[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45823-45829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17339]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation; Funding Opportunity 
Title: Child Development Research Fellowship Program

    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OPRE-PH-0005.
    CFDA Number: 93-595.
    Due Date for Applications: August 30, 2004.
    Due Date for Letters of Intent: N/A.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Purpose

    The purpose of this priority area is to announce the availability 
of funds for a cooperative agreement to sponsor a Child Development 
Research Fellowship that will allow child development professionals 
from the academic community the opportunity to actively participate in 
policy-relevant research activities associated with ACF programs. The 
goal of the fellowship program is to expose researchers to a policy 
environment and thereby to expand and enrich the field's capacity for 
policy-relevant research. Fellows will be able to work on-site in OPRE 
or an ACF-related office on research related to ACF programs on a full-
time basis for a period of up to two years (renewable for a third year 
at the discretion of the sponsoring organization and ACF). The program 
is intended to stimulate the active exchange of child development 
research and evaluation information directly relevant to ACF programs 
and to inform the process of developing long-term research and 
evaluation agendas across the various ACF programs and in the research 
community at large. The cooperative agreement will require active 
partnership between the sponsoring organization and the Office of 
Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE).

B. Background

    Section 1110 (42 U.S.C. 1310) (a) (1) of the Social Security Act 
authorizes funding for conducting research related to programs carried 
on or assisted through the Social Security Act, or related programs. 
The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation engages in a number of 
research and evaluation efforts related to low income children and 
families, including research with Head Start, Child Care, Child 
Welfare, and at-risk youth populations as well as research on the 
impact of welfare policies on families and children. Such research 
efforts typically are large in scale, and are interdisciplinary in 
their design, implementation, and analysis. As such, they benefit from 
expertise provided by multidisciplinary teams.
    For more than a decade, Child Development Fellowships have been 
offered through ACF under the sponsorship of the Society for Research 
in Child Development. For the past five years, these fellowships have 
been supported through a cooperative agreement between ACF and SRCD. 
Child Development Fellows have contributed substantially to research 
efforts related to child development and programmatic outcomes for 
children and families in Head Start, Child Care, and Child Welfare 
programs.

C. Priorities

    The Fellowships have resulted in a range of activities that have 
been of considerable benefit to the Fellows, ACF, and to the field of 
early childhood development and education. The successful applicant 
will work with ACF to ensure that the kinds of activities and 
opportunities that have proven beneficial in the past continue to be 
available. These activities have included active participation in the 
technical conceptualization, planning, implementing and coordinating of 
major research and evaluation activities across ACF programs; 
identifying opportunities for increased program effectiveness through 
coordination of research and evaluation activities with other 
Departments and agencies; maintaining strong ties with both academic 
and practitioner communities; and actively contributing to the 
theoretical and empirical knowledge base within the areas of child 
development and social services programs, among other activities. The 
Fellows have benefited not only from the direct experience of working 
in a policy environment, but also through planned activities with the 
sponsoring organization for Fellows from other

[[Page 45824]]

agencies and Congressional Offices (including opportunities to attend 
policy briefings and Congressional hearings), and through exposure to 
the scientific activities and resources of the sponsoring organization.
    It is anticipated that these types of activities would be continued 
under this announcement. The applicant should have standing in the 
child development research community that provides for visibility among 
potential candidates for the fellowships and that assures them of an 
experience that will enhance their professional development. Child 
Development Fellows at ACF historically have had access to a range of 
conferences, workshops and lectures designed for research/policy 
fellows, such as activities provided under the aegis of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science. The applicant should have 
strong linkages with the policy and child development research 
communities upon which they can draw to provide appropriate experiences 
for the candidates, apart from their agency work activities.
    The successful applicants will provide evidence of successful 
implementation of fellowship programs, that the organization has access 
to research professionals across a variety of disciplines related to 
child development, and that the organization has a proven record of 
being able to attract a pool of highly qualified applicants. The 
sponsoring organization will be expected to recruit a pool of highly 
qualified, doctoral-level candidates from which a final selection will 
be made by ACF, depending on the opportunities, needs, and resources of 
the agency.
    Fellows will be provided with office space to work on-site either 
in OPRE or in an agency conducting ACF-related research, such as the 
Child Care Bureau, the Head Start Bureau or the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within HHS. It is expected that 
the number of Fellows placed will vary from year to year, depending on 
the opportunities, needs and resources of the agency and the match 
between agency activities and the qualifications of available 
candidates; as many as six Fellows may be placed in a single year. The 
length of the placement will be for one year, with the option of a 
second year at the discretion of the agency. A third year may be 
possible in some circumstances; extension of a Fellowship for a third 
year shall be at the discretion of the sponsoring organization.
    Federal staff expect to maintain substantial involvement in the 
implementation of the Fellowship program, as described below in Section 
II, Description of Federal Substantial Involvement with Cooperative 
Agreement.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Description of Federal Substantial Involvement with Cooperative 
Agreement: Federal staff will (1) select the Fellow or Fellows to be 
matched to the agency, from a pool of potential Fellows selected by the 
sponsoring organization; (2) provide work space including telephone and 
computer access; (3) take primary responsibility for project selection 
and for mentoring and supervision of the Fellow(s). Federal staff will 
work with the Fellow(s) and the sponsoring organization on developing 
goal statements for the Fellow(s) and on the evaluation of the 
Fellowships, and also will work with the sponsoring organization to 
develop criteria for the Fellowships and on advertising and promotional 
materials. The sponsoring organization will (1) recruit and screen 
candidates for Fellowships, and develop an initial pool of candidates; 
(2) provide exposure to additional scientific and professional 
development activities and other programming outside the agency; (3) 
provide group activities for Fellows to benefit from the experiences of 
one another; and (4) provide administrative support for the Fellowship 
program, including payment of stipends and reimbursements for travel 
and benefits, as well as support for individual Fellows' work 
activities.
    Anticipated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: ACF anticipates funding one project 
for a period of up to five years.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $600,000 per budget period, 
contingent on the number of Fellows placed. The award amount is for 
planning purposes only.
    Floor of Individual Award Amounts: none.
    Average Anticipated Award Amount: $500,000 per budget period.
    Project Periods for Awards: Five years. Initial awards will be for 
the first one-year budget period. Requests for the second through fifth 
years of funding within the project period should be identified in the 
current application (on SF-424A), but such requests will be considered 
in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to the 
applicant's eligibility status, the availability of funds, satisfactory 
progress of the grantee, and a determination that continued funding 
would be in the best interest of the Government.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible Applicants:
    County governments, City or township governments, Special district 
governments, State controlled institutions of higher education, Native 
American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Non-profit 
organizations having a 501(c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue 
Code, other than institutions of higher education, Non-profit 
organizations that do not have 501 (c) (3) status with the Internal 
Revenue Code, other than institutions of higher education, Private 
institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than 
small businesses, Small businesses, and faith-based organizations.
    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 
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.
    Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes. Grantees must provide at least 1 
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 
$606,060, requesting $600,000 in ACF funds, must provide a non-federal 
share of at least $6,060 (1% of total approved project cost of 
$606,060). Grantees will be held

[[Page 45825]]

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.
    The following example shows how to calculate the required 1% match 
amount for a $100,000 grant:

$100,000 (Federal share) divided by .99 (100%-1%) equals $101010 (total 
project cost including match) minus $100,000 (federal share) equals 
$1,010 (required 1% match)

    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.
    Other:
    All Applicants must have Dun & Bradstreet Number. 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 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 Application Requirements will be considered non-responsive 
and will not be eligible for funding under this announcement.
    Applications that exceed the $600,000 (per budget period) ceiling 
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

    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. Content and Form of Application Submission

    An original and two copies of the complete application are 
required. The original and 2 copies must include all required forms, 
certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized 
representative, have original signatures, and 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.
    You may submit your application to us either in 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 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 paper format.
     You may submit all documents electronically, including all 
information typically included on the SF424 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. The Administration for Children and 
Families will retrieve your application form 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 http://www.Grants.gov.
     You must search for the downloadable application package 
by the CFDA number.
Application Requirements
    The application must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8\1/2\ x 
11 plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. The application 
must use Times New Roman 12 point font or Arial 12 point font. All 
pages of the application (including appendices, resumes, charts, 
references/footnotes, tables, maps and exhibits) must be sequentially 
numbered. Applications that do not follow the aforementioned stated 
criteria will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for 
funding under this announcement.
    The Project Narrative including the Table of Contents must not 
exceed 50 pages. Pages submitted beyond the first 50 in the application 
project narrative section will be removed prior to panel review. The 
Narrative Budget Justification, Standard Forms for Assurances, 
Certifications, Disclosures and appendices and the cost-share letters 
are not included in this limitation, yet applicants are urged to be 
concise.
    There is a 5-page limit to any additional supporting documentation, 
including letters of support. Applicants are requested not to send 
pamphlets, brochures, or other printed material along with their 
applications as these pose copying difficulties. These materials, if 
submitted, will not be included in the review process. In addition, 
applicants must not submit any additional letters of endorsement beyond 
any that may be required.
    Applicants must demonstrate proof of non-profit status and this 
proof must be included in their applications. Applicants must include 
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 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status.

[[Page 45826]]

    (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.
    Forms and Certifications:
    The project description should include all the information 
requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in 
the program announcement under Part V. In addition to the project 
description, the applicant needs to complete all the standard forms 
required for making applications for awards under this announcement. 
Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction 
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard 
Form 424B with their applications. Applicants must provide a 
certification regarding lobbying when applying for an award in excess 
of $100,000. Applicants must sign and return the certification with 
their applications. Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the 
Standard Form LLL when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. 
Applicants who have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in 
connection with receiving assistance under this announcement shall 
complete a disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications. The 
forms (Forms 424, 424A-B; and Certifications may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm under new announcements. Fill 
out Standard Forms 424 and 424A and the associated certifications and 
assurances based on the instructions on the 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.'' 
The forms are located on the web at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. 
(Eastern Time Zone) on August 30, 2004. Mailed or hand carried 
applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time 
and date at the 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 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., EST, 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].
    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, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mails service. Determinations 
to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants 
Management Officer.
    Required Forms:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          What to submit               Required content        Required form or format        When to  submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Narrative.........................  Described in Section   Format described in Section V.  By application due
                                     V of this                                              date
                                     Announcement.
SF 424, SF 424A, and SF 424B......  Per required form....  May be found at http://         By application due
                                                            www.acf.hhs.gov/ programs/ofs/  date
                                                            forms.htm.
Certification regarding Lobbying    Per required form....  May be found at http://         By application due
 and associated Disclosure of                               www.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.                                             www.acf.hhs.gov/ programs/ofs/  date
                                                            forms.htm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Forms:
    Private-non-profit organizations may submit with their applications 
the additional survey located under ``Grant Related Documents and 
Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants''.

[[Page 45827]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          What to submit               Required content        Required form or format        When to  submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit      Per required form....  May be found on http://         By application due
 Grant Applicants.                                          www.acf.hhs.gov/ programs/ofs/  date.
                                                            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. As of October 1, 2003, the following 
jurisdictions have elected not to participate in the Executive Order 
process. Applicants from these jurisdictions or for projects 
administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes need take no action 
in regard to E.O. 12372:
    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, and Wyoming. Applicants from these jurisdictions 
need not take action.
    Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in 
the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of 
the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, 
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining 
jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have 
established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should 
contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the 
prospective applications and receive 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. The applicant must 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.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
is included with the application materials for this announcement.

5. Funding Restrictions

Number of Projects in Application
    Each application may include only one proposed project.
    Applicants are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards is 
$600,000 per project period. Applications exceeding the $600,000 
threshold will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible 
for funding under this announcement.
    Federal funds received as a result of this announcement cannot be 
paid as profit to grantees or sub-grantees, i.e., any amount in excess 
of allowable direct and indirect costs of the recipient (45 CFR 74.81).
    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.
    Pre-award costs are not allowable charges to the award.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Submission by Mail: Mailed applications shall be considered as 
meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before 4:30 
p.m., Eastern Standard Time on the closing date at the address below:
    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.
    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 4:30 p.m., EST on the 
deadline date. The following address must appear on the envelope/
package containing the application with the note ``Attention: Child 
Development Fellowship Grants.'' Applications that are hand delivered 
will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. Applications may be delivered to:
    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 cautioned that express/overnight mail services do 
not always deliver as agreed.
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.
    Electronic Submission: Please see section IV. 2 Content and Form of 
Application Submission, for guidelines and requirements when submitting 
applications electronically.

[[Page 45828]]

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 4/30/2007. 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.
    The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the 
``project summary/abstract'' and ``Full Project Description'' sections 
of the application. Under the evaluation criteria section, note that 
each criterion is preceded by the generic evaluation requirement under 
the ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD).
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.
Objectives and Need for Assistance
    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated. Supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.
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 
non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of 
its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission.
Results or Benefits Expected
    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, 
describe how the intermediary's assistance to faith-based and community 
organizations will increase their effectiveness, enhance their ability 
to provide social services, diversify their funding sources, and create 
collaborations to better serve those most in need.
Budget and Budget Justification
    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed 
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, 
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to 
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the 
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocability of the proposed costs.
Evaluation Criterion I: Organizational Profiles (Maximum: 50 points)
    The extent to which the organization presents a proven track record 
in successfully administering a research fellowship program, including 
child development research fellowships.
    The extent to which the organization demonstrates the capacity to 
access a multidisciplinary group of doctoral level researchers who are 
potential applicants.
    The extent to which the organization demonstrates a history of 
relationships with scientific and policy organizations through which 
Fellows can access workshops, lectures, conferences, and other 
professional development activities consistent with a Child Development 
Research Fellowship experience.
    It is expected that the principal investigator will be a doctoral 
level individual who has a demonstrated record of child development 
research. Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which they 
include a listing of key positions required to carry out the project, 
the individuals proposed to fill the positions, and a detailed 
description of the kind of work they will perform. Applications will 
also be evaluated on the extent to which evidence is provided 
demonstrating the staff's skill, knowledge, and experience in carrying 
out their assigned activities such as evidence that demonstrates not 
only staff's good technical skills, but also a clear record of working 
with the child development research community and supervising child 
development researchers.
Evaluation Criterion II: Approach (Maximum: 20 points)
    The extent to which the applicant uses applicable methods and the 
proposed activities are logical, reasonable, well-conceived, and linked 
to the results and benefits expected. The extent to which the applicant 
demonstrates a clear and feasible strategy for identifying criteria for 
fellowships, accessing groups of potential candidates, recruiting and 
interviewing candidates, providing professional development 
opportunities, and administering the program.

[[Page 45829]]

Evaluation Criterion III: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum: 
10 points)
    The extent to which the objectives of the proposed project are 
clearly stated and shown to address the issues related to administering 
a Child Development Research Fellowship Program.
    The extent to which the Fellows selected for the program will 
receive professional development opportunities consistent with the 
agency's research needs as well as the Fellows' professional 
development goals.
Evaluation Criterion IV: Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum: 10 
points)
    The extent to which the specific goals of the project and the 
results and benefits proposed by the applicant are reasonable and 
likely, quantified, clearly linked to and supported by the proposed 
approach, and supportive of the stated goals under this announcement.
Evaluation Criterion V: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum: 10 
points)
    Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which they 
include a budget that is clear, easy to understand, and provides a 
detailed justification for the amount requested. Applicants should 
refer to the budget information presented in the Standard Forms 424 and 
424A and to the budget justification instructions in section V. General 
Instructions for the Uniform Project Description.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Applications received by the due date will be reviewed and scored 
competitively. Experts in the field, either from within or from outside 
the Federal government, will use the evaluation criteria listed in Part 
V of this announcement to review and score the applications. The 
results of this review will be a primary factor in making funding 
decisions. ACF may also solicit comments from Regional Office staff and 
other Federal agencies. ACF may consider a variety of factors in 
addition to the review criteria identified above, including geographic 
diversity/coverage and types of applicant organizations, in order to 
ensure that the interests of the Federal Government are met in making 
the final selections. Please note that applicants that do not comply 
with the requirements in the section titled ``Eligible Applicants'' 
will not be included in the review process.
    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.
    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.

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

    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) 401-4524, 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: July 22, 2004.
Naomi Goldstein,
Acting Director, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 04-17339 Filed 7-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P