hhs-2025-acf-ioas-otip-zv-0002_rev4_Revised Full Announcement.pdf

Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP)

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due May 30, 2025

National Human Trafficking Hotline Opportunity number: HHS-2025-ACF-IOAS-OTIP-ZV-0002

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 8

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 21

Get registered 22

Find the application package 23

Learn more 23

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 24

Application contents and format 25

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 37

Application review 38

Award notices 44

Step 5: Submit Your Application 45

Application submission and deadlines 46

Application checklist 48

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 49

Post-award requirements and administration 50

Contacts and Support 59

Before you begin 3

Modifications 62

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 May 30, 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/

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 8

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP)

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national toll-free hotline that operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year via telephone, text, and chat.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Opportunity number:

HHS-2025-ACF-IOAS-OTIP-

ZV-0002

Announcement type:

Initial

Federal assistance listing:

93.598

Statutory authority number: This award is authorized by Section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPRA), codified at 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii)

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

May 30, 2025

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2025

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

Summary The National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) is a national toll-free hotline that operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year via telephone, text, and chat. The NHTH assists adults and minors who have experienced a severe form of human trafficking, as defined under 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(C of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000.

The objectives of the NHTH include:

• Operate the NHTH’s telephone, text services, chat services, and website via a coordinated national communications system available 24 hours a day.

• Provide timely information and service referrals to victims of human trafficking.

• Notify law enforcement and child welfare agencies of potential cases of human trafficking, where appropriate.

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive online directory of community-based service providers across the United States.

◦ Develop trusted relationships to identify, update, and maintain comprehensive internal and online referral directories.

◦ Directories must include vetted organizations that can meet the service needs of survivors and respond to tips of potential human trafficking following relevant referral protocols.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2000-title22-section7105&num=0&edition=2000#sourcecredit https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/3244

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $9,000,000

Total expected awards: 1

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $5,000,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $9,000,000

We plan to fund one five-year project period. Each project period has five one-year budget periods.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligibility is unrestricted.

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

Priority consideration In accordance with the statutory requirements, priority will be given to applicants that have demonstrated experience in providing telephone services to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

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.

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

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement. If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we won’t consider it during review. However, we will hold you accountable for any funds you add, including through reporting. If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount or use other enforcement actions.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Program description Statutory authority Section 107(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPRA), codified at 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(B)(ii).

Overview Background on the National Human Trafficking Hotline

(NHTH)

Since 2004 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has funded a 24/ 7, national, toll-free trafficking information and referral hotline to receive and respond to calls about potential human trafficking in the United States.

The NHTH is a critical part of the nationwide anti-trafficking response. Individuals experiencing human trafficking, social service agencies, non-governmental organizations, law enforcement, child welfare agencies, and local communities rely on the NHTH for safety planning, service coordination, referral, and reporting tips. The NHTH reports potential trafficking to law enforcement and child welfare agencies when required by law, and when requested by the victim.

Project objectives The NHTH’s goal is to provide 24/7 emergency assistance and information to individuals within the United States and U.S. territories who have experienced sex or labor trafficking. This assistance must be timely and tailored to the contactor’s needs.

The objectives of the NHTH include:

• Operate the NHTH’s telephone, text services, chat services, and website via a coordinated national communications system available 24 hours a day.

• Provide timely information and service referrals to victims of human trafficking.

• Notify law enforcement and child welfare agencies of potential cases of human trafficking, as required by law and in other situations where appropriate.

• Establish and maintain a comprehensive online directory of community-based service providers across the United States.

◦ Develop trusted relationships to identify, update, and maintain comprehensive internal and online referral directories. Directories must include vetted organizations that can meet the service needs of survivors and

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8 respond to tips of potential human trafficking following relevant referral protocols.

Required activities Recipients must complete the following required activities.

Operate the NHTH’s telephone, text line, chat service, and website You must operate the NHTH’s toll-free number (1-888-373-7888), text line, chat service and website. These services must have the capacity to meet these minimum requirements:

• Respond to contactors (individuals who contact the NHTH) in a timely manner 24/7.

• Respond to at least 12 calls simultaneously.

• Respond to at least 170 calls per day and 2,700 calls per month.

• Respond to at least 50 texts per day.

• Respond to contact in English, Spanish, and allow for communication with individuals who have hearing and speech impediments.

See the post-award requirements for more information.

Priority contacts You must prioritize contacts from individuals who:

• Are actively experiencing human trafficking.

• Are not safe.

• Are minors who are experiencing or may have experienced abuse or neglect (including labor trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, and online sexual abuse).

You must implement a system to place the following kinds of contactors at the top of the queue for immediate response:

• Contactors reporting possible imminent harm.

• Contactors reporting possible abuse of a minor.

• Contactors reporting an active experience where an individual is unsafe.

You must refer contactors seeking emergency assistance with requests outside the NHTH’s scope (that is, requests that are not related to human trafficking). This includes but is not limited to people experiencing intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, online sexual abuse, sexual abuse, suicidal ideation, etc.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

For non-urgent requests on text, chat, or email, such as general questions about human trafficking or ways to get involved in supporting survivors, you must respond via text, chat, or email within one business day.

Referral directory You must create, update, and manage a comprehensive national referral directory of geographically diverse direct services organizations that provide emergency assistance and comprehensive case management services to individuals experiencing human trafficking. The goal is to make sure that contactors reaching out to the NHTH receive appropriate and supportive referrals.

To build this referral directory, you must actively identify, recruit, build, and maintain partnerships with providers with expertise in providing comprehensive case management and other services to individuals who may have experienced labor or sex trafficking.

In locations where there are not enough of those organizations, you must identify alternative sources of assistance and enter memoranda of understanding (MOU) with them. These alternative sources may include programs whose primary mission is to serve victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and labor exploitation.

Within six months of Notice of Award (NoA), you must start using an assessment tool to objectively screen prospective service providers to make sure that they are trained to work with individuals who have experienced trauma.

You must do all the following to build and maintain the directory:

• Within 12 months of NoA, document 6,000 substantive contacts throughout the United States and its territories.

• Maintain a minimum of 2,000 partners in the referral network each budget period.

• Conduct an annual review of the referral network organizations for accuracy and quality control.

See the post-award requirements for the full schedule of deliverables.

You must also manage the directory in the following ways:

• Provide a streamlined, user-friendly way for organizations in the referral directory to communicate changes in services and make database updates quickly.

• Provide a way for contactors to voluntarily give feedback on NHTH services, referral agency services, and responsiveness to their needs.

• Individuals making complaints must be informed of the actions that will be taken to address their concerns, and any resulting outcomes.

• Refer the contact to appropriate resources and provide a warm handoff.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

◦ According to the HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a warm handoff is a transfer of care between two or more members of a service team, where the handoff occurs in front of and in direct coordination with the contactor.

◦ You must carry out warm handoffs when working directly with individuals experiencing trafficking and verify that all referrals are appropriate and available before facilitating a connection. This transparent handoff of care allows contactors to hear what is said, engages them in communication, and ensures their connection to needed support.

◦ Warm handoffs are not required in cases where the contactor requests phone contact information for a service provider or declines a warm handoff.

• Have publicly available policies and procedures in place for investigating complaints about a referral organization. These policies must identify the potential actions you will take if allegations are confirmed.

• Notify direct services organizations of received complaints and provide an opportunity for them to respond and take corrective action.

• The NHTH must coordinate with local, state, federal, and tribal officials and agencies to develop partnerships to support contactors, including anti-trafficking task forces and community coalitions.

Needs assessment You must conduct needs assessments that collect enough contactor information to minimize re-traumatization, make sure that referrals address the contactor’s specific needs, and help the receiving referral organization meet those needs. You must tell contactors why you are collecting this information. The minimum information you must collect includes the contactor’s:

• Name.

• Current location.

• Type of trafficking experienced.

• Emergency and safety needs.

• Current situation. For example, whether the contactor is actively being trafficked and where they are living.

• Caregiver information if the contactor is a minor.

• Contact information.

• Preferred method of communication.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/reports/engage/interventions/warmhandoff.html

Risk levels Within three months of NoA, you must create a tool to assess a contactor’s immediate situation and determine the risk level. Your tool must also determine how fast you need to make a referral to law enforcement, in cases where the contactor requests that referral or for mandatory reporting purposes. See the post-award requirements for the full schedule of deliverables.

The risk level must be broken into the following three categories:

• Low risk:

◦ The contactor expresses concerns that, without mitigation, may result in harm.

◦ The risk of harm to the individual is not imminent or likely to occur within 90 days, and/or harm has occurred within the last 30 days, has been mitigated, and is unlikely to recur within 90 days.

◦ When requested by the victim, you must report to law enforcement (and child welfare) within 12 hours of contact.

◦ If the victim is a minor, you must report according to applicable mandated reporting laws.

• Moderate risk:

◦ The contactor expresses concerns that, without mitigation, are likely to cause the individual to experience injury or loss within the next 90 days.

◦ Or, the individual has experienced minor loss in the previous 30 days that will likely recur or worsen without mitigation.

◦ When requested by the victim, you must report to law enforcement within eight hours of contact.

◦ If the victim is a minor, you must report according to applicable mandated reporting laws.

• High risk:

◦ The contactor expresses concerns that, without mitigation, the contactor is likely to cause the individual substantial injury or loss.

◦ The individual has experienced substantial harm within the previous 30 days and the harm will likely recur without mitigation.

◦ When requested by the victim, you must report to law enforcement within one hour of contact.

◦ If the victim is a minor, you must report according to applicable mandated reporting laws.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

You must track the number and type (sex trafficking, labor trafficking, or both) of the following:

• Cases involving adult victims reported to law enforcement.

• Cases involving minor victims reported to law enforcement.

• Cases involving both adult and minor victims reported to law enforcement.

• Cases reported where victim age is unknown reported to law enforcement.

• Cases where contactor consented to provide information to law enforcement.

• Cases involving minors that were reported to child welfare.

Mandated reporting You are required to comply with all federal, state, tribal, and local mandated reporting requirements.

Child-specific service coordination and reporting efforts Children and youth experiencing human trafficking face unique challenges and barriers and must receive tailored assistance when contacting the NHTH. Interventions must be age-appropriate and child-centered to ensure the minor is an active participant in their care, safety planning, and connection to services.

As part of this process, you must make sure to facilitate warm handoffs and provide follow-up case management to confirm the child was connected to support. The NHTH must report cases to OTIP pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(H). See additional information related to mandated reporting requirements in the post-award requirements section.

Specialized service protocol for minors Within three months of NoA, you must establish a specialized service protocol for minors. The protocol must include, at a minimum:

• Protocols to implement all federal, state, tribal, and local mandated reporting requirements to child welfare agencies and law enforcement.

• Referral protocols in accordance with to 22 USC 7105(b)(1)(H).

• Training plan for NHTH staff to ensure understanding of and compliance with federal, state, and local reporting requirements to child welfare agencies as well as OTIP’s Child Eligibility Process. The training plan may include relevant SOAR Online training modules available on the OTIP website.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2000-title22-section7105&num=0&edition=2000 https://nhttac.acf.hhs.gov/soar/soar-for-individuals/soar-online https://nhttac.acf.hhs.gov/soar/soar-for-individuals/soar-online

The protocol must be submitted within three months of NoA for review and approval by the Federal Project Officer.

See the post-award requirements for the full schedule of deliverables.

Law enforcement engagement and reporting plan Within six months of the NoA, you are required to develop a plan to strategically engage local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement to provide training and improve collaboration and standardization of quality tips. You must execute the plan within 12 months of award. You should engage survivors of trafficking in the development of this plan.

You must develop the plan in collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, and child welfare representatives representing geographic areas across the United States, and document protocols and procedures for engaging and reporting to federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies. The plan should include the following:

• What information is necessary for law enforcement to act on a tip.

• What information is necessary for child welfare to respond.

• Process for reporting whether the contactor is an adult or a minor.

• What elements are necessary for a tip to be passed on to law enforcement.

• Procedures and timeframe for follow-up with law enforcement and child welfare, as discussed in the mandated reporting section.

• Process for determining which law enforcement agency receives the tip.

• Process for ethically securing consent to pass on personally identifiable information of the individual potentially experiencing human trafficking, and process if consent is not secured (for example, documenting contact internally but not moving forward with an external report).

• Role of the supervisor in the decision-making and referral process for making tips to law enforcement.

The plan must be reviewed annually and should include participation from members of the anti-trafficking community, including service providers and individuals who have experienced trafficking.

Furthermore, you must conduct an annual online or in-person training for federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement representatives, including Human Trafficking Task Forces, and child welfare agencies on the NHTH’s law enforcement-related policies and procedures.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

NHTH website requirements All web content regarding the NHTH and its functions must live on a standalone website. This content can’t live on your organization’s website.

The NHTH website must be capable of receiving and responding to online contacts including chats, emails, and anonymous tips in a user-friendly and secure manner. The response requirements for calls and texts also apply to online communications. See the project narrative for additional information.

Public awareness and outreach You must collaborate with OTIP on public awareness and outreach materials and activities throughout the project period, including:

• Promoting HHS Look Beneath the Surface Campaign resources to promote HHS’ anti-trafficking awareness and resources.

• Compiling and sharing relevant information and data to inform the development of campaign materials and resources.

• Reviewing campaign strategies, materials, and resources.

• Providing information, guidance, and resources to inform and support other entities that promote the NHTH.

• Posting NHTH information in public spaces such as airports, train and bus stations, billboards, etc.

• Coordinating with OTIP on public awareness activities and events in observance of commemorative days and months, such as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

• Raising awareness about human trafficking, the NHTH, and available resources.

• Developing strategies and resources to respond to viral information and disinformation campaigns about human trafficking and the NHTH.

You must develop a strategic communications plan to ensure public awareness efforts are cohesive, non-duplicative, and align with HHS’s strategic priorities, presidential actions (executive orders, memos, and other initiatives), national action plans related to human trafficking, and recommendations from relevant human trafficking-related advisory councils and committees. The plan must be submitted within six months of NoA and must be updated annually. See the post-award requirements for more information.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

The plan must outline a messaging strategy that includes the following components:

• NHTH goals and objectives.

• Primary audiences.

• Key messages.

• Information required to report a tip to law enforcement.

• NHTHs privacy and confidentiality policies.

• Partners.

• Dissemination plan.

The messaging strategy must convey that communication by phone and text should be reserved for emergencies and tips from individuals close to the potential trafficking situation, and that the website should be used for general information.

See additional information in the post-award requirements section.

Staff training and support Training is critically important in anti-trafficking work as staff need to be prepared for the complex legal and social needs of people who have experienced trauma. The NHTH must ensure all staff who may respond to contact by individuals who may have experienced human trafficking complete at least 10 hours of human trafficking-related training each budget period.

After award, you must implement a staff care and retention plan to provide support and care for staff who experience vicarious trauma from triaging human trafficking and crisis cases.

You must submit the protocol within six months of NoA for review and approval by the Federal Project Officer. See the post-award requirements for more information.

Engaging survivors Engaging individuals with lived experience as key partners in program implementation is critical because they are the most impacted by the programming that serves them. A working group (independent of OTIP) will provide formal and ongoing opportunities to receive input and feedback on organizational strategies and initiatives.

The NHTH must stand up a working group of individuals who have experienced trafficking and who represent a diverse array of backgrounds, ages, and experiences.

You must submit a plan outlining candidate selection protocols, proposed engagement, structure, and compensation protocols within nine months of NoA. See post-award requirements for more information.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

Data collection and performance reporting Staff who operate the NHTH collect information about contactors and from contactors regarding potential human trafficking cases. OTIP sought and received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect non-identifiable information from the NHTH about individuals who contact the NHTH. Through OMB Number 0970-0598, OTIP will not receive any personally identifiable information from you. This collection does not require you to seek any information from contactors that they would not otherwise provide to NHTH staff to seek help, receive referrals, or report potential trafficking cases. Rather, through this collection, you will provide aggregate information about and from contactors (who may be potential trafficked individuals of a severe form of humans trafficking, service providers, law enforcement or investigatory personnel, or other community members).

OTIP may revise performance measures. You will be required to collect and report on any new or revised performance measures during the project period. For more information and resources, see the Performance Reporting, Data Collection, and Respondent Privacy program instruction the OTIP website, the reporting section, and post-award requirements.

NOTE: Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, (44 U.S.C.

3501-3521) OTIP 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 OMB control number. If activities under this cooperative agreement are subject to PRA, OTIP will obtain OMB approval.

Required meetings OTIP will host the following required meetings, which will be held either virtually or in Washington, DC:

• A kick-off meeting. This meeting will occur within six months of the award. The project director and key staff personally responsible for tracking and documenting progress toward project milestones and outcomes must attend.

• Annual meetings to provide technical assistance, discuss emerging topics, etc.

• Other OTIP meetings and events sponsored by OTIP’s National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center throughout the project period.

Glossary Please visit the OTIP website for a glossary of award-related terms

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://omb.report/omb/0970-0598 https://omb.report/omb/0970-0598 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/policy-guidance/program-instruction-performance-reporting-data-collection-and-privacy https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/policy-guidance/program-instruction-performance-reporting-data-collection-and-privacy https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/policy-guidance/otip-award-program-glossary

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. A cooperative agreement will clearly define the responsibilities of OTIP and the recipient. Details of the responsibilities, relationships, and governance of the cooperative agreement will be specified in the terms and conditions of the award. OTIP’s involvement and collaboration will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Communicate at least monthly via phone to discuss project implementation activities and overall program progress.

• Coordinate to deliver nationwide contactor assistance, services, and referrals. This includes co-located partnerships and joint efforts.

• Collaborate on the development of service provision-related and data collection protocols.

• Participate in NHTTAC-sponsored webinars to discuss human trafficking trends, emerging topics, and receive technical assistance.

• Review and approve all non-ACF materials used or created for the NHTH website or public awareness.

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 General Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 45 CFR part 75 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR part 200).

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72

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.

• No funds made available through this award may be used to promote, support, or advocate the legalization or practice of prostitution. This restriction does not prevent assistance that ameliorates the suffering of, or health risks to, individuals while they are being trafficked or after they have been trafficked.

• No funds may be paid for international travel for any purpose, including the relocation of the individual experiencing human trafficking.

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

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.

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 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 200.332) 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1742494695292909&usg=AOvVaw2xUKhPhedKXhIWHuTAEOao https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.352 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

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 or any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization. This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACF grant or cooperative agreement.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 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 23

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.

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

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- IOAS-OTIP-ZV-0002. 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.

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.grants.gov/search-grants 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.

Important: public information When filling out your SF-424 form, pay attention to Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project.

We share what you put there with USAspending. This is where the public goes to learn how the federal government spends their money.

Instead of just a title, insert a short description of your project and what it will do.

See instructions and examples.

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.

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 25 https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf

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: 120 pages.

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

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

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

Document formats Paper size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches

Margins: 1 inch all around

Language: English

If possible, include page numbers.

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

Fonts Font: Times New Roman

Color: Black

Size: 12-point font

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 26

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.

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, and your proposed services.

Project narrative The project narrative is where you explain all your proposed activities. It is a critical section of your application, which we evaluate using merit review criteria and rank based on application scores. Remember that substance and measurable outcomes are more important than length. We are particularly interested in project narratives that convey strategies for achieving intended performance.

In it, you must:

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

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

• Use cross-referencing rather than repetition.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27

• 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.

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

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.

Describe in detail how you will operate a NHTH that includes all the required activities.

Your narrative should describe all of the following:

• Your experience and process for providing coverage across the U.S. and U.S.

territories to ensure the NHTH has a comprehensive national presence and partnerships within a national service delivery network in line with OTIP’s operation requirements and post-award requirements.

• Your plan to coordinate with call centers and other national, state, and tribal hotlines.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 28

• A detailed plan to operate the NHTH, including responding to and tracking all contacts, following all mandated reporting requirements, managing urgent requests, and coordinating referral efforts, including specialized services to minors. For more information, see the child-specific service coordination and reporting efforts section and post-award requirements.

• Plan to respond to contact in English, Spanish, and through language line access.

• Your plan to operate a NHTH website that can receive and respond to online contacts and provides required web content, in alignment with NHTH website requirements and post-award requirements.

• A plan to develop and maintain a referral directory that contains details of organizations with links to other state and local resources. Include how you will screen organizations and audit the database efficiently and continually as outlined in the referral directory requirements.

• How you will build new and strengthen existing partnerships with state-level hotlines and direct services organizations across the nation to ensure that contactors reaching out to the NHTH receive appropriate and supportive referrals through warm handoffs to vetted organizations able to meet contactors’ service needs as described in the referral directory requirements. For more information, see referral directory and post-award requirements.

• How you will recruit, train, and supervise knowledgeable staff and provide training, including a staff care and retention plan, in alignment with the staff training and support requirements.

• How you will collect and report data to OTIP in alignment with OTIP requirements.

The plan must include proposed staffing, systems, and protocols to ensure data requests are fulfilled quickly and accurately.

• How you will maintain adequate technological capacity to maintain data protocols for secure collection, cleanup, analysis, and reporting. For more information see data collection and performance reporting, reporting, and post-award requirements.

• How you will address the mandated reporting requirements.

• How you will track contacts you receive, actions you take, and potential outcomes to ensure that you properly serve people who may be experiencing trafficking.

• How you will communicate tips about potential incidents of human trafficking to relevant federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, and child welfare agencies, and as requested by the contactors.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 29

Bonus points It is possible to receive bonus points in the merit review process. You will be awarded bonus points if you:

• Have a comprehensive plan to identify, build, and maintain established relationships across the United States, including the U.S. territories, in order to expand the NHTH’s national capacity and coverage to assist individuals experiencing trafficking, and refer them to resources no matter where they are located.

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 the full period of performance in your timeline.

See the post-award requirements for the full schedule of deliverables. You do not need to address all of them in your application, but keep them in mind when developing your timeline.

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.

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 30

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 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR part 200). It includes standards for:

• Financial and program management.

• Property management.

• Procurement.

• Performance and financial monitoring and reporting.

• Subrecipient monitoring and management.

• Record retention and access.

• Remedies for noncompliance.

• Prior written approval.

Describe your framework to 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.

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

Project performance evaluation plan Describe a plan for how you will evaluate your project’s performance and how it will contribute to continuous quality improvement. This plan must describe:

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

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

• How you will use the resulting information to inform improvement of funded activities.

• Any processes that support the overall data quality.

• The organizational systems and processes that will track performance outcomes.

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

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 31 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subpart-D https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-D

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

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

• All requirements listed in the data collection and performance reporting section.

Provide projections for year one of the project period for each of the following program indicators:

◦ Average daily total contacts.

◦ Average daily human trafficking contacts.

◦ Average daily substantive contacts.

◦ Wait time.

◦ Missed call rates.

◦ Dropped call rates.

◦ Contact response time.

◦ Number of potential cases of human trafficking sent to law enforcement.

◦ Audits of the referral database.

◦ Number of policies and procedures developed with referral networks in localities where the NHTH receives a high volume of calls.

◦ Website, text, and email messages analytics and metrics.

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.

For more information, see 45 CFR 75.303(e) (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 200.303(e)).

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

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 32 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.303(e)…