American Indian-Alaska Native Head Start Research Center, 24057-24068 [05-9073]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Administration for Children and Families
• Children and Families Administration

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24057-24068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9073]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


American Indian--Alaska Native Head Start Research Center

    Program Office: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE).
    Funding Opportunity Title: American Indian-Alaska Native Head 
Start-Research Center.
    Announcement Type: Cooperative Agreement--Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-OPRE-YF-0067.
    CFDA Number: 93.600.
    Due Date for Letter of Intent or Preapplications: 6/3/2005.
    Due Date for Applications: 7/1/2005.
    Executive Summary: Funds are provided for the creation of an 
American Indian Alaska Native (AI-AN) Head Start Research Center that 
will provide leadership and collaborate with researchers with diverse 
areas of expertise in order to facilitate early childhood research 
within the Head Start AI-AN context, engage in capacity building, and 
establish model research partnerships between local researchers, Head 
Start American Indian Alaska Native program staff and members of tribal 
communities.
    This cooperative agreement is part of a larger Head Start research 
effort. Three other grant funding mechanisms are being offered 
concurrently with the one described in this announcement. They include: 
(1) American Indian-Alaska Native Head Start Research Center, (2) Head 
Start Graduate Student Research Grants, and (3) Head Start Graduate 
Student Research Partnership Development Grants. For more information, 
please see these other Head Start Research announcements listed in the 
Federal Register or listed on https://www.Grants.gov.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Purpose

    The purpose of this opportunity is to fund an American Indian 
Alaska Native Head Start Research Center that will provide leadership 
and offer support in the development and facilitation of local 
research, and strengthen the ability of local researchers to conduct 
model research projects (based in universities and other non-profit 
research institutions) in collaboration with Head Start American 
Indian, Alaska Native program staff and members of tribal communities. 
The Center is expected to engage in a variety of activities that are 
designed to promote excellence in early childhood research, make a 
significant contribution to the knowledge base, improve research 
capacity, and provide leadership and support for research on the early 
development of American Indian Alaska Native children. The successful 
applicant should be aware of and be able to collaborate with local 
researchers who are conversant with tribal communities; be familiar 
with the available strengths and needs of tribal communities; be 
knowledgeable of the particular histories of tribal Head Start 
programs; and be able to build the trust and support of local tribes so 
they may become valuable partners in developing research goals and 
questions.
    The Center will also be responsible for assuring that each 
successful partnership will be able to provide evidence that the 
research projects are developing information to improve the early 
learning environments for American Indian Alaska Native Head Start 
children. Therefore, such affiliations necessitate that researchers 
become familiar with the goals and approaches of existing AI-AN Head 
Start programs.
    It is expected that the lessons learned from model partnerships 
will then be shared with the larger research community, both through 
the Head Start network and by other means. Examples of approaches and 
lessons learned from these partnerships that could be shared include, 
but are not limited to: methodological approaches for sampling; 
assessment and analysis at the local program level; plans for reporting 
data to teachers, parents, and management staff; integrated curricular 
and assessment approaches; and professional development approaches 
including coursework and training materials.

B. Statutory Authority

    Section 649 of the Head Start Act, as amended by the Coats Human 
Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285) codified at 42 
U.S.C. 9844.

