Fiscal Year 1994 Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Funds Program; Availability of Funds and Request for Applications; Notice DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SUMMARY: The Office of Community Services (OCS) announces its Family

Violence Prevention and Services discretionary funds program for fiscal

year (FY) 1994. Funding for grants under this announcement is

authorized by the ``Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption, and

Family Services Act of 1992,'' Public Law 102-295, governing

discretionary programs for family violence prevention and services.

This announcement contains all forms and instructions for submitting an

application.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 1,

1994.

ADDRESSES: 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 (OCS 94-

08), OFM/DDG, Washington, DC 20447

Hand delivered applications are accepted during the normal working

hours of 8 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, 901 D Street, SW., 6th Floor (OCS 94-

08), OFM/DDG, Washington, DC 20447.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administration for Children and

Families, Office of Community Services, Division of State Assistance,

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone (202) 401-

9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Community Services,

Administration for Children and Families, announces that applications

are being accepted for funding for FY 1994 projects on Public

Information/ Community Awareness for the Prevention of Domestic

Violence; Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Institutional Outreach Activities in Support of Comprehensive Family

Violence Prevention Activities (Outreach and Prevention); and Domestic

Violence/Child Welfare Services Collaboration:

This program announcement consists of four parts. Part I provides

information on the family violence program and the statutory funding

authority applicable to this announcement.

Part II describes the priority areas under which applications for

FY 1994 family violence funding are being requested.

Part III describes the review process.

Part IV provides information and instructions for the development

and submission of applications.

The forms to be used for submitting an application follow Part IV.

Please copy and use these forms in submitting an application under this

announcement. No additional application materials are available or

needed to submit an application.

Applicants should note that grants to be awarded under this program

announcement are subject to the availability of funds.

Part I. Introduction

Title III of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984, (Pub. L. 98-457,

42 U.S.C. 10401, et seq.) is entitled the Family Violence Prevention

and Services Act (the Act). It was first implemented in FY 1986 and

reauthorized and amended for fiscal years 1993 through 1995 by Congress

on May 28, 1992 by Public Law 102-295. Funds under the Act are awarded

to States and Indian Tribes to assist in supporting programs and

projects to prevent incidents of family violence and to provide

immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence

and their dependents.

Family violence prevention funds have served to supplement many

already established community-based family violence prevention and

service activities. These funds also have allowed States and Tribes to

expand current service programs and establish additional new centers in

rural and underserved areas, on Native American Reservations, and in

Alaskan Native Villages and Regional Corporation areas. In most areas,

there is private sector as well as State and local funding for these

emergency shelters.

The Department, through the Family Violence Prevention and Services

Act, has provided technical assistance grants to several State

Coalitions Against Domestic Violence, and to several nonprofit

organizations to assist shelter operators and service providers to

improve their service delivery, and also to support better planning,

coordination and information exchange.

In addition to the grants that were initially made available in FY

1986, the Department also has supported: The operation of the

Clearinghouse on Family Violence Information; research activities with

the Department of Justice; regionally based training and technical

assistance for State and local law enforcement personnel through the

Department of Justice; and grants for technical assistance and training

for State and local public and private nonprofit agencies administering

the family violence program.

During FY 1993, the Department continued to make grant awards that

enhanced public information and community awareness strategies and

activities. Twenty-one grant awards for public information and

community awareness were made during FY 1993 to private non-profit

organizations representing Native Americans, Haitian Americans, Asian

Americans, and community coalitions. These grant awards provided

support to various organizations in their efforts to prevent family

violence and to make their communities aware of the nature and

prevalence of domestic violence as well as the services available for

prevention activities.

Six grant awards were made during FY 1993 to demonstrate model

training for domestic violence prosecutors that would provide improved

access and legal representation for domestic violence victims. A

national resource center for domestic violence and three special issue

resource centers also were established during FY 1993. The national

resource center and the special-issue resource centers will provide

resource and service information, training, and technical assistance to

Federal, State, and Indian tribal agencies, as well as to local

domestic violence programs and to professionals and other individuals

who provide services to victims of domestic violence.

Part II. Fiscal Year 1994 Family Violence Projects

1. Priority Area Number FV01-94:

Public Information/Community Awareness Campaign Projects for the

Prevention of Family Violence

Purpose: To assist in the development of public information and

community awareness campaign projects and activities that will serve as

information models for the prevention of family violence. These

projects should provide information on resources, facilities, and

service alternatives available to family violence victims and their

dependents, community organizations, local school districts, and other

individuals seeking assistance.

Eligible Applicants: State and local agencies, Territories, and

Native American Tribes and Tribal Organizations who are, or have been,

recipients of Family Violence Prevention and Services Act grants; State

and local private non-profit agencies experienced in the field of

family violence prevention; and public and private non-profit

educational institutions, community organizations and community-based

coalitions, and other entities that have designed and implemented

family violence prevention information activities or community

awareness strategies.

