PUBLICATION COPY HHS-2022-ACF-ORR-ZI-0158.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Refugee Resettlement

Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program

HHS-2022-ACF-ORR-ZI-0158

Application Due Date: Application Due Date will be submitted as: date based on specified number of days after the actual Synopsis Post Date

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

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

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Funding Opportunity Title:

Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2022-ACF-ORR-ZI-0158

Primary CFDA Number:

93.576 Due Date for Applications:

Application Due Date will be submitted as: date based on specified number of days after the actual Synopsis Post Date Executive Summary Notice:

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

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) invites eligible entities to submit competitive grant applications for projects to establish and manage Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) for low-income refugee participants (also referenced as clients).

In accordance with the Afghan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, Refugee IDA programs funded under this NOFO will serve nationals of Afghanistan for whom refugee and entrant assistance is authorized who entered the United States on or after July 31, 2021.

Eligible refugee participants who enroll in these projects will open and contribute systematically to IDAs for specified asset goals. Asset goals may include homeownership, rental assistance, business capitalization, vehicles for educational or work purposes, professional certification, and education (limited to postsecondary education, college entrance exam fees, and preparation and test fees for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and General Education Development (GED) exam). Successful grant recipients will be expected to coordinate their policies and procedures for developing and administering refugee IDA projects with ORR and with the existing refugee IDA network.

I. Program Description Statutory Authority Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 412(c)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1522(c)(1)(A) Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act (ASA), 2022, Further Extending Government Funding Act (FEGF), Public Law 117-43, title III., as amended through Public Law 117-86 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Description Purpose and Objectives

The Refugee IDA Program represents an anti-poverty strategy built on asset accumulation for low-income refugee individuals and families to promote refugee economic independence. IDAs are leveraged or matched savings accounts established in qualified financial institutions.

In the Refugee IDA Program, IDAs are matched with federal funds that have been allocated as "match funds" from at least 65 percent of the annual federal grant award. The funds are intended for the asset goals specified in this NOFO. Although the refugee client maintains control of all funds that the client deposits in the IDA, including all interest that may accrue on the funds, the client must sign a Savings Plan Agreement that specifies the funds in the account will be used only for the client's qualified asset goal(s) or for an emergency withdrawal.

The objectives of the Refugee IDA Program are to help clients:

1. Establish IDAs;

2. Maintain regular saving habits;

3. Participate in the financial institutions of this country;

4. Acquire assets to build individual, family, and community resources;

5. Increase their knowledge of financial and monetary topics, including developing a household budget;

6. Advance their education;

7. Buy homes;

8. Gain access to capital; and

9. Increase the socio-economic development of their communities.

New projects will accomplish these objectives by establishing programs that combine the provision of matched savings accounts with financial training and counseling.

Eligible Refugee Participants (Clients)

The ASA, 2022 ((FEGFA), Public Law 117-70, title III) authorizes refugee and entrant activities in support of citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)) and citizens or nationals of Afghanistan for whom such refugee and entrant assistance activities are authorized. Due to this, eligibility for services is limited to individuals with the following statuses:

1. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of the INA between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2022. The benefits and assistance will be available until March 31, 2023, or the end of an individual’s parole term, whichever is later.

2. A spouse or child of any Afghan humanitarian parolee who is paroled into the United States after September 30, 2022. The benefits and assistance will be available until March 31, 2023, or the end of an individual’s parole term, whichever is later.

3. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled as refugees or asylees under section 212(d)(5) of the INA.

4. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan admitted under section 207 of INA.

5. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan whose asylum status was granted under section 208 of the INA.

6. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who are lawful permanent residents provided that they previously held one of the statuses identified above.

7. Afghan Special Immigrants per section 602(b) (8) of div. F of Public Law 118-8, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1101 note).

8. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan who are identified as victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons per the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Public Law No. 106-386, as amended, 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(A) and (C).Detailed information on the eligibility of ORR-funded projects is available at 45 CFR § 400.43 and ORR Policy Letter 16-01 which can be found on the ORR website at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/policy-letters.

Additionally, eligibility for this program is limited to individuals fulfilling the requirements above who entered the United States on, or after, July 31, 2021.

ORR assistance and services must be provided to refugees without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex, or political opinion.

For convenience, the term, "refugee" is used in this NOFO to encompass all such eligible persons.

Intake information must verify the client's name, status under which the client arrived in the United States, date of eligibility, date of enrollment, date of projected program service termination, documentation of eligibility for Refugee IDA Program services, alien number, birth date, current address, and phone number and/or email address.

Among eligible clients, enrollment in the Refugee IDA Program is limited to the following individuals:

Whose gross household earned income at the time of enrollment does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level, if enrolling to purchase education and vocational training goals, microenterprise capitalization goals, and/or vehicle goals;

Whose gross household earned income at the time of enrollment does not exceed 300 percent of the HHS federal poverty level or 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development's Area Family Median Income (HAMFI), only if enrolling for a home purchase or rental assistance;

Whose assets at the time of enrollment do not exceed $10,000, excluding the value of a primary residence and one vehicle; and

Who have not already received IDA match funds from an ORR-funded IDA program or other mainstream IDA programs for the same asset goal.

Clients who are enrolled in the Refugee IDA Program with a household income that exceeds 300 percent of the HHS poverty level but does not exceed 80 percent of the HAMFI are only eligible for a home purchase or rental assistance. If the client fails to complete the program and purchase a home or rent a home, they may not switch to any other asset goal and must exit the program without receiving any match funds. Federal funds obligated for matching the IDAs of clients https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/policy-letters who meet this description must be re-allocated for matching other IDAs immediately.

Asset Goals IDAs are established for refugee clients at a qualified financial institution. Refugee clients will systematically contribute to the IDAs out of earned income to purchase specified asset goals. The primary focus of the asset goals in their Refugee IDA Program is limited to the folowing areas:

Primary residence home purchase;

Rental assistance, including utilities;

Vocational training, professional recertification, and education (limited to postsecondary education costs, college entrance exam fees, and TOEFL and GED preparation and test fees) as required for employment, certification, or educational purposes;

Microenterprise capitalization, including home-based childcare services; and, Vehicle purchase.

Please see Definition and Explanation of Terms in Section I. for further detail.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Savings Plan Agreement and Documentation A Savings Plan Agreement must be established with each refugee client. The Savings Plan Agreement must include the following:

A proposed schedule of savings deposits by the client based on a household budget;

A rate at which the client's savings will be matched by federal funds allocated as "match funds";

An asset goal(s) for which the account is maintained;

Any training or counseling that the client agrees to attend;

An agreement that the client will not withdraw funds except for the specified asset goal or an emergency and only after notification and approval;

A statement by the client that they have not received the maximum allowable match from any other ORR-funded IDA program;

A procedure for amending the agreement;

A date by which assets must be purchased or the date on which the program will end;

A designation of the beneficiary;

A statement naming the partners that will be engaged during the client's enrollment and describing how the partners will contribute; and If saving for a vehicle, a statement by the client that the vehicle will be used to maintain or upgrade employment or for transportation for education, vocational training, recertification, or small business use. In cases of documented necessity, the purchase of an automobile is allowable for employment or education.

The purpose of an automobile purchase must be thoroughly justified and well documented. Appropriate documentation and justification for the usage of an automobile could include a calculation of long distances from the client's home to their place of employment or educational institution, public transportation schedules showing unreasonable timetables and connections, the anticipation of increased wages due to more time on the job or access to better wages or employment due to reduced commuting time, or school transcripts showing current enrollment.

Additional provisions may be proposed to be included in the Savings Plan Agreement. In addition to the Savings Plan Agreement, confirmation of the client's eligibility must be documented, which may include a household budget, assets and liabilities, and earned income (this can be in the form of pay stubs, tax returns, etc.). Furthermore, each client is required to provide an overall household budget plan describing how their IDA savings will derive from their discretionary income.

Case File Requirements The IDA Program requires that individual case files be maintained for each program participant. Files must comprise all information collected on the participant including, at minimum, documentation of participant eligibility, Savings Plan Agreement, household budget, documentation of trainings completed by the participants, proof of purchase of the asset, and case notes.

Programs must ensure compliance with 45 CFR § 75.303(e) to take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information. Files must also include documentation of all financial assistance payments made to, or on behalf of, the participant, along with any applicable invoices and receipts. Case files must be available to ORR monitors, or other responsible federal staff, upon request. When not in use, both physical and electronic case files must be properly secured to ensure only appropriate staff have access. If the IDA Program is using an electronic case file system, then safeguards such as limiting access to the data and encryption must be in place to protect participant information. Paper files must be kept confidential--ideally in a file cabinet that is kept locked and can be accessed only by authorized staff.

Paperwork Reduction Disclaimer: As required by the PRA of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, the public reporting burden for the case file requirements is estimated to average 20 burden hours per response. The case file requirements information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0558, expiration date is November 20, 2023.

Training and Technical Assistance All refugee clients must complete at least two forms of trainings to complete an asset purchase:

financial literacy training and asset-specific training. Trainings must be provided in-house, or through a partnership with organizations that have demonstrated expertise in the area of training to be provided. Refer to Section I. Program Description, Definition and Explanation of Terms, Partnering with Organizations with Areas of Expertise. For those partnership(s) that are funded through subawards, please refer to Section I. Program Description, Program Requirements, Subawards for requirements.

Asset-specific training must be provided for refugee clients for each asset goal that is available through the program. This training may be provided directly by the recipient if they have a relevant area of expertise, or through other providers who specialize in the asset goals (e.g., Housing and Urban Development Housing Counselors, bank partners that provide car loans, Small Business Association's Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs partners, etc.), or a combination of both approaches.

For rental assistance asset-specific training only, the recipient may create and provide training that a minimum includes the following:

Identifying rental housing needs;

Rental expenses and their impacts on a household budget;

The rental process (i.e., application, credit reports, reference checks, etc.);

Lease agreements;

Caring for the rental;

Future housing goals; and, Emergency rental assistance programs.

Financial literacy training must include, but is not limited to, the following topics: budgeting, cash management, savings, investment, and credit counseling. Due to the diverse nature of the refugee population, training must be culturally and linguistically appropriate.

At a minimum, the client(s) listed on the Savings Plan Agreement must attend all required trainings; however, the entire household should be encouraged to participate. While ORR recognizes that the industry standards for financial literacy and asset-specific trainings usually span 6 to 8 hours, sufficient trainings must be provided for the client in a manner that best meets their needs. Clients are ineligible to make asset purchases until all training requirements are met.

Technical assistance must be provided for refugee clients for each asset goal provided through the program. Technical assistance can include, but is not limited to, setting up IDAs at participating banks, developing business plans, and assisting with the home purchase closing process.

Coordination with the Refugee Resettlement Community Coordination with the local refugee resettlement community is critical to the success of the Refugee IDA Program. Programs must include regular coordination with resettlement agencies, State Refugee Coordinators or Replacement Designees, and other relevant community services providers to extend the effort of the outreach, awareness, and coordination with the refugee resettlement community. Attendance at quarterly consultations with resettlement agencies, regular meetings with State Refugee Coordinators, and participation in other relevant forums are examples of activities with strategic partnerships to facilitate resource mapping. Contact information for State Refugee Coordinators or individuals responsible for statewide or regional coordination of the refugee resettlement program can be found on ORR's website at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov /orr/resource/orr-funded-programs-key-contacts.

Subawards Recipients under this grant program may opt to transfer a portion of substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s). The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project. ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/orr-funded-programs-key-contacts the project. Subrecipient monitoring activities alone, as specified in 45 CFR § 75.352, do not constitute a substantive role. Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in the NOFO, Section III.1.

Eligible Applicants. Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number assigned by the System for Award Management (SAM), if they do not already have one. Prime recipients are required to check SAM to verify that the subrecipient(s) is/are not debarred, suspended, or ineligible.

Please reference the Award Term and Condition on Subawards on the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website for further requirements involving subawards.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

Administrative Funds No more than 25 percent of ORR funds may be used for administrative purposes. At least 75 percent of ORR funds must be used to match IDA savings made by refugees participating in the Refugee IDA Program. ORR defines administrative funds as any federal funds that are not used directly for IDA match. Examples of costs that are considered administrative include, but are not limited to, salary, rent, supplies, benefits, travel, program material, interpretation services, costs associated with providing financial literacy and asset-specific training, and federally approved indirect costs. 45 CFR Part 75 requires that non-federal entities be compensated for all allowable Indirect Costs claimed under a grant, in accordance with the nonfederal entity's fully negotiated and approved Indirect Cost rate. As such, the 25 percent limitation for administrative costs can be exceeded only in cases where the payment of indirect costs causes the non-federal entity to exceed that percentage based on their Indirect Cost rate effective at the time of the award. For more information on the funding restrictions specific to this NOFO, please see Section IV.6.

Funding Restrictions.

State-Specific Asset Limits ORR recognizes that some clients who are eligible for the Refugee IDA Program may also be eligible for other state and federally sponsored benefits programs with asset limits (e.g., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), etc.). Recipients must be aware of state-specific asset limits, if any, and provide information to clients about potential impacts to public benefits.

Match Funds ORR does not require recipients to provide any non-federal funds to match federal funds awarded to recipients for the Refugee IDA Program. The "match," "matching funds," or "match funds" mentioned in this NOFO do not refer to the applicant finding additional funds to match funds being provided by the federal government; they are the portion of federal funds to be allocated and used for matching clients' IDA savings. For all assets goals other than rental assistance, ORR funds may be used at a matching rate no greater than one-to-one for each dollar deposited in the IDA by the refugee client. Furthermore, for all asset goals other than rental https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements#book_content_14 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements assistance, throughout of the 3-year project period, not more than $2,000 in ORR grant funds may be provided through matching contributions to any one refugee individual and not more than $4,000 may be provided to any one refugee household (see Definition and Explanation of Terms in this section for the definition of "household"). When the refugee purchases the asset goal, the recipient must provide payment of the client's IDA matching funds directly to the asset vendor. Match funds may not be used to pay towards existing loans or debts.

For the rental assistance asset goal only, ORR funds may be used at a matching rate of no more than 2,000 to 1 for each dollar deposited into an IDA fund by the refugee client. For example, recipients may match a $1 deposit by an IDA client with a maximum of $2,000 of an IDA match.

Rental Assistance may not exceed 12 total months of support or $24,000. Clients who enrolled in the Refugee IDA Program and have received at least $2,000 in rental assistance as an individual or $4,000 as part of a household are no longer eligible to enroll in the Refugee IDA Program for any other asset goal. Recipients must provide payment of the client’s IDA matching funds directly to the asset vendor (i.e., rental agency/owner).

Accounts and Drawdown of Funds IDA clients must establish an IDA at a certified banking institution that must only contain the IDA deposits and interest earned on the deposits. The recipient must monitor deposits of all IDA clients at least once a quarter to ensure regular savings habits and to identify appropriate amounts of match funds to draw down. The recipient must also create a parallel account, separate from the clients' IDAs, at a qualified financial institution, for all matching ORR grant funds to be deposited into and maintained. The recipient may not draw down ORR grant funds and deposit those funds into the parallel account before the client's deposit to the IDA. However, recipients must drawdown ORR funds for matching IDA deposits within 3 months of the date that the refugee client makes the deposit and must continue to drawdown at least quarterly thereafter as clients make deposits.

Program Income The interest that accrues on the ORR matching funds deposited in the parallel account must be used to match the interest earned on the client's deposits. The interest on the match funds in the parallel account may not be retained by the recipient for any purpose, including program administration, client support services, or program data collection. (See 45 CFR § 75.307 (e)(2).)

Any interest accrued in the parallel account and used to match the interest earned in the refugee clients' IDA deposits are not included in the calculation of the maximum match funds provided.

Proof of Purchase Proofs of purchases must be provided for all assets purchased through the Refugee IDA Program and can include, but are not limited to, cash register receipts, completed vehicle title transfers, seller's signed disclosures, and emailed receipts. Proofs of purchases ensure that only eligible assets were purchased for the benefit of the Refugee IDA clients or the benefactors listed in his/her household. Any assets that do not have documentation and/or where the costs are found not allowable under the NOFO will be disallowed.

Closeout and Client Withdrawals Account activities must be scheduled so that all IDA accounts reach their maximum savings goal and clients have purchased their asset goals within the 3-year project period. If educational tuition or fees are paid in installments to an institution, a plan must be established to return funds to the government if all of the federal match money is not used by the client within the project period. If the client stops contributing towards his/her IDA for 3 months without recipient approval, or fails to meet his/her savings goal, the recipient may remove the client from the program and use those obligated match funds and any interest that has been generated in the parallel account to enroll another client. At the project period closeout, all remaining funds and any subsequent interest generated in the parallel account that is a result of clients not being able to reach their savings goal and purchase their asset goals within the 3-year project period or a refusal of the interest generated by the match funds, must be returned to HHS Payment Management Services in accordance with 45 CFR § 75.381(d).

POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS

Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) Response If, during the project period, ORR and/or recipients are required to adjust program and/or grant requirements due to COVID-19 or another emergency, ORR will exercise maximum flexibilities as needed. Requirements may be conducted virtually or timelines may be modified in consultation with ORR.

Program Performance Evaluation As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), ORR has obtained approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the Refugee IDA Program Data Indicators for post-award reporting. Grant recipients will be required to report data points collected on OMB Form 0970-0490 on a quarterly basis.

OMB Control Number: 0970--0490 Expiration Date: January 31, 2023 Data points for the Refugee IDA Program Indicators will include the following:

Recruitment and Enrollment

Number of Individual and Household Savings Plan Agreements signed Number of Individual Household IDAs opened Number of IDAs opened for each eligible asset goal Total Match Funds obligated for each eligible asset goal Total Number of IDAs for all assets Total Match Funds obligated for all assets

Training and Technical Assistance

Number of clients completing financial literacy training Number of hours of financial literacy training completed Number of clients completing asset-specific training Number of hours of asset-specific training completed Number of hours of technical assistance provided

Asset Purchases

Number of assets purchased in each category of eligible asset goals (i.e., vehicles, education/vocational training/professional recertification, microenterprise, and homes)

Total Savings and Match Funds used to purchase assets in each category of eligible asset goals

Total value of purchased assets in each category of eligible asset goals Number of all assets purchased Total value of all assets purchased Total Match Funds obligated for asset purchases Total Match Funds liquidated for asset purchases Total Match Funds currently in the Parallel Account Total Match Funds obligated but unliquidated Total Match Funds unobligated

Economic Self-Sufficiency

Number of Refugee IDA clients assessed based on a scale provided by ORR Mean self-sufficiency score of all clients assessed

Logic Model Progress

Progress toward each Output identified in the Logic Model Progress toward each Outcome identified in the Logic Model

For the Refugee IDA Program Data Indicators report, Rental Assistance should be recorded as Homes with further delineation in the SF-PPR as necessary.

Paperwork Reduction Act Disclaimer As required by the PRA of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, the public reporting burden for the Refugee IDA Program Data Indicators is estimated to average 2 burden hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection information. The Refugee IDA Program Data Indicators information collection is approved under OMB control number 0970-0490, expiration date is January 31, 2023. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Federal Evaluation If ACF identifies additional resources to fund a federal study of the funded Refugee IDA activities, then the recipient will be required to participate. The study would utilize an outside non-recipient evaluation team and would focus on the processes, implementation, progress indicators, and quality improvement of funded activities.

Consistent with the PRA of 1995, (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), under this NOFO, ORR will not conduct or sponsor--and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information covered by such Act unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. ORR will obtain OMB approval for a federal study of the funded grant activities, as appropriate.

Participation in ORR-Sponsored Workshops The IDA recipients will meet quarterly by phone, to discuss the performance indicators, methods for collecting and reporting those indicators, and other variables or benchmarks that might be appropriate for highlighting progress on the funded activities.

Refugee IDA Programs will be expected to participate in ORR-sponsored webinars, training and peer-sharing events throughout the program period. An annual workshop is planned for each program year. Attendance is required for one key staff member to participate in an annual 2-day workshop at ORR's office in Washington, DC, each year.

For more information on application requirements specific to this NOFO, please refer to Section IV.2., The Project Description, and The Project Budget and Budget Justification.

DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION OF TERMS

The following definitions apply for purposes of this NOFO:

Asset Goals-the purchases/investments for which the matching funds are intended when used in conjunction with the savings from the IDAs of refugee clients. The asset goal specified by a client in the Savings Plan Agreement may be for the benefit of the refugee client or of a dependent refugee (children under 21 years of age who are dependent of an adult for their livelihood) of the refugee client. The purchase of any asset goal must not create an excessive debt burden for the refugee client. Allowable asset goals are defined as follows:

Home Ownership-costs of a principal residence, including the down payment and closing costs when purchasing a home. The purchaser must be a first-time homebuyer.

Before approval for a client to save for this asset, the recipient must assess the likelihood that the client can obtain appropriate financing before the end of the project period. The recipient must also assess the client's abilities to maintain a mortgage and the upkeep of a home.

Rental Assistance–costs associated with renting temporary housing. Allowable costs include monthly rent and utilities (i.e., water, sewer, electric, gas, trash, and recycling).

Post-Secondary Education, Vocational Training, and Professional Recertification-the cost of tuition or fees, professional recertification fees, books, supplies, and equipment, including one computer per student if required or recommended by the institution for enrollment or attendance of a refugee student at a post-secondary educational institution. Mobile phones and other electronic devices that are not explicitly required or recommended by the institution where the client is enrolled are not considered eligible assets for post-secondary education, vocational training, and professional recertification. Funds may be used for a dependent refugee if that child begins post-secondary education or vocational training within the project period. Proof of enrollment and requirements of electronic devices, if applicable, must be documented in the client's file.

Purchase of an Automobile-a vehicle that is a documented necessity to maintain or upgrade employment or for transportation for postsecondary education, vocational training, or professional recertification. Funds can be used for the actual cost of the vehicle as well as one-time fees and taxes associated with the purchase of the vehicle.

Vehicles may not be purchased through auctions.

Microenterprise Capitalization-costs for a microbusiness described in a qualified business plan, such as marketing, equipment, working capital, and inventory expenses.

The business plan must be approved by a financial institution, a microenterprise development organization, a non-profit loan fund, or a partner that has microenterprise expertise. The plan must also describe services or goods to be sold and include a marketing plan and projected financial statements. Costs for microenterprise capitalization cannot include any of the following:

o Paying existing loans;

o Gambling or speculation, including buying and selling equity or debt instruments;

o Any not-for-profit undertaking;

o Paying legal fees;

o Any illegal activity or production, or service or distribution of illegal products;

o Purposes not related to microenterprise development (e.g., to buy a vehicle for personal use);

o Any other activity that ORR determines, in consultation with the recipient, to be inappropriate for the Refugee IDA Program or would other otherwise be prohibited under federal law, including the cost principles in 45 CFR Part 75, Subpart E.

Please reference Section IV.6 Funding Restrictions for more information.

Emergency Withdrawal-a withdrawal of funds, or a portion of funds, deposited by the client into his/her IDA. The withdrawal may also include any of the interest that may have accrued to the client's savings in the account but does not include any matching funds. The client must notify the recipient of the withdrawal before the withdrawal. Causes for emergency withdrawals include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, payments to prevent eviction or foreclosure, or payments for necessary living expenses. An IDA client's failure to notify the recipient and receive approval before an Emergency Withdrawal may result in immediate removal from the Refugee IDA Program. If funds withdrawn for emergency purposes are not repaid within 12 months, the client forfeits the match on those funds. Emergency withdrawals may never be authorized from the Parallel Account(s).

Household-an eligible client and all other persons living as an individual economic unit at one address that submits a single federal tax return.

Housing and Urban Development Area Median Family Income (HAMFI)-Is issued each year. This is the median family income calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for each jurisdiction, to determine Fair Market Rents and income limits for HUD programs. Within HUD, the terms, "HAMFI," "area median income" (AMI), or "median family income" (FMI) are used interchangeably. HAMFI can be located at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/cp/CHAS/bg_chas.html.

Parallel Account-an insured account opened by the recipient in a qualified financial institution to deposit the matching funds for the savings deposited by refugee clients in their individual https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/cp/CHAS/bg_chas.html

IDAs. Interest earned on the matching funds must remain in the Parallel Account and be used to match the interest earned on the refugee client's deposits. The matching funds must be made available to the refugee client at the time that the client purchases the asset goal. The matching funds are not available to the refugee client except for the purchase of the asset goals defined in this NOFO. During the 3-year project period, any interest that has been generated in the parallel accounts which is not used to match IDA savings either because the client did not complete the savings goal, or has refused the interest portion of the match may be used to enroll additional refugee clients.

Partnering with Organizations with Areas of Expertise-Partnering with other organizations is not a requirement of the Refugee IDA Program if the recipient has demonstrated in-house expertise in all the required components of the program. However, to ensure a high quality of service to refugee clients, ORR values the importance of the development of strategic partnerships with community organizations that offer expertise in the required areas of the Refugee IDA Program where the recipient does not have a demonstrated, in-house expertise.

Examples of areas of expertise could include, but are not limited to, the following: home buying process, postsecondary education, small business development, financial literacy training, refugee culture, and operating IDA programs. Examples of new partners could include, but are not limited to, the following: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, HUD approved housing counseling agencies, Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan offices, Assets for Independence (AFI) recipients, Community Development Financial Institutions, ethnic community-based organizations, financial empowerment centers, and other private and public institutions. For those partnership(s) that are funded through Subawards, please refer to Section I.

Program Description, Program Requirements, Subawards for requirements. Refer to Section VIII. Other Information for links to federal agencies.

Poverty Guidelines-issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes - for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs may be found at www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.cfm.

Qualified Financial Institution-a federally insured bank or credit union, or a state-insured bank or credit union if no federally insured bank or credit union is available.

Savings Goal-the amount, in dollars, that the client and recipient have indicated in the Savings Plan Agreement to be saved by the client and matched with federal funds by the recipient. The Savings Goal and match will be used to purchase the asset goal.

II. Federal Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant) Estimated Total Funding:

$10,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.cfm

$750,000 Per Project Period

Award Floor:

$500,000 Per Project Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$750,000 Per Project Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2022 Length of Project Periods:

Other

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Projects under this NOFO will be fully funded for a period of 36 months.

Additional Information on Awards:

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

Applications requesting an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period, or per project period, as stated in this section, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Note: For those programs that require matching or cost sharing, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the required amount of match or cost share. A recipient's failure to provide the required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

For more information on these requirements, see Section III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.

ACF will use the recipient’s quarterly performance progress reports, semi-annual financial reports, site visits, audit reports and other supporting documentation to determine, in accordance with the requirements in the competitive NOFO and statute, if satisfactory progress is being made. ACF will factor in the recipient’s ability to meet the dues dates as identified in the NOFO.

ACF’s review of reports and other documentation will be used to assess progress in the following: (1) accomplishing the project goals, objectives, and activities; (2) completing proposed activities; and (3) documenting allowable expenses that support project goals, objectives, and the approved budget. Please refer to Section VI.3. Reporting for more information on required reports.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants for refugee programs under the INA § 412(c)(1)(A) are "public and private nonprofit agencies."

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

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

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, where “cost sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

III.3. Other Application Disqualification Factors

Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

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

Required Electronic Application Submission

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

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

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

The deadline for electronic application submission is 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications submitted to Grants.gov after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. That is, applications submitted to Grants.gov, on or after 12:00 am ET on the day after the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov at any time during the open application period, and prior to the due date and time, which fail the Grants.gov validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged by ACF.

Each time an application is submitted via Grants.gov, the submission will generate a new date and time-stamp email notification. Only those applications with on-time date and time stamps that result in a validated application, which is transmitted to ACF will be acknowledged.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf

The deadline for receipt of paper applications is 4:30 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Paper applications received after 4:30 pm ET on the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. Paper applications received from applicants that have not received approval of an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

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

IV. Application and Submission Information IV.1. Address to Request Application Package Yimeem Vu Administration for Children and Families Office of Refugee Resettlement Division of Refugee Services 330 C Street, SW.

Washington

DC

20201

(202) 401-4825

(202) 401-5772 yimeem.vu@acf.hhs.gov www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr Application Packages

Electronic Application Submission:

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

Applications in Paper Format:

For applicants that have received an exemption to submit applications in paper format, Standard Forms (SFs), assurances, and certifications are available in the "Select Grant Opportunity Package" available in the NOFO's Grants.gov Synopsis under the Package tab at Grants.gov. See Section IV.2. Request an Exemption from Required Electronic Application Submission if applicants do not have an Internet connection or sufficient computing capacity to upload large documents (files) to Grants.gov.

Federal Relay Service:

Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired callers may contact the Federal Relay Service (FedRelay) for assistance at www.gsa.gov/fedrelay.

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

FORMATTING APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS

http://www.gsa.gov/fedrelay

Each applicant applying electronically via Grants.gov is required to upload only two electronic files, excluding SFs and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved forms. No more than two files will be accepted for the review, and additional files will be removed. SFs and OMB-approved forms will not be considered additional files.

FOR ALL APPLICATIONS:

Authorized Organization…