Request for Public Comment on the Proposed Adoption of Administration for Native Americans Program Policies and Procedures, 76834-76836 [2013-30192]

Download as PDF 76834 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2013 / Notices at no additional cost to customers who are blind or visually impaired, a set-top box model that is capable of providing aural emergency information. DIRECTV may require reasonable documentation of disability as a condition to providing the box at no additional cost. Thus, DIRECTV customers who are blind or visually impaired may be required to submit reasonable documentation of disability to DIRECTV (e.g., documentation from any professional or service provider, such as a social worker, with direct knowledge of the individual’s disability). Federal Communications Commission. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director. Administration for Children and Families [CFDA Numbers: 93.581, 93.587, 93.612] Pursuant to Section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (NAPA), as amended, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) is required to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposed changes in interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency procedure or practice that affect programs, projects, and activities authorized under the NAPA, and to give notice of the final adoption of such changes at least 30 days before the changes become effective. In accordance with notice requirements of NAPA, ANA herein describes its proposed interpretive rules, general statements of policy, and rules of agency procedure or practice as they relate to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) for the following programs: (1) Social and Economic Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEDS), HHS–2014–ACF–ANA–NA– 0776; (2) Sustainable Employment and Economic Development Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEEDS), HHS– 2014–ACF–ANA–NE–0779; (3) Native Language Preservation and Maintenance (hereinafter referred to as Language Preservation), HHS–2014–ACF–ANA– NL–0778; (4) Native Language Preservation and Maintenance—Esther Martinez Immersion (hereinafter referred to as Language—EMI), HHS– 2014–ACF–ANA–NA–0780; and (5) Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter referred to as ERE), HHS– 2014–ACF–ANA–NR–0777. DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on this Notice, on or before January 21, 2014. SUMMARY: Change in Bank Control Notices; Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or Bank Holding Company emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Native Americans, ACF, HHS. ACTION: Notice for Public Comment. FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM The notificants listed below have applied under the Change in Bank Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and § 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank or bank holding company. The factors that are considered in acting on the notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)). The notices are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notices also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing to the Reserve Bank indicated for that notice or to the offices of the Board of Governors. Comments must be received not later than January 3, 2014. A. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland (Nadine Wallman, Vice President) 1455 East Sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44101–2566: 1. Clay Graham, Bryan Graham, Colby James Graham, Mark David Weiser, Debra Kay Weiser, all of Zanesville, Ohio; Courtney Lynelle Graham, Columbus, Ohio; Adam Hamilton Graham, Bexley, Ohio; (collectively the Graham Family Control Group) to retain voting shares of North Valley Bancshares, Inc., and thereby indirectly retain voting shares of North Valley Bank, both in Zanesville, Ohio. Jkt 232001 BILLING CODE 6210–01–P AGENCY: BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 16:41 Dec 18, 2013 [FR Doc. 2013–30212 Filed 12–18–13; 8:45 am] Request for Public Comment on the Proposed Adoption of Administration for Native Americans Program Policies and Procedures [FR Doc. 2013–30190 Filed 12–18–13; 8:45 am] VerDate Mar<15>2010 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, December 16, 2013. Michael J. Lewandowski, Associate Secretary of the Board. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Send comments in response to this notice via email to Lillian A. Sparks, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, at ANACommissioner@acf.hhs.gov. Comments will be available for inspection by members of the public at the Administration for Native Americans, 901 D Street SW., Washington, DC 20447. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carmelia Strickland, Director, Division of Program Operations, ANA, (877) 922– 9262. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Name Change of one FOA: ANA proposes to change the name of the program titled ‘‘Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance—Esther Martinez Initiative’’ (HHS–2014–ACF–ANA–NL– 0780) to ‘‘Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance—Esther Martinez Immersion.’’ The FOA will retain the same acronym ‘‘EMI.’’ This proposed change is to address the fact that EMI is no longer a temporary initiative, but an ongoing program in which immersion is a key goal. B. Administrative Policies: ANA proposes to clarify the conflict of interest standards published in the 2013 FOAs [announced in 78 FR 13062– 13067] to ensure it aligns with the rule at 45 CFR 1336.50(f), which authorizes the Office of Chief Executive of a federally-recognized Indian tribal government to be paid salary and expenses with ANA grant funds, provided such costs are related to a project funded under ANA FOAs and that the costs exclude any portion of salaries and expenses that are a cost of general government. Given this rule regarding the allowable use of grant funds, we propose a limited exception to previously published conflict of interest standards which did not include the regulatory exception applicable to the Chief Executive of federally recognized Indian tribes. ADDRESSES: Conflict of Interest Standards Under the standard terms and conditions for discretionary HHS awards (Grants Policy Statement, page II–7 at https:// www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/terms-andconditions), grant recipients are required to establish safeguards to prevent employees, consultants, members of governing bodies and others who may be involved in grantsupported activities from using their positions for purposes that are, or give the appearance of being, motivated by a desire for private financial gain for themselves or others, such as those with whom they have family, business, or other ties. Therefore, with one exception, staff employed through an ANA-funded project cannot also serve as a member of the governing body for the E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2013 / Notices emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES applicant organization. Under the exception, as authorized by 45 CFR 1336.50(f), the Chief Executive of a federally-recognized Indian tribal government may be paid salary and expenses with ANA grant funds, provided such costs are not a cost of general government and are related to the ANAfunded project. During the award negotiation phase, ANA will ask the prospective recipient to modify project personnel if a proposed staff member is also a member of the applicant organization’s governing body. In addition, there should be a separation of duties between staff and the governing body within an organization to ensure the integrity of internal controls and to minimize disruptions in the continuity of operations. C. Federal Evaluation: ANA proposes to include the following language in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description in FY14 FOAs for the programs listed in the summary section above, with the exception of the SEEDS FOA, HHS–2014–ACF–ANA–NE–0779. The SEEDS FOA will retain the same federal evaluation requirements as published in the FY13 SEEDS FOA, HHS–2013–ACF–ANA–NE–0588, available under ‘‘Prior Year Funding Opportunities’’ at https:// www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/. ANA is required by statute to evaluate the impact of its funding. To fulfill this requirement, ANA will implement a federally-sponsored evaluation strategy to assess the success and impact of approved projects. The federal evaluation strategy will include granteelevel documentation. In accepting a grant award, all grantees agree to participate fully in the federal evaluation if selected, and to follow all evaluation protocols established by ANA or its designee contractor. D. Name Change of one Disqualification Factor: ANA proposes to change the name of the disqualification factor titled ‘‘Board Documentation’’ to ‘‘Assurance of Community Representation on Board of Directors,’’ which will appear in all FY14 ANA FOAs in order to further clarify what is being requested of applicants regarding demonstration of community representation. The content of this requirement will not change, and it will not apply to tribes or Native Alaska villages. All application disqualification factors will appear in Section III.3. Other of the FOAs. E. Projects Ineligible for Funding: ANA proposes revising language in this section of Section III.3. Other to provide clarification on three of the types of projects that ANA will not fund under regulations at 45 CFR 1336.33(b), as follows: 1. Projects for which a grantee purchases from a third party training VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:41 Dec 18, 2013 Jkt 232001 and technical assistance (third party T/ TA) that is intended to be provided to other tribes or Native American organizations or to non-members of the grantee organization or where such training or technical assistance is duplicative of ANA funded training and technical assistance available to tribes and other entities that are eligible to apply for ANA funding. This does not apply to ‘train-the-trainer’ capacity building projects. 2. The support of ongoing social service delivery programs or the expansion, or continuation, of existing social service delivery programs. This means that ANA will not fund projects that provide or expand ongoing services that involve cash transfers or other material assistance such as food, medicine, child care, or income support to individuals. 