Harkin Grant

Iowa Demonstration Construction

Grant Program

Application Packet for

Fire Safety Grant

2005-2006

Three copies of the proposal with original signatures must be postmarked or received at the Iowa Department of Education by 4:30 p.m. on January 6, 2006.

Electronically submitted or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Grant applicants will be notified by March 17, 2006, regarding application status.

Iowa Department of Education

Grimes State Office Building 2^nd floor

East 14^th and Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50319-0146

Contact Person: Gary Schwartz

(515) 281-4743

gary.schwartz@iowa.gov

Harkin Grant (Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program)

Application Packet for Fire Safety Grant

Introduction	The Iowa Department of Education has been awarded the Iowa Demonstration Construction grant authorized by Title III of P.L. 108-199 for a total amount of $14,880,000. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 84.215. The budget and project period is September 28, 2005, through September 27, 2008September 27, 2008. The School Budget Review Committee (SBRC), including the state fire marshal as a voting member, will review the recommendations from the task force and make recommendations on awards to the Department. The Department will administer the program and disburse the grant awards. Grants are divided into two types: fire safety and construction. This application is for the fire safety grants only.
Purpose	These grants are to fund projects to remedy fire safety defects. School districts may use the grant funding to pay the direct cost of the fire safety improvements. Architect, engineering or planning fees cannot be reimbursed from federal funds. Grant awards must be used for new activities. New activity means a project that the board takes action to approve advertising for bids after the U.S. Department of Education approves the Iowa Department of Education’s application.
Eligible Applicants	Iowa public school districts are eligible applicants. A district may submit one application that includes more than one attendance center; however, the grant award will not exceed the maximum award per enrollment category of the district. Applying for this grant does not prevent the district from applying for the construction portion of the Harkin Grant (Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program). Grant monies will be paid upon completion of the project. If necessary for cash flow, a partial payment can be requested for grants of $100,000 or more. Grant monies must be used for this project only and any unused funds will be returned to the Department.
Criteria for Eligibility	A district must have received an order/citation within the past three years from the state fire marshal or local fire department officials acting in the capacity of the state fire marshal, for one or more fire safety violations regarding a school facility. A district may apply for a grant to correct a fire safety deficiency not cited by the fire marshal, which the district thinks is a significant hazard; however, the district must consult with the state fire official and include a letter indicating the official agrees that this is a significant hazard. All eligible projects must comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, Iowa Code chapter 104A, the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and the Davis Bacon Act. All vendors used must not be suspended or debarred from performing federal work. An assurances form is part of this application and must be returned for the project to be considered or awarded. Site visits may be conducted to determine final eligibility. All projects must be completed no later than September 27, 2008. No local match is required.

Grant Categories	Funds will be awarded as follows:
	District Category	District Enrollment Category	Total Funds		Maximum Award
	Small	0-1199 students	$1,701,280		$25,000
	Medium	1200-4749 students	$1,701,280		$100,000
	Large	4750 + students	$1,701,280		$150,000
Grant Selection Process	The Department has formed a task force that will review the applications for financial assistance and provide recommendations to the SBRC. Members of the task force and designees will review each application. Applicants will be ranked on a point system within each category and awards will be recommended in rank order beginning with the highest points. The task force will make recommendations to the SBRC who will recommend to the Department grant awardees. The Department will have final determination of awards.
Grant Selection Criteria	Grants will be awarded based upon the need and severity of deficiencies and the plan to remedy the deficiency. Grant money will not be disbursed until expenditures have been made and the district has notified the Department.
Reporting	Applicants receiving awards will be required to submit an interim report to the Department, annually by September 15, until the project is complete describing the activities and providing information on the status of implementation of the project and expenditures of funds. A final report is required within 45 days of completion of the project. Project completion shall not be later than September 27, 2008.
Application Submission and Notification of Award	Three copies of the grant application must be postmarked or received at the Iowa Department of Education no later than 4:30 p.m., January 6, 2006. Applications after this time will not be accepted. The application shall be prepared on the forms provided and only one application per district may be submitted. The three copies of the application must have original signatures. Electronically submitted or faxed applications will not be accepted. Mail or deliver to: Gary Schwartz, Infrastructure Consultant Iowa Department of Education Grimes State Office Building, 2^nd floor East 14^th and Grand Des Moines, IA 50319-0146 Grant applicants will be notified by March 17, 2006,2005 regarding application status.
Contents of the Application	All of the following requirements must be in the order listed below to be considered for a grant. Incomplete applications will be ineligible for consideration. Completed applications are limited to the pages as indicated below. Font size must be no less than 11 point; however, charts and graphs no less than 10 points, excluding required attachments. Applications should not be bound or in folders. Applications must be submitted on the forms provided, collated in the order listed below, and not exceed the number of pages indicated excluding required attachments:
				Pages		Points
	A. Cover Page			1
	B Assurances			1
	C. Executive Summary			2		25
	D. Fire Safety Infrastructure Needs			2		75
	E. Plan to Remedy Fire Safety Deficiencies			2		50
	F. Budget and Timeline for the Project			2		20
	Total Points Possible					170
	Appendix A: Board Minutes (highlight pertinent action)
	Appendix B: Fire Citations

