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Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Agency Name
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Funding Opportunity Title: Child Development Research Fellowship Program
Announcement Type: Initial.
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OPRE-PH-0005
CFDA Number: 93.595
Due Date for Applications: August 30, 2004.
Due Date for Letters of Intent: N/A.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose
The purpose of this priority area is to announce the availability
of funds for a cooperative agreement to sponsor a Child Development
Research Fellowship that will allow child development professionals
from the academic community the opportunity to actively participate in
policy-relevant research activities associated with ACF programs. The
goal of the fellowship program is to expose researchers to a policy
environment and thereby to expand and enrich the field's capacity for
policy-relevant research. Fellows will be able to work on-site in OPRE
or an ACF-related office on research related to ACF programs on a full-
time basis for a period of up to two years (renewable for a third year
at the discretion of the sponsoring organization and ACF). The program
is intended to stimulate the active exchange of child development
research and evaluation information directly relevant to ACF programs
and to inform the process of developing long-term research and
evaluation agendas across the various ACF programs and in the research
community at large. The cooperative agreement will require active
partnership between the sponsoring organization and the Office of
Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE).
B. Background
Section 1110 (42 U.S.C. 1310) (a) (1) of the Social Security Act
authorizes funding for conducting research related to programs carried
on or assisted through the Social Security Act, or related programs.
The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation engages in a number of
research and evaluation efforts related to low income children and
families, including research with Head Start, Child Care, Child
Welfare, and at-risk youth populations as well as research on the
impact of welfare policies on families and children. Such research
efforts typically are large in scale, and are interdisciplinary in
their design, implementation, and analysis. As such, they benefit from
expertise provided by multidisciplinary teams.
For more than a decade, Child Development Fellowships have been
offered through ACF under the sponsorship of the Society for Research
in Child Development. For the past five years, these fellowships have
been supported through a cooperative agreement between ACF and SRCD.
Child Development Fellows have contributed substantially to research
efforts related to child development and programmatic outcomes for
children and families in Head Start, Child Care, and Child Welfare
programs.
C. Priorities
The Fellowships have resulted in a range of activities that have
been of considerable benefit to the Fellows, ACF, and to the field of
early childhood development and education. The successful applicant
will work with ACF to ensure that the kinds of activities and
opportunities that have proven beneficial in the past continue to be
available. These activities have included active participation in the
technical conceptualization, planning, implementing and coordinating of
major research and evaluation activities across ACF programs;
identifying opportunities for increased program effectiveness through
coordination of research and evaluation activities with other
Departments and agencies; maintaining strong ties with both academic
and practitioner communities; and actively contributing to the
theoretical and empirical knowledge base within the areas of child
development and social services programs, among other activities. The
Fellows have benefited not only from the direct experience of working
in a policy environment, but also through planned activities with the
sponsoring organization for Fellows from other agencies and
Congressional Offices (including opportunities to attend policy
briefings and Congressional hearings), and through exposure to the
scientific activities and resources of the sponsoring organization.
It is anticipated that these types of activities would be continued
under this announcement. The applicant should have standing in the
child development research community that provides for visibility among
potential candidates for the fellowships and that assures them of an
experience that will enhance their professional development. Child
Development Fellows at ACF historically have had access to a range of
conferences, workshops and lectures designed for research/policy
fellows, such as activities provided under the aegis of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. The applicant should have
strong linkages with the policy and child development research
communities upon which they can draw to provide appropriate experiences
for the candidates, apart from their agency work activities.
The successful applicants will provide evidence of successful
implementation of fellowship programs, that the organization has access
to research professionals across a variety of disciplines related to
child development, and that the organization has a proven record of
being able to attract a pool of highly qualified applicants. The
sponsoring organization will be expected to recruit a pool of highly
qualified, doctoral-level candidates from which a final selection will
be made by ACF, depending on the opportunities, needs, and resources of
the agency.
Fellows will be provided with office space to work on-site either
in OPRE or in an agency conducting ACF-related research, such as the
Child Care Bureau, the Head Start Bureau or the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within HHS. It is expected that
the number of Fellows placed will vary from year to year, depending on
the opportunities, needs and resources of the agency and the match
between agency activities and the qualifications of available
candidates; as many as six Fellows may be placed in a single year. The
length of the placement will be for one year, with the option of a
second year at the discretion of the agency. A third year may be
possible in some circumstances; extension of a Fellowship for a third
year shall be at the discretion of the sponsoring organization.
