Foa_Content_of_HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-ABRC-0030 (2).pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

National Center on Elder Abuse Resource Center

HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-ABRC-0030

06/03/2024

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

Project Abstract

Project Relevance and Current Need

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Approach

Special Target Populations

Outcomes

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capacity and Collaborations

Budget Narrative/Justification

Project Work Plan

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

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

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

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

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

National Center on Elder Abuse Resource Center Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-ABRC-0030

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

Date will be generated on synopsis publication Due Date for Applications:

06/01/2024 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 Established by Section 202(d) of the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1992, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) serves as a national resource center dedicated to addressing elder abuse, https://www.grants.gov/ neglect, and exploitation1 (referred to collectively as “elder maltreatment”). The NCEA is operated as a grant program and provides relevant information, materials, and support to enhance state and local efforts to prevent and address elder maltreatment in a manner that respects individual self-determination and autonomy so that all older Americans may live with dignity.

NCEA disseminates information to professionals and the public, and provides technical assistance to states and to community-based organizations. The NCEA makes available resources; provides consultation, education, and training; identifies and provides information about promising practices and interventions; answers inquiries and requests for information; and operates a listserv forum for professionals.

Through this funding opportunity announcement, the Administration for Community Living plans to award a total of one (1) cooperative agreement to run the NCEA. 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 are eligible to apply under this announcement. The use of subcontractors, sub-grantees, or consultants to execute the proposal's programmatic activities may not constitute more than 20% of the total level of effort required to carry out the proposed activities for any budget period/year. Grantees are required to match at least 20% of the total program costs from non-federal cash or in-kind resources.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background

Originally established in 1988 as a demonstration project, the NCEA was made permanent through the 1992 Amendments to the Older Americans Act.2 Since 1992, the NCEA has served as a national resource center dedicated to preventing elder maltreatment. The NCEA provides relevant information and materials on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with the goals of identifying promising practices in elder maltreatment prevention, identification, and treatment, serving as a repository of research, and conducting demonstration projects to promote effective and coordinated responses to elder maltreatment. NCEA disseminates information to professionals and the public, and it provides technical assistance to states and to community-based organizations. The NCEA makes available resources; provides consultation, education, and training; identifies and provides information about promising practices and interventions;

answers inquiries and requests for information; and operates a listserv forum for professionals.

The NCEA has become a valued resource to many professionals working with elders who have experienced maltreatment, including but not limited to Adult Protective Services (APS);

national, state, and local aging networks; law enforcement; health care professionals; domestic violence networks; Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS) coalitions, researchers, elder justice advocates, community-based multi-disciplinary teams and others.

Project Overview

ACL envisions the NCEA as a comprehensive resource center that is an authoritative source of accurate and actionable information, and a key stakeholder in providing insight on developments and issues in the field of elder maltreatment. ACL expects that the NCEA will be responsive to the changing needs and priorities in the field of elder maltreatment. Inherent in such flexibility is the ability to capitalize on and leverage new research findings, new initiatives, and new opportunities. As a leader in the field, the NCEA should strengthen existing, and seek out new, collaborations and partnerships with other entities to better address the multidimensional issues of elder maltreatment.

Funding Opportunity Description

Under this funding opportunity, the NCEA will continue to serve as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder maltreatment and to carry out its mission:

National, state, and local partners in the field will be fully prepared to ensure that older Americans will live with dignity, integrity, independence, and without abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

To achieve this mission, Section 202(d) of the OAA establishes the following activities for the

NCEA:

1. Annually compile, publish, and disseminate a summary of recently conducted research on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

2. Develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on all programs (including private programs) showing promise of success, for the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

3. Compile, publish, and disseminate training materials for personnel who are engaged or intend to engage in the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

4. Provide technical assistance to State agencies and to other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to assist the agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out programs and activities relating to the special problems of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

5. Conduct research and demonstration projects regarding the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Consistent with the statutory requirements above, ACL has identified the following five (5) objectives for the NCEA. At a minimum, applicants must identify how they propose to meet/carry-out the objectives outlined below for the NCEA. Applicants may propose additional objectives that build upon or expand those established by ACL, consistent with the authorizing statute. However, please note that application review scores will not correspond to the number of objectives that are presented, above the minimum required.

