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Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Agency Name:
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community
Services
Funding Opportunity Title: Community Services Block Grant Community Economic Development Public Markets
Announcement Type: Competitive Grant--Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OCS-IP-0029
CFDA Number: 93.570
Due Date: Applications are due September 16, 2004
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended,
(Section 680 of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and
Training and Educational Services Act of 1998), authorizes the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to
make grants to provide technical and financial assistance for economic
development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-
income individuals and families by creating employment and business
development opportunities. Pursuant to this announcement, the Office of
community Services (OCS) will award grants to Community Development
Corporations (CDCs) to expand or create public markets. CDCs should
ideally have in place written commitments for at least 50 percent of
non-CED funding, a business plan, and site control for the market. Low
income beneficiaries of these projects include those who are determined
to be living in poverty as determined by the HHS Guidelines on Poverty
(See Appendix A). They may be unemployed, on public assistance,
including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are at risk
teenagers, custodial and non-custodial parents, public housing
residents, persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless.
The public markets priority area is designed to encourage rural and
urban community development corporations to create projects intended to
provide employment and business development opportunities for low-
income people through public markets.
Applicants must address development or expansion of a market both
from the perspective of the business of operating a public market and
of providing development services to vendors, who will be micro
entrepreneurs or small business owners. Development services to vendors
include training on business planning, marketing, accounting, legal
issues including licensure, micro-loans, etc. New, start-up markets
seeking capital funding from OCS must have their business and work
plans in place or close to finalization, have at least 50 percent non-
CED funding in place, and have site control.
The establishment of viable public markets is the expected outcome
of funding under this announcement. These public markets must
demonstrate benefits for vendors and their employees. This includes the
number of new businesses created or expanded and the numbers of jobs
created. Public market benefits are also expected to impact the
communities and CDCs must develop measures to demonstrate this impact.
Communities served include low income communities and communities
undergoing demographic shifts; i.e., there may be appropriate cases
where public markets are in or proximate to a distressed community, but
in a location where customer draw can be more diverse and thus make the
market more likely to be economically sustainable.
In addition to an economic development capability, the public
market may contain a non-profit community or public agency space for
human services delivery, which might include faith-based and other
organizations that provide education, training, and resources for
developing healthy lifestyles, relationships, marriages, and families.
Other community services to be provided might include general medical
testing (diabetes, blood pressure, etc.) and referrals for child care,
nutrition services, and counseling.
By improving the economic and social status of low income
individuals and their families, Public Markets can reduce poverty and
the need for TANF assistance by giving a sense of ownership over one's
life. This fosters a liberating internal sense of fulfillment and
balance, which nourishes positive and constructive attitudes,
behaviors, and moral character traits that build and stabilize healthy
relationships, marriages, families, and communities.
Project Goals
CED projects should further HHS goals of strengthening American
marriages and families and promoting their self-sufficiency, and ACF
goals of promoting healthy families in healthy communities. The CED
Program is particularly directed toward public-private partnerships
that develop employment and business development opportunities for low-
income people and revitalize distressed communities. By providing
access to opportunity, CED projects help build economic and social
capital in low income individuals, and thereby help stabilize and
strengthen relationships, marriages, families, and produce healthier
environments for children. Public Markets have a unique role in
building healthier, more prosperous and diverse communities, and
therefore also serve as a useful-if not essential-tool for
strengthening the safety of neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and
the nation as a whole.
Although there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this
program, most public market projects require significant funding in
addition to Federal CED funds so applicants are strongly encouraged to
mobilize the resources needed for a successful project. The ability to
mobilize resources is considered in evaluating the feasibility of a
proposal. Please note that ash resources such as cash or loans
contributed from all project sources (except for those contributed
directly by the applicant) must be documented by letters of commitment
from third parties making the contribution. Further, the value of
in-kind contributions for personal property is documented by an
inventory valuation for equipment and a certified appraisal for real
property and a copy of a deed or other legal documents are required for
real property. Please note that anticipated or projected program income
such as gross or net profits from the project or business operations
will not be recognized as mobilized or contributed resources.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide adequate source
documentation proving sufficiency of sound financial management systems
such as a signed statement from a Certified or Licensed Public
Accountant as to the sufficiency of the applicant CDC's financial
management system and/or financial statements for the CDC for the prior
three years. If such statements are not available because the CDC is a
newly formed entity, the application can include a statement to this
effect, ``CDC grantees are responsible for ensuring that all grant
funds are expended in compliance with applicable federal regulations
and Federal Office of Management Budget Circulars''.
Project Scope
Projects must result in the creation of new businesses and jobs.
Each applicant must describe the project scope including the low-income
community to be served, business activities to be undertaken, and the
types of jobs to be created.
Business Plan
Applications are strongly encouraged to submit a business plan.
This business plan covers the development or expansion of the market,
not the individual business plans of vendors.
The ability to demonstrate an effective business plan that outlines
a successful business venture and/or economic development project will
be closely reviewed and evaluated by an expert review panel, OCS, and
OGM. Please see Section V.I Evaluation Criteria for specific criterion
related to the business plan. Ideally, strong business plans should
address all the relevant elements as follows:
(1) Executive Summary (limit to 2 pages).
