hhs-2015-acl-aoa-al-0104 updated 5-8-2015.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Alzheimer's Disease Initiative - Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) Project Financed Solely by 2015

Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF 2015)

HHS-2015-ACL-AOA-AL-0104

Application Due Date: 07/06/2015

Alzheimer's Disease Initiative - Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) Project Financed Solely by 2015 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF 2015)

HHS-2015-ACL-AOA-AL-0104

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview Executive Summary Funding Opportunity DescriptionI.

Award InformationII.

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants1.

Cost Sharing or Matching2.

Responsiveness and Screening Criteria3.

III.

Application and Submission Information

Address to Request Application Package1.

Content and Form of Application Submission2.

Submission Dates and Times3.

Intergovernmental Review4.

Funding Restrictions5.

Other Submission Requirements6.

IV.

Application Review Information

Criteria1.

Review and Selection Process2.

Anticipated Announcement Award Date3.

V.

Award Administration Information

Award Notices1.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements2.

Reporting3.

FFATA and FSRS Reporting4.

VI.

Agency ContactsVII.

Other InformationVIII.

Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Initiative - Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) Project Financed Solely by 2015 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF 2015) Modification

HHS-2015-ACL-AOA-AL-0104

93.763 05/20/2015 07/06/2015 05/14/2015

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

Executive Summary

Cooperative agreements under this funding opportunity announcement, Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative:

Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) project, are financed solely by 2015 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF-2015). The project is designed to fill gaps in dementia-capable long-term services and supports (LTSS) for persons living with or those at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers by providing quality, person-centered services that help them remain independent and safe in their communities.

A dementia-capable system meets the unique needs of persons living with dementia by 1) identifying those with a possible dementia and recommending follow up with a physician; 2) ensuring that the staff they encounter have appropriate training, understand the unique needs, the services available , as well as knowing how to communicate with them; and 3) providing quality, person-centered services that help them remain independent and safe in their communities. A dementia-capable system also involves family caregivers when they are available and it is appropriate.

The intent of ADI-SSS program cooperative agreements is to fill existing service gaps in three of the following four areas:

Provision of effective supportive services to persons living alone with ADRD in the community.1.

Provision of effective care/supportive services to persons living with moderate to severe impairment from ADRD and their caregivers

2.

Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of programs and services dedicated to individuals aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities with ADRD or those at high risk of developing ADRD.

3.

Delivery of behavioral symptom management training and expert consultation for family caregivers. 4.

ACL Center:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Primary CFDA Number:

Due Date For Letter of Intent:

Due Date for Applications:

Date for Informational Conference Call:

http://www.grants.gov

Eligible applicants are those private and/or public entities that are able to 1) demonstrate the existence of a dementia-capable system dedicated to the population that they serve, and 2) articulate opportunities and additional services that would enhance and strengthen the existing system. Services must be evidence-based or evidence-informed to the extent possible.Eligible applicants will be those entities that are well into the development of a dementia-capable system and not those in the beginning of development of such a system.

The Administration on Aging within the Administration for Community Living (AoA/ACL) plans to award as many as ten cooperative agreements to domestic public or private entities with an estimated average award of $9,825,091 for three year, forward funded project periods. The awards, made in the form of cooperative agreements to ensure AoA/ACL's substantial involvement, have an anticipated start date of September 1, 2015.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

An estimated 5.2 million individuals in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease, that number is expected to increase by 40% by 2025.[1] The anticipated increase is attributed to individuals living longer as a result of advances in medicine, technology, as well as social and environmental conditions[2] and thus advancing to ages at which they are at increased risk of developing ADRD. Such medical and technological advances are prolonging the lives of individuals living with disabilities of which an estimated 6% are affected by some form of dementia after the age of 60 and increasing with age.[3] Of the community dwelling individuals with ADRD, approximately one-third live alone, putting them at an increased risk of, among other things, unmet needs, malnutrition and injury and various forms of neglect and exploitation.[4] The complexity of care of persons with advanced dementia is defined by the severity of functional and cognitive impairment, reliance on surrogate decision-making, inability to live alone and tremendous family/caregiver burden.[5] Behavioral symptoms such as repetitive speech, wandering, and sleep disturbances are a core clinical feature of Alzheimer disease and related dementias. If untreated, these behaviors can accelerate disease progression, worsen functional decline and quality of life, cause significant caregiver distress, and result in earlier nursing home placement.[6] In 1992 the Congress created the Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS) program to improve home and community-based services for persons living with ADRD and their families. As the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease grows, it is increasingly important that service delivery and health care systems are responsive to persons with dementia and are effectively coordinated. In 2008 the ADDGS program evolved into the Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP), with expanded goals of increased availability of services for persons with ADRD, their families and caregivers and improved responsiveness of the home and community-based service (HCBS) system. In 2011 the ADSSP expanded its scope to focus on ensuring the availability of dementia-capable community-based social and health care service through the coordination and incorporation of ADRD into these broader systems.

