Foa_Content_of_HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-PCRP-0015 (2).pdf

Signature Date

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Pension Counseling & Information Projects

HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-PCRP-0015

05/20/2024

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 COLLABORATION

Bibliography/Works Cited

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:

Pension Counseling & Information Projects Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2024-ACL-AOA-PCRP-0015

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

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

05/20/2024 Date for Informational Conference Call:

03/25/2024 Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary https://www.grants.gov/

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary Since 1993, the Administration on Aging (AoA), now a part of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), has funded the Pension Regional Counseling Programs (PRCPs) to help individuals understand and exercise their pension rights. The counseling projects provide individuals with many pension-related access services, including: advice, outreach, referral, location of lost plans, advocacy with plan administrators, and representation in administrative proceedings. All services are provided regardless of age or income. Projects pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing pension equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. With this opportunity, ACL plans to provide funding to support six (6) PRCPs, in regions defined by ACL.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Note on Exclusive Subject Matter: For purposes of this grant program, “pensions” or “pensions and retirement savings plans” include defined benefit pensions, defined contribution plans and profit-sharing plans that provide retirement income, and that are sponsored by government and private employers. This program addresses the retirement income benefits of plans. It does not engage with investments made by defined contributions or profit-sharing plans to generate that income, or with litigation regarding such investments. PRCPs are exclusively focused on gaining access for clients to pension benefits.

BACKGROUND

Ensuring economic security in retirement is essential to pursuing 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. Income from employer-sponsored pensions and retirement savings plans are increasingly crucial for the retirement security of many Americans. Finding a trustworthy place for personalized, hands-on help in obtaining earned benefits can make the difference between poverty, or even unwanted institutional placement, and living one's retirement years with independence and dignity.

Even for the simplest of pension questions, it can be daunting to find capable legal assistance.

Finding a lawyer can be difficult and discouraging due to the highly specialized and complex nature of this area of practice. Often, pension matters of those most dependent on income from pension plans - low and moderate wage earners and their dependents - are of modest fiscal value that may not be able to retain assistance from the private bar.

Program History

In recognition of the above, Congress directed the AoA (now a component of ACL) to develop demonstration projects specifically designed to help individuals understand and exercise their pension rights: the PCRPs. The PCRPs provide individuals with many services, including advice, outreach, referral, location of lost plans, administrative advocacy with plans, and representation in administrative proceedings regardless of age or income. PCRP activities enhance the financial, emotional, physical, and mental well-being of older adults, enabling individuals to make informed choices, as well as helping them to remain in their own homes and communities with improved quality of life.

PCRPs have been overwhelmingly successful across a variety of measures, the most impressive being it has recovered over $263 million in benefits for the tens of thousands of clients served.

This represents a direct return of more than $9 for every federal funding dollar invested.

PCRPs are supported by the National Pension Assistance Resource Center (NPARC), which provides the counseling projects with substantive legal training, case consultation, and operational coordination and support. NPARC is also charged with providing nationwide outreach, information, and referral services. The PCRPs and NPARC maintain an extensive outreach program that helps raise awareness of pension rights and the availability of assistance though the PCRPs and NPARC.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Per Section 215(e)(1) of the Older Americans Act (OAA), the PRCP grantees will carry out the following activities:

1. Provide counseling (including direct counseling and assistance to individuals who need information regarding pension and other retirement benefits) and information to assist individuals in obtaining, or establishing rights to, and filing claims or complaints regarding pension and other retirement benefits. PRCPs address the retirement income benefits of plans and does not engage with investments made by defined contributions or profit-sharing plans to generate that income, or with litigation regarding such investments. Examples of such activities include legal representation to obtain benefits (e.g., Qualified Domestic Relations Order, or QDROs), drafting and submitting claims, and locating lost plans;

2. Provide information on sources of pension and other retirement benefits;

3. Provide staffing to fill specialized staff positions with demonstratable expertise in detailed pension intake and client casework, as well as training programs for new and returning staff members, including volunteer staff members, on pension and other retirement benefits programs;

4. Provide specific and targeted outreach with information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other retirement benefits, with particular emphasis on outreach to people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, including those with limited-English proficiency;

The goal of a regional counseling project is to provide appropriate pension information and assistance services as described in this Notice of Funding Opportunity throughout an ACL-defined region.

