Grants for Short-Term Policy Research on Welfare Outcomes (ASPE), Notice Inviting Applications for New Award for Fiscal Year 1999

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31587-31591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14795]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation


Grants for Short-Term Policy Research on Welfare Outcomes (ASPE), 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Award for Fiscal Year 1999

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 
HHS.

ACTION: Announcement of the availability of funds and request for 
applications for short-term policy research.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluation (ASPE) announces the availability of funds and invites 
applications for short-term policy research. We anticipate that between 
4 and 7 entities will receive funding. We do not anticipate any new 
data collection under this grant but rather secondary analysis of 
existing data.

CLOSING DATE: The closing date for submitting applications under this 
announcement is July 26, 1999.

MAILING ADDRESS: Application instructions and forms should be requested 
from and submitted to: Adrienne Little, Grants Officer, Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health 
and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 405F, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201, Telephone: (202) 690-8794. 
Requests for forms and administrative questions will be accepted and 
responded to up to 10 working days prior to closing date of receipt of 
applications.
    Copies of this program announcement and many of the required forms 
may also be obtained electronically at the ASPE World Wide Web Page: 
aspe.os.dhhs.gov (see section on available grants and 
contracts). Application submissions may not be faxed or submitted 
electronically.
    The printed Federal Register notice is the only official program 
announcement. Although reasonable efforts are taken to assure that the 
files on the ASPE World Wide Web Page containing electronic copies of 
this Program Announcement are accurate and complete, they are provided 
for information only. The applicant bears sole responsibility to assure 
that the copy downloaded and/or printed from any other source is 
accurate and complete.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Administrative questions should be 
directed to the Grants Officer at the address or phone number listed 
above. Technical questions should be directed to Audrey Mirsky-Ashby, 
DHHS, ASPE, Telephone, 202-401-6640 or e-mail, amirsky@osaspe.dhhs.gov. 
Written technical questions may also be faxed to 202-690-6562 or may be 
addressed to Ms. Audrey Mirsky-Ashby at the following address. Office 
of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of 
Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 404E, 
Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201. Please call Ms. 
Audrey Mirsky-Ashby to confirm receipt.

Part I. Supplementary Information

Legislative Authority

    This grant is authorized by section 1110 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1310) and awards will be made from funds appropriated under 
Pub. L. 105-277, Department of Health and Human Services Health and 
Human Services Appropriations Act, 1999.

Eligible Applicants

    Pursuant to section 1110 of the Social Security Act, any public and 
private nonprofit organizations including universities and other 
institutions of higher education may apply. Applications may also be 
submitted by private for-profit organizations. However, no grant funds 
may be paid as profit, i.e., any amount in excess of allowable direct 
and indirect costs of the recipient (45 CFR 74.705).

Available Funds

    Approximately $550,000 is available from ASPE, in funds 
appropriated for fiscal year 1999. ASPE anticipates providing between 4 
and 7 awards with award amounts ranging from $75,000 to $150,000. No 
awards greater than $150,000 will be made. If additional funding 
becomes available in fiscal years 1999 or 2000, additional projects may 
be funded. No federal funds received as a result of this announcement 
can be used to purchase computer equipment.

Background

    The passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) brought about fundamental changes 
in our nation's income support program for needy families with 
children. Welfare reform was expected to alter individuals' behavior in 
regard to work, marriage, fertility and program participation. As part 
of PRWORA, the

[[Page 31588]]

Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program was replaced by the 
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to 
states. Under TANF, states were given considerable flexibility to 
design and implement their support programs for needy families with 
children. In addition to this increased flexibility, TANF ended the 
individual entitlement to cash assistance, imposed a 60 month life time 
limit on the receipt of assistance and conditioned assistance on 
participation in work related activities.
    Between January 1993 and December 1998, the number of people 
receiving federally funded assistance under Title IV-A of the Social 
Security Act fell from 14.1 million to just under 8 million recipients, 
a reduction of 44 percent. This decline has occurred partly in response 
to the strong economy, the Administration's grants of Federal waivers 
to 43 States, and the provisions of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
    In response to the demand from the public and policymakers there is 
a broad array of research being conducted regarding the outcomes of 
welfare reform. While we are learning a lot about the employment and 
earnings of those who leave welfare, we know little about outcomes in 
other domains, such as child well-being or family structure, and we 
know very little about low-income families who do not come on to the 
welfare rolls. We also know little about subgroups with specific 
employment barriers.
    There is solid and consistent evidence from a variety of sources 
that welfare reform has increased the average employment and earnings 
of welfare recipients. Experimental studies of State waiver 
demonstrations and other work programs that are very similar to TANF 
programs show consistently positive impacts on employment and earnings. 
Recent results from specific State programs show employment increases 
in the range of about 7 to 29 percent, and earnings increases of about 
16 to 27 percent. For example, in the evaluation of the Minnesota 
Family Investment Program (MFIP), earnings for single-parent long-term 
recipients in urban counties increased by $1,041(26.9 percent), and the 
percent ever employed increased by 17.0 percentage points (28.8 
percent) over 18 months.
    Analyses of data from the Census Bureau's annual Current Population 
Survey (CPS) indicate a clear pattern of increased employment. The 
March employment rate of previous-year AFDC adult recipients increased 
from 19 to 25 percent between 1992 and 1996, and jumped to almost 32 
percent in 1997. Also, the March employment rate of single mothers 
whose previous-year income was under 200 percent of poverty rose from 
44 percent in 1992 to 54 percent in 1997, with average annual increases 
in 1996 and 1997 twice as large as in the previous 3 years.
    The evidence about impacts on family income, on food security and 
hunger, on health insurance status, on child outcomes, and on other 
family experiences, are much less clear at this point. The best reading 
of the available evidence suggests that because the baseline levels of 
employment and earnings for welfare recipients are so low, even with 
substantial increases most families exiting welfare continue to be 
poor. Further, while some families are benefitting dramatically from 
the new incentives, requirements and opportunities, others are being 
left behind. However, preliminary evidence from states does not support 
the hypotheses that large numbers of people are becoming homeless or 
that more children are being moved into foster care as a result of 
welfare reform policies.
    A recent analysis of the effects of welfare reform on Medicaid 
coverage, published by Families USA, found using data from the U.S. 
Census Bureau's Current Population Survey and from the Health Care 
Financing Administration, found that over two-thirds of a million low-
income people--approximately 675,000--lost Medicaid coverage and became 
uninsured as of 1997 due to welfare reform. The majority (62 percent) 
of those who became uninsured due to welfare reform were children. 
Results from waiver demonstrations and studies of recipients who left 
welfare (``leaver'' studies) for the most part indicate that average 
family income has been unchanged with some families increasing their 
income but others experiencing declines. For example, 2-year impacts on 
clients assessed as ``job-ready'' from Indiana's waiver demonstration 
showed earnings up 17.0 percent ($1,374) and quarters of employment up 
12.8 percent, but total combined income from earnings and benefits was 
unchanged.
    There is some early evidence that the most disadvantaged families 
may be losing income. CPS data indicate that real average family income 
for the bottom quintile of female-headed families with children 
declined between 1995 and 1997, after increasing from 1993 to 1995.

Part II. Purpose and Responsibilities

Purpose

    The purpose of these grants is to support policy relevant research 
to complement ongoing research and evaluations on the outcomes of 
welfare reform, and to broaden our understanding of the outcomes of 
welfare reform. These grants are meant to supplement other leavers 
grants that ASPE has previously funded (see the web site at 
aspe.os.dhhs.gov/hsp/isp/98grants.htm for a description of these 
grants).
    These grants are to support short-term research and data analysis 
efforts that are designed to be completed within twelve months. ASPE 
hopes to support efforts to analyze a variety of information about 
individuals (adults and children) and their families, including their 
economic and non-economic well-being and their participation in 
government programs. We hope to gain some understanding of the broader 
issues of the labor market and individual behaviors such as the 
differential effects of the business cycle on subgroups of the eligible 
population. The identification of important subgroups such as rural 
residents, individuals with significant barriers to success (e.g., 
mental illness, domestic violence, substance abuse, illiteracy, people 
with disabilities) and analyses of outcomes for these groups is also 
encouraged. Analyses that focus on differential outcomes by race/
ethnicity are also encouraged. In addition, while average effects or 
outcomes are important it is also important in the context of welfare 
reform to look at the distribution of the outcomes, to identify and 
understand the winners and losers, and to understand the reasons why 
some individuals are winners and others are losers. Thus researchers 
are encouraged to look beyond averages.
    Our intent is to sponsor analytic work and not to fund the 
provision of services. While research may be conducted in service 
settings, proposals of this nature will be carefully scrutinized to 
assure that these funds are not used for non-research purposes, no 
matter how worthwhile.
    ASPE is interested in exploring research associated with three 
welfare related populations: (1) Those who are eligible for welfare but 
do not enroll either due to diversion programs or simply to failure to 
apply or enroll; (2) program participants and (3) program leavers. ASPE 
is interested in analyses that would inform the following issues and 
questions. While the list represents some of the many topics that are 
important to ASPE researchers and

