[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26224-26232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11258]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. CFDA 93.576]


Notice of Availability of FY 2000 Discretionary Funds for Refugee 
Community and Family Strengthening and Integration--Program Name: 
Community and Family Strengthening and Integration

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of FY 2000 discretionary funds for 
refugee Community and Family Strengthening and Integration.

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SUMMARY: ORR invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant 
applications for Priority Area One: Community and Family Strengthening 
and Integration for Refugees, and Priority Area Two: Technical 
Assistance for the Integration of Refugees and Refugee Families into 
American Communities.
    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 July 5, 2000. 
See Part III of this announcement for more information on submitting 
applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Mary Portz at (202) 401-1196, 
[email protected]. Application materials are also available 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, and for 
each of the two priority areas--program purpose and scope, allowable 
activities, and review criteria.
    Part II: The Review Process--Intergovernmental review, initial ACF 
screening, and competitive review.
    Part III: The Application--application forms, application 
submission and deadlines, certifications, general instructions for 
preparing a full project description, and length of application.
    Part IV: Post-award--regulations, treatment of program income, and 
reporting.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 
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 and OMB Approval No. 0970-
0036, ORR Quarterly Performance Report (QPR). 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

    This announcement is the fifth iteration of the Community and 
Family Strengthening and Integration (CFSI) program. In FY 1994, ORR 
first announced the Refugee Community and Family Strengthening (CFS) 
Program as Program Area One of the Omnibus Discretionary Social 
Services Announcement (59 FR 26070 (05/18/94).
    The announcement distinguished program areas by activities directed 
at strengthening refugee communities and those directed at refugee 
families, and further between large urban areas and smaller urban or 
rural areas. ``Many

[[Page 26225]]

American communities with high concentrations of refugees have 
increased need for better communication and cooperation among agencies 
in order to increase program effectiveness, to provide services that 
are in touch with the needs of the refugee population, and to avoid 
duplication or fragmentation of services. Some of these communities 
have experienced a range of social and economic problems among refugee 
populations, particularly with regard to refugee women, youth, elderly, 
and in those sectors characterized by a high incidence of crime, 
violence, and neighborhood deterioration.''
    This announcement continues to encourage service planners and 
providers to consider the unmet needs of refugee families and 
communities in the context of existing services. Through the CFSI 
program ORR intends to promote a local planning process where service 
providers and community members come together to assess how the 
existing services are serving refugees and what additional activities 
might be funded with cost-sharing support. By placing importance on 
communities reaching consensus with regard to projects, ORR seeks to 
strengthen cooperation among local service providers, community 
leaders, Mutual Assistance Associations, voluntary agencies, churches, 
and other public and private organizations involved in refugee 
resettlement, family, youth, and child welfare, and community mental 
health services. ORR intends that this process will build strategic 
partnerships among these groups to expand their capacity to serve the 
social and economic needs of refugees and to give support and direction 
to ethnic community participation.
    The trauma refugee families may experience as a result of 
persecution or flight may be destabilizing to family life. Single-
parent refugee families are likely to face the same stresses as U.S. 
single-parent families. Finally, they may live in low-income 
neighborhoods with higher crime rates than expected and without the 
benefit of an ethnic community to provide information, guidance, 
protection and support.
    Through the CFSI program and other experience, ORR has come to 
recognize that refugee families residing in U.S. communities encounter 
significant differences in child rearing practices compared to the 
ethnic or national customs of their country of origin. Traditional 
cultures with a strong authoritarian parental role may frequently be at 
odds with American child rearing practices. These basic differences 
frequently create conflict within refugee families on how best to raise 
children. Further, as a result of these factors, a small number of 
refugee families encounter and may require the assistance of child 
protective services and other services of the judicial system. These 
experiences may not be easily understood by the refugee family and the 
larger refugee community leading to confusion and fear of U.S. child 
welfare and child protective systems. Children may also confront 
conflicts in fitting in with their peers or finding a sense of 
belonging in the schools and social groups, at the same time meeting 
the expectations of their parents.
    Many U.S. community public services do not have the cultural 
expertise or language capability to work effectively with refugee 
families. While the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates equal access to 
public services, frequently public resources are limited, and cultural 
and linguistic capacity is seldom available for refugee families.
    In recent years, ORR has funded initiatives for recreation for 
refugee youth, crime prevention among refugee youth, parenting classes, 
and intergenerational activities. It has become clear over time that a 
productive relationship with child welfare services, child protective 
services, childcare services, youth shelters and other youth programs 
such as Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, YWCA, after school programs, is 
also needed to promote the refugee families' capacity to care for their 
children and youth safely in their new communities.
    The goal in all CFSI projects should be to build and strengthen the 
community's capacity to serve its members regardless of language, 
cultural, or ethnic differences, and to improve the quality of life and 
standard of living for refugee families.

