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Executive Summary: The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the availability of fiscal year 2009 funds to award, on a competitive basis, at least two partnership grants to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs). The partnership grants will be with minority-serving institutions as defined in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and will utilize a variety of innovative knowledge exchange and transfer strategies that promote and create interdisciplinary approaches to research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and services to minority populations with disabilities. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Statutory Authority ADD is the lead agency in ACF, HHS for administering the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act of 2000) (42 U.S.C. 15001, et seq.). The purpose of the DD Act of 2000 is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs [Section 101(b)]. To achieve this purpose, the DD Act authorizes under Subtitle D University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs). The Joint Explanatory Statement for the fiscal year 2009 appropriation authorizes ADD to "establish new grants to work through partnerships with minority-serving institutions [to focus on] research, training, and services [related to] minority populations with disabilities." 155 Congressional Record page H2235 (February 23, 2009). Section 152(d) of the DD Act authorizes ADD to fund the grants as additional grants to existing UCEDDs. Description It is well documented that minority populations experience a variety of disparities (e.g., health, wealth, education), many of which places them at an increased risk for developmental and other disabilities or for developing secondary conditions. Moreover, these disparities are, by many measures, expanding. A variety of federal laws and programs are designed to directly or indirectly address disparities experienced by minority populations (e.g., Civil Rights Act, Head Start Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Higher Education Act). The DD Act of 2000 has long promoted concepts of cultural competence to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities, regardless of background, are full participants in all aspects of community life. Nevertheless, problems persist and are being exacerbated by the rapidly changing demographics of our country requiring more targeted efforts that drill down strategies to address disparities that exist for minority populations, most particularly those with disabilities. Partnerships that reach across federal intiatives aimed at reducing disparities is one such targeted effort that could address this persistent problem. The interdisciplinary approaches currently used by UCEDDs represent a tested set of options that, if more proactively shared through partnership with minority-serving institutions, would play a central role in reducing disparities, such as those related to health and education. There would be multiple beneficiaries of such a partnership. Minority-serving institutions would have the opportunity to access the vast knowledge within the UCEDD Network and apply it in their own settings. UCEDDs would be in a better position to enhance capacity and responsiveness to minority populations with disabilities. This opportunity will fund up to two partnership grants that will contribute to addressing disparities experienced by minority populations by working towards equal access to information and use of the myriad of publicly and privately funded and community-based services. The partnership grants will serve as catalysts and models to foster greater involvement with minority-serving institutions and greater attention to minority populations with disabilities by the entire UCEDD Network. The partnerships will alert minority-serving institutions to the value of collaboration with UCEDDs to assist minority populations with disabilities. ADD anticipates that partnership grants will:
Obligations Plan for Two-Way Knowledge Exchange and Transfer. There must be a plan for a two-way knowledge exchange and transfer program between at least one UCEDD and at least one minority-serving institution unique to the UCEDD Network. Minority-serving institutions are those defined in Title III and Title V of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and identified as:
A full listing of minority-serving institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as accredited postsecondary minority institutions can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-tab.html. Programs unique to the UCEDD Network are institutes of higher education that do not currently receive funding from ADD to support a UCEDD. The plan should describe the range of strategies that will be used to exchange and transfer knowledge between the UCEDD and the minority-serving institution, such as faculty and student exchanges, course exchanges, joint course offerings, joint course development, joint research, collaborative community-based training, and/or joint service projects. Each institution (e.g., the UCEDD, minority-serving institution) shall have a plan which outlines roles and responsibilities tied to specific on-going or planned activity/ies. Outreach and Involvement of Minority Populations with Disabilities. A grantee must undertake one or more efforts that result in a benefit to members of a minority population with disabilities that, at a minimum (1) enhances their ability to contribute to ongoing or new research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), or service initiatives of the partnership, (2) provides access to on-going initiatives that have been expanded to include minority populations with disabilities, and (3) empowers them to advocate for themselves in seeking opportunities and services in their communities. Integration of Knowledge. The grantee must define how knowledge gained from the partnership with the minority-serving institution will be transferred to the UCEDD and vice-versa, how the knowledge gained from the UCEDD will be transferred to the minority-serving institution. This may be accomplished by describing the activities that will lead to knowledge transfer and identifying indicators for determining the transfer of knowledge. Presentations and Technical Assistance to Non-Partnership Entities to Promote Partnership Replication. At least annually a grantee must share the experience of its partnership with the UCEDD Network and minority-serving institutions, including:
Methods to share the above information can include national meetings, written products, or national teleconferences using web-based technologies. II. AWARD INFORMATION
Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. Additional Information on Awards The applicant should provide a budget for the first 12-month budget period only, given that awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. Non-competing continuation awards will be offered. The award amount for the first 12-month budget period may differ from the award amounts for the continuation award budget periods. Description of Anticipated Substantial Involvement under the Cooperative Agreement As a cooperative agreement, substantial involvement is anticipated between the agency and the recipient during performance of the project, which may include the following:
Please see Section IV.5 for any restrictions on the use of funds for awards made under this announcement. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants Below is a list of those entities designated as UCEDDs that are eligible to submit an application for this funding opportunity:
Applications will be received and reviewed for only those entities listed above. Applications from other entities not designated as a UCEDD will not be received and reviewed. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Please see "Eligibility Certification" found in Section IV.2 for any required documentation supporting eligibility. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs, in accordance with Section 154(d) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. Grantees must provide at least 25 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF (Federal) 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 requesting $300,000, in ACF (Federal) funds must provide a non-Federal share of the approved total project cost of at least $75,000 , which is 25 percent of total approved project cost of $300,000. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match. Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of application will not exclude the application from competitive review. Reduced Match Section 154 (d)(2) of the DD Act states: In the case of a project whose activities or products target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in an urban or rural poverty area, as determined by the Secretary, the Federal share of the cost of the project may not be more than 90 percent of the necessary costs of the project. DEFINITIONS Poverty area: census tracts or block numbering areas (BNAs) where at least 20 percent of residents are below the poverty level. Urban Area: Collective term referring to all areas that are urban. For Census 2000, there are two types of urban areas: urban clusters and urbanized areas.
TWO-TIER ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM FOR REDUCED MATCH To meet the requirements in the DD Act, ADD has developed a system that UCEDDs can use to request a reduced match on the core grant. Such a request is optional and not a requirement for UCEDDs. ADD will use a two-tiered system for determining eligibility for the reduced match:
Urban and Rural Poverty Indicator and Description Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC): Areas designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as communities with high rates of poverty. The UCEDD project would have to be implemented in an EZ/EC. Food Stamps: The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with DD and their families who receive food stamps. The Head Start: The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families. The UCEDD project would have to work with a Head Start program. Housing Assistance: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a variety of housing assistance programs, such as Section 8 housing assistance programs. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with DD and their families who are receiving federal housing assistance. Medicaid: Title XIX of the Social Security Act is a Federal/State entitlement program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with DD and their families who are Medicaid-eligible. Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people, who have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with DD who are SSI recipients. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): TANF is a Federal poverty program that provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families through grants to States. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with DD, children with DD, and their families who are TANF recipients. Other: The UCEDD may provide other indicators of poverty not included in this list. The UCEDD would have to provide adequate information to justify use of the 'other' category. In doing so, the UCEDD will have to demonstrate the project is targeting individuals with developmental disabilities in rural and urban poverty areas. ADD will determine the adequacy of the justification for eligibility for a reduced match. ADD will review all the information submitted by the UCEDD to determine eligibility for the reduced match. SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO ADD To streamline the process, below is a suggested format for submitting the information to ADD.
