PKG00264330-instructions.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

2021 Empowering Communities to Reduce Falls and Falls Risk

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-FPSG-0015

02/02/2021

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

Project Abstract

Approach

Outcomes and Evaluation

Sustainability

Organizational Capacity

Budget Narrative/Justification

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:

2021 Empowering Communities to Reduce Falls and Falls Risk Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-FPSG-0015

Primary CFDA Number:

93.761 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

12/18/2020 Due Date for Applications:

02/02/2021 Date for Informational Conference Call:

12/16/2020 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 Through this funding opportunity, the Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), plans to award approximately 6 cooperative agreements to domestic public or private non-profit entities.

This funding opportunity is designed to help communities reduce falls and/or falls risk among older adults and adults with disabilities through the implementation of evidence-based falls prevention programs.

Applicants may request a total budget from $200,000 to a maximum of $300,000 for the three-year project period. All awards are subject to the availability of federal funds.

The awards will be made in the form of cooperative agreements because AoA will be substantially involved. These cooperative agreements have an anticipated start date of May 1, https://www.grants.gov/

2021.

An informational conference call will be held on December 16, 2020 at 1:00 pm.

The dial-in information is below:

Toll Free Number: 888-664-9956, Passcode: 6267440

A recording will be available approximately one hour after the call concludes at the following number:

Toll Free Playback Number: 800-879-3386

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background Falls can have a widespread and significant impact on health, can be deadly, and often result in high costs. One out of four older adults fall each year [1]. In 2014, 2.8 million older adults were treated in emergency departments for falls injuries and more than 800,000 of these patients were hospitalized [2]. From 2007-2016, fall death rates in the U.S. increased by 30% [3]. In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion [4].

Fortunately, research has shown that falls and fall risks can be addressed through systematic risk identification and targeted intervention, including a combination of clinical intervention and community-based programs [5]. When implemented as a part of a results-based, comprehensive strategy, community-based programs have a critical role to play in reducing falls and falls risk among older adults and adults with disabilities across the nation. These program have been shown, though rigorous research, to reduce falls and/or falls risk factors [6][7][8], as well as provide a positive return on investment [9].

Over nearly two decades. ACL’s Administration on Aging has built an infrastructure to increase access to, and the sustainability of, evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs, including falls prevention programs. Between 2014 and 2020, ACL/AoA awarded 67 discretionary grants to states, community-based organizations, and tribal organizations to implement evidence-based falls prevention programs. Since September 1, 2014, over 126,000 individuals have participated in an AoA-supported evidence-based falls prevention program. For more information about ACL’s Falls Prevention Program – including profiles of current grantees

– please visit: https://www.acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/falls-prevention.

Purpose This funding opportunity has two goals:

Goal 1: Through robust partnerships, develop a result-based, comprehensive strategy for reducing falls and falls risk among older adults and adults with disabilities living in your community.

Goal 2: Significantly increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in evidence-based falls prevention programs, while concurrently pursuing the sustainability of these programs beyond the end of the grant period.

https://www.acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/falls-prevention

Applicants for this funding opportunity must propose to deliver one or more evidence-based falls prevention programs. These programs must be on the list of pre-approved interventions found in Appendix A.

All applicants must propose to implement at least one program that can be delivered in a remote format, i.e., by video conference or some other modality that does not involve an in-person component.. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) maintains a website that tracks remote program guidance by program (https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/). However, all applicants should contact the program administrator(s) for any program(s) they are interested in delivering remotely to confirm that: 1) the programs are allowed for remote delivery; and 2) that training is readily available for applicants who need it. Note that the NCOA website includes programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix A, as well as other programs not on the list. For this funding opportunity, applicants may ONLY propose programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix A.

Related Federal Activities This opportunity does not duplicate nor overlap with existing Federal efforts related to falls prevention; it aligns with current efforts to maximize the impact of this funding. Some examples of existing national, state, and local falls prevention efforts that could be leveraged include:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control uses data to report the latest burden and health implications for various injuries including falls, the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Using these data, CDC is building partnerships with health systems, providers of health care, and those who pay for health care services. These partnerships will improve what is known about the burden of falls and the integration of effective fall prevention strategies and patient care. The CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) initiative provides resources and tools for health care providers. These tools include online trainings, screening tools, case studies, videos and information on how to conduct functional assessments, and patient educational materials. CDC is also working with suppliers of electronic health records systems to facilitate the adoption and use of the STEADI tools in the clinic setting. CDC also supports opportunities to broaden and improve the linkage between primary care providers and evidence-based community falls prevention programs supported by ACL. Related resources include:

o CDC STEADI Initiative o CDC Facts on Older Adult Falls o CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-

