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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

93.602:  New Assets for Independence Demonstration Program

Objectives:  To provide for the establishment of demonstration projects designed to determine: 1) The social, civic, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals and families with limited means an incentive to accumulate assets by saving a portion of their earned income; 2) the extend to which an asset-based policy that promotes saving for postsecondary education, homeownership, and microenterprise development may be used to enable individuals and families with limited means to increase their economic self-sufficiency; and 3) the extent to which an asset-based policy stabilizes and improves families and the community in which the families live.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

93.602 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Eligible applicants are private nonprofit organizations that are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and State or local agencies or Tribal governments submitting applications jointly with tax exempt organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Eligible program participants are individuals that are members of households eligible for assistance under TANF or of households whose adjusted gross income does not exceed the earned income amount as described in Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, taking into account the size of the household. The net worth of the household at the end of the calendar year preceding the determination of eligibility must not exceed $10,000 excluding the primary dwelling unit and one motor vehicle owned by a member of the household. Grantees targeting individuals in neighborhoods and communities of high poverty or unemployment may restrict eligibility in neighborhoods and communities of individuals with lower incomes and net worth.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applicants must submit proof of 501(c)(3) tax exempt status with the application.

93.602 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." 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, and 45 CFR 100, Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities". Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their State Point Of Contact (SPOC) as soon as possible to alert them and receive instructions.

Application Procedure:  Competitive applications must be submitted on Standard Forms 424, 424A, and 424B, and include a project narrative as described in the program announcement issued by the Office of Community Services and Published in the Federal Register. Required forms are attached to the published announcement. No State plan is required.

Award Procedure:  Final decision on awarding of competitive grants will be made by the Director of the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, after peer review and rating of applications on the basis of program elements and criteria set forth in the program announcement. Applications generally will be considered in the order of the average scores assigned by reviewers. However, highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding since other factors are taken into consideration, including, but not limited to, the timely and proper completion of projects funded with OCS funds granted in the last 5 years; comments of reviewers and government officials; staff evaluation and input; geographic distribution of applications; compliance with grant terms under previous DHHS grants, including the actual dedication to program of mobilized resources as set forth in project applications; audit reports; and applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowances on previous OCS or other Federal agency grants.

Deadlines:  To be considered for fiscal year 2000 funding applications must be postmarked on or before May 15, 2000. In future years submission deadlines will normally be 90 days after publication of Program Announcements in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Applications will normally be approved/disapproved and grant awards made within 90 days of application receipt. Because of Congressional appropriations, all FY 2000 grant awards will be made no earlier than September 29, 2000.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  (1) Organization experience and administrative capability; (2) sufficiency of the project theory, design, and plan: The degree to which the project described in the application appears likely to aid project participants in achieving economic self-sufficiency through activities requiring one or more of the qualified expenses (post-secondary education, first home purchase, or business capitalization); (3) adequacy of plan for providing information for evaluation; (4) commitment of nonfederal funds and additional resources; (5) results or benefits expected; and (6) significant and beneficial impacts.

Examples of Funded Projects:  List of funded projects is available on request to Information Contacts above.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  OCS expects to fund about 30 grants of about $250,000 total for the full 5-year project.

93.602 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.602 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

93.602 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants and Contracts) FY 99 $9,992,778; FY 00 est $10,000,000; and FY 01 est $25,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  75-1536-0-1-506.

Authorization:  Assets for Independence Act, Title IV; Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998, Public Law 105-285; Internal Revenue Code of 1986 42.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  New accounting regulations are currently in clearance and will be made available as soon as they are published. The following regulations apply: Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 16 - DHHS Grant Appeals Process Part 74 - Administration of Grants (grants with subgrants to entities) Part 75 - Informal Grant Appeal Procedures Part 76 - Debarment and Suspension from Eligibility For Financial Assistance Subpart F - Drug Free Workplace Requirements Part 80 - Non-discrimination Under Programs Receiving Federal Assistance through Department of Health and Human Services Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Part 81 - Practice and Procedures for Hearings Under Part 80 of this Title Part 83 - Regulation for the Administration and Enforcement of Sections 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act Part 84 -Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance Part 85 - Enforcement of Non-discrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Conducted by Department of Health and Human Services Part 86 - Non-discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial Assistance Part 91 - Non-discrimination on the Basis of Age in Health and Human Services Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance Part 92 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Governments (Federal Register, March 11, 1988) Part 93 - New Restrictions on Lobbying.

93.602 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

93.602 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula. Grant amounts are limited by Statute to an amount of matching cash nonfederal contributions.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  One-time grants are for 5-year budget and project periods. Funds may be drawn down during the 5-year budget period in amounts equal to deposit of required nonfederal matching contributions in the reserve fund required of each project.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Demonstration grants for five-year project and budget periods with a 100 percent cash nonfederal match requirement. Federal and nonfederal funds must be used in the amount of 90.5 percent, in equal amounts to match deposits by Project Participants in Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) at an agreed upon ratio of from one to eight dollars of participant deposits must be used. A maximum contribution of Federal dollars of $2,000 per individual and $4,000 per household. Funds from the IDAs may be used for any of four "Qualified Expenses": (1) Postsecondary education expenses; 2) expenses of purchasing a first home; 3) capitalization expenses of starting a business; and, 4) transfers to IDAs of family members.

93.602 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Grantees will be required to submit an annual program progress and financial report (SF 269) covering the 12 months after grant award and first project year. Such reports will be due 60 days after the reporting period. Thereafter grantees will be required to submit annual program progress and financial reports SF-269) within 60 days to the end of the project year, as well as a final program and financial report within 90 days of the expiration of the grant.

Audits:  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 receive 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:  None.