STATES IN TIERS 1 AND 2 Below is a list of the States that fall into Tiers 1 and 2. Tier 1 Dist. of Columbia: 18.8
Tier 2 The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the reduced non-Federal share. The reduced 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 project cost of $250,000 requesting $225,000 in ACF funds, must provide a non-Federal share of at least $25,000 (10 percent of total approved project cost of $250,000). Grantees will be held countable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match. Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of application will not exclude the application from competitive review. The non-Federal match will be evaluated according to the "Non-Federal Resources" evaluation criterion found in Section V of this announcement. Please refer to Section IV for any pre-award requirements. 3. Other: Disqualification Factors Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of individual awards referenced in Section II. Award Information will be deemed 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., Submission Dates and Times, will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Applicants received from entites not designated as a UCEDD will not be considered for funding under this announcement and will not be returned.
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package: Jennifer G. Johnson, Ed.D. For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: This section provides information on the required form and content of application submissions. Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of all application materials if applying in hard-copy. The original signature of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is required only on the original. Information on the required format, Standard Forms (SFs) and other forms, D-U-N-S Requirement, Project Description, Certifications, Assurances, Electronic Submission of applications, and Hard Copy submission of applications is available in this section. A Checklist of required application elements is available for applicants' use in Section VIII of this announcement. The project description must not exceed 50 double-spaced, typed pages. The type must not be smaller than 12 point. The margins must not be less than one inch. The program description pages should be numbered. Any application that exceeds the 50-page limit requirement will have the additional pages removed from the application prior to the review. The Appendix must not exceed 40 pages. The Appendix pages should be numbered. Supplementary material, intended to provide examples of activities, may be included in the Appendix for reviewers but shall adhere to the page limit requirement. The Appendix must be included with the original and the three copies of the application. Non-Federal ReviewersSince ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the review 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 as well as Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. If applicants are submitting their application electronically, ACF will omit the same specific salary rate information from copies made for use during the review and selection process. Forms Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the appropriate Standard Forms (SFs) as described in this section. All applicants must submit an SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. For non-construction programs, applicants must also submit an SF-424A, Budget Information and an SF-424B, Assurances. For construction programs, applicants must also submit SF-424C, Budget Information and SF-424D, Assurances. All required Standard Forms are available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Non-profit private organizations (not including private universities) are encouraged to submit the "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" with their applications. Applicants using a hard copy application, place the completed survey in an envelope labeled "Applicant Survey." Seal the envelope and include it along with your application package. Applicants applying electronically, please submit this survey along with your application. The Survey may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. D-U-N-S Requirement All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number. A D-U-N-S number is required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal, Grants.gov. A D-U-N-S number is 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. A D-U-N-S number may be acquired at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number online at http://www.dnb.com. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Part I THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW PURPOSE The project description provides the majority of information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete. It 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 the project description, information that is 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. Part II GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION Applicants that are 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 the project description should include while the evaluation criteria identify the measures that will be used to evaluate applications. LETTER OF INTENT Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify ACF of their intention to submit an application under this announcement. Please submit the letter of intent by the deadline date listed in Section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times. The letter of intent should include the following information: number and title of this announcement; the name and address of the applicant organization; and/or Fiscal Agent (if known); and the name, phone number, fax number and email address of a contact person. Letter of intent information will be used to determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate applications. The letter of intent is optional. Failure to submit a letter of intent will not impact eligibility to submit an application and will not disqualify an application from competitive review. Letters of intent may be emailed to Jennifer Johnson at jennifer.johnson@acf.hhs.gov.TABLE OF CONTENTS List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Provide a summary of the project description (one 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. For example, Faculty and students from minority-serving institutions are exposed to the benefits of interdisciplinary research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and service. Faculty and students from UCEDDs are exposed to the importance of culture, custom, and tradition in reaching out to and seeking the involvement of minority individuals with disabilities and their families in initiatives that could affect their lives. Faculty and students from minority-serving institutions are exposed to the range of funding opportunities that UCEDDs pursue and how to do the same, especially through partnerships. UCEDDs are provided with assistance of faculty and students from minority-serving institutions to recruit from minority populations with disabilities to: (1) obtain greater minority participation to on-going UCEDD research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and/or service project(s); (2) launch a new one that includes a minority cohort; or (3) launch one focused exclusively on a minority population with disabilities. The project identifies critical elements for future collaboration between members of a partnership. The experiences from the partnership are shared with other UCEDDs and minority-serving institutions and serve as a catalyst for replication initiatives.