Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children's Bureau, 38957-38967 [05-13303]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38957-38967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13303]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Children's 
Bureau

    Funding Opportunity Title: National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect.
    Announcement Type: Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-ACYF-CA-0086.
    CFDA Number: 93.670.
    Due Date for Applications: Applications are due August 10, 2005.
    Category of Funding Activity: Social Security and Income Services.

Executive Summary

    The purpose of this funding announcement is to award a cooperative 
agreement to continue the operation of the national data archive on 
child abuse and neglect, and to continue the processing and housing of 
high quality data sets and related activities that facilitate the use 
of archived data.
    In year 1, the grantee will provide supplementary support to data 
users who access National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being 
(NSCAW) data through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect.

Priority Area 1

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The purpose of this funding announcement is to award a cooperative 
agreement to continue the operation of the national data archive on 
child abuse and neglect, and to continue the processing and housing of 
high quality data sets and related activities that facilitate the use 
of archived data.
    In year 1, the grantee will provide supplementary support to data 
users who access National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being 
(NSCAW) data through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect.

Background

    The purpose of this funding announcement is to award a cooperative 
agreement to continue the operation of the national data archive on 
child abuse and neglect and to continue the processing and housing of 
high quality

[[Page 38958]]

data sets and related activities that facilitate the use of archived 
data.
    In year 1, the grantee will provide supplementary support to data 
users who access National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being 
(NSCAW) data through the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect.
    In this funding announcement, ACYF seeks to ensure funding for one 
of the components of a research structure identified as critical in the 
report of the Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect of the 
National Research Council. The Archive is needed to make available and 
support research on the prevention, identification and treatment of 
child abuse and neglect, adoption, foster care, and related child 
welfare issues. Since September 30, 1988, the National Center on Child 
Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN), and now the Children's Bureau (CB), has 
provided funding for the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and 
Neglect. The Archive is currently located at Cornell University, Family 
Life Development Center, MVR Hall, Ithaca, New York, 14853-4401 
(telephone 607-255-7799). The Archive is a centralized facility for the 
acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of machine-readable data 
sets relevant to the study of child maltreatment and child welfare. The 
Archive currently holds 24 data sets and has produced an updated 
document that has been widely disseminated to the field: `Depositing 
Data with the National Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect: A Handbook 
for Investigators.' Information on the data sets can be obtained from 
the Archive. The Handbook can be obtained from the Archive directly or 
downloaded through its Web page, https://www.ndacan.cornell.edu/, or 
through the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect 
Information.
    This is a full and open competition. It is expected that the 
successful applicant, whether the current grantee or a new grantee, 
will continue to build on the present activities and negotiate 
transition of the project in a professional manner, respectful of the 
proprietary nature of some of the material housed at and created by the 
current grantee, as necessary.
    The Archive is responsible for a variety of activities: To prepare, 
process, house and preserve quality data sets; to establish standards 
and procedures for documentation and produce related materials; to 
facilitate collaboration through training, technical assistance, 
workshops featuring specific data sets (including the National Survey 
of Child and Adolescent Well-Being), and summer institutes; to create 
and utilize an advisory board of some kind; and dissemination through a 
variety of outreach methods. Applicants are encouraged to consider this 
list of activities as minimal requirements.
    While a major function of the Archive is to process, house, and 
preserve quality data sets from studies on child abuse and neglect, an 
archive also plays a critical role in setting standards and 
establishing good practices for documentation of data sets. 
Establishing such procedures enables data to be more readily available 
and easily shared with other researchers and provides the additional 
capacity for further and secondary analysis.
    Any child welfare investigator, regardless of the funding source, 
is welcome to house data with the Archive. Since FY 1994, all research 
grantees funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect 
(NCCAN), and now all those funded by the Children's Bureau, have been 
required, as a condition of their award, to archive their data. They 
must prepare data sets according to sound data processing and 
documentation practices and to house those data sets at the Archive 
within two years of the end of their funding period. Archive staff 
provide technical support on data entry, processing, analysis, and 
documentation. Thus, the application submitted in response to this 
priority area should be responsive to housing data sets from a variety 
of sources, including but not limited to national surveys such as those 
conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the National 
Incidence Studies, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System 
(NCANDS), and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting 
System (AFCARS), and the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-
Being (NSCAW).
    A centralized archive can facilitate collaboration among 
researchers for knowledge building and encourage new researchers to 
enter the field. An archive should also provide training and technical 
assistance opportunities for new researchers or postdoctoral candidates 
by conducting training institutes that convene a small number of 
researchers to work in a guided setting with these data sets. Support 
for secondary analysis of various data sets in the Archive can be 
provided through these training institutes as well as through small 
grants to researchers to work with these data sets. Support may be 
provided for graduate research or postdoctoral research fellows to work 
in residence with Archive staff on research related to the holdings. 
Workshops and training sessions can also be convened at major national 
conferences.
    There is an increasing recognition that some data sets cannot be 
archived in their entirety for public use without undue risk to the 
study respondents. Researchers are understandably concerned about the 
possibility of breaches of confidentiality, and the intentional and 
unintentional unmasking of identifying information in these sensitive 
data sets. In order to protect participants' identities in a public use 
data set, researchers often must delete or mask important variables in 
the data set, which limits the utility of the data for secondary 
analyses. One solution has been to provide access to the more detailed 
data on a restricted basis, by obtaining assurances from the user that 
the data sets will be carefully handled and will be used only for 
legitimate research purposes. For example, the National Center for 
Educational Statistics has developed licensing and monitoring 
procedures that allow for the release of micro-data that otherwise 
would not be available to the broader research community. The Archive 
should anticipate the need for maintaining similar licensing and 
monitoring procedures for similarly sensitive data sets, including the 
data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being.
    Dissemination is a major function of an archive. This includes 
providing innovative tools such as CD-ROMs and a range of ready-to-use 
formats that make archived data sets more easily accessible to the 
research community; answering AFCARS data requests from the public and 
referring these requests to the Children's Bureau as needed, publishing 
information on projects of the Archive and new acquisitions; 
preparation of technical guidelines outlining data processing standards 
and user guides to archive holdings; and the development and 
maintenance of electronic mail services to facilitate networking and 
information exchange among researchers in the field of child abuse and 
neglect, including their access to a database on measures appropriate 
for researchers in this field. Cooperation and appropriate 
collaboration with other archives also is expected.

