Unaccompanied Alien Children Program (93.676)

 

Program

93.676 Unaccompanied Alien Children Program

 

Federal Agency

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

 

Authorization

Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, Section 462.

 

Program Number

93.676

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To develop plans and policies to coordinate and implement care and placement services for unaccompanied alien children who are in Federal custody by reason of their immigration status.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Contracts).

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used only for the purposes set forth in the grant and/or contract.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State and local governments, private nonprofit organizations, and private for-profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Beneficiaries are unaccompanied alien children who are in Federal custody by reason of their immigration status.

Credentials/Documentation

Cost principles for private nonprofit organizations will be determined by OMB Circular No. A-122. Cost principles for State and local governments are found under OMB Circular No. A-87. Cost principles governing private for-profit organizations are found under OMB Circular No. A-76.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) may enter into contracts or grants after full and open competition pursuant to regulations. However, special regulations permit other than full and open competition under any of the following circumstances: only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements, expert services, unusual and compelling urgency, international agreement, national security, public interest, and authorized or required by statute. Any exemption requires documentation by the grants or contracting officer of the justification for any one of the circumstances listed above. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Applications submitted in response to program announcements published in the Federal Register under this program will undergo a pre-review to determine if applicant is eligible for funding.

Award Procedure

Applications found to be eligible for funding will undergo an evaluation by an independent review panel. In the case of emergency, staff will review on the basis of specific evaluation criteria to determine applicant qualification based upon published review criteria, quality of services to be rendered, and the likelihood of the program success.

Deadlines

The Director may invite applications, if necessary, due to unusual and compelling urgency of unaccompanied alien children apprehended by border patrol officers, BCIS agents or other law enforcement agencies.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Contingent upon appropriations, grantee performance, and whether continuation of funding is in the public's interest, and in the best interest of the government.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant awards are made on an as needed basis, and on an annual budget basis.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Monthly progress reports of placements are required. Progress and financial reports are required, usually on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. Final program and financial reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the program in relation to the approved goals and objectives are also required.

Audits

Periodic audits are made as part of the system of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants, contracts, and other agreements. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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. Nonprofit organizations receiving less than $25,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements, but records must be available for review by appropriate officials of the Federal grantor agency or sub-granting entity.

Records

Grant and contract recipients are required to keep all financial, business, and program reports necessary for program review and audit to ensure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms, and conditions of this program.

 

Program Accomplishments

To be determined. Program was transferred to ORR effective March 1, 2003.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $13,137,531; and FY 04 est $13,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$207,529 to $1,450,000; $773,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Program announcements to be published in the Federal Register. All inquiries should be directed to the information Contact listed below.

 

Related Programs

93.566, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_State Administered Programs; 93.576, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Discretionary Grants.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Nguyen Van Hanh, Ph.D., Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 8th Floor, West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-9246.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr

 

Examples of Funded Projects

In Fiscal Year 2003, ORR funded nine private nonprofit and for-profit agencies, and eight local county agencies to provide placements in shelter care for unaccompanied alien children who are in Federal custody by reason of their immigration status.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Notice of criteria for awarding funds will be published in the Federal Register or in program announcements for assistance and services.