FOA -VGB Grants FY2020 Amended Final.pdf

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

POOL SAFELY GRANT PROGRAM (PSGP)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: NEW GRANT

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: CPSC-20-001

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NO. 87.002

FISCAL YEAR 2020

APPLICATION DUE DATE: JUNE 9, 2020

Ensure that your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current!

Deadline extensions are not granted for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov may take up to one month to complete.

Issuance Date: February 24, 2020

Amended Date: May 4, 2020

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

4330 East West Highway

Bethesda, MD 20814

Telephone: 301.504.7560

E-mail: Grants@cpsc.gov

Technical Assistance Resources: https://www.poolsafely.gov

Authority: Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, Public Law No. 110-140, Title XIV, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8004-8005.

mailto:Grants@cpsc.gov i

POOL SAFELY GRANT PROGRAM

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act), the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is accepting applications for its Fiscal Year 2020 Pool

Safely Grant Program (PSGP). This program aims to prevent drowning and drain entrapments of children in pools and spas by providing funding to state and local governments that supports drowning prevention education and enforcement of pool safety regulations. CPSC will determine, in its sole discretion, whether an applicant has met the eligibility requirements under the VGB Act for a PSGP funding grant.

Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Title: Pool Safely Grant Program

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement

Funding Opportunity Number: CPSC-20-001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 87.002

Type of Award Program: New Grant

Due Date for Applications: June 9, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

Anticipated Award: August 26, 2020

Anticipated Total Annual Available Funding: $2.0 million

Budget/Project Period Length: Two (2) years

Individual Award Range: $50,000 to $400,000

Cost Share or Match: There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements.

CPSC Contacts For information on the PSGP, including guidance on issues related to this FOA, contact:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Grants Management

4330 East West Highway, Rm. 523

Bethesda, MD 20814

301.504.7560 Grants@cpsc.gov

For additional information, visit the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov.

The Pool Safely website is at: https://www.poolsafely.gov .

Grants.gov Contacts All applicants seeking a grant under this FOA must submit their application through Grants.gov.

For help with submitting an application in Grants.gov, contact:

Grants.gov Contact Center

Phone: (800) 518-4726

E-mail: support@grants.gov iPortal: http://grants.gov/iportal

Note: Applicants should always request a case number when contacting Grants.gov mailto:PSGPGrants@cpsc.gov http://www.cpsc.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov http://grants.gov/iportal ii

Table of Contents

CPSC Contacts ................................................................................................................................. i

I. Program Description

A. Purpose

B. Authority

II. Federal Award Information

A. Type of Award

B. Summary of Funding

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

B. State or Local Law Requirements

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

D. Cost Sharing/Matching Funds

E. Registration and Application Package

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. Instructions for Application Documents

D. Instructions for Other Attachments Form

E. Submission Dates and Times

F. Intergovernmental Review

G. Funding Restrictions

V. Application Review Information

A. Review Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

B. Post-Grant Award Terms and Conditions

1. Reporting

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

APPENDIX A – Budget Narrative and Allowable and Unallowable Costs

APPENDIX B – Final Report Template

APPENDIX C – CPSC Training and Education Materials

I. Program Description A. Purpose

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications for the CPSC’s FY

2020 Pool Safely Grant Program in accordance with section 1405 of the VGB Act. This announcement provides potential applicants with details of the requirements to apply for a grant under this program, and it also explains how CPSC will process and evaluate applications for financial assistance for grant recipients.

The purpose of the PSGP is to provide state and local governments with assistance to help implement enforcement and education programs, with the goal of preventing drowning and drain entrapments of children in pools and spas. Under the PSGP, award recipients must allocate their funding as follows:

1) At least 50% of the funding must be used to hire and train enforcement personnel for implementation and enforcement of standards under the state or local swimming pool and spa safety law - see Section 1406 of the VGB Act for minimum requirements; and

2) The remainder may be used to:

a. educate pool construction and installation companies and pool service companies about the standards;

b. educate pool owners, pool operators, and other members of the public about the standards under the swimming pool and spa safety law and about the prevention of drowning or entrapment of children using swimming pools and spas; and

c. defray administrative costs associated with such training and education programs.

B. Authority

CPSC derives the authority for the PSGP from the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa

Safety Act, Pub. L. No. 110-140, Title XIV, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8004-8005.

II. Federal Award Information A. Type of Award

1) CPSC will issue grants to successful applicants under this funding opportunity.

B. Summary of Funding

Total Funding Available: $2.0 million

Anticipated Number of Federal Awards: 5-10

Expected Amount of Individual Federal Awards: $50,000 to $400,000

Expected Award Date: August 26, 2020

Expected Period of Performance: August 26, 2020 – August 25, 2022

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants are entities that fall within one of the two definitions, below.

