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Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Agency Name
Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Family Assistance
Funding Opportunity Title: Healthy Marriage Resource Center
Announcement Type: Competitive Grant-Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-OFA-FM-0001
CFDA Number: 93.647
Due Date:
Applications are due June 14, 2004. Letters of Intent are
due May 4, 2004.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of
Family Assistance (OFA), announces the availability of funds for a
Healthy Marriage Resource Center (HMRC). The HMRC will serve as a
national repository and distribution center for information and
research relating to healthy marriage for educators, practitioners,
individuals, and other interested entities. In addition, the HMRC will
provide individuals with information on locally run healthy marriage
programs. Further, the HMRC will develop resource materials to promote
the objectives of the ACF Healthy Marriage Initiative, including but
not limited to, syntheses of research and evaluation findings,
summaries of relevant information about best practices, and products
(tools) and services to help interested persons and entities learn
about effective approaches to developing and implementing innovative
programs in accordance with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) purposes two through four listed below, as stated in the Social Security Act, Section
401(a), and the Code of Federal Regulations at 45 CFR 260.20:
(2) End dependency of needy parents on government benefits by
promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
(3) Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies
and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the
incidence of these pregnancies; and
(4) Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent Families.
Background
In recognition of the importance of healthy married Families on
child well-being, Congress included the formation and maintenance of
two parent Families as one of the primary goals of the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program when it was signed into law by
President Clinton in 1996. In recent years, a number of states have
begun to implement various healthy marriage activities. for example, in
2004, 70 cities across the United States celebrated Black Marriage Day,
many for the first time; 26 states attended events hosted by ACF on
developing healthy marriage initiatives; and federally sponsored peer
requests by states to learn of existing healthy marriage initiatives
increased fourfold. In addition, ACF has funded over 65 healthy
marriage grants in the past two years. A central repository containing
information, program listings, and other resources for entities and
individuals is needed to help support emerging healthy marriage
activities, and to provide state and local administrators with
information about what does and does not work in promoting healthy
marriages.
ACF Programs Funding the Healthy Marriage Resource Center
. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA)
administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,
under title IV-A of the Social Security Act. TANF is a State/Federal
partnership that provides temporary assistance and promotes economic
self-sufficiency and family strengthening, including healthy marriages,
to States, Territories, Indian Tribes, Native American organizations,
localities and community groups. Statutory Authority: Section 1110 of
the Social Security Act governing Social Services Research and
Demonstration activities.
. The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
(OPRE) provides research, evaluation, and data analysis in support of
ACF programs. The HMRC is one of several projects designed to develop
and disseminate knowledge on program practices that improve economic
and family outcomes and child well-being, including programs to support
the formation and stability of healthy marriages. Statutory Authority:
Section 1110 of the Social Security Act governing Social Services
Research and Demonstration activities.
. The Children's Bureau supports a range of child
welfare programs that increase the strength and stability of Families,
protect Children from abuse and neglect, and lead to permanent
placements for Children who cannot safely return to their homes,
including programs that seek to integrate supports for healthy
marriages and family formation into the child welfare system. Statutory
Authority: Title IV-B, Subpart 2 of the Social Security Act, Promoting
Safe and Stable Families.
. The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
provides for the location of non-custodial parents, establishing
paternity, obtaining child support orders, and enforcing support
obligations of non-custodial parents. OCSE also funds demonstration
projects that seek to integrate supports for healthy marriages and
family formation into the existing array of child support enforcement
activities. Statutory Authority: Section 452(j) of the Social Security
Act.
Ten percent of the funding for the HMRC will be set aside for an
informational database for individuals and interested parties and a
clearinghouse for information to support State-run healthy marriage
demonstration programs funded through Title IV-D (Child Support
Enforcement) of the Social Security Act.
Ten percent of the funding for the HMRC also will be set aside for
an informational database for individuals and interested parties and a
clearinghouse for information to support healthy marriage programs and
initiatives administered by States and Indian Tribes and funded through
Title IV-B (Child Welfare) of the Social Security Act.
Purpose
Healthy marriage is important to society. On average, men and women
in healthy marriages are more likely to build wealth, have better
health, experience emotional well-being and live longer. Even more
importantly, Children who grow up in healthy married Families do better
on a host of outcomes than those who grow up in unhealthy married
households. for example, Children in healthy married households are at
less risk for substance abuse, emotional distress and mental illness,
suicide, criminal behavior, educational decline, poverty, child abuse
and neglect. Further, Children raised in healthy married households are
more likely to develop better relationships with their parents, develop
stable marriages and Families themselves, experience greater economic
security, perform better academically and later in occupational
settings, and have better physical health.
