Foa_Content_of_HHS-2022-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0087.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Supporting State and Community Innovations in Dementia-Specific Respite Programs and Services

HHS-2022-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0087

06/27/2022

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

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

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

Budget Narrative/Justification

Work Plan

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. 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

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

Supporting State and Community Innovations in Dementia-Specific Respite Programs and Services Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2022-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0087

Primary CFDA Number:

93.470 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

05/06/2022 Due Date for Applications:

06/27/2022 Date for Informational Conference Call:

05/16/2022 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 https://www.grants.gov/

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary The Administration on Aging (AoA), a division of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) is committed to expanding the availability of dementia-specific respite care in support of people living with dementia (of any age) and their caregivers. The successful grantee will be expected to further the development and testing of innovations in community-based, dementia-specific respite models, as well as the delivery of training and technical assistance to advance the national capacity to provide such services to people living with dementia (of any age) and their caregivers.

The program is designed to support innovative models of dementia-specific respite care through activities in two priority areas:

Priority Area 1: Through the development and implementation of a comprehensive program of training and technical assistance, improve the capacity of community-based agencies to provide dementia-specific respite programs and related services. (Up to 20% of each annual budget);

and

Priority Area 2: Advancing the delivery of innovative community-based dementia-specific respite care models (Not less than 80% of each annual budget) ACL plans to fund one (1) cooperative agreement at a federal funding level of up to $5,000,000 per year, for five years (60 months), pending the availability of federal funds.

Prospective applicants should carefully read all application requirements and submit proposals that completely address the priority areas described herein.

A pre-application informational teleconference for interested applicants has been scheduled as follows:

Date: Monday, May 16, 2022 Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm (eastern) Telephone: 888-790-2011 Passcode: 4539267

A recording will be available soon after the call concludes at the following number:

Toll Free Instant Replay Number: 888-566-0495 Instant Replay will be available for 45 days

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background and Overview

The role of unpaid “caregiver” is one that an estimated 11 million Americans have assumed in support of an estimated 6.2 million individuals in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a number that is projected to triple by 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that those caregivers are providing in excess of 16 billion hours of care to people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD), valued at nearly $272 billion. [1] As the numbers of people living with ADRD continue to increase, so will the need to support their family caregivers, in person and family-centered ways, including though tailored approaches to providing respite care.

Respite is one of the cornerstones of family caregiver supports. Respite care takes many forms in the United States and is often used as a generic description for a diverse range of services and supports [2] that provide the family caregiver with a break from their caregiving duties. The National Institute on Aging defines respite as the provision of short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks.

Respite can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center. [3] There are a variety of ways in which respite is available including, but not limited to, adult day programs, supervised outings, in-home companion care and overnight stays in facilities so caregivers have opportunities to take breaks and revitalize. Restorative respite breaks are imperative, in order for ADRD caregivers to sustain that role. ACL is committed to building awareness of the benefits of respite for ADRD caregivers and the ways in which community-based organizations can play a role ensuring those caregivers have access to dementia-specific respite care, keeping people living with dementia and their caregivers in their homes and communities for as long as they desire.

Respite care is not inexpensive and can sometimes be difficult to access. Traditional respite providers charge by the hour and these services are not typically covered by insurance, resulting in caregivers covering 100% of the costs. The costs of respite and other supportive services can be a significant source of additional stress on ADRD caregivers. The development and delivery of cost efficient, effective, innovative models of dementia-specific respite care are necessary in order to support caregivers in the community.

In its 5th Edition of their Annotated Bibliography of Respite and Crisis Care Studies, the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center stated that a “stronger evidence base is both desirable and necessary to recognize respite as a core component of a comprehensive strategy to support family caregivers, to merit funding for respite, demonstrate continuous quality improvement, and to identify and replicate respite best practices”.[4] The need to have stronger evidence of the benefits of respite to secure long-term financial support and quality assurance is compounded by the importance of educating caregivers in the benefits of caring for themselves as vital for their success and resiliency and the role respite can play in their journey. Understanding that respite is one way that family caregivers can take time for themselves and possibly avoid the need to give up their caregiving role. [ 5]

Given the need for more, high-quality options for family caregivers of people with ADRD, ACL seeks to advance the field of respite for this population. In this regard, ACL will award one cooperative agreement to a single organization to work on a national level to develop, test and prepare for replication, new and innovative approaches to the delivery of respite services for family caregivers of people of all ages living with ADRD. In addition to advancing the field of respite, it is anticipated this new initiative will address Recommendation 3.2 of the Family Caregiving Advisory Council’s recently issued initial Report to Congress and the soon-to-be-released National Family Caregiving Strategy’s goal of “increase[ing] the availability of high-quality, setting-appropriate, and caregiver-defined respite services to give caregivers a healthy and meaningful break from their responsibilities.”

