Office of Community Services; Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) Program, 41759-41772 [05-14193]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41759-41772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14193]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Office of Community Services; Job Opportunities for Low-Income 
Individuals (JOLI) Program

    Announcement Type: Grant--Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2005-ACF-OCS-EO-0054.
    CFDA Number: 93.593.
    Due Date for Applications: Application is due August 19, 2005.
    Executive Summary: The Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals 
(JOLI) Program is authorized under Section 505 of the Family Support 
Act of 1988, Public Law 100-485, as amended by Section 112 of the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 
1996, Public Law 104-193, as amended. The Act authorizes the Secretary 
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into 
agreements with non-profit organizations (including faith-based 
organizations and community development corporations) for the purpose 
of conducting projects designed to create employment opportunities for 
certain low-income individuals (42 U.S.C. 9926).

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Priority Area 1. Description

    The Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) Program is 
authorized under Section 505 of the Family Support Act of 1988, Public 
Law 100-485, as amended by Section 112 of the Personal Responsibility 
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 Public Law, 104-193, as 
amended. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into agreements with non-
profit organizations (including faith-based organizations and community 
development corporations) for the purpose of conducting projects 
designed to create employment opportunities for certain low-income 
individuals (42 U.S.C. 9926).

A. Program Purpose, Scope, and Focus

    The purpose of the JOLI program is to provide technical and 
financial assistance to private employers in the community to assist 
them in creating employment and business opportunities for individuals 
receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and for other 
low-income individuals. Projects focus on one of three program 
strategies: self-employment/ micro-enterprise, new business ventures, 
and business expansion. Priority will be given to applicants proposing 
to serve those areas containing the highest percentage of individuals 
receiving TANF under a State program, which is funded under Part A of 
Title IV of the Social Security Act and individuals whose income level 
does not exceed 100 percent of the official poverty line. Annual 
revisions of these poverty guidelines are normally published in the 
Federal Register in February or early March. Grantees will be required 
to apply the most recent guidelines throughout the project period. 
These revised guidelines also may be obtained at public libraries; 
Congressional offices;

[[Page 41760]]

by writing the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing 
Office, Washington, DC, 20402; or by accessing the following Web site: 
(https://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/index.shtml).
    While projected employment in future years may be included in the 
application, it is essential that the focus of the project concentrate 
on the creation of new full-time, permanent jobs and/or new business 
development opportunities for TANF recipients and other low-income 
individuals during the grant project period. The Office of Community 
Services (OCS) is particularly interested in receiving innovative 
applications that grow out of the experience and creativity of 
applicants and the needs of their clientele and communities and that 
seek to integrate projects into a larger effort of broad community 
revitalization.
    Special consideration will be given to applicants located in areas 
characterized by conditions of extreme poverty and other indicators of 
socio-economic distress. Examples of such distress may include: a 
poverty rate of at least 20 percent, designation as an Empowerment 
Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC), high levels of violence, gang 
activity or drug use. Please see Section V.1 Evaluation Criteria for 
the related criterion that will be used in the evaluation of 
applications.
    Due to the limited amount of funds available under this program, 
only a single application from any one eligible applicant will be 
funded by OCS from FY 2005 JOLI funds pursuant to this announcement. 
Each application must consist of one project only. Please note however 
that this factor will not be used as a responsiveness criterion in the 
review of applications.
    OCS will not provide funding to a previously funded grantee to 
carry out the same project in the same target area. Previously funded 
grantees must apply for a different target area to be considered for 
funding under this announcement.

B. Definitions

    The following definitions apply:
    Budget and Project Periods--Applications for JOLI projects must 
have a 36-month project period with a 36-month budget period.
    Community-Level Data--Key information to be collected by each 
grantee that will allow for a national-level analysis of common 
features of JOLI projects. This consists of data on the population of 
the target area, including the percentage of TANF recipients and others 
on public assistance, and the percentage whose income falls below the 
poverty line; the unemployment rate; the number of new business starts 
and business closings; and a description of the major employers and 
average wage rates and employment opportunities with those employers.
    Community Development Corporation--A private, non-profit entity, 
governed by a board of directors consisting of residents of the 
community and business and civic leaders, that has as a principal 
purpose the planning, developing, or managing low-income housing or 
community development projects.
    Hypothesis--An assumption made in order to test its validity. It 
should assert a cause-and-effect relationship between a program 
intervention and its expected result. Both the intervention and result 
must be measured in order to confirm the hypothesis. For example, the 
following is a hypothesis: ``Eighty hours of classroom training in 
small business planning will be sufficient for participants to prepare 
a successful loan application.'' In this example, data would be 
obtained on the number of hours of training actually received by 
participants (the intervention), and the quality of loan applications 
(the result), to determine the validity of the hypothesis (that eighty 
hours of training is sufficient to produce the result).
    Intervention--Any planned activity within a project that is 
intended to produce changes in the target population and/or the 
environment and that can be formally evaluated. For example, assistance 
in the preparation of a business plan and loan package is planned 
intervention.
    Job Creation--To bring about, by activities and services funded 
under this program, new jobs, that is, jobs that were not in existence 
before the start of the project. These activities can include self-
employment/micro-enterprise training, the development of new business 
ventures or the expansion of existing businesses.
    Non-Profit Organization--Any organization (including a faith-based 
organization or a community development corporation) exempt from 
taxation by reason of paragraph (3) or (4) of section 501(c) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
    Outcome Evaluation--An assessment of project results as measured by 
collected data which define the net effects of the interventions 
applied in the project. An outcome evaluation will produce and 
interpret findings related to whether the interventions produced 
desirable changes and their potential for replicability. It should 
answer the question: Did this project work?
    Private Employers--Third party non-profit organizations or third 
party for-profit businesses operating or proposing to operate in the 
same community as the applicant and which are proposed or potential 
employers of project participants.
    Process Evaluation--The ongoing examination of the implementation 
of a program. It focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of the 
program's activities and interventions (for example, methods of 
recruiting participants, quality of training activities, or usefulness 
of follow-up procedures). It should answer questions such as: Who is 
receiving what services and are the services being delivered as 
planned? It is also known as formative evaluation, because it gathers 
information that can be used as a management tool to improve the way a 
program operates while the program is in progress. It should also 
identify problems that occurred and how they were dealt with and 
recommend improved means of future implementation. It should answer the 
question: ``How was the program carried out?'' In concert with the 
outcome evaluation, it should also help explain, ``Why did this program 
work/not work?'' and, ``What worked and what did not?''
    Program Participant/Beneficiary--An individual eligible to receive 
TANF under Title I of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Part A of Title IV of the Social Security 
Act) and any other individual whose income level does not exceed 100 
percent of the official poverty line as found in the most recent 
revision of the Poverty Income Guidelines published by the Department 
of Health and Human Services.
    Self-Sufficiency--A condition where an individual or family, by 
reason of employment, does not need and is not eligible for public 
assistance.
    Third Party--Any individual, organization, or business entity that 
is not the direct recipient of grant funds.
    Third Party Agreement--A written agreement entered into by the 
grantee and an organization, individual or business entity (including a 
wholly owned subsidiary), by which the grantee makes an equity 
investment or a loan in support of grant purposes.
    Third Party In-Kind Contributions--The value of non-cash 
contributions provided by non-Federal third parties which may be in the 
form of real property, equipment, supplies and/or other expendable 
property, and the value of goods and services directly

[[Page 41761]]

benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program.