Federal staff expect to maintain substantial involvement in the
implementation of the Fellowship program, as described below in Section
II, Description of Federal Substantial Involvement with Cooperative
Agreement.
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.
Description of Federal Substantial Involvement with Cooperative
Agreement: Federal staff will (1) select the Fellow or Fellows to be
matched to the agency, from a pool of potential Fellows selected by the
sponsoring organization; (2) provide work space including telephone and
computer access; (3) take primary responsibility for project selection
and for mentoring and supervision of the Fellow(s). Federal staff will
work with the Fellow(s) and the sponsoring organization on developing
goal statements for the Fellow(s) and on the evaluation of the
Fellowships, and also will work with the sponsoring organization to
develop criteria for the Fellowships and on advertising and promotional
materials. The sponsoring organization will (1) recruit and screen
candidates for Fellowships, and develop an initial pool of candidates;
(2) provide exposure to additional scientific and professional
development activities and other programming outside the agency; (3)
provide group activities for Fellows to benefit from the experiences of
one another; and (4) provide administrative support for the Fellowship
program, including payment of stipends and reimbursements for travel
and benefits, as well as support for individual Fellows' work
activities.
Anticipated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000.
Anticipated Number of Awards: ACF anticipates funding one project
for a period of up to five years.
Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $600,000 per budget period,
contingent on the number of Fellows placed. The award amount is for
planning purposes only.
Floor of Individual Award Amounts: none.
Average Anticipated Award Amount: $500,000 per budget period.
Project Periods for Awards: Five years. Initial awards will be for
the first one-year budget period. Requests for the second through fifth
years of funding within the project period should be identified in the
current application (on SF-424A), but such requests will be considered
in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to the
applicant's eligibility status, the availability of funds, satisfactory
progress of the grantee, and a determination that continued funding
would be in the best interest of the Government.
III. Eligibility Information
Eligible Applicants:
County governments, City or township governments, Special district
governments, State controlled institutions of higher education, Native
American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Non-profit
organizations having a 501(c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue
Code, other than institutions of higher education, Non-profit
organizations that do not have 501 (c) (3) status with the Internal
Revenue Code, other than institutions of higher education, Private
institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than
small businesses, Small businesses, and faith-based organizations.
Additional Information on Eligibility:
Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to
submit proof of their non-profit status.
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.
Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes. Grantees must provide at least 1
percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved
cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-federal
share. The non-federal share may be met by cash or in-kind
contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match
requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet
the match requirements, a project with a total approved cost of
$606,060, requesting $600,000 in ACF funds, must provide a non-federal
share of at least $6,060 (1% of total approved project cost of
$606,060). Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of
non-federal resources even if over the amount of the required match.
Failure to provide the amount will result in disallowance of Federal
funds.
The following example shows how to calculate the required 1% match
amount for a $100,000 grant:
$100,000 (Federal share) divided by .99 (100%-1%) equals $101010 (total
project cost including match) minus $100,000 (federal share) equals
$1,010 (required 1% match)
Applications that fail to include the required amount of cost-
sharing will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for
funding under this announcement.
Other:
All Applicants must have Dun & Bradstreet Number. 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 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 at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number
on-line at http://www.dnb.com.
Applications that fail to follow the required format described in
section IV.2 Application Requirements will be considered non-responsive
and will not be eligible for funding under this announcement.
Applications that exceed the $600,000 (per budget period) ceiling
will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding
under this announcement.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
An original and two copies of the complete application are
required. The original and 2 copies must include all required forms,
certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized
representative, have original signatures, and be submitted unbound.
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.
You may submit your application to us either in electronic or paper
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the
http://www.Grants.gov apply 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 and 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 paper format.
. You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the SF424 and all necessary
assurances 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 form 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 Requirements
The application must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8\1/2\ x
11 plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. The application
must use Times New Roman 12 point font or Arial 12 point font. All
pages of the application (including appendices, resumes, charts,
references/footnotes, tables, maps and exhibits) must be sequentially
numbered. Applications that do not follow the aforementioned stated
criteria will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for
funding under this announcement.
The Project Narrative including the Table of Contents must not
exceed 50 pages. Pages submitted beyond the first 50 in the application
project narrative section will be removed prior to panel review. The
Narrative Budget Justification, Standard Forms for Assurances,
Certifications, Disclosures and appendices and the cost-share letters
are not included in this limitation, yet applicants are urged to be
concise.
