[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24384-24389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12010]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF-CCB-2201-04]


Child Care Policy Research Discretionary Grants

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), ACF, 
DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of the availability of funds and request for 
applications for Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects, Child 
Care Research Scholars, and State Child Care Data and Research Capacity 
Projects.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this program announcement is to announce the 
availability of $3.7 million in fiscal year 2001 funds for child care 
research, demonstration, and evaluation activities. Grants will be 
funded in the following three priority areas: (1) Field Initiated Child 
Care Research Projects; (2) Child Care Research Scholars; and (3) State 
Child Care Data and Research Capacity Projects. Universities and 
colleges, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and for-profit 
organizations agreeing to waive their fees are invited to submit 
applications for Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects. 
Accredited universities and colleges may submit a Child Care Research 
Scholar application on behalf of a doctoral student conducting 
dissertation research on a child care policy topic. Child Care and 
Development Fund Lead Agencies seeking to improve their capacity for 
data analysis and policy-relevant research are invited to submit 
applications for the State Child Care Data and Research Capacity 
Projects.
    Projects funded under each of the priority areas are expected to 
address critical questions with implications for children and families, 
especially low-income working families and families transitioning off 
welfare. In addition, projects will contribute to a comprehensive 
research agenda designed to increase the capacity for child care 
research at the national, State, and local levels and promote better 
linkages among research, policy, practice, and outcomes for children 
and families.

    Statutory authority: The Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990 as amended (CCDBG Act); section 418 of the Social 
Security Act; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 (P.L. 106-554).

DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is June 28, 
2001. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be 
classified as late.

    Note: The full announcement, including all the Standard Federal 
Forms can be downloaded from the Internet at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb or by contacting ACYF's Operations 
Center at 1-800-351-2293. For each priority area, the required 
Standard Federal Forms are identified under ``Project Description 
and Application Requirements.''

    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 number and title of this announcement; your organization's 
name and address; and your contact person's name, phone number, fax 
number, and Email address. The information will be used to determine 
the number of expert reviewers need to evaluate applications and to 
update the mailing list for program announcements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the application 
process contact ACYF Operations Center, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, 
Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22209, Phone: 800-351-2293. For program 
information contact Dr. Ivelisse Martinez-Beck, Policy Fellow, 
Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, Room 2046, 
Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447, 
Phone: 202-690-7885, Fax: 202-690-5600, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83eaeee2f1f7eaede6f9e1e6e0e8c3e2e0e5ade7ebebf0ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2c45414d5e58454249564e494f476c4d4f4a024844445f024b435a">[email protected]</span></a>. or Dr. Patricia L. Divine, Program 
Specialist, Administration for Children and Families, Child Care 
Bureau, Room 2046, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Phone: 202-690-6705, Fax: 202-690-5600, Email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b1b0f021d02050e2b0a080d450f030318450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e696828f908f8883a6878580c8828e8e95c8818990">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Priority Area 1: Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects

A. Number of Awards

    Approximately 7-10 grants will be awarded during fiscal Year 2001, 
for an initial budget period of twelve months, subject to the 
availability of funds and results of the evaluation process.

B. Project Duration, Funding Levels and Budget Periods

    This priority area is soliciting applications for project periods 
up to three years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-
year budget period, although project periods may be for three years. 
Application for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond 
the one-year budget period, but within the three year project period, 
will be entertained in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, 
subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the 
grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the 
best interest of the government. Significant findings by the end of the 
first budget period will be necessary to demonstrate satisfactory 
progress on the part of the grantee.
    Funding for Field Initiated Child Care Research Projects will range 
between $150,000 and $250,000 for the first budget period and up to 
$200,000 per year (12 months) in subsequent periods.

C. Federal State

    To maximize the Federal investment in Field Initiated Child Care 
Research Projects and in the interest of project sustainability, a 
financial commitment by the applicant organization (or other 
participating entities) is required. The Grantee must provide at least 
20 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total 
approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $250,000 for the first budget 
period must include a match of at least $62,500. A project receiving 
the maximum total of $650,000 for the three-year project period must 
include a match of at least $162,500 for the three-year project period. 
Applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash 
contributions. However, the non-Federal share may also be in-kind 
contributions of staff time, employee benefits, facilities, utilities, 
equipment, materials, supplies or other forms of project support. 
Grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal 
resources and failure to provide the required amount will result in

[[Page 24385]]

disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.

D. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include public agencies, non-profit 
organizations, and for-profit entities that agree to waive their fees.
    1. Public agencies include state or local child care agencies; 
education agencies, welfare or other human services agencies, public 
schools, colleges and universities; and other public agencies with an 
interest in child care.
    2. Non-profit agencies include, but are not limited to, community 
child care and early childhood programs, child care resource and 
referral programs, professional organizations, schools, colleges and 
universities, civic and community groups, and foundations.
    3. For-profit entities include, but are not limited to, child care 
businesses, private research corporations, and other profit-making 
organizations. These entities are only eligible to receive a grant 
directly if they agree to waive their fees. However, they may 
participate in projects as subcontractors, sub-grantees, or consultants 
without such a waiver.
Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum of 20 points)
    In this section, applicants demonstrate their understanding of the 
relevant literature on critical issues and existing knowledge, describe 
their objectives, and demonstrate the significant of their proposal.
    Applicants are expected to show how their proposal will address the 
Child Care Bureau's research agenda and priorities, answer key 
questions, and contribute to the child care research infrastructure. 
Specifically, applicants are expected to demonstrate a command of the 
policy and research literature in child care, as well as emerging 
issues. The proposal is expected to demonstrate understanding of 
current policies and programs, to show how the proposed research would 
further understanding, and to suggest practical applications which 
might be derived from the findings.
    Applications should clearly show how the research would build on 
the current knowledge base and contribute to policy, practice, and 
future research. Applicants are asked to consider the significance, 
reliability, and validity of existing data pertaining to key questions. 
In addition, applicants should identify important gaps in the 
literature and areas in which findings are contradictory or ambiguous. 
It will also be important to consider what demographic, economic, and 
social data are available as a context for the proposed child care 
research. A bibliography of relevant literature must be supplied.
Criterion 2: Approach (Research Design and Methodology) (Maximum of 30 
Points)
    This section of the Project Narrative Statement requires that the 
applicant describe the technical approach for addressing issues and 
achieving objectives described in Criterion 1 above. In this section 
the applicant should clearly demonstrate their ability to produce 
significant and usable results within the first 12-month budget period.
    The methodological discussion must include technical details of the 
proposed research design, including (as relevant): (1) Conceptual 
framework for the research; (2) research questions, hypotheses, and 
variables; (3) data sources and sampling plan; (4) new data on human 
subjects; (5) administrative data; (6) secondary analysis of existing 
data sets; (7) linkages with other research; (8) data collection; (9) 
data processing and statistical analysis; and, (10) product development 
and information dissemination. Qualitative studies with well-defined 
methodology are invited as well as those that use quantitative 
methodology. As part of the design section, applicants should discuss 
the strengths and limitations of all proposed approaches and 
techniques. Applicants are also asked to provide a flow chart or table 
showing interrelationships among the proposed research issues, 
questions, variables, and data elements.
Criterion 3: Approach (Management Plan) (Maximum of 10 Points)
    The Management Plan is expected to describe a sound and workable 
plan of action for how the proposed project will be carried out. This 
section should detail how the project will be structured and managed.
    Applicants should provide a diagram showing the organizational 
structure of the project and the functional relationships among 
components. If the project is a collaborative, describe how the project 
will be managed by the lead organization to ensure that members of the 
collaborative operate as a cohesive research team and that cross-
cutting goals of the project are carried out efficiently and cost-
effectively. Describe the make-up and role of any steering or 
management committees, technical work groups, advisory panels, and 
other coordinating bodies.
    Produce a project management chart that lays out sequence and 
timing of the major tasks and subtasks, including startup activities 
such as staffing and procurement of services, responsibilities and time 
commitments to staff, important milestones, reports, and completion 
dates. Explain how timeliness of activities will be ensured, how 
quality control will be maintained, and how costs will be controlled.
    Applicants should discuss their management of the project as a 
whole, and the management and coordinating roles of any collaborating 
entities. Discuss potential problems or difficulties with the proposed 
management approach, including factors which may affect the quality of 
the research or its outcomes, may undermine the ability of different 
entities to collaborate effectively, and may hinder the early spring, 
review and dissemination of information.
Criterion 4: Staff and Position Data (Maximum of 20 Points)
    In this section, applicants must provide evidence that project 
staff have the experience, expertise and commitment of sufficient time 
to carry out the proposed project on time, within budget, and with a 
high degree of quality.
    Identify all key staff positions for this project, the professional 
requirements for each, the proportion of time staff holding these 
positions will be committed to the project, the period of time they 
will be employed, and whether continued employment will be dependent 
solely on the funds to be awarded under this announcement.
    Include a position description for each key position, outlining the 
qualifications necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities 
of each. Include letters of commitment from any key individuals who 
have been selected but not yet hired. Describe the makeup of the data 
collection team, what expertise will be represented, and how 
individuals will be selected. Identify all proposed consultants or 
advisors, document their expertise, and describe how their services 
will be utilized. Include letters of commitment or intent if possible. 
And, identify the authors of the proposal and describe their continuing 
role in the project, if funded.
Criterion 5: Organizational Profiles (Maximum of 10 Points)
    In this section, the applicant must demonstrate that the official 
grantee has the organizational capacity and fiscal resources to 
successfully carry-out the project on time and to a high standard of 
quality, including the capacity to resolve a wide variety of technical 
and management problems that may occur.

