oppOVW-2018-13826-cfda16.736-instructions..pdf

OMB Number – 1122-0020 Expiration Date: 12/31/2018 i

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

OVW Fiscal Year 2018 Transitional Housing Assistance

Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Solicitation

Release Date: on or about January 4, 2018

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to: states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and other organizations, including sexual assault and domestic violence victim service providers, sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that have a documented history of effective work concerning sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

(See “Eligibility Information”)

Deadlines

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (E.T.) on February 16, 2018.

(See “Submission Dates and Times”)

Registration Information: To submit an application, all applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number, and register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. To ensure sufficient time to complete the registration process, applicants must obtain a DUNS Number and register online with SAM and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than, February 1, 2018.

(See “Registration”) http://www.grants.gov/ ii

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov by January 31, 2018. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned to successfully submit an application by the deadline. Submitting a Letter of Registration will not obligate potential applicants to submit an application. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter of Registration are still eligible to apply.

(See “Letter of Registration”)

Pre-Application Information Sessions: OVW will conduct two web-based Pre-Application Information Sessions for entities interested in submitting an application for the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking. Participation in these sessions is optional. Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply.

(See “Pre-Application Information Sessions”)

Contact Information

For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, email OVW at ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov. Alternatively, interested parties may call OVW at (202) 307- 6026.

Submission and Notification Information

Submission: Applications for the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking will be submitted through Grants.gov.

For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Line at 1- 800-518-4726.

The Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement is OVW-2018-13826.

Notification: OVW anticipates notifying all applicants of funding decisions by October 1, 2018.

mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ iii

Contents

A. Program Description Overview

About the OVW Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program

Program Scope

Purpose Areas

Mandatory Program Requirements

OVW Priority Areas

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery and Undermine Offender Accountability

Out-of-Scope Activities

Unallowable Activities

B. Federal Award Information Availability of Funds

Award Period

Award Amounts

Types of Applicants

C. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants

Eligible Entities

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – Offshore Accounts

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Other Program Eligibility Requirements

Limit on Number of Applications

D. Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package

Pre-Application Information Sessions

Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Registration

Application Contents

Formatting and Technical Requirements

Application Requirements iv

Summary Data Sheet Proposal Abstract (not scored)

Project Narrative

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Letter of Experience (LOE)

Additional Required Information

Unique Entity Identifier (DUNS Number) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Submission Dates and Times

OVW Policy on Duplicate Applications

OVW Policy on Late Submissions

Intergovernmental Review - Single Point of Contact Review

Funding Restrictions

Other Submission Requirements

Downloading a Grant Application Package

Completing the Grant Application Package

Submitting the Completed Grant Application Package

E. Application Review Information Criteria

Review and Selection Process

Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) H. Other Information

Application Checklist

APPENDIX A

Budget Guidance & Sample Budget Detail Worksheet

APPENDIX B

Sample Letter of Registration

APPENDIX C

Disclosures of Process Related to Executive Compensation v

APPENDIX D

Summary of Current and Recent OVW Projects

APPENDIX E

Summary of Current and Pending Non-OVW Grants to Do the Same or Similar Work

APPENDIX F

Sample Letter of Experience

OVW Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking

(CFDA 16.736)

A. Program Description Overview The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW implements the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Since its inception, OVW has supported a multifaceted approach to responding to these crimes through implementation of grant programs authorized by VAWA. By forging state, local, and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, organizations that serve culturally specific and underserved communities, and others, OVW grants help provide victims, across their life span, with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities’ capacity to provide justice for victims and hold offenders accountable.

About the OVW Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12351. The Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking (Transitional Housing Program) supports programs that provide 6-24 months of transitional housing with support services for victims who are homeless or in need of transitional housing, as a result of a situation of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking; and for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient.

OVW is interested in programs with a holistic, victim-centered approach to providing transitional housing that move survivors into permanent housing.

For additional information on the Transitional Housing Program, including what past Transitional Housing Program grantees have accomplished with their grant funds, and to view the Transitional Housing Program performance measures and grantee-reported data, see http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/thousingmain.htm.

Program Scope Activities supported by the Transitional Housing Program are determined by statute, federal regulations, and OVW policies. If an applicant receives an award, the funded project is bound by the provisions of this solicitation, the DOJ Financial Guide, including updates to the guide after an award is made, and the conditions of the award.

Purpose Areas In FY 2018, funds under the Transitional Housing Program may be used for the following statutory purposes:

1. Transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of newly developed or existing transitional housing;

http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/thousingmain.htm https://www.justice.gov/ovw/file/892031/download

2. Short-term housing assistance, including rental or utility payments assistance and assistance with related expenses such as payment of security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing; and

3. Voluntary support services for recipients of transitional housing, including counseling, childcare, transportation, and life skills, educational and/or job training. Support services should be designed to enable a minor, an adult, or a dependent of such minor or adult, who is fleeing a situation of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking to:

a. locate and secure permanent housing;

b. secure employment, including obtaining employment counseling, occupational training, job retention counseling, and counseling concerning re-entry in to the workforce; and

c. integrate into a community by providing that minor, adult, or dependent with services, such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, and other assistance.

For the purposes of the OVW Transitional Housing Program, transitional housing is temporary housing offered to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months and helps victims transition into permanent, affordable housing. Transitional housing is not an extended shelter stay.

Short-term housing assistance is the provision of transitional housing through rental assistance and/or other financial assistance (e.g. security deposits, utility assistance, relocation costs, etc.)

connected to the provision of transitional housing. Short-term housing assistance is not emergency shelter, rental assistance that is offered for less than 6 months, or financial assistance for victims not provided with transitional housing.

Pursuant to the authorizing statute, OVW-funded transitional housing projects cannot mandate that recipients participate in support services as a condition of receiving housing assistance.

Throughout the remainder of the solicitation, the term “transitional housing” refers to both transitional housing and short-term housing assistance as defined above unless otherwise noted.

Mandatory Program Requirements Applicants that receive funding under the Transitional Housing Program will be required to do the following:

1. Submit the policies, procedures, and rules governing the provision of the transitional housing and related support services for review and approval (post award). Grant recipients will be required to revise and/or remove an activity that OVW determines may compromise victim safety, is unallowable, or does not conform to best practices for providing transitional housing to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

2. Offer transitional housing and services for at least 6 months and no more than 24 months with OVW grant funds.

3. Offer follow-up support services for transitional housing clients who secure permanent housing. Follow-up services are limited to advocacy, support groups, case management, and minimal financial assistance (e.g., security deposit or first month’s rent for permanent housing) and must be provided for at least 3 months but no more than a year.

4. Significantly involve a victim service provider in the implementation of the project, including the development and review of all policies and procedures and the provision of support services.

5. Ensure that any staff, partner staff, or service provider working with transitional housing survivors are trained to work with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

6. Send the project coordinator and one other key staff member to an in-person OVW grantee orientation.

7. Send key staff to an in-person OVW-sponsored training on voluntary services.

8. Agree to provide transitional housing to their clients without requiring participation in support services.

9. Notify OVW of any changes to the source of funding used to provide transitional housing.

10. Compensate at least one, if not all of their project partners, for time and travel to participate in project development, training, and implementation. If a partner is a state or unit of local government and the partnership duties are conducted within the course of the agency’s “regular” scope of work, the applicant does not need to compensate the partner if the partner:

a) offers this arrangement; and

b) an explanation of this arrangement is included in the application.

OVW Priority Areas In FY 2018, OVW is interested in supporting the priority areas identified below. Applications proposing activities in the following areas will receive additional points and/or special consideration, as appropriate, during the review process.

1. Meaningfully increase access to OVW programming for specific marginalized and/or underserved populations1 (based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, etc.).

