Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Technical Assistance Demonstration Grants

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Technical

Assistance Demonstration Grants

AGENCY: Office of Family Assistance, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces

the availability of Federal funding to promote intensive joint planning

and development activities at the local level that would reinforce the

concept of the temporary nature of welfare, and promote self-

sufficiency and employment. Funding under this announcement is

authorized by section 1110 of the Social Security Act governing Social

Services Research or Demonstration Projects.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 24,

1998.

Application submission: Applications may be mailed to the

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children

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

SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447.

Hand delivered applications are accepted during the normal working

hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to

the established closing date at: Administration for Children and

Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor, 901 D Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20447.

An application will be considered to be received on time if sent on

or before

[[Page 39576]]

the closing date as evidenced by a legible US Postal Service postmark

or a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier.

(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 the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks are not

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

Late Applications: Applications that do not meet one of these

criteria are considered late applications. The ACF Division of

Discretionary Grants will notify each late applicant that its

application will not be considered in this competition.

Extension of Deadline: The ACF Office of Family Assistance may

extend the deadline for all applicants because of acts of God, such as

floods, hurricanes, etc., or when there is widespread disruption of

mails. However, if ACF does not extend the deadline for all applicants,

it will not extend the deadline for any applicants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne C. Howard, Project Officer,

Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance,

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. Telephone

(202) 401-4619, or Lisa Washington-Thomas, Telephone #(202) 401-5141.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration for Children and Families

(ACF) announces the availability of Federal funding to promote

intensive joint planning and coordination activities at the local level

that would reinforce the concept of the temporary nature of welfare,

and promote self-sufficiency and employment. The Department will fund

15-20 grantees who will be selected on a competitive basis. Community

based organizations who are providing services to welfare recipients,

or have the capacity to provide services, are encouraged to apply. The

recipients will be expected to enter into a cooperative agreement with

ACF.

This program announcement consists of four parts. Part I provides

background information about Welfare Reform. Part II describes the

activities supported by this announcement and application requirements.

Part III describes the application review process. Part IV provides

information and instructions for the development and submission of

applications.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

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

reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and

reviewing the collection of information. The following information

collection is included in the program announcement: ACF Uniform Project

Description (OMB 0970-0139, Exp. 10/31/98). 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.

Part I. Introduction

On August 22, 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) was

enacted. The PRWORA established the Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families (TANF) program which transforms welfare into a system that

requires work and provides for time-limited financial assistance.

The statute specifically eliminated any individual entitlement to,

or guarantee of, assistance. It replaced the Aid to Families with

Dependent Children, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training and

Emergency Assistance programs with a single TANF block grant to States

under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Under the TANF program,

even though States have a great deal of flexibility to design and

operate their programs, certain requirements apply.

Under TANF, States are required to assess the skills of recipients

and help them prepare for and find work. States may create community

service jobs or provide income subsidies or hiring incentives for

potential employers. They also increasingly connect with one-stop

service delivery systems. States cannot allow families, unless exempt,

who include an adult who has received assistance for five cumulative

years (or less at the State's option) to receive further assistance

funded with Federal TANF funds. In addition, States must require that

non-exempt adult recipients work after receiving assistance for 24

months.

The TANF program requires welfare agencies to move their clients

into work at accelerated rates each year such that by the year 2002,

50% of welfare recipients are expected to have moved into the

workforce. The need to provide jobs very quickly to large numbers of

clients has intensified the need for welfare providers to develop

creative ways of preparing their clients for employment.

In order to achieve these outcomes, States must help increasing

numbers of clients prepare for, and find, jobs. Inevitably, this means

working with clients who are difficult to place. Many lack basic skills

that employers require. Others have skills, but face significant

challenges in getting and keeping jobs, such as lack of transportation

and child care, low literacy levels, domestic violence, and substance

abuse issues.

On August 5, 1997, the President signed the Balanced Budget Act of

1997 Pub. L. 105-33. This legislation amended Section 403 of the Social

Security Act and authorized the Secretary of Labor to provide Welfare-

to-Work grants to States and local communities for transition

employment assistance to move the hardest-to-employ TANF welfare

recipients, former recipients and noncustodial parents into

unsubsidized jobs and economic self-sufficiency.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) intends to make

these harder-to-serve clients a major focus for its technical

assistance efforts over the next year. This is where TANF, Welfare-to-

Work, employers, job and skills training and employment programs;

substance abuse and mental health programs, faith-based organizations

and other community programs come together.

Welfare reform is causing radical culture changes in the welfare

system and the methods of assistance provided to the TANF families.

Included in these changes is the need to increase involvement of both

the public and private sector to maximize the use of resources in

support of these changes.

Although delivery of services (e.g., cash assistance, employment

and training activities, etc.) to welfare recipients has always

occurred at the local level, it has generally been done in accordance

with Federal or State directives. One of the hallmarks of this welfare

reform effort is that in most States responsibility and authority for

welfare reform is being ``devolved'' to the county and local level.

These grants provide local communities seed money to convene

planning meetings to develop alternative methods to reduce welfare

dependency, facilitate partnership-building and strengthen community

support for families in need.

Part II. Project Design

Purpose: The purpose of these technical assistance demonstration

projects is to provide capacity-building grants that will enable

development of strategic plans for their service areas to support

welfare reform activities designed to focus on the ``difficult-to-

employ'' population. Meetings will be convened in partnership with the

State/

[[Page 39577]]

local agencies responsible for the administration of TANF, Welfare-to-

Work agencies, and others in their communities.

These grants provide an opportunity for public and private entities

to get actively involved in the welfare reform process through

partnering with others in their community. This partnership will focus

on designing and implementing innovative welfare reform initiatives

that support and strengthen client self-sufficiency efforts.

ACF is interested in providing funds to eligible applicants with

limited resources whose service areas have a high incidence of poverty.

Funds provided under this grant may be used to contract for necessary

expertise or resources to develop partnership arrangements through

which it can contribute effectively to the development of a strategic

plan that will embody the goals outlined above. Reasonable and

necessary travel costs, including those necessary to facilitate

participation by low income persons in the strategic planning process,

may also be paid for with grant funds. The end result should be a

comprehensive, finely tuned strategic plan that will include innovative

approaches to provide for greater self-sufficiency of the poor.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete

successfully in response to this announcement, the applicant should

develop a plan which:

a. Demonstrates an understanding of TANF and Welfare-to-Work

requirements.

b. Demonstrates an understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and

employment needs of, both TANF recipients and employers. Describes ways

in which the collaborative partnerships will increase and support

accessibility of services to TANF recipients.

c. Demonstrates the support of public and private entities to

convene around issues faced by TANF recipients, and the level of

program commitment and community collaboration.

d. Includes an outline and discussion of current and planned

partnership activities, including a brief discussion of what outreach

activities are proposed to develop new or expand existing partnerships,

and which involve TANF recipients in the strategic planning process.

e. Provides information about other (State, local, community)

resources the applicant will use to support this effort, including

financial support (if any) for the meetings, in addition to Federal

funding.

In recognition of the scope of the initiative, the potential

difficulty in successfully facilitating the development of a

``Community'' strategic plan around welfare reform activities, and the

significance of the initiative for public policy, ACF has determined

that a close, cooperative working relationship between the ACF and the

selected grantees will greatly further the public interest. Therefore,

the awards made under this announcement will be cooperative agreements

between ACF and the selected grantees. It is anticipated that ACF will

be involved in the performance of the initiative in the following

manner:

ACF, working in cooperation with the grantee, will review

and comment on the grantee's outreach strategies.

ACF will review the list of participants developed by the

grantee and where appropriate offer suggestions for other participants.

ACF will conduct site visits, teleconferences, and

meetings, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance.

ACF will facilitate information sharing and discussions

among grantees.

The above-cited areas of involvement are illustrative of the

anticipated level of Federal involvement with the selected grantees.

The exact activities will be detailed in the Cooperative Agreement

which will be developed with each grantee.

Eligible Applicants: Financial assistance under this announcement

is available to local public/private non-profit entities (e.g.,

community-based organizations; faith-based entities; etc.) who can

demonstrate a commitment to supporting welfare reform activities.

Project Duration: The length of the project is one year (12

months).

Federal Share of the Project: The Federal share available for these

grants is $300,000 for the one-year project period, subject to the

availability of funds.

Anticipated number of Projects to be Funded: 15-20 grants will be

funded under this announcement.

Matching Requirement: Applicants must provide at least ten (10)

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

the project is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal share.

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

although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements

through cash contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $10,000 in

Federal funds must include a match of at least $1,111 (i.e., 10 percent

of the sum of the Federal and the non-Federal cost of the project). The

successful applicant's match must be expended by the completion of the

project period.

The recipient will be required to provide the agreed upon non-

Federal share, even if it exceeds the required match stated above.

Therefore, applicants should ensure that any amount proposed as the

non-Federal share is committed to the project prior to inclusion in its

budget.

Part III. The Review Process

A. Review Process and Funding Decisions

Timely applications from eligible applicants will be reviewed and

scored competitively. Reviewers will use the evaluation criteria listed

below to review and score the application.

In addition, ACF may refer applications to other Federal or non-

Federal funding sources when it is determined to be in the best

interest of the Federal Government or the applicant. It may also

solicit comments from ACF Regional Office staff, other Federal

agencies, interested foundations and national organizations. These

comments along with those of the reviewers will be considered by ACF in

making the funding decision.

B. Evaluation Criteria

Using the evaluation criteria below, reviewers will review and

score each application. Applicants should insure that they address each

minimum requirement listed above.

Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each

application in terms of the appropriate evaluation criteria listed

below, provide comments, and assign numerical scores. The point value

following each criterion heading indicates the maximum numerical weight

that each criterion may be given in the review process.

C. Review Criteria

(a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements (20 points).

The applicant's proposal should demonstrate: (a) a good

understanding of TANF and Welfare to Work Activities, including an

outline of any current involvement with the programs; and (b) an

understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and employment needs of, both

TANF recipients and employers.

(b) Approach and Project Design (35 points).

The application should provide: a) evidence of organizational

experience in convening meetings and/or b) evidence of commitment to

planning and implementing strategic planning activities; (c) an outline

of the project design which takes into account specific features the

applicant wishes to address, and the objectives, component(s) and

[[Page 39578]]

services that will be impacted by the convening/facilitation of the

meetings; and (d) a description of how the applicant will conduct

outreach activities to promote involvement of the public/private sector

to enable their full participation in the planning process.

(3) Public--Private Partnerships (25 points).

In order to maximize the potential resources of the community to

provide options and alternatives to the public welfare system, the

applicant should provide evidence of coordination and commitments by

public, private, non-profit, community and faith-based organizations

and businesses to the strategic planning initiative.

(d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities (10 points).

It has been our experience that in order for projects of this scope

to be successful, the support and commitment of the individuals at the

highest levels of the public/private partnerships are necessary.

Projects such as this are under tight time constraints and require

innovation and flexibility. For example, it may be necessary from time

to time to provide exceptions to ``normal'' ways of conducting

business, or to establish expedited processes. Thus the support and

commitment of senior officials to accomplish the many tasks involved is

critical. The application should discuss this issue and indicate the

level of commitment to the project which is proposed.

(e) Budget Appropriateness (5 points).

The application should demonstrate that the project's costs are

reasonable in view of the anticipated results and benefits. Applicants

may refer to the budget information presented in the Standard Forms 424

and 424A.

(f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields (5

points).

The applicant is in within an area, a community or communities

which, as of the closing date for application under this announcement,

has been designated by the US Department of Housing (HUD), US

Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Environmental Protection Agency

as an Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields.

Part IV. Instructions for the Development and Submission of

Applications

This part contains information and instructions for submitting

applications in response to this announcement. Application forms,

certifications and assurances are available from the contact person

named in the preamble and through the ACF Internet at the following

address: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/oa/form.htm. A checklist for

assembling an application package is provided in this announcement.

A. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

This program announcement 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, Minnesota, Montana,

Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,

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

Executive Order process and have established Single Points of Contact

(SPOCs), listed at the end of this announcement. Applicants from these

19 jurisdictions need take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants

for projects to be administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes

are also exempt from the requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise,

applicants should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them

of the prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions.

Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon 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 the 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 ACF, they should be

addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration

for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370

L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC

20447.

Refer to the beginning of this announcement under the heading

ADDRESSES, for hand delivered applications.

B. Deadline for Submittal of Applications

The closing date for submittal of applications under this program

announcement is found at the beginning of this announcement under the

heading DATES. Applications shall be considered as meeting the

announced deadline if they are either:

1. Received on or before the deadline date at the receipt point

specified in this program announcement, or

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

for the independent review.

Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated receipt from a

commercial carrier or US Postal Service. Private metered postmarks

shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1

and 2 above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each

late applicant that its application will not be considered in the

current competition.

Extension of Deadlines: ACF may extend the deadline for all

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

when there is widespread disruption of mails. However, if ACF does not

extend the deadline for all applicants, it will not extend the deadline

for any applicants.

C. Instructions for Preparing the Application

In order to assist applicants in completing the application,

additional guidance on completing the Standard Forms 424 and 424A and

required certifications have been included at the end of Part IV of

this announcement. Please reproduce single-sided copies of these forms

from the reprinted forms and type your information onto the copies.

Please prepare your application in accordance with the following

instructions:

1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet

Please read the following instructions before completing the

application cover sheet. An explanation of each item is included.

Complete only the items specified.

Item 1. Type of Submission--Non-Construction.

Item 2. Date Submitted and Applicant Identifier--

[[Page 39579]]

Date application is submitted to ACF and applicant's own internal

control number, if applicable.

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

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

Item 5. Applicant Information.

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

applications developed jointly, enter the name of the lead organization

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

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

applicant organization which will actually carry out the project

activity. If this is the same as the applicant organization, leave the

organizational unit blank.

Address--Enter the complete address that the organization actually

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

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

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

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

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

telephone number of a person who can respond to questions about the

application. This person should be accessible at the address given.

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

identification number of the applicant organization, as assigned by the

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

System suffix.

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

Item 8. Type of Application--New.

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

Item 10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number--93.647.

Item 11. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--TANF Technical

Assistance Demonstration Grant.

Item 12. Areas Affected by Project--Leave Blank.

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

project and projected completion date. The project period must begin no

later than September 30, 1998.

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

number of the Congressional district where the applicant's principal

office is located.

Items 15. Estimated Funding Levels--

In completing 15a through 15f, the dollar amounts entered should

reflect the total amount requested for the first 12-month budget

period.

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

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

maximum amount available under this announcement for the first 12-month

budget period.

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

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

considered cost-sharing or matching funds.

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

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

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

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

Narrative Statement.

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

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

12372 Process?--Check Yes if your State participates in the E.O. 12372

process. Enter the date the application was made available to the State

for review. Select the appropriate SPOC from the listing provided at

the end of Part IV. The review of the application is at the discretion

of the SPOC.

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

12372 Process?--Check No if the program has not been selected by State

for review.

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

the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant

organization, not the person who signs as the authorized

representative. Categories of debt include audit disallowances, loans

and taxes.

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

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

duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant and the

applicant will comply with the attached assurances if the assistance is

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

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

of this application by this individual as the official representative

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

the applicant.

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

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

authorized representative of the applicant organization.

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

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

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

black) so that the original signature is easily identified.

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

the authorized representative.

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

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

Sections A, B, C, and E are to be completed. Sections D and F do not

need to be completed.

Section A--Budget Summary

Line 1:

Column (a): Enter TANF Technical Assistance Demonstration Grant;

Column (b): Enter 93.647.

Columns (c) and (d): Leave blank.

Columns (e), (f) and (g): enter the appropriate amounts needed to

support the project for the budget period.

Section B--Budget Categories. This budget should include the

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

first 12-month budget period. The budget should relate to item 15g,

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

requirements for funds (Federal and non-Federal) by object class

category.

The following instructions for preparing a detailed budget and

budget justification are in accordance with the ACF Uniform Project

Description. Note that ``Construction'' is not allowable under this

program. The budget and budget justification should immediately follow

the second page of the SF 424A.

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.

Personnel

Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.

Justification: Identify the project director or principal

investigator, if known. 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

[[Page 39580]]

delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be

financed by the applicant.

Fringe Benefits

Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as

part of an 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

Description: 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-

sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment

Description: 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. However, an applicant may use its own

definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least

include all equipment defined above.

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. An applicant

organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide

a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the

equipment definition.

Supplies

Description: 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

Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except

for those which belong under other categories such as equipment,

supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if

applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations,

including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be

financed by the applicant, 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 exceed the simplified acquisition

threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).

Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award review

and procurement documents, such as request for proposals 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, food,

medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs,

space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use,

training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs,

and administrative costs.

Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a

justification for each cost under this category.

Indirect Charges

Description: Total amount of 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 (HHS) or

another cognizant Federal agency.

Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the

grant must enclose a copy of the current rate 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 program, the authorized representative of the

applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the

applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Program Income

Description: 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

Description: 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. A detailed budget must be prepared for

each funding source.

Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs

Self Explanatory

The following instructions for preparing a project description

(aka, program narrative statement) are in accordance with the ACF

Uniform Project Description. The narrative should be typed double-

spaced. All pages of the narrative (including charts, references,

footnotes, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered,

beginning with Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements.

Note: The length of the application, including the application

forms and all attachments, should not exceed 100 pages.

3. The Project Description--Overview

Purpose

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.

[[Page 39581]]

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. Awarding

offices use 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 specific

project for which funds are requested.

The narrative should address the specific requirements under Part

II and also provide information concerning how the application meets

the evaluation criteria using the following headings:

(a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements;

(b) Approach and Project Design;

(c) Public--Private Partnerships;

(d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities;

(e) Budget Appropriateness;

(f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and /or Brownfields.

The specific information to be included under each of these

headings is described in section B of Part III--Evaluation Criteria.

4. Assurances/Certifications

Applicants are required to file an SF 424B, Assurances--Non-

Construction Programs, and the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Both

must be signed and returned with the application. In addition,

applicants must certify their compliance with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements; and (2) Debarment and Other Responsibilities. These

certifications are self-explanatory. Copies of these assurances and

certifications are available from the ACF forms web site mentioned

previously. A duly authorized representative of the applicant

organization must certify that the applicant is in compliance with

these assurances and certifications. A signature on the SF 424

indicates compliance with Drug-Free Workplace and Debarment notices and

Public Law 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as

the Pro-Children Act of 1994.

D. Checklist for a Complete Application

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

package has been properly prepared.

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

--Complete application length should not exceed 100 pages.

--A complete application consists of the following items in this order:

Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424);

A completed SPOC certification with the date of SPOC

contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424 if applicable;

Budget Information--Non-construction programs (SF 424A);

Budget Justification for SF 424A Section B--Budget

Categories;

Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove

nonprofit status, if necessary;

Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate

agreement, if appropriate;

Program Narrative Statement (See Part III, Section C);

Assurances--Non-construction programs (SF 424B); and

Certification Regarding Lobbying.

E. Submitting the Application

Each application package must include an original and two copies of

the complete application. Each copy should be secured with a binder

clip or similar devise. Please do not staple. All pages of the

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

sequentially numbered. In order to facilitate handling, please do not

use covers, binders, or tabs.

Applicant should include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgment

card. All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt

of their application.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.647.

Dated: July 17, 1998.

Diann Dawson,

Acting Director, Office of Family Assistance.

[FR Doc. 98-19609 Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P