[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29732-29740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11816]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration 
on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), Child Care Bureau (CCB).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Field Initiated Child Care Research 
Projects.
    Announcement Type: Competitive Grant-Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-ACYF-YE-0020.
    CFDA Number: 93.575.

DATES: Due Date for Applications: The due date for receipt of 
applications is July 26, 2004.
    Due Date for Letters of Intent: If you intend to submit an 
application, please e-mail the ACYF Operations Center and include the 
following information: the number and title of this announcement, your 
organization's name and address, and your contact person's name, title, 
phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. This notice is not 
required but is strongly encouraged. The information will be used to 
determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate 
applications and to update the mailing list for future program 
announcements.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

1. Child Care Bureau

    Since its establishment in 1995, the Child Care Bureau (CCB) has 
been dedicated to enhancing the quality, affordability, and supply of 
child care available for all families. The Child Care Bureau 
administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a $4.8 billion 
child care program that includes funding for child care subsidies and 
activities to improve child care quality and availability. Combined 
with related State and Federal funding, CCDF provides more than $11 
billion a year to States, territories, and tribes. Most of these funds 
are used to assist low-income, working families in paying for child 
care.
    The Bureau works closely with ACF Regions, States, territories, and 
tribes to facilitate, oversee, and document the implementation of 
policies and programs that support State, local, and private sector 
administration of child care services and systems. In addition, the 
Bureau collaborates extensively with other offices throughout the 
Federal government to promote integrated approaches, family-focused 
services, and coordinated child care delivery systems. In all of these 
activities, the Bureau strives to support children's healthy growth and 
development, family self-sufficiency, parental choice and involvement, 
and linkage of child care with other community services.

2. Child Care Bureau's Research Agenda

    Since 2000, Congress has appropriated approximately $10 million per 
year to be used for child care research and evaluation. The Child Care 
Bureau's research agenda supports activities likely to help decision 
makers in crafting effective child care policies and practices that 
promote positive outcomes for children and families. It is also 
intended to increase the capacity for child care research at the 
national, State, and local levels and to promote better linkages among 
research, policy, and practice.
    The Bureau's capacity to further child care-related research is 
enhanced by the Child Care Policy Research Consortium, which is an 
alliance of research projects sponsored by the CCB. The consortium is 
comprised of researchers and their partners in States, local 
communities and other organizations who join in linking research, 
policy, and practice. The research projects of consortium members cover 
a broad range of issues. For example, some projects describe State and 
local child care populations, services, and programs, while others 
focus on child care subsidy policies and market dynamics. In addition, 
some projects examine issues that deal with the professional 
development and training of child care providers. The consortium meets 
annually in Washington, DC.
    In order to synthesize the broad array of child care information 
being generated, the Bureau has created the Child Care and Early 
Education Research Collaboration and Archive (CCEERCA), which serves as 
the Child Care Bureau's national research knowledge management system 
for the child care field. The CCEERCA consists of an interactive Web 
site, an archive of data sets and reports, and a technical assistance 
support system to assist researchers and facilitate collaboration.

3. Purpose and Goals

    The purpose of these grants is to support researchers in 
investigating child care issues that are consistent with the Child Care 
Bureau's research agenda and to improve the overall quality of

[[Page 29733]]

child care research. They are funded under the authority of the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as amended.
    The goals of this program area are as follows:
    To address issues of current relevance to decision makers at the 
local, State, and national levels. Research and evaluation are critical 
to understanding child care issues and their implications for children 
and families. In fiscal year 2004 (FY 2004), the Bureau is particularly 
concerned with outcomes that relate to alternative child care subsidy 
policies and practices, investments in child care quality including 
provider training and professional development, the school readiness of 
young children cared for in a variety of care settings, and 
coordination across child care and other programs that serve children 
and families.
    To increase the capacity for child care research at the national, 
State, and local levels. Once completed and released, studies funded 
through this announcement must be prepared and archived according to 
the specifications supplied by the Child Care and Early Education 
Research Collaboration and Archive. These public-use data files will be 
the property of the Federal government and will remain in the public 
domain for secondary analysis by other researchers.
    To encourage the active communication, networking, and 
collaboration among prominent child care researchers, and policy 
makers. In order to facilitate networking with policy makers, 
researchers are required to participate in the Child Care Bureau's 
Annual Meeting of the Child Care Policy Research Consortium and invited 
to attend the State Administrators' Meeting.

