34768 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Program: Cooperative Agreements for

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Projects; Program

Announcement No. SSA–OESP–00–1

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Announcement of the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 2000 and

2001 cooperative agreement funds and

request for applications.

SUMMARY: The Social Security

Administration (SSA) announces its

intention to competitively award

cooperative agreements to establish

community-based benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach projects in

every State, the District of Columbia,

Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern

Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and

the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Throughout

this announcement, the term ‘‘State’’

will be used to refer to all U.S. States,

the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,

Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands,

American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin

Islands.) The purpose of these projects

is to disseminate accurate information

to beneficiaries with disabilities

(including transition-to-work aged

youth) about work incentives programs

and issues related to such programs, to

enable them to make informed choices

about work.

President Clinton signed the bill that

became Public Law 106–170 on

December 17, 1999 to expand the

availability of health care coverage for

working individuals with disabilities, to

establish a Ticket to Work and SelfSufficiency Program in SSA to provide

beneficiaries with disabilities

meaningful opportunities to work, and

to provide benefits planning and

assistance services, and outreach to

beneficiaries with disabilities, among

other purposes. SSA must ensure that

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach are available to all

beneficiaries with disabilities

nationally, on a statewide basis.

Note: A separate contract will be awarded,

following publication of a separate notice in

the Commerce Business Daily, to one or more

organizations to develop and provide

technical assistance and training on SSA’s

programs and work incentives, Medicare and

Medicaid, and on other Federal work

incentives programs to cooperative

agreement award recipients.

SSA is conducting several preapplication seminars to provide

interested applicants with guidance and

technical assistance in preparing their

applications. The following is

information about where and when the

seminars are scheduled:

Kansas City, Missouri

Date: June 6, 2000

Facility: Pierson Auditorium, University

of Missouri at Kansas City, 5000

Holmes Avenue, Kansas City, MO

64110

Contact: Kelli Ellerbusch, 816–235–1758

Time: 2 pm to 6 pm

Oakland, California

Date: June 8, 2000

Facility: Oakland Federal Building,

1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Contacts: Brian McDonald, 510–251–

4304; Chris Neilson, 510–628–0665

Time: 9 am to 1 pm

Washington, DC

Date: June 15, 2000

Facility: Frances Perkins Building

Auditorium, 200 Constitution

Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210

Time: 9 am to 2 pm

DATES: The closing date for receipt of

cooperative agreement applications

under this announcement is July 31,

2000.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTS: The

Internet is the primary means

recommended for obtaining information

on the program content of this

announcement. If an applicant has a

question about this announcement, that

question should be referred to the

following Internet email address:

TTWWIIA@ssa.gov. When sending in a

question, applicants should include

program announcement number SSA–

OESP–00–1 and the date of this

announcement. Questions will not be

answered individually; however, all

questions and answers will be posted to

ssa.gov/work web site on the Frequently

Asked Questions page.

In the rare instances when an

organization may not have access to the

Internet, an applicant with a question

about the program content may contact:

Cindy Barcelles, Program Analyst, or

Natalie Funk, Team Leader, Social

Security Administration, Office of

Employment Support Programs,

Division of Employment Policy, 107

Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

The telephone numbers are: Cindy

Barcelles, (410) 966–2668, or Natalie

Funk, (410) 965–0078. The fax number

is (410) 966–1278.

To obtain an application kit, see the

instructions under Part VI, Section A.

General (non-programmatic) questions

may also be referred to the Internet

email address TTWWIIA@ssa.gov along

with program announcement number

SSA–OESP–00–1 and the date of this

announcement. For general (nonprogrammatic) information regarding

the announcement or application

package where Internet access is not

available, contact: E. Joe Smith, Grants

Management Officer, Social Security

Administration, Office of Acquisition

and Grants, Grants Management Team,

1–E–4 Gwynn Oak Building, 1710

Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore,

Maryland 21207–5279. The telephone

numbers are: E. Joe Smith (410) 965–

9503, Dave Allshouse, (410) 965–9262,

or Gary Stammer, (410) 965–9501. The

fax numbers are (410) 966–9310 or 966–

1261.

Prospective applicants are asked to

submit, preferably by June 30, 2000, a

fax, post card, or letter of intent that

includes (1) This program

announcement number (SSA–OESP–00–

1) and title (Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program); (2)

the type of proposed agency or

organization; and (3) the name, postal

and email addresses, and the telephone

and fax numbers of the organization’s

key contact person. The notice of intent

is not required, is not binding, and does

not enter into the review process of a

subsequent application. The sole

purpose of the notice of intent is to

allow SSA staff to estimate the number

of independent reviewers needed and to

avoid potential conflicts of interest in

the review. The notice of intent should

specify ‘‘Attn: Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

Notice of Intent (SSA–OESP–00–1)’’ and

be faxed to: (410) 966–1278; mailed to:

Social Security Administration, Office

of Employment Support Programs,

Division of Employment Policy, 107

Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235;

or emailed to: TTWWIIA@ssa.gov along

with program announcement number

SSA-OESP–00–1 and the date of this

announcement.

Table of Contents

Part I. Program Description

A. Introduction

B. Background

C. Purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

D. Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program Goals

Part II. Authority and Type of Awards

A. Statutory Authority and Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance Number

B. Type of Awards

C. Number, Size, and Duration of Projects

D. Awardee Share of the Project Costs

Part III. The Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Targeted Geographic Area/Population

C. Application Process

D. Application Consideration

E. Application Approval

F. Costs

Part IV. Program Requirements

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34769

A. General Requirements

B. Description of Projects

C. Benefits Specialist Responsibilities and

Competencies

D. Management Information and Reporting

E. Evaluation

Part V. Application Review Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Screening Requirements

B. Evaluation Criteria

Part VI. Instructions for Obtaining and

Submitting Application

A. Availability of Forms

B. Checklist for a Complete Application

C. Guidelines for Application Submission

Part I. Program Description

A. Introduction

Section 121 of the Ticket to Work and

Work Incentives Improvement Act

(TWWIIA) of 1999 requires the

Commissioner of Social Security (the

Commissioner) to establish a

community-based work incentives

planning and assistance program.

Therefore, the Commissioner is

establishing a competitive program of

cooperative agreements, the Benefits

Planning, Assistance, and Outreach

Program, to disseminate accurate

information to beneficiaries with

disabilities about work incentives

programs and issues related to such

programs.

The Presidential Task Force on

Employment of Adults with Disabilities

(PTFEAD), established under Executive

Order 13078, is facilitating interagency

collaboration among SSA’s cooperative

agreement program, the Department of

Labor’s (DOL) Employment and

Training Administration’s grant

program, and the Department of Health

and Human Services’ Health Care

Financing Administration’s (HCFA)

grant program. Each of the three

programs is being administered

separately by the respective agencies but

will be initiated in FY 2000. The Task

Force will provide guidance to this

multi-agency process as part of their

charge to design a coordinated and

aggressive national policy that will

bring working-age individuals with

disabilities into gainful employment at

a rate approaching that of the general

population.

Applicants may obtain information

about SSA’s cooperative agreements by

accessing SSA’s web site, ssa.gov/oag/

grants; DOL’s grant program on the

grant and contracts page at DOL’s web

site, doleta.gov; and HCFA’s grant

programs by accessing the TWWIIA link

on HCFA’s web site, hcfa.gov.