In addition to the requirements listed in Section 215(e)(1), OAA § 215(f) requires applicants to include the following components to be considered for funding:

1. Data Collection and Reporting: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to collect and report data on the applicant’s activities. Applicants must document how they plan to keep client information confidential, including, if applicable, by using a commercial client management software. All funded projects will be expected to submit reports to NPARC for analysis. At a minimum, the following case-level data must be collected:

client demographics (e.g., age, gender, race, and income); legal issues involved; types and levels of services provided; and client outcomes, including amount of financial recovery. When reporting data to NPARC and ACL, all client data is to be aggregated and de-identified. Demographic information is collected only to identify data on populations served by the project and measure project outcomes.

2. Tracking Outreach Activities: Regional counseling projects are required to track and report their specific outreach activities and outcomes of those activities in accordance with data protocols established by NPARC. At a minimum, outreach data must include the specific outreach media (agency, event, publication, social media, etc.), method (presentation, webinar, brochure, online, letter, press release, etc.), frequency (episodic, quarterly, etc.), dissemination to every state and community within the region proposed to be served, and client referral source. Applicants must describe in their proposal how they will track and report these data.

Applicants must expressly describe how they propose to focus on serving people of color and others such as with limited-English proficiency, those residing in rural areas and individuals with low-income who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality throughout the region.

ACL’s intention with this funding opportunity is to serve individuals with pension-related matters -at a minimum- in the six regions established since the project’s inception (see OAA § 215(e)(1)(B)), defined as:

• Region I: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Illinois

• Region II: New York and New Jersey

• Region III: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky

• Region IV: Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

• Region V: Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota

• Region VI: Arizona, Nevada, California, and Hawaii

ACL will make one (1) award per Region. Applications must specifically identify the proposed service region from the above list. Applicants may apply to serve more than one region, but if awarded the applicant must serve all states in all awarded regions and comply with the conditions set forth in this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applicants and awardees must comply with all applicable Rules of Professional Conduct, including in regard to conflicts of interest with employers or pension plans. Applicants must provide services to people who reside or work in the service region (at the time of service or when the benefit was earned) and who seek benefits that are sponsored, administered, trusteed, or provided to workers within the service region (at the time of service or when the benefit was earned).

Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to provide equivalent services and access to pension counseling and information services throughout the proposed service region, regardless of age or income. To do so, an application must show established arrangements with an attorney experienced in pension counseling services who is licensed to practice law in each state covered by the proposed regional counseling project and free from conflicts of interest with pension plans or employers; one attorney for every state is not required (i.e., one attorney can be licensed to practice in more than one state in the region). This arrangement can be demonstrated by, at a minimum, a Memorandum of Understanding or Letter of Commitment that includes the following information: relationship between applicant and attorney; attorney’s experience and knowledge in the area of pensions and retirement income plans; states licensed to practice law;

how the attorney will support the applicant; and mechanisms for ensuring the attorney has no conflict of interest.

PCRP grantees are required to develop and maintain a coordinated intake and referral strategy throughout each state in the defined region. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to refer clients for non-pension related matters, including but not limited to civil legal remedies for those who experience elder abuse, housing rights, eviction defense, access to public benefits, and decisional rights support. For example, in the application, applicants may list common referral sites and what services those entities provide for clients.

Statutory Authority Title II, Section 215 of the Older Americans Act (OAA) (42 U.S.C. § 3032), as amended in 2020 (P.L. 116-131).

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$1,200,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$200,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$175,000 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' Under this competition, ACL will award a total of six (6) new, cooperative agreements, one award per Region as defined in Section I above, ranging from $175,000 - $200,000 each per budget period. The project period will be for 60-months (or, 5 years), and the budget periods will be five (5), 12-month periods. Applications for continuation funding 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.