Background: Based on the encouraging response to the announcement

for public information and community awareness grants for family

violence prevention in Federal fiscal years 1992 and 1993, ACF plans to

again make these grants available in FY 1994.

The public information/community awareness grant awards have

spawned very effective informational activities at the local levels.

These grants have assisted community organizations to focus on and

emphasize prevention, helped to make available public service

announcements and legal brochures in several different languages,

including Russian and Vietnamese, and have assisted in the

implementation of conflict resolution activities in elementary, middle

and high school curricula.

The goal of this priority area is to continue to add credible and

persuasive information to the arsenal of weapons necessary and

available to community organizations to help break the so-called

``cycle of family violence.'' The continuation of these efforts will

help assure that individuals, particularly within minority communities,

are aware of available resources and alternative responses for the

resolution and the prevention of violence. The proposed grant awards

will provide support for a model that provides for a more informed

individual and thus, more effective prevention strategies on the part

of that individual.

The focus of this priority area requires the development and

implementation of an innovative public information campaign model that

may be used, for example, by public and private agencies, schools,

churches, boys and girls clubs, community organizations, and

individuals. The ACF support for the continued increase of information

on services and other alternatives for the prevention of family

violence promotes the concepts that this behavior is unacceptable and

that victims, their dependents, and perpetrators need to be provided

with remedial and service options for their particular situations.

Accurate information is critical to any community awareness

strategy and activity. How information is communicated must be modified

where communication barriers may exist because of perceived or real

language differences and cultural insensitivities.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to successfully

compete under the priority area, the applicant should:

Present a plan for community awareness and public

information activities that clearly reflect how the applicant will

coordinate with public agencies and with other community organizations

and institutions active in the field of family violence prevention.

Describe, as an element of the plan, a proposed model

approach to the development of a public information campaign and

identify the specific audience(s), community(ies), and groups with the

highest prevalence of domestic violence that will be educated in the

prevention of family violence.

Include, as critical elements in the plan:

A set of achievable objectives and a description of the

population groups, relevant geographic area, and the evaluation

components to be used to measure progress and the overall effectiveness

of the campaign;

Applicants must also describe their intended strategies

for test marketing their development plans and give assurances that

effectiveness criteria will be implemented prior to finalizing the

plan;

The development and use of non-traditional sources as

information providers (applicants should present specific plans for the

use of local organizations, businesses and individuals in the

distribution of information and materials);

The identification of the media to be used in the campaign

and the geographic distribution of the campaign;

How the applicant would be responsive to and demonstrate

its sensitivity towards minority communities and their cultural

perspectives; and

Provide a description of the kind, volume, distribution,

and timing of the proposed information with assurances that the public

information campaign activities will not supplant or lower the current

frequency of public service announcements.

Project Duration: The length of the project should not exceed 12

months.

Federal Share of the Project: The maximum Federal share of the

project is not to exceed $35,000 for the 1-year project period.

Applications for lesser amounts also will be considered under this

priority area.

Matching Requirement: Grantees must provide at least 25 percent of

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

is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal

share maybe met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants

are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash

contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $35,000 in Federal funds

(based on an award of $35,000 per budget period), must include a match

of at least $11,660 (25% of total project cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

three projects will be funded at the maximum level; more than three

projects may be funded depending on the number of acceptable

applications for lesser amounts which are received.

CFDA: 93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services: Family

Violence Prevention and Services Act, as amended.

2. Priority Area Number FV02-94:

Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Institutional

Outreach Activities in Support of Comprehensive Family Violence

Prevention Activities (Outreach and Prevention);

Purpose: To assist in the development of public information

materials, educational strategies, and community activities for

families that will focus on family violence prevention as a part of a

comprehensive approach to improve and enable family-focused

interventions. It is expected that these interventions which are

directed towards families will increase the awareness of violence and

decrease its incidence and impact in minority communities. In these

efforts the responding institutions should enlist the energy and

cooperation of significant community institutions, community

organizations, and individuals to serve as models and to provide

information on resources, services, facilities, and alternatives to

violence in the family.

Eligible Applicants: The Office of Community Services,

Administration for Children and Families invites Historically Black

Universities and Colleges to submit applications for projects that will

provide for the development, implementation and operation of

comprehensive family violence prevention strategies and for the

dissemination of informational and resource materials for the

prevention of family violence in our minority communities. Successful

applicants for this priority area will not be precluded from applying

in response to a subsequent announcement.

Background: The goal of this priority area is to provide support

for the inclusion of ``family violence prevention'' in a comprehensive

approach which considers environmental and cultural factors in plans

for intervention and violence prevention strategies in minority

communities. Historical Black Colleges and Universities in their

relationships with minority communities and their residents offer an

opportunity for the exchange and development of innovative ideas and

approaches to the prevention of violence in general. This effort will

make it possible to capture, consider and utilize the ideas for

violence prevention that exist in the minority communities,

particularly in response to the problems of racism and poverty. The

utilization of HBCUs in this effort will make available the

considerable expertise, experience, and resources to be found in these

institutions.

