[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59736-59746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24122]
[[Page 59735]]
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Part IV
Department of Health and Human Services
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Administration for Children and Families
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Administration for Native Americans: Availability of Financial
Assistance; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2002 /
Notices
[[Page 59736]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Program Announcement No. 93612-2003]
Administration for Native Americans: Availability of Financial
Assistance
AGENCY: Administration for Native Americans ACF, HHS.
ACTION: Announcement of availability of competitive financial
assistance for projects in competitive areas administered by the
Administration for Native Americans for American Indians, Native
Hawaiians, Alaska Natives and Native American Pacific Islanders.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announces the
anticipated availability of fiscal year 2003 funds in two competitive
areas:
Area (1) Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS)--closing
dates are January 17, 2003; and May 2, 2003.
Area (2) Social and Economic Development Strategies for Alaska Natives
(AK-SEDS)--closing date is May 2, 2003.
Financial assistance provided by ANA in support of projects in
these two areas is intended to promote the goal of self-sufficiency for
Native Americans. The printed Federal Register notice is the only
official program announcement. Although all reasonable efforts are
taken to assure that the files on the ANA World Wide Web Page
containing electronic copies of this Program Announcement are accurate
and complete, they are provided for information only. The applicant
bears sole responsibility to assure that the copy downloaded and/or
printed from any other source is accurate and complete. Copies of this
program announcement and many of the required forms may be obtained
electronically at the ANA World Wide Web address http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/.
FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the ANA Applicant Help Desk at
202-690-7776 or toll free at 1-877-922-9262 for assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction and Purpose
The purpose of this program announcement is to announce the
anticipated availability of fiscal year 2003 funds, authorized under
the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (Act), as amended, to promote
the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency for American Indians,
Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific Islanders
in two competitive areas. Funding authorization is provided under
sections 803(a), of the Native American Programs Act of 1974, as
amended (Pub. L. 93-644, 88 Stat. 2324, 42 U.S.C. 2991b).
The Administration for Native Americans assists eligible applicants
for the two competitive areas to undertake 12 to 36 month development
projects that are part of long-range comprehensive plans to move toward
governance, social, and/or economic self-sufficiency.
In order to streamline the application process for eligible
applicants under two competitive areas, ANA is issuing a single program
announcement for fiscal year 2003 funds. Information regarding ANA's
mission, policy, goals, application requirements, review criteria and
closing dates for the two competitive areas are included in this
announcement.
The Administration for Native Americans promotes the goal of self-
sufficiency in Native American communities primarily through Social and
Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) projects. This program
announcement is being issued in anticipation of the appropriation of
funds for fiscal year 2003 and the availability of funds for these
competitive areas is contingent upon sufficient final appropriations.
Proposed projects are reviewed on a competitive basis against the
specific evaluation criteria presented under each competitive area in
this announcement.
Notice: Organizations from Palau are no longer eligible for
assistance under ANA programs. See Part II, Section D: Eligible
Applicants for additional information.
White House Initiatives: In support of the executive order on Asian
American and Pacific Islanders, ANA encourages greater participation
from Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Executive Order on
People with Disabilities encourages all communities to address the
needs of people with disabilities in all programs in accordance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ANA encourages all Native
communities to address the needs of People with Disabilities in all
aspects of their programs. ANA also encourages greater participation
from Native organizations serving People with Disabilities.
Departmental Initiatives: In FY 2003, a special emphasis is
announced for incorporating capacity-building for tribes who are
operating or plan to operate Tribal Child Support Enforcement programs
either solely or in conjunction with a tribal TANF program. As a part
of a tribal social development project, capacity building can include
cooperative agreements with States to deliver critical elements of a
comprehensive child support program or such capacity-building of tribal
governments to run solely tribal programs with no cooperative agreement
with a state.
The Division of Children and Families has several initiatives that
support and foster strong families and healthy communities. Four of
those initiatives the ANA is particularly interested in are access for
faith-based and community programs, support for rural communities,
prevention and intervention services for youth, and the promotion of
healthy relationships and strengthening families.
Faith-based and Community Initiative: Such organizations are
eligible entities when they meet the ANA eligibility criteria.
Healthy Relationships and Strengthening Families Initiative:
Because of the benefits of marriage for children, adults, and society,
ANA is interested in promoting healthy marriage and responsible
fatherhood among the populations it serves. The funds may be used to
provide premarital programs and marriage education and enrichment
programs to couples. These programs should provide the knowledge and
skills necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage. It may be
appropriate to develop partnerships with other agencies and
organizations that have experience in the field of marriage education,
preparation and enrichment.
This program announcement consists of three parts.
Part I. ANA Policy and Goals
Provides general information about ANA's policies and goals for
these two competitive areas. This section contains information
pertaining to all applicants.
Part II. ANA Competitive Areas
Describes the competitive areas under which ANA is requesting
applications:
Competitive Area (1): Governance, Social and Economic Development
(SEDS); Competitive Area (2): Governance, Social and Economic
Development (AK-SEDS) for Alaska Natives.
Each competitive area includes the following sections, which
provide information to be used to develop an application:
A. Purpose and Availability of Funds
B. Background
C. Proposed Projects To Be Funded
D. Eligible Applicants
[[Page 59737]]
E. Grantee Share of the Project
F. Review Criteria
G. Application Due Date(s)
H. Contact Information
Part III. General Application Information and Guidance
Provides important information and guidance that applies to all
competitive areas and must be taken into account in developing an
application for either of the two competitive areas.
A. Definitions
B. Activities That Cannot Be Funded
C. Multi-Year Projects
D. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
E. The Application Process
F. The Review Process
G. General Guidance to Applicants
H. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
I. Deadlines
Part I--ANA Policy and Goals
The mission of the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) is to
promote the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency for American
Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native American
Pacific Islanders.
The Administration for Native Americans believes that a Native
American community is self-sufficient when it can generate and control
the resources necessary to meet its social and economic goals, and the
needs of its members.
The Administration for Native Americans also believes that the
responsibility for achieving self-sufficiency resides with the
governing bodies of Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and in the
leadership of Native American groups. A community's progress toward
self-sufficiency is based on its efforts to plan, organize, and direct
resources in a comprehensive manner, which is consistent with its
established long-range goals.
The Administration for Native Americans' policy is based on three
interrelated goals:
1. Governance: To assist tribal and Alaska Native village
governments, Native American institutions, and local leadership to
exercise local control and decision-making over their resources.
