[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51084-51095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18783]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Community Services Block Grant Community Economic Development 
Public Markets

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community 
Services.
    Announcement Type: Competitive Grant-Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OCS-IP-0029.
    CFDA Number: 93.570.

DATES: Applications are due September 16, 2004.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended, 
(Section 680 of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and 
Training and Educational Services Act of 1998), authorizes the 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to 
make grants to provide technical and financial assistance for economic 
development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-
income individuals and families by creating employment and business 
development opportunities. Pursuant to this announcement, the Office of 
community Services (OCS) will award grants to Community Development 
Corporations (CDCs) to expand or create public markets. CDCs should 
ideally have in place written commitments for at least 50 percent of 
non-CED funding, a business plan, and site control for the market. Low 
income beneficiaries of these projects include those who are determined 
to be living in poverty as determined by the HHS Guidelines on Poverty 
(See Appendix A). They may be unemployed, on public assistance, 
including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are at risk 
teenagers, custodial and non-custodial parents, public housing 
residents, persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless.
    The public markets priority area is designed to encourage rural and 
urban community development corporations to create projects intended to 
provide employment and business development opportunities for low-
income people through public markets.
    Applicants must address development or expansion of a market both 
from the perspective of the business of operating a public market and 
of providing development services to vendors, who will be micro 
entrepreneurs or small business owners. Development services to vendors 
include training on business planning, marketing, accounting, legal 
issues including licensure, micro-loans, etc. New, start-up markets 
seeking capital funding from OCS must have their business and work 
plans in place or close to finalization, have at least 50 percent non-
CED funding in place, and have site control.
    The establishment of viable public markets is the expected outcome 
of funding under this announcement. These public markets must 
demonstrate benefits for vendors and their employees. This includes the 
number of new businesses created or expanded and the numbers of jobs 
created. Public market benefits are also expected to impact the 
communities and CDCs must develop measures to demonstrate this impact. 
Communities served include low income communities and communities 
undergoing demographic shifts; i.e., there may be appropriate cases 
where public markets are in or proximate to a distressed community, but 
in a location where customer draw can be more diverse and thus make the 
market more likely to be economically sustainable.
    In addition to an economic development capability, the public 
market may contain a non-profit community or public agency space for 
human services delivery, which might include faith-based and other 
organizations that provide education, training, and resources for 
developing healthy lifestyles, relationships, marriages, and families. 
Other community services to be provided might include general medical 
testing (diabetes, blood pressure, etc.) and referrals for child care, 
nutrition services, and counseling.
    By improving the economic and social status of low income 
individuals and their families, Public Markets can reduce poverty and 
the need for TANF assistance by giving a sense of ownership over one's 
life. This fosters a liberating internal sense of fulfillment and 
balance, which nourishes positive and constructive attitudes, 
behaviors, and moral character traits that build and stabilize healthy 
relationships, marriages, families, and communities.

Project Goals

    CED projects should further HHS goals of strengthening American 
marriages and families and promoting their self-sufficiency, and ACF 
goals of promoting healthy families in healthy communities. The CED 
Program is particularly directed toward public-private partnerships 
that develop employment and business development opportunities for low-
income people and revitalize distressed communities. By providing 
access to opportunity, CED projects help build economic and social 
capital in low income individuals, and thereby help stabilize and 
strengthen relationships, marriages, families, and produce healthier 
environments for children. Public Markets have a unique role in 
building healthier, more prosperous and diverse communities, and 
therefore also serve as a useful-if not essential-tool for 
strengthening the safety of neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and 
the nation as a whole.
    Although there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this 
program, most public market projects require significant funding in 
addition to Federal CED funds so applicants are strongly encouraged to 
mobilize the resources needed for a successful project. The ability to 
mobilize resources is considered in evaluating the feasibility of a 
proposal. Please note that ash resources such as cash or loans 
contributed from all project sources (except for those contributed 
directly by the applicant) must be documented by letters of commitment 
from third parties making the contribution. Further, the

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value of in-kind contributions for personal property is documented by 
an inventory valuation for equipment and a certified appraisal for real 
property and a copy of a deed or other legal documents are required for 
real property. Please note that anticipated or projected program income 
such as gross or net profits from the project or business operations 
will not be recognized as mobilized or contributed resources.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide adequate source 
documentation proving sufficiency of sound financial management systems 
such as a signed statement from a Certified or Licensed Public 
Accountant as to the sufficiency of the applicant CDC's financial 
management system and/or financial statements for the CDC for the prior 
three years. If such statements are not available because the CDC is a 
newly formed entity, the application can include a statement to this 
effect, ``CDC grantees are responsible for ensuring that all grant 
funds are expended in compliance with applicable federal regulations 
and Federal Office of Management Budget Circulars''.

Project Scope

    Projects must result in the creation of new businesses and jobs. 
Each applicant must describe the project scope including the low-income 
community to be served, business activities to be undertaken, and the 
types of jobs to be created.

Business Plan

    Applications are strongly encouraged to submit a business plan. 
This business plan covers the development or expansion of the market, 
not the individual business plans of vendors.
    The ability to demonstrate an effective business plan that outlines 
a successful business venture and/or economic development project will 
be closely reviewed and evaluated by an expert review panel, OCS, and 
OGM. Please see Section V.I Evaluation Criteria for specific criterion 
related to the business plan. Ideally, strong business plans should 
address all the relevant elements as follows:
    (1) Executive Summary (limit to 2 pages).
    (2) Description of the business: The business as a legal entity and 
its general business category. Business activities must be described by 
Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) using the North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) and jobs by occupational classification. 
This information is published by the U. S. Department of Commerce in 
the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998, Tables No. 679 and 
680. These tables include information necessary to meet this 
requirement.
    (3) Description of the industry, current status and prospects.
    (4) Products and Services, including detailed descriptions of:
    (a) Products or services to be sold;
    (b) Proprietary position of any of the products, e.g., patents, 
copyright, trade secrets;
    (c) Features of the product or service that may give it an 
advantage over the competition;
    (5) Market Research: This section describes the research conducted 
to assure that the business has a substantial market to develop and 
achieve sales in the face of competition. This includes researching:
    (a) Customer base: Describe the actual and potential purchasers for 
the product or service by market segment.
    (b) Market size and trends: Describe the site of the current total 
market for the product or service offered;
    (c) Competition: Provide an assessment of the strengths and 
weaknesses of the competition in the current market;
    (d) Estimated market share and sales: Describe the characteristics 
of the product or service that will make it competitive in the current 
market;
    (6) Marketing Plan: The marketing plan details the product, 
pricing, distribution, and promotion strategies that will be used to 
achieve the estimated market share and sales projections. The marketing 
plan must describe what is to be done, how it will be done and who will 
do it. The plan addresses overall marketing, strategy, packaging, 
service and warranty, pricing, distribution and promotion.
    (7) Design and Development Plans: If the product, process or 
service of the proposed venture requires any design and development 
before it is ready to be placed on the market, describe the nature, 
extent and cost of this work. The section covers items such as 
development status and tasks, difficulties and risks, product 
improvement and new products and costs.
    (8) Operations Plan: An operations plan describes the kind of 
facilities, site location, space, capital equipment and labor force 
(part and/or full time and wage structure) that are required to provide 
the company's product or service.
    (9) Management Team: This section describes the technical, 
managerial and business skills and experience to be brought to the 
project. This is a description of key management personnel and their 
primary duties; compensation and/or ownership; the organizational 
structure and placement of this proposed project within the 
organization; the board of directors; management assistance and 
training needs; and supporting professional services.
    (10) Overall Schedule: This section is the implementation plan 
which shows the timing and interrelationships of the major events or 
benchmarks necessary to launch the venture and realize its objectives. 
This includes a month-by-month schedule of activities such as product 
development, market planning, sales programs, production and 
operations. If the proposed project is for construction, this section 
lays out timeframes for conduct of predevelopment, architectural, 
engineering and environmental and other studies, and acquisition of 
permits for building, use and occupancy that are required for the 
project.
    (11) Business and Job Creation: This section describes the business 
development and job creation activities and projections expected as a 
result of this project. This includes a description of the strategy 
that will be used to identify and hire individuals who are low-income, 
including those on TANF. This section includes the following:
    (a) The number of permanent jobs that will be created during the 
project period, with particular emphasis on jobs for low-income 
individuals.
    (b) The number of new businesses and/or jobs that will be filled by 
low-income individuals (this must be at least 60 percent of all jobs 
created).
    (c) For low-income individuals who become self-employed, the number 
of self-employed and other ownership opportunities created; specific 
steps to be taken including on going management support and technical 
assistance provided by the grantee or a third party to develop and 
sustain self-employment after the businesses are in place; and expected 
net profit after deductions of business expenses;

    Note: OCS will not recognize job equivalents nor job counts 
based on economic multiplier functions; jobs must be specifically 
identified.

    (12) Financial Plan: The financial plan demonstrates the economic 
supports underpinning the project. It shows the project's potential and 
the timetable for financial self-sufficiency. The following exhibits 
must be submitted for the first two years of the public market's 
operation:
    (a) Profit and Loss Forecasts--quarterly for each year;
    (b) Cash Flow Projections--quarterly for each year;

[[Page 51086]]

    (c) Pro forma balance sheets--quarterly for each year;
    (d) Sources and Use of Funds Statement for all funds available to 
the project;
    (e) Brief summary discussing any further capital requirements and 
methods or projected methods for obtaining needed resources.
    (13) Critical Risks and Assumptions: This section covers the risks 
faced by the project and assumptions surrounding them. This includes a 
description of the risks and critical assumptions relating to the 
industry, the venture, its personnel, the product or service market 
appeal, and the timing and financing of the venture.
    (14) Community Benefits: This section describes other economic and 
non-economic benefits to the community such as development of a 
community's physical assets; provision of needed, but currently 
unsupplied, services or products to the community; or improvement in 
the living environment.

Work Plan

    In addition to the ability to demonstrate an effective business 
plan, applicants will also be evaluated on the extent to which they 
demonstrate an effective work plan. Please see Section V.I Evaluation 
Criteria for specific criterion related to the work plan. Ideally, an 
applicant should include a detailed work plan that covers the 
activities to be undertaken and benchmarks that illustrate progress 
toward stated goals and measurable objectives.

Third Party Agreements

    Applicants that propose to use some or all of the requested CED 
funds to enter into a third party agreement in order to make an equity 
investment, such as the purchase of stock or a loan to an organization 
or business entity (including a wholly-owned subsidiary), are required 
to submit the signed Third Party Agreement in the application, along 
with the business plan, for approval by OCS.
    It should be noted that the portion of a grant that will be used to 
fund project activities related to a third party agreement will not be 
released until the agreement has been approved by OCS.
    All third party agreements must include written commitments as 
follows: From third party (as appropriate): (1) Low-income individuals 
will fill a minimum of 60 percent of the jobs to be created from 
project activities as a result of the injection of grant funds. (2) The 
grantee will have the right to screen applicants for jobs to be filled 
by low-income individuals and to verify their eligibility. (3) If the 
grantee's equity investment equals 25 percent or more of the business' 
assets, the grantee will have representation on the board of directors. 
(4) Reports will be made to the grantee regarding the use of grant 
funds on a quarterly basis or more frequently, if necessary. (5) 
Procedures will be developed to assure that there are no duplicate 
counts of jobs created. (6) That the third party will maintain 
documentation related to the grant objectives as specified in the 
agreement and will provide the grantee and HHS access to that 
documentation. From the grantee: (1) Detailed information on how the 
grantee will provide support and technical assistance to the third 
party in areas of recruitment and retention of low-income individuals. 
(2) How the grantee will provide oversight of the grant-supported 
activities of the third party for the life of the agreement. Detailed 
information must be provided on how the grant funds will be used by the 
third party by submitting a Sources and Uses of Funds Statement.
    A third party agreement covering an equity investment must contain, 
at a minimum, the following: (1) Purpose(s) for which the equity 
investment is being made. (2) The type of equity transaction (e.g. 
stock purchase). (3) Cost per share and basis on which the cost per 
share is derived. (4) Number of shares being purchased. (5) Percentage 
of CDC ownership in the business. (6) Term of duration of the 
agreement. (7) Number of seats on the board, if applicable. (8) 
Signatures of the authorized officials of the grantee and third party 
organization.
    A third party agreement covering a loan transaction must contain, 
at a minimum, the following information: (1) Purpose(s) for which the 
loan is being made. (2) Interest rates and other fees. (3) Terms of the 
loan. (4) Repayment schedules. (5) Collateral security. (6) Default and 
collection procedures. (7) Signatures of the authorized officials of 
the lender and borrower.

Evaluation Plan

    Applications must include provision for an independent and 
methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
activities carried out with the grant and their efficacy in creating 
new jobs and business ownership opportunities. There must be a well-
defined process evaluation, and an outcome evaluation whose design will 
permit tracking of project participants throughout the proposed project 
period. The evaluation must be conducted by an independent evaluator, 
i.e., a person with recognized evaluation skills who is 
organizationally distinct from, and not under the control of, the 
applicant. It is important that each successful applicant have a third-
party evaluator selected, and implement their role at the very latest 
by the time the work program of the project is begun, and if possible 
before that time so that he or she can participate in the design of the 
program, in order to assure that data necessary for the evaluation will 
be collected and available.

Definitions of Terms

    The following definitions apply:
    Beneficiaries--Low-income individuals (as defined in the most 
recent annual revision of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) who receive direct 
benefits and low-income communities that receive direct benefits.
    Budget Period--The time interval into which a grant period is 
divided for budgetary and funding purposes.
    Business Start-up Period--Time interval within which the grantee 
completes preliminary project tasks. These tasks include but are not 
limited to assembling key staff, executing contracts, administering 
lease out or build-out of space for occupancy, purchasing plant and 
equipment and other similar activities. The Business Start-Up Period 
typically takes three to six months from the time OCS awards the grant 
or cooperative agreement.
    Cash contributions--The recipient's cash outlay, including the 
outlay of money contributed to the recipient by the third parties.
    Community Development Corporation (CDC)--A private non-profit 
corporation governed by a board of directors consisting of residents of 
the community and business and civic leaders, which has as a principal 
purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or 
community development activities.
    Community Economic Development (CED)--A process by which a 
community uses resources to attract capital and increase physical, 
commercial, and business development, as well as job opportunities for 
its residents.
    Construction projects--Projects that involve land improvements and 
development or major renovation of (new or existing) facilities and 
buildings, fixtures, and permanent attachments.
    Developmental/Research Phase--The time interval during the Project 
Period that precedes the Operational Phase. Grantees accomplish 
preliminary activities during this phase including

