DHS FY 24 NOFO CINAS FINAL updated 06.13.24.pdf

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

FY 2024 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the System for Award Management (SAM) system.

UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

On April 4, 2022, the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by, SAM.gov. This new identifier is the UEI. Entities that had a DUNS Number were automatically assigned a UEI. New entities needing a UEI must register in SAM.gov at:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:

grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration

Contents UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms:

Contents

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listing Number

3. Assistance Listing Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

10. Performance Measures

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

2. Projected number of Awards

3. Maximum Award Amount

4. Period of Performance

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date

7. Funding Instrument Type

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

5. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

2. Address to Request Application Package

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management System

4. Steps Required to Obtain a UEI, Register in SAM.gov, and Submit an Application

5. Electronic Delivery

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

7. How to Submit an Application to DHS via Grants.gov

8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

9. Content and Form of Application Submission

10. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation

2. Review and Selection Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. Monitoring and Oversight

5. Program Evaluation

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

2. Systems Information

H. Other Information

1. Period of Performance Extensions

2. Appendices

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), External Affairs Directorate (EXA), Office of Citizenship, Partnership and Engagement (OCPE)

2. Assistance Listing Number

97.010

3. Assistance Listing Title

Citizenship Education and Training

4. Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2024 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-CIS-010-002

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-47) Division C, Title IV, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Assistance

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-47) Division C, Title IV, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Assistance

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

OCPE is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English, U.S. history, and government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants can fully integrate into American society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.

The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) across the nation and to provide opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the fabric of American society.

Since it began in 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded more than $55 million through 644 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Now in its 16th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 LPRs prepare for citizenship.

The Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (CINAS) funding opportunity provides support to organizations that offer citizenship preparation services to LPRs. Additional activities that support this goal include identifying, implementing, and sharing best practices in citizenship preparation; increasing the use of and access to technology in citizenship preparation programs; working with local libraries and museums which serve as vital resources for immigrant communities; and incorporating strategies to foster welcoming communities as part of the citizenship and civic integration process.

b. Goals, Objectives, and Priorities

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, approximately $10 million in federal funding is available for eligible organizations to provide direct citizenship preparation services to LPRs through this funding opportunity. USCIS anticipates awarding up to 40 grants of up to $300,000 each.

Proposed services must include the following two components:

1.) Citizenship Instruction Services:

Educational services that provide enrolled LPRs with the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for citizenship, including instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), U.S. history and government, and the naturalization process.

2.) Naturalization Application Services:

Within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, grant recipients must assist eligible program participants in preparing and submitting Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, preparing for the naturalization interview, and providing ongoing case management as needed.

For detailed information on the two mandatory program components, see Section C.2, Eligibility Information below.

Partnerships Partnerships are encouraged. Applicants may include partnerships with other public or non-profit organizations in their proposal. The principal applicant must directly provide either citizenship instruction or naturalization application services, or both. A partner organization is a “subrecipient” if the organization will receive a portion of the grant funding to provide additional or complementary direct citizenship instruction or naturalization application services. Please see Section C.3.c below for more information on subrecipients.

c. Alignment to Program Purpose and DHS Strategic Plan

The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program supports the objectives of Executive Order 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, the USCIS FY 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, by promoting integration, inclusion, and citizenship. Furthermore, the goals of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program address the DHS mission to enforce and administer our immigration laws (captured in the Third Quadrennial Homeland Security Review) and USCIS’ mission and values, as the program provides immigrants instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and information and support on how to apply for naturalization within the authorized practice of immigration law.

10. Performance Measures

For this grant program, performance will be evaluated based on the following metrics:

a. Cumulative percentage of enrolled students who post-test using the CASAS Citizenship Assessment (minimum goal of 80%);

b. Cumulative percentage of post-tested students demonstrating educational gains as measured by the increase between pre- and post-test scores (minimum goal of 80%); and

c. Three performance metrics for which the minimum goals vary based on funding level, as described in the chart below:

1) Number of newly enrolled non-duplicated LPRs in citizenship instruction classes;

2) Number of LPRs for whom your organization will provide naturalization eligibility screening;

3) Number of LPRs for whom your organization will prepare and file a Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative.

Minimum Performance Goals for Two-Year Period of Performance

Funding Level Newly enrolled non-duplicated LPRs in citizenship classes

LPRs receiving naturalization eligibility screening

LPRs filing Forms N- 400 and G-28

From To $270,000 $300,000 200 200 200 $240,000 $269,999 180 180 180 $210,000 $239,999 160 160 160 $180,000 $209,999 140 140 140 $150,000 $179,999 120 120 120

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

$10,000,000 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-strengthening-integration-and-inclusion-efforts-for-new-americans/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-strengthening-integration-and-inclusion-efforts-for-new-americans/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-strengthening-integration-and-inclusion-efforts-for-new-americans/ https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/reports/StrategicPlanFY23.pdf https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024 https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/23_0420_plcy_2023-qhsr.pdf https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/23_0420_plcy_2023-qhsr.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/mission-and-core-values#:%7E:text=Mission%20and%20Core%20Values%201%20Mission%20Statement%20USCIS,People%20%E2%80%93%20In%20Service%20to%20the%20Public

2. Projected Number of Awards

3. Maximum Award Amount

$300,000

4. Period of Performance

24 months

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date

10/01/2024

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date

09/30/2026

7. Funding Instrument Type:

Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

The following entities are eligible to apply to this funding announcement:

a. State

b. County

c. City or Township

d. Special District

e. Regional Organization

f. U.S. Territory or Possession

g. School District

h. Public and/or Private Institution of Higher Education

i. Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)

j. Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)

k. Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization

l. Public/Indian Housing Authority

m. Nonprofit with Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) Status (Other than an Institution of

Higher Education)

n. Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs)

o. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

p. Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)

q. Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate experience with, and extensive knowledge of the community they propose to serve and should describe how the proposed program design will address the specific integration needs of this community, and how through citizenship instruction and naturalization application services, the LPRs served under the program will gain the skills and knowledge required to become successful citizens.

Applicants and any proposed subrecipients must demonstrate recent experience with the provision of citizenship preparation services. Specifically, at least one year of experience within the past three years:

a. Providing citizenship instruction in a classroom setting that follows a curriculum and utilizes a textbook; and

b. Preparing and filing Forms N-400 and G-28 on behalf of qualified LPRs and within the authorized practice of immigration law. See Appendix D for definitions of these terms.

Proposed services must include the following two mandatory components:

a. Citizenship Instruction Services to prepare LPRs for the naturalization process. Programs must include:

1) Citizenship Instruction, which must include the following content areas:

a) ESL instruction in reading, writing, and speaking;

b) U.S. history and government instruction delivered in English for test preparation and the promotion of civic integration,

c) The naturalization process and eligibility interview, with instruction delivered in English.

2) Course Curriculum, which must include all components outlined in the USCIS Guide to

Creating an Adult Citizenship Education Curriculum:

a) Instruction in U.S. history and government for test preparation and the promotion of civic integration;

b) Activities that promote civic and linguistic integration;

c) ESL instruction in reading, writing, and speaking for the naturalization test, naturalization process;

d) Instruction on the naturalization interview and Form N-400; and

e) Instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including information on voting rights and responsibilities, how to register to vote after becoming a citizen, the basics of becoming an informed voter, and the penalties for voting before becoming a citizen under Division C of PL 104–208, 110 Stat. 3009-546.1

3) Course Textbooks, which must align with the skill level of the students in the class:

a) Only hard copies of published textbooks may be used. Compilations of worksheets or handouts will not be accepted; and

b) All students must be issued a textbook for their own personal use to keep. These textbooks are an allowable expense under the grant.

1 https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ208/PLAW-104publ208.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-1189.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-1189.pdf https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ208/PLAW-104publ208.pdf

4) Assessments will include the following:

a) A standardized CASAS locator to determine appropriate test forms and student English skill level.

b) CASAS Citizenship Assessment to pre- and post-test students to gauge acquisition of civics knowledge and content.

i. At least 80% of enrolled students participate in post-testing; and

ii. At least 80% of post-tested students demonstrate an educational gain.

iii. USCIS provides grant recipients and subrecipients with free copies of the Assessment for

Adult Citizenship Education (AACE). We strongly encourage, but do not require, recipients to use the AACE to assess civics learning gains in addition to an ESL assessment.

c) For organizations who receive funding from USCIS commencing on October 1, 2024, you will need to do the following:

i. Purchase both the CASAS Reading for Citizenship Test and the CASAS Government and History for Citizenship Test. Note that you will only administer ONE of the two tests depending on the results of the screening process and pre-testing.

ii. CASAS Reading for Citizenship Test: order the administration manuals, paper test booklets and answer sheets.

iii. CASAS Government and History for Citizenship Test: order the administration manuals, paper test booklets and answer sheets.

The link to ordering these materials and pricing may be found on page 15 at: https://www.casas.org/docs/default-source/newsroom/catalog.pdf?sfvrsn=95ed59ad_231?Status=Master

For programs that choose to use eTests, check the cost for WTUs (web-test units).

5) Course Structure, which must include at least 40 hours of citizenship instruction over a 9 to 12-week class cycle with managed enrollment to students at the National Reporting System (NRS) Low Beginning to Advanced ESL Levels 2-6;

a) Students who pre-test at the NRS Beginning ESL Literacy Level 1 are not eligible to participate in grant-funded classes;

b) Although grantees may offer Levels 2-6, primary focus must be placed on lower to mid-level learners. Additional information about NRS Levels is available on the National Reporting System for Adult Education website; and

c) Tutoring services may be counted toward the minimum 40 hours of classroom instruction under the following conditions:

i. The student is receiving preparatory tutoring while on a waiting list for the next quarter classes;

ii. The student has been pre-tested;

iii. The student enrolls in and attends citizenship class;

iv. Provided by a volunteer if the volunteer is supervised by the paid instructor.

6) Virtual Classes, if offered: Applicants are encouraged to primarily provide in-person instruction. However, applicants may propose to supplement in-person classes with virtual classes if it allows them to extend the reach of their services.

a) If virtual classes are offered, the student population should be within 200 miles/3 hour drive time, so that participants are able to appear in-person if needed;

https://www.casas.org/docs/default-source/newsroom/catalog.pdf?sfvrsn=95ed59ad_231?Status=Master https://www.casas.org/docs/default-source/newsroom/catalog.pdf?sfvrsn=95ed59ad_231?Status=Master https://nrsweb.org/ https://nrsweb.org/

b) Applicants should strive to serve remote, underserved, isolated and/or rural students;

Applicants must describe what population is being served virtually;

c) Instructors may work from anywhere within the U.S;

d) Instructors must meet all the same professional requirements of an in-person classroom teacher, plus one year of experience with virtual instruction;

e) Instructors should incorporate best practice strategies in virtual classes, such as break out rooms for small group work, use of slides, chat feature, etc.;

f) First lessons should include a thorough introduction to students on using technology needed for virtual classes;

g) Applicants should set the expectation that students be free from distractions during class;

h) Outreach plan for virtual classes should reflect how and where applicants will be recruited;

i) Classes should be offered live, not recorded.

7) Qualified Instructors: Qualified citizenship instructors who have degrees in education (K-12 Social Studies, English Language Arts, History, Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or Adult Education) or who have at least one year of experience as the lead teacher in a class for adult immigrants. Although not a requirement, programs whose instructors have the following education, certification, and/or experience are generally more likely to be scored higher than programs that do not:

a) Hold a degree in TESOL;

b) Hold TESOL certification from a state licensing agency; or

c) Have a minimum of two years of experience in TESOL instruction in a classroom setting for an adult education program that utilizes a textbook and a structured curriculum.

8) Integration Activities: The intent of this requirement is to encourage students to extend knowledge acquisition beyond traditional classroom instruction through opportunities to experience and navigate American civic life firsthand through in-depth learning activities.

Applicants are encouraged to draw upon their local resources, venues, and landmarks when conceptualizing and designing these civic integration learning activities. Suggested categories for the required integration activities include but are not limited to:

a) Site-based civic integration activities: Local trips outside the classroom to sites and landmarks of historical and/or cultural significance, libraries, museums, other local public entities, and organizations that promote public safety, etc.;

b) Classroom-based civic integration activities: Activities that may involve guest speakers such as local civic leaders, public servants, or program alumni to provide the opportunity for student interaction and exchange, or the use of multimedia and/or materials-based methods that promote an enhanced understanding of key moments in U.S. history and/or the form and function of local, state, and federal government;

c) Civic participation: Activities that encourage students to take participatory learning beyond the classroom by attending a public meeting, volunteering, or participating in local civic institutions; and

d) Other integration activities: Activities that promote in-depth understanding of the student’s role as a future citizen of the United States, including the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; our shared American history; government functions, structure, and laws;

geography; and traditions, symbols, and holidays. These can be external or in-class.

For more detailed information on the content and competencies that applicants are required to address in grant-funded classes, please review the Adult Citizenship Education Sample Curriculum for a High Beginning ESL Level Course.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/curriculum-development/OoC_Sample-Curriculum-for-High-Beginning_V4.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/curriculum-development/OoC_Sample-Curriculum-for-High-Beginning_V4.pdf

9) Citizenship Class for Individuals Exempt from English Language Requirement

Under Section 312b of the Immigration and Nationality Act, certain individuals may be exempt from the English reading, writing, and speaking portions of the USCIS naturalization test.

Grant applicants may offer civics only courses for students who qualify under this exemption.

Applicants are required to verify student eligibility.

This instruction may be provided in English or in another language. If grant applicant plans to offer a class in another language, it must follow the guidelines below:

a) Applicants may include this class type as a supplement to their main citizenship course offerings, not in place these courses.

b) Classes may be taught in one chosen language, largely based on demographics in the area.

c) Applicants must welcome any 312b eligible students into their language-exempt civics course.

d) Applicants must advertise classes appropriately to reach the targeted demographic.

e) The course must encourage community integration for a student body with limited English proficiency.

f) The grantees must develop unique program requirements for the specialized course.

Grant recipients who provide civics-only instruction must still provide the minimum number of LPRs with grant-funded citizenship instruction in English over the two-year period of performance. While these civics-only students may not be counted for grant performance metrics, grant recipients may use grant funds to pay for English exempt course expenses.

Note, this does not apply to applicants approved for N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, based on physical or developmental disability or mental impairment.

b. Naturalization Application Services, within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, to support LPRs in the naturalization application and interview process. Grant recipients are encouraged to use and promote the use of MyUSCIS for filing Forms N-400. Programs must include:

1) Qualified Legal Service Providers:

A qualified legal service provider will be one of the following:

a) A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative employed by a DOJ

Recognized Organization. Partial accreditation is permitted; or

b) An attorney who is an employee of the applicant or the proposed subrecipient organization.

1) Attorneys working under this grant must have training or experience in immigration law and be able to provide legal representation to clients.

2) Hours charged to the grant should be in alignment with the goals of the application.

3) Pro bono or volunteer attorneys may be used to supplement the program but may not:

i. Serve as the applicant’s sole provider of immigration legal services; or

ii. Serve as a supervisor to staff members who provide naturalization application services but who are not qualified legal service providers.

https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e https://cisgov.sharepoint.com/teams/GrantsTeam/Shared%20Documents/General/FY24%20NOFO%20Drafts/N-648,%20Medical%20Certification%20for%20Disability%20Exceptions https://cisgov.sharepoint.com/teams/GrantsTeam/Shared%20Documents/General/FY24%20NOFO%20Drafts/N-648,%20Medical%20Certification%20for%20Disability%20Exceptions https://my.uscis.gov/

The organization must demonstrate an established process to refer individuals with complex immigration matters beyond the scope of the services provided under this grant to a qualified attorney.

2) Eligibility Screenings must include an assessment of each program participant’s:

a) Ability to meet the educational requirements of naturalization; and

b) Ability to meet other legal requirements of naturalization.

For more information, see the USCIS Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet.

3) Case Management must include:

a) The preparation and submission of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;2

b) The preparation and submission of Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or

Accredited Representative;3

c) Filing other related forms or documents (such as Form N-648, Medical Certification for

Disability Exceptions and Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver);

d) Interview preparation;

e) A representative’s appearance at the naturalization interview when applicable4; and

f) Responding to any Requests for Evidence (RFEs) when applicable.

4) Virtual Services: Applicants are encouraged to provide primarily in-person naturalization application services. However, we will permit virtual services if it allows them to extend the reach of their services.

a) If virtual services are offered, the individuals served should be within 200 miles/3-hour drive time, so that individuals are able to appear in-person if needed;

b) Applicants should strive to serve remote, underserved, isolated, and/or rural LPRs;

Applicants must describe what population is being served virtually;

c) Qualified legal services providers must meet the same professional requirements of an in-person legal services provider;

d) Outreach plan for virtual services should reflect how and where LPRs will be recruited;

e) Applicant must describe plans for virtually verifying LPR status and an individual’s identity;

f) Applicant must describe plan for how to collect digital signatures from LPRs.

2 Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to file forms electronically whenever possible. In the case that e-filing is not a viable option, the grantee’s legal service provider is required to mail the naturalization application package to USCIS on behalf of the client.

Applications may not be given to the client to mail.

3 At grant-supported group processing events, a Form G-28 may not be required if the pro bono attorney filling out the Form N-400 determines that the services provided would not be considered “practice” or “preparation”, as those terms are defined in 8 C.F.R.CFR

1.2. Such pro bono attorneys, however, will be required to complete the preparer section of the Form N-400.

4 Under the USCIS grant program, legal representatives are not required to attend all naturalization interviews. However, it is recommended that legal representatives attend interviews of clients who have a higher need for in-person representation.

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/learn-about-citizenship/naturalization-eligibility

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

A. Subaward allowability Subrecipients are allowed under this grant opportunity. A “subrecipient” is an organization which will receive a portion of the grant funding to provide additional or complementary citizenship instruction or naturalization application services.

B. Subrecipient Eligibility

Subrecipients must meet the same eligibility requirements as the primary applicants, as outlined in Sections C.1 and C.2.

C. Other subaward information The principal applicant must complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the prospective subrecipient and submit it with the application. The principal applicant must clearly demonstrate how it will monitor the prospective subrecipient’s performance and ensure that the prospective subrecipient complies with all grant award conditions and data reporting requirements. The MOU must state the minimum number of students to whom the subrecipient will provide services and how grant funding will be allocated to fund the services. Prospective subrecipients must have their own individual UEI number and will be responsible for financial and performance reporting. Subrecipients must submit their reports to the principal applicant for submission to DHS.

D. Beneficiaries or Participants

1) This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

2) Participants are entities or individuals that partner with a recipient or subrecipient but do not receive any funding under the award (whether through a subaward or contract) or any direct benefit. For example, entities who agree at no cost to help a recipient or subrecipient by sharing information or providing training.

4. Other Eligibility Criteria/Restrictions

For-profit law firms and attorneys in private practice are not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity (See the Glossary in Appendix B for the definitions of “representation” and “employee”).

Applicants may apply to multiple funding opportunities, with exceptions noted below. USCIS reserves the right to only fund one award.

Current recipients and subrecipients under the FY 2023 Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services (DHS-23-CIS-010-002) and the Community and Regional Integration Network Grant Program (DHS-23-CIS-010-003) funding opportunities are not eligible to apply.

