HHS_2021_ACL_AOA_PPSC_0080.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-PPSC-0080

07/26/2021

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:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-PPSC-0080

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

06/16/2021 Due Date for Applications:

07/26/2021 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 To better ensure that senior centers have the tools and resources necessary to develop and implement programs that meet the current and future needs of the Nation’s older adults, the Administration on Aging, an agency of the Administration for Community Living, is establishing a Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center. AoA is seeking applications to fund one cooperative agreement that will provide technical assistance and training to senior centers as well https://www.grants.gov/ as serve as a clearinghouse for innovative programs and strategies that can be successfully replicated at the local level.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Senior centers are recognized as one of the most utilized services authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA). According to OAA State Performance Reports, there are over 10,000 senior centers in the United States. The OAA defines a multipurpose senior center as “a community facility for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of services, which shall include provision of health (including mental health), social, nutritional, and educational services and the provision of facilities for recreational activities for older individuals.” Senior centers are valued partners in the Aging Network that support community living by keeping older adults active, engaged, informed and healthy. Many senior centers serve as important focal points for the delivery of comprehensive services and offer programs that can help reduce the incidence of social isolation and loneliness among older adults.

Senior centers offer a wide array of programs and services that can promote and enhance the lives of older adults. Most senior centers are providing essential health and wellness programs including health screenings and nutrition programs. Many are delivering proven evidence-based programs and practices, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs and falls prevention efforts. Additional services include information and assistance; benefits access;

transportation; social engagement activities; educational and arts programs; intergenerational programming; and volunteer opportunities.

According to the Census Bureau, the older population is expected to continue to grow significantly in the future. The population age 65 and older stands at 52.4 million as of 2018 and by 2040, there will be about 80.8 million older persons, more than twice as many as in 2000. The 85 and older population is also projected to more than double from 6.5 million in 2018 to 14.4 million in 2040. Additionally, the population of racial and ethnic minorities has increased from

7.5 million in 2008 (19% of the older adult population) to 12.3 million in 2018 (23% of older adults) and is projected to increase 27.7 million in 2040 (34% of older adults).

Given these and other changing aging demographics, senior centers will need to adapt and expand to address an increasingly diverse older adult population to create new and modern experiences. This issue has only been heightened by the COVID pandemic where senior centers had to close and create alternative programming to meet the needs of the older adults in their communities. Congress recognized these demographic imperatives and directed the Assistant Secretary for Aging in Section 202 (30) of the OAA to “identify model programs and provide information and technical assistance to States, area agencies on aging, and service providers (including providers operating multipurpose senior centers), to support the modernization of multipurpose.”

To better ensure that senior centers have the tools and resources necessary to develop and implement programs that meet the current and future needs of the Nation’s older adults, AoA is establishing a Modernizing Senior Centers Resource Center (the Center). AoA is seeking applications to fund one cooperative agreement that will provide training, consultation, and technical assistance as well as serve as a clearinghouse for innovative programs and strategies that can be successfully replicated in local senior centers. Applicants should clearly describe their proposed approaches for achieving the following broad objectives:

Increase senior center’s knowledge and understanding of effective strategies for increasing and maintaining successful programming to enhance community living and social engagement of older adults.

Expand the ability of senior centers to effectively meet the diverse needs of older adult participants, including the consideration of racial and ethnic equity, ability, technology, and intergenerational (including intergenerational shared sites) factors.

The Grantee is expected to perform the following tasks and other duties:

Conduct an environmental scan to examine and document the current state of senior center models and programming to determine priorities for training and technical assistance;

Develop and implement a strategy for meeting the training and technical assistance needs of senior centers. Strategy should include basic trainings such as the Older Americans Act and other foundational subjects;

Develop and maintain a website which serves as a comprehensive source of information on senior center programming;

Develop and deploy a communications strategy to inform senior center and aging network professionas, on a regular basis, about emerging developments, and information related to Center activities and other advancements in senior center programming;

Collect and promote models and best practices in senior center programming including innovative senior center models and programming that meets the needs of diverse audiences;

Provide tools and resources that develop senior center program excellence, quality, and business acumen;

Facilitate an opportunity for peer exchange, dialogue, and information sharing among senior centers and other aging network organizations as appropriate in a variety of formats (i.e. learning collaboratives, office hours, webinars);

Engage organizations that are supporting efforts that can enhance senior center programming to identify successful programs and strategies that can be shared with senior centers; and

Collaborate with relevant ACL resource centers and other ACL grantees as necessary to advance and support the advancement of senior center programs, including:

o National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging o Center for Benefits Access o National Falls Prevention Resource Center o National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center o Minority Organization Technical Assistance Program o engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Funding Opportunity Announcement is not intended to fund individual senior center's efforts to expand programming.

Statutory Authority Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended.

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$ 750,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$ 250,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$ 200,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' ACL plans to fund one award for up to $250,000 per year for a total project period of three

(3) years, contingent upon availability of federal funds. This is a new cooperative agreement and ACL will be substantially involved in the Center’s activities. The terms and conditions for this cooperative agreement are as follows and will be incorporated by reference in the Notice of Award (NOA).

