Child Support Enforcement Demonstration and Special Projects; Federal/Tribal Grant (Cooperative Agreement) to Plan Tribal Child Support Programs

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. OCSE 98TIP-1]

Child Support Enforcement Demonstration and Special Projects;

Federal/Tribal Grant (Cooperative Agreement) to Plan Tribal Child

Support Programs

AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The OCSE invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant

applications to assist them in planning and preparing to run their own

child support program. Applications will be screened and evaluated as

indicated in this program announcement. Awards will be contingent on

the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 31,

1998. See Part IV of this announcement for more information on

submitting applications.

ADDRESSES: Application kits containing the necessary forms and

instructions to apply for a grant under this program announcement are

available from: Administration for Children and Families, Office of

Child Support Enforcement, Office of Automation and Special Projects

(OCSE/OASP), 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 4th Floor, West Wing,

Washington, DC 20447, Attention: Jay Adams, (202) 401-9240, 401-5539

(FAX), [email protected], www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/oa/form.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administration for Children and

Families (ACF), OCSE/OASP, Lucille Dawson at (202) 401-5437 or Lawrence

A. Dunmore, III at (202) 205-4554, for specific program concerns

regarding the announcement. Lois Hodge, Grants Officer/Team 1, (202)

401-2344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four

parts:

Part I: Background--program purpose, program objectives,

legislative authority, funding availability, and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number.

Part II: Applicant and Project Eligibility--eligible applicants,

priorities and preferences, and project and budget periods.

Part III: The Review Process--intergovernmental review, initial ACF

screening, competitive review and evaluation criteria, funding

reconsideration.

Part IV: The Application--application development, application

submission.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting

burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20

hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection

of information.

The following 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 10/31/00).

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.

[[Page 35599]]

Part I. Background

A. Child Support Enforcement Program History

The mission of the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program, which

was established in 1975 under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, is

to ensure that children receive financial and emotional support from

both their parents. The program locates non-custodial parents,

establishes legal paternity, and establishes and enforces child support

orders. The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)

administers the program in cooperation with the State and local

agencies designated under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The

OCSE provides direction, guidance and oversight to the States. The

Federal government reimburses the bulk of the State agencies'

administrative costs in the conduct of their responsibilities for the

program.

B. Program Purpose

The CSE program is a Federal matching program where Federal funding

is available for State expenditures eligible for reimbursement. A

number of Tribes have been involved in CSE by way of agreements with

States. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation

Act of 1996 (PRWORA), as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,

provides a number of new opportunities for Tribes and tribal

organizations to become more involved in child support enforcement.

The first of these opportunities involves changes to the Federal

law that allow funding of tribal activities carried out under

cooperative agreements with States. Prior to enactment of PRWORA,

Federal funding under title IV-D of the Act was available, through the

State, for eligible expenditures of tribes pursuant to a cooperative

agreement with the State under which the State delegated any functions

of the IV-D program to the tribal entity and the tribal entity complied

with all requirements of title IV-D applicable to the function or

functions delegated to the tribe. The amended Act authorizes State/

Tribal cooperative agreements under which Tribes no longer need to

satisfy all applicable IV-D requirements as specified in 45 CFR

303.107(c). Federal Financial Participation (FFP) continues to be

available for expenditures under State/Tribal cooperative agreements if

such expenditures are otherwise eligible for reimbursement under title

IV-D of the Act and 45 CFR part 304.

C. Direct Tribal Funding

The second of these opportunities, direct funding from the Federal

government, is the subject of this program announcement. New section

455(f) of the Social Security Act allows the Secretary to make direct

payments to an Indian tribe or tribal organization that demonstrates to

the Secretary's satisfaction that it has the capacity to operate a

child support enforcement program meeting the following objectives of

Part IV-D of the Social Security Act.

Establishment of paternity;

Establishment, modification, and enforcement of support

orders;

Location of absent parents.

The Law requires the Secretary to issue regulations establishing

the requirements which must be met by an Indian tribe or tribal

organization in order for it to be eligible for direct funding under

subsection 455(f).

D. Program Objectives

OCSE has undertaken a consultation process to obtain ideas,

suggestions, and concerns from Tribes and tribal organizations

regarding the regulations it must prepare before issuing direct grants

to Tribes. OCSE (has or is in the process of) holding three major

regional consultation meetings. In addition, OCSE sent packages of

information on child support to all tribes and all major tribal

organizations. An ``800'' number, (1-800-433-1434), has been

established so that tribes can phone in comments pertaining to

information on child support. The OCSE has also established a location

on its internet site to receive comments. The internet address is

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/fdback.htm OCSE thinks that

another way to get information to help shape the Native American CSE

program is to issue a small number of grants to Tribes and Tribal

organizations to assist them in planning and preparing to run their own

child support program. While our consultation meetings are good forums

for discussion about child support enforcement and a good way for us to

hear tribal ideas and concerns, we think that additional useful

information can be gained by working with a few tribes in actually

taking the first steps towards running their own child support

enforcement programs.

E. Legislative Authority

Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.652(j),

provides Federal funds for technical assistance, information

dissemination and training of Federal and State staff, research and

demonstration programs and special projects of regional or national

significance relating to the operation of State child support

enforcement programs.

F. Availability of Funds

$100,000 is available for FY 1998. We envision issuing 2 to 4

grants. A non-Federal match is not required. OCSE is also providing

grants under a separate program announcement, Federal Register: May 8,

1998 (Volume 63, Number 89) pages 25490-25493, to a wide variety of

public and private agencies. The purpose of these grants is to further

the national child support mission, vision and goals as outlined in the

CSE Strategic Plan with Outcome Measures for Fiscal Years 1995-1999. A

copy of the CSE Strategic Plan may be obtained upon request (See

ADDRESSES of this announcement).

G. CFDA NUMBER: 93.601--Child Support Enforcement Demonstrations and

Special Projects

Part II. Applicant and Project Eligibility

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for these Tribal child support program grants

are Tribes and Tribal Organizations. We will be selecting Tribes from

two categories:

(1) Tribes or tribal organizations with some experience with the

child support program, e.g., through cooperative agreements with States

and (2) tribes and tribal organizations with no direct experience with

child support enforcement.

B. Federal Participation

OCSE anticipates substantial Federal involvement in these projects.

OCSE will offer successful grantees considerable technical assistance

and support. OCSE will be available to help grantees review their laws,

look at how other Tribes have approached child support issues. This

assistance will be provided by a combination of teleconferences and on-

site visits.

C. Project Priorities and Preferences

OCSE plans to issue these grants mainly to Tribal governments or

consortia of Tribal governments. While other tribal organizations may

apply for grants under this announcement, they should be aware that

OCSE will give preference to tribal governments or consortia, as noted

in

Part III: Review Process, Competitive Review and Evaluation

Criteria in this Announcement

Our expectation is that these grants will result in Tribes with

previous CSE experience being capable at the end of

[[Page 35600]]

the grant to receive either direct funding under section 455(f) or a

follow-up demonstration grant. For Tribes with no previous CSE

experience, we expect that by the end of the grant period, the Tribe

will have in place a detailed plan to guide the Tribe in its efforts to

qualify for direct Federal funding under section 455(f).

D. Project and Budgets Periods

Generally, project and budget periods for these projects will be up

to 17 months. However, OCSE will consider projects up to 36 months, if

unique circumstances warrant. If OCSE approves a project for a time

period longer than 17 months, OCSE will provide funding in discrete 12-

month increments, or ``budget periods.'' Applications for continuation

grants funded under these awards beyond the one-year budget period but

within the three year project period will be entertained in subsequent

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

satisfactory progress of the grantee and a determination that continued

funding would be in the best interest of the Government.

Part III: The Review Process

A. Intergovernmental Review

This program 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

Programs and Activities.''

B. Initial ACF Screening

Each application submitted under this program announcement will

undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received

by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions

in this announcement and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding.

C. Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria

Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated

and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific

evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess

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

its success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are

considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.

Points are awarded only to applications which are responsive to the

evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following four

criteria. Applications can receive a maximum of 90 points on these four

criteria. Up to an additional 10 points will be awarded based on

whether the applicant is a tribal government or consortia of Tribal

governments and on the extent of the applicant's contribution to

project costs.

(1) Criterion I: Understanding and Project Structure (Maximum: 20

points)

The application should describe the extent to which the project

will contribute to OCSE's knowledge regarding how to structure the

Native American CSE program and prototype. In evaluating this criteria,

OCSE will look at the extent to which lessons learned from the

applicant's project could be applied to a range of other Tribes and

Tribal organizations.

(2) Criterion II: Design and Project Goals (Maximum: 20 Points)

The application should include a sound project design to achieve

the project's stated goals. The main concern in this criterion is that

the applicant should demonstrate a clear idea of the project's goals,

objectives, and tasks to be accomplished. The plan to accomplish the

goals and tasks should be set forth in a logical framework.

(3) Criterion III: Project Contribution and Effectiveness (Maximum: 30

Points)

The applicant should identify the extent to which the grant project

will contribute to the Tribe's or organization's ability to run a

successful CSE program.

(4) Criterion IV: Reasonable Costs (Maximum: 20 Points)

The project costs are reasonable in relation to the identified

tasks.

(5) Additional Points: Tribal Contributions and Tribal Governments/

Consortia (Maximum: 10 Points)

OCSE will award 1 point for contributions amounting to less than

10% of the total project budget; 3 points for contributions between 10%

and 25%; and 5 points for contributions over 25%.

OCSE will give preference to Tribal governments or consortia of

Tribal governments by adding 5 points to the scores of applications

from such organizations.

D. Funding Reconsideration

After Federal funds are exhausted for this grant competition,

applications which have been independently reviewed and ranked but have

no final disposition (neither approved nor disapproved for funding) may

again be considered for funding. Reconsideration may occur at any time

funds become available within twelve (12) months following ranking. ACF

does not select from multiple ranking lists for a program. Therefore,

should a new competition be scheduled and applications remain ranked

without final disposition, applicants are informed of their opportunity

to reapply for the new competition, to the extent practical.

Part IV. The Application

A. Application Development

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 prescribed by ACF. Application materials including

forms and instructions are available from the contact named under the

ADDRESSES section in the preamble of this announcement. The length of

the application, not including the application forms and all

attachments, i.e., Certifications, Disclosures, and Assurances, should

not exceed 20 pages. The narrative should be typed double-spaced on a

single-side of an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins

on all sides. Applicants are requested not to send pamphlets, maps,

brochures or other printed material along with their application as

these are difficult to photocopy. These materials, if submitted, will

not be included in the review process. Each page of the application

will be counted to determine the total length. If applications exceed

20 double-spaced pages, the other pages will be removed from the

application and not considered by the reviewers. Each applicant should

submit one signed original and two additional copies of the

application.

Applications must contain the following elements:

(1) Project Description: The application must spell out how the

project will be carried out, i.e., what specific activities will be

funded through the grant and who will carry them out.

(2) Project Goals and Objectives: The application must state what

the project is intended to accomplish.

(3) Budget: The application must provide a proposed budget. If the

applicant plans to contribute funds or other resources to the project,

these should be described in the application.

B. Application Submission

1. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be

classified

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as late and will not be considered in the competition.

2. Deadline. Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are either received on or before the

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

ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division

of Discretionary Grants, Attention: Lois Hodge/Tribal Child Support,

370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, D.C. 20447.

Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service

postmark or a legibly dated, machine-produced postmark of a commercial

mail service is affixed to the envelope/package containing the

application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark

from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the

commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package

was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant.

Private Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely

mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services

do not always deliver as agreed.)

Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by

other representatives of the applicant will 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., EST, at the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children

and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor

(near loading dock), Aerospace Building, 901 D Street, S.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal

holidays). The address must appear on the envelope/package containing

the application with the note ``Attention: Lois Hodge/Tribal Child

Support.'' 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.

3. 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.

4. Extension of deadlines. ACF may extend an application deadline

for applicants affected by acts of God such as floods and hurricanes,

or when there is widespread disruption of the mails. A determination to

waive or extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants

Management Officer.

Dated: June 19, 1998.

David Gray Ross,

Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.

[FR Doc. 98-17265 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P