[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 63 (Thursday, April 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17167-17176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7258]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Availability, etc: Head Start 
Programs--Graduate Student Research Grants

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families (ACF) & Office of 
Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), HHS.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Head Start Graduate Student Research 
Partnership Development Grants.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OPRE-YD-0003.
    CFDA Number: 93.600.
    Due Date for Letter of Intent (Encouraged): 3 weeks prior to June 
1, 2004.
    Due Date for Applications (Required): The due date for receipt of 
applications is: June 1, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Funds are provided for Graduate Student Research Grants to develop 
or enhance Head Start Research Partnerships.
    This grant program is part of a larger Head Start research effort. 
Three other grant funding mechanisms are being offered concurrently 
with the one described in this announcement. They include: (1) Head 
Start Graduate Student Research Grants, (2) Head Start-University 
Partnerships: Measurement Development for Head Start Children and 
Families, and (3) American Indian-Alaska Native Head Start-University 
Partnerships. For more information, please see these other Head Start 
Research announcements listed in the Federal Register or listed on 
www.Grants.Gov, or send an inquiry to the e-mail address listed above.
    Funding for this grant program is shared with the Head Start 
Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants. Relative 
funding for the two is contingent upon the results of the review 
process.

[[Page 17168]]

    Priority Area: Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership 
Development Grants.

A. Purpose

    This is to announce the availability of Head Start Graduate Student 
Research Grant funds to support graduate students' efforts to create, 
develop, and/or enhance ongoing research partnerships with Head Start 
programs in good standing.

B. Statutory Authority

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act, as amended by the Coats Human 
Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285) and 42 U.S.C. 
9844

C. Background

    Starting in 1991, ACF began explicitly supporting the relationship 
between established Head Start researchers and their graduate students 
by awarding research grants, on behalf of specific graduate students, 
to conduct research in Head Start communities.
    The unique partnership that is forged between mentor and student 
within the Head Start research context serves as a model for the 
establishment of other partnerships within the community (e.g., 
researcher-Head Start staff, researcher-family, etc.). This foundation 
helps foster the skills necessary to build a graduate student's 
trajectory of successful partnership-building and contributions to the 
scientific community. Within this nurturing and supportive 
relationship, young researchers are empowered to become autonomous 
researchers, learning theory as well as the process of interacting with 
the various members and relevant organizations within their 
communities.
    However, effectively developing new research partnerships between 
researchers and Head Start communities also requires considerable 
planning, effort, and commitment. Without resources to support this 
work, students in graduate programs that do not already have a research 
partnership with a Head Start program are discouraged from conducting 
research in this arena. Additionally, in places where partnerships 
between researchers and Head Start communities already exist, the 
benefit of the partnerships for the Head Start partners could be 
strengthened by focused, on-going efforts that specifically target 
enhancing the collaborative relationship. One example of such an effort 
might be to help a Head Start partner interpret and implement research 
findings in a program.
    In recognition of these facts, ACF recently established a new 
funding mechanism designed to facilitate the entry of more mentor/
student teams to the field of Head Start research by encouraging the 
development of such new research partnerships. It is also intended to 
support students dedicated to strengthening existing research 
partnerships.
    The broad goals of this priority area are similar to those of the 
Head Start Graduate Student Research Grant program, and can be 
summarized as follows:
     Provide direct support for graduate students 
engaging in the development of research partnerships with Head Start 
programs, thus strengthening the links between Head Start and the 
research community, and increasing the research that contributes to the 
knowledge base about the best approaches for delivering services to 
diverse, low-income families and their children;
     Promote mentor-student relationships which 
support students' graduate training and professional development as 
young community-based researchers engaged in policy-relevant, applied 
research;
     Emphasize the importance of developing true 
working research partnerships with Head Start programs and other 
relevant entities within the community, thereby fostering skills 
necessary to build a student's trajectory of successful partnership-
building and contributions to the scientific community; and
     Support the active communication, networking and 
collaboration among graduate students, their mentors and other 
prominent researchers in the field, both during their graduate 
training, as well as into the early stages of their research careers.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated Total Program Funding: $ 80,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: ACF anticipates funding 4-8 projects.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $10,000.
    An application that exceeds the upper value of the dollar range 
specified will be considered ``non-responsive'' and be returned to the 
applicant without further review.
    Floor of Individual Award Amounts: $5,000.
    Average Projected Award Amount: None specified.
    Project Periods for Awards: One year project and budget periods.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible applicants include the following:
     State controlled institutions of higher 
education.
     Private institutions of higher education.
     Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the 
IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
     Other: Faith-based and community organizations 
that meet all other eligibility requirements.
Additional Information on Eligibility
    A. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education on 
behalf of graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program.
    B. To be eligible to administer the grant on behalf of the student, 
the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional 
accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education and 
the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation. Faith-based and community 
organizations that meet other eligibility requirements are also 
eligible to apply.
    C. Although the faculty mentor is listed as the Principal 
Investigator and must be committed to taking a central role in 
maintaining an ongoing research partnership with a Head Start program, 
this grant is intended for an individual student to be the primary 
conduit through which the research-related relationship is forged. 
Information about both the graduate student and the student's faculty 
mentor is required as part of this application.
    D. The graduate student applicant must agree to attend the annual 
meeting for all Head Start Graduate Student grantees. The budget should 
reflect travel funds for such purposes. This annual grantee meeting is 
typically scheduled during the summer or fall of each year and is held 
in Washington, DC. It is anticipated that the fall 2004 meeting will be 
held in late October. During this meeting, each student typically 
presents a brief overview of his or her study or proposed project. The 
intended goal of the meeting is to stimulate potentially useful and 
constructive feedback from other students and mentors, as well as to 
facilitate collaboration, networking and mentoring activities.
    E. Given the strong emphasis that is placed on supporting the 
mentor-student relationship, it is crucial that the faculty mentors 
attend and actively participate in the activities of the annual grantee 
meeting for all Head Start Graduate Students. The budget should reflect 
travel funds for such purposes, as appropriate. However, if the faculty 
mentor does plan to attend the annual Graduate Student grantee meeting, 
but

