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Executive Summary The purpose of this announcement is to (a) inform LIHEAP grantees that applications are being requested under the REACH Program, and (b) provide a copy of the REACH Model Plan format that may be used to apply for REACH funds each year. Legislative Authority Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act (LIHEAP), Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law (P.L.) 97-35, the Human Services Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-252); and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58). The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-252) amended the LIHEAP statute to add Section 2607B, which established the REACH Program. REACH was funded for the first time in FY 1996 and is intended to:
The public health and safety aspects of LIHEAP have been underscored in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) that President George W. Bush signed on August 8, 2005. Section 1804 of Title XVIII of the Energy Policy Act required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report to Congress on how LIHEAP could be used more effectively to prevent loss of life from extreme temperatures. On February 15, 2007, HHS submitted its LIHEAP Report to Congress, Preventing Loss of Life Due to Extreme Indoor Temperatures. (A copy of the report may be requested by sending an email to LIHEAPconsumers@acf.hhs.gov.) REACH funds are available only to LIHEAP grantees. However, States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico must coordinate REACH efforts with community-based organizations (CBOs) to assure that REACH services are implemented and operated by these entities. Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Insular Areas (other than Puerto Rico) may administer their programs without sub-contracting or sub-granting to a CBO. The LIHEAP statute provides that up to $50 million of the LIHEAP block grant appropriation may be used to support a Leveraging Incentive Program. The 1994 amendments to the LIHEAP statute provide that a portion of the leveraging funds (up to 25 percent) may be set aside for REACH awards. As a follow-up to the Department’s Congressional Report, the HHS, Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) has decided to focus REACH grants on promoting innovative LIHEAP initiatives that address energy-related health and safety issues and “home energy vulnerability” (i.e., the risk to personal health and safety that is associated with home energy affordability.)
Attached is the REACH Model Plan format (Attachment 2) that you may use in developing your REACH plans. You are not required to use the Model Plan format. You may submit your REACH application in any format you wish, as long as it includes all the information required under the statute. As with regular block grant fund assurances, LIHEAP grantees applying for REACH funds must provide the appropriate signature to the REACH Assurances (Section 2607B(e)(2)(A) through (M) of the LIHEAP Act), and furnish descriptions where required. See the Model Plan, located at the end of this announcement, for certification statement and the signature block. Explanation of Due Dates To be considered for funding, REACH plan applications must be submitted to the address listed below and postmarked on or before the due date listed in the Overview section of this announcement. The Office of Community Services (OCS) will not consider applications postmarked after this date and no exceptions will be granted. Applications may also be hand delivered to our offices by 4:30 PM, eastern time, on the due date listed in the Overview section of this announcement. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or email. We strongly recommend that applicants use an overnight/express delivery service, such as Federal Express or United Parcel Service, to submit REACH applications, especially if the application is mailed close to the due date. OCS will not provide applicants with an acknowledgement of receipt of the REACH application. Please refer inquiries to: Division of Energy Assistance Please send application submissions to: Nick St. Angelo, Director
DATE: ____________________________________ Josephine B. Robinson
Director
Office of Community Services
ATTACHMENTS: (1) REACH Program Guidance and Policy (2) REACH Model Plan Guidance and Policy 1. REACH Program Application – Must be postmarked no later than the due date listed in the Overview section of this announcement.
2. REACH Plans The following information is required and must be provided to qualify for REACH funding. A model plan for your use is provided in Attachment 2. Part I – Signature to the REACH assurances by the Governor or Tribal Chairman. Part II -- Descriptions for REACH Assurances – No more than two paragraphs for each of the REACH assurances that are identified in the attached model plan, with the following exceptions: *Assurances C and F – a combined description may be 2 pages or less Part III – Funding Level Requested Basic REACH Grant: Maximum $350,000 for States and Puerto Rico; and Maximum $50,000 for Tribes/Tribal Organizations and Insular Areas. For grantees opting to include an Energy Efficiency Education Services Plan (EEES): Maximum $35,000 for States and Puerto Rico, and Maximum $10,000 for Tribes/Tribal Organizations and Insular Areas. Part IV – Description of EEES – This description is only required for those choosing to implement EEES plans. EEES plans must focus on health and safety and are limited to one page to explain project and contact information. Additional Requirements: Please ensure that your responses do not exceed the limits identified above, or your application may not be considered. All applications must be written in 12-point, Times New Roman font. D-U-N-S Requirement All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number. A D-U-N-S number is required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal, Grants.gov. A D-U-N-S number is 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. A D-U-N-S number may be acquired at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number online at http://www.dnb.com. Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants must furnish, prior to award, an executed copy of the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application. If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a loan, the applicant shall complete and submit Standard Form (SF)-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions. The Certification Regarding Lobbying may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html Please DO NOT attach any supporting documentation or other materials with your application that are not specifically requested in this Action Transmittal—this information will not be considered. (The SF-424 is not required for the REACH application.) 3. REACH Policy
4. Reports STANDARD FORM 269A – The SF 269A is due 90 days after the end of the grant period, on December 30, in the second year of the two-year obligation period. (Please refer to LIHEAP Action Transmittal (AT)-2008-01, dated 11/30/07, which provides detailed reporting instructions for the SF 269A. AT-2008-01 is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/guidance/action_transmittals/at08-01.html.) (Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 72 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing the collection information. The information collection in this announcement is approved under OMB control number 0970-0348, which expires 07/30/2011. 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.) 5. Award Information
6. Plan Review and Final Awards
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM MODEL PLAN for the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) FISCAL YEAR (FY) _______________
GRANTEE (STATE, TRIBE, TRIBAL ORGANIZATION OR INSULAR AREA): __________________________________________________________________________
EIN:______________________________________________________________________
GRANTEE CONTACT NAME :_______________________________________________
ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ___________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE: _____________________________FAX: ____________________________ Part I - Signature Certification to the REACH Assurances: Section 2607B (e) (2) (A) through (M) of the LIHEAP Act – Elements of State Plans (A) an assurance that such State will deliver services through community-based nonprofit entities in such State, by-- (i) awarding grants to, or entering into contracts with, such entities for the purpose of providing such services and payments directly to individuals eligible for benefits; or (ii) if a State makes payments directly to eligible individuals or energy suppliers, making contracts with such entities to administer such programs, including (I) determining eligibility; (II) providing outreach services; and (III) providing benefits other than payments; (B) an assurance that, in awarding grants or entering into contracts to carry out its REACH initiative, the State will give priority to organizations that-- (i) are described in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(1)), except where significant geographic portions of the State are not served by such entities; (ii) the Secretary has determined have a record of successfully providing services under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; and (iii) receive weatherization assistance program funds under part A of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.); except that a State may not require any such entity to operate a REACH program; (C) an assurance that, subject to subparagraph (D), each entity that receives a grant or enters into a contract under subparagraph (A)(i) will provide a variety of services and benefits, including— (i) payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for residential energy assistance services and benefits under section 2605(b) for home energy costs; (ii) energy efficiency education; (iii) residential energy demand management services, including any other energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements in coordination with, or delivered by, Department of Energy weatherization assistance programs at the discretion of the State; (iv) family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related to energy budget management, payment plans, and related services; and (v) negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households eligible for REACH services and benefits; (D) a description of the methodology the State and local agencies will use to determine— (i) which households will receive one or more forms of benefits under the State REACH initiative; (ii) the cases in which non-monetary benefits are likely to provide more cost-effective long-term outcomes than payment benefits alone; and (iii) the amount of such benefit[s] required to meet the goals of the program; (E) a method for targeting non-monetary benefits; (F) a description of the crisis and emergency assistance activities the State will undertake that are designed to— (i) discourage family energy crises; (ii) encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior; and (iii) provide only financial incentives that encourage household payment; (G) a description of the activities the State will undertake to— (i) provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy costs; and (ii) provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy burdens of recipients of assistance; (H) an assurance that the State will require each entity that receives a grant or enters into a contract under this section to solicit and be responsive to the views of individuals who are financially eligible for benefits and services under this section in establishing its local program; (I) a description of performance goals for the State REACH initiative including— (i) a reduction in the energy costs of participating households over one or more fiscal years; (ii) an increase in the regularity of home energy bill payments by eligible households; and (iii) an increase in energy vendor contributions towards reducing energy burdens of eligible households; (J) a description of the indicators that will be used by the State to measure whether the performance goals have been achieved; (K) a demonstration that the plan is consistent with section 2603, paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), and (14) of section 2605(b), subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) of section 2605, and section 2606 of this title; (L) an assurance that benefits and services will be provided in addition to other benefit payments and services provided under this title and in coordination with such benefit payments and services; and (M) an assurance that no regulated utility covered by the plan will be required to act in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable regulatory requirements. Certification to the Assurances: As Chief Executive Officer, I agree to comply with the REACH assurances contained in Section 2607B(e), Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of l981, as amended. By signing these assurances, I also agree to abide by the standard assurances on lobbying, debarment and suspension, and a drug-free workplace. Signature of the Tribal or Board Chairperson or Chief Executive Officer of the State or Territory*:
Signature_____________________________________________________________________
Title:_________________________________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________ Part II - Descriptions of REACH Assurances (statutory references) (Assurances C & F)
Funding level requested for the REACH Plan is $____________________. If the grantee chooses to provide an EEES plan, as described below in Part IV, funding level requested is $____________________. Part IV Description of Energy Efficiency Education Services (EEES) - Optional (statutory references)
Reminders Plan descriptions must be written in font size no less than 12-point. Most descriptions should be no longer than one or two paragraphs except for the following:
Posted on September 29, 2008 |
