> *Announcement of the Availability of Funds under the Residential
> Energy Assistance Challenge*

***(REACH) Option Program for FY 2005***

> GENERAL INFORMATION Pages 1 - 3
>
> TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages 4 - 6
>
> [PART I. INTRODUCTION]{.underline} Pages 7 - 11

A.  Legislative Authority

B.  Purpose of the REACH Program

C.  Definition of Terms

    D. Supplemental Information

    **[PART II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION]{.underline} Pages 11 - 15**

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A.  Introduction

B.  Summary/Abstract

C.  Results or Benefits Expected

D.  Approach

E.  Organizational Profiles

F.  Budget and Budget Justification

G.  Evaluation/Plan Elements/Review Criteria

**[PART III. PRIORITY AREA 1.0 (STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND
PUERTO]{.underline}**

**[RICO REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS AND REVIEW
CRITERIA]{.underline}**

> **1. [REACH APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS]{.underline} Pages 16 - 24**

A.  Eligible Applicants and Award Information

B.  Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts

C.  Project Periods

D.  Budget Periods

E.  Dun & Bradstreet Number

F.  Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants

G.  Statement of Assurances and Demonstration

H.  Program Participants/Beneficiaries

I.  Low-Income Citizen Participation

J.  Third-Party Evaluation

K.  Previous REACH Grantees

L.  Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources

M.  Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of Funds

N.  Maintenance of Effort

O.  Dissemination of Project Results

    **2. [REACH EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS/REVIEW CRITERIA]{.underline}**

> **A. Elements of the REACH Plan -** **[State and CBO]{.underline}
> Pages 25 - 32**
>
> **B. Review Criteria - [State and CBO]{.underline} Pages 33 - 38**

**C. Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans (Optional) Pages 38 -
41**

1\. Elements of Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans

> 2\. Review Criteria Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans

**[PART IV. PRIORITY AREA 2.0 (TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
TERRITORIES)]{.underline}**

**[EXCEPT PUERTO RICO- REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS & REVIEW
CRITERIA]{.underline}**

**1. [REACH APPLICATION]{.underline} REQUIREMENTS Pages 42 - 48**

A.  Eligible Applicants and Award Information

B.  Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts

C.  Project Periods

D.  Budget Periods

E.  Dun & Bradstreet Number

F.  Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants

G.  Statement of Assurances and Demonstration

H.  Program Participants/Beneficiaries

I.  Low-Income Citizen Participation

J.  Third-Party Evaluation

K.  Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources

L.  Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of Funds

M.  Maintenance of Effort

N.  Dissemination of Project Results

    **2. [REACH EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS/REVIEW CRITERIA FOR
    PRIORITY]{.underline}**

    **[AREA 2.0]{.underline}**

> **A. [Elements of the REACH Plan]{.underline} Pages 48 - 52**
>
> **B. [Review Criteria]{.underline} Pages 53 - 55**
>
> **C. [Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans
> (Optional)]{.underline} Pages 56 - 59**

1\. Elements of Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans

> 2\. Review Criteria Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans

**[PART V.\_APPLICATION PROCEDURES]{.underline}** **Pages 59 - 63**

A. Format/Forms

B. REACH Application Submission

C. Application Consideration

D. Criteria for Reviewing REACH Applications

**[PART VI. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS]{.underline}
Pages 64 - 66**

A. SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance

B. SF-424A - Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

C. SF-424B - Assurances - Non-Construction

**[PART VII. CONTENTS OF REACH APPLICATION AND RECEIPT
PROCESS]{.underline} Pages 67 - 68**

A. Content and Order of REACH Application

B. Acknowledgment of Receipt

**[PART VIII. POST-AWARD INFORMATION AND REPORTING]{.underline}**

**[REQUIREMENTS]{.underline} Pages 69 -70**

######  A. Notification of Grant Award

B. Attendance at Workshops

C. Reporting Requirements

D. Audit Requirements

E. Prohibitions and Requirements with Regard to Lobbying

F. Applicable Federal Regulations

**APPENDIX**

Attachments and Required Application Forms

**[PART I. INTRODUCTION]{.underline}**

**A. [Legislative Authority]{.underline}**

Section 2607B(b) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8626b, authorizes the creation of the Residential
Energy Assistance Challenge Option Program (REACH), which was funded for
the first time in FY 1996. REACH is designed to provide services through
local community-based agencies to help LIHEAP eligible households reduce
their energy vulnerability.

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is
authorized to make grants to States, Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and
certain Insular Areas that submit qualifying applications, hereinafter
referred to as REACH applications, that are approved by the Secretary as
REACH Initiatives. Successful applicants are to use such grants for the
costs of planning, implementing, and evaluating the Initiative. Only
eligible grantees under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) may apply for REACH grants.

The Secretary must also reserve from any funds allocated under the REACH
Program, funds to make additional payments for Energy Efficiency
Education Services to selected REACH grantees that include in their
REACH applications Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans that "(a)
meet quality standards established by the Secretary in consultation with
the Secretary of Energy, and (b) have the potential for being replicable
model designs for other programs."

This Action Transmittal is requesting REACH Plans from eligible
applicants that are consistent with the information, requirements, plan
elements, and review criteria outlined in the following parts of this
announcement.

B.  **[Purpose of the REACH Program]{.underline}**

As described in the authorizing legislation, the purpose of the REACH
Program is to:

\(1\) minimize health and safety risks that result from high-energy
burdens on low-income

Americans;

\(2\) prevent homelessness as a result of inability to pay energy bills;

\(3\) increase efficiency of energy usage by low-income families; and

\(4\) target energy assistance to individuals who are most in need.

In keeping with this broad mandate, the Office of Community Services
(OCS) will support a limited number of innovative REACH projects that
will address the underlying factors contributing to the systemic problem
of unaffordable energy costs for low-income people. Additionally, REACH
projects should seek to find new methods to address the severe energy
problems of this \"underoptimized\" population. OCS will consider
projects that will demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions that
can increase the ability of eligible households to meet energy costs;
that will help them to achieve energy security and sustainability; and
that will reduce the energy vulnerability of low-income households and
communities.

Applicants are encouraged to look for other resources that can
contribute to addressing and remedying some of the underlying systemic
causes that make energy unaffordable to so many of the low-income
population.

Often REACH can provide the link that is needed to access and coordinate
resources from a variety of different agencies, such as: United States
Department of Agriculture\'s (USDA) Extension Service, Rural Partnership
Office, Rural Development funds, and Rural Development Council; the
Department of Housing and Urban Development\'s (HUD) Rural Housing and
Youth Build programs, the HOME program, home repair funds, and Healthy
Home funding; the Department of Energy's (DOE) Special Projects funding,
Rebuild America program, and Weatherization Assistance funds; the
Department of Labor's (DOL) Welfare to Work and Workforce Investment
funds; or State Public Benefit funds, and funds from foundation sources
such as Fannie Mae.

REACH can, in many instances, provide the human resources needed for the
all-important and challenging job of coordination to bring all these
resources and players together, so long as [REACH funds expenditures are
related to home energy, which is defined in the LIHEAP statute as "a
source of heating and cooling in residential dwellings]{.underline}."

Some suggestions for projects may be in the area of renewable energy
generation such as wind power programs, ethanol programs, or on-farm
methane generation, which is being carried out on many hog and cattle
raising facilities. These projects can also provide lower cost and more
secure energy to many low-income communities. One of the most serious
energy problems facing low-income families is the energy inefficiency
and poor condition of much of the affordable housing stock. Many houses
are in such a poor state of repair that they cannot be weatherized, even
if sufficient weatherization funds were available. A REACH project can
help a community bring together the people, the agencies, and the
diverse funding sources needed to solve many of these problems. REACH
projects should encourage communities to take advantage of these
opportunities to make energy affordable and, thus, improve the
well-being of low-income residents and their communities.

Applicants are urged to look at the many available resources that can
help, and to find creative ways to bring them together to address the
real energy problems of low-income families, individuals, and
communities. For those with internet access, there are several good
places to start. The OCS website can be found at
[www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs]{.underline}. Applicants may go directly
to the LIHEAP web page at
[www.acf.hhs/programs/liheap](http://www.acf.hhs/programs/liheap)

Other valuable energy resource websites are the National Affordable
Housing Network at [www.nahn.com](http://www.nahn.com/) and the Energy
and Environment Study Institute at [www.eesi.org]{.underline}. In
addition, several government agencies have sites that provide valuable
information about their programs and resources such as,
[www.hud.gov,]{.underline} [www.usda.gov]{.underline}, and
[www.eren.doe.gov](http://www.eren.doe.gov/) for solar energy sites. DOE
Weatherization staff suggest that applicants contact their respective
DOE Regional Offices by going to
[www.eren.doe.gov/rso.html](http://www.eren.doe.gov/rso.html) and
clicking on the appropriate region and look for renewable energy.

**C. [Definition of Terms]{.underline}**

For purposes of this Action Transmittal, the following definitions apply
\[Definitions marked with an asterisk(\*) are the definitions found in
Section 2603 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act, as amended,
(42 U.S.C. 8622) and apply to the REACH Initiative\]:

-   [Budget period:]{.underline} The term \"budget period\" refers to
    the interval of time into which a multi-year period of assistance
    (project period) is usually divided for budgetary and funding
    purposes.

-   [Community-based, non-profit entity]{.underline}: A corporation or
    association (which may be secular or faith-based) whose profits may
    not lawfully accrue to the benefit of any shareholder or individual,
    and whose goals, objectives, and activities are established and
    carried out through a process involving the participation of
    residents of the community or local area being served, including
    low-income residents. For purposes of the REACH Program, this
    includes all organizations or agencies that meet the definition of
    \"eligible entity\" in Section 673(1) of the Community Services
    Block Grant Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 9902(1)).

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-   [Community-based non-profit entity recipient]{.underline} (CBO
    Recipient): The community-based non-profit entity (which may be
    secular or faith-based) through which State REACH Project services
    *shall* be delivered in the applicant State under Priority Area 1.0
    (States, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico), and through which REACH
    Project services *may* be delivered under Priority Area 2.0 (Tribes,
    Tribal Organizations, and Insular areas, except Puerto Rico.)

-   [Emergency]{.underline} has the same meaning as that cited in
    Section 2603(1) A-G of the LIHEAP statute.

-   [Evaluation]{.underline} is a systematic method for collecting,
    analyzing, and using information to answer basic questions about a
    program including its achievement of goals and its impact on the
    target population.

-   [Energy burden\*]{.underline} means the expenditures of the
    household for home energy divided by the income of the household.

-   [Energy crisis\*]{.underline} means weather‑related and supply
    shortage emergencies and other household energy‑related emergencies.

-   [Highest home energy needs\*]{.underline} means the home energy
    requirements of a household determined by taking into account both
    the energy burden of such household and the unique situation of such
    household that results from having members of vulnerable
    populations, including very young children, individuals with
    disabilities, and frail older individuals.

-   [Home energy\*]{.underline} means a source of heating or cooling in
    residential dwellings.

-   [Household]{.underline}\* means any individual or group of
    individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom
    residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make
    undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent.

-   [Impact Evaluation]{.underline} is a type of outcome evaluation that
    looks beyond the immediate results to focus on the longer-term,
    intended and unintended, effects of a program.

-   [Indian Tribe/Tribal Organization]{.underline} as used in the
    Reconciliation Act have the same meaning given such terms in section
    4(b) and 4(c) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
    Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.450b) except that the terms shall also
    include organized groups of Indians that the State in which they
    reside has expressly determined are Indian Tribes or tribal
    organizations in accordance with State procedures for making such
    determinations.

-   [Innovative project]{.underline}: One that departs from or
    significantly modifies past program practices and tests new
    approach(es).

-   [Intervention]{.underline}: Any planned activity within a project
    that is intended to produce changes in behavior in the target
    population or the environment, and can be formally evaluated.

-   [Non-profit organization]{.underline}: A corporation or association
    (which may be secular or faith-based), whose profits may not
    lawfully accrue to the benefit of any shareholder or individual,
    usually organized pursuant to State law.

-   [Outcome evaluation:]{.underline} assesses the program achievements
    or direct effects on program participants. It measures results
    designed to provide a valid determination of the net effects
    attributable to the intervention. An outcome evaluation will produce
    and interpret findings related to whether the intervention produced
    desirable changes and its potential for replication. It should
    answer the question, \"Did this program work?\"

-   [Poverty level\*]{.underline} means, with respect to a household in
    any State, the income poverty line as prescribed and revised at
    least annually pursuant to section 673(2) of the Community Services
    Block Grant Act, as applicable to such State. (See Attachment A.)

-   [Priority Area 1.0]{.underline} is a designation for purposes of
    this announcement given to State LIHEAP grantees and the LIHEAP
    grantee in Puerto Rico and will be used to identify areas of this
    Action Transmittal designated for this group of grantees.

-   [Priority Area 2.0]{.underline} is a designation for purposes of
    this announcement given to Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Insular
    Areas, except Puerto Rico, that are eligible to apply for LIHEAP and
    will be used throughout this Action Transmittal to identify areas
    designated for this group of grantees.

-   [Priority Area 3.0]{.underline} is a designation for purposes of
    this announcement given to State LIHEAP grantees, except LIHEAP
    grantee in Puerto Rico and will be used to identify areas of this
    Action Transmittal designated for this group of grantees.

-   [Process evaluation:]{.underline} assesses and describes program
    implementation activities and materials. It provides information on
    the development and implementation of a program/intervention against
    it stated goals. It may serve as a document for replicating the
    program elsewhere. The evaluation should also identify problems that
    occurred and how they were dealt with and recommend improved means
    of future implementation. It should answer the question: \"How was
    the program carried out?\" In concert with the outcome evaluation,
    it should also help explain, "Why did this program work/not work?\"

-   [Project period:]{.underline} The term \"project period\" refers to
    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. (see
    \"Budget period\").

-   [Secretary\*]{.underline} means the Secretary of the Department of
    Health and Human Services.

-   [State\*]{.underline} means each of the 50 States and the District
    of Columbia.

-   [State median income\*]{.underline} means the State median income
    promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with procedures
    established under section 2002(a)(6) of the Social Security Act (as
    such procedures were in effect on the day before the date of the
    enactment of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act) and adjusted, in
    accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to take
    into account the number of individuals in the household.

**D. Supplemental Information**

***[Supplemental Funding]{.underline}***

In addition, approximately \$262,000 will be set aside for awards to FY
2003 and FY 2004 State grantees for the continued monitoring and
evaluation of the project for the two following consecutive years.
States may apply for continued funding for such costs for each of the
second and third project years (budget periods) on a non-competitive
basis, for an amount in each of those project years of up to two and
one-half percent (2.5%) of the original grant amount. The original grant
amount excludes funds awarded for the separate program component for
energy education. The OCS will notify selected grantees when submissions
are due for this supplemental funding.

Continued funding in the second and third year will be subject to the
availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a
determination that continuation would be in the best

interest of the government.

***[Energy Efficiency Education Services Plans
(Optional)]{.underline}***

The REACH authorizing legislation includes a section that describes a
separate Energy Efficiency Education Services (EEES) project that
applicants may include in their REACH application. The EEES Plan must be
separate from the REACH Plan and contained in the Appendix to the REACH
Plan. If EEES Plans meet the quality standards set forth below and have
the potential for being replicable model designs for other programs,
they are eligible for supplemental payments.

REACH applicants under Priority Area 1.0 that are selected to receive
REACH grants, and provide an acceptable EEES Plan, will receive an
additional amount of \$100,000 for the EEES project.

REACH applicants under Priority Area 2.0 that are selected to receive
REACH grants, and provide an acceptable EEES Plan, will receive an
additional amount of \$25,000 for the EEES project. For Priority Area
2.0, the EEES grant will be issued for the same project and budget
periods as their REACH application.

The EEES Plan, if included, should be an Appendix to the Applicant\'s
REACH Plan, and should not exceed ten (10) pages in length.

**[PART II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION]{.underline}**

**A. [INTRODUCTION]{.underline}**

Applicants required to submit a full project description should prepare
the project description statement in accordance with the following
instructions and the specified evaluation criteria. The instructions
give a broad overview of what your project description should include
while the evaluation criteria expands and clarifies more
program-specific information that is needed.

**B.** **[PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT]{.underline}**

Provide a summary/abstract project description (a page or less) with
reference to the funding request. (See Part VIII, A, 3)

**C. [RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED]{.underline}**

Identify the results and benefits to be derived.

**D. [APPROACH]{.underline}**

Outline a plan of action which 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

this 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 of time, or extraordinary
social and community

involvement.

Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities
accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or
function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule or
accomplishments and their target dates.

If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated,
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is
conducted or sponsored by ACF."

List 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.

##  E. ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILES

Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating
partners such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit
reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer
Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, contact persons and
telephone numbers, child care licenses and other documentation of
professional accreditation, information on compliance with
Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of experience in
the program area, and other pertinent information. Any non-profit
organization submitting an application must submit proof of its
non-profit status in its application at the time of submission.