Eligible applicants may contract with other entities, including civic organizations, to achieve some aspects of their proposal.

1) The 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American

Samoa, Guam, the Federated State of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall

Islands, Midway Island, Wake Island, Kingman Reef, and Johnston Island.

2) Local Governments—political subdivisions of a state, which may include a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government.

B. State or Local Law Requirements

1) The applicant must have in effect a state or local law that meets the requirements specified in Section 1406(a)(1)(A) of the VGB Act (15 U.S.C. § 8005(a)(1)(A)).

2) Under the VGB Act, the minimum state law requirements for eligibility are:

a. The enclosure of all outdoor residential pools and spas in the state or locality by barriers to entry that will effectively prevent small children from gaining unsupervised and unfettered access to the pool or spa;

b. That pools and spas built in the state or locality more than 1 year after the date of the enactment of such state or local law have:

i. more than 1 drain;

ii. 1 or more unblockable drains; or

iii. no main drain.

c. The applicant must provide for enforcement of the law.

3) The applicant must submit a full copy of the applicable state or local law(s) for eligibility to be determined.

4) The applicant must identify the specific sections of the applicable law(s) that meet each requirement in Section 1406(a)(1)(A) of the VGB Act.

5) Explain how the applicable state or local law meets each requirement in Section

1406(a)(1)(A) of the VGB Act. Annotate or highlight the applicable sections of the state or local law, if that helps to explain how the law meets the VGB requirements.

Please see www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/read/ for additional instructions.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

1) Funding requests must be at least $50,000 and not exceed $400,000.

2) Applications must be filed by the specified deadline.

3) Each applicant may only file one application per submitting organization.

D. Cost Sharing/Matching Funds

1) This funding opportunity does not require cost sharing.

2) This funding opportunity does not require fund matching.

E. Registration and Application Package

1) Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

a. To conduct electronic business with the federal government, applicants for this funding opportunity must register with the System for Award

Management (SAM) at: www.SAM.gov. SAM is a prerequisite for submitting a grant application successfully under the PSGP.

b. SAM registration must be updated annually, and applicants are responsible for maintaining their registration with current, accurate information at all times, and they must demonstrate that an entity has an active award from, or an application under consideration by, CPSC.

c. Applicants should take extreme care to verify that their SAM registration is active because SAM is a prerequisite to submitting grant application successfully.

d. Applicants also must ensure that their Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) is current.

NOTE: Do not wait until the last minute to update your registration in SAM.

Applicants should ensure that all passwords and registration are current, well in advance of the deadline. It takes 3 to 5 days for an entity’s registration to become active.

CPSC may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time CPSC is ready to make a federal award, CPSC may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and may use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

For more information about registering with SAM, visit: https://www.sam.gov. To consult SAM’s Quick Guide for Grant Registrations, visit:

https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf).

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package

1. The application package is available at: www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity

Number CPSC-20-001.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/Quick_Guide_for_Grants_Registrations.pdf

a. Applicants for this FOA must apply electronically through Grants.gov.

Applicants should immediately register in Grants.gov and become familiar with the Grants.gov application process. If you do not complete the Grants.gov registration process, you will be unable to submit an application for this FOA.

The registration process for Grants.gov can take up to 1 month.

b. Instructions on how to register, tutorials, and FAQs are available on the

Grants.gov website at: www.grants.gov. Assistance is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding federal holidays) from the Grants.gov help desk at: support@grants.gov or by phone at (800) 518-4726.

c. Applicants should also read the Grants.gov Applicant User Guide, which includes detailed information about using the Grants.gov system. The Applicant

User Guide contains helpful hints for successful submission. The Grants.gov

Applicant User Guide is available at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html.

d. At www.grants.gov, under the “Applicants” tab, choose Apply for Grants. When using Grants.gov, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete the application offline, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. Waivers of the electronic submission requirement will not be granted.

e. To be able to register successfully in Grants.gov, you must complete all of the following required actions:

i. Obtain an organizational Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

ii. Register the organization with System for Award Management (SAM).

iii. Identify the organization’s E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC).

iv. Confirm the organization’s SAM Marketing Partner ID Number (M-PIN) password.

v. Register and approve an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).

vi. Obtain a username and password from the Grants.gov Credential Provider.

f. Applicants must ensure that the AOR is available to submit the application to

Grants.gov by the deadline set forth in this announcement. CPSC will not accept submission or resubmission of incomplete, rejected, or otherwise delayed applications after the deadline.

g. All applicants (and sub-recipients of CPSC award funds) are required to have a

Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the federal government. The DUNS number is a unique nine-character identification number provided by the commercial http://www.grants.gov/ company Dun and Bradstreet. There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number.

