[ Please standby for realtime  captions ] >> Hello this  is Robin.  >> This is Regina.  

This is Rob from ACL the administration  for community learning. We have  a couple more minutes so we will  try to start on time around 3:00  if that is okay.  

Okay  thank you.  >> Hello  this is Rob the administration for  community living. We  will wait a minute or so before  we get started. I still hear  some folks  chiming in.  >> Good  afternoon everyone this is Rob Groenendaal.  Hopefully everyone can hear me okay.  

     I understand it's extension waiting  circumstances this day so  hopefully  the audio is okay. I am not going  to say this is the  most exciting call that you were  participate on but we have a fair  amount of material to cover so I  will go ahead and get started.  

This is an  informational call HHS  2020  ACL  [  Indiscernible ]  we are going to go through some  of the important information  with respect to the submission  of an application for this funding  opportunity announcement. There  are some  important dates. Obviously this  is  an informational call April 14.  There is a due date for a letter  of intent, this is  not required but it is helpful for  the review process. That due date  is April 24. I can talk about  that later but a simple email to my email  address which I can  state now and it is throughout the document  that we are going over.  

Please make sure that you submit  your application  on time.  You are strongly encouraged to submit  your application  a minimum of 3 to 5 days prior to the closing  date to make sure you do not have  any technical difficulties because  grants.gov for example can  take up to 48 hours to notify you of the  successful submission. Applications  that do not meet the due date will  not be reviewed and will  not be considered so this is an  important point so please ensure  your applications are submitted  on time. The purpose of the FY 2020  assistive  technology A-T alternative financing  program is to support programs for  the  purchase of  A-T devices or acquisition of A-T  devices such as a low interest  loan fund, and  interest buydown program coming  revolving loan or loan guarantee  or insurance program. We will go  over some of that information in  a little bit. We are expected  to expand emphasize consumer choice  and control.  State agencies and disability  organizations direct goodbye and  operated for people with disabilities  should be eligible to compete.  

Applicant should incorporate  credit building activities in  their program including financial education and  information about other possible  funding sources. Successful applicants  month emphasize control and  ensure that all people with disabilities  regardless of type of disability  or health condition, age, level  of income and resident have access  to the program. As a result of the  act  of 2020 the Department of Health  and Human Services HHS  administrative ACL would authorize  a fund for a one-year grant to support  this  funding opportunity and assist  individuals with disabilities of any age to obtain  financial assistance for A-T devices  and services.  

Under the FOA the funding  opportunity announcement the applicant  must establish one or more of the  following  type of AFP's. Low interest loan  fund and interest  buydown programs, revolving loan  funds, a loan guarantee or insurance  program, a program operated  for the leads for other acquisition  of assistive technology devices  or  services, another mechanism that  provides [ Inaudible -  static ]  approved by the secretary. In order  to be considered for funding and  applicant must identify the types  of A-T that is going to support  the  grants. The applications must contain  an  assurance that the policies and  procedures will be submitted to  ACL within the first three months  of the  project period. Some of those  policy and  procedures must contain certain  information  such as a procedure to  review process [ Indiscernible ]  request  for financial assistance including  eligibility  and determination for specific devices or services  to be financed through the program,  policies, those that enable  assurance with individuals with  disabilities are able  to apply [ Indiscernible  ] location of residence,  type of A-T device or service. Please  note however it is permissible  for programs to target individuals with disabilities  who have been denying conventional  financing as a  priority toward the funding. Is mentioned policy  for the expansion and influences  of consumer choice and  control, policy for sustainability  of AFP the  grantees must  provide a sustainability plan that  identifies the amount  of funding as expected to be needed  on  an ongoing  basis for program administration  and loan capital. Policies incorporating  credit  building at 70s I mention into the  AFP so those may include  information  about other possible  funding sources. There is the fiscal  and policy [  Indiscernible ] the successful applicant  will provide the assurances of  the grantee drawing down and placing  funds in a  restricted account , the grantee is  permitted to draw the entire award  in advance to capitalize a loan  fund so long as the funds  are placed [  Indiscernible ]  

Please remember to mute  your phones. The grantee will extend  funds for the  purpose of the designated implementation of  the AFP and funds restricted within  that account continue to all  federal dollars placed in the account  and used within that account for  the purposes and intent of the AFP.  

     For reporting there is of course  the semiannual  progress report without semiannual  progress report is the information  about the financial transaction  so federal cash report  submitted to  ACL and then within the final federal  financial report  would be prescribed by ACL and that  would be submitted 90 days after  the 12 month project  period in order to  close out the  grant award so there will be a submission  of the semiannual report, the progress  as well as fiscal information  as well as a final report that  is submitted. For previous  grant recipients the previous grant  recipients funded under this priority  in previous years and have received  awards  from ACL provide information on  the amount remaining in the restrict  did  account whether the funding has  been used including the number of  loans extended , individual funding leverage, credit  building and activity in the  previous awards.  

Review  reward information the estimated  total funding  for approximately what is expected  is three 240 words  that  total funding  is $1,973,000 around out. May  be 1 million [  Indiscernible ] it's hard  to say given the current climate  but this is what is been projected  in  the funding plan for these projects.  There is an award floor of $100,000  and  the award feeling a $700,000. I  imagine the length of the  project period would be a 12 month  project period and would be budgeted  as such.  

We talked about the  eligible applicant including state  agencies and disability organizations  direct did or operated  by individual [ Indiscernible ]  to providing alternative financing  services statewide for the purchase  of AT.   There is no cost-sharing or  matching requirement for  this competition. I want  to emphasize some application  screening criteria. Please be  aware of the due date  for applications 11:50 9  PM Eastern  time on Friday, May 15. That is  the deadline for the submission  of  the applications. The project narrative  section must  be doublespaced on 8 1/2 by 11 paper  with one inch margins on  both sides.  With a standard font size of no  less than 11  points preferably [  Indiscernible ] the  project narrative that  exceeds 24 pages will  have additional pages removed and  only the first 24 pages will be  provided to the reviewers so there  is a 24 page limit. The project  work plan letters of  commitment listing of key project  personnel  including resumes are not part of  the project narrative for purposes  of the  page limit. If there problems that  exist with the submission of  the application please  be aware that you will be required to provide  the submission error notification  and tracking number to substantiate  the missing information for the deadline. There  is some important information  with respect to the universal numbering system  done as well as SAM system for  award management. The grants.gov  registration process can take  several days, just be aware of  this information and if you need  assistance you can go to WW.grants.gov  and contact them  at support@grants.gov or  call 800 518-4726  between 7 AM and  9 PM. Applicants must  have  a D UN number and be registered  within SAM the system for award  management and the  have a registration process until  it's complete. If you are  successful applicant then it would  need to be registered  and active in SAM beyond  that date. 

Once your SAM registration is  active allow 24  to 48  hours for the information to be  available on grants.gov before you  submit an application through grants.gov.  Note that  the employee identification number  is important  with respect to  accessing funding to the payment  management system the CMS  the system used by HHS ACL if you  are successful applicant. Make sure  you have your identifying organization information  correct so just a quick run down  register in SAM, obtain an  active SAM provide the D UN  number and  be aware of the entire number through  the processes.  

There is  a dedicated D UN number  request  line 866-705-5715. For the content  of the application  submission notice that  424 2020 date for the letter of  intent to  be submitted. It is requested but  not required but it is helpful however  for the  review process. I want to emphasize  of course within the project narrative  the length is 24  pages. Please do not exceed the  24 pages, please make sure you note  they need to be double spaced with  one inch margins with the  font size. Again the project  work plan budget narrative justification,  budget template letters  of commitment, personnel is not  counted as part of the narrative.  So  the FOA  does have a sample component of  project narratives within that 24  page limit.  There is an example of the summary  or abstract which should be no more than 265  words in be a description of the  proposed projects such as  goals, object Zen outcomes. With  respect to problem statement the  problem statement looks at the scope  of the problem or issue that the  proposed intervention is designed to address in its application.  There is information about goals  and  object does and it should describe  the goals and major objective of  the funding to support programs  that provide for the acquisition  of ATA devices in ways that expand  consumer choice as  well. The proposed intervention  should provide a  clear description of what you are  doing and should all so describe  the rationale including  lessons learned, from similar projects  conducted previously in  your community. 

