Social Services Research and Demonstration (93.647)
Program
93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration
Federal Agency
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Authorization
Social Security Act, Title XI, Section 1110, as amended by Public Laws 86-778, 88-452, 90-248, 96-265, and 99-190; 42 U.S.C. 1310.
Program Number
93.647
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To promote the ability of families to be financially self-sufficient, and to promote the healthy development and greater social well-being of children and families.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements); Project Grants (Contracts).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts are awarded for innovative research, demonstrations, and evaluations that are responsive to the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) program priorities. All applications must meet standards of excellence in research, demonstration, or evaluation design.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Grants and cooperative agreements may be made to or with governmental entities, colleges, universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations (if fee is waived). Contracts may be awarded to nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Grants or cooperative agreements cannot be made directly to individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Low-income individuals, children, youth, families, individuals with developmental disabilities, and Native Americans.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must present written evidence of other agencies' willingness to cooperate when the project involves the use of other agencies, facilities, or services. Nonprofit organizations which have not previously received ACF program support must submit proof of nonprofit status. For State and local governments, costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92 and OMB Circular No. A-87. For other grantees, applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.
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.
Application Procedure
All information and forms required to prepare a grant or cooperative agreement application are published in the Federal Register. Copies of the program announcement may be available on the Internet or from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, ACF, 7th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. All information needed to submit a proposal for a contract is provided through a Request for Proposal published in the Commerce Business Daily.
Award Procedure
Official notice of approved grant or cooperative agreement is made through issuance of a Financial Assistance Award. Official notice of an accepted contract proposal is made through award of a contract.
Deadlines
Deadlines for grants and cooperative agreements are announced in the Federal Register as part of the announcement or are mailed to State Agencies where applicants are limited to those agencies. Deadlines for requests for contract proposals are specified in the Commerce Business Daily as part of the solitation of proposals.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 16.
Renewals
Extensions and continuations are available if formally applied for and approved. If an application is recommended for approval for 2 or more years, the grantee or contractor must submit each year a formal request for continuation accompanied by a progress report which will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Grantees are generally required to share in the cost of projects. Cost sharing of 25 percent of the total approved project cost is generally required for grants or cooperative agreements; contracts are not required to share in the project cost.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are granted on a 1- to 3-year basis, with support beyond the first year contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, continuing program relevance, and availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reports of progress and expenditures are required on all projects. Comprehensive final reports are due within 90 days of completion of the project.
Audits
Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.
Records
Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant or contract number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained until all questions are resolved.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2002, 31 grants and 32 contracts were awarded. In fiscal years 2003 and 2004, grant and contract awards are expected in Compassion Capital Fund, child welfare, welfare reform, evaluations of employment strategies (including job retention, advancement, and serving the hard-to-employ), family formation and strengthening families/marriages.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1536-0-1-506.
Obligations
(Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts) FY 02 $61,158,000 ($29,913,092 is allocated for Compassion Capital Fund); FY 03 est $69,482,410 ($34,772,500 is allocated for Compassion Capital); (Note: Of the remaining $34,709,910 represents the total funding level jointly appropriated for programs: 93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration and 93.595, Welfare Reform Research, Evaluation and National Studies including $5,961,000 public Health Services Evaluation funding); and FY 04 est $127,000,000 ($100,000,000 is allocated for Compassion Capital Fund).
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
(Grants and Contracts) $30,000 to $1,000,000; $515,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Guidelines and other information are published in the Federal Register and Commerce Business Daily.
Related Programs
93.558, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; 93.595, Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Appropriate ACF Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.)
Headquarters Office
Dr. K.A. Jagannathan, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 7th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 205-4829. Use the same number for FTS. Fax: (202) 205-3598. E-Mail: KJagannathan@ACF.DHHS.gov. Joseph Grogan, Compassion Capital Fund, Office of Community Service, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-4830 or e-mail address: jgrogan@ACF.HHS.GOV.
Web Site Address
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs
Examples of Funded Projects
Examples of funded projects are: research on the benefits, effects, and costs of different welfare reform interventions on the population receiving, and at risk of receiving, welfare; studies on the effects of different programs on welfare dependency, illegitimacy, teen pregnancy, employment rates, child well- being, and related areas; development and evaluation of innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of minor children in welfare families; analyses of outcome measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals out of the welfare system into employment; issues relating to job retention and advancement; studies on responsible fatherhood, family structure and family formation; and research on strengthening healthy marriages.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The criteria for selecting projects to be funded under this program are published in the Federal Register grant announcement and in the solicitation for requests for proposals for contracts.
