Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, August 31, 2026

Office of Family Assistance

National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-OFA-PG-0059

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 19

Find the application package 20

Get registered 21

Learn more 21

Step 3: Build Your Application 22

Application checklist 23

Application contents and format 25

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 37

Application review 38

Award notices 45

Step 5: Submit Your Application 46

Application submission and deadlines 47

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 49

Post-award requirements and administration 50

Contacts and Support 52

Before you begin 3

Modifications 56

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 31, 2026.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

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

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Office of Family Assistance

Establish a national research center and fellowship program to promote the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability policy-relevant research and dissemination.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-OFA-

PG-0059

Federal assistance listing:

93.595; 93.647; 93.239;

93.575

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline: August 31, 2026

Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

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

Summary The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) invites applicants to establish a National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families.

The purpose of this NOFO is to improve the effectiveness of federal and state policies that promote the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability through marriage, responsible fatherhood, child care, and reduced dependency on public assistance. The Center will support rigorous, policy-relevant research and build stronger connections between researchers and policymakers in human services programs.

The Center will carry out three core activities to achieve its goals:

• Fellowship program: Support in-residence fellows placed within ACF and other HHS offices to provide policy-relevant research expertise on work, earnings, family stability, child care, and human services programs.

• Extramural research grants: Oversee a competitive grant program to fund timely, actionable research aligned with ACF priorities. These priorities include:

promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability.

• Knowledge building and communication: Host in-person and virtual events.

Produce policy-focused materials to make sure that research findings are accessible and actionable for federal, state, tribal, and local policymakers.

The Center will emphasize research that promotes the dignity of work as a means to economic self-sufficiency and strong and stable families. This research will ideally help identify redundancies across government welfare programs and make sure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to help individuals and families rely less on public assistance.

Activities must align with the four statutory authorities supporting this NOFO. The recipient must be able to show, and ACF must be able to monitor, that funds

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5 appropriated were spent on activities that can be directly attributed to those required and allowed by each funding source.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement Expected total program funding: $2,900,000 (Year 1) Total expected awards: 1 Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $2,700,000 Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $2,900,000

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

Continuation awards are subject to satisfactory performance, federal funds availability, and alignment with ACF priorities.

Statutory Authority Federal assistance listing

Estimated Annual Funding

Anticipated Use Requires Cost- Sharing Match?

Social Security Act section 413 (42 U.S.C.

613)

93.595 $1,200,000 Fellowship Program

No

Social Security Act section 413 (42 U.S.C.

613)

93.595 $700,000 Extramural Research Grants & Knowledge Building and Communication

No

Social Security Act section 1110 (42 U.S.C.

1310)

93.647 $200,000 Fellowship Program

Yes

Public Health Service Act section 304 (42 U.S.C.

242b)

93.239 $600,000 Fellowship Program

No

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act section 658O(a)(5) (42 U.S.C.

9858m(a)(5))

93.575 $200,000 Fellowship Program

No

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligibility for this opportunity is unrestricted.

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.

Cost sharing A portion of this program’s statute requires recipients to pay part of the cost of the project. Specifically, the funds authorized by Social Security Act section1110 [42 U.S.C.

1310(a)(1)] require cost sharing. As a result, we require recipients to contribute at least 1% of the Section 1110 share of the project’s cost during the project period.

You can calculate this cost-sharing requirement by:

• Calculation: Divide the amount of Section 1110 federal funds requested by 99.

• For example: Divide $200,000 by 99. This equals a match of $2,020.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Types of cost sharing You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization, partners, or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from partners or other third parties.

Cost-sharing commitments If awarded, you must provide the amount of cost-sharing funds you promised, even if you promised more than the required minimum. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may decrease the amount of funding we give you or use other enforcement actions. You’ll have to include your cost-sharing funds when you fill out your federal financial reports.

Cost-sharing waiver We waive cost sharing up to $199,999 for awards to the governments of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands (except for the consolidated awards under 45 CFR part 97). You must meet any amount of cost sharing over $199,999. See 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d) Congressional declaration of policy respecting “Insular Areas.”

Post-award requirements

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

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

Statutory authority This program is authorized by:

• Social Security Act section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613)

• Social Security Act section 1110 (42 U.S.C. 1310)

• Public Health Service Act section 304 (42 U.S.C. 242b)

• Child Care and Development Block Grant Act section 658O(a)(5) (42 U.S.C.

