[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27735-27742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13434]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Notice of Availability of Funding To Provide Community Service
Employment Opportunities for Refugees Who Have Experienced Long-term
Difficulties in Assimilation
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Request for applications for projects to provide community
service employment opportunities for refugees who have experienced
long-term difficulties in assimilation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This program announcement governs the availability of social
services funds and award procedures for $16 million in FY 1998
discretionary grants for community service employment for refugees
under the Refugee Resettlement Program. These grants, which will be
awarded on a competitive basis, are for localities with large
concentrations of refugees who have experienced difficulty integrating
socially and economically into local communities. Refugees are eligible
to participate in these projects regardless of the length of time they
have resided in the U.S. Applications may include requests for project
periods of up to three years, with an initial budget period of one
year. Where awards are made for multiple year project periods,
continuation grant applications will be entertained in subsequent years
on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds,
successful progress of the project, and ACF/ORR's determination that
this would be in the best interest of the government.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned
to this announcement is 93.576.
DATE: The closing date for receipt of applications is July 20, 1998.
ADDRESS: Address applications to: Office of Refugee Resettlement,
Division of Community Resettlement, 6th Floor East, Aerospace Building,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nguyen T. Kimchi at (202) 401-4556, e-
mail: N[email protected], or send correspondence to the above listed
address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Part I. General Information
A. Background
There are communities across this country with large concentrations
of refugees 1, many of whom entered the United States over a
decade ago. For some refugees, language skills, cultural barriers, the
lack of financial resources, and years of relying on public assistance,
have isolated them from the mainstream, limited their employment
opportunities and hindered integration into American communities. Their
rate of assimilation has been documented in many localities on such key
indicators as poverty levels, welfare utilization, car and home
ownership, high school completion, college attendance or graduation,
language fluency, employment rates, household income, per capita
income, and naturalization rates. Prior to their arrival in the U.S.,
some refugees have experienced torture, starvation or prolonged
malnutrition, which have exacerbated their isolation and difficulty in
adapting to life in the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR
400.43, ``Requirements for documentation of refugee status,''
eligibility for targeted assistance 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
Acts, 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.
Refugees admitted to the U.S. under admissions numbers set aside
for private-sector-initiative admissions are not eligible to be
served under the targeted assistance program (or under other
programs supported by Federal refugee funds) during their period of
coverage under their sponsoring agency's agreement with the
Department of State--usually two years from their date of arrival or
until they obtain permanent resident alien status, whichever comes
first.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In some of these communities, refugees represent a significant
percentage of the population and, relative to non-refugee groups, have
a sizeable impact on local services, medical clinics, and school
systems.
The purpose of this announcement is to improve refugee rates of
assimilation in heavily impacted communities by providing funding for
workforce experience and training, earned income for refugees and their
families, and access to needed services for refugee communities.
Statutory and Regulatory Authority
The FY 1998 House Appropriations Committee Report (H.R. Rept. No.
105-205) stated that: ``The Committee has set-aside $16,000,000 for
increased support to communities with large
[[Page 27736]]
concentrations of refugees whose cultural differences made assimilation
especially difficult justifying a more intense level and longer
duration of Federal assistance.'' Accordingly, ORR has announced in the
Notice of Proposed FY 1998 Refugee Social Service Allocations,
published in the Federal Register, February 13, 1998, that these funds
will be made available through discretionary grants for which this
announcement solicits applications.
Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the INA authorizes the Director of ORR ``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 other recertification
services * * *''
Grant awards are also subject to the following federal regulations:
45 CFR part 74--Uniform administrative requirements for awards and
subawards to institutions of higher education, hospitals, other
nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations; and certain
grants and agreements with States, local governments and Indian tribal
governments and 45 CFR part 92, Uniform administrative requirements for
grants and cooperative agreements to State and local governments.
B. Purpose and Scope
Under this announcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement
solicits applications from eligible applicants who wish to compete for
funds to provide community employment services for refugees who have
experienced long-term difficulties in assimilation into American
communities.
One of the most effective methods to help refugees obtain
employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency is through employment
experience. Employment through community service offers a job for the
individual, household income for refugee families, community
participation, cross-cultural exposure for public and private agencies,
and access to community services for refugee communities. For these
reasons, ORR is providing funding under this announcement to be
primarily for employer subsidies to create or increase the number of
community work experience jobs for refugees.