1. Serve as a national authority and leader on elder maltreatment. ACL interprets this to include, but is not limited to:

o Communication with the field:

▪ Develop and deploy a consistent communications strategy, including developing and distributing content across multiple online and offline platforms, to inform on a regular basis, professionals, policymakers, and the public of key events and emerging, state-of-the art developments, information, and opportunities;

▪ Engage in cutting edge activities to raise awareness of elder maltreatment among professionals and the public, including, but not limited to, developing, updating, and disseminating materials and/or programs related to elder abuse prevention;

▪ Maintain and regularly update the content of the https://ncea.acl.gov/home website and the look and feel of the website;

▪ Serve as the operational lead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), including developing educational content based on the ACL approved WEAAD theme for WEAAD to be promoted through the Federal website and social media and collecting information about WEAAD events, and amplifying WEAAD events.

o Leadership:

▪ Work with other entities, both private and public, national, state, and local entities, to create national collaborations for the purpose of identifying trends, responding to needs, leveraging resources in elder justice and improving responses to people who are experiencing, have survived, or are at risk of elder abuse and the elder justice professional community that serves them.

▪ Collect data and develop research projects to further understand the causes, prevention, and treatment of elder abuse.

▪ Annually compile, publish, and disseminate a summary of recently conducted research on elder maltreatment. ACL interprets this to include, but is not limited to:

o Working with other national elder justice programs to coordinate and curate relevant research in an effort to reduce redundancy of effort and to streamline access to this information by elder justice professionals;

o Updating NCEA website content with new and key research on elder abuse topics findings, as appropriate;

o Disseminating research findings and information that emphasize translating relevant research into practice for elder justice professionals, including specific information on how professionals can update or change current practices in response to new research.

2. Develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on elder justice programs (including private programs) showing promise of success for the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder maltreatment. ACL interprets this to include, but is not limited to:

o Working with other national elder abuse programs to coordinate and curate relevant promising practices/policies in an effort to reduce redundancy of effort and to streamline access to this information by elder justice professionals;

o Updating NCEA website content with findings on new promising practices/policies, as appropriate;

o Identifying promising practices/policies in the field and disseminating this information (e.g., via newsletters, briefs, webinars) o Developing a strategy for distributing materials, including specific metrics to track progress, that utilizes multiple distribution methods and that connects materials across platforms.

3. Compile, publish, and disseminate training materials for professionals who are engaged or intend to engage in the prevention, identification, and response to elder maltreatment.

ACL interprets this to include, but is not limited to:

o Working with other national elder abuse programs and other ACL resource centers to coordinate and curate relevant curricula in order to reduce redundancy and streamline access to this information;

o Providing training through various modalities on topics related to elder maltreatment and self-neglect;

o Maintaining and updating the NCEA website content with new and key findings related to training materials, as appropriate, and updating the NCEA website with the information described in this Notice of Proposed Funding Opportunity;

o Providing instructional training on Reframing how to talk about elder abuse, including an evidence-based communication strategy, to federal and non-federal entities (see: https://ncea.acl.gov/reframing-elder-abuse);

o Identifying and disseminating training materials.

4. Provide technical assistance to State agencies and to other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations to assist the agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out programs and activities relating to the special problems of elder maltreatment. ACL interprets this to include, but is not limited to:

o Creating criteria for a systematic and evidence-based approach to responding to technical assistance requests;

o Providing technical assistance to elder justice professionals, policy makers, elders who are experiencing or have survived maltreatment, their family members, and other members of the public;

o Working with other national elder abuse programs to coordinate provision of technical assistance in order to reduce redundancy and streamline access to this comprehensive information by members of the public and professionals in the field;

o Providing technical assistance to those who are conducting research and demonstration projects regarding the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of elder maltreatment pursuant to OAA Section 202(d)(2)(e);

o Updating NCEA website content for disseminating technical assistance to the field and the general public, as appropriate.

It is expected that to fully achieve its mission and goals, applicants’ chosen approaches will reflect ACL’s commitment to advancing equity, racial justice, and equal opportunity, including ensuring that a representative sample of people from underrepresented and underserved communities are invited to contribute and provide feedback about the work required to execute the activities of the grant.

For all five (5) of the objectives above, plus any additional objectives identified by the applicant, applications must:

• Identify a sample of the agencies/organizations the applicant believes are important beneficiaries for each of the objectives/activities;

https://ncea.acl.gov/reframing-elder-abuse

• Describe the criteria, methods, and frequency the applicant would use to carry out all of the proposed activities and processes under each objective;

• Describe how the selected approach/es will reflect ACL’s commitment to advancing equity, racial justice, and equal opportunity, including ensuring that people from underrepresented and underserved communities are invited to inform the work in the execution of grant activities;

• Describe how the applicant will update their planned activities as new activities and opportunities are identified via collaborations;

• Describe how the applicant will update their planned work as new information, research, and practice are identified in order to remain relevant, current, and state of the art;

including how proposed approaches will incorporate the latest technology and tools to generate and disseminate knowledge; and

• Describe the methods to be employed to measure and ensure quality, relevance and extent of activities undertaken to meet the project’s objectives.

NCEA Website

ACL will host the NCEA website. The NCEA grantee will be responsible for maintaining and updating all website content, pending ACL review and approval. All grantee materials and content created for public dissemination must be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, codified at section 29 USC 794d. HHS provides a number of free accessibility checklists to aid in the creation of compliant products.

Rights in Data

As established by HHS Grants Policy Statement3, “[i]n all cases, whether HHS funded all or part of the project or program resulting in the data, the Federal government must be given a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license for the Federal government to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the material and to authorize others to do so for Federal purposes, e.g., to make it available in government-sponsored databases for use by other researchers…. Data developed by a subrecipient also are subject to this policy”4. Any product developed under this grant may be copyrighted without ACL prior approval. However, the grantee may not in any way infringe upon the royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license of the Federal government. As such and within these parameters, ACL expects to assess all materials developed under this cooperative agreement for their appropriateness to post on the NCEA website for the use and benefit of the general public. ACL also retains the right to grant permission for others to use, distribute, and cite materials developed under this grant.

ENDNOTES

1. The Older Americans Act defines abuse, neglect and exploitation in Section 102:

(1) The term ‘‘abuse’’ means the willful—

(A) infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or cruel punishment with resulting physical harm, pain, or mental anguish; or

(B) deprivation by a person, including a caregiver, of goods or services that are necessary to avoid physical harm, mental anguish, or mental illness.

https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html

(18) (A) The term ‘exploitation’ means the fraudulent or otherwise illegal, unauthorized, or improper act or process of an individual, including a caregiver or fiduciary, that uses the resources of an older individual for monetary or personal benefit, profit, or gain, or that results in depriving an older individual of rightful access to, or use of, benefits, resources, belongings, or assets.

(38) The term ‘neglect’ means-

(A) the failure of a caregiver (as defined in paragraph (18)(B) or fiduciary to provide the goods or services that are necessary to maintain the health or safety of an older individual; or

(B) self-neglect.

2. https://acl.gov/programs/elder-justice/national-center-elder-abuse

3. The HHS Grants Policy Statement is available online at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf .

4. The HHS Grants Policy Statement is available online at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf .

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this program announcement is contained in the Older Americans Act, Title II, Section 202 (d) (42 U.S.C. 3012), as amended by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2020, P.L. 109-365. (CFDA 93.048)

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$1,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$1,000,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$850,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Under this competition, ACL will award one (1) cooperative agreement with an award ceiling of $1,000,000, for up to three (3) years, to operate the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) Information Clearinghouse.

The use of subcontractors, subgrantees, or consultants (referred to as "subrecipients" in this funding opportunity announcement) to execute the proposal's programmatic activities may not https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/grants/grants/policies-regulations/hhsgps107.pdf constitute more than 20% of the total level of effort required to carry out substantive, programmatic activities at any time. If sub-recipients will be used to accomplish substantive, programmatic activities, applications must clearly identify the projects where sub-recipients will be engaged and clearly identify the total percentage of effort sub-recipients are estimated to provide. Please note that the maximum 20% level of effort does not apply per project or task but is a 20% maximum for all programmatic activities in total.

Applications for continuation funding of the NCEA Information Clearinghouse beyond the initial year will be reviewed on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds, contingent on satisfactory progress of the grantee, and a determination by ACL that continued funding will be in the best interest of the government.

This funding opportunity announcement is for a new cooperative agreement. As provided by the terms of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224), this Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of ACL in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved grant award.

By accepting an award under this funding opportunity announcement, the grantee agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

1. Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this program announcement, including carrying out activities to meet the statutory requirements of the NCEA as identified in Section 202 (d) of the Older Americans Act, as well as carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

2. Collaborate with the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in the execution of the work plan, and collaborate with ACL in understanding the programmatic and budgetary issues of the project. Based on these negotiations and emerging issues in the field, if necessary, the grantee will revise the project work plan and/or budget detailing expectations for major activities and products during the grant period.

3. Evaluate the impact of NCEA activities, and provide recommendations to ACL on ways to enhance the program.

4. Meet with the ACL project officer at least once each month, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

5. Collaborate with other entities to respond to requests for technical assistance concerning elder maltreatment via email, telephone, or on-site when appropriate.

6. Work with other entities, both private and public, to foster an environment of multidisciplinary collaboration amongst the parties working to prevent or address elder maltreatment.

7. Create products and/or materials under this award that are accurate, objective, unbiased, and of high professional quality, and that do not violate federal, departmental, or agency grant rules. Before publicly disseminating materials developed under this grant, grantee will provide the ACL project officer a copy of the final product in order for the ACL project officer to have at least 15 business days to ensure the product meets the requirements set forth in the program announcement and cooperative agreement.

8. Submit to the ACL project officer a final, clean copy of all data developed or supported with these grant funds, in the format in which it was developed or produced, as provided for in the HHS Grants Policy Statement and referenced in the Notice of Award. The HHS Grants Policy Statement defines “data” as: “recorded information, regardless of the form or media on which it may be recorded, and includes writings, films, sound recordings, pictorial reproductions, drawings, designs or other graphic representations, procedural manuals, forms, diagrams, work flow charts, equipment descriptions, data files, data processing or computer programs (software), statistical records, and other research data” (HHS Grants Policy Statement, Part II, “Rights in Data”, page II-69).

9. Include the following disclaimer on all products produced using grant funding for the NCEA, including those produced by sub-awards:

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

The ACL project officer will execute the responsibilities outlined below:

1. Perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing a grant initiative and will work with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

2. Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the grantee project, and, as necessary, negotiate with grantee to achieve a mutually agreed upon solution to any needs identified by the grantee or ACL.

3. Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of the NCEA program, ACL, and the Department of Health and Human Services by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.

ACL will also share information with the grantee about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to the interests of the NCEA grantees and their activities.

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

5. Provide technical advice on grantee work products to ensure they are accurate, objective, unbiased, and of high professional quality, and that they do not violate federal, departmental, or agency grant rules. Before publicly disseminating materials developed under this grant, grantee will provide the ACL project officer a copy of the final product, and within 15 business days, the ACL project officer will provide guidance and feedback on whether the product meets the requirements set forth in the program announcement and this cooperative agreement.

6. Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues and modifying work plan priorities as necessary as they relate to the goals and objectives of the NCEA grant program.

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

8. Meet with the grantee project director at least once each month, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

Upon execution of this cooperative agreement, 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.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants For FY 2024 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:

Yes 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.

Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 80% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 20% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources. In other words, for every four (4) dollars received in federal funding, the applicant must contribute at least one (1) dollar in non-federal resources toward the project’s total cost.

This “four-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in the “Instructions for Completing Requested Forms.” You can use this formula to calculate your minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 20% of the federal share, rather than 20% of the project’s total cost.

There are two types of match: 1) non-federal cash and 2) non-federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of any and all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors and consultants, are considered matching funds. Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (third party) donations. Examples of non-federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement. Applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review.

Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria ACL is establishing the following minimum criteria to assess whether applications received by ACL are minimally responsive to the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.

Applications that do not meet the following responsiveness criteria will be administratively eliminated and will not be reviewed. To pass screening for responsiveness, applications must meet the following criteria:

1. Applicant organization has demonstrated expertise in elder maltreatment.

2. Applicant provides a project director for this project who is a national leader in elder maltreatment, and who will work on this project in a significant capacity (at least 20% of time).

3. Letters of Commitment are included for agencies, organizations, consultants, or entities that are specifically named to carry out any aspect of the project, other than the applicant.

The letters of commitment are on the letterhead of the committing entity, detail the specific role and resources/activities that will be provided in support of the applicant’s project, and are signed. Letters expressing support for the application are not responsive.

4. CVs/Resumes are included for each person identified as "key personnel," each of whom is an authorized representative of the highest court of the state.

5. Application includes a budget covering each of the 3 years (36 months) of the project.

6. Application includes a work plan covering each of the 3 years (36 months) of the project.

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three (3) screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

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

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8 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. Accordingly, only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be reviewed. Any pages in excess of 20 will be removed and will not be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Abstract, Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, Vitae of Key Project Personnel and Budget 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 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.

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

• 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. 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

Erin Kee erin.kee@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent Date will be generated on synopsis publication https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.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:

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

Erin Kee

Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services erin.kee@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 15 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 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 this funding opportunity. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. Your project narrative will be reviewed and scored based on the components below.

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

• Project Relevance and Current Need

• Goals and Objectives

• Proposed Approach

• Special Target Populations and Organizations

• Outcomes

• Evaluation

• Dissemination

• Organizational Capacity and Collaboration.

