[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 126 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38166-38177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13096]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Administration on Developmental Disabilities; Family Support 
Initiative 2005

    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-ADD-DF-0020.
    CFDA Number: 93.631.
    Due Date for Applications: Application is due August 15, 2005.
    Executive Summary: Objectives: To provide funds to States to create 
or expand statewide systems change for Family Support. To allow for the 
award of competitive grants to conduct training, technical assistance, 
and other activities designed to address the problems that impede the 
self-sufficiency of individuals with developmental disabilities and 
families of children with developmental disabilities. This program 
announcement will provide funds for the development phase of the Family 
Support Initiative. This is the last program announcement related to 
statewide systems change begun in 1999. This is not a funding 
opportunity related to Family Support 360. Eligible States and 
territorial entities under this announcement are: Alabama, Iowa, 
California and Puerto Rico. States and territories not listed above are 
not eligible to apply.

[[Page 38167]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Statutory Authority Covered Under This Announcement

    This announcement is covered under the Developmental Disabilities 
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act of 2000), (42 U.S.C. 
15001-15115). Projects of National Significance is Subtitle E of the 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, 
(42 U.S.C. 15081-15083). Provisions under this section provide for the 
award of grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for Projects of 
National Significance that support:
     The development of national and State policies that 
reinforce and promote the self-determination, independence, 
productivity, integration, and inclusion in all facets of community 
life of individuals with developmental disabilities.
     Family support activities, data collection and analysis, 
technical assistance to entities that provide family support and data 
collection activities; and
     Other projects of sufficient size and scope that hold 
promise to expand or improve opportunities for individuals with 
developmental disabilities.

General Description

    The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is located 
within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department 
of Health and Human Services (DHHS). ADD shares goals with other ACF 
programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, 
children, individuals, and communities. ACF and ADD envision:
     Families and individuals empowered to increase their own 
economic independence and productivity;
     Strong, healthy, supportive communities having a positive 
impact on the quality of life and the development of children;
     Partnerships with individuals, front-line service 
providers, communities, States, and Congress that enable solutions that 
transcend traditional agency boundaries;
     Services planned and integrated to improve access to 
programs and supports for individuals and families;
     A recognition of the power and effectiveness of public 
private partnerships, including collaboration among community groups, 
such as faith-based organizations, families, and public agencies; and
     A community-based approach that recognizes and expands on 
the resources and benefits of diversity.
    These goals will enable individuals, including people with 
developmental disabilities, to live productive and independent lives 
integrated into their communities. The Projects of National 
Significance (PNS) program is one means through which ADD promotes the 
achievement of these goals.
    ADD is the lead agency within ACF and DHHS responsible for planning 
and administering programs to promote self-sufficiency and protect the 
rights of persons with developmental disabilities. ADD implements the 
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD 
Act), which was authorized by Congress in 2000.
    This Act supports and provides assistance to States, public, 
private non-profit agencies, and organizations, including faith-based 
organizations, to assure that individuals with developmental 
disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have 
access to culturally competent services, supports, and other assistance 
and opportunities that promote independence, productivity, integration, 
and inclusion into the community.
    As defined in the DD Act, the term ``developmental disabilities'' 
means a severe, chronic disability of an individual that is 
attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of 
mental and physical impairments that is manifested before the 
individual attains age 22 and is likely to continue indefinitely. 
Developmental disabilities results in substantial limitations in three 
or more of the following functional areas: self-care; receptive and 
expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for 
independent living, and capacity for economic self-sufficiency.
    A number of significant findings are identified in the DD Act, 
including:
     Disability is a natural part of the human experience that 
does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental 
disabilities to enjoy the opportunity for independence, productivity, 
integration, and inclusion into the community;
     Individuals whose disabilities occur during their 
developmental period frequently have severe disabilities that are 
likely to continue indefinitely; and
     Individuals with developmental disabilities often require 
lifelong specialized services and assistance, provided in a coordinated 
and culturally competent manner by many agencies, professionals, 
advocates, community representatives and others to eliminate barriers 
and to meet the needs of such individuals and their families.
    The DD Act also promotes the best practices and policies presented 
below:
     Individuals with developmental disabilities, including 
those with the most severe developmental disabilities, are capable of 
achieving independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into 
the community, and often require the provision of services, supports, 
and other assistance to achieve such;
     Individuals with developmental disabilities have 
competencies, capabilities, and personal goals that should be 
recognized, supported, and encouraged, and any assistance to such 
individuals should be provided in an individualized manner, consistent 
with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, 
and capabilities of the individual; and
     Individuals with developmental disabilities and their 
families are the primary decision makers regarding the services and 
support such individuals and their families receive, and play decision-
making roles in policies and programs that affect the lives of such 
individuals and their families.
    Towards these ends, ADD seeks to support and accomplish the 
following:
     Enhance the capabilities of families in assisting 
individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their maximum 
potential;
     Support the increasing ability of individuals with 
developmental disabilities to exercise greater choice and self-
determination and to engage in leadership activities in their 
communities; and
     Ensure the protection of individuals with developmental 
disabilities' legal and human rights.
    The four grant programs funded under the Act are:
     State Developmental Disabilities Councils;
     State Protection and Advocacy Systems for Individuals with 
Developmental Disabilities' Rights;
     Grants to the National Network of University Centers for 
Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Education, Research, and 
Service; and
     Grants for Projects of National Significance.

