1168 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

3Securities Exchange Act Release Nos. 40872

(December 31, 1998) [File Number SR–SCCP–98–

05] and 42320 (January 6, 2000) [File Number SR–

SCCP–99–04].

4Supra note 2. 5 15 U.S.C. 79q–1(b)(3)(F).

6 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2).

7 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).

limited clearance and settlement

services.3

SCCP is hereby requesting that the

Commission extend its approval of

SCCP’s restructured and limited

clearance and settlement services for an

additional year. SCCP believes that such

extension is appropriate so that it may

continue to offer its limited clearance

and settlement services to its

participants. SCCP believes that its

restructured operations have functioned

consistent with the original proposed

rule change and SCCP will continue to

evaluate whether any adjustments are

necessary.

Purpose

In the original proposed rule filing

and order approving SCCP’s

restructured business, many SCCP rules

were amended and discussed at length.4

No new rule changes are proposed at

this time. Thus, the purpose of the

proposed rule change is to extend

without change or modification the

effectiveness of SCCP’s restructured

business.

SCCP believes the extension of the

Commission’s temporary approval to

permit SCCP’s continued operation of

its restructured and limited clearance

and settlement services is consistent

with the requirements of the Act and the

rules and regulations thereunder

applicable to SCCP and in particular

with Section 17A(b)(3)(F) which

requires that a clearing agency be

organized and its rules be designed,

among other things, to promote the

prompt and accurate clearance and

settlement of securities transactions.

SCCP believes that the extension of

SCCP’s restructured business should

promote the prompt and accurate

clearance and settlement of securities

transactions by integrating and

consolidating clearing services available

to the industry.

(B) Self-Regulatory Organization’s

Statement on Burden on Competition

Similar to the original proposed rule

change and subsequent renewals, SCCP

does not believe that this extension

should impose any burden on

competition not necessary or

appropriate in furtherance of the

purposes of the Act.

(C) Self-Regulatory Organization’s

Statement on Comments on the

Proposed Rule Change Received From

Members, Participants, or Others

Written comments were neither

solicited nor received with respect to

the proposed rule change.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the

Proposed Rule Change and Timing for

Commission Action

Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act 5

requires that the rules of a clearing

agency be designed to promote the

prompt and accurate clearance and

settlement of securities transactions.

Based on the information the

Commission has to date, the

Commission believes that SCCP’s

restructured operations have functioned

satisfactorily to provide prompt and

accurate clearance and settlement.

During the upcoming temporary

approval period, the Commission

expects to review with SCCP in detail

the functioning of SCCP’s restructured

operations.

SCCP has requested that the

Commission find good cause for

approving the proposed rule change

prior to the thirtieth day after

publication of the notice of filing. The

Commission finds good cause for

approving the proposed rule change

prior to the thirtieth day after the

publication of notice of the filing.

Approving prior to the thirtieth day

after publication of notice will allow

SCCP to continue to offer its

restructured clearing operations for

another year without interruption when

the current temporary order expires on

December 31, 2000.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

Interested persons are invited to

submit written data, views, and

arguments concerning the foregoing,

including whether the proposed rule

change is consistent with the Act.

Persons making written submissions

should file six copies thereof with the

Secretary, Securities and Exchange

Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20549–0609. Copies of

the submission, all subsequent

amendments, all written statements

with respect to the proposed rule

change that are filed with the

Commission, and all written

communications relating to the

proposed rule change between the

Commission and any person, other than

those that may be withheld from the

public in accordance with the

provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be

available for inspection and copying in

the Commission’s Public Reference

Room, 450 Fifth Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such

filing will also be available for

inspection and copying at the principal

office of SCCP.

All submissions should refer to the

File No. SR–SCCP–00–05 and should be

submitted by January 26, 2001.

It is Therefore Ordered, pursuant to

Section 19(b)(2) of the Act,6 that the

proposed rule change (File No. SR–

SCCP–00–05) be and hereby is approved

through December 31, 2001.

For the Commission by the Division of

Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated

authority.7

Margaret H. McFarland,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 01–315 Filed 1–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8010–01–M

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Program Announcement No. SSA–OESP–

01–2]

Program: Cooperative Agreements for

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Projects

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Announcement of the

availability of fiscal year 2001

cooperative agreement funds and

second request for applications.

SUMMARY: The Social Security

Administration (SSA) announces its

intention to competitively award

cooperative agreements to establish

community-based benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach projects in

certain States and portions of States.

The purpose of these projects is to

disseminate accurate information to

beneficiaries with disabilities (including

transition-to-work aged youth) about

work incentives programs and issues

related to such programs, to enable them

to make informed choices about work.

DATES: The closing date for receipt of

cooperative agreement applications

under this announcement is April 5,

2001.

Prospective applicants are also asked

to submit, preferably by February 5,

2001, a fax, post card, or letter of intent

that includes (1) the program

announcement number (SSA–OESP–01–

2) and title (Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program); (2)

the name of the agency or organization

that is applying; and (3) the name,

mailing address, email address,

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1169

telephone number, and fax number for

the organization’s contact person.

The notice of intent is not required, is

not binding, and does not enter into the

review process of a subsequent

application. The purpose of the notice

of intent is to allow SSA staff to

estimate the number of independent

reviewers needed and to avoid potential

conflicts of interest in the review. The

notice of intent should be faxed to (410)

966–1278; mailed to Social Security

Administration, Office of Employment

Support Programs, Division of

Employment Policy, 107 Altmeyer

Building, 6401 Security Boulevard,

Baltimore, Maryland 21235–6401; or

emailed to TTWWIIA@ssa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Send questions about this

announcement to the following Internet

email address: TTWWIIA@ssa.gov.

When sending in a question, reference

program announcement number SSA–

OESP–01–2 and the date of this

announcement. Questions and answers

will be posted to http://www.ssa.gov/

work on the Frequently

Asked_Questions page of the web site.

Questioners will not be identified when

questions are posted on the web site.

Although the Internet is the preferred

method of communication, applicants

who have questions about the program

content of the application may also

contact: Cindy Barcelles, Program

Analyst, or Natalie Funk, Team Leader,

Social Security Administration, Office

of Employment Support Programs,

Division of Employment Policy, 107

Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security

Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–

6401. The telephone number for Cindy

Barcelles is (410) 966–2668; for Natalie

Funk, (410) 965–0078. The fax number

is (410) 966–1278.

To obtain an application kit, see the

instructions under part VI, section A.

Although the Internet is SSA’s preferred

method of communication, for

information regarding the application

package, you may also contact: Phyllis

Y. Smith, Dave Allshouse, or Gary

Stammer, Social Security

Administration, Office of Acquisition

and Grants, Grants Management Team,

1–E–4 Gwynn Oak Building, 1710

Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore,

Maryland 21207–5279. The telephone

numbers are: Phyllis Y. Smith, (410)

965–9518, Dave Allshouse, (410) 965–

9262, or Gary Stammer, (410) 965–9501.

The fax numbers are (410) 966–9310 or

966–1261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: President

Clinton signed the bill that became

Public Law 106–170 on December 17,

1999 to expand the availability of health

care coverage for working individuals

with disabilities, to establish a Ticket to

Work and Self-Sufficiency Program in

SSA to provide beneficiaries with

disabilities meaningful opportunities to

work, and to provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach to

beneficiaries with disabilities, among

other purposes. SSA must ensure that

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach are available to all

beneficiaries with disabilities

nationally, on a statewide basis.

On May 31, 2000, SSA made an

announcement of cooperative agreement

funds and requested applications at 65

FR 34768. SSA’s intent is to establish

benefits planning, assistance and

outreach services in every State and

U.S. Territory, and in the District of

Columbia, and to ensure that services

are available to all SSA beneficiaries

with disabilities throughout each.

Applications in response to our first

announcement were not received from,

or did not score highly enough in a

review by independent panelists to be

awarded for, the following locations:

• The entire States of Alabama,

Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South

Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia; and

• Certain counties in the States of

Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and

Minnesota. (See part II, section C,

Number, Size, and Duration of Projects.)