C. Background

    The American Indian Alaska Native Program Branch funds Head Start 
and Early Head Start programs operated by tribes, consortia, and/or 
corporations. The majority of grantees serve and reside on tribal 
reservations. Generally, grants are awarded to tribal governments, with 
tribal presidents, governors, executive directors or administrators as 
authorizing officials.
    American Indian and Alaska Native (AI-AN) Head Start programs 
reflect the diversity of languages and traditions that exist in AI-AN 
cultures. Substantial numbers of children served by the AI-AN Branch 
speak an American Indian language or language other than English or 
Spanish as their dominant language. The programs vary greatly in size, 
with the smallest grantee serving about 15 children and the largest, 
more than 4,000 children and families. The programs also are 
geographically diverse, and are located in isolated rural settings as 
well as in urban areas. AI-AN grantees provide comprehensive services 
to children and families through center and home-based options, as well 
as combinations and locally designed configurations.
    Historically, the diversity of many different tribes participating 
in Head Start has posed methodological challenges to their inclusion in 
nationally representative samples for evaluation research. For 
instance, current national research and evaluation activities of Head 
Start, such as the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) and the 
Head Start Impact Study, exclude tribal programs from the population 
eligible for inclusion in the samples.
    While there are reporting challenges that are unique to AI-AN 
populations, Tribal Head Start programs have the same performance 
standards and requirements for assessing program outcomes as other Head 
Start programs. However, there is little prior research evidence 
available to provide guidance to programs about effective

[[Page 24058]]

instructional, service delivery, or assessment approaches in tribal 
settings.
    American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs need to be 
included in Head Start Bureau efforts to enhance the quality of Head 
Start programming, and to improve accountability by strengthening 
screening and assessment of child outcomes and program monitoring. 
There is a need, however, to provide leadership and guidance in order 
to increase the evidence base and provide direction for program 
enhancements, and such activities must be conducted in a manner that 
takes into account the unique cultural values of tribes implementing 
Head Start programs.
    For historical and ethical reasons tribal communities must have a 
significant voice in how research is designed and conducted in those 
settings. To support the development and implementation of research 
within and by tribal communities, ACF undertook in FY2002 an effort to 
document the existing knowledge base concerning early childhood 
programming and assessment in tribal settings, and to collect 
information on the research needs and priorities of tribal Head Start 
programs. Little was known about what research was currently being 
conducted by tribal Head Start programs, what the experiences of tribal 
programs in research partnerships with colleges and universities had 
been, and how ACF might support these partnerships. The project 
resulted in a review and synthesis of available research literature, 
both published and unpublished, that pertained to young children and 
families in American Indian and Alaska Native populations. That report 
is available online at: https://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/core/
ongoing_research/hs/hs_aian_report.html.
    A second part of this effort was to conduct a series of visits to 
tribes to assess their own views about the following questions: (1) 
What kind of research is needed and desired in tribal Head Start 
settings; (2) what outcomes are important for American Indian and 
Alaska Native Head Start; (3) what programmatic and service delivery 
issues need to be studied; and (4) what are the issues in conducting 
research among American Indian and Alaska Native populations? Visits 
were arranged with 19 tribes to conduct ``listening sessions'' with 
tribal leadership, Head Start personnel, Head Start family members, and 
other community stakeholders. Other sessions were held in conjunction 
with national meetings of American Indian Alaska Native Head Start 
grantees and technical assistance staff.
    These efforts documented the scarcity of existing research that 
directly informs early childhood programming for American Indian and 
Alaska Native children and families. Few studies have taken into 
