Community Reentry Settings Initiative

26CS06 - NOFO Community Reentry Settings Initiative

U.S. Department of Justice
National Institute of Corrections
NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (NOFO)
Funding Opportunity Title: Community Reentry Settings Initiative
Announcement Type: Initial
Funding Opportunity Number: 26CS06
Assistance Listing Number: 16.602
Due Date for Applications: May 4, 2026
Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. NIC encourages
applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, NIC
urges applicants to submit applications 72 hours prior to the application due date. All
applications are due to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in
Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 4, 2026. Late applications are neither reviewed
nor considered.
Purpose:
Establish a process evaluation framework specifically tailored for state Department of
Corrections (DOC) agencies to facilitate a systematic and in-depth examination of the decision-
making processes involved in releasing incarcerated individuals to halfway houses and reentry
centers. This is not a funding opportunity to establish halfway homes, build halfway homes nor
staffing for halfway homes. The central aim is to uncover the precise operational mechanisms,
identify the challenges encountered, and understand the various factors that influence these
critical determinations. It is important to clarify that this evaluation focuses on understanding.
.
SPECIAL NOTE: Applications must be ‘VALIDATED’ by Grants.gov by the application
deadline. This can take up to 48 hours after successful submission. See Section 5, Timely
Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission, for more information. It is strongly
recommended that applications be submitted at least 2 business days ahead of the application
deadline.
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CONTENTS
1. Basic Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
2. Eligibility --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
3. Program Description ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6
4. Application Contents and Format ------------------------------------------------- 12
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines ---------------------------------------- 22
6. Application Review Information --------------------------------------------------- 28
7. Award Notices -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration -------------------------------- 32
9. Other Information -------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
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1. BASIC INFORMATION
Federal Agency Name: National Institute of Corrections
Funding Opportunity Title: Community Reentry Settings Initiative
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement: 26CS06
Funding Opportunity Number: 26CS06
Assistance Listing Number:
16.602 - Corrections Research and Evaluation and Policy Formulation
Funding Details:
NIC expects to make one award for a 12-month project period. Requests for amounts more than
award amount, including direct and indirect costs will not be considered.
Total funding available: $100,000.00
Total Award Amount: $100,000.00
Number of Awards: 1
Key Dates: Announcement Date: March 5, 2026
Pre-proposal inquiries and questions must be submitted not later than April 20, 2026
Application Due Date: May 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Applications must be received electronically and in receipt of a successful validation message in
Grants.gov.
Anticipated Award Date: June 5, 2026
Executive Summary:
The release decision-making process is crucial to the criminal justice system and should be
intentional and deliberate. Reentry decisions should consider factors such as the inmate’s risk,
needs and responsivity (RNR) principles and community safety concerns. There has been some
attention surrounding the utilization of halfway houses but, additional assessment and review is
needed to understand the current state of halfway house utilization and make transformational
changes that supports successful reentry outcomes in halfway houses. The questions to explore
are simple and complex. For example, what and how is criteria (risk assessments, protective
factors, etc.) used in the decision-making process from prison to halfway house; how are case
managers planning for halfway house release with their residents; what does the “hand-off” from
prisons officials to halfway house organizations entail; how are the community, business,
education and other public or non-profit entities involved in this release process to halfway house
and; what is the continuum of support/care provided during their reentry/transition period at half-
way houses (e.g., employment, life skills, mental health, substance use). These are some of the
broad questions this work seeks to answer.
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One notable dynamic to explore in the decision-making processes involves the tension between
discretionary authority and standardized procedures. Multiple sources highlight that release
decisions involve "discretionary judgment", and key actors like wardens, community corrections
managers, and case managers are the final decision makers. How each of these actors makes
decisions varies, leaving the possibility of subjective judgment in the process. Simultaneously,
there are explicit legal mandates, state statutes, and zoning requirements that outline specific
criteria, timelines, and procedures for release to halfway houses.
While policies and assessment tools aim for consistency, fairness, and evidence-based decision
making, the space where discretion exists can lead to variations in which individuals are being
considered for release. This human factor introduces the potential for inconsistencies in
eligibility determinations, or deviations from the policy and program criteria/design or
inconsistent application of policy and procedures. This points to the dilemma between
discretionary release practices versus standardized releasing decision-making.
Therefore, a process evaluation created should be conducted to understand currently how
discretion is applied within defined policy parameters. Dynamics to understand include: are
policies consistently applied across different unit teams, case managers, or community
corrections boards; are there informal norms or unwritten rules that influence decisions more
than formal policy; what are the perceived trade-offs between strict adherence to policy and the
flexibility needed for individualized case management?
The primary objective is to systematically examine the current decision-making point governing
the process of prison residents release to halfway houses. This process evaluation should aim to
illuminate the operational realities and challenges in order for NIC to discern how those
underlying factors can be changed and improved upon. By focusing on the “why” and “how” of
this decision point, we will better understand halfway house placement implementation.
Please note, this is NOT a funding opportunity to plan, establish, revise, fund, staff or build a
halfway house in any community.
Agency Contact Information:
Application Submission and Form Information:
Cameron Coblentz
202-514-0053
ccoblentz@bop.gov
Program Specific Information: Comments or questions submitted should be concise and to the
point, eliminating any unnecessary verbiage. In addition, the relevant page, part and paragraph of
the NOFO should be referenced. Responses to programmatic questions will be posted on NIC’s
website for public review. The website will be updated regularly, and postings will remain on the
website until the closing date of this solicitation. Questions submitted within two weeks prior to
a submission deadline may not be answered, and the due date for proposal submission will not be
extended.
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Kendall Rhyne, National Program Advisor
KRhyne@bop.gov
2. ELIGIBILITY
Eligible Applicants:
NIC invites applications from nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and
tribal organizations), for-profit organizations (including tribal for-profit organizations), and
institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education). Recipients,
including for-profit organizations, must agree to waive any profit or fee for services. Foreign
governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international
organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply. Proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by
the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution is required.
NIC welcomes applications that involve two or more entities; however, one eligible entity must
be the applicant, and the others must be proposed as subrecipients. The applicant must be the
entity with primary responsibility for administering the funding and managing the entire
program. Only one application will be accepted from a submitting organization.
NIC may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal
years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.
Entity Types Eligible to Apply:

nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations)

for-profit organizations (including faith-based, community, and tribal organizations)

institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education)

Additional Restrictions on Eligibility:

Recipients, including for-profit organizations, must agree to waive any profit or fee for

services

Foreign governments, international organizations, and non-governmental international

organizations/institutions are not eligible to apply

Proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an

authorizing tribal resolution is required

The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for administering the

funding and managing the entire program

Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be

considered. However, federal agencies or employees may serve as unfunded collaborative
project partners under the cooperative agreement award

Government organizations to include state governments, county governments,

city or township governments, special district governments are not eligible
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Eligibility factors for the Principal Investigator or Project Director:

Only one application will be accepted from a submitting organization

Criteria that would make any particular projects ineligible:

For-profit entities cannot use program funds to conduct private business, promote

private self-interests, supplement the costs of normal sales activities, or promote their
own products or services beyond specific uses approved by NIC

Funding limited to a maximum of $100,000.00. Applications that request more than

$100,000.00 in total funding including indirect costs will not be considered

To be deemed eligible, applications must substantially comply with the application

submission instructions and requirements set forth in Section 4, Application Contents and
Format, of this solicitation, also see Application Checklist

If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, NIC will review only

the most recent system-validated version submitted. For more information on system-
validated versions, see information on Duplicate Applications.
Cost Sharing:

This announcement does not require cost sharing or match: See 2 C.F.R. 200.306 for

additional information.

