[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29966-29976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13921]



[[Page 29966]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF/CB-2001-02]


Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and 
Request for Applications To Support Development and Delivery of the 
Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration 
for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB) within the Administration on 
Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF) and the Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announce 
the availability of financial assistance and request for applications 
for the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program (IAATP) for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2001 under section 330F of the Public Health Service (PHS) 
Act, as amended by Title XII, Subtitle A, of the Children's Health Act 
(CHA) of 2000, Public Law 106-310, enacted October 17, 2000. The IAATP 
projects are designed to provide Federal financial assistance to 
adoption agencies that will provide training to designated staff of 
eligible health centers so that they will be able to provide adoption 
counseling and referrals to pregnant women. Grantee adoption agencies 
must agree to develop and implement curricula and provide training-of-
trainers (TOT) programs based on their curricula, or grantees may 
employ alternative approaches to ensure that eligible health center 
designated staff are trained during the course of the cooperative 
agreement funded period.

CLOSING TIME AND DATE: The closing time and date for RECEIPT of 
applications is 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on July 20, 2001.
    Mailed or hand-carried applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the 
closing date will be classified as late and not considered in the 
current competition.
    Deadline: Mailed or hand-carried applications shall be considered 
as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the 
deadline time and date at:

Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Operations 
Center, 1815 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209

    The hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).
    The phone number of the Operations Center is 1-800-351-2293.
    Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance 
to ensure that the applications are received on or before the deadline 
time and date. Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail 
services do not always deliver as agreed.
    Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are 
received on or before the closing time and date.
    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 that do not meet the above criteria 
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 (e.g., floods or hurricanes) 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 Contact: The ACYF Operations Center is 
available to answer questions regarding application requirements and to 
refer you to the appropriate contact person in ACYF for programmatic 
questions. The telephone number is 1-800-351-2293 or you may contact 
them by e-mail at [email protected] 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four 
parts. Part I provides information on the Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families and Children's Bureau's statutory authority and 
available funds for the program covered in this announcement. Part II 
lists the programmatic priorities for which applications are being 
requested and provides general information. Part III provides 
information on the application, review, and funding process. The forms 
and general guidance to be used for submitting an application follow in 
Part IV. Please copy the forms as single-sided forms and use them in 
submitting an application under this announcement. No additional 
application materials are available or needed to submit an application.
    This announcement package is also available online at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/CB under Policy and Funding Announcements on 
the Children's Bureau Web site. The required Federal forms are 
available online at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofs/grants/forms.htm 
    Applicants should note that grants to be awarded under this program 
announcement are subject to the availability of funds.

Outline of Announcement

Part I: Background

A. General Information on the Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families and the Children's Bureau
B. Legislative Framework
C. Statutory Authority Covering Discretionary Grant Programs in this 
Announcement and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 
Numbers
D. Structure of Priority Area Descriptions
E. Other Considerations

Part II: Priority Area

A. Priority Area List
B. Available Funds
C. Priority Area Description

Part III: The Application: Instructions, Review, and Funding Process

A. Application Format
B. Application Content
C. State Single Point of Contact (E.O. 12372)
D. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)
E. The Screening, Review and Funding Process

Part IV: Application Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

A. Project Description Overview
B. Other Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

Part I: Background

A. General Information on the Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families and the Children's Bureau

    The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) 
administers national programs for children and youth, works with States 
and local communities to develop services that support and strengthen 
family life, seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance 
the lives of children and their families, and provides information and 
other assistance to parents. The concerns of ACYF extend to all 
children from birth through adolescence. Many of the programs 
administered by the agency focus on children from low-income families; 
abused and neglected children; children and youth in need of foster 
care, independent living, adoption or other child welfare services; 
preschool children; children with disabilities; runaway and homeless

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youth; and children from Native American and migrant families.
    Within ACYF, the Children's Bureau plans, manages, coordinates, and 
supports child abuse and neglect prevention and child welfare services 
programs. It administers the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance 
Program, the Child Welfare Services State Grants Program, Child Welfare 
Services Training Programs, the Independent Living Program, the 
Adoption Opportunities Program, the Abandoned Infants Assistance 
Program, programs supported by the Promoting Safe and Stable Families 
Act, the Court Improvement Program, and programs funded under the Child 
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), including Basic State 
grants, the child abuse and neglect discretionary program, the 
Community-Based Family Resource and Support Program, and the Children's 
Justice Act Program.
    The Children's Bureau programs are designed to promote the safety, 
permanency, and well being of all children. Training activities such as 
these contribute to that effort.

