Conn. Agencies Regs. § 17b-423-3
This Section sets forth the general policies and procedures governing the application process for obtaining Title III-B and C funds and the general policies which affect program grantees.
The Department may award Older Americans Act funds to an eligible public or private nonprofit agency, organization, institution, political subdivision of the State or an official Indian tribal organization.
The Department shall award Title III funds in a designated planning and service area only to an Area Agency on Aging to develop and administer an area plan on aging. No Title III funds shall be awarded directly by the Department to any other agency within a PSA when a designated Area Agency on Aging exists, unless the Area Agency on Aging has been temporarily suspended from administering Older Americans Act programs. The designated Area Agency on Aging shall carry out, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, a program pursuant to an approved area plan within the PSA.
The Department requires recipients of award under Title III of the Older Americans Act to carry out the policies and procedures set forth in this manual, in the Older Americans Act and in the appropriate Federal regulations. Recipients of award are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the contents of this Manual and referenced documents.
All proposals for support through Older Americans Act or other Department administered funds shall be submitted to the Department on a format prescribed by the Department. The specific procedures applicable to each type of funding are located in the following sections of this Manual.
Applications for funding shall be reviewed according to the procedures established in this manual. As necessary, additional information may be provided through General Letters, Series Memorandums or in other written formats.
The Department has established procedures to assure that all recipients of award are notified of the approval of projects in writing on a standard notification of grant award form (NOA) or other suitable award document.
All applications shall be approved as submitted unless the Department modifies and/or places additional conditions on the award. All approved projects shall receive a written notice of award which explains the specifics of the approved award.
The recipient of the award shall operate the project in accordance with the approved application and the NOA documentation.
This subsection provides information on policies and procedures which uniformly impact on all Title III grantees.
Grantees receiving funds under the Title III Older Americans Act are subject to the following laws and regulations:
The Department has been vested with the authority to carry out all functions and responsibilities prescribed for State Agencies on Aging under the Older Americans Act, Federal Regulations and Connecticut State Statutes and regulation of Connecticut State Agencies. Whenever the Department executes grants or contracts with local or Area Agencies on Aging to provide an aging service or program, it has the responsibility for assuring that such agencies or organizations are adhering to this Manual and other policies and procedures which might be developed. The Department requires all grantees to establish acceptable methods for administering Older Americans Act programs. The Department periodically monitors, assesses and evaluates the administrative systems being utilized by grantees in order to assure that they meet minimal standards of operations.
All funds under the Older Americans Act shall be administered in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Regulations (45 CFR Part 80) issued pursuant thereto, a Statement of Compliance Form 441 signed by each grantee and the contractors and subcontractors providing services directly to participants, and the methods of administration established by the Department in accordance with the requirements of the State Plan.
The Department requires that each recipient of award make no distinction because of race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ancestry, religion or national origin in providing to individuals any services of other benefits under projects financed in whole or in part with Older Americans Act funds.
The Department requires that all Older Americans Act grantees have acceptable affirmative action plans as a condition for approval of grant awards.
Any Area Agency on Aging which is a public agency shall have an affirmative action program which complies with the requirements of section 900.607 of Title V of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 900, Subpart F, "Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration."
Older Americans Act project grantees shall, as a minimum, obtain a statement of assurance from contractors and subcontractors that they will comply with equal employment opportunity principles. Such assurance shall commit contractors and subcontractors to providing equal opportunities in carrying out activities funded under the Older Americans Act.
The Department and its grantees shall ensure that no older person is denied services because such person refuses to provide informed consent to release personal information.
Any grantee or contractor which provides information and referral services shall maintain its records and reports in a manner consistent with the standards of confidentiality of the Department, as noted in this Manual and as modified from time to time.
When Older Americans Act or other Department administered funds are used to acquire the use of a facility which involves access by older persons, the facility shall meet the provisions of Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the acquisition of the facility occurs after October 1, 1980.
Facilities acquired for use before October 1, 1980 should meet the requirement in (A) where feasible.
All recipients of grants from the Department shall submit such reports to the Department as are required or set forth in the Grant.
Area Agencies on Aging and all grantees and contractors under Title III are required to participate in the Statewide automated Management Information System (MIS), in accordance with the Department's requirements, unless a written waiver is received and approved from the Department.
When Performance-Based Contracting is used, Area Agencies on Aging shall reimburse contractors based on current MIS statistics, unless it is determined by the Department that the service cannot be accurately measured by the MIS.
Conn. Agencies Regs. § 17b-423-3