FOA FY26 VGBA Pool Safely Grant Program - FINAL.pdf

U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

POOL SAFELY GRANT PROGRAM (PSGP)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: NEW

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

NUMBER: CP-VGB-26-001

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

(CFDA) NO. 87.002

APPLICATION DUE DATE: July 13, 2026

Ensure that your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current!

Deadline extensions are not granted for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov may take up to one month to complete.

Issuance Date: May 21, 2026

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 4330 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814

POC:

Dieu Tam Rushbrook Grants Management Specialist Telephone: (301) 504-7525 E-mail: drushbrook@cpsc.gov

Lydia Glasgow Grants Management Specialist Telephone: (301)504-6917 E-mail: lglasgow@cpsc.gov

Cynthia Gillham, Program Officer mailto:drushbrook@cpsc.gov mailto:lglasgow@cpsc.gov

Telephone: (301) 504-7791 Email: CGillham@cpsc.gov

Authority: Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, Public Law No. 110-140, Title XIV, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8004-8005.

mailto:CGillham@cpsc.gov

POOL SAFELY GRANT PROGRAM

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is accepting applications for the Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP). This program aims to prevent drowning and drain entrapments of children in pools and spas by providing funding to state and local governments. The funding supports drowning prevention education and enforcement of pool safety regulations. CPSC will determine, in its sole discretion, whether an applicant has met the eligibility requirements under the VGB Act for a PSGP funding grant.

Federal Awarding Agency: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Title: Pool Safely Grant Program Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Funding Opportunity Number: CP-VGB-26-001 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 87.002 Type of Award Program: New Grant Due Date for Applications: July 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Anticipated Award: September 21, 2026 Anticipated Total Annual Available Funding: $4.0 million Budget/Project Period Length: Two (2) years Individual Award Range: $50,000 to $400,000 Cost Share or Match: There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements.

CPSC Contacts For information on the PSGP, including guidance on issues related to this FOA, contact:

Dieu Tam Rushbrook Grants Management Specialist Telephone: (301) 504-7525 E-mail: drushbrook@cpsc.gov

Lydia Glasgow Grants Management Specialist Telephone: (301)504-6917 Email: lglasgow@cpsc.gov

Cynthia Gillham Program Officer Telephone: (301) 504-7791 Email: CGillham@cpsc.gov

The Pool Safely website is at: https://www.poolsafely.gov.

Grants.gov Contacts All applicants seeking a grant under this FOA must submit their application through Grants.gov.

mailto:drushbrook@cpsc.gov mailto:lglasgow@cpsc.gov http://www.poolsafely.gov/ http://www.poolsafely.gov/ http://www.poolsafely.gov/

For help with submitting an application in Grants.gov, contact:

GRANTS.GOV

1-800-518-4726 (U.S.)

1-606-545-5035 (International) support@grants.gov

Note: Applicants should always request a case number when contacting Grants.gov.

https://grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov

Table of Contents I. Program Description

A. Purpose B. Authority

II. Federal Award Information A. Type of Award B. Summary of Funding

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants B. State or Local Law Requirements C. Other Eligibility Requirements D. Cost Sharing/Matching Funds E. Registration and Application Package

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission C. Instructions for Application Documents D. Instructions for Other Attachments Form E. Submission Dates and Times F. Intergovernmental Review G. Funding Restrictions

V. Application Review Information A. Review Criteria B. Review and Selection Process

VI. Award Administration Information A. Award Notices B. Post-Award Terms and Conditions C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

APPENDIX A – Budget Table/ Narrative, Funding Guidance APPENDIX B – Final Report Template APPENDIX C – CPSC Training and Education Materials

I. Program Description

The VGB Act requires that a minimum 25% of funding must be expended on enforcement activities and up to 75% may be used for education activities. Eligible entities include state and local governments, territories of the United States, and Indian Tribes.

A. Purpose This FOA solicits applications for the FY 2026 PSGP, in accordance with the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8004. This announcement provides potential applicants with details of the requirements to apply for a grant under this program, and it also explains how CPSC will process and evaluate applications.

The purpose of the PSGP is to provide state and local governments with assistance to help implement enforcement and education programs, with the goal of preventing drowning and drain entrapments of children in pools and spas. Under the PSGP, award recipients must allocate their funding, as follows:

1. At least 25 percent of the funding:

a) must be used to hire and train enforcement personnel for implementation and enforcement of standards under the state or local swimming pool and spa safety law (i.e., “code enforcement”); and

b) to defray administrative costs associated with such hiring and training programs.

2. The remainder may be used to:

a) educate pool owners, pool operators, and other members of the public about the standards under the swimming pool and spa safety law and about the prevention of drowning or entrapment of children using swimming pools and spas; and/or

b) defray administrative costs associated with such training and education programs.

