[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39575-39581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19609]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Technical
Assistance Demonstration Grants
AGENCY: Office of Family Assistance, ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces
the availability of Federal funding to promote intensive joint planning
and development activities at the local level that would reinforce the
concept of the temporary nature of welfare, and promote self-
sufficiency and employment. Funding under this announcement is
authorized by section 1110 of the Social Security Act governing Social
Services Research or Demonstration Projects.
DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 24,
1998.
Application submission: Applications may be mailed to the
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children
and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447.
Hand delivered applications are accepted during the normal working
hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to
the established closing date at: Administration for Children and
Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor, 901 D Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20447.
An application will be considered to be received on time if sent on
or before
[[Page 39576]]
the closing date as evidenced by a legible US Postal Service postmark
or a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier.
(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 the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks are not
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
Late Applications: Applications that do not meet one of these
criteria are considered late applications. The ACF Division of
Discretionary Grants will notify each late applicant that its
application will not be considered in this competition.
Extension of Deadline: The ACF Office of Family Assistance may
extend the deadline for all applicants because of acts of God, such as
floods, hurricanes, etc., or when there is widespread disruption of
mails. However, if ACF does not extend the deadline for all applicants,
it will not extend the deadline for any applicants.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne C. Howard, Project Officer,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. Telephone
(202) 401-4619, or Lisa Washington-Thomas, Telephone #(202) 401-5141.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration for Children and Families
(ACF) announces the availability of Federal funding to promote
intensive joint planning and coordination activities at the local level
that would reinforce the concept of the temporary nature of welfare,
and promote self-sufficiency and employment. The Department will fund
15-20 grantees who will be selected on a competitive basis. Community
based organizations who are providing services to welfare recipients,
or have the capacity to provide services, are encouraged to apply. The
recipients will be expected to enter into a cooperative agreement with
ACF.
This program announcement consists of four parts. Part I provides
background information about Welfare Reform. Part II describes the
activities supported by this announcement and application requirements.
Part III describes the application review process. Part IV provides
information and instructions for the development and submission of
applications.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average four hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
reviewing the collection of information. The following information
collection is included in the program announcement: ACF Uniform Project
Description (OMB 0970-0139, Exp. 10/31/98). 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.
Part I. Introduction
On August 22, 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) was
enacted. The PRWORA established the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) program which transforms welfare into a system that
requires work and provides for time-limited financial assistance.
The statute specifically eliminated any individual entitlement to,
or guarantee of, assistance. It replaced the Aid to Families with
Dependent Children, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training and
Emergency Assistance programs with a single TANF block grant to States
under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Under the TANF program,
even though States have a great deal of flexibility to design and
operate their programs, certain requirements apply.
Under TANF, States are required to assess the skills of recipients
and help them prepare for and find work. States may create community
service jobs or provide income subsidies or hiring incentives for
potential employers. They also increasingly connect with one-stop
service delivery systems. States cannot allow families, unless exempt,
who include an adult who has received assistance for five cumulative
years (or less at the State's option) to receive further assistance
funded with Federal TANF funds. In addition, States must require that
non-exempt adult recipients work after receiving assistance for 24
months.
The TANF program requires welfare agencies to move their clients
into work at accelerated rates each year such that by the year 2002,
50% of welfare recipients are expected to have moved into the
workforce. The need to provide jobs very quickly to large numbers of
clients has intensified the need for welfare providers to develop
creative ways of preparing their clients for employment.
In order to achieve these outcomes, States must help increasing
numbers of clients prepare for, and find, jobs. Inevitably, this means
working with clients who are difficult to place. Many lack basic skills
that employers require. Others have skills, but face significant
challenges in getting and keeping jobs, such as lack of transportation
and child care, low literacy levels, domestic violence, and substance
abuse issues.
On August 5, 1997, the President signed the Balanced Budget Act of
1997 Pub. L. 105-33. This legislation amended Section 403 of the Social
Security Act and authorized the Secretary of Labor to provide Welfare-
to-Work grants to States and local communities for transition
employment assistance to move the hardest-to-employ TANF welfare
recipients, former recipients and noncustodial parents into
unsubsidized jobs and economic self-sufficiency.
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) intends to make
these harder-to-serve clients a major focus for its technical
assistance efforts over the next year. This is where TANF, Welfare-to-
Work, employers, job and skills training and employment programs;
substance abuse and mental health programs, faith-based organizations
and other community programs come together.