Legislative Authority

    This program is authorized by Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)(8 U.S.C. 1522(a)(1)(A), as 
amended, which authorizes the Director ``to make grants to, and enter 
into contracts with, public or private nonprofit agencies for projects 
(such as) (i) * * * 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.'' 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.
    As with all programs funded by appropriations pursuant to the 
Refugee Act, eligibility for these services is limited to persons who 
meet all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43 (as amended by 65 FR 15409 (03/
22/00)) and 45 CFR 401.2 (Cuban and Haitian entrants), referred to 
collectively as ``refugees''. Further, the intent of this announcement 
is to target primarily refugees who have arrived within the last five 
years and to give special consideration to the needs of refugee 
children and youth within those families.

Funding Availability

    ORR expects to award $5.8 million in FY 2000 discretionary social 
service funds through this announcement. Approximately 18 projects will 
be awarded under Priority Area One: Community and Family Strengthening 
and Integration in amounts ranging from $150,000-$400,000, in three 
program areas--(1) Integration into U.S. Communities, (2) Family 
Strengthening, (3) Community Strengthening. ORR will award one 
cooperative agreement of approximately $800,000 under Priority Area 
Two: Integration Technical Assistance.
    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

    Public and private nonprofit organizations, including current CFS 
grantees whose projects end on September 30, 2000, are eligible to 
apply for ORR grants. An applicant may submit only one application per 
priority area, under this announcement. However, they may be involved 
in providing services under this announcement as a member of a 
coalition in which another agency is the applicant.
    Any private nonprofit organization submitting an application must 
submit proof of its nonprofit status at the time of submission. A 
nonprofit 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.

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Project and Budget Periods

    This announcement invites applications for project periods up to 
three years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year 
budget period although project periods may be for three years. 
Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards, beyond 
the one-year budget period but within the three-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.

Priority Area One: CFSI

    Purpose and Scope--This program announcement governs the 
availability of, and award procedures, for the FY 2000 Community and 
Family Strengthening and Integration Program and provides an 
opportunity for States and nonprofit organizations to request funding 
for activities which supplement and complement employment-related 
services by strengthening refugee families and communities and by 
enhancing their integration into mainstream society. ORR is interested 
in funding Priority Area One, CFSI projects, in three program areas:

(1) Integration into U.S. Communities
(2) Family Strengthening
(3) Community Strengthening

    Applications may include activities in more than one program area. 
Applicants will designate the area under which they wish to be 
considered. ORR is particularly interested in projects which are 
planned and implemented through coalitions, address refugee needs for 
cultural and linguistic access to services, and provide cost-sharing 
support.

Coalitions

    Refugee programs and local organizations, which have not already 
done so, are encouraged to build coalitions for the purpose of 
providing services funded under this Program Area. ORR strongly 
encourages single applications from partnerships or consortia of three 
or more eligible organizations. Partners may be in the refugee services 
provider community of organizations and institutions, or in mainstream 
services organizations, e.g., public or private child welfare and child 
protective services, child care coalitions, community mental health 
services, women's shelters, or adult basic and continuing education 
providers. Collaboration may also include the Mayor's office, school 
parent-teacher groups, school counselors, local police departments, and 
other mainstream community service organizations.
    All applicants should demonstrate existing refugee community 
support for their agency and their proposed project. If the applicant 
is located in an area where no other organizations work with refugees, 
and a coalition with other organizations is not possible, the applicant 
should demonstrate how the proposed services will be effectively 
provided by a single agency.
    In this context, ORR is defining partnership as a negotiated 
arrangement among organizations that provides for a substantive, 
collaborative role for each of the partners in the planning and conduct 
of the project. Applications which represent a coalition of providers 
should include a signed partnership agreement stating a commitment or 
an intent to commit or receive resources from the prospective 
partner(s) contingent upon receipt of ORR funds, and for the lead 
agency, which is to be the fiscal agent, a copy of the most recent 
audit report. The agreement should state how the partnership 
arrangement relates to the objectives of the project. The applicant 
should also include: supporting documentation identifying the 
resources, experience, and expertise of the partner(s); evidence that 
the partner(s) has been involved in the planning of the project; and a 
discussion of the role of the partner(s) in the implementation and 
conduct of the project.

