Request for REACH Plans Under the Office of Community Services' FY 1997 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Option (REACH) Program

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. OCS-96-04]

Request for REACH Plans Under the Office of Community Services'

FY 1997 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Residential Energy

Assistance Challenge Option (REACH) Program

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of funds and request for REACH

Plans under the Office of Community Services' Residential Energy

Assistance Challenge Option (REACH) Program.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of

Community Services (OCS) announces that, based on availability of

funds, REACH Plans will be accepted for grants pursuant to the

Secretary's authority under Section 2607B(b) of the Low-Income Home

Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.

CLOSING DATE: The closing date and time for receipt of REACH

applications is 4:30 p.m., eastern time zone, on July 9, 1997.

Applications received after 4:30 p.m. on that day will be classified as

late. Postmarks and other similar documents do not establish receipt of

an application. Detailed application submission instructions including

the addresses where applications must be received are found in Part VI

B, Application Submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administration for Children and

Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Community

Demonstration Programs, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Fifth Floor,

Washington, D. C. 20447, Attention: Richard Saul--(202) 401-9341, Anna

Guidery--(202) 401-5318.

This Notice is accessible on the OCS Electronic Bulletin Board for

downloading through your computer modem by calling 1-800-627-8886. For

assistance in accessing the Bulletin Board, a Guide to Accessing and

Downloading is available from Ms. Minnie Landry at (202) 401-5309.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program

is 93.568. The Title is ``LIHEAP/REACH''.

Table of Contents

Part I--Introduction

A. Legislative Authority

B. Definition of Terms

C. Purpose

Part II--Background Information:

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Program Priority Areas

C. Project Periods and Budget Periods

D. Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts

E. Program Participants/Beneficiaries

F. Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of Funds

G. Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants

H. Maintenance of Effort

Part III--REACH Priority Areas and Program Requirements

A. Statement of Assurances and Demonstration

B. Additional Program Requirements for Priority Area 1.0

1. Eligible Applicants for Priority Area 1.0

2. Program Focus for Priority Area 1.0

3. Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources for Priority Area

1.0 Projects

4. Scope of the Priority Area 1.0 REACH Plan

5. Low-Income Citizen Participation in Establishment of REACH

Projects under Priority Area 1.0

6. Third-Party Evaluation of Priority Area 1.0 Projects

7. Dissemination of Priority Area 1.0 Project Results.

C. Special Program Requirements for Priority Area 2.0

1. Eligible Applicants for Priority Area 2.0

2. Program Focus

3. Holistic Program strategy

4. Scope of the Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plan

5. Low-Income Citizen Participation under Priority Area 2.0

6. Third Party Evaluation of Priority Area 2.0 Projects

7. Dissemination of Priority Area 2.0 Project Results

Part IV--REACH Plan Elements and Review Criteria

A. Program Elements, Review and Assessment Criteria for REACH Plans

Under Priority Area 1.0

B. Special Program Elements, Review and Assessment Criteria for

REACH Plans Under Priority Area 2.0

Part V--Quality Standards for Energy Efficiency Education Services

Plans

A. Purpose

B. Target Population

C. Needs Assessment and Project Design Process

D. Service Delivery

E. Relation of Services to Changes, of Changes to Outcomes, and of

Outcomes to Goals (a ``Logic Model'')

F. Evaluation

Part VI--Application Procedures

A. Availability of Forms

B. Application Submission

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

D. Application Consideration

E. Criteria for Screening Applications

Part VII--Instructions for Completing Application Forms

A. SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance

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

C. SF-424B--Assurances--Non-Construction

Part VIII--Contents of Reach Plan and Receipt Process

A. Content and Order of Application

B. Acknowledgement of Receipt

Part IX--Post-Award Information and Reporting Requirements

A. Notification of Grant Award

B. Attendance at Workshops

C. Reporting Requirements

D. Audit Requirements

E. Prohibitions and Requirements with regard to Lobbying

F. Applicable Federal Regulations

Part I--Introduction

A. Legislative Authority

Section 2607B(b) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of

1981, as amended, 42 USC 8621 et seq.,

[[Page 24455]]

authorizes the creation of the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge

Option (REACH) Program, which was funded for the first time in FY 1996.

REACH is designed to provide services through local community-based

agencies to help LIHEAP eligible households reduce their energy

vulnerability.

The Secretary is authorized to make incentive grants to States,

Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and certain Insular Areas that submit

qualifying Plans, hereinafter referred to as REACH Plans, that are

approved by the Secretary as REACH initiatives. Successful applicants

are to use such grants for the costs of planning, implementing, and

evaluating the initiative. Only grantees under the Low Income Home

Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may apply for REACH grants.

The Secretary must also reserve from any funds allocated under the

REACH initiative, funds to make additional payments to selected REACH

applications that (a) Include energy efficiency education services

plans that meet quality standards established by the Secretary in

consultation with the Secretary of Energy; and (b) have the potential

for being replicable model designs for other programs.

This Announcement is requesting competitive REACH Plans from

eligible applicants which are consistent with the information,

requirements, and program elements and review criteria outlined in

Parts II, III, IV, and V, below.

B. Definition of Terms

For purposes of this Program Announcement, the following

definitions apply [Definitions marked with an asterisk(*) are the

definitions found in Section 2603 of the Low Income Home Energy

Assistance Act, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 8622) and apply to the REACH

Initiative]:

--Budget period: The term ``budget period'' refers to the interval of

time into which a multi-year period of assistance (project period) is

usually divided for budgetary and funding purposes, and is generally

between 12 and 17 months duration.

--Community-based, nonprofit entity: A corporation or association whose

profits may not lawfully accrue to the benefit of any shareholder or

individual, and whose goals, objectives and activities are established

and carried out through a process involving the Participation of

residents of the community or local area being served, including low-

income residents. For purposes of the REACH Program, this includes all

organizations or agencies which meet the definition of ``eligible

entity'' in Section 673(1) of the Community Services Block Grant Act as

amended (42 USC 9902(1)).

--Community-based organization recipient (CBO Recipient): The

community-based nonprofit entity through which State REACH Project

services shall be delivered in the applicant State under Priority Area

1.0.

--Energy burden* means the expenditures of the household for home

energy divided by the income of the household.

--Energy crisis* means weather-related and supply shortage emergencies

and other household energy-related emergencies.

--Highest home energy needs* means the home energy requirements of a

household determined by taking into account both the energy burden of

such household and the unique situation of such household that results

from having members of vulnerable populations, including very young

children, individuals with disabilities, and frail older individuals.

--Home energy* means a source of heating or cooling in residential

dwellings.

--Household* means any individual or group of individuals who are

living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is

customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for

energy in the form of rent.

--Innovative project: One that departs from or significantly modifies

past program practices and tests a new approach(es).

--Intervention: Any planned activity within a project that is intended

to produce changes in the target population or the environment, and can

be formally evaluated.

--Nonprofit organization: A corporation or association whose profits

may not lawfully accrue to the benefit of any shareholder or individual

(and through which REACH Project services may be delivered under

Priority Area 2.0).

--Outcome evaluation: An assessment of measured results designed to

provide a valid determination of the net effects attributable to the

intervention. An outcome evaluation will produce and interpret findings

related to whether the intervention produced desirable changes and its

potential for replicability. It should answer the question, ``Did this

program work?''

--Poverty level* means, with respect to a household in any State, the

income poverty line as prescribed and revised at least annually

pursuant to section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act,

as applicable to such State. (See Attachment A.)

--Process evaluation: Descriptive information that is gathered on the

development and implementation of a program/intervention that may serve

as a document for replicating the program elsewhere. The evaluation

should also identify problems that occurred and how they were dealt

with and recommend improved means of future implementation. It should

answer the question: ``How was the program carried out?'' In concert

with the outcome evaluation, it should also help explain, ``Why did

this program work/not work?''

--Project period: The term ``project period'' refers to the total time

for which a project is approved for support, including any extensions.

If for more than 17 months, it is usually divided into ``budget

periods'' of 17 months or less duration for which individual grant

actions are made. (see ``Budget period'').

--Secretary* means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

--State* means each of the several States and the District of Columbia.

--State median income* means the State median income promulgated by the

Secretary in accordance with procedures established under section

2002(a)(6) of the Social Security Act (as such procedures were in

effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) and

adjusted, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary,

to take into account the number of individuals in the household.

C. Purpose

As described in the authorizing legislation, the purpose of the

REACH Program is to--

(1) Minimize health and safety risks that result from high energy

burdens on low-income Americans;

(2) Prevent homelessness as a result of inability to pay energy

bills;

(3) Increase efficiency of energy usage by low-income families; and

(4) Target energy assistance to individuals who are most in need.

In keeping with this broad mandate, OCS will support a limited

number of innovative Pilot Projects that seek to demonstrate the long

term cost effectiveness of supplementing energy assistance payments

with non-monetary benefits that can increase the ability of eligible

households to meet energy costs and help them to achieve energy self-

sufficiency.

[[Page 24456]]

Part II--Background Information

A. Eligible Applicants

States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal Organizations (including Alaskan

Native Villages), and Insular Areas that receive direct grants from the

Department of HHS under LIHEAP which are expended for implementing a

LIHEAP program may apply for funds under the REACH Program. Note: Due

to the limited availability of funds, States which received REACH

grants in FY 1996 under Priority Area 1.0 for the maximum amount of

$1.5 million will not be eligible for funding in FY 1997. States which

received FY 1996 REACH grants for less than the maximum amount of $1.5

million will be eligible to receive FY 1997 grants, on a competitive

basis, for an amount which, taken together with the FY 1996 grant,

would not exceed the $1.5 million maximum grant amount.

B. Program Priority Areas

The REACH Program will have two Priority Areas: Priority Area 1.0,

for which eligible applicants are States, the District of Columbia and

Puerto Rico; and Priority Area 2.0, for which eligible applicants are

Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and other Insular Areas which are LIHEAP

grantees that use LIHEAP funds to implement a LIHEAP Program.

C. Project Periods and Budget Periods

(See Part I, B, Definition of Terms)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended (42

USC 8621) authorizes a block grant program of which the REACH Program

is a part, and to which 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 74

and 92 and OMB Circulars do not apply. However, 45 CFR Part 96 does

apply to REACH funds. Grantees are required to obligate REACH funds by

the end of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal Year in which the REACH

grant was awarded by OCS; but as noted below, grantees under Priority

Area 1.0 will be encouraged to obligate funds to sub-recipients well

before that deadline.

1. Project Periods

Project periods will be 36 months for all REACH projects under

Priority Area 1.0 and for projects under Priority Area 2.0 when the

applicant elects to delegate the project to a non-profit organization

as described below.

States under Priority Area 1.0 and applicants under Priority Area

2.0 with thirty-six month Project Periods are encouraged to provide for

completion of the planning and consummation of awards to sub-recipients

within a time frame that will allow for adequate start-up and an

implementation period of at least two years, followed by a phase-out

period that will permit completion of the required evaluation under

Priority Area 1.0 and reporting under Priority Area 2.0.

Project periods will be up to 17 months under Priority Area 2.0

where applicants elect to operate projects directly, as described

below.

2. Budget Periods

(a) Budget Periods for all REACH Projects will be twelve months

(one year) in Priority Area 1.0 and Priority Area 2.0 when applicants

elect to operate the REACH Program through non-profit organizations.

(1) In the case of projects under Priority Area 1.0, States will

receive grants for the full amount of the three-year Project Period,

and must award REACH funds to CBO Recipients for total project budgets

covering the full Project Period by the end of the Fiscal Year

following the Fiscal Year in which the grant is awarded, and should

solicit and/or design local projects accordingly. Applicants under

Priority Area 1.0 may include in the REACH Initiative budget an amount

up to ten percent (10%) of the total REACH grant for planning,

administration, and coordinating costs at the State level, and for

contracting with a third party evaluator as defined in Part IV-A,

Element VI, below, and discussed in Part III-A.6., during the first

project year (the first twelve month budget period) of the REACH

Initiative. States may apply for continued funding for such costs for

each of the second and third project years (budget periods) on a non-

competitive basis, for an amount each of those project years of up to

five percent (5%) of the original grant amount, subject to the

availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and

determination that this would be in the best interest of the

government.