Despite the broad reach of the ADSSP, service and support gaps remain. In an effort to fill some existing gaps, the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative – Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) project is dedicated to both the provision of services to targeted special populations and provision of targeted training.

Specifically, successful applicants will engage in a minimum of three of the following activities in support of individuals with ADRD.

Develop and deliver supportive services to persons living alone with ADRD in communities;1.

Promote and provide person and family centered care and training to improve care for and prepare individuals living with moderate to severe impairment and their caregivers for the future;

2.

Improve the quality and effectiveness of programs and services dedicated to individuals aging with intellectual and developmental disabilities with ADRD or those at high risk of developing ADRD;

3.

and Deliver behavioral symptom management training and expert consultation to family caregivers. 4.

It is through programs such as this that the Administration for Community Living (ACL) demonstrates its commitment to its mission to maximize the independence, well-being, and health of older adults, people with disabilities, and their families and caregivers. [7]

The expanded availability of specialized services under this announcement will be provided within a dementia-capable home and community-based service system by public and/or private entities. Eligible entities are those which are able to both demonstrate the existence of a dementia-capable system dedicated to the population they serve, and articulate opportunities and additional services that would enhance and strengthen the existing system. Successful applicants under this program will be leaders or partners in existing dementia-capable systems designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of programs and services.

The necessity of these specialized services is exemplified by the aging of the Baby Boom generation which is resulting in increased numbers of people with dementia living alone with no family caregivers available. The appropriate response to such an increase is an effective supportive service system that is capable of provision of services to persons living alonewith ADRD in the community. Promotion and provision of person and family centered care and training for individuals living with moderate to severe impairment from ADRD and their caregivers are essential in efforts to prevent hospitalizations and burdensome transitions. Medical and technological advances have resulted in an increase in the number of individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities living long enough to become consumers of aging network services. Behavioral symptoms occur in almost everyone with dementia and symptom management is very difficult for an untrained caregiver, without assistance from experts.

Behavioral symptom management training and expert consultation for family caregivers (broadly defined to include close friends and partners) is an integral piece of the ADI-SSS project. Behavioral interventions may include: provision of caregiver education and support, training in problem solving, and targeted therapy directed at the underlying causes for specific behaviors (e.g. implementing nighttime routines to address sleep disturbances). [8] The system within which such individuals and their caregivers operate should be capable of addressing their unique needs and the provision of effective services.

The national consensus is that our home and community-based service (HCBS) system must be person-centered, that is, more responsive to the unique needs and preferences of each individual utilizing the system. Successful applicants would demonstrate the used of person-centered practices in all of required service areas listed above. For example, an individual may be experiencing and reacting to pain, through a person-centered approach the cause of the pain may be identified and removed, thereby alleviating the pain and the resulting behavior. A person-centered approach affords systems the opportunity to address previously unmet needs of persons with ADRD and their caregivers.

People with dementia (70% of whom live in the community) and their caregivers use the full spectrum of HCBS available from a variety of public and private sector programs. Creating a dementia-capable system involves building upon and integrating existing programs from the private sector and those that AoA/ACL and its partners offer. Public sector partners include the Administration for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD); the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Among the innovative programs that AoA/ACL and its partners have implemented are those listed in the Appendix. It is critical that grantees build dementia capability into their current programs in partnership with key agencies in their states, including, but not limited to, Medicaid and the Veterans Health System. Inclusion of dementia capability in existing and future efforts (i.e.

Medicare-Medicaid integration demonstrations, the State Innovation Models, and other Affordable Care Act initiatives) will foster better quality, coordinated care and improve population health at lower cost.

