State Letter #03-07
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS
ACTION: Notice of availability for FY 2003 Targeted Assistance discretionary funds.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds and award procedures for FY 2003 targeted assistance (TAG) discretionary grants. Eligible applicants are invited to submit competitive applications for assistance to refugees
[1]
to address special employment needs that cannot be met with the formula social services or formula targeted assistance grants. ORR is making $4,915,540 available under this announcement. Awards will be contingent on the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.
CLOSING DATE: The closing date for submission of applications is June 25, 2003. See Part IV of this announcement for more information on submitting applications. Applications postmarked after the closing date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition.
ADDRESSES: The program announcement and the application materials are available from the ORR website at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr.
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1Eligibility for targeted assistance includes refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants, certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are U.S. citizens, and victims of a severe form of trafficking who receive certification or eligibility letters from ORR. (See Part I of this notice on "Legislative Authority," and refer to 45 CFR 400.43 and the ORR State Letter #01‑13 on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act dated May 3, 2001, located at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr/policy/s101-13.htm, as modified by ORR State Letter #02-01 dated January 4, 2002, located at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr/policy/s102-01.htm). The term "refugee," used in this notice for convenience, is intended to encompass these additional persons who are eligible to participate in refugee program services, including the targeted assistance program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Rubenstein, TAG Discretionary Program Manager, Division of Refugee Assistance (DRA), ORR, (202) 205-5933, crubenstein@acf.hhs.gov or Arnetta Williams, TAG Discretionary Program Coordinator, DRA, ORR, (202) 401-5622, FAX (202) 401-5772, aywilliams@acf.hhs.gov
, or Daphne Weeden, Grants Management Officer, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, (202) 401-4577, dweeden@acf.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four parts:
Part I: Background -- program purpose and objectives, legislative authority, funding availability, CFDA Number
Part II: Project and Applicant Eligibility -- eligible applicants, project and budget periods, allowable activities
Part III: The Review Process -- project description overview, general instructions for preparing a full project description, review criteria
Part IV: The Application -- initial ACF screening, application development, application submission, intergovernmental review, reporting requirements
THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information.
The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139 which expires 12/30/2003. 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.
Part I. BACKGROUND
Purpose and Objectives
The TAG discretionary program reflects the requirements of section 412(c)(2) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. § 1522(c)(2)). Paragraph (2)(A) provides the Director of ORR with the authority "to make grants to States for assistance to counties and similar areas in the States where, because of factors such as unusually large refugee populations (including secondary migration), high refugee concentrations, and high use of public assistance by refugees, there exists and can be demonstrated a specific need for supplementation of available resources for services to refugees." Paragraph (2)(B) requires that, "Grants shall be made available…(i) primarily for the purpose of facilitating refugee employment and achievement of self-sufficiency, (ii) in a manner that does not supplant other refugee program funds and that assures that not less than 95 percent of the amount of the grant award is made available to the county or other local entity."
The purpose of TAG discretionary grants is to encourage States to address the employment needs of refugees that cannot be met with the formula social services or targeted assistance grants. Activities proposed under this announcement should assist refugees and refugee families to obtain economic self-sufficiency. Services provided under this notice are available to all refugees, regardless of their length of time in the U.S.
Under this announcement, States may request funding for activities that supplement and/or complement existing employment services that help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency. The description of services should include the relationship of TAG discretionary services to other services available to refugees in counties and local jurisdictions. In particular, the applicant must describe how these funds will fill gaps in the current array of services available to refugees. Priority will be given to States with counties and local jurisdictions that do not receive formula targeted assistance funds.