Dwelling Older Adults

The ACL-funded National Falls Prevention Resource Center (NFPRC) based at the National Council on Aging, works to increase public awareness about the risks of falls and how to prevent them, support the implementation of evidence-based falls prevention programs, and serve as a national clearinghouse of tools and best practices. The NFPRC also leads the Falls Free® Initiative, a national effort to address the growing public health https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/ https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/ http://www.cdc.gov/steadi/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/compendium.html http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/compendium.html issue of falls, fall-related injuries, and deaths. The initiative includes 70 national organizations and a 43-member State Coalition on Falls Prevention Workgroup charged with collaboratively promoting effective strategies to address falls. Related resources include:

o FallsFree CheckUp o National Falls Prevention Resource Center Webpage o Falls Free® Initiative o Falls Prevention Awareness Week o 2015 Falls Free® National Action Plan o Fall Prevention Facts o Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers o Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Programs o State Policy Toolkit for Advancing Falls Prevention

REFERENCES

[1] U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Facts About Falls. Accessed November 28, 2016 from http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html.

[2] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online], accessed August 5, 2016 at http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/.

[3] U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Important Facts about Falls. Accessed September 20, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html.

[4] Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns ER, Stevens JA, Drake C. Medical Costs of Fatal and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2018 March, DOI:10.1111/jgs.15304 [5] U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-Dwelling Older Adults, available at: http://www .cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/compendium.html [6] Fuzhong L, Harmer P, Fisher JK, Mcauley E. (2004) Tai Chi: Improving Functional Balance and Predicting Subsequent Falls in Older Persons. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 36 (12): 2046- 2052.

[7] Clemson L, Cumming RG, Kendig H, Swann M, Heard R, Taylor K. (2004) The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Program for Reducing the Incidence of Falls in the Elderly: A Randomized Trial. J Am Geriatr Soc., 52 (9): 1487–1494.

[8] Healy, T.C., Peng, C., Haynes, P., McMahon, E., Botler, J., & Gross, L. (2008). The feasibility and effectiveness of translating A Matter of Balance into a volunteer lay leader model.

Journal of Applied Gerontology, 27(1): 34-51.

[9] Carande-Kulisa, V., et al. (2015), A cost–benefit analysis of three older adult fall prevention interventions, Journal of Safety Research, Accessed January 4th, 2016 from:

http://www.scien cedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437514001170.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is contained in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, Pub.L.116-59; Older Americans Act; and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300u-11 (Prevention and Public Health Fund).

https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-free-checkup/ https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/falls-resource-center/ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-free-initiative/ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-prevention-awareness-week/#:~:text=Falls%20Prevention%20Awareness%20Week%2C%20September,this%20important%20public%20health%20message.

https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/2015-falls-prevention-action-plan/ https://www.ncoa.org/news/resources-for-reporters/get-the-facts/falls-prevention-facts/ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/preventing-falls-tips-for-older-adults-and-caregivers/ https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-prevention-programs-for-older-adults/ https://www.ncoa.org/resources/state-policy-toolkit-for-advancing-fall-prevention/ http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/ https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/compendium.html http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/compendium.html http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437514001170 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437514001170

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$ 1,725,304 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$ 300,000 Per Project Period

Award Floor:

$ 200,000 Per Project Period

Length of Project Period:

Other Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' 36 month project and budget period (fully funded)

Current or previous ACL Falls Prevention grantees are not excluded from this funding opportunity, but must provide a strong rationale for the need for additional funding. This must include significant enhancement of the network developed with prior funding, not be a continuation of current efforts/activities supported by previously awarded ACL Falls Prevention grants (particularly because sustainability without additional federal funding has been a goal of all previous ACL Falls Prevention Funding opportunities). Applicants must propose an innovative approach that addresses the goals of this funding opportunity that features new partnerships and/or programs. Repeat awardees will be expected to meet the discrete participant and sustainability goals that they included in each of their awards.

Cooperative Agreement Terms This is a new Cooperative Agreement with the following terms. As provided by the terms of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224), this Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of AoA in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved grant award.

The grantee agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

1. Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this program announcement, as well as carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

2. Engage approximately 25% of your target participants by the end of Year 1, 50% of participants by the end of Year 2, and 100% of participants by the end of Year 3.