(2) Description of the business: The business as a legal entity and
its general business category. Business activities must be described by
Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) using the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) and jobs by occupational classification.
This information is published by the U. S. Department of Commerce in
the Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998, Tables No. 679 and
680. These tables include information necessary to meet this
requirement.
(3) Description of the industry, current status and prospects.
(4) Products and Services, including detailed descriptions of:
(a) Products or services to be sold;
(b) Proprietary position of any of the products, e.g., patents,
copyright, trade secrets;
(c) Features of the product or service that may give it an
advantage over the competition;
(5) Market Research: This section describes the research conducted
to assure that the business has a substantial market to develop and
achieve sales in the face of competition. This includes researching:
(a) Customer base: Describe the actual and potential purchasers for
the product or service by market segment.
(b) Market size and trends: Describe the site of the current total
market for the product or service offered;
(c) Competition: Provide an assessment of the strengths and
weaknesses of the competition in the current market;
(d) Estimated market share and sales: Describe the characteristics
of the product or service that will make it competitive in the current
market;
(6) Marketing Plan: The marketing plan details the product,
pricing, distribution, and promotion strategies that will be used to
achieve the estimated market share and sales projections. The marketing
plan must describe what is to be done, how it will be done and who will
do it. The plan addresses overall marketing, strategy, packaging,
service and warranty, pricing, distribution and promotion.
(7) Design and Development Plans: If the product, process or
service of the proposed venture requires any design and development
before it is ready to be placed on the market, describe the nature,
extent and cost of this work. The section covers items such as
development status and tasks, difficulties and risks, product
improvement and new products and costs.
(8) Operations Plan: An operations plan describes the kind of
facilities, site location, space, capital equipment and labor force
(part and/or full time and wage structure) that are required to provide
the company's product or service.
(9) Management Team: This section describes the technical,
managerial and business skills and experience to be brought to the
project. This is a description of key management personnel and their
primary duties; compensation and/or ownership; the organizational
structure and placement of this proposed project within the
organization; the board of directors; management assistance and
training needs; and supporting professional services.
(10) Overall Schedule: This section is the implementation plan
which shows the timing and interrelationships of the major events or
benchmarks necessary to launch the venture and realize its objectives.
This includes a month-by-month schedule of activities such as product
development, market planning, sales programs, production and
operations. If the proposed project is for construction, this section
lays out timeframes for conduct of predevelopment, architectural,
engineering and environmental and other studies, and acquisition of
permits for building, use and occupancy that are required for the
project.
(11) Business and Job Creation: This section describes the business
development and job creation activities and projections expected as a
result of this project. This includes a description of the strategy
that will be used to identify and hire individuals who are low-income,
including those on TANF. This section includes the following:
(a) The number of permanent jobs that will be created during the
project period, with particular emphasis on jobs for low-income
individuals.
(b) The number of new businesses and/or jobs that will be filled by
low-income individuals (this must be at least 60 percent of all jobs
created).
(c) For low-income individuals who become self-employed, the number
of self-employed and other ownership opportunities created; specific
steps to be taken including on going management support and technical
assistance provided by the grantee or a third party to develop and
sustain self-employment after the businesses are in place; and expected
net profit after deductions of business expenses;
Note: OCS will not recognize job equivalents nor job counts
based on economic multiplier functions; jobs must be specifically
identified.
(12) Financial Plan: The financial plan demonstrates the economic
supports underpinning the project. It shows the project's potential and
the timetable for financial self-sufficiency. The following exhibits
must be submitted for the first two years of the public market's
operation:
(a) Profit and Loss Forecasts--quarterly for each year;
(b) Cash Flow Projections--quarterly for each year;
(c) Pro forma balance sheets--quarterly for each year;
(d) Sources and Use of Funds Statement for all funds available to
the project;
(e) Brief summary discussing any further capital requirements and
methods or projected methods for obtaining needed resources.
(13) Critical Risks and Assumptions: This section covers the risks
faced by the project and assumptions surrounding them. This includes a
description of the risks and critical assumptions relating to the
industry, the venture, its personnel, the product or service market
appeal, and the timing and financing of the venture.
(14) Community Benefits: This section describes other economic and
non-economic benefits to the community such as development of a
community's physical assets; provision of needed, but currently
unsupplied, services or products to the community; or improvement in
the living environment.
Work Plan
In addition to the ability to demonstrate an effective business
plan, applicants will also be evaluated on the extent to which they
demonstrate an effective work plan. Please see Section V.I Evaluation
Criteria for specific criterion related to the work plan. Ideally, an
applicant should include a detailed work plan that covers the
activities to be undertaken and benchmarks that illustrate progress
toward stated goals and measurable objectives.
Third Party Agreements
Applicants that propose to use some or all of the requested CED
funds to enter into a third party agreement in order to make an equity
investment, such as the purchase of stock or a loan to an organization
or business entity (including a wholly-owned subsidiary), are required
to submit the signed Third Party Agreement in the application, along
with the business plan, for approval by OCS.
It should be noted that the portion of a grant that will be used to
fund project activities related to a third party agreement will not be
released until the agreement has been approved by OCS.