Information about obtaining a DUNS number can be found by visiting:

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or calling (866) 705-5711.

h. Applications will not be reviewed without a DUNS number. A missing or incorrect DUNS number is the primary reason for applications being “Rejected for Errors” by Grants.gov. CPSC will not extend the deadline for applications with a missing or incorrect DUNS number.

2. Applicants are urged to submit your application several days before the deadline. If for any reason your application is rejected by Grants.gov, you must correct the application and resubmit it to Grants.gov so that the application is validated before the deadline. If an application is submitted more than once before the application deadline, CPSC will accept the applicant’s last validated electronic submission as the final and only acceptable submission.

3. To track your application: use the Grants.gov tracking number

(GRANTXXXXXXXX) provided in the confirmation e-mail from Grants.gov. For more information about tracking your application, visit:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. The total of all uploaded materials may not exceed the equivalent of 80 pages when printed. All information submitted via the Grants.gov Other Attachments Form should be uploaded in PDF format to ensure that these materials can be opened and reviewed. To be eligible, applications must be complete, within the specified 80-page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity number before the deadline date and time. We strongly urge you to print your application to ensure that the application does not exceed the 80-page limit.

For information on what is and is not included in the 80-page limit, see the table in

Section B. 2. Items marked with “N” under the “Counted in Total Page Limit” column do not count towards the 80-page limit.

2. The table below details the information required for this FOA and the order in which the forms and documents must be submitted.

CPSC will use documents and forms submitted by applicants marked in the table below as “Required for Completeness” to determine whether an application is complete. Applications that fail to include all forms and documents “Required for

Completeness” will be deemed incomplete and ineligible. Failure to include documents indicated as “Required for Review” may lower an application’s objective review score.

1) Number the pages of each attachment sequentially, re-setting the numbering for each attachment (i.e., start each attachment with page 1). Label every page of http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html the attachment with the attachment number. Do not attempt to number standard

OMB-approved form pages.

2) Limit file attachment names to 50 or fewer characters. Use only the following characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen

(-), space, and period (.). Attachments that do not follow this rule will cause the entire application to be rejected by Grants.gov.

3) Documents are to be uploaded in the order provided in the Table into the corresponding sections under the Other Attachments Form. (Please note that a separate Other Attachment File(s) Form, which is listed as an Optional

Document in Grants.gov, is not required and should NOT be submitted).

Applications must include the Forms and Documents listed below in the order specified:

Application

Section

Inform-ation

Type

Required for

Complete ness (C)/

Review

(R)

Instruction

Counted in

Total Page

Limit

(Y/N)

SF-424:

Application for

Federal Assistance

Form C Complete pages 1, 2 & 3 of the

SF-424. See detailed application-specific instructions in Section C: Application

Format.

N

Project Abstract

(required)

Document R Type the title of the funding opportunity and upload the project abstract on page 2 of SF-

424, Box 15 (1 page limit).

Y

Additional

Congressional

Districts (as applicable)

Document If applicable, awardees serving multiple districts can upload an attachment listing all districts served on page 2 of SF-424, Box 16.

Y

SF-424B:

Assurances Non-

Construction

Programs

Form C Provide completed SF-424B

Assurances.

N

Grants.gov

Lobbying Form

(required)

Form C Complete this form per the instructions.

N

SF-LLL:

Disclosure of

Lobbying

Activities

(as applicable)

Form

Complete this form per the instructions.

N

SF-424A: Budget

Information for

Form R Complete this form per the instructions.

N

Application

Section

Inform-ation

Type

Required for

Complete ness (C)/

Review

(R)

Instruction

Counted in

Total Page

Limit

(Y/N)

Non-Construction

Programs

Other Attachments

Form

Form Upload attachments 1-8 (listed below) into this form in the order listed below.

N

Attachment 1:

Project Narrative

Document R Provide a project narrative. Y

Attachment 2:

Budget Narrative

Document R Provide a budget narrative. Y

Attachment 3:

Schedule

Document R Provide the 2 year project schedule.

Y

Attachment 4:

Staffing Plan

Document R Identify staff, responsibilities, and experience related to the grant.

Y

Attachment 5:

State Law

Eligibility

Document C Provide a copy of the state or local law(s), an explanation of satisfaction of VGB Act requirements, and how the jurisdiction provides for enforcement of the law(s).

N

Attachment 6:

Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement

(as applicable)

Document R Provide a copy of the Indirect

Cost Rate for the current year.

