Foa_Content_of_HHS-2022-ACF-ACYF-EV-0112.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families-Family and Youth Services Bureau

Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants: Capacity Building and Program Technical Assistance for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Formula Grantees

HHS-2022-ACF-ACYF-EV-0112

Application Due Date: 09/06/2022

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

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

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants: Capacity Building and Program Technical Assistance for Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Formula Grantees Announcement Type:

Modification Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2022-ACF-ACYF-EV-0112

Primary CFDA Number:

93.592 Due Date for Applications:

09/06/2022 Executive Summary Notice:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for grants, please visit "How to Apply for a Grant" on the ACF Grants & Funding Page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

This NOFO announces the availability of funds for the award of one cooperative agreement on a competitive basis to provide organizational capacity building training and technical assistance at a national level to states, tribes, and coalitions. The training and technical assistance will be provided to Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) State Administering Agencies, State and Territorial Domestic Violence Coalitions (SDVC) and FVPSA Tribal Grantees (collectively known as Formula Grantees) to build the organizational, programmatic and administrative functions of the FVPSA Formula Grantees and the FVPSA subrecipients (local domestic violence programs). The FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium is tasked with building and maintaining organizational capacity in multiple domains of organizational development and operations and must have the following:

Include one consortium partner with demonstrated expertise in working with, and providing technical assistance to, FVPSA Administrators in administering subgrants, monitoring subrecipients, providing technical assistance, and coordinating accessible domestic violence and dating violence services in their states. This includes the engagement of tribes and community-based organizations that primarily serve underserved populations, including culturally and linguistically specific populations, in the state planning process when determining how such populations can assist the states in serving unmet needs.

Include one consortium partner with demonstrated expertise providing organizational capacity in building technical assistance and training resources to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to enhance their capacity to respond to domestic violence, to enhance the intervention and prevention efforts of Indian tribes and tribal organizations to increase the https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant safety of Indian women, and to coordinate activities with other federal agencies, offices, and grantees that address the needs of Indians (including Alaska Natives) and Native Hawaiians who experience domestic violence.

Include one consortium partner with demonstrated expertise providing technical assistance to state and territorial coalition directors and board members ensuring the organizational capacity to provide training and technical assistance, needs assessment, and advocacy services, among other activities with local domestic violence programs, and to encourage appropriate responses to domestic violence within the states. This includes providing technical assistance to coalitions and board members about creating and implementing programming that is reflective of the communities and populations residing within their states or territories. The applicant and project partners must demonstrate, as a collective, extensive expertise working with, and providing technical assistance to, domestic violence coalitions, dual coalitions, and board members regarding the organizational capacity of the coalitions and leadership development.

The FVPSA Formula Grantee Capacity Building Consortium must focus on organizational capacity building which includes a focus on FVPSA State Administering Agencies', SDVC and FVPSA Tribal Grantees organizational resources, which includes workforce capacity building; organizational infrastructure, including confidentiality polices, organizational financial grants management procedures/policies, organizational knowledge, and organizational relationships; and partnerships with FVPSA formula grantees and subrecipients.

Additionally, the FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium must include organizations and individuals that serve or have expertise working with diverse populations and multiple geographic areas.

The current FVPSA formula capacity building grantee responded to 450 requests for technical assistance in 2021. Some of the requests for technical assistance and training included additional help understanding programmatic guidance to ensure compliance with FVPSA legislative (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.) and regulatory requirements pertaining to confidentiality (45 CFR § 1370.4), accessibility and anti-discrimination (45 CFR § 1370.5), voluntary services (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(10)), statewide planning (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(6)(i)), and needs assessments.

Additionally, many FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVC, FVPSA Tribal Grantees, and subrecipients are non-profit organizations that must ensure proper use of federal funds and need technical assistance and guidance on maintaining boards of directors and/or membership structures, understanding the Board of Directors’ roles in financial and human resources management and leadership development, and ensuring financial management systems are accurate, current, and able to provide complete disclosure of the financial results of each federal award or program.

