[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35460-35478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14794]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children & Families
Funding Opportunity; Basic Center Program
Program Office: Administration on Children, Youth, & Families--
Family & Youth Services Bureau.
Funding Opportunity Title: Basic Center Program.
Announcement Type: Initial.
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2010-ACF-ACYF-CY-0002.
CFDA Number: 93.623.
Due Date for Applications: 07/19/2010.
This announcement was originally published on June 2, 2010 on the
Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Funding Opportunities
Web site and may be accessed in html and pdf formats at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.
Executive Summary: The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is
accepting applications for the Basic Center Program (BCP), which is
authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to address Runaway and
Homeless Youth (RHY) problems. BCPs provide an alternative for runaway
and homeless youth who might otherwise end up with law enforcement or
in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Each
BCP must provide runaway and homeless youth with a safe and appropriate
shelter; individual, family, and group counseling, as appropriate; and
aftercare.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Statutory Authority
Grants for Runaway and Homeless Youth BCPs are authorized by the
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C.sections 5701 though 5752, as
most recently amended by Public Law 110-378 on October 8, 2008. Text of
this legislation can be located at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/aboutfysb/rhycomp08.htm.
Description
History
In the early 1970s, an alarming number of youth were leaving home
without parental permission, crossing State lines, and falling victim
to exploitation and other dangers of street life. In response to the
widespread concern about the problem of runaway and homeless youth,
Congress authorized the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of 1974 (RHYA),
which provided financial support for States
[[Page 35461]]
through a competitive grant program. The implementation and
administration of the program was placed in FYSB within the
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
Today, FYSB continues to administer BCP funding to the
organizations and shelters that serve and protect runaway, homeless,
and street youth. BCP funds are allotted annually based on each State's
relative population of youth less than 18 years of age, subject to
certain adjustments as described in 42 U.S.C. section 5711(b).
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, $14.2 million in funding was awarded in
new start grants to 108 agencies for BCP services. An additional $34.4
million in funding was available to support 263 BCP projects in their
second and third years.
Purpose
The goal of the BCP is to provide a positive alternative for youth,
ensure their safety, and maximize their potential to take advantage of
available shelter and non-shelter opportunities. Through the BCP, FYSB
works to establish or strengthen community-based programs that address
the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families.
The central purpose of the BCP is to provide youth with emergency
shelter and support services that assist youth in crisis (food,
clothing, counseling and referrals for health care), reunite youth with
their families (as appropriate), strengthen family relationships, and
help youth transition to safe and appropriate alternative living
arrangements where they can become independent, self-sufficient,
contributing members of society.
Scope of Services
Funds granted under this award may be used to establish and operate
(including renovations) local BCPs that provide both residential and
non-residential services for RHY and their families outside of law
enforcement and the child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice
systems. Costs for acquisition and renovation of existing structures
may not exceed 15 percent of the grant award. Except as allowed by
statue at 42 U.S.C. 5712(b)(2)(A), BCPs should be designed to provide
up to 21 days of shelter for up to 20 youth, with a minimum of four
beds designated to RHY.
Services delivered through this program must also address imminent
needs of youth through appropriate referrals or direct interventions.
Service delivery must comprehensively address the individual strengths
and needs of youth as well as be gender specific (interventions that
are sensitive to the diverse experiences of male, female, and
transgender youth), language appropriate, and culturally sensitive and
respectful of the complex identities of youth.
Program Requirements
1. Mandatory Services:
To establish and/or operate a local center to provide
temporary emergency shelter and counseling services to runaway,
homeless and street youth under 18 years of age or consistent with
statutory provisions at 42 U.S.C. 5732(a)(3)(A).
To provide temporary, safe and appropriate shelter (up to
21 days) for RHY.
To deliver individual, family and group counseling
services to youth that encourage, where possible, the involvement of
parents or legal guardians (as appropriate).
Provide outreach to youth who are eligible to receive
services under the BCP.
Develop an aftercare plan to stay in contact with youth
who have been served after they leave the program in order to ensure
their ongoing safety. Stay connected with youth who reside outside the
local area of the BCP.
Develop a plan for addressing youth who have run away from
foster care placement or correctional institutions in accordance with
Federal, State, and local laws.
Assist youth being served to stay connected with their
schools or stay current with the curricula in accordance with the
provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Ensure youth are provided information about educational
services available to them by working with the McKinney-Vento School
District Liaison.
Maintain confidentiality of the youth and families served
and their records.
Develop a plan to contact parents or legal guardians (when
appropriate) within the 24-72 hour timeframe to ensure the safe return
of youth and reunite them with their families.
2. Optional Services: The applicant may choose to provide the
following optional services: Street-based services, home-based services
for families with youth at risk of separation from the family, drug
abuse education and prevention services, and testing for sexually
transmitted diseases. These optional services must meet the following
requirements:
A. Street-based services. Applicants seeking to offer these
services must indicate that they will provide street-based services as
defined in 42 U.S.C. section 5732a(5). In addition, such applicants
must demonstrate and include in their plans assurances that the
applicant will provide:
Qualified supervision of staff, including on-street
supervision by appropriately trained staff;
Backup personnel for on-street staff;
Initial and ongoing training for staff who provide street-
based services; and
Outreach activities for RHY and street youth.
B. Home-based services for families with youth at risk of
separation from the family. Applicants seeking to offer these services
must indicate that they will provide home-based services as defined in
42 U.S.C. section 5732a(2) and that the recipients of home-based
services will be families with youth at risk of separation from the
family as defined in 42 U.S.C. section 5732a(8). Additionally, such an
applicant must demonstrate and provide in its plan assurances that the
applicant will:
Provide crisis services that provide 24-hour service
responses to family crises, including immediate access to temporary
shelter. These services may be provided directly or through a third-
party;
Provide counseling services and information to youth and
families (including unrelated individuals who reside in the household);
Provide services and information relating to basic life
skills, interpersonal skill-building, educational advancement, job
attainment skills, mental and physical health care, parenting skills,
financial planning and referral to sources of other needed services;
Establish, in partnership with families of RHY and youth
at risk of separation from the family, objectives and measures of
success to be achieved as a result of receiving home-based services;
Ensure that caseloads will remain low enough to allow
intensive involvement with each RHY and family (five-to-20 hours a
week), and that the staff providing home-based services will be
supervised by qualified individuals; and
Provide initial and periodic training to staff that
provide home-based services.
C. Drug abuse education and prevention services. Applicants seeking
to offer these services must indicate that they will provide drug abuse
education and prevention services as defined in 42 U.S.C. 5732a(1).
Such an applicant must
[[Page 35462]]
also demonstrate and provide in its plan assurances that the applicant
will provide:
A description of the types of services that will be
provided and their objectives; and
A description of the types of information and training
that will be provided to individuals who deliver these services to RHY.
The applicant's signed application will constitute its assurance
that when providing drug abuse education and prevention services, the
applicant shall conduct outreach activities for runaway and homeless
youth.
D. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases. When requested by the
youth.
3. Supervision/Training: Basic Center Programs must provide a plan
for supervision and training of staff. The plan must include:
Supervision by appropriately trained staff;
Initial and periodic training of staff to conduct
demonstrated best practices with youth and families who use shelter
services;
Initial and periodic training of staff to provide street-
based services to youth of diverse cultural backgrounds that reflects
gender specificity, language appropriateness, cultural sensitivity and
respect for the complex identities of youth (i.e. race, gender, sexual
orientation); and
Initial and periodic training on the integration of
positive youth development in the services delivered to youth and their
families.
4. Positive Youth Development (PYD): Grantees are required to
develop and implement their program using a PYD approach. PYD is
predicated on the understanding that all young people need support,
guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth
and change. With this support, they can develop self-assurance and
create a healthy, successful life.
Some PYD strategies include:
Intergenerational mentoring;
Peer mentoring;
Youth leadership and decision making;
Volunteerism and service learning; and
Job preparation and work shadowing.
Grantees are required to incorporate and describe the strategies they
will use to meet the PYD goals identified by Congress in the RHYA at 42
U.S.C. 5701(3). These goals ensure a young person a sense of:
(A) Safety and structure;
(B) Belonging and membership;
(C) Self-worth and social contribution;
(D) Independence and control over one's life; and
(E) Closeness in interpersonal relationships.
For more ways to implement PYD, applicants may go to http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/pyd/. A free introductory online course on PYD can be
found at http://ncfy-learn.jbsinternational.com/.
