[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19784-19791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9113]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. CFDA 93.576]


Office of Refugee Resettlement Microenterprise Development

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of FY 2000 discretionary funds for 
refugee microenterprise development.

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

SUMMARY: ORR invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant 
applications for microenterprise development for refugees.
    Applications will be accepted pursuant to the Director's 
discretionary authority under section 412(c) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1522), as amended.
    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.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is June 12, 
2000. See Part IV of this announcement for more information on 
submitting applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Brenden at (202) 205-3589, 
[email protected]. Application materials are also available from 
Marta Brenden at the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade SW, Washington DC 20447 and on the ORR website at 
www.acf.dhhs.gov/program/orr.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four 
parts:
    Part I: Background, legislative authority, funding availability, 
CFDA Number, Applicant eligibility, project and budget periods, length 
of application, program purpose and scope, client eligibility, 
allowable activities, and treatment of program income.
    Part II: General instructions for preparing a full project 
description.
    Part III: The Review Process--Intergovernmental review, initial ACF

[[Page 19785]]

screening, competitive review, funding reconsideration, and review 
criteria.
    Part IV: The Application--Application materials, application 
development, application submission information, certifications, 
regulations and reporting.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 
hours, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of 
information. The following information collections are 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

    ORR has supported the field of microenterprise development since 
1991 with grants to various State governments, community economic 
development agencies, community action and other human service 
agencies, local Mutual Assistance Associations and voluntary agencies. 
Organizations with successful programs have typically been those with a 
long-term commitment to microenterprise and to its adaptation to the 
refugee experience. They have committed agency resources to support 
refugee programs, and their work in refugee microenterprise has been 
consistent with the overall agency mission. A public or private non-
profit agency interested in receiving funding under this announcement 
must analyze its organizational capacity to work with refugees who are 
economically poor, have limited English language proficiency, and have 
neither assets nor American business experience. In fact, most newly 
arrived refugees do not qualify for commercial loans or for admission 
into mainstream microenterprise development programs for these reasons.
    Refugees do, however, bring positive attributes to microenterprise 
projects: a diverse and rich array of business ideas, skills, 
experiences, and ambitions. These characteristics have been largely 
responsible for the success of the ORR initiative to date. During the 
last eight years, refugees have started or expanded over 800 micro-
businesses, and over 89 percent of these businesses have survived. ORR 
grantees have provided over $3 million in financing to these 
entrepreneurs, and the loan repayment rate is close to 100 percent. By 
commonly accepted measures of performance, (business survival rates, 
loan default rates etc.) the ORR programs have excelled, frequently 
leading the field in achievement. More importantly, over 4000 refugees 
have gained new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and the 
additional business income is helping refugee families to achieve 
economic self-sufficiency.
    Building on our experience of the last eight years, ORR seeks in 
this announcement to continue support to this field, particularly on 
behalf of those refugees who, because of language and cultural 
barriers, are unlikely to gain access to commercial loans or business 
training through other programs. To be successful in this competition, 
refugee-serving organizations must demonstrate their agency's capacity 
to provide the technical expertise to help refugees start or expand 
businesses. Economic development agencies must show how they will 
modify their existing programs to effectively serve refugees.
    Legislative Authority--This program is authorized by section 
412(c)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)(8 U.S.C. 
1522(c)(1)(A)) which authorizes the Director ``to make grants to, and 
enter into contracts with, public or private nonprofit agencies for 
projects specifically designed--(i) to assist refugees in obtaining the 
skills which are necessary for economic self-sufficiency, including 
projects for job training, employment services, day care, professional 
refresher training, and other recertification services; (ii) to provide 
training in English where necessary (regardless of whether the refugees 
are employed or receiving cash or other assistance); and (iii) to 
provide where specific needs have been shown and recognized by the 
Director, health (including mental health) services, social services, 
educational and other services.'' In addition, section 412(a)(4)(A)(i) 
authorizes the Director to make loans for the purpose of carrying out 
this section.
    The FY 2000 Appropriation Act for the Department of Health and 
Human Services (Pub. L. 106-113) appropriates funds for refugee and 
entrant assistance activities authorized by these provisions of the 
INA.
Funding Availability
    ORR expects to make available approximately $2.2 million for 
Microenterprise Development in amounts ranging from $100,000-$160,000 
for about 15-20 awards.
    The Director reserves the right to award less, or more, than the 
funds described, in the absence of worthy applications, or under such 
other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of the 
government.
CFDA Number `` 93.576
Applicant Eligibility
    Eligible grantees are public and private non-profit organizations 
and agencies of State governments that are responsible for the refugee 
program under 45 CFR 400.5.
Project and Budget Periods
    This announcement invites applications for project periods up to 3 
years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year budget 
period, although project periods may be for 3 years. Applications for 
continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the one-year 
budget period but within the 3 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.
Length of Application
    Applicants are encouraged to limit program narratives to 25 pages 
(double-spaced on standard, letter-size paper, in 12 point font) plus 
no more than 25 pages of appended material. This limitation of 20 pages 
per program area should be considered as a maximum, and not necessarily 
a goal.

Microenterprise Development: Program Purpose and Scope

    The purpose of microenterprise development is to assist refugees in 
becoming economically self-sufficient and to help refugee communities 
in developing employment and capital resources.
    Applicants may request funds for microenterprise services generally 
to include business technical assistance or short-term training, credit 
in the form of microloans, the administrative costs of managing the 
project and, if applicable, a revolving microloan fund. Projects should 
be designed in a manner that is culturally and linguistically 
appropriate for the refugee population.
    Projects should be designed with an understanding of the 
characteristics of the local refugee populations: employment rates, 
welfare status, length of time in the U.S., interest in micro-
businesses, and English language proficiency. Applicants should also be 
familiar with the capital needs and

[[Page 19786]]

capital market gaps for refugee entrepreneurs, and should demonstrate 
how refugees will gain access to business credit.
    Successful applications will demonstrate an understanding of the 
economic opportunities in the community for refugees and have 
established working partnerships with the communities' refugee 
resettlement services network, with existing microenterprise 
organizations (where they are present) and with financial institutions.
    ORR will not fund applications which propose to subgrant or 
contract all or most of the proposed activities under this initiative 
to an unrelated entity. This does not bar subgranting or contracting 
for specific services or activities.

Client Eligibility

    Eligibility for refugee social services includes persons who meet 
all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43 (as amended by 65 FR 15409 (March 22, 
2000)) and 45 CFR 401.2 (Cuban and Haitian entrants). The targeted 
refugee population for these programs may include refugees who are 
receiving public assistance or subsidies and/or who lack the financial 
resources, credit history, or personal assets to qualify for business 
loans or assistance through commercial institutions. Refugees may 
participate regardless of their date of arrival in the U.S. Grantees 
will be responsible for documenting refugee client eligibility.

Allowable Activities

    Project components may include one-on-one business consultation and 
training, training in classroom settings, access to business credit, 
individual or peer group lending, and follow-up technical assistance to 
help stabilize or expand refugee businesses. ORR funds may also be used 
for the administrative costs associated with managing a microloan fund.
    Microloans consist of small amounts of credit, generally in sums 
less that $15,000, extended to low-income entrepreneurs for start-up or 
very small microenterprises. Applicants may elect to establish 
cooperative relationships with one or more of the community's financial 
institutions to obtain access to commercial loan funds. Alternatively, 
ORR funds may be used for microloans to individual refugee 
entrepreneurs in sums not to exceed $15,000 (of ORR monies). These 
funds may be disbursed through individual loans or through peer lending 
mechanisms, through a revolving loan fund. Requests for ORR grant funds 
for a revolving loan fund may not exceed $50,000 in the first budget 
period. Grantees will be responsible for establishing written lending 
policies and procedures, and for collecting and servicing loan 
repayments.
    ORR supports the use of commercial lending institutions for refugee 
borrowers to leverage the limited amount of ORR funds available for 
this purpose, and to provide borrowers with the opportunity to 
establish credit-worthy histories with traditional lenders. To that 
end, ORR does not encourage the use of below-market rates of interest 
for the loan funds. Conversely, grantees may not charge refugees 
interest rates that exceed four percentage points above the New York 
prime lending rate at the time of loan approval.
    Microloans will have a maximum maturity of three years. They may be 
used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, 
machinery, tools, equipment, building renovation, and/or leasehold 
improvements.
    Microloan funds may not be used for the following types of 
businesses:
     As venture capital for established businesses that are 
attempting major Expansion;
     For enterprises engaged in gambling or speculation;
     For any illegal activity or production, or for the service 
or distribution of illegal products;
     For purposes not related to microenterprise development, 
e.g., for the purchase of a personal-use automobile.

