Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0059.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

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

Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0059

Application Due Date: 07/27/2023

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:

Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0059

Primary CFDA Number:

93.592 Due Date for Applications:

07/27/2023 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 funding opportunity will award two cooperative agreements to implement relevant sexual assault services for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and family violence for a three (3) year project period. The intent of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers discretionary grant program is to build and sustain organizational capacity in delivering trauma-informed and developmentally sensitive relevant services for children, individuals, and families affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, and other traumas. This discretionary grant program will build upon the progress of community-based sexual assault and domestic violence programs in reducing the pervasive and harmful impact of violence and trauma by implementing trauma-informed, and evidence-informed interventions for individuals and families.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this funding opportunity is the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). 42 U.S.C § 10410(a)(2)(B)(ii), as amended by Section 201 of the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-320.

Description FVPSA provides the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelter and supportive services for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence (also known as intimate partner violence or IPV), as well as their dependents.

First authorized as part of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 (Public Law 98–457), FVPSA became the first federal commitment to creating a pathway to safety for survivors of domestic https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant violence and their children. FVPSA has been amended eight times and was most recently reauthorized in December 2010 for 5 years by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. § § 10401 - 10414).

Since 1984, Congress has continued to make its intent clear that FVPSA funds be used to raise awareness of domestic violence, prevent its occurrence, provide services to victims and their children, and support domestic violence providers to enhance their responses through training and technical assistance.

Specifically, FVPSA has the following statutory purposes:

1. Assist states and Indian tribes in efforts to increase public awareness about primary and secondary prevention of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence;

2. Assist states and Indian tribes in efforts to provide immediate shelter and supportive services for victims of family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and their dependents;

3. Provide for a national domestic violence hotline; and

4. Provide for technical assistance and training relating to family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence programs to states and Indian tribes, local public agencies (including law enforcement agencies; courts; and legal, social service, and health care professionals), nonprofit private organizations (including faith-based and charitable organizations, community-based organizations, and voluntary associations), tribal organizations, and other persons seeking such assistance and training.

With the passage of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress appropriated funding to the FVPSA Program to implement discretionary grants that “support survivors of sexual assault to assist with the transition to virtual/remote services for rape crisis centers, sexual assault programs, tribal programs, and culturally specific programs that provide crisis services, support services, and assistance to survivors of sexual assault.” This discretionary NOFO actualizes Congressional intent to support survivors of sexual assault.

The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) and the FVPSA Program have been a national and federal leader in serving children, youth, and families surviving domestic violence. In FYSB’s mission to end these issues in the United States, part of FYSB’s strategic plan includes goals to serving and promoting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment towards advancing the work that we do to address America’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; this includes using data to drive decision making.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and FYSB recognize that the children and families across our programs are exposed to multiple forms of violence. ACF and FYSB are committed to strengthening and expanding its existing efforts to promote social and emotional well-being of children, youth, and families and to facilitate healing and recovery by addressing risk factors and building the skills, capacities, and mechanisms for promoting safety, community connection, healthy relationships, and emotional healing.

Statistics show that every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. On average, there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States (Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN). Younger people are at the highest risk of https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence sexual violence. The majority of sexual assault victims are under the age of 30. Ages 12-34 are the highest risk years for rape and sexual assault. Those age 65 and older are 92 percent less likely than those aged 12–24 to be a victim of rape or sexual assault, and 83 percent less likely than those aged 25–49.

FVPSA is administered by the FVPSA program, a division of the FYSB. FYSB administers mandatory FVPSA formula grants to the following: 1) states and territories, 2) tribes, and 3) state domestic violence coalitions. FVPSA grants are awarded to every state and territory and over 200 tribes. Funds awarded to states, territories, and tribes reach more than 1,600 local public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations and programs demonstrating outcomes in the field of domestic violence services and prevention. These domestic violence programs provide victims of family, domestic, and dating violence, and their children with shelter, safety planning, crisis counseling, information and referral, legal advocacy, and additional support services.