5. Recordkeeping: Applicants must agree to keep adequate
statistical records for profiling the youth and families served under
this Federal grant. This information is required by program legislation
and defined in the BCP contact report of the user-friendly Runaway and
Homeless Youth Management Information Systems (RHYMIS). RHYMIS entrance
records include anonymous, secure identifiers, demographic information
about each youth, information about where they lived before coming to
the youth center, who referred them, and what kind of issues they are
aware of (e.g., employment, substance abuse, mental health). Exit
records describe services they received, education or employment
status, living situation at exit, etc. These requirements and data
definitions are built into the RHYMIS software distributed to each
grantee. Hotline technical assistance is available during business
hours.
Applicants must have the proper computer equipment to operate
RHYMIS. Applicants may budget for computer equipment in their
application as needed. For more information on the proper equipment,
applicants may go to the RHYMIS fact sheet located on the FYSB Web site
at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/youthdivision/resources/rhymsfactsheet.htm or in Section VI.2 of this program
announcement.
Please note that the RHYMIS software operates best with hardware in
general use from 1999-present. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the data collection under
RHYMIS is approved under OMB control number 0970-0123, which expires
September 30, 2010.
6. Technical Assistance: Applicants must agree to receive and
participate in technical assistance efforts as recommended by Federal
staff.
7. Measuring Program Success: FYSB is committed to fulfilling the
objectives of its governing statute, the RHYA, by providing temporary
shelter and services for runaway, homeless, and street youth, ensuring
the safe return of such youth to their homes or other appropriate
alternative living arrangements, according to the best interests of the
youth.
Because any period of time living on the street is extremely
dangerous, key parts of BCP services are in-home and prevention
programs that engage at-risk youth and their families before the youth
runs away. BCPs are encouraged to establish prevention services of this
nature. In 2007, FYSB began upgrading RHYMIS, which every grantee must
utilize, to measure the types and modes of prevention services
delivered, as well as their effectiveness in keeping youth safely
connected with their families and/or appropriate caregivers and
diverting them from running away, other risky behaviors or entering an
emergency shelter.
FYSB is committed to the following BCP goal, also tracked by
RHYMIS: To maintain at 90 percent or higher the proportion of youth
living in safe and appropriate settings after exiting ACF-funded BCP
services.
Additionally, the RHY Act requires that grantees in RHY programs
develop an adequate plan for providing counseling and aftercare
services to such youth, for encouraging the involvement of their
parents or legal guardians in counseling, and for ensuring, as
possible, that aftercare services will be provided to those youth who
are returned beyond the State in which the RHY center is located.
To measure progress towards this goal, FYSB uses RHYMIS to track
different exit situations from local BCP and other RHY programs,
including family reunification, residential placements and programs
such as Job Corps, entry into educational institutions or military
service, and independent living situations, such as apartments or group
homes. Examples of practices to follow or services that agencies can
provide that facilitate these outcomes include:
A written transitional, aftercare or follow-up plan that
the youth has helped develop and agrees to;
Advice about and/or referral to appropriate mainstream
assistance programs;
Placement in appropriate, permanent, stable housing (not a
shelter) or residency accommodations;
Exit counseling, including, at minimum, a discussion
between staff and the youth of exit options, resources, and
destinations appropriate for his/her well-being and continued progress;
Mentoring of youth during and/or after their term of
services; and/or
Connection with appropriate mainstream programs that can
provide health care, ongoing counseling, nutrition, job training/
opportunities, or
[[Page 35463]]
other resources for which the youth may be eligible.
8. Emergency Preparedness and Management Plan: Grantees must
develop and document plans that address steps to be taken in case of a
local or national situation that poses risk to the health and safety of
staff and youth. Emergency preparedness plans should, at a minimum,
include prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts. The
plan should contain strategies for addressing evacuation, security,
food, medical supplies and notification of youth's families. In the
event of an evacuation due to specific facility issues, such as a fire,
loss of utilities or mandatory evacuation by the local authorities, an
alternative location needs to be designated and included in the plan.
Grantees must immediately provide notification to their FYSB project
officer and grants officer when evacuation plans are executed.
9. Program Sustainability: Applicants must provide a plan for
project continuance beyond grant support, including a plan for securing
resources and continuing project activities after Federal assistance
has ceased.
Definitions
Aftercare Services--The provision of services to runaway or
otherwise homeless youth and their families following the youth's
return home or the youth's placement in alternative living
arrangements, which assist in alleviating the problems that contributed
to his or her running away or being homeless. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Area--A specific neighborhood or section of the locality in which
the runaway and homeless youth project is or will be located. (45 CFR
1351.1)
Budget Period--The intervals of time into which a multi-year period
of assistance is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. Budget
periods are usually 12 months long, but may be shorter or longer, if
appropriate.
Coordinated Networks of Agencies--An association of two or more
private agencies, whose purpose is to develop or strengthen services to
runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Counseling Services--The provision of guidance, support and advice
to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families that is
designed to alleviate the problems that contributed to the youth's
running away or being homeless, resolve intra-family problems, to
reunite such youth with their families, whenever appropriate, and to
help them decide upon a future course of action. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Demonstrably Frequented By or Reachable--Located in an area in
which runaway or otherwise homeless youth congregate, or an area
accessible to such youth by public transportation, or by the provision
of transportation by the runaway and homeless youth project itself. (45
CFR 1351.1)
Drug Abuse Education and Prevention Services--Services to runaway
and homeless youth to prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by
such youth; and may include individual, family, group, and peer
counseling; drop-in services; assistance to runaway and homeless youth
in rural areas (including the development of community support groups);
information and training relating to the illicit use of drugs by
runaway and homeless youth, to individuals involved in providing
services to such youth; and activities to improve the availability of
local drug abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless youth.
(Section 387 RHYA, as amended)
Home-Based Services--Services provided to youth and their families
for the purpose of preventing such youth from running away, or
otherwise becoming separated, from their families; assisting runaway
youth to return to their families; and includes services that are
provided in the residences of families (to the extent feasible),
including intensive individual and family counseling; and training
relating to life skills and parenting. (Section 387 RHY Act, as
amended)
Homeless Youth--An individual (A) who is (i) less than 21 years of
age, or in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a center under Part A
of the RHYA, less than 18 years of age or is less than a higher maximum
age if the State where the center is located has an applicable State or
local law (including a regulation) that permits such higher maximum age
in compliance with licensure requirements for child- and youth-serving
facilities; and (ii) for the purposes of Part B, not less than 16 years
of age and either (I) less than 22 years of age; or (II) not less than
22 years of age as of the expiration of the maximum period of stay
permitted under section 322(a)(2) if such individual commences such
stay before reaching 22 years of age; (B) for whom it is not possible
to live in a safe environment with a relative; and (C) who has no other
safe alternative living arrangement. (Section 387 RHYA, as amended)
Juvenile Justice System--Agencies such as, but not limited to,
juvenile courts, law enforcement, probation, parole, correctional
institutions, training schools and detention facilities. (45 CFR
1351.1)
Law Enforcement Structure--Any police activity or agency with legal
responsibility for enforcing a criminal code including police
departments and sheriffs' offices. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Locality--A unit of general government--for example: A city,
county, township, town, parish, village, or a combination of such
units. Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible to apply for
grants as local units of government. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Maternity Group Home (MGH)--The program provides long-term
residential services to homeless pregnant and/or parenting young people
between the ages of 16 and 22, as well as their dependent children and
helps them make a successful transition to self-sufficient living.
(Section 322(c)(1) RHYA, as amended)
Project Period--The total time stated in the Notice of Grant Award
(including any amendments) for which Federal support is recommended.
The period will consist of one or more budget periods. It does not
constitute a commitment by the Federal Government to fund the entire
period.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Project--A locally-controlled human
service program facility outside the law enforcement structure and the
juvenile justice system that provides temporary shelter, directly or
through other facilities, counseling, and aftercare services to runaway
or otherwise homeless youth. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Runaway Youth--An individual who is less than 18 years of age and
who absents himself or herself from home or a place of legal residence
without the permission of a parent or legal guardian. (Section 387 RHY
Act, as amended)
Short-Term Training--The provision of local, State, or regionally
based instruction to runaway or otherwise homeless youth service
providers in skill areas that will directly strengthen service
delivery. (45 CFR 1351.1)
State--Any State of the United States, the District of Columbia,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, and any Territory or possession of the U.S. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Street-Based Services--Services provided to runaway and homeless
youth, and street youth in areas where they congregate. These services
are designed to assist such youth in making healthy personal choices
regarding: Where they live and how they behave, and may include
identification of and outreach to runaway and homeless youth, and
street youth; crisis intervention and counseling;
[[Page 35464]]
information and referral for housing; information and referral for
transitional living and health care services; as well as advocacy,
education, and prevention services related to alcohol and drug abuse;
sexual exploitation; sexually transmitted diseases, including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and physical and sexual assault. (Section
387 RHYA, as amended)
Street Outreach Program (SOP)--The program promotes efforts by its
grantees to build relationships between street outreach workers and
runaway, homeless and street youth. Grantees also provide support
services that aim to move youth into stable housing and prepare them
for independence.
