[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 97 (Friday, May 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27661-27662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12498]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACF/ACYF/HS-2001-11]


Fiscal Year 2001 Discretionary Announcement for a Center on the 
Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning; Availability of 
Funds and Request for Applications

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

ACTION: Announcement of the availability of funds and request for 
applications for a Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for 
Early Learning.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) announces the 
availability of funds for a Center on the Social and Emotional 
Foundations for Early Learning. This Center will improve the capacity 
of Head Start and Child Care programs to promote the social and 
emotional development of the preschool age children they serve.

Statutory Authority

    The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act as amended, 42 
U.S.C. 9858 et seq.
CFDA 93.647
    The Head Start Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.
CFDA: 93.600

DATES: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. 
(Eastern Time Zone) July 13, 2001. Applications received after 5 p.m. 
on the deadline date will be classified as late.

    Note: The full announcement, including all the necessary forms 
can be downloaded from the Head Start Web Site at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb, and/or the Child Care Bureau Web Site 
at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb.


ADDRESSES: Mail applications to: ACYF Operations Center, 1815 N. Fort 
Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209.
    Hand Delivered, Courier or Overnight Delivery applications are 
accepted during the normal working hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, on or prior to the established closing date.
    All packages should be clearly labeled as follows:
    Application for Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for 
Early Learning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The ACYF Operations Center at 1-800-
351-2293 (ACYF) is available to answer questions concerning application 
requirements and to refer you to the appropriate contact person in ACYF 
for programmatic questions. You may also e-mail your questions tot he 
ACYF Operations Center at: [email protected]
    In order to determine the number of expert reviewers that will be 
necessary, if you are going to submit an application, you must send a 
post card or e-mail with the following information: the name, address, 
telephone and fax number, e-mail address of the project director, and 
the name of the university or non-profit institution at least four 
weeks prior to the submission deadline date to: ACYF Operations Center, 
1815 N. Fort Myer Drive,Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, (1-800) 
351-2293, E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  A: Eligible Applicants: Universities and 
non-profit organizations with a recognized record of national 
leadership and service and current capabilities in this area of 
expertise. To adequately address the scope of topics and experiences 
this project requires, an application may be comprised of a consortium 
of organizations.
    B. Project Duration: The announcement is soliciting applications 
for a project period of up to five years. Awards, on a competitive 
basis, will be for the first one-year budget period. Applications for 
continuation of cooperative agreements funded under these awards beyond 
the one-year 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.
    C. Federal Share of Project Cost: The Federal share of project 
costs shall not exceed $1,000,000 per year. $600,000 of this amount 
will be from Head Start funds and $400,000 will be from Child Care and 
Development Block Grant funds.
    D. Matching Requirement: There is no matching requirement.
    E. Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated 
that one project will be funded.

Criteria

    Reviewers will consider the following factors when assigning 
points.

1. Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum of 10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant:
     clearly states the objectives and their relation to the 
expected benefits of the project.
     explains why chosen objectives are appropriate for Head 
Start and Child Care program efforts to improve social and emotional 
outcomes for young children, given current knowledge on effective 
practices.

[[Page 27662]]

     explains how the results and benefits expected are 
reasonable given the resources available for this project.

2. Approach (maximum of 50 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant's approach:
     adequately describes and responds to key issues outlined 
in the background section above;
     represents a cost effective strategy to improve Head Start 
and Child Care program practices to promote positive social and 
emotional outcomes for children;
     demonstrates a thorough knowledge and understanding of the 
Head Start Program Performance Standards and quality child care program 
practices;
     demonstrates thorough knowledge of evidence-based 
approaches to improving social and emotional outcomes and address 
mental health and behavioral concerns for preschool-age children:
     demonstrates appropriate strategies for communication and 
ongoing coordination with the Head Start and Child Care training and 
technical assistance providers; and,
     describes specific strategies for how the project will 
promote local program's adopting and implementing practices.

3. Staff and Position Date (Maximum of 30 Points)

    The extent to which the key staff and the organization possess the 
experience and expertise necessary to plan and implement a project of 
this type and scope, including:
     planning and disseminating training and technical 
assistance resources addressing issues of early childhood social and 
emotional development and mental health services;
     working with programs serving diverse cultures, languages 
and ethnicity and with programs serving low income families with young 
children;
     analyzing and preparing information for national 
dissemination to early childhood programs on issues of social and 
emotional development and mental health;
     designing, developing, and delivering coordinated 
technical assistance as part of a national network;
     experience with early childhood service settings, 
collaborating with mental health, child care and school system 
partners, and working with Head Start program staff and parents;
     key staff will devote adequate time to ensure a high level 
of professional input and attention;
     staff have experience designing and delivering information 
and T/TA for audiences of diverse cultures, languages and ethnicity and 
experience working with programs serving low income families with young 
children;
     staff have the skills and experiences needed to implement 
an approach covering the broad scope of issues required by the 
comprehensiveness of the Head Start model; and
     staff have experience and skills in reviewing and adapting 
information on social and emotional development and mental health to 
communicate effectively with this project's intended audiences.

Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum of 10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant's proposed costs are reasonable 
in view of the planning and activities to be carried out and the 
anticipated outcomes.

Required Notification of the State 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 
Programs 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, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Palau have elected to participate in 
the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of 
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these jurisdictions need not take 
action regarding Executive Order 12372.
    Applications for projects to be administered by Federally 
recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from the requirements of 
Executive Order 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact their SPOC 
as soon as possible to alert them to the prospective application and to 
receive any necessary instructions. Applicants must submit any required 
material to the SPOC as early 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 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 the ACF, they should be 
addressed to: William Wilson, Head Start Bureau, Grants Officer, 330 C 
Street SW., Room 2220, Washington, DC 20447. Attn: Center on the Social 
and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
can be found on the following web site: 
http://http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Program Number 93.600, Project Head 
Start and Number 93.647, Child Care and Development Block Grant)

    Dated: May 14, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-12498 Filed 5-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M