Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, August 10, 2026

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Refugee Program Bureau (RPB)

Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ORR-RW-0008

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18

Find the application package 19

Get registered 20

Learn more 20

Step 3: Build Your Application 21

Application checklist 22

Application contents and format 24

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 35

Application review 36

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 55

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 10, 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 10

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

Refugee Program Bureau (RPB)

Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program will help make sure that ORR-eligible individuals receive required refugee-specific employment training and placement services as well as English language training services in states where these services are not available.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ORR-

RW-0008

Federal assistance listing:

93.583

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

August 10, 2026

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2026

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

Summary The Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment (WF B2E) Program provides funds to make sure that all Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) recipients receive certain services required for ORR-eligible individuals by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This program will help ORR-eligible individuals, particularly RCA recipients, access employment training and placement services as well as English language training services in states where the Refugee Support Services (RSS) Program, which funds refugee employment and integration services to ORR-eligible individuals, will not be available beginning in FY 2027. Approved projects can provide services either directly or through sub-awards.

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $17,388,363

Total expected awards: 6

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $250,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $14,438,363

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

We’ll base Year 1 funding amounts on the most recent population arrived/served data set used to create RSS base funding allocations. Your funding tier may change each year based on updated data. ORR will use data submitted by states and data from other

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Federal sources. We’ll let you know if we use other data sources to determine funding amounts in later years.

You may not request more money than your request cap. The Year 1 request caps are as follows.

Table: Numbers of ORR-eligible individuals statewide and corresponding request caps.

Number of ORR-eligible individuals Request cap

0 to 999 $250,000

1,000 to 1,999 $500,000

2,000 to 9,999 $1,200,000

10,000 to 49,999

NOTE: There is not an eligible state in this tier as of the release of this NOFO.

$4,500,000

50,0000 and above $14,438,363

Please see Appendix A for the table with which you should determine which funding tier to use in your application for the first year of funding.

For the second and third 12-month budget periods, we’ll use a two-year budgetary lookback period using data submitted by states and data from other Federal sources to determine the funding tiers. Although your state’s arrived/served data may allow for movement between tiers, we’ll limit any reductions in your budget to no more than 20% from the previous year’s approved budget. This includes total direct and indirect budget costs. Any funding for the remaining budget periods will be made after award and ACF approval of a non-competing continuation application. Funding tiers for following budget periods will be released to you before it is time to submit your non-competing continuation application.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Public or private nonprofit agencies are eligible to apply.

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.

This NOFO seeks applicants who will provide services in states where Refugee Support Services (RSS) are no longer available. As of the release of this NOFO, those select states are Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas.

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.

• Requests funding outside of your funding tier.

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.

We will not fund more than one recipient for each state.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement, meaning you do not need to contribute to the costs of this project.

If you choose to include cost-sharing funds, we won’t consider it during review. If you receive an award, we will include your voluntary commitment in the award, and you must report on the funds. If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount or use other enforcement actions.

Post-award requirements

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

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

Statutory authority Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 412(e) (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)), with specific reference to the INA 412(e)(2)(A), and the INA 412(e)(7) (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(7)), known as the Wilson Fish Amendment.

Per section 412(a)(1)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)(1)(A)), ORR must provide employment training and placement and English language training to eligible individuals. Further, section 412(e)(2)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(2)(A)), requires all employable ORR-eligible individuals to, except for good cause shown, participate in employment services as a condition of receiving RCA.

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=8+USC+1522&f=treesort&fq=true&num=38&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title8-section1522 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=8+USC+1522&f=treesort&fq=true&num=38&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title8-section1522 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=8+USC+1522&f=treesort&fq=true&num=38&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title8-section1522 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=8+USC+1522&f=treesort&fq=true&num=38&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title8-section1522

Agency priorities Required alignment with ACF vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with ACF’s vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles when authorized. Funded activities must advance ACF’s vision of resilient, safe, healthy, and economically secure children, youth, families, and communities, and support ACF’s mission to foster health and well-being through effective, accountable, and compassionate human services when awarded in any programs that authorize these priorities.

Consistent with ACF’s values, in carrying out any project that is funded under this NOFO, the recipient is required to adhere to the following principle:

1. Program Integrity and Fiscal Stewardship: Administer funds in accordance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, and award conditions; maintain strong internal controls; and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

The recipient is also required to adhere to the following principles when consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

2. Promoting Work and Self-Sufficiency: 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.

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://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values

Program description Background The Wilson Fish Amendment at section 412(e)(7) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(7)) authorizes ORR to develop and implement alternative projects that address an emergent need in the refugee resettlement program in a manner that promotes self-sufficiency and coordination among service providers. ORR has used the Wilson Fish authority to operate the Wilson Fish Alternative Program and the Wilson Fish Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Coordination Program in previous fiscal years. The Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program (WF B2E) is ORR’s latest alternative demonstration project offered under the Wilson Fish authority.

The Immigration and Nationality Act requires ORR to make sure that eligible individuals participate in refugee-specific employment training and placement services as well as English language services (see section 412(a) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1522(a)). For employable individuals, participation in these services is a condition of receiving Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) (see 412(e)(2) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1522(e)(2)).

ORR typically provides those required services through the Refugee Support Services (RSS) Program. However, RSS will not be available in select states beginning in FY 2027.

The WF B2E Program provides required refugee-specific employment training and placement services, as well as English language training services, in select states to make sure RCA recipients can achieve self-sufficiency and contribute to their communities.

Goals and priorities The goals of WF B2E are to:

• Make sure all RCA recipients have access to required employment training and placement services, as well as English language training services.

• Provide these services in states where they are otherwise not available.

The WF B2E Program aligns with the following ACF vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles:

• Promoting Work and Self-Sufficiency.

We will prioritize projects that demonstrate ability and capacity to coordinate with and potentially subaward to other entities outside of your organization to ensure services are available in all areas of your state.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=8+USC+1522&f=treesort&fq=true&num=38&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title8-section1522

Program requirements Eligible individuals Eligibility for ORR services based on immigration status or category It is your responsibility to verify the eligibility of each participant for ORR services upon enrollment. To determine whether an individual is ORR-eligible, review ORR Policy Letter 16-01 (Documentation Requirements for the Refugee Resettlement Program) and the associated Documentation Guide. If you still have questions about ORR eligibility, contact RefugeeEligibility@acf.hhs.gov.

WF B2E eligibility To meet ORR’s requirements for WF B2E eligibility, individuals must:

• Hold ORR-eligible status, as defined above.

• Be within the first 36 months after they either arrive in the United States or are granted an immigration status or category that makes them eligible for ORR services.

Unless exempted, individuals enrolled in RCA must receive WF B2E services. The WF B2E services must be provided to RCA recipients in the state where the WF B2E project operates. Individuals must be enrolled in WF B2E at the same time or as close as possible to when they are enrolled into RCA. Individuals must receive WF B2E services for the entire time they receive RCA. Individuals may receive WF B2E services after they exit RCA for up to 36 months from their date of ORR eligibility.

Other ORR-eligible individuals not receiving CMA may receive WF B2E services in the state where the WF B2E project operates for up to 36 months from their date of ORR eligibility.

TANF recipients may be enrolled into WF B2E services if:

• There’s a demonstrated need for services.

• The individual lacks access to appropriate employment training and placement services, or English language training services, from other providers in the state.

TANF recipients must meet all ORR eligibility requirements and be within their WF B2E 36-month eligibility period.

If a family includes both ORR-eligible and ineligible individuals, you must follow ORR requirements for providing federally funded services to these families as laid out in 45

CFR 400.208.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://acf.gov/orr/policy-guidance/documentation-requirements-refugee-resettlement-program https://acf.gov/orr/policy-guidance/documentation-requirements-refugee-resettlement-program mailto:RefugeeEligibility@acf.hhs.gov https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400/subpart-J https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-IV/part-400/subpart-J

Required services Projects must enroll WF B2E participants with an agency that provides the following employment training and placement services to all adult WF B2E participants while they receive RCA:

• A Family Self-Sufficiency Plan (FSSP) and an Individual Employment Plan (IEP).