FVPSA grantees are required to adhere to statutory and regulatory requirements laid out in 42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq. and 45 CFR §1370, including non-discrimination provisions (45 CFR § 1370.5), non-disclosure of confidential information (45 CFR § 1370.4), provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (45 CFR § 1370.5(e)(1-2), and must use funds for approved activities in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 10408(b)(1). In order to support subrecipients' ability to meet these requirements, some of the capacity building activities provided by this grantee will include assisting FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVC, FVPSA Tribal Grantees, and their subrecipients in complying with FVPSA legislation and regulations, understanding roles and responsibilities of the state administrating agency and coalition, incorporating best practices at the state and local levels, building the management capacity of organizations, and building meaningful partnerships and collaborations within the state or territory. The grantee will provide the technical assistance through such methods as providing on-site training and technical assistance; presenting at national or regional meetings and conferences; developing on-line, self-paced learning modules; presenting webinars; developing written materials; and coordinating small group meetings, such as in-person, conference calls, and video technology, to encourage peer-to-peer learning. The grantee will participate in ongoing coordination and collaboration with the FVPSA-funded resource centers, collectively known as the Domestic Violence Resource Network (DVRN).

This funding opportunity will make one grant award for a consortium of technical assistance providers that must be made up of three organizations, each dedicated to providing specific technical assistance for state/territory administrators, tribes/tribal organizations, and coalitions.

The FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium technical assistance providers must individually provide targeted training and technical assistance and leverage their collective expertise to build connections and collaborations across FVPSA-funded states, territories, tribes, and coalitions.

I. Program Description Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this funding opportunity announcement is 42 U.S.C.

10410(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.

Description Program Background and Purpose Within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) is the Family and Youth Services Bureau’s (FYSB) Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA Program), which administers FVPSA. Ninety percent of FVPSA’s Congressional appropriation funds formula grants to states, territories, and Indian tribes by serving as the primary federal funding stream dedicated to grants for immediate shelter and supportive services for victims of domestic violence and dating violence, and their dependents. To provide these services, FVPSA dollars fund an average of 13 percent of the budgets for almost 1,500 local domestic violence programs, along with over 144 tribal victim programs. These programs work tirelessly to address the overwhelming need in almost every community. In 2021, local programs provided services to over 1.28 million survivors, including women, men, children, and youth. In 2021, FVPSA funded local domestic violence programs provided 7,218,471 shelter nights and responded to 2,564,242 crisis calls. There were 181,346 documented requests for shelter that were unmet by the local programs due to shelter capacity or limited resources. The number of unmet requests decreased by 10,946 as compared to unmet requests from FY 2020.

For FY 2021, FVPSA made 52 awards totaling $114,887,550 in FVPSA appropriations with awards ranging from $601,920 to $10,135,726 for states via subgrants for approximately 1,507 domestic violence shelter programs and domestic violence non-shelter programs. Each of the 252 federal tribes that applied for FVPSA funds in 2021 received awards between $55,000 and $2,039,910 dollars for a total of $23,412,500. The FVPSA Program also provided $16,412,500 (territories received less) in formula grants to the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services (HHS) designated SDVC in each state and territory to work with providers of domestic and dating violence services, and other community-based programs, to encourage appropriate and comprehensive responses to domestic violence and dating violence, including providing training and technical assistance.

For FY 2021, 298 awards were made with the $200 million in FVPSA American Rescue Plan (ARP) supplemental appropriations to ensure the continuity of domestic violence services funding an average award of $146,563 to $10,206,485 for states and territories. The average ARP domestic violence award for tribes ranged from $97,980 to $2,355,205.

In addition to formula grants, the FVPSA Program provides discretionary funds for national resource centers, special-issue and culturally specific training and technical assistance centers, collectively known as the DVRN. The FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium grantee will be a part of FYSB's DVRN. The DVRN will provide information, resources, training, and technical assistance to improve the capacity of individuals, organizations, governmental agencies, local communities, tribes, and tribal organizations, to prevent family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence; and to provide evidence-based and evidence-informed intervention services. As part of the DVRN, the FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium will work collaboratively to share its expertise and best practices working with formula grantees, including state administrators, coalitions and tribal organizations. While the grant recipient will be a member of the DVRN, it will maintain independent governance of its own organization, but will be required to share its expertise with other DVRN members, actively participate in the coordination of technical assistance, attend semi-annual DVRN meetings, and work collaboratively to develop resources as needed. The DVRN is currently comprised of the following FVPSA-funded resource centers and training and technical assistance grants:

o National Resource Center on Domestic Violence o National Indian Resource Center Addressing Domestic Violence and Safety for