This announcement is to request

applications for fiscal year (FY) 2001

cooperative agreement funds to provide

direct benefits planning, assistance and

outreach services to all SSA disability

beneficiaries in the locations listed

above.

Note: SSA has awarded separate contracts

to three organizations (Cornell University,

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU),

and the University of Missouri-Columbia

(UMO–C)) to develop and provide technical

assistance and training on SSA’s programs

and work incentives, Medicare and

Medicaid, and on other Federal work

incentives programs, to Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

cooperative agreement awardees. The

contractors for projects targeting the

following States are:

Minnesota: Cornell—Thomas P. Golden,

tpg3@cornell.edu, (607) 255–2731;

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana,

Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, or

Virginia: VCU—Susan O’Mara, (757) 412–

2342; or Vicki Brooke, (804) 828–1873;

North Dakota or Oregon: UMO–C—C.

David Roberts, robertsc@missouri.edu

(program/project management), or Diana

Beckley, beckleyd@missouri.edu (SSA/

benefits planning technical knowledge): (573)

882–3807.

SSA will conduct pre-application

seminars to provide interested

applicants with guidance and technical

assistance in preparing their

applications. Information about where

and when the seminars will be held will

be on our web site: www.ssa.gov/work/

Service Providers/Contracts and grants/

BPAO.

Table of Contents

Part I. Program Description

A. Introduction

B. Background

C. Purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

D. Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program Goals

Part II. Authority and Type of Awards

A. Statutory Authority and Catalog of Federal

Domestic Assistance Number

B. Type of Awards

C. Number, Size, and Duration of Projects

D. Awardee Share of the Project Costs

Part III. The Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Targeted Geographic Area/Population

C. Application Process

D. Application Consideration

E. Application Approval

F. Costs

Part IV. Program Requirements

A. General Requirements

B. Description of Projects

C. Benefits Specialist Responsibilities and

Competencies

D. Management Information and Reporting

E. Evaluation

Part V. Application Review Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Screening Requirements

B. Evaluation Criteria

Part VI. Instructions for Obtaining and

Submitting Application

A. Availability of Forms

B. Checklist for a Complete Application

C. Guidelines for Application Submission

Part I. Program Description

A. Introduction

Section 1149 of the Social Security

Act, as added by section 121 of the

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives

Improvement Act of 1999 (TWWIIA),

requires the Commissioner of Social

Security (the Commissioner) to establish

a community-based work incentives

planning and assistance program. Under

this program, the Commissioner is

required to establish a competitive

program of grants, cooperative

agreements, or contracts to provide

benefits planning and assistance. We

have established a cooperative

agreement program known as the

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach (BPAO) Program to

disseminate accurate information to

beneficiaries with disabilities about

work incentives programs and issues

related to such programs.

1170 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

B. Background

Even though employment

opportunities have increased due to

technology, legislation, and changes in

societal attitudes, only a small

percentage of Social Security Disability

Insurance (SSDI) and/or disabled or

blind Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) beneficiaries leave the rolls

because of work activity. There are a

number of reasons for this. First,

beneficiaries of SSDI and SSI based on

disability or blindness, by definition,

have serious disabilities, which limit

choices in employment. However,

disability advocates report that many

individuals with disabilities who

receive public assistance want to work,

or increase their work activity, and may

be willing to attempt to work or increase

work activity, with proper assistance

and support. There is also evidence that

many individuals with severe

disabilities do work and do not rely on

income supports.

Second, people with disabilities who

want to work face significant barriers.

Many advocates and people with

disabilities contend that the fear of

losing health care benefits is the largest

impediment. Public health insurance

and long-term care services are usually

tied to income support programs such as

SSDI, SSI, and Temporary Assistance

for Needy Families (TANF).

Employment-based health insurance is

frequently not available to those with

disabilities due to pre-existing condition

clauses or exclusions of treatment for

mental illness. Private insurance is often

unaffordable for people with serious

illnesses and chronic or long-term

impairments, since they are charged

much higher than average premiums.

Third, while the SSDI, SSI, Medicare

and Medicaid programs all contain

valuable work incentives provisions

which can extend cash benefits and

medical coverage, they are under-used

and, often, are poorly understood by

beneficiaries and professionals alike.

The complexity and nature of the work

incentives, and the interrelationship of

myriad Federal, State, and local

programs on which beneficiaries rely,

create uncertainty and fear.

Beneficiaries are concerned that they

may lose vital income supports and

coverage for mental and physical health

care if they attempt to work.

For example, many people with

disabilities rely on a patchwork of

financial supports that have different

eligibility criteria and application

procedures. The benefits derived from a

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

cause rent increases in section 8

housing, loss of food stamps or public

assistance payments. Many individuals

who may be willing to risk the loss of

cash benefits from TANF, SSDI or SSI

cannot absorb the loss of housing

subsidies and other supports.

Despite these barriers, many people

with severe disabilities have managed to

use existing services and work

incentives to reach their goals of

financial self-sufficiency, while

retaining necessary supports. However,

those who are successful in returning to

work frequently report that the

availability of a knowledgeable advocate

made a difference in their ability to

navigate complex program requirements

and in their willingness to attempt to

return to work. Further, the support of

that advocate provided them a sense of

security needed to maintain work

activity. The projects funded under this

cooperative agreement program are part

of SSA’s Employment Strategy for

People with Disabilities to increase the

number of beneficiaries who return to

work and achieve self-sufficiency by

delivering direct services to

beneficiaries.

C. Purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program

The purpose of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program is to

provide Statewide benefits planning and

assistance, including information on the

availability of protection and advocacy

services, to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities, and to

conduct ongoing outreach to those

beneficiaries with disabilities (and to

their families) who are potentially

eligible to participate in State or Federal

work incentives programs.

The Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program is required by

TWWIIA and is part of SSA’s

employment strategy for people with

disabilities. One of SSA’s goals in

implementing TWWIIA is to help

achieve a substantial increase in the

number of beneficiaries who return to

work and achieve self-sufficiency. In

support of this goal, SSA is seeking

well-qualified applicants to provide

SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach.

While other parts of SSA’s employment

strategy for people with disabilities

provide direct employment services to

help beneficiaries become employed or

increase their level of employment, this

program aims to improve beneficiaries’

understanding of work options so that

they may make more informed choices

regarding work.

D. Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program Goals

The goal of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program is to

support SSA’s overall employment

strategy for persons with disabilities by

providing benefits planning and

assistance, and conducting outreach to

beneficiaries with disabilities, about

Federal, State, and local work incentives

programs and related issues.

To assist SSA in assessing the scope

and utility of outreach and information

provided under this program, each

project will be required to:

1. collect data pertaining to benefits

planning and assistance, and outreach

activities as described in Part IV,

Section D, Management Information and

Reporting; and

2. cooperate with SSA in providing

the information needed for a customer

satisfaction survey on the quality of the

benefits planning and assistance

services being provided and for an

assessment of the success of the Benefits

Planning, Assistance, and Outreach

Program.

Note: SSA plans to conduct such surveys

in years two and five of the projects. More

frequent surveys may be conducted if a need

is indicated by the results of the first survey.

SSA will evaluate the data in 1. above

and the results of the customer

satisfaction surveys to determine the

extent to which the projects were

effective in providing benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach.

The effectiveness of the projects will be

measured by the range of beneficiaries

served and responses regarding the

knowledge of SSA work incentives and

utility of benefits planning and

assistance services. Data to be collected

will include information about:

• Beneficiaries who receive

comprehensive, coordinated benefits

planning and assistance services, and

outreach;

• Beneficiaries’ demographic

characteristics;

• Beneficiaries’ income support

characteristics (including earnings and

SSA and non-SSA benefits);

• Beneficiaries’ non-income support

characteristics (including access to

public and private health care); and

• Beneficiaries’ work and benefit

related goals and strategies.

