Funding Opportunity; Street Outreach Program, 35478-35492 [2010-14798]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35478-35492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14798]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Funding Opportunity; Street Outreach Program

    Program Office: Administration on Children, Youth and Families 
(ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB).
    Program Announcement Number: HHS-2010-ACF-ACYF-YO-0042.
    Announcement Title: Street Outreach Program.
    CFDA Number: 93.557.
    Due Date for Applications: July 19, 2010.
    This announcement was originally published on June 2, 2010 on the 
Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Funding Opportunities 
Web site and may be accessed in html and pdf formats at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/.
    Executive Summary: This announcement governs the proposed award of 
discretionary grants under the Street Outreach Program. It sets forth 
the application requirements, the application process, and other 
administrative and fiscal requirements for grants in Fiscal Year (FY) 
2010. The purpose of the Street Outreach Program is to conduct outreach 
services designed to build relationships between grantee staff and 
runaway, homeless and street youth.

I. Description

Statutory Authority

    Grants for Runaway and Homeless Youth Street Outreach Programs 
(SOP) are authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 
5701-5752, as most recently amended by the Reconnecting Homeless Youth 
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-378 on October 8, 2008. Text of this 
legislation can be located at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/aboutfysb/rhycomp08.htm.

Description

Purpose
    Today, in communities across the country, young people are living 
on the streets after running from or being asked to leave homes 
characterized by abuse, neglect, or parental drug and alcohol abuse. 
Once on the streets, such youth are at risk of being sexually exploited 
or abused by adults for pleasure or profit. In addition, such youth may 
engage in shoplifting, survival sex, or drug dealing in order to 
provide for their basic needs. Since 1996, SOP has been aiding this 
population by funding grantees to provide street-based services to 
runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are 
at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual 
exploitation. These services, which are provided in areas where street 
youth congregate, are designed to assist such youth in making healthy 
choices regarding where they live and how they behave. In Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2009, $16.2 million was allocated for SOP, which funded 54 new 
projects and 118 continuation projects in their second or third year of 
operation.
Scope of Services
    Street outreach programs must assist runaway, homeless, and street 
youth in making healthy personal choices regarding where they live and 
how they behave. Street outreach staff must build relationships with 
and provide services to these young people in their own environment 
using an array of communication strategies that encourage trust and 
willingness to seek shelter and other services. Street outreach 
programs must address the immediate needs of street youth (food, 
clothing, shelter, etc.) through appropriate referrals or direct 
interventions. Programs must also focus on improving the behavioral and 
physical health of street youth, providing them with employment and 
educational supports, and either reunifying them with family or finding 
alternative, safe residential placements. Outreach services must 
comprehensively address the individual strengths and needs of youth as 
well as be gender specific (interventions that are sensitive to the 
diverse experiences of male, female and transgender youth), language 
appropriate, culturally sensitive, and respectful of the complex 
identities of youth.
Program Requirements
    A. Operations: Grantees must operate a program that will deliver 
street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth, as 
defined by the Runaway Homeless Youth Act (RHYA). (RHYA definitions for 
``street-based services,'' ``runaway youth,'' ``homeless youth, ``and 
``street youth'' can be found in Section I of this announcement.) 
Operations must include a process for finding street youth and a system 
for tracking where they congregate, including what times they gather in 
certain areas, and how many youth are contacted on any given day. 
Grantees must include in their operations a plan to store and maintain 
confidentiality of records and to implement the restrictions set forth 
in section 384 of the RHYA.
    B. Services: Grantees must conduct outreach services that encourage 
runaway, homeless, and street youth to leave the streets and to make 
other healthy personal choices regarding where they live and how they 
behave. These services include, but are not limited to:
     Street-based outreach and education;
     Access to emergency shelter;
     Survival aid;
     Individual assessments;
     Treatment and counseling;
     Prevention and education activities;
     Information and referrals;
     Crisis and trauma intervention; and
     Follow-up support.
    C. Access to Shelter: Grantees must be able to guarantee runaway, 
homeless, and street youth access to age-appropriate emergency shelter. 
Shelter can be provided through a referral network, but street outreach 
staff must have 24-hour access in order to maintain interaction with 
youth while they are in placement. A description of the shelter and the 
terms of the agreement with the shelter provider must be included in 
the application. The agreement must stipulate that the applicant's 
street outreach staff workers will have guaranteed access to runaway, 
homeless, and street youth that are residing in the shelter. If the 
applicant's agency is providing shelter services through other means, 
the application must clearly describe how the shelter services will be 
carried out.
    D. Training: Grantees must provide initial and periodic training to 
staff, including, but not limited to:
     Effective outreach to runaway and homeless street youth;
     Providing street-based services to youth of diverse 
cultural backgrounds that reflects gender specificity, language 
appropriateness, cultural sensitivity and respect for the complex 
identities of youth (i.e. race, gender, sexual orientation);
     Ethical considerations when working with street youth;
     Staying safe on the streets;

