Foa_Content_of_HHS-2022-ACL-AOD-IL-0014.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Disabilities

Centers for Independent Living Competition - American Samoa

HHS-2022-ACL-AOD-IL-0014

06/13/2022

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

Proposed Approach

Outcomes

Project Management

Organizational Capability

Collaborations

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 Disabilities Funding Opportunity Title:

Centers for Independent Living Competition - American Samoa Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2022-ACL-AOD-IL-0014

Primary CFDA Number:

93.432 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

05/16/2022 Due Date for Applications:

06/13/2022 Date for Informational Conference Call:

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

Executive Summary Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary The Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) mission is to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities across the lifespan, their families, and their support networks. The Administration for Community Living was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. By funding services and supports provided by networks of community-based organizations and with investments in research, education, and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans.

https://www.grants.gov/

The Centers for Independent Living (CIL) program provides grants for the provision of Independent Living (IL) services to individuals with significant disabilities as authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. At a minimum, centers funded by the program are required to provide the following core services:

• Information and referral;

• Independent Living skills training;

• Peer counseling;

• Individual and systems advocacy; and

• Services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate the transition of youth to postsecondary life.

To be eligible for funding, an applicant must--

(a) Be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, non-residential, private nonprofit agency;

(b) Have the power and authority to--

(1) Carry out the purpose of Part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and perform the functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and subparts F and G of 45 CFR part 1329 within a community located within a State or in a bordering State; and

(2) Receive and administer--

(i) Funds under 45 CFR part 1329;

(ii) Funds and contributions from private or public sources that may be used in support of a center; and

(iii) Funds from other public and private programs;

(c) Be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and subparts F and G of 45 CFR part 1329;

(d) Either--

(1) Not currently be receiving funds under Part C of chapter 1 of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or

(2) Propose the expansion of an existing center through the establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board of the new center) at a different geographical location;

(e) Propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are identified as unserved or underserved by the States and Outlying Areas listed under Estimated Number of Awards;

and

(f) Submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for establishing a statewide network of centers in the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) of the State or Outlying Area whose geographic area or areas the applicant proposes to serve.

Funding for new centers in a State is awarded on a competitive basis, and shall be consistent with the provisions of the State Plan for Independent Living setting forth the design of the State for establishing a statewide network of Centers for Independent Living. To continue receiving CIL program funding, centers must demonstrate minimum compliance with the following evaluation standards: promotion of the IL philosophy; provision of IL services on a cross-disability basis;

support for the development and achievement of IL goals chosen by the consumer; efforts to increase the availability of quality community options for IL; provision of IL core services;

resource development activities to secure other funding sources; and community capacity-building activities.

With this funding opportunity ACL plans to fund one (1) grant to establish a CIL in American Samoa ($159,762) to provide services for individuals with significant disabilities residing in American Samoa.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are consumer driven agencies that work with individuals with significant disabilities. CILs provide independent living services focused on enabling an individual to achieve independence in their community. CILs were created under Title VII Part C Section 721 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014) and must adhere to standards set forth in Section 725 of the Rehabilitation Act. Therefore applicants must address the following:

1. How the center will facilitate the development and achievement of independent living goals selected by individuals with significant disabilities who seek such assistance by the center to live independently in their communities.

2. How the center will promote and practice the independent living philosophy of:

a) consumer control of the center regarding decision-making; service delivery;

management; and establishment of the policy and direction of the center;

b) self-help and self-advocacy;

c) development of peer relationships and peer role models; and

d) equal access for individuals with significant disabilities, within their communities, to all services, programs, activities, resources, and facilities whether public or private and regardless of funding sources.

3. How the center will provide services on a cross-disability basis for individuals with all different types of significant disabilities, including individuals with significant disabilities who are members of populations that are unserved or underserved by Title VII - Independent living Services and Centers for Independent living.

4. How the center will assure eligibility for services at the center for independent living will be determined by the center, and will not be based on the presence of any one or more specific significant disabilities.

5. How the center will work to increase the availability and improve the quality of community options for independent living in order to facilitate the development and achievement of independent living goals by individuals with significant disabilities.

6. How the center will provide independent living core services and, as appropriate, a combination of any other independent living services that must include the following core services:

Information and referral;

• Independent Living skills training;

• Peer cou•nseling;

• Individual and systems advocacy; and

• Services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate the transition of youth to postsecondary life.

7. How the center will conduct activities to increase the capacity of communities within the service area of the center to meet the needs of individuals with significant disabilities.

8. How the center will conduct resource development activities to obtain funding from sources other than Chapter 1 – Individuals with Significant Disabilities.

A CIL must also provide satisfactory assurances as may be required in section 725 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Assurances that should be addressed in the application:

1. How the applicant is an eligible agency;

2. How the center will be designed and operated within local communities by individuals with disabilities, including an assurance that the center will have a Board that is the principal governing body of the center and a majority of which shall be composed of individuals with significant disabilities;

3. How the applicant will comply with the standards set forth in section 725 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;

4. How the applicant will establish clear priorities through annual and three year program and financial planning objectives for the center, including:

(A) overall goals or a mission for the center;

(B) a work plan for achieving the goals or mission;

(C) specific objectives, service priorities, and types of services to be provided; and

(D) how the proposed activities of the applicant are consistent with the most recent 3-year State Plan for Independent Living under section 702;

5. How the applicant will use sound organizational and personnel assignment practices, including taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with significant disabilities on the same terms and conditions required with respect to the employment of individuals with disabilities under section 503;

6. How the applicant will ensure that the majority of the staff, and individuals in decision making positions, of the applicant will be individuals with disabilities;

7. How the applicant will practice sound fiscal management;

8. How the applicant will conduct annual self-evaluations, prepare an annual report, and maintain records adequate to measure performance with respect to the standards, containing information regarding, at a minimum—

(A) the extent to which the center is in compliance with the standards;

(B) the number and types of individuals with significant disabilities receiving services through the center;

(C) the types of services provided through the center and the number of individuals with significant disabilities receiving each type of service;

(D) the sources and amounts of funding for the operation of the center;

(E) the number of individuals with significant disabilities who are employed by, and the number who are in management and decision-making positions in the center; and

(F) a comparison, when appropriate, of the activities of the center in prior years with the activities of the center in the most recent year.

9. How individuals with significant disabilities who could benefit from receiving services at the center will be notified by the center of the existence of the client assistance program and how to contact the client assistance program should their assistance be required;

10. How aggressive outreach regarding services provided through the center will be conducted in an effort to reach populations of individuals with significant disabilities that are unserved or underserved by programs under this title, especially minority groups and urban and rural populations;

11. How staff at Centers for Independent Living will receive training on how to serve such unserved and underserved populations, including minority groups and urban and rural populations;

12. How the center will submit to the Statewide Independent Living Council a copy of its approved grant application and the annual report required in section 725(c)(8).

13. How the center will prepare and submit a report to the designated State unit or the Administrator, as the case may be, at the end of each fiscal year that contains the information described in section 725(c)(8) and information regarding the extent to which the center is in compliance with the standards set forth in section 725(b); and

14. How independent living plans described in section 704(e) will be developed and utilized to achieve goals.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this funding announcement is contained in 29 U.S.C.

Sec. 796f-1; Section 711 and Section 722 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant) Estimated Total Funding:

$159,762 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$159,762 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$159,762 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

12-month project period and budget period Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other'

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.”

Eligible Applicants: To be eligible for funding, an applicant must--

(a) Be a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, non-residential, private nonprofit agency;

(b) Have the power and authority to--

(1) Carry out the purpose of Part C of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and perform the functions listed in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and subparts F and G of 45 CFR part 1329 within a community located within a State or in a bordering State; and

(2) Receive and administer--

(i) Funds under 45 CFR part 1329;

(ii) Funds and contributions from private or public sources that may be used in support of a center; and

(iii) Funds from other public and private programs;

(c) Be able to plan, conduct, administer, and evaluate a center consistent with the standards and assurances in section 725(b) and (c) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and subparts F and G of 45 CFR part 1329;

(d) Either--

(1) Not currently be receiving funds under Part C of chapter 1 of title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; or

(2) Propose the expansion of an existing center through the establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board of the new center) at a different geographical location;

(e) Propose to serve one or more of the geographic areas that are identified as unserved or underserved by the States and Outlying Areas listed under Estimated Number of Awards; and

(f) Submit appropriate documentation demonstrating that the establishment of a new center is consistent with the design for establishing a statewide network of centers in the State Plan for Independent Living of the State or Outlying Area whose geographic area or areas the applicant proposes to serve.

Domestic private non-profit entities including, Indian tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith- based organizations, LGBT, and community-based organizations that meet the above eligibility requirements are eligible to apply.

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

No 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.

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

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the 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 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 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 20-page limit http://www.grants.gov/

4. Applications must contain a budget request that is equal to or more than the “Award Floor” amount and not more than the “Award Ceiling” amount as found in Section II of this funding opportunity announcement.

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, 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.

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

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.

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications. In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for recipients of federal financial assistance, the general certification and representation requirements contained in the Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs, and the Standard Form 424D (SF-424D) – Assurances – Construction Programs, have been standardized federal-wide.

Effective January 1, 2020, the updated common certification and representation requirements will be stored and maintained within SAM. Organizations or individuals applying for federal financial assistance as of January 1, 2020, must validate the federally required common certifications and representations annually through SAM located at SAM.gov.

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

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

Project Officer: Kimball Gray Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) Email: kimball.gray@acl.hhs.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:kimball.gray@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter Of Intent 05/16/2022

05/16/2022 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

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

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Project Officer: Kimball Gray Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) Email: kimball.gray@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on all sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Calibri 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 20 pages; 20 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, Organizational Charts, and Résumés/Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit, but all the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

The components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 20 page limit include:

Summary/Abstract Proposed Approach Outcomes Project Management Organizational Capability Collaborations

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether or not your project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise mailto:kimball.gray@acl.hhs.gov description of your project. ACL recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

Summary/Abstract This section should include a brief - no more than 265 words maximum - description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the establishment of a CIL or expansion of an existing center through the establishment of a separate and complete center (except that the governing board of the existing center may serve as the governing board of the new center) at a different geographical location. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract."

Proposed Approach This section should also describe how the applicant will operate consistent with the standards and assurances set forth in section 725 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and describe past experience working with people with significant disabilities and providing independent living services.

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). 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.

A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular service provided that led to goals achieved that resulted in an outcome of an individual living independently in the community. Outcomes describe a change in the degree to which consumers are able to live independently in the community. How will the applicant propose to ensure that the individual maintains their independence after they have achieved their outcome? Grantees should be able to identify outcomes that were impacted specifically by CIL services. Outcomes could also include CIL actions that increased access to services previously unavailable to people with significant disabilities. For example, access added to a building or changes to policy allow people with significant disabilities to be eligible for resources not previously available.

Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of your proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited.

You should keep the focus of this section of your application outcomes(s) that will be achieved by individuals with significant disabilities accessing the CIL’s services. Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of the outcome(s).

Applicants should be careful to differentiate between outputs and outcomes. Outputs are the activities or products that are most likely to lead to key outcomes, including sustainable independent living. For example a series of classes or documents educating on a topic may lead to definable positive changes in independence of a person with a significant disability. In this example the classes or documents are outputs, while the change in independence experienced by the attendee is the outcome.

Project Management This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, 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, 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.

Organizational Capability This section should describe 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 providing independent living services. Neither vitae 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. Applicants should describe the organizational profile, project management structure and staffing and collaborations or partnerships with other organizations.

The application should include an organizational capability statement and vitae for key project personnel. The organizational capability statement should describe how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work and/or the capabilities it possesses. It should also include the organization’s capability to acquire funding beyond this grant funding amount to provide IL services.

Collaborations This section should describe existing and proposed collaboration the applicant will initiate and grow if awarded.

a. With the Federal Government

i. Establish and maintain a partner-focused working relationship with Administration on Disabilities (AoD) and the Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) that fosters a shared accountability for overall outcomes and responsibility for specific project efforts requiring close collaboration, including federal initiatives involving the CILs.

ii. Foster an effective partnership between AoD, OILP, and CILs.

b. With CILs

i. Establish a partner-focused working relationship with CILs that facilitates improved CIL operations (in the area of organizational competency with an emphasis on program and fiscal business practices), performance and outcomes; maintenance/achievement of statutory compliance; and positioning of CILs as leaders and agents of systems change, capacity building and advocacy.

ii. Establish a multi-stakeholder, representative, participatory group to provide guidance and general direction in the design and implementation of the CIL.

c. With Other Key Stakeholders

i. Establish a partner-focused working relationship with the SILC to enhance the relationship among the CIL networks in each state/territory and:

1. Collaborate to develop and implement outcomes-based measurement and advance understanding and collection of outcomes across CIL network programs.

2. Address issues related to CIL network collaboration.

3. Address pressing disability issues in the States/Territories.

ii. Establish a partner-focused working relationship among CILs and other relevant federally funded and non-federally funded entities and programs, including those funded under IDEA and WIOA to ensure CILs have a contributing role in improving outcomes for people with disabilities

iii. Establish a partner-focused working relationship with federal and state organizations who specialize in mitigating barriers for individuals with disabilities to register to vote, cast their vote, access polling places and develop proficiency in the use of voting systems and technologies, as well as policies, procedures and practices that assist individuals with disabilities in such activities.

d. To Identify and Address Emerging Priorities and Needs

i. Convening groups of experts and representatives, including those from the CIL network and from federal agencies to:

1. Identify and discuss emerging issues and practices; and

2. Develop innovative programs or other relevant resources and strategies on emerging issues and priorities that meet or exceed consumer requirements and expectations.

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

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

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies Include confirmation of the commitments to the project (should it be funded) made by key collaborating organizations and agencies in this part of the application. Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator. For applications submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov, signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Applicants unable to scan the signed letters of commitment may fax them to the ACL Office of Grants Management at 202-357-3467 by the application submission deadline. In your fax, be sure to include the funding opportunity number and your agency name.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with https://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

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

All applicants must have a UEI number 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 mailto:support@grants.gov government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in SAM.gov. They will no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their identifier. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. If your entity is registered in SAM.gov today, your Unique Entity ID (SAM) has already been assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov. This includes inactive registrations. The Unique Entity ID is currently located below the DUNS Number on your entity registration record. Remember, you must be signed in to your SAM.gov account to view entity records. To learn how to view your Unique Entity ID (SAM) go to this help article.

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications. In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for recipients of federal financial assistance, the general certification and representation requirements contained in the Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs, and the Standard Form 424D (SF-424D) – Assurances – Construction Programs, have been standardized federal-wide. Effective January 1, 2020, the updated common certification and representation requirements will be stored and maintained within SAM.

Organizations or individuals applying for federal financial assistance as of January 1, 2020, must validate the federally required common certifications and representations annually through SAM located at SAM.gov.

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

Community Living will retrieve your application form fromhttps://www.grants.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 06/13/2022

06/13/2022 Date for Informational Conference Call:

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

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

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

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=a05adbae1b59f8982fe5ed7ae54bcbba http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

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

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

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

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from 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 cut off date.

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

5. Intergovernmental Review This program is subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. Applicants must contact their State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the State's process under the EO 12372.

6. Funding Restrictions The following activities are not fundable:

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

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

Meals are generally unallowable except for the following:

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ o For subjects and patients under study (usually a research program);

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

o When an organization customarily provides meals to employees working beyond the normal workday, as a part of a formal compensation arrangement, o As part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel; and o Under a conference grant, when meals are necessary and integral part of a conference, provided that meal costs are not duplicated in participants' per diem or subsistence allowances. (Note: conference grant means the sole purpose of the award is to hold a conference.)

The following updated sections 2 CFR 200.216 “Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment” became effective on or after August 13, 2020.

Recommended Actions for any recipient that has received a loan, grant, or cooperative agreement on or after August 13, 2020:

Develop a compliance plan to implement 2 CFR 200.216 regulation.

Develop and maintain internal controls to ensure that your organization does not expend federal funds (in whole or in part) on covered equipment, services or systems.

Determine through reasonable inquiry whether your organization currently uses “covered telecommunication” equipment, services, or systems and take necessary actions to comply with the regulation as quickly as is feasibly possible.

7. Other Submission Requirements V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria An independent review panel will evaluate and score applications by assigning a maximum of 100 points across the following review criteria:

Organizational Capability 35 points Approach 10 points Outcomes 25 points Budget and Budget Narrative/Justification 30 points

1.0 Organizational Capability Maximum Points: 35

1.1 Organizational Profile (5 Points)

Does the application describe how the applicant is well positioned to support the project and how the proposed project fits into the structure of the applicant's organization?

Does the application provide evidence of facilities, fiscal controls, and other resources that are adequate to achieve project goals?

Does the application describe how the applicant’s existing mission/purpose and activities are complementary to and will support the proposed IL project? Is the interaction of this project with other non-IL activities within the organization clearly explained?

1.2 Project Management Structure and Staffing (15 Points)

Does the application include a listing and detailed description of duties for all key positions required to carry out the project, including individuals with disabilities?

Does the application include the names of the individuals proposed to fill the key positions?

Does…