[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 141 (Thursday, July 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39575-39581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19609]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Technical 
Assistance Demonstration Grants

AGENCY: Office of Family Assistance, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces 
the availability of Federal funding to promote intensive joint planning 
and development activities at the local level that would reinforce the 
concept of the temporary nature of welfare, and promote self-
sufficiency and employment. Funding under this announcement is 
authorized by section 1110 of the Social Security Act governing Social 
Services Research or Demonstration Projects.

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is August 24, 
1998.
    Application submission: Applications may be mailed to the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children 
and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC 20447.
    Hand delivered applications are accepted during the normal working 
hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, on or prior to 
the established closing date at: Administration for Children and 
Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 6th Floor, 901 D Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20447.
    An application will be considered to be received on time if sent on 
or before

[[Page 39576]]

the closing date as evidenced by a legible US Postal Service postmark 
or a legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier.

(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 are not 
acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    Late Applications: Applications that do not meet one of these 
criteria are considered late applications. The ACF Division of 
Discretionary Grants will notify each late applicant that its 
application will not be considered in this competition.
    Extension of Deadline: The ACF Office of Family Assistance may 
extend the deadline for all applicants because of acts of God, such as 
floods, hurricanes, etc., or when there is widespread disruption of 
mails. However, if ACF does not extend the deadline for all applicants, 
it will not extend the deadline for any applicants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne C. Howard, Project Officer, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. Telephone 
(202) 401-4619, or Lisa Washington-Thomas, Telephone #(202) 401-5141.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration for Children and Families 
(ACF) announces the availability of Federal funding to promote 
intensive joint planning and coordination activities at the local level 
that would reinforce the concept of the temporary nature of welfare, 
and promote self-sufficiency and employment. The Department will fund 
15-20 grantees who will be selected on a competitive basis. Community 
based organizations who are providing services to welfare recipients, 
or have the capacity to provide services, are encouraged to apply. The 
recipients will be expected to enter into a cooperative agreement with 
ACF.
    This program announcement consists of four parts. Part I provides 
background information about Welfare Reform. Part II describes the 
activities supported by this announcement and application requirements. 
Part III describes the application review process. Part IV provides 
information and instructions for the development and submission of 
applications.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average four hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
reviewing the collection of information. The following information 
collection is included in the program announcement: ACF Uniform Project 
Description (OMB 0970-0139, Exp. 10/31/98). An agency may not conduct 
or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Part I. Introduction

    On August 22, 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193) was 
enacted. The PRWORA established the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families (TANF) program which transforms welfare into a system that 
requires work and provides for time-limited financial assistance.
    The statute specifically eliminated any individual entitlement to, 
or guarantee of, assistance. It replaced the Aid to Families with 
Dependent Children, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training and 
Emergency Assistance programs with a single TANF block grant to States 
under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Under the TANF program, 
even though States have a great deal of flexibility to design and 
operate their programs, certain requirements apply.
    Under TANF, States are required to assess the skills of recipients 
and help them prepare for and find work. States may create community 
service jobs or provide income subsidies or hiring incentives for 
potential employers. They also increasingly connect with one-stop 
service delivery systems. States cannot allow families, unless exempt, 
who include an adult who has received assistance for five cumulative 
years (or less at the State's option) to receive further assistance 
funded with Federal TANF funds. In addition, States must require that 
non-exempt adult recipients work after receiving assistance for 24 
months.
    The TANF program requires welfare agencies to move their clients 
into work at accelerated rates each year such that by the year 2002, 
50% of welfare recipients are expected to have moved into the 
workforce. The need to provide jobs very quickly to large numbers of 
clients has intensified the need for welfare providers to develop 
creative ways of preparing their clients for employment.
    In order to achieve these outcomes, States must help increasing 
numbers of clients prepare for, and find, jobs. Inevitably, this means 
working with clients who are difficult to place. Many lack basic skills 
that employers require. Others have skills, but face significant 
challenges in getting and keeping jobs, such as lack of transportation 
and child care, low literacy levels, domestic violence, and substance 
abuse issues.
    On August 5, 1997, the President signed the Balanced Budget Act of 
1997 Pub. L. 105-33. This legislation amended Section 403 of the Social 
Security Act and authorized the Secretary of Labor to provide Welfare-
to-Work grants to States and local communities for transition 
employment assistance to move the hardest-to-employ TANF welfare 
recipients, former recipients and noncustodial parents into 
unsubsidized jobs and economic self-sufficiency.
    The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) intends to make 
these harder-to-serve clients a major focus for its technical 
assistance efforts over the next year. This is where TANF, Welfare-to-
Work, employers, job and skills training and employment programs; 
substance abuse and mental health programs, faith-based organizations 
and other community programs come together.
    Welfare reform is causing radical culture changes in the welfare 
system and the methods of assistance provided to the TANF families. 
Included in these changes is the need to increase involvement of both 
the public and private sector to maximize the use of resources in 
support of these changes.
    Although delivery of services (e.g., cash assistance, employment 
and training activities, etc.) to welfare recipients has always 
occurred at the local level, it has generally been done in accordance 
with Federal or State directives. One of the hallmarks of this welfare 
reform effort is that in most States responsibility and authority for 
welfare reform is being ``devolved'' to the county and local level.
    These grants provide local communities seed money to convene 
planning meetings to develop alternative methods to reduce welfare 
dependency, facilitate partnership-building and strengthen community 
support for families in need.

Part II. Project Design

    Purpose: The purpose of these technical assistance demonstration 
projects is to provide capacity-building grants that will enable 
development of strategic plans for their service areas to support 
welfare reform activities designed to focus on the ``difficult-to-
employ'' population. Meetings will be convened in partnership with the 
State/

[[Page 39577]]

local agencies responsible for the administration of TANF, Welfare-to-
Work agencies, and others in their communities.
    These grants provide an opportunity for public and private entities 
to get actively involved in the welfare reform process through 
partnering with others in their community. This partnership will focus 
on designing and implementing innovative welfare reform initiatives 
that support and strengthen client self-sufficiency efforts.
    ACF is interested in providing funds to eligible applicants with 
limited resources whose service areas have a high incidence of poverty. 
Funds provided under this grant may be used to contract for necessary 
expertise or resources to develop partnership arrangements through 
which it can contribute effectively to the development of a strategic 
plan that will embody the goals outlined above. Reasonable and 
necessary travel costs, including those necessary to facilitate 
participation by low income persons in the strategic planning process, 
may also be paid for with grant funds. The end result should be a 
comprehensive, finely tuned strategic plan that will include innovative 
approaches to provide for greater self-sufficiency of the poor.
    Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete 
successfully in response to this announcement, the applicant should 
develop a plan which:
    a. Demonstrates an understanding of TANF and Welfare-to-Work 
requirements.
    b. Demonstrates an understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and 
employment needs of, both TANF recipients and employers. Describes ways 
in which the collaborative partnerships will increase and support 
accessibility of services to TANF recipients.
    c. Demonstrates the support of public and private entities to 
convene around issues faced by TANF recipients, and the level of 
program commitment and community collaboration.
    d. Includes an outline and discussion of current and planned 
partnership activities, including a brief discussion of what outreach 
activities are proposed to develop new or expand existing partnerships, 
and which involve TANF recipients in the strategic planning process.
    e. Provides information about other (State, local, community) 
resources the applicant will use to support this effort, including 
financial support (if any) for the meetings, in addition to Federal 
funding.
    In recognition of the scope of the initiative, the potential 
difficulty in successfully facilitating the development of a 
``Community'' strategic plan around welfare reform activities, and the 
significance of the initiative for public policy, ACF has determined 
that a close, cooperative working relationship between the ACF and the 
selected grantees will greatly further the public interest. Therefore, 
the awards made under this announcement will be cooperative agreements 
between ACF and the selected grantees. It is anticipated that ACF will 
be involved in the performance of the initiative in the following 
manner:
    <bullet> ACF, working in cooperation with the grantee, will review 
and comment on the grantee's outreach strategies.
    <bullet> ACF will review the list of participants developed by the 
grantee and where appropriate offer suggestions for other participants.
    <bullet> ACF will conduct site visits, teleconferences, and 
meetings, as appropriate, to provide technical assistance.
    <bullet> ACF will facilitate information sharing and discussions 
among grantees.
    The above-cited areas of involvement are illustrative of the 
anticipated level of Federal involvement with the selected grantees. 
The exact activities will be detailed in the Cooperative Agreement 
which will be developed with each grantee.
    Eligible Applicants: Financial assistance under this announcement 
is available to local public/private non-profit entities (e.g., 
community-based organizations; faith-based entities; etc.) who can 
demonstrate a commitment to supporting welfare reform activities.
    Project Duration: The length of the project is one year (12 
months).
    Federal Share of the Project: The Federal share available for these 
grants is $300,000 for the one-year project period, subject to the 
availability of funds.
    Anticipated number of Projects to be Funded: 15-20 grants will be 
funded under this announcement.
    Matching Requirement: Applicants must provide at least ten (10) 
percent of the total cost of the project. The total approved cost of 
the project is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal share. 
The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, 
although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements 
through cash contributions. Therefore, a project requesting $10,000 in 
Federal funds must include a match of at least $1,111 (i.e., 10 percent 
of the sum of the Federal and the non-Federal cost of the project). The 
successful applicant's match must be expended by the completion of the 
project period.
    The recipient will be required to provide the agreed upon non-
Federal share, even if it exceeds the required match stated above. 
Therefore, applicants should ensure that any amount proposed as the 
non-Federal share is committed to the project prior to inclusion in its 
budget.

