hhs-2026-acl-aoa-adpi-0034_v4.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 30 days after posting

Administration on Aging

Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services (OSCS)

Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) - Dementia Capability in Indian Country Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0034

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 10

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18

Find the application package 19

Get registered 19

Join the informational conference call 20

Step 3: Build Your Application 21

Application checklist 22

Application contents and format 23

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 35

Application review 36

Step 5: Submit Your Application 39

Application submission and deadlines 40

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 42

Post-award requirements and administration 43

Contacts and Support 45

Before you begin 3

Appendices 48

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 Wednesday, July 22, 2026 – 30 days after posting.

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

Program description 10

Basic information Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Administration on Aging

Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services (OSCS)

Supporting the development of dementia-capable services in Indian Country.

Have questions?

See Contacts and

Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Alzheimer’s Disease Programs

Initiative - Dementia

Capability in Indian Country

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-

ADPI-0034

Federal assistance listing:

CFDA 93.470

Cost sharing: 10%

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

July 22, 2026

30 days after posting

Informational Call:

June 25, 2026 (Thursday) 1:00

PM EST

Expected award date:

September 30, 2026

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2026

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

Summary The goal of this Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) Notice of Funding

Opportunity (NOFO) is to increase capacity to deliver dementia-capable home and community-based services (HCBS) in Indian Country. The Dementia Capability in Indian

Country program is intended to support federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations and/or consortiums representing federally recognized tribes in these activities.

The grant opportunity advances the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) strategic priorities by strengthening community living and expanding access to high-quality dementia-capable services for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers in Indian Country. Through increased availability of dementia-specific respite services, more family caregivers will experience less stress and be able to continue their caregiving role while maintaining their own health. It also aligns with the HHS MAHA agenda by promoting personal empowerment, community-based health initiatives, and preventive care.

Additional outcomes for both the PLWD and caregivers include increased knowledge of

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), improved quality of life, risk reduction, and decreased stigma, as well as earlier diagnosis and delayed placement in long-term care facilities.

There are two application options in this single NOFO:

• Option A: Grants to Tribes and Tribal Entities that are NEW to the ADPI program

• Option B: Grants to Tribes and Tribal Entities that have previously received ADPI grants and intend to expand on previously funded work.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding over the performance period: $6,000,000

Expected total program funding per budget period: $2,000,000

Total expected awards: 7

Funding range per applicant per budget period: $250,000 to $300,000

We plan to fund awards in three 12-month budget periods for a three-year period of performance (August 15, 2026 to August 14, 2029).

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Only these types of organizations may apply:

• Tribes.

• Tribal Organizations and/or consortiums representing federally recognized Tribes.

Disqualifying factors We will review your application to make sure it meets these responsive requirements.The following can be copied and pasted into the text box below and modified as needed.

Additional screening criteria can be added at the discretion of the Program Officer and may include proof of non-profit status, letters of support, minimum effort of the Principle

Investigator, or maximum funding that may be provided to sub-contractors or others.

“All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants.

Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

1. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern

Time, by the due date listed in section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x

11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed X pages. Project Narratives that exceed X pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first X pages of the

Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration.

NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project

Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the X-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from Grants.govwebsite.

indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission. For example, you will be required to provide a Grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.”

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

We won’t consider an application that:

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Is from an individual, including a sole proprietorship, or a foreign entity.

• Is received in paper format that didn’t have a previously approved exemption from ACL.

• Is not an eligible Tribe, Tribal Organization, and/or consortiums representing federally recognized Tribes.

Application limits If you submit the same application more than once under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), we will only acknowledge the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 90% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 10% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources.

Start with the federal share.

Calculation: Divide the federal share by 9.

For example: $108,000 / 9 = $12,000.

Types of cost sharing

You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

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

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

• All cost share (match) contributions must be directly tied to the funded grant activities.

• Program income cannot be applied as cost sharing (match).

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Cost-sharing commitments

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

If you do not provide your promised amount, we may decrease the amount of funding we give you or use other enforcement actions.

You will have to include your cost-sharing funds when you fill out your federal financial reports.

ACL discourages applicant agencies exceeding the minimum match requirement.

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 Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

Program description Background The National Institute on Aging defines dementia, a major cause of impairment among older adults, as the loss of cognitive functioning, thinking, remembering, and reasoning and behavioral abilities, to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.[1] Dementia is an umbrella term for many different types of cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia; vascular dementia is the second most common. Estimates of the percentage of older persons with dementia vary, but it increases with age. Impairment, from dementia, has different stages. The mildest stage is when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning.