C. Description of Three Program Strategies

    The purpose of the JOLI program is to provide technical and 
financial assistance to private employers in the community to assist 
them in creating employment and business opportunities for individuals 
receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-
income individuals. In order to create these employment and other 
opportunities, funded projects focus on one of the following three 
program strategies: self-employment/ micro-enterprise, new business 
ventures, and businesses expansion. Applicants must state clearly both 
in the abstract and at the beginning of the project narrative which one 
of these three program strategies they will be using. While OCS will 
accept applications that propose projects containing more than one of 
these program strategies, OCS strongly encourages applicants to focus 
on only one. This factor will not be used as a responsiveness criterion 
in the review of applications.
Program Strategy 1: Business Expansion
    Applicants applying under Strategy 1 must show that the proposed 
project will provide technical and/or financial assistance to 
businesses already in existence to allow the businesses to expand by 
helping them to obtain better marketing services, contracts, access to 
additional money to help the business grow, etc., resulting in the 
creation of new jobs.
Program Strategy 2: Self-Employment/Micro-Enterprise Projects
    Applicants applying under Strategy 2 must show that the proposed 
project will create self-employment/micro-enterprise opportunities for 
eligible participants.
    Self-employment is the creation of a business that is designed to 
employ a single individual such as home-based day care, graphic design, 
medical billings, sewing and secretarial service, etc. Micro-enterprise 
is the creation of a business that is designed to hire from one to four 
persons, i.e., a cleaning business that will create more than one job.
    For this Strategy, OCS does not consider a job to have been created 
until contracts and/or subcontracts have been committed at the end of 
training for each of these self-employment/micro-enterprise businesses 
that ultimately may be construed as jobs. All applications under this 
strategy must address the following items:
     The types of self-employment and/or micro-enterprise 
businesses that may thrive in the target area
     Need for such businesses in those communities
     Applicant's ability to help secure commitments of 
contracts/subcontracts at the end of training for each of those self-
employment/micro-enterprise businesses
Program Strategy 3: New Business Ventures
    Applicants applying under this strategy must show the development 
of a new business that will train and employ 40-100 TANF and/or low-
income persons to work within that business.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $5,000,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 10 to 12.
    Ceiling on Amount of Individual Awards: $500,000 per project 
period.
    Floor on Amount of Individual Awards: None.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $450,000 per project period.
    Length of Project Periods: 36-month project period with a 36-month 
budget period.
    The FY 2006 President's Budget does not include or propose funding 
for the JOLI program.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
     Non-profits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other 
than institutions of higher education
     Others (See Additional Information on Eligibility below.)
    Additional Information on Eligibility: Non-profits having a 
501(c)(4) status with the IRS are also eligible to apply for this 
program.
    Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for this program.
    2. Cost Sharing/Matching: None.
    3. Other: All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet number. On 
June 27, 2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in the 
Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant 
applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a 
Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when 
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after 
October 1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant 
is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide 
electronic portal (https://www.grants.gov/). A DUNS number will be 
required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation 
of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement 
and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003.
    Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may 
acquire a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free 
DUNS number request line on 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number 
on-line at https://www.dnb.com/.
    Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to 
submit proof of their non-profit status.
    Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:
     A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the 
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt 
organizations described in the IRS Code.
     A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
    When applying electronically we strongly suggest you attach your 
proof of non-profit status with your electronic application.
    Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,'' 
titled, ``Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants,'' at: 
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Disqualification Factors: Applications that exceed the ceiling 
amount will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for 
funding under this announcement.
    Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements 
referenced in Section IV.3 will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be considered for funding under this announcement.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Administration for 
Children and Families, OCS Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 
100, Arlington, VA 22209, Phone: 1-800-281-9519, E-mail: 
ocsgrants@acf.hhs.gov.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:

A. Application Content

    (1) Each application must include the following components:
    (a) Table of Contents.
    (b) Abstract of the Proposed Project--Very brief, not to exceed 250 
words.

[[Page 41762]]

Please see Section V for additional information for preparing the 
project abstract.
    (c) Completed Standard Forms--Standard forms 424 and 424A must be 
completed and signed where appropriate by an official of the 
organization applying for the grant who has authority to obligate the 
organization legally. Information on other forms that must be submitted 
with the application is included below under the heading, ``Standard 
Forms and Certifications.''
    (d) Narrative Budget Justification--Please see Section V for 
additional information for preparing the narrative budget 
justification.
    (e) Project Narrative--Please see Section V for instructions for 
preparing the project narrative.
    (f) Documentation of 501(c)(3) or (4) status--Please see Section 
III for what will be acceptable as proof of non-profit status.
    (g) Cooperative Partnership Agreement with the Designated Agency 
Responsible for the TANF Program--A formal, cooperative relationship 
between the applicant and the designated State or local agency 
responsible for administering the TANF program (as provided for under 
Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act) in the area served by 
the project is a requirement for funding (see list of the State Human 
Services Administrators administering TANF). The application must 
include a signed, written agreement between the applicant and the 
designated State or local agency responsible for administering the TANF 
program. The agreement must describe the cooperative relationship, 
including specific activities and/or actions each of these entities 
propose to carry out over the course of the grant period in support of 
the project. The agreement, at a minimum, must cover the specific 
services and activities that will be provided to the target population.
    Applications submitted without an explicit agreement with the TANF 
agency in the area served by the project will receive fewer points.
    (h) Mobilization of Resources--There is no match requirement for 
the Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) Program.
    (i) Third Party Agreements--Any applicant submitting an application 
for funding who proposes to use some or all of the requested OCS funds 
to enter into a third party agreement in order to make an equity 
investment (such as the purchase of stock) or a loan to an organization 
or business entity (including a wholly-owned subsidiary), must include 
in the application a copy of the signed third party agreement for 
approval by OCS. Note that partners involved in the proposed project 
should be responsible for substantive project activities and services. 
Applicants should note that partnership relationships are not created 
via service delivery contracts.
    All third party agreements must include written commitments as 
follows:
    From the third party (as appropriate):
     Jobs to be created as a result of the infusion of grant 
funds will be filled by low-income individuals;
     The grantee will have the right to screen applicants for 
jobs to be filled by low-income individuals and to verify their 
eligibility;
     If the grantee's equity investment equals 25 percent or 
more of the business' assets, the grantee will have representation on 
the board of directors;
     Reports will be made to the grantee regarding the use of 
grant funds no less than on a quarterly basis;
     A procedure will be developed to assure that there are no 
duplicate counts of jobs created; and
     Detailed information should be provided on how the grant 
funds will be used by the third party.
    In addition to the above, any third party agreement covering an 
equity investment must also contain the following information:
     The type of equity transaction (e.g., stock purchase);
     Purpose(s) for which the equity investment is being made;
     Cost per share and basis for determining cost per share;
     Number of shares being purchased;
     Percentage of ownership of the business; and,
     Number of seats on the board, if applicable.
    In addition to the above, any third party agreement covering a loan 
transaction must also contain the following information:
     Purpose(s) for which the loan is being made;
     Rates of interest and other fees;
     Terms of loan;
     Repayment schedules;
     Collateral security; and
     Default and collection procedures.
    All third party agreements must also include detailed information 
on how the grantee will provide support and technical assistance to the 
third party in areas of recruitment and retention of low-income 
individuals.
    All third party agreements should be accompanied by:
     A signed statement from a Certified or Licensed Public 
Accountant as to the sufficiency of the third party's financial 
management system in accordance with 45 CFR part 74, to protect 
adequately any federal funds awarded under the application;
     Financial statements for the third party organization for 
the prior three years. (If not available because the organization is a 
newly-formed entity, include a statement to this effect); and
     Specifications as to how the grantee will provide 
oversight of the third party for the life of the agreement. Also, the 
agreement will specify that the third party will maintain documentation 
related to the expenditure of grant funds loaned to or invested in the 
third party and grant objectives as specified in the agreement, and 
will provide the grantee and HHS access to that documentation.
(2) Property and National Historic Preservation Act
    If the applicant is proposing a project that will affect a property 
listed in, or is eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of 
Historic Places, it must identify this property in the narrative and 
explain how it has complied with the provisions of section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended. If there is any 
question as to whether the property is listed in, or is eligible for 
inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places, the applicant 
should consult with the State Historic Preservation Officer. (See SF-
424B) Failure to comply with the cited Act will result in the 
application being ineligible for funding consideration.
(3) Creation of Jobs and Employment Opportunities
    OCS is soliciting JOLI applications that propose the creation of 
jobs through the expansion of existing businesses, the development of 
new businesses, or the creation of employment opportunities through 
self-employment/micro-enterprise development. Proposed projects must 
show that the jobs and/or business/self employment opportunities to be 
created under this program will contribute to the achievement of self-
sufficiency among the target population. The employment opportunities 
should provide hourly wages that exceed the minimum wage and also 
provide benefits such as health insurance, childcare, and career 
development opportunities.
(4) Support For Non-Custodial Parents
    The Office of Community Services (OCS) and the Office of Child 
Support Enforcement (OCSE), both located in ACF, signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) to foster and enhance partnerships between OCS

[[Page 41763]]

grantees and local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agencies. (See the 
list of CSE State Offices that can identify local CSE agencies.) In the 
words of the MOU:
    ``The purpose of these partnerships will be to develop and 
implement innovative strategies in States and local communities to 
increase the capability of low-income parents and families to fulfill 
their parental responsibilities. Too many low-income parents are 
without jobs or resources needed to support their children. A 
particular focus of these partnerships will be to assist low-income, 
non-custodial parents of children receiving TANF to achieve a degree of 
self-sufficiency that will enable them to provide support that will 
free their families of the need for such assistance.''
    Accordingly, a rating factor and a review criterion have been 
included in this Program Announcement that will award two points to 
applicants who have entered into partnership agreements with their 
local CSE agency to provide for referrals to their project in 
accordance with provisions of the OCS-OCSE MOU (See Element II, Sub-
Element II(c)).
    Information on the location of the local CSE Agency in your state 
can be found at https://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.htm#exta.
(5) Technical and Financial Assistance to Employers and Individuals
    Technical assistance should be specifically addressed to the needs 
of the private employer in creating new jobs to be filled by eligible 
individuals and/or to the individuals themselves in areas such as job-
readiness, literacy, and other basic skills training, job preparation, 
self-esteem building, etc. Financial assistance may be provided to the 
private employer as well as to the individual.
    If the technical and/or financial assistance is to be provided to 
pre-identified businesses that will be expanded or franchised, written 
commitments from the businesses to create the planned jobs must be 
included with the application.
(6) Applicant Experience and Cost-per-Job
    In the review process, favorable consideration will be given to 
applicants with a demonstrated record of achievement in promoting job 
and enterprise opportunities for low-income people.
    The Office of Community Services will not fund projects where the 
cost-per-job in JOLI funds exceeds $10,000. Favorable consideration 
will be given to those applicants who show the lowest cost-per-job 
created for low-income individuals.
(7) Loan Funds
    The creation of a revolving loan fund with funds received under 
this program is an allowable activity. Loans made to eligible 
beneficiaries for business development activities must be at or below 
market rate. Interest accrued on revolving loan funds must be used to 
continue or expand the activities of the approved project.

B. Application Format

    Submit application materials on white 8 x 11 inch paper only. Do 
not use colored, oversized or folded materials.
    Do not include organizational brochures or other promotional 
materials, slides, films, clips, etc.
    The application must be double-spaced, and the font size must be no 
smaller than Times New Roman 12-point. The margins must be at least one 
inch on all sides.
    Number all application pages sequentially throughout the package, 
beginning with the abstract of the proposed project as page number one.

C. Number of Copies

    Each application should include one signed original and two 
additional copies.

D. Page Limitation

    The application package including sections for the Table of 
Contents, Project Abstract, Project and Budget Narratives and Business 
Plan must not exceed 60 pages. The page limitation does not include the 
following attachments and appendices: Standard Forms or Assurances, 
Certifications, Disclosures and appendices. The page limitation also 
does not apply to any supplemental documents as required in this 
announcement.
    You may submit your application to us in either electronic or paper 
format. To submit an application electronically, please use the https://
www.Grants.gov/Apply site. If you use Grants.gov, you will be able to 
download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and 
then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. ACF 
will not accept grant applications via email or facsimile transmission.
    Please note the following if you plan to submit your application 
electronically via Grants.gov:
     Electronic submission is voluntary, but strongly 
encouraged.
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation. We strongly recommend that you 
do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the 
application process through Grants.gov.
     We recommend you visit Grants.gov at least 30 days prior 
to filing your application to fully understand the process and 
requirements. We encourage applicants who submit electronically to 
submit well before the closing date and time so that if difficulties 
are encountered an applicant can still send in a hard copy overnight. 
If you encounter difficulties, please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk 
at 1-800-518-4276 to report the problem and obtain assistance with the 
system.
     To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a DUNS 
Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five days to complete the CCR registration.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format.
     You may submit all documents electronically, including all 
information typically included on the SF 424 and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     Your application must comply with any page limitation 
requirements described in this program announcement.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Children and 
Families will retrieve your application from Grants.gov.
     We may request that you provide original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
     You may access the electronic application for this program 
on https://www.grants.gov/.
     You must search for the downloadable application package 
by the CFDA number.
    Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format 
should submit an original and two copies of the complete application. 
The original and each of the two copies must include all required 
forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an 
authorized representative, have original signatures, and be submitted 
unbound.
    Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with 
their applications the survey located under ``Grant Related Documents 
and Forms,'' ``Survey for Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,'' 
titled, ``Survey on

[[Page 41764]]

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 Pub. L. 103-227, Title XII 
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the PRO-KIDS Act of 1994). A 
copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the smoking 
prohibition is included with this form. By signing and submitting the 
application, applicants are providing the certification and need not 
mail back the certification with the application.
    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By 
signing and submitting the applications, applicants are providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification form. Complete 
the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances 
based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications 
may be found at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.
    Those organizations required to provide proof of non-profit status, 
please refer to Section III.3.
    Please see Section V.1 for instructions on preparing the full 
project description.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date for Applications: 
Application is due August 19, 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 
referenced in Section IV.6. Applicants are responsible for ensuring 
applications are mailed or submitted electronically well in advance of 
the application due date.
    Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are 
received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section 
IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays).
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile. 
Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF by fax will not be accepted 
regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
    Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria above 
are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant 
that its application will not be considered in the current competition.
    Any application received after 4:30 p.m. eastern time on the 
deadline date will not be considered for competition.
    Applicants using express/overnight mail services should allow two 
working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of applications. 
Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not 
always deliver as agreed.
    Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare 
cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests 
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
    Receipt acknowledgment for application packages will not be 
provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier 
services, or by hand delivery. Applicants will receive an electronic 
acknowledgment for applications that are submitted via https://
www.grants.gov/.
    Checklist: You may use the checklist below as a guide when 
preparing your application package.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Required form or
        What to submit             Required content             format                   When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Abstract..............  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 V.                      and V.
Project Description...........  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 V.                      and V.
Budget Narrative/Justification  See Sections IV.2 and   Found in Sections IV.2  By application due date.
                                 V.                      and V.
SF424.........................  See Section IV.2......  See https:// By application due date.
                                                         www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
SF-LLL Certification Regarding  See Section IV.2......  See https:// By date of award.
 Lobbying.                                               www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Certification Regarding         See Section IV.2......  See https:// By date of award.
 Environmental Tobacco Smoke.                            www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Assurances....................  See Section IV.2......  See https:// By date of award.
                                                         www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Table of Contents.............  See Section IV.2......  Found in Section IV.2.  By application due date.
SF424A........................  See Section IV.2......  See https:// By application due date.
                                                         www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Sources and Use of Funds        See Section V.1.......  Found in Section V.1    By date of award.
 Statement.                                              Evaluation Criteria,
                                                         Budget and Budget
                                                         Justification.
Other: 3rd Party Agreements...  See Section IV.2......  Found in Section IV.2.  By application due date.

[[Page 41765]]

 
SF424B........................  See Section IV.2......  See https:// By application due date.
                                                         www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm.
Proof of Non-profit Status....  See Section III.3.....  Found in Section III.3  By Time of Award.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Required form or
        What to submit             Required content             format                   When to submit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey for Private, Non-Profit  See form                Found in https:// By application due date.
 Grant Applicants.                                       www.acf.hhs.gov/
programs/ofs/
forms.htm
________________________________________________________

 4. Intergovernmental Review:
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    As of October 1, 2004, the following jurisdictions have elected to 
participate in the Executive Order process: Arkansas, California, 
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, 
Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New 
Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South 
Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, 
North Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. As these 
jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order 
process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating 
jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert 
them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants 
must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate 
the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is 
required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a.
    Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2) a SPOC has 60 days from the application 
deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. 
SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are 
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and 
those official State process recommendations which may trigger the 
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, 
Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 4th 
floor, Washington, DC 20447.
    Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate 
in the process, entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the 
program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, 
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. Therefore, 
applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by 
federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to 
E.O. 12372.
    The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that 
have elected to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found on the following 
URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    5. Funding Restrictions: Grant awards will not allow reimbursement 
of pre-award costs.
    The use of funds for new construction, major renovation, or the 
purchase of real property is prohibited.
    OCS will not fund any project where the role of the applicant is 
primarily to serve as a conduit for funds to organizations other than 
the applicant. The applicant must have a substantive role in the 
implementation of the project for which funding is requested. This 
prohibition does not bar the making of sub-grants or sub-contracting 
for specific services or activities needed to conduct the project.
    OCS will not provide funding to a previously funded grantee to 
carry out the same project in the same target area. Previously funded 
grantees must apply for a different target area to be considered for 
funding under this announcement.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Submission by Mail: An applicant 
must provide an original application with all attachments, signed by an 
authorized representative and two copies. Please see Section IV.3 for 
an explanation of due dates. Applications should be mailed to: 
Administration for Children and Families, OCS Operations Center, 1515 
Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209.
    Hand Delivery: An applicant must provide an original application 
with all attachments signed by an authorized representative and two 
copies. The application must be received at the address below by 4:30 
p.m. eastern time on or before the closing date. Applications that are 
hand delivered will be accepted between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday. Applications should be 
delivered to: Administration for Children and Families, OCS Operations 
Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209.
    Electronic Submission: Please see Section IV.2 for guidelines and 
requirements when submitting applications electronically via https://
www.grants.gov/.

V. Application Review Information

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

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 35 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

[[Page 41766]]

unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    1. Criteria: The following are instructions and guidelines on how 
to prepare the ``project summary/abstract'' and ``full project 
description'' sections of the application. Under the evaluation 
criteria section, note that each criterion is preceded by the generic 
evaluation requirement under the ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD).
Part I--The Project Description Overview
Purpose
    The project description provides a major means by which an 
application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications 
for available assistance. The project description should be concise and 
complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are 
being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can 
present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing your project 
description, information responsive to each of the requested evaluation 
criteria must be provided. Awarding offices use this and other 
information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, 
therefore, that this information be included in the application in a 
manner that is clear and complete.
General Instructions
    ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions 
that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended 
performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of 
substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are 
not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. 
Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly 
funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an 
integral part of the grant funded activity should be placed in an 
appendix. Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be 
included for easy reference.
Introduction
    Applicants required to submit a full project description shall 
prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation 
criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what your project 
description should include while the evaluation criteria identifies the 
measures that will be used to evaluate applications.
Project Summary/Abstract
    Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with 
reference to the funding request.
Objectives and Need for Assistance
    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.
Results or Benefits Expected
    Identify the results and benefits to be derived.
    For example, describe the population to be served by the program 
and the number of new jobs that will be targeted to the target 
population. Explain how the project will reach the targeted population, 
how it will benefit participants including how it will support 
individuals to become more economically self-sufficient.
Approach
    Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how 
the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or 
activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the 
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of 
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in 
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
    Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the 
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such 
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities 
accomplished.
Evaluation
    Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and 
the results of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the 
evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which 
the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which 
the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. 
Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the 
methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and 
discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are 
being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the 
procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being 
conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and 
discuss the impact of the project's various activities on the project's 
effectiveness.
Geographic Location
    Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the 
area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids 
may be attached.
Additional Information
    Following are requests for additional information that need to be 
included in the application:
Staff and Position Data
    Provide a biographical sketch and job description for each key 
person appointed. Job descriptions for each vacant key position should 
be included as well. As new key staff is appointed, biographical 
sketches will also be required.
Business Plan
    When Federal grant funds will be used to make an equity investment, 
provide a business plan. The business plan shall include an executive 
summary; a description of the business; a description of the industry, 
its current status and prospects; a description of the products and 
services to be created and/or sold including any features that may give 
products and services an advantage over the competition; market 
research and a marketing plan; design and development plans; operations 
plan; a description of the management team; overall schedule; projected 
job creation; financial plan; a discussion of the critical risks and 
assumptions; and anticipated community benefits. For a full description 
of what is required in the business plan, please see Section V, 
Evaluation Criteria, Sub-Element I(D).
Organizational Profiles
    Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and 
cooperating partners, such as organizational charts, financial 
statements, audit reports or

[[Page 41767]]

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; or b) a copy of a currently valid IRS tax 
exemption certificate.
Dissemination Plan
    Provide a plan for distributing reports and other project outputs 
to colleagues and the public. Applicants must provide a description of 
the kind, volume and timing of distribution.
Third-Party Agreements
    Provide written and signed agreements between grantees and 
subgrantees or subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These 
agreements must detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, 
remuneration, and other terms and conditions that structure or define 
the relationship.
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

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


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

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

Indirect Charges

    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should 
be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate 
approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or 
another cognizant Federal agency.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it 
should immediately develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in accordance with 
the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates, 
and submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of 
their indirect cost proposals may also request indirect costs. When an 
indirect

[[Page 41768]]

cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect cost pool 
should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if the 
applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under 
the program, the authorized representative of the applicant 
organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the applicant is 
accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Non-Federal Resources
    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be 
documented and submitted with the application so the applicant is given 
credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for 
each funding source.
    Evaluation Criteria: The following evaluation criteria appear in 
weighted descending order. The corresponding score values indicate the 
relative importance that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; 
however, applicants need not develop their applications precisely 
according to the order presented. Application components may be 
organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and 
logical flow of information (i.e., from a broad overview of the project 
to more detailed information about how it will be conducted).
    In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities 
addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial 
assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following 
criteria:
Approach--35 Points
Element I: Project Theory, Design and Plan
    The extent to which the applicant can show why and how the project, 
as proposed, is expected to lead to the creation of new employment 
opportunities for low-income individuals, which can lead to significant 
improvements in individual and family self-sufficiency.
    The extent to which the applicant clearly demonstrates the cause-
effect relationship between what the applicant plans to do and the 
results it expects to achieve. The extent to which applicants design 
and present their project in terms of a conceptual cause-effect 
framework (i.e., as illustrated in the following paragraphs, which 
suggest a way to present a project so as to show the logic of the 
cause-effect relations between project activities and project results). 
Note that applicants are not required to use the exact language 
described.
Sub-Element (A): Description of Target Population, Analysis of Need, 
and Project Assumptions (10 Points)
    The extent to which the application includes a description of the 
needs and problems of the population to be served that are to be 
addressed by the project; the current services available to that 
population and where and how they fail to meet their needs; why the 
proposed services or interventions are appropriate and will meet those 
needs; and the impact the proposed interventions will have on the 
project participants. (4 Points)
    The extent to which the applicant identifies the precise target 
population to be served, the geographic area to be impacted, the 
percentage of low-income individuals and TANF recipients within the 
geographic area, as well as the unemployment rate and other data 
relevant to the project design. (2 Points)
    The extent to which the application includes an analysis of the 
identified personal barriers to employment, job retention and greater 
self-sufficiency faced by the target population. (These might include 
such problems as illiteracy, substance abuse, family violence, lack of 
skills training, health or medical problems, need for child care, lack 
of suitable clothing or equipment or poor self-image.) (2 Points)
    The extent to which the application includes an analysis of the 
identified community systemic barriers that the project will seek to 
overcome. These might include lack of jobs (high unemployment rate); 
lack of public transportation; lack of markets; unavailability of 
financing, insurance or bonding; inadequate social services (employment 
service, child care, job training); high incidence of crime; inadequate