[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 123 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34667-34673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16337]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Refugee Settlement
Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Community Service
Employment Opportunities
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of FY 1999 discretionary funds to
provide Community Service Employment opportunities for refugees \1\ who
have experienced long-term difficulties with assimilation.
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\1\ In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR
400.43, ``Requirements for documentation of refugee status,''
eligibility for targeted assistance includes: (1) Cuban and Haitian
entrants, under section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act
of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422); (2) certain Amerasians from Vietnam who
are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants under section 584 of the
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing
Resolution (Pub. L. 100-202); and (3) certain Amerasians from
Vietnam, including U.S. citizens, under title II of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations
Acts, 1989 (Pub. L. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. 101-167), and 1991 (Pub.
L. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is used in this
notice to encompass all such eligible persons unless the specific
context indicates otherwise.
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SUMMARY: This program announcement governs the availability of social
services funds and award procedures for $3 million in FY 1999
discretionary grants to provide community service employment
opportunities for refugees who have experienced long-term difficulties
with assimilation. These grants, which will be awarded on a competitive
basis, are for localities with large concentrations of refugees who
have experienced difficulty integrating socially and economically into
local communities. Eligible grantees are private, non-profit
organizations and agencies of State government that are responsible for
the refugee program under 45 CFR 400.5. Applications may include
project periods of up to three years, with an initial budget period of
one year. Where awards are made for a multiple year project period,
continuation grant applications will be entertained in subsequent years
on a noncompetitive basis, subject to the availability of funds,
successful progress of the project, and ACF/ORR's determination that
this would be in the best interest of the government.
DATES: The closing date for applications is July 30, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Address applications to: Shirley Parker, Grants Officer,
Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor East, Aerospace Building, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carolyn Plummer, Program Analyst,
Division of Community Resettlement (DCR), ORR, Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), Telephone: (202) 401-5449; Fax: (202) 401-
5487; E-mail: CPlummer@acf.dhhs.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four
parts:
Part I: Background--program purpose, program objectives, legislative
authority, funding availability, CFDA number, definition of terms
Part II: Project and Applicant Eligibility--funding priorities,
preferences, eligible applicants, project and budget periods, multiple
applications, treatment of program income
Part III: The Review Process--intergovernmental review, initial ACF
screening, evaluation criteria and competitive review
Part IV: The Application--application materials application
development, application submission
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average
fourteen 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: OMB Approval No. 0970-0139, ACF UNIFORM PROJECT
DESCRIPTION (UPD), which expires 10/31/2000. 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. Background
Program Purpose and Objectives: There are communities across this
[[Page 34668]]
country with large concentrations of refugees, many of whom entered the
United States over a decade ago. For some refugees, language skills,
cultural barriers, the lack of financial resources, and years of
relying on public assistance, have isolated them from the mainstream,
limited their employment opportunities and hindered integration into
American communities. Their rate of assimilation has been documented in
many localities on such key indicators as poverty levels, welfare
utilization, car and home ownership, high school completion, college
attendance or graduation, language fluency, employment rates, household
income, per capita income, and naturalization rates.
In some of these communities, refugees represent a significant
percentage of the population and, relative to non-refugee groups, have
a sizeable impact on local services, medical clinics, and school
systems.
The purpose of this announcement is to improve refugee rates of
assimilation in heavily impacted communities by providing funding for
workforce experience, earned income for refugees and their families,
and increased access to needed services for refugees.
Legislative Authority: This program is authorized by Section
412(c)(1)of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1),
as amended. Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the INA authorizes the Director of
ORR ``to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or
private nonprofit agencies for projects specifically designed--(i) to
assist refugees in obtaining the skills which are necessary for
economic self-sufficiency, including projects for job training,
employment services, day care, professional refresher training, and
other recertification services.''
Grant awards are also subject to the following federal regulations:
45 CFR part 74--Uniform administrative requirements for awards and
subawards to institutions of higher education, hospitals, other
nonprofit organizations, and commercial organizations; and certain
grants and agreements with States, local governments and Indian tribal
governments and 45 CFR part 92, Uniform administrative requirements for
grants and cooperative agreements to State and local governments.
Funding Availability: Approximately $3 million will be available
for awards. It is expected that most grant awards will be between
$300,000 and $500,000. ORR anticipates making 6 to 10 awards with these
funds for projects that will secure employment for approximately 100
eligible participants during the approved project period.