 There is a section their own special  target populations and organization  so describe how you plan to involve  organizations in the planning and  implementation of the proposed application.  For outcome, with regard to  this FOA the outcome should  include improvement  for individuals with disabilities  to get AT devices [ Indiscernible  ]  consumer choice and control as  well as  a target and consumers as a result  of the  proposed project.  

You should focus on describing  the outcomes of  the project, the evaluation section  describes how the outcomes will  be measured and reported. The project  management  this section 

     should include a clear delineation  of the roles and responsibilities  of project staff, organizations  and how they will contribute to  the project objectives and outcomes.  For evaluation this section describes  the method technique until that  will be  used. Dissemination  is a method that will be used to  disseminate the results of the project  and findings in a timely manner.  Organizational capacity is a statement  that includes an organizational  capacity information as  well as the project personnel involved  with the project. Budget  narrative justification can be provided  using the format included in the  FOA document. There is a  sample format for your  reference. For the  work plan, this is again not  part of the narrative  to be reflecting the project narrative  and budget in  the goals and objectives that will  be achieved with  the project .  

Letters of commitment from key  participating organizations are  important in  the process. There is a potential  to include them  via fax to the ACL  office of grants management at 202  [ Indiscernible  ] it may  be wise  to submit the information within  the application for those  submitted electronically that  can happen  on letters of commitment.  We know it should  be a standard fax, however, given  the current pandemic we don't exactly  know about the  ability to receive  those factors faxes in the offices.  It might be helpful to include those  within  the application. The due  date for applications as I  mentioned is close to midnight on  Friday  the 15th.  You are strongly encouraged to submit  your application in advance of that  closing date please make sure that  when you submit your applications  via grants.gov that if you are  doing that it should be designated by your  organization as the authorized organizational  representative and you should register  yourself with grants.Galvez and  AO are in those  steps are detailed in and WW  W grants.gov\[  Indiscernible ]. Some of the information is important  with respect to contacting the  support desk, contact them@grants.gov  at one 800  518 4726. If you have an issue and  you need the support  of grants.gov  support desk maintain that case  number and keep a record of it  funding restrictions  instructions in our major rehabilitation  of buildings are not fundable,  basic research are not fundable,  continuation of existing projects  without expansion are  not fundable. In terms of  the criteria, the criteria section  is the most important because you  are looking at the  applications  scored by a maximum of 100 points  across eight selection criteria.  When you look at those  criteria  section A proposed intervention,  target populations and organizations  [ Inaudible -  static ]  [ There is background noise, there  is a line not  muted ] this is important for the reviewers  of the application. Make sure when  you write the narratives that the  format identifies a  response to the key  components within the review criteria.  

Some of those  are proposed intervention,  in fact they are all outlined  in these are  the criteria that will be used in  the review of the application so  proposed intervention  for the points,  for example it clearly and adequately  response to  the FOA,  does the AFP include a high-quality  plan for project limitation, does  the representative have an approach  to the funding  opportunity announcement. Will the  AFP address the needs of the target  population are other identified  needs. Is the AFP likely to build  capacity  to provide and expand services that  address the needs of the target  population. Will the AFT establish  linkages  with other agencies providing services,  does the AFP  have involvement. If you go  down to special target population.  

That section is worth  15 points. What is the likely impact  of the services to be provided by  the  proposed AFP on the intended recipient  of  the services. Will  be AFP involved collaboration of appropriate  partners for maximizing effectiveness  of the services well they address  after week messes in services or  opportunities. The problem statement  is  10 points. Does the AFP proposed services  appropriate to the needs of the  recipients of those services outlined  in  the proposal? Are they focused on  the areas with greatest needs?  does it it look at the magnitude  of the needs for those  services? So project personnel  five points the time commitments  of the project director and key  personnel as well as complications  with [ Indiscernible  ] director and other key personnel. Organizational  capacity is 10 points. Focusing  on  the support and supplies and other  resources from the  applicant organization or the lead  applicant organization to conduct  activities outlined. Demonstrated  commitment of each partner in the  project to implement  the successful AFP. Is a budget insufficient for  the projects  and does the proposed AFT involve  use of strategies including use  of technology and leveraging of  non-project resources? Project  management five points focuses on  adequacy of the management plan  to achieve the objectives of the  proposed AFP on time and  in budget. It focuses on mechanisms  for ensuring high quality products  and services from the proposed AFP.  Does the AFP ensure  diversity of perspectives are brought  to bear in the  proposed intervention? This includes  those individuals with disabilities  family members guardians advocate  teachers business  community etc.  >> Project evaluation is a method  of evaluation appropriate to the  goals objectives and outcomes of  the proposed AFP. Does it provide  examining the  provided strategies? Does the  evaluation provide feedback and  permit  periodic assessment? [ Inaudible -  static ]  is the budget submitted for FY 2020  grant award  so those that this is an FY 2020  fiscal  year so the awards are expected  to be issued toward the end of the  fiscal  year so at the end of  FY 2020 is that with respect to adequacy  and resources to administer the  proposed AFP. Does the AFP address  the establishment of a restricted  account for the use of this project?  Use and control funds does it have  a sustained of  ability plan and the time commitment  of the director and other  key staff is at  times sufficient to assure the establishment  or expansion of the  proposed AFP?  

