[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70801-70810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31375]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Child Support Enforcement

    Funding Opportunity Title: Office of Child Support Enforcement's 
Special Improvement Project (SIP) Grants.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OCSE-SIP-0001.
    CFDA Number: 93.601.
    Due Date for Applications: March 3, 2004.
SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) invites eligible applicants to submit 
competitive grant applications for special improvement projects which 
further the national child support mission, vision, and goals which 
are: All children to have parentage

[[Page 70802]]

established; all children in IV-D cases to have financial and medical 
orders; and all children in IV--D cases to receive financial and 
medical support. For FY 2004, we are looking for projects in which a 
variety of partners, which may include community and faith-based 
organizations, collaborate as appropriate. Applications will be 
screened and evaluated as indicated in this program announcement. 
Awards will be contingent on the outcomes of the competition and the 
availability of funds. For FY 2004, approximately $1.5 million is 
available for all priority areas. A non-Federal match is not required. 
The anticipated start date for the new awards is May 1, 2004; projects 
may go through September 30, 2005, for a period of up to 17 months.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Legislative Authority. Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act, 
42 U.S.C. 652(j), provides Federal funds for information dissemination 
and technical assistance to States, and training of Federal and State 
staff to improve child support programs and research and demonstration 
programs and special projects of regional or national significance 
relating to the operation of State child support enforcement programs.
    Program Purpose and Objectives. To fund a number of special 
improvement projects which further the national child support mission 
to ensure that all children receive financial and medical support from 
their parents and which strengthens the ability of the nation's child 
support program to collect support on behalf of children and families. 
For FY 2004, we are looking for innovative projects to improve child 
support program performance and in which new partners collaborate so we 
can produce greater impacts on child support outcomes (e.g., increasing 
the establishment of child support orders and child support 
collections). We invite partnerships, such as courts/tribunals and 
community- and faith-based organizations, that can address the needs of 
harder-to-serve populations, such as low-income non-custodial fathers 
and culturally diverse populations to apply for these projects.
    Applicants should understand that OCSE will not award grants for 
special improvement projects which (a) Duplicate automated data 
processing and information retrieval system requirements/enhancements 
and associated tasks which are specified in the Social Security Act; or 
(b) which cover costs for routine activities which would normally be 
reimbursed under the Child Support Program (e.g. adding staff positions 
to perform routine CSE tasks), or by other Federal funding sources. 
Proposals and their accompanying budgets will be reviewed from this 
perspective.

Priority Areas:

Priority Area 1: Improving the Judicial/Administrative Processing of 
Child Support Enforcement Case Activities

    OCSE is looking for projects that would expedite and facilitate 
courts'/tribunals' processing of child support case actions. In many 
states, courts/tribunals play a key role in establishing, modifying, or 
enforcing child support orders. In these jurisdictions, courts/
tribunals may find that current rules, practices, or procedures create 
obstacles to more timely and equitable processing of child support 
cases. For example, courts/tribunals may require the physical presence 
of the parents at hearings; may accept only an official employer/
corporate verification of earnings statements as evidence of income; or 
require a formal hearing or otherwise impose procedural obstacles to 
allowing deviations from guidelines to determine support orders. Under 
this solicitation, we are looking for projects that would address at 
least one of the following design elements:
    [sbull] Design and implement new practices or procedures that 
enable courts/tribunals to remove barriers to participation in Title 
IV-D child support proceedings such as requiring the physical presence 
of the parents at hearings and other legal proceedings. Projects would 
demonstrate the effectiveness of using more flexible approaches, such 
as allowing telephone or videoconference hearings when it is difficult 
for a parent to personally attend a hearing due to distance, health, or 
other reasons. Projects might show how courts/tribunals can overcome 
legal and other obstacles to holding telephone hearings, using 
facsimile machines to transmit evidence, etc., and how other 
jurisdictions can adapt similar procedures. Possible outcomes include 
improved customer service; timelier case processing; reduction in 
continuances, default orders, and use of imputed income; increased 
collections; and reduction in arrears, especially in interstate cases.
    [sbull] Develop and implement procedures that could demonstrate the 
effectiveness of courts' use of Federal or State-certified information 
from the Federal or State Parent Locator Services (FPLS/SPLS) in Title 
IV-D cases, including New Hire information, to establish or modify 
child support orders. These projects would show how courts/tribunals 
that allow use of SPLS/FPLS data certified by a child support agency, 
rather than by an employer, overcome evidentiary or other obstacles to 
the use of such data. The projects should be designed to assist courts/
tribunals or other relevant decision makers to develop and/or implement 
changes necessary to promote the effective and efficient use of FPLS/
SPLS information in the establishment or modification of orders. The 
projects should show how removing obstacles, such as the requirement of 
employer/corporate verification of earnings, would lead to improved 
program performance or customer service, including expedited 
establishment/modification of child support orders; increased number of 
orders established; reduced use of imputed income; decreased accrual of 
arrears; increased collections; and/or increased cost-effectiveness.
    [sbull] Develop and implement revised criteria, as established by 
the State, and guidance allowing judicial or administrative personnel 
greater authority to deviate from State child support order guidelines 
without a hearing. Projects would demonstrate the benefits of having 
greater discretionary guidance in this area. For example, such 
discretion may be warranted when application of the guidelines is 
considered unjust or inappropriate, such as in cases involving 
excessive health care costs, child care or education costs or multiple 
non-custodial parent families. These projects should be designed to 
assist other jurisdictions to adapt similar discretionary guidance and 
categories and to show that providing this type of discretion would 
improve program performance or customer service, including expedited 
case processing, increased collections, reduction of arrears and/or 
increased cost-effectiveness. Proposals must be consistent with section 
467 of the Social Security Act which governs the application of State 
child support guidelines.
    Funding: A total $200,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $100,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 1, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