2. Social Development: To support local access to, control of, and
coordination of services and programs which safeguard the health, well-
being and culture of people, provide support services and training so
people can work, and which are essential to a thriving and self-
sufficient community in the spirit of respect for indigenous peoples'
cultural and intellectual property rights.
3. Economic Development: To foster the development of stable,
diversified local economies and economic activities that will provide
jobs and promote economic well being.
Applicants must comply with the following ANA administrative
policies:
[sbull] ANA continues a variety of requirements directed towards
enforcing its policy that an eligible grant recipient may only have one
active ANA grant awarded from a competitive area at any time.
Therefore, while eligible applicants may compete for a grant in each of
the competitive areas, an applicant may only submit one application per
competitive area and no applicant may receive more than one grant in
each competitive area, including any existing ANA grant. In addition,
an Alaska Native entity may not submit an application under both
Competitive Areas 1 and 2 for the May closing date. Alaska Native
entities may receive a grant under either competitive area 1 or 2, but
not under both.
[sbull] Current grantees whose project period extends beyond
September 29, 2003, or who have requested an extension of the project
period beyond that date, are not eligible to apply for a grant under
the same program area. The Project Period is noted in Block 9 of the
Financial Assistance Award document.
[sbull] Applicants for any competitive area may propose 12 to 36
month projects.
[sbull] Applicants must describe a locally determined strategy to
carry out a proposed project with fundable objectives and activities.
[sbull] Local long-range planning must consider the maximum use of
all available resources, how the resources will be directed to
development opportunities, and present a strategy for overcoming the
local issues that hinder movement toward self-sufficiency in the
community.
[sbull] An application from a Tribe, Alaska Native Village or
Native American organization must be from the governing body.
[sbull] ANA will not accept applications from tribal components,
which are tribally authorized divisions of the tribe, unless the
application includes a Tribal resolution which clearly demonstrates the
Tribe's support of the project and the Tribe's understanding that the
applicant's project supplants the Tribe's authority to submit an
application under that specific competitive area both for the current
competition and for the duration of the approved project period, should
the application be funded.
[sbull] Under each competitive area, ANA will accept only one
application that serves or impacts a reservation, Tribe, or Native
American community.
[sbull] For the May closing, applications for SEDS grants from
Alaska Native entities may be submitted under either Competitive Area 1
or Competitive Area 2, but not both.
[sbull] Any non-profit organization submitting an application must
submit proof of its non-profit status in the application at the time of
submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by (1) 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 (2) providing a copy of the currently
valid IRS tax exemption certificate, or (3) providing a copy of the
articles of incorporation bearing the seal of the State or federally-
recognized Tribe in which the corporation or association is domiciled.
Organizations incorporating in American Samoa are cautioned that the
Samoan government relies exclusively upon IRS determinations of non-
profit status; therefore, articles of incorporation approved by the
Samoan government do not establish non-profit status for these
organizations for the purpose of eligibility for ANA funds.
[sbull] An applicant, other than a Federally-recognized tribe or an
Alaska Native Village government, proposing a project benefiting Native
Americans must provide assurance that its duly elected or appointed
board of directors is representative of the community identified to be
served. To establish compliance with the requirement, applicants should
provide information establishing that at least a majority of the
individuals serving on the non-profit's governing board fall into one
or more of the following categories: (1) A current or past member of
the community to be served; (2) a prospective participant or
beneficiary of the project to be funded; or (3) have a cultural
relationship with the community to be served.
[sbull] An applicant must provide a 20% non-federal share match of
the approved project costs.
[sbull] An applicant must submit an itemized budget detailing the
applicant's Federal and non-Federal share with source(s) cited.
[sbull] A request for a waiver of the non-Federal share requirement
may be submitted in accordance with 45 CFR 1336.50(b)(3) of the Native
American Program Regulations. Applications originating from American
Samoa, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are
covered under section 501(d) of Public Law 95-134, as amended (48
U.S.C. 1469a) under which HHS waives any requirement for matching funds
under
[[Page 59738]]
$200,000 (including in-kind contributions). Therefore, for the ANA
grants under these announced programs, no match is required for grants
to these insular areas.
Part II--ANA Competitive Areas
The competitive areas under this Part describe ANA's funding
authorities, priorities, special initiatives, special application
requirements, and review criteria. The standard requirements necessary
for each application, as well as standard ANA program guidance and
technical guidance are described in Part III of this announcement.
Competitive Area (1): Social and Economic Development Strategies
(SEDS) Projects
A. Purpose and Availability of Funds
This competitive area promotes the goal of social and economic
self-sufficiency for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native
Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific Islanders through locally
developed social and economic development strategies (SEDS).
Approximately $20 million of financial assistance is anticipated to be
available under this priority area for governance, social, and economic
development projects. ANA anticipates awarding approximately 150
competitive grants ranging from $50,000 to $1,000,000.
B. Background
A community's movement toward self-sufficiency could be jeopardized
if a careful balance between governmental, social and economic
development is not maintained. For example, expansion of social
services, without providing opportunities for employment and economic
development, could lead to dependency on social services. Conversely,
inadequate support services and training could seriously impede
productivity and local economic development. Additionally, the
necessary infrastructures must be developed or expanded at the
community level to support social and economic development and growth.
In designing their social and economic development strategies, ANA
encourages an applicant to use or leverage all available human,
natural, financial, and physical resources. ANA encourages the
development and maintenance of comprehensive strategic plans, which are
an integral part of attaining and supporting the balance necessary for
successful activities that lead to self-sufficiency.
ANA assists tribal and village governments, and Native American
organizations, in their efforts to develop and implement community-
based, long-term governance, social, and economic development
strategies. These strategies must promote the goal of self-sufficiency
in local communities. The SEDS approach is based on ANA's program goals
and incorporates two fundamental principles:
1. The local community and its leadership are responsible for
determining goals, setting priorities, and planning and implementing
programs aimed at achieving those goals. The local community is in the
best position to apply its own cultural, political, and socio-economic
values to its long-term strategies and programs.
2. Governance and social and economic development are interrelated.
In order to move toward self-sufficiency, development in one area
should be balanced with development in the others. Consequently,
comprehensive development strategies should address all aspects of the
governmental, economic, and social infrastructures needed to promote
self-sufficient communities.
These definitions should be kept in mind as a local social and
economic development strategy is developed as part of a grant
application. ANA's SEDS policy uses the following definitions:
Governmental infrastructure includes the constitutional, legal, and
administrative development requisite for independent governance.