Calculation for required cost sharing: NONE

Cost sharing restrictions: NONE

If a successful application proposes a voluntary cost share or match amount, and

NIC approves the budget, the total cost share or match amount shall be
incorporated into the approved budget and becomes mandatory and subject to
audit. Cost sharing or match will not be used as a factor during the merit review
of applications.
3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
General Purpose
This is a two-year project cooperative agreement award. The general purpose of this project is to
develop and facilitate a process evaluation for identified State Department of Corrections (DOC)
agencies and their current halfway house decision-making processes. Review, assess and report
those findings of the evaluation. The central aim is to identify precise operational mechanisms
and understand various factors that influence these critical determinations.
The first year will focus on the development, collection and analysis of the data while year two
will focus on working with subject matter experts to develop national recommendations based on
the collected data, to enhance utilization of halfway houses. The diagnostic approach ensures that
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observed discrepancies between intended goals and actual results can be used to improve upon
that decision-making point in state departments of corrections.
NIC Funding Priorities / Focus Areas:
The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) supports public safety by providing specialized
corrections training, information services, and technical assistance to federal, state, local, and
tribal justice agencies. The outcomes of NIC's activities contribute significantly to the
achievement of the following correctional goals and priorities:
Effectively managed prisons, jails, and community corrections programs and facilities. NIC
provides services related to effective planning, management, and operational practice leading to
safe and secure prisons, jails, and community services.
Enhanced organizational and professional performance in corrections. NIC provides
education and training in management, leadership, and corrections operations based on that
enhance organizational and professional performance.
Community, staff, and offender safety. NIC promotes correctional practices and procedures
that maximize the safety of the community, staff, and offenders; holds detainees, inmates, and
parolees/probationers accountable; and seeks to reduce recidivism.
Improved correctional practices through the exploration of trends and public policy issues.
NIC promotes the exploration of critical issues and the shaping of public policies that strengthen
and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of corrections.
Enhanced services through improved organizational and staff effectiveness. NIC provides
opportunities for organizational and professional growth that enhance the field of corrections.
Program Goals and Objectives
Goal (Year 1) – To understand the half-way house placement decision making process by state
Department of Corrections.
Objective: (year 1)
1. To design a process methodology to include elements/questions for survey, phone, calls,
focus groups, emails to state Department of Corrections on information used to make
halfway house release decisions.
2. To design a methodology implementation plan (which DOCs,when and how to query).
3. To collect all information based on the methodology to illustrate how halfway house
decisions are made by relevant state DOC.
4. To work collaboratively, with NIC program manager to establish criteria, plan and conduct
on-site visit assessments of DOC and halfway houses.
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Deliverable: Produce final written summary document of data gathered for each state
Departments of Correction queried, and narratives on significant findings. Documentation will
include information and findings gathered from on-site visits as well.
Objective: (year 2)
1. Convene working group members, to include criminal justice subject matter experts in
conjunction with NIC program manager to examine the “findings” of the halfway house
decision-making process”.
2. To synthesize findings from year one and assist in facilitating subject matter workgroups
in making national recommendations to improve the decision-making process from
prison to halfway houses.
3. Develop a plan for conducting the meetings – number of groups, number of meetings,
agendas, dates, places.
4. Facilitate all working group sessions to reach consensus/recommendations on best
practices and/or policies for DOCs in making release decisions to halfway houses.
Deliverable: Produce a final report that summaries work from the past two years AND includes
final recommendations by the working groups.
Performance measures capture outcomes of cooperative agreement activities, demonstrating if
programs accomplish goals and objectives. Performance measures. NIC requires all applicants to
submit quarterly progress reports demonstrating progress towards completion of the work
proposed under this solicitation. The performance measures for this notice are:
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Objective Performance Description Data Grantee Provides
Measure(s)
Year 1
Develop understanding and Kick-off meeting The meeting is designed to Develop a project action plan
expectations of the goals of with vendor and provide comprehensive with timelines and due dates.
the project NIC project staff instructions, expectations This should include key markers
within 60 days and purpose of the project. to be met at a designated
after award This will include timeframe.
exploring the field to
determine how and what
process is utilized in the
decision-making process
for release of individuals
from institutions.
To design a process Determine a The elements, metrics and Final methodology process.
methodology to include process questions being examined
elements/questions for methodology and by identified staff, when
survey, phone, calls, focus defined listing of and how (virtual, written,
groups, emails to state relevant state etc.)
Department of Corrections. DOCs to contact
Collect all information from Conduct query of Conduct query and collect A final report/spreadsheet of all
the methodology to illustrate state DOC’s via all information that data collected from each of the
how halfway house survey, phone, illustrates how halfway relevant DOCs
decisions are made by calls, focus house decisions are made
relevant state DOC groups, emails by relevant state DOC
Work collaboratively with Determine the Conduct site visits of up to On-site visits coordinated,
NIC program manager to criteria for which 5 selected State DOCs as facilitated and lead by NIC
establish criteria, review sites to visit. determined in program manager.
questions and conduct on- collaboration with NIC
site visit assessments program staff.
To develop final assessment Final approval of Conduct analysis of all Final written report to
of all collected data and site report data and put in written summarize all activities and
visits outline/framework documentation form. findings.
to include sections
and appendixes
Develop a plan for Identify meeting Design meeting platforms, Identify and finalize a plan for
conducting the meetings location and dates, topic areas, location. m eetings to take place.
agendas.
Facilitate working group Identify Decide and discussions Provide a list of final
sessions to reach facilitator(s). over what are the best recommendations for making
consensus/recommendations practices for decision halfway house placements.
making.
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Award instrument – Cooperative Agreement. Cooperative Agreements require significant staff
involvement excluding the basic monitoring of the project, progress, deliverables and reports.
NIC Staff Responsibilities
The NIC program manager will be involved in the following aspects of the cooperative
agreement:
• Provides oversight and project management, working collaboratively with awardee on all
aspects of the project
• Serves as a subject matter expert and as a member of the working group
• Serve as the lead in facilitating, organizing and conducting site-visits
• Provides access for various materials (e.g., video recordings) from NIC’s library
• Serve as final approver of all deliverables and other related project items.
• Works collaboratively on piloting decision making metrics
• Approves all subject matter experts used on this project.
Before approving a deliverable, NIC reserves the right to test the deliverable against the
applicant’s Section 508 claims. If NIC determines that the applicant’s claims were false and at
higher level of conformance than what was actually received, NIC may, at its option, reject the
deliverable and require the applicant to remediate the deliverable to align with the applicant’s
stated Section 508 conformance claims before its approval.
Additionally, before approving a deliverable, NIC reserves the right to review the applicant’s
deliverables for conformance to federal plain writing guidelines and NIC Guidelines for
Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for Publication. If NIC determines that the applicant’s
deliverables do not meet all applicable guidelines, NIC may, at its option, reject the deliverable
and require the applicant to remediate the deliverable align with those guidelines.
Evidence-Based Programs or Practices.
NIC strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program
development.
• improving the quantity and quality of evidence NIC generates;
• integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within NIC and the field; and
• improving the translation of evidence into practice.
NIC considers programs and practices to be evidence-based when their effectiveness has been
demonstrated by causal evidence, generally obtained through one or more outcome evaluations.
Causal evidence documents a relationship between an activity or intervention (including
technology) and its intended outcome, including measuring the direction and size of a change,
and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or intervention. Causal
evidence depends on the use of scientific methods to rule out, to the extent possible, alternative
explanations for the documented change. The strength of causal evidence, based on the factors
described above, will influence the degree to which NIC considers a program or practice to be
evidence-based.
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Funding Restrictions
Foreign Travel is not allowed unless prior written approval is received from Awarding Agency
(NIC). Equipment purchases are not allowed. Construction is not an allowable activity. See 2
CFR Part 200 Subpart E—Cost Principles for information on Cost Principles.
For information on Direct and Indirect Cost, see: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-
200.412
Incentives or Stipends
Unless specifically listed in Section 3. Program Description, NIC will not fund incentives or
Stipends.
Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals
NIC does not typically approve pre-agreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the
prior written approval of NIC for all such costs. If approved, pre-agreement costs could be paid
from grant funds consistent with a grantee’s approved budget, and under applicable cost
standards. However, all such costs prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred
at the sole risk of an applicant.
Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting
federal funding for those costs. Should there be extenuating circumstances that appear to be