Domestic Violence Resource Network Sexual Assault Capacity Building Centers (SACBC) will be a part of FYSB's Domestic Violence Resource Network (DVRN), a nationwide network composed of national resource centers, special issue resource centers, culturally specific special issue resource centers, and emerging issue capacity building centers focused on the intervention and prevention of family violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and dating violence. 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, dating violence, and sexual assault, and to provide evidence-based and evidence-informed intervention services. As part of the DVRN, the SACBCs will work collaboratively to share their national expertise and deliver domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and family violence related training and technical assistance. While FYSB's SACBCs grant recipients are members of DVRN, they will maintain independent governance of their own organizations but will be required to share their 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. All DVRN resource centers are expected to conduct their activities in an accessible, linguistically appropriate, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed manner and to proactively focus their activities to address racial inequities that exist for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault both within victim services and other systems related to the issue areas of the specific resource center. DVRN resource centers actively work to ensure access to services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning (LGBTQ2S) and Two-Spirit survivors and their children, and to ensure 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, in accordance with FVPSA regulations at 45 CFR part 1370 (a) and (c).

Definitions Evidence-Based:

Pursuant to 5 USC 601 (c) (ii), “use evidence-based practices in policymaking, including identifying existing solutions, scaling up practices that are working, and designing solutions with regular input of the individuals and communities to be served.”

Sexual Assault Definition:

The term ‘sexual assault’ means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent. See 34 U.S.C.§ 12291(a)(35).(For the purposes of this announcement, the definition is based on the federal definition as cited in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).)

Underserved Communities Definition:

“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."

Rape Crisis Centers:

The term "rape crisis center" means a non-profit, nongovernmental, tribal organization, or governmental entity in a state other than a territory that provides intervention and related assistance to victims of sexual assault without regard to their age. In the case of a governmental entity, the entity may not be part of the criminal justice system (such as a law enforcement agency) and must be able to offer a comparable level of confidentiality as a non-profit entity that provides similar victim services. See 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30). (For the purposes of this announcement, the definition is based on the federal definition as cited in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).) Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12511(b)(2)(C), intervention and related assistance may include the following:

1. 24-hour hotline services providing crisis intervention services and referral.

2. Accompaniment and advocacy through medical, criminal justice, and social support systems, including medical facilities, police, and court proceedings.

3. Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, and comprehensive service coordination and supervision to assist sexual assault victims and family or household members.

4. Information and referral to assist the sexual assault victim and family or household members.

5. Community-based, culturally specific services and support mechanisms, including outreach activities for underserved communities.

6. Development and distribution of materials on issues related to the services described in numbers 1 through 5 above.

Culturally Specific Definition:

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(9), “culturally specific services” means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), “culturally specific” means primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in 42 U.S.C. §300u-6(g)) (which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics). (For the purposes of this announcement, the definition is based on the federal definition as cited in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).) 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.

Prevention Definitions:

For Purposes of this announcement:

Primary Prevention: Strategies, policies, and programs to stop both first-time perpetration and first-time victimization. Primary prevention is stopping sexual assault and domestic and dating violence before they occur. Primary prevention includes but is not limited to school-based violence prevention curricula, programs aimed at mitigating the effects on children witnessing sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence or dating violence, community campaigns designed to alter norms and values conducive to sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence or dating violence, worksite prevention programs, and training and education in parenting skills and self-esteem enhancement.

Secondary Prevention: Identifying risk factors or problems that may lead to future sexual assault and/or family, domestic, or dating violence, and taking the necessary actions to eliminate the risk factors and the potential problem, which may include, but are not limited to, healing services for children and youth who have been exposed to domestic or dating violence, home visiting programs for high-risk families, and screening programs in health care settings.

SACBC Program Requirements Through this NOFO and in accordance with FVPSA, 42 U.S.C. 10410(a)(2)(B)(ii), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to support training and technical assistance that address emerging issues related to family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, or sexual assault, and to entities demonstrating related expertise. The two grant recipients will be required to provide capacity building resources, training, and technical assistance for sexual assault and domestic violence programs.