All third party agreements must include written commitments as
follows: From third party (as appropriate): (1) Low-income individuals
will fill a minimum of 60 percent of the jobs to be created from
project activities as a result of the injection of grant funds. (2) The
grantee will have the right to screen applicants for jobs to be filled
by low-income individuals and to verify their eligibility. (3) If the
grantee's equity investment equals 25 percent or more of the business'
assets, the grantee will have representation on the board of directors.
(4) Reports will be made to the grantee regarding the use of grant
funds on a quarterly basis or more frequently, if necessary. (5)
Procedures will be developed to assure that there are no duplicate
counts of jobs created. (6) That the third party will maintain
documentation related to the grant objectives as specified in the
agreement and will provide the grantee and HHS access to that
documentation. From the grantee: (1) Detailed information on how the
grantee will provide support and technical assistance to the third
party in areas of recruitment and retention of low-income individuals.
(2) How the grantee will provide oversight of the grant-supported
activities of the third party for the life of the agreement. Detailed
information must be provided on how the grant funds will be used by the
third party by submitting a Sources and Uses of Funds Statement.
A third party agreement covering an equity investment must contain,
at a minimum, the following: (1) Purpose(s) for which the equity
investment is being made. (2) The type of equity transaction (e.g.
stock purchase). (3) Cost per share and basis on which the cost per
share is derived. (4) Number of shares being purchased. (5) Percentage
of CDC ownership in the business. (6) Term of duration of the
agreement. (7) Number of seats on the board, if applicable. (8)
Signatures of the authorized officials of the grantee and third party
organization.
A third party agreement covering a loan transaction must contain,
at a minimum, the following information: (1) Purpose(s) for which the
loan is being made. (2) Interest rates and other fees. (3) Terms of the
loan. (4) Repayment schedules. (5) Collateral security. (6) Default and
collection procedures. (7) Signatures of the authorized officials of
the lender and borrower.
Evaluation Plan
Applications must include provision for an independent and
methodologically sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the
activities carried out with the grant and their efficacy in creating
new jobs and business ownership opportunities. There must be a well-
defined process evaluation, and an outcome evaluation whose design will
permit tracking of project participants throughout the proposed project
period. The evaluation must be conducted by an independent evaluator,
i.e., a person with recognized evaluation skills who is
organizationally distinct from, and not under the control of, the
applicant. It is important that each successful applicant have a third-
party evaluator selected, and implement their role at the very latest
by the time the work program of the project is begun, and if possible
before that time so that he or she can participate in the design of the
program, in order to assure that data necessary for the evaluation will
be collected and available.
Definitions of Terms
The following definitions apply:
Beneficiaries--Low-income individuals (as defined in the most
recent annual revision of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) who receive direct
benefits and low-income communities that receive direct benefits.
Budget Period--The time interval into which a grant period is
divided for budgetary and funding purposes.
Business Start-up Period--Time interval within which the grantee
completes preliminary project tasks. These tasks include but are not
limited to assembling key staff, executing contracts, administering
lease out or build-out of space for occupancy, purchasing plant and
equipment and other similar activities. The Business Start-Up Period
typically takes three to six months from the time OCS awards the grant
or cooperative agreement.
Cash contributions--The recipient's cash outlay, including the
outlay of money contributed to the recipient by the third parties.
Community Development Corporation (CDC)--A private non-profit
corporation governed by a board of directors consisting of residents of
the community and business and civic leaders, which has as a principal
purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or
community development activities.
Community Economic Development (CED)--A process by which a
community uses resources to attract capital and increase physical,
commercial, and business development, as well as job opportunities for
its residents.
Construction projects--Projects that involve land improvements and
development or major renovation of (new or existing) facilities and
buildings, fixtures, and permanent attachments.
Developmental/Research Phase--The time interval during the Project
Period that precedes the Operational Phase. Grantees accomplish
preliminary activities during this phase including establishing third
party agreements, mobilizing monetary funds and other resources,
assembling, rezoning, and leasing of properties, conducting
architectural and engineering studies, constructing facilities, etc.
Displaced worker--An individual in the labor market who has been
unemployed for six months or longer.
Distressed community--A geographic urban neighborhood or rural
community of high unemployment and pervasive poverty.
Employment education and training program--A program that provides
education and/or training to welfare recipients, at-risk youth, public
housing tenants, displaced workers, homeless and low-income individuals
and that has demonstrated organizational experience in education and
training for these populations.
Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Project Areas (EZ/EC)--
Urban neighborhoods and rural areas designated as such by the
Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture.
Equity investment--The provision of capital to a business entity
for some specified purpose in return for a portion of ownership using a
third party agreement as the contractual instrument.
Faith-Based Community Development Corporation--A community
development corporation that has a religious character.
Hypothesis--An assumption made in order to test a theory. It should
assert a cause-and-effect relationship between a program intervention
and its expected result. Both the intervention and its result must be
measured in order to confirm the hypothesis. The following is a
hypothesis: ``Eighty hours of classroom training will be sufficient for
participants to prepare a successful loan application.'' In this
example, data would be obtained on the number of hours of training
actually received by participants (the intervention), and the quality
of loan applications (the result), to determine the validity of the
hypothesis (that eighty hours of training is sufficient to produce the
result).
Intervention--Any planned activity within a project that is
intended to produce changes in the target population and/or the
environment and that can be formally evaluated. For example, assistance
in the preparation of a business plan is an intervention.
Job creation--New jobs, i.e. jobs not in existence prior to the
start of the project, that result from new business start-ups, business
expansion, development of new services industries, and/or other newly-
undertaken physical or commercial activities.
Job placement--Placing a person in an existing vacant job of a
business, service, or commercial activity not related to new
development or expansion activity.
Letter of commitment--A signed letter or agreement from a third
party to the applicant that pledges financial or other support for the
grant activities contingent only on OCS accepting the applicant's
project proposal.
Loan--Money lent to a borrower under a binding pledge for a given
purpose to be repaid, usually at a stated rate of interest and within a
specified period.
Non-profit Organization--An organization, including faith-based and
community-based, that provides proof of non-profit status described in
the ``Additional Information on Eligibility'' section of this
announcement.
Operational Phase--The time interval during the Project Period when
businesses, commercial development or other activities are in
operation, and employment, business development assistance, and so
forth are provided.
Outcome evaluation--An assessment of project results as measured by
collected data that define the net effects of the interventions applied
in the project. An outcome evaluation will produce and interpret
findings related to whether the interventions produced desirable
changes and their potential for being replicated. It should answer the
question: Did this program work?
Poverty Income Guidelines--Guidelines published annually by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that establish the level
of poverty defined as low-income for individuals and their families.
The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following
address: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/
Process evaluation--The ongoing examination of the implementation
of a program. It focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the
program's activities and interventions (for example, methods of
recruiting participants, quality of training activities, or usefulness
of follow-up procedures). It should answer the questions such as: Who
is receiving what services and are the services being delivered as
planned? It is also known as formative evaluation, because it gathers
information that can be used as a management tool to improve the way a
program operates while the program is in progress. It should also
identify problems that occurred, how the problems were resolved and
what recommendations are needed for future implementation.
Pre-Development Phase--The time interval during the Project Period
when an applicant or grantee plans a project, conducts feasibility
studies, prepares a business or work plan and mobilizes non-OCS
funding.
Program income--Gross income earned by the grant recipient that is
directly generated by an activity supported with grant funds.
Project Period--The total time for which a project is approved for
OCS support, including any approved extensions.
Revolving loan fund--A capital fund established to make loans
whereby repayments are re-lent to other borrowers.
Self-employment--The employment status of an individual who engages
in self-directed economic activities.
Self-sufficiency--The economic status of a person who does not
require public assistance to provide for his/her needs and that of his/
her immediate family.
Sub-award--An award of financial assistance in the form of money,
or property, made under an award by a recipient to an eligible sub-
recipient or by a sub-recipient to a lower tier sub-recipient. The term
includes financial assistance when provided by any legal agreement,
even if the agreement is called a contract, but does not include
procurement of goods and services nor does it include any form of
assistance which is excluded from the definition of ``award'' in 45 CFR
Part 74.
Technical assistance--A problem-solving event generally using the
services of a specialist. Such services may be provided on-site, by
telephone or by other communications. These services address specific
problems and are intended to assist with immediate resolution of a
given problem or set of problems.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)--The Federal block
grant program authorized in Title I of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193). The TANF
program transformed ``welfare'' into a system that requires work in
exchange for time-limited assistance.
Third party--Any individual, organization or business entity that
is not the direct recipient of grant funds.
Third party agreement--A written agreement entered into by the
grantee and an organization, individual or business entity (including a
wholly owned subsidiary), by which the grantee makes an equity
investment or a loan in support of grant purposes.
Third party in-kind contributions--Non-cash contributions provided
by non-Federal third parties. These contributions may be in the form
of real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property,
and the value of goods and services directly benefiting and especially
identifiable to the project or program.
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
Anticipated total priority area funding: $1,000,000.
Anticipated number of awards: 4-6 per project period.
Ceiling of Individual Awards: $250,000 per project period.
Floor on amount of individual awards: None.
Average Projected Award Amount: $250,000 per project period.
Project Periods for Awards: Applications for projects that are
exclusively construction, major alteration or renovation may request a
budget and project period up to 2 years. Applications for non-
construction projects may request a budget and project period up to 17
months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than
institutions of higher education and Nonprofits that do not have a
501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher
education.
Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these grants.
Additional Information on Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate
proof of non-profit status and this proof must be included in their
applications (see section IV. 2). Proof of non-profit status is any one
of the following:
(a) A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in the IRS code.
(b) A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
(c) A statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney General,
or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant
organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings
accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
(d) A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit
status.
(e) Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a
State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the
parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
In addition to demonstrating proof of non-profit status, applicants
must also demonstrate proof of CDC status. This proof must be included
in their applications. Proof of CDC status is any one of the following:
. A list of governing board members along with their
designation as a community resident or business or civic leader; and
. Documentation that the applicant organization has as a
primary purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or
community development activities. This documentation may include
incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the
organization.
Applicants are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards is
$250,000. An application that exceeds the upper value of the dollar
range specified will be considered ``non-responsive'' and will be
returned to the applicant without further review.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
None.
3. Other
On June 27, 2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in
the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal
grant applicants. The policy requires all Federal grant applicants to
provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or
after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an
applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-
wide electronic portal (http://www.grants.gov). A DUNS number will be
required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation
of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement
and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please
ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number
request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at
http://www.dnb.com.
