[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12000-12007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05010]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

FDA Number: 93.671


Funding Opportunity Announcement for Family Violence Prevention 
and Services/Grants for Domestic Violence Shelters/Grants to Native 
American Tribes (Including Alaska Native Villages) and Tribal 
Organizations

AGENCY: Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), Administration on 
Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), ACF, HHS.

ACTION: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was originally 
published as Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-FVPS-0135 on 
February 2, 2015 at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/index.cfm?switch=foa&fon=HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-FVPS-0135. FYSB is 
publishing this notice in the Federal Register to satisfy its 
regulatory requirements at 45 CFR 1370.2.

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SUMMARY: This FOA governs the proposed award of formula grants under 
the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to Native 
American tribes (including Alaska Native villages) and tribal 
organizations. The purpose of these grants is to: (1) Assist tribes in 
efforts to increase public awareness about, and primary and secondary 
prevention of, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence; 
and (2) assist tribes in efforts to provide immediate shelter and 
supportive services for victims of family violence, domestic violence, 
or dating violence, and their dependents (42 U.S.C. 10401, et. seq.). 
This FOA announces formula awards and is not open for competition.

DATES: The application due date is April 6, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shena R. Williams at (202) 205-5932 or 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is the full, published FOA, 
available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/index.cfm?switch=foa&fon=HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-FVPS-0135:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Description

Background
    Awards under this FVPSA funding opportunity announcement are 
administered through the Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF) Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). They are designed to 
assist Tribes in their efforts to support the establishment, 
maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects: (1) To prevent 
incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence; 
(2) to provide immediate shelter, supportive services, and access to 
community-based programs for victims of family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence, and their dependents; and (3) to provide 
specialized services for children exposed to family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence, underserved populations, and victims who 
are members of racial and ethnic minority populations (Sec.  10406(a) 
as applied pursuant to Sec.  10409(c)).
    Funding under this announcement will assist Tribes in safeguarding 
lives of victims of intimate partner violence and in addressing the 
unique circumstances and obstacles that may affect responses to 
intimate partner violence in Tribal communities.
    In FY 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
agencies, including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
consulted with Tribal governments on all of the grant programs 
administered by ACF. FVPSA-related issues such as grant award dates, 
extending project periods, and the recent shift in award amounts were 
addressed during each of the consultations.
    During FY 2014, ACF awarded FVPSA formula grants to 120 Tribes or 
Tribal organizations in support of 243 Tribes; 53 states and 
territories; and 56 nonprofit State Domestic Violence Coalitions. In 
addition, ACF supplied additional funding for multi-year FVPSA 
discretionary grants to one National Indian Resource Center Addressing 
Domestic Violence and Safety for Indian Women; other national, special 
issue, and culturally specific resource centers; and the National 
Domestic Violence Hotline.
Ensuring the Well-Being of Vulnerable Children and Families/Adults
    ACYF is committed to facilitating healing and recovery and 
promoting the social and emotional well-being of children, youth, and 
families/adults who have experienced maltreatment, exposure to 
violence, and/or trauma. Awards governed by this funding opportunity 
announcement and other current fiscal year expenditures are designed to 
ensure that effective interventions are in place to build skills and 
capacities that contribute to the healthy, positive, and productive 
functioning of families.
    Experiencing trauma can have a profound effect on the overall 
functioning of individuals and families. Thus, efforts to address the 
impact of trauma are essential in cultivating social and emotional 
well-being. ACYF therefore promotes a trauma-informed approach, which 
involves understanding and responding to the symptoms of chronic 
interpersonal trauma and traumatic stress, as well as the behavioral 
and mental health consequences of trauma.
    ACYF expects to maintain a continued focus on social and emotional 
well-being as a critical component of its overall mission to ensure 
positive outcomes for all individuals and families. Tribal grantees 
have a critical role in incorporating ACYF priorities by helping to 
ensure trauma-informed interventions are embedded within the service 
provision framework of all services funded by FVPSA. Tribes and Tribal 
organizations are strongly encouraged to leverage the expertise of the 
FVPSA-funded National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC). 
NIWRC is a Native nonprofit organization created specifically to serve 
as the National Indian Resource Center Addressing Domestic Violence and 
Safety for Indian Women (see http://www.niwrc.org/about-us/mission-work-and-philosophy for more information) and the National Center on 
Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health to infuse programs with 
best and promising practices on trauma-informed interventions as they 
seek to promote the social and emotional well-being of families seeking 
shelter and supportive services.
Use of Funds
    Grantees should ensure that not less than 70 percent of the funds 
distributed are used for the primary purpose of providing immediate 
shelter and supportive services to adult and youth victims of family 
violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents. 
Not less than 25 percent of the funds must be used for the purpose of 
providing supportive services and prevention services (Sec.  
10408(b)(2) as applied pursuant to Sec.  10409(e)).
    FVPSA funds awarded to grantees should be used for activities 
described