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. The approach must describe a plan for two-way knowledge exchange and transfer program between at least one UCEDD and at least one minority-serving institution unique to the UCEDD Network. Minority-serving institutions are those defined in Title III and Title V of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and identified as:
A full listing of minority institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as accredited postsecondary minority institutions can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-tab.html. Programs unique to the UCEDD Network are institutes of higher education that do not currently receive funding from ADD to support a UCEDD. The plan should describe the range of strategies that will be used to exchange and transfer knowledge between the UCEDD and the minority-serving institution, such as faculty and student exchanges, course exchanges, joint course offerings, joint course development, joint research, collaborative community-based training, and/or joint service projects. Each institution (e.g., the UCEDD, minority-serving institution) shall have a plan which outlines roles and responsibilities tied to specific on-going or planned activity. The approach must describe outreach and involvement of minority populations with disabilities. A grantee must undertake one or more efforts that result in a benefit to members of a minority population with disabilities that, at a minimum (1) enhances their ability to contribute to ongoing or new research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), or service initiatives of the partnership, (2) provides access to on-going initiatives that have been expanded to include minority populations with disabilities, and (3) empowers them to advocate for themselves in seeking opportunities and services in their communities. The approach must define how knowledge gained from the partnership with the minority-serving institution will be transferred to the UCEDD. This may be accomplished by describing the activities that will lead to knowledge transfer and identifying indicators for determining the transfer of knowledge. The approach must include a plan to at least annually share the experience of its partnership with the UCEDD Network and minority-serving institutions, including:
Methods to share the above information can include national meetings, written products, or national teleconferences using web-based technologies. 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. 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 OMB. This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF." Provide a list of 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 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 that address the project's effectiveness. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The following are requests for additional information that must be included in the application:
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 (SF-424A or SF-424C). Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If matching is a requirement, 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 allocation of the proposed costs.
(As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, P.L. 104-13, the public reporting burden for the Project Description 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 information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, which expires 4/30/2010. 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.) Certifications Applicants must furnish, prior to award, an executed copy of the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application. If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a 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 Standard Form (SF)-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions. The Certification Regarding Lobbying may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. When required for programs that involve human subjects, the Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption form must be submitted. All forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the appropriate standard forms with their application. The Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption (Common Rule) form may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Assurances By signing and submitting the application, applicants are making the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. The Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 7183, imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements only if they meet the Act's specified coverage. The Act specifies that smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to children under the age of 18. In addition, smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility or portion of a facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of federally funded health care, day care, or early childhood development, including Head Start services to children under the age of 18. The statutory prohibition also applies if such facilities are constructed, operated, or maintained with Federal funds. The statute does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, or facilities where WIC coupons are redeemed. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1,000 per violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. Additional information may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. Electronic Submission Applicants to ACF may submit their applications in either electronic or paper (hard copy) format. To submit an application electronically, applicants must use the http://www.Grants.gov site. ACF will not accept applications via facsimile or email. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before submitting an application electronically, applicants must complete the organization registration process as well as obtain and register "electronic signature credentials" for the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Applicants also must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). CCR registration must be updated annually. Applicants will not be able to upload an application to Grants.gov without current CCR registration and electronic signature credentials for the AOR. This process may take more than five business days, so it is important to start this process early, well in advance of the application deadline. Be sure to complete all Grants.gov registration processes listed on the Organization Registration Checklist at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html. Applicants 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. If planning to submit an application electronically via http://www.Grants.gov:
After the application is submitted electronically, the applicant will receive two emails from Grants.gov:
ACF will retrieve the electronically submitted application from Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an email notification from ACF acknowledging that ACF has received the application. ACF may request that the applicant provide original signatures on forms at a later date. The Grants.gov website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Grants.gov webpages are designed to work with assistive technologies such as screen readers. If an applicant uses assistive technology and is unable to access any material on the site, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov for assistance. Hard Copy Submission of Applications Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit one original and two copies of the complete application with all attachments, unless directed otherwise. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and be unbound. The original copy of the application must have original signature(s). See Section IV.6 of this announcement for address information for application submissions. Please refer to Section VIII for a checklist of application requirements, their location and due dates that applicants may use in developing and organizing application materials. Please refer to Section IV.3 for details concerning acknowledgement of received applications. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date For Letter of Intent: 06/04/2009 Due Date for Applications: 07/20/2009 Explanation of Due Dates The due date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are mailed or hand-delivered or submitted electronically well in advance of the application due date and time. Applications that are submitted by mail must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above at the address listed in Section IV.6. Hand Delivery Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers must be received on or before the due date referenced above, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Electronic Submission Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or email. Late Applications Applications that do not meet the requirements 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 DUE DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPETITION. Extension of Deadlines ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur; 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. Acknowledgement of Received Application
ACF will not provide acknowledgement of receipt of hard copy application packages submitted via
mail, courier services, or by hand delivery. Applicants who submit their
application packages electronically via
http://www.Grants.gov will receive two email acknowledgements from that website:
4. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 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 Executive Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. Applicants should go to the following URL for the official list of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of their prospective applications and to receive instructions on their jurisdiction's procedures. Applicants must submit all required application materials to the SPOC and indicate the date of submission on the Standard Form (SF) 424 at item 19. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application due date to comment on proposed new awards. SPOC comments may be submitted directly to ACF to: 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., 6th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. Entities that meet the eligibility requirements of this announcement are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory or Commonwealth, etc., does not have a SPOC or has chosen not to participate in the process. Applicants from non-participating jurisdictions need take no action with regard to E.O. 12372. Applications from Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments are not subject to E.O. 12372. 5. Funding Restrictions: Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions, are unallowable under this grant award. Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this grant award. This grant program meets the ACF definition for training grants. Therefore, applicants must limit the indirect cost rate to eight percent of total direct costs, exclusive of equipment, tuition and stipends, rental of space, major contracts or subgrants and renovation and alteration, under this program announcement. Applicants should include in their budget funds to pay for travel expenses to attend at least one ADD-sponsored Project Director's two-day meeting in Washington, DC. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Submit applications to one of the following addresses: Submission by Mail Tim ChappelleGrant Management Officer Division of Discretionary Grants Office of Grants Management 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW Aerospace Building, 6th Floor East Washington, DC 20447 Hand Delivery Tim ChappelleGrant Management Officer Division of Discretionary Grants 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 6th Floor East Washington, DC 20201 Electronic Submission See Section IV.2 for application requirements and for guidance when submitting applications electronically via http://www.Grants.gov. For all submissions, see Section IV.3 for information on due dates. V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. CRITERIA: Competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the criteria described in this section. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each review criterion. Applicants should address these criteria in the process of developing their application, as they are the basis upon which their applications will be judged. 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).
