CCDF program.
    All eligible children must be under the age of 13 and reside with a 
family whose income does not exceed 85% of the grantee median income 
for a family of the same size and whose parent(s) are working or 
attending a job training or educational program or who receive or need 
to receive protective services. Grantee median income may be defined 
as: (1) Tribal median income for a family of the same size residing in 
the area served by the applicant; or (2) State median income for a 
family of the same size.
    An applicant must indicate which income eligibility definition it 
plans to use in establishing a child care program under this 
announcement. In addition, an applicant must define the following 
terms, as used in their application: Working, attending, job training 
or educational program, protective services and in loco parentis. 
Instructions on defining these terms are included in the Application 
Kit's ``Supplemental Guide.''
    An applicant may elect to establish additional eligibility 
criteria. For example, an applicant may establish different income 
limits for part of the population to be served. Any additional 
eligibility criteria need to be clearly identified and defined by the 
applicant. An applicant may also elect to waive, on a case-by-case 
basis, the fee and income eligibility requirements for cases in which 
children receive or need to receive protective services.
    An applicant is encouraged to provide child care for children age 
13 and older who are physically and/or mentally incapable of self-care, 
but must define these terms in their application. An applicant may also 
provide child care for children age 13 and older who are under court 
supervision. If care is to be provided in either circumstance, the 
applicant must specify the age of the children to be served, up to age 
19.
    In designing a child care program, an applicant is encouraged to 
address the before- and after-school care needs of eligible children to 
be served under this program announcement.

C. Coordination

    The applicant must describe how it will coordinate the delivery of 
CCDF-funded child care services with other Federal, State, and local 
child care, early childhood development programs, and before- and 
after-school care services, if applicable.
    Child care should be an integral part of a community's self-
sufficiency and workforce development efforts. In addition, the quality 
of child care benefits greatly from close coordination with the public 
health and education communities. Therefore, it is recommended that the 
applicant include a description of its coordination activities with 
agencies responsible for health (including the agency responsible for 
immunizations), education, employment services or workforce 
development, and the agency responsible for providing Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

D. Public Notice

    As part of the planning process, an applicant must notify those 
families eligible to be served under this program announcement of the 
provision of child care services proposed under this project. 
Applicants are encouraged to engage in a planning process that includes 
parents, providers, and other relevant stakeholders in the community to 
be served.

E. Parental Choice

    One of the goals of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act 
is ``to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make 
their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's 
needs.'' In support of this goal, applicants are expected to design and 
implement a certificate program since it promotes parental choice in 
selecting CCDF-funded child care providers.
    However, while certificates ensure parental choice, contracted 
slots also play an important role in meeting the child care needs of 
families, particularly in rural areas, for infant-care, or for children 
with special needs.
    Therefore, it is incumbent upon an applicant to design a child care 
program that will adequately address the needs and unique circumstances 
of the population it intends to serve through a grant awarded under 
this program announcement. If an applicant is unable to operate a 
certificate program, or chooses to provide child care services through 
grants and contracts exclusively, it must justify this approach in its 
program narrative and assure how it will promote parental choice.

F. Quality Activities

    In developing a child care program, applicants are encouraged to 
include activities to improve the availability and quality of child 
care. Examples of activities undertaken by CCDF-funded tribal child 
care programs include: (1) Resource and referral programs; (2) grants 
or loans to providers to assist in meeting standards; (3) monitoring of 
compliance with licensing and regulatory requirements; (4) training and 
technical assistance; (5) compensation for child care providers; and 
(6) comprehensive consumer education. An applicant may select 
activities from this list of examples, or design other quality 
activities that are better suited to the population to be served 
through a grant awarded under this program announcement.

G. Construction and/or Renovation of Child Care Facilities

    Title VI of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) amended the Child Care and 
Development Block Grant Act to permit Tribal grantees to use CCDF funds 
for construction and renovation of child care facilities. Therefore, in 
its grant application, the applicant should describe any anticipated 
construction and renovation projects that will be funded with CCDF 
funds, and estimate the amount of funds that will be used for these 
projects.
    However, grant funds cannot be spent for construction or renovation 
until a grantee has applied for and received approval, through a 
separate application process, from the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS). A grantee may submit a request to spend part of its 
grant for construction or renovation through this separate application 
process once it has been awarded a CCDF grant under this announcement.

