[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64705-64716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27708]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. 93612-2002]


Administration for Native Americans: Availability of Financial 
Assistance

AGENCY: Administration for Native Americans (ANA), ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of availability of competitive financial 
assistance to assist eligible applicants in assuring the survival and 
continuing vitality of their Native American languages.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announces the 
availability of Fiscal Year 2001 funds and other available funds for 
Native American language projects. Financial assistance provided by ANA 
is designed to assist applicants in designing projects which will 
promote the survival and continuing vitality of Native American 
languages. The Administration for Native Americans advises all 
applicants that grant awards made under this announcement will have a 
September 30, 2001 project Start Date. Applicants should, therefore 
develop projects that begin no earlier than this date.
    Application Kit: Application kits, approved by the OMB under 
control number 0980-0204, which expires April 30, 2003, containing the 
necessary forms and instructions to apply for a grant under this 
program announcement, may be obtained by calling toll free: The 
Applicant Help Desk, Administration for Native Americans, 1-877-922-
9262. Or, copies of this program announcement and many of the required 
forms may also be obtained electronically at the ANA World Wide Web 
Page:
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ana

Application kits may also be obtained from ANA training and technical 
assistance providers. ANA employs contractors to provide short-term 
training and technical assistance (T/TA) to eligible applicants. T/TA 
is available under these contracts for a wide range of grant 
application needs; however, the

[[Page 64706]]

contractors are not authorized to write applications. The Training and 
Technical Assistance (T/TA) is provided at no cost. The ANA Providers 
serve six areas divided as follows:
    Area I--Eastern serves federally recognized Tribes in AL AR CT DC 
DE FL GA IL IN KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MS NC NH NJ NY OH PA RI SC TN VA VT 
WI and WV.
    Area II--Central serves federally recognized Tribes in AZ CO IA KS 
ND NE NM MO MT OK SD UT WY NV ID and TX.
    Area III--Western serves federally recognized Tribes in CA OR and 
WA.
    Area IV--Alaska serves all eligible applicants in AK.
    Area V--Pacific serves all eligible applicants in Hawaii (HI) and 
the Pacific Islands of American Samoa (AS), Guam (GU), Northern Mariana 
Islands (MP), and Palau (PW).
    Area VI--National serves all eligible applicants on the mainland 
United States not served by providers for areas 1 through 5. This 
includes non-federally recognized Tribes, Urban Indians, off-
reservation rural Indian communities, Native Americans served through 
non-federally recognized urban and consortia arrangements and 
organizations serving Native Hawaiians and Pacific Island Natives 
living on the Mainland.
    ANA employs contracting firms to provide short-term training and 
technical assistance (T/TA) to clients in the six identified, 
geographical regions which are served by ANA. The ANA training and 
technical assistance (T/TA) contractors and their Geographic Areas are:

Geographic Area I

Eastern
Native American Management Services, Inc., Tonya Parker, Project 
Director, 6858 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 302, McLean, Va. 22101, (703) 
821-2226, Fax (703) 821-3680 or (703) 821-8626, 1 (800) 388-7670 (Toll 
Free), E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b454a46586b454a46584245480544594c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bed0dfd3cdfed0dfd3cdd7d0dd90d1ccd9">[email protected]</span></a>

Geographic Area II

Central
RJS & Associates, Inc., Dr. Robert J. Swan, C.E.O., RR1, Box 694, Box 
Elder, Mt. 59521, (406) 395-4727, Fax (406) 395-4759, 1 (888) 838-4757 
(Toll Free), Website: http://www.rjsinc.org/region2.html E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d2a0b8a1bbbcb192a0b8a1bbbcb1fcbda0b5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5c2e362f35323f1c2e362f35323f72332e3b">[email protected]</span></a>

Geographic Area III

Western
Development Associates, Inc., E. Robles, Project Director, 1475 North 
Broadway, Suite 200, Walnut Creek, Ca. 94596, (925) 935-9711, 1 (800) 
666-9711 (Toll Free), Fax (925) 935-0413, Website: http://www.devassoc.com/ana/index.htm E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#46272827750622233027353529256825292b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a1b141b493a1e1f0c1b0909151954191517">[email protected]</span></a>

Geographic Area IV

Alaska
Native American Management Services, Inc., P.J. Wilkins-Bell, Project 
Director, 1515 Tudor Road, Suite No. #4, Anchorage, Alaska 99519, (907) 
770-6230, Fax (907) 770-6232, 1-877-770-6230, E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0c0dad2d5dcdcf0d7d3d99ed3dfdd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f3f252d2a23230f282c26612c2022">[email protected]</span></a>

Geographic Area V

Pacific
Development Associates, Inc., Tom Torres, Project Director

    *Office will be located in Hawaii. The address and telephone 
numbers were not available for this printing. Please contact their 
California office at 1-800-666-9711 or (925) 935-9711 and ask for Dr. 
Elidoro Robles. Their fax number in California is (925) 935-9711. The 
e-mail address for their California office is <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8d9d6d98bf8dcddced9cbcbd7db96dbd7d5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2838c83d1a28687948391918d81cc818d8f">[email protected]</span></a>. Check 
the ANA website (www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ana) for Region V's address 
and telephone number or call ANA at 1-877-922-9262.

Geographic Area VI

National
RJS & Associates, Inc., Dr. Robert J. Swan, C.E.O., RR 1, Box 694, Box 
Elder, Mt. 59521, (406) 395-4757, Fax (406) 395-4759, 1 (888) 838-4757 
(Toll Free), Website: http://www.rjsinc.org/region6.html E-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c6b4acb5afa8a586b4acb5afa8a5e8a9b4a1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="80f2eaf3e9eee3c0f2eaf3e9eee3aeeff2e7">[email protected]</span></a>

    The printed Federal Register notice is the only official program 
announcement. Although reasonable efforts are taken to assure that the 
files on the ANA World Wide Web Page containing electronic copies of 
this Program Announcement is accurate and complete; they are provided 
for information only. The applicant bears sole responsibility to assure 
that the copy downloaded and/or printed from any other source is 
accurate and complete.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is March 16, 
2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila Cooper, Native American Program 
Specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, Mail Stop HHH 348F, Washington, DC 20447, 
telephone: (202) 690-5787 or 1-877-922-9262, telefax: (202) 690-7441, 
or e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4231212d2d322730022321246c262a2a316c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5d6c6cacad5c0d7e5c4c6c38bc1cdcdd68bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a>

Part I: Supplementary Information

A. Purpose and Availability of Funds

    The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of 
fiscal year 2001 financial assistance to eligible applicants for the 
purpose of assisting Native Americans in assuring the survival and 
continuing vitality of their languages. Financial assistance awards 
made under this program announcement will be on a competitive basis and 
the proposals will be reviewed against the evaluation criteria in this 
announcement. Approximately $2,000,000 in Fiscal Year 2001 has been 
allocated for category I and II grants. For Category I, Planning Grants 
(project length: 12 months), the funding level for a budget period of 
12 months will be up to $50,000. For Category II, Design and/or 
Implementation Grants (project length: up to 36 months), the funding 
level for a budget period of 12 months will be up to $125,000. In 
accordance with current agency policies, ANA may fund additional highly 
ranked applications if additional funds become available prior to the 
next competition.
    ANA continues a variety of requirements directed towards enforcing 
its policy that an eligible grant recipient may only have one active 
ANA grant awarded from a competitive area at any time. Therefore, while 
eligible applicants may compete for a Native American language grant in 
either of the two categories, an applicant may only submit one 
application and no applicant may receive more than one Native American 
language grant. All applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a 
retirement plan fringe benefit for grant-funded employees' salaries up 
to five (5) percent. Applicants must include sufficient funds for 
principal representatives, for example; the chief financial officer or 
project director, from the applicant organization to travel to one 
post-award grant training and technical assistance conference. This 
expenditure is mandatory for new grant recipients and optional for 
grantees that have had ANA grants in the past.
    Continuing for fiscal year 2001, under the goals of the Executive 
Order on Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCU's), TCU's 
may now independently apply for an ANA Grant without impacting the 
eligibility of the Tribe to apply. Previously, only one application was 
accepted, either from the Tribe or the TCU. Now both the Tribe and the 
TCU may compete for and

