Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Refugee microenterprise development,
[Federal Register: April 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 71)]
[Notices]
[Page 19784-19791]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ap00-72]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Program Announcement No. CFDA 93.576]
Office of Refugee Resettlement Microenterprise Development
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability of FY 2000 discretionary funds for refugee microenterprise development.
SUMMARY: ORR invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant applications for microenterprise development for refugees.
Applications will be accepted pursuant to the Director's discretionary authority under section 412(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1522), as amended.
Applications will be screened and evaluated as indicated in this program announcement. Awards will be contingent on the outcome of the competition and the availability of funds.
DATES: The closing date for submission of applications is June 12, 2000. See Part IV of this announcement for more information on submitting applications.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marta Brenden at (202) 205-3589, MBrenden@ACF.DHHS.GOV. Application materials are also available from Marta Brenden at the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, Washington DC 20447 and on the ORR website at www.acf.dhhs.gov/program/orr.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of four parts:
Part I: Background, legislative authority, funding availability, CFDA Number, Applicant eligibility, project and budget periods, length of application, program purpose and scope, client eligibility, allowable activities, and treatment of program income.
Part II: General instructions for preparing a full project description.
Part III: The Review Process--Intergovernmental review, initial ACF
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screening, competitive review, funding reconsideration, and review criteria.
Part IV: The Application--Application materials, application development, application submission information, certifications, regulations and reporting.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13): Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 hours, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. The following information collections are included in the program announcement: OMB Approval No. 0970-0139, ACF UNIFORM PROJECT DESCRIPTION (UPD) which expires 10/31/2000. 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.
Part I
Background
ORR has supported the field of microenterprise development since 1991 with grants to various State governments, community economic development agencies, community action and other human service agencies, local Mutual Assistance Associations and voluntary agencies. Organizations with successful programs have typically been those with a long-term commitment to microenterprise and to its adaptation to the refugee experience. They have committed agency resources to support refugee programs, and their work in refugee microenterprise has been consistent with the overall agency mission. A public or private non- profit agency interested in receiving funding under this announcement must analyze its organizational capacity to work with refugees who are economically poor, have limited English language proficiency, and have neither assets nor American business experience. In fact, most newly arrived refugees do not qualify for commercial loans or for admission into mainstream microenterprise development programs for these reasons.
Refugees do, however, bring positive attributes to microenterprise projects: a diverse and rich array of business ideas, skills, experiences, and ambitions. These characteristics have been largely responsible for the success of the ORR initiative to date. During the last eight years, refugees have started or expanded over 800 micro- businesses, and over 89 percent of these businesses have survived. ORR grantees have provided over $3 million in financing to these entrepreneurs, and the loan repayment rate is close to 100 percent. By commonly accepted measures of performance, (business survival rates, loan default rates etc.) the ORR programs have excelled, frequently leading the field in achievement. More importantly, over 4000 refugees have gained new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and the additional business income is helping refugee families to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Building on our experience of the last eight years, ORR seeks in this announcement to continue support to this field, particularly on behalf of those refugees who, because of language and cultural barriers, are unlikely to gain access to commercial loans or business training through other programs. To be successful in this competition, refugee-serving organizations must demonstrate their agency's capacity to provide the technical expertise to help refugees start or expand businesses. Economic development agencies must show how they will modify their existing programs to effectively serve refugees.
Legislative Authority--This program is authorized by section 412(c)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)(8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(A)) which authorizes the Director ``to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or private nonprofit agencies for projects specifically designed--(i) to assist refugees in obtaining the skills which are necessary for economic self-sufficiency, including projects for job training, employment services, day care, professional refresher training, and other recertification services; (ii) to provide training in English where necessary (regardless of whether the refugees are employed or receiving cash or other assistance); and (iii) to provide where specific needs have been shown and recognized by the Director, health (including mental health) services, social services, educational and other services.'' In addition, section 412(a)(4)(A)(i) authorizes the Director to make loans for the purpose of carrying out this section.