[[Page 12001]]

in Sec.  10408(b)(1) (as applied pursuant to Sec.  10409(e)):
Shelter
     Provision of immediate shelter and related supportive 
services to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence, and their dependents, including paying 
for the operating and administrative expenses of the facilities for 
such shelter.
Supportive Services
     Provision of individual and group counseling, peer support 
groups, and referral to community-based services to assist family 
violence, domestic violence, and dating violence victims, and their 
dependents, in recovering from the effects of the violence.
     Provision of services, training, technical assistance, and 
outreach to increase awareness of family violence, domestic violence, 
and dating violence, and increase the accessibility of family violence, 
domestic violence, and dating violence services.
     Provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate 
services.
     Provision of services for children exposed to family 
violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including age-
appropriate counseling, supportive services, and services for the non-
abusing parent that support that parent's role as a caregiver, which 
may, as appropriate, include services that work with the non-abusing 
parent and child together.
     Provision of advocacy, case management services, and 
information and referral services, concerning issues related to family 
violence, domestic violence, or dating violence intervention and 
prevention, including: (1) Assistance in accessing related federal and 
state financial assistance programs; (2) legal advocacy to assist 
victims and their dependents; (3) medical advocacy, including provision 
of referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental 
health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment), but which shall not include 
reimbursement for any health care services; (4) assistance locating and 
securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness 
prevention services; (5) transportation, child care, respite care, job 
training and employment services, financial literacy services and 
education, financial planning and related economic empowerment 
services; and (6) parenting and other educational services for victims 
and their dependents.
     Provision of prevention services, including outreach to 
underserved populations. (Note that Tribes and Tribal subpopulations 
are also considered underserved populations. See Section I. 
Definitions, for ``underserved'' definition.)
     Assistance in developing safety plans, and supporting 
efforts of victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating 
violence to make decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-
being.
Annual FVPSA Tribal Grantee Meeting
    One or more grantee representatives should plan to attend FVPSA's 
Tribal grantee meeting and may use grant funding to support the travel 
of up to two participants. The meeting is a training and technical 
assistance activity focusing on FVPSA administrative issues as well as 
the promotion of evidence-informed and promising practices to address 
family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. Subsequent 
correspondence will advise the grantees of the date, time, and location 
of their grantee meeting in 2015.
Client Confidentiality
    In order to ensure the safety of adult, youth, and child victims of 
family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their 
families, FVPSA-funded programs must establish and implement policies 
and protocols for maintaining the confidentiality of records pertaining 
to any individual provided family violence, domestic violence, and 
dating violence services. Consequently, when providing statistical data 
on program activities and program services, individual identifiers of 
client records will not be used (Sec.  10406(c)(5)) as applied per 
Sec.  10409(c).
    In the annual Performance Progress Report (PPR), grantees must 
collect unduplicated data from each program. No client-level data 
should be shared with a third party, regardless of encryption, hashing, 
or other data security measures, without a written, time-limited 
release as described in Sec.  10406(c)(5). The address or location of 
any FVPSA-supported shelter facility shall, except with written 
authorization of the person or persons responsible for the operation of 
such shelter, not be made public (Sec.  10406(c)(5)(H)) and the 
confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual provided family 
violence, domestic violence, and dating violence services by any FVPSA-
supported program will be strictly maintained.
Coordinated and Accessible Services
    The impacts of intimate partner violence may include physical 
injury and death of primary or secondary victims, psychological trauma, 
isolation from family and friends, harm to children living with a 
parent or caretaker who is either experiencing or perpetrating intimate 
partner violence, increased fear, reduced mobility, damaged credit, 
employment and financial instability, homelessness, substance abuse, 
chronic illnesses, and a host of other health and related mental health 
consequences. In Tribal communities, these dynamics may be compounded 
by barriers such as the isolation of vast rural and remote areas, the 
concern for safety in isolated settings, lack of housing and shelter 
options, and the transportation requirements over long distances. These 
factors heighten the need for the coordination of the services through 
an often limited delivery system. To help bring about a more effective 
response to the problem of family violence, domestic violence, or 
dating violence, HHS urges Tribes and Tribal organizations receiving 
funds under this funding opportunity to coordinate activities and 
related issues and to consider joining a consortium of Tribes to 
coordinate service delivery where appropriate.
    It is essential that community service providers are involved in 
the design and improvement of intervention and prevention activities. 
Coordination and collaboration among victim services providers; 
community-based, culturally specific, and faith-based services 
providers; housing and homeless services providers; and Tribal, 
federal, state, and local public officials and agencies are needed to 
provide more responsive and effective services to victims of family 
violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, and their families.
    To promote a more effective response to family violence, domestic 
violence, and dating violence, HHS requires states receiving FVPSA 
funds to collaborate with State Domestic Violence Coalitions, Tribes, 
Tribal organizations, service providers, and community-based 
organizations to address the needs of family violence, domestic 
violence, and dating violence victims, particularly for those who are 
members of racial and ethnic minority populations and underserved 
populations (Sec.  10407(a)(2)). Tribes and Tribal organizations are 
also encouraged to collaborate with Tribal Coalitions, which are funded 
by the Department of Justice, through the Office of Violence Against 
Women. For more information please visit http://www.justice.gov/ovw/tribal-communities#about-tribal-communities.