Part III. The Review Process

A. Review Process and Funding Decisions

    Timely applications from eligible applicants will be reviewed and 
scored competitively. Reviewers will use the evaluation criteria listed 
below to review and score the application.
    In addition, ACF may refer applications to other Federal or non-
Federal funding sources when it is determined to be in the best 
interest of the Federal Government or the applicant. It may also 
solicit comments from ACF Regional Office staff, other Federal 
agencies, interested foundations and national organizations. These 
comments along with those of the reviewers will be considered by ACF in 
making the funding decision.

B. Evaluation Criteria

    Using the evaluation criteria below, reviewers will review and 
score each application. Applicants should insure that they address each 
minimum requirement listed above.
    Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each 
application in terms of the appropriate evaluation criteria listed 
below, provide comments, and assign numerical scores. The point value 
following each criterion heading indicates the maximum numerical weight 
that each criterion may be given in the review process.

C. Review Criteria

    (a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements (20 points).
    The applicant's proposal should demonstrate: (a) a good 
understanding of TANF and Welfare to Work Activities, including an 
outline of any current involvement with the programs; and (b) an 
understanding of ``gaps'' in services to, and employment needs of, both 
TANF recipients and employers.
    (b) Approach and Project Design (35 points).
    The application should provide: a) evidence of organizational 
experience in convening meetings and/or b) evidence of commitment to 
planning and implementing strategic planning activities; (c) an outline 
of the project design which takes into account specific features the 
applicant wishes to address, and the objectives, component(s) and

[[Page 39578]]

services that will be impacted by the convening/facilitation of the 
meetings; and (d) a description of how the applicant will conduct 
outreach activities to promote involvement of the public/private sector 
to enable their full participation in the planning process.
    (3) Public--Private Partnerships (25 points).
    In order to maximize the potential resources of the community to 
provide options and alternatives to the public welfare system, the 
applicant should provide evidence of coordination and commitments by 
public, private, non-profit, community and faith-based organizations 
and businesses to the strategic planning initiative.
    (d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities (10 points).
    It has been our experience that in order for projects of this scope 
to be successful, the support and commitment of the individuals at the 
highest levels of the public/private partnerships are necessary. 
Projects such as this are under tight time constraints and require 
innovation and flexibility. For example, it may be necessary from time 
to time to provide exceptions to ``normal'' ways of conducting 
business, or to establish expedited processes. Thus the support and 
commitment of senior officials to accomplish the many tasks involved is 
critical. The application should discuss this issue and indicate the 
level of commitment to the project which is proposed.
    (e) Budget Appropriateness (5 points).
    The application should demonstrate that the project's costs are 
reasonable in view of the anticipated results and benefits. Applicants 
may refer to the budget information presented in the Standard Forms 424 
and 424A.
    (f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields (5 
points).
    The applicant is in within an area, a community or communities 
which, as of the closing date for application under this announcement, 
has been designated by the US Department of Housing (HUD), US 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Environmental Protection Agency 
as an Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and/or Brownfields.