3. Projects from consortia of tribes that do not include documentation from each participating consortium member specifying their role and support. Projects from consortia must have goals and objectives that will encompass the participating communities. ANA will not fund projects by a consortium of tribes that duplicate activities for which participating member tribes also receive funding from ANA. F. Community Involvement: ANA proposes language in Section IV.2 The Project Description and Section V.1 Criteria to clarify that community involvement in the development of the project is required as well as community involvement in the implementation of the project. G. Page Limits for SEEDS Applications: ANA proposes to change the maximum page limit for applications submitted in response to the FY2014 SEEDS FOA (HHS–2014– ACF–ANA–NE–0779) from 200 pages to 150 pages. This page limit excludes required Standard Forms (SFs) and OMB-approved forms, including ANA’s Objective Work Plan (OWP). The change makes the 150 page limit consistent with in all ANA FOAs. Applications that exceed the page limit will have excess pages removed. H. Two-File Upload Requirement: For FY13, ACF introduced a required twofile format for electronically submitted applications. In order to reduce the technical burden on such applicants and to ensure that a lack of technical resources not otherwise required of applicants does not unintentionally act to disqualify an otherwise eligible applicant from applying under ANA FOAs. Applicants submitting their applications electronically under ANA FOAs are exempt from the two-file format requirement. Formatting PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 76835 instructions will be provided in all ANA FOAs in Section IV.2. Form and Content of Application Submission. Formatting and page limitation instructions must be followed or applicants risk having excess pages removed from their applications. I. Outcomes Expected for SEEDS Applications: ANA proposes to require all SEEDS applicants to address two program-wide performance outcomes including full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and the number of Native Americans employed by the funded project. The other three program-wide performance outcomes must be addressed only if they are applicable. Under the FY2013 SEEDS FOA, applicants were required to address 1 of the 5 SEEDS specific outcomes. J. Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information: ANA proposes to add the following requirement to applications submitted under all FY14 FOAs in order to ensure the protection of confidential and/or sensitive information: If any confidential or sensitive information will be collected during the course of the project, whether from staff (e.g., background investigations) or project participants, and/or project beneficiaries, provide a description of the methods that will be used to ensure that confidential and/or sensitive information is properly handled and safeguarded. Also provide a plan for the disposition of such information at the end of the project period. K. ANA Application Evaluation Criteria: The following changes will appear in Section V.I Criteria of the FY 14 FOAs: 1. Changes to Criteria: ANA proposes to move the concept articulated previously in the ‘Project Integration’ evaluation criterion and address the substance of such criterion under the OWP. The evaluation criterion appears in the FOAs at Section V.I Application Review Information, Criteria. Consequently, the OWP will be moved from the ‘Approach’ criterion and will be evaluated using a stand-alone evaluation criterion. No additional requirements will be added to the OWP or to any other component of the FOA as a result of this change. The OMBapproved OWP information collection requires project goals, objectives, results expected, benefits expected, and activities to be addressed. This change is being proposed to more clearly articulate that the integration of multiple project components that will receive focused attention during the objective review. 2. Titles and Assigned Weight: ANA proposes to adjust the maximum point values of the evaluation criteria scores to further prioritize elements that are E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 76836 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2013 / Notices consortium member also receives or has received funding from ANA. • Whether the project provides couples or family counseling activities that are medically-based. • Whether the project originated and was designed by consultants, who have provided a major role for themselves in the performance of the project, and who are not members of the applicant organization, tribe, or village. 3. Scoring Guidance: ANA proposes • Whether the project contains to provide guidance to reviewers to contingent activities that may impede, utilize the table below when allocating or indefinitely delay, the progress of the points for applications in order to project. ensure consistency and equivalence in the scoring among different panels and • Whether the project has the panel reviewers. ANA proposes to add potential to cause unintended harm to the following table to all FY14 FOAs: participants, or that could negatively impact the safety or privacy of Excellent ....................................... 