[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21760-21765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10792]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF/CB-2001-01]


Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and 
Request for Applications To Support Adoption Opportunities 
Demonstration Projects, Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary 
Activities, Abandoned Infants Assistance Awards and Projects To Build 
the Analytical Capacity of State Child Welfare Programs

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

ACTION: Notice.

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Statutory Authority Covering Discretionary Grant Programs in This 
Announcement With the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 
Numbers

    Adoption Opportunities: Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, as amended, (42 USC 5111) 
CFDA: 93.652.
    Promoting Safe and Stable Families: Section 430 of title IV-B, 
Subpart 2, of the Social Security Act, as amended, (42 USC 629) CFDA: 
93.556.
    Child Abuse and Neglect: Section 104 of the Child Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment Act, as amended (42 USC 5101 et seq.) CFDA: 93.670.
    Abandoned Infants: Section 101 of the Abandoned Infants Assistance 
Act, as amended (42 USC 670 note) CFDA: 93.551

SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB) within the Administration on 
Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 
funds for competing new Adoption Opportunities Program, Child Abuse and 
Neglect Discretionary Activities, Abandoned Infants Assistance and 
projects to build the analytical capacity of state child welfare 
programs. Funds from the Adoption Opportunities Program are designed to 
provide support for demonstration projects that facilitate the 
elimination of barriers to adoption and provide permanent loving homes 
for children who would benefit from adoption, particularly children 
with special needs. Discretionary funds from the Promoting Safe and 
Stable Families Program support research, training and technical 
assistance and evaluation efforts to preserve families. Funds from the 
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act support knowledge-building 
research and service demonstration projects designed to assist and 
enhance national, State and community efforts to prevent, assess, 
identify and treat child abuse and neglect. Funds from section 101 of 
the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act, as amended (42 USC 670 note) are 
to establish a program of comprehensive service demonstration projects 
to prevent the abandonment in hospitals of infants and young children, 
particularly those exposed to a dangerous drug and those with the human 
immunodeficiency virus or who have been perinatally exposed to the 
virus.

DATES: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 
p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on June 15, 2001.

    Note: The program announcement, including all necessary forms 
can be downloaded and printed from the Children's Bureau web site at 
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb. Hard copies of the program 
announcement may be requested in hard copy by writing or calling the 
Operations Center (see phone number and address below) 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

2001A. Adoption Opportunities

2001A.1  Adoptive Placements for Children in Foster Care
    Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to State social service 
agencies. Due to funding limitations and to generate and financially 
support the broadest range of issues and approaches, priority will be 
given to applicants who have not been funded under this priority in 
previous years. However, applicants previously funded under this 
priority area will not be precluded from receiving grants.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each 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 of the 
project is $300,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total 
approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $300,000 per budget period must 
include a match of at least $33,333 per budget period. The non-Federal 
share may be cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
If approved for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the 
commitment of non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required 
amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
three projects will be funded.
2001A.2  Field-Initiated Demonstration Projects Advancing the State of 
the Art in the Adoption Field
    Eligible Applicants: States, local government entities, public and 
private nonprofit licensed child welfare and adoption agencies, and 
community-based nonprofit adoption organizations which currently work 
with children in the public child welfare system, and universities with 
experience in adoptions. Applicants without direct access or 
responsibility for the targeted children must apply in partnership with 
States, local government entities, or

[[Page 21761]]

