Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices 21389

Control and Prevention (CDC)

announces the following meeting.

Name: Disease, Disability and Injury

Prevention and Control Special

Emphasis Panel: Grant Program for

Strategies for Improving Health Risk

Communication Related to Military

Deployments among Military Personnel,

Veterans, their Family Members, and

their Health Care Providers, PA# 01021.

Times and Dates: 8 a.m.–9:15 a.m.,

June 4, 2001 (Open), 9:15 a.m.–4:30

p.m., June 4, 2001 (Closed), 8:30 a.m.–

4:30 p.m., June 5, 2001 (Closed).

Place: Holiday Inn Select Conference

Center, 130 Clairemont Avenue,

Decatur, GA 30030.

Status: Portions of the meeting will be

closed to the public in accordance with

provisions set forth in section 552b(c)(4)

and (6), Title 5 U.S.C., and the

Determination of the Deputy Director for

Program Management, CDC, pursuant to

Public Law 92–463.

Matters to be Discussed: The meeting

will include the review, discussion, and

evaluation of applications received in

response to PA# 01021.

Contact Person for More Information:

Drue Barrett, Ph.D., Chief, Veterans’

Health Activity Working Group,

National Center for Environmental

Health, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, MS

E–19, Atlanta, Ga. 30333. Telephone

404/639–4862, e-mail dhb1@cdc.gov.

The Director, Management Analysis

and Services Office, has been delegated

the authority to sign Federal Register

notices pertaining to announcements of

meetings and other committee

management activities, for the both the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention and the Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry.

Dated: April 12, 2001.

Carolyn J. Russell,

Director, Management Analysis and Services

Office, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.

[FR Doc. 01–10612 Filed 4–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163–18–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and

Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF–PA–

CCB–2001–03]

Early Learning Opportunities Act

Discretionary Grants

AGENCY: Administration on Children,

Youth and Families (ACYF), ACF,

DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of the

availability of competitive grants to

Local Councils.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this program

announcement is to announce the

availability of Fiscal Year 2001

Discretionary Funds, authorized by

Congress under the FY 2001

Consolidated Appropriations Act, for

grants to Local Councils.

DATES: The closing date for submission

of applications is June 14, 2001. Mailed

applications postmarked after the

closing date will be classified as late.

Deadline: Mailed applications shall be

considered as meeting an announced

deadline if they are either received on

or before the deadline date, or sent on

or before the deadline date and received

by ACF in time for the independent

review to: Administration on Children,

Youth and Families, Child Care Bureau

Program Announcement No. ACYF–PA–

CCB–2001–03, 1815 North Fort Myer

Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209,

Telephone: 1–800–351–2293.

Applicants must ensure that a legibly

dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or a

legibly dated, machine produced

postmark of a commercial mail service

is affixed to the envelope/package

containing the application(s). To be

acceptable as a proof of timely mailing,

a postmark from a commercial mail

service must include the logo/emblem

of the commercial mail service company

and must reflect the date the package

was received by the commercial mail

service company from the applicant.

Private metered postmarks shall not be

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Applications hand carried by

applicants, applicant couriers, or by

other representatives of the applicant

shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received

on or before the deadline date, between

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

EST, Monday through Friday (excluding

Federal holidays) at the address above.

(Applicants are cautioned that express/

overnight mail services do not always

deliver as agreed.)

ACF cannot accommodate

transmission of applications by fax or

through other electronic media,

regardless of date or time of submission

and receipt. Therefore, applications

transmitted to ACF electronically will

not be accepted.

Late Applications. Applications that

do not meet the criteria stated 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 an application deadline for

applicants affected by acts of God such

as floods and hurricanes, when there is

widespread disruption of mail service,

or for other disruptions of services, such

as a prolonged blackout, that affect the

public at large. A determination to

extend or waive deadline requirements

rests with the Chief Grants Management

Officer.

Notice of Intent to Submit

Application: If you intend to submit an

application, please contact ACYF’s

Operations Center at 1–800–351–2293

with the following information: the

number and title of this announcement;

your organization’s name and address;

and your contact person’s name, phone

number, fax number, and e-mail

address. The information will be used to

determine the number of expert

reviewers needed to evaluate

applications and to update the mailing

list for program announcements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Administration on Children, Youth and

Families, Child Care Bureau, Room

2046, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C

Street, Southwest, Washington, DC

20447, Phone: 202–690–6243 or 202–

401–5130, Fax: 202–690–5600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACF

Uniform Discretionary Grant

Application, covering all ACF

announcements contained in the

Application Kit, and this

Supplementary Information section,

contains all the forms and instructions

needed to apply for a grant under this

announcement. No additional

application materials are needed.