93–100 individuals. Very Good .................................... 86–92 • Whether the project may be used for Good ............................................. 78–85 Fair ................................................ 70–77 the purpose of providing loan capital. Needs Significant Improvement ... 0–69 Federal funds awarded under this FOA may not be used for the purpose of providing loan capital. This restriction L. ANA Internal Review of Proposed is not related to loan capital authorized Projects: ANA proposes to clarify the under Sec. 803A of NAPA [42 U.S.C. language in Section V.2. Review and 2991b-1(a)(1)] for the purpose of the Selection Process of the FOAs to clarify Hawaiian Revolving Loan fund. of the scope of ANA’s discretion to be • Whether the project includes exercised in making funding decisions human subject research as defined at 45 as follows: CFR 45.102 (d) and (f). Based on the ranked order of applications, ANA staff will perform an • Whether the project is duplicative internal review and analysis of the of projects funded by other federal applications ranked highest as a result agencies. of the panel’s review and scoring in Please note: The funding restriction order to determine the application’s applied in prior years’ FOAs on ‘‘Projects consistency with the purposes of NAPA, that seek to revive Native American all relevant statutory and regulatory languages that do not have any living requirements, and the requirements of speakers’’ has been removed from the above the relevant FOA. ANA’s Commissioner list. Projects with this focus are now eligible to receive funding under Language has discretion to make all final funding Preservation and EMI FOAs. and award decisions. In the exercise of such discretion the Commissioner will M. Reporting: ANA proposes to consider: change the frequency of reporting • Whether the project, as determined requirements from quarterly to semibased on ANA’s administrative and annual for the Objective Progress programmatic expertise, does not to Reports (OPR) and Financial Status further the purpose of the funding Reports (FSR). Therefore, grantees will opportunity as described in Section I. be required to submit an OPR and an Funding Opportunity Description. FSR every 6 months instead of every 3 • Whether the project is determined months. Please note that grantees will to be unlikely to be successful or cost still be required to submit a Federal effective based on the application Financial Report—Federal Cash submitted for evaluation in response to Transaction Report SF–425 (FFR–FCTR) Section IV.2. Project Description and to the Division of Payment Management Budget and Budget Justification. (DPM) on a quarterly basis. • Whether the project allows any one Statutory Authority: This notice for public community, or region, to receive a comment is required by Section 814 of the disproportionate share of the funds Native American Programs Act of 1974 available for award. (NAPA), as amended. • Whether the projects is essentially Lillian A. Sparks Robinson, identical or similar in whole or in part Commissioner, Administration for Native to previously funded projects proposed American. by the same applicant or activities or [FR Doc. 2013–30192 Filed 12–18–13; 8:45 am] projects proposed by a consortium that duplicate activities for which any BILLING CODE 4184–34–P emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES important to project monitoring and success. For all FY14 FOAs, ANA proposes to use the following criteria values: Need for Assistance—10 points; Outcomes Expected—25 points; Project Approach—30 points; Objective Work Plan—25 points Budget and Budget Justification—10 points VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:41 Dec 18, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA–2013–N–1619] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Current Good Manufacturing Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice invites comments on the information collection provisions of FDA’s regulations regarding current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) for dietary supplements. DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on the collection of information by February 18, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to https:// www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FDA PRA Staff, Office of Operations, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr., PI50–400B, Rockville, MD 20850, PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), Federal Agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ‘‘Collection of information’’ is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes Agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76834-76836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30192]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[CFDA Numbers: 93.581, 93.587, 93.612]