[[Page 38549]]

    As part of the separate application process, a grantee must show 
that adequate facilities are not otherwise available to carry out child 
care programs, and that the lack of facilities will inhibit the 
operation of such programs in the future. The amount of funds that a 
grantee may request for construction or renovation through the separate 
application process is limited to the amount estimated in the grantee's 
original CCDF application under this announcement.
    Furthermore, statutory language at section 6580(c)(6) of the 
revised CCDBG Act indicates that Congress does not intend for 
construction and renovation projects to unnecessarily divert resources 
from the provision of child care services. Because grants under this 
announcement are designed to establish child care programs in areas 
with unmet need, a grantee should reserve adequate funds for direct 
child care services. While some construction and renovation activity is 
allowable under this program announcement, in accordance with Part V., 
Section A., 5. Budget, an applicant will have to demonstrate that funds 
will be used for direct child care services and the funds requested are 
reasonable in regard to the number of eligible children to be served.

Part IV. Project Narrative Statement

    The Project Narrative Statement is that section of the application 
which provides most of the information on which proposals will be 
competitively reviewed. The standard set of Program Narrative 
requirements in the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form 
apply broadly to all ACF program announcements. Specific requirements 
for this announcement are detailed below. Applicants should tailor 
their Project Narrative to these specific requirements.
    The Project Narrative should be carefully developed in accordance 
with the goals and priorities described in Part III, the proposal 
preparation requirements described in this Part, and the evaluation 
criteria and selection factors described in Part V.
    The Project Narrative sets forth the technical proposal and 
describes how it will be carried out. This statement should be 
organized according to the evaluation criteria contained in Part V as 
follows: (A) Issues, Objectives and Significance; (B) Approach and 
Activities; (C) Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications; (D) 
Results and Benefits Expected; and (E) Budget.
    Applicants proposing multi-year projects must fully describe each 
year's project activities in the Project Narrative. A separate itemized 
budget of the Federal costs of the project for each budget period must 
be included in this section.

A. Issues, Objectives and Significance

    In this section, applicants demonstrate their understanding of 
child care issues and present their long-range child care goals. The 
need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and 
subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated.
    Applicants must clearly identify the critical child care issues 
affecting Native Hawaiian and/or Indian low-income families and the 
challenges they face. Supporting documentation such as letters of 
support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the 
applicant may be included.
    Applicants must provide participant and beneficiary information. 
Specifically, information must be included on the number of Native 
Hawaiian and/or Indian children who would be eligible to receive child 
care services under this program announcement.
    Applicants must establish payment rates for child care services 
that ensure eligible children equal access to comparable care. A copy 
of the proposed payment rates must be included in the application.
    Applicants must document the type of involvement and support of the 
community in the planning process and implementation of the proposed 
project. Applicants must describe when and with whom they consulted in 
developing this proposal. Applicants must explain how they will notify 
those families eligible to be served under this grant of the provision 
of child care services proposed under this project.
    Applicants must describe how they will coordinate the delivery of 
CCDF-funded child care services with other Federal, State, and local 
child care, early childhood development programs, and before- and 
after-school care services.
    Any coordination activities under this project with agencies 
responsible for health, education, employment services or workforce 
development and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) should 
be described in this section.
    Applicants are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of 
the child care programs administered by the Child Care Bureau and the 
policies and funding requirements that apply to these grants.

