Full announcement hhs-2026-acf-acyf-cu-0021_7.8.26_.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Friday, August 7, 2026

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Children’s Bureau

Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Program Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CU-0021

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 10

Program description 12

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 21

Find the application package 22

Get registered 22

Learn more 23

Step 3: Build Your Application 24

Application checklist 25

Application contents and format 27

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 40

Application review 41

Award notices 48

Step 5: Submit Your Application 49

Application submission and deadlines 50

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 53

Post-award requirements and administration 54

Contacts and Support 55

Before you begin 3

Modifications 58

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up to date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 7, 2026.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 10

Program description 12

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families

Children’s Bureau

Supporting regional partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families affected by substance use.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Program

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-

CU-0021

Federal assistance listing:

93.087

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline: Friday, August 7, Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

See intergovernmental review for other submission processes that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Program supports regional partnerships between child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment agencies, and juvenile or state courts. The goal is to support family-centered treatment programs and services for families whose children are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement due to a caregiver’s substance abuse. This program will also expand the scope of evidence-based services for families affected by substance use disorders.

RPG funds may support:

• Family-based, comprehensive treatment for long-term substance use disorder, including medication-assisted treatment and in-home treatment and recovery.

• Early intervention and prevention services.

• Child and family counseling.

• Mental health services.

• Parenting skills training.

• Replication of successful models for providing family-based, comprehensive substance abuse treatment services.

• Grant recipients will be required to work with the Children’s Bureau (CB) on data collection and reporting of the services provided and progress made in achieving the goals of the program.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $8,000,000

Total expected awards: 8

Minimum award amount for each budget period (award floor): $250,000

Maximum award amount for each budget period (award ceiling): $1,000,000

Projects will be funded for five years with five 12-month budget periods.

Non-competing continuation awards will be issued to RPG projects. Grant recipients must demonstrate progress on meeting the goals of grants and coordination within the partnership.

Applicants may apply for and be awarded up to $1,000,000 in each of the five 12-month budget periods.

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to federal funds availability.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligible applicants are regional partnerships established by agencies within or across states. They consist of mandatory and optional partners. The mandatory partners are:

• The state child welfare agency that is responsible for administering the state plan under title IV-B or title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

• The state agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant provided under the Public Health Service Act (title XIX, part B, subpart II).

• The most appropriate administrative office of the juvenile or state court overseeing court proceedings involving families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.

Optional partners are:

• Additional state agencies.

• Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia.

• Public or private agencies, including for-profit organizations.

There must be a lead applicant responsible for administering the grant. Any member of the partnership can be the lead applicant, as long as they can monitor program activities or services, funding, and reporting requirements.

If an Indian tribe or tribal consortium is the lead applicant for a regional partnership, the Indian tribe may (but is not required to) include the state child welfare agency as a partner in the collaborative agreement. If the regional partnership is an Indian tribe or tribal consortium, they may not enter into a collaborative agreement only with tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of such agencies).

Other eligibility criteria Individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Disqualifying factors We will review your application to make sure it meets these responsiveness requirements.

We won’t consider an application that:

• Requests funding above the award ceiling.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Is from an individual (including a sole proprietorship), federal entity or a foreign entity.

• Is received in paper format that didn’t have a previously approved exemption from ACF.

• Requests funding below the funding floor of $250,000.

• Fails to provide documentation demonstrating that the required regional partnership includes the mandatory partners specified in the authorizing legislation.

Application limits If you submit the same application more than once under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), we will only acknowledge the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing This program requires you to contribute an increasing percentage of the project’s total cost in each budget period (project year). In the first budget period, September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2027, you are required to contribute 15% of the project’s total cost. You can calculate this cost-sharing requirement in two ways:

Method 1: Start with the federal share.

Calculation: Multiply the federal share by 15 and divide that product by 85.

For example: ($850,000 x 15) / 85 = $150,000.

Method 2: Start with the total project cost.

Calculation: Multiply the total project cost by 15%.

For example: $1,000,000 x 15% = $150,000.

