[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]
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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.
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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
[[Page 19785]]
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
[[Page 19786]]
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:
<bullet> As venture capital for established businesses that are
attempting major Expansion;
<bullet> For enterprises engaged in gambling or speculation;
<bullet> For any illegal activity or production, or for the service
or distribution of illegal products;
<bullet> 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.
[[Page 19787]]
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.
[[Page 19788]]
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
A. 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
[[Page 19789]]
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.
[[Page 19790]]
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.
B. 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.
C. 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.
D. Review Criteria
1. 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.
A. 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.
B. 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. 00-9113 Filed 4-11-00; 8:45 am]