Eventually, the most severe stage is when the person must depend completely on others to support their basic activities of daily living.

Research shows that American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people experience some of the highest risk of developing dementia.[2] Age is the most common risk factor for dementia. As the number of Native Americans reaching older ages continues to increase, it is expected that there will be more tribal elders with dementia. Other risk factors for dementia include, but are not limited to, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, all of which are common in AI/AN communities.[3]

There are 574 federally recognized and sovereign American Indian tribes, nations, pueblos, bands and Alaska Native villages in the United States, each with unique cultures, traditions and languages. Some tribes do not have a term that translates to dementia.[3]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the number of AI/AN 65 and older living with dementia will grow to five times its current size by 2060.[3] Tribes would benefit from culturally competent, dementia-specific supports, services and educational resources to support tribal elders and their caregivers.

Alzheimer’s disease is responsible, at least in part, for an estimated 60 percent of cases of dementia. The CDC reports that one in six AI/ANs aged 45 and older has reported difficulties in memory or thinking which could be a sign of future dementia risk.[3] A number of conditions may cause dementia-like symptoms, including dehydration, malnutrition, hearing loss, and depression. Medication mismanagement can also result in the appearance of dementia. People with dementia and their caregivers use a broad range of home and community-based services (HCBS) available from public and private sector providers. It is very important to identify and treat these conditions correctly and also provide appropriate referrals to dementia-capable supports, services and education for people living with dementia and their family caregivers.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Information on how HCBS providers can become dementia-capable, to increase their ability to help people with dementia and their caregivers can be found in ACL’s paper entitled Dementia Capable States and Communities: Lessons Learned from

Administration on Aging Grantees.

Dementia-capable services within a HCBS system builds on existing programs from both private and public sectors. Public sector partners/programs include, but are not limited to, tribes or tribal organizations including their Title VI programs, Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

General program requirements

Phased implementation

Successful applicants will propose a phased approach to their projects. A description of the phases follows:

Planning phase

Applicants are to propose a Planning Phase of not less than 6 months from the grant award. During this planning phase, grantees will have access to 15% of Year One grant funding to complete the work and evaluation plans. The remaining 85% of funding will be available when the planning phase is complete. ACL will be actively involved during the

Planning Phase to ensure that all ACL program objectives outlined in the Notice of

Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are addressed in the final plans. To conclude the Planning

Phase the grantee must have received ACL’s approval of their work and evaluation plans and uploaded those plans, and the related budget, into the reporting system.

Implementation Phase: The period during which grantees implement their approved work and evaluation plans to accomplish their goals and objectives.

Delivery of Evidence-Based/Evidence-Informed

(EB/EI) intervention

All applicants must identify, by name, and describe the dementia-specific, evidence-based or evidence-informed intervention proposed for the grant. This would include how it fits into their proposed overall program and the people who will benefit from its delivery. The chosen intervention must fit the definitions outlined below.

Examples of dementia-specific evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions implemented through ACL state and community grant programs can be found in ACL’s

NADRC’s paper entitled Grantee-Implemented Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed

Interventions. Best Programs for Caregiving, a free online database of proven dementia programs for family caregivers, is another excellent resource for identifying dementia-

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=93 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=93 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=20221214043701 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=20221214043701 https://bpc.caregiver.org/ specific evidence-based interventions. ACL’s National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource

Center (NADRC) created a resource to support the selection of dementia-specific EB/EI interventions to meet applicants needs: Choosing an Evidence-Based or Evidence-

Informed Intervention: Considerations to Inform Decision-Making.

Direct service requirement

All successful applicants are required to dedicate a portion of the total program budget to providing direct services to people living with dementia and caregivers. All funded projects will dedicate the following percentage of the total program budget to direct services: Year 1: 25%, Year 2: 35%, Year 3: 45%.

Direct services come in many forms, in addition to training and education other direct services include, but are not limited to, respite care (i.e. home health aide and companion services). A definition of direct service is provided in Appendix A of this

NOFO. Program activities identified as “direct service” and expected to support the requirement must be evaluated to demonstrate their impact on the people who receive the service. Budget narratives included in the application must clearly indicate where direct service funding is located, to ensure intent to meet the requirement.

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on direct service can also be found in the

ADPI Alzheimer’s and Dementia Program Data Reporting Tool FAQ document.

Data collection

Grantees are required to collect information on services provided under the authority of existing or future approved data collections.

Evaluation

All successful grant applications must include a plan for a robust, third-party evaluation of the services provided with grant funding. Evaluations should, at a minimum, demonstrate the impact of program services and goal achievement. Applicants should include outcome measures that demonstrate the impact of the program on persons living with dementia and caregivers in the proposed program and evaluation plans (ACL will

NOT fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes).

Technical assistance

All grantees are required to participate in technical assistance activities to support program development, management and integration. This includes, but is not limited to, participation in regularly scheduled technical assistance conference calls, webinars, as well as group and one-on-one technical assistance opportunities initiated by ACL staff, resource center staff or the grantees.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=20210126080816 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=20210126080816 https://nadrc.acl.gov/details?search1=226

Cooperative agreement terms Cooperative agreements require substantial ACL project involvement after an award is made. There are specific roles for both you and ACL.

Your responsibilities

• Fulfill all the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), as well as carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

• Communicate with the Administration on Aging (AoA) Project Officer and/or the assigned technical assistance liaison regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

• Conduct required evaluation activities outlined in this NOFO.

• Produce and submit to the ACL/AoA Project Officer, at the conclusion of the project, a program report/manual and an independent evaluation report describing how the project was conducted and goals, program outcomes that were achieved, as well as program components sustained beyond the program funding period. The report would also include ways in which barriers to goal achievement were addressed.

• Grantees and partners will submit all deliverables created with funding through this grant. No materials developed with program funding (program deliverables) will be proprietary, as such, all program deliverables (tools, resources, manuals, etc.) will remain in the public domain, with promising practices, resource materials and tools posted on the website of ACL’s National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center

(NADRC), for the benefit and utilization of the broader dementia community.

• Cooperate with any federal evaluation efforts and comply with the timeline, content and format of all required data collection and reporting requirements (see Section

VI-3 for more detail). Submit to the ACL/AoA project officer a final, clean copy of all data developed or supported with these grant funds in the format in which it was developed or produced, as provided for in the HHS Grants Policy Statement and referenced in the Notice of Award.

• Participate in program collaborative activities as organized by the ACL/AoA Project

Officer and the technical assistance team. Collaborative program activity participants will mentor one another in their efforts to fulfill the aims of the

ADPI program.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html

• Include the following disclaimer language when issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other ACL supported publications and forums describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with ACL funding:

◦ “This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the

Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with

XX percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by nongovernment source(s). The contents are those of the author{s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/

HHS, or the U.S. Government.”

Our responsibilities

• Perform the day-to-day federal responsibilities of managing a grant initiative and work with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

• Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the grantee project, and, as necessary, negotiate with grantee to achieve a mutually agreed upon solution to any needs identified by the grantee or ACL/AoA.

• Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of AoA, ACL and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

• Provide technical advice to the grantee on the provision of technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

• Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

• Communicate with the grantee project director regularly to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

Managing disagreements

The grantee and the Federal Program Officers/Project officer will maintain a collaborative working relationship throughout the period of performance. The parties will make good-faith efforts to resolve disagreements related to programmatic direction, implementation activities, timelines, deliverables, performance expectations, or interpretation of cooperative agreement responsibilities at the lowest appropriate organizational level.

If a disagreement cannot be resolved through routine programmatic communication, the matter may be elevated through established organizational channels for review by recipient leadership and the authorized federal official(s). Escalation should occur in a

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 timely manner and include documentation of the issue, relevant background, efforts undertaken to resolve the matter, and any proposed resolution options.

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.

Policies

• All activities proposed in your application and budget narrative must align with applicable law, including but not limited to statutes, executive orders, federal regulations, and applicable judicial holdings. Accordingly, discretionary awards shall not be used to fund, promote, encourage, subsidize, or facilitate: racial preferences or other forms of racial discrimination by the recipient, including activities where race or intentional proxies for race will be used as a selection criterion for employment or program participation; denial by the recipient of the sex binary in humans, or the belief that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic; illegal immigration; or any other initiatives that compromise public safety. If an application does not align, the application will not receive funding to the extent permitted by law and applicable court orders.

• 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.

• 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 based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other protected traits.

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

• Under this NOFO, you cannot continue existing projects without expansion or new and innovative approaches.

• Meals are allowed only in limited circumstances linked to programming activities, like during travel or when approved in advance by ACL. See Allowable Costs and

Activities, Exhibit 4: Selected Items of Cost, Meals in the HHS Grants Policy

Statement.

• There are restrictions on certain telecommunications and video surveillance equipment. See 2 CFR 200.216 to make sure this does not apply to any proposed equipment in your application.

Unallowable costs

• Construction or major rehabilitation of buildings.

• Basic research, such as scientific or medical experiments.

• 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 200.420.

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 necessary services and are 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/grants-policies-regulations/index.html https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.216 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332

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.

No project partner may receive more than 20% of the Federal funding received by the primary grantee.

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 ACL grant or cooperative agreement.

Applicant budget must comply with salary limitations with no hourly rates exceeding an annual salary rate of $225,700 or $108.51 an hour exclusive of fringe.

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.

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/salary-tables/pdf/2026/EX.pdf https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2026/EX.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 19

Get registered 19

Join the informational conference call 20

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can search for it at

Grants.gov using opportunity number HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-ADPI-0034. 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.

You can also find materials at Applying for Grants on ACL’s website.

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.

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

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 19 https://grants.gov/search-grants https://acl.gov/grants/applying-grants 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

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

Join the informational conference call We will have a call on June 25, 2026 (Thursday) from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Conference Line number: 888-603-9601

Passcode: 6808571

If you are unable to attend, you can access the recording of the call after the session at

800-813-5525.

Joining and participating is voluntary. Participants who join remain anonymous.

Opting not to participate in the session will not affect eligibility, application scoring, or the award selection process. This call will be the only opportunity to ask questions about the NOFO. If there is a discrepancy between the presentation or materials and the NOFO, the NOFO takes precedence.

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 20

Step 3:

Build Your Application

In this step

Application checklist 22

Application contents and format 23

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

Grants.gov.

Narratives

Item Grants.gov form Page limit

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form 20 pages

Budget narrative Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form None

Attachments Insert each in a single Other attachments form.

Item Page limit

Tribal Resolution Authorizing Application None

Indirect cost agreement None

Proof of nonprofit status None

Resumes and job descriptions None

Work plan None

Evaluation plan None

Step 3: Build Your Application 22

Application contents and format This section includes guidance on each component found in the application checklist.

Application page limit: {number} pages.

Submit your information in English and express whole number budget figures using

U.S. dollars.

Required format Required format for project and budget narratives.

Font: Times New Roman or Arial

Format: PDF

Size: 11-point font

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

Spacing for project narrative main content: Double-spaced

Spacing for budget narrative: As needed

Spacing for project summary, tables, footnotes: Single-spaced

Margins: 1-inch

Include page numbers.

Project narrative The project narrative is the most important part of the application. We use it as the primary basis to decide whether your project meets the statutory requirements and to review its merit. The project narrative should give a clear and concise description of your project.

Be sure to cite all your sources. Merit reviewers may lower your score if you do not.

Also study the merit review criteria under each section to make sure you answer all questions and cover all topics reviewers will look at.

Step 3: Build Your Application 23

Project summary

Provide a brief project summary of no more than 265 words. Write it for the general public. You will need to include:

• Goals: Broad overall purpose, like a mission statement that says what you want to do and where you want to be.

• Objectives: Narrow, specific, and clear steps toward the goals. These are the “hows” to achieve the goals.

• Overall approach: General overview of what you will do.

• Outcomes: These are the measurable results of a project. Include expected changes among those served, such as clients, systems, organizations, and communities.

These should tie directly to your goals and those of this funding.

• Products: The materials and other deliverables you expect to generate through the project.

• Duration: The anticipated start and end dates of the period of performance.

Project relevance and current need (20 points)

Problem statement (7 points)

Applicant should describe the dementia landscape in the community you serve:

• The impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) on the community and population that you serve.

• The trainings and services currently available to address ADRD in the community you serve, if any.

• The existing dementia-capability of the home and community-based service system within which you operate and how it relates to the target population.

• Describe existing service gaps that the applicant will address through the proposed program.

• The management, systems, financial or other challenges requiring attention in order to implement and sustain programs funded under this opportunity.

Goals and objectives (13 points)

This section should consist of a description of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives.

In this section applicants should:

• Identify your proposed project goal(s) and major objectives (i.e. proposed annual project milestones) including the projected total number of people who will likely benefit from services provided this proposed project.

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• Identify how you plan to address the major challenges stated in the problem statement.

• Describe partnerships, collaborations and innovative activities that will be implemented in support of goal/objective achievement, including the project implementation of dementia-specific evidence-based/evidence informed intervention(s).

• Explain how you will build program awareness and conduct outreach and identify participants.

• Explain anticipated outcomes and the planned measures to demonstrate program outcomes.

• Describe the sustainability plan for program elements that are deemed successful.

Table: Scoring criteria

Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the applicant provides: Point value

Problem statement 7 points

• Does the application describe the impact of ADRD on the target community and population served?

• Does the application explain how ADRD affects the health, independence, safety, or quality of life of the population served?

• Does the application provide data, statistics, community assessments, or other evidence demonstrating the need for expanded dementia-specific supports and services?

• Does the application describe existing ADRD-related trainings available within the community?

• Does the application describe existing ADRD trainings, services, and dementia-capable supports presently available in the community?

• Does the application identify gaps in currently available dementia-related supports and services?

Goals and Objectives 13 points

• Does the application clearly identify project goals and major objectives and the projected number of people to be served?

• Does the application explain how proposed activities will address the key challenges identified in the problem statement?

• Does the application describe partnerships, collaborations, and innovative activities that support achievement of project goals?

• Does the application explain how partners and collaborators will contribute to project implementation and success?

• Does the application include dementia-specific evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions appropriate for the target population?

Step 3: Build Your Application 25

Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the applicant provides: Point value

• Does the application clearly explain strategies for program awareness, outreach, and participant identification and recruitment?

Approach (25 points)

Proposed intervention (13 points)

The proposed project will implement a dementia-capable intervention designed to address the gaps and challenges identified in the Problem Statement for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

(ADRD), their caregivers, and the providers who serve them. The intervention will strengthen access to culturally competent dementia-specific supports, caregiver services, workforce training, and community-based resources while honoring tribal values, traditions, and community strengths.

The proposed intervention will be informed by dementia-specific evidence-based and evidence-informed practices that comply with ACL standards outlined in this NOFO.

Program strategies will include culturally adapted dementia education and training, caregiver support interventions, community outreach and engagement activities, and strengthened referral pathways to increase access to dementia-capable services. Training and technical assistance will emphasize culturally competent care practices, effective communication strategies, traditional values related to caregiving and aging, and approaches for reducing stigma associated with dementia within AI/AN communities.

For Option B applicants, the proposed project will build upon previous ADPI grant-funded activities.

Project management (4 points)

This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress, preparation of reports; communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Work plan (8 points)

You must provide a work plan for your project. The work plan connects your period of performance outcomes, strategies and activities, and measures. It provides more detail on how you will measure outcomes and processes.

Step 3: Build Your Application 26

To create your work plan:

• Use the Project Work Plan Sample Template on our website.

• Include the project’s overall goal, expected outcomes, key objectives, and the major action steps needed to achieve them.

• For each major action step, include start and end dates and the lead responsible person.

Table: Scoring criteria

Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the applicant provides: Point value

Proposed Intervention 13 points

• Does the application describe a dementia-capable intervention designed to address identified gaps and challenges for AI/AN people living with ADRD, caregivers, and providers?

• Does the application demonstrate a culturally competent approach that incorporates tribal values, traditions, and community strengths?

• Does the application include strategies to increase dementia awareness, early identification, referral practices, and caregiver supports within AI/AN communities?

• Does the application describe efforts to strengthen tribal, community, and provider partnerships to support implementation and sustainability?

• Does the application describe activities to strengthen dementia capability among providers serving AI/AN populations?

• Does the application describe culturally adapted dementia education, training, outreach, and community engagement activities?

• Does the application include evidence-based or evidence-informed dementia interventions that comply with ACL standards in the NOFO?

• Does the application describe strategies to improve access to dementia-capable services through strengthened referral pathways and service coordination?

• Does the application address culturally competent care practices, communication strategies, and stigma reduction related to dementia in AI/AN communities?

• For Option B applicants, does the application explain how the proposed project builds upon prior grant-funded activities and lessons learned?

Project Management and Work Plan 12 points

• Does the application include a work plan?

• Does the applicant project work plan detail all intended program activities?

• Does the applicant include in its narrative a management plan that demonstrates the intent to undertake the activities laid out in the work plan?

• Do the work and management plans clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partners and link them to specific objectives and tasks?

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

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• Does the work plan include training for delivery and implementation of at least one dementia-specific evidence-based/evidence-informed intervention that meets ACL definitions?

• Do the work and management plans include sensible timeframes for the accomplishment of the tasks necessary to implement a successful project?

• Does the work plan demonstrate where direct services will occur over the course of the grant period?

• Does the project work plan include production and submission of the required final and evaluation reports?

• Does the narrative acknowledge that no grant funded deliverables are proprietary and copies of all deliverables will be included with their final reports?

Project impact (25 total points)

Outcomes (9 points)

This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcomes that demonstrate the project’s impact. ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes. All funded projects must include at least one outcome measure to demonstrate their projects impact on the quality of life of a person living with dementia.

This section should describe how the project’s findings might benefit the field at large

(for example, how the findings could help other organizations throughout the nation address the same or similar problems). List measurable outcomes in the evaluation plan under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative along with a description of how the project might benefit the field at large. The National

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center (NADRC) publishes a compendium of

Evaluation Measure instruments intended to help providers of dementia-related services identify appropriate and well-researched measures in support of their program evaluation plans.

Evaluation (12 points)

This section should describe the methods, techniques, and tools that will be used by the third-party evaluator to 1) determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcomes, and 2) document the “lessons learned” - both positive and negative - from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if proven successful. The third-party evaluator will develop and submit an evaluation report to the grantee, which will be submitted to the funder as a project deliverable. Examples of the expected content and structure of the program evaluation

Step 3: Build Your Application 28 plans, including a template, can be found on the NADRC website. Appendix B of the

NOFO provides helpful guidance on evaluation plan development.

On the NADRC website is a recording and tools from the webinar “Writing an Effective

Work Plan and Evaluation Plan” that may be useful in developing an evaluation plan.

The webinar covers:

• How to write project objectives, activities, and tasks.

• Key elements of an evaluation plan.

• The importance of providing specific details in the work plan and evaluation plan.

• Available tools and resources.

• Samples of desired formats of work and evaluation plans.

Dissemination/Sustainability (4 points)

This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats, to parties who might be interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Table: Scoring criteria

Reviewers will evaluate the extent to which the applicant provides: Point value

Outcomes 9 points

• Are the expected project benefits/results clear, realistic, and consistent with the project’s objectives and purpose?

• Are the proposed outcomes quantifiable and measurable, and consistent with the project outcome’s definition in the program announcement?

• Does the evaluation plan include the required measure designed to assess program outcomes related to the quality of life of people living with dementia?

• Does the applicant provide measurable targets for achieving maximum population coverage of dementia-capable information, referral, and access for each year of the cooperative agreement period?

Evaluation 12 points

• Does the applicant include a robust, third-party evaluation plan that demonstrates the intent to meet program direct service and outcome measure requirements?

• Does the evaluation plan demonstrate intent to evaluate the impact of program education and training initiatives designed to expand the dementia-capability of their workforce, in support of their work with and on behalf of persons living with dementia and caregivers?

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• Does the project evaluation reflect a thoughtful and well-designed approach that will be able to successfully measure whether the project has achieved its proposed outcomes?

• Does the evaluation plan include well-articulated, intended program targets, outcomes, and outcome measures?

• ls the evaluation designed to capture “lessons learned” from the overall effort?

• Does the applicant include the development and submission of an evaluation report developed by a third-party evaluator?

Dissemination/Sustainability 4 points

• Does the applicant describe the method and related financial resources that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats?

• ls there a dissemination plan to get relevant and easy to use information about the program, the services they are providing?

• Does the applicant include a sufficient plan to ensure sustainability of the grantee’s expanded dementia-capable HCBS system?

• Does the applicant describe the sustainability plan for program elements that are deemed successful?

• ls there a clear and realistic plan to try to identify resources and avenues through which program activities can continue after Federal Financial assistance has ended?

• ls sustainability of the program beyond the program period likely?

Capability and expertise (15 total points)

Organizational capability (8 points)

You should include an organizational capability statement. The statement should describe how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work and/or the capabilities it possesses, including dementia-capability.

The description should detail the applicant organization’s capability and capacity to undertake all proposed activities (all of which must be new to the organization) and sustain those deemed successful after federal financial assistance has ended.

This description should cover capabilities of the applicant agency not included in the program narrative, such as current or previous relevant dementia-specific experience or the project team’s record preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products.