Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization Child Care Grants

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF-PA-CC-97-03]

Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization Child

Care Grants

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of competitive financial

assistance for Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian

Organization Child Care Grants.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this program announcement is to announce the

availability of fiscal year 1998

[[Page 38546]]

Discretionary Funds, authorized under the Child Care and Development

Block Grant (CCDBG) Act (the Act), as amended, for child care grants

to:

(1) A Native Hawaiian organization; and

(2) A private nonprofit organization established for the purpose of

serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.

DATES: The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30

p.m. (Eastern Time Zone) on September 16, 1997. Applications postmarked

after the closing will be classified as late.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginny Gorman, Administration for

Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, Room 320F, Hubert Humphrey

Building 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Phone:

(202) 401-7260, Fax: (202) 690-5600, E-mail: [email protected]

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUBMIT APPLICATION: If you intend to submit an

application, please contact ACYF's Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293

with the following information: the number and title of this

announcement; your organization's name and address; and your contact

person's name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.

The information will be used to determine the number of expert

reviewers needed to evaluate applications and to update the mailing

list for program announcements.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant

Application Form covering all ACF announcements, contained in the

Application Kit, and this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section contain all

the forms and instructions needed to apply for a grant under this

announcement. No additional application materials are needed.

The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section consists of six parts. Part I

provides general information about funding requirements, and

application procedures for child care grants under this program

announcement. Part II provides background information on ACYF, the

Child Care Bureau, and funding to Indian Tribes and tribal

organizations under the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). Part

III describes child care goals and priorities related to this

announcement. Part IV describes the Project Narrative Statement and

outlines additional requirements for applicants in designing their

projects. Part V describes the evaluation criteria and selection

process. Part VI provides additional instructions for the development

and submission of applications and summarizes the application review

process.

Part I. General Information

A. Purpose

The purpose of this program announcement is to provide funding for

two child care programs: One serving Native Hawaiian youths; and one

serving Indian and/or Native Hawaiian youths.

B. Citations

1. Sponsorship

Grants being awarded under this announcement are sponsored by the

Child Care Bureau (the Bureau) of the Administration on Children, Youth

and Families (ACYF) in the Administration for Children and Families

(ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The

projects will be managed by the Bureau.

2. Funding Authority

Funding is being provided by ACF under Section 658B of the Child

Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9858).

3. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.575.

C. Number of Awards

Two projects will be funded in fiscal year 1998 (beginning October

1, 1997), subject to the availability of funds and results of the

evaluation process.

D. Project Duration

The total project period will be 36 months.

E. Funding Levels and Budget Periods

Initial awards will be for a one-year budget period. Individual

projects will receive between $500,000 and $1,000,000 for the first

budget period of 12 months, with a possibility of between $500,000 and

$1,000,000 per year in continuation funding to be awarded in each of

fiscal years 1999 and 2000. The estimated total Federal funding for a

three-year project is between $1,500,000 and $3,000,000.

Applications for continuation of grants funded under this

announcement will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-

competitive basis. The award of continuation funding beyond each one-

year budget period (but within the three-year project period) will be

subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the

grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the

best interest of the government.

F. Non-Federal Share of Project Costs

While grantees are not required to provide a match to receive

funding under this program announcement, applicants are strongly

encouraged to leverage funds from other sources for this project.

G. Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply for funding under

this program announcement:

A private non-profit organization that serves the

interests of Native Hawaiians and is recognized by the Governor of

Hawaii for the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering

programs (or parts of programs) for the benefit of Native Hawaiians;

and

A private non-profit organization established for the

purpose of serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.

Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit

proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of

submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a

copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS)

most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in Section

501(c)(3) of the IRS code or by providing a copy of the currently valid

IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles

of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation

or association is domiciled.

At least 90 percent of the individuals serving on a non-profit

applicant's board must fall into one or more of the following

categories: (1) Must be a current or past member of the community to be

served; (2) be a prospective participant in or beneficiary of the

project to be funded; or (3) have a cultural relationship with the

community to be served.

``Community'' is defined as a group with common interests and a

common identity, such as an Indian Tribe, Alaska Native Village, or a

group of Native Hawaiians living in a given geographic area, and all

those residing or participating in a predominantly Native Hawaiian

community.

If an Indian organization is already receiving Child Care and

Development Fund (CCDF) funding, it is not eligible to apply for

Discretionary Funds under this program announcement. Only one

application will be accepted from each eligible applicant.

[[Page 38547]]

Part II. Background and Context

A. The Child Care Bureau

The Child Care Bureau is that agency within the Federal Government

with the most far-reaching mandate for child care. Established in 1995

to provide new leadership and consolidate Federal responsibilities for

subsidized child care programs within the Department of Health and

Human Services, the Bureau administers some $2.9 billion in Federal

child care dollars annually.

