Challenge Grants Digital Infrastructure NOFO 2022 20220517-CHA.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title:

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants:

Digital Infrastructure

Funding Opportunity Number: 20220517-CHA

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Federal Assistance Listing Number: 45.130

Application Due Dates:

May 17, 2022

September 27, 2022

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current.

It may take up to one month to register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov.

NEH will not grant deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Office of Challenge Programs Telephone: 202-606-8309 Email: challenge@neh.gov Federal Relay: 800-877-8399

OMB Control Number 3136-0134, expiration date October 31, 2024 mailto:challenge@neh.gov

20220517-CHA i

Executive Summary The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Office of Challenge Programs is accepting applications for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants: Digital Infrastructure.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity is for digital infrastructure projects in the humanities that support the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms and benefit users in the long term. Projects are financed through a combination of federal matching funds and related fundraising from nonfederal third parties.

Funding Opportunity Title Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants:

Digital Infrastructure

Funding Opportunity Number 20220517-CHA Federal Assistance Listing Number (CFDA)

45.130

Optional Draft Deadlines April 6, 2022; August 17, 2022 Application Due Dates May 17, 2022, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

September 27, 2022, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Anticipated Award Announcements

December 2022 and April 2023

Anticipated Total Annual Available FY 23 Funding

Approximately $6,500,000 per deadline (Capital Projects and Digital Infrastructure combined)

Estimated Number and Type of Awards

Approximately 12-15 grants per deadline (Capital Projects and Digital Infrastructure combined)

Funding Range Level 1: Up to $150,000 Level 2: $150,001 to $500,000 Level 3: $500,001 to $1,000,000

Match Required Yes. See C2. Matching Requirements.

Period of Performance Level 1:Up to two years

Level 2 and 3: Two to five years

The period of performance must begin between March 1, 2023, and June 1, 2023, for proposals submitted on or before the May 17, 2022, deadline.

The period of performance must begin between July 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023, for proposals submitted on or before the September 27, 2022, deadline.

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

See C. Eligibility Information.

Program Resource Page https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants

Pre-Application Webinar A pre-recorded webinar will be available on the program resource page by March 18, 2022.

Published March 14, 2022 https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants

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Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Purpose

2. Background

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

2. Summary of Funding

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Matching Requirements

3. Other Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

E. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Assessment of Risk and Other Pre-Award Activities

4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. Agency Contacts

H. Other Information

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A. Program Description

1. Purpose This notice solicits applications for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants:

Digital Infrastructure. This program supports digital infrastructure projects that enhance the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms and benefit users in the long term.

A digital project is considered “infrastructure” if it is mature, that is, if it has been fully developed and widely used across multiple institutions and communities over a sustained period of time. The project should have funding in place for dedicated software and hardware as well as full-time staff or other means of sustainable maintenance.

Activities and costs supported by Digital Infrastructure awards may include, but are not limited to:

• acquiring and/or upgrading software and hardware systems and equipment

• updating and enhancing existing content

• hiring dedicated personnel or consultants

• developing and modernizing digital architecture

• creating other mechanisms for ensuring the long-term functioning of digital resources

• improving data management

• integrating digital resources for improved long-term preservation and access

• extending the functionality of existing digital platforms to improve sustainability

• improving the user experience

• training and outreach activities

• developing business practices related to project sustainability

Proposed projects must enhance or support the humanities over the long term and build on careful strategic planning to strengthen and enrich an institution’s humanities activities and user base.

In accordance with Executive Order 13647 on Native American affairs, Executive Order 13779 on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Executive Order 13592 on Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Executive Order 13555 on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, NEH especially welcomes Challenge Grant applications from federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, HBCUs, TCUs, and Hispanic- Serving Institutions of higher education (HSIs), as well as from two-year community colleges.

These institutions and entities as well as federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible for a 1:1 match ratio. See B. Federal Award Information and C.

Eligibility Information.

