[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18312-18354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8717]



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Part II





Department of Health and Human Services





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Administration for Children and Families



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Request for Applications Under the Office of Community Services Fiscal 
Year 2002 Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA Program); 
Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 72 / Monday, April 15, 2002 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. OCS-2002-08]


Request for Applications Under the Office of Community Services 
Fiscal Year 2002 Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA 
Program)

AGENCY: Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children 
and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of funds and request for 
competitive applications under the Office of Community Services' Assets 
for Independence Demonstration Program.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Community Services (OCS), invites eligible entities to submit 
competitive applications for new grants to establish, implement, and 
participate in the evaluation of demonstration projects that will offer 
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to lower income individuals and 
families. Applications will be screened and competitively reviewed as 
indicated in this Program Announcement. Awards will be contingent on 
the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.

DATES: To be considered for funding, applications must be received on 
or before June 14, 2002. Mail service in the Washington, DC area was 
disrupted a few months ago and for several weeks, all mail deliveries 
to the Administration for Children and Families stopped. Regular 
deliveries have resumed, but delays continue due to the irradiation 
process. It may be some time before the situation corrects itself. 
Consequently, it is strongly recommended that applicants avail 
themselves of overnight/express delivery such as Federal Express or 
United Parcel Service to submit their applications. Applications 
received after the due date will not be accepted for consideration in 
the first round of proposal reviews. If there is an insufficient number 
of acceptable applications in the first round of proposal reviews for 
OCS to fully expend available funds, a second round of applications 
will be accepted and reviewed, subject to the availability of funds, if 
received on or before August 5, 2002. Should this be the case, ACF will 
publish a timely notice to that effect in the Federal Register. See 
Part IV of this announcement for more information on submitting 
applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheldon Shalit (202) 401-4807, 
[email protected], or Richard Saul (202) 401-9341, 
[email protected], Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447.
    In addition, this Announcement is accessible on the OCS Website for 
reading or downloading at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/--click 
on ``Funding Opportunities.''
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this 
program is 93.602. The title is Assets for Independence Demonstration 
Program (IDA Program).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of seven 
parts plus Attachments:

Part I: Program Overview and Background Information

    Program overview, legislative authority, program purpose, 
project goals, program evaluation, and definition of terms.

Part II: Program Objectives, and Requirements

    Program area, eligible applicants, project and budget periods, 
funds availability and grant amounts, project eligibility and 
requirements, cash non-Federal share funds requirements, 
preferences, multiple applications, treatment of program income, and 
agreements with partnering financial institutions.

Part III: The Project Description, Program Proposal Elements and Review 
Criteria

    Purpose, project summary/abstract; objectives and need for 
assistance, results or benefits expected, approach, organizational 
profiles, budget and budget justification, non-Federal resources, 
and evaluation criteria.

Part IV: Application Procedures

    Application development/availability of forms, application 
submission, intergovernmental review, initial OCS screening, 
consideration of applications, and funding reconsideration.

Part V: Instructions for Completing Application Forms SF424, SF424A, 
SF424B

Part VI: Contents of Application and Receipt Process

    Content and order of program application, acknowledgment of 
receipt.

Part VII: Post Award Information and Reporting Requirements

    Notification of grant award, attendance at technical assistance 
and evaluation workshops/conferences, reporting requirements, audit 
requirements, prohibitions and requirements with regard to lobbying, 
applicable Federal regulations.

Attachments

    Application forms and required attachments.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 10 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.

Part I. Program Overview and Background Information

A. Program Overview

    This is a program established by the Assets for Independence Act 
(AFI Act) that is seeking to find out if, and how, Individual 
Development Accounts can best be used as a tool to help lower income 
working families accumulate assets; and to what extent such 
accumulation of assets will help stabilize and improve families and the 
community in which the families live.
Eligible Applicants
    The Assets for Independence Demonstration Program offers five-year 
Federal grants to the following eligible applicants:
    (1) One or more not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations;
    (2) A State, local or Tribal government agency applying jointly 
with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization;
    (3) A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) or a Low 
Income Credit Union (so designated by the National Credit Union 
Administration), that has a collaborative relationship with a local 
community-based organization whose activities are designed to address 
poverty in the community.

501(c)(3) Faith-Based organizations are eligible to apply for these 
grants.
Non-Federal Share Required
    Applicants must include as part of their application submission a 
commitment for an amount in cash non-Federal share equal to the amount 
of the Federal grant requested, contingent only on the award of the 
grant. As explained in Part II Section H of this Announcement, to be 
considered for funding an Application must include a copy of an 
executed ``Non-Federal Share

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Agreement'' as described in that section, including a schedule of 
payments and other relevant information. If the applicant is itself 
committing any of the non-Federal share, then it must include a 
``Statement of Commitment'' signed by the official signing the 
application and countersigned by the applicant's Board Chairperson or 
Treasurer. The Non-Federal Share Agreement and/or the Statement of 
Commitment must commit to payment of the full amount at the outset of 
the project, or must provide that the schedule of deposits will be 
coordinated with the opening of all accounts so as to assure that 
accounts will only be opened when there are sufficient funds on hand 
and in the bank to meet the total amount of matching contributions 
pledged to those accounts during their lifetime and until they reach 
maturity.
Program Requirements as Set Out in This Program Announcement and the 
AFI Act
    The Federal grant and the non-Federal cash are together deposited 
by the grantee in a Reserve Fund in an insured Financial Institution, 
normally a bank or a credit union. Once the non-Federal share funds are 
deposited in the Reserve Fund, the grantee may draw down an equal 
amount of its grant funds for deposit in the Fund. (If the entire 
amount of required non-Federal share is deposited in the Fund at the 
outset of the project, the grantee may draw down the entire grant at 
that time.) Over the ensuing five years 15% of the money in that 
Reserve Fund may be used by the grantee for project administration, 
participant support (which must include Financial Literacy/Budget 
Management Education) and collection of data for the government's 
evaluation of the program. At least 85% of the money in the Reserve 
Fund must be used to match the investment of savings from earned income 
in IDA's by project participants, which must be done no less often than 
every three months. Under the AFI Act the matched savings in the IDA 
may be used for acquisition of three assets:
     The purchase or building of a first home,
     The capitalization of a business, or
     The costs of post-secondary education.
    Until funds are allocated to an IDA as matching contributions, 
interest they earn in the Reserve Fund is considered program income and 
may be used by the grantee for project administration and support 
services. Once funds are allocated to an IDA account, interest on those 
funds goes to that account.
Participant Eligibility
    Households eligible to participate in the project are those 
eligible for TANF or the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), or whose 
income over the previous year was less than 200% of the poverty line as 
provided in Section 408(a)(1) of the AFI Act. (The most recent EITC 
income guidelines set eligibility at $27,413 for a household with one 
child, and $31,152 for a household with more than one child. At 200% of 
the most current Poverty line, eligibility limits are $35,206 for a 
family of four, and $41,638 for a family of five. The latest poverty 
line figures can be found in Attachment L to this Announcement.) To be 
eligible, households must also be below the net worth limit of $10,000 
excluding primary residence and one motor vehicle.
Project Design
    An organization applying for a grant under this program should 
first consider who will make up its targeted client population. To be 
effective as a tool, the IDA should be accompanied by a range of 
supportive services, a support network through which, ideally, the 
participant is already working to strengthen his or her family's well-
being. So if the applicant organization is already working with a group 
of clients, or constituents, these are the best candidates for 
recruitment into the IDA project. They already know and trust the 
organization, and they have the support of a network in place that will 
help assure success in following through with their plans and achieving 
their goals. If the applicant organization is not already working with 
lower income families and providing the supportive services important 
to success, then it should seek to establish working partnerships with 
other organizations that can provide access to a group of prospective 
IDA participants with whom they are working and to whom they can 
provide the needed support. (As noted above, this is a requirement for 
CDFI's and Credit Unions applying for AFIA grants.)
    When participants are enrolled in the project they enter into a 
Savings Plan Agreement with the grantee as described in Part II Section 
G. (4)(g) of this Announcement. This agreement includes several things:
    (1) It sets a savings/investment schedule of a certain amount to be 
deposited by the participant in the IDA at regular intervals;
    (2) It sets a goal of a total amount to be invested over that time;
    (3) It identifies the asset to be acquired; and
    (4) It sets the match rate by which the participant's investment 
will be matched by contributions from the Reserve Fund, which may be 
anywhere from one dollar to eight dollars for each dollar the 
participant puts into the IDA account. (Most projects use a match rate 
of one, two, or three to one.)
    Under the AFIA, the maximum Federal matching contribution to one 
individual is $2000, which must be deposited with an equal amount of 
non-Federal dollars, which brings the total maximum amount of matching 
contribution from the Reserve Fund to $4000. The law also sets a 
maximum Federal matching contribution per household of $4000, for a 
total of $8000 from the Reserve Fund (to two or more accounts, or to a 
Joint Account owned by Husband and Wife).
Elements of a Successful Application
    In putting together a successful application the following must be 
provided in order for the application to be considered for funding:
     A firm, written commitment of the required cash non-
Federal share in an amount equal to the grant being requested, as a 
statement signed by officers of the applicant, or as part of a signed 
Non-Federal Share Agreement if the commitment is made by a third party; 
(See Part II Section H. of this Announcement.)
     Proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of the applicant (or 
joint applicant), if other than a CDFI or eligible Credit Union;
     A written, signed agreement with the partnering insured 
Qualified Financial Institution in which the Reserve Fund and 
Individual Development Accounts are to be opened, describing how the 
accounts are to be managed and the role of the financial institution in 
this process. If the applicant is a CDFI or an eligible Credit Union, 
in which the accounts will be maintained, they must instead include a 
written, signed Statement of Policy covering the same issues. See Part 
III (I), Project Element II(c);
     A completed Federal Standard Form 424, signed by an 
authorized official of the applicant;
     Completed Forms 424A and 424B and a Budget Justification; 
and
     A Project Narrative/Description of not more than 30 pages 
which responds to the Project Elements and Review Criteria set out in 
Part III Section I, Evaluation Criteria 1 through 7 of this Program 
Announcement.
    Finally, where an applicant is proposing to be the lead agency or 
organization in a consortium or collaborative of agencies or

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organizations which together will be carrying out the project to be 
funded, the application must include signed agreements between the 
collaborating organizations describing how each will participate in 
carrying out the project.
    There are over 300 IDA programs of various designs operating today 
in different communities across the country. Most are quite new and all 
are in the process of learning what design features work best with a 
variety of circumstances and target populations. Applicants are 
encouraged to contact these programs to see what might be learned from 
their experiences: what pitfalls to avoid, what successes might be 
emulated or adapted. An excellent source of information and discussion 
about existing IDA programs is the website operated by the Corporation 
for Enterprise Development (CFED), and its ``IDA Learning Network'' and 
related ListServe. These can be reached at www.idanetwork.org. In 
addition, information about the OCS Demonstration Division IDA program 
is found at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/demo, where names and 
addresses for all of the currently funded AFIA demonstration projects 
can be found. The contractor's website at www.pwieast.com has the same 
information. Those wishing to learn more about the original theory of 
the need for and value of IDA's should read the book Assets for the 
Poor by Michael Sherraden, creator of the IDA concept.
    Potential applicants are reminded, however, that OCS IDA projects 
funded pursuant to the AFI Act have specific limitations and 
requirements on program content and use of funds that may not be found 
in other IDA programs. Therefore, applicants must become familiar with 
the OCS requirements set out below and design their projects 
accordingly.

B. Legislative Authority

    The Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA Program) was 
established by the Assets for Independence Act (AFI Act), under Title 
IV of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and 
Educational Services Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285, 42 U.S.C. 604 Note), 
as amended.

C. Program Purpose

    The purpose of the program is, in the language of the AFI Act: to 
provide for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to 
determine:
    (1) The social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of 
providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive 
to accumulate assets by saving a portion of their earned income;
    (2) The extent to which an asset-based policy that promotes saving 
for postsecondary education, homeownership, and microenterprise 
development may be used to enable individuals and families with limited 
means to increase their economic self-sufficiency; and
    (3) The extent to which an asset-based policy stabilizes and 
improves families and the community in which the families live.

D. Project Goals

    The ultimate goals of the projects to be funded under the Assets 
for Independence Demonstration Program are:
    (1) To create, through project activities and interventions, 
meaningful asset accumulation opportunities for households eligible for 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other eligible 
individuals and working families.
    (2) To evaluate the projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of 
these activities and interventions and of the project designs through 
which they were implemented, and the extent to which an asset-based 
program can lead to economic self-sufficiency of members of the 
communities served through one or more qualified expenses; and
    (3) Thus to make it possible to determine the social, civic, 
psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and 
families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets by saving 
a portion of their earned income, and the extent to which an asset-
based policy stabilizes and improves families and the community in 
which the families live.

E. Program Evaluation

    Section 414 of the Assets for Independence Act requires that the 
Secretary enter into a contract with an independent research 
organization to evaluate the demonstration projects conducted under the 
Act, individually and as a group, including evaluating all qualified 
entities participating in and sources providing funds for the 
demonstration projects conducted under the AFI Act. To support this 
evaluation, the AFI Act also provides that not less than 2% of Federal 
grant funds be used by grantees to provide the independent research 
organization with such information regarding the demonstration project 
as may be required for the evaluation. The Secretary has contracted 
with Abt Associates, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to carry out 
the required evaluation. OCS and ACF's Office of Planning, Research and 
Evaluation (OPRE) have worked together with the contractor in the 
development of an evaluation design whose implementation began in the 
Spring of 2001.
    Section 414 also lists the factors to be addressed by the research 
organization in its evaluation, which include:
    (1) The effect of incentives and institutional support on savings 
behavior;
    (2) The savings rates of individuals based on demographic 
characteristics and income;
    (3) The economic, civic, psychological and social effects of asset 
accumulation and how such effects vary among different populations or 
communities;
    (4) The effects of IDA's on savings rates, home ownership, level of 
post secondary education attained, and self-employment, and how such 
effects vary among different populations or communities;
    (5) The potential financial returns to the Federal Government and 
to other public and private sector investors in IDA's over a 5 and 10 
year period;
    (6) The lessons to be learned from the demonstration projects and 
if a permanent program of IDA's should be established; and
    (7) Such other factors as the Secretary may prescribe.
    The section then stipulates that in evaluating any demonstration 
project under the AFI Act, the research organization shall, before, 
during and after the project, obtain such quantitative data as are 
necessary to evaluate the program thoroughly. To this end OCS and its 
technical assistance contractor, PeopleWorks, Inc., have worked with 
ACF's Office of Planning Research and Evaluation (OPRE) and Abt 
Associates to develop a reporting format for AFIA grantees, and hope to 
make available to all grantees an Asset Development Information System 
to facilitate the maintenance, collection, verification and reporting 
of the data. In addition, section 414 directs the research organization 
to develop a qualitative assessment, derived from sources such as in-
depth interviews, of how asset accumulation affects individuals and 
families.
    Section 414 of the AFI Act, as amended, further provides that of 
the funds appropriated for each Fiscal Year, beginning with FY 2001, up 
to $500,000 will be available to carry out the evaluation.

F. Definition of Terms

    For the purposes of this Announcement:

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    (1) AFI Act means the Assets for Independence Act (Title IV of the 
Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational 
Services Act of 1998, as amended) which authorizes this program.
    (2) Custodial Account means an alternative structure to a Trust for 
the establishment of an Individual Development Account, as described in 
PART II. G.(5).
    (3) Eligible Individual means an individual who meets the income 
and net worth requirements of the program as set forth in PART II, 
Section G(3)(a) below.
    (4) Emergency Withdrawal means a withdrawal of only those funds, or 
a portion of those funds, deposited by the eligible individual (Project 
Participant) in an Individual Development Account of such individual. 
Such withdrawal must be approved by the Project Grantee, must be made 
for an allowable purpose as defined in the AFI Act and under the 
Project Eligibility Requirements set forth in PART II of this 
Announcement, and must be repaid by the individual Project Participant 
within 12 months of the withdrawal. (See Part II, Section G.(7)(b))
    (5) Household means all individuals who share use of a dwelling 
unit as primary quarters for living and eating separate from other 
individuals.
    (6) Individual Development Account (IDA) means a trust or a 
custodial account created or organized in the United States exclusively 
for the purpose of paying the qualified expenses of an eligible 
individual, or enabling the eligible individual to make an emergency 
withdrawal, but only if the written governing instrument creating the 
trust or custodial account meets the requirements of the AFI Act and of 
the Project Eligibility and Requirements set forth in this 
Announcement. (See Part II. Section G. (4) and (5).)
    (7) Net Worth of a Household means the aggregate market value of 
all assets that are owned in whole or in part by any member of the 
household, exclusive of the primary dwelling unit and one motor vehicle 
owned by a member of the household, minus the obligations or debts of 
any member of the household.
    (8) Project Grantee means a Qualified Entity as defined in 
paragraph (11) below, which receives a grant pursuant to this 
Announcement.
    (9) Project Participant means an Eligible Individual as defined in 
paragraph (3) above who is selected to participate in a demonstration 
project by a qualified entity.
    (10) Project Year means, with respect to a funded demonstration 
project, any of the 5 consecutive 12-month periods beginning on the 
date the project is originally awarded a grant by ACF.
    (11) Qualified Entity means an entity eligible to apply for and 
operate an assets for independence demonstration project as one or more 
not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations, or a State or local 
government agency or a tribal government submitting an application 
jointly with such a not-for-profit organization, or an entity that--
    (I) Is--
    (a) A credit union designated as a low-income credit union by the 
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA); or
    (b) An organization designated as a community development financial 
institution (CDFI) by the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Community 
Development Financial Institutions Fund); and
    (II) Can demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local 
community-based organization whose activities are designed to address 
poverty in the community and the needs of community members for 
economic independence and stability.
    (12) Qualified Expenses means one or more of the expenses for which 
payment may be made from an individual development account by a project 
grantee on behalf of the eligible individual in whose name the account 
is held, which are limited to expenses of (A) post-secondary education, 
(B) first home purchase, (C) business capitalization, and/or (D) 
transfers of IDA's to family members, as defined below:
    (A) Post-Secondary Educational Expenses means post-secondary 
educational expenses paid from an individual development account 
directly to an eligible educational institution, and include:
    (i) Tuition and Fees required for the enrollment or attendance of a 
student at an eligible educational institution.
    (ii) Fees, Books, Supplies, and Equipment required for courses of 
instruction at an eligible educational institution, including a 
computer and necessary software.
    (iii) Eligible Educational Institution means the following:
    (I) Institution of Higher Education.--An institution described in 
Section 101 or 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
    (II) Post-Secondary Vocational Education School.--An area 
vocational education school (as defined in subparagraph (C) or (D) of 
section 521(4) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology 
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2471(4)) which is in any State (as defined in 
section 521(33) of such Act) as such sections are in effect on the date 
of enactment of the AFI Act.
    (B) First-Home Purchase means qualified acquisition costs with 
respect to a principal residence for a qualified first-time homebuyer, 
if paid from an individual development account directly to the persons 
to whom the amounts are due. Within this definition:
    (i) Principal Residence means a main residence, the qualified 
acquisition costs of which do not exceed 120 percent of the average 
purchase price applicable to a comparable residence in the area.
    (ii) Qualified Acquisition Costs means the cost of acquiring, 
constructing, or reconstructing a residence, including usual or 
reasonable settlement, financing, or other closing costs.
    (iii) Qualified First-Time Homebuyer means an individual 
participating in the project involved (and, if married, the 
individual's spouse) who has had no present ownership interest in a 
principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date on 
which a binding contract is entered into for purchase of the principal 
residence to which this subparagraph applies.
    (C) Business Capitalization means amounts paid from an individual 
development account directly to a business capitalization account that 
is established in a Qualified Financial Institution and is restricted 
to use solely for qualified business capitalization expenses of the 
eligible individual in whose name the account is held. Within this 
definition:
    (i) Qualified Business Capitalization Expenses means qualified 
expenditures for the capitalization of a qualified business pursuant to 
a qualified plan, when so certified by a Qualified Entity (Grantee) as 
meeting the requirements of sub-paragraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) below.
    (ii) Qualified Expenditures means expenditures included in a 
qualified plan, including but not limited to capital, plant, equipment, 
working capital, and inventory expenses.
    (iii) Qualified Business means any business that does not 
contravene any law or public policy (as determined by the Secretary).
    (iv) Qualified Plan means a business plan, or a plan to use a 
business asset purchased, which--
    (I) Is approved by a financial institution, a microenterprise 
development organization, or a nonprofit loan fund having demonstrated 
fiduciary integrity;

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    (II) Includes a description of services or goods to be sold, a 
marketing plan, and projected financial statements; and
    (III) May require the eligible individual to obtain the assistance 
of an experienced entrepreneurial advisor.
    (D) Transfers to IDAs of Family Members--Amounts paid from an 
individual development account directly into another such account 
established for the benefit of an eligible individual who is--
    (i) The individual's spouse; or
    (ii) Any dependent of the individual with respect to whom the 
individual is allowed a deduction under section 151 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986.
    (13) Qualified Financial Institution means a Federally insured 
Financial Institution, or a State insured Financial Institution if no 
Federally insured Financial Institution is available.
    (14) Qualified Savings of the Individual for the Period means the 
aggregate of the amounts contributed by an eligible individual from 
earned income to the individual development account of the individual 
during the period.
    (15) Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Director of the Office of Community Services.
    (16) Tribal Government means a tribal organization, as defined in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(24 U.S.C. 450b) or a Native Hawaiian organization, as defined in 
section 9212 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7912).
    (17) Trust Agreement means the instrument by which an Individual 
Development Account is established as a trust in the partnering 
Financial Institution under PART II Section G.(4).
    (18) Trustee means the Qualified Financial Institution responsible 
for management of an Individual Development Account established as a 
trust pursuant to a Trust Agreement.