N

Attachment 7:

Funding

Preference

(as applicable)

Document If requesting the Funding

Preference, submit a justification.

N

Attachments 8:

Other Relevant

Documents

(as applicable)

Document If applicable, include other relevant documents to support the proposed project (no more than 7 attachments).

Y

C. Instructions for Application Documents

SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance

Prepare the SF-424 according to the form’s instructions (mouse-over fields for specific instructions) and observe the following guidelines:

Box 1: Type of Submission: Application

Box 2: Type of Application: Select New (new applicants)

Box 3: Date Received: Leave blank

Box 4: Applicant Identifier: Leave blank

Box 5a: Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank

Box 5b: Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank

Box 6: Leave blank

Box 7: Leave blank

Box 8a: Provide the legal name of the entity that has registered with the System for Award Management (SAM).

Box 8b: Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter applicant’s EIN/TIN.

Box 8c: Organizational DUNS: Enter the organization's DUNS or DUNS+4 number received from Dun and Bradstreet.

Box 8d: Address: Enter address: street; city; County/Parish, State, Country or

Territory, and 9-digit zip/postal code.

Box 8e: Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit, department, or division that will undertake the work for which an award is requested.

Box 8f: Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Provide contact information of Program Director.1

Enter the first and last name, prefix, middle name, suffix, and title. Enter organizational affiliation if affiliated with an organization other than that in 7.a.

Telephone number and e-mail; and fax number.

Box 9: Type of Applicant: Select the appropriate applicant type.

Box 10: Enter Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Box 11: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Enter 87.002.

Box 12: Funding Opportunity Number and Title: Enter CPSC-20-001 and

Pool Safely Grant Program, respectively.

Box 13: Competition Identification Number/Title: Leave blank.

Box 14: Areas Affected by Project: Provide a summary of the areas to be served

(e.g., if an entire county, state, or territory is proposed to be served, cities do not need to be listed) and upload the summary as a Word document.

Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Type the title of the FOA

(Pool Safely Grant Program) and upload the project abstract. The abstract will count toward the 80-page limit.

Box 16: Congressional Districts: Provide the congressional district where the administrative office of the applicant is located in 16a and the congressional districts to be served by the proposed project in 16b. If information will not fit in the boxes provided, attach a Word document. This document will count toward the 80-page limit. You can locate your administrative office’s congressional

1 The Program Director is responsible for the oversight and day-to-day management of the grant.

district via zip code at: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Box 17: Proposed Project Start and End Date: Insert a proposed project start date of August 26, 2020, and a proposed project end date of August 25, 2022.

Box 18: Estimated Funding: Complete the required information based on the funding request for the proposed project. The funding request should be entered on line a. Federal (not to exceed $400,000). All other sources of funding, including other sources of federal funding, should be entered on the appropriate lines, as applicable. This information should be consistent with the total provided in the 424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs form.

Box 19: Review by State: Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.

Box 20: Delinquent on Federal Debt: Select the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant, not the person who signs as the authorized representative.

Categories of federal debt can include, but may not be limited to, delinquent audit disallowances, loans, and taxes. If you answer yes to this question, include an explanation in an attachment.

Box 21: Authorized Representative: The electronic signature in Grants.gov

(created when the Grants.gov forms are submitted) is the official signature when applying for a grant award. DO NOT print, sign, and mail this form to CPSC. If the individual signing the form is not the Authorized Representative, the application must include documentation authorizing the submitter to sign on behalf of the Authorized Representative. Upload the authorizing document as part of Attachment 8: Other Relevant Documents.

Project Abstract

Summarize your application in a project abstract. In SF-424, Box 15, upload the

Project Abstract as a document. CPSC may use your project abstract to inform the public and Congress about your project. Prepare the project abstract so that it is clear, accurate, and concise. Do not reference any other parts of your application in the project abstract.

Submit the abstract in the format below:

a. Line spacing: single-spaced, 1.0

b. Font size: 12 point

c. Limited to one page in length.

d. Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

e. Page margin size: 1 inch

Place the following at the top of the application abstract:

a. Project title

b. Applicant name

c. Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) and FOA (CPSC-20-001)

d. Program Director

e. Address

f. Program Director contact numbers (phone and fax)

g. E-mail address

h. Applicant website address (if applicable)

i. Congressional district(s) served by the project site

j. Projected start and end date.

The project abstract narrative should include:

a. A brief description of the applicant’s past efforts to improve pool safety,

b. A brief description of the PSGP award proposal, and

c. A brief description of any other relevant information.

SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

Complete application form SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction

Programs, provided with the application package. See more information on Budget

Requirements in Section Attachment 2: Budget Narrative.

SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs

Complete application form SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, provided with the application package.

Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Complete the Grants.gov Lobbying form provided with the application package.

SF-424 LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Complete the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities application form provided with the application.

D. Instructions for Other Attachments Form

Upload attachments 1 through 8 into the Other Attachments Form in the order below:

1) Project Narrative

2) Budget Narrative

3) Schedule

4) Staffing Plan

5) State Law Eligibility

6) Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (as applicable)

7) Funding Preference (as applicable)

8) Other Relevant Documents (as applicable)

Attachment 1: Project Narrative

This section provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the applicant’s proposed project. The narrative should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project. Upload the Project

Narrative under Attachment 1.

The narrative must be submitted in the following format:

1) Line Spacing: single-spaced, 1.0

2) Page Limits: reference Section 2.1 for overall application format page limits

3) Font size: 12 point

4) Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

5) Page margin size: 1 inch

Use the section headings below for the project narrative and address activities to be conducted over the entire project period in the order listed below:

(1) Table of Contents

Insert a table of contents with section headers and corresponding page numbers.

(2) Introduction

Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 1 -

Introduction, in Section V. Provide an introduction that aids reviewers in understanding the community that will be helped by the proposed project.

Applicants must:

describe the local community or region to be served, citing relevant demographic data and data related to child drowning and entrapment in swimming pools and spas. A description of the population to be served should include the estimated size of the population, as well as socio-cultural factors. Compare local and/or state data to federal data, where possible, to highlight the specific needs of the community or region to be served.

describe the enforcement and education needs of the community as they relate to protecting children from drowning and entrapment in pools and spas.

describe any current and past efforts to address these needs, explain whether the efforts were successful, and how success was determined.

show how the community’s needs relate to the proposed project objectives set forth in the work plan (see next section).

identify any factors present in the community that may make enforcement, training, and education authorized under the grant program more difficult (e.g., language, transient populations, ability to inspect public versus private pools).

(3) Work Plan

Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 2 – Work Plan, under Section V. The applicant’s work plan provides a framework and describes all aspects of the proposed project. The work plan should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized to aid reviewers’ understanding of the proposed project.

Use of a tabular format, with rows and columns to display this information, is strongly encouraged for effective organization of the work plan information.

The table should include, and clearly illustrate, the project’s goals, objectives, strategies, activities, timeframes assigned for work plan execution during project implementation (including completion dates for each activity), and individuals, organizational representatives responsible for carrying out each work plan activity.

In this section, describe the applicant’s scope of work for the proposed project under this funding opportunity. The proposed project must be consistent with the required program purposes defined under Section

1405(d) of the VGB Act (reference Section I.A. of this FOA.)

In addition, the scope of work must:

provide clear project objectives that align with the, enforcement and educational requirements for use of grant funds. The project objectives must be S.M.A.R.T. i.e., specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

for each project objective, describe the specific activities to be undertaken, and describe how to ensure successful implementation of the proposed project. Each of the activities should be described in detail (i.e., who, what, how, where, and when).

appropriately incorporate the free CPSC resources of the Pool

Safely education campaign, as identified in Appendix C. This will ensure accuracy and consistency of training and education activities across all grant recipients.

Identify plans to collaborate with other stakeholders in planning, designing and implementing the project (e.g., other state, local, or municipal entities; service organizations; pool construction, installation, and service companies; pool owners and operators;

professional organizations; local businesses; school systems;

parent/teacher organizations; civic organizations; local public officials; and the media.) Collaborations with other stakeholders are encouraged, but collaborations are not a required element of an awardee’s project. Describe the extent to which collaborators reflect the cultural, racial, linguistic and geographic diversity of the populations and communities served. Letters of support should be uploaded under Attachment 8.

(4) Project Evaluation Plan

Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 4 – Project

Plan Evaluation, under Section V. Provide a project evaluation plan, including performance measures.

The project evaluation plan must:

explain how the applicant will gather data relevant to progress in meeting each of the goals and objectives of the grant program, and identify the activities the applicant expects to complete during the project period that are relevant to the overall impact of the project. For each identified activity, the plan should also describe the outputs and outcomes (e.g., how many participants, how many materials distributed, what is the change in knowledge), and performance benchmarks for measuring progress of each activity and for measuring project outputs/outcomes.

If CPSC funds a proposed project, grantees must submit a final self-evaluation of the project’s goals and objectives based on the grantee’s project evaluation plan. The project evaluation plan will be incorporated into the final report under the grant award (reference Appendix B).

