fy26-oms-nae-NOFO.pdf

Dear Colleague -

The Office of Library Services (OLS) is pleased that you are considering seeking support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the important work that you do for your communities as our whole nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Now more than ever, we are thrilled to support America’s libraries, which can and should serve as civic centers of learning and culture for a nation of citizens. Benjamin Franklin once hoped that America’s libraries would make America’s “common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries.” We hope that by playing a leading role in our national celebration of 250 years of independence, libraries across America fulfill Franklin’s vision as bastions of education and culture in every community.

We are excited not only to support general improvements across the library field, but also to promote libraries as they teach Americans about their heritage and history, especially one of the greatest chapters in the human story-- America’s founding.

We encourage you to carefully read the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for the library grant programs and shape your proposal in a way that responds to the Goals and Objectives of the program you choose.

In addition to the requirements set out in the NOFOs, OLS encourages you to consider how your work might build upon, or relate to, OLS’ field-wide programs and initiatives.

OLS particularly welcomes projects that:

• Meaningfully engage and educate communities about our nation’s great history and the incredible story of America’s founding, in fitting commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence.

• Leverage libraries’ roles in their communities to connect workers with employers, apprenticeship programs, skills training and the public workforce system.

Applicants are encouraged to read and consider Executive Order (EO) 14278, “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future.”

• Expand on the important roles libraries play in connecting their communities with health services, promoting overall physical excellence and mental wellness.

• Build bridges and further meaningful partnerships with other civic institutions in their communities, including but not limited to local governments and philanthropic organizations.

• Facilitate regular and family-friendly programming that is of social and educational benefit to children and parents alike.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/28/2025-07369/preparing-americans-for-high-paying-skilled-trade-jobs-of-the-future

• Creatively and effectively use new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve both academic practices and visitor experiences at our nation’s libraries. Applicants are encouraged to read and consider EO 14277, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” as they work on related projects.

• In his inaugural address, President Trump said “We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans.” We welcome projects that refocus cultural institutions on what unites us by fostering respectful civil dialogue. In doing so, we acknowledge our core Constitutional Rights, including Free Exercise of Religion. Applicants may find it helpful to review and consider EO 14188, “Additional Measures to Combat Anti- Semitism,” and EO 14202, “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias,” as they work on projects to strengthen American civil society.

To fulfill the President’s promise that “the forgotten man and woman will be forgotten no longer,” we enthusiastically welcome institutions which serve rural and remote communities to apply, as well as those which haven’t traditionally been recipients of federal funding. We also encourage institutions that promote a positive and uplifting vision of American history and our shared national achievements to consider applying to

IMLS.

Thank you for your interest in working with IMLS as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday and further its spirit for years to come We look forward to partnering with your institution to share our nation’s tremendous heritage with all our fellow citizens!

Sincerely, Keith E. Sonderling Lisa Solomson Senior Official Performing the Duties of IMLS Director https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/28/2025-07368/advancing-artificial-intelligence-education-for-american-youth https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/03/2025-02230/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/12/2025-02611/eradicating-anti-christian-bias

FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity Applications Due April 10, 2026

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants

Funding Opportunity Number: NAG-ENHANCEMENT-FY26 Assistance Listing Number: 45.311

OMB Control No.: 3137-0110 Expiration date: 1/31/2027

Table of Contents Native American Library Services Enhancement 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 to ensure 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 April 10, 2026.

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 Library Services Enhancement 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-enhancement-grants

Jump to a step

Learn About Review Prepare and Submit Review Opportunity Post-Award Other Information

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 NAE Program Goal and Objectives Performance Measures Funding Restrictions Authorizing Statute and Regulations Equal Opportunity

Opportunity Overview 5

Review Opportunity Post-Award Other Information Learn About Review Prepare & Submit

1. Basic Information

Opportunity Overview

Federal Awarding Agency Institute of Museum and Library Services

Funding Opportunity Title Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants

Announcement Type Modification of FY25 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number NAG-ENHANCEMENT-FY26

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 April 10, 2026.

Award Overview 6

Award Overview

Key Dates

Anticipated date of notification of award decisions

September 2026 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion)

Anticipated start dates for new awards Projects must begin on October 1, 2026.

Anticipated period of performance

October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2028. Project activities may be carried out for one to two years.

Funding Details

Total amount of funding IMLS expects to award through this announcement

$3,500,000

Expected performance indicators, targets, baseline data, and data collection

See Performance Measures.

Anticipated number of awards 25

Expected amount of individual awards $50,000 - $150,000

Average amount of funding per award experienced in previous years

$130,000

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 Library Services Enhancement Grants program (NAE) assists eligible Native Communities in sustaining and improving library services 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 NAE program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.

NAE projects may involve, but are not limited to, activities such as:

• educational programming for all ages;

• oral history collection and documentation;

• digital media and technology enhancements;

• institutional planning and policy development;

• professional training, internships, and mentorships;

• supporting and engaging with cultural practitioners and scholars;

• research and development of language and cultural material and tools;

• digitization and digital preservation; and

• furnishing of library spaces for staff and public, within existing constructed spaces

(please note that IMLS funds are not allowed for construction).

The goal of the program is to develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training to strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes through the following objectives:

• serving the learning needs and interests of the community;

• improving community well-being;

• providing access to and preservation of information and collections; or

• providing services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

The primary audiences for this program are Native American or Alaska Native-serving institutions providing library services, and the professionals engaged with such institutions per the eligibility restrictions below.

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are:

• a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe, or

• Federally Recognized Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village corporation

Agency Contact Information 8

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 and record on-demand 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/webinars https://www.imls.gov/webinars

Eligible Applicants 9

2. Eligibility

Eligible Applicants To be eligible for an award under this NAE 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 list was published to the Federal Register on December 11, 2024: list of Federally recognized Tribes in the Federal Register.

Cost Share Requirements Cost share is allowed but not required for the NAE program. The amount of cost share, if included in an application, is not part of the review process.

Calculate any cost share you include in your project budget carefully - you’ll be required to meet cost share commitments if you choose to include them.

Learn more about Cost Sharing in the 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 10

Other Eligibility Information Application Limits

Applications for renewal of your currently active IMLS award(s) are not eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

Your Tribe may submit only one application under this announcement.

If eligible, your Tribe may submit 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 your 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, your 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 Tribe 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 $50,000 - $150,000.

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 11

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 broad public engagement.

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 Enhancement Grants Program (“NAE”) 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 NAE Program 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.

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)

NAE Program Goal and Objectives 12

NAE Program Goal and Objectives The NAE Program has one program goal and four objectives. Choose the objective that aligns best with your proposed project.

NAE Program Goal Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training to strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes.

Objective 1

Serve the learning needs and interests of the community.

Examples include, but aren’t limited to:

• informal STEM or other types of participatory learning;

• early learning;

• digital, information, health, financial, media, civic, and other types of literacies;

• language and culture education; and

• educational programs such as classes, events, teaching tools, or resources.

Objective 2 Improve community well-being.

Examples include, but aren’t limited to:

• workforce and economic development;

• social, public health, and civic services;

• digital services

• efforts that increase access; and

• developing strategic partnerships within, across, and outside Native communities.

Objective 3 Provide access to and preservation of information and collections.

Examples include, but aren’t limited to:

• privacy and security;

• digital preservation strategies;

• community memory;

• collections stewardship; and

• language and culture preservation and perpetuation.

NAE Program Goal and Objectives 13

NAE Program Goal Develop, enhance, or disseminate practices, programs, models, tools, or library staff training to strengthen library and archival services for Native American Tribes.

Objective 4

Provide services to affected communities in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Examples include, but aren’t limited to:

• emergency and disaster mitigation and management plans; and

• studying or addressing impacts of emergencies and disasters.

Performance Measures 14

Performance Measures We use three performance measures as a basis for understanding and evaluating how well the NAE program is meeting its goal and how awardees are managing individual projects. We ask applicants to define and determine how they will measure the following aspects:

Effectiveness: The extent to which proposed project activities contribute to achieving the NAE program goal and objective you selected.

Quality: How well the project activities meet the requirements and expectations of the Tribal community and/or intended audience.

Timeliness: The extent to which each task/activity is completed within the timeframe proposed.

As part of your application, you will need to provide a Performance Measurement Plan that describes how you will use these three measures to evaluate your performance in carrying out your project and meeting the NAE program goal and the objective you selected.

In your final performance report, we’ll ask you to rate (on a scale of 1 to 5) how well you believe you completed the project in terms of effectiveness, quality, and timeliness.

Funding Restrictions

Allowable and Unallowable Costs You may use IMLS funds and cost share only for allowable costs as found in IMLS and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) government-wide cost principles 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, both for IMLS funds and for cost share (if applicable), under this announcement.

Learn more about creating a Performance Measurement Plan.

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 15

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 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.

Unallowable Costs general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general fundraising contributions to endowments general operating support 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 your Budget Justification.

If you have questions about whether specific activities are allowable, contact us for guidance.

https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants

Funding Restrictions 16

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 You can choose to:

use a rate not to exceed your current indirect cost rate already negotiated with a Federal agency;

use an indirect cost rate proposed to a Federal agency for negotiation, but not yet finalized, as long as it is finalized by the time of the award;

use a rate not to exceed 15 percent of the Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) if your Tribe does not have a Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and is not subject to other requirements; or not include any indirect costs.

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).

See Indirect Costs in the 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

Authorizing Statute and Regulations 17

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 and any applicable Executive Orders 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.

With certain IMLS-specific additions, IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. part 3187 have formally adopted the Uniform Guidance .

Equal Opportunity IMLS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

For further information, email the ogc@imls.gov or write to the Office of the General Counsel, 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.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187 mailto:ogc@imls.gov

Jump to a step

Learn About Review Post-Award Prepare and Submit Other Information Review Opportunity

Prepare and Submit Your Application

In this step:

4. Application Contents and Format

Get Ready to Apply Readiness Checklist Registration Requirements Guidance for Required Registrations Application Package

Prepare Your Application Application Components Format, Name, and Sequence of Application Components Instructions for Required Application Components Narrative Sections Conditionally Required Documents Supporting Documents Application Checklist Disclosure of Information in Applications

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 19

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 check your Tribe’s registration status and expiration date) as early as possible. Remember that a new SAM registration or troubleshooting issues 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.

□ Register in Grants.gov.

□ Carefully read through this NOFO to get a good understanding of how to craft your Narrative and what other documents we require.

□ Review the eligibility requirements and confirm that your Tribe is eligible.

1. Federally recognized 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-ENHANCEMENT-FY26 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://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview

Get Ready to Apply 20

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 first-tier 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. Your UEI must be active at the time of application and award. 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 21

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 Tribe’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 Tribe.

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 22

TIP: Know who your Tribe’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is and coordinate their availability 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-ENHANCEMENT-FY26

• 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.

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 23

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 April 10, 2026. 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

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

File Format: IMLS PDF form

File Name: ProgramInfoForm.pdf

Tribal Profile

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 1 page

File Name: Tribalprofile.pdf

Narrative

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 5 - 8 pages

File Name: Narrative.pdf

Schedule of Completion

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 1 page per year

File Name: Scheduleofcompletion.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187/subpart-B/subject-group-ECFR4860f8e7b5a3d23/section-3187.9

Prepare Your Application 24

Component File Requirements

Performance Measurement Plan

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 1 - 2 pages

File Name: Perfmeasurement.pdf

IMLS Budget Form File Format: IMLS PDF form

File Name: Budget.pdf

Budget Justification File Format: PDF

File Name: Budgetjustification.pdf

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 2 pages per person

File Name: Resumes.pdf

Conditionally Required Documents You must include these components if they are applicable to your Tribe or your project. Refer to Conditionally Required Documents to determine which, if any, you need to include in your application.

Component File Requirements

Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

File Format: PDF

File Name: Indirectcostrate.pdf

Digital Products Plan

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 2 pages

File Name: Digitalproduct.pdf

Supporting Documents You may include additional documents to support your proposal.

Prepare Your Application 25

Component File Requirements

Supporting Documents (Information that supplements the Narrative and supports your project description)

File Format: PDF

File Name(s):

Supportingdoc1.pdf Supportingdoc2.pdf Supportingdoc3.pdf

Format, Name, and Sequence of Application Components Document Format and File Size The SF-424S is an online form that you’ll complete in Grants.gov Workspace. You must submit all other application components as PDF documents.

Use standard formatting and fonts in your application components and limit individual file sizes to 200mb or less.

Page Recommendations Note the page recommendations listed in the table of Application Components.

Naming Convention

Use the naming conventions, also known as file names, for each of the documents indicated in the table of Application Components.

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 above.

Use all 15 fields in the “Attachments Form” first. If your application requires more than 15 attachments, select the “Other Attachments Form. Note that if you select the “Other Attachments Form,” you will be required to upload the 16th attachment in the “Mandatory Other Attachment” field first; any subsequent attachments should be uploaded under the “Optional Other Attachments.”

Prepare Your Application 26

Instructions for Required Application Components

SF-424S Form The SF-424S Form, or the Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form, is part of the application package in Grants.gov.

SF-424S Item Instructions

Items 1 - 4 Grants.gov automatically populates items 1-4.

Prepare Your Application 27

Item 5. Applicant Information a Legal Name: Enter your Tribe’s legal name as it appears in your SAM registration. Federally recognized Tribes have the authority to apply directly for funding in this program. If you have a department, school, Tribal college or university, or non-Tribal library or non-profit 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 your Tribe’s 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 code that best characterizes your Tribe from the menu in the first dropdown box. 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 28

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. Tell us about the purpose of the project, the activities to be performed, the deliverables and expected outcomes, and the intended beneficiaries. Use clear language that can be understood by readers who might not be familiar with the discipline or subject area.

c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the start date of 10/01/2026. The project period must end on the last day of the month in which these activities are completed 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.

Login.gov 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 29

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. If you have a staff member who assisted with writing the grant, temporarily adding them as a Grant Administrator might be useful during the review process. If the grant is awarded, then a personnel change request can be submitted for post-award grant administration.

Please still complete both items 8 and 9 if the Primary Contact/Grants Administrator is the same as the Authorized Representative.

In some Tribe’s 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 30

IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form (PIF) Make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your web browser. Download the IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form (PDF, 1.7 MB) 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.

PIF Section Instructions

Section 1. Grant Program

Select Native American Library Service Enhancement Grants.

Grant Program Goals and Objectives

Refer to the NAE Program Goal and Objectives. Select the objective that best aligns with your proposed project.

Section 2. Applicant Information

Does your Tribe 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.

Section 3. Financial Information

You are not required to submit this information.

However, to avoid error messages and so that your form may be successfully submitted, enter “0” under Total Revenue and under Total Expenses for each Fiscal Year.

https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/2026-01_Library-PIF.pdf https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/2026-01_Library-PIF.pdf

Prepare Your Application 31

PIF Section Instructions

Section 4. Funding Request

Refer to the Grant Fund total in Section 10 of the IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 1.67 MB) that you are submitting with your application. Provide the amount in dollars that you are requesting from IMLS (between $50,000 - $150,000).

Section 5. Indirect Costs Refer to the IMLS Budget Form – Indirect Costs in the Budget guidance. Select one option and provide any required information for your selection. Your selection should match the choice you make on the IMLS Budget Form that you are submitting with your application.

Section 6. Abstract Write an Abstract of no more than 3,000 characters (including spaces) in a concise narrative format for a general audience. Address the following:

• Identify the Tribe and, if applicable, any collaborators.

• Describe the need, challenge, or opportunity your project will address, and how it was identified.

• List the high-level activities you will carry out and identify the associated time frame.

• Identify who or what will benefit from your project.

• Specify your project’s intended results and how they will be shared.

• Describe how you will measure your success in achieving your intended results.

Enter or paste your text into the form. If your proposal is selected for funding, the Abstract may be published online, or otherwise shared by IMLS. As such, please do not include any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.

https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/imls-budget-form.pdf https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/imls-budget-form.pdf

Prepare Your Application 32

Tribal Profile Write a brief Tribal Profile, addressing the following information specific to your community, save it as a PDF, and use Tribalprofile.pdf as its file name. We recommend limiting the Tribal Profile to one page.

• A brief history of your Tribal governance, focusing on the department and/or partners that will be directly involved in carrying out the work.

• Your setting (e.g., communities and/or audiences served, including size, demographic characteristics, and geographic area).

Prepare Your Application 33

Narrative Write a Narrative using the structure and format below and save it as a PDF. Be clear and concise with a minimum of technical jargon and acronyms. Include references throughout your Narrative to any Supporting Documents that provide supplementary material. When writing your narrative, consider the review criteria.

Narrative - Required Format Page Recommendation: 5 - 8 numbered pages

File Name: Narrative.pdf

IMPORTANT: Grants.gov limits attachment file names 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.

File Format: PDF

Font Size: 11-point or higher

Margins: 0.5 inches or greater

Components: Organize the Narrative using the following section headings:

• Project Justification

• Project Work Plan

• Project Results

Narrative Sections

Narrative Section Guidance

Project Justification o What current need, challenge, or opportunity will your project address and how was it identified? Describe how you have used reliable sources to define the need, challenge, or opportunity and develop the scope for the project.

o Who is the primary audience for your project and how have they been involved in the planning?