Legislative Authority

    The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Section 105(b)(5) (42 
U.S.C. 5106) Section 429 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunities Reconciliation Act (Pub. L. 104-193).
    Projects funded under this announcement will be expected to:
    1. Have the project fully functioning within 90 days following the 
notification of the grant award.

[[Page 38959]]

    2. Participate if the Children's Bureau chooses to do a national 
evaluation or a technical assistance contract that relates to this 
funding announcement.
    3. Submit all performance indicator data, program and financial 
reports in a timely manner, in recommended format (to be provided), and 
submit the final report on disk or electronically using a standard 
word-processing program.
    4. Submit a copy of the final report, the evaluation report, and 
any program products to the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and 
Neglect Information, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447, within 90 
days of project end date. This is in addition to the standard 
requirement that the final program and evaluation report must also be 
submitted to the Grants Management Specialist and the Federal Project 
Officer.
    5. Allocate sufficient funds in the budget to:
    (a) Provide for the project director, the evaluator and a child 
welfare representative to attend an annual 3-day grantees' meeting in 
Washington, DC.
    (b) Provide for the project director, the evaluator and a child 
welfare representative to attend an early kickoff meeting for grantees 
funded under this priority area to be held within the first three 
months of the project (first year only) in Washington, DC; and
    (c) Provide for 10-15 percent of the proposed budget to project 
evaluation.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement.

Federal Substantial Involvement With Cooperative Agreement

    A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding Federal 
assistance in which substantial Federal involvement is anticipated. A 
cooperative agreement clearly defines the respective responsibilities 
of the Children's Bureau and the grantee prior to the award. The 
Children's Bureau anticipates that agency involvement will produce 
programmatic benefits to the recipient otherwise unavailable to them 
for carrying out the project. The involvement and collaboration 
includes Children's Bureau review and approval of planning stages of 
the activities before implementation phases may begin; Children's 
Bureau involvement in the establishment of policies and procedures that 
maximize open competition, and rigorous and impartial development, 
review and funding of grant or sub-grant activities, if applicable; and 
Children's Bureau and recipient joint collaboration in the performance 
of key programmatic activities (i.e., strategic planning, 
implementation, information technology enhancements, training and 
technical assistance, publications or products, and evaluation). It 
also includes close monitoring by the Children's Bureau of the 
requirements stated in this announcement that limit the grantee's 
discretion with respect to scope of services offered, organizational 
structure and management processes, coupled with close Children's 
Bureau monitoring during performance, which may, in order to ensure 
compliance with the intent of this funding, exceed those federal 
stewardship responsibilities customary for grant activities.
    Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $600,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 0 to 1.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards Per Budget Period: $600,000.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $600,000.
    Length of Project Periods: 60-month project with five 12-month 
budget periods.
    Other.
    Explanation of Other: In the first budget period, the maximum 
Federal share of the project is not to exceed $600,000. In subsequent 
budget periods, the maximum Federal share of the project is not to 
exceed $500,000. The projects awarded will be for a project period of 
60 months. The initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget 
period. The award of continuation beyond each 12-month budget period 
will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on 
the part of the grantee, and a determination that continued funding 
would be in the best interest of the government.
    Floor on amount of individual awards: None.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

State governments
County governments
City or township governments
Special district governments
Independent school districts
State controlled institutions of higher education
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized 
tribal governments)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 
institutions of higher education
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 
institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Individuals
For-profit organization other than small businesses
Small businesses
Additional Information on Eligibility
    Faith-based and community organizations that meet all other 
eligibility requirements are eligible to apply.
    Applicant should have experience with archiving and analyzing 
AFCARS and NCANDS data, the two primary databases utilized by the 
Children's Bureau.
    Applicant should possess a sound working knowledge of ACF data 
collection activities related to the data archive.
    Collaborative and interdisciplinary efforts are acceptable, but 
applications should identify a primary applicant responsible for 
administering the grant.

2. Cost Sharing/Matching

    Cost Sharing/Matching: None.

3. Other Eligibility Information

    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 all Federal grant applicants to provide 
a Dun and 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

[[Page 38960]]

of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.
     A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
     A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney 
general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the 
applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of the net 
earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
     A certified copy of the organization's certificate of 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status.
     Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above 
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by 
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
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 post-marked after 4:30 p.m. eastern time zone on 
the deadline date will not be considered for competition.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    ACYF Operations, The Dixon Group ATTN: Children's Bureau, 118 Q 
St., NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132, Phone: 866-796-1591, URL: https://
www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2005-ACF-ACYF-CA-0001.html.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Originals, Copies and Signatures
    If submitting your application in paper format, an original and two 
copies of the complete application are required. 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.
    Each application must contain the following items in the order 
listed:
    Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424). Follow the 
instructions below and those that accompany the form.
    In Item 5 of Form 424, put DUNS number in ``Organizational DUNS:'' 
box.
    In Item 5 of Form 424, include name, phone number, and, if 
available, email and fax numbers of the contact person.
    In Item 8 of Form 424, check `New.'
    In Item 10 of Form 424, clearly identify the Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program title and number for the program for 
which funds are being requested as stated in this funding opportunity 
announcement.
    In Item 11 of Form 424, identify the single funding opportunity the 
application addresses.
    In Item 12 of Form 424, identify the specific geographic area to be 
served.
    In Item 14 of Form 424, identify Congressional districts of both 
the applicant and project.
Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (Form 424A) and Budget 
Justification
    Follow the instructions provided here and those in Section V. 
Application Review Information.
    If applicable, applicants must include a completed SPOC 
certification (Single Point of Contact) with the date of the SPOC 
contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the Form 424.
    Proof of non-profit status (if applicable). Please see Section 
III.3 Other Eligibility for ways to demonstrate non-profit status.
    Indirect cost rate agreement. If claiming indirect costs, provide 
documentation that applicant currently has an indirect cost rate 
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or 
another cognizant Federal agency.
    Letters of agreement and memoranda of understanding. If applicable, 
include a letter of commitment or Memorandum of Understanding from each 
partner and/or sub-contractor describing their role, detailing specific 
tasks to be performed, and expressing commitment to participate if the 
proposed project is funded.
General Content and Form Information
    The application limit is 75 pages total including all forms and 
attachments. Pages over this page limit will be removed from the 
application and will not be reviewed.
    To be considered for funding, each application must be submitted 
with the Standard Federal Forms (provided at the end of this 
announcement or through the electronic links provided) and following 
the guidance provided. The application must be signed by an individual 
authorized to act for the applicant agency and to assume responsibility 
for the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant 
award.
    The application must be typed, double spaced, printed on only one 
side, with at least \1/2\ inch margins on each side and 1 inch at the 
top and bottom, using standard 12 Point fonts (such as Times New Roman 
or Courier). Pages must be numbered.
    All copies of an application must be submitted in a single package, 
and a separate package must be submitted for each funding opportunity. 
The package must be clearly labeled for the specific funding 
opportunity it is addressing.
    Because each application will be duplicated, do not use or include 
separate covers, binders, clips, tabs, plastic inserts, maps, 
brochures, or any other items that cannot be processed easily on a 
photocopy machine with an automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple, or 
fasten in any way separate subsections of the application, including 
supporting documentation; however, each complete copy must be stapled 
securely in the upper left corner. Applicants are advised that the 
copies of the application submitted, not the original, will be 
reproduced by the Federal government for review.
    Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application. It is essential that 
applicants read the entire announcement package carefully before 
preparing an application and include all of the required application 
forms and attachments. The application must reflect a thorough 
understanding of the purpose and objectives of the applicable 
legislation. Reviewers expect applicants to understand the goals of the 
legislation and the Children's Bureau's interest in each topic. A 
``responsive application'' is one that addresses all of the evaluation 
criteria in ways that demonstrate this understanding. Applications that 
are considered to be ``unresponsive'' generally receive very low scores 
and are rarely funded.
    The Children's Bureau's Web site (https://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/
cb) provides a wide range of information and links to other relevant 
Web sites. Before you begin preparing an application, we suggest that 
you learn more about the mission and programs of the Children's Bureau 
by exploring the Web site.
    Organizing Your Application. The specific evaluation criteria in 
Section V of this funding announcement will be used to review and 
evaluate each application. The applicant should address each of these 
specific evaluation criteria in the project description. Applicants 
should organize their project description in this sequence: (1) 
Objectives and Need for Assistance; (2) Approach; (3) Organizational 
Profiles; (4) Budget and Budget Justification; and should use the same 
headings as these criteria, so that reviewers can readily find 
information that directly addresses each of the specific review 
criteria.

[[Page 38961]]

    Project Evaluation Plan. Project evaluations are very important. If 
you do not have the in-house capacity to conduct an objective, 
comprehensive evaluation of the project, then the Children's Bureau 
advises that you propose contracting with a third-party evaluator 
specializing in social science or evaluation, or a university or 
college, to conduct the evaluation. A skilled evaluator can assist you 
in designing a data collection strategy that is appropriate for the 
evaluation of your proposed project. Additional assistance may be found 
in a document titled ``Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation.'' A copy 
of this document can be accessed at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/
opre/other_resrch/pm_guide_eval/reports/pmguide/pmguide_toc.html.
    Logic Model. A logic model is a tool that presents the conceptual 
framework for a proposed project and explains the linkages among 
program elements. While there are many versions of the logic model, 
they generally summarize the logical connections among the needs that 
are the focus of the project, project goals and objectives, the target 
population, project inputs (resources), the proposed activities/
processes/outputs directed toward the target population, the expected 
short- and long-term outcomes the initiative is designed to achieve, 
and the evaluation plan for measuring the extent to which proposed 
processes and outcomes actually occur. Information on the development 
of logic models is available on the Internet at https://www.uwex.edu/
ces/pdande/, or https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cyfar/capbuilding/
outcome/outcome_logicmdir.html.
    Use of Human Subjects. If your evaluation plan includes gathering 
data from or about clients, there are specific procedures which must be 
followed in order to protect their privacy and ensure the 
confidentiality of the information about them. Applicants planning to 
gather such data are asked to describe their plans regarding an 
Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. If applicable, applicants must 
include a completed Form 310, Protection of Human Subjects. For more 
information about use of human subjects and IRB's you can visit these 
Web sites: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/
decisioncharts.htm, https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/assurance/
OF310.rtf, https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/irb/irb_chapter2.htm#d2, and http:/
/www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/ictips.htm.
    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 e-mail 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 www.Grants.gov.
     You must search for the downloadable application package 
by the CFDA number.

    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 forms. By signing and submitting the 
application, applicants are providing the certification and need not 
mail back the certification with the application.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By 
signing and submitting the applications, applicants

[[Page 38962]]

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

Explanation of Due Dates
    The closing time and date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. 
(Eastern Time Zone) on the date noted above. Mailed or hand carried 
applications received after 4:30 p.m. on the closing date will be 
classified as late.
    Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an 
announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time 
and date at the ACYF Operations Center, c/o The Dixon Group, Inc., 
ATTN: Children's Bureau, 118 Q Street NE., Washington, DC 20002-2132. 
Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well in advance, 
when using all mail services, to ensure that the applications are 
received on or before the deadline time and date.
    Applications handcarried 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., EST, at the ACYF Operations Center, c/o The Dixon Group, 
Inc., ATTN: Children's Bureau, 118 Q Street NE., Washington, DC 20002-
2132, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). This 
address must appear on the envelope/package containing the application 
with the note. Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail 
services do not always deliver as agreed.
    Late applications: Applications which 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 pm 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.
    Applicants will not be sent acknowledgements of received 
applications.
    Checklist:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            What to submit                           Required content                Required form or format                When to submit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Abstract......................  See Section IV and V......................  Format described in       By application due date.
                                                                                     Section IV and V.
Project Narrative.....................  See Section IV and V......................  Format described in       By application due date.
                                                                                     Section IV and V.
SF424.................................  See Section IV............................  Format described in       By application due date.
                                                                                     Section IV.
SF424A................................  See Section IV............................  Format described in       By application due date.
                                                                                     Section IV.
SF424B................................  See Section IV............................  Format described in       By application due date.
                                                                                     Section IV.
Assurances and Certifications.........  See Section IV............................  Format described in       By Time of Award.
                                                                                     Section IV.
Proof of Non-profit status, if          See Section III and IV....................  Format described in       By Time of Award.
 applicable.                                                                         Section III.
Indirect Cost rate Agreement, if        See Section IV............................  Format described in IV..  By Time of Award.
 applicable.
Letters of commitment from partner      See Section IV............................  Format described in IV..  By Time of Award.
 organizations, if applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            What to submit                           Required content                Required form or format                When to submit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant    Per required form.........................  May be found on https:// With application.
 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 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

[[Page 38963]]

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 
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.
    Construction is not an allowable activity or expenditure under this 
solicitation.
    Applicants should note that grants to be awarded under this program 
announcement are subject to the availability of funds. The size of the 
actual awards will vary.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Submission by Mail: An Application 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: ACYF 
Operations Center, The Dixon Group, 118 Q St. NE., Washington DC, DC 
20002-2132, Attention: Children's Bureau.
    Hand Delivery: 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 delivered to: ACYF Operations Center, The Dixon 
Group, 118 Q St. NE., Washington DC 20002-2132, Attention: Children's 
Bureau.
    Electronic Submission: https://www.grants.gov Please see section IV. 
2 Content and Form of Application Submission, for guidelines and 
requirements when submitting applications electronically.

V. Application Review Information

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

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and 
reviewing the collection information.
    The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-
0139 which expires 4/30/2007.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    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).
1. Criteria
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.
Approach
    Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how 
the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or 
activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the 
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of 
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in 
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement. 
Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the 
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such 
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities 
accomplished.
    When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, 
list them in chronological order to show the schedule of 
accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, 
maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the 
U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to 
any ``collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by 
ACF.'' List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other 
key individuals who will work on the project along with a short 
description of the nature of their effort or contribution.

[[Page 38964]]

Organizational Profiles
    Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and 
cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial 
statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public 
Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, 
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other 
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance 
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of 
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. If the 
applicant is a non-profit organization, submit proof of non-profit 
status in its application. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by 
providing: (a) A reference to the applicant organization's listing in 
the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt 
organizations described in the IRS Code; (b) a copy of a currently 
valid IRS tax exemption certificate, (c) a statement from a State 
taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate State 
official certifying that the applicant organization has a non-profit 
status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private 
shareholders or individuals; (d) a certified copy of the organization's 
certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly 
establishes non-profit status, (e) any of the items immediately above 
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by 
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
Budget and Budget Justification
    Provide a budget with line item detail and detailed calculations 
for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form. 
Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit 
costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the 
calculation to be duplicated. Also include a breakout by the funding 
sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Provide a narrative 
budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are 
derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the 
proposed costs.
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 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

[[Page 38965]]

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.
Evaluation Criteria
    The following evaluation criteria appear in weighted descending 
order. The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance 
that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; however, applicants need 
not develop their applications precisely according to the order 
presented. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer 
will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information (e.g. 
from a broad overview of the project to more detailed information about 
how it will be conducted.
    In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities 
addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial 
assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following 
criteria:
Approach--50 Points
    In reviewing the approach, the following factors will be 
considered: (50 points)
    1. The extent to which there is a sound timeline for effectively 
implementing the proposed project, including major milestones and 
target dates.
    2. The extent to which the proposed project would enhance policy, 
improve practice, and advance science in child maltreatment research. 
The extent to which the proposed project would be significant to the 
field of child welfare researchers.
    3. The extent to which the proposed project would contribute to the 
overall effort to improve the safety, permanence and well-being of 
children and address particular outcome measures, as applicable.
    4. The extent to which the applicant identifies relevant barriers 
and problems associated with a national archive and proposes effective 
solutions to these problems.
    5. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an awareness of 
current activities being undertaken in the field of archiving and 
describes how the approach being proposed would effectively build on 
this work. The extent to which the proposed project would be different 
from previous efforts in ways that improve processes and results.
    6. The extent to which the proposed project would reflect cultural 
sensitivity to the issues being addressed.
    7. The extent to which the proposed project would address the 
issues related to the particular challenges of archiving and 
confidentiality, including the strengths and weaknesses of possible 
strategies that address masking individual identifiers, and user 
agreements that particularly address protections for confidentiality 
and limit liability. The extent to which the proposed project would 
explain the relationship between archiving and the protection of human 
subjects, informed consent, protection from research risks, and 
Institutional Review Boards (IRB) in general. The extent to which the 
proposed project would address the relationship of the funded archive 
to Institutional Review Boards and the Department of Health and Human 
Services Office for Protection from Research Risks and Certificates of 
Confidentiality, specifically.
    8. The extent to which the proposed project would address the 
strengths and weaknesses of possible strategies that deal with limited, 
hierarchical, or controlled access and user agreements that 
particularly address confidentiality and liability. The extent to which 
the applicant discusses a variety of models for delimiting access and 
the impact of fee structures related to access and proposes 
recommendations regarding access controls for the proposed activity.
    9. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an ability to 
gain access to necessary information, data sets, and data bases, as 
applicable, and delineates a sound plan for addressing any ethical 
issues that may arise in the use of these data sets.
    10. The extent to which the application effectively addresses the 
uses and merits of an advisory committee.
    11. The extent to which there are sound strategies for 
dissemination of products and reports that would be of use to other 
researchers and practitioners in the field.
    12. The extent to which the applicant proposes a sound strategy for 
providing supplementary support to data users who access National 
Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) data through the 
National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect during Year 1.
Organizational Profiles--20 Points
    In reviewing the organizational profiles, the following factors 
will be considered: (20 points)
    1. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates strong 
organizational experience specifically related to archiving, and its 
sub-tasks, and conducting child maltreatment and child welfare 
research. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a sound 
working knowledge of ACF data collection activities related to the data 
archive. The extent to which each participating university or agency 
partner possesses the organizational capabilities required for 
implementation of this activity.
    2. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates sufficient 
resources and the appropriate facilities to undertake the project.
    3. The extent to which the proposed project director and key 
project staff possess sufficient relevant knowledge, experience and the 
capabilities to implement and manage a project of this size, scope and 
complexity effectively (e.g., resumes). The extent to which the roles, 
responsibilities and time commitments of each proposed project staff 
position, including consultants, subcontractors and/or partners, are 
clearly defined and appropriate to the successful implementation of the 
proposed project with respect to

[[Page 38966]]

developing and maintaining a national archive on child welfare and 
child abuse and neglect data.
    The extent to which there is a sound management plan for achieving 
the objectives of the proposed project on time and within budget, 
including clearly defined responsibilities, for accomplishing project 
tasks and ensuring quality. The extent to which the plan clearly 
describes the effective management and coordination of activities 
carried out by any partners, subcontractors and consultants (if 
appropriate). The extent to which there would be a mutually beneficial 
relationship between the proposed project and other work planned, 
anticipated or underway with Federal assistance by the applicant.
Objectives and Need for Assistance--20 Points
    In reviewing the objectives and need for assistance, the following 
factors will be considered: (20 points)
    1. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an understanding 
of the general need for archiving, and specifically, the need for 
archiving the Children's Bureau (CB) child welfare and child abuse and 
neglect data. The extent to which the application clearly describes 
specific measurable objectives.
    2. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an awareness of 
current initiatives in the field of child maltreatment and archiving 
and clearly describes how the approach being proposed would address 
both.
    3. The extent to which the applicant discusses current issues in 
archiving including but not limited to topics such as the world wide 
web, dissemination strategies, liability, and terms of use agreements.
    4. The extent to which the applicant clearly describes the audience 
of users of the data archive, provides a reasonable estimate of their 
number and describes their needs.
Budget and Budget Justification--10 Points
    In reviewing the budget and budget justification, the following 
factors will be considered: (10 points)
    1. The extent to which the costs of the proposed project are 
reasonable and appropriate in view of the activities to be conducted 
and expected results and benefits.
    2. The extent to which the applicant's fiscal controls and 
accounting procedures would ensure prudent use, proper and timely 
disbursement and accurate accounting of funds received under the 
program announcement.
2. Review and Selection Process
    Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the review 
process, 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.
    No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of 
an incomplete application.
    When the Operations Center receives your application it will be 
screened to confirm that your application was received by the deadline. 
Federal staff will verify that you are an eligible applicant and that 
the application contains all the essential elements. Applications 
received from ineligible organizations and applications received after 
the deadline will be withdrawn from further consideration.
    A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside 
the Federal government) will use the evaluation criteria described in 
this announcement to evaluate each application. The reviewers will 
determine the strengths and weaknesses of each application, provide 
comments about the strengths and weaknesses and give each application a 
numerical score.
    The results of the competitive review are a primary factor in 
making funding decisions. In addition, Federal staff conducts 
administrat