Cultural and Linguistic Compatibility

    In all cases, regardless of the nature of the organization proposed 
to provide services or conduct activities funded under this 
announcement, the services/activities should be conducted in a manner 
linguistically and culturally compatible with the refugee families or 
communities to be served. In addition, the applicant must describe how 
proposed providers will have access to the families and to the 
community to be served.
    In planning the project, applicants must include representatives of 
the target population and relevant public and private agencies active 
in service delivery in the proposed activity areas. As examples, a 
project being designed for refugee youth must include both refugee 
youth and public and private youth service providers among the 
planners; an applicant proposing English language and literacy for 
homebound refugee women must involve them along with ELT and literacy 
practitioners in the planning.
    Furthermore, if interpreters are proposed in the first budget 
period, applicant must demonstrate how these staff will be used in 
subsequent years of the project, and whether they will be trained to 
assume an integral role in the project, such as to become service 
providers.
    Applicants and any proposed partners should provide evidence that 
their governing bodies, boards of directors, or advisory bodies are 
representative of the refugee communities being served and have both 
male and female representation.

Cost-Sharing

    Long-range viability for CFSI services may depend on: linkages to 
activities funded by other sources, the availability of expertise in 
the community, the likelihood of tangible results, the willingness of 
the community to participate actively including volunteer commitment in 
assuring the success of the project, and ultimately the community's 
capacity to continue the activity without additional ORR resources 
beyond the three-year project period.
    Cost-sharing'' is used here to refer to any situation in which the 
grantee shares in the costs of a project. The term ``recipient 
contributions'' refers to costs borne by the grantee, either through 
cash outlay or the provision of services. ``In-kind contributions'' 
means the value of goods and/or services donated by third parties. 
Grantees are not considered as providing ``in-kind contributions.'' The 
cost-sharing or in-kind contribution costs are subject to the rules 
governing allowability in 45 CFR 74.23 or 92.24, including allowability 
under the applicable cost principles and conformance with other terms 
and conditions of the award that govern the expenditure of Federal 
funds.
    Grantees must provide at least ten percent of the total approved 
cost of the project for the first year, 25% for the second year, and 40 
percent for the third year. The total approved cost of the project is 
the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal 
share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants 
are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash 
contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $675,000 in Federal 
funds (based on an award of $225,000 per budget period) must provide 
cost-sharing of at least $22,500, ten percent in the first 12-month 
budget period. In subsequent continuation applications, the grantee 
will be asked to document receipt of non-ORR funds from other

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sources. If the second year request is for a Federal share of $225,000, 
the grantee would be required to provide, at a minimum, cost-sharing of 
$75,000, or 25 percent of the full budget. In the third year, the 
grantee might propose to cost-share 50% of the project (must be at 
least 40%), and the Federal share would be an equal amount.
    Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal 
resources even if over the amount of the required cost-sharing. Failure 
to provide the amount will result in disallowance of Federal share.
    Income generated from activities funded under this program shall be 
``used to finance the nonfederal share of'' (ref.: 45 CFR 74.24 and 
92.25) the project.
    Applicants are urged to plan for the use of these funds in a manner 
that complements other Federal, State, and private funds available to 
assist the target populations and to carry out similar programs and 
activities.