B. Legislative Framework

    This section provides an overview of legislation applicable to the 
training activity described in this program announcement. It addresses 
the Children's Health Act. It also briefly reviews other policies and 
rules pertaining to improving services to and outcomes for abused and 
neglected children, children in foster care, and children awaiting 
adoptive families.
Overview of the Children's Health Act
    With the passage of Public Law 106-310, enacted October 17, 2000, 
the Congress emphasized the need to address children's health services, 
pediatric research, developmental disabilities, birth defects 
prevention, prenatal and postnatal care, and other activities regarding 
children's health and well being. Title XII, Subtitle A--Infant 
Adoption Awareness of the Children's Health Act (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong 
_public_laws &docid=f:publ310.106.pdf) authorized the U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants available to 
national, regional, or local adoption organizations for the purpose of 
developing and implementing programs to train the designated staff of 
eligible health centers in providing adoption information and referrals 
to pregnant women on an equal basis with all other courses of action 
included in nondirective counseling to pregnant women. In compliance 
with the legislation, HHS activities include the following:
     Establish and supervise a process through which adoption 
organizations and public health entity representatives collaborate to 
develop best-practice guidelines on the provision of adoption 
information and referrals to pregnant women on an equal basis with all 
other courses of action included in nondirective counseling to women;
     Award grant funds to adoption organizations to develop 
training curricula, consistent with the best-practice guidelines;
     Ensure that adoption organizations conduct training for 
all eligible health centers; and
     Report to the appropriate committees of Congress 
evaluating the extent to which adoption information and referral, upon 
request, are provided by eligible health centers in order to determine 
the effectiveness of such training and the extent to which the training 
addresses the requirement to provide information and referrals to 
pregnant women on an equal basis with all other courses of action 
included in nondirective counseling to women.
Multi-Ethnic Placement Act
    Grantees should be familiar with the Multiethnic Placement Act 
(MEPA) as amended by the Interethnic Placement Act (Section 1808 of the 
Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996) which addresses the issue of 
race in foster care and adoption placements. Specifically, MEPA 
prohibits the delay or denial of any adoption or placement in foster 
care due to the race, color, or national origin of the child or the 
foster or adoptive parents and requires States to provide for diligent 
recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the 
ethnic and racial diversity of children for whom homes are needed. 
Section 1808 of Pub. L. 104-188 affirms the prohibition against 
delaying or denying the placement of a child for adoption or foster 
care on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the foster or 
adoptive parents or the child involved [42 U.S.C. 1996b]. Training 
materials must encompass MEPA requirements.
Additional Information
    The Children's Bureau's Web site (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/
cb) provides a wide range of information and links to other relevant 
Web sites. Information readily available from the Children's Bureau Web 
site includes, but is not limited to, Final Rules published in the 
Federal Register, describing the child welfare outcome measures 
developed pursuant to the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, 
monitoring activities pertaining to the Child and Family Services (CFS) 
reviews and Title IV-E eligibility, federally mandated information 
systems (e.g., Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System), 
and other publications and reports.

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

    Infant Adoption Awareness: Section 330F of the PHS Act, as amended 
by Title XII, Subtitle A, of the Children's Health Act of 2000 [42 
U.S.C. 201 note] CFDA: 93.254

D. Structure of Priority Area Descriptions

    The priority area description found in section D is composed of the 
following sections:
    Eligible Applicants: This section specifies the types of agencies 
and organizations eligible to apply under the particular priority area. 
Eligibility to compete in some priority areas is limited to particular 
applicant organizations. For this reason, and because eligibility 
varies depending on statutory provisions, it is critical that the 
`Eligible Applicants' section of the priority area be reviewed 
carefully.
    Only agencies and organizations, not individuals, are eligible to 
apply. One agency must be identified as the applicant organization and 
will have legal responsibility for the grant. Additional agencies and 
organizations can be included as co-participants, subgrantees, 
subcontractors, or collaborators if they will assist in providing 
expertise and in helping to meet the needs of the training recipients. 
Faith-based and community based organizations meeting the eligibility 
requirements may apply to be a grantee, or they may be included as co-
participants, subgrantees, subcontractors, or collaborators if they 
will assist in providing expertise and in helping to meet the needs of 
the training recipients. For-profit organizations, that waive their 
profit, are eligible to participate as subgrantees or subcontractors 
with eligible nonprofit organizations under all priority areas where 
nonprofit organizations are the eligible applicants.
    Any nonprofit organization submitting an application must submit 
proof of its nonprofit status in its application at the time of 
submission. The nonprofit agency can accomplish this by providing a 
copy of the

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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 current valid IRS tax exemption 
certification, or by providing a copy of the articles of incorporation 
bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation or association 
is located.
    Purpose: This section presents the basic focus and/or broad goal(s) 
of the priority area.
    Background Information: This section briefly discusses the 
background as well as the current state-of-the-art and/or current 
state-of-practice that supports the need for the particular priority 
area activity. Relevant information on projects previously funded by 
ACYF is noted, where applicable.
    Evaluation: This section presents the basic set of issues and 
specific information that will be evaluated in review of the 
application. Typically, they relate to the need for assistance, the 
results expected, project design, evaluation, community involvement, 
and organization and staff capabilities. Project products and 
materials, continuation of the project effort after the Federal support 
ceases, and dissemination/utilization activities, if appropriate, also 
will be evaluated. Inclusion and discussion of these items is important 
because the reviewers will use the information submitted by the 
applicant to evaluate the application against the criteria described in 
the evaluation section. The appropriateness of the budget to the goals 
of the project and reasonableness of costs also will be considered in 
the review process.
    Project Duration: This section specifies the maximum allowable 
length of time for the project period. The term `project period' refers 
to the total time a project is approved for support. Where appropriate, 
applicants may propose project periods that are shorter but not longer 
than the maximums specified in the priority area. The term `budget 
period' refers to the interval of time (usually 12 months) into which a 
multiyear period of assistance is divided for budgetary and funding 
purposes.
    For multiyear projects, continued Federal funding beyond the first 
budget period is dependent upon satisfactory performance by the 
grantee, availability of funds from future appropriations, and a 
determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the 
Government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: This section specifies the maximum 
amount of Federal support for the project for each budget period.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: This section specifies the 
minimum non-Federal contribution required in relation to the maximum 
Federal funds requested for the project. Grantees must provide the non-
Federal share, if required, 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. Cash or in-kind contributions may be used to 
meet the non-Federal share, although applicants are encouraged to meet 
their match requirements through cash contributions. Non-Federal share 
contributions may exceed the minimums specified in the various priority 
areas when the applicant is able to do so. However, applicants should 
propose only that non-Federal share they can realistically provide 
because, as a grantee, they must meet the proposed level of match 
support before the end of the project 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: This section specifies 
the number of projects that ACYF anticipates funding under the priority 
area, subject to the availability of funds.
    Length of Application: This section specifies the maximum allowable 
number of pages that will be reviewed. Please be advised that only the 
information within the specified page limitation will be reviewed and 
considered for funding.
    CFDA Number: This number from the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance must be used in each application in Item 10 of the Standard 
Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance).