[[Page 35479]]

     Crisis and trauma intervention for runaway and homeless 
youth and street youth; and
     Positive Youth Development (Grantees must incorporate the 
positive youth development goals identified by Congress in the RHYA at 
42 U.S.C. 5701(3)).
    E. Supervision: Grantees must provide supervision of street-based 
outreach staff, including, but not limited to:
     Written safety plans to include staff and youth;
     Regular on-street supervision by appropriately trained 
senior staff; and
     Back-up personnel for on-street staff.
    F. Positive Youth Development (PYD): Grantees are required to 
develop and implement their program using a PYD approach. PYD is 
predicated on the understanding that all young people need support, 
guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth 
and change. With this support, they can develop self-assurance and 
create a healthy, successful life.
    Some PYD strategies include:
     Intergenerational mentoring;
     Peer mentoring;
     Youth leadership and decision making;
     Volunteerism and service learning; and
     Job preparation and work shadowing.
    Grantees are required to incorporate and describe the strategies 
they will use to meet the PYD goals identified by Congress in the RHYA 
at 42 U.S.C. 5701(3). These goals ensures a young person a sense of:
    (A) Safety and structure;
    (B) Belonging and membership;
    (C) Self-worth and social contribution;
    (D) Independence and control over one's life; and
    (E) Closeness in interpersonal relationships.
    (F) For more ways to implement PYD, applicants may go to https://www.ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/pyd/. A free introductory online course on PYD can 
be found at https://www.ncfy-learn.jbsinternational.com/.
    G. Emergency Preparedness and Management Plan: Applicants must 
submit a plan with their application that outlines the steps the 
organization will take in case of a local or national situation that 
poses risk to the health and safety of staff and youth. Emergency 
preparedness plans must, at a minimum, include prevention, 
preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, as they apply to street-
based outreach programs, as well as addressing how grantees will notify 
FYSB immediately when emergency plans are executed. For guidance on 
creating an emergency preparedness plan, please see FYSB's Ready for 
Anything: A Disaster Planning Manual for Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Programs at https://www.ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/publications/ready_for_anything/index.htm.
    H. Program Sustainability: Applicants must submit a plan with their 
application that indicates how the organization will continue to fund 
and provide street outreach services at the end of the grant funding 
period. The plan must identify the specific services that will continue 
at the end of the project period as well as how the organization will 
fund those services on an ongoing basis. The applicant must also 
provide an alternative plan for phase-out of services in the event that 
the goals of the sustainability plan are not attained. The plan may 
include funding from a range of different sources, including 
individuals, foundations, State agencies, and Federal agencies other 
than FYSB, as appropriate. The sustainability plan may also include 
earned income (for instance, from a business owned by the organization) 
and endowment income. The plan must include a timeline for 
sustainability activities that begins immediately upon receipt of the 
grant.
Additional Program Requirements
    I. Record Keeping: Grantees must use the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Management Information System (RHYMIS) to keep adequate statistical 
records for profiling the youth and families serviced under this 
Federal grant. Applicants must have the proper computer equipment to 
operate RHYMIS. Applicants may budget for computer equipment in their 
application, as needed. For more information on the proper equipment, 
applicants may go to the RHYMIS fact sheet located on the FYSB Web site 
at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/youthdivision/resources/rhymsfactsheet.htm or in Section VI.2 of this program 
announcement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
the data collection under RHYMIS is approved under OMB control number 
0970-0123, which expires September 30, 2010.
    J. Technical Assistance: Grantees must agree to receive and 
participate in technical assistance efforts as recommended by Federal 
staff.
Measuring Program Success
    SOP grantees must use RHYMIS to record the number of contacts with 
runaway, homeless, and street youth and the distribution of food, 
information, first aid items, etc. (No personally identifying 
information is reported to ACF from any RHYMIS data system.) Because of 
that restriction and the often multiple contacts between youth workers 
and the same individual, RHYMIS does not provide an unduplicated SOP 
population count at the national level. The exception is the number of 
individual youth contacted who subsequently enter shelters or 
residential programs. However, as a life-line to youth in acute crises, 
every SOP contact, even with the same youth, can be a vital step 
towards safety and positive development. This applies whether the 
encounter provides first aid, a brief respite from hunger, or referral 
information. The definitive objective is to inspire an intangible sense 
of trust and confidence so youth agree to enter secure shelter and more 
structured services.
    Intermediate SOP output measures available directly from RHYMIS 
include:
     Number of youth contacted through the SOP;
     Number of nutritional or hygiene packages distributed (the 
count for each); and
     Number of informational or motivational items distributed 
about referrals to shelter and services.
    The following RHYMIS measures reflect the primary outcome that SOP 
activities are intended to achieve through program effectiveness:
     Number of youth accepting shelter.
Definitions
    Aftercare Services--The provision of services to runaway or 
otherwise homeless youth and their families following the youth's 
return home or the youth's placement in alternative living 
arrangements, which assist in alleviating the problems that contributed 
to his or her running away or being homeless. (45 CFR 1351.1(a)) 
(Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Area--A specific neighborhood or section of the locality in which 
the runaway and homeless youth project is or will be located. (45 CFR 
1351.1(a)) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Budget Period--The intervals of time into which a multi-year period 
of assistance is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. Budget 
periods are usually 12- months long but may be shorter or longer, if 
appropriate. (HHS Grants Policy Statement).
    Coordinated Networks of Agencies--An association of two or more 
private agencies, whose purpose is to develop