Applications are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards
is $250,000. Applications exceeding the $250,000 threshold will be
considered non-responsive and returned without review.
Applications that fail to submit proof of non-profit status with
their applications will be considered non-responsive and returned
without review.
Applications that fail to submit proof of CDC status with their
applications will be considered non-responsive and returned without
review.
IV. Application and Submission Information
IV.1. Address To Request Application Package
Office of Community Services, Operations Center, 1815 North Fort
Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, e-mail:
ocs@lcgnet.com, Telephone: (800) 281-9519.
URL to Obtain an Application Package: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.
IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission
This subsection provides detailed instructions for developing the
application. Please see Section V ``Application Review Information''
for additional relevant information.
You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the
http://www.grants.gov site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to
download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may
not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
Please note the following if you plan to submit your application
electronically via Grants.gov:
. Electronic submission is voluntary.
. When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you
do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the
application process through Grants.gov.
. To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS
Number to register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You should
allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.
. You will not receive additional point value because you
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize
you if you submit an application in paper format.
. You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary
assurance and certifications.
. Your application must comply with any page limitation
requirements described in this program announcement.
. After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.
. We may request that you provide original signatures on
forms at a later date.
. You may access the electronic application for this program
on http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable
application package by the CFDA number.
Application Content
Each application must include the following components:
Proof of Non-Profit Status--Documentation about the applicant
agency's non-profit status. Please include any one of the following:
. A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in the IRS code.
. A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
. A statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney
General, or other appropriate State official certifying that the
applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net
earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
. A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit
status.
. Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
Proof of Status as Private Non-Profit Community Development
Corporation--Proof of status as a CDC. Please include any one of the
following:
. A list of governing board members along with their
designation as a community resident or business or civic leader; and
. Documentation that the applicant organization has as a
primary purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or
community development activities. This documentation may include
incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the
organization.
Abstract of the Proposed Project--One or two paragraphs, not to
exceed 350 words, that describe the community in which the project will
be implemented, beneficiaries to be served, type(s) of business(es) to
be developed, type(s) of jobs to be created, projected cost-per-job,
any land or building to be purchased or building constructed, resources
leveraged and intended impact on the community.
Completed Standard Form 424--That has been signed by an official of
the organization applying for the grant who has legal authority to
obligate the organization. Under Box 11. indicate the Priority Area for
which the application is written.
Standard Form 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.
Standard Form 424B--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.
Narrative Budget Justification--For each object class category
required under Section B, Standard Form 424A.
Applicants are encouraged to use job titles and not specific names
in developing the application budget. However, the specific salary
rates or amounts for staff positions identified must be included in the
application budget.
Applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies
(not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals
specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers. The
copies may include summary salary information.
Project Narrative--A narrative that addresses issues described in
the ``Application Review Information'' and the ``Review and Selection
Criteria'' sections of this announcement.
Evaluation Plan--Description of an independent, methodologically
sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out
with the grant and the organization's efficacy in creating new jobs and
business ownership opportunities. Please see Section I. Funding
Opportunity Description for additional information on preparing the
Evaluation Plan.
Third Party Agreement (if applicable)--Applicants that propose to
use some or all of the requested CED funds to enter into a third party
agreement in order to make an equity investment, such as the purchase
of stock or a loan to an organization or business entity (including a
wholly-owned subsidiary), are required to submit the signed Third Party
Agreement in the application, along with the business plan, for
approval by OCS. Please see Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
for additional guidance in preparing the Third Party Agreement.
Application Format
Submit application materials on white 8\1/2\ x 11 inch paper only.
Do not use colored, oversized or folded materials.
Do not include organizational brochures or other promotional
materials, slides, films, clips, etc.
The font size may be no smaller than 12 pitch and the margins must
be at least one inch on all sides.
Number all application pages sequentially throughout the package,
60 pages max, beginning with the abstract of the proposed project as
page number one.
Present application materials either in loose-leaf notebooks or in
folders with pages two-hole punched at the top center and fastened
separately with a slide paper fastener.
Each application should include one signed original and two
additional copies.
Page Limitation
The application package including sections for the Table of
Contents, Project Abstract, Project and Budget Narratives, must not
exceed 60 double spaced pages. The page limitation does not include
Standard Forms and Assurances, Certifications, Disclosures, appendices
and any supplemental documents as required in this announcement.
An application that exceeds the page limitation specified will be
considered ``non-responsive'' and will be returned to the applicant
without further review.
Required Standard Forms
Applicants must submit a signed Standard Form 424, Application for
Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424A Budget Information--Non-
Construction Projects, and Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.''
Applicants must provide a certification regarding lobbying when
applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants must sign and
return the certification with their applications.
Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the Standard Form
LLL when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who
have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with
receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a
disclosure form to report lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the
disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to non-discrimination.
Applicants provide certification by signing the SF424 and need not mail
back the certification with the application.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their
compliance with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994 as
outlined in Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
Applicants provide certification by signing the SF424 and need not mail
back the certification with the application.
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants.''
The forms are located on the Web at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m.
(Eastern Standard Time) on September 16, 2004. Mailed or hand carried
applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be
classified as late.
Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time
and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services
Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington,
Virginia 22209. Applicants are responsible for mailing applications
well in advance, when using all mail services, to ensure that the
applications are received on or before the deadline time and date.
Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight express mail couriers
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community
Services Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300,
Arlington, Virginia 22209, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal
holidays). This address must appear on the envelope/package containing
the application with the note: ``Attention: Office of Community
Services Operations Center.'' Applicants are cautioned that express/
overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.
Late applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above
will be considered late applications. ACF will notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered in the current
competition.
Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or
when there are widespread disruptions of mail service. Determinations
to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants
Management Officer.
Required Forms:
| What to submit | Required Content | Required Form or Format | When to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Table of Contents |
A numbered list of key parts of the application. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission. | By application due date. |
|
Project Summary/Abstract |
Very brief narrative that identifies the type of project, the target population and the major elements of the work plan. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission. | By application due date. |
|
Objectives and Needs for Assistance. |
Narrative that describes the economic situation and needs of residents of the target neighborhood(s) and the comprehensive community building or neighborhood transformation effort that is planned or currently underway in that neighborhood. |
Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission and Section V. Evaluation Criteria. | By application due date. |
|
Results or Benefits Expected |
Narrative that identifies the results and benefits to be derived. For example, the number of new jobs that will be targeted for residents. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission and Section V. Evaluation Criteria. | By application due date. |
|
Approach |
Overall Project Work Plan. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission and Section V. Evaluation Criteria. | By application due date. |
|
Organizational Profile |
Description of organizational ability. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission and Section V. Evaluation Criteria. | By application due date. |
|
Budget and Budget Justification |
Budget information including: (a) Narrative budget justification; (b) Completed Standard Form 424; (c) Completed Standard Form 424A. | Consistent with guidance in Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission and Section V. Evaluation Criteria. Required Standard Forms are posted on the Internet at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
Evaluation Plan |
Description of the plan to assess project outcomes. | Consistent with guidance in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section and Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission. | By application due date. |
|
Third-party Agreement (if applicable) |
Agreement with third party for equity investments. | Consistent with guidance in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description Section and Section IV. Content and Form of Application Submission. | By application due date. |
|
Certification regarding lobbying |
As per required form. | Required Standard Forms are posted on the Internet at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm. | By application due date. |
|
Certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke |
As per required form. | Required Standard Forms are posted on the Internet at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm. | By application due date. |
Additional Forms: Private-non-profit organizations may submit with
their applications the additional survey located under ``Grant Related
Documents and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant
Applicants''.
| What to submit | Required Content | Required Form or Format | When to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Survey for Private Non-Profit Grant Applicants |
Per required form. | May be found on http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
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. As of June 20, 2001, the following
jurisdictions have elected not to participate in the Executive Order
process. Applicants from these jurisdictions or for projects
administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes need take no action
in regard to E.O. 12372.
All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming have elected not
to participate in the Executive Order process and have established
Single Point of Contacts (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-five
jurisdictions need take no action regarding Executive Order 12372.
Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in
the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of
the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State,
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining
jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have
established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should
contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them about the
prospective applications and receive 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. The applicant must submit all required materials, if
any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date
of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item
16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from 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.
Comments should be submitted directly to Department of Health and
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, Aerospace
Building--4th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC
20447. A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and
Territory is included with the application materials for this
announcement.
IV.5. Funding Restrictions
Cost Per Job
OCS will not fund projects with a cost-per-job in CED funds that
exceeds $10,000. An exception will be made if the project includes
purchase of land or a building, or major renovation or construction of
a building. In this instance, the applicant must explain the factors
that raise the cost beyond $10,000. In no instance, will OCS allow for
more than $15,000 cost-per-job in CED funds. Cost per job is calculated
by dividing the amount of funds requested by the number of jobs to be
created.
National Historic Preservation Act
If an applicant is proposing a project which will affect a property
listed in, or eligible for, inclusion in the National Register of
Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and
explain how it has complied with the National Historic Preservation Act
of 1996, as amended. If there is any question as to whether the
property is listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register of Historic Places, the applicant must consult with the State
Historic Preservation Officer and describe in the narrative the content
of such consultation.
Sub-Contracting or Delegating Projects
OCS will not fund any project where the role of the applicant is
primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than
the applicant. The applicant must have a substantive role in the implementation of the
project for which funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar
the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting for specific services or
activities needed to conduct the project.
Number of Projects in Application
Except for the retail development initiative under Priority Area 1.
Operational Projects, each application may include only one proposed
project.
Prohibited Activities
OCS will not consider applications that propose to establish Small
Business Investment Corporations or Minority Enterprise Small Business
Investment Corporations.
OCS will not fund projects that are primarily education and
training projects. In projects where participants must be trained, any
funds proposed for training must be limited to specific job-related
training to those individuals who have been selected for employment in
the grant supported project. Projects involving training and placement
for existing vacant positions will be disqualified from competition.
OCS will not fund projects that would result in the relocation of a
business from one geographic area to another resulting in job
displacement.
Pre-award costs will not be covered by an award.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
Submission by Mail: An Applicant must provide an original
application with all attachments, signed by an authorized
representative and two copies. The Application must be received at the
address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time on or before the
closing date. Applications should be mailed to: Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1815 Fort Meyer Drive,
Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209.