(2) In the case of REACH Projects under Priority Area 2.0, where

applicants elect to operate REACH projects through non-profit

organizations, grants awarded pursuant to this announcement will

likewise be for the full amount of the three year Project Period, and

applicants will in like manner award REACH funds to sub-recipients for

total project budgets covering the full Project Period as described in

the preceding paragraph (a). Such applicants may include up to five

percent (5%) of the total REACH grant for planning, administration and

coordinating costs of the first year, which may be continued for years

two and three on the same terms as described in preceding paragraph

(a).

(b) Where applicants under Priority Area 2.0 elect to operate REACH

programs themselves, as described below, grants awarded pursuant to

this announcement may be for up to 17-month Project and Budget Periods.

D. Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts

The total amount expected to be available for REACH Initiative

grants pursuant to this announcement is approximately $5,000,000. The

Office of Community Services expects to award up to eight competitive

grants under Priority Area 1.0 for General Pilot Projects of $500,000

to $1,500,000 each for the planning, implementation and evaluation of

REACH Initiatives; but the total amount awarded under Priority Area 1.0

will not exceed $4,000,000, except as provided under Priority Area 2.0.

OCS expects to award four to sixteen grants under Priority Area 2.0 for

smaller Pilot Projects of $20,000 to $150,000 each to Indian Tribes and

Tribal Organizations for a total of up to $400,000. Any funds not

awarded under Priority Area 2.0 will be available for funding under

Priority Area 1.0. Pursuant to the legislative mandate, an additional

$600,000 has been reserved by the Secretary to make additional payments

of up to $100,000 each to qualifying funded REACH Initiatives under

Priority Area 1.0, and payments of up to $25,000 each under Priority

Area 2.0, for implementation and evaluation of Energy Efficiency

Education Services (EEES) Plans which meet the Quality Standards

established in consultation with the Secretary of Energy which are set

forth in Part V of this Announcement, and have the potential for being

replicable model designs for other programs. Any such reserved funds

not awarded for EEES Plans will be available for funding REACH

applications under Priority Areas 1.0 and 2.0.

E. Program Participants/Beneficiaries

Projects proposed for funding under this announcement must result

in direct benefits to low-income individuals and families who are

eligible for LIHEAP benefits under the applicant's LIHEAP program,

pursuant to Section 2605(b)(2) of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Act of 1981, as amended. However, not all LIHEAP recipients and/or

eligible households must be provided REACH services. Applicants may

target a portion of the LIHEAP-eligible population for REACH services.

Attachment A to this announcement is an excerpt from the Poverty

Income

[[Page 24457]]

Guidelines currently in effect. Annual revisions of these guidelines

are normally published in the Federal Register in February or early

March of each year. Where relevant to REACH eligibility criteria,

grantees will be required to apply the most recent guidelines

throughout the project period. These revised guidelines also may be

obtained at public libraries, Congressional offices, or by writing the

Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,

Washington, D.C. 20402. They also are accessible on the OCS Electronic

Bulletin Board for reading and/or downloading. (See For Further

Information at beginning of this announcement.)

Consistent with the legislative purpose of the REACH Initiative

``to target energy assistance to individuals who are most in need'',

projects proposed for funding under this Announcement may further

restrict eligibility to lower income individuals and families within

the LIHEAP eligible universe.

Under the authorizing legislation applicants may designate all or

part of the State or all or part of the client population as a focus of

its REACH Initiative. The Secretary has determined that in order best

to compare the cost effective outcomes of REACH benefits with those of

LIHEAP payment benefits alone, the geographic/client focus of the REACH

program should be one which results in REACH expenditures bearing a

reasonable relationship to the LIHEAP payment benefits available to the

same target population. [Note: In the FY 1996 Program Announcement for

REACH it was suggested that proposed REACH expenditures be not less

than one-half nor more than twice the amount of LIHEAP benefits paid

within the REACH service area to eligible households over a two-year

period under current appropriation levels. It has been brought to our

attention that such a limitation is too restrictive in the sense that

the lower limit precludes: (1) The testing of innovative REACH

initiatives over larger areas at relatively low per-capita cost; (2)

the testing of innovative long term REACH initiatives which, although

at a higher initial cost, might prove cost effective over the longer

term; and (3) unduly limits recipients of smaller allocations of LIHEAP

funds, even though long term needs may be great. Consequently, no such

restrictions are suggested in this Announcement, and applicants are

left to justify their requests for funding as cost effective in their

program narratives.]

F. Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of Funds

The use of REACH funds for the purchase or construction of real

property is prohibited. Costs incurred for rearrangement and alteration

of facilities required specifically for the funded program are

allowable when specifically approved by ACF in writing. However, in

keeping with the legislative mandate to include energy related

residential repair and energy efficiency improvements in REACH Project

activities, such activities carried out in beneficiaries' residences

will not be considered to be violative of these prohibitions or

restrictions.

If the applicant is proposing a project which will affect a

property listed in, or eligible for inclusion in the National Register

of Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and

explain how it has complied with the provisions of section 106 of the

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (16 U.S.C. 470).

If there is any question as to whether the property is listed in or

eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the

applicant should consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer.

(See Attachment D: SF-424B, Item 13 for additional guidelines.) The

applicant should contact OCS early in the development of its

application for instructions regarding compliance with the National

Historic Preservation Act and data required to be submitted to the

Department of Health and Human Services. Failure to comply with the

cited Act will result in the application being ineligible for funding

consideration.

G. Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants

Due to the limited number of grants that will be made under this

program, only one application from any one eligible applicant will be

funded by OCS from FY 1997 REACH funds. (This does not preclude

applicants from submitting more than one application or including more

than one local REACH Project/CBO Recipient in their REACH plans.)

H. Maintenance of Effort

The activities funded under this program announcement must be in

addition to, and not in substitution for, activities previously carried

on without Federal assistance. Also, the benefits and services provided

eligible participants in the REACH Project must be provided in addition

to and in coordination with benefit payments and services provided

under the applicant's regular LIHEAP Program. A signed Certificate of

Maintenance of Effort must be included with the application (see

Attachment J).

Part III--Reach Priority Areas and Program Requirements

A. Statement of Assurances and Demonstration

Section 2607B of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981,

as amended, which authorizes the REACH program, provides that ``each

State plan shall include each of the elements in paragraph (2), to be

met by State and local agencies.'' These required elements are listed

below. To be considered for funding, each REACH Plan must include a

signed ``Statement of Assurance and Demonstration'' that the proposed

REACH Plan meets all of the legislative requirements listed below. [The

required ``Statement of Assurances and Demonstration'' is appended as

``Attachment M'' to this Program Announcement.]

(1) Service delivery through community-based nonprofit entity. (For

applicants under Priority Area 1.0 only.)

[Should be reflected in Plan Elements II and VII]

(2) In awarding grants or contracts to community-based non-profit

entities, priority will be given to CSBG eligible entities that are

successful LIHEAP service providers and receive Weatherization

Assistance Program funds from the Department of Energy. (For applicants

under Priority Area 1.0 only.)

[Should be reflected in Plan Elements II and VII. Attach letter(s) of

certification as described therein]

(3)(a) Each CBO Recipient under Priority Area 1.0 to provide a

variety of services, to include:

(i) Payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for

residential energy assistance services and benefits under section

2605(b) of the Act for home energy costs;

(ii) Energy efficiency education;

(iii) Residential energy demand management services, including any

other energy related residential repair and energy efficiency

improvements in coordination with, or delivered by, Department of

Energy weatherization assistance programs at the discretion of the

State;

(iv) Family services, such as counseling and needs assessment,

related to energy budget management, payment plans, and related

services; and

(v) Negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households

[[Page 24458]]

eligible for REACH services and benefits;

[Should be reflected in Plan Elements II and III, as appropriate]

(b) Given the size of most tribal and small insular territory

LIHEAP programs, the Secretary has determined, in accordance with 45

CFR 96.42(a), that REACH applications from tribal and small insular

area LIHEAP grantees under Priority Area 2.0 do not have to provide all

of the above services. Therefore, each REACH Plan under Priority Area

2.0 must include provision of at least two of the services listed in

paragraph (1).

(4) A description of the methodology the State and local agencies

will use to determine--

(a) Which households will receive one or more forms of benefits

under the State REACH initiative;

(b) The cases in which nonmonetary benefits are likely to provide

more cost-effective long-term outcomes than payment benefits alone; and

(c) The amount of such benefit required to meet the goals of the

program;

[Should be reflected in Elements II and V]

(5) A method for targeting nonmonetary benefits;

[Should be reflected in Element II]

(6) A description of the crisis and emergency assistance activities

the State will undertake that are designed to--

(a) Discourage family energy crises;

(b) Encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior; and

(c) Provide only financial incentives that encourage household

payment;

[Should be reflected in Elements II and V]

(7) A description of the activities the State will undertake to--

(a) Provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home

energy costs; and

(b) Provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy

burdens of recipients of assistance;

[Should be reflected as appropriate in Elements II and V]

(8) An assurance that the State will require each entity that

receives a grant or enters into a contract under this section to

solicit and be responsive to the views of individuals who are

financially eligible for benefits and services under this section in

establishing its local program;

[Should be reflected in Element II]

(9) A description of performance goals for the State REACH

initiative including--

(a) A reduction in the energy costs on participating households

over one or more fiscal years;

(b) An increase in the regularity of home energy bill payments by

eligible households; and

(c) An increase in energy vendor contributions towards reducing

energy burdens of eligible households;

[Should be reflected in Element II(b) and, under Program Area 1.0,

Element VIII also]

(10) A description of the indicators that will be used by the State

to measure whether the performance goals have been achieved;

[Should be reflected, for Priority Area 1.0, in Element VIII]

(11) An assurance that benefits and services will be provided in

addition to other benefit payments and services provided under this

title and in coordination with such benefit payments and services;

[Should be reflected in Element II]

(12) An assurance that no regulated utility covered by the plan

will be required to act in a manner that is inconsistent with

applicable regulatory requirements.

[Should be reflected in Element II]

(13) A demonstration that the REACH Plan is consistent with

paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (10), (11), (12), (13), and (14) of

section 2605(b) of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981,

as amended; subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) of

section 2605; and section 2606 of the Act;

[See Attachment K for texts of these Sections and subsections; should

be reflected as appropriate in Elements II, IV, and VII]

[Note: The definitions in Section 2603 of the Act have been

incorporated into the definitions in Part I, Section B of this

Announcement and will apply to the REACH Initiative.]

The requirements of this section will be met by the inclusion at

the beginning of the REACH Plan of a Statement of Assurance and

Demonstration that the Plan meets the Requirements as set forth in Part

III, Section A. (See Attachment M)

B. Additional Program Requirements for Priority Area 1.0

1. Eligible Applicants for Priority Area 1.0

Eligible applicants for these grants under Priority Area 1.0 are

the fifty States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They must

deliver REACH services, in one or more specific projects, through

community-based, nonprofit organizations, hereinafter referred to as

CBO Recipients, by awarding grants to or entering into contracts with

such CBO Recipients for the purpose of providing such services and

payments directly to individuals eligible for benefits. If a State

makes LIHEAP payments directly to eligible individuals or energy

suppliers, the State need not require the CBO Recipient(s) to make such

payments, but must enter into contract(s) with such CBO Recipients to

administer the REACH program(s), including: (i) Determining

eligibility, (ii) providing outreach services, and (3) providing REACH

benefits other than payments. Local Agencies may not apply for direct

REACH funding.

In awarding grants or entering into contracts to carry out its

REACH Initiative, the State must give priority to eligible entities, as

defined in Section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42

U.S.C. 9902(1)) except where significant geographic portions of the

State are not served by such entities, that: (1) Have a record of

successfully providing services under the Low-Income Home Energy

Assistance Program (as determined by DHHS), and (2) receive funds under

the Department of Energy's Low Income Weatherization Assistance

Program. The State may not require any such entity to operate a REACH

Project.

