Application Information Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
Request for Applications (RFA)
Access to Recovery (Short Title: ATR)
(Initial Announcement)
Request for Applications (RFA) No. TI-10-008
Posting on Grants.gov: January 4, 2010
Original Receipt date: March 10, 2010
Announcement Type: Initial
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No..: 93.243
Key Dates:
Application Deadline |
Applications are due by March 10, 2010 |
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announces the availability of fiscal year (FY) 2010 funds for Access to Recovery (ATR) grants. The ATR grants provide funding to Single-State Substance Abuse Agencies in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry-out voucher programs for substance abuse clinical treatment and recovery support services pursuant to sections 501(d)(5) and 509 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. sections 290aa(d)(5) and 290bb-2). This program addresses Healthy People 2010 focus area 26 (Substance Abuse).
The Access to Recovery (ATR) Program is designed to provide client choice among abuse clinical treatment and recovery support service providers, expand access to a comprehensive array of clinical treatment and recovery support options (including faith-based programmatic options), and increase substance abuse capacity. Monitoring outcomes, tracking costs, and preventing waste, fraud and abuse to ensure accountability and effectiveness in the use of Federal funds are also important elements of the ATR program.
Through the ATR grants, the Single-State Substance Abuse Agencies in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, Tribes and Tribal Organizations (hereinafter collectively referred to as “SSAs/Tribes/Tribal Organizations”) will have flexibility in designing and implementing voucher programs, consistent with proven models, to meet the needs of clients in their target regions. A major goal of the ATR program is to ensure that clients have a genuine, free, and independent choice among a network of eligible providers. SSAs/Tribes/Tribal Organizations are encouraged to develop provider networks that offer an array of clinical treatment and recovery support services that can be expected to result in cost-effective, successful outcomes for the largest number of people.
End ofTranslation
Current and former ATR grantees, as well as entities that have not received an ATR grant and that meet the eligibility criteria, may apply. (See Section III-Eligibility Information for additional information about eligibility for the ATR program.) Current grantees must propose to enhance or expand efforts in the proposed geographic area, client population, services provided, or any other component that was not included in previous grant(s). Applications from previously funded ATR grantees will be subject to evaluation of past performance (GPRA client targets and use of funds as planned in the program budget), among other review criteria (See Section I-2-Expectations and Appendix M of this RFA).
As of February 2009, approximately 1.89 million men and women have been deployed to serve in support of overseas contingency operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Individuals returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are at increased risk for suffering post-traumatic stress and other related disorders. Experts estimate that up to one-third of returning veterans will need mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and related services. In addition, the family members of returning veterans have an increased need for related support services. To address these concerns, SAMHSA strongly encourages all applicants to consider the unique needs of returning veterans and their families in developing their proposed project.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are the SSAs in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia; and the highest ranking official and/or the duly authorized official of a federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribe or tribal organization. Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN Tribe; any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities. The administrator of the SSA for Substance Abuse Services in the States, Territories, and the District of Columbia, or the highest ranking official and/or the duly authorized official of the Tribe or Tribal Organization must sign the application. Following the initial award, the Administrator of the SSA or highest ranking official may not delegate responsibility for the grant to any other person or entity.
Eligibility is limited to these applicants because only they have the authority to coordinate funding across the State/Tribe, implement the necessary policy changes, manage the fiscal responsibilities, and coordinate the range of programs necessary for successful implementation of the voucher programs to be funded through these grants.
No more than one ATR application from any one SSA or head of a Tribe or Tribal Organization will be funded.
Current ATR grantees (those funded in 2007), as well as those funded in the 2004 ATR cohort, are eligible to apply for an ATR grant in 2010.
Award Information
Funding Mechanism: | Grant |
Anticipated Total Available Funding: | $95.5 million |
Anticipated Number of Awards: | 30 |
Anticipated Award Amount: | $2 million - $4 million |
Length of Project Period: | Up to 4 years |
Proposed budgets cannot exceed $4 million in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project. Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting project goals and objectives, timely submission of required data and reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of award. Awards may be adjusted based on the number of individuals proposed to be served per year.
Supplemental Awards Based on Performance: Section VI-2, Administrative and National Policy Requirements, of this RFA discusses a grantee's proposed performance targets and explains that failure to meet stated goals and objectives may result in suspension or termination of the grant award, or in the reduction or withholding of continuation awards. Conversely, an ATR grantee that exceeds its performance targets or demonstrates efficiencies may receive a supplemental award based on performance to maintain its high level of performance.
At the end of year 2 and year 3 of the ATR grant program, CSAT will review each grantee's cumulative GPRA data submissions to date and assess whether a grantee has:
- Exceeded its target for the number of clients served by 25 percent or more;
- Met or exceeded the 80% target for 6-month follow-up interviews; and
- Provided services based on allowable and allocable cost principles.
(Note: The follow-up rate is calculated by dividing the number of follow-ups completed within the window by the number of intakes for which six months has elapsed.)
Any grantee that meets the above criteria when CSAT conducts the data reviews at the end of year 2 and year 3 may receive a supplemental award of up to 5 percent of the yearly requested amount. When the data is reviewed at the end of year 2, those grantees that meet the above criteria for years 1 and 2 will receive the supplemental award in year 3 of the grant. When the data is reviewed at the end of year 3, those grantees who meet the above criteria for years 1 through 3 will receive the supplemental award in year 4 of the grant. Grantees may be eligible to receive supplemental awards in both years 3 and 4 if the above criteria are met at the time CSAT conducts the data reviews.
Supplemental award amounts will be determined on a sliding scale based on availability of funds and the grantee’s achievement of performance goals and demonstration of sound fiscal management. Applicants should be aware that SAMHSA/CSAT does not plan to make supplemental awards to all grantees, and that it is possible that no grantees will receive supplemental awards based on performance.
If grantees receive a supplemental award based on performance, they will be asked to submit a narrative and budget justification for the award amount. A grantee receiving a supplemental award based on performance may be subject to additional site visits and/or audits to verify the accuracy of the client data reported.
Contact Information
For questions on program issues, contact:
Roula K. Sweis, MA, PsyD
Division of Services Improvement, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 5-1101
Rockville, MD 20857
(240) 276-1574
roula.sweis@samhsa.hhs.gov
For questions on grants management and budget issues, contact:
William Reyes
Office of Program Services, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 7-1095
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1406
william.reyes@samhsa.hhs.gov
Documents needed to complete a grant application:
1. REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)
YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE RFA IN PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION.
- Download Complete RFA Announcement TI-10-008 in PDF format (file size 120 kbytes)
- Download Complete RFA Announcement TI-10-008 in MS Word format (file size 280 kbytes)
YOU MUST USE THE FORMS IN THE APPLICATION KIT TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION.
Additional Materials
For further information on the forms and the application process, see Useful Information for Applicants
Additional materials available on this website include:
- Technical Assistance and Training for SAMHSA Grant Applicants
- Grants Management at SAMHSA: Useful Information for Grantees
Last updated: 10/27/2009