Attachment 2: Budget Narrative

Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 3 – Resources and

Capabilities, under Section V. To ensure that project budgets adhere to VGB Act requirements, a project-specific line item budget must be submitted. Submit the budget narrative in table format, providing a detailed breakout of costs organized under form SF-

424A’s object class categories (e.g., personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, other). Upload the budget narrative under Attachment 2. Indirect Cost Rates for the current year from the cognizant federal agency should be included under Attachment 6.

The budget narrative must:

Identify any resources that will be used to contribute to the overall success of the proposed project, and

Include a narrative for each budget line item and explain how the costs relate back to the scope of work described in the Project Narrative and the

Schedule.

The amount requested on form SF-424 and the amount in the budget narrative must match. Stated differently, the budget requested may not exceed the total award.

Note: Because at least 50 percent of the total award must be spent on training and hiring of enforcement personnel and enforcement activities, costs for these activities must be clearly identified within the budget narrative.

Refer to Appendix A for the sample budget format and examples.

For additional information for specific allowable costs under the PSGP awards, refer to

Appendix A of this funding opportunity.

Attachment 3: Schedule

Reviewers will score this section according to review criteria Work Plan and Schedule in

Section V. Provide a descriptive and realistic schedule that fully implements the project within the 2-year period.

The schedule must:

include milestones aligned with the project goals, indicate when each milestone will occur, and indicate the person(s) responsible for managing each activity. Applicants should include an organizational chart that shows placement of the project within the state or local agency’s organizational structure.

Upload the schedule and organizational chart under Attachment 3.

Attachment 4: Staffing Plan

Reviewers will score this section according to review criteria Resources and Capabilities in Section V. Provide a detailed staffing plan that identifies key staff responsible for managing and implementing the project. Upload the staffing plan under Attachment 4.

The staffing plan must:

Identify the Program Director and any key staff who will manage or participate in key activities funded by the grant and whether the staff is existing, to be hired, or to be engaged under contractual arrangements;

Identify any staff who will monitor contractors’ use of funds or provision of services (if applicable);

Describe the qualifications of each staff position (including the Program Director) and how those qualifications relate to the proposed project. In the description of qualifications, include the relevant education, training, experience and expertise, of key personnel, in addition to language fluency and experience working with the populations the proposed project will serve.

Describe each staff position, including the roles and responsibilities under the proposed project to be funded by the grant; and

For each staff position, note all related sources of funding and the amount of time each identified individual will be reasonably expected to devote to the project

(expressed as a percentage of a full-time employee);

CPSC encourages applicants to supply this information in a table format. Personnel are to be listed by position title, and specify the name of the individual for each position or title, or note whether the position is vacant.

Attachment 5: Copy of State or Local Pool and Spa Safety Law and Explanation of

Eligibility of Law for VGB Act Grants Applicants must demonstrate that their jurisdiction has enacted or amended a state or local law that meets the minimum state law requirements specified in Section 1406 of the

VGB Act (15 U.S.C. § 8005). The applicant must explain how the law meets each of the requirements set forth in Section 1406(a)(1) of the VGB Act and how the applicant provides for enforcement of the law.

Additional information regarding requirements for the law is available under Section III.B.2). The copies of the state and/or local law(s) must be uploaded as Attachment 5.

Attachment 6: Indirect Cost Rate (as applicable)

Applicants that include indirect costs based on a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA) in the budget must provide the NICRA for the current year from the cognizant federal agency2 substantiating indirect costs that may be reimbursed as permissible administrative costs under the VGBA. Upload the NICRA from the cognizant agency as Attachment 6.

Attachment 7: Funding Preference (as applicable)

Applicants requesting the “Funding Preference” must provide accurate and reliable data demonstrating that the number of incidents involving child drownings, nonfatal submersions, and drain entrapments in the jurisdiction, relative to the applicable population, significantly exceeds comparable national statistics during comparable periods. Upload the request for the Funding Preference and associated data as Attachment

7.

Information on national pool and spa injury statistics is available at:

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research--Statistics/Sports--Recreation/Pools-and-Spas/.

For more information on the Funding Preference, see page 19.

Attachment 8: Other Attachments

Attach additional information that may support the proposed project (e.g., resumes, charts, organizational brochures, and letters of support from collaborating organizations) under Attachment 8. Do not upload more than seven additional attachments.

E. Submission Dates and Times

The due date for applications under FOA CPSC-20-001 is June 9, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.

ET. Applications are considered formally submitted when the application has (1) been successfully transmitted electronically by the applicant’s Authorized Organization

Representative (AOR) through Grants.gov, and (2) has been validated by Grants.gov.

Receipt acknowledgement: Upon receiving an application, Grants.gov will send a series of email messages to the applicant to document the progress of an application through the system.

a) The first e-mail will confirm receipt in the system.

b) The second e-mail will indicate whether the application has been validated successfully by Grants.gov, or has been rejected due to errors.