[[Page 31589]]

policymakers, the suggested questions are in no way meant to be 
exhaustive.
Participation Decisions/Entry and Exit
    How do program participation decisions and the outcomes for those 
who do not enroll in the TANF assistance program either because they 
are diverted from the program or choose not to apply or enroll differ 
vis-a-vis those who do enroll? How does this relate to decisions to 
participate in related support programs such as Food Stamps and 
Medicaid?
    What are the effects of welfare reform on program entry and exit 
and on the composition of the caseload? For example, does welfare 
reform effect on the number of mothers on the rolls with young 
children? What role, if any, do other supports including public and 
private transfers (e.g., child support payments); work supports (e.g., 
Medicaid, child care, transportation); and social and community 
supports play in the decision to participate in or leave TANF? What 
role do these supports play in achieving success outside the TANF 
assistance program for those who do not enter TANF and/or those who 
leave the assistance program?
Business Cycle Effects
    What are the business cycle effects, as experienced on the regional 
level, on entry and exit from TANF and how are different groups (e.g., 
those experiencing barriers to success) impacted?
Impacts on Well-Being
    What are the differential impacts of participation or non-
participation on individual and family well-being? How is welfare 
reform affecting the experiences of program participants and their 
outcomes including economic and non-economic well-being? How are the 
children of low income and welfare families faring under welfare reform 
on measures such as school achievement, behavioral problems, and health 
status? What facilitates positive outcomes or success? What effect has 
the increased focus on work and responsibility had on the children of 
low income and welfare families?
Self-Sufficiency Timeline
    How quickly can we expect welfare recipients to become self-
sufficient? Can welfare recipients accumulate sufficient skills to move 
forward in the labor market and increase their earnings to a level to 
meet basic needs and beyond? Are there groups that will be left behind? 
What strategies would enable those hard-to-serve recipients to move 
successfully into the labor market?
Individuals Who Leave the Rolls With No Earnings
    Many of those who leave the welfare rolls are leaving for work but 
many also leave for non-work reasons. Little is known about this 
group--where do they turn for support--family, friends, other support 
systems? How effective and/or stable are these supports? How are they 
and their children faring?

Grantee Responsibilities

    1. No later than ninety (90) days after the date of award, the 
Grantee shall submit an outline of progress to date. This progress 
report should note any changes to the work plan. The grantee shall 
provide concise, quarterly progress reports with format and content to 
be provided by the Federal Project Office.
    2. After completing the analysis, the Grantee shall prepare a final 
report describing the results of the study, including the procedures 
and methodology used to conduct the analysis, the research questions 
answered, the knowledge and information gained from the project, and 
any barriers encountered in completing the project. A draft of this 
report shall be delivered to the Federal Project Officer no later than 
thirty (30) days before the completion of the project. After receiving 
comments on the draft report from the Federal Project Officer, the 
Grantee shall deliver at least three (3) copies of a final report to 
the Grants Officer before the completion of the project. One of these 
copies must be unbound, suitable for photocopying.

ASPE Responsibilities

    1. ASPE shall provide consultation in the planning and operation of 
grant activities.
    2. ASPE shall assist in information exchange and the dissemination 
of reports to appropriate Federal, State, and local entities.

Part III. Application Preparation and Evaluation Criteria

    This section contains information on the preparation of 
applications for submission under this announcement, the forms 
necessary for submission, and the evaluation criteria under which the 
applications will be reviewed. Potential grant applicants should read 
this section carefully in conjunction with the information provided 
above. The application must contain the required Federal forms, title 
page, table of contents, and sections listed below. All pages of the 
narrative should be numbered.
    The application should include the following elements:
    1. Abstract: A one page summary of the proposed project.
    2. Goals and objective of the project: An overview that describes 
the need for the proposed project; indicates the background and policy 
significance of the issue area(s) to be researched; outlines the 
specific quantitative and qualitative questions to be investigated; and 
clearly describes how the proposed project will advance scientific 
knowledge and policy development. If the proposal builds on any current 
project, the application should describe how funding under this 
announcement will enhance, not substitute for, current efforts.
    3. Methodology and Design: Provide a description and justification 
of how the proposed research project will be implemented, including 
methodologies, chosen approach, definition of study populations, data 
sources, key variables and research plan and analytic plans. In 
addition, provide evidence of access to database(s) proposed to be 
studied.
    To the extent that the analysis uses data on individuals from 
multiple, separate sources, such as administrative databases from 
several State agencies, the proposal should discuss measures taken to 
maintain confidentiality, as well as demonstrate that the Grantee has 
obtained authorized access to those data sources. The preferred form of 
proof is a signed agreement with each of the relevant agencies/
departments. Though not preferable, letters of support from the 
appropriate agencies are acceptable, provided that the letter clearly 
states that the proposing agency has the authorization to access and 
link all necessary data. Grant applicants must assure that the 
collected data will only be used for management and research purposes, 
and that all identifying information will be kept completely 
confidential.
    4. Experience, capacity, qualifications, and use of staff: Briefly 
describe the grant applicant's organizational capabilities and 
experience in conducting pertinent research projects. Identify key 
staff who are expected to carry out the research project and provide a 
curriculum vitae or resume for each person. Provide a brief discussion 
of how key staff will contribute to the success of the project.
    5. Work plan: A work plan should be included which lists the start 
and end dates of the project, a time line which indicates the sequence 
of tasks necessary for the completion of the project, and the 
responsibilities of each of the key staff. The plan should identify the 
time commitments of key

[[Page 31590]]

staff members in both absolute and percentage terms, including other 
projects and teaching or managerial responsibilities. The work plan 
should include a discussion of any plans for dissemination of the 
results of the study, e.g., articles in journals and presentations at 
conferences.
    6. Budget: Grant applicants must submit a request for federal funds 
using Standard Form 424A and include a detailed breakdown of all 
Federal line items. A narrative explanation of the budget should be 
included that states clearly how the funds associated with this 
announcement will be used and describes the extent to which funds will 
be used for purposes that would not otherwise be incorporated within 
the project. The applicant should budget for one trip to Washington, DC 
to discuss results of the research. Cost sharing-matching is a 
mandatory requirement under this award. Applicants must demonstrate the 
amount and details of the cost sharing-matching arrangement. If the 
proposal entails funding from any additional sources, the applicant 
should also document the level of funding and describe how these funds 
will be expended.
Review Process and Funding Information
    Applications will initially be screened for compliance with the 
timeliness and completeness requirements. Three (3) copies of each 
application are required. One of these copies must be in an unbound 
format, suitable for copying. If only one of the copies is the original 
(i.e., carries the original signature and is accompanied by a cover 
letter) it should not be this copy. Applicants are encouraged to send 
an additional two (2) copies to ease processing, but the application 
will not be penalized if these extra copies are not included. The grant 
applicant's Standard Form 424 must be signed a representative of the 
applicant who is authorized to act with full authority on behalf of the 
applicant.
    A Federal review panel will review and score all applications 
submitted by the deadline date that meet the screening criteria (all 
information and documents as required by this announcement.) The panel 
will use the evaluation criteria listed below to score each 
application. The panel results will be the primary element used by the 
ASPE when making funding decisions. The Department reserves the option 
to discuss applications with other Federal or State staff, specialists, 
experts and the general public. Comments from these sources, along with 
those of the reviewers, will be kept from inappropriate disclosure and 
may be considered in making an award decision.
    As a result of this competition between 4 and 7 grants averaging 
between $75,000 and $150,000 each are expected to be made from funds 
appropriated for fiscal year 1999. Additional awards may be made 
depending on the policy relevance of proposals received and the 
available funding, including funds that may become available in fiscal 
years 1999 or 2000.

