HHS-2017-ACL-AOD-DDTI-0218 revised.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Disabilities

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Planning Grants

HHS-2017-ACL-AOD-DDTI-0218

Application Due Date: 07/06/2017

Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Planning Grants

HHS-2017-ACL-AOD-DDTI-0218

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

3. Submission Dates and Times

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

6. 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

Department of Health & Human Services

ACL Center: Administration on Disabilities Funding Opportunity Title: Minority Serving Institutions

Partnership Planning Grants Announcement Type: Modification Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2017-ACL-AOD-DDTI-0218 Primary CFDA Number: 93.632 Due Date For Letter of Intent: 05/22/2017 Due Date for Applications: 07/06/2017 Date for Informational Conference Call: 05/16/2017

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 The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), Administration on Disabilities (AOD), Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the federal administering agency for the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) programs. As such, AIDD is charged with funding and oversight of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Protection and Advocacy Programs, and the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

(UCEDD).

The UCEDDs carry out four core functions: (1) interdisciplinary pre-service preparation and continuing education of students and fellows; (2) community services, including training, technical assistance, and/or demonstration and model activities; (3) research; and (4) dissemination of information. UCEDDs are interdisciplinary education, research and public service units of universities, or public or not-for-profit entities associated with universities that implement the four core functions addressing, directly or indirectly, one or more of the areas of emphasis (e.g., quality assurance, education and early intervention, child care, health, employment, housing, transportation, recreation and other services available or offered to individuals in a community, including formal and informal community supports, that affect their quality of life).

AIDD announces the availability of Fiscal Year 2017 funds to award, on a competitive basis, one year National Training Initiative (NTI) grants to multiple UCEDDs. AIDD plans to award up to 4 Partnership Planning grants to pay for the federal share of the program. This opportunity will provide seed funding to support partnership planning grants with Minority Serving Institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) to jointly plan and co-design training experiences and utilize a variety of innovative knowledge exchange and https://www.grants.gov transfer strategies that promote and create interdisciplinary approaches to research, training(e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and services. These Partnership Planning grants will serve as catalysts and models to foster greater involvement with Minority Serving Institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) to the value of collaboration with the UCEDDs to assist minority populations with disabilities across the lifespan.

I. Funding Opportunity Description The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Right Act (DD Act) has long identified the importance of cultural competence and improving expectations and outcomes for people with developmental disabilities across the lifespan, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To this end, the DD Act throughout has various requirements that the programs authorized address the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and individuals who are unserved and underserved. These include the following:

The DD Act requires that the programs authorized under the law are culturally competent to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan, regardless of background, are full participants in all aspects of community life. Section 101(a) identifies the need to ensure that services, supports, and other assistance are provided in a culturally competent manner and that individuals from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds are fully included in all activities provided under the DD Act.

Section 102(7) defines the term “culturally competent” as: Services, supports, or other assistance that is conducted or provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, language, and behaviors of individuals who are receiving the services, supports, or other assistance, and in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring their maximum participation in the program involved.

Section 101(c) requires that, all programs receiving assistance under this title shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the following principles:

o Services, supports, and other assistance should be provided that demonstrate respect for personal preferences and cultural differences;

o Specific efforts must be made to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and their families enjoy increased and meaningful opportunities to access and use community services, individualized supports available to other individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan and their families;

o Recruitment efforts in disciplines related to developmental disabilities across the lifespan in pre-service training, community training, practice, administration, and policymaking must focus on bringing larger numbers of racial and ethnic minorities into the disciplines in order to provide appropriate skills, knowledge, role models, and sufficient personnel to address the growing needs of an increasingly diverse population.

The DD Act recognizes the important role that UCEDDs play in enhancing the diversity of the workforce, requiring that UCEDDs coordinate their efforts to recruit and retain underrepresented groups at all levels in order to respond to the changing United States demographics. These requirements in the law are well aligned with current demographic trends.

It is well understood that the United States is home to an ever-increasing number of individuals who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. To ensure that the field is prepared for the unprecedented growth of diverse communities; an inclusive training, staffing and technical assistance agenda that truly reflects our nation’s rich diversity is essential.

Achieving cultural and linguistic competence and enhancing program diversity requires strong and informed leadership to spur the necessary changes within systems, organizations, policies, and practice. Without committed and effective leadership, these efforts typically stall. There is a need for leaders with the energy, knowledge, and skills to guide the difficult work of advancing and sustaining cultural and linguistic competence within programs concerned with developmental disabilities across the lifespan.