Part II. Authority and Type of Awards

A. Statutory Authority and Catalog of

Federal Domestic Assistance Number

Legislative authority for this

cooperative agreement program is in

section 1149 of the Social Security Act

(the Act), as established by section 121

of the TWWIIA, Public Law 106–170.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1171

The regulatory requirements that govern

the administration of SSA awards are in

the Code of Federal Regulations, title 45,

parts 74 and 92. Applicants are urged to

review the requirements in the

applicable regulations. This program is

listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance under Program No. 96.008,

Social Security Administration—

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program.

B. Type of Awards

All awards made under this program

will be in the form of cooperative

agreements. A cooperative agreement

anticipates substantial involvement

between SSA and the awardee during

the performance of the project.

Involvement will include collaboration

or participation by SSA in the

management of the activity as

determined at the time of the award. For

example, SSA will be involved in

decisions involving strategy, hiring of

personnel, deployment of resources,

release of public information materials,

quality assurance, and coordination of

activities with other offices.

C. Number, Size, and Duration of

Projects

Section 1149(d) of the Act authorizes

annual appropriations not to exceed $23

million for FYs 2000 through 2004.

Actual funding availability during this

period is subject to annual

appropriation by Congress. If funds are

available, SSA intends to fund a limited

number of awards in FY 2001. SSA

anticipates that all awards under this

announcement will be made by April

30, 2001.

SSA will award a cooperative

agreement to a qualified entity based in

part on the number of beneficiaries with

disabilities in the State where the

project is located, with the following

limitations:

• No entity shall receive a

cooperative agreement for a fiscal year

that is less than $50,000 or more than

$300,000; and

• The total amount of all grants,

cooperative agreements, or contracts

awarded for the Benefits Planning,

Assistance, and Outreach Program for

any fiscal year (including amounts

awarded for technical assistance and

training contracts) may not exceed $23

million.

Within these limitations, SSA intends

to establish as many projects as needed

to ensure Statewide benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach to all SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries nationally. The

applicant must demonstrate in sufficient

detail that the number of beneficiaries

with disabilities within the targeted area

is sufficient to support a minimum

award ($50,000), considering that SSA

must ensure that all disability

beneficiaries have access to benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach.

Subject to the availability of funds,

SSA anticipates that the following

amounts per State would be available to

fund all of the Benefits Planning,

Assistance and Outreach Program

projects in these States, in FY 2001:

• Alabama—$474,952*

• Nevada—101,872

• North Dakota—50,000

• Oregon—206,037

• South Carolina—375,854*

• Tennessee—562,173*

• Virginia—468,588*

*Note: No entity may receive an award of

more than $300,000.

Subject to the availability of funds,

SSA anticipates that the following

amounts would be available for projects

targeting the following groups of

counties in these States, in FY 2001:

• Florida

Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades,

Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee and

Okeechobee—$64,728

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard,

Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie,

Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin,

Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton,

Holmes, Indian River, Jackson,

Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty,

Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa,

Putnam, St. Johns, Santa Rosa,

Suwanne, Taylor, Union, Volusia,

Wakulla, Walton, Washington—$329,

619*

*Note: No entity may receive an award of

more than $300,000.

• Georgia

Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker,

Banks, Bartow, Ben Hill, Berrien,

Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch,

Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler,

Catoosa, Charlton, Chatham,

Chattahootchee, Chattooga, Clay,

Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia,

Cook, Coweta, Dade, Dawson,

Decatur, Early, Echols, Effingham,

Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fannin,

Floyd, Franklin, Gilmer, Glascock,

Glynn, Gordon, Grady, Greene,

Habersham, Haralson, Harris, Hart,

Heard, Irwin, Jackson, Jeff Davis,

Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lamar,

Lanier, Liberty, Lincoln, Long,

Lowndes, Lumpkin, McDuffie,

McIntosh, Madison, Marion,

Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell,

Montgomery, Murray, Muscogee,

Oglethorpe, Pickens, Pierce, Pike,

Polk, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph,

Richmond, Schley, Screven,

Seminole, Spalding, Stephens,

Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro,

Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell,

Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns,

Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Union,

Upson, Walker, Ware, Warren,

Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, White,

Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Worth—

$313,908*

*Note: No entity may receive an award of

more than $300,000.

• Louisiana

Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans,

Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles,

St. James, St. John the Baptist—

$135,882

• Minnesota

Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami,

Benton, Big Stone, Brown, Carlton,

Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago,

Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood,

Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant,

Hennepin, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca,

Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson,

Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake,

Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Lyon,

McLeod, Mahnomen, Marshall,

Martin, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison,

Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman,

Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine,

Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red

Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rock,

Roseau, St. Louis, Sherburne, Sibley,

Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Todd,

Traverse, Wadens, Washington,

Watonwan, Wilkin, Wright, Yellow

Medicine—$214,635

SSA intends to enter into cooperative

agreements during the 5-year

authorization period subject to the

availability of annual appropriations by

Congress. SSA may suspend or

terminate any cooperative agreement in

whole or in part at any time before the

date of expiration, whenever it

determines that the awardee has

materially failed to comply with the

terms and conditions of the cooperative

agreement. SSA will promptly notify the

awardee in writing of the determination

and the reasons for suspension or

termination together with the effective

date.

D. Awardee Share of the Project Costs

Awardees of SSA cooperative

agreements are required to contribute a

non-Federal match of at least 5 percent

toward the cost of each project. The cost

of the project is the sum of the Federal

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

example, an entity that is awarded a

cooperative agreement of $100,000

would need a non-Federal share of at

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

be cash or in-kind (property or services)

contributions.

1172 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

Part III. The Application Process

A. Eligible Applicants

A cooperative agreement may be

awarded to any State or local

government, public or private

organization, or nonprofit or for-profit

organization that the Commissioner

determines is qualified to provide

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities, within

the targeted geographic area. Awardees

may include Centers for Independent

Living established under title VII of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, protection

and advocacy organizations, Native

American tribal entities, client

assistance programs established in

accordance with section 112 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, State

Developmental Disabilities Councils

established in accordance with section

124 of the Developmental Disabilities

Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, and

State agencies administering the State

program funded under part A of title IV

of the Act. The Commissioner may also

award a cooperative agreement to a

State or local Workforce Investment

Board, a Department of Labor (DOL)

One-Stop Career Center System

established under the Workforce

Investment Act of 1998, or a State

vocational rehabilitation agency.

SSA encourages applications from

public or private agencies or

organizations, including from local or

divisional offices of larger or statewide

agencies or organizations.

Applications from local or divisional

offices of larger entities, however, must

demonstrate that the local or divisional

office has authority to enter into

cooperative agreements and to be

ultimately responsible for funds.

Note: For-profit organizations may apply

with the understanding that no cooperative

agreement funds may be profit to an awardee

of a cooperative agreement. Profit is

considered as any amount in excess of the

allowable costs of the cooperative agreement

awardee. A for-profit organization is a

corporation or other legal entity that is

organized or operated for the profit or benefit

of its shareholders or other owners and must

be distinguishable or legally separable from

that of an individual acting on his/her own

behalf. Applications will not be accepted

from applicants which do not meet the above

eligibility criteria at the time of submission

of applications.

Cooperative agreements may not be

awarded to:

• Any individual;

• Social Security Administration

Field Offices;

• Any State agency administering the

State Medicaid program under title XIX

of the Act;

• Any entity that the Commissioner

determines would have a conflict of

interest if the entity were to receive a

cooperative agreement under the

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program; or

• Any organization described in

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

Code of 1968 that engages in lobbying

(in accordance with section 18 of the

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 2

U.S.C. 1611).

