hhs-2025-acf-ecd-th-0106_MOD.pdf

Tribal Early Childhood Division

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due April 4, 2025

Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Grants Opportunity number: HHS-2025-ACF-ECD-TH-0106

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 21

Get registered 22

Find the application package 22

Learn more 23

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 24

Application contents and format 25

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 36

Application review 37

Award notices 42

Step 5: Submit Your Application 43

Application submission and deadlines 44

Application checklist 46

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 47

Post-award requirements and administration 48

Contacts and Support 50

Before you begin 3

Modifications 53

Glossary 54

Contents 2

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

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 4, 2025.

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

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

Jump to a step

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

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Tribal Early Childhood Division

Supporting evidence-based home visiting programs for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families and children.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Grants

Opportunity number:

HHS-2025-ACF-ECD-

TH-0106

Announcement type:

Initial

Federal assistance listing:

93.872

Statutory authority number: Social Security Act, Title V, section 511(h)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C.

711(h)(2)(A))

Key dates

Application submission deadline: April 4, 2025

Expected project start date: July 1, 2025

See other submissions for other time frames that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Grant Program supports evidence-based home visiting programs for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families and children.

Funds will support five-year cooperative agreements with federally recognized Indian tribes (or consortia of Indian tribes), tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations.

Recipients will develop, implement, sustain, or expand an evidence-based home visiting program serving AI/AN families who are expecting a new baby or who have young children aged birth to kindergarten entry.

Awards will help recipients do all the following:

• Provide high-quality, culturally grounded, evidence-based home visiting services to AI/AN families and children.

• Use performance measurement and continuous quality improvement systems.

• Develop early childhood systems.

• Participate in research and evaluation to build evidence around home visiting, particularly in tribal communities.

The goals of the Tribal MIECHV program are to:

• Support healthy, happy, successful AI/AN children and families through home visiting services.

• Continue to build the evidence base for home visiting in tribal communities.

• Support coordination among early childhood programs serving AI/AN families and development of early childhood systems.

For more information about terms used throughout this NOFO, see the glossary.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $3,000,000

Total expected awards: 6

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

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

We plan to fund a 63-month project period with one 15-month budget period followed by four 12-month budget periods.

Funds for Years 2 through 5 will be awarded based on submission and approval of non-competing continuation applications, and adequate performance.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants These types of organizations are eligible for an award:

• Eligible applicants are federally recognized Indian tribes (or consortia of tribes), tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, as defined by section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Public Law 94-437.

◦ “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community that is eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. This includes any eligible Alaska Native village, group, or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688).

◦ “Tribal organization” can mean the elected governing body of any Indian tribe. It can also mean any legally established organization of Indians that is controlled by one or more such bodies or by a board of directors elected or selected by one or more such bodies. Alternatively, the board of directors can be elected by the Indian population to be served by the legally established organization. Tribal organizations must include the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of their activities.

◦ “Urban Indian organization” means a nonprofit corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian-controlled board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian groups and individuals. Urban Indian organizations must be capable of legally cooperating with other public and private entities to perform the activities described in section 503(a).

Individuals, including sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are not eligible.

Other eligibility criteria We encourage applicants serving an emerging, unserved, or underserved population or remote geographic area to apply for funding under this NOFO.

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

We won’t consider an application that:

• Requests funding above the award ceiling.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/comp2/F094-437.html https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/comp2/F094-437.html

• Is submitted after the deadline.

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

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

ACF.

Application limits If you submit an application for the same NOFO more than once, we will only acknowledge the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Program description Statutory authority Social Security Act, Title V, section 511(h)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 711(h)(2)(A))

Background For more information about terms used throughout this NOFO, see the glossary.

The MIECHV program The MIECHV program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in collaboration with ACF. The program funds evidence-based home visiting programs to improve health and development outcomes for at-risk children. The MIECHV program promotes collaboration at the federal, state, tribal, and community levels to respond to the varied needs of children and families in at-risk communities.

