Executive Summary: This announcement governs the proposed award of formula grants under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to Native American Tribes (including Alaska Native Villages) and Tribal organizations. The purpose of these grants is to assist Tribes in establishing, maintaining, and expanding programs and projects to prevent family violence and to provide immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents (42 U.S.C. 10401). This announcement sets forth the application requirements, the application process, and other administrative and fiscal requirements for grants in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. Grantees are to be mindful that although the expenditure period for grants is a two-year period, an application is required every year to provide continuity in the provision of services. (See Section II. Award Information, Expenditure Periods.)Legislative Authority: The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. 10401 through 10421, as extended by the Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub. L. 111-8. The purpose of this legislation is to assist Tribes Tribal organizations, nonprofit private organizations approved by Tribes and States in supporting the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects to prevent incidents of family violence and to provide immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents. Tribes face unique circumstances and obstacles when responding to family violence. The particular legal relationship of the United States to Indian Tribes creates a Federal trust responsibility to assist Tribal governments in safeguarding the lives of Indian victims of family violence. During FY 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made 257 grants to States and Tribes or Tribal organizations. HHS also made 53 family violence grant awards to non-profit State Domestic Violence Coalitions. In addition, HHS supports the Sacred Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women. General Grant Program Requirements For Tribes Or Tribal Organizations Client Confidentiality FVPSA programs must establish or implement policies and protocols for maintaining the safety and confidentiality of the adult victims of domestic violence and their children whom they serve. It is essential that the confidentiality of individuals receiving FVPSA services be protected. Consequently, when providing statistical data on program activities and program services, individual identifiers of client records will not be used by Tribes, Tribal organizations, the State, or other FVPSA grantees or subgrantees. The address or location of any FVPSA-funded shelter facility will, except with written authorization of the person or persons responsible for the operation of such shelter, not be made public and the confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual provided family violence prevention and treatment services by any FVPSA-funded program will be strictly maintained (42 U.S.C. 10402(a)(2)(E)). Confidentiality requirements have been strengthened and clarified with the passage of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-162). In the interest of establishing a consistent Federal standard for domestic violence programs, HHS follows the confidentiality provisions and definition of “personally identifying information” in sections 40002(b)(2) and 40002(a)(18) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2) and 42 U.S.C. 13925(a)(18)) as a more detailed guidance for grantees about how to comply with the FVPSA confidentiality obligations, and requires FVPSA-funded programs to comply with the VAWA confidentiality provisions. In FY 2009 guidance, FYSB requires that grantees only collect unduplicated data for each program, and that information not be unduplicated across programs or statewide. No client-level data may be shared with a third party, regardless of encryption, hashing or other data security measures, without a written, time-limited release as described in section 40002(b)(2) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13925(b)(2)). The Importance of Coordinated, Accessible Services To help bring about a more effective response to the problem of family violence, HHS urges Tribes and Tribal organizations receiving funds under this grant announcement to coordinate activities funded under this grant with other new and existing resources for the prevention of family violence and related issues. To serve victims most in need and to comply with Federal law, services must be widely accessible. Services must not discriminate on the basis of age, handicap, sex, race, color, national origin or religion (42 U.S.C. 10406). The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides guidance to grantees in complying with these requirements. Services must also be provided on a voluntary basis; receipt of shelter or housing must not be conditioned on participation in supportive services. National Data Collection and Outcomes Measurement In collaboration with partners at the State FVPSA programs, State Domestic Violence Coalitions (Coalitions), Tribes and Tribal organizations, Sacred Circle, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and experts on both data collection and domestic violence issues, FYSB continues to develop informative, succinct, and non-burdensome reporting formats that safely measure quantifiable outputs and outcomes. During FY 2007, FYSB revised and defined the program services reporting components for recipients of FVPSA State Formula Grant funds. In FY 2008, FYSB worked with Tribal representatives to assess the applicability of the proposed program reporting procedures and outcome measures for FVPSA Tribal grantees. In FY 2009, FYSB is requiring Tribal grantees and States to use standardized reporting forms to facilitate the collection of uniform, aggregate data on FVPSA-supported program services, as described in Section VI. Annual Tribal Grantee Meeting FVPSA grant administrators should expect to attend the annual Tribal Grantee Meeting. Subsequent correspondence will advise the Tribal FVPSA Administrators of the date, time, and location of the grantee meeting. Definitions Tribes and Tribal organizations should use the following definitions in carrying out their programs. The definitions are found in 42 U.S.C. 10421. Family Violence: Any act, or threatened act, of violence, including any forceful detention of an individual, which (a) results or threatens to result in physical injury and (b) is committed by a person against another individual (including an elderly person) to whom such person is, or was, related by blood or marriage, or otherwise legally related, or with whom such person is, or was, lawfully residing. Indian Tribe: “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)). Tribal Organization: “Tribal Organization” means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe; any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities. In any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant (25 U.S.C. 450b(l)). Shelter: The provision of temporary refuge and related assistance in compliance with applicable State law and regulation governing the provision, on a regular basis, of shelter, safe homes, meals, and related assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents. Related assistance: The provision of direct assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents for the purpose of preventing further violence, helping such victims to gain access to civil and criminal courts and other community services, facilitating the efforts of such victims to make decisions concerning their lives in the interest of safety, and assisting such victims in healing from the effects of the violence. Related assistance includes:
II. FUNDS AVAILABLE Subject to the availability of Federal appropriations and as authorized by law, in FY 2009, HHS will make available to Tribes and Tribal organizations grant funds as described in this announcement. In separate announcements, HHS will make available funds to States for providing immediate shelter and related assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents and funds for State Domestic Violence Coalitions to continue their work within the domestic violence community by providing technical assistance and training, advocacy services, and other activities. The FVPSA expired on September 30, 2008. Its reauthorization could introduce new statutory or administrative requirements impacting grantees within the next few years. Tribal Allocations In computing Tribal allocations, FYSB will use the latest available population figures from the Census Bureau. To view the Census’ latest populations go to their website at www.census.gov. Where Census Bureau data are unavailable, FYSB will use figures from the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA’s) Indian Population and Labor Force Report. The funding formula for the allocation of family violence funds is based upon the Tribe’s population. The formula has two parts, the tribal population base allocation and a population category allocation. The base allocations are determined by a tribe’s population and a funds allocation schedule. Tribes with populations between 1,500 to 50,000 people receive a $2,500 base allocation for the first 1,500 people. For each additional 1,000 people above the 1,500 person minimum, a tribe’s base allocation is increased $1,000. Tribes with populations between 50,001 to 100,000 people receive base allocations of $125,000 and Tribes with a population of 100,001 to 150,000 receive a base allocation of $175,000. Once the minimum amounts have been distributed to the Tribes that have applied for FVPSA funding, the ratio of the Tribal population category to the total of all base allocations is then considered in allocating the remainder of the funds. By establishing base amounts with distribution of proportional amounts for larger Tribes, the FVPSA Program is balancing the need for basic services for all Tribes with the greater demand for services among Tribes with larger populations. In FY 2008, actual grant awards ranged from $26,541 to $2,219,962. Tribes are encouraged to apply for FVPSA funding as a consortium. Tribal consortia consist of groups of Tribes who agree to apply for and administer a single FVPSA grant with one Tribe or Tribal organization responsible for grant administration. In a Tribal consortium, the population of the Tribal Trust Land for all of the Tribes involved will be used to calculate the award amount. The allocations for each of the Tribes included in the consortium will be combined to determine the total grant for the consortium. Expenditure Periods The project period under this program announcement is 24 months. The FVPSA funds may be used for expenditures on and after October 1 of each fiscal year for which they are granted, and will be available for expenditure through September 30 of the following fiscal year; i.e., FY 2009 funds may be used for expenditures from October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010. For example:
III. ELIGIBILITY Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible for funding under this program if they meet the definition of “Indian Tribe” or “Tribal organization” set forth in section 450B of Title 25 and if they are able to demonstrate their capacity to carry out a family violence prevention and services program. Any Tribe or Tribal organization that believes it meets the eligibility criteria and should be included in the list of eligible Tribes should provide supportive documentation and a request for inclusion in its application. (See Application Content Requirements below.) Tribes may apply singularly or as a consortium. In addition, a non-profit private organization or Tribal organization, approved by a Tribe for the operation of a family violence shelter or program on a reservation is eligible for funding. Additional Information on Eligibility D-U-N-S Requirement All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a D-U-N-S number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after October 1, 2003. The D-U-N-S number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal, www.Grants.gov. A D-U-N-S 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. IV. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS Content of Application Submission The application from the Tribe or Tribal organization must be signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Tribal Chairperson of the applicant organization. The cover letter of the application should include the following information:
The content of the application should include the following:
(Note: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, P.L. 104-13, the public reporting burden for the project description is estimated to average 10 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection information. The Project Description information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0280, which expires on 12/31/2011. 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.) Assurances (See Appendix A): Certifications All applications must submit or comply with the required certifications found in Appendices B – D as follows: Anti-Lobbying Certification and Disclosure Form (See Appendix B): Applicants should sign and return the certification with their application. Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke (See Appendix C): By signing and submitting the application, applicants are accepting and agreeing to all terms and conditions of the certification. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (See Appendix D): By signing and submitting the application, applicants are accepting and agreeing to all terms and conditions of the certification. These certifications can also be found at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm. Notification Under Executive Order 12372 The review and comment provisions of the Executive Order (E.O.) and Part 100 do not apply. Federally recognized Tribes are exempt from all provisions and requirements of E.O. 12372. Applications should be sent to: Family Violence Prevention and Services Program V. APPROVAL/DISAPPROVAL OF A TRIBAL OR TRIBAL ORGANIZATION APPLICATION The Secretary of HHS will approve any application that meets the requirements of FVPSA and this announcement. The Secretary will not disapprove an application except after reasonable notice of the Secretary’s intention to disapprove has been provided to the applicant and after a six-month period providing an opportunity for applicant to correct any deficiencies. The notice of intention to disapprove will be provided to the applicant within 45 days of the date of the application. VI. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Performance Reports Beginning with FY 2009 awards, ACF grantees will begin submitting Performance Progress Reports using a standardized format, the SF-PPR. The SF-PPR is the standard government-wide performance progress reporting format used by Federal agencies to collect performance information from recipients. A version of the SF-PPR has been tailored for grantees under this announcement as the ACYF-FYSB-FVPS-SF-PPR. A Program Performance Report must be filed with HHS describing the activities carried out, and including an assessment of the effectiveness of those activities in achieving the purposes of the grant. A section of this performance report must be completed by each grantee or sub-grantee that performed the direct services contemplated in the application certifying performance of such services. Consortia grantees should compile performance reports into a comprehensive report for submission. A copy of the ACYF-FYSB-FVPS-SF-PPR will be available in the webpage publication of this announcement at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/familyviolence/index.htm approximately 10 business days after the publication of this announcement in the Federal Register. Performance Report must include the following data elements: Funding – The total amount of the FVPSA grant award. Total domestic violence program budgets for programs that received FVPSA grants or subgrants. The number of domestic violence programs with residential facilities funded. The number of non-residential programs funded. Volunteers –The total number of volunteers working in FVPSA-supported programs, total volunteer hours. Narrative Questions – For services or activities supported in whole or in part by FVPSA funding, provide examples or summaries that describe:
People Served –
Demographics – For Unduplicated Clients, include the following demographic categories:
Residential Services –
Related services and assistance – List the related services and assistance provided to victims and their family members by indicating the number of hours and or number of service contacts in each of the following categories:
Community Education and Public Awareness – Report the number of presentations and participants that attended presentations/training for:
Performance reports for Tribes and Tribal organizations are due on an annual basis at the end of the calendar year (December 29). Performance reports should be sent to: Family Violence Prevention and Services Program Financial Status Reports Grantees must submit annual Financial Status Reports. The first SF-269A for funding under this announcement, which is due December 29, 2009, is based on the Federal FY and will cover October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The final SF-269A for funding under this announcement, which is due December 29, 2010, will cover October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010. The SF 269A can be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Completed reports may be mailed to: Frederick Griefer Grantees are encouraged to submit their reports online through the Online Data Collection (OLDC) system at the following address: https://extranet.acf.hhs.gov/ssi/. Failure to submit reports on time may be a basis for withholding grant funds, suspension, or termination of the grant. In addition, all funds reported after the obligation period will be recouped. VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental). Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this ACF program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this program. Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, can be found at the HHS web site at http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. VIII. OTHER INFORMATION For Further Information Contact: Shena Williams at (202) 205-5932 or e-mail at shena.williams@acf.hhs.gov;
Appendices: Required Assurances, Certifications, and Forms: Appendix A ASSURANCES OF COMPLIANCE WITH GRANT REQUIREMENTS The grantee certifies that it will comply with the following:
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_________________________________ Appendix B CERTIFICATION REGARDING LOBBYING Certification for Contracts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative Agreements The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:
Statement for Loan Guarantees and Loan Insurance 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 undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,’’ in accordance with its instructions. Submission of this statement is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, Title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required statement shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.
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Appendix C CERTIFICATION REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE Public Law 103227, Part C Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as the Pro Children Act of 1994 (Act), requires that smoking not be permitted in any portion of any indoor routinely owned or leased or contracted for by an entity and used routinely or regularly for provision of health, day care, education, or library services to children under the age of 18, if the services are funded by Federal programs either directly or through State or local governments, by Federal grant, contract, loan, or loan guarantee. The law does not apply to children’s services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, and portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1000 per day and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. By signing and submitting this application the applicant/grantee certifies that it will comply with the requirements of the Act. The applicant/grantee further agrees that it will require the language of this certification be included in any subawards which contain provisions for the children’s services and that all subgrantees shall certify accordingly. Appendix D CERTIFICATION REGARDING DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS This certification is required by the regulations implementing the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988: 45 CFR Part 76, Subpart, F. Sections 76.630(c) and (d)(2) and 76.645(a)(1) and (b) provide that a Federal agency may designate a central receipt point for STATE-WIDE AND STATE AGENCY-WIDE certifications, and for notification of criminal drug convictions. For the Department of Health and Human Services, the central point is: Division of Grants Management and Oversight, Office of Management and Acquisition, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 517-D, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements
Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements The grantee certifies that it will or will continue to provide a drug-free workplace by:
The grantee may insert in the space provided below the site(s) for the performance of work done in connection with the specific grant: Alternate II. (Grantees Who Are Individuals)
Posted on April 17, 2009 |