[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25885-25889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12134]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Community Services
[Program Announcement No. OCS-99-07]
Request for Applications Under the Office of Community Services'
Fiscal Year 1999 Community Services Block Grant Training, Technical
Assistance, and Capacity-Building Program
AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Announcement of availability of funds and request for
applications under the Office of Community Services' Community Services
Block Grant Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building (CSBG-
T&TA) Discretionary Program.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Community Services (OCS) invites eligible
entities to submit applications for FY 1999 funding of competitive
grants under the CSBG-T&TA discretionary grants program.
Applications received in response to this notice will be screened
and evaluated as indicated in this document. Awards will be contingent
on the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.
ADDRESSES: Prior to submitting an application, potential applicants
must obtain a copy of the CSBG-T&TA Application Kit, containing
additional program information, forms, and instructions. Application
Kits are available by writing or calling the Office of Community
Services at 5th Floor West, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
S.W. Washington DC 20447. To obtain a copy of the CSBG-T&TA Application
Kit, call: (202) 401-4787.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Washnitzer, Director,
Division of State Assistance, Office of Community Services,
Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-9343.
A copy of the Federal Register containing the CSBG-T&TA program
announcement is available for reproduction at most local libraries and
Congressional District Offices. It is also available on the Internet
through GPO Access at the following web address:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs/aces/aces140.html
If the announcement is not available at these sources, it may be
obtained by writing to the office listed under ADDRESSES above.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: The closing dates for submission of applications
is July 13, 1999. Further details regarding application submission are
provided in the Supplementary Information section of this program
announcement. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date
will be classified as late. Refer to APPLICATION SUBMISSION below for
other details.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Program Announcement
The Application Kit for the FY 1999 CSBG-T&TA program will not be
published in the Federal Register. Rather, OCS is publishing FY 1999
Program Announcement OCS-99-07 in the Federal Register. Program
Announcement OCS-99-07 contains the following information for the CSBG-
T&TA program: Date of Application Kit; Application Deadline; Program
Contact Person; Legislative Authority; Eligible Applicants and
Availability of Funds; Program Priority Areas; Project Periods and
Budget Periods; Matching Requirement; Type of Awards; and Review
Criteria.
B. General Instructions
In order to be considered for a grant under the FY 1999 OCS CSBG-
T&TA program announcement, an application must be submitted on the
forms supplied and in the manner prescribed by OCS in the 1999 CSBG-
T&TA Application Kit. When requesting an Application Kit, the applicant
must specify the Community Services Block
[[Page 25886]]
Grant Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Application
Kit. This is to ensure receipt of all necessary forms and information,
including any program-specific evaluation criteria. Application Kits,
including all of the necessary forms and instructions, will be
available for reading and downloading from the Internet at the OCS
Website at:
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ocs/kits1.htm
C. Application Submission
Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced
deadline if they are either received on or before the deadline date or
postmarked on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time
for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants
Management/OCSE, 4th Floor Aerospace, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20447; with the note: Attention: Application for CSBG/
T&TA Program or CFDA No. 93-570.
Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark or a legibly dated, machine produced postmark of a commercial
mail service is affixed to the envelope/package containing the
application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark
from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the
commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package
was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant.
Private Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely
mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services
do not always deliver as agreed.)
Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by
other representatives of the applicant shall be considered as meeting
an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline
date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children
and Families, Office of Grants Management/OCSE, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor
Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The
address must appear on the envelope/package containing the application
with the note: Attention: CSBG/T&TA Program or CFDA No. 93-570.
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to
ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of
submission and time of receipt.
Applications, once submitted, are considered final and no
additional materials will be accepted.
Late applications: Applications, which do not meet the criteria
above, are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late
applicant that its application will not be considered in the current
competition.
Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or
when there are widespread disruptions of the mail service.
Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with ACF's
Chief Grants Management Officer.
D. Details for This Program Announcement
Pertinent information of concern for potential applicants for the
CSBG/Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program is
set forth below:
(CFDA No. 93.570) Deadline Date: July 13, 1999
(1) Program Contact Persons: Margaret Washnitzer (202) 401-9343.
(2) Date of Application Kit: May 14, 1999.