(See ORR Policy Letter 21-06 for FSSP and IEP requirements.)

• For individuals verified as legally eligible to work in the U.S., some or all of the following employment services:

◦ World-of-work and job orientation.

◦ Job clubs.

◦ Job workshops.

◦ Job development.

◦ Referral to job opportunities.

◦ Job search.

◦ Job placement and follow-up.

• Some or all of the following employability services:

◦ Employability assessment services, including aptitude and skills testing.

◦ On-the-job training, when such training is provided at the employment site and is expected to result in full-time, permanent, unsubsidized employment with the employer who is providing the training.

◦ Vocational training, including driver education and training when provided as part of an individual employment plan.

◦ Skills recertification, when such training meets the criteria for appropriate training in 45 CFR 400.81(b).

◦ Day care for children, when necessary for participation in an employability service or for the acceptance or retention of employment.

◦ Transportation, when necessary for participation in an employability service or for the acceptance or retention of employment.

◦ Translation and interpreter services, when necessary, in connection with employment or participation in an employability service.

◦ Case management services, as defined in 45 CFR 400.2.

◦ Assistance in obtaining Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).

Projects must assess English ability for all adult WF B2E participants and provide, as needed, either directly or through referrals to other trusted providers, English language training while they receive RCA. This English language training must be

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://acf.gov/orr/policy/policy-letters/21-06 focused on gaining employment and/or helping a participant assimilate into their community.

We will award bonus points to your application if you describe your previous experience administering ORR-funded employment programs that have a statewide scope.

Geographic coverage Projects must demonstrate consideration of service needs in the context of the entire state.

Coordination with other stakeholders You must regularly communicate and coordinate with the office of the State Refugee Coordinator (SRC) and ORR-funded service providers.

If your organization does not house the office of the SRC in your state, you must not duplicate services administered by the SRC’s office. Some state SRC offices could liquidate RSS funds in FY 2027 while you’re in your first year of the WF B2E project period, and it’s important that your project does not duplicate services provided by the SRC during that liquidation period.

Case documentation Your service providers must open and maintain a case file for each family receiving WF B2E services. You’re required to regularly review service provider WF B2E case files to make sure the required information is included in each file.

When you enroll an individual into WF B2E, you must document this information:

• Eligibility for ORR services.

• Enrollment date into WF B2E.

• Whether the individual is receiving RCA. If the individual is receiving RCA, documentation of communication with the RCA provider that the individual is complying with RCA requirements.

• Creation of an FSSP and IEP.

When a WF B2E participant stops receiving RCA either because they have reached the end of their RCA eligibility period or they have obtained a job, you must document:

• Date the individual stopped receiving RCA.

• Which, if any, WF B2E services will continue for the individual after the RCA exit date.

• Why the individual needs continued WF B2E services.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://acf.gov/orr/grant-funding/key-state-contacts https://acf.gov/orr/grant-funding/key-state-contacts

Once the individual exits WF B2E services, you must make sure that each individual receives a case closure notice. This notice should include contact information for the organization that provided the WF B2E services and information that helps the individual access local community resources.

Client confidentiality You must take reasonable measures to safeguard personally identifiable information for WF B2E participants. Electronic case file systems should be encrypted, and access should be limited. Paper files must be stored in a locked file cabinet that can be accessed only by authorized staff.

For documents in the case file that require the participant’s signature, you must make sure participants with limited English proficiency understand what they are signing.

Cooperative agreement Description of ACF’s involvement This award is a cooperative agreement, which means we’ll have substantial involvement in your project. The terms and conditions of your award will include details around the responsibilities and relationships of the cooperative agreement. You and ORR will agree on your specific responsibilities before award. At a minimum, we will:

• Approve the project’s work plan each year.

• Discuss project activities throughout the year and recommend changes to the work plan, especially if there are changes in eligible populations.

• Monitor and provide written reports on the fulfillment, compliance, service outcomes, and resources you provide to refugees. Monitoring and other oversight activities may include site visits, meetings, conference calls, data and report review, and requests for access to information.

• Discuss any ORR regulatory or policy modifications, updates, and any effect they have on your project.

• Meet with you regularly to discuss goals, objectives, outcomes, and challenges. We will also provide technical assistance as needed during these discussions.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR 300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75.

General policies

• We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget period will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds.

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s objectives.

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

• If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

◦ Funding more applicants.

◦ Extending the period of performance.

◦ Awarding supplemental funding.

• To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, you may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 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.

• Direct assistance payments to WF B2E participants. You may not use WF B2E funding to provide cash assistance or pay for mortgage payments, rent, or other housing costs for participants. You may not use WF B2E funding to pay for medical exam fees.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application fees. Funds may only be used for costs associated with application assistance related to EADs.

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 16 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

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

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

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

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 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 19

Get registered 20

Learn more 20

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 19 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 20 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 22

Application contents and format 24

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

Organizational capacity supporting information (including organization chart)

Yes

Third-party agreements Yes

Step 3: Build Your Application 22

Standard forms Use each required form in Grants.gov.

Component Included in page limit?

Project Abstract Summary No

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) No

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) No

(SF-424B) Assurances for Non-Construction Programs No

Key Contacts No

Grants.gov Lobbying form No

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) No

Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL) No

Step 3: Build Your Application 23

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: 80 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 24

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 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 25

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.

Describe how your proposed project will meet the ACF-wide priorities identified in Step 1: Goals and priorities.

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.

Provide assurance that you have discussed your project with your state’s State Refugee Coordinator to make sure that the same services aren’t duplicated with any RSS liquidation activities the SRC is conducting in FY 2027. If your organization houses the State Refugee Coordinator, please state this in your application.

Step 3: Build Your Application 26

Describe how you will coordinate enrollment for eligible individuals into WF B2E with the entity administering RCA in your state. Outline your process to help guarantee enrollment into WF B2E services as close to RCA enrollment as possible.

Describe how you will make sure that all individuals enrolled in your WF B2E project are eligible for ORR and WF B2E services.

Describe how you will provide services to eligible individuals across the state, including individuals who live in remote areas of the state.

Provide assurance that your project will provide required employment training and placement services as well as required English language training services. If your project will provide additional employment-related services, identify which of the allowable services you will provide.

Describe a plan to provide services in different forms, if required by public health guidance arising from a public health emergency.

Describe a plan for reaching out to, communicating, and coordinating with the following entities over the course of your project:

• The office of the State Refugee Coordinator.

◦ (If your organization is not the office of the State Refugee Coordinator for your state.)

• Local resettlement providers.

• Other ORR-funded service providers, community organizations, and relevant community stakeholders.

Describe how you will obtain the necessary tools, partnerships, and, if applicable, subrecipients to establish and manage a WF B2E project. Include your plan to provide required services as well as documents and/or systems to manage and track participation.

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.

Step 3: Build Your Application 27

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.

Resources and capabilities

Organizational capacity

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

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

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

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 28

• Provide evidence that your team has the organizational capability to operate a statewide project either directly or through subawards.

• Provide confirmation that your organization employs in-person staff in the state in which you propose to conduct your project.

• 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:

• 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.

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

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

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

Bonus points Applications that include the following additional details will be eligible for award points:

• Project design that demonstrates statewide coverage or includes subawards to an organization or organizations other than your own to help guarantee statewide coverage and incorporate local community knowledge into your services.

• Previous experience administering an ORR-funded statewide employment program(s).

• Staff physically located in the state your project proposes to serve.

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 budget should not be more than the request cap for the state in which your project takes place.

• How you will make sure that funds will not be used for unallowable costs as referenced in the funding policies and limitations section.

Please also review the Standard Form instructions.

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

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

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

In general, you must:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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File two: Attachments To submit file two, you will use the Other Attachments form found in the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

This file includes all attachments.

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

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

I hereby attest and certify that:

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

Insert Date of Signature:

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

Signature of AOR:

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

See the indirect costs section for more information.

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.

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)

• 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.

• 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.

• Copy or description of your organization’s fiscal control and accountability procedures.

• Information on compliance with federal, state, and local government standards.

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

Any such agreement must:

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

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

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

Step 3: Build Your Application 33

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].

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