E. Other Considerations

    The Commissioner may give special consideration to applications 
proposing services of special interest to the Government and to achieve 
geographic distributions of awards. Applications of special interest 
may include, but are not limited to, applications focusing on unserved 
or inadequately served clients or service areas; programs addressing 
diverse ethnic populations; and research topics of particular 
importance. In making award decisions, ACYF may give preference to 
applications that focus on: substantially innovative strategies with 
the potential to improve theory and/or practice in child welfare, with 
an emphasis on adoption; a model practice or set of procedures that 
holds the potential for replication by organizations that administer or 
deliver foster care and/or adoption services and/or child protective 
services; substantial involvement (financial and/or programmatic) of 
the private sector, national, or State or community foundations; a 
favorable balance between Federal and non-Federal funds for the 
proposed project; or the potential for high benefit from low Federal 
investment. ACYF may also elect not to fund any applicants having known 
management, fiscal, reporting, programmatic, or other problems which 
make it unlikely that they would be able to provide effective services 
or effectively complete the proposed activity.

Part II: Priority Area

A. Priority Area List

2001E.1  Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program

B. Available Funds

    The Administration on Children, Youth and Families proposes to 
award approximately 2 new cooperative agreements in fiscal year 2001 
from the competition resulting from this announcement. The funding is 
approximately $9 million.
    The size of the actual awards will vary. The Federal government may 
elect to fund applications in FY 2002 out of the pool of applications 
submitted under this announcement, subject to the availability of 
resources in FY 2002 and the number and quality of applications 
received.

C. Priority Area Description

2001E.1  Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program
    Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit 
national, regional, or local organizations among whose primary purpose 
is adoption and that are knowledgeable in all elements of the adoption 
process and on providing adoption information and referral to pregnant 
women.
    Purpose: To award cooperative agreements to adoption organizations 
for the purpose of developing and implementing Infant Adoption 
Awareness Training Programs (IAATP) to train the designated staff of 
eligible health centers in providing adoption information and referrals 
to pregnant women on an equal basis with all other courses of action 
included in nondirective counseling to pregnant women. Adoption 
organizations (grantees) will be required to develop and implement 
curricula that are consistent with best-practices guidelines that will 
be provided to recipients pursuant to the award of the cooperative 
agreement. Adoption organizations

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funded under this priority area will be required to develop and 
implement curricula to train staff at eligible health centers who 
provide or who, after training, will provide pregnancy or adoption 
information and referrals. The grantees will need to provide 
instruction on their curricula to trainers, who will provide training 
to health center staff. This instruction may be conveyed using 
training-of-trainers (TOT) courses or other mechanisms that provide 
continuity and consistency in the training for the instructors.

    Note: A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding 
Federal assistance in which substantial Federal involvement is 
anticipated. A cooperative agreement clearly defines the respective 
responsibilities of the Children's Bureau and the grantee prior to 
award. The Children's Bureau anticipates that agency involvement 
will produce programmatic benefits to the recipient otherwise 
unavailable to them for carrying out the project. The involvement 
and collaboration includes Children's Bureau review and approval of 
planning stages of the activities before implementation phases may 
begin and Children's Bureau and recipient joint collaboration in the 
performance of key programmatic activities (i.e., strategic 
planning, implementation, information technology enhancements, 
training and technical assistance, publications or products, and 
evaluation). Close monitoring by the Children's Bureau of the 
requirements stated in this announcement that limit the grantee's 
discretion with respect to scope of services offered, organizational 
structure and management processes, coupled with close Children's 
Bureau monitoring during performance, in order to assure compliance 
with the intent of this funding, exceed those Federal stewardship 
responsibilities customary for grant activities.