Social infrastructure includes those components through which
health, economic well being and culture are maintained within the
community and that support governance and economic goals.
Economic infrastructure includes the physical, commercial,
technological, industrial and/or agricultural components necessary for
a functioning local economy, which supports the life-style, embraced by
the Native American community.
C. Proposed Projects To Be Funded
This section provides descriptions of activities, which are
consistent with the SEDS philosophy. Proposed activities should be
tailored to reflect the governance, social and economic development
needs of the local community and should be consistent and supportive of
the proposed project objectives. The types of projects which ANA may
fund include, but are not limited to, the following:
Governance
[sbull] Improvements in the governmental, judicial and/or
administrative infrastructures of tribal and village governments (such
as strengthening or streamlining management procedures or the
development of tribal court systems);
[sbull] Increasing the ability of tribes, villages, and Native
American groups and organizations to plan, develop, and administer a
comprehensive program to support community social and economic self-
sufficiency (including strategic planning);
[sbull] Increasing awareness of and exercising the legal rights and
benefits to which Native Americans are entitled, either by virtue of
treaties, the Federal trust relationship, legislative authority,
executive orders, administrative and court decisions, or as citizens of
a particular state, territory, of the United States;
[sbull] Status clarification activities for Native groups seeking
Federal tribal recognition. Activities such as performing research,
responding to deficiencies cited by the Bureau of Acknowledgment and
Research (BAR) or any other function necessary to submit a petition for
Federal acknowledgment to the Department of Interior. Applicants should
submit a copy of their Letter of Intent to Petition and indicate their
progress within the BIA process; and
[sbull] Development of and/or amendments to tribal constitutions,
court procedures and functions, by-laws or codes, and council or
executive branch duties and functions.
Economic Development
[sbull] Development of a community economic infrastructure that
will result in businesses, jobs, and an economic support structure;
[sbull] Establishment or expansion of businesses and jobs in areas
such as tourism, specialty agriculture, energy development, light and/
or heavy manufacturing, technology and Internet activities, fabrication
and construction companies, housing and fisheries or aqua-culture
[sbull] Stabilizing and diversifying a Native community's economic
base through business development and enterprise zone ventures.
Social Development
[sbull] Enhancing tribal capabilities to design or administer
programs aimed at strengthening the social environment desired by the
local community;
[sbull] Developing local and intertribal models related to
comprehensive planning and delivery of services;
[sbull] Developing programs or activities to preserve and enhance
tribal heritage and culture; and
[sbull] Establishing programs, which involve extended families or
tribal
[[Page 59739]]
societies in activities that strengthen cultural identity and promote
strong relationships and healthy community development.
Other SEDS Relationships. ANA encourages projects designed to use
the SEDS approach to help achieve current initiatives and priorities of
the Administration for Children and Families that are to:
[sbull] Address welfare reform initiatives such as moving families
to work.
[sbull] Help ensure child support from both parents.
[sbull] Create access to affordable childcare for low income
working families.
[sbull] Reach and help enroll children in quality pre-school
programs to promote full development, including Head Start, Early Head
Start and Child Care.
[sbull] Provide safety, permanency and well-being for children and
double the number of adoptions from the public child welfare system.
D. Eligible Applicants
Applications from the Republic of Palau are no longer eligible for
assistance under ANA programs. Palau ceased to be a Trust Territory of
the United States by virtue of the compact of Free Association Act.
The following are eligible to apply under this competitive area:
[sbull] Federally recognized Indian Tribes;
[sbull] Consortia of Indian Tribes;
[sbull] Incorporated non-federally recognized Tribes;
[sbull] Incorporated non-profit multi-purpose community-based
Indian organizations;
[sbull] Urban Indian Centers;
[sbull] National or regional incorporated non-profit Native
American organizations with Native American community-specific
objectives;
[sbull] Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and/or non-profit village consortia;
[sbull] Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multi-purpose
community-based organizations;
[sbull] Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations
in Alaska with village specific projects;
[sbull] Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village-
specific projects;
[sbull] Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native
Hawaiians (The populations served may be located on these islands or on
the continental United States);
[sbull] Public and nonprofit private agencies serving native
peoples from Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands. (The populations served may be located on these
islands or in the United States); and
[sbull] Tribally-controlled community colleges, Tribally-controlled
post-secondary vocational institutions, colleges and universities
located in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands which serve Native American Pacific Islanders.
[sbull] Non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal
governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or traditional Councils) as
recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
E. Grantee Share of the Project
Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is defined
as the sum of the Federal request and the non-Federal share. The non-
Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although
applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash
contributions. For example, a project requesting $100,000 in Federal
funds must provide a non-federal share match of at least $25,000 (20%
total approved project cost or 25% of federal request).
Grantees will be held accountable for the commitments of non-
Federal resources as proposed, even if over the amount of the required
match. Failure to provide the amount will result in disallowance of
Federal match. As per 45 CFR Part 74.2, in-kind contributions are
defined as the value of non-cash contributions provided by non-Federal
third parties. Third party in-kind contributions may be in the form of
real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, and
the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically
identifiable to the project or program.
In addition, an applicant may include other Federal funding sources
where legislation authorizes use of funds for match and provided the
source relates to the ANA project; examples are: Indian Child Welfare
funds, through the Department of Interior; Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance funds, through the Department of Interior and
the Department of Health and Human Services; and Community Development
Block Grant funds, through the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. (Under 45 CFR 74.23(a) (5) use of funds under another
Federal Program for non-federal match must be authorized by statute)
F. Review Criteria
A proposed project should reflect the purposes of ANA's SEDS policy
and program goals described in the Background section of this
competitive area; include a social and economic development strategy
which reflects the needs and specific circumstances of the local
community; and address the specific developmental steps that the tribe
or Native American community is undertaking toward self-sufficiency.
The evaluation criteria are closely related to each other and are
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
Points are awarded only to applications, which are responsive to
this competitive area and these criteria. Proposed projects will be
reviewed on a competitive basis using the following evaluation
criteria.
(1) Long-Range Goals and Available Resources (15 Points)
Long-range goal(s) and a strategy. The applicant provides:
[sbull] The specific governance, social, or economic, long-range
community goal(s) that the project relates to;
[sbull] How the community intends to achieve the goal(s) (Inclusion
of the community's entire development plan is not necessary);
[sbull] The relationship between the community's goals and plans,
and the applicant's proposed plan; and
[sbull] A clearly delineated social and economic development
strategy (SEDS).