2. Program Focus for Priority Area 1.0

As noted above, so that the cost effective outcomes of REACH

benefits may best be compared with those of LIHEAP benefits alone, an

Applicant, in designating the REACH service area or segment of the

eligible population to be served by the proposed REACH Plan, should

seek to define (an) area(s) or population segment(s) whose allocation

under the LIHEAP program bears a reasonable relationship to the

resources available to the REACH Project. In this regard, the applicant

should consider the totality of resources that will be available to

support the REACH Project's implementation and the level of benefit

and/or services reasonably required to achieve the Project's goals and

objectives. This will be a function, in part, of the specific

interventions that will go to make up the ``benefits and services'' in

the particular Project design; and an objective of every REACH Plan

should be to measure the success of such interventions in achieving

more cost-effective long-term outcomes than energy payment benefits

alone. Thus OCS is interested in REACH Plans that propose testing

innovative approaches to helping low-income families achieve energy

self-sufficiency,

[[Page 24459]]

and ultimate independence from energy assistance payments.

3. Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources for Priority Area

1.0 Projects

OCS is interested in having Applicants approach the energy needs of

low-income families within a holistic context of the economic, social,

physical, and environmental barriers to achieving self-sufficiency.

Thus applicants should include in their REACH Plan an explanation of

how the proposed project(s) will be integrated with and support other

anti-poverty or development strategies within the target community or

communities.

REACH grantees are not required to match REACH grant awards with

either cash or in-kind contributions of goods and services. However, in

keeping with this holistic integration of REACH Projects within the

community, they are expected to be closely coordinated with other

public and private sector programs involved with community

revitalization, housing rehabilitation and weatherization, and family

development; and OCS will give favorable consideration in the

application review process to applicants who mobilize third-party cash

and/or in-kind contributions for direct use in the REACH Project. Even

though there is no matching requirement for the REACH Program, grantees

will be held accountable for any match, cash or in-kind contribution

proposed or pledged as part of an approved application. (See Part IV-A,

Element III.)

If the REACH service area or portion thereof is covered by a

comprehensive community-based strategic plan, such as that required for

applying for Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) status, to

achieve both economic and human development in an integrated manner,

applicants should document how they and/or the designated CBO

Recipient(s) were involved in the preparation and implementation of the

plan, and how the proposed REACH project(s) will support the goals of

that plan. (See Part IV-A, Element VIII.)

4. Scope of the Priority Area 1.0 REACH Plan

A State may submit a REACH Plan which proposes one local REACH

Project to be implemented by one CBO Recipient; it may submit a Plan in

which the same project is proposed to be implemented in several

localities by separate CBO Recipients; or it may submit a plan

proposing two or more different and distinct Projects, each to be

implemented through a separate CBO Recipient. Where a State proposes

different and distinct REACH Projects to be carried out by more than

one CBO Recipient, the REACH Plan should include, for each of these

projects/CBO Recipients, a separate narrative of no more than twenty-

four pages in length, covering Elements I through VI, as explained in

Part IV, and designated as ``Segment One'' of the Project Narrative;

and a Budget Justification as described in Element II, covering Project

Budget Appropriateness.

Where a REACH Plan proposes only one distinct project, to be

implemented either in one locality or in several, by either one or more

than one CBO Recipient, then the Plan need include only one ``Segment

One'' narrative of no more than 24 pages in length, but, as noted below

under Part IV-A, this should include an Element I capability statement,

not to exceed five pages in length, for each of the implementing CBO

Recipients. In such cases the additional five-page Element I capability

statements may be in addition to the twenty-four page limit for Segment

One narratives.

``Segment Two'' of the REACH Plan Narrative should be no longer

than six pages in length and include Element VII, the Management and

Organization of the overall REACH Initiative by the applicant State,

and Element VIII, the outline of an Evaluation Plan as described in

Paragraph 6. below. Element VII, under Segment Two of the Priority Area

1.0 REACH Plan must also include the designation, in accordance with

the priorities described in Section A. 1., above, of the CBO

Recipient(s) through which the proposed project(s) will be implemented.

With each Priority Area 1.0 REACH Plan there must be included a Letter

of Agreement from each designated CBO Recipient subscribing to the

project concept as described in the appropriate ``Segment One''

narrative section of the Plan and agreeing to operate the REACH project

as proposed. The Letter of Agreement must also commit the CBO

Recipient(s) to a process of Low-Income Citizen Participation in the

establishment of the local REACH Project, as described in Paragraph 5.,

below.

5. Low-Income Citizen Participation in Establishment of REACH Projects

under Priority Area 1.0

To be considered for funding, a REACH Plan must include provision

for the systematic and regularized solicitation, by the designated CBO

Recipient(s), of the views of eligible low-income individuals in the

community; and for the assurance, by means of an advisory board or

similar process, that such organization(s) will be responsive to such

views in the development and implementation of the local Project.

Assurance for compliance with these requirements may be accomplished

through the Letter of Agreement submitted by each CBO Recipient as

required in Paragraph 4., above. (See Part IV-A, Sub-Element II(a))

6. Third-Party Evaluation of Priority Area 1.0 Projects

REACH Plans must include provision for an independent,

methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the

activities carried out with the grant and their efficacy in achieving

stated project goals related to reducing participant home energy costs

and increasing the ability of participants to meet such costs

independent of payment subsidy, including, specifically, the

performance goals set out in paragraph 9, and indicators described

pursuant to paragraph 10, of the Statement of Assurances and

Demonstration under Part III A.

The Plan should include a well thought through outline of an

evaluation plan for the proposed project(s). The outline should explain

how the applicant proposes to answer the key questions about how

effectively the project is being/was implemented (the Process

Evaluation) and whether and why/why not the project activities or

interventions achieved the expected outcomes and goals of the

project(s) (the Outcome Evaluation). (See Part I, Section B for

definitions of Process and Outcome Evaluations.) Applicants may propose

a single evaluation for their overall REACH Initiative, or separate

evaluations for individual projects, as and where appropriate.

In addition to the performance goals mentioned above, the outline

should include a description of the indicators that will be used by the

State (and the CBO Recipient(s)) to measure whether the goals have been

achieved.

The evaluation must be conducted by an independent, third-party

evaluator, i.e., a person with recognized evaluation skills who has

experience with social programs and is organizationally distinct from,

and not under the control of, the applicant or the local

organization(s) implementing the REACH Project. It is important that

each successful applicant have a third-party evaluator selected, and

performing at the very latest by the time the work program of the

project is begun, and if possible before that time so that he or she

can participate in the final design of the program, in order to assure

that data necessary for the evaluation will be collected and available.

Costs of

[[Page 24460]]

evaluation may be shared by CBO Recipients where appropriate and

subject to their agreement.

7. Dissemination of Priority Area 1.0 Project Results

REACH Plans should include provision for disseminating the results

of the project among LIHEAP grantees, utility companies, and others

interested in increasing the self-sufficiency of the poor. Applicants

may budget up to $5,000 for dissemination purposes.

C. Special Program Requirements for Priority Area 2.0

1. Eligible Applicants for Priority Area 2.0

Eligible Applicants for REACH grants under Priority Area 2.0 are

Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations which currently receive direct

grants from DHHS under the LIHEAP Program; and the Insular Areas of

American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, and Guam, provided they are LIHEAP grantees that use

LIHEAP funds to implement a LIHEAP Program. In accordance with 45 CFR

96.42(a), the Secretary has determined that inasmuch as these

applicants are generally representative of and close to their

communities, which with few exceptions are relatively small; and

inasmuch as they generally implement their LIHEAP programs and other

social service programs directly; that therefore the requirements of

Section 2607B(e)(2)(A) and (B) of the Act are not applicable to

eligible applicants under Priority Area 2.0; and that consequently

REACH grantees under Priority Area 2.0 may implement REACH programs

directly, without delegation to CBO Recipients. However, as explained

in Part II B, Budget Periods, above, applicants electing to implement

their REACH Projects directly will be limited to projects of no more

than 17 months duration (Project and Budget Periods of no more than 17

months).

Applicants under Priority Area 2.0 may also elect to operate their

projects through grants or contracts to non-profit organizations.

However, in such cases the non-profit organization does not have to be

a community based organization (CBO) as defined in Part I. If they

choose to operate their projects through non-profit organizations, the

Project and Budget Periods applicable to Priority Area 1.0 will apply.

2. Program Focus

The Program Focus for Priority Area 2.0 REACH projects should be

the same as for Priority Area 1.0, described above in Section A.2.

3. Holistic Program Strategy

OCS is interested in having applicants under Priority Area 2.0

approach the energy needs of low-income families within a holistic

context of the economic, social, physical, and environmental barriers

to achieving self-sufficiency. Accordingly, applicants under Priority

Area 2.0 should describe how their REACH Plan will be coordinated with

other programming aimed at community development, housing

rehabilitation and weatherization, and family development.

4. Scope of the Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plan

The Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plan should describe the concept of the

proposed REACH Project, describing the goals or outcomes that the

project seeks to achieve; the needs of the target population that the

project seeks to address; the assumptions about how those needs can be

met; and the activities or interventions that the project will

undertake to meet the needs and achieve the goals and outcomes of the

project.

5. Low-Income Citizen Participation under Priority Area 2.0

To be considered for funding, a REACH Plan must include provision

for the systematic and regularized solicitation by the grantee of the

views of eligible low-income individuals in the community. (See Part

IV-B, Sub-Element II(a))

6. Third-Party Evaluation of Priority Area 2.0 Projects

As noted above, the Priority Area 1.0 requirement for a third party

evaluation does not apply to Priority Area 2.0 grantees. However,

Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plans must describe the indicators they will

use to measure whether their performance goals have been achieved, and

they must submit a report summarizing these results at the end of the

grant period.

7. Dissemination of Priority Area 2.0 Project Results

Applicants under Priority 2.0 may budget up to $1,000 for

dissemination of project results.

Part IV--Reach Plan Elements and Review Criteria

The ultimate goals of the projects to be funded under the REACH

Program are to realize significant improvements in the ability of

eligible households to meet energy costs and pay home energy bills with

regularity, through innovative project interventions which will reduce

energy costs and increase the capability of low-income participants to

pay; in the case of REACH Projects under Priority Area 1.0, to evaluate

the effectiveness of these interventions and of the project design

through which they were implemented; and thus to make possible the

replication of successful programs. OCS intends to make the awards of

all the above grants on the basis of brief, concise REACH Plans. The

elements and format of these plans, along with the review criteria that

will be used to judge them, will be outlined in this Part.

The competitive review of REACH Plans will be based on the degree

to which applicants:

(1) Incorporate each of the Elements and Sub-Elements below into

their plans, so as to describe convincingly a project that will develop

and implement new and innovative approaches to address critical energy

needs or problems of the poor;

(2) Include the required assurances and program activities set

forth in Part III, above; and,

(3) In the case of applications under Priority Area 1.0; test and

evaluate such approaches and activities so as to make possible

replication of a successful program.

A. Program Elements, Review and Assessment Criteria for REACH Plans

Under Priority Area 1.0

This Section has been divided into Two Segments: Segment One made

up of Elements I, II (with three Sub-Elements), III, IV, V, and VI

which should be completed for each different and distinct local REACH

Project to be carried out by a CBO Recipient, and must not be more than

twenty-four pages in length; and Segment Two, made up of Elements VII

and VIII, which should be completed only once for the applicant's

entire REACH Initiative, and must not be more than six pages in length.

As explained in Part III-B. 4., Scope of REACH Plan, a State may submit

a REACH Plan which proposes one local REACH Project to be implemented

by one CBO Recipient; it may submit a Plan in which the same project is

proposed to be implemented in several localities by separate CBO

Recipients; or it may submit a plan proposing two or more different and

distinct Projects, each to be implemented through a separate CBO

Recipient. Where a State proposes different and distinct REACH Projects

to be carried out by more than one CBO Recipient, the REACH Plan should

[[Page 24461]]

include, for each of these projects/CBO Recipients a separate Segment

One Narrative; where a REACH Plan proposes only one distinct project,

to be implemented either in one locality or in several, by either one

or more than one CBO Recipient, then the Plan need include only one

``Segment One'' narrative; but this should include an Element I

capability statement, not to exceed five pages in length, for each of

the implementing CBO Recipients. In such cases the additional five-page

Element I capability statements may be in addition to the twenty-four

page limit for Segment One narratives, and the Element One review

scores will be averaged as noted below.