Part II. Program Objectives and Requirements

    The Office of Community Services (OCS) invites qualified entities 
to submit competing grant applications for new demonstration projects 
that will establish, support, manage, and participate in the evaluation 
of Individual Development Accounts for eligible participants among 
lower income individuals and working families.

A. Program Area

    There is one Program Area under this program for Fiscal Year 2002, 
under which OCS will accept applications from Qualified Entities as 
described below in Section B.

(Continuation of grants to Pennsylvania and Indiana, funded under 
Priority Area 2.0 of the Fiscal Year 1999 Assets For Independence 
Program Announcement will not require applications in response to this 
Program Announcement; but will be the subject of direct correspondence 
between OCS and the grantees as noted in Section F below.)

B. Eligible Applicants

(1) In General
    Eligible applicants for the Assets for Independence Demonstration 
Program are Qualified Entities, as defined above in Part I, Section 
F.(11), and are one or more not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt 
organizations, or a State or local government agency or a tribal 
government submitting an application jointly with such a not-for-profit 
organization, or an entity that--
    (I) Is--
    (a) A credit union designated as a low-income credit union by the 
National Credit Union Administration (NCUA); or
    (b) An organization designated as a community development financial 
institution by the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Community 
Development Financial Institutions Fund); and
    (II) Can demonstrate a collaborative relationship with a local 
community-based organization whose activities are designed to address 
poverty in the community and the needs of community members for 
economic independence and stability.

501(c)(3) Tax exempt Faith-Based organizations are eligible to apply 
for these grants.
    Not-for-profit Applicants, including those filing jointly with 
government agencies or Tribal Governments, must provide documentation 
of their tax exempt status in order to receive grants under this 
Announcement. The applicant 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 their currently valid IRS tax 
exemption certificate. Grants will not be awarded to applicants which 
have not supplied evidence of currently valid section 501(c)(3) tax 
exempt status. Similarly, eligible credit unions and CDFI's must 
provide written documentation of their status and evidence of their 
collaborative relationship with an appropriate local community-based 
organization.
(2) Applications Submitted Jointly by State or Local Government 
Agencies or Tribal Governments and Tax Exempt Non-Profit Organizations
    Joint applications by government agencies and non-profit 
organizations must clearly identify the joint applicants; and the SF 
424 Application for Federal Assistance must be signed by one of the 
joint applicants. The applicant signing the SF 424 will be responsible 
for proper implementation of the grant in accordance with the approved 
work program and the terms and conditions of the grant. (It may be 
either the government agency applicant or a non-profit applicant).
    In either case, a Reserve Fund must be established for the Project 
either by the government agency/tribal government joint applicant or by 
the non-profit joint applicant, and maintained and managed as agreed by 
the Joint Applicants in the Joint Application Agreement. The Reserve 
Fund must be established in accordance with Section G, Paragraphs (1) 
and (2), below.
    Such joint applications must also include:
    (a) Proof of tax exempt status of the non-profit Joint Applicant, 
as described in Paragraph (1), above; and
    (b) A Joint Applicant Agreement, signed by the responsible 
officials of both Joint Applicants, setting forth the responsibilities 
of each Joint Applicant for implementation of the proposed project, 
including establishment, management, and oversight of the Reserve Fund, 
and the carrying out of the project activities and interventions 
described in Element II of the proposal narrative. (See Part III, 
below.) The Joint Applicant Agreement should be the first Appendix to 
the Application, and the responsibilities it sets out should be 
described in the Project Narrative under Elements I and II, Section I 
Evaluation Criteria, in Part III of this Announcement.
    Where the project includes a group or consortium of operating 
partners, the project may include both a central and local Reserve 
Funds as described below in Section G Paragraph (1), Reserve Fund, 
Note.
(3) Applications Submitted by a Lead Agency on Behalf of a Consortium 
of Partnering Organizations
    Where the Applicant is applying as the lead agency for a consortium 
or group of partnering organizations, each of these organizations and 
their relevant experience must be briefly described in the Application 
narrative, and background materials citing their relevant experience 
and staff

[[Page 18317]]

capabilities should be included in the Appendix.
    In such cases:

--The Applicant/Lead Agency should document its capability and 
experience in managing such consortia;
--The roles and responsibilities of all participating agencies should 
be clearly set forth in signed Partnering Agreements between the 
Applicant and each of the partnering members;
--Copies of the Partnering Agreements should be included in the 
Appendix; and, in addition;
--The roles and responsibilities of each participating agency clearly 
explained in Part III, Element I and Element II(b), Project Design, and 
reflected in the Work Plan under Element II(d). These explanations must 
include the plans for establishing one or more Reserve Fund(s), and how 
and where IDA Accounts and Parallel Match Accounts will be maintained, 
as reflected in the Financial Institution Agreement(s)/Statement of 
Policy under Part III, Element II(c). (See also Section G. Paragraph 
(1) Reserve Fund, and Section L, Agreements with Partnering Financial 
Institutions/Statements of Policy below.)

C. Project and Budget Periods

    This announcement is inviting applications for project and budget 
periods of five (5) years. Grant actions, on a competitive basis, will 
award funds for the full five year project and budget period. As noted 
below in Section E., subject to the availability of funds, grantees may 
be offered the opportunity to submit applications for additional 
funding in later years during the five-year project.

    Note: Applicants should be aware that OCS funds awarded pursuant 
to this Announcement will be from FY 2002 funds and may not be 
expended after the end of the five-year Project/Budget Period to 
support administration of the project or matching contributions to 
Individual Development Accounts which may be open at that time. 
Consequently, Applicants should consider carefully the length of 
time participants will need to achieve their savings/investment 
goals and at what point in the project they may wish to discontinue 
the opening of new accounts. Applicants must provide assurance that 
in every case provision will be made for payment of all promised 
matching contributions to IDA accounts opened by project 
participants in the course of the demonstration project. In order to 
assure such payment, no accounts may be opened unless there are at 
the time accounts are opened sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund 
needed to make the total amount of matching contributions pledged to 
those accounts during their lifetime until they reach maturity. This 
means that, as noted below, non-Federal share funds, if not 
deposited in full at the beginning of the project, must be deposited 
on a schedule consistent with the planned schedule of new account 
opening.

D. Funds Availability and Grant Amounts

    In Fiscal Year 2002 OCS expects approximately $20 million to be 
available for funding commitments to approximately 50 new projects, 
including grants to existing grantees as explained below in Section E, 
expected to average approximately $400,000 each, and not to exceed 
$1,000,000 each for the five-year project and budget periods. As noted 
below, in Paragraph J, Multiple Applications, Qualified Entities may 
submit more than one application for different demonstration projects 
and each such application will be reviewed competitively with all other 
applications submitted pursuant to this Announcement and may be funded 
in accordance with the reviewer ratings and other factors as described 
below in Part IV Sections D and E, Initial Screening and Consideration 
of Applications. Each such Application must be a request for a separate 
and distinct project, with completely distinct and separate budgets, 
project participants, and IDA's being funded; and each Application must 
fully comply with the provisions of this Part, and fully respond to all 
of the Program Elements and Evaluation Criteria set out in Part III, 
below. Applicants are reminded that grant awards are limited to the 
amount of committed non-Federal cash matching contributions; and that 
OCS recognizes that this is a limiting factor in the amount of grant 
funds requested. Applicants are assured that OCS will welcome requests 
for less than the maximum grant amounts, and are urged to make 
realistic projections of project activity over the five year project 
and propose project budgets accordingly. As in the past, subject to the 
availability of funds and the progress of individual demonstration 
projects, grantees that have raised additional cash non-Federal share 
contributions may be given the opportunity to request additional 
funding in FY 2003 for new five-year projects. Draw-down of grant funds 
over the five-year budget period may be made in amounts that will match 
non-Federal deposits into the Project Reserve Fund. However, it must be 
remembered that all IDA accounts must reach maturity and be paid out by 
the end of the five year project/budget period, so that if the average 
participant requires two years to complete his or her savings plan, no 
new accounts can be opened after the third year of the project. This 
means that all Federal and non-Federal share dollars must be deposited 
into the Reserve fund by the end of the third project year. (See 
Section G. (1)(a) and Section H, below).

E. Funds Availability for Additional Grants to FY 1999, 2000, and 2001 
Grantees

    As noted above in Section F, existing grantees may apply for up to 
$1 million for a new five-year project. Applications from these 
grantees will be reviewed competitively with other applications 
received pursuant to this Announcement.

F. Funds Availability and Grant Amounts for Continuation Funding of 
Grandfathered State Grantees (FY 1999 Priority Area 2.0 Grantees: 
Indiana and Pennsylvania)

    In Fiscal Year 2002 up to approximately $2 million is expected to 
be available for up to two continuation grants not to exceed $1 million 
each for the fourth budget year of a five-year State project funded 
under Priority Area 2.0 of the FY 1999 Assets for Independence Program 
Announcement. These continuation of grants will not require 
applications pursuant to this Program Announcement; but will be the 
subject of direct correspondence between OCS and the grantees. Any 
funds not expended in FY 2002 for these Continuation Grants will be 
available for new project grants as described above in Sections D and 
E.

G. Project Eligibility and Requirements

    To be eligible for funding, projects must be sponsored and managed 
by Qualified Entities and must meet the following requirements:
(1) Reserve Fund
    Every project funded under this Announcement must establish and 
maintain a Reserve Fund in accordance with this paragraph. Such Reserve 
Fund must be maintained in accordance with the accounting regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary under 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92, in a 
Qualified Financial Institution or other insured financial institution 
satisfactory to the Secretary.

    Note: Where an applicant is lead agency for a consortium or 
group of partnering organizations, each of which will be 
implementing an IDA program under the Applicant's grant pursuant to 
this Announcement, the Applicant/lead agency must maintain a Reserve 
Fund into which all required non-Federal share matching contribution 
funds and OCS grant funds shall be deposited in accordance with 
Paragraph (a), below. The consortium has two

[[Page 18318]]

alternatives for maintenance of Reserve Fund(s) in its IDA programs:

    First, participating organizations may all operate out of the 
one central Reserve Fund maintained by the Applicant/lead agency. In 
this case separate accounting structures would be maintained for 
each of the partnering organizations and the funds assigned for 
their use in accordance with agreements between the Applicant and 
each organization.
    Or second, in addition to the Central Reserve Fund, partnering 
organizations may each establish a local Reserve Fund in their 
community into which the Applicant-/lead agency will deposit from 
the Central Reserve Fund the funds (grant and non-Federal share) 
allocated for use by the particular organization. Central and local 
Reserve Funds will be subject to all of the requirements of this 
Section. Whatever the arrangement, it must be spelled out and agreed 
to in the Partnering Agreements between the Applicant and each 
consortium member required under Section B. Paragraph (3), above.

    (a) Amounts in the Reserve Fund. As soon after receipt as is 
practicable, grantees shall deposit in the Reserve Fund the required 
non-Federal share funds received pursuant to the ``Non-Federal Share 
Agreement'' or Agreements reached with the provider(s) of non-Federal 
matching contributions. Once such non-Federal funds are deposited in 
the Reserve Fund, grantees may draw down OCS grant funds in amounts 
equal to such deposits. Similarly, as soon after receipt as practical, 
grantees shall deposit in the Reserve Fund the income received from any 
investment made of those funds (see paragraph (d) below).
    (b) Use of Amounts in the Reserve Fund. In accordance with Section 
407(c) of the AFI Act, Qualified Entities (grantees) shall use the 
amounts in the Reserve Fund as follows:
    (i) In General.--A qualified entity shall use the amounts in the 
Reserve Fund * * * to--
    (A) assist participants in the demonstration project in obtaining 
the skills (including economic literacy, budgeting, and counseling 
skills) and information necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency 
through activities requiring qualified expenses;
    (B) provide deposits (as matching contributions, equally divided 
between federal and non-federal monies) to individual development 
accounts for project participants, in an agreed upon ratio to deposits 
made in those accounts by project participants from earned income;
    (C) administer the demonstration project; and
    (D) provide the research organization evaluating the demonstration 
project * * * with such information with respect to the demonstration 
project as may be required for the evaluation.
    (ii) Limitation on Uses.--Not more than 15 percent of AFIA Federal 
grant funds shall be used by the qualified entity (grantee) for the 
purposes described in subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1), 
of which not less than 2 percent of the grant funds shall be used for 
the purposes described in paragraph (1)(D). Of the total amount of 15 
percent of grant funds, not more than 7.5 percent of such funds shall 
be used for administrative functions under paragraph (1)(C), including 
program management, reporting requirements, recruitment and enrollment 
of individuals, and monitoring. The remainder of the total amount of 15 
percent of grant funds (not including the 2 percent specified under 
paragraph (1)(D)) shall be used for nonadministrative functions 
described in paragraph (1)(A), including case management, budgeting, 
economic literacy, and credit counseling. If the cost of 
nonadministrative functions described paragraph (1)(A) is less than 
5.5% of the total of Federal grant funds, such excess funds may be used 
for administrative functions. If two or more qualified entities 
(grantees) are jointly administering a project, no qualified entity 
shall use more than its proportional share of grant funds for the 
purposes described in subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of paragraph (1).
    (iii) Matching Contributions to IDA's.--Thus, at least 85 percent 
of AFIA Federal grant funds and an equal amount of the required non-
Federal share funds in the Reserve Fund shall be used to make matching 
contributions, equally divided between Federal and non-Federal monies, 
to individual development accounts for project participants, in an 
agreed upon ratio to deposits made in those accounts by project 
participants from earned income. The remaining balance of up to 15% of 
the required matching non-Federal share funds shall be used either for 
expenses outlined in Paragraphs (A), (C) and (D) above, or other 
project-related expenses as agreed by the Applicant and the entity 
providing the funds.

    Note: If a grantee mobilizes additional contributions in excess 
of the required 100 percent non-Federal share match, such funds may 
be used however the grantee and provider of the funds may agree. 
Where the use of such funds is proposed within a Program Element/
Proposal Review Criterion which formed the basis for the grant 
award, Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of such 
additional mobilized funds and additional resources, even though 
over the amount of the required non-Federal match.

    (c) Authority to Invest Funds. A grantee shall invest the amounts 
in its Reserve Fund that are not immediately needed for payment under 
paragraph (b), in a manner that provides an appropriate balance between 
return, liquidity, and risk, and in accordance with Guidelines which 
will be issued by the Secretary prior to making of grant awards and 
provided to grantees at the time of grant award.
    (d) Use of Investment Income. Income generated from investment of 
Reserve Fund monies that are not allocated to existing Individual 
Development Accounts may be added by grantees to the funds committed to 
program administration, participant support, or evaluation data 
collection. As noted in Section K, below, once funds have been 
committed as matching contributions to Individual Development Accounts, 
then any income subsequently generated by such funds must be deposited/
credited to the credit of such accounts. Note: No part of such income 
is to be considered as a Federal funds contribution subject to the 
$2000/$4000 limitations under Paragraph (6)(c), below.
    (e) Joint Project Administration. If two or more qualified entities 
are jointly administering a project, none shall use more than its 
proportional share for the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) and 
(C), of paragraph (b) (Support Services and Administration).
(2) Use of Grant Funds by State and Local Government Agencies and 
Tribal Governments
    As set forth in Section B. Paragraph (2) above, grantees who are 
State or local government agencies or Tribal governments are required 
to submit applications jointly with tax exempt non-profit 
organizations. In such cases, whether the lead applicant signing the SF 
424 is the government agency or the non-profit organization, a Reserve 
Fund for the Project must be established, and maintained, and managed 
as agreed by the Joint Applicants in their Joint Application Agreement. 
The Reserve Fund so established shall be subject to the requirements of 
Paragraph (1) above, and Section H, below.
(3) Eligibility and Selection of Project Participants
    (a) Participant Eligibility. Eligibility for participation in the 
demonstration projects is limited to individuals who are members of 
households eligible for assistance under TANF, or of households whose 
adjusted gross income does not exceed the earned income amount 
described in Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which 
establishes eligibility for the

[[Page 18319]]

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) (taking into account the size of the 
household), or of households whose annual income does not exceed 200% 
of the poverty line as provided in Section 408(a)(1) of the AFI Act, 
and whose net worth as of the end of the calendar year preceding the 
determination of eligibility does not exceed $10,000, excluding the 
primary dwelling unit and one motor vehicle owned by a member of the 
household.

    Note: The most recent EITC Earned Income Guidelines which set 
the limits on annual income for eligibility in the IDA Program are 
as follows:

--for a household without a child: $10,380
--for a household with one child: $27,413.
--for a household with more than one child: $31,152.