Indian Women o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Criminal and Civil

Justice o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Child Protection and

Custody o Special Issue Resource Center on Health and Domestic Violence o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Asian and Pacific

Islanders o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence in the African American

Community o Special Issue Resource Center on Domestic Violence in the Latino Community o National Domestic Violence Hotline o LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence o Alaska Native Resource Center

Purpose The purpose of this funding is to provide direct training and technical assistance to build the capacity for state, tribes, and coalitions to successfully manage their formula grants and meet the goals of the FVPSA . This funding opportunity will support a consortium of three unique and separate capacity building centers that will each develop unique supports for FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVAs, and FVPSA Tribal Grantees. Additionally, the consortium will collaborate to build capacity and alignment for these three entities’ formula grantees to work together to meet FVPSA goals including, but not limited to, developing needs assessments, state funds distribution, and monitoring plans. The work of the consortium will be rooted in the experiences of survivors and will support equity in all aspects of FVPSA-funded grant activities. The FVPSA Formula Grantees Capacity Building Consortium must provide the following:

Comprehensive technical assistance and training to FVPSA Administrators in administering subgrants, monitoring subrecipients, providing technical assistance, and coordinating accessible domestic violence and dating violence services in their states.

This includes the engagement of tribes and community-based organizations that primarily serve underserved populations, including culturally and linguistically specific populations, in the state planning process when determining how such populations can assist the states in serving unmet needs.

Comprehensive technical assistance and training to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to enhance their capacity to respond to domestic violence, enhance the intervention and prevention efforts of Indian tribes and tribal organizations to increase the safety of Indian women, and coordinate activities with other federal agencies, offices, and grantees that address the needs of Indians (including Alaska Natives) and Native Hawaiians who experience domestic violence.

Comprehensive technical assistance to state and territorial coalition directors and board members ensuring the organizational capacity to provide training and technical assistance, needs assessment, and advocacy services, among other activities with local domestic violence programs, and to encourage appropriate responses to domestic violence within the states. This includes providing technical assistance to coalitions and board members about creating and implementing programming that is reflective of the communities and populations residing within their states or territories. The applicant and project partners must demonstrate, as a collective, extensive expertise working with, and providing technical assistance to, domestic violence coalitions, dual coalitions, and board members regarding the organizational capacity of the coalitions and leadership development.

The FVPSA Formula Grantee Capacity Building Consortium must focus on organizational capacity building that includes a focus on FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVAs, and FVPSA Tribal Grantees.

Provide organizational resources to include workforce capacity building; organizational infrastructure, including confidentiality polices; organizational financial grants management procedures/policies; organizational knowledge; and organizational relationships and partnerships with FVPSA formula grantees and subrecipients.

Include organizations and individuals that serve or have expertise working with diverse populations and multiple geographic areas.

Provide training and technical assistance to improve the subrecipients’ organizational capacity, organizational accessibility, board leadership, workforce capacity, and staff development. Applicants must identify specific topic areas on which the project proposes to provide training and technical assistance and have expertise in adult learning techniques.

State Administrators, Tribal Programs, and SDVCs must have access to technical assistance that ensures they have the capacity to carry out the FVPSA grant program with best practices and in adherence to FVPSA guidance, including legislation and regulations. Recently, state administrators and coalition staff have experienced a strain on their capacity due to the COVID- 19 pandemic and increased retirements. High staff turnover and decreased staffing capacity results in a loss of knowledge of administering FVPSA funding and supporting subgrantees. This has required the need for support navigating the rules and requirements of FVPSA funding including monitoring subrecipients, engaging culturally specific communities, best practices on confidentiality (45 CFR § 1370.4), voluntary services (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(10)), accessibility and anti-discrimination (45 CFR § 1370.5), distribution (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(5)) and use of FVPSA funds (42 U.S.C. 10408(b)), state planning (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(6)(i)), state needs assessment (42 U.S.C. 10411(d)(1)), etc. Additionally, many FVPSA grantees and subrecipients are non-profit organizations responsible for complying with proper management of federal funds (45 CFR § 1370.3(a)(6)). During the COVID-19 pandemic, FVPSA grantees reported high turnover within local programs impacting service delivery. Capacity issues have resulted from the inability to maintain staffing and decreased retention, executive leadership turnover, burnout, low pay, and a significant decrease in volunteers. This has resulted in state administrators and coalitions requesting technical assistance and best practices to support state administrators and coalitions. Requests included employee retention and recruitment, compensation, safety, and benefits to help organizations support and maintain service delivery.

Grantees and subrecipients also sought technical assistance from the FVPSA Office and the Capacity Building Grantee related to maintaining boards of directors and/or membership structures, understanding the Board of Directors’ roles in financial and human resources management as well as leadership development, and ensuring financial management systems provide accurate, current, and complete disclosure of the financial results of each federal award or program. Technical assistance is also necessary to assist tribes and tribal organizations in addressing the needs of tribal communities through the development of partnerships with state administrators and SDVC’s, participation in the state planning process (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(6) (v)), expansion of organizational capacity and workforce, and compliance with FVPSA rules and regulations.

Consortium Model for Capacity Building The FVPSA Formula Grantee Capacity Building Consortium will be a co-leadership model made up of three entities each and will be dedicated to increasing the capacity of FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVAs, and FVPSA Tribal Grantees. This structure is designed to help meet the individual capacity building needs of each of the unique types of formula grantees while leveraging collective expertise to increase collaboration of and strong connections between formula grantees.

Eligible entities for this funding opportunity include national, tribal, statewide, or other nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants must have the capacity to provide training and technical assistance and develop and distribute capacity building resources on a national level. Each entity in the consortium must have a demonstrated history of providing capacity building, extensive expertise working with and providing technical assistance to state, tribes, tribal organizations, or coalitions.

The capacity building efforts will be designed to identify strengths and weaknesses of FVPSA State Administering Agencies, SDVAs, and FVPSA Tribal Grantees and build a community of practice where participants implement their learning and strengthen their efforts by interacting regularly with peers and subject matter experts.

Capacity Building Successful capacity-building enhances knowledge, promotes changes to practices or policies when necessary, strengthens management and governance, and ensures compliance with required FVPSA regulations. The capacity building for this solicitation will result in increased knowledge related to adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements laid out in 42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.

and 45 CFR §1370, including non-discrimination provisions (45 CFR § 1370.5), non-disclosure of confidential information (45 CFR § 1370.4), provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (45 CFR § 1370.5(e)(1-2), and use of funds for approved activities in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 10408(b)(1). In order to support subrecipients’ ability to meet these requirements, the consortium will utilize adult learning techniques to design activities that build or enhance the subrecipients' programmatic and administrative functions including:

1. Deliver state-of-the art national training and technical assistance to build and enhance organizational capacity of FVPSA state administrators and their subrecipients, including Indian tribal governments, tribal organizations, and state domestic violence coalitions to provide understanding and compliance with FVPSA Statute (42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq.)

and Regulations (45 CFR §1370); understand roles and responsibilities of the state administrating agency, tribal program, and coalition; incorporate best practices at the state, tribal, and local levels; build the organizational, staffing, and management capacity of organizations; increase fiscal internal controls and administrative capacity; ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and provide resources and guidance on the implementation of recommended practices to include confidentiality, voluntary services, accessibility, anti-discrimination, and other FVPSA-related issues to ensure programmatic integrity.

2. Develop or utilize existing trainings to assist states, domestic violence coalitions, tribes, tribal organizations, and government agencies to better understand how to administer FVPSA grants; define best practices for maintaining financial controls and administrative capacity; comply with FVPSA statue and regulations, including state planning and conducting needs assessments; and engaging tribes and community-based organizations that primarily serve underserved populations, including culturally and linguistically specific populations, in the state planning process when determining how such populations can assist the states in serving unmet needs.

3. Develop and/or utilize existing trainings to assist states, domestic violence coalitions, tribes, tribal organizations, and government agencies to increase the awareness of the need to provide culturally relevant, survivor-centered programming; trauma-informed services; racial equity; and other relevant and emerging issues that affect survivors and their families.

4. Develop partnerships and build innovative collaborations between domestic violence providers, LGBTQ-specific organizations, social services agencies, faith-based organizations, racially and ethnically specific organizations, and public health organizations.

5. Provide virtual training to a range of audiences and audience sizes, including, but not limited to, securing the necessary technical tools/platforms and ensuring staff or consultant subject matter expertise on adult learning, instructional design, and learning management systems best practices.