Allowable Activities

    ORR will consider applications for services which an applicant 
justifies, based on an analysis of service needs and available 
resources to address the social and economic problems and integration 
needs of refugee families and of the refugee community. It should be 
clear what is the goal or expected outcome of the activity, how it 
responds to the particular needs of families in that community or to a 
broader need of the community of families, who is committed to do what 
in order to accomplish this goal, and how the proposed activity fits 
into the existing network of services. An application may include 
activities in more than one program area. In selecting the program area 
against which the application will compete, applicants should consider 
the nature of outcomes for which they will be accountable. In instances 
where an applicant proposes activities which cut across program areas, 
the choice of program area should correspond to the proposed results or 
outcomes.
    The specific services proposed may be as diverse as the refugee 
populations and the resettlement communities themselves. Proposed 
activities and services should be planned in conjunction with existing 
service providers and should supplement and complement these services.
    Refugee families face many challenges when resettling in U.S. 
communities: family relationships may undergo stress and change; strong 
authoritarian and sometimes patriarchal family structures may provoke 
conflicts; schools and parents have different relationships; the range 
of freedom American youths are afforded may concern refugee parents; 
and discipline practices and spousal relations may differ from what is 
preferred or legal in the U.S. Typically income levels of refugee 
households dictate that they are often located in neighborhoods with 
high crime rates. Special attention should be placed on enhancing 
refugee access to services available to all citizens, including those 
community institutions which serve youth, women, or special needs 
populations.
    Listed below are some examples of allowable activities organized by 
program area:

Program Area One: Integration Into U.S. Communities

    Activities designed to inform and orient the refugee community 
regarding issues essential to effective participation in the new 
society.
    Assistance to parents in connecting with the school system and 
other local community organizations.
    Training and assistance for refugee women to enhance their 
integration and afford them full opportunities to participate in 
community development.
    Continuing education programs for U.S.-recognized re-certification 
or skill-building.
    Specialized English Training for groups outside the regular 
classes, e.g., mothers of small children, homebound refugees with 
particular attention to accessibility of site and time.
    Activities designed to facilitate adjustment of status, family 
reunification, and naturalization.
    Activities designed to improve relations among refugees and the law 
enforcement communities such as drop-in centers or neighborhood 
storefronts.
    Neighborhood watch programs.
    Cross cultural training for the law enforcement community i.e., 
police departments, court system, mediation or dispute management 
centers. (Please note: Law enforcement activities such as hiring sworn 
police officers (except those who are public service officers or 
community liaison officers whose job it is to work with the refugee 
community), fingerprinting, incarceration, etc., are outside the scope 
of allowable services under the Refugee Act and will not be considered 
for funding. (Activities principally focused on parole counseling or 
court advocacy will not be funded.)

Program Area Two: Family Strengthening

    Promotion of access to family service agencies that support 
families.
    Classes and activities to support parenting skills, including 
information about U.S. cultural and legal issues, (e.g.), parental 
interaction with schools, family recreation, discipline practices, 
practices of corporal punishment, intergenerational conflict, child 
abuse, child protective services.
    Development of refugee families as foster parents for refugee 
children.
    Cross-cultural training for child protective service agencies, 
courts, county agencies, private businesses, and other organizations 
that work in this area.
    Orientation and information regarding U.S. family structure, roles 
of men and women, divorce practices, intra-family violence 
intervention, sexual harassment and coercion, techniques for protection 
and agencies for refuge and support.
    Training for staff and/or bi-lingual staff development for domestic 
violence or runaway youth shelters, etc.

Program Area Three: Community Strengthening

    Operating community centers for the delivery of services to refugee 
individuals and families. Centers may also be used for information and 
referral services, childcare, and community gatherings. (Costs related 
to construction or renovation will not be considered, and costs for 
food or beverages are not allowable).
    Communities might be organized for housing cooperatives, for youth 
activities, for violence intervention, for volunteer ELT and literacy 
services, or for crime prevention.
    Development of staff in community based organizations working 
directly with refugees. Such activities may include training and 
professional consultation to increase knowledge and understanding of 
refugee flight and distress, and how to work with people under stress, 
and to increase information and understanding of how refugees are 
referred to or use mental health services.
    Development of training curriculum and materials for relevant staff 
development.
    Orientation and information for refugees to normalize the 
experience of refugee flight trauma and their reactions to the trauma, 
and to seek appropriate social adjustment or mental health services.
    Orientation and information on refugees and resettlement for 
mainstream mental health providers and professionals who may have 
refugees in their care.
    The above are only examples of services. They are not intended to 
limit