NOTE: The ADPI will NOT consider or fund research projects.

1. Alzheimer’s Association. 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Accessed February 14, 2022 at https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf .

2. Kirk R, Kagan J. A Research Agenda for Respite Care: Deliberations of an Expert Panel of Researchers, Advocates and Funders. Chapel Hill, NC: ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center; 2015.

3. National Institute on Aging. Accessed March 28, 2022 at https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care#:~:text=Respite%20care%20provides%20short-term%20relief%20for%20primary%20caregivers.,healthcare%20facility%2C%20or%20a t%20an%20adult%20day%20center .

4. ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center, Annotated Bibliography of Respite and Crisis Care Studies, 5th Edition, https://archrespite.org/images/docs/Bibliographies/Annotated_Bibliography_Web_2020_ FINAL.pdf accessed March 21, 2022.

5. Roberts E, Struckmeyer KM. The Impact of Respite Programming on Caregiver Resilience in Dementia Care: A Qualitative Examination of Family Caregiver Perspectives. Inquiry. 2018 Jan-Dec;55:46958017751507. doi:

10.1177/0046958017751507. PMID: 29424252; PMCID: PMC5808833

Purpose, Goals and Desired Outcomes

Through this new, five-year, national, initiative, ACL will test innovations in community-based, dementia-specific models of respite programming and support persons living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers by:

1. Increasing the availability of innovative, community-based dementia-specific respite service care in states and communities through the development and implementation of new models; and

2. Providing technical assistance, at a national level, to increase the capacity of the aging services network to make available and provide innovative, dementia-specific respite in support of people living with dementia (at all ages) and their family caregivers.

ACL will fund one (1) cooperative agreement under which the grantee will focus activity in two priority areas: 1) adding to the nation’s capacity to support caregivers and people living with dementia (of all ages) to remain in their homes and communities through the availability and delivery of dementia-specific respite care, and 2) advancing innovative models of community-based, dementia-specific respite programs that provide non-medical care to assist caregivers, and persons living with dementia (of all ages).

ACL recognizes the complexities associated with the development of innovative, community-based, dementia-specific respite programs and understands that it is necessary to first have the dementia competent tools and resources to support local program development and implementation. Eligible applicants should propose programs that include a phased approach to addressing the Priority Areas outlined below. It is ACL’s intent that while a focus on Priority https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care#:~:text=Respite%20care%20provides%20short-term%20relief%20for%20primary%20caregivers.,healthcare%20facility%2C%20or%20at%20an%20adult%20day%20center https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care#:~:text=Respite%20care%20provides%20short-term%20relief%20for%20primary%20caregivers.,healthcare%20facility%2C%20or%20at%20an%20adult%20day%20center https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care#:~:text=Respite%20care%20provides%20short-term%20relief%20for%20primary%20caregivers.,healthcare%20facility%2C%20or%20at%20an%20adult%20day%20center https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-respite-care#:~:text=Respite%20care%20provides%20short-term%20relief%20for%20primary%20caregivers.,healthcare%20facility%2C%20or%20at%20an%20adult%20day%20center https://archrespite.org/images/docs/Bibliographies/Annotated_Bibliography_Web_2020_FINAL.pdf%20accessed%20March%2021 https://archrespite.org/images/docs/Bibliographies/Annotated_Bibliography_Web_2020_FINAL.pdf%20accessed%20March%2021

Area 1 will likely need to occur first, the successful applicant is expected to make a significant portion of first-year funding available to address Priority 2, to allow community-based organizations to begin testing innovative models of dementia-specific respite care. ACL expects that both Priority Areas 1 and 2 will be addressed over the course of the grant period in its entirety, as new technical assistance, capacity building needs are identified through subgrantee delivery of services. Applications will be scored, in part, on the extent to which applicants propose dedicating the majority of sub-award funding to community-based organizations during the first year of the project.

