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Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Agency Name
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Funding Opportunity Title: Grants for Outreach To Target Populations under the Trafficking in Persons Program.
Announcement Type: Competitive Grant--Initial.
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-ORR-ZV-0006
CFDA Number: 93.598
Due Date: The due date for receipt of applications is September 28, 2004
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR) announces a new grant program under its
Trafficking in Persons Program for projects to expand existing outreach
activities to identify and counsel victims of a severe form of human
trafficking, as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101).
A. Background
In 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), Pub. L.
106-386, was enacted in response to the phenomenon of human
exploitation overseas and on American soil. The TVPA was reauthorized
in December, 2003, by the Trafficking Victims Protection
Reauthorization Act of 2003, Pub. L 108-193.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It occurs when the victims
are compelled to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor by means
of fraud, coercion or force. The crime of trafficking is often confused
with human smuggling. The U.S. Department of Justice has provided the
following explanation of the difference between smuggling and
trafficking (66 FR 38513, 38515 (July 24,2001)):
Federal law makes a distinction between alien smuggling--in
which the smuggler arranges for an alien to enter the country
illegally for any reason, including where the alien has voluntarily
contracted to be smuggled--and severe forms of trafficking in
persons. Unlike alien smuggling, as the following definition
indicates, severe forms of trafficking in persons must involve both
a particular means such as the use of force, fraud, or coercion, and
a particular end such as involuntary servitude or a commercial sex
act (with regards to a commercial sex act, however, the use of
force, fraud, or coercion is not necessary if the person induced to
perform a commercial sex act is under the age of 18). Pursuant to
the TVPA, victims of severe forms of trafficking are persons who are
recruited, harbored, transported, provided, or obtained for: (1)
Labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for
the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt
bondage, or slavery; or (2) the purpose of a commercial sex act in
which such act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which
the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of
age. Aliens who are voluntarily smuggled into the United States, in
most cases, will not be considered victims of severe forms of
trafficking in persons. However, individuals who are smuggled into
the United States in order to be used for labor or services may
become victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons if, for
example, after arrival the smuggler uses threats of serious harm or
physical restraint to force the individual into involuntary
servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Federal law prohibits
forced labor regardless of the victim's initial consent to work.
This distinction between alien smuggling and severe forms of
trafficking in persons is consistent with the separate treatment of
the trafficking and smuggling issues internationally.
In response to the TVPA enactment, ORR modified in 2001 a standing
announcement for social services to meet the needs of newly arriving
refugees, to include services to victims of a severe form of
trafficking. In February 2002, ORR further modified Category 3 of the
existing standing announcement by removing services to victims of a
severe form of trafficking in order to proceed with a new and separate
announcement specifically aimed at promoting awareness about human
trafficking and addressing the service needs of victims of a severe
form of trafficking. That notice of modification was published in the
Federal Register on February 8, 2002 (67 FR 6048).
On May 24, 2002, ORR published an announcement in the Federal
Register (67 FR 36622) seeking applications in three categories of
activities: to provide local/community outreach and/or services to
victims of a severe form of trafficking (category 1); to provide
technical assistance and training (category 2); and to provide
information discovery for a national outreach/education campaign
(category 3). Due to the positive response from that grant
announcement, ORR decided to provide additional funding in Fiscal Year
2003 for category one activities ((to provide local/community outreach
and/or services to victims of a severe form of trafficking)(67 FR 59855
(September 24, 2002)).
ORR intends to provide continuation funding, where appropriate, for
trafficking grants awarded in FYs 2002 and 2003 for category 1 and
category 2 grants. These grantees are continuing to provide benefits
and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking who have
certification and eligibility letters. As a result of the trafficking
reauthorization, however, such benefits and services beginning on
December 19, 2003, shall be provided to certain family members of
trafficking victims who have received T visas and may also include
services to assist potential victims of trafficking in achieving
certification and to assist minor dependent children of victims of
severe forms of trafficking in persons or potential victims of
trafficking.
While these grant opportunities helped to establish a network of
service providers ready to assist victims of a severe form of
trafficking, the pace of victim identification since passage of the
TVPA has been slower than expected. The U.S. government estimates that
18,000--20,000 victims are trafficked into the United States each year,
yet fewer than 500 victims have been certified for benefits since
passage of the TVPA. Some of the difficulties in getting victims to
come forward were anticipated by Congress, as described in the Findings
section, section 102(b)(20)) of the TVPA:
(20) Because victims of trafficking are frequently unfamiliar
with the laws, cultures, and languages of the countries into which
they have been trafficked, because they are often subjected to
coercion and intimidation including physical detention and debt
bondage, and because they often fear retribution and forcible
removal to countries in which they will face retribution or other
hardship, these victims often find it difficult or impossible to
report the crimes committed against them or to assist in the
investigation and prosecution of such crimes.