B. Approach and Activities

    The Approach and Activities section details a specific project 
design and implementation plan. This section should address two broad 
areas: (1) Specific project activities related to the design and 
implementation of child care services under this grant; and (2) 
management and coordination necessary for implementation of the 
project.
1. Approach
    The applicant must describe its proposed approach in addressing the 
following:
     Offering a certificate program that allows parents to 
choose from a variety of child care categories, including center-based 
care, group home care, family child care and in-home care (including a 
description of the certificate payment system);
     Using grants or contracts for child care slots, if 
applicable;
     Reasons for limiting the use of in-home care, if 
applicable;
     Developing a methodologically sound system for determining 
the facts relied upon to determine that payment rates are sufficient to 
ensure equal access to comparable child care services provided to 
children whose parents are not eligible to receive child care 
assistance under the CCDF and other governmental programs. (A summary 
of those facts must also be included);
     Eligibility criteria and requirements, including how the 
applicant will give priority for child care services to children with 
special needs;
     The sliding fee scale to be used to determine each 
family's contribution to the cost of care (including whether families 
below the poverty level would be exempted from the fee);
     Processes with parents including: informing parents about 
child care services and options, making applications, and eligibility 
determinations; information on parental complaints; and affording 
parents unlimited access to their children receiving CCDF-funded child 
care services;
     Providing activities to improve the availability and 
quality of child care (examples of these activities are listed under 
Section III.F);
     Required health and safety standards by type of provider;
     Licensing requirements which apply to a provider of child 
care services under a grant; and
     Collecting data on children and families receiving CCDF-
funded child care services (the Supplemental Guide

[[Page 38550]]

provides specific data collection requirements).
2. Implementation Plan
    This section must include a sound and workable plan of action that 
describes how the proposed project would be carried out, including: How 
the project would be structured and managed; how roles and functions 
would be coordinated; how the timeliness of activities would be 
ensured; how quality control would be maintained; and how costs would 
be controlled. Applicants should describe their management of the 
project as a whole, and the management and coordinating roles of 
subgrantees under grants and contracts, if applicable.
     Provide a diagram showing the organizational structure of 
the applicant organization and the functional relationships among 
subgrantees, if applicable;
     Lay out the major tasks to illustrate the sequence and 
timing of tasks, time commitments of staff, important milestones, 
reports, and completion dates;
     Describe potential problems or difficulties with the 
proposed management approach, including factors that might affect the 
implementation of the child care program in the community to be served;
     Describe how subgrantees would coordinate their management 
of project tasks and other functions, if applicable; and
     Describe how the delivery of CCDF-funded child care 
services will be coordinated with other Federal, State, and local child 
care, early childhood development programs, and before- and after-
school care services, if applicable.

C. Results or Benefits Expected

    In this section applicants must identify results and benefits 
expected under the proposed project. These should be specific and 
measurable.
     At a minimum, explain how expected results under this 
project will benefit the population to be served in meeting its child 
care needs.
     Describe how the quality activities chosen will benefit 
the project.

D. Organizational Capabilities and Staff Qualifications

    In this section, applicants must provide evidence that they, and 
their subgrantees, if applicable, have the experience, expertise and 
resources to carry out the proposed project on time, within budget, and 
with a high degree of quality.
1. Organizational Capability
     Provide evidence of sufficient organizational resources to 
ensure the applicant's successful project management, compliance with 
terms and conditions of the grant award and oversight of the proper use 
of Federal funds. Provide evidence of the applicant's capacity to 
coordinate the activities of subgrantees, if applicable; and
     Describe any subcontracting relationships, and the 
expected duration of these relationships.
2. Staff Qualifications
     Identify all key staff positions for this project, the 
professional requirements for each, the proportion of time to be 
committed to the project, and the period of time for which staff 
holding these positions would be employed;
     Provide evidence that individuals proposed for key 
positions have the necessary technical skill and experience to 
successfully carry out their assigned roles. Where key positions are 
currently vacant, include a position description outlining the 
qualifications necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities 
of each;
     Identify the authors of the proposal and describe their 
continuing role in the project if funded; and
     Identify all proposed consultants, document their 
expertise, and describe how their services will be utilized. Include 
letters of commitment or intent if possible.

E. Budget

    Present a detailed budget to demonstrate that the applicant will 
have adequate resources to carry out the proposed activities on time 
and with a high degree of quality.
     Include a detailed budget narrative that describes and 
justifies line item expenses within the budget categories listed on the 
Standard Form 424. If project funds will be subcontracted, a detailed 
budget for the use of those funds must be included; and
     Describe the extent of financial participation from other 
sources, if applicable. Describe the extent to which funds, staff time, 
in-kind services, and other resources have been committed to the 
proposed child care project during the total project period. Describe 
any other resources that are expected to help support the proposed 
activities, including existing commitments and negotiations in 
progress. Describe anticipated efforts to obtain other funding partners 
throughout the project, if applicable.