appropriate for NIC’s consideration as pre-agreement costs, the applicant should contact the
point of contact listed in Section 1 of this announcement.
Limitation on use of award funds for employee compensation; waiver
With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, recipients may
not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee
of the award recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary payable
to a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a
Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year. The 2026 salary table for SES
employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website. Note: A recipient may
compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation
limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be
considered matching funds where match requirements apply.)
Eligibility Criteria for Program Participants (Other than Federal Award Recipients)
The overall beneficiary will be the Nations State Department of Corrections ability to further
identify, investigate and develop best practices guidelines for the field to utilize when deciding to
send inmates and/or justice involved individuals to halfway homes. The decision-making
framework will assist State Correctional agencies make informed referrals to halfway homes.
This will allow the Probation and Parole department, as well as the Department of Corrections,
to utilize limited resources in an efficient manner while conducting the decision-making process.
This is expected to ensure evidence based, informed placements, in an effort to reduce risk
factors and further increase positive social cues and behaviors. The more concentration on
addressing risk level criteria, the more opportunities to mitigate risk factors. Mitigating risk
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factors will lead to additional prosocial behaviors and activities. After the first year of
exploratory investigation, and the attainment of stipulated deliverables, additional examination
will be determined based upon the research findings. In short, the overall goal is clear; the
decision-making framework will explore what is currently effective and what needs additional
work. It will additionally allow for greater opportunities to place justice involved individuals in
the best possible housing/transitional situation for improved outcomes. Halfway homes should be
institutions designed to improve opportunities and behaviors.
The perspective applicant will need to have a minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in research
design, collecting data, and analyzing data within the field of Criminal Justice. The applicant
must be strong in quantitative methods and critical thinking.
Authorizing Statutes and Regulations
Statutory Authority: Public Law 93-415
It is this authors’ understanding, there has not been work or an investigation such as this. This
proposal examines the decision-making framework at its earliest formation. There have been
many explorations into reentry homes, programs etc., but there has not been much completed
about “why” and “how” decisions are being made for placement to a halfway home. There may
be examples of the decision-making framework and housing placement within the mental health
arena. That is to be determined.
4. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT
Applicants should anticipate that if they fail to submit an application that contains all of the
specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of their application; and, should a
decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that
preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds pending satisfaction of the
conditions. See attached checklist.
Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are determined to be nonresponsive
to the scope of the solicitation, do not request funding within the funding limit, or that do not
include the application elements that NIC has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to
peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, NIC has designated the
following application elements as critical:
SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance
SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-construction Programs
SF-424B: Assurances for Non-construction Programs
SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Project Abstract
Program Narrative
Budget Detail Worksheet
Budget Narrative
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Logic Mode
Timeline or Milestone Chart
Capabilities and Competencies AND Résumés of all key personnel.
Accessibility Conformance Report
A complete, NIC standard Federal Financial Assistance application package should be
submitted, as described below. Each proposal must include the following federal application
forms. The Standard Form (SF)-424family and form instructions are available in the Grants.gov
application package, but may be downloaded from https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-
repository/sf-424-family.
-SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance
-SF-424A: Budget Information for Non-construction Programs
-SF-424B: Assurances for Non-construction Programs
-SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Pre-application letters of intent, or whitepapers are not required or encouraged.
Budget SF-424A: Prepare a master budget table using “SF-424A Budget Information for Non-
Construction Programs” (aka SF-424A), available in the Grants.gov electronic application
package. Only complete “Section B-Budget Categories”. Provide the object class budget
category (a. - k.) amounts for each budget year under the “Grant Program, Function or Activity”
heading. Each column reflects a separate budget year. For example, Column (1) reflects budget
year 1. The total budget will be automatically tabulated in column (5). The solicitation will
specify if the award will fund multiple years, continuation awards will be made on a
noncompetitive basis. Column 1 (budget year 1) is the only requirement.
Component pieces of the application in addition to the four SF-424, SF-424A, SF 424B and SF-
LLL. Forms: Project Abstract, Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet, Budget Narrative,
Logic Mode, Timeline or Milestone Chart, Capabilities and Competencies AND Résumés of all
key personnel, Accessibility Conformance Report.
Project Abstract (1 Page): Applications must include a high-quality project abstract that
summarizes the proposed project in 400 words or less. Project abstracts should be written for a
general public audience; submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its
file name; and single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman) with 1-inch
margins. As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for
the program narrative. The abstract should briefly describe the project’s purpose, the population
to be served, and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the project’s goals
and objectives. The abstract should describe how the applicant will measure progress toward
these goals.
Program Narrative (30 Pages - The cover page does not count toward the 30-page limit):
Applicants must submit a program narrative that presents a detailed description of the purpose,
goals, objectives, strategies, design, and management of the proposed program. The program
narrative should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins, not exceeding 30 pages of 8½ by 11
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inches, and use a standard 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman. Pages should be
numbered “1 of 30,” etc. The tables, charts, pictures, etc., including all captions, legends, keys,
subtext, etc., may be single-spaced and will count in the 30-page limit. Material required under
the Budget and Budget Narrative and Additional Attachments sections will not count toward the
program narrative page count. Applicants may provide bibliographical references as a separate
attachment that will not count toward the 30-page program narrative limit. If the program
narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, NIC may consider such
noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.
The program narrative should address the following selection criteria: (1) statement of the
problem; (2) goals, objectives, and performance measures; (3) program design and
implementation; and (4) capabilities/competencies. The applicant should clearly delineate the
connections between and among each of these sections. For example, the applicant should derive
the goals and objectives directly from the problems to be addressed. Similarly, the project design
section should clearly explain how the program’s structure and activities will accomplish the
goals and objectives identified in the previous section.
The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative:
Statement of the problem.
Applicants should describe any research or evaluation studies that relate to the problem and
contribute to the applicant’s understanding of its causes and potential solutions. While NIC
expects applicants to review the research literature for relevant studies, they should also explore
whether unpublished local sources of research or evaluation data are available.
Goals, objectives, and performance measures.
Applicants should describe the goals of the proposed training and technical assistance program
and identify its objectives. When formulating the program’s goals and objectives, applicants
should be cognizant of the performance measures that NIC will require successful applicants to
provide.
Goals. Applicants should describe the program’s intent to deliver training and technical
assistance, as described in the previous section and outline the project’s goals.
Program objectives. Applicants should explain how the program will accomplish its goals.
Objectives are specific, quantifiable statements of the project’s desired results. They should be
clearly linked to the training and technical assistance strategy identified in the preceding section
and measurable.
NIC does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their application.
Performance measures are included as an alert that NIC will require successful applicants to
submit specific data as part of their reporting requirements. For the application, applicants should
indicate an understanding of these requirements and discuss how they will gather the required
data, should they receive funding.
Project Design and Implementation: Applicants should detail how the project will operate
throughout the funding period and describe the strategies that they will use to achieve the goals
and objectives identified in the previous section. Applicants should describe how they will
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complete the deliverables stated in the Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables section. NIC
encourages applicants to select evidence-based practices for their programs.
If applicable, the need to identify proprietary information. Include how to do so and how the
Federal agency will handle it. Applicants should generally refrain from including the details of
proprietary information in applications. In cases where, in the applicant’s judgement, the
inclusion of proprietary information is essential to application review and scoring, the applicant
should clearly indicate information it wishes to designate as proprietary.
Budget Detail Worksheet
Applicants must provide a budget that (1) is complete, allowable, and cost-effective in relation to
the proposed activities; (2) shows the cost calculations demonstrating how they arrived at the