The two SACBCs will be required to pursue the following goals and objectives and to demonstrate their ability to achieve the same in their grant applications and work plans:

1. Deliver state-of-the-art, nationwide training and technical assistance to enhance organizational capacity of sexual assault programs; domestic violence programs; state coalitions; FVPSA state administration agencies; Indian tribal governments; tribal organizations; federal, state, and local government agencies; national, statewide, and local community-based organizations; allied professionals; and other key stakeholders to provide culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate and accessible, trauma-informed, survivor-centered sexual assault, domestic violence and dating violence intervention and prevention services. These services must be accessible to all victims and their children, including services that address lifetime exposure to violence; survivors from LGBTQ2S communities; and other historically marginalized and underserved populations;

2. Raise and enhance the visibility of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence intervention and prevention strategies, prevalence statistics, emerging issues, and special topics through the development and distribution of innovative resources and multi-media and multiplatform public awareness, social media, and marketing campaigns;

3. Support service innovation by identifying evidence-based and evidence-informed practices for the prevention and intervention of family violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence and assist with the dissemination, promotion, adoption, and adaptation of such practices in the field;

4. Develop and enhance sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence intervention and prevention strategies by fostering specific promising practices development and adaptation throughout the domestic violence and sexual assault fields that includes nationwide training and technical assistance and the creation, collection, and dissemination of guidelines, materials, and other relevant resources, such as sample policies, protocols, forms, and related procedures;

5. Engage public and private systems and institutions through policy development to create national, statewide, tribal, or local improvements in systemic responses to sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, such as integrating culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault policies and practices into home visitation and public housing programs, public health care clinics, school-based dating violence prevention programs, work force development initiatives, and other public welfare programs to enhance accessibility for all victims and their families;

6. Address current and emerging issues related to sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence through the provision of training and technical assistance that is comprehensive and national in scope. This includes service needs of girls/women of color; services for male victims; engaging faith communities; needs of elder victims;

needs of LGBTQ2S victims; the co-occurrence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and IPV; human trafficking; family/youth homelessness; family self-sufficiency;

social capital; child support; needs of children of all ages who witness violence; maternal health and maternal mortality; trauma-informed support for formerly incarcerated survivors; meeting the needs of survivors with substance use histories; the intersection of IPV, gun violence, and community violence prevention; and other topics identified as priorities by the program office;

7. Conduct or contribute to research and evaluation related to sexual assault prevention or intervention for culturally specific, traditionally underserved victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence, and dating violence and children exposed to sexual assault and IPV;

8. Work collaboratively with national, statewide, and local community-based sexual assault programs and domestic violence programs; state coalitions; FVPSA state administrators;

federal, state, and local government agencies; Indian tribal governments; tribal organizations; national, statewide, and local culturally specific organizations; LGBTQ2S organizations; and other entities involved in assisting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence, and dating violence to identify and respond to emerging issues, technical assistance requests, the adaptation of promising practices, and increasing service demands;

9. Implement periodic needs assessments of sexual assault programs to identify unmet training and technical assistance needs, including the identification of unaddressed or under-addressed topic areas and audience;

10. Participate actively in the coordination of nationwide technical assistance and training with the members of DVRN and work collaboratively to develop resources as needed for the field;

11. Plan conferences, webinars, topical meetings, or major project meetings in consultation with FYSB to ensure participation of FYSB staff and facilitate at least two FYSB-sponsored webinars each budget period;

12. 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;

13. Assist FYSB with technical and logistical support of grant recipient 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, and arrange travel; providing onsite support; and following up on conference evaluations; and

14. Plan travel expenses for at least one representative from each SACBC grant recipient organization to participate in two DVRN meetings and one FYSB-sponsored meeting each budget period.

All FVPSA grant recipients are expected to implement evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising strategies that regularly engage input and feedback from people with lived experience who are survivors of family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault and their children into their needs assessments. FVPSA grant recipients will ensure that these activities are meaningful, trauma-informed, and grounded in the lived experiences of survivors and their children. The applicant will encourage survivor voice(s) and lead in partnership with survivors in program selection, program design, program improvement, and/or other recommendations.

All FVPSA grant recipients are expected to ensure that products and activities are appropriately survivor-centered by regularly incorporating input and feedback from people with lived experience as survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, or sexual assault and their children into grant activities at multiple points in the development process.

SACBC Expectations SACBC grant recipients are expected to use their expertise to provide a specific context for sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and family violence.

SACBC grant recipients are further expected to offer a comprehensive and national scope of training and technical assistance that is trauma-informed, culturally specific, linguistically relevant, and responsive to sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence intervention and prevention services. SACBC grant recipients are expected to provide evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies and information to enhance the capacity of individuals, organizations, governmental agencies, and communities to intervene and prevent sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence.

By the end of the grant period, FVPSA-funded grant recipients are expected to have provided an array of training, expertise, problem-solving strategies, and other forms of technical assistance to federal, state, and local governmental agencies; Indian tribes and tribal organizations; state coalitions; FVPSA state administrators; and national, statewide, and local community-based organizations including other key stakeholders related to sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence intervention and prevention services for victims of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and family violence and their children.

The SACBC grant recipients are expected to offer educational opportunities, conferences, peer-to-peer consultations, webinars, webcasts, e-learning modules, podcasts, and other forms of technical assistance that allow sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, state coalitions, tribes and tribal organizations, and health and social service agencies to learn from the SACBC grant recipient expertise regarding sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence intervention and prevention.

Grant recipients are expected to share their expertise to lead practice improvements as well as organizational capacity building. Grant recipients are further expected to foster partnerships between organizations that have not traditionally worked together to address sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, such as public institutions, faith-based organizations, culturally specific organizations, LGBTQ2S organizations, and community-based organizations.

Grant recipients will lead or contribute to sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence intervention and prevention-related research that could include program evaluation; national research projects; drafting applied research papers; holding focus groups;

conducting community assessments; and collaborating with a wide range of individuals and organizations leading sexual assault, domestic violence, family violence, and dating violence-related research or evaluations.

Grant recipients are expected to have a communication plan and national dissemination strategy for sharing promising practices, research findings, project outcomes, and resources nationwide.

Grant products will be disseminated broadly, including posting on the grant recipient's website, FYSB website, national clearinghouse websites, and other platforms to reach a broad audience of individuals and communities addressing sexual assault, family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence prevention and intervention.

SACBC grant recipients are expected to maintain the organizational capacity to implement the project, including relevant subject matter expertise (i.e., in sexual assault and other areas as needed for proposed projects); research and evaluation capacity; administrative capacity; project management capacity; national resource center leadership; and sufficient staffing to meet project goals and deliverables. Grant recipients shall maintain clear plans for maintaining organizational capacity and continuity of services during an emergency, disaster, and/or pandemic situations and transition of key project staff.

SACBC grant recipients must 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. Grant recipient will provide a comprehensive community equity plan (or other similar documentation within the application) that demonstrates the processes and policies the grant recipient 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.

Grant recipients must maintain up-to-date expertise on the needs of victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence within the identified culturally specific community, including conducting periodic needs assessments of the sexual assault program, domestic violence program, and special issue area systems in order to identify unmet training and technical assistance needs, including the identification of unaddressed or under-addressed topic areas and audiences. This shall include, but not be limited to, completion of a national needs assessment in the first 6 months of project year 1 and year 3.

Finally, as this is a cooperative agreement that will include substantial involvement from the FVPSA Program in FYSB, the applicants must actively partner with the FVPSA program officers in implementing the resource centers' deliverables. Grant recipients shall plan conferences, meetings, or major project meetings in conjunction with FYSB to allow participation of FYSB staff. Grant recipients shall plan to develop, review, and discuss a detailed plan for project implementation, a work-plan, a trainings/events schedule, an evaluation schedule, and a plan for reporting on the outcomes of the project. Applicants will need to plan to partner with FVPSA program officers in the planning, coordination, and implementation of meetings for FVPSA grant recipients. More information on how FYSB will be involved is included in Section II. Federal Award Information: Description of ACF's Anticipated Substantial Involvement Under the Cooperative Agreement Award.

Applicants must plan and budget for travel to participate in at least one FVPSA Program/FYSB meeting per budget period. Grant recipients must plan to assist FYSB with technical and logistical support of grant recipient 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.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$900,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$450,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$350,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$350,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2023 Length of Project Periods:

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

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' 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.

Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the one (1) year period will be considered in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the grant recipient, review and approval of the project plan submitted in year 1, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government. Satisfactory progress means that the grant recipient is meeting the goals and objectives of the training and technical assistance requirements described in this NOFO and submitting timely performance progress reports.

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

Cooperative agreements are distinguished from a grant in that it provides for substantial involvement between the federal awarding agency and the awardee in carrying out the proposed project activities.

ACYF FYSB seeks to explore and implement strategies that can be used to build the capacity of community-based organizations serving families that are experiencing the effects of multiple forms of violence, including family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and other lifetime traumas. The Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-224) authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into a cooperative agreement that provides for substantial involvement and collaboration of FYSB in the activities the grant recipient will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved financial assistance award. Substantial involvement may include collaboration with or participation by ACF staff in activities specified in the award, and as appropriate, decision-making at specified milestones related to performance. The involvement may range from joint conduct of a project to awarding office approval prior to the recipient's undertaking the next phase in a project.

Substantial Involvement will include:

Participate actively in the coordination of nationwide technical assistance and training with the members of DVRN and work collaboratively to develop resources as needed for the field;

Plan conferences, webinars, topical meetings, or major project meetings in consultation with FYSB to ensure participation of FYSB staff and facilitate at least two FYSB-sponsored webinars each budget period;

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;

Consult with the FVPSA Program Officer in implementing the grant-funded events, meetings, special projects, research, and activities on an ongoing and frequent basis during each phase of the project. Consultation will include, but is not limited to the following:

o Collaborate with the FVPSA Program at least quarterly, in consultations, meetings, briefings, teleconferences and other forums to review current and planned activities, to share information, and to report on training and technical assistance activities and collaborations with national and state partners;

o Advise the FVPSA Program Officer within 90 days, prior to scheduling, of all project training, national meetings, conferences and partner meetings in order to coordinate the scheduling of major events and ensure the FVPSA Program participation;

o Collaborate with the FVPSA Program when developing content and agendas for conferences, topical meetings, or major project meetings;

o Collaborate with the FVPSA Program to facilitate FVPSA-sponsored webinars focused on broadening FVPSA Program’s interoperability efforts and to raise awareness about comprehensive responses to sexual assault, intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and dating violence in Latino/Latina communities;

and o Assist in the coordination of technical assistance and training efforts to expand the capacity of FVPSA grant recipients to respond to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence, as needed.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

To be eligible to receive a grant to establish or maintain a SACBC under 42 U.S.C. § 10410, an entity shall be a private non-profit organization that focuses primarily on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, family violence, and sexual assault in a racial or ethnic community, or a public or private non-profit educational institution that has an institute, center, or program related to culturally specific issues in domestic violence and sexual assault and (i) has documented experience in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and services and experience relevant to the specific racial or ethnic population to which information, training, technical assistance, and outreach would be provided under the grant; (ii) demonstrates the strong support of advocates across the nation who are working to address domestic violence and sexual assault; and (iii) has a record of demonstrated success in enhancing the cultural and linguistic relevancy of service delivery.

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.

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.

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 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

Yndia Coates

ACYF

FYSB

FVPSA

330 C Street, SW Washington

DC

20201

(202) 240.3910 Yndia.Coates@acf.hhs.gov 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.

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 http://www.gsa.gov/fedrelay 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. If applications are submitted using another currency, ACF will convert the foreign currency to U.S. currency using the date of receipt of the application to determine the rate of exchange.

Page Limitations Applicants must observe the page limitation(s) listed under "PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS:." Page limitation(s) do not include SFs and OMB-approved forms.

All applications must be double-spaced. An application that exceeds the cited page limitation for double-spaced pages in the Project Description file or the Appendices file will have extra pages removed, and those pages will not be reviewed.

Application Elements Exempted from Double-Spacing Requirements The following elements of the application submission are exempt from the double-spacing requirements and may be single-spaced: the table of contents, the one-page Project Summary, required Assurances and Certifications, required SFs, required OMB-approved forms, resumes, logic models, proof of legal status/non-profit status, third-party agreements, letters of support, footnotes, tables, the line-item budget and/or the budget justification.

Adherence to NOFO Formatting, Font, and Page Limitation Requirements Applications that fail to adhere to ACF’s NOFO formatting, font, and page limitation requirements will be adjusted by the removal of page(s) from the application. Pages will be removed before the objective review and will not be made available to reviewers.

Applications that have more than one scanned page of a document on a single page will have the page(s) removed from the review.

For applicants that submit paper applications, double-sided pages will be counted as two pages.

When the maximum allowed number of pages is reached, excess pages will be removed and will…