Note: Any protection and advocacy

organization must fully explain how it will

ensure there will be no conflict of interest

between providing benefits planning and

assistance services and outreach, and

delivering protection and advocacy services

to beneficiaries. In particular, they must

show how they will ensure full protection

and advocacy services will be provided when

the complaint is against the Benefits

Specialist or organization. Also, any

organization that will apply to be an

employment network under SSA’s Ticket to

Work and Self-Sufficiency Program must

fully explain how it will ensure there will be

no conflict of interest if it also receives a

cooperative agreement to provide benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach. This is

especially important in the area of assisting

beneficiaries with PASS plans or other work

incentives which will enable them to keep

receiving benefits, thus delaying, or

preventing entirely, payments to the

employment network.

B. Targeted Geographic Area/

Population

To ensure statewide availability of

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach, as required by section 1149 of

the Act, SSA intends to award

cooperative agreements partly on the

basis of geographic area.

While SSA recognizes that not every

SSDI or SSI beneficiary with a disability

will access benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach, it must be

available to each via the project

targeting a specific geographic area.

Therefore, each awarded project must

make those services available to all SSDI

and SSI beneficiaries with disabilities

within the geographic area it serves.

Because youth with disabilities is such

an important population to target for

those services, each project must make

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach available to SSI recipients as

young as age 14. In providing benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach,

projects must make concerted and

aggressive efforts to address the needs of

underserved individuals with

disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities (e.g., Native

Americans, Vietnamese). In particular,

applicants should show how they

intend to do outreach in ways that

ensure interaction with diverse

communities and must specify the

geographic area they wish to cover.

Entities are encouraged to collaborate

with other public and/or private

organizations (e.g., DOL One-Stop

Career Center), through interagency

agreements or other mechanisms, if

necessary, to integrate services to

beneficiaries with disabilities. Entities

should also consider collaboration with

other organizations to prepare an

application for a cooperative agreement

to provide benefits planning, assistance,

and outreach to all beneficiaries within

a specific area. For example, Native

American tribal governments may

collaborate to develop a proposal to

cover specified reservation lands.

All applications developed jointly by

more than one agency or organization

must identify only one organization as

the lead organization and official

applicant. The other participating

agencies and organizations can be

included as co-applicants, subgrantees

or subcontractors. However, where more

than the maximum award amount is

requested, and would be awarded for

the targeted geographic area,

collaborating agencies should submit

separate applications.

C. Application Process

The cooperative agreement

application process consists of a onestage, full application. Independent

reviewers will competitively review the

application against the evaluation

criteria specified in this announcement

(see Part V). Applications will be

reviewed against others targeting the

same State or locality; for example, an

application targeting the State of

Alabama will be competitively reviewed

against all other applications targeting

Alabama, including any that might

target both Georgia and Alabama, or

only specific portions of Alabama. (SSA

must ensure that all beneficiaries with

disabilities have access to benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

throughout each of the States.)

D. Application Consideration

Applications will be initially screened

for relevance to this announcement. If

judged irrelevant, the application will

be returned to the applicant. Also,

applications that do not meet the

applicant eligibility criteria in Section A

above will not be accepted.

Applications that are complete and

conform to the requirements of this

announcement, the instructions in Form

SSA–96–BK, and the separate

instructions for completing Part III,

Program Narrative (of the SSA–96–BK),

will be reviewed competitively against

the evaluation criteria specified in Part

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1173

V of this announcement and evaluated

by Federal and non-Federal personnel.

See part VI for instructions on obtaining

Form SSA–96–BK. The results of this

review and evaluation will assist the

Commissioner in making award

decisions. Although the results of this

review are a primary factor considered

in making the decisions, the review

score is not the only factor used. In

selecting eligible applicants to be

funded, consideration will be given to

achieving statewide accessibility to

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to avoiding unnecessary

duplication of effort.

The application requirements in part

IV are the minimum amount of required

project information. Projects are

responsible for collecting management

information (MI) according to the

guidelines provided, producing regular

reports according to the guidelines

provided, and producing a final report

which analyzes the successes and/or

failures of the methodology used to

provide benefits planning, assistance,

and outreach to SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries, and others.

All projects must adhere to SSA’s

Privacy and Confidentiality Regulations

(20 CFR part 401) for maintaining

records of individuals, as well as

provide specific safeguards surrounding

beneficiary information sharing, paper/

computer records/data, and other issues

potentially arising from providing

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities.

E. Application Approval

Cooperative agreement awards will be

issued within the constraints of

available Federal funds and at the

discretion of SSA. The official award

document is the ‘‘Notice of Cooperative

Agreement Award.’’ It will provide the

amount of the award, the purpose of the

award, the term of the agreement, the

total project period for which support is

contemplated, the amount of financial

participation required, and any special

terms and conditions of the cooperative

agreement.

F. Costs

Federal cooperative agreement funds

may be used for allowable costs

incurred by awardees in conducting

direct benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach services to SSA’s beneficiaries

with disabilities. These costs could

include administrative and overall

project management costs, within the

limitations discussed earlier.

Federal cooperative agreement funds

are not intended to cover costs that are

reimbursable under an existing public

or private program, such as social

services, rehabilitation services, or

education. No SSDI or SSI beneficiary

can be charged for any service delivered

under a Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program cooperative

agreement, including preparing a PASS.

Benefits planning and assistance

services are intended to be free and

must be made accessible to all SSA

beneficiaries with disabilities in the

project’s target geographical area.

Project funds should not be used to

create new benefits or extensions of

existing benefits.

Part IV. Program Requirements

A. General Requirements

The cooperative agreement awardees

shall:

1. Provide the location of the targeted

service area(s) (by county, and

independent city in VA) to SSA as part

of the application (see Part III, Section

B, Targeted Geographic Area/

Population);

2. Work with SSA’s technical

assistance and training contractor in

arranging training for Benefits

Specialists;

3. Provide a brief project description

to the contractor;

4. Employ Benefits Specialists and

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

of award of the cooperative agreement.

SSA’s technical assistance and training

contractor will provide technical

assistance and training to projects about

SSA’s programs and work incentives

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

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

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

and (b), and Medicaid buy-in

provisions/Balanced Budget Act);

Medicare and Medicaid; and on other

Federal work incentives programs. (SSA

will attend that training session to

provide a half-day orientation session

for project directors.) The applicant is

responsible for providing technical

assistance and training to Benefits

Specialists about State and local

programs.

5. Have Benefits Specialists attend

refresher/follow-up and new hire

training sessions, as needed, and take

part in the evaluation of training

activities and the evaluation of ongoing

training needs evaluation by the

contractor.

6. Within 90 days after award, the

applicant will ensure Benefits

Specialists have completed training,

have developed outreach plans and

begun initial outreach, and are prepared

to provide direct benefits planning and

assistance services to all SSDI and SSI

beneficiaries with disabilities within the

targeted geographic area who are

requesting these services;

7. Finalize the MI system data

collection elements (as defined by SSA)

and procedures with SSA within 60

days after award;

8. Develop and submit quarterly

reports that contain MI to SSA, Office of

Acquisition and Grants (OAG);

9. Develop and submit quarterly

financial reports to SSA, OAG;

10. Provide a description of all

planned changes to the project design

for approval by SSA prior to

implementation;

11. Cooperate with SSA in scheduling

and conducting site visits;

12. Develop and maintain a

collaborative working relationship with

the local servicing Social Security

office;

13. Implement an ongoing

management and quality assurance

process that uses MI data; and

14. Attend scheduled conferences,

participate in panel and small group

discussions, and make project

presentations.

B. Description of Projects

The project awardees shall:

• Provide direct individualized

benefits planning and assistance,

including information on the

availability of protection and advocacy

services, to beneficiaries with

disabilities, including individuals

participating in the Ticket to Work and

Self-Sufficiency Program established

under section 1148 of the Act, the

program established under section 1619

of the Act, and other programs that are

designed to encourage disabled

beneficiaries to work;

• Conduct ongoing outreach efforts to

beneficiaries with disabilities (and to

the families of such beneficiaries) who

are potentially eligible to participate in

Federal or State work incentives

programs that are designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities to work,

by preparing and disseminating

information and explaining such

programs. In conducting benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

activities, project awardees will work in

cooperation with other Federal, State,

and private agencies and nonprofit

organizations that serve beneficiaries

with disabilities, and with agencies and

organizations that focus on vocational

rehabilitation and work-related training

and counseling, including DOL OneStop Career Centers.

