hhs-2026-acf-ocs-et-0028_mod1final.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, August 24, 2026

Office of Community Services (OCS) Division of Community Assistance (DCA)

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Tribal Capacity Building Training and Technical Assistance

(TCBTTA)

Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-ET-0028

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 6

Agency priorities 8

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 22

Find the application package 23

Get registered 23

Learn more 24

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

Application checklist 26

Application contents and format 28

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 40

Application review 41

Award notices 48

Step 5: Submit Your Application 49

Application submission and deadlines 50

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 52

Post-award requirements and administration 53

Contacts and Support 55

Before you begin 3

Appendix 59

Modifications 63

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 Monday, August 24, 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 6

Agency priorities 8

Program description 10

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Office of Community Services (OCS)

Division of Community Assistance (DCA)

This NOFO aims to strengthen tribal capacity to administer the Community Services Block Grant with emphasis tribal sovereignty, ensuring compliance, and advancing anti-poverty strategies that support self-sufficiency in tribal communities.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Tribal Capacity Building Training and Technical Assistance

(TCBTTA)

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-

ET-0028

Federal assistance listing:

93.569

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

August 24, 2026

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2026

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

Summary The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Tribal Capacity Building Training and Technical Assistance (TCBTTA) addresses the absence of training and technical assistance specifically tailored to the unique needs, governance structures, and operational contexts of tribal CSBG recipients (including PL 102-477 tribes).

Tribal CSBG recipients face distinct administrative challenges, and this cooperative agreement is designed to provide support, while upholding tribal sovereignty and honoring government‑to‑government relationships. The selected organization will provide comprehensive training and technical assistance tailored to tribal contexts.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $500,000

Total expected awards: 1

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $500,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $500,000

We plan to fund a three-year project period. The project period has three, one-year budget periods.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Eligibility Eligible applicants As prescribed by Section 678A(c)(2) of the CSBG Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9913(c)(2)), eligible applicants are CSBG-eligible entities, or statewide or local organizations or associations, with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of low-income families and communities.

Other eligibility criteria Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.

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

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section9913&num=0&edition=prelim

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 Sections 674(b)(2)(A) and 678A of the CSBG Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9903(b)(2)(A) and 9913).

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section9903&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section9913&num=0&edition=prelim

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, and 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 8 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 9

Program description Background CSBG is a federal block grant that funds states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and federally and state-recognized tribes and tribal organizations (hereinafter referred to as CSBG grant recipients). Tribal grant recipients provide services directly to individuals and families. State and territory grant recipients work with eligible entities to tailor CSBG-funded programs and services to meet the most pressing needs in their local communities

CSBG supports a wide range of individual-, family-, and community-level services and strategies to address the needs of individuals and families with low incomes in rural and urban areas to:

• Minimize the causes and conditions of poverty.

• Revitalize communities.

• Empower individuals and families with low incomes to become self-sufficient.

• See Appendix A for a list of definitions related to this funding opportunity and other requirements. All applicants are expected to be familiar with the given terms.

Tribal capacity building training and technical assistance (TCBTTA) project summary The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Tribal Capacity Building Training and Technical Assistance (TCBTTA) will support one organization through a cooperative agreement to build tribal and tribal organization capacity. This will help to administer CSBG programs and reporting requirements.

Tribal CSBG recipients operate within distinct administrative environments that differ from state and territory contexts.

Tribal governments navigate unique contexts including:

• Tribal sovereignty.

• Government-to-government relationships with the federal government.

• Tribal budget cycles.

• Trust land status.

• Tribal governance and reporting structures.

• Limited staffing and technological infrastructure.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://acf.gov/ocs/programs/csbg

Given these contexts, there is an opportunity to strengthen and expand support.

The TCBTTA helps tribes:

• Strengthen program administration.

• Improve compliance outcomes.

• Advance antipoverty and self-sufficiency efforts, such as those aligned with the A Home for Every Child administrative priority.

TCBTTA program goals

• Promoting capacity building for tribes and tribal organizations by addressing administrative burdens associated with insufficient staffing and limited technology.

◦ This includes systems that support compliance reporting and reduce fraud, waste, and abuse.

• Enhancing needs assessment processes so that tribes can better align CSBG resources with the specific needs of their communities.

◦ This includes supporting administrative priorities, such as A Home for Every Child.

• Delivering responsive training that respects tribal sovereignty and tribal governance structures.

Objectives of TCBTTA You will be required to provide planned and ad hoc high-quality, tailored Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) and consultation. You will also be required to develop, implement, and disseminate TTA resources and tools that address the objectives below:

• Providing training that is customized to tribal budget cycles, council approval processes, and small staff realities on:

◦ Financial management (budgeting, reporting, internal controls).

