HHS_2021_ACL_AOA_PCPN_0039.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

National Resource Center for Women and Retirement

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-PCPN-0039

05/17/2021

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

Budget Narrative/Justification

Work Plan

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

3. 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

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

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

National Resource Center for Women and Retirement Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-PCPN-0039

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

04/22/2021 Due Date for Applications:

05/17/2021 Date for Informational Conference Call:

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

Executive Summary Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary The Administration for Community Living (ACL)/Administration on Aging (AoA) will award one Cooperative Agreement to support a National Resource Center for Women and Retirement (Center). The Federal share will be up to $239,000 per year for a period of up to 60 months, subject to funding availability. The overriding goal of this Cooperative Agreement is to administer a program of national scope to provide education on financial literacy, retirement education, and planning for economic security in retirement for women, with a focus on women with low incomes, women of color, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency.

Through the Center, the grantee will partner with the national aging network to expand such efforts. Additionally, the Center will continue educational efforts to prevent identity theft, fraud, and financial exploitation among older individuals, especially women with low incomes, women of color, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency. The target population will include older adult women, including those who serve as caregivers, women with disabilities, and those who experience health-related and other socioeconomic barriers to planning for their economic security in later life. With many in the target population having caregiving obligations, the Center will work to reduce one of the aspects of caregiver stress by providing access to timely, comprehensive financial information. To be considered for funding, applicants must demonstrate a nationwide presence, extensive knowledge, and a proven track record of expertise concerning the nature of financial literacy, retirement education, and economic security for women.

I. Funding Opportunity Description The Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (P.L. 116-131) (OAA) advances the principles of a secure retirement for all individuals. To this end, the AoA seeks to increase the capacity of the Aging Network to assist women to achieve a secure retirement and the means to maintain a robust quality of life. Accordingly, a Cooperative Agreement will be awarded to expand efforts initiated by the National Resource Center for Women and Retirement to provide education on achieving financial literacy and retirement planning for an economically secure retirement for women, with a focus on women with low incomes, women of color, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency. The Center will provide education directly to older women and to aging network professionals. Additionally, the Center will offer education to prevent identify theft, fraud, and financial exploitation among older individuals and their caregivers by targeting older adult women, especially those who serve as caregivers. The women in the target population are among the most subject to the stresses associated with caregiving, managing a home, and often balancing family finances for three generations of family members. For example, it is estimated that American families provide upwards of eighty percent (80%) of all in-home and long-term care services for their aging and disabled family members and loved ones. A recent study of caregiving shows that sixty-one percent (61%) of caregivers of adults are women.1 Many of these women compose the cohort that we call the “sandwich generation.” While these women are often overlooked as a group with unique issues, they are among the most vulnerable due to the stresses precipitated by the many roles they play. Also, many women of this generation are negatively impacted by social determinants of health and/or experience unique socioeconomic barriers to planning for a secure retirement. Providing access to much needed information about finances and the many pitfalls associated with managing them may help to alleviate some of the stresses linked to the many roles women assume.

The overriding goal of the project is to enable women in the target population to achieve financial literacy, adequately plan for retirement, and live in economic security in later life.

Objectives of the project include making available financial literacy and retirement planning information and relevant training designed to reach underserved populations. In partnership with the ACL/AoA and the aging network, the grantee will develop a strategic plan for integrating access to skills that promote basic financial literacy and retirement planning along with strategies for identifying and preventing fraud and elder financial exploitation into OAA programming.

Through the Cooperative Agreement, the grantee will develop, identify, reformat, and/or translate financial education and retirement planning information along with strategies and/or tools for identifying and preventing fraud and elder exploitation for dissemination to older adult women and their families nationwide. The materials developed will provide basic information in a comprehensive, user-friendly format. Materials may consist of written publications, educational workshops, audio-visual products, and social media content, and they must be culturally appropriate and designed to reach underserved populations, including women with low incomes, women of color, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency.

Applicants under this announcement are required to address the following objectives under the Women and Retirement Planning Program:

Promote Nationwide Program Coverage and Expand the Capacity of the Aging Network, AAAs, and ARDCs: Applicants must provide a comprehensive plan with appropriate strategies for achieving nationwide coverage through partnership with ACL/AoA and the aging network.

The plan must propose a strategy for integrating financial education and retirement planning into the work of the aging network, especially with Older Americans Act Programs. This includes information designed to enable women in the target population to plan appropriately to live in financial security in older life, and methods for identifying and preventing fraud and elder financial exploitation.

Nationwide program coverage is defined, for this purpose, as assuring that information developed along with consultations and other technical assistance is readily available to the aging network and those in all States and the U.S. territories. The plan is required of all applicants. Types and levels of information available shall be specified as well as the strategies or approaches by which nationwide coverage will be achieved and/or enhanced. Examples of appropriate strategies that may be used to ensure nationwide program coverage include collaboration, formal partnering, sub-grants or contracts with area, statewide, regional, national organizations or other Federal agencies, a web site and web-based strategies, national and statewide media, and outreach plans. Program performance measures will reflect program coverage by target population.

Improve women’s access to basic financial and retirement planning and other educational tools that promote financial literacy and help to identify and prevent fraud and elder financial exploitation: Applicants will be required to coordinate with national, regional, statewide, and local professional, membership, and community-based organizations to pilot and adapt successful models for providing women access to user-friendly information to fulfill the Center’s goals. This includes providing education on achieving financial literacy and retirement planning for an economically secure retirement for women with a focus on women with low incomes, women of color, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency, and identifying and preventing fraud and elder financial exploitation. Applicants should seek partnerships at the state and local levels to expand the project across the Aging Network and facilitate outreach to average and low-income women, women of color, women with disabilities, and women with limited English-speaking proficiency. The grantee must present a clear strategy for effecting agreements that will reflect this objective.

Promote the type and quality of basic financial and retirement information available for women by cooperating with the broader financial services and educational communities to reach an increased number of average and low-income women, women of color, women with limited English-speaking proficiency and women with disabilities: Desired program results should be reflected by collaborative agreements, increases in performance measures, and progress tracked in project semi-annual reports: formal and informal linkages with the Aging Network; kind and number of materials available to women; kind and number of materials available to women; numbers of women reached; and types of inquiries and responses Applicant plans for project priorities, work plan and activities should reflect activities that will enhance and measure these program results.

Target relevant training and culturally competent educational materials to isolated and hard-to-reach populations: Applicants are required to identify specific target populations that are traditionally underserved due to isolation, ethnic, cultural or language barriers, or other factors. The work should also reflect ACL’s commitment to advancing equity, racial justice, and equal opportunity in all we do, including ensuring that people from underrepresented and underserved communities are at the table to inform our work. Applicants will provide a plan to identify underserved women and reach them through innovative and collaborative methods. To achieve this, a comprehensive plan will specify the target population and discuss how barriers to this population will be overcome. Outreach strategies and measures of increased access by the target population must be included in the plan. Applicants must include signed letters of collaboration from organizations representing the target population. Letters must specify the commitments, roles, and activities of the applicant and collaborating organizations to address this objective. Letters merely expressing support for the proposed project will not be considered.

The applicant must provide a detailed plan for the management and implementation of the Cooperative Agreement.

This includes:

Developing a systematic plan for project start-up;

Providing a comprehensive plan for nationwide program coverage that identifies types of collaborations and innovations designed to reach the targeted populations;

Proposing strategies for and involving a variety of community, local, and state aging network services organizations, including but not limited to faith-based organizations, as well as other Federal agencies, where appropriate;

Developing formal partnerships, collaborations and other arrangements as needed to address program objectives;

Researching the demographics of the population to be served, and identifying barriers to program access;

Developing outreach strategies specifically designed to overcome these barriers and reach the target population;

Identifying a specific strategy for partnering with national professional, regional, state and community and faith-based organization with the capacity to recruit or organize pools of volunteers, including women with language and other skills and abilities to help reach minority communities;

Developing a training plan for staff, partner organizations, and target populations tailored to the specific information required by each group to achieve program objectives;

Developing outreach strategies and priority areas for financial literacy that include information designed to produce financial literacy and capabilities to plan for a secure retirement, and to identify and prevent fraud and elder financial exploitation, based on assessment of trends, issues and cases identified nationwide; and

Developing a plan to evaluate project performance, including collection and reporting of information and measuring project progress addressing program objectives.

[1] AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. (2020). Research Report: Caregiving in the U.S. https://www.aarp.org/content/ dam/aarp/ppi/2020/05/full-report-caregiving-in-the-united-states.doi.10.26419- 2Fppi.00103.001.pdf.

Statutory Authority The Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended (P.L. 116-131) (OAA)

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$ 239,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$ 239,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$ 220,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

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

This section also should address, if appropriate, whether applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

III. Eligibility Information

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

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

Yes For awards that require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources (at or above the statutory requirement) in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to provide the statutorily required matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntary committed amount in excess) may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients are not expected to provide cost sharing or matching. However, recipients are allowed to voluntarily propose a commitment of non-federal resources. If an applicant decides to voluntarily contribute non-federal resources towards project costs and the costs are accepted by ACL, the non-federal resources will be included in the approved project budget. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to meet the voluntary amount of non-federal resources that was accepted by ACL as part of the approved project costs and that was identified in the approved budget in the NOA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 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.” You can use this formula to calculate your 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.