In order to simplify the application preparation and review

process, OCS seeks to keep applications cogent and brief. For each of

the Project Elements or Sub-Elements below there is at the end of the

discussion a suggested number of pages to be devoted to the particular

element or sub-element. These are suggestions only; but the applicant

must remember that each Segment One Narrative cannot be more than

twenty-four pages in length, and that the single Segment Two Narrative,

covering Program Elements VII and VIII for the overall REACH

Initiative, cannot be more than six pages in length.

REACH Plans with project narratives (excluding appendices) that

exceed these limits will not be reviewed for funding. Project

narratives should be on letter-sized pages in 12 c.p.i. type or

equivalent on a single side. Applicants should prepare and assemble

their project description using the following outline of required

project elements. They should, furthermore, build their project

concept, plans, and project description upon the guidelines set forth

for each of the project elements.

In reviewing REACH Plans for funding, where Plans include more than

one narrative Segment One describing a local Project/CBO Recipient, OCS

reserves the right to consider each such Project/CBO Recipient on its

own merits, and where review scores and other considerations merit, may

choose not to fund a particular local Project/CBO Recipient. Thus

Segment Two will be given a score for the overall State role in the

project under Elements VII and VIII; and the Segment One for each CBO

Recipient will be given a score for the Elements I through VI. This

Segment One Score will, for each CBO Recipient, be added to the Segment

Two score for a total score which will be the basis for its ranking

among applications received covering local Project/CBO Recipients.

Where less than the full complement of an applicant's local Project/CBO

Recipients are funded, OCS will negotiate an appropriate budget for the

applicant's overall REACH Initiative. Where, as noted above, the REACH

Plan proposes only one distinct project, to be implemented by more than

one CBO Recipient, then the review scores for the several Element One

narratives will be averaged to arrive at the overall Element One score

for the application.

Segment One

[Priority Area 1.0 applicants to complete for each local Project/CBO

Recipient; each completed Segment One limited to twenty-four pages

in length.]

Element I. Organizational Experience and Capability under Priority Area

1.0

(Weight of 0 to 20 points in proposal review)

Sub Element I(a). Agency's Experience and Commitment in Program Area

(Weight of 0-10 points in proposal review)

The application should cite the capability and relevant experience

of the CBO Recipient in developing and operating programs which deal

with poverty problems similar to those to be addressed by the proposed

project, including the provision of service under LIHEAP, and which

receive funds from the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance

Program. The application should also cite the organization's experience

in collaborative programming and operations which involve evaluations

and data collection. Applications should identify CBO Recipient agency

executive leadership in this section and briefly describe their

involvement in the proposed project and provide assurance of their

commitment to its successful implementation. The application should

note and justify the priority that this project will have within the

agency including the facilities and resources that it has available to

carry it out.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 3 pages for this

Sub-Element.

Sub Element I(b). Staff Skills, Resources and Responsibilities

(Weight of 0-10 points in proposal review)

The application must identify the two or three individual staff

persons of the CBO Recipient who will have the most responsibility for

managing the project, coordinating services and activities for

participants and partners, and for achieving performance targets. The

focus should be on the qualifications, experience, capacity and

commitment to the program of the Executive Officials of the

organization and the key staff persons who will administer and

implement the project. The person identified as Project Director should

have supervisory experience, experience in working with energy related

problems of the poor, and experience with the target population.

Because this is a demonstration project within an already-established

agency, OCS expects that the key staff person(s) would be identified,

if not hired.

Actual resumes and/or position descriptions of key staff should be

included in an Appendix to the proposal.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

Sub-Element.

Element II. Project Theory, Design, and Plan under Priority Area 1.0

(Total Weight of 0-30 points in proposal review)

OCS seeks to learn from the application why and how the project as

proposed is expected to lead to significant improvements in individual

and family energy self-sufficiency.

Applicants are urged to design and present their project in terms

of a conceptual cause-effect framework. In the following paragraphs a

``logic model'' or framework is described that suggests a way to

present a project so as to show the ``logic'' of the cause-effect

relations between project activities and project results. Applicants

are not required to use the precise ``logic model'' language described;

but it is important to present the project in a way that makes clear

the cause-effect relationship between what the project plans to do and

the results it expects to achieve. Applicants are reminded that Part

III-B, Section 4, Scope of the REACH Plan, includes a discussion of

those activities which should be included in this element of their

REACH Plan.

Sub-Element II(a). Description of Target Population, Analysis of Need,

and Project Assumptions

(Weight of 0-10 points in proposal review)

The ``logic model'' begins with identifying the underlying

assumptions about the program. These are the beliefs on which the

proposed program is built: the assumptions about the needs of the

client population to be served; about the current services available to

those clients, and where and how they fail to meet their needs; about

why the services or interventions proposed in the REACH Plan are

appropriate, and will meet those needs; and about the impact the

proposed interventions will have on the clients.

[[Page 24462]]

In other words, the underlying assumptions of the program are the

applicant's analysis of the needs and problems to be addressed by the

project, and the applicant's theory of how its proposed interventions

will address those needs and problems to achieve the desired result.

Thus a strong application is based upon a clear description of the

needs and problems to be addressed and a persuasive understanding of

the causes of those problems.

In this sub-element of the REACH Plan the applicant should

precisely identify the target population to be served. The geographic

area to be impacted should then be briefly highlighted, selectively

emphasizing the socioeconomic/poverty and other data that are relevant

to the project design. This sub-element to the REACH Plan might

include, for instance, data on the building type, condition, and age of

low-income housing; the predominant fuel used for home heating; the

number and percent of utility shut-offs among low-income energy

consumers; climatic conditions; unemployment statistics for the area;

the price of fuels; and the demand management services offered by local

utilities. The needs of this target population should then be clearly

defined, and the applicant should state its underlying assumptions

about how these needs can be addressed by the proposed project.

Applicants must include in this element a brief description of the

provision that has been and will be made for the systematic and regular

solicitation by CBO Recipients of the views of eligible low-income

individuals in the community on the design and implementation of the

REACH Project, and the mechanism(s) that will be employed by the

applicant and the CBO Recipients to assure their responsiveness to such

views in the establishment of the REACH Project. (See Part III-A,

Section 5.)

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 4 pages for this

narrative sub-element.

Sub-Element II(b). Project Strategy and Design Framework:

Interventions, Outcomes, and Goals

(Weight of 0-10 points in proposal review)

To continue with the ``logic model'':

The underlying assumptions concerning client needs and the theory

of how they can be effectively addressed, which are discussed above,

lead in the project design to the conduct of a variety of project

activities or interventions, each of which is assumed to result in

immediate changes, or outcomes.

The immediate changes lead to intermediate outcomes; and the

intermediate outcomes lead to attainment of the final project goals.

So in this sub-element the applicant should describe the major

activities, or interventions, which are to be carried out to address

the needs and problems identified in the previous sub-element. And it

should discuss the immediate changes, or outcomes, which are expected

to result. These are the results expected from each service or

intervention immediately after it is provided. For example, a survey of

home furnaces for safety and efficiency might be expected to result in

identification of repairs and retrofits that could increase efficiency

and lower costs. Or providing energy efficiency education to families

in the low income community might be expected to result in better

understanding and knowledge of family members that if they would dress

more warmly they could be more comfortable at a lower thermostat

setting; that they could realize real savings by not leaving doors or

windows open, or by hanging curtains over windows, or by using hot

water more conservatively, by, for example, installing low-flow shower

heads, etc.

At the next level are the intermediate outcomes which result from

these immediate changes. Often an intermediate project outcome is the

result of several immediate changes resulting from a number of related

interventions such as repairs and education. Intermediate project

outcomes should be expressed in measurable changes in knowledge,

attitudes, behavior, or status/condition. In the above examples, the

immediate changes achieved by the furnace survey program could be

expected to lead to intermediate outcomes of furnace retrofits and home

weatherization. The acquisition of energy conservation knowledge and

skills, coupled with the availability of energy saving devices such as

efficient light bulbs or low-flow shower heads, could result in the

actual installation of these devices in the home.

Finally, the REACH Plan should describe how the achievement of

these intermediate outcomes will be expected to lead to the attainment

of the project goals: e.g. energy efficient and healthy housing, energy

consumption at a level which is affordable for the household, a

successful community fuel cooperative that lowers fuel prices, new

demand management services, or whatever they may be.

Applicants don't have to use the precise ``logic model''

terminology described here, but it is important to describe the project

in a way that makes clear the expected cause-and-effect relationship

between what the project plans to do--the activities or interventions,

the changes that are expected to result, and how those changes will

lead to achievement of the project goals of greater energy self-

sufficiency.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 5 pages for this

design section of the REACH Plan.

Sub-Element II(c), Work Plan

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

Once the project strategy and design framework are established, the

applicant should present the highlights of a work plan for the project.

The plan should explicitly tie into the project design framework and

should be feasible, i.e., capable of being accomplished with the

resources, time, staff, and partners available. The plan should briefly

describe the key project tasks, and show the timelines and major

milestones for their implementation. Critical issues or potential

problems that might affect the achievement of project objectives should

be explicitly addressed, with an explanation of how they would be

overcome, and how the objectives will be achieved notwithstanding any

such problems. The plan should be presented in such a way that it can

be correlated with the Budget Justification included in the

application. (See Element IV.)

Applicants may be able to use a simple Gantt or time line chart to

convey the work plan in minimal space.

It is suggested that the applicant use no more than 3 pages for

this Sub-Element.

Element III. Holistic Program Strategies, Mobilization of Resources,

and Project Innovations under Priority Area 1.0

(Weight of 0 to 10 points in the proposal review)

Applicants should in this Element explain how its REACH Initiative

approaches the energy needs of low-income families within a holistic

context of the economic, social, physical, and environmental barriers

to achieving self-sufficiency.

Thus REACH Initiatives are expected to be closely coordinated with

other public and private sector programs involved with community

revitalization, housing rehabilitation and weatherization, and family

development; and OCS will give favorable consideration in the

application review process to applicants who mobilize cash and/or

third-party in-kind contributions for direct use in

[[Page 24463]]

the REACH Project. Even though there is no matching requirement for the

REACH Program, grantees will be held accountable for any match, cash or

in-kind contribution proposed or pledged as part of an approved

application. (See Part III.B.3.)

Within the context of this holistic and coordinated plan, applicant

should highlight the ways in which the proposed project represents a

new and innovative approach or approaches to provide for greater energy

self-sufficiency of the poor and/or to deal with particularly critical

energy needs or problems of the poor that are common to a number of

communities. Innovation can be in the characteristics of the target

population to be served, or the needs to be addressed; the kinds of

activities, or interventions, that will be carried out; the ways in

which they will be carried out; new and different combinations of

activities or interventions that will be implemented; or in the

settings in which the project will function: e.g. new and innovative

types of technologies or institutions in which the project will

function.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 4 pages for this

element.

Element IV. Project Budget Appropriateness under Priority Area 1.0

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

Applicants will be required to submit Federal forms with their

REACH Plans to provide basic applicant and project information (SF 424)

and information about how Federal and other project funds will be used

(SF 424A). In addition to and immediately following the completed

Federal budget forms, applicants must submit a Budget Justification, or

explanatory budget information. This Budget Justification is not

considered a part of the Project Narrative, and does not count as

within the limitation on number of pages; but rather is to be included

in the application following the budget forms. Each applicant under

Priority Area 1.0 must also submit a signed SF 424, SF 424A and a

Budget Justification covering the entire REACH project, in which the

amount to be delegated to CBO Recipients should be shown as

``Contractual'' in line item x. (See Segment Two, Element VII for

amounts which may be retained by the State Applicant for project

administration and evaluation.) Each Application must also include one

SF 424A and one Budget Justification for each local CBO Recipient. The

Budget Narrative should briefly explain the adequacy of the Federal

funds and other mobilized resources to accomplish project purposes,

should explain the source and nature of mobilized resources, and should

identify and briefly explain any imbalances between the level of

activities undertaken and project funds expended.

