OMB Approval No. 0985-0018

Expiration 05/31/2010

National Aging Civic EngagementTechnicalCenter

Program Announcement and Grant Application Instructions

U.S. Administration on Aging

FY 2010

Table of Contents

I.FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

II.AWARD INFORMATION

1.Eligible Applicants

2.Cost Sharing or Matching

3.Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

III.APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1.Address to Request Application Package

2.Content and Form of Application Submission

3.Submission Dates and Times

4.Intergovernmental Review

5.Funding Restrictions

IV.APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1.Criteria

2.Review and Selection Process

V.AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1.Award Notices

2.Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3.Reporting

VI.AGENCY CONTACTS

VII.OTHER INFORMATION

1.Application Elements

2.The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Attachment B: Budget Narrative/Justification – Page 1 – Sample Format

Attachment C: Budget Narrative/Justification –– Sample Template

Attachment D: Project Work Plan, Page 1 – Sample Template

Attachment E: Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Administration on Aging (AoA)

AoACenter:Center for Program Operations

Funding Opportunity Title: National Aging Civic EngagementTechnicalCenter

Announcement Type: Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2010-AoA-CC-1024

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:93.048

Key Dates: The deadline date for submission of applications is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 25, 2010.

I.FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

I. Executive Summary:

Older Americans Act (OAA) programs have a history of counting on volunteer support. Volunteers have been significant contributors to aging services network, serving at every level and in the delivery of all types of services.

The AoA is the lead partner of the National Network on Aging (the Aging Network). The Network consists of 56 State Units on Aging (SUA), 629 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), 244 Tribal and Native organizations, 20,000 service providers, and thousands of volunteers who operate a comprehensive system of home and community-based services for older individuals and their families.

A number of forces are converging which support tapping into the social capital potential of volunteers, especially Boomers, to increase the capacity of the National Aging Network (the Network), described below, and to address community needs:

  1. The growth of the largest, healthiest and best-educated generation of older Americans in the nation’s history;
  2. Rresearch pointing to civic engagement as important to healthy aging;3
  3. Growing budget constraints on program spending; and
  4. National interest in civic engagement.

The 2002 amendments to the Older Americans Act included a number of new provisions to begin to address these volunteer issues. The amendments included a broad definition of civic engagement as “an individual or collective action designed to address a public concern or an unmet human, educational, health care, environmental, or public safety need.” It directed area agencies on aging to make use of trained volunteers in providing direct services delivered to older individuals and individuals with disabilities needing such services. It encouragedcreating opportunities for older individuals to participate in civic engagement activities and improving coordination of volunteer programs for older individuals.

It also provided for a multi-generational/civic engagement demonstration grant (awarded to the National Council on Aging)focused on discovering and documentingeffective, sustainable, replicable exceptional local program models that positively impact their target populations and demonstrate effective engagement of older volunteers in direct services and organizational, technical and developmental roles. Three populations were targeted: grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren, families raising special needs children, or caregivers of frail, vulnerable elderly.

The National Council on Aging awarded 19local projects which have the potential for national replication. For information about these grants, go to For example, Mather LifeWays, in partnership with GrandFamilies of Chicago, has focused on all four elements in the development of a peer grandparenting education program, designed to meet the needs of grandparents with raising their grandchildren. They created, tested and documented a grandparent curriculum which can be adopted by other programs using volunteers with minimal learning curves. Built-in evaluation tools will help those organizations adapt to local needs.

This Program Announcement builds upon the existing grant and current knowledge about volunteerism. The Administration on Aging (AoA) plans to award one cooperative agreement to support a NationalAgingCivicEngagementTechnicalCenter (the Center). The federal share will be up to $969,234 per year, for a project period of up to three (3) years, contingent upon the availability of federal funds.

Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for grants under this Program Announcement is contained in Title IV of the Older Americans Act (OAA) (42U.S.C. 3032), as amended by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.048, Title IV Discretionary Projects).

II.AWARD INFORMATION

AoA will fund one Cooperative Agreement for a multi-year project period totaling three years. Estimated funding for each budget period will be approximately $969,234, totaling $2,907,702 over the three years. AoA is seeking new, multi-year competitive applications. Please complete an application for a three year project period with severable one year project descriptions, workplans, and budget narratives for the amounts denoted above for each budget period and an overall summary for the entire three years (e.g., Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, and Summary) .Year two and three funding is subject to the availability of funds and will be released based on an evaluation of meeting prior year objectives..

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by AoA or the awardee at any time. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the mutual agreement of both parties, except where AoA is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 74 or 92, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments.

Existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

The NationalAgingCivicEngagementTechnicalAssistanceCenter will:

  1. Conduct a systematic inquiry of existing knowledge and opinions of key stakeholders in the aging, service, and other communities as identified, at the federal, state and local levels that will result in a recommended Action Plan in civic engagement for AoA and the Aging Network
  2. Assist the Aging Network and AoA implement recommendations from thisinquiry through:
  3. Organizing meetings and conferences;
  4. Providing technical assistance to State and Area Agencies on Aging on the development of effective, high impact, replicable and sustainable civic engagement programs;
  5. Providing information that would be used by the Aging Network websites; and
  6. funding sub grants to test a variety of strategies to enhance the of volunteer roles in the Aging Network program operations.

The Cooperative Agreement reads as follows:

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

As provided by the terms of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, as amended (P.L. 95-224), the Notice of Award will establish a Cooperative Agreement between the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the entity awarded funds under this program announcement. Pursuant to P.L. 95-224, this Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of the AoA in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved grant award.

  1. The grantee, in collaboration with AoA, will design a NationalAgingCivicEngagementTechnicalCenter (the Center). The Center will assist AoA and the Aging Network to effectively use the social capital of volunteers, especially Boomers; to develop AoA’s and the Aging Network’s leadership in civic engagement; and to expand the Aging Network’s use of volunteers.
  1. The AoA will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement noted above:
  • Perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of managing a grant initiative and will work with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.
  • Collaborate with the Center on the development, modification, and execution of the Center work plans.
  • Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of AoA by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.
  • Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project. Based on these negotiations, the grantee will revise the project work plan detailing expectations for major activities and products during the 36 month grant.
  • Provide technical advice on the development of all grantee work products and other tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.
  • Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues as they relate to the goals and objectives of this grant program.
  • Work with the grantee on the development and implementation of evaluation and quality assurance systems to ensure that performance is measured and continuous improvement occurs.
  • Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.
  1. The Center will execute the responsibilities of the Cooperative Agreement as listed below:
  • Collaborate with AoA in the modification and execution of the work plan.
  • Conduct a systematic inquiry of existing knowledge and opinions of key stakeholders in the aging, service, and other communities as identified, at the federal, state and local levels that will result in a recommended “action agenda.” This inquiry is the first priority of the Center and we encourage completion by April 30, 2011.
  • Collaborate with AoA to develop the various steps in this inquiry. These steps may include:
  • An initial phase to identify key issues impeding the ability to appropriately address civic engagement (theories, gaps, deficits)
  • A brainstorming, conceptual mapping phase involving key sectors, organizations as identified by AoA and the grantee. This will help develop the conceptual framework.
  • Convening a meeting of thought leaders from the aging, service and foundation networks to refine the conceptual framework and develop an agreed upon action agenda. This action agenda will include recommendations for
  • Using the social capital of volunteers of all ages, but especially Boomers;
  • Creating a visible leadership role in civic engagement for the Aging Network and AoA;
  • Creating or expanding volunteer opportunities for older persons that address critical social and economic issues within their communities;
  • Helping AoA and the Aging Network create governmental and non-governmental partnerships and commitment to a coordinated strategic approach for advancing civic engagement for older persons and for the Aging Network; and
  • Providing technical assistance and training to the Aging Network on the use of volunteers.
  1. On the basis of the above recommendations, the grantee will:
  2. Organize meetings and conferences;
  3. Provide technical assistance to the Aging Network on the development of effective, high impact, replicable and sustainable civic engagement programs;
  4. Provide information that would be used by the Aging Network websites; and
  5. fund sub grants to test a variety of strategies to enhance the incorporation of volunteer roles in the Aging Network program operations;
  6. Conduct program evaluation and disseminate information; and
  7. Seek AoA’s approval for its plan, including budget.
  1. The grantee will be expected, at a minimum, to produce the following:
  • Written specifications for the systematic inquiry.
  • Documented results of technical assistance to the Aging Network (e.g. types of problems and resolutions);
  • Information that would be used by the Aging Network websites; and
  • Semi-annual, annual and final reports as described in numbers 7 and 8 below.
  1. The grantee will produce semi-annual, annual and final reports.
  1. The Final Report should include:
  • Description of the systematic inquiry process and results;
  • Description of all major activities that took place during the grant, including the AoA “action agenda” with key issues it identified;
  • Description of how this project enhanced the Aging Network and AoA’s leadership in civic engagement and expanded the Aging Network’s use of volunteers, including how the grantee helped to bring together key people from the aging, service and foundation networks to foster key national alliances and collaboration;
  • Description of any major conferences organized by the grantee and outcomes;
  • Description of partnerships developed as a result of the grant;
  • Description of training and technical assistance provided to the Aging Network
  • Description of the information provided for the AoA and the Aging Network civic engagement websites;
  • Summary, if appropriate, of each subgrants. Each individual summary should highlight “lessons learned” that could be of use by other volunteer programs; and
  • Description of materials developed and dissemination efforts
  1. The grantee should ensure the continuous quality improvement component of the evaluation focuses on the following: identifying and sharing best practices and lessons learned in implementing local projects; successful strategies used to overcome local barriers; opportunities for enhancing local programs; and the use of alternative funding sources.
  1. The grantee will provide one draft copy of all products for AoA review and comment prior to producing and disseminating the final product. The grantee will provide the AoA a period of 30 days, prior to their release, publication, and/or posting to review and comment upon all materials produced by the grantee with funds provided under this award. After the 30 day review and comment period, the grantee is free to make such materials public, using the following disclaimer:

This report/document/etc. was supported, in part, by a grant (INSERT AWARD NUMBER) from the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging policy.

  1. The grantee will disseminate information about the Civic Engagement program nationally.
  1. The grantee agrees to perform the functions outlined in this agreement in accordance with the recommended Federal funding amounts for each designated area, unless written rebudgeting approval is sought and received from AoA.
  1. The AoA and the grantee agree to work cooperatively in the development and execution of the activities of the project as follows:
  • The AoAand the Center will work cooperatively to clarify the issues to be addressed by the Center and to refine the Center’s work plan for each year of the project. The work plan will include timelines, staff assignments and areas that require AoA consultation, review, and/or prior approval. The workplan template is at Attachment D.
  • The AoA will help the Center to understand the policy concerns and/or priorities of the Assistant Secretary for Aging and the AoA by providing information and consultation on an on-going basis. AoA will also share with the Center information about other federal projects and activities relevant to the Center’s scope of work.
  • The AoA will work with the Center to clarify priorities for the training and technical assistance provided by the Center.
  • The AoA will collaborate with the Center to develop program design decisions, including the conceptual mapping, technical assistance work plan, selection of any subgrantees and the evaluation design.

The project period for this cooperative agreement will extend 36 months, beginning on or around September 1, 2010. The grantee should understand that prior to the end of each budget period, AoA will review its performance to determine future funding. Funding decisions will be based upon two standards of performance:

  • The extent to which the granteefulfills the objectives and action steps contained in the approved work plan; and
  • The quality of the grantee’s work in fulfilling the objectives and action steps in the approved work plan.

Requests to modify or amend this Cooperative Agreement may be made by either party at any time. Any modifications and/or amendments shall be effective upon the mutual agreement of both parties.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1.Eligible Applicants

Domestic, public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.

2.Cost Sharing or Matching

Under this Older Americans Act (OAA) program, AoA will fund no more than 75% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 25% of the project’s total cost with non-Federal resources. In other words, for every three (3) dollars received in Federal funding, the applicant must contribute at least one (1) dollar in non-Federal resources toward the project’s total cost. This “three-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in Attachment A. You can use this formula to calculate your minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 25% of the Federal share, rather than 25% of the project’s total cost. Please note, applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review. Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

Therearetwo types of match: 1) non-Federal cash and 2) non-Federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of any and all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors and consultants, are considered matching funds. Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (thirdparty) donations. Examples of non-Federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. Matching costs are not considered evaluation criteria; therefore, AoA encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement.

AoA takes very seriously the current downturn in the nation’s economy; therefore the matching requirement may be waived by AoA where severe hardship is documented by the applicant. If you feel unable to meet the minimum matching requirement, please provide a written justification, which explains why you cannot meet the match through cash or in-kind contributions. The written justification must be signed by your authorized representative and submitted with your application through AoA will review your request and contact you should additional information or justification be necessary. Applicants are encouraged to make this hardship determination during the application phase; waiver requests made after awards have been issued will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.