The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: a) a reference
to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal Revenue
Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described
in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; b) a copy of the currently valid
IRS tax exemption certificate; c) a statement from a State taxing body,
State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying
that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of
the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; d) a
certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or
similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status, e) any of
the items immediately above for a State or national parent organization
and a statement signed by the partner organization that the applicant
organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

## 

## F. BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

Provide a line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs,
and other similar quantitative details sufficient for the calculation to
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how categorical
costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and
allocability of the proposed costs.

The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources must be detailed
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes of
preparing the budget and budget justification, \"Federal resources\"
refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying.

Non‑Federal resources are all other 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 a narrative.

##### [PERSONNEL]{.underline}

Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.

Justification: Identify the project director or principal investigator,
if known. 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 or personnel costs of delegate
agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the
applicant. Administrative costs, with the exception of indirect costs
charged to the Federal grant in compliance with an approved Indirect
Cost Rate Agreement, may not be charged to the Federal grant.

###### [FRINGE BENEFITS]{.underline}

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, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

###### [TRAVEL]{.underline}

Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the
applicant organization (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, and other transportation costs
and subsistence allowances.

##### [EQUIPMENT]{.underline}

Description: \"Equipment\" means an article of nonexpendable, tangible
personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an
acquisition cost which 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 or
disposal of the 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, which includes the
equipment definition.

##### [SUPPLIES]{.underline}

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 which supports the
amount requested.

##### [CONTRACTUAL]{.underline}

Description**:** Costs of all contracts for services and goods except
for those, which belong under other categories such as equipment,
supplies, construction, etc. Third‑party evaluation contracts (if
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations,
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be
financed by the applicant, should be included under this category.

Justification**:** All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a
manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free
competition. Recipients and sub recipients, other than States that are
required to use procedures in 45 CFR Part 92, must justify any
anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without
competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41
USC 403(11) (currently set at \$100,000). Recipients might be required
to make available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents,
such as request for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost
estimates, etc.

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
required supporting information referred to in these instructions.

##### [OTHER]{.underline}

Indicate the totals for all other costs. Such costs, where applicable
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food,
medical and dental costs (non-contractual), 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 COSTS]{.underline}**

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 application
organization is in the process of initially developing or renegotiating
a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an award will be
made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal based on its most
recently completed fiscal year in accordance

with the principles set forth in 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.

It should be noted that when an indirect cost rate is requested, those
costs included in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as
direct costs to the grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate,
which 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.

**[PROGRAM INCOME]{.underline}**

The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be generated from
this project.

Justification: Describe the nature, source, and anticipated use of
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application
which contain this information.

####### [NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES]{.underline} {#non-federal-resources .unnumbered}

Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the
project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be documented
and submitted with the application in order to be given credit in the
review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for each funding
source.

**G. [REACH EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS/REVIEW CRITERIA]{.underline}**

Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and the
results of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the evaluation
of results, state how you will determine the extent to which the project
has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which the
accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. Discuss
the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the methodology
that will be used to determine if the needs identified and discussed are
being met and if the project results and benefits are being achieved.
With respect to the conduct of the project, define the procedures to be
employed to determine whether the project is being conducted in a manner
consistent with the work plan presented and discuss the impact of the
project's various activities on the project's effectiveness.

**[PART III. PRIORITY AREA 1.0 (STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND
PUERTO]{.underline}**

**[RICO) REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS AND REVIEW
CRITERIA]{.underline}**

> **1. [REACH APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS]{.underline}**
>
> **A. [Eligible Applicants and Award Information]{.underline}**

The 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are considered
Priority Area 1.0 applicants for purposes of this Action Transmittal.
They must deliver REACH services, in one or more specific projects,
through community-based, non-profit organizations (**this may include
faith-based organizations)**, hereinafter referred to as CBO Recipients,
by awarding grants to or entering into contracts with such CBO
Recipients for the purpose of providing such services and payments
directly to individuals eligible for benefits.

If a State makes LIHEAP payments directly to eligible individuals or
energy suppliers, the State need not require the CBO Recipient(s) to
make such payments, but must make sub-award(s) to such CBO Recipients to
administer the REACH program(s), including (i) determining REACH
eligibility, (ii) providing REACH outreach services, and (iii) providing
REACH benefits other than payments. **[Local Agencies may not apply for
direct REACH fundin*g.*]{.underline}**

In awarding grants or entering into contracts to carry out its REACH
project, the State must give priority, except where significant
geographic portions of the State are not served by such entities, to
eligible entities as defined in Section 673 of the Community Services
Block Grant Act (42 U.S. 9902(1)) that (1) have a record of successfully
providing services under the LIHEAP Program (as determined by HHS), and
(2) receive funds under the DOE WAP Program. The State may not require
any such entity to operate a REACH Project.

With each Priority Area 1.0 REACH Plan there must be included a "Letter
of Agreement" from each designated CBO Recipient subscribing to the
project and agreeing to operate the REACH project as proposed. The
Letter of Agreement must also commit the CBO Recipient(s) to a process
of Low-Income Citizen Participation in the establishment of the local
REACH Project, as described below. CBO Letters of Agreement should be
included in the Appendix to the REACH application.

**[AWARD INFORMATION - PRIORITY AREA 1.0]{.underline}**

**Funding Instrument Type:** Grant

**Anticipated Total Program Funding:** \$ 5,093,437

**Anticipated Number of Awards:** Four to six grants

**Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards:** \$1million per project
period

> An application received that exceeds the upper value of the dollar
> range specified will be considered "non-responsive" and be returned to
> the applicant without further review.

**Floor of Individual Award Amounts:** None

**Average Anticipated Award Amount: \$**500,000 - \$1 million per
project period

**Project Periods for Awards:** *3-year project periods with 12-month
budget periods.*

**[ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES (EEES) (OPTIONAL)]{.underline}**

**Funding Instrument Type:** Grant - Optional

**Anticipated Total Program Funding:** \$ 300,000

**Anticipated Number of Awards:** Two to Three Grants

**Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards:** \$100,000 per project period

**Floor of Individual Award Amounts:** None

**Average Anticipated Award Amount:** \$100,000 per project period

**Project Periods for Awards:** *3-year project periods with 12-month
budget periods*

####### B. [Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts]{.underline} {#b.-availability-of-funds-and-grant-amounts .unnumbered}

The total amount expected to be available for REACH Project grants
pursuant to this Announcement is \$6,820,000. OCS expects to award up to
four grants under Priority Area 1.0 (States, District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico) for REACH projects of \$500,000 to \$1,000,000 each for the
planning, implementation, and evaluation of REACH Projects. The total
amount awarded under Priority Area 1.0 is not expected to exceed \$5
million.

Any funds not awarded under one priority area will be available for
funding under the other.

**C.** **[Project Periods]{.underline}**

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended (42 U.S.C.
8621) authorizes a block grant program of which the REACH Program is a
part, and to which 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 74 and 92
and OMB Circulars do [not]{.underline} apply. However, 45 CFR Part 96
*[does]{.underline}* apply to REACH funds. Grantees are required to
obligate REACH funds by the end of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal
Year in which the REACH grant was awarded by OCS; but as noted below,
grantees under Priority Area 1.0 are encouraged to obligate funds to
sub-recipients well before that deadline.

**Project periods will be 36 months for all REACH projects under
Priority Area 1.0.**

States under this Priority Area are encouraged to provide for completion
of the planning and consummation of awards to sub-recipients within a
time-frame that will allow for adequate start-up and implementation. As
noted in PART IX, C, Reporting Requirements and the Final Evaluation
Report under Priority Area 1.0 will be due no later than **[six
months]{.underline}** following the end of the Project Period, which
should permit the collection of energy usage, payment, and cost data for
the full period of the project's implementation.

**D**. **[Budget Periods]{.underline}**

**Budget Periods for all REACH Projects will be 12 months.**

Priority Area 1.0 (States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico)
will receive grants for the full amount for the three-year Project
Period, and must award REACH funds to CBO Recipients for total project
budgets covering the full Project Period by the end of the Fiscal Year
following the Fiscal Year in which the grant is awarded, and should
solicit and/or design local projects accordingly.

Applicants under this Priority Area may include in the REACH project
budget an amount up to 10 percent of the total REACH grant for planning,
administration, and coordinating costs at the State level, and for
contracting with a third party evaluator, during the first project year
(the first twelve month budget period) of the REACH Project.

####### E. [Dun & Bradstreet Number]{.underline} {#e.-dun-bradstreet-number .unnumbered}

All applicants **[must have]{.underline}** a Dun & Bradstreet number. On
June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in the
Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant
applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide
electronic portal ([www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/)). A DUNS
number will be required for every application for a new award or
renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under
formula, entitlement, and block grant programs, submitted on or after
October 1, 2003.

Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire
a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at
[www.dnb.com](http://www.dnb.com/)

**F. [Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants]{.underline}**

Section 2607B (b) (1) authorizes annual funding for "the REACH
initiative" of a State. Therefore, in each fiscal year only one "REACH
initiative" may be funded from each eligible applicant who submits a
qualifying application. Due to the statutory limitation on REACH
initiatives from eligible applicants that may be funded from a single
fiscal year appropriation, OCS will fund **[only one REACH
Initiative]{.underline}** from any one eligible applicant from FY 2005
REACH funds. This does not preclude applicants (States, District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico) from including more than one local project in
their REACH applications.

**G. [Statement of Assurances and Demonstration]{.underline}**

Section 2607B of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as
amended, which authorizes the REACH program, provides that \"each State
plan shall include each of the elements in paragraph (2), to be met by
State and local agencies.\" Please note that in most places in the
LIHEAP statute where it refers to States, it also includes Tribes,
Tribal Organizations, and Insular Areas, except Puerto Rico. Any
requirement in the statute that does not apply to these entities has
been noted throughout the text of this Action Transmittal.

The elements in Section 2607B paragraph (2) include assurances,
demonstrations, and descriptions and comprise the necessary elements of
the REACH project plan. These required elements compile the "Statement
of Assurances and Demonstration" and are listed below. To be considered
for funding, each REACH application must include a signed \"Statement of
Assurances and Demonstration\" that the proposed REACH project meets all
of the legislative requirements and must be signed by an official who
has authority to obligate the organization legally. The required
\"Statement of Assurances and Demonstration\" for use in your submission
is provided in \"Attachment M\" to this Action Transmittal.

Instructions on how applicants may structure their proposals to include
these elements are further discussed in Part III and IV, Elements of the
REACH Plan and Review Criteria.

Section 2607B provides:

\(2\) Elements of State plans. \-- Each State plan shall include\--

(A) an assurance that such state will deliver services through
    community-based nonprofit entities in such state, by---

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(i) awarding grants to, or entering into contracts with, such entities
    for the purpose of providing such service and payment directly to
    individuals eligible for benefits; or

> \(ii\) if a State makes payments directly to eligible individuals or
> energy
>
> suppliers, making contracts with such entities to administer such
> program,
>
> including \--

(I) determining eligibility;

> \(II\) providing outreach services; and
>
> \(III\) providing benefits other than payments;

(B) an assurance that, in awarding grants or entering into contracts to
    carry out its REACH initiative, the state will give priority to
    organizations that --\
    \
    (i) are described in section 673 of the Community Services Block
    Grant Act (42 USC 0-2(1)), except where significant geographic
    portions of the state are not served by such entities;\
    (ii) the Secretary has determined have a record of successfully
    providing services under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
    Program; and\
    (iii) receive weatherization assistance program funds under part A
    of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C.
    6863 et seq.);

(C) an assurance that, subject to subparagraph (D), each entity that
    receives a grant or enters into a contract under subparagraph (A)(i)
    will provide a variety of services and benefits, including---

> \(i\) payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for
> residential energy assistance services and benefits under section
> 2605(b) for home energy costs;

\(ii\) energy efficiency education;

> \(iii\) residential energy demand management services, including any
> other
>
> energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements
> in
>
> coordination with or delivered by, Department of Energy weatherization
>
> assistance program at the discretion of the state:

\(iv\) family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related
to energy

budget management, payment plans, and related services; and

\(v\) negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
eligible for

REACH services and benefits;

(D) a description of the methodology the state and local agencies will
    use to determine-

> \(i\) which households will receive one or more forms of benefits
> under the State REACH initiative;
>
> \(ii\) the cases in which nonmonetary benefits are likely to provide
> more cost-effective long-term outcomes than payment benefits alone;
> and

\(iii\) the amount of such benefit \[s\] required to meet the goals of
the program;

(E) a method for targeting non-monetary benefits;

(F) a description of the activities the state will undertake to --

    i.  discourage family energy crises;

    ii. encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior; and

    iii. provide only financial incentives that encourage household

payment;

(G) a description of the activities the state will undertake to --

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```
(i) provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy

> costs; and
>
> \(ii\) provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy
> burdens
>
> of recipients of assistance;

(H) an assurance that the State will require each entity that receives a
    grant or enters into a contract under this section to solicit and be
    responsive to the views of individuals who are financially eligible
    for benefits and services under this section in establishing its
    local program;

(I) a description of performance goals for the State REACH initiative
    including \--

> \(i\) a reduction in the energy costs of participating households over
> one or more fiscal years;
>
> \(ii\) an increase in the regularity of home energy bill payments by
> eligible households; and\
> (iii) an increase in energy vendor contributions towards reducing
> energy burdens of eligible households;

(J) a description of the indicators that will be used by the State to
    measure whether the performance goals have been achieved;

(K) a demonstration that the plan is consistent with section 2603,
    paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13),
    and (14) of section 2605(b), subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h),
    (i), and (j) of section 2605, and sections 2606 of this title;

(L) an assurance that benefits and services will be provided in addition
    to other benefit payments and services provided under this title and
    in coordination with such benefit payments and services; and

(M) an assurance that no regulated utility covered by the plan will be
    required to act in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable
    regulatory requirements.

Additionally, applicants should be aware that Section 2607B (f) states:

> Cost or Function.---None of the costs of providing services or
> benefits under this section shall be considered to be an
> administrative cost or function for purposes of any limitation on
> administrative costs or function contained in this title.

**H. [Program Participants/Beneficiaries]{.underline}**

Projects proposed for funding under this Action Transmittal must produce
direct benefits to low-income individuals and families who are eligible
for LIHEAP benefits, as described in Section 2605(b)(2) of the LIHEAP
statute. However, not all LIHEAP recipients and/or eligible households
must be provided REACH services. Applicants may target only a portion of
the LIHEAP-eligible population for REACH services.

One of the LIHEAP eligibility criteria stated in Section 2605(b) (2) of
the LIHEAP statute is households with incomes that do not exceed 150
percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. Attachment A to this Announcement
is an excerpt from the Poverty Guidelines currently in effect. Annual
revisions of these guidelines are normally published in the Federal
Register in February or early March of each year.

Where relevant to REACH eligibility criteria, grantees will be required
to apply the most recent guidelines throughout the project period. These
revised guidelines may be obtained at public libraries, Congressional
offices, or by writing the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. They are also accessible on the
LIHEAP website at <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap>.

Consistent with the REACH legislative purpose **\"[to target energy
assistance to individuals who are most in need\",]{.underline}**
projects proposed for funding under this Action Transmittal may further
restrict eligibility to lower income individuals and families within the
LIHEAP eligible universe in order to target the most disadvantaged.
Under the authorizing legislation, applicants may designate all or part
of the State or all or part of the client population

as a focus of its REACH Project.

#### 

#### I. Low-Income Citizen Participation 

To be considered for funding, a REACH Plan must include provisions for
the systematic and regularized solicitation, by the designated CBO
Recipient(s), of the views of eligible low-income individuals in the
community. Additionally, plans must include the assurance, by means of
an advisory board or similar process, that the CBO Recipient(s) will be
responsive to such views in the development and implementation of the
local Project. The advisory board (or process) so established should
include representation of local utilities and major fuel suppliers.
Compliance with these requirements must be specifically addressed in the
**Letter of Agreement** submitted by each CBO Recipient.

**J. [Third-Party Evaluation ]{.underline}**

REACH Plans must include provision for an independent, methodologically
sound evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities carried out with
the grant and their efficacy in achieving stated project goals related
to reducing participant home energy costs and increasing the ability of
participants to meet such costs independent of payment subsidy,
including, specifically, the performance goals and indicators described
and set out in sections (I) and (J) of the Statement of Assurances and
Demonstration under Part III, G above.

The Plan should include a well thought through ***outline*** of an
evaluation plan for the proposed project(s). The outline should explain
how the applicant proposes to answer the key questions about how
effectively the project is being implemented (the Process Evaluation)
and whether and why/why not the project activities or interventions
achieved the expected outcomes and goals of the project(s) (the Outcome
Evaluation). (See Part I, C for definitions of Process and Outcome
Evaluations.) Applicants may propose a single evaluation for their
overall REACH Project, or separate evaluations for individual projects,
as appropriate*.*

In addition to the performance goals mentioned above, the outline should
include a description of the indicators that will be used by the State
and the CBO Recipient(s) to measure whether the goals have been
achieved.

