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93.571 COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FORMULA AND
DISCRETIONARY AWARDS COMMUNITY FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS

FEDERAL AGENCY

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

AUTHORIZATION

Community Opportunities, Accountability, Training, and
Educational Services Act of 1998, Section 681; Public Law 97-35, 42 U.S.C.
9910.

OBJECTIVES

To provide for community-based, local, statewide and
national programs which: (1) Coordinate private and public food assistance
resources to better serve low-income populations, whenever such
coordination is determined to be inadequate; (2) assist low-income
communities to identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs and
initiate such programs in underserved or unserved areas; and (3) develop
innovative approaches at the State and local level to meet the nutrition
needs of low-income individuals.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Direct Payments for Specified Use; Formula Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

(1) States receive Community Food and Nutrition funds for
Statewide Community Food and Nutrition initiatives, which must be
subgranted to eligible agencies. (2) Federal funds are
competitively-awarded to eligible agencies for statewide program
activities which address one or more of the above objectives and also
include outreach and public education efforts designed to inform
low-income individuals and displaced workers of the nutrition services
available to them under the various federally-assisted nutrition programs.
Of the amounts appropriated, 60 percent is for allotment by statutory
formula to eligible agencies for statewide programs, and 40 percent is
available for competitive awards to eligible agencies for local and
statewide programs. (3) Projects must result in direct benefits targeted
toward low-income individuals as defined in the most recent "Annual Update
of Poverty Income Guidelines," published in the Federal Register and
www.grants. gov. (4) Projects are normally funded for 1 year and each
project will have an expiration date; however, at the Director's
discretion, competitively-awarded grants may support projects for shorter
or longer periods, i.e., up to 17 months. (5) States may not use their
formula grant supplement for State-level administrative costs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

(1) Formula Grants: Formula grants are awarded to Community
Services Block Grant recipients in each of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands,
American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (2) Direct Grants: The
Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to make direct grants
to State and local public and private nonprofit agencies with a
demonstrated ability to successfully develop and implement
nutrition-related program activities.

Beneficiary Eligibility

A project must be targeted to address the needs of a
specific segment of low-income individuals or families. The official
poverty line, as established by the Department of Health and Human
Services is used as a criterion of eligibility.

Credentials/Documentation

Formula Grants: Formula grant awards are made to Community
Services Block Grant recipients.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

(1) Formula Grants: States are required to submit an annual
application for the formula grant awards. (2) Direct Grants: The
competitively-awarded grants are subject to the provisions of Title 45 CFR
74 and 92 and E.O. 12372. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should
consult the office or officials 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. Applicants for funds are subject to the clearance
procedures and requirements established by the States in which their
projects will be conducted. Clearance action through the appropriate State
clearinghouses must be initiated prior to or at the same time of
submission of proposals to the Office of Community Services (OCS).

Application Procedure

(1) Formula Grants: grant awards, are made as supplements
to the existing Community Services Block Grant awards. If the intended use
of funds is not consistent with a State's current block grant application,
the State must submit an appropriate plan revision to OCS. All information
and forms required to prepare a grant are published in the Federal
Register. Copies of the program announcement are available from OCS
Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209,
telephone 1800/281-9519, [email-masked]. In addition, this announcement is
accessible for reading or downloading at: http://www.acf.
hhs.gov/programs/ocs. All applications for assistance under this program
component must contain: (1) SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance;
(2) SF-424A, Budget Information; (3) a program narrative, submitted in
accordance with the following format: (a) analysis of need; (b) project
design/work program; (c) organizational experience in program area; (d)
management history; (e) staffing and resources; and (f) staff
responsibilities; (4) SF-424B, Assurances-Non-Construction Programs; (5)
Certification Regarding Drug Free Work place Requirements; (6)
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility
Matters; (7) Certification Regarding Lobbying; and certification regarding
environmental tobacco smoke.

Award Procedure

(1) Formula Grants: OCS determines the amount to be awarded
to States in accordance with the formula set forth in the Community
Services Block Grant Act, as amended. (2) Direct Grants: The Director,
Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families,
DHHS, will make the final decision on all grant awards. Selection of
applicants will be determined based on the review and rating criteria
outlined in the Program Announcement.