The FY 2000 Appropriation Act for the Department of Health and Human Services (Pub. L. 106-113) appropriates funds for refugee and entrant assistance activities authorized by these provisions of the INA. Funding Availability
ORR expects to make available approximately $2.2 million for Microenterprise Development in amounts ranging from $100,000-$160,000 for about 15-20 awards.
The Director reserves the right to award less, or more, than the funds described, in the absence of worthy applications, or under such other circumstances as may be deemed to be in the best interest of the government. CFDA Number `` 93.576 Applicant Eligibility
Eligible grantees are public and private non-profit organizations and agencies of State governments that are responsible for the refugee program under 45 CFR 400.5. Project and Budget Periods
This announcement invites applications for project periods up to 3 years. Awards, on a competitive basis, will be for a one-year budget period, although project periods may be for 3 years. Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the one-year budget period but within the 3 year project period will be entertained in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grantee and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Government. Length of Application
Applicants are encouraged to limit program narratives to 25 pages (double-spaced on standard, letter-size paper, in 12 point font) plus no more than 25 pages of appended material. This limitation of 20 pages per program area should be considered as a maximum, and not necessarily a goal.
Microenterprise Development: Program Purpose and Scope
The purpose of microenterprise development is to assist refugees in becoming economically self-sufficient and to help refugee communities in developing employment and capital resources.
Applicants may request funds for microenterprise services generally to include business technical assistance or short-term training, credit in the form of microloans, the administrative costs of managing the project and, if applicable, a revolving microloan fund. Projects should be designed in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for the refugee population.
Projects should be designed with an understanding of the characteristics of the local refugee populations: employment rates, welfare status, length of time in the U.S., interest in micro- businesses, and English language proficiency. Applicants should also be familiar with the capital needs and
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capital market gaps for refugee entrepreneurs, and should demonstrate how refugees will gain access to business credit.
Successful applications will demonstrate an understanding of the economic opportunities in the community for refugees and have established working partnerships with the communities' refugee resettlement services network, with existing microenterprise organizations (where they are present) and with financial institutions.
ORR will not fund applications which propose to subgrant or contract all or most of the proposed activities under this initiative to an unrelated entity. This does not bar subgranting or contracting for specific services or activities.
Client Eligibility
Eligibility for refugee social services includes persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43 (as amended by 65 FR 15409 (March 22, 2000)) and 45 CFR 401.2 (Cuban and Haitian entrants). The targeted refugee population for these programs may include refugees who are receiving public assistance or subsidies and/or who lack the financial resources, credit history, or personal assets to qualify for business loans or assistance through commercial institutions. Refugees may participate regardless of their date of arrival in the U.S. Grantees will be responsible for documenting refugee client eligibility.
Allowable Activities
Project components may include one-on-one business consultation and training, training in classroom settings, access to business credit, individual or peer group lending, and follow-up technical assistance to help stabilize or expand refugee businesses. ORR funds may also be used for the administrative costs associated with managing a microloan fund.
Microloans consist of small amounts of credit, generally in sums less that $15,000, extended to low-income entrepreneurs for start-up or very small microenterprises. Applicants may elect to establish cooperative relationships with one or more of the community's financial institutions to obtain access to commercial loan funds. Alternatively, ORR funds may be used for microloans to individual refugee entrepreneurs in sums not to exceed $15,000 (of ORR monies). These funds may be disbursed through individual loans or through peer lending mechanisms, through a revolving loan fund. Requests for ORR grant funds for a revolving loan fund may not exceed $50,000 in the first budget period. Grantees will be responsible for establishing written lending policies and procedures, and for collecting and servicing loan repayments.
