Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- HHS-2026-ACF-ORR-RW-0008
- Agency
-
Administration for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $250,000 to $14,438,363
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Income Security and Social Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Independent School Districts
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- County Governments
- State Governments
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Special District Governments
- City/Township Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Points of contact
-
- Zahra Cheema zahra.cheema@acf.hhs.gov (202) 401-5676
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families is soliciting applications for the Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program, a cooperative agreement providing employment training, placement services, and English language instruction to Refugee Cash Assistance recipients in six states where the Refugee Support Services program will no longer operate beginning in FY 2027, with applications due August 10, 2026.
Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit agencies, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, tribal governments (federally recognized and not federally recognized), public or private higher education institutions, independent school districts, special district governments, public or Indian housing authorities, and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits. Individuals, federal entities, and foreign entities are ineligible.
The program will operate in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas. Total expected program funding is $17,388,363, with six awards anticipated—one per state. Year 1 minimum award is $250,000 and maximum is $14,438,363, with funding tiers based on the number of ORR-eligible individuals in each state. The project period is three years, consisting of three one-year budget periods, with an expected start date of September 30, 2026.
Services must reach all RCA recipients while they receive assistance for up to 36 months from the participant's date of ORR eligibility. Required activities include employment training and placement services (job orientation, job clubs, job development, and job placement) and English language training. Projects must maintain statewide geographic coverage either directly or through subawards and coordinate with State Refugee Coordinators and local service providers to avoid duplication.
Merit review assesses purpose and need (7 points), response and approach (59 points), impact and evaluation (10 points), resources and capabilities (24 points), alignment with ACF priorities (10 points), and bonus points for statewide coverage and prior ORR employment program experience (6 points), totaling 116 possible points.
CFDA 93.583 (Refugee and Entrant Assistance Wilson/Fish Program).
Synopsis
The Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment Program (WF B2E) provides funds to ensure recipients of Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) can access required employment services as outlined in the Immigration and Nationality Act. ORR"s primary strategy for ensuring access to these required services in most states is through the Refugee Support Services (RSS) program. Beginning in FY 2027, RSS will no longer be available in select states. The WF B2E program provides required employment training and placement services, as well as English language training, to recipients of RCA in the states where RSS will no longer operate. Services provided under this program are only available to individuals within the first 36 months after they either arrive in the United States or within the first 36 months they receive an ORR-eligible status. Approved projects will fund required services either directly or through subawards. Details on the states in which this program will operate will be available in the forthcoming NOFO.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| hhs-2026-acf-orr-rw-0008-v5.pdf |
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