Instructions for TDC Equity Analysis HHS-2024-ACF-OPRE-PE-0043.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation

TANF Data Collaborative (TDC) Equity Analysis Awards

HHS-2024-ACF-OPRE-PE-0043

Application Due Date: 07/15/2024

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

TANF Data Collaborative (TDC) Equity Analysis Awards Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2024-ACF-OPRE-PE-0043

Assistance Listing Number:

93.595 Due Date for Applications:

07/15/2024

Executive Summary Notice:

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for an award, please visit "Applying for an ACF Award" at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will fund up to eight state or local TANF agencies to build data analytic capacity through the completion of an equity-focused data analysis project.

Award recipients will use administrative data to examine an aspect of their TANF program’s inputs, processes, outputs, or outcomes. Equity-focused analyses evaluate the fair, just, and impartial treatment of individuals under the management and practices of the TANF program.

For example, analyses may assess disparities or disproportionalities across different social groups with respect to benefit levels, sanctioning rates, or short- or long-term employment or earnings outcomes.

During the 36-month project period, award recipients will participate in intensive training and technical assistance provided by an Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-funded contractor. The training and technical assistance will prioritize a “learning by doing” approach in which award recipients will participate in applied data analytics training, one-on-one coaching, and peer learning to complete their proposed projects. The goal of the funding opportunity is to strengthen the data analytic capacities of state and local Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies to support evidence-informed decision making, particularly as it relates to equity issues, in order to advance the economic well-being of individuals and families currently receiving or eligible to receive TANF services.

ACF is interested in funding award recipients with a wide range of initial data analytic capacities. Applicants must demonstrate the support of the state- or local-level TANF agency leadership to participate in the funding opportunity. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the ability to access TANF administrative data and any other data required for the proposed research https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant project, a commitment to using data to improve policy and practice, and staff availability to complete all award requirements. See Section I. Program Description for a complete description of the funding opportunity.

Award recipients will be funded through the cooperative agreement mechanism.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority Title IV, part A, section 413 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 613.

Description A. Background

The TANF Data Collaborative (TDC) Equity Analysis Awards will strengthen the data analytic capacities of state and local TANF agencies to support evidence-informed decision making, particularly as it relates to equity issues, in order to advance the economic well-being of individuals and families currently receiving or eligible to receive TANF services. Award recipients will participate in intensive training and technical assistance provided by an ACF-funded contractor. In accordance with title IV, part A, section 413 of the Social Security Act, these awards support research on the effect of state TANF programs with a specific focus on equity.

ACF values state and local efforts to become more data-driven in the provision of human services and seeks to support and learn from these efforts. In September 2017, ACF awarded the Promoting and Supporting Innovation in TANF Data Project (also known as TANF Data Innovation, or TDI). The broad goal of TDI was to enhance the use of data from TANF and related human services programs to improve program administration and outcomes for children and families. To this end, between 2020 and 2022, TDI facilitated the TDC, a state-facing training and technical assistance effort. TDC offered training sessions during professional conferences and topical webinars open to all TANF jurisdictions and administered the TDC Pilot Initiative—an intensive training and technical assistance program and peer learning community for eight selected state TANF agencies. Information on the TDC approach can be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/increasing-data-analytics-capacity-state-tanf-agencies-tanf-data-collaborative-approach. Information on each of the pilot site projects can be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/tanf-data-collaborative-pilot-profiles-collection-data-analytics-projects-state-county, and a video summary can be viewed at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/training-technical-assistance/improving-outcomes-families-through-better-use-data-tanf-data.

Through this project, ACF learned that data held by state and local TANF jurisdictions are crucial for understanding the inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes of the TANF program (Wavelet et al., 2022). Building on the lessons learned from TDC, ACF awarded the TANF Data Collaborative 2.0 (TDC 2.0) contract in 2023 to MDRC and its partners—Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, and the Coleridge Initiative—to continue fostering the data analytic capacity of state and local TANF agencies through the provision of training and technical assistance.