The Bureau works closely with States, Territories, Tribes and local

communities to develop cost-effective services and delivery systems,

promotes joint ventures with the private sector, and provides

information and other assistance to parents. In addition, the Bureau

collaborates extensively with other offices throughout the Federal

government to promote integrated, family-focused services and

coordinated child care delivery systems.

In all of these activities, the Bureau seeks to enhance the

quality, availability and affordability of child care services, to

support children's healthy growth and development in safe child care

environments, to enhance parental choice and involvement in their

children's care, and to facilitate the linkage of child care with other

community services.

The Bureau's central responsibility is administration of a new

integrated child care program created by title VI of the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L.

104-193) which became effective October 1, 1996. This law created new

child care funding under Sec. 418 of the Social Security Act and

consolidated it under the amended Child Care and Development Block

Grant Act, allowing States and Tribes to design comprehensive,

integrated service delivery systems to meet the needs of low-income

working families. For ease of reference, the newly consolidated funding

sources are known as the ``Child Care and Development Fund'' (CCDF). In

fiscal year 1997, States will receive more than $2 billion and Tribes

and tribal organizations will receive $59 million in CCDF funds.

The CCDF is available to States, Territories, Indian Tribes, and

tribal organizations to: Provide low-income families with the financial

resources to find and afford quality child care for their children;

increase the affordability of child care for low-income families;

enhance the quality and increase the supply of child care for all

families, including those that receive no direct assistance under CCDF;

provide parents with a broad range of options in addressing their child

care needs; strengthen the role of the family; and coordination among

child care programs and early childhood development programs.

In administering the CCDF, the Bureau develops policies, monitors

service delivery systems, and provides technical assistance in close

cooperation with ten DHHS Regional Offices that in turn work directly

with States, Territories and Indian Tribes and tribal consortia.

B. Grants to Indian Tribes and Tribal Consortia

The CCDF is comprised of two funding sources for Tribes and tribal

consortia:

Discretionary Funds--funding that is provided under the

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended; and

Tribal Mandatory Funds--funding that is provided to

eligible tribal organizations under Section 418 of the Social Security

Act.

Currently, approximately 237 Indian Tribes and tribal consortia

receive CCDF funds. Through consortia arrangements, these grantees

serve over 500 federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native

Villages.

A Tribe is eligible to receive CCDF funds if it is federally

recognized and the tribal population includes at least 50 children

under 13 years of age (or such similar age, as determined by the

Secretary from the best available data). A Tribe with fewer than 50

children under age 13 may participate in a consortium of eligible

tribes.

In order to receive CCDF funds, eligible Tribes and tribal

consortia develop a plan for child care services. The plan is an

agreement between the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

and the Tribal agency responsible for administering the CCDF funds. The

plans provide assurances that the funds will be administered in

conformance with the Act, pertinent Federal regulations, and other

applicable instructions or guidelines issued by ACF.

C. Grants to ``Other Organizations''

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act

of 1996 (PRWORA) amended the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act

(CCDBG), to add the following definition to the term ``tribal

organization'' that are potentially eligible for Discretionary Funding:

``Other organizations--Such term includes a Native Hawaiian

Organization, as defined in section 4009(4) of the Augustus F.

Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School

Improvement Amendments of 1988 and a private nonprofit organization

established for the purpose of serving youth who are Indians or

Native Hawaiians.''

Section 4009(4) of the Augustus F. Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford

Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Amendments of 1988 defines

a Native Hawaiian Organization as:

``A private nonprofit organization that serves the interests of

Native Hawaiians, and is recognized by the Governor of Hawaii for

the purpose of planning, conducting, or administering programs (or

parts of programs) for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.''

Applicants are eligible to apply only for Discretionary Funds under

this announcement. Native Hawaiian organizations and private nonprofit

organizations established for the purpose of serving youth, who are

Indians or Native Hawaiians are not eligible to apply for Tribal

Mandatory Funds.

Part III. Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization

Child Care Grants--Goals and Priorities

Following the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193), the Child

Care Bureau held a series of conference calls with its tribal grantees,

hosted a meeting of its Tribal Work Group, and held workshops on the

implementation of CCDF sections of the law at an ACF-sponsored

conference for Tribes on Tribal Welfare Reform in October 1996.

As a result of these discussions, it is clear that tribal grantees

are interested in designing services adapted to individual tribal

circumstances and coordinating resources that will assist in moving

families on the path toward social and economic self-sufficiency.

For this reason, applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate

activities with agencies serving the same population of the applicant

agency for: health (including the agency responsible for

immunizations), education, employment services or workforce

development, and the agency responsible for providing Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Grants are awarded under this announcement to increase the

availability, affordability and quality of child care services by

establishing child care programs in areas that have been previously

underserved and/or have unmet needs.

