HomeFunding Opportunity Announcements...​FY 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Reception and Placement Program

# 									​FY 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Reception and Placement Program							

Funding Opportunity Announcement

April 19, 2022

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**Funding Opportunity Number:**SFOP0008875

**Assistance Listings (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, CFDA) number:**

19.510 – U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

**Announcement issuance date:**Thursday, April 14, 2022

**Announcement type:**Cooperative Agreement

**Proposal submission deadline**:  Monday, June 13, 2022 at 11:59:59 PM (23:59:59) Eastern Daylight Time. We are unable to consider proposals submitted after this deadline.

**Anticipated time to award for selected proposals:**  Pending the availability of funds, PRM anticipates, but makes no guarantee, that awards will be made less than six months from the proposal submission deadline.

**ADVISORY:**  All applicants must submit application packages through the website Grants.gov.  PRM strongly recommends submitting your application package early to allow time to address any technical difficulties that may arise on the Grants.gov website.

If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated.  We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “Application Process” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly.  PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher.  Please note, some of the guidance and templates for refugee admissions programs differ from the guidance included in the General NGO Guidelines.  Award applicants should follow the directions and templates provided in this funding opportunity.

PRM strongly recommends proposals be submitted in Adobe PDF, except spreadsheets, as Microsoft Word documents may sometimes produce different page lengths based on software versions and configurations.  Do not include a cover page, page limits are strictly adhered to, and exceeding the page length limits will result in disqualification.  All proposals, and required documents, must be in English.

**Please note that PRM will hold an information session from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern time, Thursday, April 21, specifically geared toward helping new applicants better understand the requirements.  PRM is available to answer questions and provide guidance during the application process.  For details on accessing the information session, please refer to page 19.******

**Full Text of Notice of Funding Opportunity**

**Program Description******

**Purpose of the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program**

The R&P Program for the initial reception and placement of refugees in the United States is managed by PRM (hereinafter also referred to as the “Bureau”).  The purpose of the R&P Program is to promote the successful reception and placement of all persons who are admitted to the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.  For the purpose of this announcement, “refugee” is defined as a person admitted to the United States under section 207(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended, or a person to whom eligibility for the resettlement assistance available to individuals admitted under section 207(c) has been extended by statute.

To accomplish this goal, the INA recognizes the desirability for public or private non-profit organizations to provide R&P services and to assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. The program goals and objectives set forth in this announcement have been established in accordance with these statutory provisions.

**The goals of the R&P Program administered by the Bureau are:**
        - To ensure the ability to receive promptly into the United States all refugees approved for admission under applicable provisions of the INA;
        - To ensure that all refugees approved for admission to the United States are provided with reception and placement services appropriate to their personal circumstances;
        - To maintain national capacity for the reception and placement of refugees, in accordance with admissions ceilings determined annually by the President after consultation with the Congress; and,
        - To assist refugees in achieving economic self-sufficiency in coordination with other refugee services and assistance programs authorized by the INA and any mainstream services and assistance programs for which refugees are eligible.

**Core program objectives for FY 2023 include the following:**
        - Resettlement Agency management ensures sound and timely operations to appropriately prepare and plan for refugee arrivals to the United States.
        - Resettlement Agency management provides sound oversight and support to maintain a flexible, well-equipped, and knowledgeable affiliate network.
        - Resettlement Affiliates deliver timely and individualized services that promote refugee well-being, integration, and self-sufficiency.
        - Resettlement Affiliates regularly engage, inform, and consult resettlement partners and broader stakeholders in their communities.
        - Resettlement Affiliates ensure refugees are connected to appropriate services and oriented to their new communities.
        - Resettlement Affiliates involve local communities to provide services and increase assistance and other integration support to refugees.

The Bureau partners with and provides partial financial support to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out the R&P Program.  Participating organizations are expected to combine the Bureau’s financial assistance with existing and projected private resources for the provision of R&P services for refugees admitted to the United States during the period October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.  The R&P service period is defined as an initial 30-day period that can be extended up to 90 days after arrival should more than 30 days be required to complete delivery of R&P services.

**Funding Procedures**

The final FY 2023 ceiling for refugee admissions will be established by the President following consultations with Congress towards the end of FY 2022.  In order to serve the Administration’s stated goal to admit up to 125,000 refugees in FY 2023, PRM intends to award initial funding and placement plans at an operational level of 65,000 refugee arrivals.  Arrival trends will be reviewed mid-year to adjust placement plans and budgets upwards, as needed.  In addition, applicants should include 10,000 Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients in their planning.

Under expected FY 2023 funding procedures, each agency with which the Bureau enters into a Cooperative Agreement (CA) will be provided a $1,225 per capita grant for direct assistance to each refugee it sponsors who arrives in the United States during the period of the CA and is verified to have been placed and assisted by the agency.  This funding is to be used to cover payments made by the affiliate to or on behalf of individual refugees for cash disbursement and/or purchases for the purpose of meeting material needs according to the requirements of the program.

PRM also expects to provide an additional $1,050 per capita for affiliate R&P administrative costs, based on planned arrivals.  This amount is intended to support the affiliate’s administrative capacity to deliver services to refugees in accordance with program requirements as described in the CA.  All administrative funding given will be based on funding availabilities.

The entirety of the per capita funding, both direct assistance and administrative, is intended to supplement private resources available to the applicant and may be used at the local affiliates at which refugees are resettled.

PRM may award additional direct assistance funding to be administered by the resettlement agency national management office throughout their network to supplement the per capita grant according to factors that may vary geographically such as cost of living, housing, and additional caseload vulnerabilities. This assistance should focus on unmet needs and not duplicate or supplant programs available under any other Federal source of funding.

The Bureau intends to fund R&P Program national management costs according to separately negotiated and approved budgets based on the applicant’s sponsorship assurance capacity.

Applicants should base their placement plans provided to PRM in response to this funding opportunity on the capacity of their network of local affiliates, which will need to have consulted with resettlement partners in their communities in order to assess the capacity of the state, local community(ies), and affiliate to ensure that sufficient capacity exists to resettle the proposed caseload.  As part of this assessment, PRM expects that, to the extent possible, applicants will communicate and coordinate closely with other resettlement agencies proposing to place refugees in the same geographic area to ensure state and local partners are well-informed and consulted regarding the combined caseload being proposed among all local affiliates.

**Refugee Caseload Assignment**

Cases will be assigned to each approved applicant through a process administered on behalf of the Bureau by the Refugee Processing Center (RPC).

The number of refugees assigned to an approved applicant for FY 2023 will be determined by the Bureau, in accordance with the needs of the Admissions Program, taking into account projected initial operating levels as well as the target established by the FY 2023 Presidential Determination; the proposed capacity of the applicant and its affiliates; recommendations of state and local officials and the Office of Refugee Resettlement; the applicant’s demonstrated ability to implement its proposed placement plan; the cost effectiveness of the applicant’s plan; and past performance.  The number of refugees assigned to an approved applicant may be less than the proposed placement capacity of the applicant.  Iraqi and Afghan SIV recipients requesting R&P services will be allocated to the approved applicants in the same manner as refugee cases.

In proposing placement figures for FY 2024 and FY 2025, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how they will grow capacity over the course of three years. This approach will allow both existing and new RAs to scale up gradually.  We encourage new applicants to consider a smaller, manageable number of affiliates and initial caseload in the first year of the program while systems and structures are being established, and then scale up in a sustainable and incremental manner over the course of the following two years.

Please note, outyear projections approved as part of FY 2023 proposals are considered as informational in nature, and do not constitute a guarantee of any future approvals or arrivals.  Participants will need to propose specific capacity plans annually, based on the above-noted factors.

***New Applicants***PRM welcomes proposals from new applicants, including non-profit organizations that are currently participating in the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) but have not previously participated in R&P such as institutional partner organizations that have worked with resettlement agencies through APA. In line with the above guidance, PRM encourages new applicants to submit three-year proposals that scale incrementally and sustainably over time, initially starting with a smaller caseload and then growing capacity to support larger caseloads in future years once systems and structures are fully established.  Additional detailed guidance for new applicants can be found in *Appendix B.*

**Federal Award Information******

**Proposed program start date:**October 1, 2022.

**Duration of Activity:**An initial period beginning October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, subject to the availability of funds.  This agreement may be renewable for up to two additional 12-month awards based upon new budget submissions for each award on an annual basis.  Continued funding after the initial 12-month period of performance requires the submission of a noncompeting single year proposal and will be contingent upon available funding, strong performance, and continuing need.  In funding a program one year, PRM makes no representations that it will continue to fund the program in successive years.

**Period of Performance:** An initial 12-month period of performance with the possibility of two additional one-year awards for a total program duration of 36 months.

**Funding Limits:** The Bureau anticipates award amounts will vary based on

placement plans and overall national management and affiliate funding needs.  There is no funding floor or ceiling for this award.  However, total award amounts will be contingent on funding availabilities.

**Anticipated Amount to be Awarded Total:**Total amounts awarded will be based on a thorough review of each proposal received and amount of funding available in FY 2023.

**Eligibility Information**

**Eligible Applicants**

The Bureau intends to award CAs for FY 2023 to well-qualified non-profit organizations able to offer a range of services throughout networks of multiple locations across the United States.  This will include applicants that have demonstrated satisfactory performance under previous agreements with the Bureau and/or new applicants that meet the selection criteria described below and have demonstrated the ability to provide required services in a cost-effective manner.  Applicants should understand that participation in the FY 2022 R&P Program is neither a pre-condition for nor a guarantee of continued participation in FY 2023.

In order to be considered for participation in the program, applicants must:
        - Be a well-established non-profit organization with demonstrated social service/case management expertise and experience managing a network of affiliates or partnering with community organizations to provide reception and placement or similar support services to refugees, migrants, or other vulnerable populations in the United States;
        - Have been a non-profit organization in operation for at least three full years with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
        - Document the availability of private financial resources to contribute to the program; and
        - Operate in multiple locations across the United States.

Failure to satisfy any of the four required qualifications above will preclude further consideration for participation in the program.

**Cost Sharing or Matching:**  Cost sharing, matching, or cost participation is not a requirement of an application in response to this funding announcement.

**Application and Submission Instructions**
        - Address to Request Application Package:  Application packages may be downloaded from the website  www.Grants.gov .
        - Content and Form of Application:

Applicants should report all data in terms of the federal fiscal year (i.e., October 1 through September 30).

Applicants must adhere to the following guidelines when preparing proposals:
        - All documents in the proposal should have the following page layout:  8.5 inch by 11-inch pages with one-inch margins on all sides.
        - All documents in the proposal must be in 12-point Times New Roman font.
        - All pages of the proposal must be numbered.  Page numbers should restart at “page 1” for each separate file/attachment (Word, Excel, or PDF Document) that is submitted.
        - Proposals should be no longer than specified.  Information included on pages beyond the stated page limitations will not be reviewed.
        - Sections within each narrative should be sequential.
        - Abstracts for individual affiliate and sub-office sites are to be arranged in alphabetical order, first by state name (not by abbreviation), then by city within each state where the office is located.  All offices should be identified by location (State, City) and PRM code when available (e.g., FLXXX01).  For all Washington, D.C. locations, please use “Washington” for the city, and “District of Columbia” for the state.  All proposed new affiliates should be included at the end of this section.
        - No attachments other than those specifically requested will be accepted or considered.

**IMPORTANT: Please see Appendix C for sample attachment formats.**

**Application Package**

To be considered for PRM funding, organizations must submit a complete application package, including:****
        - Project Narrative
        - Objectives and Indicators Table
        - R&P Budget Summary, National Management Budget Detail, and Travel Cost Detail
        - National Management Budget Narrative
        - Affiliate/Sub-office Abstracts
        - Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Affiliate/Sub-office Abstracts, if applicable
        - Three-year Proposed Consolidated Placement Plan (FY 2023 – FY 2025)
        - Five-year Affiliate Monitoring Plan (FY 2021 – FY 2025)
        - R&P National Management Staff Detail
        - National Management Organizational Chart
        - Supporting documentation for new sites as attachments, if applicable
        - Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Framework
        - Risk Analysis
        - Copy of the organization’s Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Code of Conduct, will be required prior to the issuance of an award, if the proposal is chosen for implementation.
        - Most recent Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable, or a de minimis rate calculation of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) if the applicant is eligible and elects to use the de minimis rate.
        - Most recent external audit report is required prior to issuance of an award, if proposal is chosen for implementation.
        - Signed/Completed SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B forms.  PRM requires that Box 21 of the SF-424 be checked.  Form SF-424B is required only for those applicants who have not previously registered in SAM.gov or recertified their registration in SAM.gov since February 2, 2019, and completed the online representations and certifications.

**IMPORTANT: Please see Appendix E for the complete list of additional documents that MUST be submitted as part of the Application Package.**

**IMPORTANT: All new applicants should see Appendix F for additional documents that MUST be submitted as part of their Application Package.**

**C.** Each applicant is required to:
        - be registered in SAM at (www.sam.gov) before submitting an application;
        - provide a valid SAM.gov UEI number in its application; and
        - continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active PRM award or an application or plan under consideration by PRM.

No federal award may be made to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the PRM award is ready to be made, PRM may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a PRM award and use that determination as a basis for making a PRM award to another applicant.   Proposals must be submitted via Grants.gov (not via SAMS Domestic).

**Note: On April 4, 2022, the DUNS Number was replaced by a “new, non****proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by, the System for Award****Management (SAM.gov).  This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).  For more information on the process, visit********GSA’s website on the UEI transition.******

**D.  Applications must be submitted via****Grants.gov****.**Grants.gov registration requires a UEI number and active SAM.gov registration.  If you are new to PRM funding, the Grants.gov registration process can be complicated.  We urge you to refer to PRM’s General NGO Guidelines “Application Process” section for information and resources to help ensure that the application process runs smoothly.  PRM also strongly encourages organizations that have received funding from PRM in the past to read this section as a refresher.  Applicants may also refer to the “For Applicants” page on Grants.gov for complete details on requirements.  ****

****Do not wait until the deadline to submit your application on Grants.gov.  Organizations not registered with Grants.gov should register well in advance of the deadline as it can take up to two weeks to finalize registration (sometimes longer for non-U.S. based NGOs to receive required registration numbers).  We also recommend that organizations, particularly first-time applicants, submit applications via Grants.gov no later than one week before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical difficulties that could result in an application not being considered.  PRM partners must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application under consideration by PRM or any federal agency.

When registering with Grants.gov, organizations must designate points of contact and Authorized Organization Representatives (AORs).  Organizations based outside the United States must also request and receive an NCAGE  code prior to registering with SAM.gov.  Applicants experiencing technical difficulties with the SAM registration process should contact the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online or at 1-866-606-8220 (U.S.) and 1-334-206-7828 (International).

Applications must be submitted under the authority of the Authorized Organization Representative at the applicant organization.  Having proposals submitted by the agency national management office helps to avoid possible technical problems.

If you encounter technical difficulties with Grants.gov please contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov or by calling 1-800-518-4726.

Applicants who are unable to submit applications via Grants.gov due to Grants.gov technical difficulties and;
        - who have reported the problem to the  Grants.gov  help desk;
        - received a case number; and
        - have completed UEI and SAM.gov registrations; 
        - had a service request opened to research the problem;

may contact the relevant PRM Program Officer before the submission deadline to determine whether an alternative method of submission is appropriate.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure the appropriate registrations are in place and active.  Failure to have the appropriate organizational registrations in place is not considered a technical difficulty and is not justification for an alternate means of submission.

In accordance with 2 CFR §200.113, Mandatory disclosures, the non-Federal entity or applicant for a Federal award must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award.  Non-Federal entities that have received a Federal award including the term and condition outlined in Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters are required to report certain civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings to SAM.  Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR §200.338 Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment.  (See also 2 CFR part 180, 31 U.S.C.  3321, and 41 U.S.C.  2313.)

**E.  Submission Dates and Times**

**Announcement issuance date:** Thursday, April 14, 2022****

**Proposal submission deadline**:  Monday, June 13, 2022 at 11:59:59 PM (23:59:59) Eastern Daylight Time.

**F. Intergovernmental Review: Not Applicable.**

**G. Funding Restrictions.**Federal awards will not allow reimbursement of Federal Award costs without prior authorization by PRM.

**Application Review Information**

**Criteria:**  Eligible submissions will be those that comply with the criteria and requirements included in this announcement.  In addition, the review panel will evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria ***(100 points possible)***:

**Organizational Structure and Management (15 points)**
        - Documented national agency’s organizational ability to manage a network of affiliates in multiple locations and in a cost-effective manner, incorporating economies of scale.
        - Demonstrated coherent and realistic strategy for innovating and adapting the agency national management office and network to the level of both current and projected future arrivals to ensure there is sufficient affiliate and community capacity to support increasing and/or changing caseloads. Strategy includes sufficient detail and demonstrates concrete, robust, and proactive planning.
        - Proposed position changes at the resettlement agency level are explained and Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) are justified.
        - Sound rationale for maintaining resettlement sites in the placement network. If new sites are proposed, all required documents are submitted and a sound rationale exists for selecting sites and opening in the proposed location.
        - Detailed description of national resettlement agency’s strategy to manage growth, including for both new and existing sites, as well as plans for any potential further expansion in subsequent years.
        - Description of organizational plans to ensure the safety and security of refugee resettlement staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

**Program Management (25 points)**
        - Demonstrated management of resources and accountability for performance outcomes.
        - Coherent community engagement strategies at the national, state, and local level that address refugee outcomes, identify key issues and/or risk factors, and are informed by experience and lessons learned.
        - Clear description of collection and use of beneficiary feedback at the local affiliate level to improve performance.
        - Tangible plans to support development of effective refugee integration strategies.  Demonstrated support for affiliates’ efforts regarding community engagement, community sponsorship, refugee integration, and beneficiary feedback.
        - Documented fraud prevention strategies and activities.
        - Brief summary of the risk analysis submitted.
        - Coherent analysis of gender dynamics, including risks and challenges posed to R&P Program implementation. Documented strategy to mitigate risks and ensure R&P services are accessible to vulnerable populations based on their gender.
        - If new affiliates are proposed, a sound national strategy to support community engagement and coordination is presented.  Tangible plans to manage the onboarding of new affiliates are described.
        - Clear description of plans to increase community sponsorship of refugees, particularly through co-sponsorship.  The focus of the proposed co-sponsorship programs is discussed, including but not limited to enhanced refugee integration, increased housing and employment opportunities, greater community and private financial and social support, and increasing public awareness of and support for refugees. Applicants address the development of models along with clear objectives, strategies, and expected outcomes/results.
        - Clear description of plans to ensure accessibility to suitable housing options described herein and strategies for determining capacity to resettle refugees with and without U.S. ties. Brief summary of current activities or partnerships that address the nationwide affordable housing crisis including specific examples from locations where challenges are particularly acute.
        - Clear and realistic proposed strategy to distribute national management office-administered additional direct assistance funds within the applicant’s network.

**Placement (20 points)**

*10 Points (Note that the following sections will be evaluated using the project narrative)*****
        - Description of criteria used to determine placement of refugees throughout a network which prioritizes the best interest of the refugee and guarantees quality, language-appropriate R&P services for arriving refugees of diverse backgrounds.  
        - Description of evidence-based research that informs placement strategies and mechanisms and details how they guide and impact placement of individual refugee cases. If applicable, explanation of expected significant increases or decreases in placement in FY 2023. Description of how the applicant will respond to arrival trends while ensuring national resettlement capacity and the required level of service to all refugees.   
        - If applicable, description of ongoing or plans for engagement with the state refugee coordinator, state refugee health coordinator, and local service providers regarding placement strategy. For applicants who plan to engage community partners and place refugees through remote placement, demonstrated sound placement rationale, planning, and long-term strategy for ensuring successful resettlement and integration, especially for the placement of refugee cases without U.S. ties. 

*10 Points (Note that the following section will be evaluated using information obtained from affiliate and sub-office abstracts)*****
        - Description of local affiliate or organizational ability to provide quality, cost-efficient services for arriving refugees or vulnerable populations, including suitable housing.  Evidence of a strong local environment to support resettlement.  Documented contributions of significant private resources to the R&P Program at the local level or evidence of such resources which support existing programs  

******Network Monitoring (10 points)**
        - Documented national management capacity to monitor affiliate offices in a robust and cost-effective manner.  Evidence of sound process for ensuring corrective actions taken result in final program compliance.

**Network Training (15 points)**
        - Clear description of recent and proposed training events, including a specific description of how training effectiveness was or will be measured, particularly with regard to achievement of desired outcomes.  Describe the linkages between monitoring results and training plans.  Cost effectiveness of training activities to include justification of the need and cost for the types of training modalities proposed.

**Financial Documentation (15 points)**
        - Documented contributions of private resources to the R&P Program at the national management and local levels, if applicable, or evidence of private resources for existing programs and a plan to seek such resources for the R&P Program.  Detailed, accurate, and cost-effective national management budget.

(*Note that this section will be evaluated using the project narrative, including information obtained from the chart in the narrative detailing aggregate contributions to the affiliates, as well as the national management budget*.)

PRM will conduct a formal competitive review of all eligible proposals submitted in response to this funding announcement.  A review panel will evaluate submissions based on the above-referenced proposal evaluation criteria in the context of available funding.  The panel will evaluate proposals to determine whether and to what extent the applicant’s proposal meets the R&P Program’s goals and objectives.

Department of State review panels may provide conditions and recommendations on applications to enhance the proposed program, which must be addressed by the applicant before further consideration of the award.  To ensure effective use of limited PRM funds, conditions or recommendations may include requests to increase, decrease, clarify, and/or justify costs and program activities.

Proposals to conduct remote placement will be evaluated separately by the panel.

**Federal Award Administration Information**
        -  Federal Award Administration.   A successful applicant can expect to receive a separate notice from PRM stating that an application has been selected before PRM actually makes the federal award.  That notice is not an authorization to begin performance.  Only the notice of award signed by the grants officer is the authorizing document.  Unsuccessful applicants will be notified following completion of the selection and award process.
        -  Administrative and National Policy Requirements.   PRM awards are made consistent with the following provisions in the following order of precedence: (a) applicable laws and statutes of the United States, including any specific legislative provisions mandated in the statutory authority for the award; (b) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); (c) Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions of the award; (d) the award’s specific requirements; and (e) other documents and attachments to the award.
        -  Reporting

Successful applicants will be required to submit:

a. **Program Reports:**PRM requires program reports describing and analyzing the results of activities undertaken during the validity period of the agreement.  A program report is required within thirty (30) days following the end of each three-month period of performance during the validity period of the agreement.  The final program report is due ninety (120) days following the end of the agreement.  The submission dates for program reports will be written into the CA.

b. **Financial Reports:** Financial reports are required within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar year quarter during the validity period of the agreement (January 30th, April 30th, July 30th, October 30th).  The final financial report covering the entire period of the agreement is required within ninety (90) days after the expiration date of the agreement.  For agreements containing indirect costs, final financial reports are due within sixty (60) days of the finalization of the applicable negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

Reports reflecting expenditures for the recipient’s United States offices should be completed in accordance with the Federal Financial Report (FFR SF-425) and submitted electronically in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Payment Management System (HHS/PMS) and in accordance with other award specific requirements.  Detailed information pertaining to the Federal Financial Report including due dates, instruction manuals and access forms, is provided on the HHS/PMS website.

c. **Audit Reports:** When a recipient-contracted audit is not required because the annual Federal award amount is less than the $750,000 threshold, the Department may determine that an audit must be performed and the audit report must be submitted to the responsible grants office(r) for review, dissemination, and resolution as appropriate. The cost of audits required under this policy may be charged either as an allowable direct cost to the award, or included in the organizations established indirect costs in the award’s detailed budget.

**PRM Contacts**

Applicants with technical questions related to this announcement should contact the PRM staff listed below prior to proposal submission.  Please note that responses to technical questions from PRM do not indicate a commitment to fund the program discussed.

**PRM Program Officer:**  Kathleen Sheehan at 202-256-8003 or SheehanK@state.gov.

**Disclaimer:**External websites linked above may not be supported or accessible by all web browsers.  If you are unable to link to a referenced website, please try using a different browser or update to a more recent one.  If you continue to experience difficulties to reach external resources, please contact PRM’s NGO Coordinator at PRMNGOCoordinator@state.gov.

**Information Session**

Please note that PRM will hold an information session from **12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern time on Thursday, April 21** specifically geared toward helping new applicants better understand the requirements.  PRM is available to answer questions and provide guidance during the application process.  The event details are below.

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**Join on your computer or mobile app******

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+1 509-824-1908,,17715094#   United States, Spokane

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**Appendix A: Other Required Information**

Organizations **must** consider the following as part of their proposal package:

**A.  Project Narrative**

The Project Narrative must adhere to these requirements:
        - The Project Narrative must be subtitled and numbered to correspond with the required information sections below.  If any individual section of information is not applicable, that fact should be specifically stated.
        - The narrative must not exceed 25 pages.  If applicable, include additional appendices to describe any of the following activities being proposed:           - The Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program (one page)
          - International Organization for Migration (IOM) travel loan billing services (two pages)
          - Placement of refugees outside affiliates’ 100-mile same-state Radii via community partners (Remote Placement, two pages) 
        - Note that page numbers must be sequential for the entirety of the Project Narrative and not restart with each section of required information.
        - Submit the Project Narrative as an attachment by selecting the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” in the  Grants.gov  Application Package.

The Project Narrative must contain the following sections:
        - Organizational Structure and Management 

Each applicant must briefly describe its organizational structure and discuss how it demonstrates cost effectiveness while maintaining strong management and program oversight.

For previous recipients, discuss how the organization is adapting and innovating, in light of the APA program, as well as other changes in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, national management, organization, or operations.  If applicable, explain any proposed changes per position from FY 2022.  Justify the number and need for the proposed FTEs to serve the proposed number of refugees.

Describe formal or legal relationships with affiliates and sub-offices. State the number of placement sites (number of affiliates and sub-offices).  If applicable, list all affiliate and sub-office sites that were listed as zeroed out or were opened or closed in 2022, as well as proposed new sites and sites planned for closure in FY 2023.  Describe a coherent strategy and rationale for selecting and maintaining resettlement sites in the placement network.

Describe organizational plans to manage projected increases in arrivals in FY 2023 at both the national and affiliate levels. Further, explain the national management strategy to prepare at both levels for ongoing expansions in subsequent years to ensure there is sufficient capacity within each affiliate and local community, as well as sufficient local community engagement, to adequately support changing arrivals.

**2.  Program Management**

Applicants with existing programs must include a brief narrative description of how they actively manage resources to meet, and demonstrate accountability for, program outcomes.

Describe applicant’s initiatives at the national and local levels to collect and use beneficiary feedback to improve programming.

Describe the applicant’s strategy to ensure that refugees are able to access affordable, safe, and sanitary permanent housing upon arrival, or shortly thereafter. Include plans to ensure capacity to resettle refugees both with and without U.S. ties. Briefly summarize current activities or partnerships that address the nationwide affordable housing crisis and give specific examples of strategies from locations where challenges are particularly acute.

Describe the applicant’s community engagement strategies for FY 2023 at the national, state, and local levels. The term “community engagement” includes public education efforts, resource development, community outreach, volunteerism, quarterly consultations, and coordination with local stakeholders. Include how your strategies identify key issues and/or risk factors, how they affect successful resettlement, and how they will improve outcomes for refugees so that community services and support are available to newly arriving refugees. If applicable, discuss how activities in FY 2022, including involvement in the APA program, inform the applicant’s community engagement strategies for FY 2023 and beyond.

Describe organizational plans to ensure the safety and security of refugee resettlement staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries.

Describe a sound management strategy to onboard any new affiliates in FY 2023, along with plans to support robust community engagement and coordination.  Include a description of plans and strategies for any potential further expansion in subsequent years, if applicable.

**3. Community Sponsorship**

Describe applicant’s plans to increase community sponsorship of refugees, particularly through co-sponsorship programs.
        - Community sponsorship is an umbrella term to describe different models of resettlement whereby certain refugees are paired with community groups that commit to providing clearly defined in-kind and/or financial contributions as well as volunteer services to support the welcome and integration of refugees in a local community. These can be formed from a range of community groups such as local clubs, university communities, faith-based institutions or community groups, sports teams, book clubs, etc.
        - Co-sponsorship is a specific form of community sponsorship where community groups accept, in a non-legally binding written agreement with a local affiliate or community partner, the responsibility to provide, or ensure the provision of, the majority or all of R&P services in partnership with that local affiliate or community partner.  To streamline terminology on community sponsorship, PRM will be focused on increasing co-sponsorship programs going forward and will consider the activities of “support teams” to be considered as general volunteerism rather than as another form of community sponsorship.
        - PRM is interested in the added value to the R&P program that may be generated through community sponsorship such as improved refugee integration, increased housing and employment opportunities, and strengthened community and private support.  PRM also sees value in sponsorship for communities themselves, for maximizing refugee contributions, and for increasing public support for refugees and awareness of global affairs. PRM expects that applicants will establish clear objectives, strategies, and expected outcomes/results for community sponsorship models.

**4. Fraud Prevention & Risk Analysis:**

Include a brief description of the applicant’s fraud prevention strategies and activities, including how the applicant uses culturally effective practices and procedures with refugees to combat fraud, and how the applicant responds to alleged or possible fraud (including, but not limited to, immigration and welfare benefit fraud). Please also include a brief summary of the risk analysis submitted as part of the proposal package.

**5. Gender Analysis:**

PRM is committed to ensuring that R&P services are fully accessible to potentially vulnerable and underserved groups among the beneficiary population (such groups may include women; children; adolescents; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals; older persons; the sick; persons with disabilities; and members of minority communities). The gender analysis should specifically analyze the factors that either promote or undermine gender equality within a given program and specifically address the needs of women and girls.

Applicants should briefly describe:
        - The gender dynamics within the target population (i.e., roles, power dynamics, and different needs of men and women, girls and boys),
        - The specific risks and challenges posed by gender dynamics to R&P Program implementation, and
        - How the program activities will mitigate these risks and be made accessible to affected groups (particularly women and girls).

**6. Financial Contributions:**

Please input the total aggregate contributions in support of R&P to all affiliates and sub-offices (as documented in the affiliate/sub-office abstracts) in the chart below and provide a short description of the private contributions, including a breakdown of whether contributions were used to support R&P direct assistance or affiliate R&P program management.