Applicants may also access the PTFEAD

link accessible from DOL’s home page at

dol.gov for additional information about

the Task Force.

B. Background

Even though there has been an

increase in potential employment

created by technology, legislation, and

changes in societal attitudes, only a

small percentage of Social Security

Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or

disabled or blind Supplemental Security

Income (SSI) beneficiaries leave the

rolls because of work activity. There are

a number of reasons for this. First,

beneficiaries of SSDI and SSI based on

disability or blindness, by definition,

have serious disabilities, which limit

choices in employment. However,

disability advocates report that many

individuals with disabilities who

receive public assistance want to work,

or increase their work activity, and may

be able to work, with proper assistance

and support. There is also evidence that

many individuals with severe

disabilities do work, and are not relying

on income supports.

Additionally, people with disabilities

who want to work face significant

barriers. Many advocates and people

with disabilities contend that the fear of

losing health care benefits is the largest

impediment. Public health insurance

and long-term care services are usually

tied to income support programs such as

SSDI, SSI, and Temporary Assistance to

Needy Families (TANF). Employmentbased health insurance is frequently not

available to those with disabilities due

to pre-existing condition clauses or

exclusions of treatment for mental

illness. Private insurance is often

unaffordable for people with serious

illnesses and chronic or long-term

impairments, since they are charged

much higher than average premiums.

Further, while the SSDI, SSI,

Medicare and Medicaid programs all

contain valuable work incentives

provisions which can extend cash

benefits and medical coverage, they are

under-used and, often, are poorly

understood by beneficiaries and

professionals alike. The complexity and

nature of the work incentives, and the

interrelationship of myriad Federal,

State, and local programs on which

beneficiaries rely, create uncertainty

and fear. Beneficiaries are concerned

that they may lose vital income supports

and coverage for mental and physical

health care if they attempt to work.

For example, many people with

disabilities rely on a patchwork of

financial supports that have different

eligibility criteria and application

procedures. The benefits derived from a

number of these programs are meanstested. Increases in income can also

cause rent increases in Section 8

housing, loss of food stamps or public

assistance payments. Many individuals

who may be willing to risk the loss of

cash benefits from TANF, SSDI or SSI

cannot absorb the loss of housing

subsidies and other supports.

Despite these barriers, many people

with severe disabilities have managed to

use existing services and work

incentives to reach their goals of

financial self-sufficiency, while

retaining necessary supports. However,

those who are successful in returning to

work frequently report that the

availability of a knowledgeable advocate

made a difference in their ability to

navigate complex program requirements

and in their willingness to return to

work. Further, the support of that

advocate provided them a sense of

security needed to maintain work

activity. The projects funded under this

cooperative agreement program are part

of SSA’s Employment Strategy for

People with Disabilities to increase the

number of beneficiaries who return to

work and achieve self-sufficiency by

delivering direct services to

beneficiaries.

C. Purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

The purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program is to

provide statewide benefits planning and

assistance, including information on the

availability of protection and advocacy

services, to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities, and to

conduct ongoing outreach to those

beneficiaries with disabilities (and to

their families) who are potentially

eligible to participate in State or Federal

work incentives programs.

The Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program is required by

TWWIIA and is part of SSA’s

Employment Strategy for People with

Disabilities. SSA’s general aim under

TWWIAA is to ensure a substantial

increase in the number of beneficiaries

who return to work and achieve selfsufficiency. In support of this goal, SSA

is seeking well-qualified applicants to

provide SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach. While other parts of SSA’s

Employment Strategy provide direct

employment services to help

beneficiaries become employed or

increase their level of employment, this

Program aims to improve beneficiaries’

understanding of work options so that

they may make more informed choices

regarding work.

D. Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program Goals

The Government Performance Results

Act mandates that SSA establish

34770 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

specific performance indicators that

support SSA’s strategic goals, and the

Benefits Planning, Assistance and

Outreach Program’s objectives. SSA has

instituted a comprehensive employment

strategy for persons with disabilities to

ensure a substantial increase in the

number of beneficiaries who return to

work and achieve self-sufficiency.

The goal of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program is to

support SSA’s overall Employment

Strategy for persons with disabilities by

nationally providing statewide benefits

planning and assistance, and

conducting outreach to beneficiaries

with disabilities, about Federal, State,

and local work incentives programs and

related issues.

To assist SSA in assessing the scope

and utility of outreach and information

provided under this Program, each

project will be required to:

1. Collect data pertaining to benefits

planning and assistance, and outreach

activities as described in Part IV,

Section D Data Collection and Reporting

and

2. Cooperate with SSA in providing

the information needed for a customer

satisfaction survey on the quality of the

benefits planning and assistance

services being provided and for an

assessment of the success of the Benefits

Planning and Assistance, and Outreach

Program.

Note: SSA plans to conduct such surveys

in years two and five of the projects. More

frequent surveys may be conducted if a need

is indicated by the results of the first survey.

SSA will evaluate the data in 1. above

and the results of the customer

satisfaction surveys to determine the

extent to which the projects were

effective in providing benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach.

The effectiveness of the projects will be

measured by the range of beneficiaries

served and responses regarding the

knowledge of SSA work incentives and

utility of benefits planning and

assistance services. Data to be collected

will include information about:

• Beneficiaries who receive

comprehensive, coordinated benefits

planning and assistance services, and

outreach;

• Beneficiaries’ demographic

characteristics;

• Beneficiaries’ income support

characteristics (including earnings and

SSA and non-SSA benefits);

• Beneficiaries’ non-income support

characteristics (including access to

public and private health care); and

• Beneficiaries’ work and benefit

related goals and strategies.

Part II. Authority and Type of Awards

A. Statutory Authority and Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance Number

Legislative authority for this

cooperative agreement program is in

section 1149 of the Social Security Act

(Act) as established by section 121 of

the TWWIIA, Public Law 106–170. The

regulatory requirements that govern the

administration of SSA awards are in the

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45,

Parts 74 and 92. Applicants are urged to

review the requirements in the

applicable regulations. This program

will be listed in the Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance under Program No.

96.008, Social Security

Administration—Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program.

B. Type of Awards

All awards made under this program

will be in the form of cooperative

agreements. A cooperative agreement

anticipates substantial involvement

between SSA and the awardee during

the performance of the project.

Involvement will include collaboration

or participation by SSA in the

management of the activity as

determined at the time of the award. For

example, SSA will be involved in

decisions involving strategy, hiring of

personnel, deployment of resources,

release of public information materials,

quality assurance, and coordination of

activities with other offices.

C. Number, Size, and Duration of

Projects

Section 1149(d) of the Act authorizes

annual appropriations not to exceed $23

million for FYs 2000 through 2004.

Actual funding availability during this

period is subject to annual

appropriation by Congress. SSA will

fund a limited number of awards in FY

2000 and additional awards in FY 2001.

SSA anticipates all awards under this

announcement will be made by

December 31, 2000.

SSA will award a cooperative

agreement to a qualified entity based in

part on the number of beneficiaries with

disabilities in the State where the

project is located, with the following

limitations:

• No entity shall receive a

cooperative agreement for a fiscal year

that is less than $50,000 or more than

$300,000; and

• The total amount of all grants,

cooperative agreements, or contracts

awarded for the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program for

any fiscal year (including amounts

awarded for technical assistance and

training contracts) may not exceed $23

million.