◦ Federal grant compliance (2 CFR 200, procurement, property management).

◦ CSBG Tribal Annual Report completion.

◦ Risk management.

• Supporting tribal needs assessments, developing CSBG plans that reflect tribal priorities, and aligning programs with housing stability and economic security goals.

• Providing technical assistance so services are designed to address community needs while honoring tribal sovereignty.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

◦ This includes implementing effective delivery models given geography and infrastructure, and establishing performance management systems.

• Supporting performance management and program improvement.

◦ This includes analyzing and using data for program improvements and implementing continuous quality improvement processes.

• Facilitating convenings, webinars, and forums for tribal CSBG administrators to :

◦ Share strategies and innovations.

◦ Develop tribal-specific toolkits and resources.

◦ Establish an ongoing community of practice for sustained peer support and collective problem-solving.

CSBG training and technical assistance Through CSBG discretionary awards, OCS provides funding to support CSBG TTA efforts.

Eligible applicants for these awards include statewide or local organizations or associations with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations to help address the needs of families, individuals, and communities with low incomes.

These organizations collaborate with OCS and support CSBG grant recipients and eligible entities to increase effectiveness and accountability and to generate robust results for the individuals and communities served.

With the support of CSBG funding, CSBG TTA award recipients provide the CSBG network with information on promising practices and capacity building resources to streamline operations and reduce potential instances of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Overarching priorities for OCS OCS-funded programs are administered by states, territories, and tribes to:

• Reduce the causes of poverty.

• Increase opportunity and economic security for individuals and families.

• Revitalize communities.

To achieve this vision, OCS has established several priorities to ensure that these goals are met across the CSBG network.

Top three goals The top three goals are outlined below. You must ensure that these priorities are considered throughout your planning and execution.

• Ensuring programs are of the highest quality possible and reach families and individuals with low incomes.

• Lifting voices from the field and using lessons learned to be thoughtful and innovative in our approach.

• Breaking down silos and implementing cross-cutting initiatives within OCS and ACF and across the federal government.

CSBG implementation of ACF priorities OCS’ work supports the ACF objective of ensuring a home for every child by relieving the underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to family breakdown and child-welfare interventions.

The initiative works to toward a ratio of greater than 1:1 for the number of foster homes to the number of children in the foster care system. By strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of the CSBG network, CSBG may reduce the need for child welfare and foster care interventions.

This funding opportunity aligns with the following ACF priority: Promoting work and self-sufficiency. ACF will prioritize programs and policies that promote work as the primary pathway to self-sufficiency and economic independence. TTA offered under this opportunity should assist CSBG grant recipients in providing meaningful workforce development, financial literacy, and other related supports as needed.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) can serve an essential role in accomplishing the major objectives by providing knowledge, technical expertise, analysis, and new recommendations.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://acf.gov/a-home-for-every-child https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values#:~:text=for%20America%E2%80%99s%20children.-,Promoting%20Work%20and%20Self%2DSufficiency,-Work%20is%20not https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values#:~:text=for%20America%E2%80%99s%20children.-,Promoting%20Work%20and%20Self%2DSufficiency,-Work%20is%20not

You must work with people or organizations that have proven experience following current national standards. These organizations should help communities improve:

• Economic mobility.

• Education.

• Workforce development.

• Transportation.

• Access to safe, stable housing.

Project timeline This opportunity has a 36-month project period that will be separated into two distinct phases.

The activities for each phase must be aligned closely with and promote promising practices toward the program’s priorities.

Because a cooperative agreement requires substantial involvement from the awarding agency, you must work with OCS to meet all progress updates and performance measurement deliverables on time.

Phase One (1 to 4 months):

Planning and preparation During this phase, you must develop a work plan for implementation of TTA as well as an approach for identifying any additional TTA needs within the tribal network.

OCS will provide a template for a work plan that covers the performance period.

The work plan must document and track the following:

• Detailed project goals, performance measures, and intended outcomes.

• Timelines for implementing the proposed project, including major milestones and target dates.

• A clear plan for supporting tribal grant recipients and subrecipients through practices and policies that are responsive to organizational, fiscal, and governance challenges across the CSBG funded tribes and tribal organizations.

• A clear plan for using SMEs with demonstrated experience in providing guidance on issues impacting the administration of CSBG with tribes and tribal organizations.

• A clear plan for managing planned and ad hoc TTA requests and activities that are responsive to the needs of the CSBG funded tribes and tribal organizations.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

• How the work will be completed (i.e., individualized one-on-one virtual or in-person TTA, mass virtual or in-person training, and training materials).