[sbull] A description of what constitutes the applicant's specific
community.
[sbull] The application identifies and documents pre-existing
involvement and support of the community in the planning process.
[sbull] Describes how the community will be involved in the
implementation of the proposed project. Except for those communities,
such as Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, where the systems of governance
make such involvement inappropriate.
Applicants must document the community's support for the proposed
project and explain the role of the community in the planning process
and implementation of the proposed project. For tribes, a current
signed resolution from the governing body of the tribe supporting the
project proposal and stating that there has been community involvement
in the planning of this project will suffice as evidence of community
support/involvement.
The type of community you serve and nature of the proposal being
made will influence the type of documentation necessary. For example, a
Federally-recognized Tribe may choose to address this requirement by
submitting a resolution stating that community involvement has occurred
in the project planning or may determine that
[[Page 59740]]
additional community support work is necessary. A tribal organization
may submit resolutions supporting the project proposal from each of its
member tribes, as well as a resolution from the applicant
organization's governing body. Other examples of documentation include
community surveys, minutes of community meetings, questionnaires,
tribal presentations, and/or discussion/position papers that make
specific reference to the proposed project submitted for funding.
In the discussion of community-based, long-range goals, non-
Federally recognized and off-reservation groups are strongly encouraged
to include a description of what constitutes their specific community.
Applications from National and Regional Indian and Native
organizations must clearly demonstrate a need for the project, explain
how the project was originated, state who the intended beneficiaries
will be, and describe how the recipients will actually benefit from the
project. National Indian and Native organizations should define their
membership and describe how the organization operates.
In discussing the goals, strategy, and problems being addressed in
the application, include sufficient background and/or history of the
community concerning these issues and/or progress to date, as well as
the size of the population to be served. This material will assist the
reviewers in determining the appropriateness and potential benefits of
the proposed project.
For all other eligible applicants, the type of community you serve
will determine the type of documentation necessary. For example, an
Inter-tribal organization may submit resolutions supporting the project
proposal from each of its member's tribes, as well as a resolution from
the applicant organization. Other examples of documentation include:
community surveys; minutes of community meetings; questionnaires;
tribal presentations; and/or discussion/position papers that make
specific reference to the proposed project submitted for funding.
(b) Available resources (other than ANA request and the non-Federal
share) which will assist, and be coordinated with the project are
described. Non-ANA resources should be leveraged to strengthen and
broaden the impact of the proposed project in the community. Project
designs should explain how those parts of projects which ANA does not
fund will be financed through other sources. For example, ANA does not
fund construction. Applicants must show the relationship of non-ANA
funded activities to those objectives and activities that are funded
with ANA grant funds.
In the proposal narrative section, ``Resources Available to the
Proposed Project'' the applicant should describe any specific financial
circumstances which may impact on the project, such as any monetary or
land settlements made to the applicant, and any restrictions on the use
of those settlements. When the applicant appears to have other
resources to support the proposed project and chooses not to use them,
the applicant should explain why it is seeking ANA funds and not using
these resources for the project.
(2) Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications (20 Points)
(a) Organizational capabilities are described.
[sbull] The management structure of the applicant is explained.
Evidence of the applicant's ability to successfully manage projects of
similar scope as the proposed project is demonstrated by the
organization, and/or by the individuals designated to manage the
project.
[sbull] The administrative structure of the applicant is explained.
Where the proposed ANA project will fit within the current
organizational structure is described. A project staffing pattern is
presented.
(b) Position descriptions and qualifications of current and/or
proposed staff are presented.
[sbull] Position descriptions and/or resumes of personnel,
including those of consultants, are presented. Resumes must be included
if individuals have been identified for positions in the application.
[sbull] The position descriptions and/or resumes relate
specifically to the staff proposed in the Objective Work Plan and in
the proposed budget.
[sbull] Position descriptions clearly describe each position's
duties and clearly relate to the personnel staffing pattern required to
achieve the project objectives.
[sbull] Resumes and/or proposed position descriptions demonstrate
that the proposed staff are or will be qualified to carry out the
project activities. Either the position descriptions or the resumes
contain the qualifications and/or specialized skills necessary for
overall quality management of the project.
Note: Applicants are strongly encouraged to give preference to
Native Americans in hiring project staff and in contracting services
under an approved ANA grant.
(3) Project Approach: Objectives, Activities and Outcomes (50 Points)
The application provides a narrative on the overall approach and
operation of proposed project throughout entire project period.
(a) The application proposes a specific project Objective Work Plan
(OWP). The OWP includes project objectives and specific activities for
each budget period proposed and demonstrates that each of the
objectives and its activities:
[sbull] Is measurable and/or quantifiable in terms of outcomes;
[sbull] Supports the community's social and economic development
strategy;
[sbull] Clearly relates to the community's long-range goals;
[sbull] Can be accomplished with the available or expected
resources during the proposed project period;
[sbull] Indicates when the objective, and major activities under
each objective, will be accomplished;
[sbull] Specifies who will conduct the activities under each
objective; and
[sbull] The approach supports a project that will be completed, or
self-sustaining, or financed by other than ANA funds at the end of the
project period.
The Objective Work Plan proposed should be of sufficient detail to
become a monthly staff guide for project responsibilities. Applicants
are encouraged to follow the recommended ANA application kit format
however, it is not a requirement. The relevant information included in
an Objective Work Plan should indicate what is to be achieved, how, by
whom, when and indicators of evaluation.
(b) Completion of the proposed objectives will result in specific,
measurable outcomes.
[sbull] The application shows how the expected outcomes will help
the community meet its long-range goals.
[sbull] The specific information provided in the narrative and
objective work plans on expected outcomes for each objective is the
standard upon which its achievement can be evaluated at the end of each
budget year.
(4) Budget (15 Points)
Detailed Federal and Non-federal share budgets and detailed budget
justifications are provided for each budget period requested. The
budget includes a line item justification for each requested budget
category as listed in Section B of the Budget Categories Section on the
SF 424A. The budget includes the necessary details to facilitate the
determination of allowable costs and the relevance of these costs to
[[Page 59741]]
the proposed project. The applicant requests funds that are appropriate
and necessary for the scope of the proposed project.
[sbull] The non-federal share budget should identify the source and
is supported by letters of commitment.