Part V. Evaluation and Selection

A. Evaluation Criteria

    The criteria listed below will be used in conjunction with other 
expectations, priorities and requirements set forth in Parts III and IV 
above to evaluate how well each proposal addresses the goals of this 
announcement.
1. Significance, Issues and Objectives (Maximum of 20 Points)
     The extent to which the application reflects a solid 
understanding of critical child care issues, needs, and goals of the 
population to be served under this program announcement; and
     The extent to which the application addresses the unmet 
need for child care services in the population to be served under this 
program announcement.
2. Approach and Activities (Maximum of 40 Points)
     The extent to which proposed activities clearly relate to 
the applicant's child care needs and goals; and
     The extent to which the Implementation Plan: (1) Presents 
a sound, workable and cohesive plan of action demonstrating how the 
work will be carried out on time, within budget and with a high degree 
of quality; (2) includes a reasonable schedule of target dates and 
accomplishments; and (3) and presents a sound administrative framework 
for maintaining quality control over the implementation and ongoing 
operations of the child care program.
3. Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum of 10 Points)
     The extent to which the proposed activities will result in 
specific, measurable results.
4. Organizational Capabilities and Staff Qualifications (Maximum of 20 
Points)
     The extent to which the application demonstrates that (1) 
facilities and organizational experience of the applicant organization 
are adequate to carry out the proposed project; (2) the applicant can 
effectively and efficiently administer a project of the proposed size, 
complexity and scope; and (3) the applicant has the capacity to 
coordinate activities with subgrantees for the successful 
accomplishment of project objectives, if applicable; and
     The extent to which the applicant proposes key staff with 
demonstrated experience in child care services, including relevant 
background, experience, training and work in related projects.

[[Page 38551]]

5. Budget (10 Points)
     The extent to which proposed project costs are reasonable, 
the funds are appropriately allocated across activities, and the budget 
is sufficient to accomplish the project objectives; and
     The extent to which the funds requested will be used for 
direct child care services to families through certificates and/or 
contracted programs for child care slots and that funds requested are 
reasonable in regard to the number of eligible children that will 
receive CCDF-funded child care services under announcement.

B. The Selection Process

    The Associate Commissioner, Child Care Bureau, will make the final 
selection of the applicants to be funded. Applications may be funded in 
whole or in part depending on: (1) The ranked order of applicants 
resulting from the competitive review; (2) staff review and 
consultations; (3) the combination of projects that best meets the 
Bureau's objectives; (4) the funds available; and (5) other relevant 
considerations.
    Selected applicants will be notified through the issuance of a 
Financial Assistance Award that sets forth the amount of funds granted, 
the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the 
award, the budget period for which support is given, and the total 
project period for which support is provided.

C. Funding Date

    It is anticipated that successful applications will be funded by 
October 1, 1997.

Part VI. Instructions for the Development and Submission of 
Applications

    This Part contains additional information and instructions for 
submitting applications in response to this announcement. Applicants 
should read this Part carefully in conjunction with other information 
and proposal requirements contained within this announcement.

