Foa_Content_of_HHS-2025-ACL-CIP-NWGV-0029.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Center for Innovation and Partnership

Enhancing State No Wrong Door Systems for Efficient Access to Long-Term Services and Supports

HHS-2025-ACL-CIP-NWGV-0029

03/17/2025

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 and Current Need

Approach

Outcomes and Evaluation

Organizational Capacity

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:

Center for Innovation and Partnership Funding Opportunity Title:

Enhancing State No Wrong Door Systems for Efficient Access to Long-Term Services and Supports Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2025-ACL-CIP-NWGV-0029

Primary CFDA Number:

93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

02/19/2025 Due Date for Applications:

03/17/2025 Date for Informational Conference Call:

02/05/2025 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 Through this funding opportunity, the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) plans to fund up to 10 awards for two-year grants that strengthen state or territory No Wrong Door (NWD) System infrastructure to make it easier for individuals in need of long-term services and supports to connect to existing community resources. Applicants are encouraged to develop key goals for NWD enhancements to streamline access to public services, including increasing a person-centered workforce across all aging and disability networks, modernizing information technology systems, improving efficiency and effectiveness of referral processes, and more.

https://www.grants.gov/

Applicants must demonstrate outcomes that are significant, measurable, and sustainable beyond the duration of the grant period. A critical component will be establishing or strengthening a NWD governance structure, such as a leadership council, advisory group, strategic planning group, or other formal arrangement. This must include representation from multiple state-level agencies that will have delegated authority to guide ongoing development, implementation, financing, evaluation, and continual improvement of NWD System integration. This funding opportunity will accelerate opportunities for meeting state policy goals, such as Multisector Plans for Aging or other legislative actions supporting access systems.

An informational conference call will be held on February 5, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00pm ET.

Toll Free Number: 888-469-3312 Passcode: 6350342

A recording will be available approximately one hour after the call concludes at the following number: 866-363-1835

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background

The U.S. long-term care system is complex and includes multiple programs and services with varying eligibility and application guidelines. For individuals and caregivers interacting with the system, the experience can be time consuming and confusing and often occurs during a crisis when changing circumstances require urgent decisions about new or additional services and supports. Access to timely information and seamless connection to services and supports in the community can help individuals in need of services and family caregivers continue to thrive in the community and prevent unnecessary and costly nursing home admissions. Often times, people in need of long-term services and supports (LTSS) simply don’t know where to go for help and experience frustration as they try to find options that meet their needs. Many older adults find the process of selecting long-term care causes anxiety (53%) and frustration (52%), while few feel confident (23%), at peace (23%), or happy (14%) while making a choice.[1]

For over two decades, ACL and its federal partners have invested in state-level infrastructure and systems change to enhance and streamline the consumer experience with accessing LTSS.

These investments include the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) program, Real Choice Systems Change grants, the Balancing Incentive Program, Money Follows the Person (MFP), and Veteran Directed Care (VDC). These initiatives helped states, territories, and tribal organizations cultivate stronger partnerships across aging, disability, Medicaid, and Veteran services, increase availability of person-centered planning and self-directed care, and coordinate stakeholder efforts that improve access to a wide range of community services, with a goal of providing the most efficient, easy-to-understand and accessible process possible for all populations requiring long-term care.

Over time, it became apparent that a systematic approach to enhance existing infrastructure, blend and braid funding streams, and ensure buy-in from multiple state-level agencies was needed. This effort yielded the NWD System vision and Key Elements. NWD is defined by state-led, cross-agency initiatives to strengthen the core functions that help simplify the process through which individuals of all ages, abilities, and incomes can get unbiased information and one-on-one counseling on the LTSS options available in their communities. The four core NWD functions include:

https://nwd.acl.gov/pdf/NWD-National-Elements.pdf

• State Governance and Administration: Streamlining access to services across the long-term care system depends on a multi-agency leadership team, responsible for coordinating NWD implementation, financing, evaluation, and continual improvement.

This includes representatives from the State Medicaid Agency, the State Unit on Aging, and the state agencies that serve or represent the interests of individuals with physical disabilities, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the state authorities administering mental health or behavioral services. States may involve other state-level agencies, such as the housing agency, budget office, the agency administering programs for Veterans, or the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs).