The TDC Equity Analysis Awards build on the TDC Pilot Initiative with an explicit and embedded concentration on equity. As established by the Commission on Evidence-Based https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/increasing-data-analytics-capacity-state-tanf-agencies-tanf-data-collaborative-approach https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/increasing-data-analytics-capacity-state-tanf-agencies-tanf-data-collaborative-approach https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/tanf-data-collaborative-pilot-profiles-collection-data-analytics-projects-state-county https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/tanf-data-collaborative-pilot-profiles-collection-data-analytics-projects-state-county https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/training-technical-assistance/improving-outcomes-families-through-better-use-data-tanf-data https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/training-technical-assistance/improving-outcomes-families-through-better-use-data-tanf-data

Policymaking Commission Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-140), the federal government is interested in facilitating the use of existing data to support the improvement of federal programs and the building of evidence on the effectiveness of programs. Additionally, the Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (Executive Order 13985 and often referenced as "the Equity E.O.") calls upon federal agencies to review their respective programs and policies in efforts to assess whether underserved communities, including communities of color, "…face systemic barriers in accessing benefits and opportunities available pursuant to those policies and programs." In summary, it is a priority of the federal government to use data to evaluate whether proposed policies and standing programs contribute to, or inhibit, the advancement of equity.

B. Program Goals and Recipient Expectations

The TDC Equity Analysis Awards are intended to support state or local TANF agencies to build their data analytic capacity through the completion of an equity-focused analysis project of their administrative TANF data, with the goal of advancing the economic well-being of individuals and families currently receiving or eligible to receive TANF services. Award recipients are expected to evaluate social equity in the TANF program's inputs, processes, outputs, and/or outcomes. Equity-focused analyses evaluate the fair, just, and impartial treatment of individuals under the management and practices of the TANF program. For example, analyses may assess disparities or disproportionalities across different social groups with respect to benefit levels, sanctioning rates, or short- or long-term employment or earnings outcomes. The goal is to complete data analytics projects, the results of which have the potential to promote equity within each award recipient's TANF program. Examples of possible data analytics projects include:

• Understand the equity implications of benefit rules and the application process by comparing the demographic profiles of applicants who receive full grants versus those who receive partial grants or none;

• Examine whether case managers' discretion in waiver decisions results in differential outcomes for participants from diverse demographic backgrounds, supplemented by qualitative data to understand the underlying reasons;

• Analyze service distribution patterns, looking at whether certain demographic groups are more likely to be sanctioned or whether application acceptance rates vary systematically by demographic characteristics; and

• Examine the kind of jobs in which TANF participants are placed and how that varies by demographic category as an indicator of occupational segregation.

The examples above are suggestions and not intended to indicate ACF priorities. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that are most relevant to their TANF agency.

The specific goals and expectations of this award program are the following:

1. Build data analytic capacity among TANF agency staff through intensive training and technical assistance.

Training and technical assistance, led by the ACF-funded contractor (hereafter the “TDC 2.0 Project Team”) in consultation with ACF, will prioritize a “learning by doing” approach in which award recipients will participate in applied data analytics training, coaching, and peer learning throughout the project period. These learning opportunities will support award https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ recipients to plan and implement a multi-year project that leverages TANF and other administrative data (such as employment data) and TANF agency case management data to inform program improvement. The TDC 2.0 Project Team will support award recipients in executing their data-driven project(s) through the strategic use and development of analytic tools, data models, and data visualization approaches.

The training and technical assistance are designed to promote sustained data use and to support a culture of evidence-based decision making. Recipient efforts during the project period are intended to contribute to ongoing agency practices about how data is used to inform questions related to social inequities in the TANF program. This funding opportunity will offer support on topics related to sustained data use in group settings as well as one-on-one support that is tailored to a particular award recipient's needs.

The following activities will guide the data-analytic capacity building:

a. Kick-off meeting. Each recipient will attend an in-person, 2-day kick-off meeting in early 2025. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the teams, ACF, and the TDC

2.0 Project Team to get to know each other as well as to attend initial data analytics workshops. The Project Director and at least one other key staff are required to attend in person. TANF administrators and any other supervisors of the key staff are strongly encouraged to attend in person.

b. Training and technical assistance

i. TDC 2.0 Applied Data Analytics Training. The Applied Data Analytics (ADA) training course will lay the foundation for award recipients to successfully design and conduct their own equity-focused data analysis projects. The hybrid course will include real-time lectures attended virtually and one 4-day, in-person trip to Washington, DC. Key technical staff must participate in the ADA training. The course will provide attendees:

1. hands-on, real-world practice with TANF data as they work with other attendees to complete a course project;

2. the fundamentals of data preparation, measurement, analysis, and presentation using an equity focus; and

3. examples of analysis using multiple linked administrative datasets, including those on TANF recipients, applicants, and Unemployment Insurance wage records.

ii. One-on-one support from coaches and other experts. A designated coach will partner with each award recipient team to support the team’s completion of one or more data projects, as proposed by award recipients in their applications. Coaches will meet regularly with recipients to:

1. discuss strategic and operational questions about how to do their data analytics project work;

2. provide guidance through all phases of the project, including accessing and processing data, conducting data analysis, and presenting findings;

and

3. connect award recipients to other experts as needed to address specific analytic or substantive questions or issues that may emerge during the project.

iii. Other specialized training and technical assistance activities. Award recipients are expected to attend and engage in all activities. Award recipients should expect up to eight specialized learning events in addition to the other training and technical assistance activities described in this section. Award recipients may be asked to collaborate on planning and implementing some of these sessions via skills sharing or other recipient-led activities. Specialized learning events may include:

1. webinars on data communication skills, data preparation, using templates and tools to perform repeated analytics more efficiently, and producing data visualizations;

2. technical topics (e.g., disaggregating analyses for racial and ethnic minority subgroups, imputing missing demographic data); and

3. non-technical topics (e.g., engaging TANF participants using inclusive language and contextualizing analyses with local policy, politics, or history)

c. Peer Learning.

i. Check-in meetings. In order to encourage ongoing collaboration between the teams, the designated coach, and other members of the TDC 2.0 Project Team, recipients will:

1. attend monthly check-ins during Year 1 of the project period;

2. attend quarterly calls (at a minimum, more if needed) during Years 2 and

3; and

3. share experiences, challenges, and accomplishments with other recipients.

ii. Annual Cross-Site Convenings. Recipients will attend annual 2-day, cross-site, in-person convenings to present their projects and share challenges or lessons learned. Recipients may have active roles in preparing for the convenings.

Award recipients must attend and actively participate in all capacity-building training and technical assistance activities. TANF administrators and other mid-level managers of team members are strongly encouraged to attend the kick-off and annual meetings in person.

Project teams are expected to have a Project Coordinator or Project Director who will lead the project team and be the primary liaison to ACF and the team's designated coach. These individuals are expected to devote approximately 30 percent of a full-time equivalent (FTE) on average to the project, with the understanding this effort may vary depending on the phase of the project. It is advised that the individual has experience or familiarity with some of the technical and/or analytic aspects of this work, in addition to having good organizational skills. It is expected that one or more project staff will be TANF agency staff with the capacity to provide technical skills and day-to-day processing or other analytical support, as well as learn new skills that can be applied once the project period is over.

2. Contribute to evidence on the social equity of the TANF program by analyzing TANF administrative data.

Award recipients will work with their coaches and communicate with ACF throughout the project period to refine and execute the proposed projects described in the application through the completion of a series of milestones. By the end of Year 1, award recipients will:

• refine and finalize project research questions;

• complete a work plan; and

• complete a project scope.

By the end of Year 2, award recipients will:

• create a data quality control memo;

• create an analysis file;

• perform an exploratory analysis; and

• complete a draft report with preliminary findings and draft visualizations.

By the end of the final year of the project, Year 3, award recipients will:

• complete the final analysis;

• present findings at the final cross-site conference;

• complete a briefing plan outlining potential dissemination activities; and

• complete a final report.

Results of the research projects will not be publicly released unless approved by the award recipient. If the recipient desires, the TDC 2.0 Project Team could assist in working directly with the administrative data. This arrangement would require coordinating data sharing access, data storage, and security requirements in a data sharing agreement that is compliant with relevant privacy laws.

Recipients will complete an equity-related research project that is of interest to their TANF agency and the populations it serves and can be examined through the analysis of administrative data. Various methodological approaches are appropriate for measuring and evaluating social equity, including but not limited to, descriptive studies, process or implementation studies, or impact studies. ACF does not prioritize any specific methodological approach; instead, the proposed methods should be suitable for answering the question of interest. See Section IV.2.

Content and Form of Application Submission, Project Description for additional instructions.

Recipients will include, to the extent possible, program participant perspectives when designing and carrying out their projects. The inclusion of participant voice supports grounding the data analytics process in the real experiences of families served by TANF. A plan for engaging participant voices is an evaluation criterion (see Section V.1. Criteria), but ACF acknowledges that this type of engagement may range from a simple, single-time engagement using surveys, interviews, or a focus group, to multiple engagements as part of a standing panel or committee based on the agency’s prior experience and current capacity. See Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission, Project Description for additional instructions.

3. Encourage innovative approaches to leveraging one or more existing TANF data sources.

TANF agencies' data collection efforts often exceed the federal data reporting requirements and include data on program eligibility, benefits provision, and compliance activities (Goerge, Wiegand, & Gjertson, 2021). Many agencies also have data on current and past TANF participants related to household composition, income, employment, and participation in other social safety net programs. The existence of these data creates unique opportunities for agencies to increase their data analytics capacity by leveraging one or more data sources to evaluate equity in various stages of the program process. Funded projects are expected to make use of one or more data sources that can be linked with the administrative TANF data, if applicable, to address project goals.

4. Demonstrate the potential for improved TANF data quality, use, and governance to benefit improved agency programming and individual and family outcomes.

In addition to providing direct data analytics training and technical assistance to award recipients, this funding opportunity is also designed to promote scalability and/or replicability.

Upon completing the 36-month project period, award recipients are expected to leave with the skills, experience, and tools to sustainably maintain data analytics within their agencies. The expectation is that award recipient projects become part of agencies’ regular work after the funding opportunity ends, as the analyses are repeated over time—or modified or expanded upon—to continue to add value to agency work.

To build scalability, award recipients are expected to share lessons learned and findings with each other during the cross-site convenings and, when appropriate, the broader community of TANF and related agencies as they progress through the project period.

Pre-Application Technical Assistance

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) will post a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to the following webpage:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/grants#Grant-TANF. The goal of the FAQ is to answer potential applicant questions on the TDC Equity Analysis Awards and application submission. Reading the FAQ is voluntary. Opting not to read the FAQ will not affect the application scoring or selection process. In the event of a discrepancy between the FAQ and the NOFO, the NOFO takes precedence. OPRE may post questions and answers on an ongoing basis up until 30 calendar days before the application due date. Applicants are strongly encouraged to check the FAQ website link periodically for updates.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$880,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$110,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$90,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/grants#Grant-TANF

$110,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2024 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Additional Information on Awards:

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

Applications requesting an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period, or per project period, as stated in this section, will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Description of ACF's Anticipated Substantial Involvement Under the Cooperative Agreement Award

Under the cooperative agreements, substantial involvement by ACF is anticipated throughout the duration of the funded projects. Substantial involvement may include decision-making at required milestones as outlined in Section 1. Program Description, Program Goals and Recipient Expectations. ACF will monitor award recipients’ progress to ensure completion of specified milestones during each budget period.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants Eligibility under the TDC Equity Analysis Awards NOFO is defined under section 413 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 613. The statutory authorities for this funding opportunity do not limit eligible entities to receive this funding.

The TDC Equity Analysis Awards are intended to support state and local TANF agencies in building their data analytic capacity to use administrative TANF data to better understand and improve their TANF program and outcomes, particularly as related to equity. Please see Section III.3. Other, Disqualification Factor and Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission, The Project Description for additional information and guidance on acceptable documentation.

Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

Reference to Legal Status See Section IV.2. Legal Status of Applicant Entity for documentation required to support eligibility.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No See Section IV.2. The Project Budget and Budget Justification, Commitment of Non-Federal Resources for more information.

III.3. Other

Application Disqualification Factors Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

Applications that request an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period or per project period, as stated in Section II. Federal Award Information, will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications received that have not been approved for an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.

If you do not have an internet connection or sufficient capacity to upload large documents to the internet you may contact ACF for an exemption that will allow you to submit your application in paper format. Information and the requirements for requesting an exemption from required electronic application submission are found in "ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission."

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

The deadline for electronic application submission is 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications submitted to Grants.gov after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf this funding opportunity.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov which fail their validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged by ACF. If you submit an application for the same NOFO more than once, only the last on-time submission will be acknowledged.

Paper applications with an approved exemption from the electronic submission requirement must be received by 4:30 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Paper applications received after 4:30 pm ET on the due date will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Access to administrative TANF data. Applicants must submit documentation to demonstrate that they have current access to the relevant administrative TANF data and other data that will be used in the project or will have access by the time of award. Applicants that do not submit the documentation will be disqualified from competitive review and award under this NOFO. See Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission, The Project Description for guidance on acceptable documentation.

Support from TANF agency leadership. Applicants must submit documentation to demonstrate that they have support from their TANF agency leadership (e.g., the lead state or local administrator for the TANF agency) to participate in the funding opportunity. Applicants that do not submit the documentation will be disqualified from competitive review and award under this NOFO. See Section IV.2. Content and Form of Appication Submission, The Project Description for guidance on acceptable documentation.

Notification of Application Disqualification Applicants will be notified of a disqualification determination by email or by USPS postal mail within 30 federal business days from the closing date of this NOFO.

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards c/o ICF International 1902 Reston Metro Plaza Reston

VA

20190 877-350-5913 Application Packages

Electronic Application Submission:

The electronic application submission package is available in the NOFO's listing at Grants.gov.

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

FORMATTING APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

Notice of Two-File Requirement Applicants applying via Grants.gov must upload only two electronic files, excluding Standard Forms (SFs) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved forms. Additional files will be removed prior to the merit review.

FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:

Signature of Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) Each applicant must designate an authorized organization representative (AOR) with authority to act on the organization’s behalf on matters related to the application submission and administration of awards. The AOR signature must appear on all forms in which a signature is required. By signing, the AOR agrees the organization will abide by all applicable Federal statutes, regulations and terms and conditions of the award.

Accepted Font Style and Size Applications must be in Times New Roman 12-point font, except for footnotes, which may be 10-point font. Pages that contain blurred or illegible text will be removed.

If documents must be scanned, the font size on any scanned documents must be large enough so that it is readable. You may not scan more than one page of a documents onto a single page.

Pages with blurred text will be removed from the application.

English Language Applications must be submitted in the English language and must be in the terms of United States (U.S.) dollars. See 45 CFR §75.111 for more information.

Page Limitations You must observe the page limitation(s) listed under "PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS" later in this section. Page limitation(s) do not include SFs and OMB-approved forms.

All applications must be double-spaced. An application that exceeds the cited page limitation for double-spaced pages will have extra pages removed, and those pages will not be reviewed.

Application Elements Exempted from Double-Spacing Requirements The following elements of the application submission are exempt from the double-spacing requirements and may be single-spaced:

• Table of Contents

• One-page Project Summary

• Required Assurances and Certifications

• SFs and OMB-approved forms

• Resumes, Logic Models, Proof of Legal Status/Non-Profit Status, Third-Party

Agreements, Letters of Support, footnotes and tables

• Line-Item Budget and/or the Budget Justification

Adherence to NOFO Formatting, Font, and Page Limitation Requirements Applications that fail to adhere to ACF’s NOFO formatting, font, and page limitation requirements will be adjusted by the removal of page(s) from the application. Pages will be removed before the merit review and will not be made available to reviewers.

NOTE: Applicants failing to adhere to ACF’s NOFO formatting, font, and page limitation requirements will receive a letter from ACF notifying them that their application was amended.

The letter will be sent after awards have been issued and will specify the reason(s) for removal of page(s).

Corrections/Updates to Submitted Applications When applicants revise a previously submitted application, ACF will accept only the last on-time application for pre-review under the Application Disqualification Factors. See Section III.3.

Other, Application Disqualification Factors and Section IV.2. Application Submission Options.

Copies Required Applicants must submit one complete copy of the application package electronically. Applicants must follow the registration and application submission instructions provided at Grants.gov.

Accepted Application Format With the exception of the required SFs and OMB-approved forms, all application materials must be formatted so that they are 8 ½" x 11" white paper with 1-inch margins all around.

If possible, applicants are encouraged to include page numbers for each page within the application.

PAGE LIMITATIONS AND CONTENT FOR ALL SUBMISSION FORMATS:

Page Limits: Applicants must limit their entire application to 80 pages. This page limit applies to the length of the Project Description File and the Appendices File combined. Standard forms (SF) do not count towards the page limit.

Organization of Application Submission: Applicants are strongly advised to use headings and subheadings that correspond to the required application sections outlined below. Additional headers and subheaders can be used to organize the content of each section. Applicants are further advised to include all required forms and materials.

A. File One: Project Description File includes the following sections. See additional instructions in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission (under “The Project Description”) for details on preparing the full project description.

1. Table of Contents

2. Project Summary

3. Approach

a. Objectives and Significance

b. Description of Proposed Project

c. Commitment and Approach

d. Key Staff

e. Organizational Capacity (See Section IV.2. Project Description, Organizational Capacity)

4. Budget and Budget Justification

B. File Two: Appendices (for details on preparing the appendices, see additional instructions in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission, The Project Description)

1. Additional Eligibility Documentation: Documentation of Access to TANF Data

2. Additional Eligibility Documentation: Letter of Support from TANF Agency

Leadership

3. Key Staff Resumes

4. Protection of Sensitive and/or Confidential Information

5. Plan for Oversight of Federal Awards Funds

6. Proof of Legal Status of Applicant Entity (if applicable)

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

You are required to submit applications electronically unless you have received an exemption that will allow submission in paper format. See Section IV.2. Application Submission Options for information about requesting an exemption.

Electronic applications will only be accepted via Grants.gov. ACF will not accept applications submitted via email or via facsimile.

Each applicant is required to upload ONLY two electronic files, excluding SFs and OMB-approved forms.

File One: Must contain the entire Project Description, and the Budget and Budget Justification (including a line-item budget and a budget narrative).

File Two: Must contain all documents required in the Appendices.

Formatting Submission Files ACF strongly recommends that File One and File Two be uploaded as Portable Document Files (PDFs).

To adhere to the two-file requirement, you may need to convert and/or merge documents together using a PDF converter software. Applicants using Adobe Acrobat Reader software will be able to merge these documents together. ACF recommends merging documents electronically rather than scanning multiple documents into one document manually.

Applicants must ensure that the version of Adobe Acrobat Reader they are using is compatible with Grants.gov. To verify Adobe software compatibility please go to Grants.gov and click on “Applicants” at the top bar menu and select “Adobe Software Compatibility."

Naming Application Submission Files Carefully observe the file naming conventions required by Grants.gov. Limit file names to 50 characters (characters and spaces).Please also see https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters.

Use only file formats supported by ACF While ACF supports all of the following file formats, we strongly recommend that the two files (Project Description and Appendices) are uploaded as PDFs in order to comply with the two-file upload limitation.

ACF supports the following file formats:

• Adobe PDF – Portable Document Format (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

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

Documents in file formats not listed here will be removed from the application and will not be used in the merit review. This may make the application incomplete, and ACF will not make awards based on an incomplete application.

Do Not Encrypt or Password-Protect the Electronic Application Files If ACF cannot access submitted electronic files because they are encrypted or password protected, the affected file will not be reviewed. This may make the application incomplete, and ACF will not make awards based on an incomplete application.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PAPER APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS:

You must receive an exemption in order for a paper application to be accepted for review. For more information on the exemption, see "ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Required Electronic Application Submission."

Applicants with an approved exemption for paper application submission should download the forms package associated with the NOFO's Synopsis on Grants.gov under the Package tab.

All copies of mailed paper applications must be submitted in a single package. If an applicant is submitting multiple applications under a single NOFO, or multiple applications under separate NOFOs, each submission must be packaged separately. The package(s) must be clearly labeled with the NOFO title and Funding Opportunity Number.

Applicants must submit one original and two copies of the complete application, including all SFs and OMB-approved forms. The original copy must have original signatures. Copies of the https://www.grants.gov/applicants/submitting-utf-8-special-characters https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf application, not the original, will be reproduced by the federal government for review. All application materials must be one-sided for duplication purposes. All pages in the application submission must be sequentially numbered.

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications Applicants seeking an award under this funding opportunity must submit the listed SFs, assurances, and certifications with the application. All required SFs, assurances, and certifications are available in the Application Package posted for this NOFO at Grants.gov.

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement Notes/Description

SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

Required of all applicants.

Applicants must have a UEI and maintain an active SAM registration throughout the application and project award period.

Obtain a UEI and SAM registration at:

http://www.sam.gov.

See Section IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) for more information.

Certification Regarding Lobbying (Grants.gov Lobbying Form)

Submission required of all applicants with the application package. If it is not submitted with the application package, it must be submitted prior to award.

Submission of the certification is required for all applicants.

SF-Project/Performance Site Location(s) (SF-P/PSL)

Submission is required for all applicants by the application due date.

Required for all applications. In the SF- P/PSL, applicants must cite their primary location and up to 29 additional performance sites.

Additional Required Assurances and Certifications Mandatory Grant Disclosures All applicants and recipients are required to submit, in writing, to ACF and the HHS Office of https://www.sam.gov/ the Inspector General, all information related to violations of federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the federal award. (Mandatory Disclosures, 45 CFR § 75.113)

Disclosures must be sent in writing to:

The Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Grants Management, ATTN: Grants Management Specialist, 330 C Street, SW., Switzer Building, Corridor 3200, Washington, DC 20201

And to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, ATTN:

Mandatory Grant Disclosures, Intake Coordinator, 330 Independence Avenue, SW., Cohen Building, Room 5527, Washington, DC 20201

Fax: (202) 205-0604 (Include “Mandatory Grant Disclosures” in subject line) or Email: grantdisclosures@oig.hhs.gov

The Project Description The Project Description Overview

General Expectations and Instructions The Project Description requests the information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for financial assistance. It must address all activities for which federal funds are being requested and all application requirements as stated in this section. The Project Description must explain how the project will meet the purpose of the NOFO, as described in Section I. Program Description. As a reminder, reviewers will be evaluating this section in accordance with Section V.1. Criteria.

The Project Description must be clear, concise, and complete. ACF is particularly interested in Project Descriptions that convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project Descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, not length.

Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting documents designated as required must be included in the Appendix of the application.

Letter of Intent Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify ACF of their intention to submit an application under this NOFO. The letter of intent is optional. Failure to submit a letter of intent will not impact eligibility to submit an application and will not disqualify an applicant from the merit review. Letter of intent information will be used to determine the number of expert reviewers needed to evaluate applications.

Please submit a letter of intent by the deadline date listed in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. The letter of intent should include the following information: number and title of this funding opportunity; the name and address of the applicant organization; and the name, phone number, fax number and email address of a contact person.

mailto:grantdisclosures@oig.hhs.gov

Applicants are encouraged to submit the letter of intent via email to tanfdatagrants@icf.com.

Letters of intent may also be submitted via mail to the following address:

TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards c/o ICF International

1902 Reston Metro Plaza

Reston, VA 20190

Table of Contents List the contents of the application including corresponding page numbers. The table of contents may be single spaced.

Project Summary Provide a summary of the project description. The summary must include a brief description of the applicant's proposed project including the needs to be addressed, the proposed activities or services, and if applicable, the population group(s) to be served. The summary must be clear, accurate, concise, and without cross-references to other parts of the application. Please place the following at the top of the Project Summary:

• Project Title

• Applicant Name

• Address

• Contact Phone Numbers (Voice, Fax, Cell)

• Email Address

• Website Address, if applicable

The Project Summary must be single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font, and limited to one page in length. Additional pages will be removed and will not be reviewed.

Legal Status of Applicant Entity Applicants must provide the following documentation:

Non-Profit Organizations

Proof of Non-Profit Status Options:

Option 1: 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) non-profit organizations are eligible Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:

• A reference to the applicant organization's listing in the IRS's most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in the IRS Code.

• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax-exemption certificate.

• A statement from a state taxing body, state attorney general, or other appropriate state official certifying that the applicant organization has non-profit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.

mailto:tanfdatagrants@icf.com

• A certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status.

• Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a state or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.

Unless directed otherwise, applicants must include proof of non-profit status in the Appendices file of the application submission.

For-Profits and Small Businesses For-profit organizations (including small businesses) applying for funding must submit the following to provide proof of their legal status: Documentation establishing the power granted to the entity to enter into contractual relationships and/or accept awards (i.e., articles of incorporation, bylaws).

Additional Eligibility Documentation Applicants must provide the additional, required documentation, or required credentials, to support eligibility for an award, as described in Section III. Eligibility Information of this funding opportunity.

Demonstrated access to TANF data. Applicants must submit documentation to demonstrate that they have current access to the relevant administrative TANF data and other data that will be used in the project or will have access by the time of award. Acceptable documentation includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• A signed data use agreement or memorandum of understanding from the relevant agency office or division leadership responsible for maintaining the administrative data.

• A signed letter of commitment from the relevant agency office or division leadership responsible for maintaining the administrative data confirming that the key personnel from the applicant organization have current access or will have access to the data by the time of award.

Support from TANF agency leadership. Applicants must submit documentation to demonstrate that they have support from their TANF agency leadership (e.g., the lead state or local administrator for the TANF agency) to participate in the funding opportunity. Acceptable documentation includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• A signed letter from TANF agency leadership (e.g., the lead state or local administrator for the TANF agency) indicating their support for key personnel participation in all training and technical assistance and completion of all award requirements as described in Section 1. Program Description.

Approach Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed project will be accomplished. Applicants must account for all functions or activities identified in the application.

Cite potential obstacles and challenges to accomplishing project goals and explain strategies that will be used to address these challenges.

Applicants must describe their rationale for participation that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the purpose of the funding opportunity. Applicants must propose an equity-related project to be completed, in consultation with the TDC 2.0 project team (the ACF-funded, third-party technical assistance provider), during the project period. The description must clearly demonstrate the following:

• the applicant’s ability to access and analyze the relevant TANF administrative data and any other data needed for the project.

• the support of the local- or state-level TANF agency leadership, and a commitment to using data to improve policy and practice.

Applica…