A. Definitions

    This program announcement is based on the following definitions:
     Categories of Care--center-based child care, group home 
child care, family child care and in-home care.
     Center-Based Child Care Provider--a provider licensed or 
otherwise authorized to provide child care services for fewer than 24 
hours per day per child in a non-residential setting, unless care in 
excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parent(s)' work.
     Child Care Certificate--a certificate (that may be a 
check, or other disbursement) that is issued by a grantee directly to a 
parent who may use such certificate only as payment for child care 
services or as a deposit for child care services if such a deposit is 
required of other children being cared for by the provider, pursuant to 
Sec. 98.30. Nothing in this part shall preclude the use of such 
certificate for sectarian child care services if freely chosen by the 
parent. For the purposes of this part, a child care certificate is 
assistance to the parent, not assistance to the provider;
     Construction--the building of a facility that does not 
currently exist;
     Discretionary Funds--the funds authorized under section 
658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended by 
PRWORA. (The Discretionary funds were formerly referred to as the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant);
     Eligible Child Care Provider--(1) A center-based child 
care provider, a group home child care provider, a family child care 
provider, an in-home child care provider, or other provider of child 
care services for compensation that is licensed, regulated, or 
registered under applicable State or local law as described in 
Sec. 98.40; and satisfies State and local requirements, including those 
referred to in Sec. 98.41 applicable to the child care services it 
provides; or (2) A child care provider who is 18 years of age or older 
who provides child care services only to eligible children who are, by 
marriage, blood relationship, or court decree, the grandchild, great 
grandchild, sibling (if such provider lives in separate residence), 
niece, or nephew of such provider, and complies with any applicable 
requirements that govern child care provided by the relative involved;
     Family Child Care Provider--one individual who provides 
child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child, as the 
sole caregiver, in a private residence other than the child's 
residence, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of 
the parent(s)' work;
     Group Home Child Care Provider--two or more individuals 
who provide child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per 
child, in a private residence other than the child's residence, unless 
care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parent(s)' work;
     Indian Tribe--any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or 
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant 
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq) 
that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services 
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as 
Indians;
     In-home Child Care Provider--an individual who provides 
child care services in the child's own home;
     Licensing or Regulatory Requirements--requirements 
necessary for a provider to legally provide child care services in a 
State or locality, including registration requirements established 
under State, local or Tribal law;
     Other Tribal Organizations--such term includes a Native 
Hawaiian Organization, as defined in section 4009(4) of the Augustus F. 
Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement 
Amendments of 1988 and a private nonprofit organization established for 
the purpose of serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.
     Parent--a parent by blood, marriage or adoption and also 
means a legal guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis;
     Provider--the entity providing child care services;
     Sliding Fee Scale--a system of cost sharing by a family 
based on income and size of the family, in accordance with Sec. 98.42;
     Tribal Mandatory Funds--the child care funds set aside at 
section 418(a)(4) of the Social Security Act. The funds consist of 
between one and two percent of the aggregate Mandatory and Matching 
child care funds reserved by the Secretary in each fiscal year for 
payments to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and
     Types of Providers--the different classes of providers 
under each category of care. For the purposes of the CCDF, types of 
providers include non-profit providers, for-profit providers, sectarian 
providers and relatives who provide care.

B. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    This program announcement is not covered under Executive Order 
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 
100, ``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human 
Services Program and Activities''.

C. The Application Process

1. Availability of Application Forms
    In order to be considered for a grant under this program 
announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied 
and in the manner

[[Page 38552]]

