LIHEAP AT 2012-3 Request for Applications for the REACH Program FY 2012
Transmittal No. |
LIHEAP-AT-2012-3
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Date: January 31, 2012
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TO: |
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES |
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GUIDANCE INTENDED FOR: |
_X__ STATES |
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SUBJECT: | Request for FY 2012 Applications for the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) | |
RELATED |
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act (LIHEAP), Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law (Pub.L.) 97-35, the Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Pub.L. 103-252); the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub.L. 109-58); and LIHEAP-AT-2010-3 (dated 1/7/10). |
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DUE DATE: |
March 30, 2012 - Grantee applications for REACH awards MUST be received electronically on or before this date. No late applications will be considered (no exceptions). | |
PURPOSE: |
To inform LIHEAP grantees that applications are being requested under the FY 2012 REACH Program, and to provide a copy of the OMB approved REACH Model Plan format that may be used to apply for REACH funds each year. |
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BACKGROUND: |
The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Pub.L. 103-252) amended the LIHEAP statute to add Section 2607B, which established the REACH program. The REACH program is intended to address the following home energy issues: The public health and safety aspects of LIHEAP were underscored in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, enacted on August 8, 2005 (Pub.L. 109-58). Section 1804 of Title XVIII of the Energy Policy Act required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to Congress on how LIHEAP could be used more effectively to prevent loss of life from extreme temperatures. On February 15, 2007, HHS submitted its LIHEAP Report to Congress, Preventing Loss of Life Due to Extreme Indoor Temperatures. Further reporting may be derived from results identified in REACH evaluations. The REACH program follows the same financial rules for the obligation and expenditure of REACH funds that are used under the Leveraging Incentive Program (also offered through LIHEAP). These rules require that REACH funds be obligated within the two-year grant period, meaning that the funds must be committed for a REACH-related purpose within the federal fiscal year the REACH award is made by HHS or within the subsequent fiscal year. REACH funds must be expended (payment on prior obligations) within a reasonable timeframe after the end of the grant period. This extension covering the expenditure of REACH funds permits grantees to support the costs involved in producing evaluation reports, which are due six months after the end of the grant period. REACH funds are available only to LIHEAP grantees. States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico must coordinate REACH efforts with community-based organizations (CBOs) to assure that REACH services are implemented and operated by these entities. Tribes/Tribal Organizations and Insular Areas (other than Puerto Rico) may administer their programs without sub-contracting or sub-granting to a CBO. The LIHEAP statute provides that up to $50 million of the LIHEAP block grant appropriation may be used to support a Leveraging Incentive Program. The 1994 amendments to the LIHEAP statute provide that a portion of the leveraging funds (up to 25 percent) may be set aside for REACH awards. We did not issue FY 2011 awards for leveraging and REACH, as LIHEAP funds were not set aside for these purposes. REACH awards were last issued in FY 2010. |
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CONTENT: |
As a follow-up to the congressional report on preventing loss of life, the HHS Office of Community Services (OCS) is focusing REACH grants that promote innovative initiatives that address home energy-related health and safety issues and “home energy vulnerability” (i.e., the risk to personal health and safety that is associated with home energy affordability). REACH programs must be both home energy-related and focused on health and safety of vulnerable households. REACH funds are available in FY 2012. LIHEAP grantees that wish to receive FY 2012 REACH awards must apply by submitting a REACH plan that is innovative and addresses the requirements listed in Section 2607B of the LIHEAP statute and as outlined in this Action Transmittal. REACH Requirements Please review the attached guidance (Attachment 1), which explains the REACH requirements in detail. The major highlights are:
Attached is the REACH Model Plan format (Attachment 2) that you may use in developing your FY 2012 REACH plan. The REACH application process has been standardized in an OMB approved form similar to the Model Plan for LIHEAP block grant funds. REACH applicants are not required to use the REACH Model Plan format. Applicants may submit a REACH plan in any format desired, as long as it includes all of the information required under the LIHEAP statute. The assurances printed at the beginning of the REACH Model Plan are from the LIHEAP statute. Applicants who choose not to use the REACH Model Plan may wish to use these assurance pages. Please be sure that (1) the Governor or Tribal Chairperson signs the assurances or (2) the person who signs the assurances has written delegated authority specific to signing the REACH assurances (and include a copy of that delegation letter with your REACH plan). For FY 2012, OCS will set aside approximately $1.015 million to award grants to approximately two States and four Tribes/Insular Areas under the REACH program. (Insular Areas that consolidate their LIHEAP funds under another HHS block grant are not eligible for REACH funds.) If a sufficient number of qualified applications for REACH funds are not received, unused funds will be awarded under the Leveraging Incentive Program. To be considered for funding, REACH plans must be submitted electronically on or before the March 30, 2012 due date. The Office of Community Services will not consider applications received after this date, and no exceptions will be granted. Applicants that experience technical difficulties or who do not have email access, should notify the OCS contact listed below by the due date and arrange an alternate submission method. The REACH plan and all attachments must be in a Microsoft Office or PDF format. Please ensure that a PDF attachment with the date and signature of the Governor or Tribal Chairman to the REACH assurances is included with the submission. Please enter the following in the subject line of your email to our office: “FY 2012 REACH Plan Submission for [insert Grantee name]”. In the “Grantee name” field, please spell out your entire legal name, e.g., State of Alabama, Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, etc. Here is an example of a correct email subject line and list of the required attachments: EMAIL MESSAGE |
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SUBMISSIONS TO : | ||
CONTACT: | Questions may be directed to Margarita Valladares at margarita.valladares@acf.hhs.gov or 202-205-4711. | |
ATTACHMENTS: |
(1) REACH Program Guidance and Policy (DOC) |
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