FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Section 452(j), 42 U.S.C. 652(j); Public Laws 104-193 and 105-33; Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

OBJECTIVES:

To design and carry out special projects of regional and national significance relating to the improvement of child support enforcement efforts.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grants and contracts are awarded for creative special improvement projects and demonstrations that improve the effectiveness of the child support enforcement program on the regional and national levels. These activities must be consistent with the goals of the national child support strategic plan and must advance the requirements of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Funds authorized under section 452(j)(42 USC 652(j))and Section 453 (42 USC 653) of the Social Security Act are available to State Human Services umbrella and other public State/local agencies (including State/local IV-D agencies), consortia of State/local public agencies, Tribes and Tribal organizations and nonprofit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations will benefit.

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:   Program 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 subject to E.O. 12372. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Program." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for Review.

Application Procedure:   This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. 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 forms and supplemental descriptive information on the priority projects are available from: Administration for Children and Families, Child Support Enforcement Program, 4th floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. 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 the applicant must clearly indicate whether the application submitted is in response to 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 non-priority, 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 non-priority projects. Written assessment of each application is made. This program is excluded from E.O. 12372.

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 the Federal Register for grants and in the Commerce Business Daily for contracts. Unsolicited applications, may be submitted any time, but must be so unique that they cannot fit under a general announcement.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 120 days. Generally, solicited grants and contracts will be acted upon within 90 days.

Appeals:   There are no formal appeals procedures. If an application 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. In the case of solicited proposals, reworking time may be allowed to prepare addenda which clarify various aspects of projects. If an applicant is not awarded a grant, the applicant can request a debriefing that will address: (1) Weak and deficient areas of the proposal; (2) impact of weaknesses or deficiencies in not being selected; and (3) factors that were the basis of the selection of the successful contractor.

Renewals:   Generally, project and budget periods for these projects will be up to 17 months. Projects of a longer duration will be considered if unique circumstances warrant. If projects are approved for a period longer than 17 months, funding will be provided in discrete 12-month increments, or "budget periods." Funding beyond the first 12- month budget period is not guaranteed. Future funding will depend on the grantee's satisfactory performance and the availability of future appropriations.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Generally, project and budget periods for these projects will be up to 17 months. If projects are approved for a period longer than 17 months, funding will be provided in discrete 12-month increments, or "budget period."

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Semi-annual or quarterly narrative reports and semi-annual reports of expenditures are required on all grant projects. Comprehensive final reports are due on or before termination dates of the projects and not later than 90 days after termination for grants.

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 Non-Profit 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 the 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 74 or 92. Records 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:   75-1553-0-1-609.

Obligations:   FY 01 $1,502,355; FY 02 est $2,000,000; and FY 03 est $2,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$30,000 to $100,000.

Nine grants were awarded in fiscal year 2001. An estimated ten grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2002, and ten in fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

"Grants Administration Policies," and application kits may be obtained from the ACF, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact 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/cb

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Special improvement projects and Tribal planning grants intended to improve the operation and management of the child support enforcement program.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

(1) Objectives and need for assistance; (2) approach; (project management and staffing plan); (3) evaluation and how success will be measured; (4) reasonableness of project costs; and (5) cooperation of CSE agency.