[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7726-7728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02091]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Availability of Program Application Instructions for Adult 
Protective Services Funding

    Title: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations 
Act of 2021: Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services to Respond to 
COVID-19.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Statutory Authority: The statutory authority for grants under this 
program announcement is contained in the Elder Justice Act Section 
2042(b) of Title XX of the Social Security Act [Pub. L. 74-271] [As 
Amended Through Pub. L. 115-123, Enacted February 9, 2018] as 
referenced in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental 
Appropriations Act of 2021.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.747.

DATES: The deadline date for the submission of the Coronavirus Response 
and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021: Grants to Enhance 
Adult Protective Services to Respond to COVID-19 Letter of Assurance is 
11:59PM EST March 3, 2021.

[[Page 7727]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is establishing the 
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 
2021: Grants to Enhance Adult Protective Services to Respond to COVID-
19 funding opportunity to implement Section 2042(b) of Subtitle B of 
Title XX of the Social Security Act, otherwise known as the Elder 
Justice Act (EJA) as authorized and funded through the Coronavirus 
Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. In 
accordance with these statutes, the purpose of this opportunity is to 
enhance and improve adult protective services provided by States and 
local units of government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Funds awarded under this opportunity will provide Adult Protective 
Services programs (APS) in the States and territories with resources 
related to their response during the Coronavirus Public Health 
Emergency. This funding is intended to enhance, improve, and expand the 
ability of APS to investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and 
exploitation in the context of COVID-19. Examples of activities 
consistent with the purposes of the authorizing legislation include:
     Improving and supporting remote work, such as the purchase 
of communications and technology hardware, software, or infrastructure;
     Costs associated with establishing new, or improving 
existing processes for responding to alleged scams and frauds, 
especially related to COVID-19 vaccine or cure scams;
     Costs associated with community outreach;
     Costs associated with providing goods and services to APS 
clients related to COVID-19;
     Acquiring personal protection equipment and supplies;
     Paying for extended hours/over-time for staff, hiring 
temporary staff, and associated personnel costs;
     Training costs related to COVID-19;
     Funds for travel related to or required by COVID-19.
     Costs associated with assisting APS clients secure the 
least restrictive option for emergency or alternative housing, and with 
obtaining, providing, or coordinating with care transitions as 
appropriate.
    Awards authorized under the EJA Section 2042(b) shall be provided 
to the agency or unit of State government having the legal 
responsibility for providing adult protective services within the 
State. This funding must supplement and not supplant existing funding 
for adult protective services provided by States and local units of 
government. Additionally, award recipients will be required to submit 
semi-annual federal financial reports and annual program reports 
related to the activities performed. To be eligible to receive this 
grant, the agency or unit of State government having the legal 
responsibility for providing adult protective services must submit a 
Letter of Assurance to ACL containing all of the assurances required, 
and an initial outline of a plan to spend the funds (see below 
``Section III. Eligibility Criteria and Other Requirements'' and 
``Section IV. Submission Information'').

II. Award Information

1. Funding Instrument Type

    These awards will be made in the form of formula grants to the 
agencies and units of State government with the legal responsibility to 
provide adult protective services.

2. Anticipated Total Funding per Budget Period

    Under this program announcement, ACL intends to make grant awards 
to each State and territory, and the District of Columbia. Awards made 
under this announcement have an estimated start date of April 1, 2021 
and an estimated end date of September 30, 2022, for an 18-month budget 
and performance period.
    The total available funding for this opportunity is $93,880,000. 
Funding will be distributed through the formula identified in Section 
2042(b) of the Elder Justice Act. The amounts allocated are based upon 
the proportion of elders living in each state and territory, as defined 
in statute, and will be distributed based on the formula. There are no 
cost-sharing nor match requirements. Below are the projected award 
amounts:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Projected
                     State/territory                          amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.................................................      $1,367,545
Alaska..................................................         704,100
Arizona.................................................       2,034,877
Arkansas................................................         831,205
California..............................................       9,476,701
Colorado................................................       1,390,039
Connecticut.............................................       1,022,558
Delaware................................................         704,100
Dist. of Columbia.......................................         140,809
Florida.................................................       6,896,415
Georgia.................................................       2,490,713
Hawaii..................................................         704,100
Idaho...................................................         704,100
Illinois................................................       3,324,229
Indiana.................................................       1,765,688
Iowa....................................................         884,872
Kansas..................................................         768,741
Kentucky................................................       1,216,527
Louisiana...............................................       1,211,268
Maine...................................................         704,100
Maryland................................................       1,571,936
Massachusetts...........................................       1,893,433
Michigan................................................       2,868,691
Minnesota...............................................       1,501,422
Mississippi.............................................         788,509
Missouri................................................       1,712,169
Montana.................................................         704,100
Nebraska................................................         704,100
Nevada..................................................         795,772
New Hampshire...........................................         704,100
New Jersey..............................................       2,401,390
New Mexico..............................................         704,100
New York................................................       5,306,382
North Carolina..........................................       2,813,974
North Dakota............................................         704,100
Ohio....................................................       3,319,395
Oklahoma................................................       1,022,727
Oregon..................................................       1,212,402
Pennsylvania............................................       3,839,908
Rhode Island............................................         704,100
South Carolina..........................................       1,490,158
South Dakota............................................         704,100
Tennessee...............................................       1,842,330
Texas...................................................       6,174,152
Utah....................................................         704,100
Vermont.................................................         704,100
Virginia................................................       2,205,652
Washington..............................................       1,962,724
West Virginia...........................................         704,100
Wisconsin...............................................       1,655,767
Wyoming.................................................         704,100
American Samoa..........................................          93,880
Guam....................................................          93,880
Northern Marianas.......................................          93,880
Puerto Rico.............................................       1,037,800
Virgin Islands..........................................          93,880
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Eligibility Criteria and Other Requirements

1. Eligible Entities

    The eligible entity for these awards is the agency or unit of State 
government legally responsible for providing adult protective services 
in each state and territory (EJA Section 2042(b)).

2. Other Requirements

A. Letter of Assurance
    A Letter of Assurance is required to be submitted by the eligible 
entity in order to receive an award. The Letter of Assurance must 
include the following:
    1. Assurance that the award recipient is the agency or unit of 
State government legally responsible for providing adult protective 
services in each state and territory.
    2. Assurance that funds will supplement and not supplant existing 
APS funding.
    3. Assurance that funds will be spent in ways consistent with the 
Elder Justice Act Section 2042(b); the Coronavirus Response and Relief 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021; and guidance provided by ACL, 
including the

[[Page 7728]]

examples of activities consistent with the purposes of the authorizing 
legislation:
     Improving and supporting remote work, such as the purchase 
of communications and technology hardware, software, or infrastructure;
     Costs associated with establishing new or improving 
existing processes for responding to alleged scams and frauds, 
especially related to COVID-19 vaccine or cure scams;
     Costs associated with community outreach;
     Costs associated with providing goods and services to APS 
clients related to COVID-19;
     Acquiring personal protection equipment and supplies;
     Paying for extended hours/over-time for staff, hiring 
temporary staff, and associated personnel costs;
     Training costs related to COVID-19;
     Funds for travel related to or required by COVID-19.
    4. Assurance to provide semi-annual federal financial reports and 
annual program reports related to the activities performed.
B. Initial Spend Plan
    An Initial Spend Plan must be submitted along with the Letter of 
Assurance. The Initial Spend Plan should outline how the state/
territory intends to spend their allotment in response to the needs and 
challenges to their APS program brought about by COVID-19. The plan 
should be consistent with the purpose of the authorizing legislation 
and examples outlined above. The Initial Spend Plan submitted in 
response to this opportunity is considered a preliminary framework for 
how the state/territory will plan to spend these funds. The Initial 
Spend Plan should have the following format: 2-5 pages in length, 
double-spaced, with 12pt font and 1'' margins, with a layout of 8.5'' x 
11'' paper.
C. DUNS Number
    All grant applicants must obtain and keep current a D-U-N-S number 
from Dun and Bradstreet. It is a nine-digit identification number, 
which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. The D-U-
N-S number can be obtained from: https://iupdate.dnb.com/iUpdate/viewiUpdateHome.htm.
D. Intergovernmental Review
    Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs, is not applicable to these grant applications.

IV. Submission Information

1. Letter of Assurance and Initial Spend Plan

    To receive funding, eligible entities must provide a Letter of 
Assurance and an Initial Spend Plan containing all the information 
outlined in Section III A. & B. above.
    Letters of Assurance and the Initial Spend Plan should be addressed 
to: Alison Barkoff, Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for 
Aging, Administration for Community Living, 330 C Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20201.
    Letters of Assurance and the Initial Spend Plan should be submitted 
electronically via email to the ACL Regional Administrator for each 
state. The following table identifies the ACL regions for each state 
and contact information for each Regional Administrator.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        ACL regional
                                  Covered states       administrator
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region I......................  CT, MA, ME, NH,    Jennifer Throwe,
                                 RI, VT.            Email:
                                                    [email protected], Phone: 617-
                                                    565-1158.
Region II.....................  NY, NJ, PR, VI...  Kathleen Otte, Email:
                                                    [email protected], Phone: 212-
                                                    264-2976.
Region III....................  DC, DE, MD, PA,    Rhonda Schwartz,
                                 VA, WV.            Email:
                                                    [email protected], Phone: 267-
                                                    831-2329.
Region IV.....................  AL, FL, GA, KY,    Costas Miskis, Email:
                                 MS, NC, SC, TN.    [email protected], Phone:
                                                    404-562-7600.
Region V......................  IL, IN, MI, MN,    Amy Wiatr-Rodriguez,
                                 OH, WI.            Email: [email protected], Phone: 312-938-
                                                    9858.
Region VI.....................  AR, LA, OK, NM,    Derek Lee, Email:
                                 TX.                [email protected], Phone: 214-767-
                                                    1865.
Region VII....................  IA, KS, MO, NE...  Lacey Boven, Email:
                                                    [email protected], Phone: 816-702-
                                                    4180.
Region VIII...................  CO, MT, UT, WY,    Percy Devine, Email:
                                 ND, SD.            [email protected], Phone: 303-844-
                                                    2951.
Region IX.....................  CA, NV, AZ, HI,    Fay Gordon, Email:
                                 GU, CNMI, AS.      [email protected], Phone: 415-437-
                                                    8780.
Region X......................  AK, ID, OR, WA...  Louise Ryan, Email:
                                                    [email protected], Phone: (206)
                                                    615-2299.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Submission Dates and Times

    To receive consideration, Letters of Assurance and the Initial 
Spend Plan must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on EST March 3, 
2021. Letters of Assurance and the Initial Spend Plan should be 
submitted electronically via email and have an electronic time stamp 
indicating the date/time submitted.

VII. Agency Contacts

1. Programmatic Issues

    Direct programmatic inquiries to: Stephanie Whittier Eliason, 
Email: [email protected], Phone: 202.795.7467.

2. Submission Issues

    Direct inquiries regarding submission of the Letters of Assurance 
to the appropriate ACL Regional Administrator found in the table in 
``Section IV. Submission Information.''

    Dated: January 27, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2021-02091 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P