Final award decisions will be made by the ACL Administrator and will be based on recommendations of the objective review panel (see Section V), reviews for programmatic and grants management compliance, geographic distribution, and the reasonableness of the estimated cost considering the available funding and anticipated results.

Cooperative Agreement Terms

All awards under this Notice of Funding Opportunity will be new cooperative agreements. These require collaboration with and substantial involvement by ACL. Both the grantees and ACL will have a role in the project. Throughout the life of the project, ACL staff will be there to help and work with grantees. The following cooperative agreement terms and conditions apply to all recipients:

Grantee Role

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

1. Fulfill all requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this program announcement, identify a project director, and 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 project activities and provide recommendations to ACL on ways to enhance the program. Include progress and information/data on the project’s measurable outcomes and the evaluation in semi-annual reports, and at other times as agreed upon by the grantee and ACL.

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

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

6. 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).

7. Include the following disclaimer on all products produced using grant funding, 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.”

ACL Role

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 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 grantee and their activities.

4. Provide technical assistance to grantee with the refinement and carrying out of the project’s evaluation plan via regular conference calls and email correspondence.

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 as necessary.

7. 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.

Recipients will match 20% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources. ACL must hold recipients of federal funds accountable for their projected commitments of non-federal resources.

ACL places match commitments in the Notice of Award (NOA). Not meeting the committed match amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will need to report matching funds in 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. 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.”

Applicants can use this formula to calculate the minimum required match. A common applicant error is to match 20% of the federal share, rather than 20% of the project’s total cost. The statutory authority to require a match can be found in Section 431(a) of the Older American’s Act.

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 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 include budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages applicants to not exceed the minimum match requirements. 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 below – Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria The successful applicants will be organizations that meet the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate expertise in advising and representing individuals who have questions about, or who have been denied or denied access to, employer or union-sponsored retirement pension benefits, or whose access has been otherwise compromised; and

2. A relationship with a licensed attorney with pension expertise in each state included in the application region.

Applications that do not meet the above responsiveness criteria will be administratively eliminated and will NOT be reviewed.

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

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

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

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 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 Abstract, Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, Vitae of Key Project Personnel, Budget, and any Works Cited are not counted towards the 20-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from https://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of submission. For example, applicants will be required to provide an https://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Application materials can be obtained from https://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants.

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

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

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

Eastern Time.

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

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

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

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

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

• Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division (OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its UEI number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

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

• The Federal Government will transition from the DUNS Number to the New Unique Entity Identifier. 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.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from https://www.grants.gov.

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

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent Number of Days from Publication 30

Date will be generated on synopsis publication 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

Sara Planthaber

Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services

Email: sara.planthaber@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.

Applicants can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 12 to 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 the project meets the minimum requirements for this funding opportunity. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of the project.

The 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 include:

https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov mailto:jeremy.bell@acl.hhs.gov

• Project Relevance and Current Need

• Goal(s) 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 include:

• Project Abstract

• Budget Narrative/Justification

• Project Work Plan

• Vitae of Key Personnel

• Letters of Commitment/Memorandum of Understanding

• Bibliography/Works Cited.

PROJECT ABSTRACT

This section will not count towards the 20-page limit.

This section should include a brief (265 words maximum) description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed.

PROJECT RELEVANCE AND CURRENT NEED

This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the problem or issue the proposed intervention is designed to address. Specifically for this funding opportunity, this section should identify the types, severity, and prevalence of pension issues within the proposed region that can be addressed by the proposed counseling project.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate an understanding of what populations are most affected by these pension issues, noting any proposed target populations and the unique nature of pension problems they encounter, as appropriate. Applicants should specifically address how access to information, assistance, and administrative advocacy and representation will positively affect adults in the region proposed to be served.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Applications should describe their proposed project’s goal(s) and major objectives in relation to the overarching goal of this program to provide pension services and outreach. Goals include the project’s overall purpose; such as a mission statement that says what the applicant wants to do and where in the region the applicant wants to maximize achieving project objectives and proposed outcomes. Objectives are narrow, specific, and clear steps towards an applicant’s goals. Applications are free to propose more than one goal and objective. 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 an applicant is proposing. Applicants should also describe 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. Applicants should also note any major anticipated barriers, and how the proposed project will be able to overcome those barriers. Be sure to describe the role and makeup of any strategic partnerships, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

At a minimum, the following activities are required of all regional counseling projects.

