Adoption Opportunities Program

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Adoption Opportunities Program

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF),

Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health

and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and

Request for Applications to Carry Out Demonstration Projects Funded

Under the Adoption Opportunities Branch in the Children's Bureau,

Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth

and Families announces the availability of fiscal year 1995 funds for

grants to public or private nonprofit child welfare and adoption

agencies, organizations and adoptive parent groups to assist in

supporting programs directed to: (A) Increasing the placements in

adoptive families of minority children who are in foster care and have

the goal of adoption, with a special emphasis on the recruitment of

minority families; (B) providing post-legal adoption services for

families who have adopted special needs children; and, (C) increasing

the rate of placement of children in foster care who are legally free

for adoption. Funding for these grants is authorized under Title II of

the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of

1978 (P.L. 95-266, as amended).

This announcement contains all necessary application materials.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is June 9, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Applications may be mailed to the Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of

Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 6th Floor East, OFM/

DDG, Washington, DC. 20447.

Hand delivered applications are accepted during normal working

hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to the

established closing date at: Administration for Children and Families,

Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor OFM/DDG, 901 D Street, SW.,

Washington, DC. 20447.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Program, Telephone: 1

(800) 351-2293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration on Children, Youth and

Families (ACYF) administers national programs for children and youth,

works with States and local communities to develop services which

support and strengthen family life, seeks out joint ventures with the

private sector to enhance the lives of children and their families, and

provides information and other assistance to parents.

The concerns of ACYF extend to all children from birth through

adolescence, with particular emphasis on children who have special

needs. Many of the programs administered by the agency focus on

children from low-income families; children and youth in need of foster

care, adoption or other child welfare services; preschool children,

including children with disabilities; abused and neglected children;

runaway and homeless youth; and children from Native American families.

The priority areas identified in this announcement are derived from

legislative mandates as well as Departmental goals and initiatives. The

priorities reflect the state of current knowledge as well as emerging

issues which come to ACYF's attention by several means including

consultation with advocates, policymakers, and practitioners in the

field. The priorities seek to focus attention on and to encourage

demonstration efforts to obtain new knowledge and improvements in

service delivery for the solution of particular problems and to promote

the dissemination and utilization of the knowledge and model practices

developed under these priorities.

This program announcement consists of three parts. Part I provides

information on the goals of the Children's Bureau (CB), the ACYF office

which is requesting applications, and the statutory authorities for

awarding grants. [[Page 18108]]

Part II describes the review process and the programmatic

priorities under which applications are being solicited.

Part III provides information and instructions for the development

and submission of applications.

Part I--Introduction

A. Goals of the Children's Bureau

Within ACYF, Children's Bureau coordinates and supports child

welfare services programs. It administers the Foster Care and Adoption

Assistance Program, the Child Welfare Services Program, the Child

Welfare Research, Demonstration and Training Program, the Adoption

Opportunities Program, the Temporary Child Care and Crisis Nurseries

Program, Independent Living Program and the Abandoned Infants

Assistance Program.

The Bureau's programs are designed to promote the welfare of all

children, including disabled, homeless, dependent or neglected children

and their families. The programs aid in preventing and remedying the

neglect, abuse and exploitation of children and the unnecessary

separation of children from families.

B. The Statutory Authority Covering This Announcement is Title II of

the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of

1978 (Pub. L. 95-266 as Amended)

The Adoption Opportunities Program provides financial support for

demonstration projects to: Improve adoption practices; eliminate

barriers to adoption; and find permanent homes for children,

particularly children with special needs. Authorization: Child Abuse

Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, Title II,

Section 203, as amended, Public Law 95-266; Pub. L. 98-457, the Child

Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988, as amended,

Title II, Section 201, Pub. L. 100-294; Pub. L. 102-295; 42 U.S.C. 5111

et seq.

Part II--Review Process and Priority Areas

A. Eligible Applicants

Each priority area description contains information about the types

of agencies and organizations which are eligible to apply under that

priority area. Because eligibility varies depending on statutory

provisions, it is critical that the ``Eligible Applicants'' section of

each priority area be reviewed carefully.

Before review, each application will be screened for applicant

organization eligibility as specified under the selected priority area.

Applications from ineligible organizations will not be considered or

reviewed in the competition, and the applicant will be so informed.

Only agencies and organizations, not individuals, are eligible to

apply under this Announcement. All applications developed jointly by

more than one agency or organization, must identify only one lead

organization and official applicant. Participating agencies and

organizations can be included as co-participants, subgrantees or

subcontractors. For-profit organizations are eligible to participate as

subgrantees or subcontractors with eligible non-profit organizations

under all priority areas.

Any non-profit agency which has not previously received Federal

support must submit proof of non-profit status either by making

reference to its listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most

recent list of tax-exempt organizations or by submitting a copy of its

letter from the IRS under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). The ACYF cannot

fund a non-profit applicant without acceptable proof of its non-profit

status.

B. Review Process and Funding Decisions

Timely applications received by the deadline date which are from

eligible applicants will be reviewed and scored competitively. Experts

in the field, generally persons outside the Federal government, will

use the appropriate evaluation criteria listed later in this section to

review and score the applications. The results of this review are a

primary factor in making funding decisions.

The ACYF reserves the option of discussing applications with, or

referring them to, other Federal or non-Federal funding sources when

this is in the best interest of the Federal government or the

applicants. ACYF may also solicit comments from ACF Regional Office

staff, other Federal agencies, interested foundations, national

organizations, specialists, experts, States and the general public.

These comments, along with those of the expert reviewers, will be

considered by ACYF in making funding decisions.

In making decisions on awards, ACYF may give preference to

applications which focus on or feature: Overrepresented populations; a

substantially innovative strategy with the potential to improve theory

or practice in the field of human services; a model practice or set of

procedures that holds the potential for replication by organizations

that administer or deliver human services; substantial involvement of

volunteers; substantial involvement (either financial or programmatic)

of the private sector; a favorable balance between Federal and non-

Federal funds available for the proposed project; the potential for

high benefit for low Federal investment; a programmatic focus on those

most in need; and/or substantial involvement in the proposed project by

national or community foundations.

To the greatest extent possible, efforts will be made to ensure

that funding decisions reflect an equitable distribution of assistance

among the States and geographical regions of the country, rural and

urban areas, and ethnic populations. In making these decisions, ACYF

may also take into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication of

effort.

C. Evaluation Criteria

A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside

the Federal government) will review the applications. To facilitate

this review, applicants should ensure that they address each minimum

requirement in the priority area description under the appropriate

section of the Program Narrative Statement.

The reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each

application using the evaluation criteria listed below, provide

comments and assign numerical scores. The point value following each

criterion heading indicates the maximum numerical weight.

All applications will be evaluated against the following criteria.

(1). Objective and Need for Assistance (20 points). The extent to

which the application pinpoints any relevant physical, economic,

social, financial, institutional or other problems requiring a

solution; demonstrates the need for the assistance; states the

principal and subordinate objectives of the project; provides

supporting documentation or other testimonies from concerned interests

other than the applicant; and includes and/or footnotes relevant data

based on the results of planning studies. The application must identify

the precise location of the project and area to be served by the

proposed project. Maps and other graphic aids may be attached.

(2). Approach (35 points). The extent to which the application

outlines a sound and workable plan of action pertaining to the scope of

the project, and details how the proposed work will be accomplished;

cites factors which might accelerate or decelerate the work, giving

acceptable reasons for taking this approach as opposed to others;

describes and supports any unusual [[Page 18109]] features of the

project, such as design or technological innovations, reductions in

cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvements; and

provides for projections of the accomplishments to be achieved. It

lists the activities to be carried out in chronological order, showing

a reasonable schedule of accomplishments and target dates.

The extent to which, when appropriate, the application identifies

the kinds of data to be collected and maintained, and discusses the

criteria to be used to evaluate the results and successes of the

project. The extent to which the application describes the evaluation

methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and

discussed are being met and if the results and benefits identified are

being achieved. The application also lists each organization, agency,

consultant, or other key individuals or groups who will work on the

project, along with a description of the activities and nature of their

effort or contribution.

(3). Results or Benefits Expected (20 points). The extent to which

the application identifies the results and benefits to be derived, the

extent to which they are consistent with the objectives of the

application, and the extent to which the application indicates the

anticipated contributions to policy, practice, theory and/or research.

The extent to which the proposed project costs are reasonable in view

of the expected results.

(4). Staff Background and Organization's Experience (25 points).

The application identifies the background of the project director/

principal investigator and key project staff (including name, address,

training, educational background and other qualifying experience) and

the experience of the organization to demonstrate the applicant's

ability to effectively and efficiently administer the project. The

application describes the relationship between the proposed project and

other work planned, anticipated or underway by the applicant with

Federal assistance.