prescribed by ACYF. The application kits containing the necessary forms 
and instructions may be obtained from: Department of Health and Human 
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, 
Room 320F, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20201-0001, Attention: ACYF-PA-CC-97-03, Telephone: 
(202) 401-7260.
2. Application Submission
    One signed original, and two copies, of the grant application, 
including all attachments, must be mailed by the specific closing date 
to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447, Attention: 
William J. McCarron, ACYF No. ACYF-PA-CC-97-03.
    The application must be signed by an individual authorized (1) to 
act for the applicant organization, and (2) to assume the applicant's 
obligations under the terms and conditions of the grant award, 
including Child Care and Development Fund statutory and regulatory 
requirements.
    ACF will accept only one application per applicant. If an eligible 
applicant sends in two applications, the one with the earlier postmark 
will be accepted for review unless the applicant withdraws the earlier 
application.
3. Application Consideration
    The ACYF Commissioner determines the final action to be taken on 
each grant application received under this program announcement. Each 
application will be screened to determine whether the applicant 
organization is eligible as specified in Part I, section G, above. 
Applications from ineligible organizations will be excluded from the 
review. In addition, inadequate preparation, omission of essential 
components, or failure to comply with format specifications as 
described in Part VI will result in the application being withdrawn 
from further consideration. Applicants will be notified in writing of 
any such determination by ACYF.
    Eligible applications will be scored competitively against the 
published evaluation criteria described above. An independent panel 
will review the applications in Washington, DC. The panel of expert 
reviewers will include tribal child care administrators and/or other 
individuals experienced in child care delivery systems, Native Hawaiian 
and/or Indian early child development and education, and other relevant 
areas.
    Applications from Native Hawaiian organizations will be evaluated 
with similar applications. Likewise, applications from private 
nonprofit organizations serving Indians or Native Hawaiian youths will 
be evaluated separately.
    A panel of at least three reviewers will evaluate each application 
to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal in terms of 
the Bureau's goals, the expectations as discussed in Part III, 
requirements for the Project Narrative Statement described in Part IV, 
and the evaluation criteria listed in Part V., Section A. Panelists 
will provide written comments and assign numerical scores for each 
application. The indicated point value for each criterion is the 
maximum numerical score for that criterion. The assigned scores for 
each criterion will be summed to yield a total evaluation score for the 
proposal.
    In addition to the panel review, the Bureau may solicit comments 
from other Federal offices and agencies, from the States, from relevant 
Native Hawaiian and tribal organizations, and from individuals whose 
particular expertise is identified as necessary for the consideration 
of technical issues arising during the review. Their comments, along 
with those of the panelists, will be considered by the Bureau in making 
funding decisions.
    The Commissioner makes grant awards consistent with the purpose of 
the Act, all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, this 
program announcement, and the availability of funds.
    After the Commissioner has made decisions on all applications, 
unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing within approximately 30 
days of the decision.
    Successful applicants are notified through an official Financial 
Assistance Award (FAA) document. ACYF staff cannot respond to requests 
for information regarding funding decisions prior to the official 
notification to the applicants. The FAA will state the amount of 
Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and 
conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the 
project period, and the budget period.

D. Receipt of Applications

    Applications must either be hand delivered or mailed to the address 
in Part VI., Section C., 2. Application Submission.
1. Deadline
    Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are either postmarked on or before the deadline date 
and received by ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447, Attention: Application for 
Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization Child Care 
Grants, ACYF No: ACYF-PA-CC-97-03.
    Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S. Postal 
Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial 
carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private Metered postmarks shall not be 
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Applications handcarried by applicants and applicant 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, Division of Discretionary 
Grants, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding 
weekends and Federal holidays). Any application postmarked after 4:30 
p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered for competition.
    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., or when there is a widespread 
disruption of the mails. However, if ACF does not extend the deadline 
for all applicants, it may not waive or extend the deadline for any 
applicants.
4. Notification
    All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt of 
their application and of the four digit identification number assigned 
to the application. This number and the priority area must be referred 
to in all

[[Page 38553]]

subsequent communication with the Child Care Bureau, ACYF, or ACF 
concerning the application. If you do not receive acknowledgment of 
your application within eight weeks after the deadline date, please 
contact the ACYF Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293.

E. The Review Process

1. Initial Application Review
    Applications submitted by the closing date and verified by the 
postmark under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to 
determine that (1) the applicant is eligible in accordance with the 
Eligible Applicants Section of this announcement; and (2) the 
application narrative, forms and materials submitted are adequate to 
allow the review panel to undertake an in depth evaluation. (All 
required materials and forms are listed in the Grant Application 
Checklist in the Application Kit).
2. Competitive Review of Accepted Applications
    Applications that pass the pre-review will be evaluated and rated 
by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific evaluation 
criteria listed in Part V. These criteria are used to evaluate the 
quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its 
success.