Applications must describe how they will carry out the required activities.

1. Regional Pension Counseling & Referral Services

a. Provide direct counseling and assistance to individuals who are residing in, or seeking a pension benefit, in the region, who need information on pensions and other retirement benefits, and assist individuals in obtaining, or establishing rights to, and filing claims or complaints regarding, pension and other retirement benefits.

b. Provide equivalent services and access, at no cost to individuals, regardless of age or income, to each state in the defined region. This includes the methods/process for ensuring capacity to deliver pension counseling information and assistance across the region, and specifically requires a formal relationship with an attorney with expertise about pension law in all states in the defined region. (Please see “Organizational Capacity and Collaboration” section below for guidance on demonstrating the capacity to achieve this requirement).

c. Accept referrals from and send referrals to other organizations, and how you will leverage new or existing community connections to refer clients with non-pension needs to the appropriate provider.

2. Regional Outreach Activities

a. Deliver outreach opportunities throughout the service region, including any planned collaborations with community organizations, social service agencies, and other groups. Applications should discuss what, how, and to whom outreach materials will be created and disseminated.

b. Target traditionally marginalized populations, including people of color and others, such as those with limited-English proficiency, those residing in rural areas and individuals with low-income who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality who are in need of pension access information and assistance.

c. Applicants should also describe how the project will coordinate with NPARC regarding the proposed project’s outreach efforts.

3. Training

a. Provide training for staff members, including volunteer staff members, of pension and other retirement benefits programs. Descriptions should address training for new staff as well as ongoing training for existing staff, proposed training topics, and how training curriculum will integrate existing content from NPARC.

b. Maintain a comprehensive and relevant curated library or collection of employee benefits reference materials in accordance with those recommended by NPARC.

All reference materials should be specifically identified by applicants and costs to acquire and/or maintain the materials should be included in the project budget.

4. Programmatic Consistency

a. Collect and report client data including the minimum data set described in the

“Application Requirements” in Section I.

b. Track and report their specific outreach activities and outcomes of those activities, including the minimum data set described in the “Application Requirements” in Section I. In this section, applicants should identify any additional proposed activities and how those additional activities will be conducted.

SPECIAL TARGET POPULATIONS

This section should describe how the proposed intervention will target disadvantaged populations, including people of color and others such as those with limited-English proficiency, residing in rural areas, and individuals with low-income who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Please describe how the proposed intervention plans to reach underserved/under-resourced communities including but not limited to individuals who are Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; and 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 outcome(s) that will result from the project. A "measurable outcome" is an observable end-result that describes how a particular project proposal will benefit consumers. Historically projects are known for helping their clients access pension benefits to which they are entitled and recovering pension benefits that otherwise would have been missed or lost. This is a primary outcome for projects. Other outcomes could include an improvement in client knowledge or understanding of pension rights.

Outcomes are the measurable results of a project that can include changes in clients, systems, organizations, and communities. Outcomes should tie directly to the proposed 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". Examples of “outputs” include: the number of clients served; the number of training sessions held; or the number of service units provided. (NOTE: ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes). The application will be scored on the clarity and nature of the proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited.

The Evaluation section (see below) will describe how the outcome(s) 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 intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s); and

2. Document the "lessons learned" - both positive and negative - from the project that will be potentially useful to project replication.

Specifically, this section should detail how the project will use collected client and outreach data in its analysis in conjunction with NPARC.

