PROPOSAL COVER SHEET

Legal Name of Applicant Organization:

Person Authorized to Enter into Contracts (Name/Title):

Organization Contact Info: Address:

Phone:

Email:

Federal Tax Identification No. (TIN):

New York State Charities Registration Number (unless exemption claimed):

System for Award Management Unique Entity Identifier (if applicable):

Years in Operation:

Judicial District Subject of Proposal:

Amount of Funding Requested:

Primary contact for proposal matters (Name/Title):

Email:

Phone:

Fiscal Contact (Name/Title):

Email:

Phone:

OCA-DGCP-084 Judiciary Civil Legal Services, Statewide Issued October 9, 2026 Due November 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Program Plan Description (Maximum of 7 pages)

1) Provide a detailed description of the catchment area your organization proposes to serve. Include a list of the counties to be served, and demographic, and socioeconomic indicators.

2) Briefly describe the civil legal service and/or access to justice needs in the proposed catchment area.

3) Discuss any specific subpopulations or specific geographic focus areas within the catchment area.

4) Provide a clear and comprehensive description of the program for which funding is sought. Discuss the following programmatic elements:

a. Intake and case management

b. Case assignment and workload oversight

c. Staff supervision

d. Responsive service approaches

e. Confidentiality safeguards, including electronic security

f. Evaluation processes

5) Describe methods of service delivery (e.g., attorney/paralegal teams, pro bono referrals, specialized units, clinics, pro se training, mediation/ADR, other approaches).

6) How will the program ensure access to services throughout the proposed catchment area?

7) Describe the staffing plan, including staff roles and qualifications.

8) Discuss the use of volunteers, law students, and paraprofessional personnel (if applicable).

9) Describe relevant partnerships with other organizations that will support program implementation (e.g. legal services providers, bar associations, law schools, social service agencies, medical providers, schools, and other community‑based organizations). Identify the components of services that will be provided by each organization. If funds are to be provided to another organization in a joint proposal, that organization will be considered a sub-contractor. If so, include information on how performance and compliance of the subcontractor will be monitored.

10) How will eligible individuals hear about the program’s services?

11) How will technology support program implementation?

12) How will the program address barriers such as language access, disabilities, transportation, rural distance, institutionalization, or scheduling constraints to increase access to services?

Borough Specific Questions – New York City Applicants ONLY (Maximum of 2 pages per borough)

1) Identify the borough to be served. Describe any specific neighborhood or catchment area to be served.

2) Describe the civil legal services and/or access‑to‑justice services to be provided in the borough.

(a) Identify any differences between borough specific services and the overall program description.

(b) Indicate whether a physical office will be maintained in the borough. If not, describe methods to ensure accessibility of services.

Organizational Capacity (Maximum of 5 pages)

1) Briefly describe the organization’s principal activities.

2) Discuss how the provision of civil legal services and/or access to justice services align with the organization’s mission.

3) How does the organization’s prior experience support the capacity to implement the proposed services?

4) Describe the governance and leadership structure of the organization. Descriptions shall include board composition, relevant subject‑matter expertise, and the mechanisms through which client or community input informs organizational direction

5) Discuss the organization’s supervisory structure. Describe current capacity to provide appropriate supervision of staff who will implement program services or the plan to develop such capacity.

6) How does the program incorporate client/community input in program design and quality improvement efforts?

7) How does the organization support its workforce? Describe recruitment, retention, and advancement practices that promote staff capacity. Describe how the program will train staff and promote professional development.

8) Discuss the organization’s process for strategic planning and methods used to establish and monitor organizational goals.

9) Describe the organization’s capacity to account for UCS funds, meet fiscal reporting deadlines and respond promptly to requests for supporting documentation related to reviews and audits of reported expenses.

Budget Narrative (Maximum of 3 pages) Comment by Lesley R. Stefan: Suggest adding reference to FP&C manual here to for reference/eligible costs.

1. Total Agency Budget: State the total agency budget from the most recent financial reporting period.

2. Total Civil Legal Services Budget: State the civil legal services budget (as defined by the organization) from the most recent financial reporting period.

3. Discuss how UCS funding will integrate with other funding sources to support the overall program.

4. Salaries and Wages: Describe how the amounts listed were determined. For each title, include the number of positions, average annual salary, percentage of time dedicated (FTE), etc.

Fringe Benefits: Briefly explain the fringe benefits provided to staff. describe the methodology used to allocate costs to the UCS contract. Briefly explain the methodology/justification if using a fringe benefit rate.

5. Indirect Costs: Vendors may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 15% or less of total modified direct costs. The UCS will consider a rate greater than the de minimis rate if a rate was approved by a cognizant funder, such as the federal government, a state agency, or a municipality responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and approving indirect cost allocation plans. If proposing indirect costs greater than the de minimis rate, the awarded applicant must submit documentation to demonstrate approval of the rate prior to contract execution with UCS.

6. Equipment, Furniture, and Other Fixed Assets: Describe the items. How does the proposed investment support the program?

7. Occupancy: Provide a list of facilities. Detail all costs, including rent, utilities, maintenance, and other expenses for each facility. Describe the methodology used to allocate costs to the UCS contract.

8. Subrecipients (passing on deliverables:) Project partners who will carry out specific deliverables under the award will be treated as subcontractors. Costs related to such subcontracts must be budgeted in this category. Provide a brief description of the work each subrecipient will perform, the criteria used to select them, and the basis for the amounts budgeted. An additional Form 2, Proposal Budget must be submitted for any proposed subcontract with an annual value of $100,000 or more.

9. Other Non-Personal Services: Include brief explanations of any costs included in this category.