In order to be considered for an

award, applicants must describe:

1174 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

• Their understanding of benefits

planning and assistance, including the

benefits programs with which they have

worked in the past;

• How they will notify all SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries with disabilities in the

targeted geographic area about benefits

planning and assistance and provide

those services to beneficiaries;

• Their understanding of outreach,

and how they will conduct outreach to

all SSDI and SSI beneficiaries with

disabilities (and their families) in the

targeted geographic area who are

potentially eligible to participate in

Federal or State work incentives

programs designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities to work,

and, particularly, how the outreach

strategies, information, and materials

will be modified to seek out different

ethnic and racial groups;

• The scope of the project; and

• How that project achieves the

Benefits Planning, Assistance, and

Outreach Program goals in Part I,

Section D.

The applicants must also describe

how they will address any special

cultural requirements of populations

(e.g., Native Americans) within the

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

Vietnamese) and SSI recipients as young

as age 14.

In providing benefits planning and

assistance services, and conducting

outreach, projects must be sensitive to

issues such as cultural differences and

non-English speaking populations

within the areas they serve (e.g., Native

Americans, Vietnamese). Specifically,

projects must address the needs of

underserved individuals with

disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities and show how they

intend to provide outreach in ways that

ensure interaction with diverse

communities.

Applicants must also provide

information on:

• Collaborative relationships with

relevant agencies, including SSA’s field

offices, and organizations (e.g., Centers

for Independent Living, DOL One-Stop

Career Centers);

• Specific services and supports that

will be involved in the project and their

roles;

• Case management and monitoring

systems and techniques to be used;

• Methods of evaluating benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

provided; and

• The MI and quality assurance

process that will be used.

Applicants must also describe how

Benefits Specialists will be trained on

numerous supports which are often

used by people with disabilities, such as

long-term care, subsidized housing,

paratransit, and food stamps; variations

in benefits and services in the State in

which the applicant is located; the

State’s work incentives programs;

workers’ compensation and

unemployment insurance programs;

vocational rehabilitation services; workrelated training and counseling

programs; and other community-based

support programs designed to enable

people with disabilities to work.

Applicants must also describe how

Benefits Specialists will be trained to

conduct outreach by providing

information, guidance, and planning to

beneficiaries with disabilities on the:

• Availability and interrelation of any

Federal or State work incentives

programs designed to assist

beneficiaries with disabilities for which

the individual may be eligible to

participate;

• Adequacy of any health benefits

coverage that may be offered by an

employer of the individual and the

extent to which other health benefits

coverage may be available to the

individual; and

• Availability of protection and

advocacy services for beneficiaries with

disabilities and how to access such

services.

Note: The technical assistance and training

contractor may provide technical assistance

materials to enable project Benefits

Specialists to get information about the

subjects in the preceding paragraphs.

However, each awardee shall be responsible

for ensuring that Benefits Specialists are

well-versed in these areas.

Applicants must describe any plans

they have to collaborate or coordinate

with public and private organizations to

achieve and/or improve their project

goals and submit evidence to SSA of

these organizations’ capabilities, and

willingness to participate (e.g., letters of

intent, memoranda of understanding).

Applicants should not request letters of

intent or commitment from SSA field

offices. SSA will assure field office

cooperation.

Each applicant must describe the

number of beneficiaries with disabilities

it expects to serve. If the target group is

not large enough to justify a minimum

award of $50,000, the applicant will not

be considered further.

Note: All SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

(including SSI recipients as young as age 14)

within the geographic area served by the

project, must be able to access benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach via the

project.

The project may be part of a larger

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

Career Center, that serves other

individuals with disabilities, such as

TANF recipients; however, funds

provided by SSA under the cooperative

agreements cannot be used to serve

people with disabilities who are not

beneficiaries of SSDI and/or SSI.

C. Benefits Specialist Responsibilities

and Competencies

1. Responsibilities

Cooperative agreement awardees shall

select individuals who will act as

Benefits Specialists. Benefits Specialists

will provide work incentives planning

and assistance directly to beneficiaries

with disabilities; conduct outreach

efforts to beneficiaries with disabilities

(and their families), who are potentially

eligible to participate in Federal or State

work incentives programs designed to

assist disabled beneficiaries to work;

and work in cooperation with Federal,

State, and private agencies and

nonprofit organizations that serve

beneficiaries with disabilities. Benefits

Specialists will also provide

information on the adequacy of health

benefits coverage that may be offered by

an employer of a beneficiary with a

disability; the extent to which other

health benefits coverage may be

available to that beneficiary; and the

availability of protection and advocacy

services for beneficiaries with

disabilities, and how to access such

services.

Benefits Planning

Benefits planning requires an indepth understanding of the current

status of a beneficiary being served.

Initial benefits planning will support a

beneficiary over a period of several

weeks to several months, concluding

when the beneficiary has received

guidance to support informed choices.

Benefits Specialists will establish plans

for beneficiaries with disabilities, and

develop long-term supports that may be

needed to ensure success. Following the

initial benefits planning process, they

will provide periodic, follow-up

planning services to ensure that the

information, analysis, and guidance are

updated as new conditions (with regard

to the applicable programs or to the

individual’s situation) arise.

To provide benefits planning services,

Benefits Specialists will:

• Obtain and evaluate comprehensive

information about a beneficiary with a

disability, on the following:

—Beneficiary background information,

—Disability,

—Employment and earnings,

—Resources,

—Federal and State benefits,

—Health insurance,

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1175

—Work expenses,

—Work incentives, and

—Service(s) and supports;

• Assess the potential impacts of

employment and/or other changes on a

beneficiary’s Federal and State benefits

eligibility and overall financial wellbeing;

• Provide information and assist the

beneficiary in understanding and

assessing the potential impacts of

employment and/or other actions or

changes on his/her life situation, and

provide specific guidance regarding the

affects of various work incentives;

• Develop a comprehensive

framework of possible options available

to a beneficiary and projected results for

each as part of the career development

and employment process; and

• Ensure confidentiality of all

information provided.

Benefits Assistance

Benefits assistance involves the

delivery of information and direct

supports for the purpose of assisting a

beneficiary in dealing with benefit

issues and effectively managing

benefits. Benefits assistance also

involves providing information and

referral and problem-solving services as

needed. Benefits management services

will generally build on previous

planning and assistance services and

include periodic updates of an

individual’s specific information,

reassessment of benefit(s) and overall

impacts, education and advisement, and

additional planning for monitoring and

managing benefits and work incentives.

To provide benefits assistance

services, Benefits Specialists will:

• Provide time-limited direct

assistance to a beneficiary in the

development of a comprehensive, longterm benefits management plan to guide

the effective monitoring and

management of Federal and State

benefits and work incentives. Specific

components of the plan must address:

—Desired benefit and work outcomes,

—Related steps or activities necessary to

achieve outcomes,

—Associated dates or time frames,

—Building on initial benefits planning

efforts including information

gathering, analysis and advisement,

and

—Benefits/financial analysis (pre- and

post-employment);

• Provide time-limited, intensive

assistance to beneficiaries, their key

stakeholders, and their support teams in

making informed choices and

establishing both employment-related

goals as well as needed benefits

management supports. Needed benefits

assistance could include:

—How SSDI and SSI work incentives

programs may lead to self-supporting

employment by developing a PASS,

—Developing a PASS which can be

used to obtain training, education,

and entrepreneurial opportunities,

—How a PASS can be used to address

some of the barriers to employment,

such as obtaining a car for

transportation needs, and

—The 1619(b) provisions and

requirements;

• Advocate on behalf of a beneficiary

with other agencies and programs,

which requires in-person, telephone

and/or written communication with the

individual and other involved parties

generally over a period of several weeks

to several months;

• Provide time-limited follow-up

assistance as needed to beneficiaries

who have previously received benefits

planning and/or other types of benefits

assistance services and:

—Assist them and other involved

parties to update information,

—Reassess impact of employment and

other changes on benefits and work

incentives, and

—Provide additional guidance on

benefit options, issues and

management strategies;

• Assist beneficiaries as needed to

update benefits management plan;

• Provide information, referral, and

problem-solving support;

• Provide ongoing, comprehensive,

benefits monitoring and management

assistance to beneficiaries who are

likely to experience employment,

benefits, or other changes that may

dramatically affect their benefit(s)

status, health care, or overall financial

well being; and

• Provide long-term benefits

management on a scheduled,

continuous basis, allowing for the

planning and provision of supports at

regular checkpoints, as well as critical

transition points in an individual’s

benefits, employment and overall

situation.

Outreach

Outreach activities are ongoing,

systematic efforts to inform individuals

of available work incentives, as well as

the services and supports available to

enable them to access and benefit from

those work incentives. Outreach efforts

should be targeted directly to SSDI and

SSI beneficiaries with disabilities, their

families, and to advocacy groups and

service provider agencies that have

regular contact with them. Outreach

activities should be directed toward and

sensitive to the needs of individuals

from diverse ethnic backgrounds,

persons with English as their second

language, as well as non-English

speaking persons, individuals residing

in highly urban or rural areas, and other

traditionally underserved groups.

To conduct ongoing outreach,

Benefits Specialists will:

• Prepare and disseminate

information explaining Federal or State

work incentives programs and their

interrelationships; and

• Work in cooperation with other

Federal, State, and private agencies and

nonprofit organizations that serve

beneficiaries with disabilities, and with

agencies and organizations that focus on

vocational rehabilitation and workrelated training and counseling.

The Benefits Specialists will conduct

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities (and their families),

who are potentially eligible to

participate in Federal or State work

incentives programs that are designed to

assist beneficiaries with disabilities to

work.

2. Competencies

Applicants must ensure that Benefits

Specialists have the skills required to

competently provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach.

We prefer that cooperative agreement

awardees use Benefits Specialists who

have attained a bachelor’s degree in a

relevant field, or that they use Benefit

Specialists with relevant experience.

Benefit Specialists may possess a

combination of education and

experience if the experience provides

the knowledge, skills and abilities to

successfully perform the duties of the

position.

Benefits Specialists should bring the

following knowledge, skills, and

abilities to the position:

• Basic math skills, with an emphasis

on problem solving;

• Deductive ability with analytical

thinking and creative problem solving

skills;

• Acceptable interviewing skills;

• Ability to interpret Federal laws,

regulations, and administrative code

about public benefits;

• Communication skills (written and/

or verbal);

• Knowledge of medical terminology

and awareness of cultural and political

issues pertaining to various populations

and to various disabilities; and

• Basic computer skills.

Benefits Specialists will need to

become proficient in the following

knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• SSDI and SSI disability programs;

• Knowledge of all public benefits

programs, including operations and

inter-relationships;

1176 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

• Translating technical information

for lay individuals;

• Accessing information in a variety

of ways (including the ability to be able

to recognize when additional

information is needed);

• Interpersonal skills (e.g., recognize

and help people manage anger and

conflict, enjoy working with

individuals);

• Counseling skills (ability to listen,

evaluate alternatives, advise on

potential cause of action);

• Knowledge of SSA field office

structure and how to work with various

work incentives coordinators (e.g.,

PASS specialists, employment support

representatives);

• Knowledge of the structure and

design of public and private benefits

systems and local community services;

and

• Knowledge of ethics (e.g.,

confidentiality, conflict of interest).

The applicant must clearly explain

how it will ensure all individuals hired

as Benefits Specialists will possess or

acquire the relevant knowledge, skills

and abilities. SSA has contracted with

separate entities to provide technical

assistance and training to cooperative

agreement awardees on an ongoing basis

about SSA’s programs and work

incentives, Medicare and Medicaid, and

other Federal work incentives programs.

Those entities are: Cornell University

for SSA Regions I, II and V (which

includes Minnesota); Virginia

Commonwealth University for Regions

III (including Virginia), IV (including

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South

Carolina, and Tennessee), VI (including

Louisiana), and IX (including Nevada);

and the University of Missouri,

Columbia for Regions VII, VIII

(including North Dakota), and X

(including Oregon). The applicant is

responsible for providing technical

assistance and training to Benefits

Specialists about State and local

programs.

D. Management Information and

Reporting

In addition to cooperating with the

surveys outlined in Part I, Section D,

entities must provide all collected data

and report the results to SSA’s Office of

Acquisition and Grants, as described

below.

Common data elements, as defined by

SSA, will be collected by all projects.

The awardee and SSA will use the

management information (MI) data to

manage the project and to determine

what additional resources or other

approaches may be needed to improve

the process. The data will also be

valuable to SSA in its analysis of and

future planning for the SSDI and SSI

programs.

All projects must adhere to SSA’s

Privacy and Confidentiality Regulations

(20 CFR part 401) for maintaining

records of individuals, as well as

provide specific safeguards surrounding

beneficiary information sharing, paper/

computer records/data, and other issues

potentially arising from providing

benefits planning, assistance, and

outreach to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries

with disabilities.

All projects shall provide for the

design, development, implementation,

and maintenance of an MI system,

which must be compatible with SSA

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

allow for necessary data collection on

SSDI and SSI beneficiaries. For the

purpose of providing MI to SSA in

support of the implementation and

management of the projects, projects

will collect, analyze, and summarize the

data listed below:

Beneficiary Background Information

1. Beneficiary/recipient name (Last,

First, Middle)

2. Date of birth

3. Gender

4. Special language or other

considerations

5. Mailing address

6. Telephone number

7. Social Security number

8. Representative payee (RP) name (if

applicable)

9. RP address

10. Current level of education

11. Whether pursuing education

currently and at what level (e.g., post

secondary, continuing adult

education, special education,

vocational education)

12. Proposed educational goals

13. Primary diagnosis

14. Secondary diagnosis (if applicable)

15. Employer health care coverage at

outset (if working)

16. Other health care coverage

Employment Information (current and

proposed goal—where applicable)

1. Self-employed or employee

2. Type of work

3. Beginning date

4. Hours per week

5. Monthly gross earned income

6. Monthly net earned income

7. Work-related expenses

Proposed Training Information

1. Work-related training/counseling

program

2. Proposed other training

Benefits (current and expected changes

if employment goals are reached)

1. SSDI

2. SSI

3. Concurrent (SSDI and SSI)

4. Medicare

5. Medicaid

6. Subsidized housing or other rental

subsidies

7. Food Stamps

8. General Assistance

9. Workers Compensation benefits

10. Unemployment Insurance benefits

11. Other Federal, State, or local

supports, including TANF (specify)

Incentives To Be Used

1. Trial-work period (TWP)

2. Extended period of eligibility (EPE)

3. Impairment-related work expenses

(IRWE)

4. Plan for achieving self-support

(PASS)

5. 1619(a)

6. 1619(b)

7. Medicaid buy-in provisions/Balanced

Budget Act

Services To Be Used

1. Vocational Rehabilitation services

2. Paratransit services

3. Protection and Advocacy services

4. Work-related training/counseling

program

5. DOL One-Stop Career Center services

6. Transitioning youth services (from

school to post-secondary education or

to work)

Monthly Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Activities Performed by

Benefits Planning Organization

1. Number of SSDI/SSI beneficiaries

(over age 18) requesting assistance

(initial and repeat requests)

2. Number of SSDI/SSI beneficiaries

(ages 14 to 18) requesting assistance

(initial and repeat requests)

3. Number of new benefits management

plans prepared

4. Number of updated benefits

management plans prepared

5. Number of presentations given at

forums, conferences, meetings, etc.

