HHS-2020-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0425.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Disabilities

Community Based Transition Partnership Planning Grants

HHS-2020-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0425

Application Due Date: 06/29/2020

Community Based Transition Partnership Planning Grants

HHS-2020-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0425

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 Disabilities Funding Opportunity Title: Community Based Transition

Partnership Planning Grants Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2020-ACL-AOD-DDUC-0425 Primary CFDA Number: 93.632 Due Date for Letter of Intent: 05/30/2020 Due Date for Applications: 06/29/2020 Date for Informational Conference Call: 05/29/2020

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 Transition services and supports currently offered to youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by school systems and health systems are challenging and difficult to both understand and navigate. The current systems are permeated with fragmented services and varying eligibility requirements often leaving youth and young adults with ID/DD unprepared for community living. Improvements in the transition process and services are needed to improve coordination of supports across a wide range of services including health care, social supports, leisure, career guidance, housing, education, financial literacy, and employment to better support youth and adults transitioning to community living.

Understanding the need for youth transition services to improve Congress appropriated additional funds to the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service program for a grant program to be administered by the Administration on Disabilities, ACL, HHS.

For decades, UCEDDs have trained university students, practicing professionals, direct service providers, and policy makers in meeting the needs of individuals of all ages with ID/DD. They have launched a range of clinical services such as dental health, behavioral health, adult literacy, and pediatric care. Additionally, UCEDDs have made significant contributions through research to improve the quality of life for youth and adults with ID/DD. Furthermore, UCEDDs work on the issue of transition for youth and adults with ID/D. They are experienced at working with non-profit, community-based service provider organizations. With this additional funding, UCEDDs will be able to improve transition practices. UCEDDs are in a unique position to advance promising practices leading to better transition experiences for youth and adults with

ID/DD.

AoD seeks to fund up to ten planning grants for existing UCEDDs to convene partnerships in https://www.grants.gov states that will develop plans to ensure community integration, through the creation of sustainable, high quality, community-based transition pilots, for youth and adults[i]i with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).

[i]Youth and Adults includes individuals with ID/DD from ages 14 through adulthood.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background:

Starting early in life, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and their families are often managing multiple delivery systems that provide services, resources, and supports to meet the needs to live and thrive in the community. Managing these delivery systems are complicated. From early adolescence through young adulthood, for students with ID/DD and families, another complex layer to manage is added. Students with ID/DD and families begin the youth transition services, often not easy to understand nor navigate yet intended to prepare students for successful transition and full integration to community living.

Unfortunately, many students exit school without pre-employment skills, plans for employment, or placement in postsecondary education. A significant number directly enter segregated institutions, including day programs and sheltered workshops, often earning sub-minimum wages. Time spent in segregated institutions limits integration and participation in community life.

The Institute for Community Inclusion estimates that currently there are approximately 8,000 community rehabilitation providers (CRP) nationwide offering vocational services to youth and adults with disabilities. Over two-thirds of the CRPs provide employment and day services (e.g., non-work services) to youth and adults with ID/DD. Over eighty percent of those are served in employment and day services are people with ID/DD, with the majority supported in facility-based and non-work services.[i] Nationally, there is a growing emphasis for employment services and supports to focus on competitive integrated employment for youth and adults with ID/DD. States are expanding employment options for youth and adults with ID/DD under federal policy, including the Home and Community Based Services Settings Rule (HCBS), and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA defines and prioritizes integrated employment. The act limits entry into sheltered workshops and stipulates that anyone under the age of 24 must try integrated employment before placement into a sub-minimum wage setting. Some states are proposing modernization of day services using the Home and Community Based Services transition process to convert facility-based day services to a hub-and–spoke model, phasing out shelter workshops. States are also increasing their Employment First efforts. Forty-six states have some type of Employment First movement and at least thirty states have official Employment First legislation or policies.[ii]ii As a result, CRPs are under increasing pressure to shift from providing facility-based work and non-work services to a focus on competitive integrated employment and community life engagement.

Other challenges of transition to adulthood, for young adults with ID/DD, is transition to the adult health care systems. After exiting school, some access to specialized pediatric services may also end. As youth and young adults become more independent, they may have greater file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/Desktop/FINAL.docx#_edn1 challenges in taking on primary responsibilities in managing their health care needs. Achieving this independence requires organized transition processes to gain self-advocacy health care skills, to prepare for an adult model of care, and to transfer to new providers. Accessing appropriate medical services is particularly complicated for youth with complex health care needs. Many see multiple specialists, sometimes in different health care systems. It takes time and resources to coordinate the services received from different points of care.[iii]iii National data reveal that most youth and adults with ID/DD fail to receive needed planning services to successfully transition from pediatric care to adulthood healthcare.