The cost-sharing requirements, outlined in legislation, for each period of the project are:

• Budget period 1: September 2026 to September 2027: 15%

• Budget period 2: September 2027 to September 2028: 15%

• Budget period 3: September 2028 to September 2029: 20%

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

• Budget period 4: September 2029 to September 2030: 20%

• Budget period 5: September 2030 to September 2031: 25%

The increase match over the life of the grant emphasizes the focus on project sustainability within the regional partnership area and is outlined in legislation.

Types of cost sharing You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization, partners, or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from partners or other third parties.

Cost-sharing commitments If awarded, you must provide the amount of cost-sharing funds you promised, even if you promised more than the required minimum. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may decrease the amount of funding we give you or use other enforcement actions.

You’ll have to include your cost-sharing funds when you fill out your federal financial reports.

Cost-sharing waiver We waive cost sharing up to $199,999 for awards to the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands (except for the consolidated awards under 45 CFR part 97). You must meet any amount of cost sharing over $199,999. See 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d) Congressional declaration of policy respecting “Insular Areas.”

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Statutory authority Title IV, part B, subpart 2—Promoting Safe and Stable Families, section 437(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(f))

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-97 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:48%20section:1469a%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title48-section1469a)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:48%20section:1469a%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title48-section1469a)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:629g%20edition:prelim)

Agency priorities Required alignment with ACF vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with ACF’s vision, mission, values, priorities, & guiding principles when authorized. Funded activities must advance ACF’s vision of resilient, safe, healthy, and economically secure children, youth, families, and communities, and support ACF’s mission to foster health and well-being through effective, accountable, and compassionate human services when awarded in any programs that authorize these priorities.

Consistent with ACF’s values, in carrying out any project that is funded under this NOFO, the recipient is required to adhere to the following principle:

1. Program Integrity and Fiscal Stewardship: Administer funds in accordance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, and award conditions; maintain strong internal controls; and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

The recipient is also required to adhere to the following principles when consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

2. Evidence-Based and Outcome-Focused Practices: Design and deliver services using evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches, establish measurable performance goals, and use data to monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

3. Partnership and Local Leadership: Coordinate with state, tribal, territorial, local, and community partners, as appropriate, and tailor services to meet community-identified needs while respecting local decision-making authority.

In addition, in keeping with ACF’s priorities, the recipient must administer any project that is awarded under this NOFO in accordance with the following objectives when consistent with the scope of the award and its activities in programs that are authorized to advance them:

4. Family Stability and Child Well-Being: Strengthen families, promote safe and stable home environments, and improve outcomes for children and youth through prevention-focused and developmentally appropriate services.

5. Work, Self-Sufficiency, and Economic Mobility: Support pathways to employment, job retention, and economic independence for individuals and families, including through workforce development, education, and supportive services.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values

6. High-Quality Early Care and Learning: Where applicable, invest in high-quality early childhood programs that support school readiness, healthy development, and long-term success.

The recipient must demonstrate ongoing compliance with these values and priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other enforcement actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Program description Background The RPG Program began in 2007 to address the complexity of coordination between child welfare, substance use, and judicial systems to support families. Services to these families have been fragmented and difficult to navigate. RPG supports the collaboration and coordination of systems to support families, focusing on child safety, permanency, well-being, and adult recovery. The RPG Program has supported 127 projects in 40 states and 11 projects focused on American Indian or Alaska Native families.

RPG projects served over 50,000 children and 36,000 families. After RPG Program participation, improvements have been seen in:

• Child safety, child maltreatment rates, and decreases in removals from the home.

• Child well-being measures.

• Enrollment in and completion of substance use disorder treatment.

• Decreased high-severity substance use, trauma, and depression symptoms.

Program focus RPG projects are focused on increasing the well-being of, improving permanency for, and enhancing the safety of children who are at risk of an out-of-home placement resulting from a parent’s or caregiver’s substance use. Projects also focus on adult recovery and family functioning outcomes. Award recipients will use their collaborative infrastructure to build the region’s capacity to meet a broad range of needs for families involved with child welfare systems, substance use disorder treatment, courts, and other related service organizations.

Projects will focus on improving outcomes for families affected by substance use and expanding the scope of evidence-based services.