The components of the Project Narrative that are required but not counted as part of the 20-page limit are:

• Project Abstract mailto:erin.kee@acl.hhs.gov

• Budget Narrative/Justification

• Project Work Plan

• Vitae of Key Personnel

• Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

• Bibliography/Works Cited.

Project 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.

The Project Abstract is not counted as part of the 20-page limit.

Project Relevance and Current Need This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the particular problem or issue the proposed intervention is designed to address. Specifically for this funding opportunity, this section should detail how the project is intended to affect its targeted population(s), including agencies and organizations in the field of elder justice, older adults, their caregivers, specific subgroups within those populations, and the systems involved in the prevention, identification, and/or response to elder maltreatment. It is recommended that applicants focus their problem statement on the specific aspects of the considerations bearing on their proposed activities, rather than providing a broad or sweeping historical overview that is not directly related to the proposed interventions and activities. Strong applications will demonstrate that the proposed project is justified in terms of the most recent, relevant, and available information and knowledge about elder maltreatment prevention and intervention, evidence-based practices, and/or new and cutting-edge research.

Goals and Objectives In this section, describe the proposed project’s detailed goal(s) and major objectives in relation to the overarching goals and objectives ACL has for the NCEA described in Section I.

Furthermore, applicants should identify here if they are proposing any objectives in addition to the five (5) outlined in Section I.3. However, application scores will not be based on, nor correspond to, the number of proposed goals or objectives.

Proposed Approach This section should provide a clear and concise description of the approach and activities proposed to address the problem(s) described in the above section “Project Relevance and Current Need” and to meet all the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity as stated in Section I (and any others the applicant proposes, if applicable).Applications should explain the rationale for using a particular approach, including factors such as “lessons learned” from previous, similar projects or factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the approach. Further, this section should identify any major barriers that are anticipated, and how the project will overcome those barriers.

For all identified objectives and activities in a proposal, applicants must detail/describe:

• Describe the criteria, methods, and frequency they would use to carry out all of the proposed activities and processes under each objective;

• Describe how they will integrate new activities identified via collaborations;

• Describe how the applicant will integrate new information, research, and practice to remain relevant and current, using the most recent and impactful ideas and methods.

Special Target Populations This section should describe how the proposed intervention will target disadvantaged populations, including older adults of color and other such as those older adults with limited- English proficiency, residing in rural areas, and older adults with low-income who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Please describe how you plan to reach underserved/under-resourced communities including but not limited to individuals who are Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American older persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other older persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older persons;

older persons with disabilities; and older persons who live in rural areas to identify those who are in need of pension counseling and assistance.

Outcomes This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcomes that will result from the project. ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes. This section should also describe how the project’s findings and results will help other state and/or local elder justice programs throughout the nation prevent or address elder maltreatment.

Outcomes are the measurable results of a project that can include changes in clients, systems, organizations, and communities. Outcomes should tie directly to your goals and those of this funding opportunity. This section should also describe how the project’s outcomes might benefit the field at large (e.g., help other organizations throughout the nation to address the same or similar problems). 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.

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

Applicants should keep the focus of this section on describing what outcomes will be produced by the project. Applicants should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcomes will be measured and reported.

Evaluation This section should describe the method(s), techniques, and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether the proposed approach achieved anticipated outcomes, and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project. A component of the evaluation plan should include a discussion of how success will be measured.

Dissemination It is HHS policy that the results and accomplishments of the activities that it funds should be made available to the public. All appropriate findings and products will be posted on the NCEA website (hosted by ACL) as determined in conjunction with the ACL project officer.

Applications should detail how it plans to create materials in an easily accessible format and to whom these materials may be distributed. In addition to posting on the NCEA website, this section must describe how the project’s products will be distributed in a timely manner to parties who might be interested in using the products produced by NCEA, such as to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policymaking, especially to those parties who would be interested in replicating a project, policy, initiative, etc. found in the NCEA clearinghouse.

Organizational Capacity and Collaborations Organization

Each application should include an organizational capability statement. 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. If appropriate, include an organization chart showing the relationship of the project to the current organization. An organizational chart can be included as an attachment to the project narrative and will not count towards the narrative page limit.

Project Team

This section should include a discussion of any current or previous relevant experience and/or the record of the project team in operating a large resource center and building partnerships and with prevention, intervention, and/or response to elder maltreatment. It should delineate the roles and responsibilities of key project staff and specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress; preparation of reports; communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.