Legislative Authority
TAG discretionary projects are funded under the authority of: (1) section 412(c)(2) of the INA, as amended by the Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986 (Pub. L. No. 99‑605), 8 U.S.C. 1522(c); (2) section 501(a) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. No. 96‑422), 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, insofar as it incorporates by reference with respect to Cuban and Haitian entrants the authorities pertaining to assistance for refugees established by section 412(c)(2) of the INA, as cited above; (3) section 584(c) of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing Resolution (Pub. L. No. 100‑202), insofar as it incorporates by reference with respect to certain Amerasians from Vietnam the authorities pertaining to assistance for refugees established by section 412(c)(2) of the INA, as cited above, including certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are U.S. citizens, as provided under title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts, 1989 (Pub. L. No. 100‑461), 1990 (Pub. L. No. 101‑167), and 1991 (Pub. L. No. 101‑513); and (4) section 107(b)(1)(A) of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106‑386) (22 U.S.C. § 7105(b)(1)(A), insofar as it states that a victim of a severe form of trafficking shall be eligible for federal and certain State benefits and services to the same extent as a refugee.
Funding Availability
ORR expects to award approximately $4,915,540 in Fiscal Year 2003 for the TAG discretionary program through 15 to 20 grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 per budget period. The Director reserves the right to award less, or more, than the funds described, in the absence of worthy applications, or under such other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of the government. Applicants may be required to reduce the scope of selected projects to accommodate the amount of the approved grant award.
States that administer TAG discretionary programs directly (without the involvement of the counties or local jurisdictions and through a mutual agreement with the qualifying county) may spend no more than 5 percent of their total allocation, and up to 10 percent of each county’s allocation, on administrative costs that are reasonable, allocable, and necessary.
When the TAG discretionary program is administered locally, (by the County or local jurisdiction) the State must allocate to the county or designated local entity not less than 95 percent of the amount of its formula allocation. TAG counties are allowed to spend up to 15 percent of their allocation on administrative costs, as need arises. States and counties are strongly encouraged to limit administrative costs to the extent possible to maximize available funding to serve refugees.
Costs that are allocated for State contracting and monitoring for Targeted Assistance discretionary grant, if charged, must be charged specifically to this grant and not to general State administration.
There is no matching requirement under this particular announcement.
CFDA Number
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number assigned to this announcement is 93.576.
Applicable Grant Regulations
Grants awarded under this program announcement are subject to grant regulations under 45 CFR Part 74 or 92.
Part II. Project and Applicant Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
Eligible TAG applicants are: (1) those agencies of State governments that are responsible for the refugee program under 45 CFR 400.5, and (2) those non‑State agencies funded under the Wilson‑Fish program which administer, in lieu of a State, a statewide refugee assistance program. Applications will be considered from all States, regardless of whether any communities in the State qualify for funding under the formula TAG program. However, priority will be given to those communities in States that are not currently funded under the formula TAG program. This preference is intended to recognize that some communities may still meet the statutory definition of targeted assistance but receive no formula funding, because the targeted assistance formula does not measure secondary migrants as they move from county to county or those refugees who have been in the U.S. for longer than five years.
In order to provide culturally and linguistically compatible services in as cost-efficient manner as possible, ORR strongly encourages States and counties to promote and give special consideration to the provision of services through coalitions of refugee service organizations, such as coalitions of Mutual Assistance Associations (MAA’s), voluntary resettlement agencies, or a variety of service providers. States are encouraged to consider eligible applicants for these funds to include public or private non-profit agencies including faith, refugee, or community-based organizations.
Project and Budget Periods
Applicants may request a project period of up to three years, with an initial budget period of one year. Where awards are for multiple year budget periods, applications for continuation grants will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds, successful progress of the project, and a determination that this would be in the best interest of the government.
Allowable Activities
In addition to the statutory requirement that TAG funds be used "primarily for the purpose of facilitating refugee employment" (section 412(c)(2)(B)(i) of the INA), funds awarded under this program are intended to help fulfill the congressional intent that "employable refugees should be placed in jobs as soon as possible after their arrival in the United States" (section 412(a)(1)(B)(i) of the INA). Therefore, targeted assistance funds must be used primarily for employability services designed to enable refugees to obtain jobs and achieve economic self‑sufficiency as soon as possible. Targeted assistance services may be continued after a refugee has entered a job to help the refugee retain employment or move to a better job. Targeted Assistance funds may not be used for vocational training lasting more than a year or for other educational programs that are not intended to lead to employment within a year.
