HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-LRSP-0432.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Lifespan Respite Care Program: Special Projects to Strengthen Program Development, Implementation and Sustainability

HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-LRSP-0432

Application Due Date: 09/03/2020

Lifespan Respite Care Program: Special Projects to Strengthen Program Development, Implementation and Sustainability

HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-LRSP-0432

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Submission Dates and Times

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

6. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

Department of Health & Human Services

ACL Center: Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title: Lifespan Respite Care Program: Special

Projects to Strengthen Program Development, Implementation and Sustainability

Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-LRSP-0432 Primary CFDA Number: 93.072 Due Date for Letter of Intent: 08/14/2020 Due Date for Applications: 09/03/2020 Date for Informational Conference Call: 08/05/2020

Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3- 5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary To access the informational conference call on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, at 12:30 pm Eastern Time, dial 800-369-1985 and enter the passcode 9113459#, when prompted.

The U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging (AoA), is providing this competitive grant opportunity to eligible entities for implementing special projects under the authority granted in Section 2903 of the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-442). These special projects will complement the work of the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC) funded in FY 2020, under Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-LRLT-0412. Additionally, under the “RAISE Family Caregivers Act,” an Advisory Council has been established to “provide the establishment and maintenance of a [National] Family Caregiving Strategy…” With the formation of the Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the forthcoming National Strategy, an anticipated focus on improving access to respite, workforce issues, and the role of natural supports will be a likely focus of attention nationwide. Thus, the special projects identified in this Funding Opportunity Announcement are expected to concentrate on strengthening the underpinnings lifespan respite program development, implementation and sustainability (capacity building) with respect to the following:

1. Develop, test and scale a respite workforce recruitment, training and retention program to better meet the respite needs of families, particularly in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce;

2. Develop and field test a state-based framework and roadmap for respite system planning and development, which ties to the forthcoming National Caregiving Strategy, currently under development; and

3. Strengthen and test enhanced approaches to help caregivers and families develop or strengthen their own natural support systems to include respite and other supports.

4. OPTIONAL: Other areas of expanded TA and capacity building to improve state-based respite capacities, as identified by applicants and their partners.

Lifespan Respite Care programs are coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults of all ages with special needs.

Public and/or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including faith-based organizations and community-based organizations, as well as universities and other entities, are eligible to apply under this program announcement.

Through this funding opportunity announcement, ACL/AoA plans to award one (1) Cooperative Agreement to engage in the activities enumerated above. The successful application will reflect a collaborative approach among a consortium of organizations working in a well-defined partnership, with one entity acting as the fiduciary and programmatic lead. The successful applicant, and their partners, should expect considerable involvement of the ACL/AoA Federal Program Officer responsible for the Lifespan Respite Care Program in all aspects of the design and implementation of the activities outlined below.

The applicant and their collaborating partners must possess direct in-house experience and expertise to carry out the desired activities described in this funding opportunity announcement and must demonstrate the support and active involvement of a range of stakeholders to achieve the desired outcomes.

Grantees are required to match at least 25% of the total program costs from non-federal cash and in-kind resources.

The full text of this funding opportunity announcement includes a description of ACL’s desired goals and objectives, and all necessary instructions to prepare and submit an application to compete for Lifespan Respite Care Program: Special Projects to Strengthen Program Development, Implementation and Sustainability.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Congress authorized the Lifespan Respite Care Program in 2006. Lifespan Respite Care Programs are coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults of all ages with special needs. Such systems bring together Federal, state and local resources and funding streams to help support, expand and streamline the delivery of planned and emergency respite services while also providing for the recruitment and training of respite workers and caregiver training and empowerment.

Since ACL began implementing the requirements of the Program in 2009, a concerted effort has been made to support state grantees with targeted technical assistance. In its eleven years of operation, the ACL-funded Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC ) has made considerable progress in supporting the development and implementation of the program as a whole.

Later in FY 2020, as detailed under Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2020-ACL-AOA- LRLT-0412, ACL will award a new, five-year cooperative agreement to continue technical assistance and support to the Lifespan Respite Program grantees both past and present, in the following areas:

Advancing the respite research agenda Grantee- and state-specific program development and implementation technical assistance; and National capacity building at the federal, state and local levels to increase respite capacities in former grantee states and states yet to receive funding to support their efforts to build or strengthen respite coalitions in their state.