Request for Public Comment on the Proposed Adoption of 
Administration for Native Americans Program Policies and Procedures

AGENCY: Administration for Native Americans, ACF, HHS.

ACTION: Notice for Public Comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 
1974 (NAPA), as amended, the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) 
is required to provide members of the public an opportunity to comment 
on proposed changes in interpretive rules, general statements of 
policy, and rules of agency procedure or practice that affect programs, 
projects, and activities authorized under the NAPA, and to give notice 
of the final adoption of such changes at least 30 days before the 
changes become effective. In accordance with notice requirements of 
NAPA, ANA herein describes its proposed interpretive rules, general 
statements of policy, and rules of agency procedure or practice as they 
relate to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcements 
(FOA) for the following programs: (1) Social and Economic Development 
Strategies (hereinafter referred to as SEDS), HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NA-0776; 
(2) Sustainable Employment and Economic Development Strategies 
(hereinafter referred to as SEEDS), HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NE-0779; (3) 
Native Language Preservation and Maintenance (hereinafter referred to 
as Language Preservation), HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NL-0778; (4) Native 
Language Preservation and Maintenance--Esther Martinez Immersion 
(hereinafter referred to as Language--EMI), HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NA-0780; 
and (5) Environmental Regulatory Enhancement (hereinafter referred to 
as ERE), HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NR-0777.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on this Notice, on or 
before January 21, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments in response to this notice via email to 
Lillian A. Sparks, Commissioner, Administration for Native Americans, 
at ANACommissioner@acf.hhs.gov. Comments will be available for 
inspection by members of the public at the Administration for Native 
Americans, 901 D Street SW., Washington, DC 20447.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carmelia Strickland, Director, 
Division of Program Operations, ANA, (877) 922-9262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    A. Name Change of one FOA: ANA proposes to change the name of the 
program titled ``Native American Language Preservation and 
Maintenance--Esther Martinez Initiative'' (HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NL-0780) to 
``Native American Language Preservation and Maintenance--Esther 
Martinez Immersion.'' The FOA will retain the same acronym ``EMI.'' 
This proposed change is to address the fact that EMI is no longer a 
temporary initiative, but an ongoing program in which immersion is a 
key goal.
    B. Administrative Policies: ANA proposes to clarify the conflict of 
interest standards published in the 2013 FOAs [announced in 78 FR 
13062-13067] to ensure it aligns with the rule at 45 CFR 1336.50(f), 
which authorizes the Office of Chief Executive of a federally-
recognized Indian tribal government to be paid salary and expenses with 
ANA grant funds, provided such costs are related to a project funded 
under ANA FOAs and that the costs exclude any portion of salaries and 
expenses that are a cost of general government. Given this rule 
regarding the allowable use of grant funds, we propose a limited 
exception to previously published conflict of interest standards which 
did not include the regulatory exception applicable to the Chief 
Executive of federally recognized Indian tribes.

Conflict of Interest Standards

    Under the standard terms and conditions for discretionary HHS 
awards (Grants Policy Statement, page II-7 at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/terms-and-conditions), grant recipients are 
required to establish safeguards to prevent employees, consultants, 
members of governing bodies and others who may be involved in grant-
supported activities from using their positions for purposes that 
are, or give the appearance of being, motivated by a desire for 
private financial gain for themselves or others, such as those with 
whom they have family, business, or other ties. Therefore, with one 
exception, staff employed through an ANA-funded project cannot also 
serve as a member of the governing body for the

[[Page 76835]]

applicant organization. Under the exception, as authorized by 45 CFR 
1336.50(f), the Chief Executive of a federally-recognized Indian 
tribal government may be paid salary and expenses with ANA grant 
funds, provided such costs are not a cost of general government and 
are related to the ANA-funded project.
    During the award negotiation phase, ANA will ask the prospective 
recipient to modify project personnel if a proposed staff member is 
also a member of the applicant organization's governing body. In 
addition, there should be a separation of duties between staff and 
the governing body within an organization to ensure the integrity of 
internal controls and to minimize disruptions in the continuity of 
operations.