[[Page 64707]]

receive ANA grants at the same time, in the same program(s).
    New for fiscal year 2001, are two White House Initiatives relating 
to Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and People with Disabilities. In 
accordance with the Executive Order on Asian American and Pacific 
Islanders, ANA encourages greater participation from Hawaiian and 
Pacific Islander communities. The Executive Order on People with 
Disabilities encourages all communities to address the needs of people 
with disabilities in all programs in accordance with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA). ANA encourages all Native communities to 
address the needs of People with Disabilities in all aspects of their 
programs. ANA also encourages greater participation from Native 
organizations serving People with Disabilities

B. Background

    The Congress has recognized that the history of past policies of 
the United States toward Indian and other Native American languages has 
resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of Native American 
languages that have survived over the past 500 years. Consequently, the 
Native American Languages Act (Title 1, P.L. 101-477) was enacted to 
address this decline.
    This legislation invested the United States government with the 
responsibility to work together with Native Americans to ensure the 
survival of cultures and languages unique to Native America. This law 
declared that it is the policy of the United States to ``preserve, 
protect and promote the rights and freedom of Native Americans to use, 
practice and develop Native American languages.'' While the Congress 
made a significant first step in passing this legislation in 1990, it 
served only as a declaration of policy. No program initiatives were 
proposed, nor any funds authorized to enact any significant programs in 
furtherance of this policy.
    In 1992, Congressional testimony provided estimates that of the 
several hundred languages that once existed, about 150 are still spoken 
or remembered today. However, only 20 are spoken by persons of all 
ages, 30 are spoken by adults of all ages, about 60 are spoken by 
middle-aged adults, and 45 are spoken by the most elderly.
    In response to this testimony, the Congress passed the Native 
American Languages Act of 1992 (the Act), P.L. 102-524, to assist 
Native Americans in assuring the survival and continuing vitality of 
their languages. Passage of the Act was an important second step in 
attempting to ensure the survival and continuation of Native languages, 
as it provides the basic foundation upon which the tribal nations can 
rebuild their economic strength and rich cultural diversity.
    While the Federal government recognizes that substantial loss of 
Native American languages over the past several hundred years, the 
nature and magnitude of the status of Native American languages will be 
better defined when eligible applicants under the Act have completed 
language assessments.
    The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) believes that the 
responsibility for achieving self-sufficiency rests with the governing 
bodies of Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages, and in the leadership 
of Native American groups. This belief supports the ANA principle that 
the local community and its leadership are responsible for determining 
goals, setting priorities, and planning and implementing programs that 
support the community's long-range goals.
    Therefore, since preserving a language and ensuring its 
continuation is generally one of the first steps taken toward 
strengthening a group's identity, activities proposed under this 
program announcement will contribute to the social development of 
Native communities and significantly contribute to their efforts toward 
self-sufficiency.
    The Administration for Native Americans recognizes that eligible 
applicants must have the opportunity to develop their own language 
plans, technical capabilities, and access to the necessary financial 
and technical resources in order to assess, plan, develop and implement 
programs to assure the survival and continuing vitality of their 
languages. ANA also recognizes that potential applicants may have 
specialized knowledge and capabilities to address specific language 
concerns at various levels. This program announcement reflects these 
special needs and circumstances.

C. ANA Program and Administrative Policies

    Applicants must comply with the following programmatic policies:
    <bullet> Funds will not be awarded for projects addressing dead 
languages. For purposes of this announcement, dead languages are those 
languages that are no longer spoken by any tribal member or community 
member.
    <bullet> The Commissioner shall determine the repository for copies 
of products from Native American language grants funded under this 
program announcement. At the end of the project period, products or 
project models of Native American languages grants funded by this 
program announcement should be sent to the designated repository. 
Federally recognized Indian Tribes are not required to comply with this 
condition.
    Applicants must comply with the following administrative policies:
    <bullet> Current Native American language grantees whose grant 
project period extends beyond September 30, 2001, or who have requested 
an extension of the grant project beyond that date, are not eligible to 
apply for a grant under the same program area. Current Native American 
language grantees with project periods beyond September 30, 2001, may 
not compete for additional Native American language grants.
    <bullet> Applicants for Category I may propose 12- to 17-month 
projects; applicants for Category II may propose up to 36-month 
projects.
    <bullet> Applicants must describe a locally determined strategy to 
carry out a proposed project with fundable objectives and activities.
    <bullet> An application from a federally recognized Tribe, Alaska 
Native Village or Native American organization must be from the 
governing body of the Tribe or organization.
    <bullet> ANA will not accept applications from tribal components 
which are tribally-authorized divisions of a larger Tribe, unless the 
application includes a tribal resolution which clearly demonstrates the 
Tribe's support of the project and the Tribe's understanding that the 
other applicant's project supplants the Tribe's authority to submit an 
application under the Native American languages program both for the 
current competition and for the duration of the approved grant period, 
should the application be funded.
    <bullet> If a federally recognized Tribe or Alaska Native village 
chooses not to apply, it may support another applicant's project (e.g., 
a tribal organization) which serves or impacts their reservation. In 
this case, the applicant must include a tribal resolution that clearly 
demonstrates the Tribe's approval of the project and the Tribe's 
understanding that the other applicant's project supplants the Tribe's 
authority to submit an application under the Native American languages 
program both for the current competition and for the duration of the 
approved grant period, should the application be funded.
    <bullet> ANA will only accept one application that serves or 
impacts a reservation, Tribe, or Native American community.

[[Page 64708]]

    <bullet> Any non-profit organization submitting an application must 
submit proof of its non-profit status in the application at the time of 
submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a 
copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) 
most recent list of tax exempt organizations described in Section 
501(c)(3) of the IRS code or by providing a copy of the currently valid 
IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles 
of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation 
or association is domiciled.
    <bullet> If the applicant, other than a Tribe or an Alaska Native 
Village government, is proposing a project benefiting Native Americans 
or Native Alaskans, or both, it must provide assurance that its duly 
elected or appointed board of directors is representative of the 
community, to be served. To establish compliance with the requirement 
in the regulations for a Board representative of the community, 
applicants should provide information establishing that at least ninety 
(90) percent of the individuals serving on a non-profit applicant's 
board fall into one or more of the following categories: (1) a current 
or past member of the community to be served; (2) a prospective 
participant or beneficiary of the project to be funded; or (3) have a 
cultural relationship with the community to be served.
    <bullet> Organizations incorporating in American Samoa are 
cautioned that the Samoan government relies exclusively upon IRS 
determinations of non-profit status; therefore, articles of 
incorporation approved by the Samoan government do not establish non-
profit status for these organizations for the purpose of eligibility 
for ANA funds.
    <bullet> Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total 
approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is 
the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal 
share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions. Therefore, a project 
requesting $100,000 in Federal funds must provide a match of at least 
$25,000 (20% of the total approved $125,000 project cost). Failure to 
provide the amount will result in disallowance of Federal match.
    As per 45 CFR part 74.2, In-Kind contributions are defined as ``the 
value of non-cash contributions provided by non-Federal third parties. 
Third party in-kind contributions may be in the form of real property, 
equipment, supplies and other expendable property, and the value of 
goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to 
the project or program.''
    In addition it may include other Federal funding sources where 
legislation or regulations authorize using specific types of funds for 
match; examples follow:

Indian Child Welfare funds, through the Department of Interior;
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance funds, through the 
Department of Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services; 
and
Community Development Block Grant funds, through the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development.