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potential applicants in community planning. They are listed and 
generically described without regard to the population to be served. It 
will be necessary in the application to describe more specifically the 
target population. For example, one activity might be appropriately 
designed to serve only homebound women. Another might be designed for 
teenagers and their parents. Another might be for English language 
training and naturalization classes. Some might be targeted for all 
members of the family. Applications should correlate a planned activity 
with specific target audiences and discuss the relationship between the 
proposed activities and the target population.
    Funds will not be awarded to applicants who propose to engage in 
activities which are designed primarily to promote the preservation of 
cultural heritage or which have a political objective. ORR encourages 
refugee community efforts to preserve cultural heritage, but believes 
communities should support these activities with alternative funding.

Review Criteria

    All priority area one applications regardless of program area 
designation will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
    Results or Benefits Expected--The applicant clearly described the 
results and benefits to be achieved. The applicant identifies how 
improvement will be measured on key indicators for refugee family well-
being or community strengthening and integration, and provides 
milestones indicating progress. Proposed outcomes are tangible and 
achievable within the grant project period, and the proposed monitoring 
and information collection is adequately planned. (30 points)
    Approach--The strategy and plan is likely to achieve the proposed 
results; the proposed activities and timeframes are reasonable and 
feasible. The plan describes in detail how the proposed activities will 
be accomplished as well as the potential for the project to have a 
positive impact on the quality of life for refugee families and 
communities (1) by improving refugees' abilities to access services, to 
provide mutual assistance, and to demand or create services where they 
are not available; and (2) by instituting changes among service 
providers to make them more accessible. (25 points)
    Organization Profiles--Where coalition partners are proposed, the 
applicant has described the rationale for the collaboration, each 
partner agency's respective role, and how the coalition will enhance 
the accomplishment of the project goals. In all cases, the applicant 
describes planning consultation efforts undertaken, including 
consultation with the refugee community. The proposed coalition is 
appropriate with respective roles and financial responsibilities 
delineated. Evidence of commitment of coalition partners in 
implementing the activities is demonstrated, i.e., by letters or the 
terms of the signed agreement among participants.
    The applicant or coalition partners provide documented experience 
in performing the proposed services as well as adequate gender balance 
and constituent representation on the proposed project's advisory 
board.
    Assurance is provided that proposed services will be delivered in a 
manner that is linguistically and culturally appropriate to the target 
population.
    Individual organization staff including volunteers are well-
qualified. The administrative and management features of the project, 
including a plan for fiscal and programmatic management of each 
activity, is described in detail with proposed start-up times, ongoing 
timelines, major milestones or benchmarks, a component/project 
organization chart, and a staffing chart. The applicant has provided a 
copy of its most recent audit report. (25 points)
    Budget and Budget Justification--The budget and narrative 
justification are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and 
anticipated results; the applicant makes provision for cost-sharing 
(i.e. leveraging ORR funds with non-Federal funds or in-kind support) 
to maintain the full budget during the overall project; the plan for 
the continuation of services with phase-out of ORR grant funding over 
the multi-year project period is realistic; and the applicant describes 
the extent to which the award is projected to be augmented or 
supplemented by other funding during and beyond the grant period (i.e. 
in the second and any subsequent year), or can be integrated into other 
existing service systems. (20 points)

Priority Area Two: Technical Assistance for the Integration of 
Refugees and Refugee Families Into American Communities