F. General Guidance to Applicants

    The following information is provided to assist applicants in 
developing a competitive application.
1. Program Guidance
    The Administration on Children, Youth and Families funds projects 
that demonstrate the strongest prospects for addressing the stated 
purposes of this program announcement.
    In describing the goals, strategy, and problems being addressed in 
the application, include sufficient background and/or history of the 
community concerning these issues and/or progress to date, as well as 
the size of the population to be served. This material will assist the 
reviewers in determining the appropriateness and potential benefits of 
the proposed project.
    The project application must clearly identify in measurable terms 
the expected results, benefits or outcomes of the proposed project, and 
the positive or continuing impact that the project will have on the 
population to be served.
    In its data collection approach or design, an applicant should 
review the data collection/reporting requirements section contained in 
the Supplemental Guide (included in the Application Kit). This section 
provides specific information on data that must be collected and 
reported for children and families receiving CCDF-funded child care.
2. Technical Guidance
    Applicants should prepare their application packages according to 
the application checklist and suggested ordering of materials located 
at the end of the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form. 
This form is included in the Application Kit.
    Applicants should closely tailor their applications to the specific 
requirements of this announcement. Previous experience has shown that 
an application that is broader and more general in concept than 
outlined in the agency's request for proposals is less likely to score 
as well as one that is more clearly focused on and directly responsive 
to the concerns and objectives outlined in the announcement.
    Applications must have a cover letter followed by the Table of 
Contents and Project Abstract (Executive Summary). The Project Abstract 
should be a short, concise, and accurate description of the proposed 
project. This summary, together with the information on the SF 424 is 
the major source of information about the proposed project and is 
usually the first part of the application that the reviewers read in 
evaluating the application. It should provide a snapshot of the project 
objectives, the approaches to be used, and the outcomes expected. The 
summary should also describe the population to be served.
    The summary should be clearly marked with the applicant's name as 
shown in item 5 of the SF 424, the announcement number and title, and 
the title of the project as shown in item 11 of the SF 424. At the 
bottom of the page, following the summary description, type up to 10 
key words that best describe the proposed project, the service(s) 
involved and the target population(s) to be covered. These key words 
will be used for computerized information retrieval. Key words should 
be selected from commonly used research and policy terminology.
    In preparing the application, applicants should fill out SFs 424, 
424A, and 424B, all of which are included in the Application Kit. Forms 
should be prepared in accordance with the detailed instructions 
contained in the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form.
    The application's Form 424 must be signed by the applicant's 
representative authorized to act with full authority on behalf of the 
applicant.
    The Project Narrative Statement should be clear, concise, and 
address the specific expectations and requirements described in Parts 
III and IV. The narrative should also provide information concerning 
how the application meets the evaluation criteria described in Part V. 
Inclusion and description of the evaluation criteria is important since 
the reviewers will rate the application against the evaluation 
criteria. Applicants should use the following section headings:
    (A) Significance, Issues and Objectives;
    (B) Approach, and Activities;
    (C) Results and Benefits Expected;
    (D) Organizational Capacity and Staff Qualifications; and
    (E) Budget.
    The specific information to be included under each of these 
headings is described in Part IV, Project Narrative, and Part V., 
Section A., Evaluation Criteria.
    The narrative should be double-spaced and single-sided on 8\1/2\'' 
x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. Use 10 or 12 
pitch throughout the proposal. All pages of the narrative (including 
appendices, resumes, charts, references/footnotes, tables, maps and 
exhibits) must be sequentially numbered, beginning with ``Significance, 
Issues, and Objectives'' as page number one. Applicants should not 
submit reproductions of larger sized paper reduced to meet the size 
requirement. Applicants should not send pamphlets, brochures, or other 
printed material along with their applications, as these items pose 
copying difficulties. These materials, if submitted, will not be 
included in the review process, although they will be kept on file.
    An applicant must provide all applicable certifications, 
disclosures and assurances included in the ACF Uniform Discretionary 
Grant Application Form. In addition, an applicant must include a 
statement that it will comply with the applicable list of assurances 
found in Sec. 98.15 of the CCDBG final rule.
    The entire Project Narrative Statement and supporting materials 
(including text, resumes, and appendices) may not exceed 100 pages 
single-spaced (200 pages double spaced). All supporting materials, such 
as resumes, letters of support, and other documents should be organized 
into appropriate appendices and securely bound into the application 
package.
    Applicants are encouraged to have someone other than the author 
apply the

[[Page 38554]]

evaluation criteria in the program announcement and score the 
application prior to its submission, in order to gain a better sense of 
the application's quality and potential competitiveness in the ACYF 
review process.
    For purposes of developing an application, applicants should plan 
for a project start date approximately 120 days after the closing date 
under which the application is submitted.
    Two copies of the application plus the original are required. The 
Cover Page (included in the Application Kit) should be the first page 
of an application, followed by the one-page abstract.

    Dated: July 9, 1997.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 97-19009 Filed 7-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P