Systemic challenges in supporting a seamless transition to participation in community living includes significant workforce shortages and high turnover rates among direct service providers (DSP); access to safe, affordable, and accessible housing (which is frequently unavailable or too costly); and lack of affordable, accessible transportation. Further, the nature of the developmental disability delivery systems with fragmented services are complex and challenging. Payments for services may come from different sources, and each service has its own eligibility rules and requirements.[iv]iv Thus, it makes it difficult for many to receive all needed services and supports. Such obstacles often impede youth and adults with ID/DD from securing and retaining employment, attending postsecondary education programs, and living in the community.

The several weaknesses across youth transition services leaves many with needs unserved and/or underserved. This calls for improvements to youth transition services to facilitate changes and better coordinate supports across a wide range of services including health care, social supports, leisure, career guidance, housing, education, financial literacy, and employment. Significant improvements will lead to positive post school outcomes including community living for youth and adults with ID/DD.

Project Description:

AoD seeks to fund up to ten planning grants for existing UCEDDs to convene partnerships in states to develop plans for community integration, through the creation of sustainable community-based transition pilots, for youth and adults with ID/DD.

Below are the key activities for the planning grants to be described in the application.

1. Each applicant must establish a partnership to develop the plan for the community based transition pilot. The partnership must be led by a University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (42 U.S.C. 15061 et seq ) and include but not be limited to, the following:

UCEDD, as the lead Non-profit community-based service provider organization(s) Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) affiliated with the UCEDD Local businesses or local governments or other key stakeholders State self-advocacy organization Youth and adults with ID/DD State DD Partners o The applicant should describe how they will create or build upon an existing partnership that meets the requirements of the partnership. The application should include a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the members of the partnership. The agreement should describe how the entities participated in the development of the application and plan to work together to ensure goals and objectives included in the application will be achieved.

2. Each partnership will use a formative and consensus-based process to establish a community-based plan.

o The application should describe the consensus-based process to be used in developing the plan;and how it provides for the full participation of all partnership members.

o The applicant should outline methods to be used to ensure input from all partnership members is received and considered.

3. Each partnership will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of the transition services in the state as a basis to inform the development of the plan.

o The applicant should describe how information will be gathered to complete this analysis and commit to including the following:

A range of transition models, addressing critical transition points, including but not limited to the following: pediatric to adult healthcare; school to postsecondary education and/or competitive integrated employmentadult day programs to competitive integrated employment;living in intermediate care facilities, nursing homes, group homes, or with aging parents or caregivers, to independent living with support; and foster care to independent living in the community;

Analysis of current transitions services, including gaps in services/models;

The state’s current systems or policies to support transitions to community living;

Strategies currently used to support a full range of transition services and supports for youth and adults with ID/DD in the state;

Analysis of regulations, policies and procedures at the state and local level to support youth and adults with ID/DD transitioning to community living;

Identification of existing partnerships and organizational commitments in supporting youth and adults with ID/DD transitioning to community living;

Other state-specific characteristics relating to transition services for youth and young adults with ID/DD to community living and community based transition programs;

Evidenced-based and promising practices; and, Barriers and action steps to address these barriers.

o Applicants should also include an initial list of resources and information that they intend to use as part of the comprehensive review and analysis to inform the partnership in developing the plan.

4. Each partnership will be expected to have a comprehensive plan, at the end of the planning year.

o The application should describe how the following plan criteria will be used when developing and evaluating the work completed at the end of the planning grant.

The plan should include the following criteria:

o A workable plan that:

Is actionable, practical and realistic Addresses problems and proposes remedies and solutions Identifies future partners in implementation; and Can be immediately acted upon and/or sets forth clearly the prerequisites to implementation.

The plan should identify promising practices, perceived barriers, commitment to core principles, and a full-range of methods to advance the implementation of a sustainable community based transition pilot for youth and adults with ID/DD transitioning to community living.

The plan should also include sustainability of the partnership and project with or without continued federal funds.

[i]Youth and Adults includes individuals with ID/DD from ages 14 through adulthood.