The long-term goals of this effort are to: Increase the diversity of leadership, staff and governing bodies across the DD network; Build cultural competence capacity with the leadership, staff, and governing bodies across the DD network; Increase the number of persons from underrepresented racial, ethnic groups, people with disabilities across the lifespan, people from disadvantaged backgrounds who benefit from AIDD supported programs; and Improve the recruitment and employment of underrepresented groups including racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities across the lifespan, and people from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds in the UCEDD Network.

AIDD anticipates that these partnership planning grants will develop a joint action plan that will provide a foundation for future collaborative work that could lead to the following:

Use of a variety of strategies to exchange and transfer knowledge between the UCEDDs and the minority-serving institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) such as faculty and student exchanges, course exchanges, joint course offerings, joint course development, joint research, collaborative community-based training, joint service projects; and or undergraduate internships, mentorships and or pipeline opportunities.

Increasing understanding of faculty and students from minority-serving institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) to the benefits of interdisciplinary research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and service;

Increasing understanding of faculty and students from more UCEDDs to the importance of culture, custom, and tradition in reaching out to and seeking the involvement of minority individuals with disabilities across the lifespan and their families in initiatives that could affect their lives;

Increasing knowledge of faculty and students from a greater range of minority-serving institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) to the range of funding opportunities that UCEDDs pursue and how to do the same, especially through partnerships;

Providing UCEDDs with assistance of faculty and students from minority-serving institutions, community colleges and/or other training program(s) to recruit from minority populations with disabilities to: (1) obtain greater minority participation in on-going UCEDD research, training (e.g. pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and/or service project(s);

Creating a basis for future collaboration between members of a partnership;

Sharing experiences from the partnership with other UCEDDs and minority-serving institutions;

Sustaining efforts through the development of a sustainability plan for continuing the MSI Partnership that will further development of cultural competence between the UCEDD and the partner organization to employ traditional and non-traditional methods for marketing and maintaining the project over time in collaboration with national organizations, including the UCEDD Resource Center and the network of UCEDDs; and

Building a pipeline for undergraduate and graduate training program.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The applicant is required under this priority to submit a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between all participating entities: the UCEDD, Minority- Serving Institution, Community College, and/or other training program(s). Each applicant should include copies of the signed MOUs, policy statements, and procedures developed among the Partnership members on key issues for implementing the project. Additionally, applicants should include letters of support from the partner organizations for the project. The MOU must identify principals, faculty, and staff and include agreed upon specific roles, responsibilities, communication plans; schedule of time commitments of each.

Statutory Authority AIDD is the lead agency in AOD, ACL, HHS for administering the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 15001, et seq.). The purpose of the DD Act is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life, through culturally competent programs [Section 101(b)]. To achieve this purpose, the DD Act authorizes under Subtitle D University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs).

Section 151(b) of the DD Act states that appropriations authorized under section 156(a)(1) and reserved under section 156(a)(2), grants shall be made to (UCEDDs) to carry out National Training Initiative grants.

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: Grant Estimated Total Funding: $200,000 Expected Number of Awards: 4 Award Ceiling: $50,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor: $50,000 Per Budget Period Length of Project Period: 12-month project and budget period

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Section 151(b) of the DD Act states that from appropriations authorized under section 156(a)(1) and reserved under section 156(a)(2), grants shall be made to UCEDDs to carry out National Training Initiative grants. Entities eligible to apply for funds under this funding opportunity announcement are the 67 current AIDD grantees that are designated UCEDDs.

Applications will only be accepted from the 67 UCEDDs listed at http://www.acl.gov/Programs /AIDD/Programs/UCEDD/Contacts.aspx.

Applications from other entities not designated as a current UCEDD will not be reviewed.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: Yes Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 75% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 25% of the project’s total cost with non-Federal resources. In other words, for every three (3) 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 “three-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in the “Instructions for Completing Requested Forms.” The applicant can use this formula to calculate the minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 25% of the Federal share, rather than 25% of the project’s total cost.

Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project cost, in accordance with Section 154(d) of the DD Act.

Grantees must provide at least 25% percent of the total approved cost of the project.

Reduced Match Amount - 10% match to the total federal funds for the UCEDDs whose activities or products target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in an urban or rural poverty area Reduced Match Section 154 (d)(2) of the DD Act states:

In the case of a project whose activities or products target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in an urban or rural poverty area, as determined by the Secretary of HHS, the Federal share of the cost of the project may not be more than 90 percent of the necessary costs of the project, as determined by the Secretary of HHS.

http://www.acl.gov/ http://www.acl.gov/

DEFINITIONS:

Poverty area: Census tracts or block numbering areas (BNAs) where at least 20 percent of residents are below the poverty level.

Urban Area: Collective term referring to all areas that are urban. For Census 2000, there are two types of urban areas: urban clusters and urbanized areas.

Urban Cluster (UC): A densely settled territory that has at least 2,500 persons but fewer than 50,000.

Urbanized Area (UA): An area consisting of a central place(s) and adjacent territory with a general population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile of land area that together have a minimum residential population of at least 50,000 persons. The U.S. Census Bureau uses published criteria to determine the qualification and boundaries of UAs.

Rural: Territory, population and housing units not classified as urban. Rural classification cuts across other hierarchies and can be in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas. Rural can include frontier, which are places having a population density of six or fewer persons - per square mile.

TWO-TIER ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM FOR REDUCED MATCH

To meet the requirements in the DD Act, AIDD has developed a system that UCEDDs can use to request a reduced match on the core grant. Such a request is optional and not a requirement for UCEDDs. AIDD will use a two-tiered system for determining eligibility for the reduced match:

Tier 1: UCEDDs in States where the poverty rate is equal to or greater than the official national poverty rate would automatically qualify for the reduced match.

Tier 2: UCEDDs in States with a poverty rate not equal to or greater than the official national poverty rate would have to show that the UCEDD activities target individuals with developmental disabilities in urban or rural poverty areas. In doing so, the UCEDD would demonstrate that at least 25 percent of the UCEDD projects target individuals with developmental disabilities who live in urban and rural poverty areas by providing the following information to AIDD:

1. The current State poverty rate;

2. A full listing of all the UCEDD's current projects [this can be generated from the National Information Reporting System (NIRS)];

3. Identify which UCEDD activities are targeting individuals with developmental disabilities living in urban and rural poverty areas by stating whether the UCEDD activity is associated with any of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators listed in the announcement or is targeted for individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban and rural poverty area through some other means.

A UCEDD seeking to establish eligibility for a reduced match through means other than showing an activity is associated with one or more of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators must include in its application other information that establishes that its activities are targeted to benefit individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban or rural poverty area. Because there are not Federal poverty rates for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, these jurisdictions can qualify for the reduced match by establishing that the UCEDD activity is associated with any of the Urban and Rural Poverty Indicators listed in the announcement or is targeted for individuals with developmental disabilities in an urban or rural poverty area through some other means.

The table below shows the Urban or Rural Poverty Indicators that will be used to determine eligibility for the reduced match.

Urban and Rural Poverty Indicator

Description

Empowermen t Zones and Enterprise Communities

(EZ/EC)

Areas designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as communities with high rates of poverty. The UCEDD project would have to be implemented in an

EZ/EC.

Food Stamps The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families who receive food stamps.

National School Lunch Program

(NSLP)

Also referred to as Free and Reduced Lunch Program NSLP is a federally assisted meal program operating to provide low-cost or free lunches to children.

The UCEDD project would have to be implemented in a school that qualifies for the NSLP.

Head Start The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families. The UCEDD project would have to work with a Head Start program.

Housing Assistance

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a variety of housing assistance programs, such as Section 8 housing assistance programs.

The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with Developmental Disabilities and their families who are receiving Federal housing assistance.

Medicaid Title XIX of the Social Security Act

Is a Federal/State entitlement program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with developmental disabilities and their families who are Medicaid-eligible.

Supplemental Security (SSI)

Is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people, who Income (SSI) have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with developmental disabilities who are SSI recipients

Temporary Assistance for

Is a Federal poverty program that provides assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work opportunities to needy families through grants to States. The UCEDD project would have to target individuals with

TANF developmental disabilities, children with developmental disabilities, and their families who are TANF recipients.

Other The UCEDD may provide other indicators of poverty not included in this list.

The UCEDD would have to provide adequate information to justify use of the 'other' category. In doing so, the UCEDD will have to demonstrate the project is targeting individuals with developmental disabilities in rural and urban poverty areas. ADD will determine the adequacy of the justification for eligibility for a reduced match.

AIDD will review all the information submitted by the UCEDD to determine eligibility for the reduced match, in accordance with the DD Act.

SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO AIDD

To streamline the process, below is a suggested format for submitting the information to AIDD.

List the Official National Poverty Rate of 14.4 Provide the State Poverty Rate List out the UCEDD Project Title (e.g., Provide Name of Project and project description) and Description and the Indicators of Poverty (List name of poverty program targeted by project)

Of the total UCEDD projects, provide the percent that is targeting individuals with developmental disabilities living in urban and rural poverty areas

STATES IN TIERS 1 AND 2

Below is a list of the States that fall into Tiers 1 and 2.

Tier 1 Tier 2

Alabama: 17.5 Alaska: 10.2

Arizona: 18.7 Colorado: 11.0

Arkansas: 17.5 Connecticut: 9.5

California: 14.9 Delaware: 11.1

Dist. of Columbia: 19.6 Hawaii: 10.8

Florida: 14.8 Idaho: 12.4

Georgia: 17.8 Illinois: 12.7

Indiana: 14.9 Iowa: 11.3

Kentucky: 20.5 Kansas: 12.6

Louisiana: 21.0 Maine: 12.8

Mississippi: 20.1 Maryland: 10.0

New Mexico: 21.8 Massachusetts: 12.4

New York: 15.2 Michigan: 13.4

Nevada: 14.9 Minnesota: 9.0

North Carolina: 16.7 Missouri: 12.6

Ohio: 14.7 Montana: 11.5

Oklahoma: 15.3 Nebraska: 11.2

South Carolina: 17.2 New Hampshire: 6.6

Tennessee: 15.8 New Jersey: 10.8

Texas: 16.0 North Dakota: 11.2

West Virginia: 18.3 Oregon: 13.4

Pennsylvania: 12.0

Rhode Island: 10.8

South Dakota: 12.5

Utah: 10.6

Virginia: 10.3

Vermont: 8.9

Washington: 11.9

Wisconsin: 11.9

US Poverty Rate 14.4 Wyoming: 10.3

Grantees must provide at least 25% percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACL (Federal) share and the non-Federal share.

The non-Federal share maybe met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project requesting $20,000 in ACL (Federal) funds must provide a non-federal share of the approved total project cost of at least $6.667 which is 25% percent of total approved project cost of $26,667. Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match.

Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria Applications received from entities other than the 67 existing grantees defined as UCEDDs, cited in Section III.1.of this announcement, will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Applications disqualified for this reason will not be returned.

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

1. Applications must be received from eligible UCEDDs. Applications must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be single spaced on 8 ½” x 11” plain white paper and a standard font size of not less than 11, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 5 pages. The Project Narratives that exceed 5 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 5 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 5-page limit.

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

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, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with http://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 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 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. Applicants should 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.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grant/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov?subject=Support mailto:support@grants.gov?subject=Support 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

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 DUNS number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

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 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.

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.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Pamela O'Brien Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Phone Number: (202) 795-7417 E-mail: Pamela.O'Brien@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission 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/ mailto:Pamela.O'Brien@acl.hhs.gov

Letter of Intent

Due Date for Letter of Intent: 05/22/2017 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. The deadline for submission of the Letters of intent is 15 days from date of publication. Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Pamela O'Brien, Project Officer Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Email: Pamela.O'Brien@acl.hhs.gov

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 5 pages; 5 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 5 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 5 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 5-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

The sample components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 5 page limit include:

Summary/Abstract Problem Statement Goal(s) and Objective(s) Proposed Intervention Special Target Populations and Organizations Outcomes Project Management Evaluation Dissemination

Organizational Capability

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.

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

Proposed Intervention This section should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention (Approach) 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.

For this FOA, the Proposed Intervention (Approach) is a clear, concise description of the approach, including strategies that you will use the seed funding with at least one partner organization defined as a MSI, community college, or other training program that serve underrepresented populations, to jointly plan and co-design training experiences and utilize a variety of innovative knowledge exchange and transfer strategies that promote and create interdisciplinary approaches to research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and services.

Special Target Populations and Organizations Describes in detail how the applicant plans to involve Minority Serving Institutions, Community colleges, or other training programs that serve historically underrepresented groups in the partnership planning project.

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 ACL network; new knowledge that can contribute to the field of community living; 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.

For example: The development of a plan that will lead to faculty and students from the partner organizations being exposed to the benefits of interdisciplinary research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and service; Faculty and students from more UCEDDs being exposed to the importance of culture, custom, and tradition in reaching out to and seeking the involvement of minority individuals with disabilities and their families in initiatives that could affect their lives; Faculty and students from partner organizations being exposed to the range of funding opportunities that UCEDDs pursue and how to do the same, especially through partnerships; UCEDDs are provided with assistance of faculty and students from minority-serving institutions, community colleges and other organizations to recruit from minority populations with disabilities to obtain greater minority participation in on-going UCEDD research, training (e.g., pre-service, continuing education, community-based), and/or service project(s); Basis for future collaboration between members of the partnership is established; Experiences from the partnership are shared with other UCEDDs and minority-serving institutions, community colleges and other training programs that serve underrepresented groups; and, Creation of a pipeline for undergraduate and graduate training programs.

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

Evaluation This section should describe the method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether or not the proposed intervention- (Approach) achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if it proves successful.

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

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

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

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

Organization Capability A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the participating partner organization should be included. See Section I, Description of this Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Budget Narrative/Justification The Budget Narrative/Justification can be provided using the format included in the document, “Budget Narrative/Justification – Sample Format.” Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to this document, which provides an example of the level of detail sought.

Work Plan

The Project Work Plan should reflect and be consistent with the Project Narrative and Budget. It should include a statement of the project’s overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks / action steps that will be pursued to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task / action step, the work plan should identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task. Please use the “Project Work Plan - Sample Template” format as a reference and resource, if desired.

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

Include confirmation of the commitments to the project (should it be funded) made by key collaborating organizations and agencies in this part of the application. Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator.

For applications submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov, signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Applicants unable to scan the signed letters of commitment may fax them to the ACL Office of Grants Management at (202) 205-0405 by the application submission deadline. In your fax, be sure to include the funding opportunity number and your agency name.

3. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications: 07/06/2017 Date for Informational Conference Call: 05/16/2017 The Informational Conference Call will be held at 1:30 PM EST. The Call-in Line is 1(866)720- 5216; Passcode: 7413380 Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3- 5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with http://www.grants.gov.

Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following

Grants.gov Web page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only.)

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, please contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide a written explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. ACL will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: We will not consider your application for further review if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

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

Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) will automatically send applicants a tracking number and date of receipt verification electronically once the application has been successfully received and validated in http://www.grants.gov.

4. Intergovernmental Review

This program is subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs. Applicants must contact their State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the State's process under the EO 12372.

5. Funding Restrictions This grant program meets the ACL definition for training grants. For training grants, OGM, ACL allows for indirect costs rates to be capped at 8%. For more information on the long form see: https://rates.psc.gov/fms/dca/a21-appx_c.pdf. In accordance with 2 CFR part 200.331(a)(4) sub-grantees are permitted to use the indirect cost rate negotiated by the government. Therefore, applicants must limit the indirect cost rate to eight percent of total direct costs, exclusive of equipment, tuition and stipends, rental of space, major contracts or sub-grants and renovation and alteration, under this program announcement.

Training grant funds may not be used for travel support for conference attendance.

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://rates.psc.gov/fms/dca/a21-appx_c.pdf

The following activities are not fundable:

Construction and/or major rehabilitation of buildings Basic research (e.g. scientific or medical experiments) Continuation of existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches

Note: A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has raised considerable concerns about grantees and contractors charging the Federal government for additional meals outside of the standard allowance for travel subsistence known as per diem expenses. Executive Orders on Promoting Efficient Spending (E.O. 13589) and Delivering Efficient, Effective and Accountable Government (E.O. 13576) have been issued and instruct Federal agencies to promote efficient spending. Therefore, if meals are to be charged in your proposal, applicants should understand such costs must meet the following criteria outlined in the Executive Orders and HHS Grants Policy Statement:

Meals are generally unallowable except for the following:

o For subjects and patients under study (usually a research program);

o Where specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, e.g., in programs providing children’s services (e.g., Headstart);

o When an organization customarily provides meals to employees working beyond the normal workday, as a part of a formal compensation arrangement;

o As part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel; and o Under a conference grant, when meals are a necessary and integral part of a conference, provided that meal costs are not duplicated in participants’ per diem or subsistence allowances. (Note: conference grant means the sole purpose of the award is to hold a conference)

6. Other Submission Requirements Letters of Intent should be emailed to: Pamela.O'Brien@acl.hhs.gov

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria Applicants must document all of their source material. 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 obtain numbers, ideas, or other material that is not their own.

If the applicant fails to comply with this requirement, regardless of the severity or frequency of the plagiarism, the reviewers shall reduce their scores accordingly even to the degree of issuing no points at all.

Applications are scored by assigning a maximum of 100 points across the desired review criteria:

a. Project Relevance & Current Need

b. Approach

c. Budget

d. Project Impact

e. Organizational Capacity

Project Relevance & Current Need Maximum Points:15

Clearly identifies and provides a portrait of the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and other problems that substantiates the need for the partnership with at least one minority-serving institution,…