The ACL will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement noted above:

ACL Project Officer will perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of managing a grant and will work with the grantee to ensure that the necessary requirements for the grant are met.

Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of ACL by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.

Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project. If issues are identified, work with the grantee to revise the project work plan, detailing expectations for major activities and products during the 36 month grant.

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

Review and provide technical advice on grantee work products.

Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues as they relate to the goals and objectives of this grant program.

Work with the grantee on the development and implementation of evaluation and quality assurance systems to ensure that performance is measured and continuous improvement occurs.

Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

The grantee will execute the responsibilities of the cooperative agreement as listed below:

Collaborate with the ACL in any in-scope modifications and execution of the work plan, initially within 45 days of the award.

Evaluate the impact of overall project activities and ensure quality assurance systems are in place.

Share and disseminate grant information with ACL, national, state, and local organizations and other entities as appropriate.

Submit resumes of potential key staff hires as detailed under HHS grants prior approval requirements.

The grantee will provide a draft of all products, including news releases, for AoA review and comment prior to producing and disseminating the final product. The grantee will provide AOA period of three weeks, prior to release, publication, and/or posting to review and comment upon all materials produced with funds provided through this award. After the three-week review and comment period, the grantee is free to make such materials public, using the following disclaimer:

“This project was supported, in part by grant number #####, from the U.S.

Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.”

Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as detailed in this program announcement.

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend 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.

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

Application addresses the goals and objectives set forth in the Funding Opportunity Description; and

Applicant organization has demonstrated capacity to run a project that provides technical assistance and training on a national level.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf 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

Sherri Clark Program Specialist sherri.clark@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Number Of Days from Publication 20

06/16/2021 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:

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 letter of intent is (Insert date here). Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Community Living https://www.grants.gov/

Sherri Clark

Email: sherri.clark@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 11 to 20 pages; 20 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

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

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

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

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

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 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, (i.e., measure of performance towards the goals stated in the funding opportunity announcement and for your specific intervention/activities) 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 specific outcomes (e.g., changes in clients, organizations, and/or communities) expected as a result of this funding as well as method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project that will be 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 Capability 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) 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 fax them to the ACL Office of Grants Management at 202-357-3467 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 Number Of Days from Publication 60

07/26/2021 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 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

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.

NOTE: There will be no Informational Conference Call for this Funding Opportunity Announcement. Questions regarding this announcement can be referred to Sherri.Clark@acl.hhs.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);

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Sherri.Clark@acl.hhs.gov.

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 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.)

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 and Need Maximum Points: 10 Is the proposal relevant to the intent, goals, and objectives of this funding announcement, as described in Section I of this Funding Opportunity Announcement?

Does the proposed project clearly and adequately identify the current issues surrounding senior centers and senior center programming?

Approach Maximum Points: 40 Is the intervention clearly defined? Does it reflect a coherent and feasible approach for successfully providing training and technical assistance to advance the modernization of senior centers? Are achievable outcomes identified? 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?

Has the applicant stated clear and meaningful goals and objectives for the proposed strategy? Are the goals and objectives reasonable and likely to be achieved?

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?

Will the dissemination plan get relevant and easy to use information in a timely manner to parties that might be interested in making use of them?

Budget Maximum Points: 15 Does the application include a budget and budget narrative for all years of the proposed project? (Failure to include budgets and budget narratives with the application will result in a score of “zero” for this section).

Is the budget justified with respect to the adequacy and reasonableness of resources requested? Are budget items clearly delineated and consistent with work plan objectives? (i.e., a clear and strong relationship between the stated objectives, project activities, the work expected to be performed, and what it will cost)?

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?

Project Impact Maximum Points: 15 Are the proposed outcomes quantifiable and measurable, consistent with the definition of a project outcomes as described in Section III of the funding opportunity announcement and as contained in “Project Work Plan –Sample Template?” Are the expected project benefits, results, and impact clear, realistic, and consistent with the objectives and purpose of the project, as well as with the funding opportunity? Are the anticipated outcomes of the proposed project likely to be achieved, and will they significantly benefit senior centers and older adult participants.

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 the field?

Organizational Capacity Maximum Points: 20 Does the applicant demonstrate the required national-level experience and expertise necessary to fully execute the activities sought under this opportunity? If “no,” the applicant will receive a score of “zero” for this section.

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

Is the applicant agency significantly and meaningfully involved in carrying out the project? Are the proposed project director(s), key staff, and consultants dedicating an appropriate amount of time to fulfill their obligations to the project? Are Letters of Commitment from participating organizations included, as appropriate, and do they express the clear commitment and areas of responsibility of those organizations, consistent with the work plan description of their intended roles and contributions?

2. Review and Selection Process As required by 2 CFR Part 200 of the Uniform Guidance, effective January 1, 2016, ACL is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), https://www.fapiis.gov before making any award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000) over the period of performance. An applicant may review and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency has previously entered into FAPIIS. ACL will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR Section 200.205 Federal Awarding Agency Review of Risk Posed by Applicants (https:// www.ecfr.gov/ cgi-bin/ text-idx?node=se2.1.200_1205&rgn=div8).

An independent review panel of at least three individuals will evaluate applications that pass the screening and meet the responsiveness criteria if applicable.