[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48879-48882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23766]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Notice No. ACF/ACYF/RHYP 2002-01]


Notice of Availability of Financial Assistance and Request for 
Applications for the National Communication System for Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Grant

AGENCY: Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families, ACF, HHS.

ACTION: This notice announces the availability of financial assistance 
and request for applications for the Fiscal Year 2002 National 
Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice announces the availability of the full official fiscal 
year 2002 Program Announcement for the National Communication System 
for Runaway and Homeless Youth. The full official announcement must be 
used to apply for grant funding under the competitive grant area and is 
available by calling or writing the ACYF Operations Center (address 
below) or by downloading the announcement from the FYSB Web site at 
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/fysb/fund-anncmt.htm
    Legislative Authority: The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHY Act) 
as amended Pub. L. 106-71 authorizes a grant for the National 
Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth.
    Deadlines: The deadline for RECEIPT of applications for a new grant 
under this announcement is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    CFDA#           Programs         Deadline dates      Deadline times
------------------------------------------------------------------------
93.623.......  National            November 30, 2001.  4:30 p.m. (EDT)
                Communication
                System for
                Runaway and
                Homeless Youth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Mailing and Delivery Instructions: Applications must be in hard 
copy. Mailed applications and applications hand delivered by 
applicants, applicant couriers, overnight/express mail couriers or any 
other method of hand delivery shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline, at 
the following address: ACYF Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer 
Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209, Telephone: 1-800-351-2293, 
Email: [email protected].
    Applications may be hand delivered to the above address between the 
hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EDT), Monday through Friday (excluding 
Federal Holidays).
    Applicants are responsible for mailing and delivering applications 
well in advance of deadlines to ensure that the applications are 
received on time. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on the 
deadline date will be classified as late. Postmarks and other similar 
documents do not establish receipt of an application.

[[Page 48880]]

    ACF will not accept applications delivered by fax or e-mail 
regardless of date or time of submission and receipt.
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
stated above and are not received by the deadline date and time are 
considered late applications. The Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF) will notify each late applicant that its application 
will not be considered in the current competition.
    Extension of Deadline. ACF may extend an application deadline for 
applicants affected by acts of God such as floods and hurricanes, or 
when there is widespread disruption of the mail service, or for other 
disruptions of services, such as a prolonged blackout, that affect the 
public at large. A determination to waive or extend deadline 
requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Grant award for FY 2002 funds will be made 
by September 30, 2002, for the National Communications System for 
Runaway and Homeless Youth.
    The estimated funds available that may be awarded under this 
program announcement in $1,000,000.

Competitive Grant Area and Summary of Evaluation Criteria

Part I: Competitive Area: National Communication System for Runaway and 
Homeless Youth (CFDA#93.623)

    Program Purpose, Goals and Objectives: The Administration on 
Children, Youth and Families will award one new competitive grant for 
approximately $1,000,000 to operate the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
National Communication System (NCS). The overall purpose of the NCS is 
to link youth with a family member or guardian and/or an available 
resource that can provide and/or assist the youth in acquiring needed 
services. To fulfill this purpose, the system's goals must include the 
provision of information, referral services, crisis intervention and 
communication services to runaway and homeless youth and their 
families.
    To fulfill the objectives of the legislation, the National 
Communication System must provide a neutral and confidential channel of 
communication that is available on a 24-hours per day, seven days per 
week basis throughout the United States, and through which runaway and 
homeless youth may re-establish contact with their parents or 
guardians. The system must be able to identify resources for runaway 
and homeless youth in the area in which the youth are located; provide 
pre-runaway prevention counseling and identify local resources to 
assist young people who are contemplating running away and who contact 
the communication system before they run; provide crisis intervention 
to clients, when appropriate, to address problems and/or issues 
surfaced during telephone contact; address reunification when feasible 
and provide access to transportation services for this purpose; allow 
families/guardians to leave messages or have conference calls with 
runaway youth and provide familes/guardians with advice and referrals 
to agencies which might assist them.
    Eligible Applicants: Any State, unit of local government, 
combination of units of local government, public or private agency, 
organization, institution, or other non-profit entity is eligible to 
apply for these funds. Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible 
to apply. Non-Federally recognized Indian tribes and urban Indian 
organizations are also eligible to apply for grants as private, non-
private agencies.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: $1,000,000 per year. The maximum 
Federal share for a 5-year project period is $5,000,000.
    Applicant Share of Project Costs: Applicants must provide a non-
Federal share or match of at least ten percent of the Federal funds 
awarded. 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 five-year project 
costing $5,000,000 Federal funds (based on an award of $1,000,000 per 
12-month budget period) must provide a match of at least $500,000 
($100,000 per budget period). Grantees will be held accountable for 
commitments of non-Federal resources even if over the amount of the 
required match. Failure to provide the amount will result in 
disallowance of Federal match.
    Duration of Project: This announcement solicits applications for 
one new grant for a National Communication System for up to five years 
(60-month project period). The intital grant award, made on a 
competitive basis, will cover a one-year (12-month) budget period. 
Applications for continuation grants beyond the first budget period, 
but within the 60-month project period, will be considered in 
subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to the 
availability of funds, satisfactory performance of the grantee and 
determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of 
the government.
    Project Summary/Abstract: Applicant must provide a one page (or 
less) summary of the project description with reference to the funding 
request.
    Full Project Description: Applicant must describe the project 
clearly in 40 pages or less based on the outline and guidelines 
provided in the full official program announcement.

