Announcement of Availability of Funds for Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Demonstration Projects, 5536-5541 [05-1960]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5536-5541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1960]



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Part III





Department of Health and Human Services





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Announcement of Availability of Funds for Adolescent Family Life (AFL) 
Demonstration Projects; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 21 / Wednesday, February 2, 2005 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Announcement of Availability of Funds for Adolescent Family Life 
(AFL) Demonstration Projects

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary.

    Announcement Type: Initial.
    CFDA: A description of the Title XX program can be found at the OMB 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.995.

DATES: To receive consideration, applications must be received by the 
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) Office of Grants Management 
no later than April 4, 2005. Mailed applications will be considered as 
meeting the deadline if they are received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard time on the 
application due date. Applications will not be accepted by fax, nor 
will the submission deadline be extended. The application due date 
requirement specified in this announcement supersedes the instructions 
in the OPHS-1. Applications which do not meet the deadline will be 
returned to the applicant unread. See heading ``Application and 
Submission Information'' for additional information.
SUMMARY: Title XX of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300z. et 
seq., authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award 
grants for demonstration projects to provide services to pregnant and 
nonpregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, and their families. These 
grants are for public or private nonprofit organizations or agencies to 
find effective means of strengthening families by providing an array of 
services that help prevent repeat pregnancy and provide adolescent 
mothers, fathers and/or male partners, and their babies with services 
that enhance their well-being. Faith-based organizations are encouraged 
to apply. See heading ``Care Services'' for additional information.
    The Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs (OAPP) of the Office of 
Population Affairs (OPA) requests applications for care demonstration 
grants under the Adolescent Family Life (AFL) Demonstration Projects 
Program, as authorized by Title XX of the Public Health Service Act. 
These Title XX grants should clearly and consistently establish 
comprehensive and integrated approaches to the delivery of care 
services to pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, their children, 
their extended family members, fathers of their children, and/or male 
partners to whom they are married or in a long-term relationship.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Care Services

    Under this announcement, funds are available for care projects 
only. The project site or sites must be identified in the application 
rather than selected after the grant is awarded. The OAPP encourages 
services that involve not only the young fathers and/or male partners, 
but also the parents and families of the pregnant and/or parenting 
adolescent.
    Under the Title XX statute, the primary purpose of care programs is 
to establish innovative, comprehensive, and integrated approaches to 
the delivery of care services for pregnant adolescents and adolescent 
parents under 19 years of age at program entry, with primary emphasis 
on unmarried adolescents who are 17 years old or younger. Care services 
should promote the involvement of the pregnant and parenting 
adolescents' families, young fathers and/or male partners. The OAPP 
encourages the submission of care applications which propose to: (1) 
Add care services to supplement existing adolescent health services in 
school, hospital or other community settings; (2) provide care services 
to minority or other disadvantaged populations; (3) continue services 
to clients after the delivery of the baby to enable them to acquire 
good parenting skills and to ensure that their children are developing 
normally physically, intellectually and emotionally; (4) stress self-
sufficiency skills, such as school completion (in mainstream or 
alternative schools and GED programs) and/or job training preparation 
and placement; (5) involve males and promote male responsibility (e.g., 
through job training, parenting classes, and counseling); (6) provide 
education on how to build and maintain healthy relationships, prepare 
for marriage, parenting and future families; (7) assure identification 
of mental health concerns and referral to appropriate resources; and 
(8) provide STD and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention counseling. 
Applicants should base their approaches upon an assessment of existing 
programs and, where appropriate, upon efforts to establish better 
coordination, integration, and linkages among such existing programs.
    Under the statutory requirements of Title XX, applicants for care 
projects are required to provide, either directly or by referral, the 
following 10 core services:
    (1) Pregnancy testing and maternity counseling;
    (2) Adoption counseling and referral services which present 
adoption as an option for pregnant adolescents, including referral to 
licensed adoption agencies in the community if the eligible grant 
recipient is not a licensed adoption agency;
    (3) Primary and preventive health services, including prenatal and 
postnatal care;
    (4) Nutrition information and counseling;
    (5) Referral for screening and treatment of STDs, including HIV/
AIDS;
    (6) Referral to appropriate pediatric care;
    (7) Educational services relating to family life and problems 
associated with adolescent premarital sexual relations including:
    (a) Information about adoption;
    (b) Education on the responsibilities of sexuality and parenting;
    (c) The development of material to support the role of parents as 
the providers of sex education; and
    (d) Assistance to parents, schools, youth agencies and health 
providers to educate adolescents and preadolescents concerning self-
discipline and responsibility in human sexuality;
    (8) Appropriate educational and vocational services;
    (9) Mental health services and referral to mental health services 
and to other appropriate physical health services; and
    (10) Counseling and referral for family planning services.

    Note: Funds provided under Title XX may not be used for the 
provision of family planning services other than counseling and 
referral services unless appropriate family planning services are 
not otherwise available in the community. In accordance with sec. 
2006(a)(17) of Title XX (42 U.S.C. 300z-5(a)(17)), applicants must 
make maximum use of funds available under the Title X Family 
Planning Program in providing this required core service.

    In addition to the 10 required core services listed above, 
applicants for care projects may provide any of the following 
supplemental services:
    (1) Referral to licensed residential care or maternity home 
services;
    (2) Child care sufficient to enable the adolescent parent to 
continue education or to enter into employment;
    (3) Consumer education;
    (4) Counseling for the immediate and extended family members of the 
eligible person;
    (5) Transportation; and
    (6) Outreach services to families of adolescents to discourage 
sexual relations among unemancipated minors.

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Youth Development or Developmental Assets Approach

    Achieving a successful transition into adulthood for adolescents 
can be difficult and this is particularly so for pregnant and parenting 
adolescents. Research has clearly shown that future educational and 
economic prospects for teens decline significantly if they have a baby. 
Teen pregnancy is closely linked to less than optimal health outcomes 
for mother and infant, school dropout, lack of job skills, repeat 
pregnancies, poverty, and unstable home environments. To help address 
these multiple problems, the OAPP encourages applicants to incorporate 
youth development concepts into their care programs.
    All adolescents need to see hope for their future, acquire the 
skills necessary to turn hope into reality, and be provided with 
opportunities to help them reach that reality. Examples of youth 
development activities in a care program are ones that address school 
retention and completion, job and vocational training, building and 
maintaining healthy relationships, building skills, confidence and 
self-efficacy, and avoiding health risks such as tobacco, alcohol, drug 
use, and repeat pregnancy. These types of activities contribute to 
strengthening the support systems these young parents need to achieve 
productive futures. Where possible, adolescents should be an integral 
part of the design, implementation, and evaluation of this approach. 
All services provided by AFL grantees, however, including all 
activities that are part of a youth development approach, must be 
within the scope of the Title XX care services listed above.

Parental, Family, and Male Involvement

    Strengthening families is a primary focus for the OAPP. In the case 
of adolescent parents, this includes not only providing health, 
educational, and social services for the adolescent who is pregnant 
and/or parenting, but also finding ways to ensure the healthy 
involvement of the infant's father and the family of the adolescent. 
Research has clearly shown the importance of families in the social, 
emotional, and intellectual growth of children. Adolescent parents are 
still adolescents; they need the involvement and support of their own 
parents as they continue their transition to adulthood. Successful care 
programs should address these issues by including a component that 
engages families, fathers, or male partners in creative and meaningful 
ways. Teen mothers, fathers, or male partners to whom they are married 
or in a long-term relationship, need encouragement and skills to 
establish stable, safe families.