[[Page 12002]]

    To serve victims most in need and to comply with federal law, 
services must be widely accessible. Services must not discriminate on 
the basis of age, disability, sex, race, color, national origin, gender 
identity, or religion (Sec.  10406(c)(2)) as applied per Sec.  
10409(c). Additionally, Tribes must assist all individuals seeking 
services and may not restrict services to Tribal members.
    The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides guidance that may assist 
grantees in complying with civil rights laws that prohibit 
discrimination on these bases. Please see www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/understanding/index.html. HHS also provides guidance to recipients of 
federal financial assistance on meeting the legal obligation to take 
reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to federally assisted 
programs by persons with limited English proficiency. Please see 
www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/resources/laws/revisedlep.html.
    Additionally, HHS provides guidance regarding access to HHS-funded 
services for immigrant survivors of domestic violence. Access for 
immigrant victims of family violence or dating violence to HHS-funded 
services is similar to that for immigrant domestic violence victims. 
Please see www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/resources/specialtopics/origin/domesticviolencefactsheet.html.
    Services must also be provided on a voluntary basis; receipt of 
emergency shelter or housing must not be conditioned on participation 
in supportive services (Sec.  10408(d)). Please see Appendix B for 
guidance regarding access to HHS-funded services for lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) (also known as ``Two 
Spirited'') survivors of intimate partner violence.
    Additionally, please see Appendix B--LGBTQ (also known as ``Two-
Spirit'') Accessibility Policy; this Policy provides that the applicant 
must consider how its program will be inclusive of and non-stigmatizing 
toward LGBTQ/Two-Spirit participants in its application for funding. If 
not already in place, the applicant and, if applicable, subawardees 
must establish and publicize policies prohibiting harassment based on 
race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity (or expression), 
religion, and national origin, as well as provide staff training and 
implement policies and procedures for documenting work reflecting these 
assurances.
Definitions--For the Purposes of This Funding Opportunity
    Tribes and Tribal organizations should use the following 
definitions in carrying out their programs.
    Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been 
in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the 
victim and where the existence of such a relationship shall be 
determined based on a consideration of the length of the relationship, 
the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the 
persons involved in the relationship.
    Domestic Violence: Felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence 
committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the 
victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a 
person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a 
spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse 
of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the 
jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an 
adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under 
the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
    Family Violence: Any act or threatened act of violence, including 
any forceful detention of an individual, which (a) results or threatens 
to result in physical injury; and (b) is committed by a person against 
another individual (including an elderly person) to whom such person 
is, or was, related by blood or marriage, or otherwise legally related, 
or with whom such person is, or was, lawfully residing.
    Intimate Partner Violence: Term used in place of ``family violence, 
domestic violence, or dating violence'' for brevity's sake.
    Indian Tribe: Any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized 
group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or 
village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska 
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et. seq.), which is 
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
    Native American Tribe: Alternative term for Indian Tribe.
    Personally Identifying Information or Personal Information: Any 
individually identifying information for or about an individual, 
including information likely to disclose the location of a victim of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, 
regardless of whether the information is encoded, encrypted, hashed, or 
otherwise protected, including: a first and last name; a home or other 
physical address; contact information (including a postal, email or 
Internet protocol address, or telephone or facsimile number); a social 
security number, driver's license number, passport number, or student 
identification number; and any other information, including date of 
birth, racial or ethnic background, or religious affiliation, that, 
would serve to identify any individual.
    Shelter: The provision of temporary refuge and supportive services 
in compliance with applicable state law (including regulation) 
governing the provision, on a regular basis, of shelter, safe homes, 
meals, and supportive services to victims of family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence, and their dependents.
    State Domestic Violence Coalition: A statewide, nongovernmental 
nonprofit, private domestic violence service organization with a 
membership that includes a majority of the primary-purpose domestic 
violence service providers in the state and has board membership 
representative of primary-purpose domestic violence service providers 
and which may include representatives of the communities in which the 
services are being provided in the state; has as its purpose to provide 
education, support, and technical assistance to such service providers 
to enable the providers to establish and maintain shelter and 
supportive services for victims of domestic violence and their 
dependents; and serves as an information clearinghouse, primary point 
of contact, and resource center on domestic violence for the state and 
supports the development of policies, protocols, and procedures to 
enhance domestic violence intervention and prevention in the state.
    Supportive Services: Services for adult and youth victims of family 
violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents. 
Such services are designed to meet the needs of such victims for short-
term, transitional, or long-term safety and provide counseling, 
advocacy, or assistance for victims of family violence, domestic 
violence, or dating violence, and their dependents.
    Tribe: Reference to Indian Tribe used for brevity's sake.
    Tribal Consortium: A partnership between one or more Tribes or 
(including qualifying Alaska Native villages and entities) that 
authorizes a single Tribal organization or nonprofit to submit an 
application and administer the FVPSA grant funds on their behalf.