public or private nonprofit licensed child welfare and adoption 
agencies.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each 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 of the 
project is $250,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total 
approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $250,000 per budget period must 
include a match of at least $27,778 per budget period. The non-Federal 
share may be cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
If approved for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the 
commitment of non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required 
amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001A.3  Quality Improvement Centers on Adoption
    Eligible Applicants: Public or private nonprofit agencies, 
organizations, and institutions of higher learning, alone or in 
partnerships with child welfare agencies. The Children's Bureau 
especially encourages partnerships between public agencies and private 
nonprofit agencies, universities and foundations with adoption 
experience.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a period of 60 
months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. 
The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget period 
will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on 
the part 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 of the 
project is $175,000 per Quality Improvement Center (QIC) for the first 
12 months. Years two through five will be funded at a level of $500,000 
per budget period per QIC. The proposed budget allocated by the QIC for 
administrative, management, and evaluation purposes in years two 
through five may not exceed $125,000 per year.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total administrative approved cost of the 
project. The total approved administrative cost is the sum of the 
Federal share and the non-Federal share. Therefore, a project 
requesting $175,000 for the 12-month planning phase must include a 
match of at least $19,444. In years two through five, awardees will be 
required to provide a 10 percent match on the total cost allocated by 
the QIC for administration, management and evaluation. A project 
requesting an annual total of $125,000 for these purposes will be 
required to provide a match of at least $13,889 per year. QIC awardees 
are not required to provide a 10 percent match on the approximately 
$350,000 that will be awarded to local sites.
    The non-Federal share may be cash or in-kind contributions, 
although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements 
through cash contributions. If approved for funding, grantees will be 
held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal resources and 
failure to provide the required amount will result in a disallowance of 
unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001A.4  Evaluations of Existing Adoption Programs
    Eligible Applicants: States, local government entities, public and 
private nonprofit licensed child welfare and adoption agencies, and 
community-based nonprofit adoption organizations which currently work 
with children in the public child welfare system, and universities with 
experience in adoptions and child welfare issues. Collaborative efforts 
and interdisciplinary applications are encouraged; however, a primary 
applicant must be identified.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each grantee, and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Projects involving evaluations through secondary analysis of 
existing data may propose a shorter duration.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the 
project is $100,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total 
approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $100,000 per budget period must 
include a match of at least $11,111 per budget period. The non-Federal 
share may be cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
If approved for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the 
commitment of non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required 
amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that 
up to four projects will be funded.

2001B. Child Abuse and Neglect

2001B.1  National Resources Center on Child Maltreatment
    Eligible Applicants: Any national, State, local, Tribal, public or 
private nonprofit agency or organization, including accredited colleges 
and universities, with demonstrated expertise in the field of child 
welfare and the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse 
and neglect.
    Project Duration: The project will be awarded for a project period 
of 24 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond the 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each grantee, and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the bestr interest of the government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The grant amount will not exceed 
$700,000 per year for two years. The dollar amount requested must be 
fully justified and documented.
    Matching Requirement: None.
    Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that 
one project will be funded.
2001B.2  Investigator-Initiated research Projects Advancing the State 
of the Art in the Child Abuse and Neglect Field
    Eligible Applicants: State, local government, public and private 
nonprofit, community-based nonprofit organizations and universities 
with experience in the areas of child welfare child maltreatment. 
Collaborative efforts and interdisplinary applications are

[[Page 21762]]

encouraged, however, a primary applicant must be identified.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project of 36 
months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. 
The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget period 
will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on 
the part of each grantee, and a determination that continued funding 
would be in the best interest of the government.
    Projects involving secondary analysis of existing data may propose 
a shorter duration.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the 
project is up to $250,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: There is no matching 
requirement.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
up to four projects will be funded at the maximum funding level or more 
than four if applications for lesser amounts are funded.
2001B.3  Field-Initiated Demonstration Projects Advancing the State of 
the Art in the Child Abuse and Neglect Field
    Eligible Applicants: States, local government entities, public and 
private nonprofit, community-based nonprofit organizations and 
universities with experience in the areas of child welfare and child 
maltreatment. Collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary applications 
are encouraged; however, a primary applicant must be identified.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each 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 of the 
project is $250,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: There is no matching 
requirement.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001B.4  Quality Improvement Centers for Child Protective Services
    Eligible Applicants: Public or private nonprofit agencies, 
organizations, and institutions of higher learning, alone or in 
partnerships with child welfare agencies. The Children's Bureau 
especially encourages partnerships between public agencies and private 
nonprofit agencies, universities and foundations with experience in 
child maltreatment issues.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a period of 60 
months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. 
The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget period 
will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on 
the part 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 of the 
project is $175,000 per QIC for the first 12 months. Years two through 
five will be funded at a level of $500,000 per budget period per QIC. 
The proposed budget allocated by the QIC for administrative, 
management, and evaluation purposes in years two through five may not 
exceed $125,000 per year.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total approved administrative cost of the 
project. The total approved administrative cost is the sum of the 
Federal share and the non-Federal share. Therefore, a project 
requesting $175,000 for the 12-month planning phase must include a 
match of at least $19,444. In years two through five, awardees will be 
required to provide a 10 percent match on the total cost allocated by 
the QIC for administration, management, and evaluation. A project 
requesting an annual total of $125,000 for these purposes will be 
required to provide a match of at least $13,889 per year. QIC awardees 
are not required to provide a 10 percent match on the approximately 
$350,000 that will be awarded to local sites.
    The non-Federal share may be cash or in-kind contributions, 
although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements 
through cash contributions. If approved for funding, grantees will be 
held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal resources and 
failure to provide the required amount will result in a disallowance of 
unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001B.5  Evaluations of Existing Child Abuse and Neglect Programs
    Eligible Applicants: Public (State, Tribal, or local) or private 
nonprofit agencies, organizations, or institutions of higher learning 
are eligible to apply. Collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary 
applications are encouraged; however, a primary applicant must be 
identified.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each grantee, and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Projects involving secondary analysis of existing data may propose 
a shorter duration.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the 
project is $100,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: There is no matching 
requirement.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
up to four projects will be funded.

2001C: Abandoned Infants

2001C.1  Support for Previous Comprehensive Service Demonstration 
Projects
    Eligible Applicants: Comprehensive service demonstration projects 
initially funded in FY 1977. Current grantees applying under this 
priority are advised that this is a competitive funding process and 
that applications approved for funding will be given a new grant 
number. Existing award activities cannot overlap with the new grant's 
project period, and funds from the currently existing grants cannot be 
expended for the new grant activities.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination that continued 
funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: Grant amounts will vary and range 
up to $450,000 per budget period per grantee for each of the 4 years.
    Matching Requirement: The grantees must provide at least 10 percent 
of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of 
the project is the sum of the Federal 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

[[Page 21763]]

contributions. Therefore, a project requesting a total of $450,000 in 
Federal funds for the first budget period must include a match of at 
least $50,000 (10 percent of total approved project costs). If approved 
for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of 
non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required amount will 
result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: it is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001C.2  Support for New Comprehensive Service Demonstration Projects
    Eligible Applicants: Any State, local public or nonprofit agency or 
organization including accredited colleges and universities. Applicants 
who can apply under this priority area include: (1) Applicants in 
jurisdictions in which there currently does not exist a program funded 
under the Abandoned Infants Assistance Program (check the National 
Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center's web site http.//
www.socrates.berkeley.edu/~aiarc for a list of current programs); (2) 
applicants who have previously received funding under the Abandoned 
Infants Assistance Program but are not currently grantees; and (3) 
applicants that are currently funded by the Abandoned Infants 
Assistance Program but are establishing a program in a separate 
locality serving a different target population, e.g., an agency 
establishing a program in a different city of establishing a second 
program in a city with a population over 1,000,000.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination that continued 
funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: Grant amount will vary and range up 
to $450,000 per budget period for each of the 4 years.
    Matching Requirement: The grantees must provide at least 10 percent 
of the total approved cost of the project. 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 a total of $450,000 in 
Federal funds for the first budget period must include a match of at 
least $50,000 (10 percent of total approved project costs). If approved 
for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of 
non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required amount will 
result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001C.3  Family Support Services for Grandparents and Other Relatives 
Providing Care for Children of Women Who Are Substance Abusing and HIV 
Positive
    Eligible Applicants: Public agencies and private, nonprofit 
organizations and institutions of higher education are eligible to 
apply.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination that continued 
funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: Grant amounts will not exceed 
$100,000 per budget period for each of the 4 years. The dollar amount 
request must be fully justified and documented.
    Matching Requirement: Grantees must provide at least 10 percent of 
the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the 
project is the sum of the Federal 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 $100,000 in Federal 
funds per year must include a match of at least $11,111 (10 percent of 
approved project costs per budget period). If approved for funding, 
grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal 
resources and failure to provide the required amount will result in a 
disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
up to three projects will be funded.
2001C.4  Recreational Services for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
    Eligible Applicants: Public agencies and private, nonprofit 
organizations and institutions of higher education are eligible to 
apply.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 48 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination that continued 
funding would be in the best interest of the government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: Grant amounts will vary from 
$50,000 to $100,000 per budget period for each of the 4 years. The 
dollar amount requested must be fully justified and documented.
    Matching Requirement: Grantees must provide at least 10 percent of 
the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the 
project is the sum of the Federal 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 a total of $100,000 in 
Federal funds for the first budget period must include a match of at 
least $11,111 (10 percent of total approved project costs). If approved 
for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of 
non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required amount will 
result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
three projects will be funded.

2001D. Building Analytical Capacity for Child Welfare Programs in the 
States

2001D.1  Demonstration Sites: Building Analytical Capacity for Child 
Welfare Programs in the States
    Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to States that have not 
yet developed capacities for data analysis and interpretation to 
improve decision-making and accountability. Funds will be awarded for 
building an infrastructure for research and evaluation designed to 
increase efficiency and effectiveness of State child welfare programs.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each grantee, and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.

[[Page 21764]]

    Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the 
project is $250,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: The grantee must provide at 
least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total 
approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $250,000 per budget period must 
include a match of at least $27,778 per budget period. The non-Federal 
share may be cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
If approved for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the 
commitment of non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required 
amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.
2001D.2  Mentor Sites: Building Analytical Capacity for Child Welfare 
Programs in the States
    Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to the States that have 
already developed capacities, in-house or contractually, for data 
analysis and interpretation and can serve as mentors for other States 
that seek to improve data analysis through advanced research and 
evaluation. Funds will be awarded to the mentor sites for consulting 
and technical assistance to promote increased efficiency and 
effectiveness of child welfare programs in States that have not yet 
developed capacities for advanced data analysis and interpretation.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation funding beyond each 12-month budget 
period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress on the part of each 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 of the 
project is $150,000 per budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: There is not matching 
requirement.
    Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: It is anticipated that 
four projects will be funded.

Evaluation Criteria

    Reviewers will consider the following factors when scoring 
applications. However, in order to adequately prepare their 
applications, applicants must refer to the full program announcement 
for the specific evaluation criteria for each priority area. The points 
awarded for each criterion vary, depending on the specific priority 
area.
    Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance. Applications will 
be judged on the extent to which they clearly specify the purposes and/
or strategies of the proposed project and their relationship to 
legislative authority and child welfare outcomes, as appropriate; the 
quality of their statement regarding the need for the project; and 
evidence that the applicant understands current issues and recent 
developments in the field that may have relevance to the implementation 
of the project. Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation 
criteria for each priority area contained in the full Program 
Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications. The 
points awarded for this criterion vary, depending on the specific 
priority area.
    Criterion 2: Approach. Applicants will be judged on the clarity, 
feasibility, and thoroughness of their description of the approach that 
they intend to use in implementing proposed projects. The approach 
sections will be expected to include, as appropriate, information on 
barriers to implementation and proposed solutions to those barriers; 
necessary collaborations with other organizations and agencies and 
their respective roles; evaluation plans; reporting requirements; and 
staffing plans. Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation 
criteria for each priority area contained in the full Program 
Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications. The 
points awarded for this criterion vary, depending on the specific 
priority area.
    Criterion 3: Organizational Profiles. Applicants will be judged on 
the experience and demonstrated competence of staff who are proposed to 
implement the project and, as appropriate, the experience of the 
organization in implementing related projects. Applicants must refer to 
the specific evaluation criteria for each priority area contained in 
the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their 
applications. The points awarded for this criterion vary, depending on 
the specific priority area.
    Criterion 4: Budget and budget justification. Applicants will be 
judged on the adequacy, reasonableness, and completeness of their 
budget requests to support their proposed projects, including their 
management plans to control and account for expenditure of project 
funds. Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for 
each priority area contained in the full Program Announcement in order 
to adequately prepare their applications. The points awarded for this 
criterion vary, depending on the specific priority area.

Required Notification of the Single Point of Contact

    Most portions of this program are 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, Arizona, 
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, 
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, 
Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming have elected to participate 
in the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of 
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these jurisdictions need take no 
action regarding Executive Order 12372. Applicants for projects to be 
administered by Federally-recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from 
the requirements of Executive Order 12372. Applicants to the Adoption 
Opportunities program are also exempt from the requirements of 
Executive Order 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

[[Page 21765]]

trigger the accommodate or explain rule. A list of the Single Points of 
Contact for each State and Territory can be found on line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    Dated: April 25, 2001.
Gail E. Collins,
Acting Deputy Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families.
[FR Doc. 01-10792 Filed 4-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M