ACTIVITIES AND DESIRED OUTCOMES

While broad-based technical assistance is critical for successful program implementation and capacity building for grantees (or those states wishing to apply for a Lifespan Respite Care Program grant award in the future), ACL has identified the opportunity and need to focus additional resources and support for work in the following three targeted areas:

1. Workforce development - “More than two million people work as personal care aides,[1]1 and 800,000 people work as home health aides.[2]2 These are among the fastest-growing occupations in the US and are anticipated to grow more than 40 percent from 2016 to 2026.[3]3”Yet, today, “…more than 1 in 5 Americans (21.3 percent) are caregivers, having provided care to an adult or child with special needs at some time in the past 12 months. This totals an estimated 53.0 million adults in the United States…[4]4” ACL believes that these statistics show a pressing need for a larger and stronger respite, home health aide, workforce, comprised of both paid and unpaid respite providers, due to the growing need for caregiver assistance. Recruitment, retention, recognition, and (voluntary) minimum training standards could serve to address the current barriers to providing respite to more families in need.

2. State-based respite planning – As the work of the Family Caregiving Advisory Counc il progresses towards the development of a National Caregiving Strategy and the requirement that it focus on respite, ACL believes there may be opportunities for expanded, complementary efforts in this regard, particularly as it pertains to state- and community-based respite planning efforts.

3. Natural supports – Maximizing the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families and caregivers is at the heart of ACL’s mission. In recent years, ACL’s efforts to support families have focused on helping them identify the catalysts, infrastructures, and innovations that will lead to better outcomes for support, whatever their circumstances, and to remain in the community and maintain caregiving capacity. Given the current challenges associated with the workforce and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACL is interested in further developing this area in a more robust and sustainable manner.

Additionally, applicants are welcome to propose other areas of expanded TA and capacity building to improve state-based respite capacities, as identified by applicants and their partners, as noted below:

4. Other areas of expanded TA and capacity building – While ACL has funded the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) for the past eleven years, ACL recognizes that there may be the need for additional efforts in areas not identified in this FOA. In this regard, applicants are free to propose additional efforts to the three outlined above in the preparation of their applications.

Applicants’ proposed approaches for each of the areas described above will be evaluated on the extent to which they are grounded in documented gaps and identified opportunities to further expand national efforts and capacities as noted. Applicants to this FOA should consider and propose a variety of approaches designed to expand national capacities with respect to the following:

1. Develop, test and scale a respite workforce recruitment, training and retention program to better meet the respite needs of culturally diverse, urban, suburban, rural, or frontier families, particularly in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce;

2. Develop and field test a state-based framework and roadmap for respite system planning and development, which ties to the forthcoming National Caregiving Strategy, currently under development; and

3. Enhance approaches to help caregivers and families develop or strengthen their own natural support systems to include respite and other supports, including but not limited to:

1. Assisting state agencies with improving interaction with families when they first engage with service system;

2. Identifying natural supports, including possible respite providers, that incorporate each family’s strengths, resources, and community based supports, etc.; and

3. Assist state and local respite providers ensure the natural supports that are being incorporated are family-centered and culturally competent.

4. OPTIONAL: Other areas of expanded TA and capacity building to improve state-based respite capacities, as identified by applicants and their partners.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION CONSIDERATIONS

Prioritization of project activities and target audiences Applicants should prioritize work in a way that reflects on-the-ground realities. For example, workforce activities could be infused over the course of the three years, while the framework and roadmap might need to wait until the national caregiving strategy is closer to being released.

All work and products will be made available to all states and communities who are interested in building their respite and family support capacities as they relate to the above (the focus is not only on actual Lifespan Respite Program grantees). This project will be expected to coordinate its efforts closely with those of the soon-to-be-funded, new Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (TARC) from Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-

2020-ACL-AOA-LRLT-0412.