Community service employment may be in the public or private
sector; however, given the emphasis in this announcement on gaining
refugee access to community services, ORR anticipates that most
successful applicants will target these subsidies to public and private
non-profit organizations that may not otherwise have the resources to
provide this type of employment.
Some examples of positions in agencies which may benefit from
community work experience subsidies are: interpreters and aides in
community health and maternal care clinics, classroom aides and
teachers in elementary schools, police and law enforcement assistants
for such programs as neighborhood watch, and police storefronts,
outreach workers for mental health agencies, aides in local services to
the elderly or at satellite centers located in areas with large
concentration of elderly refugees, and caseworker assistants in public
welfare offices.
Accordingly, this grant announcement makes available $16 million
for community service employment to assist communities with large
concentrations of refugees who are experiencing difficulty assimilating
into local communities.
C. Eligible Applicants
Eligible grantees are private, non-profit organizations and
agencies of State governments that are responsible for the refugee
program under 45 CFR 400.5.
D. Eligible Refugees
Refugees eligible to participate in projects funded under this
announcement must be at least 21 years of age, unemployed, or without
earned income, or members of families receiving public assistance.
All eligible refugees must be residents of their respective
communities for at least six months. Priority will be given to those
refugees who are able to work but unable to find employment. ORR
anticipates that refugees targeted for these positions may be long-term
welfare recipients (12 months or more) or those who face termination
from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) within the 12 month
period following enrollment in this project.
E. Available Funds
Approximately $16 million will be available for awards. It is
expected that most grant awards will be between $1 million and $5
million. ORR anticipates making 4-5 awards with these funds for
projects that will secure employment for a minimum of 100 eligible
participants.
The Director of ORR will make final award decisions based on such
factors as: the geographic distribution of the competitive
applications; the extent to which the grants reflect a reasonable
distribution of funds across the areas impacted by refugees, and the
availability of funds.
F. Use of Funds
Successful applicants will receive grants to identify and develop,
as necessary, community service employment positions for low-income or
unemployed refugees at local public or private nonprofit organizations.
Applicants must demonstrate a specific need for supplementation of
available resources to provide these services for refugees. Projects
funded under this announcement will be designed to (a) provide income
to refugees and their households, employment experience, and eventual
transition to unsubsidized employment; and (b) through the presence and
assistance of a refugee employee in these agencies, give refugee
communities greater access to local community services.
Grantees must establish a network of relationships with appropriate
public or private, non-profit employers to identify and develop
suitable subsidized community service employment positions. Grant funds
may be used to reimburse employers for up to 100% of the employment
wage, for a maximum of 12 months, under the terms of a contract in
which, in exchange for the salary subsidy, the employer agrees to
provide the refugee employee additional supervisory assistance in
learning and retaining the job. Employers are expected to retain the
refugee employee in this position after the wage subsidy has ended, if
the refugee has performed satisfactorily, or, if insufficient funds are
available, to assist the refugee employee in securing other employment.
Refugee employees should be eligible for all benefits available to
all other employees at the work site. Applicants should identify the
types and number of community service employment positions targeted in
their project, including job descriptions, qualifications, and salary
levels. Project participants must be paid an hourly wage equal to the
prevailing rates of pay for persons employed in similar occupations by
the same employer. In no event should the wage be lower than the
federal minimum wage.
Approximately 75-80% of grant funds are to be designated for salary
subsidies. Applicants may designate up to 5% for employer incentives.
Grantees should provide supportive services to assist project
participants in retaining successful community service employment. Such
supportive services
[[Page 27737]]
may include: on-site technical assistance; employment counseling; work-
related incidental expenses for such items as work shoes, uniforms,
glasses, public transportation passes, etc. if these are not available
from other sources.
Whether the applicant is a State refugee agency or a non-profit
organization, projects proposed for funding under this announcement
must be designed and implemented by coalitions of local community
agencies and refugee organizations. These coalitions must identify
clear respective roles and responsibilities for each participating
agency within the coalition, expressed in a signed written agreement
which describes the purpose and activities of each. The extent of local
collaboration will be an important factor in the review of the strength
of the proposal.
Applicants must also provide for the creation of an Advisory Board,
delineating the roles and responsibilities of each member,
compensation, if any, to members, a definitive and measurable work
plan, and schedule of meetings.