    The most recent final Poverty line thresholds are set forth in 
Attachment L to this Announcement. Annual revisions of these thresholds 
are normally issued by the Bureau of the Census in September. Where 
relevant to IDA Project criteria, grantees will be required to apply 
the most recent thresholds throughout the project period. These revised 
thresholds may be obtained as part of the latest Census Bureau Report, 
``Poverty in the United States''. The thresholds may be found on the 
web at http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld.html.
    Note: where the website shows a heading for preliminary 
thresholds for a given year, click on the preceding year for the 
current final thresholds. The thresholds will also be accessible on 
the OCS WEBSITE for reading and/or downloading (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs).
    Applicants are reminded that there is also a net worth assets test 
for eligibility in the program, as noted above.
    (b) Participant Selection. In keeping with the statutory preference 
in Section 405(d)(3) of the AFI Act for applications that target 
individuals from neighborhoods or communities that experience high 
rates of poverty or unemployment, grantees in their selection of 
Project Participants may restrict participation in such neighborhoods 
or communities targeted by their demonstration projects to individuals 
and households with lower incomes and net worth than set forth above, 
provided that they shall nonetheless select individuals who they 
determine are well suited to participate in the demonstration project.
(4) Establishment of Individual Development Accounts
    Project Grantees must create, through written governing 
instruments, either (a) Trusts, under this paragraph, or (b) Custodial 
Accounts described here and in Paragraph (5) below, which will be 
Individual Development Accounts on behalf of Project Participants. 
Trustees of Trusts must be Qualified Financial Institutions. Custodians 
of Custodial Accounts may be Qualified Financial Institutions, other 
insured financial institutions satisfactory to the Secretary, or 
Demonstration Project Grantees. In every case the Participant shall 
make deposits from earned income into his or her Individual Development 
Account in a participating insured financial Institution, which in the 
case of Qualified Entities which are eligible Credit Unions or CDFI's, 
may be the Qualified Entity itself.
    No Individual Development Accounts shall be established or opened 
unless and until there are sufficient funds in the Grantee's Reserve 
Fund to make the total matching contributions pledged to those accounts 
during their lifetime until they reach maturity.
    In every case where the participating insured financial institution 
and the Demonstration Project Grantee are not one and the same, both 
shall be parties to the written governing instruments creating the 
Trust or Custodial Account.
    The written governing instruments creating the IDA accounts must 
contain the following provisions:
    (a) All contributions to the accounts must be either in cash, by 
check, money order, or by electronic transfer of funds.
    (b) The assets of the account will be invested in accordance with 
the direction of the Project Participant after consultation with the 
grantee and pursuant to the guidelines of the Secretary (which will be 
issued prior to the making of grant awards and made available to 
grantees at the time of grant award).
    (c) The assets of the account will not be commingled with other 
property except in a common trust fund or parallel account or common 
investment fund.
    (d) In the event of the death of the Project Participant, any 
balance remaining in the account shall be distributed within 30 days of 
the date of death to another Individual Development Account established 
for the benefit of an eligible individual as directed by the deceased 
Participant in the Savings Plan Agreement under sub-paragraph (g), 
below; provided, that Participants may at their option direct the 
disposition of any funds in the account which were deposited in the 
account by the Participant as he or she may see fit, except that where 
such disposition is not to another Individual Development Account, all 
matching contributions made by the grantee to the account, and any 
income earned thereby, shall be returned to the Reserve Fund. [Note 
that this will mean that each Project Participant must provide such 
direction at the time the Individual Development Account is 
established. Provision should be made by grantees for modification of 
such directions during the course of the project, in the event of 
changing circumstances.]
    (e) Except in the case of the death of the Project Participant, 
amounts in the account attributable to deposits by the grantee from 
grant funds and matching non-Federal contributions, and any interest 
thereon, may be paid, withdrawn or distributed out of the account only 
for the purpose of paying Qualified Expenses of the Project Participant 
including transfers under Paragraph (7)(d), below.
    (f) The procedures governing the withdrawal of funds from the 
Individual Development Account, for both Qualified Expenses and 
Emergency Withdrawals, must comply with the provisions of Paragraph (7) 
Withdrawals from Individual Development Accounts, below.
    (g) A ``Savings Plan Agreement'' between the grantee and the 
Project Participant, which may be incorporated by reference, and which 
should include:
    (1) Savings goals (including a proposed schedule of savings 
deposits by the Participant from earned income, which may be for a 
period of less than five years);
    (2) The rate at which participant savings will be matched (from one 
dollar to eight dollars for each dollar in savings deposited by 
Participant, the Federal grant funds portion of which may not exceed 
$2000 during the five-year project period);
    (3) The proposed qualified expense for which the account is 
maintained;
    (4) Agreement by the grantee to provide and the Participant to 
attend classes in Economic Literacy Training;
    (5) Any additional training or education related to the qualified 
expense which the Grantee agrees to provide and of which the 
Participant agrees to partake;
    (6) Contingency plans in the event that the Participant exceeds or 
fails to meet projected savings goals or schedules;
    (7) Any agreement as to investments of assets described in 
subparagraph (b), above;
    (8) An explanation of withdrawal procedures and limitations, 
including the consequences of unauthorized withdrawal;
    (9) Provision for disposition of the funds in the account in the 
event of the

[[Page 18320]]

Participant's death (see sub-Paragraph (d), above); and
    (10) Provision for amendment of the Agreement with the concurrence 
of both Grantee and Participant.
(5) Custodial Accounts
    As provided in Paragraph (4), above, Grantees may, in the 
alternative, create, through written governing instruments, Custodial 
Accounts which shall be Individual Development Accounts on behalf of 
Project Participants, except that they will not be trusts. As in the 
case of trusts established under paragraph (4), the written governing 
instruments creating the accounts must contain the requirements 
outlined in subparagraphs (a) through (g) of that paragraph, with the 
following exceptions. Whereas trustees of the trusts created under 
Paragraph (4) must be Qualified Financial Institutions, the assets of 
the custodial account may be held by a bank or another institution that 
demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in 
which the account will be administered will be consistent with the 
provisions of the AFI Act, and that the IDA's will be created and 
maintained as described in paragraph (4) and section 404(5)(A) of the 
AFI Act. In addition, in the case of a custodial account treated as a 
trust by reason of this paragraph, the custodian of such account may be 
the Project Grantee, provided that it can assure compliance with the 
requirements of Paragraph (4) above, and section 404(5)(A) of the AFI 
Act. These arrangements would place the ``custodial'' responsibilities 
with the grantee, and relieve financial institutions of trustee 
obligations. The Secretary has determined that the assets of any such 
accounts must be held in an insured financial institution and be 
subject to the provisions of Paragraph L, below, pertaining to 
agreements between applicants/grantees and participating financial 
institutions.
    Within the meaning of this OCS Program Announcement, IDA 
``Custodial Accounts'' in which project participants deposit their 
savings may be solely owned by the participant and in the sole name of 
the participant. Funds in the account may only be expended for 
``Qualified Expenses'' or an ``Emergency Withdrawal'' as defined in the 
AFI Act and this Program Announcement; and in keeping with this 
restriction, any withdrawals must be approved in writing by a 
responsible official of the project grantee. At the same time, if the 
participant requests approval for an ``unauthorized withdrawal'' of 
funds deposited by the participant into the account, that is, for other 
than a ``Qualified Expense'' or ``Emergency Withdrawal'' as defined in 
the AFI Act, and Part I, Section D (4) and (12), above, the project 
grantee must agree to approve such an ``Unauthorized Withdrawal'' of 
the participant's funds, with the explicit understanding on the part of 
both the grantee and the participant, that the participant thereby 
loses any matching funds credited to the account (including any accrued 
interest on the matching funds), and must exit the program.
(6) Deposits in Individual Development Accounts
    (a) Matching Contributions. Not less than once every three months 
during the demonstration project grantees will make deposits into 
Individual Development Accounts as matching contributions to deposits 
from earned income made by Project Participants during the period since 
the previous deposit. Such deposits may be made either into the 
accounts themselves or into a parallel account maintained by the 
grantee in an insured financial institution (or in the grantee 
institution itself, in the case of grantees which are eligible Credit 
Unions or CDFI's). It is strongly recommended that matching 
contributions by grantees be deposited in parallel accounts maintained 
by financial institutions, rather that in the participants' IDA 
accounts, as a way of protecting matching contributions from possible 
attachment or other liability.
    Note: Deposits made by Project Participants shall be deemed to 
have been made from earned income so long as the income earned (as 
defined in section 911(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) 
during the period since the Participant's previous deposit in the 
account is greater than the amount of the current deposit. Section 
911(d)(2) provides, in relevant part, ``the term `earned income' 
means wages, salaries, or professional fees, and other amounts 
received as compensation for personal services actually rendered''.
    Matching contributions (as deposits to IDA accounts or to parallel 
accounts) must be made to IDA's in equal amounts from Federal grant 
funds and the non-Federal public and private funds committed to the 
project as described in Section H below, and sections 405(c)(4) and 
406(b)(1) of the AFI Act. Such matching contribution deposits by 
grantees may be from $0.50 to $4 in non-Federal funds and an equal 
amount in Federal grant funds, for each dollar of earned income 
deposited in the account by the Project Participant in whose name the 
account is established. At the time matching contribution deposits are 
made, the grantee will also deposit into the Individual Development 
Account (or the parallel account) any interest or income that has 
accrued since the last deposit on amounts previously deposited in or 
credited to that IDA in the parallel account as matching contributions.
    (b) Additional Matching Contributions. Once such equal matching 
contribution deposits are made, grantees may make additional matching 
contributions to IDA's from other non-Federal sources, or other Federal 
sources, such as TANF, where the legislation or policies governing such 
sources so permit. Such additional matching contributions would not be 
a use of funds falling within any Program Element/Proposal Review 
Criterion under Part III below, which formed the basis for the grant 
award, and as such, grantees will not be held accountable for their 
commitment to the project.
    (c) Limitations on Matching Contributions. Over the course of the 
five year demonstration, not more than $2,000 in Federal grant funds 
shall be provided through matching contributions to any one individual; 
and not more than $4,000 shall be provided to IDA's in any one 
household. Such matching contributions of Federal grant funds must be 
matched, dollar-for-dollar, by matching contributions of non-Federal 
share dollars from the Reserve Fund. [As noted in Paragraph (1)(d), 
above, no part of any investment or interest income earned by monies in 
the Reserve Fund or a parallel account credited to the Participant is 
to be considered as a Federal funds contribution subject to this 
limitation.]
(7) Withdrawals From Individual Development Accounts
    (a) Limitations. Under no circumstances may funds be withdrawn from 
an Individual Development Account earlier than six months after the 
initial deposit by a Project Participant in the account. Thereafter 
funds may be withdrawn from such account only upon written approval of 
the Project Participant and of a responsible official of the project 
grantee, and only for one or more Qualified Expenses (as defined in 
Part I) or for an Emergency Withdrawal. (See Paragraph (5) Custodial 
Accounts, above, for the Participant's right to make ``unauthorized 
withdrawals'' and the consequences thereof.)
    (b) Emergency Withdrawals. An Emergency Withdrawal may only be of 
those funds, or a portion of those funds, deposited in the account by 
the Project Participant, and only for the following purposes:
    (i) Expenses for medical care or necessary to obtain medical care 
for the

[[Page 18321]]

Project Participant or a spouse or dependent of the Participant;
    (ii) Payments necessary to prevent eviction of the Project 
Participant from, or foreclosure on the mortgage for, the principal 
residence of the Participant;
    (iii) Payments necessary to enable the Project Participant to meet 
necessary living expenses (food, clothing, shelter--including utilities 
and heating fuel) following loss of employment.
    (c) Reimbursement of Emergency Withdrawals. A Project Participant 
shall reimburse an Individual Development Account for any funds 
withdrawn from the account for an Emergency Withdrawal, not later than 
12 months after the date of the withdrawal. If the Participant fails to 
make the reimbursement, the Project Grantee must transfer back to its 
Reserve Fund Federal and non-Federal matching contributions deposited 
into the account or a parallel account, and any income generated 
thereby. Any remaining funds deposited by the Project Participant (plus 
any income generated thereby) shall be returned to such Project 
Participant.
    Applicants are urged to consider the establishment of a separate 
alternative crisis or emergency loan fund that can respond to 
participant emergencies without having them risk putting their IDA in 
jeopardy because of an inability to make reimbursement of an emergency 
withdrawal within the required time frame.
    (d) Transfers to Individual Development Accounts of Family Members. 
At the request of a Project Participant, and with the written approval 
of a responsible official of the grantee, amounts may be paid from an 
individual development account directly into another such account 
established for the benefit of an eligible individual who is--
    (i) The Participant's spouse, or
    (ii) Any dependent of the Participant with respect to whom the 
Participant is allowed a deduction under section 151 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986.
    Note that such transfers may be made to individuals who in turn 
would become IDA project participants who would be able to use these 
funds for any of the Qualified Expenditures defined in Part I. 
Applicants are reminded of the limit of $4000 in Federal IDA matching 
contributions per household.

H. Cash Non-Federal Share Requirements

    Applicants must submit firm commitments for at least one hundred 
percent of the requested OCS grant amount in cash non-Federal share. 
Public sector resources that can be counted toward the minimum required 
non-Federal share include funds from State and local governments, and 
funds from various block grants allocated to the States by the Federal 
Government provided that the authorizing legislation for these grants 
permits such use.
    Note: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may be 
counted as non-Federal share; Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) 
FUNDS MAY NOT. With regard to State TANF funds, any State funds that 
comprise Maintenance Of Effort (MOE) funds under the TANF 
regulations may NOT be used as required non-Federal share under this 
Announcement. (But see discussion of Additional Matching 
Contributions in Section G (6)(b), above.)
    To be considered for funding an Application must include a copy of 
an executed ``Non-Federal Share Agreement'', or a ``Statement of 
Commitment'' as described below, in writing executed by the Applicant 
and the organization or organizations providing the required non-
Federal matching contributions, signed for the organization by a person 
authorized to make a commitment on behalf of the organization, and 
signed for the Applicant by the person signing the SF424. Such 
Agreement(s) must include: (1) A commitment by the organization to 
provide the non-Federal funds contingent only on the grant award; and 
(2) if the non-Federal share funds are not to be provided in one sum at 
the outset of the project, an agreement as to the schedule of the 
opening of Individual Development Accounts by the Applicant, and the 
schedule of deposits of non-Federal share funds by the organization to 
the project's Reserve Fund, such that the two schedules will together 
assure that there will be at all times in the Reserve Fund non-Federal 
matching contribution funds sufficient to meet the total pledges of 
matching contributions under the ``Savings Plan Agreements'' for all 
Individual Development Accounts then open and being maintained by the 
grantee during their lifetime and until their maturity as part of the 
demonstration project.
    Thus, for example, if the provider of non-Federal share only agrees 
to a fixed schedule of deposits, this non-Federal share requirement can 
be met by the Applicant agreeing to a schedule for opening new accounts 
that will assure that new IDA accounts will only be opened when there 
are sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund to meet the total amount of 
matching contributions pledged under the ``Savings Plan Agreements'' 
during the lifetime of the accounts until their maturity.
    Note: Applicants are reminded that as explained in Section C 
(Project and Budget Periods), above, grant funds may not be expended 
after the 5-year budget/project period. Consequently, Applicants 
should consider carefully the length of time participants will need 
to achieve their savings/investment goals, and at what point in the 
project they may wish to discontinue the opening of new accounts. At 
that point, all required non-Federal share funds will have to have 
been deposited in the Reserve Fund, along with grant funds.
    As noted above, the Applicant may itself commit to providing some 
or all of the required cash non-Federal share, by including a Statement 
of Commitment, on applicant letterhead, signed by the official signing 
the SF 424 and countersigned by the Applicant's Board Chairperson or 
Treasurer, that the non-Federal matching funds will be provided, 
contingent only on the OCS grant award, and that non-Federal share 
deposits to the Reserve Fund and the opening of Individual Development 
Accounts will be coordinated so that new accounts will only be opened 
when there are sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund to cover the total 
matching contribution requirements of the Savings Plan Agreements.
    With regard to Applicants which are State or local government 
agencies or Tribal governments, submitting jointly with tax exempt non-
profit organizations, note that under Section G. Paragraphs (1) and 
(2), above, Reserve Funds are required to be established as in other 
projects.

    Note: OCS has determined that the strict legislative limitations 
on the use of Federal grant funds and of an equal amount of non-
Federal share (under the recent amendments to the AFI Act, at least 
85% of each must go toward matching contributions to Individual 
Development Accounts) mean that important training, counseling and 
support activities, critical to the success of a project, may best 
be supported by additional resources, both of the applicant itself 
and mobilized by the applicant in the community. Consequently, 
Applicants are encouraged to mobilize additional resources, which 
may be cash or in-kind contributions, Federal or non-Federal, for 
support of project administration and assistance to Project 
Participants in obtaining skills, knowledge, and needed support 
services. (See Part III, Element V) Applicants are reminded that 
they will be held accountable for commitments of such additional 
resources even if over the amount of the required non-Federal match.

I. Preferences

    In accordance with the provisions of the AFI Act, in considering an 
application to conduct a demonstration project under this Announcement, 
OCS will give preference to an application that:
    (1) Demonstrates the willingness and ability of the applicant to 
select eligible individuals for participation in the project who are 
predominantly from

[[Page 18322]]

households in which a child (or children) is living with the child's 
biological or adoptive mother or father, or with the child's legal 
guardian.
    Note: Applications that target TANF eligible households will be 
deemed to have met this preference.
    (2) Provides a commitment of non-Federal funds with a 
proportionately greater amount of such funds committed from private 
sector sources; and
    (3) Targets individuals residing within one or more relatively 
well-defined neighborhoods or communities (including rural communities) 
that experience high rates of poverty or unemployment.
    Note: Applications which target residents of Empowerment Zones, 
Enterprise Communities, Public Housing, or CDFI Fund-designated 
Distressed Communities will be deemed to have met this preference. 
(For information on CDFI Fund designation of Distressed Communities 
applicants may visit the CDFI Help Desk Website at: http://www.cdfifundhelp.gov.)
    Each of these preferences will be valued at 2 points in the 
Application Review process. Applicants meeting these preferences will 
be awarded 2 points for each preference met. (Preferences (1) and (3) 
fall under Proposal Element II(a); Preference (2) falls under Proposal 
Element V(a)). In the case of a consortium of organizations operating 
programs funded through a lead agency, if a majority of the 
participating organizations meet these legislative preferences, the 
Application as a whole will be awarded these points.

J. Multiple Applications

    Qualified Entities may submit more than one application for 
different demonstration projects and each such application will be 
reviewed competitively with all other applications submitted pursuant 
to this Announcement and may be funded in accordance with the reviewer 
ratings and other factors as described below in Part IV Sections D and 
E, Initial Screening and Consideration of Applications. Each such 
Application must be a request for a separate and distinct project, with 
completely distinct and separate budgets, project participants, and 
IDA's being funded; and each Application must fully comply with the 
provisions of this Part, and fully respond to all of the Program 
Elements and Evaluation Criteria set out in Part III, below.