[[Page 24386]]

    Provide evidence of sufficient organizational resources to ensure 
successful project management, compliance with terms and conditions of 
the grant, and oversight of the proper use of Federal funds.
    If the project is a collaborative, provide evidence that all 
collaborators have the ability, willingness and flexibility to 
collaborate effectively with one another in carrying out the proposed 
project. Include examples of past or current collaborations that 
demonstrate the ability to carry out collaborative research. Describe 
how each entity was included in the planning of the project. Include 
letters of specific commitment or support from each entity. Describe 
all cooperative agreements, subcontracts and other formal relationships 
within the collaborative. Entities who will provide access to data or 
records must provide a letter stipulating the terms of their agreement 
with the researchers. Describe the future commitment each entity will 
make to ensure success of the collaboration as it evolves. Include a 
separate two-page organizational capability statement for each 
participating entity that documents the entity's ability to carry out 
its assigned roles and functions.
    Describe the relationship between this project and other relevant 
work planned, anticipated or underway by the applicant or its 
collaborators. Include funding sources for work in progress. Provide a 
list of research and financial partners including the name and address 
of each organization, the names of its director and primary contact for 
this proposal, and the telephone, fax and internet numbers of each.
Criterion 6: Budget and Budget Justification (maximum of 10 points)
    Describe the nature and extent of financial participation from all 
sources during the proposed project period. Present a detailed budget 
for each 12-month interval of the proposed project period, i.e., the 12 
month budget period to be funded under this announcement and subsequent 
budget period that may be funded under a non-competing continuation 
process. Include a detailed budget narrative that describes and 
justifies line time expenses within the object class categories listed 
on the Standard Form 424A. (Line item allocations and justification are 
required for both Federal and non-Federal funds.) If project funds will 
be subcontracted, a detailed budget for the use of those funds must be 
also included. In estimating costs, applicant should consider down time 
due to staff vacancies, administrative processes, etc. The budget 
should include funds to allow key representatives from Field Initiate 
Child Care Research Projects to participate in the Child Care Bureau 
Annual Policy Research Meeting in Washington, DC.
    Describe the extent to which funds, staff time, in-kind services, 
and other resources have been committed to the research effort during 
the planning period. Describe what other resources are expected to help 
support the proposed research, including existing commitments and 
negotiations in progress. Describe anticipated efforts to obtain other 
funding partners throughout the project.

Priority Area 2: Child Care Research Scholars

A. Number of Awards

    Up to 5 scholarships will be awarded. No individual educational 
institution will be funded for more than one candidate unless 
applications from different universities or colleges do not qualify for 
support.

B. Project Period

    The project period will be for a period of up to 24 months (9/30/
01-9/29/03). For 24 month projects, the first 12 months will be funded 
through this competition. The subsequent year awards (12 months) will 
be considered on a non-competitive basis subject to the availability of 
funds from future appropriations, satisfactory progress of the grantee, 
and a determination that continued funding is in the best interest of 
the government. Significant findings by the end of the first budget 
period will be necessary to demonstrate satisfactory progress on the 
part of the grantee. A subsequent year award will not be approved if 
the student has graduated by the end of the first year.

C. Funding Levels

    Up to $30,000 will be awarded to each successful applicant for a 
12-month budget period. If the applicant expects to receive a doctorate 
by the end of the first one-year budget period, the application should 
request funding for a single grant period.

D. Matching Requirements and Non-Federal Share

    There are no matching requirements.

E. Maximum Federal Share

    The maximum federal share is $30,000 for the first 12-month budget 
period and $20,000 for one subsequent 12-month period.
    All monies must be used for the dissertation research including 
required personnel costs, travel, and other expenses directly related 
to the research.

F. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include universities or colleges on behalf of 
doctoral candidates conducting dissertation research on a child care 
topic consistent with the research goals described in Part II of the 
full announcement, and who anticipate completing the child care-related 
dissertation within the two-year scholarship period.
    To be eligible to administer the grant on behalf of the student, 
the institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional 
accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education. 
Although the faculty advisor will be listed as the Principal 
Investigator, this grant is intended for dissertation work being 
conducted by a doctoral candidate. Information about both the graduate 
student and the student's faculty advisor is required as part of this 
application. Any resultant grant award is not transferable to another 
student.
Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (Maximum of 20 Points)
    The extent to which the application reflects a solid understanding 
of critical issues, information needs, and research goals.
    <bullet> The extent to which the conceptual model, research issues, 
objectives and hypotheses are significant, well formulated and 
appropriately linked, reflect the Child Care Bureau's research agenda 
and priorities, and will contribute new knowledge and understanding.
    <bullet> The extent to which the proposed project framework is 
appropriate, feasible, and would significantly contribute to the 
importance, comprehensiveness, and quality of the proposed research.
    <bullet> The effectiveness with which the proposal articulates the 
current state of knowledge relative to issues being addressed, 
including: critical child care issues and the complex 
interrelationships among major variables; the significance of these 
issues and variables for child care policies and programs; how current 
knowledge would be brought to bear on the proposed research; and how 
the research would benefit various audiences.
    <bullet> The importance of research priorities identified for the 
first budget period, the degree to which early findings would be useful 
for policy and practice, and the significance of these

[[Page 24387]]

data for the ongoing research goals if the project is continued beyond 
the first 17-month period.
Criterion 2: Approach (Research Design and Methodology) (Maximum of 40 
Points)
    The extent to which the applicant's proposed research design:
    <bullet> Appropriately links critical research issues, questions, 
variables, data sources, samples, and analyses;
    <bullet> Employs technically sound and appropriate approaches, 
design elements and procedures;
    <bullet> Reflects sensitivity to technical, logistical, cultural 
and ethical issues that may arise;
    <bullet> Includes realistic strategies for the resolution of 
difficulties;
    <bullet> Adequately protects human subjects, confidentiality of 
data, and consent procedures, as appropriate;
    <bullet> Includes an effective plan for the dissemination and 
utilization of information by researchers, policy-makers, and 
practitioners in the field; and,
    <bullet> Effectively utilizes collaborative strategies, as 
appropriate to the project goals and design.
Criterion 3: Approach (Management Plan) (Maximum of 20 Points)
    The extent to which the project summary provides a management plan 
that:
    <bullet> Presents a sound, workable and cohesive plan of action 
demonstrating how the work would be carried out on time, within budget 
and with a high degree of quality;
    <bullet> Includes a reasonable schedule of target dates and 
accomplishments;
    <bullet> Presents a sound administrative framework for maintaining 
quality control over the implementation and ongoing operations of the 
study; and,
    <bullet> Demonstrate the ability to gain access to necessary 
organizations, subjects, and data.
Criterion 4: Organizational Profile (Applicant Qualifications and 
Commitment) (maximum of 10 points).
    The extent to which the applicant:
    <bullet> Demonstrates competence in areas addressed by the proposed 
research, including relevant background, experience, training and work 
on related research or similar projects; and
    <bullet> Demonstrates necessary expertise in research design, 
sampling, field work, data processing, statistical analysis, reporting, 
and information dissemination.
Criterion 5: Budget and Budget Justification (maximum of 10 points). 
The extent to which proposed project costs are reasonable, the funds 
are appropriately allocated across component areas, and the budget is 
sufficient to accomplish the objectives. The budget should include 
funds to allow the research scholar to participate in the Child Care 
Bureau's Annual Policy Research Meeting in Washington, DC.