    Background Information:
Definitions
    Title XII of the Children's Health Act of 2000, which pertains to 
the IAATP, defines the term ``adoption organization'' as a ``national, 
regional, or local organization among whose primary purposes are 
adoption; that is knowledgeable in all elements of the adoption process 
and on providing adoption information and referrals to pregnant women; 
and that is a nonprofit private entity.''
    The term ``designated staff'' pertains to staff at an eligible 
health center ``who provide pregnancy or adoption information and 
referrals (or will provide such information and referrals after 
receiving training under a grant).''
    The term ``eligible health centers'' as defined in the legislation 
refers to ``public and nonprofit private entities that provide health 
services to pregnant women,'' and these entities are targeted for the 
receipt of training. These entities are not eligible to submit 
applications for funding under this program announcement to provide the 
training. There are approximately 3,000 entities that fit the 
definition of ``eligible health centers'' and are therefore eligible to 
receive training under the IAATP. Adoption organizations funded as 
IAATP providers make reasonable efforts to ensure that the eligible 
health centers offered and provided IAAT include those that receive 
grants under Section 1001 of the Public Health Services Act (PHSA) 
(relating to voluntary family planning projects); grants under Section 
330 of the PHSA (relating to community health centers, migrant health 
centers, and centers regarding homeless individuals and residents of 
public housing); and grants under the PHSA for the provision of 
services in schools.
Specific Tasks To Be Performed by the Adoption Organizations Providing 
IAATP
    The IAATP is designed to ensure that counselors in health clinics 
and other settings provide women who have unplanned pregnancies with 
complete and accurate information on adoption. Applicants are required 
to submit a program plan that clearly and concisely describes a 
strategy for developing IAATP curriculum, inviting designated staff of 
eligible health centers (including those funded under PHSA sections 
specified above) to training, scheduling training, planning and 
implementing IAATP sessions, and completing post-training activities 
(e.g., participant reimbursement and evaluation). The plan should 
indicate the number and qualifications of trainers and anticipated 
geographic areas in which health center staff training will be 
conducted.
    Adoption organizations funded under this priority area will be 
required to cooperate fully in any and all evaluations of IAATP 
sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services.
    Travel for Conferences: Approximately four weeks after the award of 
the cooperative agreements, the project director, the curriculum 
designer and/or the training director for each IAATP will be required 
to attend a two-day conference in Washington, DC, sponsored by the 
Children's Bureau for IAATP awardees funded under this priority area. 
Attendees will become part of the membership of the IAATP Network. 
During this conference DHHS staff will review the best practice 
guidelines developed for the IAATP and discuss the implications for 
developing the curricula and related educational materials. Scheduling 
matters and plans for ensuring that the designated staffs of eligible 
health centers receive training during the three-year course of the 
cooperative agreement will be outlined and discussed. The Children's 
Bureau anticipates reconvening the IAATP Network annually for a two-day 
meeting in Washington, DC, at the beginning of the second and third 
project years.
    Each budget plan should include funding for the three annual IAATP 
Network meetings in Washington, DC. Additionally, IAATP awardees will 
be required to provide funding to send the project director and the 
evaluator to an annual Children's Bureau grantees meeting.
    Geographic Region: In the project narrative, applicants are 
required to describe the specific geographic region that will be served 
by the IAATP adoption organization. This section should include a 
justification for the selection of the region, based on, for example, 
geographic size or the number and types of eligible health centers in 
the area. The Children's Bureau will accept applications for projects 
of national, regional, or local scope. The rationale for the project 
scope must be justified in detail.
    Curriculum Development: As stated above, applicants will be 
required to develop and implement training programs for the designated 
staff of the eligible health centers that provide adoption information 
and referrals to pregnant women on an equal basis with all other 
courses of action included in nondirective counseling to pregnant 
women.
    Within four months of the award of the cooperative agreement, 
grantees will be required to submit to the Children's Bureau an IAATP 
curriculum for review and approval that (a) Is competency-based, (b) 
conforms to professionally-recognized standards for curriculum format 
and style, (c) is consistent with the best-practices guidelines, 
required by the statute, (d) is pilot tested and appropriately 
modified, as necessary, before broad use, and (e) can be reliably 
evaluated. After review of the submitted curriculum, the Children's 
Bureau may require the grantee to make revisions before implementing 
the training.
    In the narrative section of the application, applicants are advised 
to describe the strategies and processes that they will use to design a 
curriculum that is consistent with the IAATP guidelines. Because the 
IAATP guidelines are not currently available, it is not necessary for 
the applicant to present a tentative curriculum outline with 
descriptions of specific training modules. Rather, applicants are 
encouraged to present a description of

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training approaches that may be used, methods for addressing cultural 
diversity, anticipated session length, and supplemental materials 
(participant handouts, visual aides, and other resources). Moreover, 
applicants are advised to demonstrate a familiarity with and 
understanding of professionally recognized standards and best practices 
pertaining to pregnancy counseling, supportive services and adoption 
services for adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies.
    Trainer Qualifications: CHA requires that adoption organizations 
sponsoring the IAATP agree to make reasonable efforts to ensure that 
the individuals who provide the program training are individuals who 
are knowledgeable in all elements of the adoption process and are 
experienced in providing adoption information and referrals in the 
geographic areas in which the eligible health centers are located.
    As part of the project narrative, applicants are advised to 
describe the methods that they will use to recruit, select, train and 
evaluate instructors who will provide the training to the designated 
staff of health centers. There are no geographic restrictions on where 
the prospective trainers may be trained or constraints on how the 
training is to be conducted. Therefore, applicants will be accorded 
flexibility in developing training programs for the instructors.
    IAATP Implementation: Adoption organizations will be required to 
begin training of the designated staff of health centers at the 
beginning of the seventh month after the award of the cooperative 
agreement. In the project narrative, applicants are advised to specify 
the proposed geographic region for training of health center staff, the 
number of training sessions anticipated during each year of funding, 
and the number of health centers and designated staff to be trained.
    To the extent possible, training of designated staff of the health 
centers is to be conducted in the geographic areas in which the centers 
are located. Adoption organizations will be required to cooperate and 
coordinate with the Children's Bureau and the other members of the 
IAATP Network in selecting sites for health center staff training and 
scheduling these events to ensure that geographic regions are neither 
over-served nor under-served. In the project narrative, applicants are 
encouraged to present a plan that may be used for informing eligible 
health centers of the availability and time and place of training.
    Applicants are also encouraged to present a plan for the 
dissemination of adoption information that may be used in conjunction 
with the training or to supplement the training.
    Adoption organizations will be required to provide reimbursement to 
health centers that are grantees funded under PHSA Sections 330 or 1001 
for all costs incurred in obtaining training for the designated staff.
    Applicants, in the project narrative, are encouraged to present a 
plan for an ongoing evaluation of the IAATP. The evaluation plan should 
be two tiered to address (1) Training processes, including the 
planning, content and quality of training and educational materials 
provided to health center staff, and methods for improving the program, 
and (2) participant satisfaction and training effectiveness, including 
how and the extent to which adoption information and referrals upon 
request are provided by health center staff.
    Applicants that do not have the in-house capacity to conduct an 
objective, large-scale evaluation are advised to propose contracting 
with a third-party social sciences evaluator or a university or college 
to conduct the evaluation.
    Evaluation: The following four criteria will be used to review and 
evaluate each application. The applicant should address each criterion 
in the project proposal. The point values (summing up to 100) indicate 
the maximum numerical weight each criterion will be accorded in the 
review process.

Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (20 Points)

    Grantees under this priority area, 2001.E1, will design and field-
test a curriculum consistent with best practices guidelines, required 
by the statute, and provide training as part of the Infant Adoption 
Awareness Training Program (IAATP). Applicants will need to understand 
the purpose of section 330F of Title XII: Adoption Awareness of the 
Children's Health Act of 2000 and show how their approach to curriculum 
design and training implementation will contribute to achieving the 
legislative goals. Applicants must also demonstrate an understanding of 
the awareness, information and skills needed by the designated staff of 
eligible health centers, including grantees under Sections 330 and 1001 
of the Public Health Services Act (PHSA) and grantees under the PHSA 
for the provision of services in schools. Applicants must also 
demonstrate an understanding of the information and service needs of 
adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies.
    Applicants should provide letters of commitment or Memoranda of 
Understanding from organizations, agencies and consultants that will be 
partners or collaborators in the proposed project. These documents 
should describe the role of the agency, organization or consultant and 
detail specific tasks to be performed.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the application reflects an understanding of 
the goals and objectives of IAATP and shows how their approach to 
curriculum design and training implementation will contribute to 
achieving the legislative goals;
    (2) Extent to which the application clearly describes and documents 
the training needs of the designated staff of eligible health centers 
and demonstrates an understanding of the need for assistance to support 
and enhance existing curriculum and training efforts pertaining to 
adoption;
    (3) Extent to which the application reflects a knowledge and 
understanding of the issues faced by adolescents and women with 
unplanned pregnancies and the importance of providing adoption 
information and referrals to pregnant women on an equal basis with all 
other courses of action included in nondirective counseling;
    (4) Extent to which the application reflects a knowledge and 
understanding of the legal framework of adoption, and adoption services 
and resources in the geographic area in which the proposed training 
will be conducted;
    (5) Extent to which the application describes the specific benefits 
that the staff of the eligible health centers will derive from the 
proposed training;
    (6) Extent to which the application clearly describes the benefits 
that clients of the eligible health centers will derive;
    (7) Extent to which the application explains how the proposed 
curriculum and training will contribute to increased knowledge of the 
problems, issues, and effective strategies and best practices in the 
field;
    (8) Extent to which the application reflects a knowledge and 
understanding of the challenges of developing IAATP curriculum and 
providing training to support and enhance the awareness, knowledge and 
skills of the designated staff of eligible health centers; and
    (9) Extent to which the application presents a vision of the 
training-delivery systems to be developed, and discusses broad 
contextual factors that will facilitate or impede the implementation of 
this system.

Criterion 2: Approach (40 Points)

    In this section, applicants are expected to define goals and 
specific, measurable objectives for the project. Goals and objectives 
should not be

[[Page 29971]]

confused. Goals are an end product of an effective project. Objectives 
are measurable steps for reaching goals.
    Applicants are advised to describe a preliminary, yet appropriate, 
feasible plan of action pertaining to the scope of the curriculum and 
training and provide details on how the proposed training will be 
accomplished. If the project involves partnerships with other agencies 
and organizations, then the roles of each partner should be clearly 
specified.
    Applicants are required to describe how IAATP will be evaluated to 
determine the extent to which it has achieved its stated goals and 
objectives. Applicants are expected to present a project design that 
includes detailed procedures for documenting project activities and 
results, including the development of a data collection infrastructure 
that is sufficient to support a methodologically sound and rigorous 
evaluation. The evaluation design is expected to include process and 
outcome analyses with qualitative and quantitative components.
    This criterion consists of four broad topics: (1) Curriculum 
design, (2) training of trainers and implementation, (3) evaluation, 
and (4) dissemination.
Curriculum Design
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the application reflects a familiarity with and 
understanding of professionally-recognized standards and best practices 
pertaining to pregnancy counseling, supportive services and adoption 
services for adolescents and women with unplanned pregnancies;
    (2) Extent to which the proposed training goals, objectives and 
outcomes are clearly specified and measurable, and reflect an 
understanding of the characteristics of the training recipients and 
their clients and the context in which eligible health centers operate; 
and
    (3) Extent to which the application presents an approach to the 
design of IAATP curriculum that (a) is competency based, (b) conforms 
to professionally-recognized standards for curriculum format and style, 
(c) is consistent with the best-practices guidelines, required by the 
statute, (d) is culturally-responsive to the diverse population of 
health center pregnancy counselors and their clients, (e) is pilot 
tested and appropriately modified, as necessary, before broad use, and 
(f) can be readily evaluated.
Training of Trainers and Implementation
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the application clearly describes and provides 
a justification for the selection of the geographic region that will be 
served by the training, including the number and types of eligible 
health centers in the area;
    (2) Extent to which the application presents an appropriate, 
feasible and realistic plan for scheduling and conducting the training, 
including the number of sessions anticipated during each year of 
funding, and the number of health centers and designated staff to be 
trained;
    (3) Extent to which the application presents an appropriate, 
feasible and realistic plan for recruiting, selecting, and training 
individuals to provide training to designated staff at eligible health 
centers and ensuring that the selected trainers are knowledgeable in 
all elements of the adoption process and experienced in providing 
adoption information and referrals in the geographic areas in which the 
eligible health centers are located;
    (4) Extent to which the application provides an appropriate, 
feasible and realistic plan for documenting project activities and 
results, including the collection of data that can be used to describe 
and evaluate the training, the process used to disseminate information 
to eligible health centers about the availability of training, contact 
information, information on the number of trainings held, the number of 
participants by type of health center (federal funding grantee status, 
section 1001, section 330, etc.), and participant satisfaction with the 
training; and
    (5) Extent to which the proposed project will establish and 
coordinate linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations 
on the local, State or Federal level serving the target population.
Evaluation
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the methods of evaluation are feasible, 
comprehensive and appropriate to the goals, objectives and context of 
the training, characteristics of training recipients and health center 
clients;
    (2) Extent to which the applicant provides an appropriate, feasible 
and realistic plan for evaluating IAATP, including performance feedback 
and periodic assessment of program progress that can be used to modify 
the curriculum, as necessary, and serve as a basis for program 
adjustments;
    (3) Extent to which the methods of evaluation include process and 
outcome analyses for assessing the effectiveness of program strategies 
and the implementation process;
    (4) Extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of 
objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended 
outcomes of the program and will produce quantitative and qualitative 
outcome data; and
    (5) Extent to which the evaluation plan is likely to yield findings 
or results about effective strategies, and contribute to and promote 
evaluation research and evidence-based practices that may be used to 
guide replication or testing in other settings.
Dissemination
    Applicants are required to describe the products that they will 
develop pursuant to IAATP. Products should include curricula, but may 
also include questionnaires, interview guides and other data collection 
instruments, software designed for the proposed program, Internet 
applications (i.e., Web postings, etc.), technical reports, journal 
articles, and a final report describing the target population, issues 
addressed, program design, implementation, outcomes and the results of 
the evaluation. Applicants should discuss the intended audiences for 
these products (e.g., adoption agencies, clients of eligible health 
centers, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners) and present a 
dissemination plan specifying the venues for conveying the information.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the application provides an appropriate, 
feasible and realistic plan for dissemination of curricula and related 
educational materials;
    (2) Extent to which the intended audience is clearly identified and 
defined and is appropriate to the goals of the proposed program;
    (3) Extent to which the program's products will be useful to each 
of these audiences;
    (4) Extent to which the application presents a realistic schedule 
for developing these products, and provides a dissemination plan that 
is appropriate in scope and budget to each of these audiences; and
    (5) Extent to which the products to be developed during the program 
are described clearly and will address the goal of dissemination of 
information and are designed to support evidence-based improvements of 
practices in the field.