Eligible applicants can contract with other entities, including civic organizations, to achieve some aspects of their proposal.

Pool construction and installation companies and pool service companies are not eligible under the educational component of the grant program.

The federal government will no longer fund discriminatory and divisive programs, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ("DEI") programs, that violate federal anti-discrimination laws. Entities that receive federal funds, like all other entities subject to federal anti-discrimination laws, must adhere to the equal protection principles under the Constitution and applicable federal anti-discrimination statutes. Please see Executive Order (E.O.)

14173—Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, issued on January 21, 2025, and OMB Memo M-25-33 dated September 12, 2025.

B. Authority CPSC derives the authority for the PSGP from the VGB Act, Pub. L. No. 110-140, Title XIV, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8004-8005.

II. Federal Award Information A. Type of Award

CPSC will issue grants to successful applicants under this funding opportunity.

B. Summary of Funding

Total Funding Available: $4.0 million Anticipated Number of Awards: 5-10 Expected Amount of Individual Awards: $50,000 to $400,000 Expected Award Date: September 21, 2026 Expected Period of Performance: September 21, 2026 – September 20, 2028

III. Eligibility Information-

A. Eligible Applicants are entities that fall within one of the three definitions below. Eligible applicants can contract with other entities, including civic organizations, to achieve some aspects of their proposal.

1. The 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S.

Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Territory of Pacific Islands, Midway Island, Wake Island, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island and Canal Zone.

2. Local Governments- political subdivisions of a state, which may include a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government.

3. Indian Tribes- any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as a member of an Indian tribe.

B. State or Local Law Requirements

1. The applicant must have in effect a state or local law that meets the eligibility requirements specified in the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 8004(b) and 8005(a)(1).

2. Under the VGB Act, the minimum state law requirements for eligibility are:

a) The enclosure of all outdoor residential pools and spas in the state or locality by barriers to entry that will effectively prevent small children from gaining unsupervised and unfettered access to the pool or spa;

b) That all pools and spas built in the state or locality more than 1 year after the date of the enactment of such state or local law have:

• more than 1 drain;

• 1 or more unblockable drains; or

• no main drain.

c) The applicant must provide for enforcement of the law(s).

3. The applicant must submit a full copy of the applicable state or local law(s) for eligibility to be determined.

4. The applicant must identify the specific sections of the applicable law(s) that meet each eligibility requirement of the VGB Act, in 15 U.S.C. § 8005(a)(1).

5. The applicant must explain how the applicable state or local law meets each eligibility requirement in 15 U.S.C. § 8005(a)(1). Annotate or highlight the applicable sections of the state or local law, if that helps to explain how the law meets the VGB requirements.

Please see: www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/read/, for additional instructions.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

1. Funding requests must be at least $50,000 and not exceed $400,000.

2. Applications must be filed by the specified deadline.

3. Each applicant may only file one application per submitting organization.

D. Cost Sharing/Matching Funds

1. This funding opportunity does not require cost sharing.

2. This funding opportunity does not require fund matching.

E. Registration and Application Package

Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

1. To conduct electronic business with the federal government, applicants for this funding opportunity must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at:

www.SAM.gov. SAM is a prerequisite for submitting a grant application successfully under the PSGP.

2. SAM registration must be updated annually, and applicants are responsible for maintaining their registration with current, accurate information at all times, and they must demonstrate that an entity has an active award from, or an application under consideration by, CPSC.

3. Applicants should take extreme care to verify that their SAM registration is active, because SAM is a prerequisite to submitting a grant application successfully.

4. Applicants also must ensure that their Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) is current.

NOTE: Do not wait until the last minute to update your registration in SAM.

Applicants should ensure that all passwords and registration are current, well in advance of the deadline. It takes 3 to 5 days for an entity’s registration to become active.

Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier and be registered in SAM. CPSC is prohibited from making an award to an entity without a UEI or SAM registration.

http://www.poolsafely.gov/pool-spa-safety-act/read/ http://www.sam.gov/

For more information about registering with SAM, visit: https://sam.gov/SAM/. To consult SAM’s Quick Guide for Grant Registrations, visit: SAM.gov Quick Start Guide.

IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request Application Package

1. The application package is available at: www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number CP-VGB-26-001. Applicants for this FOA must apply electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants should register immediately in Grants.gov and become familiar with the Grants.gov application process. If you do not complete the Grants.gov registration process, you will be unable to submit an application for this FOA. The registration process for Grants.gov can take up to 1 month to complete.

2. Instructions on how to register, tutorials, and FAQs are available on the Grants.gov website at: www.grants.gov. Assistance is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding federal holidays) from the Grants.gov help desk at: support@grants.gov, or by phone at: 800-518-4726.

3. Applicants should also read the Grants.gov Applicant User Guide, which includes detailed information about using the Grants.gov system. The Applicant User Guide contains helpful hints for successful submission. The Grants.gov Applicant User Guide is available at: https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

4. At www.grants.gov, under the “Applicants” tab, choose Apply for Grants. When using Grants.gov, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete the application offline, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. Waivers of the electronic submission requirement will not be granted.

5. To be able to register successfully in Grants.gov, you must complete all of the required actions below:

a) Obtain an organizational Unique Entity ID (UEI) number from SAM.gov. (The

DUNS number is no longer needed.)

b) Register the organization with System for Award Management (SAM).

c) Identify the organization’s E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC).

d) Confirm the organization’s SAM Marketing Partner ID Number (M-PIN) password.

e) Register and approve an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).

f) Obtain a username and password from the Grants.gov Credential Provider.

6. Applicants must ensure that the AOR is available to submit the application to Grants.gov by the deadline set forth in this announcement. CPSC will not accept submission or resubmission of incomplete, rejected, or otherwise delayed applications after the deadline.

7. All applicants (and sub-recipients of CPSC award funds) are required to have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the federal government. As of April 4, 2022, the unique entity identifier used across the federal government changed from the DUNS Number to the Unique Entity ID. If on March 31, 2022, you were a SAM.gov registration, then your entity has already been assigned a Unique Entity ID. The UEI from SAM.gov is a unique 12-character alphanumeric value https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp/en/entity-registration-quick-start-guide-grant-registrants?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0029914 https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp/en/entity-registration-quick-start-guide-grant-registrants?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0029914 http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants http://www.grants.gov/ provided by the government. There is no charge to obtain a SAM Unique Entity ID.

Information about obtaining a UEI number can be found by visiting:

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

8. Applications will not be reviewed without a UEI number. A missing or incorrect UEI number is the primary reason for applications being “Rejected for Errors” by Grants.gov. CPSC will not extend the deadline for applications with a missing or incorrect UEI number.

9. Applicants are urged to submit your applications several days before the deadline. If for any reason an application is rejected by Grants.gov, the applicant must correct the application and resubmit it to Grants.gov so that the application is validated before the deadline. If an application is submitted more than once before the application deadline, CPSC will accept the applicant’s last validated electronic submission as the final and only acceptable submission.

10. To track an application: use the Grants.gov tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) provided in the confirmation e-mail from Grants.gov. For more information about tracking applications, visit: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application .

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. The total of all uploaded materials cannot exceed the equivalent of 80 pages when printed. All information submitted via the Grants.gov Other Attachments Form should be uploaded in PDF format to ensure that these materials can be opened and reviewed.

To be eligible, applications must be complete, within the specified 80-page limit, and validated by Grants.gov under the correct funding opportunity number before the deadline date and time. We strongly urge applicants to print their applications before submission to ensure that the application does not exceed the 80-page limit.

For information on what is and is not included in the 80-page limit, see the table in Section B. 2. Items marked with “N” under the “Counted in Total Page Limit” column do not count towards the 80-page limit.

2. The table below details the information required for this FOA and the order in which the forms and documents must be submitted.

CPSC will use documents and forms submitted by applicants marked in the table below as “Required for Completeness” to determine whether an application is complete.

Applications that fail to include all “Required for Completeness” forms and documents will be deemed incomplete and ineligible. Failure to include documents indicated as “Required for Review” may lower an application’s objective review score.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application https://www.grants.gov/applicants/grant-applications/track-my-application

Applications must include the Forms and Documents listed below in the order specified:

Application Section Information

Type

Required for

Complete ness (C)/ Review

(R)

Instruction

Counted in Total Page Limit (Y/N)

SF-424

(https://www.grants.gov/ forms):

Application for Federal Assistance

Form C Complete pages 1, 2, & 3 of the SF-424. See detailed application-specific instructions in Section C: Application Format.

N

Project Abstract (required)

Document R Type the title of the funding opportunity and upload the project abstract on page 2 of SF- 424, Box 15 (1 page limit).

Y

Additional Congressional Districts (as applicable)

Document If applicable, awardees serving multiple districts can upload an attachment listing all districts served on page 2 of SF-424, Box 16.

Y

SF-424B

(https://www.grants.gov/ forms):

Assurances Non- Construction Programs

Form C Provide completed SF- 424B Assurances.

N

1) Number the pages of each attachment sequentially, resetting the numbering for each attachment (i.e., start each attachment with page 1).

Label every page of the attachment with the attachment number. Do not attempt to number standard OMB-approved form pages.

