Notice of Availability of Funding To Provide Community Service Employment Opportunities for Refugees Who Have Experienced Long-term Difficulties in Assimilation

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Notice of Availability of Funding To Provide Community Service

Employment Opportunities for Refugees Who Have Experienced Long-term

Difficulties in Assimilation

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Request for applications for projects to provide community

service employment opportunities for refugees who have experienced

long-term difficulties in assimilation.

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SUMMARY: This program announcement governs the availability of social

services funds and award procedures for $16 million in FY 1998

discretionary grants for community service employment for refugees

under the Refugee Resettlement Program. These grants, which will be

awarded on a competitive basis, are for localities with large

concentrations of refugees who have experienced difficulty integrating

socially and economically into local communities. Refugees are eligible

to participate in these projects regardless of the length of time they

have resided in the U.S. Applications may include requests for project

periods of up to three years, with an initial budget period of one

year. Where awards are made for multiple year project periods,

continuation grant applications will be entertained in subsequent years

on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds,

successful progress of the project, and ACF/ORR's determination that

this would be in the best interest of the government.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned

to this announcement is 93.576.

DATE: The closing date for receipt of applications is July 20, 1998.

ADDRESS: Address applications to: Office of Refugee Resettlement,

Division of Community Resettlement, 6th Floor East, Aerospace Building,

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nguyen T. Kimchi at (202) 401-4556, e-

mail: N[email protected], or send correspondence to the above listed

address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Part I. General Information

A. Background

There are communities across this country with large concentrations

of refugees 1, many of whom entered the United States over a

decade ago. For some refugees, language skills, cultural barriers, the

lack of financial resources, and years of relying on public assistance,

have isolated them from the mainstream, limited their employment

opportunities and hindered integration into American communities. Their

rate of assimilation has been documented in many localities on such key

indicators as poverty levels, welfare utilization, car and home

ownership, high school completion, college attendance or graduation,

language fluency, employment rates, household income, per capita

income, and naturalization rates. Prior to their arrival in the U.S.,

some refugees have experienced torture, starvation or prolonged

malnutrition, which have exacerbated their isolation and difficulty in

adapting to life in the United States.

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\1\ In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR

400.43, ``Requirements for documentation of refugee status,''

eligibility for targeted assistance includes: (1) Cuban and Haitian

entrants, under section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act

of 1980 (Pub. L. No. 96-422); (2) certain Amerasians from Vietnam

who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants under section 584 of the

Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs

Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing

Resolution (Pub. L. No. 100-202); and (3) certain Amerasians from

Vietnam, including U.S. citizens, under title II of the Foreign

Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations

Acts, 1989 (Pub. L. No. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. No. 101-167), and

1991 (Pub. L. No. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is

used in this notice to encompass all such eligible persons unless

the specific context indicates otherwise.

Refugees admitted to the U.S. under admissions numbers set aside

for private-sector-initiative admissions are not eligible to be

served under the targeted assistance program (or under other

programs supported by Federal refugee funds) during their period of

coverage under their sponsoring agency's agreement with the

Department of State--usually two years from their date of arrival or

until they obtain permanent resident alien status, whichever comes

first.

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In some of these communities, refugees represent a significant

percentage of the population and, relative to non-refugee groups, have

a sizeable impact on local services, medical clinics, and school

systems.

The purpose of this announcement is to improve refugee rates of

assimilation in heavily impacted communities by providing funding for

workforce experience and training, earned income for refugees and their

families, and access to needed services for refugee communities.

Statutory and Regulatory Authority

The FY 1998 House Appropriations Committee Report (H.R. Rept. No.

105-205) stated that: ``The Committee has set-aside $16,000,000 for

increased support to communities with large

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concentrations of refugees whose cultural differences made assimilation

especially difficult justifying a more intense level and longer

duration of Federal assistance.'' Accordingly, ORR has announced in the

Notice of Proposed FY 1998 Refugee Social Service Allocations,

published in the Federal Register, February 13, 1998, that these funds

will be made available through discretionary grants for which this

announcement solicits applications.

Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the INA authorizes the Director of ORR ``to

make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or private

nonprofit agencies for projects specifically designed--(i) to assist

refugees in obtaining the skills which are necessary for economic self-

sufficiency, including projects for job training, employment services,

day care, professional refresher training, and other recertification

services * * *''

Grant awards are also subject to the following federal regulations:

45 CFR part 74--Uniform administrative requirements for awards and

subawards to institutions of higher education, hospitals, other

nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations; and certain

grants and agreements with States, local governments and Indian tribal

governments and 45 CFR part 92, Uniform administrative requirements for

grants and cooperative agreements to State and local governments.

B. Purpose and Scope

Under this announcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement

solicits applications from eligible applicants who wish to compete for

funds to provide community employment services for refugees who have

experienced long-term difficulties in assimilation into American

communities.

One of the most effective methods to help refugees obtain

employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency is through employment

experience. Employment through community service offers a job for the

individual, household income for refugee families, community

participation, cross-cultural exposure for public and private agencies,

and access to community services for refugee communities. For these

reasons, ORR is providing funding under this announcement to be

primarily for employer subsidies to create or increase the number of

community work experience jobs for refugees.

Community service employment may be in the public or private

sector; however, given the emphasis in this announcement on gaining

refugee access to community services, ORR anticipates that most

successful applicants will target these subsidies to public and private

non-profit organizations that may not otherwise have the resources to

provide this type of employment.

Some examples of positions in agencies which may benefit from

community work experience subsidies are: interpreters and aides in

community health and maternal care clinics, classroom aides and

teachers in elementary schools, police and law enforcement assistants

for such programs as neighborhood watch, and police storefronts,

outreach workers for mental health agencies, aides in local services to

the elderly or at satellite centers located in areas with large

concentration of elderly refugees, and caseworker assistants in public

welfare offices.

Accordingly, this grant announcement makes available $16 million

for community service employment to assist communities with large

concentrations of refugees who are experiencing difficulty assimilating

into local communities.

C. Eligible Applicants

Eligible grantees are private, non-profit organizations and

agencies of State governments that are responsible for the refugee

program under 45 CFR 400.5.

D. Eligible Refugees

Refugees eligible to participate in projects funded under this

announcement must be at least 21 years of age, unemployed, or without

earned income, or members of families receiving public assistance.

All eligible refugees must be residents of their respective

communities for at least six months. Priority will be given to those

refugees who are able to work but unable to find employment. ORR

anticipates that refugees targeted for these positions may be long-term

welfare recipients (12 months or more) or those who face termination

from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) within the 12 month

period following enrollment in this project.

E. Available Funds

Approximately $16 million will be available for awards. It is

expected that most grant awards will be between $1 million and $5

million. ORR anticipates making 4-5 awards with these funds for

projects that will secure employment for a minimum of 100 eligible

participants.

The Director of ORR will make final award decisions based on such

factors as: the geographic distribution of the competitive

applications; the extent to which the grants reflect a reasonable

distribution of funds across the areas impacted by refugees, and the

availability of funds.

F. Use of Funds

Successful applicants will receive grants to identify and develop,

as necessary, community service employment positions for low-income or

unemployed refugees at local public or private nonprofit organizations.

Applicants must demonstrate a specific need for supplementation of

available resources to provide these services for refugees. Projects

funded under this announcement will be designed to (a) provide income

to refugees and their households, employment experience, and eventual

transition to unsubsidized employment; and (b) through the presence and

assistance of a refugee employee in these agencies, give refugee

communities greater access to local community services.

Grantees must establish a network of relationships with appropriate

public or private, non-profit employers to identify and develop

suitable subsidized community service employment positions. Grant funds

may be used to reimburse employers for up to 100% of the employment

wage, for a maximum of 12 months, under the terms of a contract in

which, in exchange for the salary subsidy, the employer agrees to

provide the refugee employee additional supervisory assistance in

learning and retaining the job. Employers are expected to retain the

refugee employee in this position after the wage subsidy has ended, if

the refugee has performed satisfactorily, or, if insufficient funds are

available, to assist the refugee employee in securing other employment.

