In fiscal year 2005, there were 52 awards totaling $17,079,060 all for continuation of existing projects. There were no new awards. In FY 2006, SSA anticipates funding one new award for $7.7 million and 52 continuation awards totaling $15.0 million.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants are awarded for innovative research and demonstrations which add to existing knowledge and improve methods and techniques for the management, administration, and effectiveness of Social Security Administration (SSA) programs.

Grant funds may not be used for construction or major renovation of buildings.

People Building Stronger Communities

Youth Civic Engagement and Model United Nations Programs

Obama & Biden Kick Off Inauguration By Doing Volunteer Work

Veterans Receive Legal Assistance from Volunteer Lawyers

Missouri Governor Signs Controversial \'Assistant Physician\' Law to Improve Rural Care

Looking at the Budget for Educating Kids with Special Needs

Syracuse University Wins 2013 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award

Improving Health and Public Safety through Information Sharing Opportunities

Social Entrepreneurs for Citizens with Disabilities

More Natural Resources Conservation Funding in the Federal Budget

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants applying for grant funds may include State and local governments, educational institutions, hospitals, public and private organizations, and nonprofit and profit organizations.

Private individuals are not eligible to apply.

Profit organizations may apply with the understanding that no grant funds may be paid as profit to grant recipients.

Profit is considered any amount in excess of the allowable costs of the grant recipient.

A profit organization is a corporation or other legal entity that is organized or operated for the profit or benefit of its shareholders or other owners and must be distinguishable or legally separable from that of an individual acting on his/her own behalf.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State agencies, local governments, educational institutions, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and profit organizations are eligible to apply for grant funding.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs and administrative requirements for grantees will be determined in accordance with Social Security Administration regulations 20 CFR 435 and 437.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Not applicable.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

SSA prefers that applications be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. The www.grants.gov, "Getting Started" webpage is available to help explain the registration and application submission process. If applicants experience problems with the steps related to registering to do business with the Federal government or application submission, the first point of contact is the Grants.gov support staff at www.grants.gov/CustomerSupport. If difficulties are not resolved, applicants may also contact the SSA Grants Management Team for assistance. Applicants without Internet access should contact the Grants Management Office for further information on applying. Please fax inquiries to the Grants Management Team at 410-966-9310 or mailed to: Grants Management Team, Office of Acquisition and Grants, Social Security Administration, Attention: SSA-OAG-05-1, 7111 Security Blvd., 1st Floor Rear Entrance, Baltimore, MD 21244. Also, SSA grant program announcements and application information can be obtained from the SSA/OAG Internet site at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oag/grants/. To be considered for a grant award, all applicants must complete the prescribed application forms and submit them to the Grants Management Team. The application shall be executed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization and who will assume the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the grant. As part of the project title, the applicant must clearly indicate whether the application submitted is in response to a priority area identified in a program announcement, and must reference the applicable priority area (e.g., "001") in which it is competing. At least three independent reviewers prepare written assessments of each program-relevant grant application. Applications found irrelevant to program objectives are returned to the applicants.

Award Procedures

OAG provides a Notice of Grant Award (or a Notice of Cooperative Agreement Award) as official notice for approved applications. The notice indicates award amount, the purpose of the award, award terms and conditions, the budget period, the anticipated project period, and the grantee's cost-sharing requirement.

Deadlines

Closing dates for receipt of grant applications are published in the Federal Register announcement (usually 60 to 90 days after date of publication in the Federal Register).

Authorization

Social Security Act of 1935, Title II and Title XVI, Section 1110, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 401-433, 902, 1310, 1381-1388c.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Generally, 3 to 6 months after the closing date established in the Federal Register announcement.

Appeals

There are no formal appeal procedures. If an application is not approved, the reasons will be stipulated in the denial notice.

Renewals

Grants can be extended and continued via formal application, which is subject to approval. If an application is recommended for approval for 2 or more budget years, the grantee must submit a formal request for funding continuation each year accompanied by a progress report. This will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation of funding.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Grantees are required to share the cost of projects. The cost-sharing ranges from 5 to 25 percent of total project costs. This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are usually granted for a period of 12 to 17 months. Funds, however, can be granted for a minimum of 3 months, and up to a maximum of 60 months.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Progress and financial reports are required on all projects.

Financial reports are required semi-annually.

Interim financial reports are due within 30 days after the end of the first 6-month period.

Quarterly progress reports are due within 30 days after the end of each quarter of the budget period.

Comprehensive final progress and financial reports are due no later than 90 days after the grant expires.

Audits

Audits shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 and SSA regulations 20 CFR 435 and 437. In accordance with the provisions of (OMB) Circular 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

Grantees must maintain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records and all other records pertinent to an award for 3 years. In the event of an audit, records must be maintained until all questions are resolved.

Financial Information

Account Identification

28-8704-0-7-601.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 07 $22,855,055; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$100,000 to $1,750,000. Figures may vary with type of program.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

None.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Phyllis Y. Smith, Chief, Grants Management Officer, Office of Operations Contracts and Grants, Office of Acquisition and Grants (OAG), DCFAM, Social Security Administration, 7111 Security Blvd., 1st Floor Rear Entrance, Baltimore, MD 21244. Telephone: (410) 965-9518.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Generally, applications are evaluated on the following criteria: (1) Adequacy of project design; (2) relevance of the activity to the objectives of the program; (3) qualifications of personnel; (4) adequacy of facilities to conduct activity; (5) reasonableness of costs; and (6) usefulness of the results.