The Director of ORR will make final award decisions based on such
factors as: the geographic distribution of the competitive
applications; the extent to which the grants reflect a reasonable
distribution of funds across the areas impacted by refugees, and the
availability of funds. Successful applicants will receive grants to
identify and develop subsidized employment opportunities for unemployed
refugees at local organizations. Applicants must demonstrate a specific
need for supplementation of available resources to provide these
services for refugees.
Projects funded under this announcement will be designed to (a)
Connect refugees to the labor force, (b) provide earned income to
refugees and their households, and eventual transition to unsubsidized
employment; and (c) through the presence and assistance of a refugee
employee in these agencies, give refugee communities greater access to
local community services. Grantees must establish a network of
relationships with appropriate public or private employers to identify
and develop suitable subsidized community service employment positions.
Grant funds may be used to reimburse employers for up to 100% of the
employment wage (including fringe benefits), for a maximum of 12
months, under the terms of a contract. In exchange for the salary
subsidy, the employer agrees to provide the refugee employee additional
supervisory assistance in learning the job and to retain the refugee
employee in this position after the wage subsidy has ended. If
insufficient funds are available to continue the position, it is
expected that the employer will assist the refugee employee in securing
other employment. Refugee employees should be eligible for all benefits
available to all other employees at the work site. Applicants should
identify the types and number of employment positions targeted in their
project, including job descriptions, qualifications, and salary levels.
Project participants must be paid an hourly wage equivalent to the
prevailing rates of pay for persons employed in similar occupations by
the same employer. No wage should be lower than the federal minimum
wage.
Approximately 75-80% of grant funds should be designated for salary
subsidies. Applicants may include 5% for employer incentives.
Within the remaining 15-20% of available funds, grantees may
provide supportive services to assist project participants in retaining
successful community service employment. Such supportive services may
include: on-site technical assistance; employment counseling; work-
related incidental expenses for such items as work shoes, uniforms,
glasses, public transportation passes, etc. if these are not available
from other sources.
If projects are designed and implemented by coalitions of local
community agencies and refugee organizations, clear respective roles
and responsibilities for each participating agency within the coalition
must be identified and stipulated in a signed written agreement.
Applicants must also provide for the creation of an advisory board,
delineating the roles and responsibilities of each member,
compensation, if any, to members, a definitive and measurable work
plan, and a schedule of meetings. The advisory board must include
members of the refugee community.
Funds may not be used for union-related activities, with the
exception of union dues required in order for refugees to become
employed; nor may funds be used for politically related employment as a
form of political patronage. Wage subsidies must be used for a net
increase in the number of positions within a given agency, not to
replace currently funded positions. Refugees employed as a result of
this project may not displace employed workers or workers on layoff.
CFDA: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned
to this announcement is 93.576.
Part II. Project and Applicant Eligibility
Under this announcement, the Office of Refugee Resettlement
solicits applications from eligible applicants who wish to compete for
funds to provide community service employment for refugees who have
experienced long-term difficulties with assimilation into American
communities.
Community service employment offers a job for the individual,
household income for refugee families, community participation, cross-
cultural exposure for public and private agencies, and access to
community services for refugee communities. For these reasons, ORR is
providing funding under this announcement to be used primarily for
employer subsidies to create or increase the number of community work
experience jobs for refugees.
Community service employment may be in the public or private
sector; however, given the emphasis of this announcement on gaining
refugee access to community services, ORR anticipates that most
successful applicants will target these subsidies to public and private
nonprofit organizations that may not otherwise
[[Page 34669]]
have the resources to provide this type of employment. Eligible
grantees are private, nonprofit organizations and agencies of State and
local governments that are responsible for the refugee program under 45
CFR 400.5.
Refugees eligible to participate in projects funded under this
announcement must be at least 21 years of age. Eligible participants
must also either be unemployed, without earned income, or members of
families receiving public assistance.
Refugees are eligible to participate in these projects if they have
resided in the U.S. for a minimum of three years and residents of their
communities for a minimum of six months. Refugees who have become U.S.
citizens are ineligible to participate in this program. ORR anticipates
that refugees targeted for these positions would be long-term welfare
recipients (12 months or more) or those who face termination from
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) within the 12 month
period following enrollment in this project.