In order to increase the rate of victim identification, HHS has
undertaken a public awareness campaign to promote awareness of the
phenomenon of trafficking and of the programs available to aid victims
of trafficking. As part of the campaign, ORR is sponsoring a
trafficking information and referral hotline. Additionally, HHS now
publishes the current announcement of a fourth category of trafficking
grants, supporting outreach to populations among which trafficking
victims are likely to be found, for the purpose of counseling victims
to access the programs available to help them rebuild their lives while
remaining in the United States. This category of grants differs from
the category one grants, which supported generalized local/community
outreach activities, because this category supports particularized
direct outreach to target populations. ORR does not expect to publish
any other trafficking grant opportunities during this fiscal year.
B. Program Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the Outreach to Victims of Human Trafficking grant
program is to increase the identification of trafficking victims, as
defined by the TVPA, and to encourage victims to leave their trafficked
condition by counseling them on the programs available to assist
victims, by alerting local law enforcement where appropriate, and by
connecting the victims with a qualified service provider prepared to
assist victims of trafficking. This grant program seeks to provide
financial assistance to existing programs of outreach to populations
among which victims of human trafficking may be found (whether or not
current activities to such populations pertain to trafficking). It does
not intend to support the initiation of a program by organizations not
currently conducting such outreach. Populations among which victims of
trafficking may be found include, but are not limited to: prostitutes,
persons engaged in sex entertainment, migrant farmer workers, domestic
or household employees, low wage industrial or factory workers,
janitors, restaurant employees, and immigrant populations generally.
C. Definitions
These relevant definitions are taken from section 103 of the TVPA:
(1) SEVERE FORMS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS-The term `severe forms
of trafficking in persons' means--
(A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform
such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
(B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or
obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force,
fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary
servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
(2) SEX TRAFFICKING--The term `sex trafficking' means the
recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a
person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
(3) COMMERCIAL SEX ACT--The term `commercial sex act' means any sex
act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by
any person.
(4) VICTIM OF A SEVERE FORM OF TRAFFICKING--The term `victim of a
severe form of trafficking' means a person subject to an act or
practice described in paragraph (1).
(5) COERCION--The term `coercion' means--
(A) threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any
person;
(B) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to
believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to
or physical restraint against any person; or
(C) the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
(6) DEBT BONDAGE--The term `debt bondage' means the status or
condition of a debtor arising from a pledge by the debtor of his or her
personal services or of those of a person under his or her control as a
security for debt, if the value of those services as reasonably
assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the
length and nature of those services are not respectively limited and
defined.
(7) INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE--The term `involuntary servitude'
includes a condition of servitude induced by means of--
(A) any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to
believe that, if the person did not enter into or continue in such
condition, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or
physical restraint; or
(B) the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process.
D. Legislative Authority
These grants are authorized by three provisions of law: section
106(b) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)(22
U.S.C. 7104(b)) as amended by section 4(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Trafficking
Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-193);
section 107(b)(1)(B) of the TVPA; and section 412(c)(1)(A) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)(8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(A)).
Section 106(b) of the TVPA provides: ``The President, acting
through the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, shall
establish and carry out programs to increase public awareness,
particularly among potential victims of trafficking, of the dangers of
trafficking and the protections that are available for victims of
trafficking.''
Section 107(b)(1)(B) of the TVPA provides that ``the Secretary of
Health and Human Services * * * shall expand benefits and services to
victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons in the United States
and aliens classified as a nonimmigrant under section
101(a)(15)(T)(ii), without regard to the immigration status of such
victims.'' The Reauthorization Act further amended this provision by
adding, ``In the case of nonentitlement programs funded by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, such benefits and services may
include services to assist potential victims of trafficking in
achieving certification and to assist minor dependent children of
victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons or potential victims
of trafficking.'' This provision anticipates activities to assist
victims prior to HHS certification, which would otherwise be required
in order for victims to access most federally-funded benefits.
Section 412(c)(1)(A) of the INA authorizes the Director ``to make
grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or private nonprofit
agencies for projects specifically designed--(i) to assist refugees in
obtaining the skills which are necessary for economic self-sufficiency,
including projects for job training, employment services, day care,
professional refresher training, and other re-certification services;
(ii) to provide training in English where necessary (regardless of
whether the refugees are employed or receiving cash or other
assistance); and (iii) to provide where specific needs have been shown
and recognized by the Director, health (including mental health)
services, social services, educational and other services.''
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
Anticipated Total Program Funding: $1,000,000 in FY2005.
Anticipated Number of Awards: 15.
Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $150,000 per project
period.
An application received that exceeds the upper value of the dollar
range specified will be considered ``non-responsive'' and be returned
to the applicant without further review.
Floor of Individual Award Amounts: None.
Average Anticipated Award Amount: $70,000 per project period.
Project Periods for Awards: These grants shall be for a project
period of seventeen (17) months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Public, private for-profit and private nonprofit organizations,
including faith-based organizations, are eligible to apply for any of
these grants. For-profit entities are eligible to apply, although HHS
funds may not be paid as profit to any recipient even if the recipient
is a commercial organization (45 CFR 74.81). Any private nonprofit
organization submitting an application must submit proof of its status
in its application at the time of submission. The nonprofit agency can
accomplish this by providing any of the following:
(a) A copy of the applicant'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 nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings
accrue to any private shareholders or individual;
(d) A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit
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
nonprofit affiliate.
Additional Eligibility Considerations
The U.S. Government is opposed to prostitution and related
activities, which are inherently harmful and dehumanizing, and
contribute to the phenomenon of trafficking in persons. U.S.
non-governmental organizations, and their sub-grantees, cannot use
U.S. Government funds to lobby for, promote or advocate the
legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of
work. Foreign non-governmental organizations, and their
sub-grantees, that receive U.S. Government funds to fight
trafficking in persons cannot lobby for, promote or advocate the
legalization or regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of
work. It is the responsibility of the primary grantee to ensure these
criteria are met by its sub-grantees. Accordingly, the grant
application must include certification that no monies, if awarded, will
be used for these unallowable purposes.
Applications must include copies of all written materials that will
be provided to victims of severe forms of trafficking, including
victims of sex trafficking, and these materials must be clear and
appropriate. Materials not yet generated must be submitted to the
project officer for review prior to reproduction. The application must
include a clear and detailed description of services to be provided to
victims of severe trafficking, including services to victims of sex
trafficking.
Allowable Activities
The purpose of this program is to support direct, person-to-person
contact, information sharing, counseling and other communication
between agents of the grant recipient and members of a specified target
population `` among which victims of trafficking may be found. Any
activity which is integral to the development and execution of
opportunities for such direct interaction is potentially allowable,
except for activities declared to be unallowable below. In addition,
the collection, organization and analysis of information regarding
places and facilities where trafficking victims may be held or
exploited is allowable. It is anticipated that applicants will make
current clients or contacts aware of the phenomenon of human
trafficking, and will debrief them regarding their knowledge of the
existence of trafficking victims among fellow members of the population
being served by the grant applicant.
Other examples of allowable activities include but are not limited
to:
a. Outreach teams that engage target populations in places of
dwelling and in outdoor fora such as parks, street corners/sidewalks,
agricultural facilities, and other places of congregation;
b. Mobile canteens that bring food and personal sundries to members
of a target population for the purpose of building rapport;
c. Informational outreach in low-income and immigrant communities
to counsel members about the availability of supportive services or
health care opportunities, or to provide legal counseling;
d. Ethnic-centered outreach efforts into particular immigrant
populations for various other purposes (e.g., educational, community
development).
e. Other forms of on-site needs assessment and referral services,
obviating the need for victims to make office visits.
This grant announcement is not intended to support the provision of
more than incidental material benefit to outreach clients. For example,
mobile health clinics may present an appropriate outreach opportunity,
but this grant announcement would not be an appropriate funding vehicle
for the underlying medical services--just for the incremental costs of
seeking out victims of trafficking among the population already being
served. Neither is this grant announcement appropriate for funding
direct benefits to the victims after identification and rescue.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing or matching funds are not required for applications
submitted under this program announcement.
3. Other
All applicants must have a 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 of 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 Content and Form of Application Submission will be
considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under
this announcement.
Applications that exceed the $150,000 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
The program announcement and the application materials are
available from either Antoinette Aqui or Emmett McGroarty, Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR), 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 6th Floor
East, Washington, DC 20447, and from the ORR Web site at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr. For further information contact
either Antoinette Aqui, (202) 401-4825, aaqui@acf.hhs.gov. or Emmett
McGroarty,
(202) 401-5525, emcgroarty@acf.hhs.gov.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
In order to be considered for a grant under this program
announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied
and in the manner prescribed by ACF. An application with an original
signature and two clearly identified copies are required. Applicants
must clearly indicate on the SF 424 the grant announcement number under
which the application is submitted.
Application Forms--Applicants requesting financial assistance under
this announcement must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for
Federal Assistance; SF 424A, Budget Information--Non-construction
Programs; SF 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs. The forms may
be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Application materials
including forms and instructions are also available from the Contact
named in the preamble of this announcement.
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''
at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
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 in either 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 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
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 from Grants.
. 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.
Certifications, Assurances, And Disclosure Required For Non-
Construction Programs--Applicants must sign and return the disclosure
form, if applicable, with their applications. 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 signed certification regarding lobbying
with their applications, 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.
Private non-profit organizations may voluntarily submit with their
applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents and
Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
The applicant must specify the metropolitan statistical area (MSA)
in which activities will be conducted, and each application should be
for activities in a single MSA, although multiple applications are
welcome.
Length of Applications--Each application narrative should not
exceed 10 pages in a 12-pitch font. Attachments and appendices should
not exceed 25 pages and should be used only to provide supporting
documentation such as administration charts, position descriptions,
resumes, and letters of intent or partnership agreements. A table of
contents and a project summary/abstract should be included but will not
count in the page limitations. Organizations are encouraged to provide
annual reports, which similarly will not be counted toward the page
limit. Each page should be numbered sequentially, including the
attachments and appendices. This limitation of 10 pages should be
considered as a maximum, and not necessarily a goal. Application forms
are not to be counted in the page limit.
Please do not include books or videotapes as they are not easily
reproduced and are, therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers.
3. Submission Dates and Times
The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m.
eastern standard time (e.s.t.) on September 28, 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 either 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 Grants
Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, Attention: Sylvia
Johnson, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20447.
Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance to
ensure that 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., to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of
Discretionary Grants, at the ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near loading
dock), Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024,
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). This address
must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the
note ``Attention: Sylvia Johnson.'' Applicants are cautioned that
express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.
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 mail service, or in other rare
cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
| What to submit | Required Content | Required Form or Format | When to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|
1. SF424, SF424a, SF424b |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
2. Project Summary/Abstract |
Summary of application request. | One page limit. | By application due date. |
|
3. Project Description |
Responsiveness to evaluation criteria. | Format
described in Review and election section. Limit 10 pages.
Size 12 font, 1" |
By application due date. |
|
4. Certification regarding Lobbying and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. |
Per required form, if $100,000 or more. |
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 are encouraged to submit with
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents
and Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants''
at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
| 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 (E.O.) 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 2003, of the most recent SPOC list, 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: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.
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.
The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions
elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following URL:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
5. Funding Restrictions
The applicant must specify the metropolitan statistical area (MSA)
in which activities will be conducted, and each application should be
for activities in a single MSA, although multiple applications are
welcome.
Non-Allowable Activities
Funds will not be awarded to applicants for the purpose of engaging
in activities of a distinctly political nature, activities designed
exclusively to promote the preservation of a specific cultural
heritage, or activities with an international objective (e.g.,
activities related to events in the refugees' country of origin).
Pursuant to the policies of the U.S. government, no funds awarded under
this announcement may be used by recipient organizations or by their
sub-grantees to lobby for, promote or advocate the legalization or
regulation of prostitution as a legitimate form of work.
No funds may be used to engage in illegal activities or in
activities which give the impression of an intent to engage in illegal
activities. No funds may be used to engage in inherently law
enforcement type activities, such as surveillance or undercover
detection. Outreach agents of the grant applicant may choose to use a
name other than their own in the conduct of outreach activities, but
they may not intentionally deceive others regarding the purpose and
intent of their activities. Grant recipients must respect all
applicable property rights in the conduct of their outreach. In the
case of activities conducted at a place of public accommodation, grant
recipients must comply with requirements made of other patrons. No
funds may be used to patronize or otherwise benefit prostitution or sex
entertainment establishments. No funds may be used for the purchase or
distribution of contraceptives.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Electronic Address to Submit Applications: http://www.Grants.gov.
Submission by Mail: 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, Division of
Discretionary Grants, Attention: Sylvia Johnson, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. 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 the deadline date, between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Division of Discretionary Grants, at the ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near
loading dock), Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC
20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). This
address must appear on the envelope/package containing the application
with the note ``Attention: Sylvia Johnson.'' 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. 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.
