Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACF-OFVPS-EV-0032_Final Announcement.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Family Violence Prevention Services

National Domestic Violence Hotline

HHS-2025-ACF-OFVPS-EV-0032

Application Due Date: 07/22/2025

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:

National Domestic Violence Hotline Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACF-OFVPS-EV-0032

Assistance Listing Number:

93.592 Due Date for Applications:

07/22/2025

Executive Summary Notice:

• You 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 an award, please visit "Applying for an ACF Award" at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

• This NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) administers the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) grant programs and seeks to award one cooperative agreement to operate a National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) to provide information and assistance to adult and youth victims/survivors of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence including their dependents.

I. Program Description

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

§10413(d) of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act.

Description History and Purpose of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is the main federal funding source for emergency shelters that provide support services for domestic violence (DV), dating violence, and family violence victims/survivors and their children. The goal of FVPSA is to increase awareness of DV, prevent it, and provide shelter and services for adults, children, and youth nationwide. FVPSA funding aims to improve how DV providers respond to victims/survivors through training and technical assistance. FVPSA funding supports culturally specific and linguistically appropriate services for victims/survivors of domestic violence and https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant sexual assault. FVPSA funding also supports a National Domestic Violence Hotline for domestic violence and dating violence victims/survivors that is free and confidential; a national hotline for the hearing impaired that offers information and to ensure deaf advocates are available 24/7 to respond to those seeking help; a teen dating violence hotline that offers confidential support for teens, young adults and their loved ones seeking help, resources, or information related to healthy relationships and dating abuse; and a Native Helpline, the first national Native helpline for native victims/survivors of domestic violence. The Native helpline provides specialized supportive services to address the unique barriers often faced by Native survivors of intimate partner abuse including culturally specific and tribally based resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Specifically, the FVPSA statutory purposes are to:

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

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

3. Provide for a national domestic violence hotline.

4. Provide for technical assistance and training relating to domestic 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.

In support of hotline services, FVPSA section 313(a) (42 U.S.C. §10413(a)) authorizes the HHS Secretary to award a grant to one or more private entities to provide for the ongoing operation of a 24-hour, national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, family and household members of such victims/survivors, and persons affected by the victimization. The Secretary shall give priority to applicants with experience in operating a hotline that provides assistance to adult and youth victims/survivors of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence.

In order to ensure the safety of adult, youth, and child victims/survivors of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their families, FVPSA grant recipients and subrecipients shall protect the confidentiality and privacy of such victims/survivors and their families (45 CFR § 1370.4). FVPSA grant recipients and subgrant recipients shall not do the following:

1. Disclose any personally identifying information (as defined in 45 CFR § 1370.2) collected in connection with services requested (including services utilized or denied) through grant recipients’ and subrecipients’ programs.

2. Reveal any personally identifying information without informed, written, reasonably time-limited consent by the person about whom information is sought, whether for this program or any other federal, tribal or state grant program, including but not limited to, whether to comply with federal, tribal, or state reporting, evaluation, or data collection requirements.

3. Require an adult, youth, or child victim of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence to provide a consent to release his or her personally identifying information as a condition of eligibility for the services provided by the grant recipient or subrecipient.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

A statutory purpose area of FVPSA requires the provision of a domestic violence hotline.

Specifically, FVPSA statute section 10413 mandates the ongoing operation of a 24-hour, confidential, national, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and dependents of such victims/survivors; and persons affected by the victimization (42 U.S.C. § 10413). OFVPS shall give priority to applicants with demonstrated experience in operating a 24-hour hotline that assists adult and youth victims/survivors of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence.

Any applications submitted in response to this NOFO must include a plan for the operation of the national domestic violence hotline including the following components:

• The training program for hotline personnel, including technology training to ensure that all persons affiliated with the hotline are able to effectively operate any technological systems used by the hotline.

• The hiring and supervision criteria, and qualifications for hotline personnel.

• A plan for ensuring adequate workforce capacity. This includes the process and method that will be taken to actively build and enhance the skills, training, knowledge and staffing ability to ensure the necessary capability to meet the current and future demands for operating a 24-hour hotline.

• A detailed plan to collect feedback from survivor contacts that includes the method and process for collecting feedback, analyzing the data effectively, and implementing actionable changes based on responses.