2) Limit file attachment names to 50 or fewer characters. Use only the following characters when naming your attachments: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, and period (.). Attachments that do not follow this rule will cause the entire application to be rejected by Grants.gov.

3) Documents are to be uploaded in the order provided in the Table into the corresponding sections under the Other Attachments Form. (Please note that a separate Other Attachment File(s) Form, which is listed as an Optional Document in Grants.gov, is not required or sought by CPSC and should NOT be submitted).

Grants.gov Lobbying Form (required)

Form C Complete this form per the instructions.

N

Application Section

Information Type

Required for

Complete ness (C)/

Review (R)

Instruction

Counted in Total Page Limit (Y/N)

SF-LLL:

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Form Complete this form per the instructions.

N

SF-424A ( Forms | Grants.gov): Budget Information for Non- Construction Programs

Form R Complete this form per the instructions.

N

Attachment 1: Project Narrative (plus optional Funding Preference)

Document R Provide a project narrative. Y

Attachment 2: Budget Narrative

Document R Provide a budget narrative.

It is mandatory to utilize the format provided in the sample budget.

Y

Attachment 3: Schedule Document R Provide the 2-year project schedule.

Y

Attachment 4: Staffing Plan

Document R Identify staff, responsibilities, and experience related to the grant.

Y

Attachment 5: State Law Eligibility

Document C Provide a copy of the state or local law(s), an explanation of satisfaction of VGB Act requirements, and how the jurisdiction provides for enforcement of the law(s).

N

Attachment 6: Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (as applicable)

Document R Provide a copy of the Indirect Cost Rate for the current year.

N

Attachment 7: Other Relevant Documents (as applicable)

Document R If applicable (delegation of authorized Representative, etc.)

Y

C. Instructions for Application Documents https://www.grants.gov/forms https://www.grants.gov/forms

See Appendix D for Download Required Forms and Application Quick Guide.

SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance – US CPSC program-specific:

Prepare the SF-424 according to the form’s instructions (mouse-over fields for specific instructions) and observe the following guidelines:

Box 1: Type of Submission: Application Box 2: Type of Application: Select New (new applicants) Box 3: Date Received: Leave blank.

Box 4: Applicant Identifier: Leave blank.

Box 5a: Federal Entity Identifier: Leave blank.

Box 5b: Federal Award Identifier: Leave blank.

Box 6: Leave blank.

Box 7: Leave blank.

Box 8a: Provide the legal name of the entity that has registered with the System for Award Management (SAM).

Box 8b: Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter applicant’s EIN/TIN.

Box 8c: Organizational SAM: Enter the organization's12 character alphanumeric Unique Entity Identifier (SAM).

Box 8d: Address: Enter address: street; city; County/Parish, State, Country, or Territory, and 9-digit zip/postal code.

Box 8e: Organizational Unit: Enter the name of the primary organizational unit, department, or division that will undertake the work for which an award is requested.

Box 8f: Name and contact information of person to be contacted on matters involving this application: Provide contact information of Program Director.1 Enter the first and last name, prefix, middle name, suffix, and title. Enter organizational affiliation if affiliated with an organization other than that in 7.a.

Telephone number and e-mail; and fax number.

Box 9: Type of Applicant: Select the appropriate applicant type.

Box 10: Enter Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Box 11: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: Enter 87.002.

Box 12: Funding Opportunity Number and Title: Enter CP-VGB-26-001 and Pool Safely Grant Program, respectively.

Box 13: Competition Identification Number/Title: Leave blank.

Box 14: Areas Affected by Project: Provide a summary of the areas to be served (e.g., if an entire county, state, or territory is proposed to be served, cities do not

1 The Program Director is responsible for the oversight and day-to-day management of the grant.

need to be listed) and upload the summary as a Word document.

Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project: Type the title of the FOA (Pool Safely Grant Program) and upload the project abstract. The abstract will count toward the 80-page limit (see “Project Abstract” below) Box 16: Congressional Districts: Provide the congressional district where the administrative office of the applicant is located in 16a and the congressional districts to be served by the proposed project in 16b. If information will not fit in the boxes provided, attach a Word document. This document will count toward the 80-page limit. You can locate your administrative office’s congressional district via zip code at: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your- representative Box 17: Proposed Project Start and End Date: Insert a proposed project start date of September 2026, and a proposed project end date of September 2028.

Box 18: Estimated Funding: Complete the required information based on the funding request for the proposed project. The funding request should be entered on line a. Federal (not less than $50,000 and not to exceed $400,000). All other sources of funding, including other sources of federal funding, should be entered on the appropriate lines, as applicable. This information should be consistent with the total provided in the 424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs form.

Box 19: Review by State: Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.

Box 20: Delinquent on Federal Debt: Select the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant, not the person who signs as the authorized representative.

Categories of federal debt can include, but may not be limited to, delinquent audit disallowances, loans, and taxes. If you answer yes to this question, include an explanation in an attachment.

Box 21: Authorized Representative: The electronic signature in Grants.gov (created when the Grants.gov forms are submitted) is the official signature when applying for a grant award. DO NOT print, sign, and mail this form to CPSC. If the individual signing the form is not the Authorized Representative, the application must include documentation authorizing the submitter to sign on behalf of the Authorized Representative. Upload the authorizing document as part of Attachment 8: Other Relevant Documents.

Project Abstract

Summarize your application in a project abstract. In SF-424, Box 15, upload the Project Abstract as a document. CPSC may use your project abstract to inform the public and Congress about your project. Prepare the project abstract so that it is clear, accurate, and concise. Do not reference any other parts of your application in the project abstract.

Submit the abstract in the format below:

a. Line spacing: single-spaced, 1.0

b. Font size: 12 point

c. Limited to one page in length

d. Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

e. Page margin size: 1 inch http://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-

Place the following at the top of the application abstract:

a. Project title

b. Applicant name

c. Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) and FOA (CP-VGB-26-001)

d. Program Director

e. Address

f. Program Director contact numbers (phone and fax)

g. E-mail address

h. Applicant website address (if applicable)

i. Congressional district(s) served by the project site

j. Projected start and end date.

The project abstract narrative should include:

a. A brief description of the applicant’s past efforts to improve pool safety,

b. A brief description of the PSGP award proposal, and

c. A brief description of any other relevant information

SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs Complete application form SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, provided with the application package. See more information on Budget Requirements in Section Attachment 2: Budget Narrative.

SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs Complete application form SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, provided with the application package.

Grants.gov Lobbying Form Complete the Grants.gov Lobbying form provided with the application package.

SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Complete the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form provided with the application.

D. Instructions for Other Attachments Form

Upload attachments 1 through 7 into the Other Attachments Form in the order below:

1. Project Narrative

a) Table of Contents

b) Introduction

c) Work Plan

d) Project Evaluation Plan

2. Budget Table/ Narrative

3. Schedule

4. Staffing Plan

5. State Law Eligibility

6. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (as applicable)

7. Other Relevant Documents (as applicable).

Attachment 1: Project Narrative

This section provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the applicant’s proposed project. The narrative should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project. Upload the Project Narrative under Attachment 1.

The narrative must be submitted in the following format:

1) Line Spacing: single-spaced, 1.0

2) Page Limits: reference Section 2.1 for overall application format page limits

3) Font size: 12 point

4) Paper size: 8.5 by 11 inches

5) Page margin size: 1 inch.

Use the section headings below for the project narrative and address activities to be conducted over the entire project period in the order listed below:

a) Table of Contents Insert a table of contents with section headers and corresponding page numbers.

b) Introduction Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 1 - Introduction, in Section V. Provide an introduction that aids reviewers in understanding the community that will be helped by the proposed project.

Applicants must:

• describe the local community or region to be served, citing relevant demographic data and data related to child drowning and entrapment in swimming pools and spas. A description of the population to be served should include the estimated size of the population. Compare local and/or state data to federal data, where possible, to highlight the specific needs of the community or the region to be served.

Describe the enforcement and education needs of the community as they relate to protecting children from drowning and entrapment in pools and spas.

• describe any current and past efforts to address these needs, explain whether the efforts were successful, and how success was determined.

• show how the community’s needs relate to the proposed project objectives set forth in the work plan (see next section).

• identify any factors present in the community that may make enforcement, training, and education authorized under the grant program more difficult (e.g., language, health disparities).

FUNDING PREFERENCE: To request the optional “Funding Preference,” Applicants must include data in the Introduction under a separate sub-heading. The “Funding Preference” must provide accurate and reliable data demonstrating that the number of incidents involving child drownings, nonfatal submersions, and drain entrapments in the jurisdiction, relative to the applicable population, significantly exceeds comparable national statistics during comparable periods. If not requesting the “Funding Preference,” this portion may be omitted.

For more information on the Funding Preference, see pages 19 and 21.

c) Work Plan Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 2 – Work Plan, under Section V. The applicant’s work plan provides a framework and describes all aspects of the proposed project. The work plan should be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized to aid reviewers’ understanding of the proposed project.

Use of a tabular format, with rows and columns to display this information, is strongly encouraged for effective organization of the work plan information. The table should include, and clearly illustrate, the project’s goals, objectives, strategies, activities, timeframes assigned for work plan execution during project implementation (including completion dates for each activity), and individuals, organizational representatives responsible for carrying out each work plan activity.

In this section, describe the applicant’s scope of work for the proposed project under this funding opportunity. The proposed project must be consistent with the required program purposes defined under the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8004(d) (reference Section I.A. of this FOA.)

In addition, the scope of work must:

• provide clear project objectives that align with the enforcement and educational requirements for use of grant funds. The project objectives must be S.M.A.R.T.

i.e., specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

• for each project objective, describe the specific activities to be undertaken, and describe how to ensure successful implementation of the proposed project. Each of the activities should be described in detail (i.e., who, what, how, where, and when).

• appropriately incorporate the free CPSC resources of the Pool Safely education campaign, as identified in Appendix C. This will ensure accuracy and consistency of training and education activities across all grant recipients.

Identify plans to collaborate with other stakeholders in planning, designing, and implementing the project (e.g., other state, local, or municipal entities; service organizations; pool construction, installation, and service companies; pool owners and operators; professional organizations; local businesses; school systems;

parent/teacher organizations; civic organizations; local public officials; and the media). Collaborations with other stakeholders are encouraged, but collaborations are not a required element of an awardee’s project.

d) Project Evaluation Plan

Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 4 – Project Plan Evaluation, under Section V. Provide a project evaluation plan, including performance measures.

The project evaluation plan must:

• explain how the applicant will gather data relevant to progress in meeting each of the goals and objectives of the grant program, and

• identify the activities the applicant expects to complete during the project period that are relevant to the overall impact of the project. For each identified activity, the plan should also describe the outputs and outcomes (e.g., how many participants, how many materials distributed, what is the change in knowledge), and performance benchmarks for measuring progress of each activity and for measuring project outputs/outcomes.

If CPSC funds a proposed project, grantees must submit a final self-evaluation of the project’s goals and objectives based on the grantee’s project evaluation plan. The project evaluation plan will be incorporated into the final report under the grant award (reference Appendix B).

Attachment 2: Budget Table/ Narrative Reviewers will score this section according to Review Criterion 3 – Resources and Capabilities, under Section V. To ensure that project budgets adhere to VGB Act requirements, a project-specific line-item budget must be submitted. Submit the budget narrative in table format, providing a detailed breakout of costs organized under form SF- 424A’s object class categories (e.g., personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, other). Upload the budget narrative under Attachment 2. Indirect Cost Rates for the current year from the cognizant federal agency should be included under Attachment 6.

The budget narrative must:

• identify any resources that will be used to contribute to the overall success of the proposed project;

• include a narrative for each budget line item and explain how the costs relate back to the scope of work described in the Project Narrative and the Schedule; and

• identify clearly which initiatives and costs support the enforcement initiatives and which support the education initiatives (including all administrative expenses).

The amount requested on form SF-424 and the amount in the budget narrative must match.

Note: Because at least 25 percent of the total award must be spent on training and hiring of enforcement personnel and enforcement activities, all activities should either be identified clearly as either enforcement-related (i.e., expenses related to training and hiring of enforcement personnel and expenses related to enforcement activities), or related to education activities within the budget narrative.

Refer to Appendix A for the sample budget format and examples.

For additional information on specific allowable costs under the PSGP awards, refer to Appendix A of this funding opportunity.

Attachment 3: Schedule Reviewers will score this section according to review criteria Work Plan and Schedule in

Section V. Provide a descriptive and realistic schedule that fully implements the project within the 2-year period.

The schedule must:

• include milestones aligned with the project goals,

• indicate when each milestone will occur, and

• indicate the person(s) responsible for managing each activity. Applicants should include an organizational chart that shows the placement of the project within the state or local agency’s organizational structure.

Upload the schedule and organizational chart under Attachment 3.

Attachment 4: Staffing Plan Reviewers will score this section according to the review criteria Resources and Capabilities in Section V. Provide a detailed staffing plan that identifies key staff responsible for managing and implementing the project. Upload the staffing plan under Attachment 4.

The staffing plan must:

• identify the Program Director and any key staff who will manage or participate in key activities funded by the grant and whether the staff exists, to be hired, or to be engaged under contractual arrangements.

• identify any staff who will monitor contractors’ use of funds or provision of services (if applicable).

• describe the qualifications of each staff position (including the Program Director) and how those qualifications relate to the proposed project. In the description of qualifications, include the relevant education, training, experience, and expertise, of key personnel.

• describe each staff position, including the roles and responsibilities under the proposed project to be funded by the grant.

• for each staff position, note all related sources of funding and the amount of time each identified individual will be reasonably expected to devote to the project (expressed as a percentage of a full-time employee).

CPSC encourages applicants to supply this information in a table format. Personnel are to be listed by position title; specify the name of the individual for each position or title, or note whether the position is vacant.

Attachment 5: Copy of State or Local Pool and Spa Safety Law and Explanation of Eligibility of Law for VGB Act Grants Applicants must demonstrate that their jurisdiction has enacted or amended state or local law(s) that meet the eligibility and minimum state law requirements specified in the VGB Act. The applicant must explain how the law(s) meet each of the minimum state requirements set forth in 15 U.S.C. § 8005(a)(1), and how the applicant provides for enforcement of the law(s), required in 15 U.S.C. § 8004(b)(1).

Additional information regarding requirements for the law(s) is available under Section III.B). The copies of the state and/or local law(s) must be uploaded as

Attachment 5.

Attachment 6: Indirect Cost Rate (as applicable) Applicants that include indirect costs based on a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) in the budget must provide the NICRA for the current year from the cognizant federal agency2 substantiating indirect costs that may be reimbursed as permissible administrative costs under the VGB Act. Upload the NICRA from the cognizant agency as Attachment 6.

Attachment 7: Other Attachments (as applicable) Attach additional information that may support the proposed project (e.g., delegation of authority for Authorized Representative (if person submitting application is not an Authorized Representative), letters of support, etc.).

E. Submission Dates and Times

The due date for applications under FOA CP-VGB-26-001 is July 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

ET. Applications are considered formally submitted when the application has (1) been successfully transmitted electronically by the applicant’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) through Grants.gov, and (2) has been validated by Grants.gov.

Receipt acknowledgement: Upon receiving an application, Grants.gov will send a series of email messages to the applicant to document the progress of an application through the system.

a) The first e-mail will confirm receipt in the system.

b) The second e-mail will indicate whether the application has been validated successfully by Grants.gov or has been rejected due to errors.

CPSC may decide, in its sole discretion, to extend the application deadline.

Note: If the Grants.gov website or related functions are not working properly and applications cannot be submitted during the 24 consecutive hours immediately before the deadline, Grants.gov will notify potential applicants of the system failure and advise whether CPSC will extend the application deadline and provide information on the length of any extension.

If the applicant notifies CPSC of an adverse event occurring within the 24 hours immediately before the deadline that prevents the applicant from submitting the application before the deadline, CPSC will notify the applicant via email about whether CPSC will grant an extension and specify the length of any extension. The applicant must provide supporting facts and details about the adverse event preventing successful submission of

2 The cognizant federal agency is determined by calculating which federal agency provides the most grant and/or cooperative agreement funding to the applicant. Additional guidance regarding indirect cost rate requirements may be found at 2 CFR part 255, Appendix E – State and Local Indirect Cost Rate Proposals. Note the limitations on applying the indirect cost rate under APPENDIX A – Budget Narrative and Allowable and Unallowable Costs.

the application.

Technical difficulties that applicants experience submitting an application (e.g., busy servers, slow Internet or computer connections, slow processing, or large file size) will not result in deadline extensions.

Late Applications and Supplemental Materials Applications that are not “validated” before the deadline by Grants.gov are late, and, therefore, they are not eligible for grants under this FOA.

CPSC will only consider materials that are included with an application that Grants.gov validates by the announced deadline. Supplemental materials submitted after the application deadline, or sent directly to CPSC without submission via Grants.gov, will not be added to an application or considered by the Objective Review Committee.

F. Intergovernmental Review

The PSGP is not subject to the provisions of E.O. 12372.

G. Funding Restrictions

1. All PSGP costs must be incurred by the end of the 2-year project/budget period. All costs must be invoiced before the date that is 120 calendar days after the end of the project/budget period.

2. No grant funds may be used to defray pre-award costs.

3. At least 25 percent of grant funds must be used to hire and train enforcement personnel for implementation and enforcement of standards under the state or local swimming pool and spa safety law.

4. Grant funds may not be used to construct, alter, or renovate pools or spas, or to purchase, install, repair, or retrofit pool or spa equipment.

V. Application Review Information

CPSC instituted review criteria and procedures for assessing the technical merit of applications. The review criteria and process assist reviewers in judging each application objectively, and they aid applicants’ understanding of the standards CPSC uses in reviewing an application. In addition, CPSC developed critical indicators for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation.

In selecting applicants for grant awards, CPSC is required to allocate grant funds for the purposes defined in the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8004(d) (reference Section I.A. of this FOA), to provide the maximum benefit possible for protecting children from drowning or entrapment.

To determine the grant amount to be awarded, the VGB Act requires the Commission to consider: (1) the population of the applicant; (2) the relative enforcement and implementation needs of the applicant; and (3) allocation of grant funds in a manner designed to provide the maximum benefit from the program to protect children from drowning or entrapment. 15

U.S.C. § 8004(c).

Review Criteria Review criteria, along with specific details and scoring points, are outlined below. Review criteria are used to review and rank applications. The PSGP application has four review criteria. Subcriteria are listed under the individual review criteria.

A. Introduction (10-15 points)

This section corresponds with the Project Narrative – Introduction, in Section IV (Attachment 1 b.).

1. (10 points) Reviewers will examine the population, enforcement, and education needs of the applicant’s community, relative to protecting children from drowning and entrapment in swimming pools and spas, as described in the application, and as supported by demographic and other data. This includes analyzing factors in the community that may make enforcement, training, and education more challenging.

2. (5 points) If applicable, reviewers will examine an applicant’s data supporting the request for a “funding preference.” The “Funding Preference” should be under a separate heading to ease review and consideration.

B. Work Plan and Schedule (50 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative - Work Plan, under Section IV (or Attachment 1 c. and Attachment 3).

1. Reviewers will examine the applicant’s description of the specific project objectives needed to accomplish each of applicant’s goals; likewise, reviewers will examine how the applicant’s project objectives meet the purposes defined in the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8004(d).

This review includes examination of the extent to which:

a) the applicant’s scope of work describes clear project objectives that align with the program requirements in the VGB Act, 15 U.S.C. § 8004(d).

b) the applicant details (i.e., who, what, how, where, and when) the specific activities they will undertake to achieve each of the project objectives.

c) the applicant identifies and appropriately commits to incorporating CPSC materials into planned training and education.

2. Reviewers will also examine:

a) whether the proposed project’s objectives are measurable and achievable.

b) whether the application includes a detailed schedule for the 2-year project period, indicating when each activity will occur, and identifying the person(s) responsible for managing each activity. Applicants should include an organizational chart that shows the placement of the project within the state or local agency’s organizational structure.

C. Resources and Capabilities (25 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative - Resources and Capabilities, under Section IV (or Attachment 2 and Attachment 4).

1. Reviewers will examine the need for, and appropriateness of, the key positions identified and tasked with implementing the proposed project, including the relevance of the job descriptions, roles, and responsibilities of each position, and whether the applicant will be able to carry out the project.

2. Reviewers will also examine the identification and qualifications of the Program

Director and key staff, including:

a) the relevant experience of key personnel, and

b) the amount of time (expressed as a percentage of a full-time employee) each identified individual will be reasonably expected to devote to the project.

3. Reviewers will also examine whether the applicant’s budget table/ narrative adequately describes each budget line item and demonstrates that the budget is realistic and commensurate with the program requirements, project needs, and 2-year timeframe.

D. Project Evaluation Plan (15 points)

This section corresponds with Project Narrative – Project Evaluation Plan, under Section IV (Attachment 1 d.).

Reviewers will examine whether the applicant has submitted a project evaluation plan with sufficient details on how the applicant will gather data relevant to progress in:

1. meeting each of the goals and objectives of the grant program.

2. conducting activities within the jurisdiction during the project period that are relevant to the overall impact of the project.

E. Review and Selection Process

Applications that pass the initial eligibility screening will be independently reviewed and rated by an Objective Review Committee (ORC) panel, based on the program elements and review criteria presented. The review criteria are designed to enable the review panel to assess the quality of a proposed project and determine the likelihood of its success.

The ORC is comprised of federal employees qualified by training and experience in particular fields or disciplines related to the VGB Act. Each reviewer is screened to avoid conflicts of interest and is responsible for providing an objective, unbiased evaluation that is based on the review criteria noted above. The ORC provides CPSC program officials with advice on the merits of each application to determine final award selections.

Eligible applications that receive a final ORC application review score of 70 and above may be considered by CPSC for funding. Awards may be made subject to the availability of appropriations.

Note: CPSC will give priority to state and local governments that have not received a grant under the VGB Act in the preceding grant cycle, per E.O. 14332—Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking dated August 7, 2025. All else being equal, preference will be given to applicants with lower indirect cost rates.

Funding Preference Each eligible application with a final ORC application review score of 70 or above will be assessed to receive a funding preference if the applicant requested it. A “funding preference” is defined as the favorable adjustment of review scores when applications meet specified criteria. Under this FOA, CPSC must give a preference to state and local governments with the greatest child drowning and pool safety needs. CPSC will add five points to the final ORC application review scores for eligible applicants whose applications set forth accurate and reliable data demonstrating that the number of incidents involving child drownings, nonfatal submersions, and drain entrapments in the jurisdiction, relative to the applicable population, significantly exceeds comparable national statistics during comparable periods. Information on national pool and spa injury statistics is available at https://www.cpsc.gov/Research--Statistics/Sports--Recreation.

Amount In reviewing the amount requested, CPSC will…