• Progress on defined products (i.e., training materials, webinars, manuals).

In Phase One, you must consider how the TTA tools and resources can be beneficial to the entire CSBG network.

In addition to the work plan, deliverables for Phase One also include the following:

• A draft outline of the TTA tools that will be implemented in Phase Two.

• An updated logic model.

• An updated Project Performance Evaluation Plan, as needed.

• An engagement plan for integrating territories and directly funded tribes and tribal organizations into TTA efforts.

◦ The plan should document the unique needs of territories, direct-funded tribes and tribal organizations, eligible entities, and state associations within the network.

• A dissemination plan for presenting and socializing the tools with the CSBG network. Socializing tools should happen through:

◦ Presentations.

◦ Conferences.

◦ Webcasts.

◦ Outreach campaigns.

◦ Small group TTA sessions.

Phase Two (remainder of project period):

Implementation and evaluation During Phase Two, you will provide TTA as noted in your work plan. You must also work closely with OCS staff to refine the work plan, logic model, proposed performance evaluation plan, and dissemination plan as needed.

You will also develop, refine, and disseminate TTA tools and resources for the entire CSBG network that focus on administering CSBG, including, but not limited to deliverables such as:

• Webinars.

• Training modules.

• Podcasts.

• Presentations.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

• Toolkits.

• Other learning tools.

TTA tools and resources must incorporate practices and policies focused on ensuring the effective and efficient administration of CSBG programming in tribal communities, as well as responsive services and positive outcomes for tribal communities.

The tools will be distributed among the CSBG network using per the dissemination plan, and then housed in a resource library, as specified by OCS.

Semi-annual and final reports

Throughout Phase Two, you must continue to engage in:

• Ongoing program performance evaluation to inform semi-annual Performance Progress Reports (PPR).

• A final PPR to be delivered to OCS.

In the semi-annual and final reports, you must provide qualitative and quantitative data that reflects the focus areas and data points noted in the Project Performance Evaluation Plan.

In the final report, you must discuss:

• Outcomes based on activities defined in the work plan.

• How the effectiveness of the TTA tools and resources developed for tribal communities were measured and evaluated.

• The development of a body of knowledge, lessons learned, and promising practices relevant to tribal contexts.

• How they can be replicated for future TTA deployments across tribal communities.

• How the project will promote community-wide, transformative, and sustainable changes in tribal communities beyond the project period.

Innovation and measurable outcomes You will be required to track and measure the outcomes tied to TTA and other interventions.

Innovation in TTA offerings is expected, through processes such as Rapid-Cycle Learning (RCL) and change management. The impact of these offerings should be quantifiable and demonstrate a positive change in:

• Service delivery.

• Capacity building.

• Other critical knowledge areas.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

You will need to implement outcome tracking and change measurement strategies.

These methods should compare against a common baseline and demonstrate the effectiveness of your work over the course of the project period.

You will be also required to track all technical assistance provided using the Office of Community Services Community Services Block Grant Training and Technical Assistance Tracking Form and submit quarterly reports. This strategic tool captures where targeted TTA is delivered within the CSBG network and details specific activities and focus areas.

CSBG TTA needs assessment survey In FY22, OCS invited the CSBG network to complete the online CSBG TTA Needs Assessment Survey. The survey’s goals were to inform and strengthen OCS funded TTA to ensure that OCS is meeting the TTA needs of the CSBG network.

The survey results continue to help inform OCS’ TTA Learning Agenda for CSBG discretionary awards and contracts, including this cooperative agreement OCS published the results of the survey in the CSBG Needs Assessment Dashboard (FY22).

You should use the TTA Needs Assessment Survey and the dashboard to drive decisions.

You should also model future survey materials using the original survey questions to continue your data analysis.

American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey data Since 2015, OCS has used American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) data, collected through surveys of eligible entities and CSBG grant recipients, to understand how public-facing activities affect the satisfaction of different target populations. You will be expected to use recent ACSI data to inform your work.

Strategic partnerships Strong strategic partnerships are essential to CSBG’s success because they respond to immediate community needs and help create long-term community change.

OCS encourages new, meaningful collaborations that strengthen your ability to support Tribes and tribal organizations.

You are expected to invest in partnerships to enhance data-driven decision-making and infrastructure for the tribal communities served.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6080697eb930441c9b025c423c51e6f9?dlg=Instructions https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6080697eb930441c9b025c423c51e6f9?dlg=Instructions

Using these partnerships, you will be expected to strengthen tribal service delivery, improve reporting and compliance of tribal grant recipients, and reduce potential instances of fraud, waste, and abuse.