NEH will issue an offer of support to successful applicants. An offer formally communicates the level of funding recommended for the project and the conditions that must be met before NEH issues an award. Familiarize yourself with the applicable rules and regulations and contact program staff to discuss your project in order to include adequate time and funding into your proposal. See G. Agency Contacts.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2013-07-01/pdf/2013-15942.pdf https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/03/2017-04357/white-house-initiative-to-promote-excellence-and-innovation-at-historically-black-colleges-and https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/12/08/2011-31624/improving-american-indian-and-alaska-native-educational-opportunities-and-strengthening-tribal https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/10/22/2010-27004/white-house-initiative-on-educational-excellence-for-hispanics

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NEH will only issue an award when all regulatory requirements are met and the applicant certifies eligible third-party non-federal gifts. See E4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates and F1. Federal Award Notices.

See D6. Funding Restrictions for unallowable costs and activities.

See E1. Review Criteria for the criteria used to evaluate your proposal.

Funding categories The Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants program funds two distinct types of projects, each with its own Notice of Funding Opportunity: Digital Infrastructure (covered here) and Capital Projects (covered in a separate Notice of Funding Opportunity available on the program resource page).

Funding levels Digital Infrastructure projects are funded in three levels with different match ratios and periods of performance depending on the amount requested.

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Period of performance Up to two years Two to five years Two to five years Required match ratio 1:1 for all applicants • 1:1: for applicants meeting special eligibility requirements

• 3:1 for applicants meeting general eligibility requirements

See C2. Matching Requirements.

• 1:1: for applicants meeting special eligibility requirements

• 4:1 for applicants meeting general eligibility requirements

See C2. Matching Requirements.

Maximum NEH award $150,000 $500,000 $1,000,000 Maximum required third-party nonfederal gifts

$150,000 $1,500,000 $4,000,000

Maximum total project costs

$300,000 $2,000,000 $5,000,000

Fundraising Limited fundraising costs (no more than 10 percent of total project costs) are allowable at all three funding levels.

2. Background This program is authorized by 20 U.S.C. § 956. Awards are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations (for grants and cooperative agreements issued January 1, 2022 or later), and Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title20-section956&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjIwIHNlY3Rpb246OTU2YSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-january-2022 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-january-2022 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002

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According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, “The term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology;

comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of the social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”

Use the Funded Projects Query Form to find examples of NEH-supported projects.

Learn more about NEH.

NEH Initiatives NEH seeks to support projects that respond to the following initiative. NEH will give all applications equal consideration in accordance with the program’s review criteria.

A More Perfect Union: Exploring America's Story and Commemorating its 250th Anniversary The task of building a more perfect Union, rooted in the ideal of human equality, falls to every generation of Americans, ours no less than our predecessors’. The basic goals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness endure over time, even as the challenges change: from founding a nation out of colonies; to dismantling the institution of slavery; to prevailing through times of economic depression and war; to advancing civil rights for all; to strengthening our democratic institutions; to building a more inclusive and sustainable society.

NEH’s A More Perfect Union initiative encourages projects that explore, reflect on, and tell the stories of our quest for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable society throughout our history.

NEH especially welcomes projects that bring the perspective of the humanities to questions of racial justice, gender equality, the evolution of the American landscape, as well as America’s place in the world. The agency strongly encourages projects that strengthen Americans’ knowledge of our principles of constitutional governance and democracy, as well as projects that address the experiences of Native Americans and other under-represented communities. In addition, NEH welcomes projects that develop innovative approaches to sustaining the nation’s humanities infrastructure and preserving its historical record.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award NEH seeks new applications in response to this notice.

NEH will provide funding in the form of grants.

2. Summary of Funding

Award amounts NEH anticipates approximately $6,500,000 to fund an estimated 12-15 recipients per deadline (Capital Projects and Digital Infrastructure combined).

https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx https://www.neh.gov/about https://gbc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&rs=en%2DUS&wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fnehemail.sharepoint.com%2Fteams%2Fnofo%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F00f717d0cc994d43828145ae4fdb0b8e&wdhostclicktime=1646147445659&wdenableroaming=1&mscc=1&hid=908325A0-50D5-C000-BDF5-479BA024B289&wdorigin=AuthPrompt&jsapi=1&jsapiver=v1&newsession=1&corrid=ab7569e7-ae64-45a7-952f-cdf29e919ed3&usid=ab7569e7-ae64-45a7-952f-cdf29e919ed3&sftc=1&mtf=1&sfp=1&instantedit=1&wopicomplete=1&wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&rct=Medium&ctp=LeastProtected#_1.__Review https://www.neh.gov/250

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You may request up to $150,000 for Level 1 awards. You may request between $150,001 and $500,000 for Level 2 awards. You may request between $500,001 and $1,000,000 for Level 3 awards.

