21454 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

[Program Announcement No. CFDA 93.576]

Technical Assistance to Special

Programs

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement

(ORR), ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of FY 2000

discretionary funds for technical

assistance in six categories of programs

that assist refugees.

SUMMARY: ORR invites eligible entities

to submit competitive applications for

cooperative agreements to provide

technical assistance to agencies that

serve in the following program areas:

Program Area 1—Technical assistance

for special programs in designated

initiatives;

Program Area 2—Technical assistance

for employment services;

Program Area 3—Technical assistance

to English language training providers;

Program Area 4—Technical assistance

to agencies with Individual

Development Account (IDA) projects for

refugees;

Program Area 5—Technical assistance

for refugee child welfare services; and

Program Area 6—Technical assistance

for refugee housing services.

Applications will be screened and

evaluated as indicated in this program

announcement. Awards will be

contingent on the outcome of the

competition and the availability of

funds.

Applications will be accepted

pursuant to the Director’s discretionary

authority under section 412(c) of the

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

(8 U.S.C. 1522), as amended.

DATES: The closing date for submission

of applications is June 20, 2000. See Part

IV of this announcement for more

information on submitting applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Program Areas 1 and 5—Marta Brenden

at (202) 205–3589,

MBrenden@ACF.DHHS.GOV; Program

Areas 2, 4 and 6—Henley Portner at

(202) 401–5363,

HPortner@ACF.DHHS.GOV; Program

Area 3—Nguyen Kimchi at (202) 401–

4556, NKimchi@ACF.DHHS.GOV.

Application materials are also available

from Marta Brenden at the Office of

Refugee Resettlement, 370 L’Enfant

Promenade SW, Washington DC 20447

and on the ORR website at

www.acf.dhhs.gov/program/orr.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

program announcement consists of four

parts:

Part I: Background, legislative

authority, funding availability, CFDA

Number, applicant eligibility, project

and budget periods, length of

application, and for each of the six

program areas: purpose and scope,

allowable activities, and review criteria.

Part II: General instructions for

preparing a full project description.

Part III: The Review Process—

Intergovernmental review, initial ACF

screening, competitive review, and

funding reconsideration.

Part IV: The Application—

Application materials, application

development, application submission

information and certifications, and

regulations and reporting.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.

L. 104–13)

Public reporting burden for each

collection of information is estimated to

average 8 hours, including the time for

reviewing instructions, gathering and

maintaining the data needed, and

reviewing the collection of information.

The following information collections

are included in the program

announcement: OMB Approval No.

0970–0139, ACF UNIFORM PROJECT

DESCRIPTION (UPD) which expires 10/

31/2000. An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to

respond to, a collection of information

unless it displays a currently valid OMB

control number.

Part I: Background

In recent years, ORR has supported

the work of its grantees in various

program areas through several

‘‘technical assistance’’ grants with

organizations uniquely qualified to

advance the field, improve program

achievement and develop organizational

capacity to improved performance. ORR

has supported technical assistance for

employment, English language training,

microenterprise, services to the elderly,

and the impact of welfare reform on

refugees. Under this announcement,

ORR continues its practice of providing

technical assistance to the field of

grantees in several new or expanded

categories. ORR’s intent through this

support is to equip grantees with the

best technical help for continuous

improvement in programs, in their

capacity to serve refugees, and in their

impact on refugee lives and economic

independence.

Legislative Authority: This program is

authorized by Section 412(c)(1)(A) of

the Immigration and Nationality Act

(INA)(8 U.S.C. 1522 (c)(1)(A)), as

amended, which authorizes the Director

‘‘to make grants to, and enter into

contracts with, public or private

nonprofit agencies for projects

specifically designed—(i) to assist

refugees in obtaining the skills which

are necessary for economic self

sufficiency, including projects for job

training, employment services, day care,

professional refresher training, and

other recertification services; (ii) to

provide training in English where

necessary (regardless of whether the

refugees are employed or receiving cash

or other assistance); and (iii) to provide

where specific needs have been shown

and recognized by the Director, health

(including mental health) services,

social services, education and other

services.’’ The FY 2000 Appropriation

Act for the Department of Health and

Human Services (Pub. L. 106–113)

appropriates funds for refugee and

entrant assistance activities authorized

by these provisions of the INA.

Funding Availability: ORR expects to

make available approximately $2

million for up to 6 cooperative

agreements one for each program area.

The Director reserves the right to

award less, or more, than the funds

described, in the absence of worthy

applications, or under such other

circumstances as may be deemed to be

in the best interest of the government.

CFDA Number: 93.576.

Applicant Eligibility: Eligible

applicants are public and private nonprofit organizations and agencies of

State governments that are responsible

for the refugee program under 45 CFR

400.5.

Project and Budget Periods: This

announcement invites applications for

project periods up to 3 years. Awards,

on a competitive basis, will be for a oneyear budget period, although project

periods may be for 3 years. Applications

for continuation grants funded under

these awards beyond the one-year

budget period but within the 3 year

project period will be entertained in

subsequent years on a noncompetitive

basis, subject to availability of funds,

satisfactory progress of the grantee and

a determination that continued funding

would be in the best interest of the

Government.

Length of Application: Applicants are

encouraged to limit program narratives

to 25 pages (double-spaced on standard,

letter-size paper, in 12-point font) plus

no more than 25 pages of appended

material. This limitation of 25 pages per

program area should be considered as a

maximum, and not necessarily a goal.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices 21455

Program Area 1

Technical Assistance for Special

Programs in Designated Initiatives

Program Purpose and Scope

The Office of Refugee Resettlement

(ORR) proposes to award one

cooperative agreement for the purpose

of providing technical assistance to

designated programs of special interest

to the Director. For fiscal year 2000

funds, three special programs have been

designated: microenterprise

development; model projects for

comprehensive cash assistance and

employment services; and projects for

refugees who have experienced longterm difficulties in assimilation.

Through this award, ORR intends to

provide technical planning and

assistance to grantees for multiple

purposes: to strengthen organizational

capacity; to share policies, procedures,

and materials through a grantee

network; to collaborate on performance

measures; to report program

performance; and to assist grantees in

their efforts at continuous performance

improvement and its impact on refugee

economic self-sufficiency.

Approximately $500,000 has been

allocated for this program area. One

cooperative agreement may be awarded

for one national project. Successful

applicants will have demonstrated

expertise in both organizational and

community development as well as

more specialized experience in the field

of micro-finance and the development

of microenterprise projects.

Through this cooperative agreement,

ORR intends to review and approve (1)

A technical assistance plan, including

proposed site visits and technical

assistance activities and schedules; (2)

all written materials developed and

proposed for dissemination to the field;

and (3) locations of proposed

workshops, proposed topics and

formats, and agendas.