account the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of the AI-AN 
population, and existing studies tend to be small, methodologically 
weak, and of limited generalizability to other surroundings. There is a 
need to develop the capacity for early childhood research in tribal 
settings both to improve the ability of tribal members themselves to 
initiate research projects and to increase the number of qualified 
individuals who have the ability to effectively partner with tribes to 
implement research.
    At the same time, there is widespread recognition within tribal 
communities of the need for culturally relevant research, as well as 
substantial support among tribal members for research that will advance 
the knowledge base and improve the lives of the children and families 
who are served by Head Start in their communities. Indeed, tribal 
communities have affirmed that they must have a significant voice in 
how the research is designed and conducted among their members. 
Cultural issues must be addressed in the development of methodologies, 
study procedures, and data collection instruments for use in conducting 
research among tribal Head Start programs. Differences among American 
Indian-Alaskan Native groups must be acknowledged and respected in 
developing the methodology and conducting the research. In addition to 
Head Start personnel, tribal leaders and community elders often must be 
part of the process in designing and conducting research in tribal 
settings.
    Building on the needs identified both by participants in the 
listening sessions, and other consultants, this announcement is 
intended to ensure that future research is responsive to the changing 
needs of American Indian-Alaska Native children and families, and that 
researchers who are focusing on early childhood research within tribal 
communities are provided with the necessary leadership and support for 
capacity building that is currently needed. Therefore, Head Start's 
commitment to a partnership between researchers and a national AI-AN 
Head Start Research Center is essential. The unique relationship forged 
between the Center, the researcher and the tribal community within the 
Head Start and early childhood research context will serve as a model 
for the establishment of other partnerships within the community (e.g., 
researcher-Head Start staff, researcher-family, etc.). This foundation 
will help bolster the skills necessary to build on early childhood 
research paradigms by fostering successful collaborations between the 
AI-AN population and the scientific community.
    Thus, the goal of the Head Start American Indian Alaska Native 
Research Center is to pull together researchers with diverse areas of 
expertise that will focus on early childhood research within the Head 
Start context, as well as in tribal communities as a whole. It is 
anticipated that the Center will make a significant contribution to the 
knowledge base and support the research on the early development of 
American Indian-Alaska Native children and families. The types of 
topics that have previously been identified as particularly relevant to 
research within AI-AN settings are listed below; the Center may wish to 
propose other relevant topics as well.
     Identifying and addressing the unique characteristics and 
needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start children and 
families that may affect learning;
     Examining the role of Head Start in promoting and 
maintaining native languages and culture by documenting and addressing 
cultural diversity within tribal Head Start settings;
     Comparing outcomes for bilingual children vs. English-only 
speakers;
     Investigating long-term outcomes for AI-AN Head Start 
children, including studies of factors that promote or inhibit the 
successful transition to school and studies that compare outcomes for 
AI-AN Head Start children with those for other Head Start children;
     Comparing tribal Head Start children to non-tribal 
children;
     Studying the effectiveness of instructional practices 
tailored to the unique characteristics of tribal children that promote 
school readiness;
     Documenting and assessing the availability of resources to 
meet unique tribal needs;
     Evaluating programs that are aimed at health and 
development, including health delivery models as well as preventive 
programs for adverse health and mental health outcomes;
     Exploring staff development issues, including wage and 
benefit comparability between AI-AN and non-tribal early childhood 
educators, causes of staff turnover, ways to retain staff, 
identification of staff members' academic and non-academic skills that 
best promote child development within

[[Page 24059]]

a cultural context, and providing staff development opportunities in 
geographically isolated communities;
     Developing and utilizing culturally appropriate screening, 
assessment, and outcome measures;
     Building and promoting methods for enhancing communication 
and cooperation among Head Start personnel, parents, tribal 
governments, and school district personnel;
     Identifying special needs among AI-AN Head Start children, 
and recommending and testing, or developing and evaluating programs for 
addressing them;
     Examining the effectiveness of methods for enhancing 
parent involvement, including promotion of knowledge about child 
development among parents, promotion of adult literacy, and promotion 
of father involvement;
     Investigating the impact of adverse conditions on child 
development, including geographic isolation and poverty, adverse family 
circumstances such as domestic violence or substance abuse, and 
historical experiences of racism and discrimination of AI-AN culture; 
and
     Promoting professional and educational opportunities for 
undergraduates, pre-doctoral and medical students, residents, post-
doctoral trainees and senior scholars who are interested in AI-AN 
research.
    The Center will advance the research field and Head Start by 
facilitating capacity building with local researchers, scholars, 
American Indian Alaska Native Head Start staff, tribal authorities, 
tribal communities and families. The objectives of the project are to: 
(1) Create a national research center that will contribute to the 
knowledge base on early development of American Indian Alaska Native 
children and families within the Head Start program; (2) support local 
research projects that focus on the development of young children and 
families in American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head 
Start programs; and (3) build capacity and promote partnerships between 
the local research community and Head Start tribal communities.
    The Center will achieve this by facilitating and supporting the 
development of partnership opportunities between researchers, and AI-AN 
Head Start communities in order to begin to build a portfolio of 
research projects related to early childhood development in AI-AN 
settings. It is expected that a working consortium of researchers will 
be established that will identify and further develop particular 
research approaches targeted toward better describing the unique 
characteristics and developmental needs of American Indian Alaska 
Native children and their families, evaluating or enhancing program 
practices, and developing approaches to outcomes assessment based on 
the needs of the population served. The Center and consortium will 
develop research activities and topics that are decided through the 
cooperative agreement between OPRE, the Center and in consultation with 
the AI-AN Head Start staff and other tribal stakeholders that have 
agreed to participate in research projects, and that clearly reflect 
the interests of the American Indian Alaska Native Head Start programs 
and communities. Note that all studies, reports, proposals, and data 
produced or developed with federal funds under Head Start American 
Indian-Native Alaskan Research Center Program ``shall become the 
property of the United States.'' pursuant to Section 649(f) of the Head 
Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9844.
    The types of activities that may be undertaken to support the 
development of research partnerships include, but are not limited to: 
providing financial support through competitions or other selection 
mechanisms to research projects that will be undertaken through 
partnerships between research institutions and AI-AN Head Start 
communities; supporting or augmenting research projects already in 
development or underway in AI-AN settings; piloting or implementing 
specific research projects with AI-AN Head Start communities; and 
providing training or career development opportunities to build 
research capacity for AI-AN Head Start communities. Significant 
involvement in the planning and implementation of all activities by the 
AI-AN Head Start communities themselves will be an important feature. 
Although applicants are expected to propose specific activities for 
accomplishing the goals of the project, final work plans will be 
developed in conjunction with ACF and Head Start staff.

Priority Area

    1. Description.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.
    Substantial Involvement with Cooperative Agreement: ACF expects to 
work closely with the organization that receives funding to ensure 
monies are used appropriately and in the most effective manner possible 
and that the services and activities included in the approved 
application address the establishment of a consortium of local research 
partners and that the needs of the research partners and the American 
Indian Alaska Native communities be clearly stated in an efficient, 
effective, and timely manner. Therefore, the organization selected to 
receive the award will be responsible for implementing activities 
specified in a work plan that will be jointly developed by the Center 
and staff from OPRE, in consultation with the Head Start Bureau.
    Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $800,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 1.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $800,000 per budget period.
    Floor on Amount of Individual Awards: None.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $800,000 per budget period.
    Length of Project Periods: 36 month project with three 12 month 
budget periods.
    The Federal share of project costs shall not exceed $800,000 for 
the first 12-month budget period inclusive of indirect costs and shall 
not exceed $1,000,000 per year for the second through third 12-month 
budget periods. An application that exceeds the upper value of the 
dollar range specified will be considered ``non-responsive'' and be 
returned to the applicant without further review. The project period 
will be up to three years. The initial award will be for the first one-
year budget period. Requests for a second and/or third year of funding 
within the project period should be identified in the current 
application (on SF-424A), but such requests will be considered in 
subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to the applicant's 
eligibility status, the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of 
the grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the 
best interest of the Government. An application for a continuation 
funded under this award beyond the three-year budget and three-year 
project period for an additional two years will be entertained in 
subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to availability of 
funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee and a determination that 
continued funding would be in the best interest of the Government.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
     State controlled institutions of higher education

[[Page 24060]]