The evaluation must be conducted by an independent, third-party
evaluator, i.e., a person or organization with recognized evaluation
skills who has experience with social programs and is organizationally
distinct from, and not under the control of, the applicant or the local
organization(s) implementing the REACH Project.

It is important that each successful applicant have a third-party
evaluator selected, and performing at the very latest by the time the
work program of the project is begun, and if possible before that time
so that he or she can participate in the final design of the program, in
order to assure that data necessary for the evaluation will be collected
and available. ***In light of the cost burden, evaluation expenses may
be shared by the CBO Recipients subject to their agreement**.*

If the REACH plan also includes an EEES plan, an evaluation of that
component must also be included in the overall evaluation design.

Applicants are strongly urged to seek agreement from the utility
companies serving REACH clients to make client usage data available to
the third party evaluator for use in the evaluation. Documentation of
such agreements should be included in the Appendix to the REACH Plan.

**K**. **[Previous REACH Grantees]{.underline}**

Applicants who were previously funded under the REACH Program and have
**[completed]{.underline}** their projects must include as an appendix
to their REACH application a copy of their Final Evaluation Report,
which will be taken into consideration in any funding decision***.***

####### L. [Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources]{.underline} {#l.-holistic-strategy-and-mobilization-of-resources .unnumbered}

OCS is interested in having applicants approach the energy needs of
low-income families within a holistic context of the economic, social,
physical, and environmental barriers to achieving self-sufficiency.
Thus, applicants should include in their REACH Plan an explanation of
how the

proposed project(s) will be integrated with other anti-poverty or
development strategies within the target community or communities.
**[Applicants are reminded that expenditures of REACH funds must be
energy-related.]{.underline}**

REACH grantees are not required to match REACH grant awards with either
cash or in-kind contributions of goods and services. However, in keeping
with this holistic integration of REACH projects within the community,
REACH projects are expected to be closely coordinated with other public
and private sector programs involved with community revitalization,
housing rehabilitation and weatherization, family development, and the
development of alternative, lower cost distributed energy sources. OCS
will give favorable consideration in the review process to applicants
who mobilize third-party cash and/or in-kind contributions for
coordination with REACH activities. To receive consideration, such
contributions must be documented in writing and signed by the party
making the contribution. Even though there is no matching requirement
for the REACH Program, grantees will be held accountable for any match,
cash or in-kind contribution proposed or pledged as part of an approved
REACH Plan.

If the REACH service area or portion thereof is covered by a
comprehensive community-based strategic plan, such as that required for
applying for Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) status, to
achieve both economic and human development in an integrated manner,
applicants should explain:

-   how they and/or the designated CBO Recipient(s) were involved in the
    preparation and implementation of the plan; and

-   how the proposed REACH project(s) will support the goals of that
    plan.

    **M. [Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of
    Funds]{.underline}**

The use of REACH funds for the purchase or construction of real property
is PROHIBITED. Costs incurred for rearrangement and alteration of
facilities required specifically for the funded project are allowable
when specifically approved in advance by ACF in writing. However, in
keeping with the legislative mandate to include energy related
residential repair and energy efficiency improvements in REACH Project
activities, such activities carried out in participants\' residences
will not be considered to be in violation of these prohibitions or
restrictions. Applicants are reminded that they are encouraged to
mobilize other resources, which can be integrated with their efforts to
make energy affordable for low-income residents, and **[that REACH
expenditures must be energy-related,]{.underline}**

An applicant proposing a project which will affect a property listed in,
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places,
must identify this property in the narrative and explain how it has
complied with the provisions of section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (16 U.S.C. 470). If there is any
question as to whether the property is listed in or eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the applicant
should consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer. (See
Attachment D: SF-424B, Item 13 for additional guidelines.) The applicant
should contact OCS early in the development of its REACH Project for
instructions regarding compliance with the National Historic
Preservation Act and data required to be submitted to HHS. Failure to
comply with the cited Act will result in the REACH Project being
ineligible for funding consideration.

**N. [Maintenance of Effort]{.underline}**

The activities funded under this Action Transmittal must be in addition
to, and not in substitution for, activities previously carried on
without Federal assistance. Also**,** the benefits and services provided
eligible participants in the REACH Project must be provided in addition
to and in coordination with benefit payments and services provided under
the applicant\'s regular LIHEAP Program. A signed Certificate of
Maintenance of Effort must be included with the REACH application (see
Attachment J).

**O. [Dissemination of Project Results]{.underline}**

REACH Plans should include provision for disseminating the results of
the project among LIHEAP grantees, utility companies, and others
interested in increasing the self-sufficiency of the poor. Applicants
may budget up to \$5,000 for dissemination purposes.

**2. [REACH EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS/REVIEW CRITERIA FOR PRIORITY AREA
1.0]{.underline}**

*C.*C**A. [ELEMENTS OF REACH PLAN]{.underline}**

The assurances, demonstrations and descriptions in Section 2607 B (e) (A
through M) of the LIHEAP statute provided above and in Attachment M,
comprise most of the necessary elements of the REACH project plan.

Sections (A), (B), (H), (K), (L), and (M) will be met by including in
the REACH application a certified Statement of Assurances and
Demonstration (See Attachment M). The descriptions required under (C),
(D), (E), (F), (G), (I), (J) should be included in the Project Narrative
as appropriate and are further identified as elements of your project
description below.

At the end of the discussion of each of the Elements listed below***,***
there are suggested numbers of pages to be devoted to the particular
element. These are suggestions only; however, in Priority Area 1.0, the
applicant must remember that each Segment One Narrative [must
not]{.underline} be more than 24 pages in length (plus additional CBO
narratives where a single project is to be implemented by more than one
CBO). Additionally, the single Segment Two Narrative, covering the State
organization, evaluation and the overall REACH Initiative, [must
not]{.underline} be more than six pages in length.

**R[EACH Plans with project narratives (excluding appendices) that
exceed these limits will not be reviewed for
funding]{.underline}**[.]{.underline}

**[SEGMENT ONE - CBO]{.underline}**

**[Element 1: Organizational Profile- CBO Recipient Experience and
Commitment]{.underline}**

**a**. The Plan should cite the capability and relevant experience of
the CBO Recipient

in developing and operating programs that deal with poverty problems
similar to those to be addressed by the proposed project, and where
applicable, including those programs that receive funds from the
Department of Energy\'s Weatherization Assistance Program and Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The plan should also cite the
organization\'s experience in collaborative programming and operations
that involve evaluations and data collection.

Applications should identify CBO Recipient agency executive leadership
and briefly describe their involvement in the proposed project and
provide assurance of their commitment to its successful implementation.
The application should describe the level of priority that this project
will have within the CBO Recipient agency, including the facilities and
resources that it has available to carry it out.

**(It is suggested that no more than 3 pages be used for this
description.)**

**b.** The Plan must identify the two or three individual staff persons
of the CBO Recipient who will have the most responsibility for managing
the project, coordinating services and activities for participants and
partners, and for achieving performance targets. The focus should be on
the qualifications, experience, capacity, and commitment to the program
of the Executive Officials of the organization and the key project staff
persons who will administer and implement the project.

The person identified as Project Director should have supervisory
experience, experience in working with energy related problems of the
poor, and experience with the target population. Because this is a
demonstration project within an already established agency, OCS expects
that the key staff person(s) would be identified, if not hired.

Resumes for key staff should be included in an appendix to the proposal;
where key staff has not been identified pertinent position descriptions
must be appended. The applicant should indicate its intention to hire a
Project Director within three months after receipt of the grant.

> **(It is suggested that no more than 2 pages be used for this
> description, excluding actual resumes or position descriptions, to be
> included in an Appendix to the proposal.)**

**[Element 2: Approach]{.underline}**

**a. [Description of Needs, Target Population, Low-Income
Participation]{.underline}**

The applicant should clearly define the specific needs that the project
will address, and should state its underlying assumptions about how
these specific needs can be addressed by the proposed project.

The applicant should precisely identify the target population to be
served. The geographic

area to be impacted should then be briefly highlighted, selectively
emphasizing the socioeconomic/poverty and other data that are relevant
to the project design. The date

and source of cited data should be noted.

This element might include, for instance, data on the building type,
condition, and age of low-income housing; the predominant fuel used for
home heating; the number and percent of utility shut-offs among
low-income energy consumers; climatic conditions; unemployment
statistics for the area; the price of fuels; and the demand management
services offered by local utilities.

Special consideration will be given to applicants whose REACH projects
will be focused on populations in a target area which is characterized
by severe poverty and other indicators of socio-economic distress such
as a poverty rate of at least 20 percent or having high levels of
unemployment, and a high incidence of violence, gang activity, crime, or
drug use; or on an area or areas designated as an Empowerment Zone or
Enterprise Community.

Where applicable, applicants should document that they or their proposed
CBO Recipients were involved in the preparation and implementation of a
comprehensive community-based strategic plan to achieve economic and
human development in an integrated manner and how the proposed
project(s) support(s) the goal(s) of that plan.

Applicants must include in this element a brief description of how the
views of eligible low-income individuals in the community will be
solicited on the design and implementation of the REACH project, and how
the applicant will respond to such views.

**(It is suggested that no more than 5 pages be used for this narrative
description.)**

**b. [Project Description, Strategy, and Design Framework]{.underline}**

Applicants should prepare a logical presentation of their plan so that
the following questions are clearly defined and understood:

1.  What specific activities/interventions are proposed to address the
    specific need(s) described previously?

2.  What are immediate changes the interventions will produce?

3.  What intermediate outcomes will result from the changes and/or from
    a combination of interventions and their changes? and

4.  What are the project goals, and how will the project achieve its
    goals as a consequence of the defined interventions and identified
    changes and outcomes?

This section should address the services to be provided as required
under section (C) (F) and (G) of the Statement of Assurances and
Demonstrations. CBO's should provide a variety of services to include:

1.  payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for residential
    energy assistance services and benefits under section 2605(b) for
    home energy costs;

2.  energy efficiency education;

3.  residential energy demand management services, including any other
    energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements
    in coordination with, or delivered by, Department of Energy
    weatherization assistance program at the discretion of the state;

4.  family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related to
    energy budget management, payment plans, and related services; and

5.  negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
    eligible for REACH services and benefits.

**Please note that [not all the services listed above must be funded by
REACH funds,]{.underline} but must be coordinated with the REACH project
and described in this section.**

Describe activities the state will undertake to:

> 1\. discourage family energy crises;\
> 2. encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior;\
> 3. provide only financial incentives that encourage household
> payment;\
> 4. provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy
> costs;
>
> and\
> 5. provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy burdens of
> recipients of assistance.

Applicants are urged (but not required) to follow the logic model
conceptual framework (See Attachment N) so as to describe convincingly
how its strategy and design, interventions, and outcomes will lead to
greater energy self-sufficiency within the target population.

Applicants should conclude with a discussion of how the proposed Project
will lead to verifiable improvements in regular energy payments and
reductions in conditions such as disconnections of service, health and
safety risks, and homelessness associated with high-energy costs that
are presently beyond the resources of low-income families in the
targeted community(ies).

Applicants should summarize their expectations for the continuation of
those benefits beyond the project\'s life, and the kind of information
that they expect to share with OCS and the broader social
service/development community from their project. Federal assessment of
Project Proposals will include the likely value of the project to the
target community over time.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 7 pages for this
description.)**

####### c. [Holistic Program Strategies and Project Innovations]{.underline} {#c.-holistic-program-strategies-and-project-innovations .unnumbered}

The Plan should explain how the REACH project approaches the energy
needs of low-income families within a holistic context of the economic,
social, physical, and environmental barriers to achieving
self-sufficiency. Describe how REACH projects are closely coordinated
with other public and private sector programs involved with community
revitalization, housing rehabilitation and weatherization, and family
development.

Within this holistic and coordinated context, applicants should
highlight the ways in which the proposed project represents a new and
innovative approach or approaches that provide for greater energy
self-sufficiency of the poor and/or to deal with particularly critical
energy needs or problems of the poor that are common to a number of
communities.

Project Innovations may be found in:

-   the target population to be served;

-   the needs to be addressed;

-   the kinds of activities, or interventions, that will be carried out;

-   the ways in which activities will be carried out;

-   new and different combinations of activities;

-   collaboration with activities or resources from other programs such
    as economic development or workforce initiatives, housing
    rehabilitation, or energy programs; and

-   the settings in which the project will function.

For example, innovation can mean new technologies, or innovative
applications of existing technologies; new types of institutions in
which the project will function; or activities and interventions that
are new and innovative for a given population or locality. At the same
time, OCS is particularly interested in receiving REACH Plans that
incorporate truly new and different approaches to solving home energy
problems of the poor that when successful can provide valuable guidance
to other communities.

**(It is suggested that no more than 4 pages be used for this
description.)**

**d. [Work Plan/Time Lines and Discussion of Critical Issues
]{.underline}**

The applicant should present the highlights of a work plan for the
project that explicitly ties into the project design framework and
should be feasible*,* i.e*.,* capable of being accomplished with the
resources, time, staff, and partners available. The plan should briefly
describe the key project tasks***,*** and show the timelines and major
milestones for their implementation.

This element [should include an explicit discussion]{.underline} of
critical issues or potential problems that might affect the achievement
of project objectives, with an explanation of how they would be
overcome, and how the objectives will be achieved notwithstanding any
such problems. The plan should be presented in such a way that it can be
correlated with the Budget Justification included in the application.
(See Element 3, below). Applicants may be able to use a simple Gantt or
time line chart to convey the work plan in minimal space.

**(It is suggested that no more than 3 pages be used for this
Element.)**

**[Element 3: Budget and Budget Justification]{.underline}**

Applicants will be required to submit Federal forms with their REACH
plans to provide basic applicant and project information (SF 424) and
information about how Federal and other project funds will be used (SF
424A).

In addition to and immediately following the completed Federal budget
forms, applicants must submit a Budget Justification Narrative***,*** or
explanatory budget information. This Budget Justification is not
considered a part of the Project Narrative*,* and does not count in the
limitation on number of pages; but should be included in the application
following the budget forms.

-   Each applicant (State-level) under Priority Area 1.0 must submit a
    signed SF 424, SF 424A, and a Budget Justification covering the
    [entire]{.underline} REACH project, in which the amount to be
    delegated to CBO Recipients should be shown as \"Contractual\" in
    line item f. (See Part III, C, 2 for amounts which may be retained
    by the State Applicant for project administration and evaluation.)

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-   Each Application must also include one SF 424A and one Budget
    Justification for each local CBO Recipient.

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-   Each CBO Recipient\'s budget should include funds for travel to two
    OCS conferences during the three-year project period. (See Part IX,
    B)

The Budget Justification Narrative should briefly explain the adequacy
of the Federal funds and other mobilized resources to accomplish project
purposes, should explain the source and nature of mobilized resources,
and should identify and briefly explain any imbalances between the level
of activities undertaken and project funds expended.

If the project requires more resources beyond those provided in the OCS
grant, it is important for the applicant to identify those resources,
describe how they will be allocated, and document that they will be
available. Even though there is no matching requirement for the REACH
Program, grantees will be held accountable for any match whether cash
and/or in-kind contribution, proposed or pledged, as part of an approved
application. The commitment of such support to the program should be
documented in the Appendix to the REACH Plan.

OCS will give favorable consideration in the review process to
applicants who mobilize cash and/or third-party in-kind contributions or
support for the REACH Project.

Applicants should note that in accordance with the LIHEAP statute at
Section 2607B(f), none of the costs of providing service or benefits
under the REACH Program shall be considered to be administrative costs.

**[SEGMENT TWO - STATE]{.underline}**

This segment contains the State-level applicant narrative (to be
completed once for overall REACH Plan) limited to six pages in length.

**[Element 4: State Organizational Profile (Management and
Organization)]{.underline}**

The State-level applicant is responsible for assembling and submitting a
complete REACH Plan. The implementing CBOs and project activities are
the subject of Segment One, above. While the narratives for Segment One
are, in practice, prepared by the intended CBO recipient(s), the
State-level applicant is responsible for the adequacy of the entire
proposal, and for overall administration and coordination of the
project.

To this end, it is recommended that there be close collaboration between
the applicant State and the CBO(s) in the planning and submission of the
REACH application. The applicant is expected to have an explicit and
active role in the development and carrying out of the REACH Project.

The required narrative that follows, and the State-level budget set out
in the State\'s SF-424A and budget justification, must indicate the
State\'s project-related role and activities that will be funded by a
portion of the REACH grant.

The Plan should identify the State Project Coordinator and any other
staff important to the success of the project, and include resumes as an
Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where the staff has not been identified, a
position description should be included in the Appendix. The REACH Plan
should describe the staff\'s relevant capabilities for overseeing this
tiered, multi-faceted project, with emphasis placed on successful
management experience in directing both on-budget and leveraged
resources to create community conditions capable of supporting effective
interventions and transforming lives or circumstances of low-income
people. REACH Plans will be assessed, for this element, on the relevant
experience, capabilities, commitment and planned level of effort of the
State-level Project Coordinator and key staff members as described in
the Plan.

In addition, the Plan should describe (and diagram if necessary) the
organization of the project. It should clearly depict the relationships
among the State and the participating CBO Recipients, the State-level
Project Coordinator and the key officials in those organizations and any
other partnering organizations, and it should make clear the
project-related responsibilities of these key actors.