Priority Area 3: State Child Care Data and Research Capacity 
Projects

A. Eligible Applicants

    State and Territorial Lead Agencies administering child care 
programs under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) of 
1990 as amended.

B. Number of Awards

    Five to six State Child Care Data and Research Capacity Grants will 
be funded in Fiscal Year 2001, subject to availability of funds and 
results of the evaluation process.

C. Project Duration, Funding Levels and Budget periods

    State Child Care Data and Research Capacity Grants will be awarded 
for project periods of up to three years. The Child Care Bureau expects 
to invest up to $250,000 during the initial 12-month funding period for 
each project. Non-competitive applications for continuation of State 
Child Care Data and Research Capacity Projects will be considered in 
fiscal years 2002 and 2003 with up to $250,000 per project being 
available for a 12-month period. Applications for continuation grants 
funded beyond the 12-month budget period, but within the 36-month 
project period, will be entertained in the subsequent year on a 
noncompetitive basis, subject to the availability of funds from future 
appropriations, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a 
determination that continued funding is the best interest of the 
government.

D. Federal Share

    To maximum the Federal investment in the State Child Care Data and 
Research Capacity Projects and in the interest of project 
sustainability, a financial commitment by the applicant organization 
(or other participating entity) is required. The grantee must provide 
at least 20 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The 
total approved cost is the sum of the Federal share and the non-Federal 
share. Therefore, a project requesting $250,000 per budget period must 
include a match of at least $62,500. A project receiving the maximum 
$750,000 during the three-year project period must include a match of 
at least $187,500 for the three-year project period. Applicants are 
encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. 
However, the non-Federal share may be in-kind contributions. Grantees 
will be held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal resources 
and failure to provide the required amount will result in a 
disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.
Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (35 Points)
    In this section, applicants are expected to provide a clear and 
comprehensive description of their agency's current capacity to 
collect, analyze and report child care administrative data. This 
description should include data collection, analysis and reporting 
required by the State and Federal governments, as well as reports 
designed for the legislature and other constituencies. Applicants are 
encouraged to provide a description of the internal and external 
information needs of the agency, constituencies for information, and 
the types of data required or requested by these agencies, 
organizations or groups.
    Applicants are expected to describe the current structure, 
management, and process for collecting, analyzing and reporting data. 
This description should include a consideration of the strengths and 
weaknesses of the current operating system and analytic components. The 
need for assistance should be clearly stated.
    In addition, applicants should describe the research and evaluation 
that would be conducted by the proposed analysis unit. Applicants are 
encouraged to identify specific research questions to be addressed by 
the unit and explain how the agency's data systems would be used to 
answer these questions.
Criterion 2: Approach (30 points)
    In this section, applicants are expected to describe in detail how 
they will implement the proposed analysis unit, improve the State's 
capacity for collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of 
data, and conduct child care policy-relevant research. Applicants are 
advised to present their assessment of the advantages and disadvantages 
of an in-house analysis unit versus a contractual partner. Applicants 
should describe in detail why they have selected one approach over the 
other. The justification should include a description of how the chosen

[[Page 24388]]

approach will mesh with current information demands, operations and 
procedures, management structure, staffing and other resources.
    Regardless of the approach selected (in-house or contractual), the 
applicant is expected to present an implementation plan and describe in 
detail how the unit will be established, managed, operated and 
evaluated. This section should also include a plan for sustaining the 
unit after Federal funding has ceased.
    This section of the Project Narrative Statement also requires that 
the applicant describe the technical approach for addressing issues and 
achieving the objectives described in Criterion above. This should 
include a detailed plan that identifies goals and objectives, relates 
those goals and objectives to the strengths and weakness identified 
regarding the State's current methods and systems used to collect and 
compile administrative data, 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 support the needs identified and can be 
accomplished with the available or expected resources during the 
proposed project period.
    For any research that is proposed within the project period, a 
methodological discussion must be provided that includes technical 
details of the proposed research design, including: (1) conceptual 
framework for the research; (2) research questions, hypotheses and 
variables; (3) data sources; (4) linkages with other research; (5) data 
processing and statistical analysis; and (6) product development and 
information dissemination. (For more details on the information 
required in this section, see Criterion 2, Research Design and 
Methodology, in Evaluation Criteria for Field Initiated Child Care 
Research Projects.)
Criterion 3: Organization Profiles (25 Points)
    Applicants need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to 
implement the proposed project. This criterion consist of the three 
broad topics: (1) Management plan, (2) staff qualifications and 
commitment, and (3) organizational capacity and resources.