     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
     Private institutions of higher education
    Additional Information on Eligibility: Applicants are universities, 
four-year colleges, and not-for profit institutions on behalf of 
researchers who hold a doctorate degree or equivalent in their 
respective fields. The Principal Investigator who will head up the 
Center must conduct research as a primary professional responsibility, 
and have published or have been accepted for publication in the major 
peer-reviewed research journals in the field as a first author or 
second author.
    An important element of this announcement is the requirement that 
the applicant, and any proposed researchers that will eventually make 
up the consortium, demonstrate a partnership or partnerships with Head 
Start or Early Head Start programs as part of all research.
    The application must contain a detailed process on how the 
applicant intends on awarding local research projects and clearly 
communicate the stipulation that one of the requirements of any local 
Principal Investigator is a letter of agreement from the Head Start or 
Early Head Start program the local P.I. intends on working with, 
certifying that they have entered into a partnership with the applicant 
and the application has been reviewed and approved by tribal 
authorities.
    The Principal Investigator must agree to attend two meetings each 
year. The first is an annual grantee meeting that is typically 
scheduled during the summer or fall of each year and is held in 
Washington, DC. All local P.I.'s that make up the consortium are also 
expected to attend. The second meeting each year alternates between the 
biennial Head Start National Research Conference in Washington, DC, 
June 26th through June 29th, 2006 and the biennial meeting of the 
Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). The budget should 
reflect travel funds for such purposes.
    Please see section V.1 Evaluation Criteria for further information 
on how applications will be scored based on program requirements.
    Faith-based and community organizations that meet all other 
eligibility criteria are eligible to apply.
    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 (https://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 https://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 
earnings 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.
    When applying electronically we strongly suggest you attach your 
proof of non-profit status with your electronic application.
    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: 
https://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: Head Start Research 
Support Technical Assistance Team, OPRE Grant Review Team, Xtria, LLC, 
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182; phone: 877-663-0250; 
e-mail: opre@xtria.com.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    Letter of Intent: Those who plan to submit an application are 
encouraged to submit notice via a letter of intent by fax or e-mail by 
June 3, 2005. This information will be used only to determine the 
number of expert reviewers needed to review the applications. Include 
only the following information in this fax or e-mail: the number and 
title of this announcement; the name, address, telephone and fax 
number, e-mail address of the principal investigator(s), the fiscal 
agent (if known); and the name of the university, non-profit 
institution, or other organization. Applicants should not enclose a 
description of their proposed project. Send this information to: ``Head 
Start Research Support Technical Assistance Team'' at: E-mail: 
opre@xtria.com, or fax to: 1-703-356-0472.
    Application Requirements: An original and two copies of the 
complete application are required. The original copy must include all 
required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed 
by an authorized representative, have original signatures, and be 
submitted unbound. The two additional copies of the complete 
application must include all required forms, certifications, 
assurances, and appendices and must also be submitted unbound. 
Applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not 
the original) of specific salary rates or amounts for individuals 
specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers, if 
otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary 
salary information.
    Format and Organization. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
limit their application to 100 pages, double-spaced,

[[Page 24061]]

with standard one-inch margins and 12-point fonts. This page limit 
applies to both narrative text and supporting materials but not the 
Standard Federal Forms (see list below). Applicants must number the 
pages of their application beginning with the Table of Contents.
    Applicants are advised to include all required forms and materials 
and to organize these materials according to the format, and in the 
order, presented below:
    a. Cover Letter.
    b. Contact information sheet (see details below).
    c. Standard Federal Forms.
    Standard Application for Federal Assistance (form 424) Budget 
Information--Non-construction Programs (424A) Certifications Regarding 
Lobbying Disclosures of Lobbying Activities (if necessary); 
Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke Assurance Regarding 
Non-construction Programs (form 424B) Assurance Regarding Protection of 
Human Subjects.
    d. Table of Contents.
    e. Project Narrative Statement (see details below).
    f. Appendices.
    Proof of Non-profit Status (see Section V.1.F), Letter(s) of 
agreement with Head Start program(s) (see details below), Letter(s) of 
agreement with Head Start Policy Council(s) (see details below), 
Curriculum Vitae for Principal Investigators.
    You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper 
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the https://
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.
     We recommend you visit Grants.gov at least 30 days prior 
to filing your application to fully understand the process and 
requirements. We encourage applicants who submit electronically to 
submit well before the closing date and time so that if difficulties 
are encountered an applicant can still send in a hard copy overnight. 
If you encounter difficulties, please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk 
at 1-800-518-4276 to report the problem and obtain assistance with the 
system.
     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 https://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: 
https://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 Public Law 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 this form. 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: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Those organizations required to provide proof of non-profit status, 
please refer to Section III.3.
    Please see Section V.1 for instructions on preparing the full 
project description.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Due Date For Letter of Intent or Preapplications: 06/03/2005.
    Due Date for Applications: 07/01/2005.

[[Page 24062]]

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 
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.
    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.
    Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will be provided 
to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services, or 
by hand delivery. Applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement 
for applications that are submitted via https://www.Grants.gov.
    Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when 
preparing your application package.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Required form or
        What to submit           Required content          format                      When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Abstract..............  See Sections IV.2  Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 and V.             and V.
Project Description...........  See Sections IV.2  Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 and V.             and V.
Budget Narrative/Justification  See Sections IV.2  Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 and V.             and V.
SF424.........................  See Section IV.2.  See https:// By application due date.
                                                    www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
SF-LLL Certification Regarding  See Section IV.2.  See https:// By date of award.
 Lobbying.                                          www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Certification Regarding         See Section IV.2.  See https:// By date of award.
 Environmental Tobacco Smoke.                       www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Assurances....................  See Section IV.2.  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ By date of award.
                                                    programs/ofs/
                                                    forms.htm.
Support Letters...............  IV.2.............  IV.2..................  By application due date.
Non-Federal Commitment Letters  IV.2.............  IV.2..................  By application due date.
Proof of Non-Profit Status....  See Section III.3  Found in Section III.3  By date of award.
Assurance Regarding Protection  IV.2.............  https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ By application due date.
 of Human Subjects.                                 programs/ofs/
                                                    forms.htm.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Required form or
        What to submit           Required content          format                      When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit  See form.........  Found in https:// By application due date.
 Grant Applicants.                                  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

[[Page 24063]]

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 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.
    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: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Grant awards will not allow reimbursement 
of pre-award costs.
    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. Please see Section IV.3 for an 
explanation of due dates. Applications should be mailed to: Head Start 
Research Support Technical Assistance Team, OPRE Grant Review Team, 
Xtria, LLC, 8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 400, Vienna, VA 22182.
    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: Head Start Research Support Technical Assistance Team, 
OPRE Grant Review Team, Xtria, LLC, 8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 400, 
Vienna, VA 22182.
    Electronic Submission: Please see Section IV.2 for guidelines and 
requirements when submitting applications electronically via https://
www.Grants.gov.

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 25 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: The following are instructions and guidelines on how 
to prepare the ``project summary/abstract'' and ``full project 
description'' sections of the application. Under the evaluation 
criteria section, note that each criterion is preceded by the generic 
evaluation requirement under the ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD).

Part 1--The Project Description Overview

Purpose

    The project description provides a major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can 
present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing your project 
description, information responsive to each of the requested evaluation 
criteria must be provided. Awarding offices use this and other 
information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, 
therefore, that this information be included in the application in a 
manner that is clear and complete.

General Instructions

    ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions 
that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended 
performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of 
substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are 
not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. 
Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly 
funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an 
integral part of the grant funded activity should be placed in an 
appendix.
    Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included 
for easy reference.

Introduction

    Applicants 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 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.
    For example, explain how your proposed project will achieve the 
specific goals and objectives you have set. Estimate the number of 
consortium members you expect to identify. You may also specify 
particular individuals who have agreed to become affiliated with the 
Center as examples of your knowledge and experience in the areas

[[Page 24064]]

of early childhood development and American Indian Alaska Native 
research. If there are particular areas of research where you have a 
limited amount of experience, you may propose individuals either at 
your institution or another institution that would be willing to be 
affiliated with the Center. If you choose this option, please make sure 
that a letter of commitment is included with your application. Explain 
how the expected results will benefit the population to be served. 
Specifically, in meeting its needs for the advancement of American 
Indian Alaska Native research that will benefit the larger American 
Indian Alaska Native Head Start and early childhood community and for 
early learning services and activities: how will the research community 
benefit from this project? What benefits will families derive from 
these services? How will the services help them? What lessons will be 
learned which might help other agencies and organizations that are 
addressing the needs of a similar client population?

