Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0011.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Expanding the National Capacity for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and

Their Family Caregivers

HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0011

07/30/2025

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract

Problem Statement

Goals and Objectives

Proposed Intervention

Special Target Populations and Organizations

Outcomes

Project Management

Evaluation

Dissemination

Organizational Capability

Budget Narrative/Justification

Work Plan

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies

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

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

Expanding the National Capacity for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and Their Family Caregivers Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0011

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

07/05/2025 Due Date for Applications:

07/30/2025 Date for Informational Conference Call:

Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary https://www.grants.gov/

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary The Administration on Aging (AoA), a division of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), is interested in continuing the development of person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) supportive services for Holocaust survivors living in the United States. The successful grantee will be expected to: 1) further develop, test, and scale community-based PCTI service models, and 2) deliver training and technical assistance to advance the national capacity to serve Holocaust survivors and any older adult with a history of trauma and their family caregivers.

ACL’s goal for this work is to increase access and availability of PCTI services for Holocaust survivors and all older adults with histories of trauma and their caregivers. More specifically this initiative will:

1. Increase the variety of organizations trained in and practicing the PTCI model of service delivery.

2. Evaluate impact of PCTI services and supports on Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma, their caregivers, and professionals who work with these populations.

3. Demonstrate how organizations can adopt and sustain PTCI principles into policy and operations and evaluate impacts on the organizations.

Through this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), ACL will fund one cooperative agreement at a federal funding level of up to $8,389,500 per year, for three years (36 months), pending the availability of federal funds, to expand the national capacity for PCTI care to Holocaust survivors, other older adults with a history of trauma, and their family caregivers. Additionally, ACL seeks to expand the availability of PCTI training to professionals on a national scale.

Prospective applicants should carefully read all application requirements and submit proposals that completely address the priority areas described.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Trauma: Its Prevalence and Impact

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is a widespread, harmful, and costly public health concern. Trauma and traumatic events are defined as “threats to survival and self-preservation” (Janoff-Bullman, 1992). Trauma can happen in response to experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, loss, disaster, war, and other emotionally distressing events. It is estimated that approximately 70 - 90% of adults in the U.S.

have been exposed to some type of traumatic event during their lifetime (Kaiser et al, 2017;

Kilpatrick et al, 2013). Trauma can occur at any point during the life course, and across all populations (SAMHSA, 2014).

In its October 2023 publication entitled “Aging with a History of Trauma: Strategies to Provide Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care to Older Adults and their Family Caregivers,” The Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) detailed the significant impacts trauma can have on the lives of those who experience it. JFNA further detailed the importance of addressing trauma to promote meaningful change and positive outcomes in service delivery to older adults, their family caregivers, and the professionals who support them. This document should be considered https://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-42/3828/Aging%2520with%2520Trauma_Full_Report.pdf https://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-42/3828/Aging%2520with%2520Trauma_Full_Report.pdf essential reading for any prospective applicant and their collaborating partners before preparing your application in response to this NOFO.

The Evolution and Growth of PCTI Care

Person-centered service delivery considers a person’s experiences, needs, strengths, preferences, and goals. A trauma-informed approach requires an organization or system to have a basic awareness, knowledge, and understanding of trauma and its impacts on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities (SAMHSA, 2014). First coined by ACL in 2015, Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) care combines the principles of person-centeredness (e.g. self-determination, choice, empowerment and individual preference) and trauma-informed care (e.g. safety, trust and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment and choice) to better engage and serve Holocaust survivors and their caregivers (SAMHSA, 2014).

Today, PCTI is recognized as a holistic approach to service delivery that promotes dignity, strength, and empowerment of trauma victims by incorporating knowledge about trauma into agency programs, policies, and procedures (Eisinger and Bedney, 2018). Notably, in the 2020 reauthorization of the Older Americans Act Congress recognized the critical importance of the PCTI approach, defining it in statute as: “… services provided through an aging program that—

(A) use a holistic approach to providing services or care; (B) promote the dignity, strength, and empowerment of victims of trauma; and (C) incorporate evidence-based practices based on knowledge about the role of trauma in trauma victims’ lives.” (see OAA, Sec 102 (41))

Additionally, Congress authorized the establishment and operation of a national resource center that “shall… A) provide training and technical assistance to agencies in the aging network delivering services to older individuals experiencing the long-term and adverse consequences of trauma; (B) share best practices with the aging network; and (C) make subgrants to the agencies best positioned to advance and improve the delivery of person-centered, trauma-informed services for older individuals experiencing the long-term and adverse consequences of trauma;”

(See Title IV, Part A, Sec 411 (14))

In the nearly ten years since ACL began funding this work, the Jewish Federations of North America (the current grantee) and its network of more than 90 sub-grantees nationwide have provided PCTI services to nearly 64,000 Holocaust survivors and other older adults with histories of trauma, supported nearly 9,000 family caregivers, and trained approximately 23,000 professionals in the principles and practice of PCTI care. To date, many outcomes have been achieved, including:

• Improvements in quality-of-life measures for participating Holocaust survivors:

o Reduced anxiety, depression, and loneliness o Feelings of greater connectedness to others o Improved access to available community resources o Feeling more optimistic and able to exercise self-care o Feeling more confident in their ability to remain at home

• Measurable improvements in the way professionals from across the aging services network view their abilities to work with victims of trauma:

o More confidence and comfort working with Holocaust survivors o More knowledgeable about trauma-informed care, including PCTI approaches o Greater ability to identify and avoid potential triggers for re-traumatization of

Holocaust survivors o Greater competence in their ability to create and support trauma-informed environments for effective service delivery

Goal

Building from the work that established PTCI as a best practice in the provision of services to Holocaust survivors and their caregivers, ACL seeks to expand the availability of PCTI services and supports to all older adults with histories of trauma and their caregivers. The successful grantee will advance and reinforce earlier PCTI program successes. More specifically, ACL expects the grantee to:

1. Increase the variety of organizations trained in and practicing the PTCI model of service delivery.

2. Evaluate impact of PCTI services and supports on Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma, their caregivers, and professionals who work with these populations.

3. Demonstrate how organizations can adopt and sustain PTCI principles into policy and operations and evaluate impacts on the organizations.

Priorities and Desired Approaches

Applications will be scored on how well proposals demonstrate a clear and creative plan to further innovate in the following two priority areas:

Priority Area 1: Innovation Through Demonstration, Replication, and Scaling of PCTI Approaches

This funding opportunity will support activities designed to grow the PCTI provider network and infuse PCTI principles into more services, reaching more older adults and caregivers who could benefit. In this priority area, ACL expects to see the following activities continue and progress:

• Innovations at the local level. The successful grantee will distribute resources to expand PCTI services and supports locally and across the country. Applicants should describe their process for planning, soliciting, evaluating, awarding, and managing competitive sub-awards to meet the unique needs of older adults, family caregivers, and professionals in the communities they live in.

• National programs. In addition to promoting local development of PCTI services and supports, the successful grantee will improve the coordination of PCTI innovations nationally. Applicants should describe how they plan to support advancements in national networks leading the development, implementation, and scaling of PCTI innovations to serve more people in new areas.

• Community planning and partnership development. The successful grantee will rely on community and partner input during all phases of the project. Applicants should describe how they will work with communities and partners to ensure project activities meet the needs of Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma, their family caregivers, and the professionals who work with these populations.

Priority Area 2: Training and Capacity Building at the National Level

To serve more Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma, their family caregivers, and the professionals who work with these populations, PCTI training and technical assistance should be offered in a variety of ways and formats. Approaches to capacity building may include, but are not limited to:

• Further development and operation of a Technical Assistance and Resource Center for PCTI Supportive Services rooted in serving Holocaust survivors, expanded to serve all older adult populations with histories of trauma.

• The development, testing, and dissemination of education and training programs in PCTI Supportive Services for a broad range of providers and settings.

• Growth in partnerships and collaborations supporting the advancement of research, policy development, and service delivery across disciplines and populations (e.g., veterans, Tribes, health care settings, first responders, etc.).

• Other areas for national training, technical assistance, and support as identified by the applicant.

Additional Application Elements and Considerations

Priority Area Emphasis and Resource Allocation

When writing proposals, applicants should carefully consider how they will use program resources to advance the priority areas listed above and describe an approach with realist, achievable milestones. ACL allows for flexibility in resource planning and utilization, bearing in mind these funds are intended by Congress to support services for Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma, their caregivers, and the professionals that serve them.

Organizational Capacity

To meet ACL's goals for this initiative, the selected grantee must be able to carry out a coordinated, comprehensive approach. Applicants should describe their ability to:

• Start project activities quickly after receiving the award

• Build on the work of the previous project, continuing from where it left off

• Work successfully at both national and local levels to achieve the project's goals

• Measure impact of service delivery, training, and TA activities

• Embed all efforts in targeted networks to ensure long-term sustainability

• Use technology where possible to maximize project reach and impact

Applicants must have and demonstrate subject-matter expertise, project related experience, and capacity to carry out the tasks proposed.

The use of sub-grants or subcontracts to carry out specific activities is expected in Priority Area one. Sub-grants or contracts are permissible in Priority Area two when needed skills are beyond applicants’ scope of expertise to complete specified goals and objectives. In both priority areas, applicants should fully describe their rationale and criteria for selecting sub-grantees/sub-contractors as well as their approach for managing the activities of all sub-grantees/contractors to ensure successful completion of all delegated tasks.

Performance Measurement, Outcomes and Evaluation

Measuring and evaluating project performance shows how effectively activities are being implemented and if adjustments need to be made. A performance evaluation plan may simply track number of outputs produced compared to number planned but could also include quality improvement metrics to optimize efficiency and impact.

Measuring and evaluating project outcomes show how an intervention impacts participants lives.

Outcomes of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Reductions in isolation, depression, anxiety, and poor health indicators for participating Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma

• Decreases in emergency room visits and/or hospital readmissions for participating Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma

• Improvements in the ability of Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma to exercise self-care tasks and to remain in their homes and communities

• Increases in organizational and individual staff knowledge and comfort working with Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma

Applicants should include a comprehensive plan for measuring, evaluating, and reporting project performance and impact. Applicants should describe how they will collect, analyze, and report performance and outcomes data for all activities in both priority areas of this cooperative agreement.

Collaboration, Partnerships and Project Governance

To accomplish the goals and objectives outlined in this NOFO a successful application will demonstrate a commitment to broad collaboration with national and local organizations.

Potential partnerships might include those with organizations that specifically work with Holocaust survivors; mainstream aging services providers; entities with expertise in trauma-informed and/or person-centered approaches; entities that focus on evaluation and performance measurement, and others with expertise relevant to this initiative (including consumers).

Applications should describe partner organizations and their roles in the planning, development, and implementation of the proposed project. Letters of support from partnering organizations should be included as part of the application package and should reflect each entities’ unique contributions.

A steering committee is an excellent resource for new projects, bringing multiple perspectives and interdisciplinary expertise to support planning and implementation. Applicants should explain if and how they will use a steering committee to assist their efforts, including a list of the types of individuals (e.g. consumers, professionals, and organizations) that will be invited to participate.

Information Dissemination

A successful grantee is expected to broadly share results of their demonstration project, including project information, best practices and lessons learned, and outcomes and impacts. Applicants should describe a robust dissemination strategy and how they will prioritize accessibility of information.

Sustainability

ACL expects project activities to be implemented with sustainability in mind. Applications should describe clear and feasible plans for sustaining the work beyond the period of Federal funding.

References:

Eisinger, M.A., and Bedney, B. (2018). Teaching about trauma: Models for training service providers in person-centered, trauma-informed care. Kavod, 8, http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered Assumptions: Towards a New Psychology of trauma. New York: The Free Press

Kaiser, A.P., Wachen, J.S., Potter, C., Moye, J., Davison, E., with the Stress, Health and Aging Research Program (2017) Posttraumatic stress symptoms among older adults: A review. National Center for PTSD.

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/symptoms_older_adults.asp.

Kilpatrick, D.G., Resnick, H.S., Minanak, M.E., Miller, M.W., Keyes, K.M., and Friedman, M.J.

(2013). National estimates of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD prevalence using DSM-IV and DSM 5 criteria. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26, 537-547.

United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Statutory Authority OAA/Title IV/Sec. 411

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$8,500,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$8,500,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$8,000,000 Per Budget Period

Length of Project Period:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/symptoms_older_adults.asp https://library.samhsa.gov/product/samhsas-concept-trauma-and-guidance-trauma-informed-approach/sma14-4884 https://library.samhsa.gov/product/samhsas-concept-trauma-and-guidance-trauma-informed-approach/sma14-4884

This funding opportunity will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement. As such, the successful applicant should expect substantial ACL involvement in grant activities as appropriate or requested, including reviewing products for compliance with federal grant rules and participating in planning and training activities, which will be determined by the needs and priorities of the grantee and ACL. The terms and conditions for this cooperative agreement are as follows and will be incorporated by reference in the Notice of Award (NOA).

The ACL will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement noted above:

• Perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of grants management while working with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

• Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of ACL by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.

• Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project.

• Provide guidance to the grantee, as necessary, in making sub-awards (i.e., sub-grants/contracts) as permitted in this NOFO.

• Provide guidance to the grantee on the provision of technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

• Review and provide technical advice to the grantee on work products and other project deliverables and processes.

• Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues as they relate to the goals and objectives of this grant program.

• Work with the grantee on the development and implementation of evaluation and quality assurance systems to ensure that performance is measured, and continuous improvement occurs.

• Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

The grantee will execute the responsibilities of the cooperative agreement as listed below:

• Immediately inform, and collaborate with, the ACL on any in-scope modification of the work plan.

• Evaluate the impact of overall project activities and ensure quality assurance systems are in place.

• Share information with ACL, national and local organizations, and other entities as appropriate.

• Fulfill all the requirements of the grant initiative as detailed in this program announcement.

• Report semi-annually on project accomplishments, challenges, and progress towards measurable objectives.

• Work with the ACL program project officer to evaluate performance results reported semiannually and jointly develop strategies to address those areas requiring improvement.

ACL will assist the grantee in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of the Administrator/Assistant Secretary for Aging and the

Department of Health and Human Services, by sharing such information via email, conference calls, briefings, memos, and other consultations. The ACL project officer will provide technical assistance and guidance on issues related to grant management and implementation, including the execution of the cooperative agreement. The project officer will also share information with the grantee about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by ACL or the awardee at any time. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the mutual agreement of both parties, except where ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 74 or 92, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments. When an award is issued, the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals and institutions of higher education.

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

Yes For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients are not expected to provide cost sharing or matching. However, recipients are allowed to voluntarily propose a commitment of non-federal resources. If an applicant decides to voluntarily contribute non-federal resources towards project costs and the costs are accepted by ACL, the non-federal resources will be included in the approved project budget. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to meet the voluntary amount of non-federal resources that was accepted by ACL as part of the approved project costs and that was identified in the approved 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.

Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 75% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 25% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources. In other words, for every three (3) dollars received in federal funding, the applicant must contribute at least one (1) dollar in non-federal resources toward the project’s total cost.

This “three-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in the “Instructions for Completing Requested Forms.” You can use this formula to calculate your minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 25% of the federal share, rather than 25% of the project’s total cost.

There are two types of match: 1) non-federal cash and 2) non-federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors, and consultants, are considered matching funds. Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (third party) donations. Examples of non-federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement. Applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review.

Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria Applications that fail to meet each of the responsiveness criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration:

• A copy of the applicant organization’s current and valid 501c3 is included in the application package

• Documented history of working at the national level

• The commitment of (at least) a full-time project director with recognized expertise in the field of PCTI and Holocaust survivors; and

• Demonstrated expertise in working with entities serving non-Holocaust survivor older adult populations in the U.S.