Treatment of Program Income

    Projects with revolving loan funds may earn and retain program 
income in the form of interest (on individual loans or from loan loss 
reserves). Specifically, program income funds may be retained by the 
project to expand the pool of credit in accordance with 45 CFR 74.24 
(b)(1), (b)(2) and (e) for non-profit organizations and 45 CFR 92.25 
(g)(2) (for governmental entities). Similarly, repaid loan principal is 
to be treated as program income and placed in the revolving loan fund 
for re-lending. Program income may be retained by the grantee so long 
as the use of these funds furthers the objectives of the grant and is 
consistent with the Federal statute under which the grant was made.
    Any fees or charges imposed on refugee clients by the grantee or 
its subcontractors or affiliates (e.g., loan processing or training 
fees) must be disclosed in the application and pre-approved by ORR.
    Successful grantees will be expected to coordinate their policies 
and procedures for developing and administering refugee microenterprise 
projects with the existing refugee microenterprise services network. To 
ensure an exchange of technical and training information among 
programs, all grantees are encouraged to attend two ORR training 
meetings during each year of their participation in this program area. 
Grant funds may be used to offset the cost of attendance.

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.

[[Page 19787]]

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 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, when 
applying for a grant to establish a neighborhood child care center, 
describe who will occupy the facility, who will use the facility, how 
the facility will be used, and how the facility will benefit the 
community which it will serve. For example, when applying for 
microenterprise development assistance, describe the prospective 
clients in terms of numbers, national origin, interest in 
microenterprise and what business opportunities are available to 
refugees in the community.

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. 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.

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.

[[Page 19788]]

    Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages 
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel

    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), 
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if 
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs 
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment

    Description: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property, 
having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of 
$5,000 or more per unit. However, an applicant may use its own 
definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least 
include all equipment defined above.
    Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a 
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, 
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or 
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant 
organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide 
a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the 
equipment definition.

Supplies

    Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than 
that included under the Equipment category.
    Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their 
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports 
the amount requested.

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

A. 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.

    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.
    Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in 
the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of 
the program are still eligible to 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

[[Page 19789]]

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 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 with the application materials for 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 Hi., 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-
161,7 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, S.W.--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 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.

[[Page 19790]]

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.

B. 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.

C. Competitive Review and Evaluation 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 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 which are responsive to the 
evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.

D. Review Criteria

1. Objectives and Need for Assistance.
    Quality of the description of the prospective refugee communities' 
profile with respect to welfare utilization, English language 
proficiency, length of time in the U.S., interest in microbusinesses, 
and the description of local capital needs and capital market gaps for 
refugee microentrepreneurs. (20 points).
2. Approach
    Adequacy and appropriateness of the program approach or design: 
such as, project goals and structure (policies, procedures, 
activities); training and technical assistance; loan funds and lending 
criteria and fees, if included in the design; whether the business 
targets are start-ups, expansions, or both; partner agencies; and 
credit enhancements, such as loan loss reserves. (30 points).
3. Organization Profiles
    Demonstrated organizational and management capacity including 
bilingual/bicultural competent services, and experience serving 
refugees and other economically disadvantaged populations; description 
of experience in organizational management including copies of the last 
two fiscal year financial statements, with balance sheets and income 
statements; description of experience in management of loan funds, 
including a projected monthly cash flow chart for the loan fund for the 
three year period beginning October 1, 2000; experience in 
collaboration with the specific refugee community(ies) and coalition 
building among refugee and non-refugee service providers. (15 points).
4. Results and Expected Benefits
    Extent to which the expected outcomes and unit costs of the project 
are appropriate, consistent with reported nationwide performance in 
microenterprise projects, and reasonable in relation to the proposed 
activities; the impact of loan funds, business income, and business 
assets on clients' welfare status, if applicable. Projected outcomes 
for business income, business survivability and reductions in welfare 
utilization. (20 points).
5. Budget and Budget Justification
    Appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed budget to 
include the relative distribution of funds for administrative costs, 
training or technical assistance, and loan capital. Application should 
include project timelines and a narrative justification supporting each 
budget line item. (15 points).

Part IV: Application Submission

    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 
ADDRESSES section in the preamble of this announcement.
    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.

A. Application Forms

    Applicants for financial assistance under this announcement must 
file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF 
424A, Budget Information--Non-construction Programs; SF 424B, 
Assurances--Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be reproduced for 
use in submitting applications. An application with an original 
signature and two copies is required.

B. Application Deadlines

    The closing date for submission of applications is June 12, 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

[[Page 19791]]

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 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.''
    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.
    For Further Information on Application Deadlines 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 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 need not mail back the certification with the 
applications.
    Applicable Grant Administration Regulations: Applicable DHHS grant 
administration regulations can be found in 45 CFR Part 74 or 92.
    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. Although ORR 
does not expect the proposed 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, Ms. Daphne Weeden, 
Administration for Children and Families/Office of Refugee 
Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 
20447, Telephone: (202) 401-4577. 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: April 6, 2000.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 00-9113 Filed 4-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P