The Supplementary Information

section consists of seven parts. Part I

includes general information about

funding requirements, and application

procedures for child care grants under

this program announcement. Part II

provides background information on the

Child Care Bureau and the Early

Learning Opportunities Act as well as

relevant definitions. Part III describes

goals and priorities related to this

announcement. Part IV provides

instructions for the Uniform Project

Description. Part V describes the

evaluation criteria and selection

process. Part VI describes the

application process. Part VII provides

information on the content of the

application and submission

instructions. The contents are outlined

below:

Table of Contents

Part I. General Information

A. Purpose

B. Citations

C. Number of Awards

D. Project Duration

E. Funding Levels and Budget Periods

21390 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices

F. Non-Federal Share of Project Costs

G. Other Financial Requirements

H. Eligibility

I. Protections

Part II. Background and Context

A. The Child Care Bureau

B. The Early Learning Opportunities Act

C. Definitions

Part III. Early Learning Opportunities Act

Grants—Goals and Priorities

Part IV. General Instructions for the Uniform

Project Description

A. Project Summary/Abstract

B. Objectives and Need for Assistance

C. Results or Benefits Expected

D. Approach

E. Evaluation

F. Geographic Location

G. Additional Information

H. Budget and Budget Justification

Part V. Evaluation Criteria

Criterion 1. Objectives and Need for

Assistance

Criterion 2. Results and Benefits Expected

Criterion 3. Approach

Criterion 4. Geographic Location

Criterion 5. Staff and Position Data and

Organizational Profile

Criterion 6. Budget and Budget

Justification

Part VI. Application Process

A. Assistance to Prospective Grantees

B. Application Requirements

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

D. Notification under Executive Order

12372

E. Availability of Forms and Other

Materials

F. Application Consideration

Part VII. Application Content and

Submission Instructions

A. Application Content

B. Application Submission

Part I. General Information

A. Purpose

The purpose of this program

announcement is to announce the

availability of fiscal year 2001 funds,

authorized under the Early Learning

Opportunities Act (ELOA), for early

learning programs likely to produce

sustained gains in early learning.

B. Citations

1. Sponsorship. Grants being awarded

under this announcement are sponsored

by the Child Care Bureau (the Bureau)

of the Administration on Children,

Youth and Families (ACYF) in the

Administration for Children and

Families (ACF), U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The Bureau will manage the projects.

2. Funding Authority. Funding is

provided by ACF under the

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001

(Pub. L. 106–554).

3. Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance. The Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number is 93.577.

C. Number of Awards

Up to 25 projects will be funded in

fiscal year 2001 (by September 30, 2001)

subject to the availability of funds and

the results of the review process.

D. Project Duration

The project period will be 17 months.

It is anticipated that the project period

will be September 23, 2001 to February

28, 2003.

E. Funding Levels and Budget Periods

Awards will be for 17-month project

and budget periods. Individual awards

will be between $250,000 and

$1,000,000 depending on the size of the

population to be served as well as

geographic area to be served and the

reasonableness of the budget in

relationship to the services to be

provided. While this will vary

depending on the scope of the

applications submitted, awards are

expected to average $700,000.

The Act (section 809) provides that

the Secretary shall reserve a portion of

each year’s total appropriation for the

Early Learning Opportunities Act

(ELOA) for Indian Tribes, Regional

Corporations, and Native Hawaiian

entities. ACF anticipates competitively

awarding funds to at least one Local

Council designated by an Indian Tribe

and one Local Council designated by an

Alaska Native Regional Corporation or

Native Hawaiian entity, subject to

receipt of applications meeting the

requirements of the Act as reflected in

this announcement. ACF intends to

award no less than one percent of the

FY 2001 ELOA appropriation in grants

to Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives, and

Native Hawaiians.

F. Non-Federal Share of Project Costs

Grantees must provide at least 15

percent of the total approved project

cost. The total approved cost is the sum

of the Federal share and the non-Federal

share. Therefore, a project requesting

$500,000 in Federal funds must include

a match of at least $88,236 (15 percent

total project cost). The non-Federal

share may be contributed in cash or inkind, fairly evaluated, including

facilities, equipment, or services, which

may be provided from State or local

public sources, or through donations

from private entities. For the purposes

of this paragraph, the term ‘‘facilities’’

includes the use of facilities, but the

term ‘‘equipment’’ means donated

equipment and not the use of

equipment. Grantees will be held

accountable on the grant award for

commitments of non-Federal resources

even if the approved amount exceeds

the minimum match required. Failure to

provide the amount specified on the

grant award can result in a disallowance

of Federal funds.

G. Other Financial Requirements

Amounts received shall be used to

supplement and not supplant other

Federal, State, and local public funds

expended to promote early learning. No

funds provided shall be used to carryout an activity funded under another

provision of law providing for Federal

child care or early learning programs,

unless an expansion of such activity is

identified in the local needs assessment

and performance goals.

Not more than three percent of the

Federal funds received by the Local

Council through this announcement

shall be used to pay for the

administrative costs (as defined in Part

II.C.) of the Local Council in carrying

out activities funded under the grant.

