FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity Applications Due November 13, 2026

Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants

Funding Opportunity Number: NAG-ENHANCEMENT-FY27 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 submission, 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 November 13, 2026.

Bookmark these resources for important information:

eCFR: Title 2U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 200 (2 C.F.R. §

200)-- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Awards MLS may update the General Terms and Conditions before making awards for this program.

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://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200 https://www.imls.gov/grants/manage-your-grant/grant-administration https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/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 fiscal year (FY) 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number NAG-ENHANCEMENT-FY27

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 November 13, 2026.

Award Overview 6

Award Overview

Key Dates

Anticipated date of notification of award decisions

June 2027 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion)

Anticipated start dates for new awards Projects must begin on July 1, 2027.

Anticipated period of performance

July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2029. 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

Award amount range $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 the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS’s) discretion. We are not bound by any estimates in this announcement.

Executive Summary 7

Contingent upon the availability of funds, the quality of applications, and IMLS’s discretion, we may make additional awards from the pool of unfunded applications from this competition.

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 program supports Native Communities across the country to address their individual information needs and priorities.

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 library spaces for staff and public, within existing constructed spaces

(please note that under federal law, IMLS funds cannot be used 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/or email to answer programmatic and administrative questions relating to this grant program.

https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants

Eligible Applicants 9

2. Eligibility

Eligible Applicants To be eligible for an award under the NAE program, 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.

To determine funding eligibility for Native Communities under this program, IMLS follows the statutory definition of “Indian Tribe” at 20 U.S.C. § 9101(5). “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.” IMLS does not make independent determinations about tribal status. 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 on January 30, 2026, Federal Register: 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, will not be considered in the merit review of applications.

Carefully calculate any cost share that you include in your project budget. If you receive an award, you must meet your cost share commitments.

Learn more about Cost Sharing in the Budget.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/30/2026-01899/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of

Other Eligibility Information 10

Other Eligibility Information Application Limits

We will not consider applications proposing to renew or add funding to active IMLS 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 applications from or make awards to ineligible applicants. We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because your organization is determined to be ineligible.

To receive an IMLS award, your Tribe must be determined to be eligible and must comply with all applicable IMLS, administrative, and national policy requirements.

Application Deadlines, Funding Range, and Completeness You must submit your application by the deadline in accordance with the

Submission Dates and Times section of this NOFO. IMLS generally will reject applications received after the deadline. At its discretion and in rare circumstances, IMLS may consider a late application. IMLS retains the sole discretion to determine whether to accept a late application, and such determinations are final.

Other Eligibility Information 11

The total funding request on your 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 12

3. Program Description

Agency Mission, Goals, and Objectives The mission of IMLS is to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. These goals 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 NAE program supports the achievement of these agency-level goals to facilitate the delivery of significant results consistent with IMLS’s 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 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:9101%20edition:prelim) https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:20%20section:9161%20edition:prelim)

NAE Program Goal and Objectives 13

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 are not 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 are not 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 are not limited to:

• privacy and security;

• digital preservation strategies;

• community memory;

• collections stewardship; and

• language and culture preservation and perpetuation.

NAE Program Goal and Objectives 14

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 are not limited to:

• emergency and disaster mitigation and management plans; and

• studying or addressing impacts of emergencies and disasters.

Performance Measures 15

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. (This is different from evaluating the performance of your project).

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

You will need to provide a Performance Measurement Plan to describe how you will use these three measures to monitor and assess your performance in carrying out your project and meeting your selected program goal and objective.

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 set forth in the OMB) government-wide cost-principles and in IMLS’s supplemental regulations.

Please consult 2 C.F.R. § 200 and 2 C.F.R. § 3187 (in particular, 2 C.F.R. § 3187.15(b)) for additional guidance on allowable costs.

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 16

The following lists include some examples of generally allowable and unallowable costs, both for IMLS funds and for cost share funds (if applicable), under this announcement.

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.

Funding Restrictions 17

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 cannot be provided to any federal agency serving as a third party.

Indirect Costs In your budget, you can decide to:

use a rate that does not exceed your current indirect cost rate already negotiated with a federal agency;

use a rate proposed to a federal agency for negotiation, but not yet finalized. However, the rate must be finalized by the time your budget is approved before we make an 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 Budget https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-enhancement-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

Authorizing Statute and Regulations 18

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. 2 § 200.

Award recipients must follow the regulations that are in effect at the time the award is made.

The OMB guidance on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Financial (Uniform Guidance) is set forth at 2 C.F.R. § 200.

*Please note: OMB is in the process of updating the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR § 200 (Uniform Guidance Revisions). For IMLS grant awards made on or after October 1, 2026, the Uniform Guidance Revisions will apply.

IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. § 3187 formally adopt the Uniform Guidance and include certain agency-specific provisions.

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, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Suite N-3627, Washington, DC 20210.

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/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/29/2026-10817/regulation-for-federal-financial-assistance https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXI/part-3187 mailto:ogc@imls.gov

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

Prepare and Submit Your Application

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 20

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.gov 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-FY27 or Assistance Listing Number: 45.311.

□ Get familiar with Grants.gov Workspace.

□ Contact IMLS program staff to discuss your project 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 https://www.imls.gov/find-funding/funding-opportunities/grant-programs/native-american-library-services-enhancement-grants

Get Ready to Apply 21

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

Obtaining 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, SAM.gov.

Award recipients must inform any first-tier subrecipients that the recipient cannot make a subaward unless the subrecipient also has obtained a UEI. First tier subrecipients, but not second tier subrecipients or contractors, are required to obtain a UEI. However, subrecipients are not required to complete a full registration in SAM.gov in order to obtain 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 on both the date that your application is submitted and on the award date. 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.

https://sam.gov/entity-registration

Get Ready to Apply 22

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 at SAM.gov before registering with Grants.gov. Learn how to check a Tribe’s registration status in SAM.

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 process.

You must always maintain an active SAM registration with current information while you have a current federal award or an application under consideration. We are not able to make an award to an entity until it has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM registration requirements. If you have not fully complied with the requirements by the date we are making awards, the agency will not be able to make an award to your Tribe.

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 deposited in 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 for this opportunity. 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 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) who is able to complete and submit applications on behalf of the Tribe.

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 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 23

TIP: Know who your Tribe’s AOR is and coordinate their availability to approve your application submission in Grants.gov. A

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 submit your application.

It is also important to update the contact information and password in Grants.gov whenever there are changes to your AOR. 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 the Grants.gov Customer Support Helpline at 1-800-518-4726 for assistance with software issues, registration issues, and technical problems. The Hotline 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-FY27

• 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 24

Prepare Your Application This section outlines the components, format, and content requirements to help you prepare a complete application.

Application Components

Required Documents You must include all required components for your application to be considered 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

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

Performance Measurement Plan

File Format: PDF

Page Recommendation: 1 - 2 pages

File Name: Perfmeasurement.pdf

Prepare Your Application 25

Component File Requirements

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 the following additional documents as needed to support your proposal.

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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 and the IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form are online forms 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. We will remove any pages over the stated limits and they will not be sent to peer review; any additional pages will not be considered part of your application.

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

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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.”

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.

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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 for this program. If there is 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 such 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.

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/

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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) for 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 readers who might not be familiar with the discipline or subject area can understand.

c. Proposed Project Start Date/End Date: Enter the start date of 07/01/2027. 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 has the 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 individual than the Authorized Representative.

https://login.gov/

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Item 8. Primary Contact/Grants Administrator

The Primary Contact/Grants Administrator has the main responsibility for administering the award. Enter the requested information for this individual here.

Please complete both items 8 and 9 if the Primary Contact/Grants Administrator is the same individual 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 individual 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 individual whose name is listed as your Tribe’s authorized representative in your Grants.gov registration.

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

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IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form (PIF) The IMLS Library – Discretionary Program Information Form is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace. 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 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.

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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) and the amount of non-federal funding you are providing as cost share/match. Enter “0” if your budget includes no cost share/match.

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 which should match the information entered on the IMLS Budget Form submitted with your application.

Section 6. Abstract Write an Abstract of no more than 3,000 characters (including spaces) in a concise narrative format for experts as well as 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 and/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

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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).

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Narrative Write a Narrative using the structure and format below and save it as a PDF. Be clear and concise and limit the use 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

We will remove any pages over the eight-page limit and will not send them to peer review; any additional pages will not be considered part of your application.

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? “Primary audience” refers to those who will be most immediately and positively affected by your project. For example: K-12 youth, elders, parents/caregivers, other tribal departments, etc.

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Narrative Section Guidance

Project Work Plan o What specific activities will you carry out and in what sequence?

o Who will execute each activity? Be sure to identify all key staff.

o How have you involved stakeholders in the planning and development of the project and how will you incorporate their input throughout the project?

o What existing resources within the Tribe, assets within the library or community, and/or potential partners will you use during this project to aid in its success?

o How and with whom will you share your work’s results and lessons learned?

Project Results o What are your project’s intended results and/or product(s), and how will they address the need, challenge, or opportunity you identified in the Project Justification section?

o How do you define success for this project, and how will it be evaluated?

o How will you disseminate the results (deliverables, lessons learned, etc.) of the project to the primary audience?

o How will you sustain the benefit(s) of your project beyond the conclusion of the project period of performance?

Refer to the Evaluation Resources on the IMLS website for program planning tools, evaluation definitions, and examples.

Refer to our guidance on disclosing information in your application.

Reviewers may also visit your Tribe's website, as listed on the SF-424S form provided with your application.

https://www.imls.gov/grants/outcome-based-evaluations

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Schedule of Completion The Schedule of Completion should reflect each major activity identified in your application Narrative and the project dates identified on the SF-424S and the IMLS Budget Form. It should show when each major project activity will start and end. We recommend that the schedule should not exceed one page per project year.

See the sample Schedule of Completion below. Save this document as a PDF and use Scheduleofcompletion.pdf as the file name.

Performance Measurement Plan Your Performance Measurement Plan should show how you will evaluate and assess your performance as an award recipient from the perspectives of Effectiveness, Quality, and Timeliness for your overall project.

For each performance measure, identify what data you will collect from what source, the method you will use to collect it, and according to what schedule. The chart below provides sample statements for each measure and a space to record your own. A fillable version of this chart is provided (DOCX, 25KB), which you may but are not required to use. We recommend limiting your Performance Measurement Plan to two pages. Save your document as a PDF and use Perfmeasurement.pdf as the file name.

https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/nhnae-performance-measurement-plan.docx https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/nhnae-performance-measurement-plan.docx

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IMLS Budget Form Make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your web browser. Download the IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 1.67 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.

The IMLS Budget Form accommodates up to three years of project activities and expenses, though applications for this program will only use one to two years. Allowable costs and other budget details vary by program. Be sure to carefully review the NOFO for the grant program to which you are applying and the cost principles in 2 C.F.R. § 200 and 2 C.F.R. § 3187.

The Year 1 columns should include costs for activities that begin on the project start date (07/01/27) and end 12 months later. If the project timeline exceeds one year, list the costs for the next 12 months in the Year 2 columns.

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.