Priority Area 1

Family Support Program
1. Description of the Family Support Program
    The purpose of the family support program is for States to create 
or expand statewide systems change. It allows for the award of 
competitive grants to conduct training, technical assistance,

[[Page 38168]]

and other national activities designed to address the problems that 
impede the self-sufficiency of families of children with developmental 
disabilities.
2. Requirements
    Project funds must be used to support the development of family 
support activities contributing to the self-determination, 
independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets 
of community life of such individuals. Projects will:
    (1) Ensure the full participation, choice and control of families 
of children with developmental disabilities, in decisions related to 
the provision of such family support for their family;
    (2) Ensure the active involvement of families of children with 
developmental disabilities in the planning, development, 
implementation, and evaluation of the project; increase the 
availability of, funding for, access to, and provision of family 
support for families of children with developmental disabilities;
    (3) Promote training activities that are family-centered and 
family-directed and that enhance the ability of family members of 
children with developmental disabilities to increase participation, 
choice, and control in the provision of family support for families of 
children with developmental disabilities;
    (4) Increase and promote interagency coordination among State 
agencies, and between State agencies and private entities that are 
involved in these projects; and
    (5) Increase the awareness of laws, regulations, policies, 
practices, procedures, and organizational structures that facilitate or 
impede the availability or provision of family support for families of 
children with developmental disabilities.
3. Minimum Requirements for Project Design
    ADD requires grant funds to be used to support the development of 
State policies that reinforce and promote (with the support of 
families, guardians, advocates, and communities of individuals with 
developmental disabilities) the self-determination, independence, 
productivity and integration and inclusion in all facets of community 
life of such individuals through family support activities. Project 
activities should accomplish any of the following:
     Establishment of a State Policy Council of families of 
children with developmental disabilities, or utilization of an existing 
council which will advise and assist the lead entity in the performance 
of activities under the project. The State Policy Council shall be 
composed of a majority of participants who are family members of 
children with developmental disabilities, or who are youth with 
developmental disabilities (ages 18-21), or qualify under both 
categories;
     Training and technical assistance for family members, 
service providers, community members, professionals, members of the 
Policy Council, State agency staff, students and others;
     Interagency coordination of Federal and State policies, 
resources, and services; establishment of interagency workgroups to 
enhance public funding options and coordination; and other interagency 
activities that promote coordination;
     Outreach to locate families who are eligible for family 
support and to identify groups who are underserved and unserved;
     Policy studies that relate to the development and 
implementation, or expansions and enhancement, of a statewide system of 
family support for families of children with developmental 
disabilities;
     Hearings and forums to solicit input from families of 
children with developmental disabilities, regarding family support 
programs, policies, and plans for such families;
     Public awareness and education to families of children 
with developmental disabilities, parent groups and organizations, 
public and private agencies, students, policymakers, and the general 
public;
     Needs assessment;
     Analysis of statewide system of family support for 
families of children with developmental disabilities;
     Development plans must include innovative partnerships 
with community organizations to increase the utilization of generic 
services by families of children with developmental disabilities;
     Pilot demonstration projects to demonstrate new approaches 
to the provision of family support for families of children with 
developmental disabilities that include family strengthening services 
such as parenting education and marriage education.
    ADD expects to fund applications that include or incorporate into 
these activities one or more of the following populations relevant to 
their State: (1) Unserved and underserved populations that include 
populations such as individuals from racial and ethnic minority 
backgrounds, economically disadvantaged individuals, individuals with 
limited-English proficiency, and individuals from underserved 
geographic areas (rural or urban); (2) aging families of adult children 
with developmental disabilities, who are over age 21 with a focus on 
assisting those families, and their adult children, to be included as 
self-determining members of their communities; (3) foster/adoptive 
families of children with developmental disabilities; (4) families 
participating in the State's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
Program (TANF), welfare-to-work, and/or SSI program; (5) veterans with 
families having a child with a developmental disability; (6) parents 
with developmental disabilities (especially cognitive disabilities) who 
have children with or without disabilities; and (7) families of 
children with developmental disabilities who have behavioral/emotional 
issues.
    ADD intends to fund those applications that describe how the 
project will:
     Ensure consumer/self-advocate orientation and 
participation;
     Include key project personnel with direct life experience 
living with a developmental disability;
     Have strong advisory components that consist of a majority 
of individuals with developmental disabilities and a structure where 
individuals with developmental disabilities make real decisions that 
determine the outcome of the grant;
     If the project includes research, reflect the principles 
of participatory action;
     Consider cultural competency (``cultural competency'' as 
defined in the DD Act means services, supports, or other assistance 
that is conducted or provided in a manner that is responsive to the 
beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, language, and behavior of 
individuals who are receiving the services, supports or other 
assistance, and in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of 
ensuring their maximum participation in the program involved);
     Allow individuals with developmental disabilities and 
their families to be involved in all aspects of the design, 
implementation, and evaluation of the project;
     Attend to unserved and underserved individuals, who have 
developmental disabilities (from mild to severe), and who are from 
multicultural backgrounds, rural and inner-city areas, and migrant, 
homeless, and refugee families;
     Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if 
applicable, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as 
amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-220);