ORR is particularly interested in projects that address the self-sufficiency needs of special populations, such as refugee women who are not literate in their native language, the elderly and other hard-to-assimilate refugee groups. Services must be provided to the maximum extent feasible in a manner that ensures adequate service access by refugee women and compatibility with a refugee's language and cultural background. In planning services for refugees, States and counties should take into consideration the family’s previously developed self-sufficiency plan [See 45 CFR 400.79 and 400.156(g)].
Listed below are examples of allowable services. They are not intended to limit applicants from planning and designing projects that are appropriate for the target population. Applicants may propose all or some combination of the following, or may propose other strategies to address refugee self-sufficiency:
Specialized Training and Employment-Related Activities (including all services listed at 45 CFR §400.154):
--Training specific to employment job opportunities offered by an employer or industry in the community. These activities should be jointly designed with the employer and show employer contribution and commitment to employing the trainees, e.g., training of bilingual education aides for the school system, training of health aides for placement in the health care system.
--Incentives for refugees to seek and maintain employment and to reduce welfare dependency such as job acceptance and job retention bonuses.
--On-the-job training and short-term skills training targeted to the local job market.
--Job placement and post-placement services to help refugees retain employment or achieve self
sufficiency.
--Supportive services, such as transportation, interpreter assistance, access to child care, and equipment that is required for employment (such as work boots, tools, uniforms, etc.). Transportation and equipment may only be provided to newly employed refugees.
--Job upgrade services
--Recertification and retraining not to exceed 12 months for attaining employment in the job related area.
English Language Training (ELT):
--Specialized classes for specific industries in conjunction with employers.
--Specialized instruction in pre-employment competency-based ELT for targeted groups, e.g., limited English speaking individuals with non-transferable job skills, homebound women,
refugees who are not literate in their native language, and the elderly.
--Occupational and vocational English language training, particularly in collaboration with specific employers and with their active participation; ELT at sites of employment, ELT as part of an integrated employment program (e.g., one stop services).
--If targeted assistance funds are used for the provision of English language training, such training must be provided in a concurrent, rather than sequential, time period with employment or with other employment‑related activities.
Community Education:
--Citizenship and naturalization preparatory services.
--Orientation to health care and assistance for accessing low-cost health service, including community health centers, health maintenance organizations, preventive health measures, and the availability of health services for low income families.
Part III. Review Process
The Project Description - Overview
PURPOSE
The project description provides a major means by which an application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing your project description, all information requested through each specific evaluation criteria should 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.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
ACF is particularly interested in specific factual information and statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant- funded activity should be placed in an appendix. Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included for easy reference.
General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description
INTRODUCTION
Applicants required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions and the specified evaluation criteria. The instructions give a broad overview of what your project description should include while the evaluation criteria expands and clarifies more program-specific information that is needed.
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less), with reference to the funding request.
OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE
Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included, or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement.
RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED
Identify the results and benefits to be derived. English language training programs might describe increases in language proficiency, how this achievement will be measured, and how the outcomes assist the refugees’ self-sufficiency. All applicants will be required to establish proposed performance goals for each of the six ORR performance outcome measures for each impacted county's proposed service contract(s) or sub-grants for the next contracting cycle. Proposed performance goals must be included in the application for each performance measure. The six ORR performance measures are: entered employments, cash assistance reductions due to employment, cash assistance terminations due to employment, 90-day employment retentions, average wage at placement, and entered employments with available health benefits. TAG program activity and progress achieved toward meeting performance outcome goals are to be reported quarterly on the ORR-6, the "Quarterly Performance Report."
States that are currently grantees for TAG discretionary funds should base projected annual outcome goals on past performance. Current grantees should have adequate baseline data for all of the six ORR performance outcome measures based on a history of targeted assistance program experience.