Collaboration and partnerships ACL fully expects that no one single organization will be able to completely address the priority areas addressed in this project. As a result, it is anticipated that the strongest applications will be those that reflect the efforts of a partnership of organizations representing a lifespan approach to the desired objectives. In this regard, one organization is expected to be the documented programmatic and fiscal lead, with other partnering organizations’ roles clearly defined throughout the application materials (e.g., work plan, budget, project narrative, etc.) The lead applicant and any collaborating partners to this Funding Opportunity Announcement will be those that:

Possess the knowledge and expertise in the issues associated with the areas of their focus, particularly as they relate to family caregiving and the programs that support family caregivers across the lifespan, including respite;

Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in working with federal, state and local agencies on the range of issues associated with this opportunity;

Demonstrated expertise in providing training and technical assistance on a range of topics associated with this opportunity;

Demonstrated experience working with entities and stakeholders that support, or are otherwise impacted by, the core issues associated with this Funding Opportunity Announcement; and

Demonstrated ability to lead sustainable change and innovation.

Steering committee Steering, or advisory, committees are an effective method of ensuring that diverse ideas are considered in the planning and implementation of any new project. Applicants for this opportunity should explain how they will use a steering, or advisory, committee to assist their efforts, including a listing of some of the individuals or organizations that will be invited to participate and their anticipated roles and responsibilities.

Sub-grants and/or subcontracts Provision of funding for sub-grantees or subcontracts to carry out specific activities is expected, as ACL believes this project will have a greater likelihood of success when a range of organizations undertakes the work and/or the applicant identifies a gap in expertise necessary to fully complete project goals and objectives. Applicants should fully describe their rationale and criteria for selecting sub-grantees/subcontractors, including their approaches for monitoring sub-grantee/subcontractor progress and ensuring successful completion of all tasks.

[1] https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00021#B2.

[2] https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00021#B3.

[3] https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00021#B4.

[4] AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving: Caregiving in the United States 2020, Executive Summary, p. 4.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this program announcement is contained in Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), as amended by the Public Health Service Act P.L.109-442. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.072).

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Estimated Total Funding: $750,000 Expected Number of Awards: 1 Award Ceiling: $750,000 Per Project Period Award Floor: $725,000 Per Project Period Length of Project Period: Other 36 month project period with a 36 month budget period Under this competition, the Administration on Aging (AoA) will award one (1) new cooperative agreement of up to $750,000, to perform the tasks described in this Announcement. This project will be funded at a federal share of up to $750,000 for a period of three years. No additional funding will be provided in subsequent years.

This funding opportunity will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement. The Administration for Community Living will assist the grantee in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of the ACL Administrator and the Department of Health and Human Services, by sharing such information via email, conference calls, briefings, memos, and other consultations. The ACL/AoA project officer will provide technical assistance and guidance on issues related to grant management and implementation, including the execution of the cooperative agreement. The ACL/AoA project officer will also share information with the grantee about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

The successful grantee will submit a 3-year work plan that details expectations for major activities, products and reports over the life of the project. The work plan will include a detailed timetable with tangible milestones, consistent with the terms and conditions of the Notice of Award. In addition, the work plan will contain project and activity implementation strategies, including potential sub grantees/subcontractors, staff assignments, and other areas that require ACL/AoA consultation, review, and/or prior approval. The grantee can propose a revision of the final work plan at any time if program priorities or funding levels change dramatically. The ACL/AoA project officer will work collaboratively with the grantee to address those changes.

This is a new cooperative agreement. ACL/AoA will be substantially involved in all Lifespan Respite Special Project activities by reviewing products for compliance with federal grant rules and participating in planning and training activities, which will be determined by the needs and priorities of ACL/AoA and the grantee. The cooperative agreement will include the following terms:

The AoA project officer shall carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement:

Collaborate with the grantee in the finalization, execution and modification of the work plan;

Provide technical advice, as needed, to the grantee in the targeted focus areas;

Review, provide technical advice, and approve work products; and Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

The grantee shall execute the activities as noted above and the responsibilities of the cooperative agreement listed below:

Collaborate with ACL/AoA in the finalization, execution and modification of the work plan;

Assist ACL/AoA in strengthening the national capacity of state and local respite providers;

Collaborate, as necessary, with ACL/AoA and other stakeholders to respond to requests for, and provide, updates on the status of projects developed, tested, and deployed through this program;

Work collaboratively with ACL/AoA and other experts in the field to develop a performance measurement framework/plan;

Evaluate the impact of project activities;

Share information with AoA and other entities as appropriate;

Provide expertise in the development of information materials, strategic planning, evaluation and outcome measurements; and Provide technical advice in developing or implementing products that are developed..