• The methods for creating, maintaining, and updating a resource database.

• A plan for publicizing the availability of the hotline.

• A plan for providing service to non-English speaking callers, including service through hotline personnel who have non-English language capability.

• A plan for facilitating access to the hotline by persons with hearing impairments.

• A plan for providing assistance and referrals to youth victims/survivors of domestic violence and for victims of dating violence who are minors, which may be carried out through a national teen dating violence hotline.

• Provide a services accessibility plan that demonstrates how the hotline will effectively serve all victims of domestic violence, including those with disabilities and elderly victims. The plan should focus on practical measures to ensure all victims can access needed services, with an emphasis on removing obstacles to access while maintaining efficient and effective operations.

• A demonstration of the applicant's expertise in the area of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence and a record of 24-hour high-quality service provision to victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence including, a demonstration of support from advocacy groups and state domestic violence coalitions.

• A demonstration of the applicant's capacity and expertise to maintain a domestic violence hotline and a comprehensive database of service providers; and a demonstration of their ability to provide information and referrals for callers; directly connect callers to service providers; and employ crisis interventions that meet the standards of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence providers. Collect and incorporate feedback from state coalitions on service delivery.

• A demonstration of the applicant's commitment to services accessibility, culturally relevant services, and linguistically appropriate services with specific plans to ensure provision of services for all people.

• A demonstration that the applicant complies with nondisclosure requirements as described in section 10406(c)(5) of this title, follows comprehensive quality assurance practices; and contains such other information as the Secretary may require.

The primary purpose of the hotline is to provide 24-hour nationwide referrals to domestic violence shelters, outreach programs, social service agencies, programs that address the needs of children exposed to domestic violence, legal assistance agencies, economic self-sufficiency programs, and other related service providers. The hotline also provides contacts who are in need of immediate shelter or supportive services with a direct connection to a local domestic violence service provider.

Contacts to the national domestic violence hotline may range from requests for general reference information to urgent and life-threatening situations that require immediate crisis intervention.

The national domestic violence hotline should be prepared to respond to the broad range of violence that occurs in the context of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and family relationships. The national domestic violence hotline also needs to be prepared to serve those affected by such abuse, i.e., relatives; children of victims and other family members;

friends, neighbors, other concerned individuals; those seeking assistance with their abusive behavior; and the general public.

Definitions

Contact: For the purposes of this NOFO, “contact” is defined as a call, chat, or text. A “user” is defined as any person who makes contact. A “telephone” is defined as a communication device that permits two or more callers or users to engage in a transmitted analog, digital, short message service (SMS), cellular/wireless, laser, cable/broadband, internet, or voice-over internet protocol (IP) exchange, or other communications, including telephone, smartphone, chat, text, voice recognition, or other technological means that connects callers or users together.

Program Requirements

The National Domestic Violence Hotline will be required to support the operation of a national domestic violence hotline 42 U.S.C. §10413(a) to provide information and assistance to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence; family and household members of such victims; and persons affected by the victimization.

According to 42 U.S.C. §10413 of FVPSA and 45 CFR § 1370.32 in establishing and operating a 24-hour national domestic violence hotline the grant recipient is required to:

• Contract with a carrier for the use of a toll-free telephone line to ensure there is a mechanism to respond to calls.

• Contract or develop a toll-free system to ensure there is a mechanism to respond for texts and chats.

• Employ, train (including providing technology training), and supervise personnel to answer incoming contacts (calls, texts, and chats), provide counseling and referral services for callers on a 24-hour- a-day basis, and directly connect callers to service providers.

• Assemble and maintain a database of information relating to services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence throughout the United States, including information on the availability of shelters and supportive services for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, for caller referrals.

• Raise, enhance, and publicize the hotline throughout the United States through various channels, such as social media, television, public awareness campaigns, its website, written materials, etc.

• Provide assistance and referrals to meet the needs of underserved populations and individuals with disabilities.

• Provide assistance and referrals for youth victims of domestic violence and for victims of dating violence who are minors, which may be carried out through a national teen dating violence hotline. Customize referrals based on state, local, and tribal preferences and available resources.

• Provide appropriate assistance and referrals for family and household members of victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and persons affected by the victimization described in subsection (a).

• At the discretion of the hotline operator, provide assistance, or referrals for counseling or intervention, to identified adult and youth perpetrators, including self-identified perpetrators, of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence. The hotline operator shall not be required to provide such assistance or referrals in any circumstance where they fear the safety of a victim may be impacted by an abuser or suspected abuser.

• Deliver a comprehensive array of nationwide training and/or technical assistance to OFVPS grant recipients to expand the capacity of domestic violence programs to provide hotline helpline services for victims/survivors.

To serve the wide range of contacts effectively, the grant recipient must explain their documented history of effective work in providing 24-hour high-quality crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy, and counseling services to victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, and their children, family and friends; in providing information to abusers who are seeking assistance to address their abusive behavior;

and in providing information to the general public through a toll-free hotline.

The staff must also understand the importance of using appropriate connections with local state and national resources to serve users. The productive working relationships and coordinated provision of services between the national domestic violence hotline, state and local hotlines, and other resource and resource providers directly benefiting the users that engage with national hotline for information, support, and resources. In addition, the national domestic violence hotline is expected to engage in collaborative efforts with other national hotlines that serve OFVPS constituents, such as the National Runaway Safeline, the National Indigenous Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

FVPSA performance progress data demonstrates the importance of online communications including chat, text, and utilization of websites for information on domestic violence and dating violence therefore, applicants that are able to provide and utilize services through these platforms will be positioned to respond to a broad range of people who reach out for assistance. In addition, as prevention efforts increase across FVPSA funded grant programs and services, especially with respect to adolescents and young adults, providing current information and resources that resonates with younger populations may help them seek support if they are in an abusive or unhealthy relationship and prevent first time acts of violence.

In order to ensure that the selected applicant is able to provide the depth and breadth of services of a national Hotline, there will be a preference to fund an applicant that has a long-standing, high-level, documented history of effective work operating a hotline that provides assistance to both adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence.

FVPSA Training and Technical Assistance Resource Network (The Network)

The National Domestic Violence Hotline will be a part of OFVPS FVPSA funded Network, a nationwide network composed of national resource centers, national hotline, national native helpline, capacity building 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, and dating violence. The Network provides information, resources, training, and technical assistance to improve the capacity of individuals, organizations, governmental agencies, local communities, tribes, and tribal organizations, to prevent family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence, and to provide evidence-based and evidence-informed intervention services.

NOTE: Grant recipients will be bound by those provisions of the FVPSA that are generally applicable to all recipients of FVPSA funding, including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. §10406 (c)(1-3) and (c)(5).

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$16,989,375 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$16,989,375 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$15,000,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$16,989,375 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2025 Length of Project Periods:

60-month project period with five 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.

If an application asks for more money than the award ceiling, it will not be considered for review or funding. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

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

This award will be a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement is an award instrument used when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the grant recipient during performance of the contemplated project and extends beyond normal oversight and stewardship responsibilities and functions. All FVPSA hotline grant recipients are required to report on performance measures, provide updates on achievement, challenges, and improvement plans.

Through the cooperative agreement, OFVPS shall be responsible for the following:

• Provide significant guidance and consultation on project design and implementation to the primary grant recipient throughout the project period to ensure the successful implementation of the project and to improve the outcomes of the program.

• Propose and approve significant changes to the project scope, activities, and work plans.

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

• Review, provide feedback on, and approve the project scope, activities, and work plan for the projects including the structure and integrity of the resource center, in conjunction with grant recipient. This includes any changes to key personnel on the project.

• Monitor the answer rate, including the number of Contacts (Callers, Chatters, and Texters) received, the number of contacts answered, and the response time based on data provided by the grant recipient.

• Conduct regular reviews of submitted performance progress reports and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative data on service delivery to all Contacts (Callers, Chatters, and Texters), major activities, technical assistance, interpretation services, barriers and challenges.

• Convene monthly meetings to review and discuss progress made and performance measurement achievements or challenges, as well as plans to improve or maintain performance. Provide significant guidance on corrective action and improvement needed to ensure successful performance of hotline services.

• Review and approve final drafts of all updated or new materials, articles, major publications, and research reports that are developed and/or distributed with resources made available under this cooperative agreement.

• Be involved in the development of strategies for the implementation of the project.

• Participate in major project activities, such as advisory or other leadership committee meetings, conferences, topical meetings, trainings, or major project meetings.

• Inform the grant recipient in advance of HHS/ACF/OFVPS/FVPSA events/meetings/trainings where the grant recipient is expected to attend, facilitate, lead, or participate to share information about the implementation of their FVPSA grant award, FVPSA funded services, and FVPSA funded training and technical assistance.

• Keep grant recipients informed about HHS/ACF/OFVPS/FVPSA priorities.

• Organize frequent consultations, meetings, briefings, teleconferences, webinars, and other forums necessary to review current and planned activities, to share information, and to promote national coordination.

The respective responsibilities of OFVPS and the successful applicant will be identified and incorporated into the cooperative agreement of the award during the pre-award negotiations. It is anticipated that the cooperative agreement will not change the project requirements for the grant recipient awarded under this announcement.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants To be eligible to receive a grant to establish or maintain a National Domestic Violence hotline under FVPSA, 42 U.S.C. §10413(d), eligible entities shall be: A nonprofit private organization that can demonstrate the following:

• Has recognized expertise in the area of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and has a record of high-quality service to victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, including a demonstration of support from advocacy groups and state domestic violence coalitions.

• Demonstrate the capacity and the expertise to maintain a 24-hour domestic violence hotline and a comprehensive database of service providers (42 U.S.C. §10413(a)).

• Demonstrate the ability to provide information and referrals for contacts (calls, text, chats); directly connect contacts to service providers; and employ crisis interventions meeting the standards of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence providers.

• Demonstrate that the applicant has a commitment to accessibility and to the provision of services to underserved populations, including to ethnic, racial, and non-English speaking minorities; older individuals; and individuals with disabilities.

• Demonstrate that the applicant complies with FVPSA statutory requirements with respect to nondisclosure of confidential and private information collected during the course of the project, whether from staff or project participants and/or project beneficiaries.

• Contain such other information as the Secretary may require.

Individuals, including sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are not eligible. See Section III.3.

Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.

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

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

No For more information see Commitment of Non-Federal Resources at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget.

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

Award Ceiling Disqualification

If an application asks for more money than the award ceiling, it will not be considered for review or funding.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications are not allowed unless they have prior approval.

You may contact ACF for an exemption if you do not have an internet connection or sufficient capacity to upload large documents to the internet. Please see the ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission for more information.

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Applications submitted 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 review and funding.

Applications which fail their Grants.gov validation check will not be received or acknowledged by ACF. If you submit the same application for the same NOFO more than once, only the last on-time submission will be acknowledged.

Paper applications with an approved exemption from the electronic submission requirement must be received by 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 the merit review and funding.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/main/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/main/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf

Notification of Application Disqualification We will let you know if your application is disqualified within 30 days of the application deadline. You won’t receive any notice from ACF if your application failed Grants.gov validation checks.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package Laura Fabius U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services 330 C Street, SW

SW

DC

20201

(202) 205-8421 Laura.Fabius@acf.hhs.gov Application Packages

Electronic Application Submission:

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

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

FORMATTING APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

General Requirements

1. Two-File Requirement: Upload only two electronic files via Grants.gov, excluding Standard Forms (SFs) and OMB-approved forms. Extra files will be removed before review.

2. Authorized Organization Representative (AOR): Designate an AOR to sign all required forms. The AOR's signature confirms compliance with all applicable Federal statutes and regulations.

3. Font Style and Size: Use Times New Roman 12-point font for the main text and 10-point font for footnotes. Ensure scanned documents are legible and are no more than one scan to a page. Blurred or illegible pages will be removed.

4. Language and Currency: Submit applications in English and in U.S. dollars. See 45 CFR §75.111 for more information.

5. Page Limitations: Follow the page limits specified under "PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS." Extra pages will be removed and not reviewed.

6. Double-space all application pages. Exemptions: The following can be single-spaced:

o Table of Contents o One-page Project Summary o Required Assurances and Certifications o SFs and OMB-approved forms o Resumes, Logic Models, Proof of Legal Status/Non-Profit Status, Third-Party

Agreements, Letters of Support, footnotes, and tables o Line-Item Budget and/or Budget Justification

7. Formatting Adherence: Applications that do not observe the formatting requirements will have pages removed before merit review. Applicants will be notified of any adjustments and the reason for the adjustment after awards are issued.

8. Corrections/Updates: Only the last on-time application will be considered for pre-review under the Application Disqualification Factors. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors and Section IV.2. Application Submission Options.

9. Copies Required: Submit one complete copy of the application package electronically via Grants.gov.

Accepted Application Format: Use 8 ½" x 11" white paper with 1-inch margins. Include page numbers if possible.

PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS:

The Project Description (File One) is limited to 40 pages and must include the following:

1. Table of Contents

2. Project Summary/Abstract (one page)

3. Objectives and Need for Assistance

4. Expected Outcomes

5. Approach

6. Timeline and Narrative

7. Logic Model

8. Program Performance Evaluation Plan

9. Organizational Capacity

10. Dissemination Plan

11. Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information

12. Project Sustainability Plan

13. Line-Item Budget and Budget Justification

The Appendices (File Two) (exempt from the page limitations) must include:

1. Staff Position Information (e.g., resumes of key staff, job descriptions, organizational chart)

2. List of Board of Directors or other governing body members (as applicable)

3. Financial Statements (as applicable)

4. Third-Party Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) (as applicable)

5. Letters of Support

6. Required Forms, Certifications and Assurances

7. Proof of Legal Status

8. Indirect Cost Rate Letter (as applicable)

Please note again that SFs and OMB-approved forms do not count toward the page limit.

Remember that shorter applications are often easier for reviewers to fully comprehend. OFVPS suggests that applicants use headings, subheadings, bullet points, extra spaces, and formatting such as bold or underline to help grant reviewers easily locate each aspect of your grant application and determine that each point has been addressed in your application.

PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS:

Electronic Application Submission

1. Submission: Only through Grants.gov. No applications will be accepted through facsimile or email.

2. File Upload: Upload only two files, excluding Standard Forms and OMB-approved forms:

o File One: Entire Project Description, Budget, and Budget Justification.

o File Two: All documents required in the Appendices.

3. File Naming: Follow Grants.gov naming conventions. Limit file names to 50 characters.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.

4. Suggested File Format: PDF format for both files. ACF recommends applicants merge documents electronically using Adobe Acrobat Reader or PDF converter software compatible with Grants.gov.

5. Other supported File Formats:

o Adobe PDF (.pdf) o Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) o Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx) o Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt) o Image Formats (.JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, .BMP)

Documents in file formats not listed here will be removed from the application and will not be used in the merit review. This may make the application incomplete, and ACF will not make awards based on an incomplete application.

1. No Encryption or Password Protection: Do not encrypt or password-protect files.

Inaccessible files will not be reviewed.

Paper Application Submission

1. Exemption Requirement: Obtain an exemption to submit a paper application. Follow the ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Required Electronic Application Submission.

2. Application Requirements: Download the forms package associated with the NOFO’s synopsis on Grants.gov under the Package Tab.

3. Submission Package: Submit one original and two copies of the complete application, including all SFs and OMB-approved forms. The original must have original signatures.

All pages must be one-sided and sequentially numbered. Submit all copies in a single package. Clearly label with the NOFO title and Funding Opportunity Number. For applicants submitting more than one application, each application must be submitted in a separate package.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.

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

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications Please submit the listed SFs, assurances, and certifications with the application. All required SFs, assurances, and certifications are available in the Application Package posted for this NOFO at Grants.gov.

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications.

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

Required of all applicants.

Applicants must have a UEI and maintain an active SAM registration throughout the application and project award period.

Obtain a UEI and SAM registration at:

http://www.sam.gov.

See Section IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

Certification Regarding Lobbying (Grants.gov Lobbying Form)

Submission required of all applicants with the application package. If it is not submitted with the application package, it must be submitted prior to award.

Submission of the certification is required for all applicants.

SF-Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL)

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications. In the SF- P/PSL, applicants must cite their primary location and up to 29 additional performance sites.

Additional Required Assurances and Certifications Mandatory Grant Disclosures

All applicants must submit any information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. See Mandatory Disclosures, 45 CFR § 75.113 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 200.113).

Send written disclosures to:

https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.113

The Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Grants Management, ATTN: Grants Management Specialist, 330 C Street, SW., Switzer Building, Corridor 3200, Washington, DC 20201 And to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, ATTN:

Mandatory Grant Disclosures, Intake Coordinator, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Cohen Building, Room 5527, Washington, DC 20201 Fax: (202) 205-0604 (Include “Mandatory Grant Disclosures” in subject line) or Email: grantdisclosures@oig.hhs.gov

Proprietary Information and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) In your application, you may identify salary or other proprietary information or personally identifiable information. We will remove this information from applications before they go to reviewers.

If you have an exemption for a paper submission, you can protect salary information and any proprietary information by placing that information only in the original application. You can remove the information from the copies, keeping summary information.

The Project Description The Project Description Overview

General Expectations and Instructions

The Project Description requests the information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for financial assistance. It must address all activities for which federal funds are being requested and all application requirements as stated in this section. The Project Description must explain how the project will meet the purpose of the NOFO, as described in Section I. Program Description. As a reminder, reviewers will be evaluating this section in accordance with Section V.1. Criteria.

The Project Description must be clear, concise, and complete. ACF is particularly interested in Project Descriptions that convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project Descriptions are evaluated based on substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting documents designated as required must be included in the Appendix of the NOFO.

Please email your letter to OFVPS@acf.hhs.gov. The letter of intent should include the following information:

Table of Contents

List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. The table of contents may be single spaced.

Project Summary

Provide a summary of the project description. The summary must include a brief description of the applicant’s proposed grant project including the needs to be addressed, the proposed activities or services, and if applicable, the population group(s) to be served. The summary must mailto:OFVPS@acf.hhs.gov be clear, accurate, concise, and without cross-references to other parts of the application. Please place the following at the top of the Project Summary:

• Project Title

• Applicant Name

• Address

The Project Summary must be single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, and limited to one page in length. Additional pages will be removed and will not be reviewed.

Geographic Location

Describe the precise physical location of the project and boundaries of the area to be served by the proposed project. If the geographic area(s) are served by both the primary grant recipient and subrecipient organization(s) describe the locations covered by all organizations anticipated to receive funding from the grant award.

Legal Status of Applicant Entity

Applicants must provide the following documentation:

Non-Profit Organizations

Proof of Non-Profit Status Options:

Option 1: 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are eligible

Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:

• A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the IRS's most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.

• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax-exemption certificate.

• A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.

• A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status.

• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a state or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate

Unless directed otherwise, applicants must include proof of non-profit status in the Appendices file of the application submission.

Need for Assistance

Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problem, must be demonstrated. Supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned parties, may be included in the Appendix. Any relevant data based on planning studies or needs assessments should be included or referred to in the endnotes or footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as available.

Objectives

Clearly state the principal and if applicable, subordinate objectives of the project. Applicants must address how the objectives stated relate to the overall purpose of the program and describe how objectives will be achieved.

Performance Measurement

The provision of 24-hour hotline services; the continuity of service availability for victims/survivors; and the quality of hotline services provide to victims/survivors are vitally important to achieving the FVPSA statute purpose.

Per the GPRA Modernization Act’s requirement to address Cross-Agency Priority Goals in the agency strategic plan, the annual performance plan, and the annual performance report, please refer to Performance.gov for the agency’s contributions to those goals and progress, where applicable.

The mission of the HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. HHS will continue to improve these outcomes by increasing access and utilization of prevention, crisis intervention, treatment and recovery services. The strategic goals and strategic objectives HHS Strategic Plan are included in this document and posted here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/index.html.

In accordance with Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) HHS, ACF, and OFVPS will establish performance targets for the hotline services authorized by the FVPSA statute. The performance targets are designed to support continuous program improvement of hotline services for victims/survivors nationwide. These performance targets will be reported to Members of Congress annually as part of the HHS and ACF Congressional Budget Justification process. All FVPSA hotline grant recipients are required to report on performance measures, provide updates on achievement, challenges, and improvement plans.

Performance Measures will be based on:

• High quality and responsive services to contacts (calls, chats, and texts) contacting the Hotline.

• High quality and responsive services to young adult users contacts (calls, chats, and texts) contacting the Hotline.

• Maintaining and expanding percentage of clients who have increased their knowledge of safety planning.

• Number of clients who report improved knowledge of safety planning.

• Maintaining and expanding the number of clients who report increase knowledge of community resources.

• Expanding the capacity of Hotline to receive contacts (calls, chats and texts).

• Expanding the capacity of Hotline to receive contacts (calls, chats and texts) for young adults.

• Monthly hits/visits to Hotline’s website. (English and Spanish) https://performance.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/index.html

New or revised performance measures can be created by HHS, ACF, and OFVPS as a result of on-going evaluation efforts within the grant period.

The outcomes and performance measurement of all FVPSA hotline grant recipients will be based upon annual appropriations authorized by Congress. Targets or measures may be adjusted as a result of an increase or decrease in in appropriated funding annually. The grant recipient will be required to collect and report on any new or revised performance measures during the project period. OFVPS will engage all hotline grant recipients monthly regarding performance measurement and provide written guidance on performance measurement expectations that will be available on the OFVPS website, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofvps/programs/fvpsa/fvpsa-hotlines-helplines.

In accordance with appropriated funding and FVPSA statute requirements, there is an expectation for all FVPSA hotline grant recipients to demonstrate increased capacity annually to provide high quality and responsive services to contacts. Failure to meet these expectations can result in:

• Temporarily withholding cash payments

• Wholly or partly suspending or terminating award and/or

• Withholding further awards for the program or project

The applicant will describe how the applicant staff will monitor call center performance by defining essential objective metrics used to evaluate success and efficiency. This should include definitions of acceptable answer rates, wait times, talk times, abandonment (when calls aren't answered), agent productivity and caller satisfaction. The applicant will describe how this data will be collected, reviewed, and utilized to maximize the highest quality of services. The applicant will also describe how they will solicit, collect, and incorporate feedback from contacts about their experience with services.

The applicant will provide a strategy for the content creation for the national domestic violence hotline and dating abuse helpline websites. This strategy should include how it will be relevant to people of all ages and include demographics. The plan should include how content will be evaluated and updated to reflect trends, culture and the changing needs of users.

The applicant will also demonstrate the success of their services by providing measurements and outcomes that will be used to show success to HHS, ACF, and OFVPS as well as the broader domestic violence field.

In addition, applicants should also include objectives for:

• Answering the highest number of contacts possible while maintaining quality services including during high volume times.

• Training and maintaining an effective and efficient call/response center staff.

• Maintaining an updated database of relevant service providers and resources.

In accordance with GPRA HHS, ACF, and OFVPS will establish performance targets for the hotline services authorized by the FVPSA statute. The performance targets are designed to support continuous program improvement of hotline services for victims/survivors nationwide.

These performance targets will be reported to Members of Congress annually as part of the HHS and ACF Congressional Budget Justification process. The grant recipient is required to report on performance measures, provide updates on achievement, challenges, and improvement plans.

In addition to the above performance measures, new or revised performance measures might be created by HHS, ACF, OFVPS as a result of on-going evaluation efforts. The grant recipient will be required to collect and report on any new or revised performance measures during the project period.

Expected Outcomes

Identify the outcomes to be achieved from the project. Outcomes should relate to the overall program as described in Section I. Program Description. If research is part of the proposed work, outcomes must include hypothesized results and implications of the proposed research.

Approach

Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed project will be accomplished. Applicants must account for all functions or activities identified in the application.

Cite potential obstacles and challenges to accomplishing project goals and explain strategies that will be used to address these challenges.

42 U.S.C §10413 and 45 CFR § 1370.32 instructs national domestic violence hotline applicants to:

• Describe how they will provide services that will reach a wide breath of users including digital services (online chat, text, and website resources).

• Clearly describe their understanding of the scope and demand for a national hotline (including identified U.S. territories) for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. In particular, an applicant must provide data and a record of experience demonstrating that it has a knowledgeable understanding of the anticipated demand for services, including expected contract volume (calls, chats, texts, and website visits) and duration of contacts.

• Describe the functions and limitations of the current network of national, state, and local crisis hotlines, information lines, and victim referral services and how the national domestic violence hotline’s role relates to them.

• Plans to engage in collaborative efforts with other national hotlines that serve OFVPS constituents, such as the National Runaway Safeline, the National Indigenous Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the need for specialized responses for callers with limited English proficiency or callers who are deaf or hard of hearing and explain how the proposed services will assist these populations.

• Describe how they will support the promotion and implementation of activities for…