Family violence prevention activities encompass a wide range of

activities that include the teaching of conflict resolution skills, the

implementation of intervention strategies, and the development of

informational materials on available resources and services. Family

violence prevention may be viewed as the sum of activities which are

guides to acceptable behavior. For example, activities that may be a

part of the family violence prevention equation provide parenting

skills and techniques, emphasize self-esteem for our youth, stress the

importance of higher education as a conduit to a better lifestyle, and

identify the means of avoiding negative health consequences such as

AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Family violence prevention needs to be considered as a part of an

overall violence prevention strategy. With this particular perspective

the Administration for Children and Families is interested in

applications that address:

Overall strategies for violence prevention activities that focus on

educational and training efforts, outreach activities and supportive

services, and the role and impact of community institutions;

Cooperative networks and collaborative approaches within the

minority communities for the prevention of anti-social and violent

behavior and that facilitate the implementation of family violence

preventive efforts;

Intervention approaches concerned with building upon family values

within minority families;

Institutional intervention strategies utilizing resources such as

alumni, fraternities and sororities, the African American religious

community, and volunteers from the community in general; and

The identification of data gathering, informational and research

activities that are needed to identify, support, and implement the

long-term strategic interventions to reduce ``Black on Black'' crime in

general and family violence in the African American community in

particular.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design:

In order to successfully complete under this priority area, the

applicant should:

Prepare and submit an application that clearly reflects

how the applicant will coordinate with other community organizations,

agencies, institutions, and individuals active in the field of family

violence prevention;

Describe, as a major element, the significant prevention

efforts that are a part of the educational and training, outreach, and

supportive service strategies; and

Describe, as an element of the plan, the proposed approach

to a public information/community awareness strategy and identify the

specific audience, community(s), and target group(s) on which the

efforts will be focused.

Describe, as an element of the plan, the intended

strategies for test marketing the development plans and give assurances

that effectiveness criteria will be implemented prior to finalizing the

plan;

Include as critical elements in the plan:

The development and use of non-traditional sources as

information providers and in outreach efforts;

The specific interventions to be modeled and their

responsiveness and sensitivity to the general violence in the African

American community;

A set of achievable objectives and the evaluation

components that are to be used to measure the degree of success in

achieving the objectives as well as the assessment of the programs

impact.

Project Duration: The length of the project should not exceed 17

months.

Federal Share of the Project: The maximum Federal share of the

project is not to exceed $40,000 for the 17-month project period.

Applications for lesser amounts also will be considered under this

priority area.

Matching Requirement: Grantees must provide at least 25 percent of

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

is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal

share maybe met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants

are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash

contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $40,000 in Federal funds

(based on an award of $40,000 per budget period), must include a match

of at least $13,333 (25% of total project cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

three projects may be funded at the maximum level; more than three

projects may be funded depending on the number of acceptable

applications for lesser amounts which are received.

CFDA: 93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services: Family

Violence Prevention and Services Act, as amended.

3. Priority Area Number FV03-94:

Domestic Violence/Child Protective Services Collaboration:

Eligible Applicants: State and local child protection agencies;

Other State and local agencies, Territories, and Native American Tribes

and Tribal Organizations who are recipients, or have been recipients,

of Family Violence Prevention and Services Act grants; private

nonprofit child welfare agencies; domestic violence advocacy

organizations; and domestic violence State coalitions. Applicants must

submit a signed Letter of Agreement between the public agency

representing the child welfare/child protection responsibilities and

the organization or coalition representing domestic violence advocacy

organizations and their concerns. Either signatory to the Agreement may

be the principal grantee. The Agreement to be submitted will

specifically indicate the role each participant organization has in the

implementation of the proposed project. Because the successful

implementation of a proposed project would have implications for

systemic/procedural change in the child welfare and/or the domestic

violence community, the Letter of Agreement is mandatory.

Purpose: To develop effective strategies for domestic violence

services integration into child protection systems and strategies. To

offer the applicant organizations an opportunity to design, develop,

and collaborate on one of several issues or areas of concern between

the child protection system and the domestic violence community.

Efforts are to be focused on the development of curricula and materials

and the implementation of training to be available. The training of

child protection representatives and domestic violence advocates will

be to enable the most efficient and effective response when

encountering woman abuse in the course of child abuse and neglect

investigations. Protocols for effective strategies of intervention need

to be designed, developed and put in place to allow for the child

protection system to assist and utilize the non-offending parent to

protect her children.

Applicants may propose to do one or more of the following: Plan and

implement the training of child protection service workers, supervisors

and social services providers on the relationship of domestic violence

and child abuse and neglect; develop and implement domestic violence

responsive policies to be adopted by the Statewide child protection

services system; develop and implement through the child protection

system a domestic violence specific curriculum which will become part

of a mandatory training program; develop and implement Memoranda of

Understanding between the child protection system and the domestic

violence statewide system; and gather and submit data correlating abuse

between adult partners and child abuse and neglect.

