[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35598-35601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17265]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Program Announcement No. OCSE 98TIP-1]
Child Support Enforcement Demonstration and Special Projects;
Federal/Tribal Grant (Cooperative Agreement) to Plan Tribal Child
Support Programs
AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The OCSE invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant
applications to assist them in planning and preparing to run their own
child support program. Applications will be screened and evaluated as
indicated in this program announcement. Awards will be contingent on
the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.
DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 31,
1998. See Part IV of this announcement for more information on
submitting applications.
ADDRESSES: Application kits containing the necessary forms and
instructions to apply for a grant under this program announcement are
available from: Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Child Support Enforcement, Office of Automation and Special Projects
(OCSE/OASP), 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 4th Floor, West Wing,
Washington, DC 20447, Attention: Jay Adams, (202) 401-9240, 401-5539
(FAX), [email protected], www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/oa/form.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administration for Children and
Families (ACF), OCSE/OASP, Lucille Dawson at (202) 401-5437 or Lawrence
A. Dunmore, III at (202) 205-4554, for specific program concerns
regarding the announcement. Lois Hodge, Grants Officer/Team 1, (202)
401-2344.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four
parts:
Part I: Background--program purpose, program objectives,
legislative authority, funding availability, and Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number.
Part II: Applicant and Project Eligibility--eligible applicants,
priorities and preferences, and project and budget periods.
Part III: The Review Process--intergovernmental review, initial ACF
screening, competitive review and evaluation criteria, funding
reconsideration.
Part IV: The Application--application development, application
submission.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20
hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection
of information.
The following information collections within this Program
Announcement are approved under the following currently valid OMB
control numbers: 424 (0348-0043); 424A (0348-0044); 424B (0348-0040);
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (0348-0046); Uniform Project
Description (0970-0139 Expiration date 10/31/00).
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
[[Page 35599]]
Part I. Background
A. Child Support Enforcement Program History
The mission of the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program, which
was established in 1975 under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, is
to ensure that children receive financial and emotional support from
both their parents. The program locates non-custodial parents,
establishes legal paternity, and establishes and enforces child support
orders. The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
administers the program in cooperation with the State and local
agencies designated under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The
OCSE provides direction, guidance and oversight to the States. The
Federal government reimburses the bulk of the State agencies'
administrative costs in the conduct of their responsibilities for the
program.
B. Program Purpose
The CSE program is a Federal matching program where Federal funding
is available for State expenditures eligible for reimbursement. A
number of Tribes have been involved in CSE by way of agreements with
States. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 (PRWORA), as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,
provides a number of new opportunities for Tribes and tribal
organizations to become more involved in child support enforcement.
The first of these opportunities involves changes to the Federal
law that allow funding of tribal activities carried out under
cooperative agreements with States. Prior to enactment of PRWORA,
Federal funding under title IV-D of the Act was available, through the
State, for eligible expenditures of tribes pursuant to a cooperative
agreement with the State under which the State delegated any functions
of the IV-D program to the tribal entity and the tribal entity complied
with all requirements of title IV-D applicable to the function or
functions delegated to the tribe. The amended Act authorizes State/
Tribal cooperative agreements under which Tribes no longer need to
satisfy all applicable IV-D requirements as specified in 45 CFR
303.107(c). Federal Financial Participation (FFP) continues to be
available for expenditures under State/Tribal cooperative agreements if
such expenditures are otherwise eligible for reimbursement under title
IV-D of the Act and 45 CFR part 304.
C. Direct Tribal Funding
The second of these opportunities, direct funding from the Federal
government, is the subject of this program announcement. New section
455(f) of the Social Security Act allows the Secretary to make direct
payments to an Indian tribe or tribal organization that demonstrates to
the Secretary's satisfaction that it has the capacity to operate a
child support enforcement program meeting the following objectives of
Part IV-D of the Social Security Act.
Establishment of paternity;
Establishment, modification, and enforcement of support
orders;
Location of absent parents.
The Law requires the Secretary to issue regulations establishing
the requirements which must be met by an Indian tribe or tribal
organization in order for it to be eligible for direct funding under
subsection 455(f).
D. Program Objectives
OCSE has undertaken a consultation process to obtain ideas,
suggestions, and concerns from Tribes and tribal organizations
regarding the regulations it must prepare before issuing direct grants
to Tribes. OCSE (has or is in the process of) holding three major
regional consultation meetings. In addition, OCSE sent packages of
information on child support to all tribes and all major tribal
organizations. An ``800'' number, (1-800-433-1434), has been
established so that tribes can phone in comments pertaining to
information on child support. The OCSE has also established a location
on its internet site to receive comments. The internet address is
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/fdback.htm OCSE thinks that
another way to get information to help shape the Native American CSE
program is to issue a small number of grants to Tribes and Tribal
organizations to assist them in planning and preparing to run their own
child support program. While our consultation meetings are good forums
for discussion about child support enforcement and a good way for us to
hear tribal ideas and concerns, we think that additional useful
information can be gained by working with a few tribes in actually
taking the first steps towards running their own child support
enforcement programs.
E. Legislative Authority
Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.652(j),
provides Federal funds for technical assistance, information
dissemination and training of Federal and State staff, research and
demonstration programs and special projects of regional or national
significance relating to the operation of State child support
enforcement programs.
F. Availability of Funds
$100,000 is available for FY 1998. We envision issuing 2 to 4
grants. A non-Federal match is not required. OCSE is also providing
grants under a separate program announcement, Federal Register: May 8,
1998 (Volume 63, Number 89) pages 25490-25493, to a wide variety of
public and private agencies. The purpose of these grants is to further
the national child support mission, vision and goals as outlined in the
CSE Strategic Plan with Outcome Measures for Fiscal Years 1995-1999. A
copy of the CSE Strategic Plan may be obtained upon request (See
ADDRESSES of this announcement).
G. CFDA NUMBER: 93.601--Child Support Enforcement Demonstrations and
Special Projects
Part II. Applicant and Project Eligibility
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for these Tribal child support program grants
are Tribes and Tribal Organizations. We will be selecting Tribes from
two categories:
(1) Tribes or tribal organizations with some experience with the
child support program, e.g., through cooperative agreements with States
and (2) tribes and tribal organizations with no direct experience with
child support enforcement.
B. Federal Participation
OCSE anticipates substantial Federal involvement in these projects.
OCSE will offer successful grantees considerable technical assistance
and support. OCSE will be available to help grantees review their laws,
look at how other Tribes have approached child support issues. This
assistance will be provided by a combination of teleconferences and on-
site visits.
C. Project Priorities and Preferences
OCSE plans to issue these grants mainly to Tribal governments or
consortia of Tribal governments. While other tribal organizations may
apply for grants under this announcement, they should be aware that
OCSE will give preference to tribal governments or consortia, as noted
in
Part III: Review Process, Competitive Review and Evaluation
Criteria in this Announcement
Our expectation is that these grants will result in Tribes with
previous CSE experience being capable at the end of
[[Page 35600]]
the grant to receive either direct funding under section 455(f) or a
follow-up demonstration grant. For Tribes with no previous CSE
experience, we expect that by the end of the grant period, the Tribe
will have in place a detailed plan to guide the Tribe in its efforts to
qualify for direct Federal funding under section 455(f).
D. Project and Budgets Periods
Generally, project and budget periods for these projects will be up
to 17 months. However, OCSE will consider projects up to 36 months, if
unique circumstances warrant. If OCSE approves a project for a time
period longer than 17 months, OCSE will provide funding in discrete 12-
month increments, or ``budget periods.'' Applications for continuation
grants funded under these awards beyond the one-year budget period but
within the three year project period will be entertained in subsequent
years on a non-competitive basis, subject to availability of funds,
satisfactory progress of the grantee and a determination that continued
funding would be in the best interest of the Government.
Part III: The Review Process
A. Intergovernmental Review
This program is not covered under Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100,
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services
Programs and Activities.''
B. Initial ACF Screening
Each application submitted under this program announcement will
undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received
by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions
in this announcement and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding.
C. Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria
Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated
and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific
evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess
the quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of
its success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
Points are awarded only to applications which are responsive to the
evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following four
criteria. Applications can receive a maximum of 90 points on these four
criteria. Up to an additional 10 points will be awarded based on
whether the applicant is a tribal government or consortia of Tribal
governments and on the extent of the applicant's contribution to
project costs.
(1) Criterion I: Understanding and Project Structure (Maximum: 20
points)
The application should describe the extent to which the project
will contribute to OCSE's knowledge regarding how to structure the
Native American CSE program and prototype. In evaluating this criteria,
OCSE will look at the extent to which lessons learned from the
applicant's project could be applied to a range of other Tribes and
Tribal organizations.
(2) Criterion II: Design and Project Goals (Maximum: 20 Points)
The application should include a sound project design to achieve
the project's stated goals. The main concern in this criterion is that
the applicant should demonstrate a clear idea of the project's goals,
objectives, and tasks to be accomplished. The plan to accomplish the
goals and tasks should be set forth in a logical framework.
(3) Criterion III: Project Contribution and Effectiveness (Maximum: 30
Points)
The applicant should identify the extent to which the grant project
will contribute to the Tribe's or organization's ability to run a
successful CSE program.
(4) Criterion IV: Reasonable Costs (Maximum: 20 Points)
The project costs are reasonable in relation to the identified
tasks.
(5) Additional Points: Tribal Contributions and Tribal Governments/
Consortia (Maximum: 10 Points)
OCSE will award 1 point for contributions amounting to less than
10% of the total project budget; 3 points for contributions between 10%
and 25%; and 5 points for contributions over 25%.
OCSE will give preference to Tribal governments or consortia of
Tribal governments by adding 5 points to the scores of applications
from such organizations.
D. Funding Reconsideration
After Federal funds are exhausted for this grant competition,
applications which have been independently reviewed and ranked but have
no final disposition (neither approved nor disapproved for funding) may
again be considered for funding. Reconsideration may occur at any time
funds become available within twelve (12) months following ranking. ACF
does not select from multiple ranking lists for a program. Therefore,
should a new competition be scheduled and applications remain ranked
without final disposition, applicants are informed of their opportunity
to reapply for the new competition, to the extent practical.
Part IV. The Application
A. Application Development
In order to be considered for a grant under this program
announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied
and in the manner prescribed by ACF. Application materials including
forms and instructions are available from the contact named under the
ADDRESSES section in the preamble of this announcement. The length of
the application, not including the application forms and all
attachments, i.e., Certifications, Disclosures, and Assurances, should
not exceed 20 pages. The narrative should be typed double-spaced on a
single-side of an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins
on all sides. Applicants are requested not to send pamphlets, maps,
brochures or other printed material along with their application as
these are difficult to photocopy. These materials, if submitted, will
not be included in the review process. Each page of the application
will be counted to determine the total length. If applications exceed
20 double-spaced pages, the other pages will be removed from the
application and not considered by the reviewers. Each applicant should
submit one signed original and two additional copies of the
application.
Applications must contain the following elements:
(1) Project Description: The application must spell out how the
project will be carried out, i.e., what specific activities will be
funded through the grant and who will carry them out.
(2) Project Goals and Objectives: The application must state what
the project is intended to accomplish.
(3) Budget: The application must provide a proposed budget. If the
applicant plans to contribute funds or other resources to the project,
these should be described in the application.
B. Application Submission
1. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be
classified
[[Page 35601]]
as late and will not be considered in the competition.
2. Deadline. Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an
announced deadline if they are either received on or before the
deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by
ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division
of Discretionary Grants, Attention: Lois Hodge/Tribal Child Support,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, D.C. 20447.
Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark or a legibly dated, machine-produced postmark of a commercial
mail service is affixed to the envelope/package containing the
application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark
from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the
commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package
was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant.
Private Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely
mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services
do not always deliver as agreed.)
Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by
other representatives of the applicant will be considered as meeting an
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date,
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children
and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor
(near loading dock), Aerospace Building, 901 D Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal
holidays). The address must appear on the envelope/package containing
the application with the note ``Attention: Lois Hodge/Tribal Child
Support.'' ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax
or through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted
to ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time
of submission and time of receipt.
3. Late applications. Applications which do not meet the criteria
above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered in the current
competition.
4. Extension of deadlines. ACF may extend an application deadline
for applicants affected by acts of God such as floods and hurricanes,
or when there is widespread disruption of the mails. A determination to
waive or extend deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants
Management Officer.
Dated: June 19, 1998.
David Gray Ross,
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 98-17265 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