Evidence-based home visiting programs are intended to lead to outcomes including:

• Improved health and development for children, infants, parents, and expectant parents.

• Less child abuse and neglect.

• Improved parenting practices related to child development.

• Improved preparation for school.

• Improved family socioeconomic status.

• More coordination of referrals to community resources and supports.

• Fewer injuries, crimes, and incidents of domestic violence.

The overall MIECHV program has three goals:

• Strengthen the programs and activities carried out under Title V of the Social Security Act, Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant.

• Improve coordination of services for at-risk communities.

• Identify and provide comprehensive services to improve outcomes for eligible families who live in at-risk communities.

Tribal MIECHV Legislation sets aside 6% of MIECHV funding for tribal recipients. As much as possible, we hold funded Tribal MIECHV projects to the same standards as state and territorial MIECHV projects.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/title-v-maternal-child-health-mch-services-block-grant https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/title-v-maternal-child-health-mch-services-block-grant

The Tribal MIECHV program has the same goals as the overall MIECHV program. It also has four additional goals:

• Provide home visiting services in AI/AN communities. These services must be high quality, culturally relevant, and evidence based.

• Support the development of happy, healthy, and successful AI/AN children and families through those home visiting programs.

• Expand the evidence base around home visiting programs in AI/AN communities.

• Strengthen coordination among various programs that serve AI/AN children and families, to create more comprehensive early childhood support systems.

Informal home visits have long been a traditional cultural practice to help take care of young families in many AI/AN communities. More recently, tribal communities have begun using more structured home visiting programs to improve child and family outcomes. They provide a variety of home visiting programs using varied tribal, public, and private funding streams, including Tribal MIECHV.

More information about the Tribal MIECHV Program, current recipients, and the communities they serve can be found at the ECD tribal home visiting website.

Required activities This program’s required activities are intended to support tribal- and locally-driven decision making. Funded projects must be high quality, evidence based, and culturally responsive to their communities.

If you receive a Tribal MIECHV award:

• You will conduct a community needs and readiness assessment (CNRA) of at-risk tribal communities. Your CNRA must engage all relevant community members and interested parties (for example, tribal council, health services, social services, early childhood services, schools, and culture departments).

• You will plan your home visiting program in collaboration with relevant partners to develop its capacity and infrastructure.

• You will carry out high-quality home visiting programs in at-risk tribal communities that are evidence based and culturally responsive.

• Your program must serve parents and families of young children aged birth to kindergarten entry, as well as families or mothers who are expecting a baby.

• Your program must comprehensively address families’ needs.

• You will engage in activities to support stronger early childhood systems and cross-program collaboration in tribal communities.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/tribal/tribal-home-visiting

• You will support the mental and behavioral health of children, families, and program staff. Your program must include infant and early childhood mental health consultation.

• You will conduct performance measurement activities and develop or update a data system and mechanism to measure, track, and report on progress toward meeting legislatively mandated benchmarks for participants.

• You will complete activities for continuous quality improvement (CQI).

• You will participate in MIECHV-funded research and evaluation opportunities to promote learning and contribute to the MIECHV Learning Agenda [PDF].

ACF and contractors will provide technical assistance (TA) to carry out required activities while respecting tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

Required activities for Year 1 The first 15 months of the cooperative agreement are considered Year 1. Year 1 activities are designed to help you understand your community’s needs and plan program activities that will meet those needs and fulfill the program requirements.

In Year 1 of the cooperative agreement, you must do the following:

• Conduct a comprehensive CNRA.

• Develop an implementation plan that describes how you will carry out activities in Years 2 through 5.

• Build organizational and community capacity to carry out activities in Years 2 through 5.

If you already provide home visiting services to children and families, you must maintain those services.

Conducting a comprehensive CNRA The CNRA helps you assess the quality and capacity of existing services to meet the needs of young children and families in your community. You will submit the CNRA to ACF for review. Once the review is complete and the necessary approvals have been obtained, you will then develop your implementation plan.

The goals of the CNRA are to:

• Identify program and community strengths and needs.