total amount requested; and (3) provides a brief supporting narrative to link costs with project
activities. The budget should cover the entire award period. Pre-agreement cost approvals: For
information on pre-agreement costs, see Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals.
The Budget Detail Worksheet must provide the detailed computation for each budget line item,
listing the total cost of each and showing how it was calculated by the applicant. For example,
cost for personnel must show the annual salary rate and the percentage of time devoted to the
project for each employee paid with cooperative agreement funds. The Budget Detail worksheet
must present a complete itemization of all proposed costs.
Identify the amount requested for each budget category and describe the basis for calculating the
personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment (if authorized), supplies, contractual support and
other costs identified in the SF-424A.
Budget information must be supported at the level of detail described below:
a. Personnel: List all staff positions by title. Give annual salary, percentage of time
assigned to the project, total cost for the budget period, project role and specify any
annual cost of living adjustments. Compensation paid for employees engaged in grant
activities must be consistent with payments for similar work within the applicant
organization. Note that for salaries to be allowable as a direct charge to the award, a
justification of how that person will be directly involved in the project must be provided.
General administrative duties such as answering telephones, filing, typing or accounting
duties are not considered acceptable.
Below is a sample computation for Personnel:
Position/Title Annual % of Time Year 1 Total
Year 2 Year 3
Salary Assigned to
Project
Project $70,000 50% $35,000 $36,050 $37,132 $108,182
Manager
Trainer $60,000 100% $60,000 $61,800 $63,654 $185,454
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Specialist $45,000 100% $45,000 $46,350 $47,741 $139,091
Design Tech
Total $140,000 $144,200 $148,527 $432,727
Personnel
*
There is a 3% increase after Year 1 for all personnel for cost of living adjustments
Note this budget category is limited to persons employed by the applicant organization ONLY.
Those employed elsewhere are classified as sub awardees, program participants, contractors or
consultants. Contractors and consultants should be listed under the “Contractual” budget
heading. Subawards made to eligible subrecipients are listed under the “Other” budget heading.
Participant support costs such as travel assistance for trainees are listed under the “Other” budget
heading.
b. Fringe Benefits: Identify the percentage used and the basis for its computation Fringe
benefits are for the personnel listed in budget category (1) above and only for the
percentage of time devoted to the project. Fringe benefits include but are not limited to
the cost of leave, employee insurance, pensions and unemployment benefit plans. The
applicant should not combine the fringe benefit costs with direct salaries and wages in
the personnel category.
Below is a sample computation for Fringe Benefits
Base Fringe % Rate
Position/Title Costs
Project Manager 47.22% $16,527
Trainer 50.83% $30,498
c. Travel: In a table format, specify the estimated number of trips, purpose of each trip,
number of travelers per trip, destinations and other costs for each type of travel for
applicant employees. Travel costs for program participants if authorized, should be
specified in the “Other” budget category. Explain the need for any travel, paying
particular attention to travel outside the United States. Foreign travel includes trips to
Mexico and Canada, but does not include trips to Puerto Rico, the U.S. territories, or
possessions. If NIC funds will be used for foreign travel, the budget justification
must expressly state that the applicant will not use NIC funds for foreign travel
without prior written approval by NIC.
Below is a sample computation for Travel:
Purpose of Travel Location Item Computation Cost
State prison visit Washington Lodging 4 people x $100 per night x $800
DC 2 nights
Airfare 4 people x $500 round trip $2,000
Per Diem 4 people x 50 per day x 2.5 $500
days
Total Travel $3,300
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d. Equipment: If authorized, identify all tangible, non-expendable personal property to be
purchased that has an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit and a useful life of more
than one year. Equipment also includes accessories and services included with the
purchase price necessary for the equipment to be operational. It does not include: (1)
equipment planned to be leased/rented; or (2) separate equipment service or maintenance
contracts. Details such as the type of equipment, cost and a brief narrative on the intended
use of the equipment for project objectives are required. Each item of equipment must be
identified with the corresponding cost. Particular brands of equipment should not be
identified. General-purpose equipment (office equipment, etc.) must be justified as to
how it will be used on the project. (Property items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are
considered supplies).
e. Supplies: “Supplies” are tangible property other than “equipment” with a per item
acquisition cost of less than $5,000. Include a brief description of the supplies required to
perform the work. Costs should be categorized by major supply categories (e.g. office
supplies, computing devices, monitoring equipment) and include the estimated costs by
category.
f. Contractual: List the proposed contractual activities along with a brief description of
the scope of work or services to be provided, the proposed duration of the
contract/procurement, the estimated cost and the proposed procurement method
(competitive or non-competitive). Any procurement of services from individual
consultants or commercial firms (including space for workshops) must comply with
g. the competitive Procurement Standards of 2 CFR Part 200.317-200.326.
Examples of Contractual costs include:
Consultants – Consultants are individuals with specialized skills who are paid at a daily
or hourly rate. Participation in the salary rate (excluding overhead) paid to individual
consultants retained by recipients or by a recipient's contractors or subcontractors is
limited to the maximum daily rate for a Level IV of the Executive Schedule (formerly
GS-18), to be adjusted annually.
Speaker/Trainer Fees – Information on speakers should include the fee and a description
of the services they are providing.
h. Construction: Not Authorized.
i. Other: List each item in sufficient detail for NIC to determine the reasonableness of its
cost relative to the program solicitation. “Other” items may include equipment rental,
telephone service and utilities and photocopying costs. Note that subawards, such as
those with other universities or nonprofit research institutions for members of the
research team, are included in this category. Provide the total costs proposed for
subawards as a separate line item in the budget justification and brief description of the
activities to be supported for each subaward or types of subawards if the subrecipients
have not been identified. Subawards may not be used to acquire services from consultants
or commercial firms.
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Provide the total costs proposed for participant support costs if authorized as a separate
line item in the budget justification and brief description of the costs. If NIC funds will be
used for foreign travel by program participants, the budget justification must expressly
state that the applicant will not use NIC funds for foreign travel without prior approval by
NIC.
j. Indirect costs (IDC): may be budgeted and charged by recipients of Federal assistance
agreements in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, with the exception of “exempt” agencies
and Institutions of Higher Education as noted below, all recipients must have one of the
following current (not expired) IDC rates, including IDC rates that have been extended
by the cognizant agency:
Provisional.
Final.
Fixed rate with carry-forward.
Predetermined.
15% de minimis rate authorized by 2 CFR 200.414(f) here
“Exempt” state or local governmental departments or agencies are agencies that receive
up to and including $35,000,000 in Federal funding per the department or agency’s fiscal
year and must have an IDC rate application developed in accordance with 2 CFR 200
Appendix VII, with documentation maintained and available for audit.
Institutions of Higher Education must use the IDC rate in place at the time of award for
the life of the assistance agreement (unless the rate was provisional at time of award, in
which case the rate will change once it becomes final). As provided by 2 CFR Part 200,
Appendix III, the term “life of the assistance agreement”, means each competitive
segment of the project.
Indirect costs are allowed only if the applicant has a current federally approved indirect
cost rate, this requirement does not apply to units of local government. Attach a copy of
the federally approved indirect cost rate agreement to the application. Applicants that do
not have an approved rate may request one through their cognizant federal agency, which
will review all documentation and approve a rate for the applicant organization, or, if the
applicant’s accounting system permits, costs may be allocated in the direct cost
categories. Indirect costs may be charged to an award only if the recipient has a current
(unexpired), federally approved indirect cost rate; or the recipient is eligible to use, and
elects to use, the “de minimis” indirect cost rate described in the Part 200 Uniform
Requirements as set out at 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f).
IDCs incurred during any period of the assistance agreement that are not covered by the
provisions above are not allowable costs and must not be drawn down by the recipient.
Recipients may budget for IDCs pending approval of their IDC rate by the cognizant
Federal agency. However, recipients may not draw down IDCs until their rate is
approved.
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Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must thoroughly and clearly describe every category of
expense listed in the Budget Detail Worksheet. NIC expects proposed budgets to be complete,
cost effective, and allowable (e.g., reasonable, allocable, and necessary for project activities).
Applicants should demonstrate in their budget narratives how they will maximize cost
effectiveness of cooperative agreement expenditures. Budget narratives should generally describe
cost effectiveness in relation to potential alternatives and the goals of the project. For example, a
budget narrative should detail why planned in-person meetings are necessary, or how technology
and collaboration with outside organizations could be used to reduce costs, without
compromising quality.
The narrative must be mathematically sound and correspond with the information and figures
provided in the Budget Detail Worksheet. The narrative should explain how the applicant
estimated and calculated all costs, and how they are relevant to the completion of the proposed
project. The narrative may include tables for clarification purposes but need not be in a
spreadsheet format. As with the Budget Detail Worksheet, the Budget Narrative should be
broken down by year.
Noncompetitive procurement contracts in excess of simplified acquisition threshold. If an
applicant proposes to make one or more non-competitive procurements of products or services,
where the noncompetitive procurement will exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (also
known as the small purchase threshold), which is currently set at $250,000, the application
should address the considerations outlined in 2 C.F.R.200.317
Logic Model: Applicants must include a logic model that graphically illustrates how the
performance measures are related to the project’s problems, goals, objectives, and design.
Timeline or Milestone Chart: Applicants must submit a milestone chart that indicates major
tasks associated with the goals and objectives of the project, assigns responsibility for each, and
plots completion of each task by month or quarter for the duration of the award, using “Year 1,”
“Month 1,” “Quarter 1,” etc., not calendar dates. On receipt of an award, the recipient may revise
the timeline, based on training and technical assistance that NIC will provide.
Capabilities / Competencies AND Résumés of All Key Personnel:
This section should describe the experience and capability of the applicant organization and any
contractors or subawards that the applicant will use to implement and manage this effort and its
associated federal funding, highlighting any previous experience implementing projects of
similar design or magnitude. Applicants should highlight their experience/capability/capacity to
manage subawards, including details on their system for fiscal accountability. Management and
staffing patterns should be clearly connected to the project design described in the previous
section. Applicants should describe the roles and responsibilities of project staff and explain the
program’s organizational structure and operations. Applicants should include a copy of an
organizational chart showing how the organization operates, including who manages the
finances; how the organization manages subawards, if there are any; and the management of the
project proposed for funding. Résumés of all key personnel must be included.
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Accessibility Conformance Report: Applicants must provide an Accessibility Conformance
Report (ACR) for each type of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (e.g.,
electronic document, web-based content, web-based training, podcast, or video) offered through
this Cooperative Agreement. Create the ACR using the Voluntary Product Accessibility
Template (VPAT) Version 2.1 or later, located at https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat.
Complete each ACR in accordance with the instructions provided in the VPAT template. Many
electronic products (Adobe PDF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) already have completed an ACR
and can be found on their websites.
Each ACR must address the applicable Section 508 requirements referenced in the statement of
work and program description. Use the remarks/explanations column or additional narrative to
explain how the ICT meets, fails to meet, or does not apply to the standards (e.g., user
functionality, administrator functionality, and reporting). For ICT features that do not fully
conform to Section 508 standards, describe your plan to remedy those features.
Finally, the applicant should describe the evaluation methods that were used to support Section
508 conformance claims. NIC reserves the right, prior to making an award decision, to perform
testing on some or all of the applicant’s proposed ICT items to validate Section 508 conformance
claims made in the ACR.
Additional Attachments
Evidence of nonprofit status Proof of 501(c) (3) , e.g., a copy of the tax exemption letter from the
Internal revenue Service, if applicable. Evidence of for-profit status, e.g., a copy of the articles of
incorporation, if applicable.
Applicants should submit the following information, as stipulated in the cited pages, as
attachments to their applications. While the materials listed below are not assigned specific point
values, peer reviewers will, as appropriate, consider these items when rating applications. For
example, reviewers will consider résumés and/or letters of support/ memoranda of understanding
when assessing “capabilities / competencies.” Peer reviewers will not consider any additional
information that the applicant submits other than that specified below.
Applicant disclosure of pending applications. Applicants are to disclose whether they have
pending applications for federally funded grants or subawards (including cooperative
agreements) that include requests for funding to support the same project being proposed under
this solicitation and will cover the identical cost items outlined in the budget narrative and
worksheet in the application under this solicitation. The disclosure should include both direct
applications for federal funding (e.g., applications to federal agencies) and indirect applications
for such funding (e.g., applications to state agencies that will subaward federal funds).
NIC seeks this information to help avoid any inappropriate duplication of funding. Leveraging
multiple funding sources in a complementary manner to implement comprehensive programs or
projects is encouraged and is not seen as inappropriate duplication.
Applicants that have pending applications as described above are to provide the following
information about pending applications submitted within the last 12 months:
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-the federal or state funding agency;
-the solicitation name/project name; and
-the point of contact information at the applicable funding agency.
SAMPLE
Federal or State Funding Solicitation Name/Project Name/Phone/E-mail for
Agency Name Point of Contact at Funding
Agency
DOJ/COPS COPS Hiring Program John Doe
202-000-0000
John.doe@doj.gov
HHS/Substance Abuse Drug Free Mentoring Jane Doe
Program 202-000-000
Jane.doe@doj.gov
Applicants should include the table as a separate attachment, with the file name “Disclosure of
Pending Applications,” to their application.
Applicants that do not have pending applications as described above are to include a statement to
this effect in the separate attachment page (e.g., “[Applicant Name on SF-424] does not have
pending applications submitted within the last 12 months for federally funded grants or
subawards (including cooperative agreements) that include requests for funding to support the
same project being proposed under this solicitation and will cover the identical cost items
outlined in the budget narrative and worksheet in the application under this solicitation.”).
Tribal Authorizing Resolution
Tribes, tribal organizations, or third parties proposing to provide direct services or assistance to
residents on tribal lands should include in their applications a resolution, letter, affidavit, or other
documentation, as appropriate, that certifies that the applicant has the legal authority from the
tribe(s) to implement the proposed project on tribal lands. In those instances when an
organization or consortium of tribes applies for a grant on behalf of a tribe or multiple specific
tribes, the application should include appropriate legal documentation, as described above, from
all tribes that would receive services or assistance under the award. A consortium of tribes for
which existing consortium bylaws allow action without support from all tribes in the consortium
(i.e., without an authorizing resolution or comparable legal documentation from each tribal
governing body) may submit, instead, a copy of its consortium bylaws with the application.
Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status
Applicants are to disclose whether they are currently designated high risk by another federal
grant making agency. This includes any status requiring additional oversight by the federal
agency due to past programmatic or financial concerns. If an applicant is designated high risk by
another federal grant making agency, you must submit the following information to at the time of
application submission:
-the federal agency that currently designated the applicant as high risk;
-date the applicant was designated high risk;
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-the high risk point of contact name, phone number, and email address, from that federal
agency; and
-reasons for the high risk status as set out by the federal awarding agency.
NIC seeks this information to ensure appropriate federal oversight of any grant award. Unlike the
Excluded Parties List, this high risk information does not disqualify any organization from
receiving an NIC award. However, additional oversight may be included, if necessary, in award
documentation.
Logic model
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
All applicants must complete this information. Applicants that expend any funds for lobbying
activities are to provide the detailed information requested on the form Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities (SF-LLL form) do not expend any funds for lobbying activities are to enter “N/A” in
the text boxes for item 10 (“a. Name and Address of Lobbying Registrant” and “b. Individuals
Performing Services”).
Letters of Support/Memoranda of Understanding
If submitting a joint application, as described under Section C: Eligibility Information, page 1,
applicants should provide signed and dated letters of support or memoranda of understanding for
all key partners that include the following: expression of support for the program and a statement
of willingness to participate and collaborate with it;
description of the partner’s current role and responsibilities in the planning process and expected
responsibilities when the program is operational; and estimate of the percentage of time that the
partner will devote to the planning and operation of the project.
Intergovernmental review
This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing the SF-424,
applicants are to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19 to indicate that the
“Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.”)
Plain Writing Attestation Letter
For the deliverables offered with this Cooperative Agreement, applicants should provide a letter
attesting to the adherence of requirements of the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and NIC Guidelines
for Preparing and Submitting Manuscripts for Publication https://nicic.gov/plainlanguage. Include
a section describing the evaluation methods that were used to support plain writing claims. NIC
reserves the right, prior to making an award decision, to perform testing on some or all of the
applicant’s proposed deliverables to validate claims made in the plain writing attestation letter.
5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
Address to Request Application Package. This Notice of Funding Opportunity contains all
information required to submit a complete application package.
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How to Apply
Applicants must register in and submit applications through Grants.gov, a “one-stop storefront”
to find federal funding opportunities and apply for funding. Find complete instructions on how to
register and submit an application here. Applicants that experience technical difficulties during
this process should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606–545–
5035, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.
Registering with Grants.gov
A one-time process; however, processing delays may occur, and it can take several weeks for
first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. NIC encourages applicants to
register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, NIC urges