Deadlines

(1) Formula Grants: None is applicable for formula grants.
Grants are awarded anytime during the fiscal year in which the recipient
submits his or her application. (2) Direct Grants: Applications must be
submitted within the time frame published in the Federal Register and
www.grants.gov.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

(1) Formula Grants: Not applicable. (2) Direct Grants: From
60 to 90 days from the application deadline.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

(1) Formula Grants: Section 681 of the Community Services
Block Grant (CSBG) Act, as amended (Public Law 97-35, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 9910) prescribes that, from 60 percent of the amount appropriated
shall be awarded to eligible agencies for Statewide programs in each State
in an amount which bears the same ratio to 60 percent of such
appropriations as the low-income and unemployed populations of such State
bear to the low-income and unemployed population of all the States. There
is no matching requirement. (2) Direct Grants: Section 681 of the CSBG
Act, as amended, provides that 40 percent of the amount appropriated be
awarded as direct grants to eligible agencies for local and statewide
programs. These awards are made on a competitive basis. There is no
matching requirement.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

(1) Formula Grants: Formula grant awards are made for a
specific grant period in the fiscal year; amounts unobligated by the State
at the end of a grant period are not available for obligation after the
expiration of the established grant period. (2) Direct Grants: Financial
assistance made available under the competitive grant component will
normally be for a 1-year period and each project will have an expiration
date. However, at the discretion of the Director, Office of Community
Services, Administration for Children and Families, shorter or longer
project periods, i.e., up to 17 months, may be established.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

(1) Formula Grants: States must prepare a final report on
the use of formula grants of Community Food and Nutrition funds 90 days
after the end of the grant period. (2) Direct Grants:
Competitively-awarded direct grant recipients are required to file
semi-annual financial and program progress reports and a final narrative
report summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in
relation to the work program approved by OCS.

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," Non-Federal entities that expend $300,000
($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) or more in a
year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit
conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part.
Non-Federal entities that expend less than $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal
years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section
.215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate
officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General
Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

(1) Formula Grants: States receiving formula grants are
required to keep records sufficient to permit preparation of required
reports and to permit tracing of funds to a level of expenditure adequate
to insure that funds have not been spent unlawfully. (2) Direct Grants:
Recipients of competitively-awarded direct grants are required to keep all
financial and program reports necessary for program review and audit to
insure that funds have been expended in accordance with grant terms and
conditions. Records must be kept on file for at least 3 years.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1504-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants and Contracts) FY 05 $7,080,120; FY 06 est $0; and
FY 07 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

(1) Formula Grants: $715 to $363,440; $182,078; (2) Direct
Grants: $50,000.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

104 grants were awarded in FY 05.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

(1) Formula Grants: the CSBG Act, as amended, and internal
Information Memorandum. (2) Direct Grants: Office of Community Services,
Program Announcement, notice of availability published in the Federal
Register.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

(1) Formula Grants: Marianna RayNor-Hill, Program Manager,
Division of State Assistance,[email-masked], on 202)401-9343; (2)
Direct Grants: Catherine Beck, [email-masked],(202)401-9352, Division
of Community Discretionary Programs, Office of Community Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human
Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, 20447.

Web Site Address

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

RELATED PROGRAMS

93.568, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance; 93.569,
Community Services Block Grant; 93.570, Community Services Block
Grant_Discretionary Awards; 93.600, Head Start; 93.045, Special Programs
for the Aging_Title III, Part C_Nutrition Services.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

(1) Formula Grants: Based on a complete application which
addressed the objectives contained in this submission. (2) The rating
criteria for competitively-awarded direct grants are as follows: (a)
analysis of needs (target area/population to be served, nature and extent
of problem adequately described and documented); (b) adequacy of work
program (specific, measurable goals appropriately related to needs,
adequately described activities appropriately related to goals); (c)
significant and beneficial impact (significantly improved or increased
nutrition services for low-income individuals, significant leverage or
mobilization of funds, the enhancement of existing outreach activity, and
either addresses a one-time problem or can be continued with nonfederal
resources); (d) implementation coordinated with other organizations to
avoid duplication and improve service delivery; (e) ability of applicant
to perform (successful past experience in operation nutrition-related
activities, and quality of staff); and (f) adequacy of the proposed
budget.

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