Note: None of the costs of providing service or benefits under

the REACH Program shall be considered to be an administrative cost

or function for purposes of any limitation on administrative costs

or functions contained in Section 2605(b)(9) of the Low-Income Home

Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.

Element V. Significant and Beneficial Impact of Priority Area 1.0

Projects

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

OCS seeks, with the REACH Program, to support innovative approaches

that will create significant benefits for low-income energy consumers,

their families, and their communities. Accordingly, it intends to make

grants that have a strong likelihood of creating beneficial impacts

both within the project communities and, through wide dissemination of

useful project results and findings, in other communities facing

similar challenges.

The proposed project is expected to lead to tangible achievements

toward reducing household energy burdens on the poor and increasing

their ability to pay for the household energy they need. As a result,

the project should lead to verifiable improvements in regular energy

payments and reductions in conditions such as disconnections of

service, health and safety risks, and homelessness associated with high

energy costs that are beyond the resources of low income families in

the targeted community(ies). Applicants should summarize, in this

section, the beneficial impacts that they propose to make in that

community, their expectations for the continuation of those benefits

beyond the project's life, and the kind of information that they expect

to share with OCS and the broader social service/development community

from their pilot project. Project proposals will be assessed, for this

element, on the likely value of the project to the target community

over time--given the proposed outcomes and the likelihood that they

will be realized--and to the larger community of LIHEAP and CSBG

grantees across the nation.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

element. The score for this element will be based to some extent on the

coherence and feasibility of the entire REACH Plan.

Element VI. Community Empowerment Consideration Under Priority Area 1.0

(Weight of 0-5 points in proposal review)

Special consideration will be given to applicants whose proposed

REACH Projects will be focused on populations which are characterized

by severe poverty and other indicators of socio-economic distress such

as a poverty rate of at least 20%; an area or areas designated as an

Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community; or having high levels of

unemployment, and a high incidence of violence, gang activity, crime,

or drug use. If such is the case, applicants should document that they

or their proposed CBO Recipients were involved in the preparation and

planned implementation of a comprehensive community-based strategic

plan to achieve both economic and human development in an integrated

manner and how the proposed project supports the goal(s) of that plan.

(See Part III-B, Section 3 and Section 4(C))

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

element.

Segment two

[Priority Area 1.0 applicants to complete once for overall REACH

Plan; Segment Two limited to six pages in length.]

Element VII. Management and Organization of Priority Area 1.0 Projects

(Weight of 0 to 5 points in the proposal review)

Applicants should identify the State Project Coordinator and any

other staff they feel are especially important to the success of the

project, and include resumes as an Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where

the staff have not been identified, a position description should be

included in the Appendix. The REACH Plan should describe the staff's

relevant capabilities for overseeing this multi-faceted project, with

emphasis placed on successful management experience in directing both

on-budget and leveraged resources to create community conditions

capable of supporting effective interventions and transforming lives.

REACH Plans will be assessed, for this element, on the relevant

experience, capabilities, commitment and planned level of effort of the

Project Coordinator and key staff members as described in the Plan.

Applicants should also, in this section, describe (and diagram if

necessary) the organization of the project. The relationships among the

State and the participating CBO Recipients, the Project Coordinator and

the key officials in those organizations,

[[Page 24464]]

and any other partnering organizations should be depicted, and the

project-related responsibilities of these key actors should be made

clear. Applicants should in this Element explain that in the

designation of CBO Recipients priority has been given, as required by

the authorizing legislation, to eligible entities described in Section

673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act, as amended, which have a

record of successfully providing service under LIHEAP and which receive

funds from the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance

Program. (See Part III-A, Section I, Eligible Applicants for Priority

Area 1.0)

Applicants under Priority Area 1.0 may include in the REACH

Initiative budget an amount up to ten percent (10%) of the total REACH

grant for planning, administration, and coordinating costs at the State

level during the first project year of the REACH Initiative, and for

contracting with a third-party evaluator as defined under Element VI,

below, and discussed in Part III-A.6.

Applicants should include funds in the project budget for travel by

State and CBO Recipient Project Directors and Chief Evaluators to

attend three national workshops in Washington, D.C. over the three year

project period, and are encouraged to seek agreement from CBO

Recipients to attend also. (See Part IX-B, Attendance at Workshops.)

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

element (not counting the resumes and/or position descriptions, which

should be in an Appendix).

Element VIII. Project Evaluation Under Priority Area 1.0

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

Sound evaluations are essential to the REACH Program. Applicants

are required to include in their applications a well thought through

outline of an evaluation plan for their project. The outline should

explain how the applicant proposes to answer the key questions about

how effectively the project is being/was implemented (the Process

Evaluation) and whether and why/why not the project activities, or

interventions, achieved the expected outcomes and goals of the project

(the Outcome Evaluation). (See Part I, Section B for definitions of

process and outcome evaluation, and Part III-B.6. for a discussion of

evaluation requirements.)

Applicants are not being asked to submit a complete and final

Evaluation Plan as part of their REACH Plan; but they must include:

(1) A well thought through outline of an evaluation plan which

identifies the principal cause-and-effect relationships to be tested,

and which demonstrates the applicant's understanding of the role and

purpose of both Process and Outcome Evaluations (see previous

paragraph);

(2) The identity and qualifications of the proposed third party

evaluator, or if not selected, the qualifications which will be sought

in choosing an evaluator, which must include successful experience in

evaluating social service delivery programs, and the planning and/or

evaluation of programs designed to foster energy self-sufficiency in

low income populations; and

(3) A commitment to the selection of a third-party evaluator

approved by OCS, and to completion of a final evaluation design and

plan, in collaboration with the approved evaluator and the OCS

Evaluation Technical Assistance Contractor during the first six-months

of the project, if funded.

Applicants should ensure, above all, that the evaluation outline

presented is consistent with their project design. A clear project

framework of the type recommended earlier identifies the key project

assumptions about the target populations and their needs, and the

hypotheses, or expected cause-effect relationships to be tested in the

project: that the proposed project activities, or interventions, will

address those needs in ways that will lead to the achievement of the

project goals of energy self-sufficiency. It also identifies in advance

the most important process and outcome measures that will be used to

identify performance success and expected changes in individual

participants, the grantee organization, the CBO Recipient(s), and the

community.

For these reasons, the evaluator that the applicant expects to work

with should be involved--at least briefly but substantively--in the

development of the project design and proposal.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 4 pages for this

element. The Resume or Position Description for the evaluator should be

in an Appendix.

B. Special Program Elements, Review and Assessment Criteria for Reach

Plans Under Priority Area 2.0

In order to simplify the application preparation and review

process, OCS seeks to keep grant applications cogent and brief. For

each of the Project Elements or Sub-Elements below there is at the end

of the discussion a suggested number of pages to be devoted to the

particular element or sub-element. These are suggestions only; but the

applicant must remember that Project Narratives must not be more than

twenty (20) pages in length.

REACH Plans with project narratives (excluding appendices) that

exceed these limits will not be reviewed for funding. Project

narratives should be on letter-sized pages in 12 c.p.i. type or

equivalent on a single side. Applicants should prepare and assemble

their project description using the following outline of required REACH

Plan elements. They should, furthermore, build their project concept,

plans, and project description upon the guidelines set forth for each

of the elements.

Element I. Organizational Experience and Capability under Priority Area

2.0

(Weight of 0 to 10 points in proposal review)

Applicants should cite their capability and relevant experience in

developing and operating programs which deal with energy and poverty

problems similar to those to be addressed by the proposed project.

While the proposed project management team will be identified and

described below in Element III, applicants should identify organization

executive leadership in this section and briefly describe their

involvement in the proposed project and provide assurance of their

commitment to its successful implementation.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

element.

Element II. Project Theory, Design, and Plan under Priority Area 2.0

(Total Weight of 0 to 50 points in proposal review)

OCS seeks to learn from the application why and how the project as

proposed is expected to lead to significant improvements in individual

and family energy self-sufficiency.

Applicants are urged to design and present their project in terms

of a conceptual cause-effect framework. In the following paragraphs a

``logic model'', or framework, is described that suggests a way to

present a project so as to show the ``logic'' of the cause-effect

relations between project activities and project results. Applicants

don't have to use the exact ``logic model'' language described; but it

is important to present the project in a way that makes clear the

cause-effect relationship between what the project plans to do and the

results it expects to achieve.

Applicants under Priority Area 2.0 are not required to carry out

REACH activities through community-based organizations (CBO

Recipients), but may

[[Page 24465]]

implement REACH Plans directly themselves. However, as explained in

Part II B, Budget Periods, above, applicants electing to implement

their REACH Projects directly will be limited to projects of up to 17

months duration (Project and Budget Periods of up to 17 months).

Applicants under Priority Area 2.0 may also elect to operate their

projects through grants or contracts to nonprofit organizations. In

such cases the nonprofit organization does not have to be a community

based organization (CBO) as defined in Part I. If they choose to

operate their projects through nonprofit organizations, the Project and

Budget Periods applicable to Priority Area 1.0 will apply. Note also

that applicants under Priority 2.0 need only include two of the REACH

Program activities listed in Part III B. Section 4.(C) under ``Scope of

the Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plan''.

Sub-Element II(a). Description of Target Population, Analysis of Need,

and Project Assumptions

(Weight of 0 to 20 points in proposal review)

[This sub-element should be the same as under Priority Area 1.0 and it

is suggested that it take no more than 4 pages of the Project

Narrative.]

Sub-Element II(b). Project Strategy and Design Framework:

Interventions, Outcomes, and Goals

(Weight of 0 to 20 points in proposal review)

[This sub-element should be the same as under Priority Area 1.0 and it

is suggested that it take no more than 4 pages of the Project

Narrative.]

Sub-Element II(c), Work Plan

(Weight of 0 to 10 points in the proposal review)

[This sub-element should be the same as under Priority Area 1.0 and it

is suggested that it take no more than 2 pages of the Project

Narrative.]

Element III. Management and Organization of Priority Area 2.0 Projects

(Weight of 0 to 10 points in the proposal review)

While the experience of agency leadership is important to project

success, the caliber of day-to-day project management is critical.

Applicants should identify key staff, including the Project Director,

who will be implementing the project, and any other staff they feel are

especially important to the success of the project. Resumes should be

included as an Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where the staff have not

been identified, a position description should be included in the

Appendix. REACH Plans will be assessed, for this element, on the

relevant experience, capabilities, commitment and planned level of

effort to the project of the Project Director and key staff members as

described in the Plan.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this

element (plus the resumes and/or position descriptions which should be

in an Appendix).

Element IV. Project Budget Appropriateness under Priority Area 2.0

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

Applicants will be required to submit Federal forms with their

REACH Plans to provide basic applicant and project information (SF-424)

and information about how Federal and other project funds will be used

(SF-424A). Where Priority Area 2.0 applicants elect to have REACH

services provided through a nonprofit organization sub-recipient, an

SF-424A must be completed for the applicant, and another SF-424A must

be completed for the nonprofit organization sub-recipient. The sub-

recipient SF-424A should include budget information for all three years

of the project period, divided into three separate budget periods as

explained in Part VII and the instructions accompanying the forms. In

addition to and immediately following the completed Federal budget

forms, applicants must submit a Budget Justification, or explanatory

budget information for the first 12-month budget period. Again, where a

Priority Area 2.0 applicant elects to implement the REACH project

services through a nonprofit sub-recipient, a Budget Justification

should be included for the sub-recipient, covering the full three year

project budget. The Budget Justification is not considered a part of

the Project Narrative, and does not count as part of the twenty page

limit; but rather is included in the application following the budget

forms.

The Budget Justification should briefly explain the adequacy of the

Federal funds and other mobilized resources to accomplish project

purposes, and should explain the source and nature of any mobilized

resources.

Applicants should include funds in the project budget for travel by

the Project Director to attend an orientation workshop in Washington,

D.C.

Note: None of the costs of providing service or benefits under

the REACH Program shall be considered to be an administrative cost

or function for purposes of any limitation on administrative costs

or functions contained in Section 2605(b)(9) of the Low-Income Home

Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.

Element V. Significant and Beneficial Impact of Priority Area 2.0

Projects

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

[This element should be the same as under Priority Area 1.0 and it is

suggested that it take no more than 3 pages of the Application

Narrative.]

Element VI. Project Evaluation under Priority Area 2.0

(Weight of 0-10 points in the proposal review)

As noted in Part III above, REACH grantees under Priority Area 2.0

will not be required to carry out a third-party evaluation of their

projects. However, their REACH Plans must describe the indicators they

will use to measure whether the performance goals of their project have

been achieved.

It is suggested that applicant use no more than 1 page for this

Element.

Part V--Quality Standards for Energy Efficiency Education Services

Plans

The REACH authorizing legislation includes a section which

describes a separate Energy Efficiency Education Services program which

applicants may include in their REACH Initiative. Those applicants

which include this program in their REACH Initiative must submit

separate Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans; and if they meet

the quality standards set forth below and have the potential for being

replicable model designs for other programs, are eligible for

supplemental payments as outlined in Part II C. This Part sets out the

Quality Standards for Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans.

Section 2607B(b)(2) of the REACH authorizing legislation provides

for a reservation of funds by the Secretary to make additional payments

to qualifying REACH applicants that have energy efficiency education

services plans that meet quality standards established in consultation

with the Secretary of Energy, and have the potential for being

replicable model designs for other programs. This Part sets forth those

standards. As explained in Part II above, those REACH applicants under

Priority Area 1.0 that are selected to receive REACH grants will

receive an additional amount of $100,000, and REACH applicants under

Priority Area 2.0 will receive an additional $25,000, for the same

project and budget periods, if they have submitted, as an appendix to

their REACH Plans, an Energy Efficiency

[[Page 24466]]

Education (EEE) Services Plan that has the potential for being a

replicable model design for other programs and meets the following

quality standards:

A. Purpose

The Plan should state the purpose of the proposed EEE services,

which should be generally consistent with and include the following

goals: to assist low-income households, especially those with high

energy burdens, to use energy efficiently, to reduce their home energy

costs, to minimize health and safety risks within their homes, to

increase their indoor comfort level, and to maintain their highest

possible level of energy self-sufficiency.

B. Target Population

The Plan should identify a target population for the EEE services

which includes LIHEAP recipients and at least some who have received

services from the Weatherization Assistance Program, and others

consistent with the stated purpose and goals of the program. The Plan

should include assurances that the defined target population is one

from whom data on energy usage and costs before and after receipt of

the EEE services will be available, and should indicate how such data

will be collected.

C. Needs Assessment and Project Design Process

The Plan should describe the needs assessment that the applicant

has undertaken or will undertake among the target population, how the

design of the EEE Services Program will respond to the needs identified

(see Paragraph D, below), and how the EEE Program priorities have been

or will be determined by the needs discovered.

D. Service Delivery

(1) Setting: the Plan should indicate the setting or settings--in-

office instruction (e.g. at time of initial intake), workshops, or home

visits--in which the EEE services will be delivered, and project the

number of service units planned for each.

(2) Services: the Plan should identify the types of services to be

delivered and how--whether by lecture, audio-visual media, written

materials, hands on experience, or other educational technique--and if

appropriate, which services are planned to be used in which of the

identified settings.

E. Relation of Services to Changes, of Changes to Outcomes, and of

Outcomes to Goals (a ``Logic Model'')

The Plan should briefly set forth each EEE service planned (e.g. a

demonstration and discussion on air infiltration), the immediate

changes expected to result from delivery of the service (e.g. a better

understanding of the importance of stopping infiltration), the

intermediate outcomes expected to result from the changes (e.g. action

by the client to stop infiltration in their dwelling), and how these

changes and outcomes will be expected to achieve a program goal (e.g.

reduced energy consumption). This exact terminology need not be used in

the Plan; but the cause and effect relationship between the EEE

services planned and the achievement of program goals should be briefly

explained. This part of the Plan should include provision for the

development with EEE service recipients of an Action Plan through which

the recipient will make a commitment to take actions based on the EEE

information received; and it should also include a provision for

reinforcement of the commitment through follow-up activities by the

grantee or other ``interventions''.

F. Evaluation

The EEE Services Plan submitted by applicants under Priority Area

1.0 should provide for the inclusion of an Evaluation of the Energy

Efficiency Education Services Program as a part of the Evaluation Plan

Outline for the overall REACH Initiative. It should provide for Process

and Outcome Evaluations, and should describe what data will be

collected and how it will relate to the achievement of EEE program

goals. The EEE portion of the evaluation plan outline should make

specific provision for consumer evaluation of the EEE service program

interventions; and should conclude with a commitment from the grantee

to revise and improve its EEE program in response to the overall

evaluation where appropriate. For applicants under Priority Area 2.0,

the EEE Services Plan should provide assurances that the applicant

will: (1) provide for consumer evaluation of the EEE Services program,

and (2) revise and improve its EEE program in response to such

evaluation, where appropriate.

The EEE Services Plan, if included, should be an Appendix to the

Applicant's REACH Plan, and should not exceed ten (10) pages in length.

Part VI. Application Procedures

A. Availability of Forms

Attachments B through J contain all of the standard forms necessary

for the application for awards under this OCS program. These

attachments and Parts VI and VII of this Notice contain all the

instructions required for submittal of applications.

Additional copies of this Notice may be obtained by writing or

telephoning the office listed under the section entitled FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT at the beginning of this announcement. In addition,

this Notice is accessible on the OCS Electronic Bulletin Board for

downloading through your computer modem by calling 1-800-627-8886. For

assistance in accessing the Bulletin Board, a Guide to Accessing and

Downloading is available from Ms. Minnie Landry at (202) 401-5309.

B. Application Submission

Number of Copies Required. One signed original REACH Plan and four

copies should be submitted. Applicants have the option to omit from

copies to be made available to non-Federal reviewers the specific

salary rates or amounts for individuals identified in the application

budget. Rather, only summary information is required in these copies.

Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time

and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services,

Division of Community Demonstration Programs, 370 L Enfant Promenade,

S.W., Washington, D.C. 20447; Attention: Application for REACH Program.

Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance,

when using all mail services, to ensure that the applications are

received on or before the deadline time and date.

Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by

overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date,

between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at DHHS, Administration

for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of

Community Demonstration Programs, Mail Room, 2nd Floor Loading Dock,

Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024, between

Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). (Applicants are

cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as

agreed.)

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or

through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to

ACF electronically will not be accepted

[[Page 24467]]

regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.

Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria

above are considered late applications. ACF will notify each late

applicant that its application will not be considered in the current

competition.

Extension of deadline: ACF may extend the deadline for all

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

when there is 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. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, as

amended, the Department is required to submit to OMB for review and

approval any reporting and record keeping requirements in regulations,

including program announcements. This program announcement does not

contain information collection requirements beyond those approved for

ACF grant applications under OMB Control Number 0970-0139.

D. Application Consideration

Applications which meet the screening requirements in Section E

below will be reviewed competitively. Such applications will be

referred to reviewers for a numerical score and explanatory comments

based solely on responsiveness to the Legislative Authority, the

Requirements outlined in Part III, and the Application Elements and

Review Criteria set forth in Part IV of this Announcement.

The results of these reviews will assist the Director and OCS

program staff in considering competing applications. Reviewers' scores

will weigh heavily in funding decisions but will not be the only

factors considered. Applications will be considered in rank order of

the averaged scores. However, highly ranked applications are not

guaranteed funding since other factors are taken into consideration,

including, but not limited to: the timely and proper completion by

applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last (5)

years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation

and input; the proposed project's consistency and harmony with agency

goals and policy; geographic distribution; previous program performance

of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous DHHS grants;

audit reports; investigative reports; and applicant's progress in

resolving any final audit disallowances on OCS or other Federal agency

grants.

OCS reserves the right to discuss applications with other Federal

or non-Federal funding sources to determine the applicant's performance

record.

E. Criteria For Screening Applications

All applications that meet the published deadline for submission

will be screened to determine completeness and conformity to the

requirements of this announcement. Only those applications meeting the

following requirements will be reviewed and evaluated competitively:

1. Eligibility. The applicant must be an ``eligible applicant'' as

defined in Part III-A, Section 1. or Part III-B, Section 1. Applicants

must also be aware that the applicant's legal name as required on the

SF-424 (Item 5) must match that listed as corresponding to the Employer

Identification Number (Item 6).

2. The application must contain a Standard Form 424 ``Application

for Federal Assistance'' (SF-424), signed by an official of the

organization applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the

organization legally; one budget form (SF-424A) covering the entire

REACH Project, and one SF-424A for each CBO Recipient (or nonprofit

sub-recipient in the case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants electing to

delegate their REACH Projects) and signed ``Assurances'' (SF-424B)

completed according to instructions published in Part VII and

Attachment D to this Announcement.

3. A project narrative must also accompany the standard forms, and,

for Priority Area 1.0, must be limited to no more than twenty-four (24)

pages for Narrative Segment One and six (6) pages for Narrative Segment

Two; and for Priority Area 2.0, must be limited to no more than twenty

(20) pages. Narratives must be typewritten on one side of the paper

only, in type no smaller than 12 c.p.i., 11 point, or equivalent, with

margins no less than one inch. Charts, exhibits, letters of support,

cooperative agreements, resumes and position descriptions are not

counted against this page limit and should be included in the

appendices to the proposal.

It is strongly recommended that applicants follow the format and

content for the narrative set out in Parts IV and VIII.

Part VII--Instructions for Completing Application Forms

The standard forms attached to this announcement shall be used to

apply for funds under this program announcement.

It is suggested that you reproduce single-sided copies of the SF-

424 and SF-424A, and type your application on the copies. Please

prepare your application in accordance with instructions provided on

the forms (Attachments B and C) as modified by the OCS specific

instructions set forth below:

Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget

object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed

calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs,

and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to

be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the

funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Provide a narrative budget justification which describes how the

categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessary, reasonableness,

and allocability of the proposed costs.

A. SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance

(One SF-424 to be completed by applicant)

Top of Page

Where the applicant is a previous Department of Health and Human

Services grantee, enter the Central Registry System Employee

Identification Number (CRS/EIN) and the Payment Identifying Number, if

one has been assigned, in the Block entitled Federal Identifier located

at the top right hand corner of the form (third line from the top).

Item 1. For the purposes of this announcement, all projects are

considered Applications; there are no Pre-Applications.

Item 7. Enter ``A'' in the box for State. If applicant is an Indian

Tribe enter ``K'' in the box for Indian Tribe.

Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--Enter DHHS-ACF/OCS.

Item 10. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for OCS

programs covered under this announcement is 93.568. The title is

``LIHEAP/REACH''.

Item 11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project.

Item 13. Proposed Project--The project start date must begin on or

before September 30, 1997; the ending date should be calculated on the

basis of a 17-month or 36-month Project Period, whichever is

applicable.

Item 15a. This amount should be no greater than $1,500,000. for

applications under Priority Area 1.0; no greater than $150,000 for

applications under Priority Area 2.0.

[[Page 24468]]

Item 15b-e. These items should reflect both cash and third-party,

in-kind contributions for the Project Period.

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

(One SF-424A completed for applicant, covering entire REACH Project,

and one SF-424A to be completed for each CBO Recipient (or nonprofit

sub-recipient in the case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants electing to

delegate their REACH Projects).)

In completing these sections, the Federal Funds budget entries will

relate to the requested OCS funds only, and Non-Federal will include

mobilized funds from all other sources--applicant, state, local, and

other. Federal funds other than requested OCS funding should be

included in Non-Federal entries.

Sections A, B, and C of SF-424A should reflect budget estimates for

each year of the Project Period.