• Prioritize goals and strategies to meet those needs through home visiting programs.

The CNRA also sets the stage for strengthened cooperation among various programs that serve young children and families in tribal communities. Coordination across

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/programs-impact/miechv-learning-agenda-overview.pdf programs helps make sure that your home visiting program is part of a comprehensive strategy for improving child and family well-being.

You must conduct the CNRA with full participation from your community, using partnerships, collaborations, culturally grounded strategies, and innovative methodologies, including Indigenous methodologies. The CNRA must use both quantitative and qualitative methods.

The CNRA must do all of the following:

• Identify community strengths and opportunities related to maternal, family, and child health and well-being.

• Identify organizational and program strengths and opportunities that relate to carrying out a home visiting program.

• Assess the quality and capacity of existing community services to support young children and families.

• Help you choose an appropriate home visiting model and make decisions about program design.

The detailed guidance for the CNRA is currently approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The CNRA is currently being revised and streamlined and will be submitted under a new OMB number by mid-2025. The latest version will be comparable to the detailed guidance that is currently approved. For more information, you can read the current guidance for the CNRA in the Implementation Plan Guidance available on ACF’s website.

Developing an implementation plan After you complete your CNRA, you will create an implementation plan that describes how you will carry out required activities in Years 2 through 5. You will submit sections of your implementation plan following a process and timeline that we will give you upon reward. We have to approve your implementation plan before you can fully provide your home visiting services.

The detailed guidance for the implementation plan is also currently being revised and streamlined, but it will be comparable to the detailed guidance approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (OMB# 0970-0611, expiration: June 30, 2026). You can read the current Implementation Plan Guidance [PDF] on ACF’s website.

Building capacity to carry out activities During Year 1, as outlined in the Implementation Plan Guidance, you will develop the capacity necessary to begin and sustain your home visiting program. Your capacity-building activities must include the activities described in the following subsections.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/tribal/tribal-home-visiting/tribal-home-visiting-grant-guidance https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/tribal/tribal-home-visiting/tribal-home-visiting-grant-guidance https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ecd/Implementation%20Planning%20Guidance%20for%20DIG_FINAL%20July%202023.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ecd/Implementation%20Planning%20Guidance%20for%20DIG_FINAL%20July%202023.pdf

Identifying home visiting models

• You must identify at least one evidence-based home visiting model that meets your community’s needs. The model you choose may be either:

◦ A model that meets the HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness in AI/AN communities.

◦ A promising approach that does not meet these criteria but otherwise meets the requirements for home visiting models.

• The model must be selected in collaboration with tribal, organizational, and community partners, your local advisory committee, model developers, and ACF.

• The model must be research-based and grounded in relevant empirical data.

• The model must focus on outcomes specified in the authorizing legislation.

• The model must be associated with (or developed by or in partnership with) a national organization or institution of higher education.

• The model must have comprehensive home visiting program standards for high-quality service delivery and continuous program quality improvement.

You may also incorporate any adaptations, enhancements, or supplements to the model that are necessary to suit your community’s culture and context.

Designing your home visiting program

Responding to your CNRA, you will prioritize the data analyzed to design your home visiting program. When designing your home visiting program, you must:

• Determine the target population for your home visiting services.

• Set program goals and objectives.

• Choose home visiting models, adaptations, enhancements, and supplements that will meet the needs of your community.

• Work with developers of your selected models to establish formal agreements.

• Participate in training needed to use your selected models, adaptations, enhancements, and supplements.

• Develop or refine your program policies and procedures.

• Engage in other activities that will help you use your selected models, adaptations, enhancements, and supplements effectively and faithfully.

Developing a program staff

You will build administrative and management capacity to provide home visiting services. Building on your CNRA and implementation plan, you will hire, train, and develop a qualified staff, including managers.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

Your staff must be able to carry out your program according to your implementation plan. This includes collecting data, measuring performance, and carrying out CQI activities.

You will also build infrastructure to make sure you can provide home visiting staff with the following:

• Reflective supervision.

• Administrative supervision.