[[Page 17169]]

will utilize another source of travel funds, such arrangements are 
encouraged and should be clearly noted in the application.
    F. A university faculty member must serve as a mentor to the 
graduate student; this faculty member is listed as the ``Principal 
Investigator.'' The application must include a letter from this faculty 
member stating that s/he has reviewed and approved the application, 
stating that s/he is committed to supporting the Head Start research 
partnership that the student is developing, describing the student's 
status in the doctoral program, and describing how the faculty member 
will regularly monitor the student's work. It should also describe, in 
as much detail as possible, the potential for the research partnership 
development project to lead to a research effort that would include the 
student's dissertation study.
    G. The Principal Investigator must have a doctorate or equivalent 
degree in the respective field, conduct research as a primary 
professional responsibility, and have published or have been accepted 
for publication in the major peer-reviewed research journals in the 
field as a first author or second author.
    H. While one of the long-term purposes of the relationship should 
be to generate a doctoral dissertation research opportunity in the Head 
Start setting, the student should take an approach that is based in 
community/ecological/empowerment models, in which research needs are 
considered in the larger context of program needs, as well as mutually 
beneficial and empowering relationships. Appropriate activities during 
the grant period may include, but are not limited to, providing direct 
services and assistance to Head Start or Early Head Start programs with 
program activities, conducting assets/needs assessments, conducting 
focus groups, jointly identifying or defining problems with Head Start 
partners, conducting or facilitating staff trainings, and other 
activities that foster collaborative, reciprocal relationships with 
Head Start partners.
    I. The partnership development project must be an independent 
effort conducted by the individual graduate student or a well-defined 
portion(s) of a larger project currently being conducted by a faculty 
member. If the project is part of a larger effort, the proposal must 
clearly distinguish between the student's portion of the activities and 
those of the larger project. Given the emphasis on partnership 
development, the graduate student must have a clearly articulated and 
primary set of responsibilities for conducting the proposed partnership 
development and subsequent research activities described in the 
application.
    J. Graduate students will be expected to identify: (a) a set of 
goals and objectives for the year, as well as a set of benchmarks for 
guiding and assessing incremental progress toward attaining these goals 
and objectives, and (b) specific products they expect to generate 
during the grant period such as community assets/needs assessments, 
problem descriptions, summaries of focus group findings or training 
efforts, and/or drafts of dissertation proposals.
    K. The application must contain a letter from a Head Start or Early 
Head Start program certifying that they have entered or are willing to 
explore entering into a partnership with the applicant and the 
application has been reviewed and approved by the Head Start or Early 
Head Start Policy Council (see Section IV. Application and Submission 
Information for further details about these letters).
    L. Grant recipients are encouraged to build upon their work by 
subsequently applying for the Head Start Graduate Student Research 
Grants to support doctoral dissertation research.
    M. The graduate student must write the application in its entirety, 
consistent with the format and style guidelines of the Publication 
Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th ed. (APA 2001) 
and the general principles and guidelines of the Ethical Principles of 
Psychologists and Code of Conduct 2002 (APA, 2002).
    N. Any nonprofit organization submitting an application must submit 
proof of its nonprofit status at the time of submission. Any of the 
following constitutes proof of nonprofit status:
     A copy of the applicant organization'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.
     A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption 
certificate.
     A written statement from a State taxing body, 
State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying 
that the applicant organization has a nonprofit status and that none of 
the net earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
     A certified copy of the organization's 
certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly 
establishes nonprofit status.
     Any of the items above for a State or national 
parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization 
that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.
    O. Private, nonprofit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Nonprofit Grant Applicants'' 
at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
    There is no matching requirement.
3. Other
    All applicants must have Dun & Bradstreet numbers. 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 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 
acquire 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.
    Applications that fail to follow the required format described in 
Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission will be 
considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under 
this announcement.
    Applications that exceed the $10,000 ceiling will be considered 
non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under this 
announcement.
    It is unlikely that any individual mentor will be funded for more 
than one graduate student research grant if there are at least 10 
applications from different mentors/institutions that qualify for 
support.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    The Head Start Research Support Technical Assistance Team, 1 (877) 
663-0250, is available to answer questions regarding application