Refugee employees should be eligible for all benefits available to

all other employees at the work site. Applicants should identify the

types and number of community service employment positions targeted in

their project, including job descriptions, qualifications, and salary

levels. Project participants must be paid an hourly wage equal to the

prevailing rates of pay for persons employed in similar occupations by

the same employer. In no event should the wage be lower than the

federal minimum wage.

Approximately 75-80% of grant funds are to be designated for salary

subsidies. Applicants may designate up to 5% for employer incentives.

Grantees should provide supportive services to assist project

participants in retaining successful community service employment. Such

supportive services

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may include: on-site technical assistance; employment counseling; work-

related incidental expenses for such items as work shoes, uniforms,

glasses, public transportation passes, etc. if these are not available

from other sources.

Whether the applicant is a State refugee agency or a non-profit

organization, projects proposed for funding under this announcement

must be designed and implemented by coalitions of local community

agencies and refugee organizations. These coalitions must identify

clear respective roles and responsibilities for each participating

agency within the coalition, expressed in a signed written agreement

which describes the purpose and activities of each. The extent of local

collaboration will be an important factor in the review of the strength

of the proposal.

Applicants must also provide for the creation of an Advisory Board,

delineating the roles and responsibilities of each member,

compensation, if any, to members, a definitive and measurable work

plan, and schedule of meetings.

G. Restrictions

Funds may not be used for lobbying, union-related activities,

politically-related employment as a form of political patronage. Wage

subsidies must be used for a net increase in the number of positions

within a given agency, not to replace currently funded positions.

Refugees employed as a result of this project may not displace employed

workers or workers on lay-off.

Part II. The Project Description

The project description provides a major means by which an

application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications

for available assistance. The project description should be concise and

complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are

being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can

present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged

to provide information on their organizational structure, staff,

related experience, and other information considered to be relevant.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement uses this and other information to

determine whether the applicant has the capability and resources

necessary to carry out the proposed project. It is important,

therefore, that this information be included in the application.

However, in the narrative the applicant must distinguish between

resources directly related to the proposed project from those that will

not be used in support of the specified project for which funds are

requested.

A. Statement of Need

The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and

subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated;

supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials

from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any

relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred

to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and

participant/beneficiary information, as needed.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in

the following:

A description, with documentation, of the need for services within

the proposed target area, including documentation of the number of

refugees in the target area and the ratio between refugees to the non-

refugee population in the community.

Data and analyses of family and community needs, including the

implications of welfare reform and employment patterns on family needs

for child care and other support services.

A discussion of how the targeted refugees have the most need of the

proposed services. Submit evidence of poor assimilation of refugees

relative to the community at-large. Indicators may include: poverty

levels, public assistance utilization, unemployment, rates of high

school completion, college attendance, car and homeownership, and

attainment of citizenship.

B. Design and Approach

Outline a plan of action which describes the scope and detail of

how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions

or activities identified in the application. Cite factors which might

accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the

proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of

the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in

cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.

Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the

accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such

terms as the number of people to be served. When accomplishments cannot

be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order

to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target date.

Identify the kinds of data to be collected, maintained and/or

disseminated. Note that clearance from the U.S. Office of Management

and Budget might be needed prior to a ``collection of information''

that is ``conducted or sponsored'' by ACF/ORR. List organizations,

cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will

work on the project along with a short description of the nature of

their effort or contribution.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in

the following:

The applicant's plans for delivering effective services to refugees

in all areas of service and program management.

A description of the proposed target area(s) for services,

recruitment strategies, and priorities for selecting refugee clients

for participation.

A description of the services and resources of other local refugee

employment service and community agencies.

A plan to identify potential employment, to recruit eligible

refugees and begin services as soon as possible.

Describe how community service employment positions will be

developed with local employers; how these employers will be encouraged

to customize the jobs and provide supervisory support to the employees

under this project; identify any local employers who have made

commitments to the project and describe them (e.g., number and types of

jobs, supportive services and training; etc.)