Your request should be appropriate to your organization’s fundraising capacity and the goals of the project. See C2. Matching Requirements for information on match ratios.

Successful applicants will receive an offer of federal matching funds, subject to specific regulatory and other conditions. NEH will issue the award only when the conditions of the offer are met. Recipients must certify that they have raised eligible contributions from non-federal third parties before matching funds are released (see Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants). The full amount of federal matching funds may not be available for release in the first year of a multi-year period of performance. Federal matching funds are typically distributed on an annual basis over the life of the award.

NEH will not determine the amount available until Congress enacts the final FY 2023 budget.

This notice is subject to the availability of appropriated funds, and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, applications can be processed and funds awarded in a timely manner.

If you receive an offer, NEH will assess your institution’s ability to raise and certify funds, meet award conditions, and the progress of your proposed project. This stage frequently lasts six months or more while conditions are being met and third-party gift funds are certified. Failure to meet the offer conditions or raise matching funds with supporting documentation may result in NEH’s withdrawal of the offer. See E4. Anticipated Announcements and Award Dates.

Issuance of an award and funding beyond the first year is dependent on the availability of appropriated funds for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance (including meeting the offer conditions and raising third-party non-federal gifts), and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government. Failure to raise third-party non-federal gifts according to the agreed upon funding schedule may also result in a reduction or forfeiture of award funds.

Period of performance You may request a period of performance up to two years for Level 1 projects and from two to five years for Level 2 and Level 3 projects.

If you apply for the May 17, 2022, deadline, your period of performance must start between March 1, 2023, and June 1, 2023.

If you apply for the September 27, 2022, deadline, your period of performance must start between July 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023.

The period of performance must start on the first day of the month. NEH may delay the period of performance start date if the offer letter conditions are not met or matching funds are not raised by the stated deadlines of the offer.

https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002

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C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants must be established in the United States or its jurisdictions and be one of the following:

• a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

• an accredited institution of higher education (public or 501(c)(3))

• a unit of state or local government

• a federally recognized Native American tribal government

Applicants must work wholly or in part in the humanities, and must support research, education, preservation, or public programming in the humanities.

An eligible applicant may apply on behalf of a consortium of collaborating organizations. If selected for funding, the applicant will be programmatically, legally, and fiscally responsible for the award.

Eligible applicants acting solely as fiscal agents or fiscal sponsors may not apply on behalf of ineligible applicants.

Individuals and other organizations, including foreign, federal and for-profit entities, are ineligible. See C3. Other Eligibility Information.

Note on institution specific foundations Typically, the institution undertaking the Challenge Grant applies for, receives, and manages the award (both federal matching funds and non-federal third-party gifts). However, in some instances, institution-specific foundations specifically created for the purpose of raising money for a single entity, such as a university or a museum, may be the legal recipient.

The institution-specific foundation must have a memorandum or other form of legal agreement in place designating it as the agent for the recipient for soliciting and receiving donations for the Challenge Grant. If a Challenge grant is awarded, the arrangement is also subject to the flow down requirements at 2 CFR § 200.332.

Additional eligibility requirements for 1:1 match ratio In addition to the general eligibility criteria described above, the following types of organizations may claim a 1:1 match ratio at all funding levels:

• federally recognized Native American tribal governments

• public or 501(c)(3) Native Hawaiian organizations, as defined by the Native American

Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001(11)). Eligible organizations are those included on the U.S. Department of the Interior Native Hawaiian Organization Notification List

• public or 501(c)(3) Native Hawaiian organizations, as defined by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001(11)). Eligible organizations are those included on the U.S. Department of the Interior Native Hawaiian Organization Notification List https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/search-for-tax-exempt-organizations https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/29/2021-01606/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.332 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/29/2021-01606/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title25/html/USCODE-2020-title25-chap32-sec3001.htm https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/nhol-complete-list-20211014.pdf https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/nhol-complete-list-20211014.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2020-title25/html/USCODE-2020-title25-chap32-sec3001.htm https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/nhol-complete-list-20211014.pdf https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/nhol-complete-list-20211014.pdf

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• public or 501(c)(3) nonprofit community colleges and post-secondary two-year institutions of higher education

• public or nonprofit 501(c)(3) U.S. Historically Black Colleges or Universities, as defined by Executive Order 13532. Eligible institutions are those included in the U.S.

Department of Education’s list of accredited HBCUs

• public or nonprofit 501(c)(3) Hispanic-Serving Institutions of higher education:

To determine whether your institution is eligible, consult the most recent version of the Eligibility Matrix on the U.S. Department of Education website. The Eligibility Matrix is a read-only Excel worksheet that lists data for postsecondary institutions. First, locate your institution’s name in column A (“Institution Name”). Next, scroll across to look at column AS (“HSI”). If your institution has a number 5 or 6, it is a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Institutions must apply annually to the U.S. Department of Education for Title III and Title V eligibility designations. Institutional designations therefore can change from year to year.

Another way to establish your institution’s eligibility is by visiting the U.S.

Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education Institutional Service website. Click on “Application for Designation as an Eligible Institution,” then click on “Check Main Campus Eligibility.” Enter your institution’s name or OPE ID number. Select your institution and click on “View Eligibility.”

If you are unable to verify your institution’s current status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by consulting with your university administration or by consulting the most recent Eligibility Matrix, you may establish your institution’s status with a letter or other document from the U.S. Department of Education dated 2021 or 2022, certifying Title III and Title V eligibility. Attach a PDF of this as Attachment 10. In addition to submitting documentation of Title III and Title V eligibility, your institution must also meet the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a Hispanic-Serving Institution. You may determine your institution’s eligibility by consulting enrollment data for your institution using the National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator (search for your institution, then click on “Enrollment”).

• U.S. tribal college or university recognized by the Department of Education and included on this map

2. Matching Requirements In order to receive federal matching funds, recipients must raise and certify eligible matching gifts and pledges from non-federal third-party sources (see Administration of NEH Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants). Awards are subject to a single match ratio.

Match ratios for applicants meeting general eligibility requirements Eligible applicants (other than federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges) must meet the following match ratios:

• Requests for Level 1 grants up to $150,000 must be matched at $1 in third-party non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (1:1).

• Requests for Level 2 grants from $150,001 to $500,000 must be matched at $3 in third-party non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (3:1).

https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html https://hepis.ed.gov/main https://hepis.ed.gov/main https://hepis.ed.gov/main https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ http://www.aihec.org/who-we-serve/TCUmap.cfm http://www.aihec.org/who-we-serve/TCUmap.cfm https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002

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• Requests for Level 3 grants from $500,001 to $1,000,000 must be matched at $4 in third-party non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (4:1).

Sample match ratio and matching requirements for applicants meeting general eligibility

Match ratio (non-federal:

federal)

Requested NEH funds (maximum)

Gifts to be raised by recipient (from third-party non-federal donors)

Total project costs

1:1 (Level 1) $150,000 $150,000 $300,000 3:1 (Level 2) $500,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 4:1 (Level 3) $1,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000

Match ratios for applicants meeting special eligibility requirements Eligible federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges must match $1 in non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal matching funds up to the maximum request of $1,000,000.

Sample matching requirements for federally recognized Native American tribal governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges

Match ratio (non-federal:

federal)

Requested NEH funds

Gifts to be raised by recipient (from third-party non-federal donors)

Total project costs

1:1 $350,000 $350,000 $700,000

Fundraising period Recipients may raise gifts (non-federal third-party donations or pledges) no earlier than five months prior to the application deadline through the period of performance end date (no earlier than December 18, 2021, for proposals submitted for the May 17, 2022, deadline and no earlier than April 28, 2022, for proposals submitted for the September 27, 2022, deadline).

Allowability of gifts The organization must raise gifts from third-party non-federal sources. Gifts may not derive from the recipient institution itself (this restriction also applies to superordinate multi-campus college and university systems.) Recipients may not supplant, shift, or reallocate internal funds for matching purposes.

To count toward the matching requirement, all gifts must be donated or pledged, and all pledges paid, during the fundraising period.

Recipients must use Challenge grant funds (federal matching funds and third-party non-federal gifts) only to support the purposes outlined in the approved Challenge Grant budget within the period of performance.

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The majority of third party-non-federal gifts allowable for matching should be restricted.

Restricted gifts are restricted by the donor to be used for the same purposes supported by the Challenge Grant. (Unrestricted gifts are not designated by the donor for any specific purpose.)

Donors of restricted gifts must state or be aware that their gifts are to be used for the Challenge Grant or the purpose supported by the Challenge Grant.

The combined total of certified unrestricted gifts, real estate, in-kind gifts, and earned income gifts may not exceed the total federal matching portion of the Challenge Grant.

Certain types of gifts, such as real estate, earned income, planned giving, and in-kind contributions are also subject to special limitations.

Detailed information on allowable gifts and the supporting documentation that must be submitted with the Certification of Matching Gifts for NEH Challenge Grants is available in Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants.

Gifts and Matching Funding Schedule Once NEH awards a Challenge Grant, it typically obligates federal matching funds in annual installments. During the period of performance, funds are obligated when completely matched according to the required ratio and approved Gifts and Matching Funding Schedule. Variations on the sample below are possible and your proposed schedule should align with your work plan and period of performance. NEH reserves the right to modify Gifts and Matching Funding Schedules.

Sample schedule for applicants meeting general eligibility requirements for an offer of $300,000 in federal matching funds, with a 3:1 match ratio, and a 5-year period of performance (Level 2)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total NEH federal matching funds

$25,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 $0 $300,000

Third-party non-federal gifts to be raised

$75,000 $300,000 $300,000 $225,000 $0 $900,000

Total project costs (federal + non-federal)

$100,000 $400,000 $400,000 $300,000 $0 $1,200,000

Recipients may certify eligible third-party non-federal gifts ahead of the Gifts and Matching Funding Schedule. Should additional federal matching funds become available, NEH may release funds ahead of schedule.

Failure to raise and certify gifts to meet the annual federal matching offer amount in the approved funding schedule may result in a forfeiture of federal matching funds for that year or termination of the federal award.

https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/certification_of_matching_gifts_for_neh_challenge_grants_form_2018challengegrantcertification2018.pdf https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002

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Recipients are responsible for maintaining auditable records of the source and use of required matching gifts. See 2 CFR § 200.306.

3. Other Eligibility Information You are limited to submitting a single application for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants per calendar year.

An applicant who has received a prior award from NEH may request support for a new or subsequent stage of that project. Such proposals will be judged by the same criteria as others in the current competition.

Prior Challenge Grants recipients—including Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants (CHA), Challenge Grants (CH), Cooperative Agreements and Special Projects (ZZ), and Special Initiatives (CZ)—must complete their previously funded activities and submit final reports before NEH will issue a subsequent Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants award. Recipients of Next Generation Challenge Grants (ZB and ZA), Humanities Access Grants (ZH), and Creating Humanities Communities grants (ZR) are exempt from this requirement.

If for any reason an application is submitted more than once prior to the application deadline (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates), NEH will only accept your last validated online submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

Per 2 CFR § 200.403(f), overlapping project costs across multiple applications for federal funding and/or approved federal award budgets are not allowed. However, applicants may seek funding for complementary aspects of the same overall project. NEH may disallow costs or reject applications with overlapping project costs. An individual’s level of effort cannot exceed 100% across all active federally funded awards.

NEH does not make awards to other federal entities or to applicants whose projects are so closely intertwined with a federal entity that the project takes on characteristics of the federal entity’s own authorized activities. Applicants may use funds from, or sites and materials controlled by, other federal entities in their projects. Such resources may not be used as gifts to release federal matching funds. Projects that would improve federal lands or facilities are generally ineligible to receive NEH support. Contact program staff if you have questions.

NEH does not provide financial assistance to foreign institutions or organizations. Nevertheless, otherwise eligible American institutions may apply for collaborative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations provided they do not use NEH funds for the purpose of issuing subawards to any foreign organization, as defined in 2 CFR §§ 200.1 and .331(a). Eligible applicants may obtain the services of foreign individuals and consultants to carry out various programmatic activities on a fee-for-service basis, as specified in 2 CFR § 200.459 and secure vendor contracts such as in-country transportation services. If you are interested in submitting an application for a project involving international collaboration, consult with program staff.

Except for the rare cases covered by NEH’s late submission policy, applications must be received by the deadline. Incomplete, nonresponsive, or ineligible applications will not be considered for funding under this notice. Applications https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3aeab4e3a836f5b6807999701e518c94&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRea20080eff2ea53/section-200.403 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_11 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1331 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1459 https://www.neh.gov/grants/policy-on-late-submissions

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must adhere to specified page limits and formatting requirements or they will not be reviewed. See the Application Components Table.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Package You must apply using Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution. You can find this funding opportunity in Grants.gov under number 20220517-CHA. There is also a link on the program resource page.

There are four application packages available in Grants.gov. Select the appropriate Digital Infrastructure package based upon your project type and deadline.

CAP52022 - Capital Projects (May 17, 2022, deadline) DIG52022 - Digital Infrastructure (May 17, 2022, deadline) CAP92022 - Capital Projects (September 27, 2022, deadline) DIG92022 - Digital Infrastructure (September 27, 2022, deadline)

You must complete a multistep registration process to submit your application. See D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management.

Contact challenge@neh.gov to request a paper copy of this notice.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can contact NEH using Federal Relay at 800-877-8399.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Your application will include a narrative, budget, and other forms and attachments. You will complete the forms within Grants.gov Workspace and upload other components into the Attachments Form. See the Application Component Table.

NEH has assigned each application component one of the following designations:

• Required: All applicants must submit this component.

• Conditionally Required: Applicants must submit this component if they meet the specified conditions.

• Recommended: NEH encourages, but does not require, applicants to submit this component.

You must submit all required and relevant conditionally required components. Applications missing any required or relevant conditionally required components will be considered incomplete and rejected from further consideration.

In addition, NEH has established page limits for some application components:

• Mandatory: Applicants must not exceed the page limit.

• Suggested: NEH encourages, but does not require applicants to abide by the page limit.

mailto:challenge@neh.gov

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You must abide by the page limits and formatting instructions in this notice. Applications that exceed mandatory page limits or violate formatting instructions will be considered nonresponsive and rejected from further consideration.

Your application components must conform to the following formatting requirements, unless otherwise indicated:

• pages no larger than standard letter (8 ½" x 11”)

• at least one-inch margins on all sides for all pages

• a font size no smaller than 11-point

In addition, you are encouraged to format your components consistent with the following:

• single-spacing

• a readable font such as Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Times New Roman

• any standard citation style (citations are included in page counts)

Application Components Table Application component

Naming convention

Page limits Notes

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational

Grants.gov form Required

Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Grant Programs

Grants.gov form Required

Project/Performanc e Site Location(s) Form

Grants.gov form Required

Research and Related Budget

Grants.gov form Required

Certification Regarding Lobbying

Grants.gov form Conditionally required

Standard Form- LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Grants.gov form Conditionally required

Attachments Form Grants.gov form Required 1: Narrative narrative.pdf 10 pages (mandatory) Required 2: Work plan workplan.pdf 3 pages (suggested) Required 3: Institutional profile profile.pdf 2 pages (suggested) Required

4: Résumés for key personnel resumes.pdf 2-page per résumé (suggested)

Required

5: Letters of commitment or support letters.pdf Required

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6: Data management plan datamanagement.p df

2 pages (suggested) Required

7: Sustainability plan sustainability.pdf 3 pages (suggested) Required

8. Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement agreement Conditionally required

9: Explanation of delinquent federal debt delinquentdebt.pdf Conditionally required

10: Additional supporting documentation documentation.pdf 10 pages (suggested) Recommended

Narrative Compose a narrative that provides a comprehensive description of your proposed project. Your narrative should be succinct, well organized, and free of technical terms and jargon so that peer reviewers can understand the proposed project.

You must limit the narrative to ten single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a font size of at least eleven point. Do not include a table of contents. You may include images, charts, diagrams, footnotes, and endnotes if they fit within the page limit.

Organize your narrative using the following section headings. Each section aligns with corresponding review criteria.

Introductory Statement (about 1 page; aligns with review criterion 1) Briefly describe your organization’s humanities purpose and activities and connect them explicitly to the proposed digital infrastructure project that NEH funds will support. State how the project and its outcomes will enhance the institution’s humanities infrastructure and capacity. Explain how your organization plans to sustain the outcomes and benefits of the project and for how long.

Humanities significance and audience (about 2 pages; aligns with review criterion 1) Briefly describe the institution, its governance, and its existing digital infrastructure platform, repository, or enterprise. Make a case for why they are important for the humanities at a local, national, and/or international level. You may refer to the institutional profile in Attachment 3 and provide a list of examples and links to online offerings to illustrate humanities collections and activities in Attachment 10. Identify and discuss the current and intended users to be served (e.g., scholars, students, the public), including their estimated number. Explain how improvements to the digital infrastructure will benefit these constituents—directly and indirectly, currently and in the long term. If applicable, describe how the organization seeks to attract new or diverse audiences through this project, including efforts to engage communities of color and others who have been historically underserved and marginalized.

Long-term impact and institutional commitment (about 1 page; aligns with review criterion 2) Discuss how the proposed project will impact the institution’s existing digital infrastructure platform, repository, or enterprise. Explain how it aligns with institutional strategic plans, and

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whether it is part of a larger initiative. Describe how the digital infrastructure project will directly and indirectly help achieve the institution’s long-term goals for its work in the humanities. Provide letters of support and commitment from appropriate institutional officials, program partners, constituents, and/or outside experts in the field in Attachment 5.

Digital infrastructure project planning and activities (about 1 to 2 pages;

aligns with review criterion 3) Describe the project activities to be supported by the Challenge Grant (in alignment with the work plan in Attachment 2). Explain the history of the project’s development and any planning to date.

Discuss the architecture of the existing digital project or platform, including software and hardware. Explain how it is currently maintained and by whom. Describe your current access model for your users (e.g., is it free to use? Is there a subscription model?). If your project creates or stores data, summarize your long-term data management strategy and provide more detail in Attachment 6: Data management plan. Identify the guidelines or standards you will adhere to with respect to accessibility and universal design for the digital environment, as well as the accessibility features.

Identify any risks and note how they might adversely affect the project and overall schedule.

Describe your strategies to mitigate these risks and keep the project on budget and on schedule.

Financial capacity and fundraising (about 1 to 2 pages; aligns with review criterion 4) Demonstrate the institution’s long-term financial stability and its history of fundraising, resources, leadership, and experience that will enable it to conduct a successful fundraising campaign. If the NEH-supported project is a smaller component of a larger program, briefly explain how you intend to finance the entire plan. Describe the fundraising strategy and timeline for the proposed project in alignment with the work plan in Attachment 2 and the requested period of performance. Describe potential sources of eligible third-party non-federal gifts to meet the matching requirement. If applicable, include specific information on funds raised to date and plans for soliciting the balance.

Project and fundraising personnel (1 to 2 pages; aligns with review criterion 5) Identify the project team, collaborators, partners, and specialists involved in digital infrastructure project activities and their roles. Describe how the institution has or will obtain the appropriate knowledge, resources, and capabilities to successfully complete the project (e.g., prior experience, project management capabilities).

Identify the staff and consultants responsible for fundraising and financial management of the project and indicate their competency for their roles and responsibilities.

Deliverables, outcomes, and sustainability (about 1 page; aligns with review criterion 6) Describe the deliverables and outcomes of the digital infrastructure project. Explain how the institution, through its mission, personnel, governance, facilities, and resources, will sustain them over the long term.

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Narrative Guidance

To ensure that you fully address the review criteria, this table provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria.

Narrative Section Review Criteria Introductory Statement 1. Humanities significance and audience Humanities significance and audience 1. Humanities significance and audience Long-term impact and institutional commitment

2. Long-term impact and institutional commitment

Digital infrastructure project planning and activities

3. Project plans

Financial capacity and fundraising plans

4. Fundraising plans

Project and fundraising personnel 5. Project and fundraising teams Deliverables, outcomes, and sustainability

6. Project outcomes and their sustainability

Research and Related Budget You must submit a project budget using the Research and Related Budget form included in the Grants.gov application package and attach a budget justification.

Your requested grant amount and the non-federal gifts required to meet the match must be included on the Research and Related budget form. The total requested NEH funds and required gifts should be equal to the amounts indicated on the Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Grant Programs in the “Federal Matching” and “Cost Share” fields.

Up to 10 percent of total project costs (federal funds plus non-federal third-party gifts) may be used for fundraising costs incurred during the period of performance.

Complete a single detailed budget for each year of the proposed period of performance. The form will generate a cumulative budget.

Required fields are indicated in yellow. Round to the nearest whole dollar amount in all dollar fields. The inclusion of a cost category on the Research and Related Budget does not automatically indicate that an expense is allowable. See D6. Funding Restrictions to ensure that costs are not disallowed.

All costs must be reasonable, necessary to accomplish project objectives, allowable in terms of 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles, auditable, and incurred during the period of performance.

All costs are subject to audit, record retention, and other requirements set forth in 2 CFR 200 Subpart F - Audit Requirements.

2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations (for grants and cooperative agreements issued January 1, 2022 or later), and Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants, any award specific terms and conditions, and other relevant policy requirements apply to both federal matching funds and third-party non-federal gifts. If the proposal is part of a larger project, limit https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#sp2.1.200.e https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-F https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-F https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-january-2022 https://www.neh.gov/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-january-2022 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants-2022-issued-after-February-1-2002

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the Challenge Grant budget to requested NEH funds plus the minimum required third-party non-federal gifts for each year of the period of performance.

Team members who are playing a leadership role in the project should be included under A.

Senior/Key Person. Additional team members should be included under B. Other Personnel.

Only include personnel employed by the applicant institution in A. and B. Depending on their role on the project, costs for other team members may be included under F3. Consultant Services or F5. Subawards/Consortium/Contractual Costs.

If you charge indirect costs to the project, ensure that expenses charged to the project as direct costs are not included in your organization's indirect costs. See H. Indirect Costs.

Introductory Fields If not pre-populated, indicate your organization’s Unique Entity Identifier, name, and the period of performance. This should be the same as the information provided on your SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational. Your period of performance must start on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. Check “project” for budget type.

A. Senior/Key Person Include personnel who are employed by the applicant institution who will play a leadership role on the project. Do not include collaborators at other institutions or consultants, as they will be included in F. Other Direct Costs.

Enter the base salary (annual compensation) and identify the number of months each senior/key person will devote to the project. If you do not include base salaries, your award may be delayed.

Many non-academic institutions organize their budgets using calendar months. If your organization does not differentiate between academic and summer months, use only the calendar months column.

If your organization follows an academic calendar, you may differentiate levels of effort by using the academic and summer months columns. If effort remains constant, but your institutional business process requires noting academic and summer months separately, you may use both columns. If your institution does not use a nine-month academic year or a three-month summer period, include your institution's definition of these terms in your budget justification.

Enter the requested salary and fringe benefits for each person. Per 2 CFR § 200.431, fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave (vacation, family-related, sick, or military), employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefit plans.

You must claim salaries and wages in compliance with 2 CFR §§ 200.430 and .466 and fringe…