--Letters of commitment are binding when they specifically state the
nature, the amount, and conditions under which another agency or
organization will support a project funded with ANA funds. These
resources may be human, natural or financial, and may include other
Federal and non-Federal resources. For example, a letter from another
Federal agency or foundation pledging a commitment of $200,000 in
construction funding to complement proposed ANA funded pre-construction
activity is evidence of a firm funding commitment. Statements that
additional funding will be sought from other specific sources are not
considered a binding commitment of outside resources
--Letters of support merely express another organization's endorsement
of a proposed project. Support letters are not binding commitment
letters or do not factually establish the authenticity of other
resources and do not offer or bind specific resources to the project
[sbull] Applicants from American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern
Mariana Islands are not required to provide a 20% match since the level
of funding would not invoke a required match for grants to these
insular areas. Therefore, applicants from these insular areas may not
have points reduced for the lack of matching funds. However, they are
expected to coordinate and organize the delivery of any non-ANA
resources they propose for the project.
[sbull] If an applicant plans to charge or otherwise seek credit
for indirect costs in its ANA application, a current copy of its
Indirect Cost Rate Agreement must be included in the application.
[sbull] The budget includes sufficient funds for principal
representatives, such as the chief financial officer or project
director from the applicant organization to travel to one ANA post-
award grant training and technical assistance workshop. This
expenditure is mandatory for new grant recipients and optional for
grantees that have had previous ANA grant awards. This travel and
training should occur as soon as practical.
[sbull] For business development projects, the proposal
demonstrates that the expected return on the funds used to develop the
project provides a reasonable operating income and return within a
future specified period.
[sbull] If a profit-making venture is being proposed, profits must
be reinvested in the business in order to decrease or eliminate ANA's
future participation. Such revenue must be reported as general program
income. A decision will be made at the time of grant award regarding
appropriate use of program income. (See 45 CFR part 74 and part 92.)
[sbull] The budget may include an employee fringe benefit that
provides grant-funded employees with a retirement plan in addition to
Social Security. The applicant is strongly encouraged to provide a
retirement plan fringe benefit for grant-funded employees' salaries up
to five (5) percent. ANA supports a retirement plan as a necessary,
reasonable and allowable cost in accordance with OMB rules. Minimum
recommended standards for a retirement fringe benefit plan are (1) the
plan exists for the exclusive benefit of the participants; funds are to
be used for retirement and certain other pre-retirement needs, not for
the organization's needs. (2)The plan must have a vesting schedule that
does not exceed the initial budget period of the ANA grant. (3) Other
alternatives may be submitted for review and approval during grant
award negotiations. Alternate proposals may include the use of
Individual Retirement Accounts, Money Purchase Pension Plans, Defined
Benefit Pension Plans, Combination Plans, etc.
G. Application Due Date(s)
The closing dates for submission of applications under this
Competitive Area 1 area: January 17, 2003 and May 2, 2003.
H. Contact Information
Contact the ANA Applicant Help Desk at 202-690-7776 or toll free at
1-877-922-9262 for assistance.
Part II--Competitive Area (2): Alaska-Specific Social and Economic
Development Strategies (AK-SEDS) Projects
A. Purpose and Availability of Funds
This competitive area funds Alaska Native social and economic
development projects. Approximately $2.0 million is anticipated to be
available for Alaska Native governance, social and economic development
projects. ANA plans to award approximately 10-15 grants under this
competitive area. For individual village projects, the funding level
for a budget period of 12 months will be up to $125,000; for regional
nonprofit and village consortia, the funding level for a budget period
of 12 months will be up to $175,000, commensurate with approved multi-
village objectives.
B. Background
Based on the ANA goals described in Part I, ANA implemented a
special Alaska Social and Economic Development initiative in fiscal
year 1984. This special effort was designed to provide financial
assistance at the village level or for village-specific projects aimed
at improving a village's governance capabilities and for social and
economic development. This competitive area continues to implement this
special initiative. ANA believes both the non-profit and for-profit
corporations in Alaska can play an important supportive role in
assisting individual villages to develop and implement their own
locally determined strategies which capitalize on opportunities
afforded to Alaska Natives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act (ANCSA), Public Law 92-203.
C. Proposed Projects To Be Funded
While the Administration for Native Americans does not fund
objectives or activities for the core administration of an
organization. ANA will consider funding core administrative capacity
building projects at the village government level if the village does
not have governing systems in place.
Examples of the types of projects that ANA may fund include but are
not limited to, projects that will:
Governance
[sbull] Initiate demonstration programs at the regional level to
allow Native people to become involved in developing strategies to
maintain and develop their economic subsistence base;
[sbull] Assist villages in developing land use capabilities and
skills in the areas of land and natural resource management and
protection, resource assessment and conducting environmental impact
studies;
[sbull] Assist village consortia in the development of tribal
constitutions, ordinances, codes and tribal court systems;
[sbull] Develop agreements between the State and villages that
transfer programs jurisdictions, and/or control to Native entities;
[sbull] Strengthen village government control of land management,
including land protection, through coordination of land use planning
with village corporations and cities, if appropriate;
[[Page 59742]]
[sbull] Assist in status clarification activities;
[sbull] Initiate village level mergers between village councils,
village corporations and others to coordinate programs and services
which safeguard the health, well being and culture of a community and
its people;
[sbull] Strengthen local governance capabilities through the
development of village consortia and regional IRAs (Indian
Reorganization Act councils organized under the Indian Reorganization
Act, 25 U.S.C. 473a);
[sbull] Assist villages in preparing and coordinating plans for the
development and/or improvement of water and sewer systems within the
village boundaries;
[sbull] Assist villages in establishing initiatives through which
youth may participate in the governance of the community and be trained
to assume leadership roles in village governments; and
[sbull] Consider strategies and plans to protect against, monitor,
and assist when catastrophic events occur, such as oil spills or
earthquakes.
Social Development
[sbull] Assist in developing training and education programs for
local jobs in education, government, and health-related fields; and
work with these agencies to encourage job replacement of non-Natives by
trained Natives;
[sbull] Develop local models related to comprehensive planning and
delivery of social services;
[sbull] Develop new service programs, initially established with
ANA funds, which will be funded by local communities or the private
sector for continued operation after the ANA grant expires.
[sbull] Develop or coordinate with State-funded projects,
activities designed to decrease the incidence of child abuse and
neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, and/or suicides;
[sbull] Assist in obtaining licenses to provide housing or related
services from State or local governments; and
[sbull] Develop businesses to provide relief for caretakers needing
respite from human service-related care work.
[sbull] Develop and implement researched-based programs to sustain
healthy relationships and communities.
Economic Development
[sbull] Assist villages in developing businesses and industries
which: (1) Use local materials; (2) create jobs for Alaska Natives; (3)
are capable of high productivity at a small scale of operation; and (4)
complement traditional and necessary seasonal activities;
[sbull] Substantially increase and strengthen efforts to establish
and improve the village and regional business infrastructure and the
capabilities to develop and manage resources in a highly competitive
cash-economy system;
[sbull] Assist villages, or consortia of villages, in developing
subsistence compatible industries that will retain local dollars in
villages;
[sbull] Assist in the establishment or expansion of native-
businesses; and
[sbull] Assist villages in labor export; i.e., people leaving the
local communities for seasonal work and returning to their communities.
D. Eligible Applicants
The following organizations are eligible to apply under this
competitive area:
[sbull] Federally recognized Indian Tribes in Alaska;
[sbull] Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and/or nonprofit village consortia;
[sbull] Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multi-purpose
community-based organizations;
[sbull] Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations
in Alaska with village specific projects; and
[sbull] Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village
specific projects.
Although for-profit regional corporations established under ANCSA
are not eligible applicants, individual villages and Indian communities
are encouraged to use for-profit regional corporations as
subcontractors and to collaborate with them in joint-venture projects
for promoting social and economic self-sufficiency. ANA encourages the
for-profit corporations to assist the villages in developing
applications and to participate as subcontractors in a project.
For purposes of this announcement, ANA is using the Bureau of
Indian Affairs' list of Federally recognized Indian tribes which
includes non-profit Alaska Native community entities and tribal
governing bodies (IRA or traditional councils). Other Federally
recognized Indian tribes, which are not included on this list (e.g.,
those Tribes that have been recently recognized or restored by the
United States Congress), are also eligible to apply for ANA funds.
Further information on eligibility requirements is presented in
PART I, ANA Policy and Goals.
E. Grantee Share of the Project
Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved
cost of the project; i.e. the sum of the Federal share and the non-
Federal share. Further information on this requirement is in PART I ANA
Policy and Goals, and in PART II SEDS, Section E, and section F, Review
Criteria, sub-section (4) Budget Criteria.
F. Review Criteria
A proposed project should reflect the purposes of ANA's SEDS policy
and goals as described in the Background section of this competitive
area. Points are awarded only to applications, which are responsive to
this competitive area and these criteria. Proposed projects are
reviewed on a competitive basis using the following evaluation
criteria:
(1) Long-Range Goals and Available Resources (15 Points)
(2) Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications (20 Points)
(3) Project Approach: Objectives, Activities and Outcomes (50 Points)
(4) Budget (15 Points)
Further information on requirements is in PART II SEDS, section F,
Review Criteria.
G. Application Due Date
The closing date for submission of applications under this
competitive area is May 2, 2003. Applicants are reminded that for this
May closing, applications for SEDS grants from Alaska Native entities
may be submitted under either Competitive Area 1 or Competitive Area 2,
but not both. The cover page of the application must clearly indicate
the correct competitive area.
H. Contact Information
Contact the ANA Applicant Help Desk at 202-690-7776 or toll free at
1-877-922-9262 for assistance.
Part III--General Application Information and Guidance
A. Definitions
Funding areas in this program announcement are based on the
following definitions:
Multi-purpose Community-based Native American Organization: Is an
association and/or corporation whose charter specifies that the
community designates the Board of Directors and/or officers of the
organization through an elective procedure and that the organization
functions in several different areas of concern to the members of the
local Native American community. These areas are specified in the by-
laws and/or policies adopted by the organization. They may include, but
need not be limited to, economic, artistic, cultural, and recreational
activities, and the delivery of human services such as health care, day
care, counseling, education, and training.
[[Page 59743]]
Multi-year Project: Is a project on a single theme that requires
more than 12 months to complete and affords the applicant an
opportunity to develop and address more complex and in-depth strategies
than can be completed in one year. A multi-year project cannot be a
series of unrelated objectives with activities presented in
chronological order over a two or three year period.
Budget Period: Is the interval of time (usually 12 months) the
project period is divided for budgetary and funding purposes.
Core Administration: Is funding for salaries for those functions
which support the organization as a whole, or for purposes unrelated to
the actual management or implementation of work conducted under an ANA
approved project. Under Competitive Area 2, ANA will consider funding
core administrative capacity building projects at the village
government level if the village does not have governing systems in
place. However, functions and activities that are clearly project
related are eligible for grant funding. For example, the management and
administrative functions necessary to carry out an ANA approved project
are not considered core administration and are, therefore, eligible
costs. Additionally, ANA will fund the salaries of approved staff for
time actually and reasonably spent to implement a funded ANA project.
Real Property: Means land, including land improvements, structures
and appurtenances thereto, excluding movable machinery and equipment.
Construction: Is the term, which specifies a project, supported
through a discretionary grant or a cooperative agreement, to support
the initial building of a facility.
Equipment: Is 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.
Renovation or Alteration: May not exceed the lesser of $150,000 or
25 percent of the total direct costs approved for the entire budget
period. The work required to change the interior arrangements or other
physical characteristics of an existing facility or installed equipment
so that it may be more effectively used for the project. Alteration and
renovation may include work referred to as improvements, conversion,
rehabilitation, remodeling, or modernization, but is distinguished from
construction and large-scale permanent improvements.
B. Activities That Cannot Be Funded
The Administration for Native Americans does not fund:
[sbull] Projects that operate indefinitely or require ANA funding
on a recurring basis.
[sbull] Projects in which a grantee would provide training and/or
technical assistance (T/TA) to other tribes or Native American
organizations which are otherwise eligible to apply to ANA (third party
T/TA). However, the purchase of T/TA by a grantee for its own use or
for its members' use (as in the case of a consortium), where T/TA is
necessary to carry out project objectives, is acceptable.
[sbull] The support of on-going social service delivery programs or
the expansion, or continuation, of existing social service delivery
programs.
[sbull] ANA will not fund the purchase of real property.
[sbull] ANA will not fund construction.
[sbull] ANA will not fund objectives or activities for the support
of core administration of an organization. (exception Alaska-SEDS)
[sbull] Costs of fund raising, including financial campaigns,
endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar
expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions are
unallowable under an ANA grant award. However, even though these costs
are unallowable for purposes of computing charges to Federal awards,
they must be treated as direct costs for purposes of determining
indirect cost rates and be allocated their share of the organization's
indirect costs if they represent activities which (1) include the
salaries of personnel, (2) occupy space, and (3) benefit from the
organization's indirect costs.
