Foa_Content_of_HHS-2022-ACL-CIP-MPSA-0088.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Center for Innovation and Partnership

Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in SMP State Programs

HHS-2022-ACL-CIP-MPSA-0088

07/18/2022

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 Capacity Statement

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experience of Project Team (if applicable)

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:

Center for Innovation and Partnership Funding Opportunity Title:

Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in SMP State Programs Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2022-ACL-CIP-MPSA-0088

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

06/06/2022 Due Date for Applications:

07/18/2022 Date for Informational Conference Call:

05/31/2022 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 mission of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program is to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. Through outreach, counseling, and education, the SMP program increases awareness and understanding of health care programs to protect Medicare beneficiaries from the economic and health-related consequences associated with Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. ACL currently provides grant funding to support 54 SMP state projects, including grantees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The SMP projects use this funding to provide local outreach, education, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries through a fully trained workforce, many of whom are volunteers.

SMP projects teach Medicare beneficiaries to protect their Medicare numbers, to detect billing discrepancies on their Medicare Summary Notice statements, and to report suspicious activity for further investigation. In addition, SMP projects actively disseminate fraud prevention and identification information through the media, outreach campaigns, and community events. As a result of these efforts, beneficiaries contact the SMP projects with inquiries and complaints regarding potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. SMPs provide in-depth counseling and assistance to help beneficiaries who present with complex questions and issues.

With this funding opportunity, ACL anticipates awarding approximately eight (8) one-time, new, 18-month cooperative agreements to support current SMP project grantees of up to $150,000 per awardee. These awards will focus on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their state SMP programs. ACL is looking for applicants to propose action plans which will further diversity, equity, and inclusion within their local programs in both the management of the programs and the execution of the SMP project via public education and outreach efforts. Proposed strategies could include the promotion of state and local partnerships, identification and implementation of promising techniques, and development and dissemination of outreach and education materials to assist the SMP project grantee and their local program efforts.

Approximately $1,000,000 is currently available to support this funding opportunity.

An informational teleconference will be held on May 31, 2022, at 3:30-4:30 pm ET.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Program History The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) estimates that Medicare loses 60 billion dollars each year due to fraud, errors, and abuse. These losses are due, to a considerable extent, to the many ways in which the funds are disbursed, as well as to the sheer magnitude of health care expenditures. Both factors increase the probability of errors while opening wider opportunities for fraud and abuse.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) established a national Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program designed to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement activities with respect to healthcare fraud and abuse. Now in its twenty-sixth year of operation, the HCFAC program continues to demonstrate its success in protecting beneficiaries by identifying and prosecuting the most egregious instances of healthcare fraud and preventing future fraud and abuse. As a partner in these fraud control initiatives, ACL provides HCFAC funding for the SMP program, so that grantees can recruit, train, and support a network of team members. SMP team members provide outreach and education to Medicare beneficiaries in their local communities about how to prevent, detect, and report healthcare fraud. Over the years, SMP projects have worked to test different models designed to train partners and community members locally to serve as both volunteer resources and educators for other Medicare beneficiaries, and to build and strengthen community coalitions and service providers.

SMP Program Today ACL currently provides grant funding to support 54 SMP state projects, including grantees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The SMP projects use this funding to provide local outreach, education, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries through a trained volunteer and in-kind workforce. SMP projects teach Medicare beneficiaries to protect their Medicare numbers, to detect billing discrepancies on their Medicare Summary Notice statements, and to report suspicious activity for further investigation. In addition, SMP projects actively disseminate fraud prevention and identification information through the media, outreach campaigns, and community events. As a result of these efforts, beneficiaries contact the SMP projects with inquiries and complaints regarding potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. SMPs provide in-depth counseling and assistance to help beneficiaries who present with complex questions and issues.

Priority Activities The overall goal of this funding opportunity is to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the SMP program through the award of individual one-time funding to select state SMP projects. ACL will be looking for applicants to submit action plans which will further diversity, equity, and inclusion within the applicant’s local programs in both the management of the SMP project and the education and outreach conducted. All current SMP project grantees are eligible for this competitive funding opportunity. Applicants should propose plans to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in their program in both the immediate and long-term, and which could be replicated by other SMP projects in the future. These plans may include the promotion of state and local partnerships, identification and implementation of promising techniques, analysis of data, assessment of program processes, and/or the development and dissemination of outreach and education materials to assist the SMP project grantee and their local program efforts in reaching Medicare beneficiaries and partners.

The purpose of the grant is to:

Identify gaps and barriers in the SMP project’s service to Medicare beneficiaries.