4. Fiscal Year 2004 Field Initiated Child Care Research Priorities

    In FY 2004, the Child Care Bureau is seeking to fund Field 
Initiated Child Care Research Projects that address questions that are 
highly relevant to the issues faced by Federal, State, and local 
community policy makers. These include: The effects of alternative 
child care subsidy policies and practices; the relative effectiveness 
of child care quality investments; issues and outcomes related to the 
professional development and training of caregivers; the school 
readiness of young children in a range of care settings; and issues and 
approaches in coordinating between child care and other services for 
children and families. The following describes each of these areas in 
detail and provides examples of research questions under each area.
    A. Child Care Subsidy Policies. Under the Child Care and 
Development Fund, States have the flexibility to establish child care 
policies and practices that respond to State and local needs. Existing 
research demonstrates that significant variations exist across 
jurisdictions. Relatively little is known about how these variations 
influence which families and children are being served, the types and 
amounts of child care being used, continuity of care for children, and 
employment and school readiness outcomes. For example:
     What family and child outcomes are associated with receipt 
of subsidies? How do outcomes differ for different population groups 
and types of care?
     How do child care policies and administrative practices 
affect the child care decisions parents make, including the selection 
of faith-based providers?
     How do alternatives to on-site application and eligibility 
re-determination processes, and the frequency of these activities, 
relate to characteristics of families served, the duration of 
arrangements, continuity of care, and outcomes for families and 
children?
     How do alternative approaches to parental co-payments 
influence the number of families that can be served, the types of care 
parents use, the affordability of care, continuity of care, and the 
willingness of providers to serve subsidized families?
     How well do market rate surveys assess the price of care 
in various types of communities? What methods can be used to validate 
the findings from market rate surveys?
     What are the effects of child care subsidies on the larger 
child care market (e.g., does an infusion of public funding result in 
higher community child care prices or is there displacement between 
subsidized and non-subsidized children)?
     How do child care subsidy policies, financing strategies, 
and delivery systems affect the role of child care in community 
economic development?
    B. Quality Investments. In FY 02, States spent 11 percent of the 
funds they received through the Child Care and Development Fund on 
activities to improve child care quality. The Child Care Bureau seeks 
projects that will provide sound information about the cost-
effectiveness of alternative investments in improving child care 
quality. For example:
     Does giving informal caregivers, such as relatives, 
friends and neighbors, access to USDA adult and child nutrition 
programs result in improved child care quality? Do partnerships among 
child care and nutrition programs result in an effective system for the 
delivery of training for informal caregivers? How does participation in 
other types of support relate to the quality of care provided by this 
group of caregivers?
     What proportion of child care providers take advantage of 
State and community systems of tiered reimbursement? Does tiered 
reimbursement result in increased participation in accreditation, 
certification, or other mechanisms through which providers can 
demonstrate that they offer higher quality care? How do variations 
across systems of tiered reimbursement, including incentive amounts, 
influence provider participation? Are there differences in 
participation in tiered reimbursement and responses to licensing 
incentives among types of providers (including faith-based 
organizations)? Is it possible to demonstrate improvements in the 
quality of care? Do such systems influence the child care choices 
parents make?
     Do strategies such as putting licensing information on the 
web or monitoring child care facilities based on risk factors improve 
the health, safety and quality of child care facilities? Do such 
strategies result in better informed consumers?
    C. Professional Development and Training. In connection with the 
administration's early learning initiative, Good Start, Grow Smart, the 
Child Care Bureau has been working with States on the development of 
voluntary guidelines for early learning. States are being encouraged to 
link their professional development and provider training strategies to 
the outcomes they hope to achieve for children. In support of these 
efforts, the Bureau is interested in research projects that can provide 
greater insight into the effectiveness of alternative approaches to 
professional development and training in improving the quality of care 
and outcomes for children across the range of child care settings. For 
example:
     What characteristics of caregivers are associated with 
choosing child care as a long-term profession and staying in the field?
     What levels of compensation and benefits are necessary to 
motivate caregivers to participate in quality improvement initiatives 
such as incentives for earning professional credentials or degrees and 
specialized training?
     Are States implementing policies (such as tax incentives, 
loan programs