Reports

    As noted in the Grantee Responsibilities, one substantive report is 
required under the grant: a final report containing all results and 
analysis (draft version due no later than thirty (30) days before the 
end of the project and final version due at the conclusion of the 
project).
    In addition, Grantees shall provide concise quarterly progress 
reports. The specific format and content for these reports will be 
provided by the Federal Project Officer.

State Single Point of Contact (E.O. No. 12372)

    DHHS has determined that this program is not subject to Executive 
Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' 
Applicants are not required to seek intergovernmental review of their 
applications within the constraints of E.O. 12372.

Deadline for Submission of Applications

    The closing date for submission of applications under this 
announcement is July 26, 1999. Hand-delivered applications will be 
accepted Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, during the 
working hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Hubert H. 
Humphrey building, located at 200 Independence Avenue, SW in 
Washington, DC. When hand-delivering an application, call (202) 690-
8794 from the lobby for pick up. A staff person will be available to 
receive applications.
    An application will be considered as having met the deadline if it 
is either received at, or hand-delivered to, the mailing address on or 
before July 26, 1999, or postmarked before midnight three days prior to 
July 26, 1999, and received in time to be considered during the 
competitive review process.
    When mailing applications, applicants are strongly advised to 
obtain a legibly dated receipt from the U.S. Postal Service or from a 
commercial carrier (such as UPS, Federal Express, etc.) as proof of 
mailing by the deadline date. If there is a question as to when an 
application was mailed, applicants will be asked to provide proof of 
mailing by the deadline date. If proof cannot be provided, the 
application will not be considered for funding. Private metered 
postmarks will not be accepted as proof of timely mailing. Applications 
which do not meet the deadline will be considered late applications and 
will not be considered or reviewed in the current competition. DHHS 
will send a letter to this effect to each late applicant.
    DHHS reserves the right to extend the deadline for all proposals 
due to: (1) Natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, or 
earthquakes; (2) a widespread disruption of the mail; or, (3) if DHHS 
determines a deadline extension to be in the best interest of the 
Federal government. The Department will not waive or extend the 
deadline for any applicant unless the deadline is waived or extended 
for all applicants.

Application Forms

    Application instructions and forms should be requested from and 
submitted to: Adrienne Little, Grants Officer, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human 
Services, Room 405F, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: (202) 690-8794. Requests 
for forms and questions (administrative and technical) will be accepted 
and responded to up to ten (10) working days prior to closing date of 
receipt of applications.
    Copies of this program announcement and many of the required forms 
may also be obtained electronically at the ASPE World Wide Web Page: 
aspe.hhs.gov (see section on available grants and contracts). 
You may fax your request to the attention of the Grants Officer at 
(202) 690-6518. Completed grant applications may not be faxed or 
submitted electronically.
    The printed Federal Register notice is the only official program 
announcement. Although reasonable efforts are taken to assure that the 
files on the ASPE World Wide Web Page containing electronic copies of 
this program announcement are accurate and complete, they are provided 
for information only. The applicant bears sole responsibility to assure 
that the copy downloaded and/or printed from any other source is 
accurate and complete.
    Also see section entitled ``Components of a Complete Application.'' 
All of these documents must accompany the application package.

[[Page 31591]]

Length of Application

    In no case shall an application for the ASPE grant (excluding the 
resumes, appendices and other appropriate attachments) be longer than 
twenty-five double-spaced pages. Only relevant attachments should be 
included, for example, resumes of key personnel. Videotapes, brochures, 
and other promotional materials will be discarded and not reviewed. 
Project narratives should be formatted with 1 inch margins, double 
spaced lines, 12 point type, with consecutively numbered pages.