The project description provides a major means by which an
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can
present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff,
related experience, and other information considered being relevant.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement uses this and other information to
determine whether the applicant has the capability and resources
necessary to carry out the proposed project. It is important,
therefore, that this information be included in the application.
However, in the narrative the applicant must dintinguish between
resources directly related to the proposed project from those that will
not be used in support of the specified project for which funds are
requested.
A. Objectives and Need for Assistance
Clearly 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; supporting
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to
provide information on the total range of projects currently being
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be
outside the scope of the program announcement.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
A description, with documentation, of the need for services within
the proposed target area, including documentation of the number of
refugees in the target area and the ratio between refugees and the non-
refugee population in the community. Data and analyses of family and
community needs, including the implications of welfare reform and
employment patterns on family needs for child care and other support
services. A discussion of how the targeted refugees have the most need
of the proposed services. Submit evidence of poor assimilation of
refugees relative to the community at-large. Indicators may include:
poverty levels, public assistance utilization, unemployment, low rates
of high school completion, college attendance, car and homeownership,
and attainment of citizenship.
B. Approach
Outline a plan of action which describes the scope and detail of
how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions
or activities identified in the application. Cite factors which might
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
Describe how community service employment positions will be developed
with local employers; how these employers will be encouraged to
customize the jobs and provide supervisory support to the employees
under this project; identify any local employers who have made
commitments to the project and describe them (e.g., number and types of
jobs, supportive services and training, qualifications and salary
levels, etc.).
Include a description of the proposed target area(s) for services,
recruitment strategies, and priorities for selecting refugee clients
for participation; and availability of other community services and
resources for refugee employment.
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such
terms as the number of people to be served. When accomplishments cannot
be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order
to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target date. Identify
the kinds of data to be collected, maintained and/or disseminated. Note
that clearance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget might be
needed prior to a ``collection of information'' that is ``conducted or
sponsored'' by ACF/ORR. List organizations, cooperating entities,
consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project
along with a short description of the nature of their effort or
contribution.
Note: ORR expects that all applicants funded under this
announcement will begin serving refugees and their families no later
than March, 2000.
C. Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived for refugees and
their families as well as for the community. Based on the stated
program objectives, a discussion of the specific results or benefits
that could be expected for the refugees and families participating in
the program. A discussion of the specific community-wide results or
benefits including those resulting from collaborative partnership with
other community agencies including the agencies which employ refugees.
The qualitative and quantitative data the program will collect to
measure progress toward the stated results or benefits. A discussion of
how the program will determine the extent to which it has achieved its
stated objectives.
Applicants are encouraged to use ORR standards under the Government
Performance And Result Act (GPRA) to measure project results. These
are:
The number of refugees who entered employment.
Cash assistance terminations due to earnings.
Average hourly wage at placement.
Employment retention.
Employment with health benefits.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following: Numbers, types and average salaries of refugees to be
employed in community service employment positions; the degree to which
employee benefits, including medical coverage, are available for these
jobs; expectations for job or employment retention after one year;
expected average earnings one year
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after placement into subsidized employment; cost per placement into
subsidized community service employment.
The application may include other performance outcomes, as
appropriate.
D. Organization Profiles
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, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers,
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any
non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of
its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission. The
non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a copy of the
applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent
list of tax-exempt organizations described in Section
501 (3) of the IRS code, or by providing a copy of
the articles of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which
the corporation or association is domiciled.
Describe the staff and systems capacity for managing the project,
to include: key staff resumes or position descriptions; a project
organizational chart identifying all agencies involved in the project
and their respective roles and responsibilities; Identify the critical
activities, time frames, and responsibilities for implementing the
project.
Local Collaboration and Sustainability
Identify a coalition of key agencies, respective roles and
responsibilities, and agreements. Describe the local partnerships and
each member's contribution to the project; the extent to which the
project is coordinated with key community activities; the commitment
and integration of other community resources; any involvement of, or
participation by, local employers; and the extent to which the
community and the coalition have developed plans to maintain and expand
the capacity to serve the targeted refugee population.
Identify and Submit Position Descriptions or Resumes for Advisory Board
Positions.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following: Evidence of the applicant's ability and experience to
administer an employment program and to manage a community service
employment program. Include a discussion of any proposed changes and
improvements in program management.
A description of the applicant's experience in management of
employment services for refugees who have had a protracted history of
unemployment. A description of the applicant's experience in management
of community, State and Federal partnerships. A description of the
applicant's history and relationship with the target community. Include
a complete discussion of the program's financial status and program
operations. Include an organizational chart of the program.