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establishing third party agreements, mobilizing monetary funds and 
other resources, assembling, rezoning, and leasing of properties, 
conducting architectural and engineering studies, constructing 
facilities, etc.
    Displaced worker--An individual in the labor market who has been 
unemployed for six months or longer.
    Distressed community--A geographic urban neighborhood or rural 
community of high unemployment and pervasive poverty.
    Employment education and training program--A program that provides 
education and/or training to welfare recipients, at-risk youth, public 
housing tenants, displaced workers, homeless and low-income individuals 
and that has demonstrated organizational experience in education and 
training for these populations.
    Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Project Areas (EZ/EC)--
Urban neighborhoods and rural areas designated as such by the 
Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture.
    Equity investment--The provision of capital to a business entity 
for some specified purpose in return for a portion of ownership using a 
third party agreement as the contractual instrument.
    Faith-Based Community Development Corporation--A community 
development corporation that has a religious character.
    Hypothesis--An assumption made in order to test a theory. It should 
assert a cause-and-effect relationship between a program intervention 
and its expected result. Both the intervention and its result must be 
measured in order to confirm the hypothesis. The following is a 
hypothesis: ``Eighty hours of classroom training will be sufficient for 
participants to prepare a successful loan application.'' In this 
example, data would be obtained on the number of hours of training 
actually received by participants (the intervention), and the quality 
of loan applications (the result), to determine the validity of the 
hypothesis (that eighty hours of training is sufficient to produce the 
result).
    Intervention--Any planned activity within a project that is 
intended to produce changes in the target population and/or the 
environment and that can be formally evaluated. For example, assistance 
in the preparation of a business plan is an intervention.
    Job creation--New jobs, i.e. jobs not in existence prior to the 
start of the project, that result from new business start-ups, business 
expansion, development of new services industries, and/or other newly-
undertaken physical or commercial activities.
    Job placement--Placing a person in an existing vacant job of a 
business, service, or commercial activity not related to new 
development or expansion activity.
    Letter of commitment--A signed letter or agreement from a third 
party to the applicant that pledges financial or other support for the 
grant activities contingent only on OCS accepting the applicant's 
project proposal.
    Loan--Money lent to a borrower under a binding pledge for a given 
purpose to be repaid, usually at a stated rate of interest and within a 
specified period.
    Non-profit Organization--An organization, including faith-based and 
community-based, that provides proof of non-profit status described in 
the ``Additional Information on Eligibility'' section of this 
announcement.
    Operational Phase--The time interval during the Project Period when 
businesses, commercial development or other activities are in 
operation, and employment, business development assistance, and so 
forth are provided.
    Outcome evaluation--An assessment of project results as measured by 
collected data that define the net effects of the interventions applied 
in the project. An outcome evaluation will produce and interpret 
findings related to whether the interventions produced desirable 
changes and their potential for being replicated. It should answer the 
question: Did this program work?
    Poverty Income Guidelines--Guidelines published annually by the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that establish the level 
of poverty defined as low-income for individuals and their families. 
The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following 
address: http://www.hhs.aspe.gov/poverty/
    Process evaluation--The ongoing examination of the implementation 
of a program. It focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the 
program's activities and interventions (for example, methods of 
recruiting participants, quality of training activities, or usefulness 
of follow-up procedures). It should answer the questions such as: Who 
is receiving what services and are the services being delivered as 
planned? It is also known as formative evaluation, because it gathers 
information that can be used as a management tool to improve the way a 
program operates while the program is in progress. It should also 
identify problems that occurred, how the problems were resolved and 
what recommendations are needed for future implementation.
    Pre-Development Phase--The time interval during the Project Period 
when an applicant or grantee plans a project, conducts feasibility 
studies, prepares a business or work plan and mobilizes non-OCS 
funding.
    Program income--Gross income earned by the grant recipient that is 
directly generated by an activity supported with grant funds.
    Project Period--The total time for which a project is approved for 
OCS support, including any approved extensions.
    Revolving loan fund--A capital fund established to make loans 
whereby repayments are re-lent to other borrowers.
    Self-employment--The employment status of an individual who engages 
in self-directed economic activities.
    Self-sufficiency--The economic status of a person who does not 
require public assistance to provide for his/her needs and that of his/
her immediate family.
    Sub-award--An award of financial assistance in the form of money, 
or property, made under an award by a recipient to an eligible sub-
recipient or by a sub-recipient to a lower tier sub-recipient. The term 
includes financial assistance when provided by any legal agreement, 
even if the agreement is called a contract, but does not include 
procurement of goods and services nor does it include any form of 
assistance which is excluded from the definition of ``award'' in 45 CFR 
Part 74.
    Technical assistance--A problem-solving event generally using the 
services of a specialist. Such services may be provided on-site, by 
telephone or by other communications. These services address specific 
problems and are intended to assist with immediate resolution of a 
given problem or set of problems.
    Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)--The Federal block 
grant program authorized in Title I of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193). The TANF 
program transformed ``welfare'' into a system that requires work in 
exchange for time-limited assistance.
    Third party--Any individual, organization or business entity that 
is not the direct recipient of grant funds.
    Third party agreement--A written agreement entered into by the 
grantee and an organization, individual or business entity (including a 
wholly owned subsidiary), by which the grantee makes an equity 
investment or a loan in support of grant purposes.
    Third party in-kind contributions--Non-cash contributions provided 
by non-Federal third parties. These

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contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies 
and other expendable property, and the value of goods and services 
directly benefiting and especially identifiable to the project or 
program.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated total priority area funding: $1,000,000.
    Anticipated number of awards: 4-6 per project period.
    Ceiling of Individual Awards: $250,000 per project period.
    Floor on amount of individual awards: None.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $250,000 per project period.
    Project Periods for Awards: Applications for projects that are 
exclusively construction, major alteration or renovation may request a 
budget and project period up to 2 years. Applications for non-
construction projects may request a budget and project period up to 17 
months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 
institutions of higher education and Nonprofits that do not have a 
501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher 
education.
    Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these grants.
    Additional Information on Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate 
proof of non-profit status and this proof must be included in their 
applications (see section IV. 2). 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.
    In addition to demonstrating proof of non-profit status, applicants 
must also demonstrate proof of CDC status. This proof must be included 
in their applications. Proof of CDC status is any one of the following:
     A list of governing board members along with their 
designation as a community resident or business or civic leader; and
     Documentation that the applicant organization has as a 
primary purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or 
community development activities. This documentation may include 
incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the 
organization.
    Applicants are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards is 
$250,000. An application that exceeds the upper value of the dollar 
range specified will be considered ``non-responsive'' and will be 
returned to the applicant without further review.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    None.

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 on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at 
http://www.dnb.com.
    Applications are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards 
is $250,000. Applications exceeding the $250,000 threshold will be 
considered non-responsive and returned without review.
    Applications that fail to submit proof of non-profit status with 
their applications will be considered non-responsive and returned 
without review.
    Applications that fail to submit proof of CDC status with their 
applications will be considered non-responsive and returned without 
review.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    Office of Community Services, Operations Center, 1815 North Fort 
Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, e-mail: 
[email protected], Telephone: (800) 281-9519.
    URL to Obtain an Application Package: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    This subsection provides detailed instructions for developing the 
application. Please see Section V ``Application Review Information'' 
for additional relevant information.
    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 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 to 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 
assurance and certifications.
     Your application must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this program announcement.

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     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and 
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.
     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 Content
    Each application must include the following components:
    Proof of Non-Profit Status--Documentation about the applicant 
agency's non-profit status. Please include any one of the following:
     A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt 
organizations described in the IRS code.
     A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
     A statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney 
General, or other appropriate State official certifying that the 
applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net 
earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
     A certified copy of the organization's certificate of 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status.
     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.
    Proof of Status as Private Non-Profit Community Development 
Corporation--Proof of status as a CDC. Please include any one of the 
following:
     A list of governing board members along with their 
designation as a community resident or business or civic leader; and
     Documentation that the applicant organization has as a 
primary purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or 
community development activities. This documentation may include 
incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the 
organization.
    Abstract of the Proposed Project--One or two paragraphs, not to 
exceed 350 words, that describe the community in which the project will 
be implemented, beneficiaries to be served, type(s) of business(es) to 
be developed, type(s) of jobs to be created, projected cost-per-job, 
any land or building to be purchased or building constructed, resources 
leveraged and intended impact on the community.
    Completed Standard Form 424--That has been signed by an official of 
the organization applying for the grant who has legal authority to 
obligate the organization. Under Box 11. indicate the Priority Area for 
which the application is written.
    Standard Form 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.
    Standard Form 424B--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.
    Narrative Budget Justification--For each object class category 
required under Section B, Standard Form 424A.
    Applicants are encouraged to use job titles and not specific names 
in developing the application budget. However, the specific salary 
rates or amounts for staff positions identified must be included in the 
application budget.
    Applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies 
(not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals 
specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers. The 
copies may include summary salary information.
    Project Narrative--A narrative that addresses issues described in 
the ``Application Review Information'' and the ``Review and Selection 
Criteria'' sections of this announcement.
    Evaluation Plan--Description of an independent, methodologically 
sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out 
with the grant and the organization's efficacy in creating new jobs and 
business ownership opportunities. Please see Section I. Funding 
Opportunity Description for additional information on preparing the 
Evaluation Plan.
    Third Party Agreement (if applicable)--Applicants that propose to 
use some or all of the requested CED funds to enter into a third party 
agreement in order to make an equity investment, such as the purchase 
of stock or a loan to an organization or business entity (including a 
wholly-owned subsidiary), are required to submit the signed Third Party 
Agreement in the application, along with the business plan, for 
approval by OCS. Please see Section I. Funding Opportunity Description 
for additional guidance in preparing the Third Party Agreement.
Application Format
    Submit application materials on white 8\1/2\ x 11 inch paper only. 
Do not use colored, oversized or folded materials.
    Do not include organizational brochures or other promotional 
materials, slides, films, clips, etc.
    The font size may be no smaller than 12 pitch and the margins must 
be at least one inch on all sides.
    Number all application pages sequentially throughout the package, 
60 pages max, beginning with the abstract of the proposed project as 
page number one.
    Present application materials either in loose-leaf notebooks or in 
folders with pages two-hole punched at the top center and fastened 
separately with a slide paper fastener.
    Each application should include one signed original and two 
additional copies.
Page Limitation
    The application package including sections for the Table of 
Contents, Project Abstract, Project and Budget Narratives, must not 
exceed 60 double spaced pages. The page limitation does not include 
Standard Forms and Assurances, Certifications, Disclosures, appendices 
and any supplemental documents as required in this announcement.
    An application that exceeds the page limitation specified will be 
considered ``non-responsive'' and will be returned to the applicant 
without further review.
Required Standard Forms
    Applicants must submit a signed Standard Form 424, Application for 
Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A Budget Information--Non-
Construction Projects, and Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.''
    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 to report lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the 
disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to non-

[[Page 51090]]

discrimination. Applicants provide certification by signing the SF424 
and need not mail back the certification with the application.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994 as 
outlined in Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke. 
Applicants provide certification by signing the SF424 and need not mail 
back the certification with the application.
    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.

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. 
(Eastern Standard Time) on September 16, 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 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services 
Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, 
Virginia 22209. 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., e.s.t., at the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community 
Services Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, 
Arlington, Virginia 22209, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal 
holidays). This address must appear on the envelope/package containing 
the application with the note: ``Attention: Office of Community 
Services Operations Center.'' Applicants are cautioned that express/
overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.
    Late applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above 
will be considered late applications. ACF will 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 mail service. Determinations 
to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants 
Management Officer.
    Required Forms:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Required form or
         What to submit             Required content          format                   When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents...............  A numbered list of   Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   key parts of the     guidance in
                                   application.         Section IV.
                                                        Content and Form
                                                        of Application
                                                        Submission.
Project Summary/Abstract........  Very brief           Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   narrative that       guidance in
                                   identifies the       Section IV.
                                   type of project,     Content and Form
                                   the target           of Application
                                   population and the   Submission.
                                   major elements of
                                   the work plan.
Objectives and Needs for          Narrative that       Consistent with      By application due date.
 Assistance.                       describes the        guidance in
                                   economic situation   Section IV.
                                   and needs of         Content and Form
                                   residents of the     of Application
                                   target               Submission and
                                   neighborhood(s)      Section V.
                                   and the              Evaluation
                                   comprehensive        Criteria.
                                   community building
                                   or neighborhood
                                   transformation
                                   effort that is
                                   planned or
                                   currently underway
                                   in that
                                   neighborhood.
Results or Benefits Expected....  Narrative that       Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   identifies the       Section IV.
                                   results and          Content and Form
                                   benefits to be       of Application
                                   derived. For         Submission and
                                   example, the         Section V.
                                   number of new jobs   Evaluation
                                   that will be         Criteria.
                                   targeted for
                                   residents.
Approach........................  Overall Project      Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   Work Plan.           Section IV.
                                                        Content and Form
                                                        of Application
                                                        Submission and
                                                        Section V.
                                                        Evaluation
                                                        Criteria.
Organizational Profile..........  Description of       Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   organizational       guidance in
                                   ability.             Section IV.
                                                        Content and Form
                                                        of Application
                                                        Submission and
                                                        Section V.
                                                        Evaluation
                                                        Criteria.
Budget and Budget Justification.  Budget information   Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   including: (a)       guidance in
                                   Narrative budget     Section IV.
                                   justification; (b)   Content and Form
                                   Completed Standard   of Application
                                   Form 424; (c)        Submission and
                                   Completed Standard   Section V.
                                   Form 424A.           Evaluation
                                                        Criteria. Required
                                                        Standard Forms are
                                                        posted on the
                                                        Internet at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Evaluation Plan.................  Description of the   Consistent with      By application due date.
                                   plan to assess       guidance in
                                   project outcomes.    Section I. Funding
                                                        Opportunity
                                                        Description and
                                                        Section IV.
                                                        Content and Form
                                                        of Application
                                                        submission.

[[Page 51091]]

 
Third-party Agreement (if         Agreement with       Consistent with      By application due date.
 applicable).                      third party for      guidance in
                                   equity investments.  Section I. Funding
                                                        Opportunity
                                                        Description
                                                        Section and
                                                        Section IV.
                                                        Content and Form
                                                        of Application
                                                        submission.
Certification regarding lobbying  As per required      Required Standard    By application due date.
                                   form.                Forms are posted
                                                        on the Internet at
                                                        http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Certification regarding           As per required      Required Standard    By application due date.
 environmental tobacco smoke.      form.                Forms are posted
                                                        on the Internet at
                                                        http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/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''.

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

IV.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 June 20, 2001, 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, North 
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, 
Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming have elected not 
to participate in the Executive Order process and have established 
Single Point of Contacts (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-five 
jurisdictions need take no action regarding Executive Order 12372.
    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 about 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.
    Comments should be submitted directly to Department of Health and 
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, Aerospace 
Building--4th Floor West, 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.

IV.5. Funding Restrictions

Cost Per Job
    OCS will not fund projects with a cost-per-job in CED funds that 
exceeds $10,000. An exception will be made if the project includes 
purchase of land or a building, or major renovation or construction of 
a building. In this instance, the applicant must explain the factors 
that raise the cost beyond $10,000. In no instance, will OCS allow for 
more than $15,000 cost-per-job in CED funds. Cost per job is calculated 
by dividing the amount of funds requested by the number of jobs to be 
created.
National Historic Preservation Act
    If an applicant is proposing a project which will affect a property 
listed in, or eligible for, inclusion in the National Register of 
Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and 
explain how it has complied with the National Historic Preservation Act 
of 1996, as amended. If there is any question as to whether the 
property is listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National 
Register of Historic Places, the applicant must consult with the State 
Historic Preservation Officer and describe in the narrative the content 
of such consultation.
Sub-Contracting or Delegating Projects
    OCS will not fund any project where the role of the applicant is 
primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than 
the applicant.

[[Page 51092]]

The applicant must have a substantive role in the implementation of the 
project for which funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar 
the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting for specific services or 
activities needed to conduct the project.
Number of Projects in Application
    Except for the retail development initiative under Priority Area 1. 
Operational Projects, each application may include only one proposed 
project.
Prohibited Activities
    OCS will not consider applications that propose to establish Small 
Business Investment Corporations or Minority Enterprise Small Business 
Investment Corporations.
    OCS will not fund projects that are primarily education and 
training projects. In projects where participants must be trained, any 
funds proposed for training must be limited to specific job-related 
training to those individuals who have been selected for employment in 
the grant supported project. Projects involving training and placement 
for existing vacant positions will be disqualified from competition.
    OCS will not fund projects that would result in the relocation of a 
business from one geographic area to another resulting in job 
displacement.
    Pre-award costs will not be covered by an award.

IV.6. Other Submission Requirements

    Submission by Mail: An Applicant must provide an original 
application with all attachments, signed by an authorized 
representative and two copies. The Application must be received at the 
address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time on or before the 
closing date. Applications should be mailed to: Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1815 Fort Meyer Drive, 
Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209.
    For Hand Delivery: Applicant must provide an original application 
with all attachments, signed by an authorized representative and two 
copies. The Application must be received at the address below by 4:30 
p.m. eastern standard time on or before the closing date. 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: 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for 
Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 
1815 Fort Meyer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209. It is 
strongly recommended that applicants obtain documentation that the 
application was hand delivered on or before the closing date. 
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not 
always deliver as agreed.

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Instructions: 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 generic UPD requirement is followed by the 
evaluation criterion specific to the Community Economic Development 
National Philanthropic Institution Projects program. Public Reporting 
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 nor conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
Purpose
    The project description provides a major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can 
present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing your project 
description, all information requested through each specific evaluation 
criteria should be 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 in a 
manner that is clear and complete.
Introduction
    Applicants required to submit a full project description shall 
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation 
criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project 
description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the 
measures that will be used to evaluate applications.
Project Summary/Abstract
    Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with 
reference to the funding request.
Objectives and Need for Assistance
    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.
Results or Benefits Expected
    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. Explain how the 
project will reach the targeted population and how it will benefit 
participants or the community.
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, for 
example, such terms as the ``number of people served.'' When 
accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them 
in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and 
their target dates.

[[Page 51093]]

    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.
Evaluation
    Provide a narrative addressing how the results of the project and 
the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the 
evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which 
the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which 
the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. 
Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the 
methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and 
discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are 
being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the 
procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being 
conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and 
discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's 
effectiveness.
Organizational Profiles
    Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and 
cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial 
statements, audit reports, statements from CPA's/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.
    The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: (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 Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; (b) a copy 
of the 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 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.
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. 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.

2. Evaluation Criteria

Criteria for Review and Evaluation of Applications Submitted Under 
Priority Area 1--Operational Projects
Evaluation Criterion I: Approach (Maximum: 35 Points)
     a(1). The extent to which the project describes the 
proposed public market and types of vendors and products and services 
to be sold. (0-3)
     a(2). The extent to which the application documents the 
market research and marketing plan for the project. (0-2)
     a(3). The extent to which the operations plan and schedule 
document a timeline and benchmarks providing for completion of the 
project within two years. (0-10)
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates they have firm 
site control. (0-5)
    c. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates their executed 
third party agreements meet the requirements set forth above. (0-5)
    d. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates their required 
financial documents are contained in the application, and clearly 
describe proposed use of CED funds and demonstrate that the project is 
viable. (0-10)
Evaluation Criterion II: Organizational Profiles (Maximum: 20 Points)
    a. Organizational profile: The extent to which the applicant 
demonstrates that it has the management capacity, organizational 
structure and successful record of accomplishment relevant to business 
development, commercial development, physical development, and/or 
financial services and that it has the ability to mobilize other 
financial and in-kind resources. (0--10 points)
    b. Staff skills, resources and responsibilities: The extent to 
which the application describes in brief resume form the experience and 
skills of the project director who is not only well qualified, but 
whose professional capabilities are relevant to the successful 
implementation of the project. If the key staff person has not yet been 
identified, the application contains a comprehensive position 
description that indicates that the responsibilities to be assigned to 
the project director are relevant to the successful implementation of 
the project. (0-5 points)
    The extent to which the applicant has adequate facilities and 
resources (i.e. space and equipment) to successfully carry out the work 
plan. (0-3 points)
    The extent to which the assigned responsibilities of the staff are 
appropriate to the tasks identified for the project and sufficient time 
of senior staff will be budgeted to assure timely implementation and 
cost effective management of the project. (0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion III: Results or Benefit Expected (Maximum: 15 
Points)
    a. Results or Benefits Expected: The extent to which the applicant 
proposes to produce permanent and measurable results including, but not 
limited to, employment and business ownership opportunities for low 
income individuals and their families. (0-8 points)
    b. Community empowerment and coordination: The extent to which the 
applicant provides documentation that it is an active partner in either 
a new or on-going comprehensive community revitalization project such 
as: a federally-designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community or 
Renewal Community project that has clear goals of strengthening 
economic and human development in target neighborhoods; a State or 
local-government supported comprehensive neighborhood revitalization 
project; or a private sector supported community revitalization 
project. (0-2 points)
    c. Cost-per-job: The extent to which the applicant indicates that 
during the project period, the proposed project will create new, 
permanent jobs or maintain permanent jobs for low-income residents at a 
cost-per-job not to exceed $10,000 in OCS funds unless the project 
involves purchase of land or building or construction or significant 
renovation in