Recipients will monitor ongoing activities and evaluate the progress made toward achieving the goals of the project. Applicants should carefully review this funding opportunity and consider the level of effort required to meet the data collection, evaluation, and reporting requirements.

This program supports the ACF Priority Area of Gold-Standard Research. Grants funded under this NOFO will adhere to the principles outlined in HHS’s Gold Standard Science report. With a focus on reproducibility and transparency, Regional Partnership Grants

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 will determine if the activities have been implemented effectively and resulted in improvements for children and families.

Program requirements Target population As a recipient, you will focus on families and children in the partnership region whose children are in, or are at risk of, out-of-home placements due to substance abuse by parents or caretakers.

Regional partnership This program includes mandatory partners. See the eligibility section of this NOFO for details on partnership requirements. Applicants should detail the need for collaboration of partners within the target area as well as plans for collaboration throughout the project. Applicants should show a strong, established partnership with the capacity to carry out the project.

Program services and activities Projects must carry out services and activities that increase child and family well-being, improve treatment outcomes for parents, and expand evidence-based programs and services to serve the target population.

Examples of services and activities may include:

• Services to support children:

◦ Services and activities for children and youth that address child well-being and trauma.

◦ Screening and assessing child well-being.

◦ Identification of, referrals for, and services to substance-exposed newborns.

◦ Mental and behavioral health services.

◦ Early intervention and preventive services.

• Services to support parents and caregivers:

◦ Quality treatment for substance use disorder.

◦ Access to comprehensive substance use disorder treatment programs where children can live on-site with parents.

◦ Access to medication-assisted treatment.

◦ In-home treatment for substance use disorder, trauma-specific services, and continuing care and recovery support.

◦ Services to address violence- and trauma-related symptoms and reactions.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

• Services to support family functioning:

◦ Services for parents and children that improve parenting capacity and family functioning.

◦ Services to build or enhance parental protective factors.

◦ Training programs on parenting skills.

◦ Training for foster or relative care providers.

◦ Services and interventions to improve family functioning and help with reunification.

◦ Additional services for families to secure other needs, including housing, transportation, and childcare.

We encourage you to implement and evaluate programs and services found within the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse and other evidence-based and evidence-supported programs and services.

You should include information on program performance that supports continuous quality improvement (CQI). This may include information on how your will:

• Monitor ongoing activities and progress toward project goals and objectives.

• Define key components, including inputs (e.g., organizational capacity, partners, staff, budget, resources), activities, and expected outcomes.

• Explain how inputs, activities, and outcomes will be measured and tracked.

• Describe how data will be used to inform ongoing program improvements (CQI).

• Include processes to ensure data quality and reliability of performance results.

Expanding evidence The RPG Program provides an opportunity to expand evidence. If funded, you will:

• Participate in evaluation efforts as required by the legislation. These include data collection and semi-annual reporting on:

◦ Services and activities.

◦ Progress made to achieve program goals.

◦ Number of children, adults, and families receiving services.

• Select performance indicators as established in the Planning Phase.

• Conduct a local evaluation that is appropriately rigorous to the proposed intervention and project. The type of evaluation will vary by project but may include:

◦ Intervention development and manualization.

◦ Feasibility studies.

◦ Outcome studies.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/

◦ Process evaluations.

◦ Quasi-experimental designs.

◦ Randomized controlled trials.

You will work with CB in the Planning Phase to ensure evaluation efforts align with CB’s interest in answering the following questions for the RPG projects:

• Who is involved in each RPG project and how do the partners work together?

• Who are the target populations of the RPG project? Do the RPG projects reach their intended target populations?

• Which well-supported, supported, promising, and/or emerging (evidence-informed) practices are selected as the primary focus of the RPG project? How well did they align with the RPG project’s target populations and goals?

• What procedures, infrastructure, and supports were in place to facilitate implementation of the evidence-supported and/or emerging (evidence-informed) practices?

• How are the evidence-supported and/or emerging (evidence-informed) practices going to be implemented? What services are provided?

• What are the well-being, permanency, and safety outcomes of children, and the recovery outcomes of adults who received services from the RPG project?

To meet legislative requirements, projects must collect and report on data from child welfare data systems as well as information from substance abuse services. CB will work with you to report on performance indicators and your project’s impact on addressing the needs of families impacted by substance use in or at risk of out-of-home placement.

