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Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Federal Agency Name
Administration for Children and Families
(ACF), Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), Child
Care Bureau (CCB)
Funding Opportunity Title: Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects
Announcement Type: Competitive Grant-Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2004-ACF-ACYF-YE-0020
CFDA Number: 93.575
Due Date: The closing date for receipt of applications is July 26, 2004
Due Date for Letters of Intent: If you intend to submit an application, please e-mail the ACYF Operations Center and include the following information: the number and title of this announcement, your organization's name and address, and your contact person's name, title, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. This notice is not required but is strongly encouraged. The information will be used to determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate applications and to update the mailing list for future program announcements.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
1. Child Care Bureau
Since its establishment in 1995, the Child Care Bureau (CCB) has
been dedicated to enhancing the quality, affordability, and supply of
child care available for all families. The Child Care Bureau
administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a $4.8 billion
child care program that includes funding for child care subsidies and
activities to improve child care quality and availability. Combined
with related State and Federal funding, CCDF provides more than $11
billion a year to States, territories, and tribes. Most of these funds
are used to assist low-income, working families in paying for child
care.
The Bureau works closely with ACF Regions, States, territories, and
tribes to facilitate, oversee, and document the implementation of
policies and programs that support State, local, and private sector
administration of child care services and systems. In addition, the
Bureau collaborates extensively with other offices throughout the
Federal government to promote integrated approaches, family-focused
services, and coordinated child care delivery systems. In all of these
activities, the Bureau strives to support children's healthy growth and
development, family self-sufficiency, parental choice and involvement,
and linkage of child care with other community services.
2. Child Care Bureau's Research Agenda
Since 2000, Congress has appropriated approximately $10 million per
year to be used for child care research and evaluation. The Child Care
Bureau's research agenda supports activities likely to help decision
makers in crafting effective child care policies and practices that
promote positive outcomes for children and families. It is also
intended to increase the capacity for child care research at the
national, State, and local levels and to promote better linkages among
research, policy, and practice.
The Bureau's capacity to further child care-related research is
enhanced by the Child Care Policy Research Consortium, which is an
alliance of research projects sponsored by the CCB. The consortium is
comprised of researchers and their partners in States, local
communities and other organizations who join in linking research,
policy, and practice. The research projects of consortium members cover
a broad range of issues. For example, some projects describe State and
local child care populations, services, and programs, while others
focus on child care subsidy policies and market dynamics. In addition,
some projects examine issues that deal with the professional
development and training of child care providers. The consortium meets
annually in Washington, DC.
In order to synthesize the broad array of child care information
being generated, the Bureau has created the Child Care and Early
Education Research Collaboration and Archive (CCEERCA), which serves as
the Child Care Bureau's national research knowledge management system
for the child care field. The CCEERCA consists of an interactive Web
site, an archive of data sets and reports, and a technical assistance
support system to assist researchers and facilitate collaboration.
3. Purpose and Goals
The purpose of these grants is to support researchers in
investigating child care issues that are consistent with the Child Care
Bureau's research agenda and to improve the overall quality of child
care research. They are funded under the authority of the Child Care
and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as amended.
The goals of this program area are as follows:
To address issues of current relevance to decision makers at the
local, State, and national levels. Research and evaluation are critical
to understanding child care issues and their implications for children
and families. In fiscal year 2004 (FY 2004), the Bureau is particularly
concerned with outcomes that relate to alternative child care subsidy
policies and practices, investments in child care quality including
provider training and professional development, the school readiness of
young children cared for in a variety of care settings, and
coordination across child care and other programs that serve children
and families.
To increase the capacity for child care research at the national,
State, and local levels. Once completed and released, studies funded
through this announcement must be prepared and archived according to
the specifications supplied by the Child Care and Early Education
Research Collaboration and Archive. These public-use data files will be
the property of the Federal government and will remain in the public
domain for secondary analysis by other researchers.
To encourage the active communication, networking, and
collaboration among prominent child care researchers, and policy
makers. In order to facilitate networking with policy makers,
researchers are required to participate in the Child Care Bureau's
Annual Meeting of the Child Care Policy Research Consortium and invited
to attend the State Administrators' Meeting.