Priority Area 2: Educating Public on Parental Responsibilities and 
Promoting Healthy Marriage

    The purpose of this solicitation is to educate the public about 
child support enforcement tools and parental obligations with the aim 
of increasing paternity establishment, child support

[[Page 70803]]

payment, or healthy marriages for unwed parents, reducing out-of 
wedlock births for older teens and young adults who are not parents. We 
are looking for projects which educate the public on their parental 
responsibilities and about strictly enforced child support enforcement 
policies if they have a child outside of marriage or if they separate 
or divorce. Since many States have already developed outreach videos or 
materials, we are not looking for projects to develop these tools. 
Projects would use child support workers to educate low-income, unwed 
parents, or older teens and young adults who are not parents, about 
child support enforcement policies and parental financial 
responsibilities when a child is born outside of marriage or a marriage 
breaks up. Research also generally suggests that strong child support 
enforcement encourages families to form, stay together, or avoid 
conceiving a child out of wedlock. In addition, many unwed parents, 
especially at the time of their child's birth may be thinking about the 
possibility of marriage. However, they may lack knowledge about and 
understanding of the importance of child support, family stability, and 
healthy marriage in the lives of their children. OCSE envisions that 
child support workers would provide information to unwed couples at 
pre-natal clinics, hospitals, faith-based and community-based 
organizations, etc. Projects might also coordinate with schools, 
community-based and faith-based organizations where older teens and 
young adults congregate in the community. The presentations would cover 
current automated enforcement tools such as automated wage withholding, 
tax offset, and driver's license suspension, to enhance the public's 
understanding of current child support enforcement mechanisms as well 
as the financial and emotional impact of having children outside of 
marriage. We expect that people hearing about the child support 
enforcement program from the workers who have first-hand knowledge of 
parents' child support concerns should help reinforce for parents who 
may be considering marriage, the benefits of healthy marriage, or help 
persuade others not to conceive children outside of marriage.
    Funding: A total $200,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $100,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 2, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