ORR supports the use of commercial lending institutions for refugee borrowers to leverage the limited amount of ORR funds available for this purpose, and to provide borrowers with the opportunity to establish credit-worthy histories with traditional lenders. To that end, ORR does not encourage the use of below-market rates of interest for the loan funds. Conversely, grantees may not charge refugees interest rates that exceed four percentage points above the New York prime lending rate at the time of loan approval.
Microloans will have a maximum maturity of three years. They may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery, tools, equipment, building renovation, and/or leasehold improvements.
Microloan funds may not be used for the following types of businesses:
As venture capital for established businesses that are attempting major Expansion;
For enterprises engaged in gambling or speculation;
For any illegal activity or production, or for the service or distribution of illegal products;
For purposes not related to microenterprise development, e.g., for the purchase of a personal-use automobile.
Treatment of Program Income
Projects with revolving loan funds may earn and retain program income in the form of interest (on individual loans or from loan loss reserves). Specifically, program income funds may be retained by the project to expand the pool of credit in accordance with 45 CFR 74.24 (b)(1), (b)(2) and (e) for non-profit organizations and 45 CFR 92.25 (g)(2) (for governmental entities). Similarly, repaid loan principal is to be treated as program income and placed in the revolving loan fund for re-lending. Program income may be retained by the grantee so long as the use of these funds furthers the objectives of the grant and is consistent with the Federal statute under which the grant was made.
Any fees or charges imposed on refugee clients by the grantee or its subcontractors or affiliates (e.g., loan processing or training fees) must be disclosed in the application and pre-approved by ORR.
Successful grantees will be expected to coordinate their policies and procedures for developing and administering refugee microenterprise projects with the existing refugee microenterprise services network. To ensure an exchange of technical and training information among programs, all grantees are encouraged to attend two ORR training meetings during each year of their participation in this program area. Grant funds may be used to offset the cost of attendance.
Part II: General instructions for preparing a full project description
Purpose
The project description provides a major means by which an application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are encouraged to provide information on their organizational structure, staff, related experience, and other information considered to be relevant. Awarding offices use this and other information to determine whether the applicant has the capability and resources necessary to carry out the proposed project. It is important, therefore, that this information be included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed project from those that will not be used in support of the specific project for which funds are requested.
General Instructions
Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. ACF is particularly interested in specific factual information and statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance, not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. (Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded activity should be placed in an appendix.) Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included for easy reference.
Project Summary/Abstract
Provide a summary of the project description (a page or less) with reference to the funding request.
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Objectives and Need for Assistance
Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement.
Results or Benefits Expected
Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, when applying for a grant to establish a neighborhood child care center, describe who will occupy the facility, who will use the facility, how the facility will be used, and how the facility will benefit the community which it will serve. For example, when applying for microenterprise development assistance, describe the prospective clients in terms of numbers, national origin, interest in microenterprise and what business opportunities are available to refugees in the community.
Approach
Outline a plan of action which 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 which 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 microloans made. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates.
Identify the kinds of data to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated. Note that clearance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget might be needed prior to a ``collection of information'' that is ``conducted or sponsored'' by ACF. List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.
Geographic Location
Describe the precise location of the project and boundaries of the area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphic aids may be attached.
Staff and Position Data
Provide a biographical sketch for each key person appointed and a job description for each vacant key position. A biographical sketch will also be required for new key staff as appointed.
Organization Profiles
Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission.
The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, or by providing a copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate, or by providing a copy of the articles of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation or association is domiciled.
Third-Party Agreements
Include written agreements between grantees and subgrantees or subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These agreements must detail scope of work to be performed, work schedules, remuneration, and other terms and conditions that structure or define the relationship.
Letters of Support
Provide statements from community, public and commercial leaders that support the project proposed for funding.
Budget and Budget Justification
Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of the proposed costs.
General
The following guidelines are for preparing the budget and budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes of preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s); and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be a narrative.
Personnel
Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.
Justification: Identify the project director or principal investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project (as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to be financed by the applicant.
Fringe Benefits
Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.
