WH-AST-26-002 Founding and Replication of Existing Long-Term Safe Homes FINAL.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

Notice of Funding Opportunity Protecting Women and Girls through Founding and Replication of Existing Long-Term Safe

Homes

Opportunity Number

WH-AST-26-002

Application Due Date July 19, 2026

Technical Assistance Webinar Date June 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

A. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Application Responsiveness Criteria .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose of this Opportunity ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

2. Federal Involvement in the Project

3. Eligibility criteria for project participants

C. AWARD INFORMATION

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1.Format of the Application

2. Content

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DATES ................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1. Obtaining an Application Package ......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

2. Required Registrations ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

3. Submission Instructions

4. Other Submission Requirements

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Responsiveness Review

2. Merit Review Criteria

3. Merit Review and Selection Process

4. Review of Risk Posed by Applicant

G. AWARD NOTICES

H. AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

2. Program Specific Terms and Conditions

3. Award Closeout

4. Lobbying Prohibitions

5. Non-Discrimination Requirements

6. Smoke- and Tobacco-free Workplace

7. Acknowledgement of Funding

8. HHS Rights to Materials and Data

9. Trafficking in Persons

10. Efficient Spending

11. Whistleblower Protection

12. Health Information Technology (IT) Interoperability

13. Certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment

14. Human Subjects Protection

15. Research Integrity

16. Reporting

I. CONTACTS

J. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Checklist

2. Acronyms

3. Glossary

4. Object Class Descriptions and Required Justifications

5. Considerations in Recipient Plans for Oversight of Federal Funds

6. Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations

BASIC INFORMATION

Opportunity Title Protecting and Rehabilitating Sexually Exploited Women and Girls through the Founding and Replication of Existing Long-Term Safe Homes

Program Office Office on Women’s Health Application Submission and Format

Electronic application submitted via Grants.gov ONLY. Opportunity Number

WH-AST-26-002

Award Type Grant

Application Deadline July 19, 2026

Announcement Type Initial

Technical Assistance Webinar Date June 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET

Assistance Listing 93.088

Technical Assistance Webinar Details Visit the OWH website at: https://womenshealth.gov/about-us/work-us/funding-opportunities

Eligible Applicants (see Section A.1 for full details) Executive Order 12372 does apply to this NOFO (see section E.3.D)

Estimated Total Funding Available $1,900,000

Estimated Period of Performance (months) 24 months

• 12-month first budget period

• 12-month second budget period

• Optional competitive third year

Estimated Number of Awards 1-2

Anticipated Award Date 09/30/2026

Anticipated Award Funding Range $500,000-1,900,000

Anticipated Project Start Date 09/30/2026

QUESTIONS?

Additional contact information in Section G https://womenshealth.gov/about-us/work-us/funding-opportunities https://womenshealth.gov/about-us/work-us/funding-opportunities

SUMMARY

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Office on Women’s Health (OWH) announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 grants under the authority of section 229 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. § 237a) and section 1703(a) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. § 300u-2(a)). Those grants are funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.

This notice solicits applications for initiatives that seek to address sexual violence by founding or replicating new safe homes for sexually exploited and/or abused women or girls. These safe homes must provide longer-term housing for months or years— sufficient to serve the rehabilitative needs of the populations served—as opposed to emergency shelter, along with comprehensive multidisciplinary care that addresses the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and educational needs of the girls and women they serve. Grantees are expected to strengthen partnerships between state- and/or community-level providers which may include healthcare systems, domestic or sexual violence organizations, law enforcements, behavioral health providers, substance use disorder treatment providers, or education providers. By partnering with healthcare and community organizations, these safe homes would improve healthcare providers’ ability to help victims of violence and improve prevention of further violence and re-traumatization by providing female victims of sexual exploitation and/or abuse with the comprehensive, therapeutic, and staffed, around-the-clock care that they need.

OASH Grants and Acquisitions Management Division (GAM) will administer this competition.

We encourage applicants to review all program requirements, eligibility information, application format and submission information, evaluation criteria, and other information in this funding announcement to ensure that their application complies with all requirements and instructions.

A. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants You must meet all of the eligibility requirements in order for us to review your application.

a. Eligible Entities

Any public or private (profit or nonprofit) entity located in a State (which includes one of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands) is eligible to apply for an award under this announcement. Community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American (AI/AN/NA) organizations are eligible to apply.

Examples of eligible Organizations include:

• State Governments

• U.S. territories

• County Governments

• City or township governments

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

• Public Housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)

• Nonprofits having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

• Private institutions of higher education

• For profit organizations, including small businesses.

b. PD/PI Eligibility

There is no restriction on an individual’s eligibility to be Project Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI) on an application. However, we will not make an award with a PD/PI who has an active government-wide exclusion, suspension, or debarment recorded in SAM.gov.

We expect that throughout the period of performance the PD/PI will be involved in, and have substantial knowledge about, all aspects of the project. Although your organization may recognize co-PD/PIs on team-managed projects, we recognize only a single PD/PI who will be responsible for the programmatic aspects of the project.

c. Other Considerations Submitting Multiple Applications

You may submit more than one application, but each application must be for a distinctly different project.

If you submit multiple applications for the same project, we will accept only the last application submitted a Grants.gov timestamp that is before the due date and time. We will disqualify all other versions of the application. See Section F.1.b for all disqualification factors.

Submitting an Application as a Group or Consortium

For any given project, we will only make an award to a single eligible entity. More than one entity may choose to work together on a project under this opportunity, but only one entity may submit the application. If awarded, that entity will be the award recipient and will be responsible for conducting the project.

The other entities may participate in the project, if awarded, and would be responsible to the recipient for their respective roles, typically as subrecipients.

Groups may form a consortium, partnership, or other legally recognized entity for the purpose of applying for this opportunity and carrying out any awarded project. The resulting entity must exist and be legally recognized when it applies and must have an active registration in SAM.gov.

We will conduct a risk assessment on the applying entity (Section F.4) prior to making any award.

Eligibility Documentation

We do not require you to submit documentation of your eligibility (e.g., proof of 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution) when you submit your application. It is important that your organization is correctly classified in your SAM registration (Section E.2.a).

During our review of your application, we might request additional documentation to support your eligibility. This request means only that your application is under review and not that you will receive an award.

More specific information on the type of documentation that we might request specific to this opportunity appears in Section E.4.b.

Application Disqualification

We will disqualify applications that fail to meet the eligibility, responsiveness, formatting, and submission requirements (Sections F.1.b) prior to conducting merit review. Disqualified applications will not undergo further review.

We will notify disqualified applicants at the end of the competition when we announce the award recipients.

2. Application Responsiveness Criteria

We will review your application to determine whether it meets the responsiveness criteria below.

If your application does not meet the responsiveness criteria, we will disqualify it from the competition; we will not review it beyond the initial screening.

The responsiveness criteria are as follows:

• Eligible Applicant

The applicant is an eligible entity as specified in this NOFO.

All services provided under the application must be fully funded and performed within the United States. Receipt of any funding or services from outside of the United States for any part of the applicant’s program will render the applications non-responsive.

• Target Population Alignment

The proposed project clearly and exclusively serves girls and/or women who are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse. Applications that do not clearly identify this population as the primary population to be served will be deemed non-responsive. See HHS’s definitions of women and girls:

https://womenshealth.gov/article/sex-based-definitions.

• Residential Program Focus

The application proposes the founding and/or replication of existing residential programs (i.e., safe, structured, therapeutic living environments), rather than solely outpatient, drop-in, emergency, or non-residential services.

Proposed programs must prioritize longer-term, supportive residential care for months or years—sufficient to serve the rehabilitative needs of the populations served— rather than short-term or emergency shelter-only models. Proposals for emergency housing will be deemed non-responsive.

• Trauma-Informed, Therapeutic Model

The application describes a program model that provides trauma-informed, therapeutic care designed to support recovery from severe and repeated trauma.

The model must go beyond basic housing and include a structured, therapeutic environment. This model must demonstrate respect for the dignity of the women and/or girls served.

• Comprehensive Service Delivery

The safe home to be founded or replicated includes access to multidisciplinary, comprehensive services, addressing at minimum the following domains:

o Physical health https://womenshealth.gov/article/sex-based-definitions o Psychological and emotional well-being o Social support o Educational or vocational development

If the home will not directly provide one or more of these services, they must plan to include partnerships which satisfy the requirements across all domains.

Applications that do not demonstrate a plan to provide or coordinate these services will be deemed non-responsive.

• Regard for Age-Appropriate Living Arrangements

To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants may plan to found safe homes for girls and/or women. If applicants provide services for both girls and women, applicants will be expected to maintain distinct lodging arrangements for the girls and for the women to support developmentally appropriate care. Younger girls (generally defined as those under 12 years old) must not share residential spaces with adult women. Applicants may house middle-school-aged girls together in age-appropriate groupings, including girls approximately 12–15 years old, where such arrangements are developmentally appropriate and supported by adequate supervision and safeguarding practices. Applicants should ensure that residential placements consider the age, maturity level, safety, and well-being of all residents.

Exceptions to standard age-grouping practices may be made on a limited basis where continuous supervision and appropriate protections are in place to safeguard younger females from exposure to age-inappropriate influences.

• Protection of Minors

Applicants proposing to serve minors or other vulnerable youth populations must describe policies and procedures to ensure victim safety, confidentiality, and compliance with all applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local laws and regulations. Applications must include protocols for protecting personally identifiable information and maintaining data confidentiality, including appropriate data de-identification and secure data management practices. Applicants must also describe procedures for obtaining informed consent and assent, as applicable, in accordance with State laws governing services to minors. In addition, applicants must demonstrate compliance with all mandatory reporting requirements related to suspected abuse, neglect, trafficking, exploitation, self-harm, or threats to participant safety. Projects serving minors must further describe coordination and referral procedures with appropriate child welfare agencies, behavioral health providers, schools, juvenile justice systems, and other youth-serving organizations, as appropriate to the proposed project. Applicants are encouraged to implement trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate approaches that prioritize participant safety, well-being, and privacy throughout all program activities.

• Staffing

The application demonstrates a plan to found or replicate a safe home that maintains adequate, consistent, and qualified staff, including access to licensed counselors, with minimal employee turnover. The applicant must describe plans to ensure staff stability and continuity of care, given the high-need population served. Homes are also expected to maintain a stable operational capacity.

For the purposes of this NOFO, the ability to maintain consistent staff is defined as a tenure of 2+ years for at least 60% of direct caregivers and the director.

Consideration may be given to programs that reasonably differ from these benchmarks, or programs which are younger than 2 years, provided that these programs demonstrate low annual turnover rates and clear, effective retention efforts. For purposes of this NOFO, stable operational capacity generally refers to the home’s ability to maintain staffing levels sufficient to ensure the safety, supervision, and well-being of residents through developmentally appropriate care and consistent program operations. As a general benchmark, applicants serving girls should maintain an approximate staff-to-resident ratio of 1:1 to 1:2, while applicants serving adult women should maintain an approximate ratio of 1:2 to 1:5. Variations from these benchmarks may be appropriate depending on the acuity, age, supervision needs, or specialized service requirements of particular residents. Applicants proposing alternative staffing models must clearly justify how such arrangements will support safe, effective, and appropriate care.

Residential staff are expected to undergo training and appropriate background check investigations.

• Use of Funds

The proposed use of funds aligns with allowable activities under this NOFO, including:

o Replicating existing long-term safe homes for sexually exploited, trafficked, and/or abused girls and/or women and/or o Founding new safe homes for sexually exploited, trafficked, and/or abused girls and/or women.

o Supporting the continued operation, stabilization, expansion, and delivery of trauma-informed residential and supportive services within funded homes during the project period after homes become operational.

Allowable activities may include staffing, therapeutic services, resident support services, training, licensing and compliance activities, facility-related operational expenses, partnership coordination, and other activities necessary to sustain safe, stable, high-quality residential care. Applications proposing the founding or replication of homes outside the scope of residential care and associated supportive services will be deemed non-responsive.

• Alignment with Program Purpose and Outcomes

The application clearly demonstrates alignment with the purpose of this initiative, including:

o Expanding access to safe, high-quality residential placements for female victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abuse o Supporting long-term recovery, stability, and self-sufficiency through the provision of therapeutic care in-house and in partnership with other health and community-based organizations o Maximizing prevention by reducing risk of re-victimization or return to unsafe environments

• Completeness and Submission Requirements

The application is complete and submitted in accordance with all instructions in this NOFO, including required forms, narratives, and attachments.

Applications that are incomplete, noncompliant with formatting or submission requirements, or submitted after the deadline will be deemed non-responsive.

Only applications that meet all of the above criteria will proceed to merit review.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

You are not required to provide cost sharing or matching in your proposed budget.

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

OWH announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 grants under the authority of section 229 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. § 237a) and section 1703(a) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. § 300u-2(a)). Those grants are funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026.

The primary focus of OASH is to lead Americans toward healthier lives by promoting health and well-being across the lifespan. Grants funded through this NOFO expand access to safe, high-quality, trauma-informed residential services for girls and women who are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse. These programs will create environments that promote healing, stability, and long-term recovery by providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary care that addresses the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and educational needs of victims.

Through this investment, OASH aims to strengthen the continuum of care available to this vulnerable population, maximize prevention by reducing the risk of re-victimization, and improve long-term health, well-being, and self-sufficiency outcomes.

Background

Across the United States, thousands of girls and women are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abuse, including exploitation by parents, guardians, and others who are responsible for their care. 10,359 cases of human trafficking were reported through the National Human Trafficking Hotline alone in 2021.1 These figures likely represent only a fraction of the true scope of the problem.

Victims who escape frequently face a critical shortage of safe, supportive environments, leaving many with no viable alternative but to return to their traffickers or other unsafe conditions where they are at high risk of re-victimization or re-traumatization. Existing residential options for victims of sexual abuse and trafficking are limited in both number and capacity.2 Nationwide, there are only a small number of facilities providing therapeutic, inpatient-style services for females. This scarcity is compounded by operational challenges within existing homes, including understaffing and high employee turnover. Burnout and secondary traumatic stress among staff serving trafficking and abuse victims contribute to high turnover and retention challenges in residential care settings. These challenges are often driven by the complex and intensive needs of victims, many of whom have experienced severe and repeated trauma, requiring specialized, consistent, and highly skilled care by trustworthy individuals who are deeply and personally committed to treating them with dignity and providing them with the consistent attention, care, and love that they deserve.

Victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and abuse require more than temporary shelter; they need comprehensive, trauma-informed, and therapeutic environments that support long-term recovery. Effective programs must provide access to licensed counselors and multidisciplinary services that address the complex physical, psychological, emotional, social, and educational needs of victims. Such holistic support is essential to helping victims regain trust, rebuild stability, develop independence, and achieve long-term self-sufficiency and health.

Significant financial barriers further limit the expansion of victim housing and services.

Establishing and operating a trauma-informed residential facility for trafficking survivors requires substantial financial investment due to licensing, staffing, clinical care, and regulatory compliance requirements. Published nonprofit budgets and residential treatment models indicate that annual operating costs for small facilities can reach or exceed seven figures.3, 4 These high

1 Polaris Project. 2021. Polaris Analysis of 2021 Data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Polaris-Analysis-of-2021-Data-from-the-National-Human- Trafficking-Hotline.pdf.

2 Heather J. Clawson et al., Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2009), https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files//43241/index.pdf.

3 Thistle Farms. 2025 Annual Report. Nashville, TN: Thistle Farms, 2025.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1795/6929/files/AnnualReport-16pages_031826_SM_1.pdf?v=1775847463.

4 Covenant House. “Annual Report.” https://www.covenanthouse.org/annual-report.

https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Polaris-Analysis-of-2021-Data-from-the-National-Human-Trafficking-Hotline.pdf https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Polaris-Analysis-of-2021-Data-from-the-National-Human-Trafficking-Hotline.pdf https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_legacy_files/43241/index.pdf https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1795/6929/files/AnnualReport-16pages_031826_SM_1.pdf?v=1775847463 https://www.covenanthouse.org/annual-report startup and operational costs contribute to the persistent shortage of available placements and highlight the need for targeted federal investment.

Given the scale of the problem, the documented service gaps, and the high cost of developing and sustaining appropriate care environments, there is a clear and compelling need for strategic funding to expand access to safe, high-quality, trauma-informed residential services for victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse. This grant opportunity is intended to address these critical gaps by supporting the founding and/or replication of program(s) that provide comprehensive care for this vulnerable population.

Expectations for Recipients

Recipients funded under this NOFO will be expected to found or replicate an existing safe, trauma-informed residential program(s) that provide comprehensive therapeutic services for girls and women who are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse. Recipients must demonstrate the organizational capacity necessary to found or replicate homes that provide consistent, high-quality care to individuals with complex and intensive needs resulting from severe trauma.

Recipients will be expected to:

• Found and/or replicate safe, structured residential environments that prioritize long-term recovery, stability, dignity, and well-being rather than solely short-term or emergency shelter services.

• Found and/or replicate homes that provide trauma-informed, therapeutic, and victim-centered care that addresses the physical, psychological, emotional, social, educational, and developmental needs of residents.

• Found and/or replicate existing homes that provide residents with access to licensed counselors, case managers, and/or other multidisciplinary professionals capable of supporting recovery and rehabilitation.

• Found and/or replicate existing homes that maintain sufficient staffing levels and implement strategies to promote continuity of care, reduce staff turnover, and minimize re-traumatization of residents.

• Found and/or replicate existing homes that implement policies and procedures that promote resident safety, privacy, accountability, and appropriate supervision.

• Found and/or replicate existing homes that support residents in developing life skills, independence, educational attainment, and other capacities that contribute to long-term quality of life.

• Found and/or replicate existing homes that coordinate, as appropriate, with state- and/or community-level providers and partner organizations to ensure access to supportive services and continuity of care.

• Use federal funds only for allowable activities described in this NOFO, including costs associated with facility establishment, licensing and compliance, staffing, training, and supportive services.

• Collect and report data and performance information as required by OASH, including information related to residential capacity, service delivery, staffing stability, resident outcomes, and other indicators identified by the program. Ensure confidentiality and appropriate de-identification of personal data.

• Participate in technical assistance, monitoring, and evaluation activities conducted or required by OASH.

• Consistent with applicable state law, recipients are expected to only provide referrals for other medical procedures with the consent of a parent or other legally authorized decision-maker, such as a court-appointed guardian, legal custodian, or other individual or entity vested with decision-making authority under applicable law. Nothing in this requirement shall be construed to diminish parental rights where such rights remain legally intact and applicable.

Recipients are expected to implement sustainable models of care that improve the availability and quality of residential services for victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse and contribute to a stronger national response to violence against women.

Federal funding under this NOFO is intended not only to support the founding or replication of long-term safe homes, but also to support the stabilization, operation, and continued delivery of trauma-informed residential and supportive services during the project period after homes become operational. Recipients may continue to receive continuation funding, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and continued programmatic alignment, in order to maintain staffing continuity, therapeutic programming, resident services, operational stability, and long-term recovery supports for residents served through the funded project.

Recipients are encouraged to support the optimal long-term health of residents by promoting, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with individual needs and circumstances, alignment with OASH guidelines related to nutrition, physical activity, and sleep. Recipients are further encouraged to provide residents with access to comprehensive health education that fosters body literacy and informed health decision-making. Where appropriate, such education may include fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and related approaches that can help individuals better understand their health, address chronic conditions, and promote overall wellness.

Federal Involvement in the Project

If you receive an award, we will encourage you to seek the advice and opinion of federal staff when problems arise. However, you would be responsible for making sound programmatic and administrative judgments. The responsibility for operating decisions will be yours and does not shift to HHS, OASH, or OWH.

Under a grant, the program office’s involvement may include routine monitoring and technical assistance such as monthly conference calls, occasional site visits, ongoing review of plans and progress, participation in relevant meetings, provision of training and technical assistance.

https://realfood.gov/ https://odphp.health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines/current-guidelines https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationships/get-enough-sleep

Eligibility criteria for project participants You must not restrict participation in the project on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, or another protected characteristic (See Section H.5).

Required Alignment with OASH Mission and Agency Priorities

The recipients of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals and agency priorities in accordance with the Priorities of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (available online at: https://health.gov/priorities), and when authorized by law according to the OWH statute, regulations, legislative mandates, and additional program guidance. Funded activities must advance and support OASH’s mission to improve the health and well-being of Americans.

The recipients must demonstrate ongoing compliance with these priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them, through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award (including termination pursuant to 2 C.F.R. 200.340(a)(4) for no longer effectuating program goals or agency priorities).

C. AWARD INFORMATION

Budget period(s)

The Office on Women's Health intends to make funds available for competing grant awards. We will fund awards in annual increments (budget periods) over two budget periods for a total period of performance up to two (2) years with an optional competitive third year, although we may approve shorter periods of performance. Recipients will be required to submit a non-competing continuation application for each budget period for the second and third years. We anticipate offering a competing continuation for a third year for the purpose of providing funding to support selected recipients as they transition projects to sustainability.

Budget periods may also vary from the estimate indicated above due to timing of award issuance or other administrative factors. Funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first is generally level with the initial award amount and is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, adequate stewardship of Federal funds, and the best interests of the Government.

Continuation funding may support both the establishment phase and the ongoing operational phase of funded residential programs, including activities necessary to maintain safe housing https://health.gov/priorities capacity, therapeutic programming, staffing stability, multidisciplinary service delivery, resident support services, and other approved activities that advance long-term recovery and program sustainability.

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1. Format of the Application

You must prepare your application using the forms and information described in this NOFO.

The official online application package on Grants.gov contains all necessary forms and guidance for preparing an application. This package includes but is not limited to:

• Full Text of the NOFO

• Standard forms (required) and their instructions o SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance o SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs o SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities o Project Abstract Summary

• Sample templates, if available.

In addition to the four standard forms in the application package, your application will consist of 3 sections of materials you prepare:

1. Project Narrative

2. Appendices to the Project Narrative

3. Budget Package.

We strongly encourage you to read all instructions for the application format and content to avoid disqualification of your application. An application checklist is available in Section J.1.

a. Project Narrative – Formatting Following the formatting instructions below will help ensure that your application is readable for review process. Acceptable electronic file formats are in Section E.3.a.

Names of Individuals

We encourage you to use individuals’ full names (first, middle, last) on the standard forms and any other documents such as résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches to distinguish them for verification in the SAM exclusion records. Delays may result in award processing if full names are not provided.

You should avoid submitting personally identifiable information such as personal contact information (e.g., home address and telephone number) on résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches. Do not submit social security numbers.

If you receive an award, only one Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) will be named on the award documents. (Section A.1.b) Avoid using a placeholder or honorary

PD/PI. If you have not hired an individual to be the PD/PI, you should name an interim PD/PI, and your application should clearly identify that person as such.

We typically expect the PD/PI to be named on the SF-424 in box 8.f. Avoid naming grant writers in box 8.f unless they have the expertise to respond to technical questions about the proposed project in a timely manner.

Identify other personnel who are essential or key to the execution of the proposed project clearly in your project narrative.

If you receive an award, a request for a change in PD/PI or key personnel under any circumstance requires prior approval of the grants management officer before becoming effective. We may disallow any costs incurred as a result of that change prior to our approval. See Section H.1.c.

Page Formatting

If you submit documents that do not conform to the following instructions, GAM will disqualify your application during the review process (SectionF.1.b).

Use an easily readable typeface, such as Times New Roman or Arial.

Use a 12-point font.

Use an 8.5” X 11” page size. Any other size page (e.g., A4, legal) will disqualify your application.

You must double-space the Project Narrative pages or we will disqualify your application. You may single-space tables or use alternate fonts, but you must ensure the tables are easy to read.

Do not number pages or include a table of contents. Our grants management system will generate page numbers once your application is complete.

You must submit your application in the English language and in terms of U.S. dollars (2 C.F.R. §200.111).

Page Limits

Your project narrative and appendices must adhere to these page limits.

The page limits do not include the budget package (Section D.2.c)

The page limits do not include the required forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL, and the Project Abstract Summary)

If your application exceeds the specified page limits when printed on 8.5” X 11” page, we will not review your application further.

We encourage you to print out your application before submitting it to ensure that it is within the page limits and is easy to read. Do not reduce pages to fit multiple pages on a single sheet to avoid exceeding the page limitation.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.111 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.111

Do not hyperlink documents or sites outside of your application to augment your application. Reviewers will not be permitted to follow links to external content during their assessment of your application. The one exception to this is a link to your internal controls as part of your budget package (Section D.2.c.3).

Page Limit

Project Narrative _____25____

Project Narrative plus Appendices ____50_____

Labeling Proprietary Information

Proprietary information includes patentable ideas, trade secrets, privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, the disclosure of which may harm the applicant.

You should include proprietary information in your application only to the extent that it is essential to the reviewers’ understanding of the project. Proprietary information should not appear in your Project Abstract Summary.

If your application contains proprietary information, you should clearly label the top of the first page of the project narrative. For example, Contains proprietary or confidential information that [Your Organization Name] requests not be released to persons outside the government, except for purposes of review and evaluation.

Awarded applications are subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with redactions as the FOIA statute permits.

b. Appendices to the Project Narrative – Formatting Your appendices should include any specific items outlined in Section D.2.b. Your documents should be easy to read.

You should use the same formatting specified for the Project Narrative. However, documents such as résumés/curricula vitae/biographical sketches, organizational charts, tables, Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) or Letters of Commitment (LOCs) may have formatting common to those documents, so long as the pages are easy to read. For example, resumes, MOAs and LOCs may be single-spaced.

You must upload all of your appendices as a single, consolidated file in the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application. You must use an acceptable file format (Section E.3.a). We strongly encourage you to convert your file(s) to PDF format before uploading and review them to ensure accurate conversion.

Your Project Narrative plus the Appendices may not exceed the total number of pages for the application (Section D.1.a).

c. Budget Package - Formatting The budget narrative should use the formatting required of the project narrative for the explanatory text. Budget tables may be single-spaced but should be laid out in an easily readable format and within the printable margins of an 8.5” x 11” page. You must use an acceptable file format (Section E.3.a). We do not accept Excel or other similar spreadsheet formats.

The application page limit does not include the SF-424A or the budget narrative (including budget tables).

We recommend you present budget amounts and computations in a columnar format: first column, object class categories; second column, federal funds requested; third column, non-federal resources; and last column, total budget.

Object Class Federal Funds Requested

Non-Federal Resources Total Budget

Personnel $100,000 $25,000 $125,000

2. Content

a. Project Narrative - Content

The Project Narrative is the most important part of your application. We will use it as the primary basis to determine whether your project merits an award. The project narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. We recommend that your project narrative include the following components with the requested information. Labeling the sections accordingly will help the reviewers find information quickly.

You must clearly describe the administrative, management, and clinical capability of the applicant organization and plans for delivering the services that meet the expectations outlined in the NOFO. You should include all services to be provided by the project as part of the program plan. Proposed projects must adhere to all applicable regulations and legislative mandates.

Successful proposals should include the following:

• Statement of Need Applicants should clearly describe the need for residential services for girls and women who are victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse within the geographic area to be served. The application should demonstrate an understanding of the significant shortage of safe, therapeutic residential placements and the risks victims face when appropriate services are unavailable, including re-victimization, re-traumatization, homelessness, or return to traffickers or other unsafe environments.

Applicants should describe the characteristics and complex needs of the target population, including the physical, psychological, emotional, social, educational, and developmental impacts of severe and repeated trauma.

• Organizational Capability

Applicants should demonstrate organizational capability in serving victims of sexual exploitation, trafficking, and/or abuse. Applications should clearly describe the administrative, financial, management, and clinical infrastructure necessary to found and operate a safe and effective residential program.

Applicants should describe:

o Any relevant work they have done to serve sexually exploited, trafficked, and/or abused girls and/or women;

o Experience or familiarity with residential or therapeutic care environments;

o Access to licensed counselors and/or multidisciplinary professionals;

o Strategies to support the recruitment, retention, and support of staff in order to reduce turnover and promote continuity of care.

• Program Design and Service Delivery

Applicants should provide a detailed description of the proposed residential program model and explain how the project will provide safe, trauma-informed, therapeutic care that supports long-term recovery and stability.

Applications should describe:

o The type of residence intended to be founded;

o Trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches to care;

o Therapeutic and supportive services to be provided;

o Safety and security protocols;

o Policies and procedures designed to protect residents from re-traumatization;

and o Plans to support resident dignity, trust-building, emotional stabilization, and healthy development.

Programs should include or coordinate access to comprehensive services that address:

o Physical and behavioral health needs;

o Mental health counseling and therapeutic services;

o Educational support;

o Vocational or life-skills development;

o Social and emotional support; and o Long-term self-sufficiency.

• Facility and Operational Plan

If applicants are proposing to build new residential facilities, they should describe the status of the proposed site, plans for acquisition or renovation, licensing and regulatory compliance requirements, and readiness to begin operations.

Applications should also describe:

o Operational sustainability;

o Staffing plans;

o Resident capacity goals;

o Compliance with applicable state and local requirements; and o Plans to ensure safe, stable, and supportive living conditions.

• Partnerships and Coordination

Applicants should plan to form partnerships, referral relationships, and coordination efforts with community organizations, healthcare providers, schools, law enforcement, social service agencies, or other state-level entities that support comprehensive care for victims.

Applications should explain how these partnerships will enhance continuity of care, improve access to services, and strengthen long-term outcomes for residents.

• Outcomes and Performance Measurement

Applications should describe how the project will:

o Increase access to safe residential placements;

o Improve resident stability and well-being;

o Reduce the likelihood of re-victimization or return to unsafe environments;

o Promote long-term recovery and self-sufficiency; and o Maintain staffing stability and continuity of care.

Applicants should also describe methods for collecting, tracking, and reporting performance data and evaluating project effectiveness.

• Sustainability

Reviewers will assess the extent to which the applicant presents a realistic and sustainable plan to maintain safe, stable, trauma-informed residential services and continuity of care beyond the initial implementation phase and, where feasible, beyond the federal project period. Applicants may propose phased sustainability approaches that include continued operational support during the project period while gradually strengthening long-term organizational and community-based support capacity.

• Budget and Budget Justification

Applicants should provide a detailed and reasonable budget that aligns with the proposed project activities and demonstrates appropriate use of federal funds across both implementation and operational phases of the project. Budget narratives should clearly explain proposed costs associated with residential operations, staffing, continuity of care, facility expansion or stabilization, training, licensing and compliance, therapeutic programming, resident support services, and long-term sustainability planning.

b. Appendices to the Project Narrative – Content All items described in this section will count toward the total page limit of your application. You must submit them as a single electronic file uploaded to the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application.

Samples and optional forms/templates for some of these items are located under the Related Documents tab for this NOFO on Grants.gov.

Your application should include the following appendices:

• Work Plan

Your Work Plan should reflect, and be consistent with, the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative, and must cover all years of period of performance. However, each year’s activities should be fully attainable in one budget year. You may propose multi-year activities, as well as activities that build upon each other, but each phase of the project must be discreet and attainable within a single budget year. Your Work Plan should include a statement of the project’s overall goal, anticipated outcome(s), key objectives, and the major tasks, action steps, or products that will be pursued or developed to achieve the goal and outcome(s). For each major task of each year, action step, or product, your work plan should identify the timeframes involved (including start and end-dates), and the lead person responsible for completing the task.

• Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and/or Letters of Commitment (LOC) from

Partners, Sub-recipient Organizations, and Agencies, as Applicable

Signed MOAs, if available at the time of submission, should be submitted for each partner and include specific roles, responsibilities, resources, and contributions of partner(s) to the project. If the applicant is unable to submit signed MOAs, the applicant may submit an unsigned MOA(s).

Otherwise, signed LOCs may be submitted for each partner and must detail the specific role and resources that will be provided, or activities that will be undertaken, in support of the project. The organization’s expertise, experience, and access to the targeted population(s) should also be described in the LOC. LOCs should be followed by fully-executed MOAs.

Letters of commitment are not the same as letters of support. Letters of support are letters that are general in nature that speak to the writer’s belief in the capability of an applicant to accomplish a goal/task. Letters of support also may indicate an intent or interest to work together in the future. Letters of support may be included as part of an application.

• Organizational Chart

Include an organizational chart that reflects the management structure for the project and demonstrates where the project resides within the greater organization.

• Curriculum Vitae/Résumé/Biographical Sketches for Key Project Personnel

You must submit with your application curriculum vitae and/or résumés of the Project Director/Principal Investigator and all other Key Personnel you have identified in your application. Key Personnel includes those individuals who will oversee the technical, professional, managerial, and support functions and/or assume responsibility for assuring the validity and quality of your organization’s program. This includes at a minimum Project Director/Principal Investigator. You should use full names (first, middle, last) on these documents to distinguish them for verification in the System for Award Management exclusion records. You should use the formatting common to those documents. (See https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm for templates and sample biographical sketches.)

• References Cited

You should include your references cited in your project narrative. You may use any standard format that you chose as long as it will clearly lead the reader to your source of the information or data.

c. Budget Package - Content A complete budget package consists of the following required components:

• SF-424A “Budget Information Non-Construction Programs”

• Budget…