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Executive Summary: In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, contingent upon available funding, the Office of Community Services (OCS) will award a Rural Community Facilities Development Program (RF), Homeland Security Program, Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems Safety and Security Training and Technical Assistance grant to a non-profit organization to provide a Nationwide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities. The project will address concerns of many small and very small community water and wastewater treatment systems that may be most vulnerable to possible terrorist attacks and least prepared to deal with such events. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Statutory Authority The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (the Act), Title II, Section 680 (Public Law 105-285) authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants, loans, or guarantees to States and public agencies and private, non-profit organizations, or enter into contracts or jointly financed cooperative arrangements with States and public agencies and private, non-profit organizations for each of the objectives described in Section 680. Section 680(a)(3) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to enable multi-state, regional, private, non-profit organizations to provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning meeting their facilities needs. Description OCS invites eligible organizations to submit an application for an award to support the Rural Community Development Activities Program (RCDAP), Homeland Security Program: Water Safety and Security Training and Technical Assistance Project. The project will address concerns of many small and very small community water and wastewater treatment systems that may be most vulnerable to possible terrorist attacks and least prepared to deal with such events. OCS is seeking assistance, through a cooperative agreement, to identify, complement, coordinate, and promote water and wastewater treatment systems safety and security for small and very small communities nationwide. The goals will be to: 1) improve the capacity of small systems to better prepare for emergencies; 2) develop emergency preparedness training manuals for small water systems; 3) identify appropriate technologies to secure such systems; and 4) provide training and technical assistance to small communities that are working to achieve security against possible terrorist attack. The cooperative agreement will require active partnership between OCS and the successful applicant. The Cooperative Agreement This project uses a cooperative agreement as the vehicle for funding the CSBG RCDAP Homeland Security Program. A cooperative agreement is an assistance instrument for which substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the recipient during performance of the funded activity. Substantial involvement may include collaboration or participation by the designated awarding office staff in activities specified in the award and, as appropriate, decision-making at specified milestones related to performance. Potential types of substantial involvement under a cooperative agreement include, but are not limited to, collaborating in development of the training or service delivery model; approving analytical approaches or the initiation of subsequent phases of the project; training project staff in participating organizations; assisting in the evaluation of potential contractors; and providing other assistance to program management on technical performance. Definition of Terms Budget Period: The time interval into which a project period is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. Distressed Community: An urban neighborhood or rural community with high unemployment and pervasive poverty. Eligible Applicant: A multi-State, regional, private non-profit organization that can provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning their community facility needs. Faith-based organizations that meet the above requirements are eligible to apply. Indian Tribe: An Indian Tribe or private, non-profit Indian corporation or organization. Poverty Income Guidelines: Guidelines published annually by HHS that establish the level of poverty defined as low-income for individuals and their families. The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following address: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml Project Period: The total time for which a project is approved for OCS support, including any approved extensions. Rural Community: A community or defined rural area with a population of 10,000 or less. Small and Very Small Communities: A community or defined rural area with a population of under 3,300. Technical Assistance: A problem-solving event or intervention utilizing the services of a specialist. Such services may be provided on-site, by telephone, or by other means of communications. These services address specific problems and are intended to assist with immediate resolution of a given problem or set of problems. II. AWARD INFORMATION
Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. Description of Anticipated Substantial Involvement under the Cooperative Agreement: The award recipient will provide training and technical assistance to small and very small communities that are working to achieve the safety and security of their community water and wastewater treatment systems. In doing so, it shall: 1) conduct water and wastewater infrastructure security technical assistance on-site and in workshops using regional coordinators; 2) expand the on-site services with telephone and on-line capabilities to reach a broader audience; 3) develop emergency preparedness training manuals for small water systems; 4) develop an e-zine (electronic magazine) and a listserv for information sharing, on-line responses, and electronic networking; and 5) focus services on training water utility board members and local officials, as well as providing additional outreach to community leaders and systems operators. The award recipient will submit regular semi-annual Financial Status and Program Progress reports that describe activities including, at a minimum, (a) information about the actions taken to implement and operate the proposed project, (b) outcomes of the proposed project, and (c) issues raised through the project. Roles and Responsibilities of OCS OCS will monitor the project and provide technical assistance and feedback when necessary. OCS will organize periodic consultations with regard to the development of work plans, approaches to address any problems that arise, and identification of areas needing technical assistance. OCS will provide teleconferences to review planned activities, to share information, and to promote nationwide coordination of the project. OCS will assist in scheduling workshops. OCS will provide timely review, comment and decisions on project timelines, semi-annual reports, and other issues that arise, to ensure the application of project activities in a timely and effective manner. OCS will promptly review written requests for review and approval of deviations from the approved project description or approved budget. Please see Section IV.5 for any restrictions on the use of funds for awards made under this announcement. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants Multi-state, regional, private, non-profit organizations that can provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities concerning their community facility needs are eligible entities under this program announcement. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply under this announcement. Please see "Eligibility Certification" found in Section IV.2 for any required documentation supporting eligibility. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: None 3. Other: Disqualification Factors Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of individual awards referenced in Section II. Award Information will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.3., Submission Dates and Times, will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package: Rafael J. Elizalde For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)). 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: This section provides information on the required form and content of application submissions. Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of all application materials if applying in hard-copy. The original signature of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is required only on the original. Information on the required format, Standard Forms (SFs) and other forms, D-U-N-S Requirement, Project Description, Certifications, Assurances, Electronic Submission of applications, and Hard Copy submission of applications is available in this section. A Checklist of required application elements is available for applicants' use in Section VIII of this announcement.
Formatting Requirements The application must list the following items in the specified order: 1. The application must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8.5" x 11" plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides. The application must use Times New Roman 12-point font or Arial 12-point font. 2. Application pages should be numbered sequentially throughout the application package, beginning with a Summary/Abstract of the proposed project as page number one; and each application must include the following:
3. Page Limit. The application is limited to 50 pages. This page limit includes the project narrative, as well as supporting materials that may be included in appendixes such as forms, resumes, letters of support, and other supporting documentation. Pages that exceed the page limit will be removed from the application before the application is sent to the review panel. 4. Page Numbers. All pages in the application, including appendixes, must be numbered. 5. Table of Contents. A table of contents correctly identifying page numbers for each of the Evaluation Criteria and each Appendix must be provided. 6. Organization of the Application. The application should be organized using the Evaluation Criteria below and addressing each sub-criterion. Applicants are advised to address each sub-criterion in the section where it is requested in order to facilitate reviewer evaluation of the application. The application should organize the project description in this sequence: 1) Objectives and Need for Assistance; 2) Results or Benefits Expected; 3) Approach; 4) Proof of Non-Profit Status; 5) Staff and Position Data; 6) Organizational Profiles; 7) Budget and Budget Justification; 8) Application for Federal Assistance forms SF-424, SF-424-A SF-424-B; 9) SF-LLL; 10) Proof of Non-Profit Status; 11) Certification Regarding Lobbying. 7. Appendixes. Applications may include appendixes with supporting documentation. When an appendix is used, the body of the application should summarize the key points and include a reference to the more detailed material in the appendix. 8. Data. Data used to support the application should come from recent (within the past five years) published sources. Provide reference citations that include sufficient detail to allow a reviewer to obtain and verify statistics from the source data. Examples of acceptable sources include, but are not limited to, recent U.S. Census updates; state, county, city, or other government bodies; or associations or organizations that provide credible statistics related to the applicant's proposed project. Non-Federal ReviewersSince ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the review process, 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 as well as Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. If applicants are submitting their application electronically, ACF will omit the same specific salary rate information from copies made for use during the review and selection process. Forms Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the appropriate Standard Forms (SFs) as described in this section. All applicants must submit an SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. For non-construction programs, applicants must also submit an SF-424A, Budget Information and an SF-424B, Assurances. For construction programs, applicants must also submit SF-424C, Budget Information and SF-424D, Assurances. All required Standard Forms are available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Non-profit private organizations (not including private universities) are encouraged to submit the "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" with their applications. Applicants using a hard copy application, place the completed survey in an envelope labeled "Applicant Survey." Seal the envelope and include it along with your application package. Applicants applying electronically, please submit this survey along with your application. The Survey may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html.