Priority Area 1: The development and implementation of a comprehensive program of training and technical assistance to improve the capacity of community-based agencies to provide dementia-specific respite programs and related services. (Up to 20% of each annual budget)

A community-based organization’s ability to provide dementia-specific respite is dependent upon the availability of a broad range of technical supports to support effective program development. Under Priority Area 1, ACL anticipates that the successful grantee and partners will undertake a variety of approaches for supporting effective, dementia-specific respite programming. This initiative is intended to strengthen existing dementia-capable home and community-based service (HCBS) systems, with a particular focus on respite services. Program-developed resources might include foundational materials and guidance to communities and organizations interested in establishing or expanding their ability to deliver innovative, dementia-specific respite programs.

To the greatest degree possible, services and innovations developed under this initiative should leverage existing national, state, and community-level partnerships, develop new ones and share best practices to enhance program development and service delivery. Examples of possible focus areas for such efforts include, but are not limited to:

Effective identification of promising models of community-based, dementia-specific respite, including support in selection of sustainable models determined by community capacity;

The development, testing, validation and dissemination of education and training programs in support of the delivery of community-based, dementia-specific respite in a broad range of community-based settings;

Enhance workforce, through the development and dissemination of trainings for respite providers in the delivery of culturally competent, community-based dementia-specific respite services to address unmet community needs;

Training of respite staff in person-centered approaches that support the strengths, goals, preferences, needs, and desired outcomes of the services for people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers;

Development and implementation innovative dementia-specific respite programming;

Establishment of community partnerships and collaborations in support of dementia-specific respite care; and

Administration of local programs, including sustaining dementia-specific respite programming.

Priority Area 2: Advancing the delivery of innovative community-based dementia-specific respite care models (Not less than 80% of each annual budget)

In this priority area, ACL seeks to foster innovations whereby the primary grantee makes sub-awards to community-based entities to develop and implement innovative models of dementia-specific respite to support people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers. In this regard, the desired models of dementia-specific respite will be responsive to unmet respite needs in communities. ACL does not intend for sub-awards to supplant or sustain existing programs and funding streams. Rather, the sub-grant program should fund new or expanded efforts to increase and sustain the availability of innovative models of dementia-specific respite.

Applicants to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are encouraged to consider a broad range of possible approaches, while ensuring that local dementia-specific respite models:

Are delivered in a variety of settings, by established organizations with the sufficient capacity to provide respite services;

Are designed to address the needs of people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers and those providing services are trained in the provision of dementia-capable care;

Models of care include meaningful activities for the people living with dementia (of all ages) intended to benefit from the services;

Support the ability of people living with dementia and their caregivers to remain in their homes and communities for as long as they desire;

Include those targeting historically underserved populations: including those of greatest economic and social need, with particular attention to low-income individuals, including low-income minority individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals residing in rural areas, and

Do not provide medical, administrative, or financial services.

In proposing approaches in this priority area, applicants should describe the process by which they will develop and administer a sub-grant program to make funds available to local-level organizations to establish and enhance dementia-specific respite programs. Applicants are expected to describe the ways in which they will make no less than 80 percent of project funds available for sub-awards for the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based, innovative models of dementia-specific respite programs.

Applicants will propose how they will use a competitive process to solicit, objectively evaluate, select and make sub-awards to local organizations for the provision of dementia-specific respite.

Such descriptions should include: 1) a proposed timeline detailing the competition solicitation, application review and awarding process; 2) a description of the entities that are eligible for funding; 3) the range of services eligible for funding; 4) the ways in which the anticipated services will enhance or expand community-based, dementia-specific respite for people living with dementia (at all ages) and their caregivers; and 5) the ways in which the grantee and its sub awardee(s) will evaluate the impact of funded services on the people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers, as well as the communities in which they are being implemented.

For the proposed sub-grantee program, priority should be given to local entities with existing infrastructure and the ability to expand and or/enhance existing capacity to support people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers through the provision of dementia-specific respite. ACL envisions that a broad range of entities will be eligible for sub-grant funding, including, but not limited to, local aging services organizations as defined in 102(5) of the Older Americans Act of 1965, dementia-specific service providers, faith-based entities, and other community-based entities with demonstrated capacity and existing infrastructure to support people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers. Funds made available to local entities are to supplement, not supplant, funding that would otherwise be available for respite activities. In the program planning and application process the grantee will make clear that all funded programs will include planning for project sustainability beyond the Federal funding period.

The successful grant, including any sub-grantees, will not be permitted to use project funds for construction and/or rehabilitation of buildings; basic research; medical or institutional care;

income maintenance; or equipment purchases, unless such equipment is demonstrated to be necessary to carry out an activity otherwise fundable under Title IV of the Older Americans Act. IMPORTANT: The successful grantee selected from this NOFO shall adhere to all requirements, including those for making and monitoring sub-awards, as outlined in 45 CFR Part 75.

Grantees and sub-grantees should understand that programs and deliverables funded through this grant will not be proprietary in nature. Program deliverables (tools, resources, manuals, etc.)

will remain in the public domain, with promising practices, resource materials and tools posted on the website of ACL’s National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC), for the benefit of the broader dementia respite delivery community.

Additional Application Elements and Considerations

It is the expectation of ACL that projects of this scope and intent require that prospective grantees come to the application process already possessing the infrastructure and organizational capacity necessary to expedite startup of project activities and to complete all stated goals and objectives in an efficient, effective and sustainable manner through the use of sound business practices.

Applications must include a comprehensive project work plan and associated budget/budget justification that reflect the applicants’ best estimates of the range of permissible grant activities that will be undertaken, the level of resources necessary for each, and reflect that information in a detailed manner. Applications will be scored, in part, on the extent to which resource allocation across priority areas reflects an understanding of the needs to be addressed and the approaches to be taken.

Proposed approaches in response to the priority areas described above, should incorporate descriptions of the following key elements within their application narratives:

https://nadrc.acl.gov/

Organizational Capacity To meet ACL’s expectations for this initiative, the successful grantee will be one that possesses the organizational capacity to apply multi-faceted and comprehensive approaches in support of their proposed efforts. Applicants should fully describe their capacity to:

Ensure the expeditious startup of project activities upon notice of award;

Work effectively at the national, state, and local levels to achieve desired outcomes;

Use efficient and effective strategies that maximize limited resources while ensuring measurable impact of both service provision, workforce training and TA activities;

Embed all efforts in targeted networks to ensure ownership and long-term sustainability;

Qualitatively and quantitatively measure program/service impact and effectiveness; and

Use technology where possible to maximize project reach and impact.

Applicants must possess direct, in-house experience and expertise to carry out the desired activities outlined in this NOFO. Applications will be reviewed and scored based, in part, on the applicants’ demonstration of key subject-matter expertise, as well as organizational experience, and capacity to carry out the proposed tasks. The use of sub-grants or subcontracts to carry out specific activities is expected in Priority Area #2 as a means of piloting community-based, dementia specific respite models. The used of sub-grants/contracts are also permissible in Priority Area #1, as appropriate, when needs are identified to support specified programmatic goals and objectives. In both priority areas, applicants should specify the rationale and criteria for selecting sub-grantees/sub-contractors as well as their approach for managing the activities of all sub-grantees/contractors to ensure successful completion of all tasks in either Priority Area.

Information Dissemination Given this project's orientation as a demonstration program, ACL anticipates that the grantee will develop a robust and far-reaching dissemination strategy designed to ensure that project information, best practices and other information are available and shared broadly. Applicants should describe their dissemination plans and articulate the methods (e.g., peer-reviewed journal publications, presentations at national conferences, etc.) by which such activities are to occur. The successful applicant will include in their proposal the intent, at the completion of the grant period, to deliver to ACL a compendium of dementia-specific respite models implemented through the funding which will include relevant program information (description, costs, staffing, related research, etc.) and lessons learned.

Sustainability Through this funding opportunity, ACL expects to realize innovative models of dementia-specific respite. The program funded activities will include comprehensive evaluation/outcome analysis to support local capacities ability to sustain the provision of dementia-specific respite programs beyond this Federal funding opportunity. Applications will be scored, in part, on the extent to which a feasible plan for the project’s sustainability beyond the period of Federal funding is articulated. Applicants are encouraged to consider and propose a range of potential approaches for ensuring sustainability of project efforts beyond the period of Federal funding.

Performance Measurement and Project Evaluation Performance measurement and project evaluation are necessary components of any new project.

Such activities support monitoring progress towards stated goals and objectives, as well as opportunities to identify and address project weaknesses, ensuring continuous program improvement for funders, grantees and sub-grantees. Performance measurement and project evaluation are necessary components in both priority areas of this NOFO.

Applicants to this NOFO should include a comprehensive plan for evaluating and reporting project performance and impact. This plan should include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the impact of increasing the availability (scope, reach, breadth and/or types) of community-based, dementia-specific respite programs to people living with dementia (of all ages) and their caregivers. Evaluation plans will extend far beyond satisfaction and willingness to refer individuals to the program, to demonstrate program impact, including quality of life. Process evaluations are acceptable in the development of new programs; however, they should be secondary to the impact evaluation data collected. Financial sustainability of programs implemented will also be included as an outcome of the evaluation. Examples of grantee program impact variables (outputs and outcomes) would include but not be limited to:

Increased numbers of dementia caregivers provided access to respite and uptake in the service;

Increased availability and types of dementia specific respite services offered and/or range of clients served (e.g., geographic locations, demographic diversity);

Impact evaluations of respite services including, but not limited to:

Impact on Quality of Life for people living with dementia and caregivers;

Impact on caregiver stress, anxiety;

Impact on caregiver isolation, loneliness;

Hours of dementia-specific respite delivered;

Impact on both organizational and individual staff knowledge and comfort working with people living with dementia and their caregivers;

Impact on emergency room visits and hospital readmissions; and

Impact on intent to place.

Impact on workforce capacity to deliver dementia-specific respite.

The NADRC has developed a compendium of evaluation tools to assist grantees in identification of development of outcomes for their evaluation plans, Evaluating Dementia Services and Supports: Instrument Resource List, 3rd Edition.

Applicants should describe their plans to evaluate the anticipated program impact, as well as how they will work with their sub-grantees to identify and collect information necessary to document https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=70 and describe both outputs and outcomes for all activities undertaken in both priority areas of this cooperative agreement. It is anticipated that the grantee will collect evaluation data on a set of agreed upon performance measures, outlined in the application, as part of the cross-site evaluation. It is anticipated that subgrantees would collect data on additional measures specifically related to the design of their respite program and its participants. Applications should include examples of ways in which the collection of output and outcome data will occur (electronic, paper, interviews, etc.), its analysis and evaluation reporting. ACL has an approved data collection tool approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Alzheimer's and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool (OMB 0985-0022). Applicants will agree to use this data collection tool to report a broad range of data (basic demographic information, numbers and types of professionals trained, hours of direct service) in relation to program funded activities.

Should the collection of information require the use of an information technology system (45 CFR 75), the grant recipient and subrecipient(s) will be expected to adhere to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to help ensure the security of any system used or developed by the grant recipient or subrecipient(s). In particular, if the data to be collected includes Personally Identifiable Information (PII, 45 CFR 75) or Protected PII (45 CFR 75), the grant recipient and subrecipient(s) must apply the appropriate security controls required to protect the privacy and security of the collected PII and/or Protected PII.

Data Collection Grantees are required to collect information on services provided under the authority of existing or future approved data collections.

Collaboration and Partnerships To most effectively accomplish the goals and objectives outlined in this NOFO, ACL anticipates that the successful application will demonstrate the commitment to broad collaboration with other national and local organizations to ensure maximized cultural competency, geographical coverage and workforce availability. Applications should describe the partner organizations and the role of each in the planning, development and implementation of the proposed project.

Letters of commitment from partnering organizations should be included as part of the application package and should reflect the unique contributions of each entity. Letters of commitment will be reviewed and evaluated to determine likely value of each named partner and its relative impact to the proposed project.

Steering committees are proven to be effective methods of ensuring that diverse ideas are considered in the planning and implementation of any new project. Applicants for this opportunity should explain if, and how, they will use a steering committee to assist their efforts and include a listing of some of the individuals (including people living with dementia and their caregivers) or organizations that will be invited to participate.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this FOA is contained in Title IV, Section 411 of the OAA (42U.S.C. 3032), as amended by the OAA Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.048, Title IV Discretionary Projects).

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$5,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$5,000,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$4,500,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' The award made under this NOFO is subject to terms provided for in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224). The Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of ACL/AoA in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved award. 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 program announcement 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.

The AoA will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement noted above:

Perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of grants management while working with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of AoA by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.

Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project.

Provide guidance to the grantee, as necessary, in making sub-awards (i.e., sub-grants/contracts) as permitted in this NOFO.

Provide guidance to the grantee on the provision of technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

Review and provide technical advice to the grantee on work products and other project deliverables and processes.

Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues as they relate to the goals and objectives of this grant program.

Work with the grantee on the development and implementation of evaluation and quality assurance systems to ensure that performance is measured and continuous improvement occurs.

Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

The grantee will execute the responsibilities of the cooperative agreement as listed below:

Immediately inform, and collaborate with, the AoA on any in-scope modification of the work plan.

Evaluate the impact of overall project activities and ensure quality assurance systems are in place.

Share information with AoA, national and local organizations, and other entities as appropriate.

Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as detailed in this program announcement.

Report semi-annually on project accomplishments, challenges and progress towards measurable objectives.

Work with the AoA program project officer to evaluate performance results reported semiannually and jointly develop strategies to address those areas requiring improvement.

Cooperate with any federal evaluation efforts and comply with the timeline, content and format of all required data collection and reporting requirements (see Section VI-3 for more detail). Submit to the ACL/AoA project officer a final, clean copy of all data developed or supported with these grant funds, in the format in which it was developed or produced, as provided for in the HHS Grants Policy Statement (http://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf) and referenced in the Notice of Award. The HHS Grants Policy Statement defines “data” as: “recorded information, regardless of the form or media on which it may be recorded, and includes writings, films, sound recordings, pictorial reproductions, drawings, designs or other graphic representations, procedural manuals, forms, diagrams, work flow charts, equipment descriptions, data files, data processing or computer programs (software), statistical records, and other research data” (p. II-69, Footnote 18); and

Include the following disclaimer language when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other ACL supported publications and forums describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with ACL funding:

This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S.

Government.

AoA will assist the grantee in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of the Administrator/Assistant Secretary for Aging and the Department of Health and Human Services, by sharing such information via email, conference calls, briefings, memos, and other consultations. The 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 project officer will also share information with the grantee about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants For FY 2022 the below guidance is provided to advance the Administration’s policy, as stated in E.O. 13985, to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” This guidance is intended to begin to address inequities in HHS programs, processes, and policies that may serve as barriers to equal opportunity. By advancing equity in our NOFOs, we can “create opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved, which benefits everyone.”

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.

Applications that fail to meet each of the responsiveness criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration:

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.

Priority will be given to national public, national private non-profit agencies, national organizations including national faith and community-based organizations (FBOs and CBOs), and national Indian tribal organizations.

For the purposes of this competition, national organizations are defined as those entities established with headquarters and administration for an organized group of bodies (local chapters, affiliates, faith and community-based and tribal organizations) dedicated to improving the delivery of home and community-based services (HCBS) for a major, nationwide segment of the older adult and persons with disabilities population.

Applications that do not meet the responsiveness criteria outlined in Section III.3 below will be administratively eliminated and will not be reviewed. The successful applicant will be an organization that meets the criteria listed below. Applicants must conform to the following elements:

1. Applicants must meet the criteria for national organizations as defined above.

2. Applicants must have demonstrated experience in promoting the development of coordinated home and community-based services that respond to the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

Yes For awards that require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources (at or above the statutory requirement) in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to provide the statutorily required matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntary committed amount in excess) may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients are not expected to provide cost sharing or matching. However, recipients are allowed to voluntarily propose a commitment of non-federal resources. If an applicant decides to voluntarily contribute non-federal resources towards project costs and the costs are accepted by ACL, the non-federal resources will be included in the approved project budget. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to meet the voluntary amount of non-federal resources that was accepted by ACL as part of the approved project costs and that was identified in the approved budget in the NOA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

The federal match required for the Supporting State and Community Innovations in Dementia-Specific Respite Programs and Services program is 25% (cash and/or in-kind). All applicants are required to comply with the 25% match requirement outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Match Calculation: For every three (3) dollars received in Federal funding, you 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 following formula which you cand use to calculate your minimum required match:

Example of varying match levels: $888,812.83 (Federal funds)*25%(match)/.75 = $296,270.94

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. Budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project are an example of a non-federal cash match. All proposed matching funds must be directly connected to proposed program activities and cannot come from other Federal sources. ACL discourages applicant agencies exceeding the minimum match requirement. A recipient's failure to provide the matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntary committed amount in excess) may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria All applications will go through an initial programmatic screening to verify that the applicant meets the notice of funding opportunity criteria. Those applicants that do not meet the minimum responsiveness criteria outlined below will be "screened out" and will not be forwarded for panel review. Applications will be reviewed to establish responsiveness to the following criteria.

1. Applicants must meet the criteria for national organizations as defined in the eligiblity sections of this NOFO.

2. Applicants must have demonstrated experience, at the national level, in promoting the development of coordinated home and community-based services that respond to the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.

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 https://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 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 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, http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html 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 UEI 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 UEI number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

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

The Federal Government will transition from the DUNS Number to the New Unique Entity Identifier. By April of 2022, the federal government will stop using the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities. At that point, entities doing business with the federal government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in SAM.gov. It is entered on the SF-424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities.

mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the…