• Clinical supervision.

• Infant and early childhood mental health consultation.

You must develop policies and procedures to provide reflective supervision program-wide, with fidelity to your home visiting model.

Developing or improving an integrated data management information system

You will consider how data management information systems can help you collect, input, use, and report data.

We expect you to manage data including, but not limited to:

• Participant demographic and service utilization data.

• Program service delivery data.

• Performance measurement data.

• Implementation data to support home visiting model program quality and fidelity, as well as CQI.

You will work with ACF and TA providers to develop and/or improve your data management information systems to meet the implementation and evaluation needs of the program. See the section on reporting for more information on reporting requirements.

Supporting performance measurement and CQI

You will develop plans and infrastructure to support performance measurement and data-driven CQI activities. These plans will coordinate with your data management plans.

We expect you to do the following:

• Develop individualized performance measurement plans that reflect the Tribal MIECHV performance measurement system. You can learn more about the Tribal MIECHV performance measurement system in our Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Data Reports [PDF].

• Build systems, policies, and processes for conducting data-driven CQI activities.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ecd/THV%20PMR%20Form%202023_FINAL%2004.10.2023.508.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ecd/THV%20PMR%20Form%202023_FINAL%2004.10.2023.508.pdf

• Build capacity to use rapid-cycle CQI and test improvement strategies using run charts and other tools.

Building collaborations

You will build collaborations to consider how home visiting programs can best meet families’ needs. These collaborations will also help you develop an early childhood system of support for families.

We expect you to work with:

• Early childhood program partners.

• Tribal leaders.

• Elders.

• Families.

• Community members.

Continuing to deliver existing home visiting services (if applicable) If you have already been providing home visiting services before receiving an award under this NOFO, an important activity during Year 1 is to continue delivering home visiting services to eligible families.

If your existing home visiting program has been funded with Tribal MIECHV funds prior to award under this NOFO, you can use funds provided under this NOFO to deliver ongoing services during Year 1. You can also use Tribal MIECHV funds to replace another funding source to provide ongoing services in Year 1.

If you use Tribal MIECHV funds under this NOFO to provide services in Year 1, we will expect you to collect data and submit relevant reports during Year 1.

If you only expand services under this NOFO and do not use funds awarded under this NOFO to continue providing existing home visiting services, you will not have to report data to us in Year 1. You will only provide data in Years 2 through 5, as outlined in the next section.

Required activities for Years 2 through 5 In Years 2 through 5 of the cooperative agreement, you will fully implement the various components of your approved implementation plan. You will work closely with us to make sure you are providing a high-quality, evidence-based home visiting program in your community.

In Years 2 through 5 of the cooperative agreement, you must do the following:

• Implement home visiting services.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

• Conduct performance measurement and CQI.

• Build early childhood systems.

• Participate in MIECHV Learning Agenda activities.

Implementing home visiting services You must follow your approved implementation plan to provide home visiting services, including virtual home visits, to eligible families.

Your home visiting services must lead to improved coordination with other community resources to support families’ needs. You may coordinate with, and refer to, direct medical, dental, mental health, or legal services and providers covered by other sources of funding, for which non-MIECHV sources of funding may provide reimbursement. You may also fund infant and early childhood mental health consultation to support children, families, and staff. The MIECHV program generally does not fund the delivery or costs of direct medical, dental, mental health, or legal services; however, some limited direct services may be provided (typically by the home visitor) to the extent required to implement the selected home visiting model.

Conducting performance measurement and CQI You will collect, analyze, use, and report data on program implementation and improvements for program participants in the legislatively mandated benchmark areas, which include:

• Improved health and development for children, infants, parents, and expectant parents.

• Less child abuse and neglect.

• Improved preparation for school.

• Improved family socioeconomic status.

• More coordination of referrals to community resources and supports.

• Fewer injuries, crimes, and incidents of domestic violence.

You will also complete CQI activities, including participating in a structured, facilitated CQI Learning Collaborative with other Tribal MIECHV recipients. The Collaborative will focus on a specific topic relevant to home visiting practice (for example, family engagement). As part of participation in the Collaborative, you will identify strategies for improvement and rapidly test, assess results, and scale change within your own programs. You will connect regularly with your Tribal MIECHV peers to discuss your tests and share lessons learned.

You will receive TA and coaching prior to and throughout the Collaborative. This support will include access to topic-specific materials and tools to help you plan and run rapid cycle tests, collect relevant data to study the results, and make decisions to

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 improve program practice. You can read more about the CQI Learning Collaborative on ACF’s website.

Building early childhood systems You will collaborate with tribal, local, and state early childhood partners to support the comprehensive needs of expectant families, parents and caregivers, and children from birth to kindergarten entry who live in at-risk tribal communities. The goal of this collaboration is to develop an early childhood system.

Your program will also support maternal, early childhood, and infant mental and behavioral health. Services you provide must include infant and early childhood mental health consultation. More information about infant and early childhood mental health consultation can be found at the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation website.

Participating in MIECHV Learning Agenda activities HHS carries out a continuous program of research and evaluation activities to increase knowledge about the implementation and effectiveness of home visiting programs.

The Tribal MIECHV program aims to expand the evidence base on home visiting in AI/ AN communities and increase the representation of tribal home visiting programs in broader MIECHV learning. You can read ACF’s snapshot about home visiting research and evaluation.

You will participate in MIECHV-funded evaluation opportunities to promote learning and contribute to the MIECHV Learning Agenda [PDF]. This may include:

• Serving as collaborators and subject matter experts for MIECHV evaluation projects.

• Participating in data collection activities.

• Participating in evaluation dissemination activities.

You can learn more about this kind of research through the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center and the Home Visiting Applied Research Collaborative.

We will share other MIECHV-funded evaluation activities through a recipient listserv.

NOTE: Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3521), ACF will not conduct or sponsor—and a person is not required to respond to—a collection of information covered by such Act, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. Activities required under this funding opportunity that are subject to PRA have been or will be approved prior to data collection. Approved information collections are referenced within the text or in the reporting section of this NOFO.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/tribal/tribal-home-visiting/tribal-home-visiting-continuous-quality-improvement-collaboratives https://www.iecmhc.org/about/ https://www.iecmhc.org/about/ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/agenda/home-visiting-research-and-evaluation https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/agenda/home-visiting-research-and-evaluation https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/programs-impact/miechv-learning-agenda-overview.pdf https://coloradosph.cuanschutz.edu/research-and-practice/centers-programs/caianh/projects/trc https://coloradosph.cuanschutz.edu/research-and-practice/centers-programs/caianh/projects/trc https://hvresearch.org/

Funding priorities While this NOFO is open to all eligible entities, ECD intends to prioritize awards to programs and communities addressing an unmet need, including those without prior experience implementing evidence-based early childhood home visiting programs in the proposed communities. Entities without prior experience implementing evidence-based early childhood home visiting programs are eligible to receive additional bonus points, which can be found in the merit review criteria.

Cooperative agreement—Description of ACF’s involvement A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding federal assistance in which substantial federal involvement is anticipated. If you receive an award, we will negotiate a cooperative agreement defining each of our responsibilities. We expect our involvement to lead to programmatic benefits that you would not otherwise have.

Our collaboration through the cooperative agreement will include:

• We will review and approve the CNRA and implementation plan you develop in Year 1.

• If you use subawards, we will help you create policies and procedures that maximize open competition for them. We will also help you carry out rigorous and impartial development, review, and funding of subrecipient activities.

• We will collaborate on key programmatic activities, such as:

◦ Strategic planning.

◦ Implementation.

◦ Information technology enhancements.

◦ Training and TA.

◦ Publications or products.

◦ Evaluation.

• We will closely monitor requirements stated in this NOFO that limit your discretion with respect to scope of services offered, organizational structure, and management processes.

• To make sure that your project matches the intent of this funding opportunity, we will monitor your performance closely. Our monitoring may go beyond the usual federal stewardship responsibilities for discretionary activities.