3. Commit to sending two project staff to a yearly Falls Prevention-relevant professional development conference mutually agreed upon with the AoA project officer as an appropriate grantee activity. Attendance is expected annually for the duration of your grant activities (including any no-cost extension period, if applicable). Although it remains yet to be seen if future conferences will be in-person or video conference (not requiring travel), all applicants must include funds in your budgets for each budget year for two people to attend a conference in the Washington, D.C. area. Awardees will be able to apply any unused travel funds to other grant activities.

4. Meet all training, licensing, fees or other requirements associated with the selected falls prevention program(s) to ensure compliance with all the requirements stipulated by the authorizing entity.

5. Communicate with the AoA project officer monthly, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

6. Collect required program data for all program participants by way of ACL’s specific data collection forms (see Appendix C). Within 30 days of participants’ completion of the program, grantees are responsible for compiling and reporting the data to the National Falls Prevention Database. Data include de-identified participant demographic and health status information, attendance information, and workshop type and location. Grantees should plan to train workshop leaders on data collection practices and use of these forms.

7. Participate in any national evaluations of the program(s) you have proposed for remote delivery.

8. Comply with all other reporting requirements, as outlined in Section VI of this Funding Opportunity and the Notice of Award

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

“This project was supported, in part by grant number 90XX####, from the Administration for Community Living, U.S. 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.”

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

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

2. Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the grantee project, and, as necessary, negotiate with grantee to achieve a mutually agreed upon solution to any needs identified by the grantee or AoA.

3. Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of AoA, ACL, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and about other federally-sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

4. 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.

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

6. Communicate with the grantee project director monthly, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

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. 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 when an award is issued the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants 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:

No 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.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria N/A

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

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 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ http://www.sam.gov/ 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 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf

Community Living will retrieve your application form fromhttps://www.grants.gov.

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

Shannon Skowronski shannon.skowronski@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter Of Intent 12/18/2020

12/18/2020 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Community Living

Shannon Skowronski

Administration on Aging

Email: shannon.skowronski@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 15 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 Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether or not your project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project.

Your project narrative must include the following sections:

1. Project Abstract

2. Project Relevance and Current Need

3. Approach

4. Outcomes and Evaluation mailto:shannon.skowronski@acl.hhs.gov

5. Sustainability

6. Organizational Capacity

To assist reviewers in scoring your application, applicants are required to organize their proposals using the headings above.

Project Abstract This section should include a brief description of the proposed project, including: goals, objectives, and outcomes.

In your abstract, clearly specify:

1. The falls prevention program(s) you plan to implement/disseminate (reference Appendix A for approved programs);

2. your projected number of program participants for each of your proposed falls prevention programs (reference Appendix D); and

3. your key partners

Project Relevance and Current Need

In this section:

Briefly describe and cite (using reliable population-based, state, and local data sources) the impact of falls in your state/region/tribe and how your proposed project will address this impact.

Describe the gap between the current availability of your proposed falls prevention program(s) and the ideal situation where the program(s) is readily available. This should include a description of the current geographic/population reach of the proposed programs in your state/region/tribe and the extent to which a network exists for systematically delivering and sustaining these programs.

Include a Project Map of your state/region/tribe that shows where your proposed program(s) are already being offered (if applicable), and which areas are being selected for this project. Provide data to support why you are targeting those areas (e.g., the number of older adults, the lack of available programs, etc.). The map should be included as an appendix to your application.

If you are a current or past ACL Falls Prevention grantee, you must describe how your proposed project significantly differs from your current or previously funded work, including:

o what your participant targets were and if you met or are on pace to meet them;

o the extent to which you secured innovative funding arrangements to continue to offer and/or expand the availability of evidence-based falls prevention programs beyond the end of the grant period; and o your rationale for the need for additional funding (i.e. not a continuation of current efforts, but rather an innovative approach that features new partnerships and/or programs, substantially increased geographic reach, and/or increased engagement of older adults and adults with disabilities that experience health disparities).

Approach Project Description

This section should:

State the project’s result-based goals and major objectives.

Identify a comprehensive strategy for reducing falls and falls risk through the delivery of evidence-based falls prevention programs (including relevant integration with other aging and disability programs/services and involvement of key partners).