4. Fiscal Year 2004 Field Initiated Child Care Research Priorities
In FY 2004, the Child Care Bureau is seeking to fund Field
Initiated Child Care Research Projects that address questions that are
highly relevant to the issues faced by Federal, State, and local
community policy makers. These include: The effects of alternative
child care subsidy policies and practices; the relative effectiveness
of child care quality investments; issues and outcomes related to the
professional development and training of caregivers; the school
readiness of young children in a range of care settings; and issues and
approaches in coordinating between child care and other services for
children and families. The following describes each of these areas in
detail and provides examples of research questions under each area.
A. Child Care Subsidy Policies. Under the Child Care and
Development Fund, States have the flexibility to establish child care
policies and practices that respond to State and local needs. Existing
research demonstrates that significant variations exist across
jurisdictions. Relatively little is known about how these variations
influence which families and children are being served, the types and
amounts of child care being used, continuity of care for children, and
employment and school readiness outcomes. For example:
. What family and child outcomes are associated with receipt
of subsidies? How do outcomes differ for different population groups
and types of care?
. How do child care policies and administrative practices
affect the child care decisions parents make, including the selection
of faith-based providers?
. How do alternatives to on-site application and eligibility
re-determination processes, and the frequency of these activities,
relate to characteristics of families served, the duration of
arrangements, continuity of care, and outcomes for families and
children?
. How do alternative approaches to parental co-payments
influence the number of families that can be served, the types of care
parents use, the affordability of care, continuity of care, and the
willingness of providers to serve subsidized families?
. How well do market rate surveys assess the price of care
in various types of communities? What methods can be used to validate
the findings from market rate surveys?
. What are the effects of child care subsidies on the larger
child care market (e.g., does an infusion of public funding result in
higher community child care prices or is there displacement between
subsidized and non-subsidized children)?
. How do child care subsidy policies, financing strategies,
and delivery systems affect the role of child care in community
economic development?
B. Quality Investments. In FY 02, States spent 11 percent of the
funds they received through the Child Care and Development Fund on
activities to improve child care quality. The Child Care Bureau seeks
projects that will provide sound information about the cost-
effectiveness of alternative investments in improving child care
quality. For example:
. Does giving informal caregivers, such as relatives,
friends and neighbors, access to USDA adult and child nutrition
programs result in improved child care quality? Do partnerships among
child care and nutrition programs result in an effective system for the
delivery of training for informal caregivers? How does participation in
other types of support relate to the quality of care provided by this
group of caregivers?
. What proportion of child care providers take advantage of
State and community systems of tiered reimbursement? Does tiered
reimbursement result in increased participation in accreditation,
certification, or other mechanisms through which providers can
demonstrate that they offer higher quality care? How do variations
across systems of tiered reimbursement, including incentive amounts,
influence provider participation? Are there differences in
participation in tiered reimbursement and responses to licensing
incentives among types of providers (including faith-based
organizations)? Is it possible to demonstrate improvements in the
quality of care? Do such systems influence the child care choices
parents make?
. Do strategies such as putting licensing information on the
web or monitoring child care facilities based on risk factors improve
the health, safety and quality of child care facilities? Do such
strategies result in better informed consumers?
C. Professional Development and Training. In connection with the
administration's early learning initiative, Good Start, Grow Smart, the
Child Care Bureau has been working with States on the development of
voluntary guidelines for early learning. States are being encouraged to
link their professional development and provider training strategies to
the outcomes they hope to achieve for children. In support of these
efforts, the Bureau is interested in research projects that can provide
greater insight into the effectiveness of alternative approaches to
professional development and training in improving the quality of care
and outcomes for children across the range of child care settings. For
example:
. What characteristics of caregivers are associated with
choosing child care as a long-term profession and staying in the field?
. What levels of compensation and benefits are necessary to
motivate caregivers to participate in quality improvement initiatives
such as incentives for earning professional credentials or degrees and
specialized training?
. Are States implementing policies (such as tax incentives,
loan programs and training) that encourage individuals to work in
child care or establish child care businesses? How effective are
these strategies?
. What characteristics of professional development systems
provide an effective vehicle for the pursuit of career paths in child
care and early childhood education? How well do articulation agreements
and systems of training approval and registry work for individual
caregivers?