Any applicant that does not possess the mandatory required minimum of one year experience in the past three years with both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services (independently or in partnership with a qualified potential subrecipient), is not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

Any applicant that does not propose offering both required services – citizenship instruction and naturalization application services (independently or in partnership with a qualified potential subrecipient), in accordance with the above-described programmatic requirements is not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

Any applicant that does not propose to achieve the minimum performance goals outlined in section A.10 of the funding opportunity announcement is not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

Any application that does not include all forms listed as required on the Applicant Checklist, located in Appendix B, is not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

If DHS determines at any point during the review process that an application does not meet these eligibility requirements, the application will be removed from further consideration.

Non-Responsive Applications An application will be deemed non-responsive and will be removed from further consideration if:

a. Form SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance is missing.

b. Form SF-424A – Budget is missing.

c. Form SF-424B – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs is missing.

d. The applicant’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is not registered in SAM.

e. The application does not include a Budget Narrative and Budget Table.

f. The application does not include a Project Narrative.

5. Cost Share or Match

There is a minimum cost share requirement for this program of 10% of the total requested funding amount. Applicants should clearly identify which budget items are to be supported by federal grant funding and which are to be supported by in-kind contributions and/or other funding sources, along with an estimate of the value of these non-federal funding sources. All proposed cost share contributions must be clearly described in the budget portion of the proposal. Applicants will be scored on this during the technical review.

Acceptable forms of cost share items include:

• Volunteer services: Rates for volunteer services must be consistent with those paid for similar work.

• Employee time: Employee’s regular rate of pay.

• Supplies: Fair market value of the supplies at the time of donation.

• Cash contributions: Cash value.

• Equipment, building, or land: Fair market value or rental value at the time of application, as established by an independent appraisal.

• Project co-funding: Actual cost incurred.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 04/22/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 06/21/2024 at 11:59 PM EST

c. Anticipated Award Date (Optional): No later than 09/30/2024

NOTE: The application must be received in Grants.gov by the date and time listed above. If an application is received after the deadline, it will not be considered. Applicants will receive a confirmation from Grants.gov once the application is successfully submitted.

All applications are time stamped by the Grants.gov system when submitted and recipients are notified accordingly. The federal office will download all applications that are received by the deadline date and time as indicated on the NOFO. Late applications will not be accepted.

d. Other Key Dates (If applicable)

2. Address to Request Application Package Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to https://www.grants.gov/ and select “Applicants” then “Apply for Grants.” To obtain the application package, select “Download a Grant Application Package.” Enter the Assistance Listing and/or funding opportunity number located on the cover of this NOFO, select “Download Package,” and then follow the prompts to download the application package.

For a hard copy of the full NOFO, please email a request to:

Jacqueline Greely Grants Officer CISMailbox@hq.dhs.gov

If you use assistive technology and are unable to access any materials on Grants.gov, please email the Support Center at support@grants.gov.

Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal. If you experience difficulties accessing information or have any questions, please call 1-800-518-4726.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline Registering in the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov and obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier or renewing SAM registration

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Starting application in Grants.gov Two weeks before actual submission deadline https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:CISMailbox@hq.dhs.gov mailto:support@grants.gov

Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 C.F.R. § 25.110, must:

a. Be registered in SAM.gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process.

Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.300, subrecipients are NOT required to go through the full SAM registration process. First-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to obtain a UEI through SAM, but they are not required to complete the full SAM registration to obtain a UEI. Recipients may not make subawards unless the subrecipient has obtained and provided the UEI.

Lower-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds passed through by a higher-tier subrecipient) are not required to have a UEI and are not required to register in SAM. Applicants are also not permitted to require subrecipients to register in SAM.

4. Steps Required to Obtain a UEI, Register in SAM.gov, and Submit an Application

To apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity, all applicants must:

a. Have an account with https://www.login.gov/

b. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and UEI and make sure the account is active.

c. Create a Grants.gov account.

d. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account.

e. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov.

f. Submit an application in Grants.gov; and

g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information, including information on a recipient’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well on all predecessors that have been awarded a federal contract or grant within the last 3 years, if applicable, at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before the federal award, DHS may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Further, following a federal award, a recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of the federal award. If a recipient’s SAM registration expires during the federal award period of performance, DHS may take a remedy for noncompliance at 2 C.F.R. § 200.339, which could include terminating the federal award.

https://www.login.gov/

5. Electronic Delivery

DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity. For this funding opportunity, DHS requires applicants to submit applications through Grants.gov.

6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

General Instructions: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process and the following provides instructions about how to register. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the necessary information before beginning the Grants.gov registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to make sure it does not impact an applicant’s ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a UEI Number with an active SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for a federal award under this funding opportunity.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but UEI SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an applicant should complete its registration in sufficient time to make sure it does not impact its ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration.

a. Obtain Employer Identification Number: All entities applying for funding must provide an

Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting: “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).”

b. Create a login.gov account: Applicants must have a login.gov account to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account at the “Create Account” page. Applicants with existing SAM accounts can use the same email address for the login.gov account as with SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked. Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions page on SAM.gov for more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration.

c. Register with SAM: All applicants applying online through Grants.gov must register with SAM.

Failure to register with SAM will prevent an applicant from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. Organizations will be issued a UEI number with the completed SAM registration.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: grants.gov/applicants/applicant-

d. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: grants.gov/applicants/applicant-

e. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant). If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. Enter the UEI Number for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile to add an Organization Applicant Profile to your Grants.gov account.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=Register%2FAddProfile.

htm&callingApp=custom.

f. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After users register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant’s request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving users permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the applicant. Users will be able to apply online for an applicant any time after they have been assigned an AOR role.

For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#callingApp=custom&t=Appli cants%2FManagement%2FManageOrganizationRoles.htm.

For more detailed information about the EBiz POC login, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=LoginAndMyAccount%2F EBizPOCLogin.htm&callingApp=custom.

g. Track Role Status: To track a user’s role request, refer to: grants.gov/applicants/applicant-

h. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the AOR’s name who submitted the application on behalf of an applicant is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the applicant as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

7. How to Submit an Application to DHS via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. Users can create individual instances of a workspace for each NOFO.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. Complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace can be found at: grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview/.

https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=Register%2FAddProfile.htm&callingApp=custom https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=Register%2FAddProfile.htm&callingApp=custom https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#callingApp=custom&t=Applicants%2FManagement%2FManageOrganizationRoles.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#callingApp=custom&t=Applicants%2FManagement%2FManageOrganizationRoles.htm https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=LoginAndMyAccount%2FEBizPOCLogin.htm&callingApp=custom https://www.grants.gov/help/html/help/index.htm?callingApp=custom#t=LoginAndMyAccount%2FEBizPOCLogin.htm&callingApp=custom https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview/

a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows users to complete it online and route it through an organization for review before submitting.

b. Complete a Workspace: Completing a workspace includes adding participants to the workspace to work on the application together, completing all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and checking for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of the application process users apply. Users may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader: If users decide not to apply for an applicant by filling out webforms, users can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to a local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms: Users will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit an application.

e. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and UEI number. Applicants must complete the SF-424 information first to trigger this feature. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

f. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting an application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

g. Track a Workspace Submission: A Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application after successfully submitting a workspace application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Use the tracking number to access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

Additional training resources, including video tutorials, can be found at:

grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518- 4726 and email at support@grants.gov. Contact the number listed in the application package for questions related to the specific grant opportunity.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist DHS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

https://grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training mailto:support@grants.gov

8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All applications must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern time on 6/21/2024. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. Users with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of the application. The AOR will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of timely submission. Applications received by Grants.gov after the deadline will be considered late and will not be considered for funding.

When DHS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application via email to the AOR who submitted the application.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives an application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission via email to the AOR attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some users end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

9. Content and Form of Application Submission

See Appendices A and B for a list of required documents for this application, forms, and formats. No pre-applications or letters of intent are required to apply.

As discussed in the eligibility section of this NOFO, current awardees and sub-awardees under the FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (funding opportunities DHS-23-CIS-010-002 and DHS- 23-CIS-010-003) are not eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

10. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. General Requirements All costs charged to federal awards (including both federal funding and…