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by ACL or the awardee at any time as long as it stays within the original confines of the proposed project description. Major changes may affect the integrity of the competitive review process. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the execution of an award notice. When an award is issued, the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are incorporated by reference unless ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 75, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: Yes

Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 75% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 25% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources. In other words, for every three (3) dollars received in federal funding, the applicant must contribute at least one (1) dollar in non-federal resources toward the project’s total cost.

This “three-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in the “Instructions for Completing Requested Forms.” You can use this formula to calculate your minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 25% of the federal share, rather than 25% of the project’s total cost.

There are two types of match: 1) non-federal cash and 2) non-federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of any and all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors and consultants, are considered matching funds.

Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (third party) donations. Examples of non-federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement. Applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review. Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria Applications that fail to meet the responsiveness criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

The successful applicant must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the section below, as well as the following:

1. Is an eligible applicant as defined in Section III.1 above; and

2. Proposed activities are national in scope and not limited to state/local efforts.

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

1. Applications must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, by the due date listed in section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 50 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 50 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 50 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 50-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from http://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission. For example, you will be required to provide an http://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Application materials can be obtained from https://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov /grants/applying-grants.

Please note, ACL requires applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov in Workspace. Grants.gov Workspace is the standard way for organizations and individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. An overview and training on Grants.gov Workspace can be found here at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants /applicants/workspace-overview.html The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with https://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

At the https://www.grants.gov website, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, including the hours of operation. ACL strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application due date to begin the application process because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

All applicants must have a DUNS number (https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/) and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Effective June 11, 2018, when registering or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator. Please be sure to read the FAQs located at www.sam.gov to learn more. Applicants should allot sufficient time prior to the application deadline to finalize a new, or renew an existing registration. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award. Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help

/samQUserGuides.jsf.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award.

Note: Failure to submit the correct EIN Suffix can lead to delays in identifying your organization and access to funding in the Payment Management System.

Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division (OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

Additionally, all first-tier subaward recipients must have a DUNS number at the time the subaward is made.

Since October 1, 2003, The Office of Management and Budget has required applicants to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for federal grants or cooperative agreements. It is entered on the SF-424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. The DUNS number is free and easy to obtain.

Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 866-705-5711.

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from https://www.grants.gov that contains https://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from https://www.grants.gov.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Lori Stalbaum Administration on Aging Phone Number: (202) 795-7444 E-mail: Lori.Stalbaum@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Due Date for Letter of Intent: 08/14/2020 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Lori Stalbaum Administration on Aging Email: Lori.Stalbaum@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 40 to 50 pages; 50 pages is the maximum length allowed.

Project Narratives that exceed 50 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 50 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 50-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

The sample components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 50-page limit include:

Summary/Abstract Problem Statement Goal(s) and Objective(s) Proposed Intervention Special Target Populations and Organizations Outcomes Project Management Evaluation Dissemination Organizational Capability

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether your project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. ACL recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

Summary/Abstract This section should include a brief (265 words maximum) description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.

Problem Statement This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the particular problem or issue the proposed intervention is designed to address, including how the project will potentially affect older adults and /or people with disabilities, their families and caregivers and the health care and social services systems.

Goals and Objectives This section should consist of a description of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives. Unless the project involves multiple, complex interventions, we recommend you have only one overall goal.

Proposed Intervention This section should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention you are proposing to use to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement”. You should also describe the rationale for using the particular intervention, including factors such as: “lessons learned” for similar projects previously tested in your community, or in other areas of the country; factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the intervention (e.g., existing social or economic factors that you’ll be able to take advantage of, etc.). Also note any major barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will be able to overcome those barriers. Be sure to describe the role and makeup of any strategic partnerships you plan to involve in implementing the intervention, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

Special Target Populations and Organizations This section should describe how you plan to involve organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project. This section should also describe whether, and if so, how the proposed intervention will target disadvantaged populations, including limited-English speaking populations, those of greatest economic need and those of greatest social need.

Outcomes This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from the project. (NOTE: ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes). This section should also describe how the project’s findings might benefit the field at large, (e.g., how the findings could help other organizations throughout the nation to address the same or similar problems.) List measurable outcomes in the optional work plan grid (“Project Work Plan – Sample Template”) under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative along with a description of how the project might benefit the field at large.

A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits consumers. It demonstrates the functional status, mental well-being, knowledge, skill, attitude, awareness or behavior.) It can also describe a change in the degree to which consumers exercise choice over the types of services they receive, or whether they are satisfied with the way a service is delivered. Additional examples include: a change in the responsiveness or cost-effectiveness of a service delivery system; a new model of support or care that can be replicated in the ACL network; new knowledge that can contribute to the field of community living; a measurable increase in community awareness; or a measurable increase in persons receiving services. A measurable outcome is not a measurable “output”, such as: the number of clients served; the number of training sessions held; or the number of service units provided.

You should keep the focus of this section on describing what outcome(s) will be produced by the project. You should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcome(s) will be measured and reported.

Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of your proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited. It is totally appropriate for a project to have only ONE outcome that it is trying to achieve through the intervention reflected in the project’s design.

Project Management This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress (i.e., measure of performance towards the goals stated in the funding opportunity announcement and for your specific intervention/activities), preparation of reports; communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Evaluation This section should describe the specific outcomes (e.g., changes in clients, organizations, and/or communities) expected as a result of this funding as well as method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative -from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if it proves successful.

Dissemination This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats, to parties who might be interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Organizational Capacity Statement Each application should include an organizational capability statement and vitae for key project personnel. The organizational capability statement should describe how the applicant agency (or the particular division of a larger agency which will have responsibility for this project) is organized, the nature and scope of its work and/or the capabilities it possesses. It should also include the organization’s capability to sustain some or all project activities after federal financial assistance has ended.

This description should cover capabilities of the applicant agency not included in the program narrative, such as any current or previous relevant experience and/or the record of the project team in preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products. If appropriate, include an organization chart showing the relationship of the project to the current organization.

Please attach short vitae for key project staff only. Neither vitas nor an organizational chart will count towards the narrative page limit. Also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role(s) in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Other

Budget Narrative/Justification The Budget Narrative/Justification can be provided using the format included in the document, “Budget Narrative/Justification – Sample Format.” Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to this document, which provides an example of the level of detail sought. A combined multi-year Budget Narrative/Justification, as well as a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification for each year of potential grant funding is required.

Work Plan

The Project Work Plan should reflect and be consistent with the Project Narrative and Budget and should cover all three (3) years of the project period. It should include a statement of the project’s overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks / action steps that will be pursued to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task / action step, the work plan should identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task. Please use the “Project Work Plan - Sample Template” format as a reference and resource, if desired.

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

Include confirmation of the commitments to the project (should it be funded) made by key collaborating organizations and agencies in this part of the application. Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator. These signed letters of commitment should be included as attachments with your application submittal.

3. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications: 09/03/2020 Date for Informational Conference Call: 08/05/2020

12:30pm to 1:30pm Eastern Time Phone Number: 800-369-1985

Pass Code: 9113459#

The informational conference call will be recorded and a transcript of the call posted to www .grants.gov within about a week of the actual conference call.

Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov web page: ;https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only.)

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, please contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide a written explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. ACL will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: We will not consider your application for further review if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, ACL will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from https://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission. For example, you will be required to provide an https://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the cut off date.

Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov) will automatically send applicants a tracking number and date of receipt verification electronically once the application has been successfully received and validated in https://www.grants.gov.

4. Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity announcement is not subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

5. Funding Restrictions The following activities are not fundable:

Construction and/or major rehabilitation of buildings Basic research (e.g. scientific or medical experiments) ontinuation of existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches

Note: A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has raised considerable concerns about grantees and contractors charging the Federal Government for additional meals outside of the standard allowance for travel subsistence known as per diem expenses. Executive Orders on Promoting Efficient Spending (E.O. 13589) and Delivering Efficient, Effective and Accountable Government (E.O. 13576) have been issued and instruct Federal agencies to promote efficient spending. Therefore, if meals are to be charged in your proposal, applicants should understand such costs must meet the following criteria outlined in the Executive Orders and HHS Grants Policy Statement:

Meals are generally unallowable except for the following:

o For subjects and patients under study (usually a research program);

o Where specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, e.g., in programs providing children’s services (e.g. Head Start);

o When an organization customarily provides meals to employees working beyond the normal workday, as a part of a formal compensation arrangement;

o As part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel; and o Under a conference grant, when meals are necessary and integral part of a conference, provided that meal costs are not duplicated in participants' per diem or subsistence allowances. (Note: conference grant means the sole purpose of the award is to hold a conference.)

6. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria Applications are scored by assigning a maximum of 100 points across five standard categories used for All AoA grant programs. Applicants should be sure the content of their applications address/answer each of the questions in the sub-categories listed below:

1. Project Relevance & Current Need - (20 points)

2. Approach - (20 points)

3. Budget – (20 points)

4. Project Impact - (20 points)

5. Organizational Capacity - (20 points)

Project Relevance & Current Need Maximum Points:20 Purpose and Need (10 Points)

1. Does the proposed project clearly and adequately respond to the priority areas, as described in this Program Announcement, in relation to current needs?

2. Does the application adequately and appropriately describe and document the key problem(s)/condition(s) relevant to the applicant’s purpose/need?

Problem to be Addressed (10 Points)

1. Does the applicant provide appropriate information with respect to the current status of the field of lifespan respite and the degree to which proposed activities help to advance it?

2. Is the proposed project justified in terms of the most recent, relevant, and available information and knowledge?

Approach Maximum Points:20 Goals and Objectives (5 Points)

1. Does the proposal reflect a coherent and feasible approach for successfully addressing identified problems and achieving the identified outcome(s) of this funding announcement?

2. Does the project take into account barriers and opportunities that exist in the larger environment that may impact on the project’s success?

Work Plan/Management Plan (15 Points)

1. Is the project work plan clear and comprehensive?

a. Does it include sensible and feasible timeframes for the accomplishment of tasks presented?

b. Does the work plan include specific objectives and tasks that are linked to measurable outcomes?

2. Does the proposal include a clear and coherent management plan?

a. Are the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and collaborating partners clearly defined and linked to specific objectives and tasks?

b. Are the qualifications of the project staff, consultants and collaborating partners, and the proposed level of effort, adequate to carry out the project?

3. Does the application address how the project will ensure cultural competency, target disadvantaged populations, including limited-English speaking populations?

Budget Maximum Points:20

1. Is the budget justified with respect to the adequacy and reasonableness of resources requested?

2. Are budget line items clearly delineated and consistent with work plan objectives?

3. Does the budget justification/narrative cover the entire project period and provide sufficient detail?

4. Is the time commitment of the proposed director, key project personnel, and collaborating partners sufficient to assure proper direction, management and timely completion of the project?

Project Impact Maximum Points:20 Project Outcomes (5 Points)

1. Are the anticipated outcomes of the proposed project likely to be achieved and will they significantly benefit the populations affected by the intervention, and the field of aging as a whole?

2. Are the proposed outcomes quantifiable and measurable?

Project Evaluation (10 Points)

1. Does the project evaluation reflect a thoughtful and well-designed approach that will be able to successfully measure whether or not the project has achieved its proposed outcome(s)?

2. Does the plan include the qualitative and/or quantitative methods necessary to reliably measure outcomes?

3. Is the evaluation also designed to capture “lessons learned” from the overall effort that might be of use to others in the field of aging, especially those who might be interested in replicating the project?

Dissemination (5 Points)

1. Does the dissemination plan include multiple means for delivering technical assistance, information and other resources, including electronic, print and web-based methods?

Organizational Capacity Maximum Points:20 Project Staffing and Qualifications (10 Points)

1. Does the applicant organization clearly identify their capacity for carrying out the proposed project and evaluation?

2. Does the application adequately describe the applicant’s ability and plan to partner with other entities as necessary to achieve the goals of the project?

3. Are letters from participating organizations included, as appropriate, and do they express the clear commitment and areas of responsibility of those organizations, consistent with the work plan description of their intended roles and contributions?

Organization and Management (10 Points)

1. Do the applicant and collaborating partners demonstrate an understanding of the issues to be addressed in regards to respite care and family caregiving issues across all age groups, disabilities and chronic…