Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2011/10/27/2011-27878.html
Timestamp: 2020-05-25 03:57:20
Document Index: 276688436

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', 'art 25', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 25', 'art 25']

New Policies and Procedural Requirements for the Electronic Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications, 66721-66723 [2011-27878] :: Children And Families Administration :: Department Of Health And Human Services :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of Health And Human Services Children And Families Administration New Policies and Procedural Requirements for the Electronic Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications, 66721-66723 [2011-27878]
New Policies and Procedural Requirements for the Electronic Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications, 66721-66723 [2011-27878]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices The times shown above are for the full Committee meeting. Subcommittee breakout sessions are scheduled for late in the afternoon on the first day and in the morning prior to the full Committee meeting on the second day. Agendas for these breakout sessions will be posted on the NCVHS Web site (URL below) when available. Contact Person for more Information: Substantive program information as well as summaries of meetings and a roster of committee members may be obtained from Marjorie S. Greenberg, Executive Secretary, NCVHS, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 2402, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, telephone (301) 458–4245. Information also is available on the NCVHS home page of the HHS Web site: http:// www.ncvhs.hhs.gov/, where further information including an agenda will be posted when available. Should you require reasonable accommodation, please contact the CDC Office of Equal Employment Opportunity on (301) 458–4EEO (4336) as soon as possible. Dated: October 20, 2011. James Scanlon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science Planning and Evaluation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Response to the Urgent Threat of Gonorrhea Antimicrobial Resistance; (4) CDC Division of Adolescent School Health Overview; and (5) Recent HIV Prevention Trials Network Studies. Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate. Contact Person for More Information: Margie Scott-Cseh, CDC, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop E–07, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, Telephone: (404) 639–8317. The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register Notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Dated: October 20, 2011. Elaine L. Baker, Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [FR Doc. 2011–27770 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163–18–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [FR Doc. 2011–27798 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4151–05–P Administration for Children and Families DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES New Policies and Procedural Requirements for the Electronic Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment wreier-aviles on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES In accordance with section l0(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announce the following committee meeting. Times and Dates: 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., November 15, 2011. 8 a.m.–3 p.m., November 16, 2011. Place: The Legacy Hotel and Meeting Centre, 1775 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Telephone: (301) 881–2300. Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available. The meeting room will accommodate approximately 100 people. Purpose: This Committee is charged with advising the Director, CDC and the Administrator, HRSA, regarding activities related to prevention and control of HIV/ AIDS and other STDs, the support of health care services to persons living with HIV/ AIDS, and education of health professionals and the public about HIV/AIDS and other STDs. Matters To Be Discussed: Agenda items include: (1) National HIV/AIDS Strategy Implementation Update; (2) CHAC Workgroups Update; (3) Review and VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:47 Oct 26, 2011 Jkt 226001 Division of Grants Policy, Office of Administration, ACF, HHS. ACTION: Notice of new policies and procedural requirements for the electronic submission of discretionary grant applications. AGENCY: Overview Information: The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces new policies and procedural requirements for the electronic submission of discretionary grant applications through the governmentwide grants application site, http:// www.Grants.gov and through http:// www.GrantSolutions.gov; effective January 1, 2012. DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on or before December 27, 2011. ADDRESSES: Submit written or electronic comments concerning this notice to Karen Shields, Grants Policy Specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of Grants Policy, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW., PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66721 Aerospace Building, 6th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. E-mail address: karen.shields@acf.hhs.gov. Delays may occur in mail delivery to Federal offices; therefore, a copy of comments should be faxed to (202) 205–6400. Comments will be available for inspection by members of the public at the Office of Administration, Division of Grants Policy, 901 D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an Operating Division of HHS, announces the opportunity for public comment on its initial transition plan to implement required electronic submission of Federal discretionary grant applications and official grant file documents. In accordance with e-Government initiatives mandated by the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, Public Law 106–107, ACF officially acknowledges that electronically generated and/or stored documents are recognized equivalents of an official paper grant file. Recognizing the equivalency of such documents eliminates duplicative effort and administrative burden for Federal grant applicants, recipients, and the awarding agency, by facilitating the submission and storage of official grant files. The ACF transition plan will begin with the required electronic submission of discretionary grant applications. ACF has previously afforded applicants and recipients the option of submitting Federal discretionary grant applications in both electronic and paper formats. This notice announces that during the initial transition phase and thereafter, discretionary grant applicants and recipients are now required to submit competing, and noncompeting continuation, grant applications electronically. The electronic portals used to support this effort are http://www.Grants.gov and http://www.GrantSolutions.gov. Electronic Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications • Competing Grant Applications— ACF will continue to post synopses of planned discretionary Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) at the HHS Grants Forecast Web site http://www.hhs.gov/grantsforecast/and synopses of published FOAs on http:// www.Grants.gov. Applicants will continue to use http://www.Grants.gov for their application submissions for discretionary awards. Full ACF FOAs are published at http:// www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html. • Non-Competing Continuation Grant Applications—Guidance will be provided by ACF directly to existing E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM 27OCN1 66722 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices grantees on the appropriate electronic system that will allow them to submit non-competing continuation applications to either http:// www.Grants.gov or http:// www.GrantSolutions.gov. Universal Identifier (DUNS), CCR Registration, and Registration at http://www.Grants.gov. Applicants that have not already done so should prepare for this transition by first obtaining a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform and then registering with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http:// www.ccr.gov, a requirement that became mandatory for all applicants, grantees, and first-tier subawardees on October 1, 2010. Submission of electronic applications to http://www.Grants.gov by applicants not registered with the CCR will be rejected by that system. wreier-aviles on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES About the Universal Identifier (DUNS Number) and Central Contractor Registration (CCR) On September 14, 2010, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the final version of a new award term 2 CFR Part 25, Universal Identifier and Central Contractor Registration (75 FR 55671). It codified two existing guidance documents relating to registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and obtaining a Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The DUNS/CCR award term in 2 CFR Part 25 requires recipients to maintain the currency of their CCR registration, until they submit their final required financial report under an award, or until they receive final payment, whichever is later. CCR registration must be updated annually and is required of all applicants using the Grants.gov portal. About www.Grants.gov Applicants can immediately start searching the FIND section of http:// www.Grants.gov for Federal grant opportunities. Applicants can also register at http://www.Grants.gov to receive automatic email notifications of new grant opportunities as they are posted. To prepare to use the APPLY function at http://www.Grants.gov, ACF strongly recommends that applicants immediately initiate and complete the ‘‘Get Started’’ steps to register with Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/ applicants/get_registered.jsp. Although the steps can be completed within a few days in many cases, we strongly advise against waiting until a specific funding opportunity is announced before initiating the Grants.gov registration VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:47 Oct 26, 2011 Jkt 226001 process to avoid unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of your application. Organizations that are already registered at Grants.gov, please note that accounts that are inactive for one calendar year will be deactivated. Please Note: Applicant passwords at Grants.gov now expire every 90 days. Registered applicants will receive two email notifications before their passwords expire. There is now an option for applicants to request a system-generated password through an email message. Accounts will lock for 15 minutes if the user provides the wrong password three consecutive times within a five-minute period. Change in Submission Time for Electronically Submitted Discretionary Grant Applications With the implementation of electronic submission of discretionary grant applications via Grants.gov, ACF will extend the timeframe for application receipt from 4:30 p.m., E.T., to 11:59 p.m., E.T. Applications received at or after 12 a.m., E.T., of the day following the application due date will be designated as late and will be disqualified from competition. Proof of receipt (date and time stamp) is provided by the Grants.gov system. The cutoff for receipt of hard copy/ paper applications by those applicants that have obtained a waiver (see the Exceptions to the Electronic Submission Requirement and Waivers section of this notice) will remain at 4:30 p.m., E.T. Exceptions to the Electronic Submission Requirement and Waivers ACF recognizes that segments of the applicant community may have limited or no Internet access, and/or limited computer capacity, which may prohibit them from uploading large files to the Internet at http://www.Grants.gov and/ or http://www.GrantSolutions.gov. To accommodate such applicants, ACF is instituting a waiver procedure, on a case-by-case basis, that will allow such applicants to submit hard copy, paper grant applications by hand-delivery, applicant courier, overnight/express mail couriers, or other representatives of the applicant. Applicants will be required to submit a written statement to ACF that the applicant qualifies for a waiver under one of these grounds: Lack of Internet access; or limited computer capacity that prevents the uploading of large files to the Internet. The written statement must be sent to the Grants Management Contact listed in Section VII. in all published discretionary FOAs, and must include the FOA Title, Funding Opportunity Number (FON), the listed PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number and the reason for which the applicant is requesting a waiver. Waiver requests may be submitted by mail or by email. The request must be received by ACF no later than two weeks before the application due date, that is, 14 calendar days prior to the application due date listed in the FOA, or if the fourteenth calendar day falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the next Federal business day following the Federal holiday. Complete instructions on the waiver option will appear in all published FOAs announcing the availability of discretionary grants. Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, ACF will consider requests to accept hard copy, paper submissions of grant applications when circumstances such as natural disasters occur (floods, hurricanes, etc.); or when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in other rare cases that would prevent electronic submission of the documents. In all cases, the decision to allow a waiver to accept submission of hard copy, paper applications will rest with the Grants Management Officer listed in Section VII of each discretionary FOA and/or Notice of Award (NOA). Hard copy/paper applications for new awards, submitted by applicants without prior approval of a waiver within the required timeframe, will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified from competition and objective review. The waiver process will not apply to applications for noncompeting continuation grants. Records Retention The HHS regulations at 45 CFR 92.42 (State, Local, and Tribal Governments) and 45 CFR 74.53 (Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, Other Nonprofit Organizations, and Commercial Organizations) pertaining to the retrieval, retention, disposition and destruction of official grant files remain in effect for electronically submitted documents. Future Implementation This guidance represents the initial phase of ACF’s transition to required electronic submission of all official grant documents. ACF will continue to communicate transition plans for other documents as they evolve and will provide the applicant and recipient communities, and the general public, with sufficient notice of implementation details. In general, notices will be published in the Federal Register at least 60 days before the implementation becomes effective. E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM 27OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Shields, Grants Policy Specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, OA/Division of Grants Policy, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, 6th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. Email: karen.shields@acf.hhs.gov. Fax: (202) 205–6400. Dated: October 21, 2011. Jason Donaldson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Administration for Children and Families. [FR Doc. 2011–27878 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA–2011–N–0528] Food Safety Modernization Act Domestic and Foreign Facility Reinspections, Recall, and Importer Reinspection User Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2012; Extension of Comment Period AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the comment period to November 30, 2011, for the notice entitled, ‘‘Food Safety Modernization Act Domestic and Foreign Facility Reinspections, Recall, and Importer Reinspection User Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2012’’ that appeared in the Federal Register of August 1, 2011 (76 FR 45820). In that document, FDA announced the establishment of a docket to obtain comments that would be considered in establishing the fee rates for fiscal year (FY) 2013. In particular, the Agency provided the current FY 2012 fees and requested public comments to the document and intends to consider such comments, as well as experience and additional data gained in implementing these fees in FY 2012, in establishing the fee rates for FY 2013. The Agency is taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments. DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments by November 30, 2011. ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments to http:// wreier-aviles on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:47 Oct 26, 2011 Jkt 226001 www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. 66723 Dated: October 24, 2011. Leslie Kux, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. 2011–27845 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160–01–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Waltrip, 12420 Parklawn Dr., rm. 2012, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 796– 8811, email: Amy.Waltrip@fda.hhs.gov. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: National Institutes of Health I. Background Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request: National Institutes of Health Construction Grants In the Federal Register of August 1, 2011 (76 FR 45820), FDA published a notice with a 90-day comment period to request comments on the establishment of domestic and foreign facility reinspections, non-compliance with recall order, and importer reinspection FY 2012 user fees. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act provides the Agency with authority under section 743 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379j–31) to assess and collect fees, including those for costs associated with certain domestic and foreign facility reinspections, failure to comply with a recall order, and importer reinspections. The Agency is seeking public comment on the established FY 2012 user fees. In particular, the Agency is seeking public comments intending to consider such comments, as well as experience and additional data gained in implementing these user fees in FY 2012, in establishing the fee rates for FY 2013. The Agency has received a request for an extension of the comment period. The request conveyed concern that the current 90-day comment period does not allow sufficient time to develop a meaningful or thoughtful response to the notice. FDA has considered the request and is extending the comment period for the notice for 30 days until November 30, 2011. The Agency believes that this extension allows adequate time for interested persons to submit comments. II. Request for Comments Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments on this document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Summary: Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2011, pages 51042–51043, and allowed 60 days for public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The NIH may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, information that has been extended, revised or implemented on or after October 1, 2008, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Proposed Collection: Title: National Institutes of Health Construction GrantsB42 CFR part 52b (Final Rule). Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of No. 0925–0424, expiration date 8/31/2008. Need and Use of the Information Collection: This request is for OMB review and approval of an extension for the information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained in the regulation codified at 42 CFR part 52b. The purpose of the regulation is to govern the awarding and administration of grants awarded by NIH and its components for construction of new buildings and the alteration, renovation, remodeling, improvement, expansion, and repair of existing buildings, including the provision of equipment necessary to make the buildings (or applicable part of the buildings) suitable for the purpose for which it was constructed. In terms of reporting requirements: Section 52b.9(b) of the regulation requires the transferor of a facility which is sold or transferred, or owner of a facility, the use of which has changed, to provide written notice of the sale, transfer or change within 30 days. Section 52b.10(f) requires a grantee to submit an approved copy of the construction E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM 27OCN1
[Pages 66721-66723]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27878]
New Policies and Procedural Requirements for the Electronic
Submission of Discretionary Grant Applications
AGENCY: Division of Grants Policy, Office of Administration, ACF, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of new policies and procedural requirements for the
electronic submission of discretionary grant applications.
Overview Information: The Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Administration, Administration for Children and Families (ACF),
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces new policies
and procedural requirements for the electronic submission of
discretionary grant applications through the government-wide grants
application site, http://www.Grants.gov and through http://www.GrantSolutions.gov; effective January 1, 2012.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on or before December 27,
ADDRESSES: Submit written or electronic comments concerning this notice
to Karen Shields, Grants Policy Specialist, Department of Health and
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Division of
Grants Policy, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, 6th
Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. E-mail address:
karen.shields@acf.hhs.gov. Delays may occur in mail delivery to Federal
offices; therefore, a copy of comments should be faxed to (202) 205-
6400. Comments will be available for inspection by members of the
public at the Office of Administration, Division of Grants Policy, 901
D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an
Operating Division of HHS, announces the opportunity for public comment
on its initial transition plan to implement required electronic
submission of Federal discretionary grant applications and official
grant file documents. In accordance with e-Government initiatives
mandated by the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act
of 1999, Public Law 106-107, ACF officially acknowledges that
electronically generated and/or stored documents are recognized
equivalents of an official paper grant file. Recognizing the
equivalency of such documents eliminates duplicative effort and
administrative burden for Federal grant applicants, recipients, and the
awarding agency, by facilitating the submission and storage of official
grant files. The ACF transition plan will begin with the required
ACF has previously afforded applicants and recipients the option of
submitting Federal discretionary grant applications in both electronic
and paper formats. This notice announces that during the initial
transition phase and thereafter, discretionary grant applicants and
recipients are now required to submit competing, and non-competing
continuation, grant applications electronically. The electronic portals
used to support this effort are http://www.Grants.gov and http://www.GrantSolutions.gov.
Competing Grant Applications--ACF will continue to post
synopses of planned discretionary Funding Opportunity Announcements
(FOAs) at the HHS Grants Forecast Web site http://www.hhs.gov/grantsforecast/and synopses of published FOAs on http://www.Grants.gov.
Applicants will continue to use http://www.Grants.gov for their
application submissions for discretionary awards. Full ACF FOAs are
published at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.
Non-Competing Continuation Grant Applications--Guidance
will be provided by ACF directly to existing
grantees on the appropriate electronic system that will allow them to
submit non-competing continuation applications to either http://www.Grants.gov or http://www.GrantSolutions.gov.
Universal Identifier (DUNS), CCR Registration, and Registration at
Applicants that have not already done so should prepare for this
transition by first obtaining a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform and then registering with the
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at http://www.ccr.gov, a
requirement that became mandatory for all applicants, grantees, and
first-tier subawardees on October 1, 2010. Submission of electronic
applications to http://www.Grants.gov by applicants not registered with
the CCR will be rejected by that system.
About the Universal Identifier (DUNS Number) and Central Contractor
On September 14, 2010, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
released the final version of a new award term 2 CFR Part 25, Universal
Identifier and Central Contractor Registration (75 FR 55671). It
codified two existing guidance documents relating to registration with
the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and obtaining a Dun & Bradstreet
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.
The DUNS/CCR award term in 2 CFR Part 25 requires recipients to
maintain the currency of their CCR registration, until they submit
their final required financial report under an award, or until they
receive final payment, whichever is later. CCR registration must be
updated annually and is required of all applicants using the Grants.gov
Applicants can immediately start searching the FIND section of
http://www.Grants.gov for Federal grant opportunities. Applicants can
also register at http://www.Grants.gov to receive automatic email
notifications of new grant opportunities as they are posted. To prepare
to use the APPLY function at http://www.Grants.gov, ACF strongly
recommends that applicants immediately initiate and complete the ``Get
Started'' steps to register with Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. Although the steps can be completed
within a few days in many cases, we strongly advise against waiting
until a specific funding opportunity is announced before initiating the
Grants.gov registration process to avoid unexpected delays that could
result in the rejection of your application.
Organizations that are already registered at Grants.gov, please
note that accounts that are inactive for one calendar year will be
Please Note: Applicant passwords at Grants.gov now expire every
90 days. Registered applicants will receive two email notifications
before their passwords expire. There is now an option for applicants
to request a system-generated password through an email message.
Accounts will lock for 15 minutes if the user provides the wrong
password three consecutive times within a five-minute period.
Change in Submission Time for Electronically Submitted Discretionary
With the implementation of electronic submission of discretionary
grant applications via Grants.gov, ACF will extend the timeframe for
application receipt from 4:30 p.m., E.T., to 11:59 p.m., E.T.
Applications received at or after 12 a.m., E.T., of the day following
the application due date will be designated as late and will be
disqualified from competition. Proof of receipt (date and time stamp)
is provided by the Grants.gov system.
The cutoff for receipt of hard copy/paper applications by those
applicants that have obtained a waiver (see the Exceptions to the
Electronic Submission Requirement and Waivers section of this notice)
will remain at 4:30 p.m., E.T.
ACF recognizes that segments of the applicant community may have
may prohibit them from uploading large files to the Internet at http://www.Grants.gov and/or http://www.GrantSolutions.gov. To accommodate
such applicants, ACF is instituting a waiver procedure, on a case-by-
case basis, that will allow such applicants to submit hard copy, paper
grant applications by hand-delivery, applicant courier, overnight/
express mail couriers, or other representatives of the applicant.
Applicants will be required to submit a written statement to ACF
that the applicant qualifies for a waiver under one of these grounds:
Lack of Internet access; or limited computer capacity that prevents the
uploading of large files to the Internet. The written statement must be
sent to the Grants Management Contact listed in Section VII. in all
published discretionary FOAs, and must include the FOA Title, Funding
Opportunity Number (FON), the listed Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) number and the reason for which the applicant is
requesting a waiver. Waiver requests may be submitted by mail or by
email. The request must be received by ACF no later than two weeks
before the application due date, that is, 14 calendar days prior to the
application due date listed in the FOA, or if the fourteenth calendar
day falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the next Federal business
day following the Federal holiday. Complete instructions on the waiver
option will appear in all published FOAs announcing the availability of
Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, ACF will consider requests
to accept hard copy, paper submissions of grant applications when
circumstances such as natural disasters occur (floods, hurricanes,
etc.); or when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in
other rare cases that would prevent electronic submission of the
In all cases, the decision to allow a waiver to accept submission
of hard copy, paper applications will rest with the Grants Management
Officer listed in Section VII of each discretionary FOA and/or Notice
Hard copy/paper applications for new awards, submitted by
applicants without prior approval of a waiver within the required
timeframe, will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified
from competition and objective review. The waiver process will not
apply to applications for non-competing continuation grants.
The HHS regulations at 45 CFR 92.42 (State, Local, and Tribal
Governments) and 45 CFR 74.53 (Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, Other Nonprofit Organizations, and Commercial Organizations)
pertaining to the retrieval, retention, disposition and destruction of
official grant files remain in effect for electronically submitted
This guidance represents the initial phase of ACF's transition to
required electronic submission of all official grant documents. ACF
will continue to communicate transition plans for other documents as
they evolve and will provide the applicant and recipient communities,
and the general public, with sufficient notice of implementation
details. In general, notices will be published in the Federal Register
at least 60 days before the implementation becomes effective.
Specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, OA/Division of Grants Policy, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Aerospace Building, 6th Floor East, Washington, DC
20447. Email: karen.shields@acf.hhs.gov. Fax: (202) 205-6400.