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.

Evaluation

    Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and 
the results 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.

Additional Information

    Following are requests for additional information that need to be 
included in the application:

Staff and Position Data

    Provide a biographical sketch and job description for each key 
person appointed. Job descriptions for each vacant key position should 
be included as well. As new key staff is appointed, biographical 
sketches will also be required.

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.

Letters of Support

    Provide statements from community, public and commercial leaders 
that support the project proposed for funding. All submissions should 
be included in the application OR by application deadline.

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.

General

    Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget 
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed 
and justified in the budget and narrative justification. ``Federal 
resources'' refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. 
``Non Federal resources'' are all other Federal and non-Federal 
resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be 
presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; 
second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s), 
and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a 
narrative.

Personnel

    Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
    Justification: Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time 
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project 
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, 
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel 
costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to 
be financed by the applicant.

Fringe Benefits

    Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as 
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
    Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages 
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel

    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant

[[Page 24065]]

organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), 
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if 
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs 
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment

    Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable, 
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year 
and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the 
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial 
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the 
net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of 
any modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus 
necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. 
Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit 
insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded 
from acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular 
written accounting practices.)
    Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a 
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, 
the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or 
disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant 
organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide 
a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the 
equipment definition.

Supplies

    Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than 
that included under the Equipment category.
    Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their 
costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports 
the amount requested.

Contractual

    Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except 
for those that belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Include third party evaluation contracts 
(if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant.
    Justification: Demonstrate that all procurement transactions will 
be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, 
open and free competition. Recipients and subrecipients, other than 
States that are required to use Part 92 procedures, must justify any 
anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without 
competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 
U.S.C. 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).
    Recipients might be required to make available to ACF pre-award 
review and procurement documents, such as request for proposals or 
invitations for bids, independent cost estimates, etc.


    Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the 
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed 
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency 
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Other

    Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable 
and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, 
medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, 
space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, 
training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, 
and administrative costs.
    Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a 
justification for each cost under this category.

Indirect Charges

    Description: Total amount of 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.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it 
should immediately develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in accordance with 
the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, 
and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of 
their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. When an 
indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect 
cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. 
Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is 
allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the 
applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the 
applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.

Non-Federal Resources

    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be 
documented and submitted with the application so the applicant is given 
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for 
each funding source.
    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 (i.e., 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--45 Points

    [cir] The extent to which the proposal provides evidence that the 
Center will be fully operational within 12 months, including the 
establishment of formal relationships with local researchers who will 
make up the consortium.
    [cir] The extent to which the application clearly states the 
activities that the Center will undertake and how they meet the goals 
specified.
    [cir] The extent to which the proposal develops a plan on how it 
will collaborate on research with consortium members, what kinds of 
assistance it will provide, and any capacity building activities. It is 
important to remember that any research plans should be jointly 
developed by the local research institutions and the Head Start or 
Early Head Start programs, as well as other relevant tribal 
stakeholders they plan to partner with, and approved by the Center in 
conjunction with OPRE. The application demonstrates a detailed process 
on how the applicant intends on awarding local research projects and 
clearly communicate the stipulation that one of the requirements of any 
local Principal Investigator is a letter of

[[Page 24066]]

agreement from the Head Start or Early Head Start program the local 
P.I. intends on working with, certifying that they have entered into a 
partnership with the applicant and the application has been reviewed 
and approved by tribal authorities.
    [cir] The extent