For Hand Delivery: Applicant must provide an original application
with all attachments, signed by an authorized representative and two
copies. The Application must be received at the address below by 4:30
p.m. eastern standard time on or before the closing date. Applications
that are hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applications may be delivered to:
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for
Children and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center,
1815 Fort Meyer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209. It is
strongly recommended that applicants obtain documentation that the
application was hand delivered on or before the closing date.
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not
always deliver as agreed.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Instructions: ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD)
The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the
``project summary/abstract'' and ``Full Project Description'' sections
of the application. The generic UPD requirement is followed by the
evaluation criterion specific to the Community Economic Development
National Philanthropic Institution Projects program. Public Reporting
for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 hours per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection information.
The project description is approved under OMB Control Number 0970-
0139 which expires 4/30/2007.
An agency may nor 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.
Purpose
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. In preparing your project
description, all information requested through each specific evaluation
criteria should be provided. Awarding offices use this and other
information in making their funding recommendations. It is important,
therefore, that this information be included in the application in a
manner that is clear and complete.
Introduction
Applicants required to submit a full project description shall
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the
following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation
criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project
description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the
measures that will be used to evaluate applications.
Project Summary/Abstract
Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with
reference to the funding request.
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.
Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived. Explain how the
project will reach the targeted population and how it will benefit
participants or the community.
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.
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in, for
example, such terms as the ``number of people served.'' When
accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them
in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and
their target dates.
If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated,
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). This clearance pertains to any ``collection of information that
is conducted or sponsored by ACF.''
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.
Evaluation
Provide a narrative addressing how the results of the project and
the conduct of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the
evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which
the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which
the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project.
Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the
methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and
discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are
being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the
procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being
conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and
discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's
effectiveness.
Organizational Profiles
Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and
cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial
statements, audit reports, statements from CPA's/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.
The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: (a) A
reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal
Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations
described in the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; (b) a copy
of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate; (c) a statement
from a State taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate
State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-
profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private
shareholders or individuals; (d) a certified copy of the organization's
certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly
establishes non-profit status, (e) any of the items immediately above
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
Budget and Budget Justification
Provide line item detail 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. 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.
2. Evaluation Criteria
Criteria for Review and Evaluation of Applications Submitted Under
Priority Area 1--Operational Projects
Evaluation Criterion I: Approach (Maximum: 35 Points)
. a(1). The extent to which the project describes the
proposed public market and types of vendors and products and services
to be sold. (0-3)
. a(2). The extent to which the application documents the
market research and marketing plan for the project. (0-2)
. a(3). The extent to which the operations plan and schedule
document a timeline and benchmarks providing for completion of the
project within two years. (0-10)
b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates they have firm
site control. (0-5)
c. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates their executed
third party agreements meet the requirements set forth above. (0-5)
d. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates their required
financial documents are contained in the application, and clearly
describe proposed use of CED funds and demonstrate that the project is
viable. (0-10)
Evaluation Criterion II: Organizational Profiles (Maximum: 20 Points)
a. Organizational profile: The extent to which the applicant
demonstrates that it has the management capacity, organizational
structure and successful record of accomplishment relevant to business
development, commercial development, physical development, and/or
financial services and that it has the ability to mobilize other
financial and in-kind resources. (0--10 points)
b. Staff skills, resources and responsibilities: The extent to
which the application describes in brief resume form the experience and
skills of the project director who is not only well qualified, but
whose professional capabilities are relevant to the successful
implementation of the project. If the key staff person has not yet been
identified, the application contains a comprehensive position
description that indicates that the responsibilities to be assigned to
the project director are relevant to the successful implementation of
the project. (0-5 points)
The extent to which the applicant has adequate facilities and
resources (i.e. space and equipment) to successfully carry out the work
plan. (0-3 points)
The extent to which the assigned responsibilities of the staff are
appropriate to the tasks identified for the project and sufficient time
of senior staff will be budgeted to assure timely implementation and
cost effective management of the project. (0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion III: Results or Benefit Expected (Maximum: 15
Points)
a. Results or Benefits Expected: The extent to which the applicant
proposes to produce permanent and measurable results including, but not
limited to, employment and business ownership opportunities for low
income individuals and their families. (0-8 points)
b. Community empowerment and coordination: The extent to which the
applicant provides documentation that it is an active partner in either
a new or on-going comprehensive community revitalization project such
as: a federally-designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community or
Renewal Community project that has clear goals of strengthening
economic and human development in target neighborhoods; a State or
local-government supported comprehensive neighborhood revitalization
project; or a private sector supported community revitalization
project. (0-2 points)
c. Cost-per-job: The extent to which the applicant indicates that
during the project period, the proposed project will create new,
permanent jobs or maintain permanent jobs for low-income residents at a
cost-per-job not to exceed $10,000 in OCS funds unless the project
involves purchase of land or building or construction or significant
renovation in which instance the cost per job may not exceed $15,000.