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

    Selection of successful applicants will be based on the technical 
and financial criteria described in this announcement. Reviewers will 
determine the strengths and weaknesses of each application in terms of 
the evaluation criteria listed below, provide comments, and assign 
numerical scores. The review panel will prepare a summary of all 
applicant scores, strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations and 
submit it to the ASPE for final decisions on the award.
    The point value following each criterion heading indicates the 
maximum numerical weight that each section will be given in the review 
process. An unacceptable rating on any individual criterion may render 
the application unacceptable. Consequently, grant applicants should 
take care to ensure that all criteria are fully addressed in the 
applications. Grant applications will be reviewed as follows:
    1. Goals, Objectives, and Potential Usefulness of the Analyses (25 
points). The potential usefulness of the objectives and how the 
anticipated results of the proposed project will advance policy 
knowledge and development of welfare reform policies. If the proposed 
project builds on previous work, the application should explain how. If 
the project uses pre-TANF data, the application should explain both the 
value of this data and its limitations data in the post-TANF world. 
Applications will be judged on the quality and policy relevance of the 
proposed research questions, study populations, and analyses (including 
subgroup analyses).
    2. Quality and Soundness of Methodology and Design (30 points). The 
appropriateness, soundness, and cost-effectiveness of the methodology, 
including the research design, selection of existing data sets, data 
gathering procedures, statistical techniques, and analytical and 
modeling strategies. Richness of policy-relevant data and demonstrated 
ability to secure data will be an important scoring factor in this 
criterion.
    3. Qualifications of Personnel and Organizational Capability. (25 
points). The qualifications of the project personnel for conducting the 
proposed research as evidenced by professional training and experience, 
and the capacity of the organization to provide the infrastructure and 
support necessary for the project. Reviewers will evaluate the 
principal investigator and staff on research experience and 
demonstrated research skills.
    Reviewers may consider references for work completed on prior 
research projects. Principal investigator and staff time commitments 
also will be a factor in the evaluation. Reviewers will rate the 
applicant's pledge and ability to work in collaboration with other 
scholars or organizations in search of similar goals. Reviewers also 
will evaluate the applicant's demonstrated capacity to work with a 
range of government agencies.
    4. Ability of the Work Plan and Budget to Successfully Achieve the 
Project's Objectives. (20 points). Reviewers will examine if the work 
plan and budget are reasonable and sufficient to ensure timely 
implementation and completion of the study and whether the application 
demonstrates an adequate level of understanding by the applicant of the 
practical problems of conducting such a project. Adherence to the work 
plan is necessary in order to produce results in the time frame 
desired; demonstration of an applicant's ability to meet the schedule 
will therefore be an important part of this criterion. Evidence of past 
history in meeting deadlines will be considered. Reviewers will also 
examine the use of any additional funding and the role that funds 
provided under this announcement will play in the overall project.

Disposition of Applications

    1. Approval, disapproval, or deferral. On the basis of the review 
of the application, the Assistant Secretary will either (a) approve the 
application as a whole or in part; (b) disapprove the application; or 
(c) defer action on the application for such reasons as lack of funds 
or a need for further review.
    2. Notification of disposition. The Assistant Secretary for 
Planning and Evaluation will notify the applicants of the disposition 
of their applications. If approved, a signed notification of the award 
will be sent to the business office named in the ASPE checklist.
    3. The Assistant Secretary's Discretion. Nothing in this 
announcement should be construed as to obligate the Assistant Secretary 
for Planning and Evaluation to make any awards whatsoever. Awards and 
the distribution of awards among the priority areas are contingent on 
the needs of the Department at any point in time and the quality of the 
applications that are received.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93-239.

Components of a Complete Application

    A complete application consists of the following items in this 
order:
    1. Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424);
    2. Budget Information--Non-construction Programs (Standard Form 
424A);
    3. Assurances--Non-construction Programs (Standard From 424B);
    4. Table of Contents;
    5. Budget Justification for Section B Budget Categories;
    6. Proof of Non-profit Status, if appropriate;
    7. Copy of the applicant's Approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, 
if necessary;
    8. Project Narrative Statement, organized in five sections, 
addressing the following topics (limited to thirty (25) single-spaced 
pages):
    (a) Abstract,
    (b) Goals, Objectives and Usefulness of the Project,
    (c) Methodology and design,
    (d) Background of the Personnel and Organizational Capabilities and
    (e) Work plan (timetable);
    9. Any appendices or attachments;
    10. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace;
    11. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, or other 
Responsibility Matters;
    12. Certification and, if necessary, Disclosure Regarding Lobbying;
    13. Supplement to Section II--Key Personnel;
    14. Application for Federal Assistance Checklist.

    Dated: June 3, 1999.
Ann Segal,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 99-14795 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151-04-P