All data elements are to be collected

in accordance with precise definitions

to be provided by SSA during start-up

activities. Adherence to such precise

definitions is crucial to the

comparability of the data across project

sites.

Entities awarded cooperative

agreements under this notice shall

submit quarterly progress reports to

SSA, OAG. SSA expects that the

projects will need a period of time to

begin providing services and collecting

management information. Therefore, the

first quarterly report shall include a

description of the project, a status of

data collection operations, actions that

were taken, planned actions, and a

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1177

description of how the project is

addressing the needs of individuals

with disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities, both in benefits

planning and in carrying out outreach

activities.

Subsequent reports shall provide: a

status of the project, any problems or

proposed changes in the project (e.g.,

requests for technical assistance from

contractor, interagency agreement

change); specific information (baseline

data/program statistics) required by

SSA, including that listed above; a

description of how the project is

addressing the needs of individuals

with disabilities from diverse ethnic and

racial communities, both in benefits

planning and in carrying out outreach

activities; actions that were taken, and

planned actions. The quarterly reports

shall be submitted to SSA, OAG, within

30 days after the end of the quarter.

SSA personnel (SSA Project Officer

and/or other staff) expect to visit each

project at least once in each year of the

cooperative agreement. The SSA Project

Officer shall review site operations,

including collection of management

information, and evaluate how projects

are finding ways to make benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach

activities more effective in achieving

SSA’s Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program goals.

Staff members from each project shall

attend an initial training meeting that

will include an orientation session by

SSA, and subsequent scheduled

conferences at SSA headquarters or

alternate sites chosen by SSA. Those

meetings will provide awardees of

cooperative agreements with the

opportunity to exchange information

with SSA and other awardees.

E. Evaluation

Process Evaluation

The purpose of process evaluation is

for SSA and the awardee to assess how

the project functioned and how the

process might be altered to more

efficiently and/or successfully provide

the services required under section 1149

of the Act. The process evaluation will

require both data collection and

qualitative observational evaluation

through site visits and/or project

reporting.

Participant Experience

The goal of these cooperative

agreements is the provision of services

to enhance beneficiary awareness and

understanding of SSA work incentives

and thereby enhance beneficiaries’

ability to make informed choices

regarding work. The goal is not to

provide employment services.

Nevertheless, SSA is clearly interested

in identifying participant outcomes

under the Benefits Planning, Assistance,

and Outreach Program to determine the

extent to which participants achieve

their employment, financial, and health

care goals. Therefore, SSA is requiring

that cooperative agreement awardees

collect data regarding the employment

status, benefit status, and income of

beneficiaries before providing services

under these cooperative agreements.

SSA intends to use this information to

support the sample selection for

participants in the customer satisfaction

survey. This will allow SSA to include

the experiences and outcomes of a broad

range of beneficiaries.

Each project shall submit periodic

reports (as described in Part IV, Section

D, Management Information and

Reporting) to SSA, OAG. Data and

information that are used in preparing

the reports can be used, for example, to

improve the efficiency of the project’s

operations, use of staff, and linkages

between the project and the programs

for which benefits planning is needed to

better meet the needs of target

populations. In addition, the evaluation

results will be disseminated to other

projects to promote learning, program

refinements, and facilitate partnership

and achievement of project objectives.

Timely comprehensive MI data also

allows for cost accounting, which helps

improve the efficiency of service

approaches and may inform future

policy decisions.

Part V. Application Review Process and

Evaluation Criteria

A. Screening Requirements

All applications that meet the

deadline will be screened to determine

completeness and conformity to the

requirements of this announcement.

Complete and conforming applications

will then be evaluated.

1. Number of Copies: The applicant

must submit one original signed and

dated application and a minimum of

two copies. The submission of seven

additional copies is optional and will

expedite processing, but will not affect

the evaluation or scoring of the

application.

2. Length: The program narrative

portion of the application (Part III of the

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

on one side of the paper only, using

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

point font. Attachments that support the

program narrative count towards the 30-

page limit.

B. Evaluation Criteria

Applications that pass the screening

process will be independently reviewed

by at least three individuals, who will

evaluate and score the applications

based on the evaluation criteria. There

are four categories of criteria used to

score applications: capability;

relevance/adequacy of program design;

resources and management; and quality

assurance plan. The total points

possible for an application is 100, and

sections are weighted as noted in the

descriptions of criteria below.

Although the results from the

independent panel reviews are the

primary factor used in making funding

decisions, they are not the sole basis for

making awards. The Commissioner will

consider other factors as well when

making funding decisions. For instance,

the need to assure the required

geographic distribution of projects may

take precedence over rankings/scores of

the review panel.

Following are the evaluation criteria

that SSA will use in reviewing all

applications (relative weights are shown

in parentheses):

1. Capability (20 points)

The applicant’s capability to deliver

benefits planning and assistance

services will be judged by:

• Description of how entity will test

for Benefits Specialist competencies

listed in Part IV and provide any needed

training to ensure competencies will be

maintained and/or enhanced;

(8 points)

• Description of the proposed

administration and organization of the

project, including the existence of the

necessary administrative resources to

effectively carry out the project; and

(7 points)

• Project Director’s and key staff’s

documentation of experience and

results of past projects of this nature

(extra consideration may be given to

applicants based on the quality and

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

beneficiaries with disabilities).

(5 points)

2. Relevance/Adequacy of Project

Design (30 points)

The adequacy of project design will

be judged by:

• A description of the project

operations, including how the project

will work (e.g., identification and

notification of potential project

participants about availability of

benefits planning and assistance

services, location for providing services,

ability to travel to beneficiary, etc.) and

1178 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices

the quality of the project design;

(6 points)

• A description of how the project

will address provision of benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach to

transition-to-work aged SSI youth;

(5 points)

• A description of how the project

will address provision of benefits

planning, assistance, and outreach to

populations with special cultural or

language requirements; (5 points)

• Evidence of collaboration with

relevant agencies, including collocation

within a DOL One-Stop Career Center

organization, in providing benefits

planning and assistance services; and

extent and clarity of collaborative efforts

with other organizations, including

letters of intent or written assurances;

and (5 points)

• A concise and clear statement of the

project goals and objectives; MI data to

be collected; specification of data

sources; and how quality assurance will

be realized; (4 points)

• Description of problems that may

arise and how they will be resolved;

e.g., how dropouts and inadequate

numbers of participants will be

handled; and (3 points)

• Evidence of how the approach

proposed will accomplish Benefits

Planning, Assistance, and Outreach

Program goals. (2 points)

3. Resources and Management

(30 points)

Resources and management will be

judged by:

• Appropriateness of qualifications of

the project personnel, as evidenced by

training and experience indicating that

they have the skills required to

competently provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach;

(8 points)

• Evidence of successful previous

experience related to benefits planning,

assistance, and outreach programs;

(4 points)

• Evidence that the applicant has a

working knowledge of work incentives

and the various programs available to

beneficiaries with disabilities;

(4 points)

• Evidence of adequate facilities (e.g.,

collocation within a DOL One-Stop

Career Center) and resources to deliver

services; (4 points)

• Appropriateness of the case

management and monitoring systems

and techniques, including an MI system,

quality assurance system, and a range of

other monitoring and management

options; (3 points)

• Extent and quality of project

assurances that sufficient resources

(including personnel, time, funds, and

facilities) will be available to support

services to beneficiaries; (3 points)

• Evidence that the applicant will

meaningfully involve family members

and other representatives of target

groups, including advocates in the

process of delivery services; and

(2 points)

• Cost effectiveness, per client costs,

and reasonableness of overall project

cost relative to planned services.

(2 points)

4. Quality Assurance (20 points)

The applicant’s quality assurance

plan will be judged by:

• Extent to which training is

accommodated and planned for to

ensure that all Benefits Specialists

maintain knowledge, skills, and

abilities, and acquire more; (6 points)

• Extent to which the awardee

proposes to use MI data to improve

processes and ensure that all

information given is accurate and

pertinent; (4 points)

• Extent to which the proposed

quality assurance plan complies with

the requirements of SSA, in terms of

data collection, reporting, and ensuring

that only accurate information is

provided to beneficiaries and others;

(4 points)

• Extent to which the proposed staff

demonstrate expertise in the area of

benefits planning and assistance; and

(4 points)

• The extent to which staff have

experience collecting, protecting, and

analyzing data on beneficiaries with

disabilities to provide benefits planning

and assistance services, and outreach.

(2 points)

Part VI. Instructions for Obtaining and

Submitting Application

A. Availability of Forms

The Internet is the primary means

recommended for obtaining an

application kit under this program

announcement. An application kit

containing all of the prescribed forms

and instructions needed to apply for a

cooperative agreement under this

announcement may be obtained at the

following Internet address: http//

www.ssa.gov/oag/grants.

Although the Internet is SSA’s

preferred method of making application

kits available, an application kit also

may be obtained by writing to: Grants

Management Team, Office of Operations

Contracts and Grants, OAG, Social

Security Administration, 1–E–4 Gwynn

Oak Building, 1710 Gwynn Oak

Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207–

5279.

Requests submitted by mail should

include two return address labels. Also,

please provide the name, title and

telephone number of the individual to

contact; and the organization’s name,

street address, city, State and zip code.

To ensure receipt of the proper kit,

please include program announcement

number SSA–OESP–01–2 and the date

of this announcement.

B. Checklist for a Complete Application

The checklist below is a guide to

ensure that the application package has

been properly prepared.

—An original, signed and dated

application plus at least two copies.

Seven additional copies are optional

but will expedite processing.

—The program narrative portion of the

application (Part III of the SSA–96–

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

pages) on one side of the paper only,

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

and 12-point font. Attachments that

support the program narrative count

towards the 30–page limit.

—Attachments/Appendices, when

included, should be used only to

provide supporting documentation.

Please do not include books or

videotapes as they are not easily

reproduced and are therefore

inaccessible to reviewers.

—A complete application, which

consists of the following items in this

order:

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

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

(2) Table of Contents;

(3) Project Summary (not to exceed

one page);

(4) Part II—Budget Information,

Sections A through G (Form SSA–96–

BK);

(5) Budget Justification (in Section B

Budget Categories, explain how

amounts were computed), including

subcontract organization budgets;

(6) Part III—Application Narrative and

Appendices;

(7) Part IV—Assurances;

(8) Additional Assurances and

Certifications—regarding Lobbying and

regarding Drug-Free Workplace; and

(9) Form SSA–3966–PC—

acknowledgement of receipt of

application (applicant’s return address

must be inserted on the form).

C. Guidelines for Application

Submission

All applications for cooperative

agreement projects under this

announcement must be submitted on

the prescribed forms included in the

application kit. The application shall be

executed by an individual authorized to

act for the applicant organization and to

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2001 / Notices 1179

assume for the applicant organization

the obligations imposed by the terms

and conditions of the cooperative

agreement award.

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

the applicant must clearly indicate the

application submitted is in response to

this announcement (SSA–OESP–01–2).

The applicant also is encouraged to

select a SHORT descriptive project title.

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

Office of Operations Contracts and

Grants, OAG, DCFAM, Social Security

Administration, Attention: SSA–OESP–

00–2, 1–E–4 Gwynn Oak Building, 1710

Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD

21207–5279.

Hand-delivered applications are

accepted between the hours of 8:00 a.m.

and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

An application will be considered as

meeting the deadline if it is either:

1. Received on or before the deadline

date at the above address; or

2. Mailed through the U.S. Postal

Service or sent by commercial carrier on

or before the deadline date and received

in time to be considered during the

competitive review and evaluation

process. Packages must be postmarked

by April 5, 2001. Applicants are

cautioned to request a legibly dated U.S.

Postal Service postmark or to obtain a

legibly dated receipt from a commercial

carrier as evidence of timely mailing.

Private-metered postmarks are not

acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Applications that do not meet the

above criteria are considered late

applications. SSA will not waive or

extend the deadline for any application

unless the deadline is waived or

extended for all applications. SSA will

notify each late applicant that its

application will not be considered.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This notice contains reporting

requirements. However, the information

is collected using form SSA–96–BK,

Federal Assistance Application, which

has the Office of Management and

Budget clearance number 0960–0184.

Dated: December 22, 2000.

Kenneth S. Apfel,

Commissioner of Social Security.

[FR Doc. 01–318 Filed 1–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4191–02–U

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice #3520]

Secretary of State’s Advisory

Committee on Private International

Law Renewal

The Department of State has renewed

the Charter of the Secretary of State’s

Advisory Committee on Private

International Law (ACPIL). The Under

Secretary for Management has

determined that ACPIL is necessary and

in the public interest.

ACPIL will continue to assist the

Department to coordinate effective

United States participation in

international efforts to unify private law

between nations. ACPIL enables the

Department to obtain the expert and

considered views of private sector

interests most knowledgeable of, as well

as most affected by, international

activities in this field.

ACPIL consists of members of private

sector organizations, bar associations,

national legal organizations, and federal

and state government agency and

judicial interests concerned with private

international law. ACPIL will follow the

procedures prescribed by the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (Pub.

L. 92–463). Meetings will be open to the

public unless a determination is made

in accordance with Section 10(d) of the

FACA, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and (4), that

a meeting or a portion of the meeting

should be closed to the public.

For more information, please contact

Harold Burman, Executive Director

ACPIL, Office of the Legal Adviser, 2430

E Street, NW, South Bldg., Suite 203,

Washington, DC 20037–2851, phone 202

776–8420.

Jeffrey D. Kovar,

Assistant Legal Adviser for Private

International Law, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 01–353 Filed 1–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–08–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG–2000–8574]

Navigation Safety Advisory Council;

Vacancies

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Request for applications.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks

applications for membership on the

Navigation Safety Advisory Council

(NAVSAC). NAVSAC advises the Coast

Guard on the prevention of vessel

collisions, rammings, and groundings;

Inland Rules of the Road; International

Rules of the Road; navigation

regulations and equipment; routing

measures; marine information; diving

safety; and aids to navigation systems.

DATES: Application forms should reach

us on or before February 16, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may request an

application form by writing to

Commandant (G–MW), U.S. Coast

Guard, 2100 Second Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20593–0001; by calling

202–267–6164; by faxing 202–267–4700;

or by e-mail Jshort@comdt.uscg.mil.

Send your application in written form to

the above street address. This notice and

the application form are available on the

Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.

Margie Hegy, Executive Director of

NAVSAC at (202) 267–0415, fax (202)

267–4700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Navigation Safety Advisory Council

(NAVSAC) is a Federal advisory

committee under 5 U.S.C. App. 2. It

advises the Secretary of Transportation,

via the Commandant of the Coast Guard,

on the prevention of vessel collisions,

rammings, and groundings; Inland Rules

of the Road; International Rules of the

Road; navigation regulations and

equipment; routing measures; marine

information; diving safety; and aids to

navigation systems.

NAVSAC meets at least twice a year

at various locations in the continental

United States. It may also meet for

extraordinary purposes. Its

subcommittees and working groups may

meet to consider specific problems as

required.

We will consider applications for

seven positions that expire or become

vacant in June 2001. To be eligible, you

should have experience in the above

mentioned subject areas. To assure

balanced representation of subject

matter expertise, members are chosen,

insofar as practical, from the following

groups: (1) Recognized experts and

leaders in organizations having an

active interest in the Rules of the Road

and vessel and port safety; (2)

representatives of owners and operators

of vessels, professional mariners,

recreational boaters, and the

recreational boating industry; (3)

individuals with an interest in maritime

law; and (4) Federal and State officials

with responsibility for vessel and port

safety. Each member serves for a term of

3 years. A few members may serve

consecutive terms. All members serve

without compensation from the Federal

Government, although travel

reimbursement and per diem may be

provided.