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| 93.598 SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF A SEVERE FORM OF TRAFFICKING |
| (Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386, as amended; Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization act of 2003, Public Law 108-193, 22 U.S.C. 7103. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide individuals determined to be victims of a severe form of trafficking access to benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. Provide targeted case management, referrals and funded cash, medical assistance, special mental health or other services, and community/local outreach. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides funding for specialized services and assistance to certified/eligible adult victims of a severe form of trafficking assisting criminal justice system efforts to prosecute traffickers. Victims under the age of eighteen are not required to assist prosecution efforts in order to access benefits. Funds may be used only for the purposes set forth in the grant award. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| State and local governments and private nonprofit organizations. Under the "Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTPA), and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2003 (TVPRA)" trafficking victims are eligible for benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. The law, enacted in October 2000, and amended in December 2003 specifically requires HHS, in consultation with the Attorney General, to "certify" adult trafficking victims as a precondition for their eligibility. Children under eighteen must be determined to be victims of a severe form of trafficking but do not require such certification in order to be eligible for benefits. Certain family members of victims of a severe form of trafficking are eligible for federally funded or administered benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. Specifically, holders of a T-2, T=3, T-4 or T-5 visa (collectively referred to as "Derivative T Visas) are eligible for benefits and services. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Beneficiaries are adult victims of a severe form of trafficking who have been certified by HHS/ORR. Children under 18 years of age subjected to a severe form of trafficking who have received letters of eligibility from HHS/ORR are considered eligible for services. Certain family members of victims of a severe form of trafficking are legible for federally funded or administered benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. Holders of the "Derivative T Visas" (T-2, T-3, T-4, or T-5 visa) are eligible for services. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Cost principals for nonprofit organizations will be determined by OMB Circular No. A-122. Cost principals for State and local governments are found under OMB Circular No. A-87. Persons need not attain refugee, entrant, or asylee status to be eligible for services under this program. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Also, 45 CFR 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Program and Activities." |
| Application Procedure |
| Each application submitted under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine if (1) The application was received by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in this announcement, and (2) applicant is eligible for funding. |
| Award Procedure |
| Applications that pass the initial Administration for Children and Families (ACF) screening will be evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its success. |
| Deadlines |
| Deadlines are sixty days after posting of the notice of funds availability. Notices of funds availability are posted on the Office of Refugee Resettlement website at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr and at Grants.gov. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| It is anticipated that the approval/disapproval time will not exceed 90 days. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Funds are generally made available for three-year project periods with funding on an annual basis. |
| Reports |
| Progress reports and financial reports are required, usually on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. Final program and financial reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the approved goals and objectives are also required. |
| Audits |
| Periodic audits are made as part of the system of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less that $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133." Nonprofit organization receiving less than $25,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from federal audit requirements, but records must be available for review by appropriate officials of the Federal grantor agency or subgranting entity. |
| Records |
| Grant recipients are required to keep all financial, business, and program reports necessary for program review and audit during the project period and for three years thereafter to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms, and conditions of this program. |
| Account Identification |
| 75-1503-0-1-609. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $1,817,000; FY 08 $1,316,000; and FY 09 est $1,298,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| In FY 2007, 19 grants were awarded. It is estimated that 19 grants will be awarded in FY 2008 and FY 2009. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In FY 07, the total number of trafficking victims was reported at 303. In FY 08 and FY 09, it is estimated that the number of trafficking victims will be approximately 318 and 333, respectively. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Program announcements can be found at the ORR website. All inquiries should be directed to the Information Contact listed below. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| For program information, contact Maggie Wynne, Director, Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 8th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (866) 401-5510, or (202) 401-4664; Fax: (202) 401-5487. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/orr |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 93.566, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_State Administered Programs; 93.576, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Discretionary Grants. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Future funding for projects is contingent upon the availability of authorized funding. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Notice of criteria for awarding funds can be found at the ORR website. Please refer to the Information Contact section for more information. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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