Funding Opportunity Requirements

The cooperative agreement will have two phases:

1. Planning phase during which the grantee develops a work plan, based on the work plan contained in the original application, acceptable to AoA/ACL that will result in accomplishing the goal, objectives, and core components of these objectives.

2. Implementation phase that carries out the grantee’s plan for accomplishing the goal, objectives, and core components of these objectives.

Planning Phase

Applicants are to propose a planning phase of no more than 6 months from the notification date of the grant award. During this planning phase, grantees will be able to access no more than 15% of total grant funding to develop their implementation plan. AoA/ACL will be actively involved during the planning phase of the grant. At the conclusion of the planning phase, the grantee must participate in a “Planning Phase Exit Conference” and receive the approval of AoA/ACL to progress to the Implementation Phase and access the remaining 85 percent of cooperative agreement funding.

Implementation Phase

The grantee may not advance to the Implementation Phase without a “Planning Phase Exit Conference” and AoA/ACL staff approval of their implementation plan. Upon AoA/ACL approval of the implementation plan the grantee may begin the Implementation Phase of the grant period.

Direct Service Requirement

The successful applicants will be required to dedicate 30% of its first-year budget, 40% of its second-year budget and 50% of its third-year budget to the provision of direct services.

In light of the service area priority of this funding opportunity, applicants whose budget reflects low administrative expenses will receive a more favorable rating.

Data Collection

Grantees will be required to collect information on services provided under the authority of existing and future approved data collections.

Evaluation

At the onset of the project, grantees will be required to conduct a baseline assessment of the dementia capability of their existing systems. The assessment will afford grantees the opportunity to create metrics for use in future service program evaluations, as well as a basis for setting goals, objectives and milestones for program monitoring and reporting throughout the program period. At the conclusion of the program period, successful applicants will be able to document the progress that they have made, by reporting on the aspects of their project that were successful and those that were not, as well as the lessons learned.

Applications will be scored on the extent to which a robust project evaluation is undertaken. Evaluations should, at a minimum, determine the effectiveness and impact of the strategies and processes used for execution of project goals at both the systems development and consumer (service provision) level. More information on evaluation expectations can be found in Section V of this funding opportunity announcement.

Technical Assistance

Successful applicants are to draw on the expertise of AoA/ACL program staff and existing AoA-sponsored resources to develop, implement, and sustain their strategic work plans. All grantees will be expected to participate in technical assistance activities as they pertain to the program development, management and integration. This includes, but is not limited to, participation in regularly scheduled technical assistance conference calls, web casts, learning collaboratives and one-on-one technical assistance opportunities initiated by AoA/ACL staff, technical assistance resource center staff or the grantees.

[1] Alzheimer’s Association. 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Accessed April 14, 2014 at http ://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp .

[2] Vincent, GK, Velkof, VA. The Next Four Decades: The Older Population in the United States:

2010-2050. Washington, DC. US Census Bureau, 2010.

[3] National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practice. My Thinker’s Not Working.

January 2012.

[4] Gould, E., Maslow, K., Yuen, P., Wiener, J. Providing Services for People with Dementia Who Live Alone: Issue Brief. Accessed April 14, 2014 athttp://www.adrc-tae.acl.gov/tiki-index.php?page=adsspkey& ;filter=key .

[5] National Alzheimer Project Act Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services Meeting #15: Advanced Dementia Expert Panel Summary and Key Recommendations. (2015, January 26). January 26, 2015 In-Person Meeting. Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/012615/Mtg15 -Slides4.shtml .

[6] Gitlin LN, Kales HC, Lyketsos CG. Nonpharmacologic Management of Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia. JAMA. 2012;308(19):2020-2029. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.36918.

[7] Administration for Community Living. ACL Strategic Plan 2013-2018. Accessed April 14, 2014 at http ://acl.gov/About_ACL/StrategicPlan/docs/ACL_Strategic_Plan.pdf .

[8] Gitlin LN, Kales HC, Lyketsos CG. Nonpharmacologic Management of Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia. JAMA. 2012;308(19):2020-2029. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.36918.

Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for cooperative agreements under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is contained within Title IV of the Older Americans Act.