Within these limitations, SSA intends

to establish as many projects as needed

to ensure statewide benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach to all SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries nationally. The

applicant must demonstrate in sufficient

detail that the number of beneficiaries

with disabilities within the targeted area

is sufficient to support a minimum

award ($50,000), considering that SSA

must ensure that all disability

beneficiaries have access to benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach.

SSA intends to enter into cooperative

agreements during the 5-year

authorization period subject to the

availability of annual appropriations by

Congress. SSA may suspend or

terminate any cooperative agreement in

whole or in part at any time before the

date of expiration, whenever it

determines that the awardee has

materially failed to comply with the

terms and conditions of the cooperative

agreement. SSA will promptly notify the

awardee in writing of the determination

and the reasons for suspension or

termination together with the effective

date.

D. Awardee Share of the Project Costs

Awardees of SSA cooperative

agreements are required to contribute a

non-Federal match of at least 5 percent

toward the cost of each project. The cost

of the project is the sum of the Federal

share (up to 95 percent) and the nonFederal share (at least 5 percent). For

example, an entity that is awarded a

cooperative agreement of $100,000

would need a non-Federal share of at

least $5,263. The non-Federal share may

be cash or in-kind (property or services)

contributions.

Part III. The Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

A cooperative agreement may be

awarded to any State or local

government, public or private

organization, or nonprofit or for-profit

organization that the Commissioner

determines is qualified to provide

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities, within

the targeted geographic area. These may

include Centers for Independent Living

established under title VII of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, protection

and advocacy organizations, Native

American tribal entities, client

assistance programs established in

accordance with section 112 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, State

Developmental Disabilities Councils

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34771

established in accordance with section

124 of the Developmental Disabilities

Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and

State agencies administering the State

program funded under part A of title IV

of the Act. The Commissioner may also

award a cooperative agreement to a

State or local Workforce Investment

Board, a Department of Labor (DOL)

One-Stop Career Center System

established under the Workforce

Improvement Act of 1998, or a State VR

agency.

SSA encourages applications from

public or private agencies or

organizations, including from local or

divisional offices of larger or statewide

agencies or organizations. Applications

from local or divisional offices of larger

entities, however, must demonstrate

that the local or divisional office has

authority to enter into cooperative

agreements and to be ultimately

responsible for funds.

Note: For-profit organizations may apply

with the understanding that no grant funds

may be paid as profit to any grant recipient.

Profit is considered as any amount in excess

of the allowable costs of the grant recipient.

A for-profit organization is a corporation or

other legal entity that is organized or

operated for the profit or benefit of its

shareholders or other owners and must be

distinguishable or legally separable from that

of an individual acting on his/her own

behalf. Applications will not be accepted

from applicants which do not meet the above

eligibility criteria at the time of submission

of applications.

Cooperative agreements may not be

awarded to:

• Any individual;

• Social Security Administration

Field Offices;

• Any State agency administering the

State Medicaid program under title XIX

of the Act;

• Any entity that the Commissioner

determines would have a conflict of

interest if the entity were to receive a

cooperative agreement under the

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program; or

• Any organization described in

section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1968 that engages in lobbying

(in accordance with section 18 of the

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2

U.S.C. 1611).

Note: Any protection and advocacy

organization must fully explain how it will

ensure there will be no conflict of interest

between providing benefits planning and

assistance services and outreach, and

delivering protection and advocacy services

to beneficiaries. In particular, they must

show how they will ensure full protection

and advocacy services will be provided when

the complaint is against the Benefits

Specialist or organization. Also, any

organization that will apply to be an

employment network under SSA’s Ticket to

Work and Self-Sufficiency Program, must

fully explain how it will ensure there will be

no conflict of interest if they also receive a

cooperative agreement to provide benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach. This is

especially important in the area of assisting

beneficiaries with PASS plans or other work

incentives which will enable them to keep

receiving benefits, thus delaying, or

preventing entirely, payments to the

employment network.

B. Targeted Geographic Area/

Population

To ensure statewide availability of

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach, as required by section 1149 of

the Act, SSA intends to award

cooperative agreements partly on the

basis of geographic area.

While SSA recognizes that not every

SSDI or SSI beneficiary with a disability

will access benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach, it must be

available to each via the project

targeting a specific geographic area.

Therefore, awarded projects must make

those services available to all SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries with disabilities

within the geographic area. Because

youth with disabilities is such an

important population to target for those

services, each project must make

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach available to SSI recipients as

young as age 14. In providing benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach,

projects must make concerted and

aggressive efforts to address the needs of

underserved individuals with

disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities (e.g., Native

Americans, Vietnamese). In particular,

awardees should show how they intend

to do outreach in ways that ensure

interaction with diverse communities

and must specify the geographic area

they wish to cover.

Entities are encouraged to collaborate

with other public and/or private

organizations (e.g., DOL One-Stop

Career Center), through interagency

agreements or other mechanisms, if

necessary, to integrate services to

beneficiaries with disabilities. Entities

should also consider collaboration with

other organizations to prepare an

application for a cooperative agreement

to provide benefits planning, assistance,

and outreach to all beneficiaries within

a specific area. For example, Native

American tribal governments may

collaborate to develop a proposal to

cover specified reservation lands.

All applications developed jointly by

more than one agency or organization

must identify only one organization as

the lead organization and official

applicant. The other participating

agencies and organizations can be

included as co-applicants, subgrantees

or subcontractors. However, where more

than the maximum award amount is

requested, and would be awarded for

the targeted geographic area,

collaborating agencies should submit

separate applications.

C. Application Process

The cooperative agreement

application process consists of a onestage, full application. Independent

reviewers will competitively review the

application against the evaluation

criteria specified in this announcement

(see Part V). Applications will be

reviewed against others targeting the

same State or locality; for example, an

application targeting the State of

Louisiana will be competitively

reviewed against all other applications

targeting Louisiana, including any that

might target both Louisiana and

Mississippi, or specific portions of

Louisiana. (SSA must ensure that all

beneficiaries with disabilities,

nationally, have access to benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach.)

D. Application Consideration

Applications will be initially screened

for relevance to this announcement. If

judged irrelevant, the application will

be returned to the applicant. Also,

applications that do not meet the

applicant eligibility criteria in Section A

above will not be accepted.

Applications that are complete and

conform to the requirements of this

announcement, the instructions in Form

SSA–96–BK, and the separate

instructions for completing Part III,

Program Narrative (of the SSA–96–BK),

will be reviewed competitively against

the evaluation criteria specified in Part

V of this announcement and evaluated

by Federal and non-Federal personnel.

See Part VI for instructions on obtaining

Form SSA–96–BK. The results of this

review and evaluation will assist the

Commissioner in making award

decisions. Although the results of this

review are a primary factor considered

in making the decisions, the review

score is not the only factor used. In

selecting eligible applicants to be

funded, consideration will be given to

achieving statewide accessibility to

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach throughout the country and the

U.S. territories, and to avoiding

unnecessary duplication of effort.

The application requirements in Part

IV are the minimum amount of required

project information. Projects are

responsible for collecting management

information (MI) according to the

guidelines provided, producing regular

34772 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

reports according to the guidelines

provided, and producing a final report

which analyzes the successes and/or

failures of the methodology used to

provide benefits planning, assistance,

and outreach to SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries, and others.

