Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACL-AOD-DNPA-0004.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Disabilities

Access to Integrated Employment: National Data Collection on Day and Employment Services for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities

HHS-2023-ACL-AOD-DNPA-0004

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

Budget Narrative/Justification

Work Plan

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

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

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

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

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Disabilities Funding Opportunity Title:

Access to Integrated Employment: National Data Collection on Day and Employment Services for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACL-AOD-DNPA-0004

Primary CFDA Number:

93.631 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

05/18/2023 Due Date for Applications:

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, https://www.grants.gov/ and their support networks. ACL 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, including having an integrated job. In order to assess the country’s success in measuring the progress in accomplishing this goal, ACL funds longitudinal data collection projects.

ACL’s Administration on Disabilities (AoD) will award under the Projects of National Significance (PNS) program one competitive, five-year cooperative agreement to continue collecting, describing, analyzing and reporting on employment and day services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is AoD’s intent that the research will contribute to an understanding of the factors that influence employment at the individual, service provider, and state levels. The project will assess the employment and economic status of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as the effectiveness of state intellectual and developmental disabilities agencies (ID/DD) and vocational rehabilitation agencies in promoting the full inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities through employment and other community activities. To help inform the field, the project will identify and disseminate best practices that States, providers and individuals use to gain integrated, community employment.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. PURPOSE/STATEMENT OF NEED

Although there has been significant advancement in policy initiatives in recent years to improve competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), notably the passage of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA) and the issuance of the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule (the Settings Rule) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Despite these advancements, the employment rate for people with disabilities still drastically lags those without disabilities. The 2020 American Community Survey estimates that 38% of working-age adults with disabilities are employed, compared with 74% of people without disabilities. When people with disabilities are employed, they are more likely to work part-time (29%) compared to people without disabilities (16%).[1]

For people with ID/DD the disparity in employment participation is even greater. Data from the National Core Indicators project suggest that in 2018–2019, only 18% of working-age adults supported by state ID/DD agencies were employed in a paid job in the community. Those who are employed typically work limited hours with low wages. [2] Equally concerning for the 82% of people with ID/DD who don’t have a job in the community, 44% want one, yet 71% of those individuals do not have this goal documented in their Individualized Service Plan.[3]

For individuals with ID/DD who do obtain employment, data consistently show that the majority work part-time in entry-level positions, have low income, and have limited access to employee benefits. People in individual supported jobs included in NCI data worked an average of 14 hours per week and earned $140 per week. [4] When viewed through an intersectionality lens, the outcomes are even poorer. For example, Black individuals with ID/DD have lower annual earnings and are less likely to work in integrated jobs than white individuals and are less likely to have a successful outcome when they receive VR services. [5]

The COVID-19 pandemic created interim setbacks in the employment of people with disabilities.

During the pandemic, many employees with disabilities did not have jobs that allowed them to work from home, which was an important accommodation for many since people with disabilities are at greater risk for contracting the virus and were at greater risk of dying. Many people with disabilities were laid off, furloughed, or had their work hours significantly reduced.

During the pandemic, the workforce participation of people with disabilities continued to lag dramatically behind that of the people without disabilities. However, there appears to be a positive rebound. The number of people with disabilities in the workforce recovered more quickly during 2021 than for people with no reported disability. In December 2021, the employment-to-population ratio of working-age individuals with disabilities was 31.3%, a historic high, compared with 72.5% for working-age individuals without disabilities, which is below pre-pandemic levels. [6]

B. PROGRAM HISTORY/BACKGROUND

For over 35 years, the Administration on Disabilities (AoD), Administration for Community Living (ACL), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has funded a longitudinal study to examine the ways States provide employment and day services to people with ID/DD.

This data has been widely disseminated through websites, webinars, data briefs, and monographs to national, state, and local policymakers; scholars; media outlets; families; and people with disabilities. State policymakers and advocates use the data to compare themselves with other states and national benchmarks to drive improvements. Programs, including the AoD funded programs, use the data to inform the development of state plans and project activities.

AoD seeks to continue support for the collection and analysis of data for describing and reporting on employment and day services for persons with ID/DD. With this funding the project will:

Increase the public’s knowledge and understanding about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Specifically for people with ID/DD and their families, increase knowledge and understanding the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Increase the knowledge of policymakers and the media about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Provide the AoD program grantees with the data they need to work towards improving services for people with ID/DD.

Identify the policies and other strategies that are creating more and better competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with ID/DD.

Successfully measure how the data and products from the project is used by individuals, organizations, and/or systems to improve the services for people with ID/DD.

Project Description

AoD announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funds for a cooperative agreement authorized under Subtitle E of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Projects of National Significance. Under this Subtitle, funds will be awarded to one (1) project for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data to describe employment and day services and supports for persons with ID/DD. This project will be guided by four overarching themes:

1. High quality longitudinal research to examine employment trends for people with ID/DD and the best practices that lead to successful community employment for them: This project will continue to collect and maintain a longitudinal record of the analysis of the ways States provide employment and day services for people with ID/DD living in the U.S.

2. Project collaboration at multiple levels: While the project conducts its research, collaboration with multiple partners will be key to include the State of the States in Developmental Disabilities project, the Residential Information System Project, other federal agencies, and other stakeholders. Other key collaborators will be the Project– Specific Advisory Committee and the Joint Data Collection Workgroup.

3. Product Development and Dissemination in Multiple Formats and Ease of Public Consumption and Knowledge: The project will be expected to create a variety of products to translate the data that is easily read, understood, and used by a variety of audiences, most importantly people with ID/DD and their family members. Products include, but are not limited to factsheets, webinars, and other tools that an individual can tailor to his or her needs.

4. Evaluation to Understand Impact: The project will involve information dissemination and knowledge transfer with demonstration of the impact of those efforts on individuals, organizations, and/or systems.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

Applicant(s) should respond to this funding announcement by submitting a proposal that describes a well-designed, strategic approach that, if funded, would maintain and sustain high quality longitudinal research that examines trends in employment for people with ID/DD and best practices that lead to successful community employment for them. Applicant(s) should explain how they plan to implement the required activities outlined in this subsection below along with any other activities they deem necessary to achieve the outcomes, including:

Increase the public’s knowledge and understanding about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Specifically for people with ID/DD and their families, increase knowledge and understanding the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Increase the knowledge of policymakers and the media about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Provide the AoD program grantees with the data they need to work towards improving services for people with ID/DD.

Identify the policies and other strategies that are creating more and better competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with ID/DD.

Successfully measure how the data and products from the project is used by individuals, organizations, and/or systems to improve the services for people with ID/DD.

1. Research Design and Methodology The applicant should describe the research design and methodology that accounts for the following:

Conducting a comparative nationwide longitudinal study of the employment status of people with ID/DD and the policies and other strategies that lead to integrated community employment for them.

Analysis of national and state-by-state data on:

The employment and economic status of people with ID/DD How education programs in a state have increased employment for people with ID/DD Trends in:

o People with ID/DD spending their time in segregated employment settings o The number of 14C certificates by state o People with ID/DD participating in community life activities; and o People with ID/DD who want a job but do not have a goal for integrated employment in their service plans.

Analysis of the impact of policies on employment outcomes for people with ID/DD such as the HCBS Settings Rule, the Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act (WIOA), States’ Employment First legislation, Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, and / or Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)

Identification of states who are leaders and laggards in the competitive integrated employment of people with ID/DD

Analysis of innovative ways states are funding services and supports, such as those that promote self-determination, independence, and person-centered planning as people with ID/DD obtain employment in the community

Analysis of the effectiveness of State Developmental Disabilities agencies and vocational rehabilitation agencies in promoting full inclusion of individuals with ID/DD through competitive integrated employment and other community activities.

Applicant(s) should describe how they will plan for the design and implementation of special studies through identification of topics that are timely and responsive to the information needs of multiple audiences concerned about employment services for people with ID/DD. In discussing the project approach, applicant(s) should describe a plan to uniformly solicit topics from diverse audiences, particularly those representing intersectional identities, for annual special studies.

The plan should explain the process for recruiting stakeholders to recommend special studies and the process of choosing the final topic for that year. For the first year, applicants shall propose the topic for their first special study in their 5-year application, which may focus on the relationship between the implementation of the HCBS settings rule and increasing integrated employment, and the method they utilized to select the study topic. For years two through five, the grantee shall propose a topic for their special study and show evidence in their continuation application that the grantee has sought the advice of stakeholders and the other two AoD funded national studies. A plan to conduct special studies in the specified time frame should be included.

2. Project collaboration at multiple levels: Applicant(s) should describe how they will engage with partners at multiple levels. Applicants should describe how they will establish and maintain the following:

A. Project-Specific Advisory Committee: The applicant(s) should describe how they recruit members for a Project-Specific Advisory Committee and how they will seek and act upon their guidance. The applicant(s) should describe how the committee will be consulted on emerging issues for special studies; topics for webinars; and methods and approaches to disseminate information in the most accessible way possible. The committee will be made up of representatives from other data collection organizations or agencies, people with ID/DD, family members, representatives from other federal agencies and representatives from non-profit disability organizations. The applicant(s) should describe how they will intentionally reach out to diverse, underserved and unserved communities to recruit members for the advisory committee. The advisory committee should include members with intersectional identities.

3. Joint Data Collection Workgroup: The applicant(s) should describe how they will collaborate with the other two data collection grantees (the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities project and the Residential Information Systems Project) to form a joint data collection workgroup that will ensure collaboration across this data project and the other two data collection grantees. The applicant(s) should describe how this joint workgroup will coordinate to:

Identify strategies for the three grantees to collaborate with each other.

Recommend complimentary subjects for special studies.

Design, develop and produce joint resources to assist the public in understanding and using their data based on guidance and approval of

ACL.

Work with the AoD Project Officer to create a short list of questions about their data describing state spending, where people with ID/DD live and their employment rate. This list will be placed on the ACL website with links to the answers on the grantees’ websites.

Identify and discuss how the research can examine the impact of COVID -19 on how services for people with ID/DD are funded, the settings people with ID/DD live in, and their employment status.

The applicant(s) should describe how the Joint Data Collection Workgroup will as needed and appropriate break up into smaller workgroups to work on these issues and bring their recommendations to the larger workgroup.

The proposal should describe a plan for participation in this workgroup, including how the applicant will nominate two representatives who will be selected to represent the grantee on the workgroup and a plan for participation in at least quarterly meetings by whatever means that will yield the most input: in-person, by webinar or by phone.

C. Other Collaborative Activities:The applicant(s) should also describe how they will collaborate with other federal agencies and non-profit organizations. These activities should include inquiring about the data these agencies collect and disseminate and discussing ways they can collaborate with regards to data collection, product development, information translation and dissemination. Potential collaborators include:

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDLRR), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), The Department of Education, The Department of Labor, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The National Association of State Directors of Developmental

Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), The various resource centers within ACL.

The Arc United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (Sabe), Easterseals The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN).

3. Product Development and Dissemination in Multiple Formats and for Ease of Public Consumption and Knowledge:

A. The applicant(s) should describe how they will work under the leadership of the Project-Specific Advisory Committee to set forth a plan to create and disseminate products based on their research. Applicant(s) should describe how the project will develop products and disseminate information from the analyses to inform the field and in ways that make the information easily accessible and consumable by the end user. The applicant(s) should describe an approach that incorporates the following elements in the plan:

Soliciting guidance from a diverse group to include the Project-Specific Advisory Committee, the other longitudinal data grantees, federal partners, and other disability and non-disability organizations on how to translate their data into user-friendly, accessible reports, infographics, factsheets and other products that the public can use in a variety of ways.

Disseminating all the data analyzed in such ways that will be usable for multiple audiences, including people with ID/DD, their family members and people from diverse communities.

B. The applicant(s) should describe how they will work under the leadership of the Joint Data Collection Workgroup, to set forth a plan to create and disseminate products based on research from all three projects. The applicant(s) should describe how they will work with multiple existing and new partners to plan and hold webinars, including quarterly webinars with the other two longitudinal data collection grantees and AoD partners, including the technical assistance providers for the AoD programs.

The applicant(s) should describe how they will:

Collaborate with organizations to advertise the webinars to a wide variety of groups, including, but not limited to, the DD Network grantees such as State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, University Centers for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities, Protection and Advocacy Systems, and to national associations, such as the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR), the Arc, and Easterseals.

Partner to develop and disseminate joint resources to assist the public in understanding and using the data, including at least one joint national report on intellectual and developmental disabilities services and supports in the US that contains at least three key indicators from each of the three projects

On an annual basis provide AoD with a calendar of expected release dates of publications, webinars, and products developed by the grantee and work completed collaboratively with the first year of the grant cycle described in the application.

Work with the AoD Project Officer to create a short list of questions about their data describing state spending, where people with ID/DD live and their employment rate. This list will be placed on the ACL website with links to the answers on the grantees’ websites.

4. Evaluation to Understand Impact: It is essential to have information about the impact of this work on the developmental disabilities field. The proposal should describe an evaluation plan that:

Draws logical links between products and their impacts on the employment rate of people with ID/DD

Includes strategies for assessing the extent to which the information collected, and products produced are high quality and result in more useful, effective, and efficient programs and services for people with

ID/DD.

Captures evidence about how the information has been used by people, the changes caused by the information and its usefulness to the developmental disabilities field.

The applicant(s) should include with the evaluation plan a timeline or a logic model that describes the intended progress on all project activities, including progress in the creation of joint resources to assist the public in understanding and using the data. The applicant(s) should describe how the evaluation plan will measure results in terms of the following outcomes:

Increase the public’s knowledge and understanding about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Specifically for people with ID/DD and their families, increase knowledge and understanding the trends in employment of people with

ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Increase the knowledge of policymakers and the media about the trends in employment of people with ID/DD and the employment successes and challenges people with ID/DD experience.

Provide the AoD program grantees with the data they need to work towards improving services for people with ID/DD.

Identify the policies and other strategies that are creating more and better competitive integrated employment opportunities for people with ID/DD.