H. Eligibility

An eligible applicant for these grants

must be designated by a local

government entity (or Indian Tribe,

Regional Corporation, or Native

Hawaiian entity) as a ‘‘Local Council’’ to

serve one or more localities. Applicants

must include a letter from the

designating entity in their application

(see Part V, Evaluation Criteria,

Criterion 4). Membership of the

governing body of the applicant

organization must include

representatives as follows:

1. Local agencies that will be directly

affected by early learning programs

assisted under the Early Learning

Opportunities Act and this

announcement;

2. Parents;

3. Other individuals concerned with

early learning issues in the locality,

such as representatives of entities

providing elementary education, child

care resource and referral services, early

learning opportunities, child care, and

health services; and

4. Other key community leaders.

Local Councils that have been formed

prior to the date of enactment of the

Early Learning Opportunities Act and

have similar membership will also be

considered eligible. It is critical that

Councils be able to demonstrate

organizational and fiscal capabilities.

Further, it is not recommended that

Local Councils provide direct services

to the children and families in their

communities.

A Local Council may enter into an

agreement with an entity with a

demonstrated capacity for administering

grants that is affected by, or concerned

with, early learning issues, including

the State, to serve as fiscal agent for the

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices 21391

administration of grant funds received

by the Local Council under this

program. The Local Council, however,

must be the applicant under this

announcement, and if selected for a

grant, must be responsible for ensuring

compliance with the activities and

terms of the grant.

Non-profit organizations submitting

an application must submit proof of

their non-profit status in their

applications at the time of submission.

This can be accomplished 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.

I. Protections

1. No person, including a parent, shall

be required to participate in any

program of early childhood education,

early learning, parent education, or

developmental screening pursuant to

the provisions of the Early Learning

Opportunities Act.

2. Nothing in the Early Learning

Opportunities Act shall be construed to

affect the rights of parents otherwise

established in Federal, State, or local

law.

3. No entity that receives funds under

this title shall be required to provide

services under this title through a

particular instructional method or in a

particular instructional setting to

comply with this title.

Part II. Background and Context

A. The Child Care Bureau

The Child Care Bureau was

established in 1994 to provide

leadership to efforts to enhance the

quality, affordability, and supply of

child care. The Child Care Bureau

administers the Child Care and

Development Fund (CCDF), a $4.6

billion child care program that includes

funding for child care subsidies and

activities to improve the quality and

availability of child care. CCDF was

created after amendments to ACF child

care programs by Title VI of the

Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996

consolidated four Federal child care

funding streams including the Child

Care and Development Block Grant,

AFDC/JOBS Child Care, Transitional

Child Care, and At-Risk Child Care.

The Bureau works closely with ACF

Regions, States, Territories and Tribes to

assist with, oversee, and document

implementation of new policies and

programs in support of State, local and

private sector administration of child

care services and systems. In addition,

the Bureau collaborates extensively with

other offices throughout the Federal

government to promote integrated,

family-focused services and coordinated

child care delivery systems. In all of

these activities, the Bureau seeks to

enhance the quality, availability, and

affordability of child care services,

support children’s healthy growth and

development in safe child care

environments, enhance parental choice

and involvement in their children’s

care, and facilitate the linkage of child

care with other community services.

B. The Early Learning Opportunities Act

The Early Learning Opportunities Act

(ELOA) was passed by Congress to

award grants to States to enable them to

increase, support, expand and better

coordinate early learning opportunities

for children and their families through

local community organizations. The

purposes of the Act are to: (1) Increase

the availability of voluntary programs,

services, and activities that support

early childhood development, increase

parent effectiveness, and promote the

learning readiness of young children so

that young children enter school ready

to learn; (2) support parents, child care

providers, and caregivers who want to

incorporate early learning activities into

the daily lives of young children; (3)

remove barriers to the provision of an

accessible system of early childhood

learning programs in communities

throughout the United States; (4)

increase the availability and

affordability of professional

development activities and

compensation for caregivers and child

care providers; and (5) facilitate the

development of community-based

systems of collaborative service delivery

models characterized by resource

sharing, linkages between appropriate

supports, and local planning for

services.

The Act provides that if the amount

appropriated for this program in any

fiscal year is less than $150 million, the

Department of Health and Human

Services (DHHS) shall award grants on

a competitive basis directly to Local

Councils. DHHS is administering the

program under this special provision in

FY 2001.

C. Definitions

Administrative Costs—Administrative

costs are defined as costs related to the

overall management of the program

which do not directly relate to the

provision of program services. These

costs can be in both the personnel and

non-personnel budget categories and

include, but are not limited to: salaries

of managerial and administrative staff,

indirect costs, and other costs associated

with administrative functions such as

accounting, payroll services or auditing.

Caregiver—The term ‘‘caregiver’’

means an individual, including a

relative, neighbor, or family friend, who

regularly or frequently provides care,

with or without compensation, for a

child for whom the individual is not the

parent.

Child Care Provider—The term ‘‘child

care provider’’ means a provider of nonresidential child care services

(including center-based, family-based,

and in-home child care services) for

compensation who or that is legally

operating under State law, and complies

with applicable State and local

requirements for the provision of child

care services.

Early Learning—used with respect to

a program or activity, means learning

designed to facilitate the development

of cognitive, language, motor, and

social-emotional skills for, and to

promote learning readiness in, young

children (see definition of young child).