D. Structure of Priority Area Descriptions

Each priority area description is composed of the following

sections:

Eligible Applicants: This section specifies the type of

organization eligible to apply under the particular priority area.

Specific restrictions are also noted, where applicable.

Purpose: This section presents the basic focus and/or broad goal(s)

of the priority area.

Background Information: This section briefly discusses the

legislative background as well as the current state-of-the-art and/or

current state-of-practice that supports the need for the particular

priority area activity. Relevant information on projects previously

funded by ACYF and/or others, and State models are noted, where

applicable.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: This section presents the

basic set of issues that must be addressed in the application.

Typically, they relate to project design, evaluation, and community

involvement. This section also asks for specific information on the

proposed project. Inclusion and discussion of these items is important

since they will be used by the reviewers in evaluating the applications

against the evaluation criteria. Project products, continuation of the

project effort after the Federal support ceases, and dissemination/

utilization activities, if appropriate, are also addressed.

Project Duration: This section specifies the maximum allowable

length of time for the project period; it refers to the amount of time

for which Federal funding is available.

Federal Share of Project Cost: This section specifies the maximum

amount of Federal support for the project for the first budget year.

Matching Requirement: This section specifies the minimum non

Federal contribution, either through cash or in-kind match, required in

relation to the maximum Federal funds requested for the project.

Grantees must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved cost of

the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the

ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met

by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to

meet their match requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a

project requesting $200,00 in Federal funds (based on an award of

$100,000 per budget period) must include a match of at least $20,000

(10 percent of the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: This section specifies

the number of projects that ACYF anticipates it will fund under the

priority area.

Please note that applications that do not comply with the specific

priority area requirements in the section on ``Eligible Applicants''

will not be reviewed. Applicants should also note that non-

responsiveness to the section ``Minimum Requirements for Project

Design'' will result in a low evaluation score by the reviewers.

Applicants must clearly identify the specific priority area under which

they wish to have their applications considered, and tailor their

applications accordingly. Previous experience has shown that an

application which is broader and more general in concept than outlined

in the priority area description scores lower than one more clearly

focused on, and directly responsive to, that specific priority area.

E. Available Funds

The ACYF intends to award new grants resulting from this

announcement during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1995, subject to

the availability of funds. The size of the actual awards will vary.

Each priority area description includes information on the maximum

Federal share of the project costs and the anticipated number of

projects to be funded.

The term ``budget period'' refers to the interval of time (usually

12 months) into which a multi-year period of assistance (project

period) is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. The term

``project period'' refers to the total time a project is approved for

support, including any extensions.

Where appropriate, applicants may propose project periods which are

shorter than the maximums specified in the various priority areas. Non-

Federal share contributions may exceed the minimums specified in the

various priority areas when the applicant is able to do so. However,

applicants should propose only that non-Federal share they can

realistically provide since any unmatched Federal funds will be

disallowed by ACF.

For multi-year projects, continued Federal funding beyond the first

budget period is dependent upon satisfactory performance by the

grantee, availability of funds from future appropriations and a

determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the

Government.

F. Grantee Share of Project Costs

Grantees must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved

cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum

of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal share may

be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are

encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions.

Therefore, a project requesting $200,000 in Federal funds (based on an

award of $100,000 per budget period), must include a match of at least

$20,000 (10 percent of the total Federal cost). If approved for

funding, grantee will be held accountable for commitments of non-

Federal resources and failure to provide the required

[[Page 18110]] amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched

Federal funds.

G. Index of Priority Areas

To assist potential applicants in using this announcement, a

priority area index in numerical order, is presented below.

1.01 Synthesis of Results of Minority Adoption Recruitment Projects

for Special Needs Adoption

1.02 Field Initiated Applications to Improve Adoption Services to

Children With Special Needs

1.03 Improved Permanency Outcomes of Adolescents

1.04 Service Improvements in Special Needs Adoption

1.05 Adoptive Placement of Foster Care Children

1.06 Respite Care as a Service for Families Who Adopt Children With

Special Needs

H. Priority Areas

1.01 Synthesis of Results of Minority Adoption Recruitment Projects

for Special Needs Children

Eligible Applicants: State or local governments, public or private

non-profit agencies, organizations, or universities.

Purpose: To collect, analyze, synthesize, and develop a report on

current knowledge and results of minority recruitment services projects

funded since 1989 by the Adoption Opportunities Program.

Background Information: In 1989, the Adoption Opportunities statute

authorized funds for increased minority adoption recruitment services

for families to adopt special needs children. Approximately 81 grants

have been awarded to public and private agencies to provide adoption

services for minority children and families. These efforts resulted in

some successful models and products that could be replicated. These

include recruitment models for One Church-One Child, Homes for Black

Children and Friends of Black Children; curricula addressing cultural

competence; resource guides; directories; adaptable public service

announcements; practice manuals; and handbooks to assist workers in the

area of special needs adoption recruitment.

The ACYF is interested in supporting an effort to review the body

of work in the field of minority adoption recruitment services to

determine (1) The number of projects which are now an ongoing part of

the agencies' programs; (2) the results of the evaluations of the

projects; (3) the number of families recruited and children placed; and

(4) the implications for public and private child welfare agencies and

community based organizations. Information on funded projects can be

obtained from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, 11426

Rockville Pike, Suite 410, Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone (301)

231-6512.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to successfully

compete under this priority area, the applicant should:

Demonstrate an understanding of the literature and of the

issues in minority recruitment services.

Describe how the findings from these projects would be

analyzed and synthesized into a report which would be useful to the

field.

Provide a plan for disseminating the report nationally.

Provide assurances that at least one key person from the

project will attend the annual child welfare conference in Washington,

D.C. (The Conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other

Children's Bureau grantees to exchange information and address current

child welfare trends and issues.)

Provide an executive summary and a final report on the project

within 90 days after the project end date.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 17

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the

project is $85,000.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: Grantees must provide at

least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $85,000 in Federal funds must include a match of at least

$8,500 (10 percent of the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

one project will be funded.

1.02 Field Initiated Applications to Improve Adoption Services to

Children With Special Needs

Eligible Applicants: State, Regional or local public child welfare

or adoption agencies and voluntary child welfare or adoption agencies

or organizations.

Purpose: To improve adoption services for children with special

needs through activities which are not addressed elsewhere in this

announcement and have not been previously funded by the Adoption

Opportunities Program. This priority area provides public and voluntary

agencies and organizations involved in the adoption process with an

opportunity to present innovative ideas for improving child welfare and

adoption systems.

Background Information: Public child welfare workers who provide

adoption services are overburdened because of the shortage of staff and

the increasing child welfare caseload. In many public agencies,

adoption staff are expected to provide services not only to foster

children with special needs and their potential adoptive families, but

also to families requesting services for inter-country and other types

of adoption. There is also a growing need to provide post-legal

adoption services to preserve adoptive families as well as an

increasing responsibility for search and reunion services. This places

substantial burdens on limited adoption agency resources which are

needed to serve the special needs population.

At any given time, approximately 69,000 foster children have a goal

of adoption, 20,000 of which are legally free for adoption. Minority

children continue to be over-represented among this group. Older

children and sibling groups also continue to present unique challenges.

Sub-populations, such as drug-exposed or medically-fragile infants and

foster children with HIV and AIDS, will be or are currently testing the

capacity of adoption programs. Other areas for innovation include the

placement of large sibling groups, the preparation of children for

adoption, open adoption and relative adoption. Innovative efforts,

embodying the spirit of public-private partnerships, are needed to

provide permanent adoptive homes to all waiting children.

Because there are so many different issues that face the public and

voluntary sectors, ACYF is requesting field-initiated applications that

address the most problematic areas in serving foster children with

special needs for whom adoption is the plan. These applications must be

innovative and cannot be responsive to other priority areas identified

in this announcement.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete

successfully under this priority area, the applicant should:

Describe the agency's current adoption program and the

specific problem(s) that would be addressed.

Describe the approach that would be used to alleviate the

problem(s).

Document that this is a new approach that has not been

funded before, based on a review of the literature and any other

relevant sources. [[Page 18111]]

Provide specific written commitments from cooperating or

collaborating agencies, if appropriate.

Provide for an evaluation of the project and include a

discussion of the proposed evaluation design. The evaluation should

focus on child and family outcome measures (e.g., number of families

recruited, number of children placed, disruption rates, etc.).

Describe how the agency would incorporate successful

strategies of the project into its ongoing program.

Provide assurances that at least one key person from the

project will attend the Child Welfare Conference in Washington, D.C.

(The conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other Children's

Bureau grantees to exchange information and to address current child

welfare trends and issues.)

Provide assurances that the project will be staffed and

implemented within 90 days of the notification of the grant award.