Section A--Budget Summary

You need only fill in lines 1 and 5 (with the same amounts).

Col. (a): Enter ``LIHEAP/REACH.

Col. (b): Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.568.

Col. (c) and (d): not relevant to this program.

Column (e)--(g): enter the appropriate amounts (column e should not

be more than $1,500,000 for applications under Priority Area 1.0; or

more than $150,000 for applications under Priority Area 2.0.

Section B--Budget Categories

(1) For applicants, a single SF-424A covering entire REACH Project:

complete a one-year budget in accordance with the instructions

provided, entering the amount of grant or contract to CBO Recipient(s)

or nonprofit sub-recipient under the Object Class Category

``Contractual''.

(2) For CBO Recipients (or, in the case of Priority Area 2.0

applicants nonprofit sub-recipients, as appropriate), an SF-424A to be

completed for each, covering the full three year project: (Note that

the following information supersedes the instructions provided with the

Form in Attachment C).

Columns (1)--(5): For each of the relevant Object Class Categories:

Column 1: Enter the OCS grant funds for the first year.

Column 2: Enter the OCS grant funds for the second year.

Column 3: Enter the OCS grant funds for the third year.

Column 4: Leave blank.

Column 5: Enter the total federal OCS grant funds for the three

year budget by Class Categories, showing a total budget of not more

than $1,500,000.

Note: With regard to Class Categories, only out-of-town travel

should be entered under Category c. Travel. Local travel costs

should be entered under Category h. Other. Costs of supplies should

be included under Category e. ``Supplies'' is tangible personal

property other than ``equipment''. ``Equipment'' means an article of

nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of

more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds

the lesser of (a) The capitalization level established by the

organization for financial statement purposes, or (b) $5,000.

Section C--Non Federal Resources should be completed in accordance

with the instructions provided, remembering that ``all non-OCS funds''

fall in this category.

Sections D, E, and F may be left blank.

As previously noted in Part IV, a supporting Budget Justification

must be submitted providing details of expenditures under each budget

category, and justification of dollar amounts which relate the proposed

expenditures to the work program and goals of the project.

C. SF-424B Assurances--Non-Construction

(One SF-424B to be submitted by applicant)

Applicants requesting financial assistance for a non-construction

project must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-

Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard

Form 424B with their applications.

Applicants must provide a certification concerning Lobbying. Prior

to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall furnish

an executed copy of the lobbying certification. Applicants must sign

and return the certification with their applications. Applicants should

note that the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 has simplified the

lobbying information required to be disclosed under 31 USC 1352.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification on their

compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Pro-

Children Act of 1994 (Certification Regarding Smoke Free Environment).

By signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing

the certification and need not mail back the certification with the

applications.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are

not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for award. By

signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the

certification and need not mail back the certification with the

applications. Copies of the certifications and assurances are located

at the end of this announcement.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification on their

compliance with the regulation regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke.

Signature on the application attests to the applicants intent to comply

with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994 (no signature

required on form).

Part VIII--Contents of Reach Plan and Receipt Process

Application pages should be numbered sequentially throughout the

application package, beginning with an Abstract of the Plan as page

number one, and each REACH Plan must include all of the following, in

the order listed below:

A. Content and Order of REACH Plan

1. Table of Contents;

2. An Abstract of the plan--very brief, not to exceed 250 words,

that would be suitable for use in an announcement that the application

has been selected for a grant award; which identifies the type of

project(s), the target population, the CBO Recipient(s) (in the case of

Priority Area 1.0 applicants), and the nonprofit organization sub-

recipient (in the case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants electing to

delegate their REACH Project), and the major elements of the work

plan(s).

3. A completed Standard Form 424 which has been signed by an

official of the organization applying for the grant who has authority

to obligate the organization legally; [Note: The original SF-424 must

bear the original signature of the authorizing representative of the

applicant organization];

4. A single Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

for the applicant, covering the entire REACH Project; and separate SF-

424A forms for each CBO Recipient or nonprofit sub-recipient as

appropriate;

5. A narrative budget justification for each object class category

included under Section B, for each SF-424A;

6. Filled out, signed and dated Assurances--Non-Construction

Programs (SF-424B), Attachment D;

7. Signed and dated Statement of Assurances and Demonstration (See

Attachment M);

8. Restrictions on Lobbying--Certification for Contracts, Grants,

Loans, and Cooperative Agreements: fill out, sign and date form found

at Attachment G;

9. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, SF-LLL: Fill out, sign and

date form found at Attachment H, if appropriate (omit Items 11-15 on

the SF LLL and

[[Page 24469]]

ignore references to continuation sheet SF-LLL-A)

10. A project narrative, limited to the number of pages specified

below, which includes all of the required elements described in Part

IV; [Specific information/data required under each component is

described in Part IV Application Elements and Review Criteria.]

For Plans submitted under Priority Area 1.0, the total number of

pages for Segment One of the Project Narrative(s) dealing with Element

I (Project Theory, Design, and Plan) through Element VI, must not

exceed 24 pages for each such narrative submitted for a specific local

project; and Segment Two of the narrative dealing with Elements VII and

VIII must not exceed 6 pages, excluding Appendices. The Project

Narratives for Plans submitted under Priority Area 2.0 must not exceed

20 pages in length. Plans for supplemental EEE Services should not

exceed 10 pages in length. (See Part V) Plans must be typewritten on

one side of the paper only, in type no smaller than 12 c.p.i., 11

point, or equivalent, with margins no less than one inch. Pages should

be numbered sequentially throughout the application package, excluding

Appendices, beginning with the Abstract as Page #1.

11. Appendices, including Maintenance of Effort Certification (See

Attachment J); signed Letter(s) of Agreement from designated CBO

Recipients (or nonprofit sub-recipients, as appropriate) through which

project will be implemented; resumes and/or position descriptions (see

Program Element IV); Certification Regarding Lobbying, if appropriate;

and any letters from cooperating or partnering agencies in target

communities. Such letters are not part of the Narrative and should be

included in the Appendices. These letters are therefore not counted

against the page limitations of the Narrative.

REACH Plans must be uniform in composition since OCS may find it

necessary to duplicate them for review purposes. Therefore,

applications must be submitted on white 8-\1/2\ x 11 inch paper only.

They must not include colored, oversized or folded materials. Do not

include organizational brochures or other promotional materials,

slides, films, clips, etc. in the proposal. They will be discarded if

included. The applications should be two-hole punched at the top center

and fastened separately with a compressor slide paper fastener, or a

binder clip. The submission of bound plans, or plans enclosed in

binders is specifically discouraged.

B. Acknowledgement of Receipt

Acknowledgment of Receipt--All applicants will receive an

acknowledgement with an assigned identification number. Applicants are

requested to supply a self-addressed mailing label with their State

Plan which can be attached to this acknowledgement. The assigned

identification number, along with any other identifying codes, must be

referenced in all subsequent communications concerning the State Plan.

If an acknowledgement is not received within three weeks after the

deadline date, please notify ACF by telephone at (202) 401-9365.

Part IX--Post-Award Information and Reporting Requirements

A. Notification of Grant Award

Following approval of the REACH Plans selected for funding, notice

of project approval and authority to draw down project funds will be

made in writing. The official award document is the Financial

Assistance Award which provides the amount of Federal funds approved

for use in the project, the project and budget periods for which

support is provided, the terms and conditions of the award, the total

project period for which support is contemplated, and the total

required grantee financial participation, if any.

B. Attendance at Workshops

Subject to the availability of resources, OCS is planning to

sponsor a REACH Conference/Workshop during each of the three years

following award of the REACH grants. REACH Project coordinators,

Project Directors at the local CBO Recipient(s), and chief evaluators

(in the case of REACH Initiatives funded under Priority Area 1.0) and

Project Directors (in the case of REACH Initiatives funded under

Priority Area 2.0) are encouraged to attend these conference/workshops

held during the course of their Project Periods. These conference/

workshops will include a national REACH Orientation workshop in

Washington, D.C. scheduled during the first six months of the Project

Period; and a workshop on evaluation, replication, and dissemination to

be held in the last year of the project period. Project budgets should

include funds for travel to and attendance at these conference/

workshops. If for any reason these conference/workshops are not held,

grantees will be free to reprogram such funds. (See Part IV, Element V,

Budget Appropriateness)

C. Reporting Requirements

Grantees will be required to submit semi-annual program progress

and financial reports (SF 269) throughout the project period, as well

as a final program and financial report within 90 days of the

termination of the project. For REACH Projects under Priority Area 1.0

an interim evaluation report, along with the written policies and

procedures resulting from the process evaluation, will be due 30 days

after the first eighteen months of the project period and a final

evaluation report will be due 90 days after the expiration of the

grant. These reports will be submitted in accordance with instructions

to be provided by OCS, and will be the basis for the dissemination

effort to be conducted by the Office of Community Services.

D. Audit Requirements

Grantees are subject to the audit requirements in Section 2605B(10)

of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42

USC 8621 et seq.

E. Prohibitions and Requirements with regard to Lobbying

Section 1352 of Pub. L. 101-121, signed into law on October 23,

1989, imposes prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and

certification related to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts,

grants, cooperative agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for

Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Current and prospective

recipients (and their subtier contractors and/or grantees) are

prohibited from using Federal funds, other than profits from a Federal

contract, for lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection

with the award of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement or loan. In

addition, for each award action in excess of $100,000 (or $150,000 for

loans) the law requires recipients and their subtier contractors and/or

subgrantees (1) to certify that they have neither used nor will use any

appropriated funds for payment to lobbyists; (2) to disclose the name,

address, payment details, and purpose of any agreements with lobbyists

whom recipients or their subtier contractors or subgrantees will pay

with profits or nonappropriated funds on or after December 22, 1989 and

(3) to file quarterly up-dates about the use of lobbyists if material

changes occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for

noncompliance. See Attachments G and H for certification and disclosure

forms to be submitted with the applications for this program.

[[Page 24470]]

F. Applicable Federal Regulations

Attachment L indicates the regulations which apply to all

applicants/grantees under the REACH Program.

Dated: April 22, 1997.

Donald Sykes,

Director, Office of Community Services.

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P

Attachment A

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

Poverty

Size of family unit guidelines

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

1997 Poverty Income Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the

District of Columbia

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

1....................................................... $ 7,890

2....................................................... 10,610

3....................................................... 13,330

4....................................................... 16,050

5....................................................... 18,770

6....................................................... 21,490

7....................................................... 24,210

8....................................................... 26,930

For family units with more than 8 members, add $2,270 for each

additional member. (The same increment applies to smaller family sizes

also, as can be seen in the figures above.)

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

1997 Poverty Income Guidelines for Alaska

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

1....................................................... 9,870

2....................................................... 13,270

3....................................................... 16,670

4....................................................... 20,070

5....................................................... 23,470

6....................................................... 26,870

7....................................................... 30,270

8....................................................... 33,670

For Family units with more than 8 members, add $3,400 for each

additional member. (The same increment applies to smaller family sizes

also, as can be seen in the figures above.)

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

1997 Poverty Income Guidelines for Hawaii

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

1....................................................... 9,070

2....................................................... 12,200

3....................................................... 15,330

4....................................................... 18,460

5....................................................... 21,590

6....................................................... 24,720

7....................................................... 27,850

8....................................................... 30,980

For family units with more than 8 members, add $3,130 for each

additional member. (The same increment applies to smaller family sizes

also, as can be seen in the figures above.)

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

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M

[[Page 24471]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05MY97.000

BILLING CODE 4184-01-C

[[Page 24472]]

Instructions for the SF 424

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget. Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043),

Washington, DC 20503.

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

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 allowances, 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.)

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M

[[Page 24473]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05MY97.001

[[Page 24474]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05MY97.002

BILLING CODE 4184-01-C

[[Page 24475]]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SF 424A

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 180 minutes per response, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043),

Washington, DC 20503.

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget; send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

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,

Sections 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 function 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 of 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 requiring 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).

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 total 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 in 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.

Attachment D

ASSURANCES--NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including time for

[[Page 24476]]

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043).