Note: ORR expects that all applicants funded under this

announcement will begin serving refugees and their families no later

than March, 1999.

A description of the types and number of community service

employment positions targeted for the project including job

descriptions, qualifications and salary levels.

Documentation of cooperative arrangements with other public or

private agencies to assist the applicant in providing effective

employment services. Such cooperative arrangements must include a plan

to coordinate the funds as appropriate.

C. Results or Benefits Expected

Identify the results and benefits to be derived for refugees and

their families as well as for the community. Based on the stated

program objectives, a discussion of the specific results or benefits

that could be expected for the refugees and families participating in

the program. A discussion of the

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specific community-wide results or benefits including those resulting

from collaborative partnership with other community agencies including

the agencies which employ refugees. The qualitative and quantitative

data the program will collect to measure progress towards the stated

results or benefits. A discussion of how the program will determine the

extent to which it has achieved its stated objectives.

Applicants are encouraged to use ORR standards under the Government

Performance and Result Act (GPRA) to measure project results. These

are:

The number of refugees who entered employment.

Cash assistance terminations due to earnings.

Average hourly wage at placement.

Employment retention.

Employment with health benefits.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in

the following:

Numbers, types and average salaries of refugees to be employed in

community service employment positions; the degree to which employee

benefits, including medical coverage, are available for these jobs;

expectations for job or employment retention after one year; expected

average earnings one year after placement into subsidized employment;

cost per placement into subsidized community service employment.

The application may include other performance outcomes, as

appropriate.

D. Project Management and Implementation

Describe the staff and systems capacity for managing the project,

to include: key staff resumes or position descriptions; a project

organizational chart identifying all agencies involved in the project

and their respective roles and responsibilities; Identify the critical

activities, time frames, and responsibilities for implementing the

project.

Local Collaboration and Sustainability

Identify a coalition of key agencies, respective roles and

responsibilities, and agreements. Describe the local partnerships and

each member's contribution to the project; the extent to which the

project is coordinated with key community activities; the commitment

and integration of other community resources; any involvement of, or

participation by, local employers; and the extent to which the

community and the coalition have developed plans to maintain and expand

the capacity to serve the targeted refugee population;

Advisory Board

Identify and submit position descriptions or resumes for Advisory

Board positions.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in

the following:

Evidence of the applicant's ability and experience to administer an

employment program and to manage a community service employment

program. Include a discussion of any proposed changes and improvements

in program management.

A description of the applicant's experience in management of

employment services for refugees who have had a protracted history of

unemployment. A description of the applicant's experience in management

of community, State and Federal partnerships. A description of the

applicant's history and relationship with the target community. Include

a complete discussion of the program's financial status and program

operations. Include an organizational chart of the program.

A description of the mechanisms for recruiting and hiring well-

trained and appropriately credentialed staff members.

A discussion of all proposed key staff or managerial positions,

their proposed salary rates, the length of time they would be employed

each year and the applicant's plans for ongoing monitoring and

supervision of other staff including refugees employed under the

community employment service program if appropriate.

Applicants who are electing to create partnerships with other

agencies, providers, or funding sources should provide:

Letters of commitment from partner agencies and providers,

including documentation of any additional resources such as child care,

health care or transportation subsidies, etc. that will enhance the

program. Explain and itemize these resources or services, and state

whether or not these costs are included as part of the non-Federal

share.

Plans for managing, coordinating or monitoring, and assisting the

efforts of partnering agencies and other forms of collaborative

arrangements in meeting the goals of the project.

A description of the experience of the applicant and the proposed

partnering agencies in collaborating to deliver effective employment

services and in managing multiple sources of funding.

A description of how the applicant will track, manage and account

for refugee employment costs and, if applicable, the availability of

other funding sources.

E. Budget and Budget Justification

Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget

object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed

calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs,

and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to

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

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

Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the

categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,

and allocability of the proposed costs.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in

the following:

A description of how your proposed budget is reasonable,

appropriate and cost effective in view of the proposed services,

strategies and anticipated outcomes.

A description of the extent to which your proposal includes

significant other resources to complement the ORR funds.

