PKG00259478-instructions.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Opportunity Title:

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants:

Digital Infrastructure

Funding Opportunity Number: 20200515-CHA

Funding Opportunity Type: New

Federal Assistance Listing Number: 45.130

Application Due Date: May 15, 2020

Ensure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and passwords are current.

NEH will not grant deadline extensions for lack of registration.

Registration in all systems, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, may take up to 1 month to complete.

Office of Challenge Programs Telephone: 202 606-8309 Email: challenge@neh.gov

TTY: 800-877-8399

mailto:challenge@neh.gov

20200515-CHA i

Executive Summary The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Office of Challenge Programs is accepting applications for the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants program. This notice of funding opportunity is for Digital Infrastructure projects that support the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms.

Funding Opportunity Title: Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants:

Digital Infrastructure

Funding Opportunity Number: 20200515-CHA Federal Assistance Listing Number (CFDA):

45.130

Application Due Date: May 15, 2020, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time Anticipated Announcement: December 2020 Anticipated Total Annual Available FY21 Funding:

Approximately $12,500,000 (Capital Projects and Digital Infrastructure combined)

Estimated Number and Type of Awards:

Up to 30 grants (Capital Projects and Digital Infrastructure combined)

Funding Range: Up to $750,000 Match Required: Yes. See Section C2 Matching Requirements.

Period of Performance: Up to 6 years for eligible Historically Black Colleges and

Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education, and two-year community colleges.

Up to 5 years for all other eligible applicants.

The period of performance begins as early as May 1, 2021 and no later than September 1, 2021.

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

See Section C Eligibility Information.

Program Resource Page: https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants

Pre-Application Webinar: A pre-recorded technical assistance webinar will be available on the program resource page on March 20, 2020.

https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants

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Table of Contents A. Program Description

1. Purpose

2. Background

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award

2. Summary of Funding

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Matching Requirements

3. Other Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

E. Application Review Information

1. Review Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Assessment of Risk and Other Pre-Award Activities

4. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. Agency Contacts

H. Other Information

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A. Program Description

1. Purpose This notice solicits applications for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants. This notice of funding opportunity is for Digital Infrastructure projects that support the maintenance, modernization, and sustainability of existing digital scholarly projects and platforms.

It must be stressed that not every digital scholarly project or platform rises to the level of infrastructure. Many digital tools, databases, or collections may have been designed mainly for temporary use, while others may have failed to find a long-term audience. By contrast, a digital project is considered “digital infrastructure” if it is widely used by a community over the long term. Such digital projects support many users across multiple institutions and communities over a sustained period of time. Such projects should strive for dedicated funding and full-time staff support to ensure they can thrive and continue to provide services to the field. This program only supports digital infrastructure projects.

Activities supported under this notice may include but are not limited to: integrating digital resources for improved long-term preservation and access; extending the functionality of existing digital platforms to improve sustainability; creating mechanisms for ensuring the long-term functioning of digital resources; developing and modernizing digital architecture;

improving data management; upgrading software and hardware systems; updating and enhancing existing content; improving the user experience; training and outreach activities; and developing business practices related to project sustainability and associated personnel costs.

Proposed projects must enhance the humanities over the long term and build on careful strategic planning to strengthen and enrich an institution’s humanities activities.

Fundraising costs for the project are limited to 10 percent of total project costs (federal funds plus non-federal certified gifts) during the period of performance.

In accordance with Executive Order 13779 on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Executive Order 13592 on Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Executive Order 13555 on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, NEH especially welcomes Challenge Grant applications from HBCUs, TCUs, and Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education (HSIs), as well as from two-year community colleges. These institutions may be eligible for special periods of performance and matching requirements; see section B. Federal Award Information and C. Eligibility Information.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact program staff to discuss their projects.

Unallowable activities are described in section D6. Funding Restrictions.

Funding categories Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants funds two distinct types of projects, each with its own notice of funding opportunity: Digital Infrastructure (covered in this notice of funding opportunity) and Capital Projects (covered in a separate notice of funding opportunity available on the program resource page).