. Do professional development systems support the workforce
in all sectors and levels of development including caregivers working
in family child care and informal settings as well as center-based
programs (including faith-based)?
. How effective are alternative training strategies such as
distance learning, mentoring, and coaching in improving the skills of
caregivers with limited education and access to the formal system?
D. School Readiness. Young children are spending increasing numbers
of hours in child care and other early education settings. More needs
to be known about how the school readiness of young children is
influenced across types of child care as well as how school readiness
can be promoted across settings. For example:
. How do school readiness outcomes differ among early
childhood education settings? What are the characteristics of settings
that make a difference in school readiness outcomes for children? How
does this vary by racial, ethnic, or language differences among
children?
. How do hours in child care and early education relate to
child outcomes?
. Does subsidy receipt impact the probability that low-
income children will be in settings that support school readiness?
. What factors promote children's early learning and school
readiness in child care centers, family child care homes, and in
informal arrangements among families, friends and neighbors?
E. Coordination. With growth in child care subsidies, Head Start,
State pre-kindergarten programs, services for children with special
needs, and a range of other programs targeted toward low-income
families and children, it is critical that services be coordinated.
This is necessary to maximize the resources that are available and to
ensure that services make sense and are effective in supporting
positive outcomes for families and children. Examples of research
questions include:
. What are States and communities doing to coordinate across
early childhood and school-age programs, including health, assistance
for children with special needs, TANF, child care, Head Start, pre-
kindergarten, and K-12 services with respect to service delivery and
funding? How well do these strategies work?
. What are the barriers and facilitators to collaboration
and integration across programs?
. What are the effects of universal pre-kindergarten
programs on the larger child care market?
Applicants should propose sound research methodologies and analyses
that are appropriate to the study. Projects may also involve secondary
analyses of completed data sets. Within the maximum funding level
available ($400,000), applicants are expected to develop a budget that
is reasonable given the nature and scope of the proposed study.
Projects may include multiple sites, propose linkages with other
studies, or otherwise leverage resources and knowledge.
Applicants are encouraged to form research partnerships if the
result will be a more comprehensive, policy-relevant, and rigorous
study than could be accomplished by a single organization. Funding
partnerships to enhance the scope or quality of research activities are
also encouraged.
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
Category of Funding Activity: ISS Income Security and Social
Services.
Anticipated Total Program Funding: $2 million in FY 2004.
Anticipated Number of Awards: Five to eight awards will be funded.
Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $400,000 per budget period.
Applications that exceed this ceiling will be considered non-responsive
and will not be eligible for funding under this announcement.
Floor on Amount of Individual Awards: None.
Average Anticipated Award: $200,000-$400,000 per budget period.
Project Period for Awards: This announcement invites applications
for project periods up to three years. Awards, on a competitive basis,
will be for a one-year budget period, although project periods may be
for three years. Applications for continuation of grants beyond the
one-year budget period will be entertained in subsequent years on a
non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds from future
appropriations, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a
determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the
government. Should additional funds be available in FY 2005 or 2006,
ACF reserves the right to fund additional projects from among the
applications received under this announcement.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Universities and colleges, public agencies, non-profit
organizations, for-profit organizations agreeing to waive their fees
are eligible applicants, faith-based and community organizations are
also eligible to apply.
Institutions serving minority populations, including but not
limited to Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities
(TCUs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), are
also eligible applicants.
. TCUs are those institutions cited in section 532 of the
Equity in Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301
note), any other institution that qualifies for funding under the
Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.), and Navajo Community College, authorized in the Navajo
Community College Assistance Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95-471, title II (25
U.S.C. 640a note). Those TCUs that are not accredited are not eligible
to apply under this announcement.
. HBCUs are defined in the amended version of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1061(2), as institutions
established prior to 1964 whose principle mission was, and is, the
education of Black Americans, and must satisfy section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Institutions which meet the
definition of ``Part B institution'' in section 322 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1061(2), shall be eligible
for assistance under this announcement.
Additional Information on Eligibility: Non-profit organizations
applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit
status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:
(a) A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in the IRS code.