Goals and Objectives

    All applications should include a program goal(s) statement and 
related outcome objectives. A goal is a general statement of what the 
project hopes to accomplish. It should reflect the long-term desired 
impact of the project on the target group(s) as well as reflect the 
program goals contained in this program announcement. An outcome 
objective is a statement which defines a measurable result the project 
expects to accomplish. Outcome objectives should be described in terms 
that measure the results the project will bring about (e.g., decrease 
in repeat adolescent births among the treatment group; increase in 
parenting skills). Good applications should contain 3-5 outcome 
objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and 
time-framed (S.M.A.R.T.).
    Specific: An objective should specify one major result directly 
related to the program goal, state who is going to be doing what, to 
whom, by how much, and in what time-frame. It should specify what will 
be accomplished and how the accomplishment will be measured.
    Measurable: An objective should be able to describe in realistic 
terms the expected results and specify how such results will be 
measured.
    Achievable: The accomplishment specified in the objective should be 
achievable within the proposed time line and as a direct result of 
program activities.
    Realistic: The objective should be reasonable in nature. The 
specified outcomes, expected results, should be described in realistic 
terms.
    Time-framed: An outcome objective should specify a target date or 
time for its accomplishments. It should state who is going to be doing 
what, by when, etc. The Public Management Institute, How to Get Grants 
(1981).

Evaluation

    Section 2006(b)(1) of Title XX requires each grantee to expend at 
least one percent, but not more than five percent, of the Federal funds 
received under Title XX on evaluation of the project. In cases in which 
a more rigorous or comprehensive evaluation effort is proposed (see 
sec.2006(b)(1)) waivers of the five percent limit on evaluation may be 
granted by OAPP. Under this announcement, the OAPP is requesting 
applications for evaluation-intensive projects. For evaluation-
intensive projects, the OAPP will waive the five percent limit up to a 
maximum of 20 percent. In turn, applicants are expected to include a 
clear and fully developed evaluation plan that generally meets the 
following six criteria.
    1. The evaluation plan should be directly tied to program 
objectives. Research hypotheses should be clearly stated and reflect 
the outcomes the program intends to achieve.
    2. The evaluation plan should include a process or implementation 
evaluation. Evaluations in their first year should focus on determining 
that the intervention is in place, that it is adequately and 
appropriately staffed, and that it is reaching its intended population.
    3. The evaluation plan should have a viable comparison strategy. If 
a true experimental design with random assignment is not possible, a 
quasi-experimental design with matched comparison group would be 
acceptable.
    4. The evaluation plan should have a sufficient sample size to 
ensure that any observed differences between groups are significant.
    5. The evaluation plan should measure dosage. Client participation 
and use of various service components should be carefully tracked so 
that any differences can be corrected for, or at least taken into 
account, in discussion of evaluation results.
    6. The evaluation plan should include a follow-up assessment and 
longitudinal tracking of program participants during and after the 
intervention.
    In addition, applications should clearly demonstrate the capacity 
to participate in a cross-site evaluation, as well as the understanding 
that use of a core evaluation instrument, currently being developed by 
the OAPP, will be incorporated into the outcome evaluation design. 
Section 2006(b)(2) of Title XX requires that evaluations be conducted 
by an organization or entity independent of the grantee providing 
services. To assist in conducting the evaluation, each grantee shall 
develop a working relationship with a college or university located in 
the grantee's state which will provide monitoring and evaluation of the 
proposed program. The OAPP strongly recommends extensive collaboration 
between the applicant organization and the proposed evaluator. It is 
important to establish this relationship when preparing the application 
to ensure that the project's goals and objectives and the evaluation 
plan are consistent with each other.

Curricula Review

    The grantee shall submit all curricula and educational materials 
for use in the

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AFL project, whether currently available or to be developed by the 
grantee to the OAPP for review and approval prior to use in the 
project. The review shall ensure that the materials are medically 
accurate, consistent with Title XX policies on religion, and in 
compliance with the statutory prohibitions against advocating, 
promoting, encouraging, or providing abortions.
    Applicants should describe current and proposed efforts to prevent 
the sexual coercion and exploitation of teens by older partners, as 
well as management and reporting that comply with State reporting laws 
regarding child sexual abuse, sexual assault (including statutory 
rape), incest, or family violence in their proposals. For more 
information, applicants may access the National Clearinghouse on Child 
Abuse and Neglect Web site at https://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov.