There is a 5-page limit to any additional supporting documentation,
including letters of support. Applicants are requested not to send
pamphlets, brochures, or other printed material along with their
applications as these pose copying difficulties. These materials, if
submitted, will not be included in the review process. In addition,
applicants must not submit any additional letters of endorsement beyond
any that may be required.
Applicants must demonstrate proof of non-profit status and this
proof must be included in their applications. Applicants must include
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.
Forms and Certifications:
The project description should include all the information
requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in
the program announcement under Part V. In addition to the project
description, the applicant needs to complete all the standard forms
required for making applications for awards under this announcement.
Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard
Form 424B with their applications. 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, if applicable, with their applications. The
forms (Forms 424, 424A-B; and Certifications may be found at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm
under new announcements. Fill out Standard Forms 424 and 424A and the
associated certifications and assurances based on the instructions on
the forms.
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.
3. Submission Dates and Times
The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m.
(Eastern Time Zone) on August 30, 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 following address:
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
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., EST, at the following address:
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria
above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered in the current
competition.
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 mails 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Narrative. |
Described in Section V of this Announcement. | Format described in Section V. | By application due date. |
2. SF424, SF424a, SF424b |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
3. Certification regarding Lobbying and associated Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities (SF LLL). |
Per required form. |
May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm |
By application due date. |
|
5. Environmental Tobacco Smoke Certification. |
Per required form. | May be found 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. |
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 October 1, 2003, 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, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Applicants from these jurisdictions
need not take action.
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 of 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.
When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 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.
5. Funding Restrictions
Number of Projects in Application
Each application may include only one proposed project.
Applicants are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards is
$600,000 per project period. Applications exceeding the $600,000
threshold will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible
for funding under this announcement.
Federal funds received as a result of this announcement cannot be
paid as profit to grantees or sub-grantees, i.e., any amount in excess
of allowable direct and indirect costs of the recipient (45 CFR 74.81).
In cases where more applications are approved for funding than ACF
can fund with the money available, the Grants Officer shall fund
applications in their order of approval until funds run out. In this
case, ACF has the option of carrying over the approved applications up
to a year for funding consideration in a later competition of the same
program. These applications need not be reviewed and scored again if
the program's evaluation criteria have not changed. However, they must
then be placed in rank order along with other applications in the later
competition.
Pre-award costs are not allowable charges to the award.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Submission by Mail: Mailed applications shall be considered as
meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before 4:30
p.m., Eastern Standard Time on the closing date at the address below:
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/ Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
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.
Hand Delivery: 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 4:30 p.m., EST on the
deadline date. The following address must appear on the envelope/
package containing the application with the note ``Attention: Child
Development Fellowship Grants.'' 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:
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do
not always deliver as agreed.
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.
Electronic Submission: Please see section IV. 2 Content and Form of
Application Submission, for guidelines and requirements when submitting
applications electronically.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)
Public reporting burden 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 not conduct or sponsor, and
a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the
``project summary/abstract'' and ``Full Project Description'' sections
of the application. Under the evaluation criteria section, note that
each criterion is preceded by the generic evaluation requirement under
the ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD).
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 such
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities
accomplished. 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.
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.
Organizational Profiles
Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and
cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial
statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public
Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers,
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any
non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of
its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission.
Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example,
describe how the intermediary's assistance to faith-based and community
organizations will increase their effectiveness, enhance their ability
to provide social services, diversify their funding sources, and create
collaborations to better serve those most in need.
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. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,
and allocability of the proposed costs.
Evaluation Criterion I: Organizational Profiles (Maximum: 50 points)
The extent to which the organization presents a proven track record
in successfully administering a research fellowship program, including
child development research fellowships.
The extent to which the organization demonstrates the capacity to
access a multidisciplinary group of doctoral level researchers who are
potential applicants.
The extent to which the organization demonstrates a history of
relationships with scientific and policy organizations through which
Fellows can access workshops, lectures, conferences, and other
professional development activities consistent with a Child Development
Research Fellowship experience.