Early Learning Program—is a program

of services or activities that helps

parents, caregivers, and child care

providers to incorporate early learning

into the daily lives of young children; or

a program that directly provides early

learning to young children.

Indian Tribe—The term ‘‘Indian

Tribe’’ has the meaning given the term

in section 4 of the Indian SelfDetermination and Education

Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).

Local Council—The term ‘‘Local

Council’’ means a Local Council

established or designated by a local

government, Indian Tribe, Regional

Corporation, or Native Hawaiian entity

to serve as applicant under this

announcement and that serves one or

more localities.

Locality—The term ‘‘locality’’ means a

city, county, borough, township, or area

served by another general purpose unit

of local government, an Indian Tribe, a

Regional Corporation, or a Native

Hawaiian entity.

Native Hawaiian Entity—A private

non-profit organization that serves the

interests of Native Hawaiians, and is

recognized by the Governor of Hawaii

for the purpose of planning, conducting,

or administering programs (or parts of

programs) for the benefit of Native

Hawaiians.

Parent—‘‘parent’’ means a biological

parent, an adoptive parent, a stepparent,

a foster parent, or a legal guardian of, or

21392 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices

a person standing in loco parentis to a

child.

Regional Corporation—Native Alaska

Regional Corporation; an entity listed in

section 419(4)(B) of the Social Security

Act (42 U.S.C. 619(4)(B)).

Young Child—for purposes of this

program, the term ‘‘young child’’ means

any child from birth to the age of

mandatory school attendance in the

State where the child resides.

Part III. Early Learning Opportunities

Act Grants—Goals and Priorities

For FY 2001, grants will be awarded

directly to Local Councils that can best

assess their community needs and

create a plan to facilitate the

development of community-based

systems and collaborative service

delivery models.

These grants will be available to Local

Councils that have been so designated

by a local government, Indian Tribe,

Regional Corporation, or Native

Hawaiian entity. Multiple applications

from the same locality and applications

that cover overlapping geographic areas

will not be considered. Local Councils

will be required to submit a current

needs and resources assessment,

documenting the needs of the young

children and families in their locality,

as well as a local plan that addresses the

most significant needs. The plan will

include three or more of the required

Early Learning Activities (listed below)

and clarify the outcome measures for

each activity being proposed. Grants

will be awarded to Councils for

seventeen months through a competitive

process.

Local Councils must include three or

more of the following activities in their

implementation plan to be eligible for

grants.

1. Helping parents, caregivers, child

care providers, and educators increase

their capacity to facilitate the

development of cognitive, language

comprehension, expressive language,

social-emotional, and motor skills, and

promote learning readiness.

2. Promoting effective parenting.

3. Enhancing early childhood literacy.

4. Developing linkages among early

learning programs within a community

and between early learning programs

and health care services for young

children.

5. Increasing access to early learning

opportunities for young children with

special needs including developmental

delays, by facilitating coordination with

other programs serving such young

children.

6. Increasing access to existing early

learning programs by expanding the

days or times that the young children

are served, by expanding the number of

young children served, or by improving

the affordability of the programs for

low-income families.

7. Improving the quality of early

learning programs through professional

development and training activities,

increased compensation, and

recruitment and retention incentives, for

early learning providers.

8. Removing ancillary barriers to early

learning, including transportation

difficulties and absence of programs

during nontraditional work times.

Part IV. General Instructions for the

Uniform Project Description

The following ACF Uniform Project

Description has been approved under

OMB Control Number 0970–0139. This

format is to be used to submit an

application under this announcement.

A. Project Summary/Abstract

Provide a summary of the project

description (a page or less) with

reference to the funding request.

B. Objectives and Need for Assistance

Clearly identify the physical,

economic, social, financial,

institutional, and/or other problem(s)

requiring a solution. The need for

assistance must be demonstrated and

the principal and subordinate objectives

of the project must be clearly stated;

supporting documentation, such as

letters of support and testimonials from

concerned interests other than the

applicant, may be included. Any

relevant data based on planning studies

should be included or referred to in the

endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate

demographic data and participant/

beneficiary information, as needed. In

developing the project description, the

applicant may volunteer or be requested

to provide information on the total

range of projects currently being

conducted and supported (or to be

initiated); some of which may be

outside the scope of the program

announcement.

C. Results or Benefits Expected

Identify the results and benefits to be

derived. For example, describe who will

receive early learning services, where

and how these services will be

provided, the anticipated numbers of

children and families to be served, and

how the services will benefit the young

children, families and community to be

served.

D. Approach

Outline a plan of action, which

describes the scope and detail of how

the proposed work will be

accomplished. Account for all functions

or activities identified in the

application. Cite factors which might

accelerate or decelerate the work and

state your reason for taking the

proposed approach rather than others.

Describe any unusual features of the

project such as design or technological

innovations, reductions in cost or time,

or extraordinary social and community

involvement. Provide quantitative

monthly or quarterly projections of the

accomplishments to be achieved for

each function or activity in such terms

as the number of people to be served

and the number of activities

accomplished. When accomplishments

cannot be quantified by activity or

function, list them in chronological

order to show the schedule of

accomplishments and their target dates.