Projects or activities that generally will not meet the purposes of
this announcement are further discussed in Part III, Section G, General
Guidance to Applicants, below.
C. Multi-Year Projects
A multi-year project is a project on a single theme that requires
more than 17 months to complete and affords the applicant an
opportunity to develop and address more complex and in-depth strategies
than can be completed in one year. Applicants are encouraged to develop
multi-year projects. A multi-year project cannot be a series of
unrelated objectives with activities presented in chronological order
over a two or three year period. Awards, on a competitive basis, will
be for a one-year budget period, although project periods may be for up
to three years. Applications for continuation grants funded under these
areas beyond the one-year budget period, but within a two-to-three year
project period, will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-
competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory
progress of the grantee and determination that continued funding would
be in the best interest of the Government. Therefore, this program
announcement does not apply to current ANA grantees with multi-year
projects that apply for continuation funding for their second or third
year budget periods.
Applicants proposing multi-year projects must fully describe each
year's project objectives and activities. Separate Objective Work Plans
(OWPs) must be presented for each project year and a separate itemized
budget of the Federal and non-Federal costs of the project for each
budget period must be included.
Applicants for multi-year projects must justify the entire time-
frame of the project (i.e., why the project needs funding for more than
one year) and clearly describe the results to be achieved for each
objective by the end of each budget period of the total project period.
D. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
This program is not covered by Executive Order 12372 or 45 CFR part
100.
E. The Application Process
1. Application Submission
(a) By Mail
One original, signed by an authorized representative, and two
copies of the grant application, including all attachments, must be
mailed on or before the specific closing date of each ANA competitive
area to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, ACYF/Office of Grants Management, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop: Aerospace Center 8th Floor-West,
Washington, DC 20447-0002, Attention: Lois B. Hodge, ANA No. 93612-
2003.
(b) By Hand Delivery
One original signed by an authorized representative, and two copies
of the grant application, including all attachments may be hand
delivered. Applications are accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are either received on or before
the deadline date or postmarked on or before the established closing
date at: Administration for
[[Page 59744]]
Children and Families, ACYF/Office of Grants Management, ACF Mail Room,
Second Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024,Attention: Lois B. Hodge, ANA No. 93612-2003.
Applicants are encouraged to request a legibly dated receipt from a
commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service as proof of timely mailing.
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.
2. Application Consideration
The ANA Commissioner determines the final action on each grant
application received under this program announcement. The
Commissioner's funding decision is based on the review panel's analysis
of the application, recommendation and comments of ANA staff, State and
Federal agencies having contract and grant performance related
information, and other parties. The Commissioner makes grant awards
consistent with the purpose of the Act, all relevant statutory and
regulatory requirements, this program announcement, and the
availability of funds.
The Administration for Native Americans funds projects that
demonstrate the strongest prospects for addressing the stated purposes
of this program announcement. All applicants should consider the
following points: incomplete applications and applications that do not
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review. ANA will
notify applicants in writing of any such determination.
(a) An incomplete application is one that is:
[sbull] Missing Form SF 424
[sbull] Does not have an authorized signature on the SF 424. The
Standard Form 424 must be signed by an individual authorized (1) to act
for the applicant tribe or organization, and (2) to assume the
applicant's obligations under the terms and conditions of the grant
award, including Native American Program statutory and regulatory
requirements.
[sbull] Does not include proof of non-profit status, if applicable.
(b) Complete applications that conform to all the requirements of
this program announcement are subject to a competitive review and
evaluation process (discussed in section G below). Independent review
panels consisting of reviewers familiar with American Indian Tribes and
Native American communities and organizations, as appropriate, evaluate
each application using the published criteria in each competitive area.
As a result of the review, a normalized numerical score will be
assigned to each application. A normalized score reflects the average
score from the reviewers, adjusted to reflect the average score from
the panels.
Successful applicants are notified through an official Financial
Assistance Award (FAA) document. The FAA will state the amount of
Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and
conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the
project period, the budget period, and the amount of the non-ACF
matching share requirement.
Each tribe, Native American organization, or other eligible
applicant may compete for a grant award however, no applicant may
receive more than one SEDS grant. The Administration for Native
Americans will accept only one application per competitive area from
any one applicant. If an eligible applicant sends in two applications
for the same competitive area, the one with the earlier postmark will
be accepted for review unless the applicant withdraws the earlier
application.
Applications for SEDS grants from Alaska Native entities may be
submitted under either Competitive Area 1 or Competitive Area 2, but
not both at the same time.
F. The Review Process
1. Initial Application Review
Applications submitted by the closing date and verified by the
postmark under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review
screening to determine that:
[sbull] The applicant is eligible in accordance with the Eligible
Applicants Section of this announcement; and
[sbull] The application is signed and submitted by the deadline
explained in section G, Application Due Date, in each competitive area
of this announcement.
[sbull] The application narrative, forms and materials submitted
are adequate to allow the review panel to undertake an in-depth
evaluation and the project described is an allowable type. (All
required materials and forms are listed in the Grant Application
Checklist in the Application Kit).
Applications subjected to the pre-review described above which fail
to satisfy one or more of the listed requirements will be ineligible or
otherwise excluded from competitive evaluation.
2. Competitive Review of Accepted Applications
Applications which pass the pre-review will be evaluated and rated
by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific evaluation
criteria listed in Part II. These criteria are used to evaluate the
quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its
success.
ANA staff cannot respond to requests for information regarding
funding decisions prior to the official notification to the applicants.
After the Commissioner has made decisions on all applications,
unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing within 30 days. The
notification will be accompanied by a critique including
recommendations for improving the application.
Projects will not be ranked based on general financial need.
3. Appeal of Ineligibility
Applicants, who are initially excluded from competitive evaluation
because of ineligibility, may appeal an ANA decision of applicant
ineligibility. Likewise, applicants may also appeal an ANA decision
that an applicant's proposed activities are ineligible for funding
consideration. The appeals process is stated in the final rule
published in the Federal Register on August 19, 1996 (61 FR 42817 and
45 CFR part 1336, subpart C).
G. General Guidance to Applicants
The following information is provided to assist applicants in
developing a competitive application.
1. Program Guidance
[sbull] Applications from National Indian and Native American
organizations must demonstrate a need for the project, explain how the
project was originated, state who the intended beneficiaries will be,
and describe how the recipients will actually benefit from the project.