[[Page 29734]]

and training) that encourage individuals to work in child care or 
establish child care businesses? How effective are these strategies?
     What characteristics of professional development systems 
provide an effective vehicle for the pursuit of career paths in child 
care and early childhood education? How well do articulation agreements 
and systems of training approval and registry work for individual 
caregivers?
     Do professional development systems support the workforce 
in all sectors and levels of development including caregivers working 
in family child care and informal settings as well as center-based 
programs (including faith-based)?
     How effective are alternative training strategies such as 
distance learning, mentoring, and coaching in improving the skills of 
caregivers with limited education and access to the formal system?
    D. School Readiness. Young children are spending increasing numbers 
of hours in child care and other early education settings. More needs 
to be known about how the school readiness of young children is 
influenced across types of child care as well as how school readiness 
can be promoted across settings. For example:
     How do school readiness outcomes differ among early 
childhood education settings? What are the characteristics of settings 
that make a difference in school readiness outcomes for children? How 
does this vary by racial, ethnic, or language differences among 
children?
     How do hours in child care and early education relate to 
child outcomes?
     Does subsidy receipt impact the probability that low-
income children will be in settings that support school readiness?
     What factors promote children's early learning and school 
readiness in child care centers, family child care homes, and in 
informal arrangements among families, friends and neighbors?
    E. Coordination. With growth in child care subsidies, Head Start, 
State pre-kindergarten programs, services for children with special 
needs, and a range of other programs targeted toward low-income 
families and children, it is critical that services be coordinated. 
This is necessary to maximize the resources that are available and to 
ensure that services make sense and are effective in supporting 
positive outcomes for families and children. Examples of research 
questions include:
     What are States and communities doing to coordinate across 
early childhood and school-age programs, including health, assistance 
for children with special needs, TANF, child care, Head Start, pre-
kindergarten, and K-12 services with respect to service delivery and 
funding? How well do these strategies work?
     What are the barriers and facilitators to collaboration 
and integration across programs?
     What are the effects of universal pre-kindergarten 
programs on the larger child care market?
    Applicants should propose sound research methodologies and analyses 
that are appropriate to the study. Projects may also involve secondary 
analyses of completed data sets. Within the maximum funding level 
available ($400,000), applicants are expected to develop a budget that 
is reasonable given the nature and scope of the proposed study. 
Projects may include multiple sites, propose linkages with other 
studies, or otherwise leverage resources and knowledge.
    Applicants are encouraged to form research partnerships if the 
result will be a more comprehensive, policy-relevant, and rigorous 
study than could be accomplished by a single organization. Funding 
partnerships to enhance the scope or quality of research activities are 
also encouraged.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Category of Funding Activity: ISS Income Security and Social 
Services.
    Anticipated Total Program Funding: $2 million in FY 2004.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: Five to eight awards will be funded.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $400,000 per budget period. 
Applications that exceed this ceiling will be considered non-responsive 
and will not be eligible for funding under this announcement.
    Floor on Amount of Individual Awards: None.
    Average Anticipated Award: $200,000-$400,000 per budget period.
    Project Period for Awards: This announcement invites applications 
for project periods up to three years. Awards, on a competitive basis, 
will be for a one-year budget period, although project periods may be 
for three years. Applications for continuation of grants beyond the 
one-year budget period will be entertained in subsequent years on a 
non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds from future 
appropriations, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a 
determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the 
government. Should additional funds be available in FY 2005 or 2006, 
ACF reserves the right to fund additional projects from among the 
applications received under this announcement.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Universities and colleges, public agencies, non-profit 
organizations, for-profit organizations agreeing to waive their fees 
are eligible applicants, faith-based and community organizations are 
also eligible to apply.
    Institutions serving minority populations, including but not 
limited to Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities 
(TCUs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), are 
also eligible applicants.
     TCUs are those institutions cited in section 532 of the 
Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 
note), any other institution that qualifies for funding under the 
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and Navajo Community College, authorized in the Navajo 
Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95-471, title II (25 
U.S.C. 640a note). Those TCUs that are not accredited are not eligible 
to apply under this announcement.
     HBCUs are defined in the amended version of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1061(2), as institutions 
established prior to 1964 whose principle mission was, and is, the 
education of Black Americans, and must satisfy section 322 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Institutions which meet the 
definition of ``Part B institution'' in section 322 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1061(2), shall be eligible 
for assistance under this announcement.
    Additional Information on Eligibility: Non-profit organizations 
applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit 
status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:
    (a) 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.
    (b) A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
    (c) 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.
    (d) A certified copy of the organization's certificate of

[[Page 29735]]

incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status.
    (e) Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately 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.

2. Cost-Sharing or Matching

    Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved 
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum 
of the ACF share and the non-federal share. The non-federal share may 
be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project with a 
total approved cost of $375,000, requesting $300,000 in ACF funds, must 
provide a non-federal share of at least $75,000 (20% of total approved 
project cost of $375,000). Grantees will be held accountable for 
commitments of non-federal resources even if over the amount of the 
required match. Failure to provide the amount will result in 
disallowance of Federal funds.
    Applications that fail to include the required amount of cost-
sharing will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for 
funding under this announcement.

3. Other

    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 (http://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 at 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 below will be considered non-responsive and will not be 
eligible for funding under this announcement.
    Applications that exceed the funding ceiling will be considered 
non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under this 
announcement.
    Applications that fail to include the required amount of cost-
sharing will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for 
funding under this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    This full announcement can be obtained via the following link: 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb.
    If you are unable to download the complete announcement, requests 
for applications may be sent to: ACYF Operations Center, c/o The Dixon 
Group, Inc., Child Care Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research 
Grants, 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, phone: 866-796-
1591, e-mail: [email protected].

2. Content and Format of Application Submission

    Electronic Submission. You may submit your application to us in 
either electronic or paper format. To submit an application 
electronically, please use the http://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 email an electronic 
copy of a grant application. 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 acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and 
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you a 
second confirmation, which will include an ACF tracking number.
     We may request that you provide original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
     You may access the electronic application for this program 
on http://www.Grants.gov.
    Format and Organization. An original and two copies of the 
application must be submitted. Applicants should 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. In addition, applicants should number the pages 
of their application and include a table of contents.
    Applicants are advised to include all required forms and materials 
and to organize these materials according to the format presented 
below:
    a. Cover letter.
    b. Required standard forms:
     Standard Application for Federal Assistance (forms 424 and 
424A).
     Applicants requesting financial assistance for a non-
construction project must sign and return Standard Form 424B, 
Assurances: Non-construction Programs, with their applications.
     Applicants must provide a Certification Regarding 
Lobbying. Prior to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants 
shall furnish an executed copy of the lobbying certification. 
Applicants must sign and return the certification with their 
application.
     Applicants must make the appropriate certification of 
compliance with all Federal statues relation to nondiscrimination. By 
signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the 
certification and need not mail back a certification form.
     Applicants must make the appropriate certification of 
their compliance with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994 
as outlined in Certification Regarding Environment Tobacco Smoke.
    c. Table of contents.
    d. Project narrative statement.
    e. Appendix:

[[Page 29736]]