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/03/03/2017-04357/white-house-initiative-to-promote-excellence-and-innovation-at-historically-black-colleges-and https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/12/08/2011-31624/improving-american-indian-and-alaska-native-educational-opportunities-and-strengthening-tribal https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/10/22/2010-27004/white-house-initiative-on-educational-excellence-for-hispanics https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/10/22/2010-27004/white-house-initiative-on-educational-excellence-for-hispanics

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2. Background This program is authorized by 20 U.S.C. §956 et seq. Awards are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations (for grants and cooperative agreements issued December 26, 2014 or later), and Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants.

According to the 1965 National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, “The term ‘humanities’ includes, but is not limited to, the study of the following: language, both modern and classical; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archaeology;

comparative religion; ethics; the history, criticism and theory of the arts; those aspects of the social sciences which have humanistic content and employ humanistic methods; and the study and application of the humanities to the human environment with particular attention to reflecting our diverse heritage, traditions, and history and to the relevance of the humanities to the current conditions of national life.”

Examples of previously funded projects may be found by using the NEH's Funded Projects Query Form available online at https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx.

To learn more about the National Endowment for the Humanities, visit https://www.neh.gov/about.

NEH Areas of Interest NEH is especially interested in supporting projects that advance humanities-related work in the following areas.

“A More Perfect Union”: NEH Special Initiative Advancing Civic Education and Commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, NEH encourages projects that promote a deeper understanding of American history and culture and that advance civic education and knowledge of our core principles of government. The agency-wide “A More Perfect Union” initiative will help Americans better understand the world’s oldest constitutional democracy and how our founding ideals are met in a modern, pluralistic society.

NEH welcomes consideration of diverse topics in American history, from Native American culture to rural life to the rise of the industrial city, from the Civil War to the Cold War to the Civil Rights movement, etc. We also seek projects that examine foundational documents in U.S.

history, as well as projects that examine historical objects, places, traditions, events, and individuals who collectively shaped our states and nation. Applications about the contributions of under-represented communities are highly encouraged.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Type of Application and Award Type of applications sought: new.

NEH will provide funding in the form of grants.

2. Summary of Funding Approximately $12,500,000 is expected to be available to fund up to 30 recipients in the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants program (Digital Infrastructure and https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=236bb02f01d2e050f7a5b60c88a67066&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-december https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-december https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants https://securegrants.neh.gov/publicquery/main.aspx https://www.neh.gov/about https://www.neh.gov/250

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Capital Projects combined). You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $750,000. The requested grant amount should be appropriate to the humanities needs and the fundraising capacity of the institution.

NEH will not determine the amount available until Congress has enacted the final FY 2021 budget. This program notice is subject to the appropriation of funds, and is a contingency action taken to ensure that, should funds become available for this purpose, applications can be processed and funds awarded in a timely manner.

HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges may request a period of performance of up to six years, provided they meet the criteria stipulated in section C1. Eligible Applicants. All other applicants may request a period of performance of up to five years. All projects have a period of performance start date no earlier than May 1, 2021, and no later than September 1, 2021.

Successful applicants will be awarded Challenge matching funds. Recipients must certify that they have raised eligible contributions from non-federal third parties before matching funds are released (see Section III of Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants). The full amount of Challenge matching funds may not be available for release in the first year of a multi-year period of performance. Challenge matching funds are typically distributed on an annual basis over the life of the award.

Funding beyond the first year is dependent on the availability of appropriated funds for Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, accredited public and 501(c)(3) institutions of higher education, state and local governmental agencies, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Applicants must work wholly or in part in the humanities: they must support research, education, preservation, or public programming in the humanities.

In addition to the general eligibility criteria described above, institutions seeking a period of performance of six years and/or claiming a 1:1 match ratio must meet one or more of the following requirements:

• public or 501(c)(3) nonprofit community colleges and post-secondary two-year institutions of higher education

• public or nonprofit 501(c)(3) U.S. historically black colleges or universities, as defined by Executive Order 13532. Eligible institutions are those included in the Department of Education’s list of HBCUs (click on “Accredited HBCU listing,” available at the link)

• public or nonprofit 501(c)(3) Hispanic-serving institutions of higher education:

To determine whether your institution is eligible, begin by consulting the most recent Eligibility Matrix, compiled by the Department of Education and available here. (Scroll down to the middle of the webpage; then click on “Eligibility Matrix 2018.” The Eligibility Matrix typically appears as the second item under “Tips and Assistance.”) https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html

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The Eligibility Matrix is a read-only Excel worksheet that lists data for all potentially eligible postsecondary institutions. First, locate your institution’s name in column A (“Institution Name”). Next, scroll across to look at column AV (“HSI Elig”). If the row for your institution in that column appears green and has a number 5 or 6, you are affiliated with an eligible institution.

If you’re unable to verify your institution’s status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by consulting the most recent Eligibility Matrix, you may establish your institution’s status with a 2019 or 2020 letter or other document from the Department of Education, certifying Title III and Title V eligibility. Obtain a PDF of this document from your institution and include it in Attachment 11:

Additional supporting documentation. In addition to submitting documentation of Title III and Title V eligibility, your institution must also meet the Department of Education’s definition of a Hispanic-Serving Institution. You may determine your institution’s eligibility by consulting enrollment data for your institution at this link: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/. (Search for your institution, then click on “Enrollment.”)

• U.S. tribal college or university recognized by the Department of Education and listed at http://www.aihec.org/who-we-serve/TCUmap.cfm.

Individuals, foreign and for-profit entities are not eligible to apply.

2. Matching Requirements In order to receive Challenge matching funds, recipients must raise and certify eligible matching gifts from non-federal third-party sources.

Eligible applicants (other than HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges) must meet the following matching ratios:

• Requests for grants of $500,000 or less must be matched at $3 in non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (3:1).

• Requests for grants exceeding $500,000 and up to $750,000 must be matched at $4 in non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds (4:1).

Sample matching requirements for applicants meeting general eligibility

Match Ratio (Non-federal:

federal)

Requested NEH Challenge Grant funds

Gifts to be raised by grant recipient

(from third-party non-federal donors)

Total project cost

3:1 $500,000 $1,500,000 $2,000,000 4:1 $600,000 $2,400,000 $3,000,000

Eligible HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges must match $1 in non-federal gifts for every $1 in federal funds, regardless of the awarded amount.

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ http://www.aihec.org/who-we-serve/TCUmap.cfm

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Sample matching requirements for HBCUs, TCU’s, HSI’s and two-year community college applicants

Match Ratio (Non-federal:

federal)

Requested NEH Challenge Grant funds

Gifts to be raised by recipient (from third-party non-federal donors)

Total project cost

1:1 $550,000 $550,000 $1,100,000

Fundraising period Recipients may raise gifts from non-federal third-party sources five months prior to the application deadline through the period of performance end date.

Allowability of gifts To be eligible for matching, gifts may not derive from the recipient institution itself. Recipients may not supplant, shift, or reallocate internal funds for matching purposes. All non-federal funds, such as matching pledges and gifts must be new—that is, given (and pledges fulfilled) during the fundraising period.

The majority of gifts eligible for matching must be restricted—that is, donations made explicitly in response to or in anticipation of the Challenge Grant. Donors of restricted gifts must be aware that their gifts will be used to fulfill the match of the Challenge Grant and that their gifts will be used to support the purposes outlined in the approved Challenge Grant application.

Unrestricted gifts—that is, gifts donated without limitations on their use—may be allowable, but the donor must have made the gift within the fundraising period. Pledges of unrestricted gifts require no reference to the NEH challenge, except that the gifts must be pledged and paid within the fundraising period. The total of unrestricted gifts that may be certified cannot exceed the amount of the federal portion of the Challenge Grant.

Some types of gifts, such as real estate, earned income, planned giving, and in-kind gifts, are subject to special limitations. Discounts on contracted goods and services, as well as contributions from federal sources, are not eligible for matching.

Recipients may only use Challenge Grant funds, both federal and non-federal, to support the purposes outlined in the approved Challenge Grant budget.

Additional information on allowable gifts is available in Section III of the Administration of NEH Challenge Infrastructure and Capacity Building Grants.

Release of Challenge matching funds The federal portion of Challenge Grants is typically offered in annual installments. NEH releases federal funds according to a schedule that allows donations received as early as five months prior to the application deadline through the period of performance. During a five-year period of performance, funds are typically released in the first three years when completely matched according to the required ratio (3:1 or 4:1) and amount. The fourth year's installment allows the release of the federal funds when matched one-to-one, with the remaining parts of the match to be raised in the fifth year, to allow time in the final year of the period of performance to finish the match and collect outstanding pledges.

https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/administration-neh-infrastructure-and-capacity-building-challenge-grants

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Sample match and release schedule for applicants meeting general eligibility requirements

NEH Challenge Grant offer of $300,000, with a 3:1 matching ratio

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total NEH funds (federal) offered

$25,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000 n/a $300,000

Non-federal gifts to be raised

$75,000 $300,000 $300,000 $75,000 $150,000 $900,000

Total Challenge funds (federal + non-federal)

$100,000 $400,000 $400,000 $150,000 $150,000 $1,200,000

The federal portion of Challenge Grants to HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges is typically released in annual installments over a six-year period of performance. NEH releases funds when completely matched according to the required one-to-one ratio and amount. The fundraising period begins as early as five months prior to the application deadline and can include donations through the period of performance.

Sample match and release schedule for HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, and two-year community colleges

NEH Challenge offer of $300,000, with a 1:1 matching ratio

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Total NEH funds (federal) offered

$25,000 $75,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $300,000

Non-federal gifts to be raised

$25,000 $75,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $300,000

Total Challenge funds (federal + non-federal)

$50,000 $150,000 $200,000 $100,000 $50,000 $50,000 $600,000

Variations on a typical match and release schedule are possible. NEH makes the final determination of the match and release schedule.

Recipients are encouraged to certify gifts in advance of the required matching schedule.

Depending on available program funds, advance certification may result in the early release of federal funds.

Recipients are responsible for maintaining auditable records of the sources and use of required matching gifts. See 2 CFR §200.306 for additional information.

3. Other Eligibility Information Applicants may apply for only one NEH Challenge Grant per calendar year (either Capital Projects or Digital Infrastructure). Previous recipients of Challenge Grants (including Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants (CHA), Challenge Grants (CH), Cooperative Agreements and Special Projects (ZZ), and Special Initiatives (CZ)) are eligible to apply for a subsequent Challenge Grant beginning in the third year after the submission of the final financial report for its most recent NEH Challenge Grant. For example, if a prior Challenge Grant recipient submitted their final financial report in 2017, they would not be eligible to apply https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3aeab4e3a836f5b6807999701e518c94&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1306

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for a subsequent Challenge Grant until 2020. Recipients of Next Generation Challenge Grants (ZB and ZA), Humanities Access Grants (ZH), and Creating Humanities Communities grants (ZR) are exempt from this requirement.

Proposals involving collaboration among multiple institutions for a proposed project are eligible, but one institution must serve as the applicant of record that will be legally, programmatically, and fiscally responsible for the award.

If for any reason an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates), NEH will only accept your last validated online submission, under the correct funding opportunity number, prior to the Grants.gov application due date as the final and only acceptable application.

Two or more applications for federal funding and/or approved federal award budgets are not permitted to include overlapping project costs.

NEH does not make awards to other federal entities or to applicants whose projects are so closely intertwined with a federal entity that the project takes on characteristics of the federal entity’s own authorized activities. This does not preclude applicants from using funds from, or sites and materials controlled by, other federal entities in their projects. Such resources may not, however, be used as gifts to release NEH matching funds.

NEH does not provide financial assistance to foreign institutions or organizations.

Nevertheless, otherwise eligible American institutions may apply for collaborative projects involving U.S. and foreign organizations provided they do not use NEH funds for the purpose of issuing subawards to any foreign organization, as defined by 2 CFR §200.92 and 2 CFR §200.330(a). This limitation does not preclude American institutions from obtaining the services of foreign individuals and consultants to carry out various programmatic activities on a fee-for-service basis, as specified in 2 CFR §200.459; it also does not preclude vendor contracts such as in-country transportation services. If you are interested in submitting an application for a project involving international collaboration, please consult beforehand with the program staff.

All application materials must be received by the application deadline. Late, incomplete, or ineligible applications will not be considered for funding under this notice. Applications that exceed specified page limits will not be reviewed. See the Application Components Table.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Package You are required to apply online through Grants.gov Workspace using the Standard Form 424 (SF-424) application package associated with the funding opportunity and following the instructions provided by Grants.gov unless otherwise noted below.

Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grants have two application packages available in Grants.gov. Please select the appropriate package based upon your project type.

Capital2020 -Capital Projects Digital2020 -Digital Infrastructure https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_192 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1330 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1330 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1459 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

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To request a paper copy of this announcement, please contact challenge@neh.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing (TTY users) can contact NEH via Federal Relay at 800-877- 8399.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Your application will consist of a narrative, budget, budget justification, and other required forms and components described below.

i. Project Narrative The narrative provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It should be succinct, self-explanatory, well organized, and free of technical terms and jargon so that peer reviewers can understand the proposed project.

You must limit the narrative to ten double-spaced pages with one-inch margins and a font size no smaller than twelve points.

NEH has aligned each section of the narrative with a corresponding review criterion. Refer to Section E1. Review Criteria for full descriptions.

Successful applications will contain the information below. Use the following section headings for the narrative.

Project overview (corresponds with Review Criterion “Impact and sustainability”) Summarize the proposed digital infrastructure project and describe how it will directly and indirectly help the applicant achieve long-term goals for its work in the humanities. Explain whether the proposed project is part of a larger project and how it aligns with long-range organizational, institutional, or consortia planning. Provide a concise history of the digital project, platform, enterprise, or repository, including information about previous related work and financial support, and its impact on the humanities community. Summarize how the organization, institution, or consortium, through its mission, personnel, governance, facilities, and resources, is capable of sustaining this digital infrastructure project for the long-term.

Humanities significance and audience (corresponds with Review Criterion “The significance of humanities activities and audience”) Describe the existing digital infrastructure platform, repository, or enterprise from a humanities perspective. What is its purpose? What disciplines does it touch? How does it impact humanities research, teaching, or learning? Describe the current users of the digital project, platform, repository, or enterprise (e.g., scholars, students, the public), its current importance to the humanities community, and how an NEH Challenge Grant will enable the applicant to continue to serve that community (or new communities) in improved ways.

Personnel and project plan (corresponds with review criterion “Personnel and appropriateness of plans”) Summarize the activities supported by the Challenge Grant (that correspond with Attachment 2:

Work plan). Identify the project team, collaborators, partners, and specialists, including fundraising staff (as appropriate), involved in digital infrastructure project activities and describe how the institution has or will obtain the appropriate knowledge, resources, and capabilities to successfully complete the proposed activities (e.g., prior experience and expertise and project management capabilities). Provide letters of support and commitment from appropriate institutional officials, program partners, constituents, and/or outside experts in the field in Attachment 7: Letters of commitment.

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Describe the architecture of the existing digital project or platform, including software and hardware. Describe how it is currently maintained and by whom. Describe your current access model for your users (e.g., is it free to use? Is there a subscription model?). If your project creates or stores data, summarize your long-term data management strategy and provide more detail in Attachment 8: Data management plan. Identify the guidelines or standards you will adhere to with respect to accessibility and universal design for the digital environment, as well as what sorts of disabilities the project will accommodate (for example, cognitive or physical disabilities, impaired sight, or impaired hearing).

Identify any risks and note how they might adversely affect the project and overall schedule.

Describe your strategies to mitigate these risks, so as to keep the project on budget and on schedule.

Evaluation (corresponds with Review Criteria “Evaluation”) Describe how you currently solicit feedback from your user community for improvements to the existing project or platform. Explain how you plan to evaluate the Challenge Grant, in both qualitative and quantitative terms (as appropriate). Describe how you will measure outcomes and determine whether the project has accomplished its stated goals. You may provide evaluation materials (for example, a survey that you might conduct) in Attachment 13:

Additional supporting documentation.

Fundraising and financial capacity (corresponds with Review Criteria “Fundraising and financial capacity”) Describe the plans for raising eligible gifts to meet the NEH matching requirement. If the project is a smaller component of a larger project, please briefly describe how you intend to finance the entire project. Offer evidence of long-term financial stability at the institution (if appropriate, this information may refer to information provided in Attachment 4: Financial statements). Explain how the applicant’s history of fundraising, resources, leadership, staff, and experience will enable it to conduct a successful fundraising campaign. Describe the fundraising strategy, which should align with the project timeline and work plan, and include specific information on funds raised to date and plans for soliciting additional funds; explain its feasibility and how it will broaden the base of institutional support.

NARRATIVE GUIDANCE

To ensure that you fully address the review criteria, this table provides a crosswalk between the narrative language and where each section falls within the review criteria.

Narrative Section Review Criteria

Project overview Impact and sustainability

Humanities significance and audience The significance of humanities activities and audience

Personnel and project plan Personnel and appropriateness of plans

Evaluation Evaluation Fundraising and financial capacity Fundraising and financial capacity

ii. Research and Related Budget Applicants must submit a project budget using the Research and Related Budget Form found in the Grants.gov application package, and attach a budget justification in section L of this form.

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Complete a separate detailed budget for each year of the period of performance requested. The form will generate a cumulative budget for the period of performance.

Required fields are indicated in yellow. If no funds are requested for a required field, enter "0."

You must round to the nearest whole dollar amount in all dollar fields.

Your requested grant amount and the non-federal gifts required to meet the match must be included on the Research and Related budget form. The total requested NEH funds and required gifts should be equal to the amounts indicated on the Supplementary Cover Sheet for NEH Grant Programs in the “Federal Matching” and “Cost Share” fields.

Up to 10 percent of total project costs (federal funds plus non-federal certified gifts) may be used for fundraising costs incurred during the period of performance.

All of the items listed, whether supported by NEH funds or required matching contributions, must be reasonable, necessary to accomplish project objectives, allowable in terms of 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles, auditable, and incurred during the period of performance. All costs are subject to audit, record retention and other requirements set forth in 2 CFR 200 Subpart F.

The inclusion of a cost category on the Research and Related Budget Form does not automatically indicate that an expense is allowable in this program. See section D6. Funding Restrictions for a list of unallowable costs. Carefully review these instructions to ensure that costs are not disallowed.

When indirect costs are charged to the project, ensure that expenses included in the organization's indirect cost pool are not charged to the project as direct costs. For further information, see Section H. Indirect Costs of this form.

Introductory Fields If not pre-populated, indicate your organization’s D-U-N-S® number, the name of your organization, and the period of performance start and end dates. The period of performance start and end dates should be the same as on your SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance - Short Organizational. Check “Project” for budget type.

Section A. Senior/Key Person Include the names of the project director and other senior/key persons employed by the applicant organization who are involved in the project.

Indicate the name and project role of each senior/key person. Enter the annual compensation and identify the number of months the senior/key person will devote to the project in the applicable box (i.e., calendar, academic, summer). Use either calendar months OR a combination of academic and summer months.

If effort does not change throughout the year, you may use only the calendar months column.

You may use both the academic and summer months columns if your institutional business process requires noting each separately even if effort remains constant. If effort varies between academic and summer months, leave the calendar months column blank and use only the academic and summer months columns. If your institution does not use a 9-month academic year or a 3-month summer period, indicate your institution's definition of these in section L. Budget justification.

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Regardless of the number of months being devoted to the project, indicate the salary and amount of fringe benefits being requested for the senior/key person. Per 2 CFR §200.431, fringe benefits are allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include, but are not limited to, the costs of leave (vacation, family-related, sick or military), employee insurance, pensions, and unemployment benefit plans. The sum of requested salary and fringe benefits will automatically calculate for each senior/key person.

The form can accommodate up to eight senior/key persons. If you are requesting funds for more senior/key persons than the form allows, you must include an attachment listing the additional senior/key person(s) in the "Additional Senior/Key Persons" field. Use the same format as the budget form and include all the information identified in this section. If you have attached a file with additional senior/key persons, enter the total funds requested for everyone listed in the attachment in the "Total Funds requested for all Senior/Key Persons in the attached file" field.

All salaries and wages claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §§200.430 and 466. All fringe benefits claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §200.431.

Do not list details of collaborators at other institutions or consultants here, as they will be included in section F. Other Direct Costs.

Section B. Other Personnel For each project role category described below, identify the number of personnel proposed, the total number of months, the total salary, and total fringe requested as described in Section A. Senior/Key Person. Totals will be automatically calculated.

Post-doctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students For all post-doctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate students, individually list names, roles, associated months, and requested salary and fringe benefits in Section L.

Budget Justification.

If applicable, include charges for tuition remission and other forms of compensation paid to students as, or in lieu of, salaries and wages. Such costs are subject to the reporting requirements in 2 CFR §200.430, and must be treated as direct or indirect cost in accordance with the actual work being performed. Tuition remission may be charged on an average rate basis.

Secretarial/Clerical In most circumstances, the salaries of administrative, secretarial, or clerical staff at educational institutions and nonprofit organizations are included as part of indirect costs However, examples of situations where direct charging of administrative or clerical staff salaries may be appropriate may be found at 2 CFR §200.413 (c).

Inclusion of such costs may be appropriate only if all of the following conditions are met:

1. Administrative or clerical services are directly involved in a project or activity (for example, a project coordinator)

2. Individuals involved can be specifically identified with the project or activity

3. Such costs are explicitly included in the budget or have prior written approval of the federal awarding agency

4. The costs are not also recovered as indirect costs https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1431 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1430 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1466 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1431 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1430 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1413

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Requests for direct charging for secretarial/clerical personnel (i.e., administrative and clerical staff) must be appropriately justified in Section L. Budget Justification. For all individuals classified as secretarial/clerical, provide a justification documenting how they meet all four conditions. NEH may request additional information for these positions in order to assess allowability.

Other Project Roles List any additional project role(s) in the blank(s) provided. Identify the number of each personnel proposed.

You may include up to six named roles. If you have more than six, you must combine project roles here and add an explanation about the named roles in Section L. Budget Justification.

All salaries and wages claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §§200.430 and 466. All fringe benefits claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §200.431.

Do not list details of collaborators at other institutions or consultants here, as they will be included in Section F. Other Direct Costs.

Section C. Equipment Description List each item of equipment to be purchased with Federal funds and its estimated cost (including shipping and maintenance), and justify each in Section L. Budget Justification.

Equipment may be purchased for a project if an analysis demonstrates that purchasing is more economical and practical than leasing (equipment rental/user fees should be included in the budget in F. Other Direct Costs). Equipment is defined as nonexpendable personal property costing $5,000 or more and having a service life of more than one year (unless the organization has established a lower level). See 2 CFR §§200.313 and 439.

Consistent with Executive Order 13788 (“Buy American and Hire American”), recipients and subrecipients who purchase equipment and products costing $10,000 or more per unit with grant funds should purchase only American-made equipment and products. This encouragement does not apply to commercial information technology.

You may add up to ten equipment items to this list. If you request funds for more equipment than the form allows, you must include an attachment listing the additional equipment items in this "Additional Equipment" field. Enter the information in a separate file and attach it as a PDF. List each additional item and the funds requested for each individual item. If you have attached a file with additional equipment, enter the total funds requested for all the equipment listed in the attachment.

Total equipment costs will be automatically calculated based on the sum of the "Funds Requested" column and the "Total funds requested for all equipment listed in the attached file" field.

Section D. Travel Enter the total funds requested for both domestic (both local and long-distance) and foreign travel. In Section L. Budget Justification, include the purpose, destination, dates of travel (if known), and the names and number of travelers for each trip. If the dates of travel are not known, specify the estimated length of trip (e.g., 3 days). All trips—both foreign and domestic—must be justified individually.

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For local travel, outline the mileage rate, number of miles, reason for travel and staff member/consumers completing the travel. For long-distance travel, calculate per diem amounts for meals and lodging using written institutional policy. The lowest available commercial fares for coach or equivalent accommodations must be used. Any arrangements made on a non-refundable basis are at the risk of the recipient if the services must be cancelled for any reason. All travel costs claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §200.474, and foreign travel must comply with article 10 of the General Terms and Conditions for Awards to Organizations.

NEH funds may not be used to support attendance at regularly-occurring professional meetings unless the purpose of attending is to disseminate project-related findings.

Total travel costs will automatically calculate based on domestic and foreign travel costs.

Travel to Canada and Mexico should be considered foreign travel.

Section E. Participant/Trainee Support Costs Per 2 CFR §200.75, participant support costs are direct costs for expenses such as stipends, travel allowances, subsistence allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences or training projects.

Per 2 CFR §200.432, a conference is defined as a meeting, retreat, seminar, symposium, workshop or event whose primary purpose is the dissemination of technical information beyond the non-Federal entity and is necessary and reasonable for successful performance under the Federal award.

Justify participant/trainee support costs in Section L. Budget Justification.

Total participant support costs will be automatically calculated based on the sum of the Funds Requested column.

1. Tuition/Fees/Health Insurance Leave this field blank.

2. Stipends List the total funds requested for Participant/Trainee stipends.

3. Travel List the total funds requested for Participant/Trainee travel. In Section L. Budget Justification, name the travelers (if possible) and reflect the travel expenses for each (e.g., roundtrip airfare, mileage or public transportation, related parking, etc.). Any arrangements made on a non-refundable basis are at the risk of the recipient or participant if the services must be cancelled for any reason.

4. Subsistence List the total funds requested for Participant/Trainee subsistence. Subsistence expenses include:

(a) Lodging and service charges;

(b) Meals, including taxes and tips; and

(c) Incidental expenses (fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships).

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1474 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1474 https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-december https://www.neh.gov/grants/manage/general-terms-and-conditions-awards-organizations-grants-and-cooperative-agreements-issued-december https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=35fcd29238edd42c8b1f8b1628e39d47&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_175 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b76712a585433486e57dafcd521c952e&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1432 https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-e/general/g.300-r&r-budget-form.htm#L

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5. Other Describe any other Participant/Trainee support costs (e.g., local ground transportation to various venues, admission fees, bottled water, etc.) and list the total funds requested for all other Participant/Trainee costs described.

Number of Participants/Trainees List the total number of proposed Participants/Trainees. The value of this field cannot exceed 999.

Section F. Other Direct Costs Total Other Direct Costs will be automatically calculated based on the sum of the Funds Requested column.

1. Materials and Supplies List the total funds requested for materials and supplies. Include the total funds requested for materials and supplies to be used in the project costing the lesser of the capitalization level established by the applicant or $5,000, regardless of the length of its useful life. See 2 CFR §§200.314 and 453.

In Section L. Budget Justification, indicate general categories, including an amount for each category. Categories with amounts less than $1,000 are not required to be itemized.

2. Publication Costs List the total funds requested for publication costs. The proposal budget may request funds for the costs of documenting, preparing, publishing, or otherwise making available to others, the findings and products of the work conducted under the award. Include supporting information in Section L. Budget Justification.

3. Consultant Services List the total funds requested for all consultant services. Identify the following items in Section L. Budget Justification, as applicable:

• each consultant, the services he/she will perform, total number of days, travel costs, and the total estimated costs; and

• persons who are confirmed to serve on external advisory committees to the project.

Describe the services to be performed.

All consultant fees claimed must be in compliance with 2 CFR §200.459.

4. Automated Data Processing (ADP)/Computer Services List the total funds requested for ADP/computer services. The cost of the applicant’s computer services, including computer-based retrieval of scientific, technical, and education…