If any data is to be collected,

maintained, and/or disseminated,

clearance may be required from the U.S.

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB). This clearance pertains to any

‘‘collection of information that is

conducted or sponsored by ACF.’’

List organizations, cooperating

entities, consultants, or other key

individuals who will work on the

project along with a short description of

the nature of their effort or contribution.

E. Evaluation

Provide a narrative addressing how

the results of the project and the

conduct of the project will be evaluated.

In addressing the evaluation of results,

state how you will determine the extent

to which the project has achieved its

stated objectives and the extent to

which the accomplishment of objectives

can be attributed to the project. Discuss

the criteria to be used to evaluate

results, and explain the methodology

that will be used to determine if the

needs identified and discussed are being

met and if the project results and

benefits are being achieved. With

respect to the conduct of the project,

define the procedures to be employed to

determine whether the project is being

conducted in a manner consistent with

the work plan presented and discuss the

impact of the project’s various activities

on the project’s effectiveness.

F. Geographic Location

Describe the precise location of the

project and boundaries of the area to be

served by the proposed project. Maps or

other graphic aids may be attached.

G. Additional Information

Following are requests for additional

information that need to be included in

the application.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices 21393

1. Staff and Position Data: Provide a

biographical sketch for each key person

appointed and a job description for each

vacant key position. A biographical

sketch will also be required for new key

staff as appointed.

2. Plan for Project Continuance

Beyond Grant Support: Provide a plan

for securing resources and continuing

project activities after Federal assistance

has ceased.

3. Organizational Profiles: Provide

information on the applicant

organization(s) and cooperating partners

such as organizational charts, financial

statements, audit reports or statements

from CPAs/Licensed Public

Accountants, Employer Identification

Numbers, names of bond carriers,

contact persons and telephone numbers,

child care licenses and other

documentation of professional

accreditation, information on

compliance with Federal/State/local

government standards, documentation

of experience in the program area, and

other pertinent information. Any nonprofit organization submitting an

application must submit proof of its

non-profit status in its application at the

time of submission. The non-profit

agency can accomplish this by

providing a copy of the applicant’s

listing in the Internal Revenue Service’s

(IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt

organizations described in section

501(c)(3) of the IRS code, or by

providing a copy of the currently valid

IRS tax exemption certificate, or by

providing a copy of the articles of

incorporation bearing the seal of the

State in which the corporation or

association is domiciled.

4. Third-Party Agreements: Include

written agreements between grantees

and subgrantees or subcontractors or

other cooperating entities. These

agreements must detail scope of work to

be performed, work schedules,

remuneration, and other terms and

conditions that structure or define the

relationship.

5. Letters of Support: Provide

statements from community, public and

commercial leaders that support the

project proposed for funding. All

submissions should be included in the

application OR by application deadline.

H. Budget and Budget Justification

Provide line item detail and detailed

calculations for each budget object class

identified on the Budget Information

form. Detailed calculations must

include estimation methods, quantities,

unit costs, and other similar quantitative

detail sufficient for the calculation to be

duplicated. The detailed budget must

also include a breakout by the funding

sources identified in Block 15 of the SF–

424.

Provide a narrative budget

justification that describes how the

categorical costs are derived. Discuss

the necessity, reasonableness, and

allocability of the proposed costs.

General: The following guidelines are

for proposing the budget and budget

justification. Both Federal and nonFederal resources shall be detailed and

justified in the budget and narrative

justification. For purposes of preparing

the budget and budget justification,

‘‘Federal resources’’ refers only to the

ACF grant for which you are applying.

Non-Federal resources are all other

Federal and non-Federal resources. It is

suggested that budget amounts and

computations be presented in a

columnar format: first column, object

class categories; second column, Federal

budget; next column(s), non-Federal

budget(s), and last column, total budget.

The budget justification should be a

narrative.

1. Personnel: Description: Costs of

employee salaries and wages.

Justification: Identify the project

director or principal investigator, if

known. For each staff person, provide

the title, time commitment to the project

(in months), time commitment to the

project (as a percentage or full-time

equivalent), annual salary, grant salary,

wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs

of consultants or personnel costs of

delegate agencies or of specific

project(s) or businesses to be financed

by the applicant.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Equipment: Description:

‘‘Equipment’’ means an article of

nonexpendable, tangible personal

property having a useful life of more

than one year and an acquisition cost

which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a)

the capitalization level established by

the organization for the financial

statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note:

Acquisition cost means the net invoice

unit price of an item of equipment,

including the cost of any modifications,

attachments, accessories, or auxiliary

apparatus necessary to make it usable

for the purpose for which it is acquired.

Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty,

protective in-transit insurance, freight,

and installation shall be included in or

excluded from acquisition cost in

accordance with the organization’s

regular written accounting practices.)

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 in 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.

5. 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 that supports the amount

requested.

6. 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. Recipients and

subrecipients, other than States that are

required to use Part 92 procedures, must

justify any anticipated procurement

action that is expected to be awarded

without competition and exceeds

$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.

7. Non-Federal Resources:

Description: Amounts of non-Federal

21394 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices

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.

