[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19793-19799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10015]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Notice of Availability of Funding for Alternative Projects, Known 
as Wilson/Fish Projects, to Implement Alternative Means of Providing 
Interim Financial Assistance, Medical Assistance, Social Services, and 
Case Management to Refugees and Cuban and Haitian Entrants

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Request for applications for alternative projects for the 
provision of refugee employment and other social services, interim 
financial and medical assistance, and case management for newly 
arriving and other eligible refugees. This notice replaces the notice 
published in the Federal Register of March 27, 1995 (60 FR 15766).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announces that 
competing applications will be accepted from public and private non-
profit organizations under a standing announcement for Wilson/Fish 
projects which propose alternative approaches to serving refugees. The 
purpose of an alternative project is to provide integrated services and 
cash assistance to refugees in order to increase refugees' prospects 
for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of 
welfare dependence, enhance acculturation, and promote coordination 
among voluntary resettlement agencies and service providers.
    Projects will be accepted under either of two categories: (1) 
Projects to establish or maintain a refugee program in a State where 
the State is not participating in the refugee program or is dropping 
out of the refugee program or a portion of the program; and (2) 
projects to provide an alternative to the existing system of assistance 
and services to refugees.
    Funding is available to these projects under the ``Wilson/Fish'' 
authority.

DATES: This is a standing announcement applicable from the date of 
publication until canceled or modified by the Director of the Office of 
Refugee Resettlement. The Director will observe the following closing 
dates for applications: October 31 and March 31 of each year. The 
applicant has the option to select the preferred review cycle. Under 
Category One, if a State withdraws from the program, the Director may 
review an application

[[Page 19794]]

outside of the proposed review cycle, if necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara R. Chesnik, Team Leader, 
Office of Refugee Resettlement, telephone (202) 401-4558, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. You may address correspondence as follows: 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), ORR/Division of Refugee 
Self-Sufficiency, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 
20447.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is issuing this 
announcement for applications in two categories: (1) Projects to 
establish or maintain a refugee program in a State where the State does 
not fully participate in the refugee program; and (2) projects to 
provide an alternative to the existing system of assistance and 
services to refugees.
    Category One of this announcement provides an opportunity for 
interested applicant(s) to continue the provision of refugee program 
services and assistance, including refugee cash and medical assistance, 
employment and other social services, targeted assistance, and 
preventive health services, in a State when the State elects to 
discontinue participation in the program or is not currently 
participating in the program. This category may also be used when a 
State elects to cease participation in all of the above components 
except for medical assistance and preventive health and where the 
Director, ORR, believes that continued resettlement in that State is in 
the best interests of the government and of refugees. A consortium of 
voluntary agencies, a lead voluntary agency, or another public or 
private non-profit agency may apply to administer and provide services 
and assistance to refugees in the State or local geographic area.
    Category Two provides interested applicants an opportunity to 
implement alternative projects to promote refugee self-sufficiency, for 
example, (1) Where assistance and services for refugees receiving 
refugee cash assistance (RCA) and those receiving Temporary Assistance 
for Needy Families (TANF) could be provided in a better coordinated, 
effective, and efficient manner; (2) where TANF eligible refugees may 
not have access to timely, culturally and linguistically compatible 
services or employment and training programs; (3) where the regulatory 
options for delivery of services and assistance to refugees do not 
present the best resettlement in that location and resettlement could 
be made more effective through the implementation of an alternative 
project; (4) where refugees, particularly in two-parent families, are 
in danger of becoming dependent upon welfare and using the full time 
period of assistance allowed under the TANF program in a State, thereby 
removing the ability of the family to access TANF as a safety net in 
the future, if needed; (5) where the continuity of services from the 
time of arrival until the attainment of self-sufficiency needs to be 
strengthened, or (6) where it is in the best interest of refugees to be 
resettled outside the welfare system. Under this category, applicants 
have considerable latitude to propose an alternative model for 
resettlement in a geographic area.
    Applicants are expected to propose, at a minimum, a range of 
services and financial assistance generally comparable to those 
currently available to eligible refugees in the State. Applicants in 
Category One may propose to transfer and serve in the Wilson/Fish 
project the clients who have not completed their period of eligibility 
under the existing RCA program. Applicants in Category Two must propose 
an alternative project for refugees in one or more geographic areas and 
cover, at a minimum, all newly arriving refugees in a geographic area 
of the cash assistance type proposed, e.g., all refugees otherwise 
eligible for RCA and/or TANF (sometimes referred to as ``RCA-type'' or 
``TANF-type'' refugees). We would not expect projects in either 
category to propose transferring to the Wilson/Fish project refugees 
who are already enrolled in the TANF program.
    Services and assistance under these awards are intended to help 
refugees attain self-sufficiency within the period of support defined 
by 45 CFR 400.211. This period is currently 8 months after arrival. We 
expect that most projects funded will provide services and assistance 
to refugees for this period of time, as needed.
    Wilson/Fish projects will no longer be required to be budget 
neutral. For further discussion, please see the section on funding 
availability of this announcement.
    ORR will entertain proposals, subject to the availability of 
appropriated funds, to provide interim cash support to refugees who 
would otherwise be eligible for the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families (TANF) program, in addition to those refugees who would 
otherwise be eligible for the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program.
    Consistent with section 412(e)(7)(B) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA), refugees in projects funded under this 
announcement will be precluded from receiving cash assistance under the 
TANF program or the RCA program during the period of support provided 
under the Wilson/Fish project. If alternative medical assistance is 
included, participants will be precluded from receiving RMA or Medicaid 
during the period of support provided under the Wilson/Fish project.
    Applications will be screened and evaluated as indicated in this 
program announcement. Awards will be contingent on the outcome of the 
competition and the availability of funds.
    ORR encourages prospective applicants to consult with ORR while 
developing the application.
    This Program Announcement consists of four parts:
    Part I: Background--Program Purpose, Legislative Authority, Funding 
Availability, CFDA Number, Project and Budget Periods, Definition of 
Terms.
    Part II: Wilson/Fish Program--Eligible Applicants, Purpose and 
Objectives, Use of Funds, Review Criteria.
    Part III: The Review Process--Intergovernmental Review, Initial ORR 
Screening, Competitive Review.
    Part IV: The Application--Application Development, Guidelines for 
Preparing a Project Description, Application Submission, Paperwork 
Reduction and Reporting.

Part I. Background

Program Purpose

    Consistent with the legislative mandate provided in the Refugee Act 
of 1980, ORR program regulations define the parameters for resettlement 
services and assistance which we believe provide the best overall 
approach for assisting refugees to resettle and become self-sufficient. 
However, we acknowledge, as did Congress in passing the Wilson/Fish 
legislation, that opportunities should be available to public and 
private non-profit organizations to design different approaches to 
serving refugees in a particular geographic area. Since passage of the 
Wilson/Fish legislation in 1985, ORR has funded seven projects under a 
previous version of this announcement: Two public/private projects; two 
projects where a State discontinued participation in the program; two 
privately-administered projects; and one State-administered program.
    The purpose of the announcement is to enable applicants to 
implement alternative projects under one of two categories in order to 
provide interim financial assistance, social services and case 
management to refugees in a

[[Page 19795]]

manner that encourages self-sufficiency, reduces the likelihood of 
welfare dependency, speeds acculturation, and/or fosters greater 
coordination among resettlement agencies and services providers in a 
community. We are interested in projects which optimize all available 
resources--from the Federal government, the State, and the community--
to make the resettlement period as beneficial as possible. An 
integrated system of assistance and services is considered an essential 
characteristic of a Wilson/Fish project.
    Although ORR has included the provision of medical assistance as an 
allowable activity under this announcement, we strongly believe that 
the best medical assistance option available in almost all 
circumstances is the existing State-administered program of refugee 
medical assistance or Medicaid. However, the option to provide medical 
assistance under this announcement would be available under two 
circumstances: (a) Primarily for Category One projects where a State 
chooses to discontinue participation in all areas of the refugee 
program, including the provision of refugee medical assistance; and (b) 
under Category Two, in the event that there are significant problems in 
the provision of medical assistance to refugees in a State and where an 
alternative private medical assistance plan or provider is available 
which is able to provide a better and a more timely range of services 
for refugees and at an affordable cost.
    In the case where an alternative medical assistance system is 
approved, refugee participants would not be permitted to receive 
Medicaid or RMA during the period of support provided under the Wilson/
Fish project because they would be receiving comparable medical 
assistance.

Legislative Authority

    In October, 1984, Congress amended the Immigration and Nationality 
Act to provide authority for the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
to implement alternative projects for refugees. This provision, known 
as the Wilson/Fish Amendment, (Pub. L. 98-473), provided:

    (7)(A) The Secretary shall develop and implement alternative 
projects for refugees who have been in the United States less than 
thirty-six months, under which refugees are provided interim 
support, medical services, support services, and case management, as 
needed, in a manner that encourages self-sufficiency, reduces 
welfare dependency, and fosters greater coordination among the 
resettlement agencies and service providers.
    (B) Refugees covered under such alternative projects shall be 
precluded from receiving cash or medical assistance under any other 
paragraph of this subsection or under title XIX or part A of title 
IV of the Social Security Act.
 * * * * *
    (D) To the extent that the use of such funds is consistent with 
the purposes of such provisions, funds appropriated under section 
414(a) of this Act, part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, 
or title XIX of such Act, may be used for the purpose of 
implementing and evaluating alternative projects under this 
paragraph.

Funding Availability

    ORR will consider the requests for funding based on the merits of 
the proposals. Requests do not have to be limited to the amount being 
spent for current assistance and services, but that amount will be one 
of the measures used in considering the reasonableness of the request. 
Because projects proposed under this announcement will be alternatives 
to an existing program in a State or community, the expected range for 
funding applications and total funding level to be awarded per year is 
not a relevant measure for applicants. Historically, ORR has received 
fewer than three applications per year under preceding versions of this 
announcement.
    In previous years, ORR applied a test of cost-neutrality to Wilson/
Fish projects by limiting the amount of funds that could be awarded to 
grantees to the level of funds the project's target population would 
otherwise have received during the same budget and project periods. 
This concept of cost-neutrality, however, is not required by statute. 
The legislative history to the Wilson/Fish Amendment demonstrates 
Congressional intent that the amendment be budget neutral, meaning that 
no additional funds were provided by Congress to implement the 
amendment. See 130 Cong. Rec. 28,363 (October 2, 1984) (statements of 
Sen. Wilson, Sen. Weicker, Sen. Proxmire). Wilson/Fish projects no 
longer need to be cost neutral. ORR will entertain proposals, subject 
to the availability of appropriated funds, to provide financial 
assistance to TANF-type refugees in addition to RCA-type refugees.
    Interim cash and medical assistance under the Wilson/Fish program 
will be provided from funds appropriated under the Transitional 
Assistance and Medical Services (TAMS) line item. Funds for services 
under the Wilson/Fish program will be provided through the State's 
share of social services formula funds applicable to the population 
proposed. If the program needs for services are in excess of the 
formula social services funds available in an area, ORR will consider 
the provision of supplementary discretionary funds to meet the funding 
level proposed in the application, if the funds are available and if 
the applicant has adequately demonstrated the need for such funding.
    Applicants are encouraged to cover all or a portion of the costs of 
interim financial support in this program for TANF-eligible refugees by 
either seeking a relevant portion of State and Federal TANF funds from 
the State TANF agency, or seeking State-only funds which may be counted 
under certain circumstances toward the State's maintenance of effort 
(MOE) requirement. Those refugees supported by Federal or State TANF 
funds would be subject to TANF participation and work requirements, 
while refugees supported with State-only funds would not be subject to 
TANF rules.

Definition of Terms

    Interim Financial Support: To provide financial assistance adequate 
to meet the basic needs of refugees otherwise eligible for RCA and/or 
for TANF at a level generally comparable to assistance allowable under 
those programs. The greater part of this assistance is expected to be 
provided in the form of cash payments to refugees, but may also include 
incentive bonuses for early employment or payment for work-related 
expenses such as transportation or tools.
    Eligible population: In addition to persons who meet all 
requirements of 45 CFR 400.43, ``Requirements for documentation of 
refugee status'', eligibility for refugee program services and 
assistance also includes: (1) Cuban and Haitian entrants under section 
501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 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 Program Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in 
the FY 1988 Continuing Resolution (Pub. L. 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. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. 101-167), 
and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is 
used in this notice to encompass all such eligible persons unless the 
specific context indicates otherwise.

[[Page 19796]]

CFDA Number: 93.583

Part II. The Wilson/Fish Program

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include public and private non-profit 
organizations, such as States, private voluntary resettlement agencies, 
a consortium of agencies, local government entities, refugee mutual 
assistance associations, and community-based organizations.
    Because a Wilson/Fish project will have a potential impact on a 
State's or locality's budgetary needs for cash assistance and/or 
medical assistance, as well as social services, a non-State applicant 
is encouraged to coordinate its activities with the State Refugee 
Coordinator in the development and implementation of such an 
alternative project under Category Two of this announcement. State 
applicants should also coordinate their proposed activities with other 
participants in refugee resettlement such as voluntary resettlement 
agencies, service providers, mutual assistance associations, and local 
agencies, if applicable.

Project and Budget Periods

    This announcement is inviting applications for project periods up 
to four years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year 
budget period, although project periods may be for four years. 
Applications for non-competing continuation grants funded under these 
awards beyond the one-year budget period but within the four year 
project period will be entertained in subsequent years on a 
noncompetitive basis, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress of the grantee and a determination that continued funding 
would be in the best interest of the government.
    Income generated from activities funded under this program shall be 
added to the funds committed to the project, although ORR does not 
expect that such income will be generated.

Part III: The Review Process

A. Intergovernmental Review

    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.

    Note: State territory participation in the Intergovernmental 
Review Process does not signify applicant eligibility for Financial 
assistance under a program. a potential applicant must meet the 
eligibility requirements of the program for which it is applying 
prior to submitting an application to its single point of contact 
(SPOC), if applicable, or to ACF.

    As of November 20, 1998, the following jurisdictions have elected 
not to participate in the Executive Order process. Applicants from 
these jurisdictions or for projects administered by federally-
recognized Indian Tribes need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372:
    Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas 
Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, 
New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, 
Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
    Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in 
the process, entities which have met the eligibility criteria of the 
program may still apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, 
Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining jurisdictions 
participate in the Executive Order process and have established SPOCs. 
Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOCs 
as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective applications and 
receive 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. The applicant must 
submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the 
date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is 
required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), 
a SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on proposed 
new or competing continuation awards.
    SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are 
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and 
those official State process recommendations which may trigger the 
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Attn: Grants 
Officer, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Sixth Floor-East, Washington, 
D.C. 20447.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
is included with the application materials for this program 
announcement.

B. Initial ORR Screening

    Each application submitted under this program announcement will 
undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received 
by the applicable closing date and submitted in accordance with the 
instructions in this announcement; and (2) the applicant is an eligible 
public or private non-profit agency, and therefore eligible for 
funding. ORR will return to the applicant those applications which are 
found not eligible or incomplete.

C. Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria

    Applications which pass the initial ORR screening will be evaluated 
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific 
evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess 
the quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of 
its success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are 
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. 
Points are awarded only to applications that are responsive to the 
evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement. 
Proposed projects will be reviewed using the following evaluation 
criteria:
1. Objectives, Need for Assistance, and Rationale for Proposing the 
Alternative Project
    The improvements proposed to be implemented by the project are 
based on a thorough review and description of the current resettlement 
system in the geographic area to be covered, in terms of the services 
and assistance available; the ability of refugees to access culturally 
and linguistically appropriate services; the employment outcomes 
achieved (types of jobs currently available and length of time after 
arrival required to obtain these jobs); and the post-employment 
services available. Points: 20
2. Results, Benefits Expected, and Proposed Outcomes
    The proposed project is capable of achieving the stated results. 
The outcomes proposed are reasonable, and the methodology for 
collecting outcome and other data are clearly described and adequate. 
Points: 15
3. Approach/Program Strategy
    The proposed project design is clear, logical, complete and 
reasonable in terms of (a) the proposed strategies related to the 
target population, the

[[Page 19797]]

geographic area to be covered, the adequacy of the system, the policies 
and administration of interim cash support; (b) the likelihood that the 
relationship between the interim support and services described will 
result in a program which delivers quality resettlement; and (c) the 
adequacy of the policies and procedures for appeals and fair hearings. 
The application has included adequate evidence of consultation with 
other relevant agencies and actors, e.g., the State Coordinator in a 
non-State application and the voluntary agencies and refugee service 
providers in a State application. Points: 25
4. Organization
    The organization as described has the capacity and resources for 
effective administration and management of the project. The project 
staff are qualified and have the necessary expertise to manage the 
project and to deliver bilingual and bicultural services and assistance 
to refugees in the manner described. The applicant has described a 
system for monitoring and reporting that is attainable and adequate 
considering the organizational capacity and resources described. 
Points: 15
5. Budget and Budget Justification
    The budget is clear, logical, complete, and reasonable in relation 
to the expected activities and outcomes. The line-item budget narrative 
is understandable and adequately justifies the costs proposed. The data 
provided to justify the budget are consistently and logically presented 
in terms of the population to be served. Points: 25

Part IV. The Application

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. 
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 Director reserves the right to award more or less than the 
funds requested depending upon the quality of the applications, or such 
other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of the 
Government. Applicants may be required to reduce the scope of selected 
projects to accommodate the amount of the approved grant awards.
    Applicants shall prepare the project description statement in 
accordance with the following instructions.
1. Project Summary/Abstract
    Provide a summary of the project description with reference to the 
funding request.
2. Objective and Need for Assistance
    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other improvements to the current resettlement 
situation which you are proposing to make. The need for assistance must 
be demonstrated and the objectives of the project must be clearly 
stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support 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. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.
    ORR is particularly interested in the following:
    a. A clear description of the improvements to be made by the 
alternative strategy, stated in terms of population to be served, 
assistance and services to be provided, and outcomes to be achieved.
    b. A description of the planning and preparation for the project, 
including the primary participants involved in planning for this 
project and those institutions and organizations consulted, such as 
refugee mutual assistance associations, local community services 
agencies, national voluntary organizations, and other agencies that 
serve refugees.
3. Results or Benefits Expected
    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, 
describe the proposed program outcomes in terms of appropriate 
indicators, including proposed outcomes using the Government 
Performance and Results (GPRA) measures currently in use in the refugee 
resettlement program (e.g., the number of employable refugees in the 
caseload, the number of entered employments, the number of cash 
assistance reductions due to employment, the number of cash assistance 
terminations due to employment, the average hourly wage at entered 
employment, the number of 90-day employment retentions, and the number 
of entered employments with health benefits available). Identify other 
benefits refugees will realize as a result of the Wilson/Fish project, 
including enhanced acculturation and other social adjustment measures.
    Describe how and what data will be collected and how this data will 
be used to analyze project results. Describe the plan and schedule for 
project monitoring.
4. 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.
    ORR is particularly interested in the following:
    a. Describe the target population (numbers, ethnicity, and other 
characteristics such as age, family composition, ability to speak 
English, and labor skills); and the targeted populations by the 
anticipated category of public assistance for which the population may 
otherwise be eligible.
    b. Describe the proposed management plan indicating who has fiscal 
and programmatic responsibility for the overall project and for 
individual components. Identify the organizational structure and 
include a staffing pattern and key position descriptions. Briefly 
discuss experience of organization(s) and staff in providing services 
and assistance to refugees, including the capacity to provide 
bilingually and biculturally appropriate services. Sources and 
allocation of funds for

[[Page 19798]]

administration and staffing should be detailed and clearly shown for 
each position and activity.
    c. Describe the proposed services and how they will be provided, 
e.g., employment and case management services.
    d. Describe the proposed system for providing cash support, 
including: (i) The income standards for cash assistance eligibility; 
(ii) payment levels to be used to provide cash assistance to eligible 
refugees; (iii) assurance that the payment levels established are not 
lower than the State TANF amount; (iv) a detailed description of how 
benefit payments will be structured, including the employment 
incentives and/or income disregards to be used, if any; (v) a 
description of how refugees residing within the project area will have 
appropriate access to cash assistance and services; (vi) a description 
of the eligibility criteria; (vii) a description of provisions for 
sanctions for non-cooperation as required by section 412(e)(2) of the 
INA; (viii) a description of the procedures to be used to ensure 
appropriate protections and due process for refugees, such as notice of 
adverse action and the right to mediation, a predetermination hearing, 
and an appeal to an independent entity; and (ix) a description of the 
procedures to be used to safeguard the disclosure of information on 
refugee clients.
    e. Describe the proposed system for providing medical assistance, 
if applicable, including: (a) The type and range of services to be made 
available (e.g., physician, inpatient, prescription, surgical, 
emergency, dental, etc.); (b) a comparison of the system and range of 
medical services proposed to the currently available Medicaid system 
and services; (c) the type of provider proposed and history of the 
proposed provider, especially in providing services to low-income and 
ethnically diverse communities; (d) a description of how refugees, 
especially those who do not speak English or who have limited English 
skills, will have equal, easy, and timely access to medical assistance; 
(e) variables which will affect the cost of this assistance. Include a 
comparison of current costs with proposed costs. A description of the 
constitutionally required due process procedures described in d(viii), 
above, must also be included for medical assistance alternative 
projects.
    f. Assurances that the written policies of the alternative project 
will be made available to refugee clients, including agency eligibility 
standards, duration and amount of cash assistance payments and medical 
assistance (if applicable), the requirements for participation in 
services, the penalties for non-cooperation, and client rights and 
responsibilities to ensure that refugees understand what they are 
eligible for, what is expected of them, and what protections are 
available to them. Assurance that agency policy materials will be made 
available to refugee clients in English and in their own language.
    g. Discuss how all activities of the project will be coordinated 
among resettlement agencies and service providers in the community, and 
how refugees will have access to other programs in the community, such 
as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), child care services, 
and other support programs for working families and individuals.
5. Geographic Location
    Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the 
area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids 
may be attached.
6. Budget and Budget Justification
    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information form, e.g., cash 
assistance, employment and other services, case management, and 
administrative costs by program activity. 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.
    ORR is also interested in the following:
    1. A client loading chart showing the anticipated arrival of 
clients over the budget period and the projected interim assistance 
(and medical assistance, if applicable) needed on a monthly basis 
throughout the year to assist those refugees. Provide assumptions about 
the length of time clients are expected to need that assistance.
    Identify administrative costs required for the provision of interim 
cash assistance and for services separately from those costs projected 
as part of the overall role of coordinating the refugee program in the 
geographic area.
    2. The amount and source of any additional funding, including in-
kind contributions, that will help support the project.
    3. If the provision of medical assistance is proposed, provide a 
detailed budget and a narrative concerning the underlying assumptions 
used in developing the budget, such as the system for co-payments and 
the proposed amounts of co-payments, if applicable, and other variables 
such as deductibles, premium amounts, prescription costs, if separate.
7. Additional Information
    The following is a description of additional information that 
should be placed in the appendix to the application.
A. Staff and Position Data
    Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a 
job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch 
will also be required for new key staff as appointed.
B. Third-Party Agreements
    Include written agreements between grantees and subgrantees or 
subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These agreements must 
detail the scope of work to be performed, work schedules, remuneration, 
and other terms and conditions that structure or define the 
relationship.

V. Application Submission

    1. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    2. Deadline. Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an 
announced 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 to: Department of Health and 
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Refugee Resettlement, Attention: Shirley B. Parker, Grants Officer, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Sixth Floor--East, Washington, D.C. 20447.
    Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service 
postmark or a legibly dated, machine produced postmark of a commercial 
mail service is affixed to the envelope/package containing the 
application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark 
from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the 
commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package 
was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant. 
Private Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely 
mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services 
do not always deliver as agreed.)
    Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by

[[Page 19799]]

other representatives of the applicant shall be considered as meeting 
an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline 
date, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the Department 
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Refugee Resettlement, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near loading 
dock), Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, 
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address 
must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the 
note ``Attention: Shirley B. Parker, ORR Grants Officer''. (Applicants 
are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always 
deliver as agreed.)
    ORR 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.
    3. 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 in the current 
competition.
    4. Extension of deadlines. ORR may extend an application deadline 
when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) 
occur, or when there is widespread disruption of the mail service, or 
in other rare cases. Determinations to extend or waive deadline 
requirements rest with ACF's Chief Grants Management Officer.

Applicable Regulations

    Applicable HHS regulations can be found at 45 CFR part 74 or part 
92.

Reporting Requirements

    Grantees are required to file the Financial Status Report (SF-269) 
and the Program Progress Reports on a quarterly basis. Funds issued 
under these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately 
from all other grant activities. A final Financial Status Report and 
Program Progress Report shall be due 90 days after the project period 
end date.
    Grantees must maintain adequate records to track and report on 
project outcomes and expenditures by budget line item.
    The official receipt point for the original of all reports and 
correspondence is the ORR Grants Officer. An original and one copy of 
each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each 
reporting period: the original addressed to the Grants Officer, Office 
of the Director; a copy addressed to the ORR Project Officer, Division 
of Refugee Self-Sufficiency. The mailing address is: Office of Refugee 
Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Sixth Floor--East, Washington, 
DC 20447.
    A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the 
budget expiration date.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

    Based on historical experience, ORR anticipates fewer than ten 
responses annually to this notice. An OMB control number is therefore 
not required.

    Dated: April 15, 1999.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 99-10015 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P