hhs-2026-acf-ofvps-ev-0036.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services

Family Violence Prevention and Services Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-OFVPS-EV-0036

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 6

Agency priorities 8

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 16

Find the application package 17

Get registered 17

Learn more 18

Step 3: Build Your Application 19

Application checklist 20

Application contents and format 22

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 34

Application review 35

Award notices 43

Step 5: Submit Your Application 44

Application submission and deadlines 45

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 47

Post-award requirements and administration 48

Contacts and Support 50

Before you begin 3

Modifications 53

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 Tuesday, September 8, 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)

Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary

Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services

Providing culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-OFVPS-

EV-0036

Federal assistance listing:

93.496

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

Tuesday, September 8, Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

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

Summary The purpose of the Culturally Specific Services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program is to provide culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as required by the FY 2026 appropriations. Objectives include services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to address emergent needs resulting from public health concerns and support for organizations to promote strategic partnership development and collaboration in responding to the impact of public health concerns on survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Optional activities include providing legal advocacy, job training and employment services, and identifying secure and safe affordable temporary or permanent housing.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $5,000,000

Total expected awards: 25

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $200,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $200,000

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Eligibility Eligible applicants

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

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

Culturally specific, faith-based, and community-based 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 the Administration for Children and Families (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 Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, 42 U.S.C. 10401 et seq. (Public Law (Pub.

L.) 119-75)

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title42/html/USCODE-2021-title42-chap110-sec10412.htm

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200

Program description The purpose of the Culturally Specific Services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program is to provide culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. By supporting survivor safety, healing, emotional well-being, and access to culturally responsive services, the program helps protect life, strengthen family stability, and support non-abusive parents and caregivers in promoting safe and nurturing environments for children. Services must be sensitive to the fact that abusive partners may be exercising ongoing control over their partners’ ability to utilize resources by directly preventing access or through the threat of retaliatory violence. Understanding how these issues intersect in adults and children exposed to sexual assault, and family, dating, and domestic violence is essential to creating services and systems that address healing, emotional well-being, and safety needs. Objectives include:

• Services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to address public health concerns.

• Support for organizations to promote strategic partnership development and collaboration in responding to the impact of public health concerns on survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

• Increase access to and implementation of services that are evidence-informed interventions for children, individuals, and families impacted by the violence who are from culturally specific populations.

Program Requirements Through this grant program, we will fund 25 cooperative agreements to address the following:

• Program planning and development: Conduct a 6- to 12-month planning phase (Phase I) to support activities such as hiring staff, completing needs assessments and planning guides, building partnerships, and designing specific services and implementation strategies. Grant recipients will provide a detailed plan for project implementation, including Phase I and Phase II implementation plans, a work plan, trainings/events schedule, evaluation schedule, and a plan for reporting on the effectiveness of the project.

◦ Grant recipients may be at different stages of readiness for implementation.

Each grant recipient will be given the flexibility to proceed with assessment, planning, installation, and implementation activities at a pace that is appropriate based on its needs, objectives, and readiness.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

◦ Identify a research partner to begin planning for the evaluation of the trauma-informed, culturally relevant interventions and discuss the population(s) for which the practice(s) have been shown to be effective and show that they are appropriate for your population(s) of focus.

◦ Identify the organizational leadership, staffing, and steering committee/ advisory board that includes culturally specific organizations and diverse structure and representation.

• Direct services and survivor support: Implement services during Phase II through in-person and virtual service delivery, safe housing support, and other supportive services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, including necessary operational, staffing, and administrative costs. Advocacy, case management, crisis intervention, and referral services that support survivor safety, stability, and recovery can include:

◦ Federal and state financial assistance.

◦ Legal and medical advocacy.

◦ Referrals to health, mental health, and substance abuse services.

◦ Housing and transportation assistance.

◦ Child care, respite care, and parenting support.

◦ Job training, employment assistance, financial literacy, and economic empowerment services.

◦ Counseling, telehealth, mobile advocacy, peer support, and other crisis response services.

• Outreach, training, and public awareness: Expand outreach, training, and technical assistance to improve awareness of available services and increase access for communities; and develop and distribute audience-appropriate outreach materials and referral information addressing related forms of violence (e.g., human trafficking, technology facilitated abuse).

• Innovation, evaluation, and intervention: Support culturally specific, community-based, non-residential services that enhance intervention and prevention for all survivors of sexual assault, domestic, dating, and family violence from racial and ethnic specific populations.

◦ Evaluate how well the organization’s approaches work of trauma-informed and evidence-informed interventions for survivors and their children thus contributing to the evidence base for culturally relevant services.

◦ Describe a feasible plan to evaluate success in achieving the goals set forth in the application.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

In accordance with the ACF priorities above, this NOFO will also implement the following principles when consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

• Promoting work and self-sufficiency: Design and deliver services using evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches, to developing programs and services that demonstrates measurable pathways to self-sufficiency and economic independence for victims and survivors.

• Promoting marriage and family formation: Strong families are cornerstone of a healthy society. ACF will prioritize initiatives that promote marriage, family formation, and stability.

Cooperative agreement— description of ACF’s involvement A cooperative agreement is an award instrument used when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the recipient during performance of the contemplated project.

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) will collaborate throughout the project period, in the following ways:

• Consult, review, and approve the work plan for the project.

• Discuss and revise your project implementation plan, including your work plan, schedule for trainings and events, and evaluation schedule.

• Review and approve final drafts of all new or updated materials, articles, major publications, and research reports that you develop or distribute.

• Develop long-term strategies for the implementation to conduct the project.

• Organize periodic consultations, meetings, briefings, teleconferences, webinars, and other forums necessary to review current and planned activities, to share information, and to promote coordination.

• Identify expectations for performance, current ACF policy, and OFVPS vision for addressing domestic violence and dating violence.

We do not anticipate being substantially involved in your creation of data collection activities, such as those related to needs assessments, evaluations, and requests for feedback. You are not expected to submit such data collection instruments for program office for review and approval.

In cases where we require data collection activities under this NOFO, data collection will be conducted consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521) and display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 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=Promoting%20Marriage%20and%20Family%20Formation respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

NOTE: Grant recipients will be bound by those provisions of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) that are generally applicable to all recipients of FVPSA funding, including, but not limited to, 42 U.S.C. 10406(c)(1-3) and (c)(5).

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 court orders, you may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 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 NOFO:

• Construction.

• Purchase of real property.

• Major renovation.

• No federal funds issued under this award may be used to make referrals for activities outside the scope of the authorizing program statute, nor may such referrals be made during funded program activities. Activities must focus on enhancing domestic, dating, family, and sexual violence intervention and prevention efforts and are aligned within the FVPSA 42 USC Ch. 110 .

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 14 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42/chapter110&edition=prelim https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. You may not use awarded funds to pay a salary at a higher rate than the rate for Executive Level II.

For the Executive Level II salary, please see the Office of Personnel Management information on executive and senior level employee pay.

The salary limitation reflects a person’s base salary (including any portion of the salary that is paid with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits or any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization.

This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACF grant or cooperative agreement.

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

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307 https://www.e-verify.gov/

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 17

Get registered 17

Learn more 18

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

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

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

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov to apply. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register:

• Go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

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

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

Once you register:

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

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

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 17 https://www.grants.gov/support https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/financial-assistance-general-certification-representations.pdf https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

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

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 20

Application contents and format 22

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

Additional eligibility documentation Yes

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart) Yes

Third-party agreements Yes

Letters of support Yes

Step 3: Build Your Application 20

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 21

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: 60 pages

File format: Portable Document Format (PDF) is recommended but not required.

ACF supports the following file formats when you attach files to the Project Narrative Attachment form and the Other Attachments form:

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (pdf).

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx).

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx).

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt).

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

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

If possible, include page numbers.

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

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 22

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 23

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.

Need for assistance

Identify the problems you plan to solve. These problems could be physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, etc. To do so:

• Demonstrate the need, including the nature and scope of the problem.

• Provide, as appropriate, supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials, in your attachments.

• Include any relevant data based on planning studies or needs assessments. You may refer to them in the endnotes or footnotes of your application.

• Use demographic data and participant or beneficiary information where you can.

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.

Step 3: Build Your Application 24

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.

Discuss factors that may accelerate or delay project activities and explain why the proposed approach is appropriate, effective, and responsive to community needs.

Highlight any innovative, responsive, cost-effective, collaborative, or community-driven aspects of the project.

Activities

Applicants must clearly describe a two-phase plan.

• Phase I (Assessment and Planning) Describe how you will:

◦ Conduct initial assessment and planning activities to guide project implementation and decision-making.

◦ Identify and assess the needs of the target population.

◦ Use assessment tools, data sources, or community input to inform service design.

◦ Develop implementation strategies, partnerships, staffing, and operational plans for Phase II.

• Phase II (Implementation) Describe how you will:

◦ Implement all required project activities and services.

◦ Provide resilience focused, responsive, and survivor-centered programming.

◦ Explain the rationale for the proposed service approach and how it addresses identified community needs.

◦ Maintain confidentiality through established policies, procedures, and protocols that protect private and personally identifiable information in compliance with applicable federal requirements, including informed, written, and time-limited consent standards.

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

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.

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.

Activities evaluation plan

Describe your plan for rigorous evaluation of funded activities. The evaluation must:

• Assess activities and progress towards the goals and objectives of the project.

• Assess whether the project is having the expected impacts.

• Specify expected outcomes and any research questions, as well as how the evaluation results will help you understand and improve the funded activities.

Step 3: Build Your Application 26

• Include a valid and reliable measurement plan, detailed timeline, and sound methodological design.

• Describe the details of the proposed data collection activities, participants, data management, data integrity, and analysis plans.

• Describe any potential obstacles in implementing the evaluation and how you will address them.

Expected outcomes

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

Resources and capabilities

Organizational capacity

Provide the following information for your full project team, including the applicant organization and any cooperating partners, contractors, and subrecipients:

• Provide evidence that your team has the relevant experience and expertise needed to carry out your project.

• Describe your team’s experience (including any partnering organizations) with administering, developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating similar projects.

• Provide evidence that your team, including partnering organizations, has the organizational capability to fulfill their roles and functions effectively.

• You must disclose your plan to enter into subaward agreements. If planning subawards, describe the work each subrecipient will complete.

• Provide evidence that your full project team has the organizational capability to fulfill their roles and functions effectively, including experience and knowledge delivering resilience focused domestic and/or sexual violence services.

• Describe the expertise of key staff members to provide culturally specific services to the community.

• Describe how the staff and board represent the community your organization serves.

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 27

Current and pending funding support

Provide a list of your current and pending funding for ongoing projects and proposals.

Include all sources, such as federal, state, and local governments, public or private foundations, and for-profit organizations.

Indicate which projects and proposals require committed time from the project director, principal investigator, or other key personnel of the project you are proposing in this application.

Show the total award amount, awarding entity, and the amount of time each key staff member will devote to each project.

Plan for oversight of federal award funds and activities

You must ensure proper award oversight. The regulation that governs this oversight is 2 CFR part 200. It includes standards for:

• Financial and program management.

• Property management.

• Procurement.

• Performance and financial monitoring and reporting.

• Subrecipient monitoring and management.

• Record retention and access.

• Remedies for noncompliance.

• Prior written approval.

Describe your framework to make sure that your federal funds and activities have proper oversight. Include:

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

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

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

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 28 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-D

Project sustainability plan

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

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

Describe:

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

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

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

Protection of sensitive or confidential information

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

• The methods and systems you will use to make sure that you properly handle confidential and sensitive information, including information from any subrecipients or contractors.

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

Protecting victim data

To protect their safety, you must protect the confidentiality and privacy of all victims and their families. Provide a plan that explains how you will protect victims’ and their families’ data.

You and all organizations involved in your project may not:

• Disclose any personally identifying information collected related to services requested, delivered, or denied under your program.

• Reveal any personally identifying information without informed, written, reasonably time-limited consent by the person about whom information is sought.

• Require an adult, youth, or child victim of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence to provide a consent to release their personally identifying information as a condition of eligibility for services.

For more information, see 42 U.S.C. 10406(c)(5), 45 CFR 1370.4, and 2 CFR 200.303(e).

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 29 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.303

Dissemination plan

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

• Dissemination goals and objectives.

• Strategies to identify and engage with target audiences.

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

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

• The dissemination timeline.

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.

• You must plan and budget travel expenses for at least one – two representatives from your organization to participate in at least one OFVPS-sponsored meeting each budget period.

Please also review the Standard Form instructions.

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

In general, you must:

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

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 30 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.1 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/prepare-budget

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

Proprietary or personally identifiable information Clearly identify any salary or other proprietary information or personal identifiable information within your application. Identification will ensure this information is not shared with reviewers. Note on page one 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.

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 Authorized Organization Representative (AOR):

Signature of AOR:

Step 3: Build Your Application 31

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 certificate from the IRS.

• 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.

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.

• List of your board of directors.

• Financial statements adhering to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), 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 organizations).

• Audit summary report including auditor’s opinion, if applicable.

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

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

Letters of support (Optional) Attach statements from community, public, or commercial leaders that support your project. At minimum, each letter of support must identify the person writing the letter, the organization they represent, the date, and their reasons for supporting the project.

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

Forms Submission requirement

Project Abstract Summary With the application.

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

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

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

Key Contacts With the application.

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

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

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

Important: Public information When filling out your SF-424 form, pay attention to Box 15: Descriptive Title of Applicant’s Project.

We share what you put there with USAspending. This is where the public goes to learn how the federal government spends taxpayer money.

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

See instructions and examples [PDF].

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 33 https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family https://www.usaspending.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-writing-award-descriptions.pdf

Step 4:

Learn About Review and Award

In this step

Application review 35

Award notices 43

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

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

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

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

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

If your application fails to adhere to ACF’s NOFO formatting, font, and page limitation requirements, we…