Background: Based on a recent review of the literature, it has

become evident that in the homes where the woman is battered the

children were themselves more likely to be victims of child abuse and

neglect. Domestic violence is surfacing as one of the highest risks to

children. Domestic violence represents physical endangerment to the

child as well as the possibility for developmental delay.

In 1985, there were an estimated 795,000 abused children between

the ages of 3 and 17 living in two-parent households (Gelles, Strauss,

1987). According to these studies, men are the main perpetrators of

domestic violence and commit 95 percent of all assaults on women. In 70

percent of households in which women are abused, the men also commit

child abuse (Schecter, 1982). Also, in 70 percent of child abuse cases

treated at Boston Children's Hospital in 1991, the mother was abused as

well.

In an attempt to establish the actual relationship between child

abuse and battering in families, 116 mothers of children ``darted'' or

flagged in a single year for abuse or neglect at a metropolitan

hospital were studied by Stark and Flitcraft (1984). These examinations

revealed that 45 percent of the abused children had mothers who

themselves were being physically abused and another 5 percent had

mothers whose relationships were ``full of conflict,'' although abuse

was not verified. Bowker, Arbitell and McFerron (1988) reported that

children whose mothers had been battered were more likely to be

physically abused and less likely to be ``neglected'' than children

whose mothers had not been battered. In Hilberman and Munson's (1987)

research, they found evidence of physical and/or sexual abuse of

children in 20 of the 60 cases they studied. They concluded: ``There

seems to be two styles of abuse: the husband beats the wife who beats

the children, and/or the husband beats both his wife and children.''

Project Duration: The length of the project should not exceed 17

months.

Federal Share of the Project: The maximum Federal share of the

project is not to exceed $50,000 for the 17 month project period.

Applications for lesser amounts also will be considered for this

project.

Matching Requirement: Grantees must provide at least 25 percent of

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

is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal

share maybe met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants

are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash

contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $50,000 in Federal funds

(based on an award of $50,000 per budget period), must include a match

of at least $16,666 (25% of total project cost).

Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that

five projects may be funded at the maximum level; more than five

projects may be funded depending on the number of acceptable

applications for lesser amounts which are received.

CFDA: 93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services: Family

Violence Prevention and Services Act, as amended.

Part III--The Review Process

A. Eligible Applicants

Before applications are reviewed, each application will be screened

to determine that the applicant organization is an eligible applicant

as specified under the selected priority area. Applications from

organizations which do not meet the eligibility requirements for the

priority area will not be considered or reviewed in the competition,

and the applicant will be so informed.

Each priority area description contains information about the types

of agencies and organizations which are eligible to apply under that

priority area. Since eligibility varies among priority areas, it is

critical that the ``Eligible Applicants'' section under each specific

priority area be read carefully.

Only agencies and organizations, not individuals, are eligible to

apply under any of the priority areas. On all applications developed

jointly by more than one agency or organization, the applications must

identify only one organization as the lead organization and official

applicant. The other participating agencies and organizations can be

included as co-participants, subgrantees or subcontractors.

Any non-profit agency which has not previously received an award

from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services must submit

proof of non-profit status with its grant application.

The non-profit agency can accomplish this by either making

reference to its listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most

recent list of tax-exempt organizations or submitting a copy of its

letter from the IRS under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). ACF cannot fund a

non-profit applicant without acceptable proof of its non-profit status.

B. Review Process and Funding Decisions

Timely applications will be reviewed and scored competitively.

Experts in the field, generally persons from outside of the Federal

government, will use the appropriate evaluation criteria listed later

in this Part to review and score the applications. The results of this

review are a primary factor in making funding decisions.

OCS reserves the option of discussing applications with, or

referring them to, other Federal or non-Federal funding sources when

this 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, national

organizations, specialists, experts, States and the general public.

These comments, along with those of the expert reviewers, will be

considered by OCS in making funding decisions.

In making decisions on awards, OCS may give preference to

applications which focus on or feature: Minority populations; a

substantially innovative strategy with the potential to improve theory

or practice in the field of human services; a model practice or set of

procedures that holds the potential for replication by organizations

involved in the administration or delivery of human services;

substantial involvement of volunteers; substantial involvement (either

financial or programmatic) of the private sector; a favorable balance

between Federal and non-Federal funds available for the proposed

project; the potential for high benefit for low Federal investment; a

programmatic focus on those most in need; and/or substantial

involvement in the proposed project by national or community

foundations.

To the extent possible, efforts will be made to ensure that funding

decisions reflect an equitable distribution of assistance among the

States and geographical regions of the country, rural and urban areas,

and ethnic populations. In making these decisions, OCS may also take

into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.

C. Evaluation Criteria

Using the appropriate evaluation criteria below, a panel of at

least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside the Federal

government) will review each application. Applicants should ensure that

they address each minimum requirement in the priority area description

under the appropriate section of the Program Narrative Statement.

Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each

proposal 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

section may be given in the review process.

Review Criteria for All Priority Areas

Applications under all priority areas will be evaluated against the

following criteria.