A Description of the Mechanisms for Recruiting and Hiring Well-Trained
and Appropriately Credentialed staff Members
A discussion of all proposed key staff or managerial positions,
their proposed salary rates, the length of time they would be employed
each year and the applicant's plans for ongoing monitoring and
supervision of other staff including refugees employed under the
community employment service program if appropriate. Applicants who are
electing to create partnerships with other agencies, providers, or
funding sources should provide: letters of commitment from partner
agencies and providers, including documentation of any additional
resources such as child care, health care or transportation subsidies,
etc. that will enhance the program. Explain and itemize these resources
or services, and state whether or not these costs are included as part
of the non-Federal share. Plans for managing, coordinating or
monitoring, and assisting the efforts of partnering agencies and other
forms of collaborative arrangements in meeting the goals of the
project.
A description of the experience of the applicant and the proposed
partnering agencies in collaborating to deliver effective employment
services and in managing multiple sources of funding.
A description of how the applicant will track, manage and account
for refugee employment costs and, if applicable, the availability of
other funding sources.
E. Budget and Budget Justification
Provide line items and detailed calculations for each budget object
class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations
must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other
similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be
duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Provide a
narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs
are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of
the proposed costs.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is particularly interested in
the following:
A description of how your proposed budget is reasonable,
appropriate and cost effective in view of the proposed services,
strategies and anticipated outcomes.
A description of the extent to which your proposal includes
significant other resources to complement the ORR funds.
General Instructions
ORR is particularly interested in specific factual information and
statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project
descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length.
Extensive exhibits are not required. (Supporting information concerning
activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information
that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded
activity should be placed in an appendix.) Pages should be numbered and
a Table of Contents should be included for easy reference.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is also requesting that
applicants provide a summary of the project description which includes:
The name and address of the applicant agency.
The total number of employment placements when the program is
completed.
The total ORR funds requested for a 12 month period.
The amount and source of any additional funding that will help
support the project (i.e., funds that are in addition to Federal ORR
funds.)
The community to be served (name of town(s), city(ies) and
county(ies) and the targeted refugee groups.
The proposed type of jobs, hours per week and wages.
The target date for beginning full services to refugees.
Additional Information
Following is a description of additional information that should be
placed in the appendix of the application.
1. Staff and Position Data: Provide a biographical sketch for each
key person
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appointed and a job description for each vacant position. A
biographical sketch will also be required for new key staff as
appointed.
2. Organizational Profile: Provide information on the applicant
organization and cooperating partners such as organizational charts,
financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed
Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, contact persons
and telephone numbers, documentation of experience in the program area,
and other pertinent information. Any non-profit organization submitting
an application must submit proof of its non-profit status in its
application at the time of submission. The nonprofit agency can
accomplish this by providing a copy of the applicant's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, or by
providing a copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate,
or by providing a copy of the articles of incorporation bearing the
seal of the State in which the corporation or association is domiciled.
Part III. The Review Process
A. Intergovernmental Review
This program is covered under Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100,
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance
under covered programs.
All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,
American Samoa, and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive
Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs).
Applicants from these twenty-four jurisdictions need not take action
regarding Executive Order 12372. Applicants should contact their SPOC
as soon as possible to alert them to the prospective application and to
receive any necessary instructions. Applicants must submit any required
material to the SPOC as early as possible so that the program office
can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. It is
imperative that the applicant submit all required materials, if any, to
the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or date of contact if
no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45
CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to
comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are
encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as
official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly
differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State
process recommendations which may trigger the ``accommodate or
explain'' rule. When comments are submitted directly to the ORR, they
should be addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee
Resettlement, 6th Floor East, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
B. Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria
Information provided in response to this announcement will be used
to review and evaluation applications using the following criteria:
a. Need for Assistance To Increase Assimilation (20 points)
Quality of description and documentation with regard to the target
refugee groups and their needs.
Program Design and Approach (15 points)
Soundness of and innovation in program design and methodology for
securing community service employment for refugees, including evidence
of prospects for placement and permanent employment opportunities.
Results and Benefits (30 points)
Employment results which are timely, appropriate, and measurable
using ORR standards for outcome performance under GPRA.