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

1. Applications must be submitted electronically via https://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, by the due date listed in section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 40 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 40 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 40 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 40-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from https://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission. For example, you will be required to provide an https://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

1. Address to Request Application Package Application materials can be obtained from https://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants.

Please note, ACL requires applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov in Workspace. Grants.gov Workspace is the standard way for organizations and individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. An overview and training on Grants.gov Workspace can be found here at:

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

The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with https://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

• At the https://www.grants.gov website, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, including the hours of operation. ACL strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application due date to begin the application process because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

• All applicants must have a UEI and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Effective June 11, 2018, when registering or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator. Please be sure to read the FAQs located at www.sam.gov to learn more. Applicants should allot sufficient time prior to the application deadline to finalize a new, or renew an existing registration.

This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award. Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at:

SAM.GOV Quick Start Guide for Financial Assistance Registrations.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award.

• Note: Failure to submit the correct EIN Suffix can lead to delays in identifying your organization and access to funding in the Payment Management System.

• Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division (OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its UEI number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=54e0016fdb3bbd90a8cb4a3913961934

Additionally, all first-tier subaward recipients must have a UEI number at the time the subaward is made.

• The Federal Government will transition from the DUNS Number to the New Unique Entity Identifier. As of April of 2022, the federal government stopped using the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities. At that point, entities doing business with the federal government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in SAM.gov. It is entered on the SF-424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities.

• You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications. In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for recipients of federal financial assistance, the general certification and representation requirements contained in the Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs, and the Standard Form 424D (SF-424D) – Assurances – Construction Programs, have been standardized federal-wide. Effective January 1, 2020, the updated common certification and representation requirements will be stored and maintained within SAM.

Organizations or individuals applying for federal financial assistance as of January 1, 2020, must validate the federally required common certifications and representations annually through SAM located at SAM.gov.

• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment from https://www.grants.gov that contains https://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from https://www.grants.gov.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living aoa.oaa@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent Number of Days from Publication 5

07/05/2025 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. The deadline for submission of the letter of intent is (Insert date here). Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov

Administration for Community Living

Kari Benson

Administration on Aging aoa.oaa@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 30 to 40 pages; 40 pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 40 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 40 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration.

The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 40-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit. A new requirement for all Project Narratives is a section that explains the experience of the project team.

The sample components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 40-page limit include:

• Summary/Abstract

• Problem Statement

• Goal(s) and Objective(s)

• Proposed Intervention

• Special Target Populations and Organizations

• Outcomes

• Project Management

• Evaluation

• Dissemination

• Organizational Capability

• Experience of Project Team

Summary/Abstract This section should include a brief (265 words maximum) description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.”

Problem Statement This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the particular problem or issue the proposed intervention is designed to address, including how the project will potentially affect older adults and /or people with disabilities, their families and caregivers and the health care and social services systems.

Goals and Objectives This section should consist of a description of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives. Unless the project involves multiple, complex interventions, we recommend you have only one overall goal.

Proposed Intervention This section should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention you are proposing to use to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement”. You should also describe the rationale for using the particular intervention, including factors such as: “lessons learned” for similar projects previously tested in your community, or in other areas of the country; factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the intervention (e.g., existing social or economic factors that you’ll be able to take advantage of, etc.). Also note any major barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will be able to overcome those barriers. Be sure to describe the role and makeup of any strategic partnerships you plan to involve in implementing the intervention, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

Special Target Populations and Organizations This section should describe how you plan to involve organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project. This section should also describe whether, and if so, how the proposed interventions will adhere to focusing on those populations defined as being of greatest economic need and those of greatest social need, including those in both urban and rural communities (see Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended; Sec 102 (23) and (24)).

Outcomes This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from the project. (NOTE: ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes). This section should also describe how the project’s findings might benefit the field at large, (e.g., how the findings could help other organizations throughout the nation to address the same or similar problems.) List measurable outcomes in the optional work plan grid (“Project Work Plan – Sample Template”) under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative along with a description of how the project might benefit the field at large.

