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) Communities of Practice (CoP) Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-ET-0029

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 6

Agency priorities 8

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 20

Find the application package 21

Get registered 22

Learn more 22

Step 3: Build Your Application 23

Application checklist 24

Application contents and format 26

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 39

Application review 40

Award notices 46

Step 5: Submit Your Application 47

Application submission and deadlines 48

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 50

Post-award requirements and administration 51

Contacts and Support 52

Before you begin 3

Appendices 56

Modifications 62

Contents 2

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

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

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

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on 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)

Supporting the creation of six Communities of Practice for CSBG training and technical assistance.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Communities of Practice (CoP)

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-OCS-

ET-0029

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 Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will support a funding opportunity for six 3-year cooperative agreements for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Communities of Practice (CoP).

Six CoPs will be established to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to the CSBG network, including:

• CSBG-funded states, territories, and tribes.

• State community action associations.

• CSBG-eligible entities.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $4,350,000

Total expected awards: 6

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $725,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $725,000

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.

Any subrecipient(s) must meet these eligibility requirements.

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

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

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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

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, & 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 recipients).

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.

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.

Common areas where the CSBG network designates funding include:

• Collaboration and linkages across anti-poverty programs and organizations.

• Crisis and emergency supports.

• Assistance with housing, nutrition, utility, transportation, employment, and educational needs.

• Income- and asset-building services.

• Upstream services aimed at creating pathways out of poverty.

CSBG Communities of Practice (CoPs) Six CoPs will be established to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to CSBG recipients.

Each CoP will:

• Tailor their TTA to address the defined needs of the CoP areas they are serving.

• Use relevant qualitative and quantitative data to inform their approaches.

• Develop a plan to ensure direct continuous feedback with CoP areas.

• Lift up promising new practices in the field.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

The six award recipients will be required to provide their respective grouping of CSBG states, territories, tribes, state associations, and eligible entities with capacity-building approaches that create scalable, evidence-informed interventions. These will improve earned income, employment stability, and asset development for families with low incomes through coordinated service delivery and systems alignment.

Specialized TTA delivery The specialized TTA must:

• Account for regional, state, city, county, tribal, and community characteristics and needs. These include jurisdictional levels, demographic categories, socioeconomic tiers, and community resources.

• Be based on evidence-informed TTA models specific to the assigned CoPs.

• Include scalable approaches that states, territories, state associations, and CSBG-eligible entities can implement to support individuals and families with low incomes.

This work should also be informed by:

• Local eligible entity Community Needs Assessments (CNAs).

• Statewide or regional resource surveys.

• Other data that clarifies the landscape.

These sources should help determine the type of guidance needed.

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) In addition to existing CoP expertise, engaging with SMEs will be critical.

SMEs can serve an essential role in accomplishing objectives by providing knowledge, technical expertise, analysis, and new recommendations.

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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Community-level strategies TTA developed under these CoPs will advance community-level strategies that:

• Prevent and reduce barriers to attaining economic mobility.

• Contribute to education and workforce development.

• Improve transportation.

• Improve access to safe and stable housing, including support for the A Home for Every Child administrative initiative.

Investing in partnerships Each CoP is expected to invest in partnerships to support data-driven decision-making and infrastructure.

The aim is to:

• Strengthen service delivery.

• Enhance reporting and compliance.

• Reduce potential instances of fraud, waste, and abuse across the network.

Positive working relationships between states and tribes Each CoP is also expected to provide TTA that helps foster positive working relationships between states and tribes. This effort should include:

• Approaches based on mutual respect for sovereignty, consistent communication, and the establishment of formal intergovernmental agreements, if applicable.

• Plans that promote improvements to state and tribal administrative operations that impact the efficient administration of CSBG (e.g., state and tribal population agreements).

• Strategies that focus on collaborative policy solutions for shared issues like child welfare (e.g., Indian Child Welfare Act).

The ultimate recipients of the CoPs will be the individuals, families, and communities who receive CSBG services.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Objectives of the CoPs

• Provide CSBG states, territories, tribes, state associations, and eligible entities with capacity-building support tailored to families with low incomes.

◦ This support will create scalable, evidence-informed interventions that improve earned income, employment stability, and asset development.

◦ This support will happen through coordinated service delivery and systems alignment.

• Advance community-level strategies.

• Invest in cross-community partnerships to support data-driven decision-making and infrastructure.

◦ This strengthens service delivery, enhances reporting and compliance, and reduces potential instances of fraud, waste, and abuse.

• Proactively provide states and tribes a forum for mutual consultation and guidance, to improve shared administrative operations.

CoP service areas The CoPs are structured to account for the number of eligible entities, state associations, and tribes to help ensure comparable distribution across each CoP.

See Appendix A for the breakdown of each CoP. The state associations, eligible entities, and tribes within the states listed are also assigned to that CoP.

CSBG support 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 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 recipients in providing meaningful workforce development, financial literacy, and other related supports as needed.

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#:~: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

CoP timeline The project has two distinct phases.

Phase One (3 to 6 months): planning and preparation During this phase, you must develop a work plan for implementation of TTA as well as an approach for identifying additional TTA needs within your CoP.

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

The work plan will document and track the following:

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

• Timelines for implementing the proposed project, including milestones and target dates, which are established at the discretion of the award recipient.

• A clear plan for supporting grant recipients, state associations, and CSBG-eligible entities through practices and policies that are responsive to existing and emerging challenges.

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

• 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 deliverables (i.e., training materials, webinars, manuals).

Phase Two (remainder of the project period):

implementation and evaluation During Phase Two, you will provide TTA as noted in your work plan. You will also develop, refine, and disseminate TTA tools and resources for your respective CoP focused on building the capacity of the CSBG network in innovative ways.

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

Throughout Phase Two, you must continue to engage in:

• Ongoing program performance evaluation.

• Change management and measurement.

• Continuous improvement.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

Innovative and measurable outcomes You will be required to establish performance matrices and track and measure TTA related outcomes.

Innovation in TTA offerings is expected, through processes such as Rapid-Cycle Learning (RCL) and change management. The impact of these innovations should be quantified and demonstrate a positive change in service delivery and capacity building, beyond critical knowledge gain.

While the focus will be on TTA provided to states, territories, tribes, eligible entities, and state associations, the result must lead to improvements in direct service delivery to the families and individuals who benefit from CSBG-funded services at the local level.

Post award, you will need to develop outcome tracking and change measurement strategies. These methods should compare against a common baseline and demonstrate the effectiveness of the work over the course of the project period.

See Appendix B for a list of definitions related to these and other requirements. All applicants are expected to be familiar with the given terms.

Addressing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and addiction intervention OCS will award bonus points if you explore the integration of SUD and addiction prevention, intervention, and recovery into the CSBG network.

Your work should improve CSBG-funded services. It should also include strong, community-based strategies for addressing SUD and addiction in affected communities.

See the Executive Order 14379, Addressing Addiction Through the Great American Recovery Initiative, for more context.

CSBG TTA needs assessment survey In FY22, OCS invited CSBG recipients 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).

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/addressing-addiction-through-the-great-american-recovery-initiative/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/addressing-addiction-through-the-great-american-recovery-initiative/ https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6080697eb930441c9b025c423c51e6f9?dlg=Instructions

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 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, analyzing feedback for:

• Linkages.

• TTA.

• Communication.

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 The responsibility for the management, control, direction, or 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 and objectives 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/6080697eb930441c9b025c423c51e6f9?dlg=Instructions

OCS program involvement may include:

• Providing program guidance and input, as appropriate.

• Approving all work plans and schedules.

• 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.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

• 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.

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 18 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 19 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 21

Get registered 22

Learn more 22

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 21 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 22 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 24

Application contents and format 26

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

File one 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 24

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

Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) 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 25

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 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 26

Spacing Table of contents: Must be single-spaced Project summary: Must be single-spaced Project narrative: Must be double-spaced Line-item budget and budget narrative: Can be single-spaced Attachments: Can be single-spaced Tables and footnotes throughout: Can be single-spaced

See 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 27

Project narrative The project narrative is where you address all your proposed activities. It is a critical section of your application, which we evaluate using merit review criteria and rank based on application scores.

Remember that substance and measurable outcomes are more important than length.

We are particularly interested in project narratives that convey strategies for achieving intended performance.

In it, you must:

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

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

• Use cross-referencing rather than repetition.

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

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

Purpose and need

Geographic location

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

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.

• Describe how the goals and objectives of proposed project activities will advance the capacity for knowledge, program implementation, and compliance.

• This includes establishing a sustainable model of innovative, promising practices that can be replicated and scaled across the CSBG network beyond the life of the agreement.

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.

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

Your plan must:

• Present a well-conceived approach to the project.

• Present an evidence-informed approach that aligns with the stated goals and objectives for the CoP project.

• Describe how the project will follow the phases, including a strategy for achieving the project goals within the 36‑month period.

• Include details demonstrating that the project will be implemented effectively and will achieve the purpose and goals stated.

• Demonstrate innovative approaches to TTA delivery and implementation and highlight proven methods for identifying emerging trends in economic support services that can modernize the CSBG network across all levels.

• Focus on assessment, planning, the development and implementation of TTA strategies, and follow-up.

• Describe the factors that could accelerate speed or hinder project implementation.

◦ It must also explain how these factors would be managed.

• Include a strategy to investigate, develop, refine, and assess how you will engage SMEs.

• Describe a robust, data-driven strategy to transform service delivery by delivering targeted technical assistance that enhances capacity through demonstrated strategic partnerships with CSBG-eligible entities and state associations and tribes.

• Include a description of information and resources you will use to ensure the TTA accounts for regional, state, city, county, tribal, and community characteristics.

These include:

◦ Jurisdictional levels.

◦ Demographic categories.

◦ Socioeconomic tiers.

◦ Community resources.

• Include a description of the anticipated processes to implement training and education relevant to the CSBG network and the CoP’s corresponding grouping.

◦ These processes should include RCL and continuous improvement mechanisms, as applicable.

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Bonus: Addressing SUD

• Propose feasible strategies for integrating SUD and addiction prevention, intervention, and recovery into the CSBG network.

Project timeline and milestones

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

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

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

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

• Cover the full period of performance in your timeline.

Logic model

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

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

• Explains the links among project elements.

• Targets the identified objectives and goals of the project.

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

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

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

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

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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.

• 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.

• The measurable outcomes which will result from your work over the course of the project period and how they will be tracked.

• Strong strategies for continuous improvement and scalability that will allow for widespread adoption of identified promising practices across the service area.

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.

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• 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 evidence of organizational capacity for and prior experience in successfully completing projects similar to those described in this NOFO, including work in communities with low incomes and work implementing and evaluating emerging practices.

• Indicate individual staff members, partners, or subaward recipients who will be responsible for oversight of each key project activity.

• Include descriptions of the roles and responsibilities of each SME and the activities that you and SMEs will undertake in implementing the proposed project.

◦ The application must include a signed letter of commitment from each SME.

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

• 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

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

Protection of sensitive or confidential information

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

• The methods and systems you will use to 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.

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#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

• 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.

• 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 (3 to 6 months): planning and preparation

▪ Phase Two (remainder of the 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. 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.

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.

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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 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.

Legal proof of nonprofit status If your organization is a nonprofit, you need to attach proof. We will accept any of the following:

• A reference to your listing in the IRS’s most recent list of tax-exempt organizations.

• A copy of a current tax exemption…