applicants to submit applications 72 hours prior to the application due date to allow time to
receive validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely
fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
NIC strongly encourages all prospective applicants to sign up for Grants.gov email notifications
regarding this solicitation https://www.grants.gov/connect/manage-subscriptions/. If this
solicitation is cancelled or modified, individuals who sign up with Grants.gov for updates will be
automatically notified.
Browser Information
Grants.gov was built to be compatible with Internet Explorer. For technical assistance with
Google Chrome, or another browser, contact Grants.gov Customer Support.
Attachments
Grants.gov has two categories of files for attachments: “mandatory” and “Other Attachments
Form / Attachments” NIC receives all files attached in both categories. Attachments are also
labeled to describe the file being attached (e.g., Project Narrative, Budget Narrative, Other) and
are labeled correctly. Do not embed “mandatory” attachments within another file.
File Names and File Types
Grants.gov only permits the use of certain specific characters in names of attachment files. Valid
file names may include only the characters shown in the table below. Grants.gov is designed to
reject any application that includes an attachment(s) with a file name that contains any characters
not shown in the table below.
Characters Special Characters
Upper case (A – Z) Parenthesis ( ) Curly braces { } Square brackets [ ]
Lower case (a – z) Ampersand (&) Tilde (~) Exclamation point (!)
Underscore ( ) Comma ( , ) Semicolon ( ; ) Apostrophe ( ‘ )
Hyphen ( - ) At sign (@) Number sign (#) Dollar sign ($)
Space Percent sign (%) Plus sign (+) Equal sign (=)
Period (.) When using the ampersand (&) in XML, applicants must use the
“&” format
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NIC strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g.,
“Accessibility Conformance Report”, “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and
Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Résumés”) for all
attachments. Also, NIC recommends that applicants include résumés in a single file.
All applicants are required to complete the following steps:
NIC may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all
applicable SAM registration requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the federal awarding agency is ready to make a federal award, the
federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal
award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.
Acquire and maintain registration with the System for Award Management (SAM).
SAM is the repository for standard information about federal financial assistance applicants,
recipients, and subrecipients.
Applicants must maintain an active SAM registration with current information, including
information on a recipient's immediate and highest level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all
predecessors that have been awarded a Federal contract or grant within the last three years, if
applicable, at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under
consideration by a Federal awarding agency; and provide its unique entity identifier in each
application or plan it submits to the Federal awarding agency.
Applicants must be registered in SAM to successfully register in Grants.gov, failure to register
with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. Applicants must
continue to maintain and active SAM registration with current information at all times in which it
has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding
agency. Information regarding SAM registration and Federal awards can be found in the CFR
(Title 2/SubtitleA/Chapter I/Part 25): https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2022-03-18/title-2/subtitle-
A/chapter-I/part-25
Applicants cannot successfully submit their applications until Grants.gov receives the SAM
registration information. The information transfer from SAM to Grants.gov can take as long as
48 hours. NIC recommends that the applicant register or renew registration with SAM as early as
possible. NIC may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied
with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not
fully complied with the requirements by the time the federal awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, NIC may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award
and may make an award to another applicant.
Access information about SAM registration procedures here.
Click here for further details SAM, and Grants.gov registration steps and timeframes.
Submission Dates and Times
All applications are due: 11:59pm, May 4, 2026.
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Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a Grants.gov username
and password
Complete the AOR profile on Grants.gov and create a username and password. For more
information about the registration process, go here.
Acquire confirmation for the AOR from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC). The E-
Biz POC at the applicant organization must log into Grants.gov to confirm the applicant
organization’s AOR. When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the
organization's AOR that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the
application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize individuals who
are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as an AOR; this step
is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.
Search for the funding opportunity on Grants.gov
Use the following identifying information when searching for the funding opportunity on
Grants.gov. The Assistance Listing Number for this solicitation is 16.602 and the funding
opportunity number is NIC-26CS06
Access Funding Opportunity and Application package from Grants.gov. Select “Apply for
Grants” under the “Applicants” column. Enter you email address to be notified of any changes
to the opportunity package before the closing date. Click the Workspace icon to use Grants.gov
Workspace.
Submit a valid application consistent with this solicitation by following the directions in
Grants.gov. Within 24–48 hours after submitting the electronic application, the applicant should
receive two notifications from Grants.gov. The first will confirm the receipt of the application
and the second will state whether the application has been successfully validated, or rejected due
to errors, with an explanation. It is possible to first receive a message indicating that the
application is received and then receive a rejection notice a few minutes or hours later.
Submitting well ahead of the deadline provides time to correct the problem(s) that caused the
rejection. Important: NIC urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior to the
application due date to allow time to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from
Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection
notification.
How to Submit an Application to the National Institute of Corrections via Grants.gov
How to Apply for Grants | Grants.gov
Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace
Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously
access and edit different webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity
announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.
Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to
apply for opportunities, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/workspace-overview
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-Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through
your organization for review before submitting.
-Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together,
complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors
before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process
as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near
the upper-right corner of each page to access context-sensitive help.
-Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download individual
PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local
device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.
NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate
version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility
-Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a
different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to
successfully submit your application.
-Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across
other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and UEI (Unique Entity Identifier). Once it is
completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.
-Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign
and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov
recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to
provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application
submission.
-Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a
Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the
application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after
submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the
Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.
For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training
Applicant Support
Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email
at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the
number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for. If you are
experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center
and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the National Institute of
Corrections with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.
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Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission
Online Submission. All applications must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern time on the due date
established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by
Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is
successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the
application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number
(GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application.
This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov
Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.
When the National Institute of Corrections successfully retrieves the application from
Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an
electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant
with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the
official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by
Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be
considered for funding by the National Institute of Corrections.
Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission
can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide
either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the
applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support
Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is
occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process
the application.
Duplicate applications
If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, NIC will review only the most
recent system-validated version submitted.
Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues
Applicants that experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that
prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must contact the Grants.gov