[[Page 38548]]

A. Regulatory and Statutory Requirements

The majority of the information requested under Section IV, Program

Narrative, of this program announcement is required by the current

regulations at 45 CFR part 98 and the CCDBG Act, as amended. Unless

otherwise indicated, the regulations at 45 CFR part 98 will apply to

grants awarded under this program announcement. As discussed in Part

II., B. Background and Context, this information is requested in the

CCDF plan for Tribes and tribal consortia. However, since the CCDF plan

is not appropriate for grants under this announcement, the regulatory

and statutory information required by the CCDF is included in Part IV,

Program Narrative. An applicant must also include a statement that it

will comply with the applicable list of assurances found in 45 CFR

98.15 of the CCDBG final rule.

B. Eligibility for Services

In order to best meet the purposes of the Act, we believe it is

appropriate for grantees under this announcement to meet most of the

same requirements as grantees receiving tribal formula grants under the

CCDF program.

All eligible children must be under the age of 13 and reside with a

family whose income does not exceed 85% of the grantee median income

for a family of the same size and whose parent(s) are working or

attending a job training or educational program or who receive or need

to receive protective services. Grantee median income may be defined

as: (1) Tribal median income for a family of the same size residing in

the area served by the applicant; or (2) State median income for a

family of the same size.

An applicant must indicate which income eligibility definition it

plans to use in establishing a child care program under this

announcement. In addition, an applicant must define the following

terms, as used in their application: Working, attending, job training

or educational program, protective services and in loco parentis.

Instructions on defining these terms are included in the Application

Kit's ``Supplemental Guide.''

An applicant may elect to establish additional eligibility

criteria. For example, an applicant may establish different income

limits for part of the population to be served. Any additional

eligibility criteria need to be clearly identified and defined by the

applicant. An applicant may also elect to waive, on a case-by-case

basis, the fee and income eligibility requirements for cases in which

children receive or need to receive protective services.

An applicant is encouraged to provide child care for children age

13 and older who are physically and/or mentally incapable of self-care,

but must define these terms in their application. An applicant may also

provide child care for children age 13 and older who are under court

supervision. If care is to be provided in either circumstance, the

applicant must specify the age of the children to be served, up to age

19.

In designing a child care program, an applicant is encouraged to

address the before- and after-school care needs of eligible children to

be served under this program announcement.

C. Coordination

The applicant must describe how it will coordinate the delivery of

CCDF-funded child care services with other Federal, State, and local

child care, early childhood development programs, and before- and

after-school care services, if applicable.

Child care should be an integral part of a community's self-

sufficiency and workforce development efforts. In addition, the quality

of child care benefits greatly from close coordination with the public

health and education communities. Therefore, it is recommended that the

applicant include a description of its coordination activities with

agencies responsible for health (including the agency responsible for

immunizations), education, employment services or workforce

development, and the agency responsible for providing Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

D. Public Notice

As part of the planning process, an applicant must notify those

families eligible to be served under this program announcement of the

provision of child care services proposed under this project.

Applicants are encouraged to engage in a planning process that includes

parents, providers, and other relevant stakeholders in the community to

be served.

E. Parental Choice

One of the goals of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act

is ``to promote parental choice to empower working parents to make

their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family's

needs.'' In support of this goal, applicants are expected to design and

implement a certificate program since it promotes parental choice in

selecting CCDF-funded child care providers.

However, while certificates ensure parental choice, contracted

slots also play an important role in meeting the child care needs of

families, particularly in rural areas, for infant-care, or for children

with special needs.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon an applicant to design a child care

program that will adequately address the needs and unique circumstances

of the population it intends to serve through a grant awarded under

this program announcement. If an applicant is unable to operate a

certificate program, or chooses to provide child care services through

grants and contracts exclusively, it must justify this approach in its

program narrative and assure how it will promote parental choice.

F. Quality Activities

In developing a child care program, applicants are encouraged to

include activities to improve the availability and quality of child

care. Examples of activities undertaken by CCDF-funded tribal child

care programs include: (1) Resource and referral programs; (2) grants

or loans to providers to assist in meeting standards; (3) monitoring of

compliance with licensing and regulatory requirements; (4) training and

technical assistance; (5) compensation for child care providers; and

(6) comprehensive consumer education. An applicant may select

activities from this list of examples, or design other quality

activities that are better suited to the population to be served

through a grant awarded under this program announcement.

G. Construction and/or Renovation of Child Care Facilities

Title VI of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) amended the Child Care and

Development Block Grant Act to permit Tribal grantees to use CCDF funds

for construction and renovation of child care facilities. Therefore, in

its grant application, the applicant should describe any anticipated

construction and renovation projects that will be funded with CCDF

funds, and estimate the amount of funds that will be used for these

projects.

However, grant funds cannot be spent for construction or renovation

until a grantee has applied for and received approval, through a

separate application process, from the Department of Health and Human

Services (DHHS). A grantee may submit a request to spend part of its

grant for construction or renovation through this separate application

process once it has been awarded a CCDF grant under this announcement.

[[Page 38549]]

As part of the separate application process, a grantee must show

that adequate facilities are not otherwise available to carry out child

care programs, and that the lack of facilities will inhibit the

operation of such programs in the future. The amount of funds that a

grantee may request for construction or renovation through the separate

application process is limited to the amount estimated in the grantee's

original CCDF application under this announcement.

Furthermore, statutory language at section 6580(c)(6) of the

revised CCDBG Act indicates that Congress does not intend for

construction and renovation projects to unnecessarily divert resources

from the provision of child care services. Because grants under this

announcement are designed to establish child care programs in areas

with unmet need, a grantee should reserve adequate funds for direct

child care services. While some construction and renovation activity is

allowable under this program announcement, in accordance with Part V.,

Section A., 5. Budget, an applicant will have to demonstrate that funds

will be used for direct child care services and the funds requested are

reasonable in regard to the number of eligible children to be served.

Part IV. Project Narrative Statement

The Project Narrative Statement is that section of the application

which provides most of the information on which proposals will be

competitively reviewed. The standard set of Program Narrative

requirements in the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form

apply broadly to all ACF program announcements. Specific requirements

for this announcement are detailed below. Applicants should tailor

their Project Narrative to these specific requirements.

The Project Narrative should be carefully developed in accordance

with the goals and priorities described in Part III, the proposal

preparation requirements described in this Part, and the evaluation

criteria and selection factors described in Part V.

The Project Narrative sets forth the technical proposal and

describes how it will be carried out. This statement should be

organized according to the evaluation criteria contained in Part V as

follows: (A) Issues, Objectives and Significance; (B) Approach and

Activities; (C) Organizational Capabilities and Qualifications; (D)

Results and Benefits Expected; and (E) Budget.

Applicants proposing multi-year projects must fully describe each

year's project activities in the Project Narrative. A separate itemized

budget of the Federal costs of the project for each budget period must

be included in this section.

A. Issues, Objectives and Significance

In this section, applicants demonstrate their understanding of

child care issues and present their long-range child care goals. The

need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and

subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated.

Applicants must clearly identify the critical child care issues

affecting Native Hawaiian and/or Indian low-income families and the

challenges they face. Supporting documentation such as letters of

support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the

applicant may be included.

Applicants must provide participant and beneficiary information.

Specifically, information must be included on the number of Native

Hawaiian and/or Indian children who would be eligible to receive child

care services under this program announcement.

Applicants must establish payment rates for child care services

that ensure eligible children equal access to comparable care. A copy

of the proposed payment rates must be included in the application.

Applicants must document the type of involvement and support of the

community in the planning process and implementation of the proposed

project. Applicants must describe when and with whom they consulted in

developing this proposal. Applicants must explain how they will notify

those families eligible to be served under this grant of the provision

of child care services proposed under this project.

Applicants must describe how they will coordinate the delivery of

CCDF-funded child care services with other Federal, State, and local

child care, early childhood development programs, and before- and

after-school care services.

Any coordination activities under this project with agencies

responsible for health, education, employment services or workforce

development and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) should

be described in this section.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of

the child care programs administered by the Child Care Bureau and the

policies and funding requirements that apply to these grants.

B. Approach and Activities

The Approach and Activities section details a specific project

design and implementation plan. This section should address two broad

areas: (1) Specific project activities related to the design and

implementation of child care services under this grant; and (2)

management and coordination necessary for implementation of the

project.

1. Approach

The applicant must describe its proposed approach in addressing the

following:

Offering a certificate program that allows parents to

choose from a variety of child care categories, including center-based

care, group home care, family child care and in-home care (including a

description of the certificate payment system);

Using grants or contracts for child care slots, if

applicable;

Reasons for limiting the use of in-home care, if

applicable;

Developing a methodologically sound system for determining

the facts relied upon to determine that payment rates are sufficient to

ensure equal access to comparable child care services provided to

children whose parents are not eligible to receive child care

assistance under the CCDF and other governmental programs. (A summary

of those facts must also be included);

Eligibility criteria and requirements, including how the

applicant will give priority for child care services to children with

special needs;

The sliding fee scale to be used to determine each

family's contribution to the cost of care (including whether families

below the poverty level would be exempted from the fee);

Processes with parents including: informing parents about

child care services and options, making applications, and eligibility

determinations; information on parental complaints; and affording

parents unlimited access to their children receiving CCDF-funded child

care services;

Providing activities to improve the availability and

quality of child care (examples of these activities are listed under

Section III.F);

Required health and safety standards by type of provider;

Licensing requirements which apply to a provider of child

care services under a grant; and

Collecting data on children and families receiving CCDF-

funded child care services (the Supplemental Guide

[[Page 38550]]

provides specific data collection requirements).

2. Implementation Plan

This section must include a sound and workable plan of action that

describes how the proposed project would be carried out, including: How

the project would be structured and managed; how roles and functions

would be coordinated; how the timeliness of activities would be

ensured; how quality control would be maintained; and how costs would

be controlled. Applicants should describe their management of the

project as a whole, and the management and coordinating roles of

subgrantees under grants and contracts, if applicable.

Provide a diagram showing the organizational structure of

the applicant organization and the functional relationships among

subgrantees, if applicable;

Lay out the major tasks to illustrate the sequence and

timing of tasks, time commitments of staff, important milestones,

reports, and completion dates;

Describe potential problems or difficulties with the

proposed management approach, including factors that might affect the

implementation of the child care program in the community to be served;

Describe how subgrantees would coordinate their management

of project tasks and other functions, if applicable; and

Describe how the delivery of CCDF-funded child care

services will be coordinated with other Federal, State, and local child

care, early childhood development programs, and before- and after-

school care services, if applicable.

C. Results or Benefits Expected

In this section applicants must identify results and benefits

expected under the proposed project. These should be specific and

measurable.

At a minimum, explain how expected results under this

project will benefit the population to be served in meeting its child

care needs.

Describe how the quality activities chosen will benefit

the project.

D. Organizational Capabilities and Staff Qualifications

In this section, applicants must provide evidence that they, and

their subgrantees, if applicable, have the experience, expertise and

resources to carry out the proposed project on time, within budget, and

with a high degree of quality.

1. Organizational Capability

Provide evidence of sufficient organizational resources to

ensure the applicant's successful project management, compliance with

terms and conditions of the grant award and oversight of the proper use

of Federal funds. Provide evidence of the applicant's capacity to

coordinate the activities of subgrantees, if applicable; and

Describe any subcontracting relationships, and the

expected duration of these relationships.

2. Staff Qualifications

Identify all key staff positions for this project, the

professional requirements for each, the proportion of time to be

committed to the project, and the period of time for which staff

holding these positions would be employed;

Provide evidence that individuals proposed for key

positions have the necessary technical skill and experience to

successfully carry out their assigned roles. Where key positions are

currently vacant, include a position description outlining the

qualifications necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities

of each;

Identify the authors of the proposal and describe their

continuing role in the project if funded; and

Identify all proposed consultants, document their

expertise, and describe how their services will be utilized. Include

letters of commitment or intent if possible.

E. Budget

Present a detailed budget to demonstrate that the applicant will

have adequate resources to carry out the proposed activities on time

and with a high degree of quality.

Include a detailed budget narrative that describes and

justifies line item expenses within the budget categories listed on the

Standard Form 424. If project funds will be subcontracted, a detailed

budget for the use of those funds must be included; and

Describe the extent of financial participation from other

sources, if applicable. Describe the extent to which funds, staff time,

in-kind services, and other resources have been committed to the

proposed child care project during the total project period. Describe

any other resources that are expected to help support the proposed

activities, including existing commitments and negotiations in

progress. Describe anticipated efforts to obtain other funding partners

throughout the project, if applicable.

Part V. Evaluation and Selection

A. Evaluation Criteria

The criteria listed below will be used in conjunction with other

expectations, priorities and requirements set forth in Parts III and IV

above to evaluate how well each proposal addresses the goals of this

announcement.

1. Significance, Issues and Objectives (Maximum of 20 Points)

The extent to which the application reflects a solid

understanding of critical child care issues, needs, and goals of the

population to be served under this program announcement; and

The extent to which the application addresses the unmet

need for child care services in the population to be served under this

program announcement.

2. Approach and Activities (Maximum of 40 Points)

The extent to which proposed activities clearly relate to

the applicant's child care needs and goals; and

The extent to which the Implementation Plan: (1) Presents

a sound, workable and cohesive plan of action demonstrating how the

work will be carried out on time, within budget and with a high degree

of quality; (2) includes a reasonable schedule of target dates and

accomplishments; and (3) and presents a sound administrative framework

for maintaining quality control over the implementation and ongoing

operations of the child care program.

3. Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum of 10 Points)

The extent to which the proposed activities will result in

specific, measurable results.

4. Organizational Capabilities and Staff Qualifications (Maximum of 20

Points)

The extent to which the application demonstrates that (1)

facilities and organizational experience of the applicant organization

are adequate to carry out the proposed project; (2) the applicant can

effectively and efficiently administer a project of the proposed size,

complexity and scope; and (3) the applicant has the capacity to

coordinate activities with subgrantees for the successful

accomplishment of project objectives, if applicable; and

The extent to which the applicant proposes key staff with

demonstrated experience in child care services, including relevant

background, experience, training and work in related projects.

[[Page 38551]]

5. Budget (10 Points)

The extent to which proposed project costs are reasonable,

the funds are appropriately allocated across activities, and the budget

is sufficient to accomplish the project objectives; and

The extent to which the funds requested will be used for

direct child care services to families through certificates and/or

contracted programs for child care slots and that funds requested are

reasonable in regard to the number of eligible children that will

receive CCDF-funded child care services under announcement.

B. The Selection Process

The Associate Commissioner, Child Care Bureau, will make the final

selection of the applicants to be funded. Applications may be funded in

whole or in part depending on: (1) The ranked order of applicants

resulting from the competitive review; (2) staff review and

consultations; (3) the combination of projects that best meets the

Bureau's objectives; (4) the funds available; and (5) other relevant

considerations.

Selected applicants will be notified through the issuance of a

Financial Assistance Award that sets forth the amount of funds granted,

the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the

award, the budget period for which support is given, and the total

project period for which support is provided.

C. Funding Date

It is anticipated that successful applications will be funded by

October 1, 1997.

Part VI. Instructions for the Development and Submission of

Applications

This Part contains additional information and instructions for

submitting applications in response to this announcement. Applicants

should read this Part carefully in conjunction with other information

and proposal requirements contained within this announcement.

A. Definitions

This program announcement is based on the following definitions:

Categories of Care--center-based child care, group home

child care, family child care and in-home care.

Center-Based Child Care Provider--a provider licensed or

otherwise authorized to provide child care services for fewer than 24

hours per day per child in a non-residential setting, unless care in

excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parent(s)' work.

Child Care Certificate--a certificate (that may be a

check, or other disbursement) that is issued by a grantee directly to a

parent who may use such certificate only as payment for child care

services or as a deposit for child care services if such a deposit is

required of other children being cared for by the provider, pursuant to

Sec. 98.30. Nothing in this part shall preclude the use of such

certificate for sectarian child care services if freely chosen by the

parent. For the purposes of this part, a child care certificate is

assistance to the parent, not assistance to the provider;

Construction--the building of a facility that does not

currently exist;

Discretionary Funds--the funds authorized under section

658B of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, as amended by

PRWORA. (The Discretionary funds were formerly referred to as the Child

Care and Development Block Grant);

Eligible Child Care Provider--(1) A center-based child

care provider, a group home child care provider, a family child care

provider, an in-home child care provider, or other provider of child

care services for compensation that is licensed, regulated, or

registered under applicable State or local law as described in

Sec. 98.40; and satisfies State and local requirements, including those

referred to in Sec. 98.41 applicable to the child care services it

provides; or (2) A child care provider who is 18 years of age or older

who provides child care services only to eligible children who are, by

marriage, blood relationship, or court decree, the grandchild, great

grandchild, sibling (if such provider lives in separate residence),

niece, or nephew of such provider, and complies with any applicable

requirements that govern child care provided by the relative involved;

Family Child Care Provider--one individual who provides

child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per child, as the

sole caregiver, in a private residence other than the child's

residence, unless care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of

the parent(s)' work;

Group Home Child Care Provider--two or more individuals

who provide child care services for fewer than 24 hours per day per

child, in a private residence other than the child's residence, unless

care in excess of 24 hours is due to the nature of the parent(s)' work;

Indian Tribe--any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other

organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or

regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant

to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq)

that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services

provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as

Indians;

In-home Child Care Provider--an individual who provides

child care services in the child's own home;

Licensing or Regulatory Requirements--requirements

necessary for a provider to legally provide child care services in a

State or locality, including registration requirements established

under State, local or Tribal law;

Other Tribal Organizations--such term includes a Native

Hawaiian Organization, as defined in section 4009(4) of the Augustus F.

Hawkins-Robert T. Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement

Amendments of 1988 and a private nonprofit organization established for

the purpose of serving youth who are Indians or Native Hawaiians.

Parent--a parent by blood, marriage or adoption and also

means a legal guardian, or other person standing in loco parentis;

Provider--the entity providing child care services;

Sliding Fee Scale--a system of cost sharing by a family

based on income and size of the family, in accordance with Sec. 98.42;

Tribal Mandatory Funds--the child care funds set aside at

section 418(a)(4) of the Social Security Act. The funds consist of

between one and two percent of the aggregate Mandatory and Matching

child care funds reserved by the Secretary in each fiscal year for

payments to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and

Types of Providers--the different classes of providers

under each category of care. For the purposes of the CCDF, types of

providers include non-profit providers, for-profit providers, sectarian

providers and relatives who provide care.

B. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

This program announcement is not covered under Executive Order

12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part

100, ``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human

Services Program and Activities''.