Washington, DC 20503

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

Note: 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:

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

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 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. Sec. 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 non-

discrimination 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.

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 apply to all interests in real

property acquired for project purposes regardless of Federal

participation in purchases.

8. Will comply, as applicable, 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. Secs. 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 areas 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 (Clear Air) Implementation Plans under Section

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

Secs. 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.) which 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 or

OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning

and other Non-profit Institutions.

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

Attachment E

This certification is required by the regulations implementing

the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988: 45 CFR Part 76, Subpart F.

Sections 76.630(c) and (d)(2) and 76.645(a)(1) an (b) provide that a

Federal agency may designate a central receipt point for STATE-WIDE

AND STATE AGENCY-WIDE certifications, and for notification of

criminal drug convictions. For the Department of Health and Human

Services, the central point is: Division of Grants Management and

Oversight, Office of Management and Acquisition, Department of

Health and Human Services, Room 517-D, 200 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20201.

Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements

(Instructions for Certification)

1. By signing and/or submitting this application or grant

agreement, the grantee is providing the certification set out below.

[[Page 24477]]

2. The certification set out below is a material representation

of fact upon which reliance is placed when the agency awards the

grant. If it is later determined that the grantee knowingly rendered

a false certification, or otherwise violates the requirements of the

Drug-Free Workplace Act, the agency, in addition to any other

remedies available to the Federal Government, may take action

authorized under the Drug-Free Workplace Act.

3. For grantees other than individuals, Alternate I applies.

4. For grantees who are individuals, Alternate II applies.

5. Workplaces under grants, for grantees other than individuals,

need not be identified on the certification. If known, they may be

identified in the grant application. If the grantee does not

identify the workplaces at the time of application, or upon award,

if there is no application, the grantee must keep the identity of

the workplace(s) on file in its office and make the information

available for Federal inspection. Failure to identify all known

workplaces constitutes a violation of the grantee's drug-free

workplace requirements.

6. Workplace identifications must include the actual address of

buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites where work under

the grant takes place. Categorical descriptions may be used (e.g.,

all vehicles of a mass transit authority or State higway department

while in operation, State employees in each local unemployment

office, performers in concert halls or radio studios). 7. If the

workplace identified to the agency changes during the performance of

the grant,the grantee shall inform the agency of the change(s), if

it previously identified the workplaces in question (see paragraph

five).

8. Definitions of terms in the Nonprocurement Suspension and

Debarment common rule and Drug-Free Workplace common rule apply to

this certification. Grantees' attention is called, in particular, to

the following definitions from these rules;

Controlled substance means a controlled substance in Schedule I

through V of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) and as

further defined by regulation (21 CFR 1308.11 through 1308.15);

Conviction means a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo

contendere) or imposition of sentence, or both, by any judicial body

charged with the responsibility to determine violations of the

Federal or State criminal drug statutes;

Criminal drug statute means a Federal or non-Federal criminal

statute involving the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, use, or

possession of any controlled substances;

Employee means the employee of a grantee directly engaged in the

performance of work under a grant, including: (i) All direct charge

employees; (ii) All indirect charge employees unless their impact or

involvement is insignificant to the performance of the grant; and,

(iii) Temporary personnel and consultants who are directly engaged

in the performance of work under the grant and who are on the

grantee's payroll. This definition does not include workers not on

the payroll of the grantee (e.g., volunteers, even if used to meet a

matching requirement; consultants or independent contractors not on

the grantee's payroll; or employees of subrecipients or

subcontractors in covered workplaces).

Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements

Alternate I. (Grantees Other Than Individuals)

The grantee certifies that it will or will continue to provide a

drug-free workplace by:

(a) Publishing a statement notifying employees that the unlawful

manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a

controlled substance is prohibited in the grantee's workplace and

specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for

violation of such prohibition;

(b) Establishing an ongoing drug-free awareness program to

inform employees about--

(1) The dangers of drug abuse in the workplace;

(2) The grantee's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace;

(3) Any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee

assistance programs; and

(4) The penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug

abuse violations occurring in the workplace;

(c) Making it a requirement that each employee to be engaged in

the performance of the grant be given a copy of the statement

required by paragraph (a);

(d) Notifying the employee in the statement required by

paragraph (a) that, as a condition of employment under the grant,

the employee will--

(1) Abide by the terms of the statement; and

(2) Notify the employer in writing of his or her conviction for

a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace no

later than five calendar days after such conviction;

(e) Notifying the agency in writing, within ten calendar days

after receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2) from an employee or

otherwise receiving actual notice of such conviction. Employers of

convicted employees must provide notice, including position title,

to every grant officer or other designee on whose grant activity the

convicted employee was working, unless the Federal agency has

designated a central point for the receipt of such notices. Notice

shall include the identification number(s) of each affected grant;

(f) Taking one of the following actions, within 30 calendar days

of receiving notice under paragraph (d)(2), with respect to any

employee who is so convicted--

(1) Taking appropriate personnel action against such an

employee, up to and including termination, consistent with the

requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or

(2) Requiring such employee to participate satisfactorily in a

drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program approved for such

purposes by a Federal, State, or local health, law enforcement, or

other appropriate agency;

(g) Making a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-

free workplace through implementation of paragraphs (a), (b), (c),

(d), (e) and (f).

(B) The grantee may insert in the space provided below the

site(s) for the performance of work done in connection with the

specific grant:

Place of Performance (Street address, city, county, state, zip

code):

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Check {time} if there are workplaces on file that are not

identified here.

Alternate II. (Grantees Who Are Individuals)

(a) The grantee certifies that, as a condition of the grant, he

or she will not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution,

dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance in

conducting any activity with the grant;

(b) If convicted of a criminal drug offense resulting from a

violation occurring during the conduct of any grant activity, he or

she will report the conviction, in writing, within 10 calendar days

of the conviction, to every grant officer or other designee, unless

the Federal agency designates a central point for the receipt of

such notices. When notice is made to such a central point, it shall

include the identification number(s) of each affected grant.

[55 FR 21690, 21702, May 25, 1990]

Attachment F

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility

Matters--Primary Covered Transactions

Instructions for Certification

1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective

primary participant is providing the certification set out below.

2. The inability of a person to provide the certification

required below will not necessarily result in denial of

participation in this covered transaction. The prospective

participant shall submit an explanation of why it cannot provide the

certification set out below. The certification or explanation will

be considered in connection with the department or agency's

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.

3. The certification in this clause is a material representation

of fact upon which reliance was placed when the department or agency

determined to enter into this transaction. If it is later determined

that the prospective primary participant knowingly rendered an

erroneous certification, in addition to other remedies available to

the Federal Government, the department or agency may terminate this

transaction for cause or default.

4. The prospective primary participant shall provide immediate

written notice to the department or agency to which this proposal is

submitted if at any time the prospective primary participant learns

that its certification was erroneous when submitted or has become

erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.

5. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended,

ineligible, lower tier covered

[[Page 24478]]

transaction, participant, person, primary covered transaction,

principal, proposal, and voluntarily excluded, as used in this

clause, have the meanings set out in the Definitions and Coverage

sections of the rules implementing Executive Order 12549. You may

contact the department or agency to which this proposal is being

submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations.

6. The prospective primary participant agrees by submitting this

proposal that, should the proposed covered transaction be entered

into, it shall not knowingly enter into any lower tier covered

transaction with a person who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR

part 9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, declared ineligible, or

voluntarily excluded from participation in this covered transaction,

unless authorized by the department or agency entering into this

transaction.

7. The prospective primary participant further agrees by

submitting this proposal that it will include the clause titled

``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and

Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' provided by

the department or agency entering into this covered transaction,

without modification, in all lower tier covered transactions and in

all solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.

8. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon a

certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered

transaction that is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9,

subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily

excluded from the covered transaction, unless it knows that the

certification is erroneous. A participant may decide the method and

frequency by which it determines the eligibility of its principals.

Each participant may, but is not required to, check the List of

Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement

Programs.

9. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to

require establishment of a system of records in order to render in

good faith the certification required by this clause. The knowledge

and information of a participant is not required to exceed that

which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary

course of business dealings.

10. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 6 of

these instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction

knowingly enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person

who is proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4,

suspended, debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from

participation in this transaction, in addition to other remedies

available to the Federal Government, the department or agency may

terminate this transaction for cause or default.

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,and Other Responsibility

Matters--Primary Covered Transactions

(1) The prospective primary participant 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 by any

Federal department of agency;

(b) Have not within a three-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 indicated for 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 three-year period preceding this

application/proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal,

State or local) terminated for cause or default.

(2) Where the prospective primary participant is unable to

certify to any of the statements in this certification, such

prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this

proposal.

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and

Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions

Instructions for Certification

1. By signing and submitting this proposal, the prospective

lower tier participant is providing the certification set out below.

2. The certification in this clause is a material representation

of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was

entered into. If it is later determined that the prospective lower

tier participant knowingly rendered an erroneous certification, in

addition to other remedies available to the Federal Government the

department or agency with which this transaction originated may

pursue available remedies, including suspension and/or debarment.

3. The prospective lower tier participant shall provide

immediate written notice to the person to which this proposal is

submitted if at any time the prospective lower tier participant

learns that its certification was erroneous when submitted or had

become erroneous by reason of changed circumstances.

4. The terms covered transaction, debarred, suspended,

ineligible, lower tier covered transaction, participant, person,

primary covered transaction, principal, proposal, and voluntarily

excluded, as used in this clause, have the meaning set out in the

Definitions and Coverage sections of rules implementing Executive

Order 12549. You may contact the person to which this proposal is

submitted for assistance in obtaining a copy of those regulations.

5. The prospective lower tier participant agrees by submitting

this proposal that, [[Page 33043]] should the proposed covered

transaction be entered into, it shall not knowingly enter into any

lower tier covered transaction with a person who is proposed for

debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, debared, suspended,

declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in

this covered transaction, unless authorized by the department or

agency with which this transaction originated.

6. The prospective lower tier participant further agrees by

submitting this proposal that it will include this clause titled

``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and

Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transaction,'' without

modification, in all lower tier covered transactions and in all

solicitations for lower tier covered transactions.

7. A participant in a covered transaction may rely upon a

certification of a prospective participant in a lower tier covered

transaction that it is not proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part

9, subpart 9.4, debarred, suspended, ineligible, or voluntarily

excluded from covered transactions, unless it knows that the

certification is erroneous. A participant may decide the method and

frequency by which it determines the eligibility of its principals.

Each participant may, but is not required to, check the List of

Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement and Nonprocurement

Programs.

8. Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be construed to

require establishment of a system of records in order to render in

good faith the certification required by this clause. The knowledge

and information of a participant is not required to exceed that

which is normally possessed by a prudent person in the ordinary

course of business dealings.

9. Except for transactions authorized under paragraph 5 of these

instructions, if a participant in a covered transaction knowingly

enters into a lower tier covered transaction with a person who is

proposed for debarment under 48 CFR part 9, subpart 9.4, suspended,

debarred, ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in

this transaction, in addition to other remedies available to the

Federal Government, the department or agency with which this

transaction originated may pursue available remedies, including

suspension and/or debarment.

Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility or

Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions

(1) The prospective lower tier participant certifies, by

submission of this proposal, that neither it nor its principals is

presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared

ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this

transaction by any Federal department or agency.

(2) Where the prospective lower tier participant is unable to

certify to any of the statements in this certification, such

prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this

proposal.

[[Page 24479]]

Attachment G

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 an

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.

Statement for Loan Guarantees 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 required

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-M

[[Page 24480]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05MY97.003

BILLING CODE 4184-01-C

[[Page 24481]]

Attachment I

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 routinely owned or

leased or contracted for by an entity and used routinely or

regularly for provision 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

application/grantee further agrees that it will require the language

of this certification be included in any subawards which contain

provisions for the children's services and that all subgrantees

shall certify accordingly.

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M

Attachment J

Certification Regarding Maintenance of Effort

In accordance with the applicable program statute(s) and

regulation(s), the

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