Allowable Activities

Applicants may propose all or some

combination of the following, as well as

other innovative strategies for technical

assistance:

• Assessing technical assistance and

training needs in agencies and

communities;

• Disseminating information,

materials and technical advice related to

employment, subsidized employment,

self-employment, effective case

management, financial management

systems, and micro-finance;

• Collecting and summarizing data

and information on program

performance;

• Facilitating the electronic exchange

of information through a network

website, listserve, and through the

collection and reporting of program

performance, performance

measurement, and impact information;

• Providing on-site or group training

or technical assistance meetings and

workshops;

• Developing training curricula and

materials;

• Conducting on-site program

reviews;

• Maintenance of a database of

characteristics and achievements of the

programs and preparation and

dissemination of reports on the program

characteristics and achievements.

Program Area 1

Application Review Criteria

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate, and the proposed activities

and timeframes are reasonable. The

technical assistance plan describes

clearly and in detail the manner in

which the applicant will assess the need

for technical assistance, the proposed

activities, and how the proposed

activities are expected to address known

technical assistance needs of agencies

and communities. (20 points)

2. Results or Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(15 points)

3. Organizational Profiles. The

capacity of the applicant to achieve the

project’s objectives is clearly

demonstrated. Organizational expertise

and experience in the provision of

technical assistance and information

sharing are appropriate for the proposed

project. (30 points)

4. Staff and Position Data. Staff

qualifications are clearly presented and

are appropriate to achieving the

project’s objectives. The description of

staff qualifications demonstrates

experience in providing technical

assistance to refugee programs and

communities. (20 points)

5. Budget and Budget Justification.

The budget is clearly presented and is

detailed, reasonable, and cost effective.

(15 points)

Program Area 2

Technical Assistance for Employment

Services

Purpose and Scope

The primary goal of refugee

resettlement is to assist refugees in

becoming self-sufficient. Two factors

critical to achieving this goal are

attachment to the labor force and the

opportunity to earn a living wage. ORR

proposes to award one cooperative

agreement to an agency that will

provide technical assistance to ORR

employment service providers.

This announcement continues ORR’s

longstanding support for technical

assistance to refugee employment

service providers for multiple purposes:

to identify model and best practices and

to disseminate this information broadly;

to assist local programs in implementing

performance measures under the

Government Performance and Results

Act (GPRA); to develop and conduct

training and on-site peer reviews; and to

perform on-site analysis of employment

services in such areas as staff training,

multi-agency collaboration, and

employer and/or refugee involvement in

the design of services.

Approximately $275,000 has been

allocated for this program area. One

cooperative agreement may be awarded

for one national project. Through this

cooperative agreement, ORR intends to

review and approve (1) the technical

assistance plan, including proposed site

visits and technical assistance activities

and schedules; (2) all written materials

developed prior to the release of such

documents; and (3) locations of

proposed workshops, proposed topics

and formats, and agendas.

Allowable Activities

Applicants may propose all or a

combination of the activities described

below. Applicants may also propose

new or innovative approaches to

providing technical assistance for

employment services.

• On-site visits to assess technical

assistance needs, to provide technical

assistance and training directly to

agencies, and to ascertain best practices

in providing employment services;

• Preparation of a variety of reports to

be distributed to agencies to assist them

in providing employment services,

including site visit reports and best

practices reports;

• Organization and operation of

workshops for agencies in the area of

employment services, to include

facilitated discussions, training, and

presentations; and

• Provision of technical assistance,

both in writing and by telephone, to

agencies.

• Maintenance of a database of

characteristics and achievements of the

programs and preparation and

dissemination of reports on the program

characteristics and achievements.

21456 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

Program Area 2

Application Review Criteria

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate; and the proposed activities

and timeframes are reasonable. The

technical assistance plan describes

clearly and in detail the manner in

which the applicant will assess the need

for technical assistance, the proposed

activities, and how the proposed

activities are expected to address known

technical assistance needs of agencies

that provide employment services. (30

points)

2. Results or Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(15 points)

3. Organizational Profiles. The

capacity of the applicant to achieve the

project’s objectives is clearly

demonstrated. Organizational expertise

and experience in the provision of

employment services and in the

provision of technical assistance are

described and are appropriate and

adequate for the proposed project. (20

points)

4. Staff and Position Data. Staff

qualifications are clearly presented and

are appropriate to achieving the

project’s objectives. The description of

staff qualifications demonstrates

experience in providing employment

services and in providing technical

assistance. (20 points)

5. Budget and Budget Justification.

The budget is clearly presented and is

detailed, reasonable, and cost effective.

(15 points)

Program Area 3

Technical Assistance to English

Language Training Providers

Purpose and Scope

The Office of Refugee Resettlement

(ORR) proposes to award one

cooperative agreement in the amount of

$275,000 for a project to provide

technical assistance and training to

providers of English language training

(ELT). Technical assistance may be

proposed for the following purposes:

• Design and improvement of

employment-related ELT. Technical

assistance and training may be provided

both to teachers and to programs; the

technical assistance and training may be

focused on curricula, teaching

strategies, and/or program development

such as integrating ELT with

employment-focused services, work-site

ELT, and family literacy.

• Training in the areas of cultural

adjustment, learning disabilities, and

mental health and in the use of new or

innovative classroom technologies.

Training may include topics such as

identifying cultural adjustment/learning

disabilities/mental health issues,

accommodating such issues in the

classroom and/or seeking professional

consultation, and developing

appropriate curricula. Training may also

include introducing teachers to new

and/or innovative ELT technologies,

such as using software programs in

classroom instruction.

• Organization and facilitation of

consultative and information-sharing

sessions. Such sessions may include

staff from similar types of agencies or

from agencies serving similar groups of

refugees. The purpose of the sessions

would be to provide an opportunity for

ELT staff to share experiences. These

sessions may also provide opportunities

for different types of staff—ELT

teachers, case managers, employment

specialists, public health

professionals—to meet to develop

strategies for effective working

relationships.

Applicants should propose technical

assistance projects that are to be

implemented nationally. Under the

cooperative agreement for these

projects, ORR intends to review and

approve: (1) The technical assistance

plan, including proposed sites and

participants; (2) assessment tools to be

used to evaluate technical assistance

needs; (3) subject areas for which

technical assistance curricula will be

used; and (4) materials prepared for use

in the delivery of the technical

assistance.

Allowable Activities

Applicants may propose all or a

combination of the activities described

below. Applicants may also propose

additional or innovative approaches for

technical assistance for ELT providers.