K. Treatment of Program Income

    As noted in Section G. Paragraph (1)(d), above, income generated 
from investment of unallocated funds in the Reserve Fund may be added 
to the funds already committed from the Reserve Fund to program 
administration, participant support, or evaluation data collection. 
However, once funds have been committed as matching contributions to 
Individual Development Accounts, then any income subsequently generated 
by such funds must be deposited proportionately to the credit of such 
accounts.
    Note: No part of such income is to be considered as a Federal 
funds contribution subject to the $2000/$4000 limitations under 
Section G. Paragraph (6)(c), above.

L. Agreements With Partnering Financial Institutions/Statements of 
Policy

    One of the most critical parts of a successful IDA project is the 
relationship between the project operator and a partnering financial 
institution, be it a bank or credit union. Not only does the financial 
institution provide the situs of the Individual Development Accounts, 
but it also represents for IDA holders their doorway to mainstream 
economic life: savings and checking accounts, ATM machines, payroll 
deduction savings, home mortgages, and the opportunity for credit 
repair, student and business loans, all within a framework of sound 
financial planning. Moreover, many banks see non-Federal share 
contributions to the project's Reserve Fund as sound investments which 
not only offer them tax deductions and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) 
credit, but also large stable long-term deposits, and which introduce 
them to a whole new body of potential long-term clients with strong 
support networks, whose IDA investments will bring them into the market 
for home mortgages and business and student loans.
    For all these reasons it is vitally important for applicants to 
develop strong and mutually supportive relationships with the financial 
institutions which will be their partners in carrying out the IDA 
project. Thus, every application submitted pursuant to this 
Announcement must include a copy(ies) of the agreement(s) entered into 
by the applicant with one or more insured Financial Institutions, in 
collaboration with which Reserve Funds and Individual Development 
Accounts will be established and maintained. (For applicant entities 
which are eligible Credit Unions or CDFI's, see Note at end of this 
Section, below.)
    To be considered for funding, each Application submitted by other 
than an eligible Credit Union or Community Development Financial 
Institution must include a copy of an Agreement or Agreements with one 
or more partnering insured Financial Institutions which for the 
proposed project include(s) the provisions set out in Part III Element 
II(c), which state(s) that the accounting procedures to be followed in 
account management will conform to Guidelines (CFR Part 74) established 
by the Secretary.
    (Note: Such regulations may be found as Attachment ``L'' to this 
Announcement.), and under which the partnering insured Financial 
Institution agrees to provide project data and reports as requested 
by the applicant. In the case of IDA's established as Trusts under 
Section G. Paragraph (4), above, the partnering financial 
institution must be a Qualified Financial Institution as defined in 
Part I Section F.(13). In the case of IDA's established as Custodial 
Accounts, the partnering financial institution must be insured and 
must meet the requirements of Section G. Paragraph (5), above, to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary. (For applications submitted by 
eligible Credit Unions or Community Development Financial 
Institutions (CDFI's) see Note below.)
    The Agreement may also include other services to be provided by the 
partnering Financial Institution that could strengthen the program, 
such as Financial Education Seminars, favorable pricing or matching 
contributions provided by the Financial Institution, and assistance in 
recruitment of Project Participants. Strong and complete Agreements 
with financial institutions will be recognized in the application 
review process under Sub-Element II(c) of the application Evaluation 
Criteria under Part III, below.

    Note: In the case of applications submitted by eligible Credit 
Unions or Community Development Financial Institutions, where the 
Reserve Fund and IDA accounts are to be held by the applicant 
Institution itself, the applicant must submit, in lieu of a 
Financial Institution Agreement, a Statement of Policy, approved by 
its Board of Directors and attested to by its Chairperson and Chief 
Financial Officer, which meets the requirements set forth in this 
section (L.) and in Part III Sub-Element II(c). This Statement of 
Policy will be considered in the application review process under 
Sub-Element II(c). Where such applicants are proposing the 
establishment of Reserve Fund(s) or IDA's in other partnering 
Financial Institutions, they must submit as part of their 
applications copies of Agreements with such Partnering Financial 
Institution(s) in accordance with this section.

M. Evaluation

    To fulfill the legislative requirement for evaluation of the Assets 
for Independence Demonstration Program, the Secretary has contracted 
with Abt Associates, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to carry out 
the required evaluation. OCS and ACF's Office of

[[Page 18323]]

Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) have worked together with the 
contractor in the development of an evaluation design whose 
implementation got underway in the Spring of 2001.
    Section 414 of the AFI Act stipulates that in evaluating any 
demonstration project under the AFI Act, the research organization (Abt 
Associates) shall, before, during and after the project, obtain such 
quantitative data as are necessary to evaluate the program thoroughly. 
To this end OCS and its technical assistance contractor, PeopleWorks, 
Inc., have worked with the ACF Office of Planning, Research and 
Evaluation (OPRE) and the research organization to develop a reporting 
format for AFIA grantees, and hope to make available to all grantees an 
Asset Development Information System to facilitate the maintenance, 
collection, verification and reporting of the data. In addition, 
Section 414 directs that the research organization shall develop a 
qualitative assessment, derived from sources such as in-depth 
interviews, of how asset accumulation affects individuals and families.
    Grantees in the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program are 
required to cooperate with the OCS contractor's nationwide evaluation 
of IDA projects. As one aspect of this cooperation, grantees are 
required by Section 407 (b) (1) and (3) the AFI Act to spend not less 
than two percent (but no more than fifteen percent) of the Federal 
grant monies to provide the research organization evaluating the 
demonstration project under section 414 with such information with 
respect to the demonstration project as may be required for the 
evaluation. They are also strongly urged to use a data collection/
tracking and reporting software approved by OCS (i.e., either the ``MIS 
IDA'' system, developed by the Center for Social Development at 
Washington University in St. Louis or a comparable, compatible system 
such as the Asset Development Information System being considered by 
OCS. It should be noted that the MIS IDA system does not calculate 
interest payments to IDA accounts as required by the AFI Act. Nor does 
it provide for collection of much of the project information that the 
AFI Act requires both for grantee reports and the program evaluation. 
However, PeopleWorks, Inc. has worked with SPSS, Inc. to develop two 
interim software packages which are now available, one a ``bridge to 
MIS IDA'' package and the other an ``Interest Rate Calculator,'' to 
deal with these problems on a temporary basis. (See Part III, Element 
IV, proposal review criteria for applicant's plan for data collection, 
reporting and evaluation-related activity.)

N. Support for Noncustodial Parents

    The Office of Community Services and the Office of Child Support 
Enforcement (OCSE) both in the Administration for Children and 
Families, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster and 
enhance partnerships between OCS grantees and local Child Support 
Enforcement (CSE) agencies. (See Attachment M for the list of CSE State 
Offices that can identify local CSE agencies) In the words of the MOU:

    The purpose of these partnerships will be to develop and 
implement innovative strategies in States and local communities to 
increase the capability of low-income parents and families to 
fulfill their parental responsibilities. Too many low-income parents 
are without jobs or resources needed to support their children. A 
particular focus of these partnerships will be to assist low-income, 
noncustodial parents of children receiving Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families to achieve a degree of self-sufficiency that will 
enable them to provide support that will free their families of the 
need for such assistance.

    Accordingly, a rating factor and a review criterion have been 
included in this Program Announcement which will award two points to 
applicants who have entered into partnership agreements with their 
local CSE agency to provide for referrals to their project in 
accordance with provisions of the OCS-OCSE MOU. (See Part III, 
Evaluation Criteria 7.)

Part III. The Project Description, Program Proposal Elements and 
Review Criteria

A. Purpose

    The project description provides the major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can 
present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged 
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff, 
related experience, and other information considered to be relevant. 
Awarding offices use this and other information to determine whether 
the applicant has the capability and resources necessary to carry out 
the proposed project. It is important, therefore, that this information 
be included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant 
must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed 
project from those that will not be used in support of the specific 
project for which funds are requested.

B. Project Summary/Abstract

    Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with 
reference to the funding request.

C. Objectives and Need for Assistance

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
instructional, 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.

D. Results or Benefits Expected

    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, 
describe the population to be recruited to the IDA program, how many 
accounts are projected to be opened, what qualified expenses are 
expected to be achieved, and how they will assist participants to move 
towards self-sufficiency.

E. 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 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 accounts 
opened.

[[Page 18324]]

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 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.

F. Organization 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 
non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of 
its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission. The 
non-profit 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.

G. Budget and Budget Justification

    Provide a 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 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocability of the proposed costs.
    The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget 
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed 
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes 
of preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' 
refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal 
resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is 
suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a 
columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, 
Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column, 
total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.
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, 
wage rates, etc. 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.
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, taxes, etc.
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.
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.
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.
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 USC 403(11) 
(currently set at $100,000.) Recipients might be required 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

[[Page 18325]]

and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency title, 
along with the required supporting information referred to in these 
instructions.

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.

H. Non-Federal Resources

    Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the 
project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. The firm commitment of 
these resources must be documented and submitted with the application 
in order to be given credit in the review process. A detailed budget 
must be prepared for each funding source.

I. Evaluation Criteria

Proposal Elements and Review Criteria for Applications
    Each application which passes the Initial OCS Screening, as 
described in Part IV, Section D, below, will be assessed and scored by 
three independent reviewers. Each reviewer will give a numerical score 
for each application reviewed. These numerical scores will be supported 
by explanatory statements on a formal rating form describing major 
strengths and weaknesses under each applicable criterion published in 
the Announcement. Scoring will be based on a total of 100 points, and 
for each application will be the average of the scores of the three 
reviewers.
    The competitive review of Assets for Independence Demonstration 
Program proposals will be based on the degree to which applicants:
    (1) Incorporate each of the Program Elements and Sub-Elements below 
into their proposal narratives, so as to describe convincingly a 
project that will develop new asset accumulation opportunities for 
lower-income working families, through creation of IDA accounts and the 
provision of matching contributions, economic literacy training, and 
other supportive services, that can lead to a transition from 
dependency to economic self-sufficiency through the accumulation of 
assets and the pursuit of activities requiring one or more qualified 
expenses;
    (2) Adhere to the requirements in Part II, above, and include the 
required program activities and agreements set forth in that Part; and,
    (3) Commit to cooperation with the nationwide evaluation of the 
demonstration projects, and provide for the collection and validation 
of relevant data to support the national evaluation, being carried out 
by the Abt Associates under contract with ACF, of the project design, 
implementation, and outcomes of this Demonstration Program.
    In order to simplify the application preparation and review 
process, OCS seeks to keep grant proposals cogent and brief. Where 
applications have project narratives (excluding Project Summaries, 
Tables of Contents, Budget Justifications and Appendices) of more than 
30 letter-sized pages of 12 c.p.i. type or equivalent on a single side 
only the first 30 pages will be reviewed for funding.
    Applicants should prepare and assemble their project description 
using the following outline of required project elements. They should, 
furthermore, build their project concept, plans, and application 
description upon the guidelines set forth for each of the project 
elements.
    OCS seeks to learn from the application why the project is 
important or necessary, what activities will be carried out, and why 
and how the project as proposed is expected to lead to significant 
permanent and measurable results in individual and family economic 
self-sufficiency through economic literacy and accumulation of assets. 
Applicants are urged to design and present their project in a way that 
makes clear the cause-effect relationship between what the project 
plans to do and the results it expects to achieve. The application 
should begin with a brief summary, as described in Part VI Section A, 
below (which will not be counted as part of the 30-page project 
narrative).
    Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not 
length. All pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be 
included for easy reference. For each of the Project Elements or Sub-
Elements below there is at the end of the discussion a suggested number 
of pages to be devoted to the particular element or sub-element. These 
are suggestions only; but the applicant must remember that the overall 
Project Narrative must not be longer than 30 pages.

Evaluation Criteria 1: Organizational Profiles

Element I. Organizational Experience and Administrative Capability; 
Ability To Assist Participants (0 to 20 Points)

    Criterion: The capability and relevant experience of the applicant, 
its staff, and its partners and collaborators in developing and 
operating programs which deal with poverty problems similar to those to 
be addressed by the proposed project. Applicants should include their 
experience and capability in providing supportive services to TANF 
recipients and other low income individuals and working families 
seeking to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency; and in 
recruiting, educating, and assisting project participants to increase 
their economic independence and general well-being through economic 
literacy education and the accumulation of assets.
    Experience: In this section, applications should briefly cite a few 
specific, concrete examples of successful programs and activities, with 
accomplishments, with which applicant has been involved which have 
contributed to its experience and capability to carry out the proposed 
project. This should include:
     Experience in working with the target or similar 
populations;
     Collaborative programming and operations which involve 
financial institutions; and
     Financial planning, budget counseling, educational 
guidance, preparation for home ownership, and/or self-employment 
training.
Agency Management Commitment
     Identify applicant agency executive leadership and briefly 
describe their involvement in the proposed project;
     Provide assurance of their commitment to its successful 
implementation. (This can be achieved by a statement or letter from 
agency executive leadership which may be included in the Appendix, and 
which should note and justify the priority that this project will have 
within the agency including the facilities and resources that it has 
available to carry it out.)
    Qualifications, experience, capacity and commitment of the key 
staff person(s) who will administer and implement the project:
     Identify the individual staff person(s) who will have the 
most responsibility for managing the project, coordinating services and 
activities for participants and partners, and for achieving performance 
targets.
     Indicate the amount of time (in FTE) each will be expected 
to devote to

[[Page 18326]]

the project and briefly describe their roles and responsibilities;
     Include resume or resumes of key project personnel in the 
Appendix.

(The person identified as Project Director should have supervisory 
experience, experience in working with financial institutions and 
budget related problems of the poor, and experience with the target 
population);
     Include in the Appendix the Position Description(s) for 
key project staff who have not yet been identified.
    Roles, responsibilities, and experience of any other organizations 
that will be collaborating with the Applicant to assist and support 
Project Participants in the pursuit of their goals under the project. 
Supporting documentation concerning these partnering agencies and their 
written commitment to participation in the project should be included 
in the Appendix to the proposal.
    Where the Applicant is applying as the lead agency for a consortium 
of partnering organizations, each of these organizations should be 
briefly described in this section of the Project Narrative; and 
background materials citing their relevant experience and staff 
capabilities should be included in the Appendix. In such cases the 
Applicant should document its capability and experience in managing 
such consortia, and the roles and responsibilities of all participating 
agencies should be clearly set forth in Partnering Agreements between 
the Applicant and each of the member organizations. Copies of the 
Agreements should be included in the Appendix, and the roles and 
responsibilities clearly explained in Element II(b), Project Design, 
and reflected in the Work Plan under Element II(d).
    It is suggested that applicants use no more than 5 pages for this 
sub-Element, not counting actual resumes or position descriptions, 
which should be included in an Appendix to the proposal, or background 
materials on consortium members (if any) and other collaborating 
agencies, supportive materials, and, where applicable, Partnering 
Agreements with members, which should also be included in the Appendix.

Evaluation Criteria 2: Approach I

Element II. Sufficiency of the Project Theory, Design, and Plan (0-45 
Points)

    Criterion: The degree to which the project described in the 
application appears likely to result in the establishment of a 
workable, fiscally sound project that will provide a structure of 
incentives and supports for TANF eligible households and other working 
families of limited means that will enable them to increase their 
economic self sufficiency through economic literacy training and asset 
accumulation for one or more ``qualified expenses''.
    OCS seeks to learn from the application why and how the project as 
proposed is expected to establish the creation of new opportunities for 
asset accumulation by eligible individuals and families that can lead 
to significant improvements in individual and family self-sufficiency 
through activities requiring one or more qualified expenses: for post-
secondary education, home ownership, and/or qualified business 
capitalization.
    Applicants are urged to design and present their project, pursuant 
to the following sub-elements, in terms of a conceptual cause-effect 
framework that makes clear the relationship between what the project 
plans to do and the results it expects to achieve.
Sub-Element II(a)(1). Description of Target Population, Analysis of 
Need, and Project Assumptions (0-6 Points)
    Target population and area:
     Precisely identify the target population(s) to be served.
     Identify and briefly describe the geographic area to be 
impacted.
     Cite (with source of data) the percentage of residents of 
that target area who are low-income individuals, who are TANF 
recipients, as well as the unemployment rate, and other data that are 
relevant to the project design. Note: Both the poverty rate and 
unemployment rate of the target community(s) are needed to be set forth 
in the Application so that its eligibility for the legislative 
preference under Sub-Element II(a)(2) may be determined (see below).
    The project design or plan should begin with identifying the 
underlying assumptions about the program. These are the beliefs on 
which the proposed program is built. They should begin with assumptions 
about the strengths and needs of the population(s) to be served; about 
how the accumulation of assets will enable project participants to 
build on those strengths in their quest to achieve self-sufficiency; 
and about what anticipated needs of the participants could be barriers 
to that achievement.
    In other words, the underlying assumptions of the program are the 
applicant's analysis of the participant strengths and potential to be 
supported and their needs and problems to be addressed by the project, 
and the applicant's theory of how its proposed interventions will 
address those strengths and needs to achieve the desired result. A 
strong application is based upon a clear description of the strengths, 
opportunities, needs and problems to be supported and addressed, and a 
persuasive understanding of the nature of the opportunities and causes 
of the problems.
    Thus the application should include a brief discussion of the 
following:
     The identified strengths and needs of the population(s) to 
be served;
     How the accumulation of assets will enable project 
participants to build on those strengths in their quest to achieve 
self-sufficiency;
     What anticipated needs of the participants could be 
barriers to that achievement.
     Any identified personal barriers to employment, job 
retention and greater self-sufficiency faced by the population to be 
targeted by the project (for example, illiteracy, substance abuse, 
family violence, lack of skills training, health or medical problems, 
need for childcare, lack of suitable clothing or equipment, or poor 
self-image);
     Any identified community systemic barriers which the 
applicant will seek to overcome (for example, lack of public 
transportation; lack of markets; unavailability of financing, insurance 
or bonding; inadequate social services for employment service, child 
care, job training; high incidence of crime; lack of housing; 
inadequate health care; or environmental hazards).
     The personal and family services and support needed by 
project participants which will enhance job retention and advancement, 
so as to assure continued ability to save from earned income, and which 
will also help to assure that benefits attainable through asset 
accumulation are not diverted by crises beyond the participants' 
control which would lead to emergency withdrawals.
    The applicant should thus be prepared to demonstrate that the 
proposed project activities will provide participants with realistic 
prospects for making the investments needed to acquire the assets which 
are the goal of the IDA.
    Where applicant is the lead agency for a group or consortium of 
organizations, this narrative should very briefly summarize the 
location, character, and unemployment and poverty status of the 
different target populations. More detailed information for each of the 
participating organizations should be included in the Appendix to the 
Application.

[[Page 18327]]

Sub-Element II(a)(2). Description of Target Population, Analysis of 
Need, and Project Assumptions--Legislatively Mandated Preferences 
(Weight of 0-4 Points in Proposal Review)

    Note: See the legislative preferences set forth in Part II 
Section I (Preferences), above.