The HMRC is one of ACF's efforts to support and promote healthy
marriages. ACF has undertaken crosscutting program and field activities
to strengthen healthy marriages, including engaging States,
communities, and faith-based organizations in partnerships to develop
local healthy marriage initiatives. ACF has awarded numerous grants to
support the integration of healthy marriage programs and services into
the broad array of existing public sector social service programs
including child support enforcement, child welfare, refugee
resettlement, and community services. ACF also launched a research and
evaluation agenda that includes large-scale evaluations of multi-site
interventions as well as smaller research projects. The HMRC will help
disseminate relevant information to practitioners, educators, other
interested stakeholders, and to individuals seeking both national and
local information about existing activities. The HMRC will be an
important addition to help ACF more effectively improve the well-being
of Children.
The HMRC will have multiple functions which will fall under the
following broad activities:
. Maintain a website clearinghouse on information
related to the federal Healthy Marriage Initiative. HMRC will serve as
a national repository and distribution center for information and
research relating to healthy marriage programs, initiatives, and
activities.
. Maintain a database of local healthy marriage
programs for use by educators, practitioners, government officials and
individuals.
. Provide a forum for dissemination of research
and information and public discussion on healthy marriages. Efforts to
promote the objectives of the healthy marriage initiative will include
(but are not limited to) a speakers bureau, an inquiry response system,
email and mailing lists, web casts, conference calls and newsletters.
The HMRC will be responsible for developing effective resource
materials about healthy marriages to support entities developing and
implementing innovative programs to accomplish the goals of the healthy marriage initiative.
A key staff person from the project must attend an annual meeting
with the HMRC project leadership (to be determined by the Office of
Family Assistance) in Washington, D.C. and a ``kick-off'' meeting
following award (if specified in the Priority Area). Substantial
involvement is expected between ACF and the recipient when carrying out
the activity contemplated in the cooperative agreement.
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.
The cooperative agreement will require a close working relationship
between ACF and the successful applicant for the HMRC. It will be
necessary for ACF to collaborate with the HMRC to facilitate
relationships and the exchange of information necessary to build the
website, and work with the applicant to identify technical assistance
and training needs, emerging issues, research findings, available
resources, and model programs. ACF will work closely with the HMRC to
identify the types of technical assistance and training to be made
available to interested entities, and the areas of research and
information to be disseminated. ACF, together with the HMRC, will
sponsor appropriate meetings to promote coordination, information
sharing and access to resources, training and learning opportunities.
ACF will work together with the HMRC to address issues or problems with
regard to the applicant's ability to carry out the full range of
activities effectively and efficiently under the HMRC included in the
applicant's proposal.
Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $900,000 per budget
period.
Anticipated Number of Awards: 1 per budget period.
Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $900,000 per budget period.
Floor on Individual Award Amounts: $900,000 per budget period.
Average Projected Award Amount: $900,000 per budget period.
Project Periods for Awards: Possible funding up to $900,000 per
year over a 5 year period. The initial funding award will be for a 12-
month budget period. The award of continuation funding beyond the
initial 12-month budget period will be subject to the availability of
funds, satisfactory progress on the part of the applicant, and a
determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of
the government.(Subject to Congressional appropriations.)
ACF plans to award $900,000 for the first year and $4,500,000 over
a 5 year period. OFA reserves the right to award less, or more, than
the funds described, in the absence of worthy applications, or under
such other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of
the government.
III. Eligibility Information
1. 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
Service, other than institutions of higher education, Private
institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than
small businesses, Small businesses, and faith-based organizations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching--Yes
The grantee must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved
cost of the project (see section V. Evaluation Criteria). The total
approved cost of the project is $1,000,000 per year which 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.
Since the federal funds authorized for the HMRC are $900,000 per year,
applicants are expected to match a total of $100,000 per 12 month
budget period. The grantee will be held accountable for commitments of
non-Federal resources even if over the amount of the required match.
Failure to provide the matching share will result in disallowance of
Federal dollars. These commitments must be bona fide funding
commitments, subject to scrutiny by ACF.
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.
3. Other (If Applicable)
On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in
the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal
grant applicants. The policy requires all Federal grant applicants to
provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or
after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an
applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-
wide electronic portal (http://www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be
required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation
of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement
and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may
acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free
DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number
on-line at http://www.dnb.com.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Healthy
Marriage Resource Center Program, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 5th
Floor, East Side, Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-5438,
Attention: Paul Maiers.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
Electronic Format
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
from Grants.gov.
. We may request that you provide original
signatures on forms at a later date.
. You may access the electronic application for
this program on http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the
downloadable application package by the CFDA number.
Application Requirements
An original and two copies of the complete application are
required. The original copy must include all required forms,
certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized
representative, have original signatures, and be submitted unbound. The
two additional copies of the complete application must include all
required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices and must
also 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.
The proposal should be double-spaced and single sided on 8'' x 11''
plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. Use only a standard
size font (such as Times New Roman or Arial) no smaller than 12 pitch
throughout the application. All pages of the application (including
appendices, resumes, charts, references/footnotes, tables, maps and
exhibits) must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page
after the budget justification, the principal investigator contact
information and the Table of Contents. Applicants are urged to be
concise and limit applications to no more than 25 pages. This limit of
25 pages applies to the narrative portion of the application only.
There is an additional limit of 15 pages for all supporting documents
for a total of no more than 40 pages. The supporting documents may
include resumes, letters of recommendation, and any other documents
that relate to the program announcement's evaluation criteria. Any
proposals over this limit will be removed and not be reviewed.
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.
Please note that applicants that do not comply with the requirements in
the section on ``Eligible Applicants'' will not be included in the
review process.
Forms and Certifications: Eligible applicants applying for funds
must submit a complete application, including the required forms, in
order to be considered for a grant. Under this announcement, an
application must be submitted on the Standard Form 424 (approved by the
Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0348-0043.) Each
application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the
applicant and to assume responsibility for the obligations imposed by
the terms and conditions of the grant award.
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 June 14, 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:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, West Side, Washington, DC 20447, ATTN:
Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
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:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, West Side, Washington, DC 20447, ATTN:
Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Narrative |
Described in Section V of this announcement. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
SF 424, SF 424 A, and SF 424 B |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
Certification Regarding Lobbying and 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. |
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 voluntarily submit with their
applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents and
Forms'' titled ``Survey for Private, Nonprofit 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 at 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.
Applicants from jurisdictions that have elected not to participate
in the Executive Order process or for projects administered by
federally-recognized Indian Tribes need take no action in regard to
E.O. 12372. As of October 1, 2003, the following jurisdictions have
elected not to participate in the Executive Order process:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Hawaii
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
New Jersey
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
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
Applicants are cautioned that the ceiling for individual awards is
$900,000. Applications exceeding the $900,000 threshold will be
considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under
this announcement.
Applicants that fail to include the required amount of cost share
will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding
under this announcement.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Submission by Mail: An Applicant must provide an original
application with all attachments, signed by an authorized
representative and two copies. The Application must be received at the
address below by 5 PM Eastern Standard Time on or before the closing
date. Applications should be mailed to:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 4th Floor, West Side, Washington, DC 20447, ATTN:
Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
Hand Delivery: An Applicant must provide an original application
with all attachments signed by an authorized representative and two
copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30
PM Eastern Standard Time on or before the closing date. Applications
that are hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 AM to
4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Applications may be delivered to: U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and
Families, Office of Family Assistance, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th
Floor, West Side, Washington, DC 20447, ATTN: Barbara Ziegler Johnson,
Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
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
General Instructions for the Uniform Project Description
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). Public Reporting for this
collection of information is estimated to average 40 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.
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.
Objectives (15 points)
. The objectives are clearly stated, necessary and
relevant to the Healthy Marriage Initiative.
. Stated objectives are sufficient for
accomplishing the goals of the project.
. The objectives will broaden the information base
available to interested entities on healthy marriage programs.
. The objectives address the vital needs related
to program purposes and provide data and information to support its
claim.
Approach (35 points)
. The proposal specifies the activities to be
completed and the scope of these activities.
. The scope of activities is appropriate and
sufficient for addressing the objectives of the Healthy Marriage
Resource Center.
. The extent to which the focus of the activities
helps couples and individuals, on a voluntary basis, gain access to the
skills and information that can increase their chances of forming and
sustaining healthy marriages.
. The proposal clearly articulates the extent to
which the applicant is qualified to undertake this work based on a
demonstrated history of doing related work.
. The application includes a detailed description
of the HMRC's targeted audience and the Center's functions related to
each of these groups.
. The extent to which the activities and analyses
reflect knowledge of web-based clearing houses and use of state-of-the-
art technology to support such a clearing house.
. The scope of the project is reasonable for the
funds available for the cooperative agreement.
. The proposed project plan includes specific
dates for various phases of the project including start-up, initial
implementation, and full implementation of the complete project and is
reasonable given the proposed staffing, timeline, and budget.
Staff and Position Data (30 points)
. The project director and staff have demonstrated
expertise in issues relating to healthy marriages, marriage education
and implementation practices to conduct the activities described in the
application.
. The proposed staff experience reflects an
understanding of and sensitivity to the issues of working with States,
localities, governments, for-profit and non-profit providers, and ACF
programs.
. The time that will be devoted to this project by
the project director and other key staff is adequate to ensure a high
level of professional input and attention.
Budget (20 points)
. The predominance of funding is for program-
related costs, with a minimal amount dedicated for administrative
costs.
. The budget presentation is clear and detailed,
and justifies funding uses.
. Applicants have provided a plan for project
continuance beyond the duration of the grant support.
2. Review and Selection Process
Initial OFA Screening
Each application submitted to OFA will be screened to determine
whether it was received by the closing date and time.
Applications received by the closing date and time will be screened
for completeness and conformity with the requirements outlined in
Section III and IV of this announcement. Only complete applications
that meet the requirements listed below will be reviewed and evaluated
competitively. Other applications will be returned to the applicants
with a letter stating that they were unacceptable and will not be
reviewed.
Review Process
Applications that pass the initial OFA screening will be reviewed
and rated by a panel of experts based on the program elements and
review criteria presented in relevant sections of this program
announcement. The review criteria are designed to enable the review
panel to assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the
likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related to each
other and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of
an application. The review panel awards points only to applications
that are responsive to the program elements and relevant review
criteria within the context of this program announcement.
The OFA Director and program staff will use the reviewer scores
when considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh
heavily in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors
considered.
Applications generally will be considered in order of the average
scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors
are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not
guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example:
the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded
with Federal funds granted in the last five (5) years; comments of
reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount
and duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's
consistency and harmony with OFA goals and policy; geographic
distribution of applications; previous program performance of
applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous Federal grants,
including the actual dedication to program of mobilized resources as
set forth in project applications; audit reports; investigative
reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit
disallowance on previous Federal agency grants.
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 by the Office of Family Assistance.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
45 CFR Part 74 and 45 CFR Part 92.
Conditions for the Cooperative Agreement
The HMRC applicant will develop and implement work plans to ensure
that the services and activities included in the approved proposal
address the needs of the HMRC in an efficient, effective and timely
manner. ACF will closely review and monitor all of these work products.
The HMRC applicant will submit for ACF approval plans and procedures
for the issuance of contracts awarded for activities under this
announcement prior to the issuance of any contracts. The HMRC will
submit regular reports, no less frequently than semi-annually, on the
name and description of the organization receiving any contracts,
summary and purpose of the contracts, the amount of the contract, and
proposed plan for outcome measurements. The HMRC will work
collaboratively with ACF and ACF partners to assist in carrying out the
purposes of the HMRC.
3. Reporting
Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually.
Financial Reports: Semi-annually.
Special Reporting Requirements: None.
All grantees are required to submit semi-annual program reports;
grantees are also required to submit semi-annual expenditure reports
using the required financial standard form (SF-269) which is located on
the Internet at: http://forms.psc.gov/forms/sf/SF-269.pdf. A suggested
format for the program report will be sent to all grantees after the
awards are made.
VII. Agency Contacts
Program Office Contact: Paul Maiers, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office
of Family Assistance, Marriage Resource Center Program, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 5th Floor, East Side, Washington, DC 20447, Telephone:
(202) 401-5438.
Grants Management Office Contact: Barbara Ziegler Johnson, Office
of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., 4th Floor West, Aerospace Building, Washington, DC
20447-0002, Telephone: (202) 401-4646.
VIII. Other Information
Additional information about this program and its purpose can be
located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-8416 Filed 4-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