An itemized budget detailing the applicant's non-Federal share, and its 
source(s), must be included in an application.
    If an applicant plans to charge or otherwise seek credit for 
indirect costs in its ANA application, a current copy of its Indirect 
Cost Agreement must be included in the application.
    A request for a waiver of the non-Federal share requirement may be 
submitted in accordance with 45 CFR 1336.50(b)(3) of the Native 
American Program Regulations.
    Applications originating from American Samoa, Guam, or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are covered under Section 
501(d) of Public Law 95-134, as amended (48 U.S.C. 1469a) under which 
HHS waives any requirement for matching funds under $200,000 (including 
in-kind contributions). Therefore, for the grants under this Native 
American language program, no match is required for grants to these 
insular areas.

D. Proposed Projects To Be Funded

Category I--Planning Grants
    The purpose of a Planning Grant is to conduct an assessment and to 
develop the plan needed to describe the current status of the 
language(s) to be addressed and to establish community long-range 
goal(s) to ensure its survival. Project activities may include, but are 
not limited to:
    <bullet> Data collection, compilation, organization and description 
of current language status through a ``formal'' method (e.g. work 
performed by a linguist, and/or a language survey conducted by 
community members) or an ``informal'' method (e.g. a community 
consensus of the language status based on elders, tribal scholars, and/
or other community members);
    <bullet> Establishment of community long-range language goals; and
    <bullet> Acquisition of necessary training and technical assistance 
to administer the project and achieve project goal(s).
Category II--Design and/or Implementation Grants
    The purposes of Design and/or Implementation Grants are (1) so 
Tribes or communities may design and/or implement a language program to 
achieve their long-range goal(s); and (2) to accommodate where the 
Tribe or community is in reaching their long-term language goal(s).
    Applicants under Category II must be able to document that:
    (a) Language information has been collected and analyzed, and that 
it is current (compiled within 36 months prior to the grant 
application);
    (b) The community has established long-range language goals; and
    (c) Community representatives are adequately trained so that the 
proposed project goals can be achieved.
    Category II applications may include purchasing specialized 
equipment (including audio and video recording equipment, computers, 
and software) necessary to achieve the project objectives. The 
applicant must fully justify the need for this equipment and explain 
how it will be used to achieve the project objectives. The types of 
projects ANA may fund under Category II include, but are not limited 
to:
    <bullet> Establishment and support of a community Native American 
language project to bring older and younger Native Americans together 
to facilitate and encourage the teaching of Native American language 
skills from one generation to another;
    <bullet> Establishment of a project to train Native Americans to 
teach Native American languages to others or to enable them to serve as 
interpreters or translators of such languages;
    <bullet> Development, printing, and dissemination of materials to 
be used for the teaching and enhancement of Native American languages;
    <bullet> Establishment or support of a project to train Native 
Americans to produce or participate in television or radio programs to 
be broadcast in Native American languages; and
    <bullet> Compilation, transcription and analysis of oral testimony 
to record and preserve Native American languages

E. Eligible Applicants

    The following organizations are eligible to apply under this 
competitive area:
    <bullet> Federally recognized Indian Tribes;
    <bullet> Consortia of Indian Tribes;
    <bullet> Incorporated non-federally recognized Tribes;
    <bullet> Incorporated nonprofit multi-purpose community-based 
Indian organizations;

[[Page 64709]]

    <bullet> Urban Indian Centers;
    <bullet> National or regional incorporated nonprofit Native 
American organizations with Native American community-specific 
objectives;
    <bullet> Alaska Native villages as defined in the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and/or nonprofit village consortia;
    <bullet> Incorporated nonprofit Alaska Native multi-purpose 
community-based organizations;
    <bullet> Nonprofit Alaska Native Regional Corporations/Associations 
in Alaska with village specific projects;
    <bullet> Nonprofit Native organizations in Alaska with village 
specific projects;
    <bullet> Public and nonprofit private agencies serving Native 
Hawaiians (The populations served may be located on these islands or on 
the continental United States);
    <bullet> Public and nonprofit private agencies serving native 
peoples from Guam, American Samoa, Palau, or the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands. The populations served may be located on 
these islands or in the United States; and
    <bullet> Tribally controlled community colleges, tribally 
controlled post-secondary vocational institutions; and,
    <bullet> Native controlled colleges and universities located in 
Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, or the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands which serve Native American Pacific Islanders.
    <bullet> Non-profit Alaska Native community entities or tribal 
governing bodies (Indian Reorganization Act or traditional Councils) as 
recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Further information on eligibility requirements is presented in Part I-
C. ANA Program and Administrative Policy. Some important policies found 
in Part I are highlighted as follows:
    Current ANA Native American language grantees whose grant project 
period ends on or before September 30, 2001 are eligible to apply for a 
grant award under this program announcement. The Project Period is 
noted in Block 9 of the ``Financial Assistance Award'' document. 
Applicants for new grants may not have a pending request to extend 
their existing grant beyond September 30, 2001.
    Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit 
proof of its non-profit status in the application at the time of 
submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a 
copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) 
most recent list of tax exempt organizations described in Section 
501(c)(3) of the IRS code or by providing a copy of the currently valid 
IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles 
of incorporation bearing the seal of the State or Tribe in which the 
corporation or association is domiciled.
    If the applicant, other than a Tribe or an Alaska Native Village 
government, is proposing a project benefiting Native Americans or 
Alaska Natives, or both, it must provide assurance that its duly 
elected or appointed board of directors is representative of the 
community, to be served. To establish compliance with the requirement 
in the regulations for a Board representative of the community 
applicants should provide information establishing that at least ninety 
(90) percent of the individuals serving on a non-profit applicant's 
board fall into one or more of the following categories: (1) A current 
or past member of the community to be served; (2) a prospective 
participant or beneficiary of the project to be funded; or (3) have a 
cultural relationship with the community to be served. A list of board 
members with this information including tribal or Village affiliation, 
is one of the most suitable approaches for demonstrating compliance 
with this requirement.
    Under each competitive area, ANA will only accept one application 
that serves or impacts a reservation, Tribe, or Native American 
community. If a federally recognized Tribe or Alaska Native village 
chooses not to apply, it may support another applicant's project (e.g., 
a tribal organization) which serves or impacts their reservation. In 
this case, the applicant must include a tribal resolution which clearly 
demonstrates the Tribe's approval of the project and the Tribe's 
understanding that the other applicant's project supplants the Tribe's 
authority to submit an application under that specific competitive area 
both for the current competition and for the duration of the approved 
grant period.
    Participating Organizations: If a tribal organization, or other 
eligible applicant, decides that the objective of its proposed Native 
American language project would be accomplished more effectively 
through a partnership arrangement with a tribal school, college, or 
university, the applicant shall identify such school, college or 
university as a participating organization in its application. Under a 
partnership agreement, the applicant will be responsible for the 
fiscal, administrative and programmatic management of the grant.

F. Grantee Share of the Project

    Grantees must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved 
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum 
of the Federal share and the non-Federal share. Further information on 
this requirement is presented in Part I-C. ANA Program and 
Administrative Policy.
    Applications originating from American Samoa, Guam, or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are covered under Section 
501(d) of Public Law 95-134, as amended (78 U.S.C. 1469a) under which 
HHS waives any requirement for matching funds under $200,000 (including 
in-kind contributions). Therefore, for the ANA grants under these 
announced programs, no match is required for grants to these insular 
areas.

G. Review Criteria

    The proposed project should address the purposes of the Native 
American languages stated and described in the section I.B, 
``Background'' of this announcement.
    The evaluation criteria below are closely inter-related. Points are 
awarded only to applications which respond to these criteria. Proposed 
projects will be reviewed on a competitive basis using the following 
separate sets of evaluation criteria; one set for planning grant 
applications, the other for design and/or implementation grant 
applications:

H. Planning Grants

(1) Current Status of Native American Language(s) (15 points)
    The application fully describes the current status of Native 
American language(s) in the community. Since obtaining this data may be 
part of the planning grant application being reviewed, applicants can 
meet this requirement by explaining their current language status and 
providing a detailed description of any circumstances or barriers which 
have prevented the collection of community language data. If 
documentation exists, describe it in terms of current language status.
(2) Goals and Available Resources (25 points)
    The application describes the proposed project's long-range goals 
and strategies, including:
    <bullet> How the specific Native American long-range community 
goal(s) relate to the proposed project; and
    <bullet> How the goal(s) fit within the context of the current 
language status.
    (b) The application explains how the community and the tribal 
government

[[Page 64710]]

(where one exists) intends to achieve these goals. The type of 
community served will determine the type of documentation necessary to 
demonstrate participation. All Tribes and communities, however, must 
indicate in their application how they intend to involve elders and 
other community members in their projects and include them in 
development of language goals and strategies and in evaluation of 
project outcomes. Ways to demonstrate community and tribal government 
support for the project include:
    <bullet> A resolution from Tribes or tribal organizations stating 
that community involvement has occurred in project planning;
    <bullet> Community surveys and questionnaires, including those 
developed to determine the level of community support for tribal 
resolutions; and
    <bullet> Minutes of community meetings, tribal presentations and 
discussion forums;
    Applications from National Indian and Native organizations must 
clearly demonstrate a need for the project, explain how the project was 
originated, state who the intended beneficiaries will be, and describe 
how the recipients will actually benefit from the project. National 
Indian and Native organizations should describe their membership and 
define how the organization operates.
    (c) Available resources (other than ANA and the non-federal share) 
which will assist and be coordinated with the project are described. 
These resources should be documented by letters of commitment of 
resources, and not ``letters of support''.
    <bullet> ``Letters of support'' merely express another 
organization's endorsement of a proposed project. Such support letters 
and related documentation do not indicate a binding commitment, do not 
establish the authenticity of other resources, and do not offer or bind 
specific resources to the project.
    <bullet> ``Letters of commitment'' are binding and specify the 
nature, amount and conditions under which another agency or 
organization will support a project funded with ANA funds. These 
resources may be human, natural or financial, and may include other 
Federal and non-Federal resources. Applicant statements that additional 
funding will be sought from other specific sources are not considered a 
binding commitment of outside resources.
    <bullet> Non-ANA resources should be leveraged to strengthen and 
broaden the impact of the proposed project in the community. Project 
designs should explain how those parts of projects which ANA does not 
fund will be financed through other sources. For example, ANA does not 
fund construction. Applicants must show the relationship of non-ANA 
funded activities to those objectives and activities that are funded 
with ANA grant funds.
    If the applicant proposes to enter into a partnership arrangement 
with a school, college or university, documentation of this commitment 
must be included in the application.
(3) Project Objectives, Approach and Activities (30 points)
    The proposed objectives in the Objective Work Plan(s) relate to the 
goal to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American 
language(s). More specifically, together they will achieve for the 
Tribe or community's language goals for the proposed project. Each 
Objective Work Plan clearly describes:
    <bullet> The tribal government's and community's active involvement 
in the continuing participation of Native American language speakers;
    <bullet> Measurable or quantifiable results or outcomes;
    <bullet> How the results or outcomes relate to the community's 
long-range goals or the establishment of those goals;
    <bullet> How the project can be accomplished with the available or 
expected resources during the project period;
    <bullet> How the main activities will be accomplished;
    <bullet> Who specifically will conduct the activities under each 
objective; and
    <bullet> What the next steps may be after the Planning project is 
completed.
(4) Organizational capabilities/Qualifications (20 points)
    (a) The management and administrative structure of the applicant is 
explained. Evidence of the applicant's ability to manage a project of 
the proposed scope is well defined. The application clearly 
demonstrates the successful management of projects of similar scope by 
the organization and or by the individual designated to manage the 
project.
    (b) Position descriptions and/or resumes of key personnel, 
including those of consultants, are presented. The position 
descriptions and/or resumes relate specifically to the staff proposed 
in the Approach Page and in the proposed budget of the application. 
Position descriptions very clearly describe the position and its duties 
and clearly relate to the personnel staffing required to achieve the 
project objectives. Resumes demonstrate that the proposed staff are 
qualified to carry out the proposed activities. Either the position 
descriptions or the resumes contain the qualifications, and/or 
specialized skills, necessary for overall quality management of the 
project. Resumes must be included if individuals have been identified 
for positions in the application.

    Note: Applicants are encouraged to give preference to Native 
Americans in hiring staff and contracting services under an approved 
ANA grant.

(5) Budget (10 points)
    A detailed and fully explained budget is provided for each budget 
period requested which:
    <bullet> Identifies and explains each line item, with a well-
written justification, in the budget categories in Section B of the 
Budget Information of the application, including the applicant's non-
Federal share and its source. Applicants from American Samoa, Guam, and 
the Northern Mariana Islands are not required to provide a 20% match 
for the non-Federal share since the level of funding available for the 
grants would not invoke a required match for grants to these insular 
areas. Therefore, applicants from these insular areas may not have 
points reduced for the lack of matching funds. They are, however, 
expected to coordinate and organize the delivery of any non-ANA 
resources they propose for the project, as are all ANA applicants.
    <bullet> Includes and justifies sufficient cost and other necessary 
details to facilitate the determination of cost allowability and the 
relevance of these costs to the proposed project; and
    <bullet> Requests funds which are appropriate and necessary for the 
scope of the proposed project.
    <bullet> Includes sufficient funds for principal representatives 
from the applicant organization to travel to one post-award grant 
training and technical assistance conference. This expenditure is 
mandatory for new grantees and optional for grantees that have had an 
ANA grant in the past. This travel and training should occur as soon as 
practical.
    <bullet> Where implemented, includes an employee fringe benefit 
budget that provides grant-funded employees with a retirement plan in 
addition to Social Security. The applicant is strongly encouraged to 
provide a retirement plan fringe benefit for grant-funded employees' 
salaries up to five (5) percent.
    ANA supports a retirement plan to be a necessary, reasonable and 
allowable cost in accordance with OMB rules.

[[Page 64711]]

Minimum standards for an acceptable retirement fringe benefit plan are:
    <bullet> The plan exists for the exclusive benefit of the 
participants; funds are to be used for retirement and certain other 
pre-retirement needs, not for the organization's needs.
    <bullet> The plan must have a vesting schedule that does not exceed 
the initial budget period of the ANA grant.
    <bullet> An alternate proposal may be submitted for review and 
approval during grant award negotiations. Alternate proposals may 
include the use of Individual Retirement Accounts, Money Purchase 
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Combination Plans, etc.

II. Design and/or Implementation Grants

(1) Current Status of Native American language(s) (10 points)
    (a) The application fully describes the current status of the 
Native American language to be addressed; current status is defined as 
data compiled within the previous 48 months. The description of the 
current status minimally includes the following information:
    <bullet> Number of speakers.
    <bullet> Age of speakers.
    <bullet> Gender of speakers.
    <bullet> Level(s) of fluency.
    <bullet> Number of first language speakers (Native language as the 
first language acquired).
    <bullet> Number of second language speakers (Native language as the 
second language acquired).
    <bullet> Where Native language is used (e.g. home, court system, 
religious ceremonies; church, media, school, governance and cultural 
activities).
    <bullet> Source of data (formal and/or informal).
    <bullet> Rate of language loss or gain.
    (b) The application fully describes existing community language or 
language training programs and projects, if any, in support of the 
Native American language to be addressed by the proposed project. 
Existing programs and projects may be formal (e.g., work by a linguist, 
and/or language survey conducted by community members) or ``informal'' 
(e.g., a community consensus of the language status based on elders, 
tribal scholars, and/or other community members).
    The description should answer the following: (1) Has applicant had 
a community language or language training program within the last 48 
months? (2) Within the last 10 years? If so, fully describe the 
program(s), and include the following:
    <bullet> Program goals.
    <bullet> Number of program participants.
    <bullet> Number of speakers.
    <bullet> Age range of participants (e.g., 0-5, 6-10, 11-18, etc.).
    <bullet> Number of language teachers.
    <bullet> Criteria used to acknowledge competency of language 
teachers.
    <bullet> Resources available to the applicant (e.g. valid grammars, 
dictionaries, and orthographies or describe other suitable resources).
    <bullet> Program achievements.
    If applicant has never had a language program, a detailed 
explanation of what barriers or circumstances prevented the 
establishment of a community language program should be included.
(2) Goals and Available Resources (20 points)
    (a) The application describes the proposed project's long-range 
goals and strategies, including:
    <bullet> How the specific Native American long-range community 
goal(s) relate to the proposed project; and
    <bullet> How the goal(s) fit within the context of the current 
language status;
    <bullet> A clearly delineated strategy to assist in assuring the 
survival and continued vitality of the Native American languages 
addressed in the community.
    (b) The application explains how the community and the tribal 
government (where one exists) intend to achieve these goals. The type 
of community served will determine the type of documentation necessary 
to demonstrate participation. All Tribes and communities, however, must 
indicate in their application how they intend to involve elders and 
other community members in their projects and include them in 
development of language goals and strategies and in evaluation of 
project outcomes. Ways to demonstrate community and tribal government 
support for the project include:
    <bullet> A resolution from Tribes or tribal organizations stating 
that community involvement has occurred in project planning;
    <bullet> Community surveys and questionnaires, including those 
developed to determine the level of community support for tribal 
resolutions; and
    <bullet> Minutes of community meetings, tribal presentations and 
discussion forums.
    Applications from National Indian and Native organizations must 
clearly demonstrate a need for the project, explain how the project was 
originated, state who the intended beneficiaries will be, and describe 
how the recipients will actually benefit from the project. National 
Indian and Native organizations should describe their membership and 
define how the organization operates.
    (c) Available resources (other than ANA and the non-federal share) 
which will assist and be coordinated with the project are described. 
These resources should be documented by letters of commitment of 
resources, and not ``letters of support''.
    <bullet> ``Letters of support'' merely express another 
organization's endorsement of a proposed project. Such support letters 
and related documentation do not indicate a binding commitment, do not 
establish the authenticity of other resources, and do not offer or bind 
specific resources to the project.
    <bullet> ``Letters of commitment'' are binding and specify the 
nature, amount and conditions under which another agency or 
organization will support a project funded with ANA funds. These 
resources may be human, natural or financial, and may include other 
Federal and non-Federal resources. Applicant statements that additional 
funding will be sought from other specific sources are not considered a 
binding commitment of outside resources.
    <bullet> Non-ANA resources should be leveraged to strengthen and 
broaden the impact of the proposed project in the community. Project 
designs should explain how those parts of projects which ANA does not 
fund will be financed through other sources. For example, ANA does not 
fund construction. Applicants must show the relationship of non-ANA 
funded activities to those objectives and activities that are funded 
with ANA grant funds.
    If the applicant proposes to enter into a partnership arrangement 
with a school, college or university, documentation of this commitment 
must be included in the application.
    (3) Project Objectives, Approach and Activities (30 points)
    The proposed objectives in the Objective Work Plan(s) relate to the 
goal to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American 
language(s). More specifically, together they will achieve for the 
Tribe or community's language goals for the proposed project. If the 
project is for more than one year, the application includes Objective 
Work Plans for each year (budget period) proposed. Each Objective Work 
Plan clearly describes:
    <bullet> The tribal government's and community's active involvement 
in the continuing participation of Native American language speakers;

[[Page 64712]]

    <bullet> Measurable or quantifiable results or outcomes;
    <bullet> How they relate to the community's long-range goals or the 
establishment of those goals;
    <bullet> How the project can be accomplished with the available or 
expected resources during the project period;
    <bullet> How the main activities will be accomplished;
    <bullet> Who specifically will conduct the activities under each 
objective; and
    <bullet> How the project will be completed, become self-sustaining, 
or be financed by other than ANA funds at the end of the project 
period.
(4) Organizational capabilities/Qualifications (15 points)
    The management and administrative structure of the applicant is 
explained. Evidence of the applicant's ability to manage a project of 
the proposed scope is well defined. The application clearly 
demonstrates the successful management of projects of similar scope by 
the organization and or by the individual designated to manage the 
project.
    Position descriptions and/or resumes of key personnel, including 
those of consultants, are presented. The position descriptions and/or 
resumes relate specifically to the staff proposed in the Approach Page 
and in the proposed budget of the application. Position descriptions 
very clearly describe the position and it's duties and clearly relate 
to the personnel staffing required to achieve the project objectives. 
Resumes demonstrate that the proposed staff are qualified to carry out 
the proposed activities. Either the position descriptions or the 
resumes contain the qualifications, and/or specialized skills, 
necessary for overall quality management of the project. Resumes must 
be included if individuals have been identified for positions in the 
application.

    Note: Applicants are encouraged to give preference to Native 
Americans in hiring staff and contracting services under an approved 
ANA grant.

(5) Budget (10 points)
    A detailed and fully explained budget is provided for each budget 
period requested which:
    Identifies and explains each line item, with a well-written 
justification, in the budget categories in Section B of the Budget 
Information of the application, including the applicant's non-Federal 
share and its source. Applicants from American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands are not required to provide a 20% match for 
the non-Federal share since the level of funding available for the 
grants would not invoke a required match for grants to these insular 
areas. Therefore, applicants from these insular areas may not have 
points reduced for the lack of matching funds. They are, however, 
expected to coordinate and organize the delivery of any non-ANA 
resources they propose for the project, as are all ANA applicants.
    Includes and justifies sufficient cost and other necessary details 
to facilitate the determination of cost allowability and the relevance 
of these costs to the proposed project.
    Requests funds that are appropriate and necessary for the scope of 
the proposed project.
    Includes sufficient funds for principal representatives from the 
applicant organization to travel to one post-award grant training and 
technical assistance conference. This expenditure is mandatory for new 
grant recipients and optional for grantees that have had ANA grants in 
the past. This travel and training should occur as soon as practical.
    Where implemented, includes an employee fringe benefit budget that 
provides grant-funded employees with a retirement plan in addition to 
Social Security. The applicant is strongly encouraged to provide a 
retirement plan fringe benefit for grant-funded employees' salaries up 
to five (5) percent.
    ANA supports a retirement plan to be a necessary, reasonable and 
allowable cost in accordance with OMB rules. Minimum standards for an 
acceptable retirement fringe benefit plan are:
    <bullet> The plan exists for the exclusive benefit of the 
participants; funds are to be used for retirement and certain other 
pre-retirement needs, not for the organization's needs.
    <bullet> The plan must have a vesting schedule that does not exceed 
the initial budget period of the ANA grant.
    <bullet> An alternate proposal may be submitted for review and 
approval during grant award negotiations. Alternate proposals may 
include the use of Individual Retirement Accounts, Money Purchase 
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit Pension Plans, Combination Plans, etc..
(6) Evaluation, Sharing and Preservation Plans (15 points)
    The application should include the following three plans:
    <bullet> An ``evaluation plan'' with a baseline to measure project 
outcomes, including, but not limited to, describing effective language 
growth in the community (e.g., an increase of Native American language 
use). This plan will be the basis for evaluating the community's 
progress in achieving its language goals and objectives.
    <bullet> A ``sharing plan'' that identifies how the project's 
methodology, research data, outcomes or other products can be shared 
and modified for use by other Tribes or communities. If this is not 
feasible or culturally appropriate, provide the reasons. The goal is to 
provide opportunities to ensure the survival and the continuing 
vitality of Native languages.
    <bullet> A ``plan to preserve project products'' describes how the 
products of the project will be preserved through archival or other 
culturally appropriate methods, for the benefit of future generations.

I. Application Due Date

    The closing date for submission of applications under this program 
announcement is March 16, 2001.

J. For Further Information Contact

    Sheila Cooper, Native American Program Specialist, Department of 
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 
Administration for Native Americans, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, Mail Stop 
HHH 348F, Washington, D.C. 20447, telephone: (202) 690-5787 or 1-877-
922-9262; telefax: 202-690-7441; e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84f7e7ebebf4e1f6c4e5e7e2aae0ececf7aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cebdada1a1beabbc8eafada8e0aaa6a6bde0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>.

Part II: General Guidance to Applicants

    The following is provided to assist applicants to develop a 
competitive application.

A. Definitions

    <bullet> ``Language preservation'' is the maintenance of a language 
so that it will not decline into non-use.
    <bullet> ``Language vitality'' is the active use of a language in a 
wide range of domains of human life.
    <bullet> ``Language replication'' is the application of a language 
program model developed in one community to other linguistically 
similar communities.
    <bullet> ``Language survival'' is the maintenance and continuation 
of language from one generation to another in a wide range of aspects 
of community life.
    <bullet> ``Multi-purpose community-based Native American 
organization'' is an association and/or corporation whose charter 
specifies that the community designates the Board of Directors and/or 
officers of the organization through an elective procedure and that the 
organization functions in several different areas of concern to the 
members of the local Native American

[[Page 64713]]

community. These areas are specified in the by-laws and/or policies 
adopted by the organization. They may include, but need not be limited 
to, economic, artistic, cultural, and recreational activities, and the 
delivery of human services such as health care, day care, counseling, 
education, and training.
    <bullet> ``Multi-year project'' is a project on a single theme that 
requires more than 12 months to complete and affords the applicant an 
opportunity to develop and address more complex and in-depth strategies 
than can be completed in one year. A multi-year project cannot be a 
series of unrelated objectives with activities presented in 
chronological order over a two or three year period.
    <bullet> ``Budget Period'' is the interval of time (usually 12 
months) into which the project period is divided for budgetary and 
funding purposes.
    <bullet> ``Core administration'' is funding for staff salaries for 
those functions that support the organization as a whole, or for 
purposes unrelated to the actual management or implementation of work 
conducted under an ANA approved project. However, functions and 
activities that are clearly project related are eligible for grant 
funding. For example, the management and administrative functions 
necessary to carry out an ANA approved project are not considered 
``core administration'' and are, therefore, eligible costs. 
Additionally, ANA will fund the salaries of approved staff for time 
actually and reasonably spent to implement a funded ANA project.
    <bullet> ``Real Property'' means land, including land improvements, 
structures and appurtenances thereto, excluding movable machinery and 
equipment.
    <bullet> ``Construction'' is the term that specifies a project 
supported through a discretionary grant or cooperative agreement, to 
support the initial building of a facility.

B. Activities That Cannot Be Funded

    The Administration for Native Americans does not fund:
    <bullet> Projects that operate indefinitely or require ANA funding 
on a recurring basis.
    <bullet> Projects in which a grantee would provide training and/or 
technical assistance (T/TA) to other Tribes or Native American 
organizations which are otherwise eligible to apply to ANA (``third 
party T/TA''). However, the purchase of T/TA by a grantee for its own 
use or for its members' use (as in the case of a consortium), where T/
TA is necessary to carry out project objectives is acceptable.
    <bullet> The support of on-going social service delivery programs 
or the expansion, or continuation, of existing social service delivery 
programs.
    <bullet> ANA will not fund the purchase of real property.
    <bullet> ANA will not fund construction.
    <bullet> ANA will not fund objectives or activities for the support 
of core administration of an organization.
    <bullet> Costs of fundraising, including financial campaigns, 
endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar 
expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions are 
unallowable under a grant award. However, even though these costs are 
unallowable for purposes of computing charges to Federal awards, they 
must be treated as direct costs for purposes of determining indirect 
cost rates. They must also be allocated their share of the 
organization's indirect costs if they represent activities which: (1) 
Include the salaries of personnel; (2) occupy space; and (3) benefit 
from the organization's indirect costs.
    Projects or activities that generally will not meet the purposes of 
this announcement are discussed further in Section H, ``General 
Guidance to Applicants'', below.

C. Multi-Year Projects

    Only Category II ``Design and/or Implementation'' projects may be 
developed as multi-year projects, i.e. for up to three years. The 
information in this section is not applicable to Category I, planning 
projects.
    A multi-year project is a project on a single theme that requires 
more than 12 to 17 months to complete. It affords the applicant an 
opportunity to develop and address more complex and in-depth 
strategies. A multi-year project cannot be a series of unrelated 
objectives with activities presented in chronological order over a two 
or three year period. Initial awards, on a competitive basis, will be 
for a one-year budget period (up to 17 months), although project 
periods may be for three years.
    Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year budget 
period, although project periods may be for three years. Applications 
for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the one-year 
budget period, but within a two-to-three year project period, will be 
funded in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis. Continuation 
grants are subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress 
of the grantee and determination that continued funding would be in the 
best interest of the Government. Therefore, this program announcement 
does not apply to current ANA grantees with multi-year projects that 
apply for continuation funding for their second or third year budget 
periods.

D. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    Executive Order 12372 or 45 CFR Part 100 does not cover this 
program.

E. The Application Process

1. Application Submission by Mail
    One signed original, and two copies, of the grant application, 
including all attachments, must be mailed on or before the closing date 
to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for 
Children and Families, ACYF/Office of Grants Management, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW, Mail Stop HHH 326-F, Washington, DC 20447-0002, 
Attention: Lois B. Hodge, ANA No. 93612-992.
2. Application Submission by Courier
    Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by 
overnight express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, 
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at: U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 
ACYF/Office of Grants Management, ACF Mail Room, Second Floor Loading 
Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, 
Attention: Lois B. Hodge, ANA No. 93612-992.
3. Application Consideration
    The ANA Commissioner determines the final action to be taken on 
each grant application received under this program announcement.
    All applicants should take the following points into consideration:
    <bullet> Incomplete applications and applications that do not 
conform to this announcement will not be accepted for review. 
Applicants will be notified in writing of any such determination by 
ACF. An incomplete application is one that is:
    <bullet> Missing Form SF 424.
    <bullet> Does not have a signature on Form SF 424.
    <bullet> Does not include proof of non-profit status, if 
applicable.
    <bullet> The application (Form 424) must be signed by an individual 
authorized (1) to act for the applicant Tribe or organization, and (2) 
to assume the applicant's obligations under the terms and conditions of 
the grant award, including Native American Program statutory and 
regulatory requirements.

[[Page 64714]]

    <bullet> Complete applications that conform to all the requirements 
of this program announcement are subjected to a competitive review and 
evaluation process. Independent review panels consisting of reviewers 
familiar with American Indian Tribes and Native American communities 
and organizations, and Native American languages evaluate each 
application using the published criteria in this announcement. As a 
result of the review, a normalized numerical score will be assigned to 
each application.
    <bullet> Each Tribe, Native American organization, or other 
eligible applicant may compete for one grant award under this program 
announcement.
    <bullet> The Administration for Native Americans will accept only 
one application for this program announcement from any one applicant. 
If an eligible applicant sends in two applications for this program 
announcement, the one with the earlier postmark will be accepted for 
review unless the applicant withdraws the earlier application.
    <bullet> The Commissioner's funding decision is based on the review 
panel's analysis of the application, recommendation and comments of ANA 
staff, State and Federal agencies having contract and grant performance 
related information, and other interested parties.
    <bullet> The Commissioner makes grant awards consistent with the 
purpose of the Act, all relevant statutory and requires this program 
announcement, and the availability of funds.
    <bullet> Successful applicants are notified through an official 
Financial Assistance Award (FAA) document. The FAA will state the 
amount of Federal funds awarded, the purpose of the grant, the terms 
and conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the 
project period, the budget period, and the amount of the non-ACF 
matching share requirement.

F. The Review Process

1. Initial Application Review
    Applications submitted by the closing date and verified by the 
postmark under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to 
determine that:
    <bullet> The applicant is eligible in accordance with the Eligible 
Applicants Section of this announcement; and,
    <bullet> the application is signed and submitted by the deadline; 
and,
    <bullet> the application narrative, forms and materials submitted 
are adequate to allow the review panel to undertake an in depth 
evaluation and the project described is an allowable type. (All 
required materials and forms are listed in the Grant Application 
Checklist in the Application Kit).
    Applications subjected to the pre-review described above which fail 
to satisfy one or more of the listed requirements will be ineligible or 
otherwise excluded from competitive evaluation.
2. Competitive Review of Accepted Applications
    Applications which pass the pre-review will be evaluated and rated 
by an independent review panel on the basis of the specific evaluation 
criteria listed in Part II. These criteria are used to evaluate the 
quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its 
success.
    <bullet> ANA staff cannot respond to requests for information 
regarding funding decisions prior to the official notification to the 
applicants.
    <bullet> After the Commissioner has made decisions on all 
applications funded with fiscal year 2000 funds, unsuccessful 
applicants are notified in writing within 30 days. The notification 
will be accompanied by a critique including recommendations for 
improving the application.
3. Appeal of Ineligibility
    Applicants, who are initially excluded from competitive evaluation 
because of ineligibility, may appeal the ANA decision of their 
ineligibility. Likewise, applicants may also appeal an ANA decision 
that their proposed activities are ineligible for funding 
consideration. The appeals process is stated in the final rule 
published in the Federal Register on August 19, 1996 (61 FR 42817).

G. General Guidance to Applicants

    The following information is provided to assist applicants in 
developing a competitive application.
1. Program Guidance
    <bullet> The Administration for Native Americans funds projects 
that demonstrate the strongest prospects for addressing the stated 
purposes of this program announcement.
    <bullet> Projects will not be ranked on the basis of general 
financial need.
    <bullet> In discussing the goals, strategy, and problems being 
addressed in the application, include sufficient background and/or 
history of the community concerning these issues and/or progress to 
date, as well as the size of the population to be served. This material 
will assist the reviewers in determining the appropriateness and 
potential benefits of the proposed project.
    <bullet> In the discussion of community-based, long-range goals, 
non-Federally recognized and off-reservation groups are encouraged to 
include a description of what constitutes their specific ``community.''
    <bullet> Applicants must document the community's support for the 
proposed project and explain the role of the community in the planning 
process and implementation of the proposed project. For Tribes, a 
current signed resolution from the governing body of the Tribe 
supporting the project proposal stating that there has been community 
involvement in the planning of this project will suffice as evidence of 
community support/involvement. For all other eligible applicants, the 
type of community you serve will determine the type of documentation 
necessary. For example, a tribal organization may submit resolutions 
supporting the project proposal from each of its members Tribes, as 
well as a resolution from the applicant organization. Other examples of 
documentation include: community surveys; minutes of community 
meetings; questionnaires; tribal presentations; and/or discussion/
position papers.
    <bullet> Applications from National Indian and Native American 
organizations must demonstrate a need for the project, explain how the 
project was originated, state who the intended beneficiaries will be, 
and describe how the recipients will actually benefit from the project.
    <bullet> An application should describe a clear relationship 
between the proposed project, language goals, and the community's long-
range goals or plan.
    <bullet> The project application, including the Objective Work 
Plans, must clearly identify in measurable terms the expected results, 
benefits or outcomes of the proposed project, and the positive or 
continuing impact that the project will have on the community.
    <bullet> Supporting documentation, including letters of support, if 
available, or other testimonies from concerned interests other than the 
applicant should be included to demonstrate support for the feasibility 
of the project and the commitment of other resources to the proposed 
project.
    <bullet> In the ANA Project Narrative, Section A of the application 
package, ``Resources Available to the Proposed Project,'' the applicant 
should describe any specific financial circumstances that may impact on 
the project. Include such circumstances as any monetary or land 
settlements made to the applicant and any restrictions on the use of 
those settlements. When the applicant appears

[[Page 64715]]

to have other resources to support the proposed project and chooses not 
to use them, the applicant should explain why it is seeking ANA funds 
and not utilizing these resources for the project.
    <bullet> Applications that were not funded under a previous years-
closing date may be resubmitted. However, for resubmission applicants 
should make a reference to the changes or reasons for not making 
changes in their current ANA application which are based on the ANA 
panel review comments.
2. Technical Guidance
    It is strongly suggested that the applicant follow the Supplemental 
Guide included in the ANA application kit to develop an application. 
The Guide provides practical information and helpful suggestions, and 
is an aid to help applicants prepare ANA applications.
    <bullet> Applicants are encouraged to have someone other than the 
author apply the evaluation criteria in the program announcement and 
score the application prior to its submission, in order to gain a 
better sense of the application's quality and potential competitiveness 
in the ANA review process.
    <bullet> For purposes of developing an application, applicants 
should plan for a project start date approximately 120 days after the 
closing date under which the application is submitted.
    <bullet> The Administration for Native Americans will not fund 
essentially identical projects serving the same constituency.
    <bullet> If a project could be supported by other Federal funding 
sources, the applicant should fully explain its reasons for not 
pursuing other Federal funds for the project.
    <bullet> For purposes of this announcement, ANA is using the Bureau 
of Indian Affairs' list of federally recognized Indian Tribes which 
includes nonprofit Alaska Native community entities or tribal governing 
bodies (IRA or traditional councils). Other federally recognized Indian 
Tribes, which are not included on this list (e.g., those Tribes that 
have been recently recognized or restored by the United States 
Congress), are also eligible to apply for ANA funds.
    <bullet> The Objective Work Plan proposed should be of sufficient 
detail to become a monthly staff guide for project responsibilities if 
the applicant is funded.
    <bullet> Applicants proposing multi-year projects under Category II 
must fully describe each year's project objectives and activities. 
Separate Objective Work Plans (OWPs) must be presented for each project 
year and a separate itemized budget of the Federal and non-Federal 
costs of the project for each budget period must be included.
    <bullet> Applicants for multi-year projects under Category II must 
justify the entire time-frame of the project (i.e., why the project 
needs funding for more than one year) and clearly describe the results 
to be achieved for each objective by the end of each budget period of 
the total project period.
    <bullet> The Administration for Native Americans will critically 
evaluate applications in which the acquisition of equipment is a major 
component of the Federal share of the budget. ``Equipment is tangible, 
non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one 
year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or month per ``unit.'' During 
negotiation, ANA may delete such expenditures from the budget of an 
otherwise approved application, if not fully justified by the applicant 
and deemed not appropriate to the needs of the project.
    <bullet> Applicants are encouraged to request a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service as proof of 
timely mailing.
3. Grant Administrative Guidance
    <bullet> The application's Form 424 must be signed by the 
applicant's representative authorized to act with full authority on 
behalf of the applicant.
    <bullet> The Administration for Native Americans recommends that 
the pages of the application be numbered sequentially and that a table 
of contents and tabbing of the sections is provided.
    <bullet> An application with an original signature and two 
additional copies are required.
    <bullet> The Cover Page (included in the Kit) should be the first 
page of an application, followed by the one-page abstract.
    <bullet> The applicant should specify the entire project period 
length on the first page of the Form 424, Block 13, not the length of 
the first budget period. Should the application propose one length of 
project period and the Form 424 specify a conflicting length of project 
period, ANA will consider the project period specified on the Form 424 
as the request. ANA may negotiate a reduction of the project period. 
The approved project period is shown on block 9 of a Financial 
Assistance Award.
    <bullet> Line 15a of the Form 424 must specify the Federal funds 
requested for the first Budget Period, not the entire project period.
    <bullet> Applicants may propose up to a 17-month project period 
under Category I and up to a 36-month project period under Category II.
4. Projects or Activities that Generally Will Not Meet the Purposes of 
this Announcement
    <bullet> Core administration functions, or other activities, which 
essentially support only the applicant's ongoing administrative 
functions.
    <bullet> Project goals which are not responsive to this program 
announcement.
    <bullet> Proposals from consortia of Tribes that are not specific 
with regard to support from, and roles of, member Tribes. ANA expects 
an application from a consortium to have goals and objectives that will 
create positive impacts and outcomes in the communities of its members. 
Proposals from consortia of Tribes should have individual objectives 
that are related to the larger goal of the proposed project. Project 
objectives may be tailored to each consortia member, but within the 
context of a common goal for the consortia. In situations where both 
tribal consortia and a Tribe who belongs to the consortia receives ANA 
funding, ANA expects that consortia groups will not seek funding that 
duplicates activities being conducted by their member Tribes.
    <bullet> Projects that will not be completed, self-sustaining, or 
supported by other than ANA funds, at the end of the project period. 
All projects funded by ANA must be completed, or self-sustaining or 
supported with other than ANA funds at the end of the project period. 
``Completed'' means that the project ANA funded is finished, and the 
desired result(s) have been attained. ``Self-sustaining'' means that a 
project will continue without outside resources. ``Supported by other 
than ANA funds'' means that the project will continue beyond the ANA 
project period, but will be supported by funds other than ANA's.
    <bullet> Renovation or alteration unless it is essential for the 
project. Renovation or alteration costs may not exceed the lesser of 
$150,000 or 25 percent of the total direct costs approved for the 
entire budget period.
    <bullet> Projects originated and designed by consultants who 
provide a major role for themselves in the proposed project and are not 
members of the applicant organization, Tribe or village.

H. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 10413)

    The Program Narrative information collection with this Program 
Announcement is approved under 0980-0204, Expiration Date 04/30/2003.
    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to

[[Page 64716]]

average 29.5 hours per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing 
the collection of information.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.

I. Receipt of Applications

    Applications must either be hand delivered or mailed to the address 
in Section E, The Application Process. The Administration for Native 
Americans cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or 
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to 
ANA electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of 
submission and time of receipt. Videotapes and cassette tapes may not 
be included as part of a grant application for panel review.
    Applications and related materials postmarked after the closing 
date will be classified as late.
1. Deadlines
    <bullet> Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are either received on or before the 
deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by 
ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, ACYF/
Office of Grants Management, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Mail Stop HHH 
326-F, Washington, D.C. 20447-0002. Attention: Lois B. Hodge ANA No. 
93612-992.
    <bullet> Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S. 
Postal Service postmark or to obtain a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private metered 
postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    <bullet> Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant 
couriers, or by overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as 
meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the 
deadline date or postmarked on or before the deadline date, Monday 
through Friday (excluding Federal holidays), between the hours of 8:00 
am and 4:30 p.m. at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, ACYF/Office of Grants 
Management, ACF Mailroom, 2nd Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 
D Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024. (Applicants are cautioned that 
express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
    <bullet> ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax 
or through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted 
to ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time 
of submission and time of receipt.
    <bullet> No additional material will be accepted, or added to an 
application, unless it is postmarked by the deadline date.
2. Late applications
    Applications that do not meet the criteria above are considered 
late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its 
application will not be considered in the current competition.
3. Extension of deadlines
    The Administration for Children and Families may extend an 
application deadline for applicants affected by acts of God such as 
floods and hurricanes, or when there is a widespread disruption of the 
mails. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests 
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Numbers: 93.612 
Native American Programs; and 93.587 Promoting the Survival and 
Continuing Vitality of Native American languages)

    Dated: October 3, 2001.
Gary Mounts,
Acting Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans.
[FR Doc. 00-27708 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P


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