A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits consumers. It demonstrates the functional status, mental well-being, knowledge, skill, attitude, awareness or behavior.) It can also describe a change in the degree to which consumers exercise choice over the types of services they receive, or whether they are satisfied with the way a service is delivered. Additional examples include: a change in the responsiveness or cost-effectiveness of a service delivery system; a new model of support or care that can be replicated in the ACL network; new knowledge that can contribute to the field of community living; a measurable increase in community awareness; or a measurable increase in persons receiving services. A measurable outcome is not a measurable “output”, such as: the number of clients served; the number of training sessions held; or the number of service units provided.

You should keep the focus of this section on describing what outcome(s) will be produced by the project. You should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcome(s) will be measured and reported.

Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of your proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited. It is totally appropriate for a project to have only ONE outcome that it is trying to achieve through the intervention reflected in the project’s design.

Project Management This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress, (i.e., measure of performance towards the goals stated in the funding opportunity announcement and for your specific intervention/activities) preparation of reports; communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Evaluation This section should describe the specific outcomes (e.g., changes in clients, organizations, and/or communities) expected as a result of this funding as well as method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative - from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if it proves successful.

Dissemination This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats, to parties who might be interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Organizational Capability Each application should include an organizational capability statement and vitae for key project personnel. The organizational capability statement should describe how the applicant agency (or the particular division of a larger agency which will have responsibility for this project) is organized, the nature and scope of its work and/or the capabilities it possesses. It should also include the organization’s capability to sustain some or all project activities after federal financial assistance has ended.

This description should cover capabilities of the applicant agency not included in the program narrative, such as any current or previous relevant experience and/or the record of the project team in preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products. If appropriate, include an organization chart showing the relationship of the project to the current organization.

Please attach short vitae for key project staff only. Neither vitas nor an organizational chart will count towards the narrative page limit. Also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role(s) in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Budget Narrative/Justification The Budget Narrative/Justification can be provided using the format included in the document, “Budget Narrative/Justification – Sample Format.” Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to this document, which provides an example of the level of detail sought. A combined multi-year Budget Narrative/Justification, as well as a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification for each year of potential grant funding is required. Failure to include a budget narrative will result in a score of “zero” for the budget section of the application review.

Work Plan The Project Work Plan should reflect and be consistent with the Project Narrative and Budget. It should include a statement of the project’s overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks / action steps that will be pursued to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task / action step, the work plan should identify timeframes involved (including start-and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task. Please use the “Project Work Plan - Sample Template” format as a reference and resource, if desired. Failure to include a workplan with your application will result in a score of “zero” for this section in the application review.

Letters of Commitment from Key Participating Organizations and Agencies Include confirmation of the commitments to the project (should it be funded) made by key collaborating organizations and agencies in this part of the application. Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator. For applications submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov, signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Applicants unable to scan the signed letters of commitment may fax them to the ACL Office of Grants Management at 202-357-3467 by the application submission deadline. In your fax, be sure to include the funding opportunity number and your agency name.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with https://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

• At the https://www.grants.gov website, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, including the hours of operation. ACL strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application due date to begin the application process because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

• All applicants must have a UEI number and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Effective June 11, 2018, when registering or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator. Please be sure to read the FAQs located at www.sam.gov to learn more. Applicants should allot sufficient mailto:support@grants.gov time prior to the application deadline to finalize a new, or renew an existing registration.

This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award. Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at:

SAM.GOV Quick Start Guide for Financial Assistance Registrations.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award.

• Note: Failure to submit the correct EIN Suffix can lead to delays in identifying your organization and access to funding in the Payment Management System.

• Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division (OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its UEI number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

Additionally, all first-tier subaward recipients must have a UEI number at the time the subaward is made.

• The Federal Government will transition from the DUNS Number to the New Unique Entity Identifier. As of April of 2022, the federal government stopped using the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities.