fy25-ols-nab-NOFO_v2.pdf
PDF 610 KB Posted
- Opportunity number
- NAG-BASIC-FY25
About this file
This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FY2025 Native American Basic Grants program administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Applications are due by February 4, 2025, with awards expected to be announced in June 2025 for project periods running from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026.
The program will award approximately $1.7 million across 170 grants ranging from $6,000-$10,000 each (with $10,000 being the typical amount) to federally recognized tribes offering library and archival services. Eligible activities include acquiring library materials, supporting community programming, training library staff, and combinations thereof. Key requirements include active SAM.gov registration with a UEI number and Grants.gov registration. No cost sharing or indirect costs are allowed. The program is non-competitive, meaning all eligible applicants submitting complete applications by the deadline will receive funding. Required application components include the SF-424S form, IMLS Program Information Form, Library Services Plan (2 pages), and IMLS Budget Form.
FY25 Native American Library Services Basic Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| fy25-ols-nab-NOFO.pdf |
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity Applications Due February 4, 2025
Native American Basic Grants Funding Opportunity Number: NAG-BASIC-FY25 Assistance Listing Number: 45.311
OMB Control No.: 3137-0093 Expiration date: 2/28/2027
Table of Contents Native American Basic Grants Table of Contents Before You Begin Review the Opportunity
1. Basic Information
2. Eligibility
3. Program Description
Prepare and Submit Your Application
4. Application Contents and Format
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
Learn About Application Review
6. Application Review Information
7. Award Notices
Find Post-Award Information
8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration
Other Information
9. Other Important Information
Before You Begin Months to weeks before the deadline, you should:
Prepare and confirm your required registrations.
Register in SAM.gov (registration can take several weeks). Your Tribe must have an active SAM.gov account and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before you apply.
Register in Grants.gov (registration can take several days). You must have an active Grants.gov registration. You’ll need an active SAM.gov account and a Login.gov account to register and access Grants.gov.
See Registration Requirements and Guidance for Required Registrations.
Coordinate internally.
Your Tribe may require internal coordination between departments (e.g., library, human resources, finance, accounting, grants compliance, etc.). Consider this coordination early on to ensure an on-time application proposal, thoughtful project design, and successful post-award administration and compliance.
After you’ve prepared your registrations and coordinated with your Tribe, be sure to:
Submit your application in Grants.gov by the deadline:
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on February 4, 2025.
Bookmark these resources for important information:
eCFR: 2 CFR Part 200 -- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Awards
Native American Basic Grants Program page (IMLS.gov)
This NOFO has internal links to help you quickly find what you need.
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.
https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://imls.gov/grants/manage-your-grant/grant-administration https://imls.gov/grants/manage-your-grant/grant-administration https://imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants
Jump to a step
Post-Award Other Information Review Opportunity Learn About Review Prepare and Submit
Review the Opportunity
In this step:
1. Basic Information
Opportunity Overview Award Overview Executive Summary Agency Contact Information
2. Eligibility
Eligible Applicants Cost Share Requirements Other Eligibility Information
3. Program Description
Agency Mission, Goals, and Objectives NAB Program Goal and Objectives Performance Measures Funding Restrictions Authorizing Statute and Regulations Equal Opportunity
Opportunity Overview 5
Review Opportunity Learn About Review Prepare & Submit Post-Award Other Information
1. Basic Information
Opportunity Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Institute of Museum and Library Services
Funding Opportunity Title Native American Basic Grants
Announcement Type New
Funding Opportunity Number NAG-BASIC-FY25
Assistance Listing Number 45.311
Type of assistance instrument Grant
Application Deadlines Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on February 4, 2025.
Award Overview 6
Award Overview
Key Dates
Anticipated date of notification of award decisions
June 2025 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion)
Anticipated start dates for new awards
Projects must begin on August 1, 2025.
Anticipated period of performance
August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026.
Funding Details
Total amount of funding IMLS expects to award through this announcement
$1,700,000
Anticipated number of awards 170
Expected amount of individual awards $6,000 - $10,000
Average amount of funding per award experienced in previous years
$10,000
The funding in the above Award Overview is subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. We are not bound by any estimates in this announcement.
Contingent upon the availability of funds, the quality of applications, and IMLS discretion, we may make additional awards from the pool of unfunded applications from this competition.
Executive Summary 7
Executive Summary The Native American Basic Grants (NAB) program assists eligible Native Communities in establishing, sustaining, and improving library services and operations with their communities. As information needs change, Tribal libraries must be able to serve as knowledge and resource centers to benefit their users and the wellness of their communities. The NAB program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.
Agency Contact Information IMLS staff are available by phone and email to answer programmatic and administrative questions relating to this grant program. We also host webinars to introduce potential applicants to funding opportunities. For more information, see our list of webinars and instructions for accessing them.
https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants https://www.imls.gov/webinars https://www.imls.gov/webinars
Eligible Applicants 8
2. Eligibility
Eligible Applicants To be eligible for an award under this Native American Library Services Basic Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity, your Native Community must be Federally recognized and offer library and/or archival services to the community. Such services may include, but are not limited to providing free access to:
• books, print and electronic media;
• research databases;
• job, employment, and career resources;
• reference desk services;
• space for reading, studying, and meeting; and
• events and activities such as programs, classes, and cultural events for all ages.
For the purposes of funding eligibility for Native Communities under this program, IMLS adheres to the criteria in our statute which utilizes the defined term “Indian Tribe”. 20 U.S.C.
§ 9161. “Indian Tribe” (or “Tribe” or “Native Community”) means “any tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (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 Indians.” Id. at § 9101(5).
The Bureau of Indian Affairs publishes updated lists of Federally recognized Tribal and Native entities in the Federal Register. This list is periodically updated; the following link list was published to the Federal Register is the from the on December 11, 2024, Federal Register: list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register.
Cost Share Requirements Cost sharing is not required in this program. Please do not include cost share in your budget.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/11/2024-29005/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/11/2024-29005/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of
Other Eligibility Information 9
Other Eligibility Information Application Limits
Applications for renewal of your currently active IMLS awards are not eligible to compete with applications for new awards.
If eligible, you may submit multiple applications for support of separate and distinct projects through other IMLS grant programs.
Partnerships and Collaborations Applications involving partnerships or collaborations are welcome so long as the Tribe is the lead applicant. Potential partners can include other departments within the Tribe, Alaska Native supporting entities, Tribal colleges and universities, school libraries, or local non-Tribal libraries and non-profits.
If the Tribe collaborates with a partner, the Tribe must meet all eligibility requirements, serve as the lead applicant, and administer the award on behalf of the other(s).
If we fund the project, the Tribe will be programmatically, fiscally, and legally responsible for the award.
Ineligible Applicants We will not review or make awards to ineligible applicants. We will notify each applicant who is determined to be ineligible.
To receive an IMLS award, your organization must be eligible and in compliance with applicable IMLS, administrative, and national policy requirements.
Application Completeness and Deadlines You must submit all application components by the deadline indicated in the Opportunity Overview. We won’t consider late applications for funding under this notice.
The total funding request on the IMLS Budget Form must be between $6,000 - $10,000.
Your application must be complete, and your project and budget must adhere to the program’s funding restrictions and application instructions.
Agency Mission, Goals, and Objectives 10
3. Program Description
Agency Mission, Goals, and Objectives The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)’s mission is to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Three agency-level goals, with two objectives each, guide our grantmaking.
Agency-Level Goal 1 Champion Lifelong Learning
Objective 1.1 Advance shared knowledge and learning opportunities for all.
Objective 1.2 Support the training and professional development of the museum and library workforce.
Agency-Level Goal 2 Strengthen Community Engagement
Objective 2.1 Promote inclusive engagement across diverse audiences.
Objective 2.2 Support community collaboration and foster civic discourse.
Agency-Level Goal 3 Advance Collections Stewardship and Access
Objective 3.1 Support collections care and management.
Objective 3.2 Promote access to museum and library collections.
The Native American Library Services Basic Grants Program (“NAB Program”) supports the achievement of these agency-level goals and facilitates the delivery of significant results consistent with its Federal authorizing legislation (20 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.; in particular, § 9161 (Services for Native Americans)). Each award that we make through the NAB Program https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:9101%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:9161%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:9161%20edition:prelim)
NAB Program Goal and Objectives 11 will align with one agency-level goal and one associated objective and will contribute meaningfully to the achievement of both program and agency-level goals.
Search awards made through the NAB program by year, award, number, location and keyword.
NAB Program Goal and Objectives Reflecting our agency-level goals, the NAB Program has one program goal and four objectives. Choose the objective that aligns best with your proposed project.
NAB Program Goal Improve library and archival services for accessing, learning, and preserving information with the community.
Objective 1
Support the acquisition of library-related materials.
Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
• books,
• subscriptions,
• supplies, equipment,
• furnishings,
• services, and
• fees for participation in networks and consortia that provide the library with direct services.
Objective 2 Support programming for identified community priorities.
Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
• education,
• workforce development,
• economic and business development,
• health information,
• critical thinking skills,
• digital literacy skills,
• financial literacy,
• language acquisition,
• cultural preservation, and
• climate response.
https://imls.gov/grants/awarded-grants?field_states=All&field_city=&field_institution=&field_program_categories_text=Native+American+Library+Services%3A+Basic+Grants&fulltext_search= https://imls.gov/grants/awarded-grants?field_states=All&field_city=&field_institution=&field_program_categories_text=Native+American+Library+Services%3A+Basic+Grants&fulltext_search=
Performance Measures 12
NAB Program Goal Improve library and archival services for accessing, learning, and preserving information with the community.
Objective 3 Support training for library staff.
Examples include, but aren’t limited to:
• courses,
• workshops and professional conferences,
• membership fees, and
• other forms of skill development for the library workforce.
Objective 4
Support project activities that include aspects of two or more of the objectives listed above.
Performance Measures We use two performance measures as a basis for understanding how well the NAB program is meeting its goals and how awardees are managing individual projects.
Effectiveness: The extent to which activities contribute to achieving the intended results of the NAB program.
Timeliness: The extent to which each task/activity is completed within the timeframe proposed.
In your final performance report, we’ll ask you to rate how well you believe you completed the project in terms of effectiveness and timeliness.
Funding Restrictions 13
Funding Restrictions
Allowable and Unallowable Costs You may use IMLS funds and cost share only for allowable costs as found in IMLS and OMB government-wide cost-principle rules.
Please consult 2 C.F.R. part 200 and 2 C.F.R. part 3187 (in particular, 2 C.F.R. § 3187.15(b)) for additional guidance on allowable costs.
The following lists include some examples of generally allowable and unallowable costs.
Allowable Costs personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, including annual cost of living increases travel expenses for key project staff and consultants materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities adaptive and/or assistive technologies and other resources and services to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities participant support costs, including temporary dependent care, if documented in written policies third-party costs design and publication costs program evaluation data collection and management staff and volunteer training paid internships/fellowships stipends or honoraria for project advisors and active participants pre-award costs, at the discretion of and with prior written approval from the agency.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-3187/section-3187.15#p-3187.15(b)
Funding Restrictions 14
Unallowable Costs general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general fundraising contributions to endowments indirect costs general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those related to the specific project construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving the construction trades is not an allowable cost) social activities, receptions, or entertainment
You must explain all proposed expenses in the Budget Summary section of your Library Services Plan.
If you have questions about whether specific activities are allowable, contact us for guidance.
Costs for Third Parties When a project requires the payment of Federal funds to third parties (such as partners, consultants, collaborators, vendors, and/or service providers), it is your responsibility to determine whether you should characterize a third party as a subrecipient or a contractor and include that determination in your agreement with them.
IMLS grant funds may not be provided to any Federal agency serving as a third party.
Indirect Costs Indirect costs aren’t allowed in this program.
Learn more:
2 C.F.R. § 200.1 for definitions of contract, contractor, subaward, and subrecipient;
2 C.F.R. § 200.331 (Subrecipient and contractor determinations).
https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Contract) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Contract) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Contract) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.1#p-200.1(Contract) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.331
Authorizing Statute and Regulations 15
Authorizing Statute and Regulations Statute: 20 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.; in particular, § 9161 (Services for Native Americans).
Regulations: 45 C.F.R. Chapter XI, 2 C.F.R. Chapter XXXI, and 2 C.F.R. Title 2
Award recipients must follow the IMLS regulations that are in effect at the time of the award*
You can find the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance at 2 C.F.R. part 200.
*Please note: OMB has recently updated the Uniform Guidance (see Uniform Guidance Revisions). For IMLS awards made after October 1, 2024, the Uniform Guidance Revisions will apply. We have tried to align this NOFO to the Uniform Guidance Revisions. In the event of any differences between the Uniform Guidance Revisions provisions and the current (pre- Oct. 1, 2024) Uniform Guidance provisions, the Uniform Guidance Revisions provisions shall govern.
With certain IMLS-specific additions, IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. part 3187 have formally adopted the Uniform Guidance Revisions when they became effective on October 1, 2024.
Equal Opportunity IMLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.
For further information, email the Civil Rights Officer at CivilRights@imls.gov or write to the Civil Rights Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L’Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC, 20024-2135.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title20/chapter72&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title20-section9161&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjIwIHNlY3Rpb246OTEwMSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title20-section9161&num=0&saved=%7CKHRpdGxlOjIwIHNlY3Rpb246OTEwMSBlZGl0aW9uOnByZWxpbSk%3D%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XI https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-07496 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-07496 mailto:CivilRights@imls.gov
Post-Award Prepare and Submit Other Information Learn About Review Review Opportunity
Prepare and Submit Your Application
4. Application Contents and Format
Get Ready to Apply Readiness Checklist Registration Requirements Guidance for Required Registrations
Prepare Your Application Application Components Instructions for Required Application Components
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
Submission Instructions Programmatic, Administrative and Technical Support Contacts
IMLS
Federal Service Desk Grants.gov
Submission Dates and Times Emergency Extensions Intergovernmental Review
Get Ready to Apply 17
Prepare & Submit Review Opportunity Learn About Review Post-Award Other Information
4. Application Contents and Format
Get Ready to Apply
Readiness Checklist Applying for an award takes time. Registering with SAM.gov can take several weeks. There are a few important things you’ll need to do before you can apply.
Be sure to…
□ Register in SAM.gov (or make sure your Tribe’s registration is current) as early as possible. Remember that SAM registration can take several weeks.
To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started.
See the SAM.gov Entity Registration checklist for what you’ll need to register in SAM.
□ Get a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. You’ll get your organization’s UEI when you register in SAM.gov. (This is not a DUNS number. See the DUNS to UEI transition information.)
□ Register in Grants.gov.
□ Carefully read through this NOFO to get a good understanding of how to craft your Library Services Plan and what other documents we require.
□ Review the eligibility requirements and confirm that your Tribe is eligible.
1. Federally recognized Indian Tribe, including Alaska Native Village, Regional
Corporation, or Village Corporation
2. Offers library and/or archival services to the community
□ Review the Funding Restrictions and keep them in mind as you develop your application and budget.
□ Review the post-award requirements to make sure you can meet them.
□ Find the application package. Go to Grants.gov and search for Funding Opportunity Number: NAG-BASIC-FY25 or Assistance Listing Number: 45.311.
□ Get familiar with Grants.gov Workspace.
□ Contact IMLS program staff to discuss your ideas, or if you have questions related to the application process.
https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.fsd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=82f480491b4dfd142fe5ed7ae54bcb0c https://sam.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview https://imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-basic-grants
Get Ready to Apply 18
Registration Requirements Before you apply, your Tribe must have these three Federal registrations already in place:
a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number;
a current and active System for Award Management (SAM) registration; and an active Grants.gov registration with an approved Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
Check your materials and registrations now to ensure that they are accurate, current, and active.
We strongly recommend that you obtain a UEI number and complete registration with SAM and Grants.gov months to weeks before the application deadline.
Guidance for Required Registrations
Getting a Unique Entity Identifier The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is a non-proprietary alphanumeric identifier assigned to all entities (public and private companies, individuals, institutions, or organizations) who register to do business with the Federal Government. The UEI is requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award Management (SAM). Awardees must inform any subrecipients that the awardee may not make a subaward unless the subrecipient has also obtained a UEI.
If your Tribe has an active SAM registration, you can find your assigned UEI in your SAM record. If you don’t yet have an active SAM registration, you will receive a UEI when you register in SAM.
Learn more about the UEI.
Registering with SAM The System for Award Management (SAM) is a Federal repository that centralizes information about grant applicants and awardees. It is always free to all users. You must register with SAM before registering with Grants.gov. Learn how to check a Tribe’s registration status in SAM.
https://www.gsa.gov/entityid https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=1c75d2011b10f8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbdc https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=gsafsd_kb_articles&sys_id=1c75d2011b10f8909ac5ddb6bc4bcbdc
Get Ready to Apply 19
If you’re registering with SAM for the first time, you must begin by creating a SAM user account through Login.gov. Click here to learn how to create a secure Login.gov account.
Then proceed to the SAM registration process.
We recommend that you allow several weeks to complete the SAM registration.
You must always maintain an active SAM registration with current information while you have an active award or an application under consideration. We may not make an award to you until you have complied with all applicable UEI and SAM registration requirements. If you have not fully complied with the requirements by the time we’re ready to make a Federal award, we may make a Federal award to another applicant.
You must renew your Tribe’s registration in SAM at least every 12 months or whenever your Tribe’s information changes. An expired registration will prevent you from submitting applications via Grants.gov and receiving awards or payments. Award payments will be made to the bank account that is associated with your Tribe’s SAM registration.
Registering with Grants.gov Grants.gov is the centralized website for grant seekers to find and apply for Federal funding opportunities. Grants.gov is owned and operated by the Federal Government and is always free to all users.
You must register with Grants.gov prior to applying. The multistep registration process cannot be completed in a single day. You should make sure your institution’s SAM registration is current and active before registering with Grants.gov. If your Tribe is not already registered, allow several weeks before the application deadline to complete this one-time process. Do not wait until the day of the application deadline to register.
The Grants.gov user ID and password you obtain when you register are required to submit your application.
After your Tribe registers with Grants.gov and creates an Organizational Applicant Profile, the request for the Tribe’s Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the eBiz POC. The eBiz POC will then log into Grants.gov and assign the appropriate roles to individuals within the Tribe. This will include the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) which will give permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization.
https://www.login.gov/ https://www.login.gov/create-an-account/ https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration
Get Ready to Apply 20
TIP: Know who your Tribe’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is and be sure they’re aware of when you’ll need them available to approve your application submission in Grants.gov. Add additional AORs if you can.
Designating more than one AOR when you register in Grants.gov will help you avoid missing the deadline if a single AOR is unavailable when you are ready to submit the application.
It is also important to update the contact information and password in Grants.gov whenever an AOR changes. AOR changes can take over 24 hours to go into effect, so complete this well before the deadline.
Visit Grants.gov/Support, email support@grants.gov, or call Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 for technical assistance. Grants.gov Applicant Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for Federal holidays.
Application Package You must apply electronically through Grants.gov Workspace or a Grants.gov system-to-system solution.
Use one of the following identifiers to locate the application package in Grants.gov:
• Funding Opportunity Number: NAG-BASIC-FY25
• Assistance Listing Number: 45.311
To request an audio recording of this announcement, call 202-653-4744. To request a paper copy of this announcement, call 202-653-4744 or email imls-librarygrants@imls.gov.
Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY Users) can contact IMLS at 202-207-7858 via 711 for TTY-Based Telecommunications Relay Service.
https://www.grants.gov/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov tel://1-800-518-4726/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/search-grants mailto:imls-librarygrants@imls.gov
Prepare Your Application 21
Prepare Your Application This section outlines the components, format, and content requirements to help you prepare a complete application.
You must apply by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on February 4, 2025. We make awards only to eligible applicants that submit applications through Grants.gov on or before this deadline.
If your application is missing any Required Documents from the list below, we will consider it to be incomplete, and may reject it from further consideration (see 2 C.F.R. § 3187.9.).
Application Components
Format, Name, and Sequence of Application Components Document Format
The SF-424S and the IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form are web forms you’ll complete in Grants.gov Workspace. You must submit the Library Services Plan and the IMLS Budget Form as PDF documents.
Naming Convention
Use the naming conventions indicated in the table below.
IMPORTANT: Attachment file names are limited to the following characters: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, period (.). If attachment file names use any other characters, the application may be rejected by Grants.gov.
Attachment Order
In Grants.gov, attach all application components in the sequence listed in the table below.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR4860f8e7b5a3d23/section-3187.9
Prepare Your Application 22
Required Documents You must include all required components for your application to be complete.
Component File Requirements
The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)
Format: Grants.gov web form
IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form
Format: Grants.gov web form
Library Services Plan
File Format: PDF
Page Limit: up to 2 pages (recommended)
File Name: Plan.pdf
IMLS Budget Form File Format: IMLS PDF form
File Name: Budget.pdf
Instructions for Required Application Components
Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S) The SF-424S is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace.
We use it to collect some basic information about your Tribe and your project.
SF-424S Item Instructions
Items 1 - 4 Grants.gov automatically populates items 1-4.
Prepare Your Application 23
Item 5. Applicant Information
a. Legal Name: Enter your Tribe’s legal name as it appears in your SAM registration. If you have an organizational unit (specific department, school, TCU, partner non-Tribal library or profit, etc..) that will be carrying out the project, be sure to specify it as the organizational unit on the IMLS Library
– Discretionary Program Information Form.
b. Address: Enter the Tribe’s legal address as it appears in your SAM registration.
c. Web Address: Enter the URL of your Tribe’s website.
d. Type of Applicant: Select the eligible code from the menu in the first dropdown box: Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized). Leave the other boxes blank.
e. Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): Enter the EIN or TIN assigned to your Tribe by the Internal Revenue Service.
f. Organizational UEI: Enter your Tribe’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). If your Tribe’s SAM registration is active, you can find your assigned UEI in your SAM record. If you cannot locate your UEI, contact the Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov or 1-866-606-8220.
g. Congressional District: Enter your Tribe’s congressional district.
Use the following format: two-letter state abbreviation, followed by a hyphen, followed by a zero, followed by the two-digit district number. For example, if the Tribe is located in the 5th Congressional District of California, enter “CA-005.” For the
12th Congressional District of North Carolina, enter “NC-012.”
For states and territories with “At Large” Congressional Districts—that is, one representative or delegate represents the entire state or territory—use “001,” e.g., “VT-001. If your Tribe does not have a congressional district (e.g., it is located in a U.S. territory that does not have districts), enter “00-000.”
To determine your Tribe’s district, visit the House of Representatives website and use the “Find Your Representative” tool.
https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp https://www.house.gov/ https://www.house.gov/
Prepare Your Application 24
SF-424S Item Instructions
Item 6. Project Information
a. Project Title: Enter a brief descriptive title for your project, using no more than 200 characters, including spaces.
IMLS may use this title for public information purposes.
b. Project Description: Enter a brief description (about 120 words) of your project. Briefly list the activities to be performed, the deliverables and expected outcomes, and the intended beneficiaries.
c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the start date of 08/01/2025 and end date of 07/31/2026 in the format mm/dd/yyyy.
NOTE: We use Login.gov for user authentication in our electronic grants management system, eGMS Reach.
Login.gov helps protect user identity through stronger passwords and two-factor authentication.
eGMS Reach requires that the email addresses entered for the Project Director, Primary Contact/Grants Administrator, and Authorized Representatives in Items 7, 8, and 9 on the SF- 424S Form be unique to those individuals.
General email addresses or those used by several people in a single office are not acceptable.
Item 7. Project Director
The Project Director will have primary responsibility for carrying out your project’s activities. Enter the requested information for this individual here.
We require that the Project Director be a different person than the Authorized Representative.
https://login.gov/
Prepare Your Application 25
SF-424S Item Instructions
Item 8. Primary Contact/Grants Administrator
The Primary Contact/Grants Administrator has the core responsibility for administering the award. Enter the requested information for this individual here.
Please still complete both items 8 and 9 if the Primary Contact/Grants Administrator is the same as the Authorized Representative.
In some Tribes this individual may be the same as the Project Director. If this is the case, check the box and skip to Item 9.
Item 9. Authorized Representative
The Authorized Representative has the authority to legally bind your Tribe. Enter the requested information for this individual here. The Authorized Representative cannot be the same person as the Project Director.
By checking the “I Agree” box at the top of Item 9, this individual certifies the applicant’s compliance with the IMLS Assurances and Certifications and any other relevant Federal requirements.
Grants.gov automatically populates the “Signature of Authorized Representative” and “Date Signed” boxes upon submission of the application. This is the person whose name was listed as your Tribe’s authorized representative when you registered with Grants.gov.
Please note that this name might not be the same as the name and other information you entered in Item 9 above.
By submitting the electronic application, you acknowledge that your Tribe certifies compliance with relevant Federal requirements, including but not limited to the IMLS Assurances and Certifications, to the same extent as a signature does on a paper application.
https://www.imls.gov/grants/assurances-certifications https://www.imls.gov/grants/assurances-certifications https://www.imls.gov/grants/assurances-certifications https://www.imls.gov/grants/assurances-certifications
Prepare Your Application 26
IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form The IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace. In it, we collect more details about your project, its goals, and financial information.
Sections of this form are dynamic, so your answers to certain questions will determine what questions you see next.
PIF Section Instructions
Section 1. Grant Program
Select Native American Basic Grants.
Grant Program Goals and Objectives
Refer to the NAB Program Goal and Objectives. Select the objective that best aligns with your proposed project.
Section 2. Applicant Information
Does this entity have an organizational unit (department, school, Tribal college or university, or non- Tribal library or non-profit) that will carry out the activities described in your application?
Refer to the entity listed in Item 5a of the Grants.gov SF-424S Form that you are submitting with your application and review the Helpful Definitions of organizational unit and legal applicant on the Program Information Form.
• Select YES if your Tribe has an organizational unit, then provide the requested information and select an institution type for the organizational unit.
• Select NO if your Tribe does not have an organizational unit, then select an institution type for your Tribe.
For the NAB program, you must select “Federally Recognized Native American Tribe” or “Alaska Native Village Regional Corporation or Village Corporation” as your Institution Type.
Prepare Your Application 27
PIF Section Instructions
Section 3. Financial Information
Section 3 Financial Information is not applicable for the NAB program. After you select “Federally Recognized Native American Tribe” or “Alaska Native Village Regional Corporation or Village Corporation” as the Institution Type in the previous section, this section will be hidden.
Section 4. Funding Request
Refer to the Grant Fund total in Section 10 of the IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 1.6MB) that you are submitting with your application. Provide the amount in dollars that you are requesting from IMLS (between $6,000 - $10,000).
For Cost Share, enter “0” because this program does not allow cost share.
Section 5. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are not allowed in this program. Please select “Applicant chooses not to include indirect costs.”
Section 6. Abstract Write a one- or two-sentence summary of your Library Services Plan. You may choose to simply reuse the Project Description written for the SF424S.
If your proposal is selected for funding, the Abstract may be published online, or otherwise shared, by IMLS.
As such, it must not include any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.
Section 7. Project Keywords
Select from one to eight keywords that best characterize your project from the options provided on the form. You can find the full list of keywords below.
We may use these keywords as search terms in our compilations describing the agency’s grantmaking and/or provide them as tools to help applicants, other awardees, and the public understand more about what we support.
Prepare Your Application 28
Keywords In Section 7 of the IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form, we ask you to select from one to eight keywords that best characterize your project from the options that appear alphabetically below. We may use these keywords as search terms in our compilations describing the agency's grantmaking and/or provide them as tools to help applicants, other awardees, and the public understand more about what we support.
A-B-C
• Accessibility / Universal Design / Inclusive Design
• Archives Practice / Management / Use
• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• Broadband Access
• Civic Engagement
• Civic Technology
• Collections Care / Conservation / Preservation
• Collections Management
• Community Engagement
• Community Memory / Community History
• Community Science
• Crowdsourcing
D-E-F-G
• Data Privacy / Security
• Data Science / Computational Analysis
• Digital Asset Management
• Digital Preservation / Curation
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
• Early Learning
• Emergency / Disaster / Crisis Preparedness and Response
• Environmental Education
• Family Learning
• Fellowship / Internship / Mentorship Programs
• Gaming
H-I-J-K-L
• Institutional Capacity Building
• Language Preservation / Cultural Revitalization
• Literacy: Civic
• Literacy: Digital
• Literacy: Financial
• Literacy: Health and Wellness
• Literacy: Information
M-N-O
• Museum and Library Partnerships
• Museum Education Technology
• Museum Exhibitions
• Museum Interpretation
• Museum Multilingual Programs / Resos
• Museum Program Evaluations
• Museum Visitor Services
• Museum /Archives / Library Staff Professional
Development / Training
• Open Educational Resources
• Oral History
P-Q-R-S
• Pre-K-12 Out of School / Summer Programs
• Pre-K-12 School Programs
• Public Programs
• Scholarly Communications
• School Libraries / Librarianship
• Services and Programs for Adults
• Services for Children and Families
• Services for College Students
• Services for Emerging Adults
• Services for English-Language Learners
• Services for Immigrants / Refugees
• Services for Incarcerated Individuals / Returning Citizens
• Services for Individuals who are Neurodivergent
• Services for Individuals with Disabilities
• Services for LGBTQIA+
• Services for Older Adults
• Services for Rural Communities
• Services for Those below the Poverty Line or Unstably
Housed
• Services for Tribal Communities
• Services for Urban Communities
• Services for Veterans / Active-Duty Military
• Services for Teens
• Shared Infrastructures / Open-Source Software
• STEM / STEAM Programming
• Summer Services T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
• Teacher / Educator Professional Development
• Web Archiving
• Website Creation / Enhancement
• Workforce Development
Prepare Your Application 29
Library Services Plan Create a document using these guidelines and tips as you respond to questions for the two sections below:
• We recommend limiting the Library Services Plan to two single-spaced, numbered pages.
• Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides, standard font, and font size of at least eleven points.
• Be clear and concise with a minimum of technical jargon and acronyms.
• Save your document as a PDF and use Plan.pdf as its file name.
Organize your Library Services Plan into two section headings: Narrative and Budget Summary. Please address the following questions in each section.
Narrative
• What activities will be the focus of your work this year?
• Will you partner with other departments or institutions, inside or outside the library, Tribe, or community? If so, please provide a list of partners.
• What results do you plan to achieve?
• How will you monitor and measure success? (When completing the final performance report, you will be asked to assess how well you believe you completed the award in terms of effectiveness and timeliness).
See below for an example of what the Narrative section of a Library Services Plan might look like.
Prepare Your Application 30
Figure 1 - Example Library Services Plan Narrative
Budget Summary
• Follow the order of the IMLS Budget Form’s section headings and explain how you determined each line-item dollar amount.
• How frequently will you draw down funds (as spent, quarterly, or only once at the end of the year)?
See below for an example of what the Budget Summary section of a Library Services Plan might look like.
Prepare Your Application 31
Figure 2 - Example Library Services Plan Budget Summary
IMLS Budget Form Make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your web browser. Download the IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 1.6MB) to your computer and work on it outside your web browser. When you’ve completed the form, save it as a PDF and upload it as part of your application through Grants.gov.
https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/imls-budget-form-fy25.pdf https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/imls-budget-form-fy25.pdf https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/budgetform.pdf
Prepare Your Application 32
The IMLS Budget Form accommodates up to three years of project activities and expenses, but this program will only require use of the “Year 1, Grant Fund” column.
Tips for completing your budget form:
The budget should include the project costs that will be charged to grant funds.
All the items listed must be necessary to accomplish project objectives, allowable according to the applicable Federal cost principles, auditable, and incurred during the award period of performance.
Charges to the project for items such as salaries, fringe benefits, travel, and contractual services must conform to the written policies and established practices of your Tribe.
If you need more lines for a specific section, summarize the information in the IMLS Budget Form and explain it further in the Budget Summary.
Budget Form Section Instructions
1. Salaries and Wages
Include both temporary and permanent staff engaged in project activities. Document the method of cost computation in your Budget Summary by including the base salary or wages for each person and the percentage of time each person is allocated to the project activities, which may be shown as a percentage of time, number or days, or number of hours.
Learn more about the regulations and requirements related to cost principles for Federal awards:
• 2 C.F.R. 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles
• 2 C.F.R. part 3187 Subpart C Allowable Costs https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR1c38957a8249b7e
Prepare Your Application 33
Budget Form Section Instructions
2. Fringe Benefits Fringe benefits can be claimed as a direct cost for only those positions included in your direct cost pool and only on the portion of salaries and wages identified for this project. Indicate your Tribe’s fringe benefit rate (in percent) and the base (in dollars) to which the rate is applied (e.g., 20% x $175,089.00).
3. Travel
Explain the method of cost computation for each travel cost, including subsistence, lodging, and transportation, in your Budget Justification.
You must use the lowest available commercial fares for coach or equivalent accommodations, and you must use U.S. flagged air carriers for foreign travel when such services are available, in accordance with applicable U.S. legal requirements.
4. Supplies, Materials, and Equipment
List the costs of supplies, materials, and equipment purchased specifically for the proposed project. For definitions and other information, please see 2 C.F.R.
part 200.1 - Definitions. Explain or describe these items in further detail in the Budget Summary.
5. Subawards and Contracts
List each third party that will undertake project activities and their associated costs as an individual line item on your IMLS Budget Form. Designate each third party as either a subaward or a contract using the dropdown menu on each line. Itemize these third-party costs in your Budget Summary.
6. Student Support If your project includes Student Support costs, enter them in this section. Refer to Student Support Costs in the Budget for a definition and examples.
7. Other Costs Use this section for costs that cannot be assigned to other categories. Do not use this section to list items that do not fit in the lines allotted for another section.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.1
Prepare Your Application 34
Budget Form Section Instructions
8. Total Direct Costs These amounts will total automatically.
9. Indirect Costs Indirect costs are not accepted for this funding opportunity.
10. Total Project Costs These amounts will total and round up to the nearest dollar automatically.
Student Support Costs in the Budget Students are:
• Individuals enrolled in a community college, undergraduate, or graduate program of study
• Individuals participating in post-master’s or post-doctoral programs that are focused on supporting their careers or professional development
• Library, archives, and museum staff participating in education and training activities focused on their careers or professional development
Examples of Student Support include:
• Tuition support for students participating in the project
• Salaries or stipends for graduate assistant work, if their work is focused on research and teaching activities (therefore contributing to their education)
• Pay and benefits for a resident or fellow to work in a position that is intended to support their learning outcomes or professional development
• Costs for travel and conference registration provided to support a student or participant’s learning outcomes or professional development
• Costs of supplies and equipment provided to students to support a student’s learning outcomes or professional development
Activities not considered Student Support include:
• Students employed in roles that are primarily administrative or clerical, doing work that is not primarily focused on their career or professional development. These costs should be listed in the Salaries and Wages section of the budget, and tuition paid on behalf of these students would not be considered Student Support.
See 2 C.F.R. § 200.466 (Scholarships, student aid costs, and tuition remission); see also 2 C.F.R. § 200.430 (Compensation – personal services).
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.466 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.430 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.430
Prepare Your Application 35
Application Checklist Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need to submit a complete application.
General Readiness
□ Review the Readiness Checklist and make sure your Tribe has a UEI, and that your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations are current and active.
Forms (follow form and Grants.gov instructions)
□ SF-424S
□ IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form
Files Formatting Instructions
□ Library Services Plan
□ IMLS Budget Form
□ Double-check format, file names, and attachment order for the two PDF documents.
Disclosure of Information in Applications We may share grant applications, products, and reports to further the mission of the agency and the development of museum, library, archival, and information services. As a general practice, and except for information that is privacy-protected, information contained in IMLS applications that receive funding may be made public. Please identify any information you deem confidential and/or proprietary and seek to have protected.
Submission Instructions 36
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
Submission Instructions You must…
This is the start of the file's text. The full file is on GovTribe.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .