[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14595-14603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6661]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

[Program Announcement CFDA Number 93.604]


Discretionary Funds for Assistance for Treatment of Torture 
Survivors

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

ACTION: Request for applications for services to victims of torture, 
including medical and psychological services; legal and social 
services; and research and training for health care providers outside 
of treatment centers to enable the provision of services to victims of 
torture.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF), announces that competing applications will 
be accepted for Category I--``Treatment and Services for Torture 
Survivors,'' grants to provide assistance to victims of torture, 
including treatment for the physical and psychological effects of 
torture; and social and legal services, and Category II--``Technical 
Assistance for Treatment and Service Providers for Torture Survivors,'' 
a cooperative agreement for one organization to provide technical 
assistance such as research and training activities for the torture 
treatment centers and other health care providers.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is May 15, 2000. 
See Part IV of this announcement for more information on submitting 
applications.

ANNOUNCEMENT AVAILABILITY: The program announcement and the application 
materials are available from Marta Brenden, Office of Refugee 
Resettlement (ORR) 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington DC 20447 and 
from the ORR website at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Brenden, Refugee Program 
Specialist, Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee 
Resettlement, Tel (202) 205-3589, Fax (202) 401-5772, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four 
parts:
    Part I: Background and General Information--background, purpose and 
objectives, legislative authority, funding availability, CFDA Number, 
eligible applicants, project and budget periods.
    Part II. General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project 
Description
    Part III: The Review Process--intergovernmental review, initial ACF 
screening, evaluation criteria and competitive review.

[[Page 14596]]

    Part IV: The Application--application development, application 
submission, certifications, and applicable regulations and reporting 
requirements.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 
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: OMB Approval No. 0970-0139, ACF UNIFORM PROJECT 
DESCRIPTION (UPD), which expires 10/31/2000. 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. Background and General Information

Background

Torture and Torture Victims
    The psychosocial and health consequences of violence and traumatic 
stress have emerged as one of the public health problems of our time. 
Torture constitutes one of the most extreme forms of trauma, with the 
potential for long-term psychological and physical suffering. The term 
torture has been defined in different ways by different organizations 
and for different purposes. The two most commonly used definitions of 
torture were formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and by 
the United Nations (UN). The WHO, which governs professional standards 
and ethics for physicians, developed its definition in 1975; it is 
frequently called the ``Declaration of Tokyo,'' and it represents a 
popular definition among the medical community. It defines torture as:
    ``* * * the deliberate, systematic or wanton infliction of physical 
or mental suffering by one or more persons acting alone or on the 
orders of any authority, to force another person to yield information, 
to make a confession, or for any other reason.''
    The UN definition, developed at the same time and revised in 1989, 
narrows the concept of torture somewhat by adding the legal and 
political responsibilities of governments. It states:

    * * * the term `torture' means any act by which severe pain or 
suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on 
a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or, a third person, 
information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third 
person has committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third 
person for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such 
pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with 
the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person 
acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or 
suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful 
sanctions.

    The United States ``Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998'' uses the 
definition of torture given the term in 18 U.S.C. 2340(l) and 
``includes the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence by a 
person acting under the color of law upon another person under his 
custody or physical control.'' The definition of ``torture'' at 18 U.S. 
C. 2340(l) provides that: torture means an act committed by a person 
under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical 
or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to 
lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical 
control;
    This provision also defines the term ``severe mental pain or 
suffering'' as: the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from--
    (A) The intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe 
physical pain or suffering;
    (B) The administration or application, or threatened administration 
or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures 
calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;
    (C) The threat of imminent death; or
    (D) The threat that another person will imminently be subjected to 
death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or 
application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated 
to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality.
    It should be emphasized that, for purposes of this announcement, 
the experience of torture may include specific characteristics of 
torture as documented in personal testimony or in clinical, medical, or 
detention settings. Some specific examples of physical and 
psychological types of torture are: systemic beating, sexual torture, 
electrical torture, suffocation, burning, bodily suspension, 
pharmacological torture, mutilations, dental assaults, deprivation and 
exhaustion, threats about the use of torture, witnessing the torture of 
others, humiliation, and isolation.
    Estimates of the number of torture survivors have been established 
primarily by extrapolating from the major populations at risk--refugees 
and internally displaced persons. In 1997, there were estimated to be 
more that 13,600,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the world and 20 
million internally displaced persons. The estimates of refugees, asylum 
seekers and displaced persons who have been tortured vary widely from 
5% to 35%. This announcement, which focuses on health, social and legal 
services for torture survivors, as well as education and training of 
providers, recognizes that torture may have been an experience of many 
members of groups residing in the United States, including refugees, 
asylees, immigrants, other displaced persons, and U.S. citizens. Using 
data cited above, it has been estimated that there may be more than 
400,000 torture survivors in the United States.
Consequences of Torture and Services for Torture Survivors
    Physical consequences of torture may be extensive and severe. 
Specific neuropsychological symptoms are often difficult to diagnose 
because of head injuries and the multiplicity of symptoms. Post-
traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, and other 
anxiety disorders are common diagnoses among torture survivors. 
Therefore, for many severely tortured individuals, access to medical 
practitioners and sophisticated diagnostic instruments and testing 
(e.g., neuro-imaging, cognitive functions, etc.), for the purpose of 
differential diagnosis, is paramount.
    A high percentage of torture survivors are in need of social and 
legal services. Access to legal and immigration services is usually a 
priority. Social services, such as employment assistance and training, 
are also extremely important and correlate with successful psychosocial 
adjustment and well-being. From the national experience with refugees 
and survivors of wartime violence, it has been demonstrated that early 
and adequate access to social and legal services may also preclude the 
need for more specialized psychological treatment services.
    The torture rehabilitation and treatment center movement, which was 
established in Denmark in the 1970's, and adopted in the US, Canada, 
France and other countries, has led to the growth of specialized 
torture survivor treatment centers in select parts of the nation. 
Although the treatment center movement has created opportunities for 
treatment and training in specific urban areas, many torture survivors 
do not have access to these highly specialized programs. Medical, 
social and legal services for torture survivors are needed in areas and 
in settings and institutions wherever torture survivors will seek

[[Page 14597]]

assistance. Thus there is also a national need for more broad-based 
training of medical and mental health practitioners in the 
identification, diagnosis and treatment of torture survivors.
    Torture survivors, now in the United States, should be provided 
with the rehabilitation services which would enable them to become 
productive community members. The Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 
provides for services for the treatment of the psychological and 
physical effects of torture, social and legal services for torture 
survivors, and research and training for health care providers.

Purpose and Objectives

    The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF) intends to fund grant applications for 10-
15 organizations to provide assistance to victims of torture, and for 
one organization under a cooperative agreement to provide technical 
assistance, such as research and training to the torture treatment 
centers, social and legal service providers and health care providers.
    Applications should be clearly labeled for either Category I--
Treatment and Services for Torture Survivors or Category II--Technical 
Assistance for Treatment Centers and Service Providers for Torture 
Survivors. Under the cooperative agreement for technical assistance 
Category II, ORR intends to review and approve: (1) proposed plan for 
technical assistance activities, (2) schedule, location, and individual 
treatment centers and community-based agencies where site visits will 
be conducted, (3) training and research plans, and (4) locations of 
proposed workshops.
    Not all torture survivors have the same medical, psychological, 
social, or legal needs, and services funded under this announcement 
should reflect diverse populations to be targeted and services to be 
provided. This is particularly true when considering conventional 
psychological services. It is emphasized that, within the clinical, 
social and legal service domains, proposals are encouraged that will 
address a broad menu of services for torture survivors and may include 
collaborative relationships. Partnerships are encouraged among several 
organizations in order to provide a comprehensive program of services. 
For example, an organization that currently provides legal advice to 
detained asylum seekers, who are torture survivors, might collaborate 
with another social service or clinical organization to pool resources 
and expand their range of services.