Purpose and Scope

    ORR proposes to award one cooperative agreement to provide 
technical assistance and training to refugees, refugee service 
agencies, and other community organizations to assist in the 
integration of refugees into the mainstream of American community life. 
Through this project, communities and other organizations will be 
assisted in helping refugees gain access to, participate in, and 
contribute to, the economic, educational, social and civic life of the 
community in which they live.
    The objectives of this grant are:
    1. To analyze the status of refugee integration in six communities 
and produce a blueprint describing those factors which contribute to 
refugees being accepted--or not accepted--into the community;
    2. To assist selected communities in organizing to develop an 
action plan for improved community integration;
    3. To provide some financial assistance to enable one or more 
community agencies to carry out the plan; and,
    4. To analyze the results of that effort.
    As a result of this project, communities and resettlement community 
organizations will be better able to assist refugees in gaining access, 
in measurable ways, to local economic opportunities, community health 
and mental health resources, safe and affordable housing, participation 
in local school systems, and continuing education and vocational 
training. The technical assistance project should be designed to 
promote refugees' contributions to their communities through activities 
such as neighborhood revitalization and crime watch, small business 
development, bilingual staffing of local community services, 
naturalization rates, and participation in the community civic 
activities.
    Under this cooperative agreement, ORR intends to: (1) Assist in 
developing key indicators of integration; (2) participate in the 
selection and field reviews of the six selected community sites; (3) 
review all written materials prior to their release; and (4) review and 
approve proposed workshops, meetings, and agenda.
    The grantee will be required to: (1) Identify community agencies 
and institutions with the capacity and commitment to engage 
constructively with refugee communities and to provide them services; 
(2) analyze refugee community's access to services through field 
interviews and other assessment strategies, and prepare a blueprint of 
findings; (3) prepare, in collaboration with the community, an action 
plan for mobilizing public and private community agencies, businesses, 
and institutions to increase opportunities for refugees to become self-
sufficient and more fully integrated into the mainstream life of the 
community; (4) provide, through a competitive process, sub-grant funds 
for implementation of the action plan; and (5) prepare and disseminate 
reports on

[[Page 26229]]

refugee community characteristics, achievements, and best practices.
    Approximately $800,000 has been allocated for this project. Of this 
amount, $350,000 has been allocated for the purposes of the technical 
assistance grant. An additional $450,000 is available to the technical 
assistance grantee to provide funding for a local agency or consortium 
of agencies to implement the community action plan in up to three sites 
at up to $150,000 per site.

Allowable Activities

    Applicants may propose all or a combination of the activities 
suggested below as well as other activities which support the purposes 
of this priority area:
    Assess the local economic and social conditions, including poverty 
and isolation, transportation, health and mental health services, local 
coordination of, or linkage to, resources and services, existing 
housing stock, labor market opportunities, and the interaction among 
refugees, immigrant communities, and other local residents.
    Assess local organizational strengths and weaknesses, refugee 
community needs, and the impact of refugees on the local community.
    Analyze access to culturally and linguistically appropriate 
services by generation cohort (elderly, youth, etc.) and gender.
    Facilitate the flow and exchange of community information on 
resources, services, and opportunities, developing a blueprint for 
refugee integration.
    Engage State and county agencies and community advocates in program 
planning and community development.
    Assist local organizations in developing partnerships and an action 
plan for local refugee integration.

Review Criteria

    Priority Area Two applications will be evaluated according to the 
following criteria:
    Results or Benefits Expected--The applicant clearly described the 
results and benefits to be achieved, such as improvement along key 
indicators for refugee integration, and the production of best 
practices manuals or training materials. (25 points)
    Approach--The technical assistance plan is clearly described and 
appropriate; the proposed activities and timeframes are reasonable and 
feasible. The plan describes in detail how the proposed activities will 
be accomplished. (25 points)
    Organization Profiles--The applicant demonstrates the capacity of 
the organization to achieve the project's objectives. Organizational 
expertise and experience in community development and in the provision 
of technical assistance activities are described and are appropriate 
for this project. (25 points)
    Budget and Budget Justification--The budget is accurate, 
reasonable, clearly presented, and cost-effective. (25 points)

Part II: The Review Process

Intergovernmental Review

    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, and 45 CFR part 100, 
Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities. Under the Order known as Single Point of 
Contact or SPOC, States may design their own processes for reviewing 
and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.
    As of November 20, 1998, the following jurisdictions have elected 
not to participate in the Executive Order process: 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. Applicants from these jurisdictions 
or for projects administered by federally recognized Indian Tribes need 
take no action in regard to E.O. 12372.
    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 any required materials 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 SW, 6th Floor, Washington DC, 20447 ATTN: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each participating State 
and Territory can be found on the web at: http://www.dhhs.gov/progorg/grantsnet/laws-reg/spoq0695.htm.