[[Page 12003]]

    Tribally Designated Official: An individual designated by an Indian 
Tribe, Tribal organization, or nonprofit private organization 
authorized by an Indian Tribe to administer a grant awarded under Sec.  
10409.
    Tribal Organization: The recognized governing body of any Indian 
Tribe; any legally established organization of Indians that is 
controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and which includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided, 
that in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an 
organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian Tribe, 
the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to the 
letting or making of such contract or grant.
    Underserved Populations: Populations who face barriers in accessing 
and using victim services, including populations underserved because of 
geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
race and ethnicity, special needs (such as language barriers, 
disabilities, alienage status, or age), and any other population 
determined to be underserved by the Attorney General or by the 
Secretary of HHS, as appropriate.

II. Award Information

    Subject to the availability of federal appropriations and as 
authorized by law, in FY 2015, ACYF will allocate 10 percent of the 
appropriation available under Sec.  10403(a) to Tribes for the 
establishment and operation of shelters (including safe houses), and 
the provision of supportive services or prevention services to adults 
and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating 
violence, and their dependents.
    In addition to Tribal formula grants, HHS will also make available 
funds to states to support local domestic violence programs to provide 
immediate shelter and supportive services for adult and youth victims 
of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their 
dependents; State Domestic Violence Coalitions to provide technical 
assistance and training, advocacy services, among other activities with 
local domestic violence programs; the national resource centers, 
special issue resource centers, and culturally specific resource 
centers; the National Domestic Violence Hotline; and to support 
discretionary projects including training and technical assistance, 
collaborative projects with advocacy organizations and service 
providers, data collection efforts, public education activities, 
research, and other demonstration projects.
    In computing Tribal allocations, ACF will use the latest available 
population figures available from the Census Bureau. The latest Census 
population counts may be viewed at: www.census.gov. Where Census Bureau 
data are unavailable, ACF will use figures from the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs' (BIA's) Indian Population and Labor Force Report, which is 
available at: www.bia.gov/WhatWeDo/Knowledge/Reports/index.htm.
    The funding formula for the allocation of family violence funds is 
based upon the Tribe's population. The formula has two parts, the 
Tribal population base allocation and a population category allocation.
    Base allocations are determined by a Tribe's population and a funds 
allocation schedule. Tribes with populations between 1 and 50,000 
people receive a $2,500 base allocation for the first 1,500 people. For 
each additional 1,000 people above the 1,500 person minimum, a Tribe's 
base allocation is increased $1,000. Tribes with populations between 
50,001 to 100,000 people receive base allocations of $125,000, and 
Tribes with populations of 100,001 to 150,000 receive a base allocation 
of $175,000.
    Once the base allocations have been distributed to the Tribes that 
have applied for FVPSA funding, the ratio of the Tribal population 
category allocation to the total of all base allocations is then 
considered in allocating the remainder of the funds. By establishing 
base amounts with distribution of proportional amounts for larger 
Tribes, FYSB is balancing the need for basic services for all Tribes by 
interpreting greater demand for services as Tribes with larger 
populations. In FY 2014, actual grant awards ranged from $16,386 to 
$1,474,785.
    Tribes with smaller populations are encouraged to apply for FVPSA 
funding as a consortium. In a Tribal consortium, the population of all 
of the Tribes involved is used to calculate the award amount. The 
allocations for each of the Tribes included in the consortium will be 
combined to determine the total grant for the consortium.

Length of Project Periods

    FVPSA Tribal formula grant awards will be used to perform or to 
partially perform functions or activities that take place within a 2-
year period. The project period for this award is from October 1, 2014, 
to September 30, 2016.

Expenditure Period

    The project period under this program announcement is 24 months. 
The FVPSA funds may be used for expenditures starting October 1 of each 
fiscal year for which they are granted, and will be available for 
expenditure through September 30 of the following fiscal year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Application requirements & expenditure
   Award year (Federal fiscal year (FY))     Project period (24 months)                   periods
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2015...................................         10/01/2014--9/30/2016  Regardless of the date the award is
                                                                           received, these funds may be expended
                                                                           by the grantee for obligations
                                                                           incurred since October 1, 2014. The
                                                                           funds may be expended through
                                                                           September 30, 2016.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Re-allotted funds, if any, are available for expenditure until the 
end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year that the funds became 
available for re-allotment. FY 2015 grant funds that are made available 
to Tribes and Tribal organizations through re-allotment must be 
expended by the grantee no later than September 30, 2016.

III. Eligibility Information

    Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofit private organizations 
authorized by a Tribe, as defined in Section I of this announcement, 
are eligible for funding under this program. A Tribe has the option to 
authorize a Tribal organization or a nonprofit private organization to 
submit an application and administer the grant funds awarded under this 
grant (Sec.  10409(b)). Tribes may apply singularly or as part of a 
Tribal consortium.

