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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65975-65976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31500]

[[Page 65975]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACF/ACYF/HS-2002-02]

Fiscal Year 2002 Discretionary Announcement for Child Development 
Associate (CDA) Credentialing Program; Availability of Funds and 
Request for Applications

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health 
and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Announcement of the availability of funds and request for 
applications to administer the Child Development Associate (CDA) 
Credentialing Program.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) announces the 
availability of $1,000,000 annually for each of five years to support 
the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing Program through a 
Cooperative Agreement. A Cooperative Agreement is a form of Federal 
financial assistance that allows substantial Federal involvement in the 
activities for which funds are awarded. A detailed description of the 
Federal involvement is described in the full version of this 
announcement.
    The CDA Program is a national project to credential qualified 
caregivers who work with children birth to age five in a variety of 
public and private agency settings, and in a variety of roles, 
including as center-based caregivers of infants and toddlers or 
preschool age children, as home visitors, or as family child care 
providers.

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of application is 5 p.m. 
EDT on January 28, 2002.

    Note: Applications should be submitted to the ACYF Operations 
Center at: 1815 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 
22209. However, prior to preparing and submitting an application, in 
order to satisfactorily compete under this announcement it will be 
necessary for potential applicants to read the full announcement 
which is available through the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: The full announcement and applications, including all 
necessary forms can be downloaded from the Head Start web site at 
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb. Hard copies of the application may be 
obtaining by writing or calling the ACYF Operations Center (address 
listed below) or sending an e-mail to [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Center, 1815 North 
Fort Myer Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, Virginia 22209, telephone 1-800-
351-2293 or e-mail to [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Eligible Applicants: An applicant must be a private or public non-
profit or for-profit organization. Eligible applicants include colleges 
and universities, and private or public non-profit or for-profit 
organizations or associations in the field of early childhood education 
or the related fields of child development, child care, and family 
studies. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these 
funds. Note: For-profit organizations must agree to waive their fee 
under this program.
    Only incorporated agencies and organizations, not individuals, are 
eligible to apply. On all applications developed jointly by more than 
one agency or organization, the application must identify only one 
organization as the lead organization and the official applicant. The 
other organizations(s) may be included as partners, participants, 
subgrantees or subcontractors. Before applications are reviewed, each 
application will be screened to determine that the organization is an 
eligible applicant as specified. Ineligible applicants will be 
notified.
    Project Duration: The announcement for the Child Development 
Associate (CDA) Credentialing Program is soliciting applications for a 
project period of five years. An award will be made on a competitive 
basis for the first one-year budget period. An application for the 
continuation grant funded for this award beyond the one-year period, 
but within the established project period, will be entertained in 
subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to availability of 
funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the best interest of the Government.
    Federal Share of Project Costs: A total of approximately $1,000,000 
in ACF funds will be available annually for this project. The Federal 
share is inclusive of indirect costs.
    Matching Requirements: There are not matching requirements.
    Anticipated Number of Projects to be Funded: It is anticipated that 
one project will be funded.

    Statutory Authority: Section 648(e) of the Head Start Act (42 
U.S.C. 9843).

Evaluation Criteria

    Reviewers will consider the following criteria when evaluating 
applicants. The maximum numbers of points available are indicated in 
parenthesis.

Criterion 1. Objectives and Need For Assistance (20 points)

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.

Criterion 2. Results and Benefits Expected (15 points)

    Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example 
describe the extent to which the applicant's recommendations and 
possible strategies for enhancing the current CDA National 
Credentialing Program systems and approaches to support Head Start 
staff qualification requirements as mandated by Section 648A of the 
Head Start Act and the revised Head Start Performance Standards. 
Clearly state the results and benefits of CDAs to be credentialed 
annually, and the extent to which the assessment and credentialing fee 
is affordable to potential candidates.

Criterion 3. Approach (50 points)

    Outline a plan of action, which describes the scope, and detail of 
how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions 
or activities identified in the application. Cite factors, which might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the 
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of 
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in 
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
    Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the 
accomplishments to be achieved for

[[Page 65976]]

each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be 
served and the number of activities accomplished. When accomplishments 
cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in 
chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their 
target dates.
    If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, 
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). This clearance pertains to any ``collection of information that 
is conducted or sponsored by ACF.''
    List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key 
individuals who will work on the project along with a short description 
of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Criterion 4. Budget and Budget Justification (15 points)

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

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 the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    All States and Territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, 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-five 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 
applicants 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 or 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 recommendations which 
may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: William Wilson, Head Start Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: Head Start--Child Development Associate 
Credentialing Program.
    A list of Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory can 
be found on the web site. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

    Dated: December 18, 2001.
James A. Harrell,
Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 01-31500 Filed 12-20-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M
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