[[Page 38169]]

     Use collaboration through partnerships and coalitions;
     Develop the capacity to communicate and disseminate 
information and technical assistance through E-mail and other 
effective, affordable, and accessible forms of electronic communication 
that are Section 508 compliant.
     Develop and establish system change activities beyond the 
project period; and
     Disseminate models, products, best practices, and 
strategies for distribution between networks and beyond.
    Applications must also include provisions for the travel of a key 
staff person during the project period for one (1) trip to Washington, 
DC.
    This will be the final program announcement from ADD to solicit 
applicants for Federal funding for the Family Support Initiative 
Program that was begun in 1999. This final program announcement notice 
does not apply to future Family Support 360 initiative announcements.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $350,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 1 to 4.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $100,000 per project 
period.
    Floor on Amount of Individual Awards: $50,000 per project period.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $100,000 per project period.
    Length of Project Periods: 17 month project and budget period.
    Maximum awards to States will be $100,000. Maximum awards to 
Territories will be $50,000.
    Therefore, application request levels must not exceed the ceiling 
amount of $100,000 in Federal funds for a State entity and $50,000 in 
Federal funds for a Territorial entity.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

     Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity subject to 
exceptions specified in Additional Information on Eligibility)
     State governments
     County governments
     City or township governments
     Special district governments
     Independent school districts
     State controlled institutions of higher education
     Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
     Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally 
recognized tribal governments)
     Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
     Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other 
than institutions of higher education
     Non-profits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the 
IRS, other than institutions of higher education
     Private institutions of higher education
    Additional Information on Eligibility: Eligible States and 
Territorial entities under this announcement are: Alabama, Iowa, 
California and Puerto Rico. States and Territories not listed above are 
not eligible to apply.
    A letter from the office of the governor or the chief executive 
officer designating the applicant as the lead agency for the State or 
Territory must accompany the application. This lead agency is 
responsible for coordinating the planning, development, implementation 
(or expansion and enhancement), and evaluation of a statewide system of 
family support services for families of children with developmental 
disabilities.
    Applicants include public and private non-profit organizations, 
which may include faith-based and community organizations, and private 
and State controlled institutions of higher education that are 
designated by the governor or chief executive officer of the State as 
the lead agency for this project.
    All applications developed jointly by more than one agency or 
organization must identify only one organization as the lead 
organization and the official applicant. The other participating 
agencies and organizations can be included as co-participants, sub-
grantees, or subcontractors.
    Only those entities that are designated by the State as lead 
applicants and who have not previously been awarded family support 
development grants are eligible under this announcement.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

    Yes.
    Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project 
costs. Grantees must provide at least 25% 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 $133,333, requesting $100,000 in ACF funds, must 
provide a non-Federal share of at least $33,333 (25% of total approved 
project cost of $133,333.) Grantees will be held accountable for 
commitments of non-Federal resources even if over the amount of the 
required match. Failure to provide the amount will result in 
disallowance of Federal funds. Lack of supporting documentation at the 
time of application will not impact the responsiveness of the 
application for competitive review.

