FR Doc 05-7475

[Federal Register: April 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 73)]
[Notices]
[Page 20124-20135]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap05-61]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Community Services; Community Services Block Grant
Program; Community Economic Development; Discretionary Grant Program--
Operational Projects

Announcement Type: Initial.
Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EE-0019.
CFDA Number: 93.570.
Due Date for Applications: Application is due June 17, 2005.
Executive Summary: The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of
1981, as amended, (Section 680 (a)(2) of the Community Opportunities,
Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998),
authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to make grants to provide technical and financial assistance
for economic development activities designed to address the economic
needs of low-income individuals and families by creating employment and
business development opportunities. Pursuant to this Announcement, OCS
will award operational project grants to Community Development
Corporations (CDCs) that are experienced in implementing economic
development projects. The primary purpose of the Operational Projects
(OPs) is to assist eligible CDCs, including American Indian and Native
Alaskan, and faith based organizations that are CDCs that have in
place: (1) Written commitments for all projected non-Community Economic
Development (CED) funding, (2) project operations, (3) site control for
their economic development projects and (4) referral sources (from
which low-income individuals will be referred to the project). Low-
income beneficiaries of such projects include those who are living in
poverty as determined by the HHS Guidelines on Poverty (at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.shtml
). They may be unemployed; public

assistance recipients, including recipients of Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF), individuals transitioning from the prison system
into the community, at-risk youth, custodial and non-custodial parents;
residents living in public housing; persons with disabilities; and
persons who are homeless. Operational Projects are designed to
encourage rural and urban community development corporations to create
projects intended to provide employment and business development
opportunities for low-income people through business or commercial
development. The opportunities must aim to improve the quality of the
economic and social environment of TANF recipients; low-income
residents including displaced workers; individuals transitioning from
the prison system into the community; at-risk youth; non-custodial
parents, particularly those of children receiving TANF assistance;
individuals residing in public housing; individuals who are homeless;
and individuals with disabilities. Grant funds under this announcement
are intended to provide resources to eligible applicants (CDCs) but
also have the broader objectives of arresting tendencies toward
dependency, chronic unemployment, and community deterioration in urban
and rural areas. Eligible applicants must submit a business plan that
shows the economic feasibility of the venture. Applicants for an OP
must have in place written commitments for all projected non-CED
funding required for the project. Written proof of commitments from
third parties must be submitted with the application. Letters of
support, only, are insufficient. The application must also clearly
document in detail the extent to which site control has been acquired.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act of 1981, as amended,
(Section 680 (a)(2) of the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and
Training and Educational Services Act of 1998), authorizes the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make
grants to provide technical and financial assistance for economic
development activities designed to address the economic needs of low-
income individuals and families by creating employment and business
development opportunities. Pursuant to this Announcement, OCS will
award Operational Project grants to Community Development Corporations
(CDCs) that are experienced in implementing economic development
projects. CDCs participating in the Weed and Seed Program under the
Department of Justice are encouraged to apply for funding for their
revitalization effort.
The primary purpose of the Operational Projects (OPs) is to assist
eligible CDCs that have in place (1) written commitments for all
projected non-CED funding, (2) project operations, (3) site control for
their economic development project and (4) referral sources (which low-
income individuals will be referred to the project). Eligible
applicants must submit a business plan that shows the economic
feasibility of the venture. Applicants for an OP must have in place
written commitments for all projected non-CED funding required for the
project. Written proof of commitments from third parties must be
submitted with the application. Letters of support, only, are
insufficient. The application must also detail the extent to which site
control has been acquired. Low-income beneficiaries of such projects
include those who are living in poverty as determined by the HHS
Guidelines on Poverty at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.shtml.

They may be unemployed, public assistance recipients, including
recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), at-risk
youth, custodial and non-custodial parents, public housing residents,
persons with disabilities and persons who are homeless.
Operational Projects are designed to encourage rural and urban
community development corporations to create projects intended to
provide employment and business development opportunities for low-
income people through business or commercial development. Generally,
the opportunities must aim to improve the quality of the economic and
social environment of TANF recipients; low-income residents including
displaced workers; persons transitioning from prison back into the
community; ex-offenders; at-risk youth; non-custodial parents,
particularly those of children receiving TANF assistance; individuals
residing in public housing; individuals who are homeless; and
individuals with disabilities. Grant funds under this announcement are
intended to provide

[[Page 20125]]

resources to eligible applicants (CDCs) but also have the broader
objectives of arresting tendencies toward dependency, chronic
unemployment, and community deterioration in urban and rural areas.

Project Goals

CED projects should further HHS goals of strengthening American
families and promoting their self-sufficiency, and OCS goals of
promoting healthy families in healthy communities. The CED Program is
particularly directed toward public-private partnerships that develop
employment and business opportunities for low-income people and
revitalize distressed communities.

Project Scope

Projects may include business start-ups, business expansions,
development of new products and services, and other newly-undertaken
physical and commercial activities. Projects must result in creation of
new jobs. Each applicant must describe the project scope including the
low-income community to be served, business activities to be undertaken
and the types of jobs to be created.

Definitions of Terms

The following definitions apply:

--Beneficiaries--Low-income individuals (as defined in the most recent
annual revision of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services) who receive direct benefits
and low-income communities that receive direct benefits.
--Budget Period--The time interval into which a grant period is divided
for budgetary and funding purposes.
--Business Start-up Period--Time interval within which the grantee
completes preliminary project tasks. These tasks include but are not
limited to assembling key staff, executing contracts, administering
lease-out or build-out of space for occupancy, purchasing plant and
equipment and other similar activities. The Business Start-Up Period
typically takes three to six months from the time OCS awards the grant
or cooperative agreement.
--Cash contributions--The recipient's cash outlay, including the outlay
of money contributed to the recipient by the third parties.
--Community Development Corporation (CDC)--A private, non-profit
corporation governed by a board of directors consisting of residents of
the community and business and civic leaders, which has as a principal
purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or
community development activities, may include American Indian and
Native Alaskan and faith-based organizations that are CDCs.
--Community Economic Development (CED)--A process by which a community
uses resources to attract capital and increase physical, commercial,
and business development, as well as job opportunities for its
residents.
--Construction projects--Projects that involve the initial building or
large scale modernization or permanent improvement of a facility.
--Cooperative Agreement--An award instrument of financial assistance
when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding
office, (the Federal government) and the recipient during performance
of the contemplated project.
--Developmental/Research Phase--The time interval during the Project
Period that precedes the Operational Phase. Grantees accomplish
preliminary activities during this phase including establishing third
party agreements, mobilizing monetary funds and other resources,
assembling, rezoning, and leasing of properties, conducting
architectural and engineering studies, constructing facilities, etc.
--Displaced worker--An individual in the labor market who has been
unemployed for six months or longer.
--Distressed community--A geographic urban neighborhood or rural
community of high unemployment and pervasive poverty.
--Employment education and training program--A program that provides
education and/or training to welfare recipients, at-risk youth, public
housing tenants, displaced workers, homeless and low-income individuals
and that has demonstrated organizational experience in education and
training for these populations.
--Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Project Areas (EZ/EC)--
Urban neighborhoods and rural areas designated as such by the
Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture.
--Equity investment--The provision of capital to a business entity for
some specified purpose in return for a portion of ownership using a
third-party agreement as the contractual instrument.
--Faith-Based Community Development Corporation--A community
development corporation that has a religious character.
--Hypothesis--An assumption made in order to test a theory. It should
assert a cause-and-effect relationship between a program intervention
and its expected result. Both the intervention and its result must be
measured in order to confirm the hypothesis. The following is a
hypothesis: ``Eighty hours of classroom training will be sufficient for
participants to prepare a successful loan application.'' In this
example, data would be obtained on the number of hours of training
actually received by participants (the intervention), and the quality
of loan applications (the result), to determine the validity of the
hypothesis (that eighty hours of training is sufficient to produce the
result).
--Indirect Costs--This category should be used only when the applicant
currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency.
--Intervention--Any planned activity within a project that is intended
to produce changes in the target population and/or the environment and
that can be formally evaluated. For example, assistance in the
preparation of a business plan is an intervention.
--Job creation--New jobs, i.e., jobs not in existence prior to the
start of the project, that result from new business start-ups, business
expansion, development of new services industries, and/or other newly-
undertaken physical or commercial activities.
--Job placement--Placing a person in an existing vacant job of a
business, service, or commercial activity not related to new
development or expansion activity.
--Letter of commitment--A signed letter or agreement from a third party
to the applicant that pledges financial or other support for the grant
activities contingent only on OCS accepting the applicant's project
proposal.
--Loan--Money lent to a borrower under a binding pledge for a given
purpose to be repaid, usually at a stated rate of interest and within a
specified period.
--Low-Income Beneficiaries--Individuals whose family's taxable income
for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level
amount.
--Non-profit Organization--An organization, including faith-based and
community-based, that provides proof of non-profit status described in
the ``Additional Information on

[[Page 20126]]

Eligibility'' section of this announcement.
--Operational Phase--The time interval during the Project Period when
businesses, commercial development or other activities are in
operation, and employment, business development assistance, and so
forth are provided.
--Outcome evaluation--An assessment of project results as measured by
collected data that define the net effects of the interventions applied
in the project. An outcome evaluation will produce and interpret
findings related to whether the interventions produced desirable
changes and their potential for being replicated.
--Poverty Income Guidelines--Guidelines published annually by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services that establish the level of
poverty defined as low-income for individuals and their families. The
guideline information is posted on the Internet at the following
address: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/poverty.shtml.

--Process evaluation--The ongoing examination of the implementation of
a program. It focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the
program's activities and interventions (for example, methods of
recruiting participants, quality of training activities, or usefulness
of follow-up procedures). It should answer the questions such as: Who
is receiving what services and are the services being delivered as
planned? It is also known as formative evaluation, because it gathers
information that can be used as a management tool to improve the way a
program operates while the program is in progress. It should also
identify problems that occurred, how the problems were resolved and
what recommendations are needed for future implementation.
--Pre-Development Phase--The time interval during the Project Period
when an applicant or grantee plans a project, conducts feasibility
studies, prepares a business or work plan and mobilizes non-OCS
funding.
--Program income--Gross income earned by the grant recipient that is
directly generated by an activity supported with grant funds.
--Project Period--The total time for which a project is approved for
OCS support, including any approved extensions.
--Revolving loan fund--A capital fund established to make loans whereby
repayments are re-lent to other borrowers.
--Self-employment--The employment status of an individual who engages
in self-directed economic activities.
--Self-sufficiency--The economic status of a person who does not
require public assistance to provide for his/her needs and that of his/
her immediate family.
--Sub-award--An award of financial assistance in the form of money, or
property, made under an award by a recipient to an eligible sub-
recipient or by a sub-recipient to a lower tier sub-recipient. The term
includes financial assistance when provided by any legal agreement,
even if the agreement is called a contract, but does not include
procurement of goods and services nor does it include any form of
assistance which is excluded from the definition of ``award'' in 45 CFR
part 74. (Note: Equity investments and loan transactions are not sub-
awards.)
--Technical assistance--A problem-solving event generally using the
services of a specialist. Such services may be provided on-site, by
telephone or by other communications. These services address specific
problems and are intended to assist with immediate resolution of a
given problem or set of problems.
--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)--The Federal block
grant program authorized in Title I of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-193). The TANF
program transformed ``welfare'' into a system that requires work in
exchange for time-limited assistance.
--Third party--Any individual, organization or business entity that is
not the direct recipient of grant funds.
--Third party agreement--A written agreement entered into by the
grantee and an organization, individual or business entity (including a
wholly owned subsidiary), by which the grantee makes an equity
investment or a loan in support of grant purposes.
--Third party in-kind contributions--Non-cash contributions provided by
non-Federal third parties. These contributions may be in the form of
real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, and
the value of goods and services directly benefiting and especially
identifiable to the project or program.
--Weed and Seed Program--US Department of Justice's Weed and Seed
program was developed to demonstrate an innovative and comprehensive
approach to law enforcement and community revitalization.

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $16,000,000.
Anticipated Number of Awards: 50 to 55.
Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards Per Project Period:
$700,000.
Floor on Amount of Individual Awards Per Project Period: None.
Average Projected Award Amount: $700,000.
Length of Project Periods: Applications for Operational Projects,
either exclusively for construction purposes or non-construction
purposes will be incrementally funded. Proposed projects must be for
project periods of either three (3) or five (5) years with twelve month
budget periods. Applicants can request up to $300,000 for the first
year of funding. The application must include separate budgets for each
of the project years with a supporting workplan that reflects the same
period. For three (3) year projects, the second and third year funding
cannot exceed $200,000 per year, not to exceed the balance of the total
requested funding amount. For five (5) year projects, funding cannot
exceed $100,000 per year, not to exceed the balance of the total
requested funding amount. However, all grant funds for the subsequent
years are subject to the satisfactory project performance and that the
project continues to be in the best interest of the government in
addition to the availability of appropriated OCS funds.
Note that the President's 2006 budget does not include or propose
funding for the Community Economic Development program.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than
institutions of higher education Non-profits that do not have a
501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher
education.
Additional Information on Eligibility
Applicants must be a private, non-profit Community Development
Corporation (CDC) experienced in developing and managing economic
development projects. For purposes of this grant program, the CDC must
be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of residents of the
community and business and civic leaders. The CDC must have as a
principal purpose planning, developing, or managing low-income housing
or community development activities.

[[Page 20127]]

Applicants must document their eligibility as a CDC for the
purposes of this grant program. The application must include a list of
governing board members along with their designation as a community
resident, or business or civic leader. In addition, the application
must include documentation that the organization has as a primary
purpose planning, developing or managing low-income housing or
community development activities. This documentation may include
incorporation documents or other official documents that identify the
organization. Applications that do not include proof of CDC status in
the application will be disqualified. Applications that do not include
proof of non-profit status in the application will be disqualified.
Faith-based organizations that meet the statutory requirements are
eligible to apply for these grants.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

None.

3. Other

All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet number. On June 27,
2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in the Federal
Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant
applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a
Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide
electronic portal (http://www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for

every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award,
including applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block
grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may
acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free
DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number
on-line at http://www.dnb.com.

Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to
submit proof of their non-profit status.
Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:
A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in the IRS Code.
A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney
general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the
applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net
earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
A certified copy of the organization's certificate of
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit
status.
Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,''
titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,'' at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Disqualification Factors
Applications that exceed the ceiling amount will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered for funding under this
announcement.
Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements
referenced in Section IV.3 will be considered non-responsive and will
not be considered for funding under this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

Debbie Brown, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100,
Arlington, VA 22209, (202)401-3446, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Content
Each application must include the following components:
1. Table of Contents
2. Project Summary/Abstract--one or two paragraphs, not to exceed
350 words, that describe the community in which the project will be
implemented, beneficiaries to be served, type(s) of business(es) to be
developed, type(s) of jobs to be created, projected cost-per-job, any
land or building to be purchased or building constructed, resources
leveraged and intended impact on the community. Note: Please see
Section V.1. Criteria, for instructions on preparing the project
summary/abstract and the full project description.
3. Completed Standard Form 424--that has been signed by an official
of the organization applying for the grant who has legal authority to
obligate the organization. Under Box 11, indicate the Priority Area for
which the application is written (This announcement is for Priority
Area 1--Operational Projects).
4. Standard Form 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction
Programs.
5. Standard Form 424B--Budget Information--Construction Programs.
6. Narrative Budget Justification--for each object class category
required under Section B, Standard Form 424A. Applicants are encouraged
to use job titles and not specific names in developing the application
budget. However, the specific salary rates or amounts for staff
positions identified must be included in the application budget.
7. Project Narrative--A narrative that addresses issues described
in the ``Application Review Information'' and the ``Review and
Selection Criteria'' sections of this announcement.
8. Private, Non-profit Community Development Corporation--
Applicants must provide proof of status as a community development
corporation as required by statute and as described under ``Additional
Information on Eligibility.''
9. Sufficiency of Financial Management System--Because CED funds
are Federal, all grantees must be capable of meeting the requirements
of 45 CFR part 74 concerning their financial management system.
10. Business Plan--Applicants for the OP grant announcement must
submit a business plan covering the following elements: For incubator
or microenterprise development projects, the business plan covers the
project, not the individual business plans of beneficiaries.
The business plan is a major component of the application which is
used by OCS and the Office of Grants Management (OGM) to determine the
feasibility of a business venture or other economic development
project. It addresses all the relevant elements as follows:
Applications for Operational Projects--must submit a business plan.
For microenterprise development projects, the business plan covers the
project, not the individual business plans of beneficiaries. The
business plan is a major component of the application used by the
Office of Community

[[Page 20128]]

Services and the Office of Grants Management to determine the
feasibility of a business venture or other economic development
project. OCS applicants to must address all the relevant elements as
follows:
(1) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (limit to 2 pages)
(2) Description of the type of business.
(3) Description of the industry, current status and prospects.
(4) Products and services, including detailed descriptions of: (a)
Products or services to be sold; (b) Proprietary position of any
product, e.g., patents, copyright, trade secrets; (c) Features of the
product or service that may give it an advantage over the competition;
(5) Market Research: This section describes the research conducted
to assure that the business has a substantial market to develop and
achieve sales in the face of competition. This includes researching:
(a) Customer base: describe the actual and potential purchases for the
product or service by market segment; (b) Market size and trends:
describe the site of the current total market for the product or
service offered; (c) Competition: Provide an assessment of the
strengths and weaknesses of the competition in the current market; (d)
Estimated market share and sales: Describe the characteristics of the
product or service that will make it competitive in the current market;
(6) Marketing Plan: The marketing plan details the product,
pricing, distribution, and promotion strategies that will be used to
achieve the estimated market share and sales projections. The marketing
plan must describe what is to be done, how it will be done and who will
do it. The plan addresses overall marketing, strategy, packaging,
service and warrant, pricing, distribution and promotion.
(7) Design and Development Plans: If the product, process or
service of the proposed venture requires any design and development
before it is ready to be placed on the market, describe the nature,
extent and cost of this work. The section covers items such as
development status and tasks, difficulties and risks, product
improvement and new products and costs.
(8) Operations Plan: An operations plan describes the kind of
facilities, site location, space, capital equipment and labor force
(part-time and/or full-time and wage structure) that are required to
provide the company's product or service.
(9) Management Team: This section describes the technical
managerial and business skills and experience to be brought to the
project. This is a description of key management personnel and their
primary duties; compensation and/or ownership; the organizational
structure and placement of this proposed project within the
organization; the board of directors; management assistance and
training needs; and supporting professional services.
(10) Overall Schedule: This section is the implementation plan
which shows the timing and interrelationships of the major events or
benchmarks necessary to launch the venture and realize its objectives.
This includes a month-by-month schedule of activities such as product
development, market planning, sales programs, production and operations
and an annual schedule of the requested budget. If the proposed project
is for construction, this section lays out timeframes for conduct of
predevelopment, architectural, engineering and environmental and other
studies, and acquisition of permits for building, use and occupancy
that are required by the project.
(11) Job Creation: This section describes the job creation
activities and projections expected as a result of this project. This
includes a description of the strategy that will be used to identify
and hire individuals who are low-income, including those on TANF. This
section includes the following: (a) The number of permanent jobs that
will be created during the project period, with particular emphasis on
jobs for low-income individuals. (b) For low-income individuals, the
number of jobs that will be filled by low-income individuals (this must
be at least 60 percent of all jobs created); the number of jobs that
have career development opportunities and a description of those jobs;
the number of jobs that will be filled by individuals receiving TANF;
the annual salary expected for each person employed. (c) For low-income
individuals who become self-employed, the number of self-employed and
other ownership opportunities created; specific steps to be taken
including ongoing management support and technical assistance provided
by the grantee or a third party to develop and sustain self-employment
after the businesses are in place; and expected net profit after
deductions of business expenses. Note: OCS will not recognize job
equivalents nor job counts based on economic multiplier functions; jobs
must be specifically identified.
(12) Financial Plan: The financial plan demonstrates the economic
supports underpinning the project. It shows the project's potential and
the timetable for financial self-sufficiency. The following exhibits
must be submitted for the first three years of the business' operation:
(a) Profit and Loss Forecasts--quarterly for each year; (b) Cash Flow
Projections--quarterly for each year; (c) Pro forma balance sheets--
quarterly for each year; (d) Sources and Use of Funds Statement for all
funds available to the project and projected to be available; (e) Brief
summary discussing any further capital requirements and methods or
projected methods for obtaining needed resources.
(13) Critical Risks and Assumptions: This section covers the risks
faced by the project and assumptions surrounding them. This includes a
description of the risks and critical assumptions relating to the
industry, the venture, its personnel, the product or service market
appeal, and the timing and financing of the venture.
(14) Community Benefits: This section describes other economic and
non-economic benefits to the community such as development of a
community's physical assets; provision of needed, but currently
unsupplied, services or products to the community; or improvement in
the living environment.
All third party agreements must include written commitments as
follows: From third party (as appropriate):
(1) Low-income individuals will fill a minimum of 60 percent of the
jobs to be created from project activities as a result of the injection
of grant funds.
(2) The grantee will have the right to screen applicants for jobs
to be filled by low-income individuals and to verify their eligibility.
(3) If the grantee's equity investment equals 25 percent or more of
the business' assets, the grantee will have representation on the board
of directors.
(4) Reports will be made to the grantee regarding the use of grant
funds on a quarterly basis or more frequently, if necessary.
(5) Procedures will be developed to assure that there are no
duplicate counts of jobs created.
(6) That the third party will maintain documentation related to the
grant objectives as specified in the agreement and will provide the
grantee and HHS access to that documentation. From the grantee: (1)
Detailed information on how the grantee will provide support and
technical assistance to the third party in areas of recruitment and
retention of low-income individuals. (2) How the grantee will provide
oversight of the grant-supported activities of the third party for the
life of the agreement. Detailed information must be provided on how the
grant funds will be used by

[[Page 20129]]

the third party by submitting a Sources and Uses of Funds Statement.
A third party agreement covering an equity investment must contain,
at a minimum, the following:
(1) Purpose(s) for which the equity investment is being made.
(2) The type of equity transaction (e.g. stock purchase).
(3) Cost per share and basis on which the cost per share is
derived.
(4) Number of shares being purchased.
(5) Percentage of CDC ownership in the business.
(6) Term or duration of the agreement.
(7) Number of seats on the board, if applicable.
(8) Signatures of the authorized officials of the grantee and third
party organization.
A third party agreement covering a loan transaction must contain,
at a minimum, the following information:
(1) Purpose(s) for which the loan is being made.
(2) Interest rates and other fees.
(3) Terms of the loan.
(4) Repayment schedules.
(5) Collateral security.
(6) Default and collection procedures.
(7) Signatures of the authorized officials of the lender and
borrower.
All third party agreements must be accompanied by a signed
statement from a Certified or Licensed Public Accountant as to the
sufficiency of the third party's financial management system in
accordance with 45 CFR 74 and financial statements for the third party
organization for the prior three years. If such statements are not
available because the organization is a newly formed entity, the
application must include a statement to this effect. The grantee is
responsible for ensuring that grant funds expended by it and the third
party are expended in compliance with Federal regulations of 45 CFR
Part 74 and OMB Circular A-122.
You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the
http://www.Grants.gov/Apply site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to

download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. ACF
will not accept grant applications via email or facsimile transmission.
Please note the following if you plan to submit your application
electronically via Grants.gov:
Electronic submission is voluntary, but strongly
encouraged.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you
do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the
application process through Grants.gov.
To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS
Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You
should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize
you if you submit an application in paper format.
You may submit all documents electronically, including all
information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary
assurances and certifications.
Your application must comply with any page limitation
requirements described in this program announcement.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.
We may request that you provide original signatures on
forms at a later date.
You may access the electronic application for this program
on http://www.Grants.gov
You must search for the downloadable application package

by the CFDA number.
Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format
should submit an original and two copies of the complete application.
The original and each of the two copies must include all required
forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an
authorized representative, have original signatures, and be submitted
unbound.
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,''
titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,'' at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Standard Forms and Certifications
The project description should include all the information
requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in
the program announcement under Section V Application Review
Information. In addition to the project description, the applicant
needs to complete all the standard forms required for making
applications for awards under this announcement.
Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement
must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal
Assistance; SF-424A, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; SF-
424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be
reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and
return the standard forms with their application.
Applicants must furnish prior to award an executed copy of the
Standard Form LLL, Certification Regarding Lobbying, when applying for
an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who have used non-Federal
funds for lobbying activities in connection with receiving assistance
under this announcement shall complete a disclosure form, if
applicable, with their applications (approved by the Office of
Management and Budget under control number 0348-0046). Applicants must
sign and return the certification with their application.
Applicants must also understand they will be held accountable for
the smoking prohibition included within Pub. L. 103-227, Title XII
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the PRO-KIDS Act of 1994). A
copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking
prohibition is included with forms. By signing and submitting the
application, applicants are providing the certification and need not
mail back the certification with the application.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By
signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the
certification and need not mail back the certification form. Complete
the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances
based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications
may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

Please see Section V.1. Criteria, for instructions on preparing the
full project description.

3. Submission Dates and Times

Due Date for Applications: June 17, 2005.
Explanation of Due Dates: The closing time and date for receipt of
applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m.
eastern time on the closing date will be classified as late.
Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting an announced

[[Page 20130]]

deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time and date
referenced in Section IV.6. Applicants are responsible for ensuring
applications are mailed or submitted electronically well in advance of
the application due date.
Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section
IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile.
Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will not be
provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier
services or by hand delivery. However, applicants will receive an
electronic acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via
Grants.gov.
Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above
are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant
that its application will not be considered in the current competition.
Any application received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the
deadline date will not be considered for competition.
Applicants using express/overnight mail services should allow two
working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of applications.
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not
always deliver as agreed.
Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or
when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare
cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when
preparing your application package.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What to submit Required content Required form or format When to submit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Abstract........................ See Sections IV.2 and V........... Found in Sections IV.2 and By application due date.
V.
Project Description..................... See Sections IV.2 and V........... Found in Sections IV.2 and By application due date.
V.
Budget Narrative/Justification.......... See Sections IV.2 and V........... Found in Sections IV.2 and By application due date.
V.
SF424................................... See Section IV.2.................. See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ By application due date.

programs/ofs/forms.htm.
SF-LLL Certification Regarding Lobbying. See Section IV.2.................. See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ By date of award.

programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Certification Regarding Environmental See Section IV.2.................. See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ By date of award.

Tobacco Smoke. programs/ofs/forms.htm.
Assurances.............................. See Section IV.2.................. ........................... By application due date.
Private, Nonprofit Community Development See Section IV.................... Found in Section IV........ By application due date.
Corporation Status.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Forms: Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged
to submit with their applications the survey located under ``Grant
Related Documents and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant
Applicants,'' titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for
Applicants,'' at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Intergovernmental Review:

State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
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
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance
under covered programs.
As of October 1, 2004, the following jurisdictions have elected to
participate in the Executive Order process: Arkansas, California,
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South
Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam,
North Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. As these
jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order
process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating
jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert
them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants
must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate
the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is
required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2).
A SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on
proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to
eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official
recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly
differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State
process

[[Page 20131]]

recommendations which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.
When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be
addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management,
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 4th
floor, Washington, DC 20447.
When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate
in the process, entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the
program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State,
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. Therefore,
applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by
federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to
E.O. 12372.
The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that
have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following
URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

5. Funding Restrictions

Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs.
Cost-Per-Job: OCS will not fund projects with a cost-per-job in CED
funds that exceed $10,000. An exception will be made if the project
includes purchase of land or a building, or major renovation or
construction of a building. In this instance, the applicant must
explain the factors that raise the cost beyond $10,000. In no instance,
will OCS allow for more than $15,000 cost-per-job in CED funds. Cost-
per-job is calculated by dividing the number of jobs to be created into
the amount of the CED grant request.
National Historic Preservation Act: If an applicant is proposing a
project which will affect a property listed in, or eligible for,
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, it must identify
this property in the narrative and explain how it has complied with the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1996, as amended. If there is any
question as to whether the property is listed in, or eligible for,
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the applicant
must consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer and describe
in the narrative the content of such consultation.
Sub-Contracting or Delegating Projects: OCS will not fund projects
where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for
funds to organizations other than the applicant. The applicant must
have a substantive role in the implementation of the project for which
funding is requested. This prohibition does not bar the making of sub-
grants or sub-contracting for specific services or activities necessary
to conduct the project.
Number of Projects in Application: Except for the retail
development initiative under the Operational Projects announcement,
each application may include only one proposed project.
Prohibited Activities: OCS will not consider applications that
propose to establish Small Business Investment Corporations or Minority
Enterprise Small Business Investment Corporations.
OCS will not fund projects that are primarily education and
training projects. In projects where participants must be trained, any
funds proposed for training must be limited to specific job-related
training to those individuals who have been selected for employment in
the grant supported project. Projects involving training and placement
for existing vacant positions will be disqualified from competition.
OCS will not fund projects that would result in the relocation of a
business from one geographic area to another resulting in job
displacement.
An application that exceeds the upper value of the dollar range
specified will be considered non-responsive.

6. Other Submission Requirements

Submission by Mail: An applicant must provide an original
application with all attachments, signed by an authorized
representative and two copies. The application must be received at the
address below by 4:30 p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date.
Applications should be mailed to: Administration for Children and
Families, Office of Community Service Operations Center, 1515 Wilson
Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Barbara Ziegler-
Johnson.
Hand Delivery: An applicant must provide an original application
with all attachments signed by an authorized representative and two
copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30
p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date. Applications that are
hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Applications should be delivered to: Administration for Children
and Families, Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515
Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, Attention: Barbara
Ziegler-Johnson.
Electronic Submission: http://www.Grants.gov. Please see Section IV. 2 for

guidelines and requirements when submitting applications
electronically.

V. Application Review Information

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and
reviewing the collection information.
The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-
0139 which expires 4/30/2007.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.

1. Criteria

Introduction
Applicants are required to submit a full project description shall
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the
following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation
criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project
description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the
measures that will be used to evaluate applications.
Project Summary/Abstract
Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with
reference to the funding request.
Objectives and Need for Assistance
Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial,
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In

[[Page 20132]]

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.
Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived.
Describe the population to be served by the program and the number
of new jobs that will be targeted to the population served. Explain how
the project will reach the targeted population, how it will benefit
participants including how it will support individuals to become more
economically self-sufficient.
Approach
Outline a plan of action that 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 that might
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities
accomplished.
When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function,
list them in chronological order to show the schedule of
accomplishments and their target dates.
If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated,
clearance may be required from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). This clearance pertains to any ``collection of information that
is conducted or sponsored by ACF.''
List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key
individuals who will work on the project along with a short description
of the nature of their effort or contribution.
Account for all functions or activities identified in the
application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work
and state your reasons for taking the proposed approach rather than
others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or
technical innovations, reductions in cost or time or extraordinary
social and community involvement. Provide quantitative monthly or
quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each
function or activity in, for example such terms as the ``number of
people served.'' 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. Evaluation
Provide a narrative addressing how the results of the project and the
conduct of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the evaluation
of results, state how you will determine the extent to which the
project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which the
accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. Discuss
the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the
methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and
discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are
being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the
procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being
conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and
discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's
effectiveness.
Organizational Profiles
Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and
cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial
statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public
Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers,
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. If the
applicant is a non-profit organization, submit proof of non-profit
status in its application.
The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing: (a) A
reference to the applicant organization's listing in the Internal
Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations
described in the IRS Code; (b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax
exemption certificate; (c) a statement from a State taxing body, State
attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying that
the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the
net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; (d) a
certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or
similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status; (e) any of
the items immediately above for a State or national parent organization
and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant
organization is a local non-profit affiliate.
Budget and Budget Justification
Provide a budget with line item detail and detailed calculations
for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form.
Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit
costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the
calculation to be duplicated. Also include a breakout by the funding
sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,
and allocability of the proposed costs.
Evaluation Criteria: The following evaluation criteria appear in
weighted descending order. The corresponding score values indicate the
relative importance that ACF places on each evaluation criterion;
however, applicants need not develop their applications precisely
according to the order presented. Application components may be
organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and
logical flow of information (e.g. from a broad overview of the project
to more detailed information about how it will be conducted).
In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities
addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial
assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following
criteria:
Approach (35 Points)
(1) The business plan is the most important document. It must be
sound and feasible. The project must be able to be implemented soon
after a grant award is made. The business plan meets the requirements
of this program announcement and development of business and job
creation will occur during project period. (0-10 points)

[[Page 20133]]

(2) The application includes documentation of site control. (0-10)
(3) Executed third party agreements meet the requirements set forth
above. (0-10)
(4) The required financial documents are contained in the
application and clearly describe proposed use of CED funds and
demonstrate the project is viable. (0-5)
Organizational Profiles (15 Points)
(1) Organizational profile. The application demonstrates the
management capacity, organizational structure and successful record of
accomplishment relevant to business development, commercial
development, physical development, and/or financial services and that
it has the ability to mobilize other financial and in-kind resources.
(0-10 points)
(2) Staff skills, resources and responsibilities. The application
describes in brief resume form the experience and skills of the project
director who is not only well qualified, but whose professional
capabilities are relevant to the successful implementation of the
project. If the key staff person has not yet been identified, the
application contains a comprehensive position description that
indicates that the responsibilities to be assigned to the project
director are relevant to the successful implementation of the project.
(0-5 points)
Third-Party Agreements (20 point)
Public-Private Partnerships. (1) Mobilization of resources: The
application documents it has mobilized from public and/or private
sources the proposed balance of non-CED funding required to fully
implement the project. Lesser contributions will be given consideration
based upon the value documented. (0-10 points)

Note 1: Cash resources such as cash or loans contributed from
all project sources (except for those contributed directly by the
applicant) are documented by letters of commitment from third
parties making the contribution.

Note 2: The value of in-kind contributions for personal property
is documented by an inventory valuation for equipment and a
certified appraisal for real property. Also, a copy of a deed or
other legal document is required for real property.

Note 3: Anticipated or projected program income such as gross or
net profits from the project or business operations will not be
recognized as mobilized or contributed resources.

(2) Integration/coordination of services: The application
demonstrates a commitment to, or agreements with, local agencies
responsible for administering child support enforcement, employment
education, and training programs to ensure that welfare recipients, at-
risk youth, displaced workers, public housing tenants, homeless and
low-income individuals, and low-income custodial and non-custodial
parents will be trained and placed in the newly created jobs. The
application includes written agreements from the local TANF or other
employment education and training offices, and child support
enforcement agency indicating what actions will be taken to integrate/
coordinate services that relate directly to the project for which funds
are being requested. (0-5 points)
The agreements include: (1) The goals and objectives that the
applicant and the TANF or other employment education and training
offices and/or child support enforcement agency expect to achieve
through their collaboration; (2) the specific activities/actions that
will be taken to integrate/coordinate services on an on-going basis;
(3) the target population that this collaboration will serve; (4) the
mechanism(s) to be used in integrating/coordinating activities; (5) how
those activities will be significant in relation to the goals and
objectives to be achieved through the collaboration; and (6) how those
activities will be significant in relation to their impact on the
success of the OCS-funded project. (0-3 points) The application
provides documentation that illustrates the organizational experience
is related to the employment, education and training program. (0-2
point)
Results or Benefits Expected (14 points)
(1) Results or Benefits Expected. Application proposes to produce
permanent and measurable results including, but not limited to,
employment and business development opportunities that reduce poverty,
reduce the need for TANF assistance in the community and thus enable
families to be economically self-sufficient. (0-3 points)
(2) Community empowerment and coordination. Application documents
that applicant is an active partner in either a new or ongoing
comprehensive community revitalization project such as: a federally-
designated Empowerment Zone, Enterprise Community or Renewal Community
project that has clear goals of strengthening economic and human
development in target neighborhoods; a State or local-government
supported comprehensive neighborhood revitalization project; or a
private sector supported community revitalization project. (0-3 points)
(3) Cost-per-job. During the project period, the proposed project
will create new, permanent jobs or maintain existing permanent jobs for
low-income residents at a cost-per-job not to exceed $10,000 in OCS
funds unless the project involves construction or significant
renovation. (0-5 points)
(4) Career development opportunities. The application documents
that the jobs to be created for low-income people have career
development opportunities that will promote self-sufficiency. (0-3
points)
Objectives and Need for Assistance (10 points)
The application documents that the project addresses a vital need
in a distressed community. ``Distressed community'' is defined as a
geographic urban neighborhood or rural community with high unemployment
and pervasive poverty. The application documents that both the
unemployment rate and poverty level for the targeted neighborhood or
community must be equal to or greater than the state or national level.
(0-5 points)
The application cites the most recent available statistics from
published sources, e.g., the recent U.S. Census or updates, the State,
county, city, election district and other information are provided in
support of its contention. (0-2 points)
The application shows how the project will respond to stated need.
(0-3 points)
Evaluation (6 points)
Sound evaluations are essential to the Community Economic
Development Program. OCS requires applicants to include in their
applications a well thought through outline of an evaluation plan for
their project. The outline should explain how the applicant proposes to
answer the key questions about how effectively the project is being/was
implemented; whether the project activities, or interventions, achieved
the expected immediate outcomes, and why or why not (the process
evaluation); and whether and to what extent the project achieved its
stated goals, and why or why not (the outcome evaluation). Together,
the process and outcome evaluations should answer the question: ``What
did this program accomplish and why did it work/not work?''
Applicants are not being asked to submit a complete and final
evaluation plan as part of their application; but they must include:

[[Page 20134]]

(1) A well thought through outline of an evaluation plan that
identifies the principal cause-and-effect relationships to be tested,
and that demonstrates the applicant's understanding of the role and
purpose of both process and outcome evaluations. (0-2 points)
(2) A reporting format based on the grantee's demonstration of its
activities (interventions) and their effectiveness, to be included in
the grantee's semi-annual program progress report, which will provide
OCS with insights and lessons learned, as they become evident,
concerning the various aspects of the work plan, such as recruitment,
training, support, public-private partnerships, and coordination with
other community resources, as they may be relevant to the proposed
project. (0-2 points)
(3) The identity and qualifications of the proposed third-party
evaluator, of if not selected, the qualifications that will be sought
in choosing an evaluator, which must include successful experience in
evaluating community development programs, and the planning and/or
evaluation of programs designed to foster self-sufficiency in low-
income populations. (0-2 points)
The competitive procurement regulations (45 CFR, part 74, Sec.
74.40-74.48, especially Sec. 74.43) apply to service contracts such as
those for evaluators.
It is suggested that applicants use no more than three pages for
this Element, plus the resume or position description for the
evaluator, which should be included in an appendix.

2. Review and Selection Process

No grant will be made under this announcement on the basis of an
incomplete application.
Initial OCS Screening: Each application submitted to OCS will be
screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and
time.
Applications received by the closing date and time will be screened
for completeness and conformity with the requirements listed in this
announcement. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit
will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were
unacceptable and will not be reviewed.
OCS Evaluation of Applications: Applications that pass the initial
OCS screening will be reviewed and rated by a panel based on the
program elements and review criteria presented in relevant sections of
this program announcement.
The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to
assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood
of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are
considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.
The review panel awards points only to applications that are responsive
to the program elements and relevant review criteria within the context
of this program announcement.
The OCS Director and the program staff use the reviewer scores when
considering competing applications. Reviewer scores will weigh heavily
in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.
Applications generally will be considered in order of the average
scores assigned by the review panel. Because other important factors
are taken into consideration, highly ranked applications are not
guaranteed funding. These other considerations include, for example:
the timely and proper completion by the applicant of projects funded
with OCS funds granted in the last five years; comments of reviewers
and government officials; staff evaluation and input; amount and
duration of the grant requested and the proposed project's consistency
and harmony with OCS goals and policy; geographic distribution of
applications; previous program performance of applicants; compliance
with grant terms under previous HHS grants, including the actual
dedication of the applicant to acquiring additional funding and other
committed resources as set forth in project applications; audit
reports; investigative reports; and applicant's progress in resolving
any final audit disallowance on previous OCS or other Federal agency
grants.
Approved but Unfunded Applications
Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for
funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds,
for a period not to exceed one year.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of
a Financial Assistance ward document which sets forth the amount of
funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective
date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be
given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the
total project period for which support is contemplated. The Financial
Assistance Award will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted
via postal mail.
Organizations whose applications will not be funded will be
notified in writing.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-
governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental).
Direct Federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this
Program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities
such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore,
organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their
inherently religious activities from the services funded under this
Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for
inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at
http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

3. Reporting Requirements

Program Progress Reports: Semi-Annually.
Financial Reports: Semi-Annually.
Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial
reports (SF 269) throughout the project period. Program progress and
financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. In
addition, final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days
after the close of the project period.

VII. Agency Contacts

Program Office Contact

Debbie Brown, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100,
Arlington, VA 22209, (202) 401-3446, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

Grants Management Office Contact

Barbara Ziegler-Johnson, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Community Services Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, (202) 401-4646, OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

VIII. Other Information

Notice: Beginning with FY 2006, The Administration for Children and
Families (ACF) will no longer publish grant announcements in the
Federal Register. Beginning October 1, 2005 applicants will be able to
find a synopsis of all ACF grant opportunities and apply electronically
for opportunities via: http://www.Grants.gov. Applicants will also be able to

find the complete text of all ACF grant announcements on the ACF Web
site located at: http://acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.

Direct Federal grants, subaward funds, or contracts under this
Program

[[Page 20135]]

shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as
religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore,
organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their
inherently religious activities from the services funded under this
Program. Regulations pertaining to the prohibition of Federal funds for
inherently religious activities can be found on the HHS Web site at:
http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf.

The FY 2006 President's Budget does not include or propose funding
for the Economic Development Discretionary Grant Program. Future
funding is based on the availability of funds.
Additional information about this program and its purpose can be
located on the following Web site: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs.

Please reference Section IV.3 for details about acknowledgement of
received applications.

Dated: April 7, 2005.
Josephine Robinson,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 05-7475 Filed 4-15-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P