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Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel
Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF- sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment
Description: Costs of tangible, non-expendable, personal property, having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. However, an applicant may use its own definition of equipment provided that such equipment would at least include all equipment defined above.
Justification: For each type of equipment requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment should provide a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the equipment definition.
Supplies
Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that included under the Equipment category.
Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their costs. Show computations and provide other information which supports the amount requested.
Other
Enter the total of all other costs. Such costs, where applicable and appropriate, may include but are not limited to insurance, food, medical and dental costs (noncontractual), professional services costs, space and equipment rentals, printing and publication, computer use, training costs, such as tuition and stipends, staff development costs, and administrative costs.
Justification: Provide computations, a narrative description and a justification for each cost under this category.
Indirect Charges
Description: Total amount of indirect costs. This category should be used only when the applicant currently has an indirect cost rate approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency.
Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the principles set forth in 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. It should be noted that when an indirect cost rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under the program, the authorized representative of the applicant organization must submit a signed acknowledgment that the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income
Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be generated from this project.
Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application which contain this information.
Non-Federal Resources
Description: Amounts of non-Federal resources that will be used to support the project as identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
Justification: The firm commitment of these resources must be documented and submitted with the application in order to be given credit in the review process. A detailed budget must be prepared for each funding source.
Total Direct Charges, Total Indirect Charges, Total Project Costs
Self explanatory.
Part III: The Review Process
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Intergovernmental Review: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100, ``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs.
Note: State/Territory Participation in the Intergovernmental Review Process Does not Signify Applicant Eligibility for Financial Assistance under a Program. A Potential Applicant must meet the Eligibility Requirements of the Program for Which it is Applying Prior to Submitting an Application to its SPOC, if Applicable, or to ACF.
The jurisdictions not listed no longer participate in the process but grant applicants are still eligible to apply for the grant even if your state, territory, commonwealth, etc. does not have a ``state single point of contact.'' Jurisdictions without ``state single points of contacts'' include: Alabama; Alaska; American Samoa; Colorado; Connecticut; Kansas; Hawaii; Idaho; Louisiana; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; New Jersey; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Palau; Pennsylvania; South Dakota; Tennessee; Vermont; Virginia; and Washington.
This list is based on the most current information provided by the States. Information on any changes or apparent errors should be provided to the Office of Management and Budget and the State in question. Changes to the list will only be made upon formal notification by the State. Also, this listing is published biannually in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance.
Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon as possible so that the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. The applicant must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to
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comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule. When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington DC, 20447 ATTN: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory is included with the application materials for this announcement.
OMB State Single Point of Contact Listing
Arizona
Joni Saad, Arizona State Clearinghouse, 3800 N. Central Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012, Telephone: (602) 280-1315, FAX: (602) 280-8144, e-mail: jonis@ep.state.az.us.
Arkansas
Mr. Tracy L. Copeland, Manager, State Clearinghouse, Office of Intergovernmental Services, Department of Finance and Administration, 1515 W. 7th St., Room 412 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203, Telephone: (501) 682-1074, FAX: (501) 682-5206.
California
Grants Coordinator, Office of Planning and Research/State Clearinghouse, 1400 Tenth Street, Room 121, Sacramento, California 95814, Telephone: (916) 323-7480, FAX: (916) 323-3018.
Delaware
Francine Booth, State Single Point of Contact, Executive Department, Office of the Budget, 540 S. duPont Hi., Suite 5, Dover, Delaware 19901, Telephone: (302) 739-3326 FAX: (302) 739-5661.
District of Columbia
Charles Nichols, State Single Point of Contact, Office of Grants Management and Development, 717 14th Street, NW--Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005, Telephone: (202) 727-6537, FAX: (202) 727- 161,7 e-mail: charlesnic@yahoo.com or cnichols-ogmd@dcgov.org.
