[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13771-13776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5510]
[[Page 13771]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
[Program Announcement CFDA Number 93.604]
Discretionary Funds for Assistance for Treatment of Torture
Survivors
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Request for applications for services to victims of torture
including medical, psychological, legal and social services; and
research and training for health care providers outside of treatment
centers to enable the provision of services to victims of torture.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), announces that competing applications will
be accepted for ``Treatment and Services for Torture Survivors'' grants
to provide assistance to victims of torture, including treatment for
the physical and psychological effects of torture and social and legal
services, and to provide research and training for health care
providers outside of treatment centers to provide rehabilitation
services.
DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is May 7, 2001.
See Part III of this announcement for more information on submitting
applications.
Announcement Availability: The program announcement and the
application materials are available from Marta Brenden, Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR) 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington DC
20447 and from the ORR website at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Brenden, Refugee Program
Specialist, Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee
Resettlement, Tel (202) 205-3589, Fax (202) 401-5772,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four
parts:
Part I: Background and General Information--background, legislative
authority, funding availability, CFDA Number, eligible applicants,
project and budget periods, purpose and objectives, allowable
activities, and review criteria.
Part II. The Review Process--intergovernmental review, initial ACF
screening, and competitive review.
Part III: The Application--application development: application
forms, application submission and deadlines, late applications,
extension of deadlines, certifications, general instructions for
preparing a full project description, and length of applications.
Part IV: Post-award--applicable regulations, treatment of program
income and reporting requirements.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13)
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 30 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
reviewing the collection information. The following information
collections are included in the program announcement: OMB control
number 0970-0139, ACF UNIFORM PROJECT DESCRIPTION (UPD) which expires
12/31/2003. 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 and General Information
Background
Torture and Torture Victims
The psychosocial and health consequences of violence and traumatic
stress have emerged as one of the public health problems of our time.
Torture constitutes one of the most extreme forms of trauma, with the
potential for long-term psychological and physical suffering. The term
torture has been defined in different ways by various organizations for
multiple purposes.
This program authorized by the ``Torture Victims Relief Act of
1998'' uses the definition of torture found in 18 U.S.C. 2340 (1) and
``includes the use of rape and other forms of sexual violence by a
person acting under the color of law upon another person under his
custody or physical control.'' The definition of ``torture'' at 18
U.S.C. 2340 (1) provides that:
`torture' means an act committed by a person under the color of law
specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or
suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions)
upon another person within his custody or physical control.
This provision also defines the term ``severe mental pain or
suffering'' as: the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from--
(A) the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe
physical pain or suffering;
(B) the administration or application, or threatened administration
or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures
calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;
(C) the threat of imminent death; or
(D) the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to
death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or
application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated
to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality.
It should be emphasized that, for purposes of this announcement,
the experience of torture may include specific characteristics of
torture as documented in personal testimony or in clinical, medical, or
detention settings. Some specific examples of physical and
psychological types of torture are: systemic beating, sexual torture,
electrical torture, suffocation, burning, bodily suspension,
pharmacological torture, mutilations, dental assaults, deprivation and
exhaustion, threats about the use of torture, witnessing the torture of
others, humiliation, and isolation.
Estimates of the number of torture survivors have been established
primarily by extrapolating from the major populations at risk--refugees
and internally displaced persons. In 1997, there were estimated to be
more that 13,600,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the world and 20
million internally displaced persons. The estimates of refugees, asylum
seekers and displaced persons who have been tortured vary widely from
5% to 35%. This announcement, which focuses on health, social and legal
services for torture survivors, as well as education and training of
providers, recognizes that torture may have been an experience of many
members of groups residing in the United States, including refugees,
asylees, immigrants, other displaced persons, and U.S. citizens. Using
data cited above, it has been estimated that there may be more than
400,000 torture survivors in the United States.
Consequences of Torture and Services for Torture Survivors
Physical consequences of torture may be extensive and severe.
Specific neuropsychological symptoms are often difficult to diagnose
because of head injuries and the multiplicity of symptoms. Post-
traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse, and other
anxiety disorders are common diagnoses among torture survivors.
Therefore, for many severely tortured individuals, access to medical
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practitioners and sophisticated diagnostic instruments and testing
(e.g., neuro-imaging, cognitive functions, etc.), for the purpose of
differential diagnosis, is paramount.