Identify the specific evidence-based falls prevention program(s) that you propose to implement and a rationale for selecting the program(s). The program(s) must be on the list of pre-approved interventions in Appendix A. Do not propose programs that are not included on this list. Applicants can use the guidelines in the Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Program Risk Continuum to assist them in selecting their proposed falls prevention program(s). All applicants must propose to implement at least one program that can be delivered in a remote format, i.e., by video conference or some other modality that does not involve an in-person component. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) maintains a website that tracks remote program guidance by program (https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/). However all applicants should contact the program administrator(s) for any program(s) they are interested in delivering remotely to confirm that: 1) the programs are allowed for remote delivery; and 2) that training is readily available for applicants who need it. Note that the NCOA website includes programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix A, as well as other programs not on the list. For this funding opportunity, applicants may ONLY propose programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix A.

State the projected total number of participants that you expect to reach through your proposed evidence-based falls prevention program(s) and explain how you developed your target numbers for the program(s). For any group series programs, please also specify a target number of completers and a target completion rate. Provide a rationale for these targets, e.g., by referencing your previous experience delivering falls prevention programs, the number of older adults and/or adults with disabilities in your state/region/tribe that you may be able to reach, the potential program saturation of the target participant population, partner commitments, referral systems, and other factors.

Targets should be realistic and achievable. In developing your participant/completer targets, please reference the Guidance for Administration for Community Living Evidence-based Falls Prevention Program Grant Applicants: Considerations for Estimating Program Participation Targets in Appendix D.

Provide a coherent approach to implementing/disseminating the proposed falls prevention programs, with the overall goal of reducing falls and falls risk.

Describe how your approach will engage approximately 25% of your participant target by the end of Year 1, 50% by the end of Year 2, and 100% of your participant target by the end of Year 3.

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Describe any existing falls prevention and/or other evidence-based prevention initiatives in your area and how you plan to coordinate with and leverage these efforts. This should include a description of any existing capacity to deliver the proposed program(s), i.e., the number of host sites, implementation sites, and delivery personnel (such as trainers and leaders/coaches).

If your existing infrastructure for the proposed program(s) is inadequate, please describe and provide a rationale for any proposed training(s). If you require training, you must include a letter of support in your application from the program administrator that will provide training. The letter should state that the training will be provided no more than 3 months after the applicant receives the Notice of Award from ACL.

For any remote program(s) proposed, please identify the IT/technological support needs you anticipate and provide a detailed plan for how you will address these.

Describe how you intend to identify, market to, and recruit participants for your proposed program(s).

Describe any major challenges and barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will address those challenges and barriers.

Special Target Populations and Organizations This section should:

Describe whether and, if so, how the proposed program(s) will target any special populations, i.e., rural, underserved, etc.

Provide a rationale (citing relevant data) for selecting the target group(s) and describe any involvement of organizations that would be collaborating in reaching the proposed population(s). The Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Risk Continuum is a useful resource for ensuring the program(s) selected is appropriate for the identified target population(s).

Work Plan You should also provide a project Work Plan for Years 1, 2, and 3 which reflects and is consistent with the Project Narrative and Budgets. This Work Plan should include a statement of the project’s overall goals, anticipated outcomes, key objectives, and the major tasks/action steps that will be pursued to achieve the results-based goals and outcomes. It should also include tasks/action steps taken to evaluate progress toward goals and outcomes and effectiveness of relevant strategies. Applicants should identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates) and the lead person responsible for completing the task.

The Work Plan can be attached to your application as an appendix.

Outcomes and Evaluation Project Outcomes This section must:

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Describe the measurable, results-based outcomes that will result from the project, and how these outcomes address the two goals of this funding opportunity. Any proposed outcomes must be quantifiable, measurable, and likely to be achieved during the project period.

List measurable outcomes in the Work Plan grid under "Measurable Outcomes", in addition to any discussion included in the narrative.

Quality Assurance Describe your plans for developing and implementing a quality assurance program to ensure continuous quality improvement and ongoing methods for monitoring the fidelity of your proposed programs. This section should include the methods, techniques, and tools that will be used to:

1. Monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives;

2. Monitor whether the proposed programs are being implemented with fidelity*, as well as identify processes for corrective actions;

3. Ensure the ACL-required dataset (see Appendix C) is being collected and reported accurately by the implementation sites and how you will identify and troubleshoot any potential problems; and

4. Document the lessons learned both positive and negative.

*Fidelity is the extent to which delivery of the evidence-based program consistently adheres to the program’s intent and design. In other words, the extent to which you are delivering the program exactly how it is meant to be implemented. Maintaining fidelity to the program is essential to ensure that your participants receive the intended health benefits from the program.