(3) Application Deadline: Applications must be POSTMARKED by July
13, 1999. Detailed application submission instructions are included in
the Application Kit.
(4) Legislative Authority: Section 674(b)(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, (P.L. 97-35) as amended by the
Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, (P.L. Law 105-285).
(5) Eligible Applicants and Availability of Funds: The OCS is
authorized to make grants and award contracts to eligible entities,
organizations whose membership is composed of CSBG-eligible entities or
agencies that administer programs for CSBG-eligible entities. Funds
available: Approximately $2,700,000, of which $400,000 is committed for
a continuation grant.
(6) Priority Areas: A description of the Program Priority Areas is
given below. Refer to Application Kit for complete details.
Priority Area 1.0: Training and Technical Assistance for the
Community Services Network
Sub-Priority Areas:
1.1 National Training and Technical Assistance to Enhance Community
Action;
1.2 Statewide Partnership Grants to Implement Results-Oriented
Management and Accountability;
1.3 Training and Technical Assistance to Develop Special Initiatives
Between CAAs and Other Organizations that Address Urban Problems; and
1.4 TA to Measure Civic/Social Capital Development.
Priority Area 2.0: CAA Capacity Building
Sub-Priority Areas
2.1 Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination of Information on the CSBG
Activities;
2.2 Local Capacity Building Projects;
2.3 Peer-to-Peer Intervention;
2.4 Strengthening of CAA Capacity on Legal Issues.
Priority Area 1.0: Training and Technical Assistance for the
Community Services Network
This Priority Area addresses the development and implementation of
coordinated, comprehensive nationwide or, where appropriate, statewide
training and/or technical assistance programs to assist State CSBG
staff, staff of State and regional organizations representing eligible
entities, and staff of local service providers which receive funding
under the CSBG Act, to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to plan,
administer, implement, monitor, and evaluate programs designed to
ameliorate the causes of poverty in local communities. Programs should
include the provision of training and/or technical assistance to State
staff, CAA associations, and/or staff of local service providers
statewide or nationwide and a description of collaboration with State
CSBG staff and local service providers.
Sub-Priority Area 1.1: Training and Technical Assistance to Enhance
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and Other Local Service Providers to
support program and management improvements. All organizations in the
Community Services Network need to be strengthened to perform their
respective roles as identified in the Community Services Block Grant
Act, as Amended by the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998
(P.L. 97-35, and P.L. 105-285). The new CSBG Reauthorization Act
includes the
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following: (1) Additional requirements and responsibilities for local
CAA Boards of Directors; (2) increased focus on monitoring, training
and technical assistance of the CSBG (especially with regard to
termination and reduction of funding to eligible entities); and (3)
mandates that the Community Services Network participate in the ROMA
Performance Measurement system or another system approved by the
Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this Sub-
Priority Area is to provide funding for the development and
implementation of a comprehensive nationwide training and/or technical
assistance program to assist boards and staff of local service
providers which receive funding under CSBG to acquire skills and
knowledge needed to plan, administer and evaluate effective anti-
poverty programs. This may include national dialogues and workshops,
seminars and conferences, the development and dissemination of
newsletters and position papers, educational materials and other
activities. Any activities undertaken must be consistent with the
national goals of the ROMA process as developed by the OCS National
Task Force on Monitoring and Assessment. This comprehensive nationwide
training and technical assistance program should be designed as a 3-
year program. Future funding will be contingent on the availability of
funds and planning should be done in collaboration with State CSBG
Directors and/or their national association's local service providers.
Sub-Priority Area 1.2: Statewide Partnership Grants to Implement
ROMA. The purpose of this Sub-Priority Area is to provide training and
technical assistance to CAAs and States in the implementation of ROMA.
State CAA Associations, in partnership with State CSBG Administrators,
are eligible to apply for grants under this Sub-Priority. An applicant
will be considered under this priority, only if 90 percent of the CAAs
in the State have begun some phases of the ROMA implementation at the
time the applicant's proposal is written. All eligible entities must
provide evidence that there has been coordination with the State CSBG
Office in developing applications under this sub-priority. Data yielded
will be used at the local, State and national levels by policy-makers.
These Statewide grants are awarded to one entity per State to provide
technical support to State CAA Associations, CAAs and States.
Sub-Priority Area 1.3: Technical Assistance to Develop Special
Initiatives Between CAAs and Organizations that Address Urban Problems
of Low-Income People. Issues of crime, violence, drug abuse,
unemployment, poverty, family breakdown, and inadequate education and
training of many young people to attain productive employment in an
increasingly technological labor market, threaten the safety and
viability of many urban communities. This project will provide
technical assistance to assist CAAs in developing and implementing
collaborative community-wide strategies, effective organizational
working relationships, and special initiatives among CAAs and other
organization(s) focusing on issues of crime, violence, family
breakdowns, drug abuse and poverty. Emphasis will be on assisting CAAs
to bring together the various community, business, labor, voluntary,
educational, civil rights, and governmental sectors required to develop
model local strategies to improve conditions in low-income, urban
communities. Applicants are encouraged to develop applications in
collaboration with at least one other national private, non-profit
organization, which has a substantial track record in formulating
strategies to improve conditions in low-income urban communities.
Sub-Priority Area 1.4: Technical Assistance to Support the Use of
Scales to Measure Civic/Social Capital Development. The OCS is
interested in developing the community action network's capacity to
apply the use of scales to measure civic/social capital development.
The purpose of this sub-priority is to provide funding to explore and
to apply the most current body of knowledge regarding the development
of civic/social capital to meet the needs of low-income neighborhoods.
Further, the project will advance the capacity of community action
agencies to measure and evaluate civic social capital development
research and best practices with the implementation of ROMA in the
areas of community scaling, neighborhood assessment, resident
participation, surveying and/or strategic planning. OCS is interested
in funding innovative strategies that motivate CAAs to focus on using
civic/social capital to develop and strengthen neighborhood assets
while building opportunities for participation by residents. Applicant
CAAs should have a demonstrated ability to bring multiple stakeholders
together in order to address common issues or problems and experience
in the use of scales to measure community-level outcomes. Applicant
should include a plan, which describes how results will be shared with
the larger community action network.
Priority Area 2.0: CAA Capacity Building
This Priority Area addresses activities to assist community action
agencies (CAAs) to enhance their ability to plan, manage, deliver and
evaluate programs to achieve results. This includes: support for the
continuation and improvement of (a) CSBG voluntary data collection,
analysis, dissemination and utilization; (b) Program and management
techniques; (c) Computer skills and electronic networking; (d) Peer-to-
peer intervention to avert CAA crisis management; and (e) Legal
assistance to assist community action agencies to further the
understanding (i.e., special initiatives) of legal frameworks.
Priority Area 2.1. Collection, Analysis and Dissemination of
Information on the CSBG Activities Nationwide. Technical assistance
under this priority is being supported as a continuation grant in 1999.
This grant will be continued without competition.
Priority Area 2.2. Local Capacity Building. The purpose of this
Sub-Priority is to promote management efficiency and program
productivity. It is essential that local CAAs and other partners in the
Community Services Network share effective program/management
techniques and information systems technology being used and/or
developed by eligible entities to address various aspects of poverty
and the implementation of ROMA by the Community Services Network. This
sub-priority area is to fund grants to community action agencies to
promote local CAA capacity building. Activities may include: sharing of
model needs assessment tools; sharing of effective computer techniques;
the development of effective community organizing techniques;
demonstration of scaling techniques; and use of tracking systems;
internal and external communication networks; effective integration of
information systems; successful leveraging strategies, etc. Applicants
must include a plan which describes how the results will be shared with
the larger Community Services Network.
Priority Area 2.3: Peer-to-Peer Crisis Intervention. The purpose of
this Sub-Priority Area is to strengthen the fiscal and management
capacity of eligible entities. OCS will fund several organizations to
develop and implement strategies to provide coordinated, timely peer-
to-peer technical assistance and crisis aversion intervention
strategies for CAAs which have identified themselves as experiencing
programmatic, administrative, board, and/or fiscal
[[Page 25888]]
management problems. Such technical assistance should be designed to
prevent fiscal and management problems from deteriorating into crisis
situations that could threaten the capacity of CAAs to provide quality
services to their communities or give rise to possible termination. In
a written agreement with chosen CAAs, the applicant will coordinate and
deploy the technical assistance resources of experienced individuals
within the Community Services Network or other agencies which
administer similar programs to assist low-income individuals in the
identification and resolution of programs, through necessary actions,
including training, to ensure that relevant and timely assistance is
provided. Such assistance may be requested to assist the agency in
resolving adverse program monitoring or audit findings, improve or
upgrade financial management systems, prevent losses of funds, avert
serious deterioration of the board of directors, or other immediate
assistance to CAAs as requested. To the extent feasible, the applicant
may be expected to develop an expert technical assistance resource bank
of experienced individuals from the Community Services Network who may
be deployed to provide peer technical assistance.
Priority Area 2.4: Strengthening CAA Capacity on Legal Issues
Toward Problem Solving. The purpose of this Sub-Priority Area is to
fund a national organization with legal expertise whose membership is
composed of eligible entities to further the capacity of community
action agencies to better prepare themselves and their customers on the
legal problems and solutions which are commonly faced in the delivery
of human services. This national organization applicant should assist
community action agencies or their associations in establishing legal
frameworks for problem solving and management strategies when
appropriate. Working in collaboration with at least one national
organization whose membership is composed of eligible entities, the
applicant would be expected to propose and conduct high-quality legal
training or technical assistance tailored to the CAA network at
national conferences or training workshops. The applicant would also be
expected to contribute specialized articles, which further the
network's legal understanding to newsletters or other dissemination
devices within the CAA network. Additionally, the applicant would be
expected to establish and maintain a revolving loan fund or some
mechanism to further the resources of eligible entities in the
procurement of specialized legal assistance. Legal expertise funded by
this Sub-Priority Area is not proposed as a substitute for the local
agency's own legal counsel nor for local administrative matters or
other situations unrelated to the CSBG legislation. Instead, training
and technical assistance for this project should serve as an additional
resource for local counsel faced with community action issues which
might require specialized knowledge and skills, including those of
competent persuasion and negotiation. Anticipated results are: (1)
legal capability at the CAA level will be enhanced; (2) Legal opinions
will be prepared in a timely manner to increase their effectiveness;
(3) Negotiated strategies which involve legal opinions can serve as a
framework for solving problems to avert major crises. Applicant should
design a 3-year program. Future funding will be contingent on the
availability of funds.
(7) Project Periods and Budget Periods: For projects included in
the FY 1999 announcement, the project and budget periods are 12 months,
with the exception of Sub-Priority 2.1-- Collection, Analysis, and
Dissemination of Information on CSBG Activities Nationwide. The project
under Sub-Priority 2.1 will have a project period up to three (3) years
through FY 1999. The application for a continuation grant funded under
these awards beyond the initial 12-month budget period, but within the
three-year project period, will be entertained in subsequent years, on
a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds,
satisfactory progress of the grantee and determination that continued
funding would be in the best interest of the government. Budget periods
are for 12 months, unless the applicant presents a justification for a
longer period of time; in which case, a grant may be made for a period
of up to 17 months.
(8) Matching Requirements: None.
(9) Type of Awards: Grants.
(10) Review Criteria:
Criteria for Review and Evaluation of Applications Submitted Under
the FY 1999 CSBG-T&TA Program Announcement
1. Criterion I: Need for Assistance (Maximum: 20 points)
(a) The application documents that the project addresses vital
needs related to the purposes stated under Sub-Priority Areas discussed
in Part B of the CSBG-T&TA Application Kit and provides statistics and
other data and information in support of its contention. (0-10 points).
(b) The application provides current supporting documentation or
other testimonies regarding needs from State CSBG Directors, local
service providers and/or State and Regional organizations of local
service providers. (0-10 points)
2. Criterion II: Work Program (Maximum: 30 points).
The work program must be results-oriented, appropriately related to
the legislative mandate and specifically related to the proposed Sub-
Priority Area. Applicant must address specific outcomes to be achieved;
performance targets which the project is committed to achieving,
including specifications for not setting lower or higher target levels
and how the project will verify the achievement of these targets;
critical milestones which must be achieved if results are to be gained;
organizational support including priority this project has for the
agency, past performance in similar work and specific resources
contributed to the project which are critical to success. Applicants
must define the comprehensive nature of the project and methods which
will be used to ensure that the results can be used to address a
statewide or nationwide project as defined by the priority area.
3. Criterion III: Significant and Beneficial Impact (Maximum 15
points).
Applicant adequately describes how the project will assure long-
term program and management improvements and have advantages over other
products offered to achieve the same outcomes for State CSBG offices,
CAA State associations, and/or local providers of CSBG services and
activities.
The applicant must provide the types and amounts of public and/or
private resources it will mobilize and how those resources will
directly benefit the project, and how the project will ultimately
benefit low-income individuals and families.
An applicant proposing a project with a training and technical
assistance focus also must indicate the number of organizations and/or
staff it will impact. An applicant proposing a project with a data
collection focus also must provide a description of the mechanism the
applicant will use to collect data, how it can assure collections from
a significant number of States, and how many States will be willing to
submit data to the applicant. An applicant proposing to develop the
symposium series or other policy-related projects must identify the
number and types of beneficiaries. Methods of securing participant
feedback and evaluations of activities must be described for all
Priority Areas.
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4. Criterion IV: Evidence of Significant Collaborations (Maximum 10
Points)
A new performance-based paradigm is replacing a compliance-based
approach to managing CSBG programs. Under this new approach,
development and strengthening of collaborative working relationships
among all eligible entities in the Community Services Network and with
other related organizations is emphasized. OCS does not believe that
the Priority Areas in this Program Announcement can be effectively
carried out without collaboration and cooperation. Thus, applicants
must describe how they will involve partners in the Community Services
Network in their activities. Where appropriate, applicants must
describe how they will interface with other related organizations. If
subcontracts are proposed, documentation of the willingness and
capacity for the subcontracting organization(s) to participate must be
described.
5. Criterion V: Ability of Applicant to Perform (Maximum: 20
points).
(a) The applicant demonstrates experience and a successful track
record relevant to the specific activities and program area that it
proposes to undertake; therefore, organizations which propose providing
training and technical assistance must detail their competence in the
specific program Priority Area and as a deliverer with expertise in the
specific fields of training and technical assistance on a nationwide
basis. If applicable, information provided by these applicants must
also address related achievements and competence of each cooperating or
sponsoring organization. (0-10 points)
(b) The application must fully describe (e.g. a resume) the
experience and skills of the proposed project director and primary
staff showing specific qualifications and professional experiences
relevant to the successful implementation of the proposed project. (0-
10 points)
6. Criterion VI: Adequacy of Budget (Maximum: 5 points).
(a) The resources requested are reasonable and adequate to
accomplish the project. (0-3 points)
(b) Total costs are reasonable and consistent with anticipated
results. (0-2 points)
Additional Requirements:
Applicants for grants must also meet the following requirements:
A. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 #0970-0062
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the
Department is required to submit to OMB for review and approval any
reporting and record keeping requirements in regulations, including
Program Announcements. 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. This Program
Announcement does not contain information collection requirements
beyond those approved for ACF grant announcements/applications under
OMB Control Number 0970-0062.
B. Intergovernmental Review
This program is covered under Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100,
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance
under covered programs. NOTE: State/Territory participation in the
Intergovernmental Review process does not signify applicant eligibility
for financial assistance under a program. A potential applicant must
meet the eligibility requirements of the program for which it is
applying prior to submitting an application to its SPOC, if applicable,
or to ACF.
As of September 1998, a number of jurisdictions have elected not to
participate in the Executive Order process. Applicants from these
jurisdictions or for projects administered by federally recognized
Indian Tribes need take no action in regard to E.O. 12372. A list of
these non-participating jurisdictions can be found in the Application
Kit for the CSBG/Training, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
Program.
Although the non-participating jurisdictions no longer participate
in the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of
the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State,
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining
jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have
established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should
contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the
prospective applications and receive instructions.
Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon
as possible so that the program office can obtain and review SPOC
comments as part of the award process. The applicant must submit all
required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this
submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the
Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60
days from the application deadline to comment on proposed new or
competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the
submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations.
Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between
mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations
which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule. When comments
are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to: Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Grants Management/OCSE, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
S.W., Washington, DC 20447.
Dated: May 6, 1999.
Donald Sykes,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 99-12134 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P