Projects proposed for funding under this announcement must result in direct benefits for low-income people. Low-income is defined as having an income at or below the most recent annual update of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by HHS. The guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following address: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty. Annual revisions of these guidelines are normally published in the Federal Register in February or early March of each year and are applicable to projects being implemented at the time of publication. Grantees will be required to apply the most recent guidelines throughout the project period. The Federal Register may be obtained from public libraries, Congressional offices, or by writing the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. No other government agency or privately defined poverty guidelines are applicable to determining low-income eligibility for this OCS program. 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. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Part I THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW PURPOSE The project description provides the majority of information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete. It 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 the project description, information that is responsive to each of the requested evaluation criteria must 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 in a manner that is clear and complete. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, 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. Part II GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION Applicants that are required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what the project description should include while the evaluation criteria identify the measures that will be used to evaluate applications. TABLE OF CONTENTS List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Provide a summary of the project description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request. 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. RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, improvement of the capacity of small water and wastewater treatment systems to better prepare for emergencies resulting from terrorist attacks; development of emergency preparedness training manuals; identification of appropriate technologies to secure water and wastewater treatment systems; provision of training and technical assistance to communities that are working to respond to the issue of possible terrorist attacks on water and wastewater management systems; and an increase in the number of communities provided with assistance in community capacity-building and development of leadership skills, to ensure projects will be sustained beyond the OCS grant funding period.APPROACH Outline a plan of action that 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 that 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 OMB. This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF." Provide a list of 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. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The following are requests for additional information that must be included in the application:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION Provide a budget with line-item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information Form (SF-424A or SF-424C). Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If matching is a requirement, 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 allocation of the proposed costs.
(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 40 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 0970-0139, which expires 4/30/2010. 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.) CertificationsApplicants 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. When required for programs that involve human subjects, the Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption form must be submitted. All forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the appropriate standard forms with their application. The Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption (Common Rule) form may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. AssurancesBy signing and submitting the application, applicants are making the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. The Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 7183, imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements only if they meet the Act's specified coverage. The Act specifies that smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to children under the age of 18. In addition, smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility or portion of a facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of federally funded health care, day care, or early childhood development, including Head Start services to children under the age of 18. The statutory prohibition also applies if such facilities are constructed, operated, or maintained with Federal funds. The statute does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, or facilities where WIC coupons are redeemed. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1,000 per violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. Additional information may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. Electronic SubmissionApplicants to ACF may submit their applications in either electronic or paper (hard copy) format. To submit an application electronically, applicants must use the http://www.Grants.gov site. ACF will not accept applications via facsimile or email. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before submitting an application electronically, applicants must complete the organization registration process as well as obtain and register "electronic signature credentials" for the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Applicants also must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). CCR registration must be updated annually. Applicants will not be able to upload an application to Grants.gov without current CCR registration and electronic signature credentials for the AOR. This process may take more than five business days, so it is important to start this process early, well in advance of the application deadline. Be sure to complete all Grants.gov registration processes listed on the Organization Registration Checklist at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html. Applicants 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. If planning to submit an application electronically via http://www.Grants.gov:
After the application is submitted electronically, the applicant will receive two emails from Grants.gov:
ACF will retrieve the electronically submitted application from Grants.gov. Applicants will receive an email notification from ACF acknowledging that ACF has received the application. ACF may request that the applicant provide original signatures on forms at a later date. The Grants.gov website complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Grants.gov webpages are designed to work with assistive technologies such as screen readers. If an applicant uses assistive technology and is unable to access any material on the site, contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov for assistance. Hard Copy Submission of ApplicationsApplicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit one original and two copies of the complete application with all attachments, unless directed otherwise. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and be unbound. The original copy of the application must have original signature(s). See Section IV.6 of this announcement for address information for application submissions. Please refer to Section VIII for a checklist of application requirements, their location and due dates that applicants may use in developing and organizing application materials. Please refer to Section IV.3 for details concerning acknowledgement of received applications. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date for Applications: 05/18/2009 Explanation of Due Dates The due date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are mailed or hand-delivered or submitted electronically well in advance of the application due date and time. Applications that are submitted by mail must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above at the address listed in Section IV.6. Hand Delivery Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers must be received on or before the due date referenced above, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Electronic Submission Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or email. Late Applications Applications that do not meet the requirements above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition. ANY APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER 4:30 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON THE DUE DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPETITION. Extension of Deadlines ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur; when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer. Acknowledgement of Received Application
ACF will provide acknowledgement of receipt of hard copy application packages submitted via
mail, courier services, or by hand delivery. Applicants who submit their
application packages electronically via
http://www.Grants.gov will receive two email acknowledgements from that website:
4. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 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 Executive Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. Applicants should go to the following URL for the official list of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of their prospective applications and to receive instructions on their jurisdiction's procedures. Applicants must submit all required application materials to the SPOC and indicate the date of submission on the Standard Form (SF) 424 at item 19. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application due date to comment on proposed new awards. SPOC comments may be submitted directly to ACF to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 6th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. Entities that meet the eligibility requirements of this announcement are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory or Commonwealth, etc., does not have a SPOC or has chosen not to participate in the process. Applicants from non-participating jurisdictions need take no action with regard to E.O. 12372. Applications from Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments are not subject to E.O. 12372. 5. Funding Restrictions: Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions, are unallowable under this grant award. Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this grant award. Purchase of real property is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this grant award. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Submit applications to one of the following addresses: Submission by Mail Katrina Morgan, Grants Management OfficerAdministration for Children and Families Office of Community Services Operations Center 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22209 Hand Delivery Katrina Morgan, Grants Management OfficerAdministration for Children and Families Office of Community Services Operations Center 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22209 Electronic Submission See Section IV.2 for application requirements and for guidance when submitting applications electronically via http://www.Grants.gov. For all submissions, see Section IV.3 for information on due dates. V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. CRITERIA: Competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the criteria described in this section. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each review criterion. Applicants should address these criteria in the process of developing their application, as they are the basis upon which their applications will be judged. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information (i.e., from a broad overview of the project to more detailed information about how it will be conducted).
The extent to which the application identifies the target population(s) and/or low-income communities to be served. The extent to which an application describes a project that is designed to respond to the identified needs. The extent to which the applicant can describe the geographic area to be impacted, e.g., an applicant could cite the percentage of low-income residents and/or communities that will be impacted and provide any other data relevant to the project design. The extent to which the applicant can describe the needs of the targeted communities and how it plans to address these needs in each relevant area of activity including training and technical assistance in securing water and wastewater management systems, community capacity-building, and leadership development.
The extent to which the proposed project will produce permanent and measurable results that will significantly enhance the health of the communities served and the well-being of their residents. The extent to which results are quantifiable in terms of program area expectations. For example, improvement of the capacity of small water and wastewater treatment systems to better prepare for emergencies resulting from terrorist attacks; development of emergency preparedness training manuals; identification of appropriate technologies to secure the systems; provision of training and technical assistance to the communities that are working to achieve security against possible terrorist attacks on water and wastewater management systems; and increases in the number of communities provided with assistance on community capacity-building and development of leadership skills, to ensure projects will be sustained beyond the OCS grant funding period.
The extent to which the work plan is both sound and feasible. The extent to which it establishes realistic quarterly time targets for task completion. The extent to which the application contains a full and accurate description of the project and the proposed use of the requested financial assistance. The extent to which critical issues or potential problems that might negatively impact the project are defined; and the extent to which the applicant justifies that project objectives can be reasonably attained despite such potential problems.
The extent to which the documentation provided indicates that previous relevant projects were effective and provided permanent benefits to the low-income population. The extent to which organizations that propose the provision of training and technical assistance have detailed their competence in community water and wastewater treatment systems and in training and technical assistance. If applicable, information provided by these applicants also should address related achievements and the competence of each cooperating or sponsoring organization.
The extent to which the application describes, in brief resume form, the experience and skills of the Project Director and demonstrates whether he or she possesses the professional capabilities necessary to successfully implement the project. If a Project Director has not yet been identified, the extent to which the application contains a comprehensive position description indicating the responsibilities to be assigned to the Project Director. The extent to which the applicant has adequate facilities and resources (i.e., space and equipment) to successfully implement the project. The extent to which the assigned responsibilities of staff are appropriate to the tasks identified for the project. The extent to which sufficient time of senior staff will be committed to assure timely implementation, cost-effective management, and oversight to the project.
The extent to which the budget form and narrative meet the requirements of the Budget Information Form (SF-424). The extent to which funds requested is commensurate with the level of effort necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives of the project. The extent to which the application includes a narrative detailed budget break-down for each of the budget categories in the SF-424A. The extent to which the applicant presents a reasonable administrative cost. The extent to which the estimated cost to the Federal Government is reasonable in relation to the anticipated results. 2. Review and Selection Process: No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application. Initial ACF Screening: Each application will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time and whether the requested amount exceeds the stated ceiling. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be reviewed.
Applications that pass the initial OCS screening will be reviewed and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific evaluation criteria described in Section V. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded only to applications that are responsive to the evaluation criteria and program elements within the context of this Program Announcement. The result of this review will assist the Director and OCS program staff in considering competing applications. Reviewers' scores will weigh heavily in funding decisions but will not be the only factors considered. Applications generally will be considered in order of the average scores assigned by reviewers. However, highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding because other factors are taken into consideration, including, but not limited to, the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last five years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; the amount and duration of the grant requested; the proposed project's consistency and harmony with OCS goals and policy; previous program performance of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants; audit reports; investigative reports; and the applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowances on previous OCS grants or other Federal agency grants. Please refer to Section IV.2 of this announcement for information on non-Federal reviewers in the review process. Approved but Unfunded Applications Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, for a period not to exceed one year. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates: Not Applicable.VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Award Notices: Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Notice of Award (NoA) document that 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 (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The NoA will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail. Following the finalization of funding decisions, organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified by letter, signed by the Program Office head. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Grantees are subject to the administrative requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (for non-governmental entities) or 45 CFR Part 92 (for governmental entities). 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. A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS funded activities. Additional information on "Understanding the Regulations Related to the Faith-Based and Community Initiative" can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/regulations/index.html. HHS Grants Policy Statement The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services new single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference. The GPS may be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. 3. Reporting Requirements: Grantees will be required to submit performance progress and financial reports periodically throughout the project period. Frequency of reporting is listed later in this section. Beginning with FY 2009 awards, most ACF grantees will begin using the a Standard Form (SF) for required performance progress reporting (PPR). The SF-PPR is a standard government-wide performance progress reporting format consisting of a series of forms implemented by Federal agencies to collect performance information from award recipients. Most ACF grantees will begin using the standard format implemented through ACF's Office of Grants Management (OGM), entitled the "ACF-OGM-SF-PPR." Use of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR will begin for new awards and continuation awards made by ACF in FY 2009. At a minimum, grantees will be required to submit the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, which consists of the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Coversheet and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR Appendix B Program Indicators. ACF Programs that utilize other SF-PPR reporting formats, or other reporting forms or formats that differ from the new ACF-OGM-SF-PPR, have listed those forms or formats below. Grant award documents will inform grantees of the appropriate performance progress report form or format to use beginning in FY 2009. Grantees will continue to use the Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 (long form) for required financial reporting. The SF-269 (long form) and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Grantees should consult their award documents to determine the appropriate performance progress report format required under their award. Performance progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the end of the reporting period. Final program performance and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Final reports may be submitted in hard copy to the Grants Management Office Contact listed in Section VII. of this announcement. Program Progress Reports: Semi-AnnuallyFinancial Reports: Semi-Annually VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact: Rafael J. Elizalde
For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
(TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)).
Grants Management Office Contact: Katrina Morgan, Grants Management Officer
For hearing or speech impaired callers, contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339
(TTY (Text Telephone) / ASCII (American Standard Code For Information Interchange)).
VIII. OTHER INFORMATION Checklist The following checklist enumerates the items necessary for application and the order in which these items should be submitted:
Posted on April 17, 2009 |