[sbull] An application should describe a clear relationship between
the proposed project, the social and economic development strategy and
the community's long-range goals or plan.
[sbull] The project application, including the Objective Work
Plans, must clearly identify in measurable terms the expected results,
benefits or outcomes of the proposed project, and the positive or
continuing impact that the project will have on the community.
[sbull] Supporting documentation, including letters of support, if
available, or other specific testimonies from concerned interests other
than the applicant should be included to demonstrate support for the
feasibility
[[Page 59745]]
of the project and the commitment of other resources to the proposed
project.
[sbull] Applicants proposing an Economic Development project should
address the project's feasibility. A business plan describing the
project's feasibility and approach for the implementation and marketing
of the business is recommended.
[sbull] Applications, which were not funded under a previous
closing date and revised for resubmission, should refer to the changes,
or reasons for not making changes, in their current application.
2. Technical Guidance
Application Kit (OMB 0980-0204, expires April 30, 2003).
The Application Kit contains the necessary forms and instructions to
apply for a grant under this program announcement. Application kits may
be obtained from ANA training and technical assistance providers. It is
strongly encouraged that the applicants follow the ANA application kit
to develop an application. The Kit provides practical information and
helpful suggestions, and is an aid to help applicants prepare ANA
applications.
Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA): ANA employs contractors
to provide short-term training and technical assistance to eligible
applicants. T/TA is available under these contracts for a wide range of
needs however, the contractors are not authorized to write
applications. The T/TA is provided at no cost to the eligible entity.
To obtain an application kit and/or, training and technical assistance,
applicants are encouraged to contact the T/TA provider within the
appropriate service area. To locate the T/TA provider currently serving
the region you are located in you may call the ANA Help Desk at 1-877-
922-9262; or visit the ANA Web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ana/.
[sbull] The Cover Page (included in the Kit) should be the first
page of an application, followed by the one-page abstract.
[sbull] The SF 424, Block 13, must specify the entire project
period length requested and not just the length of the first budget
period. Should the application narrative propose one length of project
period and the SF 424 specify a conflicting length of project period,
ANA will consider the project period specified on the SF 424 as the
official request.
[sbull] The SF 424, line 15a, must specify the Federal funds
requested for the first Budget Period only and not the entire Project
Period.
[sbull] For purposes of developing an application, applicants
should plan for a project start date approximately 120 days after the
closing deadline date.
[sbull] The Administration for Native Americans will not fund
essentially identical projects serving the same constituency.
[sbull] If other Federal funding sources could support a project,
the applicant should fully explain its reasons for not pursuing other
Federal funds for the project.
[sbull] The Administration for Native Americans will critically
evaluate applications in which the acquisition of equipment is a major
component of the Federal share of the budget. During negotiation, ANA
may delete such expenditures from the budget of an otherwise approved
application, if not fully justified by the applicant and deemed not
appropriate to the needs of the project.
[sbull] The Administration for Native Americans recommends that the
pages of the application be numbered sequentially and that a table of
contents is provided. Simple tabbing of the criterion sections of the
application is also helpful.
[sbull] Applicants may propose a 17-month budget and project
period. However, the budget period for the first year of a multi-year
project may only be 12 months.
3. Projects or Activities That Generally Will Not Meet the Purposes of
This Announcement
[sbull] Projects that request funds for feasibility studies,
business plans, marketing plans or written materials, such as manuals,
that are not an essential part of the applicant's long-range
development plan. As an objective of a larger project, business plans
are allowable. ANA expects written evidence of the solid investment of
time and consideration on the part of the applicant with regard to the
development of business plans. Business plans should be developed based
on market analysis and feasibility studies regarding the potential
success to the business prior to the submission of the application.
[sbull] Core administration functions, or other activities, which
essentially support only the applicant's on-going administrative
functions. However, under Competitive Area 2, ANA will consider funding
core administrative capacity building projects at the village
government level if the village does not have governing systems in
place.
[sbull] Project goals, which are not responsive to one or more of
the funding competitive areas.
[sbull] Proposals from consortia of tribes that are not specific
with regard to support from, and roles of, member tribes. ANA expects
an application from a consortium to have goals and objectives that will
create positive impacts and outcomes in the communities of its members.
Proposals from consortia of tribes should have individual objectives,
which are related to the larger goal of the proposed project. Project
objectives may be tailored to each consortia member, but within the
context of a common goal for the consortia. In situations where both a
consortia of tribes and the tribes who belong to the consortia receive
ANA funding, ANA expects that consortia groups will not seek funding
that duplicates activities being conducted by their member tribes.
[sbull] Projects that will not be completed, self-sustaining, or
supported by other than ANA funds, at the end of the project period.
All projects funded by ANA must be completed, or self-sustaining or
supported with other than ANA funds at the end of the project period.
Completed means that the project ANA funded is finished, and the
desired outcome(s) have been attained. Self-sustaining means that a
project will continue without outside resources. Supported by other
than ANA funds means that the project will continue beyond the ANA
project period, but will be supported by funds other than ANA's.
[sbull] ANA will not fund investment capital for purchase or
takeover of an existing business, for purchase or acquisition of a
franchise, or for purchase of stock or other similar investment
instruments.
[sbull] Renovation or alteration unless it is essential for the
project.
[sbull] Projects originated and designed by consultants whom
provide a major role for themselves in the proposed project and are not
members of the applicant organization, tribe or village.
H. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, the
Department is required to submit to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval any reporting and record keeping
requirements in regulations including program announcements. This
program announcement does not contain information collection
requirements beyond those approved for ANA grant applications under the
Program Narrative Statement by OMB approval number 0980-0204.
[[Page 59746]]
I. Receipt of Applications
1. Deadlines
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.
Applicants are encouraged to request a legibly dated U.S. Postal
Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial
carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not
be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by
overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date
or postmarked on or before the deadline date. Applicants are encouraged
that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.
No additional material will be accepted, or added to an
application, unless it is postmarked by the deadline date. Applications
and related materials postmarked after the closing date are classified
as late.
2. Late Applications
Applications, which do not meet the Deadline criteria, are
considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that
its application will not be reviewed in the current competition.
3. Extension of Deadlines
The Administration for Children and Families may extend an
application deadline for applicants affected by acts of God such as
floods and hurricanes, or when there is a widespread disruption of the
mails. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Numbers: 93.612,
Native American Programs)
Dated: September 17, 2002.
Sharon G. McCully,
Acting Deputy Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans.
[FR Doc. 02-24122 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P