C. The Application Process

1. Availability of Application Forms

In order to be considered for a grant under this program

announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied

and in the manner

[[Page 38552]]

prescribed by ACYF. The application kits containing the necessary forms

and instructions may be obtained from: Department of Health and Human

Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau,

Room 320F, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC 20201-0001, Attention: ACYF-PA-CC-97-03, Telephone:

(202) 401-7260.

2. Application Submission

One signed original, and two copies, of the grant application,

including all attachments, must be mailed by the specific closing date

to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant

Promenade, SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447, Attention:

William J. McCarron, ACYF No. ACYF-PA-CC-97-03.

The application must be signed by an individual authorized (1) to

act for the applicant organization, and (2) to assume the applicant's

obligations under the terms and conditions of the grant award,

including Child Care and Development Fund statutory and regulatory

requirements.

ACF will accept only one application per applicant. If an eligible

applicant sends in two applications, the one with the earlier postmark

will be accepted for review unless the applicant withdraws the earlier

application.

3. Application Consideration

The ACYF Commissioner determines the final action to be taken on

each grant application received under this program announcement. Each

application will be screened to determine whether the applicant

organization is eligible as specified in Part I, section G, above.

Applications from ineligible organizations will be excluded from the

review. In addition, inadequate preparation, omission of essential

components, or failure to comply with format specifications as

described in Part VI will result in the application being withdrawn

from further consideration. Applicants will be notified in writing of

any such determination by ACYF.

Eligible applications will be scored competitively against the

published evaluation criteria described above. An independent panel

will review the applications in Washington, DC. The panel of expert

reviewers will include tribal child care administrators and/or other

individuals experienced in child care delivery systems, Native Hawaiian

and/or Indian early child development and education, and other relevant

areas.

Applications from Native Hawaiian organizations will be evaluated

with similar applications. Likewise, applications from private

nonprofit organizations serving Indians or Native Hawaiian youths will

be evaluated separately.

A panel of at least three reviewers will evaluate each application

to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal in terms of

the Bureau's goals, the expectations as discussed in Part III,

requirements for the Project Narrative Statement described in Part IV,

and the evaluation criteria listed in Part V., Section A. Panelists

will provide written comments and assign numerical scores for each

application. The indicated point value for each criterion is the

maximum numerical score for that criterion. The assigned scores for

each criterion will be summed to yield a total evaluation score for the

proposal.

In addition to the panel review, the Bureau may solicit comments

from other Federal offices and agencies, from the States, from relevant

Native Hawaiian and tribal organizations, and from individuals whose

particular expertise is identified as necessary for the consideration

of technical issues arising during the review. Their comments, along

with those of the panelists, will be considered by the Bureau in making

funding decisions.

The Commissioner makes grant awards consistent with the purpose of

the Act, all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, this

program announcement, and the availability of funds.

After the Commissioner has made decisions on all applications,

unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing within approximately 30

days of the decision.

Successful applicants are notified through an official Financial

Assistance Award (FAA) document. ACYF staff cannot respond to requests

for information regarding funding decisions prior to the official

notification to the applicants. The FAA will state the amount of

Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms and

conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the

project period, and the budget period.

D. Receipt of Applications

Applications must either be hand delivered or mailed to the address

in Part VI., Section C., 2. Application Submission.

1. Deadline

Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced

deadline if they are either postmarked on or before the deadline date

and received by ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children

and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,

SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447, Attention: Application for

Native Hawaiian and Nonprofit American Indian Organization Child Care

Grants, ACYF No: ACYF-PA-CC-97-03.

Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S. Postal

Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial

carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private Metered postmarks shall not be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Applications handcarried by applicants and applicant 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 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary

Grants, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding

weekends and Federal holidays). Any application postmarked after 4:30

p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered for competition.

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or

through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to

ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of

submission and time of receipt.

2. Late Applications

Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered

late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its

application will not be considered in the current competition.

3. Extension of Deadlines

ACF may extend the deadline for all applicants because of acts of

God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or when there is a widespread

disruption of the mails. However, if ACF does not extend the deadline

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

applicants.

4. Notification

All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt of

their application and of the four digit identification number assigned

to the application. This number and the priority area must be referred

to in all

[[Page 38553]]

subsequent communication with the Child Care Bureau, ACYF, or ACF

concerning the application. If you do not receive acknowledgment of

your application within eight weeks after the deadline date, please

contact the ACYF Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293.

E. The Review Process

1. Initial Application Review

Applications submitted by the closing date and verified by the

postmark under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to

determine that (1) the applicant is eligible in accordance with the

Eligible Applicants Section of this announcement; and (2) the

application narrative, forms and materials submitted are adequate to

allow the review panel to undertake an in depth evaluation. (All

required materials and forms are listed in the Grant Application

Checklist in the Application Kit).

2. Competitive Review of Accepted Applications

Applications that pass the pre-review will be evaluated and rated

by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific evaluation

criteria listed in Part V. These criteria are used to evaluate the

quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its

success.

F. General Guidance to Applicants

The following information is provided to assist applicants in

developing a competitive application.

1. Program Guidance

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families funds projects

that demonstrate the strongest prospects for addressing the stated

purposes of this program announcement.

In describing the goals, strategy, and problems being addressed in

the application, include sufficient background and/or history of the

community concerning these issues and/or progress to date, as well as

the size of the population to be served. This material will assist the

reviewers in determining the appropriateness and potential benefits of

the proposed project.

The project application must clearly identify in measurable terms

the expected results, benefits or outcomes of the proposed project, and

the positive or continuing impact that the project will have on the

population to be served.

In its data collection approach or design, an applicant should

review the data collection/reporting requirements section contained in

the Supplemental Guide (included in the Application Kit). This section

provides specific information on data that must be collected and

reported for children and families receiving CCDF-funded child care.

2. Technical Guidance

Applicants should prepare their application packages according to

the application checklist and suggested ordering of materials located

at the end of the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form.

This form is included in the Application Kit.

Applicants should closely tailor their applications to the specific

requirements of this announcement. Previous experience has shown that

an application that is broader and more general in concept than

outlined in the agency's request for proposals is less likely to score

as well as one that is more clearly focused on and directly responsive

to the concerns and objectives outlined in the announcement.

Applications must have a cover letter followed by the Table of

Contents and Project Abstract (Executive Summary). The Project Abstract

should be a short, concise, and accurate description of the proposed

project. This summary, together with the information on the SF 424 is

the major source of information about the proposed project and is

usually the first part of the application that the reviewers read in

evaluating the application. It should provide a snapshot of the project

objectives, the approaches to be used, and the outcomes expected. The

summary should also describe the population to be served.

The summary should be clearly marked with the applicant's name as

shown in item 5 of the SF 424, the announcement number and title, and

the title of the project as shown in item 11 of the SF 424. At the

bottom of the page, following the summary description, type up to 10

key words that best describe the proposed project, the service(s)

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

will be used for computerized information retrieval. Key words should

be selected from commonly used research and policy terminology.

In preparing the application, applicants should fill out SFs 424,

424A, and 424B, all of which are included in the Application Kit. Forms

should be prepared in accordance with the detailed instructions

contained in the ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form.

The application's Form 424 must be signed by the applicant's

representative authorized to act with full authority on behalf of the

applicant.

The Project Narrative Statement should be clear, concise, and

address the specific expectations and requirements described in Parts

III and IV. The narrative should also provide information concerning

how the application meets the evaluation criteria described in Part V.

Inclusion and description of the evaluation criteria is important since

the reviewers will rate the application against the evaluation

criteria. Applicants should use the following section headings:

(A) Significance, Issues and Objectives;

(B) Approach, and Activities;

(C) Results and Benefits Expected;

(D) Organizational Capacity and Staff Qualifications; and

(E) Budget.

The specific information to be included under each of these

headings is described in Part IV, Project Narrative, and Part V.,

Section A., Evaluation Criteria.

The narrative should be double-spaced and single-sided on 8\1/2\''

x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. Use 10 or 12

pitch throughout the proposal. All pages of the narrative (including

appendices, resumes, charts, references/footnotes, tables, maps and

exhibits) must be sequentially numbered, beginning with ``Significance,

Issues, and Objectives'' as page number one. Applicants should not

submit reproductions of larger sized paper reduced to meet the size

requirement. Applicants should not send pamphlets, brochures, or other

printed material along with their applications, as these items pose

copying difficulties. These materials, if submitted, will not be

included in the review process, although they will be kept on file.

An applicant must provide all applicable certifications,

disclosures and assurances included in the ACF Uniform Discretionary

Grant Application Form. In addition, an applicant must include a

statement that it will comply with the applicable list of assurances

found in Sec. 98.15 of the CCDBG final rule.

The entire Project Narrative Statement and supporting materials

(including text, resumes, and appendices) may not exceed 100 pages

single-spaced (200 pages double spaced). All supporting materials, such

as resumes, letters of support, and other documents should be organized

into appropriate appendices and securely bound into the application

package.

Applicants are encouraged to have someone other than the author

apply the

[[Page 38554]]

evaluation criteria in the program announcement and score the

application prior to its submission, in order to gain a better sense of

the application's quality and potential competitiveness in the ACYF

review process.

For purposes of developing an application, applicants should plan

for a project start date approximately 120 days after the closing date

under which the application is submitted.

Two copies of the application plus the original are required. The

Cover Page (included in the Application Kit) should be the first page

of an application, followed by the one-page abstract.

Dated: July 9, 1997.

James A. Harrell,

Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

[FR Doc. 97-19009 Filed 7-17-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P