Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2016 ACF OCS ET 1127
Apply for HHS 2016 ACF OCS ET 1127
- The HHS-ACF-OCS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Organizational Standards Center of Excellence (COE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.569.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 22, 2016 and posted on Apr 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2016. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Organizational Standards Center of Excellence (COE) opportunity is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the funded organization would not just receive pass-through funds but would work closely with the federal program office on implementation, coordination, and outcomes. The overall purpose is to strengthen how the CSBG network operates by expanding and sustaining a state, regional, and national training and technical assistance strategy focused on organizational standards, State Accountability Measures, and the broader CSBG Performance Management Framework.
At the center of the project is the continuation and next-phase implementation of the Organizational Standards Center of Excellence. Earlier OCS-funded cooperative agreements helped develop and launch CSBG organizational standards; this new award is meant to deepen and scale that work so that all State CSBG Lead Agencies and local CSBG-eligible entities have the practical support needed to meet high-quality standards consistently. The COE is expected to develop and coordinate projects in active partnership with State CSBG Lead Agencies, local eligible entities (often Community Action Agencies), and major regional and national partners. A specifically named partner ecosystem includes the Regional Performance and Innovation Consortium (RPIC), reflecting that the COE is intended to function as a connective hub rather than a stand-alone technical assistance provider.
The content areas for support are very explicit and closely tied to core nonprofit and public accountability functions. The COE will help states, state Community Action Agency associations, and local agencies build and demonstrate strong performance in consumer input and involvement, community engagement, community assessment, organizational leadership, board governance, strategic planning, human resource management, financial operations and oversight, and data and analysis. In practical terms, that typically means developing tools, guidance, training curricula, coaching approaches, peer learning models, and consistent methods for assessing whether an agency is meeting each standard and what to do when gaps are found. The emphasis is not simply compliance for compliance's sake; it is about building durable organizational capacity so agencies can deliver higher-quality anti-poverty services and results for low-income individuals and communities.
A second major focus is improving performance at the state oversight level through State Accountability Measures. These measures emphasize efficiency and effectiveness in how CSBG is administered and monitored, including timely distribution of funds, the quality and consistency of grantee monitoring, and the ability to collect, analyze, and report data in a way that supports continuous improvement. This implies the COE will support states in strengthening their systems and processes, not just training frontline staff. It also suggests the COE will play a role in aligning expectations across different jurisdictions so that core accountability practices are strong nationwide while still allowing for state-specific realities.
Coordination is a defining feature of the award. The COE is expected to work in connection with the CSBG T/TA program RPIC cooperative agreement (referenced as a companion effort) to strengthen relationships and align technical assistance across the CSBG ecosystem. That includes improving coordination among CSBG Lead Agencies, state CAA associations, RPICs, local eligible entities, and national T/TA providers. The goal is to reduce fragmentation and duplication, share effective practices more quickly, and ensure that technical assistance is targeted and mutually reinforcing across levels of the network. The announcement also highlights regionally focused initiatives and points to facilitating the development of state-specific technical assistance plans, signaling that the COE should help states translate national expectations into practical, customized roadmaps for improvement.
From an applicant and funding standpoint, this opportunity was offered under CFDA 93.569 with an anticipated single award of up to $600,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), plus other eligible entities as clarified in the full announcement. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2016-ACF-OCS-ET-1127, posted April 22, 2016, with a closing date of June 21, 2016. Overall, the award is designed to sustain a national center that can drive consistent organizational excellence across CSBG agencies, strengthen accountability at both state and local levels, and improve the quality and reliability of services delivered to communities experiencing poverty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Organizational Standards Center of Excellence (COE). It is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
2) What is the main purpose of the Organizational Standards Center of Excellence (COE) award?
The overall purpose is to strengthen how the CSBG network operates by expanding and sustaining a state, regional, and national training and technical assistance strategy. The strategy is focused on CSBG organizational standards, State Accountability Measures, and the broader CSBG Performance Management Framework.
3) What type of award is being offered?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the funded organization is expected to work closely with the federal program office on implementation, coordination, and outcomes, rather than simply receiving pass-through funds.
4) Who is the federal office sponsoring and administering this opportunity?
The opportunity comes from OCS within ACF, which is part of HHS (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
5) What is meant by "next-phase implementation" of the COE?
Earlier OCS-funded cooperative agreements helped develop and launch CSBG organizational standards. This new award is intended to deepen and scale that work so that all State CSBG Lead Agencies and local CSBG-eligible entities have practical support to meet high-quality standards consistently.
