Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-ET-1115 (1).pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Community Services

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Collaborative on Economic Mobility

HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-ET-1115

Application Due Date: 07/17/2023

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

Funding Opportunity Title:

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Collaborative on Economic Mobility Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-ET-1115

Primary CFDA Number:

93.569 Due Date for Applications:

07/17/2023 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.

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will support a NOFO for a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Collaborative on Economic Mobility. A collaborative is a group of professionals and organizations working together with a shared vision and specific goals. The purpose of this NOFO is to highlight emerging and promising practices in economic mobility for communities with low incomes and to expand the capacity of CSBG-eligible entities to deliver services that promote economic mobility. The desired outcome is to increase the opportunities for individuals and families with low incomes to access pathways out of poverty, address individual and community level barriers to economic mobility, and support continued investments in future generations.

Specifically, the Collaborative on Economic Mobility will be expected to build knowledge of emerging and current approaches to creating opportunities for economic mobility as well as elevating equity in access to services that support economic mobility. The Collaborative will utilize this information as a guide for identifying and developing a range of high-quality training and technical assistance (T/TA) resources to assist CSBG-eligible entities in implementing and/or piloting economic mobility practices and strategies.

The cooperative agreement will require OCS to have substantial involvement and a close working partnership with the award recipient to implement T/TA consistent with the purpose of CSBG and the goals and mission of OCS. The award recipient must regularly communicate information about the implementation and progress of the initiatives throughout the duration of the cooperative agreement, including meeting monthly with OCS to discuss the progress of goals and objectives outlined in the project work plan.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority Sections 674(b)(2)(A) and 678A of the CSBG Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9903(b)(2)(A) and 9913)

Description

OVERARCHING PRIORITIES FOR OCS

OCS-funded programs are vital in addressing persistent poverty and pervasive disparities and inequities. To achieve our vision, OCS has established several overarching priorities to ensure that our goals are achieved across the CSBG Network. Award recipients must ensure that the following three goals are considered throughout the planning and execution of the activities outlined within this cooperative agreement.

1. Ensuring the programs we administer are of the highest quality possible and are reaching those most in need.

2. Lifting up voices from the field and using lessons learned to be thoughtful, inclusive, and innovative in our approach.

3. Identifying opportunities to break down silos and implement cross-cutting initiatives within OCS and ACF and across the federal government.

CSBG BACKGROUND

CSBG is a federal block grant and one of seven anti-poverty grants administered by OCS. CSBG supports activities to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower individuals and families with low-incomes to become self-sufficient.

CSBG funds support a wide range of individual-, family-, and community-level services and strategies to support the needs of individuals and families with low incomes in rural and urban areas. OCS provides CSBG funding to states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and federal and state-recognized tribes and tribal organizations (hereinafter referred to as CSBG award recipients). Tribal award recipients provide services directly to individuals and families. State and territory award recipients work with CSBG-eligible entities (community-based organizations that administer CSBG-funded programs and services to individuals, families, and communities) to tailor CSBG-funded programs and services to meet the most pressing needs in their communities.

Through discretionary awards, OCS provides funding to support CSBG training, technical assistance, and monitoring efforts. Eligible applicants for these awards include statewide or local organizations or associations with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations to help effectively address the needs of individuals and families with low-incomes and underserved communities. These organizations collaborate with OCS and support CSBG-funded states, territories, and tribes and tribal organizations to increase effectiveness and accountability and to generate robust results for the people and communities served.

With the support of CSBG funding, award recipients and CSBG-eligible entities work together to assist individuals and families with low incomes increase self-sufficiency, improve living conditions, strengthen ownership of and pride in communities, and establish strong family and support systems. Common areas where the CSBG Network designates funding include, but are not limited to, collaboration and linkages across anti-poverty programs and organizations; crisis and emergency supports; assistance with housing, nutrition, utility, transportation, employment, and educational needs; income and asset building services; community asset building initiatives;

and upstream services aimed at creating pathways out of poverty.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND CURRENT TRENDS

Economic mobility describes how an individual’s financial well-being changes over time and predicts the opportunity one has to transition from a lower economic level to a higher one. There are two types of economic mobility (1) intragenerational mobility, or the changes in economic status throughout an adult’s working life, i.e., within a generation, and (2) intergenerational mobility, or the chances of a child’s upward movement in the income distribution as compared to that of their parent(s), i.e., across generations. The combined economic mobility of a family or community is used to analyze the overall economic opportunity of a neighborhood, city, or general geographic region. As such, economic mobility can reveal to what extent our systems, i.e., government, education, workforce, etc., support equitable economic opportunity or continue to create barriers for historically marginalized and oppressed communities.

All populations and communities do not experience the same patterns of upward economic mobility. Economic mobility varies significantly across geographic regions and characteristics, with the lowest mobility seen in the Southeastern part of the United States in large sprawling cities and in rural communities with historically disenfranchised communities.1 Economic mobility also impacts families differently across income levels. Intergenerational upward mobility for individuals earning at the lowest levels of income distribution is significantly lower in the United States as compared to other developed nations. In the United States, children born to parents whose income is in the lowest quintile have the highest likelihood (42 percent) of remaining in the same quintile as an adult and have only a 6 percent chance of entering the top quintile as an adult.2 On average, children with parents in the lowest 1percent of the income distribution grow up to earn an income approximately 30 percentiles lower than peers with parents earning in the top 1 percent.3

The differences in intergenerational mobility are a central driver of racial disparities in the United States. Upward economic mobility is significantly lower in communities with larger Black American and American Indian populations.4 Black adults specifically are most likely to be born in and remain in the lowest quintile and to experience the highest rates of relative downward mobility.5 Children born into high-income Black families still have substantially higher rates of downward mobility as compared to White families, across generations.6 The barriers to economic mobility along racial lines are the result of past and present policies that foster racial segregation. Very few Black children grow up in settings that support economic mobility. For instance, currently, more than 95 percent of Black children grow up in communities with a poverty rate above 10 percent and where less than half of Black fathers are present.7 These persistent disparities across generations of families and communities of color call for changes in access to economic opportunity on an individual and community-level.

Several factors within a community or family have been strongly correlated to higher rates of economic mobility and economic opportunity, including decreased racial segregation, decreased socioeconomic segregation, access to higher quality education, increased access to enrichment activities, increased rates of post-secondary education, stable family structures, increased economic stability, and increased social capital. By implementing intentional strategies, the CSBG Network can strive to improve the ability of individuals, families, and communities to increase the opportunity for upward economic mobility, to achieve economic self-sufficiency, and to ignite new pathways out of poverty.

CSBG COLLABORATIVE ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to highlight emerging and promising practices for increasing rates of economic mobility for individuals, families, and communities experiencing poverty and to expand the capacity of CSBG-eligible entities to implement, strengthen and pilot economic mobility practices. The resulting Collaborative on Economic Mobility will work closely with OCS’s programs, including CSBG and the Community Economic Development program, to build knowledge on emerging and promising practices in economic mobility, and to identify, develop, and disseminate high-quality T/TA resources and tools. The work undertaken through this cooperative agreement should create new opportunities for economic mobility in the communities served with CSBG funding.

Listed below are the key T/TA areas that are consistent with the purpose of CSBG and should be targeted by the Collaborative on Economic Mobility. The award recipient will be required to implement projects and develop T/TA tools that focus on the following areas:

Workforce Development: Obtaining full-time employment in skilled labor increases economic stability and fosters upward mobility. The award recipient will support the CSBG Network in implementing and/or strengthening workforce development activities that increase the ability for individuals to achieve livable or higher wages and access robust training opportunities. Some examples of activities and programs include the following:

o Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs o Work-Based Learning (WBL) models o Employment and career pathways o Vocational or sector-specific training programs o Entrepreneurship-focused education and skills training programs o Youth, including Native youth, workforce development programs in high-need sectors o Working partnerships with local American Job Centers

High-Quality Education: The completion of a postsecondary degree increases upward economic mobility for households with low incomes. High-quality early childhood and K-12 learning, as well as access to enrichment activities, can increase the likelihood of achieving post-secondary degrees. The award recipient will support the CSBG Network in implementing and/or strengthening programs that ensure access to high-quality early childhood and K-12 education, increased high-school graduation rates, and encourage the attainment of a postsecondary degree. This may include a focus on areas such as:

o Access to early-childhood education, including Head Start and Early Head Start o Teacher retainment and recruitment o Funding opportunities for K-12 schools o After-school enrichment programs within schools or in partnership with community organizations o Support in visiting and applying to college o Adult education and General Education Development programs o Scholarships o Summer enrichment activities

Community-Asset Building: Neighborhood socioeconomic and racial segregation leads to lower economic mobility, especially in areas of concentrated poverty. In such areas, efforts to decrease segregation and increase social capital can increase mobility. The award recipient will support the CSBG Network in community-asset building efforts to build social capital and social cohesion, revitalize neighborhoods, and increase the opportunity for integration with nearby neighborhoods. Some areas of focus may include the following:

o Volunteer and civic action opportunities o Community-specific associations o Community-specific events o Community revitalization efforts, including economic revitalization o Mentoring programs o Anti-racism efforts

Two-generational and whole-family approaches: A stable family structure increases the opportunity for upward mobility. Two-generation and whole-family approaches support family stability by providing meaningful support for the entire family. The award recipient will support the CSBG Network in implementing or strengthening programs that utilize two-generation or whole-family approaches. Some types of programs may include or provide the following:

o Home visiting programs o Parenting programs o Fatherhood initiatives o Case management services o Housing stability programs o Access to basic necessities, such as food, shelter, clothing etc.

o Support in accessing anti-poverty programs o Community wellness and health clinics o Mental health programming

Innovative community programs and organizations: The award recipient will identify and share models from effective and innovative community programs and organizations for implementation on a broader basis.

ADVANCING EQUITY

The award recipient must make equity a focal point, addressing the existing inequities created by the continuing and historical marginalization of underserved communities, as defined in the Definitions (later in this section), and those disproportionately impacted by persistent poverty.

Advancing equity creates opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved and supports historically marginalized individuals and communities in reaching their full potential, which benefits all of society. Award recipients must pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, which will require a demonstrated understanding and vision of equity and inclusion; the identification of the root causes of inequity, including the identification of existing activities and policies that perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities; and the development of a method to support CSBG-eligible entities in strategic planning to address practices and policies that exacerbate inequity. To capture opportunities that lead to increased equity and to identify the actual needs of the community, the award recipient must intentionally include and amplify the voice of community members while collecting information and developing and implementing T/TA tools.

CSBG COLLABORATIVE ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY TIMELINE

The Collaborative on Economic Mobility has a 36-month project period that will be separated into two distinct phases, which are outlined below. The deliverables for each phase should be aligned closely with and promote promising practices associated with reduction in poverty and increasing self-sufficiency of low-income individuals and families.

Phase one (October 2023 – September 2024):Research methodology and planning

Projects accepted for award funding must begin the project period with a 9-month investigative period and a detailed landscape analysis, including a community needs assessment. This phase must be used to research promising practices for building opportunities for economic mobility in communities with low incomes and to assess areas of current need across the CSBG Network through research and information gathering with key experts; stakeholders; CSBG award recipients; and individuals, families, and communities. The analysis should include the identification of areas of inequity and practices and services targeting underserved communities.

This phase should include the identification of evidence-informed practices and existing services and approaches noted in the focus areas outlined above.

In the final three months of this phase, the award recipient must develop a robust work plan for implementation of T/TA based on promising practice that best address the identified needs of the CSBG Network. OCS will provide a template for the work plan that covers the project period noted in this NOFO. The work plan will document and track the following:

Identified and detailed project goals, performance measures, and intended outcomes Timelines for implementing proposed projects, including major milestones and target dates The recipient’s plan for advancing equity across the CSBG Network through economic mobility practices and services The recipient’s plan for creating and maintaining partnerships with subject matter experts

(SMEs) with demonstrated experience in the field of economic mobility and the target areas listed earlier in this section under CSBG Collaborative on Economic Mobility

Specifics on how the work will be completed (i.e., individualized one-on-one virtual or in-person T/TA, mass virtual or in-person training, and training materials)

Progress on defined deliverables (i.e., training materials, webinars, manuals)

The award recipient must include drafted outlines of the T/TA tools to be implemented in Phase Two, and a dissemination plan for presenting the tools to the CSBG Network, through presentations, conferences, webcasts, outreach campaigns, and small group T/TA sessions.

The award recipient must consider how the tools created can be beneficial to the entire CSBG Network.

In addition to the work plan, deliverables for Phase One include the following:

Research report on the information gathered, including information on inequity and a description of promising practice models

Logic model for the project Program Performance Evaluation Plan Outlines of T/TA tools, including estimated timelines Dissemination Plan

Phase Two (October 2024 – September 2026): Implementation and Evaluation

During Phase Two, the award recipient will develop, refine, and disseminate T/TA tools and resources for the CSBG Network that are focused on economic mobility, including deliverables such as webinars, training modules, podcasts, presentations, toolkits and/or other learning activities. T/TA tools and resources must include specific deliverables that ensure equitable access to services and positive outcomes for underserved communities. The tools will be distributed among the CSBG Network using the dissemination plan and then housed in a resource library as specified by OCS.

Throughout Phase Two, the award recipient must engage in ongoing assessments to inform semi-annual and final award reports to be delivered to OCS. In the final report, the award recipient will discuss (1) outcomes based on deliverables defined in the work plan, (2) the effectiveness of the T/TA tools and resources created, including how they were measured and evaluated, (3) an overview of the body of knowledge developed, lessons learned, and promising practices that can be replicated for future T/TA deployments, and (4) how the project will promote community-wide, transformative, and sustainable changes in access to economic mobility beyond the performance period noted in this NOFO.

Additionally, during this phase, the award recipient will work closely with OCS staff to refine the work plan, logic model, proposed performance evaluation plan, and dissemination plan, as needed.

Deliverables for Phase Two include the following:

Revised work plan, as needed Revised logic model, as needed Revised program performance evaluation plan, as needed Revised dissemination plan, as needed Defined T/TA tools and resources, Semi-annual reports, as described above Final report on evaluated outcomes and program performance due at the end of the performance period Signed Letters of Commitment from SMEs

CSBG T/TA NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY

In fiscal year (FY) 2022, OCS invited the CSBG Network to complete the online CSBG T/TA Needs Assessment Survey. The survey’s goals were to elicit feedback, identify CSBG award recipient’s top T/TA priorities and inform and strengthen OCS-funded T/TA to ensure that OCS is meeting the T/TA needs of the CSBG Network. Over 900 individuals responded to the survey.

Workforce management was included as a category in the survey. The survey results helped inform OCS’ T/TA Learning Agenda for the FY 2023 CSBG discretionary awards and contracts, including this cooperative agreement. Feedback on the needs of the CSBG Network allows OCS to ensure that the T/TA we provide is effective, proactive, continuous/ongoing, and innovative. It also helps to ensure we can make a substantial difference in the lives of the individuals, children, families, and communities that the CSBG Network serves. OCS published the results of the survey in a publicly accessible dashboard: CSBG Needs Assessment Dashboard (FY 22).

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Strong strategic partnerships are the cornerstone of CSBG’s success. Strategic partnerships are integral to achieving CSBG goals, priorities, and outcomes through shared expertise and resources. Collaboration and strategic partnerships across the CSBG Network are essential in addressing the needs and overcoming barriers to collaboratively help alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower individuals and families with low income to become self-sufficient.

OCS encourages new and meaningful collaboration and partnerships that will help ensure successful project implementation and provide effective guidance on practices regarding economic mobility. OCS considers these partnerships an essential component to responding to immediate community need and creating long-term community change.

SMEs SMEs can serve an essential role in accomplishing the major objectives outlined in Section I of this NOFO by providing knowledge, technical expertise, analysis, and innovative recommendations that lead to successful outcomes. The award recipient must engage with individuals or organizations with demonstrated experience in research and implementation of practices in economic mobility.

PUBLICATIONS

All publications developed or purchased with funds awarded under this notice must be consistent with the requirements of CSBG. Pursuant to 45 CFR § 75.322(b), the award recipient owns the copyright for materials that it develops under an award issued pursuant to this notice, and HHS https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6080697eb930441c9b025c423c51e6f9?dlg=Instructions https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR78b08d9c95aad03/section-75.322#p-75.322(b) reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use those materials for federal purposes, and to authorize others to do so. In addition, pursuant to 45 CFR § 75.322(d), the federal government has the right to obtain, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use data produced under this award and has the right to authorize others to receive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such data for federal purposes, e.g., to make it available in government sponsored databases for use by others. If applicable, the specific scope of ACF rights with respect to a particular award-supported effort will be addressed in the Notice of Award. The award recipient must ensure data and copyright-protected works developed by a subrecipient or contractor also are subject to the federal government’s copyright license and data rights.

IDENTIFICATION OF FEDERAL SUPPORT

Whenever T/TA projects are either entirely or partially supported by CSBG funds, the award recipient must clearly identify the associated activities, services, or resources as part of the CSBG T/TA Learning Agenda. Furthermore, the award recipient must include the certification statement, as follows:

"This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] was created by [award recipient organization name] in the performance of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), Grant Number [90ETXXXX]. Any opinion, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, OCS/ACF/HHS or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

SUBAWARDS

Recipients under this program may opt to transfer a portion of their substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s). The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project. ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of the project. Subrecipient monitoring activities alone as specified in 45 CFR § 75.352 do not constitute a substantive role. Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in the NOFO, Section III.1.

Eligible Applicants. Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a UEI number assigned by SAM, if they do not already have one. Prime recipients are required to check the SAM to verify that the subrecipient(s) is/are not debarred, suspended, or ineligible.

Please reference the Award Term and Condition on Subawards on the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website for further requirements involving subawards.

OCS Response to Nationally Declared Emergency If, during the project period, OCS and/or recipients are required to adjust program and/or cooperative agreement requirements due to a nationally declared emergency, OCS will exercise https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR78b08d9c95aad03/section-75.322#p-75.322(d) https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements#book_content_14 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements maximum flexibilities as needed. Requirements may be conducted virtually, or timelines may be modified in consultation with OCS.

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to this funding opportunity and applicants are strongly encouraged to review these carefully prior to applying:

CTE – CTE programming links secondary and postsecondary education in a sequenced series of courses, aligns curriculum with industry-validated standards, and provides WBL experiences that enable students to apply skills. CTE programs cover pathways including automotive repair, construction, health sciences, engineering, entrepreneurship, computer science, sustainable agriculture, theater arts production, media, culinary arts, and many other fields. In recent years, CTE has expanded in high schools across the country.

Collaborative – A group of professionals and organizations working together around a shared vision and towards achieving specific goals.

Cooperative Agreement – An award instrument of financial assistance used when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office (the federal government) and the award recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

CSBG Network – The CSBG Network includes OCS, states, territories, directly-funded tribes and tribal organizations, CSBG-eligible entities, state associations, and the CSBG national T/TA providers that plan and implement anti-poverty programs and services on behalf of people with low-income. OCS and the CSBG national T/TA providers are also included in the CSBG Network; however, for the purposes of this NOFO, they are not included as direct recipients of the T/TA provided.

CSBG-Eligible Entities – Most agencies in the CSBG Network are local CSBG-eligible entities, created through the Economic Opportunity Act, a predecessor of the CSBG. Community representation and accountability are hallmarks of the CSBG Network, where agencies are governed by a tripartite board, consisting of elected public officials, representatives of the low-income community, and appointed leaders from the private sector. Over 1,000 CAAs provide anti-poverty services and advocacy in 99 percent of American counties. Approximately 80 percent of these agencies are 501(c)3 non-profits, and 20 percent are public entities, part of a city or county government. CSBG-eligible entities typically run multiple programs in their mission to address the causes and the effects of poverty.

Economic Mobility – The measure of how an individual or family’s economic well-being changes over time. The movement of an individual from a lower economic level to a higher economic level refers to upward mobility. The movement from a higher economic level to a lower economic level refers to downward mobility. Please see definitions for absolute mobility, relative mobility, intergenerational mobility, and intragenerational mobility.

Employment and career pathways – A model where education and training is provided in multiple, discrete, and stackable components for a specific sector, with a clear sequence of coursework and training credentials that are aligned with employer-validated work readiness standards and competencies.

Equity – The consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Intergenerational mobility – The comparison of an adult child’s economic status to that of their parents, typically at or near the same age, i.e. across generations.

Intragenerational mobility – The change in economic status over the course of an adult’s working life (ages 25–64), i.e. within a generation.

Promising Practice – One with at least preliminary evidence of effectiveness in small-scale interventions or for which there is potential for generating data that will be useful for making decisions about taking the intervention to scale and generalizing the results to diverse populations and settings.

SME – A person who is an authority and has specific expertise in a particular area or topic. This authority is demonstrated by the person’s degree, licensure, and/or through years of professional experience with the area or topic.

Technical Assistance (TA) – An activity, generally using the services of an expert aimed at enhancing capacity, improving programs and systems, or solving specific problems. Such services may be provided proactively to improve systems or as an intervention to solve specific problems.

Territories – Per the CSBG Act, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are territories for the purposes of CSBG.

American Samoa is the only territory included in this cooperative agreement. Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are part of the Consolidated Block Grant and will not receive T/TA through this cooperative agreement. For the purposes of CSBG, Puerto Rico is treated as a state rather than a territory.

Training – An educational activity or event that is designed to impart knowledge and understanding or increase the development of skills. Such training activities may be in the form of assembled events such as workshops, seminars, conferences, or programs of self-instructional activities.

Two-Generation and Whole-Family Approach – Two-generation and whole-family approaches combine parent and child interventions to interrupt the cycle of poverty for household with low incomes. Both approaches build family well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with children and the adults in their lives together. The approaches recognizes that families are unique and require tailored interventions.

Underserved Communities – Populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civil life.

WBL Model – A category of academic learning models embedded in the real world of work, which includes internships, practicum and clinical placements, capstone projects, applied research projects, and apprenticeships.

Workforce Development – The range of activities, policies, and programs used to create, sustain, and retain a viable workforce that can support current and future business and industry.

This may include education and training, job matching and employer engagement

REFERENCE LIST

1. Office of Policy Development and Research. (2014). Economic Mobility: Measuring the American Dream. PD&R Edge Home. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr_edge_featd_article_071414.html

2. Institute for Research on Poverty. (April 2020). Economic Mobility Memo 1: Definitions and https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr_edge_featd_article_071414.html trends. [Quarterly Leadership Memo]. The University of Wisconsin-Madison.

3. Chetty, R., Hendren, N., Kline, P, & Saez, E. (2015). State of the States: Economic Mobility.

The Poverty and Inequality Report 2015. The Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality.

4. Chetty, R., Hendren, N., Jones, M. R., & Porter, S. R. (2019) Race and economic opportunity in the United States: An intergenerational perspective. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 711-783. doi:10.1093/qje/qjz042.

5. Institute for Research on Poverty. (April 2020). Economic Mobility Memo 1: Definitions and trends. [Quarterly Leadership Memo]. The University of Wisconsin-Madison.

6. Chetty, R., Hendren, N., Jones, M. R., & Porter, S. R. (2019) Race and economic opportunity in the United States: An intergenerational perspective. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 711-783. doi:10.1093/qje/qjz042.

7. Chetty, R., Hendren, N., Jones, M. R., & Porter, S. R. (2019) Race and economic opportunity in the United States: An intergenerational perspective. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 711-783. doi:10.1093/qje/qjz042.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$600,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$600,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$500,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$600,000 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.

Subsequent year funding will be awarded through non-competing continuation applications. To receive continuation funding, grant recipients must have demonstrated satisfactory progress in the prior budget period. For the purposes of this NOFO, satisfactory progress is defined as ensuring that proposed programmatic activities are consistent with Section I. Program Description of this NOFO, submitting all programmatic and financial reports, work plan, and deliverables in a timely manner, attending recurring meetings with OCS, and meeting all terms and conditions of the award.

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

The responsibility for the management, control, direction, or performance of the project will be shared by OCS and the award recipient. OCS will have the right to intervene (including interruption or modification) in the conduct or performance of project activities if the award recipient does not adhere to the goals and objectives as outlined in this NOFO and the signed cooperative agreement. OCS and the award recipient will collaborate on all activities involving the design or direction of T/TA products, training, or any other deliverables.

OCS program involvement will include:

Providing program guidance and input, as appropriate;

Approving all work plans and schedules;

Reviewing and providing feedback on the activities, documentation, procedures, measures, and tools established and implemented for accomplishing the goals of the cooperative agreement throughout the duration of the initiative;

Reviewing, providing feedback, and concurring with activities, procedures, tools, measures, products, and written materials prior to external communication and dissemination on an ongoing basis;

Participating in the analysis of data;

Participating in the selection and approval of analysis mechanisms; and Reviewing and approving each agreement phase before subsequent phases may be started.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

As prescribed by section 678A(c)(2) of the CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. 9913(c)(2)), eligible applicants are CSBG-eligible entities, or statewide or local organizations or associations, with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of low-income families and communities.

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 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 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

Charisse Johnson

FON: HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-ET-1115

Administration for Children and Families OCS Operations Center c/o F2 Solutions 1401 Mercantile Lane Largo

MD

20774 1-855-792-6551 OCSgrants@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 http://www.gsa.gov/fedrelay

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…