Additional Information on Eligibility

DUNS Number and System for Award Management (SAM) Requirement
    All applicants must have a DUNS Number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/

[[Page 12004]]

webform) and an active registration with the Central Contractor 
Registry (CCR) on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov, 
www.sam.gov).
    Obtaining a DUNS Number may take 1 to 2 days.
    All applicants are required to maintain an active SAM registration 
until the application process is complete. If a grant is awarded, 
registration at SAM.gov must be active throughout the life of the 
award.
    Plan ahead. Allow up to 10 business days after you submit your 
registration for it to become active in SAM and an additional 24 hours 
before that registration information is available in other government 
systems, i.e. Grants.gov.
    This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may 
arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your 
inability to submit your application through Grants.gov or prevent the 
award of a grant. Applicants should maintain documentation (with dates) 
of your efforts to register for, or renew a registration, at SAM. User 
Guides are available under the ``Help'' tab at https://www.sam.gov.
    HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for, and ultimately 
receive, federal grant funds from any HHS Agency, or receive subawards 
directly from recipients of those grant funds to:
     Be registered in the SAM prior to submitting an 
application or plan;
     Maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information at all times during which it has an active award or an 
application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and
     Provide its active DUNS number in each application or plan 
it submits to the OPDIV.
    ACF is prohibited from making an award until an applicant has 
complied with the requirements as described in section V. of this FOA.

IV. Application Requirements

Forms, Assurances, Certifications, and Policy

    On October 1, 2013, the Administration for Children and Families 
implemented required electronic application submission of State and/or 
Tribal plans via the Online Data Collection System (OLDC) for all 
mandatory grant programs. (See 78 FR 60285-60286, October 1, 2013.) 
Mandatory grant recipients are required to use the OLDC to submit the 
Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 Mandatory Form (SF-424M) and 
upload all required documents. The form is available to applicants and 
grantees within the OLDC system at https://extranet.acf.hhs.gov/oldcdocs/materials.html. ACF will not accept paper applications, or 
those submitted via email or facsimile, without a waiver.

Request an Exemption From Required Electronic Submission

    ACF recognizes that some of the recipient community may have 
limited or no Internet access, and/or limited computer capacity, which 
may prohibit uploading large files to the Internet through the OLDC 
system. To accommodate such recipients, ACF is instituting an exemption 
procedure, on a case-by-case basis, that will allow such recipients to 
submit hard copy, paper State and Tribal plans and reporting forms by 
the United States Postal Service, hand-delivery, recipient courier, 
overnight/express mail couriers, or other representatives of the 
recipient.
    Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, we will consider requests to 
accept hard copy, paper submissions of State and Tribal plans and 
reporting forms when circumstances such as natural disasters occur 
(floods, hurricanes, etc.); or when there are widespread disruptions of 
mail service; or in other rare cases that would prevent electronic 
submission of the documents.
    Recipients will be required to submit a written statement to ACF 
that the recipient qualifies for an exemption under one of these 
grounds: Lack of Internet access; or limited computer capacity that 
prevents the uploading of large files to the Internet; the occurrence 
of natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, etc.); or when there are 
widespread disruptions of mail service; or in other rare cases that 
would prevent electronic submission of the documents.
    Exemption requests will be reviewed and the recipient will be 
notified of a decision to approve or deny the request. Requests should 
state if the exemption is for submission of the SF-424M and State and/
or Tribal plan, Performance Progress Reports (PPR), or Federal 
Financial Reports (FFR). The written statement must be sent to the 
Program Office (for SF-424M and State and/or Tribal plan, and PPR 
exemption requests) and/or ACF Grants Management Office (for FFR 
exemption requests) points of contact shown in Section VIII. Agency 
Contact of this funding opportunity announcement. Requests must be 
received on or before the due date for applications listed in this 
funding opportunity announcement. Exemption requests may be submitted 
by regular mail or by email.
    In all cases, the decision to allow an exemption to accept 
submission of hard copy, paper State/Tribal plans and reporting forms 
will rest with the Program Office listed in this announcement and/or 
ACF's Office of Grants Management. Exemptions are applicable only to 
the Federal fiscal year in which they are received and approved. If an 
exemption is necessary for a future Federal fiscal year, a request must 
be submitted during each Federal fiscal year for which an exemption is 
necessary.

Forms, Assurances, Certifications, and Policy

    Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement 
must submit the listed Standard Forms (SFs), assurances, certifications 
and policy. All required Standard Forms, assurances, and certifications 
are available at ACF Funding Opportunities Forms or at the Grants.gov 
Forms Repository unless specified otherwise.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Forms/Certifications             Description           Where found
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424M.....................  This is a required         http://
                               Standard Form.             www.grants.gov/
                               Application for Federal    web/grants/
                               Assistance_Mandatory.     forms/sf-424-
                                                          mandatory-
                                                          family.html.
Certification (Grants.gov)    Required of all            Available at
 Regarding Lobbying.           applicants at the time     http://
                               of their application. If   www.grants.gov/
                               not available with the     web/grants/
                               application, it must be    forms/sf-424-
                               submitted prior to the     mandatory-
                               award of the grant.        family.html.