[[Page 17170]]

requirements and to refer you to the appropriate contact person in ACF 
for programmatic questions. You may also e-mail your questions to: 
[email protected]. Refer to the Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-
OPRE-[Insert  here].

    ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC, c/o 
Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, 
Attention: Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development 
Grants, 1 (877) 663-0250, e-mail [email protected].
URL To Obtain an Application
    Copies of this Program Announcement may be downloaded approximately 
5 days after publication in the Federal Register at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/core/ongoing_research/funding/funding.html.
    Application materials described in Section IV. can be downloaded 
from the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm#apps.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    An original and two copies of the complete application are 
required. The original copy must include all required forms, 
certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized 
representative, have original signatures, and be submitted unbound. The 
two additional copies of the complete application must include all 
required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices and must 
also be submitted unbound. Applicants have the option of omitting from 
the application copies (not the original) specific salary rates or 
amounts for individuals specified in the application budget and Social 
Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may 
include summary salary information.
    Format and Organization. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
limit their application to 100 pages, double-spaced, with standard one-
inch margins and 12 point fonts. This page limit applies to both 
narrative text and supporting materials but not the Standard Federal 
Forms (see list below). Applicants must number the pages of their 
application beginning with the Table of Contents.
    Applicants are advised to include all required forms and materials 
and to organize these materials according to the format, and in the 
order, presented below:

a. Cover Letter
b. Contact information sheet (see details below)
c. Standard Federal Forms
    Standard Application for Federal Assistance (Form 424)
    Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (Form 424A)
    Certifications Regarding Lobbying
    Disclosures of Lobbying Activities (if necessary)
    Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
    Assurance Regarding Non-Construction Programs (Form 424B)
    Assurance Regarding Protection of Human Subjects
d. Table of Contents
e. Project Narrative Statement (see details below)
f. Appendix
    Proof of Nonprofit Status (see Section V.1.F)
    Curriculum Vitae for Student and Faculty Advisor
    Letter of Support from Advisor
    Letter(s) of agreement with Head Start program(s) (see details 
below)
    Letter(s) of agreement with Head Start Policy Council(s) (see 
details below)
    Official Transcript of Student Reflecting Graduate Courses