All projects must adhere to SSA’s

Privacy and Confidentiality Regulations

(20 CFR Part 401) for maintaining

records of individuals, as well as

provide specific safeguards surrounding

beneficiary information sharing, paper/

computer records/data, and other issues

potentially arising from providing

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities.

E. Application Approval

Cooperative agreement awards will be

issued within the constraints of

available Federal funds and at the

discretion of SSA. The official award

document is the ‘‘Notice of Cooperative

Agreement Award.’’ It will provide the

amount of the award, the purpose of the

award, the term of the agreement, the

total project period for which support is

contemplated, the amount of financial

participation required, and any special

terms and conditions of the cooperative

agreement.

F. Costs

Federal cooperative agreement funds

may be used for allowable costs

incurred by awardees in conducting

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach. These costs could include

administrative and overall project

management costs, within the

limitations discussed earlier.

Federal cooperative agreement funds

are not intended to cover costs that are

reimbursable under an existing public

or private program, such as social

services, rehabilitation services, or

education. No SSDI or SSI beneficiary

can be charged for any service delivered

under a Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program cooperative

agreement, including preparing a PASS.

Benefits planning and assistance

services are intended to be free and

must be made accessible to all SSA

beneficiaries with disabilities in the

project’s target geographical area.

Project funds should not be used to

create new benefits or extensions of

existing benefits.

Part IV. Program Requirements

A. General Requirements

The cooperative agreement awardees

shall:

1. Provide the location of the targeted

service area(s) (by zip codes) to SSA as

part of the application (see Part III,

Section B Targeted Geographic Area/

Population);

2. Work with SSA’s technical

assistance and training contractor in

arranging training for Benefits

Specialists;

3. Provide a brief project description

to the contractor;

4. Employ Benefits Specialists and

have them attend an initial 5-day faceto-face training session within 90 days

of award of the cooperative agreement.

SSA’s technical assistance and training

contractor will provide technical

assistance and training to projects about

SSA’s programs and work incentives

(e.g., trial-work period (TWP), extended

period of eligibility (EPE), impairmentrelated work expenses (IRWE), Plan for

Achieving Self-Support (PASS), 1619(a)

and (b), and Medicaid buy-in

provisions/Balanced Budget Act);

Medicare and Medicaid; and on other

Federal work incentives programs. The

applicant is responsible for providing

technical assistance and training to

Benefits Specialists about State and

local programs. (SSA will attend that

training session to provide a half-day

orientation session for project directors.)

Have Benefits Specialists attend

refresher/follow-up and new hire

training sessions, as needed, and take

part in the evaluation of training

activities and the evaluation of ongoing

training needs evaluation by the

contractor.

5. Within 90 days after award, the

applicant will ensure Benefits

Specialists have completed training,

have developed outreach plans and

begun initial outreach, and are prepared

to provide benefits planning and

assistance services to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities within the

targeted geographic area who are

requesting these services;

6. Finalize the Management

Information (MI) system data collection

elements (as defined by SSA) and

procedures with SSA within 60 days

after award;

7. Develop and submit quarterly

reports that contain MI to SSA, Office of

Acquisition and Grants (OAG);

8. Develop and submit quarterly

financial reports to SSA, OAG;

9. Provide a description of all planned

changes to the project design for

approval by SSA prior to

implementation;

10. Cooperate with SSA in scheduling

and conducting site visits;

11. Develop and maintain a

collaborative working relationship with

the local servicing Social Security

office;

12. Implement an ongoing

management and quality assurance

process that uses MI data; and

13. Attend scheduled conferences,

participate in panel and small group

discussions, and make project

presentations.

B. Description of Projects

The project awardees shall:

• Provide individualized benefits

planning and assistance, including

information on the availability of

protection and advocacy services, to

beneficiaries with disabilities, including

individuals participating in the Ticket

to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program

established under section 1148 of the

Act, the program established under

section 1619 of the Act, and other

programs that are designed to encourage

disabled beneficiaries to work;

• Conduct ongoing outreach efforts to

beneficiaries with disabilities (and to

the families of such beneficiaries) who

are potentially eligible to participate in

Federal or State work incentives

programs that are designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities to work,

by preparing and disseminating

information and explaining such

programs. In conducting benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

activities, project awardees will work in

cooperation with other Federal, State,

and private agencies and nonprofit

organizations that serve beneficiaries

with disabilities, and with agencies and

organizations that focus on vocational

rehabilitation and work-related training

and counseling, including DOL OneStop Career Centers.

In order to be considered for an

award, applicants must describe:

• Their understanding of benefits

planning and assistance, including the

benefits programs with which they have

worked in the past;

• How they will notify all SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries with disabilities in the

targeted geographic area about benefits

planning and assistance and provide

those services to beneficiaries;

• Their understanding of outreach,

and how they will conduct outreach to

all SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with

disabilities (and their families) in the

targeted geographic area who are

potentially eligible to participate in

Federal or State work incentives

programs designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities to work.

Particularly, how the outreach

strategies, information, and materials

will be modified to seek out different

ethnic and racial groups;

• The scope of the project; and

• How that project achieves the

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34773

Outreach Program goals in Part I,

Section D.

The applicants must also describe

how they will address any special

cultural requirements of populations

e.g., Native Americans) within the

targeted geographic area, as well as nonEnglish speaking populations e.g.,

Vietnamese) and SSI recipients as young

as age 14.

In providing benefits planning and

assistance services, and conducting

outreach, projects must be sensitive to

issues such as cultural differences and

non-English speaking populations

within the areas they serve e.g., Native

Americans, Vietnamese). Specifically,

projects must address the needs of

underserved individuals with

disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities and show how they

intend to provide outreach in ways that

ensure interaction with diverse

communities.

Applicants must also provide

information on:

• Collaborative relationships with

relevant agencies, including SSA’s field

offices, and organizations e.g., Centers

for Independent Living, DOL One-Stop

Career Centers);

• Specific services and supports that

will be involved in the project and their

roles;

• Case management and monitoring

systems and techniques to be used;

• Methods of evaluating benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

provided; and

• The MI and quality assurance

process that will be used.

Applicants must also describe how

Benefits Specialists will be trained on:

numerous supports which are often

used by people with disabilities, such as

long-term care, subsidized housing,

paratransit, and food stamps; variations

in benefits and services in the State in

which the applicant is located; that

State’s work incentives programs;

workers’ compensation and

unemployment insurance programs;

vocational rehabilitation services; workrelated training and counseling

programs; and other community-based

support programs designed to enable

people with disabilities to work.

Applicants must also describe how

Benefits Specialists will be trained to

conduct outreach by providing

information, guidance, and planning to

beneficiaries with disabilities on the:

• Availability and interrelation of any

Federal or State work incentives

programs designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities for which

the individual may be eligible to

participate;

• Adequacy of any health benefits

coverage that may be offered by an

employer of the individual and the

extent to which other health benefits

coverage may be available to the

individual; and

• Availability of protection and

advocacy services for beneficiaries with

disabilities and how to access such

services.

Note: The technical assistance and training

contractor may provide technical assistance

materials to enable project Benefits

Specialists to get information about the

subjects in the preceding paragraphs.

However, each awardee shall be responsible

for ensuring that Benefits Specialists are

well-versed in these areas.

Applicants must describe any plans

they have to collaborate or coordinate

with public and private organizations to

achieve and/or improve their project

goals and submit evidence to SSA of

these organizations’ capabilities, and

willingness to participate (e.g., letters of

intent, memoranda of understanding).

Applicants should not request letters of

intent or commitment from SSA field

offices. SSA will assure field office

cooperation.

Each applicant must describe the

number of beneficiaries with disabilities

it expects to serve. If the target group is

not large enough to justify a minimum

award of $50,000, the applicant will not

be considered further.

Note: All SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

(including SSI recipients as young as age 14)

within the geographic area served by the

project, must be able to access benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach via the

project.

The project may be part of a larger

State initiative; e.g., a DOL One-Stop

Career Center, that serves other

individuals with disabilities, such as

TANF recipients; however, funds

provided by SSA under the cooperative

agreements cannot be used to serve

people with disabilities who are not

beneficiaries of SSDI and/or SSI.

C. Benefits Specialist Responsibilities

and Competencies

1. Responsibilities

Cooperative agreement awardees shall

select individuals who will act as

Benefits Specialists. Benefits Specialists

will provide work incentives planning

and assistance to beneficiaries with

disabilities (and their families), who are

potentially eligible to participate in

Federal or State work incentives

programs designed to assist disabled

beneficiaries to work; conduct outreach

efforts to beneficiaries with disabilities;

and work in cooperation with Federal,

State, and private agencies and

nonprofit organizations that serve

beneficiaries with disabilities. Benefits

Specialists will also provide

information on: the adequacy of health

benefits coverage that may be offered by

an employer of a beneficiary with a

disability; the extent to which other

health benefits coverage may be

available to that beneficiary; and the

availability of protection and advocacy

services for beneficiaries with

disabilities, and how to access such

services.

Benefits Planning. Benefits planning

requires an in-depth understanding of

the current status of a beneficiary being

served. Initial benefits planning will

support a beneficiary over a period of

several weeks to several months,

concluding when the beneficiary has

received guidance to support informed

choices. Benefits Specialists will

establish plans for beneficiaries with

disabilities, and develop long-term

supports that may be needed to ensure

success. Following the initial benefits

planning process, they will provide

periodic, follow-up planning services to

ensure that the information, analysis,

and guidance are updated as new

conditions (with regard to the

applicable programs or to the

individual’s situation) arise.

To provide benefits planning services,

Benefits Specialists will:

• Obtain and evaluate comprehensive

information about a beneficiary with a

disability, on the following:

—Beneficiary background information

—Disability

—Employment and earnings

—Resources

—Federal and State benefits

—Health insurance

—Work expenses

—Work incentives

—Service(s) and supports;

• Assess the potential impacts of

employment and/or other changes on a

beneficiary’s Federal and State benefits

eligibility and overall financial wellbeing;

• Provide information and assist the

beneficiary in understanding and

assessing the potential impacts of

employment and/or other actions or

changes on his/her life situation, and

provide specific guidance regarding the

affects of various work incentives;

• Develop a comprehensive

framework of possible options available

to a beneficiary and projected results for

each as part of the career development

and employment process; and

• Ensure confidentiality of all

information provided.

Benefits Assistance. Benefits

assistance involves the delivery of

information and direct supports for the

34774 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

purpose of assisting a beneficiary in

dealing with benefit issues and

effectively managing benefits. Benefits

assistance also involves providing

information and referral and problemsolving services as needed. Benefits

management services will generally

build on previous planning and

assistance services and include periodic

updates of an individual’s specific

information, reassessment of benefit(s)

and overall impacts, education and

advisement, and additional planning for

monitoring and managing benefits and

work incentives.

To provide benefits assistance

services, Benefits Specialists will:

• Provide time-limited direct

assistance to a beneficiary in the

development of a comprehensive, longterm benefits management plan to guide

the effective monitoring and

management of Federal and State

benefits and work incentives. Specific

components of the plan must address:

—Desired benefit and work outcomes

—Related steps or activities necessary to

achieve outcomes

—Associated dates or time frames

—Building on initial benefits planning

efforts including information

gathering, analysis and advisement

—Benefits/financial analysis (pre-and

post-employment);

• Provide time-limited, intensive

assistance to beneficiaries, their key

stakeholders, and their support teams in

making informed choices and

establishing both employment-related

goals as well as needed benefits

management supports. Needed benefits

assistance could include:

—How SSDI and SSI work incentives

programs may lead to self-supporting

employment by developing a PASS

—Developing a PASS which can be

used to obtain training, education,

and entrepreneurial opportunities

—How a PASS can be used to address

some of the barriers to employment,

such as obtaining a car for

transportation needs

—The 1619(b) provisions and

requirements;

• Advocate on behalf of a beneficiary

with other agencies and programs,

which requires in-person, telephone

and/or written communication with the

individual and other involved parties

generally over a period of several weeks

to several months;

• Provide time-limited follow-up

assistance as needed to beneficiaries

who have previously received benefits

planning and/or other types of benefits

assistance services and:

—Assist them and other involved

parties to update information

—Reassess impact of employment and

other changes on benefits and work

incentives

—Provide additional guidance on

benefit options, issues and

management strategies;

• Assist beneficiaries as needed to

update benefits management plan;

• Provide information, referral, and

problem-solving support;

• Provide ongoing, comprehensive,

benefits monitoring and management

assistance to beneficiaries who are

likely to experience employment,

benefits, or other changes that may

dramatically affect their benefit(s)

status, health care, or overall financial

well being; and

• Provide long-term benefits

management on a scheduled,

continuous basis, allowing for the

planning and provision of supports at

regular checkpoints, as well as critical

transition points in an individual’s

benefits, employment and overall

situation.

Outreach. Outreach activities are

ongoing, systematic efforts to inform

individuals of available work

incentives, as well as the services and

supports available to enable them to

access and benefit from those work

incentives. Outreach efforts should be

targeted directly to SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities, their

families, and to advocacy groups and

service provider agencies that have

regular contact with them. Outreach

activities should be directed toward and

sensitive to the needs of individuals

from diverse ethnic backgrounds,

persons with English as their second

language, as well as non-English

speaking persons, individuals residing

in highly urban or rural areas, and other

traditionally underserved groups.

To conduct ongoing outreach,

Benefits Specialists will:

• Prepare and disseminate

information explaining Federal or State

work incentives programs and their

interrelationships; and

• Work in cooperation with other

Federal, State, and private agencies and

nonprofit organizations that serve

beneficiaries with disabilities, and with

agencies and organizations that focus on

vocational rehabilitation and workrelated training and counseling.

The Benefits Specialists will conduct

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities (and their families),

who are potentially eligible to

participate in Federal or State work

incentives programs that are designed to

assist beneficiaries with disabilities to

work.

2. Competencies

A bachelor’s degree is preferred. SSA

may accept a combination of education

and experience if the experience

provides the knowledge, skills and

abilities to successfully perform the

duties of the position. Applicants must

ensure that Benefits Specialists have the

skills required to competently provide

benefits planning and assistance

services, and outreach.

Benefits Specialists should bring the

following knowledge, skills, and

abilities to the position:

• Basic math skills, with an emphasis

on problem solving;

• Deductive ability with analytical

thinking and creative problem solving

skills;

• Acceptable interviewing skills;

• Ability to interpret Federal laws,

regulations, and administrative code

about public benefits;

• Communication skills (written and/

or verbal);

• Knowledge of medical terminology

and awareness of cultural and political

issues pertaining to various populations

and to various disabilities; and

• Basic computer skills.

