Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0004 (1).pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants

HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0004

08/15/2025

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:

Lifespan Respite Care Program: State Program Enhancement Grants Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-LRLI-0004

Primary CFDA Number:

93.072 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

08/15/2025 Due Date for Applications:

08/15/2025 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

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary The Lifespan Respite Care Program improves statewide availability of, and access to, high-quality community-based respite care services to all family caregivers so that they are supported https://www.grants.gov/ in their efforts. Grantees will collaborate with state respite organizations and coalitions to enhance and expand the availability of lifespan respite services.

I. Funding Opportunity Description Program description

The Lifespan Respite Care Program,[1] enacted by Congress in 2006 under Title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 201) and reauthorized in 2020,[2] empowers coordinated state systems to provide accessible, community-based respite care services. Respite services support family caregivers of children and adults across all age groups, disabilities, and chronic conditions. As an essential component of home and community-based long-term services, respite services can contribute to healthier family systems and the health and well-being of caregivers and care recipients. Respite care can be both planned and emergency-based to temporarily relieve the family caregivers.

The Lifespan Respite Care programs focus on elevating the quality and availability of respite services through:

• Expansion and enrichment: Increase availability of respite services across states

• Coordination and circulation: Enhancing dissemination and coordination of these services

• Streamlined access: Facilitating ease of access to these programs

• Gap fulfillment: Identifying and addressing any existing service gaps

• Quality improvement: Enhancing the overall quality of respite services

It is ACL’s expectation that you use the relevant components of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers[3] as a guide when developing your application to fulfill the above outcomes.

Purpose

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is providing this competitive grant opportunity to help eligible state agencies implement the requirements of the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, as amended (The Act). The purpose of the program is to improve access to, and quality of, respite care services delivered to family caregivers, thereby reducing family caregiver burden.

Respite care services should provide meaningful, person-centered, and family-directed respite options that reduce isolation and barriers to accessing support services. Additionally, Lifespan Respite Programs should strive to remove the barriers family caregivers and care recipients face in accessing services.

From the outset, all programs must address the respite needs of all populations regardless of the age, disability, or chronic condition of the care recipient population. There is no phase-in or preference for specific age groups, disability categories, or populations.

Background

Lifespan respite care defined https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ442/PLAW-109publ442.pdf https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy

The Lifespan Respite Care Act, as amended, defines lifespan respite care as a coordinated system of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children or adults with special needs.

• Such a system brings together federal, state, and local resources and funding to support, expand, and streamline the delivery of planned and emergency respite services, while also providing for the recruitment and training of respite workers, and caregiver training and empowerment.

• Respite can strengthen family systems while protecting the health and well-being of both the caregiver and the care recipient.

• It is a key component of community-based long-term services and supports (LTSS).

All proposed project activities should seek to improve the delivery and quality of respite services available to families across age and disability spectrums, by establishing coordinated lifespan respite systems.

The Lifespan Respite Care Act: An overview

First passed by Congress in 2006 and reauthorized in 2020, the Act is intended to accomplish several objectives, including:

• Expanding and enhancing the supply and accessibility of respite services within the states

• Assuring respite services are coordinated between and supported through a variety of funding streams and programs

• Streamlining caregiver access to programs and filling gaps in service

• Improving the overall quality and availability respite services

What is Respite in the context of Caregiving?

Lifespan Respite Programs have been in existence in states since the 1990s. Since implementation of the federal program began in 2009, states have made considerable progress toward building sustainable programs capable of meeting the respite care needs of families and family caregivers across the lifespan. Respite care gives primary caregivers short-term relief. It allows them time to take care of their physical and mental health, rest, travel, or spend time with others.

In recent years, the environment in which Lifespan Respite Programs exist has been impacted by several key factors later mentioned, including the current post-COVID-19 environment.

The passage of the Recognize Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act of 2017[4] and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Act of 2018[5] and the release of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers[6] highlighted the importance of providing culturally appropriate person and family-centered care, and the growing crisis brought about by shortages in the direct care workforce.

The passage of the RAISE Act and the formation and work of the Family Caregiving Advisory Council[7] (FCAC) shined a spotlight on respite in its Initial Report to Congress[8] noting the importance of increasing awareness of respite and that it can mean different things for different family caregivers. For example, the report noted that “what constitutes ‘respite’ for the spouse of an older adult living with dementia (typically [in] an adult day program) differs significantly https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/PLAW-115publ119%20-%20RAISE.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/PLAW-115publ119%20-%20RAISE.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/PLAW-115publ119%20-%20RAISE.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/BILLS-115s1091enr%20-%20SGRG.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/about-acl/2018-10/BILLS-115s1091enr%20-%20SGRG.pdf https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/raise-family-caregiving-advisory-council https://acl.gov/SGRG/report from what the parent of a child with autism who also has educational needs would view as an equivalent form of respite.”

The recent 2024 Report to Congress: Progress on National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, reinforces that the need for coordinated support for family caregivers is greater than ever.

Who are caregivers?

Each year, at least 53 million people provide unpaid care to older adults and people of all ages with disabilities. Grandparents and other relatives care for many children. At least 2 million grandparents are caring for children without parents around.

Why is the number of family caregivers increasing?

• Growing populations of older adults and people with disabilities

• Mental and Physical health issues and disease management

• Housing shortages

• Isolation

• Increased numbers of workers assuming caregiver roles (Working Caregiver and Cost of

Caregiving: According to a Harvard Business School report, 73% of American workers surveyed provide some type of caregiving at home).

• Social and Economic issues

• Lack of direct care workers, worsened by the pandemic

• Opioid crisis and other circumstances contribute to creating new "grandfamilies"

• Lack of affordable, accessible childcare for children with disabilities

Similarly, from the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’s[9] Initial Report to Congress,[10] we know that due to “the round-the-clock nature of caring for children, especially young children, and children with disabilities or exposure to trauma, [kin and grandparent caregivers] need a variety of formal and informal respite options.”

The reports of both advisory councils included the recommendation: “increase the availability of high-quality, setting-appropriate, and caregiver-defined respite to give caregivers a healthy and meaningful break from their responsibilities.”

The 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers[11] provides an opportunity for states to rethink their respite systems of care and use the strategy as a roadmap for program planning and execution. Additionally, you are encouraged to review the latest resources from the ARCH Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center: Role of Respite in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers[12] and incorporate the ideas and approaches it contains, where appropriate. Additional resources include:

• First Principles: Cross-Cutting Considerations for Family Caregiver Support:[14] This component of the Strategy includes essential practices to support each of the four core principles discussed that you may want to incorporate into your plan.

• The National Center to Strengthen the Direct Care Workforce:[15] This technical assistance and resource center funded by ACL works to support recruitment, retention, and professional development of workers who provide home- and community-based services.

https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/2024ProgressReport_StrategyToSupportCaregivers.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/2024ProgressReport_StrategyToSupportCaregivers.pdf https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/navigating-aging-alone-dementia/ https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/Documents/research/Hidden%20Workers%20The%20Case%20for%20Caregivers%20100324.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/SGRG-InitialReportToCongress_2021-11-16.pdf https://acl.gov/CaregiverStrategy https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/ https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FirstPrinciples.pdf https://acl.gov/programs/direct-care-workforce

• ACL’s Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center (ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center) resource, “The Role of Respite in the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers”.[17]

Program priority areas

The strongest applications will be those that are grounded in the Principles[18] and Actions[19] outlined in the strategy.

Additionally, you should fully describe the approaches you will use for advancing the State Lifespan Respite Systems in each of the following program priority areas:

• Direct service provision

• Continued focus on systems development and/or enhancement

• Strengthened collaborations and partnerships

• Paid and volunteer respite provider training

• Identification and reduction of gaps in current services

Direct service provision

The Lifespan Respite Care Act stipulates the provision of five required and three optional services. Application narratives should clearly and completely describe the state agency’s plan for further developing and delivering each of the required and optional services in a way that considers the available evidence, emerging strategies, and promising practices in the field of respite.

