Area Poverty Research Centers; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)-Area Poverty Research Centers, 35437-35444 [05-12018]

Agencies

• Office of the Secretary
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35437-35444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12018]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Area Poverty Research Centers; Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)--Area Poverty Research Centers

    Announcement Type: Grant--Initial.
    CFDA Number: 93.239.
    Due Date for Letter of Intent: July 11, 2005.
    Due Date for Applications: August 4, 2005.
    Executive Summary: Funds are provided for Area Poverty Research 
Center cooperative agreements for qualified institutions to provide a 
focused agenda expanding our understanding of the causes, consequences 
and effects of poverty in local geographic areas or specific 
substantive areas, especially in states or regional areas of high 
concentrations of poverty. These cooperative agreements are intended to 
create a research opportunity for scholars and institutions otherwise 
unlikely to participate extensively in HHS programs to support the 
Nation's poverty research effort.

[[Page 35438]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Purpose

    The purpose of this announcement is to report the availability of 
funds to support cooperative agreements for area poverty research 
centers. HHS has had a long history supporting research and evaluation 
of important and emerging social policy issues associated with the 
nature, causes, correlates, and effects of income dynamics, poverty, 
individual and family functioning and child well-being. ASPE supports a 
national poverty center at the University of Michigan. The national 
poverty center conducts a broad program of policy research and 
mentoring of emerging scholars to describe and analyze national, 
regional and state environment (e.g., economics, demographics) and 
policies affecting the poor, particularly those families with children 
who are poor or at-risk of being poor. ASPE also supports three area 
poverty centers which focus on issues of regional or state interest. 
They are housed at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the 
University of Kentucky, and the University of Missouri.
    These awards (cooperative agreements) replace the current 
cooperative agreements with the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP) 
at the University of Wisconsin, the Rural Poverty Research Center at 
the University of Missouri and the Center for Poverty Research at the 
University of Kentucky. Central to the mission of the area poverty 
research centers is capacity building-supporting faculty research and 
faculty training; enhancing campus-wide awareness of issues related to 
poverty; and supporting and mentoring students in poverty and low-
income policy related careers. Work of the current poverty centers 
includes: (1) Expanding the knowledge of the causes and consequences of 
poverty as well as responses to ameliorate poverty and its impacts on 
Americans, (2) providing a core of multi-disciplinary researchers, as 
well as a network of scholars who focus their research on poverty and 
the poor, (3) developing and training of future social science 
researchers whose work focuses on poverty and the poor, (4) 
continuation of the work on the improvement of methods and data to 
permit a fuller understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty 
and the social policies and programs meant to alleviate it, and (5) 
maintaining a network for the dissemination of findings to the policy 
and research communities through newsletters, working papers, special 
reports and briefings. Information on the current centers is available 
on their respective Web sites: https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp, https://
www.rprconline.org, and https://www.ukcpr.org/Index1.html. We expect the 
centers funded under this announcement to provide leadership through 
innovative applied research, evaluation, and mentoring to increase the 
number and diversity of poverty scholars and heighten awareness of 
poverty-related issues for all students by bringing relevant content 
into the classroom. The winning applicant(s) will be expected to carry 
out a program that continues a strong scholarly tradition and concern 
for poverty. There are no specific projects that must be continued from 
the current Centers under this award.

B. Statutory Authority

    Section 1110 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1310) and awards 
will be made from funds appropriated under Public Law 108-447.