Customer Support Hotline or the SAM Help Desk to report the technical issue and receive a
tracking number. The applicant must e-mail the Response Center information to
ccoblentz@bop.gov within 24 hours after the application deadline and request approval to submit
their application. The e-mail must describe the technical difficulties, and include a timeline of the
applicant’s submission efforts, the complete grant application, the applicant’s UEI number, and
any Grants.gov Help Desk or SAM tracking number(s). Note: NIC does not automatically
approve requests. After the program office reviews the submission and contacts the Grants.gov
or SAM Help Desks to validate the reported technical issues, NIC will inform the applicant
whether the request to submit a late application has been approved or denied. If NIC determines
that the applicant failed to follow all required procedures, which resulted in an untimely
application submission, NIC will deny the applicant’s request to submit their application.
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The following conditions are insufficient to justify late submissions:
-failure to register in SAM or Grants.gov in sufficient time; (SAM registration and renewal can
take as long as 10 business days to complete. The information transfer from SAM to Grants.gov
can take up to 48 hours.)
-failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its website;
-failure to follow each instruction in the NIC solicitation; and
-technical issues with the applicant’s computer or information technology environment, including
firewalls.
Notifications regarding known technical problems with Grants.gov, if any, are posted on NIC’s
website.
6. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
Selection Criteria
The following three (3) selection review criteria will be used to evaluate each application, with
the different weight given to each based on the percentage value listed after each individual
criteria. For example, the first criteria, Programmatic Review, is worth 40 percent of the entire
score in the application review process.
Programmatic Review (40)
-Project tasks adequately discussed?
-Clear statement of how each task will be accomplished?
Organizational Review (35)
-Skills of the proposed project members.
-Organizational capacity to complete all project tasks.
-Realistic and sufficient project and management plans to complete within the time frame.
Management/Administrative Review (25)
-Identification of reasonable objectives.
-Reasonable justification for inclusion of consultants or partnerships if used.
-Realistic budget proposed.
See section What an Application Should Include for the criteria that the peer reviewers will use
to evaluate applications.
Review Process
NIC is committed to ensuring a fair and open process for awarding grants. NIC reviews the
application to make sure that the information presented is reasonable, understandable,
measurable, and achievable, as well as consistent with the solicitation.
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Peer reviewers will review the applications submitted under this solicitation that meet basic
minimum requirements. For purposes of assessing whether applicants have met basic minimum
requirements, NIC screens applications for compliance with specified program requirements to
help determine which applications should proceed to further consideration for award. Although
program requirements may vary, the following are common requirements applicable to all
solicitations for funding under NIC grant programs:
-Applications must be submitted by an eligible type of applicant.
-Applications must request funding within programmatic funding constraints (if
applicable).
-Applications must be responsive to the scope of the solicitation.
-Applications must include all items designated as “critical elements”.
-Applicants will be checked against the General Services Administration’s Excluded
Parties List.
For a list of critical elements, see “What an Application Should Include” under Section D.
Application and Submission Information.
NIC may use internal peer reviewers, external peer reviewers, or a combination, to assess
applications meeting basic minimum requirements on technical merit using the solicitation’s
selection criteria. An external peer reviewer is an expert in the subject matter of a given
solicitation who is not a current DOJ employee. An internal reviewer is a current NIC employee
who is well-versed or has expertise in the subject matter of this solicitation. A peer review panel
will evaluate, score, and rate applications that meet basic minimum requirements. Peer
reviewers’ ratings and any resulting recommendations are advisory only, although their views
are considered carefully. In addition to peer review ratings, considerations for award
recommendations and decisions may include, but are not limited to, underserved populations,
geographic diversity, strategic priorities, past performance under prior NIC and NIC awards, and
available funding.
NIC reviews applications for potential discretionary awards to evaluate the risks posed by
applicants before they receive an award. This review may include but is not limited to the
following:
-Financial stability and fiscal integrity.
-Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards
prescribed in the Financial Guide.
-History of performance.
-Reports and findings from audits.
-The applicant's ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other
requirements imposed on non-Federal entities.
-Proposed costs to determine if the Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative
accurately explain project costs, and whether those costs are reasonable, necessary, and
allowable under applicable federal cost principles and agency regulations.
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Risk Review
Prior to making a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency is required by 2 CFR 200.206, to
review information available through any OMB–designated repositories of government–wide
eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation
criteria may include the following risk–based considerations of the applicant: (1) financial
stability; (2) quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards; (3)
history of performance in managing federal award; (4) reports and findings from audits; and (5)
ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.
Prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified
acquisition threshold, currently $350,000, the federal agency must review and consider any
information about the applicant that is in the responsibility/qualification records available in
SAM.gov.
-An applicant can review and comment on any information in the
responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.
-Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Federal
awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant along with information
available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.
Absent explicit statutory authorization or written delegation of authority to the contrary, all final
award decisions will be made by the NIC Director, who may consider factors including, but not
limited to, peer review ratings, underserved populations, geographic diversity, strategic
priorities, past performance under prior NIC awards, and available funding when making awards.
7. AWARD NOTICES
This section must address what a successful applicant can expect to receive following selection.
Federal Award Notices
NIC award notification will be made by the NIC Director or designated official and sent from
NIC’s Office via E-mail, FedEX or USPS within 45 days of the award decision. The award is the
official document that obligates funds.
Modification, Remedies for Noncompliance, Termination
This Agreement may be modified only by a written instrument executed by the parties.
Modifications will be in writing and approved by the Senior Deputy Director/Deputy Director
and the authorized representative of the awardee/recipient.
Additional conditions may be imposed by NIC if it is determined that the awardee is non–
compliant to the terms and conditions of this agreement. Remedies for Noncompliance can be
found in 2 CFR 200.338.
This Agreement may be terminated consistent with applicable termination provisions for
Agreements found in 2 CFR 200.339 through 200.343.
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In accordance with 2 CFR 200.339, NIC may implement specific conditions if the awardee fails
to comply with the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Per 2 CFR 200.208, these specific
conditions may be implemented based on the following factors: (i) review of OMB-designated
repositories of government-wide data; (ii) receipt’s or subrecipient’s history of compliance with
terms and conditions of Federal awards; (iii) ability to meet expected performance goals; and (iv)
determination of whether a recipient or subrecipient has inadequate financial capability to
perform the Federal award. For a list of specific conditions NIC may implement please refer to 2
CFR 200.208.
If NIC determines that noncompliance cannot be remedied by imposing specific conditions, NIC
may implement certain actions as implemented by 2 CFR 200.339.
If a termination is due to the awardee’s material failure to comply with applicable Federal
statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of this Federal award, the NIC will issue a
written notification to the awardee of NIC’s intent to terminate the agreement for material
noncompliance in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.340.
The Federal award may also be terminated if the award no longer effectuates the program goals
or agency priorities, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.340.
A notice of NIC’s intent to terminate the award for material noncompliance may be appealed to
the NIC Director of the NIC within 30 calendar days of receiving the notice. The awardee may
provide information and documentation challenging the termination action. The filing of an
appeal with the NIC Director shall not stay any determination or action taken by NIC which is
the subject of the appeal.
Consistent with its obligation to protect the interests of the Federal Government, NIC may take
such authorized actions as may be necessary to preserve the status quo pending decision by the
NIC Director, or to preserve its ability to provide relief in the event the NIC Director decides in
favor of the appellant. The decision of the NIC Director shall be the final decision of the NIC.
Cooperative Agreement may also be subject to termination if an award no longer effectuates the
program goals or agency priorities 2 CFR 200.340(a)(4).
Compliance with Executive Orders
The Recipient shall comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations, and executive orders,
including but not limited to those issued by the President of the United States and in effect at the
time of the award or during the performance period of this grant. The Recipient agrees to adhere
to any terms, conditions, or requirements set forth in executive orders that are relevant to the
activities funded under this agreement, as directed by the awarding agency. Failure to comply
with applicable executive orders may result in the suspension, termination, or recovery of grant
funds, as permitted by law.
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8. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION
Rights in Data
The awardee must grant the Federal Bureau of Prisons, including the NIC, a royalty–free, non–
exclusive and irrevocable license to publish, reproduce and use, and dispose of in any manner