    C. Federal Evaluation: ANA proposes to include the following 
language in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description in FY14 FOAs for 
the programs listed in the summary section above, with the exception of 
the SEEDS FOA, HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NE-0779. The SEEDS FOA will retain the 
same federal evaluation requirements as published in the FY13 SEEDS 
FOA, HHS-2013-ACF-ANA-NE-0588, available under ``Prior Year Funding 
Opportunities'' at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/.
    ANA is required by statute to evaluate the impact of its funding. 
To fulfill this requirement, ANA will implement a federally-sponsored 
evaluation strategy to assess the success and impact of approved 
projects. The federal evaluation strategy will include grantee-level 
documentation. In accepting a grant award, all grantees agree to 
participate fully in the federal evaluation if selected, and to follow 
all evaluation protocols established by ANA or its designee contractor.
    D. Name Change of one Disqualification Factor: ANA proposes to 
change the name of the disqualification factor titled ``Board 
Documentation'' to ``Assurance of Community Representation on Board of 
Directors,'' which will appear in all FY14 ANA FOAs in order to further 
clarify what is being requested of applicants regarding demonstration 
of community representation. The content of this requirement will not 
change, and it will not apply to tribes or Native Alaska villages. All 
application disqualification factors will appear in Section III.3. 
Other of the FOAs.
    E. Projects Ineligible for Funding: ANA proposes revising language 
in this section of Section III.3. Other to provide clarification on 
three of the types of projects that ANA will not fund under regulations 
at 45 CFR 1336.33(b), as follows:
    1. Projects for which a grantee purchases from a third party 
training and technical assistance (third party T/TA) that is intended 
to be provided to other tribes or Native American organizations or to 
non-members of the grantee organization or where such training or 
technical assistance is duplicative of ANA funded training and 
technical assistance available to tribes and other entities that are 
eligible to apply for ANA funding. This does not apply to `train-the-
trainer' capacity building projects.
    2. The support of ongoing social service delivery programs or the 
expansion, or continuation, of existing social service delivery 
programs. This means that ANA will not fund projects that provide or 
expand ongoing services that involve cash transfers or other material 
assistance such as food, medicine, child care, or income support to 
individuals.
    3. Projects from consortia of tribes that do not include 
documentation from each participating consortium member specifying 
their role and support. Projects from consortia must have goals and 
objectives that will encompass the participating communities. ANA will 
not fund projects by a consortium of tribes that duplicate activities 
for which participating member tribes also receive funding from ANA.
    F. Community Involvement: ANA proposes language in Section IV.2 The 
Project Description and Section V.1 Criteria to clarify that community 
involvement in the development of the project is required as well as 
community involvement in the implementation of the project.
    G. Page Limits for SEEDS Applications: ANA proposes to change the 
maximum page limit for applications submitted in response to the FY2014 
SEEDS FOA (HHS-2014-ACF-ANA-NE-0779) from 200 pages to 150 pages. This 
page limit excludes required Standard Forms (SFs) and OMB-approved 
forms, including ANA's Objective Work Plan (OWP). The change makes the 
150 page limit consistent with in all ANA FOAs. Applications that 
exceed the page limit will have excess pages removed.
    H. Two-File Upload Requirement: For FY13, ACF introduced a required 
two-file format for electronically submitted applications. In order to 
reduce the technical burden on such applicants and to ensure that a 
lack of technical resources not otherwise required of applicants does 
not unintentionally act to disqualify an otherwise eligible applicant 
from applying under ANA FOAs. Applicants submitting their applications 
electronically under ANA FOAs are exempt from the two-file format 
requirement. Formatting instructions will be provided in all ANA FOAs 
in Section IV.2. Form and Content of Application Submission. Formatting 
and page limitation instructions must be followed or applicants risk 
having excess pages removed from their applications.
    I. Outcomes Expected for SEEDS Applications: ANA proposes to 
require all SEEDS applicants to address two program-wide performance 
outcomes including full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and the number 
of Native Americans employed by the funded project. The other three 
program-wide performance outcomes must be addressed only if they are 
applicable. Under the FY2013 SEEDS FOA, applicants were required to 
address 1 of the 5 SEEDS specific outcomes.
    J. Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information: ANA 
proposes to add the following requirement to applications submitted 
under all FY14 FOAs in order to ensure the protection of confidential 
and/or sensitive information:

    If any confidential or sensitive information will be collected 
during the course of the project, whether from staff (e.g., 
background investigations) or project participants, and/or project 
beneficiaries, provide a description of the methods that will be 
used to ensure that confidential and/or sensitive information is 
properly handled and safeguarded. Also provide a plan for the 
disposition of such information at the end of the project period.

    K. ANA Application Evaluation Criteria: The following changes will 
appear in Section V.I Criteria of the FY 14 FOAs:
    1. Changes to Criteria: ANA proposes to move the concept 
articulated previously in the `Project Integration' evaluation 
criterion and address the substance of such criterion under the OWP. 
The evaluation criterion appears in the FOAs at Section V.I Application 
Review Information, Criteria. Consequently, the OWP will be moved from 
the `Approach' criterion and will be evaluated using a stand-alone 
evaluation criterion. No additional requirements will be added to the 
OWP or to any other component of the FOA as a result of this change. 
The OMB-approved OWP information collection requires project goals, 
objectives, results expected, benefits expected, and activities to be 
addressed. This change is being proposed to more clearly articulate 
that the integration of multiple project components that will receive 
focused attention during the objective review.
    2. Titles and Assigned Weight: ANA proposes to adjust the maximum 
point values of the evaluation criteria scores to further prioritize 
elements that are