C. Background

    The U.S. continues to experience social changes relating to the 
economy, demographics, social and behavioral functioning of 
individuals, families and the well-being of children. The manner by 
which government and others react to or precipitates these changes also 
is in a state of evolution. In order to inform the public about these 
social trends and their causes, consequences, and cures, HHS is 
soliciting applications for cooperative agreements to university-based 
institutions. The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 
(ASPE) expects to fund the Area Poverty Research Centers for a period 
of three (3) years. The first year of funding for an Area Poverty 
Research Center will be approximately a maximum of $500,000 (combined 
direct and indirect funding). Subject to the availability of future 
funds we expect total funding of no more than $1.5 million over the 
three year period for each center.
    Cooperative Agreements are assistance mechanisms and subject to the 
same administrative requirements as grants. However, they are different 
from either a grant or a contract. Compared to a grant, they allow more 
involvement and collaboration by the government in the affairs of the 
project, but provide less direction of project activities than a 
contract. The Terms of Award are in addition to, not in lieu of, 
otherwise applicable guidelines and procedures.
    ASPE plans to fund up to three Area Poverty Research Centers. The 
Area Poverty Research Center cooperative agreements are for qualified 
institutions to provide a focused agenda expanding our understanding of 
the causes, consequences and effects of poverty in local geographic 
areas or specific substantive areas, especially in states or regional 
areas of high concentrations of poverty. These cooperative agreements 
are intended to create a research opportunity for scholars and 
institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in HHS 
programs to support the Nation's poverty research effort. It is 
anticipated that investigators supported under the Area Poverty 
Research Centers will benefit from the opportunity to conduct 
independent research; that the grantee institutions will benefit from 
participation in the diverse extramural programs of HHS; and that 
students will benefit from exposure to and participation in research 
and be encouraged to pursue graduate studies and careers in the social 
and behavioral sciences with a focus on poverty.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreements.
    Anticipated Total Funding: $1,200,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 3-4.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $5000,000 per budget 
period.
    Length of Project Periods: 35 month project with three 12 month 
budget periods.
    Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects 
are eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

Responsibilities of the Awardee and the Federal Government in the 
Establishment and Operation of Area Poverty Research Centers

A. Awardee Responsibilities for Area Poverty Research Centers
    The purpose of the Area Poverty Research Centers is to support 
inter-disciplinary research leading to an understanding and reduction 
of poverty, income inequality and its correlates. Central to the 
mission of the area poverty research centers is capacity building--
supporting faculty research and faculty training; enhancing campus-wide 
awareness of issues related to poverty; and supporting and mentoring 
students in poverty and low-income policy related careers. Applicants 
are invited to propose multi-level, integrated research projects that 
will shed light on the complex interactions of the social and physical 
environment, and mediating behavioral factors, which determine poverty 
and income inequality. Area Poverty Research Centers are expected to 
create an environment conducive to interdisciplinary collaborations 
among

[[Page 35439]]