It is expected that the principal investigator will be a doctoral
level individual who has a demonstrated record of child development
research. Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which they
include a listing of key positions required to carry out the project,
the individuals proposed to fill the positions, and a detailed
description of the kind of work they will perform. Applications will
also be evaluated on the extent to which evidence is provided
demonstrating the staff's skill, knowledge, and experience in carrying
out their assigned activities such as evidence that demonstrates not
only staff's good technical skills, but also a clear record of working
with the child development research community and supervising child
development researchers.
Evaluation Criterion II: Approach (Maximum: 20 points)
The extent to which the applicant uses applicable methods and the
proposed activities are logical, reasonable, well-conceived, and linked
to the results and benefits expected. The extent to which the applicant
demonstrates a clear and feasible strategy for identifying criteria for
fellowships, accessing groups of potential candidates, recruiting and
interviewing candidates, providing professional development
opportunities, and administering the program.
Evaluation Criterion III: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum:
10 points)
The extent to which the objectives of the proposed project are
clearly stated and shown to address the issues related to administering
a Child Development Research Fellowship Program.
The extent to which the Fellows selected for the program will
receive professional development opportunities consistent with the
agency's research needs as well as the Fellows' professional
development goals.
Evaluation Criterion IV: Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum: 10
points)
The extent to which the specific goals of the project and the
results and benefits proposed by the applicant are reasonable and
likely, quantified, clearly linked to and supported by the proposed
approach, and supportive of the stated goals under this announcement.
Evaluation Criterion V: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum: 10
points)
Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which they
include a budget that is clear, easy to understand, and provides a
detailed justification for the amount requested. Applicants should
refer to the budget information presented in the Standard Forms 424 and
424A and to the budget justification instructions in section V. General
Instructions for the Uniform Project Description.
2. Review and Selection Process
Applications received by the due date will be reviewed and scored
competitively. Experts in the field, either from within or from outside
the Federal government, will use the evaluation criteria listed in Part
V of this announcement to review and score the applications. The
results of this review will be a primary factor in making funding
decisions. ACF may also solicit comments from Regional Office staff and
other Federal agencies. ACF may consider a variety of factors in
addition to the review criteria identified above, including geographic
diversity/coverage and types of applicant organizations, in order to
ensure that the interests of the Federal Government are met in making
the final selections. Please note that applicants that do not comply
with the requirements in the section titled ``Eligible Applicants''
will not be included in the review process.
Approved but Unfunded Applications: In cases where more
applications are approved for funding than ACF can fund with the money
available, the Grants Officer shall fund applications in their order of
approval until funds run out. In this case, ACF has the option of
carrying over the approved applications up to a year for funding
consideration in a later competition of the same program. These
applications need not be reviewed and scored again if the program's
evaluation criteria have not changed. However, they must then be placed
in rank order along with other applications in the later competition.
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.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a
Financial Assistance Award notice that sets forth the amount of funds
granted, the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective
date of the award, the budget period for which initial support is
given, and the total project period for which support is provided. The
Financial Assistance Award will be signed by the Grants Officer and
transmitted via postal mail. Organizations whose applications will not
be funded will be notified in writing by ACF.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
3. Reporting Requirements
Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually and a final report is due 90
days after the end of the grant period.
Financial Reports: (SF-269 long form) Semi-annually and a final
report is due 90 days after the end of the grant period.
Original reports and one copy should be mailed to: Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of
Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC
20447.
VII. Agency Contacts
1. Program Office Contact:
ACYF Operations Center/OPRE Grant Review Team/Xtria, LLC c/o Dixon
Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Attention:
Head Start Graduate Student Research Partnership Development Grants, 1
(877) 663-0250, E-mail opre@xtria.com.
2. Grants Management Office Contact:
Sylvia Johnson, ACF Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, Washington, DC 20447, 1 (202) 401-4524, E-mail:
sjohnson@acf.hhs.gov.
VIII. Other Information
Applicants under this announcement are advised that subsequent sale
and distribution of products developed under this grant will be subject
to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, part 74.
The use of secondary data analysis in order to refine and validate
newly-developed measures in relation to already standardized measures
is strongly advised.
Definitions:
Budget Period--for the purposes of this announcement, budget period
means the 12-month period of time for which ACF funds are made
available to a particular grantee (e.g., beginning on September 16,
2004, and ending on September 15, 2005).
Project Period--for the purposes of this announcement, the project
period is the same length as the budget period.
Dated: July 22, 2004.
Naomi Goldstein,
Acting Director, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 04-17339 Filed 7-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