General Instructions

ORR is particularly interested in specific factual information and

statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project

descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length.

Extensive exhibits are not required. (Supporting information concerning

activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information

that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded

activity should be placed in an appendix.) Pages should be numbered and

a Table of Contents should be included for easy reference.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement is also requesting that

applicants provide a summary of the project description which includes:

The name and address of the applicant agency.

The total number of employment placements when the program

is completed.

The total ORR funds requested for a 12 month period.

The amount and source of any additional funding that will

help support the project (i.e., funds that are in addition to Federal

ORR funds.)

The community to be served (name of town(s), city(ies) and

county(ies) and the targeted refugee groups.

The proposed type of jobs, hours per week and wages.

The target date for beginning full services to refugees.

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Additional Information

Following is a description of additional information that should be

placed in the appendix of the application.

1. Staff and Position Data

Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a

job description for each vacant position. A biographical sketch will

also be required for new key staff as appointed.

2. Organizational Profile

Provide information on the applicant organization and cooperating

partners such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit

reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer

Identification Numbers, contact persons and telephone numbers,

documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent

information. Any non-profit organization submitting an application must

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

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

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

most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section

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

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

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

corporation or association is domiciled.

Part III. Criteria for Review and Evaluation of the Grant

Application

Information provided in response to Part II of this announcement

will be used to review and evaluate applications using the following

criteria:

A. Need for Assistance to Increase Assimilation (30 points)

Quality of description and documentation with regard to refugee

assimilation and impact on the community.

B. Program Design and Approach (20 points)

Soundness of and innovation in program design and methodology for

securing community service employment for refugees, including evidence

of collaboration through coalitions of local community agencies and

refugee organizations.

C. Results and Benefits (20 points)

Providing effective and responsive services to targeted refugees

and families. Employment results which are timely, appropriate, and

measurable using ORR standards for outcome performance under GPRA.

D. Project Management and Implementation (15 points)

The extent of demonstrated capacity of the applicant organization,

key leaders and managers and, where appropriate, proposed partnering

organizations in:

Managing the proposed community employment services in a timely,

cost-effective manner.

Working successfully in partnership with the targeted refugee

communities, families, and other community organizations, institutions,

and agencies.

E. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Appropriateness (15 points)

The extent to which the project's costs are reasonable and cost-

effective in view of the activities to be carried out and the

anticipated outcomes.

The extent to which proposed salaries and fringe benefits reflect

appropriate levels of compensation for the responsibilities of staff.

The extent to which costs for refugee wages in community employment

are reasonable and equitable.

Part IV. The Application Process

A. Required Forms

Applicants interested in applying for funds must submit a complete

application including the required forms--Standard Form 424 and

attachments. In order to be considered for a grant under this

announcement, an application must be submitted on the Standard Form 424

(approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Control

Number 0348-0043), a copy of which was published by ORR in the Federal

Register, Volume 62, No. 236. pages 64870-64883. SF-424 is also

available through the Administration for Children and Families website

at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov (at ``Select a Topic'' choose Grant Related

Forms and Documents). Each application must be signed by an individual

authorized to act for the applicant and to assume responsibility for

the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award.

Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction

projects must file the Standard Form 424B, Assurances: Non-Construction

Programs (approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control

Number 0348-0040). Applicants must sign and return the Standard Form

424B with their application. Applicants must provide a certification

concerning lobbying. Applicants must provide information consistent

with ACF's approved Uniform Project Description (OMB # 0970-0139), as

found in Part II of this Program Announcement. Prior to receiving an

award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall furnish an executed copy

of the lobbying certification (approved by the Office of Management and

Budget under Control Number 0348-0046). Applicants must sign and return

the certification with their application.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their

compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and

submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification

and need not mail back the certification with the application.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are not

presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for award. By

signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the

certification and need not mail back the certification with the

application. Applicants must also understand that they will be held

accountable for the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-

227, Part C Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as Pro-Children's

Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements

the smoking prohibition is included with the forms. By signing and

submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification

and need not mail back the certification with the application.