Effective applications will clearly explain how the receipt of a
grant under this announcement will allow the organization to expand its
existing outreach activities so as to identify and assist victims of
trafficking among a specific population which is the object of outreach
activities. Applications should clearly describe the population which
will be targeted for outreach, and in which metropolitan statistical
area activities will be conducted. Each application should be for
program activities in a single metropolitan statistical area, although
any organization may submit more than one application.
The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the
``project summary/abstract'' and ``full project description.'' The
project description provides a major means by which an application is
evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications for available
assistance. The project description should be concise and complete and
should address the activity for which federal funds are being
requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can
present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged
to provide information on their organizational structure, staff,
related experience, and other information considered relevant. Awarding
offices use this and other information to determine whether the
applicant has the capability and resources necessary to carry out the
proposed project. It is important, therefore, that this information be
included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant
must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed
project from those that will not be used in support of the specific
project for which funds are requested.
The project summary/abstract is a concise description of the
proposed project, including such factors as the location of the project
(defined as a single MSA), the target population toward which outreach
activities will be directed, the nature of the proposed outreach
activities, and a brief description of the organization's experience
with such outreach.
It is recommended that the full project description address these
considerations:
Approach
The full project description should include a statement of the
overall strategy and a detailed plan, including a clear description of
how funds awarded under this announcement will be utilized to expand
current outreach activities for the purpose of identifying victims of
trafficking. The statement should justify the expectation that
trafficking victims will be identified as the result of this expansion
of activities. The nature of activities to be directed at victims of
trafficking should be clearly described and some quantification of
these activities provided. The plan should make clear how the proposed
activities will be accomplished.
The project description should provide a plan for providing vital
services to newly-liberated victims of trafficking, which may utilize
other organizations (including current ORR trafficking program grantees
and faith-based organizations) for service provision. Although funds
for this program are not intended to provide such direct services, this
plan will provide evidence that the applicant has carefully thought
through the care of identified victims. Where partner organizations are
proposed for this purpose, evidence of the partner's commitment is
recommended, i.e., by Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or similar
documentation.
The project description should also provide a plan for liaison with
local law enforcement agencies, so that the activities of the applicant
will not interfere with local law enforcement actions, nor take local
law enforcement agencies by surprise (the creation of an advisory
committee which includes representatives of local and federal law
enforcement agencies is an example of an appropriate mechanism for this
purpose). And the plan should describe precautions to be taken to
minimize the risk of physical harm of outreach workers.
Objectives and Need
The full project description should clearly describe the population
currently being served through outreach activities, and explain the
expectation that trafficking victims may be identified within that
population. The nature of the current outreach program should be
clearly described, and the expected incremental increase in activities
attributable to a grant award described as well.
Results or Benefits Expected
The full project description should articulate the results and
benefits to be achieved with quantifiable measures of success, and
should explain how the award of funds are expected to impact these key
indicators. Project outcomes should be proposed which are measurable
and achievable within the grant project period; monitoring and
information collection related to anticipated outcomes should be
described.
Organizational Profiles
The administrative and management features of the project,
including a plan for fiscal and programmatic management of each
activity and planning activities, should be described in some detail
with proposed start-up times, ongoing timelines, major milestones or
benchmarks, a component/project organization chart, management of
affiliates, and a staffing chart of an affiliate network. The
qualifications of the organization, based on previous relevant
experience, should be provided, and the expertise of project staff,
both of the applicant and of affiliate agencies, as well as any
volunteers, should be documented.
Budget and Budget Justification
A line item budget should be provided on the budget information
form. This budget should be accompanied as necessary by a narrative
justification, and should be reasonable, clearly presented, and cost-
effective in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated
results. The budget narrative should describe how awarded funds will
complement current outreach activities, and detail how the proposed
outreach activities benefit from financial efficiencies or sunk costs
of the existing outreach program. Planning for continuation of
activities beyond the project period should be addressed.
2. Evaluation Criteria
Criterion One: Approach (Maximum 35 Points)
Factors:
Quality of the project plan (25 points)
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of a statement of
strategy and a detailed plan, considering how funds awarded under this
announcement will be utilized to expand current outreach activities for
the purpose of identifying victims of trafficking. The likelihood of
trafficking victims being identified as the result of this expansion of
activities will be assessed. The clarity of the proposed activities and
the reasonableness and feasibility of proposed activities and
timeframes will be considered.
Protocol for Service Provision to Victims (5 points)
Applications will be evaluated for quality of consideration of how
vital services will be provided to newly-liberated victims of
trafficking, which may utilize other organizations (including current
ORR trafficking program grantees and faith-based organizations) for
service provision.