(b) A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
(c) A statement from a State taxing body, State Attorney General,
or other appropriate State official certifying that the applicant
organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net earnings
accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
(d) A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit
status.
(e) Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a
State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the
parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
2. Cost-Sharing or Matching
Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum
of the ACF share and the non-federal share. The non-federal share may
be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions.
For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project with a
total approved cost of $375,000, requesting $300,000 in ACF funds, must
provide a non-federal share of at least $75,000 (20% of total approved
project cost of $375,000). Grantees will be held accountable for
commitments of non-federal resources even if over the amount of the
required match. Failure to provide the amount will result in
disallowance of Federal funds.
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
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 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 below will be considered non-responsive and will not be
eligible for funding under this announcement.
Applications that exceed the funding ceiling will be considered
non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under this
announcement.
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.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
This full announcement can be obtained via the following link:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb.
If you are unable to download the complete announcement, requests
for applications may be sent to: ACYF Operations Center, c/o The Dixon
Group, Inc., Child Care Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research
Grants, 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, phone: 866-796-
1591, e-mail: CCB@dixongroup.com.
2. Content and Format of Application Submission
Electronic Submission. 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 email an electronic
copy of a grant application. 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 acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you a
second confirmation, which will include an ACF tracking number.
. 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.
Format and Organization. An original and two copies of the
application must be submitted. Applicants should limit their
application to 100 pages, double-spaced, with standard one-inch margins
and 12 point fonts. This page limit applies to both narrative text and
supporting materials. In addition, applicants should number the pages
of their application and include a table of contents.
Applicants are advised to include all required forms and materials
and to organize these materials according to the format presented
below:
a. Cover letter.
b. Required standard forms:
. Standard Application for Federal Assistance (forms 424 and
424A).
. Applicants requesting financial assistance for a non-
construction project must sign and return Standard Form 424B,
Assurances: Non-construction Programs, with their applications.
. Applicants must provide a Certification Regarding
Lobbying. Prior to receiving an award in excess of $100,000, applicants
shall furnish an executed copy of the lobbying certification.
Applicants must sign and return the certification with their
application.
. Applicants must make the appropriate certification of
compliance with all Federal statues relation to nondiscrimination. By
signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the
certification and need not mail back a certification form.
. Applicants must make the appropriate certification of
their compliance with the requirements of the Pro-Children Act of 1994
as outlined in Certification Regarding Environment Tobacco Smoke.
c. Table of contents.
d. Project narrative statement.
e. Appendix:
Complete Contact Information for Principle Investigators;
Curriculum Vitae for Principle Investigators.
Content of Project Narrative Statement: The project narrative
statement contains most of the information on which applications will
be competitively reviewed. The project narrative should be carefully
developed in accordance with the Bureau's research goals and agenda,
the requirements listed in the Uniform Project Description and the
evaluation criteria.
Omission of Salary Rate: 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.
Applications from Non-profit Organizations: Private, non-profit
organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the
survey under ``Grant Related Documents and Forms'' titled ``Survey for
Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants'' at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
3. Submission Dates and Times
Notice of Intent to Submit Application: If you intend to submit an
application, please e-mail the ACYF Operations Center and include the
following information: the number and title of this announcement, your
organization's name and address, and your contact person's name, title,
phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. This notice is not
required but is strongly encouraged. The information will be used to
determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate
applications and to update the mailing list for future program
announcements.
Mailing and Delivery Instructions. Applications may be sent through
the U.S. Postal Service, delivered by private courier, or hand
delivered to the ACYF Operations Center. Applications must be mailed or
delivered to: ACYF Operations Center, The Dixon Group, Inc., Child Care
Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research Program, 118 Q Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20002-2132, phone: 866-796-1591, e-mail:
CCB@dixongroup.com. Applications delivered by a private courier or by
hand must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time (e.t.), on
the closing date. ACYF cannot accept applications by fax or through
other electronic media. Applicants will receive a confirmation postcard
upon receipt of applications.
Closing Date: The closing date for receipt of applications is 4:30
p.m. eastern time (e.t.) on July 26, 2004. Mailed or handcarried
applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be
classified as late.
Late Applications: Mailed applications will be considered as
meeting the deadline if they are postmarked on or before the closing
date and received by ACYF in time for the independent review.