G. Restrictions
Funds may not be used for lobbying, union-related activities,
politically-related employment as a form of political patronage. Wage
subsidies must be used for a net increase in the number of positions
within a given agency, not to replace currently funded positions.
Refugees employed as a result of this project may not displace employed
workers or workers on lay-off.
Part II. The Project Description
The project description provides a major means by which an
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can
present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff,
related experience, and other information considered to be relevant.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement uses this and other information to
determine whether the applicant has the capability and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed project. It is important,
therefore, that this information be included in the application.
However, in the narrative the applicant must distinguish between
resources directly related to the proposed project from those that will
not be used in support of the specified project for which funds are
requested.
A. Statement of Need
The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and
subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated;
supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials
from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and
participant/beneficiary information, as needed.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
A description, with documentation, of the need for services within
the proposed target area, including documentation of the number of
refugees in the target area and the ratio between refugees to the non-
refugee population in the community.
Data and analyses of family and community needs, including the
implications of welfare reform and employment patterns on family needs
for child care and other support services.
A discussion of how the targeted refugees have the most need of the
proposed services. Submit evidence of poor assimilation of refugees
relative to the community at-large. Indicators may include: poverty
levels, public assistance utilization, unemployment, rates of high
school completion, college attendance, car and homeownership, and
attainment of citizenship.
B. Design and Approach
Outline a plan of action which describes the scope and detail of
how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions
or activities identified in the application. Cite factors which might
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such
terms as the number of people to be served. When accomplishments cannot
be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order
to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target date.
Identify the kinds of data to be collected, maintained and/or
disseminated. Note that clearance from the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget might be needed prior to a ``collection of information''
that is ``conducted or sponsored'' by ACF/ORR. List organizations,
cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will
work on the project along with a short description of the nature of
their effort or contribution.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
The applicant's plans for delivering effective services to refugees
in all areas of service and program management.
A description of the proposed target area(s) for services,
recruitment strategies, and priorities for selecting refugee clients
for participation.
A description of the services and resources of other local refugee
employment service and community agencies.
A plan to identify potential employment, to recruit eligible
refugees and begin services as soon as possible.
Describe how community service employment positions will be
developed with local employers; how these employers will be encouraged
to customize the jobs and provide supervisory support to the employees
under this project; identify any local employers who have made
commitments to the project and describe them (e.g., number and types of
jobs, supportive services and training; etc.)
Note: ORR expects that all applicants funded under this
announcement will begin serving refugees and their families no later
than March, 1999.
A description of the types and number of community service
employment positions targeted for the project including job
descriptions, qualifications and salary levels.
Documentation of cooperative arrangements with other public or
private agencies to assist the applicant in providing effective
employment services. Such cooperative arrangements must include a plan
to coordinate the funds as appropriate.
C. Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived for refugees and
their families as well as for the community. Based on the stated
program objectives, a discussion of the specific results or benefits
that could be expected for the refugees and families participating in
the program. A discussion of the
[[Page 27738]]
specific community-wide results or benefits including those resulting
from collaborative partnership with other community agencies including
the agencies which employ refugees. The qualitative and quantitative
data the program will collect to measure progress towards the stated
results or benefits. A discussion of how the program will determine the
extent to which it has achieved its stated objectives.
Applicants are encouraged to use ORR standards under the Government
Performance and Result Act (GPRA) to measure project results. These
are:
The number of refugees who entered employment.
Cash assistance terminations due to earnings.
Average hourly wage at placement.
Employment retention.
Employment with health benefits.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
Numbers, types and average salaries of refugees to be employed in
community service employment positions; the degree to which employee
benefits, including medical coverage, are available for these jobs;
expectations for job or employment retention after one year; expected
average earnings one year after placement into subsidized employment;
cost per placement into subsidized community service employment.
The application may include other performance outcomes, as
appropriate.
D. Project Management and Implementation
Describe the staff and systems capacity for managing the project,
to include: key staff resumes or position descriptions; a project
organizational chart identifying all agencies involved in the project
and their respective roles and responsibilities; Identify the critical
activities, time frames, and responsibilities for implementing the
project.
Local Collaboration and Sustainability
Identify a coalition of key agencies, respective roles and
responsibilities, and agreements. Describe the local partnerships and
each member's contribution to the project; the extent to which the
project is coordinated with key community activities; the commitment
and integration of other community resources; any involvement of, or
participation by, local employers; and the extent to which the
community and the coalition have developed plans to maintain and expand
the capacity to serve the targeted refugee population;
Advisory Board
Identify and submit position descriptions or resumes for Advisory
Board positions.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
Evidence of the applicant's ability and experience to administer an
employment program and to manage a community service employment
program. Include a discussion of any proposed changes and improvements
in program management.