Describe the reports and/or other products that would be

developed under the project, including the types of information that

would be presented and the steps that would be undertaken to

disseminate and promote the utilization of project products and

findings.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 24

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the

project is $300,000.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: Grantee must provide at least

10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $300,000 in Federal funds (based on an award of $150,000 per

budget period) must include a match of at least $30,000 (10 percent of

the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

seven projects will be funded.

1.03 Improved Permanency Outcomes for Adolescents

Eligible Applicants: State and local public agencies or private

child welfare agencies in collaboration with a State or local public

agency.

Purpose: To increase permanency for children over the age of

thirteen through adoption or other options which can include kinship

care and legal guardianship.

Background Information: Ideally, children in the foster care system

should be reunited with their parents. In cases where reunification is

not possible or in the best interest of children, adoption or other

permanency arrangements must be expeditiously made. Some of the

children awaiting adoptive families are listed on the National Adoption

Exchange. The Exchange reports that 41 percent of the children

registered on the Exchange are between the ages of 11 and 17. Fifty-

five percent are African American, 30 percent are white, 8 percent are

Hispanic and 5 percent are bi-racial. While adoption efforts are being

made for these children, there are still many older children in the

child welfare system who are not being prepared for adoption and who

are perceived as being ``unadoptable.'' In some cases not enough work

has been done toward locating adoptive families; in other cases

children have not been prepared for adoption; therefore, they do not

understand what adoption means and tell workers they do not want to be

adopted. Many of these teens are fearful of the rejection associated

with having to wait for many years for a family to call their own.

Child welfare agencies need to review the case plans of the

children served in this age group, to set new goals and actively

provide the services that will assure permanency for these adolescents.

There must also be a re-examination of staff's attitudes with respect

to the adoption of adolescents. Conversations with the children about

their goals and how they view their future could lead to more

placements and ones that are suitable and lasting. This service

requires skilled workers who view adoption as a positive option and who

can work intensively and effectively in planning with these

adolescents.

In 1993, a teenager named Charlotte who grew up in the foster care

system was crowned Miss Teen USA at the age of 16. Charlotte had set

the goal of adoption for herself and although she had lived with the

same foster parents for 11 years, they did not adopt her. At her

insistence, the State agency found a couple who adopted her when she

was 17 years of age. Many more adolescents, like Charlotte, are waiting

for a family and would like to have a support system or role model to

help them make the transition from foster care to independence. If

adoption is not possible, options such as kinship care, assisted

guardianship, or transition to independent living should be explored.

The focus of this priority area is to ensure permanency for

adolescents through adoption, legal guardianship, planned long term

foster care, or preparation for independent living.

Information on previously funded projects dealing with the adoption

of older children can be obtained from the National Adoption

Information Clearinghouse, 11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 410, Rockville,

MD 20852; telephone (301) 231-6512.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to successfully

compete under this priority area, the applicant should:

Describe existing barriers to permanency for older

children in the area.

Identify and verify by race, sex and age at least 25

adolescents to be served who are legally free for adoption.

Describe the approach to be used to work with the

adolescents which build on knowledge of adolescent development,

separation and attachment issues and permanency planning.

Describe a plan for using the resources of the National

Resource Centers (Youth, Permanency Planning and Adoption) in

implementing this project.

Identify the expected outcomes in terms of the number of

adolescents to benefit by permanency.

Describe clearly the services to be provided, e.g.

seminars, workshops, support services to adoptive families after

placement or other services to meet the special needs of this age

group.

Include a description of how families will be recruited

and prepared to parent this age group of children.

Discuss efforts to work with foster parents to encourage

them to adopt the adolescents in their care, i.e., availability of

subsidy or other incentives to meet the needs of the child.

Provide information on any proposed collaboration and

agreements with other organizations that will work with the project.

Provide assurance that the staff on the project are

culturally diverse and competent to work with this population.

Describe plans to contract with a third party to conduct

an independent evaluation of the project.

Provide assurance that at least one key person from the

project will attend the annual Child Welfare Conference in Washington,

D.C. (The Conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other

Children's Bureau grantees to exchange information and address current

child welfare trends and issues).

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 36

months. [[Page 18112]]

Federal Share of Project of Project Costs: The maximum Federal

share of the project is $375,000.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: Grantees must provide at

least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $375,000 in Federal funds (based on an award of $125,000 per

budget period) must include a match of at least $37,500 (10 percent of

the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

five projects will be funded.

1.04 Service Improvements in Special Needs Adoption

Eligible Applicants: State and local public or private non-profit

child welfare agencies or agencies having access to the children in

need of this service. Agencies or States which have not already

demonstrated the models for replication described in this priority area

will be given priority consideration.

Purpose: To replicate Federally funded adoption models in one of

the following categories: (a) termination of parental rights (TPR); (b)

minority recruitment; (c) staff training or (d) post-legal adoption

services.

Background Information: There are currently over 500,000 children

in the foster care system. A large number of these children will not be

returning to their families and are in need of permanency in their

lives. Adoption with a loving family is the plan for a number of these

children. However, systemic barriers and inadequate service delivery

prevent agencies from attaining permanency for these children. Service

delivery models and training efforts have been developed through

Federal adoption grants during the past 14 years to address some of the

barriers. These models have: facilitated adoption placements; informed

practice and policy; provided practical solutions to systemic problems

in service delivery; increased public awareness of the waiting

children; shortened the time children wait for adoption and provided

needed services to maintain the family after the adoption has been

legalized. However, dissemination of these models has been limited,

which has reduced the opportunities for replication, or when models

have been recognized as potentially useful, funding has not been

available in public agencies to replicate the projects.

(a) Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

The Children's Bureau has funded demonstration grants in the past

on termination of parental rights and reducing delays for children who

wait. As early as 1983, a grant was awarded to the American Bar

Association to work with five States to eliminate or minimize the legal

barriers which impede the timely movement of children with special

needs into adoptive families. Some of the States in the project were

very successful in significantly reducing the time a child had to wait

for TPR. One project in New Jersey was able to reduce the average

length of time a child remains in the court process, once the

termination papers were filed, from 34 weeks to six weeks. In 1988,

four projects were funded to address specific problems or issues

concerning TPR which act as barriers to adoption. A book entitled

``Children Can't Wait: Reducing Delays for Children in Foster Care'' by

Paul Johnson and Katherine Kahn is based on the experience of the four

projects. This book provides information to assist professionals and

agencies in addressing permanency for children in the child welfare

system. The book may be purchased from the Child Welfare and agencies

in addressing permanency for children in the child welfare system. The

book may be purchased from the Child Welfare League of America, 440

First St. N.W., Suite 310, Washington, D.C. 20001-2085.

(b) Minority Recruitment

Minority children are overrepresented in the child welfare system

and minority families often face insurmountable systemic barriers in

their attempts to become adoptive parents. However, it has been

demonstrated that minority families are available , and do adopt.

For some agencies recruiting and maintaining families that are of

the culture and race of the children in their care has proven to be

difficult. There are excellent models to recruit families for minority

children which utilize a combination of media, word-of-mouth, and

community-based resources. Models such as One Church-One Child, and

Friends of Black Children were developed over 10 years ago and have

been institutionalized in some agencies and organizations. The One

Church-One Child model has been demonstrated throughout the country and

has proven to be successful in the recruitment and placement of

minority children. The Friends of Black Children model has been limited

to specific geographical areas.

Another tool of recruiting families is through multi-media

presentations such as: ``Wednesday's child'' segments; posters; radio

and television public service announcements (PSA's); and billboards.

(c) Staff Training

ACYF recognizes that curricula are developed throughout the

adoption field. Often these curricula are specialized to meet the needs

of workers in providing particular services to their clients. The

National Resource Center on Special Needs Adoption has developed two

training curricula, one on Special Needs Adoption and the other on

Cultural Competence. The special needs adoption curriculum has been

disseminated to State agencies but has been under-utilized.

(d) Post-Legal Adoption Services

Post-legal adoption services are critical to the success of special

needs adoptions. There is continuous need of these services to ensure

that families have the support necessary to sustain themselves. Over 70

programs across the country have been funded to provide post-legal

adoption services. These programs provided: Training for mental health

professionals on adoption issues; training on how to work with sexually

abused children; services for special groups such as HIV positive

children and their parents; counselling and information on adoption

search issues; development of training curricula; respite care services

and training of respite care providers. In a project of the Illinois

Department of Children and Family Services, a survey of adoptive

parents was conducted which revealed that adoptive families could not

find the right services for their adopted children and that families

felt the need for support groups and the need for more information on

the children being placed. In addition, the survey found that

professionals needed adoption-sensitive training. A product of this

grant was the publication entitled ``The Role of the Public Agency

Delivering Post Adoption Services,'' by Kenneth Watson.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design:

Demonstrate an understanding of the literature and of the

issues in the specific area of service improvement of this application

(TPR, Staff Training, Post-Legal Services or Recruitment).