[[Page 29972]]

Criterion 3: Organizational Profiles (25 Points)

    Applicants need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to 
implement the proposed program. Capacity includes (1) experience with 
similar projects; (2) experience with the target population; (3) 
qualifications and experience of the project leadership; (4) commitment 
to developing and sustaining working relationships among key 
stakeholders; (5) experience and commitment of any consultants and 
subcontractors; and, (6) appropriateness of the organizational 
structure, including the management information system, to carry out 
the program.
    This criterion consists of three broad topics: (1) Management plan, 
(2) staff qualifications, and (3) organizational capacity and 
resources.
Management Plan
    Applicants are expected to present a sound and feasible management 
plan for implementing the proposed program. This section should detail 
how the program will be structured and managed, how the timeliness of 
activities will be ensured, how quality control will be maintained, and 
how costs will be controlled. The role and responsibilities of the lead 
agency should be clearly defined and, if appropriate, applicants should 
discuss the management and coordination of activities carried out by 
any partners, subcontractors and consultants.
    Applicants should include a list of organizations and consultants 
who will work with the project, along with a short description of the 
nature of their contribution or effort.
    Applicants are also expected to produce a timeline that presents a 
reasonable schedule of target dates, accomplishments and deliverables. 
The timeline should include the sequence and timing of the major tasks 
and subtasks, important milestones, reports, and completion dates. The 
application should also discuss factors that may affect project 
implementation or the outcomes and present realistic strategies for the 
resolution of these difficulties.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the management plan presents a realistic 
approach to achieving the objectives of the proposed project on time 
and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, 
timelines and milestones for accomplishing project tasks;
    (2) Extent to which the role and responsibilities of the lead 
agency are clearly defined and the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel (including consultants) are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project;
    (3) Extent to which the application discusses factors that may 
affect the development and implementation of training and presents 
realistic strategies for the resolution of these difficulties; and
    (4) Extent to which the applicant presents an appropriate, feasible 
and realistic plan for providing reimbursement to health centers that 
are grantees funded under PHSA Sections 330 or 1001 for all costs 
incurred in obtaining the training for designated staff.
Staff Qualifications
    In this section, applicants must provide evidence that project 
staff have the requisite training, experience, and expertise to carry 
out the proposed curriculum development and training on time, within 
budget, and with a high degree of quality. Include information on staff 
knowledge of curriculum development, training implementation, the 
adoption field, and experience working with pregnancy counselors at 
health centers and women with unplanned pregnancies.
    Brief resumes of current and proposed staff, as well as job 
descriptions, should be included. Resumes must indicate the position 
that the individual will fill, and each position description must 
specifically describe the job as it relates to the proposed project.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the proposed project director, key project 
staff and consultants have the necessary technical skill, knowledge and 
experience to successfully carry out their responsibilities; and
    (2) Extent to which staffing is adequate for the proposed project, 
including administration, program services, data processing and 
analysis, evaluation, reporting and dissemination of curriculum, 
related educational materials and findings.
Organizational Capacity and Resources
    Applicants must show that they have the organizational capacity and 
resources to successfully carry out the project on time and to a high 
standard of quality, including the capacity to resolve a variety of 
technical and management problems that may occur. If the proposal 
involves partnering and/or subcontracting with other agencies/
organizations, then the proposal should include an organizational 
capability statement for each participating organization documenting 
the ability of the partners and/or subcontractors to fulfill their 
assigned roles and functions.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which the applicant and partnering organizations 
collectively have experience in developing curricula and implementing 
training on the local and regional levels;
    (2) Extent to which the applicant has experience in developing 
curricula and other educational materials incorporating best-practice 
guidelines on the provision of adoption information; and
    (3) Extent to which the applicant has adequate organizational 
resources for the proposed project, including administration, program 
operations, data processing and analysis, evaluation, reporting and 
dissemination of findings.

Criterion 4: Budget and Budget Justification (15 Points)

    Applicants are expected to present a budget with reasonable project 
costs, appropriately allocated across component areas and sufficient to 
accomplish the objectives. Consideration shall be given to project 
delays due to start-up when preparing the budget.
    Applicants are expected to allocate sufficient funds in the budget 
to provide for the project director, the curriculum designer and/or the 
training director for the IAATP to attend an annual two-day IAATP 
Network conference in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the Children's 
Bureau. Applicants are expected to allocate sufficient funds in the 
budget to provide for the project director and evaluator to attend an 
annual three-day grantees' meeting in Washington, D.C. Attendance at 
these conferences is a grant requirement.
Specific Review Criteria
    (1) Extent to which applicant demonstrates that the project costs 
and budget information submitted in Standard Forms 424 and 424A for the 
proposed program are reasonable and justified in terms of the proposed 
tasks and the anticipated results and benefits; and,
    (2) Extent to which the fiscal control and accounting procedures 
are adequate to ensure prudent use, proper and timely disbursement and 
accurate accounting of funds received under this program announcement.
    Project Duration: The projects will be awarded for a project period 
of 36 months. The project period will be 9/30/01-9/29/04. The initial 
grant award will

[[Page 29973]]

be for a 12-month budget period. The initial budget period will be 9/
30/01-9/29/02. 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 dependent on the scope of the project submitted. The 
Children's Bureau will accept applications for projects of national, 
regional, or local scope. Projects of national scope may not exceed 
$7,000,000 per budget period and smaller, regional projects may not 
exceed $1,500,000 per budget period. Regardless of scope, all 
applications must include reasonable budgets with proposed funding 
commensurate to the scope of work described in the application.
    Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: There is no matching 
requirement.
    Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that 
two projects will be funded.
    Length of Proposal: The length of the proposal is limited to 50 
pages, including all forms and attachments. Any pages over this number 
will be removed and will not be reviewed.
    CFDA Number: 93.254.

Part III: The Application: Instructions, Review, and Funding 
Process

A. Application Format

    To be considered for funding, each application must be submitted 
with the forms provided at the end of this announcement and in 
accordance with the guidance provided. The application must be signed 
by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and to 
assume responsibility for the obligations imposed by the terms and 
conditions of the grant award.
    To be considered for funding, each applicant must submit one signed 
original and two additional copies of the application, including all 
forms and attachments, to the Application Receipt Point as specified. 
The original copy of the application must have original signatures, 
signed in black ink.
    The application must be typed, double spaced, printed on only one 
side, with at least \1/2\ inch margins on each side and 1 inch at the 
top and bottom, using standard 12-point fonts (such as Times Roman or 
Courier). Pages must be numbered and each copy must be stapled securely 
in the upper left corner.
    Pages over the page limit stated in with the priority area will be 
removed from the application and will not be reviewed.
    All copies of an application must be submitted in a single package. 
The package must be clearly labeled for the specific priority area it 
is addressing.
    Because each application will be duplicated, do not use or include 
separate covers, binders, clips, tabs, plastic inserts, maps, 
brochures, or any other items that cannot be processed easily on a 
photocopy machine with an automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple, or 
fasten in any way separate subsections of the application, including 
supporting documentation. Applicants are advised that the copies of the 
application submitted, not the original, will be reproduced by the 
Federal government for review.

B. Application Content

    Each application must contain the following items in the order 
listed:
    1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424). Follow 
the instructions below and those that accompany the form.
    In Item 5 of Form 424, include name, phone number, and, if 
available, email and fax numbers of the contact person.
    In Item 8 of Form 424, check `New.'
    In Item 10 of Form 424, clearly identify the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program title and number for the program for 
which funds are being requested as stated at the end of each priority 
area section.
    In Item 11 of Form 424, identify the single Priority Area the 
application addresses.
    In Item 12 of Form 424, identify the specific geographic area to be 
served.
    In Item 14 of Form 424, identify Congressional districts of both 
the applicant and project.
    2. Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (Form 424A) and 
Budget Justification. Follow the instructions provided and those in the 
Uniform Project Description. Note that Federal funds provided to States 
and services or other resources purchased with Federal funds may not be 
used to match project grants.
    3. Certifications/Assurances. Applicants requesting financial 
assistance for nonconstruction 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 certification regarding lobbying when applying for an award 
in excess of $100,000. Applicants must sign and return the 
certification with their applications.
    Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the Standard Form 
LLL 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 sign and return the 
disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
    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 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 award. By 
signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
applications.
    If applicable, applicants must include a completed Form 310, 
Protection of Human Subjects.
    If applicable, applicants must include a completed SPOC 
certification (Single Point of Contact) with the date of the SPOC 
contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the Form 424.
    By signing the ``Signature of Authorized Representative'' on the SF 
424, the applicant is providing a certification and need not mail 
assurances for completing the following grant and cooperative agreement 
requirements:
    a. Collection of data on individuals served; types of services 
provided; types and nature of needs identified and met and any other 
such information as may be required by ACYF;
    b. Compliance with all HHS regulations and procedures pertaining to 
confidentiality and careful handling of information on individuals, 
families and evaluation data; and, obtaining informed consent;
    c. Participation in any evaluation effort supported by HHS;
    d. Submission of all required reports in a timely manner, in 
recommended formats (to be provided), and that the final report will 
also be submitted on

[[Page 29974]]

disk or electronically using a standard word-processing program; and,
    e. Attendance of a key staff person from the project at an annual 
3-day grantees' meeting in Washington, DC.
    4. Project Abstract/Summary (one page maximum). Clearly mark this 
page with the applicant name as shown on item 5 of the Form 424, 
identify the competitive grant Priority Area and the title of the 
proposed project as shown in item 11 and the service area as shown in 
item 12 of the Form 424. The summary description should not exceed 300 
words.
    Care should be taken to produce an abstract/summary that accurately 
and concisely reflects the proposed project. It should describe the 
objectives of the project, the approach to be used and the results or 
benefits expected.
    5. Project Description. Applicants should organize their project 
description by the evaluation criteria listed in Part II under the 
priority area description and provide specific information that 
addresses all the components of each evaluation criterion.
    Applicants should be mindful of the importance of preparing and 
submitting applications that are responsive to the priority area 
description and that use language, terms, concepts and descriptions 
that are generally known to and accepted by the field of child welfare. 
Refer to the Uniform Project Description in Part IV for general 
guidance on preparing a project description and budget justification.

C. State Single Point of Contact (E.O. 12372)

    Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 
for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the application 
is subject to the State intergovernmental review process. The OMB list 
of SPOCs is included in Part IV section B below and available online. 
Submit a copy of the SPOC response, if available, with your 
application.

D. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and 
reviewing the collection information.
    The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-
0139 which expires 12/31/2003.
    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.
    For more information please contact:

PA content and usage related, Vardrine Carter, OA/OFS/DGP, (202) 205-
8398
OMB clearance related, Bob Sargis, OA/OIS/IRM, (202) 690-7275

    If you have any further questions, please contact Larry Thompkins 
at (202) 260-5607.

E. The Screening, Review and Funding Process

    Before a panel review, each application will be screened for 
applicant organization eligibility as well as to make sure the 
application contains all essential elements. Applications received from 
ineligible organizations and applications that are received after the 
deadline will be withdrawn from further consideration. Applicants will 
be notified if their applications are screened out.
    A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside 
the Federal government) will use the evaluation criteria included in 
the priority area description to evaluate the applications. The 
reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each 
application, provide comments and assign numerical scores.
    All applications will be reviewed and evaluated using four major 
criteria: (1) Objectives and need for assistance, (2) approach, (3) 
organizational profiles, and (4) budget and budget justification. Each 
criterion has been assigned a point value. The point values (summing up 
to 100) indicate the maximum numerical weight each criterion will be 
accorded in the review and evaluation process. Within each criterion 
there is a listing of the specific review criteria that will be used to 
calculate the score for the criterion. The applicant should address 
each criterion and the specific review criteria in the project 
application.
    The results of the competitive review are a primary factor in 
making funding decisions. In addition, Federal staff will conduct 
administrative reviews of the applications and, in light of the results 
of the competitive review, will recommend applications for funding to 
the ACYF Commissioner. ACYF reserves the option of discussing 
applications with other funding sources when this is in the best 
interest of the Federal government. ACYF may also solicit and consider 
comments from ACF Regional Office staff in making funding decisions.
    The Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 
makes final decisions regarding the applications to be funded. 
Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a 
Financial Assistance Award which will set forth the amount of funds 
granted, the terms and conditions of the grant or cooperative 
agreement, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which 
initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided, if 
applicable, and the total project period for which support is 
contemplated.
    The Commissioner will notify organizations in writing when their 
applications will not be funded. Every effort will be made to notify 
all unsuccessful applicants as soon as possible after final decisions 
are made.
    Grants will be reviewed in late summer 2001. FY 2001 grant awards 
will be made by the Department of Health and Human Services no later 
than September 30, 2001.

Part IV: Application Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

A. Project Description Overview

    The following ACF Uniform Project Description has been approved 
under OMB Control Number 0970-0139. Applicants should prepare the 
project description statement in accordance with the following general 
instructions.
    1. Project Summary/Abstract: Provide a summary of the project 
description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request.
    2. 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.
    3. 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

[[Page 29975]]

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 program 
activities to be held, or appropriate measurable outcomes. When 
accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them 
in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and 
their target dates.
    If any data are to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, 
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). This clearance might be needed prior to any ``collection of 
information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF.'' List 
organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key 
individuals whom will work on the project along with a short 
description of the nature of their effort or contribution.
    4. Evaluation: Provide a narrative addressing how the results of 
the project and the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In 
addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine the 
extent to which the project has achieved its stated objectives and the 
extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to 
the project. Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and 
explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the needs 
identified and discussed are being met and if the project results and 
benefits are being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the 
project, define the procedures to be employed to determine whether the 
project is being conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan 
presented and discuss the impact of the project's various activities on 
the project's effectiveness.
    5. Organizational 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 
nonprofit organization submitting an application must submit proof of 
its nonprofit status in its application at the time of submission. The 
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, or by providing a copy of the articles of 
incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation or 
association is domiciled.
    6. 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.
    6a. 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, 
and wage rates. 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.
    6b. 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, and taxes.
    6c. 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.
    6d. Equipment:
    Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable, 
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year 
and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the 
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial 
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the 
net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of 
any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus 
necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. 
Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit 
insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded 
from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular 
written accounting practices.)
    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.
    6e. 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.
    6f. 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. Recipients and subrecipients, other than States that are 
required to use part 92 procedures, must justify any anticipated 
procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition 
and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 
403(11) (currently set at $100,000). Recipients might be required

[[Page 29976]]

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.

    6g. 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.
    6h. 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 application 
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 
applications 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.
    6i. 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.

B. Other Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

Standard Form 424: Application for Federal Assistance
Standard Form 424A: Budget Information
Standard Form 424B: Assurances--Non-Construction Programs
Certification Regarding Debarment
Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Form LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying
Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Listing

    All forms are available online at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofs/grants/form.htm.
    The SPOC listing is available on line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    Dated: May 29, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-13921 Filed 6-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P