6) What organizations are intended to benefit from the COE's work?
The COE is designed to support the full CSBG network, including State CSBG Lead Agencies and local CSBG-eligible entities (often Community Action Agencies). The work also explicitly involves engagement with state Community Action Agency associations and major regional and national partners.
7) Is the COE expected to operate independently, or as part of a broader partner ecosystem?
The COE is expected to function as a connective hub, coordinating projects in active partnership with State CSBG Lead Agencies, local eligible entities, and major regional and national partners. The announcement specifically references the Regional Performance and Innovation Consortium (RPIC) as part of the partner ecosystem.
8) What are the main content areas the COE will address?
The COE will support capacity and performance improvement in core organizational and accountability functions, including:
- Consumer input and involvement
- Community engagement
- Community assessment
- Organizational leadership
- Board governance
- Strategic planning
- Human resource management
- Financial operations and oversight
- Data and analysis
9) What kinds of training and technical assistance activities are implied by this announcement?
Based on the description, activities typically include developing tools, guidance, training curricula, coaching approaches, peer learning models, and consistent methods for assessing whether an agency meets each standard and what to do when gaps are identified.
10) Is the focus mainly on compliance with standards?
No. While organizational standards and accountability are central, the emphasis is described as building durable organizational capacity so agencies can deliver higher-quality anti-poverty services and results for low-income individuals and communities.
11) What are State Accountability Measures, and how do they fit into this award?
State Accountability Measures focus on improving performance at the state oversight level. They emphasize efficiency and effectiveness in how CSBG is administered and monitored, including timely distribution of funds, the quality and consistency of grantee monitoring, and the ability to collect, analyze, and report data to support continuous improvement.
12) Does the COE support only local agencies, or states as well?
The COE is expected to support both. In addition to helping local eligible entities meet organizational standards, the announcement highlights helping states strengthen systems and processes tied to State Accountability Measures.
13) What does "coordination" mean in the context of this cooperative agreement?
Coordination is presented as a defining feature. The COE is expected to improve alignment among CSBG Lead Agencies, state CAA associations, RPICs, local eligible entities, and national T/TA providers to reduce fragmentation and duplication, share effective practices more quickly, and ensure technical assistance is targeted and mutually reinforcing.
14) How does the COE relate to the RPIC cooperative agreement mentioned in the description?
The COE is expected to work in connection with the CSBG T/TA program RPIC cooperative agreement (described as a companion effort). This relationship is intended to strengthen coordination and alignment of technical assistance across the CSBG ecosystem.
15) Are regionally focused initiatives included in the scope?
Yes. The announcement highlights regionally focused initiatives and also points to facilitating development of state-specific technical assistance plans, suggesting the COE should help translate national expectations into practical, customized roadmaps at the state level.
16) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered under CFDA 93.569.
17) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2016-ACF-OCS-ET-1127.
18) What is the anticipated award amount and how many awards are expected?
The announcement anticipates a single award of up to $600,000.
19) Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), plus other eligible entities as clarified in the full announcement.
20) When was the opportunity posted and when was the closing date?
The opportunity was posted April 22, 2016, and had a closing date of June 21, 2016.
21) What is the intended long-term outcome of funding a national COE?
The award is designed to sustain a national center that can drive consistent organizational excellence across CSBG agencies, strengthen accountability at both state and local levels, and improve the quality and reliability of services delivered to communities experiencing poverty.
22) What does it mean that the COE is part of the CSBG Performance Management Framework?
As described, the COE's work is tied to organizational standards, State Accountability Measures, and the broader CSBG Performance Management Framework. In practical terms, that means the COE is expected to support consistent performance, measurement, and continuous improvement across the CSBG network.
23) Does the announcement indicate a role in assessment and gap-closure for organizational standards?
Yes. The description points to "consistent methods for assessing whether an agency is meeting each standard and what to do when gaps are found," indicating the COE is expected to support both assessment and improvement pathways.
24) What types of organizations are referenced as local CSBG-eligible entities?
The announcement notes that local CSBG-eligible entities are often Community Action Agencies.
25) Why does the announcement emphasize reducing fragmentation and duplication?
The stated goal is to improve coordination so technical assistance is aligned across different providers and levels of the CSBG network. This is intended to reduce duplicated efforts, improve sharing of effective practices, and ensure technical assistance is targeted and mutually reinforcing.
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