3. Other

    All applicants must have a 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 & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when 
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after 
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant 
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide 
electronic portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for 
every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, 
including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block 
grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
    Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may 
acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free 
DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number 
on-line at http://www.dnb.com.
    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 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 
earning 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

[[Page 38170]]

organization is a local non-profit affiliate.
    When applying electronically we strongly suggest you attach your 
proof of non-profit status with your electronic application.
    Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,'' 
titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,'' at: 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Disqualification Factors
    Applications that exceed the ceiling amount will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered for funding under this 
announcement.
    Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements 
referenced in Section IV.3 will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be considered for funding under this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

    Joan Rucker, Program Specialist, Office of Operations and 
Discretionary Grants, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 
Administration for Children and Families, Mail Stop: HHH-405-D, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Phone: 202-690-7898. 
Fax: 202-205-8037. E-mail: [email protected].

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    A letter from the office of the governor or the chief executive 
officer designating the applicant as the lead agency for the State or 
Territory must accompany the application. This lead agency is 
responsible for coordinating the planning, development, implementation 
(or expansion and enhancement), and evaluation of a statewide system of 
family support services for families of children with developmental 
disabilities. State designated applicants include public and private 
non-profit organizations, which may include faith-based and community 
organizations, and private and State controlled institutions of higher 
education designated by the governor or chief executive officer of the 
State as the lead agency for this project. The letter must contain an 
original signature of the governor's office and accurately specify the 
name of the designated organization as stated on the front of the grant 
application Standard Form 424.
    Each application package must include an original and two copies of 
the complete application.
    Each copy should be stapled securely (front and back if necessary) 
in the upper left-hand corner. All pages of the narrative (including 
charts, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered, 
beginning with page one. In order to facilitate handling, please do not 
use covers, binders or tabs. Do not include extraneous materials as 
attachments, such as agency promotion brochures, slides, tapes, film 
clips, minutes of meetings, survey instruments or articles of 
incorporation.
    The narrative should be typed double spaced on a single side of an 
8\1/2\ x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides, using 
black print no smaller than 12 pitch or 12 point size. All pages of the 
narrative, including attachments (such as charts, references/footnotes, 
tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) and letters of support must be 
sequentially numbered, beginning with ``Objectives and Need for 
Assistance'' as page number one. Applicants should not submit 
reproductions of larger size paper, reduced to meet the size 
requirement.
    The length of the application, including all attachments and 
required Federal forms, must not exceed 60 pages. The Federally 
required forms will be counted towards the total number of pages. The 
60-page limit will be strictly enforced. All pages beyond the first 60 
pages of text will be removed prior to applications being evaluated by 
the reviewers. A page is a single side of an 8\1/2\ x 11 
sheet of paper with 1 margins.
    Applicants are requested not to send pamphlets, brochure or other 
printed material along with their application as these pose copying 
difficulties. These materials, if submitted, will not be included in 
the review process if they exceed the 60-page limit. Each page of the 
application will be counted to determine the total length.
    Applicants have the option of omitting the Social Security Numbers 
and specific salary rates of the proposed projects from the two copies 
submitted with the original application to ACF. For purposes of the 
outside review process, applicants may elect to summarize salary 
information on the copies of their application. All salary information 
must, however, appear on the signed original application for ACF.
    You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper 
format.
    To submit an application electronically, please use the http://www.Grants.gov/Apply site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to 
download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and 
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. ACF 
will not accept grant applications via email or facsimile transmission.
    Please note the following if you plan to submit your application 
electronically via Grants.gov:
     Electronic submission is voluntary, but strongly 
encouraged.
     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.
     We recommend you visit Grants.gov at least 30 days prior 
to filing your application to fully understand the process and 
requirements. We encourage applicants who submit electronically to 
submit well before the closing date and time so that if difficulties 
are encountered an applicant can still send in a hard copy overnight. 
If you encounter difficulties, please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk 
at 1-800-518-4276 to report the problem and obtain assistance with the 
system.
     To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS 
Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format.
     You may submit all documents electronically, including all 
information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     Your application must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this program announcement.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. 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 www.Grants.gov
     You must search for the downloadable application package 
by the CFDA number.
    An original and two copies of the complete application are 
required. The original and each of the two copies must