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Estimated Total Funding: $9,825,091 Expected Number of Awards: 10 Award Ceiling: $1,000,000 Per Project Period Award Floor: $800,000 Per Project Period Average Projected Award Amount: $0 Per Project Period 36-month project with three 12-month budget periods

36-month project period

All awards will be forward-funded for the entire 36 month project period.

The AoA/ACL plans to fund up to ten grants with a federal funding level of up to $1,000,000 per project period with three separate budget years. The number of awards will vary based on the following factors: 1) appropriation levels, and 2) the number of applications funded under the FOA.

The size of each award will vary, as dictated by the nature and scope of the projects proposed by applicants. AoA/ACL reserves the right to offer a lower level of funding than that requested in the application.

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp http://www.adrc-tae.acl.gov/tiki-index.php?page=adsspkey&filter=key http://www.adrc-tae.acl.gov/tiki-index.php?page=adsspkey&filter=key https://webmail.hhs.gov/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=__iFMlf3hz6gME23uUVa6EEAuqm2vj9_06x_vR0Gj2dqjhlEDDXSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYQBzAHAAZQAuAGgAaABzAC4AZwBvAHYALwBkAGEAbAB0AGMAcAAvAG4AYQBwAGEALwAwADEAMgA2ADEANQAvAE0AdABnADEANQAtAFMAbABpAGQAZQBzADQALgBzAGgAdABtAGwA&URL=http%3a%2f%2faspe.hhs.gov%2fdaltcp%2fnapa%2f012615%2fMtg15-Slides4.shtml https://webmail.hhs.gov/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=__iFMlf3hz6gME23uUVa6EEAuqm2vj9_06x_vR0Gj2dqjhlEDDXSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AYQBzAHAAZQAuAGgAaABzAC4AZwBvAHYALwBkAGEAbAB0AGMAcAAvAG4AYQBwAGEALwAwADEAMgA2ADEANQAvAE0AdABnADEANQAtAFMAbABpAGQAZQBzADQALgBzAGgAdABtAGwA&URL=http%3a%2f%2faspe.hhs.gov%2fdaltcp%2fnapa%2f012615%2fMtg15-Slides4.shtml http://acl.gov/About_ACL/StrategicPlan/docs/ACL_Strategic_Plan.pdf http://acl.gov/About_ACL/StrategicPlan/docs/ACL_Strategic_Plan.pdf

Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Administrator for ACL/Assistant Secretary for Aging. Only those applications ranking highest in a third party panel review will be recommended for funding by the AoA/ACL Program Officer. It is anticipated that not all applications will be funded.

Description of AoA/ACL's Anticipated Substantial Involvement Under the Cooperative Agreement

This Cooperative Agreement is subject to terms provided for in the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224). This Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of AoA/ACL in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved grant award.

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by AoA/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 AoA/ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 74 or 92, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments. When an award is issued, AoA/ACL and the grantee will sign a cooperative agreement that includes terms and conditions consistent with the following description of their respective responsibilities.

The grantee agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this funding opportunity announcement (FOA), as well as carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

1.

Communicate with the AoA project officer and/or the assigned technical assistance liaison regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

2.

Conduct a baseline assessment of the dementia capability in collaboration with Project Officer and technical assistance team.

3.

Produce and submit to the AoA/ACL Project Officer, at the conclusion of the project, a summary report or manual describing how the project was conducted and goals were achieved. The report would also include ways in which barriers to goal achievement were addressed.

4.

Cooperate with any federal evaluation efforts and comply with the timeline, content and format of all required data collection and reporting requirements (see Section VI-3 for more detail). Submit to the AoA/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 Polic y Statement (http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/aboutog/hhsgps107.pdf ) 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” (p. II-69, Footnote 18).

5.

Participate in Learning Collaborative activities as organized by the AoA/ACL Project Officer and the technical assistance team. Collaborative participants will mentor one another in their efforts to fulfill the aims of the ADI-SSS program.

6.

Include the following disclaimer on all products produced using this grant funding:7.

"This (report/document/etc.) was supported in part by a cooperative agreement (No. XXX) from the Administration on Aging (AoA), Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Grantees carrying out projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions.

Therefore, points of view or opinions do not necessarily represent official AoA, ACL, or DHHS policy."