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 to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Applicants should also clearly state their commitment to cooperating with any broader efforts led by ACL and/or the National Falls Prevention Resource Center to help others understand how they could replicate the project activities in their communities.

In addition, all applicants should state their commitment to participating in to any national evaluations of the program(s) they have proposed for remote delivery.

Sustainability This section should:

Describe how you will develop strategies to support the proposed programs during and beyond the grant period. For more information on business planning and financial sustainability, please visit https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/. Grantees’ https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/ https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/ sustainability plans should utilize a multi-payor approach, i.e., funding from healthcare, business, philanthropy, public funding, etc., and not be limited to federal funding like the Older Americans Act Title IIID.

Describe your plans to identify and convene strategic partners and other vested, experienced stakeholders on a regular basis via a steering committee or another formal advisory group. The function of the steering committee is to provide guidance on and participate in key activities relevant to your proposed work plan to promote the success of your project. Indicate the specific role that each partner/stakeholder will assume with respect to helping the applicant meet its proposed deliverables. The majority of these partners should be engaged to advise on and/or contribute to the sustainability of your program(s) beyond the scope of the grant period. At least two of the partners should provide a firm commitment at the time of application to taking action to help secure and/or providing funding to sustain the program(s) beyond the end of the grant period.

Letters of Commitment Provide letters of support confirming commitments from grant partners. These letters should describe the specific role of each partner in the project (should it be funded).

Applicants must include the letters of commitment as an appendix to your application and use a Table of Contents to clearly describe which letters represent which partners:

1. State Unit on Aging. It is expected that the State Unit on Aging (SUA) will provide a letter affirming their support of your proposed project. If the SUA declines to provide a letter, you must provide documentation indicating this, e.g., an email indicating that letters of support are not being provided. If you are proposing a multi-state network, you should have a letter from the SUA in each state involved in the project. This requirement is applicable for all applicants except tribes/tribal entities. You can locate applicable SUA information using the search feature on https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx.

If you are a tribe or tribal entity, you must include a tribal resolution that states the reasons you are applying for the grant, and your commitment to executing the grant activities (should it be awarded).

2. Area Agency on Aging. It is expected that an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) will provide a letter affirming their support of your proposed project. A letter from the state AAA association is not permissible in lieu of this requirement. This letter should reference their defined role in the project. If you are proposing a target geographic area covered by more than one AAA, you should have a letter from each relevant AAA. If you are an applicant from a Single State Authority (Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington DC, and Wyoming) or tribe/tribal entity, this requirement is not applicable. You can locate applicable AAA information using the search feature on https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx.

3. Program Administrator. Applicants are expected to begin delivering their proposed falls prevention programs within three to six months after receiving their Notice of Award. If you require training for the evidence-based programs you propose before you can begin delivery of the programs, your application must include letters of support from the program https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx administrators that will be providing training for the evidence-based programs proposed. The letter should state that the trainings will be provided within three months of award notification. ACL encourages applicants to have a thorough discussion with the program developers and/or training entities to ensure that applicants: 1) fully understand the requirements and length of the training/certification process; 2) understand and can budget appropriately – for the full cost of the training/certification; and 3) proposed an appropriate target population for the program(s) selected.

The quality of the letter content (i.e., specificity with respect to the role of that partner) is more important than the quantity of letters submitted with your application. Signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Letters of commitment must be uploaded as part of the applicant package via Grants.gov – hard copies will not be accepted.

Organizational Capacity In this section:

Describe how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and/or the capabilities it possesses. It may be helpful to include an organizational chart as an appendix to your application. Also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Describe any experience with health promotion programs (particularly those that are evidence-based) and how you will leverage this experience to integrate your proposed falls prevention program(s) within your organization.

Describe the project management, including the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, and partner organizations, as well as how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. You should:

o Provide a description of the qualifications and experience of the key personnel for this proposed project, including for the Project Director. Application must include resumes or CVs as an attachment.

o Specify who will have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project, monitoring the project’s on-going progress, preparation of reports, and communications with other partners and ACL.

o Detail the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Budget Narrative/Justification Applicants are required to provide a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification. Your budget should be aligned with the proposed activities in your Project Narrative and Work Plan. It should also include travel for two project staff to a yearly Falls Prevention-relevant professional development conference (see item #3 in grantee section of Cooperative Agreement Terms).

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.

Applicants must submit the following:

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 1;

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 2;

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 3; and A Combined Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 Budget.

3. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 02/02/2021

02/02/2021 Date for Informational Conference Call:

12/16/2020 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.