In limited circumstances CPSC may decide, in its sole discretion, to extend the application deadline.

2 The cognizant federal agency is determined by calculating which federal agency provides the most grant and/or cooperative agreement funding to the applicant. Additional guidance regarding indirect cost rates requirements may be found at 2 CFR part 255, Appendix E – State and Local Indirect Cost Rate Proposals. Note the limitations on applying the indirect cost rate under APPENDIX A – Budget Narrative and Allowable and Unallowable Costs.

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research--Statistics/Sports--Recreation/Pools-and-Spas/

Note: If the Grants.gov website or related functions are not working properly and applications cannot be submitted during the 24 consecutive hours immediately before the deadline, Grants.gov will notify potential applicants of the system failure and advise whether CPSC will extend the application deadline and provide information on the length of any extension.

If the applicant notifies CPSC of an adverse event occurring within the 24 hours immediately before the deadline, which prevents the applicant from submitting the application before the deadline, CPSC will notify the applicant via email about whether

CPSC will grant an extension and specify the length of any extension. The applicant must provide supporting facts and details about the adverse event preventing successful submission of the application

Technical difficulties that applicants experience submitting an application (e.g., busy servers, slow Internet or computer connections, slow processing, or large file size) will not result in deadline extensions.

a. Late Applications and Supplemental Materials

Applications that are not “validated” before the deadline by Grants.gov are late, and therefore, they are not eligible for grants under this FOA.

CPSC will only consider materials that are included with an application that

Grants.gov validates by the announced deadline. Supplemental materials submitted after the application deadline, or sent directly to CPSC without submission via

Grants.gov, will not be added to an application, or considered by the Objective Review

Committee.

F. Intergovernmental Review

The PSGP is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372.

G. Funding Restrictions

1) All PSGP costs must be incurred by the end of the 2-year project/budget period. All costs must be invoiced before the date that is 90 calendar days after the end of the project/budget period.

2) No grant funds may be used to defray pre-award costs.

3) Grant funds may not be used to construct, alter, or renovate pools or spas, or to purchase, install, repair, or retrofit pool or spa equipment.

V. Application Review Information CPSC instituted review criteria and procedures for assessing the technical merit of applications. The review criteria and process help reviewers judge each application objectively, and they aid applicants’ understanding of the standards CPSC uses to judge an application. In addition, CPSC developed critical indicators for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation.

In selecting applicants for grant awards, CPSC is required to allocate grant funds for the purposes defined under Section 1405(d) of the VGB Act (reference Section I.A. of this

FOA), to provide the maximum benefit possible for protecting children from drowning or entrapment.

A. Review Criteria

Review criteria, along with specific detail and scoring points, are outlined below.

Review criteria are used to review and rank applications. The PSGP application has four review criteria. Sub-criteria review points are listed under the individual review criteria.

1. Introduction (25 points)

This section corresponds with the Project Narrative – Introduction, in Section IV.

a. (15 points) Reviewers will examine the population and enforcement and education needs of the applicant’s community, relative to protecting children from drowning and entrapment in swimming pools and spas, as described in the application, and as supported by demographic and other data. This includes analyzing factors in the community that may make enforcement, training, and education more challenging.

b. (10 points) Reviewers will examine an applicant’s descriptions of any successful efforts (past or planned) regarding enforcement and education, including how these efforts were successful in addressing the prevention of child drowning or entrapment in swimming pools and spas.

2. Work Plan and Schedule (30 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative - Work Plan, under Section IV.

a. (20 points) Reviewers will examine the applicant’s description of the specific project objectives needed to accomplish each of applicant’s goals; and likewise, reviewers will examine how the applicant’s project objectives meet the purposes defined under Section 1405(d) of the VGB Act.

This review includes examination of the extent to which:

1) The applicant’s scope of work describes clear project objectives that align with the program requirements defined under Section 1405(d) of the VGB

Act.

2) The applicant details (i.e., who, what, how, where, and when) the specific activities they will undertake to achieve each of the project objectives.

3) The applicant identifies and appropriately commits to incorporating CPSC materials into planned training and education.

b. (10 points) Reviewers will also examine:

1) Whether the proposed project’s objectives are measurable and achievable.

2) Whether the application includes a detailed schedule for the 2-year project period, indicating when each activity will occur, and identifying the person(s) responsible for managing each activity. Applicants should include an organizational chart that shows placement of the project within the state or local agency’s organizational structure.

3. Resources and Capabilities (30 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative - Resources and Capabilities, under Section IV.

a. (10 points) Reviewers will examine the need for, and appropriateness of, the key positions identified and tasked with implementing the proposed project, including the relevance of the job descriptions, roles and responsibilities of each position and whether the applicant will be able to carry out the project.

b. (10 points) Reviewers will also examine the identification and qualifications of the Program Director and key staff, including:

1) The relevant experience of key personnel, and

2) The amount of time (expressed as a percentage of a full-time employee) each identified individual will be reasonably expected to devote to the project.

c. (10 points) Reviewers will also examine whether the applicant’s budget narrative adequately describes each budget line item and demonstrates that the budget is realistic and commensurate with the program requirements, project needs, and 2-year time frame.

4. Project Evaluation Plan (15 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative – Project Evaluation Plan, under

Section IV.

Reviewers will examine whether the applicant has submitted a project evaluation plan with sufficient details on how the applicant will gather data relevant to progress in:

a. Meeting each of the goals and objectives of the grant program.

b. Conducting activities within the jurisdiction during the project period that are relevant to the overall impact of the project.

B. Review and Selection Process

Applications that pass the initial eligibility screening will be independently reviewed and rated by an Objective Review Committee (ORC) panel, based on the program elements and review criteria presented. The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood of its success. The criteria are closely related to each other and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.

The ORC is comprised of federal employees qualified by training and experience in particular fields or disciplines related to the VGB Act. Each reviewer is screened to avoid conflicts of interest and is responsible for providing an objective, unbiased evaluation that is based on the review criteria noted above. The ORC provides CPSC program officials with advice on the merits of each application to determine final award selections.

Eligible applications that receive a final ORC application review score of 70 and above may be considered by CPSC for funding. Awards may be made subject to the availability of appropriations.

Note: CPSC will give priority to state and local governments that have not received a grant under the VGB Act in the preceding fiscal year.

1. Funding Preference

Each eligible application with a final ORC application review score of 70 or above will be assessed to receive a funding preference, if the applicant requested the funding preference. A “funding preference” is defined as the favorable adjustment of review scores when applications meet specified criteria.

Under this FOA, CPSC must give a preference to state and local governments with the greatest child drowning and pool safety needs. CPSC will add five points to the final ORC application review scores for eligible applicants whose applications set forth accurate and reliable data demonstrating that the number of incidents involving child drownings, nonfatal submersions, and drain entrapments in the jurisdiction, relative to the applicable population, significantly exceeds comparable national statistics during comparable periods. Information on national pool and spa injury statistics is available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research--Statistics/Sports--

Recreation/Pools-and-Spas/.

VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices

CPSC will notify each applicant in writing of the outcome of the objective review process, and will provide a summary of the ORC’s assessment of the application’s merits and weaknesses, and advise the applicant of whether CPSC selected their application for funding. CPSC may provisionally grant an award on the condition that an applicant submit additional information, or revise certain information (e.g., revised budget, Indirect Cost Rate Agreements), before funding issues under this

NoA.

The NoA is the official authorizing award document that sets forth the amount of funds awarded, the terms and conditions of the award, the effective date of the award, and the budget and project periods for which CPSC will provide funding.

CPSC anticipates sending the NoAs under this funding announcement on or about

July 8, 2020.

B. Post-Grant Award Terms and Conditions

The grantee’s Authorized Official must notify the CPSC Program Officer listed on the

NoA by email, signifying acceptance of the award. Once the grantee accepts the award, unless the CPSC conditions the award on providing additional information, the CPSC’s

NoA authorizes grantees to begin working on their grant project.

1. Reporting

Successful applicants under this FOA must comply with the reporting and review activities set forth below:

Audit Requirements

Grant awardees must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR part 200, Subpart F –

Audit Requirements. For more information on the scope, frequency, and other aspects of the audits, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_default.

Federal Financial Report

Grant awardees must submit the Federal Financial Report (FFR), SF-425, within 90 calendar days after the end of the 2-year project period. The FFR provides an accounting of expenditures under the grantee’s project during the period of performance. CPSC will include more specific information in the NoA.

SF-270 Drawdown Requests

To request an advance or reimbursement of allowable grant costs, award recipients should submit form SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement. If form SF-270 is incomplete or inaccurate, CPSC will reject payment.

Drawdown Reporting Requirements

Submit a quarterly electronic FFR Cash Transaction Report, SF-425. The report identifies cash expenditures against the authorized funds for the grant or cooperative agreement.

The FFR Cash Transaction Reports must be filed within 30 calendar days after the end of each calendar quarter. Failure to submit the report may result in the inability to access award funds.

Progress Reports

The awardee must submit a quarterly Performance Progress Report to CPSC using the

SF-PPR within 30 calendar…