B. Application Submission

Applicants submitting proposals should use the following format

guidelines: Proposals should be organized according to the evaluation

criteria located in Part III. For each of the five specified criteria,

applicants should provide information in response to the application

requirements described in Part II of this announcement.

One signed original and two complete copies of the grant

application, including all attachments, are required. Each application

must be limited to no more than 25 double-spaced pages of program

narrative (not including the Project Summary and the forms which make

up the SF-424A and Budget Justification).

If the narrative portion of the application is more than 25 double-

spaced pages, the other pages will be removed from the application and

not considered by the reviewers. The attachments/appendices to each

application must be limited to no more than 25 pages, (in addition to

the 25

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pages permitted for the narrative portion of the application). If the

attachments/appendices to each application are more than 25 pages, the

other pages will be removed from the application and not considered by

the reviewers.

C. Application Considerations

Applicants will be scored against the evaluation criteria described

above. The review will be conducted by a panel consisting of experts in

the areas of refugee and employment services.

The results of the competitive review will be taken into

consideration by the Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, in

determining the projects to be funded. The Director of ORR will make

the final selection of the applicants to be funded. An application may

be funded in whole or in part, depending on the relative need for

services, applicant ranking, geographic location, proposed costs, and

funds available.

Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a

Financial Assistance Award which sets forth the amount of funds

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

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

project period for which support is provided.

D. Checklist for a Complete Application

A complete application consists of the following items in this

order:

Introductory Material:

Cover letter.

Table of Contents.

Project Description Summary.

(1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF424).

(2) Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF424A&B).

(3) Budget Justification.

(4) Project Description and Appendices.

(5) Proof of non-profit status as appropriate.

(6) Assurances Non-Construction Programs.

(7) Certification Regarding Lobbying.

(8) Where appropriate, a completed SPOC certification with the date

of SPOC contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424.

Applicants are reminded that the narrative portion of the

application cannot exceed 25 double-spaced pages in a 12-pitch font

with 1-\1/2\ inch margins at the top and 1 inch at the bottom and both

sides and that attachments/Appendices to the application can not exceed

25 pages. Attachments and appendices should be used only to provide

supporting documentation such as maps, administration charts, position

descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent/agreement. Please do not

include books or video tapes as they are not easily reproduced and are,

therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers. Each page should be numbered

sequentially.

GENERAL--The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and

budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be

detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification.

According to the instructions for completing the SF-424A and the

preparation of the budget and budget justification, ``Federal

resources'' refers only to the ACF/ORR grant for which you are

applying. Non-Federal resources are all other Federal and non-Federal

resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be

presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories;

second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s),

and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a

narrative.

Personnel: Costs of employee salaries and wages. Justification--

Identify the project director and for each staff person, provide the

title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to

the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary,

grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants

or personnel costs of delegate agencies.

Fringe Benefits: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated

as part of approved indirect cost rate. Justification--Provide a

breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit

costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the

applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).

Justification--For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s),

travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if

privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs

and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF/

ORR-sponsored meetings should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property,

having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of

$5,000 or more per unit.

Justification--For each type of equipment requested, provide a

description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units,

the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or

disposal of the equipment after the project ends.

Supplies: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that

included under the Equipment category.

Justification--Specify general categories of supplies and their

costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports

the amount requested.

Contractual: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except

for those which belong under other categories such as equipment,

supplies, etc. Contracts with secondary recipient organizations,

including delegate agencies (if applicable), should be included under

this category.

Justification--All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a

manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free

competition. If procurement competitions were held or if procurement

without competition is being proposed, attach a list of proposed

contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the purposes of

the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the award selection

process. Justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to

be awarded without competition and to exceed the simplified acquisition

threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11). Recipients might be required to make

available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such as

requests for proposal or invitations for bids, independent cost

estimates, etc.

Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the

project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed

budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency

title, along with the required supporting information referred to in

these instructions.

Other: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where

applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to

insurance, professional services costs, space and equipment rentals,

printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition

and stipends, staff development, and administrative costs.

