PKG00264800-instructions.pdf

OMB No. 1122-0020 Approval Expires 1/31/2022

U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women

OVW Fiscal Year 2021 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for

Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking

Solicitation

Assistance Listing Number # 16.736

Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVW-2021-42001

Solicitation Release Date: January 08, 2021 10:00 AM

Version: 1

Grants.gov Deadline: March 02, 2021 11:59 PM

Application JustGrants Deadline: March 16, 2021 11:59 PM

Eligible Applicants:

City or township governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, State governments, Other

Other Eligible applicants are limited to: States, units of local government, Indian tribes, and other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, O-OVW-2021-42001 nongovernmental organizations, or community-based and culturally specific organizations, that have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in the United States or U.S.

territories. For more information, see the Eligibility Information section of this solicitation.

Letter of Intent Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent to ovw.transitional housing@usdoj.gov by March 2, 2021. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter of Intent are still eligible to apply. For more information, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

Pre-Application Information Sessions OVW will post a pre-recorded Pre-Application Information Session on the OVW website. This session is tentatively scheduled to be available by February 1, 2021. For more information, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

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

Submission Information Registration: To submit an application, all applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov. To ensure sufficient time to complete the registration process, applicants must obtain a DUNS number and register online with SAM and with Grants.gov immediately, but no later than March 2, 2021.

Submission: Applications for this program will be submitted through a NEW two-step process: (1) submission of the SF-424 and SF-LLL in Grants.gov and (2) submission of the full application including attachments in the Justice Grants System (JustGrants). Submit the SF-424 and SF-LLL as early as possible, but not later than 24-48 hours before the Grants.gov deadline. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. For technical assistance with JustGrants, contact OVW JustGrants Support at 1-866-655-4482 or OVW.JustGrantsSupport@usdoj.gov.

For more information about registration and submission, see the Application and Submission Information section of this solicitation.

Notification OVW anticipates notifying applicants of funding decisions by October 1, 2021.

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mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov.

mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov.

Contents

Contact Information Program Description

Overview of OVW Statutory Authority About this OVW Program Program Scope Purpose Areas OVW Priority Areas Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery or Undermine Offender Accountability Out-of-Scope Activities Activities Requiring Prior Approval

Federal Award Information Awards, Amounts and Durations Availability of Funds

Type of Award Types of Awards Types of Applications Mandatory Program Requirements

Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Cost Sharing or Matching Other Program Eligibility Requirements

Application and Submission Information Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) . 17 Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) Proposal Abstract Proposal Narrative Budget and Associated Documentation Budget Worksheet and Budget Narrative (Web-based Form) Pre-Agreement Cost

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable) Financial Management Questionnaire (including applicant disclosure of high-risk status) Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation Data Requested with Application Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Other Supportive Documents .30 Additional Application Components Letters of Nonsupplanting Confidentiality Notice Form Disclosures and Assurances Disclosure of Lobbying Activities DOJ Certified Standard Assurances Applicant Disclosure of Duplication in Cost Items DOJ Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements . . 33 How to Apply Submission Dates and Time

Application Review Information Review Criteria Review and Selection Process Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

Federal Award Administration Information Federal Award Notices Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements .40

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) Public Reporting Burden- Paper Work Reduction Act Notice Application Checklist

Program Description Overview of OVW OVW is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Created in 1995, OVW administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW grants support coordinated community responses to hold offenders accountable and serve victims.

Statutory Authority 34 U.S.C. § 12351

About this OVW Program This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12351. The Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking (Transitional Housing Program (CFDA 16.736)) supports programs that provide 6-24 months of transitional housing with support services for victims who are homeless or in need of transitional housing as a result of a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking; and whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient.

The term homeless means an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes an individual who is sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason. An individual who is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations are also considered homeless. Persons living in emergency or transitional shelter are also examples of homelessness.

Abandoned individuals in a hospital or awaiting foster care placement are also considered homeless.

An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, or migratory children (as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 6399) who qualify as homeless under 34 U.S.C. § 12473 because the children are living in circumstances described in this paragraph, are also considered to be homeless.

(See 34 U.S.C. §§ 12291(a)(12), 12473(6).)

For additional information about this program and related performance measures, including how awards contribute to the achievement of program goals and objectives, see:

OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs webpage Program performance measures under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage Examples of successful projects in OVW's most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs: 2018 Biennial Report

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https://www.justice.gov/ovw/grant-programs https://www.vawamei.org/grant-programs/ https://www.vawamei.org/grant-programs/ https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1292636/download

Program Scope Activities supported by this program are determined by statute, federal regulations, and OVW policies. If an applicant receives an award, the funded project is bound by this solicitation, the DOJ Financial Guide, including updates to the financial guide after an award is made, the Solicitation Companion Guide, and the conditions of the award. Please see the Funding Restrictions section of this solicitation for additional information on unallowable costs.

Purpose Areas Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12351(b), funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes:

transitional housing, including funding for the operating expenses of newly developed or1.

existing transitional housing;

short-term housing assistance, including rental or utilities payments assistance and2.

assistance with related expenses such as payment of security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing; and support services designed to enable a minor, an adult, or a dependent of such minor or3.

adult, who is fleeing a situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to, (a) locate and secure permanent housing; (b) secure employment, including obtaining employment counseling, occupational training, job retention counseling, and counseling concerning re-entry into the workforce; and (c) integrate into a community by providing that minor, adult, or dependent with services, such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, and other assistance. Participation in the support services shall be voluntary.

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12351(b)(3)(C), OVW-funded transitional housing projects cannot condition receipt of housing assistance upon participation in any or all of the support services offered.

This solicitation uses the term “transitional housing” to refer to both transitional housing assistance (Purpose Area 1) and short-term assistance (Purpose Area 2), which are defined as follows:

Transitional housing assistance is temporary housing offered for at least six months and no more than 24 months that helps victims transition into permanent housing. Transitional housing is not an extended shelter stay and does not support hotel or motel stays.

Short-term housing assistance is rental assistance and/or other financial assistance (e.g., security deposits, utility assistance, relocation costs, etc.) offered for at least six months and no more than 24 months that helps victims transition into permanent housing. Short-term housing assistance is not emergency shelter, rental assistance that is offered for less than six months, or financial assistance for victims not provided with transitional housing.

Applicants must provide both transitional housing (Purpose Area 1 or 2) and support

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https://www.justice.gov/ovw/page/file/1298396/download https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants services (Purpose Area 3). If an applicant proposes to use Transitional Housing Program grant funds to support only transitional housing or only support services, a project partner or another funding source must sustain the remaining component for the entire 36-month project period.

OVW Priority Areas In FY 2021, OVW is interested in supporting the priority area(s) identified below. Applications proposing activities in the following areas will be given special consideration as appropriate during the review process:

Empower victims to become survivors by focusing on long-term safety and sustainable1.

economic independence.

To qualify for this priority area, applicants must propose projects that demonstrate strong partnerships with workforce development/job training programs. Applicants focusing on this priority must provide a detailed plan for assisting survivors toward graduated economic empowerment and survivor autonomy while using a voluntary services model.

Successful applicants for this priority may be eligible for an additional 24 months of non-competitive funding. Applicants should submit budgets for up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. See “Award Period and Amounts” section.

In FY 2021, to address a directive from Congressional appropriators, OVW is interested in supporting the Transitional Housing Program program-specific priority area identified below. The House Committee on Appropriations, in the report accompanying its FY 2021 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Appropriations bill, encouraged OVW to ensure that the Transitional Housing Program assist victims of human trafficking and to take these victims into consideration when distributing OVW funds. Applications proposing activities in the following area will be given special consideration during the review process.

2. Increase the response to victims of human trafficking.

To qualify for this priority area, applicants must propose projects that focus on direct intervention and advocacy services for victims of sexual assault who are also victims of sex trafficking.

Applicants must demonstrate substantive knowledge of sex trafficking including the provision of transitional housing and support services to victims of sex trafficking and describe partnerships addressing substance abuse, mental health, and limited legal services, and identify how they will engage in outreach to victims of sex trafficking, and how they will meet their unique needs.

Applicants should submit budgets for up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. See “Award Period and Amounts” section.

3. Primarily serve underserved populations.

To qualify for this priority area, applicants must propose projects that primarily serve underserved populations who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The term “underserved populations” means populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services, and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities, alienage status, or age). See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(39).

Applicants should provide a detailed plan for how the project will provide specific services to victims from the identified underserved population within the proposed project service area, describe the gaps in current services and the barriers for victims seeking services and demonstrate strong partnerships with organizations with expertise and history of service provision to the underserved community.

Applicants should submit budgets for up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. See “Award Period and Amounts” section.

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery or Undermine Offender Accountability OVW does not fund activities that jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to escape responsibility for their actions.

Applications that propose any such activities may receive a deduction in points during the review process or may be eliminated from consideration. Information on activities that compromise victim safety and recovery or undermine offender accountability may be found in the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Out-of-Scope Activities The activities listed below are out of the program scope and will not be supported by this program’s funding. See also the list of unallowable costs in the Funding Restrictions section of this solicitation.

Research projects. Funds under this program may not be used to conduct research,1.

defined in 28 C.F.R. § 46.102 as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Surveys and focus groups, depending on their design and purpose, may constitute research and therefore be out-of-scope. Prohibited research does not include assessments conducted for internal improvement purposes only (see Limited Use of Funds below). For information on distinguishing between research and assessments, see the Solicitation Companion Guide.

Prevention: Grant funds may not be used for prevention activities (e.g., outreach to2.

elementary and secondary schools, implementation of educational programs regarding domestic and dating violence intervention, and public awareness campaigns).

Permissible outreach activities are limited to informing potential survivors about the availability of services.

Family violence: Grant funds may not be used to directly address child abuse, other3.

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

Mandatory participation in services: Participation by survivors in all support services4.

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

Grant funds may not be used to keep victims in their homes or to prevent them from5.

losing their current housing.

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

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

Limited Use of Funds

The following activities can be supported only in limited circumstances:

Legal Services – Use of grant funds for legal services is limited to providing legal1.

services to transitional housing program participants and must terminate upon a participant’s entry into permanent housing. Legal services are limited to those that are necessary to enable a transitional housing program participant to locate and secure housing and to integrate into a community, including legal services regarding housing, protection orders, and limited immigration matters that affect a victim’s ability to obtain housing. Funds may not be used for comprehensive, long-term legal assistance, such as assistance with divorce or child custody matters.

Purchase and/or Lease of Vehicles – Requests to use grant funds for the purchase2.

and/or lease of a vehicle by the grantee or a project partner will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If an applicant is requesting funds for a vehicle, a lease/purchase analysis must be submitted with the application and the cost included in the budget and budget narrative. Grant funds may not be used for the purchase of and/or down payment on a vehicle for private ownership by a victim in a transitional housing program.

Services for Children – Grant funds may be used to provide direct services to minors3.

who meet the statutory eligibility criteria for transitional housing services, or to provide direct services to children where such services are an ancillary part of providing transitional housing and supportive services to the child's parent (or legal guardian) who is a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking.

Grantees may use up to two percent of grant award funds to assess their work for internal improvement purposes only, such as by convening a listening session to identify service gaps in the community or surveying training participants about the quality of training content and delivery. Applicants considering such assessments must refer to the OVW research decision tree in the Solicitation Companion Guide to ensure that the activity does not qualify as human subjects research. The Solicitation Companion Guide also provides additional information on federal requirements related to research, assessments, and surveys.

Recipients must receive prior approval before using grant funds to support surveys, whether conducted as part of a program or needs assessment, or for any other purpose. Prior approval is necessary to determine whether the activity is within the scope of the award and meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (see the Solicitation Companion Guide for more information).

Federal Award Information Awards, Amounts and Durations Anticipated Number of Awards

Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount of Awards $500,000.00

Period of Performance Start Date

10/1/21 12:00 AM

Period of Performance Duration (Months)

Anticipated Total Amount to be Awarded Under Solicitation $37,000,000.00

Availability of Funds All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law. There is no guarantee that funds will be available in the future. OVW may elect to make awards in a future fiscal year for applications submitted under this solicitation but not selected for FY 2021 funding, depending on the merits of the applications and the availability of funding.

Type of Award Awards will be made as grants.

Award Period and Amounts The award period is 36 months. Budgets must reflect 36 months of project activity, and the

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total “estimated funding” on the SF-424 must reflect 36 months. OVW anticipates that the award period will start on October 1, 2021.

Funding levels under this program for FY 2021 are:

1. Applicants proposing to use Transitional Housing Program grant funds for housing alone or for both housing and support services may submit budgets for up to $450,000 for the entire 36-months.

2. Applicants proposing to use Transitional Housing Program grant funds for support services only may submit budgets for up to $300,000 for a 36-month period.

Applicants must provide both transitional housing (purpose area 1 or 2) and support services (purpose area 3). If an applicant proposes to use Transitional Housing Program grant funds to support only transitional housing or only support services, a project partner or another funding source must sustain the remaining component.

3. Applicants proposing to address the priority area, “Empower victims to become survivors by focusing on long-term safety and sustainable economic independence” may submit budgets for up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. OVW will prioritize up to four projects.

Successful applicants for this priority may be eligible for an additional 24 months of non-competitive funding. Any future supplemental awards will be based on factors, including, but not limited to, OVW’s available appropriation and grantee performance.

4. Applicants proposing to address the priority area “Increase the response to victims of human trafficking” may submit budgets of up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. OVW will prioritize up to four projects that demonstrate a knowledgeable, comprehensive approach to providing transitional housing and support services to victims of sexual assault who are also victims of sex trafficking and make awards of up to $500,000 for each project.

5. Applicants proposing to address the priority area “Primarily serve underserved populations” may submit budgets up to $500,000 for a 36-month period. OVW will prioritize up to four projects and make awards of up to $500,000 for each project determined to meaningfully address this priority.

OVW has the discretion to make awards for greater or lesser amounts than requested and to negotiate the scope of work and budget with applicants prior to making an award.

Types of Awards Awards will be made as grants.

Types of Applications In FY 2021, OVW will accept applications for this program from the following:

New: Applicants that have never received funding under this program or whose previous funding expired on or before March 16, 2020.

Continuation: Applicants that have an existing or recently closed (after March 16, 2020) award under this program. Continuation funding is not guaranteed.

Recipients of an FY 2019 or FY 2020 award under this program are NOT eligible to apply as the lead applicant or as a partner/subrecipient on an FY 2021 proposal. Likewise, an organization that is a partner/subrecipient on an FY 2019 or FY 2020 award is not eligible to apply as the lead applicant or as a partner/subrecipient on an FY 2021 proposal.

Note: Current grantees with a substantial amount of unobligated funds remaining (50 percent or more of the previous award) as of March 31, 2021 without adequate justification may not be considered for funding or may receive a reduced award amount if selected for funding in FY 2021.

Mandatory Program Requirements Applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to engage in the following activities:

OVW-sponsored training and technical assistance (TTA).1.

OVW may conduct a program assessment or evaluation necessitating grantee2.

involvement. Therefore, recipients may be expected to dedicate some OVW-funded time and resources to participating in an assessment or evaluation.

Submit the policies, procedures, and rules governing the provision of the transitional3.

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

Offer transitional housing and services for at least six months and no more than 244.

months with OVW grant funds. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12351(c)(2), a recipient may waive the 24-month limit for up to six months for any victim who has made a good faith effort to acquire permanent housing but has not been able to do so.

Offer support services only to individuals receiving transitional housing (other than5.

follow-up services described below).

Offer follow-up support services for transitional housing clients who secure permanent6.

housing. Follow-up services are limited to advocacy, support groups, case management, and minimal financial assistance (e.g., security deposit or first month’s rent for permanent housing); and are provided for at least three months but not more than a year.

Significantly involve a victim service provider in the implementation of the project,7.

including the development and review of all policies and procedures and the provision of support services.

Ensure that any staff, partner staff, or service providers working with transitional8.

housing survivors are trained to work with victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Send the project coordinator and one other key staff member to an in-person OVW9.

grantee orientation.

Send key staff to an in-person OVW-sponsored training on voluntary services.10.

Agree to provide transitional housing to their clients without requiring participation in11.

support services.

Notify OVW of any changes to the source of funding used to provide transitional12.

housing.

Compensate at least one, if not all, of their project partners for time and travel to13.

participate in project development, training, and implementation. If a partner is a state or unit of local government and the partnership duties are conducted within the course of the agency’s “regular” scope of work, the applicant does not need to compensate the partner if the partner offers this arrangement, and an explanation of this arrangement is included in the application.

Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. 12351(a), the following entities are eligible to apply for this program:

1. States.

2. Units of local government.

3. Indian tribes.

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

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

has been submitted by an eligible applicant;1.

does not propose any activities that may compromise victim safety, including2.

background checks of victims or clinical evaluations to determine eligibility for services;

reflects an understanding of the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating3.

violence, and stalking; and does not propose prohibited activities, including mandatory services for victims.4.

Faith-Based and Community Organizations Faith Based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this solicitation (see “Faith-Based Organizations” on the OVW website for more information).

Ineligible Entities and Disqualifying Factors Applications submitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all program eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding. In addition, an application deemed deficient in one or more of the following categories may not be considered for funding: 1. activities that compromise victim safety, 2. out-of-scope activities, 3. unallowable costs, 4. pre-award risk assessment, 5. completeness of application contents, and 6. timeliness. Failure to comply fully with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements (see Application and Submission section for more information on these requirements) will result in removal from consideration. An applicant with past performance issues, long-standing open audits, or an open criminal investigation also may not be considered for funding.

Note: Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is not eligible for a grant from this program. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(16)(B)(ii).

Cost Sharing or Matching This program has no matching or cost-sharing requirement.

Other Program Eligibility Requirements In addition to meeting the eligible entity requirements outlined above, applicants for this program must also meet the requirements below. All certification and other eligibility related documents must be current and developed in accordance with the FY 2021 solicitation.

Required Partnerships The partnerships requirements described here should also be demonstrated in the applicants’ Memorandum of Understanding and the Letter of Experience:

a. If an applicant is a victim service provider (see below), the application must include at least one other organization (e.g, a housing provider, local homelessness coalition, or other social service provider serving low-income households, including community colleges, workforce centers, community action agencies, and public assistance departments) as a required partner identified in the MOU.

b. If an applicant is a tribe, state, or unit of local government, the application must include both a victim service provider (see below) and a housing provider as required partners (and may include the other types of partners listed above) identified in the MOU.

The victim service provider partner must play an active role in the development and https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants#Resources implementation of the project. Applications from a tribe, state or unit of local government must demonstrate that the victim service provider is significantly involved in the project design and development and review of all policies and procedures and describe how the applicant will ensure that anyone working with transitional housing survivors is trained in working with victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

c. If an applicant is an organization, including a domestic violence and sexual assault coalition, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, or community-based and culturally specific organization, that has a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the application must include at least one other organization (e.g., a housing provider, local homelessness coalition, or other social service provider serving low-income households, including community colleges, workforce centers, community action agencies, and public assistance departments) as a required partner identified in the MOU.

Victim Service Provider A victim service provider is a nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal organization or rape crisis center, including a state or tribal domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition, that assists or advocates for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including a domestic violence shelter, faith-based organization or other organization, with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(43). Victim service providers must provide direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field.

The provision of housing services or other types of general services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking is not sufficient to meet program eligibility requirements that the applicant is a victim service provider. For example, if the organization runs a food pantry and some of the individuals who receive weekly distributions are victims of these crimes, that does not mean that the organization would be considered a victim service provider under applicant eligibility requirements of this program. The applicant must clearly demonstrate that they have an understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by describing in the application how services are structured and implemented in a way that specifically address the issues facing survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking; this information should also be included in the LOE. If the applicant’s expertise and experience do not focus primarily on the provision of direct victim services to these survivors and incorporating their needs into the program philosophy, the organization may serve as a partner, but not the applicant.

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

Limit on Number of Applications OVW will consider only one application per organization for the same service area. In addition, if an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted before the deadline.

Application and Submission Information Address to Request Application Package The complete application package (this solicitation, including links to required forms) is available on Grants.gov and on the OVW website. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of these materials should contact 202-307-6026 or OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov.

Pre-Application Information Session OVW will post a pre-recorded Pre-Application Information Session on its website. Listening to this session is optional and not a requirement to be eligible to apply. The session is tentatively scheduled to be available by February 1, 2021 on the OVW website. The session will be captioned in English and Spanish. Interested applicants needing additional language assistance should contact this program at OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov or at 202-307-6026 as soon as possible, but no later than January 25, 2021.

Content and Form of Application Submission The information below (“ Letter of Intent” through “ Submission Dates and Times”) describes the full content and form of application submission.

Letter of Intent Applicants intending to apply for FY 2021 funding under this program are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent. The letter should state that the applicant is registered and current with SAM and with Grants.gov. The letter should be submitted to OVW at OVW.TransitionalH ousing@usdoj.gov by March 2, 2021. This letter will not obligate the applicant to submit an application. See OVW website for a sample Letter of Intent.

Formatting and Technical Requirements Applications must follow the requirements below for all documents, unless otherwise noted.

Points may be deducted for applications that do not adhere to the following requirements:

Double-spaced (Data Requested with Application, Pre-Award Risk Assessment, and1.

charts may be single-spaced).

8½ x 11 inch pages.2.

One-inch margins.3.

Type no smaller than 12 point, Times New Roman (TNR) or Arial font, except for4.

footnotes, which may be in 10-point font.

Page numbers.5.

No more than 25 pages for the Proposal Narrative.6.

Word documents in the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc), PDF files (.pdf), or7.

Text Documents (.txt).

Headings and sub-headings that correspond to the sections identified in this section of8.

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https://www.justice.gov/ovw/how-apply mailto:OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov mailto:ovw.transitionalhousing@usdoj.gov.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants mailto:OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov mailto:OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov mailto:OVW.TransitionalHousing@usdoj.gov the solicitation.

Application Contents Applications must include the required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. For a complete checklist of the application contents, see the Application Checklist in the Other Information section of this solicitation.

OVW will not contact applicants for missing items on the list below. Applications that do not include all of the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding:

Proposal Narrative.1.

Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative.2.

Data Requested with Application.3.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).4.

Letter of Experience (LOE).5.

In addition, the Proposal Abstract is required, but failure to submit it will not result in removal from consideration.

Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance

(SF-424)

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) Applicants must complete the SF-424 in Grants.gov. The SF-424 is generated when the applicant begins the submission process. For “Type of Applicant,” do not select “Other.”

The amount of federal funding requested in the “Estimated Funding” section of this form must match the amount of federal funding requested in the budget section of the application package. This program does not require a match; therefore, the values for the Applicant line should be zero. The individual who is listed as “ Authorized Representative” must be an individual who has the authority to apply for and accept grant awards on behalf of the organization or jurisdiction.

Intergovernmental Review (SF-424 Question 19): This solicitation ("funding opportunity") is subject to Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

Applicants must check the Office of Management and Budget’s website for the names and addresses of state Single Points of Contact (SPOC) under Intergovernmental Review. If the applicant’s state appears on the SPOC list, the applicant must contact the state SPOC to find out about, and comply with, the state’s process under E.O. 12372. In completing the SF-424, such an applicant is to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19 once the applicant has complied with its state E.O. 12372 process. An applicant whose state does not appear on the SPOC list should answer question 19 by selecting the following response:

“Program is subject to E.O. 12372 but has not been selected by the state for review.”

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) All applicants must complete and submit the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) form in Grants.gov. Applicants that expend any funds for lobbying activities must provide the https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf information requested on the SF-LLL. Applicants that do not expend any funds for lobbying activities should enter “N/A” in the required highlighted fields.

Standard Applicant Information (JustGrants 424 and General Agency Information) Applicants must complete this web-based form in JustGrants, which is pre-populated with the SF-424 data submitted in Grants.gov. Applicants are required to review the Standard Applicant Information and make edits as needed, confirm the Authorized Representative, verify the legal name and address, and enter the ZIP code(s) for the areas affected by the project.

Proposal Abstract The Proposal Abstract must provide a short summary (no more than two pages double-spaced) of the proposed project, including names of applicant and partners, project title, purpose of the project (including goal and intended outcome), primary activities for which funds are requested, who will benefit (including geographic area to be served), products and deliverables, and how the applicant will measure progress in completing project goals and objectives. Applicants must not summarize past accomplishments in this section. The Proposal Abstract, which is to be entered into a text box in JustGrants, will not be scored and the total point value for the Proposal Abstract is 5 points.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to use the following template for the abstract:

The (name of the applicant) is a (non-profit, city, state, tribal) organization located in (city, state), a (rural, urban, suburban, tribal) region of the state. The organization will provide (#) (communal, clustered, scattered site) residences for (#) survivors and their families through (program-owned/ private landlord) housing units. The (name of the applicant) will collaborate with its (#) partner(s), the [list partnering agencies] to provide a holistic, victim-centered and multidisciplinary approach to transitional housing needs in the community.

This (new/continuation) project will use funds to provide (both/only) (housing and/or supportive) services to move survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking who are homeless to permanent housing. The project will assist clients for anticipated minimum of (This should be a number between 6 and 24 months) months and a maximum length of 24 months. Services offered will focus on (Choose the priority(ies) or remove if not applicable): 1. empowering victims to become survivors by focusing on long-term safety and sustainable economic independence, 2. increasing the response to victims of human trafficking, and/or,

3. primarily serving underserved populations (based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, etc.) in the region. Grant activities will be tailored to meet the needs of clients. The range of optional support services include:

rental and utility assistance, case management, safety planning, childcare, transportation, career counseling, financial and credit counseling, support groups, individual counseling, job training, education attainment, limited legal assistance, (add/remove support services as needed) and housing advocacy. The project will also hire (#) additional staff members to implement the program and provide follow-up services for at least (This should be a number between 3 and 12) months once permanent housing is secured.

The period of performance for this award is 36 months.

Proposal Narrative Proposal Narrative The Proposal Narrative may not exceed 25 pages, double-spaced, and reviewers will not read beyond this page limit. The Proposal Narrative must include the following three sections. The total point value for the proposal narrative section is 60 points. Applicants must upload the Proposal Narrative as an attachment in JustGrants.

Purpose of the Proposal (20 points) This section must describe:

The challenge or need faced by the community and how the goal/vision for the proposal1.

will meet that need.

The communities to be served, including the geographic location, the populations in the2.

service area, and any available, relevant victimization rates.

Describe current services.3.

Describe in detail the gaps in economic empowerment and victim autonomy services for4.

survivors in the proposed project service area and how such survivors are currently underserved.

Describe the barriers survivors experience while attempting to seek economic5.

empowerment and victim autonomy services.

Describe how funding will alleviate the challenge or need faced by the community.6.

Describe the Housing Model and rent structure to be implemented.7.

Provide a detailed plan for how the project will assist survivors in moving toward8.

economic empowerment and victim autonomy within the framework of voluntary services. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to assist in implementing graduated stages of self-sufficiency for all survivors served during the life of the project (i.e, obtaining employment counseling, education, occupational training, establishing financial literacy, etc.)

What Will Be Done (30 points)

The application must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identified in the “Purpose of the Proposal” section above. The application must not include any of the activities listed as unallowable costs in the Funding Restrictions section of this solicitation.

https://www.justice.gov/ovw/resources-applicants#Program%20Specific

This section must describe:

The approach to addressing the challenge or need identified in the Purpose of the1.

Proposal section above.

How the applicant will measure its progress in achieving the proposal’s goal(s)/vision.2.

Identify targeted outcome(s) and describe any tool(s) the applicant will use to track those outcomes and report them to OVW. Tools may include OVW performance progress reports and logic model templates (both available at VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative).

How the applicant will move to project sustainability; continuation applicants must3.

provide specific details.

Describe the transitional housing that will be provided, including, but not limited to:4.

a. The type of transitional housing (e.g. transitional housing assistance or short-term housing assistance, location, etc.).

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

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

d. Facility rules and regulations.

e. Facility safety planning.

f. Fee schedule (if applicable).

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

a. What will be offered.

b. Who will provide them.

c. Where they will be provided.

d. How clients will access them.

e. How the services will support economic empowerment and survivor autonomy.

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

a. What will be offered.

b. Timeframe for follow-up services.

O-OVW-2021-42001

https://www.vawamei.org/tools-resource/resources-available/ https://www.vawamei.org/tools-resource/resources-available/

c. How economic empowerment and survivor autonomy will be reinforced during follow-up services.

7. Describe how the applicant plans to address victim safety and autonomy in the project. Applicants will need to provide a detailed plan for assisting survivors toward graduated economic empowerment and survivor autonomy while using a voluntary services model.

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

9. How the proposed project will reach each population in the service area identified in the Purpose of the Application section.

10. How the proposed project will address the victimization rates identified in the Purpose of the Proposal section.

Who Will Implement the Proposal (10 points)

This section must:

Identify the key individuals and organizations, including project partners, involved in the1.

proposed project.

Demonstrate that the individuals and organizations identified have the capacity to2.

address the stated need and can successfully implement the proposed project activities;

attach job descriptions of all key personnel.

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

Describe project partners with substantive knowledge of economic empowerment,4.

including their history (if any) of providing transitional housing and support services to this population and their proposed role in the project.

Describe the expertise and history of key project staff in assisting survivors to achieve5.

economic independence.

Demonstrate the capacity and expertise of the lead applicant and all project partners to6.

serve victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and/or stalking.

Clearly describe who will implement activities as described in the “What Will Be Done”7.

section (e.g., which organization and staff will conduct intake, find housing, work with participants, provide services, etc.).

Clearly demonstrate that required partnerships have been developed (see “Required8.

Partnerships” in the “Program Eligibility Requirements” section of the solicitation).

Additional Information for Applicants…