Evaluation efforts will include collaboration with CB to develop, select, and report on performance indicators related to child safety, child permanency, reunification, re-entry into care, family well-being, adult recovery, parenting capacity, and family functioning as appropriate for your project.

You must plan to utilize an evaluator and evaluation team to assist the project in meeting these requirements.

If appropriate, you may submit your program’s evaluation to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse for review. The Clearinghouse conducts objective, transparent reviews of research on programs and services to support children and families and prevent foster care placements. We encourage you to review the Clearinghouse for information on programs and services and the review process.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

Planning and Implementation Phases RPG projects must include Planning and Implementation phases. The Planning Phase should last no longer than 18 months.

In the Planning Phase activities will focus on:

• Implementation planning.

• Evaluation planning.

• Finalizing partnership agreements.

• Piloting or providing services (if possible/desired).

Before the Planning Phase ends, you will have to submit documentation to CB showing that you have completed this phase. This documentation could include:

• Final updates or additions to partnership agreements, such as additional updates, memoranda of agreement (MOAs), memoranda of understanding (MOUs), or letters of agreements from all subrecipients and implementation sites.

• The final target population and target number of people to serve, as well as referral and recruitment plans to ensure the project meets goals for targeting underserved communities.

• Confirmation of the appropriateness and fit of the selected programs, models, interventions, and/or services.

• Refined or revised intervention and training materials that are accurate, age appropriate, and trauma informed.

• A final evaluation plan that demonstrates the capability to participate in rigorous evaluation activities and meet the data collection and semiannual reporting requirements. The plan will include documentation of the work with CB on the selected RPG performance indicators and outcome measures.

• Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and data-sharing agreements.

CB will review and approve your Planning Phase documentation before you begin your Implementation Phase.

The Implementation Phase will focus on delivering program services and evaluating the program.

These activities may include:

• Recruiting, enrolling, and retaining children and families in services.

• Recruiting, training, and retaining program staff.

• Working with partners to further collaboration and build service capacity.

• Monitoring service delivery for program fidelity.

• Conducting rigorous evaluation and CQI activities.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

• Semiannual reporting to CB on the services provided; the number of children, adults, and families receiving services; and the progress made in achieving program goals related to child safety, child permanency, reunification, re-entry into care, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being, as appropriate to the project.

• Collecting and reporting performance indicator data.

• Developing and finalizing a sustainability plan.

• Submitting grant monitoring reports to CB.

Performance indicators You are required to report on performance indicators to assess your performance in terms of child safety, child permanency, reunification, reentry into care, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being.

In the Planning Phase you will work with CB to review, update, and select performance indicators. In the Implementation Phase, you will collect information related to the selected performance indicators.

You must indicate your agreement to collect the performance measures and submit the data to ACF. This may include data gathered from standardized instruments as well as administrative data.

In cases where CB is directly involved in the creation of data collection activities under this NOFO, data collection will be conducted consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) and display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. OMB-related efforts pertaining to required data collection will be conducted by a CB-supported contractor. CB will not conduct or sponsor — and a person is not required to respond to — a collection of information covered by the PRA, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Cooperative agreement—Description of ACF’s involvement A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding federal assistance that involves substantial federal involvement. A cooperative agreement clearly defines the responsibilities of you and ACF before the award.

For this project, ACF CB’s involvement and collaboration will include:

• Conducting a Kick-Off meeting post-award and annual convenings for four key staff to articulate the expectations and requirements of the award.

• Reviewing and approving the completion of the Planning Phase before the Implementation Phase may begin.

• Coordinating efforts to develop, refine, select, and report on performance indicators.

• Supporting training and technical assistance.

• Supporting implementation in general.

• Helping you participate in appropriately rigorous evaluation activities.

• Monitoring project requirements.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR Part 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR Part 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR Part 75.

General policies

• We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget period will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.`

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

• To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, you may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

◦ Activities that discriminate or show preference based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other protected traits.

◦ Any efforts that promote a “discriminatory equity ideology.” To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, ACF will also not allow funds awarded under this NOFO to support any services or activities that inculcate or promote gender ideology.

For guidance on other types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see General Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR part 200.

Program-specific limitations and policies We do not allow the following costs under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO):

• Construction.

• Purchase of real property.

• Major renovation.

• Cost restriction for the program. The project must include a budget, which includes allocating 20% of the project budget for evaluation efforts detailed in the expanding evidence section.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). This rate may be up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

You may not charge costs included in your indirect cost pool as direct costs.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC))

Subawards As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. This means that you conduct funded activities and provide services necessary and integral to completing the project.

Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 2 CFR Part 200.332 is not a substantive role.

We do not fund awards where your role is primarily a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

All subrecipients must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Subrecipients must meet the eligibility requirements of this NOFO.

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. You may not use awarded funds to pay a salary at a higher rate than the rate for Executive Level II.

For the Executive Level II salary, please see the Office of Personnel Management information on executive and senior level employee pay.

The salary limitation reflects a person’s base salary (including any portion of the salary that is paid with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits or any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization.

This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACF grant or cooperative agreement.

Program income If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 2 CFR Part 200.307.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 22

Get registered 22

Learn more 23

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it at this NOFO’s Grants.gov opportunity page. Then select the Package tab.

We recommend that you select the Subscribe button from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for assistance.

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations [PDF] specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 22 https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Learn more Visit Applying for an ACF Grant Award on the ACF Grants page.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 23 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 25

Application contents and format 27

Application checklist Make sure that you have everything you need to apply. You will find the forms in Grants.gov.

File one: Narratives Use the Project Narrative Attachment form.

Component Included in page limit?

Table of contents Yes

Project summary Yes

Project narrative Yes

Line-item budget and budget narrative Yes

File two: Attachments Insert each in a single Other Attachments form.

Component Included in page limit?

ACF priorities alignment attestation No

Indirect cost agreement Yes

Legal proof of nonprofit status No

Additional eligibility documentation for required partnership (MOU or MOA) Yes

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Letters of support (if applicable) No

Third-party agreements (include as the additional eligibility documentation) Yes

Protection of human subjects certification No

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

Standard forms Use each required form in Grants.gov.

Component Included in page limit?

Project Abstract Summary No

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) No

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) No

(SF-424B) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs No

Key Contacts No

Grants.gov Lobbying form No

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) No

Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL) No

Step 3: Build Your Application 26

Application contents and format You will submit two files plus the standard forms in the application package.

Your organization’s authorized official must certify your application.

See intergovernmental review to find out if you need to make any other submissions.

Required format Page limit for file one and file two combined: 75 pages.

File format: Portable Document Format (PDF) is recommended, but not required. ACF supports the following file formats when you attach files to the Project Narrative Attachment form and the Other Attachments form:

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

• Image formats (.JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, or .BMP only)

Document formats Paper size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches Margins: 1 inch all around Language: English

If possible, include page numbers.

Do not include external links to information you want reviewers to assess because reviewers will score the application solely on information provided in the application.

Fonts Font: Times New Roman Color: Black Size: 12-point font Footnotes and text in tables and graphics may be 10-point.

Step 3: Build Your Application 27

Spacing Table of contents: Must be single-spaced Project summary: Must be single-spaced Project narrative: Must be double-spaced Line-item budget and budget narrative: Can be single-spaced Attachments: Can be single-spaced Tables and footnotes throughout: Can be single-spaced

See disqualifying factors to understand what may disqualify your application from consideration.

File one To submit file one, you will use the Project Narrative Attachment form found in the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

This file includes:

• Table of contents.

• Project summary, one page.

• Project narrative.

• Line-item budget and budget narrative.

Table of contents At the beginning of file one, insert a table of contents that guides a reader through the contents of both files in your application. If possible, include links to the relevant content in file one.

Project summary Provide a one-page summary of the project description. Do not cross-reference to other parts of your application. The summary must include:

• At the top, the project title, applicant name, address, phone numbers, email addresses, and any website URL.

• A brief description of the project, including the needs and population you will address, your proposed services or research questions.

Step 3: Build Your Application 28

Project narrative As much as possible, tie to the program description and merit review sections and headers.

The project narrative is where you explain all your proposed activities. It is a critical section of your application, which we evaluate using merit review criteria and rank based on application scores.

Remember that substance and measurable outcomes are more important than length.

We are particularly interested in project narratives that convey strategies for achieving intended performance.

In it, you must:

• Explain how the project will meet the purpose of the NOFO, as described in the program description section.

• Make sure your narrative is clear, concise, and complete.

• Cross-reference between parts of the application rather than repeating information.

• Include any required supporting documents noted. You generally provide these in your attachments.

• Use the headings and order of the sections that follow.

Applicants should clearly describe how their proposed project and activities align with ACF priorities through program design, partnerships, and expected outcomes.

Purpose and need

Objectives

State your main objectives and any sub-objectives. Address how the objectives stated relate to the overall purpose of this program and describe how you will achieve the objectives.

• Describe your understanding of the need for support of a regional partnership for the families whose children are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement due to a caregiver’s substance abuse within the project’s target area.

• Outline your vision to establish and strengthen a regional partnership to deliver family-centered services, improve outcomes for children and families affected by substance use, and expand the availability and use of evidence-based services.

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Expected outcomes

Describe your goals, objectives and expected outcomes.

This may include:

• Improving the well-being of children, parents, and families served.

• Strengthening safe and stable caregiving relationships.

• Improving substance use disorder treatment outcomes for parents (e.g., engagement and completion of treatment).

• Reducing out-of-home placements for children.

• Increasing reunification rates or prevent children from entering out-of-home care.

• Expanding the evidence base of services and programming to serve the target population.

Response

Approach

Outline your action plan. Describe the scope of your proposed project and describe in detail how you will accomplish it. Account for all functions or activities you identify in your application.

Explain potential obstacles and challenges to accomplishing your project goals. Explain the strategies you will use to address them.

• Define and justify your target area and population. You must demonstrate how parental or caregiver substance use has affected out-of-home placements or risk of placement, define the target population (e.g., children already in care, at risk of entering care, or both), gaps in available services, limited access to comprehensive family treatment services, and explain how participants will be identified, recruited, and how many you expect to serve.

• Provide a clear and reasonable plan for program referrals and enrollment, including the partners involved and outreach strategies.

• Detail the need for collaboration of partners within the target area as well as plans for collaboration throughout the project. Show a strong, established partnership with the capacity to carry out the project and include the mandatory partners.

Explain how all required partners will participate in the project.

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Project timeline and milestones

Provide a timeline for your project that includes milestones. To do so:

• Organize the information by task and subtask, showing related milestones.

Provide monthly or quarterly quantitative projections for tasks you plan to complete and by when. For example, provide the number of people you plan to serve or the number of a certain activity you plan to complete by a specific date.

• Provide target dates for activities you can’t quantify.

• Cover the full period of performance in your timeline.

• Outline a clear timeline with key milestones for both the Planning (no longer than 18 months) and Implementation phases as well as a clear, logic model showing how activities will lead to short- and long-term outcomes.

Impact

Project performance evaluation plan

Describe how you will evaluate your project’s performance and how it will contribute to CQI. This plan must describe:

• How you will monitor ongoing activities and progress toward the project’s goals and objectives.

• The inputs, key activities, and expected outcomes of the funded activities. Inputs might include your collaborative partners, key staff, budget, service processes, or other resources.

• How you will measure the inputs, activities, and outcomes.

• How you will use the resulting information to improve your funded activities.

• Any processes that support overall data quality.

• The organizational systems and processes you will use to track performance indicator outcomes.

• How your organization will collect and manage data in a way that allows for accurate and timely reporting of performance outcomes. This might include assigned skilled staff, data management software, and data integrity.

• Any potential obstacles to implementing the project performance evaluation and how you will address them.

• A timeline for how you will review information from the performance evaluation and apply it to your ongoing project.

• A budget, which includes allocating 20% of the project budget for evaluation efforts detailed in the expanding evidence section.

• How you will meet Planning Phase requirements and goals as detailed in the Project Description, including working with an evaluator to refine the evaluation

Step 3: Build Your Application 31 design. Provide detail on the Implementation Phase activities as outlined in the Project Description.

Activities evaluation plan

Describe your plan for rigorous evaluation of funded activities. The evaluation must:

• Assess activities and progress towards the goals and objectives of the project.

• Assess whether the project is having the expected impacts.

• Specify expected outcomes and any research questions, as well as how the evaluation results will help you understand and improve the funded activities.

• Include a valid and reliable measurement plan, detailed timeline, and sound methodological design.

• Outline a sound plan for securing informed consent and implementing an IRB review.

• Describe the details of the proposed data collection activities, participants, data management, data integrity, and analysis plans, as they relate to the requirements described in the program description section.

• Describe any potential obstacles in implementing the evaluation and how you will address them.

Resources and capabilities

Organizational capacity narrative

Provide the following information for your full project team, including the applicant organization and any cooperating partners, contractors, and subrecipients:

• Provide evidence that your team has the relevant experience and expertise needed to carry out your project.

• Describe your team’s experience with administering, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating similar projects.

• Provide evidence that your team has the organizational capability to fulfill their roles and functions effectively.

• You must disclose your plan to enter into subaward agreements. If planning subawards, describe the work each subrecipient will complete.

• Show the established partnership along with the collaborative infrastructure needed to implement the proposed project.

• Provide a management plan describing how staff will manage and coordinate activities carried out by staff and any partners, subcontractors, and consultants.

• Provide some supporting information in the organizational capacity supporting information section of your attachments.

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• Note: In your additional eligibility documentation attachment, you will include MOUs/MOAs and details to demonstrate the level of collaboration required for this NOFO.

Plan for oversight of federal award funds and activities

You must ensure proper award oversight. The regulation that governs this oversight is 2 CFR part 200. It includes standards for:

• Financial and program management.

• Property management.

• Procurement.

• Performance and financial monitoring and reporting.

• Subrecipient monitoring and management.

• Record retention and access.

• Remedies for noncompliance.

• Prior written approval.

Describe your framework to make sure that your federal funds and activities have proper oversight. Include:

• A description of the governance, policies and procedures, and systems you use for record-keeping and financial management.

• A description of the procedures you use to identify and mitigate risks and issues.

These might include audit findings, continuous performance assessment findings, and monitoring.

• The key staff who will be responsible for maintaining oversight of program staff and any partners or subrecipients.

Project sustainability plan

You must propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends. We expect you to sustain key elements of your project. These elements can include strategies or services and interventions that have improved practices and outcomes.

• Provide an approach to project sustainability that is effective and feasible.

Describe:

◦ The key people and organizations whose support you will require.

◦ The types of alternative support you will require to maintain the project.

• If the proposed project involves key project partners, describe how you will maintain their cooperation or collaboration after the federal funding ends.

Protection of sensitive or confidential information

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Build Your Application 33 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-D

Describe how you will collect and safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information that is considered sensitive. Make sure your approach is consistent with applicable federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality. Provide:

• The methods and systems you will use to make sure that you properly handle confidential and sensitive information, including information from any subrecipients or contractors.

• A plan for the disposition of such information at the end of the period of performance.

For more information, see 2 CFR 200.303(e).

Dissemination plan

Propose a plan to disseminate reports, products, and project outputs to key target audiences. Include:

• Dissemination goals and objectives.

• Strategies to identify and engage with target audiences.

• How you will allocate enough staff time and budget for dissemination.

• A preliminary plan to evaluate whether target audiences receive project information and use it as intended.

• The dissemination timeline.

Line-item budget and budget narrative The line-item budget and budget justification support the information you provide in the Budget Information Standard Form SF-424A.

HHS now uses the definitions for equipment and supplies in 2 CFR Part 200.1. The new definitions change the threshold for equipment to the lesser of the recipient’s capitalization level or $10,000 and the threshold for supplies to below that amount.

Justify the costs you ask for and include detail, including calculations for the “object class categories” in the Budget Information Standard Form. You will provide this information for each year of the period of performance. See information on funding periods.

As you develop your budget, consider:

• If the costs are necessary, reasonable, allocable, and consistent with your project’s purpose and activities.

• How you calculate your costs in ways that are clear and repeatable.

• The restrictions on spending funds. See the funding policies and limitations.

• Twenty percent of grant funds are required for…