01-5654. Notice of Availability of Financial Assistance for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs

AGENCY:

Family and Youth Services Bureau, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION:

This Notice announces the availability of financial assistance for the FY 2001 Basic Center Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth (BCP) and FY 2001 Street Outreach Program (SOP).

This Notice announces the availability of the official FY 2001 Program Announcement. The official announcement must be used to apply for grant funding under the competitive grant areas and is available by calling or writing the ACTF Operations Center (address below) or by downloading the announcement for the FYSB website at http:/www.acf.dhhs.gov/​programs/​FYSB?​fund-anncmt.htm.

Legislative Authority: Grants for Runaway and Homeless Youth programs are authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHY Act) as amended by Pub. L. 106-71.

Deadlines: The deadlines for RECEIPT of applications for new grants under this announcement are as follows:

CFDA#	Programs	Deadline dates	Deadline times
93.623	Basic Center Program	May 4, 2001	4:30 p.m. (EDT).
93.557	Street Outreach Program	May 4, 2001	4:30 p.m. (EDT).

Mailing and Delivery Instructions: Applications must be in hard copy. Mailed applications and applications hand delivered by applicants, applicant couriers, overnight/express mail couriers or any other method of hand delivery shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline, at the following address: ACYF Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209, Telephone: [phone], email: [e-mail].

Applications may be hand delivered to the above address between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday (excluding Federal Holidays.)

Applicants are responsible for mailing and delivering applications well in advance of deadlines to ensure that the applications are received on time. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on the deadline date will be classified as late. Postmarks and other similar documents do not establish receipt of an application.

ACF will not accept applications delivered by fax or e-mail regardless of date or time of submission and receipt.

Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria stated above and are not received by the deadline date and time are considered late applications. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition.

Extension of Deadline: ACF may extend an application deadline for applicants affected by acts of God such as floods and hurricanes, or when there is widespread disruption of the mails. A determination to waive or extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Grant awards for FY 2001 funds will be made by September 30, 2001, for the Basic Center and Street Outreach Programs.

The estimated funds available for new starts and the approximate number of new grants that may be awarded under this program announcement are as follows:

Competitive grant area	New start funds available	Estimated No. of new grants
A. BCP	$16,700,000	120
B. SOP	8,800,000	88

In addition to the new start grants, the Administration for Children and Families has provided for non-competitive continuation funds to current grantees in the following programs:

Grant area	Funds available	No. of grants
A. BCP	$24,997,929	241
B. SOP	4,817,193	53

Part 1. Competitive Grant Areas and Summaries of Evaluation Criteria

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the official Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

A. Basic Centers Program, CFDA# 93.623 (Competitive Grant Area A)

Program Purpose, Goals and Objectives

The purpose of this program is to establish or strengthen locally controlled, community-based programs that address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. Services must be delivered outside of the law enforcement, child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice systems. The program goals and objectives of the Basic Center Program are to:

• Alleviate problems of runaway and homeless youth;
• Reunite youth with their families and encourage the resolution of intra-family problems through counseling and other services.
• Strengthen family relationships and encourage stable living conditions for youth; and
• Help youth decide upon constructive courses of action.

Eligible Applicants

Any State, unit of local government, combination of units of local government, public or private nonprofit agency, organization or institution is eligible to apply for these funds. Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible to apply for Basic Center grants. Indian Tribes that are not federally recognized and urban Indian organizations are also eligible to apply for grants as private, nonprofit agencies.

Current Basic Center grantees with project periods ending on or before September 30, 2001, and all other eligible applicants not currently receiving Basic Center funds, may apply for a new competitive Basic Center grant under this announcement.

Current Basic Center Program grantees (including subgrantees) with one or two years remaining on their current grant and the expectation of continuation funding in FY 2001 may not apply for a new Basic Center grant for the community they currently serve. These grantees will receive instructions from their respective ACF Regional Offices on the procedures for applying for noncompetitive continuation grants.

Federal Share of Project Costs

Priority will be given to applicants that apply for less than $200,000 per year. The maximum Federal share for a 3-year project period is $600,000.

Applicant Share of Project Costs

Grantees must provide a non-Federal share or match of at least ten percent of the Federal funds awarded. 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 three-year project costing $300,000 in Federal funds (based on an award of $100,000 per 12-month budget period) must provide a match of at least $30,000 ($10,000 per budget period). Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if over the amount of the required match. Failure to provide the amount will result in disallowance of Federal match.

Duration of Project

This announcement solicits applications for Basic Center programs of up to three years duration (36-month project periods). Initial grant awards, made on a competitive basis, will be for one-year (12-month) budget periods. Applications for non-competitive continuation grants beyond the one-year budget periods, but within the 36-month project periods, will be entertained in subsequent years, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee and determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.

B. Street Outreach Program, CFDA# 93.557 (Competitive Grant Area B)

Program Purpose, Goals and Objectives

The overall purpose of SOP is to provide education and prevention services to runaway, homeless and street youth who have been subjected to or are at risk of sexual exploitation or abuse. The goal of the program is to establish and build relationships between street youth and program outreach staff in order to help youth leave the streets. The objective of the program is to provide support services that will assist the youth in moving and adjusting to a safe and appropriate alternative living arrangement. These services include, at a minimum, treatment, counseling, provision of information and referral services. Street outreach programs must have access to local emergency shelter space that is an appropriate placement for young people and that can be made available for youth willing to come in off the streets. In addition, street outreach staff must have access to the shelter in order to maintain interaction with the youth during the time they are in the shelter.

Eligible Applicants

Any private, nonprofit agency is eligible to apply for these funds. Non-Federally recognized Indian Tribes and urban Indian organizations are eligible to apply for grants as private, non-profit agencies. Please note that public agencies are NOT eligible to apply for these funds.

Current Street Outreach Program grantees with project periods ending on or before September 30, 2001, and all other eligible applicants not currently receiving SOP funds, may apply for a new competitive SOP grant under this announcement.

Current Street Outreach Program grantees (including subgrantees) with one or two years remaining on their current grant and the expectation of continuation funding in FY 2001 may not apply for a new Street Outreach grant for the community they currently serve. These grantees will receive instructions from their respective ACF Regional Offices on the procedures for applying for continuation grants.

Federal Share of Project Costs

Applicants may apply for up to $100,000 in Federal support each year, a maximum of $300,000 for a 3-year project period. The maximum Federal share of project costs is $100,000 for 12 months.

Applicant Share of Project Cost

SOP grantees must provide a non-Federal share or match of at least ten percent of the Federal funds awarded. (There are certain exceptions for Tribes with “638” funding pursuant to Pub. L. 93-638, under which certain Federal grants may qualify as matching funds for other Federal grant programs, e.g., those which contribute to the purposes for which grants under section 638 were made.) 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. For example, a project requesting $100,000 in Federal funds must include a match of at least $10,000.

Duration of Project

This announcement solicits applications for Street Outreach Program projects of up to three years (36-month project periods). Initial grant awards, made on a competitive basis, will be for one-year (12-month) budget periods. Applications for non-competing continuation grants beyond the one-year budget periods, but within the 36-month project periods, will be considered subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee and determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the government.

Summary of Evaluation Criteria for Competitive Areas A and B (BCP and SOP)

Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (15 points)

Applications will be judged on how clearly they identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated. Applications will need to specify the goals and objectives of the project and how implementation will fulfill the purposes of the program. Applications should describe the conditions of youth and families in the area to be served; the incidence and characteristics of runaway, homeless or street youth and their families; the existing support systems for at-risk youth and families in the area, including other agencies providing services to runaway and homeless youth in the area.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Criterion 2: Results or Benefits Expected (20 points)

Applications will be judged on how clearly they identify the results and benefits to be derived, specify services to be provided, who will receive services, where and how these services will be provided, and how the services will benefit the youth families and the community to be served.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Criterion 3: Approach (35 points)

Applications will be judged on how clearly they outline a plan of action which: Describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished; accounts for all functions or activities identified in the application; cites factors which might accelerate or decelerate the work and reasons for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Applications are encouraged to describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.

Applicants must agree to cooperate with any research or evaluation efforts sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families and to submit the required Annual Report to the Secretary of HHS on program activities and accomplishments with statistical summaries and other required program and financial reports, as instructed by FYSB.

Applications will be judged on the extent to which they describe the program's youth development approach or philosophy and indicate how it underlies and integrates all proposed activities. Applicants will be expected to list organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution; describe formal service linkages and plans for coordination with other agencies; describe plans for conducting outreach and encouraging awareness of and sensitivity to the diverse needs of runaway and homeless youth who represent particular ethnic and racial backgrounds and sexual orientations. Applicants are encouraged to describe the type, capacity and staff supervision of the shelter that will be available for youth.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Criterion 4: Staff and Position Data (10 points)

Applicants will be judged on whether they provide a resume and biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch will also be required for new key staff as appointed. Applicants will be expected to list organizations and consultants who will work on the program along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Applicants will be expected to provide information on plans for training project staff as well as staff of cooperating organizations and individuals and state the expected or estimated ratio of staff to youth.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Criterion 5: Organizational Profile (10 points plus 5 possible bonus points)

Applicants will be expected to provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants. Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission. Bonus points shall be awarded to applicant organizations who have demonstrated experience in providing services to runaway, homeless and street youth.

Applicants will be expected to provide a plan for project continuance beyond grant support, including a plan for securing resources and continuing project activities after Federal assistance has ceased and an annotated listing of applicant's funding sources. Such plans should include written agreements, if applicable, between grantees and subgrantees or subcontractors or other cooperating and letters of support and statements from community, public and commercial leaders that support the project proposed for funding.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Criterion 6: Budget and Budget Justification (10 points)

Applicants will be expected to provide a detailed line item budget and a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Applicants will be judged on how clearly they discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs and how clearly they describe the fiscal control and accounting procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use, proper disbursement and accurate accounting of funds received.

Applicants must refer to the specific evaluation criteria for each competitive area contained in the full Program Announcement in order to adequately prepare their applications.

Part 2. Required Notification of the Single Point of Contact

Most portions of this program are covered under Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, and 45 CFR part 100, Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Program and Activities. Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.

All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and American Samoa have elected to participate in the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-three 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 Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424, item 16.

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. A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory can be found on the web site http://www.whitehouse.gov/​omb/​grants/​spoc.html. or by calling the ACYF Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293.

Dated: March 2, 2001.

James A. Harrell,

Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.