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 Evaluation Criteria

    Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated 
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of evaluation 
criteria specified in Part I. 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.
    Priority Area One applications will be scored and ranked in three 
groups corresponding to the three program areas.

Part III: The Application

    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. Selected elements of the ACF 
Uniform Project Description (UPD) relevant to this program announcement 
are attached as an appendix.

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. Application materials including forms 
and instructions are also available from the Contact named in the 
preamble of this announcement.

[[Page 26230]]

Application Submission And Deadlines

    An application with an original signature and two clearly 
identified copies is required. Applicants must clearly indicate on the 
SF424 the Priority Area under which the application is submitted, and 
if Priority Area One, then also the Program Area under which the 
project is to be considered.
    The closing date for submission of applications is July 5, 2000. 
Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    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 hand-carried 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.'' (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 mail 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, Telephone: (202) 401-4577.

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 signed certification regarding lobbying 
with their applications, 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 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.

General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description

    The project description provides a major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can 
present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged 
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff, 
related experience, and other information considered 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. Please refer to the UPD sections 
in the appendix.

Length of Applications

    Each application narrative 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 administration charts, position descriptions, resumes, and letters 
of intent or partnership agreements. Each page should be numbered 
sequentially, including the attachments or appendices. This limitation 
of 25 pages per program area should be considered as a maximum, and not 
necessarily a goal.
    Please do not include books or videotapes as they are not easily 
reproduced and are, therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers.

Part IV: Post-Award

    Applicable Regulations--Applicable DHHS grant administration 
regulations can be found in 45 CFR part 74 or 92.

Treatment of Program Income

    Program income from activities funded under this program may be 
retained by the recipient and added to the funds committed to the 
project through cost-sharing, and used to further program objectives.

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

[[Page 26231]]

grantees to maintain adequate records to track and report on project 
outcomes and expenditures. 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.
    A Final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the 
project expiration date or termination of Federal budget support.

    Dated: May 1, 2000.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Appendix I--Uniform Project Description--Overview OMB No. 0970-0139

    Expires 10/31/00

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.

Introduction

    Applicants required to submit a full project description shall 
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
following instructions.

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 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.

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.

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.

[[Page 26232]]

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).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of 
traveler(s), travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage 
allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used, and other 
transportation costs and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for 
key staff to attend ACF-sponsored workshops should be detailed in 
the budget.

Equipment

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

Supplies

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

Contractual

    Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods 
except for those which belong under other categories such as 
equipment, supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation 
contracts (if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient 
organizations, including delegate agencies and specific project(s) 
or businesses to be financed by the applicant, should be included 
under this category.
    Justification: All procurement transactions shall be conducted 
in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and 
free competition. If procurement competitions were held or if 
procurement without competition is being proposed, attach a list of 
proposed contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the 
purposes of the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the 
award selection process. Justify any anticipated procurement action 
that is expected to be awarded without competition and exceed the 
simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11) (currently 
set at Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-
award review and procurement documents, such as request for 
proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.

    Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the 
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed 
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency 
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Other

    Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable 
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, 
medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services 
costs, space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, 
computer use, training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff 
development costs, and administrative costs.
    Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and 
a justification for each cost under this category.

Indirect Charges

    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category 
should be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect 
cost rate approved by the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to 
the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that 
an award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate 
proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year in 
accordance with the principles set forth in the cognizant agency's 
guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to 
the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect 
cost proposals may also request indirect costs. It should be noted 
that when an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included 
in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs 
to the grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is 
less than what is allowed under the program, the authorized 
representative of the applicant organization must submit a signed 
acknowledgement that the applicant is accepting a lower rate than 
allowed.

Program Income

    Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to 
be generated from this project.
    Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use 
of program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the 
application which contain this information.

Non-Federal Resources

    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used 
to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be 
documented and submitted with the application in order to be given 
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for 
each funding source.

Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs

    Self explanatory.

[FR Doc. 00-11258 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P