Florida
Cherie L. Trainor, Coordinator, Florida State Clearinghouse, Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, Telephone: (850) 922-5438 or (850) 414-5495, FAX: (850) 414-0479, e-mail: cherie.trainor@dca.state.fl.us.
Georgia
Debra S. Stephens, Coordinator, Georgia State Clearinghouse, 270 Washington Street, S.W.--8th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, Telephone: (404) 656-3855, FAX: (404) 656-7901, e- mail:ssda@mail.opb.state.ga.us.
Illinois
Virginia Bova, State Single Point of Contact, Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, James R. Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400, Chicago, Illinois 60601, Telephone: (312) 814-6028, FAX: (312) 814-1800.
Indiana
Frances Williams, State Budget Agency, 212 State House, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2796, Telephone: (317) 232-5619, FAX: (317) 233-3323.
Iowa
Steven R. McCann, Division for Community Assistance, Iowa Department of Economic Development, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, Telephone: (515) 242-4719, FAX: (515) 242-4809.
Kentucky
Kevin J. Goldsmith, Director, John-Mark Hack, Deputy Director, Sandra Brewer, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Governor, 700 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Telephone: (502) 564-2611, FAX: (502) 564-2849.
Maine
Joyce Benson, State Planning Office, 184 State Street, 38 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333, Telephone: (207) 287-3261, FAX: (207) 287-6489.
Maryland
Linda C. Janey, JD, Manager, Clearinghouse and Plan Review Unit, Maryland Office of Planning, 301 W. Preston Street--Room 1104, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2305, Telephone: (410) 767-4491, FAX: (410) 767-4480, e-mail: Linda@mail.op.state.md.us.
Michigan
Richard Pfaff, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, 660 Plaza Drive--Suite 1900, Detroit, Michigan 48226, Telephone: (313) 961- 4266, FAX: (313) 961-4869.
Mississippi
Cathy Mallette, Clearinghouse Officer, Department of Finance and Administration, 455 North Lamar Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39202- 3087, Telephone: (601) 359-6762, FAX: (601) 359-6764.
Missouri
Lois Pohl/Carol Meyer, Federal Assistance Clearinghouse, Office Of Administration, P.O. Box 809, Room 915, Jefferson Building, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102, Telephone: (573) 751-4834, FAX: (573) 522-4395.
Nevada
Heather Elliott, Department of Administration, State Clearinghouse, Capitol Complex, Carson City, Nevada 89710, Telephone: (702) 687- 6367, FAX: (702) 687-3983.
New Hampshire
Jeffrey H. Taylor Director, New Hampshire Office of State Planning, Attn: Intergovernmental Review Process, Mike Blake, Office of State Planning, 2 \1/2\ Beacon Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, Telephone: (603) 271-2155, FAX: (603) 271-1728.
New Mexico
Nick Mandell, Local Government Division, Room 201, Bataan Memorial Building, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503, Telephone: (505) 827-4991, FAX: (505) 827-4948.
New York
New York State Clearinghouse, Division of the Budget, State Capitol, Marsha Roth, Albany, New York 12224, Telephone: (518) 474-1605, FAX: (518) 486-5617.
North Carolina
Chrys Baggett, Director, North Carolina State Clearinghouse, Office of the Secretary of Administration, 116 West Jones Street--Suite 5106, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8003, Telephone: (919) 733-7232, FAX: (919) 733-9571.
North Dakota
Jim Boyd, North Dakota Single Point of Contact, Office of Intergovernmental Assistance, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Department 105, Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0170, Telephone: (701) 328-2094, FAX: (701) 328-2308.
Rhode Island
Kevin Nelson, Review Coordinator, Department of Administration, Division of Planning, One Capitol Hill, 4th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island 02908-5870, Telephone: (401) 222-2656, FAX: (401) 222-2083.
South Carolina
Omegia Burgess, State Single Point of Contact, Budget and Control Board, Office of State Budget, 1122 Ladies Street--12th Floor, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Telephone: (803) 734-0494, FAX: (803) 734-0645.
