04-6374. Funding Opportunity Title: Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Targeted Areas of Need-(Short Title: Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE) Grants)

Announcement Type: Initial.

Funding Opportunity Number: TI 04-003.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.243.

Due Date for Applications: May 25, 2004.

(Note: Letters from State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in response to E.O. 12372 are due July 26, 2004.)

SUMMARY:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), announces the availability of FY 2004 funds for Grants to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity in Targeted Areas of Need (Short Title: Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE) Grants). A synopsis of this funding opportunity, as well as many other Federal Government funding opportunities, is also available at the Internet site: http://www.grants.gov.

For complete instructions, potential applicants must obtain a copy of SAMHSA's standard Services Grants Program Announcement, SVC-04 PA (MOD), and the PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 7/00) application form before preparing and submitting an application. The SVC-04 PA (MOD) describes the general program design and provides instructions for applying for most SAMHSA Services Grants including the Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants program. SAMHSA's Services Grants provide funds to expand and strengthen effective, culturally appropriate substance abuse and/or mental health services at the State and local levels. The services implemented through SAMHSA's Services Grants must incorporate the best objective information available regarding effectiveness and acceptability. In general, SAMHSA's Services Grants are appropriate for applicants seeking Federal support to implement substance abuse and/or mental health services that have a strong evidence-base for effectiveness. SAMHSA's Services Grants must be used primarily to support direct service delivery. SAMHSA expects that the services will be sustained beyond the term of the grant. Additional instructions and specific requirements for the Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants are described below.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Authority: Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended and subject to the availability of funds.

The purpose of the Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants program is to expand and/or enhance the community's ability to provide a comprehensive, integrated, and community-based response to a targeted, well-documented substance abuse treatment capacity problem and/or improve the quality and intensity of services. For example, a community might seek a Targeted Capacity Expansion Grant to add state-of-the-art treatment approaches or new services to address emerging trends or unmet needs (e.g., intensive case management, referral, and follow-up services to address related HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, and other primary health care needs of substance abusing clients). Applicants are encouraged to engage (coordinate with or subcontract) the skills of private, non-profit, and community-based organizations not eligible to apply on their own because they are not a State or local government entity.

To encourage the substance abuse treatment system to become more responsive and bridge the gap between what is needed by individual States, localities, and/or tribal organizations, and what is known about effective treatments to meet those needs, SAMHSA/CSAT intends to fund programs in four areas in FY 2004: (1) treatment for minority populations ^[1] ; (2) treatment in rural areas; (3) treatment focused on methamphetamine and other emerging drugs; and (4) other innovative approaches to treatment capacity expansion that: focus on early identification of, and interventions for, persons with substance use disorders that have not progressed to dependence; are implemented in general medical and other community settings (e.g., community health centers, social service agencies, schools/school-based health clinics and student assistance programs, occupational health clinics, hospitals, emergency departments); and seek to improve linkages among such community agencies and specialist substance abuse treatment agencies.^[2]

Background: Information reported by SAMHSA underscores a significant disparity between the availability of treatment services for persons with alcohol and drug use disorders and the demand for such services. It is estimated, based on various studies, that there are 3-5 million individuals who use and abuse alcohol and other drugs who have a significant impact on both the utilization of services and costs within the health care, juvenile justice, welfare, child welfare, and other publicly funded social support systems. However, currently, of these individuals, only 1.8 million can be served through the existing publicly funded treatment system. By providing needed treatment services, this program is intended to reduce the health and social costs of substance abuse and dependence to the public, and increase the safety of America's citizens by reducing substance abuse related crime and violence.

II. Award Information

1. Estimated Funding Available/Number of Awards: It is expected that $12 million will be available in FY 2004 to fund programs in four categories: (1) treatment focused on minority populations; (2) treatment in rural areas; (3) treatment focused on methamphetamine and other emerging drugs in specific States and localities; and (4) other innovative approaches to treatment capacity expansion that: focus on early identification of, and interventions for, persons with substance use disorders that have not progressed to dependence; are implemented in general medical and other community settings (e.g., community health centers, social service agencies, schools/school-based health clinics and student assistance programs, occupational health clinics, hospitals, emergency departments); and seek to improve linkages among such community agencies and specialist substance abuse treatment agencies.

SAMHSA expects that approximately $3 million will be available for awards in each category, and that approximately 6 awards will be made in each category. The maximum allowable award is $500,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) per year for up to 3 years. Proposed budgets cannot exceed the allowable amount in any year of the proposed project. The actual amount available for the awards may vary, depending on unanticipated program requirements and the number and quality of the applications received. Annual continuations will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting program goals and objectives, and timely submission of required data and reports.

2. Funding Instrument: Grant.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is restricted to States and units of local government (e.g., cities, towns, counties) or Indian tribes and tribal organizations in recognition of their responsibility for, and interest in, providing for the needs of their citizens, and because the success of the program will depend upon their authority and ability to broadly coordinate a variety of resources. Funding is not designed to meet statewide treatment needs, but to meet the needs of individual communities in cities, towns, counties, and multi-county partnerships. Therefore, States that apply must identify a specific city, town, county or multi-county partnership that will be the targeted geographic area of need. These eligibility criteria supersede the criteria specified in Section III-1 of the SVC 04 PA (MOD).

Applications for SAMHSA Services Grants must include evidence of experience and credentials as described in Section III-3 of the SVC-04 PA (MOD). Applications that do not include the required evidence will be screened out and will not be reviewed.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching is not required.

3. Other: Applicants must also meet certain application formatting and submission requirements, or the application will be screened out and will not be reviewed. These requirements are described in Section IV-2 below, as well as in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package: Complete application kits may be obtained from: the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) at 1-800-729-6686. When requesting an application kit for this program, the applicant must specify the funding opportunity title (TCE Grants) and number (TI 04-003) for which detailed information is desired. All information necessary to apply, including where to submit applications and application deadline instructions, is included in the application kit. The PHS 5161-1 application form is also available electronically via SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page: http://www.samhsa.gov/​ (Click on “Grant Opportunities”) and the SVC-04 PA (MOD) is available electronically at http://www.samhsa.gov/​grants/​2004/​standard/​Services/​index.asp.

When submitting an application, be sure to type “TI 04-003, TCE” in Item Number 10 on the face page of the application form. Also, SAMHSA applicants are required to provide a DUNS Number on the face page of the application. To obtain a DUNS Number, access the Dun and Bradstreet web site at www.dunandbradstreet.com or call 1-866-705-5711.

Because grantees in the TCE Grants program may use grant funds to provide direct substance abuse services, applicants are required to complete the Assurance of Compliance with SAMHSA Charitable Choice Statutes and Regulations, Form SMA 170. This form will be posted on SAMHSA's web site with the NOFA and provided in the application kits available at NCADI.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Information including required documents, required application components, and application formatting requirements is available in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-2.

Checklist for Formatting Requirements and Screenout Criteria for SAMHSA Grant Applications

SAMHSA's goal is to review all applications submitted for grant funding. However, this goal must be balanced against SAMHSA's obligation to ensure equitable treatment of applications. For this reason, SAMHSA has established certain formatting requirements for its applications. If you do not adhere to these requirements, your application will be screened out and returned to you without review.

—Use the PHS 5161-1 application.

—Applications must be received by the application deadline. Applications received after this date must have a proof of mailing date from the carrier dated at least 1 week prior to the due date. Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing. Applications not received by the application deadline or not postmarked at least 1 week prior to the application deadline will not be reviewed.

—Information provided must be sufficient for review.

—Text must be legible.

• Type size in the Project Narrative cannot exceed an average of 15 characters per inch, as measured on the physical page. (Type size in charts, tables, graphs, and footnotes will not be considered in determining compliance.)
• Text in the Project Narrative cannot exceed 6 lines per vertical inch.

—Paper must be white paper and 8.5 inches by 11.0 inches in size.

—To ensure equity among applications, the amount of space allowed for the Project Narrative cannot be exceeded.

• Applications would meet this requirement by using all margins (left, right, top, bottom) of at least one inch each, and adhering to the page limit for the Project Narrative stated in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).
• Should an application not conform to these margin or page limits, SAMHSA will use the following method to determine compliance: The total area of the Project Narrative (excluding margins, but including charts, tables, graphs and footnotes) cannot exceed 58.5 square inches multiplied by the page limit. This number represents the full page less margins, multiplied by the total number of allowed pages.
• Space will be measured on the physical page. Space left blank within the Project Narrative (excluding margins) is considered part of the Project Narrative, in determining compliance.

—The page limit for Appendices stated in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) cannot be exceeded.

To facilitate review of your application, follow these additional guidelines. Failure to adhere to the following guidelines will not, in itself, result in your application being screened out and returned without review. However, the information provided in your application must be sufficient for review. Following these guidelines will help ensure your application is complete, and will help reviewers to consider your application.

—The 10 application components required for SAMHSA applications should be included.

These are:

• Face Page (Standard Form 424, which is in PHS 5161-1);
• Abstract;
• Table of Contents;
• Budget Form (Standard Form 424A, which is in PHS 5161-1);
• Project Narrative and Supporting Documentation;
• Appendices;
• Assurances (Standard Form 424B, which is in PHS 5161-1);
• Certifications (a form in PHS 5161-1);
• Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL, which is in PHS 5161-1);
• Checklist (a form in PHS 5161-1).

—Applications should comply with the following requirements:

• Provisions relating to confidentiality, participant protection and the protection of human subjects, as indicated in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).
• Budgetary limitations as indicated in Sections I, II, and IV-5 of the SVC-04 PA (MOD).
• Documentation of nonprofit status as required in the PHS 5161-1.

—Pages should be typed single-spaced with one column per page.

—Pages should not have printing on both sides.

—Please use black ink, and number pages consecutively from beginning to end so that information can be located easily during review of the application. The cover page should be page 1, the abstract page should be page 2, and the table of contents page should be page 3. Appendices should be labeled and separated from the Project Narrative and budget section, and the pages should be numbered to continue the sequence.

—Send the original application and two copies to the mailing address in the funding announcement. Please do not use staples, paper clips, and fasteners. Nothing should be attached, stapled, folded, or pasted. Do not use heavy or lightweight paper, or any material that cannot be copied using automatic copying machines. Odd-sized and oversized attachments such as posters will not be copied or sent to reviewers. Do not include videotapes, audiotapes, or CD-ROMs.

3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications must be received by May 25, 2004. You will be notified by postal mail that your application has been received. Additional submission information is available in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-3.

4. Intergovernmental Review: Applicants for this funding opportunity must comply with Executive Order 12372 (E.O.12372). E.O.12372, as implemented through Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulation at 45 CFR part 100, sets up a system for State and local review of applications for Federal financial assistance. Instructions for complying with E.O. 12372 are provided in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in section IV-4. A current listing of State Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) is included in the application kit and is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/​omb/​grants/​spoc.html.

5. Funding Restrictions: Information concerning funding restrictions is available in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in Section IV-5.

V. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be reviewed against the Evaluation Criteria and requirements for the Project Narrative specified in the SVC-04 PA (MOD). The following information describes exceptions or limitations to the SVC-04 PA (MOD) and provides special requirements that pertain only to Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants. Applicants must discuss the following requirements in their applications, in addition to the requirements specified in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).

1.1 The 2-year experience requirement in Section III.3.2., Evidence of Experience and Credentials, of the SVC-04 PA (MOD) applies only to specialist substance abuse treatment providers participating in the project.

1.2 You must plan to send a minimum of three persons (Authorized Grantee, Project Director if different, Evaluator) to at least two joint grantee meetings each year instead of the requirement for two persons to one joint grantee meeting each year as stated in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).

1.3 In “Section E, Evaluation and Data,” applicants must, in addition to the requirements specified in the SVC-04 PA (MOD), address the following requirements that are added to the end of the 6th bullet in the Evaluation Criteria section of the SVC-04 PA (MOD):

a. State whether or not these costs are within the acceptable ranges by treatment modality provided in the “Review and Selection Process” section of this document.

b. Discuss the reasonableness of the per person costs. If proposed costs exceed acceptable ranges, a detailed justification must be provided.

1.4 Performance Measurement: All SAMHSA grantees are required to collect and report certain data, so that SAMHSA can meet its obligations under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). Grantees of the Targeted Capacity Expansion Grants program will be required to report performance in several areas. Applicants must document their ability to collect and report the required data in “Section E: Evaluation and Data” of their applications.

All Targeted Capacity Expansion grant applicants must document their ability to collect and report data using the Targeted Capacity Expansion Client Level GPRA tool that can be found at http://www.csat-gpra.samhsa.gov (click on “Data Collection Tools/Instruments”), along with instructions for completing it. Hard copies are available in the application kits distributed by SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). GPRA data must be collected at baseline (i.e., the client's entry into the project), 6 months after the baseline, and 12 months after the baseline. Projects serving adolescents also must collect 3 month post-baseline data to capture the nuances of change particular to this population. GPRA data must be entered into the GPRA web system within 7 business days of the forms being completed. In addition, 80% of the participants must be followed up on. GPRA data are to be collected and then entered into CSAT's GPRA Data Entry and Reporting System (http://www.csat-gpra.samhsa.gov). Training and technical assistance on data collecting, tracking, and follow-up, as well as data entry, will be provided by CSAT.

1.5 Progress and Financial Reports. Grantees must provide progress reports every six months instead of annual progress reports required by the SVC-04 PA (MOD). The last report will be a final, cumulative report.

1.6 Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). State and local governments and Indian tribal government applicants are not subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements; therefore, applicants for this TCE program are not required to follow the instructions for completing the PHSIS contained in the SVC-04 PA (MOD). In addition, applicants do not have to include an Appendix 4, Letter to the SSA, as required in the SVC-04 PA (MOD).

2. Review and Selection Process: Information about the review and selection process is available in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in Section V-2.

VI. Award Administration Information

Award administration information, including information about award notices, administrative requirements and reporting requirements, is included in the SVC-04 PA (MOD) in Section VI. SAMHSA's standard terms and conditions are available at http://www.samhsa.gov/​grants/​2004/​useful_​info.asp.

VII. Contacts for Additional Information

For questions about program issues, contact: Ken Robertson, SAMHSA/CSAT, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 740, Rockville, MD 20857; [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail].

For questions on grants management issues, contact: Kathleen Sample, SAMHSA, Division of Grants Management, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockwall II, Suite 630, Rockville, MD 20857; [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail].

Dated: March 17, 2004.

Margaret M. Gilliam,

Acting Director, Office of Policy, Planning and Budget, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Footnotes

1.  Minority populations include, but are not limited to, Hispanic/Latino(a); African American; Native populations including American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Pacific Islanders; and Asians, among other minority racial/ethnic groups.

2.  A community may be a geopolitical unit (city, county), a health district or human services region, or a substate planning area as defined for purposes of allocating Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) funds.