[[Page 35480]]

or strengthen services for runaway or otherwise homeless youth and 
their families. (45 CFR 1351.1(a)) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 
U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Counseling Services--The provision of guidance, support, and advice 
to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families that are 
designed to alleviate the problems that contributed to the youth's 
running away or being homeless, resolve intra-family problems, to 
reunite such youth with their families, whenever appropriate, and to 
help them decide upon a future course of action. (45 CFR 1351.1(a)) 
(Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Demonstrably Frequented by or Reachable--Located in an area in 
which runaway or otherwise homeless youth congregate, or an area 
accessible to such youth by public transportation, or by the provision 
of transportation by the runaway and homeless youth project itself. (45 
CFR 1351.1(a)) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Drug Abuse Education and Prevention Services--Services to runaway 
and homeless youth to prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by 
such youth; and may include individual, family, group, and peer 
counseling; drop-in services; assistance to runaway and homeless youth 
in rural areas (including the development of community support groups); 
information and training related to the illicit use of drugs by runaway 
and homeless youth for individuals involved in providing services to 
such youth; and activities to improve the availability of local drug 
abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless youth. (Section 387 
RHY Act, as amended) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-
5752).
    Homeless Youth--An individual (A) who is: (i) Less than 21 years of 
age, or in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a center under Part A 
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, less than 18 years of age or is 
less than a higher maximum age if the State where the center is located 
has an applicable State or local law (including a regulation) that 
permits such higher maximum age in compliance with licensure 
requirements for child- and youth-serving facilities; and (ii) for the 
purposes of Part B, not less than 16 years of age and either (I) less 
than 22 years of age; or (II) not less than 22 years of age as of the 
expiration of the maximum period of stay permitted under section 
322(a)(2) if such individual commences such stay before reaching 22 
years of age; (B) for whom it is not possible to live in a safe 
environment with a relative; and (C) who has no other safe alternative 
living arrangement. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended) (Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Juvenile Justice System--Agencies such as, but not limited to, 
juvenile courts, law enforcement, probation, parole, correctional 
institutions, training schools, and detention facilities. (45 CFR 
1351.1(a)) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Law Enforcement Structure--Any police activity or agency with legal 
responsibility for enforcing a criminal code including police 
departments and sheriffs' offices. (45 CFR 1351.1(a)) (Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Project Period--The total time stated in the Notice of Grant Award 
(including any amendments) for which Federal support is recommended. 
The period will consist of one or more budget periods. It does not 
constitute a commitment by the Federal Government to fund the entire 
period. (HHS Grants Policy Statement).
    Runaway and Homeless Youth Project--A locally controlled human 
service program facility outside the law enforcement structure and the 
juvenile justice system that provides temporary shelter, directly or 
through other facilities, counseling, and aftercare services to runaway 
or otherwise homeless youth. (45 CFR 1351.1(a)) (Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Runaway Youth--An individual who is less than 18 years of age and 
who absents himself or herself from home or a place of legal residence 
without the permission of a parent or legal guardian. (Section 387 RHY 
Act, as amended) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-
5752.).
    Street-Based Services--Services provided to runaway and homeless 
youth, and street youth in areas where they congregate. These services 
are designed to assist such youth in making healthy personal choices 
regarding where they live and how they behave. This may include 
identification of and outreach to runaway and homeless and street 
youth; crisis intervention and counseling; information and referral for 
housing; information and referral for transitional living and health 
care services; as well as advocacy, education, and prevention services 
related to alcohol and drug abuse; sexual exploitation; sexually 
transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and 
physical and sexual assault. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended) (Runaway 
and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752.).
    Street Youth--An individual who is a runaway youth or indefinitely 
or intermittently a homeless youth; and spends a significant amount of 
time on the street or in other areas that increase the risk to such 
youth for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug 
abuse. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended) (Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Technical Assistance--The provision of expertise and/or support for 
the purpose of strengthening the capabilities of grantee organizations 
to deliver services. (45 CFR 1351.1) (Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 
42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Estimated Total Funding: $8,500,000.
    Expected Number of Awards: 85.
    Award Ceiling: $200,000 per Budget Period.
    Award Floor: $0 per Budget Period.
    Average Projected Award Amount: $100,000 per Budget Period.
    Length of Project Periods: 36-month project with three 12-month 
budget periods.

