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93.567 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE_VOLUNTARY AGENCY
PROGRAMS

(Matching Grant Program)

FEDERAL AGENCY

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

AUTHORIZATION

Refugee Act of 1980, Section 412, Public Law 96- 212, 94
Stat. 111, 8 U.S.C. 1522, as amended, Public Laws 97-363, 99- 605,
101-167, and 101-517.

OBJECTIVES

To assist refugees in becoming self-supporting and
independent members of American society, by providing grant funds to
private nonprofit organizations to support case management, transitional
assistance, and social services for new arrivals.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

Federal funds of up to $2,000 per refugee are provided on a
matching basis of $2.00 of Federal funds and matched by $1.00 of private
funds and in-kind contributions. Required services include case
management, job development, and transitional support for up to 4 months.
Funds may also be used for English language training concurrent with
employment services, job training, medical support, and cash allowance.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

Grant awards are limited to private nonprofit organizations
which have a Reception and Placement Grant with the Department of State or
Department of Homeland Security and are for the prescribed services to
eligible recipient refugees.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refugees will be determined eligible by the grantee
agencies as verified by Health and Human Services (HHS) monitoring.
Refugees must be enrolled within 31 days of arrival. Entrants/asylees must
be enrolled within 31 days of granting of parole or asylum.

Credentials/Documentation

Newly arriving refugees with an employable refugee in the
case as evidenced in the documentation from the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and
Naturalization Services (INS). Individuals accorded refugee, entrant, and
asylee status are eligible. Cost principles for nonprofit organizations
will be determined by OMB Circular No. A-122. This program is excluded
from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular
No. A-110. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No.
A-102.

Award Procedure

Eligible applicants submit a signed application to HHS.
This document includes a detailed program proposal and budget. Subsequent
to review by an independent panel and the analysis of funding
recommendations, the Director makes final funding decisions and grant
awards are issued.

Deadlines

Determined annually. Program operates on a calendar year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

None.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Continuations require additional appropriations.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

Grants are awarded on a basis of $2.00 in Federal funds for
each $1.00 of private funds up to a maximum of $2,000 per refugee. Up to
80 percent of the nonfederal share may be through in-kind donations, with
a minimum required cash match of 20 percent.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are awarded in the fiscal year for which the
appropriation was made. Grants project and budget periods are on a
calendar year basis and are generally awarded with a 3-year project period
and incremental 1-year budget periods.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Program progress reports are required every four months and
Financial reports are required semi-annually. Annual program narrative
report is due February 15th of each year. An interim final financial
statement is due 90 days after the program period has ended and a final
financial report is due 210 days after the project period.

Audits

Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's
systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and
conditions of grants and other agreements. In accordance with the
provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of
States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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.

Records

The grantee shall maintain individual case records on all
refugees counted as receiving services.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1503-0-1-609.

Obligations

FY 05 $50,000,000; FY 06 est $50,000,000; and FY 07 est
$50,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The average grant amount was $6,000,000 to a national
voluntary agency (Volags), and $200,000 to a local affiliate. Federal
funds listed must be matched by 33% in private funds, and in-kind
contributions.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In FY 2005, the refugee arrivals was 53,811 compared to
52,868 in FY 2004. The nine (9) voluntary agencies program continues to
serve refugees eligible for the Matching Grant program. In program
calendar year 2005, approximately 80% of refugees participating in the
program become self-sufficient within 120 days. The nine agencies continue
its match grant programs in calendar years 2005, and 2006. The program is
expected to continue in calendar year 2007.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

All inquiries should be directed to the Information Contact
listed below.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Ron Munia, 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) 401-4559. Use the same number for FTS.

Web Site Address

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

RELATED PROGRAMS

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

In FY 2005, the 9 voluntary agencies continued to serve
match grant refugees in approximately 215 match grant sites nationwide.
The new program announcement published in FY 2004 continues in FY 2005 for
the nine volags participating in the match grant program. The nine volags
reported good program outcomes for FY 2005. Performance-based awards
continue in FY 2005 and FY 2006. Results to date showed that 80% of
participants are not dependent on cash assistance. Program continuance is
anticipated in FY 2007 pending funding authorization.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

Matching grant awards are made on the basis of a panel
review using evaluation criteria contained in the program guidelines
updated in the new program announcement of March 2004.

General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition
Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)