DHS USCIS FY23 Regional Hub NOFO CLEARED 062023.pdf

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

FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program Regional Hub Program

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the SAM system. Requesting a UEI (Sam.gov) information can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Grants.gov registration information can be found at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

Planned 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, the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This new identifier is the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html.

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 Listings Number 97.010

3. Assistance Listings Title Citizenship Education and Training

4. Funding Opportunity Title FY 2023 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Regional Hub Program

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-23-CIS-010-001

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

6. Authorizing Authority for Program H.R. 2617 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) Division F, Title IV

7. Appropriation Authority for Program H.R. 2617 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) Division F, Title IV

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 and 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 (CIGP) is to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services for immigrants 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 CIGP has awarded more than $132 million through 579 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Now in its 15th year, the program has helped more than 300,000 Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) prepare for citizenship. 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 and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024 by promoting integration, inclusion, and citizenship. The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program also addresses the DHS mission to enforce and administer our immigration laws (captured in the Third Quadrennial Homeland Security Review) and USCIS’ mission and core values, as the program provides immigrants instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and information on how to apply for naturalization within the authorized practice of immigration law.

The Regional Hub funding opportunity is designed to build community and organizational capacity to identify, support, and prepare LPRs for citizenship. To achieve this goal, 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.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.pdf https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/19_0702_plcy_dhs-strategic-plan-fy20-24.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 recipients will help create or expand citizenship networks and provide technical assistance to individual network members that offer citizenship instruction and naturalization application services. Through a hub and spoke funding model, the Regional Hub grant will more holistically support LPRs on the pathway to citizenship and encourage the integration of LPRs into their receiving communities.

b. Objectives In fiscal year (FY) 2023, up to $4 million in federal funding is available for eligible organizations to build community and organizational capacity to identify, support, and prepare LPRs for citizenship. USCIS anticipates awarding approximately four awards of up to $1,000,000 each.

Regional Hub applicants must propose to achieve both of the following objectives:

Objective 1: Create or expand a city, county, state, or regional citizenship network dedicated to helping LPRs understand, prepare, and apply for naturalization.

The principal applicant will be responsible for leading this network, which will help build community capacity to prepare LPRs for citizenship by stimulating interorganizational collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise, conducting joint outreach, developing cross-referral systems, and co-hosting community citizenship events.

Objective 2: Provide expert-level technical assistance to organizations that currently offer citizenship preparation services.

The principal applicant will provide (or contract a qualified organization to provide) expert-level technical assistance to a minimum of three proposed subrecipient organizations that would benefit from assistance in the following areas:

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; and

2. Naturalization Application Services: Within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, organizations prepare and submit Form N-400, Application for Naturalization and Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative on behalf of qualified LPRs. Organizations also provide on-going case management and help LPRs prepare for the naturalization interview.

Partnerships Partnerships are the cornerstone of the Regional Hub program. All applications must include partnerships, as evidenced by a contract, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), or both.

For the FY 2023 Regional Hub program, the principal applicant will create or expand a city, county, state, or regional citizenship network dedicated to helping LPRs understand, prepare, and apply for naturalization. The principal applicant will also provide, or contract with a qualified organization to provide expert-level technical assistance to subrecipient organizations that currently offer citizenship preparation services. Because multiple organizations may be involved in these efforts, this funding opportunity will refer to the organization creating or expanding a citizenship network as the “Citizenship Network Lead” and the organization providing technical assistance as the “Technical Assistance Lead." Organizations receiving technical assistance will be referred to as subrecipients.

The Citizenship Network Lead will identify a minimum of three proposed subrecipient organizations (members or potential members of the citizenship network) in need of technical assistance, in consultation with the Technical Assistance Lead. The Citizenship Network Lead must complete an MOU with each proposed subrecipient and submit it with the application.

The MOU must state the minimum number of LPRs for which each subrecipient will provide services and how funding will be allocated to fund the services. Subrecipients must have their own individual UEI number and will be responsible for financial and performance reporting.

Subrecipients must submit their reports to the Citizenship Network Lead for submission to

DHS.

The Citizenship Network Lead will be responsible for the overall management of the award and will distribute funds to the contractor (if applicable) and subrecipient organizations. The Citizenship Network Lead must clearly demonstrate how it will monitor performance of the contractor (if applicable) and the subrecipients to ensure that each complies with all award conditions and data reporting requirements. Each organization must meet the qualifications required for its role. See below Section C.2, Eligibility Information for additional details on required qualifications for the primary applicant, contractor, and subrecipients.

Program Phases Under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, all awards are issued for a two-year performance period divided into eight quarters of three months each. Under the Regional Hub program, these eight quarters will be organized into three phases:

• Phase 1: Start-up

• Phase 2: Implement and Expand

• Phase 3: Achieve and Sustain

Phase 1: Start-up Quarters 1-2, October 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024

Citizenship Network:

During the first phase of the performance period, the Citizenship Network Lead will create or expand a citizenship network within a specific, defined city, county, state, or regional geographic area. National networks are not permitted under this program. If the citizenship network is new, the Citizenship Network Lead will be responsible for recruiting a minimum of five member organizations within the first phase. If the citizenship network already exists, the Citizenship Network Lead will be responsible for expanding membership by a minimum of five new members, depending on the size of the network.

Member organizations may include any public or private entity within the network’s defined geographic area, including but not limited to, city, county, state, or federal government offices that work with immigrants or refugees; public libraries; school districts;

police departments; community colleges and universities; English as a Second Language (ESL) providers; Legal Aid organizations; private attorneys; and other immigrant serving organizations. The Citizenship Network Lead will be responsible for maintaining a member roster, including a point of contact for each member organization. During this phase, the Citizenship Network Lead should identify a shared platform for communicating and exchanging resources with network members and identify a location for in-person network meetings.

During phase one, the Citizenship Network Lead will solicit bids for the Technical Assistance Lead and enter into a contract with the selected organization, if the Citizenship Network Lead elects not to provide technical assistance themselves. The final contract must be signed by both parties no later than November 30, 2023, to allow the selected contractor sufficient time to complete its phase one work, described below. A draft Statement of Work (SOW) for potential contractors should be submitted with the grant application.

Additionally, the Program Office must be provided with a copy of the final, signed contract, which will then become part of the official award document.

Technical Assistance:

During quarter one, the Technical Assistance Lead will evaluate each subrecipient’s existing citizenship services using an evaluation tool provided by USCIS. To successfully complete this tool, the Technical Assistance Lead will conduct site visits and observations with each subrecipient. The goal of the evaluation is to assess the status of each subrecipient’s current citizenship preparation services, which will be critical to subsequently creating program development plans. The Technical Assistance Lead must submit a completed evaluation tool (provided by USCIS) for each sub-awardee to the Program Office no later than January 30, 2024. The Technical Assistance Lead will then develop a program develop plan for each subrecipient, using a USCIS template. The objective of the program development plan is to outline specific steps needed for each subrecipient to develop a high-quality citizenship preparation program that will endure beyond the performance period. The Technical Assistance Lead is expected to use the USCIS Elements of Program Quality for Adult Citizenship Education and the USCIS Adult https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/elements_of_program_quality.pdf https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-677_Program_Development_Guide.pdf

Citizenship Education Program Development Guide for guidance. The program development plans must be submitted to the Program Office by the end of quarter two (March 30, 2024). The program development plan will serve as a project plan for providing technical assistance to each subrecipient and become part of the official award document.

Phase 2: Implement and Expand Quarters 3-4, April 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024

During the remaining quarters of the program (Quarters 3-8), the Citizenship Network Lead will convene regular meetings for network members. These meetings should be designed to facilitate dialogue, information sharing, and a better understanding of how network members can support each other and amplify their collective impact on the community.

Network meetings can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid, although in-person is strongly recommended. Member organizations will work together to increase awareness of citizenship rights, responsibilities, and the naturalization process among communities.

During the initial meeting(s), network members are strongly encouraged to draft a governance structure and/or a decision-making process.

Technical Assistance:

During the remaining quarters of the program (Quarters 3-8), the Technical Assistance Lead will provide technical assistance tailored to the specific needs of each subrecipient, as outlined in the program development plans. Technical assistance activities must produce measurable results for the organizations served. The Technical Assistance Lead must use its subject-matter expertise to address the subrecipients’ identified program development needs in the following areas:

Citizenship Instruction Program Development: This may include developing staff expertise and qualifications to provide citizenship instruction; recruiting and training a qualified project manager; and strengthening program infrastructure to implement and manage all aspects of a citizenship instruction program, such as teaching and learning resources, student assessments, student recruitment and retention, and student intake processes.

Naturalization Application Services Program Development: This may include developing staff expertise and qualifications to provide naturalization application services; recruiting and training a qualified project manager; and strengthening program infrastructure to implement and manage all aspects of a naturalization application services program, such as client outreach, intake and referral processes, case management systems, and other activities to help qualified LPRs complete the naturalization application and interview process.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-677_Program_Development_Guide.pdf

Phase 3: Achieve and Sustain Quarters 5-8, October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025

During the second year of the performance period (Quarters 5-8), the Citizenship Network Lead, with support from network members, must co-host quarterly, in-person citizenship community fairs. These fairs should be a “one-stop shop” designed to meet multiple needs in one location. Citizenship community fairs should offer group naturalization application workshops, provide information on and enrollment opportunities for upcoming citizenship and ESL classes, and include other available community services that would support the integration of immigrants. During this time, the Citizenship Network Lead will continue to convene regular meetings for network members. Additionally, the Citizenship Lead and network members should identify ways to continue the citizenship network after the completion of the performance period. This may include identifying and applying for additional funding sources and establishing an ongoing system for recruiting new members.

Technical Assistance:

During the second year of the performance period (Quarters 5-8), the Technical Assistance Lead will continue to implement its program development plans and provide technical assistance to subrecipients as needed. By the beginning of this phase, all subrecipients must be providing both citizenship classes and naturalization application services with qualified citizenship instructors and qualified legal service providers (see Appendix D: FY23 Regional Hub Glossary for definitions of these terms). By the end of the two-year performance period, the subrecipients will be able to independently offer a high-quality citizenship preparation program.

USCIS Resources to Support Regional Hub Applicants USCIS offers a large variety of free resources that may be beneficial to the Citizenship Network Leads, the Technical Assistance Lead, and subrecipients under the Regional Hub program. All applicants are encouraged to review available resources on the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center and include information in their applications on how they would incorporate these resources into their work. Examples of available resources include:

• Citizenship outreach tools in several languages:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/outreach-tools

• Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Campaign materials:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/outreach-tools/citizenship-public-education-and-awareness-campaign

• Resources for Citizenship Educational Programs, including sample curriculum, lesson plans, classroom exercises, and tip sheets: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/outreach-tools/learn-about-the-civics-and-citizenship-toolkit/uscis-community-relations-specialists https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/outreach-tools/learn-about-the-civics-and-citizenship-toolkit/uscis-community-relations-specialists https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/outreach-tools https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/outreach-tools/citizenship-public-education-and-awareness-campaign https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/outreach-tools/citizenship-public-education-and-awareness-campaign https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs

• Naturalization Test and Study Resources:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources

• Naturalization-Related Data and Statistics: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-related-data-and-statistics

• Eligible to Naturalize Dashboard, which displays data on populations of LPRs who may be eligible to naturalize on an interactive map: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data/eligible-to-naturalize-dashboard

• USCIS may be able to provide in-person or virtual naturalization information sessions based upon staffing availability.

10. Performance Measures Establishing clear performance goals and measures prior to the start of the performance period is an essential way for USCIS and recipients to ensure a clear understanding of expectations and requirements. Principal applicants must include performance goal(s) for each measure listed below in their application (see Appendix A: Additional Required Documents for additional information). USCIS will evaluate each recipient’s performance on how well they achieve their stated goals.

Phase 1 Performance Measures Quarters 1-2, October 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024

Citizenship Network

a. Did the recipient increase membership for the citizenship network, as measured by the number of new members during Q1 and Q2? (minimum goal of five new members)

b. Did the recipient identify a meeting location and a shared platform for communicating and exchanging resources with network members?

c. Did the recipient submit a finalized signed contract for the Technical Assistance Lead to the USCIS Program Office (or alternatively, demonstrate that it has in-house capability to provide the technical assistance) no later than November 30, 2023?

Technical Assistance

a. Did the Technical Assistance Lead submit a completed evaluation tool for each subrecipient to the Program Office no later than January 30, 2024?

b. Did the Technical Assistance Lead submit a program development plan for each subrecipient to the Program Office no later than March 30, 2024?

Phase 2 Performance Measures Quarters 3-4, April 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024 https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-related-data-and-statistics https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-related-data-and-statistics https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data/eligible-to-naturalize-dashboard https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data/eligible-to-naturalize-dashboard

a. Did the recipient convene regular citizenship network meetings with members, as measured by:

1.) the number of meetings per quarter? (minimum goal of one meeting per quarter) 2.) the percentage of members in attendance at each meeting? (minimum goal of 75% of members in attendance at each meeting)

a. Did the Technical Assistance Lead begin implementing its program development plans, as measured by the percentage of actions implemented? (minimum goal of 60% of actions implemented by the end of Q4)

Phase 3 Performance Measures Quarters 5-8, October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025

a. Did the Citizenship Network Lead continue to convene regular citizenship network meetings with members, as measured by:

1.) the number of meetings per quarter? (minimum goal of one meeting per quarter) 2.) the percentage of members in attendance at each meeting? (minimum goal of 75% of members in attendance at each meeting)

b. Did the Citizenship Network Lead host quarterly community citizenship fairs, as measured by:

1.) The number of attendees at each community citizenship fair;

2.) The number of attendees that enrolled in upcoming citizenship classes at the fair;

3.) The number of attendees that filed a Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, at the fair;

4.) The amount of outreach conducted by the network to promote each event, as defined and measured by the principal applicant (examples include but are not limited to website visits, materials distributed, inquiries received, service referrals made, etc.).

c. Did the Citizenship Network Lead identify ways to continue the citizenship network after performance period?

a. Did the Technical Assistance Lead continue to implement its program development plan, as measured by the percentage of actions implemented? (minimum goal of 80% of actions implemented by the end of Q6)

b. Did the Technical Assistance Lead measure the success of each subrecipient by tracking the following data per subrecipient during Q5-Q8?

1.) Number of newly enrolled non-duplicated LPRs in citizenship instruction classes (minimum goal of 100);

2.) Percentage of enrolled citizenship students who post-test using nationally normed standardized tests of English language proficiency (minimum goal of 80%);

3.) Percentage of post-tested students demonstrating measurable educational gains (minimum goal of 80%);

4.) Number of LPRs screened for naturalization eligibility (minimum goal of 100);

5.) Number of LPRs for whom the sub-awardee prepared and filed Forms N-400 and

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (minimum goal of 100).

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $4,000,000

2. Projected number of Awards: 4

3. Period of Performance: 24 months

Note: extensions are permitted. See Section H, Additional Information, Period of Performance Extensions, for more information.

4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 10/01/2023

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 09/30/2025

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants The following entities are eligible to apply to this announcement:

a. City or township governments

b. County governments

c. Independent school districts

d. Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)

e. Indian/Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

f. Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization

g. Public/Indian Housing Authority

h. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education

i. Private institutions of higher education

j. Public & state-controlled institutions of higher education

k. Special district governments

l. State governments

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

a. Eligibility Criteria for Citizenship Network Lead

The Citizenship Network Lead must be an organization listed above under “eligible applicants” and must have:

1.) Experience with and knowledge of the immigrant community to be served;

2.) Experience collaborating with community stakeholders that engage in citizenship preparation and immigrant integration in the public and private sectors;

3.) Experience managing federal grants and/or complex projects with timelines and deliverables; and 4.) An office that is located and operates in the defined city, county, or state where the network will be located.

b. Eligibility Criteria for Technical Assistance Lead The Technical Assistance Lead must be an organization listed above under “eligible applicants” and must have:

1) A minimum of five years of experience within the past ten years providing citizenship instruction in a classroom setting that follows a curriculum and utilizes a textbook (note: experience providing only ESL instruction does not qualify for this funding opportunity; organization must have experience specifically with citizenship instruction);

2) A minimum of one qualified citizenship instructor on staff, who has a degree in education (K-12 Social Studies, English Language Arts, History, Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, or Adult Education) or at least one year of experience as the lead teacher in a class of adult immigrants;

3) Experience administering nationally normed standardized ESL assessments;

4) A minimum of five years of experience within the past ten years preparing and filing Forms N-400 and G-28 on behalf of qualified LPRs within the authorized practice of immigration law;

5) A minimum of one qualified legal service provider on staff. A qualified legal service provider includes one of the following:

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

Recognized Organization. Partial accreditation is permitted; or

b) An on-staff attorney with training in immigration law.

1.) Contracted or volunteer attorneys, or those who concurrently work for a private practice or law firm, do not qualify.

6.) An office that is located and operates in the defined city, county, state, or region where the citizenship network will be located.

c. Eligibility Criteria for Proposed Technical Assistance Subrecipients

The proposed subrecipients that will receive technical assistance must be a type of organization listed above under “eligible applicants” and must have:

1) An existing citizenship preparation program with a demonstrated need for technical assistance;

2) A minimum of one year of experience within the past three years providing citizenship preparation services, which must include citizenship instruction and/or naturalization application services;

3) A minimum of one qualified legal service provider on staff at the time the application is submitted. A qualified legal service provider is defined as:

a) A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative serving a DOJ Recognized Organization. Partial accreditation is permitted; or

b) An on-staff attorney with training in immigration law.

1.) Contracted or volunteer attorneys, or those who concurrently work for a private practice or law firm, do not qualify.

4) An office that is located and operates in the defined city, county, state, or region where the citizenship network will be located; and

5) Current or planned membership in the citizenship network.

3. Other Eligibility 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 C for the definitions of “representation” and “employee”).

Individuals and other for-profit entities are not qualified to receive funding under this funding opportunity.

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

Current awardees and sub-awardees under any of the FY 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Programs are ineligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity. Current awardees and sub-awardees may, however, be part of the citizenship network.

Any applicant that does not meet the eligibility criteria described in Section C.2 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 Your 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 or Budget Table.

f. The application does not include a Project Narrative.

4. 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 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: 06/9/2023

b. Application Submission Deadline: 07/28/2023 at 11:59PM EST

c. Anticipated Award Date: No later than 09/30/2023

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

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion Initial Registration at SAM.gov (includes UEI issuance)

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining UEI Number Four weeks before actual submission deadline Obtaining a valid EIN Four weeks before actual submission deadline Updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline Starting application in Grants.gov One week before actual submission deadline to https://www.grants.gov/, 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 write or fax a request to:

Jacqueline Greely Grants Officer CISMailbox@hq.dhs.gov Fax: 202-447-5600

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.

4. Unique Entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR 25.110, must:

a. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the Federal Award process.

5. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for Award Management (SAM)

To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

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

b. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

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 (if applicable, add: an initial) 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 three 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.

https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://login.gov/

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and 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. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active 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 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.

6. Electronic Delivery

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

For this funding opportunity, the DHS GFAD requires applicants to submit applications through Grants.gov.

7. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

Instructions: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for DHS funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the 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 ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number with an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for funding. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, then they may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but SAM registration may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.

a. Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually.

For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html.

b. 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:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.

c. 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) or an individual 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 of your funding applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI number for the organization in the UEI field while adding a profile.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.

d. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you 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 you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.

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

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.

e. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.

f. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html 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 organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

8. 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. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a workspace.

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.

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

b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.

c. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your 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:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.

d. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your 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. To trigger this https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. 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 your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

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

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific funding opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the opportunity to which you are applying.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to 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.

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission Online Submission. All applications must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern time on the due date established for each program. 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. The applicant 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 their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

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 to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov

Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by DHS.

Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants 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.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

See Appendices A and B for 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 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program are ineligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity. Current awardees and sub-awardees may, however, be part of the citizenship network.

11. Other Submission Requirements

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 requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. Applications that are not submitted through Grants.gov by the deadline will not be considered.

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs Funds may not be used for the following purposes:

a. Cost-sharing or matching funds for other federal funding, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used to sue the federal government or any other government entity.

b. USCIS application fees.

c. Costs of organized fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions.

d. Profit/Fee is not allowable except when subcontracting for routine goods and services with commercial organizations.

e. Foreign travel.

f. Construction costs and purchase of real property under this funding opportunity.

g. Pre-award costs.

h. Funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development.

i. Costs for food or refreshments.

j. Incentive items or gift cards.

k. General volunteer stipends.

l. Living allowances for any national volunteer service program participants.

m. Fees for conferences that are not considered training events

13. Allowable Costs

a. DHS funds may only be used for the purposes set forth in the agreement and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Award funds may be used for the following purposes:

1. Providing services to qualified LPRs only, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

2. Resources to support citizenship instruction, including staff salaries, textbooks/ materials, nationally normed standardized assessment tests, software, etc.

3. Professional development and training for staff and/or volunteers related to the provision of citizenship instruction and/or…