Management Plan

Overview

    Applicants are expected to present a sound and feasible management 
plan for implementing the analysis unit. This section should detail how 
the unit will be structured and managed, how the timeliness of 
activities will be ensured, how quality control will be maintained, and 
how costs will be controlled. The role and responsibilities of the lead 
agency should be clearly defined and, if appropriate, applicants should 
discuss the management and coordination of activities carried out by 
any partners, subcontractors and consultants.
    Applicants are required to provide a plan that describes the role, 
responsibilities and time commitments of each proposed staff position, 
including consultants, subcontractors and/or partners. The plan should 
include a list of organizations and consultants who will work with the 
program along with a short description of the nature of their effort or 
contribution.
    Applicants are expected to have the project fully staffed and ready 
for implementation as quickly as possible after notification of the 
grant award. Therefore, strategies for ensuring timely staffing and 
implementation should be clearly and succinctly presented in the 
management plan. The narrative should include a description of the 
timeline for hiring and procurement in the State, and methods that the 
applicant will use to expedite the process.
    Applicants are also expected to produce a timeline that presents a 
reasonable schedule of target dates, accomplishments and deliverables 
by quarter. The timeline should include the sequence and timing of the 
major tasks and subtasks, important milestones, reports, and completion 
dates. The proposal should also discuss factors that may affect project 
implementation or the outcomes and present realistic strategies for the 
resolution of these difficulties. For instance, downtime due to staff 
vacancies at start should be reflected. Additional, if appropriate, 
applicants should present a plan for training project staff, as well as 
stuff of cooperating organizations.

Staff Qualifications and Commitment (10 Points)

Overview

    In this section, applicants should describe the qualifications of 
the project manager and key staff, including analysts who will staff 
the analysis unit and the positions they will fill. Applicants are also 
expected to describe the educational background and professional 
experience of other professionals who will form the interdisciplinary 
analysis unit or organization. (Brief resumes should be provided.) The 
proposed staff should include persons with educational backgrounds and 
professional experiences in early childhood services, child 
development, social work, public policy, economics and other social 
science disciplines such that the analysis unit or organization will be 
able to conduct research on a broad range of child care issues and 
approaches.

Organizational Capacity and Resources (5 Points)

Overview

    Applicants must show that they have the organizational capacity and 
resources to form, manage, operate, evaluate and sustain an analysis 
unit, including the capacity to resolve a wide variety of technical and 
management problems that may occur. If the proposal involves partnering 
and/or subcontracting with other agencies/organizations, then the 
proposal should include an organizational capability statement for each 
participating organization documenting the ability of the partners/and 
or subcontractors to carry out their assigned roles and functions.
Criterion 4: Budget and Budget Justification (10 Points)
    Applicants are expected to present a budget with reasonable project 
costs, appropriately allocated across component areas, and sufficient 
to accomplish the objectives. They should demonstrate that costs for 
the proposed project are reasonable and justified in terms of the 
proposed tasks and the anticipated results and benefits. Applicants 
should refer to the budget information as presented on Standard Forms 
424 and 424A and the budget justification.
    The proposed budget should include sufficient funding to cover 
travel expenses for a key person from the project and the evaluator to 
attend two two-day meetings of grantees in the Washington DC area 
hosted by the Child Care Bureau. Attendance at these meetings is a 
grant requirement.

Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

    This program 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 
Program and Activities. Under there Order, States may design their own 
process for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.

[[Page 24389]]

* All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, 
Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, 
American Samoa and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive 
Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). 
Applicants from these twenty-four 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 accommodation or explain rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Marguerite Pridgen, Office of Grants Management, 330 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: Child Care Policy Research 
Discretionary Grants. A list of the Single Points of Contact (SPOCs) 
for each State and Territory can be found on the following web site: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for all 
priority areas is 93.647.

    Dated: May 8, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-12010 Filed 5-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M


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