(0-5 points)
Evaluation Criterion IV: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum:
10 Points)
The extent to which the applicant shows and documents that the
project addresses a vital need in a distressed community. ``Distressed
community'' is defined as a geographic urban neighborhood or rural
community with high unemployment and pervasive poverty. The application
documents that both the unemployment rate and poverty level for the
targeted neighborhood or community must be equal to or greater than the
state or national level. (0-5 points)
The extent to which the application cites the most recent available
statistics from published sources e.g. the recent U.S. Census or
updates, the State, county, city, election district and other
information are provided in support of its contention. (0-2 points)
The extent to which the application shows how the project will
respond to stated need. (0-3 points)
Evaluation Criterion V: Project Evaluation (Maximum: 5 Points)
a. The extent to which the applicant provides a well thought
through outline of an evaluation plan that identifies the principal
cause-and-effect relationships to be tested, and that demonstrates the
applicant understands of the role and purpose of both process and
outcome evaluations. (0-3 points)
b. The extent to which the application provides the identity and
qualifications of the proposed third-party evaluator, of if not
selected, the qualifications which will be sought in choosing an
evaluator, which must include successful experience in evaluating
community development programs, and the planning and/or evaluation of
programs designed to foster self-sufficiency in low-income populations.
(0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion VI: Public-Private Partnerships (Maximum: 10
Points)
a. Mobilization of resources: The extent to which the applicant
shows through documentation that it has mobilized from public and/or
private sources the proposed balance of non-CED funding required to
fully implement the project. Lesser contributions will be given
consideration based upon the value documented. (0-5 points)
b. Integration/coordination of services: The extent to which the
applicant demonstrates a commitment to, or agreements with, local
agencies responsible for administering child support enforcement,
employment education, and training programs to ensure that welfare
recipients, at-risk youth, displaced workers, public housing tenants,
homeless and low-income individuals, and low-income custodial and non-
custodial parents will be trained and placed in the newly created jobs.
The extent to which the applicant provides written agreements from the
local TANF or other employment education and training offices, and
child support enforcement agency indicating what actions will be taken
to integrate/coordinate services that relate directly to the project
for which funds are being requested. (0-3 points)
The extent to which the agreement shows: (1) The goals and
objectives that the applicant and the TANF or other employment
education and training offices and/or child support enforcement agency
expect to achieve through their collaboration; (2) the specific
activities/actions that will be taken to integrate/coordinate services
on an on-going basis; (3) the target population that this collaboration
will serve; (4) the mechanism(s) to be used in integrating/coordinating
activities; (5) how those activities will be significant in relation to
the goals and objectives to be achieved through the collaboration; and
(6) how those activities will be significant in relation to their
impact on the success of the OCS-funded project. (0-2 points)
Evaluation Criterion VII: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum: 5
Points)
a. The extent to which the application shows that the funds
requested are commensurate with the level of effort necessary to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the project. (0-2 points)
b. The extent to which the application includes a detailed budget
breakdown and a narrative justification for each of the budget
categories in the SF-424A. The applicant presents a reasonable
administrative cost. (0-2 points)
c. The extent to which the application shows that the estimated
cost to the government of the project also is reasonable in relation to
the anticipated results. (0-1 point)
V.2. Review and Selection Process
OCS Evaluation of Applications
Applications that pass the initial OCS screening or conformity with
the ``Eligibility'' and ``Content and Form of Application Submission''
requirements will be reviewed and rated by a panel based on the program
elements and review criteria presented in relevant sections of this
program announcement.
The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to
assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood
of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
The review panel awards points only to applications that are responsive
to the program elements and relevant review criteria within the context
of this program announcement.
The OCS Director and the program staff use the reviewer scores when
considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh heavily
in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.
Applications generally will be considered in order of the average
scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors
are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not
guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example:
the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded
with OCS funds granted in the last five (5) years; comments of
reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount
and duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's
consistency and harmony with OCS goals and policy; geographic
distribution of applications; previous program performance of
applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants,
including the actual dedication to program of mobilized resources as
set forth in project applications; audit reports; investigative
reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit
disallowance on previous OCS or other Federal agency grants.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Following approval of the applications selected for funding, notice
of project approval and authority to draw down projects will be made in
writing. The official award document is the Financial Assistance Award,
which provides the amount of Federal funds approved for use in the
project, the project and budget periods for which support is provided,
the terms and conditions of the award, and the total project period for
which support is contemplated. The Financial Assistance Award will be
signed by the Grants Officer.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Parts 74 (non-
governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental).
VI.3. Reporting
All grantees are required to submit semi-annual program and
financial reports (SF-269) with a final report due 90 days after the
project end date. A suggested format for the program report will be
sent to all grantees after the awards are made.
VII. Agency Contacts
Program Office Contact: Debbie Brown, Office of Community Services,
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Suite 500 West, Aerospace Building,
Washington, DC 20447-0002, e-mail: dbrown@acf.hhs.gov, Telephone: (202)
401-3446.
Grants Management Office Contact: Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Office
of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, Washington, DC 20447-0002., e-mail:
bziegler-johns1@acf.hhs.gov, Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
General Contact: Office of Community Services, Operations Center,
1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, e-
mail: ocs@lcgnet.com, Telephone: (800) 281-9519.
VIII. Other Information
Additional information about this program and its purpose can be
located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.
Dated: August 12, 2004.
Clarence H. Carter,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 04-18783 Filed 8-16-04; 8:45 am]