Priority Area 3: Encouraging More Timely and Appropriate Order 
Modifications

    Projects would develop guidelines/procedures for modifying child 
support orders in a more timely and efficient manner. Under section 467 
of the Social Security Act, states must review orders every three years 
at the request of either parent, or at the request of the state child 
support agency. In addition to using cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) 
that alter orders periodically without reviews, States can also use 
automated methods to identify orders eligible for review and to apply 
the appropriate adjustments to the orders.
    In 1997, OCSE funded a research and demonstration grant to the 
State of Alaska Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement 
Division (CSED) to develop and test a more efficient method of 
reviewing and adjusting child support award amounts. The project, 
``Alaska: Review and Adjustment of Child Support Order Amounts: 
Evaluation of Electronic Modification (ELMO),'' used income information 
from automated sources, such as the National Directory of New Hires 
(NDNH), linked electronically to its child support system to review 
child support orders annually. Promising results from this project 
include an increased number of reviews, more timely reviews, and 
modifications which more accurately reflect the noncustodial parents' 
ability to pay.
    Under this solicitation, OCSE is looking for additional 
demonstration projects which States can conduct under current State 
law. These projects would demonstrate the feasibility of automating the 
review and adjustment process, using a variety of data sources 
including FPLS/New Hire earnings data, to better reflect current 
noncustodial/custodial parent income and assets (i.e., at the time when 
noncustodial/custodial parent gets a raise or has increased assets and, 
alternatively, when noncustodial/custodial parent loses a job, has 
reduced salary, has an excessive default order, etc.) Projects would 
assess outcomes or effects such as the increase in both upward and 
downward adjustments; payment frequency by noncustodial parent; 
reduction in arrearage growth created by default orders; systems 
enhancements and other resources needed; guideline changes; and overall 
cost-effectiveness of automated review and adjustment.
    Funding: A total $200,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $100,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 3, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

Priority Area 4: Expanding Customer Service Through Agency-Initiated 
Contact

    Under this solicitation, OCSE is looking for child support agencies 
to initiate customer contact to alert customers of upcoming 
appointments or missed appointments, and potential problems, such as 
missed payments, in order to improve customer satisfaction or resolve 
issues before they become problematic. Generally, State/local child 
support agencies use a responsive approach to customers; i.e., using 
call centers, Web sites, or individual staff to respond to customer 
inquiries. The Australian child support enforcement system uses an 
agency-initiated customer service approach in which caseworkers notify 
clients, rather than waiting for clients to contact the agency, 
regarding payments and other case matters. This approach has been 
successful in Australia.
    We are looking for child support agency approaches designed to 
alert customers to important case activities such as scheduled 
appointments or hearings, payment changes/delays, and to obtain case 
information. These projects would demonstrate the effectiveness of 
initiating contact to notify customers of important case activities or 
the need for information to complete case actions in order to improve 
child support outcomes such as increased collections, cost-
effectiveness, customer service satisfaction, reduction in arrears, 
missed appointments, etc. Agency-initiated customer contact strategies 
could include automated notification systems and/or personal staff 
customer contact. A concern of many child support agencies in 
initiating client contact is the difficulty in reaching noncustodial 
and custodial parents by phone, since some do not have stable addresses 
or phone access. These projects would help determine the feasibility of 
an agency-initiated approach. Also, we prefer projects that compare 
different strategies (automation vs. personal contact) to ascertain 
which is more feasible and cost-effective; and/or projects that could 
assess the pros and cons of using agency-initiated approaches in 
different localities such as urban vs. rural localities, or large vs. 
small offices.
    Funding: A total $200,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $100,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 4, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

[[Page 70804]]

Priority Area 5: Helping Noncustodial Parents (NCPs) Meet Their Child 
Support and Family Responsibilities

    Projects would demonstrate effective child support strategies to 
help low-income NCPs meet their child support and family 
responsibilities. There is a very high rate of default cases where the 
noncustodial parent is either not appropriately served or simply does 
not show up for either paternity or child support hearings. As a 
result, orders are not always appropriate for the NCP's financial 
situation, or are not based on the NCP's actual income. Further, many 
low-income NCPs fall behind in their payment of child support due to 
unemployment or underemployment. This solicitation would address at 
least one of the following design elements:
    [sbull] Develop, implement and determine the effectiveness of 
alternative measures for avoiding default cases, and/or using imputed 
income/minimum order amounts in establishing child support orders which 
can create excessive payment levels for low-income NCPs. These 
alternatives could include adopting more customer-friendly approaches 
in establishing orders for low-income fathers to avoid a high level of 
default orders (such as using alternative service of process methods to 
ensure NCPs get served and understand the notice to avoid defaults); 
and/or securing and using more complete income information, e.g. using 
New Hire data for the NCP and custodial parent in default situations or 
where incomplete income information is given. Order amounts should be 
reasonable for low-income NCPs, taking into account their ability to 
pay when confronted with intermittent unemployment. Applicants must 
provide assurance that, under State guidelines, orders can be 
established based upon the NCP's ability to pay. We are looking for 
outcome measures which would demonstrate that effective alternatives 
for establishing child support orders in low-income cases result in 
increased payment rates for low-income NCPs.
    [sbull] Develop and implement strategies to provide employment 
services to low-income fathers who are unemployed or under-employed and 
cannot meet their child support obligations. Projects should include 
voluntary and/or mandatory referral, as appropriate, of NCPs for 
employment and training services by child support agencies or courts/
tribunals, to local workforce development agencies or other public 
employment agencies and local organizations, including community-based 
and faith-based organizations. For example, projects could include 
collaboration with TANF agencies to use TANF funds to support 
employment and training services for NCPs in public assistance cases to 
demonstrate whether custodial parents left TANF more quickly because of 
child support receipt. Incentive to NCPs could be reduction/compromise 
of arrears. Or, projects could develop partnerships with workforce 
development boards and courts/tribunals to demonstrate the impact on 
child support outcomes if unemployed or under-employed NCPs, who had 
past due child support obligations, were required to participate in a 
job training/placement program or be sentenced to a period in jail. 
Outcome measures would include increased payment rates on orders, as 
well as increases in employment, job retention rates and wages.
    Funding: A total $400,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $200,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 5, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

Priority Area 6: Improving Child Support Services for Ethnic and 
Culturally Diverse Populations

    Under this solicitation, projects would target underserved ethnic 
and culturally diverse populations, including, but not limited to, the 
Hispanic/Latino community, the Asian-American and Pacific Islander 
community, the African-American community, and Native Americans, 
American Indians, and Alaskan Natives so that they may receive more 
effective child support enforcement services. OCSE has funded several 
small-scale community projects which developed outreach media campaigns 
and language-appropriate materials and/or used community and volunteer 
resources to help these groups better understand the child support 
program. Under this solicitation, we are looking for projects which are 
either statewide or serve multiple counties or a large county. We are 
interested in collaborations between State/local governments and 
courts/tribunals with community-based and faith-based organizations to 
offer model service approaches (not outreach campaigns) that will 
result in large-scale, systematic, institutionalized approaches to 
service delivery to underserved populations. Projects should identify 
nature/causes of barriers to effective child support enforcement 
service delivery for customers with language and diversity barriers and 
develop/implement approaches to reduce or eliminate them. Such 
approaches could include providing bilingual staff, resources, 
training, etc. to judges/attorneys to address the needs of these 
customers and assure judicial fairness and/or development of new 
delivery strategies within the community to increase child support 
outcomes, such as an increase in numbers of orders established and 
collections. This solicitation is not designed to provide funding for 
the development and implementation of Tribal child support enforcement 
programs since these provisions are being addressed through Federal 
regulation.
    Funding: A total $200,000 is anticipated to be available for 
projects in this priority area and OCSE anticipates funding two grants 
of approximately $100,000 each.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 6, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

Priority Area 7: Furthering the Child Support Mission to Ensure All 
Children Receive Financial and Medical Support From Their Parents

    Under this announcement, OCSE is looking for projects that are not 
covered by any of the above priority areas. OCSE is looking for 
projects that will test new interventions and approaches to increase 
paternity and support order establishments and collections. Applicants 
would propose new ways of doing business, within Federal law and 
regulations, and put them into effect. We encourage collaborations 
among entities which may include State/local governments, non-profit 
organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, and 
tribal governments and universities (including historically black 
colleges and universities).
    Funding: A total of $100,000 is anticipated to be available for one 
grant in this priority area.
    Budget Period: For Priority Area 7, the budget period will be up to 
17 months.

II. Award Information

    Availability of Funds. Approximately $1.5 million is available for 
all priority areas. OCSE expects to award a total of approximately 13 
grants, approximately two grants per priority area, ranging from 
$100,000 to $200,000, as specified under each priority area.
    Over the past five years, OCSE has awarded an average of 9 grants 
per year, totaling approximately $1.3 million per year. All grant 
awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds. A non-
Federal match is not required. The anticipated start date for the new 
awards is May 1, 2004; projects may go through September 2005, for a 
period of up to 17 months.

[[Page 70805]]

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants for these special 
improvement project grants are State (including District of Columbia, 
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) Human Services Umbrella 
agencies, other State agencies (including State IV-D agencies), tribes 
and tribal organizations, local public agencies (including IV-D 
agencies), nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and 
community-based organizations and universities such as historically 
black colleges and universities) and consortia of State and/or local 
public agencies. 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 reference to the applicant organization's listing in the 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt 
organizations described in the IRS Code; a copy of a currently valid 
IRS tax exemption certificate; a statement from a State taxing body, 
State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying 
that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none 
of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; 
a certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or 
similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status; or any of 
the items referenced above for a State or national parent organization 
and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant 
organization is a local non-profit affiliate.
    The Federal OCSE will provide the State CSE agency the opportunity 
to comment on the merits of local CSE agency applications before final 
award. Given that the purpose of these projects is to improve child 
support enforcement programs, it is critical that applicants have the 
cooperation of IV-D agencies to operate these projects. Preference will 
be given to applicants representing CSE agencies and applicant 
organizations which have letters of commitment or cooperative 
agreements with CSE agencies. All applications developed jointly by 
more than one agency/organization must identify a single lead 
organization as the official applicant. The lead organization will be 
the recipient of the grant award. Participating agencies and 
organizations can be included as co-participants, subgrantees, or 
subcontractors with their written authorization.
    Private non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' 
at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Applicants are not required to match 
Federal grant funds under this solicitation.
    3. Other. None.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. Application kits (Forms 
424, 424A-B and Certifications) to apply for a grant under this program 
announcement are available from the Administration for Children and 
Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Division of State, 
Tribal and Local Assistance, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, 
East Wing, Washington, DC 20447 (this is not the mailing address for 
submission of applications, see Part IV. 3.); or at OCSE's Web site 
(www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/) under new announcements; or from Jean 
Robinson, Program Analyst, phone (202) 401-5330, Fax (202) 205-4315; e-
mail, [email protected].
    For specific questions regarding the application or program 
concerns regarding the announcement, contact: Susan A. Greenblatt, 
Deputy Director, Division of State, Tribal and Local Assistance, Office 
of Child Support Enforcement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, 
East Wing, Washington, DC 20447 (this is not the mailing address for 
submission of applications, see Part IV. 3.); phone (202) 401-4849, e-
mail, [email protected].
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. The applicant should 
clearly indicate in its application(s) for which specific priority area 
it is applying. Applicants may submit different applications covering 
different priority areas or they may submit different applications for 
different projects under one priority area; however, they may not 
submit one application for the same project covering multi-priority 
areas. The length of the application, excluding the application forms, 
certifications, and resumes, should be about 20 pages, double-spaced 
format preferred. A page is a single-side of an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' sheet 
of plain white paper. (Applicants are requested not to send pamphlets, 
maps, brochures or other printed material along with their application 
as these are difficult to photocopy. These materials, if submitted, 
will not be included in the review process.) Each page of the 
application will be counted (excluding required forms, certifications 
and resumes) to determine the total length. The project description 
should include all the information requirements described in the 
specific evaluation criteria outlined in the program announcement under 
Part V.
    In addition to the project description, the applicant needs to 
complete all the standard forms required for making applications for 
awards under this announcement. Applicants requesting financial 
assistance for non-construction projects must file the Standard Form 
424B, ``Assurances: Non-Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign 
and return the Standard Form 424B with their applications.
    Applicants must provide a certification regarding lobbying when 
applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants must sign and 
return the certification with their applications.
    Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the Standard Form 
LLL when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who 
have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with 
receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a 
disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and 
submitting the application, the applicant is providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
application.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are 
not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for an award. 
By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing 
the certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
application.
    The forms (Forms 424, 424A-B; and Certifications including 
Certification Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, etc.; Drug 
Free Workplace and Environmental Tobacco Smoke) may be found at: 
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/ under new announcements.
    Private non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' 
at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in 
the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal 
grant applicants. The policy requires all Federal grant applicants to 
provide a

[[Page 70806]]

Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when 
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after 
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant 
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide 
electronic portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for 
every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, 
including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block 
grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
    Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may 
require a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free 
DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number 
on-line at http://www.dnb.com.
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): All 
information collections within this program announcement are approved 
under the following currently valid OMB control number: OMB control 
number 0970-0139 which expires on 12/31/2003. Public reporting burden 
for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per 
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of 
information. 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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times. Due date: March 3, 2004. See section 
IV.6 for more detailed information on submission requirements.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          What to submit               Required content         Required form or format        When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents................  As described above.....  Consistent with guidance in     By application due
                                                             ``Application Format''          date.
                                                             section of this announcement.
Abstract of Proposed Project.....  Brief abstract that      Consistent with guidance in     By application due
                                    identifies the type of   ``Application Format''          date.
                                    project, the target      section of this announcement.
                                    population and the
                                    major elements of the
                                    proposed project.
Completed Standard Form 424......  As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
                                    per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
Completed Standard Form 424A.....  As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
                                    per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
Narrative Budget Justification...  As described above.....  Consistent with guidance in     By application due
                                                             ``Application Format''          date.
                                                             section of this announcement.
Project Narrative................  A narrative that         Consistent with guidance in     By application due
                                    addresses issues         ``Application Format''          date.
                                    described in the         section of this announcement.
                                    ``Application Review
                                    Information'' and the
                                    ``Review and Selection
                                    Criteria'' sections of
                                    this announcement.
Certification regarding lobbying.  As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
                                    per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
Certification regarding drug-free  As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
 workplace.                         per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
Certification regarding            As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
 environmental tobacco smoke.       per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
Certification regarding            As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
 debarment, suspension or           per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
 ineligibility.                                              forms.htm.
Certification regarding non-       As described above and   May be found on http://         By application due
 construction programs.             per required form.       www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/   date.
                                                             forms.htm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4. 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 Programs and Activities.'' 
Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing 
and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.
    All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, 
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, 
Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa and Palau have elected to 
participate in the Executive Order process and have established Single 
Points of Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these 28 jurisdictions need 
take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants for projects to be 
administered by 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.
    SPOCSs 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 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, 
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370

[[Page 70807]]

L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th floor, Washington, DC 20447.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each participating State 
and Territory can be found on the Web at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    5. Funding Restrictions. Construction is not an allowable activity 
or expenditure under this solicitation. Grant awards will not allow 
reimbursement of pre-award costs.
    6. Other Submission Requirements. Applicants may choose to mail 
applications or have them hand-delivered. The closing time and date for 
the receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. (eastern time zone), March 3, 
2004. Mailed or hand-delivered applications received after 4:30 p.m. on 
the closing date will be classified as late.
    Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time 
and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, 
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal 
holidays). This address must appear on the envelop/package containing 
the application with the note ``Attention: Barbara Ziegler Johnson.'' 
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not 
always deliver as agreed.
    Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance 
to ensure that the application is received on or before the deadline 
date and time. Applicants should submit a signed original and two 
copies of the complete application package and submit it as follows:
    Mail applications to: Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447. Attn: 
Barbara Ziegler Johnson, SIP Application.
    Hand-delivered applications to: Applications should be hand 
delivered, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., addressed 
to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of 
Discretionary Grants, Attention: Barbara Ziegler Johnson, SIP 
Application, and delivered at ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near loading 
dock), Aerospace Building, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024, 
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). This address 
must appear on the envelope/package containing the application. ACF 
will not send applicants an acknowledgement of receipt for applications 
received during the application period.
    Questions may be directed to: Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Office of 
Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, Administration for 
Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor West, 
Washington, DC 20447; (202) 401-4646, [email protected].
    Late applications: Applications that 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.
    Any application received after 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date will 
not be considered for competition. Applicants using express/overnight 
mail services should allow two working days prior to the deadline date 
for receipt of applications. (Applicants are cautioned that express/
overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
    Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend an application deadline when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of the mail service, or in other 
rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements 
rests with ACF's Chief Grants Management Officer.
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax. 
Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted 
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
    You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper 
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the 
www.Grants.gov apply site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to 
download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and 
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may 
not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following if you plan to submit your application 
electronically via Grants.gov:
    [sbull] Electronic submission is voluntary.
    [sbull] When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you 
do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the 
application process through Grants.gov.
    [sbull] To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS 
Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.
    [sbull] You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format.
    [sbull] You may submit all documents electronically, including all 
information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
    [sbull] Your application must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this program announcement.
    [sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and 
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov
    [sbull] We may request that you provide original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    [sbull] You may access the electronic application for this program 
on www.Grants.gov
    [sbull] You must search for the downloadable application package by 
the CFDA number.

V. Application Review Information

    Instruction: 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. 
Uniform Project Description (UPD) elements to be included in the 
project description are:

Purpose

    The project description provides a 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. In preparing your project 
description, all information requested through each specific evaluation 
criterion should be provided. Awarding offices use this and other 
information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, 
therefore, that this information be included in the application.

[[Page 70808]]

Introduction

    Applicants are required to submit a full project description and 
shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
instructions and the specified evaluation criteria in the sections 
below. The instructions give a broad overview of what your project 
description should include while the evaluation criteria expand and 
clarify more program-specific information that is needed.

Project Summary Abstract

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

Objectives and Need for Assistance

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.

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 activities 
accomplished. For example, increased use of an interstate child support 
enforcement remedy (such as income withholding, tax refund offset) is 
projected to have quarterly results of a 5% increase in income 
withholding collections and a 5% increase in automated enforcement 
collections. 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.

Staff and Position Data

    Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a 
job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch 
will also be required for new key staff as appointed.

Evaluation

    Provide a narrative addressing how the results of the project and 
the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the 
evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which 
the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which 
the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. 
Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the 
methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and 
discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are 
being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the 
procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being 
conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and 
discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's 
effectiveness.

Budget and Budget Justification

    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information Form. Detailed 
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, 
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to 
be duplicated. Provide a narrative budget justification that describes 
how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, 
reasonableness and allocability of the proposed costs.

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.

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 business to be 
financed by the applicant.
    1. Evaluation Criteria. Proposed projects will be reviewed using 
the following evaluation criteria:
Criterion I: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum 30 points)
    The application should demonstrate a thorough understanding and 
analysis of the problem(s) being addressed in the project, the need for 
assistance and the importance of addressing these problems in improving 
the effectiveness of the child support program. The applicant should 
describe how the project will address this problem(s) through 
implementation of changes, enhancements and innovative efforts and 
specifically, how this project will improve program results. The 
applicant should address one or more of the activities listed under the 
``Design Elements in the Application'' described above for the specific 
priority area they are applying for (refer to Part I. Priority Areas). 
The applicant should identify the key goals and objectives of the 
project; describe the conceptual framework of its approach to resolve 
the identified problem(s); and provide a rationale for taking this 
approach as opposed to others.
Criterion II: Approach (Maximum: 30 points)
    A well thought-out and practical management and staffing plan is 
mandatory. The application should include a detailed management plan 
that includes time-lines and detailed

[[Page 70809]]