Project Management and Implementation (15 points)
The extent of demonstrated capacity of the applicant organization,
key leaders and managers and, where appropriate, proposed partnering
organizations in managing the proposed community employment services in
a timely, cost effective manner. Evidence of successful partnership
with the targeted refugee communities, families, and other community
organizations, institutions and agencies.
Cost Effectiveness and Budget Appropriateness (20 points)
The extent to which the project's costs are reasonable and cost-
effective in view of the activities to be carried out and the
anticipated outcomes. The extent to which proposed salaries and fringe
benefits reflect appropriate levels of compensation for the
responsibilities of staff and the Advisory Board (if compensation is
necessary). The extent to which costs for refugee wages in community
service employment are reasonable and equitable.
Part IV: The Application
A. Required Forms
Applicants interested in applying for funds must submit a complete
application including the required forms--Standard Form 424 and
attachments. In order to be considered for a grant under this
announcement, an application must be submitted on the Standard Form 424
(approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Control
Number 0348-0043), a copy of which is available through the
Administration for Children and Families/ORR website at: http://
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr (at ``Informational Materials'' choose
HHS application forms). Each application must be signed by an
individual authorized to act for the applicant and to assume
responsibility for the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions
of the grant award. Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-
construction projects must file the Standard Form 424B, Assurances:
Non-Construction Programs (approved by the Office of Management and
Budget under Control Number 0348-0040). Applicants must sign and return
the Standard Form 424B with their application. Applicants must provide
a certification concerning lobbying. Applicants must provide
information consistent with ACF's approved Uniform Project Description
(OMB # 0970-0139), as found in Part II of this Program Announcement.
Prior to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall
furnish an executed copy of the lobbying certification (approved by the
Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0348-0046).
Applicants must sign and return the certification with their
application. Applicants must make the appropriate certification of
their compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing
and submitting the application, applicants are providing the
certification and need not mail back the certification with the
application. Applicants must make the
[[Page 34672]]
appropriate certification that they are not presently debarred,
suspended or otherwise ineligible for award. By signing and submitting
the application, applicants are providing the certification and need
not mail back the certification with the application. Applicants must
also understand that they will be held accountable for the smoking
prohibition included within Public Law 103-227, Part C Environmental
Tobacco Smoke (also known as Pro-Children's Act of 1994). A copy of the
Federal Register notice which implements the smoking prohibition is
included with the forms. By signing and submitting the application,
applicants are providing the certification and need not mail back the
certification with the application.
B. Application Submission
One signed original and two complete copies of the grant
application, including all attachments, are required. Each application
must be limited to no more than 20 double-spaced pages of program
narrative (not including the Project Summary and the forms which make
up the SF-424A and Budget Justification).
If the narrative portion of the application is more than 20 double-
spaced pages, the other pages will be removed from the application and
not considered by the reviewers. The attachments/appendices to each
application must be limited to no more than 15 pages, (in addition to
the 20 pages permitted for the narrative portion of the application).
If the attachments/appendices to each application are more than 15
pages, the other pages will be removed from the application and not
considered by the reviewers.
C. Application Considerations
Applicants will be scored against the evaluation criteria described
above. The review will be conducted by a panel consisting of experts in
the areas of refugee and employment services. The results of the
competitive review will be taken into consideration by the Director,
Office of Refugee Resettlement, in determining the projects to be
funded. The Director of ORR will make the final selection of the
applicants to be funded. An application may be funded in whole or in
part, depending on the relative need for services, applicant ranking,
geographic location, proposed costs, and funds available.
Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a
Financial Assistance Award which sets forth the amount of funds
granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of
the grant, the budget period for which support is given, and the total
project period for which support is provided.
D. Checklist for a Complete Application
A complete application consists of the following items in this
order:
Introductory Material:
Cover letter.
Table of Contents.
Project Description Summary.
(1) Application for Federal Assistance (SF424).
(2) Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF 424 A and B).
(3) Budget Justification.
(4) Project Description and Appendices.
(5) Proof of non-profit status as appropriate.
(6) Assurances Non-Construction Programs.
(7) Certification Regarding Lobbying.
(8) Where appropriate, a completed SPOC certification with the date
of SPOC contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424.
Applicants are reminded that the narrative portion of the
application cannot exceed 20 double-spaced pages in a 12-pitch font
with 1\1/2\ inch margins at the top and 1 inch at the bottom and both
sides and that attachments/Appendices to the application can not exceed
15 pages. Attachments and appendices should be used only to provide
supporting documentation such as maps, administration charts, position
descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent/agreement. Please do not
include books or videotapes as they are not easily reproduced and are,
therefore, not accessible to the reviewers. Each page should be
numbered sequentially.
General
The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. According to
the instructions for completing the SF-424A and the preparation of the
budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' refers only to
the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal resources are all
other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is suggested that budget
amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first
column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next
column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column, total budget. The
budget justification should be a narrative.
Personnel: Costs of employee salaries and wages. Justification--
Identify the project director and for each staff person, provide the
title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to
the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary,
grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants
or personnel costs of delegate agencies.
Fringe Benefits: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated
as part of approved indirect cost rate. Justification--Provide a
breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit
costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification--For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s),
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF/
ORR-sponsored meetings should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property,
having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of
$5,000 or more per unit. Justification--For each type of equipment
requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit,
the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project,
as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends.
Supplies: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that
included under the Equipment category. Justification--Specify general
categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide
other information which supports the amount requested.
Contractual: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except
for those which belong under other categories such as equipment,
supplies, etc. Contracts with secondary recipient organizations,
including delegate agencies (if applicable), should be included under
this category. Justification--All procurement transactions shall be
conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open
and free competition. If procurement competitions were held or if
procurement without competition is being proposed, attach a list of
proposed contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the
purposes of the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the award
selection process. Justify
[[Page 34673]]
any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded
without competition and to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold
fixed at 41 USC 403(11). Recipients might be required to make available
to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such as requests for
proposal or invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.
Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in
these instructions.
Other: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where
applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to
insurance, professional services costs, space and equipment rentals,
printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition
and stipends, staff development, and administrative costs.
Justification--Provide computations, a narrative description and a
justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Costs: This category should be used only when the
applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the
Department of Health and Human Services or another cognizant Federal
agency. Justification--An applicant proposing to charge indirect costs
to the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an
award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal
based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the
principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for
establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant
agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals
may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant.
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is
allowed under the agreement, the authorized representative of the
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to
be generated from this project. Justification--Describe the nature,
source and anticipated use of program income in the budget or refer to
the pages in the application which contain this information.
Non-Federal Resources: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will
be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Justification--The firm commitment of these resources must be
documented and submitted with the application in order to be given
credit in the review process.
E. Due Date for the Receipt of Applications
Deadlines: The closing date for submission of applications is 4:30
p.m. (EDT) on July 30, 1999. Mailed applications shall be considered as
meeting the deadline if they are either received on or before the
deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by
ORR in time for the independent review. Applications should be mailed
to: Ms. Shirley B. Parker, Grant Officer, Office of Refugee
Resettlement, 6th Floor East, Aerospace Building 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S. Postal
Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a commercial
carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
Applications hand carried by applicants, courier services, or by
overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting the
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date,
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., at the above stated address,
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). (Applicants are
cautioned that express/overnight mail services may not always deliver
as agreed. In addition, some non-postal service carriers will only
deliver to ORR's street address which is 901 D Street SW. instead of
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.) ORR cannot accommodate transmission of
applications by fax or through other electronic media. Therefore,
applications transmitted to ORR electronically will not be accepted
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria
above are considered late applications. ORR shall notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered.
Extension of deadlines: ORR may extend the deadline for all
applicants because of acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or
when there is a widespread disruption of the mails. However, if ORR
does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or
extend the deadline for any applicants. A determination to waive or
extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management
Officer.
Reporting Requirements--Grantees are required to file the Financial
Status Report (SF-269) semi-annually and Program Progress Reports on a
quarterly basis. Although ORR does not expect the proposed components/
projects to include evaluation activities, it does expect grantees to
maintain adequate records to track and report on expenditures by budget
line item, project outcomes and participant demographics information
which may include but is not limited to: date of birth, sex, country of
birth, date of entry, education, employment history, marital status and
number of children.
The official receipt point for all reports and correspondence is
the Grant Officer, Office of the Director. An original and one copy of
each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each
reporting period. The mailing address is: Office of Refugee
Resettlement, Sixth Floor East, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. A final Financial and Program
Report shall be due 90 days after the budget expiration date or
termination of grant support.
Dated: June 15, 1999.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 99-16337 Filed 6-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