OCS response to nationally declared emergency If there is a nationally declared emergency during your project period, both you and OCS will remain flexible and adjust program or cooperative agreement requirements as needed.

OCS may decide to allow requirements to be met virtually and may adjust timelines.

Cooperative agreement— Description of ACF’s involvement OCS will have substantial involvement directly with the award recipient. The responsibility for the management, control, direction, and performance of the project will be shared by OCS and the award recipient. OCS will have the right to intervene (including interruption or modification) in the conduct or performance of project activities if the award recipient does not adhere to the goals, objectives, and requirements as outlined in this NOFO and the signed cooperative agreement. OCS and the award recipient will collaborate on all activities involving the design and direction of TTA products, training, or any other deliverables.

OCS program involvement may include:

• Providing program guidance and input, as appropriate.

• Approving all work plans.

• Reviewing and providing feedback on the activities, documentation, procedures, measures, and tools established throughout the project period.

• Reviewing, providing feedback, and agreeing with activities, procedures, tools, measures, products, and written materials prior to external communication and dissemination.

◦ This will happen on an ongoing basis.

• Reviewing or participating in TTA activities, including webinars and one-on-one trainings.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18

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.

◦ 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72

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

• Construction.

• Purchase of real property.

• Major renovation.

• Pre-award.

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.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 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

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 21 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 23

Get registered 23

Learn more 24

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.

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.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 23 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 https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

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 24 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 26

Application contents and format 28

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 Yes

Legal proof of for-profit status Yes

Legal proof of small businesses Yes

Additional eligibility documentation No

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Third-party agreements Yes

Step 3: Build Your Application 26

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 27

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.

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Spacing Table of contents: Must be single-spaced Project summary: Must be single-spaced Project narrative: Must be double-spaced Objectives: Can be single-spaced Expected Outcomes: Can be single-spaced Approach: Can be single-spaced Project timeline and milestones: Can be single-spaced Logic model: Can be single spaced Program performance evaluation plan: Can be single-spaced Plan for oversight of federal award funds and activities: Can be single-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.

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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.

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.

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• Cover the full period of performance in your timeline.

• Clearly describes how the project will adhere to the project phases and has developed a strategy to implement the project in the allotted 36-month project period.

Logic model

Specifically, 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 components, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

• Outputs, which include the immediate and direct results of program activities.

• Outcomes, which include the short- and long-term results you expect the project to achieve. These are typically described as changes in people or systems.

• Project goals, such as overarching objectives and reasons for proposing the project.

Impact

Project performance evaluation plan

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

• How you will monitor ongoing activities and progress toward the project’s goals and objectives.

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

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

• How you will use the resulting information to improve your funded activities.

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• Any processes that support overall data quality.

• The organizational systems and processes you will use to track performance outcomes.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Additionally:

• Provide strong evidence of organizational capacity and prior experience in successfully completing similar projects, including work with tribes, tribal organization, communities with low income and implementing and evaluating emerging practices.

• Provide strong evidence of the level of knowledge, skills and abilities of the proposed primary staff members.

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◦ Document how their specific qualifications and level of expertise will support the successful implementation of proposed project activities.

• Document the roles, responsibilities, and time commitments of each proposed project staff position, including consultants, subcontractors, and partners for each key project activity.

◦ You must ensure these are well-defined and appropriate to the successful implementation of your project with respect to the target population.

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of each SME and the TTA activities that the applicant and SMEs will undertake collaboratively in implementing the proposed project.

◦ You must attach a signed letter of commitment from each SME.

◦ Letters of commitment must include a description of relevant specialized experience, education, or professional credentials.

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.

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 33 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-D

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).

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 each year of the 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.

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.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 34 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.303 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

• 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.

Specifically, you must also:

• Provide a well-prepared specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time based (SMART) budget.

◦ The budget must include the itemized expenses for each phase of the project and a narrative justification that clearly explains all the calculations comprising the amount requested.

◦ If known at the time of application submission, the budget must include the anticipated compensation for each proposed subaward.

◦ The budget must clearly support the initial 12-month project period and structured to present the two phases of the project:

▪ Phase One (one to four months): planning and preparation.

▪ Phase Two (remainder of project period): implementation and evaluation.

◦ The budget justification must include a line item for each proposed SME, and strategic partnership.

◦ The budget must include funding for travel for one key staff member to attend and present at a CSBG TTA national conference or meeting in Washington, DC, during each year of the award, if requested to attend.

Proprietary or personally identifiable information Clearly identify any salary or other proprietary information or personally identifiable information within your application.