8. 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.

Part V. Evaluation Criteria

The six evaluation criteria that follow

will be used to review and evaluate each

application. Each of the criteria should

be addressed in the project description

section of the application. The point

values indicate the maximum numerical

weight each criterion will be accorded

in the review process. Note that the

highest possible score an application

can receive is 100 points.

A. Evaluation Criteria

Criterion 1. Objectives and Need for

Assistance (20 Points)

1. The extent to which the applicant

specifies the goals and objectives of the

project and describes how

implementation will fulfill the purposes

of the Early Learning Opportunities Act.

The applicant must demonstrate a

thorough understanding of the

importance of early learning services

and activities that help parents,

caregivers, and child care providers

incorporate early learning into the daily

lives of young children, as well as

programs that directly provide early

learning to young children.

2. The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates the need for assistance

including identification and discussion

of its needs and resources assessment

concerning early learning services.

Relevant data from the assessment

should be included. Participant and

beneficiary information must also be

included.

3. The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates how it will give

preference to supporting activities/

projects that maximize the use of

resources through collaboration with

other early learning programs, provide

continuity of services for young

children across the age spectrum, and

help parents and other caregivers

promote early learning with their young

children. The applicant must provide

information about how decisions will be

made about who will provide each early

learning service and/or activity funded

through this grant.

4. The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates that it has worked with

local education agencies to identify

cognitive, social, and emotional, and

motor developmental abilities which are

necessary to support children’s

readiness for school; that the programs,

services, and activities assisted under

this title will represent developmentally

appropriate steps toward the acquisition

of those abilities; and, that the

programs, services, and activities

assisted provide benefits for children

cared for in their own homes as well as

children placed in the care of others.

Criterion 2. Results and Benefits

Expected (10 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

1. Specifies the number of children

and families to be served and how the

services to be provided will be funded

consistent with the assessment.

2. Explains how the expected results

will benefit the population to be served

in meeting its needs for early learning

services and activities.

3. Describes how it will assess the

effects that services provided under this

grant have had in addressing the needs

identified under its needs and resources

assessment. Particular attention must be

paid to discussing how the effectiveness

of the activities included in their

implementation plan (approach) will be

assessed.

4. Demonstrates that completion of

the proposed objectives will result in

specific, measurable results. The

specific information provided in the

narrative and plan on expected results

or benefits for each objective is the

standard upon which its achievement

can be evaluated at the end of the

project period (i.e., 17 months).

Criterion 3. Approach (35 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

1. Includes a detailed plan that

identifies goals and objectives, relates

those goals and objectives to the

findings of its needs and resources

assessment, and provides a work plan

identifying specific activities necessary

to accomplish the stated goals and

objectives. The plan must demonstrate

that each of the project objectives and

activities supports the current needs

and resource assessment and can be

accomplished with the available or

expected resources during the proposed

project period. In addition, the plan

must:

• Indicate when the objective and

major activities under each objective

will be accomplished (a timeline is

recommended);

• Specify who will conduct the

activities under each objective;

• Describe how subcontractors will be

chosen and held accountable for

carrying out activities in compliance

with this application and grant terms

and conditions;

• Describe how actual and perceived

conflict of interest will be avoided if the

Local Council is also a direct service

provider; and,

• Indicate how programs, services,

and activities are provided based on the

family’s ability to pay (for services that

customarily require a payment).

2. Describes how the project will form

collaborations among local early

learning, youth, social service, and

educational providers to maximize

resources and concentrate efforts on

areas of greatest need.

3. Includes a feasible plan for securing

resources and continuing early learning

activities after Federal assistance has

ended.

Criterion 4. Geographic Location (5

Points)

1. The applicant must describe the

precise location of the project and

boundaries of the area to be served.

Maps or other graphic aids that are

easily duplicated may be attached.

Applications from multiple applicants

proposing to serve the same or

overlapping geographic areas will be

disqualified.

2. The applicant must include a letter

from an entity of local government (or

Indian Tribe, Regional Corporation, or

Native Hawaiian entity) designating the

applicant as a ‘‘Local Council’’ to serve

one or more localities.

Criterion 5. Staff and Position Data and

Organizational Profiles (20 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

1. Demonstrates its staff and

organizational experience particularly

in areas of facilitating needs and

resources assessments and collaborative

activities as they relate to early learning

services. The applicant must also

document its experience in facilitating

such activities and the length of time

the applicant has been involved in these

activities. Evidence of the applicant’s

ability to manage a project of the

proposed scope is demonstrated. The

application clearly shows the successful

management of projects of similar scope

by the organization, and/or by the

individuals designated to manage the

project.

2. Provides position descriptions and/

or resumes of key personnel, including

those of consultants. The position

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices 21395

descriptions and/or resumes relate

specifically to the staff proposed in the

applicant’s plan and proposed budget.

Position descriptions must clearly

describe each position and its duties

and clearly relate to the personnel

staffing required to achieve the project

objectives. Resumes and/or proposed

position descriptions demonstrate that

the proposed staff are or will be

qualified to carry out the project

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. Resumes must indicate

what position the individual will fill

and position descriptions must

specifically describe the job as it relates

to the proposed project. The applicant

must also list organizations and

consultants who will work on the

program along with a short description

of the nature of their effort or

contribution.

3. Describes the applicant agency

including the types, quantities and costs

of services it provides. The applicant

must discuss the role of other

organizations that will be involved in

providing direct services to children

and families through this grant. This

discussion must include information

about the written agreements that will

be executed with subgrantees,

subcontractors, or other cooperating

entities. These agreements, or proposed

agreements, must detail the scope of

work to be performed, work schedules,

remuneration, and other terms and

conditions that structure or define the

relationship.

4. If the Local Council will work with

a fiscal agent, that entity, its

qualifications, and its relationship to the

Council must be described. List all sites,

including addresses, phone numbers

and staff contacts. Organizational charts

must be provided.

Criterion 6. Budget and Budget

Justification (10 Points)

The extent to which the applicant

demonstrates:

1. That the funds requested will be

used for early learning services that will

be provided under this announcement.

The discussion must refer to (1) the

budget information presented on

Standard Forms 424 and 424A and the

applicant’s budget justification and (2)

the results or benefits identified under

Criterion 2 above. Funds must be

designated to allow two representatives

from the Local Council to attend one

grantee meeting in Washington D.C.

2. That the project’s costs are

reasonable in view of the activities to be

carried out, that the funds are

appropriately allocated across

component areas, and that the budget is

sufficient to accomplish the objectives.

3. That it has sufficient fiscal and

accounting capacity to ensure prudent

use, proper disbursement, and accurate

accounting of funds, and that

unanticipated problems can be resolved

and that the project will be completed

on time and with a high degree of

quality.

Part VI. Application Process

A. Assistance to Prospective Grantees

Potential grantees can direct questions

about application forms to the

Administration on Children, Youth and

Families, Child Care Bureau Program

Announcement, 1815 North Fort Myer

Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209;

Telephone: 1–800–351–2293; electronic

mail: CCB@lcgnet.com. Questions about

program requirements may be directed

to the Child Care Bureau at 202–690–

6243 or 202–401–5130, Fax: 202–690–

5600.

B. Application Requirements

To be considered for a grant, each

application must be submitted on the

forms provided in the Application Kit

and in accordance with the guidance

provided in Part VII below.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(Public Law 104–13)

The Uniform Project Description

information collection within this

Program Announcement is approved

under Uniform Project Description

(0970–0139) which expires 12/31/2003.

Public reporting burden for this

collection of information is estimated to

average 10 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.

D. Notification Under Executive Order

12372

This program announcement is not

covered under Executive Order 12372,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs,’’ and 45 CFR Part 100,

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of

Department of Health and Human

Services Program and Activities.’’

E. Availability of Forms and Other

Materials

A copy of the forms that must be

submitted as part of an application and

instructions for completing the

application are provided in the

Application Kit. Legislation referenced

in Part I, section B.2 of this

announcement may be found in major

public libraries and on the Child Care

Bureau’s website at http://

www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb/

policy1/index.htm. Additional copies of

this announcement may be obtained by

calling 1–800–351–2293. Many standard

forms can also be downloaded and

printed from the following ACF

webpage: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/

programs/oa/form.htm.

An Application Kit containing the

necessary forms may be obtained from:

Administration on Children, Youth and

Families, Child Care Bureau Program

Announcement, No. ACYF–PA–CCB

2001–03, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive,

Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209,

Telephone: 1–800–351–2293, Electronic

Mail: CCB@lcgnet.com.

F. Application Consideration and

Selection

Each application will undergo an

eligibility and conformance review by

Federal Child Care Bureau staff.

Applications that pass the eligibility

and conformance review will be

evaluated on a competitive basis

according to the evaluation criteria

listed in Part V of this program

announcement. This review will be

conducted in Washington, DC, by

panels of Federal and non-Federal

experts knowledgeable in the areas of

early learning, child care, early

childhood education and other relevant

areas.

Application review panels will assign

a score to each application, identifying

its strengths and weaknesses. The Child

Care Bureau will conduct an

administrative review of the

applications and results of the

competitive review panels and make

recommendations for funding to the

Commissioner, ACYF.

The Commissioner, ACYF, will make

the final selection of the applications to

be funded. Applications may be funded

in whole or in part depending on: (1)

The ranked order of applicants resulting

from the competitive review; (2) staff

review and consultations; (3) the

combination of projects that best meets

the Bureau’s objectives; (4) the funds

available; (5) the statutory requirement

that reserves funds for Indian Tribes,

Alaska Native Regional Corporations,

and Native Hawaiian entities; and (6)

21396 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2001 / Notices

other relevant considerations. The

Commissioner may also elect not to

fund any applicants having known

management, fiscal, reporting, program,

or other problems which make it

unlikely that they would be able to

provide effective services.

Successful applicants will be notified

through the issuance of a Financial

Assistance Award that sets forth the

amount of funds granted, the terms and

conditions of the grant award, the

effective date of the award, and the

budget period for which support is

given, and the total project period for

which support is provided.

Organizations whose applications will

not be funded will be notified in writing

by the Commissioner, ACF. Every effort

will be made to notify all unsuccessful

applicants as soon as possible after final

decisions are made.

Part VII. Application Content and

Submission Instructions

A. Application Content

Each application must contain the

following items in the order listed:

1. A signed cover letter. The

application must include a cover letter

that includes the announcement

number, contact information for the

applicant, and information about the

entity that has designated the Local

Council (local government, Indian

Tribe, Regional Corporation, or Native

Hawaiian entity). The letter must be

signed by an individual authorized to

act for the applicant agency and to

assume responsibility for the obligations

imposed by terms and conditions of the

grant award.

2. Application for Federal Assistance

(Standard Form 424, REV 4–92). Follow

the instructions in the Application Kit.

In Item 8 of Form 424, check ‘‘New.’’ In

Item 10 of the 424, clearly identify the

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

(CFDA) program title and number: Early

Learning Opportunities Act, 93.577.

3. Budget and Budget Justification

(Standard Form 424A, REV 4–92).

Follow the instructions in the

Application Kit. The budget justification

should be typed on standard size plain

white paper, provide breakdowns for

major budget categories and justify

significant costs. List amounts and

sources of all funds, both Federal and

non-Federal, to be used for this project.

4. Standard Form 424B, ‘‘Assurances:

Non-Construction Programs.’’ A duly

authorized representative of the

applicant organization must certify that

the applicant is in compliance with

these assurances and certifications.

5. Assurances/Certifications. The

applicant must certify its compliance

with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements; (2) Debarment and Other

Responsibilities; (3) Pro-Children Act of

1994 (Certification Regarding

Environmental Tobacco Smoke). A

signature on the SF 424 indicates

compliance with the Drug Free

Workplace Requirements, Debarment

and Other Responsibilities and

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Certifications. A signature on the

application constitutes an assurance

that the applicant will comply with the

pertinent Departmental regulations

contained in 45 CFR Part 74. In

addition, applicants must provide a

certification concerning Lobbying. Prior

to receiving an award in excess of

$100,000, applicants shall furnish an

executed copy of the lobbying

certification. Applicants must sign and

return the certification with their

applications.

6. Table of Contents.

7. Project Summary/Abstract (one

page maximum). Clearly mark this page

with the applicant name as shown on

item 5 of the SF 424, identify the title

of the proposed project as shown in

item 11 and the service area as shown

in item 12 of the SF 424. The summary

description should not exceed 300

words. Care should be taken to produce

a summary that accurately and

concisely reflects the proposed project.

It should describe the objectives of the

project, the approach to be used and the

results and benefits expected.

8. The Project Description. The

applicant is strongly encouraged to use

the evaluation criteria in Part V to

organize its response to Part IV, the

Uniform Project Description. Specific

information should be provided that

addresses all components of each

criterion. It is in the applicant’s best

interest to ensure that the project

description is easy to read, logically

developed in accordance with the

evaluation criteria, and adheres to page

limitations. In addition, the applicant

should be mindful of the importance of

preparing and submitting applications

using language, terms, concepts, and

descriptions that are generally known to

the field of early learning as defined

under this announcement.

9. The pages of the project description

must be numbered and are limited to 40

typed pages, double spaced, printed on

only one side, with at least 1/2 inch

margins. Pages over the limit will be

removed from the application and will

not be reviewed. In addition, please

note that previous attempts by

applicants to circumvent space

limitations or to exceed page limits by

using small print have resulted in

negative responses from reviewers

because of the difficulty in reviewing

the application.

10. Documents of Support. The

maximum number of pages for

supporting documentation is 30 pages,

double-spaced, exclusive of letters of

support or agreement. These documents

must be numbered and might include

excerpts from the needs and resources

assessment, resumes, photocopies of

news clippings, evidence of the

program’s efforts to coordinate child

care services at the local level, etc.

Documentation over the 30-page limit

will not be reviewed. The applicant

may, however, include as many letters

of support or agreement as are

appropriate.

B. Application Submission

To be considered for funding, the

applicant must submit one signed

original and two additional copies of the

application, including all attachments,

to the application receipt point

specified above. The original copy of the

application must have original

signatures, signed in black ink. Each

copy must be stapled (back and front) in

the upper left corner. All copies of an

application must be submitted in a

single package.

Because each application will be

duplicated, do not use or include

separate covers, binders, clips, tabs,

plastic inserts, maps, brochures or any

other items that cannot be processed

easily on a photocopy machine with an

automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple,

or fasten in any way separate

subsections of the application,

including supporting documentation.

Applicants are advised that the copies

of the application submitted, not the

original, will be reproduced by the

Federal government for review.

Dated: April 24, 2001.

Gail E. Collins,

Acting Deputy Commissioner, Administration

on Children, Youth and Families.

[FR Doc. 01–10640 Filed 4–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 01N–0176]

Agency Information Collection

Activities; Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Good Laboratory

Practices (GLP) Regulations for

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration,

HHS.