[[Page 51094]]

which instance the cost per job may not exceed $15,000. (0-5 points)
Evaluation Criterion IV: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum: 
10 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant shows and documents that the 
project addresses a vital need in a distressed community. ``Distressed 
community'' is defined as a geographic urban neighborhood or rural 
community with high unemployment and pervasive poverty. The application 
documents that both the unemployment rate and poverty level for the 
targeted neighborhood or community must be equal to or greater than the 
state or national level. (0-5 points)
    The extent to which the application cites the most recent available 
statistics from published sources e.g. the recent U.S. Census or 
updates, the State, county, city, election district and other 
information are provided in support of its contention. (0-2 points)
    The extent to which the application shows how the project will 
respond to stated need. (0-3 points)
Evaluation Criterion V: Project Evaluation (Maximum: 5 Points)
    a. The extent to which the applicant provides a well thought 
through outline of an evaluation plan that identifies the principal 
cause-and-effect relationships to be tested, and that demonstrates the 
applicant understands of the role and purpose of both process and 
outcome evaluations. (0-3 points)
    b. The extent to which the application provides the identity and 
qualifications of the proposed third-party evaluator, of if not 
selected, the qualifications which will be sought in choosing an 
evaluator, which must include successful experience in evaluating 
community development programs, and the planning and/or evaluation of 
programs designed to foster self-sufficiency in low-income populations. 
(0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion VI: Public-Private Partnerships (Maximum: 10 
Points)
    a. Mobilization of resources: The extent to which the applicant 
shows through documentation that it has mobilized from public and/or 
private sources the proposed balance of non-CED funding required to 
fully implement the project. Lesser contributions will be given 
consideration based upon the value documented. (0-5 points)
    b. Integration/coordination of services: The extent to which the 
applicant demonstrates a commitment to, or agreements with, local 
agencies responsible for administering child support enforcement, 
employment education, and training programs to ensure that welfare 
recipients, at-risk youth, displaced workers, public housing tenants, 
homeless and low-income individuals, and low-income custodial and non-
custodial parents will be trained and placed in the newly created jobs. 
The extent to which the applicant provides written agreements from the 
local TANF or other employment education and training offices, and 
child support enforcement agency indicating what actions will be taken 
to integrate/coordinate services that relate directly to the project 
for which funds are being requested. (0-3 points)
    The extent to which the agreement shows: (1) The goals and 
objectives that the applicant and the TANF or other employment 
education and training offices and/or child support enforcement agency 
expect to achieve through their collaboration; (2) the specific 
activities/actions that will be taken to integrate/coordinate services 
on an on-going basis; (3) the target population that this collaboration 
will serve; (4) the mechanism(s) to be used in integrating/coordinating 
activities; (5) how those activities will be significant in relation to 
the goals and objectives to be achieved through the collaboration; and 
(6) how those activities will be significant in relation to their 
impact on the success of the OCS-funded project. (0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion VII: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum: 5 
Points)
    a. The extent to which the application shows that the funds 
requested are commensurate with the level of effort necessary to 
accomplish the goals and objectives of the project. (0-2 points)
    b. The extent to which the application includes a detailed budget 
breakdown and a narrative justification for each of the budget 
categories in the SF-424A. The applicant presents a reasonable 
administrative cost. (0-2 points)
    c. The extent to which the application shows that the estimated 
cost to the government of the project also is reasonable in relation to 
the anticipated results. (0-1 point)

V.2. Review and Selection Process

OCS Evaluation of Applications
    Applications that pass the initial OCS screening or conformity with 
the ``Eligibility'' and ``Content and Form of Application Submission'' 
requirements will be reviewed and rated by a panel based on the program 
elements and review criteria presented in relevant sections of this 
program announcement.
    The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to 
assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood 
of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are 
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. 
The review panel awards points only to applications that are responsive 
to the program elements and relevant review criteria within the context 
of this program announcement.
    The OCS Director and the program staff use the reviewer scores when 
considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh heavily 
in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.
    Applications generally will be considered in order of the average 
scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors 
are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not 
guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example: 
the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded 
with OCS funds granted in the last five (5) years; comments of 
reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount 
and duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's 
consistency and harmony with OCS goals and policy; geographic 
distribution of applications; previous program performance of 
applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants, 
including the actual dedication to program of mobilized resources as 
set forth in project applications; audit reports; investigative 
reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit 
disallowance on previous OCS or other Federal agency grants.

VI. Award Administration Information

VI.1. Award Notices

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

[[Page 51095]]

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Parts 74 (non-
governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental).

VI.3. Reporting

    All grantees are required to submit semi-annual program and 
financial reports (SF-269) with a final report due 90 days after the 
project end date. A suggested format for the program report will be 
sent to all grantees after the awards are made.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Program Office Contact: Debbie Brown, Office of Community Services, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Suite 500 West, Aerospace Building, 
Washington, DC 20447-0002, e-mail: [email protected], Telephone: (202) 
401-3446.
    Grants Management Office Contact: Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Office 
of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, Washington, DC 20447-0002., e-mail: 
[email protected], Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
    General Contact: Office of Community Services, Operations Center, 
1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, e-
mail: [email protected], Telephone: (800) 281-9519.

VIII. Other Information

    Additional information about this program and its purpose can be 
located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

    Dated: August 12, 2004.
Clarence H. Carter,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 04-18783 Filed 8-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P