and for any purpose without limitation, and to authorize or ratify publication, reproduction or use
by others, of all copyrightable material, or any subsequently trademarked titles, phrases, words,
or symbols first produced or composed under this Agreement by the awardee, its employees or
any individual or concern specifically employed or assigned to originate and prepare such
material.
Payments
Under this agreement payments will be made in accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200.305. Pursuant to
2 C.F.R. § 200.305(b)(6), NIC may withhold payments for allowable costs as a remedy for
noncompliance in accordance with 2 C.F.R. 200.338, or if one or more of the circumstances in 2
C.F.R. 200.305 apply, which includes the awardee’s failure to comply with the project
objectives, Federal statutes, regulations, or the terms and conditions of this agreement.
Awardee/Recipient Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement to Inform
Employees of Whistleblower Rights
This award and employees working on this financial assistance agreement will be subject to the
whistleblower rights and remedies in the pilot program on Award Recipient employee
whistleblower protections established at 41 U.S.C. 4712 by section 828 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub. L. 112–239).
The Award Recipient shall inform its employees in writing, in the predominant language of the
workforce, of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 U.S.C. 4712.
The Award Recipient shall insert the substance of this clause in all subawards or subcontracts
over the simplified acquisition threshold.
Conflict of Interest
The awardee must establish safeguards to prohibit its employees and Subrecipients from using
their positions for purposes that constitute or present the appearance of a personal or
organizational conflict of interest. The awardee is responsible for notifying the Awarding Officer
in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of this
award. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the awardee or
its employees in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the
agreement and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not
limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in
outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different
organization, or decision–making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with
knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the awardee and/or awardee’s
employees and Subrecipients in the matter.
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The Awarding Officer and the servicing Ethics Counselor will determine if a conflict of interest
exists. If a conflict of interest exists, the Awarding Officer will determine whether a mitigation
plan is feasible. Mitigation plans must be approved by the Awarding Officer in writing.
Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for
termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies
described in 2 CFR 200.339, Remedies/or Noncompliance, including suspension or debarment
(see also 2 CFR Part 180).
Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements
If selected for funding, in addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the
agency-approved project proposal and budget, the recipient must comply with award terms and
conditions, and other legal requirements, including but not limited to OMB or other federal
regulations that will be included in the award, incorporated into the award by reference, or are
otherwise applicable to the award. NIC strongly encourages prospective applicants to review the
information pertaining to these requirements prior to submitting an application.
As stated above, NIC anticipates that it will make any award from this solicitation in the form of
a cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreement awards include standard “federal involvement”
conditions that describe the general allocation of responsibility for execution of the funded
program. Generally stated, under cooperative agreement awards, responsibility for the day-to-day
conduct of the funded project rests with the recipient in implementing the funded and approved
proposal and budget, and the award terms and conditions.
Responsibility for oversight and redirection of the project, if necessary, rests with NIC. NIC's
role will include the following tasks:
-reviewing and approving major work plans, including changes to such plans, and key
decisions pertaining to project operations.
-reviewing and approving major project-generated documents and materials used in the
provision of project services; and
-providing guidance in significant project planning meetings and participating in project
sponsored training events or conferences, serve as a subject matter expert.
In addition to any “federal involvement” condition(s), NIC cooperative agreement awards include
a special condition specifying certain reporting requirements required in connection with
conferences, meetings, retreats, seminars, symposium, training activities, or similar events
funded under the award, consistent with NIC policy and guidance on conference approval,
planning, and reporting.
Plain Language
The successful applicant shall ensure that relevant deliverables (with information regarding a
service, benefit, or requirement provided by the government) conform to the Plain Writing Act of
2010, meaning that it should contain only writing that is clear and that outlines information in
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manner that is easy to use. (See http://www.nicic.gov/plainlanguage and
https://plainlanguage.gov/law/ for details.) Relevant deliverables covered by this award will be
determined in collaboration with the National Institute of Corrections.
Section 508 Accessibility
The successful applicant shall ensure that all information and communication technologies (ICT)
(e.g., Word or PDF documents, video, audio, mobile technologies, or apps) fully conform to all
applicable revised Section 508 standards prior to delivery and before final acceptance. See
https://www.section508.gov/
The successful applicant shall test and validate all ICT in accordance with the required testing
methods. For Microsoft Office and PDF documents, WCAG Level A and AA Conformance test
results must be based on the Harmonized Testing Guidance from the AED ACOP (see
http://www.nicic.gov/section508 and Test for Accessibility | Section508.gov for details).
Electronic and Information Technology: All electronic and information technology acquired or
created through this cooperative agreement must satisfy the accessibility requirements of Section
508 of the Rehabilitation Act https://www.section508.gov/
Create Accessible Documents
https://www.section508.gov/create/documents
Create Accessible PDF’s
https://www.section508.gov/create/pdfs
WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref/?versions=2.0
ICT: Information and Communication Technology Standards and Guidelines
https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-
refresh/final-rule
Checklist of Requirements for Federal Websites and Digital Services
https://digital.gov/resources/checklist-of-requirements-for-federal-digital-services/
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Cooperative Agreement awardee shall
not proceed with collecting information from surveys, questionnaires, or interviews until Project
Monitor obtains approval from Office of Management and Budget clearance. For any
Cooperative Agreement award involving a requirement to collect or record information calling
either for answers to identical questions from 10 or more persons other than Federal employees,
or information from Federal employees which is outside the scope of their employment, for use
by the Federal Government or disclosure to third parties, the Cooperative Agreement awardee
must comply with the PRA of 1995 ( 44 U.S.C. 3501et seq.).
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General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements
Recipients must submit quarterly financial reports, semi-annual progress reports, final financial
and progress reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent.
Special Reporting requirements may be required by NIC depending on the statutory, legislative
or administrative obligations of the recipient or the program.
9. OTHER INFORMATION
Provide Feedback to NIC
To assist NIC in improving its application and award processes, we encourage applicants to
provide feedback on this solicitation, the application submission process, and/or the application
review/peer review process. Provide feedback to ccoblentz@bop.gov.
IMPORTANT: This e-mail is for feedback and suggestions only. Replies are not sent from this
mailbox. If you have specific questions on any program or technical aspect of the solicitation,
you must directly contact the e-mail listed on the front of this solicitation document. These
contacts are provided to help ensure that you can directly reach an individual who can address
your specific questions in a timely manner
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Application Checklist
NIC FY 2026 Community Reentry Settings Initiative
This application checklist has been created to assist in developing an application.
What an Applicant Should Do:
Prior to Registering in Grants.gov:
_____Acquire or renew registration with SAM
To Register with Grants.gov:
_____Acquire AOR and Grants.gov username/password
_____Acquire AOR confirmation from the E-Biz POC
To Find Funding Opportunity:
_____Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov
_____Download Funding Opportunity and Application Package
_____Sign up for Grants.gov email notifications (optional)
After application submission, receive Grants.gov email notifications that:
_____(1) application has been received,
_____(2) application has either been validated or rejected
If no Grants.gov receipt, and validation or error notifications are received: contact NIC regarding
experiencing technical difficulties.
Scope Requirement:
_____*The federal amount requested is within the allowable limit(s) of $100,000.00
Eligibility Requirement:
_____Nonprofit or for-profit organization, including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organization.
_____Institution of higher education, including tribal institution of higher education.
What an Application Must Include:
_____*Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
_____*Project Abstract
_____*Program Narrative
_____*Budget Detail Worksheet
_____*Budget Narrative justification
_____*Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
_____*Logic model
_____*Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
_____*timeline or milestone chart
_____*résumés of all key personnel
_____*VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)
_____*Tribal Authorizing Resolution (if applicable)
Additional Attachments:
_____Applicant Disclosure of Pending Applications
_____Applicant Disclosure of High Risk Status
_____job descriptions outlining roles and responsibilities for all key positions
_____letters of support/memoranda of understanding from partner organizations
_____evidence of nonprofit status, e.g., a copy of the tax exemption letter from the Internal
Revenue Service, if applicable.
_____evidence of for-profit status, e.g., a copy of the articles of incorporation, if applicable.
_____Employee Compensation Waiver request
*Note: These elements are the basic minimum requirements for applications. Applications that do not
include these elements shall neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration by the
National Institute of Corrections.
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