A description of the applicant's experience in management of
employment services for refugees who have had a protracted history of
unemployment. A description of the applicant's experience in management
of community, State and Federal partnerships. A description of the
applicant's history and relationship with the target community. Include
a complete discussion of the program's financial status and program
operations. Include an organizational chart of the program.
A description of the mechanisms for recruiting and hiring well-
trained and appropriately credentialed staff members.
A discussion of all proposed key staff or managerial positions,
their proposed salary rates, the length of time they would be employed
each year and the applicant's plans for ongoing monitoring and
supervision of other staff including refugees employed under the
community employment service program if appropriate.
Applicants who are electing to create partnerships with other
agencies, providers, or funding sources should provide:
Letters of commitment from partner agencies and providers,
including documentation of any additional resources such as child care,
health care or transportation subsidies, etc. that will enhance the
program. Explain and itemize these resources or services, and state
whether or not these costs are included as part of the non-Federal
share.
Plans for managing, coordinating or monitoring, and assisting the
efforts of partnering agencies and other forms of collaborative
arrangements in meeting the goals of the project.
A description of the experience of the applicant and the proposed
partnering agencies in collaborating to deliver effective employment
services and in managing multiple sources of funding.
A description of how the applicant will track, manage and account
for refugee employment costs and, if applicable, the availability of
other funding sources.
E. Budget and Budget Justification
Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs,
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,
and allocability of the proposed costs.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
A description of how your proposed budget is reasonable,
appropriate and cost effective in view of the proposed services,
strategies and anticipated outcomes.
A description of the extent to which your proposal includes
significant other resources to complement the ORR funds.
General Instructions
ORR is particularly interested in specific factual information and
statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project
descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length.
Extensive exhibits are not required. (Supporting information concerning
activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information
that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded
activity should be placed in an appendix.) Pages should be numbered and
a Table of Contents should be included for easy reference.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is also requesting that
applicants provide a summary of the project description which includes:
The name and address of the applicant agency.
The total number of employment placements when the program
is completed.
The total ORR funds requested for a 12 month period.
The amount and source of any additional funding that will
help support the project (i.e., funds that are in addition to Federal
ORR funds.)
The community to be served (name of town(s), city(ies) and
county(ies) and the targeted refugee groups.
The proposed type of jobs, hours per week and wages.
The target date for beginning full services to refugees.
[[Page 27739]]
Additional Information
Following is a description of additional information that should be
placed in the appendix of the application.
1. Staff and Position Data
Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a
job description for each vacant position. A biographical sketch will
also be required for new key staff as appointed.
2. Organizational Profile
Provide information on the applicant organization and cooperating
partners such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit
reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer
Identification Numbers, contact persons and telephone numbers,
documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent
information. 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.
Part III. Criteria for Review and Evaluation of the Grant
Application
Information provided in response to Part II of this announcement
will be used to review and evaluate applications using the following
criteria:
A. Need for Assistance to Increase Assimilation (30 points)
Quality of description and documentation with regard to refugee
assimilation and impact on the community.
B. Program Design and Approach (20 points)
Soundness of and innovation in program design and methodology for
securing community service employment for refugees, including evidence
of collaboration through coalitions of local community agencies and
refugee organizations.
C. Results and Benefits (20 points)
Providing effective and responsive services to targeted refugees
and families. Employment results which are timely, appropriate, and
measurable using ORR standards for outcome performance under GPRA.
D. Project Management and Implementation (15 points)
The extent of demonstrated capacity of the applicant organization,
key leaders and managers and, where appropriate, proposed partnering
organizations in:
Managing the proposed community employment services in a timely,
cost-effective manner.
Working successfully in partnership with the targeted refugee
communities, families, and other community organizations, institutions,
and agencies.
E. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Appropriateness (15 points)
The extent to which the project's costs are reasonable and cost-
effective in view of the activities to be carried out and the
anticipated outcomes.
The extent to which proposed salaries and fringe benefits reflect
appropriate levels of compensation for the responsibilities of staff.
The extent to which costs for refugee wages in community employment
are reasonable and equitable.
Part IV. The Application Process
A. Required Forms
Applicants interested in applying for funds must submit a complete
application including the required forms--Standard Form 424 and
attachments. In order to be considered for a grant under this
announcement, an application must be submitted on the Standard Form 424
(approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Control
Number 0348-0043), a copy of which was published by ORR in the Federal
Register, Volume 62, No. 236. pages 64870-64883. SF-424 is also
available through the Administration for Children and Families website
at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov (at ``Select a Topic'' choose Grant Related
Forms and Documents). Each application must be signed by an individual
authorized to act for the applicant and to assume responsibility for
the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award.
Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, Assurances: Non-Construction
Programs (approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control
Number 0348-0040). Applicants must sign and return the Standard Form
424B with their application. Applicants must provide a certification
concerning lobbying. Applicants must provide information consistent
with ACF's approved Uniform Project Description (OMB # 0970-0139), as
found in Part II of this Program Announcement. Prior to receiving an
award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall furnish an executed copy
of the lobbying certification (approved by the Office of Management and
Budget under Control Number 0348-0046). Applicants must sign and return
the certification with their application.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their
compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and
submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification
and need not mail back the certification with the application.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are not
presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for award. By
signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the
certification and need not mail back the certification with the
application. Applicants must also understand that they will be held
accountable for the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-
227, Part C Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as Pro-Children's
Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements
the smoking prohibition is included with the forms. By signing and
submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification
and need not mail back the certification with the application.
B. Application Submission
Applicants submitting proposals should use the following format
guidelines: Proposals should be organized according to the evaluation
criteria located in Part III. For each of the five specified criteria,
applicants should provide information in response to the application
requirements described in Part II of this announcement.
One signed original and two complete copies of the grant
application, including all attachments, are required. Each application
must be limited to no more than 25 double-spaced pages of program
narrative (not including the Project Summary and the forms which make
up the SF-424A and Budget Justification).
If the narrative portion of the application is more than 25 double-
spaced pages, the other pages will be removed from the application and
not considered by the reviewers. The attachments/appendices to each
application must be limited to no more than 25 pages, (in addition to
the 25
[[Page 27740]]
pages permitted for the narrative portion of the application). If the
attachments/appendices to each application are more than 25 pages, the
other pages will be removed from the application and not considered by
the reviewers.
C. Application Considerations
Applicants will be scored against the evaluation criteria described
above. The review will be conducted by a panel consisting of experts in
the areas of refugee and employment services.
The results of the competitive review will be taken into
consideration by the Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, in
determining the projects to be funded. The Director of ORR will make
the final selection of the applicants to be funded. An application may
be funded in whole or in part, depending on the relative need for
services, applicant ranking, geographic location, proposed costs, and
funds available.
Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a
Financial Assistance Award which sets forth the amount of funds
granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of
the grant, the budget period for which support is given, and the total
project period for which support is provided.
D. Checklist for a Complete Application
A complete application consists of the following items in this
order:
Introductory Material:
Cover letter.
Table of Contents.
Project Description Summary.
(1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF424).
(2) Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF424A&B).
(3) Budget Justification.
(4) Project Description and Appendices.
(5) Proof of non-profit status as appropriate.
(6) Assurances Non-Construction Programs.
(7) Certification Regarding Lobbying.
(8) Where appropriate, a completed SPOC certification with the date
of SPOC contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424.
Applicants are reminded that the narrative portion of the
application cannot exceed 25 double-spaced pages in a 12-pitch font
with 1-\1/2\ inch margins at the top and 1 inch at the bottom and both
sides and that attachments/Appendices to the application can not exceed
25 pages. Attachments and appendices should be used only to provide
supporting documentation such as maps, administration charts, position
descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent/agreement. Please do not
include books or video tapes as they are not easily reproduced and are,
therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers. Each page should be numbered
sequentially.
GENERAL--The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and
budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be
detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification.
According to the instructions for completing the SF-424A and the
preparation of the budget and budget justification, ``Federal
resources'' refers only to the ACF/ORR grant for which you are
applying. Non-Federal resources are all other Federal and non-Federal
resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be
presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories;
second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s),
and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a
narrative.
Personnel: Costs of employee salaries and wages. Justification--
Identify the project director and for each staff person, provide the
title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to
the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary,
grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants
or personnel costs of delegate agencies.