Describe how the project will use program components to

reduce the caseload of waiting children or improve

[[Page 18113]] services for children who have been adopted and their

families .

Describe how the project will use other agencies and

disciplines to implement its program.

Describe the model to be replicated or type of training to

be provided.

Provide assurances that the project will be staffed and

implemented within 90 days of the notification of the grant award.

Provide assurances that at least one key person from the

project will attend the annual Child Welfare Conference in Washington,

D.C. (The Conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other

Children's Bureau grantees to exchange information and address current

child welfare trends and issues.)

Subject Duration: length of the project must not exceed 24 months.

Federal Share of Project Cost: The maximum Federal share of the

project is $150,000 for the Termination of Parental Rights and Post-

Legal Adoption Services and $100,000 for the minority recruitment and

training.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirements: Grantee must provide at

least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $150,000 in Federal funds (based on an award of $75,000 per

budget period) must include a match of at least $15,000 (10 percent of

the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

five grants for each model will be funded.

1.05 Adoptive Placement of Foster Care Children

Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to State social service

agencies. Given limited funds, and in order to generate and financially

support the widest possible variety of issues and approaches, priority

will be given to applicants which have not been funded under this

priority area in previous fiscal years. However, previously funded

applicants under this priority area will not be precluded from the

receiving grants.

Purpose: To develop programs which will assist States in their

efforts to increase the placement of foster care children legally free

for adoption according to a pre-established plan and goals for

improvement.

Background Information: The Adoption Opportunities legislation, as

amended by Public Law 100-294, authorizes the funding of grants to

States to improve adoption services for the placement of special needs

children who are legally free for adoption. Children in foster care who

are free for adoption, particularly children with special needs, do not

always move smoothly through the child welfare system into placement

with a permanent family.

States have received Federal grants to make systemic changes in

their adoption programs; to provide computer hardware, software and

fees for membership in the National Adoption Exchange's Network; to

develop a consortium of States with large numbers of children in care

in order to share knowledge to improve and enhance their special needs

adoption programs; and to form a national post-legal adoption

consortium of States to focus on models of post-legal adoption

services. More than half of the States have received grants in the

above stated areas to improve adoption services.

Increasingly, children entering foster care have more complex

problems which require more intensive services. Permanent families must

be continuously recruited and prepared to parent the growing population

of children who cannot return to their birth families. Supportive

services must be added or improved so that the children in foster care

who are legally free for adoption can move into adoptive placements in

a timely manner. This will require collaborative efforts with the court

system to terminate parental rights. Further, agencies must commit

resources for the ongoing support of adoptive families not only at

placement, but also after legalization of the adoption. Past projects

have demonstrated that greater improvements in placing these children

are achieved when permanent plans are made and carried out very early

in the placement; when there are sufficient numbers of trained and

experienced staff; and when there are available resources and

administrative commitments to adoption and to coordinated community-

based efforts.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to successfully

compete under this priority area, the applicant should:

Identify and verify the number of foster care children in

the area to be served who are legally free and waiting for adoptive

placements.

Provide and verify the rate of placement of foster care

children placed in adoption in the year preceding the application. (The

rate of placement is the number of children placed divided by the

number of children waiting for adoption.)

Describe the methods to be employed to increase the rate

of placement of foster care children into adoption and the goals for

improvement to be achieved during the period of the grant.

Propose and describe an evaluation component which would

focus on the innovations to be used to improve the placement of

children who are legally free for adoption and which would address the

successes and failures of the initiative.

The evaluation should include the collection and analysis of data

to determine placement rates and the types of clients served (e.g.,

waiting children, prospective adoptive families). Data should be

collected to determine the availability of adoptive families during the

program period. The evaluation should also include descriptive

information on the processes and procedures to be used in implementing

the project. This information should be used to assess placement rates

and the success or failure of the innovative program methodologies

used.

Document how the program would be continued beyond Federal

funding or as part of the agency's ongoing program, if successful, and

describe the specific steps which would be taken to accomplish this.

Provide assurances that at least one key person from the

project will attend the annual Child Welfare Conference in Washington,

D.C. (The Conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other

Children's Bureau grantees to exchange information and address current

child welfare trends and issues.)

Describe the report and/or other products that would be

developed under the project, including the types of information that

would be presented, and the steps that would be undertaken to

disseminate and promote the utilization of project products and

findings.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 12

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The maximum Federal share of the

project is $100,000.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: Grantees must provide at

least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $100,00 in Federal funds [[Page 18114]] must include a match

of at least $10,000 (10 percent of the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

two projects will be funded.

1.06 Respite Care as a Service for Families Who Adopt Children With

Special Needs

Eligible Applicants: States, local government entities, public or

private non-profit licensed child welfare or adoption agencies,

university affiliated programs, licensed child care or respite care

providers or incorporated adoptive parent groups with experience in

working with adoptive populations.

Purpose: To develop or replicate a variety of affordable respite

care models for adoptive parents of children with special needs,

especially for adoptive parents of medically fragile or severely

physically or emotionally disabled children.

Background Information: ACYF recognizes the need for respite

services for adoptive families in order to maintain and support the

family unit. Respite may be needed early in the adoptive placement or

later in the child's development. Results of research studies indicate

that the majority of care is requested to relieve the primary caregiver

for vacations, emergencies and planned circumstances.

There are few specialized respite care programs for adoptive

families that provide a period of temporary relief or rest from

parental responsibilities despite the increasing availability of post-

legal adoption services. Such programs can be especially helpful to

families who adopt children with special needs by providing support

during emergencies or respite from the daily demands of a special needs

child. Generally, such respite care is provided by skilled caregivers

or companions; however, with proper preparation it can also be provided

by friends and relatives in the family's home or in another location.

In some respite programs training and reimbursement are offered to

whomever the family designates as provider, an arrangement which is

mutually satisfying because it allows the family to control the quality

of care. Also, this approach may offer families living in rural areas

the flexibility of locating their own provider since distance

frequently limits respite resources.

Since 1990, ACYF has awarded grants to expand and develop respite

care services for adoptive parents of children with special needs.

These projects have developed services such as: payment to families to

seek their own respite services in their own homes for short periods of

time and weekends; recruiting and training individuals to provide short

breaks for adoptive parents and to provide supportive services to

parents such as tutorial and recreational activities outside the home

and sponsoring camp programs and other specialized events for the

children and their families. The programs funded in 1990 which ended in

September 1993 are the University of Kansas, Bureau of Child Research;

La Hacienda Foster Care, Tucson, Arizona; University of Alabama at

Birmingham; Mercy Respite Care Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan;

Northwest Adoption Exchange, Seattle, Washington; New Haven Foster

Family Agency, Vista, California; Department of Human Services,

Trenton, New Jersey; Adoptive Parent Group of South Wisconsin, Inc.,

Madison, Wisconsin; Kent State University, Research and Graduate

Studies, Kent, Ohio; Resources for Adoptive Parents, Minneapolis,

Minnesota; Department of Human Resources, Reno, Nevada; Department of

Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia; and Department of Mental Health and

Mental Retardation, Waterbury, Vermont. Information about these

programs can be secured from the National Adoption Information

Clearinghouse, ll426 Rockville Pike, Suite 410, Rockville, Maryland

20852, telephone: (301) 231-6512.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to successfully

compete under this priority area, the applicant should:

Describe plans to develop or replicate respite care models

for the adoptive parents of special needs children that include, but

are not limited to:

--Facility-based models such as those located in churches, day care

centers, community-based group homes, rehabilitation centers, and

``mother's day out'' programs, weekend respite, evening respite, and

overnight respite programs;

--In-home respite care services offered in the family's home and,

--Respite host family services offered in the provider's home.

Describe respite care services that would be provided for

parents of children who are medically fragile, or who have severe

physical or emotional problems.

Describe the preparation, referral, follow-up, and

counselling services that would be provided to respite service users.

Describe the collaboration that would be established with

groups such as community recreational services, churches, day care

centers, group homes, residential treatment centers, adoptive parent

groups, and University Affiliated Programs in the provision of the

respite services.

Describe the training that would be provided to service

providers and how specific models of respite care would be developed or

replicated.

Estimate the number of special needs children and families

that would be served and document that a sufficient volume of special

needs adoptive families exists to support a program of the size

proposed.

Provide for an evaluation of the project and include a

discussion of the proposed evaluation design.

Document how the program would be continued beyond Federal

funding as part of the agency's ongoing program and describe the

specific steps which would be taken to accomplish this.

Provide assurances that at least one key person from the

project will attend the annual Child Welfare Conference in Washington,

DC. The Conference is held for Adoption Opportunities and other

Children's Bureau grantees to exchange information and address current

child welfare trends and issues.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 36

months.

Federal Share of Project Cost: The maximum Federal share of the

project is $450,000.

