Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families Children's Bureau

Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CO-0055

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 17

Find the application package 18

Get registered 19

Learn more 19

Step 3: Build Your Application 20

Application checklist 21

Application contents and format 23

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 35

Application review 36

Award notices 44

Step 5: Submit Your Application 45

Application submission and deadlines 46

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 48

Post-award requirements and administration 49

Contacts and Support 50

Before you begin 3

Modifications 54

Contents 2

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

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 26, 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

Children's Bureau

Implementing and evaluating collaborative approaches to helping children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs achieve permanency through adoption.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-

CO-0055

Federal assistance listing:

93.652 — Adoption Opportunities

NOFO version:

Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

August 26, 2026

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2026

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

Summary This funding opportunity aims to support innovations that build evidence on how to help children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs achieve permanency through adoption. The projects will focus on collaborative, system-level efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain families who can meet these children’s needs.

Projects must be led by researchers who work within a child welfare agency or work in close partnership with one or more child welfare agencies. Together, researchers and child welfare program staff will identify and evaluate promising collaborative approaches.

Collaborations that include Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Projects, private adoption agencies, or community- or faith-based organizations are of particular interest.

You’ll be expected to:

• Study how the model works in practice (i.e., implementation study).

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the approach.

• Use the most rigorous research designs, methods, and analytic techniques that are appropriate and sufficient to address the research questions of interest.

Projects are expected to build on the existing research evidence and contribute generalized knowledge.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5 https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demonstrations

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $6,450,000

Total expected awards: 3

Minimum award amount (award floor): $1,500,000

Maximum award amount (award ceiling): $2,150,000

This is full funding. We plan to fund a three-year project period with one budget period.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligible entities:

• State, tribal, or county public child welfare agencies.

• Private child welfare agencies under contract with public child welfare agencies.

• Research organizations partnering with child welfare agencies.

If you are not a public child welfare agency, you must document an active partnership with a public child welfare agency or agencies that administer at least one child welfare program in the targeted geographical area(s).

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.

Child welfare agencies may submit multiple distinct applications with different research partners. Research organizations may submit multiple distinct applications with different child welfare agencies.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

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 Title II, section 203(b)(4) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(4), as amended by CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-2000-title42-section5113&num=0&edition=2000#:~:text=(4)%20provide%20(directly,the%20adoption%20field%3B)

Agency priorities Required alignment with ACF vision, mission, values, pities, 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.

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.

5. Work, self-sufficiency, and economic mobility: Support pathways to employment, job retention, and economic independence for individuals and

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 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 Background and purpose Adoption agencies often struggle to place children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs in stable, long-term families. Definitions vary, but generally, these children and youth may have severe, chronic, or debilitating medical or mental health conditions, behavioral health challenges, or a combination of issues. For example, one population of interest is young medically fragile children.

Communities and agencies are trying innovative approaches, often employing collaborative partnerships, to address this challenge. Collaborative partnerships develop a more comprehensive network to support these children and youth (American Public Human Services Association, 2025 [PDF]). Yet the field lacks rigorous research evidence on the most effective collaborative approaches to support permanency through adoption for children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to implement and evaluate these collaborative approaches. This program supports the ACF Priority Area of Promoting Marriage and Family Formation and the Priority Area of Gold-Standard Research. Using rigorous and appropriate research designs, methods, and analytic techniques, it will test system-level innovations aimed at strengthening adoptive families and improving stability through adoption for children with complex or high-acuity needs. The program also supports ACF’s A Home for Every Child initiative. It will help increase the number of permanent adoptive homes available for children with complex or high-acuity needs and reduce the need for foster care.

Project requirements Implementing and evaluating collaborative approaches You’ll implement and evaluate collaborative approaches to achieving permanency through adoption for children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs. The project will focus on system-level efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain families who can meet these children’s behavioral, medical, or emotional needs.

Collaborative approaches involve two or more programs or services that are intentionally aligned. For this funding opportunity, the collaborative approaches you focus on must include strategies to recruit, train, support, and retain specialized adoptive homes that can meet the needs of children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://aphsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01_Addressing-the-Complex-Needs-of-Youth.pdf https://acf.gov/a-home-for-every-child

Collaborative approaches may also include other strategies. These include:

• Specialized interventions for children and families.

• Support services and respite care for families.

• Training for caseworkers.

• Collaborative, community-based services.

• Coordination with state and local health and education agencies.

You may test collaborative approaches that involve partnerships across multiple public and private agencies and organizations. Examples include child welfare agencies, program and service providers, community partners, and state and local health and education agencies.

In alignment with ACF’s emphasis on partnerships and local leadership, ACF will prioritize projects that include partnerships with one or more of the following:

• A Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Project.

• A private adoption agency.

• A community-based or faith-based organization.

Overall, you’re expected to build on the existing research evidence and contribute generalized knowledge on how child welfare agencies can collaborate with other organizations to help children and youth with complex behavioral, medical, or emotional needs find permanent, loving adoptive homes.

You’ll be expected to test your model’s theory of change. This includes studying how the model works in practice (i.e., an implementation study) and evaluating the effectiveness of the approach. Please note:

• Implementation studies must document the supports needed for implementation, supporting future replication and scale-up.

• Effectiveness designs must address how well the collaborative approach leads to improvements in permanency through adoption for children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs.

• For both studies, you must use research designs, methods, and analytic techniques that are rigorous, appropriate, and sufficient to address the research questions of interest.

You must also:

• Follow all required procedures to protect human subjects.

• Pre-register your project with a public registry.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

◦ Research plans, methods, and analysis approaches must be registered before data collection or analysis begins.

◦ Examples of relevant registries include Clinicaltrials.gov and Osf.io.

Partnership and active engagement Projects must be led by researchers working in partnership with child welfare program staff. Researchers may be housed within a state, tribal, or county public child welfare agency or a private child welfare agency that works under contract with the public child welfare agency. They may also work at a university or research organization that partners with one or more child welfare agencies. If you are not a public child welfare agency, you must have an active partnership with the public child welfare agency or agencies that administer at least one child welfare program in the geographical area(s) targeted by the collaborative approach that you are evaluating.

You must intentionally and actively engage the groups and individuals who care about your results at every stage of implementation and evaluation. Examples of relevant groups and individuals include partnering organizations, state and local leadership, program participants, and community members. By engaging them, you’re expected to increase the relevance of the research to these individuals and groups. You’re also expected to increase the rigor of your research, by ensuring that research designs, methods, and measures are feasible and acceptable and that results of preliminary and final analyses are interpreted in their proper context. You must be transparent when gathering feedback to ensure the research remains unbiased and independent and to protect the research from real or perceived bias.

Collaborating with peers and mandatory meetings You’ll be expected to participate in a consortium with other award recipients to:

• Share lessons learned.

• Identify opportunities for collaborative analyses.

• Develop collective expertise and resources to share with the field.

Principal investigators must attend yearly in-person meetings and monthly virtual meetings throughout the award period. Other key staff members and partners may also attend, depending on your project’s leadership structure.

Disseminating research results You’re expected to disseminate your research. This means you must:

• Share project findings to strengthen the evidence for collaborative approaches.

• Create different types of materials.

• Use appropriate channels to reach your intended audiences.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ https://osf.io/

Intended audiences include researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at national, state, and local levels.

Cooperative agreement— description of ACF’s involvement When funding is awarded in a cooperative agreement, you can expect substantial involvement of federal staff in the performance of the funded activities. In this cooperative agreement, ACF’s responsibilities are to:

• Monitor the project and work collaboratively with award recipients to facilitate accomplishment of project goals.

• Provide technical assistance and feedback when necessary, including joint decision-making on research design, approach, and dissemination.

• Approve any subawards and any (material) changes to the project question or approach.

• Lead efforts to encourage cooperation and collaboration among award recipients by organizing regular meetings and calls to review research progress, share information, and promote project coordination.

• Schedule and host one in-person recipient meeting in each year of the award, as well as monthly virtual meetings. Set the agenda and coordinate activities for each meeting.

• Collaborate on activities outlined in the award and approve key project milestones and material products.

• Act as a liaison between the recipient and agency staff to ensure research products are developed and meet the goals and objectives of the funding opportunity.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS has 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

• 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.

◦ 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.

• Pre-award costs.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 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))

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.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332 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

Find the application package 18

Get registered 19

Learn more 19

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.

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.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18 https://www.grants.gov/support

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).

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 19 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 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 21

Application contents and format 23

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

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Third-party agreements Yes

Protection of human subjects certification No

References Yes

Step 3: Build Your Application 21

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 22

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.

Required format Page limit for file one and file two combined: 60 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 23

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: Narratives 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 24

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

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.

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.Model you’ll test and theory of change:

• Clearly describe the collaborative model you’ll implement and evaluate.

• Describe a clear, detailed theory of change or conceptual framework.

◦ It should clearly explain how the activities and services connect to outputs and expected outcomes.

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

Current evidence and gaps:

• Describe the evidence for the components of the collaborative approach and for the overall model.

◦ Include previous studies and the broader literature.

• Describe how your findings could fill important gaps in knowledge.

Research questions and design:

• List specific research questions of interest for the implementation study and effectiveness evaluation.

• Describe the research design and methods.

• Clearly link the proposed research questions to the design and methods you plan to use.

◦ Show that the methods are appropriate, rigorous, and feasible to address the research questions.

Sample and protections for human subjects:

• Describe the proposed study sample.

• Describe procedures for protecting human subjects.

• Describe the process you’ll use to obtain Human Subjects Certification, if applicable.

◦ Address any consent issues related to using data.

Study procedures:

• Identify and describe the data sources you’ll use.

◦ Also specify whether you plan to collect and analyze primary data, leverage existing data, or both.

• If applicable, describe recruitment procedures, provide evidence that the partnerships that are in place will be sufficient to meet sample size requirements, and describe how you will retain the sample for follow-up.

• If collecting new primary data, include a plan detailing the data collection procedures and timeline.

• If sampling will be employed, describe the sampling strategy and how it will be used.

• If using existing data, describe the nature and scope of each data source, including the sample or population, and explain how the data are appropriate for the project. Provide evidence that you have access to these data sources, such as written agreements with individuals or organizations that can provide access to

Step 3: Build Your Application 26 specific administrative data. If data sources are not yet available, explain the steps and timeline for gaining access within the project’s timeline.

• Describe how the data will be cleaned and processed.

• If collecting qualitative data, describe how the data will be coded.

• If linking data sources, explain how this will be done.

Constructs, measures, and variables:

• Identify the constructs you’ll measure.

◦ Clearly link them to the research questions of interest.

• Identify the instruments you’ll use to measure the constructs.

◦ Provide evidence for their reliability and validity with the population served.

• Specify the variables you’ll use.

Analytic strategy:

• Provide a detailed plan describing the analytic approach, statistical techniques, and methods of inference you’ll use to analyze and interpret the data.

◦ In the plan, clearly detail how you’ll handle missing data and ensure data quality.

• Provide results of power analyses.

◦ They should demonstrate that the sample size will be sufficient to detect effects using the analytic techniques you propose.

Pre-registration:

• Describe a plan to pre-register the study’s design and analysis plan before data is collected or analyzed.

• Identify an appropriate registry.

Limitations and challenges:

• Specify potential limitations of the proposed study design.

◦ This may include potential limitations of the proposed data sources or the analytic strategy.

• Specify potential challenges related to collecting, accessing, linking, and/or analyzing data.

• Propose clear and feasible strategies to mitigate those challenges and continue the proposed work, even if there are delays in any of these steps.

Step 3: Build Your Application 27

Partnership and active engagement:

• Describe all partnerships required for the project. Demonstrate that:

◦ You have an active partnership with a public child welfare agency or agencies that administer at least one child welfare program in the targeted geographical areas.

◦ All partners are ready to proceed with the evaluation, if awarded.

• Describe a plan to actively engage all partners, as well as other individuals and groups with an interest in this project.

◦ Your plan should describe how you will use active engagement to make your project findings as relevant as possible.

Collaborating with peers and mandatory meetings:

• Describe a plan to participate in the consortium of award recipients. Include:

◦ Your willingness to share lessons learned, learn from others, and collaborate with consortium members.

◦ Attending the mandatory meetings.

Impact

Expected outcomes

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

Resources and capabilities

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.

Step 3: Build Your Application 28

• Provide evidence that your Project Director, Principal Investigator, and other task leads have the relevant experience and expertise needed to carry out your project.

• Describe your proposed staff and the level of experience they will have collecting data from the focal populations or using the data sources proposed for the analysis.

• If applicable, explain how your team accessed and linked the necessary data sources for the project, or how it will be approached for the project.

• Explain how your proposed staff have established an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the necessary considerations when working with data sources that include confidential information and identifiers.

• Provide evidence that the project team will have access to the appropriate facilities and resources necessary to carry out all phases of the proposed project and ensure data security and confidentiality.

• Describe your project management strategy, including roles and responsibilities, and explain how your plan will ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to a high standard of quality.

• Provide some supporting information in the organizational capacity supporting information section of your attachments.

Plan for oversight of federal award funds and activities

You must ensure proper award oversight. The regulation that governs this oversight is 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 make sure that your federal funds and activities have proper oversight. Include:

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

• A description of the procedures you use to identify and mitigate risks and issues.

These might include audit findings, continuous performance assessment findings, and monitoring.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 29 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-D

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

Project sustainability plan

You must propose a plan for project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends. We expect you to sustain key elements of your project. These elements can include strategies or services and interventions that have improved practices and outcomes.

• Provide an approach to project sustainability that is effective and feasible.

Describe:

◦ The key people and organizations whose support you will require.

◦ The types of alternative support you will require to maintain the project.

◦ If the proposed project involves key project partners, describe how you will maintain their cooperation or collaboration after the federal funding ends.

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 make sure that you properly handle confidential and sensitive information, including information from any subrecipients or contractors.

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

For more information, see 2 CFR 200.303(e).

Dissemination plan

Propose a plan to disseminate reports, products, and project outputs to key target audiences. Include:

• Dissemination goals and objectives.

• Strategies to identify and engage with target audiences.

• How you will allocate enough staff time and budget for dissemination.

• A preliminary plan to evaluate whether target audiences receive project information and use it as intended.

• The dissemination timeline.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 30 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.303

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

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

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

As you develop your budget, consider:

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

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

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

• Requirements for attendance at mandatory meetings

Please also review the Standard Form instructions.

To create your line-item budget and justification, see detailed budget instructions on our website.

In general, you must:

• Indicate the method you will use for your indirect cost rate. See the indirect costs section for further information.

• Include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail necessary for the calculation to be duplicated.

• For any cost sharing, include a detailed listing of any funding sources identified in Block 18 of the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance.

• For applicants planning to use subawards, if your subaward budget is more than 50% of total direct costs, justify why you are subawarding that portion of the project. Explain:

◦ How you plan to maintain a substantive role in the project.

◦ Why you cannot achieve your goals without the subrecipients’ participation.

Proprietary or personally identifiable information Clearly identify any salary or other proprietary information or personally identifiable information within your application. Identification will ensure this information is not shared with reviewers. Note on page 1 of the attachments file (file two) where the information to be redacted is located.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 31 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.1 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget

If you have an exemption for a paper submission, you can protect salary information and any proprietary information by placing that information only in the original application. You can remove the information from the copies, keeping summary information.

File two: Attachments 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.

ACF priorities alignment attestation

Not included in the page limit. This should be submitted with the application or before award.

You must self-certify that you will align with the ACF priorities that are relevant to this funding opportunity, as identified in both the Program description and Step 4, under Merit review process, Scoring criteria, Alignment with ACF Vision, Mission, Values, Priorities, and Guiding Principles, elements 2 and 3. You must provide the following on your organization’s letterhead.

I hereby attest and certify that:

_____________________ (Applicant Name) affirms its commitment to supporting and advancing ACF’s published Vision, Mission, Values, Priorities, and Guiding Principles of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), consistent with applicable federal statutes, regulations, and Administration priorities.

Insert Date of Signature:

Print Name and Title of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR):

Signature of AOR:

Indirect cost agreement If you include indirect costs in your budget using an approved rate, include a copy of your current agreement approved by your cognizant agency for indirect costs. If you use the de minimis rate, you do not need to submit this attachment.

See the indirect costs section for more information.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 32 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#p-200.1(Cognizant%20agency%20for%20indirect%20costs)

Organizational capacity supporting information You must attach the following information to support the information in your organizational capacity section:

• Organizational charts, including all partners.

• Resumes, biographical sketches, or curricula vitae for all key personnel.

• Job descriptions for each vacant key position.

Third-party agreements You must submit agreements with all third parties involved in the project. Third parties include subrecipients, contractors, and other cooperating entities. Third-party agreements include letters of commitment, memoranda of understanding, and memoranda of agreement. We do not consider general letters of support to be third-party agreements.

Any such agreement must:

• Describe each party’s roles and responsibilities for project activities.

• Describe the support and resources that the third party is committing to the proposed project.

• Be signed by the person in the third-party organization with the authority to make such commitments.

• Detail work schedules and estimated compensation with an understanding that the parties will negotiate a final agreement after award.

• Identify the primary applicant and all collaborators responsible for project activities if the agreement is for a collaboration or consortia application.

Protection of human subjects certification Not included in the page limit.

You must attach a Protection of Human Subjects: Assurance Identification / Certification / Declaration of Exemption form. You can find this form at the Office of Human Research Protections Forms website.

For more on this topic see the Office of Human Research Protections website. If you have questions, you can email them at OHRP@HHS.gov or call them at 240-453-6900.

References Included in the page limit.

Include a reference list for any citations in your narrative.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 33 https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/register-irbs-and-obtain-fwas/forms/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/register-irbs-and-obtain-fwas/forms/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/index.html mailto:OHRP@HHS.gov

Standard forms You will need to complete some other required standard forms other than those in files one and two. You can find them in the NOFO application package or review them and their instructions at Grants.gov Forms.

Forms Submission requirement

Project Abstract Summary With the application.

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) With the application.

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) With the application.

Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) With the application.

Key Contacts With the application.

Grants.gov Lobbying Form With the application or before award.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) If applicable based on instructions, with the application or before award.

Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL) With the application. Cite your primary location and up to 29 additional performance sites.

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 taxpayer money.

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

See instructions and examples [PDF].

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 34 https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf

Step 4:

Learn About Review and Award

In this step

Application review 36

Award notices 44

Application review Initial review We will review your application to make sure that it meets the responsiveness requirements listed in the disqualification factors section. If your application does not meet these criteria, we will disqualify it and we will not move it to the merit review (scoring) phase.

We will let you know if your application is disqualified within 30 days of the application deadline. You won’t receive any notice from ACF if your application failed Grants.gov validation checks.

If you submit more than two files in addition to your forms, we will remove the extra files. We will let you know if this happens.

We will also remove blurred or illegible pages and any file formats that are not supported.

We will not review any pages that exceed the page limit.

If your application fails to adhere to ACF’s NOFO formatting, font, and page limitation requirements, we will adjust your application by removing page(s) from the application. We will remove the pages before the merit review and will not send them to reviewers.

If we do so, we will send you a letter after we make awards to notify you that we amended your application.

Merit review process A panel reviews all applications that pass the initial review.