    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:
     Electronic submission is voluntary.
     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.
     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.
     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.
     You may submit all documents electronically, 
including all information typically included on the SF-424 and all 
necessary assurances and certifications.
     Your application must comply with any page 
limitation requirements described in this program announcement.
     After you electronically submit your 
application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from 
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. ACF will 
retrieve your application from Grants.gov.
     We may request that you provide original 
signatures on forms at a later date.
     You may access the electronic application for 
this program on www.Grants.gov.
     You must search for the downloadable application 
package by the CFDA number.
    Private non-profit organizations may voluntarily submit with their 
applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents and 
Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Nonprofit Grant Applicants'' at 
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Content of Contact Information Sheet: The contact information sheet 
should include complete contact information, including addresses, phone 
and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses, for the graduate student 
applicant, the Principal Investigator(s), and the institution's grants/
financial officer (person who signs the SF-424).
    Content of Project Narrative Statement: The project narrative 
should be carefully developed in accordance with ACF's research goals 
and agenda as described in the Purpose, Background, and Priorities of 
this funding opportunity, and the structure requirements listed in the 
Section V. Application Review Information. Please see Section V.1. 
Criteria for instructions on preparing the project summary/abstract and 
the full project description.
    Content of Letters of Agreement: For research conducted with Head 
Start, the application must contain (A) an original copy of a letter 
from the Head Start or Early Head Start program certifying that they 
have entered into a research partnership with the applicant (graduate 
student) and (B) a separate letter certifying that the application has 
been reviewed and approved by the local Head Start Program Policy 
Council. This certification of approval or pending approval by the 
Policy Council must be an original letter from the official 
representative of the Policy Council itself.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. 
(Eastern Time Zone) on June 1, 2004. Mailed or hand-carried 
applications received after

[[Page 17171]]

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 following address: ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant 
Review Team/ Xtria, LLC, c/o Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention: Head Start Graduate Student 
Research Partnership Development Grants, 1 (877) 663-0250, e-mail 
[email protected].
    Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in 
advance, when using all mail services, to ensure that the applications 
are received on or before the deadline time and date.
    Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are 
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 9 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday (excluding Federal holidays) 
at the above address. Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight 
mail services do not always deliver as agreed. ACF cannot accommodate 
transmission of applications by fax.
    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.
    Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, 
when there are widespread disruptions of mails service, or in other 
rare cases. Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements 
rest with the ACF Chief Grants Management Officer.
    Due date for Letters of Intent (Encouraged): 3 weeks prior to June 
1, 2004. If you plan to submit an application, ACF requests you notify 
us by fax or e-mail at least three weeks prior to the submission 
deadline date. This information will be used only to determine the 
number of expert reviewers needed to review the applications. Include 
only the following information in this fax or e-mail: The number and 
title of this announcement; the name, address, telephone and fax 
number, e-mail address of the Principal Investigator(s), the fiscal 
agent (if known); and the name of the university or nonprofit 
institution. Do not include a description of your proposed project. 
Send this information to ``The Head Start Research Support Team'' at--
Fax: 1 (703) 821-3989 or e-mail: [email protected].
    The table below provides additional detail about the standard 
Federal forms that need to be submitted, including what information is 
required on them, where these forms can be found, and when they must be 
submitted.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Required form or
            What to submit                 Required content              format               When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Application for Federal       Must be filled out       May be found at http://  By application due
 Assistance (form SF 424).              completely, signed,      acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        and enclosed with        ofs/forms.htm.
                                        application.
--------------------------------------
Budget Information--Nonconstruction    Must be filled out       May be found at http://  By application due
 Programs (form SF 424A).               completely and           acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        enclosed with            ofs/forms.htm.
                                        application.
--------------------------------------
Certification Regarding Lobbying.....  Must be signed and       May be found at http://  By application due
                                        enclosed with            acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        application.             ofs/forms.htm.
--------------------------------------
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF  If necessary (see        May be found at http://  By application due
 LLL).                                  Certification            acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        Regarding Lobbying),     ofs/forms.htm.
                                        must be filled out
                                        completely, signed,
                                        and enclosed with
                                        application.
--------------------------------------
Certification Regarding Environmental  Copy must be enclosed    May be found at http://  By application due
 Tobacco Smoke.                         with application         acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        (signing and             ofs/forms.htm.
                                        submitting the
                                        proposal certifies its
                                        content).
--------------------------------------
Assurance Regarding Nonconstruction    Must be signed and       May be found at http://  By application due
 Programs (form SF 424B).               enclosed with            acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        application.             ofs/forms.htm.
--------------------------------------
Assurance Regarding Protection of      Must be filled out       May be found at http://  By application due
 Human Subjects.                        completely, signed,      acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                        and enclosed with        ofs/forms.htm.
                                        application.
--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Forms
    Private non-profit organizations may voluntarily submit with their 
applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents and 
Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Nonprofit Grant Applicants'' at 
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