The review process there is an  independent review panel that will  evaluate applications that pass  through the response and  screening criteria. These reviewers are experts in  the field and are drawn from academic  institutions nonprofit organization  in state and local and federal government  agencies. Final decisions will be  made by ACL by the administrator  of ACL. The anticipated announcement  award date, the successful applicant  could expect to receive  an electronic notice of award on  or around August  15, 2020 and  the anticipated project start date  is September 1, 2020. I have not  heard anything otherwise with respect  to the timeline so I think it is  feasible  to assert that this timeline  is doable. For the award noticing successful  applicants will receive an electronic  notice of award in the  unsuccessful applicants are notified  within a month or so of the decision  and will receive a disapproval letter  likely via email or  perhaps US  mail. Lately communication has gone more toward  email notifications.  

In  terms of the administrative and  national  policy requirements within the  award there is  HHS requirements which can be found at  45 CFR part 75 and the standard  terms and conditions included in  the notice of award as well  as implemented through the HHS grants  policy statement. For reporting  we talked about reporting previously  about  the requirement to submit a semiannual  final report. The report frequency  and notice of terms and conditions  on  the NOA. The remainder of  the FOA  talks about examples for the  submission  of materials. There is information  about the paperwork reduction  act application,  instructions for completing some  of those  required forms in the online  [ There is a phone line that is not muted causing backgroung noise  ]application process.  >> Note within the agency  contact the officer listed, that  is me. My email  addresses their so  that  is Robert , the telephone number  is  202 795-7356 or could be emailed  with respect  to questions and email questions will be helpful  for the process as the intent is  to put together an  FAQ document to those who  are interested in this FOA. The  grants management specialist is  low Rhonda Bloom in the office of  grants management. 

The  area  code  is 202-795-7310. I am showing the  time is 3:30  3 PM  3:30 PM . If there is a opportunity to respond  to questions I think we could use  some of that time now. If you do  not want to ask  a question on the  conference call, the question  can be submitted to me via email  as in years past we have put  together an  FAQ document to  assist applicants with  this funding opportunity announcement.  Please feel free to  email me, that is the best way to receive  a response. I can  open up,  is it possible for folks to unmute  their lines and ask a question or  do you want to follow up via email  with  your questions? 

Could you repeat your phone number  please?  

Yes I will do that. You  know what I don't  call myself often but I have it  written down here. The number  is 202  795  73 56. If you want me to  repeat my email  I can the email and phone  number are in the agency contacts  section of this funding  opportunity announcement.  

Thank you.  

You  are welcome.  >> 

     Participants on this conference  call if you would prefer to email  me or call me with the question  you can certainly do  so. The best way to address the  question quite honestly is to put  them together in an FAQ document  so that everyone benefits from  the question asked as  well as a response. This might be  the best way  to ensure that all of the applicants  have the same information going  into this  application process.  >> However, if you unmute yourself  you can ask a question. If there  are no questions we can wait a minute  or two and if there are no questions  I just want to stay safe stay  safe and healthy during  this time. 

Thank  you Rob.  

 Thank you for your time  and consideration today. I'm looking  forward to submission of the applications  for this funding opportunity announcement.  Be  well everyone.  >> [ Event  concluded ]