[[Page 38171]]

include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, 
be signed by an authorized representative, have original signatures, 
and be submitted unbound.
    Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,'' 
titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,'' at: 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Standard Forms and Certifications: The project description should 
include all the information requirements described in the specific 
evaluation criteria outlined in the program announcement under Section 
V Application Review Information. 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 seeking financial assistance under this announcement 
must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal 
Assistance; SF-424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; SF-
424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be 
reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and 
return the standard forms with their application.
    Applicants must furnish prior to award an executed copy of the 
Standard Form LLL, Certification Regarding Lobbying, 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. Applicants must sign and return 
the certification with their application.
    Applicants must also understand they will be held accountable for 
the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-227, Title XII 
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the PRO-KIDS Act of 1994). A 
copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking 
prohibition is included with the forms. By signing and submitting the 
application, applicants are providing the certification and need not 
mail back the certification with the application.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By 
signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification form. Complete 
the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances 
based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications 
may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Those organizations required to provide proof of non-profit status, 
please refer to Section III.3.
    Please see Section V.1, for instructions on preparing the full 
project description.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Due Date: Applications are due August 15, 2005.
    Explanation of Due Dates: The closing time and date for receipt of 
applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. 
eastern time on the closing date will be classified as late.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time and date 
referenced in Section IV.6. 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 considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are 
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section 
IV.6., 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.
    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.
    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 http://www.Grants.gov.
    Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when 
preparing your application package.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           What to submit               Required content       Required form or format        When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table of Contents..................  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
                                                                                           date.
Project Abstract...................  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2 and   By application due
                                      V.                      V.                           date.
Project Description................  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2 and   By application due
                                      V.                      V.                           date.
Budget Narrative/Justification.....  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2 and   By application due
                                      V.                      V.                           date.
SF-424.............................  See Section IV.2......  See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/  By application due
                                                              programs/ofs/forms.htm.      date.
SF-LLL Certification Regarding       See Section IV.2......  See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/  By date of award.
 Lobbying.                                                    programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Certification Regarding              See Section IV.2......  See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/  By date of award.
 Environmental Tobacco Smoke.                                 programs/ofs/forms.htm.
SF-424A............................  See Section IV.2......  See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/  By application due
                                                              programs/ofs/forms.htm.      date.
Support Letters....................  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
                                                                                           date.
SF424B.............................  See Section IV.2......  See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/  By application due
                                                              programs/ofs/forms.htm.      date.

[[Page 38172]]

 
Designation Letter.................  See Section III.1.....  Letter from the Governor in  By application due
                                                              the applicant's State or     date.
                                                              Territory designating the
                                                              applicant as the lead
                                                              agency as required by this
                                                              Program Announcement.
                                                              Found in Section III.1.
                                                              Found in Sections III.1.
                                                              and IV.2.
Third Party Agreements.............  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
                                                                                           date.
Dissemination Plan.................  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
                                                                                           date.
Non-Federal Resources..............  See Sections III.2.     Found in Sections III.2.     By application due
                                      and V.                  and V.                       date.
Plan for Project Continuation......  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
                                                                                           date.
Empowerment Zones/Enterprise         See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By application due
 Communities Partnership.                                                                  date.
Assurances.........................  See Section IV.2......  ...........................  ......................
Proof of Non-Profit Status.........  See Section III.3.....  Found in Section III.3.....  By date of award.
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.......  See Section V.........  Found in Section V.........  By date of award.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Forms: Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged 
to submit with their applications the survey located under ``Grant 
Related Documents and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant 
Applicants,'' titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for 
Applicants,'' at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           What to submit               Required content               Location               When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit       See form..............  Found in http://             By application due
 Grant Applicants.                                            www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/    date.
                                                              ofs/forms.htm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Intergovernmental Review

State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    As of October 1, 2004, the following jurisdictions have elected to 
participate in the Executive Order process: Arkansas, California, 
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New 
Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, 
North Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. As these 
jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order 
process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating 
jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert 
them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants 
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 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, 
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th 
floor, Washington, DC 20447.
    Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate 
in the process, entities that meet 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. Therefore, 
applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by 
Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to 
E.O. 12372.
    The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that 
have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following 
URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
    Costs associated with foreign travel or for construction activity 
are not allowable charges to the program grant.
    Applications must also include provisions for the travel of a key 
staff person during the project period for one (1) trip to Washington, 
DC.

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. Please see Section IV.3 for an 
explanation of due dates. Applications should be mailed to: Tim 
Chappelle, Grants Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants 
Management, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop: 8th Floor West, 
Washington, DC 20442.
    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: Tim Chappelle, Grants Officer, U.S. Department of

[[Page 38173]]

Health and Human Service, Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Grants Management, 901 D Street, SW., ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor 
(near loading dock) Aerospace Center, Washington, DC 20024.
    Electronic Submission: http://www.Grants.gov. Please see Section 
IV.2 for guidelines and requirements when submitting applications 
electronically.

V. Application Review Information

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 40 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.
1. Criteria
    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).

The Project Description Overview

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, information responsive to each of the requested evaluation 
criteria must 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.
General Expectations and Instructions
    ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions 
that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended 
performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of 
substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are 
not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. 
Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly 
funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an 
integral part of the grant funded activity should be placed in an 
appendix.
    Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included 
for easy reference.
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. The grantee must 
describe what information was shared with individuals with 
developmental disabilities and family members and what they suggested 
individuals with developmental disabilities and family members do with 
the information.
Approach
    Outline a plan of action that 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 that 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. Applicants are expected to present a plan that (1) 
reflects an understanding of the characteristics, needs and services 
currently available to the targeted population; (2) provides services 
that directly address the needs of the target population; (3) is 
evidence-based and grounded in theory and practice; (4) is appropriate 
and feasible; (5) can be reliably evaluated; and (6) if successfully 
implemented, can be sustained after Federal funding has ceased. 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.
Evaluation
    Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and 
the results 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

[[Page 38174]]

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.
Geographic Location
    Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the 
area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids 
may be attached.
Staff and Position Data
    Provide a biographical sketch and job description for each key 
person appointed. Job descriptions for each vacant key position should 
be included as well. As new key staff is appointed, biographical 
sketches will also be required.
Plan for Project Continuance Beyond Grant Support
    Provide a plan for securing resources and continuing project 
activities after Federal assistance has ended.
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. If the 
applicant is a non-profit organization, submit proof of non-profit 
status in its application.
    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; (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 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.
Dissemination Plan
    Provide a plan for distributing reports and other project outputs 
to colleagues and the public. Applicants must provide a description of 
the kind, volume and timing of distribution.
Third-Party Agreements
    Provide written and signed agreements between grantees and 
subgrantees or subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These 
agreements must detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, 
remuneration, and other terms and conditions that structure or define 
the relationship.
Letters of Support
    Provide statements from community, public and commercial leaders 
that support the project proposed for funding. All submissions should 
be included in the application OR by application deadline.
Budget and Budget Justification
    Provide a budget with 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.
General
    Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget 
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed 
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. ``Federal 
resources'' refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. 
``Non-Federal resources'' are all other Federal and non-Federal 
resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be 
presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; 
second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), 
and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a 
narrative.
Personnel
    Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
    Justification: Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time 
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project 
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, 
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel 
costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to 
be financed by the applicant.
Fringe Benefits
    Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as 
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
    Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages 
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel
    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), 
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if 
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs 
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment
    Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable, 
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year 
and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the 
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial 
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the 
net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of 
any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus 
necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. 
Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit 
insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded 
from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular 
written accounting practices.)
    Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a 
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, 
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or 
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An

[[Page 38175]]

applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment 
should provide a copy of its policy or section of its policy which 
includes the equipment definition.
Supplies
    Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than 
that included under the Equipment category.
    Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their 
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports 
the amount requested.
Contractual
    Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except 
for those that belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Include third party evaluation contracts 
(if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant.
    Justification: Demonstrate that all procurement transactions will 
be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, 
open and free competition. Recipients and subrecipients, other than 
States that are required to use Part 92 procedures, must justify any 
anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without 
competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 
U.S.C. 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).
    Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award 
review and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or 
invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.


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

Other
    Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable 
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, 
medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, 
space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, 
training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, 
and administrative costs.
    Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a 
justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Charges
    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should 
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate 
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or 
another cognizant Federal agency.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it 
should immediately develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in accordance with 
the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, 
and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of 
their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. When an 
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect 
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. 
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is 
allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the 
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the 
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income
    Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be 
generated from this project.
    Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of 
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application 
which contain this information.
Non-Federal Resources
    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be 
documented and submitted with the application so the applicant is given 
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for 
each funding source.
Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs

Evaluation Criteria

    The following evaluation criteria appear in weighted descending 
order. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance 
that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; however, applicants need 
not develop their applications precisely according to the order 
presented. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer 
will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information 
(i.e., from a broad overview of the project to more detailed 
information about how it will be conducted).
    In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities 
addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial 
assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following 
criteria:
Approach (35 points)
    The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it:
    (1) Outlines a plan of action pertaining to the scope and detail on 
how the proposed work will be accomplished for each project. Defines 
goals and specific measurable objectives for the project (8 points);
    (2) Identifies the kind of data to be collected and maintained, and 
discusses the criteria to be used to evaluate the results and success 
of the project. Describes how the proposed project will be evaluated to 
determine the extent to which it has achieved its stated goals and 
objectives; and whether the methods of evaluation include the use of 
performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcome 
of the project (8 points);
    (3) Describes any unusual features of the project, such as design 
or technological innovation, reductions in cost or time, or 
extraordinary social and community involvement (5 points);
    (4) Provides 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, activities 
should be listed in chronological order to show the schedule of 
accomplishments and their target dates (4 points);
    (5) Describes the products to be developed during the 
implementation of the proposed project. These can include 
questionnaires, interview guides, data collection instruments, 
software, Internet applications, reports, outcomes and evaluation 
results. Also present a dissemination plan for conveying the 
information (4 points);
    (6) Cites factors which might accelerate or decelerate the work and 
provide reasons for taking this approach as opposed to others (3 
points); and
    (7) Lists each organization, operator, consultant, or other key 
individual who will work on the project along with a short description 
of the nature of their effort and contribution (3 points).

[[Page 38176]]

Objectives and Need for Assistance (25 points)
    The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it:
    (1) Demonstrates the need for the assistance and states the 
principal and subordinate objectives for the project (10 points);
    (2) Pinpoints any relevant physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, or other problems requiring a solution (5 points);
    (3) Provides supporting documentation or other testimonies from 
concerned interests other than the applicant (5 points);
    (4) Provides any relevant data based on planning studies (4 
points); and
    (5) Provides maps and other graphic aids (1 point).
Results or Benefits Expected (20 points)
    The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it:
    (1) Clearly describes project benefits and results as they relate 
to the objectives of the project (10 points); and
    (2) Provides information as to the extent to which the project will 
build on current theory, research, evaluation, and best practices to 
contribute to increased knowledge of understanding the problems, 
issues, or effective strategies and practices in family support (10 
points).
Organizational Profiles (13 points)
    The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it:
    (1) Identifies the background of the project director/principal 
investigator and key project staff (including name, address, training, 
educational background, and other qualifying experience) and the 
experience of the organization that demonstrates its ability to 
effectively and efficiently administer this project; (4 points);
    (2) Provides a brief background description of how the applicant 
organization is organized, the types and quantity of services it 
provides, and the research and management capabilities it possesses (4 
points);
    (3) Describes the competence of the project team and its 
demonstrated ability to produce a final product that is readily 
comprehensible and usable (3 points); and
    (4) Provides an organization chart showing the relationship of the 
project to the current organization (2 points).
Budget and Budget Justification (7 points)
    The application will be evaluated on the extent to which it:
    (1) Discusses and justifies the costs of the proposed project which 
are reasonable and programmatically justified in view of the activities 
to be conducted and the anticipated results and benefits (3 points);
    (2) Describes the fiscal control and accounting procedures that 
will be used to ensure prudent use, proper disbursement, and accurate 
accounting of funds received under this program announcement (2 
points); and
    (3) Includes a fully explained non-Federal share budget and its 
source(s) (2 points).


    Note: Maximum awards to States will be $100,000. Maximum awards 
to Territories will be $50,000. Therefore, application request 
levels must not exceed the ceiling amount of $100,000 in Federal 
funds for a State entity and $50,000 in Federal funds for a 
Territorial entity.

Additional Points (5 points)
    This year, five (5) additional points will be added to the total 
score for an application for any project that includes partnership and 
collaboration with one or more of the 140 Empowerment Zones/Enterprise 
Communities. To receive the additional five points, the application 
must provide a clear outline for the collaboration and a discussion of 
how the involvement of the EZ/EC is related to the objectives and the 
activities of the project. For further information on Empowerment Zones 
and Enterprise Communities, please visit the ACF Office of Community 
Service's Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ez-ec.
2. Review and Selection Process
    No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of 
an incomplete application.
A. Selection Process
    Applications under this Program Announcement that are received by 
the deadline date will be competitively reviewed and scored. Experts in 
the field, generally persons from outside the Federal Government, will 
use the evaluation criteria listed previously in the evaluation section 
of the Program Announcement to review and score the applications. The 
results of this review are a primary factor in making funding 
decisions.
    ADD reserves the option of discussing applications with, or 
referring them to, other Federal or non-Federal funding sources when 
this is determined to be in the best interest of the Federal Government 
or the applicant.
    In making Family Support Initiative decisions for 2005 grant 
awards, ADD will consider whether applications focus on or feature the 
following aspects/activities in their project design to the extent 
appropriate:
     A substantially innovative strategy with the potential to 
improve theory or practice in the field of human services;
     A model practice or set of procedures that holds the 
potential for replication by organizations administering or delivering 
human services;
     A substantial involvement of volunteers, the private 
sector (either financial or programmatic), faith-based and community 
organizations, and/or national or community foundations;
     A favorable balance between Federal and non-Federal funds 
available for the proposed project which is likely to result in the 
potential for high benefit for low Federal investment; and
     A programmatic focus on those most in need of services and 
assistance, such as unserved and underserved populations, including 
underserved cultural, ethnic, and racial minority populations.
    To the greatest extent possible, efforts will be made to ensure 
that funding decisions reflect an equitable distribution of assistance 
among the States and geographical regions of the country, and rural and 
urban area. In making these decisions, ADD may also take into account 
their need to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
B. Review Process
    Using the evaluation criteria described in Section V.1., a panel of 
at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside the Federal 
Government) will evaluate and score the applications. To facilitate 
this review, applicants should ensure that they address the minimum 
requirements identified in Section I, Priority Area Description, 3. 
Minimum Requirements for Project Design.
    Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each 
application in terms of the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.1., 
provide comments, and assign numerical scores. The point value 
following each criterion indicates the maximum numerical weight that 
each applicant may received per section in the review process.
    Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the process, 
applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not 
the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals 
specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers, if 
otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary 
salary information.

[[Page 38177]]

Approved But Unfunded Applications
    Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for 
funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, 
for a period not to exceed one year.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
    Subject to the availability of funding, ADD intends to award new 
grants resulting from this Program Announcement during the fourth 
quarter of Fiscal Year 2005. Up to $350,000 in Federal funds will be 
available to support these projects this fiscal year.
    For the purpose of the awards under this Program Announcement, the 
successful applicants should expect a project start date of September 
1, 2005.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

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

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR part 74 (non-
governmental) or 45 CFR part 92 (governmental).
    Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this 
Family Support Initiative 2005 program shall not be used to support 
inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, 
or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to 
separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities 
from the services funded under this Program. Regulations pertaining to 
the Equal Treatment For Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the 
prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, 
can be found at either 45 CFR part 87.1 or the HHS Web site at http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

3. Reporting Requirements

    Programmatic Reports: Quarterly.
    Financial Reports: Semi-Annually.
    Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial 
reports (SF-269) throughout the project period. Program progress and 
financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. In 
addition, final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days 
after the close of the project period.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Program Office Contact: Joan Rucker, Program Specialist, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop 405-D, Washington, DC 20447. Phone: 
202/690-7898. Fax: 202/205-8037. E-mail: [email protected].
    Grants Management Office Contact: Tim Chappelle, Grants Officer, 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. Phone: 
202/401-4855. Fax: 202/401-5468. E-mail: [email protected].

VIII. Other Information

    All forms are available online at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms/htm.
    Notice: Beginning with FY 2006, the Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF) will no longer publish grant announcements in the 
Federal Register. Beginning October 1, 2005, applicants will be able to 
find a synopsis of all ACF grant opportunities and apply electronically 
for opportunities via: www.Grants.gov. Applicants will also be able to 
find the complete text of all ACF grant announcements on the ACF Web 
site located at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.
    Please reference Section IV.3 for details about acknowledgement of 
received applications.

    Dated: June 24, 2005.
Patricia A. Morrissey,
Commissioner, Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
[FR Doc. 05-13096 Filed 6-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P