Applications hand carried by applicants, couriers, other
representatives of the applicant, will be considered as meeting the
deadline if they are received at the ACYF Operations Center on the
closing date between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday
through Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Applications that do not
meet the criteria stated above will be considered late. The
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will notify each late
applicant that his/her application will not be considered in the
current competition.
Extension of Deadline: ACF may extend an application deadline for
applicants affected by acts of God (such as floods and hurricanes),
when there is widespread disruption of mail service, or for other
disruption of services that affect the public at large (such as
prolonged electrical blackout). Authority to waive or extend deadline
requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
The table below details when the materials need to be submitted and
where these forms or formatting descriptions can be found.
| What to submit | Required Content | Required Form or Format | When to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Standard Application for Federal Assistance
(forms SF 424, 424A, and 424B) |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
2. Certification regarding Lobbying and associated Disclosure
of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL) |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
3. Environmental Tobacco Smoke Certification |
Per required form. |
May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
4. Protection of Human Subjects |
Per required form. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
5. Proof of Non-Profit Status |
See Section III.1. | May be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm | By application due date. |
|
6. Project Narrative Statement |
See Section IV.2 and Section V.1 and V.2. | Format described in Section V.1 and V.2. | By application due date. |
| 7.
Contact Information, Vita, Letter of Support, Transcript |
See Section and IV.2. | Format described in Section IV.2. | 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 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.
All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wyoming, and Palau have elected to participate in
the Executive Order process and have established Single Points of
Contact (SPOCs). Applicants from these twenty-six jurisdictions need
take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants for projects to be
administered by federally-recognized Indian tribes are also exempt from
the requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact
their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective
applications and receive any necessary 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. It is imperative that the applicant 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.
5. Funding Restrictions
Grants awarded as a result of this competition are not transferable
to another institution. No individual institution will be funded for
more than one award unless applications from different institutions do
not qualify for support.
6. Other Submission Requirements
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 ACYF Operations Center, The Dixon Group,
Inc., Child Care Bureau, Field Initiated Child Care Research Grants,
118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132. 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 handcarried 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. eastern time at the ACYF Operations
Center, c/o The Dixon Group, Inc., 118 Q Street, NE., Washington, DC
20002-2132, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).
This address must appear on the envelope/package containing the
application with the note ``Attention Field Initiated Child Care
Research Grants.'' Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight
courier services do not always deliver as agreed.
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax.
V. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting
for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 hours for
the Field Initiated Child Care Research Grants, including time for
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
reviewing the collection of information.
The project description is approved under OMB Control No. 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.
Instruction: ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD)
The following are instructions and guidelines on how to prepare the
``Project Summary/Abstract'' and ``Full Project Description'' sections
of the application. The UPD was approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Control No. 0970-0139.
The Project Description Overview. The project description provides
a major means by which an application is evaluated and ranked to
compete with other applications for available assistance. The project
description should be concise and complete and should address the
activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting
documents should be included where they can present information clearly
and succinctly. In preparing your project description, all information
requested through each specific evaluation criteria should be provided.
Awarding offices use this and other information in making their funding
recommendations. It is important, therefore, that this information be
included in the application.
General Instructions. ACF is particularly interested in specific
factual information and statements of measurable goals in quantitative
terms. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance,
not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross referencing
should be used rather than repetition. Supporting information
concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or
information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the
grant funded activity should be placed in an appendix. Pages should be
numbered and a table of contents should be included for easy reference.
Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description
1. Project Summary Abstract
Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with
reference to the funding request.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Additional Information
Following are requests for additional information that need to be
included in the application:
a. Staff and Position Data
Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a
job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch
will also be required for new key staff as appointed.
b. 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.
5. General
The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes
of preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources''
refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal
resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is
suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a
columnar format: First column, object class categories; second column,
Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), and last column,
total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.
a. Personnel
Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
Justification: Identify the project director or principal
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary,
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel
costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to
be financed by the applicant.
b. Fringe Benefits
Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA,
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
c. Travel
Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s),
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
d. Equipment
Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable,
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year
and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000.
Note: Acquisition cost means the net invoice unit price of an
item of equipment, including the cost of any modifications,
attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make
it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. Ancillary
charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit insurance,
freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded from
acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular
written accounting practices.
Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units,
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant
organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide
a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the
equipment definition.
e. Supplies
Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than
that included under the Equipment category.
Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports
the amount requested.
f. Other
Description: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where
applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to
insurance, food, medical and dental costs (non-contractual),
professional services costs, space and equipment rentals, printing and
publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition and
stipends, staff development costs, and administrative costs.
Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a
justification for each cost under this category.
g. Indirect Charges
Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or
another cognizant Federal agency.
Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an
award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal
based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the
principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for
establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant
agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals
may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant.
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is
allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
2. Evaluation Criteria
Eligible applications will be scored competitively against the
evaluation criteria. These criteria will be used in conjunction with
the other expectations and requirements set forth in this announcement
to evaluate how well each proposal addresses the bureau's research
agenda and the program goals.
Criterion 1: Approach--Research Design and Methodology (30 Point
Maximum)
The extent to which the application provides a theoretical
framework and a review of empirical evidence supporting the proposed
project.
The extent to which the proposed research design (a) appropriately
links research issues, questions, variables, data sources, samples, and
analyses; (b) provides a logic model that illustrates the expected
linkages; and (c) employs technically sound and appropriate approaches,
design elements and procedures, and sampling techniques.
The extent to which the application provides a detailed analysis
plan that shows how the measures and analyses relate to the proposed
hypotheses or research questions and demonstrates their appropriateness
for the questions under consideration.
The extent to which the proposed design (a) reflects sensitivity to
technical, logistical, cultural, and ethical issues that may arise and
(b) and includes realistic strategies for the resolution of
difficulties;
The extent to which the researchers assure adequate protection of
human subjects, confidentiality of data, and consent procedures, as
appropriate;
The extent to which the research design (a) specifies the measures
to be used and their psychometric properties; (b) describes how these
measures have been used to address the proposed research questions; and
(c) describes how these measures have been used with the low-income,
diverse population to be studied.
Criterion 2: Objectives and Need for Assistance (25 Point Maximum)
The extent to which the application responds to the Child Care
Bureau's priorities and proposes research likely to yield findings that
will help decision makers in crafting effective child care policies and
strategies.
Identifies the results and benefits of the project and describes
how these will inform child care policies and services, improve
practice, and advance understanding of the contexts that promote
healthy development and well-being in families and children.
The extent to which the application demonstrates a sound
understanding of the critical issues and research needs in child care.
This should include particular emphasis on the issues addressed by the
proposed study.
The extent to which the application provides a literature review
that is current and comprehensive, identifies other research that has
addressed similar issues, and supports the need for the proposed study.
Describes how the proposed study will help address gaps in the research
literature and unanswered questions.
The extent to which the conceptual model, objectives and hypotheses
are: (a) Well formulated and appropriately linked; (b) reflect the
Bureau's research agenda and goals; and (c) will contribute new
knowledge to the field.
The extent to which the application describes a project framework
that is appropriate, feasible and contributes to the importance,
comprehensiveness, and quality of the proposed research.
Criterion 3: Approach--Management Plan (25 Point Maximum)
The extent to which the application includes a management plan that
(a) presents a sound framework for maintaining quality control over the
implementation and ongoing operations of the study; (b) demonstrates
how the applicant will gain access to necessary organizations,
participants, and data sources; (c) provides evidence that the
applicant and its partners, if any, have the expertise, resources and
commitment to solve problems that may arise in carrying out the
project; and (d) provides detailed project management charts showing
tasks and sub tasks, milestones, staff allocation, and costs.
The extent to which (a) the scope of the project is reasonable for
the funds available and feasible for the project time frame; (b)
includes an effective plan for the dissemination and utilization of
information by researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners in the
field; and (c) includes assurances and plans for working with the Child
Care Bureau's Child Care Research Collaboration and Archive to archive
final data sets, reports, and other research products.
Criterion 4: Organizational Profile (10 Point Maximum)
The extent to which the application: (a) Demonstrates
organizational competence and expertise in the areas addressed by the
proposed research, including relevant background, experience, and
training on related research or similar projects; (b) demonstrates
expertise in research design, sampling, field work, data processing,
statistical analysis, reporting, and information dissemination to
academic and policy communities; (c) demonstrates an understanding of
the child care subsidy system and the child care needs of low-income
families.
The extent to which the application: (a) Provides evidence of an
effective organizational structure and collaborative relationships, if
appropriate; (b) provides evidence that the project will be effectively
managed by the lead organization to ensure that all participants in the
study operate as a cohesive research team; (c) includes a detailed
organizational chart showing relationships and responsibilities of
participating organizations; (d) demonstrates and documents specific
organizational and staff experience in developing, implementing, and
maintaining a research project of the nature and scope proposed; and
(e) provides information on the skills, experience, and capabilities of
the project director and key project staff including the principal
investigators and other key staff at each site.
The extent to which the application describes the management plan
for achieving the objectives of the proposed project on time and within
budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and
milestones for accomplishing project tasks and ensuring quality.
Criterion 5: Budget (10 Points)
The extent to which the proposed project costs are reasonable and
justified in terms of scope, approach, staff time commitment, and
anticipated results. Refers to the budget information presented on
Standard Forms 424 and 424 A and the applicant's budget justification.
The extent to which the application describes the fiscal control
and accounting procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use,
proper and timely disbursement, and accurate accounting of funds
received under this announcement.
3. Review and Selection Process
Initial Screening for Eligibility and Conformance
Review and Selection Process: Each application will undergo an
eligibility and conformance review by Federal Child Care Bureau staff.
Applications that pass the eligibility and conformance review will be
evaluated on a competitive basis according to the specified evaluation
criteria.
Competitive Review Process
The competitive review will be conducted in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area by panels of Federal and non-Federal experts
knowledgeable in the areas of literacy, early learning, child care,
early childhood education, and other relevant program areas.
Application review panels will assign a score to each application
and identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Application Consideration and Selection
The Child Care Bureau will conduct an administrative review of the
applications and results of the competitive review panels and make
recommendations for funding to the Commissioner, ACYF.
Subject to the recommendation of the Child Care Bureau's Associate
Commissioner, the Commissioner, ACYF, will make the final selection of
the applications to be funded. Application may be funded in whole or in
part depending on: (1) The ranked order of applicants resulting from
the competitive review; (2) staff review and consultations; (3) the
combination of projects that best meets the Bureau's objectives; (4)
the funds available; and (6) other relevant considerations. The
Commissioner may also elect not to fund any applicants with known
management, fiscal, reporting, program, or other problems that make it
unlikely they would be able to provide effective services.
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
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
Conference Attendance. The grantee must attend and present a poster
at the Annual Meeting of the Child Care Policy Research Consortium each
year of the grant. This conference is typically scheduled during the
spring. In addition, the applicant may be asked to attend and present
at the annual State Administrators' Meeting typically held each summer
in Washington, DC. The budget should reflect travel funds for both
conferences. Grantees with graduate students are encouraged to bring at
least one student to these meetings.
Archiving and Publishing. The grantee must agree to archive final
data sets, reports and other research products with the Child Care
Research and Collaboration Archive (CCRCA).
45 CFR part 74 and 45 CFR part 92.
3. Special Terms and Conditions of Award
None.
4. Reporting Requirements
Programmatic Reports: Semi-annually and a final report is due 90
days after the end of the grant period.
Financial Reports: Semi-annually and a final report due 90 days
after the end of the grant period.
VII. Agency Contacts
Program Office Contacts:
Dr. Ivelisse Martinez-Beck, Program Area Manager, 330 C Street, SW.,
Room 2046, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 690-7885,
imartinez-beck@acf.hhs.gov.
Ms. Karen Tvedt, Director, Policy and Research Division, 330 C Street,
SW., Room 2046, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 401-5130,
ktvedt@acf.hhs.gov.
Grants Management Office Contact: William Wilson, Grants Officer,
330 C Street, SW., Room 2070, Washington, DC 20447; (202) 205-8913,
wwilson@acf.hhs.gov.
VIII. Other Information
None.
Dated: May 18, 2004.
Joan E. Ohl,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 04-11816 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
Billing Code 4184-01-P