Justification--Provide computations, a narrative description and a

justification for each cost under this category.

Indirect Costs: This category should be used only when the

applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the

Department of Health and Human Services or another cognizant Federal

agency.

Justification--An applicant proposing to charge indirect costs to

the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate

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agreement. If the applicant organization is in the process of initially

developing or renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon

notification that an award will be made, develop a tentative indirect

cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year in

accordance with the principles set forth in the cognizant agency's

guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the

cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost

proposals may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when

an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the

indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the

grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than

what is allowed under the agreement, the authorized representative of

the applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that

the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Program Income: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to

be generated from this project.

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

program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application

which contain this information.

Non-Federal Resources: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will

be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Justification--The firm commitment of these resources must be

documented and submitted with the application in order to be given

credit in the review process.

E. Due Date for the Receipt of Applications

Deadlines: The closing date for submission of applications is 4:30

p.m. (EDT) on July 20, 1998. Mailed applications shall be considered as

meeting the deadline if they are either received on or before the

deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by

ORR in time for the independent review. Applications should be mailed

to: Division of Community Resettlement, Office of Refugee Resettlement,

6th Floor East, Aerospace Building 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.,

Washington, DC 20447.

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 hand carried by applicants, courier services, or by

overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting the

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

between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the above stated address,

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

cautioned that express/overnight mail services may not always deliver

as agreed. In addition, some non-postal service carriers will only

deliver to ORR's street address which is 901 D Street SW. instead of

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.) ORR cannot accommodate transmission of

applications by fax or through other electronic media. Therefore,

applications transmitted to ORR electronically will not be accepted

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. ORR shall notify each late

applicant that its application will not be considered.

Extension of deadlines: ORR 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 ORR

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

extend the deadline for any applicants. A determination to waive or

extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management

Officer.

F. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

All information collections within this Program Announcement are

approved under the following currently valid OMB control numbers: 424,

(0348-0043); 424A (0348-0044); 424B (0348-0040); Disclosure of Lobbying

Activities (0348-0046); Uniform Project Description (0970-0139),

Expiration date 10/31/2000. Financial Status Report (SF-269) (0348-

0039) and ORR Program Performance Report (0970-0036).

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 80 hours per response, including the time for

reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and

reviewing the collection of information.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required

to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a

currently valid OMB control number.

G. Executive Order 12372--Notification Process

This program is covered under Executive Order 12372,

``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100,

``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services

Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own

processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance

under covered programs.

All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,

Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts,

Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,

Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,

American Samoa, and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive

Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs).

Applicants from these twenty-four jurisdictions need not take action

regarding Executive Order 12372.

Applicants should contact their SPOC as soon as possible to alert

them to the prospective application and to receive any necessary

instructions. Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOC

as early as possible so that the program office can obtain and review

SPOC comments as part of the award process. It is imperative that the

applicant submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and

indicate the date of this submittal (or date of contact if no submittal

is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a.

Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application

deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards.

SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine

endorsements as official recommendations.

Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between

mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations

which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.

When comments are submitted directly to the ORR, they should be

addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration

for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor

East, Aerospace Building, 370 Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC

20447.

Reporting Requirements--Grantees are required to file the Financial

Status Report (SF-269) semi-annually and Program Progress Reports on a

quarterly basis.

Although ORR does not expect the proposed components/projects to

include evaluation activities, it does expect grantees to maintain

adequate records to track and report on expenditures by budget line

item,

[[Page 27742]]

project outcomes and participant demographics information which may

include but is not limited to: date of birth, sex, country of birth,

date of entry, education, employment history, marital status and number

of children.

The official receipt point for all reports and correspondence is

the ORR Division of Community Resettlement. An original and one copy of

each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each

reporting period directly to the Project Officer named in the award

letter. The mailing address is: Division of Community Resettlement,

Office of Refugee Resettlement, Sixth Floor East, Aerospace Building,

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the

budget expiration date or termination of grant support.

Dated: May 14, 1998.

Lavinia Limon,

Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.

[FR Doc. 98-13434 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P