Additional Information on Awards

    Awards made under this announcement are subject to the availability 
of Federal funds.
    Please see Section IV.5 Funding Restrictions for any restrictions 
on the use of grant funds awarded under this announcement.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

    Public and nonprofit private agencies, such as:
     State governments;
     County governments;
     City or township governments;
     Special district governments;
     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 without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other 
than institutions of higher education.
    Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship 
organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made 
under this announcement.
    Faith-based and community organizations that meet eligibility 
requirements are eligible to receive

[[Page 35481]]

awards under this funding opportunity announcement.
    See ``Legal Status of Applicant Entity'' in Section IV.2 for 
documentation required to support eligibility.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Cost Sharing/Matching Requirement: Yes.
    Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project 
cost, in accordance with section 383 of the RHY Act. (Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. 5701-5752).
    Grantees must provide at least 10% percent of the total approved 
cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum 
of the ACF (Federal) share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal 
share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants 
are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash 
contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a 
project requesting $200,000.00 in ACF (Federal) funds must provide a 
non-Federal share of the approved total project cost of at least 
$22,222.00, which is 10% percent of total approved project cost of 
$222,222.00. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-
Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match. 
Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance 
of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of 
application submission will not exclude the application from 
competitive review.

III.3. Other

Disqualification Factors
    Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of 
individual awards as stated in Section II. Award Information, will be 
deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this 
announcement.
    Applications that fail to satisfy the due date and time deadline 
requirements stated in Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, will 
be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under 
this announcement.
    See Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times for disqualification 
information specific to electronically-submitted applications:
     Electronically-submitted applications that do not receive 
a date/time-stamp e-mail indicating application submission on or before 
4:30 p.m. e.t., on the due date, will be disqualified and will not be 
considered for competition.
     Electronically-submitted applications that fail the checks 
and validations at https://www.Grants.gov because the Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR) does not have a current registration 
at the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at the time of application 
submission will be disqualified and will not be considered for 
competition.

IV.1. Address To Request Application Package

    Standard Forms, assurances, and certifications are available at the 
ACF Forms Web page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Standard Forms are also available at the Grants.gov 
Forms Repository Web site at: https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15.

FYSB Operations Center, c/o Master Key Consulting, Attn: Street 
Outreach Funding, 4915 St. Elmo Avenue, Suite 101, Bethesda, MD 20814, 
Phone: (866) 796-1591, e-mail: fysb@luxcg.com. URL: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.

    Federal Relay Service: Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired callers 
may contact the Federal Relay Service for assistance at 1-800-877-8339 
(TTY--Text Telephone or ASCII--American Standard Code For Information 
Interchange).

Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    This section provides information on the required format, Standard 
Forms (SFs) and other forms, certifications, assurances, D-U-N-S 
requirement, project description, budget and budget justification, and 
methods of application submission. A checklist of required application 
elements is available for applicants' use in Section VIII of this 
announcement. Applicants are required to submit one original and two 
copies of all application materials if applying in hard-copy. 
Applicants submitting applications electronically via https://www.grants.gov need not provide additional copies of their application 
materials. The original signature of the Authorized Organization 
Representative (AOR) is required only on the original copy. The AOR is 
named by the applicant, and is authorized to act for the applicant, to 
assume the obligations imposed by the Federal laws, regulations, 
requirements, and conditions that apply to the grant application or 
awards. A point of contact on matters involving the application must 
also be identified on the SF-424 at 8f. This point of contact, known as 
the Project Director or Principal Investigator, should not be identical 
to the person identified as the AOR.
    Each application package must include the original and two copies. 
Do not staple the application or any section of the application.
    The length of the entire application package must not exceed 90 
pages. This includes the required Federal Standard Forms/certifications 
(SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B and Certification Regarding Lobbying), table 
of contents, project summary, project description, budget/budget 
justification, supplemental documentation, proof of non-profit status, 
summaries of sub-grants and contracts, and letters of agreement. All 
pages of the application package must be sequentially numbered 
beginning with page one. The required Federal forms will be counted 
towards the total number of pages. All pages of each application will 
be counted to determine the total length. All pages exceeding the 90-
page limit will be removed and will not be considered in the reviewing 
process. A cover letter is not required. Applicants are reminded that 
if a cover letter is submitted, it will count towards the 90-page 
limit.
    The project description must be typed and double-spaced on a 
single-side of 8\ 1/2\ x 11 inch plain white paper with at least \1/2\ 
inch margins on all sides, using black print with 12-point size Times 
New Roman font. For charts, budget tables, supplemental letters, and 
support documents, applicants may use a different point size and font, 
but no less than 10-point size and single-spaced.
    The application package should include the following and be in the 
following order:
    a. Required Federal Forms/Certifications--See below for 
description.
    b. Table of Contents--This section should reference the order of 
the application sections and provide page numbers.
    c. One-Page Project Abstract--This section should contain the 
following information: agency name, city, State; proposed service area 
(State, County, City, etc.); program applied for (e.g., SOP), amount of 
Federal funding requested for 12-month period; proposed model of 
program (e.g. street-based); target population (if applicable); point 
of contact, name, phone, and e-mail; number of youth to receive 
services during the 36-month project; two to three paragraph statement 
on what will be accomplished with the project.

[[Page 35482]]

    A suggested sample format is provided in Section VIII, Other 
Information.
    d. Project Description--This section is a comprehensive description 
of the proposed project, what it will accomplish and how it will be 
implemented. The project description should address each of the 
categories in Section V.1 and be structured in a manner that addresses 
each of the evaluation criterion in a logical format in the following 
order: Objectives and Need for Assistance; Results and Benefits; 
Approach; Organizational Profiles; Staff and Position Data; and Budget 
and Budget Justification. Applicants must title each section 
accordingly.
    e. Budget and Budget Justification--The budget is a line-item 
format and must be in a worksheet, table, or spreadsheet that 
illustrates how calculations were derived. The budget should reflect a 
12-month budget period. Each category heading within the line-item 
budget should correspond with the budget categories listed in Section B 
of the SF-424A (e.g., Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, 
Supplies, Contractual, Other, Indirect Charges).
    The budget justification is a narrative that provides a rationale 
for the items requested and how these items relate to the overall 
success of the project.
    f. Proof of Non-Profit Status--If you are claiming non-profit 
status, see Section IV.2 Part II for acceptable documentation that must 
be submitted by date of award. Public agencies are not required to 
submit proof of non-profit status.
    g. Third-Party Agreements--A summary of a monetary sub-grant and/or 
contract must be provided as part of the application package. The 
summary must include a description of the project services that will be 
completed through the sub-grant or contract using Federal funds or a 
non-Federal match, and the process by which the primary applicant will 
maintain a substantive role with the sub-grant and/or contract assuring 
compliance with the grant requirements and project performance. If the 
applicant's agency is providing the shelter services through a 
different agency or entity based on a non-monetary agreement, 
documentation of these services must enumerate the project services 
that will be completed.
Forms, Assurances, and Certifications
    Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement 
must submit the listed Standard Forms (SFs), assurances, and 
certifications. All required Standard Forms, assurances, and 
certifications are available at ``ACF Funding Opportunities Forms ''or 
at the Grants.gov Forms Repository unless specified otherwise.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Forms/assurances/            Submission
        certifications             requirement       Notes/description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424--Application for         Submission         Required for all
 Federal Assistance.             required for all   applications.
                                 applicants by
                                 the application
                                 due date.
SF-P/PSL--Project/Performance
 Site Location(s)
SF-424A--Budget Information--   Submission         Required for all
 Non-Construction Programs.      required for all   applications.
                                 applicants
                                 applying for a
                                 non-construction
                                 project by the
                                 application due
                                 date.
SF-424B--Assurances--Non-
 Construction Programs
Certification Regarding         Submission         Required for all
 Lobbying.                       required of all    applications.
                                 applicants prior
                                 to award.
SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying  If applicable,     If any funds have
 Activities, if applicable.      submission is      been paid or will be
                                 required prior     paid to any person
                                 to award.          for influencing or
                                                    attempting to
                                                    influence an officer
                                                    or employee of any
                                                    agency, a Member of
                                                    Congress, an officer
                                                    or employee of
                                                    Congress, or an
                                                    employee of a Member
                                                    of Congress in
                                                    connection with this
                                                    commitment providing
                                                    for the United
                                                    States to insure or
                                                    guarantee a loan,
                                                    the applicant shall
                                                    complete and submit
                                                    Standard Form (SF)-
                                                    LLL, ``Disclosure
                                                    Form to Report
                                                    Lobbying,'' in
                                                    accordance with its
                                                    instructions.
                                                    Applicants must
                                                    furnish an executed
                                                    copy of the
                                                    Certification
                                                    Regarding Lobbying
                                                    prior to award.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Pro-Children Act of 2001, 42 U.S.C. 7181 through 7184, imposes 
restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's 
services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements 
only if they meet the Act's specified coverage. The Act specifies that 
smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility (owned, leased, or 
contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of 
kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to 
children under the age of 18. In addition, smoking is prohibited in any 
indoor facility or portion of a facility (owned, leased, or contracted 
for) used for the routine or regular provision of federally funded 
health care, day care, or early childhood development, including Head 
Start services to children under the age of 18. The statutory 
prohibition also applies if such facilities are constructed, operated, 
or maintained with Federal funds. The statute does not apply to 
children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded 
solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, portions of facilities used for 
inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, or facilities where WIC coupons 
are redeemed. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may 
result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1,000 
per violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance 
order on the responsible entity.
    By signing and submitting the application, applicants are making 
the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal 
statutes relating to nondiscrimination. Additional information on 
certifications and assurances may be found in the HHS Grants Policy 
Statement at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html.
Non-Federal Reviewers
    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) specific salary rates or amounts

[[Page 35483]]

for individuals specified in the application budget as well as Social 
Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may 
include summary salary information. If applicants are submitting their 
application electronically, ACF will omit the same specific salary rate 
information from copies made for use during the review and selection 
process.
D-U-N-S Requirement
    All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-
U-N-S) number. A D-U-N-S number is required whether an applicant is 
submitting a paper application or using the Government-wide electronic 
portal, Grants.gov. A D-U-N-S number is 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. A D-U-N-S number may be acquired at no cost online at https://www.dnb.com. To acquire a D-U-N-S number by phone, contact the D&B 
Government Customer Response Center:

U.S. and U.S. Virgin Islands: 1-866-705-5711
Alaska and Puerto Rico: 1-800-234-3867 (Select Option 2, then Option 1)

    Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. c.s.t.
    The process to request a D-U-N-S[reg] Number by telephone takes 
between 5 and 10 minutes. You will need to provide the following 
information:
     Legal Name.
     Tradestyle, Doing Business As (DBA), or other name by 
which your organization is commonly recognized.
     Physical Address, City, State and Zip Code.
     Mailing Address (if separate).
     Telephone Number.
     Contact Name.
     SIC Code (Line of Business).
     Number of Employees at your location.
     Headquarters name and address (if there is a reporting 
relationship to a parent corporate entity).
     Is this a home-based business?

The Project Description

Part I: The Project Description Overview

    The project description provides the majority of information by 
which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other 
applications for available assistance. The project description should 
be concise and complete. It 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 the project description, information that is 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 Expectations and 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.

Part II: General Instructions for Preparing a Full Project Description

Introduction
    Applicants that are 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 topics listed in this section provide a broad overview of 
what the project description should include while the Criteria in 
Section V.1 identify the measures that will be used to evaluate 
applications.
Table of Contents
    List the contents of the application including corresponding page 
numbers.
Project Summary/Abstract
    Provide a summary of the application's project description. The 
summary must be clear, accurate, concise, and without reference to 
other parts of the application. The abstract must include a brief 
description of the proposed grant project including the needs to be 
addressed, the proposed services, and the population group(s) to be 
served.
    Please place the following at the top of the abstract:
     Project Title.
     Applicant Name.
     Address.
     Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax).
     E-Mail Address.
     Web Site Address, if applicable.
    The project abstract must be single-spaced and limited to one page 
in length.
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 including the nature and scope of the problem must be 
demonstrated, and the principal and subordinate objectives of the 
project must be clearly and concisely 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 or needs assessments 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.
Outcomes Expected
    Identify the outcomes to be derived from the project. For example, 
the project description must cite measurable outcomes that show a sound 
relationship between program activities and the expected outcomes, 
including but not limited to the number of youth that successfully 
leave the streets as a result of services.
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. Data may be organized and presented as project tasks and 
subtasks with their corresponding timelines during the project period. 
For example, each project task could be assigned to a row in the first 
column of

[[Page 35484]]

a grid. Then, a unit of time could be assigned to each subsequent 
column, beginning with the first unit (i.e., week, month, quarter) of 
the project and ending with the last. Shading, arrows, or other 
markings could be used across the applicable grid boxes or cells, 
representing units of time, to indicate the approximate duration and/or 
frequency of each task and its start and end dates within the project 
period. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or 
function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of 
accomplishments and their target dates. Provide a list of 
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.
Legal Status of Applicant Entity
    Applicants must provide the following documentation of their legal 
status:
Proof of Non-Profit Status
    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 
IRS's most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS 
Code.
     A copy of a currently valid IRS tax-exemption certificate.
     A statement from a State taxing body, State attorney 
general, or other appropriate State official certifying that the 
applicant organization has non-profit status and that none of the net 
earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
     A certified copy of the organization's certificate of 
incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit 
status.
     Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above 
for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by 
the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-
profit affiliate.
    When applying electronically, proof of non-profit status may be 
submitted as an attachment; however, proof of non-profit status must be 
submitted prior to award.
Logic Model
    Applicants are expected to use a model for designing and managing 
their project. A logic model is a one-page diagram that presents the 
conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the links 
among program elements. While there are many versions of logic models, 
for the purposes of this announcement the logic model should summarize 
the connections between the:
    Goals of the project (e.g., objectives, reasons for proposing the 
interventions, if applicable);
     Assumptions (e.g., beliefs about how the program will work 
and its supporting resources. Assumptions should be based on research, 
best practices, and experience);
     Inputs (e.g., organizational profile, collaborative 
partners, key staff, budget);
     Activities (e.g., approach, listing key intervention, if 
applicable);
     Outputs (i.e., the direct products or deliverables of 
program activities); and
     Outcomes (i.e., the results of a program, typically 
describing a change in people or systems).
Project Sustainability Plan
    Provide a plan for sustainability that details how the proposed 
project approach will create project self-sufficiency and help to 
ensure that the impact of the project will continue after Federal 
assistance has ended. The applicant may include information on plans to 
secure additional financial resources.
Organizational Capacity
     Organizational charts.
    Provide a biographical sketch or resume for each key person 
appointed. Resumes should be no more than two pages in length. Job 
descriptions for each vacant key position should be included as well. 
As new key staff are appointed, biographical sketches or resumes will 
also be required.
Third-Party Agreements
    Provide written and signed agreements between grantees and 
subgrantees, or subcontractors, or other cooperating entities. These 
agreements must detail the 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 
(SF-424A or SF-424C). Detailed calculations must include estimation 
methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail 
sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If matching is a 
requirement, include a breakout by the funding sources identified in 
Block 18 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification for the first year of the 
proposed project. The narrative budget justification should describe 
how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, 
reasonableness, and allocation of the proposed costs.
General
    Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget 
justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources (when required) 
shall be detailed and justified in the budget and budget narrative 
justification. ``Federal resources'' refers only to the ACF grant funds 
for which you are applying. ``Non-Federal resources'' are all other 
non-ACF 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 in a narrative form.
Personnel
    Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
    Justification: Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known at the time of application. 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, personnel costs of delegate agencies, or of specific 
project(s) and/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, Federal Insurance Contributions Act 
(FICA) taxes, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel
    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant organization. (This item 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 to travel out of town; and other 
transportation costs and subsistence allowances. If appropriate for 
this project, travel costs for key staff

[[Page 35485]]

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 that 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 and/
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, that 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 that 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) and/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 45 CFR part 92 procedures, must justify 
any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded 
without competition and exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold 
fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11), currently set at $100,000. Recipients may 
be required to make pre-award review and procurement documents, such as 
requests for proposals or invitations for bids, independent cost 
estimates, etc. available to ACF.

    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 same supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Other
    Description: Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where 
applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to: Local 
travel; 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 be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if 
the applicant is requesting a rate that 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.
Commitment of Non-Federal Resources
    Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to 
support the project as identified in Block 18 of the SF-424.
    Justification: If an applicant is relying on match from a third 
party, then a firm commitment of these resources (letter or other 
documentation) is required with the application. Detailed budget 
information must be provided for every funding source identified in 
Block 18 of the SF-424.
Paperwork Reduction Disclaimer
    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-
13, the public reporting burden for the Project Description 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 
information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, 
which expires 11/30/2012. 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.
Electronic Submission via https://www.Grants.gov
     ACF will not accept applications via facsimile or e-mail.
     The Funding Opportunity Announcement is found on the 
Grants.gov Web site at https://www.grants.gov where the electronic 
application can be downloaded for completion.
     To apply electronically, applicants must be registered 
with Grants.gov, Dun and Bradstreet, and the Central Contractor 
Registry (CCR).
     Electronically submitted applications must be submitted 
and time/date stamped by the due date and receipt time described in 
Section IV.3. Submission Dates and Times, of this announcement.
     To submit an application through Grants.gov, the applicant 
must be an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) for their 
organization and must have a current registration with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR).
     Central Contractor Registry (CCR) registration must be 
updated annually. Electronically submitted applications will not pass 
the validation check at Grants.gov if the AOR does not have a current 
CCR registration and electronic signature credentials.
     Applications rejected by Grants.gov for an unregistered 
AOR will be

[[Page 35486]]

disqualified and will not be considered for competition.
     Additional guidance on the submission of electronic 
applications can be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html.
     If difficulties are encountered in using Grants.gov, 
applicants must contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at:1-800-518-
4726, or by e-mail at support@grants.gov, to report the problem and 
obtain assistance.
     Applicants are advised to retain Grants.gov Contact Center 
service ticket number(s) as they may be needed for future reference.
     Applicants that submit their applications electronically 
are encouraged to retain a hard copy of their application.
     It is to an applicant's advantage to submit their 
applications 24 hours in advance of the closing date and time.
    Contact with the Grants.gov Contact Center prior to the listed due 
date and time does not ensure acceptance of your application. If 
difficulties are encountered, the Grants Management Officer (GMO) will 
make a determination whether the issues are due to system errors or 
user error.
Hard Copy Submission
    Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format 
should submit one original and two copies of the complete application 
with all attachments. The original and each of the two copies must 
include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, 
be signed by the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR), and be 
unbound. The original copy of the application must have original 
signature(s). See Section IV.6 of this announcement for address 
information for hard copy application submissions.
    Applicants may refer to Section VIII. Other Information for a 
checklist of application requirements that may be used in developing 
and organizing application materials. Details concerning acknowledgment 
of received applications are available in Section IV.3. Submission 
Dates and Times of this announcement.

IV.3. Submission Dates and Times

    Due Date for Applications: 07/19/2010.
Explanation of Due Dates
    The due date for receipt of applications is listed in this section. 
Applications received after 4:30 p.m., e.t., on the due date will be 
classified as late and will not be considered in the current 
competition.
    Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are 
received by mail, hand-delivery, or submitted electronically well in 
advance of the application due date and time.
Mailed Applications
    Mailed applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., e.t., 
at the address provided in Section IV.6 of this announcement on the due 
date listed in this section.
Hand-Delivered Applications
    Applications hand-delivered by applicants, applicant couriers, 
other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail 
couriers must be received on, or before, the due date listed in this 
section, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Applications should be 
delivered to the address provided in Section IV.6. of this 
announcement.
Electronically-Submitted Applications
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or 
e-mail. Instructions for electronic submission through https://
www.Grants.gov may be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html.
    After the application is submitted electronically via Grants.gov, 
the applicant will receive three e-mails.
    The following e-mails will be sent to the applicant from 
Grants.gov: An automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov of the 
application's submission that provides a Grants.gov tracking number.
    The date/time-stamp in this e-mail serves as the official record of 
your application submission. The date/time-stamp must reflect a 
submission time on or before 4:30 p.m., e.t., on the application due 
date for the application to be considered as meeting the due date and 
to be considered for competition.
    1. An acknowledgement from Grants.gov that the submitted 
application package has passed or failed a series of checks and 
validations. Applications that fail the validation check at Grants.gov 
because the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is not 
currently registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) will be 
disqualified and will not be considered for competition.
    2. An additional e-mail from the Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF) will be sent to the applicant indicating that the 
application has been retrieved from Grants.gov and received by ACF.
Late Applications
    No appeals will be considered for applications classified as late 
under the three cited circumstances:
     Hard-copy applications received after 4:30 p.m., eastern 
time, on the due date will be classified as late and will be 
disqualified.
     Electronically-submitted applications are considered late 
and are disqualified when the date/time-stamp received by e-mail from 
https://www.Grants.gov is after 4:30 p.m., e.t., on the due date.
     Electronically-submitted applications submitted by an AOR 
that does not have a current registration with the Central Contractor 
Registry (CCR) will be rejected by Grants.gov. Although the applicant 
may have an acceptable dated and time-stamped e-mail from Grants.gov, 
these applications are considered late and are disqualified and will 
not be considered for competition.
Extension/Waiver of Due Date and Receipt Time
    ACF may extend an application due date and receipt time when 
circumstances such as natural disasters occur (floods, hurricanes, 
etc.); when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in 
other rare cases. The determination to extend or waive due date and 
receipt time requirements rests with ACF's Chief Grants Management 
Officer.
Acknowledgement of Received Application
    ACF will provide acknowledgement of receipt of hard copy 
application packages submitted via mail or courier services.
    Applicants who submit their application packages electronically via 
https://www.Grants.gov will receive two e-mail acknowledgements from 
that Web site:
    1. Your application has been submitted and provides a Time/Date 
Stamp. This is considered the official submission time.
    2. Your application has been validated and provides a Tim