[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 218 (Thursday, November 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67375-67377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28800]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACF/ACYF/HS FY 2001-03]


Fiscal Year 2001 Discretionary Announcement for University-Head 
Start Partnerships and Graduate Student Head Start Research Grants: 
Availability of Funds and Request for Applications

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Statutory Authority: The Head Start Act, as amended 42 U.S.C. 
9801 et seq. CFDA: 93.600.

SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families, Administration 
on Children, Youth, and Families, Head Start Bureau announces the 
availability of funds for two Priority Areas; University-Head Start 
Partnerships (1.01) and Graduate Student Head Start Research Grants 
(1.02). These priority areas will support research activities in the 
areas of infant and toddler development within the cultural context, 
school readiness, mental health and field-initiated research which will 
increase our knowledge of low-income children's development for the 
purpose of improving services or have significant policy implications.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is 5:00 P.M. EDT 
February 7, 2001.

    Note: Applications should be submitted to the ACYF Operations 
Center at: 1815 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 
22209. However, prior to preparing and submitting an application, in 
order to satisfactorily compete under this announcement it will be 
necessary for potential applicants to read the full announcement 
which is available through the addresses listed below.


ADDRESSES: Applications, including all necessary forms can be 
downloaded from the Head Start web site at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb. The web site also contains a listing of all Head Start and Early 
Head Start programs. Hard copies of the application may be obtained by 
writing or calling the Operations Center or sending an email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Center at: 1815 N. 
Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209 or (1-800) 351-
2293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Priority Areas

Priority Area 1.01  University-Head Start Partnerships

    Eligible Applicants: Universities and four-year colleges on behalf 
of a faculty member who holds a doctorate or equivalent in their 
respective field.
    Project Duration: The announcement for Priority Area 1.01 is 
soliciting applications for project periods of three years, with the 
first year as a planning grant which will be used to pilot instruments 
or interventions. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for the first 
one-year planning budget period. Applications for continuation funds 
under these awards beyond the first-year budget period, but within the 
established project period, will be entertained in subsequent years on 
a non-competitive basis, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress of the grantee, and a determination that continued funding 
would be in the best interests of the Government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share is 
$75,000 for the first-year budget period. The Federal share for the 
subsequent years is approximately $150,000 for each year of the project 
period. The Federal Share is inclusive of indirect costs.
    Matching Requirements: There are no matching requirements.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
4-8 projects will be funded.

Priority Area 1.02  Master's-Level and Doctoral Head Start Research 
Grants

    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education on behalf of 
graduate

[[Page 67376]]

students at both the Master's and Doctorate levels. Doctoral students 
must have completed their Master's degree or equivalent in that field 
prior to applying for this grant or by the time grants are awarded, and 
have sent formal notification of having been granted the degree to 
ACYF. To be eligible to administer the grant on behalf of the student, 
the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional 
accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education and 
the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation. In addition, the specific 
graduate student on whose behalf the application is made must be 
identified.
    Project Duration: The announcement for Priority Area 1.02 is 
soliciting applications for project periods up to two years. Awards, on 
a competitive basis, will be for a one-year budget period, although 
project periods may be for two years. It should be noted, that if the 
graduate student, on whose behalf the university is applying, expects 
to receive a degree by the end of the first year budget period, the 
applicant should request a one-year project period only. A second year 
budget period will not be granted if the student has graduated by the 
end of the first year. If the student either graduates or leaves the 
program during the project or budget period, the grant cannot be 
transferred to another student and must be surrendered to the 
Government. Applications for continuation grants will be entertained in 
the subsequent year on a non-competitive 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.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share shall 
range between $10,000-$20,000 for the first-year budget period or a 
maximum of $40,000 for a two-year project period.
    Matching Requirements: There are no matching requirements.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
between 5 and 10 projects will be funded with an unspecified mixture of 
master's-level and doctoral level applicants. No university will be 
funded for more than one candidate, unless there are no other approved 
applications. Applications from the master's-level students will be 
evaluated separately from the applications from doctoral-level 
students.

Criteria for Priority Areas 1.01 and 1.02

    Reviewers will consider the following factors when assigning 
points.
    1. Results or Benefits Expected: 25 points.
     The research questions are clearly stated.
     The extent to which the questions are of importance and 
relevance for low-income children's development and welfare.
     The extent to which the research study makes a significant 
contribution to the knowledge base.
     The extent to which the literature review is current and 
comprehensive and supports the need for the study, the questions to be 
addressed or the hypotheses to be tested.
     The extent to which the questions that will be addressed 
or the hypotheses that will be tested are sufficient for meeting the 
stated objectives.
    2. Approach: 40 points.
     The extent to which the research design is appropriate and 
sufficient for addressing the questions of the study.
     The extent to which child outcomes are the major focus of 
the study.
     The extent to which the measures are direct measures of 
child outcomes.
     The extent to which the planned research specifies the 
measures to be used and the analyses to be conducted.
     The extent to which the planned measures are appropriate 
and sufficient for the questions of the study.
     The extent to which the planned measures and analyses both 
reflect knowledge and use of state-of-the-art measures and analytic 
techniques and advance the state-of-the-art.
     The extent to which the analytic techniques are 
appropriate for the question under consideration.
     The extent to which the proposed sample size is sufficient 
for the study.
     The scope of the project is reasonable for the funds 
available for these grants.
     The extent to which the planned approach reflects 
sufficient input from and partnership with the Head Start or Early Head 
Start program.
    3. Staff and Position Data: 35 points.
     The extent to which the principal investigator (or for 
1.02, the graduate student) and other key research staff possess the 
research expertise necessary to conduct the study as demonstrated in 
the application and information contained in their vitae.
     For Priority Area 1.01 the principal investigator(s) has 
earned a doctorate or equivalent in the relevant field and has first or 
second author publications in major research journals.
     The extent to which the proposed staff reflect an 
understanding of and sensitivity to the issues of working in a 
community setting and in partnership with Head Start/Early Head Start 
program staff and parents.
     The adequacy of the time devoted to this project by the 
principal investigator and other key staff in order to ensure a high 
level of professional input and attention. For graduate students, the 
adequacy of the supervision provided by the graduate student's mentor.

Required Notification of the Single Point of Contact

    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 
Program and Activities. Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington, and American Samoa have elected to participate in 
the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of 
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-three jurisdictions need 
take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants for projects to be 
administered by Federally-recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from 
the requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact 
their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective 
applications and receive any necessary instructions. Applicants must 
submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon as possible so that 
the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the 
award process. It is imperative that the applicant submit all required 
materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal 
(or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard 
Form 424, item 16a.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: William Wilson, Head Start Bureau, 330 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20447. Attn: Head-Start University Partnerships or 
Graduate Student Head Start Research. A list of the Single Points of 
Contact for each State and Territory can be found on the web site. 
http://www.dhhs.gov/progorg/grantsnet/laws-reg/spoq0695.htm.


[[Page 67377]]


    Dated: November 3, 2000.
James A. Harrell,
Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families.
[FR Doc. 00-28800 Filed 11-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M