Matching or Cost Sharing Requirement: Grantees must provide at

least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total

approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-

Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. Therefore, a project

requesting $450,000 in Federal funds (based on an award of $150,000 per

budget period) must include a match of at least $45,000 (10 percent of

the total Federal cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects: It is anticipated that a minimum of

five projects will be funded.

Part III--Instructions for the Development and Submission of

Applications

This Part contains information and instructions for submitting

applications in response to this announcement. Application forms are

provided along with a checklist for assembling an application package.

Please copy and use these forms in submitting an application.

Potential applicants should read this section carefully in

conjunction with [[Page 18115]] the information contained within the

specific priority area under which the application is to be submitted.

The priority area descriptions are in Part II.

A. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

The Adoption Opportunities Program is not covered under Executive

Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. When

comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to:

ADDRESSES: Applications may be mailed to the Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of

Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 6th Floor East, OFM/

DDG, Washington, DC 20447.

Hand delivered applications are accepted during normal working

hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to the

established closing date at: Administration for Children and Families,

Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor OFM/DDG, 901 D Street,

S.W., Washington, DC 20447.

B. Deadline for Submission of Applications

Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the announced

deadline if they are either:

1. Received on or before the deadline date at:

ADDRESSES: Applications may be mailed to the Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of

Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 6th Floor East, OFM/

DDG, Washington, DC 20447.

Hand delivered applications are accepted during normal working

hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to the

established closing date at: Administration for Children and Families,

Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor OFM/DDG, 901 D Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20447.

2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time

for the independent review. Applicants are cautioned to request a

legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated

receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private

Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria

stated 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 the deadline for all

applicants because of acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or

when there is a widespread disruption of the mails. However, if ACF

does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or

extend the deadline for any applicants.

C. Instructions for Preparing the Application and Completing

Application Forms

The SF 424, 424A, 424B, and certifications have been reprinted for

your convenience in preparing the application. See Appendix A. You

should reproduce single-sided copies of these forms from the reprinted

forms in the announcement, typing your information onto the copies.

Please do not use forms directly from the Federal Register

announcement, as they are printed on both sides of the page.

Please prepare your application in accordance with the following

instructions:

1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet. Please read the

following instructions before completing the application cover sheet.

An explanation of each item is included. Complete only the items

specified.

Top of Page. Enter the single priority area number under which the

application is being submitted. An application should be submitted

under only one priority area.

Item 1. Type of Submission--Preprinted on the form.

Item 2. Date Submitted and Applicant Identifier--Date application

is submitted to ACYF and applicant's own internal control number, if

applicable.

Item 3. Date Received By State--State use only (if applicable).

Item 4. Date Received by Federal Agency--Leave blank.

Item 5. Applicant Information

Legal Name--Enter the legal name of the applicant organization. For

applications developed jointly, enter the name of the lead organization

only. There must be a single applicant for each application.

Organizational Unit--Enter the name of the primary unit within the

applicant organization which will actually carry out the project

activity. Do not use the name of an individual as the applicant. If

this is the same as the applicant organization, leave the

organizational unit blank.

Address--Enter the complete address that the organization actually

uses to receive mail, since this is the address to which all

correspondence will be sent. Do not include both street address and

P.O. Box number unless both must be used in mailing.

Name and telephone number of the person to be contacted on matters

involving this application (give area code)--Enter the full name

(including academic degree, if applicable) and telephone number of a

person who can respond to questions about the application. This person

should be accessible at the address given here and will receive all

correspondence regarding the application.

Item 6. Employer Identification Number (EIN)--Enter the employer

identification number of the applicant organization, as assigned by the

Internal Revenue Service, including, if known, the Central Registry

System suffix.

Item 7. Type of Applicant--Self-explanatory.

Item 8. Type of Application--Preprinted on the form.

Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--Preprinted on the form.

Item 10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number and Title--

Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned

to the program under which assistance is requested and its title, as

indicated in the relevant priority area description.

Item 11. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--Enter the

project title. The title is generally short and is descriptive of the

project, not the priority area title.

Item 12. Areas Affected by Project--Enter the governmental unit

where significant and meaningful impact could be observed. List only

the largest unit or units affected, such as State, county, or city. If

an entire unit is affected, list it rather than subunits.

Item 13. Proposed Project--Enter the desired start date for the

project and projected completion date.

Item 14. Congressional District of Applicant/Project--Enter the

number of the Congressional district where the applicant's principal

office is located and the number of the Congressional district(s) where

the project will be located. If statewide, a multi-State effort, or

nationwide, enter 00.

Items 15. Estimated Funding Levels. In completing 15a through 15f,

the dollar amounts entered should reflect, for a 17 month or less

project period, the total amount requested. If the proposed project

period exceeds 17 months, enter only those dollar amounts needed for

the first 12 months of the proposed project.

Item 15a. Enter the amount of Federal funds requested in accordance

with the preceding paragraph. This amount should be no greater than the

maximum [[Page 18116]] amount specified in the priority area

description.

Items 15b-e. Enter the amount(s) of funds from non-Federal sources

that will be contributed to the proposed project. Items b-e are

considered cost-sharing or matching funds. The value of third party in-

kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines as

applicable. For more information regarding funding as well as

exceptions to these rules, see Part II, Sections E and F, and the

specific priority area description.

Item 15f. Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected to

be generated from the proposed project. Do not add or subtract this

amount from the total project amount entered under item 15g. Describe

the nature, source and anticipated use of this income in the Project

Narrative Statement.

Item 15g. Enter the sum of items 15a-15e.

Item 16a. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order

12372 Process? Yes.--Enter the date the applicant contacted the SPOC

regarding this application. Select the appropriate SPOC from the

listing provided at the end of Part III. The review of the application

is at the discretion of the SPOC. The SPOC will verify the date noted

on the application. If there is a discrepancy in dates, the SPOC may

request that the Federal agency delay any proposed funding until

September 1995.

Item 16b. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order

12372 Process? No.--Check the appropriate box if the application is not

covered by E.O. 12372 or if the program has not been selected by the

State for review.

Item 17. Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?--Check

the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant

organization, not the person who signs as the authorized

representative. Categories of debt include audit disallowances, loans

and taxes.

Item 18. To the best of my knowledge and belief, all data in this

application/ preapplication are true and correct. The document has been

duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant and the

applicant will comply with the attached assurances if the assistance is

awarded.--To be signed by the authorized representative of the

applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for signature

of this application by this individual as the official representative

must be on file in the applicant's office, and may be requested from

the applicant.

Item 18a-c. Typed Name of Authorized Representative, Title,

Telephone Number--Enter the name, title and telephone number of the

authorized representative of the applicant organization.

Item 18d. Signature of Authorized Representative--Signature of the

authorized representative named in Item 18a. At least one copy of the

application must have an original signature. Use colored ink (not

black) so that the original signature is easily identified.

Item 18e. Date Signed--Enter the date the application was signed by

the authorized representative.

2. SF 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.

This is a form used by many Federal agencies. For this application,

Sections A, B, C, E and F are to be completed. Section D does not need

to be completed.

Sections A and B should include the Federal as well as the non-

Federal funding for the proposed project covering (1) the total project

period of 17 months or less or (2) the first year budget period, if the

proposed project period exceeds 17 months.

Section A--Budget Summary. This section includes a summary of the

budget. On line 5, enter total Federal costs in column (e) and total

non-Federal costs, including third party in-kind contributions, but not

program income, in column (f). Enter the total of (e) and (f) in column

(g).

Section B--Budget Categories. This budget, which includes the

Federal as well as non-Federal funding for the proposed project, covers

(1) the total project period if the proposed project period is 17

months or less or (2) the first year budget period if the proposed

project period exceeds 17 months. It should relate to item 15g, total

funding, on the SF 424. Under column (5), enter the total requirements

for funds (Federal and non-Federal) by object class category.

A separate itemized budget justification for each line item is

required. The types of information to be included in the justification

are indicated under each category. For multiple year projects, it is

desirable to provide this information for each year of the project. The

budget justification should immediately follow the second page of the

SF 424A.

Personnel--Line 6a. Enter the total costs of salaries and wages of

applicant/grantee staff. Do not include the costs of consultants, which

should be included on line 6h, Other.

Justification: Identify the principal investigator or project

director, if known. Specify by title or name the percentage of time

allocated to the project, the individual annual salaries, and the cost

to the project (both Federal and non-Federal) of the organization's

staff who will be working on the project.

Fringe Benefits--Line 6b. Enter the total cost of fringe benefits,

unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.

Justification: Provide a break-down of amounts and percentages that

comprise fringe benefit costs, such as health insurance, FICA,

retirement insurance, etc.

Travel--6c. Enter total costs of out-of-town travel (travel

requiring per diem) for staff of the project. Do not enter costs for

consultant's travel or local transportation, which should be included

on Line 6h, Other.

Justification: Include the name(s) of traveler(s), total number of

trips, destinations, length of stay, transportation costs and

subsistence allowances.

Equipment--Line 6d. Enter the total costs of all equipment to be

acquired by the project. 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. For all other applicants, the

threshold for equipment is $500 or more per unit. The higher threshold

for State and local governments became effective October 1, 1988,

through the implementation of 45 CFR Part 92, Uniform Administrative

Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local

Governments.

Justification: Equipment to be purchased with Federal funds must be

justified. The equipment must be required to conduct the project, and

the applicant organization or its subgrantees must not have the

equipment or a reasonable facsimile available to the project. The

justification also must contain plans for future use or disposal of the

equipment after the project ends.

Supplies--Line 6e. Enter the total costs of all tangible expendable

personal property (supplies) other than those included on Line 6d.

Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their

costs.

Contractual--Line 6f. Enter the total costs of all contracts,

including (1) procurement contracts (except those which belong on other

lines such as equipment, supplies, etc.) and (2) contracts with

secondary recipient organizations, including delegate agencies. Also

include any contracts with organizations for the provision of technical

assistance. Do not include payments to individuals on this line. If the

name of the contractor, scope of work, and estimated total costs are

not available or have not been negotiated, include on Line 6h, Other.

[[Page 18117]]

Justification: Attach a list of contractors, indicating the names

of the organizations, the purposes of the contracts, and the estimated

dollar amounts of the awards as part of the budget justification.

Whenever the applicant/grantee intends to delegate part or all of the

program to another agency, the applicant/grantee must complete this

section (Section B, Budget Categories) for each delegate agency by

agency title, along with the supporting information. The total cost of

all such agencies will be part of the amount shown on Line 6f. Provide

backup documentation identifying the name of contractor, purpose of

contract, and major cost elements. Applicants who anticipate

procurements of $25,000 for non-governmental and governmental entities

and are requesting an award without competition should include a sole

source justification in the application which at a minimum should

include the basis for contractor's selection, justification for lack of

competition when competitive bids or offers are not obtained and basis

for award cost or price. (Note: Previous or past experience with a

contractor is not sufficient justification for sole source.)

Construction--Line 6g. Not applicable. New construction is not

allowable.

Other--Line 6h. Enter the total of all other costs. Where

applicable, such costs may include, but are not limited to: Insurance;

medical and dental costs; noncontractual fees and travel paid directly

to individual consultants; local transportation (all travel which does

not require per diem is considered local travel); space and equipment

rentals; printing and publication; computer use; training costs,

including tuition and stipends; training service costs, including wage

payments to individuals and supportive service payments; and staff

development costs. Note that costs identified as miscellaneous and

honoraria are not allowable.

Justification: Specify the costs included.

Total Direct Charges--Line 6i. Enter the total of Lines 6a through

6h.

Indirect Charges--6j. Enter the total amount of indirect charges

(costs). If no indirect costs are requested, enter none. Generally,

this line should be used when the applicant (except local governments)

has a current indirect cost rate agreement approved by the Department

of Health and Human Services or another Federal agency.

Local and State governments should enter the amount of indirect

costs determined in accordance with HHS requirements. When an indirect

cost rate is requested, these costs are included in the indirect cost

pool and should not be charged again as direct costs to the grant. In

the case of training grants to other than State or local governments

(as defined in title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, part 74), the

Federal reimbursement of indirect costs will be limited to the lesser

of the negotiated (or actual) indirect cost rate or 8 percent of the

amount allowed for direct costs, exclusive of any equipment charges,

rental of space, tuition and fees, post-doctoral training allowances,

contractual items, and alterations and renovations.

For training grant applications, the entry under line 6j should be

the total indirect costs being charged to the project. The Federal

share of indirect costs is calculated as shown above. The applicant's

share is calculated as follows:

(a) Calculate total project indirect costs (a) by applying the

applicant's approved indirect cost rate to the total project (Federal

and non-Federal) direct costs.

(b) Calculate the Federal share of indirect costs (b) at 8 percent

of the amount allowed for total project (Federal and non-Federal)

direct costs exclusive of any equipment charges, rental of space,

tuition and fees, post-doctoral training allowances, contractual items,

and alterations and renovations.

(c) Subtract (b) from (a). The remainder is what the applicant can

claim as part of its matching cost contribution.

Justification: Enclose a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement.

Applicants subject to the limitation on the Federal reimbursement of

indirect costs for training grants should specify this.

Total--Line 6k. Enter the total amounts of lines 6i and 6j.

Program Income--Line 7. Enter the estimated amount of income, if

any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract

this amount from the total project amount.

Justification: Describe the nature, source, and anticipated use of

program income in the Program Narrative Statement.

Section C--Non-Federal Resources. This section summarizes the

amounts of non-Federal resources that will be applied to the grant.

Enter this information on line 12 entitled Totals. In-kind

contributions are defined in 45 CFR 74.2, as the value of non-cash

contributions provided by non-Federal third parties. Their 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.

Justification: Describe third party in-kind contributions, if

included.

Section D--Forecasted Cash Needs. Not applicable.

Section E--Budget Estimate of Federal Funds Needed For Balance of

the Project. This section should only be completed if the total project

period exceeds 17 months.

Totals--Line 20. For projects that will have more than one budget

period, enter the estimated required Federal funds for the second

budget period (months 13 through 24) under column (b) First. If a third

budget period will be necessary, enter the Federal funds needed for

months 25 through 36 under (c) Second. Columns (d) and (e) are not

applicable in most instances, since ACF funding is almost always

limited to a three-year maximum project period. Columns (d) and (e)

would be used in the case of a 60 month project.

Section F--Other Budget Information.

Direct Charges--Line 21. Not applicable.

Indirect Charges--Line 22. Enter the type of indirect rate

(provisional, predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect

during the funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which

the rate is applied, and the total indirect expense.

Remarks--Line 23. If the total project period exceeds 17 months,

you must enter your proposed non-Federal share of the project budget

for each of the remaining years of the project.

3. Project Summary Description. Clearly mark this separate page

with the applicant name as shown in item 5 of the SF 424, the priority

area number as shown at the top of the SF 424, and the title of the

project as shown in item 11 of the SF 424. The summary description

should not exceed 300 words. These 300 words become part of the

computer database on each project.

Care should be taken to produce a summary description which

accurately and concisely reflects the application. It should describe

the objectives of the project, the approaches to be used and the

outcomes expected. The description should also include a list of major

products that will result from the proposed project, such as software

packages, materials, management procedures, data collection

instruments, training packages, or videos (please note that

audiovisuals should be closed captioned). The project summary

description, together with the information on the SF 424, will

constitute the project abstract. It is the major source of information

about the proposed project and is usually the first [[Page 18118]] part

of the application that the reviewers read in evaluating the

application.

At the bottom of the page, following the summary description, type

up to 10 key words which best describe the proposed project, the

service(s) involved and the target population(s) to be covered. These

key words will be used for computerized information retrieval for

specific types of funded projects.

4. Program Narrative Statement. The Program Narrative Statement is

a very important part of an application. It should be clear, concise,

and address the specific requirements mentioned under the priority area

description in Part II.

The narrative should provide information concerning how the

application meets the evaluation criteria (see Section C, Part II),

using the following headings:

(a) Objectives and Need for Assistance;

(b) Approach;

(c) Results and Benefits Expected; and

(d) Staff Background and Organization's Experience.

The specific information to be included under each of these

headings is described in Section C of Part II, Evaluation Criteria.

The narrative should be typed double-spaced on a single side of an

8\1/2\'' x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. All

pages of the narrative (including charts, references/footnotes, tables,

maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered, beginning with

Objectives and Need for Assistance as page number one. Applicants

should not submit reproductions of larger size paper, reduced to meet

the size requirement.

The length of the application, including the application forms and

all attachments, should not exceed 60 pages. A page is a single side of

an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' sheet of paper. Applicants are requested not to

send pamphlets, brochures or other printed material along with their

application as these pose xeroxing difficulties. These materials, if

submitted, will not be included in the review process if they exceed

the 60-page limit. Each page of the application will be counted to

determine the total length.

5. Organizational Capability Statement. The Organizational

Capability Statement should consist of a brief (two to three pages)

background description of how the applicant organization (or the unit

within the organization that will have responsibility for the project)

is organized, the types and quantity of services it provides, and/or

the research and management capabilities it possesses. This description

should cover capabilities not included in the Program Narrative

Statement. It may include descriptions of any current or previous

relevant experience, or describe the competence of the project team and

its demonstrated ability to produce a final product that is readily

comprehensible and usable. An organization chart showing the

relationship of the project to the current organization should be

included.