1. Objectives and Need for the Project (20 points). State the

specific objectives and needs addressed by the project in terms of its

national or regional significance, its theoretical importance, its

applicability to policy and practice. Provide a detailed discussion of

the ``state-of-the-art'' relative to the problem or area addressed by

the proposal and indicate how the proposed effort will impact on it.

State the goals or service objectives of the proposal. Provide

supporting documentation or other testimonies from concerned interests

other than the applicant. Summarize, evaluate and relate relevant data,

based on planning or demonstration studies to the proposed project. The

application must identify the specific topics or program areas to be

served by the proposed project.

2. Results or Benefits Expected (20 points). The extent to which

the application identifies the results and benefits to be derived, the

extent to which they are consistent with the objectives of the

proposal, the extent to which the application indicates the anticipated

contributions to policy, practice, and theory, and the extent to which

the proposed project costs are reasonable in view of the expected

results. Identify, in specific terms, the results and benefits, for

target groups and human service providers, to be derived from

implementing the proposed project. Describe how the expected results

and benefits will relate to previous demonstration efforts. Describe in

detail evaluation plans and procedures which are capable of measuring

the degree to which the project objectives have been accomplished.

3. Approach (35 points). The extent to which the application

outlines a sound and workable plan of action pertaining to the scope of

the project, and details how the proposed work will be accomplished;

relates each task to the objectives and identifies the key staff member

who will be the lead person; provides a chart indicating the timetable

for completing each task, the lead person, and the time committed;

cites factors which might accelerate or decelerate the work, giving

acceptable reasons for taking this approach as opposed to others;

describes and supports any unusual features of the project, such as

design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or

extraordinary social and community involvements; and provides for

projections of the accomplishments to be achieved.

The extent to which, when applicable, the application describes the

evaluation methodology that will be used to determine if the needs

identified and discussed are being met and if the results and benefits

identified are being achieved. The application also lists each

organization, agency, consultant, or other key individuals or groups

who will work on the project, along with a description of the

activities and nature of their effort or contribution.

4. Level of Effort: (25 Points). Staffing pattern--Describe the

staffing pattern for the proposed project, clearly linking

responsibilities to project tasks and specifying the contributions to

be made by key staff.

Competence of staff--Describe the qualifications of the project

team including any experiences working on similar projects. Also,

describe the variety of skills to be used, relevant educational

background and the demonstrated ability to produce final results that

are comprehensible and usable. One or two pertinent paragraphs on each

key member are preferred to vitae/resumes. However, vita/resumes may be

included in the ten pages allowed for attachments/appendices.

Adequacy of resources--Specify the adequacy of the available

facilities, resources and organizational experience with regard to the

tasks of the proposed project. List the financial, physical and other

sources to be provided by other profit and nonprofit organizations.

Explain how these organizations will participate in the day to day

operations of the project.

Budget--Relate the proposed budget to the level of effort required

to obtain project objectives and provide a cost/benefit analysis.

Demonstrate that the project's costs are reasonable in view of the

anticipated results.

Collaborative efforts--Discuss in detail and provide documentation

for any collaborative or coordinated efforts with other agencies or

organizations. Identify these agencies or organizations and explain how

their participation will enhance the project. Letters from these

agencies and organizations discussing the specifics of their commitment

must be included in the application.

Authorship--The authors of the application must be clearly

identified together with their current relationship to the applicant

organization and any future project role they may have if the project

is funded.

Applicants should note that non-responsiveness to the section

``Minimum Requirements for Project Design'' will result in a low

evaluation score by the panel of expert reviewers. Applicants must

clearly identify the specific priority area under which they wish to

have their applications considered, and tailor their applications

accordingly. Previous experience has shown that an application which is

broader and more general in concept than outlined in the priority area

description is less likely to score as well as one which is more

clearly focused on and directly responsive to the concerns of that

specific priority area.

D. Available Funds

OCS intends to award grants resulting from this announcement during

the fourth quarter of FY 1994. The size of the actual awards will vary.

Each priority area description includes information on the maximum

Federal share of the project costs and the anticipated number of

projects to be funded.

The term ``project period'' refers to the total time a project is

approved for support, including any extensions.

Where appropriate, applicants may propose project periods which are

shorter than the maximums specified in the various priority areas. Non-

Federal share contributions may exceed the minimums specified in the

various priority areas when the applicant is able to do so.

E. Grantee Share of Project Costs

Federal funds will be provided to cover up to 75% of the total

allowable project costs. Therefore, the non-Federal share must amount

to at least 25% of the total (Federal plus non-Federal) project cost.

This means that, for every $3 in Federal funds received, up to the

maximum amount allowable under each priority area, applicants must

contribute at least $1.

For example, the cost breakout for a project with a total cost of

$56,666 to implement would be:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal request Non-Federal share Total cost

------------------------------------------------------------------------

$50,000................ $16,666 $56,666

75%.................... 25% 100%

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 are

provided as part of this publication along with a checklist for

assembling an application package. Please copy and use these forms in

submitting an application.

Potential applicants should read this section carefully in

conjunction with the information contained within the specific priority

area under which the application is to be submitted. The priority area

descriptions are in part II.

A. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, (E.O.)

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

``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services

Program and Activities.'' Under the E.O., States may design their own

processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance

under covered programs.

All States and territories, except Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut,

Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,

Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington,

American Samoa and Palau, have elected to participate in the E.O.

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

Applicants from these eighteen 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 OCS 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 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 differentiate clearly 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, Washington, DC 20447.

A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory

is included at the end of this announcement.

B. Deadline for Submittal of Applications

The closing date for submittal of applications under this program

announcement is found at the beginning of this program announcement

under DATES. Applications shall be considered as meeting the announced

deadline if they are either:

1. Received on or before the deadline date at: Administration for

Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor,

OFM/DDG, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447, or

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

for the independent review under DHHS GAM Chapter 1 62. (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.)

Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria

stated above are considered late applications. The ACF shall notify

each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the

current competition.

Extension of deadlines: The ACF may extend the deadline for all

applicants due to acts of God, such as floods, hurricanes or

earthquakes, etc., or when there is widespread disruption of the mail.

However, if ACF does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may

not waive or extend the deadline for any applicant.

C. Instructions for Preparing the Application and Completing

Application Forms

The SF 424, SF 424A, Page 2 and certifications have been reprinted

for your convenience in preparing the application. You should reproduce

single-sided copies of these forms from the reprinted forms in the

announcement, typing your information onto the copies. Please do not

use forms directly from the Federal Register announcement, as they are

printed on both sides of the page.

In order to assist applicants in correctly completing the SF 424

and SF 424A, instructions for these forms have been included at the end

of Part IV of this announcement.

Where specific information is not required under this program, NA

(not applicable) has been preprinted on the form.

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.

Top of Page. Enter the single priority area number under which the

application is being submitted. An application should be submitted

under only one priority area.

Item 1. ``Type of Submission''--Preprinted on the form.

Item 2. ``Date Submitted'' and ``Applicant Identifier''--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. Do not use the name of an individual as the applicant. 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 (including academic degree, if applicable) and telephone number of

a person who can respond to questions about the application. This

person should be accessible at the address given here and will receive

all correspondence regarding the application.

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''--Preprinted on the form.

Item 9. ``Name of Federal Agency''--Preprinted on the form.

Item 10. ``Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number and

Title''--Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

number, 93.671, assigned to the program under which assistance is

requested and its title, as indicated in the relevant priority area

description.

Item 11. ``Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project''--Enter the

project title. The title is generally short and is descriptive of the

project, not the priority area title.

Item 12. ``Areas Affected by Project''--Enter the governmental unit

where significant and meaningful impact could be observed. List only

the largest unit or units affected, such as State, county, or city. If

an entire unit is affected, list it rather than subunits.

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

project and projected completion date.

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

number of the Congressional district where the applicant's principal

office is located and the number of the Congressional district(s) where

the project will be located. If statewide, a multi-State effort, or

nationwide, enter ``00.''

Items 15 ``Estimated Funding Levels''--In completing 15a through

15f, the dollar amounts entered should reflect, for a 17 month or less

project period, the total amount requested.

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 specified in the priority area description.

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.'' The value of third party

in-kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines as

applicable. For more information regarding funding as well as

exceptions to these rules, see Part III, Sections E and F, and the

specific priority area description.

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? Yes.''--Enter the date the applicant contacted the

SPOC regarding this application. 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. The SPOC will verify the date noted

on the application. If there is a discrepancy in dates, the SPOC may

request that the Federal agency delay any proposed funding until

September 30, 1994.

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

Order 12372 Process? No.''--Check the appropriate box if the

application is not covered by E.O. 12372 or if the program has not been

selected by the 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, E and F are to be completed. Section D does not need

to be completed.

Sections A and B should include the Federal as well as the non-

Federal funding for the proposed project covering the total project

period of 17 months or less.

Section A--Budget Summary. This section includes a summary of the

budget. On line 5, enter total Federal costs in column (e) and total

non-Federal costs, including third party in-kind contributions, but not

program income, in column (f). Enter the total of (e) and (f) in column

(g).

Section B--Budget Categories. This budget, which includes the

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

the total project period of 17 months or less. It 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.

A separate budget justification should be included to explain fully

and justify major items, as indicated below. The types of information

to be included in the justification are indicated under each category.

The budget justification should immediately follow the second page of

the SF 424A.

Personnel--Line 6a. Enter the total costs of salaries and wages of

applicant/grantee staff. Do not include the costs of consultants, which

should be included on line 6h, ``Other.''

Justification: Identify the project director, if known. Specify by

title or name the percentage of time allocated to the project, the

individual annual salaries, and the cost to the project (both Federal

and non-Federal) of the organization's staff who will be working on the

project.

Fringe Benefits--Line 6b. Enter the total costs of fringe benefits,

unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.

Justification: Provide a break-down of amounts and percentages that

comprise fringe benefit costs, such as health insurance, FICA,

retirement insurance, etc.

Travel--6c. Enter total costs of out-of-town travel (travel

requiring per diem) for staff of the project. Do not enter costs for

consultant's travel or local transportation, which should be included

on line 6h, ``Other.''

Justification: Include the name(s) of traveler(s), total number of

trips, destinations, length of stay, transportation costs and

subsistence allowances.

Equipment--Line 6d. Enter the total costs of all equipment to be

acquired by the project. For State and local governments, including

Federally recognized Indian Tribes, ``equipment'' is non-expendable,

tangible, personal property having a useful life of more than one year

and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. For all other

applicants, the threshold for equipment is $500 or more per unit. The

higher threshold for State and local governments became effective

October 1, 1988, through the implementation of 45 CFR part 92,

``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative

Agreements to State and local governments.''

Justification: Equipment to be purchased with Federal funds must be

justified. The equipment must be required to conduct the project, and

the applicant organization or its subgrantees must not have the

equipment or a reasonable facsimile available to the project. The

justification also must contain plans for future use or disposal of the

equipment after the project ends.

Supplies--Line 6e. Enter the total costs of all tangible expendable

personal property (supplies) other than those included on line 6d.

Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their

costs.

Contractual--Line 6f. Enter the total costs of all contracts,

including procurement contracts (except those which belong on other

lines such as equipment, supplies, etc.) and contracts with secondary

recipient organizations. Also include any contracts with organizations

for the provision of technical assistance. Do not include payments to

individuals on this line.

Justification: Attach a list of contractors, indicating the names

of the organizations, the purposes of the contracts, and the estimated

dollar amounts of the awards as part of the budget justification.

Whenever the applicant/grantee intends to delegate part or all of the

program to another agency, the applicant/grantee must complete this

section (Section B, Budget Categories) for each delegate agency by

agency title, along with the supporting information. The total cost of

all such agencies will be part of the amount shown on Line 6f. Provide

backup documentation identifying the name of contractor, purpose of

contract, and major cost elements.

Construction--Line 6g. Not applicable. New construction is not

allowable.

Other--Line 6h. Enter the total of all other costs. Where

applicable, such costs may include, but are not limited to: Insurance;

medical and dental costs; noncontractual fees and travel paid directly

to individual consultants; local transportation (all travel which does

not require per diem is considered local travel); space and equipment

rentals; printing and publication; computer use; training costs,

including tuition and stipends; training service costs, including wage

payments to individuals and supportive service payments; and staff

development costs. Note that costs identified as ``miscellaneous'' and

``honoraria'' are not allowable.

Justification: Specify the costs included.

Total Direct Charges--Line 6i. Enter the total of Lines 6a through

6h.

Indirect Charges--6j. Enter the total amount of indirect charges

(costs). If no indirect costs are requested, enter ``none.'' Generally,

this line should be used when the applicant (except local governments)

has a current indirect cost rate agreement approved by the Department

of Health and Human Services or another Federal agency.

Local and State governments should enter the amount of indirect

costs determined in accordance with HHS requirements. When an indirect

cost rate is requested, these costs are included in the indirect cost

pool and should not be charged again as direct costs to the grant. In

the case of training grants to other than State or local governments

(as defined in title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, part 74), the

Federal reimbursement of indirect costs will be limited to the lesser

of the negotiated (or actual) indirect cost rate or 8 percent of the

amount allowed for direct costs, exclusive of any equipment charges,

rental of space, tuition and fees, post-doctoral training allowances,

contractual items, and alterations and renovations.

For training grant applications, the entry under line 6j should be

the total indirect costs being charged to the project. The Federal

share of indirect costs is calculated as shown above. The applicant's

share is calculated as follows:

(a) Calculate total project indirect costs (a*) by applying the

applicant's approved indirect cost rate to the total project (Federal

and non-Federal) direct costs.

(b) Calculate the Federal share of indirect costs (b*) at 8 percent

of the amount allowed for total project (Federal and non-Federal)

direct costs exclusive of any equipment charges, rental of space,

tuition and fees, post-doctoral training allowances, contractual items,

and alterations and renovations.

(c) Subtract (b*) from (a*). The remainder is what the applicant

can claim as part of its matching cost contribution.

Justification: Enclose a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement.

Applicants subject to the limitation on the Federal reimbursement of

indirect costs for training grants should specify this.

Total--Line 6k. Enter the total amounts of lines 6i and 6j.

Program Income--Line 7. Enter the estimated amount of income, if

any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract

this amount from the total project amount.

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

program income in the Program Narrative Statement.

Section C--Non-Federal Resources. This section summarizes the

amounts of non-Federal resources that will be applied to the grant.

Enter this information on line 12 entitled ``Totals.'' In-kind

contributions are defined in title 45 of the Code of Federal

Regulations, Part 74.51, as ``property or services which benefit a

grant-supported project or program and which are contributed by non-

Federal third parties without charge to the grantee, the subgrantee, or

a cost-type contractor under the grant or subgrant.''

Justification: Describe third party in-kind contributions, if

included.

Section D--Forecasted Cash Needs. Not applicable.

Section E--Budget Estimate of Federal Funds Needed For Balance of

the Project. Not applicable.

Totals--Line 20. Not applicable.

Section F--Other Budget Information.

Direct Charges--Line 21. Not applicable.

Indirect Charges--Line 22. Enter the type of indirect rate

(provisional, predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect

during the funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which

the rate is applied, and the total indirect expense.

Remarks--Line 23. If the total project period exceeds 17 months,

you must enter your proposed non-Federal share of the project budget

for each of the remaining years of the project.

3. Project Summary Description

Clearly mark this separate page with the applicant name as shown in

item 5 of the SF 424, and the title of the project as shown in item 11

of the SF 424. The summary description should not exceed 300 words.

These 300 words become part of the computer database on each project.

Care should be taken to produce a summary description which

accurately and concisely reflects the proposal. It should describe the

objectives of the project, the approaches to be used and the outcomes

expected. The description should also include a list of major products

that will result from the proposed project, such as software packages,

materials, management procedures, data collection instruments, training

packages, or videos (please note that audiovisuals should be closed

captioned). The project summary description, together with the

information on the SF 424, will constitute the project ``abstract.'' It

is the major source of information about the proposed project and is

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

evaluating the application.

4. Program Narrative Statement

The Program Narrative Statement is a very important part of an

application. It should be clear, concise, and address the specific

requirements mentioned under the priority area description in Part II.

The narrative should also provide information concerning how the

application meets the evaluation criteria using the following headings:

(a) Objectives and Need for the Project;

(b) Results and Benefits Expected;

(c) Approach; and

(d) Level of Effort.

The specific information to be included under each of these

headings is described in Section C of Part III, Evaluation Criteria.

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. All

pages of the narrative (including charts, references/footnotes, tables,

maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered, beginning with

``Objectives and Need for the Project'' as page number one. Applicants

should not submit reproductions of larger size paper, reduced to meet

the size requirement.

The length of the application, including the application forms and

all attachments, should not exceed 60 pages. A page is a single side of

an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' sheet of paper. Applicants are requested not to

send pamphlets, brochures or other printed material along with their

application as these pose photocopy difficulties. These materials, if

submitted, will not be included in the review process if they exceed

the 60-page limit. Each page of the application will be counted to

determine the total length.

5. Organizational Capability Statement

The Organizational Capability Statement should consist of a brief

(two to three pages) background description of how the applicant

organization (or the unit within the organization that will have

responsibility for the project) is organized, the types and quantity of

services it provides, and/or the research and management capabilities

it possesses. This description should cover capabilities not included

in the Program Narrative Statement. It may include descriptions of any

current or previous relevant experience, or describe the competence of

the project team and its demonstrated ability to produce a final

product that is readily comprehensible and usable. An organization

chart showing the relationship of the project to the current

organization should be included.

6. Part V--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/

certifications are reprinted at the end of this announcement and should

be reproduced, as necessary. A duly authorized representative of the

applicant organization must certify that the applicant is in compliance

with these assurances/certifications. A signature on the SF 424

indicates compliance with the conditions set forth in the Drug Free

Workplace Requirements, and Debarment and Other Responsibilities

certifications located in Appendices and of this announcement.

D. Checklist for a Complete Application

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 OFM/DDG,

Washington, DC 20447.

Hand delivered applications are accepted during the normal working

hours of 8 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, 901 D Street, SW., 6th Floor (OCS 94-

08), OFM/DDG, Washington, DC 20447.

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

package has been properly prepared.

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

Applications for different priority areas are packaged separately;

--Application is from an organization which is eligible under the

eligibility requirements defined in the priority area description

(screening requirement);

--Application length does not exceed 60 pages, unless otherwise

specified in the priority area description.

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

--Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424, REV 4-88);

--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, REV 4-88);

--Budget justification for Section B--Budget Categories;

--Table of Contents;

--Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove non-profit status,

if necessary;

--Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate agreement, if

appropriate;

--Project summary description and listing of key words;

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

--Organizational capability statement, including an organization chart;

--Any appendices/attachments;

--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B, REV 4-88);

--Certification Regarding Lobbying; and

--Certification of Protection of Human Subjects, if necessary.

E. The Application Package

Each application package must include an original and three copies

of the complete application. Each copy should be stapled securely

(front and back if necessary) in the upper left-hand corner. All pages

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

be sequentially numbered, beginning with page one. In order to

facilitate handling, please do not use covers, binders or tabs. Do not

include extraneous materials as attachments, such as agency promotion

brochures, slides, tapes, film clips, minutes of meetings, survey

instruments or articles of incorporation.

Applicant should include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgment

card. All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt

of their application. If acknowledgment of receipt of your application

is not received within eight weeks after the deadline date, please

notify ACF by telephone at (202) 401-9233.

Dated: June 10, 1994

Donald Sykes

Director; Office of Community Services.

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P