Benefits Specialists will need to

become proficient in the following

knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• SSDI and SSI disability programs;

• Knowledge of all public benefits

programs, including operations and

inter-relationships;

• Translating technical information

for lay individuals;

• Accessing information in a variety

of ways (including the ability to be able

to recognize when additional

information is needed);

• Interpersonal skills (e.g., recognize

and help people manage anger and

conflict, enjoy working with

individuals);

• Counseling skills (ability to listen,

evaluate alternatives, advise on

potential cause of action);

• Knowledge of SSA field office

structure and how to work with various

work incentives coordinators (e.g.,

PASS specialists, employment support

representatives);

• Knowledge of the structure and

design of public and private benefits

systems and local community services;

and

• Knowledge of ethics (e.g.,

confidentiality, conflict of interest).

The applicant must clearly explain

how it will ensure all individuals hired

as Benefits Specialists will bring the

previously described knowledge, skills,

and abilities to the position, and how

they will become proficient in the

others. SSA will contract with a

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34775

separate entity to provide technical

assistance and training to projects on an

ongoing basis about SSA’s programs and

work incentives, Medicare and

Medicaid, and other Federal work

incentives programs. The applicant is

responsible for providing technical

assistance and training to Benefits

Specialists about State and local

programs.

D. Management Information and

Reporting

In addition to cooperating with the

surveys outlined in Part I, Section D,

entities must provide all collected data

and report the results to SSA’s Office of

Acquisition and Grants, as described

below.

Common data elements, as defined by

SSA, will be collected by all projects.

The awardee and SSA will use the

management information (MI) data to

manage the project and to determine

what additional resources or other

approaches may be needed to improve

the process. The data will also be

valuable to SSA in its analysis of and

future planning for the SSDI and SSI

programs.

All projects must adhere to SSA’s

Privacy and Confidentiality Regulations

(20 CFR part 401) for maintaining

records of individuals, as well as

provide specific safeguards surrounding

beneficiary information sharing, paper/

computer records/data, and other issues

potentially arising from providing

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities.

All projects shall provide for the

design, development, implementation,

and maintenance of an MI system,

which must be compatible with SSA

database specifications that are fixedformat ASCII files. The MI system shall

allow for necessary data collection on

SSDI and SSI beneficiaries. For the

purpose of providing MI to SSA in

support of the implementation and

management of the projects, projects

will collect, analyze, and summarize the

data listed below:

Beneficiary Background Information

1. Beneficiary/recipient name (Last,

First, Middle)

2. Date of birth

3. Gender

4. Special language or other

considerations

5. Mailing address

6. Telephone number

7. Social Security number

8. Representative payee (RP) name (if

applicable)

9. RP address

10. Current level of education

11. Whether pursuing education

currently and at what level (e.g.,

post secondary, continuing adult

education, special education,

vocational education)

12. Proposed educational goals

13. Primary diagnosis

14. Secondary diagnosis (if applicable)

15. Employer health care coverage at

outset (if working)

16. Other health care coverage

Employment Information (current and

proposed goal—where applicable)

1. Self-employed or employee

2. Type of work

3. Beginning date

4. Hours per week

5. Monthly gross earned income

6. Monthly net earned income

7. Work-related expenses

Proposed Training Information

1. Work-related training/counseling

program

2. Proposed other training

Benefits (current and expected changes

if employment goals are reached)

1. SSDI

2. SSI

3. Concurrent (SSDI and SSI)

4. Medicare

5. Medicaid

6. Subsidized housing or other rental

subsidies

7. Food Stamps

8. General Assistance

9. Workers Compensation benefits

10. Unemployment Insurance benefits

11. Other Federal, State, or local

supports, including TANF (specify)

Incentives To Be Used

1. Trial-work period (TWP)

2. Extended period of eligibility (EPE)

3. Impairment-related work expenses

(IRWE)

4. Plan for achieving self-support

(PASS)

5. 1619(a)

6. 1619(b)

7. Medicaid buy-in provisions/Balanced

Budget Act

Services To Be Used

1. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

services

2. Paratransit services

3. Protection and Advocacy services

4. Work-related training/counseling

program

5. DOL One-Stop Career Center services

6. Transitioning youth services (from

school to post-secondary education

or to work)

Monthly Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Activities Performed by

Benefits Planning Organization

1. Number of SSDI/SSI beneficiaries

(over age 18) requesting assistance

(initial and repeat requests)

2. Number of SSDI/SSI beneficiaries

(ages 14 to 18) requesting assistance

(initial and repeat requests)

3. Number of new benefits management

plans prepared

4. Number of updated benefits

management plans prepared

5. Number of presentations given at

forums, conferences, meetings, etc.

All data elements are to be collected

in accordance with precise definitions

to be provided by SSA during start-up

activities. Adherence to such precise

definitions is crucial to the

comparability of the data across project

sites.

Entities awarded cooperative

agreements under this notice shall

submit quarterly progress reports to

SSA, OAG. SSA expects that the

projects will need a period of time to

begin providing services and collecting

management information. Therefore, the

first quarterly report shall include a

description of the project, a status of

data collection operations, actions that

were taken, planned actions, and a

description of how the project is

addressing the needs of individuals

with disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities, both in benefits

planning and in carrying out outreach

activities.

Subsequent reports shall provide: a

status of the project, any problems or

proposed changes in the project (e.g.,

requests for technical assistance from

contractor, interagency agreement

change); specific information (baseline

data/program statistics) required by

SSA, including that listed above; a

description of how the project is

addressing the needs of individuals

with disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities, both in benefits

planning and in carrying out outreach

activities; actions that were taken, and

planned actions. The quarterly reports

shall be submitted to SSA, OAG, within

30 days after the end of the quarter.

SSA personnel (SSA Project Officer

and/or other staff) expect to visit each

project at least once in each year of the

cooperative agreement. The SSA Project

Officer shall review site operations,

including collection of management

information, and evaluate how projects

are finding ways to make benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

activities more effective in achieving

SSA’s Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program goals.

34776 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

Staff members from each project shall

attend an initial training meeting that

will include an orientation session by

SSA, and subsequent scheduled

conferences at SSA headquarters or

alternate sites chosen by SSA. Those

meetings will provide awardees of

cooperative agreements with the

opportunity to exchange information

with SSA and other awardees.

E. Evaluation

Process Evaluation

The purpose of process evaluation is

for SSA and the awardee to assess how

the project functioned and how the

process might be altered to more

efficiently and/or successfully provide

the services required under this section

of the Act. The process evaluation will

require both data collection and

qualitative observational evaluation

through site visits and/or project

reporting.

Participant Experience

The goal of these cooperative

agreements is the provision of services

to enhance beneficiary awareness and

understanding of SSA work incentives

and thereby enhance beneficiaries’

ability to make informed choices

regarding work. The goal is not to

provide employment services.

Nevertheless, SSA is clearly interested

in identifying participant outcomes

under the Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program to determine the

extent to which participants achieve

their employment, financial, and health

care goals. SSA is thus requiring the

collection of data to permit the

assessment of the participants’

situations (employment, benefit status,

income, etc.) before service provision

under these projects, and their goals

after services have been provided. SSA

intends to use this information to

support the sample selection for

participants in the customer satisfaction

survey. This will allow SSA to include

the experiences and outcomes of a broad

range of beneficiaries.