6. Part IV--Assurances/Certifications. Applicants are required to

file an SF 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs and the

Certification Regarding Lobbying. Both must be signed and returned with

the application. In addition, applicants must certify their compliance

with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; (2) Debarment and Other

Responsibilities. Copies of these assurances/certifications are

reprinted at the end of this announcement and should be reproduced, as

necessary; and Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke. A

duly authorized representative of the applicant organization must

certify that the applicant is in compliance with these assurances/

certifications. A signature on the SF 424 indicates compliance with the

Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, and Debarment and Other

Responsibilities certifications.

For research projects in which human subjects may be at risk, a

Protection of Human Subjects Assurance may be required. If there is a

question regarding the applicability of this assurance, contact the

Office for Research Risks of the National Institutes of Health at (301)

496-7041.

D. Checklist for a Complete Application

The checklist below is for your use to ensure that your application

package has been properly prepared.

--One original, signed and dated application, plus two copies.

Applications for different priority areas are packaged separately;

--Application is from an organization which is eligible under the

eligibility requirements defined in the priority area description

(screening requirement);

--Application length does not exceed 60 pages, unless otherwise

specified in the priority area description.

A complete application consists of the following items in this

order:

--Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424, REV 4-88);

--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A, REV 4-88);

--Budget justification for Section B--Budget Categories;

--Table of Contents;

--Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove non-profit status,

if necessary;

--Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate agreement, if

appropriate;

--Project summary description and listing of key words;

--Program Narrative Statement (See Part II, Section C);

--Organizational capability statement, including an organization chart;

--Any appendices/attachments;

--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B, REV 4-88);

and

--Certification Regarding Lobbying.

E. The Application Package

Each application package must include an original and two copies of

the complete application. Each copy should be stapled securely (front

and back if necessary) in the upper left-hand corner. All pages of the

narrative (including charts, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be

sequentially numbered, beginning with page one. In order to facilitate

handling, please do not use covers, binders or tabs. Do not include

extraneous materials as attachments, such as agency promotion

brochures, slides, tapes, film clips, minutes of meetings, survey

instruments or articles of incorporation.

Do not include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgment card. All

applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt of their

application. If acknowledgment of receipt of your application is not

received within eight weeks after the deadline date, please notify ACYF

by telephone at (202) 690-8243 or 690-6297.

The catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned

to this announcement is 93.652.

Dated: March 30, 1995.

Olivia A. Golden

Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF 424

This is a standard form used by applicants as a required

facesheet for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal

assistance. It will be used by Federal agencies to obtain applicant

certification that States which have established a review and

comment procedure in response to Executive Order 12372 and have

selected the program to be included in their process, have been

given an opportunity to review the applicant's submission.

Item and Entry

1. Self-explanatory.

2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if

applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable).

3. State use only (if applicable).

4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing

award, enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new

project, leave blank.

5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit

which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of

the applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to

contact on matters related to this application.

6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the

Internal Revenue Service.

7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.

8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the

space(s) provided:

--``New'' means a new assistance award.

--``Continuation'' means an extension for an additional funding/

budget period for a project with a projected completion date.

--``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's

financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing

obligation.

9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being

requested with this application.

10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and

title of the program under which assistance is requested.

11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than

one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a

separate sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property

projects), attach a map showing project location. For

preapplications, use a separate sheet to provide a summary

description of this project.

12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g.,

State, counties, cities).

13. Self-explanatory.

14. List the applicant's Congressional District and any

District(s) affected by the program or project.

15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first

funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind

contributions should be included on appropriate lines as applicable.

If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award,

indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the

amounts in parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are

included, show breakdown on an attached sheet. For multiple program

funding, use totals and show breakdown using same categories as item

15.

16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact

(SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the

application is subject to the State intergovernmental review

process.

17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the

person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of

debt include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.

18. To be signed by the authorized representative of the

applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to

sign this application as official representative must be on file in

the applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that

this authorization be submitted as part of the application.)

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF-424A

General Instructions

This form is designed so that application can be made for funds

from one or more grant programs. In preparing the budget, adhere to

any existing Federal grantor agency guidelines which prescribe how

and whether budgeted amounts should be separately shown for

different functions or activities within the program. For some

programs, grantor agencies may require budgets to be separately

shown by function or activity. For other programs, grantor agencies

may require a breakdown by function or activity. Sections A, B, C,

and D should include budget estimates for the whole project except

when applying for assistance which requires Federal authorization in

annual or other funding period increments. In the latter case,

Section A, B, C, and D should provide the budget for the first

budget period (usually a year) and Section E should present the need

for Federal assistance in the subsequent budget periods. All

applications should contain a breakdown by the object class

categories shown in Lines a-k of Section B.

Section A. Budget Summary Lines 1-4, Columns (a) and (b)

For applications pertaining to a single Federal grant program

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog number) and not requiring a

functional or activity breakdown, enter on Line 1 under Column (a)

the catalog program title and the catalog number in Column (b).

For applications pertaining to a single program requiring budget

amounts by multiple functions or activities, enter the name of each

activity or function on each line in Column (a), and enter the

catalog number in Column (b). For applications pertaining to

multiple programs where none of the programs require a breakdown by

function or activity, enter the catalog program title on each line

in Column (a) and the respective catalog number on each line in

Column (b).

For applications pertaining to multiple programs where one or

more programs require a breakdown by function or activity, prepare a

separate sheet for each program required the breakdown. Additional

sheets should be used when one form does not provide adequate space

for all breakdown of data required. However, when more than one

sheet is used, the first page should provide the summary totals by

programs.

Lines 1-4, Columns (c) Through (g.)

For New applications, leave Columns (c) and (d) blank. For each

line entry in Columns (a) and (b), enter in Columns (e), (f), and

(g) the appropriate amounts of funds needed to support the project

for the first funding period (usually a year).

Lines 1-4, Columns (c) Through (g.) (continued)

For continuing grant program applications, submit these forms

before the end of each funding period as required by the grantor

agency. Enter in Columns (c) and (d) the estimated amounts of funds

which will remain unobligated at the end of the grant funding period

only if the Federal grantor agency instructions provide for this.

Otherwise, leave these columns blank. Enter in columns (e) and (f)

the amounts of funds needed for the upcoming period. The amount(s)

in Column (g) should be the sum of amounts in Columns (e) and (f).

For supplemental grants and changes to existing grants, do not

use Columns (c) and (d). Enter in Column (e) the amount of the

increase or decrease of Federal funds and enter in Column (f) the

amount of the increase or decrease of non-Federal funds. In Column

(g) enter the new total budgeted amount (Federal and non-Federal)

which includes the total previous authorized budgeted amounts plus

or minus, as appropriate, the amounts shown in Columns (e) and (f).

The amount(s) in Column (g) should not equal the sum of amounts in

Columns (e) and (f).

Line 5--Show the totals for all columns used.

Section B Budget Categories

In the column headings (1) through (4), enter the titles of the

same programs, functions, and activities shown on Lines 1-4, Column

(a), Section A. When additional sheets are prepared for Section A,

provide similar column headings on each sheet. For each program,

function or activity, fill in the total requirements for funds (both

Federal and non-Federal) by object class categories.

Lines 6a-i--Show the totals of Lines 6a to 6h in each column.

Line 6j--Show the amount of indirect cost.

Line 6k--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j. For all

applications for new grants and continuation grants the total amount

in column (5), Line 6k, should be the same as the total amount shown

in Section A, Column (g), Line 5. For supplemental grants and

changes to grants, the total amount of the increase or decrease as

shown in Columns (1)-(4), Line 6k should be the same as the sum of

the amounts in Section A, Columns (e) and (f) on Line 5.

Line 7--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected

to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this

amount from the total project amount. Show under the program

narrative statement the nature and source of income. The estimated

amount of program income may be considered by the federal grantor

agency in determining the total amount of the grant.

Section C. Non-Federal-Resources

Lines 8-11--Enter amounts of non-Federal resources that will be

used on the grant. If in-kind contributions are included, provide a

brief explanation on a separate sheet.

Column (a)--Enter the program titles identical to Column (a),

Section A. A breakdown by function or activity is not necessary.

Column (b)--Enter the contribution to be made by the applicant.

Column (c)--Enter the amount of the State's cash and in-kind

contribution if the applicant is not a State or State agency.

Applicants which are a State or State agencies should leave this

column blank.

Column (d)--Enter the amount of cash and in-kind contributions

to be made from all other sources.

Column (e)--Enter totals of Columns (b), (c), and (d).

Line 12--Enter the total for each of Columns (b)-(e). The amount

in Column (e) should be equal to the amount on Line 5, Column (f),

Section A.

Section D. Forecasted Cash Needs

Line 13--Enter the amount of cash needed by quarter from the

grantor agency during the first year.

Line 14--Enter the amount of cash from all other sources needed

by quarter during the first year.

Line 15--Enter the totals of amounts on Lines 13 and 14.