Increase awareness, empowerment, and actions taken to prevent healthcare fraud among populations thus far generally underserved by the SMP program.

Expand upon and use strategic collaborations with federal, state, and local community partners to increase the SMP project’s reach.

Adjust SMP project administration to address barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion within program management both at the state and local levels.

Applicants under this announcement are required to design and implement activities which measurably enhance SMP program efforts. Specifically, the applicant must:

Clearly identify and describe how they plan to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within their program with this funding.

Identify the underserved or hard-to-reach population(s) which their activities will target, as well as any problems or barriers that may impact their ability to reach identified underserved populations.

Provide plans for collaboration which may include Area Agencies on Aging, No Wrong Door, Assistive Technology, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, federally recognized tribal organizations, Centers for Independent Living, and/or other community organizations, as primary partners in fully integrated approaches to reach the identified underserved populations in their state or territory.

Describe the role and activities of partner organizations in achieving strategies for integrating health care fraud education awareness into the targeted areas.

Provide an ongoing plan for broadly disseminating lessons learned, strategies, approaches, and/or materials developed to address diversity, equity, and inclusion to the broader SMP national network.

Specify methodology for measurement and tracking of project outcomes, including (as appropriate) numbers of new team members, partnerships, group educational sessions, outreach activities, or other activities identified to address diversity, equity, and inclusion within their program.

Provide clear metrics and measurable outcomes that align directly to the plan being proposed.

Propose grant activities not otherwise approved and/or funded by ACL. Clearly specify, as necessary, how proposed work complements and does not duplicate previously approved SMP grant work and how the newly proposed activities will advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the SMP program.

Be in good standing with all current SMP state project program activity and reporting expectations.

Depending on the action plans and work being proposed applicants may consider:

Providing a plan for development of materials and/or training on best practices to successfully address diversity, equity, and inclusion including:

o Identifying underserved or hard to reach populations.

o Targeting volunteers and team members who are members of the identified populations and/or whose expertise will directly support reaching the identified populations.

o Targeting beneficiaries, caregivers, or family members through intentional outreach techniques.

o Developing and/or adapting recruitment, training, and support approaches to ensure understanding of and continued focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion amongst team members.

Providing documented approaches to utilize media within outreach, as appropriate.

Identifying opportunities to focus on fraud, error, and abuse prevention in the identified targeted populations, in addition to detecting and reporting/referring potential fraud, errors, and abuse that have already occurred.

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

These awards will be new cooperative agreements. ACL will be substantially involved in the proposed SMP project activities. The terms and conditions for this cooperative agreement are as follows and will be incorporated, by reference, in the Notice of Award (NOA).

ACL will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement as listed below:

1. ACL Project Officer will perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing a grant initiative and will work with the grantee to ensure that the necessary requirements for the grant are met.

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

3. Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project. If issues are identified, work with the grantee to revise the project work plan, detailing expectations for major activities and products during the 18-month grant.

4. Provide technical advice to the grantee related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

5. Review and provide technical advice on grantee work products, as necessary.

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

7. 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.

8. Attend and participate in major project events, as appropriate.

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

1. Participate in ACL education and communication activities, including teleconferences, webinars, and monthly meetings to discuss grant-related activities and programmatic budgetary concerns.

2. Share information with ACL, fellow SMP projects, and other national, state, and local partner organizations, as appropriate. Common sharing activities include attending and participating in monthly SMP Networking Calls, uploading materials to the SMP Resource Library, and disseminating best practices.

3. Participate in training opportunities.

o Recipients of this funding are required to send at least one person to the

SMP/SHIP/MIPPA Annual Conference, which may be held virtually or in-person.

Since attendance was previously budgeted through SMP or other program funding, travel funds should typically not be included within this budget.

o SMP or diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused webinars identified as required by

ACL.

4. As appropriate, collect and input project performance data into the SMP data system (SIRS) in a timely manner, in accordance with ACL guidelines and training. Include continual quality assurance processes to ensure that performance is measured, and continuous improvements occur.

5. Include express acknowledgment on all SMP public information man Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS.

The contents are those of the author(s) and do nomaterials, "This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Hut necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government."

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

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. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the mutual agreement of both parties, except where ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR

Part 75, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments. When an award is issued, the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference.

Statutory Authority The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$1,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$150,000 Per Project Period

Award Floor:

$75,000 Per Project Period

Length of Project Period:

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

Under this competition, ACL plans to fund up to eight (8) SMP projects for a single 18-month project period.

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.”