[i] Butterworth,J.,Smith,F.A.,Winsor,J.Ciulla timmons,J.,Migliore,A.,&Domin,D.(2016).

Statedata:The national report on employment services and outcomes.Boston, MA: University of Massachusettts Boston, Institute for Community Inlcusion; www.thinkwork.org/statedata-natio nal-report-employment-services-andoutcomes.(2015);https://www.statedata.info/sites/statedata .info/files/files/bluebook2019_Final.pdf

[ii] https://www.arcnc.org/employment.;https://www.thearc.org.

[iii]Steinway C, Gable JL, Jan S., and MINT.Transitioning to Adult Care: Supporting Youth withSpecial Health Care Needs. PolicyLab at Children’sHospital of Philadelphia; 2017.

Retrieved fromhttp://bit.ly/E2A_TransitionsOfCare; www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds2 011-0969;pediatrics, volume 128, Number1, July 2011,www.aapublications.org/news [iv] Successful Transitions: A Report of the NCIOM Task Force on Transitions for People with Developmental Disabilities, July 2017;http://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-54.4.260.

Statutory Authority file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/0CTQ9JEK/CB%20TRANSITION%20_FOA%204-28-20-%20FINAL%20(003).docx#_ednref1 file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/Desktop/FINAL.docx#_ednref1 http://www.thinkwork.org/statedata-national-report-employment-services-and http://www.thinkwork.org/statedata-national-report-employment-services-and https://www.statedata.info/sites/statedata.info/files/files/bluebook2019_Final.pdf https://www.statedata.info/sites/statedata.info/files/files/bluebook2019_Final.pdf file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/Desktop/FINAL.docx#_ednref2 https://www.arcnc.org/employment.

https://www.thearc.org file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/Desktop/FINAL.docx#_ednref3 https://arcnc.org/employment https://arcnc.org/employment https://arcnc.org/employment http://bit.ly/E2A_TransitionsOfCare http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds2011-0969;pediatrics http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds2011-0969;pediatrics file:///C:/Users/Pamela.OBrien/Desktop/FINAL.docx#_ednref4 http://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-54.4.260

AoD is the lead agency in ACL, HHS for administering the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act of 2000) (42 U.S.C. 15001, et seq.). The purpose of the DD Act of 2000 is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs [Section 101(b)]. To achieve this purpose, the DD Act authorizes under Subtitle D University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) section (d.) ADDITIONAL FUNDS- For any fiscal year in which each Center described in subsection (a) receives a grant award of not less than $500,000 under subsection (a) (adjusted in accordance with subsection (b)), after making the grant awards, the Secretary may make grants under section 151(a) for activities described in section 153(a) additional Centers or additional grants to Centers, for States or populations that are unserved or underserved by Centers due to such factors as—(1) population; (2) a high concentration of rural or urban areas; or (3) a high concentration of unserved or underserved population.

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: Grant Estimated Total Funding: $1,000,000 Expected Number of Awards: 10 Award Ceiling: $100,000 Per Budget Period Award Floor: $100,000 Per Budget Period Length of Project Period: 12-month project period and budget period

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Entities eligible to apply for funds under this funding opportunity announcement are the 67 current AoD grantees that are designated as UCEDDs. Applications will only be accepted from the 67 UCEDDs listed at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks /national-network-university. Applications from other entities not designated as a current UCEDD will not be reviewed. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

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 https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/national-network-university 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.

Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project cost, in accordance with Section 154(d) of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 Grantees must provide at least 25% percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACL (Federal) share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project requesting $570,000 in ACL (Federal) funds must provide a non-Federal share of the approved total project cost of at least $190,000 which is 25% percent of total approved project cost of $760,000. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match.

Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of application submission will not exclude the application from competitive review.

Reduced Match Section 154 (d)(2) of the DD Act states:

In the case of a project whose activities or products target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in an urban or rural poverty area, as determined by the Secretary, the Federal share of the cost of the project may not be more than 90 percent of the necessary costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary.

DEFINITIONS

Poverty area: Census tracts or block numbering areas (BNAs) where at least 20 percent of residents are below the poverty level.

Urban Area: Collective term referring to all areas that are urban. For Census 2000, there are two types of urban areas: urban clusters and urbanized areas.

Urban Cluster (UC): A densely settled territory that has at least 2,500 persons but fewer than 50,000.

Urbanized Area (UA): An area consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent territory with a general population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile of land area that together have a minimum residential population of at least 50,000 persons. The U.S. Census Bureau uses published criteria to determine the qualification and boundaries of UAs.

Rural: Territory, population and housing units not classified as urban. Rural classification cuts across other hierarchies and can be in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas. Rural can include frontier, which are places having a population density of six or fewer persons - per square mile.

TWO-TIER ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM FOR REDUCED MATCH

To meet the requirements in the DD Act, AoD has developed a system that UCEDDs can use to request a reduced match on the core grant. Such a request is optional and not a requirement for UCEDDs.

AoD will use a two-tiered system for determining eligibility for the reduced match:

Tier 1: UCEDDs in States where the poverty rate is equal to or greater than the official national poverty rate would automatically qualify for the reduced match.

Tier 2: UCEDDs in States with a poverty rate not equal to or greater than the official national poverty rate would have to show that the UCEDD activities target individuals with developmental disabilities in urban or rural poverty areas. In doing so, the UCEDD would demonstrate that at least 25 percent of the UCEDD projects target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in urban and rural poverty areas by providing the following information to ADD:

1. The current State poverty rate;

2. A full listing of all the UCEDD's current projects [this can be generated from the National Information Reporting System (NIRS)];

3. Identify which UCEDD activities are targeting individuals with developmental disabilities living in urban and rural poverty areas by stating whether the UCEDD activity is associated with any of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators listed in the announcement or is targeted for individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban and rural poverty area through some other means.

An UCEDD seeking to establish eligibility for a reduced match through means other than showing an activity is associated with one or more of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators must include in its application other information that establishes that its activities are targeted to benefit individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban or rural poverty area.

Because there are not Federal poverty rates for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, these jurisdictions can qualify for the reduced match by establishing that the UCEDD activity is associated with any of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators listed in the announcement or is targeted for individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban or rural poverty area through some other means.

The table below shows the Urban or Rural Poverty Indicators that will be used to determine eligibility for the reduced match.

Urban and Rural Description

Poverty Indicator

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities

(EZ/EC)

Areas designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as communities with high rates of poverty. The UCEDD project would have to be implemented in an EZ/EC.

Food Stamps The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families who receive food stamps.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP) - also referred to as Free and Reduced Lunch Program

NSLP is a Federally assisted meal program operating to provide low-cost or free lunches to children. The UCEDD project would have to be implemented in a school that qualifies for the NSLP.

Head Start The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families. The UCEDD project would have to work with a Head Start program.

Housing Assistance The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a variety of housing assistance programs, such as Section 8 housing assistance programs. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families who are receiving Federal housing assistance

Medicaid Title XIX of the Social Security Act is a Federal/State entitlement program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families who are Medicaid-eligible.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people, who have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities who are SSI recipients.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF is a Federal poverty program that provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families through grants to States.

The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities, children with Developmental Disabilities, and their families who are TANF recipients.

Other The UCEDD may provide other indicators of poverty not included in this list. The UCEDD would have to provide adequate information to justify use of the 'other' category. In doing so, the UCEDD will have to demonstrate the project is targeting individuals with developmental disabilities in rural and urban poverty areas. ADD will determine the adequacy of the justification for eligibility for a reduced match.

In accordance with the DD Act of 2000, AoD will review all the information submitted by the UCEDD to determine eligibility for the reduced match.

SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO AOD

To streamline the process, below is a suggested format for submitting the information to AoD.

Official National Poverty Rate 12.3

State Poverty Rate

UCEDD Project Title and Description Indicators of Poverty

Provide Name of Project and project description List name of poverty program targeted by project

Of the total UCEDD projects, the percent that is targeting individuals with developmental disabilities living in urban and rural poverty areas

Fill in percentage

STATES IN TIER 1 and TIER 2 Below is a list of the States that fall into Tier1 and Tier 2.

Tier 1

State Percent

Louisiana 19.8

Mississippi 19.8

New Mexico 18.7

West Virginia 17.2

Alabama 16.0

Arkansas 15.5

Kentucky 15.3

District of Columbia 14.9

Georgia 14.7

Arizona 14.4

North Carolina 14.1

South Carolina 14.1

Oklahoma 14.0

Texas 13.7

Florida 13.6

Ohio 12.8

Maine 12.6

Tennessee 12.6

California 12.5

United States 12.3

Tier 2

Alaska 12.2

Nevada 12.2

Missouri 11.9

Indiana 11.8

New York 11.8

South Dakota 11.8

Pennsylvania 11.5

Wyoming 11.4

Idaho 11.3

Michigan 11.0

Illinois 10.9

North Dakota 10.8

Kansas 10.8

Virginia 10.7

Oregon 10.6

Montana 10.4

Nebraska 10.4

Rhode Island 10.3

Washington 10.3

Connecticut 9.9

Massachusetts 9.8

Delaware 9.6

Vermont 9.6

Hawaii 9.5

Wisconsin 9.5

Iowa 9.2

New Jersey 9.1

Colorado 8.9

Minnesota 8.7

Utah 7.9

Maryland 7.1

New Hampshire 6.4

The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACL share and the reduced non-Federal share.The reduced non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project with a total approved project cost of $627,000 requesting $570,000 in ACL funds, must provide a non-Federal share of at least $62,700 (10 percent of total approved project cost). Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match.

Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of application will not exclude the application from competitive review.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria Entities eligible to apply for funds under this funding opportunity announcement are the 67 current AoD grantees that are designated as UCEDDs. Applications will only be accepted from the 67 UCEDDs listed at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks /national-network-university. Applications from other entities not designated as a current UCEDD will not be reviewed. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.

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 40 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 40 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 40 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 40-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 http://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grant s/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 http://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 http://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 (http://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 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ 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 http://www.grants.gov that contains http://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from http://www.grants.gov.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Pamela O'Brien Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Phone Number: (202) 795-7417 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

E-mail: pamela.obrien@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Due Date for Letter of Intent: 05/30/2020 Applicants are requested, but not required, to email 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. The deadline for submission of the letter of intent is May 29, 2020.

Email Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Project Officer: Pamela O'Brien Center Name: Administration on Disability/Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Email: pamela.obrien@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 pages; 40 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 40 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 40 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 40-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 page limit include:

Summary/Abstract Problem Statement Goal(s) and Objective(s) Proposed Intervention Special Target Populations and Organizations Outcomes Project Management Project Impact-Evaluation Dissemination Organizational Capability mailto:pamela.obrien@acl.hhs.gov mailto:pamela.obrien@acl.hhs.gov

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 transition problems or gaps in existing transition services and models, the proposed transition model is designed to address, including how the project will potentially affect transitioning youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers transitioning to community living.

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 the state partner non-profit community-based organization(s), youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the consumer advisory council(CAC) affliliated with the UCEDD, state self-advocacy organizations, state/ local businesses or government organizations or other state/local DD organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and development of the proposed project.

This section should also describe whether, and if so, how the proposed intervention will target youth and adults with ID/DD, 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.

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.

General:

Use the following guidelines for preparing the budget and budget justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources (when required) shall be detailed and justified in the budget and budget narrative justification. "Federal resources" refers only to the ACL grant funds for which you are applying. "Non-Federal resources" are all other non-ACL Federal and non-Federal resources. It is suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, Federal budget; next column(s), non-Federal budget(s); and last column, total budget. The budget justification should be in a narrative form.

Personnel Description: Costs of employee salaries and wages.

Justification: Identify the project director or principal investigator, if known at the time of application. For each staff person, provide: the title; time commitment to the project in months;

time commitment to the project as a percentage or full-time equivalent; annual salary; grant salary; wage rates; etc. Do not include the costs of consultants, personnel costs of delegate agencies, or of specific project(s) and/or businesses to be financed by the applicant.

Fringe Benefits:

Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.

Justification:

Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes, retirement insurance, taxes, etc.

Travel:

Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the applicant organization. (This item does not include costs of consultant travel).

Applicants must include in their budget, funds to pay for travel expenses to attend at least one AIDD-sponsored Project Director's two-day meeting in Washington, DC. In their budget, applicants should include funds to support the travel of data coordinators to attend an annual training on the National Information Reporting System (NIRS). All other travel costs must be related to the implementation of the four core functions and the operation or administration of the Center.

Justification: For each trip show: the total number of traveler(s); travel destination; duration of trip; per diem; mileage allowances, if privately owned vehicles will be used to travel out of town; and other transportation costs and subsistence allowances. If appropriate for this project, travel costs for key staff to attend ACL-sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.

Equipment Description: "Equipment" means an article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the lesser of: (a) the capitalization…