Section E. Budget Estimates of Federal Funds Needed for Balance of the

Project

Lines 16-19--Enter in Column (a) the same grant program titles

shown in Column (a), Section A. A breakdown by function or activity

is not necessary. For new applications and continuation grant

applications, enter in the proper columns amounts of Federal funds

which will be needed to complete the program or project over the

succeeding funding periods (usually in years). This section need not

be completed for revisions (amendments, changes, or supplements) to

funds for the current year of existing grants.

If more than four lines are needed to list the program titles,

submit additional schedules as necessary.

Line 20--Enter the total for each of the Columns (b)-(e). When

additional schedules are prepared for this Section, annotate

accordingly and show the overall totals on this line.

Section F. Other Budget Information

Line 21--Use this space to explain amounts for individual direct

object-class cost categories that may appear to be out of the

ordinary or to explain the details as required by the Federal

grantor agency.

Line 22--Enter the type of indirect rate (provisional,

predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect during the

funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which the rate

is applied, and the total indirect expense.

Line 23--Provide any other explanations or comments deemed

necessary.

ASSURANCES--NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

Notes: Certain of these assurances may not be applicable to your

project or program. If you have questions, please contact the

awarding agency. Further, certain Federal awarding agencies may

require applicants to certify to additional assurances. If such is

the case, you will be notified.

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant I certify

that the applicant:

1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance, and

the institutional, managerial and financial capability (including

funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project costs) to

ensure proper planning, management and completion of the project

described in this application.

2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of the

United States, and if appropriate, the State, through any authorized

representative, access to and the right to examine all records,

books, papers, or documents related to the award; and will

[[Page 18124]] establish a proper accounting system in accordance

with generally accepted accounting standards or agency directives.

3. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using

their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the

appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest, or

personal gain.

4. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable

time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

5. Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970

(42 U.S.C. Secs. 4728-4763) relating to prescribed standards for

merit systems for programs funded under one of the nineteen statutes

or regulations specified in Appendix A of OPM's Standards for a

Merit System of Personnel Administration (5 C.F.R. 900, Subpart F).

6. Will comply with all Federal statutes relating to

nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: (a) Title

VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352) which prohibits

discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin; (b)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C.

Secs. 1681-1683, and 1685-1686), which prohibits discrimination on

the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as amended (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), which prohibits discrimination on

the basis of handicaps; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as

amended (42 U.S.C. Secs. 6101-6107), which prohibits discrimination

on the basis of age; (e) the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of

1972 (P.L. 92-255), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the

basis of drug abuse; (f) the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970

(P.L. 91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the

basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) Secs. 523 and 527 of the

Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. 290 dd-3 and 290 ee-3),

as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse

patient records; (h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42

U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination

in the sale, rental or financing of housing; (i) any other

nondiscrimination provisions in the specific statute(s) under which

application for Federal assistance is being made; and (j) the

requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may

apply to the application.

7. Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements

of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real

Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) which

provide for fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced or

whose property is acquired as a result of Federal or federally

assisted programs. These requirements to all interests in real

property acquired for project purposes regardless of Federal

participation in purchases.

8. Will comply with the provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C.

Secs. 1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the political activities

of employees whose principal employment activities are funded in

whole or in part with Federal funds.

9. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Davis-

Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 276a to 276a-7), the Copeland Act (40

U.S.C. Sec. 276c and 18 U.S.C. Secs. 874), and the Contract Work

Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 327-333), regarding

labor standards for federally assisted construction subagreements.

10. Will comply, if applicable, with flood insurance purchase

requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act

of 1973 (P.L. 93-234) which requires recipients in a special flood

hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood

insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and

acquisition is $10,000 or more.

11. Will comply with environmental standards which may be

prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) Institution of

environmental quality control measures under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and Executive Order

(EO) 11514; (b) notification of violating facilities pursuant to EO

11738; (c) protection of wetlands pursuant to EO 11990; (d)

evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with EO

11988; (e) assurance of project consistency with the approved State

management program developed under the Coastal Zone Management Act

of 1972 (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1451 et seq.); (f) conformity of Federal

actions to State (Clean Air) Implementation Plans under Section

176(c) of the Clear Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401

et seq.); (g) protection of underground sources of drinking water

under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, (P.L. 93-

523); and (h) protection of endangered species under the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended, (P.L. 93-205).

12. Will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16

U.S.C. Secs. 1271 et seq.) related to protecting components or

potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system.

13. Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 470), EO 11593 (identification and protection of

historic properties), and the Archaeological and Historic

Preservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 469a-1 et seq.).

14. Will comply with P.L. 93-348 regarding the protection of

human subjects involved in research, development, and related

activities supported by this award of assistance.

15. Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966

(P.L. 89-544, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) pertaining to the

care, handling, and treatment of warm blooded animals held for

research, teaching, or other activities supported by this award of

assistance.

16. Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention

Act (42 U.S.C. Secs. 4801 et seq.) with prohibits the use of lead

based paint in construction or rehabilitation of residence

structures.

17. Will cause to be performed the required financial and

compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act of 1984.

18. Will comply with all applicable requirements of all other

Federal laws, executive orders, regulations and policies governing

this program.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature of authorized certifying official

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Title

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Applicant Organization

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date Submitted

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Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions

By signing and submitting this proposal, the applicant, defined

as the primary participant in accordance with 45 CFR Part 6,

certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief that it and its

principals:

(a) are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for

debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered

transactions by any Federal Department or agency;

(b) have not within a 3-year period preceding this proposal been

convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for

commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with

obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal,

State, or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction;

violation of Federal or State antitrust statutes or commission of

embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction

of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property;

(c) are not presently indicted or otherwise criminally or

civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local)

with commission of any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph

(1)(b) of this certification; and

(d) have not within a 3-year period preceding this application/

proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or

local) terminated for cause or default.

The inability of a person to provide the certification required

above will not necessarily result in denial of participation in this

covered transaction. If necessary, the prospective participant shall

submit an explanation of why it cannot provide the certification.

The certification or explanation will be considered in connection

with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determination

whether to enter into this transaction. However, failure of the

prospective primary participant to furnish a certification or an

explanation shall disqualify such person from participation in this

transaction.

The prospective primary participant agrees that by submitting

this proposal, it will include the clause entitled ``Certification

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and Voluntary

Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions'' provided below without

modification in all lower tier covered transactions and in all

solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and

Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions (To Be

Supplied to Lower Tier Participants)

By signing and submitting this lower tier proposal, the

prospective lower tier participant, as defined in 45 CFR Part 76,

certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief that it and its

principals:

(a) are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for

debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from

participation in this transaction by any Federal department or

agency;

(b) where the prospective lower tier participant is unable to

certify to any of the above, such prospective participant shall

attach an explanation to this proposal.

The prospective lower tier participant further agrees by

submitting this proposal that it will include this clause entitled

``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility, and

Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions'' without

modification in all lower tier covered transactions and in all

solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.

Certification Regarding Lobbying

Certification for Contracts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative

Agreements

The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge

and belief, that:

(1) No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be

paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for

influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any

agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or

an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding

of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making

of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement,

and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification

of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

(2) If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been

paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to

influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of

Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a

Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant,

loan or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and

submit Standard Form-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in

accordance with its instructions.

(3) The undersigned shall require that the language of this

certification be included in the award documents for all subawards

at all tiers (including subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under

grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all

subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

This certification is a material representation of fact upon

which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered

into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making

or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31,

U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification

shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not

more than $100,000 for each such failure.

State for Loan Guarantee and Loan Insurance

The undersigned states, to the best of his or her knowledge and

belief, that:

If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for

influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any

agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or

an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this

commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a

loan, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL

``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in accordance with its

instructions.

Submission of this statement is a prerequisite for making or

entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31,

U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the require statement shall

be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more

than $100,000 for each such failure.

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Signature

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Title

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Organization

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Date

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P

[[Page 18128]]

[GRAPHIC][TIFF OMITTED]TN10AP95.017

BILLING CODE 4184-01-C [[Page 18129]]

Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Public Law 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also

known as the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Act), requires that smoking

not be permitted in any portion of any indoor facility owned or

leased or contracted for by an entity and used routinely or

regularly for the provisions of health, day care, education, or

library services to children under the age of 18, if the services

are funded by Federal programs either directly or through State or

local governments, by Federal grant, contract, loan, or loan

guarantee. The law does not apply to children's services provided in

private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid

funds, and portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol

treatment. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may

result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1000

per day and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order

on the responsible entity.

By signing and submitting this application the applicant/grantee

certifies that it will comply with the requirements of the Act. The

applicant/grantee further agrees that it will require the language

of this certification be included in any subawards which contain

provisions for children's services and that all subgrantees shall

certify accordingly.

[FR Doc. 95-8760 Filed 4-7-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P