Only current SMP state project grantees in good standing with ACL 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 do not meet the following responsiveness criteria will be administratively eliminated and will not be reviewed:

Current ACL Senior Medicare Patrol grantee

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.

For an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

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

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, sized 8 ½” x 11” with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, 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.

Applicants seeking late submission approval must provide authenticated verification from http://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of submission. For example, applicants will be required to provide an http://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number 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 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 http://www.sam.gov/ 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.

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 acknowledgment from https://www.grants.gov that contains https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from https://www.grants.gov.

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

Marissa Whitehouse SMP Program Manager Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling Phone Number: 202-795-7425 Email: marissa.whitehouse@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter Of Intent 06/06/2022

06/06/2022 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:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Community Living

Marissa Whitehouse

Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling

Email: marissa.whitehouse@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, sized 8 ½” x 11” with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. Smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats can be used. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 10 to 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, and 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 Problem Statement Goal(s) and Objective(s) Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations Outcomes Project Management Evaluation Dissemination Organizational Capability Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experience of Project Team (if applicable)

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether the project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of the proposed SMP project. ACL recommends that the 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, outcomes, and products to be developed.

Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.”

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

Goals and Objectives This section should consist of a description of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives. Unless the project involves multiple complex interventions, ACL recommends proposing only one overall goal. The proposed project goal(s) and objectives should be reflective of the priority activities discussed in SMP Strategic Program Objectives (see Section I).

Proposed Intervention This section should provide a clear and concise description of the proposed intervention to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement.” Describe the rationale for using the intervention, including factors such as: “lessons learned” for similar projects previously tested in the targeted community(ies) or in other areas of the country; factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the intervention (e.g., existing social or economic factors to take advantage of, etc.). Also note any anticipated major barriers, and how the proposed intervention will address those barriers.

Be sure to describe the role and makeup of any planned strategic partnerships in implementing the intervention, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups. This section should also provide a detailed plan for the management and operation of the SMP project.

Submissions should explain and justify their plan to address priority areas mentioned within this document.

Plans must address the purpose of this funding opportunity, previously discussed in this document. This includes:

1. Identifying gaps and barriers in the SMP project’s service to Medicare beneficiaries.

2. Increasing awareness, empowerment, and actions taken to prevent healthcare fraud among populations thus far generally underserved by the SMP program.

3. Expanding upon and using strategic collaborations with federal, state, and local community partners to increase the SMP project’s reach.

4. Adjusting SMP project administration to address barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion within program management both at the state and local levels.

Special Target Populations and Organizations This section should describe plans to involve federal, state, and local organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project. This section should also describe how the proposed intervention will target commonly underserved populations.

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

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

The focus of this section is describing what outcome(s) will be produced by the project. Use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcome(s) will be measured and reported.

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

Project Management This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify the key staff with day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress; preparation of reports; and, communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Evaluation This section should describe the method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to:

1. determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s),

2. document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative – from the project that will be useful in replicating the intervention if it proves successful.

This section should also describe a plan for evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed SMP project in achieving project outcomes. As discussed, ACL utilizes SIRS to collect data, track, assess, and measure program outcomes. Applicant plans must discuss priorities, activities, and staff capacity to capture project performance data accurately and timely.

Dissemination This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats. Recipients could include parties interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policymaking; especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project. Dissemination examples should include sharing information with ACL, the National SMP Resource Center, fellow SMP projects, and other national, state, and local partner organizations.

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

This description should cover capacity of the applicant agency not included in the program narrative, such as any current or previous relevant experience and/or the record of the project team in preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products. If appropriate, include an organizational chart showing the relationship of the project to the current organization. Please attach short vitae (1-2 pages) for key project staff only. Neither vitaes 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.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Experience of Project Team (if applicable) This section should describe Project Team Members' relevant equity experience that might be of benefit to the overall project. For this section, Project Team Members can be defined as paid and unpaid team members, contractors, and partners who work as part of a specific agreement to support the goals of this diversity, equity, and inclusion project.

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 18-month Budget Narrative/Justification which covers the full life of the award 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 Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies Include confirmation of the commitments and key activities/work (not just lending support to the application) 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 email them to the listed SMP Program Manager. In your email, be sure to include the funding opportunity number and your agency name in the subject line.

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 mailto:support@grants.gov 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. 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 acknowledgment from https://www.grants.gov that contains https://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from https://www.grants.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 07/18/2022 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=a05adbae1b59f8982fe5ed7ae54bcbba https://www.grants.gov

07/18/2022 Date for Informational Conference Call:

05/31/2022 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 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 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.

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

5. Intergovernmental Review This program is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

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:

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…