Street Youth--An individual who is a runaway youth or indefinitely
or intermittently a homeless youth; and spends a significant amount of
time on the street or in other areas that increase the risk to such
youth of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug
abuse. (Section 387 RHYA, as amended)
Technical Assistance--The provision of expertise, consultation and/
or support for the purpose of strengthening the capabilities of grantee
organizations to deliver services. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Temporary Shelter--The provision of short-term (maximum of 21 days)
room and board and core crisis intervention services, on a 24-hour
basis by a RHY Project. (45 CFR 1351.1)
Transitional Living Program (TLP)--The program supports projects
that provide long-term residential services to homeless youth ages 16-
21. The services offered are designed to help young people who are
homeless make a successful transition to self-sufficient living.
Youth at Risk of Separation from the Family--An individual who is
less than 18 years of age; and who has a history of running away from
the family of such individual whose parent, guardian, or custodian is
not willing to provide for the basic needs of such individual; or who
is at risk of entering the child welfare system or juvenile justice
system as a result of the lack of services available to the family to
meet such needs. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)
II. Award Information
Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
Estimated Total Funding: $15,798,302.
Expected Number of Awards: 120.
Award Ceiling: $200,000 per Budget Period.
Award Floor: $0 per Budget Period.
Average Projected Award Amount: $150,000 per Budget Period.
Length of Project Periods: 36-month project with three 12-month
budget periods.
Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability
of Federal funds.
Additional Information on Awards: It is anticipated that
approximately 120 awards will be made.
The funds available for new awards and continuations in each State
and insular area are listed below in the BCP FY 2010 Allocation By
State under the new awards column. Funding amounts available for new
awards in each State are approximations at the time of publication.
Actual amounts available may change due to the availability of funds.
In this table, the amounts shown in the ``New Award'' column are the
amounts available for each State through competition under this
announcement. The dollar amount available for awards in each State
depends on the amount of the State's total allotment (based on the
State's relative population of individuals who are less than 18 years
of age) minus the amount required for non-competing continuations.
Therefore, where the amount required for non-competing continuations in
any State equals or exceeds the State's total allotment, identified in
the funding table below, it is possible that no new awards will be made
in the State. Agencies in States where zero ($0) funding is reflected
are highly encouraged to apply for grant funding in the event that
additional funding becomes available.
All applicants under this competitive grant area will compete with
other eligible applicants in the State in which they propose to deliver
services.
Basic Center Program Fiscal Year 2010 Allocation by State
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuations New award Totals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region I:
Connecticut............................................. $524,419 $23,396 $547,815
Maine................................................... 286,547 0 286,547
Massachusetts........................................... 780,973 235,716 1,016,689
New Hampshire........................................... 100,000 105,875 205,875
Rhode Island............................................ 182,878 18,469 201,347
Vermont................................................. 0 200,000 200,000
---------------------------------------------------
Region I Total...................................... $1,874,817 $583,456 $2,458,273
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region II:
New Jersey.............................................. $723,567 $560,326 $1,283,893
New York................................................ 2,362,097 606,492 2,968,589
Puerto Rico............................................. 200,000 369,994 569,994
Virgin Islands.......................................... 0 70,000 70,000
---------------------------------------------------
Region II Total..................................... $3,285,664 $1,606,812 $4,892,476
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region III:
Delaware................................................ $106,500 $93,500 $200,000
District of Columbia.................................... 200,000 0 200,000
Maryland................................................ 393,363 431,089 824,452
Pennsylvania............................................ 776,908 1,031,863 1,808,771
Virginia................................................ 724,551 433,673 1,158,224
West Virginia........................................... 127,199 72,801 200,000
---------------------------------------------------
Region III Total.................................... $2,328,521 $2,062,926 $4,391,447
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region IV:
[[Page 35465]]
Alabama................................................. $662,820 $66,593 $729,413
Florida................................................. 1,541,612 1,059,817 2,601,429
Georgia................................................. 752,784 672,726 1,425,510
Kentucky................................................ 380,000 254,995 634,995
Mississippi............................................. 649,723 0 649,723
North Carolina.......................................... 991,921 398,492 1,390,413
South Carolina.......................................... 384,913 279,662 664,575
Tennessee............................................... 622,021 309,906 931,927
---------------------------------------------------
Region IV Total..................................... $5,985,794 $3,042,191 $9,027,985
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region V:
Illinois................................................ $1,118,572 $793,610 $1,912,182
Indiana................................................. 539,184 399,814 938,998
Michigan................................................ 1,674,625 0 1,674,625
Minnesota............................................... 831,077 0 831,077
Ohio.................................................... 1,100,417 614,669 1,715,086
Wisconsin............................................... 454,105 376,861 830,966
---------------------------------------------------
Region V Total...................................... $5,717,980 $2,184,954 $7,902,934
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region VI:
Arkansas................................................ $244,052 $202,710 $446,762
Louisiana............................................... 420,000 239,284 659,284
New Mexico.............................................. 385,000 0 385,000
Oklahoma................................................ 139,000 380,761 519,761
Texas................................................... 2,119,552 1,285,114 3,404,666
---------------------------------------------------
Region VI Total..................................... $3,307,604 $2,107,869 $5,415,473
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region VII:
Iowa.................................................... $338,957 $130,831 $469,788
Kansas.................................................. 287,990 150,439 438,429
Missouri................................................ 715,000 209,946 924,946
Nebraska................................................ 575,361 0 575,361
---------------------------------------------------
Region VII Total.................................... $1,917,308 $491,216 $2,408,524
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region VIII:
Colorado................................................ $587,888 $184,953 $772,841
Montana................................................. 67,516 132,484 200,000
North Dakota............................................ 100,000 100,000 200,000
South Dakota............................................ 310,937 0 310,937
Utah.................................................... 379,007 49,141 428,148
Wyoming................................................. 100,000 100,000 200,000
---------------------------------------------------
Region VIII Total................................... $1,545,348 $566,578 $2,111,926
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region IX:
American Samoa.......................................... $0 $70,000 $70,000
Arizona................................................. 733,015 251,512 984,527
California.............................................. 3,142,986 2,082,266 5,225,252
Guam.................................................... 200,000 0 200,000
Hawaii.................................................. 262,432 0 262,432
Northern Marianas....................................... 45,000 25,000 70,000
Nevada.................................................. 185,667 221,162 406,829
---------------------------------------------------
Region IX Total..................................... $4,569,100 $2,649,940 $7,219,040
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Region X:
Alaska.................................................. 100,000 100,000 200,000
Idaho................................................... 0 238,420 238,420
Oregon.................................................. 998,393 0 998,393
Washington.............................................. 860,769 163,940 1,024,709
---------------------------------------------------
Region X Total...................................... $1,959,162 $502,360 $2,461,522
---------------------------------------------------
FY 2010 BCP TOTAL............................... $32,491,298 $15,798,302 $48,289,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 35466]]
Please see Section IV.5 Funding Restrictions for any restrictions
on the use of grant funds awarded under this announcement.
III. Eligibility Information
III.1. Eligible Applicants
Public and non-profit private entities and combinations of such
entities are eligible applicants under this announcement. Additional
information on eligibility may be found in the full announcement.
Current BCP grantees with project periods ending on or before
September 29, 2010, and all other eligible applicants not currently
receiving BCP funds, may apply for a new competitive BCP grant under
this announcement.
Current BCP grantees (including their sub-grantees) with one or two
years remaining in their project period may not apply for a new BCP
grant for the community they currently serve. These grantees will
receive instructions from their respective RHY Specialist on procedures
for applying for non-competitive continuation grants. Current BCP
grantees (including their sub-grantees) with one or two years remaining
in their project period may apply for a new BCP grant for a community
they are not serving under their current grant.
Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship
organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made
under this announcement.
III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost Sharing/Matching Requirement: Yes.
Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project
cost, in accordance with RHY Act requirements at 42 U.S.C. 5716.
Grantees must provide at least 10 precent of the total approved
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum
of the ACF (Federal) share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal
share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants
are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash
contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a
project requesting $200,000.00 in ACF (Federal) funds must provide a
non-Federal share of the approved total project cost of at least
$22,222.00, which is 10 percent of total approved project cost of
$222,222.00. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-
Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match.
Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance
of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of
application submission will not exclude the application from
competitive review.
III.3. Other
Disqualification Factors
Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of
individual awards as stated in Section II. Award Information, will be
deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this
announcement.
Applications that fail to satisfy the due date and time deadline
requirements stated in Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, will
be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under
this announcement.
See Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times for disqualification
information specific to electronically-submitted applications:
Electronically-submitted applications that do not receive
a date/time-stamp e-mail indicating application submission on or before
4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date, will be disqualified and will
not be considered for competition.
Electronically-submitted applications that fail the checks
and validations at http://www.Grants.gov because the Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR) does not have a current registration
at the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at the time of application
submission will be disqualified and will not be considered for
competition.
IV. Address To Request Application Package
IV.1 Address To Request Application Package
Standard Forms, assurances, and certifications are available at the
ACF Forms webpage at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Standard Forms are also available at the Grants.gov
Forms Repository Web site at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15.
FYSB Operations Center, c/o Master Key Consulting, Attn: BCP Funding,
4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone: (866) 796-
1591, E-mail: [email protected], URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.
Federal Relay Service: Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired callers
may contact the Federal Relay Service for assistance at 1-800-877-8339
(TTY--Text Telephone or ASCII--American Standard Code For Information
Interchange).
Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission
This section provides information on the required format, Standard
Forms (SFs) and other forms, certifications, assurances, D-U-N-S
requirement, project description, budget and budget justification, and
methods of application submission. A checklist of required application
elements is available for applicants' use in Section VIII of this
announcement.
Applicants are required to submit one original and two copies of
all application materials if applying in hard-copy. Applicants
submitting applications electronically via http://www.grants.gov need
not provide additional copies of their application materials. The
original signature of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)
is required only on the original copy. The AOR is named by the
applicant, and is authorized to act for the applicant, to assume the
obligations imposed by the Federal laws, regulations, requirements, and
conditions that apply to the grant application or awards. A point of
contact on matters involving the application must also be identified on
the SF-424 at 8f. This point of contact, known as the Project Director
or Principal Investigator, should not be identical to the person
identified as the AOR.
Each application package must include the original and two copies.
Do not staple the application or any section of the application.
The length of the entire application package must not exceed 90
pages. This includes the required Federal Standard Forms (SF)/
certifications (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B and Certification Regarding
Lobbying), table of contents, project summary, project description,
budget/budget justification, supplemental documentation, proof of non-
profit status, summaries of sub-grants and contracts, and letters of
agreement. All pages of the application package must be sequentially
numbered beginning with page one. The required Federal forms will be
counted towards the total number of pages. All pages of each
application will be counted to determine the total length. All pages
exceeding the 90-page limit will be removed and will not be considered
in the reviewing process. A cover letter is not required. Applicants
are reminded that if a cover letter is submitted, it will count towards
the 90-page limit.
[[Page 35467]]
The project description must be typed and double-spaced on a
single-side of 8\1/2\ x 11 inch plain white paper with at least \1/2\
inch margins on all sides, using black print with 12-point size Times
New Roman font.
Applicants that do not adhere to the prescribed format will have
points deducted from the overall total after the grant review:
Program narrative (which includes Objectives and Need for
assistance, Results and Benefits, Approach, Organizational Profile,
Staff and Position Data, and Budget Justification) is not double
spaced: deduction of 5 points.
Margins less than \1/2\ inch: deduction of 3 points.
Font is not at least 12-point size or Times New Roman:
deduction of 2 points.
For charts, budget tables, supplemental letters, and support
documents, applicants may use a different point size and font, but no
less than 10-point size and single-spaced. Applicants that deviate from
this format risk having their application not reviewed in its entirety.
A final decision will be made by the Office of Grants Management on
whether applications that deviate from the prescribed format will be
reviewed in their entirety.
The application package should include the following and be in the
following order:
a. The Required Federal Forms/Certifications--See below for
description.
b. Table of Contents--This section should reference the order of
the application sections and provide page numbers.
c. One-Page Project Abstract--This section should contain the
following information: Agency Name, City, State; proposed service area
(State, County, City etc); amount of Federal funding requested for 12-
month period; proposed model of program (ie. host home shelter); target
population (if applicable); point of contact, name, phone, and e-mail;
number of youth to shelter during the 36-month project; number of youth
to receive non-shelter services during the 36-month project; two-to-
three paragraph statement on what will be accomplished with the
project.
d. Project Description--This section is a comprehensive description
of the proposed project, what it will accomplish and how it will be
implemented. The Project Description should address each of the
categories in Section V.1, and be structured in a manner that addresses
each of the evaluation criterion in a logical format in the following
order:
Objectives and Need for Assistance; Results and Benefits, Approach;
Staff and Position Data; Organizational Profiles; and Budget and Budget
Justification. Applicants must title each section accordingly.
e. Budget and Budget Justification--The budget is a line-item
format and must be in a worksheet, table, or spreadsheet that
illustrates how calculations were derived. The budget should reflect a
12-month budget period. Each category heading within the line-item
budget should correspond with the budget categories listed in Section B
of the SF-424A (e.g. Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment,
Supplies, Contractual, Other, Indirect Charges).
The budget justification is a narrative that provides a rationale
for the items requested and how these items relate to the overall
success of the project.
f. Proof of Non-Profit Status--See Section III.3 for acceptable
documentation that must be submitted by date of award.
g. Third Party Agreements--A summary of monetary sub-grant(s) and/
or contract(s) must be provided as part of the application package. The
summary must include a description of the project services that will be
completed through the sub-grant or contract using Federal funds or a
non-Federal match, and the process by which the primary applicant will
maintain a substantive role with the sub-grant and/or contract assuring
compliance with the grant requirements and project performance. If the
applicant is proposing to provide services through a different agency
or entity based on a non-monetary agreement, documentation of these
services must enumerate the project services that will be completed.
h. Non-Federal Resources Commitment Letters--Letters from
organizations, entities, or individuals agreeing to provide non-Federal
resources (cash or in-kind) to the project.
Forms, Assurances, and Certifications
Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement
must submit the listed Standard Forms (SFs), assurances, and
certifications. All required Standard Forms, assurances, and
certifications are available at ACF Funding Opportunities Forms or at
the Grants.gov Forms Repository unless specified otherwise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forms/assurances/certifications Submission requirement Notes/description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424--Application for Federal Submission required for all Required for all applications.
Assistance. applicants by the application
due date.
SF-P/PSL--Project/Performance Site
Location(s).
Certification Regarding Lobbying......... Submission required of all Required for all applications.
applicants prior to award.
SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying If applicable, submission is If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing
Activities, if applicable. required prior to award. 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. Applicants must furnish
an executed copy of the Certification Regarding Lobbying prior to award.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pro-Children Act of 2001, 42 U.S.C. 7181 through 7184, imposes
restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's
services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements
only if
[[Page 35468]]
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.
By signing and submitting the application, applicants are making
the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal
statutes relating to nondiscrimination.
Additional information on certifications and assurances may be
found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html.
Non-Federal Reviewers
Since 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.
D-U-N-S[supreg] Requirement
All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-
U-N-S[supreg]) number. A D-U-N-S[supreg] 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[supreg] 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[supreg] number may be
acquired at no cost online at http://www.dnb.com. To acquire a D-U-N-
S[supreg] number by phone, contact the D&B Government Customer Response
Center:
U.S. and U.S Virgin Islands: 1-866-705-5711,
Alaska and Puerto Rico: 1-800-234-3867 (Select Option 2, then Option
1),
Monday--Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. C.S.T.
The process to request a D-U-N-S[supreg] Number by telephone takes
between 5 and 10 minutes. You will need to provide the following
information:
Legal Name.
Tradestyle, Doing Business As (DBA), or other name by
which your organization is commonly recognized.
Physical Address, City, State and Zip Code.
Mailing Address (if separate).
Telephone Number.
Contact Name.
SIC Code (Line of Business).
Number of Employees at your location.
Headquarters name and address (if there is a reporting
relationship to a parent corporate entity).
Is this a home-based business?
The Project Description
Part I: The Project Description Overview: 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 topics listed in this section
provide a broad overview of what the project description should include
while the Criteria in Section V.1 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 application's project description. The
summary must be clear, accurate, concise, and without reference to
other parts of the application. The abstract must include a brief
description of the proposed grant project including the needs to be
addressed, the proposed services, and the population group(s) to be
served.
Please place the following at the top of the abstract:
Project Title.
Applicant Name.
Address.
Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax).
E-Mail Address.
Web Site Address, if applicable.