Protocol for Liaison with Law Enforcement Agencies (5 points)
Applications will be evaluated for existence and quality of a plan
for liaison with local law enforcement agencies, so that the activities
of the applicant will complement and not interfere with local law
enforcement actions. Applications will be assessed for precautions to
be taken to minimize the risk of physical harm of outreach workers.
Criterion Two: Objectives and Need (Maximum 20 Points)
Evaluations on this criterion will focus on the population proposed
to be served through outreach activities (presumed to be a population
currently being served by the applicant), and the justification
provided for the expectation that trafficking victims will be
identified within that population. The appropriateness of the current
outreach for that population will also be considered.
Criterion Three: Results or Benefits Expected (Maximum 20 Points)
Applications will be evaluated for results and benefits expected to
be achieved. In particular, the incremental impact of grant funding
will be assessed in terms of the outcomes proposed. The degree to which
intended outcomes are quantifiable and achievable will be considered.
The quality of the proposed mechanism for measuring outcomes will be
considered.
Criterion Four: Organizational Profiles (Maximum 10 Points)
Evidence of the organizational capability to achieve the proposed
outcomes will be assessed under this criterion. Such capability is
demonstrated by prior relevant experience, and by administrative and
management features of the project, including a plan for fiscal and
programmatic management of each activity and planning activities, are
described in detail with proposed start-up times, ongoing timelines,
major milestones or benchmarks, a component/project organization chart,
management of affiliates, and a staffing chart of an affiliate network.
Capability is also demonstrated through the presentation of
qualifications of project staff, both applicant and affiliate agencies,
as well as any volunteers.
Criterion Five: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum 15 Points)
Applications will be evaluated for the degree to which the line
item budget and narrative justification are reasonable, clearly
presented, and cost-effective in relation to the proposed activities.
Consideration will also be given to synergies between the proposed
grant and current activities, including the degree to which proposed
outreach activities benefit from financial efficiencies or sunk costs
of the existing outreach program.
3. Review and Selection Process
Initial ACF Screening--Each application submitted under this
program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine that (1)
the application was received by the closing date and submitted in
accordance with the instructions in this announcement; and (2) the
applicant is eligible for funding.
Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria: Applications which pass
the initial ACF screening will be evaluated and rated by an independent
review panel on the basis of evaluation criteria specified in Part I.
The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a
proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its success. The
evaluation criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole
in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded
only to applications that are responsive to the evaluation criteria
within the context of this program announcement.
Selection of Grant Recipients: In general, the most highly rated
applications will be funded first, to the extent of available funds.
However, the Director of ORR reserves the right to award less or more
than the funds described in this announcement. In the absence of worthy
applications, the Director of ORR may decide not to make an award if
this is deemed in the best interests of the government. The Director of
ORR reserves the right to award grants after taking into consideration
the geographic distribution of eligible recipients. The Director of ORR
does not intend to award more than one grant per metropolitan
statistical area for any particular target population, and the Director
of ORR may insure that a grant is awarded for certain high priority
metropolitan statistical areas. These high priority metropolitan
statistical areas are those expected to have substantial trafficking
activity, and are: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit,
Fresno, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami,
Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Newark, Orlando,
Philadelphia/Camden, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco,
Seattle, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and Washington DC. Funding availability
for future years is at the Director's discretion.
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.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices
The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of
a Financial Assistance Award document which sets forth the amount of
funds, granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective
date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be
given, the non-Federal share to be provided, and the total project
period for which support is contemplated. 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.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR part 74 or 45 CFR part 92.
3. Reporting Requirements
Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually, with a final report due 90
days after the end of the grant period.
Financial Reports: Semi-annually, with a final report due 90 days
after the end of the grant period (using SF-269).
VII. Agency Contacts
Program Office Contact: Mr. Emmett McGroarty, Office of Refugee
Resettlement, ACF, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 6th Floor East,
Washington, DC 20447, 202.401.5525, e-mail: emcgroarty@acf.hhs.gov.
Grants Management Office Contact: Ms. Sylvia Johnson,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management,
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th
Floor, Washington, DC 20447, 202.401.4524, e-mail:
syjohnson@acf.hhs.gov.
VIII. Other Information
Additional information about the Trafficking in Persons Program can
be found on our Web site, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking.
Dated: June 29, 2004.
Nguyen Van Hanh,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children &
Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 04-17340 Filed 7-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