[[Page 17172]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            What to submit                 Required content     Required form or format       When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant   Per required form......  May be found at http://  By application due
 Applicants.                                                     acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                                                 ofs/forms.htm.
--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Intergovernmental Review

State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
    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, 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-six 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 the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard 
Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from 
the application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing 
continuation awards.
    SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are 
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and 
those official State process recommendations which may trigger the 
``accommodation 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, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, Washington, DC 20447. A current list of the Single 
Points of Contact (SPOCs) for each State and Territory is posted at the 
following Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc. html.

5. Funding Restrictions

    A. Pre-award costs are not allowable.
    B. Due to the small amount of the grant, the applicant and the 
applicant's institution are strongly encouraged to waive indirect 
costs. An authorized representative of the applicant's institution must 
submit a written acknowledgement that the indirect costs are being 
waived. In the event that waiving the indirect costs is not possible, 
the applicant is strongly encouraged to apply the university's or 
nonprofit institution's off-campus research rates for indirect costs.
    C. Sharing of Awards. Awards can not be divided among two or more 
students.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Electronic Address to Submit Applications: www.Grants.Gov.
    Electronic Submission: Please see Section IV.2. Content and Form of 
Application Submission for guidelines and requirements when submitting 
applications electronically.
    Submission by Mail: Mailed applications shall be considered as 
meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the 
deadline time and date at the following address: ACYF Operations 
Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC, c/o Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention: Head Start Graduate 
Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1 (877) 663-0250, e-
mail [email protected].

    Hand Delivery: Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant 
couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/
express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, between 
the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday 
(excluding Federal holidays) at the above address. Applicants are 
cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as 
agreed. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.
    Due Date for Letters of Intent (Encouraged): 3 weeks prior to June 
1, 2004. If you plan to submit an application, ACF requests you notify 
us by fax or e-mail at least three weeks prior to the submission 
deadline date. This information will be used only to determine the 
number of expert reviewers needed to review the applications. Include 
only the following information in this fax or e-mail: The number and 
title of this announcement; the name, address, telephone and fax 
number, e-mail address of the Principal Investigator(s), the fiscal 
agent (if known); and the name of the university or nonprofit 
institution. Do not include a description of your proposed project. 
Send this information to ``The Head Start Research Support Team'' at--
Fax: 1 (703) 821-3989 or e-mail: [email protected].

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public 
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average 25 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 3/31/2004. 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.
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 
criteria should be

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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.
General Instructions
    ACF is particularly interested in specific factual information and 
statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project 
descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length. 
Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross-referencing should be used 
rather than repetition. Supporting information concerning activities 
that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does 
not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant-funded activity 
should be placed in an appendix.
    Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included 
for easy reference.
    Applicants required to submit a full project description shall 
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
following instructions and the specified evaluation criteria. The 
instructions give a broad overview of what your project description 
should include while the evaluation criteria expands and clarifies more 
program-specific information that is needed.
    A. Project Summary/Abstract: Provide a summary of the project 
description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request.
    B. 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 from concerned parties 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.
    C. Results and Benefits Expected: Identify the results and benefits 
to be derived. For example, explain how your proposed project will 
achieve the specific goals and objectives you have set; specify the 
number of children and families to be served, and how the services to 
be provided will be funded consistent with the local needs assessment. 
Or, explain how the expected results will benefit the population to be 
served in meeting its needs for early learning services and activities. 
What benefits will families derive from these services? How will the 
services help them? What lessons will be learned which might help other 
agencies and organizations that are addressing the needs of a similar 
client population?
    D. 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. 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, 
clearances 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.
    E. 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.
    F. Additional Information: Following are requests for additional 
information that need to be included in the application:
    1. 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.
    2. Organizational Profiles: Provide information on the applicant 
organization(s) and cooperating partners such as organizational charts, 
financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed 
Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond 
carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses 
and other documentation of professional accreditation, information on 
compliance with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation 
of experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any 
nonprofit organization submitting an application must submit proof of 
its nonprofit status in its application at the time of submission.
    The nonprofit agency can accomplish this by providing a copy of the 
applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent 
list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
IRS code, or by providing a copy of the currently valid IRS tax 
exemption certificate; or by providing a copy of the articles of 
incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation or 
association is domiciled.
    3. Letters of Support: Provide statements from the community, 
public and commercial leaders that support the project proposed for 
funding. All documents must be included in the application at the time 
of submission.
    G. Budget and Budget Justification: Provide line item detail and 
detailed calculations for each budget object class identified in the 
Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must include estimation 
methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail 
sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. The detailed budget 
must also include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 
15 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss

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the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs.
General
    The following are guidelines 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 must 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 that belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Third party evaluation contracts (if 
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant, should be included under this category.
    Justification: All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a 
manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free 
competition. Recipients and subrecipients, other than States that are 
required to use part 92 procedures, must justify any anticipated 
procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition 
and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 
403(11) (currently set at $100,000). Recipients might be required to 
make available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such 
as request for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost 
estimates, etc.

    Note:  Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the 
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed 
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency 
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Other
    Description: 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.
Indirect Charges
    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should 
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate 
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or 
another cognizant Federal agency.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an 
award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the 
principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for 
establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant 
agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals 
may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an 
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect 
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. 
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is 
allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the 
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the 
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Non-Federal Resources
    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

[[Page 17175]]

    Justification: 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.

Evaluation Criteria

    Competitive Criteria for Reviewers: Head Start Graduate Student 
Research Partnership Development Grants--The three criteria areas that 
follow will be used to review and evaluate each application. Address 
each in the Project Narrative Section of the application. The point 
values indicate the maximum numerical weight each criterion will be 
accorded in the review process. (100 points total.)
    Approach: 40 points
     The extent to which the approach is based in 
community/ecological/empowerment models, in which research needs are 
considered in the larger context of program needs, as well as mutually 
beneficial and empowering relationships.
     The extent to which the proposal demonstrates an 
approach to the planning, effort, and commitment to development and/or 
enhancement of Head Start-research partnership(s) consistent with the 
descriptions in this announcement (see III.A.11 for further details).
     The extent to which there is a discrete project 
designed by the graduate student. If the proposed project is part of a 
larger project designed by others, the approach section should clearly 
delineate the research partnership development component to be carried 
out by the student and how it is distinguished from the larger project 
(see III.A.12 for further details).
     The extent to which the goals and objectives of 
the proposed activities, the set of benchmarks for guiding and 
assessing progress, and the set of products to be generated are clearly 
articulated and reflect an appropriate understanding of the how these 
activities will fit within the context and complexities of the Head 
Start program's operations (see III.A.13 for further details).
     The extent to which the description of the 
proposed project articulates a set of partnership development 
activities that are consistent with the activities described in this 
announcement, as opposed to a set of activities associated with the 
implementation of an already formulated research study.
     The scope of the project is reasonable for the 
funds available and feasible for the time frame specified.
     The extent to which the planned approach or 
proposed research partnership activities reflect sufficient 
opportunities for written input from and an active partnership with the 
Head Start program (including the separate required review and written 
approval of the proposed partnership activities from the Head Start 
program and the Head Start Program Policy Council).
     The extent to which the budget and budget 
justification are appropriate for carrying out the proposed research 
project development activities.
     The extent to which proposed products reflect 
concrete and measurable steps toward design of a future dissertation 
project.
    Staff and Position Data: 35 points
     The extent to which the faculty mentor and 
graduate student possess the expertise necessary to successfully form a 
research partnership with a Head Start program as demonstrated in the 
application and information contained in their vitae.
     The Principal Investigator/faculty mentor has 
earned a doctorate or equivalent in the relevant field and has first or 
second author publications in major research journals.
     The extent to which the faculty mentor and 
graduate student reflect an understanding of and sensitivity to the 
issues of working in a community setting and in a reciprocal 
partnership with Head Start program staff and parents.
     The adequacy of the time devoted to this project 
by the faculty mentor for mentoring the graduate student. The proposal 
should include evidence of the faculty mentor's commitment to mentoring 
the individual graduate student, and as appropriate, willingness to 
serve as a resource to the broader group of Head Start Graduate 
Students funded under this award.
     The extent to which the mentor-mentee 
relationship is clearly described and has the potential to continue 
throughout the student's dissertation process.
    Results or Benefits Expected: 25 points
     The presentation reflects original work done by 
the student (consistent with the general principles and guidelines of 
the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct 2002 (APA 
2002).
     The extent to which the literature review, as 
well as a description of the needs of the local community if 
appropriate, is current, comprehensive, and adequately supports the 
need for developing this or similar research partnerships.
     The extent to which proposed goals and 
objectives for the year address the needs identified.
     The extent to which the specific products to be 
generated through the grant, as well as the benchmarks for assessing 
progress toward these goals and objectives, are clearly described and 
will potentially benefit the Head Start and/or research communities.
     The extent to which the literature review has a 
complete set of reference citations and is written consistent with the 
guidelines of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological 
Association, 5th ed. (APA 2001).
     The extent to which the proposed project is 
appropriate to the student's level of ability and the stated time frame 
for completing the project.
     The extent to which potential research questions 
are clearly stated and are of importance and relevance for low-income 
children's development and welfare.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Each application will undergo an eligibility and conformance review 
by Federal staff. Applications that pass the eligibility and 
conformance review will be evaluated on a competitive basis according 
to the specified evaluation criteria.
    The competitive review will be conducted in the Washington, DC 
metropolitan area by panels of Federal and non-Federal experts 
knowledgeable in the areas of early childhood education and 
intervention research, early learning, child care, and other relevant 
program areas.
    Application review panels will assign a score to each application 
and identify its strengths and weaknesses.
    OPRE will conduct an administrative review of the applications and 
results of the competitive review panels and make recommendations for 
funding to the Director of OPRE.
    The Director of OPRE, in consultation with the Commissioner of the 
Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), will make the 
final selection of the applications to be funded. Applications may be 
funded in whole or in part depending on: (1) The ranked order of 
applicants resulting from the competitive review; (2) staff review and 
consultations; (3) the combination of projects that best meets the 
Bureau's objectives; (4) the funds available; and (5) other relevant 
considerations. The Director may also elect not to fund any applicants 
with known management, fiscal, reporting, program, or other problems, 
which make it unlikely that they would be able to provide effective 
services.

[[Page 17176]]

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a 
Financial Assistance Award notice that sets forth the amount of funds 
granted, the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective 
date of the award, the budget period for which initial support is 
given, and the total project period for which support is provided. The 
Financial Assistance Award will be signed by the Grants Officer and 
transmitted via postal mail. Organizations whose applications will not 
be funded will be notified in writing by ACF.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All applicants are responsible for conforming to the United States 
Executive Branch Code of Federal Regulations (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html). The following regulations have been identified as 
having particular relevance for ACF grants: 45 CFR parts 74 and 92.

3. Reporting Requirements

    Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually and a final report is due 90 
days after the end of the grant period.
    Financial Reports: (SF-269 long form) Semi-annually and a final 
report is due 90 days after the end of the grant period.
    Original reports and one copy should be mailed to: Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of 
Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 
20447.

VII. Agency Contacts

1. Program Office Contact

    ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC, c/o 
Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, 
Attention: Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development 
Grants, 1 (877) 663-0250, e-mail [email protected].

2. Grants Management Office Contact

    Sylvia Johnson, ACF Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, Washington, DC 20447, 1 (202) 260-7622, e-mail: 
[email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    Applicants under this announcement are advised that subsequent sale 
and distribution of products developed under this grant will be subject 
to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, part 74.
    The use of secondary data analysis in order to refine and validate 
newly-developed measures in relation to already standardized measures 
is strongly advised.
Definitions
    Budget Period--For the purposes of this announcement, budget period 
means the 12-month period of time for which ACF funds are made 
available to a particular grantee (e.g., beginning on September 16, 
2004, and ending on September 15, 2005).
    Project Period--For the purposes of this announcement, the project 
period is the same length as the budget period.

    Dated: March 26, 2004.
Naomi Goldstein,
Acting Director, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 04-7258 Filed 3-31-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-U