The project abstract must be single-spaced and limited to one page
in length.
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 including the nature and scope of the problem must be
demonstrated, and the principal and subordinate objectives of the
project must be clearly and concisely 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 or needs assessments should be included or referred to
in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the
project
[[Page 35469]]
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.
Outcomes Expected
Identify the outcomes to be derived from the project.
For example, the project description may cite measurable outcomes,
including but not limited to, the number of youth returning home for
reunification with family or returning to a safe and appropriate
alternative living arrangement.
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. Data may be organized and presented as project tasks and
subtasks with their corresponding timelines during the project period.
For example, each project task could be assigned to a row in the first
column of a grid. Then, a unit of time could be assigned to each
subsequent column, beginning with the first unit (i.e., week, month,
quarter) of the project and ending with the last. Shading, arrows, or
other markings could be used across the applicable grid boxes or cells,
representing units of time, to indicate the approximate duration and/or
frequency of each task and its start and end dates within the project
period.
When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function,
list them in chronological order to show the schedule of
accomplishments and their target dates.
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.
Geographic Location
Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the
area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids
may be attached.
Third-Party Agreements
Provide written and signed agreements between grantees and
subgrantees, or subcontractors, or other cooperating entities. These
agreements must detail the scope of work to be performed, work
schedules, remuneration, and other terms and conditions that structure
or define the relationship.
Letters of Support
Provide statements from community, public, and commercial leaders
that support the project proposed for funding. All submissions should
be included in the application package or by the application deadline.
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 18 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification for the first year of the
proposed project. The narrative budget justification should describe
how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity,
reasonableness, and allocation of the proposed costs.
General
Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources (when required)
shall be detailed and justified in the budget and budget narrative
justification. ``Federal resources'' refers only to the ACF grant funds
for which you are applying. ``Non-Federal resources'' are all other
non-ACF Federal and non-Federal resources. It is suggested that budget
amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: First
column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next
column(s), non-Federal budget(s); and last column, total budget. The
budget justification should be in a narrative form.
Personnel
Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
Justification: Identify the project director or principal
investigator, if known at the time of application. For each staff
person, provide: The title; time commitment to the project in months;
time commitment to the project as a percentage or full-time equivalent;
annual salary; grant salary; wage rates; etc. Do not include the costs
of consultants, personnel costs of delegate agencies, or of specific
project(s) and/or businesses to be financed by the applicant.
Fringe Benefits
Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, Federal
Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes, retirement insurance, taxes,
etc.
Travel
Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization. (This item does not include costs of consultant
travel).
Justification: For each trip show: The total number of traveler(s);
travel destination; duration of trip; per diem; mileage allowances, if
privately owned vehicles will be used to travel out of town; and other
transportation costs and subsistence allowances. If appropriate for
this project, travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-sponsored
workshops should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment
Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable,
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year
and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of: (a) The
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the
net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of
any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus
necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired.
Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit
insurance, freight, and installation, shall be included in or excluded
from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular
written accounting practices.)
Justification: For each type of equipment requested provide: A
description of the equipment; the cost per unit; the number of units;
the total cost; and a plan for use on the project; as well as use and/
or disposal of the
[[Page 35470]]
equipment after the project ends. An applicant organization that uses
its own definition for equipment should provide a copy of its policy,
or section of its policy, that includes the equipment definition.
Supplies
Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than
that included under the Equipment category.
Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their
costs. Show computations and provide other information that supports
the amount requested.
Contractual
Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except
for those that belong under other categories such as equipment,
supplies, construction, etc. Include third-party evaluation contracts,
if applicable, and contracts with secondary recipient organizations,
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) and/or businesses
to be financed by the applicant.
Justification: Demonstrate that all procurement transactions will
be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical,
open and free competition. Recipients and subrecipients, other than
States that are required to use 45 CFR part 92 procedures, must justify
any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded
without competition and exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold
fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11), currently set at $100,000. Recipients may
be required to make pre-award review and procurement documents, such as
requests for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost
estimates, etc. available to ACF.
Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency
title, along with the same supporting information referred to in
these instructions.
Other
Description: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where
applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to: Local
travel; insurance; food; medical and dental costs (noncontractual);
professional services costs; space and equipment rentals; printing and
publication; computer use; training costs, such as tuition and
stipends; staff development costs; and administrative costs.
Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a
justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Charges
Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or
another cognizant Federal agency.
Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or
renegotiating a rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it
should immediately develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal
based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in accordance with
the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates,
and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of
their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. When an
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect
cost pool should not be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if
the applicant is requesting a rate that is less than what is allowed
under the program, the authorized representative of the applicant
organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the applicant is
accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Commitment of Non-Federal Resources
Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to
support the project as identified in Block 18 of the SF-424.
Justification: If an applicant is relying on match from a third
party, then a firm commitment of these resources (letter or other
documentation) is required with the application. Detailed budget
information must be provided for every funding source identified in
Block 18 of the SF-424.
Paperwork Reduction Disclaimer
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 11/30/2012. 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.
Application Submission Options
Electronic Submission via http://www.Grants.gov.
ACF will not accept applications via facsimile or e-mail.
The Funding Opportunity Announcement is found on the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov where the electronic
application can be downloaded for completion.
To apply electronically, applicants must be registered
with Grants.gov, Dun and Bradstreet, and the Central Contractor
Registry (CCR).
Electronically submitted applications must be submitted
and time/date stamped by the due date and receipt time described in
Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, of this announcement.
To submit an application through Grants.gov, the applicant
must be an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for their
organization and must have a current registration with the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR).
Central Contractor Registry (CCR) registration must be
updated annually. Electronically submitted applications will not pass
the validation check at Grants.gov if the AOR does not have a current
CCR registration and electronic signature credentials.
Applications rejected by Grants.gov for an unregistered
AOR will be disqualified and will not be considered for competition.
Additional guidance on the submission of electronic
applications can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html.
If difficulties are encountered in using Grants.gov,
applicants must contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at: 1-800-518-
4726, or by e-mail at [email protected], to report the problem and
obtain assistance.
Applicants are advised to retain Grants.gov Contact Center
service ticket number(s) as they may be needed for future reference.
Applicants that submit their applications electronically
are encouraged to retain a hard copy of their application.
It is to an applicant's advantage to submit their
applications 24 hours in advance of the closing date and time.
Contact with the Grants.gov Contact Center prior to the listed due
date and time does not ensure acceptance of your application. If
difficulties are encountered, the Grants Management Officer (GMO) will
make a determination whether the issues are due to system errors or
user error.
[[Page 35471]]
Hard Copy Submission
Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format
should submit one original and two copies of the complete application
with all attachments. 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 hard copy application submissions.
Applicants may refer to Section VIII. Other Information for a
checklist of application requirements that may be used in developing
and organizing application materials. Details concerning acknowledgment
of received applications are available in Section IV.3. Submission
Dates and Times of this announcement.
IV.3. Submission Dates and Times
Due Date for Applications: 07/19/2010.
Explanation of Due Dates
The due date for receipt of applications is listed in this section.
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
received by mail, hand-delivery, or submitted electronically well in
advance of the application due date and time.
Mailed Applications
Mailed applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m.,
eastern time, at the address provided in Section IV.6 of this
announcement on the due date listed in this section.
Hand-Delivered Applications
Applications hand-delivered by applicants, applicant couriers,
other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail
couriers must be received on, or before, the due date listed in this
section, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time,
Monday through Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Applications should
be delivered to the address provided in Section IV.6. of this
announcement.
Electronically Submitted Applications
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or
e-mail. Instructions for electronic submission through www.Grants.gov
may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html.
After the application is submitted electronically via Grants.gov,
the applicant will receive three e-mails.
The following e-mails will be sent to the applicant from
Grants.gov:
1. An automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov of the
application's submission that provides a Grants.gov tracking number.
The date/time-stamp in this e-mail serves as the official record of
your application submission. The date/time-stamp must reflect a
submission time on or before 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the
application due date for the application to be considered as meeting
the due date and to be considered for competition.
2. An acknowledgement from Grants.gov that the submitted
application package has passed or failed a series of checks and
validations.
Applications that fail the validation check at Grants.gov because
the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is not currently
registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) will be
disqualified and will not be considered for competition.
3. An additional e-mail from the Administration for Children and
Families (ACF) will be sent to the applicant indicating that the
application has been retrieved from Grants.gov and received by ACF.
Late Applications
No appeals will be considered for applications classified as late
under the three cited circumstances:
Hard-copy applications received after 4:30 p.m., eastern
time, on the due date will be classified as late and will be
disqualified.
Electronically submitted applications are considered late
and are disqualified when the date/time-stamp received by e-mail from
www.Grants.gov is after 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date.
Electronically submitted applications submitted by an AOR
that does not have a current registration with the Central Contractor
Registry (CCR) will be rejected by Grants.gov. Although the applicant
may have an acceptable dated and time-stamped e-mail from Grants.gov,
these applications are considered late and are disqualified and will
not be considered for competition.
Extension/Waiver of Due Date and Receipt Time
ACF may extend an application due date and receipt time when
circumstances such as natural disasters occur (floods, hurricanes,
etc.); when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in
other rare cases. The determination to extend or waive due date and
receipt time requirements rests with ACF's Chief Grants Management
Officer.
Acknowledgement of Received Application
ACF will provide acknowledgement of receipt of hard copy
application packages submitted via mail or courier services.
Applicants who submit their application packages electronically via
http://www.Grants.gov will receive two e-mail acknowledgements from
that Web site:
1. Your application has been submitted and provides a Time/Date
Stamp. This is considered the official submission time.
2. Your application has been validated and provides a Time/Date
Stamp. See the previous section on disqualification for failing
validation check because of an unregistered Authorized Organization
Representative.
An acknowledgement e-mail from the Administration on Children and
Families (ACF) indicating that the application has been retrieved and
received by ACF will be sent to applicants that apply via http://www.Grants.gov.
IV.4. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs
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.
[[Page 35472]]
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.
IV.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
considered unallowable costs under grants awarded under this
announcement.
Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
Construction that is beyond renovation of existing structures is
not an allowable activity or expenditure under this grant award. Costs
for acquisition and renovation of existing structures may not exceed 15
percent of the grant amount awarded. The costs of acquisition and
renovation of existing structures are authorized, but the costs of
constructing a new building are not authorized.
No grant funds may be used for any program of distributing sterile
needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug
(42 U.S.C. 5752). See Section VI.3, Special Terms and Conditions of
Awards.
No grant funds may be used to support inherently religious
activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization.
More information can be found at: https://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.
IV.6. Other Submission Requirements
Submit applications to one of the following addresses:
Submission by Mail
FYSB Operations Center, c/o Master Key Consulting, Attn: Basic Center
Program Funding, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Hand Delivery
FYSB Operations Center, c/o Master Key Consulting, Attn: Basic Center
Program Funding, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814.
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
and times.
V. Application Review Information
V.1. Criteria
Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed
and evaluated using the criteria described in this section. The
corresponding point values indicate the relative importance placed on
each review criterion. Points will be allocated based on the extent to
which the application proposal addresses each of the criteria listed.
Applicants should address these criteria in their application
materials, particularly in the project description and budget
justification, as they are the basis upon which competing applications
will be judged during the objective review. The required elements of
the project description and budget justification may be found in
Section IV.2 of this announcement.
Objectives and Need for Assistance Maximum Points: 15
1. The extent to which the application describes clear and
appropriate program objectives that will fulfill the program purpose,
as provided, required by and consistent with the authorizing RHY
legislation and FYSB program requirements as described in Section I.
2. The extent to which the application describes a clear need for
the proposed project. A discussion must include the conditions of youth
and families in the area to be served, including matters of health,
education, employment and social conditions of youth and families in
the service area.
3. The extent to which the application demonstrates that the
services to be provided will be located in an area that is frequented
by and/or easily accessible for the population to be served, through a
specific description of the precise geographic location of program
services. Maps or other graphic aids may be included.
4. The extent to which the application provides documentation on
the number of RHY in the area to be served. If such data does not
exist, the application should state this fact and provide a rationale
to estimate the number of RHY in the area.
Outcomes Maximum Points: 15
1. The extent to which the applicant clearly specifies the number
of at-risk youth to be served through residential and non-residential
services (e.g., through outreach, counseling, educational services,
shelter and support services). The application must provide the number
of beds available for runaway and homeless youth. (This number is
restricted to a minimum of four RHY and a maximum shelter capacity of
20 youth unless the applicant is required by State or local law
regulations to meet a higher maximum to comply with licensure
requirements for child and youth serving facilities; proof is required
for this exception.)
2. The extent to which the application identifies quantitative
outcomes and outputs for the proposed project that will fulfill the
program purpose and scope of services as described in the authorizing
RHY legislation and Section I. (Outcomes are the expected changes that
will reasonably occur among youth, families and communities based on
the program activities. An example of a project outcome is included in
Section I, Measuring Program Success. Outputs are the program
activities that will influence the program's outcomes.)
3. The extent to which the application demonstrates a sound
relationship between program services and quantitative outcomes.
4. The extent to which the application describes the frequency of
data collection and utilization of program data to make program
adjustments. The application should include a description of how the
organization will continue to make ongoing program adjustments that
will improve performance and a description of data analysis.
Approach Maximum Points: 30
1. The extent to which the application identifies the services that
will be provided, required by and consistent with, the authorizing RHY
legislation and FYSB program requirements as described by Section I.
2. The extent to which the application describes how the proposed
project will operate programmatically to provide the services mandated
by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as
described in Section I.
3. If the application proposes to sub-grant or contract a
significant portion of the proposed project, the extent to which the
application demonstrates that the applicant will hold a substantive
[[Page 35473]]
role in the administration and/or delivery of services of the proposed
project.
4. The extent to which the application clearly identifies whether
the agency will have site control over a shelter and/or have an
agreement in place with the operational facility at the start of award.
The application must discuss the shelter facilities and whether the
applicant owns, rents or leases shelter space. If a shelter is not
immediately available for lease or rent, the extent to which the
application clearly specifies when and how they will achieve site
control over a shelter and be fully operational within one year of
receiving the award.
5. The extent to which the application describes an outreach plan
that will attract RHY youth eligible for services.
6. The extent to which the application describes an outreach plan
that will attract members of ethnic, cultural, and racial minorities
and/or persons with limited ability to speak and interpret the English
language. If the application proposes to serve a specific RHY
population (e.g., single-sex programs, lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and questioning youth (LGBTQ), a particular ethnic group),
then the applicant must describe the unique characteristics of the
community that requires the need to address the specific special
population. Applications will be evaluated on the extent to which the
applicant describes plans for making referrals or otherwise providing
for the needs of RHY youth who are not in the specific population the
applicant will serve.
7. The extent to which the application describes its coordination
or service linkages with local agencies to ensure a continuum of care
or referrals for RHY to receive services outside the scope of the
proposed project, but that are important to meet the needs of the
population.
8. The extent to which the application describes plans for ensuring
coordination with schools to which runaway and homeless youth will
return, and for assisting the youth to stay current with the curricula
of these schools, including specific information on how the applicant
will work with the McKinney-Vento School District Liaison (as
designated by the State Coordinator) to assure that runaway and
homeless youth are provided information about the educational services
available to such youth under 42 U.S.C. 11431 through 11435. A list of
McKinney-Vento State Coordinators can be found at: http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/sccontact.pdf.
9. The extent to which the application describes an effective plan
for dealing with youth who have run away from foster care placements
and from correctional institutions and demonstrates that procedures are
in accordance with Federal, State and local laws.
10. The extent to which the application demonstrates a plan and
timeframe to contact parents/guardians or other relatives of RHY
seeking services, and to ensure (where appropriate) the safe return of
the youth to family in accordance withRHY regulation.
11. The extent to which the application demonstrates the
development of an aftercare plan to stay in contact with youth who have
been served after they leave the program in order to ensure their
ongoing safety. The plan must include how aftercare services will be
provided for youth who reside outside the local area of the BCP.
12. The extent to which the application describes an effective plan
to store and maintain confidential records of youth and their families
and to protect the confidentiality of the youth and families served and
their records.
13. If the applicant proposes to provide optional services, such as
home-based services, the extent to which the application demonstrates
how the proposed project will operate programmatically to provide the
services required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program
requirements as described in Section I.
14. The extent to which the application describes an emergency
preparedness and management plan by addressing steps to be taken in
case of a local or national situation that poses risk to the health and
safety of program staff and youth. The extent to which the application
describes how FYSB will be notified in the event the plan must be
enacted.
15. If the application proposes to serve a specific RHY target
population, then the applicant must describe the unique characteristics
of the community that requires the need to address the specific target
population. Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which the
applicant describes plans for making appropriate referrals and service
linkages or otherwise providing for the needs of RHY youth who are not
in the specific population the applicant will serve. NOTE: Age is not
considered a target population.
16. The extent to which the application describes effective
strategies to integrate Positive Youth Development into the operations
of the project.
Organizational Profile Maximum Points: 20
1. The extent to which the application demonstrates the
organizational capacity necessary to oversee Federal grants through a
description of the organization's fiscal controls and an explanation of
the organization's governing oversight.
2. If the application proposes to sub-grant and/or contract to
another organization that will provide direct services to youth and
their families through this grant, then the extent to which the
application demonstrates how the sub-grant and/or contract will be
monitored for grant compliance and project performance.
3. The extent to which the application describes their State and
local licensing requirements to operate residential facilities for the
proposed design and model of shelter and/or host homes and demonstrates
their compliance with such requirements. If the agency is using funds
to start a program, the extent to which it demonstrates knowledge of
its State and local licensing requirements and a plan to secure such
licensing. If the agency is exempt from State and local licensing, the
applicant must explain why the agency is exempt.
4. The extent to which the application describes the organization's
past experience in working with runaway, homeless, and street youth
populations and demonstrates a sound relationship between
organizational experience and the ability to provide program services
as required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program
requirements as described in Section I. Experience does not have to
pertain only to past FYSB-funded program experience. Note: Past
experience means that a major activity of the agency has been the
provision of temporary shelter, counseling, and referral services to
runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families, either directly
or through linkages established with other community agencies. The
application must specify the length and time the organization has
provided these services.
5. If the agency is a current recipient of funds from ACF for non-
BCP services that support RHY, then the application will be evaluated
on the extent to which it shows how the services supported by these
funds are, or will be, integrated with the existing services. Note:
Applicants that have a SOP, TLP and/or MGH grant(s) must discuss how
funds will be integrated into RHY services proposed in this
application.
[[Page 35474]]
6. The applicant must describe how the activities implemented under
this project will be continued by the agency once Federal funding for
the project has ended. The applicant must describe specific plans for
accomplishing program phase-out in the event the applicant cannot
obtain new operating funds at the end of the 36-month project period.
The plan must identify the specific services that will continue at the
end of the project period as well as how the organization will fund
those services on an ongoing basis.
7. The extent to which the application addresses the agency's
sustainability plan that begins immediately upon receipt of the grant.
Staff and Position Data Maximum Points: 15
1. The extent to which the application includes an organizational
chart that demonstrates the relationship between all positions
(including consultants, sub-grants and/or contractors) to be funded
through this grant. The application must provide the name of the person
employed in each position or note that the position is vacant. The
application must identify the person and their position who would serve
as the Point of Contact (POC) for this grant. POC information must
include the telephone number and e-mail address. If the telephone
number or e-mail address is not available, the applicant must state
this and describe a plan for providing a telephone number and e-mail
address to the Federal Project Officer should the application be
approved for funding.
2. The extent to which the application provides a staffing plan
that demonstrates a sound relationship between the proposed
responsibilities of a program staff and the educational and
professional experience required for staff positions through a
discussion of position descriptions and resumes or biographical
sketches of key staff, including consultants, which correspond to the
organizational chart. Note: Key Staff is defined as those staff members
responsible for direct oversight, management, or implementation of the
proposed project and/or direct services to youth being served.
3. The extent to which the application states the expected or
estimated ratio of staff-to-youth in the shelter facility and
demonstrates that this ratio is sufficient to ensure adequate
supervision and treatment of youth accessing services. The application
must demonstrate that this ratio is in compliance with State and local
licensing requirements.
4. The extent to which the application describes the agency's
policy for conducting background checks on all staff who come into
contact with children and youth served or proposed to be served by the
agency. The application must confirm that the policy is in compliance
with State and local law.
5. The extent to which the application describes a plan for
training project staff in appropriate topics to safely and effectively
serve runaway, homeless, and street youth, and to deal appropriately
with the issues they will encounter while serving these youth. At a
minimum staff should be trained on: organizational policies and
procedures (to include the Emergency Preparedness Plan's objectives and
procedures), job responsibilities, subject matter knowledge of issues
pertaining to runaway and homeless youth and at-risk youth, positive
youth development and competency to respond to the ethnicity, age,
gender identity, cultural practices, sexual orientation, socioeconomic
status, educational background and language of the targeted youth and
their families.
Budget, Maximum Points: 5
1. The extent to which a detailed line item budget for the Federal
and non-Federal share of project costs is included and demonstrates how
cost estimates were derived. Detailed calculations must include
estimation of methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar
quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated.
2. The extent to which the application demonstrates how the funds
requested are necessary and essential to accomplish the scope of
services, as required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB
program requirements, as described in Section I.
V.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 award ceiling. Applications that are designated as late
according to Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times or those with
requests that exceed the award ceiling, stated in Section II. Award
Information will be returned to the applicant with a notation that they
were deemed non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
Objective Review and Results
Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed
and evaluated by objective review panels using the criteria described
in Section V.1 of this announcement. Each panel is made up of experts
with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally,
review panels are composed of three reviewers and one chairperson.
Results of the competitive objective review are taken into
consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding; however,
objective review scores and rankings are not binding and are one
element of the decision-making process.
ACF may elect to not fund applicants with management or financial
problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the
proposed project. Applications may be funded in whole or in part.
Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than that
requested. ACF reserves the right to consider a preference to fund
organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations,
including those located in pockets of poverty, and to consider the
geographic distribution of Federal funds in its funding decisions.
The results of these reviews will assist the ACYF Commissioner,
FYSB senior leadership and 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. These
include, but are not limited to: Comments of reviewers and Government
officials, staff evaluation and input, geographic distribution,
previous program performance of applicants, compliance with grant terms
under previous HHS grants, audit reports, investigative reports, and an
applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowance on
previous FYSB or other Federal agency grants.
The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a
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 an application that is responsive to the evaluation criteria
within the context of this program announcement.
FYSB has the authority to pass over ranking order based on
geographic area
[[Page 35475]]
(location), areas of highest need and capacity.
As required by the RHYA, in making grant award decisions, priority
for funding shall be given to eligible applicants with past experience
in providing services to runaway, homeless and street youth and private
entities that request grant funding for $200,000 or less. Past
experience means that a major activity of the applicant has been the
provision of temporary shelter, counseling, and referral services to
runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families, either directly
or through linkages established with other community agencies.
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.
V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates
FYSB expects that awards will be made by September 30, 2010.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing subsequent to
negotiations and final determination of awards.
VI. Award Administration Information
VI.1. Award Notices
Successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a
Financial Assistance Award (FAA) 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 FAA 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.
VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Awards issued under this announcement are subject to the uniform
administrative requirements and cost principles of 45 CFR part 74
(Awards and Subawards to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals,
Other Nonprofit Organizations, and Commercial Organizations), or 45 CFR
part 92 (Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State, Local, and Tribal
Governments).
An application funded with the release of Federal funds through a
grant award, does not constitute, or imply, compliance with Federal
regulations. Funded organizations are responsible for ensuring that
their activities comply with all applicable Federal regulations.
Grantees are subject to the limitations set forth in 45 CFR part
74, Subpart E-Special Provisions for Awards to Commercial Organizations
(45 CFR 74.81, Prohibition against profit), which states that, ``* * *
no HHS funds may be paid as profit to any recipient even if the
recipient is a commercial organization. Profit is any amount in excess
of allowable direct and indirect costs.''
Grantees are also subject to the requirements of 45 CFR part 87,
Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations: ``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.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is available at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/CFR/.
Award Term and Condition for Trafficking in Persons
Awards issued under this announcement are subject to the
requirements of Section 106 (g) of the Trafficking Victims Protection
Act of 2000, as amended (22 U.S.C. 7104). For the full text of the
award term, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/award_term.html. If
you are unable to access this link, please contact the Grants
Management Contact identified in Section VII. Agency Contacts of this
announcement to obtain a copy of the Term.
HHS Grants Policy Statement
The HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) is the Department of
Health and Human Services' single policy guide for discretionary grants
and cooperative agreements. ACF grant awards are subject to the
requirements of the HHS GPS, which covers basic grants processes,
standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as
important agency-specific requirements. Appendices to the HHS GPS
include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for
ease of reference. The general terms and conditions in the HHS GPS will
apply as indicated unless there are statutory, regulatory, or award-
specific requirements to the contrary that are specified in the
Financial Assistance Award (FAA). The HHS GPS is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html.
Other Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Grantees are subject to requirement in 45 CFR part 1351, Runaway
and Homeless Youth Program Administration Requirements. In the case of
conflicts between current regulatory language and RHYA statutory
language, the statutory language will govern.
Sterile Needles
Applicants are advised that no grant funds may be used for any
program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic
injection of any illegal drug. Prospective grantees are advised that
entities that receive BCP grant funds and that operate a program of
distributing sterile needles or syringes for hypodermic injections of
illegal drugs, must account for all funds used for such programs
separately from any expenditure of BCP grant funds. (42
[[Page 35476]]
U.S.C. 5752.) See Section IV.5 Funding Restrictions.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System (RHYMIS)
Grantees must agree to keep adequate statistical records profiling
the youth and families served under the Federal grant and to gather and
submit program and client data required by FYSB. This information is
required by the RHY program legislation and defined in user-friendly
RHYMIS. Recipients of a grant administered through FYSB are required
and expected to submit the data via RHYMIS or in an approved format
that RHYMIS can receive. Grantees have the option of using RHYMIS for
internal management improvement or for research and other program
needs. A RHYMIS hotline/help desk is available at 888-749-6474, and/or
at: [email protected].
FYSB will fund computer software for RHY program data collection
through RHYMIS. An applicant lacking the computer equipment (hardware)
for RHYMIS data collection must include an estimated cost for such
equipment in their proposed budget. If the applicant already has such
equipment, this fact must be noted. (Note: Existing grantees generally
report that their staff has been able to easily train themselves to
operate RHYMIS due to its user-friendliness, prompts, help features,
and FYSB's technical support service.)
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
104-13) the data collection under RHYMIS is approved under OMB control
number 0970-0123, which expires September 30, 2010.
Confidentiality
Section 312 of the RHY Act requires grantees to keep adequate
statistical records profiling the youth and family members whom it
serves (including youth who are not referred to out-of-home shelter
services), except that records maintained on individual runaway and
homeless youth shall not be disclosed without the consent of the
individual youth and parent or legal guardian to anyone other than
another agency compiling statistical records or a Government agency
involved in the disposition of criminal charges against an individual
runaway and homeless youth, and reports or other documents based on
such statistical records shall not disclose the identity of individual
runaway and homeless youth. Moreover, Section 384 of the RHY Act
requires that records containing the identity of individual youth
pursuant to this Act under no circumstances be disclosed or transferred
to any individual or to any public or private agency.
Separate Accounting
Section 389 of the RHY Act requires any individual or entity who
receives any funds awarded under the RHY Act and who carries out any
program described in section 390(a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 5752(a) to
account for all funds used for such program separately from any RHY Act
funds.
Continuation of Project
An initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period. The
award of continuation grants beyond the initial 12-month budget period
will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on
the part of the grantee, and a determination that the continued funding
would be in the best interest of the Federal Government.
VI.3. Reporting
Grantees under this announcement will be required to submit
performance progress and financial reports periodically throughout the
project period. The frequency of required reporting is listed later in
this section.
In FY 2009, most ACF grantees began using a standard form for
required performance progress reporting (PPR). Use of the new standard
form, the ACF-OGM SF-PPR, began for new awards and continuation awards
made by ACF in FY 2009. At a minimum, grantees are required to submit
the ACF-OGM SF-PPR, which consists of the ACF-OGM SF-PPR Cover Page and
the Program Indicators--Attachment B. ACF Programs that utilize
reporting forms or formats in addition to, or instead of, the ACF-OGM
SF-PPR have listed the reporting requirements later in this section.
Grant award documents will inform grantees of the appropriate
performance progress report form or format to use beginning in FY 2009.
Grantees should consult their award documents to determine the
appropriate performance progress report format required under their
award.
Grantees will continue to use the Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-
269 (long form) for required financial reporting.
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. Agency Contacts of
this announcement.
The SF-269 (long form) and the ACF-OGM-SF-PPR may be found at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html.
Program Progress Reports: Semi-Annually.
Financial Reports: Semi-Annually.
VII. Agency Contacts
Program Office Contact
Victoria Marquez, Family and Youth Services Bureau, FYSB Operations
Center, c/o Master Key Consulting, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101,
Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone: (866) 796-1591, E-mail: [email protected].
Office of Grants Management Contact
Lisa Dammar, ACYF Grants Officer, Office of Grants Management,
Administration on Children and Families, c/o Master Key Consulting,
4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814, Phone: (866) 796-
1591, E-mail: [email protected].
Federal Relay Service
Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired callers may contact the
Federal Relay Service for assistance at 1-800-877-8339 (TTY--Text
Telephone or ASCII--American Standard Code for Information
Interchange).
VIII. Other Information
Reference Web Sites
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the Internet
http://www.hhs.gov/.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on the Internet http://www.acf.hhs.gov/.
Administration for Children and Families--Funding Opportunities
homepage http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) https://www.cfda.gov/.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html.
United States Code (U.S.C) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/.
Sign up to receive notification of ACF Funding Opportunities at
www. Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/applicants/e-mail_subscription.jsp.
The following resources are available to all applicants:
The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) Web site:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.
The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY),
P.O. Box 13505; Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505; (301) 608-8098; fax:
(301) 608-8721; http://www.ncfy.com.
[[Page 35477]]
Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical
Assistance Centers (RHYTTAC) Web site: http://www.rhyttac.ou.edu.
Pre-Application Conference: FYSB will be sponsoring a recorded pre-
award conference for all interested parties applying for the Basic
Center Program funding.
A recording and transcript of the pre-application conference will
be posted at: http://www.rhyttac.ou.edu and available at least 30 days
prior to the application due date. It will be available until the
closing date of the announcement.
Information pertaining to the pre-application conference can be
found at: http://www.rhyttac.ou.edu or by contacting the RHY Technical
Assistance Center at (800) 806-2711 or [email protected] .
One-Page Project Abstract (suggested sample format): This format is
only suggested to assist the writers in developing their abstract.
Applicants must address every issue in the abstract, but may choose
a different format to relay the information.
Agency Name, City, State.
Proposed Service Area (State, County, City, etc.).
Amount of Federal Funding requested for 12-month period.
Proposed model of program (for example host home shelter).
Target Population (if applicable).
Point of Contact name, phone, and e-mail.
Number of youth to shelter during the 36-month project.
Number of youth to receive non-shelter services during the
36-month project.
Two to three paragraph statement on what will be
accomplished with the project.
Checklist
All required Standard Forms, assurances, and certifications are
available on the ACF Forms page at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html and on the Grants.gov Forms Repository Web page
at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. Versions of
other Standard Forms (SFs) are available on the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Grants Management Forms Web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms/.
For information regarding accessibility issues, visit the
Grants.gov Accessibility Compliance Page at http://www07.grants.gov/aboutgrants/accessibility_compliance.jsp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What to submit Where found When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424--Application for Federal Referenced in Section IV.2 and found at Submission due by application
Assistance. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_ due date found in Overview
SF_P/PSL_Project/Performance Site resources.html and at the Grants.gov and Section IV.3.
Location(s). Forms Repository at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15.
Table of Contents.................... Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
announcement under ``Project due date found in Overview
Description.'' and Section IV.3.
Project Summary/Abstract............. Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
announcement under ``Project due date found in Overview
Description.'' and Section IV.3.
Project Description.................. Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
announcement. due date found in Overview
and Section IV.3.
Budget and Budget Justification...... Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
announcement under ``Project due date found in Overview
Description.'' and Section IV.3.
Documentation of Commitment of Non- Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
Federal Resources. announcement under ``Budget and Budget due date found in Overview
Justification.'' and Section IV.3.
Third-Party Agreements............... Referenced in Section IV.2 of the By application due date found
announcement under ``Project in Overview and Section
Description.'' IV.3.
Letters of Support................... Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by application
announcement under ``Project due date found in Overview
Description.'' and Section IV.3.
Certification Regarding Lobbying..... Referenced in Section IV.2 of the Submission due by date of
announcement and found at http:// award.
www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_
resources.html.
This program is covered under E.O. Applicants should go to the following URL Submission due to State
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of for the official list of the Single Point of Contact by
Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part jurisdictions that have elected to the application due date
100, ``Intergovernmental Review of participate in E.O. 12372 http:// found in Overview and
Department of Health and Human www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants--spoc/ as Section IV.3.
Services Programs and Activities.'' indicated in Section IV.4 of this
Applicants must submit all required announcement.
application materials to the State
Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and
indicate the date of submission on
the Standard Form (SF) 424 at item
19.
SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying'' is Submission due by application
Activities, if applicable. referenced in Section IV.2 and found at due date found in Overview
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_ and Section IV.3.
resources.html.
Submission of this form is required 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 35478]]
Contact for Further Information: Victoria Marquez, Family and Youth
Services Bureau, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
Telephone: 202-205-4866 E-mail: [email protected].
Dated: June 10, 2010.
Bryan Samuels,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 2010-14794 Filed 6-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4182-04-P