The AoA/ACL project officer agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

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

1.

http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/grantinformation/hhsgps107.pdf http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/grantinformation/hhsgps107.pdf http://www.hhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/aboutog/hhsgps107.pdf

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 AoA/ACL.

2.

Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of AoA, ACL, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;

and about other federally-sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement;

3.

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.

4.

Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.5.

Communicate with the grantee project director regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

6.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

The Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging (AoA/ACL) will award competitive cooperative agreements to eligible domestic public and/or private entities. In order to extend sophisticated dementia-capable services to the special populations targeted with this funding, eligible entities are those that are able to 1) demonstrate the existence of a dementia-capable system dedicated to the population that they serve, and 2) articulate opportunities and additional services that would enhance and strengthen the existing system through this initial Funding Opportunity.

Entities that are unable to 1) demonstrate the existence of a dementia-capable system dedicated to the population that they serve, and 2) articulate opportunities and additional services that would enhance and strengthen the existing system are not eligible to apply for cooperative agreements under this new Funding Opportunity.

Eligible applicants will be those entities that are well into the development of a dementia-capable system and not those in the beginning of development of such a system.

Entities that have received previous grant awards under the AoA/ACL 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)) number HHS-2014-ACL-AOA-AL-0090 are not eligible to apply for funding under this FOA. Specifically, the following entities are ineligible for consideration for funding under this program: Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino; the District of Columbia Office on Aging; Family Services of Westchester County New York; Georgia Southwestern State University; Jewish Family and Children's Service of the Suncoast in Florida; Lutheran Social Services of Puerto Rico; Minnesota Board on Aging; Neighborhood Centers, Inc. in Houston, Texas;

Southern Maine Agency on Aging; and Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards under this announcement.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: Yes

The Federal match required for the ADI-SSS program is 25% (cash and/or in-kind). Applicants will have the opportunity to apply for waivers of a portion of the match. Waivers to match requirements under this program will not result in requirements below 15%.

Applicants are required to meet a non-federal share of the project cost as outlined in the funding opportunity announcement.

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.

Budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project is an example of a non-federal cash match . 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 Disqualification Factors.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria

All applications will go through an initial programmatic screening to verify that the applicant:

Applications will be reviewed to establish responsiveness to the following criteria. Those that do not meet the required criteria will be administratively eliminated and will not be reviewed.

The responsive ADI-SSS project application will:

Demonstrate an existing dementia-capable home and community-based services system or be well placed to have one in place within one year of the grant award.

Not propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project;

Not propose a brick and mortar project.

Not be an individual, foreign entity, or sole proprietorship organization;

Be leaders or partners in existing dementia-capable systems designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of programs and services;

Demonstrate preparedness and agree to conduct a baseline assessment of the dementia capability of the existing system with the intent of creating metrics for use in future service program evaluations, as well as a basis for setting goals, objectives and milestones for program monitoring and reporting throughout the program period.

Demonstrate capacity to serve persons of all ages with dementia, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

Develop and implement strong collaboration among entities serving individuals living with ADRD and their caregivers, including but not limited to, the state’s Agencies for Aging, Medicaid, and agencies that serve persons living with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

Build on existing access points for services relevant to these agencies;

Agree to participate in learning collaboratives devoted to dementia capability and specialized services.

Include a sustainability plan for program elements that are deemed successful.

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:

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.

1.

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.

2.

The Project Narrative must not exceed 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will3.

http://www.grants.gov/

The Project Narrative must not exceed 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit.

3.

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 http://www.grants.gov or http://www.acl.gov/Funding_Opportunities/ Announcements/Index.aspx.

Please note, ACL is requiring applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov. The Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered with http://www.grants.gov, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with http://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

At http://www.grants.gov, you will be able to download a copy of the application packet, complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov website (http://www.grants.gov).

Applications submitted via http://www.grants.gov:

You may access the electronic application for this program on http://www.grants.gov. You must search the downloadable application page by the Funding Opportunity Number or CFDA number.

At the http://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 through http://www.grants.gov because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

All applicants must have a DUNS number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/) 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. Finalize a new, or renew an existing, registration at least two weeks before the application deadline. 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/ transcript/ SAM_Quick_ Guide_Grants_ Registrations-v1.6. pdf.

HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for, and ultimately receive, federal grant funds from any HHS Agency, or receive sub-awards directly from recipients of those grant funds to:

Be registered in the SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

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 Provide its active DUNS number in each application or plan it submits to the OPDIV.

The agency is prohibited from making an award until an applicant has complied with these requirements. At the time an award is ready to be made, if the intended recipient has not complied with these requirements, the agency:

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.acl.gov/Funding_Opportunities/Announcements/Index.aspx http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov mailto:support@grants.gov?subject=Support http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/SAM_Quick_Guide_Grants_Registrations-v1.6.pdf https://www.sam.gov/sam/transcript/SAM_Quick_Guide_Grants_Registrations-v1.6.pdf

May determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award; and May use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 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 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 be:

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

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

2.

Provide its DUNS umber in each application or plan it submits to the OPDIV.3.

An award cannot be made until the applicant has complied with these requirements. At the time an award is ready to be made, if the intended recipient has not complied with these requirements, the

OPDIV/STAFFDIV:

May determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award; and May use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

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

Since October 1, 2003, The Office of Management and Budget has required applicants to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements. It is entered on the SF 424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. The DUNS number is free and easy to obtain.

Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by using this link to access a guide: http://www.

whitehouse.gov/ sites/default/files/omb/grants/duns _num_guide.pdf.

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.

Prior to application submission, Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 users should review the http://www.grants.gov compatibility information and submission instructions provided at http://www.grants.gov (click on “Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Information”).

Your application must comply with any page limitation requirements described in this Program Announcement.

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

Each year organizations applying for Federal grants through http://www.grants.gov need to register or update their registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) [Formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)]. You can complete the initial registration on www.SAM.gov in three days; however, you must update your registration on www.SAM.gov every year, which can take five days. When you register, or update your registration on www.SAM.gov, you must have your http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

DUNS number and other information about your organization available.

To keep your SAM.gov registration active, be sure to renew at least once each year. If your registration expires you cannot submit a grant application until it is renewed.

Contact person regarding this Program Announcement:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Erin Long Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services Phone Number: (202) 357-3448 E-mail: Erin.Long@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter of Intent: 05/20/2015

Applicants are required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist AoA/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 Long

Email: erin.long@aoa.hhs.gov

b. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8 ½” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, 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 ten to twenty pages; twenty pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

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

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goal(s) and Objective(s)

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management mailto:Erin.Long@acl.hhs.gov

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether or not your project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project.

ACL recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

Summary/Abstract This section should include a brief - no more than 265 words maximum - description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.”

This section should include a brief - no more than 265 words maximum - description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.”

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

This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the particular problem or issue the proposed program is designed to address, including how the project will potentially affect the target populations and/or their caregivers (including specific subgroups within those populations), and possibly the health care and social services systems (e.g., the use of health care and/or nursing home services.)

In this section:

Describe the impact of ADRD on the population that you serve;

Describe existing service gaps;

Describe the dementia capability of the existing system as it pertains to the target populations;

Describe the trainings and services presently available to address behavioral symptom management, and Describe the management, systems, financial or other challenges requiring attention in order to implement and sustain programs funded under this opportunity.

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

This section should consist of clear and concise descriptions of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives.

Unless the project involves multiple, complex interventions, we recommend you have only one overall goal.

Identify your proposed project goal(s) and major objectives, including the projected total number of individuals who will benefit from services provided under this funding announcement.

How you plan to address the major challenges identified in the problem statement;

Description of partnerships, collaborations and innovative activities that will take place in support of goal/objective achievement;

Explanation of how program activities will marketed and participants identified;

Description of the sustainability plan for program elements that are deemed successful.

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

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

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

This section should describe how you plan to involve community-based organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposal project. This section should also describe how the proposed intervention will target disadvantaged populations.

Outcomes This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from the project. (NOTE: ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes). This section should also describe how the project’s findings might benefit the field at large, (e.g., how the findings could help other organizations throughout the nation to address the same or similar problems.)

List measurable outcomes in the optional work plan grid (“Project Work Plan – Sample Template”) under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative along with a description of how the project might benefit the field at large.

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

You should keep the focus of this section on describing what outcome(s) will be produced by the project.

You should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcome(s) will be measured and reported.

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

This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from the project. (NOTE: AoA/ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes).