Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance (93.631)

Program

93.631 Developmental Disabilities Projects of National Significance

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, Title I, Section 161, Public Law 106-402, 42 U.S.C 15081-15083.

Program Number

93.631

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide for grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for projects of national significance to increase and support the independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion into the community of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Project grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements are approved for personnel, equipment, travel, supplies, etc. Duplicative Federal assistance is precluded. Uses include: (1) Family support activities; (2) Projects to educate policy makers; (3) projects to conduct data collection and analysis; (4) projects to provide technical assistance for developing information and referral systems; (5) Federal interagency initiatives; (6) technical assistance projects; (7) projects to enhance opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities who are from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds; (8) projects to improve supportive living and quality of life opportunities which enhance recreation, leisure and fitness; (9) projects concerning the transition of youth with developmental disabilities from school to work and to adult life; and (10) other projects of national significance. Funds are not awarded solely for direct service delivery, construction, or for the continuation or expansion of existing projects, but rather for projects which are considered innovative and likely to have significant national impact.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

In general, any State, local, public or private nonprofit organization or agency may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

In general, any State, local, public or private nonprofit organization or agency may apply.

Credentials/Documentation

Proof of community need and consistency with developmental disabilities State Plans. Proof of nonprofit status. Compliance with statutes, regulations, and approval of State agency and DHHS/ACF Regional Offices. Costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with Parts 74 and 92 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Forms and instructions for project grants are available from HHS Central Office and the appropriate DHHS-ACF Regional Office. Forms and instructions for projects of national significance grants are available at www.grants.gov. One signed original and two copies of the grant application are required, including all attachments, and must be submitted to the address specified in the application kit. Three additional copies would be useful to facilitate processing. In addition, concurrently, one (1) copy of the application should be submitted to the applicant's DD State Council and two (2) copies to the appropriate State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for review and comment as per Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." (Addresses for State Developmental Disabilities Councils and SPOCs are included in the application kit.) The application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and to assume for the agency the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant award including the regulations for the Projects of National Significance Grants Program.

Award Procedure

Applications are reviewed and recommendations made by the Central Office, Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Successful applicants are notified through the issuance of a Financial Assistance Award which sets forth in writing the amount of funds granted, the purpose of the grant, the terms and conditions of the grant award, the effective date of the award, the budget period for which support is given and the total grantee participation. The initial award, when applicable, also specifies the project period for which support is contemplated.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 180 days according to the type of program being requested.

Appeals

Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR 16.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Matching requirements are specified in each published program announcement.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Project periods for grants are specified in each published program announcement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Progress reports are required for each budget period. Final progress report is required 90 days after the end of project period. Expenditure reports are required for each budget period. Performance monitoring includes review of reports and site visits as required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records

Records must be maintained for 3 years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 50 grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2009: 49 grants will be awarded. Fiscal Year 2010: 59 grants will be awarded.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 08 $14,162,000; FY 09 est $14,162,000; FY 10 est $14,162,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The range is $50,000 to $300,000; The average is $184,566.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Regulations are published in Chapter XIII of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1387.

Related Programs

93.630 Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants; 93.632 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the Regional Administrator, Administration for Children and Families, HHS Regional Offices (See Appendix IV of the Catalog.).

Headquarters Office

Ophelia McLain Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Childrn and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; 370 L' Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: omclain@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202 690-7025

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/add.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Family Support 360 and Military Family Support 360 - projects to support families who have members with disabilities/developmental disabilities. Fiscal Year 2009: Grants tied to data collection and analysis regarding trends in services related to individuals with developmental disabilities. Fiscal Year 2010: Project to evaluate the work of the Councils, P&As and UCEDDs on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

No application can be approved unless it shows/provides evidence of its non-profit status and the State in which the applicant's project will be conducted has an approved DD State plan under this Act. Applications are also to be reviewed by the State Developmental Disabilities Council for the State in which it is to be conducted. Project's proposed design is complete and feasible, and includes measurable objectives and an evaluation component. Project does not supplant activities that are funded under other Federal programs. Competing grant applications will be reviewed and evaluated against criteria that are specified in each published program announcement.