[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77882-77883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31664]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACF/ACYF/HS FY 2000-04]


Early Head Start Longitudinal Research Partnerships: 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 (ACF), 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) announces the 
availability of funds for universities, in partnership with the 
original 17 Early Head Start Research sites, to conduct the local and 
cross-site longitudinal research until entry into kindergarten on 
children and families who were participants in the original National 
Early Head Start Research Study.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications is 5:00 P.M. EDT 
January 29, 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: The full announcement and 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 
the 17 Early Head Start programs that were part of the original study. 
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:
    Eligible Applicants: Universities and four-year colleges on behalf 
of a faculty member who holds a doctorate degree or equivalent in their 
respective field and have formed partnerships with an original Early 
Head Start Research site.
    Project Duration: The announcement for Early Head Start 
Longitudinal Research is soliciting applications for project periods of 
four years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for the first one-
year budget period. Applications for continuation grants funded under 
these awards beyond the one-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 interest of the Government. An additional 
competitive grant for one year may be considered for recipients of 
grants under this announcement if it is deemed necessary for the 
completion of the data analysis and report writing.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share is 
$190,000 per Early Head Start research site for the first 12-month 
budget period based on the number of children to be tracked

[[Page 77883]]

and tested and their distance from the original site. The Federal share 
for subsequent years shall be up to $200,000 per year per Early Head 
Start research site for each year of the project period depending on 
the number of children still to be tracked and tested and the analysis 
and report writing to be completed. 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 
a maximum of 17 projects will be funded.

Criteria

    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.
     The extent to which the results build on the results of 
the first study.

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 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 analysis 
incorporate the measures and analyses completed under the original 
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 Early Head Start 
program.

3. Staff and Position Data--35 points

     The extent to which the principal investigator 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.
     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 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.

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.
    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: 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.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    Dated: December 6, 2000.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 00-31664 Filed 12-12-00; 8:45 am]
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