    1. Applicant demonstrates the willingness and ability to select 
individuals for participation in the project who are predominantly from 
households in which a child (or children) is living with the child's 
biological or adoptive mother or father, or with the child's legal 
guardians. Applications which include a targeting of TANF eligible 
households will be deemed to have met this preference, described in 
Part II, I.(1.) (Weight of 0-2 points in proposal review)
    2. Applicant targets individuals residing within one or more 
relatively well-defined neighborhoods or communities (including rural 
communities, public housing developments, Empowerment Zones and 
Enterprise Communities) that experience high rates of poverty or 
unemployment. Applicant must cite data and source of data to 
demonstrate eligibility for this preference. (Applications which target 
residents of Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, Public Housing, 
or CDFI Fund-designated Distressed Communities will be deemed to have 
met this preference, described in Part II, I.(3.) (Weight of 0-2 points 
in proposal review)
    In the case of a consortium of organizations operating programs 
funded through a lead agency, if a majority of the participating 
organizations meet these legislative preferences, the Application as a 
whole will be awarded these points.
    It is suggested that applicants use no more than 5 pages for this 
Sub-Element, not including any more detailed information about target 
populations or communities, which should be included in the Appendix.
Sub-Element II(b). Project Approach and Design: Interventions, 
Outcomes, and Goals (0-15 Points)
    The Application should outline a plan of action which describes the 
scope and detail of the proposed project activities which will be 
undertaken, and explains how they will contribute to the achievement of 
project goals. This sub-element should begin with a concise statement 
of project goals, which should include:
     The number of IDAs that are proposed to be established for 
each of the ``Qualified Expenses'' under the AFI Act (first home, post 
secondary education, business capitalization);
     The projected monthly savings by AFI-eligible IDA holders 
and the planned rate of matching contributions; (Projected savings may 
vary depending on participant ability to pay.)
     The projected savings and asset goals of the AFI-eligible 
participants. (It is recognized that these projections may be revised 
during the course of the project, based on actual experience of the 
participants.); and
     Demonstration that projected savings goals have a true 
relation to the ability of the Participant to save and to the value or 
cost of the ``Qualified Expense'' for which the IDA is to be used, be 
it housing, post secondary education, or business capitalization.
    Next, the Applicant should present a clear and straightforward 
description, from the point of view of the Project Participant, of just 
how the proposed IDA Project will operate. This description should take 
an eligible member of the target population through project activities 
from recruitment through the payment for the ``Qualified Expense'' (and 
beyond, if appropriate). It is suggested that the description generally 
follow the outline below, plus any additional activities that the 
Applicant proposes to undertake as part of its project:
    (1) How/where does the potential participant learn information 
about the Project that will excite his/her interest? (Recruitment)
    (2) Once interested, how, when, by whom, and on what basis is the 
recruit selected to participate in the project? (Selection)
    (3) How and when and with what assistance (Case Management? Family 
Development?) does the new participant make decisions concerning the 
amount of weekly or monthly savings and the selection of ``Qualified 
Expense''? Or is this part of the Selection Process? (Consultation)
    (4) When and where and with whom does the Participant reach 
agreement on and sign a ``Savings Plan Agreement''? (Include here a 
brief discussion of the provisions of the Agreement, or refer to a 
sample provided in the Appendix.) (Savings Plan Agreement)
    (5) Where, when and how does the Participant actually open his/her 
IDA account with the Insured Financial Institution? Where is the 
Institution in relation to the Participant's home/place of work? How 
does the Participant get to the Institution? (Include here a brief 
discussion of the role of the Financial Institution in account 
management, data collection and reporting, and any other services it 
will provide, referring to copies of the agreement(s) with the 
Financial Institution(s) in the Appendix.) (Opening of the IDA/Role of 
the Financial Institution)
    (6a) How and where will participant make savings deposits? In 
person? By mail? Through payroll deduction? (Savings Deposits)
    (6b) What happens if a scheduled deposit is missed? Will the 
participant be sent a post card? Receive a supportive phone call? 
(Delinquency)
    (7a) Where and when and from whom does the participant receive 
``Economic Literacy'' or ``Budgeting'' training, and do childcare and 
transportation need to be provided? (Training and Support)
    (7b) Where and when and from whom does participant receive Credit 
Repair Services if they are needed; and are there ways to escape from, 
or avoid Predatory Lenders? (Credit Repair)
    (8a) Where and when and from whom does the participant receive 
needed support to remain on the job with opportunity for advancement 
(So as to assure continued savings from earned income)? (Post 
Employment Support Services)
    (8b) Where and when and from whom does the participant receive 
emergency services so as to avoid having to make Emergency Withdrawals? 
(Crisis Intervention)
    (9) Where and when and from whom does the participant receive 
``Qualified Expenditure'' training related to home ownership, pursuit 
of educational goals, or business plan development and business 
management? (Qualified Expenditure Support)
    (10) When the IDA savings/match goals have been achieved, where, 
when and how does the participant make or arrange withdrawals to 
support the ``Qualified Expenses''? (Withdrawals)
    Finally, and following the above description, the Applicant should 
explain how the proposed project activities will result in outcomes 
which will build on the strengths of the Program Participants and 
assist them to overcome the identified personal and systemic barriers 
to achieving self-sufficiency:
    What will the project staff do with the resources available to the 
project;
    How will what they do (interventions) assist project participants 
to accumulate assets in Individual Development Accounts and use those 
assets for ``Qualified Expenses'' in a manner that will help lead them 
to self-sufficiency; and
    What personal and family service and support will be provided to 
project participants that will enhance job retention and advancement, 
so as to assure continued ability to save from

[[Page 18328]]

earned income, and which will also help to assure that benefits 
attainable through asset accumulation are not diverted by crises beyond 
the participants' control which would lead to emergency withdrawals.
    In this description the applicant should discuss all of the planned 
activities and interventions, including those supported by other 
available resources or partnering organizations, and should explain the 
reasons for taking the approaches proposed. The description should give 
a clear picture of how the project as a whole will operate from day to 
day, including the recruiting, financial, program support, and data 
collection responsibilities of the applicant and any partners in the 
project, and just how they will interact with the financial 
institutions and other participating agencies.
    Where the Applicant is a lead agency for a group or consortium of 
organizations, the role of each must be clearly defined in this section 
of the application. In such cases Applicants should attach copies of 
signed Partnering Agreements with each of the member organizations 
setting forth the roles and responsibilities of each. (See Element I 
and Part II Section B.(3) above.)
    It is suggested that applicants use no more than 9 pages for this 
Sub-Element, not including copies of agreements with financial 
institutions, partnering agencies or organizations, or sample ``Savings 
Plan Agreement'', which should be in an Appendix.
    Sub-Element II(c). Financial Institution Agreement/Statement of 
Policy (0-10 Points)

    Note: In the case of applications submitted by eligible Credit 
Unions or Community Development Financial Institutions, where the 
Reserve Fund and IDA accounts are to be held by the applicant 
Institution itself, the applicant must submit, in lieu of a 
Financial Institution Agreement, a Statement of Policy, approved by 
its Board of Directors and attested to by its Chairperson and Chief 
Financial Officer, which sets forth the provisions listed under this 
Sub-Element, and which will be considered in like manner in the 
competitive review process. Where such applicants are proposing the 
establishment of Reserve Fund(s) or IDA's in other partnering 
Financial Institutions, they should submit as part of their 
applications copies of Agreements with such Partnering Financial 
Institution(s) in accordance with this Sub-Element. It is suggested 
that applicants need not include discussion of these Agreements/
Statements of Policy in their Proposal Narrative, but should only 
identify the Financial Institution(s) and reference the Agreement/
Statement of Policy as included in an Appendix to the Application.

    Applicants other than eligible Credit Unions or CDFI's must 
identify the Qualified Financial Institution(s) with which they are 
partnering in the development and implementation of its IDA Project, 
and all applicants must include in an Appendix a copy of a signed 
Agreement between the Applicant and the Financial Institution(s), or, 
in the case of eligible Credit Unions or CDFI's, a Statement of Policy, 
which sets forth:
    (1) That the project's Reserve Fund will be established in the 
Financial Institution;
    (2) That its management will conform to the requirements of the AFI 
Act (see PART II Section G.(1) above);
    (3) The rate of interest to be paid on amounts in the Reserve Fund;
    (4) That IDA accounts will be established in the Financial 
Institution through written governing instruments in accordance with 
the requirements of Part II, Section G. Paragraph (4), sub-paragraphs 
(a) through (g), and Paragraph (5), above, including the requirements 
for deposits (by cash, check, money order or electronic transfer) and 
withdrawals (signature of the account holder and of a responsible 
official of the project grantee required);
    (5) How, when, and where participant deposits will be made;
    (6) How and when matching contributions will be made (e.g. in a 
parallel account);
    (7) The rate and frequency of interest payments on accounts, 
including matching contributions;
    (8) That the accounting procedures to be followed in account 
management will conform to the Guidelines established by the Secretary 
as set forth in Attachment ``L'' to this Announcement;
    (9) The data and reports that will be furnished to the grantee 
concerning the Reserve Fund and IDA accounts;
    (10) The Non-Federal Share contribution, if any, being made by the 
Financial Institution for deposit in the Reserve Fund, and the schedule 
of deposits of such contribution; and
    (11) Other services to be provided by the Financial Institution(s) 
that could strengthen the project, such as Financial Education 
Seminars, favorable pricing on fees, out-stationing of services in 
community facilities, or assistance in recruitment of Project 
Participants.
    Agreements/policies which meet the basic requirements of paragraphs 
(1) through (9), above will be awarded up to eight (8) points in the 
competitive review process. To be awarded a higher score Agreements/
Statements of Policy must include some provisions from those included 
in paragraphs (10) and (11).
    As noted above, the applicant need only identify the partnering 
Financial Institution(s) under this Sub-Element, and reference the 
Agreement(s) or Statement of Policy in the Appendix to the Application.
Sub-Element II(d). Work Plan, Time Lines, Projections, Management Plan 
(0-10 Points)
    For this Sub-element, applicants should provide the information 
described below in items A and B of this Sub-element.

A. Quantitative Quarterly Projections of the Following Information 
(Which May Be Presented in the Form of a Gant Chart or Table)

     The projected number of participants to be enrolled in 
each quarter;
     The number of Individual Development Accounts projected to 
be opened in each quarter for each of the ``Qualified Expenses'', with 
an estimate of expected attrition among participants;
     The number and amount of projected deposits in each 
quarter;
     A projected schedule of IDA completions and qualified 
expense payments, which should reflect the expected attrition noted 
above;
     A projected schedule of financial literacy training 
classes to be presented;
     The number and types of other support services to be 
provided to participants;
     A projected schedule of ``asset-related training'' to be 
provided participants; and
     Key project tasks, with the timelines and major milestones 
for their implementation.
    Where the Applicant is a lead agency for a group or consortium of 
organizations, this information should be broken out for each of the 
member organizations. Applicant may be able to use a time line chart to 
convey this aspect of the work plan in minimal space.

    Note: Applicants should make sure that these projections relate 
accurately to the amount of grant funds requested and rates of 
matching contributions that are planned for IDA's. In other words, 
applicants should project the number of IDA accounts that will be 
matched by the grant funds that will be available to the project, 
given the proposed maximum matching contribution (which cannot be 
more than $2000 in Federal grant funds). Thus:

     Applicants should not project a greater number of IDA 
accounts than that number that can be matched by the grant funds that 
will be available to the project.

[[Page 18329]]

     Applicants should also be aware that OCS funds awarded 
pursuant to this Announcement will be from FY 2002 funds and may not be 
expended after the end of the five-year Project/Budget Period to 
support administration of the project or matching contributions to 
Individual Development Accounts which may be open at that time.
     Consequently, Applicants should consider carefully the 
length of time participants will need to achieve their savings goals 
and at what point in the project they should discontinue the opening of 
new accounts.
     Applicants must include a statement of assurance that in 
every case an IDA account will only be opened for a participant when 
there are in the project's Reserve Fund sufficient funds for payment of 
all promised matching contributions to that account during its lifetime 
until its maturity in the course of the demonstration project.

B. Management Plan or Chart Showing the Following Information

     The responsibilities of the applicant agency, key 
personnel, and all partnering agencies and consortium members (where 
applicable), with
     An indication of who will be performing various tasks such 
as recruiting, training, economic literacy training, and support 
activities.

(This management plan or chart should be included in the Appendix to 
the Application.)
    It is suggested that applicants use no more than 3 pages for this 
Sub-Element, not counting the management plan/chart, which should be 
included in the Appendix.

Evaluation Criteria 3: Budget and Budget Justification

Element III. Appropriateness of Budget and Proposed Use of Cash and In-
Kind Resources (0-5 Points)

    Criteria: Completeness of the Budget Justification, and the degree 
to which a description of the allocation of both cash and in-kind 
resources available to the project (including any income generated for 
the project by the Reserve Fund) demonstrates a thoughtful plan that 
reflects the needs of Project Participants and the responsive 
activities and interventions to be undertaken by the Applicant and its 
partners.
    Every application must include a Budget Justification, placed after 
the Budget Forms SF 424 and 424A, explaining the sources and uses of 
project funds, and completed in accordance with instructions found in 
Section G of this Part, above. The Budget Justification will not be 
counted as part of the Project Description subject to the 30-page 
limitation. The Budget Justification should include the following:
     Brief but thorough description of how all of the resources 
available to the Project will be employed to carry out the Work Plan 
described in Element II, including those training elements and support 
services designed to help assure participant success in meeting their 
savings commitments and their chosen ``qualified expense'' use of their 
Individual Development Account assets.
     In the budget forms and supporting Budget Justification, 
Applicants must clearly distinguish between AFI Act/OCS grant funds and 
other funds, and between cash and in-kind resources described. (See 
detailed instructions in Part V (B), below.)
     Applicant should provide sufficient detail for all costs, 
showing how amounts were computed, to substantiate the need, cost, and 
use of proposed expenditures.
     The budget must clearly reflect that the grantee will use 
at least 2% (but not more than 15%) of grant funds, to provide the 
research organization (Abt Associates) with which ACF has contracted to 
evaluate the Assets For Independence Demonstration Program with such 
information as may be required for the evaluation.
     The budget must clearly reflect that at least 85% of the 
Federal grant funds, and an equal amount of the required cash non-
Federal share funds, shall be used as matching contributions to 
participants' AFI-eligible IDA accounts.
    As noted above, the Budget Justification will not be counted as 
part of the Project Description subject to the 30-page limitation.

Evaluation Criteria 4: Approach II

Element IV. Project Data: Adequacy of Plan for Collecting, Validating 
and Providing Project-Related Data for Management Information, 
Reporting, and Evaluation Purposes (0-5 Points)

    Criteria: Adequacy of the plan for collecting, validating and 
providing relevant, accurate and complete data for internal management 
information, statutory reporting and project evaluation purposes; and 
clear expression of a commitment to cooperate with the statutorily 
mandated evaluation of the national Assets for Independence 
Demonstration Program.

    Note: Under the AFI Act project grantees are required to use at 
least 2%--but not more than 15%--of grant funds to provide the 
research organization (Abt Associates) evaluating the demonstration 
project with such information with respect to the demonstration 
project as may be required for the evaluation.

    Although grantees of the Assets for Independence Demonstration 
Program are not required to have their own project evaluation, they are 
required to cooperate with, and furnish project data to the statutorily 
mandated evaluation of the national Assets for Independence 
Demonstration Program carried out by the independent research 
organization under contract to ACF (Abt Associates). Proposal review 
will include consideration of the adequacy of the applicant's plan for 
collecting, validating and providing relevant, accurate and complete 
data, and the applicant's plan for internal management information, 
statutory reporting and OCS national IDA program evaluation purposes.
    This Element requires the Applicant to provide the following:
     An explicit statement of applicant's agreement to 
cooperate with the evaluation of the national program being carried out 
by Abt Associates;
     A brief explanation of applicant's perception of what that 
cooperation would entail;
     A well-thought-out plan for collecting, validating and 
reporting or providing the necessary data in a timely fashion (The 
Applicant is also encouraged to identify the kinds of data it believes 
would facilitate the evaluation, reporting, purposes); and
     An explicit statement that the applicant agrees to use the 
``MIS IDA'' information system software developed by the Center for 
Social Development, or a comparable and compatible Asset Development 
Information System, now in development, which OCS hopes to provide to 
grantees for the maintenance, collection, and transmission of data from 
the proposed project.

    Note: To attain a maximum score for this Element, the Applicant 
must state its agreement to use the ``MIS IDA'' or comparable/
compatible information system approved by OCS.

    Applicants are urged to carry out an ongoing assessment of the data 
and information collected as an effective ``process'' management/
feedback tool in implementing their project. If the Applicant 
anticipates such an undertaking, the plans should be briefly outlined 
here.
    It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this 
Element.

[[Page 18330]]

Evaluation Criteria 5: Non-Federal Resources

Element V. Commitment of Resources (Total of 0-15 Points)

Sub-Element V(a). Proportion of Public/Private Required Non-Federal 
Matching Contributions (0-2 Points)
    Criterion: Whether a proportionately greater amount of the 
committed required cash non-Federal share funds are from the private 
sector as opposed to public (government) sources.
    In accordance with the legislative preference set forth in Part II 
Section I(2) (Preferences), above, applications which provide a 
commitment of required cash non-Federal funds with a proportionately 
greater amount of such funds committed from private sector as opposed 
to public sources will receive 2 points under this Element.
    Applicants are reminded that as noted in Part II Section H. (Cash 
Non-Federal Share Requirements), where the Applicant is itself 
providing any of the required cash non-Federal share, it must include 
in the Appendix a statement of commitment, on applicant letterhead, 
signed by the official signing the SF 424 and countersigned by the 
Applicant's Board Chairperson or Treasurer, that:
     The non-Federal matching funds will be provided, 
contingent only on the OCS grant award, and
     Non-Federal share deposits and the opening of Individual 
Development Accounts will be coordinated so that new accounts will only 
be opened when there are sufficient funds in the Reserve Fund to cover 
the total matching requirements of the Savings Plan Agreements for 
those accounts during their lifetime until they reach maturity.
Sub-Element V(b). Availability of Additional Resources (0-13 Points)
    Criterion: The extent to which additional resources (beyond the 
required amount of direct funds from non-federal public sector or 
private sources that are formally committed to the project as non-
Federal Share) will be available to support those activities and 
interventions identified in Project Approach and Design [sub-Element 
II(b)], such as economic literacy classes, ``qualified expense'' asset-
related training, counseling, case management, post-employment support 
services, and crisis intervention.
    As noted below in Part IV, Paragraph D Initial OCS Screening, the 
only applications which will be considered for competitive review are 
those which include written documentation of a commitment, contingent 
only on award of the OCS grant, from the provider(s) of non-Federal 
share, in cash as distinguished from in-kind, of at least the amount of 
the total Federal grant requested.
    OCS has determined that in light of the strict legislative 
limitations on the use of Federal grant funds and of the minimum 
required non-Federal share (at least 85% of each must go toward 
matching deposits in Individual Development Accounts), important 
training, counseling and support activities, critical to the success of 
a project, can best be supported by additional resources, both of the 
applicant itself and partners, and from the community at large.
    Additional resources may be existing programs of the applicant or a 
project partner, such as Family Development, Economic Literacy classes, 
or Small Business Training, in which Project Participants are enrolled 
as part of their efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.
    In order to receive points in the review process under this sub-
Element, the applicant must:
     Identify those additional resources, cash and in-kind, 
which will be dedicated to support of those activities and 
interventions identified as part of the Project Approach and Design in 
sub-Element II(b) (including economic literacy classes, training, 
counseling, case management, post-employment support services, and 
crisis intervention; and any staff data collection and verification 
activities described in the budget (Element III); and
     Document the commitment of such resources to the project 
in writing and submit as an Appendix to the Application.

    Note: Because such additional resources are not part of the 
legislatively mandated cash non-Federal share requirement, these 
additional resources may be of Federal or non-Federal origin, public 
or private, in cash or in-kind. Applicants are reminded that they 
will be held accountable for commitments of such additional 
resources even if over the amount of the required non-Federal share.

    It is suggested that no more than 3 pages be used for this Element, 
not including non-Federal Share Agreements, assurances, documents of 
commitment, partnership agreements, or Memoranda of Understanding, 
which should be put in an Appendix to the proposal.

Evaluation Criteria 6: Results or Benefits Expected

Element VI. Significant and Beneficial Impacts/Critical Issues or 
Potential Problems (0-8 Points)

    Criteria: The extent to which proposed project is expected to 
produce permanent and measurable results that will reduce the incidence 
of poverty in the community and lead TANF eligible households and other 
eligible individuals and working families toward economic self-
sufficiency through economic literacy education and accumulation of 
assets; and the extent to which applicant convincingly explains how the 
project will meet any critical issues or potential problems in 
achieving these results.
    For this element, Applicants should:
     Set forth their realistic goals and projections for 
attainment of these and other beneficial impacts of the proposed 
project;
     Demonstrate that projected savings goals have a true 
relationship to the ability of the participant to save the projected 
amounts and to the value or cost of the ``Qualified Expense'' for which 
the IDA is to be used;
     Quantify anticipated results in terms of
     The number of AFI-eligible Individual Development Accounts 
opened,
     The rate of growth of individual savings among 
participants,
     The number and size of withdrawals for each of the three 
``Qualified Expenses'', and
     The impact of the acquisition of these assets on the 
participants' movement toward self-sufficiency, and explicitly address:
     Critical issues or potential problems that might affect 
the achievement of project objectives, and
     An explanation of how they would be overcome, and how the 
objectives will be achieved notwithstanding any such problems.
    It is suggested that no more than 3 pages be used for this Element.

Evaluation Criteria 7: Support for Noncustodial Parents

Element VII. Agreements With Local Child Support Enforcement Agencies 
(0-2 Points)

    As explained in Part II Section N, applicants who have entered into 
partnership agreements with local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) 
Agencies to develop and implement innovative strategies to increase the 
capability of low-income parents and families to fulfill their parental 
responsibilities; and specifically, to this end, to provide for 
referrals to the funded projects of identified income eligible families 
and noncustodial parents economically unable to provide child support, 
will also receive special consideration.
    To receive the full credit of two points, applicants should include 
as an

[[Page 18331]]

appendix to the application, a signed letter of agreement with the 
local CSE Agency for referral of eligible noncustodial parents to the 
proposed project.
    It is suggested that applicants need only refer to the relevant 
appendix for this Element.

Part IV. Application Procedures

A. Application Development/Availability of Forms

    In order to be considered for a grant under this program 
announcement, an application must conform to the Program Requirements 
set out in Part II and be prepared in accordance with the guidelines 
set out in Part III, above, with a project narrative that is responsive 
to the Program Elements and Review Criteria there set out. It must be 
submitted on the forms supplied in the attachments to this Announcement 
and in the manner prescribed below. Attachments A through I contain all 
of the standard forms necessary for the application for awards under 
this OCS program. These attachments and Parts IV and V of this 
Announcement contain all the instructions required for submittal of 
applications.
    Additional copies may be obtained by writing or telephoning the 
office listed under the section entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT: at the beginning of this announcement. In addition, this 
Announcement is accessible on the Internet through the OCS website for 
reading or downloading at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/--click 
on ``Funding Opportunities''.
    The applicant must be aware that in signing and submitting the 
application for this award, it is certifying that it will comply with 
the Federal requirements concerning the drug-free workplace, the 
Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke, and debarment 
regulations set forth in Attachments G, H, and I.
    Part III contains instructions for the substance and development of 
the project narrative. Part V contains instructions for completing 
application forms. Part VI, Section A describes the contents and format 
of the application as a whole.

B. Application Submission

(1) Number of Copies Required
    One signed original application and two copies must be submitted at 
the time of initial submission. (OMB 0976-0139). Two additional 
optional copies would be much appreciated by OCS to facilitate the 
processing and third party review of applications.
(2) Deadline
    Applications shall be considered as meeting the announced deadline 
of June 14, 2002 if they are received on or before the deadline date. 
Mail service in the Washington, DC area was disrupted a few months ago 
and for several weeks, all mail deliveries to the Administration for 
Children and Families stopped. Regular deliveries have resumed, but 
delays continue due to the irradiation process. It may be some time 
before the situation corrects itself. Consequently, it is strongly 
recommended that applicants avail themselves of overnight/express 
delivery such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service to submit 
their applications. Applications received after the due date will not 
be accepted for consideration in the first round of proposal reviews. 
If there is an insufficient number of acceptable applications in the 
first round of proposal reviews for OCS to fully expend available 
funds, a second round of applications will be accepted and reviewed, 
subject to the availability of funds, if received on or before August 
5, 2002. Should this be the case, ACF will publish a timely notice to 
that effect in the Federal Register.
    Applications submitted via overnight/express delivery services 
should be addressed to the Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Administration, Office of Grants Management, Division of 
Discretionary Grants, ``Attention IDA Program'', 901 D Street SW., 
Fourth Floor West, Washington, DC 20024.
    Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by 
other representatives of the applicant shall be considered as meeting 
an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline 
date, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Grants Management, 
Division of Discretionary Grants, Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near loading 
dock), Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20024, 
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address 
must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the 
note ``Attention: IDA Program''.
    (As noted above, because of current delays in mail service, it is 
strongly recommended that applicants not use the U.S. Postal service 
for submission of applications. However, for any applicants that do so, 
mailed applications must be sent to: U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Administration, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary 
Grants, ``Attention: IDA Program'', 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447.) 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.
(3) Late Applications
    Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered 
late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its 
application will not be considered in the current competition. As noted 
above, If there is an insufficient number of acceptable applications in 
the first round of proposal reviews for OCS to fully expend available 
funds, a second round of applications will be accepted and reviewed, 
subject to the availability of funds, if received on or before August 
5, 2002. Should this be the case, ACF will publish a timely notice to 
that effect in the Federal Register.
(4) Extension of Deadlines
    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 mails. A determination to waive or extend deadline 
requirements rests with ACF's Chief Grants Management Officer.

C. Intergovernmental Review

    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Program and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, 
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Palau have elected to participate in 
the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of 
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-seven jurisdictions need 
take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants for projects to be 
administered by

[[Page 18332]]

Federally-recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from the 
requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact their 
SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective applications 
and receive any necessary instructions. Applicants must submit any 
required material to the SPOCs as soon as possible so that the program 
office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award 
process. It is imperative that the applicant submit all required 
materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal 
(or indicate ``not applicable'' if no submittal is required) on the 
Standard Form 424, item 16a.
    Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application 
deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards.
    SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations.
    Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between 
mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations 
which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Grants 
Management, Division of Discretionary Grants 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., 4th floor West, Washington, DC 20447.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
is included as Attachment J to this Announcement.

D. Initial OCS Screening

    Each application submitted under this program announcement will 
undergo a pre-review to determine that the application was received by 
the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in 
this announcement.
    All applications that meet the published deadline requirements as 
provided in this Program Announcement will be screened for completeness 
and conformity with the following requirements. Only complete 
applications that meet the requirements listed below will be reviewed 
and evaluated competitively. Other applications will be returned to the 
applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be 
reviewed.
Checklist
    The following requirements must be met by all Applicants except as 
noted:
    (1) The application must contain a signed Standard Form 424 
``Application for Federal Assistance'' (SF-424), a budget (SF-424A), 
and signed ``Assurances'' (SF 424B) completed according to instructions 
published in Part V and Attachments A, B, and C of this Program 
Announcement. The SF-424 and the SF-424B must be signed by an official 
of the organization applying for the grant who has authority to 
obligate the organization legally. Applicants must also be aware that 
the applicant's legal name as required on the SF-424 (Item 5) must 
match that listed as corresponding to the Employer Identification 
Number (Item 6).
    (2) A project narrative must also accompany the standard forms. OCS 
requires that the narrative portion of the application be limited to 30 
letter-size pages, numbered, and typewritten on one side of the paper 
only with one-inch margins and type face no smaller than 12 characters 
per inch (c.p.i.) or equivalent. Applications with project narratives 
(excluding Project Summaries and appendices) of more than 30 letter-
sized pages of 12 c.p.i. type or equivalent on a single side will not 
be reviewed for funding. The Joint Applicant Agreement (where 
applicable), non-Federal share agreement, Budget Narrative, Charts, 
exhibits, resumes, position descriptions, letters of support or 
commitment, Agreements with Financial Institutions and other partnering 
organizations, and Business Plans (where required) are not counted 
against this page limit, and should be in the Appendix. It is strongly 
recommended that applicants follow the format and content for the 
narrative described in the program elements and review criteria set out 
in part iii section I.
    (3) Application should contain documentation of the applicant's (or 
joint applicant's) tax exempt status as required under Part II, Section 
B. No grants will be awarded to applicants that have not submitted such 
documentation.
    (4) Application must include a copy of a ``Non-Federal Share 
Agreement'' or Agreements in writing executed with the entity or 
entities providing the required non-Federal matching contributions, 
signed by a person authorized to make a commitment on behalf of the 
entity and signed for the Applicant by the person signing the SF424. 
Such Agreement(s) must include: (1) A commitment by the organization to 
provide the non-Federal funds contingent only on the grant award; and 
(2) an agreement as to the schedule of the opening of Individual 
Development Accounts by the Applicant, and the schedule of deposits by 
the organization to the project's Reserve Fund, such that the two 
schedules will together assure that there will be at all times in the 
Reserve Fund non-Federal matching contribution funds sufficient to meet 
the total pledges of matching contributions under the ``Savings Plan 
Agreements'' for all Individual Development Accounts then open and 
being maintained by the grantee, through their lifetime and until 
maturity, as part of the demonstration project.
    Where Applicants (or Joint Applicants) themselves are providing 
non-Federal share funding, then with regard to those funds the 
application must include an assurance, written on the Applicant's 
letterhead, signed by the person signing the SF424, and countersigned 
by the board Chairperson or Treasurer, that the required non-Federal 
share funds will be provided and that deposits and the opening of 
Individual Development Accounts will be coordinated so that new 
accounts will only be opened when there are sufficient funds in the 
Reserve Fund to cover the maximum matching requirements of the Savings 
Plan Agreements. (See Part II, Section H.)
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to mobilize additional 
resources, which may be cash or in-kind contributions, Federal or non-
Federal, for support of project administration and assistance to 
Project Participants in obtaining skills, knowledge, and needed support 
services. (See Part III--I Element V(b))
    (5) All Applications other than those submitted by eligible Credit 
Unions or CDFI's must include a copy of an Agreement between the 
Applicant and one or more Qualified Financial Institutions, which 
includes the provisions set out in Part III--I, Element II(c), which 
states that the accounting procedures to be followed in account 
management will conform to Guidelines (45 CFR Part 74) established by 
the Secretary, and under which the partnering financial institution 
will agree to provide data and reports as requested by the applicant. 
Note: the Accounting Guidelines may be found under 45 CFR parts 74 and 
92.

E. Consideration of Applications

    Applications which pass the initial OCS screening will be reviewed 
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific 
review criteria described and discussed in Part III, above. 
Applications will be reviewed and rated under the Program Elements and 
Review Criteria set forth in Part III Section I. The review criteria 
were designed to assess the quality of a proposed project, and to 
determine the likelihood of its success. The review

[[Page 18333]]

criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging 
the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded only to 
applications which are responsive to the review criteria and program 
elements within the context of this Program Announcement. The results 
of these reviews will assist the Director and OCS program staff in 
considering competing applications. Reviewers' scores will weigh 
heavily in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors 
considered.
    Applications generally will be considered in order of the average 
scores assigned by reviewers. However, highly ranked applications are 
not guaranteed funding since other factors are taken into 
consideration, including, but not limited to, the timely and proper 
completion by applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in 
the last five (5) years; comments of reviewers and government 
officials; staff evaluation and input; the amount and duration of the 
grant requested and the proposed project's consistency and harmony with 
OCS goals and policy; geographic distribution of applications; previous 
program performance of applicants; compliance with grant terms under 
previous HHS grants, including the actual dedication to program of 
mobilized resources as set forth in project applications; audit 
reports; investigative reports; and applicant's progress in resolving 
any final audit disallowances on previous OCS or other Federal agency 
grants.
    Since non-Federal reviewers will be used for review of 
applications, Applicants may omit from the application copies which 
will be made available to the non-Federal reviewers, the specific 
salary rates or amounts for individuals identified in the application 
budget. Rather, only summary information is required. OCS reserves the 
right to discuss applications with other Federal or non-Federal funding 
sources to verify the applicant's performance record and the documents 
submitted.

Part V. Instructions for Completing Application Forms

    The standard forms attached to this announcement shall be used to 
apply for funds under this program announcement.
    It is suggested that you reproduce single-sided copies of the SF-
424 and SF-424A, and type your application on the copies. Please 
prepare your application in accordance with instructions provided on 
the forms (Attachments A and B) as modified by the instructions set 
forth in Part III G., above, and the OCS specific instructions set 
forth below:
    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 which describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocability of the proposed costs. See the discussion of the 
Budget Justification in Part III Section I, Element III, above. Note: 
The Budget detail and Narrative Budget Justification should follow the 
SF 424 and 424A, and are not counted as part of the Project Narrative.

A. SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance (Attachment A)

Top of Page
    Where the applicant is a previous Department of Health and Human 
Services grantee, enter the Central Registry System Employee 
Identification Number (CRS/EIN) and the Payment Identifying Number, if 
one has been assigned, in the Block entitled Federal Identifier located 
at the top right hand corner of the form (third line from the top).
    Item 1. For the purposes of this announcement, all projects are 
considered Applications; there are no Pre-Applications.
    Item 7. If applicant is a State, enter ``A'' in the box. If 
applicant is an Indian Tribe enter ``K'' in the box. If applicant is a 
non-profit organization enter ``N'' in the box.
    Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--Enter DHHS-ACF/OCS.
    Item 10. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for OCS 
programs covered under this announcement is 93.602. The title is 
``Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA Program)''.
    Item 11. In addition to a brief descriptive title of the project, 
indicate the priority area for which funds are being requested. Use the 
following letter designations:

I--Individual projects under Priority Area 1.0

    Item 13. Proposed Project--The project start date must begin on or 
before September 30, 2002; the ending date should be calculated on the 
basis of 60-month Project Period.
    Item 15a. This amount should be no greater than $1,000,000 for 
applications under Priority Area 1.0, and in any case no greater than 
$1,000,000 less any previous AFIA grants awarded to the applicant.
    Item 15b-e. These items should reflect both cash and third-party, 
in-kind contributions for the Project Period (60 months).

B. SF-424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (Attachment 
B)

    In completing these sections, the Federal Funds budget entries will 
relate to the requested OCS funds only, and Non-Federal will include 
mobilized funds from all other sources--applicant, state, local, and 
other. Federal funds other than requested OCS funding should be 
included in Non-Federal entries.
    Sections A, B, and C of SF-424A should reflect budget estimates for 
each year of the Project Period.
Section A--Budget Summary
    You need only fill in lines 1 and 5 (with the same amounts)
    Col. (a): Enter ``IDA Program'' as Item number 1. (Items 2, 3, 4, 
and 5 should be left blank.)
    Col.(b): Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.602. 
Col. (c) and (d): not relevant to this program.
    Column (e)-(g): enter the appropriate amounts in items 1. and 5. 
(Totals) Column e should not be more than $1,000,000 for applications 
under Priority Area 1.0, and in no case can it be more than the 
committed non-Federal matching cash contribution or more than 
$1,000,000 less any previous AFIA grants awarded to the applicant.
Section B--Budget Categories
(Note that the following information supersedes the instructions 
provided with the Form in Attachment C)

    Columns (1)-(5): For each of the relevant Object Class Categories:
    Column 1: Enter the OCS grant funds for the full 5-year budget 
period. With regard to Class Categories, no less than eighty-five 
percent (85%) of OCS grant funds should be entered in ``h. Other'', 
representing the funds to be deposited in the Reserve Fund and which 
will be used to match participant contributions in IDA's. The balance 
of up to fifteen percent (15%) of OCS grant funds should be allocated 
to Object Class Categories in accordance with the instructions found in 
Part III Section G of this Announcement, and the requirements and 
limitations set out in Part II Section G(1)(b), above.
    Columns 2, 3 and 4 are not relevant to this program.

[[Page 18334]]

    Column 5: Enter not less than 85% of OCS grant funds for the five 
year budget by Class Categories under ``other'', showing a total of not 
more than $1,000,000 less any previous AFIA grants awarded to the 
applicant.
Section C--Non Federal Resources
    This section is to record the amounts of ``non-Federal'' resources 
that will be used to support the project, including both the required 
cash non-Federal share, and the ``additional resources'' which will 
bring additional support to the project, which may be cash or in-kind, 
non-Federal or Federal. In this context, ``Non-Federal'' resources mean 
any and all resources other than the OCS funds for which the applicant 
is applying. Therefore, mobilized funds from other Federal programs, 
such as the Job Training Partnership Act program or the Welfare-to-Work 
program, should be entered on these lines. Provide a brief listing of 
these ``non-Federal'' resources on a separate sheet and describe 
whether it is a grantee cost or a third-party cash or in-kind 
contribution. The firm commitment of these resources must be documented 
and submitted with the application in order to be given credit in the 
review process under the Non-Federal Resources program element. (Part 
III, Element V(b)

    Note: Even though non-Federal resources mobilized may go beyond 
the amount required as the cash non-Federal share under the IDA 
Program, grantees will be held accountable for any such cash or in-
kind contribution proposed or pledged as part of an approved 
application where the use of such funds falls within a Program 
Element/Proposal Review Criterion which formed the basis for the 
grant award. (See Part II, Section H. and Part III, Element V(b).

    Sections D, E, and F may be left blank by Applicants under Priority 
Area 1.0.
    As noted above and in Part VI, a supporting Budget Justification 
must be submitted providing details of expenditures under each budget 
category, with justification of dollar amounts which relate the 
proposed expenditures to the work program and goals of the project.

C. SF-424B Assurances: Non-Construction Programs

    Applicants requesting financial assistance for a non-construction 
project must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' (Attachment C) Applicants must sign and return 
the Standard Form 424B with their applications.
    Applicants must provide a certification concerning Lobbying. Prior 
to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall furnish 
an executed copy of the lobbying certification. (See Attachments D and 
E) Applicants must sign and return the certification with their 
applications. Applicants should note that the Lobbying Disclosure Act 
of 1995 has simplified the lobbying information required to be 
disclosed under 31 U.S.C. 1352.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification on their 
compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Pro-
Children Act of 1994 (Certification Regarding Smoke Free Environment). 
(See Attachments G and H) By signing and submitting the applications, 
applicants are attesting to their intent to comply with these 
requirements 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 award. 
(See Attachment I) By signing and submitting the applications, 
applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the 
certification with the applications. Copies of the certifications and 
assurances are located at the end of this announcement.

Part VI. Contents of Application and Receipt Process

    Application pages should be numbered sequentially throughout the 
application package, beginning with a Summary/Abstract of the proposed 
project as page number one; and each application must include all of 
the following, in the order listed below:

A. Content and Order of IDA Program Application: Checklist

    1. A Project Summary/Abstract--brief, not to exceed one page, on 
the Applicant's letterhead (that will not be counted as a part of the 
Project Narrative/Description) and that includes the following 
information:
     A brief identification of the geographic area to be 
served, indicating poverty and unemployment rates, and the specific 
population to be targeted by the project;
     The amount of the grant requested;
     The name of partnering financial institution(s) and 
collaborating organizations (if applicable);
     The amount of required non-Federal match committed;
     The number of IDA accounts projected to be opened in the 
course of the Demonstration Project;
     The proposed rate of matching contributions, and the types 
and numbers of ``Qualified Expenses'' expected to be achieved by 
participants; and
     A brief narrative description of the project indicating 
any of its innovative aspects.
    2. Table of Contents;
    3. A completed Standard Form 424 (Attachment A) which has been 
signed by an official of the organization applying for the grant who 
has authority to obligate the organization legally; (Note: The original 
SF-424 must bear the original signature of the authorizing 
representative of the applicant organization);
    4. A completed Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs (SF-
424A) (Attachment B);
    5. A Budget Justification, including narrative budget justification 
for each object class category included under Section B, as described 
in Part III, Program Element III;
    6. Proof of current tax-exempt status of Applicant or Joint 
Applicant (See Part II B.) No grants will be awarded to applicants that 
have not submitted such documentation;
    7. A project narrative, limited to 30 pages as specified in Part IV 
(D) Checklist, Item (2), and which includes all of the required 
elements described in Part III. (Specific information/data required 
under each component is described in Part III Section I, Evaluation 
Criteria.)
    8. Appendices, which should include the following:
    (a) (Where Application is submitted by a State or Local government 
agency or Tribal government jointly with a tax exempt non-profit 
organization) a properly executed Joint Application Agreement as 
described in Part II. Section B.(2), above;
    (b) Filled out, signed and dated Assurances--Non-Construction 
Programs (SF-424B), (Attachment C);
    (c) Restrictions on Lobbying--Certification for Contracts, Grants, 
Loans, and Cooperative Agreements: filled out, signed and dated form 
found at Attachment D;
    (d) Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, SF-LLL: Filled out, signed 
and dated form found at Attachment E, if appropriate (omit Items 11-15 
on the SF LLL and ignore references to continuation sheet SF-LLL-A)
    (e) Maintenance of Effort Certification (See Attachment F);
    (f) Signed Agreement(s) with partnering Financial Institution(s) 
(or Statements of Policy in the case of Credit Union or CDFI 
applicants) including identification of insurance carrier and current 
insurance number (see Part III. Program Sub-Element II(c));
    (g) Signed Agreements with providers of required non-Federal 
matching contributions (See Part II, Section H.)

[[Page 18335]]

    (h) Resumes and/or position descriptions (see Part III Program 
Element I);
    (i) (Where Applicant is ``lead agency'' of a collaborative or 
consortium of organizations) Copies of Partnering Agreements between 
the Applicant and each of the partnering members, setting forth their 
roles and responsibilities. (See Part II. Section B(3) and Part III, 
Elements I and II(b))
    (j) Any letters and/or supporting documents from collaborating or 
partnering agencies in target communities, providing additional 
information on staffing and experience in support of narrative under 
Part III Element I. (Such documents are not part of the Narrative and 
should be included in the Appendices. These documents are therefore not 
counted against the page limitations of the Narrative.); and
    (k) Single points of contact comments, if applicable.
    Applications must be uniform in composition since OCS may find it 
necessary to duplicate them for review purposes. Therefore, 
applications must be submitted on white 8\1/2\ x 11 inch paper only 
(See Part IV D. (2), above, concerning margins, type size, etc). They 
must not include colored, oversized or folded materials. Do not include 
organizational brochures or other promotional materials, slides, films, 
clips, etc. in the proposal. They will be discarded if included. The 
applications should be two-hole punched at the top center and fastened 
separately with a compressor slide paper fastener, or a binder clip. 
The submission of bound applications, or applications enclosed in 
binders is specifically discouraged.

B. Acknowledgment of Receipt

    Acknowledgment of Receipt--All applicants will receive an 
acknowledgment with an assigned identification number. Applicants are 
requested to supply a self-addressed mailing label with their 
Application, or a FAX number or e-mail address which can be used for 
acknowledgment. The assigned identification number, along with any 
other identifying codes, must be referenced in all subsequent 
communications concerning the Application. If an acknowledgment is not 
received within three weeks after the deadline date, please notify ACF 
by telephone at (202) 401-5307.

Part VII. Post Award Information and Reporting Requirements.

A. Notification of Grant Award

    Following approval of the applications selected for funding, notice 
of project approval and authority to draw down project funds will be 
made in writing. The official award document is the Financial 
Assistance Award which provides the amount of Federal funds approved 
for use in the project, the project and budget period for which support 
is provided, the terms and conditions of the award, and the total 
project period for which support is contemplated.

B. Attendance at Training/Technical Assistance/Incentive Awards 
Conferences

    OCS plans to sponsor annual Training/Technical Assistance/Incentive 
Awards Conferences in locations at various locations during the course 
of the five-year project. Every funded project will be required to be 
represented at these conferences provided that, as expected, funds will 
be made available by OCS for expenses of attending.

C. Reporting Requirements

    Grantees will be required to submit a semi-annual program progress 
reports (PPR's) and financial reports (SF 269) covering the six months 
after grant award, and similar reports after conclusion of the first 
Project Year. Such reports will be due 60 days after the reporting 
period. Thereafter grantees will only be required to submit annual 
program progress (PPR's) and financial reports (SF 269), as well as a 
final program progress and financial report 90 days after the 
expiration of the grant. In addition, grantees will be submitting 
information needed for the AFIA program evaluation described in PART I, 
Section E, and required by section 412 of the AFI Act; and needed for 
the Secretary's annual Interim Reports and Final Report to the Congress 
required by Section 414(d) of the AFI Act.

D. Audit Requirements

    Grantees are subject to the audit requirements in 45 CFR part 74 
(non-profit organizations) or Part 92 (governmental entities) which 
require audits under OMB Circular A-133.

E. Prohibitions and Requirements With Regard to Lobbying

    Section 319 of Public Law 101-121, signed into law on October 23, 
1989, imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and 
certification related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, 
grants, cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides limited 
exemptions for Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Current and 
prospective recipients (and their subtier contractors and/or grantees) 
are prohibited from using appropriated funds for lobbying Congress or 
any Federal agency in connection with the award of a contract, grant, 
cooperative agreement or loan. In addition, for each award action in 
excess of $100,000 (or $150,000 for loans) the law requires recipients 
and their subtier contractors and/or subgrantees (1) to certify that 
they have neither used nor will use any appropriated funds for payment 
to lobbyists, (2) to submit a declaration setting forth whether 
payments to lobbyists have been or will be made out of non-appropriated 
funds and, if so, the name, address, payment details, and purpose of 
any agreements with such lobbyists whom recipients or their subtier 
contractors or subgrantees will pay with the non-appropriated funds and 
(3) to file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if an event 
occurs that materially affects the accuracy of the information 
submitted by way of declaration and certification.
    The law establishes civil penalties for noncompliance and is 
effective with respect to contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and 
loans entered into or made on or after December 23, 1989. See 
Attachment H, for certification and disclosure forms to be submitted 
with the applications for this program.

F. Applicable Federal Regulations

    Attachment K indicates the regulations which apply to all 
applicants/grantees under the Assets for Independence Demonstration 
Program.

    Dated: April 1, 2002.
Clarence H. Carter,
Director, Office of Community Services.

List of Attachments

A. Standard Form 424
B. Standard Form 424A
C. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs
D. Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities
E. Instructions of SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
F. Certification Regarding Maintenance of Effort
G. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
H. Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
I. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters
J. Office of Management and Budget, E.O. 12372 State Single Point of 
Contact List (SPOC)
K. DHHS Regulations Applying to All Applicants/Grantees Under the 
Assets for Independence DEMONSTRATION Program (IDA Program)
L. OMB Poverty Guidelines
M. State Child Support Enforcement Offices

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BILLING CODE 4184-01-C

Attachment G--Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements

    This certification is required by the regulations implementing the 
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988: 45 CFR Part 76, Subpart F. Sections 
76.630(c) and (d)(2) and 76.645(a)(1) and (b) provide that a Federal 
agency may designate a central receipt point for STATE-WIDE AND STATE 
AGENCY-WIDE certifications, and for notification of criminal drug 
convictions. For the Department of Health and Human Services, the 
central pint is: Division of Grants Management and Oversight, Office of 
Management and Acquisition, Department of Health and Human Services, 
Room 517-D, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201.
Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Instructions 
for Certification)
    1. By signing and/or submitting this application or grant 
agreement, the grantee is providing the certification set out below.
    2. The certification set out below is a material representation of 
fact upon which reliance is placed when the agency awards the grant. If 
it is later determined that the grantee knowingly rendered a false 
certification, or otherwise violates the requirements of the Drug-Free 
Workplace Act, the agency, in addition to any other remedies available 
to the Federal Government, may take action authorized under the Drug-
Free Workplace Act.
    3. For grantees other than individuals, Alternate I applies.
    4. For grantees who are individuals, Alternate II applies.
    5. Workplace under grants, for grantees other than individuals, 
need not be identified on the certification. If known, they may be 
identified in the grant application. If the grantee does not identity 
the workplaces at the time of application, or upon award, if there is 
no application, the grantee must keep the identity of the workplace(s) 
on file in its office and make the information available for Federal 
inspection. Failure to identify all known workplaces constitutes a 
violation of the grantee's drug-free workplace requirements.
    6. Workplace identifications must include the actual address of 
buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites where work under the 
grant takes place. Categorical descriptions may be used (e.g., all 
vehicles of a mass transit authority or State highway department while 
in operation, State employees in each local unemployment office, 
performers in concert halls or radio studios).
    7. If the workplace identified to the agency changes during the 
performance of the grant, the grantee shall inform the agency of the 
change(s), if it previously identified the workplaces in question (see 
paragraph five).
    8. Definitions of terms in the Nonprocurement Suspension and 
Debarment common rule and Drug-Free Workplace common rule apply to this 
certification. Grantees' attention is called, in particular, to the 
following definitions from these rules:
    Controlled substance means a controlled substance in Schedules I 
through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as 
further defined by regulation (21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15);
    Conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo 
contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body 
charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the Federal 
or State criminal drug statutes;
    Criminal drug statute means a Federal of non-Federal criminal 
statute involving the manufacture, distribution,

[[Page 18348]]

dispensing, use, or possession of any controlled substance;
    Employee means the employee of a grantee directly engaged in the 
performance of work under a grant, including: (i) All direct charge 
employees; (ii) All indirect charge employees unless their impact or 
involvement is insignificant to the performance of the grant; and, 
(iii) Temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged in 
the performance of work under the grant and who are on the grantee's 
payroll. This definition does not include workers not on the payroll of 
the grantee (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet a matching 
requirement; consultants or independent contractors not on the 
grantee's payroll; or employees of subrecipients or subcontractors in 
covered workplaces).
Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
Alternate I. (Grantees Other Than Individuals)
    The grantee certifies that it will or will continue to provide a 
drug-free workplace by:
    (a) Publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful 
manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a 
controlled substance is prohibited in the grantee's workplace and 
specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for 
violation of such prohibition;
    (b) Establishing an ongoing drug-free awareness program to inform 
employees about--
    (1) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;
    (2) The grantee's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;
    (3) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee 
assistance programs;
    (4) The penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse 
violations occurring in the workplace;
    (c) Making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in the 
performance of the grant be given a copy of the statement required by 
paragraph (a);
    (d) Notifying the employee in the statement required by paragraph 
(a) that, as a condition of employment under the grant, the employee 
will--
    (1) Abide by the terms of the statement; and
    (2) Notify the employer in writing of his or her conviction for a 
violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace no 
later than five calendar days after such conviction;
    (e) Notifying the agency in writing, within ten calendar days after 
receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2) from an employee or otherwise 
receiving actual notice of such conviction. Employers of convicted 
employers must provide notice, including position title, to every grant 
officer or other designee on whose grant activity the convicted 
employee was working, unless the Federal agency had designated a 
central point for the receipt of such notices. Notice shall include the 
identification number(s) of each affected grant;
    (f) Taking one of the following actions, within 30 calendar days of 
receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2), with respect to any employee 
who is so convicted--
    (1) Taking appropriate personnel action against such an employee, 
up to and including termination, consistent with the requirements of 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or
    (2) Requiring such employee to participate satisfactorily in a drug 
abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such purposes 
by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or other 
appropriate agency;
    (g) Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free 
workplace through implementation of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) 
and (f).
    (B) The grantee may insert in the space provided below the site(s) 
for the performance of work done in connection with the specific grant:

Place of Performance (Street address, city, county, state, zip code)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Check if there are workplaces on file that are not identified here.
Alternate II. (Grantees Who Are Individuals)
    (a) The grantee certifies that, as a condition of the grant, he or 
she will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, 
dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance in conducting 
any activity with the grant;
    (b) If convicted of a criminal drug offense resulting from a 
violation occurring during the conduct of any grant activity, he or she 
will report the conviction, in writing, within 10 calendar days of the 
conviction, to every grant officer or other designee, unless the 
Federal agency designates a central point for the receipt of such 
notices. When notice is made to such a central point, it shall include 
the identification number(s) of each affected grant.

Attachment H--Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke

    Public Law 103227, Part C Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known 
as the Pro Children Act of 1994, requires that smoking not be permitted 
in any portion of any indoor routinely owned or leased or contracted 
for by an entity and used routinely or regularly for provision of 
health, day care, education, or library services to children under the 
age of 18, if the services are funded by Federal programs either 
directly or through State or local governments, by Federal grant, 
contract, loan, or loan guarantee. The law does not apply to children's 
services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by 
Medicare or Medicaid funds, and portions of facilities used for 
inpatient drug or alcohol treatment. Failure to comply with the 
provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary 
penalty of up to $1000 per day and/or the imposition of an 
administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. By signing 
and submitting this application the applicant/grantee certifies that it 
will comply with the requirements of the Act.
    The applicant/grantee further agrees that it will require the 
language of this certification be included in any subawards which 
contain provisions for the children's services and that all subgrantees 
shall certify accordingly.

Attachment I--Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions

Instructions for Certification
    1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective primary 
participant is providing the certification set out below.
    2. The inability of a person to provide the certification required 
below will not necessarily result in denial of participation in this 
covered transaction. The prospective participant shall submit an 
explanation of why it cannot provide the certification set out below. 
The certification or explanation will be considered in connection with 
the department or agency's determination whether to enter into this 
transaction. However, failure of the prospective primary participant to 
furnish a certification or an explanation shall disqualify such person 
from participation in this transaction.
    3. The certification in this clause is a material representation of 
fact upon which reliance was placed when the department or agency 
determined to enter into this transaction. If it is later determined 
that the prospective primary participant knowingly rendered an 
erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to the 
Federal

[[Page 18349]]

Government, the department or agency may terminate this transaction for 
cause or default.
    4. The prospective primary participant shall provide immediate 
written notice to the department or agency to which this proposal is 
submitted if at any time the prospective primary participant learns 
that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become 
erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.
    5. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended, ineligible, 
lower tier covered transaction, participant, person, primary covered 
transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in 
this clause, have the meanings set out in the Definitions and Coverage 
sections of the rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may 
contact the department or agency to which this proposal is being 
submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations.
    6. The prospective primary participant agrees by submitting this 
proposal that, should the proposed covered transaction be entered into, 
it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered transaction 
which a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, 
subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or voluntarily 
excluded from participation in this covered transaction, unless 
authorized by the department or agency entering into this transaction.
    7. The prospective primary participant further agrees by submitting 
this proposal that it will include the clause titled ``Certification 
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-
Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' provided by the department or agency 
entering into this covered transaction, without modification, in all 
lower tier covered transactions and in all solicitations for lower tier 
covered transactions.
    8. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon 
certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered 
transaction that it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, 
subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded 
from the covered transaction, unless it knows that the certification is 
erroneous. A participant may decide the method and frequency by which 
it determines the eligibility of its principals. Each participant may, 
but is not required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal 
Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs.
    9. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require 
establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith 
the certification required by this clause. The knowledge and 
information of a participant is not required to exceed that which is 
normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of 
business dealings.
    10. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 6 of these 
instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly 
enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is 
proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended, 
debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in 
this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the 
Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this 
transaction for cause or default.
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility 
Matters--Primary Covered Transactions
    (1) The prospective primary participant certifies to the best of 
its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals:
    (a) Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, 
declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded by any Federal department 
or agency;
    (b) Have not within a three-year period preceding this proposal 
been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for 
commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, 
attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State or local) 
transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of 
Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of embezzlement, 
theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, 
making false statements, or receiving stolen property;
    (c) Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or 
civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State or local) with 
commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b) of 
this certification; and
    (d) Have not within a three-year period preceding this application/
proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State or local) 
terminated for cause or default.
    (2) Where the prospective primary participant is unable to certify 
to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective 
participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions
Instructions for Certification
    1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective lower 
tier participant is providing the certification set out below.
    2. The certification in this clause is a material representation of 
fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was entered 
into. If it is later determined that the prospective lower tier 
participant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in addition 
to other remedies available to the Federal Government the department or 
agency with which this transaction originated may pursue available 
remedies, including suspension and/or debarment.
    3. The prospective lower tier participant shall provide immediate 
written notice to the person to which this proposal is submitted if at 
any time the prospective lower tier participant learns that its 
certification was erroneous when submitted or had become erroneous by 
reason of changed circumstances.
    4. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended, ineligible, 
lower tier covered transaction, participant, person, primary covered 
transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in 
this clause, have the meaning set out in the Definitions and Coverage 
sections of rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may contact 
the person to which this proposal is submitted for assistance in 
obtaining a copy of those regulations.
    5. The prospective lower tier participant agrees by submitting this 
proposal that, [Page 33043] should the proposed covered transaction be 
entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered 
transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR 
part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or 
voluntarily excluded from participation in this covered transaction, 
unless authorized by the department or agency with which this 
transaction originated.
    6. The prospective lower tier participant further agrees by 
submitting this proposal that it will include this clause titled 
``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction.'' without 
modification, in all lower tier covered transactions and in all 
solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.
    7. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon a 
certification

[[Page 18350]]

of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered transaction that 
it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, 
debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered 
transactions, unless it knows that the certification is erroneous. A 
participant may decide the method and frequency by which it determines 
the eligibility of its principals. Each participant may, but is not 
required to, check the List of Parties Excluded from Federal 
Procurement and Nonprocurement Programs.
    8. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to require 
establishment of a system of records in order to render in good faith 
the certification required by this clause. The knowledge and 
information of a participant is not required to exceed that which is 
normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary course of 
business dealings.
    9. Except for transaction authorized under paragraph 5 of these 
instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly 
enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is 
proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended, 
debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in 
this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the 
Federal Government, the department or agency with which this 
transaction originated may pursue available remedies, including 
suspension and/or debarment.
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions
    (1) The prospective lower tier participant certifies, by submission 
of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals is presently 
debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or 
voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any 
Federal department or agency.
    (2) Where the prospective lower tier participant is unable to 
certify to any of the statements in this certification, such 
prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.