budgetary information. The main concern in this criterion is that the 
applicant should demonstrate a clear idea of the project's goals, 
objectives, and tasks to be accomplished. The plan to accomplish the 
goals and tasks should be set forth in a logical framework. The plan 
should identify what tasks are required of any contractors and specify 
their relevant qualifications to perform these tasks. Staff to be 
committed to the project (including supervisory and management staff) 
at the state and/or local levels must be identified by their role in 
the project along with their qualifications and areas of particular 
expertise. In addition, for any technical expertise obtained through a 
contract or subgrant, the desired technical expertise and skills of 
proposed positions should be specified in detail. The applicant should 
demonstrate that the skills needed to operate the project are either on 
board or can be obtained in a reasonable time.
Criterion III: Evaluation (Maximum 25 points)
    The application describes how the success of this project can be 
measured and how the success of this project has broader application in 
contributing to child support enforcement policies, practices, and/or 
providing solutions that could be adapted by other states/
jurisdictions. The application describes the specific results/products 
that will be achieved; as appropriate, identifies the kinds of data to 
be collected and maintained; describes procedures for informed consent 
of participants, where applicable, and discusses the criteria to be 
used to evaluate the results of the project. The application describes 
the evaluation methodology to be used to determine if the process 
proposed was implemented and if the project goals/objectives were 
achieved. Sound evaluations to determine whether or not project goals 
have been realized are of importance to child support enforcement 
policy makers and administrators. Thus, the proposal should include a 
process evaluation component and comparison of before/and after the 
project site(s)' experience, as appropriate, to demonstrate the results 
achieved.
Criterion IV: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum 10 points)
    The project costs need to be reasonable in relation to the 
identified tasks, including the evaluation component. A detailed budget 
(e.g., the staff required, equipment and facilities that would be 
leased or purchased) should be provided identifying all agency and 
other resources (i.e., State, community, or other programs such as TANF 
or Head Start) that will be committed to the project. Grant funds 
cannot be used for capital improvements or the purchase of land or 
buildings. Explain why this project's resource requirements cannot be 
met by the State/local agency's regular program operating budget.
Criterion V: Preferences (Maximum 5 points)
    Preference will be given to those grant applicants representing IV-
D agencies and applicant organizations who have documented IV-D agency 
commitment to the project, either through a cooperative agreement or 
letter of commitment, which needs to be signed and attached to the 
application.
    2. Review and Selection Process. Each application submitted under 
this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine that 
(1) The application was received by the closing date and submitted in 
accordance with the instructions in this announcement and (2) the 
applicant is eligible for funding. It is necessary that applicants 
state specifically which priority area they are applying for. 
Applications will be screened for priority area appropriateness. If 
applications are found to be inappropriate for the priority area in 
which they are submitted, applicants will be contacted for verbal 
approval of redirection to a more appropriate priority area.
    Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated 
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific 
evaluation criteria. The results of these reviews will assist the 
Commissioner and OCSE 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 because other factors are taken into consideration. These 
include, but are not limited to, the number of similar types of 
existing grants or projects funded with OCSE funds in the last five 
years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation 
and input; geographic distribution; previous program performance of 
applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous DHHS grants; 
audit reports; investigative reports; an applicant's progress in 
resolving any final audit disallowance on previous OCSE or other 
Federal agency grants. OCSE will consider the geographic distribution 
of funds among States and the relative proportion of funding among 
rural and urban areas. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess 
the quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of 
its success. The evaluation 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 
evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.
    Federal reviewers will be used for the review process.
    3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates. OCSE anticipates that 
successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the results 
of this grant competition within 90 days of the application deadline 
date identified in the ``Overview Information'' section under Dates.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive, by postal 
mail, a cover letter signed by the Commissioner, OCSE, attaching the 
official notice of award, the Financial Assistance Award (FAA) notice, 
which is signed by the grants management officer. As indicated in Part 
V.3. above, OCSE anticipates that successful and unsuccessful 
applicants will be notified of the results of this grant competition 
within 90 days of the application deadline.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. 45 CFR part 74 
and 45 CFR part 92.
    3. Reporting. All grantees are required to submit quarterly program 
reports; grantees are also required to submit semi-annual expenditure 
reports using the required financial standard form (SF-269) which is 
located on the Internet at: http://forms.psc.gov/forms/sf/SF-269.pdf. A 
suggested format for the program report will be sent to all grantees 
after the awards are made.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For copies of forms and the announcement, contact: Jean Robinson, 
Program Analyst, at (202) 401-5330, Fax (202) 205-4315; email, 
[email protected].
    For questions regarding application development, forms, or program 
concerns regarding the announcement contact: Susan A. Greenblatt, 
Deputy Director, Division of State, Tribal and Local Assistance, at 
(202) 401-4849; e-mail, [email protected].
    For questions regarding application submittal or other grants 
management concerns, contact Barbara Ziegler Johnson at (202) 401-4646; 
e-mail, [email protected].

[[Page 70810]]

VIII. Other Information

    Funding Reconsideration. After Federal funds are exhausted for this 
grant competition, applications which have been independently reviewed 
and ranked but have no final disposition (neither approved nor 
disapproved for funding) may again be considered for funding. 
Reconsideration may occur at any time funds become available within 
twelve (12) months following ranking. ACF does not select from multiple 
ranking lists for a program. Therefore, should a new competition be 
scheduled and applications remain ranked without final disposition, 
applicants are informed of their opportunity to reapply for the new 
competition, to the extent practical.

Sherri Z. Heller,
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-31375 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P