Using the following values for each required item in this criterion, points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application:
Using the following values for each required item in this criterion, points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application:
Points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application describes how at least annually information about the partnership experience will be shared with the UCEDD Network and minority-serving institutions using a variety of methods (e.g., national meetings, written products, or national teleconferences using web-based technologies), including (5 points):
Points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application describes how this project will serve as a catalyst for replication initiatives by (1) identifying how the project will generate critical elements as a basis for future collaboration between members of a similar partnership. (5 points)
Using the following values for each required item in this criterion, points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application provides a narrative describing how implementation and results of the partnership will be evaluated and clearly outlines the methodology that:
Using the following values for each required item in this criterion, points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application:
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE - 10 points Using the following values for each required item in this criterion, points will be awarded according to the extent to which the application:
2. Review and Selection Process: No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application. Initial ACF Screening: Each application will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time and whether the requested amount exceeds the stated ceiling. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be reviewed. The grant applications that pass the initial screening will undergo a rigorous review process that follows the requirements of Section 154(c) of the DD Act. This shall include the following: (1) Peer Review. All applications submitted shall undergo a technical and qualitative review by peer review groups. Each peer review group will be comprised of approximately three people and shall include individuals with disabilities and parents, guardians, or advocates of or for individuals with developmental disabilities. (2) Supplemental Review. Should the peer review group determine that further review is necessary to make a decision to recommend an application for funding, it will advise ADD of its determination. The peer review group may conduct site visits as part of the supplemental review before recommending an application for funding. (3) Recommendation for Funding. The peer review group will make a recommendation for funding an application. The recommendations for funding will be the following: a. Recommended for funding b. Not recommended for funding c. Need additional information before making a recommendation for funding ADD may approve an application only if the application has been recommended by the peer review group, unless the requirement for such review and recommendation has been waived by the Secretary [see Section 154(c)]. ADD may consider other factors or elements, other than the evaluation criteria, such as the UCEDD's past performance, whether the minority-serving institution is recognized as such, and geographical dispersion and diversity, in reviewing and selecting applications. Please refer to Section IV.2 of this announcement for information on non-Federal reviewers in the review process. 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: Not Applicable.VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Award Notices: Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Notice of Award (NoA) document that 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 (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The NoA will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail. Following the finalization of funding decisions, organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified by letter, signed by the Program Office head. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Grantees are subject to the administrative requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (for non-governmental entities) or 45 CFR Part 92 (for governmental entities). Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this ACF 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 the HHS web site at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS funded activities. Additional information on "Understanding the Regulations Related to the Faith-Based and Community Initiative" can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/regulations/index.html. HHS Grants Policy Statement The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services new single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference. The GPS may be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. 3. Reporting Requirements: Grantees will be required to submit performance progress and financial reports periodically throughout the project period. Frequency of reporting is listed later in this section. Beginning with FY 2009 awards, most ACF grantees will begin using the a Standard Form (SF) for required performance progress reporting (PPR). The SF-PPR is a standard government-wide performance progress reporting format consisting of a series of forms implemented by Federal agencies to collect performance information from award recipients. Most ACF grantees will begin using the standard format implemented through ACF's Office of Grants Management (OGM), entitled the "ACF-OGM-SF-PPR." Use of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR will begin for new awards and continuation awards made by ACF in FY 2009. At a minimum, grantees will be required to submit the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, which consists of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Coversheet and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Appendix B Program Indicators. ACF Programs that utilize other SF-PPR reporting formats, or other reporting forms or formats that differ from the new ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, have listed those forms or formats below. Grant award documents will inform grantees of the appropriate performance progress report form or format to use beginning in FY 2009. Grantees will continue to use the Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 (long form) for required financial reporting. The SF-269 (long form) and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Grantees should consult their award documents to determine the appropriate performance progress report format required under their award. Performance progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Final program performance and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Final reports may be submitted in hard copy to the Grants Management Office Contact listed in Section VII. of this announcement. Program Progress Reports: QuarterlyFinancial Reports: Semi-Annually VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact: Jennifer G. Johnson, Ed.D.
For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
(TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). Grants Management Office Contact: Tim Chappelle, Grants Officer
For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
(TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). VIII. OTHER INFORMATION Visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/ to learn more about ADD and the UCEDD program. Checklist You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.
Posted on May 20, 2009 |