Texas
Tom Adams, Single Point of Contact, State of Texas, Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, Director, Intergovernmental Coordination, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, Texas 78711-2428, Telephone: (512) 463-1771, FAX: (512) 936-2681, e-mail: tadams@governor.state.tx.us.
Utah
Carolyn Wright, Utah State Clearinghouse, Office of Planning and Budget, Room 116 State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114, Telephone: (801) 538-1535, FAX: (801) 538-1547.
West Virginia
Judith Dryer, Chief Program Manager, West Virginia Development Office, Building #6, Room 645, State Capitol, Charleston, West Virginia 25305, Telephone: (304) 558-0350, FAX: (304) 558-0362.
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Wisconsin
Jeff Smith, Section Chief, State/Federal Relations, Wisconsin Department of Administration, 101 East Wilson Street--6th Floor, P.O. Box 7868, Madison, Wisconsin 53707, Telephone: (608) 266-0267, FAX: (608) 267-6931.
Wyoming
Matthew Jones, State Single Point of Contact, Office of the Governor, 200 West 24th Street, State Capital, Room 124, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002, FAX: (307) 632-3909
Territories
Guam
Mr. Giovanni T. Sgambelluri, Director, Bureau of Budget and Management Research, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910, Telephone: 011-671-472-2285, FAX: 011-671-472-2825.
Puerto Rico
Norma Burgos/Jose E. Caro, Chairwoman/Director, Puerto Rico Planning Board, Federal Proposals Review Office, Minillas Government Center, P.O. Box 41119, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1119, Telephone: (809) 727-4444 or (809) 723-6190, FAX: (809) 724-3270 or (809) 724-3103.
Northern Mariana Islands
Mr. Alvaro A. Santos, Executive Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Governor, Saipan, MP 96950, Telephone: (670) 664-2256, FAX: (670) 664-2272.
Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental review to: Ms. Jacoba T. Seman, Federal Programs Coordinator, Telephone: (670) 664-2289, FAX: (670) 664-2272
Virgin Islands
Nellon Bowry, Director, Office of Management and Budget, #41 Norregade Emancipation Garden Station, Second Floor, Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802.
Please direct all questions and correspondence about intergovernmental review to: Daisey Millen, Telephone: (809) 774- 0750, FAX: (809) 776-0069.
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Initial ACF Screening
Each application submitted under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine that (1) the application was received by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in this announcement and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding.
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Competitive Review and Evaluation Criteria
Applications which pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. The evaluation criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application. Points are awarded only to applications which are responsive to the evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.
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Review Criteria
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Objectives and Need for Assistance.
Quality of the description of the prospective refugee communities' profile with respect to welfare utilization, English language proficiency, length of time in the U.S., interest in microbusinesses, and the description of local capital needs and capital market gaps for refugee microentrepreneurs. (20 points). 2. Approach
Adequacy and appropriateness of the program approach or design: such as, project goals and structure (policies, procedures, activities); training and technical assistance; loan funds and lending criteria and fees, if included in the design; whether the business targets are start-ups, expansions, or both; partner agencies; and credit enhancements, such as loan loss reserves. (30 points). 3. Organization Profiles
Demonstrated organizational and management capacity including bilingual/bicultural competent services, and experience serving refugees and other economically disadvantaged populations; description of experience in organizational management including copies of the last two fiscal year financial statements, with balance sheets and income statements; description of experience in management of loan funds, including a projected monthly cash flow chart for the loan fund for the three year period beginning October 1, 2000; experience in collaboration with the specific refugee community(ies) and coalition building among refugee and non-refugee service providers. (15 points). 4. Results and Expected Benefits
Extent to which the expected outcomes and unit costs of the project are appropriate, consistent with reported nationwide performance in microenterprise projects, and reasonable in relation to the proposed activities; the impact of loan funds, business income, and business assets on clients' welfare status, if applicable. Projected outcomes for business income, business survivability and reductions in welfare utilization. (20 points). 5. Budget and Budget Justification
Appropriateness and reasonableness of the proposed budget to include the relative distribution of funds for administrative costs, training or technical assistance, and loan capital. Application should include project timelines and a narrative justification supporting each budget line item. (15 points).
Part IV: Application Submission
In order to be considered for a grant under this program announcement, an application must be submitted on the forms supplied and in the manner prescribed by ACF. Application materials including forms and instructions are available from the contact named under the ADDRESSES section in the preamble of this announcement.
Each application should include one signed original and two additional copies.
Each application narrative portion should not exceed 25 double- spaced pages in a 12-pitch font. Attachments and appendices should not exceed 25 pages and should be used only to provide supporting documentation such as maps, administration charts, position descriptions, resumes, and letters of intent for partnership agreements. Please do not include books or video tapes as they are not easily reproduced and are, therefore, inaccessible to the reviewers. Each page should be numbered sequentially, including the attachments or appendices.
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Application Forms
Applicants for financial assistance under this announcement must file the Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance; SF 424A, Budget Information--Non-construction Programs; SF 424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs. The forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. An application with an original signature and two copies is required.
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Application Deadlines
The closing date for submission of applications is June 12, 2000. Mailed applications postmarked after the closing date will be classified as late.
Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are either received on or before the deadline date or sent on or before the deadline date and received by ACF in time for the independent review to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee
[[Page 19791]]
Resettlement, Attention: Ms. Daphne Weeden.
Applicants must ensure that a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or a legibly dated, machine produced postmark of a commercial mail service is affixed to the envelope/package containing the application(s). To be acceptable as proof of timely mailing, a postmark from a commercial mail service must include the logo/emblem of the commercial mail service company and must reflect the date the package was received by the commercial mail service company from the applicant. Private Metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing. (Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services do not always deliver as agreed.)
Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, or by other representatives of the applicant shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline date, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, 6th Floor, Aerospace Building, 901 D Street, SW, Washington, DC 20447 between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). The address must appear on the envelope/package containing the application with the note ``Attention: Ms. Daphne Weeden.''
ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of submission and time of receipt.
Late applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition.
Extension of deadlines: ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or when there are widespread disruptions of mails service. Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements rest with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
For Further Information on Application Deadlines Contact: Ms. Daphne Weeden, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447, (202) 401-4577.
Standard Language Concerning the Certifications, Assurances, and Disclosure Required for Non-Construction Programs
Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non- Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard Form 424B with their applications. Applicants must provide a certification regarding lobbying when applying for an award in excess of $100,000.
Applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the Standard Form LLL when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who have used non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in connection with receiving assistance under this announcement shall complete a disclosure form to report lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the disclosure form, if applicable, with their applications.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing the certification and need not mail back the certification with the applications.
Applicants must make the appropriate certification that they are not presently debarred, suspended or otherwise ineligible for an award. By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing the certification need not mail back the certification with the applications.
Applicable Grant Administration Regulations: Applicable DHHS grant administration regulations can be found in 45 CFR Part 74 or 92.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to file the Financial Status Report (SF-269) and Program Performance Reports on a semi-annual basis. Funds issued under these awards must be accounted for and reported upon separately from all other grant activities. Although ORR does not expect the proposed projects to include evaluation activities, it does expect grantees to maintain adequate records to track and report on project outcomes. The official receipt point for all reports and correspondence is the ORR Grants Officer, Ms. Daphne Weeden, Administration for Children and Families/Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-4577. An original and one copy of each report shall be submitted within 30 days of the end of each reporting period directly to the Grants Officer. The mailing address is: Ms. Daphne Weeden, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. A final Financial and Program Report shall be due 90 days after the budget expiration date or termination of grant support.
Dated: April 6, 2000. Lavinia Limon, Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 00-9113Filed4-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
