FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Section 1110, 42 U.S.C. 1310, Section 1115, 42 U.S.C. 1315, as amended, Public Laws 96-265, 98-378, 100-485, and 100-517.

OBJECTIVES:

To discover, test, demonstrate, and promote utilization of new concepts which will increase cost effectiveness, reduce welfare dependency, and increase child support collections from absent parents.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grants and contracts are awarded for innovative research and demonstrations of regional and national significance that are responsive to program priorities in Child Support Enforcement, and for coordination, administration and provision of services to target populations. All applications must meet standards of excellence in research and evaluation design. Funds authorized under Section 1110 of the Social Security Act are limited to State agencies administering the Child Support Enforcement Program, and to other public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Funds authorized under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act are limited to State agencies administering the Child Support Enforcement Program. All applications must outline explicitly the information sought about the administration, or effects of the proposed research and how the activity will be evaluated. Funds may not be used for construction. A Section 1115 waiver of any of the State Plan requirements under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act may be granted in connection with any experimental pilot or demonstration project that will assist in promoting the objectives of the Child Support Enforcement program and meets certain conditions.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Section 1110 grants may be made to State and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Contracts may be executed with nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Section 1115 grants may be made to State Child Support Enforcement agencies.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   State agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations.

Credentials/Documentation:   When appropriate, applicants should present written evidence of other agencies' willingness to cooperate when the project involves their cooperation or the utilization of their facilities or service. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments and federally-recognized tribal governments. For other grantees, costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations, and any amendments to the aforementioned.

Pre-application Coordination:   Research and demonstration strategy for each fiscal year is publicized through central and regional office meetings, The Federal Register, Commerce Business Daily, issuance of grant guidelines and requests for proposals, and other appropriate means. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 102. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Research and demonstration strategy for each fiscal year is publicized through central and regional office meetings, The Federal Register, Commerce Business Daily, issuance of grant guidelines and requests for proposals, and other appropriate means. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-102. The standard application forms, as furnished by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110, as appropriate. The standard application forms, as furnished by DHHS and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this program. Application kits which contain the prescribed application forms and supplemental descriptive information on the priority projects are available from: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Director, Division of Discretionary Grants, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-4621. Contact: Alece Morgan, Acting Director, Division of Discretionary Grants. To be considered for a grant award, all applications must be submitted on the prescribed application forms and submitted to the Division of Grants Management. The application shall be executed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and to assume for the agency or organization the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant. As part of the project title (page 1 of the application form, Form SF-424) the applicant must clearly indicate whether the application submitted is in response to a priority project identified in a program announcement and must reference the unique project identifier (e.g., OCSE-84) for which the application is to compete. Applications are initially screened for relevance to program interests of the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). Inappropriate applications will be returned to the applicant. Relevant applications are reviewed and evaluated by a review panel of not less than three knowledgeable people. Applicants may also submit proposals for projects not specifically identified in a program announcement, but which are relevant to the OCSE program goals. These applications will be designated as nonpriority, but will also be subject to the panel review process. A limited number of projects may be approved pending available funds and will compete with other nonpriority projects. Written assessment of each application is made.

Award Procedure:   Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Grant Award. This provides the amount of funds awarded, the purpose of the award, the term and conditions of the award, the budget period for which support is given, the total project period for which support is contemplated, and the total grantee participation.

Deadlines:   Closing dates are established and published as program announcements in letters to State IV-D directors. Unsolicited applications may be submitted at any time.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 30 to 120 days. Generally, solicited grants will be acted upon within 90 days.

Appeals:   There are no formal appeals procedures. If an application grant is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval will be fully stated. In the case of unsolicited proposals, applicants are free to resubmit applications with attention to the changes suggested by the reasons for disapproval.

Renewals:   Extensions and continuations of grants with 1-year project periods are generally not available except under extreme circumstances. If an application is recommended for approval for 2 or more years, the grantee must submit a formal request for continuation each year accompanied by a progress report which will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation. This is not applicable to contracts.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Grantees are required to share in the cost of projects. Grantee costs can be as low as 5 percent without approval by the Secretary for Health and Human Services. This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Funds are generally granted on a 17-month basis, with support beyond the first year contingent upon a multi- year approved project period acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, continuing program relevance, and availability of funds.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual narrative program and expenditure reports are required on all grant projects.

Audits:   All fiscal transactions identifiable to Federal financial assistance are subject to audit by the HHS audit agency, and other Federal officials. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant or contract number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for 3 years in accordance with 45 CFR Part 74. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved, or at the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   (Title IV-D) 75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,800,000; FY 02 est $1,800,000; and FY 03 est $1,800,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 15 $125,083 to $800,000.

Twelve new grants were funded in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 10 new grants will be awarded and 4 grants will be continued for a second year funding in fiscal year 2002. It is estimated that 10 new grants will be awarded and 4 will continue for a third year funding in fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

The pamphlets "Research Grants in Social Security," "Grants Administration Policies," and application kits may be obtained from the ACF, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Regional Administrators. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office:  
Michelle Jadczak 330 C. Street S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: michelle.jadczak@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202 401-4578

Web Site Address:  
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

In fiscal year 2001, projects were funded in the following areas: data mining and analysis, services to improve financial and emotional support by non-custodial fathers, including marriage - related services and outreach activities to better serve Latino and other minorities.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

(1) Research or demonstrations design; (2) knowledge of the field; (3) reasonableness of the proposal; (4) experience; (5) relevance to OCSE and HHS priorities; (6) competence of personnel and adequacy of budget and facilities; and (7) prospects for utilization.