    Complete Contact Information for Principle Investigators;
    Curriculum Vitae for Principle Investigators.
    Content of Project Narrative Statement: The project narrative 
statement contains most of the information on which applications will 
be competitively reviewed. The project narrative should be carefully 
developed in accordance with the Bureau's research goals and agenda, 
the requirements listed in the Uniform Project Description and the 
evaluation criteria.
    Omission of Salary Rate: 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.
    Applications from Non-profit Organizations: Private, non-profit 
organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the 
survey under ``Grant Related Documents and Forms'' titled ``Survey for 
Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Notice of Intent to Submit Application: If you intend to submit an 
application, please e-mail the ACYF Operations Center and include the 
following information: the number and title of this announcement, your 
organization's name and address, and your contact person's name, title, 
phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. This notice is not 
required but is strongly encouraged. The information will be used to 
determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate 
applications and to update the mailing list for future program 
announcements.
    Mailing and Delivery Instructions. Applications may be sent through 
the U.S. Postal Service, delivered by private courier, or hand 
delivered to the ACYF Operations Center. Applications must be mailed or 
delivered to: ACYF Operations Center, The Dixon Group, Inc., Child Care 
Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research Program, 118 Q Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20002-2132, phone: 866-796-1591, e-mail: 
[email protected]. Applications delivered by a private courier or by 
hand must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time (e.t.), on 
the closing date. ACYF cannot accept applications by fax or through 
other electronic media. Applicants will receive a confirmation postcard 
upon receipt of applications.
    Closing Date: The closing date for receipt of applications is 4:30 
p.m. eastern time (e.t.) on July 26, 2004. Mailed or handcarried 
applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    Late Applications: Mailed applications will be considered as 
meeting the deadline if they are postmarked on or before the closing 
date and received by ACYF in time for the independent review. 
Applications hand carried by applicants, couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, will be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are received at the ACYF Operations Center on the 
closing date between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Applications that do not 
meet the criteria stated above will be considered late. The 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will notify each late 
applicant that his/her application will not be considered in the 
current competition.
    Extension of Deadline: ACF may extend an application deadline for 
applicants affected by acts of God (such as floods and hurricanes), 
when there is widespread disruption of mail service, or for other 
disruption of services that affect the public at large (such as 
prolonged electrical blackout). Authority to waive or extend deadline 
requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
    The table below details when the materials need to be submitted and 
where these forms or formatting descriptions can be found.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           What to submit               Required content       Required form or format        When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard Application for Federal     Per required form.....  May be found at http://      By application due
 Assistance (forms SF 424, 424A,                              acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/    date.
 and 424B).                                                   forms.htm.
Certification regarding Lobbying     Per required form.....  May be found at http://      By application due
 and associated Disclosure of                                 acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/    date.
 Lobbying Activities (SF LLL).                                forms.htm.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke          Per required form.....  May be found at http://      By application due
 Certification.                                               acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/    date.
                                                              forms.htm.
Protection of Human Subjects.......  Per required form.....  May be found at http://      By application due
                                                              acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/    date.
                                                              forms.htm.
Proof of Non-Profit Status.........  See Section III.1.....  May be found at http://      By application due
                                                              acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/    date.
                                                              forms.htm.
Project Narrative Statement........  See Section IV.2 and    Format described in Section  By application due
                                      Section V.1 and V.2.    V.1 and V.2.                 date.
Contact Information, Vita, Letter    See Section and IV.2..  Format described in Section  By Application due
 of Support, Transcript.                                      IV.2.                        date.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Forms
    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 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

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


[[Page 29737]]

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 
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Grants awarded as a result of this competition are not transferable 
to another institution. No individual institution will be funded for 
more than one award unless applications from different institutions do 
not qualify for support.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    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 ACYF Operations Center, The Dixon Group, 
Inc., Child Care Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research Grants, 
118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132. 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.
    Hand Delivery: Applications handcarried 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 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. eastern time at the ACYF Operations 
Center, c/o The Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20002-2132, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). 
This address must appear on the envelope/package containing the 
application with the note ``Attention Field Initiated Child Care 
Research Grants.'' Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight 
courier services do not always deliver as agreed.
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting 
for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 hours for 
the Field Initiated Child Care Research Grants, including time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
reviewing the collection of information.
    The project description is approved under OMB Control No. 0970-
0139.
    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.
Instruction: ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD)
    The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the 
``Project Summary/Abstract'' and ``Full Project Description'' sections 
of the application. The UPD was approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Control No. 0970-0139.
    The Project Description Overview. 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 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.
Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description

1. Project Summary Abstract

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

2. Objectives and Need for Assistance

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies

[[Page 29738]]

should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. 
Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, 
as needed.
    In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer 
or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects 
currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of 
which may be outside the scope of the program announcement.

3. Approach

    Outline a plan of action which describes the scope and detail of 
how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions 
or activities identified in the application. Cite factors which might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and 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, 
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.

4. Additional Information

    Following are requests for additional information that need to be 
included in the application:
a. 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.
b. Budget and Budget Justification
    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed 
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, 
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to 
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the 
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocability of the proposed costs.

5. General

    The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget 
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed 
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes 
of preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' 
refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal 
resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is 
suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a 
columnar format: First column, object class categories; second column, 
Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column, 
total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. 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.
f. 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 (non-contractual), 
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.
g. Indirect Charges
    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should 
be used only

[[Page 29739]]

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.

2. Evaluation Criteria

    Eligible applications will be scored competitively against the 
evaluation criteria. These criteria will be used in conjunction with 
the other expectations and requirements set forth in this announcement 
to evaluate how well each proposal addresses the bureau's research 
agenda and the program goals.
Criterion 1: Approach--Research Design and Methodology (30 Point 
Maximum)
    The extent to which the application provides a theoretical 
framework and a review of empirical evidence supporting the proposed 
project.
    The extent to which the proposed research design (a) appropriately 
links research issues, questions, variables, data sources, samples, and 
analyses; (b) provides a logic model that illustrates the expected 
linkages; and (c) employs technically sound and appropriate approaches, 
design elements and procedures, and sampling techniques.
    The extent to which the application provides a detailed analysis 
plan that shows how the measures and analyses relate to the proposed 
hypotheses or research questions and demonstrates their appropriateness 
for the questions under consideration.
    The extent to which the proposed design (a) reflects sensitivity to 
technical, logistical, cultural, and ethical issues that may arise and 
(b) and includes realistic strategies for the resolution of 
difficulties;
    The extent to which the researchers assure adequate protection of 
human subjects, confidentiality of data, and consent procedures, as 
appropriate;
    The extent to which the research design (a) specifies the measures 
to be used and their psychometric properties; (b) describes how these 
measures have been used to address the proposed research questions; and 
(c) describes how these measures have been used with the low-income, 
diverse population to be studied.
Criterion 2: Objectives and Need for Assistance (25 Point Maximum)
    The extent to which the application responds to the Child Care 
Bureau's priorities and proposes research likely to yield findings that 
will help decision makers in crafting effective child care policies and 
strategies.
    Identifies the results and benefits of the project and describes 
how these will inform child care policies and services, improve 
practice, and advance understanding of the contexts that promote 
healthy development and well-being in families and children.
    The extent to which the application demonstrates a sound 
understanding of the critical issues and research needs in child care. 
This should include particular emphasis on the issues addressed by the 
proposed study.
    The extent to which the application provides a literature review 
that is current and comprehensive, identifies other research that has 
addressed similar issues, and supports the need for the proposed study. 
Describes how the proposed study will help address gaps in the research 
literature and unanswered questions.
    The extent to which the conceptual model, objectives and hypotheses 
are: (a) Well formulated and appropriately linked; (b) reflect the 
Bureau's research agenda and goals; and (c) will contribute new 
knowledge to the field.
    The extent to which the application describes a project framework 
that is appropriate, feasible and contributes to the importance, 
comprehensiveness, and quality of the proposed research.
Criterion 3: Approach--Management Plan (25 Point Maximum)
    The extent to which the application includes a management plan that 
(a) presents a sound framework for maintaining quality control over the 
implementation and ongoing operations of the study; (b) demonstrates 
how the applicant will gain access to necessary organizations, 
participants, and data sources; (c) provides evidence that the 
applicant and its partners, if any, have the expertise, resources and 
commitment to solve problems that may arise in carrying out the 
project; and (d) provides detailed project management charts showing 
tasks and sub tasks, milestones, staff allocation, and costs.
    The extent to which (a) the scope of the project is reasonable for 
the funds available and feasible for the project time frame; (b) 
includes an effective plan for the dissemination and utilization of 
information by researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners in the 
field; and (c) includes assurances and plans for working with the Child 
Care Bureau's Child Care Research Collaboration and Archive to archive 
final data sets, reports, and other research products.
Criterion 4: Organizational Profile (10 Point Maximum)
    The extent to which the application: (a) Demonstrates 
organizational competence and expertise in the areas addressed by the 
proposed research, including relevant background, experience, and 
training on related research or similar projects; (b) demonstrates 
expertise in research design, sampling, field work, data processing, 
statistical analysis, reporting, and information dissemination to 
academic and policy communities; (c) demonstrates an understanding of 
the child care subsidy system and the child care needs of low-income 
families.
    The extent to which the application: (a) Provides evidence of an 
effective organizational structure and collaborative relationships, if 
appropriate; (b) provides evidence that the project will be effectively 
managed by the lead organization to ensure that all participants in the 
study operate as a cohesive research team; (c) includes a detailed 
organizational chart showing relationships and responsibilities of 
participating organizations; (d) demonstrates and documents specific 
organizational and staff experience in developing, implementing, and 
maintaining a research project of the nature and scope proposed; and 
(e) provides information on the skills, experience, and capabilities of 
the project director and key project staff including the principal 
investigators and other key staff at each site.
    The extent to which the application describes the management plan 
for achieving the objectives of the proposed project on time and within 
budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and

[[Page 29740]]

milestones for accomplishing project tasks and ensuring quality.
Criterion 5: Budget (10 Points)
    The extent to which the proposed project costs are reasonable and 
justified in terms of scope, approach, staff time commitment, and 
anticipated results. Refers to the budget information presented on 
Standard Forms 424 and 424 A and the applicant's budget justification.
    The extent to which the application describes the fiscal control 
and accounting procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use, 
proper and timely disbursement, and accurate accounting of funds 
received under this announcement.

3. Review and Selection Process

Initial Screening for Eligibility and Conformance
    Review and Selection Process: Each application will undergo an 
eligibility and conformance review by Federal Child Care Bureau staff. 
Applications that pass the eligibility and conformance review will be 
evaluated on a competitive basis according to the specified evaluation 
criteria.
Competitive Review Process
    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 literacy, early learning, child care, 
early childhood education, and other relevant program areas.
    Application review panels will assign a score to each application 
and identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Application Consideration and Selection
    The Child Care Bureau will conduct an administrative review of the 
applications and results of the competitive review panels and make 
recommendations for funding to the Commissioner, ACYF.
    Subject to the recommendation of the Child Care Bureau's Associate 
Commissioner, the Commissioner, ACYF, will make the final selection of 
the applications to be funded. Application 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 (6) other relevant considerations. The 
Commissioner may also elect not to fund any applicants with known 
management, fiscal, reporting, program, or other problems that make it 
unlikely they would be able to provide effective services.
Approved but Unfunded Applications
    In cases where more applications are approved for funding than ACF 
can fund with the money available, the Grants Officer shall fund 
applications in their order of approval until funds run out. In this 
case, ACF has the option of carrying over the approved applications up 
to a year for funding consideration in a later competition of the same 
program. These applications need not be reviewed and scored again if 
the program's evaluation criteria have not changed. However, they must 
then be placed in rank order along with other applications in the later 
competition.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a 
Financial Assistance Award document, which sets forth the amount of 
funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective 
date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be 
given, the non-Federal share to be provided, and the total project 
period for which support is contemplated. 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.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Conference Attendance. The grantee must attend and present a poster 
at the Annual Meeting of the Child Care Policy Research Consortium each 
year of the grant. This conference is typically scheduled during the 
spring. In addition, the applicant may be asked to attend and present 
at the annual State Administrators' Meeting typically held each summer 
in Washington, DC. The budget should reflect travel funds for both 
conferences. Grantees with graduate students are encouraged to bring at 
least one student to these meetings.
    Archiving and Publishing. The grantee must agree to archive final 
data sets, reports and other research products with the Child Care 
Research and Collaboration Archive (CCRCA).
    45 CFR part 74 and 45 CFR part 92.

3. Special Terms and Conditions of Award

    None.

4. Reporting Requirements

    Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually and a final report is due 90 
days after the end of the grant period.
    Financial Reports: Semi-annually and a final report due 90 days 
after the end of the grant period.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Program Office Contacts:

Dr. Ivelisse Martinez-Beck, Program Area Manager, 330 C Street, SW., 
Room 2046, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 690-7885, [email protected].
Ms. Karen Tvedt, Director, Policy and Research Division, 330 C Street, 
SW., Room 2046, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 401-5130, 
[email protected].

    Grants Management Office Contact: William Wilson, Grants Officer, 
330 C Street, SW., Room 2070, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 205-8913, 
[email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    None.

    Dated: May 18, 2004.
Joan E. Ohl,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-11816 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P