States identified as new eligible targeted assistance grantees are also required to set proposed outcome goals for each of the six ORR performance outcome measures. New grantees may use baseline data, as available, and current data as reported on the ORR-6 for social services program activity to assist them in the goal-setting process.
New counties within States that are current grantees are also required to set proposed outcome goals for each of the six ORR performance outcome measures. New counties may use baseline data, as available, and current data as reported on the ORR-6 for social services program activity to assist them in the goal-setting process.
Proposed targeted assistance outcome goals should reflect improvement over past performance and strive for continuous improvement during the project period from one year to another.
Final targeted assistance outcome goals are due November 15, 2003, in conjunction with the ORR Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) cycle.
APPROACH
Outline a plan of action which 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 which might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates.
If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF."
List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids may be attached.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Following is a description of additional information that should be placed in the appendix to the application.
STAFF AND POSITION DATA
Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch will also be required for new key staff as appointed.
ORGANIZATION PROFILES
Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax
exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, or by providing a copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation or association is domiciled.
THIRD-PARTY AGREEMENTS
Include written agreements between grantees and sub-grantees or subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These agreements must detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, renumeration, and other terms and conditions that structure or define the relationship.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Provide statements from community, public and commercial leaders that support the project proposed for funding.
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION
Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs.
GENERAL
The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes of preparing the budget and budget justification, "Federal resources" refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal resources are all other Federal and non-
Federal resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.
PERSONNEL
Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
Justification: Identify the project director or principal investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the applicant.
FRINGE BENEFITS
Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.
Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
TRAVEL
Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
EQUIPMENT
Description: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property, having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. However, an applicant may use its own definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least include all equipment defined above.
Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the equipment definition.
SUPPLIES
Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that included under the Equipment category.
Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports the amount requested.
CONTRACTUAL
Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except for those which belong under other categories such as equipment, supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the applicant, should be included under this category.
Justification: All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. If procurement competitions were held or if procurement without competition is being proposed, attach a list of proposed contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the purposes of the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the award selection process. Justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(l 1) (currently set at $100,000). Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.
Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency title, along with the required supporting information referred to in these instructions.
OTHER
Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, and administrative costs.
Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a justification for each cost under this category.
INDIRECT CHARGES
Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency.
Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
PROGRAM INCOME
Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be generated from this project.
Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application which contain this information.
NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES
Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be documented and submitted with the application in order to be given credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for each funding source.
TOTAL DIRECT CHARGES, TOTAL INDIRECT CHARGES, TOTAL PROJECT COSTS.
self explanatory
Targeted Assistance Application Review Criteria
Each application, regardless of the number of projects therein, will be rated and scored by an independent review panel using the following criteria.
1. Approach (30 points)
Quality, appropriateness, and anticipated impact of proposed services. The applicant clearly demonstrates the involvement of the local community in the planning process. The applicant clearly describes the specific strategies and the proposed services to meet the needs of the targeted population, and how the proposed services complement or supplement existing refugee services. The applicant demonstrates the cost effectiveness of the program and discusses how requested funds and proposed activities will relate to other funded services.
2. Objectives and Need for Assistance (25 points)
Description of the targeted refugee population and its impact on the overall community. The applicant describes the target refugee population(s) including their number, national origin, year of arrival, State of initial resettlement and other pertinent information. The applicant compares the size of the target refugee population in relation to the size of the general population in the community. The applicant clearly describes the services that will be provided and documents the extent to which other sources of funding, including formula Social Services, formula TAG funds. and other Federal, State, or local funding, are not sufficient or available to address the impact. Special consideration will be given to those jurisdictions that do not currently receive formula TAG funds. To receive this consideration, the applicant must clearly describe how the local jurisdiction has been impacted by refugee groups that are not counted under the TAG formula program, such as secondary migrants and refugees who have been in the U.S. longer than five years.
3.
Results or Benefits Expected (20 points)
Extent to which the timeline and expected outcomes of the project are appropriate and reasonable in relation to the funding cycle and the proposed activities. The applicant has clearly projected outcomes. All applicants will be required to establish proposed performance goals for each of the six ORR performance outcome measures for each impacted county's proposed service contract(s) or sub-grants for the next contracting cycle. The six ORR performance measures are: entered employments, cash assistance reductions due to employment, cash assistance terminations due to employment, 90 day employment retentions, average wage at placement, and entered employments with available health benefits.
4. Budget and Budget Justification (15 points)
Reasonableness of budget proposed. Detailed budget and narrative justification, including State and/or local government administration. Unit costs for project services and expected outcomes are justified and reasonable. A line item budget and justification for State administrative costs is limited to a maximum of 5 percent of the total award to the State. Each total budget period funding amount requested must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable to the project. States that administer the program directly in lieu of the county, through a mutual agreement with the qualifying county, may spend no more than 5 percent of their total award, and up to 10 percent of the county’s allocation, on administrative costs that are reasonable, allocable, and necessary.
5. Organizational Profiles (10 points)
Demonstrated organizational experience, track record, and project management capability. Staff resumes or job descriptions are included. Organizational charts depict agency and staff roles and responsibilities.
Part IV. The Application
Initial ACF Screening
Each application submitted under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in this announcement and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding.
Application Development
In order to be considered for a grant under this program announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied and in the manner prescribed by ACF. Application materials including forms and instructions are available from the contact name under the "ADDRESSES" section in the preamble of this announcement.
Forms and Certifications
Applicants for financial assistance under this announcement must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF-424A, Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs; SF-424B, Assurances—Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. An application with an original signature and two copies is required.
Applicants must provide a certification concerning lobbying. Prior to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants should furnish an executed copy of the lobbying certification (approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0348-0046). Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for the award. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification with the application.
Applicant must also understand they will be held accountable for the smoking prohibition included within P.L. 103-227, Part C Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the Pro-Children’s Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking prohibition is included with forms. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification with the application.
Application Submission
Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be classified as late. Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are either received on or before the deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time for the independent review 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, S.W, Washington, D.C. 20447, Attention: Grants Management Officer.
Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark, or a legibly dated, machine produced postmark of a commercial mail service appears on the envelope/package containing the application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by other representatives of the applicant shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 901 D Street, SW, Aerospace Building, Washington, DC 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the note "Attention: Grants Management Officer. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition.
Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend an application deadline when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when there are widespread disruption of the mail service, or in other rare cases. Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with ACF's Chief Grants Management Officer.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," and 45 CFR part 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities."
Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. NOTE: STATE/TERRITORY PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS DOES NOT SIGNIFY APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER A PROGRAM. A POTENTIAL APPLICANT MUST MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM FOR WHICH IT IS APPLYING PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO ITS SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT (SPOC), IF APPLICABLE, OR TO ACF.
The following jurisdictions have elected not to participate in the Executive Order process. Applicants from these jurisdictions or for projects administered by federally
recognized Indian Tribes need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in the process, entities which have met the eligibility criteria of the program may still apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a (SPOC). All remaining jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon as possible so that the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. The applicant must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards.
SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations which may trigger the "accommodate or explain" rule.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to file the Financial Status Report (SF 269) semi-annually and Quarterly Program Performance Reports (QPR---OMB Approval No. 0970-
0036). Funds issued under these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately from all other grant activities, specifically, separate from the formula social services or formula targeted assistance grants.
Although ORR does not expect the proposed components/projects to include evaluation activities, it does expect grantees to maintain adequate records to track and report on project outcomes and expenditures by budget line item.
An original and one copy of each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each reporting period directly to the Grants Management Specialist named in the award letter. The mailing address is: ACF, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Washington, D.C. 20447. A copy should also be sent to the ORR Project Officer named in the award letter. The mailing address is ACF, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Washington, D.C. 20447. A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the budget expiration date or termination of grant support.
Dated:
Nguyen Van Hanh, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement