PKG00262423-instructions.pdf

OMB Control #: 3137-0091, Expiration Date: 8/31/2021

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

FOR LIBRARIES

FY 2021 NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Table of Contents

National Leadership Grants for Libraries

A. Program Description

B. Federal Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

D. Application and Submission Information

E. Application Review Information

F. Award Administration Information

G. Contacts

H. Other Information

Appendix One - IMLS Assurances and Certifications

Appendix Two – Required Federal Systems

Appendix Three – Explanation of Forms for Reference

Appendix Four – IMLS Products Guidance

Appendix Five – Conflict of Interest Requirements

National Leadership Grants for Libraries

FY 2021 NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Federal Awarding Agency: Institute of Museum and Library Services

Funding Opportunity Title: National Leadership Grants for Libraries

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-Libraries-FY21

Catalog of Federal Financial Assistance (CFDA) Number:

45.312

Due Date:

Preliminary Proposals: Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on October 2, 2020 Invited Full Proposals: Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on March 26, 2021.

Anticipated Date of Notification of Award Decisions:

July, 2021 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion)

Beginning Date of Period of Performance:

Projects must begin on August 1 or September 1, 2021.

Equal Opportunity IMLS-funded programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. For further information, email the Civil Rights Officer at CivilRights@imls.gov or write to the Civil Rights Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L’Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC, 20024-2135.

A. Program Description A1. What is this grant program?

The National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program (NLG-L) supports projects that enhance the quality of library and archival services nationwide by advancing theory and practice. Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or collaborative approaches that can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment.

To foster the adoption and spread of innovations and practices, IMLS encourages proposals at varying stages of maturity including the emergence of new ideas, validation of existing approaches, and practices for scaling up across library and archives communities. Successful proposals may generate new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that can be widely used, adapted, mailto:CivilRights@imls.gov scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment. Each phase in a project’s life cycle offers opportunities to learn, discover, develop, and test new ideas, activities, software, services, etc.

The benefits of projects funded in this program must not be limited to the local community but must also advance national practice. Projects focused on preserving or providing access to a particular collection or set of collections cannot be supported. Similarly, the program cannot support the digitization of content or pre-digitization activities such as inventorying collections.

Note: Proposals that focus on education and training of library and archives professionals should be submitted to the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

A2. What are the indicators of successful projects?

Indicators (characteristics) of successful projects in the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program projects are as follows:

• National Impact: Successful projects address key needs, high priority gaps, and challenges or opportunities that face libraries or archives. They expand the boundaries within which libraries and archives operate, show the potential for far-reaching impact across size and complexity of institutions, and influence theory and practice.

• Current Significance: Successful projects address a critical issue or opportunity for libraries and archives, and build on current strategic initiatives, knowledge, and agendas in these fields.

They are based on a clear understanding of existing work and the broader environments (e.g., economic, demographic, technological, social) in which libraries and archives operate.

• Strategic Collaborations: Successful projects involve key stakeholders and partners. These collaborations establish or deepen strategic relationships and partnerships or engage intermediaries, both inside and outside of the library and archival fields. Collaborations strengthen expertise, leverage resources and relationships, expand development or implementation of services, and strengthen, amplify, or complement the role of libraries and archives in achieving national impact for the field and within their communities.

• Demonstrated Expertise: Successful projects demonstrate a thorough understanding of the current state of and gaps in relevant theory and practice. They establish how the team possesses the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge to realize significant shifts across the field. They also demonstrate a thorough understanding of the realities of implementation and user adoption of new services, practices, or perspectives.

A3. What are the IMLS Agency-Level Goals and Objectives?

The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research, policy development, and grantmaking.

In FY2018-2022, each award under this program will support one of the following three goals and an associated objective from the IMLS strategic plan, Transforming Communities:

• Promote Lifelong Learning: IMLS supports learning and literacy for people of all ages through museums and libraries.

o Early, digital, information, health, financial, media, civic, and other literacies o Cross-disciplinary and inquiry-based learning methods o Continuous learning for families and individuals with diverse backgrounds and needs o Distinctive role of museums and libraries as trusted sources of information https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/laura-bush-21st-century-librarian-program https://www.imls.gov/about-us/strategic-plan https://www.imls.gov/about-us/strategic-plan

• Build Capacity: IMLS strengthens the capacity of museums and libraries to improve the well-being of their communities.

o Recruitment, training, and development of library and museum workforces o Share and adopt best practices and innovations o Identify trends to help organizations make informed decisions o Serve as trusted spaces for community engagement and dialogue

• Increase Public Access: IMLS makes strategic investments that increase access to information, ideas, and networks through libraries and museums.

o Support stewardship of museum and library collections o Tools, technology, and training enabling discovery and use of collections and resources by all o Policies and partnerships to address access barriers to collections, programs, and information o Increased access to knowledge through effective communications

These agency goals and objectives focus on achieving positive public outcomes for communities and individuals; supporting the unique role of museums and libraries in preserving and providing access to collections and content; and promoting library, museum, and information service policies that ensure access to information for all Americans.

IMLS places importance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This may be reflected in a project in a wide range of ways, including efforts to serve individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; individuals with limited functional literacy or information skills; individuals having difficulty using a library or museum; and underserved urban and rural communities, including children from families with incomes below the poverty line. This may also be reflected in efforts to recruit future professionals in the library or museum fields as well as strategies in building or enhancing access to collections and information.

A4. What are the funding and project categories?

A4a. What are the funding categories?

The funding categories and corresponding periods of performance are:

Funding Category Period of Performance

Planning Grants 1 to 2 years

National Forum Grants 1 to 2 years

Project Grants 1 to 3 years

Research in Service to Practice Grants 1 to 3 years

Your application must designate one of these four funding categories. You may submit as many applications as you wish; however, the same proposal may not be submitted to IMLS under more than one funding category.

Planning Grants allow grantees to perform exploratory activities, such as analyzing needs and feasibility; solidifying partnerships; developing project work plans; or developing early prototypes, proofs of concept, and pilot studies. Methods used to assess the outcomes should be appropriate to the planning category. Applications are expected to provide a basic framework for planning activities that have the potential to lead to a future project. The period of performance for a Planning Grant is one to two years.

National Forum Grants provide the opportunity to convene qualified experts and key stakeholders, including those from adjacent fields as appropriate, to help explore current or emerging issues or opportunities that are important to libraries or archives across the nation as well as to their communities, partners, and stakeholders. National Forum Grants may consist of one or more meetings and related activities. Grantees are expected to produce reports or other deliverables for wide dissemination and are encouraged to consider leveraging technology to allow broad participation, such as virtual meetings or live-streaming. Additional mechanisms for engaging stakeholders and building awareness of the findings are encouraged. The period of performance for a National Forum Grant is one to two years.

Project Grants support the development, implementation, and evaluation of work that transforms how libraries and archives serve the nation. Projects may further pilot, test scalability or feasibility, expand existing products or services into new audiences or contexts, or enhance existing projects or initiatives. Proposals should not simply sustain current activities or represent incremental improvements in existing programs. Applicants should design their proposed work to ensure that new practices have the potential to be easily adoptable, sustainable, and widely implementable across the field. The period of performance for a Project Grant is one to three years.

Research in Service to Practice Grants involve the investigation of key questions relevant to library or archival tools and services. These proposals should build on prior empirical, theoretical, or exploratory work in libraries and archives or other disciplines (as they relate to libraries or library services). Proposals must include clearly articulated research questions and feature appropriate methods, including relevant theoretical or conceptual approaches, data collection, and analysis.

Findings and their implications for library and archival practice should be shared broadly throughout the grant period, rather than exclusively at the end of the project. Dissemination activities should not be limited to publishing journal articles and presenting at academic conferences. Research projects should not be designed with a deterministic agenda or predetermined outcomes. Proposals focused on evaluation are not appropriate for the Research in Service to Practice Grants category and should be submitted to the Project Grants category above. The period of performance for a Research in Service to Practice Grant is one to three years. See Guidance for Research Applications.

A4b. What are the project categories?

The project categories are:

• Lifelong Learning

• Community Catalysts

• National Digital Infrastructures and Initiatives

Your application must designate one of these three project categories. You may submit as many applications as you wish; however, the same proposal may not be submitted to IMLS under more than one project category.

Lifelong Learning: We are interested in proposals that will have a significant national impact on the capacity of libraries and archives to support cross-disciplinary and inquiry-based methods of learning, foster attitudes of discovery, and cultivate skills such as critical thinking, innovation, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Work in this category may include exploring, piloting, scaling, or enhancing programs, services, and partnerships to help users gain literacies and skills, and facilitate experiential and self-directed learning beyond the classroom. Work in this category may also address barriers that limit users’ access to information resources, competency-building opportunities, and formal and informal networks. Proposals should develop dynamic, relevant, and applied learning opportunities; demonstrate a thorough understanding of how library staff and resources can foster deeper learning; and include evaluation of user motivation, adoption, retention, and application of new skills and literacies. Proposals should leverage the distinct role of libraries as trusted sources of information, address substantial opportunities in library and archival practice, and ensure that proposed activities exemplify library principles and values.

Proposals in this category may focus on:

• Fostering collaborations between libraries and formal or informal learning organizations to address issues of shared concern and reinforce libraries’ roles as essential community hubs for lifelong learning. Possible partner organizations might include, but are not limited to, museums, school systems, universities, extension programs, youth-serving organizations, departments of correction, and workforce or economic development organizations.

• Exploring, piloting, scaling, or enhancing replicable library programming, models, and tools that provide opportunities for cross-disciplinary and inquiry-based learning for users of all ages. Topics addressed may include, but are not limited to, informal STEM or other types of participatory learning; community or citizen science; community and expert narratives; early learning; workforce development; and digital, information, health, financial, media, civic, and other types of literacies.

• Investigating questions related to how library services impact user learning. They should be informed by current library and archival practice, demonstrate mutually beneficial relationships between researchers and practitioners, and communicate findings in ways that lead to demonstrable improvements to library services.

• Facilitating opportunities for continuous learning for families and individuals of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and needs, including, but not limited to, young children and their families or caregivers; tweens and teens; un- and under-employed adults looking to make career transitions or re-enter the workforce; veterans; immigrants and refugees; individuals with disabilities; English language learners; and senior citizens.

Community Catalysts: We are interested in proposals that will have a significant national impact on the capacity of libraries and archives to serve as catalysts that contribute to the well-being of communities. In addition to directly providing programs and services, libraries and archives may also serve as partners or intermediaries that strengthen the work of collaborators, community members, and community networks by leveraging their expertise, relationships, networks, or infrastructures.

Work in this category may include exploring, piloting, scaling, or enhancing approaches that strengthen civic and cultural engagement, foster community health, promote digital inclusion, increase equity and access, support economic vitality, or decrease social isolation. Proposals should address substantial opportunities in library and archival practice, ensure the proposed outcomes exemplify library principles and values, draw upon current approaches in collective impact and community development, and be community-driven.

Proposals in this category may focus on:

• Enhancing methods for collaboration between libraries and stakeholders to address community needs and leverage community opportunities. Possible partner organizations might include, but are not limited to, museums, school systems, service organizations, workforce or community development groups, community colleges, or community associations.

• Exploring and developing new, improved, or potentially scalable participatory library programming models that engage communities and individuals of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Identification of opportunities should be based on methods of analysis that may include asset mapping, public data mining, social network analysis, journey mapping, and generating impact indicators in collaboration with the community (see IMLS Community Catalyst and Community Salute Initiatives).

• Developing, implementing, assessing, and scaling programs, services, tools, and partnership models focused on enhancing opportunities and well-being in communities. Topics may include, but are not limited to, workforce and economic development; financial, health, or legal services; and increasing equity and access.

• Assessing how libraries and archives create, develop, implement, and sustain collective impact approaches in communities. These may include, but are not limited to, areas that are rural, isolated, or experiencing economic distress. Some factors to consider may be social and economic conditions, types of anchor institutions, infrastructure, transportation, and geographic and physical barriers.

• Exploring widespread community challenges and opportunities for growth and collaboration that are informed by or build on current library and archival practice and feature mutually beneficial relationships between researchers and practitioners. Findings should be communicated in ways that could lead to demonstrable and responsive improvements in library services, sustained community engagement, enhanced commitment of partners to collective efforts, and increased reach to new and existing library and archives users and underserved audiences.

National Digital Infrastructures and Initiatives: We are interested in proposals that will have a significant national impact on the capacity of libraries and archives to provide access to diverse digital content, collections, and services to a wide range of users. Work in this category may include exploring, piloting, scaling, or enhancing open source digital library infrastructures, efforts to engage communities with digital library content and collections, and other activities related to leveraging shared tools and services. Proposals should address substantial opportunities in library and archival practice and ensure that the proposed outcomes exemplify library principles and values.

Applicants are encouraged to reference National Digital Infrastructures and Initiatives: A Report on the 2017 NDP at Three Forum (PDF, 140KB) when developing their proposals.

Proposals in this category may focus on:

• Leveraging intersections between digital challenges in libraries and the work of experts in other fields to advance theory and practice.

• Exploring methods, tools, and techniques for sustainably and efficiently providing access to digital content and collections at scale for users of all interests and skill levels.

• Assessing barriers to the adoption of tools and services, developing realistic and scalable solutions to those barriers, and increasing the accessibility of content and collections to a wide range of users through effective communications.

• Integrating shared resources and collaborative networks for public access to and preservation of digital library content and collections at institutions of all types and sizes.

• Enhancing the sustainability, interoperability, and accessibility of digital content and collections to provide long-term impact to and value for diverse and evolving user communities.

• Fostering community memory and identity through the development, enhancement, and long-term maintenance of digital collections and community collaborations.

• Advancing realistic and sustainable approaches for the stewardship of new or complex content types or digital formats.

• Enabling the ethical stewardship of diverse or culturally sensitive digital content and collections through inclusive collaborations, tools, interpretation, and co-developed best practices.

https://www.imls.gov/our-work/community-catalyst-initiative https://www.imls.gov/our-work/community-catalyst-initiative https://www.imls.gov/issues/national-initiatives/community-catalyst-initiative https://www.imls.gov/our-work/priority-areas/veterans https://www.imls.gov/issues/national-initiatives/community-salute https://www.imls.gov/publications/national-digital-infrastructures-and-initiatives-report-2017-national-digital-platform https://www.imls.gov/publications/national-digital-infrastructures-and-initiatives-report-2017-national-digital-platform

• Enhancing information literacy and digital inclusion efforts through expanded broadband connectivity, data privacy and security, innovative collaborations, or civic data use.

• Exploring new approaches for engaging communities in the co-creation, interpretation, and stewardship of digital library content and collections, while keeping in mind broader applicability to other contexts and future sustainability.

A4c. Where can I find examples of projects funded by this program?

Click here to search awarded grants by program, category, and/or key word.

A5. Where can I find the authorizing statute and regulations for this funding opportunity?

Statute: 20 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.; in particular, § 9162 (National Leadership Grants).

Regulations: 45 C.F.R. ch. XI and 2 C.F.R. ch. XXXI

Note: You are required to follow the IMLS regulations that are in effect at the time of the award.

Note: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) can be found at 2 C.F.R. pt.

200. With certain IMLS-specific additions, IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. pt. 3187 formally adopt the 2 C.F.R. pt.

200 Uniform Guidance.

B. Federal Award Information Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this announcement

$9,000,000

Anticipated number of awards 40

Expected amount of individual awards Planning Grants Up to $100,000

National Forum Grants Up to $150,000

Project Grants Up to $1,000,000

Research in Service to Practice Grants Up to $750,000

Average amount of funding per award experienced in previous years

$257,850

Anticipated start dates for new awards Projects must begin on August 1 or September 1, 2021.

https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded-grants

Anticipated period of performance

August 1, 2021– August 31, 2024. Project activities may be carried out for one to three years based on the selected funding category.

See Section A4.

Type of assistance instrument Grant

The funding in the above Federal Award Information table is subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. IMLS is not bound by any estimates in this announcement.

If your request for federal funding, including all direct and indirect costs, is outside the applicable funding level range, your application will be rejected from consideration for funding in this program.

Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

Contingent upon the availability of funds, the quality of applications, and IMLS discretion, IMLS may make additional awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

C. Eligibility Information C1. What are the eligibility requirements for this program?

To be eligible the National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program, you must:

1. be either a unit of State or local government or be a private, nonprofit organization that has nonprofit status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and

2. be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.

In addition, you must qualify as one of the following six types of organizations:

1. A library or a parent organization, such as a school district, a municipality, a State agency, or an academic institution, that is responsible for the administration of a library. Eligible libraries include:

(a) Public libraries

(b) Public elementary and secondary school libraries

(c) College (including community college) and university libraries

(d) Research libraries and archives that are not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that make publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available. Research libraries must be under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff librarian and must be either generally recognized as possessing unique, scholarly research materials and services that are made available to the public, or able to demonstrate that such is the case when submitting an application to IMLS.

(e) Private or other special library, but only if the State in which such private or special library is located determines that the library should be considered a library for purposes of Library Services and Technology (see 20 U.S.C. § 9121-9165)

2. An academic or administrative unit, such as a graduate school of library and information science that is part of an institution of higher education through which it would make application;

3. A digital library, if it makes library materials publicly available and provides library services, including selection, organization, description, reference, and preservation, under the supervision of at least one permanent professional staff librarian;

4. A library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction

5. A library consortium that is a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, as defined above, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries; or

6. A library association that exists on a permanent basis; serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level; and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession.

We recognize the potential for valuable contributions to the overall goals of the NLG-L program by entities that do not meet the eligibility requirements above. Although such entities may not serve as the official applicants, they are encouraged to participate in projects. Consult with us about any eligibility questions before submitting an application.

C2. What are the cost sharing requirements for this program?

Cost sharing is an eligibility criterion for certain NLG-L projects, as follows.

NLG-L Funding Category Award Amount Cost Share Requirement

Planning Grants Up to $100,000 No cost share required.

National Forum Grants Up to $150,000 No cost share required.

Project Grants Up to $1,000,000 Projects requesting more than $249,999 in IMLS funds require at least 1:1 cost share from non-federal sources.

Research in Service to Practice Grants

Up to $750,000 No cost share required.

Cost sharing is an eligibility criterion and is not considered in the peer review of applications. Cost sharing that appears in your project budget should be carefully calculated. Grantees are expected to meet their cost share commitments. Click here for further information on cost sharing.

C3. Other Information C3a. How many applications can we submit under this announcement?

There is no limit to the number of applications you may submit under this announcement. Individual project directors may be named on multiple applications under this announcement. However, the same proposal may not be submitted to IMLS under more than one funding or project category listed in Sections A4a and A4b.

C3b. What if our organization fails to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of the application deadline?

IMLS will not review applications from ineligible applicants. We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because your organization is determined to be ineligible.

C3c. What if our organization fails to meet an eligibility criterion at the time of award?

IMLS will not make awards to ineligible applicants. In order to receive an IMLS award, you must be eligible, be in compliance with applicable requirements, and be in good standing on all active IMLS awards.

C3d. Additional Eligibility Information The application process for the NLG-L program consists of two phases. For Phase I, all applicants must submit two-page Preliminary Proposals (see Section D2). For Phase II, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals (Invited Full Proposals) (see Section D3). For both phases, applicants must submit their materials by the deadlines indicated on page 2 of this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Only Invited Full Proposals will be considered for funding.

D. Application and Submission Information D1. How can we find the application package?

This announcement contains all application materials needed to apply. Use one of the following identifiers to locate the application package in Grants.gov:

• CFDA No. 45.312, or

• Funding Opportunity Number: NLG-Libraries-FY21

D1a. Can we request an audio recording of this announcement?

Yes, call 202-653-4744 to request it.

D1b. Can we request a paper copy of this announcement?

Yes, call 202-653-4744 to request it.

Persons with hearing difficulty are welcome to use Teletype (TTY/TDD) 202-653-4614.

D2. What content and forms are required to make a complete application for Phase I: Preliminary Proposals?

The Table of Application Components for Preliminary Proposals below will help you prepare a complete Preliminary Proposal application.

Applications missing any Required Documents from this list will be considered incomplete and may be rejected from further consideration. (See 2 C.F.R. §3187.9.)

D2a. Table of Application Components for Preliminary Proposals

Component Format File name to use

Required Documents

The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)

Grants.gov form n/a

IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract)

Grants.gov form n/a

IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form

IMLS PDF form Programinfo.pdf

Preliminary Proposal Narrative (two pages max.)

PDF document Preliminaryproposal.pdf

D2b. How should we format, name, and sequence the application components?

Document format: The SF-424S and the IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract) are created in Grants.gov Workspace. The IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form and the Preliminary Proposal Narrative must be submitted as PDF documents.

Page limits: Note page limits listed in the table above. We will remove any additional pages, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.

Naming convention: Use the naming conventions indicated in the table above. IMPORTANT: You are limited to using the following characters in all attachment file names: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, period. If you use any other characters when naming your attachment files, your application will be rejected by Grants.gov.

Complete applications: Use the table above as a checklist to ensure that you have created and attached all necessary application components.

D2c. Instructions for Required Documents

1. The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)

The SF-424S is part of the application package that you compete in Grants.gov Workspace. Click here for instructions on completing the SF-424S.

2. IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract)

The IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract) is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace. Preliminary proposal applications do not require a one-page abstract and applicants are encouraged to reuse the “Project Description” (about 120 words) entered into the SF-424S form. Click here for instructions on completion.

3. IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form

Download the current IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form (PDF, 204 KB). Click here for instructions on completing it.

• Applicants submitting a Preliminary Proposal may skip Section 1 but should complete Sections 2 and 3 of this form.

4. Preliminary Proposal Narrative

Write a Narrative that includes the elements described below, and save it as a PDF.

• Limit the Narrative to two (2) numbered pages. We will remove any additional pages, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.

• Be clear and concise with a minimum of technical jargon and acronyms.

• Make sure your organization’s name appears at the top of each page.

• Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides and a font size of at least twelve points.

• Include a project title at the top of the first page.

• If your proposal is selected for funding, the Preliminary Proposal Narrative may be published online, or otherwise shared, by IMLS. As such, it must not include any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.

Your Preliminary Proposal Narrative must be no longer than two pages and should follow the general sections of an Invited Full Proposal Narrative: Statement of National Need, Project Design, Diversity Plan (if applicable), and National Impact. Briefly describe the national need for the project and its relevance to the selected project category. Lay out the project’s proposed work plan and projected national impact, including specific goals and outcomes. Consider the indicators of successful projects as you develop your Narrative (see Section A2).

Research in Service to Practice Preliminary Proposals must also include clearly defined research questions. See Guidance for Research Applications.

You must conclude the Preliminary Proposal Narrative with a budget summary. Preliminary Proposals that do not include a budget summary paragraph will be rejected from further consideration. The budget summary must include a breakdown by category of how both IMLS funds and cost share (if required) would be allocated, and the total anticipated costs of the project. Preliminary Proposal Narratives that do not clearly demonstrate that cost share requirements will be met will be rejected from further consideration.

D2e. Whom should we contact if we have questions while developing our proposal?

Prior to submitting a Preliminary Proposal, applicants are encouraged to contact IMLS program officers, who can offer general information about the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the review process.

Contact information is available on the National Leadership Grants for Libraries program page.

https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/imls_ols_program_information_form.pdf https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/national-leadership-grants-libraries

Contact Grants.gov or call their help line at 1-800-518-4726 for assistance with software issues, registration issues, and technical problems.

D3. What content and forms are required to make a complete application for Phase II: Invited Full Proposals?

If you are asked to submit an Invited Full Proposal, you must submit a complete application by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on March 26, 2021. We make grants only to eligible applicants that submit complete Invited Full Proposal applications through Grants.gov on or before this deadline. Complete applications will be accepted only from applicants who have submitted Preliminary Proposals and have been invited to submit a full proposal.

The Table of Application Components for Invited Full Proposals below will help you prepare a complete Invited Full Proposal application. Applications missing any Required Documents or Conditionally Required Documents from this list will be considered incomplete and may be rejected from further consideration. (See 2 C.F.R. §3187.9.)

The Conditionally Required documents are those which you must include only if your organization meets the situation described for that document.

D3a. Table of Application Components for Invited Full Proposals

Component Format File name to use

Required Documents

The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)

Grants.gov form n/a

IMLS Supplementary Information Form Grants.gov form n/a

IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form

IMLS PDF form Programinfo.pdf

Organizational Profile PDF document Organizationalprofile.pdf

Narrative (ten pages max.) PDF document Narrative.pdf

Schedule of Completion (one page per year max.)

PDF document Scheduleofcompletion.pdf

IMLS Budget Form IMLS PDF form Budget.pdf

Budget Justification PDF document Budgetjustification.pdf http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants (one page max.)

PDF document Projectstaff.pdf

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants (two pages each max.)

PDF document Resumes.pdf

Digital Product Form IMLS PDF form Digitalproduct.pdf

Conditionally Required Documents Please see the guidance in Section D3d for more information.

Proof of Private, Nonprofit Status PDF document Proofnonprofit.pdf

Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement PDF document Indirectcostrate.pdf

Supporting Documents Please see the guidance in Section D3e for more information.

Information that supplements the Narrative and supports the project description provided in the application

PDF document

Supportingdoc1.pdf

Supportingdoc2.pdf

Supportingdoc3.pdf

D3b. How should we format, name, and sequence the application components?

Document format: Aside from the SF-424S and the IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract), which are created in Grants.gov Workspace, all application components must be submitted as PDF documents.

Page limits: Note page limits listed in the table above. We will remove any pages over the limit, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.

Naming convention: Use the naming conventions indicated in the table above. IMPORTANT: You are limited to using the following characters in all attachment file names: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, period. If you use any other characters when naming your attachment files, your application will be rejected by Grants.gov.

Attachment order: In Grants.gov, attach all application components in the sequence listed in the table above. Use all available spaces in the “Attachments Form” first. Attach any additional application components using the “Other Attachment File(s)” boxes.

Complete applications: Use the table above as a checklist to ensure that you have created and attached all necessary application components.

D3c. Instructions for Required Documents

1. The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)

The SF-424S is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace. Click here for instructions on completing the SF-424S.

2. IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract)

The IMLS Supplementary Information Form (including Abstract) is part of the application package that you complete in Grants.gov Workspace. Click here for instructions on completing it.

3. IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form

Download and complete the current IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form (PDF, 204 KB). Click here for instructions on completing it.

• Applicants submitting an Invited Full Proposal should complete Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this form.

4. Organizational Profile

Create an Organizational Profile for the legal applicant (as identified on the SF-424S), addressing Sections A, B, and C, and save it as a PDF.

A. Organizational Description

Provide a brief description of your organization. This can include your organization’s statement of purpose, a description of your service area, or a brief history of your organization.

B. External Funding

1) Proposed Project: Provide a table listing any previous, current, or pending support from any federal or non-federal sources (of more than $10,000 and within the past three years) for the proposed project. Include the source, dates, amount of funds, and time commitment per year devoted to the project by any key staff overlapping between existing projects and the project proposed in this application (even if they receive no salary support). If there is no additional external funding, indicate N/A in this section of the Organizational Profile.

2) Proposed Project Director: Provide a table listing any current or pending support for the Project Director (as identified on the SF-424S) not yet listed above, that will overlap with the proposed project’s period of performance. If the Project Director listed on the SF-424S is not actually the person running or leading the project, please include information for both the Project Director and this leader. Include the sources, dates, amount of funds, and time commitment per year devoted to the project (even if they receive no salary support).

If there is no additional external funding, indicate N/A in this section of the Organizational Profile.

C. External Partnerships

List and briefly describe key institutional partners, subrecipients, contractors, and/or expert consultants participating in this proposed project. Include only those partnerships that will be in place during the project period of performance. You may describe potential future beneficiaries and advisory board members in the Narrative. If the proposed project does not include any external partners, indicate N/A in this section of the Organizational Profile.

https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files/imls_ols_program_information_form.pdf

5. Invited Full Proposal Narrative

Write a Narrative that includes the elements described below, and save it as a PDF.

▪ Limit the Narrative to ten (10) numbered pages. We will remove any additional pages, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.

▪ Be clear and concise with a minimum of technical jargon and acronyms.

▪ Make sure your organization’s name appears at the top of each page.

▪ Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides and a font size of at least twelve points.

▪ Include a project title at the top of the first page.

▪ Use Supporting Documents to provide supplementary material. Bibliographies or works cited should be included as an appendix and not included as part of the Narrative.

If your proposal is selected for funding, the Narrative may be published online, or otherwise shared, by IMLS. As such, it must not include any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.

Invited Full Proposal Outline

Your Narrative should include sections with the following titles: Statement of National Need, Project Design, Diversity Plan (if applicable), and National Impact. Each section should address questions listed in the Invited Full Proposal Outline below. Throughout the Narrative, you should also address the indicators of successful NLG-L projects as described in Section A2, the IMLS agency-level goal selected on the IMLS Library - Discretionary Program Information Form and described in Section A3, and the selected funding category and project category as described in Section A4.

The Narrative for an Invited Full Proposal for a Research in Service to Practice application must also include clearly defined research questions. See Guidance for Research Applications.

A. Statement of National Need

Provide a justification for the proposed project as it relates to a national challenge or opportunity for libraries or archives. Questions to consider may include:

• What current, nationally significant challenge or opportunity does your proposal address, and how was it identified?

• How does this proposed project differ from, complement, or build upon existing theory, scholarship, and practice?

B. Project Design

Provide a description of the proposed work plan. Questions to consider may include:

• What are the goals of the project?

• When and in what sequence will activities occur? What time, personnel, financial, project management, and other resources will you need to carry out the activities?

• How will you ensure project success and national impact through engaging with collaborators

(such as partners and intermediaries), individual experts, or advisory board members?

• Who is the target community for the project and how will their perspectives and contributions be incorporated into the project design? How does the project design allow for external input, validation, and consensus building?

• What are the indicators of success for your project? How will you include evaluation? How will you adapt your project’s design or outcomes to reflect the evaluation results over the course of the period of performance?

• How and with whom will you share your project findings? How will results of the project be made available?

For Research in Service to Practice grant proposals only:

• What is your research question(s)? (Research questions are a required component of research proposal Narratives.)

• What is your theoretical or conceptual framing?

• What kind of data will you collect? How will you collect your data? How will you analyze your data?

• Does your study require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval? Have you taken steps to secure IRB approval?

• How will your research be informed by current practice and have the potential to further professional practice?

• How will you translate and publicly share research findings for practitioners?

• How are the chosen research methods adequate and appropriate to answer the research questions? How was the feasibility and applicability of various approaches considered in the project design?

• Will the research methods lead to generalizable findings? Are the questions appropriately constructed to successfully frame the project design, data collection, interpretation, and other aspects of the research process?

See Guidance for Research Applications.

C. Diversity Plan (if applicable)

If applicable, describe how the project engages diverse or underserved communities and their shared experiences, worldviews, and ways of learning. Questions to consider may include:

• How will the project strengthen the field’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion?

• How will you include a diversity of perspectives in the project?

How are the relevant participants and communities involved in defining the challenges or opportunities and creating and implementing the project?

D. National Impact

Describe the anticipated national impact of the proposed work. Questions to consider may include:

• How might your project impact practice or otherwise lead to systemic change within the community and at the national level?

• How will you ensure project deliverables are readily adaptable and usable by other institutions and communities?

• Who is your primary community and how will your project findings, tools or established practices be disseminated to the appropriate community(-ies)?

• How do you plan to sustain the results of the project beyond the funding period?

6. Schedule of Completion

The schedule of completion should reflect each major activity identified in your application Narrative and the project dates identified on the SF-424S and the IMLS Budget Form. It should show when each major project activity will start and end. The schedule must be no longer than one page per project year. See the sample schedule of completion below. Save this document as a PDF.

If your proposal is selected for funding, the schedule of completion may be published online, or otherwise shared, by IMLS. As such, it must not include any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.

7. IMLS Budget Form

Download and complete the current IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 1.67 MB). Click here for instructions on completing it. Java Script must be enabled.

8. Budget Justification

Write a Budget Justification to identify each expense and show the method of cost computation used to determine each dollar amount, including any that you may have consolidated and summarized on the IMLS Budget Form. Save this document as a PDF. Click here for detailed instructions.

9. List of Key Project Staff and Consultants

Write a one-page list of only those staff and consultants whose expertise is essential to the success of the project and save it as a PDF. Do not list all staff involved in the project. If you cannot identify key project staff by the application deadline, then list the position title instead. This list must include the Project Director listed in Item 7 of the SF-424S.

10. Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants

Provide a resume of no more than two pages for each individual whose expertise is essential to the success of the project. Save all the resumes in a single PDF. You must include the resume of the Project Director listed in Item 7 of the SF-424S.