[[Page 12005]]

 
SF-LLL--Disclosure of         If any funds have been     ``Disclosure
 Lobbying Activities.          paid or will be paid to    Form to Report
                               any person for             Lobbying'' is
                               influencing or             available at
                               attempting to influence    http://
                               an officer or employee     www.grants.gov/
                               of any agency, a member    web/grants/
                               of Congress, an officer    forms/sf-424-
                               or employee of Congress,   mandatory-
                               or an employee of a        family.html.
                               member of Congress in
                               connection with this
                               commitment providing for
                               the United States to
                               insure or guarantee a
                               loan, the applicant
                               shall complete and
                               submit the SF-LLL,
                               ``Disclosure Form to
                               Report Lobbying,'' in
                               accordance with its
                               instructions. Applicants
                               must furnish an executed
                               copy of the
                               Certification Regarding
                               Lobbying prior to award.
The needs of lesbian, gay,    See Appendix B for         See Appendix B
 bisexual, transgender, and    submission requirements.   for the
 questioning youth are taken                              complete
 into consideration in                                    policy
 applicant's program design..                             description.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assurances and Policy

    Each applicant must provide a signed copy of both the assurance and 
policy. (See Appendices A and B.)

The Project Description

    The content of the application should include the following in this 
order:
A. Cover Letter
    The cover letter of the application should include the following 
information:
    (1) The name and mailing address of each Tribe, Tribal 
organization, or nonprofit private organization applying for the FVPSA 
grant.
    (2) The name of the Tribally Designated Official authorized to 
administer this grant, along with the Official's telephone number, fax 
number, and email address.
    (3) The name of a Program Contact designated to administer and 
coordinate programming, including the telephone number, fax number, and 
email address.
    (4) The Employee Identification Number (EIN) of the entity 
submitting the application.
    (5) The D-U-N-S number of the entity submitting the application 
(see Section III. Eligibility).
    (6) The signature of the Tribally Designated Official (see Section 
I. Definitions).
    For Consortium applications only:
    (7) The EIN of the consortium Tribes.
    (8) The D-U-N-S number of the consortium Tribes.
B. Program Description
    An overview of the project including:
    (1) A description of the service area(s) and population(s) to be 
served.
    (2) A description of the services and activities to be provided 
with FVPSA funds.
    (3) A description of barriers that challenge the effective 
operation of program activities and/or services provided to victims of 
domestic violence, family violence, and dating violence, and their 
dependents.
    (4) A description of the technical assistance needed to address the 
described barriers.
C. Capacity
    A description of the applicant's operation of and/or capacity to 
carry out a FVPSA program. This might be demonstrated in ways such as 
the following:
    (1) The current operation of a shelter (including a safe house), or 
domestic and dating violence prevention program;
    (2) The establishment of joint or collaborative service agreements 
with a local public agency or a private nonprofit agency for the 
operation of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence 
activities or services; or
    (3) The operation of other social services programs.
D. Services To Be Provided
    A description of the activities and services to be provided, 
including:
    (1) How the grant funds will be used to provide shelter, supportive 
services, and prevention services for victims of family violence, 
domestic violence, and dating violence.
    (2) How the services are designed to reduce family violence, 
domestic violence, and dating violence.
    (3) A plan describing how the organization will provide specialized 
services for children exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or 
dating violence.
    (4) An explanation of how the program plans to document and track 
services provided, as well as any outcomes that can be linked to the 
program's logic model.
    (5) A description of how the funds are to be spent. For example, 
costs of employing a half-time Domestic Violence Advocate, costs for 
transportation to shelter, etc.
E. Involvement of Individuals and Organizations
    A description of the procedures designed to involve knowledgeable 
individuals and interested organizations in providing services funded 
under FVPSA. For example, knowledgeable individuals and interested 
organizations may include Tribal officials or social services staff 
involved in family violence prevention, Tribal law enforcement 
officials, representatives of State or Tribal Domestic Violence 
Coalitions, and operators of domestic violence shelters and service 
programs.
F. Involvement of Community-Based Organizations
    (1) A description of how the applicant will involve community-based 
organizations whose primary purpose is to provide culturally 
appropriate services to underserved populations.
    (2) A description of how these community-based organizations can 
assist the Tribe in addressing the unmet needs of such populations.
G. Current Signed Tribal Resolution
    A copy of a current Tribal resolution or an equivalent document 
that:
    (1) Covers the entirety of FY 2015, including a date when the 
resolution or equivalent document expires, which can be no more than 5 
years.
    (2) States that the Tribe or Tribal organization has the authority 
to submit an application on behalf of the individuals in the Tribe(s) 
and to administer programs and activities funded.

    Note: An applicant that received no funding in the immediately 
preceding fiscal year must submit a new Tribal resolution or its 
equivalent. An applicant funded as part of a consortium in the 
immediately preceding year that is now seeking funds as a single 
Tribe must also submit a new resolution or its equivalent. Likewise, 
an applicant funded as a single Tribe in the immediately preceding 
fiscal year that is now seeking

[[Page 12006]]

funding as a part of a consortium must submit a new resolution or 
its equivalent.

H. Policies and Procedures
    Written documentation of the policies and procedures developed and 
implemented, including copies of the policies and procedures, to ensure 
that the safety and confidentiality of clients and their dependents 
served is maintained as described in Section I.