A high percentage of torture survivors are in need of social and
legal services. Access to legal and immigration services is usually a
priority. Social services, such as employment assistance and training,
are also extremely important and correlate with successful psychosocial
adjustment and well-being. From the national experience with refugees
and survivors of wartime violence, it has been demonstrated that early
and adequate access to social and legal services may also preclude the
need for more specialized psychological treatment services.
The torture rehabilitation and treatment center movement, which was
established in Denmark in the 1970's, and adopted in the US, Canada,
France and other countries, has led to the growth of specialized
torture survivor treatment centers in select parts of the nation.
Although the treatment center movement has created opportunities for
treatment and training in specific urban areas, many torture survivors
do not have access to these highly specialized programs. Medical,
social and legal services for torture survivors are needed in areas and
in settings and institutions wherever torture survivors will seek
assistance. Thus there is also a national need for more broad-based
training of medical and mental health practitioners in the
identification, diagnosis and treatment of torture survivors.
Torture survivors, now in the United States, should be provided
with the rehabilitation services which would enable them to become
productive community members. The Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998
provides for services for the treatment of the psychological and
physical effects of torture, social and legal services for torture
survivors, and research and training for health care providers.
Legislative Authority
In October 1998, Congress enacted the ``Torture Victims Relief Act
of 1998,'' Pub. Law 105-320 (22 U.S.C. 2152 note). Sec. 5 (a) of the
law provides:
Assistance for Treatment of Torture Victims--The Secretary of
Health and Human Services may provide grants to programs in the United
States to cover the cost of the following services:
(1) Services for the rehabilitation of victims of torture,
including treatment of the physical and psychological effects of
torture.
(2) Social and legal services for victims of torture.
(3) Research and training for health care providers outside of
treatment centers, or programs for the purpose of enabling such
providers to provide the services described in paragraph (1).
In November 1999, Congress enacted the ``Torture Victims Relief
Reauthorization Act of 1999,'' Pub. Law 106-87 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note).
Funding Availability
Congress appropriated $10,000,000 for carrying out section 5 of the
Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 for the second year of
implementation of FY 2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001, as
enacted into law by section 1 (a)(1) of Public Law 106-554.
ORR anticipates that this increase in funding will permit the award
of 4-6 new grants during FY 2001 at a total amount of approximately
$2,000,000. The Director will award the new awards as well as the
continuation awards subject to availability of funds, satisfactory
progress of the FY 2000 awards, and a determination that the awards are
in the best interest of the Government.
The ORR 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. It is important to make torture treatment available to
the greatest number of victims of torture and for that reason, the ORR
Director reserves the right to award applications that will cover the
largest number of geographic areas.
Applications for subsequent year continuation grants funded under
these awards will be entertained on a non-competitive basis, subject to
the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a
determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of
the Government.
CFDA Number: 93.604
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are public or private organizations and
institutions.
Project and Budget Periods
This announcement invites applications for project periods up to
three years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year
budget period although project periods may be for three years.
Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards, beyond
the one-year budget period but within the three-year project period,
will be entertained in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis,
subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee
and a determination that continued funding would be in the best
interest of the Government.
Purpose and Objectives
Through this announcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement
(ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) intends to fund
grant applications for 4-6 organizations to provide assistance to
victims of torture.
The purpose of the torture treatment program is to provide services
to persons who have experienced torture. It is also to conduct research
and training for health care providers outside of treatment centers so
that these providers may also provide rehabilitative services to
victims of torture.
The persons who have been tortured may have one of several
immigration statuses: they may be legally admitted as refugees or
asylees, while others may be seeking asylum. Still other persons may be
U.S. citizens. The services funded under this announcement should
respond to the diversity of populations to be targeted in the project
area whether they are immigrants, asylum seekers, asylees, refugees
admitted under the U.S. refugee program, or citizens of the United
States.
However, not all torture survivors have the same medical,
psychological, social, or legal needs. It is encouraged that, within
the clinical, social and legal service domains, proposals are
encouraged that will address a broad menu of services for any of the
torture victims in the project's specified geographic area. The
applications may include several organizations in collaborative
relationships in order to have all the services necessary for the
clients. Partnerships are encouraged among organizations in order to
reach all the torture victims in that area and to provide a
comprehensive program of services. For example, an organization that
currently provides legal advice to detained asylum seekers, who are
torture survivors, might collaborate with a social service or treatment
center organization to pool resources and expand their range of
services for their clients.