Office of Management and Budget Intergovernmental Review E.O. 12372 
State Single Point of Contact List (SPOC)

    It is estimated that in 2001 the Federal government will outlay 
$305.6 billion in grants to State and local governments. Executive 
Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' 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. The Order allows each State to designate an 
entity to perform this function. Below is the official list of those 
entities. For those States that have a home page for their designated 
entity, a direct link has been provided below.
    States that are not listed on this page have chosen not to 
participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do 
not have a SPOC. If you are located within one of these States, you may 
still send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency.
    Contact information for Federal agencies that award grants can be 
found in Appendix IV of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

Arkansas

Tracy L. Copeland
Manager, State Clearinghouse
Office of Intergovernmental Services
Department of Finance and Administration
1515 W. 7th St., Room 412
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
Telephone: (501) 682-1074
Fax: (501) 682-5206
[email protected]

California

Grants Coordination
State Clearinghouse
Office of Planning and Research
P.O. Box 3044, Room 222
Sacramento, California 95812-3044
Telephone: (916) 445-0613
Fax: (916) 323-3018
[email protected]

Delaware

Charles H. Hopkins
Executive Department
Office of the Budget
540 S. Dupont Highway, 3rd Floor
Dover, Delaware 19901
Telephone (302) 739-3323
Fax: (302) 739-5661
[email protected]

District of Columbia

Luisa Montero-Diaz
Office of Partnerships and Grants Development
Executive Office of the Mayor
District of Columbia Government
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 530 South
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 727-8900
Fax: (202) 727-1652
[email protected]

Florida

Jasmin Raffington
Florida State Clearinghouse
Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Telephone: (850) 922-5438
Fax: (850) 414-0479
[email protected]

Georgia

Georgia State Clearinghouse
270 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Telephone: (404) 656-3855
Fax: (404) 656-7901
[email protected]

Illinois

Virginia Bova
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Telephone: (312) 814-6028
Fax: (312) 814-8485
[email protected]

Iowa

Steven R. McCann
Division of Community and Rural Development
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Telephone: (515) 242-4719
Fax: (515) 242-4809
[email protected]

Kentucky

Ron Cook
Department for Local Government
1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 340
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Telephone: (502) 573-2382
Fax: (502) 573-2512
[email protected]

Maine

Joyce Benson
State Planning Office
184 State Street
38 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Telephone: (207) 287-3261
(207) 287-1461 (direct)
Fax: (207) 287-6489
[email protected]

Maryland

Linda Janey
Manager, Clearinghouse and Plan Review Unit
Maryland Office of Planning
301 West Preston Street--Room 1104
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2305
Telephone: (410) 767-4490
Fax: (410) 767-4480
[email protected]

[[Page 18351]]

Michigan

Richard Pfaff
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
535 Griswold, Suite 300
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Telephone: (313) 961-4266
Fax: (313) 961-4869
[email protected]

Mississippi

Cathy Mallette
Clearinghouse Officer
Department of Finance and Administration
1301 Woolfolk Building, Suite E
501 North West Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Telephone: (601) 359-6762
Fax: (601) 359-6758

Missouri

Angela Boessen
Federal Assistance Clearinghouse
Office of Administration
P.O. Box 809
Truman Building, Room 840
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Telephone: (573) 751-4834
Fax: (573) 522-4395
[email protected]

Nevada

Heather Elliott
Department of Administration
State Clearinghouse
209 E. Musser Street, Room 200
Carson City, Nevada 89701
Telephone: (775) 684-0209
Fax: (775) 684-0260
[email protected]

New Hampshire

Jeffrey H. Taylor
Director
New Hampshire Office of State Planning
Attn: Intergovernmental Review Process
Mike Blake
2\1/2\ Beacon Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Telephone: (603) 271-2155
Fax: (603) 271-1728
[email protected]

New Mexico

Ken Hughes
Local Government Division
Room 201 Bataan Memorial Building
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503
Telephone: (505) 827-4370
Fax: (505) 827-4948
[email protected]

North Carolina

Jeanette Furney
Department of Administration
1302 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1302
Telephone: (919) 807-2323
Fax: (919) 733-9571
[email protected]

North Dakota

Jim Boyd
Division of Community Services
600 East Boulevard Ave, Dept 105
Bismarck, North Dakota 585805-0170
Telephone: (701) 328-2094
Fax: (701) 328-2308
[email protected]

Rhode Island

Kevin Nelson
Department of Administration
Statewide Planning Program
One Capitol Hill
Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5870
Telephone: (401) 222-2093
Fax: (401) 222-2083
[email protected]

South Carolina

Omeagia Burgess
Budget and Control Board
Office of State Budget
1122 Ladies Street, 12th Floor
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Telephone: (803) 734-0494
Fax: (803) 734-0645
[email protected]

Texas

Denise S. Francis
Director, State Grants Team
Governor's Office of Budget and Planning
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
Telephone: (512) 305-9415
Fax: (512) 936-2681
[email protected]

Utah

Carolyn Wright
Utah State Clearinghouse
Governor's Office of Planning and Budget
State Capitol, Room 114
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Telephone: (801) 538-1535
Fax: (801) 538-1547
[email protected]

West Virginia

Fred Cutlip, Director
Community Development Division
West Virginia Development Office
Building #6, Room 553
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
Telephone: (304) 558-4010
Fax: (304) 558-3248
[email protected]

Wisconsin

Jeff Smith
Section Chief, Federal/State Relations
Wisconsin Department of Administration
101 East Wilson Street--6th Floor
P.O. Box 7868
Madison, Wisconsin 53707
Telephone: (608) 266-0267
Fax: (608) 267-6931
[email protected]

American Samoa

Pat M. Galea'i
Federal Grants/Programs Coordinator
Office of Federal Programs
Office of the Governor/Department of Commerce
American Samoa Government
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Telephone: (684) 633-5155
Fax: (684) 633-4195
[email protected]

Guam

Director
Bureau of Budget and Management Research
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 2950
Agana, Guam 96910
Telephone: 011-472-2285
Fax: 011-472-2825
[email protected]

Puerto Rico

Jose Caballero / Mayra Silva
Puerto Rico Planning Board
Federal Proposals Review Office
Minillas Government Center
P.O. Box 41119
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1119
Telephone: (787) 723-6190
Fax: (787) 722-6783

North Mariana Islands

Ms. Jacoba T. Seman
Federal Programs Coordinator
Office of Management and Budget
Office of the Governor
Saipan, MP 96950
Telephone: (670) 664-2289
Fax: (670) 664-2272
[email protected]

Virgin Islands

Ira Mills
Director, Office of Management and Budget
#41 Norre Gade Emancipation Garden Station, Second Floor
Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
Telephone: (340) 774-0750
Fax: (340) 776-0069
[email protected]

    Changes to this list can be made only after OMB is notified by a 
State's officially designated representative. E-mail messages can be 
sent to [email protected]. If you prefer, you may send correspondence 
to the following address: Attn: Grants Managements, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office

[[Page 18352]]

Building, Suite 6025, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

    Please Note: Inquiries about obtaining a Federal grant should 
not be sent to the OMB e-mail or postal address shown above. The 
best source for this information is the CFDA.

Attachment K--DHHS Regulations Applying to All Applicants/Grantees 
Under the Assets for Independence Demonstration Program (IDA 
Program)

Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations
Part 16--Department of Grant Appeals Process
Part 74--Administration of Grants (grants with subgrants to entities)
Part 75--Informal Grant Appeal Procedures
Part 76--Debarment and Suspension from Eligibility for Financial 
Assistance
Subpart F--Drug Free Workplace Requirements
Part 80--Non-Discrimination Under Programs Receiving Federal Assistance 
through the Department of Health and Human Services Effectuation of 
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Part 81--Practice and Procedures for Hearings Under Part 80 of this 
Title
Part 83--Regulation for the Administration and Enforcement of Sections 
799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act
Part 84--Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and 
Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Part 85--Enforcement of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in 
Programs or Activities Conducted by the Department of Health and Human 
Services
Part 86--Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs 
and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial 
Assistance
Part 91--Non-discrimination on the Basis of Age in Health and Human 
Services Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance
Part 92--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements to States and Local Governments
Part 93--New Restrictions on Lobbying Part 100--Intergovernmental 
Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and 
Activities
Part 1000--Individual Development Account Reserve Funds Established 
Pursuant to Grants for Assets for Independence

Poverty 2000

Attachment M--OMB Poverty Guidelines

   Poverty Thresholds in 2000, by Size of Family and Number of Related
                         Children Under 18 Years
                                [Dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Weighted       200 percent
           Size of family unit                average       of poverty
                                            thresholds      thresholds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
One person (unrelated individual).......           8,794          17,588
    Under 65 years......................           8,959          17,918
    65 years and over...................           8,259          16,518
Two persons.............................          11,239          22,478
    Householder under 65 years..........          11,590          23,180
    Householder 65 years and over.......          10,419          20,838
Three persons...........................          13,738          27,476
Four persons............................          17,603          35,206
Five persons............................          20,819          41,638
Six persons.............................          23,528          47,056
Seven persons...........................          26,754          53,508
Eight persons...........................          29,701          59,402
Nine persons or more....................          35,060         70,120
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey.

Go to Poverty 2000 Go to Poverty Statistics

Created: September 20, 2000 Last Revised: September 25, 2001

Attachment M--State Child Support Enforcement Offices, Contact 
Information

Alabama

Department of Human Resources,
50 Ripley Street,
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1801
800-284-4347(P), 334-242-0606(F)

Alaska

Child Support Enforcement Division,
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 310,
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-6699
800-478-3300(P), 907-269-6813(F)

American Samoa

Office of the Attorney General,
P.O. Box 7,
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
684-633-4163(P), 684-633-1838(F)

Arizona

Department of Economic Security,
Division of Child Support Enforcement,
P.O. Box 40458, Site Code 021A (Street Address: 3443 N. Central Avenue, 
4th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85012),
Phoenix, Arizona 85067
602-252-4045(P), 602-000-0000(F)

Arkansas

Office of Child Support Enforcement,
Division of Revenue,
P.O. Box 8133 (400 East Capitol 72203),
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
800-264-2445(P), 501-682-6002(F)

California

Dept. of Child Support Services,
P.O. Box 419064, Mail Station 9-700,
Rancho Cordova, California 95741-9064
866-249-0773(P), 916-464-5065(F)

Colorado

Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement
303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 200,
Denver, Colorado 80203-1714
720-947-5000(P), 720-947-5006(F)

Connecticut

Department of Social Services, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement,
25 Sigourney Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06105-5033
860-424-5251(P), 860-951-2996(F)

Delaware

Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Child Support 
Enforcement,

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Herman Hallaway Campus (street addr: 1901 North Dupont Hwy)
P.O. Box 904,
New Castle, Delaware 19720
302-577-4800(P), 302-577-4873(F)

District of Columbia

Office of Corporation Counsel,
441 Fourth Street NW, 5th Floor, Judiciary Square,
Washington, District of Columbia 20024-2480
202-724-5319(P), 202-724-3710(F)

Florida

Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Program,
P.O. Box 8030,
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-8030
850-922-9590(P), 850-414-1698(F)

Georgia

Department of Human Resources Child Support Enforcement,
P.O. Box 38450,
Two Peachtree Street, NW.,
Suite 20-445, Zip 30303,
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-0450
800-227-7993(P), 404-657-3326(F)

Guam

OAG, CSE
130 East Marine Drive,
Hagatna, Guam 96910
671-475-3360(P), 617-477-6118(F)

Hawaii

Department of Attorney General, Child Support Enforcement Agency,
Kakuhihewa State Office Building,
601 Kamokila Boulevard, Suite 251
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
808-692-7000(P)

Idaho

Department of Health and Welfare, Bureau of Child Support Services,
P.O. Box 83720 (450 West State Street, 6th Floor Zip 83702),
Boise, Idaho 83720-0036
800-356-9868(P), 208-334-0666(F)

Illinois

Illinois Department of Public Aid, Division of Child Support 
Enforcement,
509 S. 6th St., 6th floor,
Springfield, Illinois 62701
800-477-4278(P), 217-524-4608(F)

Indiana

Child Support Bureau,
402 West Washington Street, Rm W360,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
317-233-5437(P), 317-233-4932(F)

Iowa

Department of Human Services, Bureau of Collections,
Hoover Building, 5th Floor,
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4691
515-281-5580(P), 515-281-8854(F)

Kansas

Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services, Child Support 
Enforcement Program,
415 SW 8th St., 2nd Floor,
Topeka, Kansas 66601
785-296-3237(P), 785-296-5206(F)

Kentucky

Cabinet for Human Resources, Division of Child Support Enforcement,
275 East Main Street,
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621
502-564-2285(P), 502-564-5988(F)

Louisiana

Support Enforcement Services, Office of Family Support,
P.O. Box 94065 (530 Lakeland Drive),
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4065
504-342-4780(P), 504-342-7397(F)

Maine

Dept of Human Services, Bureau of Family Independance, Div of Support 
Enforcement and Recovery,
State House Station,
Augusta, Maine 04333
800-371-3101(P), 201-287-2886(F)

Maryland

Child Support Enforcement Administration,
311 West Saratoga Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
800-332-6347(P), 410-333-8992(F)

Massachusetts

Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division,
141 Portland Street,
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-1937
800-332-2733(P), 617-621-4991(F)

Michigan

Family Independency Agency, Office of Child Support,
P.O. Box 30478 (Street Address: 235 S. Grand Ave., Suite 1215),
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7978
517-373-7570(P), 517-373-4980(F)

Minnesota

Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement,
444 Lafayette Road, 4th floor,
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155-3846
651-215-1714(P), 651-297-4450(F)

Mississippi

Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement,
P.O. Box 352,
Jackson, Mississippi 39205
800-434-5437(P), 601-359-4415(F)

Missouri

Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement,
P.O. Box 2320,
3418 Knipp Dr.,
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101-2320
800-859-7999(P), 573-751-8450(F)

Montana

Dept. of Public HHS,
3075 N. Montana Ave., Suite 112,
Helena, Montana 59620
800-346-5437(P), 406-444-1370(F)

Nebraska

Department of Health and Human Services, Child Support Enforcement 
Office,
P.O. Box 94728,
West Campus Folsom and West Prospector Place,
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4728
800-831-4573(P), 402-471-5543(F)

Nevada

Nevada State Welfare Division,
1470 E. College Parkway,
Carson City, Nevada 89706-7924
775-684-0704(P), 775-684-0702(F)

New Hampshire

Office of Program Support, Office of Child Support,
Health and Human Services Building
129 Pleasant Street,
Concord, New Hampshire 3301
800-852-3345(P), 603-271-4787(F)

New Jersey

Dept. of Human Services Bureau,
P.O. Box 716
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0716
609-588-2915(P), 609-588-2354(F)

New Mexico

Department: Human Services Department, Child Support Enforcement 
Bureau,
P.O. Box 25110 (Street Address: 20009 S. Pacheco, Santa Fe, NM 87504),
Santa Fe, New Mexico 73512
505-827-7200(P), 505-827-7285(F)

New York

Div. of Child Support Enf.,
Office of Temporary Assistance and Disability,
40 North Pearl Street, 13th Floor,
Albany, New York 12243-0001
518-474-9081(P), 518-486-3127(F)

North Carolina

Department of Human Resources, Division of Social Services, Child 
Support Enforcement Section,
100 East Six Forks Road,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7750
919-571-4114(P), 919-571-4126(F)

North Dakota

Department of Human Services, Child Support Enforcement Agency,

[[Page 18354]]

P.O. Box 7190 (Street Address: 1929 North Washington Street, Bismark, 
ND 58507-7190),
Bismarck, North Dakota 58507-7109
701-328-3582(P), 701-328-5497(F)

Ohio

Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement,
30 East Broad Street, 31st Floor,
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0423
614-752-6561(P), 614-752-9760(F)

Oklahoma

Department of Human Services, Child Support Enforcement Division,
P.O. Box 53552 (Street Address: 2409 N. Kelley Avenue, Annex Building, 
(Oklahoma City, OK 73152).
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
405-522-5871(P), 405-522-2753(F)

Oregon

Department of Justice,
Oregon Child Support Program,
500 Summer St., 2nd Floor,
Salem, Oregon 97301-1066
503-378-5567(P), 503-391-5526(F)

Pennsylvania

Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, P.O. 
Box 8018, Street Address: 1303 North Seventh St., 17102 Commerce Bldg., 
12th Floor, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17015
717-787-3672(P), 717-787-9706(F)

Puerto Rico

Department of the Family, P.O. Box 9023349, San Juan, Puerto Rico 
00902-3349,
787-767-1500(P), 787-723-6187(F)

Rhode Island

Department of Administration, Division of Child Support Enforcement, 77 
Dorrance Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-222-5132(P), 401-277-6674(F)

South Carolina

Department of Social Services, Child Support Enforcement Division, P.O. 
Box 1469, Street Address: 3150 Harden Street, Columbia, South Carolina 
29202-1469
803-898-7601(P), 803-898-9201(F)

South Dakota

Department of Social Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 700 
Governor's Drive, Suite 84, Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2291
605-773-3641(P), 605-773-5246(F)

Tennessee

Department of Human Services, Child Support Services, Citizens Plaza 
Building, 12th Floor, 400 Deadrick Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37248-
7400
615-313-4880(P), 615-532-2791(F)

Texas

Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division, P.O. Box 12017, 
Street Address: 5500 E. Oltorf, Austin, Texas 78711-2017
512-460-6000(P), 512-834-9712(F)

Utah

Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Support Services, P.O. 
Box 45011, 515 East, 100 South, Salt Lake, Utah 84145-0011
801-536-8500(P), 801-536-8509(F)

Vermont

Office of Child Support, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, Vermont 
05671-1901
802-244-1483(P), 802-244-1483(F)

Virgin Islands

Department of Justice, Paternity and Child Support Division, Nisky 
Center, Suite 500, 2nd Floor, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
340-777-3070(P)

Virginia

Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement, 
730 East Broad Street, 4th floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219-1849
804-692-1428(P), 804-692-1405(F)

Washington

DSHS, Division of Child Support, P.O. Box 9162, Street Address: 712 
Pear St, SE., Olympia, Washington 98507
360-664-5005(P)

West Virginia

Department of Health & Human Resources, Bureau of Child Support 
Enforcement, 350 Capitol Street, Room 147, Charleston, West Virginia 
25301-3703
304-558-3780(P)

Wisconsin

Bureau of Child Support, Division of Economic Support, P.O. Box 7935, 
Street Address: 1 West Wilson Street, Room 382, Madison, Wisconsin 
53707-7935
608-266-9909(P), 608-267-2842(F)

Wyoming

Department of Family Services, Child Support Enforcement Program, 
Hathaway Building, Rm 361, 2300 Capital Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 
82002-0710
307-777-7631(P), 307-777-3693(F)

[FR Doc. 02-8717 Filed 4-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P