Legislative Authority

    In October 1998, Congress enacted the ``Torture Victims Relief Act 
of 1998,'' Pub. Law 105-320 (22 U.S.C. 2152 note). As stated in Sec. 5 
(a) ASSISTANCE FOR TREATMENT OF TORTURE VICTIMS--The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services may provide grants to programs in the United 
States to cover the cost of the following services:
    (1) Services for the rehabilitation of victims of torture, 
including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of 
torture.
    (2) Social and legal services for victims of torture.
    (3) Research and training for health care providers outside of 
treatment centers, or programs for the purpose of enabling such 
providers to provide the services described in paragraph (1).
    In November 1999, Congress enacted the ``Torture Victims Relief 
Reauthorization Act of 1999,'' Pub. Law 106-87 (22 U.S. C. 2151 note).

Funding Availability

    Congress appropriated $7,500,000 for carrying out section 5 of the 
Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998. Department of Health and Human 
Services Appropriations Act, 2000, as enacted by section 1000(a)(4) of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000 (Pub. L. 106-113). As a 
result of a rescission of approximately 3%, the funds available under 
this program announcement total $7,265,000 for the federal fiscal year 
2000. ORR anticipates making 10-15 grants in the amounts of $500,000-
$750,000 and making a cooperative agreement for technical assistance 
for approximately $300,000.
    Applications for subsequent year continuation grants funded under 
these awards will be entertained on a non-competitive basis, subject to 
the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a 
determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of 
the Government.
    CFDA Number: 93.604.
    Eligible Applicants
    Eligible applicants are public or private organizations and 
institutions.

Project and Budget Periods

    Under this announcement, ORR solicits applications for Category I 
for approximately 10-15 grants to provide assistance to survivors of 
torture for up to 4 years with successive one year budget periods and 
for Category II one cooperative agreement to provide technical 
assistance for up to 4 years to torture treatment centers, social and 
legal service providers and health care providers.

Part II. General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project 
Description

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. 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.

General Instructions

    Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. ACF 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.

Project Summary/Abstract

    Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with 
reference to the funding request.

Objectives and Need for Assistance

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. 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

[[Page 14598]]

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.

Results or Benefits Expected

    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, an 
applicant might describe torture survivors and the benefits to the 
survivors of the proposed services.

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 and the number of microloans 
made. For an example of the approach in providing services to torture 
survivors, the applicant might provide quantitative monthly or 
quarterly projections of clients taken into service and the number of 
clinical, social or legal interventions. When accomplishments cannot be 
quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to 
show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates.
    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. 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.

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.

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.

Organization Profiles

    Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and 
cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial 
statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public 
Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, 
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other 
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance 
with Federal/State/local government standards, 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.

Dissemination Plan

    Provide a plan for distributing reports and other project outputs 
to colleagues and the public. Applicants must provide a description of 
the kind, volume and timing of distribution.

Third-Party Agreements

    Include written agreements between grantees and subgrantees or 
subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These agreements must 
detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, remuneration, and 
other terms and conditions that structure or define the relationship.

Letters of Support

    Provide statements from community, public and commercial leaders 
that support the project proposed for funding.

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.

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. For purposes 
of preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' 
refers only to the ACF 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

    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 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).

[[Page 14599]]

    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.

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 acknowledgment 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

Part III. The Review Process

Intergovernmental Review: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

    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 SPOC, if applicable, or to 
ACF.

    In accordance with Executive Order #12372, ``Intergovernmental 
Review of Federal Programs,'' this listing represents the designated 
State Single Points of Contact. The jurisdictions not listed no longer 
participate in the process but grant applicants are still eligible to 
apply for the grant even if your state, territory, commonwealth, etc. 
does not have a ``State Single Point of Contact.'' Jurisdictions 
without ``State Single Points of Contacts'' include: 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.
    This list is based on the most current information provided by the 
States. Information on any changes or apparent errors should be 
provided to the Office of Management and Budget and the State in 
question. Changes to the list will only be made upon formal 
notification by the State. Also, this listing is published biannually 
in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance.
    Jurisdictions that participate in the Executive Order process 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, 370 L'Enfant Promenade

[[Page 14600]]

SW, 6th Floor, Washington DC, 20447 ATTN: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
is included in this announcement.

OMB State Single Point of Contact Listing

Arizona

Joni Saad, Arizona State Clearinghouse, 3800 N. Central Avenue, 
Fourteenth Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, Telephone: (602) 280-1315, 
FAX: (602) 280-8144, e-mail: [email protected]

Arkansas

Mr. Tracy L. Copeland, Manager, State Clearinghouse, Office of 
Intergovernmental Services, Department of Finance and Administration, 
1515 W. 7th St., Room 412, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203, Telephone: 
(501) 682-1074, FAX: (501) 682-5206

California

Grants Coordinator, Office of Planning and Research/State 
Clearinghouse, 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121, Sacramento, California 
95814, Telephone: (916) 323-7480, FAX: (916) 323-3018,

Delaware

Francine Booth, State Single Point of Contact, Executive Department, 
Office of the Budget, 540 S. duPont Highway, Suite 5, Dover, Delaware 
19901, Telephone: (302) 739-3326, FAX: (302) 739-5661

District of Columbia

Charles Nichols, State Single Point of Contact, Office of Grants 
Management and Development, 717 14th Street, NW--Suite 1200, 
Washington, DC 20005, Telephone: (202) 727-6537, FAX: (202) 727-1617, 
e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Florida

Cherie L. Trainor, Coordinator, Florida State Clearinghouse, Department 
of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 
32399-2100, Telephone: (850) 922-5438 or (850) 414-5495, FAX: (850) 
414-0479, e-mail: [email protected]

Georgia

Debra S. Stephens, Coordinator, Georgia State Clearinghouse, 270 
Washington, Street, SW--8th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, Telephone: 
(404) 656-3855, FAX: (404) 656-7901, e-mail: [email protected]

Illinois

Virginia Bova, State Single Point of Contact, Illinois Department of 
Commerce and Community Affairs, James R. Thompson Center, 100 West 
Randolph, Suite 3-400, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Telephone: (312) 814-
6028, FAX: (312) 814-1800

Indiana

Frances Williams, State Budget Agency, 212 State House, Indianapolis, 
Indiana 46204-2796, Telephone: (317) 232-5619, FAX: (317) 233-3323

Iowa

Steven R. McCann, Division for Community Assistance, Iowa Department of 
Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, 
Telephone: (515) 242-4719, FAX: (515) 242-4809

Kentucky

Kevin J. Goldsmith, Director, John-Mark Hack, Deputy Director, Sandra 
Brewer, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the 
Governor, 700 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Telephone: 
(502) 564-2611, FAX: (502) 564-2849

Maine

Joyce Benson, State Planning Office, 184 State Street, 38 State House 
Station, Augusta, Maine 04333, Telephone: (207) 287-3261, FAX: (207) 
287-6489

Maryland

Linda C. Janey, JD, Manager, Clearinghouse and Plan Review Unit, 
Maryland Office of Planning, 301 W. Preston Street--Room 1104, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2305, Telephone: (410) 767-4491, FAX: (410) 
767-4480, e-mail: [email protected]

Michigan

Richard Pfaff, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, 660 Plaza 
Drive--Suite 1900, Detroit, Michigan 48226, Telephone: (313) 961-4266, 
FAX: (313) 961-4869

Mississippi

Cathy Mallette, Clearinghouse Officer, Department of Finance and 
Administration, 455 North Lamar Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39202-
3087, Telephone: (601) 359-6762, FAX: (601) 359-6764

Missouri

Lois Pohl/Carol Meyer, Federal Assistance Clearinghouse, Office Of 
Administration, P.O. Box 809, Room 915, Jefferson Building, Jefferson 
City, Missouri 65102, Telephone: (573) 751-4834, FAX: (573) 522-4395

Nevada

Heather Elliott, Department of Administration, State Clearinghouse 
Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nevada 89710, Telephone: (702) 687-6367, 
FAX: (702) 687-3983

New Hampshire

Jeffrey H. Taylor, Director, New Hampshire Office of State Planning, 
Attn: Intergovernmental Review Process; Mike Blake, Office of State 
Planning, 2\1/2\ Beacon Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, 
Telephone: (603) 271-2155, FAX: (603) 271-1728

New Mexico

Nick Mandell, Local Government Division, Room 201, Bataan Memorial 
Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503, Telephone: (505) 827-4991, FAX: 
(505) 827-4948

New York

New York State Clearinghouse, Division of the Budget, State Capitol, 
Marsha Roth, Albany, New York 12224, Telephone: (518) 474-1605, FAX: 
(518) 486-5617

North Carolina

Chrys Baggett, Director, North Carolina State Clearinghouse, Office of 
the Secretary of Administration, 116 West Jones Street--Suite 5106, 
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8003, Telephone: (919) 733-7232, FAX: 
(919) 733-9571

North Dakota

Jim Boyd, North Dakota Single Point of Contact, Office of 
Intergovernmental Assistance, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 
105, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0170, Telephone: (701) 328-2094, FAX: 
(701) 328-2308

Rhode Island

Kevin Nelson, Review Coordinator, Department of Administration, 
Division of Planning, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, Rhode 
Island 02908-5870, Telephone: (401) 222-2656, FAX: (401) 222-2083

South Carolina

Omegia Burgess, State Single Point of Contact, Budget and Control 
Board, Office of State Budget, 1122 Ladies Street--12th Floor, 
Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Telephone: (803) 734-0494, FAX: (803) 
734-0645

Texas

Tom Adams, Single Point of Contact, State of Texas, Governor's Office 
of

[[Page 14601]]

Budget and Planning, Director, Intergovernmental Coordination, P.O. Box 
12428, Austin, Texas 78711-2428, Telephone: (512) 463-1771, FAX: (512) 
936-2681, e-mail: [email protected]

Utah

Carolyn Wright, Utah State Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and 
Budget, Room 116 State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114, Telephone: 
(801) 538-1535, FAX: (801) 538-1547

West Virginia

Judith Dryer, Chief Program Manager, West Virginia Development Office, 
Building #6, Room 645, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia 25305, 
Telephone: (304) 558-0350, FAX: (304) 558-0362,

Wisconsin

Jeff Smith, Section Chief, State/Federal Relations, Wisconsin 
Department of Administration, 101 East Wilson Street--6th, Floor P.O. 
Box 7868, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, Telephone: (608) 266-0267, FAX: 
(608) 267-6931

Wyoming

Matthew Jones, State Single Point of Contact, Office of the Governor, 
200 West 24th Street, State Capital, Room 124, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, 
FAX: (307) 632-3909

Territories

Guam Mr. Giovanni T. Sgambelluri, Director, Bureau of Budget and 
Management Research, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 
96910, Telephone: 011-671-472-2285, FAX: 011-671-472-2825

Puerto Rico

Norma Burgos/Jose E. Caro, Chairwoman/Director, Puerto Rico Planning 
Board, Federal Proposals Review Office, Minillas Government Center, 
P.O. Box 41119, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1119, Telephone: (809) 727-
4444 or (809) 723-6190, FAX: (809) 724-3270 or (809) 724-3103.

Northern Mariana Islands

Mr. Alvaro A. Santos, Executive Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, Office of the Governor, Saipan, MP 96950, Telephone: (670) 664-
2256, FAX: (670) 664-2272.
Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental 
review to: Ms. Jacoba T. Seman, Federal Programs Coordinator, 
Telephone: (670) 664-2289, FAX: (670) 664-2272.

Virgin Islands

Nellon Bowry, Director, Office of Management and Budget, #41 Norregade 
Emancipation Garden Station, Second Floor, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 
00802.
Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental 
review to: Daisey Millen, Telephone: (809) 774-0750, FAX: (809) 776-
0069.

Initial ACF Screening

    Each application submitted under this program announcement will 
undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) The application was received 
by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions 
in this announcement and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding.

Competitive Review and Criteria

    Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated 
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific 
evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria are 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 which are responsive to the evaluation 
criteria within the context of this program announcement.

    Please Note: Applicants are reminded to appropriately label 
their application as Category I--``Treatment and Services for 
Torture Survivors'' or Category II--``Technical Assistance for 
Treatment and Service Providers for Torture Survivors.'' An 
organization may apply to both categories but must submit separate 
applications, one for each category.

Review Criteria

Category I--Applications for Treatment and Services for Torture 
Survivors Will Be Reviewed and Ranked Against the Following Criteria

    1. Objectives and Need for Assistance. The application clearly 
demonstrates knowledge of eligible clients, including: a.) A reasonable 
statement of the eligibility criteria for the intake assessment (attach 
the assessment form) and an understanding of eligibility by providing 
descriptive examples of individual torture survivors and the families 
that accompany them, description of the circumstances that resulted in 
torture (such as presenting the applicant's understanding of the 
political and social context in which the torture was administered); 
b.) Demographic details of the eligible population of torture 
survivors, including the number, nationality and ethnicity in the 
applicant's geographic service area; and c.) access to clients by 
adequately discussing issues of client's trust in the applicant 
organization, the likelihood of referral from other organizations, and 
outreach activities. (15 points)
    2. Approach. The application provides a clear and feasible strategy 
for assistance to torture survivors, including: a.) client assessment 
strategy to determine which services are appropriate for the 
individual/family (e.g., not all clients will need all services, rather 
each client should be assessed for which social, legal, medical and 
psychological services are relevant to the client's circumstances); b.) 
goal and purpose of the assistance for the client/family; c.) 
description of medical, psychological, social and legal services and 
client access to services, such as location of treatment, proximity to 
communities where prospective clients live, and means of transportation 
that makes services accessible; and d.) established partnerships with 
community-based public and private agencies that participate in the 
provision of services to the client/family, for example, government and 
private organizations such as income maintenance, advocacy, 
immigration, recreational, public health, microenterprise, or whatever 
agency may be needed by the client/family with attachments that 
document the partnerships with memorandums of understandings (MOUs), 
letters of intent from partners, and plans for financial needs/
arrangements for client support. (25 points)
    3. Organization Profiles. The application demonstrates the 
organization's capacity to provide assistance appropriate to torture 
survivors and includes: (a.) Agency mission and organizational chart; 
(b.) resumes of project staff demonstrating linguistic and cultural 
access for clients; (c.) history of experience with torture survivors, 
such as experience as a treatment center or an organization that 
provides social and legal services to survivors of torture; (d.) 
management plan for the project contains systems of client records, 
program records, and financial management; and (e.) timeline for 
implementation of project activities. (25 points)
    4. Results or Expected Benefits. The outcomes and benefits of the 
assistance are clearly explained and are reasonable. There are clear 
and understandable outcome measures for the services, and a reasonable 
plan for

[[Page 14602]]

reporting the outcomes to ORR. (25 points)
    5. Budget and Budget Justification. The budget is reasonable and 
clearly justified. The methodologies for estimating the number of 
client/patients to be served are reasonable. The plan for obtaining 
funds from Medicaid, Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA), and private 
health coverage for client fees for treatment, when available, is 
appropriate, informed and viable. (10 points)

Category II--Applications for the Cooperative Agreement To Provide 
Technical Assistance to the Treatment Centers and Health Care Providers 
Will Be Reviewed and Ranked Against the Following Criteria

    1. Objectives and Need for Assistance. The applicant clearly 
demonstrates knowledge of and access to treatment organizations 
providing services to torture survivors. The applicant also 
demonstrates a clear understanding of the nature and extent of 
technical assistance needed by the treatment facilities. (15 points)
    2. Approach. The application provides a clear and feasible plan for 
providing technical assistance to approximately 15 treatment 
facilities. The application provides a clear and feasible strategy and 
persuasive explanation for technical assistance activities such as 
research to support training of medical, mental health, social service, 
and legal services, including: goals and objectives of the training and 
research; number of training sessions, curriculum for training; access 
to the targeted participants (such as, organizations and professionals 
whose services will be improved by training) (25 points)
    3. Organization Profiles. The application demonstrates that it has 
the necessary staff and organization capabilities for providing 
technical assistance to treatment facilities and includes: a.) agency 
mission and organizational chart; b.) resumes of project staff 
demonstrating appropriate professional background and work experience 
with torture survivors; c.) management plan for the project contains 
plans for reports, program records, and financial management; and d.) 
timeline for implementation of project activities. (25 points)
    4. Results and Expected Benefits. The outcomes and benefits of the 
assistance are clearly explained and are reasonable. There are clear 
and understandable outcome measures for the technical assistance and 
training, and a plan for reporting the outcomes to ORR. (25 points)
    5. Budget and Budget Justification. The budget is reasonable and 
clearly justified. (10 points)

Part IV. Application Submission

Application Development

    In order to be considered for a grant under this program 
announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied 
and in the manner prescribed by ACF. Application materials including 
forms and instructions are available from the contact named under the 
``Announcement Availability'' section in the preamble of this 
announcement. It is required that the application indicate on the SF-
424 Item 11. ``Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project'' the category 
for which the application is to be considered.
    Each application should include one signed original and two 
additional copies.
    Each application narrative portion should not exceed 25 double-
spaced pages in a 12-pitch font. Attachments and appendices should not 
exceed 25 pages and should be used only to provide supporting 
documentation such as maps, administration charts, position 
descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent for partnership 
agreements. 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, including the attachments or 
appendices.

Funding Reconsideration

    After Federal funds are exhausted for this grant competition, 
applications which have been independently reviewed and ranked but have 
no final disposition (neither approved nor disapproved for funding) may 
again be considered for funding. Reconsideration may occur at any time 
funds become available within twelve (12) months following ranking. 
However, ACF does not select from multiple ranking lists for a program. 
Therefore, should a new competition be scheduled and an application 
remain ranked without final disposition, applicants are informed of 
their opportunity to reapply for the new competition, to the extent 
practical.

Application Deadlines

    The closing date for submission of applications is May 15, 2000. 
Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    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 
ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Refugee Resettlement, Attention: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
    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 handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by 
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 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor, Aerospace 
Building, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20447 between Monday and 
Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address must appear on the 
envelope/package containing the application with the note ``Attention: 
Ms. Daphne Weeden.'' (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight 
mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or 
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to 
ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of 
submission and time of receipt.
    Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late 
applicant that its application will not be considered in the current 
competition.
    Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mails service. Determinations 
to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants 
Management Officer.

[[Page 14603]]

    For Further Information Contact: Ms. Daphne Weeden, Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447, (202) 401-4577.

Standard Language Concerning the Certifications, Assurances, and 
Disclosure Required for Non Construction Programs

    Applicants requesting financial assistance for non construction 
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard 
Form 424B with their applications. Applicants must provide a 
certification regarding lobbying when applying for an award in excess 
of $100,000. Applicants must sign and return the certification with 
their applications.
    Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the Standard Form 
LLL when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who 
have used non Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with 
receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a 
disclosure form to report lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the 
disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and 
submitting the application, the applicant is providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
applications.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are 
not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for an award. 
By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing 
the certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
applications.

Applicable Regulations and Reporting Requirements

1. Applicable Regulations

    Applicable DHHS regulations can be found in 45 CFR Part 74 or Part 
92.

2. Reporting Requirements

    Grantees are required to file the Financial status Report (SF-269) 
and Program Performance Reports on a semi-annual basis. Funds issued 
under these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately 
from all other grant activities. 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 project 
outcomes. The official receipt point for 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 
directly to the Grants Officer. The mailing address is: Ms. Daphne 
Weeden, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee 
Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, 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: March 13, 2000.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 00-6661 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P