Allowable Activities
Applicants may propose one or more of the following activities
listed in the legislation: (1) services for the rehabilitation of
victims of torture, including treatment of the physical and
psychological effects of torture; (2) social and legal services for
victims of torture; (3) research and training for health care providers
outside of
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treatment centers. For example, applications may propose programs in
treatment centers to provide medical, psychological, social and legal
services. Applications may also propose programs for the purpose of
enabling health care providers outside the treatment centers to provide
medical, psychological, social and legal services. Applications should
provide the rationale for activities describing how these activities
meet the needs of the victims of torture to be served in the geographic
area to be served.
Review Criteria
1. Objectives and Need for Assistance. The application clearly
demonstrates experience with and knowledge of victims of torture and an
assessment of their presence in the proposed geographic area of
service. There is a clear description of the process by which the
client has access to treatment and to the other allowable services.
Where research and training activities are proposed, applicant clearly
demonstrates interest and willingness of service providers outside the
treatment centers to attend training. (15 Points)
2. Approach. The application provides a clear and feasible strategy
for assisting torture survivors that demonstrates knowledge of the
clients, experience in serving these clients, and community resources
and has planned with other collaborative organizations to assist the
clients in an effective and efficient manner. The service plan and
collaborative relationships are reasonable, substantiated with
appropriate documents, have a likelihood of success and provide a
feasible strategy to work with the torture survivor in becoming a
productive member of the community. Where research and training
activities are proposed, applicant provides a plan for research and
training demonstrating interest in the service providers to attend the
training activities. (25 points)
3. Organization Profiles. The application demonstrates the
organization's capacity to provide assistance appropriate to torture
survivors (and, if appropriate to the activities in the approach, the
service providers to be trained) that includes: (a.) agency mission and
organizational chart; (b.) resumes of project staff demonstrating
linguistic and cultural access for clients; (c.) history of experience
with torture survivors, such as experience as a treatment center or an
organization that provides social and legal services to survivors of
torture; (d.) management plan for the project contains systems of
client records, program records, and financial management; and (e.)
timeline for implementation of project activities. (25 points)
4. Results or Expected Benefits. The outcomes and benefits of the
assistance and training are clearly explained and are reasonable. There
are clear and understandable outcome measures for the services, and a
reasonable plan for reporting the outcomes to ORR. (25 points)
5. Budget and Budget Justification. The budget is reasonable and
clearly justified. The methodologies for estimating the number of
client/patients to be served are reasonable. The plan for program
income generated by fees, including, Medicaid, Refugee Medical
Assistance (RMA), and private health coverage for client fees for
treatment, when available, is appropriate, reasonable and viable. (10
points)
Part II. The Review Process
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
Program and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance
under covered programs.
Please Note: All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska,
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa
and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive Order process
and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). Applicants
from these twenty-eight jurisdictions need take no action regarding
E.O. 12372. Applicants for projects to be administered by Federally-
recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from the requirements of
E.O. 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact their SPOCs as soon
as possible to alert them of the prospective applications and
receive any necessary 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. It is imperative that the applicant submit all
required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of
this submittal (or indicate ``not applicable'' 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.
When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, OCSE Office of Grants Management, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., 4th floor East, Washington, D.C. 20447.
A list of the Single Points of Contact for each participating State
and Territory can be found on the web at: http//www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
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.
Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria
The applications that pass the initial ACF screening will be
evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of
evaluation criteria specified in Part I. The evaluation criteria are
designed to assess the quality of a proposed project, and to determine
the likelihood of its success. The evaluation criteria are closely
related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of
an application. Points are awarded only to applications that are
responsive to the evaluation criteria within the context of this
program announcement.
Part III. Application
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 named under the
``Announcement Availability'' section in the preamble of this
announcement. Selected elements of the ACF Uniform Project Description
(UPD) relevant to this program announcement are attached as Appendix A.
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Application Forms
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. Application materials including forms
and instructions are also available from the Contact named in the
``Announcement Availability'' section of this announcement.
Application Submission and Deadlines
An application with an original signature and two clearly
identified copies is required.
The closing date for submission of applications is May 7, 2001.
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 Refugee
Resettlement, Attention: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark or a legibly dated, machine produced postmark of a commercial
mail service is affixed to 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 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children
and Families, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor, Aerospace
Building, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20447 between Monday and
Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address must appear on the
envelope/package containing the application with the note ``Attention:
Ms. Daphne Weeden.'' (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight
mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to
ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of
submission and time of receipt.
Late Applications
Applications that 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 application deadlines when circumstances such as
acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when there are
widespread disruptions of mail service. Determinations to extend or
waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants Management
Officer.
For Further Information on Application Deadlines Contact: Ms.
Daphne Weeden, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington,
DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-4577.
Certifications, Assurances, And Disclosure Required For Non
Construction Programs
Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard
Form 424B with their applications.
Applicants must provide a signed certification regarding lobbying
with their applications, when applying for an award in excess of
$100,000. Applicants who have used non-Federal funds for lobbying
activities in connection with receiving assistance under this
announcement shall complete a disclosure form to report lobbying.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their
compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and
submitting the application, the applicant is providing the
certification and need not mail back the certification with the
applications.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are
not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for an award.
By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing
the certification and need not mail back the certification with the
applications.
General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description
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. Applicants are encouraged
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff,
related experience, and other information considered relevant. Awarding
offices use this and other information to determine whether the
applicant has the capability and resources necessary to carry out the
proposed project. It is important, therefore, that this information be
included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant
must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed
project from those that will not be used in support of the specific
project for which funds are requested. Please refer to the UPD sections
in appendix A.
Length of Applications
Each application narrative portion should not exceed 25 double-
spaced pages in a 12-pitch font. Attachments and appendices should not
exceed 25 pages and should be used only to provide supporting
documentation such as maps, administration charts, position
descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent for partnership
agreements. Please do not include books or video tapes as they are not
easily reproduced and are therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers.
Each page should be numbered sequentially, including the attachments or
appendices.
Part IV. Post-award--Applicable Regulations and Reporting
Requirements
Applicable Regulations
Applicable DHHS regulations can be found in 45 CFR Part 74 or Part
92.
Treatment of Program Income
Program income from activities funded under this program may be
retained by the recipient and added to the funds committed to the
project and used to further program objectives.
Reporting Requirements
Grantees are required to file the Financial status Report (SF-269)
and
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Program Performance Reports on a semi-annual basis. Funds issued under
these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately from
all other grant activities. ORR does not expect the proposed
components/projects to include evaluation activities, however, it does
expect grantees to maintain adequate records to track and report on
project outcomes. The official receipt point for all reports and
correspondence is the ORR Grants Officer. 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 Officer. The mailing address
is: Ms. Daphne Weeden, Administration for Children and Families, Office
of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor,
Washington, DC 20447. A final Financial and Program Report shall be due
90 days after the budget expiration date or termination of grant
support.
Dated: February 28, 2001.
Carmel Clay-Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Appendix A--Uniform Project Description Overview OMB No. 0970-0139
The project description is approved under OMB control number
0970-0139 which expires 12/31/2003.
Part I 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.
Part II 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. For example,
the application would describe the torture victims to be treated,
the number expected to use the service and the measures of
improvement expected in the clients as a result of the treatment.
Similarly, where research and training activities are proposed, the
application would describe the training schedule and curriculum as
well as the number expected to attend the training and the measures
of information to be gained from the training.
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. For example, applicants might project the
number of torture victims to be enrolled for services with the
number of clinical hours, social services and legal hours to be
provided. Where the application proposes training, applicants might
project frequency of training activities, the content of training,
projected attendance and knowledge gained. 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.
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.
Organizational 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.
Dissemination Plan
Provide a plan for distributing reports and other project
outputs to colleagues and the public. Applicants must provide a
description of the kind, volume and timing of distribution.
Third-Party Agreements
Include written agreements between grantees and subgrantees or
subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These agreements must
detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, remuneration,
and other
[[Page 13776]]
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. All submissions
should be included in the application OR by application deadline.
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: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable,
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one
year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of
(a) the capitalization level established by the organization for the
financial statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost
means the net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including
the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, or
auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the purpose for
which it is acquired. Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty,
protective in-transit insurance, freight, and installation shall be
included in or excluded from acquisition cost in accordance with the
organization's regular written accounting practices.)
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. Recipients and subrecipients, other than States
that are required to use Part 92 procedures, must justify any
anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded
without competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold
fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11) 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.
Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs
Self-explanatory.
[FR Doc. 01-5510 Filed 3-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P