Successfully measure how the data and products from the project is used by individuals, organizations, and/or systems to improve the services for people with ID/DD.

Statutory Authority Developmental Disabilities Act

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$400,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$450,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$425,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by ACL or the awardee at any time as long as it stays within the original confines of the proposed project description. Major changes may affect the integrity of the competitive review process. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the execution of an award notice. When an award is issued the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference unless ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 75, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

For FY 2023 the below guidance is provided to advance the Administration’s policy, as stated in E.O. 13985, to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” This guidance is intended to begin to address inequities in HHS programs, processes, and policies that may serve as barriers to equal opportunity. By advancing equity in our NOFOs, we can “create opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved, which benefits everyone.”

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

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No 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 Applicants should have at least five years experience collect and analyzing employment trends and best practices to secure employment for people with ID/DD

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

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

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8 ½” x 11” plain white paper 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.

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 http://www.grants.gov/ required to provide an http://www.grants.gov ;submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application materials can be obtained from https://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants.

Please note, ACL requires applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov in Workspace. Grants.gov Workspace is the standard way for organizations and individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. An overview and training on Grants.gov Workspace can be found here at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

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

Eastern Time.

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

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

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf.

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

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

Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division 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

(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. As of April of 2022, the federal government stopped 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.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

Katherine Cargill-Willis

Administration on Disabilities katherine.cargill-willis@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

05/18/2023 https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov mailto:katherine.cargill-willis@acl.hhs.gov

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

Katherine Cargill-Willis

Administration on Disabilities katherine.cargill-willis@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11-point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative 15 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 of 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 Organization Project Management Evaluation Dissemination Organizational Capacity

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

Summary/Abstract

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

Problem Statement

This section should describe the need to collect, analyze and describe annual outlooks and longitudinal trends in employment and day services for persons with ID/DD. The analysis should include programmatic changes in an array of service delivery areas that leads to competitive integrated employment, including job coaching and placement, pre-vocational training, other day services and community life engagement activities. It should also identify leaders and laggards as States comply with the Settings rule to support people working in the community and examine the innovative services States operate to promote community integrated employment. The applicant should also describe the need to collaborate with the data collection project on the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Residential Information Systems Project. This section should also discuss the importance of translating the data in a variety of ways for use by a variety of audiences

Goals and Objectives

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

Proposed Intervention

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

This section should describe an overall strategy and methodology in a well-reasoned manner that will appropriately accomplish the specific goals and objectives for the project to include projected measurable and attainable goals describing the scope and detail of how work will be accomplished; a detailed work plan, personnel, budget, timeline, and quantitative projections of the accomplishments to be achieved by the project and a chronological order of approach with target dates, including the sequence and timing.

This section should also describe an effective process for recruiting for and collaborating with two advisory committees: the project-specific committee and the Joint Data Collection Workgroup.

These advisory committees should be consulted on all aspects of the projects. The section should describe the rationale that will be utilized to collect and prioritize the recommendations of these committees.

Special Target Populations and Organizations

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

Outcomes

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

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

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

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

Project Management

This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress; 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), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if it proves successful.

The application should outline a reasonable and rigorous process evaluation plan to analyze how the project activities are delivered and to determine the extent to which the project is being implemented as planned, how the project activities are being received by the target group, the barriers to implementation, and areas for project improvements/refinements. The application should describe a reasonable and rigorous summative evaluation plan to determine key successful features of the model for replication and the effectiveness of the model in achieving project outcomes.

Dissemination

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

This section should also describe the process that will be used to incorporate the recommendations of the two advisory committees: the Project-Specific Committee and the Joint Data Collection Workgroup with regard to dissemination methods of the data collected that ensures utilization by the greatest number of people.

As part of the cooperative agreement, there will be a data-use agreement. The data-use agreement will lay-out a plan that enhances access to data and develops a process to handle data requests. Data use agreements are contractual documents used for the transfer of nonpublic data that is subject to some restriction on its use. They serve to outline the terms and conditions of the transfer. Specifically, data use agreements address important issues such as the intended use of data and contribution to research and knowledge, limitations on use of the data, obligations to safeguard the data, liability for harm arising from the use of the data, publication, and privacy rights that are associated with transfers of confidential or protected data.

Organizational Capability

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

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

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

Budget Narrative/Justification

The Budget Narrative and Justification must be consistent with and support the Project Narrative.

It must be concrete, specific and provide a justification for the basis of each proposed cost in the budget and how that cost was calculated. Examples to consider when justifying the basis of your estimates can be ongoing activities, market rates, quotations received from vendors or historical records. The proposed costs must be reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary for the supported activity. A combined multi-year Budget Narrative and Justification as well as a detailed Budget Narrative and 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 https://www.grants.gov, signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments.

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.