• Assessment of ELT technical

assistance needs in agencies and

communities;

• Organization and operation of

training and facilitated sessions on

identified ELT technical assistance

needs. These sessions may include both

single agency and multi-site or multiproject training and facilitated

discussion;

• Provision of technical assistance,

both in writing and by telephone, to

ELT providers;

• Review of existing materials and

recommendations on usefulness/

appropriateness for use in refugeeoriented ELT; and preparation and

distribution of materials relevant to

identified ELT needs;

• Development of, or participation in

the development of, employment-based

ELT curricula;

• Facilitation of a network of

providers to share information and to

resolve problems.

Program Area 3

Review Criteria for Technical Assistance

to Organizations Providing English

Language Training

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate; and the proposed activities

and timeframes are reasonable. The

technical assistance plan describes

clearly and in detail the manner in

which the applicant will assess the need

for technical assistance, the proposed

activities, and how the proposed

activities are expected to address known

ELT technical assistance needs. (30

points)

2. Results or Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(15 points)

3. Organization Profiles. The capacity

of the applicant to achieve the project’s

objectives is clearly demonstrated.

Organizational expertise and experience

in the provision of ELT and/or in ELT

technical assistance to ELT staff and to

agencies are described and are

appropriate and adequate for the

proposed project. (20 points)

4. Staff and Position Data. Staff

qualifications are clearly presented and

are appropriate to achieving the

project’s objectives. The description of

staff qualifications demonstrates

experience in providing ELT services

and in providing ELT and cross-cultural

communication technical assistance. (20

points)

5. Budget and Budget Justification.

The budget is clearly presented,

detailed, reasonable, and cost effective.

(15 points)

Program Area 4

Technical Assistance to Agencies With

Individual Development Account (IDA)

Refugee Projects

Purpose and Scope

ORR invites eligible entities to submit

competing applications for a

cooperative agreement to provide

technical assistance and information

sharing activities to providers of

Individual Development Account (IDA)

Programs for Refugees. Under the

cooperative agreement, the grantee

would implement various activities

intended to assist ORR-funded IDA

grantees in the administration of their

projects.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices 21457

Allowable Activities

Allowable activities could include:

• On-site visits to assess technical

assistance needs, provide technical

assistance and training directly to

grantees, and to ascertain best practices

in both administering IDA programs and

addressing the specific needs of refugees

participating in these programs;

• Preparation of a variety of reports to

be distributed to IDA grantees to assist

them in administering their IDA

programs, including site visit reports

and best practices reports;

• Organization and operation of

workshops for IDA grantees, to include

facilitated discussions, training, and

presentations;

• Provision of technical assistance,

both in writing and by telephone, to IDA

grantees;

• Facilitation of a network of IDA

grantees to share information and to

resolve problems, through, for example,

the maintenance of a listserve,

conference calls, etc.; and

• Maintenance of a database of

characteristics and achievements of IDA

programs and preparation and

dissemination of reports on IDA

program characteristics and

achievements.

Applicants may propose additional

techniques for providing technical

assistance and information sharing

activities to IDA grantees.

Approximately $250,000 has been

allocated for this program area. Under

the cooperative agreement(s), ORR

intends to review and approve: (1)

Proposed site visits and technical

assistance activities; (2) all written

materials developed prior to the release

of such documents; (3) locations of

proposed workshops, proposed topics

and formats, and agendas; and (4)

database program and structure. ORR

expects that applicants for the

cooperative agreement(s) for technical

assistance will demonstrate in their

applications expertise in the areas of

administering financial programs such

as IDA programs, providing financial

training to low-income populations, and

in providing technical assistance and

information-sharing activities.

Program Area 4

IDA Review Criteria

Proposed projects to provide

Technical Assistance and InformationSharing Activities to Individual

Development Account Programs will be

evaluated according to the following

criteria:

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate; the proposed activities and

timeframes are reasonable and feasible.

The plan describes in detail how the

proposed activities will be

accomplished. (30 points)

2. Results or Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(15 points)

3. Staff and Position Data. Staff

qualifications are clearly presented and

are appropriate to achieving the

project’s goals. Staff qualifications show

experience in providing technical

assistance and information-sharing

activities in the areas of administering

financial programs and providing

financial training to low-income

populations. (20 points)

4. Organization Profiles. The

applicant demonstrates the capacity of

the organization to achieve the project’s

objectives. Organizational expertise and

experience in the provision of technical

assistance and information-sharing

activities is described. (20 points)

5. Budget and Budget Justification.

The budget is reasonable, clearly

presented, and cost-effective. (15 points)

Program Area 5

Technical Assistance for Refugee Child

Welfare Services

Program Purpose and Scope

Well-being of refugee families is an

important contributing factor to family

self-sufficiency. ORR proposes to award

one cooperative agreement to an agency

that will provide technical assistance to

public and private agencies in

promoting collaboration among refugee

communities, the network of refugee

resettlement services, and the child and

youth services including child

protective services to promote the wellbeing of refugee families.

Refugee families residing in U.S.

communities may encounter significant

differences in child rearing practices

compared to the ethnic or national

customs of their country of origin. First,

traditional cultures with a strong

authoritarian parental role may

frequently conflict with the more

egalitarian American family, resulting,

for example, in differences in refugee

youth’s desire for early independence.

Second, refugee families may

experience trauma as a result of the

persecution or flight, the effects of

which may be destabilizing to family

life. Third, refugee families may need

income from both parents, unlike the

practice of their home country, to

adequately provide for their needs.

Fourth, single parent families face

similar stresses that U.S. single parent

families face in addition to the trauma

from their refugee experiences. Finally,

they may live in low income

neighborhoods with high crime rates

and without the benefit of an ethnic

community to provide information,

guidance, protection and support.

As a result of these factors, a small

number of refugee families encounter

and may require the assistance of child

protective services and other services of

the judicial system. These experiences

may not be easily understood by the

refugee family and the larger refugee

community and serve to make the whole

refugee community insecure with the

U.S. child welfare and child protective

systems. This may result in difficulties

for refugee families to establish homes

that promote the well-being of its

members, where parents are secure in

their role of providing a nurturing and

educational environment for their

children and youth. Children may also

confront conflicts in meeting the

expectations of their parents, fitting in

with their peers or finding a sense of

belonging in the schools and social

groups.

Many U.S. community public services

do not have the cultural expertise or

language capability to work effectively

with refugee families. While the Civil

Rights Act of 1964 mandates equal

access to public services, frequently

public resources are limited, and

cultural and linguistic capacity is

seldom available for refugee families.

In recent years, ORR has funded

initiatives for recreation for refugee

youth, crime prevention among refugee

youth, parenting classes, and

intergenerational activities. Currently,

ORR has approximately 30 grantees in

these program areas, but is likely to

award funds to additional grantees

during this fiscal year. It has become

clear over time that a productive

relationship with child welfare services,

child protective services, youth shelters

and other youth transitional services is

also needed to promote the refugee

families’ capacity to care for their

children and youth in their new

communities.

ORR is interested in supporting a

national technical assistance effort to

promote collaboration among refugee

families, refugee service providers and

the children and youth service agencies

that promote the welfare of refugee

families, refugee youth and children.

The cooperative agreement is also

intended to promote cultural and

linguistic services or access to services

for refugee families. ORR is interested in

the grantee selecting approximately six

specific communities in which to

concentrate assessment and training

activities with child welfare services

21458 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

and refugee families. Approximately

$400,000 has been allocated for this

program area.

Through this cooperative agreement,

ORR intends to review and approve: (1)

A technical assistance plan (such as the

site selection of specific communities

for concentrated activities), including

proposed additional site visits and

technical assistance activities and

schedules; (2) all written materials

developed and proposed for

dissemination to the field; (3) locations

of proposed workshops, proposed

topics, formats and agendas; and 4)

other innovative activities that may be

proposed by the grantee.

Allowable Activities

Applicants may propose all or some

combination of the following, as well as

other innovative strategies for technical

assistance:

• Provision of technical assistance to

refugee communities, refugee service

providers, school systems, school

counselors, and child welfare and youth

services agencies both in writing and

through telephone consultation;

• Facilitating the electronic exchange

of refugee child welfare information

through a network website and listserv;

• Providing on-site group training or

technical assistance meetings and

workshops;

• Promoting refugee families as foster

parents;

• Locating or developing training

curricula and materials;

• Conducting on-site reviews of

refugee child welfare services.

Program Area 5

Refugee Child Welfare Services

Application Review Criteria

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate, and the proposed activities

and timeframes are reasonable. The

technical assistance plan describes

clearly and in detail the manner in

which the applicant will assess the need

for technical assistance, the proposed

activities, and how the propose

activities are expected to address known

technical assistance needs of agencies

and communities. (25 points)

2. Results and Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(20 points)

3. Organizational Capacity. The

capacity of the applicant to achieve the

project’s objectives is clearly

demonstrated. Organizational expertise

and experience in the provision of

technical assistance and information

sharing are appropriate for the proposed

project. (25 points)

4. Staff. Staff qualifications are clearly

presented and are appropriate to

achieving the project’s objectives. The

description of staff qualifications

demonstrates experience providing

technical assistance to refugee programs

and communities. (15 points)

5. Budget. The budget is clearly

presented and is detailed, reasonable

and cost effective. (15 points)

Program Area 6

Technical Assistance for Refugee

Housing Services

Purpose and Scope

The primary goal of refugee

resettlement is to assist refugees in

becoming self-sufficient. One factor that

is critical to achieving this goal is access

to affordable and decent housing. ORR

proposes to award one cooperative

agreement to an agency that will

provide technical assistance to ORR

service providers in the provision of this

essential service.

This program area is intended to

assist both service providers and

refugees in gaining access to affordable

and decent housing for refugee singles

and families. In locations throughout

the U.S. where the majority of refugees

are resettled, rent levels are being

pushed to record highs; and there is a

dwindling supply of affordable and

decent housing. In many areas, rents are

increasing faster than wages; and recent

energy price hikes have exacerbated an

already critical situation. There is a

need to assist resettlement and service

agencies in developing innovative

approaches to the housing crisis so that

refugees can live as well-informed

consumers in safe and decent homes

and communities.

A grantee in this category will provide

technical planning and assistance to

promote access to housing that meets

acceptable standards for health, safety,

affordability, good repair and

maintenance.

Approximately $250,000 has been

allocated for this program area. One

cooperative agreement may be awarded

for one national project.

Through this cooperative agreement,

ORR intends to review and approve (1)

The technical assistance plan, including

proposed site visits and technical

assistance activities and schedules; (2)

all written materials developed prior to

the release of such documents; and (3)

locations of proposed workshops,

proposed topics and formats, and

agendas.

Allowable Activities

Applicants may propose all or a

combination of the activities described

below. Applicants may also propose

new or innovative approaches to

providing technical assistance in the

area of housing assistance and services.

• On-site visits to assess technical

assistance needs, to provide technical

assistance and training directly to

agencies, and to ascertain best practices

in providing services for counseling

refugees about housing;

• Provision of information to agencies

on relevant available services and

programs in the area of housing

assistance, including programs designed

for low-income first time home buyers;

• Preparation of a variety of reports to

be distributed to agencies to assist them

in providing housing services, including

site visit reports and best practices

reports;

• Organization and operation of

workshops for agencies in the area of

housing services, to include such

subjects as effective use of Section 8

vouchers, energy assistance, and other

local assistance programs as available;

• Assistance in developing

collaborative agreements with

employers, housing non-profit agencies,

landlords, and other Federal and State

agency programs;

• Training of case workers in

orienting refugees to be responsible

tenants including timely payment of

rent, maintenance of apartments,

building good credit and negotiating

with landlords;

• Provision of technical assistance,

both in writing and by telephone, to

agencies.

Program Area 6

Refugee Housing Services Application

Review Criteria

1. Approach. The technical assistance

plan is clearly described and

appropriate; and the proposed activities

and timeframes are reasonable. The

technical assistance plan describes

clearly and in detail the manner in

which the applicant will assess the need

for technical assistance, the proposed

activities, and how the proposed

activities are expected to address known

technical assistance needs of agencies

that provide housing assistance and

services. (30 points)

2. Results and Benefits Expected. The

results or benefits expected are clearly

explained and are appropriate to the

technical assistance activities proposed.

(20 points)

3. Organizational Capacity. The

capacity of the applicant to achieve the

project’s objectives is clearly

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices 21459

demonstrated. Organizational expertise

and experience in the provision of

housing assistance and in the provision

of technical assistance are described and

are appropriate and adequate for the

proposed project. (25 points)

4. Staff. Staff qualifications are clearly

presented and are appropriate to

achieving the project’s objectives. The

description of staff qualifications

demonstrates experience in providing

housing assistance services and in

providing technical assistance. (10

points)

5. Budget. The budget is clearly

presented and is detailed, reasonable,

and cost effective. (15 points)

Part II: General Instructions for

Preparing a Full Project Description

Purpose

The project description provides a

major means by which an application is

evaluated and ranked to compete with

other applications for available

assistance. The project description

should be concise and complete and

should address the activity for which

Federal funds are being requested.

Supporting documents should be

included where they can present

information clearly and succinctly.

Applicants are encouraged to provide

information on their organizational

structure, staff, related experience, and

other information considered to be

relevant. Awarding offices use this and

other information to determine whether

the applicant has the capability and

resources necessary to carry out the

proposed project. It is important,

therefore, that this information be

included in the application. However,

in the narrative the applicant must

distinguish between resources directly

related to the proposed project from

those that will not be used in support

of the specific project for which funds

are requested.

General Instructions

Cross-referencing should be used

rather than repetition. ACF is

particularly interested in specific factual

information and statements of

measurable goals in quantitative terms.

Project descriptions are evaluated on the

basis of substance, not length. Extensive

exhibits are not required. (Supporting

information concerning activities that

will not be directly funded by the grant

or information that does not directly

pertain to an integral part of the grant

funded activity should be placed in an

appendix.) Pages should be numbered

and a table of contents should be

included for easy reference.

Project Summary/Abstract

Provide a summary of the project

description (a page or less) with

reference to the funding request.

Objectives and Need for Assistance

Clearly identify the physical,

economic, social, financial,

institutional, and/or other problem(s)

requiring a solution. The need for

assistance must be demonstrated and

the principal and subordinate objectives

of the project must be clearly stated;

supporting documentation, such as

letters of support and testimonials from

concerned interests other than the

applicant, may be included. Any

relevant data based on planning studies

should be included or referred to in the

endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate

demographic data and participant/

beneficiary information, as needed. In

developing the project description, the

applicant may volunteer or be requested

to provide information on the total

range of projects currently being

conducted and supported (or to be

initiated), some of which may be

outside the scope of the program

announcement.

Results or Benefits Expected

Identify the results and benefits to be

derived. For example, when applying

for a grant to establish a neighborhood

child care center, describe who will

occupy the facility, who will use the

facility, how the facility will be used,

and how the facility will benefit the

community which it will serve. For

example, when applying for

microenterprise development

assistance, describe the prospective

clients in terms of numbers, national

origin, interest in microenterprise and

what business opportunities are

available to refugees in the community.

Approach

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 which might

accelerate or decelerate the work and

state your reason for taking the

proposed approach rather than others.

Describe any unusual features of the

project such as design or technological

innovations, reductions in cost or time,

or extraordinary social and community

involvement.

Provide quantitative monthly or

quarterly projections of the

accomplishments to be achieved for

each function or activity in such terms

as the number of people to be served

and the number of microloans made.

When accomplishments cannot be

quantified by activity or function, list

them in chronological order to show the

schedule of accomplishments and their

target dates.

Identify the kinds of data to be

collected, maintained, and/or

disseminated. Note that clearance from

the U.S. Office of Management and

Budget might be needed prior to a

‘‘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.

Geographic Location

Describe the precise location of the

project and boundaries of the area to be

served by the proposed project. Maps or

other graphic aids may be attached.

Staff and Position Data

Provide a biographical sketch for each

key person appointed and a job

description for each vacant key position.

A biographical sketch will also be

required for new key staff as appointed.

Organization 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 nonprofit 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 copy of the

applicant’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, or by

providing a copy of the currently valid

IRS tax exemption certificate, or by

providing a copy of the articles of

incorporation bearing the seal of the

State in which the corporation or

association is domiciled.

Third-Party Agreements

Include written agreements between

grantees and subgrantees or

subcontractors or other cooperating

entities. These agreements must detail

21460 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

scope of work to be performed, work

schedules, remuneration, and other

terms and conditions that structure or

define the relationship.

Letters of Support

Provide statements from community,

public and commercial leaders that

support the project proposed for

funding.

Budget and Budget Justification

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

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 the

categorical costs are derived. Discuss

the necessity, reasonableness, and

allocability of the proposed costs.

General

The following guidelines are for

preparing the budget and budget

justification. Both Federal and nonFederal resources shall 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

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.

Fringe Benefits

Description: Costs of employee fringe

benefits unless treated as part of an

approved indirect cost rate.

Justification: Provide a breakdown of

the amounts and percentages that

comprise fringe benefit costs such as

health insurance, FICA, retirement

insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel

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. Travel costs for key staff to

attend ACF-sponsored workshops

should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment

Description: Costs of tangible, nonexpendable, personal property, having a

useful life of more than one year and an

acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per

unit. However, an applicant may use its

own definition of equipment provided

that such equipment would at least

include all equipment defined above.

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

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.

Other

Enter the total of all other costs. Such

costs, where applicable and appropriate,

may include but are not limited to

insurance, food, medical and dental

costs (noncontractual), professional

services costs, space and equipment

rentals, printing and publication,

computer use, training costs, such as

tuition and stipends, staff development

costs, and administrative costs.

Justification: Provide computations, a

narrative description and a justification

for each cost under this category.

Indirect Charges

Description: Total amount of indirect

costs. This category should be used only

when the applicant currently has an

indirect cost rate approved by the

Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) or another cognizant

Federal agency.

Justification: An applicant that will

charge indirect costs to the grant must

enclose a copy of the current rate

agreement. If the applicant organization

is in the process of initially developing

or renegotiating a rate, 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 acknowledgment that

the applicant is accepting a lower rate

than allowed.

Program Income

Description: 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

Description: 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.

Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect

Charges, Total Project Costs

Self explanatory.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices 21461

Part III: The Review Process

Intergovernmental Review: State Single

Point of Contact (SPOC)

This program is covered under

Executive Order 12372,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs,’’ and 45 CFR Part 100,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of

Department of Health and Human

Services Programs and Activities.’’

Under the Order, States may design

their own processes for reviewing and

commenting on proposed Federal

assistance under covered programs.

Note: State/territory participation in the

intergovernmental review process does not

signify applicant eligibility for financial

assistance under a program. A potential

applicant must meet the eligibility

requirements of the program for which it is

applying prior to submitting an application

to its SPOC, if applicable, or to ACF.

In accordance with Executive Order

#12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of

Federal Programs,’’ this listing

represents the designated State Single

Points of Contact. The jurisdictions not

listed no longer participate in the

process but grant applicants are still

eligible to apply for the grant even if

your state, territory, commonwealth, etc.

does not have a ‘‘state single point of

contact.’’ Jurisdictions without ‘‘state

single points of contacts’’ include:

Alabama; Alaska; American Samoa;

Colorado; Connecticut; Kansas; Hawaii;

Idaho; Louisiana; Massachusetts;

Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New

Jersey; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Palau;

Pennsylvania; South Dakota; Tennessee;

Vermont; Virginia; and Washington.

This list is based on the most current

information provided by the States.

Information on any changes or apparent

errors should be provided to the Office

of Management and Budget and the

State in question. Changes to the list

will only be made upon formal

notification by the State. Also, this

listing is published biannually in the

Catalogue of Federal Domestic

Assistance.

Jurisdictions that participate in the

Executive Order process have

established SPOCs. Applicants from

participating jurisdictions should

contact their SPOCs as soon as possible

to alert them of the prospective

applications and receive instructions.

Applicants must submit any required

material to the SPOCs as soon as

possible so that the program office can

obtain and review SPOC comments as

part of the award process. The applicant

must submit all required materials, if

any, to the SPOC and indicate the date

of this submittal (or the date of contact

if no submittal is required) on the

Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45

CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days

from the application deadline to

comment on proposed new or

competing continuation awards. SPOCs

are encouraged to eliminate the

submission of routine endorsements as

official recommendations. Additionally,

SPOCs are requested to clearly

differentiate between mere advisory

comments and those official State

process recommendations which may

trigger the ‘‘accommodate or explain’’

rule. When comments are submitted

directly to ACF, they should be

addressed to: Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, Office of Refugee

Resettlement, 370 L’Enfant Promenade

SW, 6th Floor, Washington DC, 20447

Attn: Ms. Daphne Weeden.

A list of the Single Points of Contact

for each State and Territory follows:

OMB State Single Point of Contact

Listing

Arizona

Joni Saad, Arizona State Clearinghouse,

3800 N. Central Avenue, Fourteenth

Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012,

Telephone: (602) 280–1315, FAX:

(602) 280–8144, e-mail:

jonis@ep.state.az.us

Arkansas

Mr. Tracy L. Copeland, Manager, State

Clearinghouse, Office of

Intergovernmental Services,

Department of Finance and

Administration, 1515 W. 7th St.,

Room 412, Little Rock, Arkansas

72203, Telephone: (501) 682–1074,

FAX: (501) 682–5206

California

Grants Coordinator, Office of Planning

and Research/State Clearinghouse,

1400 Tenth Street, Room 121,

Sacramento, California 95814,

Telephone: (916) 323–7480, FAX:

(916) 323–3018

Delaware

Francine Booth, State Single Point of

Contact, Executive Department, Office

of the Budget, 540 S. du Pont

Highway, Suite 5, Dover, Delaware

19901, Telephone: (302) 739–3326,

FAX: (302) 739–5661

District of Columbia

Charles Nichols, State Single Point of

Contact, Office of Grants Management

and Development, 717 14th Street,

NW—Suite 1200, Washington, D.C.

20005, Telephone: (202) 727–6537,

FAX: (202) 727–1617, e-mail:

charlesnic@yahoo.com or cnicholsogmd@dcgov.org

Florida

Cherie L. Trainor, Coordinator, Florida

State Clearinghouse, Department of

Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard

Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida

32399–2100, Telephone: (850) 922–

5438 or (850) 414–5495, FAX: (850)

414–0479, e-mail:

cherie.trainor@dca.state.fl.us

Georgia

Debra S. Stephens, Coordinator, Georgia

State Clearinghouse, 270 Washington

Street, SW.—8th Floor, Atlanta,

Georgia 30334, Telephone: (404) 656–

3855, FAX: (404) 656–7901, e-mail:

ssda@mail.opb.state.ga.us

Illinois

Virginia Bova, State Single Point of

Contact, Illinois Department of

Commerce and Community Affairs,

James R. Thompson Center, 100 West

Randolph, Suite 3–400, Chicago,

Illinois 60601, Telephone: (312) 814–

6028, FAX: (312) 814–1800

Indiana

Frances Williams, State Budget Agency,

212 State House, Indianapolis,

Indiana 46204–2796, Telephone: (317)

232–5619, FAX: (317) 233–3323

Iowa

Steven R. McCann, Division for

Community Assistance, Iowa

Department of Economic

Development, 200 East Grand

Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309,

Telephone: (515) 242–4719, FAX:

(515) 242–4809

Kentucky

Kevin J. Goldsmith, Director, John-Mark

Hack, Deputy Director, Sandra

Brewer, Executive Secretary,

Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of

the Governor 700 Capitol Avenue,

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601,

Telephone: (502) 564–2611, FAX:

(502) 564–2849

Maine

Joyce Benson, State Planning Office, 184

State Street, 38 State House Station,

Augusta, Maine 04333, Telephone:

(207) 287–3261, FAX: (207) 287–6489

Maryland

Linda C. Janey, JD, Manager,

Clearinghouse and Plan Review Unit,

Maryland Office of Planning, 301 W.

Preston Street—Room 1104,

Baltimore, Maryland 21201–2305,

Telephone: (410) 767–4491, FAX:

(410) 767–4480 e-mail:

Linda@mail.op.state.md.us

21462 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

Michigan

Richard Pfaff, Southeast Michigan

Council of Governments, 660 Plaza

Drive—Suite 1900, Detroit, Michigan

48226, Telephone: (313) 961–4266,

FAX: (313) 961–4869

Mississippi

Cathy Mallette, Clearinghouse Officer,

Department of Finance and

Administration, 455 North Lamar

Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39202–

3087, Telephone: (601) 359–6762,

FAX: (601) 359–6764

Missouri

Lois Pohl/Carol Meyer, Federal

Assistance Clearinghouse, Office Of

Administration, P.O. Box 809, Room

915, Jefferson Building, Jefferson City,

Missouri 65102, Telephone: (573)

751–4834, FAX: (573) 522–4395

Nevada

Heather Elliott, Department of

Administration, State Clearinghouse,

Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nevada

89710, Telephone: (702) 687–6367,

FAX: (702) 687–3983

New Hampshire

Jeffrey H. Taylor, Director, New

Hampshire Office of State Planning,

Attn: Intergovernmental Review

Process, Mike Blake, Office of State

Planning, 21⁄2 Beacon Street, Concord,

New Hampshire 03301, Telephone:

(603) 271–2155, FAX: (603) 271–1728

New Mexico

Nick Mandell, Local Government

Division, Room 201, Bataan Memorial

Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico

87503, Telephone: (505) 827–4991,

FAX: (505) 827–4948

New York

Marsha Roth, New York State

Clearinghouse, Division of the Budget,

State Capitol, Albany, New York

12224, Telephone: (518) 474–1605,

FAX: (518) 486–5617

North Carolina

Chrys Baggett, Director, North Carolina

State Clearinghouse, Office of the

Secretary of Administration 116 West

Jones Street—Suite 5106, Raleigh,

North Carolina 27603–8003,

Telephone: (919) 733–7232, FAX:

(919) 733–9571

North Dakota

Jim Boyd, North Dakota Single Point of

Contact, Office of Intergovernmental

Assistance, 600 East Boulevard

Avenue, Department 105, Bismarck,

North Dakota 58505–0170, Telephone:

(701) 328–2094, FAX: (701) 328–2308

Rhode Island

Kevin Nelson, Review Coordinator,

Department of Administration,

Division of Planning, One Capitol

Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, Rhode

Island 02908–5870, Telephone: (401)

222–2656, FAX: (401) 222–2083

South Carolina

Omegia Burgess, State Single Point of

Contact, Budget and Control Board,

Office of State Budget, 1122 Ladies

Street—12th Floor, Columbia, South

Carolina 29201, Telephone: (803)

734–0494, FAX: (803) 734–0645

Texas

Tom Adams, Single Point of Contact,

State of Texas, Governor’s Office of

Budget and Planning, Director,

Intergovernmental Coordination, P.O.

Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711–

2428, Telephone: (512) 463–1771,

FAX: (512) 936–2681, e-mail:

tadams@governor.state.tx.us

Utah

Carolyn Wright, Utah State

Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and

Budget, Room 116 State Capitol, Salt

Lake City, Utah 84114, Telephone:

(801) 538–1535, FAX: (801) 538–1547

West Virginia

Judith Dryer, Chief Program Manager,

West Virginia Development Office,

Building #6, Room 645, State Capitol,

Charleston, West Virginia 25305,

Telephone: (304) 558–0350, FAX:

(304) 558–0362

Wisconsin

Jeff Smith, Section Chief, State/Federal

Relations, Wisconsin Department of

Administration, 101 East Wilson

Street—6th Floor, P.O. Box 7868,

Madison, Wisconsin 53707,

Telephone: (608) 266–0267, FAX:

(608) 267–6931

Wyoming

Matthew Jones, State Single Point of

Contact, Office of the Governor, 200

West 24th Street, State Capital, Room

124, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002,

FAX: (307) 632–3909

Territories

Guam

Mr. Giovanni T. Sgambelluri, Director,

Bureau of Budget and Management

Research, Office of the Governor, P.O.

Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910,

Telephone: 011–671–472–2285, FAX:

011–671–472–2825

Puerto Rico

Norma Burgos/Jose E. Caro,

Chairwoman/Director, Puerto Rico

Planning Board, Federal Proposals

Review Office, Minillas Government

Center, P.O. Box 41119, San Juan,

Puerto Rico 00940–1119, Telephone:

(809) 727–4444 or (809) 723–6190,

FAX: (809) 724–3270 or (809) 724–

3103

Northern Mariana Islands

Mr. Alvaro A. Santos, Executive Officer,

Office of Management and Budget,

Office of the Governor, Saipan, MP

96950, Telephone: (670) 664–2256,

FAX: (670) 664–2272

Please direct all questions and

correspondence about

intergovernmental review to:

Ms. Jacoba T. Seman, Federal Programs

Coordinator, Telephone: (670) 664–

2289, FAX: (670) 664–2272

Virgin Islands

Nellon Bowry, Director, Office of

Management and Budget, #41

Norregade Emancipation Garden

Station, Second Floor, Saint Thomas,

Virgin Islands 00802

Please direct all questions and

correspondence about

intergovernmental review to:

Daisey Millen, Telephone: (809) 774–

0750, FAX: (809) 776–0069

Initial ACF Screening

Each application submitted under this

program announcement will undergo a

pre-review to determine that (1) the

application was received by the closing

date and submitted in accordance with

the instructions in this announcement

and (2) the applicant is eligible for

funding.

Competitive Review

Applications which pass the initial

ACF screening will be evaluated and

rated by an independent review panel

on the basis of specific evaluation

criteria. The evaluation criteria are

designed to assess the quality of a

proposed project, and to determine the

likelihood of its success. The evaluation

criteria are closely related and are

considered as a whole in judging the

overall quality of an application. Points

are awarded only to applications which

are responsive to the evaluation criteria

within the context of this program

announcement.

Funding Reconsideration

After Federal funds are exhausted for

this grant competition, applications

which have been independently

reviewed and ranked but have no final

disposition (neither approved nor

disapproved for funding) may again be

considered for funding. Reconsideration

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices 21463

may occur at any time funds become

available within twelve (12) months

following ranking. However, ACF does

not select from multiple ranking lists for

a program. Therefore, should a new

competition be scheduled and an

application remain ranked without final

disposition, applicants are informed of

their opportunity to reapply for the new

competition, to the extent practical.

Part IV: Application Submission

In order to be considered for a grant

under this program announcement, an

application must be submitted on the

forms supplied and in the manner

prescribed by ACF. Application

materials including forms and

instructions are available from the

contact named under the ADDRESSES

section in the preamble of this

announcement.

Each application should include one

signed original and two additional

copies.

Each application narrative portion

should not exceed 25 double-spaced

pages in a 12-pitch font. Attachments

and appendices should not exceed 25

pages and should be used only to

provide supporting documentation such

as maps, administration charts, position

descriptions, resumes, and letters of

intent for partnership agreements.

Please do not include books or video

tapes as they are not easily reproduced

and are therefore, inaccessible to the

reviewers. Each page should be

numbered sequentially, including the

attachments or appendices.

A. Application Materials

Applicants for financial assistance

under this announcement must file the

Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for

Federal Assistance; SF 424A, Budget

Information—Non-construction

Programs; SF 424B, Assurances—NonConstruction Programs. The forms may

be reproduced for use in submitting

applications. An application with an

original signature and two copies is

required.

B. Application Submission Information

and Certifications

The closing date for submission of

applications is June 20, 2000. Mailed

applications postmarked after the

closing date will be classified as late.

Deadline: Mailed applications shall

be considered as meeting an announced

deadline if they are either received on

or before the deadline date or sent on or

before the deadline date and received by

ACF in time for the independent review

to: U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, Office of Refugee

Resettlement, Attention: Ms. Daphne

Weeden.

Applicants must ensure that a legibly

dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or a

legibly dated, machine produced

postmark of a commercial mail service

is affixed to the envelope/package

containing the application(s). To be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a

postmark from a commercial mail

service must include the logo/emblem

of the commercial mail service company

and must reflect the date the package

was received by the commercial mail

service company from the applicant.

Private Metered postmarks shall not be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

(Applicants are cautioned that express/

overnight mail services do not always

deliver as agreed.)

Applications handcarried by

applicants, applicant couriers, or by

other representatives of the applicant

shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received

on or before the deadline date, between

the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

EST, at the U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, the Office of

Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor,

Aerospace Building, 901 D Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20447 between Monday

and Friday (excluding Federal

holidays). The address must appear on

the envelope/package containing the

application with the note ‘‘Attention:

Ms. Daphne Weeden.’’ (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: Applications

which do not meet the criteria above are

considered late applications. ACF shall

notify each late applicant that its

application will not be considered in

the current competition.

Extension of deadlines: ACF may

extend application deadlines when

circumstances such as acts of God

(floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when

there are widespread disruptions of

mails service. Determinations to extend

or waive deadline requirements rest

with the Chief Grants Management

Officer.

For Further Information on

Application Deadlines Contact: Ms.

Daphne Weeden, Administration for

Children and Families, Office of Refugee

Resettlement, 370 L’Enfant Promenade

SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447,

(202) 401–4577.

Standard Language Concerning the

Certifications, Assurances, and

Disclosure Required for Non

Construction Programs

Applicants requesting financial

assistance for non construction projects

must file the Standard Form 424B,

‘‘Assurances: Non-Construction

Programs.’’ Applicants must sign and

return the Standard Form 424B with

their applications.

Applicants must disclose lobbying

activities on the Standard Form LLL

when applying for an award in excess

of $100,000. Applicants who have used

non Federal funds for lobbying activities

in connection with receiving assistance

under this announcement shall

complete a disclosure form to report

lobbying. Applicants must sign and

return the disclosure form, if applicable,

with their applications.

Applicants must make the appropriate

certification of their compliance with

the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988.

By signing and submitting the

application, the applicant is providing

the certification and need not mail back

the certification with the applications.

Applicants must make the appropriate

certification that they are not presently

debarred, suspended or otherwise

ineligible for an award. By signing and

submitting the application, the

applicant is providing the certification

need not mail back the certification with

the applications.

Applicable Regulations

Applicable DHHS grant

administration regulations can be found

in 45 CFR Part 74 or 92.

Reporting Requirements

Grantees are required to file the

Financial status Report (SF–269) and

Program Performance Reports on a semiannual basis. Funds issued under these

awards must be accounted for and

reported upon separately from all other

grant activities. Although ORR does not

expect the proposed projects to include

evaluation activities, it does expect

grantees to maintain adequate records to

track and report on project outcomes.

The official receipt point for all reports

and correspondence is the ORR Grants

Officer, Ms. Daphne Weeden,

Administration for Children and

Families/Office of Refugee Resettlement,

370 L’Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor,

Washington, DC 20447, Telephone:

(202) 401–4577. An original and one

copy of each report shall be submitted

within 30 days of the end of each

reporting period directly to the Grants

21464 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 78 / Friday, April 21, 2000 / Notices

Officer. The mailing address is: Ms.

Daphne Weeden, Administration for

Children and Families, Office of Refugee

Resettlement, 370 L’Enfant Promenade

SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447.

A final Financial and Program Report

shall be due 90 days after the budget

expiration date or termination of grant

support.

Dated: April 18, 2000.

Lavinia Limo ́n,

Director, Office of Refuge Resettlement.

[FR Doc. 00–10018 Filed 4–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration

Agency Information Collection

Activities: Submission for OMB review;

comment request

Periodically, the Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) will publish a list of

information collection requests under

OMB review, in compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

Chapter 35). To request a copy of these

documents, call the SAMHSA Reports

Clearance Officer on (301)443–7978.

Drug and Alcohol Services

Information System (DASIS) (OMB No.

0930–0106, Revision)—The DASIS

consists of three related data systems:

the National Master Facility Inventory

(NMFI), the Uniform Facility Data Set

(UFDS), and the Treatment Episode Data

Set (TEDS). The NMFI includes all

known substance abuse treatment

facilities. The UFDS is an annual survey

of all substance abuse treatment

facilities listed in the NMFI. The TEDS

is a compilation of client-level

admission data and discharge data

submitted by States on clients treated in

facilities that receive State funds.

Together, they provide information on

the location, scope and characteristics of

all known drug and alcohol treatment

facilities in the United States, and the

characteristics of clients receiving

services. This information is needed to

assess the nature and extent of these

resources, to identify gaps in services,

and to provide a database for treatment

referrals.

This request is for OMB approval of

proposed revisions to the annual UFDS

survey. Several major changes are

proposed, including: (1) The UFDS

survey will be conducted by mail, rather

than by telephone; (2) Non-treatment

(prevention) facilities will no longer be

included in the annual survey; (3) Some

questions will be reinstated (e.g.,

whether facility provides DUI/DWI

services, percent of clients treated for

alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or both); (4)

Several questions will be added (e.g.,

whether facility treats only incarcerated

or DUI/DWI clients, whether services

are provided in languages other than

English, availability of fully subsidized

care or a sliding fee scale, receipt of

public funding); (5) Some questions will

be deleted (e.g., whether facility is a

school, social services agency,

community mental health center,

community health center, or private

group practice; facility accreditation;

percent of clients being treated for

substance abuse); (6) Several questions

will be revised. Changes to the TEDS

and NMFI are not planned.

Estimated annual burden for the

DASIS activities is shown in the table

below.

Type of respondent and activity Number of

respondents

Responses/

respondent

Hours/response Total hours

States:

TEDS Admission Data 1 ............................................................................................ 52 4 6 1,248

TEDS Discharge Data 1 ............................................................................................ 13 4 6 312

TEDS Discharge Crosswalks 1 ................................................................................. 5 1 10 50

NFR Update1, 2

Additions ............................................................................................................ 56 17 0.08 76

Revisions ........................................................................................................... 56 24 0.05 67

State Subtotal1 ........................................................................................... 56 .................... .................... 1,753

Facilities

Network Update ........................................................................................................ 1,000 1 .1 100

UFDS Questionnaire ................................................................................................ 19,000 1 .6 11,400

Pre-screening of newly-identified facilities ............................................................... 2,000 1 .08 160

Facility Subtotal ........................................................................................................ 21,000 .................... .................... 11,660

Total .......................................................................................................................... 21,056 .................... .................... 13,413

1The burden estimates for these activities are unchanged.

2States forward to SAMHSA information on newly licensed/approved facilities and on changes in facility name, address, status, etc. This is

done electronically by nearly all States.

Written comments and

recommendations concerning the

proposed information collection should

be sent within 30 days of this notice to:

Clarissa Rodrigues-Coelho, Human

Resources and Housing Branch, Office

of Management and Budget, New

Executive Office Building, Room 10235,

Washington, D.C. 20503.

Dated: April 12, 2000.

Richard Kopanda,

Executive Officer, SAMHSA.

[FR Doc. 00–9957 Filed 4–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4162–20–P

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR–4557–N–16]

Federal Property Suitable as Facilities

To Assist the Homeless

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Community Planning and

Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.