Upon award, you will work closely with us and with TA providers to develop your implementation plan. This collaboration may take many forms, including:

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

• Monthly calls.

• Webinars.

• Individual TA.

• Kickoff meeting.

• On-site TA.

• Additional tools and resources.

The overall goal of TA is to build your capacity to carry out cooperative agreement activities. We know that the home visiting model you implement may provide model-specific TA, and we will also tailor TA to meet your needs.

Funding policies and limitations General policies

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

• Support beyond the first budget period will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

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

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

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

• For guidance on some types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see 45 CFR part 75, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

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

• Construction.

• Purchase of real property.

• Major renovation.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are costs you charge across more than one project and cannot be easily separated by project.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08

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

Method 1—Approved rate. You currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency.

Method 2—De minimis rate. Per 2 CFR 200.414(f), if you do not have a current federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including a provisional rate), you may elect to charge a de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs. This rate is 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC).

See 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of MTDC. You can use this rate indefinitely.

• Exception to Method 2: 2 CFR 200.414(f) does not apply to HHS training or foreign awards. For those, the de minimis cap is 8% (see 45 CFR 75.414(c)(1) or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 300.414).

Subawards As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. We define a substantive role as conducting funded activities and providing services that are necessary and integral to completing the project. Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 45 CFR 75.352 is not a substantive role.

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

If they do not have one, all subrecipients must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Subrecipients must meet the eligibility requirements of this NOFO.

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. You may not use awarded funds to pay a salary at a higher rate than the rate for Executive Level II. For the Executive Level II salary, please see guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on executive- and senior-level employee pay.

The salary limitation reflects a person’s base salary (including any portion of the salary that is paid for with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits and any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization. This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACF grant or cooperative agreement.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.414(c) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.352 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 22

Find the application package 22

Learn more 23

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

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

When you register or update your SAM.gov registration, you must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations. You must agree to those for financial assistance specifically, as opposed to contracts, because the two sets of agreements are different. You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

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

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HHS-2025-ACF-ECD- TH-0106. Then select the Package tab.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you select the Subscribe button to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials, you may request them from the grants management contact.

If you are also unable to apply through Grants.gov, see the section on exemptions for paper submissions.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 22 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://grants.gov/search-grants

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

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 23 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 25

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

See requirements for other submissions.

Your organization’s authorized official must certify your application.

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

This file includes:

• Table of contents.

• Project summary, one page.

• Project narrative.

• Line-item budget and budget narrative.

File two To submit file two, you will use the Other Attachments form found in the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

This file includes all attachments.

Standard forms The Grants.gov application package for this NOFO includes forms beyond those required for file one and file two. Complete all of these forms and submit through Grants.gov.

See the list of standard forms.

Required format Page limit for file one and file two combined: 125 pages.

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 25

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

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

Document formats Paper size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches

Margins: 1 inch all around

Language: English

If possible, include page numbers.

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

Fonts Font: Times New Roman

Color: Black

Size: 12-point font

Footnotes and text in tables and graphics may be 10-point.

Spacing Table of contents: Must be single-spaced

Project summary: Must be single-spaced

Project narrative: Must be double-spaced

Line-item budget and budget narrative: Can be single-spaced

Attachments: Can be single-spaced

Tables and footnotes throughout: Can be single-spaced

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 26

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

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

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

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

Project narrative The project narrative is where you address all your proposed activities. It is a critical section of your application, which we evaluate and rank against other applications using the merit review criteria. Remember that substance and measurable outcomes are more important than length. We are particularly interested in project narratives that convey strategies for achieving intended performance. In it, you must:

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

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

• Use cross-referencing rather than repetition.

• Be sure to include any required supporting documents noted. You generally provide these in your attachments.

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

Geographic location Provide the precise physical location of your project and boundaries of the area you will serve. If you will include any subrecipients in your project that will serve the geographic areas include their locations as well.

Need for assistance Identify the problems you plan to solve. These problems could be physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, etc. To do so:

• Demonstrate the need, including the nature and scope of the problem.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27

• You may provide supporting documentation, such as testimonials, in an application appendix.

• Include any relevant data based on planning studies or needs assessments. You may refer to them in the endnotes or footnotes.

• Use demographic data and participant or beneficiary information where you can.

Objectives State your main objectives and any sub-objectives for the first year of the project.

Address how the objectives stated relate to the overall purpose of this program and describe how you will achieve the objectives.

Expected outcomes Identify the outcomes you plan to achieve from the first year of the project. Outcomes should relate to the overall program as described in the program description section. If research is part of the proposed work, outcomes must include hypothesized results and implications of the proposed research.

Understanding of program Describe your understanding of maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs. Your description should address:

• Fidelity, adaptation, and enhancement of evidence-based strategies concerning home visiting programs in AI/AN communities.

• Early childhood systems and how they contribute to the success of a home visiting program.

• How performance measurement, CQI, and evaluation activities contribute to the success of a home visiting program.

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

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

Required activities for Year 1 Describe your approach to doing the following in Year 1:

• Conducting a comprehensive CNRA.

• Developing an implementation plan.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 28

• Building capacity to carry out activities.

• If applicable, continuing delivery of existing home visiting services.

See the program description section for more details about the required activities for Year 1.

Your Year 1 approach should include, at a minimum, the following elements:

• Overall plan for conducting the proposed activities in a complete and timely manner.

• Factors that could get in the way of completing these activities and how you would manage these factors.

• Plan for conducting a comprehensive CNRA.

• Plan for developing and submitting an implementation plan.

• Plan for using CNRA findings to select an evidence-based home visiting model and any necessary adaptations, enhancements, and supplements. You should not propose a home visiting model to be implemented, as this determination must be based on the results of the CNRA.

• Plan for building or maintaining capacity to implement an evidence-based home visiting program.

• Plan for making sure that the project will lead to a high-quality, evidence-based home visiting program that is culturally responsive to the target population.

• Plan for developing relationships involving tribal leaders, community members, partner agencies, participants, and other interested parties in your program.

◦ Include a preliminary list and description of agencies, individuals, and entities that will be involved during Year 1. Your list should include the planned composition and involvement of the program’s local advisory committee.

• The roles, responsibilities, and time commitments of proposed staff, including subrecipients, consultants, contractors, and partners. Explain how these positions are relevant to implementing your proposed project.

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

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

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

• If you can’t quantify some of your accomplishments, provide their target dates.

• Cover Year 1 in your timeline.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 29

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

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

• Describe your team’s experience (including any partnering organizations) with administering, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating similar projects.

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

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

• Clearly identify the lead entity responsible for conducting activities under this

NOFO.

• Describe your organizational capacity to conduct performance measurement and CQI activities.

• You will provide some supporting information in the attachments section.

Plan for oversight of federal award funds and activities You must ensure proper award oversight. The regulation that governs this oversight is 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart D. It includes standards for:

• Financial and program management.

• Property management.

• Procurement.

• Performance and financial monitoring and reporting.

• Subrecipient monitoring and management.

• Record retention and access.

• Remedies for noncompliance.

• Prior written approval.

Describe your framework to ensure proper oversight of federal funds and activities.

Include:

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

• A description of the procedures to identify and mitigate risks and issues. These might include audit findings, continuous performance assessment findings, and monitoring.

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 30 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subpart-D

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

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

• The methods and systems you will use to ensure that you properly handle confidential and sensitive information including any subrecipients and/or contractors.

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

See 45 CFR 75.303(e) for more information.

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

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

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

As you develop your budget, consider:

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

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

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

You must commit a reasonable and adequate amount of federal funds to comply with the requirements for CNRA and building capacity for performance measurement CQI.

The recipient’s Project Director and at least one other key staff must attend the following meetings to be held in Washington, DC, or another location. Overall, recipients must attend up to 10 meetings over the life of the cooperative agreement.

Mandatory meetings include:

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 31…