It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age or marital status in its programs or employment practices. If you have questions or grievances related to this policy, please contact the Legal Consultant, Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146, 515-281-8661.

Cover Page (A)

(1 Page)

District Enrollment as of 9/17/04 (from certified enrollment form line 7)

District Name District Number

Building Name(s) Building Number(s)

District Enrollment Category (check one)

o Small (up to 1,199 students) Grant Amount Requested $

o Medium (1,200-4,749 students) Project Cost (Total) $

o Large (4,750+ students) Projected Initiation Date ________________

Grant Contact Person

(Official grant contact person who receives all grant inquiries and information)

District office Address

IA

City State Zip

Phone Number ( ) Fax Number ( )

E-Mail Address AEA #

Certification and Assurance

I CERTIFY that, to the best of my knowledge, the information contained in the district’s application

is true, accurate and complete. The district will abide by the assurances contained in section B.

Signature of Superintendent

Typed Name of Superintendent Date

Attach copies of the board minutes showing initiation of this project and authorization of this grant application in Appendix A. Highlight the board action pertinent to this grant application.

Application Deadline: postmarked or delivered by 4:30 p.m. January 6, 2006,

This cover sheet MUST be complete and used as the cover sheet for the grant.

Three copies of the application must be included.

The signatures on each copy of the application must be original.

Signature stamps are not acceptable.

Assurances and Certification
Harkin Grant (Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program)

Fire Safety Grant

(B)

Page 1 of 2

NOTE: This form must be signed and included in the grant application. Signing and including this form is official notification that the district whose name appears at the bottom and its representative will abide by all assurances contained herein.

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant, I certify that the applicant:

1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management, and completion of the project described in this application.

2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of the United States, and the State, through any authorized representative, access to and the right to examine all records, books, papers, or documents related to the assistance; and will establish a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or agency directives.

3. Will not dispose of, modify the use of, or change the terms of the real property title or other interest in the site and facilities without permission and instructions from the awarding agency. Will record the Federal interest in the title of real property in accordance with awarding agency directives and will include a covenant in the title of real property acquired in whole or in part with Federal assistance funds to assure nondiscrimination during the useful life of the project.

4. Will comply with the requirements of the State with regard to the drafting, review, and approval of construction plans and specifications.

5. Will provide and maintain competent and adequate engineering supervision at the construction site to ensure that the complete work conforms with the approved plans and specifications and will furnish progress reports and such other information as may be required by the assistance awarding agency or State.

6. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

7. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using their positions for a purpose that constitutes, or presents the appearance of, personal or organizational conflict of interest or personal gain.

8. Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. §§4728‑4763) relating to prescribed standards for merit systems for programs funded under one of the nineteen statutes or regulations specified in Appendix A of OPM's Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration (5 C.F.R. 900, Subpart F).

9. Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act (42 U.S.C. §§4801 et seq.) which prohibits the use of lead‑based paint in construction or rehabilitation of residence structures.

10. Will comply with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: (a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88‑352) which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; (b) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. §§16811683, and 1685‑1686), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. §794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabilities; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§6101‑6107), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; (e) the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (P.L. 92‑255), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of drug abuse; (f) the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) §§523 and 527 of the Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. §§290 dd‑3 and 290 ee3), as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records; (h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. §§3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing; (i) any other nondiscrimination provisions in the specific statute(s) under which application for Federal assistance is being made; and, (j) the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) that may apply to the application.

11. Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) that provide for fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced or whose property is acquired as a result of Federal and federally-assisted programs. These requirements apply to all interests in real property acquired for project purposes regardless of Federal participation in purchases.

12. Will comply with the provisions of the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§1501‑1508 and 7324‑7328) which limit the political activities of employees whose principal employment activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.

13. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. §§276a to 276a‑7), the Copeland Act (40 U.S.C. §276c and 18 U.S.C. §874), and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. §§327333) regarding labor standards for federally assisted construction subagreements.

14. Will comply with flood insurance purchase requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (P.L. 93‑234) that requires recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more.