Part IV. Instructions for the Development and Submission of 
Applications

    This part contains information and instructions for submitting 
applications in response to this announcement. Application forms, 
certifications and assurances are available from the contact person 
named in the preamble and through the ACF Internet at the following 
address: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/oa/form.htm. A checklist for 
assembling an application package is provided in this announcement.

A. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

    This program announcement is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, and 45 CFR Part 100, 
Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities. Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, 
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, 
Washington, American Samoa and Palau have elected to participate in the 
Executive Order process and have established Single Points of Contact 
(SPOCs), listed at the end of this announcement. Applicants from these 
19 jurisdictions need take no action regarding E.O. 12372. Applicants 
for projects to be administered by federally-recognized Indian Tribes 
are also exempt from the requirements of E.O. 12372. Otherwise, 
applicants should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them 
of the prospective applications and receive any necessary instructions. 
Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon as 
possible so that the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments 
as part of the award process. It is imperative that the applicant 
submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the 
date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is 
required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a.
    Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application 
deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. 
SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are 
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and 
those official State process recommendations which may trigger the 
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 6th Floor, Mailstop 6C-462, Washington, DC 
20447.
    Refer to the beginning of this announcement under the heading 
ADDRESSES, for hand delivered applications.

B. Deadline for Submittal of Applications

    The closing date for submittal of applications under this program 
announcement is found at the beginning of this announcement under the 
heading DATES. Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
announced deadline if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date at the receipt point 
specified in this program announcement, or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time 
for the independent review.
    Applicants are cautioned to request a legibly dated receipt from a 
commercial carrier or US Postal Service. Private metered postmarks 
shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1 
and 2 above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each 
late applicant that its application will not be considered in the 
current competition.
    Extension of Deadlines: ACF may extend the deadline for all 
applicants because of acts of God, such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or 
when there is widespread disruption of mails. However, if ACF does not 
extend the deadline for all applicants, it will not extend the deadline 
for any applicants.

C. Instructions for Preparing the Application

    In order to assist applicants in completing the application, 
additional guidance on completing the Standard Forms 424 and 424A and 
required certifications have been included at the end of Part IV of 
this announcement. Please reproduce single-sided copies of these forms 
from the reprinted forms and type your information onto the copies.
    Please prepare your application in accordance with the following 
instructions:
1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet
    Please read the following instructions before completing the 
application cover sheet. An explanation of each item is included. 
Complete only the items specified.
    Item 1. Type of Submission--Non-Construction.
    Item 2. Date Submitted and Applicant Identifier--

[[Page 39579]]

    Date application is submitted to ACF and applicant's own internal 
control number, if applicable.
    Item 3. Date Received By State--State use only (if applicable).
    Item 4. Date Received by Federal Agency--Leave blank.
    Item 5. Applicant Information.
    Legal Name--Enter the legal name of applicant organization. For 
applications developed jointly, enter the name of the lead organization 
only. There must be a single applicant for each application.
    Organizational Unit--Enter the name of the primary unit within the 
applicant organization which will actually carry out the project 
activity. If this is the same as the applicant organization, leave the 
organizational unit blank.
    Address--Enter the complete address that the organization actually 
uses to receive mail, since this is the address to which all 
correspondence will be sent. Do not include both street address and 
P.O. box number unless both must be used in mailing.
    Name and telephone number of the person to be contacted on matters 
involving this application (give area code)--Enter the full name and 
telephone number of a person who can respond to questions about the 
application. This person should be accessible at the address given.
    Item 6. Employer Identification Number (EIN)--Enter the employer 
identification number of the applicant organization, as assigned by the 
Internal Revenue Service, including, if known, the Central Registry 
System suffix.
    Item 7. Type of Applicant--Self-explanatory.
    Item 8. Type of Application--New.
    Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--DHHS/ACF.
    Item 10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number--93.647.
    Item 11. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--TANF Technical 
Assistance Demonstration Grant.
    Item 12. Areas Affected by Project--Leave Blank.
    Item 13. Proposed Project--Enter the desired start date for the 
project and projected completion date. The project period must begin no 
later than September 30, 1998.
    Item 14. Congressional District of Applicant/Project--Enter the 
number of the Congressional district where the applicant's principal 
office is located.
    Items 15. Estimated Funding Levels--
    In completing 15a through 15f, the dollar amounts entered should 
reflect the total amount requested for the first 12-month budget 
period.
    Item 15a. Enter the amount of Federal funds requested in accordance 
with the preceding paragraph. This amount should be no greater than the 
maximum amount available under this announcement for the first 12-month 
budget period.
    Items 15b--e Enter the amount(s) of funds from non-Federal sources 
that will be contributed to the proposed project. Items b-e are 
considered cost-sharing or matching funds.
    Item 15f. Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected to 
be generated from the proposed project. Do not add or subtract this 
amount from the total project amount entered under item 15g. Describe 
the nature, source and anticipated use of this income in the Project 
Narrative Statement.
    Item 15g. Enter the sum of items 15a-15e.
    Item 16a. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order 
12372 Process?--Check Yes if your State participates in the E.O. 12372 
process. Enter the date the application was made available to the State 
for review. Select the appropriate SPOC from the listing provided at 
the end of Part IV. The review of the application is at the discretion 
of the SPOC.
    Item 16b. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order 
12372 Process?--Check No if the program has not been selected by State 
for review.
    Item 17. Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?--Check 
the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant 
organization, not the person who signs as the authorized 
representative. Categories of debt include audit disallowances, loans 
and taxes.
    Item 18. To the best of my knowledge and belief, all data in this 
application/preapplication are true and correct. The document has been 
duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant and the 
applicant will comply with the attached assurances if the assistance is 
awarded.--To be signed by the authorized representative of the 
applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for signature 
of this application by this individual as the official representative 
must be on file in the applicant's office, and may be requested from 
the applicant.
    Item 18a-c. Typed Name of Authorized Representative, Title, 
Telephone Number--Enter the name, title and telephone number of the 
authorized representative of the applicant organization.
    Item 18d. Signature of Authorized Representative--Signature of the 
authorized representative named in Item 18a. At least one copy of the 
application must have an original signature. Use colored ink (not 
black) so that the original signature is easily identified.
    Item 18e. Date Signed--Enter the date the application was signed by 
the authorized representative.
2. SF 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
    This is a form used by many Federal agencies. For this application, 
Sections A, B, C, and E are to be completed. Sections D and F do not 
need to be completed.
Section A--Budget Summary
    Line 1:
    Column (a): Enter TANF Technical Assistance Demonstration Grant;
    Column (b): Enter 93.647.
    Columns (c) and (d): Leave blank.
    Columns (e), (f) and (g): enter the appropriate amounts needed to 
support the project for the budget period.
    Section B--Budget Categories. This budget should include the 
Federal as well as non-Federal funding for the proposed project for the 
first 12-month budget period. The budget should relate to item 15g, 
total funding, on the SF 424. Under column (5), enter the total 
requirements for funds (Federal and non-Federal) by object class 
category.
    The following instructions for preparing a detailed budget and 
budget justification are in accordance with the ACF Uniform Project 
Description. Note that ``Construction'' is not allowable under this 
program. The budget and budget justification should immediately follow 
the second page of the SF 424A.

Budget and Budget Justification

    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed 
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, 
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to 
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the 
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocability of the proposed costs.

Personnel

    Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
    Justification: Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time 
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project 
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, 
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel 
costs of

[[Page 39580]]

delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant.

Fringe Benefits

    Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as 
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
    Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages 
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel

    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), 
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if 
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs 
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment

    Description: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property, 
having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of 
$5,000 or more per unit. However, an applicant may use its own 
definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least 
include all equipment defined above.
    Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a 
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, 
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or 
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant 
organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide 
a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the 
equipment definition.

Supplies

    Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than 
that included under the Equipment category.
    Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their 
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports 
the amount requested.

Contractual

    Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except 
for those which belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if 
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant, should be included under this category.
    Justification: All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a 
manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free 
competition. If procurement competitions were held or if procurement 
without competition is being proposed, attach a list of proposed 
contractors, indicating the names of the organizations, the purposes of 
the contracts, the estimated dollar amounts, and the award selection 
process. Justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to 
be awarded without competition and exceed the simplified acquisition 
threshold fixed at 41 USC 403(11) (currently set at $100,000). 
Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award review 
and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or invitations 
for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.

    Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the 
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed 
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency 
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Other

    Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable 
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, 
medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, 
space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, 
training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, 
and administrative costs.
    Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a 
justification for each cost under this category.

Indirect Charges

    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should 
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate 
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or 
another cognizant Federal agency.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an 
award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the 
principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for 
establishing indirect cost rates, and submit it to the cognizant 
agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals 
may also request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an 
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect 
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. 
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is 
allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the 
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the 
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Program Income

    Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be 
generated from this project.
    Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of 
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application 
which contain this information.

Non-Federal Resources

    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be 
documented and submitted with the application in order to be given 
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for 
each funding source.

Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs

Self Explanatory

    The following instructions for preparing a project description 
(aka, program narrative statement) are in accordance with the ACF 
Uniform Project Description. The narrative should be typed double-
spaced. All pages of the narrative (including charts, references, 
footnotes, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered, 
beginning with Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements.

    Note: The length of the application, including the application 
forms and all attachments, should not exceed 100 pages.
3. The Project Description--Overview

Purpose

    The project description provides a major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested.

[[Page 39581]]

Supporting documents should be included where they can present 
information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged to 
provide information on their organizational structure, staff, related 
experience, and other information considered to be relevant. Awarding 
offices use this and other information to determine whether the 
applicant has the capability and resources necessary to carry out the 
proposed project. It is important, therefore, that this information be 
included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant 
must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed 
project from those that will not be used in support of the specific 
project for which funds are requested.
    The narrative should address the specific requirements under Part 
II and also provide information concerning how the application meets 
the evaluation criteria using the following headings:
    (a) Knowledge of TANF and Welfare-to-Work Requirements;
    (b) Approach and Project Design;
    (c) Public--Private Partnerships;
    (d) Staff Skills and Responsibilities;
    (e) Budget Appropriateness;
    (f) Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community and /or Brownfields.
    The specific information to be included under each of these 
headings is described in section B of Part III--Evaluation Criteria.
4. Assurances/Certifications
    Applicants are required to file an SF 424B, Assurances--Non-
Construction Programs, and the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Both 
must be signed and returned with the application. In addition, 
applicants must certify their compliance with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace 
Requirements; and (2) Debarment and Other Responsibilities. These 
certifications are self-explanatory. Copies of these assurances and 
certifications are available from the ACF forms web site mentioned 
previously. A duly authorized representative of the applicant 
organization must certify that the applicant is in compliance with 
these assurances and certifications. A signature on the SF 424 
indicates compliance with Drug-Free Workplace and Debarment notices and 
Public Law 103-227, Part C--Environmental Tobacco Smoke, also known as 
the Pro-Children Act of 1994.

D. Checklist for a Complete Application

    The checklist below is for your use to ensure that your application 
package has been properly prepared.

--One original application, signed and dated, plus two copies.
--Complete application length should not exceed 100 pages.
--A complete application consists of the following items in this order:

    <bullet> Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424);
    <bullet> A completed SPOC certification with the date of SPOC 
contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424 if applicable;
    <bullet> Budget Information--Non-construction programs (SF 424A);
    <bullet> Budget Justification for SF 424A Section B--Budget 
Categories;
    <bullet> Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove 
nonprofit status, if necessary;
    <bullet> Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate 
agreement, if appropriate;
    <bullet> Program Narrative Statement (See Part III, Section C);
    <bullet> Assurances--Non-construction programs (SF 424B); and
    <bullet> Certification Regarding Lobbying.

E. Submitting the Application

    Each application package must include an original and two copies of 
the complete application. Each copy should be secured with a binder 
clip or similar devise. Please do not staple. All pages of the 
narrative (including charts, tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be 
sequentially numbered. In order to facilitate handling, please do not 
use covers, binders, or tabs.
    Applicant should include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgment 
card. All applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt 
of their application.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.647.

    Dated: July 17, 1998.
Diann Dawson,
Acting Director, Office of Family Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-19609 Filed 7-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P