9858m(a)(5))

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=42+U.S.C.+%EF%BF%BD+613&f=treesort&fq=true&num=130&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section613 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=42+U.S.C.+1310&f=treesort&fq=true&num=46&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section1310 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=42+U.S.C.+242b&f=treesort&fq=true&num=5&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section242b https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=42+U.S.C.+9858m&f=treesort&fq=true&num=5&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section9858m https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=42+U.S.C.+9858m&f=treesort&fq=true&num=5&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title42-section9858m

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 families, including through workforce development, education, and supportive services.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

Program description Overview and purpose ACF has a long-standing commitment to supporting rigorous research that informs policies which promote personal responsibility, the dignity of work, and marriage.

Building on prior federal poverty research centers funded by the HHS Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, this initiative refocuses research on promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on public assistance, family stability through marriage, child care, and child well-being.

Given the crosscutting nature of this initiative, this NOFO is directly related to many of the ACF Priorities described in the prior section. This NOFO addresses the Promoting Work and Self-Sufficiency, Promoting Marriage and Family Formation and the Gold- Standard Research priorities. Through this work, the NOFO will advance these priorities by building the evidence base of Gold-Standard Research focused on programs and policies that promote work and self-sufficiency and promote marriage and strong families.

The Center must:

• Support emerging and established scholars focused on work and family outcomes.

• Provide timely, policy-relevant research to ACF, and make sure that findings are translated into actionable policy insights.

• Encourage collaboration between academic researchers and policymakers.

For purposes of this NOFO, the “dignity of work” refers to the role of employment as the main way that individuals and families achieve economic self-sufficiency, reduce long-term reliance on public assistance, and support their children’s well-being. Work is not only a source of income, but a way to build responsibility, stability, and a path toward greater independence.

Consistent with this definition, activities that promote the dignity of work include those that:

• Support individuals in obtaining employment, maintaining employment, and advancing in the labor market.

• Increase earnings and long-term economic stability.

• Strengthen individuals’ ability to support themselves and their families.

• Help people move away from depending on assistance and towards sustained self-sufficiency.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Core activities

1. Fellowship program The Center will manage a fellowship program placing scholars in residence at ACF and other HHS offices. The fellowship program supports the dual public purpose of providing early career scholars with policy-relevant professional experience and advancing the research field on topics related to promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on public assistance, family stability through marriage, child care, and child well-being. By establishing a fellowship program wherein fellows are working in residence at ACF and HHS offices, fellows will be exposed to federal policy environments and gain skills and expertise for conducting policy-relevant research. The public will benefit from the increased availability of researchers with experience in conducting program and policy-relevant research.

Fellows may include:

• Post-doctoral scholars.

• Senior scholars.

• Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignees.

To be eligible, fellows must:

• Hold an advanced degree in a relevant field such as economics, public policy, sociology, or related social science.

• Have a strong academic or professional research record.

• Be able to successfully complete Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) credentialing.

During the fellowship, fellows must work on research areas aligned with the requirements of the statutory authority that provides funding for their placement.

• Any fellows funded by Social Security Act section 413 (42 U.S.C. 613) must work on research and evaluation projects on the effectiveness of state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs.

• Any fellows funded by Social Security Act section 1110 (42 U.S.C. 1310) must work on research and demonstrations relating to the prevention and reduction of dependency, or those which will aid in effective coordination between private and public welfare agencies or those that improve the effectiveness of programs.

• Any fellows funded by Public Health Service Act section 304 (42 U.S.C. 242b) must conduct and support statistical and epidemiological activities for the purpose of improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of health services in the United States.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

• Any fellows funded by Child Care and Development Block Grant Act section 658O(a)(5) (42 U.S.C. 9858m(a)(5)) must work on research, demonstration, and evaluation projects on increasing access to child care services and improving the safety and quality of child care services.

The Center must:

• Develop and carry out a national recruitment plan that:

◦ Advertises opportunities broadly, including through academic networks and professional associations.

◦ Establishes clear, objective selection criteria aligned with ACF research priorities.

◦ Is reviewed and updated annually to improve reach and quality of the applicant pool.

• Work with ACF to match fellows with placements based on research expertise, available assignments, and funding.

• Make sure that fellows are clearly informed during recruitment that final placements depend on their qualifications, mutual interest, and available funding, and that the number of placements may vary from year to year.

• Serve as the employer of record for all fellows and be responsible for determining and paying fellow salaries or stipends, benefits, and other fellowship-related expenses.

• Provide supervision of fellows. ACF staff will provide mentorship and policy guidance but will not supervise fellows directly.

• Provide structured professional development for fellows, which must include supporting fellows in advancing their academic and professional interests, academic mentoring opportunities, and peer networking opportunities among fellows and with the broader research community.

• Provide access to relevant workshops, lectures, and conferences, including reimbursement for attendance where appropriate.

• Help create connections between leading researchers and policymakers focusing on work, family, and human services issues.

• Coordinate closely with ACF on fellow placement and priorities.

• Track and report fellowship expenses separately from other Center activities, with budgets and financial reporting that clearly reflect this breakdown.

The Center should plan to support approximately 8 to 12 fellows per year, though the exact number will depend on funding availability and the quality of the applicant pool.

Each fellowship is for one year, with the possibility of a second or third year at ACF’s and the Center’s discretion and subject to available funding. Fellows may need to

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 relocate to the Washington, DC, area, pending interest from their placement office.

During the first budget period the awardee is expected to continue to support two existing fellows as well as develop and widely publicize an announcement of the fellowship program with residence at ACF or HHS for appointments beginning in the summer or fall of 2027. The fellowship program supports the dual public purpose of providing early career scholars with policy-relevant experience and advancing the research field on topics related to promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on public assistance, family stability through marriage, child care, and child well-being.

2. Extramural research grant program The Center will administer a competitive grant program to fund policy-relevant research aligned with ACF priorities. The extramural research grant program supports public purpose of advancing and stimulating research on topics related to promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on public assistance, family stability through marriage, child care, and child well-being.

The Center will:

• Develop research solicitations in consultation with ACF.

• Manage peer review processes.

• Provide technical assistance to sub-grantees.

• Make sure that funded projects produce actionable findings for policymakers.

Allowable research topics may include:

• Strategies to promote the dignity of work.

• Strategies to increase employment and earnings, reducing reliance on government assistance.

• Promoting marriage and stable families.

• Child well-being and parental engagement.

• Program effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

• Administrative data and evaluation innovations.

• Protecting the integrity of public benefits.

• Other topics in support of the relevant statutory authority.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

3. Knowledge building and communication The Center will:

• Host policy-focused convenings (in-person and virtual).

• Produce briefs and reports for federal audiences.

• Translate research findings into accessible formats.

• Coordinate with ACF to guarantee alignment with administration and communications priorities.

The Center must demonstrate strong capacity in planning executive-level events and engaging federal policymakers.

Cooperative agreement— Description of ACF’s involvement ACF will have substantial involvement in:

• Setting annual research priorities.

• Collaborating with the Center on fellow placements and providing mentorship and policy guidance to placed fellows, while day-to-day supervision remains the Center’s responsibility.

• Reviewing research solicitations.

• Participating in dissemination events.

• Ensuring funds are spent in accordance with the requirements of the respective statutory authority.

• Monitoring progress and deliverables.

ACF staff will provide consultation, technical assistance, and feedback to ensure alignment with departmental priorities.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

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 cases, 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 cases, 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 16 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 costs are allowable only with prior written approval and must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable.

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 17 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

Use of E-Verify All funded grantees and subgrantees are encouraged to use the national E-Verify system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the Social Security Administration, to ensure their employees are American citizens or are eligible to work in the United States.

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 18 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 20

Get registered 21

Learn more 21

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 20 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 21 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 23

Application contents and format 25

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

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Protection of human subjects certification No

Step 3: Build Your Application 23

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 24

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: 85 pages

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

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

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

Document formats Paper size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches Margins: 1 inch all around Language: English

If possible, include page numbers.

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

Fonts Font: Times New Roman Color: Black Size: 12-point font

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

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 26

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.

Additionally, applicants must:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the policy context related to promoting the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency and reduced dependency on public assistance, and family stability through marriage

• Demonstrate understanding of the policy context related to child support and responsible fatherhood, child well-being, child care, and human services program effectiveness.

• Describe current gaps in knowledge, data, and evidence that limit policymakers’ ability to meaningfully improve economic self-sufficiency and family stability through marriage.

• Explain why a national research center model is necessary to advance policy-relevant research and coordination between researchers and ACF.

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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.

Fellowship program

Propose a comprehensive, feasible, and policy-aligned plan to carry out all required activities. Specifically:

• Propose a clear, transparent, and rigorous process for recruiting, selecting, placing, and mentoring fellows that meet the requirements of this NOFO. This should include a process for continuing to support the three existing fellows as well as a plan to develop and widely publicize an announcement of the fellowship program with residence at HHS for appointments of up to two years beginning in the summer or fall of 2027.

• Demonstrate how fellows will directly support ACF policy and research priorities with a primary emphasis on promoting the dignity of work, identifying effective strategies to reduce reliance on government assistance, and strengthening family stability through marriage.

• Provide a strong plan for ongoing mentorship, supervision, integration into ACF or HHS offices, and professional development.

Extramural research grant program

• Describe a structured and objective process for developing research funding opportunities in consultation with ACF.

• Present a rigorous, fair, and transparent peer review process for selecting sub-awardees.

• Demonstrate capacity to manage subawards, provide technical assistance, and guarantee production of timely, actionable findings for policymakers on topics relevant to ACF’s priorities.

Knowledge building and communication

• Present a clear plan for translating research findings into actionable policy insights for federal audiences and coordinating with ACF to guarantee alignment with administration and communications priorities.

• Demonstrate experience hosting in-person and virtual events for executive-level or policymaker audiences.

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• Provide a realistic strategy for making sure that findings reach federal, state, tribal, and local decision-makers in an accessible format.

Impact

Expected outcomes

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

• Clearly define expected short-term and long-term outcomes for the Center.

• Demonstrate how activities will strengthen policy-relevant research related to promoting work and strong families.

• Describe measurable outputs and performance indicators for fellowship, grant, and knowledge sharing.

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.

• Demonstrate that proposed leadership (Director/Principal Investigator) has strong policy-relevant research and management experience.

• Show that key staff have appropriate expertise in:

◦ Labor economics.

◦ Family policy.

◦ Evaluation.

◦ Human services research.

◦ Data analysis.

◦ Grant management.

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◦ The history and evolution of U.S. human services and public assistance programs, including major reforms and their impact.

• Prove that there’s organizational capacity to manage a large cooperative agreement, including fellows and subawards, and the ability to track and report fellowship expenses separately by funding source from other Center activities.

• Demonstrate institutional commitment, including administrative support and relevant infrastructure.

• 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.

• 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:

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• 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 the initial budget period only. 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.

• The recipient must be able to show, and ACF must be able to monitor, that funds appropriated were spent on activities that can be directly attributed to those required and allowed by each funding source.

Please also review the Standard Form instructions.

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

In general, you must:

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

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

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

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• 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.

• Present a detailed, reasonable, and well-justified budget aligned with proposed activities.

• Clearly allocate resources by source of funding and by key activity among fellowship activities, extramural grants, dissemination, and administration.

• In addition, in the SF-424A, show the amounts estimated for each Assistance Listing Number

• Demonstrate cost efficiency and appropriate use of federal funds.

• Demonstrate the ability to continue to support the three existing fellows in the first budget period.

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

Note: 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 Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations.

• A copy of a current tax exemption certificate from the IRS.

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• A letter from your state’s tax department, attorney general, or another appropriate state official saying that your group is a nonprofit and that none of your net earnings go to private shareholders or others.

• A certified copy of your certificate of incorporation or similar document. This document must show that your group is a nonprofit.

• Any of these documents for a parent organization. Also include a statement signed by an official of the parent group that your organization is a nonprofit affiliate.

Legal proof of for-profit status If your organization is a for-profit, including a small business, you need to attach proof.

Include documentation establishing your organization’s power to enter into contractual relationships or accept awards. This might include your articles of incorporation or bylaws.

Legal proof of small businesses In addition to the proof that your organization is for-profit required in the previous section, small businesses must submit a certification signed by the chief executive officer or designee that states that the entity qualifies as a small business under 13 CFR 121.101-121.201.

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

• Organizational charts, including all partners.

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

• Job descriptions for each vacant key position.

• College transcripts for graduate student research fellows.

• List of your board of directors.

• Financial statements adhering to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, if available, for up to the two most recently completed fiscal years (this requirement does not apply to start-up organizations).

• Audit reports or statements from certified public accountants or licensed public accountants, if available, for up to the two most recently completed fiscal years (this requirement does not apply to start-up…