Paperwork Reduction Disclaimer

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520, 
the public reporting burden for the project description is estimated to 
average 10 hours per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing 
the collection of information. The Project Description information 
collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0280, which 
expires September 30, 2017. 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.

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    The review and comment provisions of the Executive Order (E.O.) 
12372 and 45 CFR part 100 do not apply. Federally recognized Tribes are 
exempt from all provisions and requirements of E.O. 12372.

Funding Restrictions

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Pub. L. 113-76), enacted 
January 17, 2014, limits the salary amount that may be awarded and 
charged to ACF grants and cooperative agreements. Award funds issued 
under this announcement may not be used to pay the salary, or any 
percentage of salary, to an individual at a rate in excess of Executive 
Level II. The Executive Level II salary of the Federal Executive Pay 
scale is $181,500 (http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2014/EX.pdf). This amount reflects an 
individual's base salary exclusive of fringe benefits and any income 
that an individual may be permitted to earn outside of the duties to 
the applicant organization. This salary limitation also applies to 
subawards/subcontracts under an ACF mandatory and discretionary grant.
    Please see Appendix A ``Assurances of Compliance with Grant 
Requirements'' for additional program-specific funding restrictions.

V. Award Administration Information

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    For the terms and conditions that apply to all mandatory grants, as 
well as ACF program-specific terms and conditions please go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/mandatory-formula-block-and-entitlement-grants.

Approval/Disapproval of an Application

    The Secretary of HHS shall approve any application that meets the 
requirements of the FVPSA and this announcement. The Secretary shall 
not disapprove an application unless the Secretary gives the applicant 
reasonable notice of the Secretary's intention to disapprove and a 6-
month period providing an opportunity for correction of any 
deficiencies. The Secretary shall give such notice within 45 days after 
the date of submission of the application if any of the provisions of 
the application have not been satisfied. If the Tribe does not correct 
the deficiencies in such application within the 6-month period 
following the receipt of the Secretary's notice, the Secretary shall 
withhold payment of any grant funds to such tribe until such date as 
the tribe provides documentation that the deficiencies have been 
corrected (See Sec.  10407(b)(1) and (2) and Sec.  10409(d)).

VI. Reporting Requirements

Performance Progress Reports (PPR)

    ACF grantees must submit a PPR using the standardized format 
provided by FVPSA and approved by OMB (0970-0280). This report will 
describe the grant activities carried out during the year, report the 
number of people served, and contain a plan to document and track 
services provided, as well as any outcomes that can be linked to the 
program's logic model. Consortia grantees should compile the 
information from the individual report of each participating Tribe into 
a comprehensive PPR for submission. A copy of the PPR is available on 
the FYSB Web site at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/resource/ppr-Tribal-fvpsa.
    PPRs for Tribes and Tribal organizations are due on an annual basis 
at the end of the calendar year (December 30) and will cover from 
October 1 through September 30. Grantees should submit their reports 
online through the Online Data Collection (OLDC) system at the 
following address: https://extranet.acf.hhs.gov/ssi.

Federal Financial Reports (FFR)

    Grantees must submit annual Financial Status Reports. The first SF-
425A is due December 30, 2015. The final SF-425A is due December 30, 
2016. SF-425A can be found at: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html, www.forms.gov.
    Grantees should submit their reports online through the Online Data 
Collection (OLDC) system at the following address: https://extranet.acf.hhs.gov/ssi. Failure to submit reports on time may be a 
basis for withholding grant funds, or suspending or terminating the 
grant. All funds reported as unobligated after the obligation period 
will be recouped.

VII. FFATA Subaward and Executive Compensation

    Awards issued as a result of this funding opportunity may be 
subject to the Transparency Act subaward and executive compensation 
reporting requirements of 2 CFR 170. See ACF's Award Term for Federal 
Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward and 
Executive Compensation Reporting Requirement implementing this 
requirement and additional award applicability information.
    ACF has implemented the use of the SF-428 Tangible Property Report 
and the SF-429 Real Property Status Report for all grantees. Both 
standard forms are available at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms/.

VIII. Agency Contact

Program Office Contact

    Shena R. Williams, Senior Program Specialist at (202) 205-5932 or 
email at [email protected].

Grants Management Contact

    Yan Rong, Division of Mandatory Grants at (202) 401-5154 or email 
at [email protected]

IX. Appendices

A. Assurances of Compliance with Grant Requirements
B. LGBTQ (also known as ``Two-Spirited'') Accessibility Policy

Appendix A

Assurances of Compliance With Grant Requirements

    By signing and returning the document, the applicant or grantee 
agrees to comply with all pertinent requirements of the Family 
Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and specifically 
assures that it will fulfill the following conditions imposed by the 
FVPSA, 42 U.S.C. 10401-10414 (cited herein by the applicable section 
number only):

[[Page 12007]]

    (1) Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grant 
funds will be used to provide shelter, supportive services, or 
prevention services to adult and youth victims of family violence, 
domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents (Sec.  
10408(b)(1)).
    (2) Not less than 70 percent of the funds distributed shall be 
for the primary purpose of providing immediate shelter and 
supportive services as defined in Sec.  10402(9) and (12) to adult 
and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating 
violence as defined in Sec. Sec.  10402(2), (3), and (4), and their 
dependents (Sec.  10408(b)(2)).
    (3) Not less than 25 percent of the funds distributed shall be 
for the purpose of providing supportive services and prevention 
services as described in Sec.  10408(b)(1)(B) through (H), to 
victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, 
and their dependents (Sec.  10408(b)(2)).
    (4) Grant funds will not be used as direct payment to any victim 
of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, or to any 
dependent of such victim (Sec.  10408(d)(1)).
    (5) No income eligibility standard will be imposed on 
individuals with respect to eligibility for assistance or services 
supported with funds appropriated to carry out the FVPSA (Sec.  
10406(c)(3)).
    (6) No fees will be levied for assistance or services provided 
with funds appropriated to carry out the FVPSA (Sec.  10406(c)(3)).
    (7) The address or location of any shelter or facility assisted 
under the FVPSA that otherwise maintains a confidential location 
will, except with written authorization of the person or persons 
responsible for the operation of such shelter, not be made public 
(Sec.  10406(c)(5)(H)).
    (8) Procedures are established to ensure compliance with the 
provisions of Sec.  10406(c)(5) regarding non-disclosure of 
confidential of private information (Sec.  10407(a)(2)(A)).
    (9) The applicant or grantee will comply with the conditions set 
forth in the FVPSA at Sec.  10406(c)(5) and all other FVPSA 
obligations regarding non-disclosure of confidential or private 
information. These include, but are not limited to, the following 
requirements: (A) Grantees shall not disclose any personally 
identifying information collected in connection with services 
requested (including services utilized or denied), through grantee's 
funded activities or reveal personally identifying information 
without informed, written, reasonably time-limited consent by the 
person about whom information is sought, whether for the FVPSA-
funded activities or any other federal or state program (additional 
consent requirements have been omitted but see Sec.  
10406(c)(5)(B)(ii)(I) for further requirements); (B) grantees may 
not release information compelled by statutory or court order unless 
adhering to the requirements of Sec.  10406(c)(5)(C); (C) grantees 
may share non-personally identifying information in the aggregate 
for the purposes enunciated in Sec.  10406(c)(5)(D)(i) as well as 
for other purposes found in Sec.  10406(c)(5)(D)(ii) and (iii).
    (10) As prescribed by Sec.  10406(c)(2) of the FVPSA, the Tribe 
will use grant funds in a manner that avoids prohibited 
discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, color, 
national origin, or, as appropriate, religion.
    (11) Funds made available under the FVPSA will be used to 
supplement and not supplant other federal, state, Tribal and local 
public funds expended to provide services and activities that 
promote the objectives of the FVPSA (Sec.  10406(c)(6)).
    (12) Receipt of supportive services under the FVPSA will be 
voluntary. No condition will be applied for the receipt of emergency 
shelter (Sec.  10408(d)(2)).
    (13) The Tribe has a law or procedure to bar an abuser from a 
shared household or a household of the abused person, which may 
include eviction laws or procedures, where appropriate (Sec.  
10407(a)(2)(H)).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tribally Designated Official

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tribe or Tribal Organization

Appendix B

LGBTQ (also known as ``Two-Spirited'') Accessibility Policy

    As the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) signing 
this application on behalf of [Insert full, formal name of applicant 
organization]
    I hereby attest and certify that:
    The needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and 
questioning (also known as ``Two-Spirited'') program participants 
are taken into consideration in applicant's program design. 
Applicant considered how its program will be inclusive of and non-
stigmatizing toward such participants. If not already in place, 
awardee and, if applicable, subawardees must establish and publicize 
policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sexual orientation, 
gender, gender identity (or expression), religion, and national 
origin. The submission of an application for this funding 
opportunity constitutes an assurance that applicants have or will 
put such policies in place within 12 months of the award. Awardees 
should ensure that all staff members are trained to prevent and 
respond to harassment or bullying in all forms during the award 
period. Programs should be prepared to monitor claims, address them 
seriously, and document their corrective action(s) so all 
participants are assured that programs are safe, inclusive, and non-
stigmatizing by design and in operation. In addition, any 
subawardees or subcontractors:
     Have in place or will put into place within 12 months 
of the award policies prohibiting harassment based on race, sexual 
orientation, gender, gender identity (or expression), religion, and 
national origin;
     Will enforce these policies;
     Will ensure that all staff will be trained during the 
award period on how to prevent and respond to harassment or bullying 
in all forms, and;
     Have or will have within 12 months of the award, a plan 
to monitor claims, address them seriously, and document their 
corrective action(s).

Insert Date of Signature:

Print Name and Title of the AOR:

Signature of AOR:

[End of full FOA]


    Authority: The statutory authority for this program is 42 U.S.C. 
10401-10414.

Mary M. Wayland,
Senior Grants Policy Specialist, Division of Grants Policy, Office of 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-05010 Filed 3-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-32-P