hhs-2026-acf-acyf-co-0040 Full Announcement.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Friday, August 21, 2026

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) Children’s Bureau

Technology-Enhanced Adoption Recruitment and Matching Innovation Hubs

(TE-ARM)

Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CO-0040

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 24

Find the application package 25

Get registered 25

Learn more 26

Step 3: Build Your Application 27

Application checklist 28

Application contents and format 30

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 47

Application review 48

Award notices 55

Step 5: Submit Your Application 56

Application submission and deadlines 57

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 59

Post-award requirements and administration 60

Contacts and Support 61

Before you begin 3

Modifications 64

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 Friday, August 21, 2026.

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. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF)

Children’s Bureau

To support the establishment of regional innovation hubs that use technology to improve how child welfare agencies recruit, identify, and match adoptive families for children awaiting permanency, and to scale effective approaches that improve outcomes.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Technology-Enhanced Adoption Recruitment and Matching Innovation Hubs

(TE-ARM)

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-

CO-0040

Federal assistance listing:

93.652

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026

Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

See intergovernmental review for other submission processes that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary Child welfare agencies continue to face challenges in recruiting and matching adoptive families for children awaiting permanency, due in part to outdated processes, limited data integration, and inconsistent access to effective tools. Most jurisdictions rely on static photo listing services, fragmented data systems, and manual caseworker knowledge to identify potential matches. While existing national recruitment resources provide important visibility for waiting children, there is a growing need for modern, technology-enabled approaches and tools that actively support caseworkers in timely, data-informed, and high-quality matching decisions.

ACF will fund regional innovation hubs to design, implement, and evaluate human-centered technology-enabled solutions that improve adoptive family recruitment and matching. These solutions may include data-informed recruitment tools, AI-assisted matching, and predictive analytics to accelerate permanency for children in foster care.

ACF expects to fund three regional innovation hubs—you must apply to the appropriate region:

• Eastern Region.

• Central Region.

• Western Region.

Innovation hubs will partner with pilot jurisdictions in their region to develop, deploy, and evaluate these tools; strengthen agency capacity; and support implementation through intensive technical assistance, training, and continuous quality improvement.

Hubs will also disseminate tools, best practices, and lessons learned to jurisdictions across their region and collaborate nationally to promote shared learning.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

For the purposes of this NOFO, pilot jurisdictions must be public child welfare agencies that administer Title IV-E foster care and adoption assistance programs at the state, territorial, tribal, or local level.

If awarded, recipients will focus on the following activities:

• Applied research, development, and testing of technology-enabled recruitment and matching solutions.

• Training, coaching, and technical assistance to support implementation.

• Advancement of interoperability and data standards.

• Implementation of privacy, security, and safeguards.

• Dissemination and knowledge sharing to support the broader field.

To support effective implementation of all program activities, each innovation hub must establish and implement a robust performance measurement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) framework to assess progress, inform decision-making, and drive continuous improvement.

Through these activities, the program aims to accelerate permanency, improve the quality and stability of adoptive placements, and strengthen the child welfare system’s ability to use data and technology to support children and families.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $10,000,000

Total expected awards: 3

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $3,000,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $3,333,333

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

Note: The maximum award ceiling for year 1 is $3, 333, 333. The maximum award ceiling amount for years 2, 3, 4, and 5 will increase to $4,000,000, per year.

This is a multi-application funding opportunity. The funding ceiling is the same for all regions, and one award will be made per region.

Non-competing continuation awards will be issued. Grant recipients must demonstrate progress on meeting the goals of the project and coordination within the pilot jurisdictions.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include:

• State, territorial, or local government child welfare agencies.

• Tribal child welfare agencies or tribal organizations.

• Public or private licensed child-placing agencies.

• Non-profit organizations with demonstrated experience in child welfare or technology innovation.

• For-profit entities with demonstrated experience in child welfare technology solutions.

• Community-based organizations serving children and families.

• Institutions of higher education with relevant research or technical capacity.

• Consortia or partnerships that include multiple entity types.

Other eligibility criteria Individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.

Select one region to serve Each applicant must apply for one region only and must specify which region they are applying to serve. See the National coverage and regional service model section in the Program description for detailed information on regional structure.

An organization may serve as lead applicant for only one region but may participate as a partner, subrecipient, or consultant on applications for other regions provided this does not create conflicts of interest or limit their ability to fulfill their primary role.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Disqualifying 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), a federal entity, 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.

An organization may submit only one application as lead applicant and may apply for only one region. An organization may participate as a partner or subrecipient on applications for other regions, provided such participation does not create conflicts of interest or compromise the organization’s ability to fulfill its primary commitment.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement, meaning you do not need to contribute to the costs of this project.

If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we won’t consider it during review. If you receive an award, we will include your voluntary commitment in the award, and you must report on the funds. If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount or use other enforcement actions.

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Statutory authority This award is authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) at 42 U.S.C. § 5113(b)(2).

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Agency priorities Required alignment with ACF Vision, Mission, Values, Priorities, and Guiding Principles The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with ACF’s vision, mission, values, priorities, & guiding principles when authorized. Funded activities must advance ACF’s vision of resilient, safe, healthy, and economically secure children, youth, families, and communities, and support ACF’s mission to foster health and well-being through effective, accountable, and compassionate human services when awarded in any programs that authorize these priorities. This NOFO also aligns with the A Home for Every Child initiative, which is intended to accelerate state innovation in foster home recruitment, retention, and system improvements that directly impact child welfare outcomes and permanency.

Consistent with ACF’s values, in carrying out any project that is funded under this NOFO, the recipient is required to adhere to the following principle:

1. Program integrity and fiscal stewardship: Administer funds in accordance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, and award conditions; maintain strong internal controls; and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

The recipient is also required to adhere to the following principles when consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

2. Evidence-based and outcome-focused practices: Design and deliver services using evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches, establish measurable performance goals, and use data to monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

3. Partnership and local leadership: Coordinate with state, tribal, territorial, local, and community partners, as appropriate, and tailor services to meet community-identified needs while respecting local decision-making authority.

In addition, in keeping with ACF’s priorities, the recipient must administer any project that is awarded under this NOFO in accordance with the following objectives when consistent with the scope of the award and its activities in programs that are authorized to advance them:

4. Family stability and child well-being: Strengthen families, promote safe and stable home environments, and improve outcomes for children and youth through prevention-focused and developmentally appropriate services.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values https://acf.gov/a-home-for-every-child

5. Work, self-sufficiency, and economic mobility: Support pathways to employment, job retention, and economic independence for individuals and families, including through workforce development, education, and supportive services.

6. High-quality early care and learning: Where applicable, invest in high-quality early childhood programs that support school readiness, healthy development, and long-term success.

The recipient must demonstrate ongoing compliance with these values and priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other enforcement actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 CFR Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Program description Purpose Technology-Enhanced Adoption Recruitment and Matching (TE-ARM) Innovation Hubs will serve as regional hubs of excellence that design, build, implement, test, and evaluate technology-enabled tools to improve how child welfare agencies recruit, license, and match adoptive families with children awaiting adoption. This program reflects ACF’s commitment to results and evidence by focusing on measurable improvements in permanency outcomes, placement stability, and system performance.

This program focuses exclusively on children in the public child welfare system who have, or may develop, an adoption permanency goal, including:

• Children with an established adoption plan.

• Children whose permanency goal may transition to adoption.

• Children in the adoptive placement process.

Each innovation hub will partner with a minimum of two pilot jurisdictions within its assigned region, including at least one identified at time of application:

• Design and build secure, interoperable technology tools tailored to jurisdictional needs.

• Implement and test these tools in real-world settings through structured pilots.

• Continuously monitor and evaluate their impact on timeliness, match quality, and placement stability.

• Disseminate reusable tools, standards, and implementation resources for national adoption.

All data will remain under the ownership and control of the originating jurisdiction.

Innovation hubs will not create or maintain a federal database. Instead, they will support jurisdictions in building the infrastructure and interoperability needed to enable technology-enhanced matching while maintaining full data sovereignty.

This program reflects ACF’s commitment to results and evidence by focusing on measurable improvements in permanency outcomes, placement stability, and system performance.

Advances in secure data sharing, interoperability standards, and decision-support technologies create a significant opportunity to modernize adoptive recruitment and matching processes.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

When designed, implemented, and refined, technology-enabled tools can:

• Surface potential matches that may not otherwise be identified through manual processes.

• Accelerate the matching process and reduce time to permanency.

• Support targeted recruitment by identifying gaps in the available pool of adoptive families.

• Enable cross-jurisdictional matching while respecting state, tribal, and territorial data governance requirements.

• Identify key matching characteristics associated with successful placements and inform post-adoption supports.

• Reduce administrative burden, allowing caseworkers to focus on family engagement and support.

• Improve placement stability through better-informed matching decisions.

• Generate actionable insights to strengthen recruitment, matching, and post-adoption practices.

• Increase transparency in how potential matches are identified and considered.

• Provide decision-support tools that strengthen, but do not replace, professional judgment.

This program reflects ACF’s commitment to results and evidence by focusing on measurable improvements in permanency outcomes, placement stability, and system performance.

National coverage and regional service model ACF has defined three national service regions:

• Eastern Region: Northeast & Southeast

◦ States/Territory: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, DE, DC, MD, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL, PR.

• Central Region: Central/South Central

◦ States: IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI, KY, TN, AL, MS, AR, LA, OK, TX.

• Western Region: West & Pacific

◦ States: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY, Pacific Territories.

Tribal nations may align with any region based on geography and partnerships. Cross-region collaboration is encouraged for multi-state and multi-jurisdictional initiatives.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Each innovation hub will:

• Serve as the primary technology and implementation resource within its assigned region.

• Provide tailored support based on jurisdictional readiness and capacity.

• Partner with pilot jurisdictions to design, implement, and test solutions.

• Collaborate with other hubs to share learning, align approaches, and avoid duplication.

• Develop tools and resources that can be reused across jurisdictions nationwide.

While hubs are regionally anchored, cross-jurisdictional collaboration is encouraged where necessary to support effective matching, including partnerships with implementation partners outside the assigned region.

This program supports the ACF Priority Area of Gold-Standard Research by incorporating the principles of HHS’s Gold Standard Science into the evaluation of the grant program, with a focus on the results being transparent, collaborative, and interdisciplinary.

Project requirements Project objectives The objectives of this program are to:

• Improve the timeliness, quality, and stability of adoptive placements for children and youth in foster care.

• Enhance child welfare agencies’ capacity to use technology, data, and innovative tools to support recruitment and matching.

• Strengthen data integration, quality, and interoperability to enable more informed decision-making.

• Support the adoption and effective use of technology by the child welfare workforce.

• Promote collaboration, shared learning, and alignment across jurisdictions and innovation hubs.

• Generate, test, and disseminate scalable tools, resources, and best practices for national use.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

Program activities Recipients must carry out the following five core activity areas:

Applied research, development, and testing Innovation hubs will design, build, and refine technology solutions that support adoptive recruitment and matching. Hubs are expected to partner with pilot jurisdictions to support real-world implementation of recruitment and matching. Pilot projects can include a wide range of topics tailored to the agency’s individual needs, readiness, and goals. We are particularly interested in projects in the following areas:

• Development of data-informed recruitment tools to identify gaps in the foster/ adoptive parent pool and target outreach strategies.

• Creation of matching support systems that align child characteristics, needs, and preferences with family capacity, characteristics, and readiness.

• Development of interoperability solutions to enable secure data exchange across jurisdictions and support cross-jurisdictional matching.

• Use of advanced analytics approaches—including predictive analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, or other data-driven methods, where appropriate—to support matching, placement stability, disruption prevention, and identification of factors associated with successful adoptions.

• Development of tools that support family engagement, including helping families learn about waiting children and express interest.

• Implementation of iterative testing and refinement processes to assess tool performance, usability, and impact on recruitment and matching outcomes, and to inform ongoing improvements prior to and during deployment.

• Engaging caseworkers, families, youth, and other stakeholders in the design, testing, and refinement of tools to ensure usability and relevance in real-world practice.

All tools must be designed to support human decision-making, with technology augmenting—rather than replacing—professional judgment.

Training, coaching, and technical assistance Innovation hubs will provide comprehensive implementation support to participating jurisdictions.

Activities should include:

• Readiness assessments to evaluate infrastructure, staffing, and data capacity.

• Change management support to integrate tools into existing workflows.

• Training for caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

• Ongoing coaching and troubleshooting.

• Continuous quality improvement support based on performance data.

• Time-limited staffing support, where needed, to assist with implementation.

Innovation hubs must provide differentiated levels of technical assistance aligned to jurisdiction roles within the program. Pilot jurisdictions and their approved partners will receive intensive, hands-on support, including tool deployment, training, workflow integration, coaching, and continuous quality improvement.

Innovation hubs are required to make tools, training resources, and shared learning opportunities available to non-pilot jurisdictions within their region. Activities for non-pilot sites are intended to support broader dissemination and do not include intensive implementation support.

Interoperability and data standards Innovation hubs will strengthen the field’s ability to securely share and use data.

Activities should include:

• Development and promotion of common data standards for adoptive matching.

• Creation of integration guidance for connecting matching tools with existing Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)/Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) and other systems.

• Support for data governance frameworks.

• Facilitation of data sharing agreements across jurisdictions.

• Documentation of best practices for data security and responsible data use.

Privacy, security, and safeguards Innovation hubs must ensure responsible use of sensitive data.

Requirements include:

• Privacy-by-design approaches that minimize and protect data.

• Compliance with federal and state security standards (FedRAMP or equivalent).

• Transparency in how tools function and generate outputs.

• Human oversight of all decision-support tools.

• Clear processes for addressing errors or concerns.

These safeguards reflect ACF’s commitment to program integrity and accountability -ensuring technology serves children and families ethically while maintaining public trust in the responsible use of federal resources.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

Dissemination and knowledge sharing Innovation hubs will generate and share resources, informed by implementation experience and lessons learned, to support a national audience.

Deliverables should include but are not limited to:

• Open-source tools and technical documentation, where permitted.

• Implementation toolkits and playbooks.

• Data standards and integration guides.

• Evaluation findings and outcome data.

• Case studies and lessons learned.

• Webinars, peer learning opportunities, and presentations.

• Collaboration with other innovation hubs to align dissemination strategies, share findings, and develop common resources, standards, and implementation guidance where appropriate to support a coordinated national approach.

All public-facing materials must be Section 508 compliant and adaptable for use by other jurisdictions.

All program activities should be implemented in alignment with the project performance evaluation plan requirements described below.

Project performance evaluation plan Each innovation hub must establish and implement a robust performance measurement and CQI framework to assess progress, inform decision-making, and drive ongoing improvements.

Performance measures may apply at different levels, including the innovation hub, pilot jurisdictions, or both. Measures should be clearly defined and supported by processes for data collection, reporting, and use across partners.

Performance measurement Innovation hubs are expected to establish and implement performance measurement approaches that include process, outcome, systems measures as well as CQI and data improvement as appropriate. We are particularly interested in the following areas (recipients may track additional or alternative measures that align with their approved work plan).

Process measures:

• Number of jurisdictions served and type of technical assistance provided.

• Number of tools developed, tested, and implemented.

• Tool utilization rates, including frequency and consistency of use.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

• Caseworker and administrator satisfaction with tools and support.

• Fidelity of implementation.

Outcome measures:

• Time from adoption goal to adoptive placement.

• Time from child identification to match identification.

• Time from adoptive placement to finalization.

• Number of potential families identified per child.

• Placement stability, including disruption and dissolution rates.

• Match quality indicators, as defined by jurisdictions.

• Rate of matches resulting in placement.

• Recruitment effectiveness, including alignment between families recruited and children’s needs.

System measures:

• Improvements in data quality.

• Interoperability achievements across systems and jurisdictions.

• Cost-effectiveness of tools and implementation approaches.

• Level of integration of tools into agency workflows and systems.

• Jurisdiction readiness for scaling tools beyond pilot sites.

• Scalability and replicability of solutions across jurisdictions.

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) Innovation hubs must implement structured CQI processes that include:

• Regular data review cycles (e.g., quarterly).

• Use of performance data to refine tools, implementation strategies, and technical assistance approaches.

• Ongoing feedback loops with pilot jurisdictions to inform adjustments and improvements.

Innovation hubs must:

• Establish baseline measures at project outset.

• Set annual performance targets.

• Report on progress on a quarterly basis.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Use of data for improvement Performance data must be used to:

• Assess effectiveness of recruitment and matching tools.

• Identify areas for improvement in implementation and technical assistance.

• Inform iterative refinement of tools and strategies.

• Support decision-making related to scaling and replication.

(NOTE: Consistent with the PRA of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, under this NOFO, ACF will not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information covered by such Act, displays a currently valid OMB control number, or fewer than 10 people are asked to respond.)

Partner readiness and pilot requirements Technology innovation succeeds only when it meets real-world needs and is implemented with strong partnerships. Recipients are expected to:

• Identify at least one pilot jurisdiction within their proposed region at time of application that has formally committed to participate.

• Demonstrate a plan to secure at least one additional pilot jurisdiction within 6 months of award resulting in a minimum of two active pilot jurisdictions.

• Submit letters of commitment from at least one pilot jurisdiction with the application.

• Establish formal partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or data sharing agreements within 6 months of award.

• Launch pilot activities within 6 months of award.

• Budget must propose a clear, detailed, and feasible budget that demonstrates sufficient and appropriate investment in pilot jurisdiction implementation, including staffing, infrastructure, training, data capacity, and ongoing support throughout the project period.

Pilot jurisdictions are responsible for the placement and permanency planning of children in foster care and must have the authority, data access, and operational responsibility necessary to implement and test technology-enabled recruitment and matching solutions within real-world child welfare practice.

Pilot jurisdictions may partner with implementation partners (e.g., licensed child-placing agencies or other organizations) that support service delivery; however, these partners do not replace the requirement for a Title IV-E agency to serve as the lead pilot jurisdiction. Implementation partners are entities that support pilot jurisdiction implementation activities (e.g., licensed child-placing agencies or other jurisdiction-

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 affiliated organizations). These entities must be formally connected to the pilot jurisdictions and play a direct role in implementation but are not considered pilot jurisdictions themselves.

Organizational capacity Recipients must demonstrate organizational capacity in both:

• Technology expertise, including the ability to design, develop, implement, and maintain secure, interoperable, and user-centered technology solutions.

• Child welfare practice expertise, including knowledge of child welfare systems, adoption and permanency practice, and experience working with child welfare agencies and stakeholders.

Recipients may demonstrate the required expertise through one or more of the following approaches:

• A single organization with both technology and child welfare expertise.

• A lead organization partnered with one or more entities providing complementary expertise.

• A consortium with clearly defined roles and governance across multiple organizations.

Expected outcomes TE-ARM Innovation Hubs are expected to partner with pilot jurisdictions to:

• Reduce time to adoptive placement.

• Increase successful matches between children and families.

• Improve placement stability and permanency outcomes.

• Reduce administrative burden on caseworkers.

• Strengthen data infrastructure and decision-making capacity.

• Produce validated, scalable tools and approaches for national use.

Protection of sensitive or confidential information This program operates under a fundamental principle: Child and family data belongs to the jurisdiction that collected it, not to the federal government or the innovation hub.

Innovation hubs will:

• NOT create a centralized federal database of children or families.

• NOT require jurisdictions to share data with ACF beyond standard reporting requirements.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19

• NOT retain jurisdiction data after technical assistance relationships end (unless specifically authorized).

• Respect each jurisdiction’s data governance policies and legal requirements.

Innovation hubs MAY:

• Access jurisdiction data under formal agreements (MOUs/DSAs) for the limited purpose of building and testing tools.

• Aggregate and de-identify data for research and evaluation purposes (with jurisdiction permission).

• Facilitate peer jurisdiction data sharing for cross-state matching (with all parties’ consent).

Collaboration and learning infrastructure Cross-center collaboration The innovation hubs will function as a national network, not isolated regional projects.

ACF will work collaboratively with all TE-ARM innovation hubs to facilitate:

• Quarterly meetings across all innovation hubs to share learning and coordinate activities.

• Joint development of common standards and tools where appropriate.

• Peer review of tools and approaches.

• Collaborative problem-solving on shared challenges.

• Cross-regional partnerships to enhance and promote matching of children awaiting adoption with adoptive parents.

Accessibility and artifact standards All products developed with federal funds must be:

• Section 508 compliant for accessibility.

• Delivered in editable formats(not just PDFs) so other jurisdictions can adapt them.

• Clearly licensed for reuse (Creative Commons or similar for non-code; open-source licenses for code where appropriate).

• Well-documented with implementation guidance.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20

Cooperative agreement—Description of ACF’s involvement As cooperative agreements, these awards involve substantial federal involvement.

ACF’s involvement will include:

• Participate in the awardee’s governance structures and strategic planning.

• Facilitate coordination among the awardees.

• Convene national learning communities and dissemination activities.

• Monitor progress, outcomes, and compliance with federal requirements.

• Provide policy guidance on privacy, civil rights, and ethical technology use.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75.

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.

• To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, you may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

◦ Activities that discriminate or show preference based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other protected traits.

◦ Any efforts that promote a “discriminatory equity ideology.”

• To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, ACF will also not allow funds awarded under this NOFO to support any services or activities that inculcate or promote gender ideology.

For guidance on other types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see General Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR part 200.

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 those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated.

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

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). This rate may be up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

You may not charge costs included in your indirect cost pool as direct costs.

Subawards As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. This means that you conduct funded activities and provide services necessary and integral to completing the project.

Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 2 CFR 200.332 is not a substantive role.

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

All subrecipients must have 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 the Office of Personnel Management information 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 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.

Program income If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 25

Get registered 25

Learn more 26

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it at this NOFO’s Grants.gov opportunity page. Then select the Package tab.

This NOFO has multiple “Grant Opportunity Packages” reflecting each region.

Note: Do NOT use the Apply button on the View Grant Opportunity screen.

1. Click on the Package tab.

2. Scroll down and identify the Grant Opportunity Package you want to apply to using the competition title

3. Click the Apply hyperlink in the “Actions” column. You will be directed to the Apply for Grant Opportunity page.

4. Click on the red Apply button. This Apply button will take you to Grants.gov to login and submit your application.

5. Follow the guidance for applying and uploading the application and associated documents.

We recommend that you select the Subscribe button from the View Grant Opportunity page for this NOFO to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials or have other technical difficulties, including issues with application submission, contact Grants.gov for assistance.

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. 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.

• You must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations [PDF] specifically. Those for contracts are different.

When you register, you will also receive your required Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 25 https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf

Once you register:

• You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

• If your organization has multiple UEIs, use the one associated with your physical location.

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.

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

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 26 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 28

Application contents and format 30

Application checklist Make sure that you have everything you need to apply. You will find the forms in Grants.gov.

File one: Narratives Use the Project Narrative Attachment form.

Component Included in page limit?

Table of contents Yes

Project summary Yes

Project narrative Yes

Line-item budget and budget narrative Yes

File two: Attachments Insert each in a single Other Attachments form.

Component Included in page limit?

ACF Priorities Alignment Attestation No

Indirect cost agreement Yes

Legal proof of nonprofit status No

Legal proof of for-profit status No

Legal proof of small businesses No

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Third-party agreements Yes

Maintenance of effort certification No

Protection of human subjects certification No

Letters of commitment Yes

Step 3: Build Your Application 28

Standard forms Use each required form in Grants.gov.

Component Included in page limit?

Project Abstract Summary No

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) No

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) No

(SF-424B) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs No

Key Contacts No

Grants.gov Lobbying form No

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) No

Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL) No

Step 3: Build Your Application 29

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

Your organization’s authorized official must certify your application.

See intergovernmental review to find out if you need to make any other submissions.

Required format Page limit for file one and file two combined: 75 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: Build Your Application 30

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 disqualifying factors to understand what may disqualify your application from consideration.

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.

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 or research questions.

Step 3: Build Your Application 31

Project narrative The project narrative is where you address 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.

• 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.

Purpose and need

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 specific geographic areas include their locations as well.

Regional assignment (see Approach criterion 2.4)

Applicants will identify the region they propose to serve through the submission of their application and must describe the geographic area covered by the project, including any subrecipients or partner jurisdictions, as well as how the project will effectively operate within the selected region.

See the Regional Assignment section in Eligibility for requirements and the National Coverage & Regional Service Model section for additional context.

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.

Explain how the project will meet the project objectives.

Step 3: Build Your Application 32

Response

Approach

Outline your action plan. Describe the scope of your proposed project and describe in detail how you will accomplish it. 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.

You must describe a clear, feasible, and well-organized approach to achieving the objectives of this award. Your approach should be organized by objective and explain how the activities you propose will achieve the intended outcomes.

Propose an approach that addresses all core program activities. Within the organization of your approach by objective, you must clearly describe how the following program activities will be carried out:

Applied research, development, and testing:

Design, build, and iteratively refine technology-enabled recruitment and matching solutions that are user-centered, data-informed, and support human decision-making.

Describe how caseworkers, administrators, youth, families, and other stakeholders will be engaged in the design, testing, refinement, and implementation of proposed tools and approaches.

Training, coaching, and technical assistance:

Provide comprehensive implementation support to pilot jurisdictions, including readiness assessment, training, workflow integration, and ongoing coaching and continuous quality improvement.

Interoperability and data standards:

Strengthen data integration and sharing by developing and applying common data standards, supporting system interoperability, and advancing data governance practices.

Privacy, security, and safeguards:

Ensure responsible and ethical use of data through privacy-by-design approaches, compliance with applicable security standards, transparency, and appropriate human oversight.

Dissemination and knowledge sharing:

Develop and share tools, resources, and lessons learned to support broader adoption, replication, and alignment across jurisdictions and innovation hubs.

You should focus on how these activities will be implemented, integrated and evaluated, rather than restating the program requirements. All program activities must

Step 3: Build Your Application 33 be implemented in alignment with the project performance evaluation plan requirements listed in the program description.

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 tasks you plan to complete 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 by a specific date.

• Provide target dates for activities you can’t quantify.

• Cover the full period of performance in your timeline.

Logic model

You must submit a logic model for designing, managing, and evaluating the project. A logic model is a diagram that:

• Presents how inputs drive activities to produce outputs, outcomes, and the ultimate goals of the proposed project.

• Explains the links among project elements.

• Targets the identified objectives and goals of the project.

While there are many versions of logic models, for the purposes of this funding opportunity, the logic model may include the connections between:

• Inputs such as additional resources, organizational profile, collaborative partners, key staff, and budget.

• Target population, such as the individuals to be served or identified needs.

• Activities, mechanisms, and processes such as evidence-based practices, best practices, approach, key intervention and evaluation…