There are two types of match: 1) non-federal cash and 2) non-federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of any and all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors and consultants, are considered matching funds.

Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (third party) donations. Examples of non-federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement. Applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review. Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria Applicants should ideally be well established and have a known presence in their respective professional communities and must present a comprehensive plan to provide program services nationwide. To be considered for funding, applicants should be well established and have a known presence in relevant professional communities. Applicants must demonstrate extensive knowledge and present a proven track record of expertise concerning the nature of financial literacy and retirement education, economic security for women, and communication with low-income women, women of color and women with limited English-speaking proficiency nationwide.

To this end, the successful applicant shall be an organization that meets the following criteria:

1. Annually disseminate a summary of outreach activities provided, including work to provide user-friendly consumer information and public education materials;

2. Develop targeted outreach strategies; (

3. Provide technical assistance to State agencies and to other public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations; and

4. Develop partnerships and collaborations to address program objectives.

Application Screening Criteria 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 15 pages; 15 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 15 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 15 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration.

The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, Curriculum Vitae of Key Personnel, and Budget Narrative/Justification are not counted as part of the Project Narrative. All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

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

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

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8 ½” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 15 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 15 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 15 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Curriculum Vitae of Key Project

Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 15-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from https://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission.

For example, you will be required to provide an https://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

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

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

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

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

Eastern Time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications. In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for recipients of federal financial assistance, the general certification and representation requirements contained in the Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs, and the Standard Form 424D (SF-424D) – Assurances – Construction Programs, have been standardized federal-wide.

Effective January 1, 2020, the updated common certification and representation requirements will be stored and maintained within SAM. Organizations or individuals applying for federal financial assistance as of January 1, 2020, must validate the federally required common certifications and representations annually through SAM located at SAM.gov.

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

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

Mr. Sandy James sandy.james@acl.hhs.gov 202-795-7387

Aiesha Gurley-Parry Aiesha.Gurley@acl.hhs.gov 202-795-7358

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Number Of Days from Publication 35

04/22/2021 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

Mr. Sandy James Sandy.James@acl.hhs.gov U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living or Ms. Aiesha Gurley-Parry Aiesha.Gurley@acl.hhs.gov U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

Project Narrative Applications will be reviewed and evaluated using the criteria described in this section. The corresponding point values indicate the relative importance placed on each review criterion.

Points will be allocated based on the extent to which the application proposal addresses each of the criteria listed. Applicants should address these criteria in their application materials, particularly in the project description and budget justification, as they are the basis upon which competing applications will be judged during the objective review.

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 five criteria:

a. Project Relevance & Current Need

b. Approach

c. Budget

d. Project Impact

e. Organizational Capacity

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 affect older adults, especially women in the target population described above and people with disabilities, their families and caregivers and interactions among financial industry, the health care and social services systems.

Goals and Objectives

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

Proposed Intervention

This section should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention you are proposing to use to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement.” You should also describe the rationale for using the particular intervention, including factors such as: “lessons learned” from similar projects previously tested in the field targeted by this announcement; 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, unique partnerships, 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 organizations not traditionally involved in partnerships with the Aging Network, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

Special Target Populations and Organizations

This section should describe how you plan to involve organizations representative of the diverse community of older individuals, in a meaningful way, in the planning and implementation of the proposed project to reach the target population. This section should also describe whether, and if so, how the proposed intervention will target women, women head of households, disadvantaged and underserved populations, including limited-English speaking populations, disabled individuals, those with greatest economic need, and those of greatest social need.

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

A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits consumers. It demonstrates the functional status, mental well-being, knowledge, skill, attitude, awareness or behavior.) It can also describe a change in the degree to which consumers exercise choice over the types of services they receive, or whether they are satisfied with the way a service is delivered. Additional examples include: a change in the responsiveness or cost-effectiveness of a service delivery system; a new model of support or care that can be replicated in the 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 specific outcome(s) will be produced by the project. You should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the specific outcome(s) will be measured and reported. Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of your proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited. It is totally appropriate for a project to have only ONE outcome that it is trying to achieve through the intervention reflected in the project’s design.

Project Management

This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress, preparation of reports; 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 achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and

2. document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project.