Applicants should explain that in the designation of CBO Recipients
priority has been given, as required by the authorizing legislation, to
eligible entities described in Section 673 of the Community Services
Block Grant Act, as amended, Explain how these CBOs have a record of
successfully providing services under LIHEAP and from the Department of
Energy\'s Weatherization Assistance Program.

Include a **Letter of Agreement** from each designated CBO Recipient
subscribing to the project concept as described in the appropriate
\"Segment One\" narrative section of the Plan and agreeing to operate
the REACH project as proposed. The Letter of Agreement must also commit
the CBO Recipient(s) to a process of Low-Income Citizen Participation in
the establishment of the local REACH Project.

It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this
Element (not counting the resumes and/or position descriptions, the
Final Evaluation Report from any previous REACH project, where
appropriate, and the CBO Letters of Agreement*,* all of which should be
in the Appendix.)

**[Element 5: Evaluation]{.underline}**

Sound evaluations are essential to the REACH Program. Applicants are
required to include in their applications a well-developed outline of an
evaluation plan for their project.

The outline should explain how the applicant proposes to answer the key
questions about how effectively the project is being implemented (the
Process Evaluation) and whether and why/why not the project activities,
or interventions, achieved the expected outcomes and goals of the
project (the Outcome Evaluation). (See Part I, C for definitions of
process and outcome evaluation.)

Applicants are not being asked to submit a complete and final Evaluation
Plan as part of their REACH Plan; but they must include:

(1) a **well-developed outline** of an evaluation plan that identifies
    the principal cause-and-effect relationships to be tested, and
    demonstrates the applicant\'s understanding of the role and purpose
    of both Process and Outcome Evaluations (see previous paragraph);
    and includes a well-developed description of performance goals and
    measurement indicators.

(2) the identity and qualifications of the proposed third-party
    evaluator, or if not selected, the qualifications that will be
    sought in choosing an evaluator, which must include successful
    experience in evaluating social service delivery programs, and the
    planning and/or evaluation of programs designed to foster energy
    self-sufficiency in low income populations; and

(3) a commitment to the selection of a third-party evaluator and to the
    completion of a final evaluation design and plan, in collaboration
    with the evaluator and the OCS REACH Program Manager during the
    first six-months of the project, if funded.

Applicants should ensure, above all, that the evaluation outline
presented is consistent with their project design. A clear project
framework (such as the logic model, see Attachment N) identifies:

-   the key project assumptions about the target populations and their
    needs;

-   the hypotheses, or expected cause-effect relationships to be tested
    in the project;

-   that the proposed project activities, or interventions, will address
    those needs in ways that will lead to the achievement of the project
    goals of energy self-sufficiency; and

-   the most important process and outcome measures that will be used to
    identify performance success and expected changes in the
    circumstances of individual participants, the grantee organization,
    the CBO Recipient(s), and the community.

For these reasons, if possible, the evaluator that the applicant expects
to work with should be involved, at least briefly, in the development of
the project design and proposal.

In order to make possible the inclusion in the evaluation of energy
consumption/payment data for the final project year, applicants should
note that the deadline for submission of Final Evaluation Reports will
be **[six months]{.underline}** following the end of the REACH project,
Therefore, grantees should be prepared to contract with their
third-party evaluators accordingly, remembering that REACH funds must be
obligated by the end of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal Year in
which the REACH grant is awarded.

If the REACH plan also includes an EEES plan, an evaluation of that
component must also be included in the overall evaluation design.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 4 pages for this
Element. The**

**Resume or Position Description for the evaluator should be in an
Appendix.)**

######### B. [REVIEW CRITERIA]{.underline}

It should be noted that [**funding decisions will not be based solely on
the reviewers' scoring of the applicant's response to the program
elements and review criteria**.]{.underline} Due to the limited
availability of funds for the REACH program, preference will be given
under this Action Transmittal to applicants that have not received REACH
grants in prior years. REACH grantees with currently operational
projects will only be funded under exceptional circumstances, and if
they can clearly demonstrate the organizational capability to undertake
an additional project without in any way compromising the implementation
of the currently funded REACH Initiative.

Applicants who were previously funded under the REACH Program and have
**[completed]{.underline}** their projects must include as an appendix
to their REACH application a copy of their Final Evaluation Report,
which will be taken into consideration in any funding decision***.***

**[SEGMENT ONE\--CBO Recipient(s) Project(s) Design]{.underline}**

Where there are separate local projects, applicants must submit a
complete Segment One for each such project. Each Segment One is limited
to 24 pages in length. Where a single project is to be implemented by
more than one CBO, only one Segment One is required, except that in all
cases a completed narrative on the CBO's experience and capabilities
must be submitted for each CBO Recipient participating in the REACH
Project.

[**REVIEW CRITERION 1: ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE (Organizational Experience
and Capability of CBO Recipient(s**))]{.underline} **(Overall Weight of
0 to 25 points)**

> [**(a) CBO Recipient Experience and Commitment in** **the Program
> Area**]{.underline}

**(Weight of 0 - 10 points)**

-   The application should cite the capability and relevant experience
    of the CBO Recipient in developing and operating programs which deal
    with poverty problems similar to those to be addressed by the
    proposed project, and where applicable, including those programs
    that receive funds from the Department of Energy\'s Weatherization
    Assistance Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
    (LIHEAP).

-   The application should also cite the organization\'s experience in
    collaborative programming and operations which involve evaluations
    and data collection.

-   Applications should identify CBO Recipient agency executive
    leadership and briefly describe their involvement in the proposed
    project and provide assurance of their commitment to its successful
    implementation.

-   The application should describe the level of priority that this
    project will have within the CBO Recipient agency, including the
    facilities and resources that it has available to carry it out.

**[(b) CBO Recipient Staff Skills, Resources, and
Responsibilities]{.underline}**

**(Weight of 0 - 15 points)**

-   The Plan must identify the two or three individual staff persons of
    the CBO Recipient who will have the most responsibility for managing
    the project, coordinating services and activities for participants
    and partners, and for achieving performance targets. The focus
    should be on the qualifications, experience, capacity and commitment
    to the program of the Executive Officials of the organization and
    the key project staff persons who will administer and implement the
    project.

-   The person identified as Project Director should have supervisory
    experience, experience in working with energy related problems of
    the poor, and experience with the target population.

-   Because this is a demonstration project within an
    already-established agency, OCS expects that the key staff person(s)
    would be identified, if not hired.

-   Resumes for key staff should be included in an appendix to the
    proposal; where key staff has not been identified, pertinent
    position descriptions must be appended.

-   The applicant should indicate its intention to hire a Project
    Director within three months after receipt of the grant.

**[REVIEW CRITERION 2: APPROACH (Project Theory, Design, and
Plan)]{.underline}**

**(Overall Weight of 0 - 55 points)**

(a) **[Description of Target Population, Analysis of Need, Project
    Assumptions, and]{.underline}**

> **Low- Income Participation (Weight of 0 - 15 points)**
>
> **[(a)(1)]{.underline}** **(Weight of 0 - 10 points)**

-   The applicant should precisely identify the target population to be
    served.

-   The geographic area to be impacted should then be briefly
    highlighted, selectively emphasizing the socioeconomic/poverty and
    other data that are relevant to the project design. The date and
    source of cited data should be noted.

-   The applicant should clearly define the specific needs that the
    project will address, and should state its underlying assumptions
    about how these specific needs can be addressed by the proposed
    project.

-   The Plan must include in this element a brief description of how the
    views of eligible low-income individuals in the community will be
    solicited on the design and implementation of the REACH Project, and
    how the applicant will respond to such views.

**[(a)(2)]{.underline}** **(Weight of 0 - 5 points)**

Special consideration will be given to applicants whose REACH projects
will be focused on populations in a target area which are characterized
by:

-   severe poverty and other indicators of socio-economic distress such
    as a poverty rate of at least 20 percent;

-   high levels of unemployment;

-   a high incidence of violence, gang activity, crime, or drug use; or

-   an area or areas designated as an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise
    Community. Applicants should document that they or their proposed
    CBO Recipients were involved in the preparation and implementation
    of a comprehensive community-based strategic plan to achieve
    economic and human development in an integrated manner and how the
    proposed REACH project supports the goal(s) of that plan.

(b) **[Project Description and Design Framework; Interventions,
    Outcomes, and]{.underline}**

> **[Goals; and Significant and Beneficial Impact of the
> Project.]{.underline}**
>
> **(Weight of 0 - 20 points)**

Applicants should prepare a logical presentation of their plan so that
the following questions are clearly defined and understood:

-   What specific activities/interventions are proposed to address the
    specific need(s) described previously?

-   What immediate changes will the interventions will produce?

-   What intermediate outcomes will result from the changes and/or from
    a combination of interventions and their changes? and

-   What are the project goals, and how will the project achieve its
    goals as a consequence of the defined interventions and identified
    changes and outcomes?

Applicants should describe how they will provide the following either
through REACH or coordinated with other program services:

-   payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for home energy
    costs;

-   energy efficiency education;

-   residential energy demand management services, including any other
    energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements
    in coordination with or delivered by Department of Energy
    weatherization assistance program;

-   family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related to
    energy budget management, payment plans, and related services; and

-   negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
    eligible for REACH services and benefits.

Applicants should describe how their project will:

-   discourage family energy crises;

-   encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior;

-   provide only financial incentives that encourage household payment;

-   provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy
    costs; and

-   provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy burdens of
    recipients of assistance.

-   Applicants should discuss how the proposed Project will lead to
    verifiable improvements in regular energy payments and reductions in
    conditions such as disconnections of service, health and safety
    risks, and homelessness associated with high-energy costs that are
    presently beyond the resources of low-income families in the
    targeted community(ies).

Applicants should summarize the beneficial impacts that they propose to
make in that community, their expectations for the continuation of those
benefits beyond the project\'s life, and the kind of information that
they expect to share with OCS and the broader social service/development
community from their project. Assessment of project proposals will
include the likely value of the project to the target community over
time.

####### (c) [Holistic Program Strategies and Project Innovations]{.underline} (Weight of 0 to 10 points) {#c-holistic-program-strategies-and-project-innovations-weight-of-0-to-10-points .unnumbered}

The Plan should explain how the REACH project approaches the energy
needs of low-income families within a holistic context of the economic,
social, physical, and environmental barriers to achieving
self-sufficiency. Thus, REACH projects are expected to be closely
coordinated with other public and private sector programs involved with
community revitalization, housing rehabilitation and weatherization, and
family development.

Within this holistic and coordinated context, applicants should
highlight the ways in which the proposed project represents a new and
innovative approach or approaches to provide for greater energy
self-sufficiency of the poor and/or to deal with particularly critical
energy needs or problems of the poor that are common to a number of
communities.

OCS is particularly interested in receiving REACH Plans that incorporate
truly new and different approaches to solving energy problems of the
poor that when successful can provide valuable guidance to other
communities.

**[(d) Work Plan/Time Lines and Discussion of Critical
Issues]{.underline}**

**(Weight of 0 - 10 points)**

-   The applicant should present the highlights of a work plan for the
    project that explicitly ties into the project design framework and
    should be feasible, *i.e.*, capable of being accomplished with the
    resources, time, staff, and partners available.

-   The plan should briefly describe the key project tasks***,*** and
    show the timelines and major milestones for their implementation.

-   This element [should include an explicit discussion]{.underline} of
    critical issues or potential problems that might affect the
    achievement of project objectives, with an explanation of how they
    would be overcome, and how the objectives will be achieved
    notwithstanding any such problems.

-   The plan should be presented in such a way that it can be correlated
    with the Budget Justification included in the application. (See
    Review Criterion III.) Applicants may use a simple Gantt or time
    line chart to convey the work plan in minimal space.

REVIEW CRITERION 3: BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION (Overall Weight of 0
to 5 points)

Project Budget Appropriateness

(Weight of 0 - 5 points)

-   Each applicant (State-level) under Priority Area 1.0 must submit a
    signed SF-424, SF-424A and a Budget Justification covering the
    [entire]{.underline} REACH project, in which the amount to be
    delegated to CBO Recipients should be shown as \"Contractual\" in
    line item f. Amounts which may be retained by the State applicant
    for project administration and evaluation can be found in Part III,
    D.

-   Each Application must also include one SF 424A and one Budget
    Justification for each local CBO Recipient.\
    Each CBO Recipient\'s budget should include funds for travel to two
    OCS conferences during the three-year project period. Additionally,
    the State's budget should include travel funds for the State
    Coordinator for the same two OCS conferences.

The Budget Justification Narrative should:

-   Explain the adequacy of the Federal funds and other mobilized
    resources to accomplish project purposes;

-   Explain the source and nature of mobilized resources;

-   Identify and briefly explain any imbalances between the level of
    activities undertaken and project funds expended; and

-   Identify any other resources used in the Project. Matching funds are
    not required, but if used, identify those resources, describe how
    they will be allocated, and document that they will be available.
    Applicants will be held accountable for any match, cash or in-kind
    contribution proposed or pledged as part of an approved application.
    The commitment of such support to the program should be documented
    in the Appendix to the REACH Plan.

OCS will give favorable consideration in the review process to
applicants who mobilize cash and/or third-party, in-kind contributions
or support for the REACH Project.

**[SEGMENT TWO- STATE]{.underline}**

**[REVIEW CRITERION 4: STATE ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE (Management and
Organization)]{.underline} (Weight of 0-5 points)**

State-level applicant narrative (to be completed once for overall REACH
Plan) limited to six pages in length.

-   The Plan should identify the State Project Coordinator and any other
    staff important to the success of the project, and include resumes
    as an Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where the staff has not been
    identified, a position description should be included in the
    Appendix.

-   The Plan should describe the staff\'s relevant capabilities for
    overseeing this tiered, multi-faceted project, with emphasis placed
    on successful management experience in directing both on-budget and
    leveraged resources to support effective interventions that
    transform lives or circumstances of low-income people.

-   Plans will be assessed on the relevant experience, capabilities,
    commitment and planned level of effort of the State-level Project
    Coordinator and key staff members as described in the Plan.

-   The Plan should describe (and diagram, if necessary) the
    organization of the project. It should clearly depict the
    relationships among the State and the participating CBO Recipients,
    the State-level Project Coordinator and the key officials in those
    organizations and any other partnering organizations, and it should
    make clear the project-related responsibilities of these key actors.

-   Applicants should explain that in the designation of CBO Recipients
    priority has been given, as required by the authorizing legislation,
    to eligible entities described in Section 673 of the Community
    Services Block Grant Act, as amended, which have a record of
    successfully providing service under LIHEAP and which receive funds
    from the Department of Energy\'s Weatherization Assistance Program.

-   The Plan should include a Letter of Agreement from each designated
    CBO Recipient subscribing to the project*.* The Letter of Agreement
    must also commit the CBO Recipient(s) to a process of Low-Income
    Citizen Participation in the establishment of the local REACH
    Project.

**[REVIEW CRITERION 5: EVALUATION]{.underline}**

**(Weight of 0 - 10 points)**

Applicants are not being asked to submit a complete Evaluation Plan as
part of their REACH Plan; but they must include:

\(1\) **[a well-developed outline of an evaluation plan]{.underline}**
that identifies the principal cause-and-effect relationships to be
tested, and demonstrates the applicant\'s understanding of the role and
purpose of both Process and Outcome Evaluations; and includes a
well-developed description of performance goals and measurement
indicators.

\(2\) the identity and qualifications of the proposed third-party
evaluator, or if not selected, the qualifications which will be sought
in choosing an evaluator, which must include successful experience in
evaluating social service delivery programs, and the planning and/or
evaluation of programs designed to foster energy self-sufficiency in low
income populations; and

\(3\) a commitment to the selection of a third-party evaluator, and to
completion of a final evaluation design and plan, in collaboration with
the evaluator and the OCS REACH Program Manager during the first six
months of the project.

Applicants should ensure, above all, that the evaluation outline
presented is consistent with their project design. If possible, the
evaluator that the applicant expects to work with should be involved, at
least briefly, in the development of the project design and proposal.

If the REACH plan also includes an EEES plan, an evaluation for that
component must also be included in the overall evaluation design.

> **C. [ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES PLANS
> (OPTIONAL)]{.underline}**

The REACH authorizing legislation provides for a separate Energy
Efficiency Education Services (EEES) plan that applicants may include in
their REACH application. The EEES Plan must be separate from the REACH
Plan and contained in the Appendix to the REACH Plan. If EEES Plans meet
the requirements of the Elements and Review Criteria included under this
section and have the potential for being replicable model designs for
other programs, they are eligible for supplemental payments.

1.  **[ELEMENTS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES
    PLANS]{.underline}**

    [**Element 1: Purpose**]{.underline}

The Plan should state the purpose of the proposed EEES services, which
should be generally consistent with and include the following goals:

-   to assist low-income households, especially those with high energy
    burdens;

-   to use energy efficiently;

-   to reduce their home energy costs;

-   to minimize health and safety risks within their homes;

-   to increase their indoor comfort level; and

-   to maintain their highest possible level of energy self-sufficiency.

    [**Element 2: Target Population**]{.underline}

The Plan should identify a target population for the EEES project, which
includes LIHEAP recipients and at least some who have received services
from the DOE WAP Program, and others consistent with the stated purpose
and goals of the EEES project. The Plan should include assurances that
the defined target population is one from whom data on energy usage and
costs before and after receipt of the EEES services will be available,
and should indicate how such data will be collected.

[**Element 3: Needs Assessment And Project Design Process**]{.underline}

The Plan should describe:

-   the needs assessment that the applicant has undertaken or will
    undertake among the target population;

-   how the design of the EEES Program will respond to the needs
    identified (see Quality Standard 4, below); and

-   how the EEES Program priorities have been or will be determined by
    the needs covered.

Element 4: Service Delivery

> [1) Setting:]{.underline} The Plan should indicate the setting or
> settings \-- in-office instruction (*e.g.* at time of initial intake),
> workshops, or home visits \-- in which the EEES services will be
> delivered, and project the number of service units planned for each.
>
> [2) Services:]{.underline} The Plan should identify the types of
> services to be delivered and how \-- whether by lecture, audio-visual
> media, written materials, hands on experience, or other educational
> technique \-- and if appropriate, which services are planned to be
> used in which of the identified settings.

Element 5: Relation Of Services To Changes, Of Changes to Outcomes, And
Of Outcomes To Goals (A \"Logic Model\")

The Plan should briefly describe:

-   each Energy Efficiency Education Service (EEES) planned (*e.g.* a
    demonstration and discussion on air infiltration);

-   the immediate changes expected to result from delivery of the
    service (*e.g.* a better understanding of the importance of stopping
    infiltration);

-   the intermediate outcomes expected to result from the changes
    (*e.g.* action by the client to stop infiltration in their
    dwelling); and

-   how these changes and outcomes will be expected to achieve a program
    goal (*e.g.* reduced energy consumption).

This exact terminology need not be used in the Plan, but the cause and
effect relationship between the EEES planned and the achievement of
program goals should be briefly explained.

This part of the Plan should include the provision for the development
with EEES recipients of an Action Plan through which the recipient will
make a commitment to take actions based on the EEES information
received. It should also include a provision for reinforcement of the
commitment through follow-up activities by the grantee or other
\"interventions\".

**[Element 6: Evaluation]{.underline}**

The EEES Plan submitted by applicants under Priority Area 1.0 should
provide for the inclusion of an Evaluation of the EEES Program as a part
of the Evaluation Plan Outline for the overall REACH Initiative. It
should provide for Process and Outcome Evaluations, and should describe
what data will be collected and how it will relate to the achievement of
EEES program goals. The EEES portion of the evaluation plan outline
should make specific provision for consumer evaluation of the EEES
program interventions; and should conclude with a commitment from the
grantee to revise and improve its EEES program in response to the
overall evaluation, where appropriate.

**2. [REVIEW CRITERIA - ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION PLANS]{.underline}**

Review Criteria for the EEES plan are listed below:

**[Review Criterion 1: Purpose]{.underline}**

**(Maximum of 15 Points)**

The Plan should state the purpose of the proposed EEES services, which
should be generally consistent with and include the following goals:

-   to assist low-income households, especially those with high energy
    burdens;

-   to use energy efficiently, to reduce their home energy costs;

-   to minimize health and safety risks within their homes;

-   to increase their indoor comfort level; and

-   to maintain their highest possible level of energy self-sufficiency.

    [**Review Criterion 2: Target Population**]{.underline}

    **(Maximum of 10 Points)**

The Plan should identify a target population for the EEES services,
which includes LIHEAP recipients and at least some recipients who have
received services from the DOE WAP Program, and others consistent with
the stated purpose and goals of the program. The Plan should include
assurances that the defined target population is one from whom data on
energy usage and costs before and after receipt of the EEES services
will be available, and should indicate how such data will be collected.

[**Review Criterion 3: Needs Assessment And Project Design
Process**]{.underline}

**(Maximum of 25 Points)**

The Plan should describe the needs assessment that the applicant has
undertaken or will undertake among the target population, how the design
of the EEES Plan will respond to the needs identified (see REVIEW
CRITERION 4, below), and how the EEES Plan priorities have been or will
be determined by the needs discovered.

Review Criterion 4: Service Delivery

(Maximum of 20 Points)

> [1) Setting:]{.underline} the Plan should indicate the setting or
> settings \-- in-office instruction (*e.g.* at time of initial intake),
> workshops, or home visits \-- in which the EEES services will be
> delivered, and project the number of service units planned for each.
>
> [2) Services:]{.underline} the Plan should identify the types of
> services to be delivered and how \-- whether by lecture, audio-visual
> media, written materials, hands on experience, or other educational
> technique -- and, if appropriate, which services are planned to be
> used in which of the identified settings.

Review Criterion 5: Relation Of Services To Changes, Of Changes To
Outcomes, And Of Outcomes To Goals (A \"Logic Model\")

(Maximum of 20 Points)

The Plan should briefly state:

-   each Energy Efficiency Education Service planned (*e.g.,* a
    demonstration and discussion on air infiltration);

-   the immediate changes expected to result from delivery of the
    service (*e.g.,* a better understanding of the importance of
    stopping infiltration);

-   he intermediate outcomes expected to result from the changes
    (*e.g.,* action by the client to stop infiltration in their
    dwelling);

-   how these changes and outcomes will be expected to achieve a program
    goal (*e.g.,* reduced energy consumption).

This exact terminology used above need not be used in the Plan; but the
cause and effect relationship between the EEES planned and the
achievement of program goals should be briefly explained.

This part of the Plan should include provision for the development with
EEES recipients of an Action Plan through which the recipient will make
a commitment to take actions based on the EEES information received; and
it should also include a provision for reinforcement of the commitment
through follow-up activities by the grantee or other \"interventions\".

Review Criterion 6: Evaluation

(Maximum of 10 Points)

The EEES Plan submitted by applicants under Priority Area 1.0 should
provide for the inclusion of an Evaluation of the EEES Program as a part
of the Evaluation Plan Outline for the overall REACH Initiative. It
should provide for Process and Outcome Evaluations, and should describe
what data will be collected and how it will relate to the achievement of
EEES program goals. The EEES portion of the evaluation plan outline
should make specific provision for consumer evaluation of the EEES
program interventions; and should conclude with a commitment from the
grantee to revise and improve its EEES program in response to the
overall evaluation, where appropriate.

**[PART IV. PRIORITY AREA 2.0 (TRIBES, TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
TERRITORIES REQUIREMENTS (EXCEPT PUERTO RICO), EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS
& REVIEW CRITERIA]{.underline}**

1.  **REACH APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS**

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A.  **[Eligible Applicants and Award Information]{.underline}**

> Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Insular Areas, except Puerto
> Rico, which currently receive direct grants from HHS under the LIHEAP
> Program are eligible to apply for REACH funds and are considered
> Priority Area 2.0 applicants for purposes of this Action Transmittal.
>
> For Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations, in accordance with 45 CFR
> 96.42(a), the Secretary has determined that these applicants are
> generally representative of and close to their communities, which with
> few exceptions are relatively small, and generally implement their
> LIHEAP programs and other social service programs directly. Therefore,
> Priority Area 2.0 applicants may implement REACH programs directly,
> without delegation to CBO Recipients. However, applicants electing to
> implement their REACH Projects directly will be limited to no more
> than 24-months Project Periods.
>
> Insular Areas such as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
> Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, are eligible
> provided they are LIHEAP grantees that use LIHEAP funds to implement a
> LIHEAP Program. These entities may implement REACH programs directly,
> without delegation to CBOs. Any Insular Area that chooses to
> consolidate LIHEAP funds under another program are not eligible to
> apply for REACH funds.
>
> Applicants under Priority Area 2.0 may also elect to operate their
> projects through grants or contracts to non-profit organizations.
> However, in such cases the non-profit organization does not have to be
> a community-based organization (CBO) as defined above in Part I, C. If
> they choose to operate their projects through non-profit
> organizations, the Project and Budget Periods applicable to Priority
> Area 1.0 will apply.

**[AWARD INFORMATION]{.underline}**

**Funding Instrument Type:** Grant

**Anticipated Total Program Funding:** \$1million

**Anticipated Number of Awards:** Four to six grants

**Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards:** \$150,000 per project period

An application received that exceeds the upper value of the dollar range
specified will be considered "non-responsive" and be returned to the
applicant without further review.

**Floor of Individual Award Amounts:** None

**Average Anticipated Award Amount:** \$150,000 \$\$

**Project Periods for Awards:** *Up to 24-months (Applicants may apply
for a 12-month budget*

*and project period or up to 24- months budget and project period)*

**[ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES (EEES) (OPTIONAL)]{.underline}**

**Funding Instrument Type:** Grant

**Anticipated Total Program Funding:** \$100,000

**Anticipated Number of Awards:** One to three grants

**Ceiling on amount of individual awards:** \$25,000 per project period

**Floor of Individual Award Amounts:** None

**Average Anticipated Award Amount:** \$25,000

**Project Periods for Awards:** *Up to 24-months (Applicants may apply
for a 12-month budget and project period or up to 24-months budget and
project period)*

####### B. [Availability of Funds and Grant Amounts]{.underline} {#b.-availability-of-funds-and-grant-amounts-1 .unnumbered}

The total amount expected to be available for REACH Project grants
pursuant to this Announcement is \$6,820,000. OCS expects to award four
to ten grants under Priority Area 2.0 for projects of \$20,000 to
\$150,000 each to Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Insular
Areas, except Puerto Rico, for a total of up to \$1million.

Any funds not awarded under one priority area will be available for
funding under the other.

**C. [Project Periods]{.underline}**

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended (42 U.S.C.
8621) authorizes a block grant program of which the REACH Program is a
part, and to which 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 74 and 92
and OMB Circulars do [not]{.underline} apply. However, 45 CFR Part 96
*[does]{.underline}* apply to REACH funds. Grantees are required to
obligate REACH funds by the end of the Fiscal Year following the Fiscal
Year in which the REACH grant was awarded by OCS.

Priority Area 2.0 applicants, with 36-month project periods, are
encouraged to provide for completion of the planning and consummation of
awards to sub-recipients within a time-frame that will allow for an
adequate start-up and implementation period.

**D. [Budget Periods]{.underline}**

Budget Periods for all REACH Projects will be 12 months (one year).

In the case of REACH Projects under Priority Area 2.0 (Tribes, Tribal
Organizations, and Insular Areas, except Puerto Rico), where applicants
decide to operate REACH projects through community based organizations
(CBOs), grants awarded pursuant to this Action Transmittal will be for
the full amount of the three-year Project Period, and applicants will
award REACH funds to sub-recipients for total project budgets covering
the full Project Period.

Such applicants may include up to five percent of the total REACH grant
for planning, administration and coordinating costs of the first year,
which may be continued for years two and three on the same terms as
Priority 1.0. (A third-party evaluation is **[not]{.underline}**
required under Priority Area 2.0)

Where applicants under Priority Area 2.0 decide to operate REACH
projects themselves

grants awarded pursuant to this Action Transmittal may have Project
Periods for up to 24

months and Budget Periods of 12 months, provided that funds must be
obligated no later than

September 30, 2006.

####### E. [Dun & Bradstreet Number]{.underline} {#e.-dun-bradstreet-number-1 .unnumbered}

All applicants **[must have]{.underline}** a Dun & Bradstreet number. On
June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published in the
Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant
applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a
Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide
electronic portal ([www.Grants.gov](http://www.Grants.gov/)). A DUNS
number will be required for every application for a new award or
renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under
formula, entitlement, and block grant programs, submitted on or after
October 1, 2003.

Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire
a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at
[www.dnb.com](http://www.dnb.com/)

**F. [Multiple Submittals and Multiple Grants]{.underline}**

Section 2607B (b) (1) authorizes annual funding for "the REACH
initiative" of a State. Therefore, in each fiscal year only one "REACH
initiative" may be funded from each eligible applicant who submits a
qualifying application. Due to the statutory limitation on REACH
initiatives from eligible applicants that may be funded from a single
fiscal year appropriation, OCS will fund **[only one REACH
Initiative]{.underline}** from any one eligible applicant from FY 2005
REACH funds.

**G. [Statement of Assurances and Demonstration]{.underline}**

Section 2607B of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as
amended, which authorizes the REACH program, provides that \"each State
plan shall include each of the elements in paragraph (2), to be met by
State and local agencies.\" Please note that in most places in the
LIHEAP statute where it refers to States, it also includes Tribes,
Tribal Organizations, and Insular Areas, except Puerto Rico. Any
requirement in the statute that does not apply to these entities has
been noted throughout the text of this Action Transmittal.

The elements in Section 2607B paragraph (2) include assurances,
demonstrations, and descriptions and comprise the necessary elements of
the REACH project plan. These required elements compile the "Statement
of Assurances and Demonstration" and are listed below. To be considered
for funding, each REACH application must include a signed \"Statement of
Assurances and Demonstration\" that the proposed REACH project meets all
of the legislative requirements and must be signed by an official who
has authority to obligate the organization legally. The required
\"Statement of Assurances and Demonstration\" for use in your submission
is provided in \"Attachment L\" to this Action Transmittal.

Priority Area 2.0 applicants (Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Insular
Areas, except Puerto Rico) are exempt from Requirements (A), (B), and
(J) listed below. Additionally, Priority Area 2.0 applicants may limit
the scope of their projects by choosing two or more elements from (C)
below.

Instructions on how applicants may structure their proposals to include
the elements cited below are further discussed in Parts IV, 2, A and B,
REACH Plan Elements and Review Criteria.

Section 2607B provides:

\(2\) Elements of State plans. \-- Each State plan shall include\--

(A) an assurance that such state will deliver services through
    community-based nonprofit entities in such state, by---

> \(i\) awarding grants to, or entering into contracts with, such
> entities for the purpose
>
> of providing such service and payment directly to individuals eligible
> for
>
> benefits; or
>
> \(ii\) if a State makes payments directly to eligible individuals or
> energy suppliers,
>
> making contracts with such entities to administer such program,
>
> including \--
>
> \(I\) determining eligibility;
>
> \(II\) providing outreach services; and
>
> \(III\) providing benefits other than payments;

(B) an assurance that, in awarding grants or entering into contracts to
    carry out its REACH initiative, the state will give priority to
    organizations that --

> \(i\) are described in section 673 of the Community Services Block
> Grant Act (42 USC 0-2(1)), except where significant geographic
> portions of the state are not served by such entities;\
> (ii) the Secretary has determined have a record of successfully
> providing services under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
> Program; and\
> (iii) receive weatherization assistance program funds under part A of
> title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6863
> et seq.);

(C) an assurance that, subject to subparagraph (D), each entity that
    receives a grant or enters into a contract under subparagraph (A)(i)
    will provide a variety of services and benefits, including---

\(i\) payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for residential
energy assistance

services and benefits under section 2605(b) for home energy costs;

\(ii\) energy efficiency education;

\(iii\) residential energy demand management services, including any
other energy

related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements in
coordination with

or delivered by, Department of Energy weatherization assistance program
at the

discretion of the state:

\(iv\) family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related
to energy

budget management, payment plans, and related services; and

\(v\) negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
eligible for

REACH services and benefits;

(D) a description of the methodology the state and local agencies will
    use to determine-

\(i\) which households will receive one or more forms of benefits under
the State

REACH initiative

\(ii\) the cases in which nonmonetary benefits are likely to provide
more cost-

effective long-term outcomes than payment benefits alone; and

\(iii\) the amount of such benefit \[s\] required to meet the goals of
the program;

(E) a method for targeting nonmonetary benefits;

(F) a description of the crisis and emergency assistance activities the
    State will undertake to that are designed to---

> \(i\) discourage family energy crises;
>
> \(II\) encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior; and
>
> \(iii\) provide only financial incentives that encourage household
>
> payment;

(G) a description of the activities the state will undertake to --

> \(i\) provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home
> energy costs;
>
> and
>
> \(ii\) provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy
> burdens
>
> of recipients of assistance;

(H) an assurance that the State will require each entity that receives a
    grant or enters into a contract under this section to solicit and be
    responsive to the views of individuals who are financially eligible
    for benefits and services under this section in establishing its
    local program;

(I) a description of performance goals for the State REACH initiative
    including \--

> \(i\) a reduction in the energy costs of participating households over
> one or more fiscal years;
>
> \(ii\) an increase in the regularity of home energy bill payments by
> eligible households; and\
> (iii) an increase in energy vendor contributions towards reducing
> energy burdens of eligible households;

(J) a description of the indicators that will be used by the State to
    measure whether the performance goals have been achieved;

(K) a demonstration that the plan is consistent with section 2603,
    paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13),
    and (14) of section 2605(b), subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h),
    (i), and (j) of section 2605, and sections 2606 of this title;

(L) an assurance that benefits and services will be provided in addition
    to other benefit payments and services provided under this title and
    in coordination with such benefit payments and services; and

(M) an assurance that no regulated utility covered by the plan will be
    required to act in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable
    regulatory requirements.

Additionally, applicants should be aware that Section 2607B (f) states:

> Cost or Function.---None of the costs of providing services or
> benefits under this section shall be considered to be an
> administrative cost or function for purposes of any limitation on
> administrative costs or function contained in this title.

**G. [Program Participants/Beneficiaries]{.underline}**

Projects proposed for funding under this Action Transmittal must produce
direct benefits to low-income individuals and families who are eligible
for LIHEAP benefits, as described in Section 2605(b)(2) of the LIHEAP
statute. However, not all LIHEAP recipients and/or eligible households
must be provided REACH services. Applicants may target only a portion of
the LIHEAP-eligible population for REACH services.

One of the LIHEAP eligibility criteria stated in Section 2605(b) (2) of
the LIHEAP statute is households with incomes that do not exceed 150
percent of the HHS Poverty Guidelines. Attachment A to this Announcement
is an excerpt from the Poverty Guidelines currently in effect.

Annual revisions of these guidelines are normally published in the
Federal Register in February or early March of each year. Where relevant
to REACH eligibility criteria, grantees will be required to apply the
most recent guidelines throughout the project period. These revised
guidelines may be obtained at public libraries, Congressional offices,
or by writing the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC 20402. They are also accessible on the LIHEAP
website at <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap>.

Consistent with the REACH legislative purpose **\"to target energy
assistance to individuals who are most in need\",** projects proposed
for funding under this Action Transmittal may further restrict
eligibility to lower income individuals and families within the LIHEAP
eligible universe in order to target the most disadvantaged. Under the
authorizing legislation, applicants may designate all or part of the
State or all or part of the client population as a focus of its REACH
Project.

#### H. Low-Income Citizen Participation 

To be considered for funding, a REACH Plan must include provision for
the systematic and regularized solicitation by the grantee of the views
of eligible low-income individuals in the community.

**I. [Third Party Evaluation]{.underline}**

Priority Area 2.0 REACH Plans must describe the indicators that will be
used to measure whether their performance goals have been achieved, and
they must submit a report summarizing these results at the end of the
grant period**. [(The Priority Area 1.0 requirement for a third-party
independent evaluation does not apply to Priority Area 2.0
grantees.)]{.underline}**

**J. [Holistic Strategy and Mobilization of Resources]{.underline}**

OCS is interested in having applicants under Priority Area 2.0 approach
the energy needs of low-income families within a holistic context of the
economic, social, physical, and environmental barriers to achieving
self-sufficiency. Accordingly, applicants under this Priority Area
should describe how their REACH Plan would be coordinated with other
programming aimed at community development, housing rehabilitation and
weatherization, and family development**. [Applicants are reminded that
expenditures of REACH funds must be energy-related.]{.underline}**

**K. [Prohibition and Restrictions on the Use of Funds]{.underline}**

The use of REACH funds for the purchase or construction of real property
is PROHIBITED. Costs incurred for rearrangement and alteration of
facilities required specifically for the funded project are allowable
when specifically approved in advance by ACF in writing.

However, in keeping with the legislative mandate to include energy
related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements in REACH
Project activities, such activities carried out in participants\'
residences will not be considered to be in violation of these
prohibitions or restrictions. Applicants are reminded that they are
encouraged to mobilize other resources, which can be integrated with
their efforts to make energy affordable for low-income residents, and
**[that REACH expenditures must be energy-related.]{.underline}**

An applicant proposing a project which will affect a property listed in,
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places,
must identify this property in the narrative and explain how it has
complied with the provisions of section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 as amended (16 U.S.C. 470). If there is any
question as to whether the property is listed in or eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the applicant
should consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer. (See
Attachment D: SF-424B, Item 13 for additional guidelines.) The applicant
should contact OCS early in the development of its REACH Project for
instructions regarding compliance with the National Historic
Preservation Act and data required to be submitted to HHS. Failure to
comply with the cited Act will result in the REACH Project being
ineligible for funding consideration.

**L. [Maintenance of Effort]{.underline}**

The activities funded under this Action Transmittal must be in addition
to, and not in substitution for, activities previously carried on
without Federal assistance. Also**,** the benefits and services provided
eligible participants in the REACH Project must be provided in addition
to and in coordination with benefit payments and services provided under
the applicant\'s regular LIHEAP Program. A signed Certificate of
Maintenance of Effort must be included with the REACH application (see
Attachment L).

**M. [Dissemination of Project Results ]{.underline}**

REACH Plans should include provision for disseminating the results of
the project among LIHEAP grantees, utility companies, and others
interested in increasing the self-sufficiency of the poor. Applicants
may budget up to \$5,000 for dissemination purposes.

**2. [REACH EVALUATION/PLAN ELEMENTS/REVIEW CRITERIA FOR PRIORITY
]{.underline}**

**[AREA 2.0]{.underline}**

######## [*C.*CBCA. ELEMENTS OF REACH PLAN (Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and]{.underline}

**[Insular Areas, except Puerto Rico]{.underline}**

The assurances, demonstrations and descriptions in Section 2607B(e)(A
through M) of the LIHEAP statute and provided in Part IV and in the
Statement of Assurances and Demonstration (see Attachment M) comprise
most of the necessary elements of the REACH project plan.

Sections (A), (B), (H), (K), (L), and (M) will be met by including in
the REACH application a certified Statement of Assurances and
Demonstration (See Attachment M). The descriptions required under (C),
(D), (E), (F), (G), (I), (J) should be included in the Project Narrative
as appropriate and are further identified as elements of your project
description below.

At the end of the discussion of each of the Elements listed below***,***
there are suggested numbers of pages to be devoted to the particular
element. These are suggestions only.

Applicants should prepare and assemble their project descriptions using
the following guidance set forth for each of the elements below.

Element I: Organizational Experience and Capability

The Plan should cite the applicant's capability and relevant experience
in developing and operating programs that deal with energy and poverty
problems similar to those to be addressed by the proposed project. While
the proposed project management team will be identified and described
below in Element III, applicants should identify organization executive
leadership in this section and briefly describe their involvement in the
proposed project and provide assurance of their commitment to its
successful implementation.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this
Element.)**

**[Element 2: Approach]{.underline}**

**a**. **[Analysis of Need, Target Population, and Low Income
Participation]{.underline}**

The applicant should clearly define the specific needs that the project
will address, and should state its underlying assumptions about how the
needs can be addressed by the proposed project.

The Plan should precisely identify the target population to be served.
The geographic area to be impacted should then be briefly highlighted,
selectively emphasizing the socioeconomic/poverty and other data that
are relevant to the project design. The date and source of cited data
should be noted.

This element might include, for instance, data on the building type,
condition, and age of low-income housing; the predominant fuel used for
home heating; the number and percent of utility shut-offs among
low-income energy consumers; climatic conditions; unemployment
statistics for the area; the price of fuels; and the demand management
services offered by local utilities.

The Plan must include in this element a brief description of how the
views of eligible low-income individuals in the community will be
solicited on the design and implementation of the REACH Project, and how
the applicant will respond to such views.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 4 pages for this
narrative Element.)**

> **b. [Project Description, Strategy, Design Framework: Interventions,
> Outcomes, and Goals]{.underline}**

Applicants should prepare a logical presentation of their project so
that the following questions are clearly defined and understood:

-   What specific activities/interventions are proposed to address the
    specific need(s) described previously?

-   What immediate changes will the interventions produce?

-   What intermediate outcomes will result from the changes and/or from
    a combination of interventions and their changes? and

-   What are the project goals, and how will the project achieve its
    goals as a consequence of the defined interventions and identified
    changes and outcomes?

This section should address the services to be provided as required
under section (C) (F) and (G) of the Statement of Assurances and
Demonstrations. Priority Area 2.0 applicants should provide at least two
of the services listed below:

-   payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for residential
    energy assistance services and benefits under section 2605(b) for
    home energy costs;

-   energy efficiency education;

-   residential energy demand management services, including any other
    energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements
    in coordination with or delivered by, Department of Energy
    weatherization assistance program at the discretion of the state:

-   family services, such as counseling and needs assessment, related to
    energy budget management, payment plans, and related services; and

-   negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
    eligible for REACH services and benefits.

Applicants must also describe how the project will:

-   discourage family energy crises;

-   encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior; and

-   provide only financial incentives that encourage household payment;

-   provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy
    costs; and

-   provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy burdens of
    recipients

> of assistance.

Applicants are urged (but not required) to follow the logic model
conceptual framework (see Attachment N) so as to describe convincingly
how its strategy and design, interventions and outcomes will lead to
greater energy self-sufficiency within the target population.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 5 pages for this
Element.)**

**c. [Work Plan]{.underline}**

The applicant should present the highlights of a work plan for the
project that explicitly ties into the project design framework and
should be feasible, that is, capable of being accomplished with the
resources, time, staff and partners available. The plan should briefly
describe the key project tasks, and show the timelines and major
milestones for their implementation. The applicant should [explicitly
address]{.underline} critical issues or potential problems that might
affect the achievement of project objectives, with an explanation of how
they would be overcome, and how the objectives will be achieved
notwithstanding any such problems. The plan should be presented in such
a way that it could be correlated with the Budget Justification included
in the application. (See Element 4.) Applicants may be able to use a
simple Gantt or time line chart to convey the work plan in minimal
space; but in such a case should not forget the discussion of critical
issues.

**(It is suggested that the applicant use no more than 2 pages for this
Element.)**

**[Element 3: Management and Organization]{.underline}**

While the experience of agency leadership is important to project
success, the caliber of day-to-day project management is critical.
Applicants should identify key staff, including the Project Director,
who will be implementing the project, and any other staff they feel are
especially important to the success of the project. Resumes should be
included as an Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where the staff has not been
identified, a position description should be included in the Appendix.

REACH Plans will be assessed, for this element, on the relevant
experience, capabilities, commitment, and planned level of effort to the
project of the Project Director and key staff members as described in
the Plan. The applicant should plan on hiring a Project Director at
least within three months after receipt of the grant.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 2 pages for this
Element, not counting the resumes and/or position descriptions, which
should be in an Appendix.)**

**[Element 4: Budget and Budget Justification]{.underline}**

Applicants will be required to submit Federal forms with their REACH
plans to provide basic applicant and project information (SF-424) and
information about how Federal and other project funds will be used
(SF-424A).

Additionally, applicants must also provide a Budget Justification. The
Budget Justification should briefly explain the adequacy of the Federal
funds and other mobilized resources to accomplish project purposes, and
should explain the source and nature of any mobilized resources. The
Budget Justification is not considered a part of the Project
Narrative*,* and does not count as part of the 20-page limit; but rather
is included in the application following the budget forms.

Where Priority Area 2.0 applicants elect to have REACH services provided
through a non-profit organization sub-recipient, an SF-424A must be
completed for the applicant and another SF-424A must be completed for
the non-profit organization sub-recipient. The sub-recipient SF-424A
should include budget information for all three years of the project
period, divided into three separate budget periods as explained in PART
IV, 1, C and the instructions accompanying the forms. In addition to and
immediately following the completed Federal budget forms, applicants
must submit a Budget Justification, or explanatory budget information
for the first 12-month budget period.

Where a Priority Area 2.0 applicant elects to implement the REACH
project services through a non-profit sub-recipient, a Budget
Justification should be included for the sub-recipient, covering the
full three-year project budget.

Applicants should include funds in the project budget for travel by the
Project Director to attend an Orientation Workshop and a Reporting Out
Workshop in Washington, DC, etc. (See PART IX, B, Attendance at
Workshops.)

Applicants should note that none of the costs of providing services or
benefits under the REACH Program shall be considered to be an
administrative cost.

**[Element 5: Results or Benefits Expected]{.underline}**

OCS seeks, with the REACH Program, to support innovative approaches that
will create significant benefits for low-income energy consumers, their
families, and their communities. Accordingly, it intends to make grants
that have a strong likelihood of creating beneficial impacts both within
the project communities and, through wide dissemination of useful
project results and findings, in other communities facing similar
challenges.

The proposed project is expected to lead to tangible achievements toward
reducing household energy burdens on the poor and increasing their
ability to pay for home energy. As a result, the project should lead to
verifiable improvements in regular energy payments and reductions in
conditions such as disconnections of service, health and safety risks,
and homelessness associated with high-energy costs that are beyond the
resources of low-income families in the targeted community(ies).

Applicants should summarize the beneficial impacts that they propose to
make in that community, their expectations for the continuation of those
benefits beyond the project\'s life, and the kind of information that
they expect to share with OCS and the broader social service/development
community from their project. Project proposals will be assessed, for
this element, on the likely value of the project to the target community
over time \-- given the proposed outcomes and the likelihood that they
will be realized \-- and to the larger low-income community across the
nation.

Within this holistic and coordinated context, applicants should
highlight the ways in which the proposed project represents a new and
innovative approach or approaches to provide for greater energy
self-sufficiency of the poor and/or to deal with particularly critical
energy needs or problems of the poor that are common to a number of
communities.

Innovation can be in the characteristics of the target population to be
served, or the needs to be addressed; the kinds of activities, or
interventions, that will be carried out; the ways in which they will be
carried out; new and different combinations of activities or
interventions that will be implemented; or in the settings in which the
project will function. For example, innovation can mean new
technologies, or innovative applications of existing technologies; new
types of institutions in which the project will function; or activities
and interventions that are new and innovative for a given population or
locality. At the same time, OCS is particularly interested in receiving
REACH Plans that incorporate truly new and different approaches to
solving energy problems of the poor that when successful can provide
valuable guidance to other communities.

**(It is suggested that applicants use no more than 3 pages for this
Element.)**

**[Element 6: Evaluation]{.underline}**

REACH grantees under Priority Area 2.0 will not be required to carry out
a third-party evaluation of their projects. However, their REACH Plans
must describe the indicators they will use to measure whether the
performance goals of their project have been achieved. In so doing, the
applicant should refer to the interventions, outcomes and goals they
have described in Element 2 and should agree to work with OCS to assure
use of common measurements and reporting forms.

**(It is suggested that applicant use no more than 2 pages for this
Element.)**

[**REACH Plans with project narratives (excluding appendices) that
exceed these limits will not be reviewed for funding**.]{.underline}

**2. [REVIEW CRITERIA FOR PRIORITY AREA 2.0 REACH PLANS]{.underline}**

Review Criterion 1: Organizational Profile (Organizational Experience
and Capability)

(Weight of 0 to 10 points)

The Plan should cite the applicant's capability and relevant experience
in developing and operating programs that deal with energy and poverty
problems similar to those to be addressed by the proposed project. While
the proposed project management team will be identified and described
below, applicants should identify organization executive leadership in
this section and briefly describe their involvement in the proposed
project and provide assurance of their commitment to its successful
implementation.

**[Review Criterion 2: Approach]{.underline}** **(Total Weight of 0 to
50 points)**

**[(a) Description of Target Population, Analysis of Need, and Project
Assumptions]{.underline}**

**(Weight of 0 to 20 points)**

-   The Plan should precisely identify the target population to be
    served.

-   The geographic area to be impacted should be briefly highlighted,
    selectively emphasizing the socioeconomic/poverty and other data
    that are relevant to the project design. The date and source of
    cited data should be noted.

-   The applicant should clearly define the specific needs that the
    project will address, and should state its underlying assumptions
    about how these specific needs can be addressed by the proposed
    project.

-   The Plan must include in this element a brief description of how the
    views of eligible low-income individuals in the community will be
    solicited on the design and implementation of the REACH Project, and
    how the applicant will respond to such views.

**[(b) Project Description and Design Framework: Interventions,
Outcomes, and Goals]{.underline}** **(Weight of 0 to 20 points)**

> Applicants should prepare a logical presentation of their plan so that
> the following are clearly defined and understood:

-   what specific activities/interventions are proposed to address the
    specific need(s) described previously;

-   what immediate changes the interventions will produce;

-   what intermediate outcomes will result from the changes and/or from
    a combination of interventions and their changes;

-   what the project goals are, and how the project will achieve its
    goals as a consequence of the defined interventions and identified
    changes and outcomes.

> Applicants should provide at least **two** of the services below and
> describe how they will provide the following either through REACH or
> coordinated with other program services:

-   payments to, or on behalf of, individuals eligible for home energy
    costs;

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-   energy efficiency education;

-   residential energy demand management services, including any other
    energy related residential repair and energy efficiency improvements
    in coordination with or delivered by Department of Energy
    Weatherization Assistance Program; family services, such as
    counseling and needs assessment, related to energy budget
    management, payment plans, and related services; and

-   negotiation with home energy suppliers on behalf of households
    eligible for REACH services and benefits.

Applicants should describe how their project will:

-   discourage family energy crises;

-   encourage responsible vendor and consumer behavior;

-   provide only financial incentives that encourage household payment;

-   provide incentives for recipients of assistance to pay home energy
    costs; and

-   provide incentives for vendors to help reduce the energy burdens of
    recipients of

> assistance.

**[(c) Work Plan]{.underline} (Weight of 0 to 10 points)**

The applicant should present the highlights of a work plan for the
project that explicitly ties into the project design framework and
should be feasible, that is, capable of being accomplished with the
resources, time, staff and partners available. The plan should briefly
describe the key project tasks, and show the timelines and major
milestones for their implementation. Applicants may use a simple Gantt
or time line chart to convey the work plan in minimal space.

The Applicant should [explicitly address]{.underline} critical issues or
potential problems that might affect the achievement of project
objectives, with an explanation of how they would be overcome, and how
the objectives will be achieved notwithstanding any such problems. The
plan should be presented in such a way that it could be correlated with
the Budget Justification included in the application.

**[Review Criterion 3: Organizational Profile (Management and
Organization)]{.underline}**

**(Weight of 0 to 10 points)**

While the experience of agency leadership is important to project
success, the caliber of day-to-day project management is critical.
Applicants should identify key staff, including the Project Director,
who will be implementing the project, and any other staff they feel are
especially important to the success of the project.

Resumes should be included as an Appendix to the REACH Plan. Where the
staff has not been identified, a position description should be included
in the Appendix.

REACH Plans will be assessed, for this element, on the relevant
experience, capabilities, commitment, and planned level of effort to the
project of the Project Director and key staff members as described in
the Plan.

**[Review Criterion 4: Budget And Budget Justification]{.underline}
(Weight of 0 to 10 points)**

Applicants should submit Federal forms with their REACH plans to provide
basic applicant and project information (SF-424) and information about
how Federal and other project funds will be used (SF-424A). Budgeted
amounts should be reasonable and relate to the proposed activities
identified in the applicant's Plan.

Applicants must submit a Budget Justification, or explanatory budget
information for the 12-month budget period. The Budget Justification
should briefly explain the adequacy of the Federal funds and other
mobilized resources to accomplish project purposes, and should explain
the source and nature of any mobilized resources.

Where Priority Area 2.0 applicants elect to have REACH services provided
through a non-profit organization sub-recipient, an SF-424A must be
completed for the applicant and another SF-424A must be completed for
the non-profit organization sub-recipient. The sub-recipient SF-424A
should include budget information for all three years of the project
period, divided into three separate budget periods. A Budget
Justification should be included for the sub-recipient, covering the
full three-year project budget.

The applicant's budget should include funds for travel to two OCS
conferences during their project period.

**[Review Criterion 5: Results Or Benefits Expected (Innovative
Approaches and Significant and Beneficial Impact)]{.underline} (Weight
of 0 to 15 points)**

The REACH Project should:

-   provide innovative approaches that will create significant benefits
    for low-income energy consumers, their families, and their
    communities;

-   have a strong likelihood of creating beneficial impacts both within
    the project communities and, through wide dissemination of useful
    project results and findings, in other communities facing similar
    challenges;

-   provide verifiable improvements in regular energy payments and
    reductions in conditions such as disconnections of service, health
    and safety risks, and homelessness associated with high energy costs
    that are beyond the resources of low income families in the targeted
    community(ies); and

-   summarize the beneficial impact that they propose to make in the
    community(ies), and their expectations for continuation of those
    benefits beyond the project's life.

OCS is particularly interested in receiving REACH Plans that incorporate
truly new and different approaches to solving energy problems of the
poor that when successful can provide valuable guidance to other
communities.

**[Review Criterion 6: Evaluation]{.underline} (Weight of 0 to 5
points)**

REACH grantees under Priority Area 2.0 will not be required to carry out
a third-party evaluation of their projects. However, their REACH Plans
must describe the indicators they will use to measure whether the
performance goals of their project have been achieved. The applicant
should refer to the interventions, outcomes and goals they have
described in Element II and should agree to work with OCS to assure use
of common measurements and reporting forms.

**C. ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES PLANS (OPTIONAL)**

The REACH authorizing legislation provides for a separate Energy
Efficiency Education Services (EEES) plan that applicants may include in
their REACH application. The EEES Plan must be separate from the REACH
Plan and contained in the Appendix to the REACH Plan. If EEES Plans meet
the requirements of the Elements and Review Criteria included under this
section and have the potential for being replicable model designs for
other programs, they are eligible for supplemental payments.

**[ELEMENTS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION SERVICES PLANS]{.underline}**

[**Element 1: Purpose**]{.underline}

The Plan should state the purpose of the proposed EEES services, which
should be generally consistent with and include the following goals:

-   to assist low-income households, especially those with high energy
    burdens;

-   to use energy efficiently;

-   to reduce their home energy costs;

-   to minimize health and safety risks within their homes;

-   to increase their indoor comfort level; and

-   to maintain their highest possible level of energy self-sufficiency.

    [**Element 2: Target Population**]{.underline}

The Plan should identify a target population for the EEES project, which
includes LIHEAP recipients and at least some who have received services
from the DOE WAP Program, and others consistent with the stated purpose
and goals of the EEES project. The Plan should include assurances that
the defined target population is one from whom data on energy usage and
costs before and after receipt of the EEES services will be available,
and should indicate how such data will be collected.

[**Element 3: Needs Assessment And Project Design Process**]{.underline}

The Plan should describe:

-   the needs assessment that the applicant has undertaken or will
    undertake among the target population;

-   how the design of the EEES Program will respond to the needs
    identified (see Element 4, below); and

-   how the EEES Program priorities have been or will be determined by
    the needs covered.

Element 4: Service Delivery

> [1) Setting:]{.underline} The Plan should indicate the setting or
> settings \-- in-office instruction (*e.g.* at time of initial intake),
> workshops, or home visits \-- in which the EEES services will be
> delivered, and project the number of service units planned for each.
>
> [2) Services:]{.underline} The Plan should identify the types of
> services to be delivered and how \-- whether by lecture, audio-visual
> media, written materials, hands on experience, or other educational
> technique \-- and if appropriate, which services are planned to be
> used in which of the identified settings.

Element 5: Relation of Services to Changes, of Changes to Outcomes, and
of Outcomes to Goals (A \"Logic Model\")

The Plan should briefly describe:

-   each Energy Efficiency Education Service (EEES) planned (*e.g.* a
    demonstration and discussion on air infiltration);

-   the immediate changes expected to result from delivery of the
    service (*e.g.* a better understanding of the importance of stopping
    infiltration);

-   the intermediate outcomes expected to result from the changes
    (*e.g.* action by the client to stop infiltration in their
    dwelling); and

-   how these changes and outcomes will be expected to achieve a program
    goal (*e.g.* reduced energy consumption).

-   This exact terminology need not be used in the Plan, but the cause
    and effect relationship between the EEES planned and the achievement
    of program goals should be briefly explained.

This part of the Plan should include the provision for the development
with EEES recipients of an Action Plan through which the recipient will
make a commitment to take actions based on the EEES information
received. It should also include a provision for reinforcement of the
commitment through follow-up activities by the grantee or other
\"interventions\".

**[Element 6: Evaluation]{.underline}**

For applicants under Priority Area 2.0, the EEES Plan should provide
assurances that the applicant will: (1) provide for consumer evaluation
of the EEES Services program, and (2) revise and improve its EEES
program in response to such evaluation, where appropriate.

**2. [REVIEW CRITERIA - ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION PLANS]{.underline}**

Review Criteria for the EEES plan are listed below:

**[Review Criterion 1: Purpose]{.underline} (Maximum of 15 Points)**

The Plan should state the purpose of the proposed EEES services, which
should be generally consistent with and include the following goals:

-   to assist low-income households, especially those with high energy
    burdens;

-   to use energy efficiently, to reduce their home energy costs;

-   to minimize health and safety risks within their homes;

-   to increase their indoor comfort level; and

-   to maintain their highest possible level of energy self-sufficiency.

    **[Review Criterion 2: Target Population]{.underline}** **(Maximum
    of 10 Points)**

The Plan should identify a target population for the EEES services,
which includes LIHEAP recipients and at least some recipients who have
received services from the DOE WAP Program, and others consistent with
the stated purpose and goals of the program. The Plan should include
assurances that the defined target population is one from whom data on
energy usage and costs before and after receipt of the EEES services
will be available, and should indicate how such data will be collected.

[**Review Criterion 3: Needs Assessment And Project Design
Process**]{.underline}

**(Maximum of 25 Points)**

The Plan should describe the needs assessment that the applicant has
undertaken or will undertake among the target population, how the design
of the EEES Plan will respond to the needs identified (see REVIEW
CRITERION 4, below), and how the EEES Plan priorities have been or will
be determined by the needs discovered.

Review Criterion 4: Service Delivery

(Maximum of 20 Points)

> [1) Setting:]{.underline} the Plan should indicate the setting or
> settings \-- in-office instruction (*e.g.* at time of initial intake),
> workshops, or home visits \-- in which the EEES services will be
> delivered, and project the number of service units planned for each.
>
> [2) Services:]{.underline} the Plan should identify the types of
> services to be delivered and how \-- whether by lecture, audio-visual
> media, written materials, hands on experience, or other educational
> technique -- and, if appropriate, which services are planned to be
> used in which of the identified settings.

Review Criterion 5: Relation Of Services To Changes, Of Changes To
Outcomes, And Of Outcomes To Goals (A \"Logic Model\") (Maximum of 20
Points)

The Plan should briefly state:

-   each Energy Efficiency Education Service planned (*e.g.,* a
    demonstration and discussion on air infiltration);

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-   the immediate changes expected to result from delivery of the
    service (*e.g.,* a better understanding of the importance of
    stopping infiltration);

-   the intermediate outcomes expected to result from the changes
    (*e.g.,* action by the client to stop infiltration in their
    dwelling);

-   how these changes and outcomes will be expected to achieve a program
    goal (*e.g.,* reduced energy consumption).

This exact terminology used above need not be used in the Plan; but the
cause and effect relationship between the EEES planned and the
achievement of program goals should be briefly explained.

This part of the Plan should include provision for the development with
EEES recipients of an Action Plan through which the recipient will make
a commitment to take actions based on the EEES information received; and
it should also include a provision for reinforcement of the commitment
through follow-up activities by the grantee or other \"interventions\".

Review Criterion 6: Evaluation (Maximum of 10 Points)

The EEES Plan submitted by applicants under Priority Area 1.0 should
provide for the inclusion of an Evaluation of the EEES Program as a part
of the Evaluation Plan Outline for the overall REACH Initiative. It
should provide for Process and Outcome Evaluations, and should describe
what data will be collected and how it will relate to the achievement of
EEES program goals. The EEES portion of the evaluation plan outline
should make specific provision for consumer evaluation of the EEES
program interventions; and should conclude with a commitment from the
grantee to revise and improve its EEES program in response to the
overall evaluation, where appropriate.

**[PART V. APPLICATION PROCEDURES]{.underline}**

**A. FORMAT/FORMS**

**1**. **[Priority Area 1.0 (States, District of Columbia and Puerto
Rico) and Priority Area 2.0]{.underline}**

**a. [Format]{.underline}**

OCS seeks to learn from the REACH Plan why the project is important or
necessary, what activities will be carried out, and why and how the
project as proposed is expected to lead to significant improvements in
individual and family energy self-sufficiency. Applicants are urged to
design and present their project in terms of a conceptual cause-effect
framework.

Attachment N contains a description of a \"logic model\" or framework
that suggests a way to present a project to show the rationale for the
project and the logic of the cause-effect relationship between project
activities and project results. Applicants are not required to use the
precise logic model language described, but it is important to present
the project in a way that makes clear the cause-effect relationship
between what the project plans to do and the results it expects to
achieve.

Applicants should prepare their project descriptions using the Elements
described in the Part III for Priority Area 1.0, Part IV for Priority
Area 2.0. and Part V for the Cooperative Agreement.

**[PRIORITY AREA 1.0 ONLY:]{.underline}**

**[There are two segments required for REACH Plan narratives under
Priority Area 1.0]{.underline}**

-   Segment One includes information on the Community Based Organization
    (CBO) that will implement the program and a description of the
    Project Plan. This segment should be completed for each different
    and distinct local REACH Project to be carried out by a CBO
    Recipient, and must not be more than 24 pages in length (Note: The
    Budget Justification Narrative is not counted as part of these 24
    pages).

-   Segment Two includes management and organizational information on
    the State applicant and information on the Project Evaluation to be
    provided by the State. This segment should be completed only once
    for the applicant\'s entire REACH Project, and must not be more than
    six pages in length.

A State may submit a REACH Plan that proposes:

-   One local REACH Project to be implemented by one CBO Recipient;

-   the same Project to be implemented in several localities by more
    than one CBO Recipient; or

-   two or more different and distinct Projects, each to be implemented
    through one or more separate CBO Recipients*.*

    Where a REACH Plan proposes only one distinct project to be carried
    out by a single CBO recipient, the Plan will consist of one Segment
    One and one Segment Two, and the Plan's review score will be the
    otal of the scores for each segment*.*

    Where a REACH Plan proposes only one distinct project, to be
    implemented either in one locality or in several, by one or more CBO
    Recipients, the Plan need include only one \"Segment One\"
    narrative, but this should include information on the CBO's
    organization and capability, not to exceed 5 pages in length, for
    [each]{.underline} of the implementing CBO Recipients. In such
    cases, the [additional]{.underline} five page capability statements
    may be in addition to the 24-page limit for Segment One narratives.
    The Element One review scores will be averaged.

    Where a State proposes different and distinct REACH Projects to be
    carried out by more than one CBO Recipient, the REACH Plan should
    include, for each of these projects/CBO Recipients a separate
    \"Segment One\" narrative. (Each such Segment One narrative may be
    up to 24 pages.)

Page Length and Type Requirements for All Reach Plans

For Plans submitted under **Priority Area 1.0**, the total number of
pages for Segment One of the Project Narrative(s) dealing with Element I
(Organizational Experience and Capability) through Element III, must not
exceed 24 pages for each such narrative submitted for a specific local
project (plus additional Element I narratives where a single project is
to be implemented by more than one CBO); and Segment Two of the
narrative dealing with Elements IV and V must not exceed 6 pages,
excluding Appendices.

The Project Narratives for Plans submitted under **Priority Area 2.0**
must not exceed 20 pages in length.

Plans for supplemental EEES should not exceed 10 pages in length.
Project narratives should be on letter-sized 8 ½" X 11\" pages in 12
c.p.i. type or equivalent on a single side. Plans must be typewritten on
one side of the paper only, in type no smaller than 12 c.p.i., 11 point,
or equivalent, with margins no less than one inch. Pages should be
numbered sequentially throughout the application package, excluding
Appendices, beginning with the Abstract (See Part VIII, A, 3 for
Abstract criteria) as Page #1.

REACH Plans must be uniform in composition since OCS may find it
necessary to duplicate them for review purposes. Therefore, REACH Plans
must be submitted on white 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper only. They must not
include colored, oversized, or folded materials. Organizational
brochures or other promotional materials, slides, films, clips, etc., if
included in the proposal, will be discarded. The Plans should be
two-hole punched at the top center and fastened separately with a
compressor slide paper fastener, or a binder clip. The submission of
bound plans is specifically discouraged**.**

**b. [Forms]{.underline}**

Attachments B through J contain all of the standard forms required for
awards under this OCS program. These attachments *and Parts V, VI, VII*
of this Action Transmittal contain all the instructions required for
submittal of REACH Plans.

Additional copies of this Action Transmittal may be obtained by writing
or telephoning the office listed under the section entitled \"FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:\" at the beginning of this Action
Transmittal. In addition, this Notice is accessible on the LIHEAP
WEBSITE for reading or downloading at
[www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap](http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/liheap).

> **c. [The Paperwork Reduction Act OF 1995 (Pub. L.
> 104-13)]{.underline}**

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated
to average 15 to 25 hours per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing
the collection information.

The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139
which expires 4/30/2007. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless
it displays a current valid OMB control number.

B.  **REACH APPLICATION SUBMISSION**

**[Number of Copies Required.]{.underline}** One signed original REACH
Application and two signed copies should be submitted. Although we
cannot require more than two copies, we would greatly appreciate two
additional copies. Applicants have the option to omit from copies to be
made available to non-Federal reviewers the specific salary rates or
amounts for individuals identified in the REACH Plan budget***.***
Rather, only summary information is required in these copies***.***

> **The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m.
> (Eastern Time Zone) on August 26, 2005. Mailed or hand-carried
> applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be
> classified as late.**

**[Deadline:]{.underline}** Mailed applications shall be considered as
meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the
deadline time and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, Attention: Anna M. Guidery, 370
L\'Enfant Promenade, SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447.
Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance,
when using all mail services, to ensure that the applications are
received on or before the deadline time and date.

Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services,
Division of Energy Assistance, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor (near loading
dock), Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024,
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). This address
must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the
note [**\"Attention: Anna M. Guidery**".]{.underline} Applicants are
cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as
agreed.

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or through
other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF
electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of
submission and time of receipt.

[Late applications:]{.underline} Applications which do not meet the
criteria above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each
late applicant that its application will not be considered in the
current competition.

[Extension of deadlines:]{.underline} ACF may extend application
deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes,
etc.) occur, or when there are widespread disruptions of mail service,
or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline
requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

**C. Application Consideration**

REACH applications that meet the screening requirements in Part VI, D
below will be reviewed for compliance with the Program Elements and
Review Criteria set forth in Parts III, IV and V. Such applications will
be referred to reviewers for a numerical score and explanatory comments

based solely on responsiveness to the Legislative Authority, the
Requirements, and Plan Elements/Evaluation Criteria outlined in Part
III, IV and V of this Action Transmittal. The results

of these reviews will assist the Director and OCS program staff in
considering which REACH

projects to fund.

Reviewers\' scores will weigh heavily in funding decisions but will not
be the only factors considered. Applications will be considered in rank
order of the averaged scores. However, highly ranked applications are
not guaranteed funding since other factors are taken into consideration,
including, but not limited to: the timely and proper completion by
applicant of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last (5)
years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation
and input; the proposed initiative's consistency and harmony with agency
goals and policy; geographic distribution; previous program performance
of applicants; compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants;
audit reports; investigative reports; and applicant\'s progress in
resolving any final audit disallowances on OCS or other Federal agency
grants.

**Previously funded applicants who have completed their projects must
submit with their REACH Plans, a copy of their Final Evaluation Report,
which will be taken into consideration in any funding decision.**

OCS reserves the right to discuss REACH applications with other Federal
or non‑Federal funding sources to determine the applicant\'s performance
record.

**D. Criteria for Reviewing REACH Applications**

All REACH applications that meet the published deadline for submission
will be screened to determine completeness and conformity to the
requirements of this Action Transmittal. Only those applications meeting
the following requirements will be reviewed and evaluated competitively.
Others will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were
unacceptable.

**[Initial Screening]{.underline}**

The Plan must contain:

1\. A signed Statement of Assurances and Demonstration (see Attachment
M);

> 2\. A Standard Form 424 \"Application for Federal Assistance\"
> (SF-424), signed by an official of the
>
> organization applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the
> organization legally;

3\. One budget form (SF-424A) covering the entire REACH Project, and
[one]{.underline} SF-424A for each

CB0 Recipient/non-profit (or non-profit sub-recipient in the case of
Priority Area 2.0 applicants

electing to delegate their REACH Projects); and

4\. Signed \"Assurances\" (SF-424B) completed according to instructions
published in PART VII and

attachment D to this Action Transmittal.

**[Pre-rating Review]{.underline}**

Applications that pass the initial screening will be forwarded to
reviewers for analytical comment and scoring based on the criteria
detailed in the Section below and the specific requirements contained in
PARTS III, IV and V of this Action Transmittal. Prior to the
programmatic review, OCS staff will verify that the applications comply
with this Action Transmittal in the following areas:

**1. Eligibility:** The applicant must be an \"eligible applicant\" as
defined in PARTS III, IV and V. Applicants must also be aware that the
applicant\'s legal name as required on the SF-424 (Item 5) must match
that listed as corresponding to the Employer Identification Number (Item
6).

**2. A Project Narrative** must also accompany the standard forms, and,
for **Priority Area 1.0,** must be limited to no more than twenty-four
(24) pages for Narrative Segment One (plus additional Element I
narratives where a single project is to be implemented by more than one
CBO) and six (6) pages for Narrative Segment Two; and for **Priority
Area 2.0,** must be limited to no more than twenty (20) pages.
Narratives must be typewritten on one side of the paper only, in type no
smaller than 12 c.p.i., 11 point, or equivalent, with margins no less
than one inch. Charts, exhibits, letters of support, cooperative
agreements, resumes and position descriptions are not counted against
this page limit and should be included in the appendices.

**3. Grant Amount:** The amount of funds requested for **Priority 1.0**
must not exceed \$1 million and the amount for **Priority 2.0** must not
exceed \$150,000. (These limits do not include EEES Plans which may be
in addition to the amounts indicated).

**IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT APPLICANTS FOLLOW THE FORMAT AND
CONTENT FOR THE PLAN NARRATIVE DESCRIBED IN THE PLAN ELEMENTS SET OUT IN
PARTS III AND IV.**

**[PART VI. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS]{.underline}**

The standard forms attached to this Action Transmittal shall be used to
apply for funds under this Action Transmittal. It is suggested that you
reproduce single-sided copies of the SF-424 and SF-424A, and type your
application on the copies. Please prepare your application forms in
accordance with instructions provided on the forms (Attachments B and C)
as modified by the OCS specific instructions set forth below:

Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs,
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to
be verified. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.

Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,
and allocation of the proposed costs.

**A.** **[SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance]{.underline}**

(One SF-424 to be completed by applicant)

**Top of Page**. Where the applicant is a previous Department of Health
and Human Services grantee, enter the Central Registry System Employee
Identification Number (CRS/EIN) and the Payment Identifying Number in
the block entitled Federal Identifier located at the top right hand
corner of the form (third line from the top).

**Item 1**. For the purposes of this Action Transmittal, all REACH Plans
are considered applications; **there are no pre-applications**.

**Item 7.** Enter \"A\" in the box for State. If applicant is an Indian
Tribe enter \"K\" in the box for Indian Tribe.

**Item 9**. Name of Federal Agency - Enter HHS-ACF/OCS.

**Item 10.** The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for OCS
programs covered under this Action Transmittal is 93.568. The title is
\"LIHEAP\" (REACH is included in the LIHEAP statutory language.)

**Item 11.** Enter a brief descriptive title of the project.

**Item 13.** Proposed Project - The project start date must begin on or
before September 30, 2005; the ending date should be calculated on the
basis of a 12 to 24-month or 36-month Project Period, whichever is
applicable.

**Item 15a**. This amount should be no greater than \$1,000,000 for
Plans under Priority Area 1.0; no greater than \$150,000 for Plans under
Priority Area 2.0.

**Item 15b-e.** These items should reflect both cash and third-party,
in-kind contributions for the Project Period**.**

**B.** **[SF-424A - Budget Information - Non-Construction
Programs]{.underline}**

One SF-424A completed for applicant, covering entire REACH Project, and
one SF-424A to be completed for each CBO Recipient (or non-profit
sub-recipient in the case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants electing to
delegate their REACH Projects).

In completing these sections, the Federal Funds budget entries will
relate to the **requested OCS funds only,** and Non-Federal will include
mobilized funds from all other sources - applicant, state, local, and
other. Federal funds other than requested OCS funding should be included
in [Non-Federal]{.underline} entries.

Sections A, B, and C of SF-424A should reflect budget estimates for each
year of the Project Period.

[Section A - Budget Summary]{.underline}

You need only fill in lines 1 and 5 (with the same amounts)

Col. (a): Enter \"LIHEAP/REACH**.**

Col. (b): Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is **93.568.**
Col. (c) and (d): not relevant to this program.

Col. (e) - (g): enter the appropriate amounts (column e should not be
more than \$1,000,000 for Plans under Priority Area 1.0; or more than
\$150,000 for Plans under Priority Area 2.0.)

[Section B - Budget Categories]{.underline}

1\) For applicants, a single SF-424A covering entire REACH Project:
Complete a one-year budget in accordance with the instructions provided,
entering the amount of grant or contract to CBO Recipient(s) or
non-profit sub-recipient under the Object Class Category (f)
\"Contractual\".

2\) For CBO Recipients (or, in the case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants
non-profit sub-recipients, as appropriate), an SF-424A to be completed
for each, covering the full three-year project:

(Note that the following information supersedes the instructions
provided with the Form in

Attachment C)

Columns (1) - (5): For each of the relevant Object Class Categories:

Column 1: Enter the OCS grant funds for the first year

Column 2: Enter the OCS grant funds for the second year

Column 3: Enter the OCS grant funds for the third year

Column 4: Leave blank.

**Column 5: Enter the total Federal OCS grant funds for the three-year
budget by Class Categories, showing a total of not more than \$1,000,000
for Priority Area 1.0; \$150,000 for Priority Area 2.0.**

NOTE**:** With regard to Class Categories, only out-of-town travel
should be entered under Category c*.* Travel*.* Local travel costs
should be entered under Category h. Other*.* Costs of supplies should be
included under Category e. \"Supplies\" as tangible personal property
other than \"equipment\". \"Equipment\" means an article of
nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more
than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser
of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization for
financial statement purposes, or (b) \$5,000. Articles costing less
should be included in \"Supplies\".

[Section C - Non-Federal Resources]{.underline} should be completed in
accordance with the instructions provided, remembering that **\"all
non-OCS funds\" fall into this category**.

[Sections D, E, and F]{.underline} may be left blank.

As previously noted in Parts III, IV and V, supporting Budget
Justification must be submitted providing details of expenditures under
each budget category, with justification of dollar amounts that relate
the proposed expenditures to the work program and goals of the project.

**C. [SF-424B Assurances: Non-Construction Programs]{.underline}**

(One SF-424B to be submitted by applicant)

Applicants requesting financial assistance for a non-construction
project must file the Standard Form 424B, \"Assurances: Non-Construction
Programs.\" (Attachment D) Applicants must sign and return the Standard
Form 424B with their REACH Plans.

Applicants must provide a certification concerning Lobbying. Prior to
receiving an award in excess of \$100,000, applicants shall furnish an
executed copy of the lobbying certification. (See Attachments G and H)
Applicants must sign and return the certification with their REACH
Plans. Applicants should note that the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
has simplified the lobbying information required to be disclosed under
31 U.S.C. 1352.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification on their compliance
with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Pro-Children Act of
1994 (Certification Regarding Smoke Free Environment). (See Attachments
E and I) **[By signing and submitting the applications, applicants are
attesting to their intent to comply with these requirements and need not
mail back the certification with the REACH Plans]{.underline}**.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are not
presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for award. (See
Attachment F) **[By signing and submitting the application, applicants
are providing the certification and need not mail back the certification
with the REACH Plans.]{.underline}** Copies of the certifications and
assurances are located at the end of this Action Transmittal.

**[PART VII. CONTENTS OF REACH APPLICATIONS AND RECEIPT
PROCESS]{.underline}**

All pages of the REACH Plan should be numbered sequentially throughout
the package, beginning with an Abstract of the Project as page number
one. Each REACH Plan must include all of the following, in the order
listed below:

**A.** **[Content and Order of the REACH Applications]{.underline}**

**1**. Table of Contents;

**2.** Signed and dated Statement of Assurances and Demonstration (see
Attachment M)

> **3.** A brief Abstract of the plan not to exceed 250 words; the
> application should contain a brief
>
> Summary/Abstract of the plan not to exceed 250 words that would be
> suitable for use in an
>
> announcement if the Project is selected for funding. The
> Summary/Abstract should:

-   identify the type of project(s);

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-   clearly state the name of the state contact person, phone number and
    address of the applicant at the top of the abstract followed by the
    same information for each CBO included in the Plan.

-   identify the target population;

-   identify the CBO Recipient(s) (in the case of Priority Area 1.0
    applicants), and the non-profit organization sub-recipient (in the
    case of Priority Area 2.0 applicants electing to delegate their
    REACH Project); and

-   identify the major elements of the work plan(s).

**4**. A completed Standard Form 424 which has been signed by an
official of the organization

applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the organization
legally; \[Note: The original

SF-424 must bear the original signature of the authorizing
representative of the applicant

organization\];

**5.** A ***single Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs
(SF-424A)*** for the applicant,

covering the entire REACH Project; and separate SF-424A forms for each
CBO Recipient or

non-profit sub-recipient as appropriate;

**6.** A narrative budget justification for each object class category
included under Section B, for

each SF-424A;

**7.** [A **project narrative**]{.underline}, limited to the number of
pages specified below, which includes all of the

required elements described in PART III for Priority Area 1.0, Part IV
for Priority Area 2.0 and

Part V for Priority Area 3.0.

**8.** [Appendices]{.underline}, which should include the following:

> **a.** Filled out, signed, and dated [Assurances - Non-Construction
> Programs]{.underline} (SF-424B), Attachment D
>
> **b.** [Restrictions on Lobbying\--Certification for Contracts,
> Grants, Loans, and Cooperative Agreements:]{.underline} fill out, sign
> and date form found at Attachment G;
>
> **c. [Disclosure]{.underline}** [of Lobbying Activities,
> SF-LLL:]{.underline} Fill out, sign and date form found at Attachment
> H, if appropriate (omit Items 11-15 on the SF LLL and ignore
> references to continuation sheet SF-LLL-A)
>
> **d.** [Maintenance of Effort Certification]{.underline} (See
> Attachment J);
>
> **e.** Signed Letter(s) of Agreement from each designated CBO
> Recipient (or non-profit sub-recipients, as appropriate) through which
> project will be implemented. Each Letter of Agreement shall include
> provisions for an advisory board or similar process by which the views
> of low-income residents regarding the project are solicited, and an
> assurance by the CBO that it will be responsive to such views.
>
> **f.** Resumes and/or position descriptions;
>
> **g.** Any letters from cooperating or partnering agencies in target
> communities. \[Such letters are not part of the Narrative and should
> be included in the Appendices. These letters are therefore not counted
> against the page limitations of the Narrative;\] and
>
> **h.** A copy of the Project Evaluation from previous REACH grantees
> who have completed their projects, if applying.

**B. [Acknowledgment of Receipt]{.underline}**

All applicants will receive an acknowledgment with an assigned
identification number. Applicants are requested to supply a
self-addressed mailing label with their REACH Plan that can be attached
to this acknowledgment. The assigned identification number, along with
any other identifying codes, must be referenced in all subsequent
communications concerning the REACH Plan. If an acknowledgment is not
received within three weeks after the deadline date, please notify ACF
by telephone at (202) 401-5318 or 401-9351.

**[PART VIII. POST‑AWARD INFORMATION AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS]{.underline}**

**A. [Notification of Grant Award]{.underline}**

Following approval of the REACH Plans selected for funding, notice of
project approval and authority to draw down project funds will be made
in writing. The official award document is the Grant Award Letter which
provides the amount of Federal funds approved for use in the project,
the project and budget periods for which support is provided, the terms
and conditions of the award, the total project period for which support
is contemplated, and the total required grantee financial participation,
if any.

**B. [Attendance at Workshops]{.underline}**

Subject to the availability of resources, a REACH Conference/Workshop
will be held during two of the three years following award of the REACH
grants. REACH State Project Coordinators, Project Directors of the local
CBO Recipient(s), and Chief Evaluators (for REACH Initiatives funded
under Priority Area 1.0) and Project Directors (for REACH Initiatives
funded under Priority Area 2.0) are strongly encouraged to attend these
conference/workshops held during the course of their Project Periods.
These conference/workshops consist of a national OCS/REACH Orientation
workshop in

Washington, DC, scheduled during the first six months of the Project
Period and a Reporting Out Workshop on evaluation, replication, and
dissemination to be held in the last year of the project period. Project
budgets should include funds for travel to and attendance at these
conference/workshops. If for any reason these conference/workshops are
not held, grantees will be free to reprogram such funds.

**C. [Reporting Requirements]{.underline}**

Grantees will be required to submit **semi-annual program progress and
financial reports**

> **(SF 269)** throughout the project period, as well as a final program
> and financial report within 90 days of the termination of the project.
> For REACH Projects under Priority Area 1.0 an interim evaluation
> report, along with the written policies and procedures resulting from
> the process evaluation, will be due 30 days after the first 18 months
> of the project period. A final evaluation report will be due **six**
> months after the expiration of the grant. These reports will be
> submitted in accordance with instructions to be provided by OCS, and
> will be the basis for the dissemination effort to be conducted by the
> Office of Community Services.

**D. [Audit Requirements]{.underline}**

> Grantees are subject to the audit requirements in Section 2605B (10)
> of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42
> U.S.C. 8621 et seq.

**E. [Prohibitions and Requirements with Regard to
Lobbying]{.underline}**

> Section 1352 of Public Law 101-121, enacted October 23, 1989, imposes
> prohibitions and requirements for disclosure and certification related
> to lobbying on recipients of Federal contracts, grants, cooperative
> agreements, and loans. It provides exemptions for Indian tribes and
> tribal organizations. Current and prospective recipients (and their
> sub tier contractors and/or grantees) are prohibited from using
> Federal funds, other than profits from a Federal contract, for
> lobbying Congress or any Federal agency in connection with the award
> of a contract, grant, cooperative agreement or loan.
>
> In addition, for each award action in excess of \$100,000 (or
> \$150,000 for loans) the law requires recipients and their sub tier
> contractors and/or subgrantees (1) to certify that they have neither
> used nor will use any appropriated funds for payment to lobbyists; (2)
> to disclose the name, address, payment details, and purpose of any
> agreements with lobbyists whom recipients or their sub tier
> contractors or subgrantees will pay with profits or
> [non-appropriated]{.underline} funds on or after December 22, 1989 and
> (3) to file quarterly updates about the use of lobbyists if material
> changes occur in their use. The law establishes civil penalties for
> noncompliance. See Attachments G and H for certification and
> disclosure forms to be submitted with the applications for this
> program.

**F. [Applicable Federal Regulations]{.underline}**

> Attachment L indicates the regulations that apply to all
> applicants/grantees under the REACH Program.
>
> Dated: July 15, 2005
>
> \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
>
> Josephine B. Robinson
>
> Director
>
> Office of Community Services