[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 111 (Friday, June 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33905-33906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11584]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announce No. `` HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EI-0053; CFDA 93.602]


Office of Community Services Announcement for Assets for 
Independence Program Grants

AGENCY: Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children 
and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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    Notice of an amendment to the announcement published on February 9, 
2005, concerning the application process for Assets for Independence 
Program grants. This document announces an additional closing date of 
July 15, 2005. It also announces two informational telephone conference 
calls about the Assets for Independence Program and the process for 
submitting a grant proposal.
    The program announcement concerning the application process for 
Assets for Independence Program grants published on February 9, 2005 in 
Volume 70, Federal Register, pages 6879-6888 is hereby modified. The 
announcement is modified by adding one additional application due date 
of July 15, 2005, and a notification of two informational telephone 
conference calls concerning the Assets for Independence Program and the 
process for submitting a grant proposal.
SUMMARY: On February 9, 2005, the Office of Community Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services published an announcement seeking applications for the 
Assets for Independence Program. The announcement appeared in Volume 
70, pages 6879-6888 of the Federal Register. This document announces 
one additional application due date of July 15, 2005, which is in 
addition to the three due dates listed in the February 9 standing 
announcement (March 15, June 15 and November 1). To be considered 
timely for this additional due date only, applications must be received 
at the OCS Operations Center by July 15. (For more details, see 
submission dates and times section below.)
    This document also announces two informational telephone conference 
calls concerning the Assets for Independence Program and the process 
for submitting a grant application.
    Submission Dates and Times: The new additional closing date for the 
Assets for Independence Program is July 15, 2005. (This closing date is 
in addition to three other valid closing dates--March 15, June 15 and 
November 1--as noted in the current standing announcement.) 
Applications received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the July 15 
closing date will be classified as late, and will not be reviewed this 
cycle.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are received on or before the due date. Applicants are 
responsible for ensuring applications are mailed or submitted 
electronically well in advance of the application due date.
    Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
shall be

[[Page 33906]]

considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or 
before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
eastern time, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile. 
Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted 
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
    Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will not be 
provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier 
services, or by hand delivery. Applicants will receive an electronic 
acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via Grants.gov.
    Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above 
are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant 
that its application will not be considered in the current competition.
    Any application received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the 
deadline date will not be considered for competition.
    Applicants using express/overnight mail services should allow two 
working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of applications. 
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not 
always deliver as agreed.
    Extension of Deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare 
cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests 
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
    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 time on or before 
the closing date.
    Applications should be mailed to: Administration for Children and 
Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson 
Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Assets for 
Independence Program.
    Hand Delivery: 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 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. eastern time, Monday through Friday. Applications should be 
delivered to: Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Community Services' Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 
100, Arlington, VA 22209; Attention: Administration for Children and 
Families, Office of Community Services, Assets for Independence 
Program.
    Electronic Submission: http://www.Grants.gov. Please see Section 
IV.2 Content and Form of Application Submission of the February 9 
announcement, for guidelines and requirements when submitting 
applications electronically.
    Informational Conference Calls: The Office of Community Services 
will host two informational telephone conference calls concerning the 
Assets for Independence Program and the grant application process on 
June 20 and 21, 2005 at 2 p.m. until approximately 3 p.m. These calls 
will be open to all interested individuals. Please call the Office of 
Community Services on (202) 401-4626 or go to the OCS Asset Building 
Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov to register for a call and for dial-
in information. Participants are strongly encouraged to register, as 
the number of lines is limited. OCS plans to make handout materials 
available to all individuals who register for either of the 
informational calls.
    Announcement Availability: The Assets for Independence Program 
announcement and all application materials are available at http://www.Grants.gov. Standard forms and certifications may also be found at 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm. Finally, the OCS Asset 
Building Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding provides much 
information about the Assets for Independence Program and the 
application process. The page includes links to all required forms as 
well as to a guidebook for developing an AFI Project and applying for 
an AFI grant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Gatz, Manager, Assets for 
Independence Program, Telephone: (202) 401-4626 or e-mail: 
[email protected]. An array of helpful information is posted on 
the OCS Asset Building Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/assetbuilding.

    Dated: June 6, 2005.
Josephine B. Robinson,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 05-11584 Filed 6-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P