Welfare reform is causing radical culture changes in the welfare
system and the methods of assistance provided to the TANF families.
Included in these changes is the need to increase involvement of both
the public and private sector to maximize the use of resources in
support of these changes.
Although delivery of services (e.g., cash assistance, employment
and training activities, etc.) to welfare recipients has always
occurred at the local level, it has generally been done in accordance
with Federal or State directives. One of the hallmarks of this welfare
reform effort is that in most States responsibility and authority for
welfare reform is being ``devolved'' to the county and local level.
These grants provide local communities seed money to convene
planning meetings to develop alternative methods to reduce welfare
dependency, facilitate partnership-building and strengthen community
support for families in need.
Part II. Project Design
Purpose: The purpose of these technical assistance demonstration
projects is to provide capacity-building grants that will enable
development of strategic plans for their service areas to support
welfare reform activities designed to focus on the ``difficult-to-
employ'' population. Meetings will be convened in partnership with the
State/
[[Page 39577]]
local agencies responsible for the administration of TANF, Welfare-to-
Work agencies, and others in their communities.
These grants provide an opportunity for public and private entities
to get actively involved in the welfare reform process through
partnering with others in their community. This partnership will focus
on designing and implementing innovative welfare reform initiatives
that support and strengthen client self-sufficiency efforts.
ACF is interested in providing funds to eligible applicants with
limited resources whose service areas have a high incidence of poverty.
Funds provided under this grant may be used to contract for necessary
expertise or resources to develop partnership arrangements through
which it can contribute effectively to the development of a strategic
plan that will embody the goals outlined above. Reasonable and
necessary travel costs, including those necessary to facilitate
participation by low income persons in the strategic planning process,
may also be paid for with grant funds. The end result should be a
comprehensive, finely tuned strategic plan that will include innovative
approaches to provide for greater self-sufficiency of the poor.
Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete
successfully in response to this announcement, the applicant should
develop a plan which:
a. Demonstrates an understanding of TANF and Welfare-to-Work
requirements.
b. Demonstrates an understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and
employment needs of, both TANF recipients and employers. Describes ways
in which the collaborative partnerships will increase and support
accessibility of services to TANF recipients.
c. Demonstrates the support of public and private entities to
convene around issues faced by TANF recipients, and the level of
program commitment and community collaboration.
d. Includes an outline and discussion of current and planned
partnership activities, including a brief discussion of what outreach
activities are proposed to develop new or expand existing partnerships,
and which involve TANF recipients in the strategic planning process.
e. Provides information about other (State, local, community)
resources the applicant will use to support this effort, including
financial support (if any) for the meetings, in addition to Federal
funding.
In recognition of the scope of the initiative, the potential
difficulty in successfully facilitating the development of a
``Community'' strategic plan around welfare reform activities, and the
significance of the initiative for public policy, ACF has determined
that a close, cooperative working relationship between the ACF and the
selected grantees will greatly further the public interest. Therefore,
the awards made under this announcement will be cooperative agreements
between ACF and the selected grantees. It is anticipated that ACF will
be involved in the performance of the initiative in the following
manner:
ACF, working in cooperation with the grantee, will review
and comment on the grantee's outreach strategies.
ACF will review the list of participants developed by the
grantee and where appropriate offer suggestions for other participants.
ACF will conduct site visits, teleconferences, and
meetings, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance.
ACF will facilitate information sharing and discussions
among grantees.
The above-cited areas of involvement are illustrative of the
anticipated level of Federal involvement with the selected grantees.
The exact activities will be detailed in the Cooperative Agreement
which will be developed with each grantee.
Eligible Applicants: Financial assistance under this announcement
is available to local public/private non-profit entities (e.g.,
community-based organizations; faith-based entities; etc.) who can
demonstrate a commitment to supporting welfare reform activities.
Project Duration: The length of the project is one year (12
months).
Federal Share of the Project: The Federal share available for these
grants is $300,000 for the one-year project period, subject to the
availability of funds.
Anticipated number of Projects to be Funded: 15-20 grants will be
funded under this announcement.
Matching Requirement: Applicants must provide at least ten (10)
percent of the total cost of the project. The total approved cost of
the project is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal share.
The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions,
although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements
through cash contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $10,000 in
Federal funds must include a match of at least $1,111 (i.e., 10 percent
of the sum of the Federal and the non-Federal cost of the project). The
successful applicant's match must be expended by the completion of the
project period.
The recipient will be required to provide the agreed upon non-
Federal share, even if it exceeds the required match stated above.
Therefore, applicants should ensure that any amount proposed as the
non-Federal share is committed to the project prior to inclusion in its
budget.
Part III. The Review Process
A. Review Process and Funding Decisions
Timely applications from eligible applicants will be reviewed and
scored competitively. Reviewers will use the evaluation criteria listed
below to review and score the application.
In addition, ACF may refer applications to other Federal or non-
Federal funding sources when it is determined to be in the best
interest of the Federal Government or the applicant. It may also
solicit comments from ACF Regional Office staff, other Federal
agencies, interested foundations and national organizations. These
comments along with those of the reviewers will be considered by ACF in
making the funding decision.
B. Evaluation Criteria
Using the evaluation criteria below, reviewers will review and
score each application. Applicants should insure that they address each
minimum requirement listed above.
Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each
application in terms of the appropriate evaluation criteria listed
below, provide comments, and assign numerical scores. The point value
following each criterion heading indicates the maximum numerical weight
that each criterion may be given in the review process.
C. Review Criteria
(a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements (20 points).
The applicant's proposal should demonstrate: (a) a good
understanding of TANF and Welfare to Work Activities, including an
outline of any current involvement with the programs; and (b) an
understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and employment needs of, both
TANF recipients and employers.
(b) Approach and Project Design (35 points).
The application should provide: a) evidence of organizational
experience in convening meetings and/or b) evidence of commitment to
planning and implementing strategic planning activities; (c) an outline
of the project design which takes into account specific features the
applicant wishes to address, and the objectives, component(s) and
[[Page 39578]]
services that will be impacted by the convening/facilitation of the
meetings; and (d) a description of how the applicant will conduct
outreach activities to promote involvement of the public/private sector
to enable their full participation in the planning process.
(3) Public--Private Partnerships (25 points).
In order to maximize the potential resources of the community to
provide options and alternatives to the public welfare system, the
applicant should provide evidence of coordination and commitments by
public, private, non-profit, community and faith-based organizations
and businesses to the strategic planning initiative.
(d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities (10 points).
It has been our experience that in order for projects of this scope
to be successful, the support and commitment of the individuals at the
highest levels of the public/private partnerships are necessary.
Projects such as this are under tight time constraints and require
innovation and flexibility. For example, it may be necessary from time
to time to provide exceptions to ``normal'' ways of conducting
business, or to establish expedited processes. Thus the support and
commitment of senior officials to accomplish the many tasks involved is
critical. The application should discuss this issue and indicate the
level of commitment to the project which is proposed.
(e) Budget Appropriateness (5 points).
The application should demonstrate that the project's costs are
reasonable in view of the anticipated results and benefits. Applicants
may refer to the budget information presented in the Standard Forms 424
and 424A.
(f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields (5
points).
The applicant is in within an area, a community or communities
which, as of the closing date for application under this announcement,
has been designated by the US Department of Housing (HUD), US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Environmental Protection Agency
as an Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields.
Part IV. Instructions for the Development and Submission of
Applications
This part contains information and instructions for submitting
applications in response to this announcement. Application forms,
certifications and assurances are available from the contact person
named in the preamble and through the ACF Internet at the following
address: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/oa/form.htm. A checklist for
assembling an application package is provided in this announcement.
A. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact
This program announcement 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, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,
Washington, American Samoa and Palau have elected to participate in the
Executive Order process and have established Single Points of Contact
(SPOCs), listed at the end of this announcement. Applicants from these
19 jurisdictions need take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants
for projects to be administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes
are also exempt from the requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise,
applicants should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them
of the prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions.
Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon 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 the date of contact if no submittal is
required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a.
Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application
deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards.
SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and
those official State process recommendations which may trigger the
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC
20447.
Refer to the beginning of this announcement under the heading
ADDRESSES, for hand delivered applications.
B. Deadline for Submittal of Applications
The closing date for submittal of applications under this program
announcement is found at the beginning of this announcement under the
heading DATES. Applications shall be considered as meeting the
announced deadline if they are either:
1. Received on or before the deadline date at the receipt point
specified in this program announcement, or
2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time
for the independent review.
Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated receipt from a
commercial carrier or US Postal Service. Private metered postmarks
shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1
and 2 above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each
late applicant that its application will not be considered in the
current competition.
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 widespread disruption of mails. However, if ACF does not
extend the deadline for all applicants, it will not extend the deadline
for any applicants.
C. Instructions for Preparing the Application
In order to assist applicants in completing the application,
additional guidance on completing the Standard Forms 424 and 424A and
required certifications have been included at the end of Part IV of
this announcement. Please reproduce single-sided copies of these forms
from the reprinted forms and type your information onto the copies.
Please prepare your application in accordance with the following
instructions:
1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet
Please read the following instructions before completing the
application cover sheet. An explanation of each item is included.
Complete only the items specified.
Item 1. Type of Submission--Non-Construction.
Item 2. Date Submitted and Applicant Identifier--
[[Page 39579]]
Date application is submitted to ACF and applicant's own internal
control number, if applicable.
Item 3. Date Received By State--State use only (if applicable).
Item 4. Date Received by Federal Agency--Leave blank.
Item 5. Applicant Information.
Legal Name--Enter the legal name of applicant organization. For
applications developed jointly, enter the name of the lead organization
only. There must be a single applicant for each application.
Organizational Unit--Enter the name of the primary unit within the
applicant organization which will actually carry out the project
activity. If this is the same as the applicant organization, leave the
organizational unit blank.
Address--Enter the complete address that the organization actually
uses to receive mail, since this is the address to which all
correspondence will be sent. Do not include both street address and
P.O. box number unless both must be used in mailing.
Name and telephone number of the person to be contacted on matters
involving this application (give area code)--Enter the full name and
telephone number of a person who can respond to questions about the
application. This person should be accessible at the address given.
Item 6. Employer Identification Number (EIN)--Enter the employer
identification number of the applicant organization, as assigned by the
Internal Revenue Service, including, if known, the Central Registry
System suffix.
Item 7. Type of Applicant--Self-explanatory.
Item 8. Type of Application--New.
Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--DHHS/ACF.
Item 10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number--93.647.
Item 11. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--TANF Technical
Assistance Demonstration Grant.
Item 12. Areas Affected by Project--Leave Blank.
Item 13. Proposed Project--Enter the desired start date for the
project and projected completion date. The project period must begin no
later than September 30, 1998.
Item 14. Congressional District of Applicant/Project--Enter the
number of the Congressional district where the applicant's principal
office is located.
Items 15. Estimated Funding Levels--
In completing 15a through 15f, the dollar amounts entered should
reflect the total amount requested for the first 12-month budget
period.
Item 15a. Enter the amount of Federal funds requested in accordance
with the preceding paragraph. This amount should be no greater than the
maximum amount available under this announcement for the first 12-month
budget period.
Items 15b--e Enter the amount(s) of funds from non-Federal sources
that will be contributed to the proposed project. Items b-e are
considered cost-sharing or matching funds.
Item 15f. Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected to
be generated from the proposed project. Do not add or subtract this
amount from the total project amount entered under item 15g. Describe
the nature, source and anticipated use of this income in the Project
Narrative Statement.
Item 15g. Enter the sum of items 15a-15e.
Item 16a. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order
12372 Process?--Check Yes if your State participates in the E.O. 12372
process. Enter the date the application was made available to the State
for review. Select the appropriate SPOC from the listing provided at
the end of Part IV. The review of the application is at the discretion
of the SPOC.
Item 16b. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order
12372 Process?--Check No if the program has not been selected by State
for review.
Item 17. Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?--Check
the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant
organization, not the person who signs as the authorized
representative. Categories of debt include audit disallowances, loans
and taxes.
Item 18. To the best of my knowledge and belief, all data in this
application/preapplication are true and correct. The document has been
duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant and the
applicant will comply with the attached assurances if the assistance is
awarded.--To be signed by the authorized representative of the
applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for signature
of this application by this individual as the official representative
must be on file in the applicant's office, and may be requested from
the applicant.
Item 18a-c. Typed Name of Authorized Representative, Title,
Telephone Number--Enter the name, title and telephone number of the
authorized representative of the applicant organization.
Item 18d. Signature of Authorized Representative--Signature of the
authorized representative named in Item 18a. At least one copy of the
application must have an original signature. Use colored ink (not
black) so that the original signature is easily identified.
Item 18e. Date Signed--Enter the date the application was signed by
the authorized representative.
2. SF 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
This is a form used by many Federal agencies. For this application,
Sections A, B, C, and E are to be completed. Sections D and F do not
need to be completed.
Section A--Budget Summary
Line 1:
Column (a): Enter TANF Technical Assistance Demonstration Grant;
Column (b): Enter 93.647.
Columns (c) and (d): Leave blank.
Columns (e), (f) and (g): enter the appropriate amounts needed to
support the project for the budget period.
Section B--Budget Categories. This budget should include the
Federal as well as non-Federal funding for the proposed project for the
first 12-month budget period. The budget should relate to item 15g,
total funding, on the SF 424. Under column (5), enter the total
requirements for funds (Federal and non-Federal) by object class
category.
The following instructions for preparing a detailed budget and
budget justification are in accordance with the ACF Uniform Project
Description. Note that ``Construction'' is not allowable under this
program. The budget and budget justification should immediately follow
the second page of the SF 424A.
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.
Personnel
Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
Justification: Identify the project director or principal
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary,
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel
costs of
[[Page 39580]]
delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be
financed by the applicant.
Fringe Benefits
Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA,
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel
Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s),
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment
Description: 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. However, an applicant may use its own
definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least
include all equipment defined above.
Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units,
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant
organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide
a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the
equipment definition.
Supplies
Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than
that included under the Equipment category.
Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports
the amount requested.
Contractual
Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except
for those which belong under other categories such as equipment,
supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations,
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be
financed by the applicant, 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 exceed the simplified acquisition
threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).
Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award review
and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or invitations
for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.
Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in
these instructions.
Other
Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food,
medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs,
space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use,
training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs,
and administrative costs.
Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a
justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Charges
Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or
another cognizant Federal agency.
Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or
renegotiating a rate, 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 program, the authorized representative of the
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income
Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be
generated from this project.
Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application
which contain this information.
Non-Federal Resources
Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be
documented and submitted with the application in order to be given
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for
each funding source.
Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs
Self Explanatory
The following instructions for preparing a project description
(aka, program narrative statement) are in accordance with the ACF
Uniform Project Description. The narrative should be typed double-
spaced. All pages of the narrative (including charts, references,
footnotes, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered,
beginning with Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements.
Note: The length of the application, including the application
forms and all attachments, should not exceed 100 pages.
3. The Project Description--Overview
Purpose
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.
[[Page 39581]]
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. Awarding
offices use 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 specific
project for which funds are requested.
The narrative should address the specific requirements under Part
II and also provide information concerning how the application meets
the evaluation criteria using the following headings:
(a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements;
(b) Approach and Project Design;
(c) Public--Private Partnerships;
(d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities;
(e) Budget Appropriateness;
(f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and /or Brownfields.
The specific information to be included under each of these
headings is described in section B of Part III--Evaluation Criteria.
4. Assurances/Certifications
Applicants are required to file an SF 424B, Assurances--Non-
Construction Programs, and the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Both
must be signed and returned with the application. In addition,
applicants must certify their compliance with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements; and (2) Debarment and Other Responsibilities. These
certifications are self-explanatory. Copies of these assurances and
certifications are available from the ACF forms web site mentioned
previously. A duly authorized representative of the applicant
organization must certify that the applicant is in compliance with
these assurances and certifications. A signature on the SF 424
indicates compliance with Drug-Free Workplace and Debarment notices and
Public Law 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as
the Pro-Children Act of 1994.
D. Checklist for a Complete Application
The checklist below is for your use to ensure that your application
package has been properly prepared.
--One original application, signed and dated, plus two copies.
--Complete application length should not exceed 100 pages.
--A complete application consists of the following items in this order:
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424);
A completed SPOC certification with the date of SPOC
contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424 if applicable;
Budget Information--Non-construction programs (SF 424A);
Budget Justification for SF 424A Section B--Budget
Categories;
Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove
nonprofit status, if necessary;
Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate
agreement, if appropriate;
Program Narrative Statement (See Part III, Section C);
Assurances--Non-construction programs (SF 424B); and
Certification Regarding Lobbying.
E. Submitting the Application
Each application package must include an original and two copies of
the complete application. Each copy should be secured with a binder
clip or similar devise. Please do not staple. All pages of the
narrative (including charts, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be
sequentially numbered. In order to facilitate handling, please do not
use covers, binders, or tabs.
Applicant should include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgment
card. All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt
of their application.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.647.
Dated: July 17, 1998.
Diann Dawson,
Acting Director, Office of Family Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-19609 Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P