[[Page 76836]]

important to project monitoring and success. For all FY14 FOAs, ANA 
proposes to use the following criteria values:

Need for Assistance--10 points;
Outcomes Expected--25 points;
Project Approach--30 points;
Objective Work Plan--25 points
Budget and Budget Justification--10 points

    3. Scoring Guidance: ANA proposes to provide guidance to reviewers 
to utilize the table below when allocating points for applications in 
order to ensure consistency and equivalence in the scoring among 
different panels and panel reviewers. ANA proposes to add the following 
table to all FY14 FOAs:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent....................................................     93-100
Very Good....................................................      86-92
Good.........................................................      78-85
Fair.........................................................      70-77
Needs Significant Improvement................................       0-69
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    L. ANA Internal Review of Proposed Projects: ANA proposes to 
clarify the language in Section V.2. Review and Selection Process of 
the FOAs to clarify of the scope of ANA's discretion to be exercised in 
making funding decisions as follows:
    Based on the ranked order of applications, ANA staff will perform 
an internal review and analysis of the applications ranked highest as a 
result of the panel's review and scoring in order to determine the 
application's consistency with the purposes of NAPA, all relevant 
statutory and regulatory requirements, and the requirements of the 
relevant FOA. ANA's Commissioner has discretion to make all final 
funding and award decisions. In the exercise of such discretion the 
Commissioner will consider:
     Whether the project, as determined based on ANA's 
administrative and programmatic expertise, does not to further the 
purpose of the funding opportunity as described in Section I. Funding 
Opportunity Description.
     Whether the project is determined to be unlikely to be 
successful or cost effective based on the application submitted for 
evaluation in response to Section IV.2. Project Description and Budget 
and Budget Justification.
     Whether the project allows any one community, or region, 
to receive a disproportionate share of the funds available for award.
     Whether the projects is essentially identical or similar 
in whole or in part to previously funded projects proposed by the same 
applicant or activities or projects proposed by a consortium that 
duplicate activities for which any consortium member also receives or 
has received funding from ANA.
     Whether the project provides couples or family counseling 
activities that are medically-based.
     Whether the project originated and was designed by 
consultants, who have provided a major role for themselves in the 
performance of the project, and who are not members of the applicant 
organization, tribe, or village.
     Whether the project contains contingent activities that 
may impede, or indefinitely delay, the progress of the project.
     Whether the project has the potential to cause unintended 
harm to participants, or that could negatively impact the safety or 
privacy of individuals.
     Whether the project may be used for the purpose of 
providing loan capital. Federal funds awarded under this FOA may not be 
used for the purpose of providing loan capital. This restriction is not 
related to loan capital authorized under Sec. 803A of NAPA [42 U.S.C. 
2991b-1(a)(1)] for the purpose of the Hawaiian Revolving Loan fund.
     Whether the project includes human subject research as 
defined at 45 CFR 45.102 (d) and (f).
     Whether the project is duplicative of projects funded by 
other federal agencies.

    Please note:  The funding restriction applied in prior years' 
FOAs on ``Projects that seek to revive Native American languages 
that do not have any living speakers'' has been removed from the 
above list. Projects with this focus are now eligible to receive 
funding under Language Preservation and EMI FOAs.

    M. Reporting: ANA proposes to change the frequency of reporting 
requirements from quarterly to semi-annual for the Objective Progress 
Reports (OPR) and Financial Status Reports (FSR). Therefore, grantees 
will be required to submit an OPR and an FSR every 6 months instead of 
every 3 months. Please note that grantees will still be required to 
submit a Federal Financial Report--Federal Cash Transaction Report SF-
425 (FFR-FCTR) to the Division of Payment Management (DPM) on a 
quarterly basis.

    Statutory Authority: This notice for public comment is required 
by Section 814 of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (NAPA), 
as amended.

Lillian A. Sparks Robinson,
Commissioner, Administration for Native American.
[FR Doc. 2013-30192 Filed 12-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-34-P
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