For more information on emerging, model, or promising practices in the field of respite and family caregiver support, you should review information available on the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center webpage.[20]

Enhanced systems development

You should describe in detail your objectives for advancing existing lifespan respite care services statewide, with a focus on the following areas:

• Capacity-building of respite care providers (both paid and unpaid)

• Leveraging resources across various funding streams and partners to sustain and expand available respite care services

• Implementing key administrative functions (including logistical, information technology, communications, operational, and service coordination activities)

• Ongoing monitoring and quality assurance of respite care services

Strengthened collaborations and partnerships

Partnership, collaboration, and stakeholder involvement are critical to creating a successful statewide Lifespan Respite Care Program. Whether these partnerships are facilitated by the state agency, the statewide respite coalition/organization, the state aging and disability resource center, or collaborative efforts, having the broadest possible array of stakeholders involved is essential.

https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://archrespite.org/library/the-role-of-respite-in-the-national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers/ https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FirstPrinciples.pdf https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_ActionsSCO.pdf https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/ https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/ https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/

You should propose approaches for expanding collaboration and partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure the program reaches the broadest population of eligible service recipients possible.

Potential stakeholders include:

• State and local government entities that administer and deliver human services designed to meet the respite care needs of family caregivers

• State and local chapters of organizations as well as entities representing individuals with special needs from across the disease and disability spectrum, and for whom respite is an essential component of their ongoing support

• Any other public, private, or nonprofit entities that provide respite care services or other support to caregivers focused on special or targeted populations, that may not be otherwise involved with the state’s existing respite care coalition

• Any additional federally funded, local, or state program that may provide support or resources that can be leveraged to further expand lifespan respite care services

Paid and volunteer respite workforce training

• You should describe the extent to which your proposed projects will work to expand or strengthen the respite care workforce, whether paid or volunteer, including recruitment, training, and oversight (National Respite Care Provider Training) o Emphasize cultural competence and quality in service delivery

• You should describe how the quality and safety of any respite care services provided will be monitored, including methods to ensure that respite care workers and volunteers are appropriately screened o They should also possess the necessary skills to care for the needs of the care recipient in the absence of the family caregiver

Identification and reduction of gaps in current services

• You are expected to demonstrate knowledge of your current system of respite services and provide details that inform how the current system of respite services forms the foundation for your statewide systems of lifespan respite care services, including how such services are targeted and delivered.

• Based on your description of the current statewide respite care system, you should then identify and explain known gaps in the provision of respite services and propose how those gaps in respite services will be addressed.

Additional application elements and considerations

In addition to the program priority areas, you should clearly and concisely address the following in your application:

Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement

A memorandum of understanding/agreement (MoU/A) regarding the joint responsibility for the development of the state’s lifespan respite program between the eligible State agency and the public or private nonprofit statewide respite coalition or organization must be in place at the time of application and submitted with the application. Applicants are encouraged to embed https://archrespite.org/library/national-respite-care-provider-training-and-replication-toolkit/ flexibility within the MoU/A so that all parties to the agreement can modify scope, tasks, or partnerships as the need arises. See attachments.

Program performance and outcomes measurement

Performance measurement is an important part of creating a fully functioning Lifespan Respite Care System. Your goals should identify relevant consumer-based, programmatic, and systems-level outcomes the state would like to measure, as well as proposed approaches.

You should choose and identify consumer-level outcome measures or draw on the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center’s “Measuring Systems Change and Consumer Outcomes: Recommendations for Developing Performance Metrics for StateLifespan Respite Programs” to assist in conceptualizing, developing, and implementing useful performance metrics, such as caregiver or system change outcomes.[24]

You should describe how you plan to count and record the experiences of the people being served in their Lifespan Respite Program. You should describe how data will be collected together with current respite programs and funding streams.

Data collection and reporting

Awardees will work with ACL to complete the data collection and reporting requirements, as stated in Section 2904 of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of 2020.[25] Respite Care Program applicants, funded through this announcement, will use the Office of Management and Budget-approved data collection tools developed for this program.

Sustainability

Through this funding announcement, ACL expects to realize tangible, measurable, and sustainable advancements in state capacities to provide respite and related services (see proposed intervention section) to family caregivers across the age and disability spectrum.

You will be evaluated, in part, on the extent to which you have a clear, feasible plan for the project’s sustainability beyond the period of Federal funding. You are encouraged to consider and propose a range of potential approaches for ensuring the sustainability of the project once Federal funding has ended. Tools and resources for the sustainability of Lifespan Respite Programs are available on the Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Centers’ sustainability tools webpages.[26]

Product dissemination and sharing

To enable other states to replicate programs and approaches and eliminate the need to “reinvent the wheel,” you will be asked to submit to ACL and the ACL Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance Center key products that can serve as resource guides for future Lifespan Respite Care Program development, enhancement, and expansion. You should submit copies of all final products to ACL at the conclusion of the award.

Participation in technical assistance efforts

You will be expected to participate in technical assistance activities as they pertain to Lifespan Respite Care Program and System development, management, and integration. This includes participating in regularly scheduled conference calls, webcasts, and one-on- one technical https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/library/measuring-systems-change-and-consumer-outcomes/ https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://archrespite.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PLAW-116publ324.pdf https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/sustainability-tools/ https://archrespite.org/ta-center-for-respite/sustainability-tools/ assistance opportunities initiated by yourself, the ACL project officer, or the Lifespan Respite Program Technical Assistance Resource Center.[27]

State project directors are strongly encouraged to budget resources for travel to and participation in the National Respite Conference, convened annually by the ARCH Lifespan Respite Technical Assistance and Resource Center. This conference provides participants with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends in respite program development and the opportunity to network and share best practices associated with Lifespan Respite Care Program implementation and Lifespan Respite Care System development.

Sub-awards and subcontracts

You may carry out your project directly or by subaward to, or contract with, public or private entities. Due to the nature of this program, the State project director must maintain an active role in managing and leading all aspects of the state’s lifespan respite project. If you propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project, you will not be considered for funding.

You should clearly describe, if necessary, your processes for sub-awarding or subcontracting specific activities. For activities undertaken by partner organizations, whether through subawards or subcontracts, you should clearly describe how you will oversee all sub-activities to ensure continuity across the project. Finally, you should describe how the State project director, along with the stakeholder groups, will guide the design and implementation of the statewide lifespan respite care system.

Cooperative agreement terms

Cooperative agreements require substantial ACL project involvement after an award is made.

There are specific roles for both you and ACL, which will be incorporated by reference in the Notice of Award (NoA).

Your responsibilities

• Collaborate with ACL in finalizing, executing, and modifying the work plan

• Fulfill all the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this funding opportunity, and carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded

• Communicate with the ACL project officer regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement

• Meet with the ACL project officer at least semi-annually, or at such other times as are agreed upon by either party, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this agreement

• Submit the required semi-annual and final progress reports

• Participate in technical assistance efforts as provided by the Lifespan Respite Technical

Assistance and Resource Center (TARC)

• Use the new semi-annual reporting and data collection tools as required in Section 2904 of the Act, approved for use by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• In accordance with the Stevens Amendment, all HHS grant and cooperative agreement recipients are required to acknowledge federal funding when publicly communicating projects or programs funded through HHS federal financial assistance https://archrespite.org/ https://archrespite.org/

• You must use the following language when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other ACL-supported publications and forums describing projects or programs funded in whole with ACL funding:

This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Our responsibilities

The ACL project officer shall carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement:

• Collaborate with you to finalize, execute, and modify the work plan

• Perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing grants, working with you to ensure that the minimum requirements of the grant are met

• Work with you to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues addressed by the project, and as necessary, negotiate with you to achieve a solution to any needs identified by you or ACL

• Assist you in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of ACL, the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, and the federal government by conducing periodic briefings and carrying out ongoing consultations

• Share information with you about other federally sponsored projects and activities that are relevant to you and your activities

Program income

It is called program income if you make any income from your project activities. You will have to use those funds to add to the project activities. Find more about program income at 45 CFR 75.307.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this program is the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C 201), as amended.

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$2,466,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$400,000 Per Budget Period https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

Award Floor:

$200,000 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' Funding details

Type: Cooperative agreement Expected funding: Up to $2,355,330 Expected awards: Up to 7

Funding range: $200,000 up to approximately $400,000

We plan to fund awards in three 12-month budget periods for a total three-year period of performance of September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Only these types or organizations may apply:

• All States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

• Individuals and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.

• By statute, eligible applicants are those state agencies that:

o Administer the State’s program under the Older Americans Act of 1965.

o Administer the State’s Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social Security

Act. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.

o Are designated by the Governor of such State to administer the State’s programs under this title.

Other eligibility considerations

• Not all states that apply for funding will receive grants. Actual award amounts will vary based on the availability of federal funds.

• Only one application per state will be funded.

• States who have had one or more grants before and wish to continue building their program are eligible to apply.

• States with no currently active grants will be given priority for funding.

• Funding decisions are at the discretion of the administrator or their designee for ACL.

Only those applications ranking the highest in a third-party review will be recommended for funding by the ACL program officer.

• Successful applicants may be asked to revise their project scope, budget/budget narratives and workplan based on smaller-than- requested award amounts.

• Funds made available under this announcement shall be used to supplement and must not supplant other federal, state, and local funds available for respite care services.

• If you propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project, you will not be considered for funding.

• Grantees must work in collaboration with the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)/No Wrong Door System and the statewide respite coalition or respite organization.

• Eligible state agencies funded under this announcement shall use grant funds solely for the purposes outlined in the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, as amended.

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.

Cost sharing

This program requires you to contribute 25% of the project’s total cost.

You can calculate this cost-sharing requirement by using the following formula:

• Start with the federal share

• Multiply the federal share by 25 and divide that product by 75

Example: Multiply $120,000 (federal share) x 25 (required cost sharing percent) and divide that product by 75.

Cost sharing in this example is $40,000.

Types of cost sharing

You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization.

• Cash contributed by partners or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from your organization, partners, or other third parties

Cost-sharing commitments

You must follow through on your promise of cost-sharing funds. You should not promise more than the required minimum amount of cost sharing. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount.

You’ll have to include your proposed cost-sharing funds when you fill out your Standard Federal Forms (SF-424 and SF-424A) and your budget justification narrative.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria Applications will be reviewed for the following criteria:

• Is the applicant an eligible state agency?

• Did you request the minimum award amount (award floor) or more to fund your project?

• Did you include an MoU/MoA between the eligible state agency and the statewide respite coalition/organization?

Applications that fail to meet any of the above criteria will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

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

IV. Application and Submission Information

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.

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/

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. 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.

https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=54e0016fdb3bbd90a8cb4a3913961934 https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Kari Benson

Email: aoa.oaa@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent Number of Days from Publication 18

08/15/2025 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:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Kari Benson

Email: aoa.oaa@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative Project Narratives that exceed 30 pages will have the additional pages removed. Only the first 30 pages of the project narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration.

The project work plan, budget justification narratives, memorandum of understanding/ agreement, letters of commitment, and vitae of key project personnel are not counted as part of the project narrative for purposes of the 30-page limit.

The project narrative is the most important part of the application. We use it as the primary basis to decide whether your project meets the statutory requirements and to review its merit.

The project narrative should give a clear and concise description of your project.

Be sure to cite all your sources. Merit reviewers may lower your score if you do not.

Also study the merit review criteria to make sure you answer all questions and cover all topics reviewers will look at.

Summary/Abstract Provide a brief project summary of no more than 265 words. You will need to include:

• Goals: Broad overall purpose, like a mission statement that says what you want to do and where you want to be

• Objectives: Narrow, specific, and clear steps toward the goals. These are the “how” to achieve the goals

• Outcomes: These are the measurable results of a project o Include expected changes among those served, such as clients, systems, organizations, and communities o These should tie directly to your goals and those of this funding

• Products: The materials and other deliverables you expect to generate through the project

Problem Statement This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of lifespan respite care services currently available within the state, including increased availability of services because of previous funding award activities, existing gaps, and unmet needs that need to be addressed.

You should also describe how you anticipate challenges related to scaling existing lifespan respite care services, as well as available partners and resources that will support scaling.

Discuss the impact of existing lifespan respite care services on older adults and people with disabilities (including specific subgroups within those populations), their families, and caregivers.

For purposes of this funding opportunity, you are required to include the following descriptive information as it pertains to the caregiving needs and current respite care infrastructure in your state:

• The population of family caregivers in the state, and the criteria used to identify family caregivers eligible for respite care services

• The extent and nature of the respite care needs of that population

• Existing respite care services for that population, including number of family caregivers being served and the extent of unmet demand or need

• Existing methods to coordinate respite care information and services to the population at the State and local level, and barriers that impede increased access to lifespan respite care services

• A description of respite care services available to family caregivers in the eligible State agency’s State or locality, including unmet needs and how the eligible State agency’s plan for use of funds will improve the coordination and distribution of respite care services for family caregivers

Goals and Objectives This section should consist of a description of the project’s goals 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 describe the rationale for using the particular intervention. Some examples of rationales are:

o Evidence-based/informed interventions o Lessons learned for similar projects previously tested in your community or in other areas of the country

• You should also describe factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the intervention, for example, existing social or economic factors that you’ll be able to take advantage of

• 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 form, including with other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups

Describe the following:

• How you will provide the following using evidence-informed interventions and funds provided under this funding opportunity:

o Respite care information dissemination and coordination o Respite care services o Respite care workers and volunteer recruitment and training programs o Training programs for family caregivers

• A plan for administration, collaboration, and coordination of the proposed respite care activities with other related services or programs offered by public or private, nonprofit entities such as:

o Aging and Disability Resource Centers/No Wrong Door Systems o Medicaid o National Family Caregiver Support Programs o Veterans Affairs o Protection and Advocacy entities o Developmental Disability Councils o University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service o Area Agencies on Aging o Centers for Independent Living o Community-based organizations providing support to people with disabilities o Faith-based entities

• How the population, including family caregivers, care recipients, and relevant public or private agencies, will participate in the planning and implementation of the proposed respite care activities

• How the proposed respite care activities will use other Federal, State, and local funds, programs, contributions, other forms of reimbursement, personnel, and facilities

• How the quality and safety of any respite care services provided will be monitored

• Include methods to ensure that respite care workers and volunteers are appropriately screened and possess the necessary skills to care for care recipient in the absence of the family caregiver

• The planned measures that will ensure confidentiality of the individuals served by the program

Special Target Populations and Organizations

• This section should describe how you plan to involve caregivers of older adults or children, adults with disabilities who use or need respite care, and stakeholder organizations in a meaningful way.

• You should be able to clearly describe the populations and organizations targeted, including the extent to which you have been successful responding to the needs of the populations you’ve targeted.

• You will also describe how funds from this funding opportunity will be used to address newly identified or existing unmet respite needs that expand, enhance, or build upon previous efforts.

• This section should describe how you plan to involve organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project.

Outcomes

• This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcomes that will result from the project. 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 — for example, 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, sampletemplate) under Measurable Outcomes, in addition to any discussion included in the narrative.

o Include 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, skills, attitudes, 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:

o A change in the responsiveness or cost-effectiveness of a service delivery system o A new model of support or care that can be replicated in the ACL network o New knowledge that can contribute to the field of respite o A measurable increase in community awareness o A measurable increase in the number of people 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 outcomes your project will produce.

• You should use the evaluation section to describe how the outcomes 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.

Project Management

• This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of your project staff, in particular the state project director.

• Due to the nature of this program, the state project director must maintain an active role in managing this project by managing and leading all aspects of the project.

o For the purposes of this program, ACL defines an “active role” of the state project director as no less than a 0.20 FTE.

• This section should clearly specify who will have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as:

o Project leadership o Monitoring the project’s ongoing progress o Preparing reports o Communicating with other partners and ACL

• It should describe how you will monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

• If you propose conduit or pass-through funding for another agency to lead the project, you will not be considered for funding.

• This section should include information on the roles and responsibilities of sub-awardees, subcontractors, consultants, and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes.

• This…