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 Capability Each application should include an organizational capability statement and curriculum 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 curriculum vitae for key project staff only. Neither curriculum vitae nor an organizational chart will count towards the narrative page limit. Also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role(s) in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Budget Narrative/Justification The Budget Narrative/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. A combined multi-year Budget Narrative/Justification, as well as a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification for each year of potential grant funding is required.

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

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies Include confirmation of the commitments to the project (should it be funded) made by key collaborating organizations and agencies in this part of the application. Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator. For applications submitted electronically via 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 contact Mr. Sandy James (Sandy.James@acl.hhs.gov) or Ms. Aiesha Gurley (Aiesha.Gurley@acl.hhs.gov) for assistance.

3. Submission Dates and Times Number Of Days from Publication 60

05/17/2021

Date for Informational Conference Call:

Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with 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.

If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, ACL will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application

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 not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

5. Funding Restrictions 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. Head Start);

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 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.)

The following updated sections 2 CFR 200.216 “Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment” became effective on or after August 13, 2020.

Recommended Actions for any recipient that has received a loan, grant, or cooperative agreement on or after August 13, 2020:

Develop a compliance plan to implement 2 CFR 200.216 regulation.

Develop and maintain internal controls to ensure that your organization does not expend federal funds (in whole or in part) on covered equipment, services or systems.

Determine through reasonable inquiry whether your organization currently uses “covered telecommunication” equipment, services, or systems and take necessary actions to comply with the regulation as quickly as is feasibly possible.

6. Other Submission Requirements 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 Maximum Points: 20 (Maximum Number of Points 20)

i. Does the proposed project clearly and adequately identify the relevance of the priority areas, as described in this Program Announcement, in relation to current economic trends at the state/community level and potential impact on the target population?

ii. Does the application adequately and appropriately describe and document the key problem(s)/condition(s) relevant to the applicant’s purpose/need? Is the proposed project justified in terms of the most recent, relevant, and available information and knowledge?

iii. Does the application evidence the applicant’s understanding of the current need and relevance of the proposed project

Approach Maximum Points: 40

i. Is the intervention clearly defined? Does it reflect a coherent and feasible approach for successfully addressing the identified problem and achieving the identified outcome(s)?

Does the project take into account barriers and opportunities that exist in the larger environment that may impact on the project’s success? Does the intervention optimize the use of potential partnerships with other organizations and/or consumer groups, as appropriate?

ii. Is the project work plan clear and comprehensive? Does it include sensible and feasible timeframes for the accomplishment of tasks presented? Does the work plan include specific objectives and tasks that are linked to measurable outcomes? Does the proposal include a clear and coherent management plan? Are the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partners clearly defined and linked to specific objectives and tasks? Are the qualifications of the project staff, consultants and/or partners, and the proposed level of effort, adequate to carry out the project?

iii. Does the application describe how key partner organizations could be involved in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project? Does the application identify disadvantaged populations and how they will address cultural and linguistic nuances, as well as limited-English speaking populations in its target population?

iv. Does the application demonstrate with evidence the applicant’s deep expertise, skills, knowledge and relationships necessary to carry out the project?

Budget Maximum Points: 10

i. Is the budget justified with respect to the adequacy and reasonableness of resources requested? Is the time commitment of the proposed director and other key project personnel sufficient to assure proper direction, management and timely completion of the project?

ii. Are budget line items clearly delineated and consistent with work plan objectives? For Example, has a multiyear budget covering the entire proposed project period been included as well as a budget covering each individual year?

Project Impact Maximum Points: 15

i. Are the expected project benefits/results clear, realistic, and consistent with the objectives and purpose of the project? Are the anticipated outcomes of the proposed project likely to be achieved and will they significantly benefit the targeted populations affected by the intervention, and the field of aging as a whole? Are the proposed outcomes quantifiable and measurable?

ii. Does the project evaluation reflect a thoughtful and well-designed approach that will be able to successfully measure whether or not the project has achieved its proposed outcome(s)? Does the plan include the qualitative and/or quantitative methods necessary to reliably measure outcomes? Is the evaluation also designed to capture "lessons learned" from the overall effort that might be of use to others in the field of aging, especially those who might be interested in replicating the project?

iii. Is the evaluation plan proposed by the applicant meaningful, feasible, and clear?

iv. Is there a realistic plan to try to secure resources to continue some or all project activities after Federal financial assistance has ended?

Organizational Capacity Maximum Points: 15

i. Does the applicant organization clearly identify and demonstrate with evidence their capacity for carrying out the proposed project and evaluation?

ii. Do the proposed project director(s), key staff and consultants have the background, experience, and other qualifications required to carry out their designated roles?