6. Support and assist the development of partnerships and collaborations between state administrators, Indian tribal governments, tribal organizations, and state domestic violence coalitions to support the implementation of FVPSA requirements and efforts.

7. Implementation of periodic needs assessments of state administrator, tribal organizations, and SDVC to identify unmet training and technical assistance needs, including the identification of unaddressed or under-addressed topic areas and audiences.

8. Plan to assist FYSB with technical and logistical support of grantee meetings and conferences, including providing insight from first-hand knowledge and experience that can inform planning, analysis, and implementation as related to identified training and technical assistance topics; identifying meeting/conference venues; subcontracting with quality presenters, facilitators, and consultants; working with stakeholders to develop an agenda; arranging travel; providing onsite support; and following up on conference evaluations.

9. Participate actively in the coordination of nationwide technical assistance and training with the members of the DVRN to work collaboratively to provide referrals to DVRN members for additional technical assistance and resources and to develop research and best practices for the field.

10. Reporting–preparing an end of performance progress report that documents services provided, unmet needs, trends, and technical assistance needs.

11. Provide ongoing opportunities for discussion, solicitation of input or needs, promotion of best practices, and communication throughout the duration of the grant.

Capacity building activities specific for each of the three categories of formula-funded grantees must include:

FVPSA State Administrating Agencies

Develop a State Administrator orientation including, but not limited to, updating manuals, small group calls, and webinars.

Provide technical assistance and support to state administrators with their state planning process. This should include engaging tribes and community-based organizations that primarily serve underserved populations, including culturally and linguistically specific populations, to determine how such populations can assist the state in serving unmet needs. Support state administrators in the administering and monitoring of FVPSA funds and operating within the requirements of federal and FVPSA rules and regulations.

Support state administrators’ training and technical assistance of FVPSA subrecipients to implement inclusive and accessible domestic violence shelter and supportive services.

Facilitate and support the development of partnerships between state administrators, tribes, and tribal organizations.

Strengthen the workforce capacity building technical assistance provided by state agencies to FVPSA subrecipients to support the implementation of domestic violence services and supports in local communities.

FVPSA Tribal Grantees

Develop Tribal Administrator Orientation - an orientation program for FVPSA Tribal Administrators including, but not limited to, updating manuals, small group calls, and webinars.

Create and implement a plan to maintain up-to-date expertise on the tribal populations/communities.

Conduct needs assessments of the tribal domestic violence field and related system to identify unmet training and technical assistance needs, including the identification of unaddressed or under-addressed topic areas and audiences.

Support the growth and strengthen the organizational capacity of FVPSA-funded tribes and tribal organizations to develop partnerships with state administrators’ and SDVCs;

workforce expansion and compliance with FVPSA rules and regulations.

Facilitate and support partnerships with state administrators to ensure tribal participation in the state planning process (45 CFR § 1370.10(b)(6) (v)) and supporting the needs of tribal communities.

Strengthen the workforce capacity building of tribes and tribal organizations to support the implementation of FVPSA grants.

State and Territorial Domestic Violence Coalitions

Assist SDVCs in maintaining their capacity to fulfill the FVPSA requirements to receive and maintain designation from HHS per 45 CFR § 1370.20(b). Some of the capacity building activities may support building coalition membership (45 CFR § 1370.20(b))(1)); developing and strengthening the board (45 CFR § 1370.20(b)(2));

strengthening financial sustainability and internal controls (45 CFR § 1370.20(b)(3)) through policies, systems, and funding strategies; and supporting the coalition in its role as a technical assistance provider and information clearinghouse (45 CFR § 1370.20(b)(4)).

Support SDVCs to conduct needs assessments that include member and non-member programs that provide direct services to encourage appropriate and comprehensive responses.

Guide SDVCs to complete a needs assessment to identify unmeet training needs or under addressed topic areas.

Support SDVC’s to work with state administrators in the planning and monitoring of the distribution of FVPSA state subgrants and subgrant funds and the administration of FVPSA state-funded grant programs and projects (42 U.S.C. 10411(d)(2)).

Provide technical assistance and support for conducting statewide needs assessments (42 U.S.C. 10411(d)(1)).

Strengthen the workforce capacity building of SDVAs to support the implementation of FVPSA grants.

Capacity Building Consortium Program Expectations

Ensure that the grant approach, workplans, and deliverables are consistent with a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. The grantee will provide a comprehensive community equity plan (or other similar documentation within the application) that demonstrates the processes and policies the grantee has in place to ensure the proactive identification of systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved populations and strategic incorporation of activities to redress such barriers in ongoing workplans. This plan (or other similar documentation within the application) will also address policies and practices that are in place to ensure that the grant staffing plan supports the capacity to address those disparities in an ongoing, strategic, and culturally responsive manner, especially for particular underserved populations with documented history of long-standing, significant disparities related to the topic of the grant.

“Underserved” definition: For purposes of this NOFO, “underserved population”, “underserved communities” or “people who have been historically underserved” should be read to be consistent with FVPSA statutory and regulatory definitions (at 42 U.S.C. 10402(14) and 45 CFR part 1370.2). For reference, the definition at 45 CFR part 1370.2 is given here: “Underserved populations means populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services, and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, and populations underserved because of special needs including language barriers, disabilities, immigration status, and age. Individuals with criminal histories due to victimization and individuals with substance use disorders and mental health issues are also included in this definition. The reference to racial and ethnic populations is primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300(u–6)(g)), which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks and Hispanics. The term ‘‘Hispanic’’ or ‘‘Latino’’ means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish speaking country. This underserved populations’ definition also includes other population categories determined by the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] or the Secretary’s designee to be underserved."

Ensure that the grant approach, workplans, and deliverables are consistent with prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and proactively support access and redress barriers for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ) and Two-Spirit survivors and their children, and that technical assistance and training is conducted in alignment with FVPSA regulations at 45 CFR § 1370.5 (a) and (c) requiring that no person shall, on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part through FVPSA.

Five bonus points will be given to applicants that have not received FVPSA funding to provide training and technical assistance nationally prior to submitting this application.

Additionally, up to15 bonus points will be awarded for applicants that include a tribal coalition as one of their three partner organizations that have demonstrated experience providing technical assistance and maintaining meaningful relationships with tribes, state administrators, and state domestic violence coalitions as part of the state planning process as required by the FVPSA statute and regulations.

II. Federal Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$1,500,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$1,500,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$800,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$1,000,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2022 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' N/A

Additional Information on Awards:

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to the availability of federal funds.

Applications requesting an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period, or per project period, as stated in this section, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Note: For those programs that require matching or cost sharing, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the required amount of match or cost share. A recipient's failure to provide the required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

For more information on these requirements, see Section III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.

Description of ACF's Anticipated Substantial Involvement Under the Cooperative Agreement Award

The grant award will be a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an award instrument used when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the recipient during performance of the contemplated project. FYSB will collaborate with the grantee throughout the project period.

FYSB will provide consultation and will review and approve the work plan for the project, as well as the structure and integrity of the approved project as needed.

FYSB will also approve any revisions to the work plan or structure of the approved project during each budget period. Additionally, FYSB will approve significant project activities and changes to project plans.

FYSB will review and approve final drafts of all updated or new materials, articles, major publications, and research reports that are developed or distributed with resources made available under the cooperative agreement.

FYSB will be involved in the development of long-term strategies for the implementation of the project and will participate in major project activities, such as conferences, topical meetings, or major project meetings.

As FYSB determines appropriate, FYSB will make changes to the grantee's detailed plan for project implementation including its work plan, trainings/events schedule, and evaluation schedule, in consultation with the grantee.

FYSB will organize periodic consultations, meetings, briefings, teleconferences, webinars, and other forums necessary to review current and planned activities, to share information, and to promote coordination.

FYSB will keep the grantee informed about expectations for performance, current FYSB policy, and FYSB's vision for addressing domestic violence and dating violence.

III. Eligibility Information III.1. Eligible Applicants To be eligible to receive a grant under the FVPSA 42 U.S.C. 10410(c)(1), "...an entity shall be a nonprofit private organization that focuses primarily on domestic violence and that - ‘‘(A) Provides documentation to the Secretary demonstrating experience working directly on issues of domestic violence, and (in the case of an entity seeking a grant under subsection (b)(2)) demonstrating experience working to provide technical assistance to state administrators, tribal organizations, and coalitions area described in subsection (b)(2); ‘‘(B) Includes on the entity’s advisory board representatives who are from domestic violence service programs and who are geographically and culturally diverse; and ‘‘(C) Demonstrates the strong support of domestic violence service programs from across the Nation for the entity’s designation as a national technical assistance provider for formula grantees, as appropriate."

Eligible entities for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants: Capacity Building and Program Technical Assistance for FVPSA Formula Grantees are national, tribal, statewide, or other nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants must have the capacity to provide training and technical assistance and develop resources on a national level. Each entity in the consortium must have a demonstrated history of providing capacity building to state, tribes, and/or domestic violence coalitions.

Eligible entities to receive this discretionary grant under 42 U.S.C. 10410 are private, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organizations (including faith-based, charitable, or community-based organizations), a tribal organization with 501 (c)(3) status, or a public or private nonprofit educational institution.

Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

Reference to Legal Status See Section IV.2. Legal Status of Applicant Entity for documentation required to support eligibility.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, where “cost sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

III.3. Other Application Disqualification Factors Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

Applications that request an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period or per project period ("per project period" refers only to fully funded awards), as stated in Section II. Federal Award Information, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications received from applicants that have not been approved for an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Applicants that do not have an internet connection or sufficient computing capacity to upload large documents to the internet may contact ACF for an exemption that will allow the applicant to submit applications in paper format. Information and the requirements for requesting an exemption from required electronic application submission are found in "ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission."

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

The deadline for electronic application submission is 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications submitted to Grants.gov after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. That is, applications submitted to Grants.gov, on or after 12:00 am ET on the day after the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf

Applications submitted to Grants.gov at any time during the open application period, and prior to the due date and time, which fail the Grants.gov validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged by ACF.

Each time an application is submitted via Grants.gov, the submission will generate a new date and time-stamp email notification. Only those applications with on-time date and time stamps that result in a validated application, which is transmitted to ACF will be acknowledged.

The deadline for receipt of paper applications is 4:30 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Paper applications received after 4:30 pm ET on the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. Paper applications received from applicants that have not received approval of an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Notification of Application Disqualification Applicants will be notified of a disqualification determination by email or by USPS postal mail within 30 federal business days from the closing date of this NOFO.

IV. Application and Submission Information IV.1. Address to Request Application Package FYSB Operations Center c/o F2 Solutions Attn: FVPSA/Capacity Building for Formula Grantees 1401 Mercantile Lane Suite 401 Largo

MD

20774 Application Packages

Electronic Application Submission:

The electronic application submission package is available in the NOFO's listing at Grants.gov.

Applications in Paper Format:

For applicants that have received an exemption to submit applications in paper format, Standard Forms (SFs), assurances, and certifications are available in the "Select Grant Opportunity Package" available in the NOFO's Grants.gov Synopsis under the Package tab at Grants.gov. See Section IV.2. Request an Exemption from Required Electronic Application Submission if applicants do not have an Internet connection or sufficient computing capacity to upload large documents (files) to Grants.gov.

Federal Relay Service:

Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired callers may contact the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) for assistance at www.gsa.gov/fedrelay.

http://www.gsa.gov/fedrelay

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

FORMATTING APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

Each applicant applying electronically via Grants.gov is required to upload only two electronic files, excluding SFs and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved forms. No more than two files will be accepted for the review, and additional files will be removed. SFs and OMB-approved forms will not be considered additional files.

FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:

Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) AOR is the designated representative of the applicant/recipient organization with authority to act on the organization’s behalf in matters related to the award and administration of grants. In signing a grant application, this individual agrees that the organization will assume the obligations imposed by applicable Federal statutes and regulations and other terms and conditions of the award, including any assurances, if a grant is awarded.

Point of Contact In addition to the AOR, a point of contact on matters involving the application must also be identified. The point of contact, known as the Project Director or Principal Investigator, should not be identical to the person identified as the AOR. The point of contact must be available to answer any questions pertaining to the application.

Application Checklist Applicants may refer to Section VIII. Other Information for a checklist of application requirements that may be used in developing and organizing application materials.

Accepted Font Style Applications must be in Times New Roman (TNR), 12-point font, except for footnotes, which may be TNR 10-point font. Pages that contain blurred text, or text that is too small to read comfortably, will be removed.

English Language Applications must be submitted in the English language and must be in the terms of United States (U.S.) dollars.