II. Award Information

    Under this program announcement, the OAPP intends to make available 
approximately $5 million to support an estimated 15-20 new care 
demonstration grants, up to a maximum of $375,000 each per year. Any 
application that proposes funding over the maximum will not be 
considered. Please note, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2001, the OAPP issued a 
similar Request for Applications (RFA) announcing approximately $5 
million for new care demonstration projects. In response to that RFA, 
OAPP received 142 grant applications and was able to fund only 19 new 
projects. Grants may be approved for project periods of up to five 
years, and are funded in annual increments (budget periods). Funding 
for all approved budget periods beyond the first year of the grant is 
contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the 
project, and adequate stewardship of Federal funds.
    Applications are encouraged from organizations which are currently 
operating programs that have the capability of expanding and enhancing 
these services to serve significant numbers of pre-adolescent and 
adolescents according to the guidelines specified in this announcement. 
Applications are also encouraged from organizations that have the 
capability to conduct a rigorous evaluation of the funded project.

III. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

    Any public or private nonprofit organization or agency is eligible 
to apply for a grant. However, only those organizations or agencies 
which demonstrate the capability of providing the proposed services and 
meet the statutory requirements are considered for grant awards. Faith-
based and community-based organizations are encouraged to apply for AFL 
grants. Please note, however, that AFL funds may not be used for 
inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious 
instruction, and proselytization. If an organization engages in such 
activities, they must be offered separately in time or location from 
the program funded under the AFL program and participation must be 
voluntary for program beneficiaries. An AFL program, in providing 
services and outreach related to program services, cannot discriminate 
against current or prospective program beneficiaries on the basis of 
religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or 
a refusal to actively participate in a religious practice.

Cost Sharing

    Section 2005(c)(2) authorizes that an AFL grant award may not 
exceed 70 percent of the total costs of the project for the first and 
second years, 60 percent of the total costs for the third year, 50 
percent for the fourth year and 40 percent for the fifth year. The AFL 
non-Federal share of the project costs may be provided in cash 
expenditures or fairly evaluated in-kind contributions, including 
facilities, equipment, and services. Other Federal funds may not be 
used as an in-kind contribution.

IV. Application and Submission Information

Address To Request Application Package

    Application kits may be requested from, and submitted to the OPHS 
Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, 
Rockville, MD 20852, 301-594-0758. Application kits are also available 
online at the electronic grants management website (e-Grants) at 
https://egrants.osophs.dhhs.gov/. Applicants may fax a written request 
to the OPHS Office of Grants Management to obtain a hard copy of the 
application kit at (301) 594-9399.

Content and Form of Application

    Application kits consisting of the OPHS-1 and appropriate forms, a 
copy of the Title XX legislation, a computer based technical assistance 
program to instruct applicants in the Title XX grant writing process, 
and guidance on the application process may be downloaded from the OPA 
Web site at https://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov. If you do not have access to 
the Internet, you may obtain a kit from the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management; 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550; Rockville, MD 20852; by 
phone at 301-594-0758. The computer based technical assistance program 
on CD-Rom will be included in the kit. All completed applications must 
be submitted to the OPHS Office of Grants Management at the above 
mailing address. In preparing the application, it is important to 
follow ALL instructions provided in the application kit.
    Applications must be submitted on the forms supplied (OPHS-1, 
Revised 6/2001) and in the manner prescribed in the application kits 
provided by the OAPP. Applicants are required to submit an application 
signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or 
organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed 
by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The program narrative 
should not be longer than 50 double-spaced pages, not including 
appendices and required forms, using an easily readable, 12 point font. 
All pages, figures, and tables should be numbered.
    Applicants must be familiar with Title XX in its entirety to ensure 
that they have complied with all applicable requirements. A copy of the 
legislation is included in the application kit.
    A Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is 
required for all applications for Federal assistance. Organizations 
should verify that they have a DUNS number or take the steps necessary 
to obtain one. Instructions for obtaining a DUNS number are included in 
the application package, and may be downloaded from the OPA Web site.

Submission Mechanisms

    The OAPP provides multiple mechanisms for submission of 
applications as described in the following sections.
    Electronic Submission: The OPHS electronic grants management 
system, eGrants, provides for applications to be submitted 
electronically. While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use 
of the electronic application submissions capabilities provided by the 
eGrants system is encouraged. Information about this system is 
available on the OPA Web site at https://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov, or may be 
requested from the OPHS Office of Grants Management at 301-594-0758. 
Applications sent via any other means of electronic communication, 
including facsimile or electronic mail, outside of the OPHS eGrants 
system will not be accepted for review.

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    The body of the application and required forms can be submitted 
using the e-Grants system. In addition to electronically submitted 
materials, applicants are required to provide a hard copy of the 
application face page (Standard Form 424 [Revised 07/03]) with the 
original signature of an individual authorized to act for the applicant 
agency or organization and to assume for the organization the 
obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award. The 
application is not considered complete until both the electronic 
application and the hard copy of the face page with the original 
signature are received.
    Electronic grant application submissions must be submitted no later 
than 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement. All required hard copy original signatures 
and mail-in items must be received by the OPHS Office of Grants 
Management no later than 5 p.m. eastern time on the next business day 
after the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement.
    Applications will not be considered valid until all electronic 
application components, hard copy original signatures, and mail-in 
items are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management according to 
the deadlines specified above. Any application submitted electronically 
after 5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date specified in the DATES 
section of the announcement will be considered late and will be deemed 
ineligible. Failure of the applicant to submit all required hard copy 
original signatures to the OPHS Office of Grants Management by 5 p.m. 
eastern time on the next business day after the deadline date specified 
in the DATES section of the announcement will result in the electronic 
application being deemed ineligible.
    Upon completion of a successful electronic application submission, 
the eGrants system will provide the applicant with a confirmation page 
indicating the date and time (eastern time) of the electronic 
application submission. This confirmation page will also provide the 
receipt status of all indicated signatures and items to be mailed to 
the OPHS Office of Grants Management. As items are received by the OPHS 
Office of Grants Management, the electronic application status will be 
updated to reflect the receipt of mail-in items. It is recommended that 
the applicant monitor the status of their application to ensure that 
all signatures and mail-in items are received.
    Applicants are encouraged to initiate electronic applications early 
in the application development process, and to submit early on the due 
date or before. This will aid in addressing any problems with 
submission prior to the application deadline.
    Mailed Hard Copy Applications: Applications submitted in hard copy 
must include an original and two copies of the application. The 
original application must be signed by an individual authorized to act 
for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the 
organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the 
grant award.
    Mailed applications will be considered as meeting the deadline if 
they are received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management on or before 
5 p.m. eastern time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section 
of the announcement. The application deadline date requirement 
specified in this announcement supercedes the instructions in the OPHS-
1. Applications that do not meet the deadline will be returned to the 
applicant unread.
    Hand-Delivered Applications: Hand-delivered applications must be 
received by the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, 
Suite 550, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, no later than 5 p.m. eastern 
time on the deadline date specified in the DATES section of the 
announcement. Hand-delivered applications must include an original and 
two copies of the application. The original application must be signed 
by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or 
organization and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed 
by the terms and conditions of the grant award.

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications for AFL grants must also meet both of the following 
requirements (each year):
    (1) Requirements for Review of an Application by the Governor. 
Section 2006(e) of Title XX requires that each applicant shall provide 
the Governor of the State in which the applicant is located a copy of 
each application submitted to the OAPP for a grant for a demonstration 
project for services under this Title. The Governor has 60 days from 
the receipt date in which to provide comments to the applicant. An 
applicant may comply with this requirement by submitting a copy of the 
application to the Governor of the State in which the applicant is 
located at the same time the application is submitted to OAPP. To 
inform the Governor's office of the reason for the submission, a copy 
of this notice should be attached to the application.
    (2) Requirements for Review of an Application Pursuant to Executive 
Order 12372 (SPOC Requirements). Applications under this announcement 
are subject to the review requirements of E.O. 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' as implemented by 45 
CFR part 100, ``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and 
Human Services Programs and Activities.'' E.O. 12372 sets up a system 
for state and local government review of proposed Federal assistance 
applications. As soon as possible, the applicant (other than Federally-
recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact the State Single 
Point of Contact (SPOC) for each state in the area to be served. The 
application kit contains the currently available listing of the SPOCs 
which have elected to be informed of the submission of applications. 
For those states not represented on the listing, further inquiries 
should be made by the applicant regarding submission to the relevant 
SPOC. Information about the SPOC is located on the OMB Web site https://
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc/html. The SPOC's comment(s) should 
be forwarded to the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton 
Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852. The SPOC has 60 days from the 
closing date of this announcement to submit any comments.

Funding Restrictions

    Applicants for discretionary grants are expected to anticipate and 
justify their funding needs and the activities to be carried out with 
those funds in preparing the budget and accompanying narrative portions 
of their applications. The basis for determining the allowability and 
allocability of costs charged to Public Health Service (PHS) grants is 
set forth in 45 CFR parts 74 and 92. If applicants are uncertain 
whether a particular cost is allowable, they should contact the OPHS 
Office of Grants Management at 301-594-0758 for further information.

V. Application Review Information

Criteria

    Eligible competing grant applications will be reviewed by a multi-
disciplinary panel of independent reviewers and will be assessed 
according to the following criteria:
    (1) The applicant's presentation of a detailed evaluation plan that 
indicates an understanding of program evaluation methods, reflects a 
practical and technically sound approach to assessing

[[Page 5540]]

both the project's implementation and its outcomes, demonstrates the 
capacity to participate in a cross-site evaluation, and the intent to 
incorporate the AFL care evaluation instrument into the outcome 
evaluation design. The applicant's provision of a clear statement of 
mission, goals, measurable (outcome) objectives, reasonable methods for 
achieving the objectives, a reasonable workplan and timetable, and 
clear statements of expected results. (30 points)
    (2) The applicant's presentation of an innovative, detailed, and 
viable plan to involve fathers and/or male partners, parents and other 
family members, as well as strategies for recruitment and retention. 
(20 points)
    (3) The applicant's presentation of an organizational model for 
service delivery with appropriate design, consistent with the 
requirements of Title XX that incorporates an innovative youth 
development or developmental assets approach. (10 points)
    (4) The capacity of the applicant to implement the program, 
including personnel and other resources, and the applicant's experience 
and expertise in providing programs for adolescents. (10 points)
    (5) The applicant's presentation of the need for the project, 
including the incidence of adolescent pregnancy in the geographic area 
to be served and the availability of services for adolescents within 
this geographic area. (10 points)
    (6) The population the project proposes to serve, including ethnic 
composition, number of adolescent and pre-adolescent clients, fathers 
and/or male partners, family members, and community members. The 
applicant must specify how program staff demonstrate cultural and 
ethnic responsiveness to the target population. [Healthy People 2010 is 
a set of health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the first 
decade of the new century. The two goals of Healthy People 2010 are to 
increase quality of years of healthy life and to eliminate health 
disparities. In evaluating this criterion, priority will be given to 
programs which serve minority populations in order to eliminate health 
disparities.] (10 points)
    (7) The community commitment to, and involvement in, planning and 
implementation of the project, as demonstrated by letters of commitment 
and willingness to participate in the project's implementation, 
acceptance of referrals, etc. (10 points)

Review and Selection Process

    Final grant award decisions will be made by the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). In making these decisions, 
the DASPA will take into account the extent to which applications 
recommended for approval will provide an appropriate geographic 
distribution of resources, the priorities in sec. 2005(a), and other 
factors including:
    (1) Recommendations and scores submitted by the review panels;
    (2) The geographic area to be served, particularly the underserved 
areas and populations;
    (3) The reasonableness of the estimated cost of the project based 
on factors such as the incidence of adolescent pregnancy in the 
geographic area to be served and the availability of services for 
adolescents in this geographic area;
    (4) The adequacy of the evaluation plan, including incorporation of 
the six evaluation criteria listed in the ``Evaluation'' section of 
this announcement, and the demonstrated ability to participate 
successfully in a cross-site evaluation; and
    (5) The usefulness for policymakers and service providers of the 
proposed project and its potential for replication.
    Special consideration may be granted to underserved areas and 
populations not currently receiving Title XX funding for care programs. 
However, all applicants are required to adhere to the DASPA criteria as 
set forth in this announcement. Please note that if there are multiple 
applicants from one State, the DASPA may elect to select only one 
applicant per State.

VI. Award Administration Information

Award Notices

    The OAPP does not release information about individual applications 
during the review process until final funding decisions have been made. 
When final funding decisions have been made, the applicant's authorized 
representative will be notified of the outcome of their application by 
postal mail. The official document notifying an applicant that an 
application has been approved for funding is the Notice of Grant Award, 
which specifies to the grantee the amount of money awarded, the 
purposes of the grant, the length of the project period, terms and 
conditions of the grant award, and the amount of funding to be 
contributed by the grantee to project costs.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The regulations set out at 45 CFR parts 74 and 92 are the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rules and requirements 
that govern the administration of grants. Part 74 is applicable to all 
recipients except those covered by part 92, which governs awards to 
state and local governments. Applicants funded under this announcement 
must be aware of and comply with these regulations. The CFR volume that 
includes parts 74 and 92 may be downloaded from https://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/45cfrv1_03.html.
    The Buy American Act of 1933, as amended (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d), 
requires that Government agencies give priority to domestic products 
when making purchasing decisions. Therefore, to the greatest extent 
practicable, all equipment and products purchased with grant funds 
should be American-made.
    A Notice providing information and guidance regarding the 
``Government-wide Implementation of the President's Welfare-to-Work 
Initiative for Federal Grant Programs'' was published in the Federal 
Register on May 16, 1997. This initiative was designated to facilitate 
and encourage grantees and their sub-recipients to hire welfare 
recipients and to provide additional needed training and/or mentoring 
as needed. The text of the Notice is available electronically on the 
OMB Home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb.
    The HHS Appropriations Act requires that when issuing statements, 
press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other 
documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part 
with Federal money, grantees shall clearly state the percentage and 
dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project which will 
be financed with Federal money and the percentage and dollar amount of 
the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-
governmental sources.

Reporting Requirements

    Applicants funded under this grant announcement will be required to 
electronically submit an End-of-Year Program, Evaluation and Financial 
report 90 days after the grant budget period ends. The Project Director 
and Evaluator are expected to attend an annual OAPP sponsored 
conference, as well as other OAPP sponsored training.

VII. Agency Contacts

Administrative and Budgetary Requirements

    For information related to administrative and budgetary 
requirements, contact the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 
Wootton

[[Page 5541]]

Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852; 301-594-0758.

Program Requirements

    For information related to the OAPP program requirements, the OAPP 
staff are available at 301-594-4004 to answer questions and provide 
technical assistance on the preparation of grant applications. 
Questions may also be directed to the OAPP staff via e-mail at https://
oapp@osophs.dhhs.gov. If contacting the OAPP by e-mail, please include 
the phrase ``AFL Care Question'' in the subject heading.

VIII. Other Information

Technical Assistance

    The OAPP has scheduled a series of technical assistance workshops 
to help prospective applicants at no cost. At each of the one-day 
workshops, the public will be able to learn more about the purposes and 
requirements of the Title XX program, how to apply for funds under this 
program announcement, program eligibility requirements, the application 
selection process, and considerations that might help to improve the 
quality of grant applications. The OAPP encourages applicants to send a 
financial representative from their agency to the workshop. All 
participants must preregister using the form at https://
opa.osophs.dhhs.gov or you may obtain a registration form from the OAPP 
at 301-594-4004. Written requests for registration forms may be faxed 
to 301-594-5981. The address of workshop locations and logistical 
information will be faxed or e-mailed to you upon receipt of your 
registration. The sessions are scheduled for the week of February 28-
March 4, 2005, in the following locations. Alexandria, VA, Portland, 
OR, Kansas City, MO, Detroit, MI, Nashville, TN, Albuquerque, NM.
    In addition to the technical assistance workshops, a free 
interactive computer based technical assistance program is available to 
instruct applicants in the Title XX grant writing process. The Computer 
Based Technical Assistance Program can be downloaded at the OPA Web 
site at https://opa.osophs.dhhs.gov. If you do not have access to the 
Internet, a CD-Rom is included in the hard copy of the application kit 
which can be obtained from the OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 
Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852; 301-594-0758.

    Dated: January 14, 2005.
Alma L. Golden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-1960 Filed 2-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-30-P