Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OCSS FD 0016
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), is offering a single cooperative agreement to support the Technical Assistance and Evaluation of the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration (NextGen TA/Eval). The purpose of this award is to create a centralized, coordinated technical assistance and evaluation function for a set of related demonstration projects that will be funded under a separate, companion opportunity (HHS-2024-ACF-OCSE-FD-0015) and, in some cases, through Section 1115 waivers supporting tribal child support agencies. In practical terms, OCSS wants one state child support agency to serve as the hub that organizes learning across the demonstration sites, ensures consistent data collection, and oversees an independent evaluation so the field can understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions when child support programs provide or partner to provide employment services.
This opportunity has been revised to reflect recent policy guidance in ACF-OCSS-AT-24-02 regarding the Final Rule eliminating the tribal non-federal share requirement, and it also adds a formal definition of "tribal organization." Those edits appear across multiple parts of the notice, including the executive summary, program description and design, federal award information, eligibility, and the review criteria. The changes are meant to align the grant with updated federal policy affecting tribal participation and related program implementation.
OCSS expects to make one award, and the eligible applicant pool is limited to state governments, specifically State Title IV-D child support agencies (or their umbrella agencies). The selected state agency will not be conducting the evaluation directly. Instead, it must procure and manage an independent third-party organization or organizations to deliver the technical assistance and to carry out the evaluation of the demonstration projects. Even if the awardee also happens to be a participant under the companion demonstration NOFO, the evaluation function must remain impartial across all project sites, which is why the evaluation work is assigned to an external, independent entity managed through this cooperative agreement.
The project period is 60 months, structured into five 12-month budget periods. Over those five years, the awardee is responsible for several core deliverables. First, it must conduct implementation tracking and evaluation, focusing on how the demonstration projects are put into practice, what models are used, what partnerships are formed, what services are delivered, and what operational challenges and facilitators emerge. Second, it must conduct outcome tracking and evaluation, meaning it will track participant and program outcomes to assess performance and impacts, using a consistent approach across multiple sites so results can be compared and synthesized. Third, it must provide ongoing programmatic and evaluation technical assistance to the demonstration grantees, including organizing regularly scheduled virtual learning community webinars and convening annual in-person meetings throughout the five-year period. The intent is to create a structured learning network so sites can share strategies, troubleshoot implementation issues, and apply evidence as the demonstrations develop.
A major required component is the design and operation of a Management Information System (MIS), or an equivalent data-collection method, for the demonstration projects funded under the companion NOFO. This system is expected to systematically capture information on the services participants receive and the short-term outcomes they experience, creating a standardized dataset that supports both continuous quality improvement and formal evaluation. The awardee must implement and oversee this MIS function, ensuring the system is usable for sites, produces reliable and comparable data, and supports reporting and evaluation needs over time. The scope also includes dissemination: the awardee must produce and share technical assistance materials, evaluation reports, and lessons learned with a national audience, including presenting at national or state conferences. OCSS also anticipates that dissemination could extend beyond the funded demonstration sites by offering support to child support programs that are not part of the grants but want to launch or strengthen child support-led employment services, and by providing assistance to tribal child support agencies operating NextGen-like services through Section 1115 waivers, particularly in light of the updated tribal cost-share policy.
Funding is projected at up to $8,057,059 over the full five-year period. The award structure is front-loaded: the annual award ceiling for years 1 and 2 is $3,587,353 per year, while the ceiling for years 3 through 5 drops to $294,118 per year. The notice states the award floor is the same as the ceiling and average cost, indicating OCSS expects to fund the project at the specified amounts rather than across a range. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means OCSS anticipates substantial federal involvement during the project, such as collaboration on evaluation direction, technical assistance priorities, convenings, data strategy, and dissemination planning.
Key eligibility and disqualification notes are straightforward. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review. While the applicant itself must be a state Title IV-D agency or umbrella agency, the notice also clarifies that faith-based and community organizations that otherwise meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards, and that ACF will not discriminate based on religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal regulations. The application deadline listed for this opportunity was June 3, 2024, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under the Income Security and Social Services activity area (CFDA 93.564), with one expected award under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2024-ACF-OCSS-FD-0016.Apply for HHS 2024 ACF OCSS FD 0016
- The Administration for Children and Families - OCSS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technical Assistance and Evaluation of the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.564.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,587,353.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), to fund a single cooperative agreement for the Technical Assistance and Evaluation of the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration (NextGen TA/Eval).
What is the purpose of the NextGen TA/Eval cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to create a centralized and coordinated technical assistance (TA) and evaluation function for a related set of demonstration projects that will be funded under a separate companion opportunity (HHS-2024-ACF-OCSE-FD-0015) and, in some cases, through Section 1115 waivers supporting tribal child support agencies. The selected awardee serves as the hub to organize learning across sites, ensure consistent data collection, and oversee an independent evaluation to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions when child support programs provide or partner to provide employment services.
How is this opportunity connected to the companion demonstration opportunity?
This award supports the demonstration projects funded under a separate, companion notice of funding opportunity (HHS-2024-ACF-OCSE-FD-0015). The TA/Eval award is intended to support those demonstration sites by coordinating technical assistance, standardizing data collection approaches, and conducting an independent evaluation across sites.
How many awards does OCSS expect to make?
OCSS expects to make one award under this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically State Title IV-D child support agencies (or their umbrella agencies).
Are individuals or sole proprietorships eligible to apply?
No. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review.
Do faith-based organizations qualify as eligible applicants?
The notice states that faith-based and community organizations that otherwise meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards, and ACF will not discriminate based on religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal regulations. However, this opportunity also limits the eligible applicant pool to State Title IV-D child support agencies (or their umbrella agencies).
What is the project period and how is it structured?
The project period is 60 months (5 years), structured into five 12-month budget periods.
What is the total funding amount and how is it distributed across years?
Total projected funding is up to $8,057,059 over the full 5-year period. The award is front-loaded: the annual award ceiling for years 1 and 2 is $3,587,353 per year, and the ceiling for years 3 through 5 is $294,118 per year.
Is there an award range, or is funding expected at a set amount?
The notice states the award floor is the same as the ceiling and the average cost, indicating OCSS expects to fund the project at the specified amounts rather than across a range.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means OCSS anticipates substantial federal involvement during the project.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the description, federal involvement may include collaboration on evaluation direction, technical assistance priorities, convenings, data strategy, and dissemination planning.
What is the role of the selected state Title IV-D agency?
The selected state child support agency acts as a centralized hub that coordinates learning across demonstration sites, ensures consistent data collection, manages an independent evaluation function through a third party, and supports dissemination of findings and resources.
Will the awardee conduct the evaluation itself?
No. The selected state agency will not conduct the evaluation directly. It must procure and manage an independent third-party organization or organizations to deliver technical assistance and to carry out the evaluation of the demonstration projects.
Why must the evaluation be conducted by an independent third party?
The notice emphasizes that the evaluation function must remain impartial across all project sites. Assigning evaluation work to an external, independent entity helps preserve independence, including in situations where the awardee may also participate in the companion demonstration opportunity.
What are the main required deliverables and responsibilities over the five-year period?
Core responsibilities include: (1) implementation tracking and evaluation; (2) outcome tracking and evaluation; (3) ongoing programmatic and evaluation technical assistance to the demonstration grantees, including virtual learning community webinars and annual in-person meetings; (4) design and operation of a Management Information System (MIS) or equivalent data-collection method; and (5) dissemination of TA materials, evaluation reports, and lessons learned to a national audience.
What is meant by implementation tracking and evaluation?
Implementation tracking and evaluation focuses on how demonstration projects are put into practice, including the models used, partnerships formed, services delivered, and the operational challenges and facilitators that emerge.
What is meant by outcome tracking and evaluation?
Outcome tracking and evaluation involves tracking participant and program outcomes to assess performance and impacts, using a consistent approach across multiple sites so results can be compared and synthesized.
What technical assistance activities are required?
The awardee must provide ongoing programmatic and evaluation technical assistance to the demonstration grantees, including organizing regularly scheduled virtual learning community webinars and convening annual in-person meetings throughout the five-year period.
What is the Management Information System (MIS) requirement?
A major required component is the design and operation of an MIS (or an equivalent data-collection method) for the demonstration projects funded under the companion NOFO. The MIS is expected to systematically capture information on services participants receive and short-term outcomes, creating a standardized dataset that supports continuous quality improvement and formal evaluation.
What does the awardee need to do to implement the MIS?
The awardee must implement and oversee the MIS function, ensuring it is usable for sites, produces reliable and comparable data, and supports reporting and evaluation needs over time.
What dissemination activities are expected?
The awardee must produce and share technical assistance materials, evaluation reports, and lessons learned with a national audience, including presenting at national or state conferences.
Can the TA/Eval effort support child support programs beyond the funded demonstration sites?
Yes. OCSS anticipates dissemination could extend beyond the funded demonstration sites by offering support to child support programs not part of the grants but that want to launch or strengthen child support-led employment services.
How does this opportunity relate to tribal child support agencies and Section 1115 waivers?
The purpose statement notes that, in some cases, NextGen-like demonstration efforts may be supported through Section 1115 waivers for tribal child support agencies. OCSS also anticipates providing assistance to tribal child support agencies operating NextGen-like services through Section 1115 waivers, particularly in light of updated tribal cost-share policy.
What changes were made in the revised version of this opportunity?
This opportunity was revised to reflect recent policy guidance in ACF-OCSS-AT-24-02 regarding the Final Rule eliminating the tribal non-federal share requirement, and it adds a formal definition of "tribal organization." The edits appear across multiple parts of the notice, including the executive summary, program description and design, federal award information, eligibility, and review criteria.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2024-ACF-OCSS-FD-0016.
What is the CFDA number and activity area?
The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 93.564 and falls within the Income Security and Social Services activity area.
What was the application deadline listed for this opportunity?
The application deadline listed was June 3, 2024.
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