• Public Outreach and Coordination with Key Referral Sources: Coordinating outreach and public education through key referral sources across community-based organizations, state agencies, and technology systems that enhance cross-referrals and integrated partnerships with providers. This is a way to ensure systematic processes across all NWD partners to provide Information and Referral/Assistance (I&R/A) and manage referrals across platforms. Key NWD partners include entities that regularly encounter individuals eligible for LTSS (e.g., agencies, organizations, health care entities, community referral platforms such as Social Health Access Referral Platforms (SHARPs), websites, 211s, hotlines).

• Person-Centered Counseling: Developing standards and training for person-centered practices, thinking, and planning across the workforce to facilitate informed choice, promote independence, and support individuals and caregivers in meeting their preferences and goals. Provision of PCC ensures that the person with LTSS needs directs the PCC process. Staff performing PCC in the NWD System have the competencies to conduct person-centered planning in a way that is consistent with the person-centered planning requirements outlined in the CMS Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule.

• Streamlined eligibility to public programs: Improving efficiency and effectiveness of intake, assessment, application, and eligibility determination processes through coordinated information sharing that streamlines the continuum of access to services.

This occurs across all NWD System partners that provide I&R/A and person-centered counseling. Information-sharing processes (e.g., MOUs, written protocols) help coordination among agencies, including efficient electronic transfer of information.

Financial and functional/clinical eligibility determination processes for public programs are highly coordinated by the NWD System so that individuals experience one streamlined process.

At its core, a state NWD System is driven by a network of community-based organizations (CBOs) comprised of staff such as information and referral/assistance specialists, person-centered counselors, etc., that assist individuals navigating health and social care services and are supported by a governance structure that ensures these functions are available and coordinated across the state. These NWD partners have unmatched expertise in understanding local culture and needs, service coordination and delivery, and securing benefits, services, and supports that maximize independence.

Next Phase of NWD https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/guidance/home-community-based-services-final-regulation/index.html https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/home-community-based-services/guidance/home-community-based-services-final-regulation/index.html

The federal vision was based on state innovation, and states have continued to advance access systems with the most successful states creating governance structures to oversee the efficient administration of access functions. For the past 13 years, the LTSS Scorecard has measured states’ LTSS systems along several indicators including NWD. In the most recent 2023 LTSS Scorecard Report, the NWD indicator was among the top three rankings to show improvement, and two-thirds of states made progress toward fully functional status with their NWD Systems to enable easier access to LTSS for all populations. Although states are making significant progress, more improvement is needed to modernize approaches to outreach, information, referral, and enrollment into public programs and fully engage leadership at all levels of government.

Many states are modernizing components of the LTSS system through multisector plans for aging (MPAs) and responding to the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers (Strategy). Seventy two percent of states are using the Strategy to inform their state policy work and 15 of the 26 states with an MPA in place or in development are using the recommendations from the Strategy to guide the work.[2] The Strategy specifically calls out NWD as a potential action for states – “States can fund improvements to their No Wrong Door/Aging and Disability Resource Systems to expand their ability to support family caregivers and the people they support in making informed decisions about their long-term services and supports and to help them access public and private programs...”[3]

Project Goals

This funding opportunity is designed to support state efforts to modernize access to LTSS through the NWD System. Applicants are encouraged to consider current and past efforts to engage federal, state, and community-based organizations in enhancing NWD operations, outcomes, and system processes.

Applicants’ proposed goals and objectives must align with at least one of the four functions of NWD, as defined below. Additional context and examples can be found in this new resource:

Resources to Strengthen No Wrong Door Systems, a compliment to the NWD Key Elements.

• Coordinating outreach and public education through key referral sources across community-based organizations, state agencies, technology systems, etc. that enhance cross-referrals and integrated partnerships with providers.

• Improving efficiency and effectiveness of intake, assessment, application, and eligibility determination processes through coordinated information sharing that streamlines the continuum of access to services.

• Ensuring governance and leadership to design, implement, and administer related policy, stakeholder inclusion, sustainability, continuous quality improvement, technology infrastructure, and resource allocation.

• Training a person-centered workforce that is culturally responsive and trained to facilitate informed choice, promote independence, and support individuals and caregivers in meeting their preferences and goals.

Project goals can focus on one or more of these key objectives:

• Advance national NWD workforce through embedded training and standards for person-and family-centered practices.

https://ltsschoices.aarp.org/scorecard-report/innovation-and-opportunity https://ltsschoices.aarp.org/scorecard-report/innovation-and-opportunity https://www.ta-community.com/t/q6ylxal/acl-resourcestostrengthennowrongdoorsystems

• Implement recommendations from the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers to make it easier for caregivers to navigate and access services and supports.

• Strategically align NWD goals with state-level policy initiatives and cross-sector planning efforts, such as Multisector Plans for Aging, to document and advance increased access to LTSS.

• Develop NWD impact and outcomes analysis and performance measures to demonstrate cost savings to Medicaid.

• Develop protocols for responding to disasters and emergency situations by ensuring NWD state partners have a role in responding to workforce capacity and safety issues, and continuing to provide essential services, to the degree possible.

• Accelerate opportunities for diverse funding and sustainability for enhancing NWD functions, including Medicaid Administrative Claiming, increasing public-private partnerships between CBOs and health care systems, and enhancing care transitions.

• Facilitate state access system efficiency by coordinating and collaborating with critical pathway providers such as primary care, hospitals, and nursing facilities (places where individuals and their caregivers end up when LTSS needs arise).

• Expand the landscape of community-based partners that support NWD efforts to increase the capacity to serve all populations.

o Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), o Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), o Centers for Independent Living (CILs), o Developmental Disabilities Councils (DDC), o University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research & Service (UCEDDs), o Mental/Behavioral health agencies, o Traumatic Brain Injury provider agencies, o Protection and Advocacy Agencies (P&A), o Housing entities (i.e. Continuums of Care [CoCs] and Public Housing Agencies

[PHA's]) o Native American tribal organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native

Hawaiian), o Community care hubs (CCHs), and o Other local organizations that serve persons with disabilities and/or older adults.

• Ensure referral processes and access points extend across all programs and services that support access to LTSS and expand upon goals for aligning health and social care.

o Housing o Transportation o Assistive Technology o State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)/Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) o Hospitals and health systems o Nursing facilities o 211 or other community service referral partners o Other programs that serve older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers.

https://multisectorplanforaging.org/ https://nwd.acl.gov/sustaining-a-nwd-system.html

• Address the need for modernized Information Technology (IT) systems by bridging knowledge gaps through education, information, and practical insights and generate actionable recommendations for sustainable social care integration pathways and IT implementation that improve existing information and referral systems.

• Develop a systematic approach, in partnership with SHIP and other state partners, for coordinating all access and intake processes, including IR&A, benefits access, Medicaid enrollment and eligibility, etc.

Other Requirements

• Grantees of this funding opportunity will be expected to establish or strengthen a NWD governance structure, such as a leadership council, advisory group, strategic planning group, or other. This must include representation from multiple state-level agencies, as listed below, that will have delegated authority to guide ongoing development, implementation, financing, evaluation, and continual improvement of NWD System integration.

o State Medicaid agency o State Unit on Aging o State agencies that serve or represent the interests of individuals with physical disabilities o State agencies that serve or represent the interests of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities o State authorities administering mental health services o Other key state agencies such as housing, behavioral health, transportation, nutrition, state Assistive Technology Act programs, health IT, state insurance departments (such as SHIP or benefits enrollment)

• A project deliverable by the end of Year Two will be to document a sustainability strategy that advances the NWD functions aligned with the project goals beyond this grant.

o Establishes meaningful outcome and process measures and a method for continually evaluating and improving the performance of the NWD System to ensure easier access to LTSS for all populations.

▪ This would be evaluated and drafted throughout the two-year project period.

o Includes data collection and evaluation from a full range of organizations that play a formal role in carrying out the NWD System functions and that have been designated by the state to ensure the state’s NWD System can effectively serve all LTSS populations.

• Grantees will be required to report state and local-level data on a semi-annual basis using the NWD System Management Tool.

The awards under this funding opportunity will be issued as Cooperative Agreements. Successful applicants must agree to work with ACL and its technical assistance partners on all aspects of the planning process. Grantees will have access to technical assistance through the NWD Resource Center, including one-on-one calls and small group virtual meetings with peers and subject matter experts. Grantee will also have access to various technical assistance resources, products, and toolkits through the NWD TA Community website, including access to the grantee community and discussion boards, and an updated ACL NWD website (expected to launch in Spring 2025).

[1] https://www.nexusinsights.net/long-term-care-survey/

[2] https://nashp.org/national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers-progress-and-impact-report- 2024/

[3] https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_ActionsSCO.pdf

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this funding opportunity is contained in Title IV of the Older Americans Act (OAA) (45 CFR Part 1321), as amended. Title II Section 202b of the OAA (Public Law 109-365) specifically authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Aging to work with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to: “implement in all states Aging and Disability Resource Centers –

A. to serve as visible and trusted sources of information on the full range of long-term care options that are available in the community, including both institutional and home and community-based care;

B. to provide personalized and person friendly assistance to empower people to make informed decisions about their care options;

C. to provide coordinated and streamlined access to all publicly supported long-term care options so that individuals can obtain the care they need through a single intake, assessment and eligibility determination process;

D. to help people to plan ahead for their future long-term care needs; and E. to assist, in coordination with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, Medicare beneficiaries in understanding and accessing the Prescription Drug Coverage and prevention health benefits available under the Medicare Modernization Act.”

II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$4,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$450,000 Per Project Period

Award Floor:

$350,000 https://www.nexusinsights.net/long-term-care-survey/ https://nashp.org/national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers-progress-and-impact-report-2024/ https://nashp.org/national-strategy-to-support-family-caregivers-progress-and-impact-report-2024/ https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_ActionsSCO.pdf

Per Project Period

Length of Project Period:

Other Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' 24-month project and budget period, forward funded

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants For FY 2024 the below guidance is provided to advance the Administration’s policy, as stated in E.O. 13985, to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.” This guidance is intended to begin to address inequities in HHS programs, processes, and policies that may serve as barriers to equal opportunity. By advancing equity in our NOFOs, we can “create opportunities for the improvement of communities that have been historically underserved, which benefits everyone.”

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:

No 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.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria None

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 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 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 20-page limit.

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. 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.

http://www.grants.gov/ 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

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.

1.

• 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:

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

3. 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

4. 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.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter Of Intent 02/19/2025

02/19/2025 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

Attention: Ami Patel, Office of Network Advancement

Email: NoWrongDoor@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8 ½” X 11” paper and 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

Smaller font sizes can be used to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The maximum length allowed for the Project Narrative is 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration.

The Project Work Plan, Budget Narrative/Justification, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

The components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 20-page limit include:

• Summary / Abstract

• Problem Statement and Current Need

• Approach

• Outcomes and Evaluation

• Organizational Capacity

Summary/Abstract

• This section should include a brief description of the proposed project, including goal(s), objectives, and outcomes.

Problem Statement and Current Need

• Briefly describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the inequities, fragmentation, and other challenges individuals and family caregivers face in trying to access LTSS within the Applicant’s state.

• Briefly describe the current and past efforts or investments to engage federal, state, and community-based organizations in enhancing NWD operations, outcomes, and system processes within the Applicant’s state.

mailto:NoWrongDoor@acl.hhs.gov

• Briefly describe how modernizing one or more NWD System functions will improve access to services for populations who may need LTSS.

Approach Project Description

• State the project’s results-based goals and major objectives, including an explanation of how one or more of the goals listed in the “Project Goals” section will be accomplished.

• Provide a clear and concise description of the approach you are proposing to use to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement and Current Need.” You should also describe the rationale for using the particular approach, including factors such as:

“lessons learned” for similar projects previously tested in your state, or in other areas of the country; factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the approach (e.g., existing social, economic or political factors that you’ll be able to take advantage of, etc.).

• Briefly describe the role and makeup of any strategic partnerships involved in the project, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

• Note any major barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will be able to overcome those barriers.

Special Target Populations/Organizations

• Describe how the applicant will establish or strengthen a NWD governance structure, such as a leadership council, advisory group, strategic planning group, or other that will have delegated authority to guide ongoing development, implementation, financing, evaluation, and continual improvement of NWD System integration.

Outcomes and Evaluation Outcomes

• This section must clearly identify the outcomes that will result from your comprehensive strategy to implement the goals of this project. Any proposed outcomes should:

o address the goals of this funding opportunity; and o be quantifiable, measurable, and likely to be achieved during the project period.

• List measurable outcomes in the Work Plan grid under “Measurable Outcomes,” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative.

Evaluation

• This section should describe the method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether or not the proposed approach 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 approach, if it proves successful.

Organizational Capacity

• Describe how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and the capabilities it possesses.

• Describe the project management, including the roles and responsibilities of project staff.

You should:

o Provide a description of the qualifications and experience of the key personnel for this proposed project, including for the Project Director. Applicants must include resumes or CVs as an attachment (upload all resumes/CVs as one attachment to your application if possible).

• Specify who will have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project, monitoring the project’s ongoing progress, preparation of reports, and communications with other partners and ACL.

Budget Narrative/Justification

• Applicants are required to provide a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification. Your budget should be aligned with the proposed activities in your Project Narrative and Work Plan.

• 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.

• Applicants must submit the following:

o Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 1 o Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 2 o Combined budget for Years 1 and 2

Work Plan

• The Work Plan should include a statement of the project’s overall goals, anticipated outcomes, key objectives, and the major tasks/action steps that will be pursued to achieve the results-based goals and outcomes. It should also include tasks/action steps taken to evaluate progress toward goals and outcomes and effectiveness of relevant strategies.

• Applicants should identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates) and the lead person responsible for completing the task.

• The Work Plan should be attached to your application as an appendix. Please use the “Project Work Plan - Sample Template” format as a reference and resource, if desired.

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 (including Office of the Governor, key state-level partners, or other stakeholders) 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.

• The quality of the letter content (i.e., specificity with respect to the role of that partner) is more important than the quantity of letters submitted with your application. Signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Letters of commitment must be uploaded as part of the applicant package via Grants.gov – hard copies will not be accepted.

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 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. At that point, entities doing business with the federal mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=54e0016fdb3bbd90a8cb4a3913961934 government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (SAM) created in SAM.gov. They will no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their identifier. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. If your entity is registered in SAM.gov today, your Unique Entity ID (SAM) has already been assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov. This includes inactive registrations. The Unique Entity ID is currently located below the DUNS Number on your entity registration record. Remember, you must be signed in to your SAM.gov account to view entity records. To learn how to view your Unique Entity ID (SAM) go to this help article.

• 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.

4. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 03/17/2025

03/17/2025 Date for Informational Conference Call:

02/05/2025 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 http://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov web page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only)

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=a05adbae1b59f8982fe5ed7ae54bcbba https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov https://www.grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, please contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide a written explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. ACL will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: We will not consider your application for further review if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, ACL will only accept your last validated electronic submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application

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

Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) will automatically send applicants a tracking number and date of receipt verification electronically once the application has been successfully received and validated in http://www.grants.gov.

5. Intergovernmental Review This program is not subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

6. Funding Restrictions The following activities are not fundable:

• Construction and/or major rehabilitation of buildings

• Basic research (e.g. scientific or medical experiments)

• Continuation of existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches

Note: A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has raised considerable concerns about grantees and contractors charging the Federal Government for additional meals outside of the standard allowance for travel subsistence known as per diem expenses. Executive Orders on Promoting Efficient Spending (E.O. 13589) and Delivering Efficient, Effective and Accountable Government (E.O. 13576) have been issued and instruct Federal agencies to promote efficient spending. Therefore, if meals are to be charged in your proposal, applicants should understand such costs must meet the following criteria outlined in the Executive Orders and HHS Grants Policy Statement:

• Meals are generally unallowable except for the following:

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ o For subjects and patients under study (usually a research program);

o Where specifically approved as part of the project or program activity, e.g., in programs providing children’s services (e.g. Head Start);

o When an organization customarily provides meals to employees working beyond the normal workday, as a part of a formal compensation arrangement, o As part of a per diem or subsistence allowance provided in conjunction with allowable travel; and o Under a conference grant, when meals are necessary and integral part of a conference, provided that meal costs are not duplicated in participants' per diem or subsistence allowances. (Note: conference grant means the sole purpose of the award is to hold a conference.)

The following updated sections 2 CFR 200.216 “Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment” became effective on or after August 13, 2020.

Recommended Actions for any recipient that has received a loan, grant, or cooperative agreement on or after August 13, 2020:

• Develop a compliance plan to implement 2 CFR 200.216 regulation.

• Develop and maintain internal controls to ensure that your organization does not expend federal funds (in whole or in part) on covered equipment, services or systems.

• Determine through reasonable inquiry whether your organization currently uses “covered telecommunication” equipment, services, or systems and take necessary actions to comply with the regulation as quickly as is feasibly possible.

7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria Applicants must document all of their source material. If any text, language, and/or materials are from another source, the applicant must make it clear the material is being quoted and where the text comes from. The applicant must also cite any sources when they obtain numbers, ideas, or other material that is not their own. If the applicant fails to comply with this requirement, regardless of the severity or frequency of the plagiarism, the reviewers shall reduce their scores accordingly even to the degree of issuing no points at all.

Applications are scored by assigning a maximum of 100 points across seven criteria:

• Problem Statement and Current Need (15 points)

• Approach (40 points)

• Outcomes and Evaluation (10 points)

• Organizational Capacity (10 points)

• Budget…