Part II. Uniform Project Description Requirements and Evaluation 
Criteria

    Note that each criterion is preceded by the ACF Uniform Project 
Description (UPD) generic project description requirement as approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Control Number 0970-0139, 
Expiration Date 12/31/2003. The UPD requirement is followed by the 
evaluation criteria specific to the Runaway and Homeless Youth program.
(a.) UPD Requirement for 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.

Evaluation Criterion for Objectives and Need for Assistance (15 point)

    1. Applicant must specify the goals and objectives of the project 
and how implementation will fulfill the purposes of the legislation 
identified above.
    2. Applicant must discuss the need for assistance by describing the 
conditions of youth and families to be served, emphasizing the 
incidence and characteristics of runaway and homeless youth and their 
families nationwide. The discussion must address major issues and 
problems related to the use of youth hotline services by runaway youth, 
their families and youth serving agencies.
    3. Applicant must provide descriptive information on the 
availability of information, referral, crisis intervention and youth 
hotline services to runaway

[[Page 48881]]

and homeless youth across the nation and how the applicant would 
coordinate with such agencies and organizations to help ensure that 
callers receive the assistance they need to avoid service duplication.
(b.) UPD Requirement for Results or Benefits Expected
    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, when 
applying for a grant to serve adolescents and their families, describe 
who will receive services, where and how these services will be 
provided, and how the services will benefit the youth, their families 
and the community.

Evaluation Criterion for Results or Benefits Expected (20 points)

    1. Applicant must indicate the number of runaway and homeless youth 
callers and their families to be assisted annually through each 
component of the proposed services, e.g.: crisis intervention 
counseling, referrals, conference calling, message delivery services, 
etc.
    2. Applicant must discuss the anticipated impact and benefit of 
these services upon runaway and homeless youth, their families and upon 
the existing network of national and local runaway and homeless youth 
service providers.
    3. Applicant must discuss the anticipated results of proposed 
activities that promote awareness of the NCS among youth, service 
providers and the general community.
    4. Applicant must describe the criteria to be used to evaluate the 
results and success of the project, including a description of the 
types of data that will be collected on callers and services provided.
(c.) UPD Requirement for Approach
    Outline a plan of action that 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 that might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and 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 activities 
accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by acitivity or 
function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of 
accomplishments and their target dates.
    If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, 
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). This clearance pertains to any collection of information that is 
conducted or sponsored by ACF.
    List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key 
individuals who will work on the project along with a short description 
of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Evaluation Criterion for Approach (35 points)

    1. Applicant must describe its youth development approach or 
philosophy and how it underlies and integrates all proposed activities, 
including provision of services to runaway and homeless youth and 
involvement of the youth's parents or legal guardians and/or youth 
service providers. Specific information must be provided on how youth 
will be involved in the design, operation and evaluation of the 
project.
    2. Applicant must describe the approach and method that would be 
used to ensure that the NCS is a neutral and confidential telephone 
information, referral and crisis intervention service available to 
runaway and homeless youth and their families. Applicant must describe 
the procedures to be put in place to ensure that adequate telephone 
coverage is provided across the United States, that the communication 
system will be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and 
that paid qualified staff will supervise these operations.
    3. Applicant must describe how it would establish and maintain 
service linkages with other youth-serving agencies, including other 
youth hotline services and how it would work with such agencies to 
deliver more effective services. This would include explaining the 
applicant's technical capacity to create and maintain a listing of 
resources for youth and its ability to facilitate communication among 
youth service providers.
    4. Applicant must describe the approach for recruiting, training, 
supervising and using paid staff and volunteers who would receive calls 
and provide crisis intervention counseling.
    5. Applicant must describe its plans for conducting outreach and 
public education activities throughout the United States to increase 
awareness and visibility of the NCS and its services.
    6. Applicant must discuss potential approaches and plans for 
minimizing problems such as crank/obscene calls and busy signals.
    7. Applicant must thoroughly describe the capabilities of the 
telephone and computer systems to be used to handle the calls from 
throughout the United States each year. Information such as the number 
of incoming and outgoing lines, conference call capabilities and 
service integration with computers must be described. Problems or 
issues that's related to these systems should also be addressed, as 
well as the time needed to get these systems up and running.
    8. Applicant must identify the location of the place, from which 
services are to be provided and provide a plan of the physical 
facility, focusing on location of telephone stations, computer 
terminals and other equipment.
    9. Applicant must describe general procedures for maintaining 
confidentiality of records on the youth and families served and 
specifically address the issue of confidentiality as it relates to the 
use of computer and communications technology. Procedures must strictly 
prohibit the disclosure or transfer of records containing the identity 
of individual youths to any person or to any public or private agency 
without the consent of the individual youth, parent or legal guardian. 
Disclosures without consent can be made to another agency compiling 
statistical records if individual identities are not provided or to a 
government agency involved in the disposition of criminal charges 
against an individual runaway or homeless youth.
    10. Applicant must agree to cooperate with any research, data 
collection or evaluation efforts sponsored by the Administration for 
Children and Families.
    11. Applicant must describe specific plans for accomplishing 
program phase-out during the last six months of the project period in 
the event the applicant does not receive a new Federal award.
(d.) UPD Requirement for Staff and Position Data
    Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a 
job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch 
will also be required for new key staff as appointed.

Evaluation Criterion for Staff and Position Data (10 points)

    1. Applicant must include a description of current and proposed 
staff skills and knowledge regarding runaway and homeless youth and 
indicate how staff would be utilized in

[[Page 48882]]

achieving the goals and objectives of the program. Brief resumes of 
current and proposed staff, as well as position descriptions, should be 
included. Position descriptions must specifically describe the job as 
it relates to the proposed project.
    2. Applicant must describe the staffing pattern that would be used 
to ensure that well-trained personnel would be assigned to each shift 
during the 24 hours per day, seven days per week operating period.
(e.) UPD Requirement for Organizational Profile
    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.

Evaluation Criteria for Organizational Profile (10 points)

    1. Applicant must discuss staff and organizational experience in 
working with runaway and homeless youth populations. As required by the 
RHY Act, priority for funding will be given to organizations with 
experience in providing national telephone hotline services to runaway 
and homeless youth in a manner that is in concert with the evaluation 
criteria for the NCS competitive grant program. Applicant must document 
the services it provides to this specific target population and the 
length of time that the applicant has been involved in the provision of 
these services.
    2. Applicant must provide a short description of the applicant 
agency's organization, the experience of the organization with youth 
development, youth issues and youth and family services, and the role 
of any other offices or organizations that will be directly involved in 
this effort. Organizational charts may be provided.
(f.) UPD Requirement for 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.

Evaluation Criterion for Budget and Budget Justification (10 Points)

    1. Applicant must show that costs of the proposed project are 
reasonable and justified in terms of numbers of youth and families to 
be served, types and quantities of services to be provided and the 
anticipated results and benefits. Discussion should refer to the budget 
information presented on Standard Forms 424 and 424A and in the 
applicant's budget justification.
    2. Applicant must describe the fiscal control and accounting 
procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use, proper disbursement 
and accurate accounting of funds received under this program 
announcement.
    3. Applicant must describe its plan for maximizing the non-Federal 
share through private sector resources that will enhance the overall 
program.

Required Notification of the Single Point of Contact

    This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities.'' The order was issued with the desire to 
foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by 
relying on State and local processes for the coordination and review of 
proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. 
Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing 
and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs 
and designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of 
those entities can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html or by calling the ACYF Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293.
    Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as early 
as possible so that the program office can obtain and review SPOC 
comments as part of the award process. The applicant must 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 date to comment on proposed new 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 they intend to trigger the ``accommodate 
or explain'' rule. When comments are submitted directly to ACYF, they 
must be addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth 
Services Bureau, Room 2038, Mary Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attention: Dorothy Pittard.

    Dated: September 17, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-23766 Filed 9-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M