Applicants must identify if their application addresses this priority in the Summary Data Sheet and then complete the section in the Project Narrative that focuses specifically on underserved populations. During the review process, OVW will determine which applications are responsive to this priority and are addressing the underserved population(s) in a thoughtful and strategic manner. Applications determined to address this priority during the review process may receive special consideration, as appropriate.

2. Address the unique risks and challenges faced by veterans who are homeless or in need of transitional housing assistance as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Women veterans may have unique risk factors for intimate partner violence2 and may face unique challenges in seeking housing and support services when they become homeless as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Therefore, OVW

1 The term “underserved populations” means populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services, and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities, alienage status, or age), and any other population determined to be underserved by the Attorney General or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate. 34 U.S.C. §12291(a)(39).

2 See, for example: Gerber, M., Iverson, K., Dichter, M., Klap, R., & Latta, R. (2014). Women veterans and intimate partner violence: current state of knowledge and future directions. Journal of Women's Health, 23(4), 302-309.

encourages applicants to develop strategies for responding to veterans as part of their overall proposals to serve victims in their communities. Applicants must identify if their applications address this priority in the Summary Data Sheet and complete the section in the Project Narrative that focuses specifically on addressing the challenges faced by veterans who are homeless as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. This section will be assessed during peer review. In addition, OVW will determine which applications are most responsive to this priority and are addressing it in a thoughtful and strategic manner.

Applications determined to meaningfully address this priority during the review process may receive up to 5 additional points.

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery and Undermine Offender Accountability The following activities have been found to jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions:

1. Procedures or policies that exclude victims from receiving safe shelter, advocacy services, counseling, and other assistance based on their actual or perceived sex, age, immigration status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health condition, physical health condition, criminal record, work in the sex industry, or the age and/or gender of their children;3

2. Procedures or policies that compromise the confidentiality of information and/or privacy of persons receiving OVW-funded services;

3. Procedures or policies that require victims to take certain actions (e.g., seek an order of protection, receive counseling, participate in couples counseling or mediation, report to law enforcement, seek civil or criminal remedies, etc.) in order to receive services;

4. Procedures or policies that fail to include conducting safety planning with victims;

5. Project designs and budgets that fail to account for the access needs of individuals with disabilities, with limited English proficiency, or who are Deaf or hard of hearing; and

6. Requiring transitional housing participants to have income to be eligible for services;

7. Requiring survivors to meet restrictive conditions in order to receive services (e.g.

background checks of victims; clinical evaluations to determine eligibility for services, etc.);

8. Enforcing or promoting nuisance abatement ordinances, crime-free housing ordinances, or crime-free lease addenda (often associated with crime-free housing programs) that require or encourage the eviction of tenants or residents who may be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking4; and

9. Using technology without addressing implications for victim confidentiality, safety planning, and the need for informed consent. If applicants are proposing to use any technology (including, but not limited to, security systems, GPS, hotlines, and databases), they should explain how they plan to address any victim safety concerns that may arise from the use of the technology, such as confidentiality, safety planning, and informed consent.

3 If an award is made, the recipient will also be subject to statutory prohibitions on discrimination. For further information on these civil rights requirements, see the section "Violence Against Women Act Non-Discrimination Provision” under “F. Federal Award Administration Information.”

4 See also the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidance on how such ordinances and addenda may violate the Fair Housing Act, https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=FinalNuisanceOrdGdnce.pdf.

https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=FinalNuisanceOrdGdnce.pdf

This list is not exhaustive. Applications that propose any activities that compromise victim safety and recovery or undermine offender accountability may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

Out-of-Scope Activities OVW has determined the activities listed below to be out of the program scope, and they will not be supported by Transitional Housing Program funding.

1. Research projects (This does not include program assessments conducted only for internal improvement purposes. See “Research and Protection of Human Subjects” in the Solicitation Companion Guide.

2. Prevention - Grant funds may not be used for prevention activities (e.g., outreach to elementary and secondary schools, implementation of educational programs regarding domestic and dating violence intervention, and public awareness campaigns). Outreach activities are limited to informing potential survivors about the availability of services.

3. Family violence - Grant funds may not be used to directly address child abuse, or other family violence issues such as violence perpetrated by a child against a parent, or violence perpetrated by a sibling against another sibling or neglect or exploitation. Grant funds may not be used for caregiver abuse of elders and other vulnerable adults.

4. Children – Grant funds may not be used to provide direct services to children, including children who witness domestic violence or victims of child abuse, except where the child meets the program eligibility for transitional housing services or where such services are an ancillary part of providing transitional housing and supportive services to the child's parent (or legal guardian) who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking.

5. Mandatory participation in services - Participation by survivors in all support services shall be voluntary, and not be a condition for receiving transitional housing. An application proposing a project that requires participation in any support services, including case management, will not be considered a qualified application.

6. Grant funds cannot be used to keep victims in their homes or to prevent them from losing their current housing.

7. Emergency shelter or short-term housing assistance offered for less than 6 months.

Applications that propose activities that are deemed to be substantially out-of-scope may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

Unallowable Activities OVW has determined the activities listed below to be unallowable, and they will not be supported by Transitional Housing Program funding.

1. Lobbying;

2. Fundraising;

3. Purchase of real property;

4. Physical modifications to buildings, including minor renovations (such as painting or carpeting);

5. Construction;

6. Payment of mortgage, property taxes or other expenses that would prevent foreclosure or eviction;

7. Payment of bills/utilities in arrears;

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8. Drug and/or alcohol testing; and

9. Using federal funds for savings accounts for survivors.

Limited Use of Funds The following activities can be supported only in limited circumstances:

• Legal Services – Use of grant funds for legal services is limited to providing legal services to transitional housing program participants. Participants may receive limited legal services throughout program participation. The provision of limited legal services shall terminate upon participants’ entry into permanent housing. Legal services are limited to those that are necessary to enable a transitional housing program participant to locate and secure housing, and to integrate into a community, including legal services regarding housing, protection orders, and limited immigration matters will be affect a victim’s ability to obtain housing (such as U-visas). Funds under this grant program may not be used for comprehensive, long-term legal assistance, such as divorce or child custody.

• Purchase and/or Lease of Vehicles – Requests to use grant funds for the purchase and/or lease of a vehicle by the grant recipient or its partner organization may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If an applicant is requesting funds for a vehicle, a lease/purchase analysis must be submitted with the application and the cost included in the budget and budget narrative. Grant funds may not be used for the purchase and/or down payment of a vehicle for private ownership by a victim in a transitional housing program.

Applicants that propose unallowable activities may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration entirely.

An application that is deemed deficient in more than one of the aforementioned categories (activities that compromise victim safety, out-of-scope activities, unallowable activities) may not be considered for funding.

B. Federal Award Information Availability of Funds All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. There is no guarantee that funds will be available in the future. Therefore, OVW encourages applicants to develop a plan to sustain project activities if federal funding through this program ceases to be available. Also, OVW may elect to make awards in a future fiscal year for applications submitted under this solicitation but not selected for FY 2018 funding, depending on the merits of the applications and on the availability of funding.

Award Period The grant award period is 36 months. Budgets must reflect 36 months of project activity, and the total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 36 months. Generally, the award period will start on October 1, 2018.

Award Amounts Applicants should not exceed the award amounts listed in this solicitation and should carefully consider the resources needed to successfully implement the proposed project.

Awards under the Transitional Housing Program for FY 2018 will be made for up to $350,000 for the entire 36 months.

OVW has the discretion to award grants for greater or lesser amounts than requested and to negotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to awarding a grant.

The Transitional Housing Program typically makes awards in the range of $300,000 - $350,000.

OVW estimates that it will make up to 65 awards for an estimated $20,000,000.

Awards will be made as grants.

Types of Applicants In FY 2018, OVW will accept applications for the Transitional Housing Program from the following:

New: applicants that have never received funding under the Transitional Housing Program or whose previous funding expired more than 12 months ago.

Continuation: applicants that have an existing or recently closed (within the last 12 months) award under the Transitional Housing Program. Continuation funding is not guaranteed.

Transitional Housing Program grant recipients that received an FY 2016 or FY 2017 award are NOT eligible to apply.

Additionally, current grantees with a substantial amount (50% or more) of funds remaining at the time of application submission without adequate justification may not be considered for funding, or may receive a reduced award amount if selected for funding in FY 2018.

C. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants It is very important that applicants review this information carefully. Applications that are submitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all program eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding.

Eligible Entities

1. States;

2. Units of local government;

3. Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and

4. Other organizations, including sexual assault and domestic violence victim service providers, sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that have a documented history of effective work concerning sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Qualified Applications

To be qualified for funding under this program, applications must meet the following statutory definition of “qualified application” (see 34 U.S.C. § 12351(g)(3)(D)). An application is qualified if it:

1. has been submitted by an eligible applicant;

2. does not propose any activities that may compromise victim safety, including background checks of victims or clinical evaluations to determine eligibility for services;

3. reflects an understanding of the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; and

4. does not propose prohibited activities, including mandatory services for victims.

Nonprofit Organization Requirement – Offshore Accounts Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is not eligible for a grant from the Transitional Housing Program.

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement This program has no match or cost sharing requirement.

Other Program Eligibility Requirements In addition to meeting the eligible entity requirements outlined above, applications for the Transitional Housing Program must also meet the requirements below. All certification and other eligibility related documents must be current and developed in accordance with the FY 2018 solicitation. Applications that do not meet all of the program eligibility requirements below will not be considered for funding under the Transitional Housing Program.

Required Partnerships An application must include both a victim service provider and at least one other organization (e.g., a housing provider, local homelessness coalition, or other social service provider serving low-income households, including community colleges, workforce centers, community action agencies and public assistance departments).

An application from a tribe, state or unit of local government must include both a victim service provider and a housing provider.

The victim service provider must play an active role in the development and implementation of the project. Applications must demonstrate that the victim service provider is significantly involved in the design of the project, development and review of all policies and procedures, and ensuring that anyone working with transitional housing survivors is trained in working with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

In general, partners identified in the application as receiving a portion of the award are subrecipients and not contractors because they meet the criteria in 2 C.F.R. § 200.330 for distinguishing between subrecipients and contractors: they will be using federal funds to carry out a program for a public purpose specified in the authorizing statute for this program (as opposed to providing goods or services for the benefit of the applicant), will have their performance measured in relation to whether objectives of the grant program were met, and will have responsibility for programmatic decision making. For more information, see the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Organization Definition (victim service provider)

A victim service provider is a nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal organization or rape crisis center, including a state or tribal domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition, that assists or advocates for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including a domestic violence shelter, faith-based organization or other organization, with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Victim service providers should meet all of the following criteria: 1) provide direct services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field; 2) address a demonstrated need in their communities by providing services that promote the dignity and self-sufficiency of victims, improve their access to resources, and create options for victims seeking safety from perpetrator violence; and 3) not engage in or promote activities that compromise victim safety.

Transitional Housing and Support Services Grant recipients must provide both transitional housing (purpose area 1 or 2) and support services (purpose area 3). OVW funds can be used to provide transitional housing, support services, or both. If OVW funds are only used to provide either transitional housing or support services, then the other service must be provided by a project partner and/or another funding source.

Length of Stay Transitional housing with voluntary support services must be offered for a minimum of 6 months and no more than 24 months. Victims may request a waiver for up to an additional 6 months if the victim has made a good faith effort to acquire permanent housing but has not been able to do so.

Support Services for Transitional Housing Participants Only Support services using OVW grant funds (other than follow-up services described below) may only be provided to individuals residing in transitional housing.

Follow-Up Services The grant recipient must develop a plan to provide follow-up services for a minimum of 3 months, and no more than 12 months, for transitional housing clients who have secured permanent housing. Follow-up services should be limited to: advocacy, support groups, case management, and minimal financial assistance (e.g., security deposit or first month’s rent for permanent housing).

Voluntary Services All services (support and follow-up) provided to recipients of transitional housing, either while in transitional housing or when establishing permanent housing, must be voluntary.

Limit on Number of Applications OVW will consider only one application per organization in response to this solicitation. If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted before the deadline.

D. Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package The complete application package is available on Grants.gov or at the OVW website. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of the application materials should contact ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov.

Pre-Application Information Sessions OVW will conduct 2 pre-application information sessions for entities interested in submitting an application for the Transitional Housing Program. Participation in these sessions is optional.

Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply. During these sessions, OVW staff will review the Transitional Housing Program requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer period. These sessions are tentatively scheduled for:

1. January 24, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. E.T.

2. January 25, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. E.T.

Anyone interested in submitting an application to the Transitional Housing Program may register to participate in a pre-application information session. The total number of participants for each session may be limited. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis, and space is not guaranteed. Interested participants from the same agency/jurisdiction are strongly encouraged to participate together so that as many interested applicants as possible can join the session.

OVW reserves the right to deny multiple registrations from a single agency/jurisdiction.

To register, contact the Transitional Housing Program at ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov or

(202) 307-6026. Registration must be received at least one (1) day prior to the start of the session. Participants are not registered until they receive a confirmation email.

Content and Form of Application Submission The information below (“Letter of Registration” through “Additional Required Information”) describes the full content and form of application submission.

Letter of Registration Applicants intending to apply for FY 2018 funding under this program are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration. The letter should state that the applying organization is registered and current with SAM and with Grants.gov. The letter should be submitted to OVW at ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov by January 31, 2018. This will ensure that the applicant is well-positioned to successfully submit a proposal by the application deadline. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See Appendix B for a sample Letter of Registration.

Application Contents This section describes what is included in a complete application package. Applicants should anticipate that failure to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements will negatively affect the review of the application and may result in the application not being considered for funding. Should a decision be made to make an award, the award may include special conditions that preclude access to or use of award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that a complete application is submitted by the deadline.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/open-solicitations mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov

Applicants should not submit documents that were not specifically asked for in the solicitation.

Providing information that was not requested will not increase the likelihood that an application will be selected for funding. All materials submitted as part of an application may be released pursuant to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Formatting and Technical Requirements Applications must follow the requirements below. Points may be deducted for applications that do not adhere to the following requirements:

1. Double spaced (Project Abstract, Summary Data Sheet and charts may be single spaced)

2. 8½ x 11 inch paper

3. One-inch margins

4. Type no smaller than 12 point, Times New Roman font

5. Page numbers

6. No more than 25 pages for the Project Narrative

7. Word documents in the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc), PDF files (.pdf), or Text

Documents (.txt).

8. Headings and sub-headings that correspond to the sections identified in this section of the solicitation.

Application Requirements Applications must include the following required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. OVW will not contact applicants for missing items on the list below. Applications that do not address all of the following components will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding:

1. Project Narrative

2. Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative

3. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

4. Letter of Experience (LOE)

In addition to the application being scored on the documents listed above, the Summary Data Sheet will also be scored.

Summary Data Sheet (5 Points Total) The Summary Data Sheet should be one to four pages in length and may be single or double spaced. The Summary Data Sheet does not count toward the 25-page limit for the Project Narrative. Provide the following information:

1. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the individual with authority to accept grants on behalf of the applicant.

2. Name, title, address, phone number, and e-mail address for the grant point-of-contact.

This person must be an employee of the applicant.

3. Statement as to whether the applicant (i.e., the organization whose DUNS number is being used for the application) will serve as a fiscal agent/sponsor for an entity or entities that will ultimately implement the project, and that the applicant itself will not be involved with implementation of the project beyond issuing a subaward or subawards to other entities. If this is the case, the applicant must include a statement acknowledging that, should an award be made, the applicant will be responsible for all applicable statutory, fiscal, and programmatic requirements, including those of 2 CFR Part 200, as well as all project deliverables. The applicant must also list all of the entities with which it will enter http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl into agreements to implement the project, and should include a description of how these entities intend to accomplish the purposes of the award (if such a description is not already provided in a Memorandum of Understanding submitted as part of the application). Note that, in such situations, the fiscal agent/sponsor must be an eligible applicant for the program.

4. Statement as to whether the applicant has expended $750,000 in federal funds in the applicant’s past fiscal year. If so, specify the end date of the applicant’s fiscal year.

5. Summary of current and recent OVW projects (if applicable). If the applicant has a current grant or cooperative agreement under any OVW grant program or an award that has been closed within the last 12 months from the date this solicitation closes, the information must be provided in a table using the format found in APPENDIX D. Failure to provide the required table will result in a loss of points.

6. A list of other federal grant programs from which the applicant currently receives funding or for which it has applied for funding in FY 2018 to do similar work. Provide this information in a table using the format found in APPENDIX E.

7. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

8. Statement as to whether the applicant is a nonprofit organization that uses the Internal Revenue Service's three-step safe-harbor procedure to establish a rebuttable presumption that its executives' compensation is reasonable. If the applicant is not a nonprofit organization or is a nonprofit that does not use the safe-harbor procedure, provide a statement to that effect. For additional information about the safe-harbor procedure, see "Disclosures Related to Executive Compensation" in the Additional Required Information section.

9. The percentage of grant activities, should the application be funded, that will address each of the following issues (the total percentages should not exceed 100%):

• Sexual assault;

• Domestic violence;

• Dating/teen dating violence; and/or

• Stalking.

10. Statement as to whether the applicant will:

(a) provide both housing and support services with Transitional Housing Program funds;

OR (b) limit its use of Transitional Housing Program funds for either housing or support services. If (b) is selected, the applicant must provide documentation, i.e, award letter to verify the source and availability of non-OVW Transitional Housing Program funds for the other purpose area (housing OR support services). The award letter must describe the availability of these funds for at least the duration of the OVW project period of 36 months.

11. Identification of:

(a) the applicant organization,

(b) all project partner(s), and

(c) the victim service provider in the proposal, and state whether it is the applicant organization or a project partner. This information must be consistent with the rest of the proposal, including the MOU.

12. Statement as to whether or not the applicant organization is currently an MOU partner on any other OVW Transitional Housing Program grant or pending application. If the applicant organization is an MOU partner on a grant, include year of the grant award.

13. Statement as to whether the application addresses an OVW priority area - underserved populations and/or veterans who are homeless as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. If addressing the underserved populations priority area, indicate which identified underserved population the applicant proposes to address under this grant project.

Proposal Abstract (not scored) The Proposal Abstract should provide a short and accurate summary (no more than two pages double-spaced) of the proposed project, including who will be involved with the proposed project, what will be done as primary activities, what products will be produced, the service area where the proposed project will take place and who will be impacted by the proposed project.

Applicants should not summarize past accomplishments in this section.

Project Narrative (60 Points Total) The Project Narrative may not exceed 25 pages in length, double-spaced. The Project Narrative must include the following 3 sections:

Purpose of Application (20 Points)

This section must:

1. Describe the communities to be served including the geographic location, the populations in the service area, including individuals with disabilities, individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and persons with limited English proficiency, and any marginalized and/or underserved population;5

2. Describe the problem to be addressed;

3. Describe current services and gaps; and

4. Describe how the funding will alleviate the problem.

How Underserved Populations Will Be Addressed (Optional Section) (0 points) This section is optional. This section should:

1. Identify the specific underserved population(s) within the proposed service area;

2. Describe in detail the gaps in current services and how the identified population is currently underserved;

3. Describe the barriers individuals from the identified underserved population experience while attempting to seek services;

4. Demonstrate that the applicant and project partners have the expertise and history to provide services to the underserved community identified in the application;

5. Provide a detailed plan for how the project will provide specific services to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking victims from the identified underserved population within the proposed project service area.

How the Challenges Faced by Veterans Will Be Addressed (Optional Section) (Additional 5 Points) This section is optional. Applications that address this priority area must include the information below and may be eligible for an additional 5 points. This section should:

1. Provide an estimate of the number of homeless veterans in the service area;

5 Applicants should use U.S. Census and other government data, as well as the Limited English Proficient Mapping Tool, available at www.lep.gov/maps/, to obtain this information.

http://www.lep.gov/maps/

2. Describe how victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking among this population will be identified, including outreach strategies;

3. Provide a detailed plan for how services will be provided that shows an understanding of the challenges faced by, and the unique needs of, veterans who are homeless as a result of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking; and

4. Demonstrate that partners with expertise in assisting homeless veterans are included.

What Will Be Done (30 Points) The application must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identified in the “Purpose of Application” section above.

1. Describe in detail specific activities necessary for accomplishing each goal and objective of the proposed project.

2. Include a timeline that identifies a timeframe for all the tasks and activities to be completed.

3. Describe the transitional housing or housing assistance/subsidy that will be provided, including, but not limited to:

a. the type of transitional housing (e.g. model, location, etc.);

b. how it will be provided (program-owned, program-rented, landlord/tenant relationship, etc.);

c. method for determining client eligibility (e.g., screening tools, eligibility requirements, etc.);

d. facility rules and regulations;

e. facility safety planning; and

f. fee schedule (if applicable).

4. Describe the support services that will be offered, including, but not limited to:

a. what will be offered;

b. who will provide them;

c. where they will be provided; and

d. how they will be accessed.

5. Describe the plan for follow-up services, including, but not limited to:

a. what will be offered; and

b. timeframe for follow-up services.

6. Describe how the applicant plans to address victim safety and autonomy in the project.

7. Describe how the applicant will maintain confidentiality, especially if working with homeless providers and/or the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), etc.

8. Describe how the proposed project will be accessible to individuals with disabilities, individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and persons with limited English proficiency.

Who Will Implement the Project (10 Points)

1. Identify the key individuals and organizations involved in the proposed project;

2. Demonstrate that the individuals and organizations identified have the capacity to address the stated need, including the expertise necessary to appropriately serve any marginalized and/or underserved populations identified in the Purpose of the Application section, and can successfully implement the proposed project activities;

3. Describe specific roles and responsibilities of all project partners and key staff;

4. Demonstrate the capacity and expertise of the lead applicant and all project partners to serve victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking;

5. Clearly describe who will implement activities as described in the What Will Be Done section (e.g. what organization and staff will conduct intake, find housing, work with participants, provide services, etc.); and

6. Clearly demonstrate that required partnerships have been developed (see “Required Partnerships” in the “Program Eligibility Requirements” section) of the solicitation.

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative (10 Points) All applications must include a detailed budget and budget narrative. A sample Budget Detail Worksheet is available in Appendix A. When preparing the Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative, please use the Sample Budget Detail Worksheet as a guide and be sure to include all necessary budget categories as outlined in the Worksheet. Also, keep in mind that budgetary requirements vary slightly among programs. Applicants must read the solicitation closely to determine the requirements of the budget and budget narrative for each OVW program.

Additionally, the budget must adhere to the guidelines contained in the DOJ Financial Guide.

Award Period and Amount Applicants may submit budgets up to $350,000 for a 36-month period.

Budget Requirements.

Applicants must submit reasonable budgets based on the resources needed to implement their projects in their specific geographic location. The budget should display a clear link between the specific project activities and the proposed budget items. It should not contain any items that are not detailed in the project narrative. The budget narrative must support all costs included in the budget and explain how the costs of goods and services are determined and how they will fulfill the overall objective of the project.

In some circumstances, the budget and budget narrative will be reviewed separately from the proposed project narrative.