Each project shall submit periodic

reports (as described in Part IV, D Data

Collection and Reporting) to SSA, OAG.

Data and information that are used in

preparing the reports can be used, for

example, to improve: the efficiency of

the project’s operations, use of staff,

linkages between the project and the

programs for which benefits planning is

needed to better meet the needs of target

populations. In addition, the results

from evaluation will be disseminated to

other projects to promote learning,

program refinements, and facilitate

partnership and achievement of project

objectives. Timely comprehensive MI

data also allows for cost accounting,

which help improve the efficiency of

service approaches and may inform

future policy decisions.

Part V. Application Review Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Screening Requirements

All applications that meet the

deadline will be screened to determine

completeness and conformity to the

requirements of this announcement.

Complete and conforming applications

will then be evaluated.

1. Number of Copies: The applicant

must submit one original signed and

dated application and a minimum of

two copies. The submission of seven

additional copies is optional and will

expedite processing, but will not affect

the evaluation or scoring of the

application.

2. Length: The program narrative

portion of the application (Part III of the

SSA–96–BK) may not exceed 30 doublespaced pages (or 15 single-spaced pages)

on one side of the paper only, using

standard (81⁄2′′ x 11′′) size paper, and 12-

point font. Attachments that support the

program narrative count towards the 30-

page limit.

B. Evaluation Criteria

Applications that pass the screening

process will be independently reviewed

by at least three individuals (primarily

qualified persons from outside of SSA),

who will evaluate and score the

applications based on the evaluation

criteria. There are four categories of

criteria used to score applications:

capability; relevance/adequacy of

program design; resources and

management; and quality assurance

plan. The total points possible for an

application is 100, and sections are

weighted as noted in the descriptions of

criteria below. The score for each

application is the sum of its parts.

Although the results from the

independent panel reviews are the

primary factor used in making funding

decisions, they are not the sole basis for

making awards. The Commissioner will

consider other factors as well when

making funding decisions. For instance,

the need to assure the required

geographic distribution of projects may

take precedence over rankings/scores of

the review panel.

Following are the evaluation criteria

that SSA will use in reviewing all

applications (relative weights are shown

in parentheses):

1. Capability (20 points)

The applicant’s capability to deliver

benefits planning and assistance

services will be judged by:

• Description of how entity will test

for Benefits Specialist competencies

listed in Part IV and provide any needed

training to ensure competencies will be

maintained and/or enhanced; (8 points)

• Description of the proposed

administration and organization of the

project, including the existence of the

necessary administrative resources to

effectively carry out the project; and (7

points)

• Project Director’s and key staff’s

documentation of experience and

results of past projects of this nature

(extra consideration may be given to

applicants based on the quality and

extent of their experience in return-towork efforts for SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities). (5

points)

2. Relevance/Adequacy of Project

Design (30 points)

The adequacy of project design will

be judged by:

• A description of the project

operations, including how the project

will work (e.g., identification and

notification of potential project

participants about availability of

benefits planning and assistance

services, location for providing services,

ability to travel to beneficiary, etc.) and

the quality of the project design; (6

points)

• A description of how the project

will address provision of benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach to

transition-to-work aged SSI youth; (5

points)

• A description of how the project

will address provision of benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach to

populations with special cultural or

language requirements; (5 points)

• Evidence of collaboration with

relevant agencies, including collocation

within a DOL One-Stop Career Center

organization, in providing benefits

planning and assistance services; and

extent and clarity of collaborative efforts

with other organizations, including

letters of intent or written assurances;

and (5 points)

• A concise and clear statement of the

project goals and objectives; MI data to

be collected; specification of data

sources; and how quality assurance will

be realized; (4 points)

• Description of problems that may

arise and how they will be resolved;

e.g., how dropouts and inadequate

numbers of participants will be

handled; and (3 points)

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices 34777

• Evidence of how the approach

proposed will accomplish Benefits

Planning, Assistance, and Outreach

Program goals. (2 points)

3. Resources and Management (30

points)

Resources and management will be

judged by:

• Appropriateness of qualifications of

the project personnel, as evidenced by

training and experience indicating that

they have the skills required to

competently provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach; (8

points)

• Evidence of successful previous

experience related to benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach programs; (4

points)

• Evidence that the applicant has a

working knowledge of work incentives

and the various programs available to

beneficiaries with disabilities; (4 points)

• Evidence of adequate facilities (e.g.,

collocation within a DOL One-Stop

Career Center) and resources to deliver

services; (4 points)

• Appropriateness of the case

management and monitoring systems

and techniques, including an MI system,

quality assurance system, and a range of

other monitoring and management

options; (3 points)

• Extent and quality of project

assurances that sufficient resources

(including personnel, time, funds, and

facilities) will be available to support

services to beneficiaries; (3 points)

• Evidence that the applicant will

meaningfully involve family members

and other representatives of target

groups, including advocates in the

process of delivery services; and (2

points)

• Cost effectiveness, per client costs,

and reasonableness of overall project

cost relative to planned services. (2

points)

4. Quality Assurance (20 points)

The applicant’s quality assurance

plan will be judged by:

• Extent to which training is

accommodated and planned for to

ensure that all Benefits Specialists

maintain knowledge, skills, and

abilities, and acquire more; (6 points)

• Extent to which the awardee

proposes to use MI data to improve

processes and ensure that all

information given is accurate and

pertinent; (4 points)

• Extent to which the proposed

quality assurance plan complies with

the requirements of SSA, in terms of

data collection, reporting, and ensuring

that only accurate information is

provided to beneficiaries and others; (4

points)

• Extent to which the proposed staff

demonstrate expertise in the area of

benefits planning and assistance; and (4

points)

• The extent to which staff have

experience collecting, protecting, and

analyzing data on beneficiaries with

disabilities to provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach. (2

points)

Part VI. Instructions for Obtaining and

Submitting Application

A. Availability of Forms

The Internet is the primary means

recommended for obtaining an

application kit under this program

announcement. An application kit

containing all of the prescribed forms

and instructions needed to apply for a

cooperative agreement under this

announcement may be obtained at the

following Internet address: ssa.gov/oag/

grants.

However, in the rare instances when

an organization may not have access to

the Internet, an application kit may be

obtained by writing to: Grants

Management Team, Office of Operations

Contracts and Grants, OAG, Social

Security Administration, 1–E–4 Gwynn

Oak Building, 1710 Gwynn Oak

Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207–

5279.

Requests submitted by mail should

include two return address labels. Also,

please provide the name, title and

telephone number of the individual to

contact; and the organization’s name,

street address, city, State and zip code.

To ensure receipt of the proper kit,

please include program announcement

number SSA–OESP–00–1 and the date

of this announcement.

B. Checklist for a Complete Application

The checklist below is a guide to

ensure that the application package has

been properly prepared.

—An original, signed and dated

application plus at least two copies.

Seven additional copies are optional

but will expedite processing.

—The program narrative portion of the

application (Part III of the SSA–96–

BK) may not exceed thirty doublespaced pages (or fifteen single-spaced

pages) on one side of the paper only,

using standard (81⁄2′′ x 11′′) size paper,

and 12-point font. Attachments that

support the program narrative count

towards the 30-page limit.

—Attachments/Appendices, when

included, should be used only to

provide supporting documentation.

Please do not include books or

videotapes as they are not easily

reproduced and are therefore

inaccessible to reviewers.

—A complete application, which

consists of the following items in this

order:

(1) Part I (Face page)—Application for

Federal Assistance (SF 424, REV 4–88);

(2) Table of Contents;

(3) Project Summary (not to exceed

one page);

(4) Part II—Budget Information,

Sections A through G (Form SSA–96–

BK);

(5) Budget Justification (in Section B

Budget Categories, explain how

amounts were computed), including

subcontract organization budgets;

(6) Part III—Application Narrative and

Appendices;

(7) Part IV—Assurances;

(8) Additional Assurances and

Certifications—regarding Lobbying and

regarding Drug-Free Workplace; and

(9) Form SSA–3966–PC—

acknowledgement of receipt of

application (applicant’s return address

must be inserted on the form).

C. Guidelines for Application

Submission

All applications for cooperative

agreement projects under this

announcement must be submitted on

the prescribed forms included in the

application kit. The application shall be

executed by an individual authorized to

act for the applicant organization and to

assume for the applicant organization

the obligations imposed by the terms

and conditions of the cooperative

agreement award.

In item 11 of the Face Sheet (SF 424),

the applicant must clearly indicate the

application submitted is in response to

this announcement (SSA–OESP–00–1).

The applicant also is encouraged to

select a SHORT descriptive project title.

Applications must be mailed or handdelivered to: Grants Management Team,

Office of Operations Contracts and

Grants, OAG, DCFAM, Social Security

Administration, Attention: SSA–OESP–

00–1, 1–E–4 Gwynn Oak Building, 1710

Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD

21207–5279.

Hand-delivered applications are

accepted between the hours of 8 a.m.

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. An

application will be considered as

meeting the deadline if it is either:

1. Received on or before the deadline

date at the above address; or

2. Mailed through the U.S. Postal

Service or sent by commercial carrier on

or before the deadline date and received

in time to be considered during the

competitive review and evaluation

process. Packages must be postmarked

by July 31, 2000. Applicants are

cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S.

Postal Service postmark or to obtain a

34778 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 105 / Wednesday, May 31, 2000 / Notices

legibly dated receipt from a commercial

carrier as evidence of timely mailing.

Private-metered postmarks are not

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Applications that do not meet the

above criteria are considered late

applications. SSA will not waive or

extend the deadline for any application

unless the deadline is waived or

extended for all applications. SSA will

notify each late applicant that its

application will not be considered.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This notice contains reporting

requirements. However, the information

is collected using form SSA–96–BK,

Federal Assistance Application, which

has the Office of Management and

Budget clearance number 0960–0184.

Dated: May 25, 2000.

Kenneth S. Apfel,

Commissioner of Social Security.

[FR Doc. 00–13649 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191–02–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3321]

Culturally Significant Objects Imported

for Exhibition Determinations:

‘‘Egyptian Treasures From the British

Museum’’

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the

following determinations: Pursuant to

the authority vested in me by the Act of

October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985, 22 U.S.C.

2459), the Foreign Affairs Reform and

Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat.

2681, et seq.), Delegation of Authority

No. 234 of October 1, 1999, and

Delegation of Authority of October 19,

1999, I hereby determine that the objects

to be included in the exhibition

‘‘Egyptian Treasures from the British

Museum’’ imported from abroad for the

temporary exhibition without profit

within the United States, are of cultural

significance. These objects are imported

pursuant to loan agreements with

foreign lenders. I also determine that the

exhibition or display of the exhibit

objects at The Bowers Museum of

Cultural Art, Santa Ana, CA from

October 7, 2000 to January 2, 2001 is in

the national interest. Public Notice of

these Determinations is ordered to be

published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further information, including a list of

exhibit objects, contact Carol Epstein,

Attorney-Adviser, Office of the Legal

Adviser, U.S. Department of State

(telephone: 202/619–6981). The address

is U.S. Department of State, SA–44;

301—4th Street, SW, Room 700,

Washington, DC 20547–0001.

Dated: May 19, 2000.

William B. Bader,

Assistant Secretary for Educational and

Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–13539 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–08–P

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3322]

Culturally Significant Objects Imported

for Exhibition Determinations: ‘‘Gallery

for the Arts of Korea’’

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the

following determinations: Pursuant to

the authority vested in me by the Act of

October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985, 22 U.S.C.

2459 ), the Foreign Affairs Reform and

Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat.

2681, et seq.), Delegation of Authority

No. 234 of October 1, 1999, and

Delegation of Authority of October 19,

1999, I hereby determine that the objects

to be included in the exhibition

‘‘Gallery for the Arts of Korea,’’

imported from abroad for the temporary

exhibition without profit within the

United States, are of cultural

significance. These objects are imported

pursuant to loan agreements with

foreign lenders. I also determine that the

exhibition or display of the exhibit

objects at The Metropolitan Museum,

New York, NY from June 2000 to June

2002 is in the national interest. Public

Notice of these Determinations is

ordered to be published in the Federal

Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

further information, including a list of

exhibit objects, contact Carol Epstein,

Attorney-Adviser, Office of the Legal

Adviser, U.S. Department of State

(telephone: 202/619–6981). The address

is U.S. Department of State, SA–44;

301—4th Street, SW, Room 700,

Washington, DC 20547–0001.

Dated: May 19, 2000.

William B. Bader,

Assistant Secretary for Educational and

Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

[FR Doc. 00–13541 Filed 5–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–08–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 3323]

Office of International Information

Programs, Civnet Editorial Services;

Request for Proposals

SUMMARY: The Office of Thematic

Programs (IIP/T) announces an open

competition for an editorial services/

information technology program in

support of Civnet, the civic education

Internet resource. Private non-profit

organizations meeting the provisions

described in IRS regulation 26 CFR

1.501c(3), including civic education

institutions, NGOs and other democracy

advocates, may submit proposals to

support international information

activities that will assist civic education

practitioners, advocates, and other

interested professionals in developing

programs, policies, and strategies, and

in communicating with one another.

The successful grantee will have

substantial experience in civic

education and/or democracy building,

especially on the international level.

Program Information

Overview

Civnet is a web site on civic education

(http://www.civnet.org), and presently

contains, inter alia, information on the

non-governmental organization (NGO),

and civic education movement called

CIVITAS, as well as civics teaching

resources (e.g., text books, curricula,

syllabi, lesson plans, great documents,

articles on teaching methodology),

journal articles on civil society,

directories of civic education/civil

society organizations, and conference

transcripts from CIVITAS meetings.

Civnet was conceived to address the

needs of three primary groups of civic

education practitioners: (1) Teachers/

school administrators (K–12)

(particularly in new and emerging

democracies), who need practical

teaching resources and the capability to

network with other practitioners; (2)

scholars, experts, and academics

interested in civics, democracy, and

civic education issues; and (3) NGOs

and their leaders who support civic

education, civic participation, civic

journalism and civil-society building in

the U.S. and around the world.

The successful proposal will require

information gathering, resource

development, advocacy, and public

relations—via the Internet—on behalf of

the global civic education movement: to

promote international adoption of civic

education standards and curricula; to

assist international organizations,

governments, and foundations in