Fringe Benefits: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated
as part of approved indirect cost rate. Justification--Provide a
breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit
costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification--For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s),
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF/
ORR-sponsored meetings should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property,
having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of
$5,000 or more per unit.
Justification--For each type of equipment requested, provide a
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units,
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or
disposal of the equipment after the project ends.
Supplies: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that
included under the Equipment category.
Justification--Specify general categories of supplies and their
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports
the amount requested.
Contractual: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except
for those which belong under other categories such as equipment,
supplies, etc. Contracts with secondary recipient organizations,
including delegate agencies (if applicable), should be included under
this category.
Justification--All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a
manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free
competition. If procurement competitions were held or if procurement
without competition is being proposed, attach a list of proposed
contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the purposes of
the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the award selection
process. Justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to
be awarded without competition and to exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11). Recipients might be required to make
available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such as
requests for proposal or invitations for bids, independent cost
estimates, etc.
Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in
these instructions.
Other: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where
applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to
insurance, professional services costs, space and equipment rentals,
printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition
and stipends, staff development, and administrative costs.
Justification--Provide computations, a narrative description and a
justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Costs: This category should be used only when the
applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the
Department of Health and Human Services or another cognizant Federal
agency.
Justification--An applicant proposing to charge indirect costs to
the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate
[[Page 27741]]
agreement. If the applicant organization is in the process of initially
developing or renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon
notification that an award will be made, develop a tentative indirect
cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year in
accordance with the principles set forth in the cognizant agency's
guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the
cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost
proposals may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when
an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the
indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the
grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than
what is allowed under the agreement, the authorized representative of
the applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that
the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to
be generated from this project.
Justification--Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application
which contain this information.
Non-Federal Resources: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will
be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Justification--The firm commitment of these resources must be
documented and submitted with the application in order to be given
credit in the review process.
E. Due Date for the Receipt of Applications
Deadlines: The closing date for submission of applications is 4:30
p.m. (EDT) on July 20, 1998. Mailed applications shall be considered as
meeting the deadline if they are either received on or before the
deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by
ORR in time for the independent review. Applications should be mailed
to: Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee Resettlement,
6th Floor East, Aerospace Building 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.,
Washington, DC 20447.
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 hand carried by applicants, courier services, or by
overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting the
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date,
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the above stated address,
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). (Applicants are
cautioned that express/overnight mail services may not always deliver
as agreed. In addition, some non-postal service carriers will only
deliver to ORR's street address which is 901 D Street SW. instead of
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.) ORR cannot accommodate transmission of
applications by fax or through other electronic media. Therefore,
applications transmitted to ORR electronically will not be accepted
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria
above are considered late applications. ORR shall notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered.
Extension of deadlines: ORR 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 ORR
does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or
extend the deadline for any applicants. A determination to waive or
extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management
Officer.
F. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)
All information collections within this Program Announcement are
approved under the following currently valid OMB control numbers: 424,
(0348-0043); 424A (0348-0044); 424B (0348-0040); Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities (0348-0046); Uniform Project Description (0970-0139),
Expiration date 10/31/2000. Financial Status Report (SF-269) (0348-
0039) and ORR Program Performance Report (0970-0036).
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 80 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
reviewing the collection of information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
G. Executive Order 12372--Notification Process
This program is covered under Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100,
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance
under covered programs.
All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,
American Samoa, and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive
Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs).
Applicants from these twenty-four jurisdictions need not take action
regarding Executive Order 12372.
Applicants should contact their SPOC as soon as possible to alert
them to the prospective application and to receive any necessary
instructions. Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOC
as early as possible so that the program office can obtain and review
SPOC comments as part of the award process. It is imperative that the
applicant submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and
indicate the date of this submittal (or 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 the ORR, they should be
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor
East, Aerospace Building, 370 Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC
20447.
Reporting Requirements--Grantees are required to file the Financial
Status Report (SF-269) semi-annually and Program Progress Reports on a
quarterly basis.
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 expenditures by budget line
item,
[[Page 27742]]
project outcomes and participant demographics information which may
include but is not limited to: date of birth, sex, country of birth,
date of entry, education, employment history, marital status and number
of children.
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: Division of Community Resettlement,
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Sixth Floor East, Aerospace Building,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the
budget expiration date or termination of grant support.
Dated: May 14, 1998.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 98-13434 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P