DISSEMINATION

It is HHS policy that the results and accomplishments of the activities that it funds should be made available to the public. Recipient organizations are expected to make the results and accomplishments of their activities available to the research community and to the public at large. This section must describe how the project’s results and findings will be distributed in a timely manner to parties who might be interested in using the results. Applications should detail how it plans to create materials in an easily accessible format and to whom these materials may be distributed.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND

COLLABORATION

Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to deliver equivalent services throughout the region by describing how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and its experience with pension law, regional service delivery, and outreach. If applicable, applications should describe how they plan to fill necessary positions to perform proposed activities. It should also include the organization's capability to sustain some or all project activities after Federal financial assistance has ended. Please also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role(s) in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Proposals must identify an attorney licensed to practice in each state of the region with expertise in pension law; one attorney for every state is not required (i.e., one attorney can be licensed to practice in more than one state in the region). Applicants must attach a Memorandum of Understanding or Letter of Commitment from each attorney which includes, at minimum:

relationship between applicant and attorney; attorney’s experience and knowledge in the area of pensions and retirement income plans; state(s) licensed to practice law; how the attorney will support the applicant; and mechanisms for ensuring the attorney has no conflict of interest.

Applicants who have identified external project collaborators with a significant role in implementing the project or achieving a project goal must include a signed Letter of Commitment from the collaborator (and on the collaborator’s letter head) that details the role, resources, and activities the collaborator intends to provide to the project. If applicable, the Letter should specifically state how the collaborator will help reach special target populations.

(See More Detail Below: “Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies”.)

Each application must include a short vita for key project personnel. Vitae will not count towards the narrative’s 20-page limit.

Bibliography/Works Cited This section will not count toward the page limit.

Applicants must document all source material that is referenced. If any text, language and/or materials are from another source, the applicant must make it clear the material is being quoted and where the text comes from. The applicant must also cite any sources when they use numbers, ideas, or other material that is not their own. Applications may attach a “Bibliography” or “Works Cited” section to the end of the project narrative to cite sources properly. This section will not count towards the 20-page limit. The bibliography must only contain bibliographic information for sources cited in the Project Narrative. Any entry in the bibliography that is not a source citation, such as an explanatory note, will be removed.

Budget Narrative/Justification This section does not count towards the page limit.

Because the proposal must demonstrate a clear and strong relationship between the stated objectives, project activities, and the budget, applicants are encouraged to include a narrative budget justification that summarizes the cost estimated per proposed project, activity, or product.

This budget justification is helpful for reviewers in assessing the reasonableness of the type and amount of work that is planned, and what the applicant expects to be produced/achieved for the overall cost.

The budget narrative should include anticipated project expenses for the duration of the grant.

Some examples of key budget categories include staff, training, reference materials, outreach, and travel, including travel to the annual National Pension Counseling Training Conference for all funded pension staff. Applicants should include a budget for all identified activities. For outreach activities, be sure to include a budget for printing, postage, internet, travel, and other expenses sufficient to adequately fund an effective region-wide outreach campaign.

Applicants requesting funding for a multi-year grant program are required to provide a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification for each potential year of grant funding requested. Accordingly, applications must include a budget for each of the five (5) years of this project. Applicants may select their own format or may use the template included in the attached document “Budget Narrative/Justification – Sample Format.” Regardless of the format used, applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to the attached template document, which provides an example of the level of detail sought.

Project Work Plan This section does not count towards the page limit.

The Project Work Plan should reflect and be consistent with the Project Narrative and Budget, and cover all five (5) years of the project period. It should include a statement of the project's overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks or action steps that will be pursued to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task or action step, the work plan should identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task. It should also incorporate activities undertaken with other organizations, including NPARC and community organizations located in the application region.

Please reference the optional Sample Work Plan Template included under the Downloads for this Funding Opportunity Announcement as posted at https://acl.gov/grants/open-opportunities.

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies This section will not count toward the page limit.

Letters of Commitment must be included for any organization or individual who is identified as a key partner, key personnel, or otherwise named to carry out specific activities in the application.

The Letters of Commitment must specify the partnering…