social and behavioral scientist and affected communities with the goal 
of improving well-being of individuals, families and children. The 
successful applicant(s) shall develop and conduct a program which 
appropriately balances research, mentoring young scholars, and 
dissemination activities directed to understanding the well-being of 
individuals, families and children. Although not required, applicants 
are encouraged to take advantage of defined geographic areas of study 
and existing data.
    ASPE has identified five priority areas the applicant may address: 
(1) Strategies to encourage work, self-reliance, parent responsibility, 
community, and child well-being, (2) The changing labor market and its 
influence on low-income families with children, (3) Non-marital child-
bearing, teen pregnancy, and healthy marriage, (4) Youth transition to 
adulthood, and (5) State- and local-level policy, programs and 
interventions, particularly those targeted to geographic concentrations 
of poverty, to enhance self-sufficiency and well-being. Applications 
may address all, some, or none of these. If applications do not address 
any of these priority areas, they must address other important aspects 
of poverty.
    The awardees will perform the following specific tasks:
1. Research Program
    Each Area Poverty Research Center will be expected to plan, 
initiate and maintain a research program of high caliber. It may 
include small-scale, new or ongoing social, behavioral, policy-related 
research projects, including pilot research projects and feasibility 
studies; development, testing, and refinement of research techniques; 
secondary analysis of available data sets; or similar research 
projects. Each Center will be expected to carry out or support at least 
two projects, as well as develop or expand the Center's presence on 
campus and in the broader research community and involve students in 
the ongoing research of the center.
2. Mentoring Young Scholars
    Each Area Poverty Research Center is expected to develop and expand 
a diverse corps of young scholars/researchers who focus career goals on 
policy, research and programs focused on poverty populations. The Area 
Poverty Research Centers will be expected to develop an awareness and 
interest in students of the opportunities in poverty research through 
such activities as research internships, seminars and related 
experiences. Applicants should demonstrate how students will benefit 
from exposure to and participation in the ongoing research of Area 
Poverty Research Center faculty and staff and be encouraged to pursue 
graduate studies in the social and behavioral sciences with a focus on 
poverty related studies.
3. Dissemination
    Making knowledge and information available to interested parties is 
to be another integral feature of each Area Poverty Research Center's 
responsibilities. The Centers will be expected to develop and maintain 
a dissemination system. Applicants are encouraged to propose use of 
innovative methods of disseminating data and information. Applications 
should show a sensitivity to the different dissemination strategies 
which may be appropriate for different audiences--such as policy 
makers, practitioners, and academics.
B. ASPE Responsibilities
    ASPE will be involved with each Center in jointly establishing 
broad research priorities and planning strategies to accomplish the 
objectives of this announcement. ASPE, or its representatives, will 
provide the following types of support to the Centers: (1) Consultation 
and technical assistance in planning, operating, and evaluating the 
Center's program of research, mentoring and dissemination activities, 
(2) information about HHS programs, policies, and research priorities, 
(3) assistance in collaborating with appropriate federal, state and 
local government officials in the performance of program activities, 
(4) assistance in identifying HHS information and technical assistance 
resources pertinent to the Center's success, (5) assistance in the 
transfer of information to appropriate federal, state, and local 
entities, (6) review of Center activities and feedback to ensure that 
objectives and award conditions are being met, (7) coordination of 
activities amongst the centers to ensure, to the extend possible, the 
optimal use of resources and expertise. ASPE retains the right, 
however, to withhold annual renewals to the awardee, if technical 
performance requirements are not met.
C. Joint Responsibilities
    Each awardee, jointly with ASPE, will appoint an outside advisory 
committee, funded under this agreement. Each committee will be selected 
to provide assistance to both the national poverty center and each Area 
Poverty Research Center formulating the research agenda and advice on 
carrying it out. Efforts will be made in selecting this committee to 
assure a broad range of academic disciplines and political viewpoints. 
For each Center the committee will be composed of approximately four to 
six nationally and/or regionally recognized scholars and practitioners 
and will include the director of the national poverty center. (For a 
list of the current Advisory Committee members for the three Area 
Poverty Research Centers see their respective websites: 
www.ss.cwisc.edu/irp, https://www.rprconline.org, and https://
www.ukcpr.org/Index1.html). This committee will meet once a year 
rotating between Washington, DC and each Area Poverty Research Centers 
location.
D. Rights to Data
    The awardee will retain custody of and have primary rights to the 
data developed under this award, subject to government rights to access 
consistent with current HHS regulations. The awardee should make 
reasonable efforts, however, to provide other research appropriate and 
speedy access to research data from this project and establish public 
use files of research data developed under this award.
    The Federal share of project costs shall not exceed $500,000 for 
the first 12-month budget period inclusive of indirect costs and shall 
not exceed $500,000 per year for the second through third 12-month 
budget periods. An application that exceeds the upper value 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 applications (on SF-
424A), but such requests will be considered in subsequent years on a 
noncompetitive basis, subject to the applicant 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.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligibility Applicants: Colleges and universities offering 
baccalaureate or advanced degrees in the social and behavioral 
sciences. Scholars and researchers working in Area Poverty Research 
Center eligible institutions located in geographic areas where there 
are large concentrations of poor are encouraged to participate in this 
program.

[[Page 35440]]

    2. Cost Sharing/Matching: Awardees must provide at least 5 percent 
of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of 
the project is the sum of the federal share and the non-federal share. 
The non-federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, 
although applicants are encouraged to meet their matching requirements 
through cash contributions. For example, an awardee with a project with 
a total budget (both direct and indirect costs) of $400,000 may request 
up to $380,000 in federal funds. Matching requirements cannot be met 
with fund from other federally-funded programs. If a proposed project 
activity has approved funding support from other funding support from 
other funding sources, the amount, duration, purpose, and source of the 
funds should be indicated in materials submitted under this 
announcement. If completion of the proposed project activity in 
contingent upon approval of funding from other sources, the 
relationship between the funds being sought elsewhere and from ASPE 
should be discussed in the budget information submitted as a part of 
the abstract. In both cases, the contribution that ASPE funds will make 
to the project should be clearly presented.
    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 Number System (DUNS) number when 
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after 
October 1, 2003. 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 bock grant 
programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
    Please ensure that your organization has 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.
    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 
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: Theresa Jarosik, Grants 
Management Specialist, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
Diseases, NIH, DEA, DHHS, 6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 2261, Bethesda, 
MD 20892-7614. For express mail services please use zip code 20817. 
Additional contact information is as follows: phone: 301-594-7460, fax: 
301-480-2599, e-mail: tjarosik@niaid.nih.gov.
    Notice of Intent to Submit an Application: If you plan to submit an 
application, you must notify us by fax or e-mail by July 11, 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 title of the announcement; the 
title of your project; the names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, 
e-mail address of the principal investigator and the fiscal agent (if 
known); and the name of the university. Do not include a description of 
your proposed project. Send this information to: Audrey Mirsky-Ashby: 
Fax: 202-690-6562, e-Mail: audrey.mirsky-ashby@hhs.gov.
    2. Content and Format of Application Submission: Applicants must 
limit their application to 50 pages (excluding appendices), double 
spaced, with standard one-inch margins and 12 point fonts (excluding 
appendices). This page limit applies to narrative text but not the 
Standard Federal Forms (see list below). Applicants must number the 
pages of their application beginning with the Table of Contents. All 
pages of the narrative must be unbound.
    In general, ASPE seeks organizations which can demonstrate the 
ability to provide quality research, training of emerging scholars, and 
working with Federal, State and local governments. Applicants for 
funding should reflect, in the program narrative section of the 
application, how they will be able to fulfill the responsibilities and 
requirements described in the announcement. Applications should specify 
in detail how administrative arrangements will be made to minimize 
start-up and transition delays. It is expected that the applicant will 
have additional funding and arrangements with other organizations and 
institutions, including the host institution(s). The applicant should 
make all current and anticipated related funding arrangements explicit 
in the application.
    The applicant shall address the following:

(1) Analysis of Key Trends and Past Research

    The application shall present a brief analysis of the key trends 
(e.g., social, demographic, economic) and past research related to the 
Area Poverty Research Center's proposed focus which provides a basis 
for the proposed Area Poverty Research Center plan to implement a 
course of study and capacity building. The analysis should examine the 
nature, causes, and correlates of one or more of the trends as they 
relate to the Area Poverty Research Center's focus, as appropriate. The 
analysis should demonstrate the applicant's grasp of the policy and 
research significance of recent and future social trends as well as the 
past research.

(2) Research Agenda

    Central to each application shall be a prospectus for a three-year 
research agenda, outlining the major research themes to be investigated 
over the next three years. In particular, the prospectus will describe 
the activities planned for each of the research priority issues 
proposed by the Area Poverty Research Center. The prospectus should 
discuss the kind of research activities that will provide information 
in the priority issues selected and the role of the proposed Area 
Poverty Research Center in carrying out those activities. The 
prospectus should be based on the analysis of trends and research. The 
prospectus may include detailed descriptions of the individual research 
projects that will be expected in the Center's first year of operation; 
including the conceptual framework, design, data, methods and proposed 
analyses. The application should detail the proposed methods to engage 
researchers and emerging scholars in the research program. It also 
should be specific about the longer-term research themes and projects. 
The lines of research described in the prospectus should be concrete 
enough that project descriptions in subsequent research plan amendments 
can be viewed as articulating a research theme discussed in the 
prospectus. An application that simply contains an ad hoc 
categorization of an unstructured set of research projects--as opposed 
to a set of projects which strike a coherent theme--will be judged 
unfavorably. Note: Once a successful applicant has been selected ASPE 
will review the research agenda and jointly determine future research 
priorities. The research plan will be periodically reviewed and

[[Page 35441]]

revised as necessary. The application should discuss a proposed 
research planning process, including involvement of an outside advisory 
committee and other advisors, and participation with the National 
Center and the other Area Poverty Research Centers awarded as part of 
this action.

(3) Staff and Organizational Plan

    The application must include a staffing and organizational proposal 
for the Area Poverty Research Center, including an analysis of the 
types of background needed among staff members, the Area Poverty 
Research Center's organizational structure, and linkages with the host 
university and other organizations. It is in this third section that 
the application should specify how it will assure a genuinely 
interdisciplinary approach to research, and where appropriate, the 
necessary links to university/college departments or units, other 
organizations and scholars engaged in research, and government policy 
making. The applicant shall identify the director (or principal 
investigator) and key senior research staff. Full resumes of proposed 
staff members shall be included as a separate appendix to the 
application. The time commitment to the Area Poverty Research Center 
and other existing commitments for each proposed staff members shall be 
clearly indicated in chart form. The kinds of administrative and tenure 
arrangements, if any, the Area Poverty Research Center proposes to make 
should also be discussed in this section. In addition, the author(s) of 
the application and the role which he or she (they) will play in the 
proposed Area Poverty Research Center must be specified.
    If the application envisions an arrangement among two or more 
colleges, universities or institutions, this section will describe the 
specifics about the relationships, including leadership, management, 
and administration. It should pay particular attention to discussing 
how a focal point for research, teaching, and scholarship will be 
maintained given the arrangement proposed. The application must 
describe what steps will be taken to develop or expand the Area Poverty 
Research Center's presence on campus and in the broader community. The 
application also should discuss the role, selection procedure, and 
expected contribution of the external advisory committee.
    The application must also include a detailed dissemination plan 
that describes the process of disseminating findings to interested 
parties through newsletters, working papers, special reports and 
briefings.

(4) Training and Mentoring Emerging Scholars

    The proposed should present a training and mentoring plan for 
emerging scholars, describing how students will benefit from exposure 
to and participation in the ongoing research of the Area Poverty 
Research Center faculty and staff and how student will be encouraged to 
pursue graduate studies in the social and behavioral sciences with a 
focus on poverty related studies. This section shall discuss any 
financial arrangement for supporting undergraduate and graduate 
students, research assistant, post-docs, affiliates, resident scholars, 
etc. The discussion should include the expected number and types of 
young scholars to be supported, the level of support anticipated, and 
methods to ensure diversity.

(5) Budget Narrative

    The application's budget summary narrative must link the research, 
mentoring, and dissemination program to the Area Poverty Research 
Center funding level. This section should discuss how the three-year 
budget supports proposed research, training, and dissemination 
activities and should link the first year funding to a three year plan. 
The discussion should include the appropriateness of the level and 
distribution of funds to the successful completion of the research, 
training, and dissemination plans. Also, the limited amount of funds 
available for this award may indicate the desirability of using these 
funds as partial, core support for the proposed Center and applicant 
are encouraged to seek additional support from other sources. The 
availability, potential availability or prospects for other funds (from 
the host university, other universities, foundation, states, other 
Federal agencies, etc.) and the uses to which they would be put, should 
be documented in this section. Applications which show funding, or well 
thought out plans to secure funding, from other sources that supplement 
funds from this grant will be given higher marks than if they have no 
additional financial support.
    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 belows).
    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 Program (form 424B).
    Assurance regarding protection of human subjects.
    d. Table of Contents.
    e. Project abstract (not to exceed one page).
    f. Project narrative statement (see details below).
    g. Appendices.
    Proof of nonprofit status.
    Curriculum vitae for principal investigators.
    Content of Contact Information Sheet: The contact information sheet 
should include complete contact information, including addresses, phone 
an fax number, and e-mail addresses, for the Principal Investigator(s) 
and the institution's grant/financial officer (person who signs the SF-
424).
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date for Letter of Intent: July 
11, 2005.
    Due Date for Applications: August 4, 2005.

Explanation of Due Dates

    The closing time and date for receipt of applications is referenced 
above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the 
closing date will be classified as late.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time and date 
of noted in Section IV.3. Applicants are responsible for ensuring 
applications are mailed 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 as 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 reference in Section IV, 
between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).
    NIAID cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax. 
Therefore, applications transmitted 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. NIAID

[[Page 35442]]

shall notify each late application 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 shall 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: NIAID may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mail services, or in other 
rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements 
rests with the Grants Management Officer.
    Receipt acknowledge for application packages will be provided to 
applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services, or by 
hand delivery. And e-mail notification will be provided within 14 
working days to the principal investigator noted on the contact sheet.
    Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when 
preparing your application package.
    1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424);
    2. Budget Information--Non-construction Programs (Standard Form 
424A);
    3. Assurances--Non-construction Programs (Standard Form 424B);
    4. Table of Contents;
    5. Budget Justification for Section B Budget Categories;
    6. Proof of Non-profit Status, if appropriate;
    7. Copy of the applicant's Approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, 
if necessary;
    8. Project Narrative Statement, organized in five sections, 
addressing the following topics (See Part IV):

(a) Key Trend Analysis
(b) Research Agenda Prospectus
(c) Staff and Organizational Plan
(d) Training and Mentoring Emerging Scholars
(e) Budget Narrative

    9. Any appendices or attachments;
    10. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace;
    11. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, or other 
Responsibility Matters;
    12. Certification and, if necessary, Disclosure Regarding Lobbying;
    13. Supplement to Section IV--Key Personnel;
    14. Application for Federal Assistant Checklist.
    4. Intergovernmental Review:
    State Single Point of Contact (SOC): The Department of Health and 
Human Services has determined that this program is not subject to 
Executive Order No. 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs, because it is a program that is national in scope and the 
only impact on state and local governments would be through subgrants. 
Applicants are not required to seek intergovernmental review of their 
applications within the constraints of Executive Order 12372.
    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. Applications should be mailed 
to Theresa Jarosik, Grants Management Specialist, National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, DEA, DHHS, 6700B Rockledge Drive, 
Room 2261, Bethesda, MD 20892-7614. For express mail services please 
use zip code 20817. Additional contact information is as follows: 
phone: 301-594-7460, fax: 301-480-2599, e-mail: tjarosik@niaid.nih.gov.
    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 Theresa Jarosik, Grants Management Specialist, National 
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, DEA, DHHS, 6700B 
Rockledge Drive, Room 2261, Bethesda, MD 20892-7614.
    Electronic submissions and fax submissions will not be allowed.

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 50 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and 
reviewing the collection information.

1. Criteria

Evaluation Criteria
    (1) Approach and Research Plan (30 points). Reviewers will judge 
the importance and relevance of the chosen foci of the proposed Area 
Poverty Research Center. The foci of the Area Poverty Research Center 
must be clearly articulated. The importance of the chosen foci must be 
demonstrated throughout the application. Although ASPE has identified 
five priority areas the applicant may address note that the 
applications do not have to address these priority areas. The 
application must demonstrate an understanding of the significant trends 
and past related research (see section on application development) 
especially as it relates to the Area Poverty Research Center's proposed 
foci. The application must demonstrate the applicant's grasp of the 
significance of these past trends and research. The proposed research 
agenda must be consistent with the trends and research analysis (see 
section on application development) and must build on what is known to 
address important unknowns.
    The descriptions of the proposed first year projects or themes must 
provide sufficient details that would ensure the likelihood of 
successful completion. At least two projects/themes must be addressed 
in the first year plan. The longer term themes and projects must be 
consistent with the trends and past research analysis and must present 
a coherent plan. The applicant must present an adequate research 
planning process which includes ASPE and its outside advisory 
committee. The proposed research planning approach must adequately 
demonstrate a commitment to bring a multi-disciplinary approach.
    (2) Dissemination (10 points). The application must include a 
detailed dissemination plan. The approach to dissemination must 
demonstrate thoughtful and effective strategies to reach different 
audiences--e.g., researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. The 
dissemination approach must include initiatives such as conferences, 
workshops, newsletters, publications, working papers, and must be 
clearly described.
    (3) Quality of proposed staffing and proposed organization 
arrangements (20 points). Reviewers will judge the applicant's proposed 
center director/principal investigator and staff on research 
experience, administrative skills, and relevant technical experience. 
Director and staff time commitment to the Center also will be a factor 
in the evaluation. Applications will be judged on their plans to reach 
out to researchers within the college/university as well as researchers 
beyond the host academic center, particularly those from under-
represented groups. Plans for internal advisory or

[[Page 35443]]

management teams will be assessed. Institutional support (non-monetary 
as well as monetary support) will also be a factor considered. Efforts 
to develop or expand the Center's presence on campus and in the broader 
community will be assessed.
    (4) Training and Mentoring Emerging Scholars (25 points). The 
applicant evaluation will consider proposed efforts to develop and 
expand a diverse corps of emerging scholars and researchers. The 
ratings will consider the proposed mentoring and support given to 
undergraduate and graduate student, research assistants, Ph.D., 
candidates, postdoctoral students, and other research scholars. The 
evaluation will include an assessment of plans to integrate the 
training of research scholars and expose them to policy research 
activities at ASPE and methods to ensure diversity. The mentoring plan 
must indicate an adequate level at which investigators have direct 
contact and/or engage with students. The reviewers will consider 
proposed efforts to expose and engage students in poverty related 
research and encourage the pursuit of advanced studies and/or careers 
in public policy and programs which address the needs of the poverty 
population.
    (5) Adequacy and Appropriateness of Overall Budget and the 
Allocation of Resources Across Administrative, Research and Other Areas 
(15 points). The application must include a narrative description and 
justification for proposed budget line items and demonstrate that the 
project's costs are adequate, reasonable and necessary for the 
activities or personnel to be supported. The budget and narrative 
should have a clear relationship to the approach. The budget must 
assure an efficient and effective allocation of funds to achieve the 
objectives of the Center and this solicitation. The budget should 
reflect an appropriate allocation of funds to support the capacity 
building functions of the Center--research, mentoring and 
dissemination. When additional funding is contemplated, applicants 
should note whether the funding is being donated by the institution, is 
in-hand from another funding source, or will be applied for from 
another funding source. Information concerning how the applicant will 
meet the matching requirement will be evaluated (see Part III, section 
2). The budget should include travel for advisory board members.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Each application submitted under this program announcement will 
undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received 
by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions 
in this announcement, (2) the applicant is eligible for funding (see 
Part III Section B), and (3) is within the page limit (see Part IV, 
Section A). Note that applications exceeding the page limit will not be 
reviewed further and will be ineligible for funding.
    Applications for the Area Poverty Research Centers that pass the 
initial screening will be evaluated and rated by a review panel. The 
panel will use the evaluation criteria listed below to score each 
application. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the 
quality of the proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its 
success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are considered 
as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are 
awarded only to applications that are responsive to the evaluation 
criteria within the context of this program announcement. These review 
results will be the primary element used by ASPE in making funding 
decisions. HHS reserves the option to discuss applications with other 
federal or state staff, specialists, experts, and the general public. 
Comments from these sources, along with those of the reviewers, will be 
kept from inappropriate disclosure and may be considered in making an 
award decision. Selection of the successful applicant(s) will be based 
on the technical and financial criteria laid out in this announcement. 
Reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each 
application in terms of the evaluation criteria listed below, provide 
comments and assign numerical scores--out of a possible 100 points. A 
summary of all applicant scores and strengths/weaknesses and 
recommendations will be prepared and submitted to the ASPE for 
decisions. The point value following each criterion heading indicates 
the maximum numerical relative weight that each section will be given 
in the review process. An unacceptable rating on any individual 
criterion may render the application unacceptable. Consequently, 
applicants should take care to ensure that all criteria are fully 
addressed in the applications. Please be sure to refer to Part IV, 
section 2, application development.
    Approval, disapproval, or deferral. On the basis of the review of 
the application, the Assistant Secretary will either a) approve the 
application as a whole or in part; b) disapprove the application; or c) 
defer action on the application for such reasons as lack of funds or a 
need for further review.
    The Assistant Secretary's Discretion. Nothing in this announcement 
should be construed as to obligate the Assistant Secretary for Planning 
and Evaluation to make any awards whatsoever. Awards and the 
distribution of awards among the priority areas are contingent on the 
needs of the Department at any point in time and the quality of the 
applications that are received.
    Applications must be received in the following format:
    1. 12 point font size.
    2. Double line spacing (except for appendices).
    3.1 inch top, bottom, left, and right margins.
    4. Page limit of 50 pages (excluding appendices).
    5. Applications that are not received in the format described above 
and/or exceed the page limit, will not be reviewed. Applicants are 
requested to be concise. Applicants are encouraged not to attach or 
include bound reports or other documents.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    A successful applicant can expect to receive notification of grant 
award by September 16, 2005. This award, which will be signed by the 
grants officer, is the authorizing document. It will be provided 
through postal mail to the institution's grants/financial officer who 
is identified on the contact information sheet.
    Notification of disposition. The Assistant Secretary for Planning 
and Evaluation will notify the applicants of the disposition of their 
applications. If approved, a signed notification of the award will be 
sent to the business office named in the ASPE checklist.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-
governmental) or 45 CFR PArt 92 (governmental).
    All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost 
principles, and other considerations described in the above-mentioned 
requirements.
    For more information on the Code of Federal Regulations, see the 
National Archives and Records Administration at the following Internet 
address: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/.

3. Reporting

    The awardee will submit quarterly progress reports no later than 30 
days following the end of a quarter, i.e., January 31, April 30, July 
31, October 31 to the Grants Specialist, Theresa Jarosik,

[[Page 35444]]

and the Federal Project Officer, Donald T. Oellerich. In general, the 
report should be brief and should summarize the progress made toward 
completion of the project. Particular attention should be given to 
achieving any milestones set forth in the work plan. Changes of 
personnel and changes in the allocation of funds between budget 
categories should be noted. The reasons for any significant delays 
should be described.
    The awardee should submit an annual Financial Status Report 
(Standard Form 269A). This report is due 90 days after the end of each 
budget period. The SF-269A is posted at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants/grants_forms.html. To download the SF-269A, access to an adobe 
Acrobat Reader is needed. These reports should be sent to the Grants 
Specialist, Theresa Jarosik (see address listed above).
    The awardee must submit a yearly progress report in order to be 
eligible to receive continuation funding. This progress report must be 
received two months prior to the start date of the proposed 
continuation funding.

VII. Agency Contacts

    Administrative questions should be directed to Theresa Jarosik at 
the address or phone number listed above. Requests for forms and 
questions (administrative and technical) will be accepted and responded 
to up to 30 days prior to closing date of receipt of Applications. 
Technical questions should be directed to Audrey Mirsky-Ashby or Don 
Oellerich, DHHS, Office of Human Services Policy, Telephone: (202) 690-
7409. Questions also may be faxed to (202) 690-6562. Written technical 
questions should be addressed to Dr. Oellerich or Ms. Mirsky-Ashby at 
the Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE/HSP, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Room 404E, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 
20201. (Application submissions may not be faxed.)

VIII. Other Information

    Nothing in this announcement should be construed as to obligate the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation to make any awards 
whatsoever. Awards and the distribution of awards among the priority 
areas are contingent on the needs of the Department at any point in 
time and the quality of the applications that are received.

    Dated: June 10, 2005.
Michael J. O'Grady,
Assistant for Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 05-12018 Filed 6-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-05-M